Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and its characters for they all rightfully belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki-sensei and I just borrowed them so I may torture them so don't sue me and I thank you.*pant*

Author's greetings: Sorry for the delay, minna! I've been very busy you see. Now I'm back and trying to type this chapter. I think my head flew away somewhere (?) so forgive me if you would find this a disappointment. I know, I know. I'm supposed to try harder. Well. I am trying. So just read on and enjoy. And please review! Oh! Oh! By the way, thanks for all those who reviewed!

Rating: G (may fluctuate though)



Second Chance

Chapter IX: Wasn't A Dream

"Stay here. I'll go get Imizuki-sama."

Kenshin nodded at Shinru's direction and sat down on one of the many mats scattered in a decorative pattern all over the room. The younger man had brought him to the room where Imizuki and he had their little tête-à-tête this morning.

Shinru shivered as he watched the red-hair's back. *He's dangerous when he's wearing a real sword.*

"Master."

He whirled around. "What is it, Himitsu?"

Himitsu bowed his head. His voice dropped. "Should we proceed with the plan?"

"Iie." Shinru whispered back, casting a sideway glance to Kenshin's direction. "Iie, I don't think so. Let's wait until Imizuki-sama formulates a new plan. We have new company, remember? In the meantime, see what's going on at Yusime-san's place. We don't know what that woman would do."

Himitsu looked up. "Yusime-san? You mean, Imizuki-sama's.?"

"Yeah. she might be doing something again. She's always trouble."

Himitsu bowed again. "Hai." He turned around, ran towards the wall and jumped over it with much agility.

Shinru smiled inwardly. *I taught him well.* He slid the shoji close then walked briskly to inform Imizuki that they already had arrived.

Kenshin took a deep breath once he realized that he's alone. *Interesting, ne? They don't worry at all that I'm going to escape.* He sat still, trying to free himself from all worries but thinking at the same time about his situation.

A few moments later, the shoji slid open. Imizuki stepped into the room first and Shinru followed. Kenshin looked up, mouth dropping open. Shinru, at the same time, frowned at the red-hair's reaction to his mistress's appearance.

Apparently, Imizuki's appearance really was interesting and mouth-dropping. She was wearing a deep-blue kimono, with sakura petals scattered all over the sleeves, butterflies fluttering in their wake. On the sakura petals are morning dews, depicting a very refreshing look. Her hair was tied up into a high pony-tail with a blue ribbon.

For Kenshin, she looked like an older Kaoru. *But she isn't Kaoru.*

She sat down on the mat, facing him a few feet away. Shinru sat on the mat beside Kenshin, a scowl fixated on his face.

"Well." she started. "How are you, Himura?"

"I feel completely fine, Imizuki-dono, arigato." He replied politely. "Shinru told me you wanted to speak with me."

"Of course. You see, Himura, now that we have you, some things have turned complicated."

"What would have turned complicated?"

"We have to actually change some parts of our detailed plans because of you."

"Forgive me then for causing such an inconve--"

Imizuki held up her hand, palm out, telling him to stop talking. "Iie, iie. That's not the point. Would you like to hear the plan?"

Shinru cut in. "I-Imizuki-sama, do-don't you think it's a bit early for that?"

She glared at him. "I say what I want to say, Shinru." She said stonily.

He tensed. "Hai, Imizuki-sama."

"It's like this." She said to Kenshin. "We had been targeting a certain official a few weeks before. Shinru was supposed to do the work with his group. But lately I figured that it'd be too difficult and dangerous for them."

Shinru looked up. "Imizuki-sama, I can do it! I told you!" He insisted.

She turned to him angrily. "I do not doubt your ability as a swordsman and as a strategist, Shinru. What I am doubting here is the unrestrained temper of some of your stupidly-trained students. If you would put some more time to watching and training these certain students, you'll understand what I mean. Now, shut the hell up. One more word from you, and I'll have your head!"

The loyal vassal looked down, obviously embarrassed. *I'll kill those students Imizuki-sama was referring to. Who the hell are they anyway? *

"Now," she continued. "I have decided to gather all fourteen leaders of the remaining fourteen factions of the Takamigumi. I know it'd be a bit dangerous for their respective districts but I think it'd be worth it. They'll be arriving tomorrow morning, I believe. Before I give you, Himura, the new plan I have, I'd like them to see you too. Apparently," She started to get up. "You've got fans among them." She chuckled.

