Gen-chan -- Angst-Woman is on the loose! RUN RUN RUN AWAY!!!!
^_~
****************************************************************************
okay, this has NO lemon in it, (hears groans of disgust and the sounds of
delete keys being pressed), but this does have shonen-ai themes.
hey! it ain't my fault Kenshin and Sano are shy and dont wanna do hanky
panky in front of an audience (well, other than ME). and it's finals
week... *sigh*
think of this as a character piece (despite the title).
have fun reading. but i doubt it cause its all angst-y and stuff.
******************************************************************************
Enough
By Genrou
Kenshin drew his blade, its edge flashing in the early afternoon light.
The red sunlight glinted against the steel surface, mirroring the flying
strands of scarlet hair on his head. He was surrounded by fifteen
masked figures that encircled him like wolves ready for the kill. Little
did these men realize that Kenshin was no prey, and the hunters should be
careful of becoming hunted.
"What do you want?" Kenshin's voice was low, his tone even.
Kenshin did not appreciate being lured out into the woods for a fight. He
had come out to the woods, expecting to meet Sano for sparring and
training. Instead, he was faced by a group of masked men ready for a
fight against the famed warrior Hitokiri Batousai. He was Himura Kenshin
now, no longer the man known as Batousai, the killer without conscience.
His fighting days were over and Kenshin only wanted peace. Who were these
men to try and destroy that fragile new life he had built? When will the
fighting end?
"Hitokiri Batousai, you have been chosen to die under our swords. "
The guttural voice came from the leader, a man wearing a red mask rather
than the black ones his followers wore. The man was tall, taller even
than Sanosuke, with cold blue eyes that bore into Kenshins violet ones.
This was what he used to be, Kenshin thought to himself. Before becoming
Kenshin, he was exactly like this cold eyed man with the red mask; a
killer, a monster, the walking dead. But no longer. No longer... He
was Kenshin now... Where was Sano?
"Why? And under whose orders?" His voice was still calm, even faintly
curious as to who would send hired killers after him. "Who sent you?"
"That is our business. Prepare yourself, Batousai!" With that warning,
the group charged as one.
Kenshin stood relaxed, waiting for his adversaries to come to him. He
hated this, the fighting and the turmoil that followed him because of his
past. Sometimes, he wondered why he even bothered to try and live a
normal life. But his thoughts were interrupted by brandished swords and
blades. Fight, Flee or Die. Kenshin chose to fight. Sometimes, there
was no other choice; he could not allow these men to involve his family.
Not his family. Not here, not now, not ever. ::...Sano...::
-----
Sanosuke sped towards the forests, knowing that he might be too late. He
had seen the note that was supposedly from him, a note telling Kenshin
that he had found a great place deep in the woods for their training
sessions. Kaoru had told Sano that Kenshin had left nearly half an hour
ago to meet him in the clearing. Sano, so as to not scare Kaoru, had
pretended to have forgotten and ran for the clearing.
::Shit. Shitshitshitshit! Kenshin's in trouble!::
Sano could feel it deep within, that small part of himself that he usually
ignored, that part of himself that was constantly, acutely aware of
Kenshin. From the first moment that Sano met Kenshin, so very many years
ago, there was this sudden, inexplicable connection that held him bound to
that red-haired warrior. He had always been... sensitive, but had usually
ignored this talent. It served him well but he preferred to disregard
this particular part of himself. After all, what does a warrior need of
the supernatural?
But... ever since Kenshin, ever since he and Kenshin... That awareness had
gotten stronger, no longer content to stay deep within and ignored, but
now screaming at him to run faster faster faster, because his Kenshin was
in danger.
Sano ran as if the devil was snapping at his heels, long legs eating
up the ground, almost flying over the rough terrain. ::I can't be late...
dammit, I can't be late!::
This time, Sano listened to his hidden self, listened hard to that
connection with Kenshin. He was afraid. With this perception, he could
feel Kenshin, could feel "Batousai" slowly wakening from within,
scenting battle and chaos. He could sense the coldness that was slowly
seeping into Kenshin's psyche, the insidious touch of that alternate
personality that Kenshin tried so hard to bury. Sanosuke could feel the
wintry darkness that presaged Hitokiri Batousai. He shuddered, shying
away from that awareness.
He was close, could hear the sounds of loud breathing, of steel clashing
against steel, of the grunts of pain and effort. Sano could feel Kenshin
tiring, losing control of his tight hold on Batousai, feel the rising
green tide of anger and bloodlust.
