He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how.

Sliver
02

The room was completely barren of anything at all, even dust, and seemed oddly brightly lit even with the extra light of the second floor. The wood was as weak and weathered as usual, though not noticeably damaged. He stood in the centre of it for a few moments, about to leave – but just seconds before then he caught the sound of light scratching, immediately noticeable in the stark silence. He tensed, listening. It would stop and start again at odd intervals, very lightly, and seemed to come from the ceiling. It seemed as though it came from human fingers, though it was light enough for a rat’s claws. Kenshin projected his senses there but could not feel anything. He waited a few more seconds then glanced over at Kaoru.

She shook her head.

So Kenshin nodded and turned, leaving the room with the scratching in his ears. He was grateful when he closed the door behind him and he could no longer hear it. It came from upstairs, but even Kaoru’s spirit-sensitive senses could not determine it. He had asked her what lay on the third floor, but she could not tell him because she could never enter, directly or by projecting. Kenshin had tried it himself, climbing straight on toward the second void. This one was solid, smooth like glass and warm, and it did not allow him through either.

“That’s another bind,” Kaoru had told him. “But I feel a similar energy – really vague - around here somewhere. That must be the key, the way to dissipate it.”

“I thought he placed the binds. Why would he leave an opening to release them?”

“He can put binds on spirits, yes, just like he has incomplete control over the tsukumogami spirit. But to bind space, blocking doors and such,he must make the tsukumogami do it for him, and the tsukumogami works a little differently.” She had sighed. “That is why you must kill the tsukumogami first. He is not as fearsome without it, but alone the artifact spirit is a great force.”

So after Kaoru showed him the hidden doors of the kitchen and he ate a simple but godsent meal from what was scavenged, they continued excavating the rooms. The same dead chill crept over him, but Kenshin ignored it.

They padded almost noiselessly toward the next room, deciding to clear one side of the hall first. Kaoru, acting mostly solid, still carried weight and strength - so she made the only noise of the pair. She was so thereKenshin only remembered she wasn’t - well, real,when he accidentally touched her. Her skin gave off neither heat nor chill – it was merely skin. Kenshin had to resist a slight shiver, and kept a polite distance.

They entered, but Kenshin went first. The room was empty, the lighting was dim, and it was battered and dirty as always. There was no threat within, only a small circular window at the far wall. Kenshin frowned – he didn’t think he was so close to the side of the house - and went closer to inspect it, trying to peer through. But it was completely blacked out. Perhaps it was not a window after all, but some strange Western cabinet? He felt around its dark oak frame and tried to pull it open, but nothing gave. Kenshin decided he was wasting his time and shot the window one last look before turning around to ask Kaoru’s opinion – only to find that she was not there.

He looked around the room, but there was absolutely nothing else, so he opened the door to ask why Kaoru hadn’t come inside. Except she was not there either, and he found he was no longer in the hallway. Actually, he was stepping into the room he had just left. The window was still at the far wall, the dust was still settled in the same places. He frowned and held the door ajar, looking into the room behind him – it was the same one. He closed the door, waited for a few moments, and opened it again. Still the exact same rooms on either side of him, with certainly no way out of either.

Ah, so another one of the illusions Kaoru spoke of. The house must be feeling playful. He took a calming breath and thought back to how he could have gotten himself in this trap - no doubt he was meant to die of starvation here. He looked at both rooms and came to the obvious conclusion – the window. He turned around and shut the door beside him, stepping back into the first room, and again looked inside the framed darkness. Nothing. He felt around its edges as well, just as a precaution. Then he slowly stepped to the door and looked back at the glass, just to be safe. He turned the doorknob.

The hallway greeted him.

He sighed thankfully, though Kaoru was still gone. There had been no startling presence of ki, only the continuous thrum of evil against his skull. He’d have no way to tell when he was walking into a trap.

But there was another flicker in his head, and Kaoru appeared before him. He raised an eyebrow.

She rolled her eyes. “Another bind. I’m instantly rejected when I try to enter certain rooms, and I’m thrown back into my attachment. My energy isn’t dismantled, just pushed, so I can come back faster.”

“Ah,” Kenshin said. “Did you know it was a trap?” Meaning, could you possibly help me avoid that in the future?

“No,” Kaoru shook her head. “I can’t sense subtle ki, or if the energy is too foreign. It’s got to be in the same ‘realm’ as my own ‘self’ - Why? What was in there?”

Kenshin started walking to the next door. “Some sort of confinement. I looked into the glass and made it impossible for me to leave without looking into it again. Rather simple.”

“I can warn you that it’s not all going to be so easy.” Kaoru bit her lip, hands folded in worry.

He smiled at her reassuringly, and gripped his sheath. “We will take it as it comes, that we will.” He said, and went to open yet another door.

It revealed a solid figure already waiting for him, sitting politely by another ready futon. She was a child, pretty, with short black hair and the drab attire of a servant. The door closed, and Kaoru had vanished once again.

Ah.

The child smiled up at him nervously. “You look weary, s-sir,” she stuttered.

Kenshin’s eyebrow rose, and something fluttered in his senses.

“Would you like to rest?” The girl offered, still meek.

