Disclaimer- You know the drill, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters in this story. BUT ONE DAY I WILL... not really :(

Author's Note- I am very happy to see that I am making a good first impression with this story. I would like to thank samuraiduck27, erica6060, and Chrno-Crusade1 for their reviews. Now I am feeling a bit pressured. I have to make this chapter as good as the others. Well, hope you like the 3rd chapter.

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"Kenshin, are you okay?" asked Kaoru, "do you know this person?" So many questions have come streaming into Kenshin's head all at once. How is Tomoe still alive? How did she find me? And more importantly, why did she just try to assassinate Kaoru? It was almost too much for Kenshin to handle.

"Kenshin, please tell me what is wrong, you're worrying me". Kaoru already began crying; she had never seen Kenshin like this. The expression on his face was new to her; she couldn't even tell if he was breathing anymore. He just sat there, totally frozen. He fought to open his mouth, and he softly mumbled, "Tomoe... is... alive." After that, he passed out.

"I won't survive this fight", the battousai thought to himself. He was losing blood at an alarming rate. He had never been wounded like this. He could see the slight grin of his opponent. The ninja knew what the battousai was capable of, but by using explosives and fighting in a forest, he had the advantage. Through the pain and the taunts of his adversary, he could only think of one thing, Tomoe. The woman he had grown to love and marry. He never imagined he could love, or that love would feel so good and hurt so much at the same time. He didn't want to lose that feeling. All he needed was a single attack; just one blow and the ninja will fall. He frantically searches for where he should strike his sword and decides that the ninja's heart is the appropriate place. Maybe then his enemy can feel the pain going though the battousai's heart. He launches the attack straight at the assassin, but as he strikes he smells the familiar perfume of white plums that Tomoe has grown accustomed to wearing. By the time he notices that Tomoe has put herself between him and his attacker, it is too late to pull back. The battousai does something he hasn't done in years, he cried; for he has defeated his opponent, but at the price of his only love. In the chaos, the battousai failed to notice the dagger in Tomoe's hand, or the horizontal slash it has left on his face, completing the cross-shaped scar that will forever remind him of this night. The battousai held Tomoe in his hands as she dies, and knowing there is nothing he can do to save her, he brings her closer to him just to feel her soft cheek on his. Tomoe gently touches his scar and tells him that it is better this way and that he shouldn't cry. The last thing she did was smile, something she was not accustomed to doing, and at that moment, the battousai wishes it were he that died and not she.

Kenshin awoke several hours later. He had the dream again, except this time he understood why he had it. He remembers the night perfectly. After wounding Tomoe, he had never checked for a pulse, all he did was run off to check if there were any more ninja's hidden in the woods. When he got back, Tomoe's body wasn't there. He had assumed that it was taken away by a passerby to have a proper burial. But one thing still bothered him, there was a grave made for her. He had gone there a few times to reflect on his life.

Kenshin noticed that Sanosuke, Yahiko, Kaoru, and Megumi were sitting around him staring in silence. It was finally time for them to know all about his Tomoe.

After finishing his story, and apologizing to Kaoru for never telling her about it, he explained that if her goal were to kill Kaoru, she would be back. Kenshin has decided to go and try to find Tomoe before she stops by for a second visit. "Sanosuke, can you and Yahiko stay here and protect Miss Kaoru?" asked Kenshin. "Sure thing Kenshin, but what are you going to do?" replied Sanosuke. "Well, I have to try and find Tomoe before she does any real harm. She knows where we live, and I'm assuming she knows how many people are in the dojo. I'll try visiting the local inn, maybe she has checked in there", said Kenshin. "Alright Kenshin, but do us all a big favor, ask Aoshi for help. You know he is in town for the week, remember?" As much as Kenshin hates to admit it, Sanosuke is right. It isn't that Kenshin didn't like Aoshi, he is actually a good friend of his. But Aoshi and him have a history of rivalry with each other. Aoshi would never attack Kenshin now, but that tension is still there. With Sanosuke it was different, because even though they have fought one another, Sanosuke has loosened up a lot. But Aoshi isn't like that at all, he is always serious, I don't think I have ever seen him smile. No matter how reluctant Kenshin was to ask Aoshi for help, he knew that it was the best bet to finding Tomoe. Aoshi is very intelligent and he has the ability to see through someone so to speak. You cannot keep anything from him, and if you try, you will fail miserably.