"Oraoraoraoraoraoraoraoraora!!!" Sano's battle cry pierced the almost
silent battle between Kenshin and eight other men. Seven figures were on
the ground, unconscious and bleeding profusely from non-fatal wounds. But
Kenshin was slowly losing ground, overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Kenshin flicked a glance over where Sanosuke was, relief warring with
fear. He regretted nothing, not this welcome weakness that always came
over him whenever Sanosuke was around, this wanted feeling of completeness
yet vulnerability that assailed him. This weakness was strength, this
vulnerability was armor, all against that madness that overtook him in
the heat of battle. Sano was here... Sano was here, Kenshin chanted,
fighting off that mad haze that was slowly shrouding his mind. But the
smell of battle, of blood and heat and sweat and hate, the taste of fear
and rage and the sound icy cold steel that whistled its song in the
night... Kenshin could not fight it all. Batousai took one more step
towards awareness.
Sano attacked the nearest man, noting the black mask that covered the
lower half of his face, much like a shinobi's mask. Then Sano was in the
midst of battle, exhilaration running through his veins at the prospect of
heavy fighting, his fists flying, connecting. Soon, he was back
to back with Kenshin, the knowledge that THIS was his place secure in his
mind, years together making them into a formidable pair.
"Kenshin, you okay?" Sano queried, eluding a sword stroke and hitting the
attacker with a punch that tossed the opponent against a tree trunk a good
fifteen feet away. The attacker slid down the trunk to sit limply at the
base, blood streaming from his nose.
"Fine."
Yet,Kenshin did NOT sound fine to Sano at all. There was an icy
inflection in his voice that heralded Batousai's entrance along with the
green, murderous look that crept into Kenshin's warm violet eyes.
Bloodlust had taken hold, and Sanosuke's empathetic bond quivered with
dread.
Kenshin's sword flickered and darted, almost invisible in its swiftness,
its strokes sharp enough to cut through air. Sano could swear that he
could hear the wind shatter underneath each stroke.
"Kenshin, be careful!" Sano yelled, fists connecting with bone and flesh,
hoping that Kenshin would understand what he meant.
Kenshin's mouth stretched into Batousai's grim smile. He understood what
Sano meant; to not let the killer loose, to keep control, to not kill.
But he was getting tired, and the "other" wanted to be free. Yet, Kenshin
took hold of himself and swore again that he would never take another
life, never let Batousai win again. But... it was getting harder and
harder to keep Batousai locked away. Years and years of suppression,
years of built up tension... Someday Batousai will win. But not today,
please no not today, not ever please, the chant ran together in Kenshin's
mind like ink and water.
Kenshin slashed at another man, the unsharpened edge of the katana
connecting with his opponents shoulder, breaking bone and tearing muscle.
The assailant fell, his mouth open in a silent scream that never took
voice, for Kenshin hit the back of his neck with the pommel of his sword.
The man fell, unconscious and badly hurt. The total number of attackers
was cut down to two including the red-masked leader.
Sano spun on the ball of his right foot, his left connecting with the
breastbone of another attacker who was sneaking up on Kenshin. The man
fell down with a grunt, gasping for breath even as his eyes rolled back.
Sano stood, facing the last opponent still standing. He had taken a few
cuts, nothing serious, but he was tired already. These men were good,
whoever they were. Now there was only the leader to take care of.
Kenshin slowly turned to face the leader, his eyes a strange combination
of violet and the icy green color of madness. Kenshin re-sheathed his
sword, then went into his guard position, right leg forward, left leg
back, his left hand on the sheath of his sword, his right poised over the
pommel for a quick draw. He could feel the madness taking over him, the
slowly altering consciousness from Kenshin to Batousai. Kenshin was
losing control.
"Who sent you?" Kenshin's voice was cold, his eyes even more so. The green
tide was slowly taking over, his anger building. "Who sent YOU?"
"That is my business to know, Batousai." The red-masked man was calm,
still. His sword was still sheathed over his left hip, his arms folded
across his chest.
Sano slowly walked closer to Kenshin, his senses jangling with alarm.
::damn, Kenshin's going out of control. I can feel Hitokiri waking..:: He
put his hand on Kenshin's shoulder, feelt the flesh underneath tense.
"Kenshin, don't let him get to you. Sano's voice was low, calm, the voice
of reason. "Don't let Hitokiri out. Do you understand?"
Kenshin didn't answer, his entire being focused on the battle between his
two selves. Sano could feel the tension humming from Kenshin's body, the
muscles under his hand was so tense it felt like it would burst out of the
skin. He could almost hear the keening strain within Kenshin, the tension
pitched so high as to break glass. Then it was gone. Kenshin was himself
again and Hitokiri was inert, held down by sheer will.
"....Sano... "
Sano winced away from the gratefulness in Kenshin's voice. But he
clutched Kenshin's shoulder one more time, then let go. Sano took his
place next to him, facing the masked man.
"You heard Kenshin," Sano stressed the name, " Who sent you? "
The man ignored the question. "You should have killed us, Batousai. You
have left survivors that can come back and take you. That was a mistake."
