Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

A/N: This chapter took me forever to write, but I finished it in the summer and forgot about it...woops...back from my hiatus...

Chapter 11: Restless Interludes

Kaoru gazed out the window, watching the images whirring by, blurred by the speed of the train. It was raining, which seemed fitting for her current mood. The sky was a dull gray, and the clouds appeared to be weeping, as large rain droplets pounded the foggy windows. Kaoru lifted a slender finger to trace the path of the rain falling sporadically in a diagonal line down the glass. It was cold to the touch as a result of the chilly morning.

The pattern of the water on the window mesmerized her, as her mind instinctively began forming images from the natural lines. It was a habit she had ever since she was child, sitting in the car with her little brother as her parents drove them around. It was a good substitute to finding pictures in the clouds when the sky was overrun with gray, making such a game impossible. Of course, the only problem was that the images on a window were always very brief because fresh rain washed them away almost as soon as they appeared.

Kaoru sighed as she tore her gaze from the window and turned her attention to the inside of the train. Sano was sitting stiffly with his eyes closed, clearly trying to pretend he was somewhere other than a train. Kaoru was sure she was never understand his irrational fear of the locomotive, but then again, there was much about the gangster/detective that didn't make any sense. Misao was sitting with her feet tucked underneath her small frame as her fingers mindlessly played with what looked suspiciously like a small knife. Or maybe it was a dart, but Kaoru couldn't tell. She didn't want to even think about how her friend managed to get it passed security.

Misao's gaze was focused subtly on a family in the booth across the aisle. It was a young mother with twin daughters, who appeared to be about seven or eight years old. The mother was reading a magazine while her daughters were playing with plastic ponies. The peaceful scene offered a strange sense of serenity and normalcy, washing away all fear and worry that the coming days were doubtless to bring. Kaoru understood immediately why Misao was so fixed on admiring the scene; the young girl was just as anxious as she was. Although, Kaoru had a feeling part of her anxiety was stemming from being separated from whatever male presence she had been keeping company with in Kyoto. Once things were settled down, Kaoru was going to be sure to get information from the weasel. She had a sneaking suspicion it might have something to do with the Aoshi fellow that Misao was obsessed with. Kaoru had never met the man, but Misao's descriptions were extremely partial.

Kaoru reached her fingers up towards her neck to clasp the metal now hanging from her neck. It was a silver chain with an ornate locket that had a beautiful engraving on the outside with a stunning sapphire stone embedded in the middle and tiny diamonds that surrounded the gem. Kenshin always told her that her eyes reminded him of sapphires, which was likely the reason he chose this particular locket to dote on her the night before. Inside he had put a picture of the two of them. It was always her favorite photograph, and she made sure to tell him so on numerous occasions. They had it taken by an elderly couple while at a festival in Tokyo a few months past. Kenshin had his arms around her neck as he stood behind her, both of them grinning unabashedly. It was one of the happiest moments of her life, and it was beautiful to have captured the pure delight on the redhead's face. It seemed to be a less and less frequent occurrence of late.

She had only had the locket in her possession for a few hours now, and she already felt like she would be lost without it. Kenshin had given it to her that morning once he was sure she had finished packing, had coffee in hand, and Sano was waiting outside the door. Kaoru still had no idea where Sano had spent the night, but he hadn't returned until that morning after the two were already up, bringing coffee and breakfast along with him. She was grateful for being able to spend the night with the one she loved, but she couldn't suppress the feeling that Kenshin had another reason for staying all night. He never did anything without reason, and it was painfully obvious he wanted to make absolutely sure that Kaoru was going to board that train this morning. No one could tell her she didn't have a conniving boyfriend. Kenshin and his stupid hidden agenda, Kaoru mused dejectedly.

Kenshin had told her he would be back in Tokyo to see her in just a few days, but his embrace felt like it was their last moment on earth. He didn't want to let her go, made even more clear by the whispered, almost desperate, confessions of love in her ear. Of course, the worst part was probably the fact that even after all of her ranting last night, Kenshin had never told her he had a great will to survive this fight. Sure, he told her he would see her again and that everything would be all right, but they were empty words without meaning. His silence on the subject of her concern only confirmed her suspicions that Kenshin held very little value to his own life, and Kaoru wished dearly that she knew the reason for his own self-belittlement. Unfortunately, Kaoru could only hope that what she said made some sort of positive impact. But hope could only get you so far.

