Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.

FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at kaoru_koishii@yahoo.com

Chapter Nine

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

Himura battoussai woke up to the sound of moment outside his room. He rose quietly from his sitting position by the window and with katana in hand. He opened the door.

The messenger figured that the red headed man would answer in the same way he had previously so this time he hadn't bothered to knock. "There is a meeting." He trailed off. Himura's glinting eyes and unsheathed sword gave him a menacing look. He took a step back.

The battoussai closed the door to his room and followed the messenger down. His movements were automatic. His expression one of monotony.

The messenger took his seat across the room as he they entered the room.

Kenshin came into the room and took his usual seat. He noted Yamagata's absence. He closed his eyes waiting. Every one around him talked, speculating. The door opened and Yamagata came in. Kenshin opened his eyes to reveal eerie blue orbs with flecks of amber swirling on the sides. For some reason he knew.

Yamagata took a seat. Getting right down to business he cleared his throat and began. "I have received word today. Osaka has sustained minimal damage. It was not burned to the same extend as Nagoya which lost a quarter of it's habitants. Our forces were able to drive them out but not before they . . . " He paused. "Both sides have suffered some loss, which was expected. However reinforcement arrived from the Mimawari-gumi. They slaughtered the statement representing Osaka along with his entire household. The entire police force along with the police station was destroyed. Sources tell me Kyoto is next."

He let the whispering die down before he continued. "As of today you are no longer allowed to leave the premises unless accompanied by three swordsmen. Those who don't comply will not be allowed to leave."

"Wait just a minute there Yamagata." Hamasu, a man in his middle forties called out. "We didn't come here to be held prisoners."

"That is correct, you came here so that I could keep you safe. So you could live." Yamagata finished as if he hadn't been interrupted.

"Can we pick from the liter of swordsmen?" Kumamato, an older man about fifty asked.

"If we are then I want the battoussai." Hamasu quickly put in.

The whispers broke out again.

"I can pay you."

"Name your price?"

"I'll pay you double."

"I'll match any price and some."

"I have a family you have to protect me."

"I have family too and I can pay."

The shouting of continued amongst the statesmen.

"Enough!" Yamagata said as he slammed his hand down on the floor. "Himura will not be acting as a guard." He said after taking a calming breath. "He is an hitokiri do you understand." He said not being able to hide his anger.

Some mumbling went on but they hushed down again.

"If you wish to leave, then do so now. Those who will stay will follow the rules." Yamagata got up and to his surprise Himura accompanied him.

Out side the door Yamagata shook his head. "You shouldn't have followed me Himura. They will think you are acting as my personal guard." He said as they walked towards his room.

"They can think what they want." Himura said he sat down in front Yamagata.

Yamagata shook his head. He hated being the bearer of bad news.

"You didn't finish your speech." Himura said as he looked up and met his eyes.

Yamagata opened his mouth and then closed it. He smiled at his old friend, always so observant. "I wanted them to help me decide." Yamagata looked down at his folded hands. I can't attack them. I have no clear view as to where they me. At this point all I've heard is speculations. I have sent scouts who've returned with no news. All I can do is wait. Himura, just a month ago things were as they should have been. Peaceful times, a time of progress but now things have changed so drastically. I . . . I can no longer leave any member of the group alive." He turned his sorrow filled eyes to his old friend.

The battoussai just looked at him. " We will eliminate all threat," he said getting up. He paused at the door. "To protect, we must slay our enemies." He opened and closed the door quietly as he made his way out.

The shouts from the dining made him pause mid step.

"He can't do this!"

"Did you see how the battoussai followed him out?"

"He wanted him for himself."

"You guys are being unreasonable."

"You're too young to know; you don't know what fear is."

"Shut up."

"They're assassinating officials of the Ishin Shishi."

They were arguing amongst themselves. He felt an overwhelming disgust rise in his throat. They were only thinking about themselves. What would happen to them? He continued his walk back to his room. They'd been here two weeks already. No member from the Mimawari-gumi had been spotted in the area. Still they hadn't identified the men who'd attacked him on the night of his first patrol.

He slid the door to his room to see her lying form sound asleep. Closing the door he surveyed the dark room. It was too dark. He walked to window and opened it. The rain hadn't let up at all. The smell of wet dirt made him think about her dojo for some reason. He glanced back to her form hidden under all the blankets. Only some black strands peaked out from under the covers. He smiled inwardly and made his way over to her. Lifting up the blankets he got in with her. His arms wrapped around her form and brought her closer to him. She was always so warm. He smelled her hair; it always smelled like jasmine. Even when the rest of her smelled like him, her hair still smelled of jasmine. His hands rubbed her back absentmindedly. She murmured something that sounded like his name followed by a sigh. He actually smiled at the darkened room. Even in sleep she could not escape him.

