Hi. Here's another RK fanfiction idea that won't leave me alone. It's an idea that suddenly appeared after watching the Kyoto arc.

I was re-watching some of the RK episodes and I noticed a little bit before the Kyoto Arc, how Kaoru's role changed. She was still the same spirited fighter, but she seems to take a step back and let Kenshin do most of the fighting. I know she's strong because she's an assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, but compared to Sanosuke and Kenshin, I feel she didn't get the chance to show her true strength. So this story idea is a chance for Kaoru to become more independent and find her confidence.

This story continues sometime after Enishi's revenge.

Warning: Story is rated Teen for violence and adult language. The characters in this story will be OOC. Also, please be kind in your reviews. I don't appreciate flames.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.


The day Kenshin Himura left the dojo, Kaoru Kamiya's heart shattered in little pieces. The first time in departing, he gave her a hug and a thank you before turning his back to travel the long distance to Kyoto. The second time was an overkill. But Kaoru should have seen his farewell coming. Kenshin was protective and secretive. Whenever Kaoru asked him what was wrong, he would answer with "it's nothing to worry about." And Kaoru believed him because she thought he would eventually tell her when the time was right.

The time wasn't right in this case. Saito had returned temporarily to the police station in Tokyo and had visited the dojo along with some other police men. He claimed it was important that he discussed some matters with Kenshin and the others. The stunned look on her face as Kenshin invited Sanosuke Sagara and Yahiko Myoujin must have shown, because Kenshin pulled her aside and calmly asked her to serve tea. Of course, she was the hostess since she had guests in her home. It was her responsibility to make sure her guests were accommodated for but she was spoiled because Kenshin usually took the role. Plus, he knew how bad she was at making tea. Her tea never came out as flavored or as soothing as his. But she nodded her head and dutifully made the tea as he asked her. Since Sanosuke and Yahiko were included in the batch of teas, Kaoru had to make seven teas and the amount of time it took to boil the water, to separate the leaves and to adjust the mugs on the tray seemed to take forever. She must have took a long time with preparation of the teas because by the time she went into main room where everyone met to discuss important matters, the men were already exiting the dojo. Kaoru stopped to look at them with a frown.

"Am I missing something?" she asked no one. She saw Sanosuke's usual carefree face turned grim as he sized up the officers walking through the yard to the gate. Kenshin's body appeared tense. His face hiding behind red bangs. Yahiko took a deep breath and shook his head. He raised his bokken at his side to sling it in the strap at his back.

"I think I should go to Akabeko to see if Ms. Tae needs some help," he said. He adjusted his clothes before he sprinted to the main gates. Kaoru was about to open her mouth to say something when Sanosuke beat her.

"I should go to the clinic to see if Megumi needs me to pick up something."

"This unworthy one should buy some tofu for dinner, that I should," replied Kenshin as he lifted his head to reveal a polite smiling face. Kaoru balanced the tray between her fingers, feeling as if the weight was tipping over on one side.

"But I made some teas for you," Kaoru said lamely at last. Sanosuke didn't hear her. He was already making his way to the main gates. Only Kenshin heard her and he moved to grab the tray from her hands.

"I'm sorry Miss Kaoru," Kenshin replied softly. Automatically, she noticed the change in his speech pattern to notify the talk between the police and himself was not a good one. "You made teas for everyone and we didn't get as chance to enjoy it."

Kaoru swallowed the questions she had in her throat, knowing he would deflect giving answers until he was ready to share them with her. Instead, she smiled and replied with, "My teas aren't as good as yours. It's better if no one drank them anyway."

Kenshin shook his head and lowered the tray on the floor with a grace that she secretly envied. He lifted one of the cups to his mouth, blowing gently before sipping the contents. His azure eyes closed at the blissful feel of liquid flowing through his mouth. "The tea tastes very good, that it does."

Downing the rest of it in seven gulps, Kaoru stared abash as he lifted the tray of teas and was about to head into the kitchen. Quickly, Kaoru grabbed one the cups and cradled it in her hands. Kenshin stared at her for a long moment, the intensity making her cheeks flush. "Kenshin?" she whispered his name as a soft smile settled on his soft face. He turned and made his way into the kitchen.

Putting the edge of the cup to her mouth, she lightly sipped at the tea. Her face frowned at the bitter flavor spreading across her tongue before she forced herself to swallow it. "Yuck! How could he stand to drink my tea?"