"It's going to be okay," Misao said, suddenly interrupting her thoughts.

Kaoru looked at her friend who had adopted an uncharacteristically serious expression. It was an expression that didn't suit the normally spastic ball of energy that was Makimachi Misao.

"I know," Kaoru lied.

They were all lying to themselves, pretending in vain that the thing with Shishio was going to be over any day now. But the underlying problem and source of all their inward concern wasn't really Shishio at all. There was something darker and more conspiratorial going on—the extent of which no one knew. Even if Kenshin did deal with Shishio and came out unscathed, things weren't over. It seemed like they were only beginning.

"When's the fight?" Kaoru asked Sano, whose eyes were shifting nervously from window to window. He was muttering under his breath, and Kaoru swore she heard the words, "freaky," "unnatural," and "impossible," among them. She would never understand why Sano had no problem with planes but couldn't grasp the concept of a train.

"Sano," she repeated when she realized he hadn't heard her.

Brown eyes stopped flickering around as they settled on her own. "Huh?"

"She asked when the fight was, idiot," Misao answered for her, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, right. I don't actually know," he shrugged, letting out a breath with apparent relief to have a distraction from the speeding train.

Kaoru sighed. Kenshin had refused to divulge any information regarding Shishio, apparently deciding he didn't want anything to 'spoil the mood.' Choosing to forego an argument, Kaoru had let it slide. But curiosity and worry was getting the best of her now as she sat brooding on the seemingly endless train ride. Kenshin had always told her that she was too curios for her own good, which was part of the reason why she had relentlessly pursued him back when she was still trying to catch the Battousai.

"Don't worry, Jou-chan. Kenshin'll let me know as soon as he gets word from Shishio," Sano continued, noting her grim expression.

"Wait," she started, brows furrowing. "You mean, Kenshin doesn't know either?"

"No, Shishio has to tell him when first."

"I think it's weird that Shishio would schedule a fight like that," Misao commented. "It's like signing your own death sentence."

Sano shrugged. "I don't think Shishio sees it that way."

"Well, Himura's gonna win for sure."

"Yeah, I agree, but like I said, Shishio doesn't think so."

"Irrational mother fucker," Misao spat. Kaoru's eyes widened in a amusement at Misao's sudden foul language.

"I think you've been hanging around Sano too much," she remarked amusedly.

Misao rolled her eyes. "I'm not a little child, Kaoru. I've always known these words."

"Whatever you say."

"But anyway," Misao continued, ignoring Kaoru's smirk. "Back to Bandages."

"Bandages?"

"That's my nickname for him."

This time it was Kaoru's turn to roll her eyes.

"Why does he want to schedule a fight anyway? Shouldn't he be trying to avoid Himura?" Misao asked, looking at Sano seriously.

Sano shook his head. "Shishio knows Kenshin's been assigned to assassinate him, so I think he wants to settle things on his own turf. Plus, Kenshin is the only thing that stands between him and his takeover of Japan. Well…and Shishio's just plain crazy and wants to prove he's the best by killing his predecessor."

Kaoru frowned at that. She didn't like the idea of Kenshin meeting a madman whose goal in life was to kill him. It was unnerving to say the least.

"But Himura's definitely going to win anyway," Misao repeated firmly. "No one can beat the guy!"

"Maybe," Kaoru murmured.

"Aw, come on, Kaoru. Have more faith," Misao answered softly.

"As thrilling as it is to talk about a man who's trying to kill my boyfriend, can we change the subject?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Yeah, sure," Sano said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. A sudden thought hit him, and Kaoru could have sworn she literally saw a light bulb appear above his head. "When's that little brother of yours coming? Didn't you say his school break is soon?"

Kaoru smacked her head at the questions. "Shit!" she groaned. "I completely forgot! For all I know, he could be ransacking my apartment as we speak."

