Author's Note: Here's the beginning to the end of Book 1 of this story. I actually tried to fit everything in here but found that the chapter would be twenty pages and so I'm adding another chapter. The next chapter will be a tear jerker so be prepared. Thanks to the readers and reviewers.

Glossary of Japanese terms:

Watashi no koishii----literally "my beloved"

SPREZZATURA…..EXPECTING TO FLY

Sprezzatura is a form of painting technique that is a deliberate carelessness of brush strokes, in other words--planned chaos

Red…the color was everywhere, from the garish reflected neon glow of the sign for Guido's to the flashing lights from the police cruiser and ambulance to the crimson flood of life that had drained from Tobei's severed neck and turned the rain puddles to blood. And then there was the fierce visage framed by flame red hair and amber-red eyes that blazed with inhuman rage that delivered the death blow, standing there in the coppery glow of the stormy sky. The downpour had made everything seem nightmarish and fluid, like a watercolor wash, blurred and beyond recognition and it was the last scene Kaoru remembered before everything went black again…..

Tossing the heirloom sword and sheath aside Kenshin rushed forward and cradled Kaoru in his arms, murmuring gently trying to bring her back, but she was not responding. He was so intent in his ministrations that he did not notice that the alley had become filled with curious people from inside Guido's and Misao, Aoshi, Megumi and Sano had all gathered around him. A hum of comments were scattered amid the amazed group…

"What the hell happened out here?"

"I think somebody got hurt."

"Hey man, check it out, the Battousai is covered in blood."

Then a girl from the bar screamed when she saw the disembodied head and bloody corpse of Tobei and the bartender yelled to the crowding onlookers "Hey somebody call emergency, we need an ambulance and the cops. Some guy lost his head."

A few people went inside and others crowded around to get a better look. More screams followed as women paled and cried out when they saw the horrible sight as a siren wailed in the distance and got closer

Kenshin's friends all encircled the pile of boxes where he sat holding Kaoru's unconscious form, both drenched in rain and blood. He was in a state of inertia like he had become a statue, his glacial blue eyes just staring as the sirens got loud and stopped at the end of the alley. Then there was a sound of car doors slamming and footfalls splashing as they ran through puddles with EMTs and police pushing their way through the throng.

"Step aside please. Step aside." An authoritative voice made the command as uniformed police made their way to the surreal scene and stopped cold when they saw the dismembered body and head of Tobei, and the blood-covered couple sitting on a pile of sodden cardboard by the dumpster. Two police officers continued toward Kenshin and Kaoru and crouched down to ask questions.

"Okay now, what happened here?" A tall middle-aged officer asked as his younger partner leaned over Tobei's headless body and grimaced as he turned and saw the head in a pool of bloody water.

"Looks like a guy got his head chopped off," he said matter-of-factly.

The other police officer glanced at the object and called the EMTs to collect the grisly corpse and head then turned back to Kenshin. "Okay son, now you want to tell me what happened?" He gestured to Kaoru, still out cold in Kenshin's arms. "Is this young lady all right?"

"Iie."

Kaoru lay limp in his arms and the officer gestured to his partner. "Go get the EMTs to get a stretcher for her." As his partner nodded and went to do his bidding the officer tried again, "So you want to tell me what happened?"

Kenshin nodded his head slowly and said in a flat voice, "He was raping her and I killed the son of a bitch."

Sano then came forward and interrupted hurriedly, "Whoa, whoa, buddy. Watch what you're saying here to the officer." He entreated the officer. "My friend is pretty upset so he doesn't really know what he's saying."

"Knock it off, Sano." Kenshin's voice held steel as he repeated, "I killed him."

The officer studied the young man as he reiterated, "You killed him. And that's it?"

Kenshin nodded.

The officer probed, "And you have nothing else to add, nothing to say beside that?"

Sanosuke cut in, "You've got to be kidding me, man."

However, Kenshin shook his head blankly as the officer studied the numb and dazed expression on the redhead's visage and the EMTs came rushing over with a stretcher and then came forward to take Kaoru. But Kenshin, still in a state tightened his arms around her and his voice was a low growl.

"Leave her alone!" he snarled. "Don't you lay a hand on her."

One EMT said politely, "You have to let go of her, sir. We have to take her on the stretcher. She needs medical attention."

