A.N.- I planned to update this fic earlier, but from the lack of reviews and starting school, training for my blackbelt, etc….I have been too busy. I apologize if I take a while to update. Please review, it would be greatly appreciated. To keep you reader from confusion I do flip back from the present to the past in this fic. It depends on the character's points of views, etc.

The Confluence of Hearts

Chapter 2

Kyoto, 1864

He hadn't known what to do with her. He hadn't noticed that she had been staring at him until it was too late.

His sword had met his assailant, ripped through the flesh, and splattered fresh blood into the air. It had smeared the lady's stark white kimono and the purple shawl that was wrapped about her. Kenshin's amber eyes, glazed over with intent, lessened in severity as they met that oval-shaped face, with a mouth parted slightly open, and eyes so utterly deep and black like voids.

His sword slipped from his hands and fell to the ground with a clanging thud. His heart raced in his chest at the realization that the woman had seen him kill the assassin.

It's the woman from the bar…she saw! I cannot let her know of Battousai's existence! This is bad. What do I do?

"You know how they say in plays 'a rain of blood fell?' You really made it rain blood." Her voice was soft and mellow-like, and brought Kenshin out of his panicked reverie.

The redheaded swordsman glanced up at her and saw that she looked to be smiling almost grimly, before he saw the lady suddenly fall forward. He caught her in surprise before she hit the ground and stumbled backward.

She's fainted. It's only natural, but what should I do with her? Silence her? No. I can't leave her here amidst the evidence, especially at night in the alleyways of Kyoto. Guess I have no choice…

Kenshin hauled the unconscious woman up bridal style and paused. He could smell her perfume even amidst the rain and blood.

Hakubaiko, huh?

His face flushed.

I must be going crazy.'

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Kenshin awoke the next morning, recalling the memory of that night in Kyoto. He had dreamt of it, and it had been so lucid it was as if he were there again. He turned in a bit of a daze to see Tomoe kneeling and writing in her diary absorbedly. Her wrist flicked gracefully and she dabbed her brush in ink before smoothing it over a crisp page. She seemed to have taken notice of the man's eyes on her because she shut her diary quickly and tucked it in a drawer before facing him.

Tomoe looked as cool as ever and nodded her head in greeting.

Kenshin blinked, still feeling bit groggy. Those deep black eyes burned into him and he recalled that strong scent of white plum mixed with blood. "Huh? Oh, ohayo gozaimasu."

He looked around and noticed that a ray of light flitted through the shoji screen. A few birds twittered, welcoming the morning. Kenshin groaned before brushing the hair out of his eyes, pushing back the futon, and standing up. His yukata had become disheveled in his sleep, and slid off the right side of his torso.

Tomoe glanced at him, noticing the flat, yet smooth muscles. Kenshin took no notice of it and pulled the fallen cloth back over him before facing the woman. "I must've slept late. Why didn't you wake me?"

"I didn't want to disturb you," Tomoe replied simply. She was already up and dressed and put away her futon.

Kenshin became a bit humiliated before shrugging it off. "I have to get some medicine delivered. I promised Oshigara-san that I would bring him some good herbs for his stomach pains and give Michiko-dono something to help relieve the bad toothache she has."

He rushed hurriedly to get dressed, and did so behind one of the screens without so much as saying another word to Tomoe. He did not even ask her if she had breakfast prepared or if she had slept well.

Tomoe did not bother carrying up a conversation with Kenshin. He was dressed in moments and had his case of medicine on his back. He was about to depart before pausing to stare at her.

Kenshin's nose took in the sweet scent of hakubaiko and he felt for a moment that he was holding the woman in his arms in the rain once more. Tomoe looked at him questionably and his face flushed.

"You know, you can always come to the village with me if you like. It must get lonely up here and tedious no doubt," Kenshin said awkwardly.

Tomoe was unruffled as always. "It's no problem. The house always needs cleaning, there is harvesting to wrap up, and lunch to be made at your return."

Kenshin had somehow thought she would say something different, but this was typical of her. "Oh, all right then. I'll be back in a few hours. The children will most likely want to play when I return."

His eyes met hers. They were violet and bright and Tomoe's heart leapt as Kenshin turned and left.

Violet…how long have they been…

Amber…

No, they've been violet for as long as can remember.

Tomoe found herself bemused.

When Kenshin had first met her, she could have sworn the vehement gold orbs had existed. She had seen them, she couldn't doubt it. So how could his eyes be both amber and violet?

That night in Kyoto those eyes had been swirling with a tangible and unsettling amber flame. Those days afterward they had flickered with a diluted gold that sparked with intent whenever he looked at her. They had been unremitting and fierce and sent chills up anyone who met them.

But now, Tomoe seldom sensed that fierceness. Had she not even noticed the change? It seemed ridiculous.

She watched as Kenshin's fleeting form disappeared in the distance.

What changed?

Tomoe's lips pursed into a thin line as she recalled something.

She had leaned over him to drape a blanket over him…he had been sleeping so soundly…

A swordsman's weakness…

That swift jerk, cold metal pressed against her throat, his mouth curled into a snarl, and those amber eyes penetrating her.

"Would you kill me?"

