##

Back in Japan….

“Empress Bane?!!!!”

“Remember the story I read earlier?” Karou’s voice was hollow and crushed, 
as
if her entire world came crashing down. “….it’s them….The Dragon and her
swordsmith lover….”

“But….that would mean….both legends are one and the same!” Shuriken said. 
“But
why didn’t the Amulet….”

“The amulet contains Bane’s wisdom and intelligence, Shuriken.” Arain 
guessed.
“Not her memories and essence….”

Tomoe had shifted to a wary crouch, her eyes sliver blue again. Kenshin’s 
left
was gold again as he held out his hand and stepped forward….

Only to be batted aside like a rag doll by Tomoe into a tree, the woman 
gasping
in pain, convulsing…. choking out more of that strange language between 
breaths
as she held out a restraining hand to the rising Kenshin.  Shuriken translated as Tomoe whirled on them and hissed 
out
more. 

 He walked toward her with a smile. 

<NO! to like the They others! again us separate art inteferers! 
Tomoe
shot a fearsome glance at Karou. 

Kenshin shook his head. 

Normally Karou would have been pissed to be ‘written off’ like that, instead
she choked back a sob. *I…guess they…truly belong together….*

“Oi! What the hell did you do with Kenshin and Tomoe!” Sano roared.

His answer was a blast of light from Tomoe’s hand that Arain barely 
deflected
with Excailber, The tree it hit instant ash. “Your Kenshin and Tomoe are 
still
here, Sagara.” Kenshin said in Japanese. “They are a part of us now as are 
all
those we have previously been.”

“This is too damn weird for me.” Sano muttered, glancing at Karou in pity.
*Poor Jou-chan….*

Tomoe’s convulsions had tripled, screaming now as her hands ripped into bone
claws and the rest of her body started to change back to it’s inhuman
form….skin shedding away….



“Kenshin!!!” Arain shouted. “She’ll kill you!”

“She will not.” He said firmly. “I have more than enough power.”

And with that he lunged forward and embraced her….Tomoe sinking her claws 
into
his back and her fangs into his neck….the thunderclap of the unleashed power
knocking everyone flat….Everyone seeing two dragon shaped auras rising from
them and entwining before it became blinding…..and then as quickly as it 
came
the power faded and they saw a fully restored Tomoe slumped in Kenshin’s
embrace. Kenshin looked exhausted but smiling at the girl he lovingly held.




“NOW!!!”

Everyone was caught off guard….the air alive with strands of a webbing like
material launched from seemingly everywhere at them to wrap around their 
arms
and legs, yanking them upwards…..choking in the purple cloud of smoke that
swept in after and weakened them all ….Sano breaking free with an effort 
only
to be sideswiped by Silk before he touched the ground….cracking a tree in 
two
from the impact….Sano barely to his feet before the large tree limb Silk
wielded shattered his kneecap and dropped him again…. Silk proceeding to 
club
him half to death before finally kicking him into another tree….more 
‘webbing’
tying his limp form to it as Silk grinned up at them. “Surprise!!” She 
crowed
as Mother and Daisho dropped down from above. “Comfy?”

“This is getting on my nerves….” Jubei snarled.

Ashura made her usual grand appearance from the shadows, shifting to human 
as
she walked up. “All of the cast is finally assembled onstage and the true
performance can begin!” She smirked at their stuggles to get free. “Don’t
bother. The paralyzing effect of Daisho’s breath will last for hours. And 
the
lovebirds over there are too drained from their happy reunion to use their
powers as well, just like I knew they would.” Ashura’s grin was frightening. 
“I
love it a plan goes so well, don’t you?”

They could only helplessly watch her laugh.

##

Before anyone could react Merlin rammed his staff down King’s pride’s 
Throat,
choking her…..Angry as they’d ever seen him.

“Did you hire Ashura for your dirty work?! Answer me or I’ll make you eat
this!” The dragon gagged out something that made Merlin withdraw in 
surprise.
“What did you say?”

“Merlin!” Lily exclaimed.

“Forgive my rudeness, my lady.” He said. “But I just realized that the 
recent
attack on Avalon wasn’t a random event after all, but part of this mess.
Shannon was a pawn of The current Excailbron bearer, Himeno Ashura, and she 
in
turn was hired by this great stupid beast….” He glared at King’s pride. “Or 
so
I thought.”

“(Koff.) You heard me….old man….” The dragon nursed her throat, managing a
sneer.

“She came to us!”

##

“Before I answer the hundreds of questions you have, where are my children?”

“YOUR children-!” Tomoe spat.

“Yes, MY children, Tomoe.” She shot back. “Or is it Bane now I’m speaking 
to?”

Bonding with a entity that had lived for centuries obviously improved one’s
vocabulary. The nicest thing out of the string of curses Tomoe unleashed was
“spawn of a worm filled whore.” Even Sano and Silk were impressed.