With a flicker of air, the man disappeared.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes, his violet gaze flicking across the clearing,
searching, searching, his senses tuned to a high pitch. Then he leapt, his
sword drawn, his mouth shaping a soundless snarl.
Hitokiri Batousai stirred once more, awareness of
danger-anger-rage-battlelust prodding him awake.
Kenshin's mind roiled with rage, "Your fight is with ME!"
With a heave of his shoulders, he parried the blow aimed at Sano's head,
throwing the masked man off to land on his knees several yards away.
Kenshin landed opposite of the man, his sword held back and away from his
body. WIth a swift movement, he re-sheathed his sword, then turned to
face the man, watching him impassively with the cold gaze of an
executioner.
Sano was frozen in place, stunned once more by the swift exchange of
blows. He turned towards the masked man, ready to finish the job Kenshin
had begun. Sano took one step and stopped at the sound of a rattling
cough. The red-masked leader shook, his body shuddering from
uncontrollable tremors, his hands moving up to clutch his throat. A
bright stream of blood poured from his mouth, staining the mask a darker
red, the flood streaming down his neck.
The man stared unbelieving at the flood that stained his mask, his chest,
his hands. He half turned on his knees to face Kenshin, half extended his
right hand, eyes afire with hate, then collapsed on the ground with
another trembling groan.
Sano took another step towards the inert man, then stopped, afraid that
Batousai had awakened after all. He turned to the red haired figure at
the other end of the clearing.
" ...Is he..?"
"No." His voice was a disturbing blend of Batousai's cold tones and
Kenshin's more human, tired one. "No... But he will never fight again."
A wind blew across the clearing, the breeze cold against sweat dampened
skin. Kenshin closed his eyes and let the wind run through his hair, his
body, letting it cool the fires that battles always aroused in him.
Battlelust, battle-rage, adrenaline that pumped through his frame,
stirring the crudest, basest desires in his body. This was another reason
why he had wanted to leave Batousai behind; because of that hard to
control personality that needed more blood to slake its thirst. That
neverending desire to fight, to dance on the thin line between madness and
sanity. An appetite for chaos that would never, ever be satisfied. He
closed his eyes and tried to swallow the bile that rose to his throat,
tried to fight an internal battle between Hitokiri Batousai and Himura
Kenshin.
But Kenshin was tired. The physical battle had sapped just enough of his
strength to give Batousai an edge, and Batousai was fully awake and
aware. Kenshin retreated, still fighting to keep control... Hitokiri Batousai
opened his eyes, the green color of madness flickering deep within the
slowly fading violet.
Sano watched Kenshin's unmoving figure, the wind stirring long strands of
hair that whipped around his head, blood red tendrils that flew in the
stiff breeze. Sano was concerned, that awareness of Kenshin humming with
alarm, a keen wail of tension that thrummed at the back of his skull.
Then Kenshin opened his eyes, and the warped color of insanity stared back
at him. Sano knew what this meant; Batousai had won this battle, and it
was up to him bring Kenshin back.
With a harsh curse, Sano jumped towards Hitokiri, hoping that Kenshin was
aware enough to know that he was trying to help. He kept an eye out for
the blade, watching it quiver in Batousai's hands, an indication of the
fight between Kenshin and the other. Sano knew that if it switched sides,
with the sharpened edge turned to face him, the chances of his getting out
of this situation alive was nil.
Batousai growled, an animalistic snarl of hate and hunger. He wanted to
fight, and this new prey was attacking, his long legs eating up the
ground, long loping strides that would bring him closer to death.
Batousai grinned. Was this man so eager to die?
"Kenshin!!!" Sano yelled, then jumped to the side when Batousai suddenly
appeared in front of him, slashing with the unsharpened side. Sano
dodged, but a deep cut across his chest opened, staining his shirt red.
Batousai snarled again, angry at the "other" that turned his fatal blow
just enough to save his quarry. Hitokiri hated that weak other that
resided in his mind and took over his body. He hated that sniveling
coward that turned his back from the battlefield and chaos to become a
wanderer, a mere man. An unintelligible growl rumbled out from deep in
his chest. Hitokiri will kill again, and this man, this tall white-robed
man in front of him, this human that the "other" _LOVED_ would be the
perfect weapon against that idiot within who had enclosed Batousai deep in
the darkness. To kill this Sanosuke would kill Kenshin, and Kenshin's
death meant Hitokiri's freedom.
