Once again I do not own Kenshin or Bridal Mask. Thanks to all my reviewers and faithful readers. I hope you enjoy! PS, the first scene and last I suppose are rated R, so don't read it if you don't want to. Oh yeah, Kimbop is the Korean version of sushi (it is actually originally a Korean dish until the Japanese made it popular, later renaming it sushi). Happy reading ^_^x

Chapter 6: Up In Flames

Shishio Makoto's Residence...

Wearing gi and hakamas, Shishio walks into his study with Yumi waiting for him, kimono falling seductively down her shoulders. Standing near the delivered crates, the buxom woman walks toward her lover, placing a hard kiss on his lips.

Grasping her breast roughly, the superintendent unties her obi, letting the heavy cloth fall slowly to the ground. Guiding her hands to his hardness, he groans as she does her ministrations. In a matter of minutes, he has her pinned against the wall, legs spread wide as he thrusts savagely in and out until he has his release, not caring about her own fulfillment.

The woman falls to the ground, legs buckling, as Shishio fastens his hakamas, turning towards the awaiting boxes. "Leave," he states, and the woman bows while gathering her garments, and rushes from the room.

Soon the people of Joseon will fear the name of battousai, he grins as he unlocks the crates. Saizuchi will be rewarded greatly for having the money delivered so quickly. Lifting the lids, his scream of frustration can be heard across his massive home as he flips the wood over, rotten apples toppling out of both boxes.

Running up to the bank truck, a man in a black uniform sees his two friends rising from the ground. "President Saizuchi knows about the attack, he says to wait here for the police to arrive. He talked to the superintendent personally, so they are sending reinforcements right away."

As if on cue, a man with striking white hair, and white police uniform approaches the men. "Thank you for coming so soon. All battousai took was the money, nobody was really injured."

Their relief is short lived when they see the officer pull out his long sword. "What are you-?" The man can't get the words out before he is run through by Enishi's blade. The other two begin running, but don't get far as they feel the blood trickling down their throats. Swiping crimson from steel, the false policeman places the sword back in its sheath, leaving the three dead on the ground.

Meanwhile, the people of Joseon rejoice as they hear a soft padding outside their homes, small bundles of won lying on their doorsteps.

"You must use this opportunity to spread the false rumors about battousai. Once Joseon believes their hero is killing innocent people, he will lose support." Tomoe, dressed in a fitted white kimono with sparkling white plums along the edges talks across the table to an interested Shishio.

"You are remarkable, using his own actions against him. You truly are Yukishiro's daughter." The superintendent grins.

"As to the matter of the funding for Kishokai and the governor general," she pauses, "simply because it was stolen from your hands does not mean father does not expect it to be delivered on time."

"What?! You can't possibly expect me to come up with that much money in such a short time!"

Tomoe's glare could kill, "Are you really that dull? Hajime Saitou has been a thorn in our side for years, how do you expect to take over his position when we decide the time is right to take care of that fool? The governor general is known throughout Japan for his greed. Providing him with the funds lost will surely gain his favor." She pauses, "I have given you this opportunity to tarnish that bastard's name. My father, the President, does not take well to failure. How you receive the funds doesn't matter, I'm certain the other members can contribute. This is to strengthen the great nation of Japan, any other act will be considered treason."

"Yes, I understand."

"Battousai killed the bank workers." Dysuke says while driving to the scene.

"How do you know that?" Hoji asks, "that's what the other officer said."

Nodding, the two exit the vehicle to have a closer look at the bodies. "Reporter Park," Hoji calls to the man with a camera standing over the bloody mess, "battousai did this." Pointing towards the victims, "I trust there will be an article in the morning edition tomorrow."

"Of course," the man smirks.

"Make sure to mention Himura's name as well." A pause, "if you know what I mean." Bowing low, "right lieutenant, even his family will hate him after they read the news tomorrow." What family? Hoji remembers, smiling at the memory of killing Kenshin's mother.

"Speak of the devil." Dysuke mumbles as the lieutenant's car pulls up. Rushing out, Kenshin asks, "what happened here?"

"Battousai robbed the truck and killed these workers." Hoji spits.

