Zanaffar spat fire and lightning at the scorched trunk of Flagoon. The holy tree was bare of leaves now, its trunk and branches scorched black. As the demon beast attacked, a huge branch toppled to the ground in flames. Copy Shishio laughed in triumph. “Impressive, Flagoon!” he cried. “Even with the power I possess, you won’t fall to one simple attack!” The demon beast Zanaffar continued its attack on the great tree, cutting it down branch by branch.

The fury of Shishio’s attack rocked the ancient shrine. A stone block fell toward Kenshin and his companions, but Okina smashed it apart with his tonfa. “That maniac’s blowing the place apart!” he exclaimed.

“He’s doing just as he pleases,” Aoshi growled.

“Isn’t there any way we can stop him?” asked Yahiko.

“Doesn’t look like it,” Aoshi replied. “We don’t have a spell that works, and the Sword of Light doesn’t do any better. Without a more powerful technique, we’re helpless.”

“What are you saying?” Okina roared. “Listen, you guys! What happens if you give up so easily?”

“Okina-dono?” Kenshin asked.

“So spells don’t work!” the old man went on. “So the Sword of Light doesn’t work! That’s not the problem! If you don’t give up, you’ll eventually find a solution!”

“Right!” Misao agreed. “Himura, Aoshi-sama… if you don’t give up, Justice is sure to triumph!”

“So I should just say all right, let’s go get Shishio again?” Aoshi mocked. “Is that what you want?”

“Sessha did not say we should give up de gozaru yo,” Kenshin put in. “But if your spells and the Sword of Light do not work, then we should not throw our lives away pointlessly, that we should not. If Kaoru-dono were here, she could use her techniques to add power to the Sword of Light…”

“That’s right,” Aoshi murmured. “It just might work.”

“Yes!” Misao chimed in.

“But Kaoru ain’t here,” Yahiko objected.

“You don’t get it, do you, Yahiko-chan?” Misao jeered.

“What’re you talkin’ about, weasel-girl?” Yahiko retorted. “And don’t call me chan!”

“Let’s go, Himura!” Aoshi and Misao grabbed the rurouni and ran back the way they had come.

“Orororoooo…”

“That’s how young men should act!” Okina beamed approval. “Looks like there’s something to that walking statue after all!”

Kaoru raced through the shrine’s overgrown passageways, Megumi at her heels. “Wait for me, guys!” she muttered. “Don’t do anything crazy before I get there!” She had a dim recollection of Kenshin screaming, and hoped he hadn’t thrown his life away on some mad attack he couldn’t win.

It was taking too long, going around all those corners. She pointed her bokken at a wall.

DAMU BRAS!

She blasted a hole big enough to run through.

“Kaoru-chan, what if that collapses the tunnel?” Megumi objected.

“We don’t have time to worry about that!” retorted Kaoru.

“But…”

“And we don’t have time for buts either, okay?” The sound of repeated explosions echoed through the tunnels, even louder than the blasts outside.

“Away with you!” screamed Copy Shishio, still battering away at Flagoon. “All that stands in my way shall be destroyed!”

“You should protect trees and not destroy them, that you should,” said a quiet voice at his elbow. The priest turned and looked into Kenshin’s calm violet eyes.

Copy Shishio leaped onto a huge branch, fallen from Flagoon and turned to charcoal by Zanaffar’s flames. “So you’ve crawled out of your hole at last, Battousai,” he sneered. “How sad that I have no use for you!”

“Save that for after you’ve beaten us!” Misao retorted.

“It’s impolite to point, little girl!” Copy Shishio scolded. Zanaffar reared back, another fire-blast glowing in its throat.

“Leave the defense to me!” Misao cried.

BALUS WALL!

Zanaffar’s attack splattered against a barrier of solidified light. It kept out the fire, but the impact kicked up a cloud of dust that left the young priestess choking and sputtering.

“Let’s go, Himura!” Aoshi cried.

“Hikari yo!” Kenshin drew the Sword of Light.

ELMEKIA FLAME!

Aoshi directed the power of his spell into the glowing blade.

Tongues of blue-white fire engulfed the Sword of Light. Kenshin rushed at Zanaffar. “Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu – Ryuu Sou Sen!!” He rained blows on the dragon’s head.

Zanaffar shook him off, and Kenshin fell to the ground.

“That didn’t work either,” Aoshi muttered.

“Yes it did!” Misao pointed. “Look!”

A faint line appeared behind one of the great dragon-heads. As they watched, it shattered, leaving a stump of neck. Blood trickled into Copy Shishio’s eyes.

“Himura! Again!” Aoshi readied another Elmekia Flame.

“No you don’t!” Copy Shishio yelled. He rushed at Aoshi, punched him and knocked him onto his backside, then followed with a swift and furious attack on Kenshin. The Sword of Light flew from Kenshin’s hands and its glow went out.

