To Forgive and Forget: Long Lost Family

Disclaimer: Bwuahahaha! I finally own them! I own them! Fushigi Yuugi and Rurouni Kenshin are MINE!! MINE, I TELL YOU, MINE!!!! *murmurs in the background* B-but....*more murmuring* Ah, kuso! That's not fair!! [pouts] You producers and creators aren't fair, I tell ya!! Can't you just share a tiny lil bit? *murmuring* Onegai?!? *more murmuring* Harrumph..fine, you still own them.

*thoughts*

/what had happened in the past/

(time setting)

Ayame-chan says: Konnichiwa!!! This'll be the last chapter before I go on vacation! You can still review (that would be extra nice) and you can still read this! Just don't expect an answer until late August ^_^

Chapter Seven ~ Long Lost Family

Soldiers yelled out battle cries as they rushed forward at the small group ahead of them. They knew that they outnumbered them 3 to 1; they knew that they were going to beat their boss's enemy and hand Battousai over to him and take out the rest...or so they thought.

Ukiyou was the first to go on offense. Leaping into the air, she sweeped the first three attackers in a single kick. Next, she ducked a blow from an oncoming soldier and returned his missed strike with a hurtling uppercut. Those with swords drew them out and took out as many soldiers as they could. Nuriko used strength as his adversary, lifting up a large boulder and tossing one at a large group of troops. They ran to avoid the boulder, and were taken out by others. Sanosuke took each coming at him one by one, using as little moves as possible to avoid injury. Tasuki, using his Tessen, wiped out a mess of soldiers with a combination of fear from the flames that came out of the metal fan and martial arts. Chichiri, being a monk, used his own style of martial arts and his staff as a weapon. Kenshin tried to protect Kaoru and fight against the mass of soldiers coming at him at the same time, but a few time he messed up and Kaoru took them out with a large stick that she found on the ground.

After a while, the soldiers' numbers decreased. Enishi was getting bored as well as the blonde haired man called Nakago next to him.

"You're troops are decreasing," Nakago commented.

Enishi snorted out a laugh and looked at Nakago with an evil glint in his eyes. "I know, but don't worry. Once they're distracted, those kids won't be able to get out in time.

Nakago smirked in his cruel way. "You're a very cruel man, Enishi."

"This is part of my plan. I don't want to spoil the fun of killing Battousai."

They had almost made it, until a ninja intervened in their escaped and nearly took off Shunsaku's head. Strands of black were sliced off.

"Shunsasku!" Yahiko shouted as he saw his newly found friend jump back.

The other four children clung onto their brother in fear. Shunsaku glared at the ninja who laughed sinisterly. The ninja's eyes glowed crimson under the moonlight.

"Maa, maa, you're pretty good for a kid," the ninja chuckled. "But that doesn't surprise me. You're the son of two famous Hitokiris, after all."

"And just who the hell are you?!?" Yahiko demanded.

"Yahiko, get the others out of here," Shunsaku ordered quietly.

"Demo---"

"It's going to be impossible for both of us to attack him at the same time when my brothers and sisters are here," he explained. "It's better for you to go. I'll take this freak on. Go to the police station if you can. It's not far from here."

Yahiko thought about this for a second and then gathered the children. "Alright, but don't you die on me, yet! We still got a duel to finish!"

Shunsaku smirked, not leaving his eyes off of the ninja. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

They both exchanged a grin and Yahiko escorted the children out of the home. The ninja continued to chuckle to himself, "Such a brave young lad. Too bad you're going to die in a few minutes."

Shunsaku fell into a martial arts stance. "We'll see about that."

"Hmph, the fools are too distracted," Nakago said, the symbol of "kokoro" appearing on his forehead. "Do you mind if I take the girl out now, Yukishiro-san?"

Enishi chuckled. "Do as you like."

A blue aura surrounded Nakago as he prepared for his deathblow on Ukiyou. Tasuki noticed the aura of blue and prepared to stop Nakago from his plans.

"LEKKA SHIEN!!"

Flames came out of his Tessen again, heading straight toward Nakago's figure. There was a connection, debris flew everywhere, but a shield protected the two men from any harm.

Tasuki swore to himself. "Nakago!" he shouted. "If you're going to take U-chan, then you're going to have to get through me first!" He charged at him, yelling out a battle cry that could be heard throughout the compound.

