A/N: Wow, I can't believe it's already the fourth chapter! Thank you sooo much for the reviews. I love you guys. Yes, I know the last chapter was pathetically short, so I made sure this one was longer. Enjoy! ^_^x.

Warning: Use of colorful language.

Disclaimer: Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I don't own Kenshin,

And neither do you! ;-p

Chapter Four: Enigma

(The next day)

This was completely unexpected. I should be bathing in the Battousai's blood tonight. I should be rejoicing in the knowledge that he can never kill again. Reveling in my success ~ the sweet stench of his death permeating the air I breathe. His sword broken in two as a testament to my strength. His head at the feet of my family's graves as a sign of repayment for their senseless murder.

But no, the Battousai is still alive, still out there, and still hauntingly unattainable. How does he know when I will strike? How does he know that he is slowly torturing me by merely remaining hidden. Even if I could just battle him once ~ know that he is real, alive, and human. That he can bleed and die and scream in agony just like all other humans. Even if I lost to him in battle, I could die in peace. I would know that I had tried my best, I would die a warrior's death at the blade, and I would know that all my training and blind faith that such a demon of a man existed was not in vain.

I've never seen him. Only heard of him, and seen carnage he leaves in his wake. He has become like a cruel god to me. Something I blindly follow, something I pursue without certain knowledge of his existence. He is, to me, intangible, inhuman, and utterly deserving of the highest form of torture imaginable. But through all his wrongs, he has remained alive. He is indestructible -immortal. How can you kill something that is immortal? This is what Hitokiri Battousai has become in my eyes. An unearthly god that must die but cannot be killed. Is he even alive to begin with? Does he have a heart or soul? How can one die if they are not truly alive?

The Battousai is the cause of all my pain, my anguish, and my deep-seated sorrows. He is solely responsible for tearing down my once tender heart and replacing it with one of stone. It is almost as if he left me alive on purpose. As if he were trying to torture me and me alone. He may have killed my family, but he killed them swiftly. They did not suffer, yet he left me alive. Alive to cope and put back the pieces of a ruin of a once beautiful mind. He had to know I was still alive, he knew and let me live. He wanted me to suffer more than the rest, but why?

I will never understand what could possibly happen to person to make them so completely heartless. What must you go through to achieve that state of soulless, unemotional, cold perfection? It is unfathomable that one human, of flesh and blood, could be so… so… inhuman. Even I have feelings, regrets, a conscience. I shudder to think that I may ever become like him. Yet, I feel as though I may be driven to it if one of us does not die soon.

I already know that once I have exacted my revenge on the Battousai, I will die. I have known this since I set out to destroy him. Everyone has a purpose in life. His was to destroy. Mine was to justify his destruction. We were made to counterbalance one another. I feel a strange connection to him. I don't know if he feels the same the connection to me. I don't know if he even knows I'm still alive. Yet, he spared my life for a reason. Perhaps he sensed this connection long before I did.

Whatever the case, once my purpose is fulfilled, I'll have no more reason to live. I suppose I'll just waste away. I know this time will come, and I am prepared for it. In fact, I await the day with joy. -The day when I can finally be at peace and return to my family -the day when this perpetual suffering ends.

Battousai is an enigma in himself. Most people don't even believe a man so terrible can exist. They consider him more like a legend. No one has ever seen him actually kill and live to tell the tale. He is shrouded in mystery, and I intend to unravel him like a weak piece of thread. At the very least, it will give me something to do whilst I wait to engage him in combat. It will very likely be the last thing I do before the inevitable end.

All this brooding is causing me to sink into depression. How ironic. I thought I could never become more depressed than I already am. Perhaps some alcohol would do me good -calm my nerves. To the bar it is.

I began my frequent journey to the bar as I always do. I used the route that took me through the back alleyways. Not safest place to be, even in broad daylight, but then again, who could lay a finger on me? I was halfway to my destination when I felt a weak presence following me. Now, who could be stupid enough to be pursuing me? Probably just some pathetic dip shit looking for some quick cash and a roll. Well, they are not going to get either from me.

I decided to let whoever was following me live as long as they didn't openly affront me. I sped up my pace. I'm feeling really frustrated at the moment, and killing something would probably be great stress relief. I tensed a bit as I heard my pursuer also speed up. Damn, this person was just asking for it. Okay, I'm really trying to be nice here. And I ducked behind yet another alleyway. But this idiot was keeping up with me. That's enough! I tried to be nice. I tried to run away. I tried to ditch them. They can die! It's their own fault!

I made a sharp turn around yet another corner and decided to lie in wait. I stood silently as the person came closer…. Closer…. They were just around the corner when I jumped out from my hiding spot, sword poised to attack. I was rather shocked however to find that the person chasing me was not a man, but a little boy. He looked around ten years old and very familiar somehow. Then it hit me -this was the brat who tried to snatch my wallet not too long ago.

