Chapter One Hundred Two
Kaoru's first impression of the situation happening in Neo-Kyoto had enlightened her to the full complication of what they were going to be dealing with. It was not just fires that they had to put out and innocent people that they needed to rescue. They also had to contend with those setting the fires, and how they were spreading lies about Kenshin being the mastermind behind them. All of this was muddied by the fact that there was very intense fighting happening at each of the sites, and since both sides appeared well-trained and well-organized, it made it hard for someone coming from outside to determine who was at fault. For Kaoru, as someone who had no desire to see anyone die, the fighting also meant that the stakes were even higher.
To save time and effort, Kaoru had decided putting everyone to sleep was the quickest way to solve everything. It quieted the fighting, thereby allowing Hiko the freedom to quench the flames while she fished out anyone who needed to be saved from the compromised buildings. Afterwards, Hiko would bind all combatants for later sorting, and they would move on to the next location.
Hiko had not argued or said anything against her tactics, which lead her to believe that she had made a feasible decision, at the least. Truthfully, Kaoru had been grateful her power had worked at all. None of the fighters were ever looking at her directly, as they were clearly occupied with their own battles, and she had not been touching any of them, either. There was a pain, however, forming in the back of her eyes, and she wondered if her power was stronger due to the amalgamation of the onibi from Hiko's mountain. Whether that was the truth or not, she had already decided to take full advantage of her current power level to save as many lives as she could.
At the fourth burning building, Kaoru had found the situation to be even more dangerous than her prior experiences. Instead of evenly matched fighting, the perpetrators were dealing with what was obviously normal citizens. Hateful and unkind laughter accompanied the roar of fire, and what appeared to be an ink demon kicked a kneeling raccoon dog for trying to stop them.
"Don't be stupid, old man! Everyone knows it was the fire demon who started this!"
Though coughing and clearly hurt, the older demon held himself in as dignified of a manner as he could manage. "I ain't seen no fire demon. Only you."
"Careful what you're trying to insinuate. We're only here to help, ya know!" More laughter tittered around the group of thugs, and Kaoru's anger snapped like a whip. As the ink demon reared back to kick the older resident again, Kaoru rushed to cover the distance, and, in the process, missed the appearance of someone else running to also intervene. With a little more effort than necessary, she slammed her wooden sword into the side of the attacker's head and knocked him flat out. Acting in tandem with her, the now large salamander tackled another demon just behind her target. The remaining culprits took a step back in wary shock. Allowing them no time to rally themselves, and with irises of sparking blue flame staring straight into their souls, Kaoru forced them into unconsciousness with the sharp bite of her tongue.
"Sleep!"
At nearly the same time that everyone else crumpled to the ground, momentum threw the unseen vigilante directly into her back. Stumbling onto her hands and knees, Kaoru squawked in surprise and adrenaline. Luckily, the dead weight of the demon slid off her spine as her body bowed under the force, and she blinked at the out-cold koi fish Kenshin had introduced her to at the summer festival; what felt like a lifetime ago.
"Yūtarō-kun!" Shaking him free of her power, she smiled when he came awake with a start and then a jerk into a seated position. Golden eyelashes opened and closed slowly, and it was a couple of seconds before his pupils focused.
"Kaoru-san!" He took her hand faster than she expected, and planted a kiss on her knuckles before she could pull away. "How lovely to see you again!" With the greeting finished, he seemed to remember what he was in the midst of, and turned to stare at the limp bodies of the city's assailants. He twitched at the vision of the large salamander lying directly over the top of one, and leaned warily away. "Uh, I seem to have lost a bit of my memory. Do you… know how I came to be on the ground?"
Smiling, Kaoru stood and offered him a hand up.
"Sorry about that. I didn't see you."
"Oh, well that's quite alrig-huh?"
His confusion was overshadowed by Hiko's appearance coming from out of the now dripping building, and Kaoru returned her attention to the matter at hand. Four rescued demons were lifted from Hiko's broad shoulders and settled on the ground beside the old raccoon dog.
"That's everyone here. Looks like everyone else evacuated already."
"Great!" Stooping next to the elder, Kaoru lightly shook his shoulder until he opened his eyes. Helping him up gently, Kaoru questioned how he was while Hiko starting restraining the culprits. Afterwards, Kaoru gave Yūtarō a quick run-down of what they had been doing and how many times.
"Wow. You're amazing, Kaoru-san. I came over here to check on some of our people that went silent, but I never would have imagined it was because of this. If you want, I can help you distinguish between our people and the Emperor's goons."
"Well…" Looking a little embarrassed, Kaoru scratched the back of her head. "I don't know how much help it will do. We're trying to get through the city as fast as we can before any major damage happens or anyone is hurt. Plus… I can't really pick and choose who is affected and who isn't. I can release my power afterwards, but I'll have to touch each person individually, and that would take too much time."
"Sure, but we're going to need all the help we can get, and if you're putting all our allies to sleep, it's only going to put us at a disadvantage."