"Battousai killed them?" Kenshin looks at the wounds, "you're wrong, it's a set up. Look here, he slit these men's throats. His M.O. is using blunt force trauma. He rarely uses the blade, and there are no omens tacked to the bodies. I'm surprised a detective such as yourself couldn't tell the real battousai from an imposter." Seeing the reporter, "if there is any false information published in tomorrow's paper, don't be surprised to find yourself in jail. I won't have you jeopardizing my case."

"But, lieutenant Hoji said-"

Kenshin cuts him off, "I don't care what he said, when he is assigned the battousai case, he can deal with how it is portrayed in the news." With that, Kenshin heads towards his car on the opposite side of the street.

Just as he is going to enter his vehicle, a shot rings out in the street. "It's battousai!"

Pulling out his pistol, Kenshin races towards the commotion. Seeing Dysuke and the reporter out cold, battousai has cornered the shivering Hoji against a brick wall. The frightened officer fires a few bullets, but the man in white easily dodges, and gets a quick hit with the blunt end of his blade to the policeman's side.

Groaning in agony, Hoji falls to the ground, but battousai doesn't let up. Striking the man's thighs, abdomen, chest, and arms, seemingly simultaneously, Hoji's head tilts to the side unconscious. Setting up for the killing blow, Hiko hears the clicking noise of a gun behind him too late, and the foreign metal pierces his bicep.

He doesn't feel the pain with his heart beating so fast, and adrenalin pumping. Battousai only has one thought in his mind, that bastard is dead. Quick as lightning, Hiko unarms his son, gun falling to the ground. The series of blows has Kenshin nearly on the ground, writhing in pain, but he won't give up, I will catch you today, he thinks and gets ready for battoujuitsu.

With one hand on the sheath and one on the hilt, Kenshin releases the blade with blinding speed towards Joseon's savior. Even with his good arm bloody, as if he's flicking a fly from the wall, Hiko parries, I taught you that boy, "STAY DOWN!" Hiko knocks him hard in the shoulder with the blunt end of his sword, and the officer crumples to the ground.

Seeing his son knocked out, he approaches the sleeping Hoji once again. "For killing akane, your death has been determined."

Getting ready to thrust through the man's heart, he is stopped once again as a fire burns up his thigh. "I SAID STAY DOWN!" Hiko turns towards the devil that is his son as another bullet rings through the quiet night, piercing battousai's abdomen.

Kenshin can't see the look of shock on his father's face as he stumbles towards the ground to lean on his good arm. "You're mine," Kenshin's smile is sadistic as he approaches the fallen hero.

Why does that sly fox always have to argue all the time. Sano thinks, walking down the road, steps a little wobbly from too much drinking. Why am I always the unreasonable one. "Do this, do that, blah, blah, blah." He shakes his head as he comes up to a scene of men fighting.

Blinking rapidly, his mind immediately clears as he watches the lieutenant aiming his gun at the fallen battousai. Thinking fast, he looks around and sees a small boulder nearby. With one swift flick of his wrist, the rock flies through the air.

"Finally," Kenshin points his gun at the mask that has haunted him for months, "take off your mask." Receiving no answer, he pulls back the safety, "I said, TAKE OFF-" Kenshin's world goes black as he can feel something hit his forehead, and with a crash, the officer falls to the ground.

Looking towards the source, battousai nods in thanks to Sano, and the taller man races over. "Here, lean on me." With ease, Sano lifts Hiko from the ground, good arm around his shoulder for support. Limping, battousai and his new comrade run as fast as possible from the fallen policemen.

"Where do you want to go?" Sano asks, and battousai points to his home. "Isn't that where that bastard lives? Let's get you to a doctor!"

"No!" The rooster head gulps, who is he to argue with Joseon's savior? "Are you sure? I know a good doctor." With another negative nod, Sano complies, opening the gates to the officer's house.

"Just leave me here," Hiko points to the ground near the entryway.

"I'll go get help!" Sano places the man down gently, but his heart aches as he receives another no. "Don't come back, I will take care of everything. Hurry, go!" The tall man doesn't really know what to make of the situation, but decides to listen, and takes off towards the Oniwaban circus. I'll go, but that doesn't mean I ain't comin back.

It doesn't take long for Kenshin to regain consciousness, wincing, he feels the wetness on his forehead. Seeing Hoji still knocked out on the opposite end of the street, he can't help the cry of frustration that leaves his mouth as he looks around, realizing that battousai has disappeared from his grasp once again.