Kenshin shook his head, eyes never leaving her face. “I am not tired,” he said slowly, fingers itching for the doorknob. It would not turn.

“Oh, but you look so weary, sir.” The girl’s eyes widened.

Kenshin said nothing, dropping his hand and inching it closer to his sword.

She smiled at him again, but it looked painful. “Stay awhile.”

There was another silence, and the presence in his head grew stronger – but Kenshin could not place it. He had time to think – be on your guard – when all of a sudden a heavy pressure grew in his head, dulling his senses and making him feel sluggish. He wastired, and still hungry. His shoulder still smarted, the futon looked comfortable, and this girl meant no harm... He would sleep for a while, maybe an hour or so, then finish exploring this floor… Kaoru would know he’d be okay…

His eyes slipped shut and he sank to the floor. Dimly he registered the girl tugging at his sleeve and pulling him toward the bed. He followed her urgings and lay down, letting her slip the cover over him. It was spectacularly warm, almost too hot. His muscles seemed to scream in relief – and he’d never felt this… safe? This content, not since ages ago in that small cabin with… - and he was about to let himself drop off when he felt his sakabatou shift.

Something jolted.

He kept his eyes closed and fought off the heavy exhaustion and fake comfort, realizing something was trying to pry the sakabatou away from him. It was difficult, but he managed to gather his will and fight off the enchantment of unnatural weariness. It was as if a blanket was thrown over all his senses. Everything had dimmed, rendering him little better than blind and deaf. It had him in its clutches, but… he could still move. Bundling all his energy together, he grabbed the sword, startling the girl’s spirit. With difficulty, like swimming through sand, Kenshin sat up and unsheathed it, managing to stare menacingly at her. Through his muddled vision he saw her look of fear as he raised the blade, slicing down cruelly fast, and –

Cut the floor beside her. Kenshin had never meant to strike her, but the girl had disappeared before she presumed he would ‘kill’ her. And as soon as she was gone the enchantment lifted, as he had suspected. The blanket was gone - it was like the world exploded into light and awareness. Kenshin could think clearly again. He gathered himself for a moment before standing up and leaving the disheveled futon, giving it a dark glare.

That had been close. He assumed she… theywanted his sword so as to leave him helpless. And still Kenshin was slightly shaken at the thought of being put under a spell so easily. He must be prepared in the future, and find a way to fight it off.

He was even wearier than before, still chilled and exhausted in some soul-deep crevice. Kenshin realized uneasily that the longer he stayed within the range of the tsukumogami, the easier it could sap him of his strength, as he suspected it had been doing all along, – he was inside it, after all - and perhaps weaken him to the point of submission. The enchantment that he’d just been under had accelerated his exhaustion. Eagerly he left the room. He did not allow himself a sorrowful sigh, he was not that despaired. Still… when was this all going to be over?

He waited patiently, but uneasily, in the hallway. The many doors lined endlessly one after another mocked him, the doorknobs as gold-smeared eyes that sneered at his efforts. They sang, Which one of us contains what you seek? Eternal rest, yes, but what kind? They even seemed to be dancing, actually moving.

He blinked and looked away. The hallway of countless doors stretched on forever, and not a sound disrupted the air.

But soon enough a now-familiar flicker announced itself to his senses, and Kaoru was in front of him, worried. Her expression turned sheepish when she saw he was alright.

“Err. Kicked out again. I’m sorry I’m not much help,” she apologized. “What was in there?”

Kenshin rolled his shoulders dismissively, opening his mouth to explain -

There were flecks of silver, dancing, faintly whispering with another unique colour he couldn’t see. This was what the energy of a spirit looked like, and he knew more than one. Even on the second floor the malignant energy remained, still and waiting as he had always known it. It still felt wrong, to be moving when every worn door demanded that all life cease. He was not afraid of it, but the command was there. Still, four entities denied the order. One was ever watchful but unseen, tingling down his spine like a chill. Two were himself and Kaoru. The last…

Kenshin closed his mouth and looked at Kaoru expectantly. She must have felt it too. Kaoru released an angry tsk and pointed at a spot further in the hallway accusingly.

“Yahiko,” she growled. “You’re not fooling anyone.”

Suddenly the boy from the staircase materialized there, already scowling. “Damn, I forget,” he mumbled. Then he lost no time firing his own accusations, finger pointing straight at Kenshin. “Still! What are you doing with him?!”

Kenshin’s eyebrows flew up, raising his hands to placate the boy, but Kaoru would have none of it. “WHAT? I can do what I please, and I’ll have you know he needs my assistance!”

“Assistance, yeah,” Yahiko snorted, crossing his arms. For a youth he commanded a strong ki, dulled as it was by his nature, and Kenshin commended him for that. He walked closer, rolling his eyes at Kenshin. “Ugly will probably only get in your way as much as possible.”

Kaoru bristled, and raised her hand as if to punch him. Kenshin held a restricting arm before her, having the odd sense of déjà vu… like interrupting quarreling siblings in autumn afternoons. But this was no peaceful village… still, for a dead house, it sure was lively. “Please don’t dispute,” he said gently. “Miss Kaoru was only helping me. It is not worth this ruckus.”

Kaoru gave a snort and tilted her head toward the ceiling ever so slightly. Yahiko scowled more fiercely, looking thoughtful, keeping silent for a few moments.

