Chapter 2: The traitor

Thanks Kali-chan! [Subaru bows deep]

"T-t-tomoe-san?!!" he asked in awe. The girl deepened her gaze, and then she frowned. She still had her boken pointing him.

"I don't know what are you talking about" the girl responded with a puzzled look. Kenshin rubbed his eyes. He shook his head in despair.

"Shessha…" he murmured with awe, it was really her. He couldn't believe his eyes. His hands were shaking, his heart ached.

"This…can't be true" he said taking a deep breath. The girl moved closer to him, she took his sakabato.

"Did you know sakabatos are prohibited?" she said in her usual and tranquil voice, Kenshin's eyes widened, that happened…but… then the girl rushed to the other side of the street, a tall man was running out from a dojo.

"Matte!! Matte!!" The girl hardly said. The tall man turned, as he presumed to use the Kamiya Kasshin style. The girl caught him, pointing her boken to him. The tall man grinned. Then, he slashed the boken into pieces provoking the girl a deep fear.

"Gohei…" Kenshin murmured, capturing the tall man's attention. His eyes adverted the short red headed man. The tall man hummed as he approached to Kenshin trying to hit him.

"What do you know??!!! I'm Hittokiri Battousai owner of the Kamiya Kasshin style!!" he said as he tried to hit Kenshin. The girl looked in awe at the short man.  The tall man looked at the girl mischievously.

He tried to hurt her, but Kenshin rushed to save her. The tall man looked at this and then he escaped. Kenshin had the girl in his arms. She had fainted.

It felt so damn good to be capable of touching her again. Kenshin smiled relieved. 'Dream or not, I'm blessed to touch you again' he thought. He entered the dojo in front of them.  He loosened his grip around her, looking at the dojo he had just entered.

It was the… *Kamiya Dojo* he entered, trying to find someone over there. He laid Tomoe on his *supposed to be* futon. Although…it wasn't the way he left it. It was like it haven't been used in a long time. He went out of 'his' room heading to the dinning room where he sat. This was a dream? wasn't it? He sensed someone coming, she was standing looking at him.

"Daijabou?" he asked, he had wished for so long to see her again. She only nodded.

"Arigato…" she said quietly, Kenshin look tenderly at her, he stood up and he approached to her.

"I've missed you" he responded, stroking his thumb on her cheek, she was still quite demure, but looking at her in a gi and hakama make him feel strange.

"Watashi wa Kamiya Kaoru" she murmured with a slight blush. Kenshin's hand fell down to his side in shock. His violet orbs feared he was walking backwards. He shook his head slightly, slowly…It couldn't be…

"Iie! You're…you are!! Yukishiro Tomoe!!!" he retorted, Tomoe was beginning to fear this crazy rurouni. She grabbed her hands across her chest. Tomoe looked deeply at the redheaded rurouni, she approached, his eyes were so afraid, and insecure. She gave a slight beam 'maybe he could calm down if I follow his game' she thought.  She sat on the porch as she bowed in welcoming. Kenshin looked puzzled.

"Tomoe-san??" he asked again. Tomoe winced; this was going to be a hard task.  She nodded slightly; she had to follow the game. Kenshin reached out his hand, his trembling fingers traveled in her ivory hair. He kneeled in front of her, his arms made his way to her back, encircling her into a deep embrace.

"I missed you so much, gomen nasai Tomoe-san…" He said in a hoarse tone.

Tomoe was so scared, what was he talking about? Who was Tomoe Yukishiro? What did that woman had to do with this man? She couldn't move, but the feeling of having someone next her, someone hugging her made her arms to move around him.

She had felt so lonely since her father died. And the students for the Kamiya Kasshin Style weren't enough to keep the dojo open. Maybe having this crazy rurouni wasn't a bad idea after all. The rurouni loosed the embrace and grabbed her arms carefully. His eyes were sparkling with pure happiness.

"I would go and make something to eat. I'll be right back" he said overjoyed. Tomoe only embraced herself, that kind of behavior from the rurouni was giving her creeps. Minutes later…

"Here it is!" he said placing the tray of food on the table. It was the first time he felt so happy. He couldn't hide it. He looked to the spot where Tomoe was sitting.  She wasn't there… he looked up as a fist slammed to the shogi.

"What the heck were you doing?!! We'd been waiting for you!!! And what were you doing? Preparing a meal for two!! Kaoru is sick and you're here?!!! How could you baka!! Let's go!! They are waiting for us in the train station!!" Sanosuke growled his eyes flamed.

