Howdy! Sorry about that cliffhanger I left you all at, but I gotta keep your attention somehow... ^-^' Now... Yup. Let's get on with the story.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters. Well? What? Ok ok, I do. *angry mob chases her* Ok ok, I don't! Yeesh... Tough crowd...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ******************************************************************** Misao slashed out at a guy who was drawing closer to her. He stepped back, grunting in pain. Just then, all of the gang members began to close in. Her kunai were ripped from her hand as the men started to touch her.

Kaoru was also disarmed. She watched helplessly as her bokken crashed to the ground about 10 feet away. One of the men began to lift her shirt. She lashed out violently and sent him scampering away. There were too many! She couldn't possibly beat them all!

They both tried to fight off the men that were coming at them from all directions, but it was all in vain. They were both pinned to the wall, having to endure the sickening sensation of hands roaming their bodies. And they both screamed. ********************************************************************

Kenshin's violet eyes widened at the sight before him, then narrowed in anger. He jumped down from the roof top, using all the speed he had. He drew his sakabatou in midair and landed gracefully in front of Kaoru. He growled at them, his eyes flickering back and forth between violet and amber.

"Big mistake!" He growled ferociously as he took out five men with one swipe of his sakabatou.

Only two remained, and that's before they ran away.

Kaoru was traumatized, and her breathing came in short, raspy breaths. Kenshin put his hand on her shoulder. She could still feel those hands, feeling her... She drew back from his touch.

Kenshin was surprised. Had he done something wrong? He dismissed that thought. No, she had just had a bad experience.

Aoshi had been in the middle of saying something to Kenshin, when he turned around and he was gone. He looked down into the alley below him, and the sight that greeted him made him want to tear apart every living thing he saw. He jumped down, landing on one of the men, rendering him unconscious. He drew his kodachi and fought the pack of oncoming thugs. He stabbed one's shoulder, slashed one's abdomen, pierced through one's hip. He finally disposed of the last one and ran to Misao, who was quaking in fear, staring straight ahead.

"Misao!" He exclaimed, rushing to her and hugging her close. He realized what he was doing and stepped back, clearing his throat. "You should know better than to be in this sort of area."

Her eyes filled with tears as she errupted into cries of agony. She had tried so hard to not cry... She had tried so hard to be brave. She had done exceptionally well until his last sentence. She knew that she had disappointed him. She wanted to be strong and prove she could handle herself. She didn't want to be a baby about it. But his icy reprimanding had sent her over the edge. She had needed comforting, but he didn't give her any. She had failed... She was just a little lamb in his eyes. Not knowing anything, incredibly dense and stupid, getting herself in trouble, and not being able to get out.

It felt like some one had just stabbed him right through the heart. He hadn't meant to make her cry... He just wasn't used to showing emotion... He wasn't used to getting close to people... It took him by surprise. He sighed, gathered her in his arms, and took off.

Kenshin sighed and looked around at all the unconscious bodies laying around. He shook his head and turned his attention back to Kaoru. "We need to get out of here." He said.

She nodded and began to walk, but her knees gave out. Kenshin caught her before she could fall to the ground. Silent tears streamed down her face. He sighed and lifted her up, bridal style. He jumped onto the rooftop, and followed after Aoshi.

*************** *A little while later*

"Get up." Tougi kicked an unmoving form on the ground. "What the hell is wrong with you all!?"

"Sir." Said a man, bowing before him.

"Why are they all like this?" He asked.

"Two guys showed up and saved them before you got here." The man replied.

"Them!? She was suppose to come alone!" He growled, grabbing the man by his collar.

"Sir, I didn't know her friend would come with! She said she came by accident!" The man's blue eyes were blazing with hatred.

Tougi released him.

"You and your men were suppose to scare her a bit. And then you were suppose to send word to me, so I could come save the day and she could fall hopelessly in love with me."

"Sir Tougi, the men came before we could send word..."

"SILENCE!" Tougi yelled. He then brought his voice down. "Then we'll just have to try something else... But not today, mind you. Prepare your men, make sure they recover. I'll be back to settle this matter."

************

Every one met back at the required place at seven. Tougi was already there with the limo, waiting. Every one got in and they drove back to the mansion in silence. Misao and Kaoru, he noticed, seemed to be elsewhere. They were staring out the window, obviously lost in thought.

They got back to the mansion without incident, and every one went to their rooms. Misao sighed. She must have disappointed Aoshi... Maybe she should go apologize. She got up, went to his room, and knocked on the door.

"Enter." Misao smiled. He was so cute.