“Enough flattery, dear.” Ashura sounded bored at the tirade. “You can’t 
thank
me enough for all I’ve done and you know I’m right.” Tomoe hissed. “Yes you 
did
help keep them alive Bane, since Tomoe’s death before their birth 
interrupted
your awakening but it wasn’t enough. I had to give part of my own life-force 
to
them as well as their father’s to fully save their lives. That is why they 
have
my features as well as yours. I won’t bore you with the exact details of the
ceremony….” She impishly grinned at Kenshin. “Or how I managed to take what 
I
needed from you Kenshin, that’s my little secret. Although I will say I 
enjoyed
it immensely….”

Tomoe looked even angrier at that, although no one knew why of course. 
Kenshin
didn’t ether and he honestly didn’t want to think about it. (Although he had 
a
suspicion-HELL NO!) *That bitch!* Tomoe thought. *She drained him while
she…..She…* Tomoe screamed in frustration as Ashura and Silk laughed. 
“You’ll
never touch them again!!”

“Don’t bet your life on it.” Ashura sneered. “No place is beyond me….” She
grinned at Arain. “Not even Avalon…..”

“Are you ever going to get to the point?” Jubei grumbled. “The usual villain
routine to explain everything?”

Mother hocked and spit a mass of the webbing around Jubei’s mouth to shut 
him
up.

“Agratou.” Kenshin said tiredly.

“Kimagami has a point. It’s time to get the show on the road….”

##

If the earlier confession rocked the court, this flattened them….

“Came to you?” The trollop growled. “How could outsider know to get to 
Avalon?”

“I don’t know….she was very knowledgeable of the place, like she lived here
before. Anyway she made us a deal, she would handle our little problem for 
us,
no questions asked, no payment. She only needed one thing from us: Some of 
our
blood to form an elixir of some sort. We jumped at the chance, after all it 
was
practically free….”

The centaur saw that Merlin was too shocked to hit the dragon for her
stupidity, so she did it for him….her powerful hind legs rocking King’s 
pride’s
skull and knocking a few teeth out. “Sorry.” She said. “Slipped.”

Everyone knew what dragon blood could do to a person. Something in it 
attacked
the mind….and if one knew how they could use it drive the victim insane or
control them or….Merlin bit down the urge to blast King’s pride to hell. 
*Why
would Ashura need that for? More importantly….how does she have such 
knowledge
of Avalon and it’s secrets….*

When the answers hit him, Merlin nearly screamed in horror.

##

Ashura explained to them everything King’s pride had revealed to the court
before filling in the holes.

“I’ll admit that there were times you guys almost mucked everything up.
Especially you, Battousai.” She chuckled ruefully. “I shoulda known if 
anyone
could survive Enishi’s ‘poison’ it would be you.”

“It wasn’t poison was it?” Tomoe growled. “You were attempting to force my
beloved to awaken with that dragon’s blood weren’t you?”

“Correct as always, girl. It was an experiment really…Of course I had to 
lead
your stupid brother around the nose by taking your disgusting form Tomoe, 
and
it was an awful risk to take with Battousai life but it was worth it. If it
worked it would of made things much simpler for me. If not it still 
succeeded
it’s purpose. Noto destroy the mental barriers that Kenshin erected 
at
Tomoe’s death and allow himself to awaken….but to also complete the 
centuries
long goal of the Tamashii no Shuukakusha by proving my mastery of 
Excailbron.”

She suddenly looked contrite. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot I’m speaking to those
ignorant of our art.” She held up Excaibron. “This sword is the blood and
harnessed dark energies of Bane….able to absorb the blood of it’s victims to
strengthen it’s power as well as steal their knowledge and memories. The
Tamashii no Shuukakusha is the perfect balance of that power, using that
knowledge to it’s advantage toward it’s goal: Unification of it’s previous
power seperated by Bane’s lover. Every one of my ancestors have slowly 
worked
toward this piece by piece but now I shall succeed, thanks to my uncle.”

“You mean….” Shuriken paled. “You want to revive Bane herself?”

“Try harder, Lady Maximus….”

##

“What tis amatter, Merlin?” Lily looked concerned. “Ye look as if hell is 
after
ye!”

“Worse than that, Milady. Everything is horrifyingly clear now: One of the
swordbearers were always a host which would mean that at one point an
Excailbron wielder was a host. Do you all understand what that means?” It
slowly dawned on them, looks of horror etching on all of them. “All the
knowledge of both Bane, her husband and the past lives they’ve assimilated 
is
within that blasted sword! All it would of taken was a drop of blood! That’s
how Ashura knew of Avalon and everything!”

“Because my Grandson was a host….” Lily murmured.

“Right! I didn’t think it was of importance till now, but the last host was 
an
Excailbron bearer who died thirty years ago, which makes him Ashura’s father 
or
uncle! And since your grandson died long before the knowledge would be there
when the sword managed to absorb some of his blood after awakening. But 
that’s
not even the worse of it as you now all realize now.”