Kenshin looked baffled. But…minutes ago…she… 'The dream was over…' he sighed. He followed Sanosuke out of the dojo. They finally got to the station where Megumi was waiting them with not a pleasant look. Along her was Kaoru she was sitting on a bench her eyes almost closed. Kenshin looked at her and he lowered his head.

It was his fault, he shouldn't have daydreamed like that, because of him, she was dying…

Kenshin carried Kaoru into the train, as Megumi dragged Sano to it. She placed Kaoru beside him, Megumi and Sano sitting in front. Kaoru leaned her head on the cold window, breathing heavily.

The train was the fastest way to get to Kyoto. Kenshin gazed Kaoru, she looked so weak, without that energy he saw the first time he meet her. The train shook slightly, provoking Kaoru's weight lean on Kenshin, her head now on his shoulder. He panicked.

Sano let a grin, Megumi only sharpened her vixen ears. Kenshin gulped. He closed his eyes, and tried to relax. It felt marvelous when he could feel Tomoe's presence, but know, his chest ached just by feeling Kaoru's head on his shoulder. He let Kaoru's essence fill his nostrils. Jasmine…so sweet yet strong…that odor defined her.

The train finally arrived to its destiny, Kenshin slowly opened his eyes, he had fallen asleep, his cheek was resting on Kaoru's head. It was so soft, then he looked at the couple in front of them, it was the same position, Sano's cheek resting on Megumi's head, but his arm surrounded her. She woke up abruptly punching Sano for being a perv.

"Oi! Kitsune! Whatcha doin' Mou!!!!" He rubbed his head. Megumi only grumbled as she stood up to pick up the luggage.

Kenshin tried to wake up Kaoru, she brushed her head on his chin, like a cat…Kenshin gulped nervously. Kaoru opened her eyes slowly. Then she turned around, her face only inches from Kenshin's. She slowly backed away. She was dizzy and with not too much strength.  She stood up, trying to gain some balance, but it was useless. She was falling down as a pair of thin arms caught her. She looked up and smiled softly at him.

Kenshin's eyes saddened, it was his entire fault. He carried her out of the train, where Sano and Megumi were waiting them.

"Now to the Aoiya" Kenshin said, while Megumi and Sano were following him…

Misao was weeping at the entrance of the Aoiya, she had her usually genki smile. Her Aoshi-sama had escorted her to the market. They hadn't a long chat, but just the feeling of him near her was enough for her. She shaded her eyes, as she saw no far away some figures. The hot air made the blurry figures. She couldn't tell. Then the figures were approaching more and more, until she devised their height, one tall, a medium, and a short one carrying someone, later on, the colors were more visible. Her smile grew more as she threw the broom away. She ran to them waving her arms.

"Himura-san!! Rooster head!! Megumi-san!!!" she wailed as she approached them. Then she stopped, her face changing from happiness to a mild state of shock. Her features began to worry about looking Kaoru-chan in Himura's arms. She was so pale, so weak. Everyone had a sad expression on their faces, but the saddest one, was Himura's. She lowered her head, then she reach up a hand to caress Kaoru's cheek.

"May I help you?" She asked in a tender voice. Sano grumbled something…

"We need to speak to Shinomori-san de gozaru" Kenshin said in his usually rurouni voice. He tried to cheer her up with a innocent smile. Misao led them inside the Aoiya, where Okina welcomed them. Okon and Omasu prepared some meal for the guests.

"Okina-sama, we're looking for Shinomori-san" Kenshin said, Okina nodded as he told Kenshin to lay Kaoru in one of the rooms, so she could rest after the trip. Kenshin went upstairs, and laid Kaoru where Okina told him to. He caressed some strands from Kaoru's face. Aoshi was passing by, he looked at the  couple, as his eyes widened a bit. His brows furrowed, and his body tensed up. 'He's here…they should have known…' he thought, anger covered his eyes for a bit, then he leaned on the doorframe.

"Konbawa Shinomori-san" Kenshin said in a serious tone, without looking back at him. Aoshi tensed a little bit more. 'Does he know?'

"Konbawa Battousai" he responded in his icy voice. Kenshin stood up, leading to where Aoshi was standing.

"I need a talk" he said in a husky voice. Aoshi only nodded and followed him outside the gardens of the Aoiya.

The walked to a spot, near the temple Aoshi used to go. Kenshin was looking into Aoshi's eyes, to look for an unhidden feeling, any clue that would help to solve Kaoru's sickness. But he found none, he could perfectly hide in those ice blue eyes of his. Of course, he was a ninja, he could hide his feeling perfectly. Well almost perfectly…

"Are you all right?" Aoshi asked first, Kenshin furrowed his brow, puzzlement in his gaze.

