Hey guys. I am very sorry. There is one small error that I failed to catch until recently. In Chapter 9, Obihiro keeps referring to currently in the war...it is after the war. They are building up their community. Saitou Hajime also served during the war.

I am so sorry for the typo error. It affects the timeline.

Well, enjoy the next chapter.

Thank you for all those who reviewed.


Chapter 11

Alliance

Illusion smiled at the young geisha serving him. She was undeniably beautiful. It was no mystery to him why Black has an affair with her. However, Black is too naïve in a sense. Illusion had only spent one night with her and knows her craving for money. She did not care what she does in order to get some hard cash. Illusion laughed at that thought. At least she does it with style. By noon tomorrow, Black would not be alive. Satisfied with his work, Illusion headed towards Ice's house.

Ice, or rather known to everyone as Keiji Sachihoko worked legally as a fishmonger. His wife, Keiko is a simple yet gentle woman who barely has any idea about her husband's involvement in their opposition gang. Keiji had kept a very low profile, making sure he never went against the law so that his night activities were virtually unknown. Too bad for him, Illusion had found out about his family. Too bad for Keiji, his marriage was one out of love rather than arranged.

Ice was startled to see Illusion outside his home as he returned for work. Seeing the younger man, Ice quickly informed his wife he had some urgent business to take care of and would be late for dinner. Heading towards the forest, he went deeper before stopping and turning to face Illusion who had came to see him.

"Why did you come to my home? How did you find out about me?" Ice asked edgily, feeling a sense of danger lurking nearby. It was common knowledge between all three chosen fighters that their identity remains a mystery to one another. That is why they wore a mask when they met. The only one who knows about them is Arashi, their master. Seeing that Illusion had found out about him, Ice had a sense of dread that he was in trouble.

"It doesn't matter how I know," Illusion said quietly. His plan so far was working perfectly. Without Black, he had one less problem to deal with in reaching his goal. "I see you value your family a lot, Ice. Isn't Keiko pregnant again?"

Ice's eyes harden. "What do you want?"

"I want to lead the gang. I want to make it a fearsome one like every other yakuza gang. It is pathetic and pitiful the way our previous leader Obihiro had brought up the gang. To care for the poor? Hah! What an idiot!"

"Where do I come in?" Ice asked warily.

"I want you and your men to distract Battousai when I say so. Until then, you must lay low. After the assignment, you can do whatever you want, including serving under me. If you want to go blabbering to master, do so. Only realize if your actions dampen my plans in any way…you do love your wife don't you?"

Ice realized what Illusion had in mind. He gritted his teeth in anger. "Don't you dare lay a finger on my family, Illusion. I don't know who the hell you are, but I swear I will kill you if you hurt them. Tell me, what makes you think I won't kill you now?"

Illusion laughed. "How sure are you that when you walk out of here she will be alive? Oh dear, do you even know where daughter is? Cute little thing, it is such a pity if anything happens to her…" Ice paled considerably. His little princess! Falling to the ground in defeat, he agreed softly to assist Illusion. The younger man grinned.

"I will return her shortly. Since you decided to cooperate, I will not hurt her. Well, then, I'll see you soon. Just be prepared, Ice. Any failure on your side will cost you a lot."

With that clear warning, Illusion walked away happily. Oh yes, everything was going according to his plan. Now, he will visit his Kumiko. She must be missing him since he had not paid any attention to her these past few days.

Illusion smiled. He must remember to thank Kimiko for finding Black and Ice's real identity. She has been such a great help. But first, Illusion's smile widened, he would check on his little toy. He wondered how well Kaoru was faring. She had better enjoy her last days. After this, Kamiya Kaoru would cease to exist.

And he will rule over The White Dragon.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Saito smoked his cigarette slowly. The small room was covered with the smoke he exhaled. Before him sat a young man looking quite tired and exhausted. He was also looking annoyed at Saito for the condition of the room.

Having just heard his report, Saito frowned. His mind worked overtime, assessing information he had come to know. Ever since his father died and passed the knowledge to him as Japan worked to build up again, Saito had been relatively uneasy. His search for Kaoru had ended unexpectedly when he found Battousai. If he had not met Gensai-sensai and Shuichi, he would not have known that she was the lost heir that his father hid.

Honestly, his father could have just told him where to look. But the old man had died saying only one name…Kamiya. Never meeting Kamiya Koshijiro, Saito had assumed his father was muttering nonsense. Never in his life he had entertained the idea of Koshijiro also being a Kamiya…the Kamiya his father had mentioned.