"He has a point." Hiko's input was deep, and Yūtarō gave him a long sideways glance of intense contemplation. After a few seconds, the koi demon bowed his head in respect, but Hiko kept talking without acknowledging his recognition. "I think we should split up. I'll head towards that fire South of here, and you two head towards that one to the East." The salamander snorted, and Hiko huffed. "Fine, three. We'll cover more ground, and I've got a feel now for who's the enemy."
"Alright." Standing and dusting off her pants, Kaoru placed a hand on the salamander's back when he sidled up next to her. "Don't kill anyone, though, okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am." The water dragon sounded amused, but bowed in concession. "It's better to take prisoners in this situation, anyway. Even if they will only be disavowed." Hiko disappeared quickly and without fanfare, and Kaoru turned to head directly for their next location. Beside her, Yūtarō rushed to keep up.
"Where's Himura-san? Did he already split off to go somewhere else?"
Sapphire eyes glanced at him uncomfortably, but shook her head.
"No. He's… dealing with something else right now." Briefly her hand touched her sternum.
"Oh… alright." Yūtarō nodded, but sounded more relieved than disappointed. "That might end up being in our favor. The Emperor would have more evidence to pin it on him if he showed up. We'd have to have a lot of push back to convince the rest of the country this wasn't his doing." His insight and calm assessment were impressive to Kaoru, who tended to jump into situations without giving it much forethought. She had assumed the flamboyant Yūtarō was less shrewd, and she was glad, as well as a little comforted, to be wrong.
"Do you know why he's doing this to Kenshin?"
"Couldn't say. Whatever his endgame, it can't be good." Orange eyes suddenly looked her up and down as they jogged across the street, and he smiled a more normal grin at her. "Tsubame-chan told me you could talk now. I'm glad to hear that your voice is a pretty as your face."
Scrunching up her nose to fight an amused smile, Kaoru huffed.
"You better not have given sweet Tsubame-chan any trouble with that honey tongue."
"I am merely complimenting a beautiful lady. You should never be troubled by hearing the truth." Kaoru gave him another look of amusement crossed with incredulity, but his features turned serious when he checked his phone. "If my information is correct, I believe the fire closest to us is also where the Princess is."
"Princess?! Really? Is she setting the fires for her father?"
Yūtarō looked briefly confused before he rushed to explain.
"No, no. She's on our side, but it would look bad if she were hurt in this fight. I'm sure the Emperor would use it as another excuse of some kind to paint Himura-san in an even worse light. She should be fine with that bodyguard… Hey! Wait up!" Hearing only of the detriment to Kenshin should some princess be hurt, Kaoru took off at a sprint, and left Yūtarō behind.
X
Isolated on the mountain, Kenshin sat in deafening solitude. The quiet was not appreciated, however, as war raged violently in his mind. Across his lap, the Kagu-tsuchi was held horizontally, but it did not rest upon his thighs nor was it held respectfully. Both hands grasped the katana, one by the golden wrapped hilt, the other so tight around the blade that blood pooled and spilled onto his legs. Through sheer force of will, Kenshin had crashed his consciousness into a heightened state of being in order to confront the Kagu-tsuchi directly. Not within his core, where it rested safe and isolated by his power, but in a parallel plane closer to where it's true form existed separate from what could be perceived by reality. It was a barren world filled with nothing but rampant fire, from horizon to horizon. Not one shadow could be seen, but the distinction of color gave the perception of depth. Each breath filled his lungs with smoke, but it was not comforting.
"YOU MUST STOP."
Turning in his vision, Kenshin found himself face-to-face with a man-sized figure. The form was so bright it hurt to look upon, but Kenshin glared in challenge even as he recognized that he was seeing a truer form of the Kagu-tsuchi. The higher being was composed of white flames so blinding and pure that even he, a being born from the same fire, felt that the heat was unbearable.
"Was this always your plan? To kill her twice? To make me kill her twice?!" The vehement words echoed in the empty void, and for a time, the higher entity did not respond.
"MY PERFECT VESSEL COULD NOT BE CONCEIVED IN THIS LIVING PLANE. HE WOULD HAVE SCORCHED THE PLANET AND KILLED THE MOTHER, THEREBY KILLING HIM. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR HIM TO BE CONCEIVED IN THE ABSENCE OF LIFE AND POWER."
The absence of life and power. That is what Arai Shakku's journal said. The mother had to be human… and she had to die.
"THE SOUL OF THE MOTHER HAS PASSED. YOU CANNOT KILL WHAT IS ALREADY DEAD. YOU WOULD ONLY BE SENDING HER BACK TO WHERE SHE BELONGS. THE DEAD MUST NOT REMAIN WITH THE LIVING."
"She belongs with me, and she will remain by my side." Turning his wrist out, a sword made of violet flames roared into life to appear in his hand. In instantaneous response, the blade of the Kagu-tsuchi materialized in the grip of the white-flamed entity, making it clear that there was to be a fight if he wanted one. A fight against a being older than the Earth itself. Grinding his jaw, Kenshin lifted his chin in determination. "I will not let you take her. If I had known what you had planned, I would have killed your vessel months ago."
