Act VI.
Open Your Heart
The last thing
he had heard about from his guards was a last minute confirm on the
Battosai’s whereabouts. It was about someone seeing what seemed to be the
fiery red hair of the Battosai’s entering the castle. He was coming to kill
Aki, and he was coming to save an innocent. The thought degusted him, a man
like the Battosai saving an innocent was unheard of to him. That was what was
happening though, the girl was in the tower with Aki, and Fuyu was out looking
for an idea new head fortress.
“My
Lord, he approaches. Your orders?” one of his bodyguards asked. He looked
at him in disappointment, by now one would think they would have figured it
out.
“Kill
him, I have no use for that weak Samurai that would save an innocent,” he
replied. His own golden eyes were full of hatred for the Battosai and his
friends. “Send a squad to the Kamiya dojo to eliminate them as well. Let
none of them live as punishment for his weakness.”
“Yes my
Lord, is the girl a target as well?” he asked. Those golden eyes sent a
piercing glare.
“Kill
them ALL! Does that answer your question? Now stop wasting my time, kill
them!” he shouted. He walked off in a rage, his crimson cloaks whipped
after him. His long silver hair was tied back in a high ponytail, it swung
about behind him as he made his way up the stairs to his chambers. He was not
worried about the Battosai anymore, he was not even worth the bullet or blade
that would slay him. He smiled and changed his course to the girl’s room,
he would kill her now rather than risk her escaping do to someone’s
blundering mistake.
“What
are our orders Koji?” another man asked.
“Our
orders are to kill them all, send a squad to kill those in the dojo, and those
that remain will kill the Battosai and the girl,” Koji replied worried,
“I don’t know if we can kill the Battosai… He seems to be as
strong as our Lord.”
“That’s
an insult to our Lord to say that, Battosai is far weaker than him! He is after
all the greatest man ever to hold a sword, the true Hitokiri of the Revolution!”
the other man shouted. That’s when they heard the swords clashing
outside; they opened the door to see the Battosai challenging about 1,500 men.
The Battosai had a full length Katana and no patience. He was cutting down
about 10 at a time, but even that wouldn’t be enough to save him from
what fate had in store for him.
‘Damn…
they’re endless! Isn’t there anyway to kill them all
quickly?’
Not that I
know of… There is no technique in Hiten Mitsurugi that would change the
inevitable.
‘What do
you mean by the inevitable?’ the Battosai thought harshly. He was
starting to get tired, he had only slain about 180 of them. They were starting
to land some of their attacks.
There’s
over a thousand of them! Battosai we can’t win this, how can we get to
Aki if we can’t even get through the door? Let go of your pride and run!
That or surrender before it’s too late! Battosai didn’t like that
response he only went faster and harder at his many enemies. He wasn’t
going to run, and he wasn’t going down without a fight.
‘We
could combine and make the effort a little better you know…’
Hadn’t
thought of that… still pointless. Do really think it would be the
difference?
‘Yes
unfortunately, that’s our only option that would keep us alive
longer.’
So be it,
we shall not lose to these cretins. The Battosai liked that answer a lot better
than the previous. He started to absorb the Rurouni’s Spiritual power
first.
‘Hope
you’re ready,’ he thought as he cut about three feet around them in
a 360 circle.
There was a
pause in the Battosai’s movement as he cut the circle around him, the
soldiers that remained alive from the deadly arc of his Katana moved back
behind others. That’s when he stopped dead in his tracks, the surrounding
enemy looked on unaware that they were about to meet a cruel fate. Despite
their attempts to subdue and kill this intruder they had been very close to
succeeding. The Battosai’s eyes had closed; he stood still for about a
minute. No one dared to move, then they heard their orders. Kill the Battosai,
this is the perfect opportunity for them to get rid of him once and for all. Or
so they had thought…
The Lord had
finally arrived at the girl’s chamber, by this time he had regained his
temper. He opened the door to see Aki talking to the girl, telling her about the
Battosai’s past. Aki turned around to see who had entered, she went pale
as she saw him.
“My Lord
I...” she stammered, “forgive me.” She bowed at his feet, he
didn’t care at all, she had done everything she was told.
“You are
excused, now help the guards dispose of that buffoon that is known as
Battosai,” he said calmly, Aki nodded and ran out the door,
“you… so you are familiar with the other side of the
Battosai?” The girl nodded, she was scared of him. He thought she was
just some idiot whelp that would cause trouble, but this girl was a little
smarter than that. Perhaps not that much smarter considering her choice of
clothing.
“Why do
you want to get rid of Kenshin?” she asked, then she saw a small bit of
lavender in his golden eyes, “those eyes… are you related to Aki
and Kenshin?” She stood up slowly to face him.
“That is
not your concern, but as for the Battosai he will be dead before he
knows,” he said smugly, “so will you for that matter. Just how long
you live depends on how well you behave.” The girl stepped backwards, she
had finally figured out why Aki was afraid. He gave a smirk then walked over to
the window, his hair tickled her face as he pasted. He was rather pleased to
see what came next, a circle of solders came at a still Battosai and made their
assaults. The Battosai crumpled to the ground, in so much pain that he could
not move.
“You,
you’re the one who wants us dead… Why?” she asked. She
hadn’t seen what was going on outside yet. He turned to face her, his
golden eyes full of bloodshed.
“I want
him dead, because he has something I want,” he said plainly, “Aki
doesn’t have it, and neither do you. To add to that he is an annoying
pest that does nothing that he should. Before I even say more can I ask you to
tell me two things. The first is your name, that way I know the name to put on
your tomb… and two why you think I’m related to a dead man.”
He pointed out the window at the Battosai who was starting to drown in his own
blood.
“Kaoru
Kamiya… WHAT?” she screamed as the full reality of what he had said
hit her, “That can’t be...” She stepped up to the window to
see Kenshin fall to the ground. He did not get up.
“You are
as strange as they come, you know that… I really don’t see any real
resemblance, either you’re gifted or just plain lucky,” he said as
Kaoru started to back away in disbelief. Not in her worst nightmares had she
ever thought it would end this way… Or maybe this was just a
nightmare… That would mean Kenshin was safe and not on the ground dying
outside. Yes, it must be a nightmare.
“If this
really so hard for you why don’t you just kill yourself? It would make
all the pain go away,” the man said quietly. He turned to face her as she
started sobbing so hard, he took a step toward her and opened his arms. She ran
into his open arms and cried.
‘It must
be a nightmare… but this man’s warmth, it’s exactly like
Kenshin’s maybe he’s lying…’ Kaoru thought, but then
she felt his heartbeat increase as she held him tighter.
“I will
not die… I just need to wake up from this nightmare,” she cried.
She buried herself in his cloak, he felt so warm while the rest of the world
felt so cold. Maybe she was awake, and maybe… just maybe Kenshin would
come save her despite his injuries.
“My
Lord, Battosai has been taken to the healer for his injuries. When will you be
there to question him?” the guard asked panting. Kaoru gasped, he was
alive. Barely, but he was indeed alive in this very castle, and Kaoru was not
alone again. At least… she was at least in the same castle as him for now.