Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Awakening the Beast ( Chapter 16 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer - I don't own RK

Chapter 16 - Awakening the Beast

Sano sighed and leaned against the wall just to the side of the window, watching the people and cars pass by without interest. Kenshin better get back soon, the longer he was gone the better chance he had of being found. It didn't matter how well he could blend into a crowd, he seriously doubted Kenshin would be able to get by all of Enishi's men. Shadow assassin or not, Enishi's men ran this city, they knew everything that happened... everything.

Eyeing the cars parked along both side of the streets below, he let a small smile flicker across his lips. Well, at least one thing was working for them, it didn't look like Enishi had found them yet and thankfully they didn't have anyone watching the building that he could see.

A light rustling from behind him roused him from his thoughts and he turned to look at Kaoru, missing the arrival of a black Mercedes below. Smiling at the confused look on her face he pushed off the wall and wandered over to her; settling on the floor right in front of her. "Good morning, sleepy head. Feeling better?"

Kaoru blinked owlishly at him then glance at the empty room, "Kenshin?"
"He's gone, he should be back soon."

Frowning, Kaoru levered herself into a sitting position and rubbed her eyes in an effort to wipe away the lingering sleepiness still weighing her down. Yawning, she settled back and fixed her attention on Sano, "Where did he go?"

"He said he needed to go get some money."

Kaoru cocked an eyebrow, "Why?"

Sano shrugged and leaned back, "He has a plan to get you two out of Tokyo and then out of Japan, so he needed money."

"Oh..." Kaoru mumbled still not fully awake. Yawning again she suddenly remembered that she was irritated with this man. Eyeing him, she frowned, "Sano, why did you let him into my apartment?"

Sano smiled sheepishly, "I told him you wouldn't be happy." Sighing, he sat up and rested his arms on his knees. "I let him in because he was going to..." Trailing off he shrugged. Maybe he shouldn't tell her the rest. She wasn't likely to take being kidnapped very well, even if it was Kenshin.

"He was going to what?” Kaoru prodded, narrowing her eyes.

Rubbing his temple Sano took a deep breath. Might as well tell her, he had a feeling if he didn't tell her she just might kill him instead. Opening his mouth to answer he was just about to respond when a knock came at the door. Smirking he pushed off the floor, saved by the red head, must be Kenshin forgot the key.

Ignoring her scowl he headed into the entryway, "Why don't you ask him when he comes in." Let Kenshin take the heat, it was his fault anyway.

Unlocking the door, he swung it open and smiled, "Forgot the -"

He stopped dead as his eyes lit on the two people standing in the hallway. Oh, this was not happening! Instantly trying to slam the door in their faces, he was thrown back into the apartment as the door exploded inward. Landing on his arm he groaned, his old injury screaming at the abuse.

"Now that wasn't very nice..." Shishio drawled, stepping in to the entryway, closely followed by Enishi. "...Yukishiro-sama just came to collect his princess."

"She's not his princess!" Sano growled, glaring at the mummified man before him. Levering himself off the floor he gave his arm a shake, trying to get rid of the tingling.

Kaoru frowned as the loud crash resounded through the apartment. Pushing off the sofa she hobbled slowly into the entryway trying to make out the voices, "Sano wh-" She stopped dead as she came to the door and saw who stood in the doorway. Instantly paling, she just shook her head and stared into the icy turquoise gaze fixed on, "No...you can't be here..."

Enishi smirked and pushed his way past Shishio, "You really thought you could escape me that easily? Didn't I tell you, you are mine. I will always find you... always."

Kaoru paled even more, her breath hitching painfully in her throat. Fighting back the tears burning her eyes, she steadily backed away from him as images of the past rose up to blend with the man advancing on her. Beginning to shake, she shook her head, "No, don't come any closer. Please... just stay away."

Enishi narrowed his eyes, confused by the almost crippling fear etched on her face. Continuing to advance his eyes narrowed even more and he scowled as he took a good look at her. Something about the dark blue yukata and white hakama she was wearing tugged at his memory, it felt as if he'd seen it somewhere before. But where? Trying to work it out, he continued forward driving her across the livingroom.

He came to an abrupt stop as Sagara suddenly loomed up between them. "Stay away from her, Yukishiro. You've done enough. Leave her alone."

Enishi snorted and glanced over his shoulder to Shishio, "Would you do something about him?" Sidestepping away from the so called fighter, Enishi continued towards Kaoru until a hand gripped his shoulder in a vise pulling him to stop.