Kaoru walked at the edge of the walkway and tipped her cup, pouring the distasteful contents onto the floor. "You liar," she mumbled under her breath. Righting the cup in her hands, she made her way into the kitchen when she noticed that Kenshin was already grabbing his pouch of money and putting it into his sleeves.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru questioned. A frown marred her pretty face.

"This unworthy one will pick up some tofu from the market, that I will." His speech pattern returned to normal but the smile never touched his eyes as he glanced at her. He turned his back on her and a long time ago, Kaoru decided she disliked seeing his back to her. It meant he was distancing himself from her and she acknowledged that he was already on a different level than her. In swordsmanship he was an expert. In cooking and doing household chores, he made the perfect spouse. In persuasion and charisma, no one could beat him. In Kaoru's eyes, Kenshin was perfect and yet he berated himself to make his existence seemed nonexistent.

'I'm the unworthy one,' Kaoru thought. 'No matter where you go, I will always be a mere shadow.'

"Kenshin," his name left her lips. He paused, probably he heard the uncertainty in her voice. "W-will you tell me what you and the police were discussing?"

She heard him inhale a breath. His fingers caressed the hilt of his sword at his waist, signifying that Saito's talk was a serious matter. Then he exhaled and his light tone sounded the same. However, Kaoru knew he dismissed her and she wouldn't be getting a word out of him anytime soon. "There is nothing to worry about, Miss Kaoru."

And his footsteps took him to the front gates. Kaoru raised her head and watched as he disappeared. She could hear the fast rhythm of her heart drum, the way her breaths puffed against her chest as she struggled to moisten her mouth. The air was too dry and words were caught in her throat. One hand outstretched and before she knew what she was doing, she was running to the dojo gates, peering outside of it in search for a red headed samurai. Instead she saw people bustling around and most of them were either black heads or brown heads. None had the flaming scarlet hair or the immense aura that could turn heads.

'Why do I feel as if he's leaving me? What is this ache in my heart?' Kaoru questioned herself. She slumped onto the ground, dirtying her white hakama. Her instincts were screaming at her all evening as she waited for the figures of her small family to return home. One by one they did and her instincts were still beating at her about something not being right.

It was after dinner when everyone decided to go sleep, did Kaoru noticed the tenseness in the atmosphere. Sanosuke wasn't his cheery self. Yahiko didn't call her ugly. And Kenshin was rather quiet, his eyes staring into the distance. Kaoru knew he was having one of his flashback scenarios and it was best if she left him alone.

And did she realize a bit too late that it was a mistake on her part. The next morning she woke up to a silent dojo. Footsteps padded down the hall into the kitchen where she noticed there wasn't usual scene with the red head making breakfast. There was no one to say good morning too, no freshly steaming food to arouse her hunger, or the loud voice from the child to anger her. She was alone.

'No! This can't be right!' Kaoru mentally screamed. She rushed to Kenshin's room, pausing in front of it. Raising her hand to slide the door open, she called out his name. "Kenshin?" She heard no reply. Instead, there was a neatly folded futon in the center of the room. A folded paper laid on top of it. With shaky hands, Kaoru retrieved the note and opened it.

Dear Miss Kaoru,

By the time you are reading this letter, this unworthy one has left to wander once more. This unworthy one feels regret for bringing you in danger countless times and each time, this unworthy one has come close to losing you. It can't happen anymore. To protect you, this unworthy one must wander and hope you will be alright. Thank you for everything.

Your friend,

Kenshin Himura

The note crumpled in her hands and tears streamed down her cheeks. She fell down to her hands and knees, sobbing, realizing that Kenshin was never going to return into the dojo. The first time he left, he had the decency to tell her goodbye in person. The second time he left, it was as if he had nothing to say to her.

Her hands clenched into fists and she slammed them against the floor. "Why?" she sobbed to no one. "Why did you have to leave? Better yet, why can't you tell me anything? Am I so weak?"

She kept pounding the floor, letting out her tantrums, her insecurity for the man she loved. Yes, she loved Kenshin. But that was the main problem. He didn't return her feelings. He loved someone else a long time ago and the extreme hurt he felt for losing his wife, scarred him. He created emotional barriers so he could never feel similar pain. Besides, how could he wander for ten years and saved the amount of people that he did without feeling some sort of attachment to anyone?

