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Disclaimer: *sigh* I don't own any aspect of RK, except for Akari and that baka Yanagi….

Welcome to the world's longest chapter…okay not the longest, but it's pretty darn long for me. There was so much to be covered in this section, and I just couldn't split it! Oh, and I don't hate Kenshin. I really don't! *huge sweatdrop* Okay that said, on with the fic!

Prism - Chapter 11

I'm gonna run, I'm gonna win
I'm gonna do what I need to do
'cause it's time to be what I need to be
It's time to be what I need to be

You can't tell me what to do anymore
You can't tell me what to do anymore
Now I'm free, now I'm free, now I'm free

“Mou! I can’t believe it’s raining again.” Kaoru pressed her hand to the glass window in Megumi’s clinic and stared out at the heavy downpour, which was steadily turning the unpaved street into a muddy quagmire. “We’ll never get the shopping done at this rate.”

Kaoru felt a warm hand on her shoulder and she glanced behind her at Kenshin, who was smiling gently. “The rain never lasts forever.” Kaoru stared into his dark violet eyes, which were filled with a deeper meaning. She knew what he was really trying to say, and she was glad for the quiet confidence in his gaze. He's right, everything will work out for the best. I know it will. She smiled happily in response, covering his hand with hers.

In the back room of the clinic, Shinta sat on one of the low beds, swinging his short legs back and forth as Megumi organized one of her cabinets. She watched the boy out of the corner of her eye curiously. All the way to the clinic he had talked nonstop about everything and anything, just like a real child…until the rain had started. Then his voice had suddenly died off and for several moments after they'd arrived at the clinic he'd wandered about with a look of terrible worry on his face. They'd all asked what was wrong of course but, in typical Kenshin fashion, he'd refused to explain what was troubling him. Strange boy, she'd thought. Deciding to distract him, she's asked him to help clean her office. The ploy worked; his anxiety vanished like so much smoke, and in his excitement he'd practically dragged her to the back of the clinic. Now he was gazing around the office with a look of innocent wonder, as if it were all new to him. Kenshin's situation was bizarre and a little frightening, but it was a relief to Megumi to notice just how much Shinta resembled the man she knew. He had Kenshin's cheerful smile, his cute little "oro!" and the carefree air that Kenshin only had when he played with children. Megumi smiled at him. “You seem happy, Shinta-kun, even though it’s raining like this.”

Megumi blinked at that. 'Everything'? I wouldn't say that… She shrugged. "Well, except for the shopping I guess, but I'm sure that silly tanuki girl will manage somehow."

Shinta stopped swinging his feet and looked sharply in her direction. "You shouldn't say things that aren't nice, Megumi-san."

She caught her breath at the reproach in his voice; it was a tone she rarely heard from Kenshin. “It's never bothered you before…Ken-san."

The boy smiled mysteriously, unsurprised by the change in name. "I rarely say what bothers me, you know that. Kaoru-san's strong enough to stand up for herself, but you still shouldn't call her names. This whole time, she's been strong enough for all three of me. "

Megumi stared dumbly at him, unnerved by the thinly veiled reprimand, and by the very adult tones it had been delivered in. Seeing her expression, Shinta's frown vanished, replaced by a sunny smile. “Don’t worry about it,” he said confidently. “Everything will be fine. I made sure."

She walked over and crouched down in front of the tiny boy. “Made sure of what?”

Shinta leaned forward very close, until she could feel his warm breath on her face. He gave her a sly wink and held up a finger in front of his mouth. “Secret,” he whispered with a delighted giggle.

Shinta smiled at her with familiar violet eyes. "Who can say?" he asked quietly. He scooted sideways and hopped off the bed, trotting to the front room. Megumi stared after him for a moment before following in confused silence.

Yanagi intensified his ki to warm himself as the rain soaked heavily into his back, shivering only slightly in the downpour. He was exhausted both in mind and body, the events of the day sapping his strength. He stopped and rested for a moment under a tree. Leaning his head back against the damp bark he breathed deeply and gathered his reserves, trying to recover some of his energy. He couldn't afford to give in to tiredness. This day was far from over, and he was steadily running out of options. He was furious with himself at how badly he'd botched this entire plan. Both Akari and Himura were completely out of his control now, and he wasn’t sure what to do. He bowed his head, cursing his lack of self-control. Akari, that was where he had gone wrong. From the beginning, he should have made a clear choice: Akari's happiness, or his own strength. It was trying to cater to both that had landed him in his current situation, and he held no illusions now about which goal was more important to him. It was pointless to feel remorse over what he had done to her; the inescapable fact was that the entire unfortunate incident had been born out of his own weakness. If he had been stronger he would not have hurt her; if he had been stronger Himura would already be defeated. Bringing Akari with him had been a mistake; he should have left her behind in Osaka. Yanagi shook his head sharply. What-ifs were pointless now. What was done was done, and he still had so much farther to go.