“Well then, I’m coming too,” Yahiko said defiantly, tightening his crossed arms.

Kenshin blinked.

“What?” Kaoru cried, placing her hands on her hips.

“Yeah! It’s not fair you get to hog him all to yourself! You’re probably sticking close to him so he can teach you some of those sword techniques, aren’t you!”

Kenshin, mouth agape, mutely looked back and forth between the apparently-familiar spirits as they continued to heatedly argue, completely ignoring his pleas for discreteness.

“Absolutely not!” Kaoru humphed. “I’m not immature, and I have my own sword style! That’s your reason for sticking around, isn’t it!”

“Um,” Kenshin said.

“Well – so what! I could have been a great samurai, you know! It’s in my blood! I’m supposed to get stronger like this guy!”

“Pardon me,” Kenshin said.

“Oh, that is SO childish! You don’t become a legend like, say, the Battousai in one night just by learning from someone powerful!”

Kenshin blinked, tilted his head, and tried again. “If I could just-“

“Well maybe I could! This guy’s probably from the war, he must have seen a thing or two! If I only-“

“QUIET,” Kenshin said heavily, his voice laced with command, snapping both the spirits silent. He continued. “I would prefer notholding a children’s screaming match in the middle of this hallway. If the tsukumogami is ever aware, and he is possibly watching, then…”

They understood. Even without their reddened cheeks he could have sensed the shame in their ki. How could they forget? They both bowed their heads, and Kenshin mentally sighed. This wasn’t some circus, and every noise they made made him secretly wince. But - allies were allies. They sincerely wanted to help him, and Kenshin smiled slightly at that.

“Yahiko,” he said in a softer, gentler tone that he was starting to become used to using. “I have no objections if you wish to join us. However, if you have any helpful information, I would be grateful if you could tell me.”

Kaoru pouted. She shot a dark look at the youth, who stuck out his tongue at her then showered a bright grin at Kenshin. “Info, huh? That Ugly over there can’t tell you? I don’t know much, but I can still be of use.”

“That is good enough. Do you know what we’re looking for?”

Yahiko motioned to the rest of the hall. “The way to find him, of course. To do that you gotta get through all the floors though, and you can only break the bind on the first lock by dispelling whatever’s holding it together.”

Kaoru hummed. “Right. So where is it?”

“Not exactly sure - I can feel it strongly over there though…” and Yahiko pointed to a set of doors on the opposite side.

At last. “Thank you, that is certainly something.” Kenshin nodded in gratitude, and the boy smirked proudly. “You have narrowed our search quite a bit.”

They approached the set, and Yahiko shrugged. “It’s one of these. Too hard to specify which when we’re this close.”

Kenshin gripped the farthest possible door. He was slightly worried about Kaoru and Yahiko holding their own in battle, even if they would come back eventually. “It hurts like you wouldn’t believe, having your soul ripped apart and scattered,” Kaoru had told him. “But it’s better than sitting doing nothing. So I’ll fight.”

It was their decision, more or less their domain. He could not stop them, though they might impede him. Kenshin looked to his new companion. “Yahiko, you can fight as well, correct?”

The boy nodded seriously, unfastening the bokken behind him and ready with the seigan stance. “Yeah. Ugly here taught me, long ago. I’m probably better than she is, actually.”

Kenshin nodded and ignored the resounding whack and yelp of protest as he crouched in preparation. “Then let’s go.” Let’s see what’s waiting on the other side.

They opened the door and this time Kenshin made sure the spirits entered with no trouble. Once they were in the door closed swiftly, soundlessly, and Kenshin was ready.

Four shrieking presences, bubbling and crackling and coming to lifewithin split seconds. They launched for them, roaring the moment they were fully formed. Kenshin managed to off the first enemy, a screaming one-eyed green child, slicing it rib to shoulder. The other three darted behind him, one attacking him head-on and the others for Yahiko and Kaoru. Kenshin quickly dispatched the next foe, another wolf lunging at him on hind paws, hot breath sweeping Kenshin’s face as he dodged and shattered its throat with the butt of his sheath.

Kaoru was holding off the spitting monster before her, a cat with disturbingly elongated limbs, with a suddenly present bokken swung efficiently. It swiped at her feet but she dodged and rolled, moving quickly to block the furious claws of another green child. Yahiko dealt the cat a solid, shattering blow to the skull, something which shouldn’t be possible with a wooden bokken, but it flickered and dispelled anyhow. Only the green child remained.

It’s one massive eye blinked slow, hissing and spitting as it slowly backed into a corner, all three allies advancing on it. The great eye rolled in its socket before appearing again and landing intently on Kenshin.

Its thin lips opened, wrinkly face twisting with fury as it made a strange noise. Kenshin tensed, preparing for some sort of enchantment, moving away but still within range to strike it before it could cast. Instead it started to speak.

“Rraaaaat,” it grated, the eye never leaving Kenshin. The child raised a rotting finger to point accusingly. “You push your luck. He is watching, and don’t FORGET HE HOLDS THEIR TRUE BODIES –“ the horrible rising voice was cut off as Yahiko leapt and delivered a killing blow, vertically down the temple, grimacing with hate. The motley child’s energy split and expanded before shattering into nothingness.

