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Disclaimer: *snuggles imaginary chibi Kenshin doll* I only own RK in my dreams. Enjoy the story, I know I am!

Sorry about the long delay for this one guys, the holidays were busy, busy, busy (I'm sure you can all relate, ne?). The good news is that I'm almost done applying for schools, so when everything's been mailed off I can finally breathe a sigh of relief and concentrate on my writing again ^_^ In this installment we take a break from the action and engage in some serious character development, including what might even be called romance (gasp!). You have been warned ;) On with the fic!

Prism - Chapter 12

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
'Cause sooner or later it's over

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

The world stopped. Kaoru felt many things in that moment as she watched the red-haired child fall. Terror, grief, and panic tore through her heart without mercy, finally leaving a void of shocked anger. As smart as Kenshin was, and as much as she loved him, there were times when he could be appallingly stupid. Whether or not he had noticed that an injury made to one of his selves was also suffered by the other two, he still shouldn't have used the ougi on himself. Baka, baka, Kenshin no BAKA! Forcing herself to her feet, Kaoru ran to Shinta, mingled tears of fury and terror running down her cheeks. Quickly turning him over, she saw blood leaking from one corner of his mouth. His head lolled loosely to one side as she gripped his shoulders, his tiny face very pale. For one gut-wrenching instant Kaoru thought he was dead…and then he drew in a quick labored breath followed by another. The faintest bit of color returned to his cheeks and he whimpered faintly. As Kaoru gathered him into her arms he instinctively wound the fingers of one hand tightly around the sleeve of her kimono. "Shinta…" she whispered helplessly. Dammit I should have done something! Why did I just stand there like an idiot? How could I have let this happen?

"Kaoru-chan!" Kaoru looked up at sound of Megumi's voice in time to see Sano and Yahiko run past, the former carrying a limp and obviously unconscious rurouni in his arms. They vanished inside the clinic and Megumi beckoned her inside. "Bring him inside, hurry!"

"Okay…" Kaoru replied in a voice that sounded pathetically weak. I should have gotten between them, or something. Why didn't I? Kenshin… Uncaring of the blood that soaked deeply into her kimono, Kaoru tucked Shinta protectively against her chest and stood, hurrying inside the clinic.

Sano met her at the door, his expression stormy. He threw a furious glance at her as he passed, though she could tell his anger wasn't directed at her. "I'm gonna go get that other idiot husband of yours, okay?" Kaoru nodded faintly and entered the clinic, laying Shinta down on a bed. Nearby Yahiko was tending to the rurouni, and as Kaoru glanced at her student's face she was surprised to see his large brown eyes glistening with unshed tears. She had never seen the young boy look so pained, and Kaoru walked over to comfort him, at a loss for what else to do.

Sano stood for a moment over the unmoving body of Battousai, who still lay where he had fallen in the street. The rain had almost stopped now, the clouds overhead clearing away to reveal small patches of starry sky. The faint starlight revealed that the boy was still breathing, and Sano took note of the long, deep depression that had been made in his chest by the Sakabatou's dull blade. Damn kid's lucky the rurouni doesn't use a regular sword. What would the ougi do if used with a katana? Now there's an unpleasant thought… "Oi, you awake down there?"

The flesh trench in the hitokiri's chest wasn't nearly as deep as the one Aoshi had suffered in Kyoto, and at that time the ninja hadn't even lost consciousness. Sano would have been surprised indeed if Battousai was asleep, and sure enough at the sound of his voice the assassin's head turned very slowly to look up at him. Kenshin's yellow eyes were flat and glassy, his face tight with pain. "Sano…"

The former streetfighter knelt down next to Kenshin's head and stared into his unfocused eyes. "You know you earned that one, right? You'd better tell me that stupid rurouni finally knocked some sense into you, because if that little kid dies I'm pounding your ass from here to Kyoto, I don't care how strong you are."

Sano wasn't sure how much the teenager really comprehended of that, because the corners of his mouth turned up in a weak smile. "…not strong." he whispered.

Sano blinked. "What?" Damn, he's not making any sense right now. I'd better get him out of this rain. As he slung the tiny swordsman over one shoulder, Sano decided that he still wasn't sure how he felt about Battousai. He didn't exactly loathe him, but he didn't feel much sympathy for him either. The gentle rurouni had finally been pushed past his limits by this unreasonable and aggressive version of Kenshin, and as far as Sano was concerned Battousai had gotten what he deserved. Still, the ougi may have been going a bit far. Battousai was a pain in the ass, but he didn't deserve to have his chest nearly carved open. Though Sano didn't like to admit it, the rurouni earlier had made a valid point. The younger version of Kenshin was a bit like himself, and as such Sano couldn't completely hate him. Sighing wearily, he hauled Kenshin to his feet. "You'd better be able to walk at least a little, 'cause I'm sure as hell not carrying you, you jerk."