"Iie, don't take her away from me," Kenshin's voice was filled with fierce dread and an underlying fear that made the mighty Battousai seem vulnerable in his shattered state.

The middle-aged police officer said in a soft tone. "You have to let her go so the EMTs can take her to get treated." He gently began to pry Kenshin's hand from Kaoru's body as her eyes fluttered open and she gazed at him blankly.

"K-Kenshin? W-what happened?" she stammered as she was coming to, her sapphire eyes wide and frightened, gazing blankly around at all the flashing lights and the murmuring crowd.

His own eyes gazed back, suddenly a soft lavender hue. "It's all right, tenshi. Just take it easy, they want take you to the hospital."

Still holding her Kenshin rose to his feet then gently handed Kaoru to the waiting hands of an EMT when she saw the bloody, decapitated corpse of her tormenter. Upon seeing the gruesome tableau, she fainted again, falling limp during the transfer into the arms of the EMT.

"Kaoru!" Kenshin cried, springing forward to get her back but the officer laid a restraining hand on him.

"Easy son. You're going to have to come with me." He took hold of Kenshin's arm and unresisting, the newly crowned kendo champ obeyed, his head twisted and watching as the EMTs tended to his love. He then went with the police officer to a waiting cruiser with Sanosuke following close behind.

Meanwhile, the rest of his friends stood in shock as the rest of the crowd broke up and wandered back into Guido's with Aoshi crouching down to retrieve the abandoned katana and sheath. One of the other officers stopped him, insisting to leave it to not smudge the fingerprints so the taciturn man cast a cold glance and complied, then went over to the cruiser with the other men, leaving the two women to check on Kaoru. Having regained full consciousness and blandly insisting she was fine, Kaoru was now seated on the edge of the open ambulance and numbly watched the coroner and EMTs come and take the two pieces of Tobei's corpse and deposit them into a body bag. She stared in morbid fascination, her mind a blank, dazed and in moderate shock as her friends were grouped around her, all frantic over her physical and mental condition.

Misao was seated beside her friend, her arm looped about Kaoru as she asked gently, "How're you doing, Kaoru-chan?"

Her response was to shrug and remain wordless as she stared at the aftermath of the incredible events of the evening, and appeared in a semi-catatonic state much to the rising concern of Misao and Megumi. The latter leaned in and looked deep into Kaoru's eyes, as if she were examining her and then frowned as she made her inquiry.

"Kaoru, I want you to tell me. Did he….?" She sought a delicate way to ask about what had happened but Kaoru shook her head, clutching her shoulders and shivering, her woeful manner answering the question.

At that moment, the EMTs came to the trio and one said gently but firmly, "Miss, we really should take you to the hospital, to have you checked out."

Megumi nodded vigorously. "He's right, Kaoru. You need to have a doctor see you to make sure you're all right." She pulled the unresponsive girl up and pushed her into the rear of the ambulance and then climbed in beside her, much to the surprise of the EMTs.

One opened his mouth to say something but Megumi flashed a brilliant smile and said, "I'm a med student and I'd like to accompany my friend to the hospital if you don't mnd." She gave an appeal with her sherry eyes wide and pleading and the two men melted like butter.

"Of course you may." One fellow smiled as he told his colleague to close the doors but Misao protested as she too jumped inside.

"Hey, she's my friend too. I'm going with you."

Both EMTs exchanged glances and then shrugged and closed the doors for the trip to the ER. . . .

………………………………………………………………………………

The interrogation room of the main station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police was a dark and dank chamber, in the lower bowels of the cement building, lit only by one lone hanging light. The atmosphere was raw since the room was subterranean, adding to the overall psychological effect to make the suspect talk.

The door opened and a uniformed police officer led a sullen Kenshin inside and pushed him down into a chair where he uncuffed him and then turned and left, closing and locking the heavy door. Once by himself, Kenshin sat ramrod straight, his features impassive but his eyes burned in a lavender-amber tint as he pictured the event in the alley over and over.

That rat bastard. How dare he touch my Kaoru with his filthy, vile hands and mouth, pushing her and taking her in the garbage, defiling her so. Killing him was right, in fact it was too good for him, if I could I'd like to drag him back from the afterlife and do it again, only this time slow and painful, making sure he suffered the way she's suffered.