He lifted his head and stared out into the gathering darkness, his face resolved. It was time to end this. One way or the other, he would win. Three Himuras didn't matter; in fact it was better. It simply increased the challenge, and would make his final victory all the more satisfying. Himura, all this began with you, and it will end with you as well.

Decision made, Yanagi pushed himself away from the tree and headed for the Kamiya dojo. When he finally arrived at the gates he walked up to them without hesitation. They swung open easily at his touch, unlocked. So someone is home. Good. He stepped inside and extended his senses. The dojo appeared to be deserted, except for two ki auras inside the training hall. He studied the impressions closely. One was definitely Himura, though he couldn't tell which one. No matter how different they were in appearance and mindset, all three were essentially the same person, with identical auras. Given the closeness of Himura's three selves, his request to be restored to his original state probably wasn't all that unreasonable; Yanagi simply had no interest in doing so. For him, his ki abilities had always been a means to an end, nothing more. Himura's current state gave him a rare tactical advantage. Right now the swordman's mind was scattered and confused. If Yanagi ever had a chance to prove himself against Himura, this was it. Weighing his options, he decided to avoid confrontation for the moment, at least until he could figure out which of the three he was dealing with. Stepping up onto the porch of the house, he headed inside.

Yanagi wandered through the narrow hallways for several moments, not looking for anything in particular. It was to all appearances a normal Japanese home, with a modest kitchen and a few small bedrooms. Arranged flowers decorated the receiving room, a pair of baskets held laundry, and someone hadn't finished washing the breakfast dishes. There was nothing special about this place, nothing out of the ordinary to indicate that a retired hitokiri lived here, and Yanagi vaguely wondered why he had expected otherwise. Shrugging mentally, he slid open a door and found himself in what could only be Himura's bedroom. It was the same size as the others, neatly arranged and simply adorned, but what marked it as his was the sword propped in an elegant stand against one wall. Raising a curious eyebrow, Yanagi wandered over and studied it. The Sakabatou, he realized, running a hand over the worn scabbard.

Yahiko frantically dodged Battousai's sweeping strike, which he was sure had been aimed to miss, and almost tripped, regaining his balance with a clumsy hop. Heart pounding, his sweaty hands slipping on the bokken's smooth hilt, he struggled to think of an effective counterattack. Battousai was clearly play-fighting with him, holding back to only a fraction of his true ability. Even so, he was almost too fast for Yahiko's eye to follow, and his every strike aimed true. Yahiko could feel the spots where he knew he would have bruises tomorrow, and he was irked by the fact that he yet to land a single blow on the hitokiri. He would have to match Kenshin's speed somehow; it was the only way. His opponent smiled slightly at him. "You're doing well, Yahiko."

Yahiko readied himself, then shot forward. He tried to imagine himself the way Kenshin moved, as light as air, his movements perfectly fluid. There was a whirl of motion in front him and he felt the tip of Kenshin's bokken at his neck…again. "You were leading with your shoulder again. Even without ki, I can read your intentions easily when you do things like that. Keep your chest square to me. Try again."

"Yes sir," Yahiko muttered sullenly, resuming his stance. He charged again, trying to keep Kenshin's advice in mind. As he drew closer, bokken raised high, he realized that Kenshin wasn't even paying attention to him. The hitokiri's head was turned to the side, staring at the wall of the dojo, a startled look on his face. What the hell's he doing? Expecting another deception, apparently Kenshin's specialty when he sparred, Yahiko didn't slow down. He was astonished when he brought the bokken down smartly on top of Kenshin's head; he hadn't even tried to dodge the strike.

"AHH!" Yahiko dropped the sword in shock and leapt backward. "Kenshin, what are you doing?! I'm sorry!"

Battousai sat on the floor where he'd landed, holding his head and blinking rapidly. "What was that?" he growled, obviously in pain.

Panicking, Yahiko bowed frantically. Shit, I hit Battousai on the head! Shit! "I'm so sorry, but you didn't move!"

Kenshin stared at him in surprise. "That's not…it's all right, Yahiko. I felt something strange just now." Apparently unfazed by the strike Kenshin stood, rubbing his head vaguely.

Kenshin wasn't listening; he was staring at the wall again, eyes narrowed in concentration. "There's someone in the house."

"I can," Kenshin whispered softly, "but it's very weak, too weak to be of use in a battle. But just now…" Abruptly he whirled to look at the niche in the dojo wall where the ceremonial scroll hung. Following his gaze, Yahiko saw the daisho that had belonged to Kaoru's father, sitting below the scroll on a display stand. Kenshin walked over and stood in front of the shrine, his expression torn. After a moment he quickly knelt and lifted the katana from its rack.