Battousai smiled faintly again. "'s okay…don't deserve it anyway, you can leave me if you want…"

Sano scowled and prodded Kenshin toward the clinic. "Moron, I can't do that and you know it. Come on, if Aoshi could take on Shishio after getting floored by the ougi, then you can make it twenty feet. Walk."

The hitokiri hung his head and made a visible effort to put one foot in front of the other. "Sano, I..."

The former streetfighter gave an exasperated sigh. He knew what Kenshin was going to say. "Look just shut up, all right? You don't deserve to lie beaten in the rain, and if you start up with this I-am-not-worthy-of-happiness crap again, Jou-chan's gonna have your hide."

Battousai laughed faintly at that, but the effort was apparently too much. Thoroughly exhausted by the night's events the boy finally lost consciousness, his head lolling sideways to rest on Sano's shoulder.

Night passed into early morning and Kaoru remained awake, moving between rooms to check on the three Kenshins in turns. Megumi had retired to bed hours ago, worn out from her efforts but looking relieved that the crisis, for the moment anyway, was over. Kaoru though could not sleep, worry for Kenshin overriding her own exhaustion. She sat in the rurouni's room now, fighting back a wave of dizzying tiredness as she checked his temperature. His face was cool to the touch; all three had been running slight fevers from being out in the storm, but the rurouni's seemed to have broken now. Checking the bandages on his shoulder and chest, she was startled at the damage done by the ougi. This was the first time she had ever seen its effects up close, and Kaoru wondered how it was possible to survive with such a deep, bruising wound in your chest. Megumi had scoffed at the question ("As if Ken-san could be stopped by a mere bruise!") and dryly noted that their exhaustion was probably more mental than physical, their violent argument having done far more to sap their strength than either the rain or the ougi. Kaoru took little comfort in this though. As she replayed the fight in her mind, she realized how little they'd all understood the kind of mental anguish Kenshin had been going through these past few days. His role in the Bakumatsu had literally split his mind apart, and every fight for him now was a battle of wills between the wanderer and murderer in his mind. Thanks to Yanagi that internal struggle was no longer hidden, and there could be no mistaking what their argument had really represented. In truth, Kaoru knew this battle had been a long time in coming. The roots of their conflict ran very deep in Kenshin's past, and Kaoru would be the first to admit that much of that period in his life was still a mystery to her. Is that why I felt so helpless watching them? Because part of me felt that their arguing was somehow normal? Did part of me feel that I had no right to interfere, or that their conflict would somehow be beneficial in the end? Kaoru frowned as she stared down at the rurouni's sleeping face. No, there was no way last night could have helped either of them. If fighting was the answer, then the conflict in Kenshin's mind would been solved a long time ago. No, I can't afford to just stand by like that again. I promised to help him, and that's what I plan to do.

The first gray light of dawn was beginning to light the window, and Kaoru carefully rose from her place. Her head swam slightly with exhaustion, and she knew it was time to return to the dojo and get some sleep. She didn't feel right in leaving Kenshin alone for too long, but Megumi would be awake soon and she was sure Sano and Yahiko hadn't gone too far away. I'll just check on Battousai before I go…

Kaoru stepped across the narrow hall to Battousai's room. Glancing inside she was alarmed to find his bed empty. Reminded strongly of the last time the supposedly sleeping hitokiri had been left unattended, she hurried to the main room where Shinta was. Relief mixed with astonishment when she found the teenager kneeling on the floor beside his young counterpart's bed, the upper half of his body resting on the bed just below the child's feet. He was still dressed in his sleeping robe and his head rested in the crook of his folded arms, his face hidden. For a moment Kaoru thought he was asleep, but the hand fisted tightly in the cloth of his sleeve spoke otherwise. Slowly, she walked over and crouched down beside him. "Kenshin? Are you all right?"

For a moment, there was no response. Then the fist tightened visibly. "It's my fault." The whisper was barely audible, but there was a world of remorse in the simple statement. "It's all my fault, Kaoru. If he dies…" His voice was choked, and Kaoru realized with sudden shock that he had been crying. She heard him draw in a shaky breath. "What will happen to us if he dies?"

"What do you mean?" Kaoru asked softly, trying to keep her own fears out of her voice.

He shook his head slightly, as if denying the question, still keeping his face hidden. "I don't understand what I was thinking." His hand started to tremble slightly, and Kaoru instinctively reached out to cover it with hers. To her relief, he didn't flinch away from her touch. "I feel like I'm insane. Why did I attack him like that? He was only trying to help me, and I…but I never wanted to hurt them, so why?"

Kaoru shook her head, unsure how to answer. This remorseful boy was a drastic change from the ruthless hitokiri of the night before. There was no madness here, no mindless desire for blood and revenge. Just Kenshin, her Kenshin, once again blaming himself for everything. She tightened her hand around his. "Still, it wasn't you who hurt Shinta."

