A/n Hi everyone! Thanks for all the encouraging reviews. My other story, In Wolf's Clothing, doesn't seem to be doing very well. The last chapter only got 4 reviews, but those 4 reviews are all I need to keep writing. Anyway, I've been slacking in the writing department, but I hope your reviews will help spur me pon to keep working on this and my other Kenshin fics. I have so many started, and I can't wait to post them. Well I won't keep you much longer. On to the story.

I don't own Kenshin.

The next two days were a blur for Kaoru. She spent as much time as she could with Misao and Megumi. Though they were upset to the point of tears that their sister was leaving, they were obviously relieved that they would still have their father. She spent her days packing up her things, not to take them, for why would she need them if she was going to die; she did it to spare her family the grief of doing it themselves. The family spent every meal together at the table, recalling memories, laughing, and crying.

And as morning dawned on the third day, the terrible thundering of horse hooves returned.

The four family members were sitting around the table when the thundering started. They paused in their soft conversation, their tea cups rattling on the table. Kaoru saw the stricken look of fear flitter across all their faces and she quickly stood up. "Don't be afraid." She said as her sisters and father scrambled up to their feet.

"Kaoru-chan, I don't want you to go." Misao begged, tears filling her eyes instantly as she grabbed her younger sister.

"I know Misao-chan… it's okay." She pulled her sister into a hug and Megumi walked around the table to join them in the hug. As the sisters pulled away Kaoru turned to her father, who kept his tears at bay as he embraced his youngest daughter.

"Your sacrifice will not be forgotten by this family." he said with roughness in his voice.

Kaoru nodded silently, knowing she couldn't trust her voice if she spoke. She turned and walked from her childhood home, her family following close behind. The thundering hooves slowed and came to a stop as she reached the front doors. Outside, the sun was just peeking over the horizon, bathing the earth in golden light. But no amount of golden light could chase away the shadow hanging over the pair of black horses hitched to a dark wood carriage. The very same that her father had been delivered in three days ago.

Kaoru expected dread to wash over her, but all she felt was calm, peace. She had accepted her fate and she would leave with grace, if not for herself, then for her family.

"Kaoru-chan." Misao whimpered as the family gathered around her and hugged her tight.

"Don't be sad for me." She said to the group. "This is what I want." With one last hug she walked to the carriage waiting just outside the gate. Her family followed, gathering around the gate as she opened it and stepped into the road. Here she could see just how big the horses were. Massive black animals whose backs reached the top of her head. They tossed their heads, mouths chewing on the metal bits. They lifted their hooves impatiently as they danced in place. There was no driver in the seat but the carriage door popped open and swung wide as she approached it. There was no one inside.

Nervous, but refusing to break the mask of calm in front of her family, she turned to them one last time and gave them her sweetest smile. "I love you." She said to them as her sisters let the tears fall from their eyes. Her father struggled to stay composed for his daughters sakes. Taking a deep breath, Kaoru lifted the hem of her kimono and stepped onto the small metal and wood step and climbed into the carriage. The interior had two large bench seats, just big enough for four people. The seats were covered in dark leather and silk curtains covered the windows. As she settled in her seat, the door slowly closed and shut tight, again by invisible hands.

Kaoru pushed the silk curtains away from one window and stuck her head out to wave one last time at her family as the carriage slowly pulled away from their home. She waved until she could no longer see them and she then pulled her head and arm back inside the carriage and then…only then did she allow the tears to come. She wept freely, letting all the pain of leaving her family and all the fear of her impending death fall with the tears. For as the carriage picked up pace, she felt her eyes dry and numbness grow inside of her. Once again Kaoru was at peace with the situation.

The speed grew and grew until once again the thunderous pounding of hooves and wheels and rattling of chains surrounded her. The carriage rocked as they went over bumps and ruts. Kaoru pushed the curtain aside again, surprised to find that they had already left civilization, and were now tearing up the country road at their break neck speed. The sight of the land zipping by so fast made Kaoru's stomach queasy and she pulled her gaze away from the window. She glanced down to the item locked in one hand. The wooden sword that had caused so much mess. She didn't want it to stay with the family…She would return it to the evil person it belonged to. Even with its smooth wood and glittering gems, it wasn't so grand a sword, knowing the price that was on it…Knowing that it almost cost her the life of her father. It was such an ugly sword, the pain it caused to her family.

