Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. The only characters I do own are the ones I came up with myself and even I can't get them to admit to that.

In answer to Tanuki-chan's question (see reviews) the character Koji in the prologue has nothing to do with the character of Koji from Linay's story. When I was writing the prologue I needed a male Japanese name and pulled one out of a hat so to speak. The characters full name is Anami Koji, although I don't know if it will come up later in the story as the character died at the end of the prologue.

Info: I occasionally use Japanese words for flavour throughout the story (hopefully correctly). However, I do translate Kenshin's signature ending (de gozaimasu) as it is used in the dvd translation (that it is, that it was, that it would etc.). I decided to do it this way as I know that the end tag on the term in Japanese changes with the situation (yo, ka etc.). Since I'm not sure when to use what ending I decided to use the English instead.

A KILLING MOVE

By COLLEEN

Chapter 1

Tokyo.

Some time later.

The eyes had been back ever since they had returned from Kyoto. Kenshin had noticed them before of course. He had felt them start to watch just after Saitou had attacked him, his fight with the rurouni a ploy to see if the manslayer still existed within Kenshin. The eyes had arrived the next morning. Since they had only seemed interested in watching, he had thought it was just the police. He ignored them, assuming that they were keeping tabs on him until he made his decision about going to Kyoto to confront Shishio. This theory had seemed correct as the eyes had failed to follow him after he'd left for Kyoto. Now they were back, or, more likely they had just never left.

They had been waiting for his return.

The sun was setting as the last of the unpacking and cleaning up from the trip was finished. Kenshin was in the kitchen preparing a light dinner for the travel wearied Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sano. He cooked and chopped and looked generally like an innocent rurouni with nothing more than food on his mind. His movements continued the familiar chore as his mind tried to pinpoint exactly where the eyes where watching from. They were proving to be elusive. In fact so much of his concentration was taken with the task that he almost didn't notice Kaoru when she came up behind him.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked.

"Hai, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked as he looked up from his cooking to see a slightly worried looking Kaoru frowning back at him.

"Is there anything wrong? You seem a little distracted today." Kaoru asked.

"It is nothing Kaoru-dono; I am just a little tired from the trip, that I am" Kenshin replied.

Kaoru practically snorted "it's no wonder you're tired, you've barely recovered from the injuries you received in Kyoto and now you're making dinner without even asking for help."

Kenshin smiled and shrugged sheepishly as he continued to add items to the miso soup.

Kaoru expressed her frustration with a sigh and muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like baka.

Kenshin's smile widened "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes" he said. "After we have eaten we can all get a peaceful night's sleep in our own beds, that we can."

Kaoru smiled at the rurouni "Hai Kenshin that sounds wonderful" she said softly.

After dinner (which had been eaten with its usual floorshow of Yahiko and Sano fighting over the best pieces, Kaoru giving them what for and Kenshin smiling indulgently at the entire scene) Sano headed home and the rest of the group headed for bed. Tired from both the travel and the experiences that they carried with them from Kyoto they were glad to take to their futons early.

Kenshin, still dressed, lay peacefully against the soft surface of his sleeping mat and waited. Closing his eyes he listened to the sounds and silences of the house as they swirled around each other striving for mastery. When the air seemed to reach of moment of complete stillness Kenshin opened his eyes and arose from his bed.

The red-haired swordsman quietly slipped his sakabatou into his obi and left his room. Stepping outside he just as quietly slid the door of the dojo closed and went out into the garden. His hand reached to the sword at his side to correct its positioning minutely as his eyes sought to find the presence that continued to watch, despite the darkness that now concealed his movements.

Kenshin hoped to finish whatever was coming as quickly and as quietly as possible. He shook his head, thinking of what would happen if any of the dojo's occupants were to awake. If they found out he had left to confront an unknown assailant alone they would probably pound him into the ground themselves. He smiled at the thought of his friends. They had already been through so much. He didn't want them to have to go through more so soon.

Giving his head a sharp shake Kenshin brought his attention back to the matter at hand. He gave up trying to see his opponent. The swordsman eyes deepened from violet to blue as he reached out with his ki to locate his adversary. Found, he turned in the direction of one of the larger trees on the dojo's grounds and glided towards it. His voice was quiet but firm on the night's air as he issued an invitation for the person standing under its branches to join him.

A startled "huh" reached his ears. The soft, almost disbelieving voice of a young woman said "I'm surprised you noticed I was here. Most people wouldn't even have seen me yet you knew where I was all along."

"Come out and explain yourself" Kenshin said. " I want to know who you are."

