OK, standard disclaimer, my first RK fan fic, please don't be too pissed with the slight OOC since i haven't read the manda in a few months.

I'm an assassin, he thought. But here I am in a church. I wonder if it's like dripping blood onto a white cloth, and I'm staining this place just by being here.

His mouth twisted into a cruel smile. I sold my soul to the devil, and here I am asking for forgiveness.

He shook his head. Yeah right. God, if you exist, send me an angel. Then I'll get my ass into gear.

He turned and left. As he got back to his apartment, he ran into someone.

"Oh!" she said as she fell. His hand shot out to grab her. "Thank you," she said as he let her go.

"You're welcome," he said. She smiled at him.

"I'm Kaoru. Sorry about that, I'm a bit of a klutz."

"It's fine," he said. She smiled again.

"What's your name?"

"Kenshin," he told her, then could have slapped himself. Why had he told her his real name?

"Nice to meet you, Kenshin!"

He nodded. And before he could stop himself he asked, "Do you want to go out?"

It had been after they were dating for six months that he discovered something that brought him as close to the killing edge as he had been while the two of them were dating.

They had just finished dinner and Kenshin was watching Kaoru wash the dishes. She finished putting them away and turned to him.

"I got the movie you mentioned if you want to watch it."

"Maybe later," he answered and crossed over to her. It was hot outside and she was wearing a spaghetti strap shirt and a skirt that went down to her knees. AS his hands slid up her sides, she paled as she realized what he was doing.

"No-," Kaoru choked out.

"Why not?" purred Kenshin.

She tried to run out of the kitchen, but he grabbed her and got scratched on the neck. He hissed and pulled her against him, ignoring her struggles, and carried her over to the couch. He threw her down, pinning her there. Her only response was to go still under him, her eyes closed.

"Why not?" Kenshin demanded again, his voice harsh. She shook her head. "Why are you scared?" He could guess why, but he wanted to know who. Blood lust that was suppose to be locked up with his sword and gun was pulsing through him now.

"It doesn't matter-."

"You were raped." She didn't deny it. "Who?" now his voice was a silk covered knife.

"Lord Shishio," was the whispered answer.

He pressed his lips to her forehead, suddenly thankful for the painful death the lord had gotten. "His lordship has been paid," Kenshin whispered. "And he'll pay even more when I go to hell."

She whimpered and he shifted so that he was laying next to her, holding her as she shivered in silence.

It was another six months before they got engaged. Kenshin had proposed in the park and they were kissing until he shoved Kaoru down and pulled out the gun her had with him. He snarled as the bullet missed his head by only a few inches.

"What do you want, broom head?"

Kaoru registered something about money and killing Battousai, before she heard another gun shot. Kenshin didn't let her move her head to see who it was, but recognized Aoshi, her friend Misao's boyfriend.

"Interesting timing," Kenshin was saying.

"He was getting on my nerves. So when's your wedding?"