"He has a key?" Kaoru asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Unfortunately."

"I'm exciting to meet him," Sano grinned. "I can show him how to act like a real man."

"Note to self," Kaoru muttered. "Keep Yahiko as far away from Sano as possible."

"What? He needs a positive male influence in his life," Sano argued. "How long has it been since his last visit anyway?"

"About a year, I think," Kaoru answered after a moment, trying to recall the last time she had seen her bratty, little brother.

"So he's never met Kenshin?" he asked curiously.

Kaoru shook her head. "No, and I never told him. I guess I'm worried how he'll react to someone else in our lives. I'm the only family he has, after all."

"I bet he'll love Himura, though," Misao interjected. "He's a badass."

"Are you trying to make me feel better or does Aoshi have some competition?"

Misao blushed and shook her head vigorously, waving her hands in front of her innocently. "I'm just stating the facts; I don't like him like that. Geez!"

"I know, I'm just teasing."

"Way to practically give a girl a heart attack," Misao breathed, pretending to clutch her chest. "I don't want you to think I'm crushing on your boyfriend or something. He's like a brother to me."

"Misao," Kaoru said seriously, looking straight into her friend's exasperated eyes. "I know. I just like getting a rise out of you."

"Oh."

"Soooo," Sano said loudly, hoping to weed his way back into the conversation. "What are you going to tell him?"

"Who?" Kaoru asked.

"Yahiko."

"Oh, right. Well, I haven't really thought about it yet."

"Well with that thing around your neck," Sano started, pointing at the locket, "it's going to be pretty obvious you have a boyfriend."

"I could have bought it myself," she argued.

"Any idiot can tell that cost more than all four years of your college tuition combined."

"Duly noted."

"I agree with the weasel, though," Sano continued. "I think your brother will really like Kenshin. Everyone does."

"Yeah…maybe I'll mention him so it isn't so unexpected when he shows up at my door in a few days."

Sano smiled, inwardly glad that Kaoru was being, at least outwardly, positive about the upcoming battle.

"I kind of hope that Yahiko's break isn't for a few more weeks, though. It would really suck for me to walk into my apartment to find it smelling like pizza and dirty socks," Kaoru finished with wrinkle on her nose as she turned back to the window.

It was late afternoon when he received the message. He could sense one of the room service attendants approaching his door before giving a soft rap on the wood. A quick observation of the stranger's ki told Kenshin all he needed to know: an innocent young man simply going about his normal duties while impatiently waiting for his shift to end. In short: no threat.

The redhead opened the door and offered a quick murmur of thanks to the man after being handed a small envelope. By outward appearance, it bore a sense of innocence—quite a contradiction to the foreboding message that Kenshin knew lay within its pristine white folds. He wasted no time opening the letter to pull out the card.

It was a deep red, the same color as blood, and the words were written in black script. The bottom edge of the card was burned, which confirmed the identity of the sender, even though Kenshin was fully aware that no one other than Shishio would be contacting him in such a manner. The only words on the card were:

Himura Battousai.

403 Black Sakura St.

10 p.m. Tomorrow

Releasing a snort, Kenshin quickly drew his katana and shredded the information. Shishio had written the note as though he was going to be the target, but it would be Battousai who would be killing off his mark. There was no room for failure in his line of work.

Meeting a psychotic killer at an abandoned warehouse, which Kenshin knew to be the location of the address on the card, would normally unnerve someone. But Kenshin knew how Shishio's mind worked; there would be no tricks, no men hiding out in corners to snipe him, and no hidden guns. It was going to be a death match between two expert swordsman with only the stronger man as the victor. Battousai's successor was not one for scheming in the midst of battle. Plotting a takeover of Japan? Sure. But he wouldn't stoop so low as to attempt to assassinate the one man he hoped to defeat in a fight. He wouldn't debase his own skills in favor of an easy win. He wanted to prove he was the better fighter in a fair fight.