Minutes stretched into half an hour and then a full hour. Kaoru glanced out the window only because the horses had slowed to less insane speed. They were in the forest now; they had just turned at the fork in the path. She had a bit of an idea where she was but she wasn't too certain. The hour stretched into a second and Kaoru looked out the window again. She spotted a lake in the middle of the forest, the road wound beside the grassy clearing the lack sat on.

She didn't remember there ever being a lake. And as the lake went out of sight, the carriage took a right turn at yet another fork in the road, which was now more like a path, with grass growing in the center, where wheels could not crush it.

Two more hours past and Kaoru had absolutely no idea where they were. All familiar landmarks were gone. Even the mountain that always towered over the forest was gone. And then it loomed up out of the forest as if the trees gave way to reveal what they hid. A wood and stone wall jutted up from the forest floor. Even though she was seeing the place of her death, she couldn't help but be mesmerized by the sight. The gates swung open and Kaoru leaned further out the small window to the green expanse of the gardens inside. Cherry trees swayed gently in the wind, and weeping willows with whip-like branches so thick and long they dragged on the ground and you couldn't see through them.

The carriage came to an abrupt halt and Kaoru had to steady herself as she yanked her head back in. The carriage door swung open and the girl leaned forward and glanced out.

One of the horses gave a snort and Kaoru slowly climbed to her feet and stepped from the carriage. As soon as both her feet were on the ground the door slammed behind her and the horses took off on the smooth dirt path and disappeared behind a thick grove of trees. Kaoru turned to look at the estate and found that it was just as beautiful as her father had described. Lush green lawns, perfect pits of soft sand with labyrinth-like lines drawn perfectly. Delicate flowers, large and healthy bobbed in the soft breeze. It was a perfect, meticulously kept garden.

The weeping willows and their whip-like branches hung almost to the ground and swayed, as if they were trying to reach for her. The breeze tugged at her hair and ribbon and it carried the thick scent of flowers and cherry blossoms. Kaoru waited for a minute but no one came out. Not a person or the demon of a man her father had described. Slowly and cautiously Kaoru started forward.

She crossed the lush lawn, the rock gardens and crossed over the small arched bridges that spanned across a cheerful stream. Her sandaled feet crunched softly on the pebbled path to the home and suddenly two solid wooden doors swung wide, almost slamming into the wall. Kaoru's heart raced and she paused. She held her body stiff and motionless as she waited in mid step. Her father had told her he went around to the back of the house to a Dojo…not through the front door. But as she waited there appeared to be no one around.

Well someone had to open those doors. Right? Kaoru held her breath, waiting, listening. But there wasn't a sound other than the birdsong overhead and the buzzing of bees in the garden. She realized she was holding the wooden sword hard enough to make her fingers ache and she forced herself to relax. There was no other sign so Kaoru took another step, and then another. Still the area was silent and no one appeared. She reached the steps, taking each one slowly and she crossed through the doorway.

Inside the home was dark; all the windows had been shuttered, the paper screen doors covered with dark cloth. She respectfully kicked off her sandals before stepping on to the polished wooden floor of the household. As soon as she did, the large wooden doors behind her slammed shut causing Kaoru to jump and nearly drop her sword. Kaoru glared behind her.

"Tricks?" she said softly to no one she could see. "Spooks maybe." Kaoru wasn't one to believe in ghosts. But if this was the home of a demon…why not ghosts as well? The idea of other worldly spirits gave Kaoru goosebumps as she slowly made her way deeper into the home.

"Hello?" She called. She tried to make her voice loud, so that it would carry, but all she could muster was a strangled whisper. Her heart was hammering loud in her ears. There was a sound of a door sliding and Kaoru caught the movement from the corner of her eye.

She turned in time to see a paper screen door slide open down one hallway. A bit of light streamed in to fall onto the dark floor of the hall. Almost against her will Kaoru turned and slowly walked down the hall, passing a few other doors as she went. She stepped into the pool of sunlight and looked inside.

It was a room. A large room with shelves and tables here and there, all filled with vases of cut flowers and pots of bamboo. Fresh tatami mats lined the floor, framed ink paintings hung on the wall. Small bells chimed softly from where they hung at the open window.