Nakago smirked once again. "Ahou, you'll never win."

Blue chi blasted out. Tasuki managed to avoid it in time, but he wasn't prepared for the one coming from behind him...

"Tasuki!!"

With all the soldiers taken out, the others looked on in horror as the red-head bandit fell back to the ground, burns seen everywhere that singed through his flesh. Nuriko managed to break Tasuki's fall, but he was nevertheless unconscious by the blast. *That's impossible!* Nuriko thought. *He's stronger than before...*

Nakago chuckled sinisterly to himself. "That idiot. He should've known."

"Kisama," Nuriko said in a threatening tone.

Kenshin was about to intervene when Enishi appeared behind him and Kaoru.

"Surprise," he said as the two turned around, Kenshin instinctively pushing Kaoru behind him.

"Enishi," Kenshin said.

"Now, now, Battousai, you weren't expecting me to fight like the last time?" Enishi taunted. "It's time to redeem oneechan's wishes."

"Kaoru-dono," Kenshin whispered to her. "Stand back, de gozaru."

"Datte, Kenshin," Kaoru protested.

"Sessha have to settle this once and for all. Daijoubu," Kenshin reassured, "I'll be fine, de gozaru."

Kaoru slowly let go of her grip on him as he stepped forward. *Kenshin...*

"Kisama..." Ukiyou cursed after Nuriko as she glared back at Nakago.

"Oh? What's wrong, Suzaku no Miko?" Nakago mocked her as the smirk plastered his face. "Are you angry at me?"

A red aura began to surround Ukiyou's body. "Yurusu nai."

Nakago continued on smiling as Ukiyou walked slowly to him.

"U-chan! Yamero, no da!" Chichiri tried to stop her. "If you use one of your attacks, your body won't be able to handle it, no da!"

Ukiyou ignored him and still kept on walking, repeating the words. "Yurusu nai."

"And what are you going to do, then, Suzaku no Miko?" Nakago asked calmly.

"Yurusu nai. I'll never forgive you for what you've done!!" Ukiyou shouted as the red aura around her burst and surrounded everyone.

Nakago was a bit surprised and unprepared at the same time for the blast of chi that came right at him. He spit out blood and staggered back to regain his composure. Enishi's attention was distracted from his main goal as he saw the gush of red light. *What is that?*

"Che," he muttured to himself and jumped up to the top of the wall. "Battousai," he said, "this isn't over, yet. Be prepared! Remember, you have six more days until Jinchuu begins!"

With that, he called over his troops and each began disappearing one by one. Nakago stared coldly at the still angry Ukiyou and then smiled.

"Hmph, Suzaku no Miko, you have been spared."

He disappeared as well. Ukiyou calmed down, but her grey eyes still had some of the hatred left in it. Everyone ran to her.

"U-chan, daijoubu?" Nuriko asked worriedly with Tasuki slung over his back.

Tiredness was clearly visible in her eyes as she nodded. "Hai. Tasuki wa?"

"Oh, this idiot? He'll be fine with some rest."

"U-chan," Sanosuke murmured. She turned to him, smiling.

"Atashi daijoubu," she reassured him. "Where's Shunsaku?"

"Gone...I think," Kaoru answered. "Demo, I saw him fighting against somebody out in the back."

"Let's go look and see," Aiko said and they left the area.

He managed to dodge all of the ninja's attacks, but dammit, he didn't know that ninjas could be that fast. Even with experienced training in the martial arts, Shunsaku wasn't able to lay a hit on him. Blood dripped from his wound in the shoulder as he panted slightly and continued to focus his eyes on the ninja.

"Hmph, that look is starting to annoy me, boy," the ninja said, falling into a stance as the metal claws from his fists shone brightly in the moonlight. It was stained, however, with the blood from Shunsaku's wound. "Do you give up?"

Shunsaku spit out a loose tooth in response. The ninja chuckled. "So be it. Shine."

"Heads u----p!!!" Nuriko's voice shouted high above them.

The ninja looked up a second too late and was toppled over by Nuriko, who's impact on him knocked him out cold. Shunsaku blinked a few times and loosened up. "Che, what took you guys so long?"

"Don't be complainin'. We had some troubles of our own, you know," Nuriko explained in his usual tone. "You're lucky that you only got a hit in the shoulder."

