Kaoru could tell that something had changed. Kensin’s arms that were wrapped so tightly about her loosened, as if a decision had been made. She gazed into his eyes, and found them to be cold and haunted. It wasn’t the same as Battousai—it was something even deeper than that. It froze his compassion into ice. "Don’t* interfere with us," he told her firmly, climbing to his feet.

"Kenshin…" No, not again. Don’t talk like that—don’t be like that. You’re not… She reached out, but as before her hand couldn’t reach. "Kenshin…don’t…"

Kenshin ignored her, his manner very still and controlled as he pulled the sheath out of his belt and held it to the side. He moved into a battousjutsu stance.

Sanosuke was urged to speak, but he held his tongue. That’s…his secret technique. The Amakakeru ryuuno hirameki. Finally.

Saitou hesitated; he knew too well what the stance implied. He’d seen the power of this attack, the speed, and he knew of the counter. Shinomori Aoshi had not been able to defend against it, nor Shishio Makoto himself. Even having seen the move he was unsure as to how he might dissolve it.

"Your best shot, Saitou," Kenshin said, demanding his attention. The spectators watched, tense and waiting. "If you truly want to settle this, come at me with everything you’ve got."

Saitou’s eyes narrowed, planning as he slid into a stance. But our blades are different. I can survive a strike; he cannot. If I cannot beat his speed, the best I can do is match it. Gatotsu Zeroshiki was a complicated move with an equally complicated stance; left leg slightly back to allow for the first step, left arm twisted and torso turned. All these things lent to the power of the move, but the position was obvious to most opponents and the attack easy to avoid if studied long enough. Shishio was testimony to that. Delivery of the attack depended on Saitou’s speed in moving into and then out of the complex stance. Starting in the position to begin with would cut the attack time in half, but Battousai would never allow him the time for such preparation.

Neither contender would realize till later exactly what had happened in those next instants. Someone let out a high scream. Though Saitou didn’t bother to see who it had been, for a split second Kenshin’s gaze flickered. The pause was enough for Saitou to snap into the proper stance and then into Gatotsu Zeroshiki. His arm swung forward. At the same time Kenshin began to pull his sword from the sheath. Saitou put all his strength into the movement; he knew that nothing would save him from feeling the cold agony of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu’s finest move, but that didn’t matter so long as his enemy fell. There was nothing left other than that, his most ancient goal.

The speed was enough, the aim was perfect, but then something happened that he didn’t expect. He felt something pull taunt about his wrists, digging through his cuffs and into his skin. Something was pulling him back, and though the force wasn’t enough to stop him completely his speed was diminished. The pause gave Kenshin the little time he needed to unleash his greatest attack in full.

The aftermath of those pivotal moments was nothing more than a blur of pain, confusion, and failure in the wolf’s mind. The steel burned deeply in his chest, and the world spun in impossible circles about him as his body was tossed helplessly into the air. For an instant he saw the Battousai, and the girl that huddled behind him, and the three he’d sought to kill; then there was only the expanse of dark sky above, of harsh stars and streaking moonlight. Then the deepest silence he’d ever known.

Kaoru watched, utterly amazed, as Saitou’s body sailed over her. She couldn’t breath. Clasping her hands to her chest to calm its pounding she stared as the man landed with a thud on the roof of the dojo, then slowly slipped from the edge. Dust rose in a dulled explosion as the broken samurai fell to the earth in a heap. A deep, pained moan escaped his lips as he attempted to push himself up, but his right arm failed him, and he collapsed onto his stomach once more. From there he could not move.

Kenshin’s sword clattered to the ground, and Kaoru turned just in time to see him sink to his knees. He hunched over, gasping in an attempt to regain some oxygen for his overworked and aching muscles. Slowly, she came toward him, not knowing what else she could do. "Kenshin…"

He held up his hand, and she fell silent. There was a look of cold anger in his eyes, one she could not speak against no matter how much it hurt her. Refusing her help he stood, weak but determined. He turned to face Haya and Mari. "What did you do?" he asked in a low, strained voice.

"I’m the one that screamed," Mari said, sitting up with Akira’s support. "I’m sorry I distracted you, but I wanted him to start." She pointed to the thin line that had wrapped about Saitou’s wrist and halted his victory. "Extra wire I keep for my weapon," she explained. "I was just trying to help."

"Help. You were trying to help me." His eyes narrowed. "Don’t give me that shit."

"Sorry for pulling you into this," Haya said, finishing bandaging his arm with the wraps Megumi had given him. "But you did good. Thanks a lot."

Kenshin’s dark glare landed on the boy, startling him with the intensity of his anger. "That blood on you," the man spoke quietly. "Tokio-dono’s blood. Why did you kill her?"

"We were hired." He shrunk back somewhat beneath the harsh eyes. "Don’t blame us."