Kenshin turned to observe his companions with surprise, all the more stunned with their faces of sinful loathing. Yahiko was even trembling with rage, knuckles looking like they should turn white at his grip on the bokken. Kaoru was not better.

“He means to threaten us into harming you,” she spat at Kenshin’s inquisitive gaze. “He thinks he can tempt us.”

Tempt them? Kenshin frowned. “With what?” he asked aloud.

Yahiko froze, but then sighed wearily at a frown from Kaoru. “Our attachments. He could shatter our attachments and truly obliterate us from existence.”

Kenshin sheathed his blade and firmly tied his sheath back into place, not bothering to mention that he could see the lie. The unease in their energies told him enough – this was something he wasn’t meant to know.

“This is true,” he said instead. “You may stop helping me, if you wish.”

Kaoru’s eyes went wide, and Yahiko growled. “NO!” they both shouted together.

Kenshin tilted his head, a small smile barely visible. “Well, thank you. So why does he keep you here then?”

The two spirits glanced uneasily at each other. “He needs us. Numbers matter, and I don’t think he can wait anymore. You are the last one that he’s been waiting for, Kenshin.” Kaoru said softly, then shook her head despite Kenshin’s scowl. “No, that’s all we can say. Still, he means to scare us into leaving you or handing you over.”

“Thank goodness it’s too late for him to place new binds,” Yahiko muttered. “Once they’re set, they’re set. He can’t control us now.” Kaoru sighed in agreement.

Kenshin looked away to rearrange his thoughts and push aside his own unease, bringing back to surface his cool detachment of the revolution. They were helping him all they could, surely. He would find out more, in time. “Then shall we continue?” He asked smoothly, offering Yahiko a small smile as he strode past. He felt a little better when the child – no, young samurai – grinned at him determinately. They exited and made their way to the next room. It proved completely empty of anything at all, so they continued onwards, trudging deeper down the still hallway.

And that was when the world changed.

With one step, a tumble and slide of the reality-scape around him, suddenly Kenshin was alone. Gentle winds brushed his hair against his face, whispering against the grass at his feet caressing his knees. It was so abrupt that he felt no concern at all.

Everything was tinted in blue and green, deep shades darker than the sky fluttering around him. A full moon high above him, hung elegantly in the midnight sky, casting everything in a brilliant glow. There was a path a little beyond the edge of wild grasses, and the song of night humming in his ears. Even more strangely, there was peace in his head. Kenshin stood still. He could clearly smell the dew, the distinct summer night scent. He could plainly feel the pleasant chill against his neck, and see the blue reflections on the sword hilt.

So he took a step. And another. With slivers of grass bending before him, light crunching beneath him, slowly Kenshin advanced and finally broke the wild grass’ edge, stepping lightly onto the rocky path. It stretched and danced away from him forever in both directions, directly perpendicular to him – one to the left, into the summer night, and one to the right, toward the moon.

Be aware, he thought firmly to himself. I cannot be here. It is an illusion.

Unless what you knew and thought-you-knew before was an illusion, said a voice, amused. Who are you to judge and define reality? Or madness and reason? They are based off your own perspective.

Kenshin turned slowly to look around himself, but of course he was alone. It might very well have been the moon speaking. The voice continued

When you see the colour blue, you say “blue” and someone agrees with you, but how do you know you see the same thing? It may merely have the same name.

This truth unsettled Kenshin, so he did not reply immediately. Perhaps, he thought to the voice. But in reality – so defined as the one I have been experiencing all my ‘life’ – you do not hear voices in your head.

The voice laughed, and it was just a little chime in his mind. Beyond it, the moon still shone upon the forever fields and the road still stretched into the night. Kenshin stood still.

Is this really the time to judge normalcy? Though who knows, said the voice. It had no timbre or defining quality, it just was. Well, you still must choose.

Yes, he did. He could not stay at the border of right-or-left and perhaps-a-dream forever. Or could he? Could he stay here and lay back, dirt and grass against his neck, watching the moon always? Would it move? Would morning come? The grass tilted and danced as a silent audience, deaf to his question.

Don’t be like that, said the voice, cross. Besides, you’ll choose. You won’t be content to stay here. Might as well do it now.

Kenshin looked down at his hands, palms up and spread out. They were lined with scars and blisters long healed, chafed where his armguards were tied from constant use. He could still see blood seeped in the cracks of his skin. Maybe it was the moonlight, but the red was very faint. He was relieved and worried all at once. Was he absolved? Was he forgetting? Should he proceed?

Choose, said the entity.

Who are you,Kenshin thought.

I am you.

Something prickled at him, at last, a sense of unease settling at the back of his conscious. Without thinking of it any further, Kenshin took a step to the right and walked toward the waiting moon.

And he was back. Back, as in, had returned to the world of too-dim light, strange intentions, and flickering faces peering at him anxiously. Danger still lurked behind every step.

“Kenshin?” said Kaoru.

“Yes,” he replied immediately. I am Kenshin. A heart and a sword. Aren’t I? “Yes?”

“You kinda spaced out,” Yahiko said crossly, a little further ahead. “You’re not dying already, are you? That’d be so disappointing.”

