Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Simple Twist of Fate ❯ Chapter 23

Again, I apologize in my lapse in posting. I write a bit and then I forget how long it's been. Don't hesitate to remind me!! Much love and kisses to everyone out there. Hope life is treating you well. Life is about to take a nasty turn for our favorite couple. They don't belong to me either, but are the genius of Nabuhiro Watsuki.

 

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Kaoru watched the fight unfold before her eyes with horror and trepidation. She had never fully seen the redhead wield his blade, only heard the stories. Even when they had skirmished, she had known he held back. Now watching him, she was mesmerized by the speed and agility he exhibited. It was only matched by his opponent.

 

Enishi and Kenshin were evenly matched and Kaoru had no clue which man might be left standing. A thought occurred to her and she realized that whoever won, Shishio would still need to be dealt with. She turned her attention away from her lover and looked with wide blue eyes to the man who had caused the disruption in her life. He stood casually, appearing almost bored. He had not even shown remorse when his lover had been thrown to the ground. She moved away from him, never turning her gaze away from his profile. A guard that Kenshin had knocked out lay several feet away from her. She leaned down, her hand searching for the weapon. The sorcerer seemed to notice she had moved and turned his attention to her.

 

“What do you think you're doing, princess?” He purred, moving towards her.

 

Kaoru stood the sword heavy in her hands. “I won't let you do this to him.” She told him.

 

Surprise registered in the dark depths of his gaze. “How do you plan on stopping me?”

 

She held the blade up. “Any way that I can.”

 

He chuckled and shook his head. “You cannot be serious. Some girl, brought up in the backwoods behind the castle, challenging me?”

 

“I am not some girl as you keep reminding me. I might have been brought up as a peasant, but I am Lady Kamiya and will one day be queen.” She told him, her voice firm. “Draw your weapon.” She ordered with a bravado she really didn't feel. He didn't move and she fought the urge to shake. “Are you so afraid I'll succeed where the most notorious assassin has failed?”

 

His amusement faded from his face as his eyes studied her up and down, taking in her stance. “You really are your father's daughter to stand there in such a manner.”

 

His words made no sense to her, but she raised her blade above her head nonetheless. She could not back down from this fight. Behind her there was a grunt followed by a shout. He raised an eyebrow. “Don't even want to see your Battousai fall?”

 

Fear touched her and she turned, immediately realizing her folly. Kaoru spun around just in time to fend off the wizard's attack. Just as she recovered, he assaulted her again. Her arms shook, the ferocity and the impact startling her. Shishio moved to strike a third time. Instead of blocking it, she ducked, avoiding the move altogether. She skittered under his arm. Using him as leverage, she placed a hand on is back and pushed herself to her feet. It caused him to stumble. She spun around, her hair whipping around her and brought her sword with her. He foresaw her plan and the sound of clanging steel echoed in her ears.

 

They pushed off each other and began to circle, Kaoru desperately trying to catch her breath. “Not bad.” He murmured. “No wonder Battousai is reluctant to give you up.”

 

She gritted her teeth. Though she could have no chance of truly beating him, she charged him anyway, hoping to catch him off guard. It seemed to work. She saw shock cross his face as he brought his blade up to block her. She dropped her sword at the last second, dropping to her knees and bringing the sharp edge up. He saw her move and managed to avoid the lethal blow. Blood glistened from the edge of her sword and she whirled around to face him.

 

“I am no longer amused.” Shishio held a hand to his side, anger now filling his black eyes. “That was not very befitting of a woman of your stature.” He spit. His hand came away red and Kaoru`s heart raced to have managed to draw first blood.

 

He moved towards her to attack and she drew back, ready to defend herself. Only at the last second he moved to the other side. Just as she reciprocated his move, he returned to his original direction. Kaoru couldn't move fast enough and was unable to quite dance out of his way. Pain flared as the steel sliced her thigh. With renewed vigor, she went after him again, but was unable to strike a blow. He was faster than her and far superior in his skill.

 

Their blades locked again and he drove her to her knees. “Time to beg for mercy, princess.” His voice dripped with fury and malice. The strength, which had led her to challenge him, fled.

 

Tears rimmed her eyes and she managed to push him away. She charged him again, but she was tired and she no longer felt the hope she could win. Shishio easily sidestepped her slow movements and reached out to grab her wrist. The sword fell from her grasp. He kicked it aside and shoved her to the floor.

 

“There is so much irony in this sweet moment of victory.” He murmured. He tossed his own blade to the side and reached down into his boot. He pulled a knife from its sheath. “I really had no desire to kill you, just as I had no desire to kill your mother.” He was staring at the glimmering blade.