His brooding thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Saito sauntered in, followed by his partner, Okura. Both came over and studied him as he just stared ahead, scowling.

Saito smirked as he remarked, "Well, well look who's here. Chopping a guy's head off is one helluva way to celebrate your new kendo crown, eh Himura?" He lit a cigarette and blew the smoke in Kenshin's face, the latter glaring at him through the blue haze while Saito leaned indolently against the wall smoking.

Okura opened a file sighed, and pointed out, "Yeah, chopping off the head of one Asakura Tobei, with an antique katana none the less." He sat down across from Kenshin and added, "Not my usual type of homicide case, I admit. So what happened?"

Kenshin remained unresponsive and still, his eyes hooded and staring. Okura shrugged and said, "Okay. Well, then here's how it is. Your fingerprints are all over the hilt, and Tobei's blood is all over the blade of the sword. Right now you're looking at an open and shut case of second degree murder, depending on the Kamiya girl's story."

Kenshin looked at him coldly and said, "Fine. I already said I killed him to the cops that brought me in. So let's just leave it at that."

Saito snorted, "Sorry Himura, it's not that easy. We found out a little something about the late Asakura Tobei you might find interesting." He finished the cigarette and crushed it out with his foot.

Okura sighed again and continued, "According to our undercover narcotics forces Asakura Tobei was a drug dealer for Wu Heishin, operating thoughout the university. Heishin is one of the top smugglers from Singapore to Japan of heroin and opium, directly tied to the Honshu yakuza. And Asakura was also Heishin's cousin. You understand the situation here?"

Kenshin did not move a muscle but closed his eyes and replied flatly, "Yeah."

Okura leaned forward and asked again, "So now tell me. What really happened tonight that led to you killing Tobei in that alley, Himura?"

Kenshin opened his eyes and began, "We were all celebrating me winning the championship at Guido's when Kaoru got up to go to the john. When she didn't come back soon, I began to worry, especially after what happened at the river a few days ago. I went looking for her and found the rear door to the alley open, so I got suspicious and began to look for her out there. I checked one side of the alley and backtracked then I saw it." His face showed his fury coming to the surface again as his eyes narrowed to amber slits.

Okura's eyes were riveted on him as he bade, "Go on."

Kenshin's scowl deepened as he continued in a gutteral tone, "He had her over in a pile of garbage by the dumpster, on top of her like a dog on a bitch as she just lay there helpless so I took my sword and lopped off his head. And if he wasn't so close to Kaoru, I would've lopped off a hell of a lot more."

Saito and Okura both exchanged glances as Okura ventured another question. "Let me ask you this. Have you ever seen Asakura before or did you just act on impulse when you saw your girlfriend in trouble?"

Kenshin glared at Okura and said stonily, "If you're asking if I had a thing going on with him, the answer is not officially. But the guy has been theatening Kaoru for a while, so he'd been asking for it."

"And you gave it to him," Saito finished matter-of-factly, his lupine eyes staring right into the amber orbs of his kendo adversary.

Kenshin met his glare unflinchingly. "Yeah. And you know what? I'd do it again for what he did to her."

His interest piqued Okura leaned in and asked, "What exactly did he do to her besides allegedly raping her tonight?"

Kenshin said cryptically, "He's been threatening her for quite a while." He shot a significant glance at Saito and added, "Right, ookami?"

Okura looked over at his partner who nodded as he injected, "Asakura had gone to the Kamiya dojo during the memorial for Kamiya Koshijiro and tried to attack Kamiya Kaoru but I saw him nab her and drag her out by the storehouse. Since she was a member of my kendo team and a woman, as team captain I felt it was my duty to make sure she was all right. So I followed them and…convinced him to let her go."

The austere countenence of Okura cracked a smirk as he ascertained the way his partner might have 'convinced' Tobei to release Kaoru. "Yeah, I bet you did, partner."

All innocence Saito shrugged as he said, "I was off duty at the time." He smirked and Okura shook his head with a chuckle.

Irked by the private joke and still annoyed by the fact that Saito had been there to rescue Kaoru instead of himself that time, Kenshin was in a foul mood as he snapped, "Okay, so now you know Tobei tried to get to Kaoru before and Saito stopped him. So he tried again tonight and this time I wasted him. Case closed."