His smile slipped of his handsome face. He couldn't dream of her. He kept having that strange dream. Where he followed someone but there was too much fog to see who it was. He'd thought it was her form a brief period of time but if it was her then there would have been no need for his katana. Her small hands reached out to him then. He looked down at her but she was still asleep. It was odd the way she could sense his mood swings. And no matter how angry he was. She had a way about her. It soothed him, often with her words, sometimes with a touch or a kiss. The result was always the same. He would calm down long enough to listen to reason. He stifled back a yawn. He hadn't realized he was tired. 'Kaoru,' he thought as his body relaxed and his mind drifted off.

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

"DAMN IT" She screeched at the top of her lungs.

Kenshin was sure everyone at the inn had heard her. He was trying to be reasonable but she was making it very difficult with her stubbornness. "No."

"Kenshin-BAKA! " She screamed as she stomped her floor down. "You said unless accompanied by three swordsmen."

"I don't trust their skill." He spoke evenly. Not going to raise my voice he thought.

"Then you take me." She said again.

They'd been arguing for the last half-hour. As soon as he'd told her she couldn't step out of the Inn the fight had started. "I cannot."

"Yes you can, you find a way to take me." She crossed her arms over her chest.

He shook his head.

"Fine." She said sitting down with her back to him. She stared out the window. The rain had finally stopped it would have been a perfect day to visit the Aoiya. Misao would be so angry if she knew she was in town at had yet to make a friendly call.

'Over protective'

'Jerk'

'Good for nothing rurouni, never should have taken him in'

She kept mumbling things under her breath. He gave an exasperated sigh but didn't leave the room. He would not leave until it was time to go. His shifts were going to start getting longer and he really wanted to spend his free time with her.

'Bastard'

"Stop." He commanded her.

She whirled around so fast it almost startled him. "Excuse me."

"I said stop." His voice remained even. He was the man in this relationship and she'd have to learn that what he did, he did for her safety.

Her hands fisted together as she rose onto her feet. Moving away from the window she walked over to him and looked down at him. "Himura Ken" She didn't get to finish as he got up to answer the door.

"What is it?" He asked crisply.

The messenger was red in the face. "Umm, Yamagata-san wishes to step out. He wishes you to accompany him." The messenger stepped back as Kenshin stepped out through the door.

"Kenshin you come back here, you . . . ." The rest over her words were drawn out with the click off the door.

The messenger and the battoussai made their way down the stairs even as they heard things breaking in her room. The messenger gave the battoussai a nervous glance to see his reaction but there was none. It was like he hadn't heard anything at all.

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

Kaoru was steaming. She wanted to rip his head off and give it a couple of good kicks. She sat in the middle of the room away from the broken glass. He'd left the house almost an hour ago. She'd been able to see a bit of his red strands as the gate closed.

She was dressed in a light kimono with a deep purple obi. It was always harder to climb roof tops in these things, she thought as she looked out the window. She nodded at no one in particular and pulled her ponytail tight. She glanced around again but there was no one outside. This was the time they usually changed shifts. She pulled herself out the window and began her climb. She made it out to the roof and paced herself. She didn't want to make any noise or fall of the roof so she took it slow. She gave a small jump from the roof to a near by tree. She'd just caught onto the branch. With a breath of relief she climbed down the tree. Getting out through the gate seemed like the hardest thing. She hid around the tree for while until she noticed the guard on duty grabbed his stomach and ran off. What luck! She ran for the gate. Opened it quietly and raced out after she closed it. She ran for a while. Eventually she slowed her pace. She'd been in pain the day they had arrived and though she still felt the pain from time to time it wasn't as bad as it had been then. She walked down the streets till she came to a familiar set of steps. She remembered that's where she'd sat moments before Yahiko and her had run into Misao. A wistful smile curved her lips. 'Kenshin.'

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

His body stiffened for a moment. He looked around not sure he'd find what he expected. It must have been the wind. It couldn't have been . . ..

The battoussai felt a bit anxious as he stood guard, though it had nothing to do with his current post. They'd come to a shop were messages were sent to and from their desired destinations.

"Himura." Yamagata called his friend back to reality. It was odd he didn't often space out. "There is an urgent message for me to go into the next town. I need to leave immediately. I would appreciate your company."

Kenshin nodded in acceptance before he knew what he was doing. He realized only too slowly that Yamagata had turned. With quick even strides he was back at Yamagata's side. They boarded a carriage and set off for Shiga.

They spent the ride over in silence.

They could see smoke coming from the eastern district. When they got there once house stood in a blaze of flames. People were gathered around crying in fear. Word had spread about a group setting fires to entire cities. Rumors had exaggerated the story to the group wanting to spread fire to all of a Japan.

