Kyaa Kyaff here once again!

Disclaimer: *sigh* The RK characters are not mine.

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'…' Kaoru thoughts

*…* Kenshin thoughts

"…" Dialogue

Warning…going to say this is a darker chapter…not too bad, but still enough to warn you about it!

Fragile Balance

Chapter 16: Kenshin and Akemi's Past

Akemi held Kenshin's hand firmly as they ran. She didn't understand what was happening. She just listened to whatever he said to get away from the bad men that had hurt her parents.

"Just a little further Akemi-chan!"

Kenshin rounded a corner and stopped, pushing Akemi against the wall. She opened her mouth to say something, but Kenshin put a finger to her lips shaking his head no. She saw the fear in his eyes. Shouting was heard making Akemi bite her lower lip. Kenshin drew her into a firm hug as the men ran by.

"Ken-nii…I'm scared," Akemi said tearfully.

Kenshin moved away from her grasping her hand once again, "It's okay. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Akemi trusted his words. They ran some more through the darkened alley. Akemi was hungry and tired but Kenshin kept pushing her further, promising they could rest later. After running for what seemed like hours they stopped. Akemi shivered from the cold. They were in another darkened alley. Looking around she unexpectedly felt something fall on her head. Pulling it off she realized it was Kenshin's shirt.

"Put it on, you're cold."

Akemi was about to hand it back, when he came over and helped her put it on. It fell down to her knees and it was very warm. She watched with bright trusting eyes as Kenshin looked around the corner. A hand clamped on her mouth suddenly as she was jerked back.

"I found the brats," the man holding her yelled.

Footsteps were heard and more men appeared. Akemi watched as Kenshin whirled around his eyes panicked.

"Ken-nii!" Akemi yelled as she struggled against the man.

"What should we do with them?" Another man asked fingering his knife.

A tall man emerged from the shadows, "Kill them. I have no use for them."

The man holding Akemi licked his lips eagerly, "We don't have to kill them right away, do we?"

The tall man gave him a disgusted look before answering, "Just make sure they don't live through the night. We don't need witnesses no matter how young."

With that he turned and left. Kenshin's hands clenched strongly. He was shaking as he heard Akemi cry out. A slow rage built in him as he saw the man holding his sister begin to try and remove her clothes.

The man with the knife laughed, "You never change."

The other man laughed, "Never will."

"Sorry kid, time to die."

The man lunged forward, but with amazing speed Kenshin dodged the knife. The man blinked a second before going after the boy with a growl. Akemi began to scream louder, but was immediately silenced.

"Leave my sister alone!" Kenshin yelled furiously.

His eyes narrowed as the guy went to attack him again. He dashed to the side easily and brought the bottle he had grabbed from the dirty ground smashing down on the back of the man's skull. He fell down with a thud the knife sliding several feet away from him. Kenshin went for it. The man grabbed Kenshin's foot as he passed, causing him to fall to the ground hand reaching for the knife as the man pulled him over. At the last second Kenshin gripped the knife. The man never saw it coming. He dragged the boy up. Kenshin stopped struggling, the moment he got close he rammed the knife right into the man's chest in blind desperation. The man's eyes widened as he grabbed the hilt. It didn't take long for him to fall over dead.

Kenshin yanked the knife free in a daze staring at the dead man. He was wrenched out of his reverie when Akemi screamed again. Kenshin's rage completely took over as he saw the man on top of Akemi. Her clothes lay scattered around her, and he could barely see her small form covered by the man. The next thing he knew the man was lying dead with Akemi held tight in his arms, sobbing her heart out. She was bleeding and all Kenshin could do was pull her clothes back on. He helped her in a daze.

"It's alright now, Akemi-chan. Shh…it's alright," Kenshin assured knowing that it would never be all right again.

He had to find somewhere to take her. He had to get her safe and warm. He had to wash the blood from his body. He had killed two men. He was only ten years old.

"Interesting…" the tall man murmured as Kenshin helped his sister up, "Take them. Alive."

