AUTHOR'S NOTES: OK, to all who have been reviewing this story, especially m@ry, who is usually the first to post her review, thank you all so much. To Artemis, thanks for your great tip, I really appreciate it and your R&Rs too. And this is my first try on this thing so,,,,,,be kind^–^. To Macy, Zackire, Relena Maxwell, Rin, Kasumi Izukawa, nemo and rurouni thank you all for your comments and suggestions. And everyone, please know that even if I don't show it sometimes, I actually thrive on your reviews. Thank you again and I hope you read this fanfic to the end. ^_^ So now, here's chapter seven…….!!!!!



A RIVAL FOR KENSHIN

Chapter VII: Barkley's History



"Move it!" the scarred one among the three assassins said as he pushed Yujiro inside the cave. Yujiro almost stumbled but regained his balance and moved on. They left after they sat him before Barkley. He laughed and said "Now we wait!" "For what?" Yujiro asked himself, let it go knowing he would get the answer later. They sat in silence and Yujiro looked around the cave, noticing that Kaoru was not here. "Where's Kaoru?" he asked Barkley and Barley just smiled menacingly without saying a word.(The truth was, Barkley was growing a bit worried that Dubley had failed him again). After some time, Yujiro cannot be sure how long, the three assassins came in and their leader nodded. "You're not so brave now, are you, boy?" the leader said. Yujiro didn't respond, he didn't hear what he said, he only saw Dubley entering the cave, carrying Kaoru unconscious! He dropped her on the cold cave floor. "Kaoru!" he cried and ran to her. His hands were tied on his back so he couldn't hold her, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Kaoru's chest rise and fall. "Thank God…she's breathing!" he thought.



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Kenshin, halfway through the woods, suddenly felt something was wrong. He had always known if Kaoru was in danger, and this time he felt it pretty bad! Kenshin turned around and without second thoughts headed back to the dojo. As he approached, he saw the door wide open. "Please" he prayed silently, "please be safe……Kaoru." He ran inside and found Sanosuke and a slightly wobbly Yahiko. "Where's Kaoru?" he asked, knowing the answer, still, he had to ask. Both Sano and Yahiko looked away from him. "What happened?" Kenshin asked trying to calm everyone down, including himself. "Well," Sano said, "I was out late drinking with my buddies and I was on my way home when I passed by here and noticed that the door was open. I came in and found this dimwit unconscious on the floor with a bump on his head." Sano said tapping Yahiko on the head. "Hey that hurts you twerp!" Yahiko said, "anyway I woke up because I heard a noise and I didn't even see who knocked me out!" Yahiko bowed slightly, "I'm sorry Kenshin, but whoever it was that got Kaoru it was still my fault. I should've protected her better."



"Yahiko," Kenshin said softly, "it's alright. At least you tried, I…wasn't even here." Sano and Yahiko both looked questioningly at Kenshin. "It's a long story," Kenshin said shaking his head. Our first priority for now is to look for Kaoru." Both men nodded in agreement with Kenshin. Alright, Yujiro asked me to meet him in the woods tonight and if he was meeting with someone else before me, it would probably be in a place near or in those woods. Let's start from where Yujiro and I were supposed to meet, then scout the area outside later if we find nothing." Sano and Yahiko have formed a lot of questions in their minds but for now, they both kept it to themselves knowing that Kaoru is in grave danger and finding her in the least amount of time is essential. The three men hurried to the clearing in the middle of the forest and started to look for any clue.



