Disclaimer: (don't have to write anymore)

Woohoo!!! What a response!!! The reviews were awesome, people. Maybe I should write cliffhangers more often…(sees angry readers coming at her with pitchforks) ok, maybe not. But anyway, I have to say I liked the reviews for chapter 6 (My Beating Heart) the best. I got a lot of suggestions, which I think are really good. Like, more stuff about Kenshin and his personality. And the ever-puzzling question…

            Does Kenshin love Kaoru or is he just playing her?

            Hmm…perplexing…

Anyway, I don't have a lot to say. Except one person gave me this suggestion for a really super happy ending (the cheesy kind where nothing goes wrong). I appreciate you reviewing and I love you to death, but I just can't end it like that!!!! What fun would that be? None at all. Plus, I just cannot write cheesy stuff. Even though I really do like cheese. Especially cheddar. Oh Kami, now I'm really hungry…

Gotta go and feed my rumbling stomach. Adios, amigos! nessie

Something has left my life and I don't know where it went to.

Somebody caused me strife and it's not what I was seeking.

Did you see me?

Did you hear me?

Did you see me standing there?

Why did you turn out the lights…did you know that I was sleeping?

Say a prayer for me. Help me to build up strength,

This is my identity.

Has it been taken?

Is my heart breaking?

These are my hands…they fell through my hands…fell through my hands…

These are my dreams…it suddenly seems…it suddenly seems…

Empty.                             –The Cranberries

Never before could Kaoru remember being so sore. Every bone in her body ached, every muscle stung with overuse. Her body shuddered, remembering the pain she had to endure. So, so much pain. Worse than being drawn and quartered. Kaoru kept her eyes closed and didn't move, for fear she would trigger even more hurting. Where was she, anyway? Kaoru felt the bed underneath her with a hand. Not a bed, but cold, lifeless steel. Kaoru sighed inwardly. Obviously in some sort of lab room. Well, of course. They were probably running tests right now. But Kaoru didn't want to wake up and give them a reason to touch her, to examine her. She already felt so…dirty. Defiled.

Kaoru sighed out loud this time and opened her eyes. She never was much good at ignoring her curiosity. Definitely in some sort of lab room. Monitors beeped loudly, like she was in some sort of hospital. No one was here at the moment, but Kaoru knew plenty would be here once they realized she was awake. There were much more things they could do to her while she was awake.

            Kaoru looked down at one of her hands. So this was a hand of The Maiden. Not much different from any other hand in the world. But Kaoru had seen herself in her other form. It was disgusting. She had never believed Kenshin before when he insisted over and over that she was The Maiden: some ancient old legendary myth. But now she knew it was true, she knew that Kenshin had been correct. She had seen it with her own eyes.

            Now that Kaoru thought about it, she never did find out what The Maiden was famous for or anything. She had seen the things it had done to her, but why would anyone want that? And how could they possibly steal it? Oh well, Kenshin probably had a way. That was why he had kept such close watch on her. To see when she awoke. To figure out when to steal it from her. Kaoru didn't want it. But she didn't want to have to go through whatever it was she had to go through to give her…powers to him. What did he think it was, a little gift? One second she's normal, and then poof! Suddenly she's Kaoru the good witch?

            Kenshin…Kaoru hated this dilemma with him. His touch had felt so good, his tongue so hot on her skin…she had loved it. Now Kaoru could admit it. But she still hated him. She nodded firmly, even though her neck throbbed. Of course she still hated him. Its not like those feelings could ever change. He was just some creepy, ice-cold killer who just happened to kidnap her and was a really good kisser.

            Kaoru felt her cheeks heat up. He hadn't exactly kissed her on the lips…that would probably be to affectionate for him. He obviously preferred spontaneous touches that sent her into spasms of "I'm so nervous I think I'll die omigod omigod omigod omigod". Well, she wouldn't play along. She wouldn't be that yuppy little prep that jumped at the chance to look at him. Where did that sound familiar?

            Oh yeah. Megumi.

…The day before…

            "KAORU!" Megumi shrieked. "What is going on here?!?!"

            Kaoru stared in horror. Things had gone to far and she had let them. Since when was she so stupid? But why was Megumi so freakin' mad?

            "Megumi-chan," Kaoru panted as Kenshin let go off her and turned to face Megumi. Great, it took a temperamental vixen to tear him off of her.