Saito's golden eyes hardened in the memory of his father. The circumstances of his father's quite sudden death made him realize other forces besides nature had played a part. Not even for a moment did he suspect any other than Arashi Sawamura. A thorn by his side. How the old man had done it was beyond Saito's knowledge. He must have had someone helping him in getting rid of his father.

As fate would have it, Saito took his father's place as one of the leaders. Carefully covering his tracks, he led most of the members of the yakuza who still believed in heirs of Kamiya-sama to lead them. As it happens to be, Arashi leads to opposition in order to overthrow Saito and gain total leadership. However, at the last minute, Saito had led slip that an heir of Kamiya Obihiro still lived. Although he had not found her, his father had told him she lived. He thought that would stop the members from rebelling. He sighed. Only half his plan worked. He never suspected tanuki to be the heir until the attack on her had taken place. Apparently, Arashi had found out first and sent people to kill her. Slowly.

Luckily, he managed to wiggle the information out of the old doctor who happens to be Koshijiro's family doctor. Shuichi too confirmed this.

Saito wanted to roll over and laugh out loud. Battousai was letting his emotions over rule his thoughts by not sensing who Shuichi really is. He is a fool. His love for tanuki had blinded him and those idiots with him. Luckily, that girl had enough sense to come to him for help. Any other officer would have had her head for the valuable information she had.

Shaking his head mentally from all those thoughts, he focused with the information on hand. Another Kamiya was alive and kicking. A very powerful one too. Swordsman skills are rather amazing. Saito smirked. If Battousai knew who the other Kamiya was, he would have freaked. But looking back, Saito supposed Kaoru and her brother did have quite a resemblance. They do not look identical, but they did inherit their parents' features.

"So, you agree?"

Saito looked at the younger man. He nodded.

"I suppose I can leave it to you to inform him. You are the one who found him after all," Saito said as he exhaled the smoke. His partner scrunched his nose in distaste.

"I will. Next time we meet though, let it be in an open place. This is too suffocating."

"Hn."

"Saito-san, I leave it to you for now to keep an eye on Kaoru," the young man said as he got up to leave. "She is a very important woman despite finding her brother."

"I know."

His partner got up and left. Saito remained seated. His mind assessing all he knew. Arashi Sawamura was a definite problem. And Saito had no plans of putting him away legally. There has to be an opening where no one will suspect him…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Kaoru walked slowly back to the dojo. The day had started quite well. The birds were singing, the sky was bright and the weather was not too hot. It was a perfect day for a stroll and Kaoru had left the clinic to head back home to the dojo.

Unfortunately, a perfect day doesn't mean it can't go sour.

She felt very self-conscious when she noticed the people whispering behind her back and women scowling at her. She tried to figure out what she had done wrong but could not think of anything. Finally, dismissing the whole thing as some latest gossip, she ignored it.

'Gossip?' she murmured to herself. A thought came to her mind and her face turned bright red. The incident at Saito's office! How could she have forgotten! Oh dear, what will Tokio think of her? Worry filled her as she took slow steps back. She prayed that her newfound friend would understand and as far as she knew, Tokio was not one to hold grudges. But this incident does surround Saito and she is very particular about her husband…

"Mou! Why are there so many problems?" Feeling frustrated and annoyed, Kaoru stopped by the river to clear her thoughts. But they flew back to the one person in her mind.

'How can I trust that he won't leave me again?' she wondered, realizing too late that this was the spot where Kenshin said goodbye before he left to fight Shishio.

Flashback

Kaoru had just finished practicing her kata. It felt good holding her shinai after being forced to rest in bed due to the high fever she suddenly contracted. She felt fresh and rejuvenated by just sweating it out.

Pleased, Kaoru decided to take a break and meditate for a while. However, she could not get her thoughts away from her three male friends. Ever since Megumi left to Aizu and no morons coming after Kenshin, her friends seem rather…bored. Kaoru refused to think of the word distant. Although they were. She never noticed it. It was more apparent after her recovery. Kenshin had said she was just imagining it because of her fever.

The fever itself was a mystery. How could she have gotten sick suddenly? She could not remember a single event these past few days. Nothing! She must have been really really sick.

The guys…Kenshin was so quiet these past few days. It was just like his attitude before leaving to fight Shishio. So quiet…so distant. Fear suddenly gripped Kaoru. Was he going to leave? Did Sano and Yahiko know this and are hiding to from her? Trying hard to breath evenly, fear was more dominant and she got up hastily to find Kenshin. Relieved to seeing him doing the laundry, she instantly ran to his side.