“Realize what, Old man?” King’s pride snarled. “So the sword knows what Bane
and that fleabag lover does. What she going to do, revive Bane….”

Merlin ramming his staff down her throat again cut her off.

“You stupid flying feedbag! Don’t you see what you and your idiot ancestors
done to us?” Merlin roared. “You’ve allowed the swordsmith’s knowledge into 
her
hands! The process of how the swords were created and how to undo it!” He
rammed the staff harder down. “But not to revive Bane….”

##

Ashura’s grin was frightening to behold.

“I want to BECOME Bane….”

As if on cue, thunder rumbled in the distance, adding to the terrible
realization that crossed their faces. It was so obvious they should of seen
it….Bane’s power was the only thing that Ashura could gain…. “Of
course…Everything you need is here,” Karou murmured. “The swords, the 
amulet,
both halves of Bane ….As well as the forge….”

“Very perceptive, Karou-dono! Atta girl!” Ashura simpered. “Shame on you for
not seeing it earlier, love.” She scolded Kenshin. “I can understand her
highness not remembering since she was just a slab of meat at that time. It 
was
here at the Sakafune Ishi that you created the swords from Bane’s body and
separated her essence. Thirty years ago you attempted to destroy it while
inhabiting the Excailbron wielder at the time, my uncle, to prevent us from 
our
goal. Luckily you failed, well, for me anyway.”

“So what was all that about Triseoul then?” Soujirou asked.

“That nonsense was created by the lovebirds here to throw us off. The 
Triseoul
is simply the title of Bane’s lover’s hosts, because each ‘life’ represents
each of the parts. In Kenshin’s case, ‘Shinta’s Excailber, Battousai’s
Excailbron, the Rurouni the Murasame, and all three combined, Kenshin, for 
the
Eye of Bane. Is everyone caught up now? Good, because I’m getting impatient
now.” Ashura gave Kenshin a cross look. “Oh and you WILL perform the
ceremony…..you don’t have a choice in the matter and you know it. And if 
you’re
even more stubborn THEY will pay.”

Kenshin’s laugh sent chills down one’s spine. “The needs of the many 
outweigh
the needs of the few, Ashura.” Kenshin mirrored her sneer. “They have no 
value
to us compare to keeping our power out of your hands, we could care less 
what
you do to them.”

“Oi!” Sano had recovered enough to respond to that remark. “When this is 
over I
will kick your body hopping ass!”

“Nice try, but you don’t fool me.” Ashura snorted. “Kenshin and Tomoe are 
part
of you now so you do care, and you’re not as heartless as you’d like me to
believe. Enough wasted time!” She raised her hands to the sky theatrically.
“Immortality awaits!”

Mother crouched down…..the cancerous hump on her back decreasing a bit as 
she
literally vomited up several worm-like THINGS in a stream of green 
slime….the
wriggling masses growing arms and to the size of puppies as they scurried up
the webbing toward them…..three seperating from the swarm as Silk and Daisho
hopped up to take the swords and Amulet from the girls….BITING the girls on
their arms for Daisho to catch some of their blood in a cup as well before
joining the rest of the swarm to engulf Kenshin ….dragging him down to the
‘forge’ as they formed ‘chains’ by linking tail to tail and their teeth the
‘locks’ that bit deeply into his wrists….Kenshin feeling dizzy from whatever
poison they pumped into his system….forcing him to stand in the center as
Daisho slung the amulet around his neck and stabbed Murasame down into a 
hidden
‘keyhole’ at the southern ‘hole….Silk heaving the steadily heavier Excailber
into the eastern hole and Ashura fitting Excailbron into the western one.
“Turn!”

A hissing sound was heard as they turned as one…..the seal breaking with an
unearthly moan….Ancient symbols similar to those of Stonehenge appearing in
flashes of light as the anicent stone smoothed into black marble. The three
hopped off as Sakafune Ishi ‘unlocked’ itself for lack of a better word, the
ground rumbling as the REST of the structure rose from below the
surface….looking more like some hellish four foot altar than a forge,
especially the three slender, oddly twisted pillars that towered and bent 
over
above the main structure, giving the impression that a huge three fingered 
claw
was holding the entire thing….the main structure unfolding into three 
sections,
one with each sword, and sliding the ‘troughs’ out of their resting places 
to
connect to the now revealed center platform that Kenshin stood upon…. The 
final
part of the tranformation was for the ‘fingers’ tips to unfold and form a
platform sizeable enough to lay a dragon across above the center.

“Incredible….” Arain breathed.

Daisho offered the cup for Ashura, who drank it down in one glup and wiped 
her
lips. “I should’ve of seen it sooner….” Arain growled. “You used Shannon to
draw me out of Avalon, so you can get my blood as well as Shuriken’s….”

“Too little too late, Lady Maximus.” Ashura taunted. “Watch and see why….”

