##

(An * means the character is thinking to himself. Bold means the person is speaking telepathically)

Kenshin stood in the living room of his old home.

*No....* He calmly reminded himself even as he saw his younger self eating dinner with his wife. *I'm dreaming.....* Suddenly both turned to look at him, grinned wickedly.

"Sometimes even dreams can kill....." His younger self was already moving before the speaker even finished, Kenshin sidestepping the strike and slashing 'Battousai' as he passed in the back. He vanished.'Tomoe' chuckled and sipped her tea. "A friendly reminder, Anata."

Kenshin glared at her. "More tricks, Ashura?"

"Can't old friends simply talk?" Tomoe shifted into Ashura. "Invading your dream was more conivent for me." She smiled seductively, her voice changing as she spoke to a younger and higher one. "Not to mention private...."

Recognition hit Kenshin like a slap when she smiled and spoke like that.

"It can't be...."

"Oh yes....." Ashura shifted again, this time into a delicate looking, brown haired fifteen-year-old girl.

The Ishingumi general's daughter that Jubei kidnapped.

"Surprise." She giggled.

Then Kenshin understood. "The kidnapping was a set up...."

Ashura nodded. "I pretended to be the girl, and hired both Jubei and the men you both fought. It was originally just a trap to test that moron Jubei's abilities or kill him, it didn't really matter to me." She smiled, a genuine one. "I didn't expect they'd send you....The finest warrior of the

Ishingumi forces...." She stood and walked to him, caressed his scarred cheek.

"....The finest man I have ever met....."

THAT was unexpected.

"Oro?"

Ashura continued. "Watching you tear through those hired thugs for my sake....the way you carried me home...." She moved her caress to his hair. "It was love at first sight...." Kenshin was too stunned to even go 'Oro.'

She giggled. "You became my pet obsession, Kenshin. I was always close to you while as I planned all of this...." She shifted rapidly into people he had met briefly or even fought with during the war. "Even when you married Tomoe, I didn't let you go." The last ones were one of the children from the village he had stayed while married to Tomoe, an old man that lived a house away from theirs...."And even during your ten years of travels I managed to keep an eye on you." She finally became her true form again, sliding the caress down to his chest. "Maybe it's obsession or maybe real, but I desire you as much as I do the swords. At least your true Battousai self and not this silly impostor you've become instead...." He gripped her hands and pulled them away.

"This is the real me....And I'm sorry the feeling isn't mutual." Instead of anger, Ashura's grin widened.

"Ah, But who really do you desire, Kenshin? That silly little girl or the poor little ice queen? Why settle for so little.....but if that what you want I can become them as well..." Shifted into Tomoe. "I can become any woman you want...."

"Get out of my dream..."

"Join me, as my equal and beloved mate in the conquest of this pathetic country...." His eyes grew hard at that.

"My answer is No, Ashura." A savage, wildcat like growl escaped her, Ashura pushing Kenshin HARD across the room and into the wall. Kenshin slumped to the floor, surprised that instead of showing anger she merely smiled as she changed back to herself.

"You act as if you have a choice in the matter, Kenshin. I get what I want and there's nothing you can do to stop me, so think about it long and hard before you refuse. The offer still stands so you can change your mind anytime you want...." Her eyes glowed menacingly. "And I don't take No for an answer...." She started to laugh.....

A laugh that still echoed in Kenshin's ears as he awoke in the real world, sweat drenched and heart pounding.

And very, very pissed off.

"Not while I live, Ashura...." He growled. "Not while I live...."

##

In the darkness, Ashura chuckled.

*Half a victory is better than none, as they say. He may have refused me, but I have lured him away from suspecting my other intentions for him. Now he'll make the mistake of thinking my target's Tomoe or Karou or that I won't hurt him. Men are so easy to manipulate....*

"You're mine, My love....." She said aloud, giggling. "You just don't know it yet. But you will...."

End of part 3. (Finally!)

Author's notes:

God this took forever. But it was fun as hell. Don't have much to say to excuse my actions this trip concerning Megumi, Jubei, and Sano. Especially that last stretch. I just cut them loose and let the sparks fly. At the rate they're going, this is probably just a warm-up and things will get even wilder.

Sano: (yells from off in the corner.) Does that mean what I think it does?

Sentora: My lips are sealed.

Jubei: (Holding ice to his cheeks.) You're a jerk, you know that?

Sentora: (Evil grin.) What are you complaining about...After that hot

scene with Megumi?

Sano: (laughs) Only thing hot about that scene was Jubei's cheeks after

she slapped the piss out of him!

Jubei: (Evil grin.) Wanna bet?

Sano: What's that supposed to mean....

Jubei: My hands aren't just fast with a sword.....

Sano: (Angry Demon SD, Smoke coming out of his ears.) NANI??!!!!

Sentora: (cackles as his stars beat each other up, Megumi sweat dropping in the background.) Seeya in part 4!