Standard disclaimers:
I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Watsuki and some big name companies do.

Author's comments:

Note that it is 'Slay evil IMMEDIATELY'. I didn't want to write an endless 
fighting scene 
with Saitou, please note that he isn't using a special attack.

Saitou is far too romantic in this chapter, I think! I hope he is not too much 
OOC here. I
know, he wouldn't tolerate what Tokio is doing, but I will explain it in the 
character-
development chapter! He wouldn't let Tokio interrupt, and so on... He is younger 
here, 
concerning his fighting skills.

Please note, that I have experiences with forensic medicine, I tried to hold 
back here, I 
don't know if too much or less, I have no feeling how violent this really is. I 
didn't 
want to go in detail in this fic, it is supposed to shock a bit, not too much, 
please tell
me if too much or less, I need to know it for the next chapter and the revision 
of this 
fic. I don't want to scare you away.

I missed to mention 'Blade of the Immortal' as an inspiration! I hadn't checked 
this Manga
for half a year, yesterday I continued reading, SURPRISE! This Manga has a deep 
influence 
on my subconscious! The characters are great!

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I'm down to the grounds, the very dregs
Ah, here she comes, blocking the sun
Blood running down the inside her legs
The moon in the sky is battered and mangled
And the bells from the chapel go jingle-jangle

Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?
Do you love me like I love you?

words by Nick Cave ('Do you love me?)

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CHAPTER12: BATTLEFIELDS 1

WARNING: VIOLENCE! VIOLENCE! Tokio is losing control here! I told you, she 
will be cured? :). Please note that she is a bit 'insane'! She tells 
this story, she will not admit it in this chapter!

We didn't have one day, we had a few hours left.

In addition to that, Kondou was not in Kyoto, we hadn't been able to speak with 
him.

Hajime was sent on patrol in the evening, the house was empty, except a few 
wives, we 
decided it would be the best for me going with him, some wives wouldn't stop 
Yoshinori 
from entering the house. Hajime's first duty was to serve his Daimyo, not to 
protect his 
wife from being kidnapped by an obsessed, nuts ninja. 

I dressed as a Shinsengumi to be less suspicious and took my wakizashis, 
shurikens, kunais
and dagger with me.

It was dusk, only a few people on the street, some shops were still opened.

An old woman was selling fish, "He, you two! Over there! Want some fresh fish?" 

ALARM! An old woman was addressing us? Two Miburo on the streets? Ok, I admit, I 
didn't 
count. I instinctively moved closer to Hajime.

Nothing happened, we passed her.

In the next street stood two men, discussing. The discussion got more emotional, 
the 
voices got louder, one was giving the other a smack on his shoulder, the other 
gave it 
back, it escalated.

A trap? I stayed close to Hajime as he approached the two men, his sheer 
appearance made 
them shutting up and leaving the spot in complete harmony.

Nothing happened.

One hour passed without an incident, the shops were closed by now, less people 
were left 
on the street and some cats started to roam around.

"WUMM." We both turned around alarmed, what was that? Frantically scanning the 
surroundings, nothing suspicious to see, only a cat crossing the street. It cast 
an 
annoyed glance at us and vanished between two houses.

Another hour passed without happening anything, the streets nearly empty now.

We were tired, you couldn't stay alarmed and be on guard twenty-four hours a 
day.

It was then, I didn't pay attention when passing a dark entrance, Hajime was a 
few steps 
ahead. It was too late when I felt the hand on my mouth and the arm around my 
waist and 
arms. His grip was tight, I wasn't able to move, but it caused some noise and 
Hajime 
turned, realising something was wrong.

Hajime and Yoshinori were staring at each other, the atmosphere was threatening, 
hostile. 
Fighting spirits appeared, blood-thirstiness filled the air. I would have to do 
something,
perhaps there was a slight chance to calm Yoshinori. 

If Hajime trusted me, I could pretend to go with Yoshinori, he would focus on 
Hajime, 
trying to kill him, I could use this and attack him from behind.

"Leave her!" Hajime was standing in front of us, facing us. He wasn't able to 
judge 
Yoshinori, to predict his actions, movements. No chance for him to attack with 
me in 
Yoshinori's arms. 

Yoshinori was blind concerning me, he wouldn't realise I was lying and betraying 
him,I was
sure. He lowered the hand on my mouth. 

Would Hajime recognise it? Would he trust me?

"Ma, ma, Hajime, calm down. He is an old friend of mine. Yoshinori Masahiro-san, 
Saitou 
Hajime-san, leader of shinsengumi squad three and my husband." 
I tried to introduce them, they stared at each other, none of them made an 
effort to bow. 
My god, help me! I knew this wouldn't work! They both wanted to see blood. What 
a stupid 
idea!

"Tokio-san, are you trying to tell me that this is your husband? I thought you 
had a 
better taste." Masahiro tried to provoke Hajime, this attempt was too obvious, 
Hajime
wouldn't fall for it.

