Hullo Ladies and Gents'!

Well, I'm sorry I changed the update date a week later than I said but... I needed more time on this chapter...

Ah well, enjoy the chapter! There's a surprise ending... Bwahahaha...

Lynn

Special thanx to my wonderful editor, Megani! Yes, I know, "Megani." It's my nickname for her.

Disclaimer:cough cough: ...

-------Recap of Last Chapter--------

Kaoru sighed, standing at the base of the mountain. They've found her ribbon. It was quite risky for her to try to get to that side of the forest unseen, but she had to get them away from her. Now they'll be searching that side of the forest while she was on the opposite side, climbing up the mountain.

She hated tricking her friends, but she had to protect them from the horrid man who was after her. Kaoru frowned, knowing she was to meet with him soon. She didn't understand why this man was after her, why he wanted to kill Kenshin. A lot of people want to kill Kenshin... but... there was something up with this guy.

Something just didn't click.

------- End Recap------

Chapter Nine - Walls and Bridges

Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies

Always confusing the thoughts in my head

So I can't trust myself anymore

I'm dying again

-

I don't know why

Why I did those things to you

What went through my mind

And I don't know why

Why I broke your heart in two

Guess that I was blind

Baby how I wish you could forgive me

One more time

-

Dawn broke in a hazy gray color that just set the mood for the rest of the day: gloomy. Sunlight filled the cloudy sky, hardly scaring away the shadows that clung in the Midnight Forest. A thick fog floated in with the morning light, making it hard to see more than three feet within his line of vision.

Kenshin didn't get a wink of sleep last night and neither did his friends. They had been searching the same area where Kaoru's ribbon was found for hours that felt like days.

"Hey everyone, let's just sit down now, okay?" Sanosuke suggested, sitting down himself. Dark circles not only hung below his eyes but also clouded the cheeriness that normally sparkled in his brown-eyed gaze. His white and black clothing was dirty and wrinkled. His already out-of-control hair surprisingly drooped slightly, giving Sano a discouraged appearance.

Tsubame and Yahiko--who had joined the group in searching again-- sat down at the base of a large pine tree. Tsubame leaned her head on Yahiko's shoulder, but Yahiko didn't seem to mind,or for that matter, notice. He was too tired to make a big deal about it. Aoshi sat without a word, his usually cool demeanor corrupted by exhaustion, lack of food, and mental stress-- being extremely worried. Misao sat on his lap and fell asleep almost immediately in his arms. Aoshi looked surprised at first but slowly, he wrapped his arms protectively around her waist.

Megumi stood for a second in a haze, a forlorn look painting her elegant face. She felt like it was her fault that Kaoru left. It was her fault. She's the one who started to interrogate Kaoru. Megumi wasn't really sure what had happened. It was as if something had forced her to do that. Like an invisible voice came into her head and started to tell her what to do and she had no control over what she was doing. Perhaps... someone was controlling her... No! Absolutely not! No one could be controlling my mind! That would be ridiculous.

Yet a shadow that lurked in her mind told her that there was more to it than that. But if it was mind control... wouldn't everyone else have had it happen to them? After all, they did readily join her in questioning the poor girl. But that look... that sad and almost incredulous look on Misao's face... She looked so surprised and upset... She couldn't believe she did that anymore than I could believe I did questioned Kaoru like that. Megumi thoughts grew darker and confusing. But more importantly... who would be controlling her? Surely she was imagining it. No one could do that, could they?

Sanosuke watched Megumi stand there warily. She looked confused, lost, and sad. Sano suspected that from absence of sleep, the poor doctor couldn't think properly. He stood with difficulty and strode over to her. "You need to rest a while. C'mon," he said gently, pulling her back to where he was sitting. He sat down and patted the space on the ground between his legs. "Fox, you look like you're about ready to fall asleep standing up. Sit down, you can lean against me while you rest. Sit down."

Too out of it to care, Megumi sat down and closed her eyes as she leaned back into Sano's embrace. He held her there reassuringly, as if he knew what was going through her mind. As if he knew that she felt like it was her fault. His strong arms tightened... as if... as if...

As if to tell her that it wasn't her fault.

As if to tell her it was going to be okay.

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

They were all asleep. In a very deep sleep. Just like he made them do.

The man in black grinned. It was so good to be in control.

Everything was going just as planned...

Kaoru is alone and on her way to him.

All of her friends except for Battousai were in a trancelike sleep that they won't wake from unless his mind powers were thrown off guard. Psh. Like that'll happen.