Kaoru ventured further in and found that there was an actual platform bed, not a futon. The bed sat a few inches above the ground and was placed behind a shoji screen with ink black cranes flying across it. A half dozen pillows piled against the wall to form a headboard of sorts. It looked ridiculously comfortable and Kaoru couldn't help but wander over and run her hand across the cool, soft fabric of the blanket that sat atop it.

Kaoru glanced around, tucked behind the privacy of the shoji screen Kaoru sat on the bed and then carefully stretched back, she kept her feet on the floor, she fully intended to get off the bed, she just wanted to try it out. Oh, it was so comfortable and Kaoru's grip on the sword dropped for the first time and she stretched across the soft feather filled mattress. Her head rested on one of the bottom pillows and the aches of sitting in that carriage for so long started to ebb away.

… . . …

A noise jolted Kaoru and she jerked into a sitting position. The room was far darker than it was a moment before and a metal and glass lantern was flickering on a small table across from the bed.

Kami! Had she fallen asleep? Leaping to her feet she grabbed the wooden sword and stepped away from the shoji screen to find her window was still wide open but the sky and garden had turned a darker shade as the sun sank behind the mountains. Night was not too far away.

Kaoru's heart pounded loudly and she struggled to control her breathing as she slowly left the room. Would the owner be upset that she had fallen asleep instead of searching for him? Or that she had taken such liberties with a room that was obviously not meant for her? There was another noise, similar to the one that had woke her and a soft light danced across the hall.

"Hello?" She called out, her steps quickening as she followed the swaying light. Turning a corner she found herself in a large room with a dining table, pillows and plates of food set out. The light that had swayed in such a human manor was in the form of two lanterns set on opposite sides of the room, giving the room plenty of light to see by. To her left was a pair of screen doors that were open to reveal a kitchen. And directly in front of her were more screen doors, though Kaoru had no idea where they might lead to.

The scent of hot food filled her nose and her stomach gave a growl in answer. "Anyone here?" She took a step closer, a frown turning her mouth downward. "My father sent me…just as you wanted." She called out, though there wasn't a sound anywhere. With her stomach cramping with the want of food, Kaoru made up her mind. She kneeled down on the large cushions by the table and rested the wooden sword on the ground beside her. She was just about to reach out for a bowl of rice when the doors directly in front of her slammed open.

Startled, Kaoru jumped as a gust of cool wind blew into the room, causing the lantern light to dance violently before going out altogether. The room was blanketed in darkness. Only the weak grey light of twilight was left as the sun set; and it was leaving just enough light to see the shadow of a man standing before her. Unable to see his face because he had his back to what light there was left, Kaoru leapt to her feet. She clasped her hand in front of her and bowed, bending at the waist as low as she could.

"I'm Kaoru, I came in the place of my father." She said. The man stepped forward. His steps shuffled as if he were lame. Kaoru fought to keep her gaze on the floor as the man shuffled around the table to come to a stop next to her.

"You came of your own will?"

The sudden sound of his voice made Kaoru tremble, it was harsh, In-human. As if he was speaking and growling at the same time.

"Yes." She said, and she felt a lose lock of hair being pulled away from her face.

"And you know you are here to replace the death of your father?" he wheezed.

Kaoru squeezed her eyes shut and hoped that being in a bowing position hid the fact that her legs were shaking. "Yes." She whispered. She felt him back up a step, and suddenly air rushed into her lungs as if she had held her breath the whole time.

"Then serve me dinner. We must eat before this deed is to be carried out." He moved back to the other side of the table and sat with a surprising fluid grace.

Stunned, Kaoru only stood there for a moment before kneeling down as well. Just the feel of the Ki rolling off this creature of a man was enough to make Kaoru second guess his humanity. If he wanted to play with her a little before he killed her, then so be it. With a trembling hand she reached out and took up his plate and she was very proud of the fact that she was able to serve rice, hot vegetables and strips of fish without spilling a single drop. She set it back down and took up a large teapot and as gracefully as she could, poured tea into the small teacup.

Finished, she set the tea pot down and glanced up at him. Though all she saw was his shadow she could tell he had a mane of crazy untamed hair and two amber eyes that drilled into her.

Quickly she yanked her gaze away, feeling as though her heart had been squeezed to death. She was sure he could hear it pounding in her chest. Realizing he was not going to eat until she was ready Kaoru quickly served herself in the same fashion, slowing only to pour her tea, lest she splash it over the sides of her small cup.

