AN: Waii waii! ^-^ I'd like to thank everyone for reviewing! Barra was actually a guard in the sequel to Sabriel (Lirael). At first I was going to use Mogget as the cat ::huggles Mogget plushie:: But where was the fun in that? And so, Barra the sarcastic feline was born ^-^

LittleDragon5: Cute is fun, ne? ^-^ Don't worry, more cuteness and happiness for Kaoru on the way!

Omochi: Sorry for not being clear on the whole who's speaking thing ^-^;; I re-read it and you're right. I'll make it clearer this time!

Sabrina: Glad you liked it ^-^ I'll try to make the chapters longer for ya. This chappy was short because it was late and I wanted to update ^-^;; A link to what Kaoru looks like is listed at the bottom of this AN.

Isis: ::hand Barra plushie:: Here! ^-^ Watch out, he talks back. Anyone else want one?

Willow: To tell ya the truth….I don't know if they're too late to save Tomoe ^-^;; Guess we'll all just hafta wait and find out. And Lirael was a really great book too! ::squeals:: The next one, Abhorsen, sequel to Lirael is coming out in January 2003…I can't wait that long! ^-^

Now, I drew this pic of Kaoru to suit her character. The colors won't be the same as to what she's wearing, but that's the type of clothing. I don't want reviews for the picture, this is just for reference. If you read the story and want to say, "Hey your pic sux" or, "It's cute" in with what you think of the story, then go ahead. (Note: I'd prefer the later of the two, but that's up to you). ^-^

http://www.geocities.com/tasukixmiaka/kaoru-sabriel

(Note: If pic doesn't show up, refresh. Geocities is a pain like that. If it still doesn't work, please tell me)

~*^-^*~

The trio had been walking for a little over an hour before Barra decided he was tired. Kaoru had grudgingly agreed to let him sit perched on her shoulder, but only if he played look out. Kaoru made room for the pesky cat by surrendering the backpack full oof goods to the man next to her. Kenshin, like the gentleman Kaoru found him to be, offered to carry the cat, but was immediately turned down by Barra himself.

"I don't want him to carry me."

Barra hissed, glaring daggers at Kenshin.

"Barra, I've had quite enough of this! One more word and I'll never catch you river trout again!"

Kaoru scolded the cat. Barra growled deep in his throat before falling silent. After another good half hour of walking in silence, Kaoru decided to speak.

"It's about noon now. We can stop by the stream up ahead and have a bite to eat before continuing on."

Kenshin nodded and averted his eyes to the ground, walking behind Kaoru. He figured the least he could do was protect her with his sword if any dead came. Kenshin was too raveled up in his thoughts to realize that Kaoru had stopped. And being that he was behind Kaoru, he bumped into her.

"Ahh!"

Kaoru squealed as she pitched forward into the rushing rapids of the river. Barra had jumped off her shoulders and landed on the bank, just missing the water.

"K-Kaoru-dono!"

"Don't just stand there like a blubbering idiot! Go help her!"

Barra swiped at Kenshin's leg, claws extended. Kenshin winced as he felt a small trickle of blood underneath his pants leg. Realizing there was no time to worry, he hastily ripped off the backpack, sword, his boots, and his shirt and dove in. In an instant, he was swept away with the currents, further downstream. He could faintly hear Barra screaming something over the rushing water, but it was too hard to make out. Forcing himself to stay afloat, he looked frantically around for Kaoru.

"Kaoru-dono!?"

His voice was lost in the rapids. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of an arm flailing. Determination set in his eyes, he paddled his way over to it. He made it just in time, and grabbed Kaoru's hand before it completely disappeared under water. Grunting, he pulled Kaoru out and to his chest. He feared she was dead, until she coughed lightly.

"Thank God."

He whispered and struggled against the current to get to shore. With a couple slips, he made it, and hoisted Kaoru's prone form onto shore. Only after making sure she wouldn't get pulled in again, he pushed himself up onto shore. Panting, he stayed on all fours until he could breath regularly.

"Kaoru-dono….Kaoru-dono! Wake up!"

He crawled over to the girl and gingerly lifted her head into his lap. He got no response. Panic filled him as he sat her up and pounded gently on her back.

"Come on, Kaoru. Don't die."

Kenshin laid her on the ground. Her hair was matted to her face and her hair tie was gone, swept away with the water. Her cheeks were starch white and her lips were chapped and pale.

"Forgive me."

Kenshin muttered before leaning down. He pressed his lips firmly to hers, forcing air into her lungs. He separated, and pressed firmly on her chest. When he got no response, he moved in again and pressed his lips to hers. Kaoru coughed against Kenshin's lips. His eyes lit up happily as he pulled back and rolled Kaoru onto her side. Her coughs became more violent as she spit out water. Slowly, color began to fill her cheeks and lips.