            "Don't you DARE Megumi-chan me. I know what you're up to. Dammit, and I was so nice to you!" Megumi screamed, punching a wall in anger. "Why was I so STUPID!!!!!" Kaoru felt her eyes widen in shock, but Kenshin didn't lose his head. He stared calmly at Megumi until she stopped killing the wall.

            "What do you want, Megumi?" He asked, never losing his cool. Megumi smoothed her hair down and smiled brightly at him, fluttering her lashes.

            "Bit of a crisis, really, Ken-san," Megumi cooed. "Sano went out to…er, retrieve the informant, and well…" Megumi stalled long enough to flip her hair. "He's dead, to be frank. Aoshi suspects The Plebeians, but Sano is sure that it's Saitoh." Megumi sighed dreamily, not matching the right mood. "As you can see, its pretty important that you go down there right away." Kenshin nodded wearily, but turned to face Kaoru. He caught her glance and refused to let go. Kaoru shivered.

            "I'll see you later," He said. Kaoru listened closely, but could find no hidden meaning or emotion. Megumi winked and waved cutely.

            "I'll see you later too, Ken-san," she gushed. Kaoru rolled her eyes. What was with Megumi?

            Wait. Oh, no. Kami, no.

            She liked him. Loved him. Kaoru watched Megumi stare dreamily at his retreating figure. No wonder Megumi had been so mad. She was trying to seduce the bastard. Kaoru mentally kicked herself. Shit, shit, shit!

            "You like him," Kaoru looked over at Megumi numbly. The fox whirled around and glared.

            "Of course I do, you little…you little…there isn't even a NAME for it!!! You're a traitorous bitch, a sniveling little whelp…I knew I would hate you! I just knew it!" Megumi swore some more (A/N: prepare yourselves for some serious swearing. If you are not a fan of cussing, look away. But Megumi gets really ticked off when someone tries to steal her…umm, "Ken-san"). Kaoru stared eagerly at the Kitsune. She didn't want to be hated!

            "Megumi, listen to me! I wasn't trying to steal Kenshin, he came on to me! You can have him, I swear-"

            "HE CAME ON TO YOU?!?!?!?!?! That incredible hunk of a man would never, could never, will never come on to a puny little prude like yourself! So don't give me any of that shit that 'he came on to you'. I let you interrupt my day off, I give you my clothes, and what do I get for it? Oh, Megumi, he fucking came on to me! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Megumi was screaming, cursing, punching, kicking, trying to hurt Kaoru in any way. But Kaoru stood there and took it, trying to let Megumi calm down. This will end; you just have to be patient…

            "You…you think you're good enough for him! I've been trying to seduce that man since I GOT HERE! You think you can just waltz right in and steal him away? Throw yourself at the guy? Show some self-respect. He'll never have you. NEVER! He'll do what he wants with you and then kick you to the curb, and then who will be waiting by to be the friend he actually needs? That's right, Megumi. I've worked hard to get where I am and I am not going to be stopped by some sniveling, self pitying BITCH!!!!!"

            That was the last straw.

            Self-pitying?

            Never. Never.

            Kaoru grabbed Megumi by the lapels of her shirt and shoved her against a wall. Normally Kaoru was sweet and hated to result to violence. But this…this was war.

            "You listen to me you little bitch," Kaoru hissed. "When I was a kid I lived in a cardboard box in an alleyway. And that was considered lucky. But the city streets were so bad that I never left that damn box. Unless it was raining. Then I would stand outside getting soaked, holding my mouth open to see if I could catch a few drops to keep me alive for a few more torturous days." Megumi could feel Kaoru's grip tighten on her shirt, and she could see the anger behind Kaoru's sapphire eyes.

            "I would go out every once and a while to search for food. But there was always that one group of boys." Kaoru felt her voice falter. "Damn them! Every time I went out they would grab me and pin me down and beat me within an inch of my life." Kaoru paused.

            "In front of their mothers."

            "I was always cold. Always hungry." Kaoru laughed bitterly. "Hunger is a tough bastard. I could never stifle it, no matter how many banana peels I found in the dumpsters, no matter how many pieces of bread I saved. Bread that was thrown at me. I always did like it when they threw bread. It was better than the stones, anyway." Kaoru felt the images etched in her mind. These were things she would never forget. Never.

            "But do you know what, Takani Megumi? Throughout all of the torture and hurt, all of the painful sleepless nights? I never once cried. Not once. Not when I was so dehydrated I was delusional. Not when I limped back to that alleyway half dead. So don't call me self-pitying. Don't you dare call me self-pitying." Kaoru dropped her hold on Megumi and stepped back. Megumi stared. She hated feeling it, but she was sorry for the girl. Damnit! Megumi couldn't yell at her now, no matter how much she wanted to. Not after all the things this bitch went through. Damnit!!!!!