"Yoshinori is a famous name." Hajime made a threatening move, which wouldn't 
work with 
Masahiro, too obvious. He was a skilled Ninja after all.

"Saitou-kun stay quiet. You don't belong into the same class as Tokio-san and 
I." 
HUH, this was rude and fitting! I felt myself slowly losing control.

"Stop talking, Yoshinori and leave her." 
Hajime remained concentrated and cool. He didn't mind to be the son of a low 
class samurai
and a farmers daughter, this provocation wouldn't work with him. 

"By the way, what about the book I gave you, Tokio? The book about ken-jutsu?"

My god, that shocked me to the bones, he must have spied us out. This book was 
my 
parent's, but he must have revealed that we had a brawl about it and that Hajime 
knew it 
was important for me. He would think it is important, because Yoshinori gave it 
to me. 
Would Hajime trust me? 

"I still have it, Masahiro. Thank you for the wonderful present."

Hajime remained calm, it didn't work. Would Yoshinori be able to find a weak 
point in this
short time?

Yoshinori registered that it didn't work, too, and took a intense look at me 
"You really like this man? You allowed him to touch you? What an honour, 
Saitou-kun! She's
quiet skilled with her hands, ne?"

MY GOD, he tried to use THIS?

Hajime tightened his grip on his hilt. NO! Yoshinori must have seen it too.

Please, this couldn't be true! Did Saitou trust me enough?

"Stay there or I'll break some of her bones!" He would never do that, but Hajime 
wouldn't 
know that, I wasn't able to say something or to move too shocked.

"It is time for you, Saitou, to hand me back what is mine."

"Leave her!"

Yoshinori ignored him completely
"I can't believe, what you did, Tokio. You are even carrying his child."

He tightened his grip around me, pressing me against him, no possibility to move 
my arms. 
Every muscle in my body was aching, there must be a chance to get out of his 
grip, I 
wasn't able to move, Hajime's eyes widened in shock as he witnessed Yoshinori's 
next moves.

"I'm sorry, Tokio, I have to hurt you. But, you know, that is the best for you." 


Yoshinori raised his hand and with one fluid movement he punched his fist into 
the region 
of my belly using one of his ninja techniques. Saitou wasn't able to help me, I 
was too 
close to Yoshinori, he still wasn't able to predict his actions or movements.

MY GOD, that hurt! I felt a warm liquid running down my legs, blood! 'This can't 
be 
true! Don't show Hajime, he has to concentrate on Yoshinori.' I was afraid that 
he really 
killed our child. The flow of blood didn't stop.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you had been carrying his child. I can't allow my woman to carry 
the child
of another man. Bad enough you had to allow him to be your first man. But I told 
you, I'd
help you out, my darling."

He caressed my check, watching Hajime furtively. I had to do something, I had to 
get in a 
position to be able to use my weapons! Hajime was pissed off, now he was slowly 
losing 
control.

"Thank you, Masahiro." 

"I promised you, I would help you out."

He took the wakizashis out of my hakama before dropping me to the ground, 
concentrating on
Hajime. A true ninja, using the weapons around him. I was struggling with the 
pain in my 
belly, trying to stand up again, trying to hide the blood.

"Now I'm rid of this brad, all I have to do is finish this weakling here. Just a 
minute, 
my love. Then we can start living together." 
He was underestimating Hajime, wasn't he? He was pissing him off more and more, 
that was 
sure. 

Yoshinori challenged Hajime with Soushi's and mine wakizashi, he was carrying 
some 
shuriken, some kunais with him for sure. How many?

Hajime drew his katana. Both focused at each other, both aware of my presence. 
Would they 
both trust me, turning their backs to me?

They were staring at each other, minutes passed, I was sure Hajime would attack 
first, he 
was more offensive, furthermore he annoyed about what Yoshinori had done. But he 
had 
problems judging Yoshinori, what was no wonder.

There he came, announcing the first attack, a test to see how fast Yoshinori 
was. Hajime 
was quick, trying to land a blow, but Yoshinori put it away with one sword and 
used the 
other trying to land a hit on Hajime's back as he passed him. Hajime was fast 
enough to 
evade him while turning around.

Yoshinori re-sheathed one wakizashi, Soushi's, preparing for Hajime's second 
attack. What 
was he doing?

Hajime started his second attack, he was wise enough not to use his special 
attack, it 
would be to early. Again, Yoshinori blocked his attack and I knew what he was up 
to, 
revealing kunais and throwing them at Hajime as he passed him.

One kunai hit the aim, his left side, it was unguarded for a short time. It was 
not 
deathly, but it hurt and distracted. Yoshinori attacked instantly, before Hajime 
was able
to pull the kunai out of his side, by jumping up, pretending to slam the sword 
down while 
trying to kick him into the face. It was the move Hajime had already seen me 
using, he 
evaded it, pulling out the kunai.

His left side of the kimono was bloodied now, seeing his own blood seemed to 
make him even
more annoyed, but he re-gained control and attacked again.