She walked towards the shoji, then, sliding it open, she stepped out. "Oh, by the way, Shinru, don't take what I said to heart." She walked away. "I don't want anyone disturbing me tonight. No reports, no bad news, no nothing." She added as her voice faded.

Shinru sighed. "Would you look at that?" He grinned.

Kenshin smiled secretly. *I see.* He stood up. "Imizuki-dono mentioned that you train.?"

Shinru stood up himself. "Yeah, I'm in-charge of training new recruits actually."

"I see."

"Look, if you want to eat, go to the kitchen. Grab whatever you see." Saying this, Shinru left him.

Kenshin watched Shinru walk away, his eyebrow rising in confusion. *Imizuki-dono. and Shinru. oro?!!*



@@@



It was probably a few hours before midnight. It was the time in the night when everybody was supposed to be asleep but was not. A figure was moving through the hallway of Takami Yusime's ryo-kan, heading towards a certain room containing a nineteen year old girl with sapphire eyes.

Kaoru sat up on her futon, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She glanced around the dark room and could hardly make out Megumi's slim figure sleeping on her futon.

*Somebody's here. I know it.* She told herself. She stood up and wrapped her arms around herself as she shivered from the cold. She walked cautiously towards the shoji.

Before she could completely slide the shoji open, a hand came from the outside and covered her mouth before she could make out a scream.

"MMMMmmm!!!!" She fought the captor, trying to get away, but his other free hand grabbed both her wrists. She tried screaming once again but wasn't able to. "Mmmmmmm-uh-mmm!" She tried calling out to Megumi, but the young doctor was sound asleep and she shifted to her more comfortable side with her back on Kaoru and her captor.

A dagger was suddenly placed dangerously near her throat. Her eyes widened in fear. *Oh Kami! This can't be! I can feel the blade! Oh God! I can feel the blade! No, I'm supposed to be dreaming!*

She thought fast. Suddenly, she opened her mouth slightly and bit her captor's hand. He grunted and involuntarily removed his hand from Kaoru's mouth. Kaoru seized the opportunity. She screamed.

'TAAAAASUUUKETTTTE!!!!! KENSHIIIN!!! HELP!"

She felt the hands holding her wrists tense. With his free hand, her captor hit her at the back of the neck, striking a fatal pressure point.

She suddenly blacked out.



@@@



"Kaoru! Kaoru! Wake up! You were sleepwalking! Kaoru? Kaoru!"

Kaoru opened her eyes with much effort. She couldn't make out the blurry faces above her but she was sure the voices were familiar.

"Is she gonna be all right?" Somebody asked, probably Sano.

"I think so. It's just a dream. She's probably sleep-walking that's why she's here outside our room." Megumi answered. "Kaoru, open your eyes. That's it. Open your eyes. There. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

She sat up slowly and covered her face with her right hand. "Sumimasen." She looked around her and saw that Megumi was kneeling beside her, Sano was hovering over Megumi, Yahiko was sitting cross-legged at her other side and some of the other visitors had exited from their room, looking very groggy, staring at her and wondering what the hell was the matter.

"Oh come on, busu! These nightmares are becoming frequent, you know, and you're scaring the hell outta me!" Yahiko exclaimed.

"Oi! It's not my fault those dreams keep coming back, Yahiko-CHAN!" She countered.

All of a sudden, Yusime appeared beside them, carrying an additional circular lantern. Worry was etched on her aging face. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. Jou-chan here had a nightmare. She'd been sleepwalking." Sano replied.

Her face relaxed a bit. "I'm happy to hear that. I heard somebody scream; I thought something bad happened."

Kaoru looked at her in disbelief. "I-I screamed?"

Sano looked at her as if she was a nut head. "Uhuh, you screamed and you almost damaged my eardrums."

"Mine too." Yahiko added.

Kaoru looked down to her lap. "You guys believe it was just a nightmare? I was just sleepwalking? Bu-but it all felt kind of. real."

"What felt real?" Sano inquired.