            Kaoru was satisfied. Megumi would never say those things to her again. She turned to leave (and make a dramatic exit). But something stopped her.

            She gasped. A jolt ran through her body. Kaoru fell onto the floor, gasping and panting. She felt the seizures rattling her body every few seconds. What was this? Kaoru lowered her head between her knees and moaned, shaking and jolting.

            "Kaoru, what is it? Kaoru? KAORU!" Megumi shouted, lightly touching Kaoru's shoulder. The next jolt was so strong, so severe; Kaoru was brought to her feet. Her body was still.

            Then, the next phenomenon. A warm ripple fled through her insides. This warmth turned into unbearable heat, and suddenly Kaoru felt her insides melting and rupturing. So painful…so, so painful…but not as painful as what was to come.

             Kaoru couldn't move. Every inch of her felt like it was being ripped to shreds; her skin was being torn from her body. The pain was unbearable. When would this end? She could feel her heart thundering in her chest, faster than it should have been. It was faster than a mouse, and harder just the same. Like someone was punching her repeatedly over her heart…Kaoru didn't know how much more she could take of this…

            Megumi gasped. She had noticed Kaoru getting paler and paler, but now Kaoru was glowing. Glowing. Her eyes were no longer clear and blue, they were white. You couldn't even see the pupil anymore. She was glowing.

            This was it. The Maiden.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

            Soujiro was sleeping soundly, his head resting on top of one of his whirring machines. He shouldn't have been resting his eyes, but he had been working nights lately, and the quiet, serene beeping of his computers lulled him to sleep…

            An alarm jolted him awake. What was it? Now? But he was so tired…maybe it was just a joke. A dream, probably. Soujiro laid his down again and closed his eyes…

            He was up again in seconds. That sound was not a dream. It was the alarm he had planted in the heart monitor, in case anything happened. It was racing like a rabbit before a fox ate it. She was awakening. He cringed, sorry for her. After all the researching he had done on The Maiden, awakening didn't seem that comfortable. But it was happening! Soujiro almost laughed. He could go back to his room after this was done. Now where was a phone? He had to contact someone to get her and bring her down here. Then the…procedure could take place as planned. Yes!

            Now, where was that damn phone? Soujiro spotted it on the other side of the room and sprinted (yes, sprinted) over, managing to trip on some papers and wires on his way. He grabbed the cordless phone and dialed a number as fast as his nimble typing fingers let him.

            "Sano! It's happening. Yes, that! You need to bring her down here right now. Hurry up, or it might stop!" Soujiro turned and gasped.

            All of his computers, the ones used to track/monitor Kaoru, were blank screens. No, not blank screens. White screens. The brightest white Soujiro had ever seen; even brighter than the sun. Soujiro shielded his eyes against the white light and ran blindly over, through the intensely lit room. After a few minutes of typing and endless attempts to hack into the system and no luck. The light didn't even dim.

            "Sano?"

            "Yes?"

            "WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? YOU SHOULD BE THERE ALREADY!!!!" Soujiro screamed. "GET OFF THE DAMN PHONE AND GET HER DOWN HERE BEFORE WE LOSE HER!!! FOR KAMI'S SAKE, SANO, SHE'S AWAKENING!!!"

            The other line clicked.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

            Kaoru didn't know what was happening. It was like her conscious mind had been pushed to the back of her head, and now a new force was taking over. It was still Kaoru, but she wasn't doing anything…normal. Something inside her knew what she was doing. Something that had probably been dormant inside her for a long time. And this thing knew exactly what it was doing.

            Megumi could hardly look at her anymore. The glowing light omitted from her body blinded Megumi, forcing her to cover her hands with her eyes.

            "Megumi, you have to go," Kaoru managed to gasp. The pain hadn't left yet, but she could still control her voice and actions. "I don't know what this is…"

            "Shut up! You have to gain control, Kaoru. Do you know what they're planning on doing to you if you stay like this?" Megumi felt the tears flowing as she remembered the meeting…the plans…the surgery…

            "I don't think I'm all gone though. It's not done yet, I'm not completely gone yet," Kaoru whispered, staring at her hands. The light didn't hurt her eyes. She was so birght she was translucent, and that was scary.

