I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Happiness Lost, Happiness Found

The streets of Kyoto were constantly covered in blood. The bodies may have been cleaned up but the stains from the blood seemed to be soaked into the ground.

Kaoru Kamiya walked through the streets, glancing around cautiously. It was a dangerous time after all. It was the Bakumatsu. Everybody was fighting.

Which was why Kaoru was there. She'd received word that her father, who had gone to Kyoto to fight with the Ishin Shishi, had been killed in battle.

As soon as the letter informing her arrived she'd gone to Kyoto without any second thought.

Luckily she knew the owners of the Shirobeko through her friends of the sister restaurant Akabeko in Edo. She was working and staying there until she could gather her father's belongings if possible.

She picked up her pace. Despite it being broad daylight killings could still happen. Kaoru cursed herself for forgetting her bokken at the Shirobeko. But considering that she'd only had to go out for some supplies she didn't think she'd need it.

Because of Kaoru's distraction she didn't spot the short, redheaded, young man with a scar on his cheek until it was too late.

With a crash they collided and the majority of Kaoru's shopping tumbled to the ground.

"Oh, great!" Kaoru shouted in frustration. She turned her ire to young man she bumped in to, "Why don't you watch where you're going!"

The young man looked startled but Kaoru paid him little mind as she bent down and collected the dropped items. Unfortunately, she didn't notice when he bent down as well to help her and so when she straightened up they bonked heads.

"OW!" Kaoru whined as she rubbed her head. She shot another glare at the young man who was also rubbing his head with a pained expression.

"You really are a klutz aren't you?" Kaoru snapped as she snatched the supplies out of his hands.

So angry and frustrated with being delayed she didn't notice the katana and wakazashi at the young man's side. Kaoru turned and stalked off.

OOO

Kenshin Himura stood in the middle of the street stunned. The young woman he'd bumped into had yelled at him, bonked heads with him, and then yelled at him again.

"She really wasn't paying attention." Kenshin mused to himself as he watched the blue ribbon the girl wore disappear into the crowd with its owner.

He gave his head another rub where they'd connected.

"Something wrong, Himura?" a voice asked at his side.

Kenshin turned to see Iizuka approaching. Kenshin shot a last look in the direction the strange, ill-tempered girl had gone and shook his head.

"Good," Iizuka said, "because we have an important assignment tonight."

Kenshin glanced over at Iizuka, "Together? That's odd."

"I'm just the messenger." Iizuka shrugged, "We'll discuss the specifics later."

Kenshin nodded and vanished into the crowd.

OOO

Kaoru slid open the door to the Shirobeko and entered the restaurant.

"I'm back!" she called out.

"Kaoru," Sae, the daughter of the owner of the restaurant, greeted her, "did you have any problems?"

"Nope." Kaoru stated as she handed some of the supplies to Sae, "Just some idiot who ran into me."

Sae observed Kaoru as they took the supplies to the kitchen in the back. Once everything was put away Kaoru grabbed her apron and put it on.

"Anything happen while I was gone?" Kaoru asked as she tied her apron.

"Kaoru," Sae started worriedly, "word arrived while you were gone. Your father's resting place was found."

Kaoru paused then, "Where?"

"A small temple just outside of town." Sae answered with the worried look still on her face.

Kaoru nodded and turned to help a customer that had just come in. Once Kaoru finished helping the customer Sae approached her again.

"Kaoru, are you alright?"

Kaoru stopped and faced Sae. She was smiling but there were tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Kaoru whispered as she brushed at her eyes, "I just…well I didn't think Father's death was real. Some small part of me thought…hoped that he was still alive. But, well, hearing this news…it means any hope of him coming home won't happen."

Kaoru brushed at her eyes again, "Pretty stupid of me, don't you think?"

Sae placed a comforting hand on Kaoru's shoulder, "It's not stupid, it's normal. I'm really sorry, Kaoru."

Kaoru nodded and her smile became more real, "I'll go later today and see if any of Father's possessions are in the trust of the temple."

Sae gave a sad smile in return, "Will you be back before dark? You know what this city is like after dark."

"Don't worry, Sae." Kaoru replied, "I'll be back before dark."

OOO

I'm so late! Kaoru thought as she ran through the darkened streets of Kyoto. And I forgot my bokken again! Sae is going to kill me!

In Kaoru's hands she held her father's katana, which was wrapped up in cloth. She'd been so busy discussing her father and gathering his last possession that she'd lost track of time. It was now getting close to 10 o'clock and the streets were nearly pitch black. There wasn't even a moon out, only the twinkling stars offered light and they were soon going to offer no light at all. Clouds were rolling in and it looked like it might rain.

Kaoru darted past a still lit up bar, which she knew served sake and other alcohol. She didn't notice the two burly men leaning against the outside wall of the establishment. They followed her with their eyes before pushing themselves away from the building and began physically following her.

Kaoru glanced over her shoulder. She'd noticed it after she had passed the bar. Someone was following her! Kaoru clutched her father's katana tighter. Did they want to rob her? Or did they want something else?