This time Yoshinori jumped high in the air, throwing shurikens which he had been 
hiding 
behind his back, none hit, he narrowed his eyes.

What was he thinking of? He was preparing the next shurikens while concentrating 
on
Hajime, throwing them,..

HE WAS AIMING AT ME? I dodged them in the last moment, one scratched my right 
temple.

Hajime was surprised and distracted, Yoshinori used it. 

He threw three kunai at Hajime, who was able to evade two of them, the third dug 
into his 
shoulder, he pulled it out at instant and threw it away. Good luck it was the 
right 
shoulder.

Yoshinori showed no emotion, but I knew he enjoyed his success, he thought 
victory was 
near. Maybe he wouldn't register what I was doing now, concentrated on his 
little success 
and his slight chance of winning this fight. 

I was in his back, taking out two shuriken, giving them the right speed and 
rotation on my
fingers, releasing them, he stepped aside. 

Damn it, he still sensed what I was doing, only one shuriken scratched him. Now 
he knew my
intention. Would he realise it? He wasn't turning, he was still focused on 
Hajime.

"Tokio, you have to improve your skills, you missed him."
What an idiot! How stupid could one human being be? I felt anger rising.

"I HATE YOU, MASAHIRO!" THAT distracted him for a second, Hajime used the second 
to jump 
forward and slash his katana through Yoshinori's abdomen. I smelled the content 
of guts, 
saw blood dropping to the ground. 

Yoshinori might have realised by now his mistake and my 'betrayal'. Hajime 
raised his 
katana for a final blow,

"Please, stop, Hajime!" He stopped the sword in mid-air, Yoshinori broke down on 
his knees
in the street, dropping my wakizashi.

"Please let me do that."

****WARNING: VIOLENCE****

I took two kunai, pushed him on his back, pinned his wrists to the ground, 
sitting on his 
stomach, he was too shocked to move, weakened by the gash in his abdomen which 
would 
finish him.

"You remember what you did to my mother?"

"I did it for you, my love. Why don't you understand?"

"FOR ME? You hurt me, Masahiro! You betrayed me! Can't you SEE this?"

I took out a third kunai, stabbing it a few centimetres in his right eye, pulled 
it out, 
he screamed, some blood came out of the wound were his eye had been. A pool of 
blood now. 
He tried to turn and throw me away, but I was sitting on the gash in his 
abdomen, his 
hands were pinned to the ground, he was already too weak.

"This is for WATCHING my parents die."
Stabbing the kunai in his second eye, leaving a second bloody pool in his face 
behind. He 
twitched from pain.

"Why don't you love me, Tokio?"
Why was this idiot still not realising the truth?

"You can't force someone to love you, Masahiro. You will never understand."

He tried to say something.

"This is for my parents SUFFERING."
I lead the kunai across his face, from his right cheek, though his nose over the 
left 
bloody pool, where his eye had been. He tried to turn his face away, too late.

"Why, Tokio? Why don't you love me?" He was still able to speak?

"This is for BETRAYING the ninjas, my parents and me."
I opened his mouth by using the joint of his jaw and cut his tongue. His mouth 
filled with
blood quickly, he chocked on his own blood which was running down his throat. He 
wasn't 
able to breath, the blood started to reach his lungs.

"And this is for HURTING Hajime and me."
I took the dagger and stabbed it into his heart. It contracted a few more times, 
the blood
around it shivered with every weakening beat before it stopped completely.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, looking up into Hajime's face.
"It is enough, Tokio. He is dead."

****VOILENCE END****

I stood up, with shaking knees and leaned my head against his chest, his 
shoulder was 
still bleeding, his blood was running into my hair.
He embraced me, pulled me close, comforting me. My abdomen hurt!

"I'm sorry, Tokio." What? I was the one whose fault this whole mess was!

"Why Hajime, that was not your fault."

"I wasn't able to protect you." That was his only problem?

"I'm sorry, it was MY fault. This whole incident happened because of me."

"That is not of importance now."

I looked questioningly at him, now the pain in my abdomen got stronger, I 
winced, my legs 
gave in, he picked me up.

"I'll bring you to the doctor."

The pain was getting too strong, I lost consciousness, the world went black.

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*COUGH* I hope this was the right mixture. I didn't use medical terms, I think 
that detracts from reading.

Please note that this is not the final version of the fighting scene, I'm 
still working on it.

She loses consciousness after the fight, because her thought of 'revenge' and 
her blood-lust pushed her up before. She realises the pain afterwards! 
There is a physiological reason behind it, I don't want to go in detail, you 
might know that. If not, don't mind, just believe me. :)
Please note, that she doesn't care about the child, she ignores her feelings.

I know, it is not nice stopping here :). I'm sorry! These chapters are not 
easy to write! I'm trying to be 'psycho-logic', and I'm bad in this field, but 
hey, please give me a chance!

Ahrg! English is killing me, next time I write in German!! I always know which
time and vocabulary I have to choose! Sorry again to all native speakers!

Ja ne,

Mara