Kenshin never even hesitated. Okita was holding out his hand for him and risking his life to do so; there was another boulder coming and if he stopped to think about it now they would both be killed. He grasped Okita’s hand and pushed off with his right foot, adding his momentum to the other samurai’s. If it bowled both of them over, at least they would be out of the path of the last of the boulders and ready for what other obstacles Landel saw fit to throw in their direction.

That last bit of energy was all they needed, it seemed. Together the two swordsmen toppled through the door and into the darkness that lay beyond, just as a familiar voice began to filter through the tunnel…