Another chapter uploaded!! Success!!

(Oh, I got some reviews saying the first chapter was the same as the second... But it looks fine when I look through it. Is something wrong with my computer...?)

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Chapter 3: Discovery

"Yes, can I help you?" asked the raven haired girl. She cursed at herself and her stupidity for not thinking of something to say before hand.

"Um," she faltered. "Himura Kenshin?" The girl looked slightly taken aback as she stepped to the side.

"Hai, come in," she said, plastering on a fake smile that didn't cover up her nervousness.

So he was still alive.

They walked into the old dojo's yard to the back, passing the practice hall that was full of sounds of people practicing. She glanced into it as they passed, noticing two boys in hakama pants that were observing a group of children that were swinging around swords of bamboo. She had always wondered what a dojo was like.

The two girls walked in tense silence. She let her mind wander, and soon she found herself making up a mental image of what the Battousai would look like.

She thought of a large muscle bound man in a dark cloak or kimono, a sword swinging dangerously on his hip. He gave her a piercing gaze from his dark, cold, black eyes. His face was full of scars left over from the war, painful reminders of the chaotic turmoil he had lived through, including the one he had gotten from Enishi's sister. He wouldn't answer her directly, but grunt mostly and only talk when necessary. Also, he wouldn't ask for tea, but would probably offer her some sake.

And he'd flip out when he'd find that she's looking for Enishi, who he probably his sworn enemy of doom.

She realized that the girl had stopped walking, and was calling to someone who was hunched over a large laundry tub, scrubbing furiously. He made a funny noise ("oro?"), then looked up to the two women. Content light blue eyes looked up at them beneath a mess of fiery red hair that hung over his eyes. He smiled and stood up, wiping his hands as he walked towards them.

"Konnichiwa," he said with the same friendly smile on his face as he approached her. Her eyes were wide in surprise. Was this really the hitokiri that had caused so much pain for him? She couldn't feel anything but warmth and peace radiating off of this man. Yet, she could feel something hidden, something deep inside that he didn't normally show.

Well, at least she was right about the scar.

She remained silent for a while, examining him with her critical blue eyes cautiously, noting everything about him: the cross shaped scar, the messy long red hair, the faded clothes, the old sword on his hip. He seemed to realize this as he stayed almost perfectly still, with a relaxed patient smile on his face.

"Hitokiri Battousai," she said after a while as her eyes flickered up to his. She noticed the startled look he gave her, and the surprised jump of the girl standing besides her. She was surprised when his face, rather than being shocked or angry, took on a tired look, as if he was exhausted of hearing that name.

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"...And that's all she said," Kaoru finished telling Yahiko exactly what had happened, Kenshin standing by them, his face a mask of concentration. The Chinese girl that had suddenly appeared was sitting in the small tea room they had.

"Just ask her what she knows and what she means," Yahiko scoffed as he rolled his eyes at Kaoru.

"Okay, correction," she growled, "That's all she can say. She can only speak Chinese."

"Oh," Yahiko said, suddenly realizing why it was so weird, "Why would someone from China be looking for Kenshin?"

"I don't know," Kaoru said, looking at the ground with a worried look.

"Oh well, the only way we can find out is to ask her," Yahiko said, trying not to sound as worried as his teacher looked. "Do we know anyone who can speak Chinese?"

"I can speak Chinese," Yutarou said as he walked up behind Yahiko, startling him slightly.

"What? Since when?" Yahiko frowned as turned around to face Yutarou.

"My dad had a lot of Chinese clients, so he insisted that I learn it to keep up business in case he was gone or something," Yutarou shrugged. Then his eye took on a mischievous gleam. "Just because nothing but swords is in your head, Yahiko-chan, doesn't mean mine is too." A vein popped out on Yahiko's forehead.

"Better swords than pretty girls," he scowled as he swung the shinai he was holding down on Yutarou's head, although Yutarou easily blocked it with his own.

"Better pretty girls than absolutely nothing," Yutarou mocked as he pushed Yahiko's shinai off. Steam was almost visible coming out of Yahiko's ears as he grit his teeth, getting ready to blow up, but Kenshin put his hand on his shoulder. Yahiko could feel the seriousness in the grip of his hand, and immediately calmed down.

"Then could you help us, Yutarou-dono?" he asked cheerfully. Yahiko's and Kaoru's eyes widened slightly. All three of them knew rather well that Yutarou had no idea about Kenshin's past as a hitokiri or anything. He was even blissfully oblivious to the events with Shishio, and even to what took place only a few months ago.

"Kenshin..." Kaoru began to say, but Yahiko cut her off.

"Whatever, Kaoru," he shrugged. "It's about time this baka knew anyways." Kenshin smiled as he began walking down the pathway, leading the way to where their guest was staying.

No one mentioned the thought that was nagging them in their minds.

The one about the only Chinese man they knew.

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She lowered her eyelids and let out a sigh of boredom. It had been a while since Himura and his friend had left her in this room. The tea they gave her was even starting to get cold. She began to wonder if they had run away for some reason. Maybe he was in hiding?

