Chapter 1: Into the Darkness
by Unmei-chan <mailto:LadiSubaru@aol.com>

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

"K..Kenshin..." A red haired man turned around to the sound of his name. A smile softly spreading across his lips as he noticed the girl behind him. Long raven hair that was normally pulled up into a pony tail spilled over her slender shoulders while the moon reflected off the dark locks making them shimmer a midnight blue. A yellow kimono hugged her fragile looking form, still dripping with water. Her face was an ivory china doll white, that glowed softly in the pale moon light. Bright sapphire eyes stared at the ground as if ashamed to make contact with his own. "Hai, Kaoru-dono?" He asked softly turning his whole body around to face her.

"A..arigatou...for ... jumping in there like that." Kenshin looked down at his own clothing. While his kimono was slightly dry, the hem of his hakama was caked with mud. His crimson hair fell damply in his eyes forcing him to toss it to the side, with a jolt of his head.

"You don't need to thank me for that, Kaoru-dono. I swore I would protect you, and jumping into a river is a very small price to pay."

"Demo-"

"Kaoru-dono..." He grabbed her chin between his index finger and his thumb, forcing her eyes to meet his violet ones. "Its okay ... all that matters is that your safe." Kaoru blushed, his face was so close to her own. Her lips so close to his. Just when she thought she would faint he pulled away from her. "Its better if we get you home and into something dry..." Shaking her head Kaoru dismissed the idea.

"I'll be fine, its a warm night." She gazed upward and marveled at the stars that shone against the night sky. "I don't want to go in just yet." Kenshin saw something flicker in her eyes, but before he had a chance to ask she walked off the dirt road. Taking hesitant steps he followed. She lead him into a clearing a kilometer or less off the path. After breaking into a clearing she gave a faint nod of satisfaction and sat herself down on the cool grass. After few confusing moments Kenshin spoke.

"Kaoru-"

"Shhhhh...listen." He obeyed her. With in seconds he was over overwhelm with the sounds of the night. The crickets chirping their songs while the frogs in the pond croaked out their uneven bass. Owls in the distant trees whoed in a mystical alliance with their pray as the wind blew across the reeds. "My father use to take me to this place when I was young. He would make me sit here for hours in silence. Just to listen to natures music. He said that it helped the soul." Kenshin managed to break away from nature's little wonder long enough to steal a glance at Kaoru. Her eyes were closed as she spoke of her fathers memory. His eyes widened ever so slightly as the moon shone directly on her, as if it was there just for her. Kaoru's still damp kimono generously highlighting her figure. Kenshin forced himself to look away, feeling a faint blush coming to his cheeks. He sat himself down on the grass with his back facing hers.

After a few moments of silence Kenshin glanced in the assumed direction of the path they had been walking down. It would be late by the time they finally made it home. He felt Kaoru's back lean against his. Smiling softly to himself his eyes wondered back to where they were before. He figured if they were going to get home they had better leave now but, Kaoru's soft breathing told him differently. Kenshin shook his head softly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. A sudden chill filled him as the wind picked up. He glanced over at Kaoru, with a glimmer of concern in his eyes. He could feel her body shivering from the bitter wind. He had nothing to cover her with to protect her against the cooling air, and the mer thought of waking her now seemed like a crime. Turning his body to let hers fall into his lap, he held her in his arms. Frowning slightly he fingered the fabric of his kimono judging on whether or not it was dry. Nodding to himself he took it off and placed it around her. The faded red color highlighted the natural blush of her cheeks as she smiled contentedly with her new found warmth.

Minutes soon turned into hours as Kenshin slowly began to drift off. Moments later, with Kaoru still protectively held in his arms, he fell asleep, laying down beside her in the grass.

"KENSHIN!!! DOKO WA!?!?!?" With in the confines of a small dojo a gruff voice screamed. "OI, JO-CHAN!?!?" Silence was the mans only reply. With a sigh he gave up. "Where the hell is every one..." He ran a hand through his spiked mop of brown hair. "Oi, Sanosuke ... mind keeping it down? Those of us that do something during the day need their sleep... I'm surprised The Hag is letting you scream like that in her house." A young boy came into the room and stared balefully at the man while rubbing that last amounts of sleep from his eyes.

"Kenshin was supposed ta meet me here this afternoon, buuuut he apparently has found something better ta do... that aho..." Sano plopped himself down on the floor and glared over at the now wide eyed boy.

"Afternoon?? Nani??" The boy's red eyes glazed over in confusion.

"Why ya look'in at me like that, Yahiko?"

"Kaoru hasn't waken me up for practice yet ... and hasn't yelled at me to clean the floors or to run into to town to fetch something..."

"Odd..." Sano nodded his head in agreement.

"Now that I think about it ... those two hadn't returned last night either..."

"Nani?" He questioned softly. After a few minutes of thinking a wide smirk spread across Sanosuke's face. Yahiko backed away and pointed a finger at him. "Why are you making that kowai face!?!"

"Hmph ... didn't think Kenshin had it in'em."

"Eh?" Sano returned his gaze back to Yahiko, his smile even broader.

"Your to young to hear such talk, Yahiko-chan."

"CH...CH... CHAN!?!?!" Yahiko took a running leap for Sano's head but Sano dogged him and ended up smacking himself into a wall.

"I'm going out to look for them ... stay here in case they return."

"Haaaaiiiiiiiii...." Came a slurred reply.

'bzzzzzzzzzzzt'

"Oro?" Kenshin opened his eyes to find a small fly perched on the tip of his nose. Crinkling his nose he tried to shake it off, but it was persistent. He tried to use his arm to shoo the annoying insect away when he noticed his hand was caught by an unfamiliar weight.

"OROOOOOOO!?!?!?" He looked down at Kaoru snuggled up against him. Her head was laying against his *bare* chest, while his kimono covered them. A fevered blush came across his cheeks when he saw his arm wrapped protectfully around her waist as if to pull her closer.

Kenshin tried to move away from her, but all his efforts ended up in putting him in an even more complicated position. His face red with embarrassment he retired his actions. Stay like this and nothing more can go wrong... He thought with an uneasy sigh. However that didn't keep his mind from wondering. He pictured Kaoru waking up and finding him in that disrespectful manor, the next image was of him with cute little stars dancing around the numerous lumps on his head. Shaking the image away he tried again by carefully sliding his arm out from under her. Then, ever so gently, he picked her head off his chest and laid it back down on the ground. Finally getting up he found himself pulled back into the grass. With a baleful look on his face he turned around to face Kaoru, only to find her still sleeping peacefully.

"Oro?" He looked at her, then down at the hem of his hakama that was clenched tightly in her hands. A small laugh escaped his lips as he thought. Only Kaoru-dono would have that much strength in her sleep... His eyes became soft and his smile even softer. Carefully he untangled her fingers from the fabric.

Standing tall he took in the sights. A thick line of trees surrounded the area. Kaoru-dono must have lead me through those ... demo... He glanced around at his surroundings once again. I don't remember walking though any trees last night... Shrugging his shoulders he turned his body to get a better look at the place. It was indeed secluded from the rest of Tokyo. The row of trees sought to that. Off to his right, just a few or more meters beyond Kaoru, there was a crystal clear pond, sparkling like a diamond under the high afternoon sun. In the center of the pond, laid a small island with a tall willow tree creating a natural curtain around the circular land mark. Straight ahead of him emerald grass stretched on for as far as the eye could see. His mouth dropped ever so slightly. Tokyo's mountain loomed in the distance off to his left. Its tip covered by a swirl of clouds while its base gave off the false appearance of a purple hue. His mind began to wonder, picturing this place as the sun started setting behind the massive mountain. The purple, pink, and red hues stretching on for miles across the darkening sky. Only to have its reflection captured by the pond, while the fire flies flew around in a hypnotic dance of light.

Kenshin glanced back down at Kaoru. She was still curled up under his kimono smiling softly at what ever dream was playing in her head. Kneeling he tucked the pink cloth around her, blocking out any possible cold drafts. His eyes moved to her face, a piece of raven hair rested against the side of her cheek, caught up in the moister of her lips. It took every last ounce of will power he possessed not to push it back just for an excuse to touch her. He shook his head violently and walked to the edge of the pond. Sitting down he stared at his reflection. His eyes instinctively drawn to the X shaped scar on his left cheek. He reached up to it but then pulled away, as if the simple contact would burn his hand. Tomoe... He let his arm fall limp to his side. He swore then that he wouldn't get involved with any one that deeply again ... but then why? Why was it Kaoru's voice that had given him the strength to fight Shishi-o? Why was it her face that appeared in his mind forcing him back from deaths door? Why did the simple thought of spending the night with her so close, leave his heart pounding in his head? He didn't want to let her in to his life has intimately as she'd become, and tried his best to be cold to those feelings by only thinking of her has a very dear friend ... but after his fight his Shishi-o every thing had changed. Hell he knew every had changed the night he said 'Sayonara'.