In a swift movement Kenshin snatched his katana from the ground and slash at him. The dull blade slammed into Haya’s injured arm, and he cried out in pain as he was sent tumbling. He gripped the wound tightly. "What the hell—"

The red-head samurai forced Haya down by digging his heel into the youth’s back. He returned his weapon to his belt. "Who I blame is up to me," he hissed, bending down. "Megumi-dono, bring me some of your bandages."

"Y-Yes." Glancing uncertainly at her friends, she brought Kenshin a roll of thick gauze.

He measured a length and cut it with his sword. "I’m sorry for wasting your supplies," he said, pulling Haya’s wrists behind his back and trying them together. "You’ll forgive me, I hope."

"Of course. But, Ken-san…" She sent Kaoru a stern look, but the girl was too shaken by everything that had happened to respond much. "Is this necessary?"

"Yes. Send Eiji to find the police." He lifted his captive up by the collar and proceeded to drag him across the ground.

Mari moved to intercept him. "Just what the hell are you doing?"

Kenshin stopped. "What’s your name, girl?"

"Kitsuda Mari," she answered stiffly. "Daughter of Kitsuda Yasuhide. I already know who you are."

"Then don’t anger me," he retorted smoothly. "Step aside."

"I’m not going to—"

"Mari-san, please," Akira said, pleading with her from his distance. "Don’t fight with Himura-san."

"Shut up, coward. I’m not going to let him touch my brother." She moved to reach for him, but Kenshin snatched her arm. "Let me go! I won’t let you hurt him!"

Sanosuke came forward at his friend’s look, taking the girl’s arm and pulling her back. "Shut up," he muttered. "He just save your life."

Eiji turned to Yahiko and asked quietly, "What happened to Himura-san? His speech suddenly changed."

The boy shook his head, rubbing his stomach which still hurt. "I don’t know. I’ve seen him do that before, but…" He glanced at Kaoru sitting silently in the dust, and sighed.

Megumi instructed Eiji to go find the police then, and Yahiko looked after Tsuyoshi as the doctor moved to tend to Saitou’s injuries. Kenshin dragged Haya, who was still cursing, and dropped him harshly beside the unconscious beast. "What the hell…" The youth cringed, trying to edge away, as Saitou’s face was turned toward him. If those eyes opened, there would be nothing he could do to defend against the man’s wrath. "You’re not…gonna leave me…?" he breathed fearfully.

Kenshin unwound the wire from Saitou’s wrist and began to walk away. "Pray the police get here before he wakes up."

Kaoru stared up at him, still struggling to find her courage. "What are you going to do?"

"Just a moment." He took Mari from Sanosuke and, despite her struggling, was able to pin her wrists behind her back. Sanosuke helped bind her with the wire. "Come on."

Akira stared, mentally bruised by Mari’s harsh words and drained from all he’d witnessed. He’d worked hard to protect this girl, but it would all be worth nothing if she was taken from him again. "Himura-san," he stated quietly, "if Saitou-san wakes up, he’ll kill them."

Kenshin didn’t reply. He continued to lead her toward where her brother already lay, struggling against his bindings. Akira took a moment to examine Saitou, wondering if he would truly awaken and end these two lives. He didn’t want that to happen. Faced with that realization an emotion resembling courage rose in him. He snatched Mari’s kodachi from the street and stood between Kenshin and his destination, holding the weapons at ready. "Stop," he commanded somewhat shakily. "Take your hands off her now."

The samurai regarded him with blank indifference, seeing no threat in the youth’s trembling hands and incorrect stance. "Do you want to fight?" He adjusted the sword at his hip.

"If I have to. Isn’t that the samurai way?"

Kenshin’s eyes bore into him like daggers. "You knew of this," he snarled. "You knew they were going to kill her and you did nothing. You came to tell Saitou his wife was dead, but you didn’t try to help her, did you? There’s no blood on you. You were afraid." He flung Mari down, and she yelped as her head continued to throb.

Akira stared at Kenshin, then Mari, caught with indecision. His hands trembled around the handle of the short swords. He admitted to himself that he was afraid; he hadn’t wanted to see the corpse of the woman he helped to kill. And he knew he as afraid now, faced with this man of impossible skill. He wasn’t a fool, but for Mari’s sake he thought somehow he’d manage.

"Don’t bother." He was startled when he realized that Mari had spoken. She was able to push herself onto her knees despite the limited use of her hands. "Don’t do anything to him, Battousai. He can’t hurt anything." And though her words implied that she was attempting to protect him, her voice contained nothing but scorn. She climbed to her feet, and moved with purposeful strides to her brother. She sat down beside him, much to his surprise. "Go ahead and turn us in. As daughter to a former member of the Shinsengumi, I deny not what I did and accept my father’s fate with honor."

