When Kenshin returned to the ground floor, there was already a group of the Shishi surrounding the bathhouse. He pretended he just arrived back from his assignments and acted as if he had just learned about the attack.

"What happened?" he asked one of the Shishi.

"It's Kamo, he was stabbed in the heart," the Shishi explained and from his tone, Kenshin knew there was no way to revive the dead man. Katsura was kneeling beside Kamo and a doctor was sent for to check on him.

"There was no sign of trespassers, Katsura san," one of the Shishi reported back as he pushed passed the group and spoke to Katsura.

"I see," Katsura said and turned to talk to the doctor and some of the Shishi.

"Yo! Himura kun," Iizuka greeted when he came back after taking care of the bodies Kenshin assassinated. Kenshin gave him a nod and remained silent. Ignoring the cold gesture, Iizuka went forward and talked to a few Shishi, as he took a look at the dead body, he shook his head and said, "What a pity way to die."

"What do you mean?" one of the Shishi asked.

Before Iizuka could explain, one of the team leader among the Shishi commented, "He was obviously drunk and clearly going to take a bath," as he pointed at Kamo's loosened belt and haori. "He may have slipped and fell accidentally."

"Are you stupid? Even a drunk man would not do something so dumb to lose his life. I must say it has to be the Shinsengumi. They are after us for months," a Shishi scoffed and argued his point.

"He was drunk and his katana was lying carelessly on the floor," the team leader retorted.

"Maybe someone here is trying to push the blame," the Shishi said, his tone was accusing.

The team leader sneered, "What are you talking about?"

"You know very well if Kamo is dead, you will benefit the most," the Shishi said indifferently.

"Me?!" the team leader scorned, his glared at the younger Shishi with contempt, "What about you? Don't tell me you don't hold a grudge against Kamo for ruining your sister."

"How dare you!" the Shishi growled and lunged at the team leader at the mention of his sister's misfortune. He pushed the team leader onto the floor and started hitting the man.

Immediately, the other Shishi rushed to pull the younger Shishi away from the team leader and preventing him from landing another blow on the team leader.

"Stop!" Katsura commanded when the younger Shishi was successfully pulled away and the team leader was at a safe distance from being hit again. "There shall not be any fighting among us," Katsura said as he looked at the two. The younger Shishi apologized but his eyes were still shooting daggers at the team leader, who was glaring at him with equal disdain. "We will discuss this further after gathering more evidences," said Katsura and he dismissed the group.

Kenshin returned to the room shortly after, he slid opened the shoji door as quietly as he could. It was already past midnight and not seeing any light, he suspected she must be asleep. However, he was surprised to find her sitting on the futon, looking at her hands. It was unnerving.

"It's very late, you should have gone to sleep," said Kenshin as he closed the shoji.

Tomoe did not move an inch and merely stayed there like a statue.

"Don't worry, the body had been taken care of," Kenshin almost whispered as he stood by the shoji, not sure what else to say.

Tomoe continued to look at her hands and somehow Kenshin felt the gesture so familiar. Then something hit him, her presence at the kitchen, her nightwear, her unusual demeanour and the scent of blood that overpowers everything else. His eyes widened at the realization and his voice trembled slightly as he spoke, "You killed him." It was a statement not a question.

Tomoe lifted her head slowly and looked at him. His eyes bore into her eyes. So he knew after all. Will he kill her? Now, that she had eliminated one of his comrades.

He stared at her in disbelief, knowing that he was right. How could she be the one who killed Kamo? He needed to know why she did it. He needed to know who she really is. He needed to know what happened. "Why?" he asked, his voice cold and critical.

Tomoe lowered her eyes, wondering if telling him the reason would change anything. She was going to pay for her actions no matter what she says. That was the way it always had been. And she was prepared for it. After a moment, she answered, "He tried to hurt me. I did it to protect my honour."

Kenshin frowned at her words, not getting the meaning. His innocent mind searched for the meaning behind those words and when he realized them, he clenched his fists tightly. How he wished to kill that man for attacking her.

"Will you finish me off then?" Tomoe words startled him and he looked at her stunned. Her eyes were lifeless and dark.

He was an assassin, bearing the scent of blood. Little did he know, underneath the layer of plum blossom was tainted with the scent of blood. All of a suddenly, Kenshin felt he could hardly breathe. He felt as if he was drowning in some deep murky sea. He knew exactly what his job was and what he was doing out at night when he received the black letters. He wanted to create a new world where people live in peace. He wanted to protect her from the darkness of the war. She should not know the scent of blood, she should not know the wickedness of human souls, she should not be tainted.

She watched him move closer to her and closed her eyes. Her hands clasped as if she was saying her last prayer. The rustling of the clothes and the warmth radiated from his body told her that he was very near her. Preparing to feel the cold metallic blade sliced into her body, she was taken aback to feel the warmth of his hands covering hers. He had opened the palms of her hands and placed his hands over hers. She opened her eyes and stared at their hands intertwined. She wondered what his intention was but dismissed the thought as it was useless for someone who was going to die to think anymore.

"They are unclean," she whispered. Her eyes adopted a faraway look. She had killed too. Unlike him, she did not kill anyone blindly. She stared at her hands, seeing the red that never leaves. Her eyes met his again.

..Don't look at me with those eyes…

She could feel the warmth of his hands, the blood rushing through the veins. She had stopped a man's life, ripped off his chance of having a future. And now, she would be punished for that. But she was not afraid; death was not frightening to her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice was soft and sounded unsure. She was so cold and pale as if she was lifeless.

His question caught her unaware and she wondered what does he mean. But a few moments later, she realised what he was asking, and shook her head, whispered, "No."

"Hn," Kenshin said, unsure to feel relief or other emotions knowing that she was unhurt and he stood up to move outside. He supposed she would not want the company of any male at this moment. He would give her privacy. "Rest well."

"Why don't you kill me?" she whispered as she watched him slid open the shoji again to walk out of the room.

"That man deserves to die," Keshin replied curtly. He hated men who indulged in pleasure, ruining a woman's virtue. He knew some of the Shishi would seek out the pleasure quarters when they were off duty and was fine with it, even Katsura often spend time with Ikumatsu at the geisha house. But to force a woman was a different story.

"Did he?" Tomoe asked, her voice sounded like a lost child.

Kenshin did not answer her but walked out and shut the shoji door.

Her questions struck him.

Did he?

Did they too deserve to die? Those men he assassinated. The image of the young bodyguard who gave him the scar came upon his mind. Somehow he could not forget him – Kiyosato Akira- That name burnt his soul.