"Kenshin!"

Her rurouni turned to her, a far away look in his eyes. Kaoru gasped. Softly but it was loud enough for him to hear.

"Is there something you want, Kaoru-dono?" His voice sounded deeper than usual, the cheeriness missing.

"Kenshin," Kaoru asked looking deeply into his eyes. "Are you going to leave me?"

He looked up startled, obviously not expecting that question. Lowering his bangs to cover his eyes, thus successfully shielding any emotion there he asked her back. "Why are you asking sessha about this suddenly, Kaoru-dono?"

She felt silly, standing there suddenly blurting out this question which was a touchy subject for her. But she had to. "You just seem so distant, Kenshin. Just like when you were leaving …" She choked, unable to finish that sentence. Her hands clenched tightly together.

To fight Shishio. Kenshin thought in his mind. Hating the pain in her eyes, knowing he was the cause of it, he reached out and pulled her hand, bringing her closer to him. A small smile played on his handsome face. But Kaoru felt it didn't reach his eyes. Dismissing that as over imagining things, she blushed at their closeness.

" Kenshin…?"

" I will never leave you, Kaoru-dono. This is my home."

She thought her fear would vanish but it stayed, a quiet nagging somewhere deep in her heart. She knew something was going to happen but did not know what. Giving Kenshin what she hoped was a happy smile, she nodded and was about to leave when she felt like she needed to ask him another question. "Kenshin..?"

"Aa?"

"Do I mean anything to you?"

Kaoru felt like hitting her head with something hard for suddenly bringing such as awkward moment between them. Waving the question of with one hand and shaking her head she told him to forget about it. But Kenshin kept his eyes on her.

"Kaoru-dono, you gave me a home. For that…I am eternally grateful."

Then, he did the unexpected.

Kenshin brought her hand up towards his lips and kissed it softly. He smiled at the blush on her face as she turned and left hurriedly. Sadness filled his eyes and he looked at the pile of clothes without any interest in washing them.

It was while she was bathing that Kaoru thought it was odd none of Kenshin's clothes or Yahiko's were hanging there.

As night time approached, Kaoru didn't understand the sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. She tried to act like nothing was wrong but realized that everything was wrong.

Sano, out of the blue, said he was going away.

"Nani!!!! Naze, Sanosuke? Why do you want to leave?" Kaoru asked thoroughly shocked by the news. Sano looked away.

"It is just…kitsune isn't around and things are kinda quiet, ya know. It's boring. I wanna see the world, jou-chan. Ya can't trap a guy in one place and hope he'll stay. Neh, I wanna go where my heart is."

She listened open-mouthed at his explanation. She knew he was right. But she was hoping he would only leave after a few more days.

"So, you'd go like next week, right?" she asked hope laced with every word.

Sano shook his head. "Tomorrow, actually. I will leave tomorrow."

Kaoru thought she would faint. She put down her chopsticks and quietly excused herself. She missed the pain in Sano's eyes as he looked at her retreating form.

That night Kaoru promised herself she would not cry. She only barely succeeded not knowing more pain would come.

The next day, Kaoru trained with Yahiko as usual. However, something was way off with him. He kept doing mistakes and irritating the hell out of her. Finally, having enough of his attitude, she punished him to do 500 strokes. Yahiko refused.

"I am your sensei. You will listen to me, Yahiko!"

"Stop bossing me around, busu! You are an old nag, do you know that. I am sick and tired of you stupid Kamiya Kasshin Ryu! It is not even half as cool as Kenshin's Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu and you keep doing the same old stuff!"

Kaoru's anger got the best of her. " NO ONE! I mean NO ONE insults my family style," she yelled at him. Sano just walked in, a sack behind his back. Taking one look at him, Kaoru saw Yahiko making up his mind.

"Kamiya Kasshin Ryu is not even as powerful as Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. How am I supposed to protect myself with a bokken? Come on, busu, your otou-san created it just as a form of exercise rather than protection. It's so obvious. I'd rather learn something more tougher than this!"

"You'd better stop while you are ahead, Yahiko-CHAN! If you say another word more, I'll NEVER teach you Again!" Kaoru felt so angry she could just…just…

"Fine! I quit! And I don't want to stay here anymore!" he threw his wooden sword down and walked out. Kaoru stood there stunned. She hoped Sano would say anything but he kept quiet as Yahiko rushed back out with a sack behind his back.

"Yahiko, don't you think this is a bit harsh?" Kaoru said, her voice trembling at the shock of all the sudden circumstances of her life. They were leaving.