Sanosuke scowled. "Damn bitch. You think there’s any honor in what you did?"

She didn’t respond , and it was obvious that she wouldn’t, either. Eyes turned to Akira, the last remaining antagonist. They waited to see what he might do. The kodachi slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground, disturbing the silence. Fearfully he glanced at Kenshin, and the look he found in that man’s face made his stomach lurch. He knew then that he had done something truly awful—he had not lifted a hand against Tokio or her children, but his sins were just as great. These people had taken him in, as a student and as a friend, and already he’d pushed them away. Even Mari wouldn’t face him; he was a coward.

Akira dropped to his knees in the dust, hiding his face in his hands so that none of them could see his shame. The night rose up against him. Forgetting the people that stood by, he wept softly into his trembling palms.

Kenshin knelt between Haya and Mari then, as he was not yet finished with them. "Look at me," he instructed, and both did so hesitantly. Despite their pride both felt chills of fear. "You are both murderers now," he told them, and there was no anger in his voice. There was, however, a deep, unavoidable truth in his words, like the voice of some commanding spirit passing judgement against them. "I want you to remember these eyes, and Tokio-dono’s eyes while she was dying, and Saitou’s eyes when he hunted you. Because just when you think you’ve done enough, and when you think you’ve finally reclaimed some innocence, you’ll remember all these eyes and then you’ll know you’re still evil. You cannot escape your guilt. Not ever. You’ll never have honor. Your only salvation will be your suffering. Do you understand that?"

The two siblings stared at him, somewhat paralyzed by his short, penetrating speech. They knew he was right. They nodded, as their voices were too constricted to work.

Eiji returned then with the police captain following, and the officers swarmed over the scene. "Himura-san," the captain said, "can you tell me what happened here?"

"Yes." Kenshin turned his back on the pair and moved to join the captain. Now that the battle had ended he looked absolutely exhausted, and he walked with a slight limp. Kaoru watched him go, wanting to speak to him, but then she looked down at Akira, and decided there was something she had to do first. Usually Kenshin was the one to speak, to forgive or condemn with his quiet voice. But this one was her responsibility.

Akira flinched as a hand touched his shoulder, and with fearful curiosity he pulled his own hands away. Kaoru was crouched in front of him, her face very serious. He couldn’t bare to look at her out of guilt. "Ka…Kaoru-sensei," he stammered softly. "I’m so sorry."

"’Sorry’ won’t help now," she replied with an equal tone. "Tokio-san won’t come back." There tears in her eyes, and he hated himself for having caused them. "All this happened because of one life. I want you to remember that; maybe now my teaching makes sense to you."

He nodded weakly. "Yes, Kaoru-sensei."

"You’re not my student anymore," Kaoru went on, though it hurt to say it. "Don’t ever come back here, and never pick up a sword again. You’re not suited for kendo."

"I know."

She urged his head so that he would face her. "I’m sorry you became part of this, because I can tell that you didn’t want to or plan for this to happen. But I also can’t forgive you. Tokio-san was a good woman. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Kaoru-sen…" He swallowed hard. "I mean, Kaoru-san."

Kaoru looked away. It hurt to see that her student came to this. For a few days she’d felt finally complete, the way before her father died and the dojo had at least a few students. She liked being called "teacher". Now her student had betrayed her. Again.

"Excuse me, miss," one of the police officers asked politely. "Could I speak with you? Is this boy one of the criminals?"

Kaoru sighed, lowering her head. "I don’t know much about what happened," she admitted, "but I’ll tell you what I know."

The police questioned everyone there, and several more doctors were called to care for the injured. Though Kenshin would have preferred that Megumi look after him—simply on a matter of trust—he allowed one of the new physicians to clean and bandage the burns and lacerations on his back. It was during this that a well-dressed man with long hair came to speak to him. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said briskly, his manner one of dignity. "I am Kagewara Shinnosuke, assistant to the Secretary of Defense. I already know who you are."

Kenshin nodded, and thanked the doctor, who had just finished. The doctor left them to speak alone. "What is such an important official doing here?" he asked. By now his state of mind had settled along with the end of the battle, returning him again to the calm, polite wanderer. However, the more time in Kagewara’s presence he spent, the more his mood dropped.

"Viewing the end of a long investigation," he replied. "The Night Wolves were a very substantial concern for us."

"Were?"

Kagewara nodded. "Yes. Actually, as cold as it may sound, the circumstances are almost fortunate." He pretended to ignore the shocked look on his company’s face. "By taunting Saitou the Night Wolves summoned their own demise. They saved us a lot of trouble."

Kenshin stared at him in disbelief. "You…you could not have…"

"My superiors are pleased, and the Meiji government is secure. To those goals all means are acceptable." He appeared quite indifferent to the entire matter. I was assigned the problem of the Night Wolves, and I completed that task."