Kenshin turned and fixed him with a fierce glare, even as he slid the sword through the belt of his hakama. "Whoever is in the house they are not friendly, and I will not go unarmed. Come."

Outside, the storm was growing fiercer. Sheets of rain lashed against the thin shoji doors, and flashes of lightning illuminated the room where Yanagi knelt, waiting. The minute he had touched the Sakabatou he'd felt a sharp flare of awareness from the ki in the training hall. So, he has a true connection with his sword. Interesting. He hadn't really meant to attract Himura's attention so quickly, but he wasn't regretting it either. Patiently he waited as the ki left the training hall and came towards the house, increasing in strength as it moved. The ki entered the house and began a systematic search of the rooms. It was easy to track such a powerful presence; it was one of the first skills he'd refined and mastered under Jine's tutelage. It was only later that those skills had been put to a more sinister use… No! Stop thinking about that. He's here. Himura stopped right outside the room, and Yanagi closed his eyes as he heard the door slide open.

The tense breath he'd been holding was quickly released when he felt cold steel at his neck. Opening his eyes he could see the Sakabatou untouched in front of him. That could only mean one thing…

"What are you doing?" Battousai's voice was colder than the naked blade in his hand.

Yanagi didn't dare move. There was only the goal, he reminded himself. That was all that mattered. "You move quickly; I thought you were still in the dojo."

"Another lie; if she was here you would have known it. Besides, I thought she went to see you this morning."

There was a long pause. "Take this sword off my neck, Himura. You shouldn't have a katana in your hands anyway."

"I thought we settled this point last time, Yanagi. If you're betting your life on a mere promise then you're even more foolish than I thought."

"Killing me won't change anything," Yanagi said in a dull voice. Briefly he glanced at the open doorway, where he could see a young boy standing with a terrified look on his face. So that's Himura's ward, eh? Poor kid, but if he knows what's good for him he'll stay put.

"No, your death won't change anything, that is if what you said the other night is true, which I somehow doubt. You put me in this situation, therefore you must have some idea of a way out of it. But if you aren't willing to help me, then I still have an obligation to end your threat. I've killed men for far less than what you've done to me."

Yanagi narrowed his eyes slightly. "That seems a strange thing to say, coming from you. I thought you'd be pleased by the opportunity I've handed you. After all, you're free now."

There was long silence, during which the pressure of the blade increased significantly. "Idiot. Who said I wanted to be free in the first place?"

Yanagi swallowed hard against the blade, which was biting painfully into his skin. "But I thought…"

"Everyone thinks they know me so well," Battousai said in growing fury. "You think working at the same inn with a man for a few months is enough time to understand him? You think you're privy to my wants and desires? You know nothing. The three of us had finally achieved a balance, a balance you destroyed, and you will pay for your meddling, one way or the other."

Yanagi clenched his fists in his lap. Battousai's sword was against his neck in such a way that if he let off a ki blast now, he'd probably get his head sliced off. It was time to toss the dice. "Fine, but if you're going to challenge me, then at least do it as one. Where are the other two?"

"You have no need to know." The hitokiri's voice was suddenly in his ear, and the sword's edge burned against his neck. "But you have a point. We'll make this a little game, Yanagi. You run, and I hunt you down like the animal you are. I suggest you find the rurouni yourself if you want to save your worthless neck." The sword was lifted and Battousai appeared in Yanagi's vision, standing protectively in front of the Sakabatou. "Run. Now."

The hitokiri's voice held a cold note of command that left no room for argument. This is what I wanted, Yanagi reminded himself, trying to stop his body from shaking. I have to prove that I'm stronger. I can win this game. Jumping to his feet, he ran for it, knocking the boy in the doorway harshly out of the way.

Battousai stared after him, re-sheathing the katana with a sharp snap. "Idiot," he snarled. Turning around, he picked up the Sakabatou and slid it through his belt as well. Heading for the door he paused by Yahiko, who was still sitting where Yanagi had knocked him down. His head was bowed. "Go ahead of me to the clinic," he instructed coldly. "They won't be shopping in this weather. Tell the rurouni I'm bringing Yanagi to him." The boy didn't answer. "I asked you to trust me. Now please hurry." He didn't wait for a reply.

For a few moments after he left Yahiko sat in the darkness, listening to the rain pound against the roof. He felt like crying in frustration, though he knew that would be useless. "Why?" he whispered to no one. "Why couldn't I stop him?"

