CHAPTER 1: BREADCRUMBS

Disclaimer: I in no way shape or form own "Rurouni Kenshin". Now that we got that clear...

The blood on the street was thick. It flowed like a river in many alley ways of Kyoto. Many were killed the night that the revolution's tables were turned. Many. The source of much of this blood shed, was running through the steets, sword in hand, ready for whoever dared to get in his way. The blade of his sword was covered in blood, its tip leaving drops, like a trail of breadcrumbs. Faster and faster he ran, dispatching all who stood in his way with precision and speed. They were dead before they hit the ground. Kenshin would always remember the looks on the faces of those he had struck dead. Always.

"Kenshin!"

Kenshin's eyes shot wide open. There stood Kaoru, fists on her hips.

"Why are you sleeping?! This is not the time for that!"

Kenshin spoke with that smile that somehow always found a way to warm Kaoru's heart. It was that same smile he had when thay had met. That same smile when Kaoru welcomed him home.

"You needn't worry Miss Kaoru. I did all of the chores. The dojo is quite clean."

"That's not it. Have you forgotten?"

Kenshin removed the reverse bladed sword from his shoulder and placed it ont he floor next to him.

"Kenshin. Yahiko's on his way over from Sanosuke's place."

Kenshin remembered. They were all going to go out and eat at the Akabeko with Miss Tae, and Tsubame. Kenshin stood to ready himself. He stopped for a moment. His left leg was still somewhat sore from the last battle. He reflected back to the source of this pain. He remembered everyone watching as he and Enishi fought on his island. He remembered delivering the final attack against Enishi. Although he didn't show it at the time, he knew that it was a part of his condition when it came to Hiten Mitsurugi.

"Are you alright Kenshin?"

Kaoru knew. She knew what made him stop for that brief moment. The battle was only a month and a half ago.

"Ok then. Get ready!", she exclaimed with cheer.

Kenshin returned to his room to get ready for Yahiko's arrival. He decided to wear something different today. Everyday he would wear his purple and white robe, wash it and wear it again. But since it was the best gettogether they could form on such short notice, he decided to be a little more, well not fancy, but not the same thing as every day.

"Hey! I'm here!"

"Yahiko!"

Kaoru ran to the front door. She met him at the front gate and embraced him.

"Hey, where's Kenshin? He's usually at the front too."

"He should be getting ready to go."

"Well, I came over early, and brought some spare clothes."

"Oh! So you wanna spar huh?", Kaoru said with a smirk.

"It's been a while. We haven't spared since two weeks after the battle with Enishi. Speaking of, how are Kenshin's wounds?"

Kaoru's face grew somewhat solemn, but not to much.

"His left leg is still somewhat sore, but he will be ok I think.

"Well that's good. He's still walking and stuff right?

"Oh yea. He can still run. It's just sitting and standing that causes some pain I think."

Kaoru didn't want to think about it to much. She knew Kenshin would not want her to worry about him.

"But enough about that. I'll go put on my training gear and meet you in the dojo."

"All right."

Meanwhile Kenshin was readying himself. He knew that it was still somewhat early before they had to leave. He looked out of his window at the blue sky that lay over Tokyo.

"A beautiful day, that it is."

Kaoru and Yahiko stood opposite each other. They looked deep into each other's eyes, hoping to find what strategy each had in mind.

"Let's begin.", Kaoru said

Both ran at each other headstrong.

Quietly, Kenshin slipped into the dojo and watched the ensuing battle.

Yahiko slid on the wood floor right past Kaoru. Her eyes widened. She didn't expect him to be so quick. He must have been training ever since his last battle. She turned around quickly to block his attack. She barely made it. Yahiko landed to her right side. She had to make another block. Or...

"Gotcha!", Yahiko shouted.

Kaoru hit the shinai aside. Yahiko was stunned. She was obviously training too. She hit it with her hilt. Yahiko saw the bokken still coming in his direction. He ducked, dodging it by a hair. Yahko's thoughts raced.

"This is it! This is the chance I need. Now with everything I got!"

Yahiko went to swing straight down with everthing he had, but his blade was stopped midswing.

"Still attacking carelessly after all this time?"

Yahiko didn't think she would be able to do it in such a frantic fight, yet there she stood, arms crossed with the shinai neatly caught into the back of her hands.

Yahiko muttered,

"Hawatari..."

She twisted her hands back again, making Yahiko's shinai fly to the floor of the dojo, far out of his reach. Kaoru went to attack Yahiko. Yahiko wouldn't just give up. Never. He had to catch up to the backs of those who came before him. Sanosuke. Kenshin. He stepped forward straight at Kaoru. The bokken slammed onto his shoulder with sure impact. Both stopped. As the bokken was planted into Yahiko's shoulder, Kaoru saw that his fist was only a couple of inches away from her torso. Kaoru couldn't help but to let her surprised look be noticed. She saw it in him. It was clear as day. He wanted to be stronger still. He defeated Henya, the Flight of the Juppongatana, and one of the four Sushin, but even still, he wanted to be stronger.

