Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. That would be those lucky people in Japan. I'm just, er, uh *cough* borrowing *coughcough* them…for a little while. *Puts on innocent face* What? You think I'd ever steal or anything like that? Me? Never! *Keeps on smiling and does a Soujiro impression*

A/N: Just a quickie but italics are thoughts and word emphasis, and later on italics in //…// are telepathy.

Chapter 2

When Kaoru awoke, her head was throbbing, and the bruise on the top of her forehead told her it wasn't from the last night's vision. Immediately opening her eyes, she gasped when she realized that this was not Misao's house.

She tried to get up, but the pain in her head hit her like a brick. Deciding to try a bit more slowly, she gradually sat up while rubbing her temples.

"You should lay back down," a cold voice said from behind.

She jerked around, nearly falling off what she found to be a couch. She was in the middle of a muttered, "Thanks," when she looked and saw who it was. The man was standing against the wall, no particular expression on his face. His long red hair was pulled back loosely, revealing the cross-shaped scar on his cheek. Parts of his hair fell in his face, but not enough to hide his glaring amber eyes. She didn't have to think long to recognize who that description fit: the Hitokiri Battousai.

Kaoru remembered Misao telling her about him once. She had figured Aoshi described him to the Oniwabanshuu. That must have been why Misao paid so much attention.

When all of this sunk in, Kaoru started feeling quite lightheaded. She was lying on a couch, injured, weaponless, and helpless, while a bloodthirsty murderer stood less than a yard away. She had no idea where she was or how exactly she'd gotten there, and thinking on it more, she didn't think she wanted to. Remembering the vision from the past night, Kaoru wanted to slap herself. How could she have been so dense? The vision had practically laid everything in front of her. It even showed her Battousai's face! Kaoru no baka!

She groaned in annoyance with herself, but then started to get nervous. She had been so preoccupied with where she was, she hadn't thought about what was going on. She had hardly had time to be afraid, but now she was worried. Why had Battousai not killed her last night? Through her resolve, she was determined not to let him see that. Stupid jerk.

"So, uh, who exactly are you?" Stupid jerk that she was now talking to. Oh well. Better to pretend cluelessness. Gritting her teeth, she sat up to face him.

"You know who I am," So much for that.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're horrible at small talk?" Kaoru was a bit shocked she'd said that, but him standing against the wall like that was unnerving, and anything was better than crying. Whatever happened, she was not going to show him how scared she was right then either.

"I've never really cared," Kaoru was seriously beginning to think that the wall would be better company.

"Well, can you at least tell me your real name?"

"It's Kenshin. Himura Kenshin," She sighed loudly in exasperation, and was sure he was feeling the same thing. Well, if he wouldn't talk, she could still get on his nerves. She silently thanked Misao for this skill.

"So, why did you kidnap me?"

"Because I had orders to, and the rest of that is confidential,"

"Shouldn't you ask me my name?"

"I already know it,"

Kaoru sighed again, "What is it then?"

"Makimachi Misao," Kaoru blinked. Battousai thought she was Misao? How the heck…wait…This might just work out. As long as she didn't have to use Misao's powers, and Kenshin didn't seem to know about them, then everything would be fine. But why did he want Misao?

* * *

Battousai noticed she was gritting her teeth. He didn't know if that was from her headache, or their conversation. He was sure either would be enough though. How long was he expected to keep this girl? If very long he knew one of them would not be alive for very much longer. And the fact that she was a telepath…What was Katsura thinking? The idiot! The cell-phone call that Battousai was to keep her with him didn't help things either.

But Kenshin was jerked out of his thoughts as the room went strangely quiet. All of his attention landed on the girl when he saw that her eyes had changed from bright and sky blue to a very cold silver. She wasn't focussing anymore; she just stared right past him.

"Makimachi?" he said, but she couldn't hear him. He sprinted over to the couch, grabbing her shoulders before she nearly collapsed. Her eyes were still silver, but now, somehow they looked different. They were going colder. And she looked terrified.

* * *

Misao stood by her fathers door. She was already furious at him for making his only daughter schedule an appointment just to speak with him. She knew what his answer would be anyway; he wouldn't care. He never had. Why did she need an appointment for that?

So when the door opened, it took everything she had not to start yelling.

"Otosan?"

"Yes, Musume, what do you want? I'm very busy right now and I don't have time for-"

"I promise, it won't take long," she answered bitterly. "Otosan, something happened to Kaoru!"

"I'm sure your cousin can take care of herself, now look-"

"This is important! She was kidnapped-"

"Misao! I'm busy, go on!"

"KAORU KAMIYA WAS KIDNAPPED BY THE HITOKIRI BATTOUSAI! SHE'S YOUR NIECE!!"

"MISAO! GO AWAY! I don't have time to listen to your stories right now!" Misao's mouth dropped, speechless. How could he think she was lying about something like this? Clenching her fists, she inhaled sharply and walked out the door. She was too confused to even be mad at him now. Her own father didn't trust her; who would?

She wasn't paying attention as she bumped into a boy standing outside the door.

"Watch out," she snapped, then regretted it. He hadn't done anything to her.

"Excuse me, Miss," He didn't seem to notice; he was still smiling like nothing had happened.

"Er, sorry," she muttered quickly, turning to walk away. But in a matter of seconds he had caught up with her.

"Listen," he started. That smile still hadn't left his face. "I didn't mean to listen in or anything back there, but I heard you talking to your father,

Misao raised a brow; she wasn't sure what he was getting at.

"And I think I can help,"

"How?!" She demanded, whirling around and almost shoving him into the wall.

"Ouch! I think I may know how to find Himura-san,"

"Who?"

"Himura-san, the Battousai, and would you mind letting go? This isn't very comfortable," She hadn't realized that she was still holding on to him.

"Oh, uh, sure. So where is he?"

"Well, Miss Makimachi, this might not be the best place to discuss-"

"Then come on, we can drive there while you tell me!" He walked behind her, rubbing the back of his head.

"Wait," she said, turning around again, "What's your name?"

"Seta Soujiro,"

* * *

Kaoru couldn't tell if she was screaming or not. Her own voice was drowned out in all the noise. And the vision wouldn't leave; she was trapped in her own mind. The images were like demons that wouldn't go away, and she felt like she was going crazy.

But there was another voice that was still very faint. It would echo, then die back down. It finally got loud enough for her to hear it. "Misao!"

Who was Misao? It sounded familiar. As the voice echoed more, Kaoru tried to find where it was coming from. Slowly, she opened her eyes again.

Kaoru found herself leaning on the Battousai, him staring intently at her. His hands on her shoulders, she noticed he was why she hadn't fallen over yet.

It took her a few minutes, but she finally understood what she had just seen, and she felt like someone had slapped her. Going numb, she was trying with everything she had not to cry when she looked at Battousai, her eyes begging for help, and whispered,

"They're going to die,"

A/N: Heh, I hope this was a decent cliffhanger. *g* Chocolates to whoever can guess who died in her vision before I post chapter 3. ^_^

aglaia102~ Thanks! Hehe, keep reading…^_^