As I unsheathed my sword, ready to attack, my little brother pushed me aside, and leapt forward, attacking the rutheless assassin. I looked back up just in time to see him being slaughtered by the assassin's sword. Blood splattered the ground, and shown bright red on the assassin's pale face. ''NO!!'' I cried as I ran to my brother's side, but it was far too late, he was already dead. Blood and tears mixed, as I held him close to me. ''Have you no sympathy?'' I asked the assassin, looking down at my brother's battered, bloody face. ''He was just a child, he had so much more life to live!'' I hugged his limp body, smearing blood over the front of my shirt, as it poured heavily from his wounds. ''He did not deserve such a terrible fate!'' The assassin slid his blood covered sword back into place. I could feel his eyes burning deeply into me. ''He got in my way, I will murder anyone who stands in my way,'' His voice was cold, yet soft at the same time. '''Why don't you kill me? I'm here, I'm defensless. Why don't you draw your sword?'' I looked up at him, my heart raging with hate, and my face streaked with tears and blood. He turned away from me, saying nothing. As he walked away into the darkness of the night, I knew I would have my revenge.

''I will avenge your death,'' I said kneeling at my brother's grave, I had dug with my own hands. ''His blood will stain the blade of my sword, and his cry of pain will be my victory.'' Tears rolled off my cheeks and soaked up into the ground. ''Your death will not be in vain, his fate will soon be sealed.'' I promised him. I set his Katana and Wakizashi on his grave, and stood up. ''I must leave you,'' I bowed respectfully. ''That assassin will feel every inch of my revenge.''

''Do you know the name of that murderer?'' I asked Iizuka, taking a drink of my sake. He looked up at me from his own drink. ''Sure, his name is Himura, Kenshin. He is a hired assassin.'' He stopped and took a drink of his sake. ''He was ordered to kill your master. Your brother was just another helpless victm that got in the way of an assassin's job.'' He paused, and set his cup down on the table. ''Your lucky he didn't kill you.'' I took another drink of my sake. '''Where is he going to be tonight?'' Iizuka's thought for a moment, ''Tonight? The Nibu Clan and the Shinsengumi are planning an all out attack on the Choshu Clan meeting.'' He refilled his cup of sake. ''Kenshin will be there.'' I stood up, and threw a small pack of yen to him. ''Thank you,'' I said picking up my sword and walking out. Iizuka said nothing, just hid the money in his shirt.

As night fell, I kept watch for Kenshin. Even though I intended to kill that night, I tried enjoying myself during the festival. Then, not far into the night, I withdrew myself from the laughing people of the festival, and made my way to the Chosu Shrine.

Finally I found what I was looking for. After a while of looking through the large shrine, the meeting place of the Choshu Clan, I finally spotted Kenshin, fighting a few men that appeared to be a few of the Shinsengumi. I hid myself deep in the shadows. Kenshin ran at the men. ''Hai!!'' His Keie filled the night air. He slashed his sword at one of the men, butchering him on the contact. His hair was as red as the blood itself, but i could see the blood stains in it. I waited for Kenshin to finish his job, and withdraw his sword, then I stepped out of hiding. ''So we meet again Kenshin Himura,'' I said, unsheathing my own sword. He turned around and looked at me. ''You...'' His cold blue eyes narrowed. Then, I noticed a young woman standing not far behind him. '''White Plum...'' I said to myself, recognizing her scent. I turned my gaze slowly away from her, and focused on Kenshin. He stared at me hard, his cold blue eyes burning into mine. I ran at him, gripping my sword in front of me. He grabbed his sword, and spun it as I ran at him. I thrust up my sword, blocking his. Sparks flew as they clashed. I forced my sword up, and brought it down on him. I knew that I had won. But right before the sword connected with his head, he thrust his sword forward, stabbing viciously into my chest. I cried out in pain, and stumbled backward, as blood poured from the wound. I grabbed at the wound with my hand as I fell to the ground. I breathed heavily, as everything came in and out of focus. I stood up weakly, leaning on my sword. I held it up and walked weakly toward Kenshin. I tried slashing it at him, but my feet gave way and I fell forward. He caught me as I fell, and held me up by the colar of my shirt. He held his sword up to my throte without hesitation, his cold eyes now blazing with hate and anger. I dropped my sword helplessly, as the blade of his sword barely cut into my skin. With my remaining strength, I reached up and touched his hand that was holding onto my shirt, and managed to speak. ''I'm sorry my brother...I failed you.''