A/N: Because it ain't the Kamiya dojo if things are peaceful. Also, I am a fan of the creature known as the drama llama. It's name is Tina, and it also responds to Lardass. :)

Big, giant, huge thank you to everyone who is reading, reviewing, and lurking. I love you all, and every single comment that ya'll leave me rocks my whole world.

On a personal note, I ask that everyone kept Joplin, MO in their thoughts and prayers (if you're the praying type). I am a Missouri resident, and yesterday parts of the city of Joplin was COMPLETELY destroyed by a tornado - it hit St. John's hospital, took out a hunk of the building, almost all the windows, part of it caught on fire, and they were saying it might blow up...everyone had to be moved out, and a nurse explained how she watched one man get sucked out of a window. Homes are gone, taken right down to their foundations, and there aren't enough search and rescue teams to get the people who are buried in the rubble of their homes, trapped, with no way out. The neighbors are literally saying, "I know my neighbor is in there, but I can't get them out."

Every thought, every prayer, ever tendril of good energy would be highly appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

"Kenshin!" Sanosuke nearly tears the fusuma off it's rails getting inside Kenshin and Kaoru's room. Kaoru gapes at him, hands hovering in the air in front of her, while Kenshin does the same, fingers still tangled in her hair. Sanosuke is bedraggled, grimy, and blood stained. "Kaoru! I need some help in here!"

"Sanosuke?" Kenshin questions, dropping Kaoru's hair and rising to his feet in one smooth motion that Kaoru quickly follows. "What's wrong?"

"He's bleeding pretty bad," Sanosuke rumbles quickly and with obvious agitation. "This - just come on, I need some help. Katsu's gone to get Dr. Gensai and bring him here."

"Who's bleeding?" Kaoru asks even as she takes up the lantern, following Sanosuke as he guides them to the main room of her - their - home. Kenshin remains a few paces behind them, having taken a moment to grab his sword, which is never far from his hands, and absolutely never out of sight. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Sanosuke brushes the inquiry off without pause - though Kaoru can see that his knuckles are split, and his hair is dark and stiffening with blood, no doubt from a head wound he isn't going to admit to having. "It's the little guy I'm worried about."

"Oh, God," Kaoru whispers in surprise, her feet faltering as one hand rises to her mouth. She darts a look behind her, taking in Kenshin's narrow, tense face as he quickly passes her by.

There is a rather small bundle of rags, dirt, and blood sprawled across the tatami. A bundle that is obviously an under nourished, badly wounded child. Kenshin waves one hand over his shoulder as he sinks onto his knees, leaning over the smaller figure to access the damage.

"Kaoru, bring that light over here." Kaoru is quick to obey him, her heart in her throat as she kneels beside him, holding the light high enough to do some good. Tears spring into her eyes as she takes in the sight of a young boy, gaunt and pale, lips nearly blue, his breath a gurgling rasp deep in his chest.

"Some bastards were beating the shit out of this kid," Sanosuke begins to pace, unable to stand still. "Katsu and I stepped in as soon as we saw it, but they had already done a real number on him. I couldn't just leave him."

"Of course not!" Kaoru reaches out her free hand, gently covering the boy's cheek. He is already feverish, and worry ties her stomach into a hard knot.

"Sanosuke, we need water so we can clean him up." Kenshin gives the order quietly, without looking up. His hands are busy stripping the boy, his eyes growing dark and mean with every inch of abused flesh that he reveals. "We can do that now, before Dr. Gensai and Katsu arrive. Bring bandages, as well. A few of the smaller wounds I can bind myself.

"Get my wakizashi, Kaoru," Kenshin's voice is cold - colder than Kaoru has ever heard it, and there is rage flickering in his yellow eyes. "We're going to have to cut his clothes off."

By the time Dr. Gensai arrives they stripped the boy and lain him a spare futon Kaoru brought out. He is free of the worst of the dirt, his dark head resting in Kaoru's lap as begins to mutter fitfully, moaning as Sanosuke holds his legs down and Kenshin bandages a shallow but freely bleeding slash across his lower thigh.

"Himura-san," Katsu murmurs quietly to Kaoru, resting the tips of his fingers against her shoulder as Dr. Gensai brings out a needle and thread. "Why don't we step outside?"

"No, thank you," Kaoru does not look up, laying one hand across the boy's forehead. "I'm staying with him."

"Jou-chan," Sanosuke half begs, "Come on. You don't need to see this."

"No," Kaoru's voice is firm, brooking no amount of argument. Kenshin looks to her, expressionless, and she gives him the same stubborn glare she gives Sanosuke. "I'm not leaving him."

"Mother," the boy whimpers once, eyes fluttering open, though they do not seem to see anything. "Mother!"

"Shh," Kaoru whispers, bending further over him, as though her body can shield him from the pain. "It's alright."

"Mother!" The child half sobs, and Kaoru's tears splatter onto his grimacing face as the needle pierces the skin of his right side.

Word Count: 764