He closed his eyes and turned his head away from the pond. He felt the heat of the afternoon sun warm is body. "How late is it?" He questioned as if the trees or the water could answer him. "I was supposed to meet Sano... Ah well..." He smiled as he pictured how furious Sano would be with him for making him miss his prime gambling time.

"KEN...SHIN!!!"

"Oro!?!" Kenshin jumped forward at the sound of his name. Unfortunately he realized too late just how close he was sitting to the edge of the pond. "Orooooooo...." *Splash* *Gurggle* *Sloosh* Finally gaining his composure, (after more then a few minutes) he stood up in the thigh high water and stared wide eyed through his damp bangs to see Sanosuke standing at the bank of the pond glaring down at him. "S... sano!?!" Speak of the devil...

"Aho!! I missed my chance to pay all those losers back for months of humiliated defeats, all because you and Jo-chan had to spend some 'Quality Time' together!!" Sano suddenly sweatdropped. He just noticed that Kenshin was standing half naked. Cocking his neck to the side he saw Kaoru's peacefully and unexplainably happy face peaking out from under his kimono. He glanced over at the redhead as he was trying to step out of the pond. "Ano... Kenshin ... just how much quality time did you two spend together?" He said sarcastically with a smirk.

"Oro!?!" His smirk only widened when Kenshin suddenly turned bright red and lost his footing, falling back into the water. "Nani!?!" He sputtered spitting out a mouth full of water. "Nothing happened!!" He cried in weak protest.

"You expect me ta believe that you spent the whole night out here ALONE and did noth'in, while I come out here ta find ya half dressed?" Sano eyed the wet Rurouni for a few minutes before sighing. "Hai..." He mumbled to himself. Then looking over his shoulder at Kaoru he whispered. "I don't know what ya expect from him, Jo-chan..."

"Nani?" Kenshin asked finally getting out of the water. Sano quickly turned his attention back to him.

"Nothing, nothing!" He said instantly, waving his arms in front of himself to dismiss the statement. Kenshin only shrugged his shoulders willing to let the subject drop, guessing he really didn't want to hear the what he said any way.

"Yahiko wa?" Faint coughing was heard over his question but Sano could still make it out.

"At the dojo. I told him ta stay there and wait for you to return."

"How did you find us any way?" Kenshin asked walking over to Kaoru.

"I heard ya scream, 'OROOOOO!!!'," He mimicked in a slight mockery of Kenshin. " And just ran to where I thought I heard the noise." He finished simply. He arched his brow when he realized that his comment had fallen on deaf ears. "Oi, Kenshin??" He asked moving by his side, his body stiffing a little as the color drained from the Rurouni's face.

"Ken..." His question faded into the wind as his eyes followed Kenshin's horrified stare. He felt his mouth drop. "Jo-chan!!!" He stood back slightly as Kenshin dropped to his knees. The Rurouni's eyes were glued to the blood stained grass, as if in some sort of morbid fascination. A thin trail of crimson came from the corner of Kaoru mouth.

"Kaoru-dono!!" Kenshin yelled grabbing on to the girl's shoulders. "KAORU!"

With a start her gemstone eyes flashed open. Wild eyes stared up at Kenshin before they quickly became aware of where they were. She looked into Kenshin's face. Worry and concern were all that showed as he looked down at her. Slowly it sunk in that he had used her name without dono which terrified her more then any look he could give.

"Kenshin?" She asked sitting up, a failed effort. She fell back down but was caught by Kenshin's arms. "Kenshin?" She asked again. Her body hurt, she felt as though her lungs were filled with fluid making each breath a struggled effort.

"Kaoru-dono ..." He started, but cut off abruptly as she started coughing. She raised a hand to her mouth. Confusion plagued her eyes as she pulled her hand away to reveal a coating of blood on her fingers. She glanced between the two men with horror filled eyes.

"What's happening to me..." The strain in her voice must have been enough to cover her words, because Kenshin and Sano only stared at her. Their bodies unable to move. She felt Kenshin pull her towards him squeezing her gently. Her limbs were feeling heavy and her eyes even more so. Soon she found herself wrapped in a blanket of darkness. The only comfort coming from the warmth of Kenshin's embrace as he cradled her against him, then there was only blackness.

Author's Notes: Heehee!!! This is my first Rurounin Kenshin Fanfic, its a little different from my Fushigi Yuugi and Ronin Warriors/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers fanfics but I hope you guys like it!! And please Email me with any suggestions, comments, flames, or if your just bored and have nothing better to do. ^_~x This Fanfiction is dedicated to Jen-neechan who got me hooked on RK, and FY.

~Unmei-chan~

Love from the Darkness
Chapter 2: Too Close
by Unmei-chan <mailto:LadiSubaru@aol.com>

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

He leaned against the wood pillar, blank violet eyes staring at a closed door. His mind was racing with all the horrible possibilities it could muster, each thought becoming worse then the first. Yahiko and Sanosuke sat against the paper thin wall that separated them from Kaoru. Yahiko's eyes gazed over at Kenshin.

"Kenshin?" He tried to hide the meekness in his voice but failed miserably. He learned just how miserably when Kenshin looked up at him, his blank eyes finding a focus point. He winced at the forced smile on his face. Could he read him that well, to know the question that was plaguing him?

"Daijoubu de gozaru yo." The words seemed like that belonged to someone else. They were shaky and meakly said, clearly unfitting of the redheaded vagabond.

Kenshin... The boy thought worriedly as the Rurouni's eyes went back to the door. His gaze soon followed that of Kenshin's, a frown playing at the corners of his lips. Kaoru... His mind trailed back the sudden cries of urgency when Kenshin and Sanosuke had come running into the dojo with Kaoru's pale body held tightly in Kenshin's arms. His mind and body became frozen in that moment of pure terror. He wasn't able to move, he could see what was happening around him but he refused to believe it. Every thing became a dark blur in his memory, he could couldn't hear what the others were saying, nor could he have responded to any commands if he had heard them. He didn't know how long he was in that dazed state or when Megumi finally arrived, but every thing was taken care of by the time Sano whacked him across the head. Well, ... almost every thing... Megumi and Kaoru were still behind that condemning door.

"Yahiko?" He started, forced away from his dark and morbid thoughts. Turning he looked to Sano. He was staring down at the boy. A unhabituall seriousness danced in his eyes and deepened his features. "Don't worry about Jo-chan. She'll pull through and she's in the Foxy doctors care now..." From the tone of Sanosuke's voice Yahiko figured the statement was more for Sano then for him. Yahiko gave him a reassuring nod.

"Aa." His attention went back to Kenshin. He eyes carefully watching him. Analyzing him. Even from the way he breathed he could guess something about what he was thinking. His body seemed to have aged in just a few hours, as if finally getting caught up to his real age. How much had this really effected Kenshin? And what if ... what if... Kaoru does die ... what will happen to us... Kenshin would return to the life of the Rurouni... I would lose two of the people who mean the most to me ... and then the others will follow... Yahiko could barley stomach the thought of being alone again. By this time his eyes were staring into Kenshin's. He hadn't even realized that the vagabond had looked at him. Those eyes. Those eyes that could analyze the moves of Shishio Makoto. Those eyes that could bring a new era to a torn country. Those eyes that now stared at him ... no ... not at him, in to him. His cool violet eyes staring through his fiery red gaze. Digging up pieces of emotion they were ment to be hidden. He looked away from him and could tell that Kenshin was about to speak when he was cut off by the opening of Kaoru's bedroom door.

"Megumi-dono?" Kenshin's voice was shockingly desperate as he spoke to the female doctor.

She stared at him for a long moment, deciding on whether or not to sugar code her answer. Pulling back a loose strand of midnight blue hair she came to a decision. "She is awake and can see you ... demo..." She paused lowering her voice. She would explain things to the others at a later time.

"Demo?" He repeated.

"I'm not sure what she has ... her symptoms don't make sense with any diagnosis I can give." She watched Kenshin closely, looking for any type of reaction ... but he gave her none. "She is extremely weak Ken-san. Whatever she has, she has kept it a secret for reasons I don't understand. Without knowing what is wrong I can't treat her ... all I can do is make sure she stays comfortable." Then it happened. A falteration of his body. He leaned against the wall, as if his own weight was to much for him. Then without glancing back at the others he weakly replied.