 

Kaoru looked around her frantically, not ready for this to be the end. She spotted the small dagger that had fallen from Yumi's grasp when she had hit the ground. It lay inches from her prone fingers, several feet away from Kaoru. If she could only make herself move fast enough, she just might have a chance at one last defense.

 

“It's a pity really.” He continued. “I now use the blade to kill you that I used to sacrifice Eiko.”

 

Mention of her mother motivated her. Determination rose inside and she dove for the small blade. He realized her intentions and leapt after her. Her fingers closed around the hilt and she turned, the sharp edge pointed up. They came together, the wind completely knocked out of her. She and Shishio stared into each other's eyes. The moment seemed to last for an eternity, before they fell to the floor. Pain overwhelmed her. Then the world went black and she felt no more pain.

 

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“NO!!” Kenshin cried as he saw the two come together. He had seen the princess dive for Yumi's blade in a last attempt to fight for her life. Whether she reached it or not, he was unsure. The two stared at each other, Shishio uttering a surprised grunt. Kaoru sucked in her breath. A soft moan escaped the woman's lips before she fell backwards, the sorcerer's body falling on top of her.

 

Behind him, the doors opened. Sanosuke and Aoshi stumbled through, four other men in their wake. Aoshi moved towards him and Kenshin moved out of the way in surprise, then recalling he had forgotten about Enishi. Two others quickly joined in the fray and the blonde was easily overtaken. All others raced to the couple lying motionless on the floor.

 

Kenshin reached her first, shoving the lifeless body off of Kaoru. Her head was to the side, blood covering the front of her dress. Her cerulean eyes were closed. Kenshin shook his head in denial. She could not be dead.

 

“It's over.”

 

The words came through a haze and meant very little to him. His eyes scanned for injuries. IT was difficult to ascertain where the blood seeped from.

 

“He's dead.” Sanosuke stated.

 

Kenshin barely heard him, not even fully registering what he had said. He reached for the woman's wrist and felt for a pulse. He couldn't find one and he swore loudly.

 

“Kenshin, did you hear me?”

 

He waved the man off; he hardly cared if the sorcerer lived or died at this point. The only person who mattered was before him. He placed a finger to her neck. Still, he could feel no pulse. Without hesitation he placed an ear to her chest. Distantly he heard her heart beating. Then her chest rose slightly, telling him she still breathed at the very least.

 

He looked at her face, his fingers reaching out to caress her soft cheek. “Kenshin.” He heard his name, but did not acknowledge it. “Kenshin!”

 

Slowly he turned to see Aoshi watching him. “Shishio is dead. Have you nothing to say?”

 

“I promised her she would meet her father.”

 

The dark eyes blinked as he turned his gaze to the unconscious woman. Swiftly he dropped to the floor and began to examining her clothes. Sanosuke shook his head “I don't think this is even--”

 

“Nothing matters, but her life.” He stated fiercely, pushing both men aside. He swept her into his arms and gazed once more into the face of the princess. “If Kaoru-dono dies, then it has all been in vain.”

 

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Megumi pulled back the tent flap as she heard riders approaching. Fear filled her as the riders slowly came into view. Desperately she searched and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw not only Kenshin, but the man she loved. Sanosuke led the small party towards her. Her eyes widened when saw Kaoru's lifeless body in front of Kenshin. Both were covered in blood and she reached for the horse's bit as they came to a skidding halt.

 

“What happened?” S He demanded, her doctoral instincts kicking in.

 

Kenshin slid off the saddle, the princess in his arms. “She challenged Shishio.”

 

She sucked in her breath in a gasp. She lifted the flap. “Lay her down. I'll be right there.”

 

Sanosuke reigned in and dismounted. Without a thought, Megumi threw herself at him, hugging him fiercely. “I was so afraid you wouldn't return.” She whispered.

 

His hands rubbed her back and he pulled away, taking her face between his palms. “I'm safe. We're all safe. The wizard is dead.”

 

“Are you sure?” HE nodded. “And Kenshin?”

 

The brunette glanced at the tent where the redhead had disappeared. “Battousai didn't slay him.”

 

“Then who?”

 

“Jou-chan.”

 

She swallowed. “And Enishi?”

 

In response to her question, Aoshi rode up, the blonde in tow. He was tied up, his eyes fluttering as he struggled to consciousness. `He lived.” Sanosuke sneered in disgust. “Can't say I'm happy about that.”

 

“What do you want me to do with him?” Aoshi asked her.

 

“Sedate him. I'll deal with him later. Meanwhile I do not need him making a fuss.”