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Kyoto

The drizzle pelted the roof of the Ohagi Inn as Kenshin tiptoed in. The woman in his arms remained limp and a quiet moan escaped her mouth. The Battousai's head gazed around and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"What on earth are you doing Himura?"

Kenshin jumped and turned to face an older woman, Okami, the innkeeper. "No-well there was a fight, she fainted and-it's not what it looks like."

Okami raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "You got her drunk then?"

Kenshin started and shook his head furiously.

Okami sighed and shook her head in disdain. "This isn't a teahouse. I can't just let whores in. I guess we really have no choice do we? Just this once though. Wait a moment. I'll get some warm water and fresh clothes."

"Oi! Mrs. Okami!" The woman turned her head to see a man with an unshaven face poke his head lazily through the door as Kenshin walked away. "What's going on?"

"Oh, it's you Iizuka. It's that swordsmen Katsura has been looking after…well he's…" Okami explained, and Iizuka's face fell.

"Himura brought a girl?

XOXOXO

Kenshin watched Tomoe as she slept and frowned.

Just a drunk huh?

He found himself growing drowsy.

I still smell it…white plums…

Sleep took him, and he awoke the next morning, startled to find the lady not there and the futon she had been lying on folded neatly.

No! I fell asleep!

Kenshin rushed out of the room. "Okami-dono!" he cried, as he saw the woman in the hall.

"Oh Himura, good morning. This girlfriend of yours is quite a fine worker, I must admit." She handed a stack of trays to a lady next to her, who Kenshin realized was the woman from the night before.

He about fell on his face and attempted to ignore the remark. He followed the lady down the hall as she carried the tray of food, before addressing her. "Um...miss…"

"Tomoe." She did not turn to him as she said this and kept walking.

Kenshin blinked, not sure how what to say. "Oh, well Tomoe, what are you doing?"

She glanced at him as if he were an imbecile. "What does it look like I am doing?"

Kenshin frowned and stared at the tray. "Carrying food?"

Tomoe stopped before a sliding shoji screen. "How observant of you."

Kenshin watched as she slid the door open. A line of men sat there, waiting to be served. Their eyes lingered on Tomoe hungrily, but she seemed unaffected. "Breakfast is ready."

"So this is Himura's girl!"

"She's cute."

"Older too."

"Perfect for him, and just as icy!"

Kenshin started at these sudden remarks. Tomoe ignored them and bowed her head. "Nice to meet you." She departed then, and Kenshin called after her.

"Wait just a minute!"

"So how was she Himura?" Iizuka teased, interrupting Kenshin's chance to speak with Tomoe.

The Battousai turned to him, miffed and flustered. "Would you cut that out!"

Iizuka grinned. "Embarrassed I see. It's nothing to be ashamed of. She's a pretty one."

Kenshin was losing his patience. His hand met his blade, startling the men. Iizuka held his tongue and backed off. "Sorry. You don't have to take it so personally."

Kenshin glowered heatedly at his friend before cooling. "Instead of remarking on women there are things that should be discussed!"

Iizuka shrugged and pointed to a man in the corner. He looked placid and laidback, and was calmly sipping on some frothy tea. Kenshin faced his leader Katsura and sighed.

"Calm down Himura. Relax for once in your life. Besides, there is nothing wrong with the matters of the heart. They do not concern ideals. Ideals can always be discussed," Katsura stated amiably.

Kenshin shook his head. "Can't we speak seriously? What of your stay here! You must be careful here in Kyoto."

Katsura looked up from his tea. "Certainly. If you'll give me a moment Himura we can speak outside."

Kenshin did not get a chance to speak to Tomoe until later. He was walking about as he brooded over his previous conversation with Katsura.

"There is a traitor amidst us…"

A traitor…

He passed up Tomoe, and then made a chance to stop her. "Tomoe-dono."

She barely stopped to notice him. "Yes?"

Kenshin faced her squarely and his eyes narrowed. "I want you to forget everything you saw last night and leave this place."

Tomoe cocked an eyebrow, affronted by his forwardness. "Really now? Am I such a burden? Okami-san approves of me."

Kenshin frowned in annoyance. "Your family will miss you."

Tomoe scoffed as if that were an amusing thought. "If I had a family to go back to why would I be out drinking alone at night?"

Kenshin faltered, but became more frustrated. "I don't know of your situation but we're in no state to look after you."

Tomoe studied him for a few moments and looked at him softly. "What do you propose I do? Will you finish me like you did that man for witnessing you kill him?"

Kenshin huffed. "That's absurd. You can think whatever you want, but I'm doing this only to bring a new age where everyone can live in peace. I don't kill without purpose, only when needed. It's only armed members of the Bakufu who oppose us that I would face. Naturally civilians might oppose us as well, but I would never strike a man unless armed."

Tomoe's black eyes glinted. "I see. So it's the bad that carry swords and good that don't? Does that mean if I had been carrying a sword that night you would have struck me down as well?"

She looked at him so plainly, yet her eyes bore into Kenshin's with a disturbing intensity. The samurai looked at her in disbelief, having not expected such words.

"That's…"

He was at a loss for words. Tomoe glanced at him coldly. "When you have an answer for me, let me know." With that she left him, befuddled and taken aback.

'Would you have struck me down as well?'

To be continued…