Amusement seemed to radiate from the woman as she stepped out into the moonlit area of the courtyard. She appeared to be in her early twenties and was a little taller than Kaoru. As she left the tree's shadow her short black hair caught the moonlight in a halo effect that made it appear silver. Kenshin, starting to feel confused, looked into her eyes noticing that they were a brown so light that they came close to amber. He glanced at her clothes feeling more confused. Her sea green kimono swept the ground around her feet. Its length making it unlikely that she had been preparing for a physical battle.

"Who are you?" Kenshin asked again. His eyes narrowing as her lips moved into an enigmatic smile.

"Sessha wa rurouni" she replied.

"Oro?"

"I said sessha wa..."

"I heard you the first time" Kenshin said. "However that really did not answer my question."

"I'm afraid it's the only answer I have. I am a wanderer, nothing more."

Kenshin looked over her clothing once again. The rurouni noticed that they appeared fresh and the complete opposite of travelled in. The kimono even seemed to have been put on in haste as she had wrapped it the wrong way around. "You will have to pardon me if I find it unlikely that you have wandered any farther than across the street" he said.

The Sea Green Lady barked out a laugh and shook her head. "I have wandered all of Japan these last" she stopped to count, "well it's been at least 10 years, probably more. I'm afraid I've lost track of time in the last few years." She looked at Kenshin as if calculating something and said "actually a better question would have been why am I here."

Kenshin could feel his patience with the situation starting to crack. His voice chilled, dropping several degrees, as he asked "fine then, why are you here."

"I think" she said thoughtfully. "I think I'm looking for you."

"Me?"

"Umm, yes."

Kenshin sighed deeply in frustration, "why?" He asked.

"I'm really not sure anymore."

Kenshin's eyes widened as he started to wonder just how insane this latest intruder was.

Looking a little embarrassed the Sea Green Lady said "I'm sorry, I wish I could explain it better." She grimaced lightly. "If I could I wouldn't have just spent the last few days... weeks... whatever it's been standing under this tree waiting for you to come back.

Kenshin looked startled as he asked her "why not just follow me to Kyoto?"

The Sea Green Lady shrugged her shoulders saying " I just felt that you would be back. Following you at the time just didn't feel right." Her lips twisted into a wry smile. " I don't actually know why you left but even if you hadn't come back I would have found you again eventually."

"Do you... really... even know who I am?" Kenshin asked.

"Himura Kenshin also known as Himura Battousai also know as Hitokiri Battousai" she replied. " I should know. I've seen you in action before."

"Seen me?" Kenshin's eyes narrowed again. " When?" He asked.

" Oh long ago" she said. " You were travelling to Kyoto in the night." She furrowed her brow in concentration. "I think you were coming from Otsu. A samurai, Shinsengumi I think, challenged you on the road not far from Kyoto. I remember that I had left Kyoto and was travelling" she frowned with thought then gave up " somewhere and you and he... I watched you fight from behind a tree" she finished up lamely.

"And this samurai was your...?"

"Nothing, I didn't even know him."

The Sea Green Lady looked into Kenshin's eyes. He could almost feel the past sliding through her mind as she worked to capture old memories. "I had left the road when I heard someone coming. I should have kept going but when the fight started I hid behind a tree to watch." She smiled. " I was so amazed when your blade went right through the tree I was hiding behind and managed to cut me."

"N-Nani?" Kenshin stuttered.

"Oh don't worry it was just a scratch" she said still smiling " but it certainly did surprise me."

Kenshin threw his memory back to the night she was talking about. It was easily remembered as it had been shortly after Tomoe's death. A lone Shinsengumi member with more bravery than sense had attacked Kenshin as he was returning to Kyoto. The fight had been short. Kenshin did remember sensing someone else's presence there. However, once the fight had ended he hadn't been able to sense anyone and decided that either he had imagined it or he or she had left.

"So now that you have found me...?"

"I don't know" she replied. "That's why I kept standing under that tree. Ever since I found you and looked into your eyes I haven't been able to decide if I should hate you or if I should just let it go and forgive you.

"Hate me for what?" Kenshin asked, exhausted with the way things where going. "Forgive me for what?" He shook his head over the choices she had just presented.

"I'm just not sure how to explain it." She stared at Kenshin, suddenly giving a quick nod as if coming to a decision. "I think that maybe you should get some sleep." She smiled. " Don't worry, I'll leave so I can think some more." Her smile widened and she chuckled a little. "It may not help but I'll give it a try."

"Wait" Kenshin said. "What is your name?"

"I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that one anymore either."

Kenshin sighed and closed his eyes, bringing his hand up to his forehead to massage his now aching temples.

"Don't worry, I won't haunt you for long." The Sea Green Lady said.

"Haunt?" Kenshin said with his eyes still shut.

"Well... that really was a very large tree I was hiding behind and I was just too surprised to move."

"Nani?" Kenshin's eyes snapped open to an empty courtyard; he hadn't even heard the movement of her kimono as she had left.

End of Chapter 1