Kyoto: New Enemies, Same Bloody Streets

CHAPTER 1- Nightmares Of The Past

Hey all! This is my first fic so I hope it's ok. Any ways, I don't own any of the RK gang (even though I'd really like to). And with that said on with the show!

Kaoru stretched and let out a sigh for the hundredth time that day. It was a beautiful and sunny day in Tokyo but that didn't keep the young kendo master from being bored. Yahiko had gone off somewhere with Sanosuke for the day and she didn't know where Kenshin was so she couldn't talk with him. She had tried practicing for awhile but after about two hours of nonstop movement she grew tired and decided to call it quits and try something else. After putting away her wooden sword Kaoru tried to clean up a little but Kenshin had already done most of the chores so she finally just gave up and sat on the porch, looking lazily up at the sky and trying not to fall asleep as she watched the fluffy, white clouds roll by.

She closed her eyes and began to daydream of a certain red haired swordsman, seeing in her mind's eye his gentle, welcoming smile as he sat next to her.

Against her will she began to drift off to sleep, the combination of the warm air and cool breeze making it the perfect atmosphere to take a nap. Kaoru smiled as dream Kenshin leaned over and placed a soft kiss to her lips, wrapping his strong arms around her and pulling her tightly against his warm chest. As her dream lover's hands began to glide over her body she felt a large rough hand moving some hair out of her face. She opened her eyes and looked up to see the handsome face of the real Kenshin standing in front of her.

He smiled at her, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up that I didn't."

"It's alright Kenshin. So where have you been all day?"

"Well… first I did the laundry then I ran to town to get something for dinner that I did, why do you ask?"

"Because I've been bored out of my mind and I didn't have anyone to talk to," she huffed.

Kenshin chuckled and sat next to her and began playing with her ponytail, "I'm sorry but I'm here now that I am."

"Yes you are and you're not leaving again either."

"Why is that?"

"Because I'm not going to let you, that's why."

Kaoru leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, sighing happily as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. He ran his hand lightly up and down her arm and she couldn't help but smile and snuggle closer to him, taking in his familiar, masculine scent as she put her face into the crook of his neck.

She loved moments like this with Kenshin. They'd only been married for a few months but she had already learned so much about her sweet rurouni. When they first got together he was hesitant to do anything with her like hold her hand or kiss her. She had to make the first move when it came to their first kiss but now it was Kenshin who initiated the activities between them, which she didn't mind in the least.

She giggled upon remembering the look on his face the first time she pulled him down to her and kissed him. He was so cute with his bright red cheeks and embarrassed 'oro'.

"What's so funny, Kaoru?" he asked gently when he heard his wife's laugh.

"Nothing, I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"About our first kiss."

"Oh and why were you thinking of that koishii?"

"Because I thought it was cute when you turned red."

Kenshin chuckled and kissed her hair, "Do I still turn red when you kiss me?"

Kaoru looked up at him and gave a mischievous smile, "We can find out."

Kenshin gladly took the hint and leaned down to her, gently resting his lips against hers for a soft kiss. A few moments later he pulled away and Kaoru smiled, "No you don't turn red anymore."

She looked up at the sky and sighed, "It's getting late I'll go start dinner now."

Kaoru stood to leave but Kenshin caught her wrist and pulled her back to him, getting her to giggle as she fell into his lap, "What're you doing, Kenshin?"

"I think we'd better make sure that I don't turn red anymore, I believe I felt a blush a moment ago."

Kaoru laughed and playfully tried to push him away, "You did not now let me go I have to start dinner."

"That can wait that it can."

"No it can't Ken…"

He cut her off by placing a firm kiss to her mouth. She sighed and relaxed into him, knowing full well that if he wanted to kiss her he was going to kiss her. That was one of the pleasant surprises she had discovered over the course of their marriage he was persistent, almost rough at times. Not that she minded she actually enjoyed his playful yet gentle aggression towards her when she 'resisted' him.

Kaoru raised her hand to the side of his face and pulled him closer, smiling when she felt his hand begin to slide down her waist. She pulled away from his lips just enough to whisper to him, "Watch your hands husband, you might start something you can't finish."

Kenshin grinned and kissed her nose, "Is that so? I think I can finish it just fine that I can."

Before she could protest he kissed her again, his hand sliding to her legs…

"That's gross!"

They parted and looked up to see a disgusted Yahiko and a snickering Sanosuke standing next to them. Kenshin let her up and they quickly straightened themselves up, "How long have you been there," he asked with a slight flush.

"Way too long! Look, I know you two are still new to the marriage thing and all but can't you at least get a room?" Yahiko asked with slight annoyance in his voice.