Rising quickly, he notices a trail of crimson droplets leaving the scene. Yes, I've got you. After walking for a bit, "so the bastard thinks to come to my house..." Kenshin smirks, blood dripping from the wound on his forehead as he steps through the gate of his long time home with gun at the ready.

With mask still in place, battousai props himself up with his uninjured arm, waiting for his son to enter. Shinta... "I didn't think you were foolish enough to come into my home." Kenshin's adrenalin is pumping, finally having caught the infamous freedom fighter.

Pointing his gun once again at that hated mask, Hiko raises his hand to stop the officer in his tracks. Kenshin can feel the perspiration crawling along his skin as battousai slowly reaches for the string behind his head. Waiting in anticipation, Kenshin laughs to himself, relief flooding him that he has finally completed his mission, I will become chief for sure at this rate.

Hiko can feel the cool air on his face as the wood descends, taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes towards the heavens for a moment. It isn't long before he hears the officer's gun clatter to the ground, "you," he can hear the hurt in his son's voice. "It's you?"

Like a vice, Kenshin's heart clenches when he sees his father's familiar features beneath the guise of battousai. "Even when I asked you before... this whole time?" Hiko almost doesn't want to open his eyes, but knows he has to make Kenshin understand before it's too late.

Furious now, "how could you let me fight you?!" Tears well in the lieutenant's eyes, "how could you let me shoot you, you bastard?!" Tired, Hiko lays down on the ground, no longer wanting to see the look of horror on his youngest son's face.

Kenshin rushes over, gripping his father's shoulders, looking down at the exhausted man, I guess I will see you sooner than I thought Akane... "Answer me! How can you be battousai?!" The sob escapes uncontrolled as Kenshin looks at his father's wounds, blood spilling from each. Without thinking, he tears his blouse to make a tourniquet for Hiko's arm and leg.

"Mother!" The crying doesn't seem to want to stop as he sees his father's face pale, "mother!" He calls again, "father," a pause, "appears to be wounded! Help me!" Leaving the man on the ground, Kenshin's speed doesn't fail him as he races inside, not paying attention to Hiko as he yells for Kenshin to stop.

It only takes a second for the lieutenant to arrive at his parent's room to see Akane resting peacefully beneath a heavy blanket. "Mother! Didn't you hear me?!" Kenshin taps her shoulder, but receives no response, "Mother wake up!" Still nothing. "Mother?! We don't have time to mess around, father's hurt!" He shakes her a little harder while frantically taking the blanket off. His heart sinks to the floor as Kenshin sees the blood stain on Akane's chest, only now noticing no steady rise and fall of her breathing. He nearly falls to the ground taking a step back, "mother?" his voice is small. Quickly checking her neck for a pulse, Kenshin stares in a daze when he doesn't feel one there.

Getting back to his senses, he remembers that Hiko is still breathing outside. Covering the woman with the blanket once again, I have to save father, he races once again to the front of the house. He doesn't care if the man protests. Using all his strength, Kenshin grips Hiko's shoulders, dragging him to the gate, I can get you to the car, I can get you to the hospital, you're going to be fine. Kenshin looks back, and grabs the wooden mask and sword that has fallen to the floor.

"What happened?!" Kenshin can hear the tha-thumping of his heart in his ears at the footsteps rushing up behind him. "What did you do?!"

Almost not wanting to turn, Kenshin doesn't know if he can take anymore surprises in one night. Have I lost my mind completely? "Ka-" a pause, "Katsura?" Not caring anymore if he's hallucinating or simply talking to a ghost, "grab his legs, we need to get him to my car. We have to get him to the hospital." The man with the high ponytail nods, "wait," Kenshin says. "Are you..." he pauses, unsure if he wants to know the truth, "real?"

"Yes, now hurry!" Zapped back to reality, with a new sense of resolve, Kenshin and his brother carry Hiko to the car parked out front.

"We can't go to the hospital. I know someone who can help." With foot all the way on the gas, Kenshin races to a house nearby. He glances in the back at his father's shallow breathing as Katsura bangs on the door. It isn't long before an older man runs out with medical supplies to sit beside his father in the back seat.

"Shinta, drive to the old house in the mountains. You know the one." Nodding, the officer arrives in a matter of minutes.

"Hurry, get him inside, I need to close the wound on his chest, and hook him up to an IV right away." They don't have to be told twice, and the brothers carry the heavier man inside, laying him on the futon in the bedroom, the officer not paying attention to the various clippings plastered along the walls.