"YOU WOULD CONDEMN THE WORLD… FOR ONE LIFE?" Despite the imminent threat of their battle, the Kagu-tsuchi's voice remained deep and calm, as it always had.
"I would condemn the world for her."
The clash of their simultaneous attacks echoed within the world in a raucous cacophony that rattled his brains like tolling bells. From out of his skull, knifing pain split open his scalp and molten blood dripped down his forehead and over his face. The pain spread to every inch of his body, but he had no true notion of it. His intention was fixed upon his denial, upon his defiance, and he was blind to the consequences.
"YOU MUST STOP!" For the first time, the Kagu-tsuchi's voice raised in volume, and his words sounded unnaturally like concern.
"I WILL NOT!" Shouting back, Kenshin pressed against the solid weight of the Kagu-tsuchi. A sneer pulled at his nose, but it was contorted by the puckering of his brow. "You are a higher being! And yet you would condemn one innocent life to Death for your own gain! I thought you were meant to protect those without the ability to protect themselves, but you have shown me who you truly are. If you had asked her, she would have gladly given her life for you. I have seen her determination. She is a mother, through and through. But you did not ask. You gave no choice or free will! You forced this upon us both!"
"…"
"If that is the being I would be unleashing upon the world… then it seems Death would be kinder for us all."
X
"This one, too!"
Hurrying along behind Yūtarō as he pointed out which of the sleeping demons to awaken and which to leave alone, Kaoru touched a hand quickly to whatever body part was closest to her as she passed by. The princess had fallen flat on her face, which Kaoru felt a little guilty about, but she was more concerned about putting out the fire and rescuing anyone trapped inside to give her more than a passing wince. Everyone was a bit addled and confused by the situation as they came out of from under the influence of her power, but thankfully they knew Yūtarō and believed him when he said that she was not a threat. While two of the kijin tied up the Emperor's goons, the rest went immediately for the burning building.
"Good news!" Yūtarō jogged up next to her as she used her ice flames to put out what fire she could reach from the outside. The salamander had already fought her about going inside the buildings, and had soundly won. As he could absorb fire, the salamander had taken up the duty of going into the structure while she promised to remain outside of it.
"Some of the others were able to liberate the fire stations, so we should start seeing some fire trucks." Briefly, his voice dropped to a petulant tone. "I guess that injured wind brat was good for something."
"That's great. How many other locations do we still have?"
"There are seven other fires at the moment, but this won't be over until we can stop or capture all the idiots starting the fires."
One of the smaller kijin appeared from out of the smoke-filled doorway of the burning building with a woman in tow. Kaoru jumped immediately forward to take over, and Yūtarō stepped up on her other side to help. The woman was swollen with pregnancy, and coughed weakly as she waddled. When they were well away from the fire, Yūtarō yanked out his phone to make a call.
"Hey, Tsubame-chan. Is there anyone available…?"
Left alone with the lady, Kaoru found her some water and helped her drink it. The sight of her round little belly filled Kaoru with a strange type of warmth and joy, and she automatically placed a hand over her sternum where Kenji resided. There was a raw glow of heat rubbing against her lungs and the back of her ribs. It had slowly grown since entering the city, but it was not so bad that she could not function. She hoped the feeling did not turn into another episode, especially with Kenshin far away.
The reminder of why Kenshin was not with her pinched the muscles in her face, and she turned away from the pregnant woman. If another episode did occur, what would happen? Kenshin was the only one who could quell Kenji's power, but would he stop there? Or would he really try to kill him like he said he would?
I… I don't want to die, but… I don't want to kill Kenji, either.
Kaoru remembered. She remembered everything. All of the time she had spent with Kenji inside the Veil. All of the moments they had bonded over, the comfort she had given to his tiny fire form, and his beautiful, childish laughter as they had played together. He was her child, and she would protect him, but… protecting him from his father was not natural. Protecting him with his father was how it was meant to be.
Kenshin… there has to be another way. Clenching dark lashes together, she swallowed and fought the trembling of fear in her body with conviction. Even if… even if there isn't… I want my baby to live. At least I've experienced life. He should have the chance to experience it, too.
"Hey! You!"
A frown scrunched her features, and Kaoru looked around to find who was yelling.
"Yeah, you! What the hell were you thinking?! I could have broken my nose falling asleep on my feet!"
On small, quick-moving legs, a young lady was marching towards her. She was tiny and covered in soot, but her voice projected and her tone was that of someone used to having authority. Behind her, a man twice her size followed. Twin swords were still bare in his hands, but they were relaxed at his side. A single, thin-hooked horn sprouted from the center of his forehead. He was not who her eyes focused on, though. Sapphire eyes widened as she stared at the small woman, and she shot to her feet when they were nearly upon her. Slapping both hands to the girl's cheeks, Kaoru forced the woman's face up towards her, and her voice was sharp with her excitement and surprise.
"Misao?!"