Unfortunately, Shishio was not working alone, and if he truly was allied with Daisuke then there could be other agents lingering in the area without Shishio's permission. And that was where Kenshin felt apprehensive. He could sense ki without difficulty, but if caught up in a heated battle with someone like Shishio, then even his keen senses could miss things. Daisuke was not a man to choose pride over life; he was a rat who, as far as Kenshin was concerned, deserved to drown in the sewer where he lived.

When Kenshin told Kaoru he would beat Shishio, he had been completely honest. But Shishio was going to be the least of his problems if his suspicions were correct. Shishio would not tolerate outside agents from interfering in his long-awaited fight, but if Shishio was losing then the madman couldn't stop them from interfering. If Kenshin clearly had the upper hand, then there would no longer be a threat from Shishio if they acted anyway.

They could kill two birds with one stone. He would kill Shishio; they would kill him. After all, neither Daisuke nor Shishio were team players. They would eliminate the other once their respective use was over.

The redhead shook his head in frustration. The situation was getting more complicated by the minute, and his tumultuous thoughts were not helping. He didn't even have proof that his theory was plausible, and he wouldn't know what kind of trouble he was in until it happened. Gritting his teeth, he forced his mind elsewhere, but the only focus his thoughts could settle on was the raven-haired beauty he had been torn apart from that morning.

He never wanted to let go of her, but his rational side reminded him that she needed to get out Kyoto as soon as possible. He didn't want to take any chances, especially if the situation was growing so conspiratorial. There were very few people he could trust.

Kenshin wanted more than anything to be back in her arms, feeling her softly run her fingers through his hair. She always had this odd fascination with his red strands, possibly stemming from the fact that his hair was softer than her own. She would frequently pout and complain about how unfair it was that a man had better hair than the majority of the female population. Her comment never did bring him much pleasure because, even if women loved his hair, their compliments about how beautiful it was did not bode well for his masculinity. But who was he to complain about something that seemed to woo the ladies?

He chuckled lightly to himself at where his thoughts had suddenly turned, but the sound of his own voice through the previously silent room snapped him back to reality like a bucket of cold water. Falling back on the bed, he gazed at the ceiling and began counting the tiles, keeping his senses stretched to both the window and door to his small hotel room—just in case—as unlikely as it would be to be attacked the night before a scheduled fight.

The counting of the tiles quickly turned into boredom before being morphed into even more brooding. He stood suddenly and drew his katana from his belt and the wakizashi from the corner of the room, finally seating himself again to begin the respectful ritual of sharpening and cleaning the blades. Nothing soothed his mind more than the monotony of the rhythmic actions, and he needed an outlet to escape from his darkening thoughts.

"You've GOT to be kidding me," Kaoru shouted as she opened her apartment door and took a step inside. Both Misao and Sano were with her—Misao because her apartment was just down the hall and Sano because he wanted free food.

Misao peeked her head around Kaoru to see the source of her friend's apparent distress. Her nose wrinkled immediately as the smell of old pizza wafted its way through the room. "Well, I'm thinking the brat's home."

"Who are you calling a brat, shrimp!" came the sudden shout from the kitchen.

Kaoru stepped aside as she felt Misao push through the doorway angrily. "What did you call me?"

A tuft of black hair was all Kaoru saw before Misao had launched herself forward and knocked down her victim. "Take it back!" she shouted.

"Like hell!"

"Take it back or I'll tell Tsubame how much you like her!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Is that a challenge?"

Kaoru glanced over at Sano and gestured towards to wrestling match taking place on her carpet. "Sano, meet Yahiko.

Both Misao and Yahiko looked up at her words before Yahiko's struggling became violent enough for Misao to get off him. "Who are you?" the boy asked the tall man leaning against the doorframe.

"Sagara Sanosuke, but you can call me Sano."

"Aren't you that lazy detective?" he asked, recalling some of Kaoru's ranting about her partner in previous phone conversations.

"You told him I'm lazy?" Sano asked, feigning hurt.

"You are lazy."

"Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Any pizza left, kid?" Sano asked as he ruffled the boy's hair, only to have the latter start batting his hands away angrily.

"I'm not a kid!" Kaoru rolled her eyes at her little brother's predictable response.

"Okay, okay," Sano said quickly. "But really now. Is there?"

