Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Final Blow ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Sorry for the long delay but my computer messed up again but this time we weren't able to get it fixed so I had to wait on a new one but now I'm back and plan to update at least three times a week.

I got a lot of great reviews for the last chapter: Summer, Laura Harvey, Twilight Sky (thanks for pointing out that his name was Gensai. I hadn't even noticed I had typed that :-).), WolfGirl, Yaruna-chan, Nette, rain angst, and PraiseDivineMercy from fanfiction.net and Lena17 and Lillywind from mediaminer.org. I really appreciate it when readers take the time to read and review. My beta JC14 also deserve thanks for reading over this.

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Her breathe came out in shallow gasps and her muscles felt too weak to support her, but Kaoru continued to stagger forward. She had to meet Monkusai before Kenshin realized that she had gone or he would be able to stop her. She shook her head as she thought about it. This was her fight and she had to handle it and though she seemed too tired to even make it to the meeting place, she was sure that she would be able to think of something to defuse the situation. Then they all would be safe and then no one would find out about her father's secret.

Deciding that she should stop thinking about it and conserve her energy for actually making it to the house, she coninued to make her slow trek down the path. At least it was a relatively straight path which meant that she could walk without paying much attention to where she was going.

Finally the house came into view. He had given her directions the same day that he had taken Yahiko but she hadn't told Megumi. If Kenshin didn't know where to find them, then she had more time to figure out what to do. She knew that her plan was foolish and that she was completely alone with a guy that wanted to kill her but she remembered Sano's words about Kenshin. She had seen those large amethyst eyes turn gold and the memory of it still haunted her. She was always aware that there was a chance she would loose Kenshin, either to an opponent or to himself, but she was going to keep it from happening for as long as possible. So, steeling her resolve, she stepped upon the small porch.

The creaking of the floorboards under her feet, added to the over-all run-down look of the house, gave Kaoru the creeps. The rotting boards and the cracked walls made it seem as if the house could fall down around her at any moment but the door looked as if it was relatively new.

When she got to the door she slid it open slowly, keeping all her senses on alert for any sign of movement. The inside of the house was in better condition than the outside but it still looked uninhabitable. Cobwebs hung from the crevices of the walls ands ceilings and dust covered every available surface.

"Ah. Well if it isn't the esteemed Kamiya Kaoru," a voice spoke from the darkness. "I half expected to have to deal with your little red-haired friend instead. In fact, my boys were looking forward to a chance to pay him back but I'm glad that is was you that came."

"Well I'm here so you can let Yahiko go.You have me so you don't have any other use for him." She had tried to sound strong and confident but it came out as a hoarse whisper.

"I can't do that as of yet but don't worry. We're not going to delay the fun any longer. You will pay for your fathers crimes, little girl."

" What about the sins of your father. My father did what he thought was right but your father did what he wanted. Even if you didn't take that into accout, don't you think that you're being unreasonable. The past is something that's over and that's all it is. I can't be blamed for what my father did anymore than you can be for yours."

"Sorry, I disagree. I swore revenge and I always keep my promises," Monkusai declared. He no longer looked calm or rational. His smile now stretched to cover his entire face and his eyes were bright but what happened next caught Kaoru completely off-guard. He pulled his sword out and lunged at her. She barely had time to see the glistening steel before everything went black.

*****

His pratices had been harder than fighting these men. Not only did many trip over tables in their haste for a fight but many tripped over each other and started fighting themselves. Those few who actually managed to make it to him were weak. Yahiko could have taken them all on and won. When won of the patrons actually fell on his sword as he was bringing it down to use the hilt to hit another guy, he nearly laughed.

Not ten minutes after the "fight" had begun, it was over. They had done an excellent job of beating one another up but no one had laid a hand on Kenshin. Therefore Kenshin had refrained from actaully killing any of them but if he didn't get any answers soon then that would change.

"Now did that bump in the head help anyone's memory?" he asked the subdued room.

"He's staying at an abandoned house about half and hour west from the dojo," Kenshin heard someone say form the throng og bodies on the floor.

Without another word, Kenshin left. he was close to finding the man who had started this and making him pay. When he decided to go back and check on Kaoru first, he didn't realize that the Battousai wouldn't have even given her a second thought. He only knew that he still cared about what happened to her.

When he got to the gates and saw Megumi on the porch he feared for the worse and ven though he didn't realize it, the concern turned his eyes from gold to purple.

"Miss Megumi, what'w wrong?" he asked her.

"It's Kaoru. She's gone. We left her for a minute but when I went back to check on her, her bed was empty," she answered. Kenshin could see that she was fighting tears. Megumi was strong but she was also getting so tired. It was a strange life and they were strange friends for each other, the Battousai, the fighter-for-hire, the dojo sensai, the orphan, and the doctor who once made medicine that killed, but they were strong together and now their fragile lifes were falling apart.

"She's gone after him. Megumi, make sure no one else comes looking for us and don't worry. I will bring them both back."

Megumi could only nod her head in consent. Kenshin could take care of this. He was strong both physically and emotionally so he would be able to handle this. She was looking so hard for hope that she never even considered the Battousai.

So, for the third time in three days Kenshin began to run. Only this time when he reached his destination, someone would pay for all their pain. His eyes were gold again before he even reached the dojo gates.

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Sorry that this one is shorter but it was more to link what has alreafy happened to what is about to happen. Please review to tell me what you thought. I can always use pointers and constuctive critism is always welcome. I've decided to update every time I get five reviews so if you want more tell me what you think. Thanks ;-).