Author's note: Thank you to you who took the time to review. Really appreciate it. Sorry I took so long to update. I will try to update more frequently with short chapter. I like to try something different for a change.

And I apologized for I didn't really spend much time checking for grammatical error.

Who's the Master

Under the full moonlight, Kaoru emerged gracefully from underneath the water into the crispy air. Her shining black hair ascended silkily in rhythm with her body. The water level stood just above her breast and the water was warm although the breeze was blowing cold. She suspected that her adorable apprentice had added a little magic in keeping the water warm enough for her. Regardless, it felt great to be under the water after a long day walk. She breathed in deeply, enjoying the sound of the night.

She dared to bare herself out in the wild, in a pond for she knew her young apprentice had set up a barrier within the vicinity. No one could step foot into the forest. She smiled thinking of who, between the her and her apprentice was the protector. She realized that he was overly protective over her and she fell a little awkward. At the thought she recalled what had just happened earlier in the afternoon.

Kenshin transformation was overwhelmed her. On one hand, she realized how much power he was able to call upon. On the other hand, it terrified her at the magical power that he possessed. She began to understand how Himura Sword came about its legendary magical power and why many sought to wield it.

Should Kenshin had strayed from the path of righteousness, he would do a lot damage to both living and non-living world. If so, the shadow of Himura Sword's past will once again emerge. And it was her task to teach him the value of life, she nodded to herself.

Slowly, she walked back to the bank of the pond and stepped out of the water. She reached out for her thin yukata, hanging on a branch of a tree. Without her summoning for her magic, her body was immediately dry. She smiled and sighed at the same time. Her apprentice had done it again.

"Kenshin, I won't catch a cold, you know?" she said, securing her yukata at her waist.

Walking out from the forest, he replies, "I know but I thought it would be more comfortable to wrap a yukata on a dry skin instead of wet."

She sighed again. She couldn't decide whether he was treating her like a queen or child. She sat herself on a big rock. She slightly bent her left knee and stretched out her right legs. The length of the right leg was exposed from the opening of her yukata. She tilted her head slightly to the side and started combing her damn hair with her fingers.

Kenshin scrupulously watched her.

She noticed that he was fidgeting. "What's wrong?"

"Hm… I have something for you." His hand went into his gi and it came out with a wooden comb.

With her mouth slightly agape, she stared at the comb laid neatly on his palm. She was speechless. She brought her head up and looked at him in the eyes.

He smiled when he saw the sparks in her misty eyes. Without a word, he went around her and kneeled down behind her. Diligently he laid a lock of her hair on his palm. He secretly savored the feel of the soft threads before he combed it.

Kaoru smiled and relaxed her shoulders. Quietly she allowed him to comb her hair. Although she could not see him, she felt every attentive and delicate moves of his fingers along the length of her hair. She closed her eyes, wrapped by the sensation of his digits gently teasing her hair. A certain fuzzy feeling was stirring on her chest area. It was the first time she experienced such emotion. She didn't know what it meant or what it represented. All she knew was that it felt good.

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"WHERE IS SHE?!" Enishi roared at his army.

There was only silent.

"Lord Enishi, we are still looking for her. It has only been a day or so since she left," Aoshi finally reported.

Enishi eyes' narrowed at his Commander, about to swallow him alive. "Do you know how long is one day in human time?!" Enishi chided. "She has been roaming around in the land of human for a year!" he roared again. He turned to his army, "You call yourself soldier when you can't even find me one goddess? You have better try harder or I would not hesitate to send all of you lot down to burn in hell!!!" He turned on his heels and stomped away.

"Find the Goddess of Mercy." Aoshi waved his hand and dismissed his troupe.

Aoshi walked back to his office and saw a still fuming Enishi looking out through the window.

"There was a strong demonic ki detected today. Although it was brief but its ki was shockingly powerful," Aoshi reported.

"Take care of it. I don't have time for this now," Enishi said.

"The Goddess said that someone needed her help. I suspected it might have something to do with the display the demonic ki," Aoshi summarized his primary observation.