Just when she was about to get up to see, the door slid open. In walked the hitokiri, along with the raven haired girl and two young boys. She frowned at him. She was hoping to talk to him in private. He noticed this, and said something to the boy she had noticed earlier with the light brown hair.

"Um, I'll have to be here to... er... translate since Kenshin can't speak Chinese," he said in rather choppy Chinese. She could tell that he was out of practice, although he could've probably spoken fluently a few years earlier.

"Then why are they here?" she asked, looking at Himura while motioning to the other two. The red head said something, and the boy soon answered, although he looked slightly perplexed.

"They know about everything, it's okay." She scanned them over once with her eyes, then shrugged and nodded.

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"What is your business here?" Kenshin asked, his face looking the most serious Yutarou had ever seen it. He asked the girl, and her face also took on an even more serious tone.

"Hitokiri Battousai?," she said. Yutarou's eyes widened in surprise, and were bugging out when he saw Kenshin nod.

"Yes, I was known by that name," he said, almost wearily.

"What the...!?" Yutarou exclaimed, as he stared at Kenshin.

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, Yutarou-dono," he smiled at him, "But I suppose it's better that you do know." Yutarou's eyes were still wide as he looked at Yahiko, who was sitting by him and had a very smug look on his face.

"We've all known since we met him," he replied to his unasked question, his smug grin growing even larger. "You're the only one besides the other students that doesn't know."

"WHAT?!" Yutarou yelled, almost standing up if Kaoru hadn't grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him back down.

"Yutarou," she said gently, "It doesn't matter. Kenshin is still Kenshin, no matter what he was."

"You all knew, and no one TOLD ME?!" he replied, clenching his fist in front of him as tears of bitterness streamed down his face.

"Good God, suck it up," Yahiko frowned as he inched a little farther away, anime sweatdrops appearing on everyone but the Chinese girl's head.

"Ahem, well, should we continue?" Kenshin said, his face rather anxious. Yutarou nodded as he wiped his tears, Kaoru patting his back consolingly. He looked at the girl, ready for the next question.

"Where is Yukishiro Enishi?" she asked. He raised his eyebrow skeptically as he translated what she had said. Yahiko and Kaoru jumped in surprise, and Kenshin's mouth dropped slightly in shock.

"I feel like I've missed something," he muttered as he looked at everyone gaping at the girl.

"You knew Enishi?" Kenshin asked. He translated it.

"Hai," she replied. "I'm looking for him. Do you know where he is?" He translated. Kenshin shook his head slowly, and Kaoru and Yahiko looked very uncomfortable.

"No one knows where Enishi's gone," Kenshin's voice was soft, consoling. "The police have even reported him dead." Yutarou translated. It was the girl's turn to be shocked.

"What?!" she exclaimed. "He's dead?!" Translated.

"He's not dead," Kaoru replied. "He can't be dead. He still has to atone and find his answer." Translated. The girl looked at Kaoru skeptically.

"Nani?" she said, a confused look on her face.

"Do you even know what Enishi came to Tokyo for?" Yahiko said, raising both his eyebrows. Translated.

"Hai," the girl sighed wearily as she looked down at her cup of tea. "Of course I know. There's been nothing else on his mind for the past fifteen years." Translated. Kenshin's eyes widened.

"How long have you known Enishi for?" he asked. Translated. The girl looked up at him quizzically.

"I told you," she answered simply. "I met him fifteen years ago in Shanghai." Translated.

"Didn't Enishi have a big syndicate in Shanghai?" Yahiko asked Kaoru.

"Yeah, he did," Kaoru replied.

"How do we know she's not part of his company?" Yahiko narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the girl, who was looking at him quizzically. "Hey, what if she's under new orders to find Enishi and finish him off?"

"Yahiko, you've been reading too much manga," Kaoru sighed, rolling her eyes.

"No, Kaoru-dono, he may have a point," Kenshin said. "Yutarou, ask her for the reason she wants to find Enishi." Yutarou and the girl were both looking at them with annoyed looks on their faces (the girl because no one was translating anything, and Yutarou because he didn't know what the heck they were talking about).

"Um, okay, whatever," Yutarou muttered, then asked the girl. A flash of thought passed through her eyes, but she just shrugged. Kenshin sighed.

"We don't mean to pry, but if you're from Enishi's old syndicate and are planning something, then we can't help you," Kenshin said sternly. Yutarou translated.

"If you're suggesting that I'm here to assassinate him, then you really can't get much farther from the truth," she said, slightly irked. Translated. Then she added, "I just want to make sure he's okay..." Yutarou translated this as Kenshin looked up at her. She quickly looked away, a faint blush appearing on her face.

"Hooohh," Kenshin said as a grin stretched out on his face, "So that's it." She shot him a what-are-you-smiling-at face, which Kenshin ignored.

"I'm sorry," Kenshin then said, taking on a more serious tone, "But we don't know where he is. I don't think anyone does." The girl sighed audibly as Yutarou translated.