Had it been a trick? Or was this the illusion?

Kaoru turned to smack him across the head as Kenshin smiled. “No, not quite yet, I am not. I was just thinking. Forgive me.”

“Then let’s go!” Yahiko pouted, rubbing the side of his head.

“Yes,” Kenshin said distantly, ignoring Kaoru’s lingering look. He took a step forward -- and nothing changed. So he took another, and continued.

Each room bore such resemblances that this one almost startled Kenshin with its striking deviation. They strode in quickly, efficiently, scanning the wide expanse of the room with trickling unease. It was much, much larger than the hallway outside indicated, spanning almost four other rooms, though there was only one door. Back out in the hallway, other doors had stood where only wall met them inside. It was brightly lit, empty, but looking rather new compared to its brothers.

“What do you think?” Kenshin muttered quietly. The door behind them swung shut. “Another illusion?” There was a new energy - trickling against his head like a soft current, but thick, and intent. Powerful. Not malignant, not necessarily, but…

Kaoru looked down the wide expanse of the room. “No… this feels like…”

“Another spirit,” Yahiko frowned. “But it feels like the stair’s bind, too.”

And abruptly that spirit materialized before them, a fluttering one moment and suddenly, powerfully therethe next. It was a muscular man, shaven head covered with a holy cloth and eyes heavily darkened. The fists were clenched and legs boldly apart, stance unassuming but not tolerating. His great height allowed him to look down on the three companions with a dispassionate scowl.

“That’s -!” Kaoru twitched backward, her hand tightening on her bokken.

“My name is Anji,” the great man said softly. He had the voice of a man that would shake the earth if raised, and body that could crush countless opponents, but his energy was much more impressive to Kenshin. It was – simply strong, unmovable. From his experience the ki of spirits were vague, scattered. This one was almost wholeto his senses, dominating in its presence, almost like another living human like Kenshin himself. Doubtless this man possessed great mental, inner strength, stretching beyond mere muscle.

It was also familiar. Unlike the spirits Kenshin could not feel anything from the void, but still this ki signature thrummed with something else. Something he had known. Something… warm.

Kenshin adopted a loose stance, arm ready to brandish his sword at notice. His companions also tensed for battle as the man approached, still offering nothing but words.

“You must defeat me to dissipate the stair’s bind, for I have created it,” Anji said. He observed them, eyes resting on Kenshin. “I pray you will succeed.”

Kenshin frowned. This man spoke as if holding the bind was against his will… Kaoru had spoken of spirit restrictions. So, another like Sagara? And from where did he know this ki?

“So you as well…” Kaoru said softly, but sadly, from beside him. “But the tsukumogami has taken you instead.”

Anji bowed his head. “Indeed. He could not touch me. Yet all my prayers were for naught - the house still took me for itself.”

Kaoru inclined her head toward Kenshin. “You did what you could. It certainly has helped us.”

“Then I am sastified. I pray Amida Buddha looks favourably upon you – however I warn you I will not fall easily.”

Kaoru raised her weapon. “Do not concern yourself. We will win!”

The man took a step back, body tilted slightly to the side in a ready stance. “Then let us commence.” And Yahiko and Kaoru jumped at him.

Kaoru aimed for a swift knock-out blow to the neck, but Anji bent at the waist to avoid hers and Yahiko’s strike aimed for his midsection, raising his crossed arms to counter both blows, unlocking them to send Yahiko and Kaoru flying. They hit the walls brutally but not hard enough to completely shatter their energies, and managed to instantly put themselves back on their feet.

Kenshin took this chance to lunge at Anji, going for a karatake to test his opponent’s skill directly against his own. Anji stopped the blade by the bone of his right elbow, lashing out but meeting air as Kenshin propelled himself out of the way. He frowned and gripped his sheath tighter, blood already leaking from the tearing stitches. This man, dressed like a fallen monk …he had great ki control and spiritual power when alive, that much was obvious. And his stance reminded Kenshin slightly of Sagara’s, in the way the power was kept in the arms and fists. Kenshin inclined his head, settling into a battoujutsu stance.

“Miss Kaoru, Yahiko,” he said, never taking his eyes off Anji as they stood tensely, ready to strike at each other. “Thank you for your prior assistance, but do not interfere now.”

Yahiko hissed but kept himself out the way, and Kaoru’s eyes narrowed but she also obeyed. Their assault had proven them much inferior to Anji’s skill. It was up to Kenshin now.

When waiting to attack… there’s something in his body that alerts Kenshin when to move. It’s nothing tangible, just a feeling -- a readiness, a sure trembling that whispers; Now.

And Kenshin moved. Limbs melting into place, dead air whistling by as he leaped for kesagiri. Anji blocked it with the flat of his fists, and Kenshin could feel the rebound shocks down his arms even as he twisted and jumped over the large man. Kenshin kicked off the wall and dove sideways to prevent himself being cornered, settling into a loose pose to counter whatever assault Anji would retaliate with.