Okura shook his head. "Sorry Himura, but like Saito said, it's not that easy. Now, depending on what your girl tells us, we've got justifiable homicide, which makes things better for you with us. But since Askaura was tied to Honshu you now have become a marked man."

"Meaning..?"

Saito lit another cigarette and exhaled a puff as he replied, "Meaning that having bumped off a family member of the Honshu yakuza you now are officially on their hit list, with a big, fat bullseye on your ass. Every assassin in their arsenal will be hunting for you."

Kenshin's eyes did not flicker nor did he flinch as he asked, "So what happens now?"

Okura sighed as he replied, "Well, for tonight at least, you can stay here in the lock up. Your father in Kyoto has been contacted and he's sending a lawyer to attend your arraignment tomorrow and post your bail after charges are dropped. After that, we're got to figure out a way to keep you alive. Based on what your girlfriend says, you should be in the clear because of Asakura's being a suspect in another case and his ties to the Honshu. Because this case is now be linked with a huge drug bust we were in the middle of because we had Asakura Tobei under a microscope and before you killed him, we were building a case to put him and his cousin Heishin away."

Kenshin remarked "So beside being a rapist the sleaze turned out to be a drug dealer on campus. Great." He glanced at the wolf and asked, "And you were aware of all this?"

Nodding, Saito said, "I was watching him at the university to see how his operation worked, who his runners were, his contacts, etcetera. He's got some kid working for him as his delivery boy, but he's hard to pin down." He drew on his cigarette and then continued, "And we also had him under surveillance on a hunch I had when you and Kamiya were shot at the other day."

"Hunch?"

Saito took another drag before he replied, "Aa. Based on his attack on Kamiya the night of her father's memorial, I figured he may be the one taking pot shots at you. So I searched his vehicle before it was impounded. And I found an automatic AK 47 rifle with scope behind the driver's seat and several spent shell casings on the passenger seat and floor." He finished the smoke and crushed the butt out on the floor.

"Son of a--, so it was him shooting at us," Kenshin said, livid. His eyes now had a red tint to the amber color, making him appear like an angry jungle predator. He smashed his fists on the table with a violent curse.

Okura and Saito exchanged a look as Okura stated, "Yeah well everything is moot as we are now in a whole new ball game. And since you killed Asakura, Heishin and his buddies in Honshu will be gunning for you. So after your arraignment and the charges are dropped we'll have to make you disappear."

Indifferently Kenshin just nodded as he absorbed everything yet had but one chilling thought If they'll be after me then…..oh no, Kaoru……

Meanwhile, at Tokyo General ER Kaoru sat silently in an examining room, cleaned up and wearing an oversized johnnycoat. Her university kendo uniform, stiff with Tobei's dried blood, was sticking out of a trash barrel, and her eyes focused dully on the clothing as her thoughts dwelled upon the night and its events.

My kendo uniform. I guess it's ruined with all that blood all over it…what a waste. She got up and padded over to the barrel to look at the bloody garments more closely when a knock on the closed door sounded and Megumi entered, concern in her sherry eyes as she approached Kaoru.

"Kaoru?" she asked uncertainly. "How are you?"

Kaoru was almost natural as she said casually, "I was just seeing my kendo uniform all ruined and thinking what a shame I can't use it again. I mean, it would be nearly impossible to get all this blood out, don't you agree?" Absently, she fingered the cloth made hard by the blood.

Megumi nodded as she felt a rising sense of fear in Kaoru's manner and the way she was acting which was quite unusual for a woman who was just raped. Denial was not uncommon in a victim of a sexual assault but it was as if Kaoru was not attacked at all, and that frightened the med student most. She leaned close and examined Kaoru for other signs of emotional trauma as the latter continued staring blankly at the refuse can.

The door opened again and the doctor entered, a middle aged woman who recognized Megumi immediately. "Takani-kun, it's strange to see you here."

Megumi bowed deeply in respect. "Satsuki-sensei, I'm here with my friend." She reached back and took hold of Kaoru's arm to bring her forward. "She was attacked tonight."

The doctor Satsuki consulted the chart and nodded, "Hmmm, I see. She was raped." She leaned in and gazed at Kaoru, speaking gently but firmly, "Kamiya-san, I'm Satsuki-hakase, a gynocological resident here at the hospital and I want to examine you. So have a seat, onegai."