"Iie. Maybe this is for the best. I want to see the world too and I am bored staying here. Ja!"

"Anoo…jou-chan. I'll see you around. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on the brat," Sano said softly, rubbing the back of head nervously.

She watched them leave, too stunned to say a word. Too weak to move. She slid down the wall, eyes gazing emptily at quiet dojo.

A sudden thought flashed in her head.

Kenshin.

Where is he? Why didn't he stop Yahiko?

She rushed towards the house, calling his name. He did not answer. Fear filled her again. She ran to his room and opened the shoji.

Empty.

No Kenshin.

No sakabatou.

No clothes.

Only a letter.

She knew what it was. She knew the content. But she reached for it. Opened it. Read it. And cried. Falling on the cold wooden flour, she cried her heart out.

Sobs shook her body. Hurt, pain, betrayal filled her heart.

And she cried.

Kaoru-dono,

By the time you receive this letter I would be gone. I deeply and humbly apologise for leaving you but see no other alternate choice to keep you safe. I know I said I would stay and I am staying, in your heart.

The truth is, I love one woman, Kaoru-dono. A woman, whose name is familiar to you. Tomoe. I only love her and cannot forget about her. I have decided to travel again to seek forgiveness.

I am only a wonderer, Kaoru-dono. You can do so much better than me. Thank you for everything and I am sorry I am the cause of your tears. Forgive me and I would be looking forward with the news of your marriage to a respectable gentleman.

Sayonara.

Love,

Kenshin.

Kaoru cried till she had no more tears left. She lay where she was, not caring about the outside world.

End Flashback

Kaoru looked sadly at the flowing river. She knew why she felt so angry at the three males who once lived with her. They had left. She was sad that they had left but that was not what had bothered her so. It was always the way they left. As though they wanted her to be angry with them. Each word, each sentence was like a knife stabbing her heart. With Sano, she kind of understood his desire to explore the world. But Yahiko…the fact that her student uttered such words more so about her family style made her hesitant to even offer to teach him again. There was a word for it…she felt incompetent especially when he compared her style to Kenshin's. And that hurt…a lot. Kenshin…Kaoru felt like laughing and crying at the same time. So easily…does he really expect her to believe in him so easily. Especially when he compared her to Tomoe.

I only love Tomoe.

She had thought he would stay. When he kissed her hand, she had thought he had come to love her. Didn't action speak louder than words? It was not hard to decipher his words once she had got her head together though.

You gave me a home. For that I am eternally grateful.

A landlady. Wasn't that what he saw her as? What had brought the change that he declared without hesitation that he loved her?

Shuichi?

Realisation dawned upon Kaoru. Feeling weak kneed, she sat down slowly, her eyes wide as she figured out Kenshin's intentions.

They didn't like Shuichi. They wanted her to stay away from him. What better way than for Kenshin to admit he loved her.

Kaoru felt sick to her stomach as she figured the whole thing out. Tears welled up in her eyes but she refused to cry, to give in. Curled up beside the river, she tried hard to calm down.

………………………………………………………………………………..

She was not in the clinic. Kenshin was surprised when Gensai-sensei said Kaoru had decided to go home. Kenshin could only thank the doctor before rushing of to find her. He searched everywhere and found no trace of Kaoru. Refusing to give up, he walked along the river and nearly cried in relieve at the sight of the pretty kenjutsu shihandai curled up by the river. As he approached her, he realized something was wrong by the tenseness of her body.

"Kaoru…dono?" Kenshin called out softly deciding to use honorifics as a safety measure. She looked up at him, clearly feeling confused and perplexed. "What's the matter?"

"Why did you come back?"

He looked at her closely. Kenshin sighed, realizing his answer is very important to her. He decided to choose his words carefully.

"I thought I told you, Kaoru-dono. I love you. That's why I came back."

"Iie. You are lying." Kenshin felt fear rising within him. She did not believe him. He could say as much from her voice and body posture. Even with him, she was not relaxed.

"Why are you saying that I am lying, Kaoru? Even if I never admit it before…" but she cut him off.

"At least you do realize you never admit it before. Kenshin, the words 'I love you' is something YOU won't simply say. But now…you say it like it has always been in your vocabulary. Tell me Kenshin, why did you come back?"

He could feel it in every question. Her pain. Her torment. It tore him inside.

"Aisteru, Kaoru. That's why."

She laughed softly, bitterly. "Let's try it this way then." She turned to look straight in his eyes. "Why did you leave? After you promised me? Why did you leave like that?"

