**REVISED** Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic

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Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version ©N. Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment

All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.

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New Paths, Old Roads and Unlikely Allies Fanfic By:  Chiruken Chapter 6

~Winter~

          I look up slowly at Kaoru's quiet words.  "Why didn't you tell me?  Don't you think I would have done all I could to assist as well?"

          She scowls at me in obvious disbelief.  "Well, Kenshin, you haven't exactly been yourself lately.  How could I ask you to help someone you clearly didn't like?  Every time you look at him, I see Battousai in your eyes."

          I sigh in frustration.  "Has it occurred to you that maybe even I can be angered by being insulted by someone I don't know?"

          "Has it occurred to you that maybe that's his only way of defending himself?"

          Her heated retort leaves me momentarily speechless.  Is she being purposely obtuse?  "You may not have noticed, but he does carry a concealed katana, Kaoru.  I'd say he isn't nearly as defenseless as he's led you to believe."

          She at least has the grace to blush.  "Well…you do have a point…"

          "Face it, Jou-chan…The guy's a worm.  His head's so far up his…"

          "Sano."  I think it's best if I stop him before he finishes that thought and says too much.  Kaoru does not need another excuse to jump to Matsumoto's defense.  "I've asked Saito to look into Matsumoto's past for me."  It's best to be honest about that now, before she finds out on her own…such as when Saito shows up at the doujou.

          "Oh, really?"  Her eyes flash blue fire as she narrows her gaze in obvious anger.  Maybe I shouldn't have said anything after all.  "What gave you the right to do such a thing?  Wouldn't you call that prying?"

          I shake my head feeling my own temper heating again.  "No, I'd call it being cautious.  Neither you nor your rude and overbearing houseguest were very forthcoming with information, so I went to someone who would tell me what I needed to know."

          She folds her arms over her chest and glares at me in displeasure.  "So, what did he tell you?"

          I shrug and smile tightly.  "I'll find out by tomorrow what Saito has to say."  I see no need to share my own theories at this point in time.

          "I see."  She falls silent and looks at me searchingly for a moment before continuing.  "Why did you threaten him?"

          "Because it made me feel better, why else?"  I snap it out in irritation.  "Though, to be honest, I didn't expect him to react that way."

          "How did you expect him to react?  You scared the life out of him.  He's terrified of you now and thinks you'll come to assassinate him any night now.  Why did you tell him you were an assassin?"

          "I didn't tell him anything he didn't already know."  At her questioning look I shrug.  "I thought it was obvious by the way he reacted to me on our first meeting.  His actions were those of a deeply paranoid man terrified of an assassin's attack."

          "Anyone would've been frightened by the way you suddenly appeared."

          "It wasn't quite as sudden as you seem to think."  I mutter it under my breath crossly.  "Give me enough credit to recognize the signs of a target's reaction to facing what he sees as imminent death."

          "In that case, was it so surprising that he fainted when you confirmed his worst fears?  Really, Kenshin, I never thought you would be so insensitive to another's feelings."

          I refrain from reminding her that he started it by not being sensitive to my feelings, as it would only sound childish and immature.  "It wasn't that I was being overly callus, Kaoru.  I was very angry and when I reach that point I'm like anyone else in this world…not particularly worried about someone else's feelings at the moment."  I lean against the tree and regard her levelly.  "I'm not overly regretful of how things turned out other than I'm sorry you're angry with me.  I won't apologize for frightening the jerk…I think he had it coming…and I most certainly would do it again.  I'm not about to actually kill him, but he doesn't need to know that.  People like Matsumoto really irritate me with their arrogant attitudes of puffed up self-importance."

          Her lips twitch with the beginnings of laughter, her eyes dancing with barely restrained mirth.  "He was being rather over-bearing, wasn't he?"  I nod emphatically.  "I owe you an apology."  She looks down, her fingers nervously pleating her kimono.  "I'm sorry I overreacted and ignored your feelings.  Will you come home with me and start over?"

          I frown at her bent head.  "Is Matsumoto still there?"  When she nods I sigh in resignation.  "First tell me who he really is an why he feels he needs your help."

          "Matsumoto-san is the secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yoshizawa Gyukudo. He's a key witness to testifying against Yoshizawa-san concerning smuggling and the sale of illegal weapons on the black market."

          Sanosuke gives a low whistle.  "I don't envy that guy.  He's gotta have everybody and their dog after his sorry hide."

          "So that's why he's so nervous.  That explains much, but why here of all places?"

          "Yamagata Aritomo sent him."

          I smack a palm to my forehead.  "I'm an idiot!"

          "Considering your unreasonable behaviour of the past few days, I'm not about to argue with you."

          I nod with a sheepish smile.  "All right, Kaoru.  I'll help you protect the slimy little rat, but I'm not going to be his personal attendant anymore.  I won't be responsible for my actions if he orders me to fetch his haori even once more."

          "Thank you, Kenshin."  She grimaces with a growing flush of embarrassment.  "Um…one more thing."

          "I'm almost afraid to ask, but what is it?"

          "Could you please prepare lunch?  I'm afraid Matsumoto-san got sick after eating the breakfast I prepared today."  I fight to suppress a grin as Sanosuke laughs outright and I try to cover my snicker with a cough.

          "Serves him right for drivin' Kenshin away in the first place.  I say let him suffer or make him fend for himself."

          I look at him with a carefully blank expression.  "You're one to talk, Sano.  Wasn't it you who first complained about Kaoru-dono's cooking?"  I say it in a mild and neutral tone, not revealing my delight at the discovery that I had my heartfelt wish granted.  I turn a typically innocent rurouni gaze on Kaoru and smile sweetly.  "Was he very sick, Kaoru-dono?  Miserably so?  Was he wishing he was dead?"

