Rising Sun

by Mana-chan

Chapter 13

Suspicion filled Kenshin's mind as he walked behind the hobbling Hebi. The pair had walked for two hours already, and still there was no sign of her "grandfather's cabin". Afew minutes he could understand, but two hours?! That was ludicrous! After several more minutes of walking, the ex-hitokiri decided that he'd had enough, and called out to the girl
limping ahead of him.

"Hebi-dono.. shouldn't we have gotten there by now?"

The girl spun around and smiled, the expression on her face sugary sweet, but then her eyes fell upon his left hand, which grasped the sakabatou at his side as if ready to draw at any moment. The smile dissolved into a bittersweet smirk. She sauntered over to the rurouni, whose eyes were now narrowed into 2 violet slits, and purred seductively,

"Battousai, did you really think Night would allow you to stumble upon his haven withsuch little resistance..so few..temptations? Did you think he wouldn't hold a nice little partyin your honor? Well, guess what...I'm the welcoming committee!"

She gave a wild laugh and disappeared suddenly into a cloud of red smoke. Kenshin's eyes widened, and he tried to leap from the ominous mist, but already the poison had takeneffect, paralyzing his limbs, dulling his senses. He struggled for fresh air, but the smoke only choked him even more, pushing him into a state of darkness, loss of emotion- a suppressing of the soul. Kaoru! Wait for me...Ai...Ai shi... Blackness filled Kenshin's vision then, and he remembered nothing.

************************************************

Red and black spots began to dance across Sanosuke's vision as he watched the monster's claws puncture his hand and dig in deeper, only to observe with horror as their sharp, bloody tips appeared on the other side of his hand, throwing him deeper and deeper into the flashing haze within his mind. In the distance, he could here a faint voice calling him, keeping him
from succumbing to the haze...

Yahiko watched as the beast began to tear at Sanosuke's exposed chest and head with its free hand. The ex- street fighter did nothing to resist, flopping around in the creature's wrath like a doll being mangled by an unsatisfied child in a temper tantrum. A wetness startled Yahiko from his trance-like state, and he reached up with one hand, feeling tears flowing down
his cheek. He clenched his teeth with anger then, infuriated at the death of Megumi and the pain the monster was inflicting on his friend.

I won't let it do this! It killed Megumi..and I won't let it take Sanosuke! I won't let it take
my...my FAMILY!

"SANO!!!! HOLD ON!!! DON'T GIVE UP!"

With energy reserves from deep withing the hidden chambers of his heart, Yahiko leapt forward, his shinai in position over his head, wildfire in his eyes.

"LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE!!!!!!!"

The scream exploded from his chest and Yahiko drew back his shinai, altering his jump so that the weapon came crashing down on the monster's hand, the sheer power behind the blow breaking off the tip of the bamboo sword upon contact. The creature howled in anger and released Sano, focusing its entire attention on the boy standing before it. With one eye on Sano's limp, blood-stained body, and the other on his opponent, Yahiko wildly planned out his attack. Sudden flashes of his friends blinked chaotically into and out of his mind, and he shook his head to rid himself of the distraction. Finally, in
a desperate act of frustration, Yahiko screamed and ran, his sword pulled back behind him in a low stance.

"MYOUJIN KASSHIN RYUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!"

With a raging battle cry and strength beyond his imagination, Yahiko did a quick thrust and twist, sending the jagged edge of the shinai piercing and twisting into the beast's flesh. The creature screamed in agony and attempted to escape the weapon protruding from its chest, but to no avail. Yahiko's fury egged him on, compelling him to twist further, torturing
the animal, his mind filled only with hate and revenge. Never before had he felt so much contempt for ANYTHING. After a few more minutes of digging and torture, the monster's body fell still and unmoving to the ground. Yahiko continued his attacks though, intent on murdering the demon even in death, as if by continuously hurting the physical body, the spiritual
body would also suffer.

A cool breeze swirled around the dead body of the animal, carrying the stench of blood and flesh away on its wings, slowly convincing Yahiko to stop his ritual. Taking small, weary steps, he walked until he stood above Sanosuke's limp body, and then he collapsed in a small, bloody heap, overwhelmed by the events of the past hour. Cool raindrops began to fall from the overcast skies, and Yahiko smiled, closing his eyes, succumbing to sleep. For the time being, the duo was safe...

*******************************************

"You fight all right, but you could improve..a lot."

Kaoru glared at Yuugure for his biting remark.

"I could improve...a lot?"

Yuugure opened his mouth to speak, but closed it immediately when he saw the hurt and anger in Kaoru's eyes. Immediately, his gaze softened, and he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey..sumimasen..I didn't mean it that way. It's just that... for the purposes of Night and the Stars, you'll need more..complicated techniques. Ralon could teach you.... I see you two get along well."

Kaoru smiled at the mention of her newfound friend. "Hai..she's been very kind."

Yuugure nodded thoughtfully. "All right.. then you're training with her starts tomorrow. How does that sound?"

Kaoru shifted uncomfortably. "What..are we training for?"

A grave smile crossed the other man's face, and his eyes darkened.

"For a fight against the hitokiri battousai, sworn enemy of Night, our master.."

A sudden image of cold golden eyes and flaming red hair characterized by the scent of blood flashed through Kaoru's mind, and she felt herself start to fall, suddenly nauseated. Yuugure caught her easily and looked at her, his eyes full of concern.

"Kaoru-dono? Are you okay?"

Kaoru nodded uncertainly. "Hai..What did..battousai do anyway..to make Night so angry at him?"

Yuugure shrugged. "Battousai has killed many.. he has made many angry, but none so much as Night.
After all, battousai destroyed Night's family..his lover...tore it to pieces.. murdered everyone..except Night."

Kaoru covered her mouth and shook her head in disbelief. "How could anyone..be so....cruel?"

A streak of sadness flashed across Yuugure's face, but it disappeared as soon as it came, and Kaoru wasn't sure if she had seen it at all.

"Kaoru-dono... there are many in this world who are cruel...many..and most of the time, it ends up being the people closest to us that are the coldest of all..."

Kaoru thought this over and nodded firmly.. "Yes....the closest to us..." She thought of her dreams of the fiery-haired killer and smiled. If dreams weren't close, then what were? Yes, she would kill battousai..she would train hard and help Night take his revenge... Battousai..I will kill you....for Night....and for all people punished by your cruelty!!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meanwhile-

A red-haired, golden-eyed man wakes up in the middle of the forest, clutching his sword tightly.
He remembers nothing, knows nothing, except his name- "Battousai", and blood- red..hot,...beautiful...and sweet as honey...


End of Chapter 13