The hitokiri made a sound somewhere between a humorless laugh and dissent. "Yes it was, even if I didn't wield the blade. I drove him to it. I left him no other choice."

Kaoru certainly couldn't deny that. Privately—very privately—she wanted to knock both her fool husbands' heads together for being so reckless. While Megumi was confident Shinta would recover, it would be a few days before he could even get out of bed. Kaoru was furious with Kenshin for his actions, but she couldn't bring herself to berate him openly. The situation had grown far too complicated to place blame on any one person, and the last thing the distraught teenager before her needed was to be yelled at. There was enough arguing last night to last a lifetime. Their conflict has gone on long enough. The cycle of hate has to stop here.

Breathing deeply, Kaoru gathered her thoughts. "Kenshin...what you did, everything that happened, did you forget who it was for?" He made a small questioning sound, his head turning slightly in her direction. "I've been thinking during the night, about everything that's happened recently, and that's when I realized it. Maybe on the surface your actions seemed like revenge against Yanagi, but I was watching you last night. You were angry with Yanagi but…you didn't attack him until you learned what had happened to Akari-san."

Kaoru heard him draw in a sharp, surprised breath. She continued. "You blame yourself, but you were only acting according to your nature, weren't you? Both you and the rurouni responded to the danger the only way you knew how, and I don't see how either of you can blame yourself for that." Kaoru swallowed hard. Was she reaching him? His posture was still rigid, but she could tell he was waiting for her to continue. "You are different from one another, and yes that conflict did lead to this…but where it matters, the two of you are exactly the same. Kenshin, everything you did was to protect someone who was innocent. Your compassion for that woman, your sympathy for her situation, your desire to help in the only way you could…that was the real reason for your anger, ne?" She managed a small smile. "It's so like you, to blame yourself for something like that. But Kenshin in the end you did save her, and for all the right reasons. When he wakes up, I'm sure Shinta will say the same."

Slowly, Kenshin lifted his head to stare at her, his lips parted slightly in shock. "For… Akari-dono?" It was clear from his expression that he had not thought of it in that way.

Kaoru nodded. "Yes." She could see the lingering doubt in his face. "So, knowing that, doesn't that make the three of you more alike than different? Almost like brothers." She smiled at the thought. The three of them really were like siblings, especially when they quarreled, though in many ways they were much closer than any real set of brothers. Kenshin's expression was difficult to read as he gazed at her. Slowly, he sat up and reached out to brush the fingers of one hand hesitantly across her cheek.

The next moment, all hesitation was cast aside as Kenshin rose from his place and gathered her into his arms. Kaoru gasped at his sudden movement, and at the crushing strength in his embrace. The warmth of his body surrounded her and she could feel his heart beating strongly under her hands. She couldn't conceal her surprise; Battousai had never allowed her this close before. Distraught at being separated from his other selves, constantly angry and on guard, he hadn't allowed anyone to touch him like this. Even when the two of them had gone to the market—a day which seemed like an eternity ago to Kaoru—his touch, while tender, had been light and brief. The fact that he was seeking comfort like this now was a hopeful sign, and Kaoru relaxed in his arms, relieved. She had been wrong, at least partially; as foolish as the rurouni's choice had been, it seemed to have had some positive effect on the hitokiri. Threading her arms behind his strong back, she hugged him in return. Resting her head at the base of his neck, she breathed in his warm, familiar scent. It felt so wonderful to be back in Kenshin's arms again. Only now did she realize just how much she had missed it. "Thank you, koishii," she heard him whisper in her ear. "Thank you so much."

They remained that way for several moments, and Kaoru could feel the tension drain steadily out of him. She wondered what he was thinking now, and idly she fingered the collar of his yukata. "I love you," she said into the comfortable silence. "No matter what happens, I want you to remember that." To her dismay, she felt him tense up again. "What's wrong?" she asked in alarm.

He gave a regretful sigh, but to her relief didn't pull away. "I'm sorry, it's just that…I still don't understand it."

"Understand what?" Kaoru searched his face, trying in vain to read the tangle of emotions she saw there.

He looked away from her. "Why you love me…how any of you can care for me after what I did, the things I said."

Kaoru resisted the urge to throttle her husband and sat up in his arms. She slid a hand under his chin and forced his head to turn so she could look him in the eye. "Even now you can still ask me that?"

The golden eyes glanced guiltily away from her. "I always ask why, especially now. Maybe I acted the way I did to save Akari-dono but still, I caused so much pain in the process. Things shouldn't have been this way. I shouldn't be like this."

"And yet, that is the way it is." Kaoru said determinedly. Battousai always hid himself from her, deep within the rurouni, and now she was certain why. "You are what you are, and I am not afraid." His startled eyes met hers. "I have never been afraid of you."