"You, again? I thought I taught you a lesson last time. A lesson that should not have been so easily forgotten." At this point, the kid was lucky I hadn't skewered him alive.

"Well, yeah, um, about our last meeting… It was really cool how you handled your sword. You totally told that pink-wearing bum off. And …well.."

"Look, kid, the flattery is nice but I don't want hear it if you're just trying to save your hide. I'm not going to hurt you. So if you have a reason for following me, say it or get lost." I sheathed my sword. I couldn't kill this kid -no matter how much I wanted to.

"Well, like I said, you seem to be an awesome sword fighter, and I was just wondering if maybe… maybe you would consider…" The kid sounded almost abashed.

"If I would consider what? I don't have all day, kid."

"Would you teach me how to use a sword?" He said it quickly, so it took me a minute to register exactly what he had just asked. And I was a little surprised by his request to say the least.

"Wha- What?" I stuttered. This kid couldn't seriously want to learn my technique. My talent with a sword came at such a price that I would not wish it on even my worst enemies (Battousai aside).

"I said I want to learn your sword technique. I want to be able to defend myself. I'm tired of being pushed around. My father was a great Samurai, I want to be just like him -make him proud." The kid replied, his face lit up with pride after he mentioned his father.

"I'm sorry. There is a fine line between self-defense and senseless murder. You are too young to comprehend the power involved in my technique. I could not teach you… I could not bring myself to teach anyone. You'd have to kill your soul first, and you have such a spirited one. Believe me, learning my technique is not worth it. The sacrifices I made were too great." Wow, this kid had just managed to touch a part of me I thought was dead. The admiration and sincerity in his eyes almost made me break down and hug the little runt.

He reminded me so much of myself when I was his age. I always wanted to make my father proud. I wanted to bring honor to my family. I was my parent's only child, a female, who could therefore never become a great fighter -who could never proudly carry on the family name. As hard as I tried, I was never enough. My parents loved me, but they wanted a warrior son -not a clumsy daughter.

"Oh." Was all he said, in a sad pitiful tone. Damn this kid. I thought things over. This brat apparently had no father. That would be rough on any child. I looked into his eyes again -big mistake on my part. I saw there a fighter's spirit. The beginnings of a great warrior. It was ill advised of me, but I felt compelled to do something.

With a sigh, I replied, "Look, kid. I can't teach you my sword style, but you remind me of someone I once knew. Why don't I take you out for some lunch, my treat?"

"Really? I'm starving! Thanks lady!" He replied, suddenly not so pathetic sounding as before.

"Call me Kaoru." For once in a long while, I smiled. A real smile. The kind someone makes when they are actually happy. I had forgotten how it feels to be nice. And I had asked him to call me Kaoru. I hadn't been called that in years… not since my parents died.

"Um, ok Kaoru. I'm Yahiko. And could you stop smiling at me? It's really creepy." He said a little hesitantly. Great. I smile once every five years, and then this kid tells me I look creepy. Just wonderful.

We continued walking towards the bar. A bar probably isn't the best place to bring an impressionable ten-year old for lunch, but that's where I wanted to go. Kid or no kid. We arrived inside, Yahiko with an amazed expression his face.

"Cool! You took me to a real bar! This is so manly! I hope there is a bar fight or something!"

"Sure, whatever." I'm not exactly used to carrying on conversations, especially not with kids.

"Can I have a beer?"

"No."

"Can I touch your sword?"

"No."

"Will you tell me about any of your battle stories?"

"No." Man, did this kid ever shut up? I was beginning to seriously regret my outburst of kindness when the bar doors swung open and a crowd of rowdy men entered.

To my surprise, Yahiko spotted the men and ducked under the counter to hide.

"What is it now?" I asked exasperatedly.

"Those men. I know them." He responded in a quiet tone.

"Let me guess, you owe them money?"

"Yeah, but not the way you think. The reason I've become a pickpocket was because my family was in debt to their gang. Now I have to steal until I've made up the debt to them."

"Oh. How much do you owe them? It can't be that much."

"I don't know. Every time I ask them, they tell me 'a lot' and that I shouldn't question them."

"It seems to me that they're using you, Yahiko. What are you going to do about it?"

"I -I can't do anything." He said defeatedly.

"That's not a good enough answer. Why don't we go and clear matters up?" I said. This was perfect. Now I'd have a reason for beating someone up. I could let out some stress, finally.

"R -Really? You would do that for me?" He asked, hope shining in his eyes.

