Chapter Three

Hearing this, the tall man tilted back his head and laughed. His single pale eye narrowed with amusement and he grinned smugly. "You'll kill me this time, eh? Somehow I don't think you'll be able to, little one."

Jade snarled. "Don't call me that!! Only Kenshin is allowed to call me little one!" She glared darkly and crouched into an attack position. Her grip on the sword's hilt was loose; she was prepared for any move that the man would make.

Hidden in the shadows, Sanosuke watched the two fighters prepare themselves. He frowned and his brown eyes narrowed with concern. Finally deciding to interfere with the fight, he started to step out from behind the tree. Suddenly, a man stood in front of him.

"You," Sanosuke snarled, glaring darkly at the taller man. The man smiled at Sano, his narrow eyes crinkled by his smile. Abruptly, the eyes opened and he stared at Sano assessingly. His long bangs shadowed his face slightly, causing him to look even more like a wolf.

"Don't involve yourself in Jade's fight. This is her fight, only she can fight it. If you involve yourself in it, she'd be furious with you." Saito smiled and continued, "And trust me. A furious Jade is a Jade you won't want to meet."

Sano frowned and his glare darkened. "And how would you know about this?"

A twig snapped behind Sano. Quickly, he turned around and discovered that Kenshin had followed Jade too. Smiling softly at Sano, Kenshin said, "Saito knows about Jade's temper because he has been on the receiving end of it many times before."

Sano smiled smugly to himself and asked, "Oh?"

Saito coughed into his fist. "Yes, the Cat and I have met many times before."

Sano blinked and then facefaulted. "Cat? Oi.....what is it with you and giving the girls nicknames? First it was Fox Lady, then it was Raccoon Girl, and now, with Misao, it's Weasel Girl. So Jade's Cat Girl?"

The men's conversation was interrupted by the clang of tempered steel meeting tempered steel. A hiss of pain echoed throughout the forest. The three men turned their attention outward, just in time to see the man's red blood splatter against Jade. The man fell to the ground, dead in an instant. Jade stared down at the man, his blood dripping down her face. Without showing any emotion at all, she swiped her katana downward, making the blood fly off. She sheathed her sword and continued on her way.

"That," Saito began, "is Battousai's little sister. Now you see why she earned the name Tora Tenchi. She is unemotional when she fights. It's kill or be killed. And now, Sano, you see how Himura was when he was the Battousai. Siblings are alike in more ways than one. After all, family ties are closer than blood."

And then Saito disappeared into the shadows once again. Sanosuke glared after him, his hands balled into fists. "Man, Kenshin, I really hate that guy," he growled, watching as the dark policeman faded from site.

Kenshin smiled, watching Sano. "Almost everyone dislikes Saito. He's used to it and he doesn't care anymore. C'mon. Let's go home. Jade deserves some privacy." And with that, the red-headed rurouni walked away, heading back to the dojo.

Sano watched Kenshin leave, then returned his attention back to Jade. Privacy or not....I'm still gonna watch over her. There's something about her that makes you want to find out why she's so sad.....

* * *

Jade wandered deeper into the forest, her eyes still narrowed. She knew that she was being followed. Only this time, she knew who it was. Or, to be more specific, she knew who they were. Sighing, she turned around and called out, "I know you're there, Saito. Stop being a coward and just come out."

Saito walked out of the forest, still shadowed by the darkness caused by the trees' branches and the dimming light. "Still as sharp as ever, I see. It's been a while, Cat Girl."

Jade glared at him, dislike strong and apparent in her eyes. Saito blinked at this and suddenly sneezed three times. "I guess that the superstition is true. Whenever someone doesn't like you, you sneeze three times." He smiled at the smaller girl, but his eyes remained as cold as ever.

Jade raised an eyebrow at him and turned around, ignoring him completely. But Saito, unfazed by her ignoring him, followed her, walking by her side. Realizing that she wouldn't get rid of him so easily, Jade sighed and asked, "So......how's your wife, Saito Hajime?"

Saito blinked and looked down at Jade. She continued walking, paying no attention to him at all. "How did you know about my wife?" the ex-Shinsegumi member asked.

Jade smiled smugly to herself. "You aren't the only one with connections, Wolf. I have friends high up........and in dark places, too."

Continuing, Jade said, "Oh........and if you ever hurt any of my new friends like you hurt Sanosuke that one time........I'll kill you. Slowly and painfully." She looked up at him, and even he, one of the greatest fighters of all time, felt a shiver of fear. Her gray eyes were narrowed, as Kenshin's were when he felt the blood lust or the fighting spirit overtaking him; her eyes were cold, merciless. Saito knew that she would keep her word, even if it killed her.

Clearing his throat once again, Saito replied, "Why the sudden concern for Kenshin's frineds? You don't even know them. A Battousai.....or a Tora Tenshi......has no need for friends."

Jade glared, straightened her green gi, and then struck him upside his head with her katana's scabbard. "Maybe not.....but Kenshin isn't a Battousai any more. He's given up his past. He deserves to have friends. But I.....I am different. My past will never leave me." She smiled up at Saito, but her smile was self-mocking and harsh. "Good day, Saito." And then she walked away, fading into the darkness coming upon them.

Sano watched her leave, leaning against a tree trunk. His eyes darkened and he scuffed a foot against the dirt. Looks like Jade is as protective of us as Kenshin is.....looks like Saito was right, however much I don't want to admit it. Siblings are alike in more ways than one. And then he headed back towards the dojo.

* * *

Several hours later, Jade was hidden in the darkness, leaning against the dojo's front entrance doors. Inside the dojo, she could hear that the group of friends were having a party. She smiled, hearing Misao chew Aoshi out for something or other. Megumi was flirting with Kenshin and Sanosuke, while Kaoru was overreacting and Yahiko was teasing her about it. Jade sighed and her gray eyes darkened with sadness.

Sojiro stepped out of the shadows from across the way and stood behind her. "They sound like they're having a lot of fun, don't you think so, Sojiro?"

He smiled at her. Only this time, his smile was happy. "Yes, they sound like they're having a whole lot of fun! Kenshin and his group are so wonderful, I enjoy being with them so much!"

Jade looked at the swordsman out of the corner of her eye. "Even better than when you were with Shishio? Is it better here?"

Sojiro looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yes, it's better here. But....sometimes.....I'm still so lonely. I'm sure that you'd understand that, don't you, Miss Jade?"

Jade closed her eyes and turned her face up to the night sky. "More than you could ever possibly know."

And then the duo stepped out from the shadows and joined their friends. Laughter rang through the air all night long........but some of it was false.