Hidden Inventory Arc I

Two figures sat and conversed on a small bench, behind a small park with solemn expressions, underneath the midday sun.

The first figure was a handsome white haired youth dressed in a standard jujitsu uniform and black shoes, with a pair of dark round glasses, that covered his beautiful azure gem like eyes. He held a can of soda in his hand which he sipped from with sighs.

The other was another handsome youth with ponytailed dark hair dressed in a haori style uniform.

"Have you seen Kenshin lately?" The youth with the ponytail asked the white haired youth in confusion to which he nodded and responded with a sigh.

"Sigh. He's gone back to my uncle's home in Yokohama. It seems the loss from last time really got to him. I might feel the same way if you died as well.."

He sighed and took a sip from his can of soda.

"Don't be so harsh. I don't blame him, Satoru. Hearing the news of how his family died by the hands of that murderer along with everything had happened to Hiroshi and Haibara took a toll on him. It mustn't be easy living with all of that guilt, I feel sorry for him.."

Suguru being compassionate spoke with heartfelt emotions, while Satoru clenched his fists in anger.

He didn't like and agree with the way Kenshin just chose to leave everything aside just because of a few revelations and a few losses, after all, even he himself had found out how his mother had succumbed to a curse and died by Kenzo's hand. That didn't break him down, but only fuelled his thirst for strength and the need to be in control.

"I'm not being harsh Suguru, chickening out of a situation isn't the right way. We might've lost to Kenzo this time, but next time would be a different case altogether. Rather that stay secluded and drown in guilt, why dont we dedicate all that effort and pain into our training, at least that would bear some fruit in the long run.."

Satoru spoke, drunk everything out of the can and then flicked it with a finger. The can blasted away like a projectile as if hurled by an unparalleled force.

"You know, not everyone wants to be overwhelmingly strong and stand at the top of strength just like you, Satoru. Not everyone wants to stand at the peak of Jujutsu and walk the lonely path of the strongest. Some people just want to live quiet and happy lives with their loved ones..

From the first day we saw Kenshin, even without knowing the torture and hell he had been when growing up, I could feel the guilt and burdens he carried on his shoulders, the vengeance, fear and sorrow he carried in his heart. We don't need to disappoint him at such a time, he needs support from his friends.."

Suguru spoke while Satoru sighed and stood up.

"Fine, fine, if you say so. Let's finish this mission first and then we'll go see him." Satoru finally let out a small sigh and stood up, stretching his waist lazily.

"Good. Anyway, what's so important about this mission that Yaga had to send us specifically. "

Satoru asked and looked at Suguru who merely sighed and shook his head.

"Did you even listen to anything Yaga said? This is an important mission directly from Tengen himself. Apparently he has found a new star plasma vessel, a young girl named Riko Amanai, who we need to escort safely to Jujutsu High and kill.."

Suguru spoke everything in one breath, while Satoru remembered.

"Oh thanks for the reminder. I now remember. So basically, he sent us to babysit this girl and then take her out? Interesting. I don't know if I'm actually ready to kill this young girl, Suguru, but let's see.."

Satoru cracked his knuckles and spoke.

"I know, if push comes to shove, we can just let her go..and face Tengen if we must, unless you're scared, Satoru.."

Suguru stood up and smiled, before he placed his hands in his pockets as both of them stared at each other and smiled.

"Tsk. Scared? We should be fine, after all, we're the strongest.."

He spoke nonchalantly and turned around, but right as they were about to leave, a figure was sent flying through the glass wall of a rather tall building, and came falling to her death.

"Oh? Isn't that?"

Satoru adjusted his glasses and raised a brow in surprise, while Suguru hurled himself into the air and summoned a cursed spirit behind him, going right towards the aid of the falling figure.

.

Japan, Yokohama…

A beautiful dark brown haired young woman dressed in a yellow flowery dress took out a cigarettes from her mouth, while she stared at the beautiful mansion before her and sighed.

Checking the content of a black polythene in her hand for the umpteenth time, she finally put up a small smile, brushed her hair behind her ear and walked to the door of the mansion.

*Knock..*

*Knock..*

*Creak..*

Knocking and waiting for a few moments, the door opened on its own and creaked, while she slowly opened it and took a step inside, only for her to see the hall utterly destroyed, with paintings and pictures of a family torn to shreds and shattered frames, while in the middle of it all, a blue haired figure lay, curled up like a shrimp in the darkness, while the only sounds that reverberated was the occasional dripping of drops of water from the tap and the sounds of sniffs and sobs coming from the blue haired figure.

"Kenshin!!"

Seeing his sorrowful and pitiful figure, a stark contrast between his former proud and strong appearance, she rushed to him, feeling her heart ache for him.

It was upon reaching his figure that she noticed the gun he himself held to his head and the torn picture of a happy family that he held to his heart.

"Kenshin! Stop!!" She instantly roared and made herself visible to him, as he slowly arose from his sleeping position and turned around to face her with the gun still pointed to his head, and tears that streamed down his cheek.

"Kenshin! You don't want to do this! I get you, but no! This is not the way out of this mess. Killing yourself wouldn't bring your family back to you. It wouldn't bring Haibara or Hiroshi back, Kenshin. Everything that happened is not your fault. Stop blaming yourself! No one blames you, and I know from the bottom of my heart that neither the family you lost, not the friends you lost or still have blame you for anything."

She roared and dropped the polythene in her hand, as tears streamed down her face as well.

"H-how do you k-know? I let everyone down. It's because of me that my family died to that man. It's because of me that Haibara and Hiroshi died. It's because of me that Toji lost his family..how c-can I still remain in this world with all this guilt in my heart..at least when I leave, Satoru and the others will keep you guys safe from me. I don't want to lose anyone again. I don't want to lose you.."

Kenshin finally spoke in a hoarse voice, while his finger traced around the trigger and prepared to pull it.

"Wait! Wait! Kenshin please stop! I know you don't want to lose any of us, but have you thought of what any of us would want? We're all going through so much right now, do you think any of us can deal with losing you. We all love you so much, Kenshin. I-I love you. Your family wouldn't want this. Hiroshi and Haibara wouldn't want this for you. So please come back. To me.."

She spoke and walked towards him one step at a time, and finally reached a close range from him.

"I-I don't know. I can't live with this pain anymore..I can't."

Kenshin's tears never seemed to end, but Ieiri finally reached him and cupped his cheek with her palm.

"I know, Kenshin, I know. But at least, you have us, you have me. We'll help you through the pain okay, you need to trust me.."

She slowly grabbed his arm and lowered the gun, before taking it away completely and throwing it out of the house.

*Thud!*

Turning to look at him once more, she now noticed his hollowed eyes, sunken cheeks , pale and dried skin.

Without much to say anymore, she embraced him with all of her strength, as Kenshin hugged her back, as if scared that she might leave him.

"Don't leave..me"

He whispered before falling unconscious in

her arms.

A/N: Sorry for the late update.