"Let me ask you something." Kaoru interrupted, her tone gentle. "Last night, the rurouni said the freedom you've had these past few days frightens you. Why is that?"

He blinked at the apparent change in topic, but didn't hesitate in his answer. "Because I'm dangerous," he said, as if the answer should be obvious. "I don't want to hurt anyone, but without the rurouni…you've seen what happens to me."

"True," Kaoru said reasonably. "But all the same, I'm relieved to hear you say that."

She almost laughed at his dumbfounded expression. "Baka," she said affectionately. "If that's what's been bothering you so much then I have even less reason to be afraid, don't I? Do you honestly think I would hate and fear you for caring about others? Do you think any of us, who are your closest friends and family, are ashamed of who and what you are? We understand the pain you feel, more than you know." She could see the denial in his face. Inwardly, Kaoru sighed. He could be so stubborn sometimes. "Kenshin, it's your desire to help others that makes you worthy of love, and as long as that is true you will be just fine, because your friends will always be there for you, and my love for you will never falter. You understand?"

"Yes," he whispered wonderingly, his expression clearing. He stared deep into her eyes and Kaoru felt her cheeks flush at the spark of desire she saw there. She wasn't sure how she'd managed such a long and eloquent speech, but her words seemed to be working. He has to understand, he just has to. As long as he continues to hate and blame himself, he can never be at peace. All I want is for him to be happy. I love all three of them so much…

A love that she knew Battousai denied himself, out of fear and self-loathing. Kaoru met his gaze steadily, her resolve firm. I have to make him understand. "Kenshin, when I married you I didn't just marry the rurouni." She saw a brief flicker of guilt in his eyes, and knew she had voiced his own doubts. "Himura Kenshin is far more than a simple wanderer. He is also a warrior and a leader, gifted with a child's ability to empathize with those around him. He is a wonderful man, with the purest soul I've ever known. Together, the three of you make up the man I love. Without you, without the hitokiri, Kenshin would not be complete." His eyes were very wide as she drove her point home. "I have accepted you, all of you, from the moment I invited you to live at my dojo. You don't need to hide from me anymore."

"Aishiteru," he murmured huskily, leaning forward to kiss her. The rest of her impromptu speech vanished from her mind as his lips touched hers. It seemed he had been convinced, and she felt her own body respond to his insistent embrace. She gave in to his passion and obvious need, knowing that she needed this as much as him. Battousai had always been such a mystery to her, so firmly meshed with the rurouni that whenever he emerged on his own he was frightening in his intensity. But now she saw him for what he was: the fire behind the rurouni's gentle courteousness, the passion that drove his soul and strengthened his spirit.

Heady with desire, she welcomed the hand that moved from her upper back to pull expertly at her obi. Obviously Kenshin wanted more than just a kiss and he leaned heavily against her, starting to push her back onto the floor. She felt the knotted fabric at her back come loose, and as her kimono started to fall her brain rudely reminded her of where they were, and what time of day it was. With her luck Megumi, or even worse Yahiko, would come strolling in any minute. Part of her didn't care. Kenshin was her husband, after all. She belonged in his arms. However, the ensuing embarrassment would probably cause the self-concious hitokiri to retreat back inside his shell again, and that was the last thing Kaoru wanted.

"Kenshin," she murmured, reaching up with difficulty to squeeze his good shoulder. "Love, we're still at the clinic." Battousai growled low in response, his thoughts on that obvious, and she smiled at the volumes spoken by that single sound. She tightened her grip on his shoulder and he reluctantly stopped his advance, dropping his head to rest on her shoulder. His body trembled with the effort of holding back what she knew they both wanted, and she kissed his neck in sympathy, inwardly surprised by his obedience. "I know," she agreed gently, "but we can't do this here." She didn't try to hide the regret in her voice. "I have to go now. I need to get the dojo ready so we can take Shinta home."

Battousai slowly pulled away from her, frustration and disappointment written clearly across his face. He sighed heavily. "Can't the rurouni do that?" Contrary to his annoyed expression his tone was light, and Kaoru smiled as she scooted back from him slightly. Standing up, she attempted to retie her obi. In an instant Kenshin was behind her, helping to retie the knot and straighten the folds of her kimono around her.

"Thank you, Kenshin." She said with a sigh. "Sometimes I wish I could just go around in men's clothes. They're so much easier to deal with."

Stepping around to the front of her, he smiled. "I suppose they are." The hungry look had not left his eyes and Kaoru could feel the heat rise in her face again as he gazed steadily at her. "Return soon." Breaking eye contact he glanced over at Shinta, who was still deeply asleep.

Kaoru found she could breathe again. How does he do that to me? "I will. Call on Megumi-san if you need anything."