"Less talk, more action." I replied, getting up from my chair. I walked over confidently to the group of men, and cleared my throat loudly. I immediately caught their attention and quite a few leers from the other customers.

"What do you want, bitch?" One of the men asked.

"I just want to clear up a few problems. I hear you have a kid by the name of Yahiko pick-pocketing out on the streets for you."

"Yeah, what's it to you?" The same man replied.

"Well, from what I understand, you have him under the impression that he is in debt to you. There is no debt, is there?"

"No, there isn't. Why does that concern a woman like you?"

"Oh, no reason really. I just happen to be a friend of his. I go by the name of Death's Shadow. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

"The fam-famous assassin?" the man stuttered.

"Yup, that would be me. Now release Yahiko from his debt or draw your sword. I recommend the first option." I said menacingly. I unsheathed my sword and pointed it mere inches from the man's neck.

"Sure, anything! Take the kid! Please!" The man said desperately, and put his arms out in front of him in a feeble attempt to defend himself.

"You disgust me. Making a child resort to crime for your petty pocket change. You don't deserve to live. Hmm… your hair. It's too long. Perhaps I should take a bit off the top?" I smiled wickedly as I positioned the edge of my blade at the base of his neck. I applied a small amount of pressure, and a lock of his long hair fell to the floor and a tiny line of blood appeared along the side of his neck. The man was shaking in fear under the cold caresses of my blade.

Just as I was about to let the man go and tell his friends to scram, the doors of the bar swung open wide. Thus entered a familiar face -that blasted rurouni I had run into while chasing Yahiko. All eyes were on the drifter, and then the bar went silent. Curious ~ This man obviously commands some kind of respect around here. Oh well, not my concern.

I turned to face the men I had just been confronting to find that they were gone. They had left unnoticed while all the attention was focused on that rurouni. I was mad. Beyond mad -on the verge of blowing fuse. I walked right up to that god-forsaken rurouni and gave him a piece of mind.

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(Kenshin's POV)

I had a long day today, doing a whole lot of nothing. I couldn't buy anything -I had no money. I couldn't get a job -no one believed I was the Battousai. I couldn't even take a decent nap -there was a crazy woman with a pointy sword staking out my room. What's more, people were being so civil to me and it was becoming unnerving. So, I decided the best place to go would be the trusty old bar. Even if I couldn't buy a drink, at least I could get some peace and quiet. Perhaps figure a way to get out of this Rurouni costume without running around stark naked.

I entered the bar in my usual Battousai fashion. This time, no one laughed. Not even a single snicker. Oh, I'm good. Then something at the center of the bar caught my attention. It was the hot chick I'd bumped into in the alleyway. She was holding some greasy fellow at sword-point, and giving him some type of bad haircut. That's interesting. Note to self: Never let hot chick with sword near hair.

I could tell my imposing stance was taking affect on her as she dropped the man and looked me straight in the eye. That's right… you can feel the sexiness just ooze off me. The living definition of virility. (A/N: Big HAH) No woman in her right mind can resist. I watched in amusement as the men she was punishing ran off, undetected by her. She turned around, realized the men had left, and then turned back to me. Her eyes lit up with such a rage they were nearly smoldering. Holy shit. Maybe this woman isn't in her right mind, since she seemed to be doing a superb job of ignoring my sexy Battousai charms.

Then I heard a small squeal and something that sounded like "Yes! A bar fight! Go Kaoru! Kick some pink rurouni ass!" Nearly every person in the bar turned to the source of the outburst, which just happened to be a small boy. Hey! That was the kid that stole my wallet! Oh, he is going to get it! Great -First the irate woman and now the smart-ass kid. What was this? Some freakish kind of fucking family reunion? This is not my day. Scratch that. This is not my time of the month. Wait- completely scratch that one. Oh, fuck it. Life's a bitch.

I usually don't do this but, CLIFFHANGER! And again, oh the irony! Kaoru thinks Battousai is some sort of evil immortal entity. Yahiko thinks Kaoru has the awesome sword style and that Ken is a big dork. And Kenshin is just trying to hold on to his reputation and is convinced he's some kind of sex god -god's gift to women (you know the mentality ^_^x). A little backwards, I know… Next chapter: It's going to be a surprise!

Incredible thanks to all my gorgeous reviewers. *Runs and hugs/dry humps all the great reviewers. Again, I can't see half of my reviews, so if you reviewed, you know who you are, and you're super-uber special!

The Mailing list is highly recommended for those who want to keep up with the story. I'm a bit of an erratic poster, so I never know when I'll have the next chapter out. I don't know when I'll be able to post the next chapter. School is coming to a close and I have to study for finals and regents and that crap. So bear with me, the next chapter should come sooner than later. And as always, REVIEW…. Kenshin the sex God commands it!