Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, no matter what I pray. Everything related to Kenshin is property of Shonen Jump and Nobuhiro Watsuki.
Author's note: Ok, so after doing my humor fic, I had to write an angst fic. Gomen, gomen! Surprisingly, I wrote one with Battosai, something I rarely do as I think he has enough dark moments in his life. (Darn you, Saja and your need of victims for angst!)
Anyway, here it is in all its depressing glory.
Stepping slowly from the shadows, Battosai toyed with the sword in his hand. "Looking for me?" he asked the back of the man in front of him. The man let out a startled cry and turned around to see Battosai. "You see," Battosai started. "I like a fair fight. You know I'm here now, right?"
The man's mouth tried to form words for a few seconds before he gave up and started towards Battosai, his katana flashing in the moonlight.
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"That's him?" she asked herself. The woman was sitting in the bushes in a spot where she could see the fight without getting noticed by Battosai. "But he's so young."
From her seat in the bushes, she heard the unmistakable sound of blood hitting the ground, and gagged, nauseous. No, her mind told her. I cannot be intimidated. I must be strong for the memory of Akira-sama. I must be strong.
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"What's wrong, Battosai? Can't escape?" The man laughed, his eyes flitting to the gashes in Battosai's side. "No way out?"
Battosai slowly raised his head, fixing his golden gaze on the man. "That's not it at all." He lunged forward with his sword, thrusting it into the man's shoulder and pinning him to the wall. "You're just beginning to bore me."
It was then that he snapped. The man cried out, every fiber of his being crying for Battosai's blood. Wrenching the sword from his shoulder and tearing it from Battosai's grip, he flipped it over and hacked away randomly, the blood on the katana flying everywhere in his rage. Battosai jumped back. Grasping the wakizashi at his side, he attempted to get within range, but the man was swinging too wildly. It seemed he no longer cared if he lived or died, but merely was focused on putting an end to his opponent.
"You will die!" He screamed, attacking Battosai, the katana aimed directly for his head. Quickly, Battosai whirled around and stabbed the man in the back, next to the spine, tearing the blade up through his flesh as he did so. The man's eyes rolled back in his head as he let out a final, bone-chilling cry. He slumped forward, the wakizashi still stuck in his back.
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The woman heard the cry from the bushes, and she covered her ears. But the scream traveled deep into her, striking her heart. Is this how Akira-sama sounded? Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned, quietly sneaking away.
It was with that cry that Yukishiro Tomoe accepted her task.
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Reaching down, Battosai grabbed the wakizashi and flung the blood off of it, sheathing it and doing the same to the katana. Reaching into his gi, Battosai pulled out a piece of paper and let it float slowly to the ground, the white edges quickly becoming red once they hit the man's blood.
Tenchu.
Author's note: Yeah, so that's it. I hoped you enjoyed it. Please review!