The monk began his offense, running at Kenshin with a fearsome expression, fists clenched. Kenshin had trouble predicting his movements due to his strange ki, but could still read posture. He gripped his sheathed sword, waiting --

Anji delivered an excruciating blow to his shoulder, which Kenshin barely managed to deflect with battoujutsu – it was originally a tsuki strike, meant straight for the chest, and doubtlessly would have killed him. Even with the blunt edge of the sakabatou applied with pressure meant to crush bones, the man’s wrists suffered mere blows. Kenshin leaped out of the way of another strike, then rolling to avoid a punch that broke through the wood floor.

Kenshin came up neatly with his knees drawn, breathing slightly heavier than normal. So limb strikes did not affect him, but the man defended his core too well. Kenshin had met few fighters, swordsmen or not, that had ever given him so much trouble… but he’d defeated them all in the end. Kenshin settled his sword before him in both hands, calculating. To best this impossibly resilient spirit, he’d need to use --

The monk spirit launched himself at Kenshin, releasing an inhuman roar. Kenshin deflected the blow with difficulty, twisting and darting for an opening. He jumped back, sheathing the sword yet again. Waiting, waiting for it… there!

As Anji sent a punch aimed for his face, Kenshin dodged and drew the sakabatou with godlike speed, almost burying it in the man’s stomach. Anji grunted and raised an arm to swipe it out the way, but during that split-second Kenshin swiftly bashed his iron sheath against Anji’s clothed skull. It was a solid hit.

There was no crack, but a faint flicker. Anji raised his head to growl at Kenshin, feet slightly unsteady as he picked himself back up. Kenshin darted backward and prepared for another round, arm aching as blood flowed from his reopened shoulder wound in crimson rivulets. He took this chance to rest his trembling arms, ignoring Yahiko and Kaoru’s concerned glares.

“Very good,” Anji said. “But it will take more than that to defeat me.” Kenshin raised his shoulders, preparing for the next round.

But there was another tingling -- a colour -- and a voice.

“Right,” it said. “And I don’t think you can tolerate any more of that man’s punch. Futae no Kiwami hurts like a bitch, you know?”

Kenshin glanced beside him, where the new spirit had appeared. It was –

“Sagara!” exclaimed Kaoru.

The tall spirit grinned and cracked his knuckles. “Sorry for crashing this party, boys. I’ve got a bone to pick with this man, you see.” He leered at Anji.

Kenshin raised a brow, eyes darting back to Anji. He had loosened his stance and straightened, staring darkly at Sagara. Sagara turned to Kenshin apologetically. “Hey man, sorry for the trouble earlier. You’re not bad. Let me ask for forgiveness by taking this guy off your hands, eh?”

This time both Kenshin’s eyebrows went up, disappearing into matted bangs. He didn’t know what to say, so instead he bowed quickly. “I hope this does not offend you,” he politely addressed Anji.

The monk frowned and shook his head, observing Sagara. Kenshin bowed again and stepped aside.

“Thanks buddy,” Sagara chucked and looked back at Anji. “I respect you, Anji, but since you’ve gotta go down anyway, I thought I’d test out which of us is stronger.”

Anji scowled. “Fool, to think you could surpass the skill of the man who taught you your best offence. Fine. Let us fight.”

Bewildered, Kenshin moved back and settled against the wall, clutching his shoulder, watching the two fist fighters with interest. Yahiko and Kaoru joined him.

“What’s that jerk doing here so soon?” Yahiko scowled.

“Forget that idiot,” Kaoru snapped, gently prying off Kenshin’s torn sleeve from his shoulder. She hissed at the sight – a gory, mangled mess.

“It is alright, that it is,” Kenshin assured her. “Rather, I would like to know what exactly Sagara is doing.”

They all turned to watch the two facing off, still not moving, simply judging. “He knew Anji before, I suppose. He’s really wanted to square off against him, and I bet he could help us quite a bit,” Kaoru sighed. “If only he wasn’t an idiot.”

Kenshin watched the two with trained eyes. Yes, Sagara’s ki was subtle, crackling with intent but not malice. Whatever the reason, Kenshin had no objections or relief in letting him take on Anji. “Shouldn’t he be attacking me,however?” he asked, turning to Kaoru.

She shrugged, gently wiping off excess blood with her long sleeves. It was all she could do without material aid. “I don’t know. I don’t think it matters whodefeats Anji, as long as his hold is broken. But ask him yourself.”

“So, Anji was a man lured here just like I was,” Kenshin said softly.

Kaoru watched as Anji and Sagara finally began, jumping into action and throwing lightning-quick punches at each other, with Sagara being pushed back the slightest bit with every strike. Kenshin turned to watch them as well. “Yes,” Kaoru finally said. “And he failed.”

Yahiko sighed quietly.

Sagara took a hit to the shoulder that sent him flying back, head-first. The wood beneath him crackled and split apart, but he got up with ease and patted off the dust and slivers. With an easy grin he leered at Anji. “Gotta be tougher than that, old man! My grandmother could spank me worse than that!”

Anji scowled deeper, and dove in to attack. Sagara grabbed his reaching fist and used it to vault over Anji’s shoulder, delivering a mighty kick to the back of the man’s neck. Anji received it with a pained grunt, twisting to elbow Sagara as he fell. Sagara caught it again and delivered a powered punch to the side of Anji’s face. In the repeated heavy strikes Kenshin saw the Futae no Kiwami – great strength channeled through the hand over and over again in mere hand movements, often multiple times within one instant. It was impressive.