Looking back at her, Kenshin nodded once before stepping forward to embrace her again. Now that he was standing she noticed just how stiff and tired his movements were. He favored his wounded shoulder as he hugged her and she kissed him lightly on the cheek, a gesture of reassurance for both of them. It was real, she reminded herself. What I saw in his eyes was real. Later, when this is over…I can't let him forget. I won't let him hide out of fear of rejection anymore.

This time Kenshin ended the contact, stepping back and smiling gently, his eyes shifting subtly from amber to pale lavender. "Thank you," he said again. "Do I really deserve someone like you?"

Her heart full Kaoru turned to leave, tossing a parting remark over her shoulder. "Kenshin no baka, ask me that again and I'll sic my bokken on you, that's a promise."

The rurouni groaned softly and rolled away from the deep male voice, burying himself stubbornly under the blankets. Something cool and wet slid down over his forehead and onto his nose. Suddenly unable to breathe he tried to pull it off, but the cloth was lodged between his face and the bed, and he was forced to turn back over to release it. The cloth was plucked from his grasp and Kenshin opened his eyes. He stared up into Sano's bemused face and sighed tiredly. "What do you want, Sano?"

The younger man rolled his eyes. "There you go, whining again. I've never seen you sleep past sunrise before, you feeling okay?"

Kenshin tried to sit up and gasped in pain, suddenly aware of a throbbing, burning sensation across his entire chest and left shoulder. Doing his best to ignore it, he looked over at Sano with gritted teeth. "What happened?"

"What do you think? I have to say, that is probably the dumbest stunt I have ever seen you pull."

Kenshin looked down and saw the deep purple bruise that ran diagonally across his chest from shoulder to belly. He felt his eyes widen as memories from the night before resurfaced. "Ougi? How can this be? I wasn't struck with it."

Sano snorted loudly. "No kidding, genius. I can't believe how unobservant you are sometimes." Sano tossed the wet cloth he had been holding into a basin nearby. "Didn't you notice that when Battousai wounded your shoulder, his was hurt too? That ougi hit all three of you, not just him."

Understanding dawned, and Kenshin gasped in alarm. "Shinta!" He started to get out of bed, but Sano held him back with a firm hand on his good shoulder.

"Not so fast there, Kenshin. The Fox said for you to take it slow today. You know, Aoshi was able to get up and fight after getting struck with that attack. You on the other hand passed out and slept all night. What's up with that?"

Kenshin gave him a sour look, but chose to ignore the question. "Is Shinta all right?"

Sano's expression turned serious. "He'll live. The Fox took care of him. The kid's hurt pretty bad though; it might be a few days before he's back on his feet again."

Sano snorted. "Who, Icicle Boy? He woke up hours ago. Refuses to speak to anyone, just sits there and stares out the window. He's been like that since I got here this morning. Any ideas?"

Kenshin stared hard at his lap, his brows drawn into a scowl. Sano frowned in concern for his friend; he looked thoroughly exhausted. After a moment, Kenshin's expression cleared and the swordsman looked up at his friend. "I'd like to go home now, if Megumi-dono will allow it."

"You up to that?" Sano asked. The rurouni nodded firmly, his face slightly indignant at the question. Sano raised his hands disarmingly. "All right, I'll go ask her. Just stay here." Sano stood and headed for the main room, where he found Megumi tending to Shinta. The child was still asleep and looked very pale, the lines of his young face strained.

Megumi glanced up at him as he entered. "I checked on the rurouni early this morning before Kaoru-chan left. He's free to go, as is the younger Ken-san. You might as well take Shinta-kun with you; he would probably feel more comfortable at home."

"You think so?" Sano came to stand by Megumi and stared down at Shinta. "Is it really okay to move him?"

"He just needs rest. There is a lot of deep bruising that needs to heal, but as long as you carry him there he'll be fine. Besides, I know Kaoru-chan is anxious to have him home." Megumi sat quietly for a moment, her face concerned. "However, I think we all need to remind Ken-san that another incident like this could kill this child, and any hope of a happy ending to all this."

Sano nodded in agreement. "You going to be okay? You look like you could use some rest yourself."

The doctor smiled grimly up at him, but there was a mischievous glint in her dark eyes. "I hope you're not saying that I look old. Insulted foxes make short work of rude, insensitive roosters."

Sano laughed and winked at her. "And who says I wouldn't want to be made short work of, eh? Not that I would ever say something like that anyway."

"Uh-huh." Megumi rolled her eyes and waved him out impatiently, trying to hide her slight blush. "Just go already."

Sano leaned against the doorframe and noted that Battousai was still sitting where he had left him earlier that morning, perched on the windowsill in his familiar brooding pose, with one leg drawn up against his chest and the other leg dangling to the floor. The midmorning sunlight cast a warm glow on his face, making him seem deceptively innocent and gentle. "Hey Kenshin, you can go now. The Fox Lady gave the all clear."