Enishi's full attention immediately turned to Aoshi. "Why are you still standing here for? Find out! And bring her back!"

"Yes, my Lord," Aoshi bowed and took his leave.

"Aoshi," Enishi's tone was cold as dead, "you do know the consequences if anything should happen to her under your watch…"

"Yes, my Lord," Aoshi nodded. The moment he stepped out of the office. He quickened his steps.

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"Lord Aoshi, you called upon me?" Kuno addressed Aoshi who was waiting for him under the cherry blossom tree.

"Do you know anything about the strong ki that was present today?"

"I felt the tremor but I yet to find out anything about the source of it," Kuno lied through his teeth. "It was too brief."

Aoshi studied Kuno suspiciously.

Kuno calmly added, "If my instinct is right, it was coming from the east. And I have notice some very peculiar ki present in the East. My best bet is to start investigating east part of the land. It might lead us to something."

"Very well. You will lead the way," Aoshi instructed. "Kuno, have you been able to detect the Goddess of Mercy?"

"I'm afraid not. Her trace has been properly covered up. There is no sign of her. I personally think that she do not wish to be found easily this time and that she has no wish to return any time soon," Kuno answered in partial truth.

"Whatever it is, we need to find the Goddess before the Lord goes mad." Aoshi can't help rolling his eyes and sighed. He didn't mind his Lord's aggressiveness against fighting the demons but in search for a goddess?! What was the rush when she will be returning once she grew bored, he thought to himself.

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Gradually her fluttering eyelids uncovered themselves, registering a familiar scene to her sight. Kenshin was intently watching her. Again. She carefully pushed herself up by her side. "Kenshin, what are you doing up so early?" she asked. She had wanted to ask why was he watching her sleep again but found the question rather awkward.

"I don't sleep that much," he simply stated, his eyes were still on her every moves.

It was funny how his unwavering eyes sent shivers down her spine, however, it was completely different from the goose bumps she felt whenever Enishi sensually stared at her. She found herself having difficulties maintaining eye contact under Kenshin's intent stare and she heard a loud drumming sound resonated in her eyes ears. It was then when she realized she was blushing. She quickly turned away from him, pretending to be admiring a pair of sparrow that was resting on the tree branch. Something was stirring wildly inside of her and she didn't know what it was. Her emotions were wilder than the night before when he combed her hair.

Although she had her back to him, she could feel his intense stare. For some unknown reason she wanted so much to turn around and look at him that she clenched her fist. At the thought, made her blushed harder. And when the silence was no longer bearable to her, she discretely glanced at him. She caught glimpse of him smirking from the corner of his lips. She knitted her brow, disbelieving her own eyes and turned around reflexively.

However she only found the usual grinning Kenshin asking her, "Hungry? I'll make you something to eat."

She blinked several time. Had she been mistaken? For a moment, she thought she saw the shadow of Himura Sword in Kenshin's luring smirk.

He gave her reassuring smile before turned his back on her and started his other morning routine, making her breakfast. While he was meddling with his stuff, the corner of his lips slowly curled upwards in the most suggestive manner.

After feeding his master, Kenshin gathered his belonging. Kaoru sat on a rock with both palms under her chin. She could not shake off the vivid memory of Kenshin's evil smirk which she was definite that she saw it. It was not an illusion. She observed his movement and found that he was still the adorable Kenshin that she had known. There was no sign of the evil Himura Sword. It was rather ironic how she should think Himura Swrod as evil when she thought it was rather pleasant upon their first encounter. Besides, Himura Sword had said that it will be sealed away inside of Kenshin. He couldn't have possibly ate at his own word, could he?

Kaoru shook her head. No… No… It can't be, she thought. It was not for this supposed had Himura Sword created Kenshin. The unexplainable feeling she was experiencing must have made her wary. She exhaled deeply and loudly before she pushed herself to stand.

Kenshin turned and looked up at his master.

"Today, we will continue our journey to the west," she announced.

Kenshin smiled and nodded before he stood up and follow her lead out of the forest.

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Author's note: Thanks for reading. Leave me a review if you may.