"W-wakatta." He quitely walked into the room.

"Ken-san..."

He hesitantly stepped into the room. A deep chill followed his steps, surrounding his body. His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of her room. He gasped. There, laying the center was Kaoru. Her body huddled in the fetal position. Her eyes were barely open as thought it was too much of a strain on her body.

"K...Kaoru-dono?" His voice was soft and a little unsteady as he kneeled before her.

"Kenshin..." Her reply was week, holding on to the tone of a sighed breath. Her eyes however, remained bright. The light from the dying sun seemed to still dance with in them. She turned her face to him. Her china doll skin was still the same soft ivory color. Her hair spread out around her in a raven pillow as her kimono hung slightly off her left shoulder. Gods she was beautiful...if not for the cold sweat that had broken out on her forehead one wouldn't be able to tell she was ill. Then a bitter thought hit Kenshin. Stabbing him in the gut like a thousand swords. What if he could never see this face again? What if this was the last time he would ever have this chance to be alone with her? Never again being able to see her smiling face. Never again laugh as she fought with Yahiko. He could feel the stinging of hot tears, but fought against them, holding them back. His eyes widened in shock as he felt Kaoru's hand against his scarred cheek. He wanted to pull away in that moment, afraid to contaminate her innocent soul with the blood that stained his body, but it was his body that refused to pull away. Instead he place his hand against hers. A solitary tear falling onto Kaoru's hand. A soft smile played with the corners of her lips as concern and a little something else glimmered in her eyes.

"Kaoru-dono...su ... suminasen" Kenshin turned his eyes from her, but his face was unwilling to pull away from that warm touch.

"Nani? Why for? This wasn't your fault..." She said softly, somehow being able to sit up despite the pain.

"I should have seen it ... gotten you help before it developed into something like this... I'm supposed to be the one protecting you-"

"Kenshin ... no one is blaming you for any thing. If any thing I should be apologizing to you. I shouldn't have hid this from you, Yahiko, and Sanosuke. I didn't want you to worry. I kept telling myself it was nothing ... foolishly lying to myself." She paused in drew in a sharp breath of air. "Besides I can still fight this, ne Kenshin?" She smiled confidently at Kenshin. Her smile faded however, his eyes slowly turned to meet hers. Kaoru found herself caught up in those eyes. Normally so happy, cheerful, and always with a faint glimmer of mystery hidden behind them. Now as she gazed into those blue-violet eyes she saw into his soul. Years of loneliness, guilt, and pain poured out with in those invisible tears. Fear too now shone in his eyes... a fear of losing her? Or a fear of being left alone again? Both being one in the same. She never expected him to take this, this hard. Just how did he feel about her? She loved him... She had loved him since the day they met, but she had always held her feelings back in fear the Rurouni didn't return them. Kaoru looked deeper into Kenshin's eyes. But now... I may never have a second chance... She opened her mouth to speak.

"Ke-" She cut off, her body no longer able to hold her, and she fell. She closed her eyes expecting to hit the hard wood floor but instead she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her, making her fall into Kenshin instead. She stayed like for a while unwilling to bring herself to pull away from him. A faint blush came around her cheeks after she felt Kenshin's hand against the curve of her hip. Finally looking up she saw him smiling down at her. His face shockingly close.

"Daijoubu?" Kenshin whispered softly, his warm breath blowing against Kaoru's lips, sending shock waves down her spine. His eyes were no longer plagued with painful feelings but something else. Longing? Desire? Lust? Love? Kaoru felt her blush deepen and her heart began to pound in her chest as she felt Kenshin's hand move hesitantly from her hip to her face, cupping it with in his palm. She closed her eyes and gratefully leaned into his hand. The beating of her heart was deafening and she wondered if Kenshin could hear it or if his own heart was doing the same. She opened her eyes as she felt Kenshin lay her back into her bed.

"Kenshin?" She started as she watched him stand up and head to the door.

He cleared his throat and answered her question quickly. "Yahiko will more then likely wish to see you as well." He turned back and flashed her his trademark smile, and walked out of the room.

She sat there. Fighting back the tears. She lost her chance. Just like that the man who ment the most to her walked out of the door. She painfully laid back in her bed. "K'so." She mumbled between her sobs. Her fingertips bushing against her still tingling lips.

He let out a ragged breath as he leaned his back against the wall. That was close...too close... He reached up to his cheek. He could still feel the warmth of her touch against his skin. How much longer could he bare this? He was tired of pushing her away. He wanted to go in there and hold her against his body and never let go. He wanted to brush away all her worries and tell her every thing would be all right. But it was that faint reminder that scarred his heart has much as his cheek. 'Any one that becomes involved with the Battousai will suffer.'

Kenshin looked down at his hands, and cursed that calloused skin. This is what always held him back. He often wondered how things would have been, or could be if not for the blood that seeped into his soul. He turned back to the door. He was given a seconded chance at life... He reached out his hand and held it on the handle. He knew he was no longer the Hitokiri Battousai... Could he tell her how he felt? With a grunt of disgust he pulled back. No.. telling her that would be condemning her to death ... just like... "Tomoe." He said aloud and continued down to his own room.

Hazel eyes looked up to the moon. Just a faint shadow as though it were still hiding from the setting sun. Waiting for his opposite to depart so that it can keep the vast sky to its self. But such a thing was short lived. A handful of stars began to dot the darkening sky. Each one twinkling happily, oblivious to the pain their watcher was feeling. Oblivious to the sorrow that plagued his heart and soiled a once happy home. The man shrugged. Sure they didn't really have a weeks time between the attacks of homicidal maniacs that threatened to destroy them all or just Kenshin, but they had always won. Not without a few broken bones and a couple near death experiences. But the point was they always won. There was nothing the 'Kenshin-gumi' couldn't fight ... that is until now.

Sanosuke took in a mournful breath. The group was slowly falling apart. In just a few short hours he could already see it happening. Or maybe the ex-gangster was over reacting to Yahiko's sudden drawl from people. It was just a small thing really, now that he thought about it. It was a natural reaction to what Megumi had told them.

Demo... He thought to himself with downcasted eyes. He knew it wasn't that he got up and left without so much as a whisper, but the air in the room as the young samurai left. It was a cold morbid feeling that chilled Sano to the bone. He shivered. The night is oddly cold for mid summer... Sanosuke sighed, knowing full well that it wasn't the cold. "Che." He mumbled. Why now? Why when every thing seemed ta be finally getting back to normal ... why does pain have to follow us...him around where ever we go? What Gods has Kenshin cursed ta make'em hate him like they do. He squeezed his eyes shut. Unwilling to let the stinging tears break free.

"Yahiko." Kenshin stood before the boy's closed bed room door. He could feel the chi around the room, but was too disturbance to actually read it. He slowly pulled open the aging wooden door and gaped around the room, his mouth dropped slightly. The room was torn apart! Manga laid ripped and torn on the floor. Clothing was scattered in every corner of the room. And it was there he saw him huddled in a small portion of his room that was saved from devisation with a shinai, broken in two, laying behind him. He walked over to the young boy, his shoulders were heaving as he took in sobbed gasps of air and his head was buried with in his arms.

"Yahiko?" Kenshin asked softly putting his hand on his shoulder only to have the boy shrug him off. "Yahiko." He repeated again. His voice calm and his smile soft as he kneeled down beside him. "You know it takes an even stronger man to show his tears." Yahiko turned his head to Kenshin. Red rimmed eyes peering out at him.

"I...I'm afraid. I don't want to be alone again." Kenshin started as Yahiko turned away from him. "I've lost my dad and mom ... you, Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Megumi are all that I have." Yahiko took in a ragged breath. "If...if I...if I lose Kaoru, I-" His voice was cut off by merciless sobs, and they only worsened as he felt Kenshin put his arms around his shoulders. He forced the youth to turn to him, but his eyes still stared to the floor.

"No matter what happens, you will never be left alone." Kenshin gripped his shoulders tightly with his hands. "Look at me." He waited for Yahiko to met his gaze. "No matter what happens, I won't leave you and neither will Kauro-dono." Maybe it was the tone in Kenshin's voice, or the way his words shone through in his eyes, but those simple words seemed to make every thing right again. He fell into Kenshin's warm embrace. Sobbing against his shoulder. Has time wore on his crying ceased and he was able to forget about what was happening out side his bedroom doors. He felt safe there with Kenshin. It all felt right to him as he slowly began to drift off in the Rurouni's arms, curling up to him like any ten year old would do with a parent. Even if is mind was more of an adults then it was a child's he was still after all a child.