"Shunsaku, daijoubu?" Ukiyou's voice called out.

She and the others appeared out from the side of the home, dragging Tasuki along.

"Oneechan, minna," Shunsaku murmured.

"Where are Yahiko and the others?" Masaki asked.

"The police station, I think," his son answered.

"Well, that's good," Aiko walked towards him, staring at him straight in the eye. "You did pretty well. I'm proud of you."

"D-domo..."

"Oi, what're we going to do with this guy?" Nuriko yelled out, punching lightly at the ninja's head as he still sat on top of him.

"I say we beat his ass until he falls over," Tasuki muttered, stirring slightly.

"Tasuki? Daijoubu?" Ukiyou asked.

Tasuki shook his head a bit but still had to use Ukiyou as a balance "I'm fine, I'm fine."

"Well, that's a good idea," Sanosuke agreed, going back to the subject while supporting Tasuki as well. He cracked his knuckles.

"Matte, I have a better idea," Ukiyou interrupted.

Sanosuke looked at her. "And that would be?"

A young woman in a police uniform that was slightly intact came into the questioning room. She had dark blue eyes and short, black hair that looked like it was cut off by a knife.

"Mou, U-chan better give me a good explaination about all this," the woman muttered, brushing her hair back with one hand.

An officer saluted her. "Captain Fujin, sir! This man was brought into questioning by those people who asked for you."

"Hai, hai. Arigatou, Heichirou," the woman said. "You're dismissed."

Heichirou saluted her again and left the room. The woman stared back at the ninja that was tied to the chair, a wooden table separating them as she circled around him with a serious look on her face. In the window next to them, Ukiyou and the others watched.

Sanosuke whispered to her, "Oi, do you think you're friend'll make him talk?"

"Daijoubu," Ukiyou grinned. "Yui-chan's not your average police officer. She'll make him talk whether that guy likes it or not."

"So," they heard Yui say as she stopped walking and stared up at the paintings on the walls, "what's your boss's goal in getting Battousai? Hm?"

"I ain't gonna say anything, onna," the ninja sharply replied.

"Oh, sou ka, demo you already said something," Yui cleverly pointed out. The ninja was shocked for a moment and then remained silent. Yui then continued on circling around the ninja. "Yukishiro Enishi is wanted by the Shanghai police as a top mafia boss there. He's taken many lives and is in charge of a weaponry base located in Shanghai's port. Now, why would he have a base there? For protection? Or for something else?"

"I don't know," the ninja replied. Then he smirked arrogantly. "Maybe he's looking for women like you to be his precious pets."

Yui's blue eyes flashed dangerously and with quickness like a lion, she took out a tanto in her boot and stabbed it into the ninja's open hand, jamming it into the table. The ninja screamed in pain.

"Oh, god, ow," Kaoru said, covering one ear.

"Che, does she always have to be %*@&^) rough on them?" Tasuki complained.

"Now, if I were her, I'd do the same thing if he said that to me," Ukiyou pointed out.

They saw Yui grab the front of the ninja's shirt and pulled his face towards her as she had one foot on the table. They were so close that their noses touched.

"Listen, you arrogant bastard," Yui snarled dangerously. "I don't give a damn if you're a freakin' ninja or not and trying to save your boss's behind, but if you keep on making comments like that, then we're going to have to get a different method on you, got it? Either we do this the easy way," she then twisted the tanto around in his hand, making him clench his teeth in pain, "or the hard way. Your choice."

"Okay, okay, I'll talk, just please," the ninja pleaded, "don't hurt me. I-I promise I'll stop talking like that! Just please, let the damn tanto get off my hand."

Yui smiled triumphantly, took out the tanto, and shoved the ninja back in his seat. Hard. "Good. Now, let me ask again. Why is Yukishiro Enishi after Himura Battousai and teaming up with the Seiryuu seishi?"

Ukiyou breathed softly as she slept on Sanosuke's shoulder, much to his protests. Everybody was getting ready to leave, to go back home to Tokyo.

"Maa, it's been a while since I've been back there," Aiko said happily. "Let's see, the last time I was there was for my cousin's wedding."

"Oro? You have a cousin, Aiko, de gozaru?" Kenshin asked, confused.