Quick as a weasel, Misao picked up the empty hilt. “Don’t forget about me!” she snapped. “Misao’s super-special attack!” She called light from the sword and threw the weapon high into the air.

RA-TILT!

The strongest technique in the shamanic arsenal combined with the power of the Sword of Light. Copy Shishio covered his eyes in pain.

“That’s a Ra-Tilt?” Aoshi marveled. “What power!” The chimaera’s demonic nature gave his own Ra-Tilt far more power than any mere human mahoutsukai could muster, but this was to his as Kaoru’s Dragon Slave to one of Megumi’s underpowered Flare Arrows. The Sword of Light acted as an amplifier of unbelievable strength. Still, even the strongest amplifier must have something to amplify, and Misao’s Ra-Tilt had far more power than he would have suspected. He looked at the enthusiastic girl with new respect.

Copy Shishio dropped to his knees and screamed in agony. The brilliant glow faded, and the empty hilt of the Sword of Light dropped into Misao’s hands once more. “And now for the final blow!” the girl cried. “Pacifist Crush!”

Okina’s favorite attack was a devastating one. Kenshin had seen it banish a low-level mazoku back to the Astral plane. But this was Zanaffar-Shishio, and with the Ra-Tilt’s light gone, the monster quickly recovered. He swatted Misao and she flew straight into Kenshin.

“Misao-dono!”

Misao burst into tears. “That really hurt!”

Yahiko jumped to his feet. “Oi!” he yelled at Copy Shishio. “Ain’t nothing worse’n hittin’ a girl – specially in the face!!”

“I was only teaching an insolent child some manners,” Copy Shishio replied. The astral form of Zanaffar took shape around him once again, both its dragon heads restored. “But you did quite well. Were I not joined with Zanaffar, I might well have been killed. Which means that I now have to dispose of you all!”

“Shield!” Aoshi cried. “Hurry!”

“’Scuse me! Behind you!” A fireball streaked out of the shadows and hit Copy Shishio in the back. It wasn’t enough to damage him – but it did distract him and get his attention.

“Kaoru-dono!” To Kenshin, to all of them, it was as if the sun had risen.

She was perched atop an upended stone slab, part of the pavement that had been torn up in the fighting. Instead of her usual bokken, she held an unfamiliar blade with an elaborate silver hilt. Light shimmered in it, reflection from the fires slowly destroying Flagoon.

She pointed the blade at Copy Shishio. “Okay, now that I’m here, you’d better start behaving!”

“No fair, Kaoru-san, that’s my line!” Misao sputtered. “And so’s that!” Kaoru executed a spectacular leap that carried her over Shishio’s head to land right in front of Kenshin.

“She never gives up,” Aoshi murmured with a smile, though whether he meant Kaoru or Misao even he didn’t know.

“Hn.” Copy Shishio’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “So you’ve finally come out, Kaoru Kamiya. Have you decided to use your Giga Slave at last?”

Kaoru grinned. “Maybe!”

“Kaoru-dono!” Kenshin tossed the Sword of Light to her.

She tossed it back. “Thanks! I don’t need it!”

Kenshin blinked. “Oro?”

Kaoru drew the Bless Blade. “This is the sword I’ll be using. Now, Copy Shishio, I’m going to settle this once and for all!”

“Oh?” Copy Shishio sneered. “And what do you plan to do with that toy sword?” He sent a blast of wind at her.

“Why don’t you see how much of a toy it is?” Kaoru retorted. She sliced through Shishio’s attack with n effortless sweep.

“Kaoru-dono!” Kenshin exclaimed. Somehow the weapon she held – one that looked like it wouldn’t cut soft tofu – was a match for Zanaffar-Shishio, where his own Sword of Light was all but useless.

“Okay, here’s the plan,” Kaoru told them. “I’ll break Zanaffar’s shield with the Bless Blade. When I do, Aoshi and Misao, hit him with an Astral attack amplified through the Sword of Light!”

“Leave it to us!” Misao replied.

“Aa,” Kenshin smiled.

“Then we’ll drive Shishio up against Flagoon. That’s the key to defeating him – Flagoon and the Bless Blade!”

Copy Shishio’s eyes blazed. “I’m glad you’re taking this seriously!”

“Let’s go!” cried Kaoru. They sprinted forward, into the fury of Zanaffar-Shishio’s attack.

GOS VLOW!

Aoshi struck the earth with his hand. Dark energy traveled through the ground and erupted under Shishio’s feet.

ELMEKIA LANCE!

Misao hurled spears of blue-white fire at Zanaffar. She dropped to the ground and Shishio’s counterattack skimmed over her head. Kaoru grabbed her and ran forward.

“Kenshin!” Kaoru called.

BLAM BLAZER!

Aoshi and Misao chorused, and simultaneously directed their spells at the Sword of Light. The blade flared in response.

“Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu – Ryuu Sou Sen!”

Kaoru sliced Zanaffar’s shield to ribbons with the Bless Blade. The fury of Kenshin’s rain of blows forced the Red Priest back, back, back – until he was pressed against the massive bole of Flagoon.

“Their moves are different now,” Shishio murmured to himself. “Is it because of that girl?”

Tiny specks of golden light, like fireflies, drifted down from Flagoon’s branches. From her shelter in the great tree’s roots, Megumi noted the change and walked toward the group, her steps firm and confident.

“Say your prayers, Copy Shishio!” Kaoru ordered.

“No!” Shishio retorted. “I cannot allow myself to be defeated! I have to vindicate myself – I have to prove I am strong enough to exist!!” His hands moved in rapid passes.

“Scatter!” Aoshi snapped. Shishio’s spell struck before they could move – and ran into an impenetrable wall!

Kaoru turned, startled. Megumi’s cinnamon eyes gazed back at her. “I’ll handle defense!” the healer offered.

Aoshi’s eyes narrowed. “He’s using three mouths to chant different incantations at the same time!” he realized. “Since he’s assimilated with Zanaffar, he’s gained its ability to cast more than one spell at once!”

Kaoru grinned. “It won’t save him! Aoshi, Kenshin, Megumi – you know what to do!”

RAY WING!

She shot skyward, into Flagoon’s canopy of branches, out of sight.

“You won’t escape!” Copy Shishio roared. Zanaffar’s two heads spat fireball after fireball in Kaoru’s direction.

Megumi was trembling with the effort of holding the shield around them. Aoshi closed his eyes in concentration.

Source of all souls which dwells
In the eternal and the infinite!
Everlasting flame of blue!

Misao joined the chant.

Let the power hidden in my soul

And both spoke together:

Be called forth here from the infinite.
RA-TILT!

And once more, the Sword of Light absorbed the energy of the Ra-Tilt and amplified it until the whole area around Flagoon glowed brighter than noonday.

Shishio responded with his strongest counterattack. Between his shield and Megumi’s, unimaginable energies battled. If any living thing had ventured into that space it would have been instantly annihilated.

Intent on driving Megumi’s shield back, Shishio heard Kaoru’s battlecry too late. She streaked toward him at the speed of Ray Wing, the Bless Blade extended in front of her. He diverted his attack to her – but some property of that silver sword turned all his spells aside. By the time it occurred to him to use a purely physical defense, it was too late. She smashed into him. The Bless Blade speared through his body and pinned him to the trunk of the great tree.

“Im… impossible!” he choked, coughing up blood.

Kaoru tilted her head on one side. “Why did you challenge us to this fight?” she asked. “You could have lived as Shishio, traveling and healing – why did you challenge us?”

He did not answer. The wound was serious, but joined as he was with the demon beast Zanaffar, he could heal it and free himself. It had been a good fight. Maybe, after he had defeated Kaoru, he would make her his consort. She was far stronger than Yumi had been, a fit mate for the part of him that was still human.

“You made two mistakes,” she went on. “One was hurting a lot of innocent people to achieve your goal. And two – was picking a fight with me! Now, Megumi!”

The healer raised her blue-topped staff. Sparkling light streamed from the azure stone.

Blessed, humble hand of God!
Breath of Mother Earth!

Copy Shishio recognized the healing spell and his eyes went wide with terror. “I will surpass Shishio!” he screamed. “No! I HAVE surpassed Shishio! Haven’t I? Haven’t I?” His eyes, blue and golden, begged Kaoru for vindication.

She turned away.

Megumi rose into the air, lifted by the power of her healing spell.

I pray thee come before me!
Show thy great compassion to
this being and deliver it!
RECOVERY!

The light of Megumi’s spell struck, not Shishio’s body but the hilt of the sword transfixing him. Its energy traveled down the blade and into Flagoon’s heartwood. Copy Shishio howled in agony.

A wave of green swept over Flagoon. Moss enveloped its trunk. Fallen limbs regrew, and a new growth of green leaves clothed its no-longer-scorched branches. The shadowy form of Zanaffar was sucked into the green wave and disappeared. There was only Copy Shishio, held upright only by the sword through his body.

“She cast Recovery on Flagoon?” Aoshi marveled.

“That’s right,” Kaoru explained. “With Flagoon healthy and strong, it and the Bless Blade could draw Zanaffar’s evil spirit out of Shishio. That’s where most of the energy for the healing came from.”

Copy Shishio opened his eyes. He knew he was dying, but he no longer felt any pain, only a vast peace. “I’ve… I’ve lost, haven’t I?” he asked slowly, forming each word with conscious effort.

Kaoru bent over him. “Yes.”