Sano could feel the blood seeping down his chest, his shirt sagging from
the blood it was soaking up. He was afraid. He was afraid that Kenshin
was too far to reach, and that all that was left was Batousai. Sanosuke
retreated a few steps back, still watching the red-haired figure with the
face of an angel and the expression of a demon. Watched the hands that
trembled, that fought to keep the katana in its nonfatal stance. Sano
listened hard, trying to sense out Kenshin, trying to find a way to break
through Batousai's guard. This was the worst he had seen. Kenshin was too
weak to fight. And Batousai was too strong. Batousai had won. Sanosuke
could find no other solution...
Hitokiri charged, a blur of motion that streaked across the distance
between him and Sanosuke, this time intent on a kill. He will die he will
die they will die together, the killer screamed in his mind.
Sano knew what to do. He stood still and waited, eyes holding the insane
green ones that promised nothing but death.
Batousai raised his katana, the sharpened side flashing in the air, and
sliced down, his mouth open in a silent scream.
The blade flashed silver then dulled as life blood stained the mirror like
surface.
Green unseeing eyes darkened to violet that understood.
Warm brown eyes watched the change from Hitokiri to Himura, a smile of
understanding , love and acceptance dulling to a blank opacity.
Sanosuke fell silently, his body flung back by the blow. He landed
several feet away, his arms outflung, his chest crossed by a wound that
bled his life away.
Kenshin screamed in denial, the sword dropping from his hands, and
Batousai cringed away, blasted back by a wave of loss and pain that
shrieked its way out of Kenshin and battered against Hitokiri's control.
That small loosening of his hold was enough for Kenshin to wrest control
of his body, and shattered Hitokiri's awareness into useless pieces.
"NOooooo!!! Sanosuke!" Kenshin's voice cracked, his wail of anguish
echoing through the clearing.
But the only thing that noticed was a flock of birds that took wing in the
dark sky.
Kenshin took several wobbling steps towards the prone figure, his eyes
deep purple pools of... nothing. Hitokiri was gone, but Kenshin...
Kenshin might as well be dead.
He dropped down to his knees next to Sanosuke, and touched that face, so
quiet in its sleep, peaceful almost in its blankness. Kenshin reached out
a hand to touch his face, that beautiful strong face that he had loved for
so long, Sano who was his family and his friend and his beloved and his
half. Sano who was always there, calming even when enraged, always
reminding Kenshin why he chose to be Kenshin. Sano who was all and
everything. His Sanosuke.
A tear rolled down his face, followed by others, more and more until the
sobs that had been silent till now broke free and Kenshin realized that
Sano had chosen this way because it was the only way and that Batousai was
gone gone will not come back not ever, but Sano...
Kenshin gathered the still body in his arms, salt tears dropping to mix
with blood, his voice whispering Sanosuke's name over and over as if to
call him back into the empty shell that he held. But this was no fairy
tale ending where the tears of a lover could call back a beloved from the
dead. This was no fairy tale. And Sanosuke was dead. No amount of tears
could change that. Yet Kenshin wept, rocking back and forth, clutching
Sano's body to him, unwilling to let go.
"Was it worth it? Was it? Your death for my sanity? What do I do now?
What do i do now?? "
---------
Kaoru wiped her eyes, and bent down to light an incense stick. She
watched Kenshin, his motions slow, his face blank. Kaoru had known about
the two of them, of their bond and their devotion to each other. She
wondered what had happened, for Kenshin had not spoken a word since they
were found in the clearing, led by Kaoru who had gotten worried. Kaoru
swallowed a sob, reliving the hellish sight that greeted her. Bodies that
were scattered across the clearing, and in the center of it all was
Kenshin rocking Sano's still body.
Yahiko stood next to Kenshin, holding his hand tightly. Sanosuke was
dead, and Kenshin... Kenshin might very well follow. Yahiko clutched
Kenshins hand tighter, as if to keep him closer, to hold him HERE.
Sanosuke was dead, but Kenshin was still alive. Yahiko's face was a blank
facade of control. He was fifteen years of age, an adult. But he felt
like a child once more in the face of this loss. A father was lost to
him. And he was greatly afraid that Kenshin would follow. There was no
spark of life in Kenshin, as if... as if his soul had been torn away.
Himura Kenshin stood, holding Yahiko's hand in his cold one. He looked at
Kaoru, weeping silently, tears running down her face. He could feel
Yahiko shaking, trying to be a man and show no emotion. And he looked
within himself, and found the strength to say goodbye.
Kenshin picked up a stick of incense, gently released Yahiko's hand and
lit the end. He looked to his family and smiled sadly. Sano had given
him family, after all. Sano died for this, so shouldn't he live for it
too? Half a soul within himself that was bound tightly to his family.
And that half a soul was enough. It will be enough.
With steady hands, he set the incense in front of the altar, and closed
his eyes. It was enough.
Kenshin brought his hands together, bowed his head and prayed. The sun
shone down, lighting the dulled red to fiery strands. It was enough.
Gen-chan --
^_~
(
geocities.com/himurasan)