"Hai. You've never met her before, but you'll know her once you hear her name," Aiko said.

"So are you going to stay with her, de gozaru?" Kenshin asked.

"You can stay with us, Aiko-san, Masaki-san," Kaoru added. "We have more than enough room."

"Arigatou, Kaoru-san, demo, it's been a while since I've seen my cousin. If she finds out that I was in Tokyo and didn't visit, then I'm in for a long lecture," Aiko explained.

"Let's just hope her husband isn't there," Shunsaku muttered.

Masaki heard him and bonked him lightly on the head. "Shunsaku, don't say that. Hajime's nice once you get on his good side."

"Yeah, GOOD side, otousan. That's the thing."

"Oi, what about us?" Tasuki asked.

"Ah, let them stay with you, Jou-chan," Sanosuke said to Kaoru. "Besides, I think U-chan here might like that."

Kaoru nodded. "You and the others can stay with us, Tasuki-san."

"Are? Where's Chichiri?" Yahiko asked, looking around.

"DA!!" Chichiri appeared out of the ceiling, scaring the entire whole in their shoes.

The jolt that Sanosuke made woke up Ukiyou as well. She blinked the sleep away from her eyes. "Nani? What's wrong with you guys?"

"Dammit, Chichiri! Don't @*#()$ scare us like that!" Tasuki yelled.

"Mou," Nuriko added.

"Ah, gomen nasai, minna-san, no da!" Chichiri apologized as he flipped right side up. "Demo, I don't think travelling on foot will be a good thing when the Seiryuu seishi are out in the open, no da!"

"So, then, what're we supposed to do? Fly?" Nuriko asked.

"Maa, something like that, na no da!" Chichiri answered. He took out his kesa and chanted a spell. After a few minutes, a white light appeared and everybody disappeared, including all they packed.

"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"

Thud. Crash. The gang landed awkwardly in the dojo, one on top of the other. Kenshin was dizzy, Yahiko, Shunsaku, and the children were dizzy, Sanosuke knocked out, Ukiyou landing unconsciously on top of him, Kaoru fainted, Aiko barely conscious, Masaki spiral-eyed, Tasuki KOed, Nuriko landed on his head, and Chichiri hung on a beam just right above them.

"Da-daijoubu, na no da," he meekly replied.

"Well, we're not okay, na no da," the others said.

Aiko was out shopping with Kenshin, after insisting on him that she should go with him, for some tofu.

"So, you do this everyday?" Aiko asked incredulously.

"Hai. Sessha wa in charge of buying food, making food, doing the laundry, preparing the bath, and many other things, de gozaru," Kenshin replied.

"Che, Kenshin, you're starting to sound like me. I do that at home, too."

"Oro?"

She shook her head. "Maa, never mind. You won't get it."

Something caught her eye. A figure in a light blue kimono with long, black hair tied back in a low ponytail. Aiko couldn't see the figure's face, but by the looks of the kimono, she immediately recognized the woman who's back was turned to her.

"Oro? Aiko, what's wrong, de gozaru?" Kenshin asked.

"Ah! Tokio, is that you?!?" Aiko shouted out.

The woman in blue turned around swiftly. After a few moments, her hazel eyes widened. "Are?!? Aiko?!?"

MUSE NOTES:

( Chichiri )

[ Tasuki ]

/ Taka-neko \

(Da! We are done for now, no da! Ayame-chan is going on vacation in a week, na no da!)

[Yeah, and unfortunately, we get to come along, too]

/Mreow?\

[Whaddya mean 'why', Taka-chan?!? She's going to &@(*&%#* torture us on the plane for twelve @#($*#$)!#*%)#@@ hours!!]

(Well, if she's tired, no da, then Ayame-chan won't be writing that much, Tasuki)

[I still don't trust that woman]

/Mreow, meow, meow, meow.\

(Hai, that's right, Taka-neko, no da! Ayame-chan will need us when she has nothing to do so we have to be helpful to her, no da!)

[ARGH, DAMMIT!!! WHY DON'T YOU TWO @&&%*&#*^%*@_#*$*#&% GET IT?!?!?]

*Ayame-chan bonks Tasuki in the head, rendering him unconscious*

Hey, you're my muse get used to it. Anyhoo, hope you enjoyed this chapter, no da!!

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