Part of the slimy herd keeping Kenshin pinned detached to swarm over the
struggling Tomoe…..dragging her to the platform over Kenshin….Tomoe crying 
out
from the pain as she was stretched out in a spreadeagle fashion with a 
‘chain’
for each limb, the monster’s teeth biting deep into her ankles and
wrists….binding her to it like a sacrifice….Up close Tomoe realized the
‘platform’ was in truth a complicated looking drainage system….the statues
working like pipes to drain whatever liquid released into her platform to 
each
sword and finally into the center where Kenshin was bound.

And with growing terror, she had a good idea what that liquid would be…..

Ashura sprang up the side of a pillar to stand above Tomoe with a fiendish
grin, holding one of the nastiest looking swords Tomoe had ever seen, a 
long,
thin ripsaw edged affair that made Daisho’s look loving by comparison….. “I
apologize ahead of time, Tomoe….I’ve come to regard you as a annoying, 
bratty
little sister I couldn’t help but love, and this will be VERY unpleasant….”
Tomoe fought not to cringe at the animalistic grin that twisted Ashura’s
features. “But I need Kenshin to release the power needed slowly, instead of 
in
one huge burst that will incinerate us all….which means I’ll have tosl
torture you until your cultivator body finally gives out.” She raised the
sword. “No hard feelings right? Good, I’d hate to have that on my
conscience…..”

“TOMOE!” Karou screamed.

Ashura’s laughter was wild and sadistic….the sword moving so fast it 
vanished
but it’s touch horrifyingly visible….Tomoe jerked and screamed despite 
herself
as the seemingly hundreds of slices, stabs, and slashes tore her clothes and
soon her flesh to shreds…..deep enough to bleed but not kill 
quickly….literally
flaying her alive….worse still her body was frantically healing the wounds 
it
could in a futile effort to save her, a fact that horrifed her trapped 
friends
even more as they could not look away from her or the steady river of blood
draining down to the center and filled each hole with her blood….

Worse still was watching Kenshin slowly go beserk as he watched
helplessly….convulsing and foaming at the mouth….his palms bleeding from his
hands clenching so tightly…..“stopitstopitstopitstopohpleasegod” His 
pleading
voice rose in feverish pitch…everyone feeling the gathering power….arcs of 
it
snapping across the forge from time to time….And then Kenshin snapped and 
threw
back his head, the glowing left eye flaring to such brilliance it was a 
wonder
it didn’t burn out in it’s socket as he screamed. “STOP IT!!!!!!”

Then all hell broke loose.

##

The court was settling back into order from Merlin’s revalation when it
came….the entire world seeming to go beserk all at once like a terrified
animal: Violent winds sweeping through the place and the earth quaking below
them….the ocean heaving a massive tidal wave right at the court….Lily saving
everyone from being crushed by freezing the wave soild and shattering it 
into
fine snow as it began it’s descent….using her will to try and soothe the 
angry
ocean around them. “What manner of Sorcery is this?!!!”

Merlin looked gravely toward the intense light in the horizon.

“It’s begun….”

##

Translvainan mountains.

The young couple’s horses went berserk and almost threw them off….every 
animal
nearby reacting similarly as they regained control. “What tis amatter, 
Alucard?
The animals….”

The handsome young Dampyre looked grimly at the horizon. “They’re reacting 
to
something out there, Maria….Something like I’ve never felt before….”

##

Around the world, Every immortal hit the ground in agony….the quickening 
within
them reacting to Kenshin’s outburst as well….One in particular….

Duncan Mcloud braced himself against his house, gritting at what felt like 
his
insides boiling. “What the hell…..!”

##

In China….

Cologne stood among the chaos that had erupted among the Amazon village,…her
eyes locked on the horizon despite the rebelling farm animals and violent
tremors ravaging her village.

“After all this time….” She whispered as she leaned on her walking stick. 
“It’s
finally happened….”

##

Alexander and Oborie felt the power release even more accutely than the 
others,
collasping to their knees and clutching their chests….feeling as if part of
them was being ripped out as they choked out their daugther’s names….”

##

Kenshin’s body jerked violently, bonelessly with the first power surge. With
the second. The third. The ‘chains’ died flaming, squealing deaths with the
following two spasms and with the last thrust his hands Heavenward and
unleashed a maelstrom of power that seemed to rock the island and lash at 
the
witnesses with it’s fury….the trapped heroes feeling as if it would tear 
them
apart, even Silk grunting a bit as the swirling energies Kenshin generated 
took
the shape of massive snake like dragon circling the atlar. Ashura seemed
obvious to the whole thing, still madly slashing away at Tomoe….the dragon’s
scream, her mad laughter and Tomoe’s hoarse screams mixing into a twisted
symphony….“KENSHIN!!!!”