A whole day passed and Kaoru stayed in the same place as she wept on the floor. The letter was shredded into little pieces at her feet. The next day she awoke in pain. She forced herself to her knees and crawled out of Kenshin's room to the dojo pathway. The rays from the sun blinded her and Kaoru shielded her eyes as she thought about what she should do next. She was so deep in thought that she never heard Yahiko's light footsteps behind her or heard him call her name. The only sight he recalled seeing was her looking like a nightmare. Her raven hair looked a bird's nest, tangles in large humps. Her eyes appeared swollen. Her hands and face were extremely pale. Her white yukata was rumpled. But her eyes appeared lifeless. The natural spark was gone.

"Kaoru," he said her name again. The young pupil sat down next to her and understood her feelings well. Kenshin packed his remains and left without her. He wasn't the only one. Megumi and Sanosuke left overnight to accompany Kenshin. Although he was present for the discussion the police had when they asked Kenshin for his help, Yahiko couldn't understand all the details that were laid out for the red headed samurai. The young pupil only thought about how upset Kaoru would be if Kenshin pushed her aside because he felt the need to protect her.

And his thoughts came to life as he saw Sanosuke dressed up for a mission. A bag was tossed over one shoulder as one hand was shoved in his pocket when he greeted him from a night working at Akabeko. Yahiko was standing besides Tsubame, gazing at the stars during their fifteen minute break. Sanosuke waggled his dark eyebrows and Yahiko wanted nothing more than to have a bokken to hit the rooster's head.

"Excuse me," he excused himself from standing next to the shy brunette girl. She timidly nodded her head and stepped away from him. Yahiko eyed her small form, standing at a safe distance. She wouldn't hear them but he was able to make sure she was safe. "What the heck are you doing here rooster head?!"

"I see I interrupted your little date with your girl," Sanosuke teased as his annoying eyebrows waggled again. Yahiko just hit him on the head, causing the taller man to flinch. "Aw, come on! You can't take a joke!"

"I'll ask again! What are you doing here?"

Sanosuke shifted away from him and Yahiko noticed the bag slung over his shoulder.

"Where are you going?" he asked the taller man of all a sudden.

The man clothed in a white pants, a white open shirt with the word "bad" on the back, a red bandana and his fists wrapped in bandages raised his free hand to brush against his already messed up hair.

"Sanosuke?" Yahiko said through gritted teeth. He rarely called the taller man by his proper name.

"We decided to leave tonight," Sanosuke answered a bit awkwardly.

'You have every right to feel guilty,' Yahiko thought. "Does Kaoru know about it?"

Sanosuke couldn't look the young boy in the eye. He shook his head.

Yahiko sighed. "Who else is going?"

The tall man with a rooster head, raised his head in shock. "Just me, Megumi and Kenshin."

"Megumi?"

"She's a doctor and we're heading to her family's place."

"Aizu?"

Sanosuke nodded.

"Are you going to tell Kaoru about it?"

Sanosuke flinched and it was a reaction that Yahiko noticed.

"She's going to be furious."

"We think it's best that she stays here." "We" meant him and Kenshin.

Yahiko raised his eyebrows. "Is this journey that dangerous?"

"Yes."

There a brief pause and Yahiko saw how the taller man was shifting from foot to foot. His free hand brushed the top of his head as though he was nervous or uneasy about something.

"You should tell her."

"And risk her wrath. No offense but Missy can be as scary as hell."

"But the last time you guys left her, she cried until Megumi convinced her to go Kyoto."

"Missy wasn't crying for me."

"But she was hurt about your disappearance."

Sanosuke gave him a funny look.

"Don't give me that crap."

"Look, I came to ask you if you can watch over her for us. This journey is a tough one. I don't know how long it can take."

"I will try. It will be kind of hard now since I am working longer hours at Akabeko," Yahiko said as he strained his eyes to see Tsubame's petite form. An absent smile tugged on the corner of lips as he saw Tsubame brush a loose strand behind her ear.

Sanosuke followed the young boy's eyes and smirked. "I know. You have something here to keep you busy."

Yahiko frowned, glancing at his weird friend and not liking the knowing smirk. "Get out of here, you're pissing me off!"

Sanosuke saluted him and turned around to walk away. With a final wave, Yahiko heard his last words. "Take care of Missy for us."

Yahiko had tried to return from work the next morning but Akabeko became crowded with a lot of people. The weekends were the days that swarms of people ate and spent time outside their homes. On those days, the dojo didn't have any students besides him, which was why he pressed on the idea of working longer hours until Tae didn't need him. He spent the night at the restaurant and decided to walk home with leftovers, knowing that his kendo teacher wasn't the best cook.