"That was very good Yahiko."

Both looked over to see Kenshin standing there, not in his usual attire. He wore a blue robe, with stiching in the shape of several small "V" s on its outer rim. His lower robe was a lighter blue with no stiching. Kaoru and yahiko stood a little wide-eyed. They had never seen him in almost anything other than his purple robe.

"What is it?"

"Kenshin...you look..."

Kaoru couldn't go on without blushing.

"Real slick Kenshin. You could be a playboy with a look like that!"

"NO HE COULD NOT!"

"Yea he could!"

Kenshin watched as they had their little meaningless fun argument. He watched with that gentle smile, that is until Kaoru called him.

"KENSHIN!"

"Huh? Dah!"

He was just in time for catching the bokken he threw to him.

"Knock some sense into him!"

She walked bewhind and kicked him into the dojo arena.

"Uh..."

Kenshin watched as Yahiko picked up his shinai, a look of determination on his face.

"Yahiko. You look so serious. What is it? I know we haven't spared since before our battles with Enishi and the six comrades, but you look so..."

Yahiko cut him off.

"SHUT UP!"

Kenshin stopped. His eyes widened. Kaoru gasped, unable to say anything.

"Stop analyzing me like I'm a book for you to read!"

Kenshin stopped. He couldn't help but look into Yahiko's eyes. He never acted like this before. He never snapped like this. Something was wrong. Yahiko's look of anger and boldness had something hidden behind it. Kaoru couldn't say to begin. Just hearing Yahiko say something like that so suddenly completely took her breath away.

"Yahiko.", Kenshin said sternly

Yahiko couldn't help but grind his teeth.

"If you truly wish to catch up to me, and one day surpass me, you have to defeat me."

"FINE!"

Yahiko ran straight at Kenshin. Kaoru still couldn't understand what was going on.

"Why is he doing this? Doesn't he understand that he is one of so few that have some power over kenshin's feelings? Over my feelings?"

Yahiko's run never faltered, never slowed down. He slammed the shinai down as hard as he could. Kenshin blocked with ease, and grabbed Yahiko's wrist.

"What are you doing?!"

Kenshin picked Yahiko up by the wrist and pulled him right up to eye level. Without one word, they stared right into eachother's eyes. Yahiko tried to hide any signs of intimidation. He had seen the eyes of the Battousai during the battle with Saitou, and though these eyes were not as piercing as those, these were still far from anything to laugh about. For what felt like an eternity to her, Kaoru watched as they stared right into each other's eyes. Kenshin saw determination in his eyes, but he saw the anger too, and it wasn't natural. Not for him.

"Yahiko. Why are you doing this?"

"Put me down."

"YAHIKO!"

Everyone turned to see Tsubame in the doorway of the dojo. She had come to see if they were ready to leave. Kaoru ran over to her.

"Tsubame. Something's wrong with Yahiko. He's not himself right now."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING YAHIKO?!"

Yahiko looked to Tsubame. His look was cold. Tsubame went wide-eyed.

"Little...Ya...hik...o"

Kenshin didn't want to hurt Yahiko, but he had to put him in his place. He put Yahiko down and walked, past Yahiko and to Tsubame.

"Can you hlp Little Yahiko?"

"Do not worry Tsubame."

He gave the bokken back to Kaoru and walked back into the arena. Yahiko's fury rose.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING KENSHIN?!"

Kenshin said nothing. Tsubame looked to Kaoru, seeing that she was still short of breath. Tsubame took the role for her.

"Begin.", she quietly said.

Yahiko stood still for a moment. Kenshin remained staring into Yahiko's eyes.

"Kenshin. Don't treat me like I'm just some kid. I beat Henya! And one of the four Sushin! I held off that whale mouth with the cannon until you got there and you put your sword down?!"

"Yes. Yahiko. You have won many great battles. Your strive to catch up to me is impressive. You have confidence, but you've let it grow into pride. Even still, it doesn't sound like you. You're hiding something. And it's urgent or else this would not have been so sudden. You have always been there to fight beside Sanosuke before he left. You were there to fight beside me as well. If it weren't for you, it is very well possible that our friends in Kyoto may have died. It makes no sense that you are doing this unless you have something truly worth hiding."

"I said to stop analyzing me!" Yahiko ran at kenshin once more. He swing at Kenshin with everything. All that he had was put into this swing. But as he was about to do it he found that kenshin no longer stood before him, but behind him. Yahiko swung in his turn-around, but was stopped when Kenshin grabbed his arm, and pushed him to the floor. That was when things started to make a little more sense. Now between Kenshin and Yahiko was a folded piece of parchment. Kenshin noted the absolute look of petrification on Yahiko's face. He was terrified. Kenshin was beginning to understand.

"Miss Kaoru. Please take Tsubame to your room. I need to talk to Yahiko."

Without a word, she did as she was instructed. There stood Kenshin, a terrified Yahiko, and the parchment between them.

"Yahiko. When I unfold that paper, what am I going to see?"

Yahiko couldn't find the air in him to say a word.