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Kenshin shivered as he held Akemi in the tiny room they had been thrown in. He had been so busy trying to take care of Akemi; he didn't hear the men creep up. That was how they ended up here. Akemi hadn't spoken a word since they were attacked. She just stared straight forward at nothing her eyes glazed. No matter what Kenshin did he couldn't get a reaction out of her. Tears trickled unwillingly from his own eyes. He was scared, so scared.

He looked up startled as the door to the room began to open. Akemi began to whimper and hid her face against his chest. The man that entered the room gestured for Kenshin to come. He stood up slowly Akemi in his arms. As he approached the man grabbed Akemi from him and threw her back in the room. Kenshin yelled as the man shoved him out and shut the door. Akemi started shrieking frantically banging her tiny fists against the door in terror. The man stopped Kenshin as he tried to get passed. He was dragged from the room, the sounds of Akemi piercing his heart.

"Let go! Let go of me!" Kenshin yelled.

The man ignored him stopping by another door and pushing him inside. Kenshin turned and tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"It's locked now," A voice announced.

Kenshin pivoted around in the smoky room to see a man reclining on a chair.

"What's your name, boy?"

Kenshin glared at him, refusing to answer.

"Now answer me. You wouldn't want something to happen to your sister, would you?" the man said his tone threatening.

"Himura Kenshin."

"Nice to meet you. You will address me as Hiruma Kihei. Sit."

Kihei's eyes followed Kenshin as he sat.

"You will work for me. Not yet of course. You need to be trained. No problem though."

Kenshin's mouth dropped open.

"You will not complain, or your sister will pay the price."

That was how it started. Kenshin was trained by the men of Kihei. He was brutally pushed to his limits, but he never opened his mouth to complain. Never. Akemi would cry seeing his bruised and broken face. He would just hold her and tell her everything was all right. They forced him to kill during his training. Whenever the gang had a traitorous member or any other problem, Kenshin would be the one to kill them. Kihei watched with glee as the boy broke down and became cold and distant over the next two years. His amber eyes were disturbingly devoid of most emotions. Kihei was happy with the progress. The boy would be a perfect and obedient killer, just what he needed.

Akemi was never harmed. She lived on the bare minimum, as did Kenshin. The only solace either had was each other. At that time Kenshin was gentle and kind, comforting his eight-year-old sister. Kenshin began to easily slip into another type of reality to escape the pain of what he was forced to learn and do. His young mind did not know how else to handle the situation.

One night their lives changed forever. Kenshin had been horribly beaten for some obscure reason or another and was with Akemi. Shouts were heard, but Kenshin did not even acknowledge it as he lost consciousness. After an hour complete silence engulfed the area. The door gave a sudden creak, sending Akemi scrambling to Kenshin's side. A large imposing figure filled the doorway. Cold arrogant eyes surveyed the two children. Akemi gripped Kenshin shirt tight.

"Come here girl."

Akemi made a whining noise tightening her grip.

"I won't hurt you. Now get over here."

She shook her head violently, her red hair fanning out around her. The man looked at the boy lying on the ground beside the kneeling girl. He then sighed and stepped closer. Akemi jumped up and in front of Kenshin, throwing her arms out wide determined to protect him. She stared at the man with defiant blue eyes.

"I will help him."

The girl bit her lip looking over shoulder as Kenshin struggled to breathe. Slowly she stepped away. Hiko Seijuro took the two children in on a whim. Both had been mentally and physically twisted. Hiko became a father figure to them. He trained Kenshin and Akemi, and helped Akemi to talk again with a cold aloofness around him the whole time. Hiko tampered down Kenshin violent mood swings, noting the strange way Kenshin's eyes changed. Four years passed by quickly with the three of them living relatively normal lives in a secluded house in the mountains. One day as Kenshin practiced outside with Akemi a strange man came walking up wishing to speak to Hiko. His name was Katsura Kogoro, and his eyes lit up as he watched Kenshin practice.

After a couple of events and Hiko's violent opposition, Kenshin left with Katsura a year later. Akemi followed her brother with an apology to Hiko.