Sano cursed the pouring rain as he almost slipped for the third time. He had stopped only once, to drape his shirt over the still unconscious Akari, and now he was soaked to the skin and freezing cold. The route back to the clinic seemed to be taking forever, and he couldn't hold back a cry of relief when he finally saw the shape of the clinic rise in the distance. He didn't slow down as he approached the door; in one swift motion he turned his body and rammed it open with his shoulder, badly startling the people inside and spraying them with rain. Shinta was the only one who didn't look surprised to see him. He lifted his hand in a small wave. "Hi, Sanosuke-san."

Sano's patience finally snapped. "What the hell are you all standing around for?! She's badly hurt!"

"What happened?" the rurouni asked immediately, running forward to help. He was roughly knocked aside by Megumi.

"I'll handle this Ken-san! Sano, lay her down. Ken-san, get something to dry this rooster-head off with. Kaoru-chan, hot water! Hurry, all of you!" The assembled Kenshin-gumi obeyed without question, scattering to their various tasks. In the clinic Megumi's word was law, and no one doubted her expertise in this situation.

Shinta backed quietly away from the chaos, knowing he would only be in the way, and sat himself in a corner, watching the unmoving woman on the bed with anxious eyes. No one needed to ask the details; there was only one person who could have done this to her. It's our fault isn't it? We let her go alone… Shinta curled up in his spot, arms wrapped tightly around his knees. He was painfully aware of the mental states of everyone in the room. Their anger and fear washed over him with terrible intensity, and he buried his head in his knees in a futile attempt to shut the chaotic emotions out. He felt sick with the knowledge that this probably could have been prevented. Battousai-san was right, wasn't he? We didn't listen. It's all our fault…

This is stupid. How the hell am I supposed to know where that damn rurouni is? Yanagi jogged away from the dojo, trying to avoid the muddier spots along the road. He turned down the first street he came to and ran down a road lined with houses. Spotting movement out of the corner of his eye, he turned his head to see a dark shadow leaping through the curtain of rain, high above on a nearby rooftop. Sucking in an irritated breath, he put on an extra burst of speed and ran through the neighborhood to a more crowded area, with narrow streets and numerous alleys. Choosing an alley at random he darted down the narrow passage. He came out the other side only to see the shadow standing on an opposite rooftop, waiting patiently for him to appear. Stifling a curse, Yanagi turned around and ran back, choosing another street to flee down.

The random pursuit continued for several minutes; just when he thought he'd finally lost him, Battousai would appear, racing across the rooftops like some demented squirrel, forcing him in a new direction. It soon became clear that he was being steered somewhere. He wasn't very familiar with this part of Tokyo, and he was surprised when another avenue of escape from his deadly shadow led him straight into the center of the local market. Where the hell is driving me to? Yanagi ducked under an overhang and stared warily out at the rooftops. He tried to feel for Himura's ki but there was nothing, only the faint vibrations from the people hidden within the buildings. The cold and the wet were finally starting to get to him. Shivering inside his soaked clothes, he debated his next course of action. He was going to make himself ill if he stayed out for much longer. He could escape inside and end this game, but he was sure Himura would follow. He had foolishly agreed to play by the assassin's rules, and the consequences for breaking them were probably very unpleasant. Shaking off his discomfort he continued slowly up the street, trying to stay out of the rain. A faint sound from above him was the only warning he had before a black shadow dropped down in front of him. Yanagi bit his lip hard to keep from crying out. Hastily he backed away from the shadow's gleaming yellow eyes, which seemed to glow in the twilight. "Taking our time, are we?"

"Oh poor Yanagi, put off by a little water," Battousai hissed mockingly. "We're almost there, but we can't continue if you won't play the game." There was an unpleasant rasp of wet steel leaving its sheath. "I'm getting impatient."

Battousai smirked in satisfaction at the terrified yelp his quarry let out as he struck at him with the sword. It was a slow strike, intended to miss. He had no intention of hurting Yanagi—not yet anyway. The attack was just to scare him. Eyes wide with panic, his prey threw himself out of the way of the sword and fled back out into the street. Kenshin waited a few seconds for Yanagi to pick a direction, then pursued him at a leisurely pace.

Battousai's smirk shifted into an unnerving grin. He was enjoying this. Watching this fool of a man race around like a frightened rabbit was immensely satisfying. Yanagi deserved to feel some of what he had been experiencing these past few days. Since his separation from his other selves he had felt open and exposed, with nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Thanks to Yanagi, he had been revealed for all his family to see and now they feared and distrusted him, all because he could not respond to them the way the rurouni could. That knowledge hurt worse than any sword wound, and the desire for revenge sang hot in his blood. This weak, pathetic man would pay for his crimes, and it would be Battousai who determined the punishment.