Megumi guided Kaoru to sit on the examination table and pushed her slowly down so she could recline for the doctor to perform a thorough examination. Kaoru complied mechanically as if she were a wind-up doll, buried deep behind the safety of her wall, away from the horrors of reality.

The doctor donned a pair of examination gloves and said, "Now, Kamiya-san, I need you to allow me to do a pelvic exam, the police report requires we do that." She came closer to take hold of Kaoru's legs but as she did it was as if Kaoru burst out of the stronghold in her mind. The girl shook her head and pulled away as she sat up.

"Iie, iie. I don't need you to do that!" Kaoru raised her voice in alarm, the first sign of distress that she had shown since the ordeal in the alley. Megumi's face showed dismay as she saw the conflict arise.

She tried to push her back down as she said soothingly, "Calm down, she isn't going to hurt you---,"

Kaoru pushed her away as she said irritably, "I know that. I'm just trying to say I don't need a pelvic exam."

Satsuki-sensei insisted, "But Kamiya-san, since you've been raped--,"

Kaoru cut her off. "That's what I'm trying to tell you. I wasn't raped. Kenshin killed Tobei before he could go any further."

"Nani?" Megumi was incredulous as she pointed out, "But Kaoru, I asked you and you seemed like he had."

Kaoru shook her head vigorously. "Iie, iie." She got up from the table and clutching her arms she relayed, "Tobei dragged me to the dumpster and pushed me down and was about to… but I passed out. Then when I woke up, I was covered in blood and Tobei's body was without his head. And Kenshin was standing there with his sword out and blood all over him."

There was a pause as Satsuki-sensei said, "Maybe you should be telling this to the police. But in the meantime, let me check you out just to be sure, you've got some bruises on your neck." She reached and touched a purplish splotch on Kaoru's neck, which caused her to flinch.

Megumi agreed, "She's right, you have a few bruises, Kaoru. He must've hurt you in some way."

But Kaoru was unconcerned as she looked right at Megumi and asked, "Where's Kenshin? Where did he go, what's happened to him?" Her eyes were wide and frantic as she grabbed the med student's arms in desperation.

"He was taken in by the police, as far as I know."

At that news Kaoru became even more distressed and she went to the trash to fish out her bloodied uniform, much to the dismay of Megumi and the doctor.

The doctor came and pulled the ruined garments from the distraught young woman. "Kamiya-san, calm down. What are you planning to do with these clothes?"

Kaoru looked at her incredulous as she replied, "What else? I'm going to get dressed."

Megumi shook her head. "Iie, Kaoru. You can't wear those again, they're ruined."

Kaoru whirled on her and snapped, "Then what do you propose I wear? I'm getting out of here and going to the police station to see Kenshin and nobody's going to stop me!."

The heated exchange was interrupted by a soft knock on the exam room door and it opened to admit Misao, carrying a totebag that Kaoru recognized as a bag she used for shopping or the beach. "Hi Kaoru-chan, I got your car and used it to go back to the apartment to get some clean clothes for you. Megumi told me you needed them."

She handed it to her friend and Kaoru opened and saw underthings, a pair of jeans, clogs, a T-shirt, and sweater. She gave Misao a grateful smile. "Arigatou, Misao-chan."

Satsuki-sensei sighed in impatience as she said firmly. "Fine." She gestured to the examination table and added, "Now, Kamiya-san if you'll let me finish examining you, I can sign the discharge paper and you'll be able to leave."

"Okay." Kaoru sighed in acquiescence and sat back down so the doctor could finish her task. The sooner the exam was done, the sooner she could get to where Kenshin was. . . .

Back at Police Headquarters, Kenshin was just led into a cell by an officer in the solitary section of the lockup for safety purposes. The regular lockup had several minor yakuza members so Okura decided to take no chances. With the way the grapevine on the streets worked, especially with the yakuza news, reports about Tobei's gory demise was sure to be spreading like wildfire and Kenshin was certain to already have a price on his head. So since he was needed to be alive to be arraigned the decision had been made to put him into protective custody.