Aoshi heard the door being opened, and looked up to see Misao standing by the door, looking rather unsure of herself.

"Come in." He said. She nodded and closed the door behind her, choosing to sit on his bed. He was at his desk, stroking his kodachi thoughtfully.

Misao didn't know how to start. She sighed and began anyway. "Aoshi, I wanted to say I'm sorry."

He turned from his desk, surprised. "Sorry?"

"Yes. I'm sorry that..." She fought back the tears, "that I'm so weak you have to save me every time I'm in trouble... I'm sorry you always have to stop what you're doing to get me out of some mess I got myself into... And I'm really sorry that all I do is bother you." She finished, closing her eyes in frustration. "That's all." She said, getting up to walk out. She opened the door.

"Wait." He said. "I... It wasn't your fault. You see Misao, I really... I really..." He choked over the words he wanted to say.

Misao's heart fluttered. Did he really care for her? Would he admit it now? She fervently hoped so...

"I don't think you're helpless." He finished lamely. Why couldn't he just tell her how he felt about her?

Misao got a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Oh." She said. "Good night Aoshi." And with that, she left. She didn't want him to see her crying again. Hot tears burned her cheeks as she slipped into her bed. She let out all her hurt and anger in tears, crying herself to sleep.

Aoshi sighed. He wanted to tell her that it had scared him to death when he saw what those guys were doing to her. And it made him mad. So mad he wanted to kill. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him. How he had come to look forward to her smiling face each morning. How he loved her bubbly personality. How she seemed to light up a room as soon as she entered it. He shook his head. Why hadn't he been able to tell her?

**************

"No! NO!" Kaoru screamed, waking herself up. She abruptly sat up in her bed, sweating and breathing hard. She sighed in relief as she realized where she was. "It was just a dream..." She muttered, trying to calm her nerves. She threw the bed covers aside and left her room, deciding to explore the hallways. She quietly tiptoed down her corridor, but stopped when she saw a door labeled "balcony". She opened it and stepped out to the balcony, decorated with a few items of furniture, and over looking a pool. She layed down on a love seat.

She sighed and closed her eyes. That experience was so horrible... It was not something she would soon forget. She shivered and curled as much as possible into a ball. She was quite surprised when she was covered in a warm material. Her eyes shot open. Kenshin was standing over her, smiling. She managed a weak smile in return, and shifted to face him under the blanket he had brought.

"Still a little jumpy, that you are." He said, seating himself in a chair across from her, sipping a cup of tea.

"Yeah, I guess I am." She replied.

"Are you okay?" He asked, looking rather concerned.

"Yes. I just... Can't stop imagining.... I can still feel it." She shuddered.

Kenshin nodded and got out of his chair. He set the tea down and carefully walked over to her.

"I'm only sorry I couldn't have been there sooner." He said, then paused. "I won't let it happen again." He promised.

Kaoru nodded and smiled. She believed him.

He bend down and kissed her forehead. "Good night Kaoru-dono."

"Kenshin..."

He stopped and turned. "Yes?"

"Will you... Stay out here with me?" She asked.

"If you wish." He said, seating himself on the other end of the loveseat, by her feet.

"It was terrible..." She said after a few moments of silence.

"I can't imagine" He said thoughtfully, "how it feels to be a woman in that situation, that I can't. Helpless to some hentai's advances."

"It's terrifying. Knowing you can't do anything..."

"Shhhh..." Kenshin took her in his arms, rocking her back and forth. "I'll never let any one touch you again."

Kaoru smiled up at him. Kenshin blushed.

"Is it alright if I... Stay here, with you for the night?" He asked.

"I'd like that, that I would." She answered.

He blushed again at her using his phrase. He layed down next to her, so that he was to the back of the loveseat, and she was towards the edge. He slipped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder, breathing in the scent of flowers. He smiled to himself and whispered, "Good night Kaoru-dono."

"Goodnight Kenshin..." She said, quickly falling asleep in his comforting presence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~

There ya have it. Some fluff. ^.^ There's more. Oh yes... There will be more... Muahaha... Anyway... I have bad news. I'm going to Indiana with my mom, and I didn't know until last minute. We're leaving tomorrow (Saturday) and won't be back until Tuesday. That's actually why I'm putting this chapter out now, since I left you guys at an awful cliffhanger, and I don't want you to kill me when I get back ^.^ But I shall be back (hopefully with another chapter) on Tuesday.

I get to spend quality time with my mom... ^-^' hahaha... what a joy. Yep. I'll most likely be bored down there. Nothin' ta do and all... Anyway... Well... Ja!

~Seien