In the end, he was an assassin, pure and simple. He chose a target, tracked it, and found the most efficient way to dispose of it. It was a liberatingly simple mindset, one that had served him well in the past. A very small part of his mind expressed concern over this line of thinking. He had long ago sworn that he was done with ruthless tactics like these. All human lives had worth; he had learned that the hard way. It was not his place to judge others. Doing so caused the misery he inflicted to rebound back on him, and on those he cared about. He knew this, he knew this with Himura Kenshin's knowledge, but all the same he shrugged off that small voice. It was the rurouni's job to worry about the morals and ethics of battle. Battousai's job was to do what needed to be done, and right now Yanagi deserved some serious payback. Leaping back up to the rooftops he continued herding his prey toward the clinic, using the most roundabout route he could come up with. After all, he had to give his messenger time to do his job.

Yahiko didn't even bother to knock as he reached the clinic at a dead run. Throwing the door open he stood for a second in the entrance, trying to catch his breath. Five heads turned his way and he met Megumi's indignant glare. "Is anyone going to knock today? Come in quickly Yahiko-kun, before you make us all catch cold!"

Slowly, he closed the door. Everyone was seated around one of the beds, their faces grim. Realizing something was very wrong, Yahiko walked up to them and looked at the woman lying on the bed. The bandages covering her did nothing to hide how swollen and bruised her face was. He remembered Yanagi's strange words to Battousai. "You don't know, do you?" "Is that…Akari-san?"

The rurouni looked up at him, his eyes full of remorse. "Where is Kenshin, Yahiko?"

The boy didn't answer immediately. He clenched a furious fist at his side. "Yanagi did this, didn't he?"

"Yanagi showed up at the dojo," Yahiko said dully, still looking at Akari. "Battousai said to tell you he was bringing him here."

There was stunned silence. Kenshin made a strangled, angry noise and headed for the door. He flung it open and stared out at the darkened street. It was empty. Slowly, the rurouni turned his head to look at Yahiko. The boy was startled by the cold anger in his mentor's eyes. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure," Yahiko admitted softly. "The other Kenshin kept saying how no one understood him, how everyone kept acting like they knew what he wanted. Yanagi thought he would be glad to be free of you…but Battousai said he never wanted to be free in the first place."

"He's been put in a position he doesn't like," the rurouni said thoughtfully, half to himself. "Usually it's me that makes the decisions. He likes the freedom he has now, but he is also frightened by it. Yanagi has made things very difficult for him."

"He follows your commands doesn't he?" Sano asked from Akari's bedside. There was a slight note of accusation in his voice. "Then, and now. He acts under your will. You said it yourself: he does what you can't."

Kenshin looked out into the street, his face uncertain. "Maybe, I don't know. I don't know anything anymore."

"Look!" Shinta piped up from his position near the door. He was pointing outside.

Everyone gathered at the door just as a flash of lightning illuminated the street, revealing a figure moving slowly toward them, stumbling slightly in the thick mud. Several paces from the clinic he stopped and looked up. Kaoru took in the lanky man's bedraggled appearance, and how he kept glancing nervously over his shoulder, as if he were being pursued. "Kenshin, is that…?"

Hearing his name, Yanagi suddenly looked relieved. He bounded up to the door. "Himura-san, thank goodness! You have to stop him; he's out of his mind!"

Kenshin's grip tightened visibly on the doorframe. Though the others couldn't see his face, they could see Yanagi's reaction. The man paled and stepped back, the hope draining from his face. "You dare ask me for help?"

"You don't understand; he's going to kill me!" Yanagi said desperately, casting another anxious glance over his shoulder.

The rurouni glared at him. "As I recall, you're the one who let him out of his cage, Yanagi. If you're so afraid of him, then maybe you ought to put him back."

"Tell that to him." The rurouni was looking up the street. A shadow had appeared among the buildings. Battousai was walking steadily towards them, his sword out and ready. As he approached the wind picked up, blowing his long ponytail out to the side, and another flash of lightning illuminated his eerie golden eyes, which seemed to glow in the shadows of his face. It was a striking image, and Kaoru felt herself swallow nervously. Before she had met Kenshin, this was how she had always pictured the legendary hitokiri in her mind. Not as a human being, but as a vengeful demon.

Battousai stopped a short distance away from them, his expression blank. The rain had lessened to a misty drizzle. Water dripped steadily off his long bangs and ran in rivulets down the blade of his sword. Kaoru stared at the weapon in his hand and felt her heart seize. That was no Sakabatou…it was a katana. A very familiar katana. "That's my father's sword!"

"Yahiko." Battousai's voice held a clear warning. He fixed his fierce gaze on Yanagi.

Sano stepped outside and addressed the hitokiri. "Hold on a minute Kenshin, I've got a bone to pick with this jerk." He strode over to Yanagi. "You lousy piece of scum. Where do you get off treating Akari like that?" The former streetfighter ground his knuckles together and loomed over the shorter man. "You disgusting little—"

"No," came Megumi's voice from the doorway. "She is inside. She is seriously injured, but her wounds will heal…eventually."