Landing clear of retaliation, Sagara shook out his fist but never dropped his grin. He caught Kenshin’s eye and winked as Anji gathered himself. He was strangely calm. “Good,” he told Sagara. “Very good. But I am better.” Then, incredibly fast, Anji seemed to soar over the floor and deliver a blow to Sagara’s stomach. He bent over the pain of it, and while he was prone Anji sent a roundhouse kick to his shoulder.

Sagara fell over, eyes scrunched in a grimace, flickering slightly. Kenshin swiftly rose to his feet, Kaoru protesting once she realized he was no longer beside her.

“Shall we resume our fight?” Anji asked Kenshin calmly as he approached.

“Yes,” Kenshin said darkly, clicking the sword out with his thumb. It was smeared with darkening blood, but he paid it no mind. He kept advancing. “There was no need to further injure him when he was already disabled.”

Anji showed no emotion as Kenshin settled before him. “He needed a lesson. Come now.”

Kenshin, strangely angry, was about to draw when Sagara lifted himself up with a groan and a grimace. He frowned at Kenshin. “Hey, hey, hold up. I’m not out yet. You said I could take him!”

Kenshin spared him a cool glance. “And you did not. Now I finish my business.”

“Huh. I’ll take him out with the next hit, watch me.” Sagara again fell into a ready stance.

Anji the monk coolly regarded them both. “Time is not a luxury,” He said, almost condescending.

“Come on, one of you take him out already!” Yahiko cried from the sidelines. Kenshin shrugged, and nodded to Sagara. “Shall we?”

The tall man cocked his head, then relented. “Okay, whatever. I could take him alone, though.”

“Of course,” Kenshin allowed, and locked his eyes on Anji. With a snort and a stomp of feet, Sagara came to stand beside him. There was a moment where air itself held its breath, and then – they flew. Releasing a terrible cry, Kenshin sailed overhead and clipped the side of Anji’s neck as he received a jarring blow to the chest despite his speed, though probably meant for his head. At the same moment Sagara delivered multiple lightning hits to the underside of Anji’s jaw and was thrown away by the return strike to his stomach. Kenshin flipped away neatly to stand beside a disgruntled Sagara.

“All those muscles, blocks of fucking stone,” Sagara grunted, flexing his hands. “Good thing I’m used to crushing stones.”

Anji himself had taken massive damage from the head-wounds. He was flickering in and out of sight briefly, but more clearly than last time. Kenshin judged one more solid attack should take him down, but he dared not attempt another sheath strike with his torn shoulder. He would have to call upon his unrestrained godspeed for a simple neck strike, and.

Back of the neck, the voice gurgled happily, maliciously. Some rules still apply, you know! Killing strike, shatter his spine –

But Kenshin was still in the room.

He took a second to recompose himself, thinking, yes, I’m still here, listening wide-eyed to a voice that none else can hear. But then he had no more time to waste, since the feeling of readiness was growing to a screaming intensity. He cast aside all thoughts save for that of his weapon and his target. And Kenshin flew.

Sagara and Kenshin both leapt at the same time that Anji released a mighty roar, seemingly stretching the air around himself and keeping it to him like a loaded spring. There was no stopping now – faster than any could see Kenshin was already at Anji’s side, sword curving with deadly intent at the man’s bare neck. It was well muscled, but Kenshin’s blade could cut through stone, and within moments of impact --

Anji released the energy, sending it back with incredible force, surging toward his opponents. It traveled up the sakabatou and hit Kenshin just as the blade connected with flesh, sending a terrible paralyzing jolt through him. Sagara was thrown clear across the room.

It all happened terribly fast, like most things do. Kenshin’s mind was reeling with counter-attacks and gathering his ki to hold himself together in the face of the numbing pain. He managed to land on his feet and roll away, clutching his sword as he came up, ready to defend or whatever need be – but there was none. He stood to see Anji kneeling, panting and flickering heavily. Kenshin did not even know which strike had finished him off, or if indeed any had at all. Farther away, Sagara stood up and snapped out of sight once or twice, but held and came over. Kaoru and Yahiko were standing, watching with rapt attention.

“Good,” wheezed Anji, speaking to the floor. “I cannot… hold the bind any longer. You are free to proceed. But –“ there was a moment, an entire second, when Anji completely disappeared then reappeared again, “beware the house itself. …Remember--“ and Anji died.

The room visibly returned to a regular size, slowly shrinking in on itself and stopping just beyond where Sagara stood. There was a moment of silence.

“Whoa,” Yahiko whispered. He turned wide eyes up to Kenshin. “You have got to teach me that... that speed thing.”

Kenshin bit his lip and shook his head. “This style is not something I wish to continue. If you wish to learn swordsmanship, you should remain with your current teacher.”

Yahiko sputtered. “But she doesn’t teach me anything! And it’s not like I’ll build muscle or anything, so--!”

“Shut up, kid,” Sagara growled, as Kaoru’s eye twitched.

Yahiko fell silent, though seething.

“I hate to slow us down, Miss Kaoru,” Kenshin said tiredly, feeling the distinct throb of his shoulder, “but perhaps I could rest a moment… perhaps in those futons?”