Once inside, the redhead strode over and sullenly took a seat on a cot as the iron bars slammed shut and as he left the guard said in a monotone, "The lieutentant'll be in to talk to ya soon."

Kenshin grunted in a noncommital fashion and sat in quiet contemplation, his mind trying to come up with future contingency plans for his and Kaoru's safety as he heard the heavy outer door close, coming up with just one viable solution. But a commotion outside, muted by the strong portal caught his attention and he heard the unmistakable baritone of Sagara Sanosuke.

"Hey pal, open up the damned door. They said out front we could see him." In spite of the grim circumstances Sano's belligerent tone brought a grin onto Kenshin's lips as he rose to meet them. He had only a moment when the door swung open, allowing Sano and Aoshi into the outer area of the cell. The two young men came to the bars and greeted their friend.

"Man, they really got you on ice here." Sano's observation was punctuated by a long low whistle. "But I guess considering you beheaded a guy, it's only right."

Aoshi nodded as Kenshin came to grasp the bars, his face dark with worry. "Never mind me, Sano how's Kaoru? Where is she?"

"Relax, man. I just called the hospital and talked to Megumi. She's a little shaken up but fine. Turns out you wasted Tobei before he could get far and she wasn't raped after all."

"Hmmmm." Kenshin was thoughtful as he digested the information so he didn't rape her, I got to her in time He skewered Sano with a steady stare and asked, "Is she really okay?"

"Megumi said she was uptight about you," Sanosuke informed him.

Kenshin sighed as he said glumly, "She shouldn't worry about me. As a matter of fact considering what went down tonight, now she'd probably be better off without me in her life." He looked off into the distance, frowning.

Sano and Aoshi both looked dubious and were startled as another commotion sounded outside, this time with familiar and decidedly feminine voices, one stridently demanding to be let in. Aoshi said in his usual deadpan manner, "Looks like she doesn't feel that way."

The heavy door burst open and Kaoru stormed in, followed by Megumi and Misao with the guard and Saito both. Undaunted, Kaoru pushed her way to the cell bars and Kenshin, the two instantly oblivious to the others who were immediately urged out by Saito.

"Kenshin, are you okay?" Her eyes were wide with worry and she grasped the bars while he laced his fingers with hers through the bars.

"I'm fine koibito, don't worry," Kenshin reassured her with a smile. His eyes clouded with concern and he added, "I'm worried about you though, are you okay?"

Kaoru nodded as she said, "He never touched me,"

"Yeah, I know." The redhead turned away averting his eyes. "I murdered him."

"To protect me," she said softly.

"It doesn't matter," Kenshin insisted firmly. "The fact is, I murdered Tobei. And if I were to do it over, I would kill him again." He released her hands and began to pace as he went on in a tortured voice.

"I saw him defiling you, on top of you like a stinking, rutting pig and everything went red. My dark side came out and I wanted to end his life, the desire to kill was overpowering." He turned and came forward, grabbing the bars as he continued.

"Kaoru, you saw my dark side and you know how it changes me when it takes over. Tonight I-I become someone else and I swear aka-chan, I felt like I lost my soul. It scares the hell out of me."

Kaoru said softly, "The fact that you say this proves you didn't."

Kenshin shook his head as he said, "I'm not sure that's true now."

She laid her hands on his gently. "Oh Kenshin."

He sighed, "Aka-chan, onegai listen to me. I'm going to be arraigned tomorrow."

"I know. Saito and the other officer need me to make a statement after I leave you."

Kenshin nodded. "And so I'm asking, as a favor to me, don't come to court. Stay away, Kaoru."

Her sapphire eyes widened with dismay. "Kenshin-anata, you can't be serious. Of course I'm going." But she was shocked at the vehemence of his response.

"Kuso, I said don't come and I mean it!" he snapped, pulling his hands away abruptly. He turned his back on her and said roughly, "Not only that, you need to stay away from me from now on, for your own good. So you'd better just leave here now and forget all about me."

Kaoru visibly trembled as the words hit her like individual, jarring blows. Her eyes welled up and a single jewelled tear made its way down her ivory cheek, thinking she was in a nightmare. This can't be happening.

"Kaoru onegai," he finished quietly. "Don't make me say things to hurt you more than I already have."

