Disclaimer: *Puts her 'Queen of the World' crown on and sits on throne* Yup, ^_^, I'm special. Rurouni Kenshin somehow just became all mine. *All characters look a bit scared, except for Aoshi whose expression doesn't change* What? *Is kicked off throne and thrown out of the throne room* Eep. Ouch. I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Ouch. Ooh, do I still get the rest of the world?

A/N: None really, for once. Definitely will be by the end of this chapter though ^^ Oh. Yeah. There is a fight scene in this one. So violence would be my only warning then, if you're one of those really squeamish people. Which in that case, I really don't recommend you watching the OAV "Trust and Betrayal". (Hehe, when I first watched that, I was giving Cirya rants about how bleeding like that would be impossible for humans. I think I caught about two names- maybe Kenshin and Tomoe; Hiko didn't stick very well-, and I had an odd obsession with the fishies they showed for about 2.5 seconds when Kenshin is talking with Katsura. Just don't ask…. ^_^) And, er, scratch the thing about no authors' notes…

"JOU-CHAN?!" Sano exclaimed.

"You jerk! You know him?!" she gestured at Battousai.

"I'm guessing you two don't like each other very much?"

"He kidnapped me! Am I supposed to like him? And I should tell Megumi that—"

"Sano, what did you come running in here for?" Kenshin cut in, "I'm sure it wasn't to visit with her," Kaoru glared at him while Sano's face straightened.

"They have the one you were supposed to get. Weasel Girl,"

"Misao?" Kaoru exclaimed.

Sano nodded, and Battousai seemed to be in thought.

"Do you know where they're keeping her?"

Sano shook his head. "I couldn't get that. I only know she's somewhere at her father's house, and that he's making the deal tonight. And, that they know you have the wrong one,"

Kenshin swore under his breath. "Then let's go. We can't let them get her,"

"Um, what about Jou-chan? I don't think you should leave her here…"

Battousai raised a brow, but quickly thought about it and said, "No. I don't. That means she'll have to go with us,"

Before Kaoru even took a breath, he had wrenched his katana out and placed its tip at a deadly spot on her neck, making her stumble and fall backwards.

"First, girl," he started, "if you do anything stupid, I will kill you. Second; if you say anything about whatever you see tonight to anyone else, I'll kill you. Clear?"

She gave him a limp nod as he re-sheathed his blade. Sano walked over and helped her up. "This all she's got to wear?" he questioned. She nodded again.

Kenshin let out an exasperated sigh. "She can wear one of my coats!" As he hurriedly went to go get one, Kaoru didn't think it a good idea to remind him that she didn't have any shoes either. Kenshin came back with a simple, black leather coat, and judging by the specks of dust at the top, he hadn't worn it in a while. It was a bit big, like the rest of her clothes, but it was better than nothing.

Kenshin had on his own leather coat, and his katana at his side. Kaoru noted that it was the only weapon he was carrying.

"Um, wouldn't it be a good idea for you to carry something more like a gun? I really doubt everyone will leave theirs at home and bring their swords just for you. And I know there'll be more than one person there—"

"It makes it more interesting," he replied, now suddenly grinning, "when your opponent really believes they have a chance,"

"You are psycho," she muttered as they walked out the door.

* * *

Misao didn't know where she was. Everything around her was dark, and she had no idea if her eyes were just closed or it was the lighting. All of her limbs were completely numb, and she wasn't sure if she could move or not either.

How long had it been since she had been standing with Soujiro? It seemed like an eternity had passed. A black car stood out in her mind.

Oddly, she felt a jerking motion and realized she was being pulled to her feet. A tiny prick of pain. A needle? She didn't have time to think on it; she was unconscious again only several seconds later.

* * *

Rain pelted down on the three of them as they went to Kenshin's car. He had parked it behind the building, a somewhat secretive spot, but not very good for walking to in the dark and rain. Any other time, Kaoru would have been thrilled at getting to leave his apartment, but in this weather, she could hardly see.

And it wasn't that she didn't want to help her cousin. She hoped with everything she could think of that Misao was okay. But at the moment, there was absolutely nothing she could do. It was even her fault her cousin was where she was. Misao was the one who was supposed to be getting protected, if she could call it that. Kaoru started to wonder what she was going to do when they got there. Tag behind Kenshin and Sano? She definitely didn't want to sit in the car. She sighed. Kaoru hated feeling so…so useless. She didn't even have a weapon.

Her thoughts were broken by Sano's complaining as they found the car. "Kenshin, there were at least 300 other parking spots in the front. Why the heck did you park over here?"

When Kenshin pushed the 'unlock' button on his key chain, she got in, not hearing his reply. She was shaking from the cold water that now drenched her clothes, and having only socks on her feet wasn't helping. She could tell it was going to be a long night.