"Why are you asking?" Kenshin refuted, still in his husky voice. Aoshi only shrugged. 'Battousai must suspect something…'

"Because of the wound you have on your shoulder" Aoshi easily evaded Kenshin's suspicions.

"Aa. I'm all right, I've come to Kyoto because of  Kaoru-dono's illness" Kenshin said, his eyes saddening. 'You're worring more than you should Battousai…' Aoshi thought as he saw Kenshin's reaction.

"And, what does it has to do with the oniwabanshu?" Aoshi asked, again his cool expression revealed nothing. Kenshin took out the kunais Megumi extracted from Kaoru. Aoshi's eyes widened in stupor. Kenshin took a glance of it.

"But this kunais aren't from our troop" Aoshi tried to calm down. Kenshin sensed a change on his ki. He looked closely at his eyes.

"Are you sure Shinomori-san?" he said suspiciously. Aoshi nodded gaining again composture. He took one of the kunais on his hand.

"They are poisonous…" Aoshi explained, but Kenshin knew already. Kenshin wanted to know everything Aoshi could know.

"This kunais are from the ancient troop of the oniwabanshu, not mine, neither Misao's" He said examining the sharp thing. Kenshin adverted his eyes on him.

"So you mean this is of an ancient troop, a different okashira?" Kenshin tried to dig on the theme. Aoshi nodded. Kenshin again dared to ask.

"Can you tell from who's troop or okashira is?" Kenshin said. Aoshi placed the kunai again on Kenshin's hand.

"Maybe Okina can help us in this matter, but first we must try to figure out the cure for the girl" Aoshi said entering the Aoiya, leaving Kenshin reflecting about he had just said.

He followed him inside the Aoiya, and the two went to see Okina. Kenshin explained all the story to Okina, Aoshi slowly got lost in the shadows. Kenshin wasn't aware of that.

"Aoshi-sama where are you going?" Misao skipped from Kaoru's room to the spot where Aoshi was walking.

"I'm going to the temple, if anything happens go and tell me" Aoshi declared as he passed a clueless Misao. He got out of the Aoiya walking to …

"Maybe if I check in my records, and to the antique papers so  I can find something of this troop. Don't worry Himura-san, we'll find out…" Okina tried to confort him. Kenshin smiled, then he turned to see that Aoshi wasn't in the doorframe.

"Where did Shinomori-san go?" asked Kenshin. Okina shrugged, then Kenshin got out of the room. He tried to follow him, but Aoshi wasn't anywhere to be seen. Kenshin was going out, but then Megumi took his arm.

"Kenshin, its Kaoru" her voice worried and anxious.

~*~

"I told you not to leave any single clue!! And what did you do? You messed it all!!! Look what you did!! They have already know that we've done it!!!" his icy glare froze the ninja he had on his grip.

"But sir! We didn't know that the girl was going to interfere!!" the ninja tried to explain. He looked with anger at the trembling ninja his icy stare was more terrifying. He sighed, then he let the ninja down.

"You're going to get those kunais before they know everything" he said in a cool voice. The ninja panicked.

"But, but! What if they find out!! Battousai will know! He'll kill me!!!" the ninja squeaked. He sighed again.

"Don't worry, I'll soothe Battousai and erase any clue or suspicion" he sighed. The ninja nodded vehemently.

~*~

"We need the antidote quick Kenshin, otherwise she'll probably…" Kenshin shushed Megumi. He didn't want to know that he could lose her. The pain was too much to bear. First Tomoe, then Kaoru? It was too much pain already… 'Please Kami-sama, don't take her…' Kenshin begged mentally as he sat near her. Her fever increased much more, and sometimes she was having convulsions. Minutes later her convulsions vanished, leaving her on a deep sleep. Kenshin and Megumi sighed in relief.

"You must rest Megumi-dono, you'd been attending Kaoru since yesterday. Don't worry I'll stay here all night" Kenshin placed his hand over her tired shoulder, Megumi was so tired she didn't replied. She stood up, but before closing the door.

"Try to sleep too Ken-san, you are a human too" she suggested, Kenshin smiled as he nodded, then she closed the door.

Time passed, he slept a little bit, but in his usually samurai style sitting down with his sakabout over his left arm. His eyes opened as he sensed a strange ki on the hall. He moved fast, and he was leading to Okina's working room. 'They want their kunais back'  he thought leaving the room in a blink.

THUD!!

SLASH!!

CRASH!!

Kenshin turned on the lights, and he saw Aoshi threatening the ninja with his kodachi. Aoshi was holding the ninja tightly, he had also sensed the ninja.