Tomoe’s weakening scream fell on deaf ears…..Kenshin fully under the control 
of
the power as the forge came alive, energized by the released power…..the
symbols flaring brilliantly and Tomoe’s stored blood in the holes churning
below the swords as they glowed as one in tune with Kenshin’s flaming left 
eye.
He outstretched his right toward Excailber in a beckoning guesture…..the 
blood
around the great blade surging up to engulf and consume it….even taking the
form of Shinta for a brief moment before gathering and hurling itself down 
it’s
trough like some massive snake to wrap and slither and whirl around Kenshin
endlessly as he reached for Excailbron and did the same….Battousai appearing
this time after the black blade was consumed and joined it’s twin ….The 
Rurouni
the last to appear as finally Murasame met the same fate….. “The time has
come!” Ashura threw aside the sword and held up Tomoe with one hand, eyes
gleaming with insanity. “ The moment that now, thanks to you, this world
ends….” Her free hand shifted into a wicked set of claws…..and with her next
words she plunged them deep into Tomoe’s chest vicously. “And I begin!!!”

At the same time Kenshin planted his feet….raising his hands upward as the
‘snakes’ and the energies drew into his hands…...holding them there for a 
brief
moment….a soiltary tear rolling down his cheek…..

And then with a scream slammed it down…..

The resulting explosion was tremendous…..actually tearing everybody free and
throwing them backward several feet….the pillar of light that engulfed 
Kenshin,
Ashura and Tomoe blinding….the roar of the incredible power drowned out by 
an
even more intense scream that spoke volumes of pain and suffering….Karou
feeling her heart twist as she realized it was Kenshin…..

And an eternity later the power flow ceased to nothing….Blessed silence
returning once more….Although the sight that awaited them was far worse….

Ashura stood on her platform….seared and bloodly but triumphant…..holding 
the
ravaged and limp Tomoe over her head, still impaled on her claws while
supporting her with her free hand….an offering to heaven or hell….the 
barbaric
sight heightened even more by her laughter as she THREW Tomoe like she was
nothing more than rubish to land at their feet with a sickening crunch and
splattered Karou with her blood…..Karou to shellshocked to move even as 
Tomoe
reached a shattered hand toward Kenshin….managing to gurgle out his name 
before
she finally collasped and lay still….eyes staring blindly in the same shock
they were frozen in….

And Kenshin….

He kneeled in the center of the now quiet altar. Gi and Hakama reduced to
smoldering rags that barely covered him in the power release. His chest 
heaving
in exhaustion and pain at each breath and wisps of smoke raising from his 
still
overheated body. His hair undone and wild, a crimson hood of blood over his
eyes and as he cradled the result of the ritual for all to see.

The combination of Excailber, Excailbron, Murasame and the amulet into one. 
The
sword was both awe inspiring and hideous….combining the aspects of each
individual part and yet twisting them. The hilt was shaped like a dragon’s 
head
and neck, the Amulet forming it’s eye and it’s jaws obscenely wide open to 
form
the hilt’s crosspiece and loll out it’s ‘tongue’….the blade like that of
Excailber’s but the jet black of Excailbron and dripped a sheen of blood the
same way Murasame dripped water….a beastial roar rising from it and it’s 
hilt
as it silthered from behind and up around Kenshin to sneer at them. 
“Beautiful,
isn’t it….” Ashura hopped down from her perch and stood in front of them, 
eyes
closed and grinning. “The sword represents the body of Bane and stores it’s
vast power. All that is needed now is Bane’s essence to complete 
Unification.”

She opened her eyes….the grin widening as the silver glow within them
brightened.

“And I’m halfway there. By taking the blood of each swordbearer I guranteed
that I would be the next host, and the Tamashii no Shuukakusha will keep her
weakened and under my control. Now to finish it….” She walked over to 
Kenshin,
who hadn’t even moved the whole time. “Sorry, love….I know you’re hurting 
and
exhausted but we must finish what we begun.” She stood in front of him, arms
outstretched to receive the sword. “Give it to me, Battousai….Complete 
de….”

Kenshin looked up at her, the other’s unable to see his expression as he 
raised
the sword….

And before anyone could react lunged and yanked her forward….running her
through the heart with a scream….

For one horrible moment, Karou hoped that Kenshin was so far gone he had 
broken
his vow not to kill….a terrible hope that scared her at how much it relived
her….

Unfortunately it didn’t last.

The dragon aura exploded around them with a roar….another energy storm 
kicking
up around the two…Ashura’s pained expression turning into a smirk while
Kenshin’s expression slowly drained from helpless anger to resigned 
exhaustion
as the dragon aura and the surrounding energy surged from him and into 
Ashura
with a mournful moan….Ashura stumbling back and hunched over as Kenshin 
ripped
the sword free viscously and stabbed it down into the altar….The glow of
Kenshin’s left eye fading before he pitched forward on his face, unconcious.

No one dared to breathe.