The Oniwaban Circus...

Racing into the nearest tent, Sano spots Yahiko comforting a crying Tsubame. "Yahiko, get off your ass, and follow me!"

"I'm busy here you dumb rooster head!"

"Shut up and come on! Battousai's been shot, he's in trouble, we have to go NOW!" Looking down at a sniffling Tsubame, Yahiko says, "sorry, I'll be right back."

Battousai is in trouble? The words echo through the young girl's mind, should I tell them?...

He doesn't really know why, but Sano grabs a couple of open beer bottles, some cloth and lighter, we at least have some weapons. "Keep up, we gotta run!"

"Who's not keeping up?!" Yahiko counters as he sprints ahead of the taller man, not even sure where he's going.

"Hey! It's this way!" Sano points, and in a few minutes they arrive at Kenshin's home. Bursting through the gate, the two see the puddle of blood near the front door. "That son of a bitch really killed him." Sano mumbles, and as if on autopilot, he stuffs the cloth inside one of the bottles.

Handing two to the younger man, with a flick of his lighter, he ignites all four makeshift bombs. Not even thinking, the taller man throws each of his on the roof of the lieutenant's home with Yahiko following suit. In a matter of minutes, the house is up in flames, Akane's body resting peacefully inside.

"Let's get out of here," Sano's throat catches, "I need a drink."

Without a word, after Hiko appears to be stable with Dr. Gensai and Katsura watching over him, Kenshin leaves the bedroom. Spotting his brother's departure, the older man runs to catch him, "wait, Shinta! What are you going to do?"

Taken aback by the gold that has engulfed his brother's eyes, "I have to bury mother." Kenshin glances at his old man, "how could he just let her die? He could have stopped it! He could have saved her!"

"Kenshin," he places a hand on his shoulder, "it's not that easy."

"Just as easy for you to pretend to be dead for all these years."

"Look, I'll tell you everything."

Kenshin nods, "we have to tend to mother first. Then, I want to know everything."

"I'll come with you."

"Katsu?" A pause, "it was Hoji wasn't it?" Kenshin doesn't need a confirmation to know the truth.

"Omo! It's on fire!" One of Kenshin's neighbor shouts as a group comes out with buckets of water to try to douse the flames, more concerned with their own homes catching the inferno than that of the owner of the house.

Seeing the commotion, Kenshin slows down in the car, the people of Joseon surrounding his blazing home. "Just let it burn! That bastard deserves it!" The officer rushes outside, and the townspeople scatter. "It's him! Run!"

"MOTHER!" The lieutenant screams, trying to make his way inside, but Katsura holds him back, "stop! Shinta, there's nothing we can do!"

After what seems like ages, with head held down in defeat, tears springing uncontrolled from his eyes, Kenshin turns to his brother, "let's lay her to rest in the mountains, nay? She would like that I think."

Thirteen Years Ago...

"Shinta!" Katsura yells as he reaches his brother's fallen body in the middle of the grass. Grabbing some herbal medicine he always carries with him, the older man quickly spreads it on Shinta's wounds to stop the bleeding. "Father!" He yells, signaling Hiko in the distance.

With fear in his eyes, Hiko sees his youngest son nearly dead on the ground. "Katsura, you must leave now!"

"Why? I want to stay here with you and mother! I can help!"

"No! It's too dangerous! If they find you, they'll kill you, do you understand?"

"Kao-dono..." Shinta moans.

"It will be hard, but take your brother to the old hut, and meet up with Doctor Gensai. He's not too far from here."

"How do I find him?"

"Just over that pass, you'll come to a village. There is only one medical center there. That's where you go." Hiko lifts the boy off the ground, and places him on his brother's back. "I'll meet you at the old house."

Seeing that he's still unsure, Hiko states, "you're the brains of the movement in Kyeong Seong. If you die, we all die. You must survive, now, GO!" With the heavy load on his shoulders Katsura races from the battlefield.

It is only moments before he comes up to two bodies crumpled on the ground, a small arm outstretched below with bloody dagger in hand. With a swift kick, Katsura knocks the dead body away to reveal Kao pinned beneath him. Heart heavy, Katsura doesn't notice her shallow breathing as he takes off over the mountain with Shinta riding piggy back behind him.