Kenshin felt a small laugh escape his lips as he listened to Yahiko's heavy breathing. He shifted his body weight so that most of it was going into the wall. He sighed, because of tonights events his mind wouldn't let him sleep, but that really didn't bother him. He looked down to Yahiko sleeping comfortably against him. At lest one of them would have worry free dreams.

Author's Notes: Yeah so maybe I am the slowest writer on the face of the planet but I'm new to this Kenshin Fanfic thing ... soooo =Þ beeeeeeeeeda!

Love from the Darkness
Chapter 3: If I Never Come Back
by Unmei-chan <mailto:LadiSubaru@aol.com>

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

The night wore on slowly. It had seemed as though hours had passed since Kenshin had laid Yahiko down in his bed. Now, here he was standing in the middle of the garden, his weight put into one of the large stones that lined the walk. Silken strands of red hair fell though his fingers has his head rested in his hands. Most of his hair had slid out of their cloth confines and now fell over his shoulders surrounding him in a deep crimson curtain. Tired eyes stared at the ground as a Sakaba-tou leaned against his shoulder. He was tired but his mind wouldn't allow him to sleep.

*Kaoru-dono...* Kenshin inhaled deeply, welcoming the night air. There was always something comforting about the night. He could feel at home in the dark shadows and pale highlights of the moonlight. He felt that the night was something he could control, no matter what was happening around him the night was his element and made him forget, like a sweet drug. But as reassuring as that feeling was, it terrified him. It was the Battousai that enjoyed the night. Sure, the Battousai was hitokiri in the day time, killing in broad daylight surrounded by people, but the night ... it was a different story. Living in the shadows, using ones fear against them, and then becoming their nightmare. Kenshin felt his body shiver, the thought was so seductive that it frighten him. The line between the man he is and the man he was, was thin. Made up of only his will to live and those that he cared for. But now...the person who held him together, who gave him his will to live, and the person he cared for most, was laying in her room barely clinging to life. His head sunk deeper as he closed his eyes. A pain rooted in his chest began to spread through out his body and it hurt more then any wound he had ever been delt. Now as he closed his eyes he could see her face. Kaoru's eyes sparkling as she smiled and whispered his name in the way only she could. His eyes shot open making the image disappear. Why did he have to looser now...hadn't the great hitokiri lived though enough turmoil? Why did he have to face this again? A noise escaped his lips, it was one of pain and sorrow. As though his bottled up feelings were looking for some form of release.

"K'so!" He cried between clenched teeth.

Sanosuke was finally heading home. He had no idea how much time had passed since he fell asleep outside. As he made his way to leave the dojo something from the corner of his eyes caught his attention. Slumped over drunkenly against a rock was Kenshin. His hair hiding his features from view given him no indication of the Rurouni's condition. He walked over to him and placed a kind hand on his shoulder but his hand only gripped air and Kenshin was gone. "Nani!?"

"S..Sano!?!" Sanosuke turn to the voice to find Kenshin with his Sakaba-tou drawn his eyes as wide as Sano's. Sanosuke looked from the sword in Kenshin's hand to Kenshin then back to the sword again, his mouth unable to form words. Kenshin's face turned into a sheepish smile. "Gomen ne de gouzaru ka." He started as he sheathed the reversed blade. "You startled me is all..." Sano expression had changed from shock to bafflement.

*I startled YOU!?!* He thought to himself. "Daijoubu." He replied lazily, pretending to just shrug it off. "Ano...Kenshin, how ya doing?"

"Daijoubu de gouzaru ka..." Kenshin sighed out his answer as he sat himself back down on the cooling grass. Sano only gave him an incredulous glare, he knew better then question him any further. "Its gonna be a little quite around for the next few days." Kenshin finished with a forced laugh.

"Aa." It was all Sanosuke could say. He had never seen his friend like this before. He was hurting and it pained Sano that he couldn't say any to ease Kenshin's suffering. All he could do was stand there awkwardly. Wordlessly implying that he was there if he needed him. He had seen Kenshin through hell and stared into the eyes of the devil himself. He had watched Kenshin take blows that no other man would have been able to survive but now, as he looked at the man, he saw death. Heart ache was more sever then any wound and more deadly than any blade. "Kenshin-"

"Battousai ... its been a while."

"Eh?" Sano darted his head up to the voice to find a tall dark figure standing at the entrance to the Kamiya Dojo. The figure moved a cigarette to his lips and kept his other hand firmly on the hilt of his Katana. Sano blinked his eyes several times, his mind not fully buying what they were seeing. *Iie... it can't be... I watched the bastered die...*

"EYAAAAA!!! GHOST, GHOST, GHOST!!" Sanosuke screamed and ran up to the shadowed figure. "I make it my responsibility to send you back to the land of the dead." His face was solum and he started to dance in a form of exorcism.

"Aho..." The figured stated dryly, slapping Sano across the head forcing him into the ground. "Stay there before you become stupider."

"Kisa-"

"Saitoh Hajime..." Kenshin's eerily low voice caught their attention. "What business do you have with me?"

"Hmph." Saitoh smirked at the Rurouni's coldness and refusal to even glance up at him. "I came to give you warning...nothing more." He paused and waited impatiently for Sanosuke to get comfortable. "I had wished my life to remain secret to you for...obvious reasons, but some interesting news founds it way to my desk this morning."

Sano put a hand on his head and pointed at finger at Saitoh. "News brought you back from the dead?" Sano inquired. Saitoh didn't pay any attention only sighed and mumbled a few choice words in the ex-gangsters direction.

"Hoshi Kiken has escaped..." Kenshin's eyes shot up in that instant. Sano thought that their might have been a glimmer of fear in his eyes but quickly brushed the thought aside. *Impossible.*

"Hoshi...Kiken?" Sano asked fixing his eyes on Kenshin.

"He was ... he was someone I fought with before I came to Tokyo..."

"Nani?!?" With a sigh the Rurouni began his explanation.

"I've spent ten years wondering around Japan and I have never seen a Ki like his... Shishio could only wish to see such raw Ki energy..." Kenshin's words seemed to have struck Sanosuke hard. It was as though the Rurouni really was terrified of this person. However his voice held the same tone through out never wavering.

"He was part of an ancient Ninja clan whom the Meiji government was forced to 'erase.' Much like the Hitokiri Battousai the Hisoka Ni Gumi were controlled by the Meiji. An organization kept secret for many years ... even I didn't know about them till the Ishinshishi thought it was necessary for me to know. They worked in the shadows and if they were found that person would not live long enough to tell their tale. They obeyed the Ishinshishi without question, being promised a huge sum and high ranks to those who asked. Demo ... much like many of the Ishinshishi promises they broke their agreement and disallowed any knowledge that the clan had ever existed. The clan promised revenge against the Meiji government ... then, in the night, a hitokiri was sent into their village and killed all but one..."

"Hoshi." Sano finished. "But what does this have to do with you?"

"Aho ... who do you think it was that the Ishinshishi sent after the clan?" Saitoh took a long drag from his cigarette and flicked it to the ground as Sanosuke's mouth dropped. Slowly his eyes moved to meet Kenshin's.

"Kenshin..." Kenshin diverted his eyes to look at the ground before he continued.

"About two years ago, while I was wondering through Sanjo, I fought with a man know as Hoshi Kiken. Hoshi claimed to be part of the Hisoka Ni Gumi, and vowed to destroy the Meiji starting with the Hitokiri Battousai... He killed men, women, and children just to get to me ... he had no fear of crime and punishment ... and no fear of death ... he only wishes to live long enough to avenge his clan." A sigh of relief came from Sanosuke.

"So you've already beaten him once, you can do it again."

"Iie... I didn't win, he had me ... he could have killed me, and would have if not for the police arriving when they did. They shot Hoshi in the leg before he could finish me." Sano felt something inside of him become ill and his face paled.

"A man ... stronger then Kenshin?"

"How, after all this time, does that shock you?" Saitoh asked glaring at the ex-gangster. "Shishio was not weaker nor was he stronger then the Battousai...they were at equal strength...Iie ... because of the Battousai's injuries he was even stronger. If not for Aoishi and me he would have killed him." He finished as he took a long drag off his cigarette then flicking it to the ground.

"Oi! I was there too!!!"

"Spectators don't count."

"Saitoh?" Saitoh stopped his torment of Sanosuke and looked over at Kenshin.

"Hmm?"

"Why? Why did you come back and warn me?" Kenshin's eyes shadowed over eerily as he spoke.

"Hmph." Saitoh gave him a weak laugh before he answered.

"Simple, if any one is going to kill the Battousai, it will be me."

"Saitoh!!" Sano yelled but the man only turned his back to him and walked away. "Yaro..."