Then Ashura laughed….laughed and laughed….picking up the sword….the hideous
wound she suffered already sealing itself…..unleashing a hellish burst of 
wind
toward the village below the hill with a backhanded blow of the sword 
without
looking…. The wind ripping across the village all the way to the ocean with
seemingly no effect…..then a second later everything that it passed over 
tore
apart: people, houses, animal and even the very earth itself…..the waters
parting violently…..the staggering path of destruction revealed when the 
smoke
cleared like a jagged scar across the land….the village torn in half and a
great trench stretching all the way into the ocean…..

“Holy shit….” Sano gasped.

Ashura shealthed the sword and sneered at them….A blood red aura like oily
smoke and flames rising from her body as her eyes glowed a haunting 
white….“And
the game ends in the only way it could,” She said, a wave of her hand 
snapping
the webbing and dropping them to the ground. “We win. It’s been 
entertaining….”

“….But all good things come to an end…..” Silk chuckled as they advanced. 
“And
that includes your lives as well….”

“…St….Stop….”

Everybody, even Ashura stopped and stared. “No way….” Silk grumbled.

Kenshin was to his knees, using the Sakaba as a crutch….. “Sugoi!” Ashura
breathed. “An ordinary man would be unconcious! Half dead even! And you’re
ready to fight?!!” She smiled, blushing a bit. “You truly are worthy of the
name Battousai….”

“…N-Not to fight….Ashura….” If it was possible, Kenshin sounded worse than 
he
looked, completely broken…. “To accept…..your offer….”

“Oh? And what offer is that?” From the superior tone of her voice, Ashura 
knew
the answer to her question. It was her final and geastest victory and she
wanted to savor it….

“I…will rule by your side….as the Battousai and your only equal….”

“NO!” Karou screamed and darted forward, Silk grabbing her by the 
neck….almost
causally hammering Sano down as he lunged….kicking him down and pressing 
down
on his throat….

“I will throw away the sakaba and my vow!” He yelled. “I only beg of you to
spare them! I will do all that you ask but only if you don’t…..” that surge 
of
strength ended soon as it came, Kenshin’s voice breaking. “…Just don’t kill
them….I’m begging you…..At least spare me that.”

“Anything for you, Battousai….” Ashura nodded at the others, Silk throwing
Karou down and kicking Sano one last time for good measure. “Since you asked 
so
nicely I will spare their lives for your sake. I’ll give you a moment to say
goodbye, since it will be a long time before you’ll see them again. We’ll be 
so
busy…..” Her grin was feral and triumphant. “Anata…”

Sheer willpower was the only thing that let Kenshin stand and stagger over 
to
them. “Don’t…(koff) do this to me Kenshin….” Sano pleaded as he crawled to 
his
feet.

“Take care of everybody for me, Sano.” Kenshin said sadly. “You’ll do that 
for
me, right?”

“Yeah….I’ll do that, Kenshin.” Sano suddenly reached out to hug him best he
could. “But one day I’m comin for ya….”

“I’ll be waiting….” Silk chortled.

Kenshin turned to Jubei. “I’ll be seeing you REAL soon, Kimagami.” He said 
with
a forced edge. “You’re the first person I’ll come looking for.”

“Bet on it.” He growled back, but like Kenshin it was forced.

“Fare thee well, Himura Kenshin.” Arain said simply. “It was an honor 
fighting
with you.”

“As it was with you, Arainhod Maximus.” Kenshin turned to the crying 
Shuriken
and the grim Soujirou. “Take care of him, Miko-chan, promise?” She nodded
before bawling into Soujirou’s shoulder. “

“Till we meet again, Ken-san.” He replied.

Daisho yawned loudly.

His last goodbye was the hardest. “Karou….”

“Damn you Himura Kenshin!” She was near hysterical, beating his chest as she
raged. “Why do you always have to play the martyr! I hate you!” Kenshin
embraced her tightly and let her cry into his chest. “You swore you’ll never 
do
this to me again….You promised!” Her voice failed her, reduced to a sobbing
wreck in his arms. “You…promised….me…”

“Gomenasai, Karou….” He whispered “But I must break my promise….”

He cupped her chin in his hands, stroking away her tears as he gazed at her
tenderly.

“But I swear to you on my life…this is the LAST time I’ll hurt you. EVER.”

And then he kissed her like he never had before….with every fiber of his 
being
and all his emotion for her….Karou feeling a jolt go through her as she
returned it with equal force….feeling a part of herself go with him as the 
kiss
ended all too soon and she embraced him tightly.

“Just a bit longer….” She whispered.

“We’ve wasted enough time, Battousai.” It gave Karou some comfort to hear 
the
touch of Jealousy in Ashura’s voice. “We have a world to conquer after 
all….”

Reluctantly Kenshin let her go and gave her the Sakaba, which she cradled
tightly to her chest like a child and nodded. Watched him kneel by Tomoe’s
still body and close her eyes….kissing his fingertips and pressing them to 
her
lips while whispering something they couldn’t hear. (A prayer for her? Final
endearments?) Then walked toward Ashura like a man to his excution….

Walk out of her life….

“Ken…shin….”