"I think I know where they'll put her at," she said, breaking now a few minutes' awkward silence. If it would have been Sano driving, he would have slammed on the breaks right then in the middle of the road.

"You do?" he exclaimed.

"In the basement, there's an almost hidden door that leads to a small meeting room. Misao used to tell me about my uncle going there with some of his men,"

"See, what'd I tell you, Kenshin?" Sano said, gloating to his friend. Battousai only raised a brow.

"He might be there. It isn't for sure,"

* * *

The car stopped. Battousai reached over into the compartment on the dashboard and pulled out two knives and handed them to Kaoru.

"Be careful. I don't want to have to come save you," Then he reached again, and pulled out a small handgun. "You might as well take this too; you're not going to be able to get through anyone with just a knife,"

She took the weapon, setting the two knives in her lap. The first one was small, and she managed to fit it in a pocket, and the second knife she put through the drawstrings on her sweatpants, since she didn't have a belt. The gun she kept in her hands, hoping against hope she wouldn't have to use it. Being honest with herself, she wasn't sure if she could. Taking a life went against everything she'd ever been taught. The whole sword technique her father had instructed her in had been based on protecting; not killing.

* * *

Soujiro was somewhat surprised to see Himura there. And especially with the girl. Did he trust her not to escape? But then again, with him watching her, Soujiro doubted she'd get very far.

But whose side was Battousai on? Soujiro only wanted information….and to get Misao out. And he knew he didn't need a confrontation between the two of them. The effects of whatever injection he'd been given three days ago when Misao was taken were still wearing off. And though, compared to almost anyone else, his skills were near-perfect, he felt slower than normal then. He reminded himself to find out whatever that blasted drug had been…

* * *

"Wouldn't just cutting off the power and then going in be easier?" Kaoru said as she watched Kenshin pry off a window with the tip of a knife.

"No; it would be just as easy for them to leave then, and they'd know something was wrong." She was amazed at how quietly he was doing this but she doubted it was the first time. He'd had years of experience.

When the window was completely off, he looked at Sano, who started to leave.

"Good luck!" he said.

Kaoru frowned. "Where's he going?"

"Did you think we'd all go in the same way? He's going to the other side of the house,"

With that, Battousai effortlessly climbed through the now-open window, his katana never hitting the side. Once in the room, he bent down to help Kaoru in. Taking her hands, he pulled her up.

His amber eyes meeting her own blue, they stood there for a moment. Finally, he asked, "Are you ready?"

She gave him a weak smile, "I guess,"

"Just stay out of the way, and you'll be fine,"

A/N: To everyone who reviewed: THANK YOU!!!! And sorry this chapter was shorter than the rest. It's sort of cut in half because I'm *really* tired now, and if I type anymore it's going to make even less sense than any of this has. And hope this chapter wasn't as bad as I thought…It's late…and my brain is fried from a week of school….

ReinaQueen ~ Hehe, thanks!!

nee-chan() ~ Thank you! *g*, me too. I felt sorry for him being all by himself ^_^

crasyducky ~ Aww.. thank you! And I'm glad you think so ^^

Luna ~ Thank you, and I'm gonna try *g*

aglaia102 ~ Thanks! Aww, that's okay ^_~

unique-starfish ~ Thanks!! And I'll try! Heh, I know what you mean.

tesuka- chan ~ Thank you!! Lol, I just I can figure out who exactly Soujiro is going to be in this. And I know, not much of Aoshi yet ::CB starts crying about her Aoshi-sama, then quickly straightens back up :: Obsessed? ::puts on angelic face :: Who, me?

Crystal ~ Hehehe!!

CB: ::Checks Crystal's pulse, then glares at Battousai:: I'm blaming it on you, Fuzzy-sama, if anything happens

Battousai: …

Crystal: ::Starts to wake up::

CB: Yay! ::innocent face:: But it's still Fuzzy-sama's fault…

Battousai: Quit calling me that!

Crystal: But you are!

:: The three of them continue arguing about this while Kenshin shows back up ::

Kenshin: Oro…

CB: ::blinks:: Where did you come from?

Thankies, Crystal!! ^_^ :: Gives her a Battousai plushie as a present ::

CB: ::Turns back to real Battousai and points to Crystal's present:: Ha! Proof! You are fuzzy!

Cirya~ Helllloo Miss Thing-chan!! ::Dies laughing:: T….HE LOOKS LIKE THE PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY!!! Er, just so you all know, I didn't *really* just say that. Not that it isn't true or anything… ::Gets bunches of odd looks from confused readers:: Er, uh, just don't ask… And thank you ^_^ Well, uh, see you in, oh, about 6 hours? ::Runs and hides from the terror of being in a 'cutest couple' award…:: Eeep….

Chaosu~ Thank you! And that's okay! Trust me, you really helped quite a bit ^_^ Yup, I hope we can talk again sometime! And I'm glad you liked everything *g*