"I said stay away from her!"

Scowling, he bit back a growl. This man didn't know when to back down. Shifting his attention to the fighter he calmly swung his fist up and drove it straight into Sano's face. "She is mine. I will not let you get in my way."

Sano's head snapped back, his face exploding in pain; small pinpricks of light dancing before his eyes. Stumbling back, he shook his head trying to clear his vision and reached up to gently feel his nose. A shot of pain exploded through his face at the touch.

Bringing his hand away he scowled at the blood coating his fingers, "You... you son of a bitch!" Wiping the blood on his jeans he took a step towards Enishi, "Touch her, Enishi, and I'll - " He stopped as the barrel of a gun came to rest against his temple.

"You'll what?" Shishio drawled from behind him.

Sano nearly growled at his stupidity, he'd completely forgotten about Enishi's henchman. Glaring at the white haired beast advancing on Kaoru, his vision began to bleed red. "I will gut him like the pig he is. I will not let him kill her again!"

Enishi stopped and gave Sano a confused look, "Kill her again?" Sliding his attention back to Kaoru, he eyed her from head to toe, "She looks quite alive to me Sagara." Ignoring the murderous glare Sano leveled on him, he continued to push her across the barren livingroom until she collided with the window sill. Smirking, he took one more step towards her and held out his hand. "Come, it's time to go home."

"God damn it, Yukishiro! Get away from her!"

Kaoru just stared at his outstretched hand. Shifting her eyes up to meet his, any fear she'd felt at his arrival quickly burned away under an intense surge of anger. He actually thought she was going to simply bow to his will. Glancing at her adopted brother she whispered, "Sano stop..."

Sano's eyes widened at her admonishment and he just stared at her as if she was insane, and then he noticed the sharp set of her jaw. Smiling, he gave her a slight nod. She didn't need protecting, the steel in her eyes said so. He'd let her try it her way first, although he seriously doubted Enishi would give up that easily.

Kaoru gave him a slight smile and rested against the window sill facing Enishi head on. This was it; it was time to make him see it was over. She could do this, she knew she could. Without warning the image of him looming over her with a triumphant grin rose up again, shaking her resolve. Closing her eyes she shoved it into the deepest recesses of her mind. That wasn't this Enishi, he would never do that to her, not in this life time.

Sliding them back open she looked deep into the icy turquoise eyes fixed on her, "Enishi, you don't own me. What we had is over. Let me go."

Enishi smirked and took another step towards her, "It will never be over. I will not lose you too." Trailing his fingers softly down her cheek he leaned in and smiled into her icy gaze, "You are mine. No one can stop me from taking you. Not even this supposed hitokiri you ran off with." Suddenly reminded that he hadn't seen the object of his anger he straightened back up and glanced around the empty apartment. "Where is this 'Himura Kenshin'? I need to take up a matter with him."

A sharp intake of breath came from behind him and he slid his attention back to Kaoru; he almost laughed at the death glare she leveled on him. Leaning towards her again, he smirked as she leaned away from him as far as the window would let her. "Did you think I would simply let him off the hook, my dear? He tried to steal you from me."

"He didn't steal me from you, Enishi. You did this yourself." Pushing off the window sill, Kaoru glared into his smug grin. "You think I'm nothing more than a piece of jewelry you can keep tucked in your pocket until you see fit to wear it. I deserve better than that!"

"No my dear, you're not a piece of jewelry. You're my princess, and no one touches my princess... no one... Where is he?"

Kaoru's anger flared even higher and she leveled a hate filled glare on him, "I'm not your fucking princess! Leave me -" The sudden ringing of Enishi's cell phone echoed into the apartment cutting her off. Watching as he flipped it open and answered the call, an almost overpowering feeling of dread filtered through her veins. Something was on the verge of breaking, she could feel it along every nerve in her body. The feeling was reinforced as a feral grin slid across Enishi's lips.

Without another word Enishi flipped the phone closed, his grin blossoming into a full blown smile. "Ask and you shall receive..."

Kaoru just stared at him confused and then it suddenly sank in what he meant. The feeling of dread multiplied tenfold and she grabbed his arm, suddenly sick. "Leave Kenshin out of this. He had nothing to do with me leaving you, I did that on my own. You have no reason to hurt him."