"No, but there's beer in the fridge."

Sano's face immediately lit up as he practically bolted towards the kitchen. "Wait," he asked suddenly. "How'd you know I'd care about that?"

"Because busu doesn't drink, so she'd only keep beer if it was for someone else," Yahiko shrugged. "So unless she has a boyfriend I don't know about, then it's probably for you."

Everyone froze at that comment, and Sano shifted uneasily. "Uh, right," he muttered before heading into the kitchen after throwing a glance at Kaoru.

"Funny you say that," Kaoru started.

"Wait a moment," Yahiko continued, eyes narrowing as the light caught the glint of the locket around Kaoru's neck. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Ummm…"

"It's not him, is it?" Yahiko asked suspiciously, jerking a thumb towards the kitchen.

Misao burst out laughing at the ludicrous question. "No one would ever be sane enough to date the rooster."

"Just checking."

At that moment, a breathless figure came bursting through the front door. "Is Ken-san back?"

Kaoru whirled around to see Megumi standing in her scrubs, her hair askew and her purse dangling haphazardly in the crook of her arm, giving Kaoru the impression that Megumi had run there from the hospital.

"It hasn't happened yet," Misao answered for her.

"Oh." Disappointment was evident on Megumi's face.

"Is that the kitsune, I hear?"

Megumi straightened up abruptly and tossed her hair over her shoulder with a huff. "I see you're already mooching off of people," she said, throwing Sano an accusatory look as he stepped out of the kitchen with a beer in hand.

"It's not like Jou-chan drinks beer anyway," he retorted, unfazed by the tone of Megumi's voice.

"Ken-san does."

"Well, he's not here."

"Unfortunately."

"Uh, who's Ken-san?" Yahiko asked curiously, confused by the strange conversation going on in front of him. It seemed to be a guy that everyone knew but him, and the lack of knowledge was grating on his nerves.

"It's actually Kenshin," Sano replied. "Ken-san is just Megumi's pet name for him."

"It's my boyfriend," Kaoru clarified.

Yahiko stared at his sister. Judging by how familiar everyone else was with this mysterious Kenshin, it implied that he would have to have been around for quite some time. "How long?"

"About a year now."

"And you never told me?" he asked incredulously.

"Well, it never really came up in conversation," she started. "And it's complicated."

"Don't worry, Yahiko. You'll really like him," Misao assured him. Murmurs of agreement echoed through the room.

"When will I meet him?"

Silence.

The sudden ceasing of all voices was more unnerving than the revelation that his sister was actually dating again. The expression on everyone's faces was odd, and it took Yahiko a moment to place them: it was fear.

"Hopefully in a few days," Kaoru finally said.

"Hopefully?" he asked.

"It depends on a number of things."

"Like?"

"Like when he comes back to Tokyo," she said slowly.

"Where is he now?"

"Kyoto."

"Is that where you were?"

Kaoru stared at her brother in surprise. He really was smart when he felt like it, and she was constantly forgetting how much he was growing up. She tended to have the picture of a four year old needing his diapers changed stuck in her head. The boy in front of her, however, wasn't really a boy at all. He was becoming a young man.

"Yes," Sano answered for her. He glanced down at his cell phone as it beeped at him. Kaoru watched as he flipped it open, read the message, and pocketed the device again. "You'll meet him in two days."

Kaoru cocked her head to the side. "How did you know?"

"Tomorrow night, ten o'clock," he answered cryptically.

A knowing look crossed her face. The fight.

"What the hell is going on?" Yahiko shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. He was already getting tired of feeling so left out.

"Maybe we should tell him," Misao started slowly.

Kaoru looked at Sano in a silent question, but he gave an affirmative nod. She motioned for Yahiko to sit down as they all took their own places. She sat cross-legged on the floor next to the coffee table and gently unclasped the locket hanging around her neck, laying it on the table. She touched the sapphire fondly before opening the locket and sliding it across the table, pointing towards the picture inside. "That's Kenshin."

Yahiko leaned forward curiously before his eyes widened unexpectedly. "This guy?"

"Yeah, why?" Kaoru questioned, surprised by the odd tone of his voice.

