Author's Note: Hello all! Yes, this a sort-of remake of a story I once posted, but I made a lot of changes, including when the main plot will take place. It will take place a little after the Jinchu arc, but will have a lot of flashbacks and dream sequences to explain missing information. I'm a big Kenshin x Kaoru fan so I'm definitely going to put some fluff between them in the story since they didn't have enough of it in the manga/anime series ^_^ One more thing for the record: I completely and utterly despise the Reflections OVA! Although Kenshin's psychological state is portrayed quite well in reference to the real world (I'm a psychology major), let's face it: he isn't real and if Watsuki-san wanted the storyline to be as realistic and serious as the OVAs, he would have made the manga that way. Plus, Reflections cuts out characters (ex. Misao) and twists various points in the plot which I find irritating. It also makes me cry so I don't watch it often. The soundtrack's good though if you like sad but beautiful music…or the oboe, lol. Anyway, enough of my rant and onto the story ^_^ Enjoy!

*blah* = dream sequence

*blah*= flashback

Disclamer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. If I did, I would be living it up in somewhere where winter isn't cold, lol. I do, however, own my OC ^_^ v

Prologue

*Kyoto 1863- Fall*

"It must be someone of great importance if you've come to me an assignment in person Katsura-sensei," stated a short, red-haired teen, walking into the dimly lit inn room.

"Actually, Himura-kun, I have a favor to ask of you," said the young Choshu Ishin Shishi leader.

"What is it?"

"We have an informant set up in the city, but we have come to believe that the informant's identity has been compromised. I'd like you to retrieve that informant." The teen looked surprised. Rescue was not something usually included in his "job description", but…

"A spy?"

"Not exactly, but this person is especially important to our cause; we need our informant back. …it would be bad if that knowledge fell into the hands of the enemy." Now the teen, one Kenshin Himura, was slightly confused. If the informant wasn't a spy then what information could he possibly have that was valuable? More curousily, what made this informant so important that he, Battosai (as he had come to be named within the Ishin Shishi), who is a hitokiri, has to be the "retriever"?

"What makes you think that the informant is still alive?" asked Kenshin. There was no particular tone to his voice. After leaving his master to join the Ishin Shishi as a hitokiri a few months ago, he found his general demeanor beginning to change. The many assassinations he had already carried out and the knowledge that there were going to be many more, was causing him to become increasingly more withdrawn and antisocial. It wasn't like he wanted to kill people, but it was for a new era where the weak could finally live in peace. That was the only justification he needed for time being. He would find a way make amends for it all later, but, for now, his sword would continue to rain blood upon the Kyoto streets.

"They won't kill her unless they're positive that she won't speak and she won't so there isn't much time." Kenshin's mind ground to a halt.

"The informant's a woman?" Katsura cracked an amused smile at how the revelation caught Kenshin, the hitokiri of the shadows, off-guard.

"She's younger than you so 'girl' would be more appropriate. Her name is Kei Mori and she has been with us as an informant for 2 years now." Kenshin cast a blank stare at his commander. This was starting not to sound right to him. She couldn't have been more than 12 at the time of her "recruitment". Why would they do that? He sighed.

"Where must I go?" Katsura handed Kenshin a small slip of paper.

"We believe she is being held captive at this location. She is most likely being heavily guarded, but a strike is out of the question as it would draw too much attention to ourselves. It will take a skilled swordsman, one whose existence is still hidden, to bring Kei back, thus the reason why I am asking this of you." Kenshin looked away, his face stoic.

"No witnesses. I understand." Kenshin got up. "Very well, I'll leave now."

"Thank you Himura-kun." Kenshin gave a slight nod and walked out the door.

"Are you going out tonight Himura-kun?" asked the elderly landlady, watching him pass her. Kenshin stopped for a moment and gave another slight nod as he adjusted the swords on his belt. And then he left.

