Okay, sorry about that last one... that's the last time I try to post
something in Lynx...

==========================================================================

	There he goes again.  For the life of me, I can't understand it...
How could the fates of so many rest on one man?  Or rather, why must one
man bear the troubles of so many?

	"Kenshin!"

	Why him anyway?  Wouldn't you think that in a town this close to
Tokyo, there'd be someone, _anyone_ who could take care of ultra-skilled
swordsmen and criminal gangs?  Did Himura Kenshin have to solve
everything?  Goodness, how were these conflicts resolved before Kenshin
came around?

	"Kaoru-dono."  He turns, expectantly.

	And that face... so innocent.  How could someone ask that face to
fight?  How could that face fight?  He looks like a pacifist... and he
*is*.  So peace loving and just...  

	But the other side of him is a cold, brutal murderer, the
'Hitokiri Battousai'.  And he *can* fight, with deadly skill.  And if her
were to lose control, even for a second...  He'd never forgive himself.
He'd never face us again.  And that's... that's what I'm afraid of.  If he
left the dojo-- I don't know what I'd do...  I mean-- I mean, Yahiko needs
the father figure-- I certainly can't deal with the brat.  Sano enjoys the
friendship, and I...

	"Kenshin--"

	I hate this so much!  He's so stupid and naive... doesn't he
realize they're all taking advantage of him?  It isn't like Kenshin _has_
to accept every challenge, every request from the police or government for
help.  Would it really kill him to say no?

	...

	No, I answer myself, but someone else surely would die, and
Kenshin could never live with that.  And if he could, if he were to stop
helping those in need, he'd stop being the Kenshin I know... and...

	My expression softens.  "Be careful, alright?

	He nods, wearing a smile that could light rooms, and leaves, off
to fight the menace of the day.  I smile too, weakly, for he'll return...
He must.  He has to realize how much he means to us-- to me.  Even if he
loses control-- he's got to come back.

	He will.

	He has to...  I've got his wallet.

=======================================================================

Battle Cries

A Rurouni Kenshin shortfic

By Erin Ellis

Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Jump Comics, and Sony
Entertainment Japan, all rights reserved.

Author's Notes

   Gee... this is more serious than I feel comfortable writing.. ^_^;  But
this little ditty really really wouldn't leave my head until I wrote it
down.  It doesn't really tell anything, or advance any plot, or even take
place over more than a minute's time... it's just a little jaunt into
Kaoru's mind before one of the many times Kenshin goes off to fight the
baddie of the week.
   I dunno... I'm on Kenshin overload-- we're showing at anime club, and I
got a manga, and I've been doodling Kenshin and... it's just scary.  So if
you didn't like the above, write it off to a crazed college student at
mid-semester who's been exposed to too much of a good thing.
   Now that I think of it, be happy this didn't happen when I was big into
Kodomo no Omocha... O_o...


Please C&C to ee970@hotmail.com  Thanks!

Erin
www.unc.edu/~ellis
members.tripod.com/~tina97

------------------
The Future of Rap?
------------------
I'm the bars on the cell
I'm the fire down in hell
I'm the ice cream bells
I'm the gas at the Shell.
I'm the wheels on the tank.
I'm the million dollars that you want from the bank.
                       -- Master P, 'Hot Boys'