Yamagata descended from the carriage with confusion clearly visible on his face.

The battoussai stood close by watching the people around them. From an alley about eight houses down was a man. He kept peaking and glancing their way. When the man saw the redheaded man starring at him he waved them over rather hastily. The battoussai grabbed Yamagata by the arm and lead him down to alley. There was nothing he couldn't cut with his katana.

"Yamato what happened?" Yamagata asked with concern. He looked like he'd been beaten up. Yamagata eyed his elbow especially; it looked like it was broken.

"They tried to kill me."

Understanding came to him then off course they would. "So you do know their location." Yamagata stated.

Yamato nodded. "It's in . . ." The sound of something flying though the air caused the battoussai to turn around. He'd been at the entrance of the alley when he'd heard the noise. He'd been too late. Rushing over to Yamagata's side he noted the dart embedded in the man's throat. He shoved Yamagata close to the wall before he stepped away from the shadow of the building and peered to look up onto the rooftops. He sensed no one.

"Yamato please can you me tell where they are?" Yamagata pleaded.

"Shiga . . . they're in . . . O." He was having problems breathing. "Ot . . O" He closed his eyes shut as he felt his throat constrict. 'Poisonous dart,' he thought before his mind drifted to oblivion.

Yamagata stared down the 'one' man who knew. Who'd known the location of the Mimawari-gumi. He shook his head sadly. "We need to get in touch with the police. Someone will need to come get him."

Himura nearly nodded and together they walked

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

Kaoru looked at the sign hanging over the restaurant finally she'd made it. She wasted no more time with a big smile on her face she walked into the restaurant. She saw Omasu and flashed her smile. "Is Misao in?"

Omasu returned the smile and waved her over to her. "She'd inside just go ahead and go right in." Kaoru bowed in gratitude before stepping into the back. "Misao" Kaoru called out.

Moments later a young women came bounding into the room. "Kaoru-chan." She responded smiling. "I was wandering when you were going to show up?"

At this Kaoru's face contorted into confusion.

"Shiro saw you at the train station when you first got here." Misao looked at her friend closely. "What's wrong?"

Kaoru hadn't realized she'd spaced off. "There are things I need to tell you, can we talk in private?" Kaoru asked becoming serious.

Misao nodded. "Let's go to my room."

The girls walked to Misao's room quietly, neither said anything until they were inside the safety of the room. "All right what happened?" She asked eagerly.

With a long deep sigh Kaoru began her story of that one dreadful wish.

"You're kidding me?" Misao asked incredulously.

Kaoru nodded.

"Wow." She just couldn't believe it I mean stuff like that didn't happen and on a blue Moon. Wishes just weren't granted every day. "But . . . so he doesn't remember then. The first wife?"

Kaoru shook her head, no.

"Wow, so he's the hitokiri battoussai?" Misao said. She watched her friend nod. "What's he like?"

Kaoru's face suddenly flushed and Misao jumped at the opportunity. "Kaoru-chan." Misao sang out. "What are you not telling me?"

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

"So you not only failed but you lost nineteen of your men." Kawamori's tone was crisp. "That's a third of your men."

Minami stood straight awaiting judgment. He's only answers so far had consisted of "Yes" and "No."

News had traveled back even before Minami had come back. This would change things. By the amount of resistance they received in Osaka it was obvious that Yamagata knew something. The loss of his four men in Kawaramachi Sanjo though very tragic had also been very enlightening. It meant Yamagata had gathered forces to protect the area. He could over look Kyoto, really he could but this battle. No, this war. It was personal. The Ishin had stolen glory from their grasps. Kyoto had been the turning point for the Ishin Shishi and because of that he just couldn't turn away. He had to make them pay. All of them.

Minami looked at his commander a little uneasy. The only sigh of his distress was the constant fisting of his hands.

Kawamori turned around suddenly. "How many Shinsegumi casualties?"

"Nine dead and two uncertain." Minami answered.

Kawamori didn't like those numbers. If they suffered loss he expected his enemies' loss to be twice as many. "You and your men will set a post in the outskirts of Kyoto." He was curt more then he'd ever been with him before. "Don not arrive all at once. Do you understand?" He waited for Minami to respond.

"Yes sir."

"We will attack Kyoto in a different manner than first devised. Keep low and wait for word. We've already suffered loss there." With that said Kawamori turned his back on Minami and looked out the window.

"Yes sir." And with those final words Minami left. He gave a deep sigh of relief once he was several feet from Kawamori's room. He'd though he'd lose a hand or that he'd be executed. He never thought he'd get away that easily. He thanked Kami his father had saved Kawamori once otherwise he'd be dead now. Feeling in brighter spirits he left to gather his men. They could rest once they were in Kyoto.