Sano sighed in irritation. He hated being ignored. "Hey! I pulled your sorry ass out of the rain last night, the least you could do is thank me a little. Are you even listening?"

"I heard you, Sano." Kenshin's gaze was fixed on his amber-eyed reflection. Slowly, he closed his eyes. "I heard you."

Sano stared at the teenager, surprised by the weak, husky gentleness of his voice. Something didn't seem quite right. "Are you all right?"

Battousai nodded slightly, opening his eyes. He fingered the sleeve of his yukata absently. "I'm fine. I've just been thinking, that's all."

Sano scowled. "Well don't let me stop you or anything. I'm going to get Yahiko and the rurouni up and ready to go and then I guess we'll all head back to the dojo. Shinta's coming with us."

Sano was struck by the concern in the other's eyes…and by the fact that they were no longer amber. "No." Confused by the hitokiri's change in demeanor, but refusing to show it, Sano turned to leave.

"I'm sorry," Kenshin apologized softly into the thick silence that followed. "About what I said before."

Kenshin had turned his gaze back to the window. "Last night," he explained quietly, watching the people walk by outside. "When I said that fighting you was a waste of time. I didn't mean that…it was a terrible thing to say."

Sano shifted uncomfortably, not sure what to make of this suddenly reticent Battousai. "Well, you are a lot stronger than me. That's a fact, not an opinion. I'm fine with that, really."

"But it's not true," Kenshin countered, looking at Sano with earnest eyes. "You are an excellent fighter, and one of the strongest men I know. And where it matters the most you're a better man than I."

Sano wasn't sure how to respond to that except with a soft, disbelieving "Kenshin." He's different, somehow. He's changed from yesterday.

Battousai sighed and got down from the window. "Go ahead and get the rurouni. Let's go home."

Megumi watched the three figures walk slowly away up the street, the tallest of them cradling a small figure against his chest. She smiled at how gently Sano held Shinta, as if he were made of glass. He really cares for Ken-san. He is a good friend to him. Turning from the window, Megumi breathed a small sigh of relief at the blissful quiet that filled the clinic. Another crisis had passed, and she was confident that all would be well. As small and frail-looking as Kenshin was he had remarkable determination, which gave him amazing durability in the face of injury. The departure of the Kenshin-gumi left her with just one other patient.

Megumi entered Akari's room and seated herself beside the bed. Carefully she felt the other woman's forehead and was mildly startled when Akari's eyes fluttered open at the light touch. For a moment, the woman's mouth opened and closed without sound, then her brown eyes, still clouded with sleep, turned to Megumi. They locked gazes for a moment, and as she took in her surroundings Akari's gaze turned sharp and clear. "Who are you?" she whispered hoarsely, her throat still bruised.

"I'm Takani Megumi," the doctor said quietly. "We met briefly the other day, remember? I'm a doctor. I've been treating your injuries."

For a moment Akari stared back at her with a blank expression, then gasped in realization. She sat up abruptly. "Yanagi!"

"No, wait!" Megumi tried to push Akari down onto the bed, but the other woman resisted, straining against her hands with surprising strength. "You need to rest, please lie down!"

Akari shook her head sharply and pushed the doctor's hands away. "No, I have to go find him!" She looked at Megumi with pleading eyes. "Takani-sensei, the man who attacked me was not my husband!"

Megumi raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I think you are mistaken Shimizu-san. Sanosuke told us what happened. It was Yanagi who gave you these injuries, it is no mistake. I'm very sorry this happened to you, but you must accept the truth."

Akari narrowed her eyes and glared at the doctor indignantly. "I am not a child, Takani-sensei. I am well aware of what happened. But I will tell you this: though he wore my husband's face and spoke with his voice my attacker was not Yanagi, at least not the man I've known since childhood. Something terrible has happened to him. Where is he now?"

Megumi frowned. "I don't know. Ken-san confronted him last night outside this clinic and Yanagi escaped. After that, Ken-san turned on himself."

Akari's eyes grew wide at this information. "'Turned on himself?' You mean…that teenaged boy attacked Himura-san?"

Megumi nodded, impressed by the woman's perceptiveness. "In a manner of speaking. Ken-san was forced to strike back against the younger version of himself, and due to the nature of his condition all three were hurt. They are at the Kamiya dojo now, recovering. We don't know where your husband went."

Akari looked down at her lap, her face drawn and pensive. "This is very bad," she said at last.

Megumi didn't like how calm she seemed. "There is no way to ask this delicately Shimizu-san, so I'll just be direct. Your husband, the man I presume you love, beat you to within an inch of your life. You can't possibly be all right with this."

Akari stared at her for a long moment, her expression thoughtful. "I didn't handle the situation very well." She said at last. "I knew from what he had done to Himura-san that something was very wrong with him, but I wasn't cautious enough. I shouldn't have provoked him."