Kenshin became Katsura's tool, an assassin and guard. All Hiko had taught him in the five years, he had absorbed quickly. Katsura had many enemies, and there were many people who wished to cause trouble within the government. Kenshin suppressed these events. He became a cold merciless killer, but around his sister was a smiling teenager. Akemi began to notice that under that smile was great sorrow and loneliness. She comforted him as best she could. Akemi began to change as well. She became more outspoken and fiercely protective of Kenshin. She could only calm him if he became violent. She was there to hold him as he cried. She supported him through everything until he met Yukishiro Tomoe. Kenshin and Akemi lived on their own in a house provided by Katsura. They were home-schooled and had a lot of catching up to do. Tomoe became a tutor for them. She was nineteen years old and her goal was to become a teacher. Slowly but surely Akemi saw her brother become enamored with her. He spent less and less time talking to Akemi. He started being more reserved with her, no longer letting her see and share his pain. Jealousy took hold of her. Kenshin was all she had and Tomoe was taking him away from her.

Kenshin was obsessed with her. They started dating each other after some fights between Akemi and Kenshin. Akemi felt lonely. She was left to herself. The only support she had was Kenshin, and now he was gone. It set her into a state of depression.

Kenshin had a rising conflict within himself when he was with Tomoe. When Tomoe found out what he actually did and who he was, she was appalled. Kenshin had blown up on her and turned violent. He didn't touch her, but the room was a different story. Tomoe stayed with him, because she loved him and wished to help him. Akemi retreated further away from everyone. She listened one day with disinterest as the two had the first real argument that Tomoe raised her voice in. The relationship had been troublesome due to Kenshin's extreme jealousy.

"Who is this Kiyosato?!" Kenshin demanded.

"A friend of mine since childhood," Tomoe replied calmly.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed, "I don't want you to see him."

Tomoe shook her head, "I can't do this anymore. Kenshin…I love you, but I can't help you. Gomen nasai."

"What! What are you talking about!? Tomoe," Kenshin reached out to touch her, but she backed up bumping into the wall.

"No more. It's over."

"No…no you are kidding right? This is about Kiyosato…" Kenshin started.

Tomoe's face flushed and she stepped forward, "No! This is about you! Kenshin! Katsura asked me to help you! To take care of you, but I can't! You are beyond my help. You're beyond anyone's help"

Her hand came up to cover her mouth at her last words. She hadn't meant to say that, and now she watched as Kenshin paled.

"Tomoe please, don't leave me! Please," Kenshin begged.

Tomoe shook her head with tearful eyes, "Gomen nasai. I won't see you again. It's better this way."

Kenshin watched stunned as Tomoe left him. His violent nature flared up instantly. The doorbell rang causing Kenshin to rush to the door and fling it open. Hiko Seijuro stood there staring at Kenshin with a look of disgust.

"Baka deshi, what are you up to?"

Kenshin had left leaving Akemi with Hiko. He talked to her catching up on old times. Hiko said he had talked with Katsura and decided to stop by. Katsura had requested his presence. Kenshin had been deteriorating more and more. Katsura had realized Tomoe was in danger now.

"I wish…I wish we had never left," Akemi whispered quietly her eyes bleak.

"Has he been really bad?" Hiko asked.

"He was fine for awhile. Now…he's not Kenshin anymore. I don't know what he is. It scares me. It's even worse then when he comes home after an assignment, his eyes that weird amber color. He has become more volatile. I don't know what to do. He's pushed me away."

Kenshin returned that night avoiding everybody and locking himself in his room. Hiko had left promising to be back again. For a little while everything seemed to return to normal after Tomoe's departure. Kenshin began talking with Akemi again. He relaxed more. Akemi was beginning to open up. She began to smile and laugh again.

She didn't know though. She didn't know that Kenshin continued to watch Tomoe from afar. She might have been able to stop what happened next if she had known.

Kenshin came home late one night his sword at his side. A blank look held his eyes as he collapsed to the floor two wounds creating a cross on his face. Akemi had fallen to his side and demanded to know what had happened, her eyes filled with concern.