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

Kaoru and Misao were both beat red. Neither had expected to trip and fall into the river. People had looked at them funny all the way back to the Aoiya. They'd tried to sneak back into the house to no avail.

"Misao."

Kaoru gave a sigh of relief it was only Okina. Misao's eyes widen. Behind him, just behind him. "Aoshi-sama." She breathed. Again both girls turned a crimson color.

Okina was about to ask them something when suddenly Aoshi's hand settled on the old man's shoulder. The old man smiled largely at the girls. "I'll fix you girls a bath." He said with a wink before he ran off leaving them in the presence of Shinomori Aoshi second contender for the most confusing man in Japan.

Misao was about to open her mouth when he cut her off.

"Step inside before you get sick." His expression hadn't changed when he'd spoken to her but it'd been the words. He cared if she got sick. Both girls stared at his retreating back for a moment before they squealed simultaneously.

"Did you pick up on it?" Kaoru asked.

"I did, I was afraid I was the only one." Misao sighed as she and Kaoru moved towards the bathhouse. "I think being Okashira again will do him some good. I really, really hope he's like he was before. I still remember the way the corners of his mouth tilted upwards, almost a smile. It happened every time I asked some stupid question." Misao's eyes had glazed over in memory.

Kaoru smiled merrily. Looking at the up at the darkening sky she made a mental note, she'd better get home before Kenshin.

"Will you be staying for dinner?"

Kaoru looked back down at Misao. "No I can't Kenshin will get worried. I don't think I'll like the results if he finds me out of the house."

Misao nodded in understanding. Still she was very curious to see the difference.

"I'll try to bring him by before we leave." Kaoru said at seeing the curious glint in Misao's eyes.

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

Kaoru ran as fast as she could. She had to hurry. Had to hurry. She shouldn't have stayed so long. She could see the gates up ahead. She was almost there. She slammed against the doors unable to make herself stop. Oh, no. She was supposed to climb the gate not knock on it. The small window slid open just as the first drops of rain began to descend.

The man on the other side was shivering. He got one look at her and thanked Kami for all that was good. "It's YOU." He exclaimed. Off all the luck. He swung the door open immediately.

Kaoru didn't understand he's reaction but it crept her out. Suddenly she was afraid to go through the gates. And because of that she remained on the threshold. 'What are you doing?' apart of her asked. 'Aren't we the one that tell Kenshin what to do?' She frowned. It was true. She did what she wanted. She didn't need to ask for his permission and if she had snuck out it was his fault. She'd more than asked if he'd take her instead. Feeling righteous anger welling up she took a step forward into the house. She marched into the house ready to rip his head off. She'd been holding back her temper for far too long. This was part of who she was and it was about time he became familiar with it much like the rurouni had.

"Where is SHE?"

The roar of his voice made her stop in her tracks. He wouldn't hurt her right? Of course not. The whole idea was absurd. Just the same she dashed to the left and climbed the familiar tree. She made it to the rooftop and swung herself into her room landing inside with a thump. Her breathing ragged, she collapsed.

"Where have you been?"

The icy tone of his voice made her head snap back up. Her mouth moved soundlessly. The anger she'd felt outside was momentarily forgotten in the face of the current situation. Her startled eyes were wary of his ominous form. His amber eyes pinned her to her spot.

All right my darling readers. I have finished another chapter for you guys. I got side tracked by sailor moon sorry. In any case I hope you enjoy it.

Very small reminder but just so you guys know I AM NOT going to follow the MANGA. I loved it, yes. I own it plus the dvd's. However, I never agreed with the end which is that they said he (Kenshin) could use his skill but only for a while longer before it became completely useless. I hated that. And because this is a FIC thank kami. I can twist and turn all facts to accommodate my story. So if you see some that makes you go, 'Umm ok that's not what happened in the manga.' Well I reiterate to you, fics don't have to follow the show, or the manga.

Enough with the ranting. I would like to thank everyone who's reviewing. Despite what some might think it actually does bring me inspiration. The sailor moon fic I'm writing has been taking my time plus I'm not posting all chapters as soon as I finish. Lately I've been finishing it and then moving on to the next one. Very sorry. But like I've said before if you can't wait. Like absolutely can't wait. Then e-mail me I will send you what I've got. I've read some stories where I feel like they leave me hanging and I really don't want to do it. I mean I know I probably do. But I don't mean to.

Small Note: There were only two new names introduced in this chapter. Hamasu, a man in his middle forties. And Kumamato, an older man about fifty. Both are members of the government. Only those high ranking officials with important ties to Yamagata whether in business or in friendship, were extended and invitation to Kyoto. With the death of the Osaka statesman and because of the way he was killed Yamagata has put all current residents under his care under stricter set of rules. Something they didn't like one bit.

Thank you all for reading. Please remember to review.