Kenshin grinned, "We have a room that we do… we're just not in it is all… OW!" he yelped out in pain when Kaoru slapped him in the back of the head, "Kenshin!"

"What?" he asked innocently

"Oh never mind, dinner will be ready soon so all of you just stay out of trouble until then, got it?"

"Yes ma'am." All men answered

Kaoru took off down the hall and Sanosuke went up to Kenshin and punched his shoulder lightly, "Couldn't wait until the rest of us went to bed huh buddy?"

Kenshin flushed but smiled up at his friend, "You're just jealous Sano."

"Of you? Nah! I just love to pester you."

"Well you're good at that that you are. So where did you two go today?"

"Yahiko tried to teach me to fish."

"And?"

Sanosuke grinned in his proud, arrogant way, "I did great as usual."

Yahiko snorted, "Rooster head here didn't even catch one fish. When he actually managed to hook one it got away from him and he jumped in the water after it like a moron and scared away the rest of the fish!"

"I didn't jump in I tripped!"

"Whatever."

Kenshin chuckled and asked, "Did anything else happen?"

"Oh yeah, Yahiko got his first kiss!"

Yahiko flushed brightly, "You saw that!"

"Of course I did."

"Oh what happened," Kenshin asked with a smirk

Sanosuke pulled Kenshin to the side and explained, "Tsubame came to talk with him and he didn't think I was looking and he just grabbed her and laid one on her."

Kenshin turned to look at the flustered young man next to him and gave him a playfully shocked look, "Yahiko… I didn't think you'd be that cruel to a woman… grabbing her..."

"I didn't grab her! I just… oh it's none of your business! I'm going to my room call me when dinner's ready!"

Yahiko stormed off and Kenshin and Sanosuke laughed, amused by their young friend's reaction.

"He's over this way come on!"

Kenshin ran as fast as he could, trying to get away from the men who were chasing him. His feet pounded loudly against the dirt road in the dead silence of the night. The moonlight peered down brightly with a blood red glow, betraying him as it illuminated his fleeing form to his enemies. He rounded a corner and calmed his breathing so they wouldn't hear him, sighing in relief when he saw them pass by the ally. He took off again but ran into one of the men that was lagging behind, dodging a punch as the man called out to his comrades, "I've got him!"

Kenshin didn't have time to run as the others came back, drawing their swords and preparing to fight. He didn't know who they were or even what they looked like due to the dark cloaks that efficiently concealed their faces from his view. Kenshin drew his sword and fended them off, easily taking them down before he stopped briefly to catch his breath. As he started to walk away he sensed someone coming up behind him and he turned to block an attack, slashing his opponent across the chest and sending a spray of blood onto himself as the man let out a gasp of pain.

The man fell to his knees and Kenshin's eyes went wide with shock, his voice shaking with fear as the man's hood fell back to reveal his face, "N… Nijito…"

Kenshin awoke with a small cry, looking around with frantic golden eyes for his enemies before he realized that he was at home in his room and not in the bloody streets of Kyoto. He rested his hand on his forehead and realized he'd broken out into a cold sweat, trying to catch his breath as his eyes returned to their usual violet hue. He felt a slender hand on his arm and he looked down to see the worried eyes of his wife, "What's wrong, Kenshin?"

"Nothing koishii, I'm sorry to wake you up that I am," he said with a forced smile.

Kaoru sat up and looked him in the eyes, pushing his wet bangs away from his face, "You're lying to me, tell me what's wrong."

Kenshin sighed and looked down at his hands, "I had a nightmare."

"About the revolution?"

"Yes."

Kaoru moved closer to him and ran her hand up and down his back soothingly, "Do you want to tell me about it?"

"No it's nothing to worry about that it isn't, please go back to sleep, love."

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, I'm just going to get a drink and I'll be back that I will."

Kenshin got up and headed outside to the well, splashing some cold water onto his face as he tried to calm his nerves. He hated it when he had nightmares about the past every time he had one something bad would happen. The last time he'd dreamt of the past Saito had shown up and he had to go and fight Shishio and he really didn't want to go through another battle like that. Most of all he hated worrying Kaoru, he couldn't stand the sad look in her beautiful blue eyes when she saw him upset, he loved her and wanted to protect her not frighten her or burden her with his problems.

After a few moments he pushed it all into the back of his mind and headed back to his room, slipping under the covers next to Kaoru. He pulled her close and ran his hand through her hair, listening to her calm breath and steady heartbeat unable to hold back his smile as she snuggled against him. He loved to watch her sleep it always made him feel at peace to see his sweet and innocent Kaoru resting peacefully in his arms. It didn't take long for him to get comfortable again and he drifted off into a welcome dreamless sleep, unaware of the events that were about to unfold.