Peeling her fingers off of his arm, Enishi smiled into the fearful look she had fixed on him. "Yes, I do. I will kill him for -" Enishi stopped and scowled as a sarcastic chuckle suddenly exploded into the room cutting him off.

"Do you really think you can beat Kenshin?"

Sliding his attention to the fighter, Enishi's scowl deepened as Sano chuckled again and shook his head, "You couldn't the first time. You won't be able to this time either. Trust me you should just leave, Kenshin is not going let you take her with you. You might as well give up right now."

Shishio lifted the gun from his temple and slammed the butt of it into Sano's head, "Shut up or you'll be first."

Sano ducked and hissed. Clutching his now throbbing head he elbowed the bastard behind him in the gut as hard as he could and started across the floor to Enishi. "Suppose I should take care of you myself so Kenshin won't have to dirty his hands on you again. Wouldn't want him - "

All of a sudden a dull thud echoed into the room and excruciating pain exploded down Sano's arm. Stumbling from the impact he crumbled to the floor, gripping the wound in his shoulder; the ache pulsing with his heartbeat. Fighting back the waves of nausea surging through his stomach he swallowed and pushed himself back up to rest on his heels.

"Damn, I missed." Shishio whispered silkily, making his way over to his target. Coming up behind him he pointed the gun at the back of Sano's head and nudged the fighter. "Looks like you'll be first after all."

Blinking away the black dots dancing before his eyes Sano pinned Enishi with a hate filled glare, "Can't take me on yourself eh?... Spineless bastard."

Enishi just smiled and gave Shishio a small nod to continue, with a smirk Shishio started to pull the trigger back.

Stunned, Kaoru just watched the nightmare unfold before her like some surreal gangster movie until Shishio started pulling the trigger. Spurred by the sight she shoved Enishi out of her way and stumbled over to Sano.

"Stooop!"

Shoving Shishio back as hard as she could, she fell to her knees in front of Sano. "Leave him alone! He didn't do anything wrong, he just wants to protect me!"

Enishi chuckled and shook his head, "I'm sorry, that's impossible. He's been a thorn in my side ever since I met you. I'm not going to let him walk away this time."

Kaoru swung her head around and pinned Enishi with a murderous glare, "You.. you.. son of a bitch! You can't just kill -" She stopped suddenly as Sano took a hold of her hand.

"Jou-chan it's ok. He's not going to be able to finish me this easily. Besides Kenshin is on the way, there's no way Enishi will win. None. You're safe."

Kaoru shook her head fighting back the tears burning the back of her eyes, "But -"

"This supposed hitokiri is no match for Yukishiro-sama." Shishio said from behind Sano, cutting her off. Kaoru swung her head around and paled as the bandaged wrapped man pointed the gun at Sano's head again.

"Come, my dear. It wouldn't do to have you covered in blood." Enishi whispered gripping her arm; pulling her to her feet.

"No! Let Me Go!" Kaoru screamed trying to wrench her arm out of his grip. Ignoring the almost crippling pain exploding through her injured leg Kaoru fought against him with everything she had but it wasn't enough and all she could do was watch as Shishio started to pull the trigger back.

"Let her go, Enishi."

Everyone in the room stopped as the menacingly quiet voice filtered into the empty apartment, all of their attention pulled to the doorway leading into the livingroom and the red headed, amber eyed man filling the empty space. For several seconds there was no sound at all and then all of a sudden Sano started to laugh. Unable to stop himself, Sano laughed even harder at all the surprised looks suddenly fixed on him. Doing his level best to get himself under control he finally managed some semblance of normalcy, between chuckles he choked out, "What the hell took you so long? I was just about to have my head blown off."

Kenshin just smiled, "I'm sorry. I'll try not to let it happen again."

Sano smiled and pushed to his feet, "Good... I guess we can talk about that later. Right now I have something I'd like to talk to mummy man here about." With that Sano took advantage of Shishio's distraction and spun on him, too late Enishi's henchman saw what was coming. Calling on the knowledge of the Futae no Kiwami Sano balled the hand of his good arm and drove it into the shocked black eyed man's chest. He grinned in satisfaction as Shishio slammed into the wall behind him, sliding down to fall into a heap. This was definitely going to come in handy in the ring.

Turning back to Kenshin he positioned himself between the fallen man and the ex-hitokiri, "There, now take care of that white haired bastard."

