Disclaimer: I don't own RK

BETA: Kokoronagomu


Lurking dangers


It was snowing outside, but Kaoru couldn't find fault in the white display. Her young red-headed charge ran happily at her side and from time to time would take a handful of snow. He was very pleased with the weather, while she was pleased that he had agreed to wear the pink scarf without much fuss. She wouldn't have him getting sick again; besides, it was he who lost his blue scarf.

"Onee-san!" Kenshin called with joy, "Are you done buying groceries yet?"

"Eh, no, not yet Kenshin," Kaoru replied absent mindedly as she continued to shop.

"Yes," exclaimed Kenshin and he ran a little farther away from her and dropped to the ground with a wide smile. He decided to take the extra time to make his shape into the snow. Everyone would know he had passed through.

Kaoru smiled at the child and shook her head and added a roll of her eyes. The woman at the shop beamed at the child as well. They knew children's antics well. After a few minutes Kaoru paid and thanked the woman for everything.

Kenshin hurried after Kaoru when she moved away from the shop. His bright hair made a few turn their head in his direction and added shy smiles to some young females. He was a very special child. "Onee-san," Kenshin called Kaoru and lightly held her hand as he walked at her side, "Will I receive presents this time again?"

Kaoru smiled. Lady Uno, the inn's manager, had adopted a few occidental traditions along her life and always made a small reunion and an exchange of presents in winter. It was a nice way to celebrate the year and recall the funniest events and joke around. She was very pleased with the place she worked at and had worked at for the last four years. She was now nineteen and still alive in bloody Kyoto. That was a feat, "Of course Kenshin, you know Lady Uno loves to give you presents."

Kenshin was about to retort but was pushed into silence when Kaoru grabbed his hand tightly. The child turned his violet eyes to his surroundings, nervousness palpable in his young eyes.

Kaoru tugged at his hands softly with a smile upon her lips, "Let's keep going Kenshin."

Kenshin nodded and walked at Kaoru's side, but he was eerily silent. He knew there was something wrong; Kaoru always did things like these when there was something wrong. He squeezed Kaoru's hands in search of his own reassurance. He knew nothing was going to happen, nothing ever happened, but he always got scared.

They continued to walk in silence. The roads of Kyoto were far from lonely. It was getting late, but it wasn't that late. Many customers continued to bombard the shops and children played around. Kenshin knew when it was becoming late. It was late when the pretty ladies with white faces and beautiful kimono roamed the roads. He had seen none today yet.

"Kenshin, can you hold these for me?" asked Kaoru with a smile. He knew her smile was real, but he also knew the smile didn't go to her eyes. She was still checking for something or someone.

He nodded and grabbed two bundles from her and was forced to release his hold on her hands. She made up for it by placing her hand upon his shoulders and guiding him by her. He couldn't help but get more scared. He just wanted to go home and get away from whatever was scaring his nee-san. He knew they were close to the inn; it was just a little further.

As they rounded a corner, Kenshin felt himself being pulled harshly by Kaoru. He gasped in alarm and cried out when he saw a hand covering Kaoru's mouth and another arm snaking over her chest and pulling her into a hole though the half-burned wooden wall.

Kenshin froze in place. He didn't know if he should follow Kaoru and make sure she was all right or run to the inn and ask for help. He didn't have to choose.

"Shh, I will not hurt you," a voice, dark and male whispered, "come in Kenshin, someone will see you."

Kenshin shivered in fright but obeyed the man none the less and hurried through the crack on the wall. His purpled eyes leveled up to look upon the man that was holding Kaoru. He couldn't see his face very well, but he knew the clothes he wore. It had the colors of the samurai who visited the inn. Immediately a grin appeared on his face.

"Now, I will release you, and you won't scream," the man warned and Kaoru nodded her head. To be honest she was furious she hadn't reacted in time to prevent this. She had better training than this, but sadly, she had slacked on her training for years. The repercussions were starting to show up; she had become weak in her stay in bloody Kyoto. A fatal mistake.

"You will give this letter to Lady Uno," stated the samurai with a serious expression while he handed Kaoru the white envelope. Kaoru looked up at him and recognition washed over her face. She knew who this was, "It is you."

The young man, of fifteen or so smiled back at her. "Long time no see," he acknowledged cordially, "It seems time has been kind to you. You haven't changed at all while I have changed so much."

Kaoru smiled a forced smile. He wasn't the first one to point out the strange occurrence. However, she couldn't deny the truth behind his words. She met him when he was but a child clinging to Hajime Saitou back at the inn. Now, he was a proud and seemingly deadly swordsman. Okita, was his name.

"I'm sorry for the rough encounter, but the place is very dangerous for us at the moment. We can't allow any slips because it could very well be the last. Please, ensure the letter arrives to Lady Uno safely," the young boy pleaded and bowed his head.

Kaoru nodded and after a polite smile, Okita mingled with the crowd outside and disappeared.

Kenshin moved a little closer to Kaoru and rested his head against her leg, seeking comfort, "You are all right."

"Luckily," replied Kaoru. She knew it had been luck, had he been someone else she would either be dead…or worse, "Kenshin, please, next time… go running to the inn instead of listening to my attacker, ne?"

Kenshin pouted guiltily but nodded his head fervently. After that, he once again took her hand and they slowly made their way to the inn, guiding Kaoru along the way.


TBC


Special thanks to my beta-reader for her support and-of course- thanks for the reviews too!