He looked away, unable to answer. What could he say? That he was an idiot? That it was for her? He concentrated on the flowing water. "Because I love you."

She sighed. "Do you know how I felt when you all left like that? Do you know how painful it was?"

"Do you know how I would feel if anything happened to you? Do you know how hard it was for me to leave you when I loved you so much?" Kenshin asked back, pulling Kaoru to face him.

"Then why did you leave me, Kenshin? WHY? Not one of you stayed back? Not one of you wrote any letter after you left to see if I was managing. What would you have done if I had decided to take my own life, Kenshin? What if I died?" she asked him amazingly with her voice still under control.

"You would never commit suicide, Kaoru. I know you. You'd never do that."

"Do you really know me so well, Kenshin? Do you really know me and what's good for me?"

He kept quiet. Unable to answer. Kenshin knew the truth. He did not know her. After more than a year staying with her, only now he knew the circumstances surrounding her father's death, his occupation and her secret association with Saito. He did not know Kaoru.

"Please, Kenshin. Why did you leave?"

Maybe, she should know the truth.

"Do you remember when you got ill, Kaoru?" She turned to look at him and nodded. Watching the flow of the river again, she concentrated on his voice.

" We were all so relaxed. No more attacks. No enemies walking in and demanding for a fight. I was so relaxed. I thought…I thought I had finally been given a chance to live again…with you. I know you can't believe me now but please trust me. I am not lying. I love you…always did ever since you opened your heart to me. Truly, Kaoru I was working to ask you to marry me.

None of us were aware of how it happened. One moment you were chasing after Yahiko-kun, another you fainted. We were so worried. Megumi-dono was not there. The only person left was Gensai-sensei but he was helping a young woman who was in labour. I realized immediately, you were poisoned. We did not know what to do. So, we tried to lower down your fever while Sano waited for the doctor.

In midst of all that, a man came. He came while I was away getting some herbs to create an antidote. Yahiko was watching you. He attacked Yahiko in order to get to you. He fought well but Yahiko was not his match. Yahiko had to watch you get kidnapped and he felt helpless. When I returned, he told me everything."

Not once did Kaoru turn to butt in. She kept quiet, listening more to his tone than his story. So much of pain. His voice was laced with pain and fear. She could practically feel it. She instantly remembered Yahiko's words.

I didn't want to. What with that lunatic and Kenshin worrying. We had to find a way to leave…

"I did managed to reach you on time. He left a note on where to meet him. It was quite a tough match since he used you as a shield. I could barely fight, thinking I would hurt you in the process. When I finally managed to beat him, you were very ill. Luckily, Gensai-sensei arrived and he managed to remove the poison from your body.

That day, Kaoru, you were at death's bed and I could do nothing. Just like Tomoe. I could do nothing for her. And she ended up dead by my sword. Yahiko was very troubled too. We could not bare to face you. Ever since we appeared in your life, it has been havoc. So, we decided to leave. Yahiko thought if we left in a very …uncharacteristic manner, you'd be so angry, you'd forget about us. Then, at that time, it seemed like a good idea. That's why…that's why we left."

He took a deep breath. Finally, the truth was out. Kenshin wondered what she would say. Would she undertand?

"When were you my father, Kenshin?"

"Oro?"

"Don't give me that innocent expression when you are not innocent at all! When were you my father? You all left me! Don't I have a say in it? How can you just make a decision concerning me and not telling me? You left me in the dark!" Kaoru yelled angrily at the baka rurouni sitting bewildered in front of her.

"It was for your own good! I don't want you to end up like Tomoe!"

"Kenshin, I am NOT Tomoe!"

Kenshin sat, stunned. He looked at her red face panting for breath. Her blue eyes were dark with rage and could match battousai's perfectly.

"Kaoru-dono…"

"I can make my own decisions, Kenshin. I am not a little girl anymore. I am not a glass! You ask me to trust you but why don't you have that same faith in me? Don't you believe in my decisions?"

"If that decision will get you killed, then yes, I don't believe in your decision, Kaoru!"

"Like what, Kenshin?"

"Like loving me? How many times have you got hurt because of me? From the very beginning! Udo Jin-eh? Enishi? Or have you forgotten?"

"If I want to love you without thinking of the consequences, then I have the right to. You don't have the right to choose my future for me, Kenshin. Especially since your decision killed me too. Maybe not physically but emotionally. Even if I find myself forgiving you, I don't think I can trust you not to leave me."