Kenshin gave him a half smile and nodded. Satisfied there would be no interruptions from that front, he fixed his attention on the one holding Kaoru. Staring dead into the icy turquoise gaze fixed on him, he fought down the sudden surge of dread running rampant through his veins. The sight of Kaoru in this man's hands hitting him in the gut like a fist. Not again, he wasn't going to let this happen again.

"Let her go Enishi. This is between you and me."

Enishi smirked and shoved Kaoru behind him. Her hiss of pain fell on deaf ears as he loosened his blade and readied himself, "Yes. This is just between the two of us. You should not have set your sights on my princess."

Kaoru balled her fists and hit him in the back. "God damn it! I'm not your princess!" Trying to push past him she growled, "Just leave us alone, Enishi!"

Grabbing a hold of her Enishi shoved her behind him again, this time with more force. Kaoru stumbled on her injured leg and fell against the window sill. "Stay there until we're done."

Fighting down the nausea swirling through her stomach, Kaoru just glared at Enishi's back. Trying to put weight on her now screaming leg, she gave up when she almost crumbled to the floor. Disgusted, she rested against the window sill and watched the nightmare unfold, the feeling of dread setting butterflies to dancing in her belly again.

Kenshin stood rigid, the sight of Enishi manhandling Kaoru enough to call the killer to the surface. Fighting against it with everything he had, he took a deep breath and loosened the sakabatou in it's sheath. He paused as Kaoru's pain-filled entreaty whispered through his mind again...

Don’t kill him... for me and Tomoe, don't kill him this time.

Scowling, he took up a defensive stance and waited for the first strike. He wouldn't kill him, not this time, but he would make sure the bastard would never come after them again. Ever.

Enishi settled himself and met the burning amber gaze fixed on him. Sizing up his opponent, he was suddenly assaulted by the feeling that this had happened before. There was something eerily familiar about the way the small red head stood, something that tugged at his memory. Confused, he shook himself in an effort to rid himself of the feeling and loosened the katana at his hip.

Narrowing his eyes, he shoved the thought away and shot forward. Might as well end this quickly, no reason to play. His eyes widened suddenly as the red head vanished, skidding to a halt he spun around searching for his enemy. The slight hiss of air above his head drew his attention and he swung his blade up to connect with the blade falling towards him. Throwing Kenshin across the room he raced forward again aiming for his chest.

Kenshin just smirked as Enishi shot towards him; waiting for the second before impact he spun to the side to avoid the blade and slammed the butt of his sakabatou hard in Enishi's back. Springing back he came to rest right beside Kaoru. "Let's stop this now."

Enishi growled low in his throat, straightening he flexed his back to work out the knot and slowly turned to face his enemy, "This will not be finished until you are dead."

A black scowl darkened his face as he slid his eyes to the man standing inches away from Kaoru. Who did he think he was coming that close to his princess? And then all of a sudden he watched the two of them blend together. The image of the red head dressed in a dark blue gi and white hakama suddenly floating before his eyes. An almost choking rage exploded through his veins at the sight, shaking his head he fought against the pull of the image. Shoving it into the deepest recesses of his mind he shot forward without thinking, only intent on killing the object of the intense hatred pounding through his body.

Kenshin just shook his head and stepped up to meet his opponent. He could tell by the look in Enishi's eyes this wasn't going to end until one of them was on the verge of death. Shooting forward he slammed into Enishi, flinging him back with enough force to throw him hard into the wall behind him. Landing, he stood over him with his sakabatou leveled at his throat, "Stop this now and let us leave."

Enishi shook his head, trying to rid himself of the tiny pinpricks of pain shooting out from where his head had connected hard with the wall. Sliding his eyes up, he glared into the cold gaze fixed on him. All of a sudden another image floated before his eyes, this same man dressed in a red gi instead of a dark blue one, the absolute hatred in the red head's golden eyes matching his own. And then a voice whispered into his ears the infinite pain in the voice pulling at his memory... 'why did you kill her, she didn't deserve to die.'

Confused, he shook his head and blinked a couple of times to clear the vision. Finally managing to rid himself of the image, he shoved the blade away and stood meeting his enemy head on, "I told you, we will not be finished until you are dead. I will not let you have her."

Kenshin sighed. Stepping back he shook his head, "You took her from me once, I will not let you do it again." With that Kenshin blurred and shot forward slamming the dull edge of his sakabatou hard into his enemy's chest. He smirked as a pain filled grunt filled the room, and then out of nowhere he felt a blade slide into his gut; excruciating pain exploding out from the wound to fill his entire body. Stunned, Kenshin looked down at the katana sticking out of his stomach.