Battousai stared at the man before him, terrible realization dawning. "You beat her…why would do such a thing? I was under the impression that you cared about your wife."

Yanagi's expression was as blank as the hitokiri's. "That is between me and her. She has nothing to do with this."

I let her go, Battousai thought furiously, clenching a fist at his side. I let her go and now…

The rurouni interrupted his thoughts. "That is where you're wrong, Yanagi. Step aside Sano, this fight is ours."

Sano stepped back reluctantly. "Fine," he growled. "But if you end up leaving this slimeball alive I get the rest of him. No one harms innocent women while I'm around."

The rurouni smiled grimly. "Fair enough, I suppose." He walked over to stand by his counterpart. Wordlessly, Battousai pulled the Sakabatou from his belt and handed it to him. The rurouni accepted it, but he couldn't keep the disapproval from his face. "What are you doing with Kamiya-san's sword?" He asked quietly.

Battousai sighed in exasperation. "Look, I needed a weapon and it was the only one available. Deal with it."

"You two going to fight or argue?" Yanagi called arrogantly. His powerful blast of ki an instant later took them both by surprise. Battousai managed to keep his footing, sliding back through the mud, but the rurouni was knocked down, the Sakabatou flying out of his hand. His expression determined, Yanagi walked forward and picked up the sword where it had landed. A strange blue aura surrounded his body now and it seemed to act like a shield, sending the rain sheeting off him. "That was pathetic. If you want me dead so badly, Battousai, then come at me with that katana of yours. I'm done running."

"About damn time!" the hitokiri shouted. He charged forward, ignoring the rurouni's yell of protest. Idiot, arguing at a time like this! I don't care who it belonged to, a sword is still a sword. Yanagi raised his weapon as he approached, and while it was clear he'd had some training since Kenshin had known him in Hokkaido, his stance was still awkward. He challenges me when he can't even use a sword? Suspicious of a trick, the hitokiri kept a wary eye on the glow of ki surrounding his opponent. He'd underestimated Yanagi's strength once before at the hotel; he would not make the same mistake again.

The next few moments were blur of attack and counterattack. Mentally, the hitokiri cursed his inability to read ki effectively. Yanagi was quite fast, and he managed to parry the first few blows. When Kenshin tried a Ryu Tsui Sen, he hit the aura surrounding Yanagi. It was like striking a brick wall. Giving a yell of surprise, he planted both feet against the barrier and pushed off, flipping backwards though the air to land on his feet in the thick mud. He spared a brief glance at the rurouni, who was standing silently to one side, watching the fight with calm eyes. This one is yours, his expression seemed to say. Battousai's eyes widened slightly. He's allowing me to act independently? Surprised, he turned his attention back to Yanagi, who was standing with the Sakabatou propped casually on one shoulder.

"Defensive ki, another gift from Jine!" Yanagi shouted, now waving the Sakabatou mockingly. "What do you think?"

"That you're a damn freak!" the hitokiri hollered spitefully, feeling his temper starting to boil over. This man was making him look like a fool. I can't use ki in return, I can't do anything. Now what?

"Now," Yanagi announced boldly, apparently enjoying himself, "something I learned from you!" He lifted the Sakabatou high, then struck. The hitokiri's eyes widened in alarm. Do Ryu Sen!

A wall of mud came rushing at him, slamming into his body full force and knocking him off his feet. "Kenshin!" came a twin cry from both the rurouni and Shinta.

Battousai rolled over in the muck. He couldn't hear the cries of his counterparts. His ears were full of mud, and there was a vague ringing in his ears. I'm losing. He felt his anger burn hotter than the lightning that filled the sky, driving the chill of the rain away. Akari's gentle face appeared in his mind's eye, covered in blood. I let her go this morning, when I knew what he would do. I knew. Gritting his teeth, he hissed in rage that directed both at himself and at Yanagi. I can't lose to this bastard! I will not lose!

Gripping his sword tightly, he turned to glare at his enemy. A single whispered phrase carried through the darkness. "I'll kill you."

The rurouni, however, had heard his counterpart loud and clear. Oh gods no… He looked at Yanagi, and saw that the fool had dropped his guard. In that instant, Battousai seized his chance. The rurouni felt his stomach tighten in fear, powerless to do anything but watch as the hitokiri flew forward in a spray of rain and soil. Please don't do this!