"The-the." She looked up cheerfully. "Never mind. Yusime-san, did we disturb the other visitors?"

"Well, dear, some woke up, but I'll tell them to go back to sleep, don't worry."

"Arigato."

Sano and Yahiko stood up. "Yare." Sano said. "WE guys better get some sleep too. Jou-chan, no more nightmares please."

"Yeah, I'll try." She smiled as she watched the two males enter their own room, sliding the shoji close behind them. Megumi and she stood up and went back to their futons. But Megumi did not put out the lantern nor did she go back to sleep. She was just sitting there on her futon, staring at Kaoru.

Kaoru fidgeted uneasily with her blanket. A few moments later, she realized she couldn't take it anymore. "Well, Megumi-san, shall we go to sleep?"

Megumi stood up and knelt beside Kaoru's futon. "Iie." She replied, a grave expression visible on her beautiful face. "Iie."

Kaoru was taken aback but soon recovered. "Don't you want to go to sleep?"

"There's something we first need to discuss."

"Nani?"

"Why you came back to the ryo-kan late this afternoon."

"Mou!" Kaoru looked exasperated. "I just got lost! I told you that, remember?"

"Was that the only reason?"

"Hai!"

"Were you really sleepwalking?"

"I. I."

"Well.?" Megumi pressed.

"It all felt real though. uh. I think.?" Kaoru looked down uneasily.

Megumi sighed and impatiently flipped her long hair over her shoulder. "Would you tell me the truth, Kaoru?"

"Uh." Kaoru started. "I think there's nothing else."

Megumi smiled. "I doubt it." She peered into the younger girls face. She noticed Kaoru's avoiding eyes. Suddenly, she took Kaoru's chin in her hand and forced the girl to look up to her. "I do not believe that this is a vacation alone, Kaoru. Do not underestimate my abilities. I am not stupid. You know something. But." She removed her hand from Kaoru's chin and smiled. "You still aren't ready to tell us yet. Let us go to sleep. Tomorrow, I will make sure you will, let's say, spill the beans, as Sano would put it. Oyasumi once again, Kaoru."

The young doctor went to her futon and in minutes, she was sound asleep.

Kaoru was still sitting on her futon, watching Megumi sleep, her lips were moving as she exhaled and inhaled. She looked forward and realized that the window was open. Then suddenly, she gasped as her hand involuntarily flew to the back of her neck.

Outside the open window was that same young man who had held the dagger on her throat the night the Takamigumi took Kenshin. Kaoru held his stare.

A few minutes later, the man smiled at her. A smile that can be described as a cross between malice and seduction. In a blink of an eye, he had leaped from the window and disappeared.

*Oh my God! How did they find us that fast?! I have to tell the rest about the real situation tomorrow! This is dangerous.* She stood up and walked towards the open window warily. She hurriedly slid the window close and breathed a sigh of relief.

*It wasn't a dream. Oh my god, it was not a dream. It was him who was here.* She collapsed to the floor in muffled sobs. *What do they want? I can't keep up with this any longer.*

*That guy. that guy was the one who was here. he was the one with the dagger. it really was Himitsu.*



TBC





Author's notes: Yeah, this was a bit serious and all; sorry. It may seem a bit complicated but actually it's not. So just bear with me and I'll make the next chapter happier. By the way, thanks to all those who reviewed. I'm really sorry for the delay, but you see, I've been kind of busy lately. I was a bit busy and I'm telling the TRUTH!!! And yeah, if you would like to make friends with me, you're all welcome! C= Really I swear! My e-mail addy is lieveit1@yahoo.com

Got it? I thank you all for reviewing. And would you like to know what I've been doing as of late? I'm trying to finish TALES OF DESTINY II, an RPG game; I just won a Bingo game, I think I'm not improving in strumming my guitar and I'm trying to draw Avril Lavigne. I know someone who pronounces Lavigne as Lavine. Eeee.

By the way. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

REMINDER: IF YOU REVIEW, I AM HAPPY. IF I AM HAPPY, I TYPE A CHAPTER. IF I TYPE A CHAPTER, I UPLOAD IT TO FF.NET. SO PLEAAASE HELP ME. ^-^

lieveit1 '^-^'