"You set them up. Akira mentioned you." His fists tightened involuntarily. "You convinced them to kill Tokio-dono, so that Saitou would go after them…"

"We never questioned his loyalty. Only his motivation."

"That…I cannot believe…" Kenshin felt his insides twisting. It wasn’t fair; it was monstrous—was this government he’d fought so hard to create and defend? He wanted to rage and scream, but his spirit felt deadened by the emotional blows dealt him that day, and he could not speak his frustration and injustice. His voice barely reached a whisper. "He threw his entire life away for your cause, and you still betrayed him?"

Kagewara watched him with indifference. "But you know the way the world works, Himura-san. You know governments are cruel because they have to be to preserve themselves. We understand that perfectly. One life or many? That’s the question, now isn’t it? I may not be sentimental, but I can at least see logic." He started to leave.

"Kagewara," Kenshin called him back. "What will happen now?"

"Who knows?" He shrugged, as if it didn’t really matter. "The three will be tried as murderers, but not as Night Wolves, which is the greatest leniency I can show them. Saitou-san will return to duty if he so wishes to. Even if he kills me, someone will take my place, so I hope for his sake he acts intelligently. Other than that, it’s up to him." He tucked his arms into his coat, and started to go again. "Excuse me, now."

This time Kenshin didn’t call him back. He laid his hand over his face, willing himself to endure. He stayed that way until the police had gone with their captives, and Kaoru knelt beside him. "Kenshin?"

"I am all right," he said softly, and she was very much relieved to hear his speech, though she did not mention the change. "I…am very tired."

"I know." She glanced up at the sky, where dark clouds were already beginning to father ominously on the horizon edges. "It looks like a storm is coming."

Kenshin nodded, then paused as a faint gasping of breath reached his ears. "Saitou is waking up," he said."

Sanosuke and Megumi had managed to turn the injured man onto his back, allowing for the treatment of the Amakakeruryuunohirameki’s effects. Presently he began to cough weakly, and his caretakers backed off somewhat as his eyelids slowly lifted. Saitou stared straight above him, his expression dull perhaps from incomprehension. He only breathed slowly and licked his lips of blood. Several silent minutes passed that way. Finally, though his face did not change, he asked, "Where is my son?"

"He’s here," Megumi answered just as softly, not wanting to disturb the spell that bound them all motionless. "He’s been injured, but he’ll live."

"I want to see him." Saitou tried to sit up, but all the muscles of his stomach and chest were bruised from the vicious attack, and he could manage no more than a few inches. After a still moment he locked his jaw and tried again, despite the pain forcing himself into a sitting position. His arms trembled as he held himself up. "Bring him here," he instructed stubbornly.

Megumi and Eiji helped bring Tsuyoshi over, and despite Saitou’s protest Sanosuke urged him to lean against the dojo steps for support. His fatigue complied in the end. Tsuyoshi groaned softly as he was placed in his father’s lap, and he began to awaken. Sanosuke and Megumi backed away.

"Tsuyoshi." Saitou touched the top of his head, waiting anxiously for the boy to regain full consciousness. His hands were trembling.

"F…Father?" Tsuyoshi opened his eyes, wincing at the pain in his back. "Is…it over now?"

"Yes. It’s over now." He touched the boy’s face and shoulders, as if assuring himself that his son was here and alive. Relief spread through him, though it had difficulty penetrating his battered and despairing center.

The son felt hot tears flowing from his eyes. "I…I couldn’t save her," he whispered. "I wasn’t strong enough."

Saitou’s face contorted into a look of pain. "Neither was I." He pulled his son into his arms, holding him in sorrow and grief. Tsuyoshi let his tears run freely, but then quieted as a realization came over him: his father was crying, too. He couldn’t see because Saitou’s face was hidden in the boy’s shoulder, but he could tell. He closed his eyes and clung to his father. For a long time they stayed there together, grieving the loss of the most precious person in their lives.

From that point on no one spoke. Yahiko left with Eiji and was gone for some time, returning with some clothes he’d apparently retrieved from Saitou’s room at the inn. After having allowed the father and son time to mourn, Kenshin and Kaoru worked together to herd them and Eiji to one of the dojo’s empty rooms. None of them saw the evidence of Saitou’s tears. For the sake of his sons he did not resist the help in arranging beds for them, and then was left alone.

By that time the hour had progressed deep into the early morning, and everyone was exhausted. The storm clouds that had gathered overhead reminded them that they would have to settling things quickly before the rain hit. Only then did Kenshin speak. "Everyone, thank you for your help. Sano, Megumi-dono—you can return home now. We will watch them."

Megumi nodded, and she handed him a small jar. "Use this on your back," she instructed, though her voice was quiet. "Those burns could get infected easily, so take good care of them."

"Yes. Thank you."

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