Kaoru just stared at the scene before her, the sight of the blade sticking out of Kenshin's back not registering at first and then slowly the truth sank in. Stunned, she shoved off the sill and stumbled across the floor, "Kenshin!!"

"Jou-chan, stop!" Sano yelled grabbing a hold of her with his injured arm.

Enishi smiled and rammed the full length of the blade through Kenshin's body. With a vicious yank he ripped it out and let the red head fall to the floor. "This is finished."

Kenshin fell to his knees and chuckled, clutching the wound, his body already heating to form the new skin to close the wound. Smiling, he looked into the triumphant gaze fixed on him, "You missed. This can't kill me."

Kaoru ripped out of Sano's hand and threw herself between them; staring dead into Enishi's cold turquoise eyes. "Stop this! Please!"

Enishi just stared into her frightened sapphire eyes and smiled, "It's -" He stopped dead as a shot of pain exploded in his head, and then he all of a sudden saw himself advancing on her with a long blade leveled at her heart. The look of fear in her eyes setting his heart to beating a rapid tattoo against his ribs. Shaken, Enishi shook his head and blinked several times to try to rid himself of the image. Confused, he shoved her to the side.

Another shot of pain exploded in his head and another image clawed its way to the surface, the coppery scent of blood suddenly filling his nose and mouth. Kaoru pinned to a wall, her dead eyes staring blankly at him, her broken form only being held up by the sword thrust through her chest. Beyond confused, he used every last bit of will power he possessed and fought against the pull of whatever was trying to break free.

Kenshin watched horrified as the flickers of recognition passed through Enishi's eyes every time he looked at Kaoru. Suddenly sick to his stomach, he pushed off the floor. No, this can't be happening. Not now... not ever! Reaching for Kaoru he was inches away from grabbing a hold of her when he was stopped as a bullet slammed into his shoulder; the pain ripping down his arm driving him back to his knees.

"Don't touch her."

Sano spun around, his fist balled to slam into Shishio again but stopped dead as a bullet cut through his stomach. With an almost inaudible hiss he crumbled to his knees and watched as the black eyed bastard pushed off the floor and started towards him. "I only fall for that once," Shishio purred, aiming dead at his head again.

"Stop!" Kaoru screamed racing at Shishio, the pain in her leg all but forgotten in her fear. Steps away from her target she was all of a sudden pulled to a stop, the bone crushing grip on her shoulder making her knees go weak. "We're leaving."

A knot of fear tightened in her gut at the ice in Enishi's voice, turning around she paled at the crazy look in his eyes, "E... Enishi, are you ok?"

Enishi scowled at her fear, the pain in his head intensifying as another image floated to the surface, fighting it off he tightened his hold and shoved her towards the door, "I'm fine. We're leaving."

"You're not going anywhere." Kenshin bit out, dropping the bullet on the floor. Levering himself up he clenched his teeth in an effort to keep from vomiting, the waves of nausea nearly driving him back to his knees. He had to stop this now before Enishi remembered it all.

Enishi shifted his attention to the supposed hitokiri and smiled, "Do you think you can stop me?"

Kenshin gave him a lazy smile, "I know I can." Readying himself, he was caught off guard when another dull thud echoed into the empty apartment. Jumping back he missed being hit by the first one but the second bullet slammed into his side, almost knocking him off his feet. With a hiss he fell to his knees again the excruciating pain ripping through his side threatening to pull him into the darkness tickling the edges of his eyes. Gripping the wound he put pressure on it in an effort to slow the blood flow and fought to remain conscious. Jesus if this kept up he'd die from the blood loss.

Ripping out of Enishi's hand Kaoru threw herself in front of the two downed men, "Stop! Leave them alone!" Meeting the cold gaze fixed on her she finally succumbed to the tears burning the backs of her eyes, "I'll go with you, just please... leave them alone."

"Jou-chan!"

"Kaoru! No! You can't go with him! He'll do it again!"

Kaoru cringed and closed her eyes, the hot tears dripping from them scorching wet trails down her cheeks, "I have to go Kenshin. To save you two, I will go. He won't hurt me. I know he won't." And yet she didn't fully believe her own words, but she couldn't let this go on. If she did they would die and she couldn't let that happen. Digging up the last bit of steel in her very being, she slid her eyes back open and met Enishi's turquoise eyes again, "Please."

