Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Battousai Unleashed ❯ Traces of Insanity ( Chapter 7 )

Traces of Insanity

The sun beat upon Tenryu's back, almost mercilessly, as he rode his horse toward the Kamiya dojo. He had taken a month to prepare himself for battle with the battousai. The Hi Mei sword was now well suited to him, its dark aura blazing as its new master called upon its strength. He could see the outskirts of the city as the sun began its descent into the earth.
"At last, Kaoru, we will be reunited. You and I will be a formidable team! I will kill the Battousai and claim what is rightfully mine!" he vowed dangerously.
Life in the Kamiya dojo had, for the most part, gone back to normal. Kaoru learned the soothing virtues of doing the laundry and she and Kenshin were often times seen washing it together. The two were growing closer as the days passed. Yet, still, there was that forever present sense of foreboding. Kaoru tried to push the dark thoughts to the back of her mind, but they were only pushed back forward by her darker half. Was the Kirei Battousai trying to warn her of something?
Kenshin looked up from the wash to see Miss Kaoru in deep thought, a troubled look upon her face. He would have to have been the densest person alive to not feel the impending danger in the air. He too was worried as to what was causing this evil karma.
"Miss Kaoru? Are you all right?"
"Huh? Oh, hai, Kenshin. I'm fine," she smiled a bit, "I'm just a little worried."
"I sense it as well, Miss Kaoru, that I do."
"I was hoping it was just me," she shivered.
Kenshin frowned and hung up a freshly washed yukata. When he turned around he was met with a slightly wet hug from Kaoru. He softly embraced her in return. It had been like this for the past few days. They would embrace with no further words necessary. Yet, this time he felt different, he wanted something more. He argued with himself that he was not worthy, as he had in the past. However, that argument was no longer as valid as it had been, he realized.
The sun set and cast elegant shadows across their faces as blue eyes met violet. The moon sent its brilliant beams of light to scatter around them, creating an illusion of a dream. Kaoru let herself drift in the dream and closed her eyes, lips parted lightly. Kenshin was not one to deny Miss Kaoru what she wanted. He too felt himself under some spell.
Kenshin felt his heart beat faster as he gently tilted Miss Kaoru's chin up with his forefinger. He closed his eyes and slowly closed the distance that separated them. His lips brushed softly against Kaoru's, and it was as if a sudden jolt of lightening had possessed him. Kaoru gasped and slipped her arms around his neck. Neither wanted the sensation to cease and for a while it didn't. However, it was, as some would say, too good to last.
"Remove your hands from my woman," came a growling voice.
Kaoru gasped.
"It's you," Kenshin said, eyes narrowed, "I do believe Miss Kaoru is not your woman, that she most certainly is not. Why are you here, Tenryu Mitsurugi?"
"To finish what I started a month ago. And take Kaoru back from you!" he declared, an insane grin spreading on his once lovely features.
Kenshin pushed Kaoru behind him quickly. She made no move to leave, however. She would not. Kenshin had put himself in danger so many times for her. But now, she was certain she could help him. She had to. If not for Kenshin, then for herself.
"Miss Kaoru, go inside," Kenshin commanded, softly.
"No, Kenshin. I'm staying right here."
"Miss Kaoru, I cannot protect you if you are out here," he reasoned.
"Hah! Protect her?! She needs no protection, Hitokiri Battousai! I myself trained her to be the killer she is! Kirei Battousai needs protection from no one!" Tenryu's voice boomed.
"I am not a killer! Not anymore!" Kaoru shouted.
"Believe that all you like, little one," he sneered, "But you are as much a killer as I am, you see? I made you. I taught you. I own you..."
"You own no one, Mitsurugi!" Kenshin declared, unsheathing his reverse blade sword, "Leave now. Or if you prefer to taste the ground you may attack me."
"You have no idea what you are up against, Battousai!" Tenryu laughed, as unsheathed his sword.
"The Hi Mei sword!" Kaoru gasped in shock, "How?!"
"I had it repaired. And I replaced the blood of your grandfather with my own blood! It pulses with my life energy now," Tenryu boasted as the sword shone with inky black ki.