            "You're right. You're not totally gone yet, and-Oh my God, Kaoru, you're bleeding! Kaoru!" Megumi screamed, staring at Kaoru. Sure enough, there was crimson blood dribbling down Kaoru's face, contrasting enormously with her pure white skin.

            And it was coming from her eyes.

            "You're bleeding out of your eyes!" Megumi wailed. "Oh my God, Oh my God! THERE IS BLOOD COMING OUT OF YOUR EYES!!!!" Megumi was an expert on illnesses, and this wasn't in any of her textbooks. Kaoru let a hand float up to her face and touched her eyes. Blood. Liquid crimson, gushing from her eyes. What was happening to her?

            "Help me," she whispered, looking up at Megumi. "Please, please help me. Save me, Megumi." The blood was dripping onto the floor. "I don't want to be like this. And I don't want to go through with the procedure, whatever it is. Help me, please." Megumi stared in horror. "Help me, Megumi!"

            "I don't know what to do!" Megumi sobbed, letting her face drop into her hands. "Gods, Kaoru, I don't know what to do!"

            This is it, Kaoru thought weakly to herself. They're going to take me and do things to me…

            She felt a stabbing pain in her back. She arched in pain, screaming out. This was worse then everything else she had just gone through. This pain was a knife being thrust into her back and twisted around, dipping into her flesh. Kaoru looked over her shoulder. No one was stabbing her. She screamed again. Something was trying to get out of her back.

            "MEGUMI!" Kaoru screamed again. She could feel the control over her body slipping away, and fast. Someone else was taking over the reigns. But Kaoru didn't want to let them go. She wouldn't let them go.

            Megumi watched in amazement as the blood stopped flowing from her eyes. Was it just her bad vision, or did the glowing light dim down a notch?

            "That's it, Kaoru! Fight for the control back. Fight for it!" Megumi urged, watching Kaoru's face contort with pain and concentration. "Fight it!"

            The light grew noticeably dimmer this time. Kaoru felt the pain receding. It was working!!! By the Gods, it was working!!!! Kaoru clenched her eyes shut again and focused on regaining control. The thing inside of her wanted to finish off this hellish cycle. But that wasn't going to happen. The light grew dimmer again, and Kaoru gasped happily. Just a little longer to go, if she could last that long…

            She was exhausted. Tired beyond means. Kaoru wanted to stop, to curl up and sleep, but she knew what would happen if she surrendered the reigns. No sleeping, pain. Wrenching, twisted, unbearable pain.

            The light was now fully gone. Kaoru's eyes were blue again, as crystal as a jewel. She struggled for a few more minutes until she felt the thing surrender, and crawl back into its hiding place. She struggled until she felt it sleeping. No, not sleeping. Waiting.

            "Kaoru! Damnit, I was too late!" cursed Sano, who was running around the corner. He looked at the scene in front of him. Megumi was sobbing, blood covered the floors, and Kaoru was about to collapse from fatigue. He was too late.

            "You just missed quite a show, Sano." Kaoru managed a weak smile. "It's too bad you couldn't cut me open just yet."

            "You're so strong," Megumi whispered. "So strong, Kaoru. I didn't think you could do it." She burst into tears. Sano rolled his eyes.

            "Don't be so stupid, Megumi-chan," Kaoru laughed. "I managed to shove you up against a wall. I can do anything." Sano's mouth opened in utter amazement.

            "You shoved Megumi against a wall? Way to go!" Sano cheered. Megumi hit him over the head. Kaoru laughed again, her eyes shining.

            Then she blacked out.

Back to the beginning…

            "Kaoru! You woke up!" Misao shrieked. "I've been waiting like alllllllll night for you to wake up and well actually Megumi was waiting with me too bad Aoshi-sama couldn't wait with me he had to have a meeting with Sano and Kenshin and Soujiro but oh well I'll take what I can get and anyway I was waiting here all night for you to wake up and then I go to the bathroom for five seconds and I come back and here you are all woken up and everything and, well, how do you feel, Kaoru?" Misao smiled sweetly, not missing a beat. Kaoru blinked.

            "Excuse this weasel. Apparently she can't use the English language," a voice said warmly. Kaoru looked up and smiled.

            "Megumi! I was wondering where you were. I guess you were the miracle worker behind my, ehem, miraculous recovery?"

            "Of course. It's not like anyone else could do the work I do. Jeez, how they overwork me! I'm lucky I actually get a few days off, ya know." Megumi put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. "I really think I should get some extra cash for all this overtime their forcing me to do." Kaoru nodded, then remembered something.