 

“Just like that, you want me to sedate him?”

 

“Keep him quiet; unconscious would most likely be best.”

 

Sanosuke glared at the blonde. “Do I have to use one of your herbs to do it?”

 

Megumi cast a glance at him and then at Enishi. “I really don't care.” She said simply and entered the tent.

 

Allowing her eyes to adjust to the light, she nodded to the maid she had brought to assist her. Her dark eyes surveyed the inside and she paused when she spotted the wounded couple. Kaoru rested motionless on the cot. Kenshin knelt by her side, her fingers clasped within his. He was whispering something to her and pressed his lips to her palm. A lone tear strayed down his marred cheek.

 

“Kenshin?” She asked.

 

Slowly he glanced up at her, his violet eyes swimming with a sea of emotion. “Save her.”

 

She swallowed thickly and nodded. “I will do everything within my power. I promise.”

 

The redhead nodded and took a deep breath. Gently he put the woman's hand by her side. He rose and moved to exit. “”Wait. You should be checked out.”

 

He glanced at the gash on his arm. “Merely a scratch. Save her first. I'm of little importance.” Then he was gone.

 

She stood there for only a moment longer before she focused her attention of her adopted sister. She felt for a pulse. IT was strong and she pressed an ear to the woman's chest. “Breath sounds are good. She waved to Miriam and the maid came to her side with a clean chemise. Megumi pulled out a small knife and began cutting away her clothes. A nasty cut ran across the woman's thigh, though the blood had begun to clot. It would need stitches, but it wasn't mortal. Once Kaoru's dress had been removed, she spotted another small cut on her hip. Wiping away the blood, Megumi saw it was fairly clean though a bit deeper than she would have liked. The only other marks on the woman were rope burns on her wrist and a large bump on her head.

 

“Will she live?” Miriam breathed.

 

She bit her lip as she wrung out her cloth and continued to clean the wound on her leg. “She hit her head. I think that's why she's unconscious. As long as she wakes up, she'll be fine. Other than some cuts and bruises, she appears okay.”

 

“Then why was he so distressed?”

 

Megumi ignored the question, but she had her own theories. “Hand me the sewing kit.” She ordered. The woman obeyed and Megumi threaded the needle. She glanced at the unconscious woman and gnawed her lip. She decided to take a chance and pierced the woman's skin. Kaoru's lids fluttered, a soft cry escaping her lips. It gave Megumi hope that she'd be aright to feel the pain. Hurriedly, she stitched the long gash together.

 

Once she had finished she examined the thin cut on the woman's hip. IT was deep, though not fatal. It wasn't bleeding, though it would need stitches as well. The woman still slept, so Megumi continued, hoping she wouldn't wake in the middle. She looked at the bump on Kaoru's head. It had swollen a bit and she had Miriam wrap a cold cloth around her forehead. Until she woke, there wasn't anything else she could do.

 

Sitting back, Megumi pondered Kenshin's worried state. “Why would he agonize so much about her health?” A thought occurred to her and she glanced at the maid. “Where are her clothes?” She asked.

 

Miriam hurriedly went outside and retrieved the garments in question. She hadn't fully noticed, so concerned for the woman's survival. The dress was soaked through with blood. It was torn in several places, possibly due to the three days she had been incarcerated. Megumi cringed ass he also glanced at the chemise. Was it any wonder one might think she was dead? Being a doctor, she could easily detect the extent of the wounds. However, one caught up in an adrenaline rush who didn't understand medicine could easily discern the wounds were more serious, particularly since the woman had been covered in blood.

 

“How is she?”

 

Megumi glanced up as Aoshi entered the tent. “What happened?” She asked.

 

“In what regards?” She rose and placed her hands on her hips. “In regards to Shishio, it appears she challenged him to a duel. He accepted. She managed to kill him.”

 

“I already know this. What happened before that? After Kenshin disappeared and you managed to infiltrate his keep.”

 

The dark eyes lowered and for the first time since she had met the man, he appeared uncertain. “I cannot answer that question.”

 

“Would you if you could?” She demanded. She was not unfamiliar to his tactics to avoiding questions.

 

“I can't reveal what I don't know.”

 

“Damnit Aoshi! Something else happened.”

 

“There are only two people who can tell you what might have occurred.”

 

“Kenshin won't tell anyone.”

 

“Then perhaps you had best question Kaoru when she awakens.”

 

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Again forgive me. I know I'm a terrible person. Life is stressful! No promises, but I will try to get the next chapter up soon. The story's pretty much finished, just a matter of cleaning it up.