"I killed them…" Kenshin muttered self-loathing filling his eyes.

"What?"

"What have I become?" Kenshin asked.

"What happened?"

He looked at her despair emanating from his every word.

He had followed Tomoe that day. She had caught up with Kiyosato and they went out. She had then brought him into her house for some tea. Kenshin had watched them laughing and enjoying themselves. Kiyosato had leaned in unexpectedly kissing Tomoe. She blinked in surprise before returning the kiss. From there everything had gone wrong.

He entered the house. Tomoe screamed as Akira and Kenshin began to fight. He had a knife. Kenshin a blade. He easily slipped in and stabbed him, but much to his surprise was sliced across the face. Akira lie in a pool of his blood as Tomoe tried to reach him. Kenshin blocked her path with empty eyes.

"…what are you!?" Tomoe yelled fear evident in her eyes.

Kenshin closed his eyes before stabbing her as well. She fell down an amazed look in her tear-stained face. Kenshin knelt down beside her. Her mouth opened but no words came out as he cradled her in his arms. She brought her hand up slowly holding the knife Akira had dropped and slipped it across Kenshin's face crossing the wound already there. She smiled softly suddenly before stiffening slightly then going limp.

Her last word was his name, "Akira."

Akemi's eyes widened as he told her. The breath was stolen from her lungs and all she could do was gap at him her mouth open wide.

"What have I become? What have I become?" Kenshin moaned out rocking back and forth.

That night Kenshin and Akemi left with Hiko to go back to his secluded home. Akira had survived that night, but could not remember anything about what happened. After a brief investigation the man supposedly responsible was caught. He was a serial killer, and it was easy for Katsura to implicate him with the murder of Tomoe as well.

Akemi and Kenshin lived with Hiko for another two years. Kenshin slowly regained his sanity supported by his sister's comfort and Hiko's guidance. Hiko taught him to control his anger. As Kenshin became himself again, Akemi noticed he began to use sessha when referring to himself. He was extremely polite as well. He became fully calm within the next year, but Akemi knew darker wilder emotions stirred in him still.

It was around this time Katsura came back. He needed Kenshin. There was a problem with the Oniwabanshu, a secret organization that held great power. Akemi felt as if events were repeating themselves when Kenshin agreed to help. That was how he met Aoshi. The matter was suppressed, and a peaceful solution was taken. Kenshin began to take random assignments after that. Life had returned to the way it had always been. Kenshin did what he felt he must and came home to Akemi. She kept him safe as she could. It wasn't until recently a new problem had sprung up. The man's name was Shishio Makoto, and he was silently amassing power. Where and who was involved were hard questions to answer.

Katsura had approached the Oniwabanshu for help, but they refused. It was believed Shishio Makoto posed a huge threat to the government. Katsura once again sought Kenshin out.

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"And that's when he met you. I didn't want you there. He was stable again! Able to deal with his life as well as he could. Everything's gone so wrong since you've shown up!"

Kaoru stared at the girl in a new light. Fear and sorrow filled her as she digested all the information Akemi had told her.

"He still needs you Akemi," Kaoru said quietly.

Akemi frowned, "Don't look at me with pity. I don't need it! I don't need your pity, damn you."

Akemi jumped up and started for the door calming herself.

"Now you know. Use the information to the best of your ability."

Kaoru watched as Akemi left, a numb feeling overtaking her.

'So much pain and terror. They went through so much. How can I help Kenshin? Would it be better if I did leave?'

Kaoru shook her head. She said she wouldn't leave and she meant it. She looked down at her hands as she recalled Akemi's words about Tomoe.

'I'm scared. Does he love me? Or is it just an infatuation?'

Kaoru shook her head.

'Stop doubting.'

"Kenshin…I will help you through this…I just don't know how."

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Okay! There's chapter 16! This was just a brief history of what happened. More things will be explained in detail later! Until then! I would like to individually thank everyone!

