Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Final Blow ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6

I know the last chapter wasn't very good but this one will hopefully be better, no more writers block :-). So read and, hopefully, enjoy and as always please review.

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It was yet another restless night for everyone. Kenshin, though he didn't want to, was forced to sleep in his room so that Genkai and Megumi oculd stay close to Kaoru.

Ever since Kaoru had been attacked, Kenshin had been depending on her to keep him sane. Even though she couldn't reassure him when he was down or scold him when he went out of line, he knew that just the sight of her was enough reason to want to stay himself, the same man that she had befriended and had fought beside continously but now he didn't get much of a chance to just set there and gaze upon her, to absorb ever detail. So he sat in his room, just as alert as he had been when he went to retrieve the doctor, and try and keep his mind focused but the usually images didn't have the usual affects. When he pictured Kaoru smiling, he didn't feel comforted, he felt the need to hurt anyone who threatened that, threatened her.

So he decided to get up and try to practice a little. Even though a lot of people would have said that it wouldn't be smart to practice in the middle of the night, Hiko had always forced him to train until he got a certain stance or swing right. Sometimes Hiko would wake him up in the middle of the night to fight because you never knew when your enemy would attack, you had to be prepared for all the elements.

So picking up his sword he made his way outside, stopping only to do a quick check on Kaoru. When he stepped out the door, it was obvious that he had chosen a good night to practice. The moon loomed large and full in the sky, no clouds nearby to threaten it's radiance, and the stars shown proudly as if trying to demonstrate their brillance.

He decided to go to the pond to practice., the place always did calm him down. The way there was easy the moon shining more than enough light to guide his way.

He stood on shore, barely out of reach pf the water, adn readied his sword. He had already pooled his concentration when it came to him. The memory of him and Kaoru standing in exactly the same place having a talk. Kaoru was trying to get him to realize the strength he possessed without being the Battousai. Kenshin couldn't help but smile at the memory but as the memory continued to play itself out, his expression saddened. He remembered the look Kaoru had when she had been whisked down the river by yet another of Kenshin's enemies. That led to memoried of Yahiko, always so proud even in the midst of danger. Kenshin wondered if he was scared. Probably but he'd never show it, he probably had Monkusai ready to strangle him.

Then they finally came. The tears which Kenshin had held back ever since the revolution. He had fought and killed so more than his share of people, but why were those around him being the ones to get punished. He had decided long aho he was willing to pay the price for his sins, but that didn't mean that others had to pay for him.

He let the sword slide from his hand as he slowly slid down after it. He jsust sat there, crying for what seem liek hours but in probablity had only been minutes but after the tears stopped the answer had finally come him, he finally knew what to do. He had to make an example of Monkusai, use him to show everyone else what would happen if they dared layed a hand on his friends.

He finally rose from his spoet, picked up his sword, and started to make his way home. As he passed the part of the pond closest to him he looked down into it's crystal clear depths and saw his own reflection. The only difference was that his warm violet eyes had been replaced by an unfeeling gold.

Hmmm. At least I'll have the strength I'll need to defeat him," Kenshin thought.

On his way home a little vioce kept telling him that his greater power lay within his friends and he would only loose it if he went completely Battouisai, but he effectively ignored it. When he arrived back at the dojo he went staright to bed, not even bothering to stop and check on Kaoru.

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Despite his skills as a fighter when he was awoke, Sano had managed to sleep on the porch and still miss Kenshin's late night walk, he couldn't, however, miss the sounds of intense training in the morning.

Slowly coming back to the waking world, he rose of his blanket and made his way toward the source of the noise. What he saw made his blood run cold.

He had seen Kenshin practice before but he had never been this ruthless and it would have been near impossible to miss the glint of gold every time he turned his head. Kenshin had finally went back to his old many-slayer self.

No. There may still be time, Sano thought making his way over to Kenshin.

"Mornin' Kenshin," He called out trying to sound happy.

He didn't even falter in his swipes as Sano continued to try and get his attention. Finally he had had enough, he was never the most patient of men and the last few weeks had been working at his nerves. He was not going to sit around and let his friends, ir anyone, ignore him so he stepped forward, right in the middle of the yard and waited for Kenshin to stop and notice him.

Finally Kenshin came around to where Sano stood, still swinging his sword in precise movements. Sano expected him to turn around,put down the sword, and allow his warm smile to take his place but he didn't expect to see the shiny side of Kenshin's sword coming right at him.

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Okie dokie. That's it for chapter six. Hope you guys liked. Please R/R.