In an instant it was over. The Sakabatou lay several feet away and Yanagi was on his back in the mud, the hitokiri's katana at his neck. The Kenshin-gumi stood frozen. Kaoru's hands had flown to her mouth and she'd taken a single step forward into the street. She stared at the gleaming blade in her husband's hands, which hovered less than a hair's breadth above Yanagi's throat. "I'll kill you," Battousai whispered again, but there was an odd note in his voice that startled the rurouni. He couldn't see the teenager's face; it was bowed low, his long red bangs covering his eyes. The sword trembled above Yanagi's neck as Battousai's arms shook with the effort of holding his strike back.

Slowly, Battousai lifted his head and fixed Kenshin with a look of pure venom. His golden eyes were glazed and maddened…and also frustrated. He gritted his teeth, his two-handed grip on the katana's hilt white-knuckled. The blade trembled even more violently.

Slowly, Kaoru lowered her hands and looked at the rurouni in realization. "Is it because of you?"

The rurouni's expression was grim as he met Battousai's eyes. "It's your choice," he whispered.

"DAMN YOU!" the hitokiri shrieked. The katana lifted, then swung downwards. There was no hesitation this time.

It is your choice, but still… The rurouni felt his body move on its own, independent of his thoughts. He covered the distance to his counterpart in a heartbeat, and before he knew what was happening he was behind Battousai, one arm wrapped around his neck, the other holding his sword hand, preventing the blade from falling.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru started forward, but Sano held her back with a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him angrily, but he just shook his head and pointed. Following his gaze, she stared at the pair. They struggled against each other with legs locked, their strength equal.

Battousai strained against the rurouni, his whole body shaking with the effort. "Let go of me, dammit! LET GO!"

"I won't let you do this!" The rurouni's face was determined, and he tightened his grip.

"You said it was my choice!" the hitokiri screamed, his terrifying gaze fixed on Yanagi, who continued to lay there watching the pair in astonishment. "You liar!"

"Shut up!" Battousai pulled forward until they were both bending over Yanagi. The sword was still dangerously close to the man's neck. "I hate this, I hate it! I shouldn't have to exist like this! It's all his fault. He deserves to die, for what he did to her if for nothing else!"

Yahiko watched the confrontation in amazement. This Battousai was completely different from the man he'd sparred with in the dojo. He's completely lost his reason, hasn't he? I think he really meant what he said to me before, about not wanting to kill, but now it's like he's forgotten all of it…just like in his duel with Saitou. When he's in the fight, none of that moral stuff matters anymore. But at the same time...he's fighting because he's upset over Akari. He's trying to defend her, just like Kenshin would.

"Don't give me that crap!" The rurouni exploded. "I know you don't really believe that! Next you'll be telling me you don't regret any of the lives that you've taken!"

Suddenly, instead of straining forward, Battousai shoved backwards, ramming his elbow hard into Kenshin's gut. The rurouni fell back with a choked cry. The hitokiri whirled on him, Yanagi temporarily forgotten, his blade raised menacingly. "Shut up! You were just as responsible for those lives as me! Stop with the damn high and mighty act already!"

"Kenshin-san!" Shinta yelled from the sidelines. Their anger assaulted his mind, and the pain was becoming unbearable. He crouched down in the doorway, both hands pressed to his head. "Don’t say things like that!"

The rurouni glared at Yanagi. "Get out of here, idiot! We'll settle this later! If you value your life then get out."

Yanagi didn't need to be told twice; scrambling to his feet, he ran for it. Sano watched him go; as much as he wanted to go pound the bastard flat, Kenshin was right. This was his fight alone, and right now there were more important concerns than Yanagi.

"NO!" Battousai yelled, starting to run after him. The rurouni ran in front of him, grabbing the Sakabatou where it had fallen. He raised the sword and stood in the hitokiri's way. Battousai stopped and lifted his own weapon, his eyes dangerous. "Get out of my way. I'm not letting him escape again!"

"Like hell we can't!" the hitokiri snarled, sliding the katana back into its sheath. "You are not my keeper!"

"Yes I am, because we are one; you and Shinta and I. We are responsible for each other, and I cannot allow you to behave like this. You asked me before how I intended to rein you in. Well this is how; the precise method really is up to you."

"Don't patronize me!" Battousai spat. He lunged at the rurouni, his sword flying out in a blindingly fast battou-juutsu. Kenshin only barely managed to block the blow. "I'm free of you! You said it was my fight; you had no right to stop me!"

"It is our fight, and you," the rurouni said evenly, "are not in your right mind. That is no way to fight a duel, and you know it."

"Shut up!" the hitokiri snarled. He struck again and the two swordsmen flew around each other in the rain. To the Kenshin-gumi, they were nothing but streaks of color. Seconds later they sprang apart, both breathing heavily.

"We are one!" the rurouni insisted, his face pained. "We shouldn't fight each other like this!"