"Sanosuke..." He quickly turned his attention back to Kenshin, Saitoh already forgotten. "I need you to take Kaoru-dono and Yahiko to your place... Its to dangerous for them to stay here." Kenshin glared straight through Sano as though trying to see the wall behind him.

"Kenshin-"

"And if..." Kenshin cut him off his face now hidden under a cover of red. "I don't come back... I need you to tell Kaoru-dono something...A-" Sanosuke waved a hand in front of Kenshin's face silencing him.

"Uso ... for one I don't wanna take the risk of moving Jo-chan ... her condition is to fragile ... and even if I did move her she wouldn't stay. She would be back by your side before I could turn around. She went to Kyoto for you ... do you honestly think that just because she's ill she won't walk a few blocks?" For the first time that evening Kenshin looked into Sano's eyes. His eyes were slightly different then before, colder in some way ... but the coldness wasn't directed towards him but at something else. *Who ever the hell this Hoshi guy is ... he's got Kenshin spooked.* Abruptly the Rurouni turned at his heels and walked down the way he came. Sanosuke reached out a hand to stop him but quickly pulled back. *Iie... He doesn't need me right now ... he needs her."

Kenshin quietly opened the door. For a moment he just stood there, staring at her sleeping form, his head resting lightly against the door frame. Then, as though nature was working against him, a gust of wind had urged him into the room forcing the rest of his hair out of it binder in the prosseces. He really didn't think about what he was doing ... but suddenly he found himself kneeling before her, his hand gently stroking back locks of raven hair from her face. His eyes glistened softly as he stared down at her. His mind taking him back to their fated meeting on the streets of Tokyo, the words 'I don't care about your past.' echoing in his mind. Taking him back to the night he had left her for Kyoto a place he promised to never return to. Taking him back to that night on roof of the Aoi-ya. Then to last night ... her body so close to his as they slept. He took her hand into his and sighed.

"Gomen nasai Kaoru-dono ... I didn't mean to make you worry about me all those times... your way of getting me back, ne?" A laugh fell out of his mouth at the irony of it. He placed his hand against her cheek, his mind to numb to remember his eariler fears. "I have to leave you for a while. I wish I didn't have to... but if something were to happen here you wouldn't be able to protect yourself." Kenshin inhaled deeply biting back on the soft scent of Kaoru's perfume filling his lungs. " I will try to come back to you...but if I don't...if something happens to me... You will always have Sano, Yahiko, and Megumi-dono... you won't be alone." That isn't what he wanted to say, but that was all he could push from his mouth. He wanted to tell her so much more but his spirit wouldn't let him and he left it at that. "I don't think being alone is what the girl is afraid of." Kenshin's eyes became wide as he spun around to look into the face of Mirbu's Wolf.

"Oro!? S...Saitoh!? How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough." He glared at the Battousai as though sizing him up. "I'm surprised you hadn't noticed me earlier Battousai..." Saitoh glanced back at the girl laying protectively behind Kenshin. "The girl... how is she?" Whether it was out of general concern over Kaoru or simple courosity Kenshin couldn't tell. He never could understand what Saitoh was thinking.

"Why do you care?" Something flashed in the Wolf's eyes. Kenshin thought it could have been anger? Anger that he had questioned his sincerity? Whatever it was, it was quickly covered up by his famous smirk.

"Hmph, after all this time, Battousai ... you still don't know what to think of me. Just expressing my concern for you mental well being... if something were to happen to the girl I believe your mind would snap." Kenshin's eyes widened. This man's normal coldness never surprised him...but this, this went beyond the Saitoh Hajime he had come to know.

"Saitoh..." His golden eyes glanced down at Kenshin a smirk still toying with the corner of his mouth.

"Or I should say you still don't know how to think of me." Saitoh began his descent down the wooden stairs to the side gate. "It would be wise for you be alert Battousai... Hoshi was Ninja ... and good enough to escape death at the Hitokiri Battousai's hands more then once." He disappeared around the corner and into the shadows of the streets. Kenshin only stared after him, a shiver running down his spine.

Cold gray eyes glinted under the light of the silver moon. They glared down at a redheaded samurai as he took his place once again by the Kamiya girl. "Himura Battousai ... while I have been rotting away in the jails, you've made off quite nicely for a murder...unmindful of your sins." The figure let out a deep throaty laugh I bet everybody adores this Himura Kenshin person you've become ... but they don't know you like I do... I've seen the devil in your eyes." An invisible smirk came across that man's lips, uncaring and cold. "Don't worry my Battousai ... Judgment Day will come ... for you and the Meiji."

Love from the Darkness
Chapter 4: A Rurouni's Decision
by Unmei-chan <mailto:LadiSubaru@aol.com>

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Kenshin pushed himself off the red rotting pillar and walked over to the well placed by the side gate of the dojo. The moon was shining directly into the water hole, penetrating though the in coming cloud cover, making it possible for him to see a reflection. Taking in a shaky breath, he stared down at the man who looked back up at him. Etched into his face were years of pain, grief, bloodshed, and loneliness, every thing he felt was now staring back at him in a haunting gaze.

Ragged clothing hung loosely off his slim frame while tired eyes stared him down. His hair had fallen over his right shoulder, cascading down to his chest. As he stared on, the red locks remained unmoving until a harsh warm summers wind blew across his body, disturbing the peaceful sea of crimson. The silk strands fell into his face, covering up the cross scar. With such a simple movement his features softened, almost...becoming feminine. His soft violet eyes only added to the effect as the reflected moon light danced off the water and into his eyes. He could almost hear the playful banter of his father as he joked about raising a daughter instead of a son. He was his mothers child...he himself was the only thing he had to remind himself of her. It was her hair, her eyes, even her face with only a few delicate mixtures of his father's facial features.

A tiny droplet of rain fell, disrupting his reflection in the shallow well. The image before him changed again. The blood red hair melted away into a curtain of dark raven. Violet eyes became a gemstone blue and shone with innocence as they stared up at their onlooker. Soft delicate lips smiled up at him as they lovingly mouthed his name. This was the second time such an image had taken place, however this one felt ten times more painful. "Kaoru...dono..." His voice was carried off softly by the wind.

The mirage disappeared as more drops fell into the well. Kenshin sat there, his eyes never moving. His knuckles long since turned white with the force of his grip around the frame work of the well. His teeth pressed together as the longing and pain began to break him. As the rain turned into a relentless down pour, his eyes shot up to the sky, his tears mingling with the trails of rain that ran down his face. Kenshin's breathing became steady words of remorse. Feelings of self-pity forced him to think things that he would never have thought himself worthy to think. Words he never thought he would say flowed freely from his lips. Every thing he tried to accomplish, ten years of making up for the Hitokiri's crimes suddenly meant nothing to him. With a deep breath he looked up to the moon and screamed.

"HOW MUCH SUFFERING DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH! WHY HER?! SHE'S NEVER DONE ANY THING WRONG! ITS NOT FAIR!!" He felt his legs buckle beneath his weight, he fell into the mud, his hands clenching the dirt. "Its been ten years..." He mumbled softly. "Ten fucking years..."

Sanosuke sat in the shadows of the dojo. He had just finished his check of the dojo grounds when he had witnessed Kenshin's break down. In the pit of his stomach he felt his earlier fears rise up. However, his body didn't move out to the Rurouni...and his voice never carried a kind tone. There was nothing he could say...there was nothing for him to say. It was Kenshin's pain...no one but him could know the amount of suffering he had lived through and was living through. His figured returned to the shadows of the dojo as he turned his back to the Rurouni.

The sun had cast its late summer warmth onto the capital city. Its morning rays already evaporating the puddles from the storm. A solitary figure strode down the still deserted streets. Dark curious eyes glancing at all the closed down shops and stands that lined the main city street. With in hours the town would be alive with children laughing, mothers scolding, and men drinking. The ends of his coat thrashed in the wind, creating a rustling sound that almost seemed deafening on the quiet dirt road. A smile spread across the man's thin lips as he noticed another walking towards him. Red hair flew loosely around slender shoulders and shadowed over his eyes. A cross scar on his left cheek proving his identity just as well as any thumb print. The wind suddenly silenced as they crossed paths, as if in some sort of anticipation. However, he made no move for the man, nor did the man make any move for him.

He had his chance then to make the Battousai suffer, but then where would the fun be in that? He wanted to see the horror in the man's amber eyes like he had once two years ago when he held his life at the tip of a blade of cold steal. He wanted to hear him beg at his feet for mercy... No to kill him now would be too easy. He wanted to prolong this day for as long as possible. Silver eyes looked over a broad shoulder at the Hitokiri.