"Shh….It's okay."

Kenshin soothes as he rubbed her back. Kaoru's cough subsided but she didn't move. She stayed on her side, gulping in the much-needed air.

"Kaoru-dono?"

Kenshin finally asked timidly. He knew it was all his fault that she ended up like this. Kaoru slowly turned over and looked up at him. They stared for a few minutes before Kaoru forced herself into a sitting position.

"You did this because you wouldn't get Tomoe back without me…didn't you?"

Kaoru asked bitterly, avoiding his eyes. Kenshin gasped in shock. Was that honestly what she thought? That was the farthest thing from him mind when she fell in.

"Kaoru-dono, how can you say that? It was my fault you ended up as you did. I saved you not because of Tomoe. I swear."

Kaoru remained silent for a few seconds, taking everything in. Finally, she looked up, her eyes teary.

"Arigatou."

Kenshin smiled happily and hugged her to him. She sniffled slightly then sneezed. It was then Kenshin realized their surroundings.

"We drifted farther down stream than I thought."

He noted, looking up and down the river. Kaoru left his arms and stood, forcing feeling back into her legs. She looked up at the sky and frowned.

"It must be after noon by now. We need to find Barra and get our stuff. We need a change of clothes and…"

Kaoru trailed off as she looked at Kenshin. A blush rose in her cheeks as she realized he was shirtless. Kenshin followed her gaze and chuckled lightly.

"Extra clothing would weigh me down."

"H-hai."

Kaoru nervously tugged at her wet hair and shivered. The late afternoon breeze was picking up, pricking at her skin. She wrapped her arms around her arms around her torso and gasped when she hit the cool metal of her sheath.

"It's still here! My sword!"

Kaoru exclaimed in relief as she pulled out the sword. She looked it over and then re-sheathed it.

"But how…?"

Kenshin asked as he scooted over to her. Kaoru was too fascinated by the fact that she still had her sword to realize his closeness.

"I think….A charter spell held it in place…"

She muttered and walked away from him. He watched her scan the area around them.

"Where is Barra? We need to head back up stream and find him. Come on."

Kaoru ushered Kenshin forward, despite the fact he was both shirtless and shoeless. Wearily, he nodded and trudged after her, this time keeping his head up and alert at all times.

~*^-^*~

The sun had just begun to set and the shade of the trees seemed to bring the darkness all the more quickly. Cool breezes chilled Kenshin and Kaoru as they pushed through bushes and trees, eager to get out of their wet clothes.

"Mou! Where is he!?"

Kaoru's teeth chattered as she pushed herself forward. Despite her weariness and desire to just lay down and sleep, she pressed onward. If she were to just stop, the dead would be on her in no time. The dead. Kaoru looked around cautiously. She had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't realize the dead started rising and closing in on them.

"Kuso!"

She cursed under her breath and stopped in a small clearing just beside the stream. Kenshin looked at her, puzzled.

"Kaoru-dono? What is it?"

"Shh!"

She silenced him and strained to hear not with her ears, but with her sense of death. She felt the sickening feeling all around. It had a vile and putrid smell to go with it. She shuddered in disgust and turned to Kenshin.

"They're here. We need to find someplace to cast a protection spell. Help me look. Dead hate water and light, keep that in mind when you look."

"Hai."

Kenshin replied and set off scouting. The two spent about ten minutes looking before Kenshin found something that might help.

"Kaoru-dono! Over here!"

"Nani? Did you find something?"

She eagerly pushed her way through some shrubs until she was standing next to him. He nodded and pointed out into the middle of the river. Kaoru had to squint to get a better look through the darkness, but her eyes lit up when she found it.

"Perfect!"

She squealed like a child and clapped her hands together. Kenshin chuckled. In the middle of the widest part of the river was a small island of land. Kaoru estimated that it could hold both of them and still spare a little bit of room. Grinning at their change of fortune, she waded across the water.

"It's okay! It's firm!"

She announced after checking to make sure it was not just a pile of mud that would slip away. Kenshin nodded and started over.

"It's getting darker."

He noted once he was standing next too her. Kaoru nodded and concentrated on the spell she knew they'd need.

"We need to set up this barrier. Just stay in the middle and don't move until I tell you to."

She instructed. He nodded and sat down in the middle, determined to do something right for the first time that day.

