Disclaimer: Whoever made up Rurouni Kenshin was one hell of a genius, but alas, it wasn't I. 

Chapter 11. Regret of Un-confessed Love.

Shura looked at her uncle, who was sitting across from her. "What? You want me to go back to Ashiya with you?" the man had finally told her why he had come so far. "If I do go back with you, who is the suitor?"

"His name is Hajime Saitou, and you will go back with me to Ashiya and marry him."

"No, I'm old enough to make my own decisions now by myself, not like ten years ago, when the only reason I stayed was because of my father's wishes. He told me a few days before he died, that if he didn't make it during the war that I was to go to Ashiya, even though he knew I'd hate it there, until I turned eighteen, then I could live alone."

"Miss Shura," Kenshin said. They were all seated in the room. "Miss Shura, I have a proposition for you both," he said, "Miss Shura, you go and meet this Hajime Saitou and give him a chance; and you Mr. Sagara, no matter what her decision is, you will leave her alone to live out her life, and she can visit you anytime she wants." He finished calmly.

Shura thought for a few minutes on Kenshin's proposition. "Fine, I guess, but I'm not going alone." She agreed.

Sanosuke slammed his teacup on the table, "How the hell could you agree to something like this? You hate him, don't you? If you hate him so much, why are you going back?" He asked, he stood up and left.

"Sanosuke-,"

"What is that boy's name?" Tsukiora asked.

"Sanosuke Sagara."

"Does that mean that my brother had a son? A bastard son no doubt, but he had a son?"

"No, he only had me. He was with my father during the Revolution and took the last name Sagara because he had none, and my father was his mentor." Shura stood and went after Sanosuke.

"Sanosuke?" Shura walked into the clearing. It was the clearing where they had met when Sano had come to the city so many months before. "Sanosuke, what did I do wrong?" she asked him quietly.

Sanosuke turned to face her, "You know, it's hard to believe, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" Shura sat down on the boulder in the middle of the clearing.

"That your father came from such a horrible family."

"Yeah, I know, but he was the best out of them."

"I'm sorry I blew up in there like that, it's just that, the way he acted like you were nothing but a slave to do what he pleases with. He acted like he controlled you."

"I know, but he doesn't, I don't let him. To me he's nothing but a good for nothing relative on my father's side that cares only about his social status." Shura said.

Sanosuke sat down next to her. "But what if you like this guy? Things'll never be the same here if you stay there you know."

"I know. That's why I'm going to say no to the proposal, considering that my uncle chose this Aoshi person." Shura sighed.

"He's not going to stop you know." Sanosuke said grimly.

"I know, but at least I can shows him that he has no control over me-,"

"Shura," Sanosuke said standing up.

"Yes?"

"N-never mind." Sanosuke said. He faked a yawn and said, "I'm going back to pack my things, you coming?" he asked making his way to the edge of the clearing. Fat raindrops started to fall from the sky. "Why does it always rain when we come here?" He walked into the trees.

"I don't know, but I like it." Shura sighed and followed Sanosuke.

11

"Shura, where have you been?" her uncle demanded.

Shura shrugged, "Like I'm going to tell you." she answered.

The man grabbed her arm and pulled her hair, "When I ask you a question, you answer me. Especially when you come back in the rain with that man who took our name." He tugged harder.

Shura twisted the arm that her uncle had grabbed forcing him to let go; then she grabbed his other hand that was pulling her hair with and put pressure with her thumb on a spot on his arm, cutting off the blood to it. He let go. "He didn't take 'our' name; he took my father's, just as I did." She turned and walked into the room she shared with Kaoru.

11

It was the night before they had to leave and Shura kept waking up every hour. Her uncle had stayed in Tokyo for about two days, and then left telling them to leave in a week. The name of her suitor Hajime Saitou kept echoing in her mind, ever since her uncle had said it. It had triggered something in her mind, and for the past couple of days she was often deep in thought. She knew his name somewhere, he worked for the government, but she didn't know what he did.

11

Sanosuke woke up drenched in cold sweat. He had just had a horrible dream. He had been walking down a street that smelled like rot and filth. He came across a woman with two little girls.

''"S-Sanosuke," the woman had said quietly, she tried to stand, but because of her lack in nutrition, her knees gave out. "Sanosuke, do you remember me?"

"How the hell do you know my name?" he had asked.

"It's me Shura."

"Shura? How did you become like this?" he knelt down

"The suitor, Saitou, h-he really didn't care about me, he only wanted s-sons-," Shura shuddered and grabbed both of his arms. "I-I'm sorry, please forgive me for not listening." She sobbed.

Sanosuke wrapped his arms around her, "It's ok, and it's not your fault. Shh." He said. Shura buried her face in his chest.

"M-Mama," said one of the little girls, "I-It's father."

Shura tensed up. "No, I beg of you Saitou, don't do this. Kill me, they have done nothing-," Shura turned, her eyes widened, the man had slit the throat of her younger daughter. "M-my baby, you-," Shura's eyes changed, they went blank as she let out her feelings. She beat the man with her fists, swearing at him, she pulled out her sword. However, the man was faster; he pulled out his own sword, stabbed Shura in the gut, and disappeared into the shadows.

Shura dropped her sword and fell backwards into Sanosuke's lap. "Sanosuke,"

"Shh. Don't talk, I'll go get help."

"No, I won't make it. Sano, promise me that you'll take care of my daughter, train her." She took a deep breath. "I only have one regret," She touched his cheek He knelt closer to her. "I never told you that I love you. You and my two daughters, my love for you three kept me going." Shura hugged her living daughter, kissed Sanosuke on the lips, and left her body. ''

A/N: Sorry about the late update, I had serious writer's block. R&R folks!

Wala