            "Megumi, you're not…mad, or anything, are you? I mean about the whole, well, you-know-what. I really didn't do anything, I promise." Megumi's face clouded over for a second, but then she managed a weak smile.

            "I guess not. I should have realized by now that he's not interested." Megumi grinned evilly. "But that sure as hell doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying!" Kaoru rolled her eyes.

            "Try all you want. I don't want him. Where's Sano? I want to ask him about some things." Megumi raised an eyebrow, but Misao just smiled widely.

            "Sure thing, Kaoru-chan! I'll get him for you, I'm pretty sure he's done talking to Aoshi-sama and Kenshin-san. But you never know." Misao wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Those boring meetings go on forever, you know."

            "What do you want to see him for?" Megumi asked when Misao was gone. "What are you going to ask him? You know, he'll probably refuse to answer anything that has to do with the whole…awakening process. Or the stealing of it. I'd say I don't approve, but…" Megumi shrugged. "We take what we want. And it's really the only way to get it."

            "Oh, I don't care about that. Actually, it was about something you said." Megumi paled. "Don't worry, it won't get you in trouble or anything. Just something I thought might concern me." Megumi sighed.

            "Like I said, you probably won't get anything out of him. But try all you want. Its not like I care or anything. Besides, I think my Ken-san is in the other room. If you can tear Sano away from him, I'll probably be able to go talk to him." Megumi sighed dreamily. "He is soooooo hot, you know."

            "Whatever. You can go now, you know," Kaoru added. "I kind of want to talk to him alone." Megumi shrugged again.

            "I have work to do anyway. And I don't really want to hang out in here anyway." Megumi looked around the room and shuddered. "These machines give me the creeps. Later, Kaoru. Don't come looking for me or anything, I have a lot of stuff to do." Kaoru laughed.

            "You're such a bitch." But Megumi had already left. Kaoru sighed. How was she going to get Sano to even listen to her questions, let alone answer them? It would be hard. Especially since the information she wanted was probably confidential. Oh well. It was what she wanted, and, like Sin, she would find a way to get it.

            "Apparently I have been summoned," Sano grumbled skeptically as he entered the lab room. Kaoru nodded.

            "I have some questions I want to ask you. And I need the answers." Sano rolled his eyes until he noticed Kaoru glaring at him from the observation table.

            "So you expect me to just roll over and tell you some information that I'm probably not allowed to give out?" Upon seeing Kaoru nodding, he sighed. "Oh great. I knew it was bad news when Misao told me you wanted to talk. Great. Just great." Sano leaned back against a beeping monitor.

            "So, should we get started?" Sano asked. Kaoru grinned.

            "Oh yeah."

            "Well then," Sano grinned back. "Ask away.

-------------------------------

            What a boring chapter!!!!! No romance or anything like that…oh well, her "powers" did sort of awaken. I guess you guys'll just have to be satisfied with that. I'll try to be a good writer and update nice and quick for yah, all right? Maybe the next chapter will be more exciting after the whole question crap gets done with. I really hate information chapters too, but I have to use the next one to introduce our villain. Maybe I can sneak in some sexy new Kenshin/Kaoru clips (yeah!!!!! those are really fun to write, unlike those boring information chapters. bleaahhhhhhhhhhhh).

Ruri: Oh, darn. I really, really, really hate information chapters.

Nessie: well, I'll try and make it semi-exciting.

Ruri: semi-exciting? SEMI-EXCITING???? You're supposed to be a grand, almighty writer!!!!! It should be ultimately exciting!!!

Ami: Don't overestimate her. She's really tired from having track, and waking up at 6:30 on the weekends. Plus she worked really hard to update fast.

Nessie: Yeah, that's right!!!!

Ruri: (grumbling) well, she still has to uphold an exciting story.

Nessie: whatever. As long as I get to sleep tonight, I'll be fine.

Ami: Oh, you really should get more sleep. Fatigue will only slow you down.

Nessie: Oh, you are so sweet!!!!

Ami: Actually, I just want you to update really really fast.

Nessie: I knew there was a catch.

            Gosh, my friends are sooooo demanding (especially Ruri. Have you noticed how she is usually quite mean to me? Then again, I tick her off a lot…). Well, I have to go guys. Its 9:32, and as I said before, I really need some shut eye. Until next time! Adieu!!! Adieu!!! (to you and you and you…that's from the Sound of Music, you know…)

            Tootles!!!nessie