"I've met him before."

"WHAT?" came four voices in unison.

Yahiko found himself the object off scrutiny as four pairs of eyes immediately settled on him. He shifted nervously in his seat. "Yeah, I met him four or five months ago."

"How?" Kaoru asked, clearly frustrated.

"Well, it's kind of a long story…"

"Spill."

Yahiko looked at Kaoru in exasperation, but the stern expression on her face told him she wasn't going to budge. "Okay, well, I started having some trouble with these guys at school. They were bullying this kid, Yutaro, and I told them to stop so they kind of turned on me. I tried to handle it myself, you know, but after a while, I had to go to one of my professors for help. He said he'd take care of it, but—." Yahiko's voice broke off as he clenched his fists.

"But what?" Sano pressed.

"But it became obvious he wasn't going to do anything. It didn't take me too long before I realized the guys were like his goons or something. The professor was dirty and involved with the local yakuzas."

"Oh my god," Kaoru breathed.

"It's all over now, so don't start worrying," Yahiko said quickly, waving off her concern. "But one night, they all caught me while I was walking back to my room from the library. I had an exam the next day, so I stayed up late studying. I think it was almost one in the morning, and I heard voices in an alley. It sounded like they were beating someone up, so I went to help.

"Then I found Yutaro unconscious on the ground, and one of the guys was kicking him hard. I ran in blindly, without thinking about how I was going to get us both out of the situation. I tried fighting them off, and I was doing okay until one of them pulled out a knife. I thought I was a goner, for sure, but then this guy appeared out of nowhere knocked them all out with what I think was a sword. But he must have used the back of the blade because none of the guys were dead. Though, I got the impression he was only so merciful because they're just kids.

"But anyway," Yahiko continued, speaking quickly. "He had these eerie golden eyes, and I wasn't sure if I was really in better hands or worse. But when he bent down to check Yutaro's pulse, I had a feeling he really was saving us. He asked me if I was okay and then carried Yutaro and helped me get to the hospital."

Kaoru couldn't help but grow suspicious. If there was one thing she learned since she started dating Kenshin, it was that there was no such thing as a coincidence. And the redhead meeting her little brother in an alley just by chance? Yeah right. She wanted to punch him for taking the word "conniving" to a whole new level.

"I tried to tell him about my professor because I thought maybe he could help. I don't know why; it was just a hunch. All he told me was that he already knew, and that I was a good kid. He didn't tell me his name or anything, and I wouldn't have known who he was at all, except that an ambulance arrived at the ER that moment. The headlight's hit his hair, and it was obviously red. I was going to thank him, but when I turned around he was already gone."

Yahiko pointed at the locket sitting on the table and added, "I know it's him because he's the only person I've ever met who has red hair and golden eyes."

"It's very unique coloring," Megumi commented, and Kaoru rolled her eyes at the suggestive tone behind her voice.

Yahiko didn't notice as he continued, "If that was Kenshin, then I think it's cool you're dating a guy who can fight like that. I mean, I didn't even see him because he moved so fast, but…"

"But?" Kaoru prompted, worrying about his sudden hesitation.

Yahiko seemed to be having an inner debate on whether to say anything, but he finally relented. "I wasn't sure if I should tell you this, but I guess if you two really have been together for a year it shouldn't be a surprise."

Her eyes narrowed slightly at his words, but she remained silent.

"It didn't happen until a few weeks later after a new semester had started, but it was all over the newspapers. My professor was found dead…beheaded actually. And his office was littered with information tying him to the yakuza. People were saying the Battousai did it because of how it was done. And even though I had taken the guy's class for a semester, I couldn't bring myself to feel any sympathy."

"Why are you telling me this?" Kaoru asked slowly.

"Because," Yahiko breathed. "Even though I don't have any proof, I think Kenshin is the Battousai. I mean…when he told me that night he already knew about my professor's corruption and then the guy winds up dead. I just put two and two together."

"And you never went to the police?" Sano asked, blinking in surprise.