Once Kaoru was sure she would not be interrupted, she pulled out her sword. The clatter that sounded when the sword was drawn echoed throughout the dense forest. A howl of a creature could be heard somewhere in distance, but Kaoru forced herself to concentrate on what she was doing. She walked to the North of the small piece of land an imagined a charter mark that she had memorized for the job. Using her willpower, she pushed the mark out of her head and onto the sword. It burst into color and shot off the tip, making a mark in the dirt. Brows creased and sweat trickling down her face; she turned to the South and repeated the process. Once that was done, she did the same for the East and the West. Only when she was positive that the barrier would hold did she drop the sword. Gasping for breath, she swayed forward a little, and then fell to her knees. Kenshin was at her side in an instant.

"Kaoru-dono! What happened? Are you okay?"

"H-hai. It just…takes a lot out of me. We should be fine…now."

She smiled weakly and forced herself to sit upright. Now that they were safely inside the barrier, she could look around and concentrate on what was approaching.

"Some Dead Hands…. and…."

Kaoru let out a strangled cry as she identified one of the dead moving towards them at an alarming rate.

"Nani?"

"A Mordicant!"

Her breaths were ragged and she leaned against Kenshin for support. He looked down at her in shock. What could possibly frighten her so much?

"Mordicant? What is that? I vaguely remember something about one."

Kenshin took Kaoru by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. They were glazed over with tears of shock, grief, and anger.

"…It's…. one of the greater dead. Sent by a Necromancer. I…My father, I was informed, was killed by a Mordicant. He…. was out numbered…. and…. they tore him apart. I felt it…I felt it all! Ripped apart limb for limb, each a small pain in my chest. They…. I…."

Kaoru broke down sobbing, not able to talk anymore. Fresh, painful memories of her father's death were clear in her mind. Kenshin wrapped his arms around her and brought her to him. She cried harder, beating her fists on his bare chest.

"It's not fair! It's not fair…It's…. not fair!"

She wailed and let her hands fall down to her sides. She continued to cry, feeling safe in his arms. Kenshin just continued to hold her, gently stroking her back and whispering soothing words.

"Shh…It's all right…Calm down."

Kaoru sniffled and closed her eyes. How could he say it was all right? A beast that had killed her father was fast approaching, they were chilled to the bone, and they were lost! She almost laughed. A howl sounded and Kaoru stiffened. Kenshin's soothing words ceased and she could feel him freeze. Slowly, she turned around and whimpered when she saw what had made the noise.

"Mordicant…"

The name was whispered and forced. On the bank to the left was indeed a Mordicant. It looked almost like a wild dog. It was hunched over; it's red eyes glaring. It's claws were extended and digging anxiously into the dirt, watching its' pray. It snarled, a low gurgling sound from deep in its' throat, and its' teethe were bared. Kaoru grimaced as she eyed the razor sharp teeth, which were yellow from decay and coated in saliva. (AN: Eww!) Kaoru squinted at the beast as she noticed a small scrap of blue attached to the things' claw. Last time she checked, Mordicants didn't wear clothing. She gasped as she realized exactly what it was. A small scrap of a woman's dress; A detailed butterfly on the corner. It was torn and dirty, hanging to the beasts' foot by a few threads.

"Tomoe…"

Kaoru's head shot up and she looked at Kenshin. He was staring at the Mordicant, or more specifically, the piece of cloth it had. Then it hit Kaoru. This was the beast that had killed his fiancé. She felt Kenshin stand and she let go. He walked towards the edge of the barrier and Kaoru gasped, realizing what he was about to do.

"Iie!!"

She lunged forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. His hand, which was centimeters from the wall of protection, stopped. He looked down at the girl.

"Iie! Iie! You can't! Please!"

Her sobs were drowned out by another howl from the impatient beast. Kenshin glared at it and he gently removed Kaoru's hands from his waist.

"I have to. To avenge Tomoe."

"Kenshin no BAKA! This will do nothing! Nothing!! All you'll do is get yourself killed! I'm sure Tomoe didn't want that! If you want to save her you have to stay alive! Please…you're the only…the only one I have left."

Kaoru sunk down to her knees and sobbed into his pants leg. Her small frame shook as she cried. Kenshin closed his eyes as he took in everything she had just told him. He had to stay alive. Not just for Tomoe, but for Kaoru as well.

"Kaoru…don't cry."

He dropped the honorifics and squatted down next to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he brought her to his chest for what must have been the umpteenth time that day. Kaoru smiled despite her cries as she hugged him closer, listening to the beating of his heart. She sighed happily and sniffled, not caring that the bloodthirsty Mordicant was only five feet away. She felt safe, and that was all that mattered.

~*^-^*~

AN: Waii waii! Long chapter! ^-^ Well…I know I said Kaoru would be happy…and this had more drama than intended ^-^;; But…things will start to look up! This was too long to proofread…^-^;; So ignore any spelling mistakes! Read and Review please!

~Neoshipper~