Present Day, The Mountains of Kyeong Seong...

With the sun rising over the horizon, suit and hair a dirty mess, Kenshin and his brother kneel beside their mother's risen grave. Even though no body resides, that is where she is in their hearts, "I see, you were the one to save me."

Glancing at the wooden mask, and katana lying next to the mound, "so, you have been planning this for that long?" Taking a second look, he realizes that the blade is on the wrong side. A sakabatou...

"After Manchuria, that's when they caught father. The Japs tortured him Shinta, they threw him in a nail cage, and threatened to do the same to mother. He really couldn't walk or move properly for a long time, but with constant practice, he was able to move again. We would train each day with the help of the Sekihotai, until about a year later, he was back to his former self."

"The Sekihotai?"

"They are the revolutionary groups throughout Joseon... actually we have been recruiting for the past twelve years for fighters who aren't scared of the Japs." Katsura pauses, "that's why we had to wait so long to start the punishment for those bastards who betrayed our country. We had to have some people behind us first. And, with the emergence of battousai, our recruits have doubled."

"I see," Kenshin mumbles, with eyes glistening, he looks towards his brother, "why didn't you just tell me?! Do you think I like working for those pigs? Do you think I like being the demon who kills Koreans?!"

"I'm sorry Shinta, really," Katsura's own heart crumbles thinking of the way their mother died, "we were trying to protect you and mother by not getting you involved. We were planning on telling you after we finished our revenge, we were all going to be a family again."

"But," he pauses, "I don't know what will happen now. Father is... Battousai is... dead. I have to start over." Reaching for the mask and weapon, Katsura's arm is met with calloused fingers.

"No, Katsu." Kenshin rises, snatching the items from his brother's hands, "we don't."

"Where are you going?" Katsura races after the lieutenant down the mountain. "I have to take care of something."

"Shinta! What are you going to do?" Kenshin walks with purpose inside the hut, and looks towards his father's room. This time, you will be proud to call me son, you will see... Heading towards the closet, Kenshin pulls the white hambok from a hanger.

"I will finish what father started." Katsura doesn't really know what to say, "To avenge mother... battousai will live for one more day."

Saitou Hajime's Office at Police Headquarters...

"It's been nearly a day, and there still is no news." The police chief lights a cigarette.

"We have searched all of Kyeong Seong with no signs of the bastard. Nobody has been reported entering any hospitals in the area with gun shot wounds." Superintendent Makoto interjects.

"Kenshin Himura you idiot. It's been this long and he hasn't reported back."

"Why do you care about him so much? He is just a Korean."

"Just a Korean?" Saitou stands tall next to the other man, "only a fool wouldn't be concerned." He pauses, "he was the last one to see battousai. It is only obvious that he would know what happened."

"Are you still satisfied with his performance so far on the battousai case? Don't you think you should assign someone more qualified."

"Psh," Hajime laughs, "you mean your idiot son Hoji? I'd rather not place my faith in him."

Saitou can see Makoto's blood boiling, "after today, I will be the one solely responsible for the battousai case," Shishio announces, "I assume you have no objections."

Saitou does a simple flick with his finger to remove the ash from his cigarette. Sitting back at his desk, "fine, but failure will not be tolerated from a position such as yours." Taking a long drag, "come back when you have news of Himura and battousai, you are dismissed."

The Japanese International Hospital...

"Thank you so much for breakfast Seta. It was delicious!" Kaoru blushes while eating some homemade kimbop that the teacher brought in. Even though officer Cho is guarding the door, nobody can say no to Soujiro when he whips out his million dollar smile, and a little meal bribe doesn't hurt.

"Of course, I will bring more tomorrow, okay Kaoru?" Receiving a nod from the woman, he asks, "how are you feeling today?"

"Much better than yesterday, thank you. I think my wound is almost healed, at least, it doesn't really hurt anymore." Seta can tell that she isn't' exactly happy with worry lining her features.

"What's wrong Kaoru?" He pauses a moment, "it's battousai isn't it? Are you worried about him?"

After the woman does a simple nod, "I heard that the police were after him last night."

"Ah, I see." Rising from the bed, and moving the tray to the side, "Would you like me to find out for you? I can find out what happened." Kaoru's face lights up at the kind man before him, "thank you, it's just... I feel like maybe I know him."