But he never thought to come home to a frightful sight of the woman sitting down, looking lost in the world. As he bent down and said her name, he observed the dull look in her eyes. It was as if she didn't register him or anyone else. There must have been one word in her mind. "Abandonment." She probably thought everyone deserted her.

Standing for a moment, he decided the best course of action to take care of her. A bath and hot food sounded nice. Kneeling and pulling his kendo instructor to his side, he stood up, supporting her weight at his side. Usually he would make some comment about her appearance or in this case her weight, but her lack of response shut his mouth.

On unsteady feet, he took her to the bath house and instructed her how to bathe all while his cheeks turned red. He rested his hand on the small of her back and pushed her into the bathhouse. When the door slammed shut, he went to light a fire and put wood into it to heat the water. While he waited, acknowledging that Kaoru in her depressed state wouldn't turn down a bath, he walked into the kitchen and warmed up the leftovers he brought from Akabeko.

Slight brushes of steps warned Yahiko that Kaoru was making her way into the kitchen. He transferred the steaming food into bowls and placed them on the table. The sight of a slightly wet and disheveled Kaoru in a fresh white yukata greeted him as she took a seat across from him. Gingerly, almost methodically, she reached for the rice of bowl and chopsticks. She clutched a bit of rice with her chopsticks before bringing it to her mouth to chew.

Yahiko thought he was ready to face the pain, the accusations and questions she must have had about their friends' disappearances. But his eyes widened in shock at the deadness in her dark eyes. 'Since when did Kaoru have black eyes?' he wondered. There was no luster or no expression. Her eyes barely shifted as she stared at him. The rim of her eyes appeared reddish blue as if someone punched them several times.

"Kaoru?" was all he could say.

The past two days passed slowly. Kaoru could see how hesitant her pupil was before returning to work at Akabeko. She surprised him by not asking questions about Kenshin's destination or whatever happened to the rest of their friends. It was best if she knew nothing. Didn't Kenshin say there was nothing to worry about. Besides, the moment he chose to wander again, she had no right to question his actions. He wasn't going to return, even if the dojo was his home.

Tears stung her eyes but she kept her head up high and straightened her shoulders. She had to be strong for Yahiko and herself. This time there was no wailing to doctor Megumi or getting her sensible advice to track down the red headed samurai. There was no freeloader to assure her that the clueless samurai was concerned for her. Dr. Gensai didn't stop by with the two little girls. Kenshin was gone. Without him, others would stop visiting.

The dojo was dead.

Kaoru took a deep breath in and slowly let it out. Standing up on wobbly feet, she moved to the tree in the yard and grabbed her broom. Feeling the rough wood in her hands reminded her that she hadn't practiced kendo in two days. Instead she silently observed as Yahiko practiced his katas all while he kept watchful eyes on her. It broke her heart that he was stuck here to watch her when she secretly knew he wanted to be working at Akabeko to be closer to the girl he adored, Tsubame.

That's what she had become; a burden on everyone. No wonder Kenshin finally packed his stuff and left her. Well, she never asked him to do the laundry or to cook food, or to fetch tofu. She only wanted his company because his presence assured her she was safe and there was someone who appreciated her.

Her other friends weren't friends. They were at the dojo because of his presence. No one cared about her.

She didn't know how long she stood in the middle of the yard stuck in her depressed little world. All she knew was the sun was setting and Yahiko returned from another day of hard work. There was a bag of food in his hand.

"Kaoru?" he called to her. A sudden shift and she was looking at him with dead eyes. Tears were falling down her cheeks.

"Why are you here?" she asked him, almost making him jump at the sound of her voice; so dried and cracked.

"What do you mean?" he asked her. "I'll always be here when you need me."

"No you won't," Kaoru shook her head wildly causing dark locks to fall into her face.

"Kaoru -." Yahiko never got to finish his sentence.

"You're here because of him. Everyone was here because of him. I'm no one. This is my home but all the visitors wanted to see him They wanted his help. And all those times I wanted to help him fight his battles, he made me watch on the sidelines like I was unreliable. During his fights against Shishio, Saito, Jineh and all the others, where was I? In the background or nowhere around."

"Kaoru."

"And you! You're the worst of the lot!"

Yahiko stepped back, trying to remind himself that Kaoru was lashing at him in anger and hurt. Her words didn't mean anything, or did they mean something?

"You!" Kaoru pointed her finger at him as she accused him. "You admire him more than anything! You wanted to be like him! To learn his swordsman style!" She began to laugh hysterically while wiping at her tears with the back of her hands. "But you got stuck with the ugly hag who had to teach you swordsmanship that can't compare to Kenshin's. That's why you insulted me every day; to constantly remind me that I was forcing you to learn something you wished not to learn." She quieted until she collapsed on the floor. She hunched over, as though her lungs couldn't gasp for air.