“Why… did I lose?” he whispered. He had to know. He couldn’t abandon his life not knowing. “Was I not strong enough? Is it because a Copy is just a copy after all?”

“No.” Her blue eyes were as infinitely clear as the sky. “You didn’t lose because of that. You couldn’t see what was ahead of you – what would happen after you surpassed the original. That’s why you lost.”

“I see.” It was clear now, or almost clear. “All I could ever see… was Shishio’s back. I cursed my creation as a copy of him. All I lived for was to surpass him, to prove I was worthy to live.” His eyes closed. A tear oozed out from under his lashes. “Please tell me… what makes you so much stronger? What is it you see when you look ahead?”

“What do I see?” Kaoru asked. She smiled. “A flower whose name I don’t know yet.”

“Justice,” Misao beamed.

“Something to protect,” Kenshin said softly.

Aoshi added nothing. His eyes involuntarily sought out Misao, but quickly turned away. What could he – part golem and part demon – offer any girl, let alone a princess? “What name should we put on your gravestone?” he asked.

“The weak… don’t deserve monuments,” he replied. “Just… bury me under Flagoon.” His eyes sought Kenshin’s a moment. “I’ll watch… from hell… to see how strong…” His voice trailed off. A moment later, his breathing quietly stopped.

“Hold it! That’s my chicken!” Kaoru snatched at the plate.

“Cut it out, Busu!” Yahiko retorted.

The devastation of Sairaag had been less total than had originally appeared. Quite a number of people from outlying districts had escaped the destruction and were now hard at work rebuilding the city. Among them were a few of the Copy Katsus who had come to maturity during the quest for Shishio’s legacy and had managed to find their way to safety.

“Anyway,” Megumi tried to head off the fight, “what are all of you going to do now?”

Kenshin and Kaoru looked at each other. “I haven’t thought about it,” Kaoru admitted.

“Sessha wa rurouni,” Kenshin added. “Wherever Kaoru-dono goes is fine.”

“And I guess I’ll tag along,” Yahiko added. “I still want to be as good a swordsman as Kenshin!”

“What about you, Megumi?” Kaoru asked. “What will you do?”

She gestured at the work going on around her. “Sairaag needs to be rebuilt, and I’ll be busy training new priests. There aren’t many of us left now. What about you, Aoshi-san?”

“I’m not sure,” the chimaera responded. “I’m still looking for a way to turn my body back to normal.”

“Then why don’t you come to Seyruun with us?” Misao offered. “We have the finest libraries in the world, the most learned sages, the wisest priests. I just know we can find a way to help you!”

Aoshi blinked. “With you?”

A horse neighed, interrupting what looked like it was going to develop into a quarrel. Misao waved. “Over here, Jiiya!”

“How are your injuries, Okina-dono?” Kenshin asked.

The old man grinned. “All better!”

Megumi was staring. “That’s Misao-chan’s grandfather? You mean…?”

“Oh, that’s right!” Yahiko told her. “You don’t know, do you? The geezer’s Prince Oyaji of Seyruun!”

“That’s Okina, brat!” The old man whacked Yahiko across the head with his tonfa.

Megumi backed up in horror. “A prince?” she gasped. “But… princes ride on white horses… and they’re handsome and… and well-educated and smart!” Her shattered mental image of a prince had looked a lot like an unscarred and richly-dressed version of Kenshin.

“Well, you got the white horse part right,” Yahiko grinned. The beast turned and neighed as if it was laughing at her.

Real life ain’t that sweet, Megitsune. For a moment she could almost see that irritating bounty-hunter with his rogue’s grin and his scarlet headband, before fury drove the image away.

“Quit acting like Jiiya’s a mazoku or something!” Misao wailed.

“What about you, Katsu?” Kaoru asked, turning to one of the Copies.

All the Katsus turned to face her. “Well, when we get done with the rebuilding here…”

“We’ve decided to each pick a direction…”

“And go our separate ways.”

“We don’t know very much about our original,”

“But we don’t want to get into a rivalry with each other.”

“So we’re each going to make our own way…”

“As mahoutsukai and artists.”

“Highness!” An exhausted runner in the uniform of the Seyruun palace guards collapsed in front of Okina’s horse. “Highness, there’s an emergency back in Seyruun!”

Okina grabbed Kaoru. “Something’s wrong! I could use your help!” He galloped away at top speed.

“Hey wait a minute!” Kaoru screeched.

“Wait for me, Jiiya!” Misao called, and raced after them.

Kenshin and Aoshi exchanged glances – and followed.

And so it looks like we’re off on another adventure! After all, they say the journey of adventures and dreams is endless – and if it isn’t, there’ll be lots of trouble from me!

NOTES, EXPLANATIONS ETC:

Whew! It’s been a lot of fun writing this! Don’t go away – the adventures of Kaoru, Kenshin, Aoshi and Misao are going to continue in Slayers ORO… Next!