"Kaoru…"

"We should head home. I am tired, Kenshin."

She got up to leave and he followed her. As the sun set beautifully behind them, Kenshin wondered what lay ahead of them. Watching the beautiful woman walking back home, her body straight and her chin held high, he wondered if he would have the chance of holding her ever again.

He wondered if she would find a place in her heart to forgive him.

Kenshin felt like hitting his head with her shinai. The one woman who accepted him and refused to look into his past, he can't believe that he hurt her so badly. He was such a fool.

They were waiting for her in the dojo. No one of the questioned her as she went to take her bath. They waited for Kenshin to fill them in. He told them that he had mentioned that night to Kaoru.

"You told Jou-chan? What did she say?" Sano asked eager to know her answer.

"It's Kaoru we are talking about. She said…we should not have a decision for her. She is not happy about it."

"We did it for her sorry butt. She's still angry for that?" Yahiko exclaimed unable to believe his ex-master.

"Aa. But I don't blame her. Maybe…even if we left…we should not have done that. It was plain cruel although it sounded quite a plan at that time."

"Jou-chan should understand we had her best interest in mind. I mean…I would rather stay here, get free food and eat of Tae but I decided to get the hell out because of her! She should at least appreciate that!"

"But what she said also was true. You should have allowed her to make a decision."

They turned to Megumi.

"Meg…"

"I know…I know. I sound like I am with her. But really, after knowing you, Sano and hanging around you guys, I was always convinced what Kenshin said was for the best. When we met Shuichi, I somehow felt tanuki was more confident around him. Maybe, we should let her make her own decisions. I think we have controlled her enough."

"Arigato, Megumi-chan."

They turned to face Kaoru who walked in at that moment.

"Ne, quite fast busu."

"Urusai, Yahiko-chan. Megumi, I am glad you think I can make my own decisions unlike these bakas who think I am incapable of that!"

"Kaoru, sometimes your decision ends up hurting you!" Kenshin said desperately.

"At least they are mine and I will live with the outcome. I don't need you babysitting me!"

Kenshin could feel himself getting angrier. The woman that he loved just can't understand how much he cared about her!

"Tell me, Kaoru, if you are so good in making decisions, why did you decide to help be a spy for Saito by giving him information about the men going against our government?"

"How…how did you know that?" Kaoru asked truly shocked to find her secret being known to them.

"How I know is my business. You ask me to trust you but you make such a dangerous decision. How do you expect me to trust you?"

"It is alright for you to fight Shishio and Amakusa but it is wrong for me to help Saito for our government? It is right for you to risk your life for others but wrong for me to do the same? How do you justify that, Kenshin! You have no right to stop me. This is my father's work!"

"It is not his wish to see you dead!" Kenshin yelled ignoring the fear in their friends' eyes. No one interrupted the two passionately arguing people both defending their rights. They didn't dare. Not even Aoshi who was looking at Kaoru from a whole new angle.

"What do you know about my father besides what I told you? He made me know where he kept all the information about these people. If I don't continue his work, many will suffer and die. He thought me about the sword that protects. It never had to be a visible sword. By helping Saito put these men away, I help to protect!"

Kenshin closed his eyes tiredly. There was no winning against her. "You're so stubborn."

"As are you."

"Is your decision really that good, Kaoru?"

"What now Kenshin?"

"If I tell you a truth, will you be able to act on it?" Kaoru looked warily at him. "What truth?"

Before Kenshin could answer, the dojo gates opened revealing a handsome but tired face. Kaoru's eyes shone seeing him.

"Tadaima."

"Okerinasai, Shuichi!"

Shuichi smiled and walked in. Just as Kaoru moved towards him, Sano put a hand out and stopped her. Instantly, Aoshi got up and walked near her, as did Kenshin and Yahiko.

"What's going on? Am I interrupting something?" Shuichi asked watching them. Something was amiss. Kaoru too looked shocked.

"Well, Jou-chan, you said you could make your own decisions." Sano said.

"You told us to trust in you, Kaoru," Yahiko continued.

"Then, tell us, Kaoru, what is your decision about Shuichi?" Kenshin asked watching him closely.

"What's going on?" Kaoru asked clearly confused.

"Minna, I don't think this is a good idea," Megumi broke in worried that Kaoru might not be able to handle the news.

"Iie, Megumi-san. Perhaps we won't get a better opportunity. Kaoru-san, I was asked by Himura to check on Shuichi Haname. What I found out is this. Shuichi Haname is dead. This man is a fraud.

He lied to you."

………………………………………………………………………………………