Enishi just stared into her watery eyes and then nodded. They were dead men anyway, there was no way either one could live with the wounds they had. Shifting his attention to the two fallen men, a small smirk played across his lips. The pain in his head was slowly intensifying to the point where he couldn't think properly. Yes, they were dead anyway.

Rubbing his head to alleviate some of the pain, Enishi met the angry amber gaze fixed on him. All of a sudden a familiar image flowed up from the depths of his mind, the one of this red headed man kneeling on the ground holding Tomoe as her life blood seeped from the wound in her shoulder. The almost overpowering hate that had gripped a hold of the first time he'd seen this flooded through his veins again. Growling he shoved the image away, the pain in his head intensifying even more. He had to get out of here now and get something to take this head splitting pain away.

Trying to shake it off he glanced at Shishio and nodded towards the door, "We're finished here." Shishio inclined his head and headed out of the apartment. Meeting the hate filled gaze fixed on him one last time Enishi smiled, "They're no longer a problem." Spinning on his heel he grabbed Kaoru again and started guiding her towards the door.

Glancing over her shoulder one last time, Kaoru almost lost her resolve at the look of utter fear in Kenshin's eyes. Taking a deep breath she turned her back on him and limped after Enishi. This was the only way, she'd get away from him again. She’d done it once, she could do it again.

Kenshin just watched horrified as Kaoru turned her back on him and followed behind Enishi, shoving to his feet he fought against the nausea rolling through his body and hung on to consciousness with every last bit of energy he had. "No!... Kaoru!... You can't go!"

He watched as she cringed and almost looked back over her shoulder again. Then she was gone, the click of the front door closing the only sound in the empty apartment. Losing the battle against the darkness pushing in from all sides Kenshin crumbled to the floor, the last thing to register in his mind was that it was happening again. The past was happening all over again.

oooooooooooooooooo

Kaoru collapsed into the back seat of the Mercedes and sank deep into the seat, tears now rolling freely down her cheeks. Angrily wiping them away she ignored Enishi as he slipped in beside her and motioned for them to leave. Curling up tight she tucked herself into the corner and tried to fight the feeling that this had been a terrible mistake. She shouldn't have left, something was going to break, she could feel it. And yet she couldn't figure out what.

Sneaking a peek at Enishi, the feeling intensified when she noticed the deathly pale tinge to his skin and then he slid his eyes open and met hers. The wild look in his eyes made her pause and she asked, "Are you ok?"

Enishi just nodded then slid his eyes back closed. Kaoru tried to suppress a shiver and swallowed, settling back again she fixed her attention on the cars speeding by the window. It was him, he was just about to break, she'd never seen that look in his eyes. Closing her eyes she rode in silence and tried to fight down the image of him advancing on her that rose to the surface, calling her a liar. She'd seen that look before, over a hundred years ago when he'd thrust the blade through her chest.

And then it hit her, the possibility hitting her like a fist in the gut. Had his past life been awakened? Suddenly ice cold, she fought down the almost crippling fear that gripped a hold of her. God, why didn't she think of that before she'd left with him? Why?!

Pulling even further away from him, she eyed him from beneath her bangs. He wouldn't do that again. There was too much between them, they knew each other and had loved each other. He wouldn't do it again... would he? And yet she didn't feel entirely safe in his presence anymore. Not at all.

Swallowing nervously she eyed the sharp set of his jaw and the death grip he had on the katana laying across his lap, maybe this really hadn't been a good idea.

Not a good idea at all.

oooooooooooooooooo

Enishi rested heavily against the elevator wall and took several slow even breaths in an attempt to quiet the agonizing pain pounding in his head. The images rising up from the deepest parts of his mind, driving nails into his head each time they did. God, where was this coming from? The images came so fast he couldn't even pin down what they were... all except the ones of Kaoru. Several times he'd been assaulted by the vision of Kaoru pinned against the wall with a blade buried deep into her chest, the sight both sickening and fascinating him at the same time. Deep down he knew the blade protruding from her heart had been his, how he knew that he didn't know, but he did.

Shaking off the image he slid his eyes open as the elevator came to a stop and watched Kaoru step into the livingroom. The sight of the blue yukata and white hakama pulling at his memory again. Fighting off another wave of pain, he pushed off the wall and followed behind her.

"Yukishiro-sama?"