Kaoru shivered but sped up her pace. Whoever was behind her increased their speed as well. By this time Kaoru had turned into a darkened alley. She hated doing it but it was the shortest way back to the Shirobeko. Despite what was going on Kaoru slowed down a bit. It was enough for her pursuers.

"Hey there, girly!" a drunken voice called out from behind her, "Slow down and come have a good time with us!"

Kaoru glanced over her shoulder. Two of them. Great. Kaoru turned forwards and continued walking. Now wasn't the time to shoot her mouth off, as she was prone to do. She needed to get to safety.

But she misjudged the men. The one who shouted after her darted past her and blocked her way. He smiled drunkenly and suggestively at her.

"Come on," he laughed, "Don't be so unfriendly! Come join us."

Kaoru turned around to discover the other man blocking her exit. The second man was as drunk as the first.

"Yeah," the second smirked, "Let's have some fun together!"

The second reached out towards Kaoru. Kaoru jerked away from him.

"You guys have obviously had too much to drink." Kaoru noted, "Please, leave me alone."

"Don't think so, girly." The first man licked his lips, "We're going to have some fun!"

Kaoru tried to distance herself from the men, but they were boxing her in. Kaoru's temper, which had been bubbling under the surface, erupted.

"Get away from me, you perverts!" Kaoru yelled as loud as she could.

The men paused. Scowls crossed their faces.

"That's it." The first one stated coldly, "Now you've hurt our feelings."

The second reached out for Kaoru for the second time. Kaoru reacted with the training her father had drilled into her. The man soon staggered back clutching his nose, which was bleeding heavily due to Kaoru's fist. He let out a yell of fury and swung his arm around hitting Kaoru on the left side of her head.

Kaoru hit the ground hard. Her father's katana had fallen from her grasp and clattered to the ground next to her. The cloth wrapping had come loose and the hilt was visible.

Kaoru groaned in pain. The whole world felt like it was spinning and her head felt like it was going to split in two because of the man's strike. She clutched at her head to try and ease the pain.

"Not so tough now, are you girly!" the first man shouted gleefully, "Now you'll pay dearly for your insults and for striking my friend here."

The second man nodded in agreement and moved forward, reaching for Kaoru.

No! Kaoru thought desperately. No, stay away! Kaoru's hands fell from her head and she turned away from the men. In her line of sight she saw her father's katana. Kaoru shot forward as fast as she could. She seized the hilt of the katana, drew it out and in the same movement swung it around in a wild arc.

There was a sickening, meaty, thunk as the katana connected. Blood sprayed out at Kaoru covering her. Kaoru opened her eyes, which she'd shut after swinging the katana. She felt her eyes widen in surprise and horror at what she'd done.

The man she'd slashed clutched his stomach and let out a gurgle. He reached out to her, his fingers stretching toward her face, before he lost strength and collapsed next to her.

Kaoru's hair came loose about her shoulders. She turned to look at the man who fell and saw her blue ribbon clutched in his hand.

Kaoru shook. No. She thought. No I didn't mean to! I was swinging wildly! Just to get him to back off! To scare him! I didn't want to kill him!

"You bitch!"

Kaoru jerked and looked over at the other man. He'd drawn his sword and was shaking with fury.

"You…BITCH!" He shouted, "You're going to pay for this!"

Kaoru staggered to her feet. Tears were coursing down her face, "Please." She whimpered, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean – "

The man launched himself at her, his sword drawing back to strike.

Kaoru reacted without thinking. Her father's training in swordsmanship came back, all in an instant. She darted forward and attacked as he did.

Intense pain went through her right side. Kaoru staggered then fell to her knees. I guess this is it. Kaoru thought dully. He's going to kill me now.

"You bitch." The voice was weaker than she thought it would be.

Kaoru slowly looked over her shoulder. The man was also on his knees. Then he fell. Blood soaked the ground underneath him.

Kaoru shook and felt even more tears on her face. She struggled to her feet. She cried out and clutched her right side. He'd hit her. It wouldn't kill her immediately, but he'd hit her.

Kaoru turned and stumbled away. In her right hand she clutched her father's katana, now soaked with blood and with her left she clutched her right side.

She scarcely knew what she was doing. All she knew was that she had to get away. So, covered in blood, her own as well as the men's, and with tears on her face she walked down the alleyway and turned down another street. Because of her loss of blood and the blow to her head, Kaoru soon lost track of where she was.

It doesn't matter. Kaoru thought dully. I deserve to die in these streets. I took a life with the sword style that Father taught me. The Kamiya Kasshin style, which is meant to protect life. I broke Father's rule. I don't deserve to live.

Kaoru glanced up at the dark, cloudy sky. The rain would come very soon.

Kaoru felt the strength leave her body. She collapsed on her injured side next to a dark building. She still clutched her father's katana.

Just before Kaoru lost consciousness she saw someone approach and squat next to her. The person or apparition placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. The man had red hair and a scar on his cheek. He seemed vaguely familiar. Like Kaoru had seen him before. For an instant he blurred and Kaoru saw her father.

"Oh, Father," Kaoru whispered with fresh tears in her eyes, "Can you forgive me?"

With that Kaoru lost consciousness and the rain came.

Please review. If interest in the story is high then Kenshin will have more screen time in the next chapter.