Disclaimer: I don't own RK. Never have, never will, cause people in America have already bought the rights. Besides, doujinshi get sold in Japan all the time, and no one sues them, right?

"I wouldn't have needed to visit if you and your woman hadn't left, Battousai."

Kenshin frowned and allowed his hand to drift towards his sword. I've problems enough here, Saitou. "If this lowly one had anything to say, 'twould have been said. And certainly any other police officer could have been sent."

"I'm not here to ask what you think of anything, Battousai."

"And you will not be asking Kaoru." Kenshin narrowed his eyes.

"I'm here, you know," said Kaoru sullenly. "If he wants to talk to me, he can. You aren't my keeper, Kenshin." She walked around him to stare Saitou in the eyes.

Saitou looked at her with an almost curious glint at the back of his eyes. The man is sadistic. "She isn't well."

"Why don't we let Megumi decide that?" she challenged. "It's not as though you have some special magic that let's you see if I'm all right or not."

I don't need any magic for that, Kaoru. Kenshin swallowed his anger. I will not become angry with her. I will allow her what she wants, a second opinion. And then, I will throw Saitou out on his ear. "As you wish, Kaoru-dono. Megumi-dono, would you please look at her? Tea would be nice for everyone. This lowly one trusts you will not bother Kaoru-dono while he is not here, Saitou."

Kenshin smiled mildly at everyone and hurried himself into the kitchen, keeping his ears attuned to the other room. He busied himself with preparing the tea. Kaoru should eat, as well. There should be some rice left from breakfast. Perhaps I can make a rice ball for her? She shouldn't be eating too much, if she hasn't eaten since she was taken.

He frowned a bit angrily as he took the rice into his hands. They should not have done that. She was a hostage, and you are not supposed to treat a hostage like that. He didn't want to let her see the anger though. If she saw that he was angry, she'd think her current insane wish for her attackers to be dead was justified. They've damaged her so badly. She was an innocent, unable to wish for someone's death. I don't know that she'll ever be able to hold her ideals the same way again.

The water started to boil, so Kenshin put the rice ball into its seaweed wrap and took it and the water back out to where Kaoru was. "'Tis a rice ball, Kaoru," he said with a smile, presenting it to her.

"I can see what it is. I told Sanosuke that I wasn't hungry. I guess you weren't listening." Her tone was full of spite.

"This lowly one was listening, Kaoru-dono, however..."

"You're going to eat it, Kaoru. Doctor's orders." Kaoru glared at Megumi but took the food, then a small bite. Kenshin nodded to Megumi in thanks. "Unfortunately, I can't say that Kaoru is too ill to speak with the police."

Kenshin smiled peacefully. Lovely. Just what I wanted, a chance to supervise Saitou while he's doing his job with my family. "This lowly one is happy that Kaoru-dono is well enough. Mightn't it be nice for Kaoru-dono to rest first, Megumi-dono?"

"She's already said that I'm fine, Kenshin. You can't change that just because you want to hide me away." She looked up at Saitou. "So what did you want to ask?"

Saitou looked at Kenshin, then entered the house, kneeling in the place at the table across from Kaoru. "First, what did they do to you, Kamiya?"

"Dishonored me. Next question?"

Saitou was looking at Kaoru the way he might look at an annoying little fly that had just landed on his noodles. Kaoru stared back at him, apparently unfazed. Staring back at him like this, you'd think she wasn't at all afraid of him... Kaoru, unafraid of a killer like him? 'Twould indicate that she is unafraid of death...

"Did they say who they were?"

Kenshin shook his head. There was no need to ask her extraneous questions! Saitou was doing it to make him upset, it was the only possible explanation. "They told me who they were, Saitou." Kenshin stared at the man. "They challenged me, and the question is better suited to me than to her."

"But he asked me." Kaoru turned her head to glare at Kenshin. "You shouldn't be interrupting me, Kenshin."

"Having troubles keeping your woman in line, Battousai?"

"I'm not his woman, or anyone else's." Now who's interrupting other people's answers, Kaoru? "Was there anything else you wanted to ask, Saitou-san?"

Kenshin put on a beneficent smile and started pouring tea. He's only asked three questions and already I want to kill him. He poured some for Saitou, filling the cup completely. It certainly wouldn't be impossible for master swordsmen to drink out of a cup so full without spilling on themselves, but it would be difficult.

"Did they give you any messages, Kamiya?"

"Messages? No, why?" Kaoru asked, taking a sip of her tea. Kenshin watched Saitou take a bit of his own, one corner of his mouth jerking upwards as the other man spilled a drop on his uniform.