His body finally gave out….Ashura there to scoop him into her arms like a
sleeping child and sneer at them. “Don’t worry, Karou-dono…..I promise he 
will
be just as loved and cared for in my arms as he was in yours…..”

“You don’t know the meaning of love or care, you bitch!” Karou snarled more
like herself. “Don’t think this is over between you and me!”

Her grin widened. “We shall see….” Then turned to Jubei. “Oh, I haven’t
forgotten you, Kimagami. I’ll give you until sunset tomorrow to rest and
recover for our battle….or run for your miserable life to somewhere I can’t
follow, which dosen’t leave many places for you to go. The choice is yours. 
If
you choose the former like I know you will, you’ll know where to find me.”
Impossibly, her grin grew even more wicked. “Or maybe I’ll grant your death
wish of fighting the Battousai. It’s the least I can do for a dying man!”

She laughed as she opened a portal and walked in, followed by Mother and
Daisho. Silk turned and waved, blowing kisses as she joined them. “Ja teme! 
I
love you, bye, bye hope I get to wring your neck soon, chicken boy!”

Karou sank to her knees as the door closed, reaching for him even as it
closed….screamed her agony….

##

Screaming that ended as she snapped awake and sat up on the futon, Yahiko
screaming himself and falling off his chair. “Damnit Busu! Don’t do that!” 
he
yelled.

*A dream? Was it all a horrible…..* The frail hope was shattered as she saw 
she
was still in the Yukashiro mansion….still holding the sakaba and saya…..

She cradled it to her chest.

Kenshin….

“’Bout time you woke up.” Yahiko grumbled, although it was more for show 
than
heartfelt. “You’ve been out cold since last night. How do you feel?” She 
just
stared at him for a moment then lay back down and turned away from him. “Oi!
Don’t you start that crap again! You don’t have time to fall apart….!”

“WHO’S FALLING APART?!!!” Followed by slamming him onehanded and headfirst 
into
the floor. Yahiko popped his head free from the crater he made and grinned 
at
her.

“Heh,that’a relief. Everybody was worried that you’d have a relispse or
whatever the heck Megumi called it of last time and we don’t have time for
that….”

“No need to worry, Yahiko-chan.” She interrupted with a smile, amused and
touched at his worry as she ruffled her hair.

He grumbled but let the chan remark slide. For now. “Everybody’s waiting
downstairs along with dinner. Tomoe….” He bowed his head. “We only had time 
for
a simple ceremony and burial at sea. I wish I could of done more for her…”

“Don’t say it!” Karou slammed down the saya on the floor, making him jump.
“Don’t even start! What happened last night would of happened anyway! You 
being
there would’nt of changed that!” She lowered her voice to a calming whisper.
“Tomoe wouldn’t want you worrying yourself over her. Instead she’d want you 
to
focus on saving Kenshin. That what you do if you want to honor her.”

“Stop reading my mind, Busu.” He growled halfheartedly, secretly glad for 
her
scolding and that she hadn’t given up hope. “Let go eat.”

The gloomy mood downstairs brightened somewhat on Karou’s arrival, 
especially
the now recovered Sano and…“Merlin-san!”

“Ah, Karou.” The old man’s grumpy expression didn’t change, but his eyes did
twinkle a bit. “Glad to see you’re awake. Oh, and I’ve brought the twins to
Avalon for Arain’s grandmother to care for. Considering the circumstances
that’s the safest place for now.”

“Thank you, Merlin-san. So now we can concentrate on getting Kenshin back.”

“Told ya so, Megumi.” Sano drawled. “Pay up.”

“Put it on my tab.” She sneered.

Merlin looked at her carefully. “So you’re willing to fight Ashura despite 
her
power, Child? She is no longer an ordinary opponent.”

Karou met his gaze evenly. “I’m willing to do whatever it take to get 
Kenshin
back. As for Ashura….I’ll burn that bridge when I get to it!”

“Hell yeah, Jou-chan!” Sano chuckled.

“Baka onna….” Jubei snorted as he tried to stare her down. “Kenshin 
sacrificed
everything to spare your life and now you’re going to throw that away? 
Besides,
The Kenshin you knew is probably gone anyway by now….and if he is he will be
your enemy. Could you fight him?”

“Then what do you suggest, JUBBY!” She got right in his face. “Let you waltz 
in
all alone like some hero and take them out alone?”

“I’ve faced worse and survived and I can do it again.” He shot back. “I’m 
not
going to let you waste….”

The Sakaba, edge forward, appeared out of nowhere and in his face, the 
others
wondering if Jubei was gulping from the blade or the demonic look on Karou’s
face.

“You listen to ME cause I’m only gonna say this once, Bakayarou.” Her voice 
was
ice. “Kenshin is MY fiancee and I’m not some helpless damsel in distress! I 
am
the heir of Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu and I can put my life on the line for him 
just
as he’s done for me! No offense, Jubei, But it’s going to take all of us to
beat Ashura!”