"K-Kenshin," she stammered as the tears flowed in earnest but he said no more and did not turn around. However, used to rejection all her life from those she loved, Kaoru took the message and turned to the door walking slowly, her heart breaking with the knowledge that this was the last she would see of him as she opened the heavy steel door. But before she exited she had one last thing to say…

"Kenshin, I want you to know something. No matter what you did, have done, or ever would do I love you and will always love you. Nothing will ever change that."

Kenshin still stood with his back to her as she finally took her leave, the door closing with a loud bang and he flinched at the sound of closure. Alone now, he went to the cot and sat down weeping bitterly. Forgive me, watashi no koishii Kaoru….

……………………………………………………………………….

The next day was the arraignment, and Kenshin was present in the courtroom, clad in a clean change of clothes, courtesy of Sanosuke, who had retrieved his belongings from both the dojo and apartment. He had them stored in his car, waiting for the outcome of the arraignment, bringing some to Kenshin for court. And as he requested, Kaoru was not in atttendance, for which he was relieved as he was sure that yakuza members were present and watching and he dis not want them to see that she was his woman.

The attorney Hiko sent, Ikari Kuzoburo was seated beside him as the waited for the case to be dismissed, as was explained to them by Officer Okuro due to Tobei having been under investigation for alleged drug running. And when the judge heard the statement Kaoru had given about Tobei's threats and attacks toward her, he formally dropped the charges. Afterwards Kenshin and Sano met with Saito and Okura to discuss the next move. Making sure they were not being followed or watched, the foursome entered Okura's dark sedan.

Okura pointed out, "Now we gotta come up with a way for you to disappear to throw the dogs off the scent. Heishin and the Honshu syndicate aren't fools and they will be hot on your trail, and those close to you. So you'd better talk to your girlfriend."

At those words Kenshin scowled as he bit out. "That won't be necessary. I broke up with her yesterday." His expression did not invite further discourse so Okura left it alone…

But that was not the case with Sanosuke who did a double take and grabbed Kenshin by his shirt collar, shaking him like a mongrel. "What the hell did you say?"

Kenshin was unruffled as he said dourly, "You heard me."

"Yeah, and I still can't freakin' believe it," Sano said, dropping him. "So what the hell is the matter with you baka, the way you've been talkin' lately about Jou-chan I figured she was The One."

Kenshin said nothing as Saito sighed impatiently and ordered, "Let's can the soap opera and get back to business. Himura, we need for you to go underground so we can make it seem like you disappeared. And Tori-atama there came up with a great idea."

Sano glared at the lupine cop and said, "Yeah. I got this friend Tsukioka Tsunan who's an artist and he has a beach house in a very secluded area of Choshu, up on some of the rocky coast that's not accessable, at least not easily. I've asked him if you can stay there temporarily and he agreed."

Kenshin scanned the three and asked, "So when did this get decided?"

Okura replied, "Last night after all your friends visited you."

Sano added, "Yeah, I had Aoshi take the girls home and then I talked to Okura and Saito and they thought it was a good idea."

Kenshin sighed and asked, "So when is this going to happen?"

"Soon as we're finished here." Sano looked at the two officers and added, "I got all your gear in the trunk of my car and Tsunan gave me the keys so whenever you're ready…,"

Okura and Saito exchanged a glance and Okura stated, "We're done for now. But we'll be in touch."

Without a further word, Kenshin and Sanosuke exited the vehicle. . . .

The drive from the courthouse to Choshu was about an hour, in heavy traffic and in dead silence between the two men who had been friends since school days. The grim circumstances that created the chasm was like a thick, impeneatrable wall that kept Kenshin and Sano silent the entire way to the beach house. Sanosuke had the road on which to concentrate but Kenshin kept reliving the parting with Kaoru over and over and each time, the pain struck his heart like a flaming arrow. His mind knew no rest but yet his resolve became ironclad, he would do whatever was necessary to keep her safe…

Even if it meant breaking her heart….or his own.

The red Corolla turned down a tree-lined dirt road that looked that it had not been traveled in centuries, throwing up clouds of dust as it crept along and stopped before a rather rundown looking house that was built on the lands edge of a rocky cliff, waves crashing against them in an ocean rhythm. Large deciduous trees surrounded it and obscured it from all sides but the one facing the sea, making it a perfect hideaway.