"Ah. I suppose it might have been coincidence."

"Coincidence?" Kenshin looked up at Saitou with a frown. There was no need to keep information quiet around his family. Besides, even if it were necessary, Sano would end up asking.

"Japan may be in need of your skills."

Kenshin took a slow, deep breath. This was done to keep me with her then? So that she would be broken, and I might think twice before leaving her. "'Tis just so, then," he breathed. "And what does Japan need me for, Saitou?"

Saitou shrugged. "Another set of warriors intending to destroy the government. Your group made that a popular way to get out of troubles, apparently."

"And it's led by...?"

"One from the shogunate's side this time."

Kenshin nodded. "If Japan needs me, I will do what I must." He glanced at Kaoru. I cannot allow anyone to control me through her. If I do it once, they will know that they have me, and she will be nothing more than a pawn to be stolen and damaged when they need me incapacitated.

"If you want to leave, then just leave, Kenshin." Kaoru turned her head. "No one's stopping you. I'm definitely not going to stop you."

Saitou glanced at her sharply. "Little girl, even if you were not brought up in the Tokugawa era, you are still the daughter of a samurai. If you would behave as a proper samurai woman instead of some merchant girl, you would be much better off."

"There is no caste system anymore, and the merchants are doing way better than anyone else. Fuck you."

Saitou stared at her for a moment, and Kenshin's hand found itself on his sword hilt. After almost a minute, Saitou stood, releasing the tension. "Perhaps you were right about her state after all. Good day."

The group watched as Saitou left.

As soon as he was out the door, Megumi let out a breath. "Kaoru, I thought he was going to kill you for that! What were you thinking?"

"Hmph. He wouldn't have killed me. Kenshin's better than him, and Kenshin doesn't like seeing anyone die. Right, Kenshin?" She put on a not-so-sweet looking smile and directed it at him. Kenshin sighed inaudibly and Kaoru turned to Megumi and Sano. "So how do you like my new hairstyle, Megumi-san?"

"Kaoru-dono, 'tis time for you to rest." Not time for you to discuss your foolish choice to get rid of your hair.

"No, Kaoru needs to bathe first. The rest will do her no good if her wounds get infected." Megumi stood. "I'll help her out. Why don't you start the fire, Ken-san?"

"All right. But then, she should sleep."

"Don't I get any say in this? This is me you're talking to. I don't just follow orders like I'm some... student. Hey, where's Yahiko?"

"Oh, the kid? He's been staying at the Akabeko. Kenshin told him to get out or something, cause he was going nuts worrying about you. I think I'll get going too. You're safe, sorta, so I can get back to my gambling, right Kenshin?"

"If you insist, Sano." Kenshin waved to his friend who was already out the door. "This lowly one will start the fire for the bath now. 'Twill be ready shortly."

Author's Notes

1. Well I gave you Kenshin's POV... did you like it? Did it work out to show why he's been doing what he's been doing?

2. Was Kaoru too rude to Saitou? I hope that didn't play out too badly... I just didn't have the heart to do it from her perspective though. It's hard to make yourself stay in anger-mode to write her... I keep wanting to write a scene where Kenshin's all completely sweet when it's not what should happen, just to make Kaoru feel better...

3. Onigiri (rice balls) can be made simply, with salt water and nori (sea weed)! Isn't Japanese cooking fun? And you can apparently buy them all over Japan, in packages that look like they're for cheese...

Jin Ð oh, I'm K&K all the way! I like cannon pairings... besides, the only non-cannon I've ever considered in RK was Saitou and Kaoru, and that was just to be perverse.

Kard of Dark Ð ha. I don't think she wants a wig. No one even mentioned it until she said something about it... I guess it would have been rude to interrupt Saitou...

Lebleuphoenix Ð well... I mean, I partly wrote this in response to how everyone always has Kenshin become Battousai at the slightest provocation... For goodness' sake, he spent 10 years out there learning to control himself. Becoming Battousai twice in the series is a LOT, why is it that some people have Kaoru get KISSED and he's all ready to kill something? He's a practiced study in control in the manga, a perfect samurai gentleman, keeping his emotions to himself. Er... sorry, I went a bit long on that one...

Please everyone, remember to encourage me with reviews! I'm not trying to hold anyone hostage for reviews, but I know me... I've got a ton of things to do, the more reviews I have, the more it's an obligation instead of "Oh, damn, I've gotta get that next chapter out sometime soon!" See you on the next chapter!