          Her eyes widen in surprise.  "Why, Kenshin, I never realized how truly fiendish you could be."  I shrug unapologetically.  "I find it amazing that I never noticed this vicious streak in you before.  Are you sure you're all right with helping a man you so obviously despise?"

          "It doesn't really matter to me one way or another, as long as he doesn't pester me again."  To my way of thinking, by agreeing to assist Kaoru in guarding his imperial pain in the neck, I have gained ample opportunity to seek ways to make him as miserable as he made me.  "How long will he be staying?"

          "I'm not really sure.  Yamagata-sama's letter didn't specify the length of time Matsumoto-san would need protection."

          "Hey, Jou-chan…you sure it wasn't a fake?"  I glance at Sanosuke in surprise.  There are times, such as now, that he says things that make a lot of sense.

          "No, I'm not sure, Sanosuke."  I wince at her sharp tone.  "Could you tell the difference between a real seal and a fake?"

          He shakes his head with an embarrassed flush.  "No, but I bet Kenshin could."

          I shrug noncommittally.  "Perhaps."  I think I'd like to have a good long look at that letter.  If it is counterfeit…I narrow my eyes and smile coldly…I will see it that Matsumoto-san regrets his deception.  Counterfeit or genuine…either way Matsumoto is in for a surprise.  I don't think he'll be overjoyed to see me no matter what the circumstances.  I regard Kaoru in assessment for a moment.  I think I'd better warn her of my less than courteous plans for her houseguest before I implement them.  Surprising her later could result in another cold night in this tree.  "Um…Kaoru-dono, there is something that you should know, that there is."

          "Oh my…that sounds ominous considering your recent irrational conduct, Kenshin."

          "Well…" I hesitate a moment, uncertain how to tell her I intend to be even more 'irrational', as she put it.  "I don't intend to be very nice to Matsumoto, that I do not.  Call it…" I smile grimly.  "My retaliation for all the mischief he's caused."

          "Can I watch?"  I chuckle at Sanosuke's eager question.  "I'm serious, Kenshin.  This oughta be good."

          She punches his arm.  "Don't encourage him."  She turns to me, biting her lip in obvious worry.  "I can see you're going to be stubborn about this so I won't even bother trying to talk you out of it.  It would be a waste of breath arguing with you to be your usual kind and forgiving self, wouldn't it?'  My only reply is a shrug.  "Just promise me you won't hurt him, all right?"

          I shake my head slowly, regretting the necessity of refusing her terms.  "I'm sorry, Kaoru-dono, that I am.  I can't promise such a thing.  However, I can promise to not cause him fatal harm."

          "Do you hate him that much?  I never believed you could be so…so…" I flinch, expecting her to voice her displeasure with me in the least pleasant way.  "So relentless in your pursuit of revenge."  I breathe a silent sigh of relief.  That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  "What, exactly, did you have in mind?"

          "I'm not sure.  I thought I would begin with intimidation and go from there."  I smile happily as I gather the bundle Yahiko brought last night.  "It appears I have some skill in doing that."

          "You aren't going to tell him about…about your past, are you?"  She looks anxious at the thought of my revealing that I was Hitokiri Battousai during the revolution.

          I shake my head, feeling a little annoyed that she'd even think I'd do such an unadvisable…and more than a little stupid…thing.  "Of course not.  That would cause unpleasant repercussions for a very long time to come, Kaoru-dono."

          "'Course, it might keep the slug in line, you know."  Kaoru punches his arm again and I silently thank her for doing so.  If left up to me, I'd like to pound some sense into that think skull of his.  "What?  What'd I say?"

          "Do you want to place Kenshin in danger again?  That's a stupid idea, Sanosuke."

          "Now, now…you both have very reasonable points concerning the matter, that you do.  However, I think it's best if we just let the matter drop."  I smile cheerfully and begin walking back to the doujou with wickedly gleeful anticipation, my steps lively and determined.

**To Be Continued…**

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Response to Reviewers:

Shiomei & UnearthlyEmperor:  Thanks for reading and reviewing!  I'm so glad you're liking it.

Ewunia:  You're right…if Kenshin told Kaoru that he loved her and then left, it would be almost as devastating, if not more so, than when he left her to go to Kyoto because she would then know that she drove him away.  And he was going to tell her…but at that point she was still angry and he was afraid of rejection…**sigh**  Poor Kenshin.

C-Chan:  I like him, too!  I've always thought that Battousai was given a bad rep without being given a chance…(**ahem**  We'll just ignore my fic, "The Madness of the Hitokiri", which does precisely that).  He isn't evil, he's just misunderstood.

Lizzie:  She did have it coming…but yes, it is kinda surprising to see Kenshin, who rarely raises his voice, doing so to the woman he loves.  As for a chapter in Kaoru's POV, I never really thought about doing that since this is a story from Kenshin's POV…but maybe I can do a short thingy at the end (kinda like a "Special", or something).  What do you think?

JML:  VERY good question.  Why indeed?  (This chapter doesn't really clear that up, does it?)

AngelsExist:  I'll continue with the daily updates for as long as I can, but once I've finished transcribing my handwritten (which, by the way, I'd be doing a lot faster if my handwriting weren't so terrible that I can barely read it) it may take longer for the updates since I'll be continuing (or at least trying to continue) the story from scratch.  It's been a year…I hope I can catch the train of thought again that I had when I began this fic.  (Truth to tell, I can't remember where I intended this fic to go when I started writing it…but I'll do the best I can!)  Don't worry…Kenshin will have his revenge…bwuahahahaha!

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Revised:

Thanks Jason M. L. for pointing out the problem with Matsumoto's supposed testifying against himself.  I had a rough day…that's the only excuse I can muster.  I think I fixed it…but at 2am I can't be absolutely certain.  **blah**