"I won't let you use my grandfather's sword for evil, Tenryu!" Kaoru exclaimed.
"Too late for that, my dear. For you see, this sword has already tasted the blood of my enemies. I am victorious in all my battles with its power and strength! And now, I will kill the legendary Battousai and take you as my prize."
Kaoru shivered and took an involuntary step back as her eyes locked with his cold amber hues. She could feel his evil and ice just by looking in his eyes. She could never be with a man like that. This wasn't Tenryu in the least. This was the true nature of the Hi Mei sword. It had driven Tenryu insane with bloodlust and vengeance.
The Kirei Battousai flared forth in response to her fear. For her every fear, the Kirei Battousai replaced it with strength and will. Her eyes slowly began to swirl in mixed flames of blue and red. Tenryu saw this and smirked.
"There you see, Kaoru? The Kirei Battousai acknowledges me and she will greet me soon. But for now, I will have the pleasure of killing the man that dared to touch my property! Defend yourself, Battousai!"
Tenryu charged at Kenshin with a battle cry. Inside the house, Sano and Yahiko awoke with a start. Both slammed their doors open and looked at one another before quickly going outside to see what was happening. They came upon the scene swiftly. Tenryu was giving Kenshin a hard time. It was obvious that the rurouni's power did not compare with that of the wielder of the Hi Mei sword.
Kaoru could feel herself slipping. She didn't have the control over her own dark half that Kenshin did. She didn't want to join Tenryu! She loved Kenshin! And in that moment, she realized. Kirei was only trying to help her to protect Kenshin as he had always protected her. And yet, she knew, even as the Kirei Battousai she had no chance against Tenryu. For even Kenshin was having difficulty and he was much better than she. Kaoru calmed herself, realizing that even if she allowed the Kirei to burst forth, she could do nothing and could very well put herself in danger and hamper Kenshin's ability to fight clearly.
"Ha! What seems to be the problem, battousai?! Can't keep up with me?! Perhaps you should flip that reverse blade sword and show your true colors!"
"I will not. I will defeat you with my reverse blade sword, I no longer kill."
"Pathetic," Tenryu sneered, as his sword cut into Kenshin's side.
Kicking the rurouni away he lunged toward Kaoru, taking her around the waist. She struggled and hit his face with her fist in retaliation.
"Let go of me!"
"Such a lovely fire in your eyes, little one. I shall enjoy taming you after this is over and you are mine," he replied, forcing a bruising kiss upon her lips.
Kenshin saw red and growled loudly, fighting to control the emergence of the Hitokiri Battousai.
"Take your hands off of her!" he demanded.
Tenryu smirked and threw Kaoru away, she landed on her side, painfully.
"You will regret your actions," Kenshin said, emotionlessly.
"I'd like to see you try," Tenryu replied, confidently.
Their swords clashed in the moonlight, creating sparks and plays of light that looked almost mystical. Sano rushed to Kaoru's side to help her up. She thanked him and they both looked at the battle. Sano knew this battle belonged to Kenshin alone. He wouldn't interfere. Yahiko watched everything with wide eyes. This was the guy that trained ugly?!
Tenryu leaned on the Hi Mei sword, forcing the reverse blade back toward Kenshin. He smiled evilly and stared straight into Kenshin's narrowed violet eyes.
"I'm going to kill you, Battousai. And then I will claim what is mine. I look forward to taking all that Kaoru has to offer me in carnal pleasures."
"Sick bastard! You will not lay a hand on Miss Kaoru!"
"Oh but I will. I will see her lovely face contorted in pleasure beneath me this very night. And with your measly strength, there is nothing you can do to stop me."
Kenshin growled and pushed with all his strength, his eyes blazing golden fire and his hair a, seemingly, blood red. He panted hard and glared with hatred toward Tenryu. Tenryu laughed in sheer joy. He had managed to lure the Hitokiri Battousai to the surface. Kaoru watched as the gentle rurouni she once knew vanished before her very eyes.
"Kenshin, no," she whispered.
"Die, Tenryu Mitsurugi!" Kenshin yelled, as he flipped the reverse blade and lunged at Tenryu.