*Is it me….* Yahiko pondered as he grinned. *Or is she becoming more like
Kenshin by the minute?*

Merlin suddenly laughed. Jubei gently poked her in the head with a finger, 
off
balancing her a bit as he grinned. “Excellent! You understand!” Merlin said
gleefully. “This is truly the Darkness before dawn…..the moment where things
always seems the bleakest but as long as you can still hope you’ll succeed. 
I
needed to know if you was ready to commit yourself to stopping Ashura at any
cost, Karou.”

“Don’t listen to him….” Arain smirked, Merlin scowling. “He just wanted to 
give
one of his cheesy speeches. The old man had some news for us but wanted to 
wait
for you. So spit out already, Merlin.”

Merlin grumbled something about disrespectful little brats before going on.
“Take a look at this, everyone.” A word of magic and the image of a ship in
Asuka harbor appeared in the air….

Then again, ship wasn’t a strong enough word for it: The massive vessel that
Merlin showed them looked more beast than ship with it’s misshapen and 
hulking
replitian form, built of some unearthly looking material that resembled
scale…..the red sails adding to the effect with their wing like design as 
well
as the gaping razor toothed maw that was the ship’s prow…..Everyone getting 
the
impression that it could EAT ships or anything else in it’s path…..

“…..The hell?!!”

“As a show of her power, Ashura built this monstrosisty from sheer will and
whatever material nearby, including PEOPLE….Powered by an engine of pure 
magic
and god knows what firepower….With that thing she could easily wipe out any
fleet in her path and take over each country in short time. Thing is….” He
turned a skeptical eye to them. “WHY would she build such a thing when she
possesses Bane’s vast power?”

“….She not at full strength yet!” Soujirou exclaimed.

“Exactly!” Merlin replied. “The ritual gave her the power but her body needs
time to reconstruct itself to handle it….I estimate that she’s only a 
quarter
of her full strength. It’s sounds like a long shot but it’s the only chance
we’ll have to stop her. After that she’ll be unstoppable…..”

“She could do THAT at only a QUARTER of her power?” Sano whistled. “Holy
shit….”

“My favorite kind of odds.” Jubei grinned. “So what’s the plan?”

“Ashura’s expecting you alone, Jubei. She wouldn’t arrogantly flaunt her 
power
like this otherwise….So we can use this to our advantage to make a stealthy
attack to sink her ship and whatever army she’s probably building, rescue
Kenshin and defeat her at the same time. We’ll separate into groups and 
attack
simultaneously at each weak point.”

He pointed the cane at the harbor and prow. “Arain, Sano, and Yahiko will 
make
a frontal attack to take out the army and draw their attention. Megumi will 
be
acting a support role to cure your injuries as well as your back up with a 
few
gifts from the Jamisons. Is that satisfactory?”

Everybody nodded. “Heck, All Fox onna needs is that damned medicine box of
hers.” Sano remarked, Megumi half scowling and half blushing at his concern.
“Ashura probably couldn’t even stand up to that….”

“Listen you…..”

Merlin sweatdropped before clearing his throat. “The others will enter the 
ship
during the confusion with three objectives. Soujirou and Shuriken will 
cripple
the engine, Jubei will damage the hold enough to sink the ship and Karou 
will
focus on rescuing Kenshin. After that we’ll have to play it by ear and hope
Kenshin’s up to adding to the cause.” He looked gravely at Karou. “You 
realize
that may involve you facing Ashura alone, Karou….”

“I understand, Merlin-san. And I’m ready for it.”

“Finally I will insure that Ashura stays put. Avalon cannot directly 
interfere
since this a human matter for now, however, her highness the Lady of the 
Lake
CAN insure her grandaughter’s safety with a gift or two…like altering the
weather at sea bit or something to that effect.” He grinned. “And I’m a
resident of both worlds and responsible for Excailber and it’s wielder so I
must preform my duty to both worlds.”

“Bending the law without breaking it.” Arain grinned back. “Can always count 
on
Grandmama.”

“Now all that’s left is to give instruction on the ‘tools’ the Jamisons and 
I
devised to aid you….”

Karou chuckled to herself as she leaned her cheek against the cool hilt of 
the
Sakaba.

*We’re coming for you, Kenshin…..Just hang on a little longer!*

End of Chapter 5. (FINALLY!)

Author’s note. I apologize for the length of this chapter. I was too 
stubborn
to let this story go further than six chapters and I had to unload the
bombshells before that part. I guess I also owe a major apology to the 
Tomoe,
Kenshin and Karou fans for the tourture the last scenes put them through. 
(Says
this while hiding under the desk.) I hated to do that to them, but it was
nessacary no matter how much it hurt. If it’s any conslation I’m STILL a 
little
depressed about it. But it aint over yet! Who  knows what the next chapter 
will
bring! * Sneaky wink and Saitou like grin*

Seeya in Chapter 6: Curtain Call. (Can anyone give me a better title?)