The shadowed man started eating then and Kaoru felt her bones go limp in her body and she almost sagged against the table. She had felt those glowing inhuman eyes boring holes into her the whole time.

"You brought the wooden sword?" the man asked suddenly.

Kaoru sat up, her hand going down to the wooden weapon at her side. She picked it up and held it out to him with both hands, careful not to look at those swirling amber eyes.

"It won't buy you your life or freedom." He said, not making any move to take the sword.

"It would do no good staying with my family, for it would only bring them pain from the memory." She glanced at him. He seemed to be studying the weapon and all its glittering gems.

"I don't want it…it's a worthless trinket anyway." He waved it away.

Anger surged into Kaoru and horrified, she heard herself blurt. "Obviously not worthless enough that you make a man pay for it with his own life." For one terrible moment Kaoru thought he might lunge at her from across the table. She felt his Ki flare and she braced herself for an attack, verbal or physical. But it never came.

He only leveled his glowing eyes at her. "Once it was worth a great deal to me. A trade is a trade, it is no longer mine to treasure. Your soul is now what I find of great worth." He said in a steady, almost amused tone.

Kaoru had no idea what she should say to something like that. She set the sword back down at her side and as her host returned to his meal, so did Kaoru. The rice was perfectly fluffy, the vegetables cooked yet still crisp and flavorful, and the fish was fresh and tender, the sauces thick and salty-sweet. It was the most perfect meal Kaoru had ever eaten, but she hardly tasted a bite. Her thoughts were on her upcoming death. She should be thankful that she was getting such a wonderful last meal, but Kaoru couldn't bring herself to enjoy it.

Finally, her host stood and Kaoru saw that his plate was hardly touched while hers was mostly empty. Puzzled, she almost looked up in question before remembering those glowing eyes and she quickly changed her mind.

"Come." He said before turning and heading out the sliding door onto the porch that wrapped around the kitchen and dining area. Kaoru quickly got to her feet and slowly followed him until she had no choice but to stand next to him. Being this close to him confirmed that he was indeed hardly any taller than her. Yet his ki was so large, so strong, that he felt as tall and as intimidating as a mountain. "Walk ahead of me." He said simply.

Kaoru had no choice but to walk down the steps without her sandals and stepped into the garden. She heard him follow; his steps were almost silent except his limp gave him away. Kaoru walked past the perfectly manicured lawn, crossed a small bridge that arched over a stream and found herself knee-high in a patch of wildflowers. Fireflies lazily bobbed and danced around them. Here he stopped and Kaoru paused.

The sound of metal against metal is unquestionably distinct. The hair stood on the back of Kaoru's neck and goosebumpes raced down her spine. She didn't dare turn around as he freed his sword from its sheath. Kaoru nearly yelped when she felt the point of the weapon press against the small of her back.

"Kneel." He said

Kaoru instantly fell to her knees, they were about to give out anyway. She thought of anything but her death. She tried to picture her father and sisters happy back home and how she was doing this for them. She could feel the creature as he walked around to her side and Kaoru bowed forward slightly, dropping her shoulders so that if he was going to cut her head off, at least he would have a clear target.

The cold steel of the sword touched her cheek and she flinched slightly as the flat metal forced her to turn her face away. Then the sword point moved under her chin and she found herself forced to look up at her executioner. All she could see was his shadow against the moonlight behind him. His eyes were glowing so bright, Kaoru had to look away from the sight of them.

He raised his sword then, the sharp edge glittered in the blue-white moonlight and Kaoru squeezed her eyes shut, her stomach clenching and she thought she would be sick as her death was about to come. But nothing happened...she wasn't sick and her death did not come.

Kaoru was afraid to let go of the breath she was holding but she allowed herself to open her eyes just slightly. She could see the form of the monster with his sword hanging at his side. Kaoru's breath came out slow as she risked a glance upward. He had turned away; she could only see part of his profile.

"I believe, I won't kill you tonight." with a quick motion his sword vanished back into its sheath and he walked past her. "Maybe tomorrow." he said and continued back the way he came and disappeared into the house.

a/n Well, Kaoru and the beast of a man finally meet. Of course she had no idea who he is or even what he looks like. He didn't kill her now, but he did say maybe tomorrow… lets see just how good that goes. Thanks for reading everyone! Reviews are loved!