"No, it doesn't." Akari agreed firmly. She looked at Megumi with determined eyes. "Believe me, whatever is going through my husband's mind right now, he will answer for treating me this way. However, I don't think it's entirely his fault. Something—or someone—has taken over his mind Takani-sensei, and I will find out who." She stared into at the square of sunlight at the foot of her bed. "The younger Himura-san said that I was the key to all this, and I'm beginning to think he's right. I will save my husband from whatever he's fallen into, no matter what it takes."

From what she had seen of him so far Megumi doubted the man was worth saving, but she held her tongue. Akari had just been through a terrible experience, and if she needed to believe that Yanagi was really a good guy at heart in order to recover, then so be it. It wasn't Megumi's place to interfere any more than she already had. "Very well, Shimizu-san. I'll inform those at the dojo as soon as I can that you are awake and recovering. I imagine they will want to see you later."

Akari smiled slightly. "Yes, I suppose that would be best. I will rest for now. Thank you."

Megumi nodded in acknowledgement and left Akari staring into the pool of sunlight, lost in thought.

Kaoru had no sooner put her hand on the gate to return to the clinic when it opened for her. She found herself staring into Battousai's tired face. She blinked in surprise, but was relieved to everyone else standing behind him. "I was just coming to see you," she said lightly, stepping back to let them through. "I went ahead and made lunch…"

Sano saw the stack of wrapped bento in her hand and grinned widely. "All right, I'm starving! Where do you want Shinta, Jou-chan?"

"Our room, please," she said, handing the stack of boxed lunches off to Yahiko. Glancing over his head she noticed that Battousai and the rurouni seemed to be carefully avoiding each other's eyes. Her heart sank slightly at this, but it didn't surprise her. After what happened last night, they're probably afraid to talk to one another. "You two need to come with me," she told them.

The two older Kenshins blinked at her with identical confused expressions. "Why?" the rurouni asked.

"Because gentlemen," she said evenly, "I used the last of our food to make these. We're going shopping now. Sano and Yahiko, if you can handle Shinta we'll be right back."

The rurouni and Battousai glanced at one another uncomfortably, but neither dared argue with their wife. They followed her obediently out of the gate.

Evening found Yahiko sitting outside in the gathering darkness, propped against one of the roof supports. He stared up at the darkening sky, which was rapidly filling with stars. The passing of the storm the previous night meant that the day had been beautiful, with mild temperatures and brilliant sunshine. But Yahiko hadn't enjoyed it at all. Five days. It's already been five days and he's still in three pieces. How long is this going to go on? He curled up against the pole and adjusted the shinai on his knees. He hugged the bamboo sword to him, seeking some sort of comfort for the aching in his heart. The adults had been taking turns watching over Shinta all day, but the child still hadn't woken. Since their return from the market Battousai and the rurouni had been wandering around like confused ghosts, not speaking to anyone, much less each other, and wearing the most forlorn expressions Yahiko had ever seen. It was incredibly depressing, and he had been grateful for an opportunity to escape outside, away from the suffocating tension that filled the house.

Yahiko heard a soft sound off to his left and to his surprise he saw Battousai walking across the yard toward him. He didn't look at Yahiko as he approached, and he stopped several feet short of a thick, heavily battered pole that had been mounted in the yard for Yahiko to practice strikes on. Battousai studied it for a moment, slowly walking around it with a thoughtful expression. He had a sword tucked through his hakama, and as Battousai unsheathed it Yahiko saw that it was a katana. He still has Kamiya-sensei's sword? I figured Kaoru would have taken it away from him by now… Yahiko was sitting on the side of the pole facing the house, which was now deep in shadow. He realized that since he couldn't read ki very well, the hitokiri probably didn't realize he was there. Holding back his excitement, Yahiko forced himself to sit as still as possible, hardly daring to breathe lest Battousai see him.

For a moment, Battousai closed his eyes and stood motionless, his sword held straight out in a defensive stance. Then, with a practiced grace that was only slightly hindered by his injures, the hitokiri began swinging slowly through sets of complex kata. Yahiko watched in rapt fascination, recognizing certain stances and strikes as components of Kenshin's various special attacks. These were the basics of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, the standard sword work that Kenshin would have to have mastered in order to perform the style itself. Yahiko knew that Kenshin practiced regularly, after all even a master swordsman could lose his touch if he only used his skills every once in awhile, but he normally did it in secret, far away from the dojo. Tsubame had told him a few weeks ago that she had once accidentally stumbled on Kenshin practicing in an isolated bamboo grove a few miles from the dojo. She'd said that he had blown the tall stalks apart with his ki alone and that the force of it, plus the surprise of finding him there, had literally knocked her off her feet.