"Over here!" Kenshin said and Sano and Yahiko both went to where he was standing. "Fresh tracks!" Yahiho exclaimed. "Yeah! It looks like someone went out of his way to make these tracks visible!" Sano said. "It must be Yujiro! Let's go!" Kenshin said following the tracks. "From the looks of it, four people made these tracks. Probably the three ugly–looking guys got hold of Yujiro here!" Yahiko said and both Sano and Kenshin looked at him. "You saw them too?" Sano asked. "Yeah I did see them snooping around the house a couple of times but I forgot to tell you guys 'coz…well…I just forgot OK!" Kenshin understood. Even Sano must've seen them but he kept quiet about it too, because of this matter with him and Kaoru. "I'm sorry," Kenshin said as they kept on running, following the tracks. "I shouldn't have kept you out of this." "That's alright buddy, we know you and Kaoru need some space sometimes" Sano said smiling a little. "Thanks" Kenshin said quietly, almost sadly and Yahiko and Sano looked at each other. Sano shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He couldn't answer Yahiko's questioning look since he himself doesn't know what's going on. Sano looked at Kenshin and thought, "Darn, this is really serious!"



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"You bastard!" Yujiro said and started to get up but Barkley hit him square across his face and Yjuro fell to the ground, his lower lip bleeding. "Now listen to me you stupid brat!" Barkley barked pointing a gun at him, "When you girlfriend there wakes up both of you will sign this marriage contract and you will sign another paper selling me the Kamiya dojo. "Why do you have to marry us?" Yujiro asked Barkley. "Hahahahaha! Why? Look at her! She is nothing but a woman! Women have no real say in this world, so if you sign the contract, there will be less trouble for me. I'd marry her myself if I wasn't already married!" "Alright," Yujiro said, but tell me first why you want the dojo so much." Barkley signaled everyone else in the inner cave to leave.



When they were alone, Barkley said, "My grandfather's grandfather was a great explorer. It had been told that he had traveled to strange and faraway lands. He made maps and recorded his journeys on a journal. He wrote that one day, a storm had thrust upon them and their ship was greatly damaged. Luckily, they came upon an island and they landed on it's shore." Yujiro wasn't that interested in Barkley's family history, but as Barkley talked, he struggled to loosen the ropes on his wrists. Okay, Yujiro may not be interested in the story, but I am and maybe some of you are too so let's continue….where were we? Oh yeah…Barkley went on saying "My grandfather had accumulated lots of treasures from his journeys (Ahem….I think it's just right that we should know, in truth, Barkley's great, great grandfather actually stole these so–called treasures) and he was afraid that his crew might think of stealing it. So as his crew worked hard day and night, my great ancestor scouted the area to see a good hiding spot. Isn't he great!" Barkley said beaming.



Yujiro shook his head, "This is one sick man," he thought. "So…."Barkley went on with his idiotic story, "my great, great grandfather buried his treasure and it's under that girl's dojo! Harharharharhar! I was actually using you from the very beginning, since I found out you were from around here." "So he's after his grandfather's treasure!" Yujiro said to himself. "And" Barkley continued, "did you really think I was going to help you pay your mother's house taxes? You and your father are the same! You're both dreamers, both stupid!" "Don't you dare talk about my father that way!" Yujiro said seriously angry. "Oh!" Barkley said "let me ask you young Yujiro, who do you think sent a pirate ship to raid you father's merchandises?" "You!!!!" Yujiro said through clenched teeth. "You're responsible for my father's loses!!! Why? He's never done anything to you!" "No!?" Barkley said. "Your father was a foreigner, why should he reap England's treasures! I couldn't possibly allow that to happen!"



"You're crazy!" Yujiro cried, "My father is an honest man who worked hard for all his gains. He sacrificed a lot for what he's got now and you if you think you could just take that away from him, you're wrong! I'll make you pay, I swear!" "You are in no position to threat, Yujiro! Besides, now that you know too much, I can't possibly allow you to leave this cave alive!" "Why don't you kill me then!" Yujiro said. "Nice try," Barkley barked again. "But, like I said, I need your signature. And unless you want your girlfriend to suffer the same fate as you, you'll do exactly what I asked. You remember our plan B? Oh Yes, I still plan on taking her to a slave–trader's ship, but look at it this way, at least she'd still be alive! Bwahahahahahah!"



"Hmmm…..Ken…shin…" Kaoru said as she began to wake up. "No, don't Kaoru!" Yujiro begged silently….. "Not yet…."



to be continued………..(c",)