Enishi growled and pinned Hei Shin with a murderous glare, "Get out of my sight." That was the one thing he hadn't been able to settle yet, it was first on his list though once he got rid of this headache. Smirking at the suddenly pale visage before him he was assaulted by another vision, the sight pushing past his defenses. Staring dead at Hei Shin he watched as the room faded to be replaced by another, older style room, this little weasel demanding they focus on the reason they were here instead of his Jinchuu...

Jinchuu. The word echoed through his head bringing with it a feeling of complete hatred. Yes, his... Jin... chuu... for... Tomoe...

All of a sudden a mind numbing pain ripped through Enishi's head and he had to lock his knees to keep from falling. Staring straight through Hei Shin, a life he knew deep in his soul began to flash before his eyes, the rivers of blood at his feet calling to him; the hatred he had known as a second skin wrapping him once again in it's loving embrace. Closing his eyes, he lost himself in the familiar sights and scents that enveloped his mind. One scent standing out among the rest, the delicate sweet scent of white plum... Tomoe's favorite. Opening his eyes to search for her, he watched helplessly in his mind's eye as she once again put herself between the man who had stolen her happiness and the ninja sworn to kill him, a blade raised to strike down Akira's avenger saving the one who deserved to die. Clutching his head, he nearly growled as he watched the blade slid effortlessly into her skin as if she were nothing more than a piece of parchment. And then she fell, ever so slowly, to the pristine white snow, her blood staining the white carpet.

Letting out a feral growl, he shook his head and used every last bit of willpower he possessed to bury the images deep in the back of his mind. But it wasn't to be as the world started to spin and he was once again a young boy shadowing his heartbroken sister, her loss cutting deep into his heart. He watched as she sought and found her heart’s murderer, only to give herself to him, to the man in the dark blue gi and white hakama... the man known as the Hitokiri Battousai.

Enishi's anger intensified as the sight of the redheaded man Tomoe had sacrificed herself for played before his eyes. The man blending into the memory of the man he'd left for dead. Slowly, the scene faded to be replaced by a surreal movie of endless days and nights, his life on the streets of Shanghai shaping him into the killer that would call down Jinchuu on the redheaded man who had so coldly taken his sister's life; the scent of blood filling his nose again.

The world spun again, the images shifting to another scene of a time long ago. A nearly overpowering rage exploded in his veins as he watched the man, who had so callously taken Tomoe's life, smile and laugh, the woman standing at his side one he knew... and then the past exploded in his head. The sight of Kaoru trying to get away from him as he advanced oddly fascinating, a feeling of satisfaction suddenly flowing through him as he carved a bloody cross shaped wound on her cheek to match the scar on his most hated enemy's face. Feeling again the ease with which the blade slid into her chest. He just stared mesmerized as the light slowly faded from her eyes, his earthly justice complete.

Fully understanding now, he no longer fought the onslaught, but relaxed and let the rest of a life he now knew flow before his eyes to settle quietly among the memories of this life. Getting a hold of himself, Enishi slid his eyes to Kaoru and almost laughed at the look of horror painted across her face...and then he noticed something else in her frightened sapphire eyes... knowledge. She already knew.

Shaking off the lingering effects of the attack he grinned and sidled over to her. Stepping up to her he gripped her cheeks to keep her still and whispered, "You know, don't you my dear?" Watching as a tear slid from the corner of her eye he leaned in and brushed his lips ever so gently against hers. Smiling at the shiver that raced through her body he added, "Don't worry, princess, I won't kill you this time. Not unless you force me to...."

Feeling oddly refreshed he chuckled as another shiver whispered through her body, releasing her he continued into the apartment with a slight spring in his step. So the Hitokiri Battousai had thought to butt head's with him again. Shaking his head he stifled a sigh, too bad he was more than likely dead. It would have been great fun to continue where they had left off so long ago, it really was a shame the famed hitokiri had died so easily in this lifetime. But then again maybe he wasn't dead after all, it had been impossible to kill the man in the past. A small smile played across Enishi's lips, maybe, if he was lucky, Battousai had survived their earlier confrontation. For some reason he found the idea of facing off with his old nemesis very tantalizing... and all for Kaoru.

Glancing over his shoulder Enishi watched Kaoru fall to the floor, the broken look on her face bringing a smile to his face. Battousai wouldn’t have her in this lifetime either... not if he could help it.

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I know many of you thought this would be the big fight between these two but there's still a couple of things that have to be brought into the light. All I can say is I hope you will stay with me until the bloody end.

Please review and let me know what you think.