*He is heading for the Niigata prefecture...* His smile became twisted and cruel. *My predictable Battousai... heading back to the old fighting grounds...* He turned his attention back to the road before him. Small dust clouds arose from the street as the wind once again picked up and continued playing with the man's short black hair. Hours had passed as he kept his pace. A small seemingly run down dojo loomed in the distance. When he came closer a small sign outside the main entrance caught his attention.

"Kamiya Kasshin Ryu...huh." He mused once he was close enough to read the characters. "A non-killing technique... used for these more peaceful times. Not quite the place I would expect you to be hiding out, Battousai." An image of a Sakabatou clashing with a katana flashed in his mind. "But then again, I would never underestimate you." He looked up to the roof top. The place certainly looked different in the day time...there were not to many places one could stay hidden like he had last night, tucked safely away in the shadows.

*Guess I'm gonna have to go with the direct approach.* He was about to knock on the aged door when a woman's voice filled his ears.

"Ohayo, may I help you with something?" He turned his head to face a young woman. She stood taller then most and was about the same age has him, if not slightly younger. Long black hair was tucked behind her ears as she stared at the man suspiciously. His eyes wandered down to the medicine box held firmly in her arms, his eyes widening as if he realized just who this woman was.

He turned back to the door a smile forming to his lips. "Iie...well, maybe... I was just wondering if this was the home of Himura Battousai?" From the corner of his eyes he could see the startled expression on the woman's face, but it was quickly covered up by a look that could have belonged to a protective mother.

"Who wants to know?" Megumi asked crossly, eyeing him carefully.

"My name is Hoshi Kiken. Himura-kun and I both worked for the Ishinshishi back turning the wars. I had heard he had been killed near the end of the Dynasty and I believed it too... that is until recently. Someone told me of a great swordsmen living in Tokyo. One that was great enough to bring down the infamous Shishio Makoto. I didn't believe it at first, so I had to come down here and see for myself." He flashed his practiced smile to the young woman and began his descent down the road.

"Matte!" His eyes glinted coldly when his body halted. "You say your a friend of Ken-san?"

"Hai... gomen nasai for the intrusion... I was just glad to hear that Himura-kun was alive and living peacefully in this new area" He bowed and once again began to walk away. He heard the woman let out a sigh.

"Iie, I didn't mean to sound so rude to you. We're all on edge lately. Onegai... come in. If your Ken-san's friend I'm sure he wonders about you too."

"I'm sure he does..." With those words a smile came across his face, hiding the idea that there could be any other meaning to those words. Megumi smiled kindly back at him and lead him in through the back gate.

*Its... its... just like every time before.* Kaoru thought to herself as she propped herself up against the wall. The pain was still there but it was bearable, and her breathing was normal. This incident was more severe then the others had been... but the after effects were the same. She pulled herself the rest of the way up and dressed the way she would any other day. She wasn't going to let this whole damned thing get the best of her... that not the way she was. She never gave in easily and she wasn't going to start. She had a dojo to keep, bills to pay, and three freeloading men to feed. She pulled open her door and took in a fresh breath of air. She could feel the dampness of the storm from the night before against her skin as she walked down the hallway, stopping momentarily to pick a flower from a near by bush. She gently fingered the soft petals, but was careful not to disrupt the light misting or rain water that still lingered on its pinkish blossom.

She sighed lightly, then something struck her. "Minna? Doko?" A silence filled her ears that she had been unfamiliar with since Kenshin's arrival

*Kenshin...* She remembered the night before, and the look in Kenshin's eyes as he stared at down at her. She could feel her heart fluttering inside her chest, sending butterfly feelings around her body.

*He'd be happy to see that I'm all right...* The thought warmed her as she began her trek down the narrow halls to the kitchen where he normally would be this time of day. She forced herself to stop as she ran by one of the closed doors, a voice grabbing her attention.

"What do you mean he's gone!?" A child's angered voice yelled.

"Yahiko..." Kaoru confirmed softly to herself. "Who's he talking to..."

"Whaddya mean, 'what do I mean'? He's gone... he took off some time last night."

"Sanosuke?" It was him alright... but his tone was different... distant as thought not wanting to say the whole truth. "Who are they talking about..." Kaoru asked the air around her, purposely denying the obvious.

"How could he leave now?"

"Kenshin had his reasons..." Kaoru felt her body going numb. He had left her... took off in the middle of the night... and left her.

*Iie... Kenshin wouldn't do that. He promised me he wouldn't.* She inhaled deeply and started running down the hallways.

"He's still here... I know he is. He wouldn't leave me." She repeated these words to herself as her eyes took quick glances into the open rooms. Her mind too busy to even watch where she was going. Suddenly there was the flash of stars and she was thrown down to the floor.

"Itai..." She whined. "Who put the wall in the middle of a hallway..."

"Kaoru!" Kaoru looked up the sound of her name. Her vision slightly blurred from the impact with what ever object she collided with. But as the colors began to take shape she felt a heat on the back of her neck.

"M-Megumi-san!" but she wasn't alone, next to her stood a handsome man with dark black hair and entrancing silver eyes. His features were ruff but at the same time soft with the appearance of a two day beard lining his jaw. He was holding his midsection with the expression of slight pain on his face. Slowly Kaoru put things together and felt her face redden with embarrassment.

"Gomen nasai! I...I wasn't thinking... Daijoubu?" The man smiled and extended his hand out to her to help her off the floor. She excepted it thankfully and was about to ask his name when her speech was cut off.

"Kaoru..."

"Hai, Megumi-san!"

"What on earth are you doing!? Ken-san would have a heart attack if he saw you now... I want you in bed... you shouldn't be out like this with the condition your body is in!" Kaoru took a step back... Megumi was actually angry with her. Her mouth opened several times, each time a new excuse was on the tip of her tongue but she bit them back. Kaoru turned her eyes to the floor.

"Gomen..." She said meekly. "I was just looking for Kenshin... I wanted to talk to him, demo, I can't find him." Dread began raising in her chest as the echo's of Yahiko's and Sanosuke's argument filled her ears. "Megumi-san, Kenshin wa doko?" Her eyes picked up from the floor to meet Megumi's only to see confusion in her eyes. She was about to ask the question again when her body jumped. A strong hand was clenched around her shoulder, but she didn't need to turn around to see the grim expression on Sanosuke's face... she could see it just as clearly in her mind. Instead she bowed her head, her bangs shadowing her eyes, and very quietly repeated her question. "Kenshin wa doko?"

"He's gone." Sanosuke's tone was brief but Kaoru didn't need to hear any more. He was gone... there no need for further explanation. Kaoru wasn't even sure if she wanted to hear it. All of them fell along the same lines any way, she was too weak, he wanted to protect her, and he didn't want her mixed up in his battles. Why couldn't he just understand that his battles were her battles too. She felt the sting of her tears but she refused to let them fall. "Not now..." She mumbled under her breath. "Not ever again." She shrugged Sanosuke's hand off her shoulders. "I'm not going to waste my tears for someone who doesn't even care." Her voice was low and haunting. Sanosuke just shut his eyes, slowly shaking his head. Kaoru turned up to the stranger who looked down on her, his soft smile hiding his thoughts. It seamed almost as though he knew more about what was going on then his expression showed. Kaoru took those thoughts from her mind. She just wanted to be alone, so, bowing politely she excused herself.

Sanosuke's eyes followed Kaoru until she disappeared behind the corner. He sighed and returned his eyes to Megumi and her companion, whom he was noticing for the first time. He sized up the man, and he could tell he was doing the same to him, testing battle aura's, strengths, and possible weaknesses. Their eyes met and Sano could feel his blood run cold, they were dark silver voids that radiated with blood lust. Those eyes alone would be enough to paralyze an opponent, sticking fear into even the bravest man's heart. They showed the arrogance in this man was rightfully thought. Even Kenshin wouldn't stand a chance against such a man... With that thought Sanosuke's eyes widened. "Who are you?"

The smile on the mans face twisted into one of a mad man. "Oh, I think you already know who I am... don't you?"

"What going on?" Megumi asked looking between the two men, Sanosuke's body was tense as light beads of sweat began to form against his brow. The other man never lost his calm, ice cold demeanor. He stood there smirk at Sano as though he were nothing more then a child. She was torn away from her thoughts by a painful grip around her wrist. She soon found herself standing behind Sanosuke, his hand holding tightly around her arm.

"Kisama!" He let go of the woman's hand and got into position, readying his body for any thing. All he got form his enemy was a horrid, bitter, mocking laughter. "What's so funny!?"

"You, child, you. The Battousai couldn't even defeat me and yet you have the tenacity to think that you even stand a chance against me... that, boy, is what humors me." His tone, although mocking, kept its coldness.

