BETRAYAL OVA

Act 4: The Cross Shaped Scar

This act picks up from the last where Iizuka tells Kenshin to kill Tomoe for she is the traitor. However, not too far away Tomoe has arrived at the home of the Shogunate official. She is upset and asks, "You were suppose to wait for my word....why did you need me?" The large man admits that it would have been imprudent to attack Kenshin while both his heart and mind are focused. However, right now Kenshin's sense of betrayal and yearnings of his heart are tearing at each other making him weak enough to dispose of easily. Tomoe is ready to take her life when she realizes that she was used as a pawn, but the man will NOT allow it. He is disgusted that she has forgotten of her deceased fiancé and fell in love with Kenshin.

Meanwhile, Kenshin trudges through the forest dazed and confused. His scar oozes blood as he recalls the event that took Kiyosato's life. Suddenly, the first assassin makes his move. Kenshin is pierced in the shoulder, but is able to defeat his first opponent. Before the man dies he pulls the rope signaling the next of Kenshin's attackers.

Weakened, Kenshin's walking is labored. It's only minutes before two new assassins emerge. The first carries a huge axe, which knocks Kenshin against a tree....a perfect position for the next man to dig his steel claws into Kenshin's shoulder. More blood is spilled on to the snow. Although injured badly, Kenshin is able to take them both down. One is able to set an explosion signaling their defeat. Kenshin continues through the forest severely wounded and bleeding. He passes out for a while and has visions. Determined to get to Otsu, he carries on. All the while he utters Tomoe's name.

Kenshin makes his way to the home of the Shogunate leader who is waiting for his arrival. The snow is falling heavily. Tomoe peers through a crack in the door and sees the injured man she cares for. She cries and cowers inside, until a vision of Kiyosato appears. He is offering her a lone flower. What is he trying to tell her?

The man of the Shogunate is beating Kenshin over and over again. The younger man stands unsteadily and draws his sword. The elder man draws a large dagger and both go charging at one another. When impact is made, Kenshin is horrified to see that his sword not only pierced the man but also Tomoe who had tried to stop the large man from hurting Kenshin by grabbing his dagger. Tomoe lies on Kenshin's lap holding the dagger. She raising her hand and carves another line on his cheek just before succumbing to her injuries. Her mark, along with Kiyosato's, are what formed Kenshin's signature cross shaped scar. Hidden behind a tree, Enishi watched in horror as his sister dies.

Back in town, Iizuka is taken down by a shadowy figure before he can escape to freedom. He dies clutching the gold he'll never have a chance to spend.

Kenshin has brought Tomoe's lifeless body back to the mountain home. He talks to her corpse and tells how he will repent for the things he has done. Katsura arrives and says he has found a different assassin, but would still like Kenshin's help. He then admits he wanted Tomoe to be a sheath to keep him from being an unrepented killer. Kenshin agrees to help, but once the battles have been won he will drop his sword.

The sword of the Hiten Mitsurugi should only be used to defend the new world not to destroy the old one.

Kenshin leaves the mountain home in flames. The final moments show the rebel battles and battles with the Shinsen Gumi. Many lives are lost.

In the end Seijuro enters a graveyard where a beautiful blue sash warms two wooden stakes forming a cross. It stands before the graves of the women who cared for Kenshin when he was an orphan. Seijuro closes his eyes recalling why he changed the name of the boy once call "Shinta."

NOTE: The tragic circumstances as well as the tender background music will have you sobbing out loud. Don't say I didn't warn you. *Hugs* Julie.

End