Battousai would soon figure out Kaoru's little trick to get him off her trail.

But by the time he gets here, it'll be too late.

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

The clouds overhead thundered. Kaoru sighed. When will it just rain? She shook her now-loose hair out of her face. Boy, did she wish she had that ribbon to tie up her hair. Ignoring the long ebony locks falling about her face, she continued her climb up the mountain. It was really getting steep now. Almost vertical.

Long ago, she had had to rip her kimono around her legs so she was able to move her legs in a way to climb properly. She had been climbing for the past few hours and from what she could tell, it was now early afternoon. Still, no one had come for her. She would've thought that Kenshin would've figured out her trick by now.

Pausing, her tired sapphire eyes searched for another jagged rock to climb. But there was none except for a small cut in the rock a few feet above her. If she could just reach that... she could get to the top. It was within sight... Stretching her body so that her arm extended to it's full length, she was only an inch off... If I could just... Kaoru's thought was interrupted by a rough, calloused hand grabbing hers, hauling her safely onto the top of the cliff.

Kenshin?

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

Lightning flashed through the sky and was gone as soon as it came. Drumming thunder followed, rumbling the gray clouds. Wind rushed through the branches of the autumn trees, letting the leaves fall like the rain that would not fall from the sky. Save for Mother Nature's weather spurts, not a sound could be heard. It seemed as if all the animals in the Midnight Forest had disappeared. Leaving the group of people in the middle of the wood... alone.

All of this was unnoticed by them, for they were in a trancelike sleep. They weren't asleep, and they weren't unconscious either. In fact, they were very conscious. Conscious to the point of being on full alert. Yet, they could not move. They could not open their eyes. They could not cry out for help. They could do nothing.

Nothing but wait and listen.

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

"God DAMMIT!" A redheaded demon roared into the silent forest. "Fuck! Shit, that bastard is dead the moment I get my hands on him! Kaoru Kamiya, if you aren't okay, I'm going to kill you!"

Kenshin stormed through the forest, his amber eyes ablaze with untold fury. His leather band holding his hair in place had been caught on a stray branch, causing his hair to come undone. When he grabbed the leather band to tie his hair back again, he had unconsciously tied it back into a high ponytail. Just as he had when he was Battousai. His navy blue gi was tattered at the hems, just as his midnight black hakamaswere.

His face twisted in rage, he stopped and closed his eyes. Concentrating long and hard, he broke the protective barrier that was hiding Kaoru's ki from him. He located her ki almost immediately. She was frightened... surprised... and... Shit!

Opening his feral eyes, he began the hunt.

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

Kaoru landed on top of something warm... like a body. Screeching, she jumped and scooted away from the man. She watched with wide eyes as the man sat up warily. He was dressed in a royal purple gi with deep red hakamas. His shoulders were clad with a black cloak, his dark brown locks of hair tied back into a ponytail. He sighed, glancing at Kaoru with sickly black eyes. Kaoru couldn't really place him, but he seemed so familiar...

The moment he spoke though, she recognized him immediately. "Kaoru, you really should be more careful. You could've fallen," he smirked slightly. "Looks like you owe me your life now."

Kaoru scowled, "I owe you nothing. You beat the crap out of me that one night and nearly took my life with whatever poison you inserted in my veins."

He surprised Kaoru by smiling. "I've always admired your spirit."

Kaoru snorted. "Yeah, right."

"No, really. I have. Ever since I first met you ten years ago," he said sincerely.

"What?" Kaoru asked, taken aback. Ten years ago?

"Yes, Kaoru, ten years ago," he said, smiling again. "I met you when I was ten. You were playing in the rain, and I had just arrived in town. You see, I was in a sort of daze right then-- after all, I had just lost the last of my only family-- and you accidentally bumped into me. You apologized and then looked at me and said, 'You look sad, would you like to play with me to cheer you up?' I was about ready to yell at you for bothering me, but you were smiling so genuinely that I was too shocked to say anything..."

His smiling face turned serious.

He looked her straight in the eye and said, "And that's when I fell in love with you."

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

He heard it. He heard all of that.

To Kenshin, that was more than enough to lung at the man who was stroking Kaoru's cheek. His eyes golden and cat-like, his appearance had gained a wild look. Letting out a battle cry, he unsheathed his sakabato and swung downwards towards the man's skull.

Much to Kenshin's surprise, his target blocked the redhead's perfectly aimed blow with a hidden blade. "Ah, ah, ah," he scolded. "I am not the prey here. You are."