"Hey Kenshin, if you are planning on finding this girl, you better get a move on, it's getting dark out" advised Sanosuke. And with that, Kenshin left the dojo quickly to enlist the aid of his Aoshi.

By the time he got to the inn, it was nightfall, and a beautiful full moon brought an eerie presence to the night. He quickly entered the inn and asked the innkeeper if a Shinamori Aoshi was staying in one of the rooms. "Well, I do recall someone by that name coming in here, but I haven't seen him all day. You know he might be in the bar next door, that's where most of the people that stay here go to relax." Kenshin gladly thanked the innkeeper for the information and proceeded to go next door to the bar.

It didn't take Kenshin long to spot Aoshi within the crowd. He was the only one sitting alone. As Kenshin approached, Aoshi seemed to stiffen up, something he had grown accustom to doing when anyone walked in his direction. Kenshin sat across from him, and without even getting the chance to put a word in; Aoshi said "So, you need help finding this girl, correct? I don't have anything better to do, so I suppose I could help you." Kenshin didn't even bother asking him how he knew; it is obvious that Sanosuke had already briefed him on the situation. "Just tell me what she looks like, and I may be able to help you, and speak quickly, ", said Aoshi. "To tell you the truth, I haven't seen her in years, all I saw was her outfit, it was a purple kimono. She also wore a hood over her head."

"Well, that isn't much to go by, I will try my best to help you. In the mean time, would you like a bit of sake?" asked Aoshi. "I suppose I could stay a bit. So why have you come to Tokyo, you aren't one to make visits?" asked Kenshin. "To tell you the truth, I have been hired to do a special job", said Aoshi. "Are you telling me that you are here to assassinate someone? I thought you were better than that", retorted Kenshin angrily. "Look Kenshin, I am not into your philosophy of shedding others blood. I admit that what I am doing is wrong, but I have been given an offer I can't refuse". "And that is?" asked Kenshin. Aoshi took a sip of his sake and after placing it down; he said, "I have been offered the greatest duel of my life"

Just then, Aoshi pulled out his double kodachi and lunged at Kenshin throat. Kenshin dodged the blow with unparalleled speed and drew his Sakabatou and prepared for the worst.

"You see Kenshin, I do not choose to fight you unless I have a purpose. Right now my purpose is money. I have been offered a great amount of money simply for keeping you occupied here. Tomoe asked me to do this so that she could kill your beloved Kaoru without you getting in the way", shouted Aoshi. By this time, everyone had cleared out of the bar and police could be heard in the distance

"Tomoe has told me all about what you did to her. You left her to die in the middle of a forest. You didn't even try to get her help. She told me that she had to go find help on her own. After she recuperated, she made a false grave to give off the illusion that she was dead. She has also informed me that she has been watching you for quite sometime now, and she has a special interest in that Kaoru girl. Now I have to admit, she is a bit crazy for watching your every move just to see if you would fall in love with someone else, but it doesn't matter to me, as long as I get the duel I was promised", said proclaimed Aoshi.

"I don't think I will have to worry about anything happening to Miss Kaoru, you see Sanosuke and Yahiko are protecting her back at the dojo", said Kenshin proudly.

"Well, I do believe that was a good idea. But it won't help you very much", said Aoshi. "And why is that", asked Kenshin worriedly.

"Because, Miss Tomoe has mastered the very same technique you use, the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, and she plans on using it to finish with your precious Kaoru!!!"