"What are you doing here?" he said in a husky voice. Kenshin sheathed his sakabatou. The ninja looked puzzled at Aoshi, making him to tight his grip. The ninja gulped. Kenshin was getting suspicious, why did the ninja looked for Aoshi's approval?

"Are you coming for these?" Aoshi took the kunais on his hand, while he was grabbing the ninjas collar with the other. His kodachi already sheathed. The ninja trembled… 'what to say? What to say?' the ninja thought.

"Maybe you can help us, if these kunais are yours, you can take them" he said in a nonchalantly voice. The ninja rapidly tried to reach for them. "But with one condition" he continued, the ninja retreated.

"As I've seen that you want them, then you should know about the poison there's on the point of them" Aoshi reaffirmed. The ninja was out of words 'Baka!' he scolded himself.  It was obvious that he was on his ninja training phase, he wasn't a ninja itself. Kenshin only looked at the conversation, there was something wrong on this, it was too easy to catch him, then to make him talk…

"Tell us the antidote and you'll have your kunais and I'll let you free" he said coolly, the ninja tried to get out from his grip. Kenshin's attention got to the word antidote.

"I-I-I don't know the antidote…my okashira does…" he said with a shaky voice. Aoshi's eyes widened, his grip went even more tense. The ninja only gulped. Kenshin was very doubtful about it.

"Why don't you tell your okashira that we will give you the kunais if he sends us the antidote or the recipe of the antidote" Kenshin suggested, taking part of the conversation. The ninja nodded vehemently.

"But what if he give us the wrong antidote?" Aoshi asked still looking icily at the ninja. Kenshin's glare was more aware.

"I'll swear I'll find you and take you're worthless life in a second…" he warned, his eyes turning in a slight tone of yellow. The ninja panicked, as he nodded.

"I will!! I will!! But let me go!!!" the ninja begged. Aoshi frowned.

"Are you really a ninja? What a shame the name 'ninja' could be worthless in a person like you" Aoshi said. The ninja only shook his head.

"Tomorrow at 12 o clock, in the back garden, we'll wait you there…" Kenshin commanded, the ninja nodded as he crept into the shadows, vanishing away.

"Shinomori-san, do you think we got the antidote too easy?" Kenshin said without looking him, he gave his back to him.

"Indeed Battousai, we must be careful this must be a tramp" Aoshi affirmed, as he walked to his side.

"Daijabou Battousai?" Aoshi placed his hand on Kenshin's arm. Kenshin looked up to his shoulder.

"Aa. I am. Why?" he asked, his eyes focusing on Aoshi's stare. Aoshi made a half 'smile.

"Because you're having qualms about the one who helped you with Shishio" He said his eyes melting a little bit of the ice that he held on them. Kenshin's eyes widened.

"What's next Battousai? Illusions or hallucinations?" he asked passing him by. Leaving him in a mild state of shock. He was so tired, it was 2 o clock. He walked to the room where Kaoru was…

"Kaoru-dono?!!!!" Kenshin looked over the futon, where Kaoru was supposed to be there. But she wasn't, then he looked forward, and there she was, she was wrapped on her sheets, looking at the moon through the window. Kenshin smiled, he placed his hand on her back.

"How are you feeling Kaoru-dono?" he asked in a tender voice. She turned around, then she smiled at him. But then her smiled vanished as she saw the fear in his eyes.

"Daijabou Kenshin?" she asked worriedly. Kenshin backed away, he rubbed his eyes, as he walked backwards, he tripped with the futon as he fell on the floor. His eyes widened, horror in them. She stood up, trying to gain some balance. She crawled to him, she reached out her hand.

"Kenshin, I'm ok, don't worry…yare, yare…" She tried to soothe him. Kenshin recoiled from her hand.

"Why…are you doing this? Where's Kaoru-dono?!" he asked in dispair. She widened her eyes.

"But…but…I'm Kaoru, Kenshin! I'm Kaoru Kamiya!" she tried to explain. Kenshin shook his head, he was trembling. She looked at him in horror, she had never saw him like that.

"Don't try that! You're Tomoe Yukishiro!! Tomoe-san! Please tell me where's Kaoru-dono!" he said grabbing her from her shoulders. She looked panicked, and tears were forming on her eyes.

"I'm here, I'm Kaoru-dono! Your Kaoru-dono! Please Kenshin see me!!" she begged him. Kenshin loosened his grip. Then his head bowed.

"I see you, please Tomoe-san, tell me, why are you making me this?" he said in a saddened voice.

End of chapter 2

C' ya in next chapter!!! Ja ne ^_~