"Well, no!" Yahiko snapped, as if such an action would have been preposterous. "Even if I did meet the famed assassin, he couldn't be a really bad guy. I mean, he saved both my life and Yutaro's, and the professor was a bastard." Turning his attention to his silent sister, whose head was bowed and expression unreadable, he said softly, "Look, I'm sorry, Kaoru. Even though I know Battousai is one of your cases, can you please not arrest him? I really don't think he's a bad guy. I mean, you should know, after all, if he really is your boyfriend."

Yahiko felt terribly guilty as he watched Kaoru's shoulders start to shake. He leaned forward slightly in an effort to see her face and console her, but she suddenly threw her head back as loud laughter filled the room. Whatever reaction Yahiko had been expecting, it was not this. "Uh, Kaoru?"

Tears were streaming down her face as she doubled over, unable to stop the ripples of laughter escaping her. Sano, Megumi, and Misao were all starting to laugh, as well, and Yahiko suddenly felt like the victim of a cruel joke. He glared at all four of them and crossed his arms in front of his chest in anger, not sure why they were all laughing when he just told them Kaoru's boyfriend was a murderer.

"I'm sorry," Kaoru finally burst out in between bouts of laughter. "It's just—you just made everything much easier."

"Wait, so you knew?"

"Yeah, he saved my life once, too, you know," she answered warmly.

"Well, that's ironic. You a detective, him a criminal."

Kaoru didn't feel like going into the whole Kenshin-is-actually-a-government-assassin tirade at the moment and merely reached for the locket before fastening it around her neck again.

"So, anyway," she said. "He has a job in Kyoto right now, so you can meet him…again…in a few days."

"That thing tomorrow? That Sano mentioned?" Yahiko asked.

"Yes."

Yahiko looked at everyone before settling on his sister's expression again. "Something's wrong," he stated. He could tell that despite her smiling face, there was worry in her eyes.

"It's a serious fight," Misao noted grimly.

"But he'll be okay?"

Kaoru didn't fail to notice the hopefulness in Yahiko's voice. She never expected it would be so easy to get Yahiko to approve of her boyfriend, but it seemed Kenshin always had a lasting impact on everyone he met.

"Yes," she said firmly. She heard a quiet rumbling and glanced down at her growling stomach. "Who's up for the Akabeko?"

"As long as Sanosuke doesn't expect me to pay for him," Megumi said hotly.

Kaoru grinned as the inevitable bickering started between the two. Even though a fight was looming on the horizon and worry was gnawing at her heart, it was a relief to have the presence of her friends to distract her. After all, there was nothing she could do now but wait for Kenshin to return. And until then, she was going to make sure she was ready.

A lone figure stalked through the dark alleys, hiding in the shadows of the night, hidden even from the moon. There were few souls brave enough to trespass on the dead of the night, but he was the reason for the fear.

He stepped out into the dying light of a broken streetlamp, which only briefly betrayed his red hair before going out completely. Kenshin paused before the abandoned warehouse standing innocently before him. He could sense only one being inside the damaged walls: Makoto Shishio. If Daisuke's agents were going to intervene in the fight, then they hadn't yet arrived. Unfortuantely, that didn't mean they weren't going to show.

Pushing aside the thought, he briskly stepped inside the building and took note of the gleaming red eyes in the dimness before him.

"Welcome, Battousai."

A/N: I apologize for the excessive boringness that just took place, but this was kind of an interlude before the fight. I couldn't just jump into a battle, you see. I'm also working on making Kaoru less of a "damsel-in-distress," as one reviewer worded it. I don't want to depict her that way, so I'm working on bringing back her fire slowly, I promise! But in her defense, she has been repeatedly emotionally raped for the past few weeks by an idiotic redhead. *Sigh*

Anyway, there will be much more excitement in the following chapter, and I also want to inform you that this story is by no means almost over. I'd say that it is probably halfway? I think if you've been paying attention to previous chapters that you can tell Shishio is not the group's only problem, and this fight isn't going to solve things. So, review and let me know what you think!

(I finished this months ago and forgot to post it after getting caught up in school and things. I'm graduating in just a few months, so I've been soooo busy. Hope you enjoy and sorry for the long wait!)