"Sano... what's going on!?!" Megumi found herself yelling into Sanosuke's ear as she clench onto his shoulder. Sano's eyes went to the delicate hand that held onto him, a faint smirk on his lips.

"Heh, Hoshi Kiken... you came here looking ta settle an old score with Kenshin... well I'm sorry ta break it to ya but Kenshin left." Hoshi let out a grunted laugh and walked off the wooden porch, into the small garden. *He's readying himself to fight...* Sanosuke noted as his eyes never left the figure.

"The Battousai left this morning for the Niigata prefecture..." Hoshi's hand moved to one of the many blossoms that prospered on the old cherry tree. He plucked it off and stared as though mesmerized by the afternoon sun that danced off the droplets of moister. "I passed by him this morning... rather disturbing site I must say. He was looking upset as though he didn't want to leave. Not only that, but there was a great disturbance inside of him. One of great confusion that even the most dimwitted fighter couldn't help but notice." He turned his eyes back up to Sanosuke a crooked smile on his face. "I was tempted to take him down then, put the poor bastard out of his misery, god knows he wouldn't have seen it coming. I figured, however, where would the fun be in such an act? It would be much more suiting to kill him where he lives..."

"You may have beaten him once, but you don't stand a chance in hell now." Sano clenched his fists, holding back on his anger.

"Lemme guess... the ougi ne? What was it called again? Amakakeru-Ryu-no-Hirameki?" He heard a faint curse from Sanosuke's lips. "Don't sound so shocked... I make it my business to know my opponent and his acquaintances. Sagara Sanosuke, ex-gangster, loose cannon, former Sekihou-tai member, and right hand to the Battousai." His gaze turned to Megumi. "Takani Megumi, used to work for Takeda Kanryuu... illegally making and aiding the distribution of opium... now a highly recommend doctor." Hoshi's eyes looked into the dojo, the outline of a shinai stood out against the sun. "Ahhh, Myoujin Yahiko, the only student of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and by far its best. The boy wonder of this little clan, and lets not forget the heart and soul of this family, the key to the Battousai, Kamiya Kaoru. Not a very good weakness to have laying around such incompetence, and in the condition she's in..."

"Bastard!!"

"Nani? Did I upset you, Sagara-kun?"

"I swear to god, you touch her... or any one else in this dojo-"

"You'll what? Please... spare me the mellow-drama, you are the lest of my worries." Hoshi waved his hand distantly at Sanosuke.

"I'm not the one you will have to worry about, you even lay a finger on Jo-chan, Kenshin WILL destroy you." Hoshi closed his fist around the blossom in his hand, crushing it.

"Ha, you still don't get it do you? That's what I'm hoping for. If you want the man to fight... you gotta hit him where it hurts." He removed his blade from its sheath brandishing it as its cold steal glowed red in the sun. "Now... I really don't have all day to sit here and chat... so if you wish to fight me." He opened his fist letting the flower fall to a puddle below his feet. "Then Come!"

Sanosuke jumped off the porch ignoring Megumi's cries. With a fierce yell and ran towards Hoshi, his bandage hand held back so that it wouldn't serve as a weakness to him. He tried to land punches but Hoshi moved to quickly for him. It reminded him of fighting Kenshin for the fist time, the speed and the skill were an equal match to Kenshin's if not stronger. His thoughts kept him away from his fight for a moment to long and he felt a sharp jab to his gut forcing him vomit. That was it! This fight was over. Hoshi used the handle of his sword to land several hits to Sanosuke's chest. He had no intention of killing him. *but you would be surprised what one can live through.* He thought coldly to himself as he watched the gangster fall to his feet.

"Sagara-kun... you proved to be a disappointment..." He gave him a sharp kick to his chest and stared up at Megumi, her body was shivering as she stared down at Sano's motionless body. "I'm Truly sorry you had to see that... but now I can't have you wondering around Tokyo freely?" Wild terrified eyes stared up at him, but from behind her he heard a cry, a battle yell that almost seemed like it belonged to the Battousai himself. But out of the shadow's came a child he noticed before. The shinai raised and ready to fight. Yahiko ran for him but before the wooden sword could connect he was tossed aside with a sharp blow to his face. The young child flew into the wall and stayed there, motionless as the Shinai fell from his hands. "Boy, don't toss away your life just for pride." He returned his attention back to Megumi. She was getting up to run from him but his body was to fast and his hand had gone to the side of her neck hitting her pressure point and knocking her unconscious.

"Three down... one to go."

Kaoru walked down the hall towards her room. Her face solum as she entered her room, but as she passed by the doorway she felt something under her foot. Stepping back she picked up the object and examined it. Her hands almost letting go when she realized what it was. It was Kenshin's hair binder. The soft cotton cloth zigzagged through her fingers as a faint musky sent pick up from it. It was Kenshin's scent...tears began to fall from her eyes as she felt herself falling to the floor. She buried her head in her hands, never hearing the footfalls of someone behind her, never having the chance to scream or fight back, she never saw the shadow of her attacker. All she saw was blackness as her body went numb.

Kenshin's head darted upward... there was a sudden sickness in his gut as beads of sweat ran down his face. He turned back to Tokyo, it was nothing but a lonely shadow off in the distance, half a days travle already gone by. "Iie... I can't be wrong... I can't afford to be wrong... Hoshi couldn't be in Tokyo by now..." But the Rurouni knew better then to go by that, and that alone. Ever since his days as a hitokiri he always trusted his gut, and his gut was telling thim this was wrong. Images of the man he passed earlier that morning flashed in his mind. He remember how his body chilled when he walked by, but his mind was to far away at the time to react to it. "Che!" He cursed, the strings from his bag slipped through his fingers and fell to the ground. His hand gripped onto his Sakabatou and he ran back to Tokyo. If that was Hoshi he had passed, then it was already to late. Hoshi would be at the dojo by now. Images of Hoshi standing over the lifeless bodies of his is friends as rivers of blood drained from their bodies, flashed through his mind. "Onegai... don't let me be to late... onegai..."

Love from the Darkness
Chapter 5: The Final Piece
by Unmei-chan <mailto:LadiSubaru@aol.com>

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Kenshin could feel his heart pounding in his head as he reached the gates to the Kamiya Dojo. The sun had already begun its decent into the horizon, a horrible reminder of how much time had passed. His mind started reciting every prayer he knew as he pushed open the splintering wood door.

Silence was the only thing that greeted him. A cold unforgiving silence that made the rapid pumping of his heart deafening. His eyes trailed down to his white knuckled grasp around the hilt of the Sakabatou, his thumb tracing around the loose bolt in the handle. A foreboding fear lingered on the back of his neck as single bead of sweat ran down the side of his face. For a moment he felt like he was back in the wars, but the roles had been reversed... instead of him being the hunter he was the hunted. The wind blew across his body, drying the sweat and causing the ends of his hair to lick like flames at his face.

With a heavy foot he forced himself deeper into the grounds, away from the shadows and the quiet taunting of the wind. But it was with in that wind he heard a sound. A delightful soft flowing music surrounded his body, its haunting cords filling his mind with its cursed tune.

"Nanda?" He whispered, his voice distant. Despite the feelings growing inside his gut he found himself following the music like a rat after the piper. He followed the endless tune of the bamboo flute until he came to the entrance to the practice hall. A shadow that lurched on the steps brought his senses to full awareness. The music stopped its play forcing the chilling silence to once again take its place. The outline of a small wooden flute shone against its abstract shadows.

"Hoshi!" As he shouted these words he felt something graze pasted his right cheek. A small thunking sound was heard as whatever it was hit the wood frame of the dojo. Ignoring the faint sting of the fresh wound made by the flying blade he turned.

"Some say the eyes are a mans greatest tool... I say their an instrument that is too easily fooled." Hoshi's voice echoed in the empty home.

"I don't want to play your games this time! What have you done with my friends!"

"Turn around Battousai!" As Kenshin turned his head a candle light flickered inside the practice hall. "No tricks here... I merely had to get them out of the way."

Forcing himself to breathe Kenshin stepped forward into the dojo. The single candle flame that laid in the center of the room was a little less then what he needed, but through the surrounding darkness he could hear the muffled voices of Sanosuke and Megumi as they fought against their gags. Walking further he picked up the candle and stepped over to the figures. Sanosuke's eyes glinted furiously in the orange glow of the candle flame as his hands struggled against a pair of metal cuffs. Kenshin felt himself relax when he noticed other then a few minor cuts and bruises on Sanosuke the two of them were unharmed. Then he noticed something strange about the expression on Megumi's face, her dark eyes were staring down at a small shadow hunched over on the floor. His body tensed up when he lowered the flame; fear gripping at his throat as the shadow gave away to a familiar body.