Sano pulled close to the dwelling, made of weathered wood slats that were whitened with salt, having been exposed constantly to the sea air. He killed the motor and spoke for the first time since they were in the police car.

"Well, here we are. Home sweet home at least for a little while."

Kenshin said nothing as he stared sullenly ahead, his eyes a frosty blue. Sano glanced at him and sighed, "Let's go get your stuff and go inside."

"Hmmm," was the only response as Sano shrugged and opened the car door to exit….

Over in Tokyo, on the outskirts of the university campus, a very fashionable apartment building, a bit better then the average student housing unit is where a dark colored limosine with dark windows pulled up. The rear door opened and Wu Heishin stepped out and approached the door of the unit numbered 3, withdrew a key from his pocket and inserted it in the door to unlock it and let himself in.

Once inside, Wu closed the door and switched on the track lights, illuminating the modernly furnished apartment, with leather and chrome, immaculate and expensive looking even for a young male college student. He scanned the area casually, and spotting a chrome and glass wet bar, went over to reach for a bottle of Absolut Vodka and a tumbler to pour a drink when there was the sharp click of a gun cocking.

"Don't move," an adolescent male voice growled. "Or I'll blow your freaking head off."

Heishin finished pouring and lifted the glass to his lips to take a sip, ignoring the surly teen with white hair, standing there with a 9mm automatic pointed right at him. He knocked back the rest of the drink and then said pleasantly, "I don't think you're that dumb." He then got up and with his sunglasses still in place, he said, "You must be Enishi."

The youth did not waver and replied shortly, "Yeah, that's right. Who the hell are you?"

Heishin answered, "I'm Tobei's next of kin, his cousin Wu. You hear what happened last night?"

Sullen, Enishi nodded, "Yeah."

Actually, one of the other runners, a guy named Ito had been at Guido's last night stopping in for a drink just after the incident and did not see what happened but was told by a bartender that the top kendoist on the university team, Himura Kenshin had gotten ito a fight with Tobei and chopped his head off with a katana. Enishi had been enraged and shocked by the news involving yet another person close to him whose life was ended by the redheaded bastard and his hunger for revenge intensified. He had decided to get his gear together and was just trying to figure out what he was going to do when Heishin arrived. He lowered the gun and still wary, sat in a bar chair.

Heishin sat again, beside the youth and said, "Tobei told me that you were working for him. Told me you were a hard worker."

"Yeah, what of it?"

Heishin lowered the shades and peered at the boy over them. "He worked for me, you know. And I was just thinking that you might want to come to Shanghai and work for me, now that he's gone."

Enishi was intrigued but still suspicious. "Doing what?"

"Same thing you've been doing, delivering orders, etcetera. Only I can train you so you can advance." He gestured to the gun, still in Enishi's hand. "Even teach you to use that."

Enishi lifted the gun and scoffed, "I already know how to use it, man."

Heishin remarked, "But not well." And with those words, he moved lightning fast and disarmed the boy with little effort. He chuckled as he pointed the gun and said, "Without breaking a sweat."

Enishi's teal eyes widened as he found himself staring down the barrel of the gun he had held just seconds ago. Cold sweat drops of fear formed on his face as his heart pounded, feeling an impending sense of doom. But Heishin chuckled again and flicked the safety on as he gestured with the 9mm.

"Relax, kid. I'm not gonna shoot you." Heishin slipped the gun in his waistband. He examined Enishi with a speculative gleam as he commented, "You know, I like you. You remind me of me at your age, all rebelious and mad at the world. So how about you come with me and I give you a chance to make some real bread." He got up and paced a bit as he added, "And Tobei told me you got someone you want to pay back for the death of your sister, and now so do I. So how about we help each other do that, huh?" He then asked, "Where's your stuff?"

Enishi tossed his head toward a small hallway that led to the bedrooms and bath. "Back there. I was just getting ready to split before you came."

"Great. So grab it and meet me out front in my car, Enishi." Heishin headed for the door and said, "I'll be waiting," before he let himself out.

Enishi got up, his mind whirling with the bizarre twist of fate that he had been dealt in the stretch of a day. He headed for the room that was his while he stayed with Tobei, picked up the duffle bag with his belongings and headed out. . . .

NEXT…..STIPPLE…..ENDED WITH A CRY