Kenshin's eyes widened, but he recovered quickly. "Then why harm Kaoru when you love her?" Kenshin seethed sarcastically, circling his enemy.

"Simple, she chose you," the dark figure said darkly, his eyes flickering to Kaoru.

The former Battousai smirked. "Being a sore loser, are we?"

The man's black eyes flashed. Kenshin definitely hit a sore spot: strike one. "You don't know what you're talking about, Battousai! You don't know what love is!"

Amber eyes regarded the stranger coldly. "I do know what love is. I think it is you who doesn't understand the difference between love and obsession."

Kenshin had hit another sore spot: strike two. The man growled low in his throat. "You don't deserve Kaoru's love! Someone like you doesn't deserve it!" He sneered.

The wild look in Kenshin's eyes had returned. "No. I don't deserve her love. That doesn't change the fact the I love her."

Kaoru gasped, watching Kenshin with wide eyes. Kenshin's eyes flickered to Kaoru for a moment but he continued, "It also doesn't change the fact that you don't deserve her either," Battousai pronounced each word with venom as he glowered at his opponent.

Another sore spot: strike three.

The man let out a piercing battle cry the echoed in the empty forest as he lunged at Kenshin. Battousai disappeared before the mysterious figure could even strike. When he turned, he found himself blocking Kenshin's blade. Smirking into angry amber orbs, he murmured, "She will suffer, as will you."

Roaring, Kenshin jumped back before leaping high into the air and propelling his body as hard and fast as he could to increase the damage his blow could do. The man blocked it once again. Smiling sinisterly again, his voice elevated, "I sure hope you're enjoying this, because your lover's in quite a bit of danger of falling off that rickety old bridge..."

"WHAT?" Kenshin bellowed, whirling around. Just as his opponent said, Kaoru was dangling from the rope bridge over the ongoing cliff. She was trying to pull herself up, but what she couldn't see was the rope holding that plank of wood on was breaking on one side. "KAORU! NO! STOP!"

"Do you want me to fall? You stupid... I'm fine, just kick that guy's ass," she shouted as she continued to struggle to get back on the bridge.

"No! Kaoru! You don't understand! The rope -"

Kaoru's earsplitting scream rang in Kenshin's mind, freezing him in his place. He was on the bridge in seconds. The plank of wood that she was gripping for dear life was hanging on on one side by two loops of rope. "Kaoru! Take my hand!"

He leaned down as far as he could, impatiently waiting for Kaoru's hand. She reached up with one hand but couldn't reach his. "C'mon, Kaoru! You can do it!" Kenshin shouted, when suddenly he was shoved roughly from behind down towards Kaoru.

Kenshin's fall was abruptly halted when Kaoru managed to grab his hand in the nick of time. The man stood, smirking at the two's predicament. He sauntered back to the edge of the cliff as if he had all the time in the world and sat down to watch.

Kaoru seemed to be struggling to keep hold of both Kenshin and the plank of wood. She couldn't pull herself up, nor could she help Kenshin. Tears brimming her eyes, she glanced down at Kenshin. "It's going to be okay, Kenshin. We'll get out of this somehow," she said firmly, even though she wasn't sure she even believed it.

The sound of cracking rope caught their attention immediately. They looked up to find one of their lifelines was breaking, leaving them only one small rope to rely on.

Kenshin seemed to be in a daze, he didn't know what to do. He knew that the rope was going to break and it was either they both fall to their deaths... or he lets go, allowing Kaoru to live...

"Kaoru... the rope is going to break..." Kenshin said quietly, his soft amber eyes boring into hers.

There's no question in my mind.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, she shook her head violently. "N-no... We're going to be f-fine..."

If I had to choose between my life and her life...

Kenshin shook his head gently, "No, Kaoru... I'm sorry... Kaoru, do something for me." A small tear formed in his eyes and fell silently down his cheek.

"W-what?" She stuttered, tears falling down her cheeks.

I choose hers.

"Live," he smiled sadly and with that, he let go, allowing him to fall into the abyss.

------To Be Continued...-------

Uwah, I know you want to kill me now... but... you can't, or else you won't know the rest of the story!

Don't worry, I'll update soon! Just check my author's page. I have the next update date posted. . I feel so smart.

Preview of next chappie: Hmm... You know what, I'm going to let your imaginations run wild... I'm so evil. Just keep in mind that the more inspiring feedback reviews I get will get YOU a faster update - I can always change the update date...

Enough about me, let's talk about what you think of me... in a review. Thank you!