"Then you shouldn't have let him get away!" Battousai pointed his sword at Kenshin accusingly. "You've betrayed all of us, and Akari as well! I knew she shouldn't have gone alone this morning, but instead of stopping her I chose to listen to you. Once again, we have failed to protect someone who was relying on us."

"Hey, I was with her!" Sano yelled. "I was the one who was too late to stop him, Kenshin. If you want to blame someone, blame me!"

"Maybe you're right," the rurouni said quietly, ignoring Sano's offended protest. "Maybe we did fail her, but listen to yourself! I am not your enemy, and you aren't mine!"

"Don't tell me who the enemy is! You are preventing justice! If he is allowed to live, his crimes will only get worse!"

Kenshin's eyes glinted an angry blue. "So, just because you can kill, you will? You know better than that! His death will solve nothing."

"Idiot!" Battousai launched himself into the air. The rurouni's words, words he'd heard now from both Yahiko and Yanagi, infuriated him. Why wouldn't they let him end this threat that was causing them so much suffering? He fell through the rain, the katana aimed at the rurouni's shoulder. "Don't tell me what to do!"

"Stop fighting, please!" Shinta rocked back and forth on his knees, his head in his hands, the pain unbearable. "PLEASE!"

The rurouni looked up through the rain and met the hitokiri's gaze. His voice was soft, but the other heard him clearly. "Will you really make the bloody rain fall once again, over something like this?" He saw the younger Kenshin's face go slack with shock, but it was too late to pull the strike; the tip of the katana drove into Kenshin's shoulder. Only the rurouni's desperate lunge sideways saved himself from being impaled.

The hitokiri cried out in pain as he landed, blood blossoming from the same shoulder he had just struck on the rurouni.

Kaoru saw the blood, and watched them both stagger. Next to her, Shinta gave a single whimper. She had been kneeling next to him, trying to comfort him as best she could. He trembled now under her hands. It was becoming obvious that three parts of Kenshin were very closely tied, and as she looked at the child's shoulder she saw blood soaking the white fabric of his gi. It was the same shoulder the rurouni was now clutching. It's just like before, with the rock. Only Battousai was hit, but they all had blood on their heads. She looked up in alarm. "Kenshin, stop! You have to stop attacking each other!"

The hitokiri lifted the hand that had been clutching his left shoulder and he stared in disbelief at the red blood covering it. What the hell is this? He looked at the rurouni, who had already assumed a ready stance. Choosing to ignore the mystery of his shoulder—it could wait for later—he lifted his sword and prepared strike again.

The rurouni closed his eyes briefly. We're at an impasse now. No matter what happens to me, I have to stop him. If we can't stop fighting each other, then we will never know peace. I can't keep being afraid of him, and he can't keep resenting me. We are the same man; it's time for us both to accept that. Opening his eyes, he felt grief as he looked at his younger self, who was now so completely consumed by the hitokiri's madness. He knew it well, the terrible power of bloodlust, and no matter how many years passed, he knew it was a feeling he would never forget. There is only one attack that I know he can't use or defend against. I have to bring him back to reason, for all our sakes. Kenshin shuddered at the fresh wave of pain from his shoulder, which was throbbing in time with his heartbeat. He was getting so tired. The rain, which had increased in intensity over the past several minutes, had soaked deeply into his gi, causing it to stick painfully to his wound. The cold and dampness only served aggravate his already aching muscles. He didn't know if he could pull off the attack in this condition, he was weaker now than when he had faced Shishio and Enishi, but he had to try. Gathering his last reserves of strength, he re-sheathed his sword. Seeing that his opponent was ready, Battousai lunged forward. The rurouni watched him approach with a heavy heart. He truly is an assassin. Complete the mission, achieve the goal. Nothing else matters to him now. If I don't do something we'll lose him completely. I'm out of choices.

Although he was almost blind with agony, Shinta recognized the stance for the ougi. Pressing a hand tightly to his bleeding shoulder, he saw with terrible clarity what would happen if the rurouni's strike landed. Shoving the pain, and Kaoru's hands, aside he leapt to his feet and started to run out into the street. "No Rurouni-san, don't!"

"NO!" Kaoru and Shinta's cries echoed together as the Sakabatou struck Battousai hard across the chest. Kaoru would never forget the look of utter surprise on the hitokiri's face as he went flying backwards through the air. Hitting the mud on his back, he slid for several feet. He didn't get back up. For the Kenshin-gumi, the moment seemed to drag on forever. A single bolt of lighting lit the street, silhouetting the rurouni against its blue flare. His body was crouched low, the tip of his sword high in the air. Time stood still…and then both he and Shinta screamed in agony and collapsed as the attack took effect on them both.

Kaoru ran to Shinta first, tears coursing down her cheeks. Frantically turning him over, she saw blood leaking from the corner of his mouth, and his chest wasn't moving. "Shinta!"