The three spirits looked at each other, and shook their heads. Kaoru indicated to the door. “No, not there. Come on, let’s get back to the first floor. It’s the only safe place.”

So in single file, Kenshin second, Sagara first, they exited the room. Kenshin forced his legs to walk normally, and not limp like they dearly wished to. He was just so, so tired. Whether it was the house itself, or Anji’s fight, or all the fights one after another – he could not proceed as he currently was.

“Mister Sagara,” Kenshin asked slowly, as they walked toward the spiral staircase. He cast a quick glance to the third floor but it was still hidden by the opaque dark. “Pardon me, but why are you… helping us?”

“Oh,” Sagara said, shrugging. He had both hands hidden in his large pockets. “Call me Sanosuke. I got no new ‘orders’. Boss man’s up to something, I guess. So don’t worry, I’ll warn you before I try to kill you again,” he said with a feral grin. But his energy, at least, was not agitated or evil. He was merely joking, and Kenshin smiled slightly.

Kaoru rolled her eyes and she gripped Kenshin’s upper arm to help him walk down. The dead sense of no-life behind the flesh, felt even through his hakama, chilled Kenshin. He said nothing of it though, or about how he could walk down perfectly himself, thanks, and just let her support him. She seemed rather happy to. “Ignore that rooster-head. He just likes to be where the action is. It’s true I don’t feel much of his presence anymore, though,” she said rather worriedly. “Think he’s up to something?”

“Oh he’s definitely up to something, are you stupid?” Yahiko growled as they descended. “It’s just a matter of time. But we can ask some of the other spirits for help later, if we find them. We don’t usually… talk to one another.”

They were now at the bottom of the staircase, and the lack of light was again pressing in on Kenshin’s senses. He felt almost relieved when entered the storage room, even despite the warm walls and upsetting familiarity –

Kenshin stopped dead. “Anji,” he said.

Kaoru tugged on his arm to lead him through the blackness to a spot where he could rest. “Yes. Anji was – is – a fallen monk, but his holy power remained. He was led here, alive, just like you. He realized the evil intentions of the house and tried to purify it, but…”

“He only got one room,” Yahiko finished, somewhere further off. “This one.

The voices came at him from nowhere. He could sense them even though he could not see them though, so the bodiless voices didn’t worry him. It was the one in his head Kenshin was still troubled about. But he said nothing, and kept listening.

“Then he went off to do the rest, and he got him,” Sagara continued. “But Anji got fed to the tsukumogami instead. All that spiritual power would be more useful if corrupted and used by the house, you see. That’s the space binds.” This gave Kenshin a small shiver. He may have killed ruthlessly, but the souls of his dead were always free to rise or sink. They were never trapped or distorted. This house was a terrible, terrible place.

“So, the warmth of the walls…” Kenshin muttered. “When I first entered here, it felt like the room was alive. More than the house itself, I mean.”

“Well, it is. Alive with energy of another sort, at least. That’s why this is the only safe place to rest – never mind the traps upstairs. The house can get to you anywhere but here. It can distort what it wants, you know. Don’t believe your eyes.

That’s pretty good advice, Kenshin thought wearily. But what about my head?

“Alright, here,” Kaoru said, tugging down on his arm. “I found the only real mattress in the whole place and put it down here earlier. The tsukumogami will notice, but it should be alright. Come now, sleep,” she ushered. “We’ll be here when you wake.

Kenshin felt around the (slightly dirty, dusty) fabric, grateful for the alien softness. He could do without waking up to cricks in his neck every morning, and rest was important here. The presences of the other two spirits began fading away.

“I’ll go weed out the other spirits, see if they’ll help,” Sagara muttered. “Gonna get out of this place, hell yeah…”

“Me too,” Yahiko said faintly. “Rest well so you don’t die!”

And in the pitch darkness Kenshin could tell they had gone. Kaoru, out of nowhere, patted his arm as Kenshin lay down gingerly. “I’ll see if I can get something from the opium woman for that wound. Sleep now, it’ll be alright. We’ll continue when you wake…

Whatever feelings or misgivings Kenshin may have had, the call of sleep was something he could never deny for long – it always came barging in when you ignored it too long. Questions raced through his head, signals in his mind’s eye, but eventually they faded and his head was nearly blank. A violet colour stole over his eyelids and tenseness rolled from him with almost excruciating sweetness.

For the first time in many seasons, Kenshin felt the presence of another as he fell from the world. It was not uncomfortable or alien, but soothing

Kenshin slept.

To Be Continued

Quote is from Nietzsche, & relevant aspects of the story will be released in a final note at the end of this work for the experience of the reader.

Question: do you believe this story counts as AU? It follows canon until two years after Kenshin’s wanderings. Please let me know for clarity’s sake.

A/N: This chapter isn’t the best, but think of it as a rest stop before the rest of the story kicks up. Questions, comments, let me know! So since I am, in fact, alive, and must deal with life, updates will always be slow even when I’m not working on other fics. (I was bad and posted a new story, and even started yet another one. I am already ashamed.) So for updates/chapter progress, head over to my profile, or just spare yourselves and add me to your alerts. Either way, thank you for reading, concrit would be great, and so on. See you (much, much) later.