Yahiko didn't doubt that story now as he watched the young Kenshin run through his forms with flawless technique, the wind singing slightly around his blade as he struck at the air. It was obvious that even at this slow speed each solid blow had the power to kill. He wondered why Kenshin was practicing so openly but seeing the tense, almost pained expression on Battousai's face, he could guess why. He'd overheard Sano and Kaoru discussing what had gone on at the clinic while he'd been asleep, and from what they'd said Battousai was wracked with guilt over what had happened to Shinta. Yahiko figured the teenager was just as stressed out as everyone else—hell, he'd been on edge ever since his first appearance—and the practice session was probably his way of relieving some of his anxiety. Yahiko propped his chin on his knees and watched Kenshin move through a set of spinning kata. Forms for Ryu Kan Sen, he thought sleepily. Battousai's fluid movements were mesmerizing. Only the bright flashes of moonlight glinting off the hitokiri's sword kept him awake, and it took him a few moments to realize that the rurouni had appeared on the porch, only a few feet away.

Yahiko froze and stared at the older Kenshin, who didn't seem to have noticed him sitting there. The rurouni watched Battousai in silence, a slight frown on his face. Yahiko could sense his mentor's nervousness and he glanced out at Battousai, who had assumed a familiar battou-juutsu stance in front of the practice pole. Yahiko realized what Battousai was going to do and he opened his mouth to protest, but in the fraction of a heartbeat it took him to open his mouth Battousai had cut through the pole, the reflection of the moon on his sword creating a blinding arc of silver-blue light that hung in the air for several seconds. As it faded the top of the pole went flying, bouncing several feet and rolling to a stop next the porch. Yahiko gaped at it, the horrible vision of some soldier's head in place of the log flashing through his mind. He suppressed the urge to shake his head to dispel the image. Battousai would not kill…even when he'd had Yanagi under his blade, completely at his mercy, he'd still hesitated. Even if the rurouni hadn't been there, he wouldn't have gone through with it. That would not be Yanagi's fate, Yahiko was sure of that now.

Battousai re-sheathed his sword and turned his head to glare at his counterpart. He was breathing quickly, his face covered in sweat from his exertions. "I'll find a new pole tomorrow."

The rurouni stepped down off the porch to retrieve the log. Walking over to the pole he replaced the top, and Yahiko watched in amazement as the line where the wood had been cut virtually disappeared. "It is a good blade," the rurouni commented in a mild tone. "Even finer than our old one."

"It's unfortunate that children can't be replaced as easily as this piece of wood," Battousai said, just as mildly. The rurouni's hands froze on the pole and Yahiko sucked in his breath, wondering if they were going to have another argument.

The rurouni bowed his head and was silent for a long moment. "We've both behaved like fools, haven't we?"

"Aa," Battousai agreed quietly. Yahiko studied both their faces, trying to figure out what they were thinking, but it was difficult to see their expressions. The moon's light seemed to reveal much without showing anything at all. "Neither of us realized the obvious. But Shinta knew, I'm sure of it. He allowed himself to be placed in danger."

"I think we both know why," Battousai said. "His agenda is the same as it ever was. I used to think it was foolish, even hopeless…but now I understand what he was trying to do, and I think he had the right idea all along."

The rurouni seemed to understand though because he nodded, finally looking up at Battousai. "So we agree on our course of action from here?"

"I think," Battousai said quietly, "that we agree on many more things than we thought we did."

The rurouni smiled slightly, his expression sad. "I wonder why it took so long for us to realize that."

"Because," Battousai said, and now he suddenly pitched his voice higher in what Yahiko realized was a perfect imitation of Kaoru, "'We're two of the most stubborn, not to mention blind, fools this world has ever seen', end quote."

The rurouni grinned and even Yahiko had to suppress a laugh at how girly Kenshin's voice really was, especially when used at that register. "Aa, that we are," the rurouni said good-naturedly. "Are you done here? You shouldn't strain yourself too much."

"I'll be in soon," Battousai assured him. The rurouni nodded and retuned to the porch, silently sliding the door open. He paused in the doorway, his deep violet eyes glancing in Yahiko's direction for the briefest of instants. Swallowing hard, the young samurai realized that it had been foolish to think that Kenshin wouldn't know he was there. The older swordsman was far too skilled and experienced to let a little thing like dampened ki reduce his awareness of his surroundings. The rurouni didn't say anything though; he only smiled slightly before stepping inside the house, and then Yahiko was alone on the porch.

Battousai stood for a moment in the moonlight, staring up at the stars, before he too let his gaze drift over to rest on Yahiko's hiding spot. They stared at one another for several long moments. Yahiko smiled shyly and Battousai nodded in acknowledgement, looking relieved that the unspoken apology had been accepted. I'm not sure what they were talking about, but something's definitely changed between them. I think they'll be all right now. Yahiko felt a great sense of relief as he watched the hitokiri walk slowly away down the yard, vanishing around the corner of the house. His heart lighter than it had been in days, Yahiko went inside, ready for a good night's sleep.