"Kaoru!" he shouted. He was running blindly to her but she stuck out her broom in offensive stance and swiped hard at his side. He crashed into a tree, moaning at pain. Cradling the wound with his hand, his eyes widened when he felt moisture gathering there. Moving his hand to his face, he saw blood. She must have saw what she done because her shrill was loud enough to make him tremble in fear.

"Get away! Leave me alone!" she screamed as she clutched her hands to her head. Yahiko struggled to get back on his feet but Kaoru gripped the broom handle tightly and faced him with wild eyes. She reminded of a rabid dog, hurt, lost and alone. That dog would snap at anyone who tried to comfort it.

He could only say her name, hoping against all odds that she recognized him. However, her words left him undone. They rang partially with the truth. Yahiko wanted to learn Kenshin's swordsmanship, the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. He believed with such a style he could protect himself and everyone else he held dear. But Kenshin forced him to learn another swordsman style that could barely outclass the red headed samurai and Yahiko detested the idea of a girl showing him how to fight. It greatly angered him how she beat him up with ease and how she berated his pride by calling him a child. So to get back at her, he defied her. He called her ugly, hag, and a tomboy. He couldn't understand why she defied the ways of being a female. Then, he got to learn more about her and saw that she was once in similar situation as him. Girls who were forced to live by themselves eventually found themselves living with their relatives, getting married or finding work and the work was more degrading and vulgar than anything else; as a prostitute. Kaoru's spirit and willpower was too strong. In fact, he admired her for being able to defend herself and used what she loved as a method to earn money. His admiration was why he began to insult her less and put more time and effort into training to learn the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. She was different from other girls. It was extremely rare to find a swordswoman.

"Go!" he heard her scream at him. "And don't return!" The broom handle was aiming at him. Sloppily, he dodged it. Backing away, he saw the food he carried splattered all over the ground. Kaoru's weeping form gave out and her sobs filled the yard.

"I'm sorry, Kaoru," he whispered to her before turning around and leaving her alone. He would spend the next couple of nights in Akabeko. But before he got there, he was going to inform Dr. Gensai about Kaoru's condition and hopefully the old man with his granddaughters could stay with Kaoru. The least she needed was to be alone.


The moment her pupil left the dojo, Kaoru forced herself to stand up. Moving slowly to the dojo gates while wiping the stray tears on her face, she pushed the doors with all her might until they were tightly shut. Setting the lock in place, Kaoru moved away from the doors and turned around to stare at the place she called home all her life. A sob escaped her throat as a sight of a red headed samurai scrubbing clothes, a young boy swinging his wooden sword and a rooster head lounging on the dojo stairs appeared in her mind. Furiously shaking her head until strands of raven hair fell loose from her ponytail, Kaoru snatched at the ribbon in her hair and tore it from her locks. She threw it with all her might aside, watching as the seams rip from her favorite ribbon. Unknowingly Kaoru had picked to tie her favorite ribbon on her head. It was the same one she had given to Kenshin when he had to face Jineh. He had returned it to her after Jineh's fight with a blood stain. She spent the remainder of the night scrubbing the red stain off it because the blood reminded her how close she was to losing the rurouni to Battousai.

But the longer Kenshin stayed in the dojo, Kaoru realized that the rurouni and Battousai were one of the same. They made Kenshin who he was, the man she loved. But he didn't love her. She couldn't convince him to love her. Now she was alone. She had driven the last person from her life; Yahiko.

Tossing her messy hair away from her face, Kaoru walked to the deck that led to the doors to get inside her home when she felt a sudden change in the atmoshere. Muscles tensing, Kaoru quickly scanned her surroundings for a weapon, realizing she didn't have a bokken with her. Besides, she was dressed in a white yukuta. However, Kaoru's swordsman style had moves she could use without a weapon readily available. If she was lucky, she could disarm her opponent and use his weapon. Feeling a dark shadow hovering a few feet away from her, Kaoru slowly turned around until the enemy was facing her. She narrowed her eyes as she took in worn wooden sandals, a beaten gray hakama, a black gi, a sword strapped at a waist, long and lean fingers hovering dangerously over the hilt, and a face being shadowed by long midnight hair.

With a sharp voice, Kaoru began her talk with the enemy. "Why are you on my property?"