"Do you have someone in mind?" He remembers the dagger that she usually carries. "He saved you three times already," a pause, "so I am grateful to him as well." The man smiles, "I will go to the police station later and find out." Kaoru can't help wrapping her arms around him, "thank you Seta, thank you for everything."

A little taken aback by the sudden embrace, there's no stopping the flushing of his cheeks as he nods. "Well, I should get going, I'm sure Kenshin will be here soon." Seeing the woman pale at the lieutenant's name, he adds, "Don't worry Kaoru, I won't let him hurt you anymore. I will come again tomorrow."

Kaoru nods slightly in response as the man brushes a soft kiss on her cheek. Walking out the door, Seta waves goodbye while the officer outside wolfs down his breakfast. Sorry, but I won't be here tomorrow.

After a few minutes, Kaoru can hear a woman talking to the officer outside. "I'm going to need your help in here sir. We might have to hold her down." With perspiration forming on her brow, Kaoru watches as Cho enters the room followed by a petite woman with a long braid hanging below her nurse's cap.

Winking, Misao holds a syringe filled with some kind of liquid behind the blond man. In one quick jab, the needle enters the man's arm, "hey!" Surprised for a moment that the medication hasn't had the desired effect, Misao does a simple chop with her hand to the officer's neck, causing him to crash to the floor. "Damn, Megumi said that would work."

"Quick, help me handcuff him to the bed." After the women tie down the unconscious man, "here, throw these on," the ninja girl tosses Kaoru a nurse's outfit and cap.

"With what's happening with battousai, most of the security guards are gone."

"What do you mean Misao? I heard he attacked a bank transport..."

"You didn't hear?" She stops for a moment, "Himura shot him."

Kaoru's heart nearly stops beating, "Sano and Yahiko went to check out the bastard's place..." Misao pauses when she see's the look on her friend's face, "there wasn't a body," she rushes, "so I'm sure he has to be alright. Battousai can't die... right Kaoru?"

Young master... Without responding, the two women walk silently through Kaoru's door, but start rushing when they hear footsteps charging toward her room. "Where is that Joseon bitch?!" Hoji screeches when he sees officer Cho tied to the bed.

"I don't know," the man groggily comes to, receiving a slap from the lieutenant. "YOU IDIOT!"

Walking faster now, the women head to the courtyard as Hoji and more security run in the same direction as well. Thinking quickly, Kaoru pushes Misao into the bushes nearby, "she must have escaped," Hoji panics, but sees Tsubame with a shocked look on her face, staring at the nurse heading towards the exit.

His grin is evil as he grips the woman by the arm, "got you," he sneers as she turns revealing a frightened Kaoru.

Chong Ro Police Station Torture Chamber...

With Kaoru's arms tied to a board above her head, Hoji approaches the woman, still dressed as a nurse. "I don't like long conversations," his voice is like acid. "Where is battousai?"

He's alive? So he isn't dead...

Taking his baton from his belt, hoji presses the tip against Kaoru's abdomen, reopening her wound. Her breathing increases as she tries to quell the pain, she won't cry in front of this bastard. Pushing harder against her wound, "even when I do this? You won't tell me? I know you two are working together."

"I don't know, why don't you ask Kenshin Himura, didn't you say he was following him?"

Later that Day...

That little bitch, Hoji thinks of the woman in the basement. Standing in his office, lieutenant Hoji watches as a timid Tsubame walks from the station. She will be useful after all. Dialing the phone for police headquarters, "father. Himura shot the bastard three times. He has to be dead."

After listening to Shishio on the other line for a moment, "and the best part is... some Koreans burned down that mutt's house! Both his parents were killed, that's probably why he hasn't been in to work, he has been holding the memorial service." Hoji laughs. "I'll be surprised if he'll ever come back here after this." Hanging up, Hoji heads back to the lobby of the police station.

"Dysuke!" He calls to the officer while glancing at the newspaper sitting on the desk. Even though his face falls when he doesn't see any headline incriminating battousai or Himura regarding the bank incident, he grins, "let's celebrate at Club Akabeko tonight!"

Hoji turns when he doesn't receive any response from his coworker. Dysuke's eyes are wide when he looks upstairs as an officer in white is thrown from the railing to fall with a thump on the ground at their feet. The swoosh of air around him blows his hair slightly, and Hoji sees his death written out on the omen pinning the newspaper to the desk next to him.