"Yahiko!" Kenshin gasped nearly dropping the candle. He knelt himself down before the boy and turn his body up right. "Still alive..."

There was a bruise on his cheek and small crimson stain on the floor where his head had been resting.

"Scaved but other wise unharmed... rather generous of me considering the hell you put me through." An amber lightning flashed in the Rurouni's violet eyes as the flame of the candle died out. Slowly, he turned his body to face the door. Out in the center of the yard he could make out Hoshi's form as he brandished his Katana. Its blade hungrily grabbing the dying light of the sun.

"Kaoru-dono wa doko?" His voice an eire calm, his grip around the sakabatou tightening.

"Now she's a different story..."

"Kaoru-dono wa doko!?!" Kenshin growled as he took a dangerous step forward. His anger only increased when he heard the mocking laughter of the Ninija. His laughter came to a chilling halt as a blood thirsty smile twisted at the corners of his lips.

"Ohhh, your really pissed off aren't you... what is it about this girl, that drives you mad." Hoshi's eyes glinted a blood red. "It couldn't be that you've allowed yourself to fall for this woman... I would have thought that someone like you would have known better then that. Exposing a weakness and all... I thought you would have learned."

"Kisama!"

"Ah, ah, ah, my Battousai... watch the language. I believe I'm going to be forced to change my plans... I knew the girl was important to you... but never would I have guess that you had fallen so hard for her. What an interesting turn of events..." Hoshi slid his blade back into its sheath. "This comes down to a perfect little drama doesn't Battou-" He stopped before finishing his sentience. "Gomen! I mean Kenshin-san. The heroine is deathly ill and you have no clue where she is..." His mocking tone has be become sing songy. "Your fight is no longer only with me but now it is with time. I'll show you where your loved one is... demo you must defeat me before you can save her... and if I win... well I don't think you'd want to know."

Kenshin clenched his teeth, he could feel the anger rising in his chest the more he let Hoshi talk. ~~I can't let this guy get to me...~~ He thought to himself. "Draw your Sword."

"I don't think I'll need it to defeat a pissant like you... You've gotten yourself worked over mere words... Skills may have been enhanced by the ougi but your mind has not been improved. However come out here and take your chance." A confident smirk plaid with the corners of Hoshi's mouth.

Narrowed violet eyes followed the Ninija as Kenshin moved out into the Dojo's garden. The shadows always bending around Hoshi's body and face, making it next to impossible for the ex-Hitokiri to read him. Despite the shadow's games Kenshin was able to see into him enough to know Kaoru wasn't as safe as he tried to lead him to believe. "All the more reason to get this fight over with quickly..." He mumbled to himself. His grip around the Sakabatou tighten. ~~I will be forced to attack first.~~ He pulled the sword from its sheath, images of Kaoru flashed in his mind as he started the battle.

"Hiten-Mitsurugi-Ryu..." His speed increased until he seemed to disappear to the untrained eye. Hoshi's careless disposition never changed even when he lost sight of the Rurouni. He knew his tricks, and knew how to measure his speed.

"Ryu-Tsui-Sen..." Hoshi mused softly as his eyes stared above him in time to see Kenshin start coming down at him. His blade pulled over his left arm. With inhuman speed and agility Hoshi disappeared into the shadows leaving the Battousai to slice through only air.

"Nanda..." Kenshin stared around at the surroundings. If not for the bristling of hairs on the back of his neck he would have assumed Hoshi had disappeared. "Hoshi! I don't have time to play these games with you..."

"Play? It isn't me who is playing... that move alone is what almost won you our last battle... demo there seems to be a fire missing behind those eyes. Your not fighting with the same vigor I saw in you the last time our swords clashed. In two years could your soul have changed so much?" His eyes sized up the Hitokiri again.

"Time has away of changing things for the better..." Kenshin retorted his eyes narrowing slightly.

"'For the better you say-"

"Our recent battles haven't changed you any Battousai." Kenshin's eyes widened as the familiar voice cut off Hoshi's comment. "The beating you received from Shishi-o has only made you more pacifistic instead of realistic." The Rurouni turned to face Saitou unable to help the smile that creased his face. In the wolf's arms was a small body a body that Kenshin thanked every god he could think of was in this former enemy's hands. Saitou looked over to Hoshi his trademark cigarette hanging aloofly from his bottom lip. "I almost had to commend you Hoshi-san... demo to take a hostage is not the way Hisoka Ni-gumi. These times have turned you into nothing but a common criminal... there is no honor in your actions... in the name of those Hisoka ni that had died for a better future I cannot allow you soil their name."

"How did you?!" Hoshi stared at the new comer with shock in his eyes, the most emotion Kenshin had seen the Ninija give since they started.

"While your a highly skilled Ninija you make the same mistakes the common thief does... you left your witnesses alive. No matter how secretive you think your being there is always eyes watching, Hoshi-san."

"My mistake." He laughed out dryly in response. "Gomen, demo I have no quarrel with you Shinsen-gumi third troop captain Saitou Hajime. But if you wish to fight me please wait till I have finished with your Battousai."

"Aku-" Kenshin's hilt raised in front of Saitou stopping the infamous words of the Shinsen-gumi's motto.

"Airgatou for saving Kaoru-dono...demo... he is right. This fight is between us. I couldn't let you interfere..." He met Saitou's eyes with a smile on his face. "Where would the honor be if allowed you fight for me? I must answer for my crimes myself..."

"So he shows guilt!? Ohhhh this is too rich!" Hoshi's voice hollered over to them, making a mockery of Kenshin's words. "Because your sorry for what you've done I'm suppose to forgive you and let you live!? Without punishment!?!?"

"Kenshin lives with his punishment everyday. He sees their faces... he hears their screams. Its the last thing he thinks of at night and the first thing he thinks of in the morning." This time the voice came from the bundle in Saitou's arms.

"Kaoru-dono!!" Kenshin ran over her as Saitou placed her on the ground. "Your alright... thank god..." His hands clasped over her own.

"Kenshin..." She whispered softly as her youthful face smiled up at him with a look that could melt the coldest of hearts... almost... Saitou turned his head away from the scene and kept his narrowed eyes on Hoshi.

"You won't have to worry about the girl's illness any more Battousai."

"Oro?" Startled with Saitou's words the Rurouni stared up at him.

"It would seem that Hoshi had been following you around longer then you or I had thought. He was very cleaver in hiding his presences from us... demo for your plan you needed one thing... something that would distract the Battousai enough in battle so that you have the upper edge." The wolf tossed his cigarette to the ground. Hoshi's eyes carelessly watching the red tail the cherry had left as it fell to the earth.

"You've been very busy since your escape. I'll admit those murders at the botanist lab left me stumped... they were pointless, but yet were clean. Something only a professional could do. Then I heard about Kamyia's illness and your earlier escape. I didn't think anything of it at first until your relationship with the Battousai came into the picture. Things became very clear after that, and you've been playing this just has I thought you would."

Kenshin's mouth dropped slowly as everything in the puzzle came together. ~~Some plants were known to cause extreme illnesses in humans, and if Hoshi had been watching me he could have guessed that Kaoru-dono was close to me and would provide enough of a diversion. But the plant's effect would only be momentary before it was flushed out of the system... unless...~~ Kenshin remembered how Kaoru would feel in the mornings as her sickness would get steadily worse over the course of the day. Images of Kaoru cooking in the kitchen filled his mind and in each he noticed where she would set down the finished food in front of the window.

"You would poison Kaoru-dono's food with the herbs you stole from the lab." He accused out loud.

Hoshi smirked. "Now for that to be true what aren't both of you sick?" His question only gained him a smile from Kenshin.

"I have I higher tolerance to cretin herbal drugs, but that wouldn't explain why the other weren't effected. But Kaoru-dono has a soft spot for sweets that I don't hold, so any thing like that would be saved for just Kaoru-dono... and you used that for your advantage."

"Wonderful, absolutely unbelievable. I didn't give you enough credit Kenshin-san... demo you wouldn't have figured it out if not for the honorable Shinsengumi Captain. Quite the force to be reckoned with." Hoshi pulled his blade from the sheath. "However... just because you know this doesn't change anything. "Hisoka Ni-" Hoshi raised his blade. Kenshin knew what was coming. There was no way he could talk his way out of this battle, he wouldn't be able to clear the clouds in this mans eyes.

"I will fight you, not because you wish it, not because of the harms that you forced upon those I care about, but because it is the only way to save you!"

to be continued.....