The tall man unhurriedly lowered himself to pick up the tattered ribbon she ripped from her hair. His fingers curled around the fabric before he got up.

Kaoru cleared her throat while watching the man with wary eyes. "Why are you on my property?"

Thin lips curled into a small smile. "I think that should be obvious."

Kaoru swallowed and refrained to shiver from fear. "If you're looking for Battousai, it's too late. He left."

"That's too bad," the man said as he raised his head. He took a step into the sunlight and Kaoru felt a breath rushed from her chest. Black eyes glittered as they roved her form. "He left his precious treasure unprotected."

Taking a sudden step back, Kaoru's felt her tone wavered. "I don't know what you're talking about."

All of a sudden, the stranger disappeared. Automatically, whirling around to locate the stranger, she jumped when a hot breath whispered in her ear. "He's a fool."

Kaoru whipped around so fast that she leapt backwards into the air, landing on her hands and knees. Quickly she brushed away dark locks that was obscuring her vision. Only he wasn't standing across from her.

"I could see why he's interested in you. You're very spirited," a masculine voice said from next to her. Jolting, Kaoru leaped back. Her hands shifted into fists, her legs were wide apart as she readied herself to fight him with her fists.

The man laughed at her defensive posture. "You really think you stand a chance against me." With slow moves, Kaoru saw how his deadly fingers wrapped around the hilt of his sword. He removed the sword from its sheathe so the hissing sound made Kaoru flinch. "I've seen your moves. The Kamiya Kasshin Ryu is based on defense. Your style is better for close range attacks since you have your enemies attack you instead of attacking them. However, without your sword, you are no better than a sitting duck."

"At least I could still try to fight you no matter the circumstance," Kaoru hissed. Without thinking, she charged at the man, her fist aimed at him. He easily dodged her attack, by taking a step to the side. The dull end of the blade hit the side of her stomach with enough force to make her gasp in pain. But still determined, Kaoru lashed with her other fist. He evaded and hit the back of her head with the hilt of his sword. Jumping back, he watched as Kaoru's form crumpled to the ground.

Shaking, she lifted her upper body using her forearms as support. Even with the blow to the back of her head, she was struggling not to give into darkness. Her blue eyes stared defiantly at him, although she didn't have enough strength to get back on her feet to fight him.

The man's smile turned into a hard one, sharpening his facial features. "You are quite the stubborn one. You are defiant to the end. I can see why Battousai picked you as his woman or why he stayed with you for a long time."

"What are you talking about?" Kaoru asked him. Then the fight drained her body as her shoulders slumped. Her head bowed so that her dark hair shielded her face. "Kenshin doesn't like me. In fact, he left without saying goodbye."

The stranger walked toward her. She was too busy crying to not notice him bending over her. Only his hard and warm fingers curving around her chin forced her out of her misery. He raised her chin until her blue eyes clashed with his black eyes. The grimness settling in the dark depths caused her to hold her breath.

"I've been observing Battousai for five years, waiting for the right moment to exact my revenge on him. I was almost close to killing him three times within this year but I have seen more emotion display across his face than any other time."

Kaoru blinked as droplets escaped her eyes.

He tilted her chin as he moved closer to her. His eyes were mere inches from hers. "From his other travels, he stayed no longer than a couple of weeks depending how long the trouble was. He stayed in your home even after your dojo was saved from Hiruma's final attack. Battousai only remained a long time in this dojo because of you."

Kaoru licked her lips. Apprehension flooded her body when she closed her eyes and exhaled a breath. "I guess I wasn't good enough of a reason for him to stay."

"You're right."

Kaoru opened her eyes, her mouth falling open in surprise.

The man leaned back. Hard edges settled along his mouth and around his eyes. "You could change the way how he sees you. Make him see what he's missing."

Before Kaoru could stop herself, the question left her lips. "How?"

The man let go her chin, standing up to his full height. Kaoru had to lean back until she was gazing at him. He towered over her. His hand went back to the sword she never noticed that he sheathed. Resting one large hand on his sword, a large smile replaced the harsh features on his face.

"Quite simple," he responded. "Become Battousai's equal."

Kaoru gulped in fear. Somehow she had the feeling by asking how she could make herself stand on equal footing with the Battousai was going to change everything in her lifestyle. But another part of her was curious and almost desperate to have the man she loved acknowledge her. It didn't matter if she was appealing Battousai or rurouni. If she could get his attention, there were hopes for him to fall in love with her. She again asked the one word. "How?"

"Let me teach you how to fight at his level."


Thank you for reading. Please review.