"Did you defeat him?" she asked softly, her eyes looking at Kenshin sadly. Translated. Kenshin nodded once. She sighed again. "I never thought that would be possible... He was so determined to get his revenge. He thought his sister wanted him to kill you... as you did her." The last comment shocked Yutarou, but he translated it anyways.

"That..." Kenshin's voice was low, and his eyes had a faraway look in them, "I won't deny I killed Himura Tomoe. But, it wasn't as he had seen it." Translated.

"It was all a mistake," she said, a bittersweet smile on her face. "I'm sorry, for whatever he must've done ... It must've been painful." Translated.

"We have all learned to accept it," was his simple reply. "I think we were all more than a little confused. Still, some good things did come of it." A soft smile appeared on Kaoru's lips as she looked at Kenshin, which no one but the girl seemed to notice. Yutarou translated it. The girl looked up at Kenshin with a sad smile.

"I'm happy for you," she said, looking at Kaoru then at Kenshin. She got up and picked up her bag. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. I'll be leaving now." Yutarou translated it hastily as she began to go to the door.

"If you find him," Kaoru said. "Tell him he can come here... if he needs help." Yutarou translated it. The girl didn't turn around, but nodded in understanding.

"Arigatou," she said as she stepped out the door. No one made any motion to follow her, and soon she was out of the dojo. Yutarou looked around at everyone, who seemed to be deep in thought.

"Sooo," Yutarou said, trying to sound nonchalant as everyone looked at him, as if forgetting he had been sitting there the whole time, "Who exactly was Yukishiro Enishi?"

"My brother in law," Kenshin replied simply. Yutarou nodded as if understanding, then did a double take on Kenshin, his mouth dropping open in surprise ("say what?!"). "Kaoru-dono, it's time for dinner, right?"

"Yeah," she replied, ignoring Yutarou's shocked face.

"Busu, stay away from the kitchen and let Kenshin handle dinner," Yahiko frowned as he stood up, following Kaoru and Kenshin who were walking out the door.

"Yahiko, I'd be careful with your choice of words," Kaoru replied in a dangerously sweet voice. They all left the room, closing the door behind them. Yutarou could hear them arguing as usual as they walked down the walkway.

"I'm so confused," he said pitifully to himself as he hung his head and let out a loud sigh.

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She walked down the street, suddenly feeling cold now that the sun had gone down, casting strange shadows in the half light. Her face was set in thought as she considered what had happened.

So, Enishi had already attempted his Jinchuu, but he had failed? He was the strongest person she had ever met, cold and determined eyes validating this. And yet, there was this little man who was apparently stronger than Enishi, but he hardly seemed perturbed about his past.

No, that wasn't right. She had felt it, a soft air of sadness around him. But still, this man had been a heartless hitokiri, and now he was a happy little laundry machine? Did he simply bury his past, or had he found a way to atone for all the killings he had done, wiping his conscience clean? No, it was impossible to forget about so many murders, so much spilled blood. He must've found a way to live in peace with himself.

How did he do it?

And, more importantly, was it possible for Enishi to do the same?

She sighed, her eyes downcast. Since Enishi had been beaten, then he was probably in pain right now. She'd have to find him, and help him.

She looked up and searched for an inn to stay at, scanning the large signs quickly. She soon spotted what she thought was a respectable looking place, and checked into a small room.

She put her small bag on the floor as she stepped into the room, looking around. There was no bed, and she figured it was in the small chest of drawers. It was starting to get late, but she found that she wasn't tired.

She stood in the middle of the room, her mind going over and repeating what had happened that day, slowly going over the details. She stood there for what seemed like hours, until she realized that her legs were beginning to get sore.

She smiled sheepishly to herself and at her stupidity. Still, she didn't feel tired. She went to the window and opened it, feeling a rush of cold win brush against her face. She breathed in deeply, feeling more awake than ever. She sat down and leaned her head against the sill, listening to the sounds of the street under her.

Her mind was submerged in thought once again as soft white balls of snow fell from the sky.

Enishi...

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(Oh, my sister wonders how she could check into a hotel without knowing Japanese, to which I answer: Um, body... language...? I'm really not bothering with that problem)

Eh, I thought this chapter was kind of boring (I just had to clear some things up). BUT, don't go yet! It gets better!

Sanosuke: As if that's possible...

Kie: It is! Next chapter: ENISHI finally comes into the picture!!

Sano: In the form of a flashback.

Kie: (glares at Sano) Phooey! Shut up! Besides, it's a long flashback.

In any case, even if you're not gonna stick around and see, you should at least leave me a review! This story is slowly getting up to (what I think) are some interesting parts. It may be getting dragged out, but I can't help it!

So, REVIEW!! No flames, please, but constructive criticism helps out... a lot... seriously, TELL ME WHAT I DID WRONG!!

Also, if you can, then VOTE TOMORROW!! DON'T FORGET!! You live in a freakin' democracy, so go do it!!

Sano: You know, most of the people that read this crap are teenagers.

Kie: I know, but it doesn't hurt to try. (clenches fist in front of her as fire burns in her eyes) I have upheld my civic duty!!

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REVIEW!!

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