Jason M. Lee- Yeah…I agree Kenshin and Battousai are really the same person. Kaoru hasn't realized that fully and Kenshin hasn't accepted it. You know *light bulb flashes above Kyaa's head as a mischievous grin appears before Kyaa pounces JML going for his ears* Heh…heh…haven't done that in awhile…gomen!

Chibicherry- Not a megumi fan either! But I like Sano so I thought I'd be nice to him ^_^! Nice hearing from you! Totally off subject but…your name is so kawaii!!!

Bek- Yep! Akemi can be decent…sometimes! ^_^… Hope you liked the chapter! Tell me what you thought!

Chiki- *gives Chiki a big huge hug!* thanks for the song! I enjoyed it lots! ^_^!!! It had me laughing! Very sweet! *gives Chiki another hug* you sure inspire me to write more girl!!! I'll be waiting eagerly for your next update as well! Again thanks for the lovely review…it had me smiling!!!

Aku-chan- sorry bout the cliffhanger, none this time! ^_^

Tiggergirl- Hope you liked the chapter after the evil cliffhanger. Tell me what you thought!!!

Omochi- She's getting there…Yep! Aoshi feels the guilt. He's going to be feeling down still. The baka deserves it! Love hearing from you! Your constant encouragement means lots!

Val- Yeah…It is nice to be clued in when everyone else knows and wants you to do something. Thanks for the motivation! Hope to hear from you again!

Marstanuki- here's the next chapter! Did you like it? Tell me what you thought.

Kamimura Kaoru- Waff is coming! I promise. Akemi is still a little weary of Kaoru though! Love hearing from you as always! Can't wait to hear from you again!

Icegal- ^_^! Here's the next chapter! Hope you liked it!

Gypsy-chan- ^o^!!! Aoshi is putting his life in danger! Yep Okina will probably explain some things if Misao asks! Well, I must say I honestly love hearing from you! Your reviews are always the best and very motivational! You're the best. Hope to hear from you soon!

Kriska- Ahhh! Evil schoolwork. No prob…school happens to be more important *sigh* thanks for taking the time to read and review! I appreciate it!

Phoe-chan- Akemi is rather annoying…*grabs Sou-chan and hands him to Phoe-chan* Enjoy!

Princezz Kaoru- Hiya! *big smiles* I'm glad you love it! Hope you enjoyed this update as well! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one!

Chibi-ken14- Don't die of suspense!!! *rushes over to make sure chibi-ken14 is okay* See! I updated *points to chapter* you okay now??? ^_^

Hosi-ni-onegai- Yep! I hear the suspenseful music!!! He! He! Love hearing from you!!! Always nice to! Please tell me your thoughts on this chapter too!!!

Isis13- Hi! Cliffhangers can be a nice little teaser sometimes!!! Well I hope you liked it!

Mistress of All Worlds- Yep she opened a little bit…not going to be very nice, but better then she's been! Love hearing from you! ^o^

Shizuka- Ahh! Evil schoolwork! ^_^ thanks! Akemi is still not exactly willing to be too nice to Kaoru, but she's softened up a bit. Great hearing from you! Tell me your thoughts on this chapter too!

Tesuka-chan- Inquire all you want! I don't mind! Yeah I know I made things complicated. It's just in my nature I guess. I try to write something simple then my mind sets to work and next thing I know it's totally different from what I planned! Enough babbling from me! Love hearing from you!

Shunu no Miko- I hope this chapter answered one or two questions. It was rather vague on details, but the details will come! Thanks for your constant support!

EK- Don't worry about reviewing. No need to apologize! Love hearing from you as always! I know grrr….I killed of Enishi. I think he's awesome, but in this story…he just had to go! Anyway til next time ^_^.

Bella- Hey! Nice hearing from you. They do. That would get me annoyed! Well anyway hope to hear from you again! ^o^

Kyanos- You are so sweet! You definitely motivated me! I'm glad you like my story! Hmm…help's your writer's block! ^_^ I think I'll go check out your story when I get the chance!!! Hope to hear from you soon.

Kyaa Kyaff saying love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!