The night had a autumn chill, but wasn't uncomfortable. Kenshin was always guarded when walking the streets at night, hand always ready to draw his sword and slash at an enemy. He opened the small piece of paper and rolled his eyes in mental sacasm. All the way on the outskirts of the other side of the city…fantastic. After 15 minutes of cautious walking, he reached his destination. He hid behind a nearby building as he assessed the situation. There weren't any people on the outside as he had expected. Where they watching the building from somewhere else or were they all inside? He didn't want to take any chances. As good as he was, he couldn't take on more than 8 at a time without risking injury. Quickly, he darted from shaded area to shaded area, closer and closer to the target building. It was eerily quiet. There really weren't any people guarding the outside and there didn't appear to be any movement inside. Kenshin cursed mentally. Maybe they had taken Kei and moved to another area, or worse, killed her. He searched his mind for strategies before finally settling on the direct approach. With sword drawn he kicked in the door and prepared for the attacks that were sure to follow. Nothing. He glared into the darkness. He was too late after all. He sighed and sheathed his sword, keeping his hand the hilt just in case. As he began to walk he became aware of a scent he knew all too well. Blood. The moonlight was dim thorugh the windows so he couldn't quite see what was around him, but the room smelled too much of death for him not to figure it out. What the hell is going on? And then he saw it. The flicker of candlelight in an upcoming room. Grasping the sword hilt tighter, he swiftly made his way toward the room. He was prepared for pretty much anything when he stormed into the building…except this. 10 dead corpses lay scattered and splattered across the floor. Sprayed blood from obvious dismemberments and throat wounds, speckled the walls in an almost artistic fashion. There were probably more corpses in the hallway. It would certainly explain a few things. And there, covered in blood, with an even bloodier sword resting in each hand, sat a girl. Kenshin noticed that her kimono had been torn and slashed in a few places, but was most notable was the cut that tore the almost entire lower part in half. Was that cut made intentionally to allow more free movement of her legs? The girl looked up at him with dark brown eyes, her long ebony hair cascading down her shoulders.

"You came a little later than I expected, Himura Battosai-san," spoke Kei quietly. "Sorry about the mess…"

11th Year of Meji-1878 (present day)

Kenshin woke up with a start at the call…well more like yell…of his name.

"Oro?" he yelped, hitting his head on the well he had fallen asleep against.

"Oh, there you are!" said Karou, walking toward him, hands on hips. "I was looking all over for you!" She raised an eyebrow at her now swirly eyed tenant. "Where were you?" Kenshin held his head as he sat up. This one hasn't dreamt of his "sister" in a long time.

"This one was right here, Karou-dono," he said with his traditional rurouni smile. "This one must have accidently fallen asleep." Karou was surprised.

"You fell asleep out here?" Kenshin smiled again.

"This one must have not to hear your voice the first time you called it." Karou's eyes softened. He was usually such a light sleeper and never once, at least since had been living at the dojo, had he been comfortable enough to doze outside. Maybe that meant he was finally starting to find peace by being here. By being with her.

"You know…if you're that tired you could go inside and continue your nap," she said.

"No, this one is well rested now. What do you need, Karou-dono?" Karou felt guilty now. He was sleeping so peacefully before she went and interrupted it.

"I just wanted to ask if you could go to the market to get me a few things," she said softly. "But I changed my mind."

"But this one would be happy to…"

"No!" snapped Karou. Kenshin quickly shut his mouth. Kaoru sighed sadly. "I'm sorry, but you're always so busy worrying about others that you don't leave anything for yourself."

"But this one likes doing things for you." Ok, that wasn't exactly what he meant to say, but maybe she would understand the hidden meaning behind it anyway. She sighed again and turned around and started to walk away. Or..maybe not. Kenshin stood up and tried again. "This one cares for you deeply. You are the most important person and this one wants you to be happy." Karou turned around.

"But I want you to be happy too. Don't you understand that?" Kenshin smiled walked to her.

"It means a lot to this one that you care so much. You don't care about this one's past despite all the wrongs this one has done. You gave this one a home and a place to belong. And you helped this one through many hard times." Karou blushed as he took her hand in his. Her heart felt like it was going to pop out of her chest.

"How could I not?" She paused hesitantly. "I love you." There…the words were finally said. No more inferences, no more games. Her heart beat faster, if that was possible. How would he respond? He smiled, but it was not the standard rurouni one. Was this a true smile?

"This one returns your feelings. This one loves you too." He cupped her cheek."I love you too." Karou's mind barely had time to register his change of self-reference before she felt his soft lips on hers. It was a sweet, lingering kiss that made her whole body tingle. She wished this moment would never end.

"Hey Ugly, you out here?" yelled Yahiko, strolling onto the porch. Kenshin and Karou quickly separted, blushes staining their faces. Yahiko smirked. "Took ya guys long enough! I thought I was going to die of old age waiting!" Karou flushed.

"You were WAITING?" she yelled at her student.

"Uh, yeah," he said matter-of-factly. "Everyone was. You should have kissed him back in Kyoto when I told you, but, no, you had to chicken out!"

"I didn't 'chicken out'! Everyone just showed up outside!"

"Uh huh, you just keep telling yourself that." As an argument ensued between master and student, poor Kenshin stood there forgotten and clueless.

"Oro?"

Chibisensei: I hope you liked the intro ^_^ Please R&R!