A/N: Hey everyone THANK YOU sooooooo much for reviewing my story, it was so encouraging to read your words. Its been a while since I added anything and I know this is really short, but I was in Atlanta for a week and then I started my first job and now I'm going to New York for a week on sunday, so I've been ridiculously stressed out. I don't think I like this chapter, I'll put it up for now and maybe fix it later (or not depending on how much energy I have left when I get back) but if you could leave me some helpful criticism I could really use it to help myself improve. Once again thanks for the reviews and I am off to watch the Kenshin OVA's -better take tissues with me cuz I'm going to cry buckets

"My brother? What are you talking about? My brother died six months ago!"

Ch3

"Brother? Is that what they're calling it nowadays?" Battousai felt his anger ebbing away slowly at his captive's latest admission. At least she's creative, he thought. "Alright, we'll refer to him as your brother for the time being. Now answer my question."

"I just did answer your question. I told you he's dead!" The pain from Sanosuke's recent death was still difficult for Kaoru to bear and more tears welled up in her eyes.

"Tears don't work on me woman, I know he's alive. Stop lying to me." He placed his hand upon her neck and slowly began to increase pressure. Kaoru gasped out in pain and her eyes went wide.

"Please I'm not lying, Sano was slain in a skirmish outside of Kyoto. They sent his sword back home and every-" Kaoru's words became stuck in her throat as she struggled to breathe.

He sighed If I squeeze any harder I'll probably break her neck. Of course, with the amount of trouble she's given me…..No, at the moment she's our only link to Kamiya, its no good disposing of her now. Battousai released Kaoru and stalked off into the forest leaving her heaving upon the ground.

Tears streamed down her face as she clutched at her aching neck. "What am I going to do?"

"What do you have to report Morita?" Akira sat eating his dinner while his first-in-command watched on. "Are you planning on explaining why I shouldn't kill you for falsifying information about the Black Moons' leader?"

"Akira-sama, my only goal in this matter is to ensure a complete victory worthy of your stature." Morita resembled a rat with his greasy hair and furtive eyes when he bowed low before his lord. "I know it was risky to send Battousai on a false mission, but it was most necessary. Akira-sama you think of him as your greatest weapon now but very soon you'll find that he is your biggest weakness."

Akira's eyes flashed here and as he began to speak Morita rushed on, "He knows too much my lord. Every important kill and every secret maneuver was his doing. Once he leaves your command we have no way to control him. It must end now with his death!" Breathing heavily and with sweat lining his forehead Morita looked at Akira to see his reaction.

Akira frowned slightly, thinking, and then raised an eyebrow, "There is wisdom in what you say. I had not considered the dangers….and it is too late to recall him from the mission anyways…perhaps…" Morita waited with bated breath. "Alright Morita. What exactly does your plan entail?"

"Akira-sama I already have my two best men in place. It won't be long now."

Akira began choking on his rice and a servant quickly ran into the room with water. "Two men? You sent two men after a legend, do you have any idea what we are dealing with?"

A gruesome smile spread slowly across Morita's face. "Do not worry my lord, these are no ordinary men."

Dammit this was supposed to be easy! Stupid woman doesn't know when to give up. Why didn't Akira give me the complete information before sending me out? There was no mention of the leader having a mistress and if he had left the dojo I should have been informed! Gritting his teeth Battousai thought on. I'm running out of time, even if she gives me Kamiya's whereabouts now I won't be able to get back fast enough to report to Akira to if he's too far awa to kill within the deadliney. A sudden thought occurred to him and he considered, Why not? I'll take her straight to Akira and let him get it out of her. It isn't my job to gather information anyways.

Pleased that his dilemma was solved Battousai went to gather up the girl – he never did catch her name – and began the trek to Akira's fort.

They walked stealthily through the forest. Kaoru had dropped instinctively to a subservient (and safe, considering their previous interactions) three steps behind Battousai. He ignored her for the most part, looking back only to glare at her from time to time for making what he considered to be too much noise. After a particularly intense glare and what seemed almost to be a growl of warning, Kaoru was beginning to get fed up.

For God's sake its not as if I am trying to make noise – how quiet can he expect me to be when this "path" of his is covered in thorny plants and trees? Not everyone can glide through with god-like speed!

Distracted by her inner frustrations Kaoru tripped over a root that had pushed out of the ground. She braced herself for the fall expecting to hit the mud face-first, but the painful impact never came. Slowly opening her eyes Kaoru was entranced by the deep amber pools and quietly drowned in their brilliance. There was much strength in those eyes and more than a few sparks of danger flashing from their depths but still she felt drawn to them. Her lips slowly parted but no words came out. The eyes seemed to move closer and closer as she breathed faster but then it all stopped.

Battousai slowly released her and Kaoru stood before him shocked at her reaction to a man who had shown her nothing but cruelty. Disgusted by his own reaction as well, Battousai exhaled heavily and lashed out at the cause of his frustration.

He whispered furiously, "Stop making noise and watch were you are going. I will not catch you again." And then muttered under his breath "I do not understand how even an idiot rebel like Kamiya could put up with such a clumsy girl" After taking another look at the "clumsy girl" before continuing on his way he thought, That explains it – A man would put up with a lot to bed a woman who looks like that.

His thoughts began to progress along those intriguing lines until his instincts had him suddenly snapping to attention. He could sense powerful ki approaching from left and right, slowly closing in. Battousai grabbed Kaoru and jumped into the nearest oak, streaking from limb to limb, higher and higher. Upon reaching one of the highest branches he deposited her close to the trunk

"Do not even think about moving from this spot."

He jumped down to the floor leaving an astonished Kaoru to wonder where – or rather how Battousai thought she might try to get off a branch over 30 feet off the ground.

The silence of the forest was broken only by the sounds of nature. Battousai pulled his blade out a fraction and the sound of the metal against the sheath echoed through the forest. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see glimpses of the assailants flashing from one tree trunk to another, running closer to him and the woman he had to protect. His eyes narrowed and stared out with ferocious intensity. His body tensed, ready to spring. Pushing all thoughts out of his mind, Battousai awaited battle.