Kaoru sits handcuffed to a chair below the police station, an officer in uniform standing guard before her. "Battousai's here!" They hear screaming from upstairs, and she can't stop the slight grin from forming on her cheeks.

The officer races to go by the woman, but is met with a swift kick, tripping him. Another strike with her foot against the officer's temple have him lying in a heap on top of her, the keys on his belt falling perfectly into her hands. Quickly untying herself, she sneaks upstairs, and uses the distraction battousai is causing to hurry out of the station.

Looking up, the terrified man's face sees a ghost with golden eyes glaring back at him. The three remaining officers surround their lieutenant on the ground floor, but battousai sails through the air, flipping over the rail, not intimidated in the least. All Kenshin can see is Akane's wound, and her lifeless body lying under the guise of sleep.

In one swift turn, all three officers fall to battousai's blade, leaving Hoji to back up into the desk with the omen sealing his fate. Pointing the sakabatou at the man, Kenshin's voice is deep, unrecognizable with only vengeance in his mind. "Hoji Makoto, for your evil deeds, I have come to take your life."

The officer reaches for his pistol, but realizes that he can't hold the gun with his hand wrapped in bandages. Even so, the officer frantically tries to reach for another weapon on his belt with Kenshin getting a sick pleasure from watching the bastard struggle.

With speed blinding, battousai strikes the lieutenant's arms, causing him to wallow in agony. But, he's not finished, another hit to his abdomen, followed by his right thigh, left thigh, and shoulders. Another quick swipe of his blade, and the man's head tilts to the side as he can feel a crunch in his neck, nearly bringing him to unconsciousness. But, that's not enough, not for what he did to Akane.

Teetering on the brink of death, the bell above the door for the police station twinkles indicating someone's entrance, but Kenshin doesn't hear. In one more strike, battousai can feel the blood surround his blade, as it pierces the man's flesh, protruding through his back. Hoji's hands instinctively grip steel to remove it from his heart, gurgling as fluid fills his lungs.

Pulling the blade harshly from the man, with a flick of his wrist, the blood descends from his sakabatou, leaving Hoji to fall to the ground with a thud, "BROTHER!" Kenshin hears, his own heart nearly stopping as he turns to see his best friend standing at the door, terror written all over his features.

Two steps below Shukuchi, Seta's heart clenches with the brutality of his brother's demise as he races to the ground floor, jumping over the railing, and grabbing a katana on the desk nearby. I'm sorry Seta... battousai parries the man's strikes easily, and pushes him back against a desk, taking the opportunity to race from the scene, zigzagging through familiar corridors.

Breathing ragged, Seta loses battousai quickly because Kenshin knows the ins and outs of the building. Turning in defeat with eyes watering, Seta returns to the gruesome scene in the center of the station. The katana clatters to the ground at his feet, and he knows he will never get the image of battousai removing his blade from Hoji's chest to ever leave his thoughts.

With a renewed pumping in his veins, the teacher grabs his brother's gun, and runs from the police station just in time to see battousai racing away on horseback. Thinking quickly, he sees a police scooter nearby. Jumping on, he chases battousai from the scene, firing haphazard shots towards the man.

Kenshin gallops along a trail through the forest on the outskirts of Kyeong Seong with Seta still at his heels. Pumping harder with his legs, the horse goes faster reaching the edge of a ravine, but the teacher gets in a lucky shot, causing the steed to tumble to the ground.

Battousai falls forward, unable to stop his descent. Kenshin feels weightless, arms and legs flailing through the air as he falls from the cliff. It seems like his fall will never end until, with a hard splash into the water below, Kenshin can feel his world spinning, air pushing from his tired lungs. The mask of battousai falls from his eyes to float to the surface, and his world goes black once more as bubbles escape his nostrils to plunge deeper into the abyss.

OK, that's it for now I think. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter :) Ooo, now the story is going to really get good :) You will find out more about Tomoe in later chapters. Also, battousai uses the sakabatou, but he still can kill people. Hiko decided to use the reverse blade simply so it wouldn't be a slaughterfest every time he fights a group of people.

Also, the governor general that Tomoe mentions in the beginning of the chapter is a different person than her father, the President. You will find out more about Kishokai later too. Also, you will find out more about how Hiko's group was betrayed by the people that battousai targets later as well.

Reviews are always cherished and appreciated :) Thanks and happy reading ^_^x