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 Twelve

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

Tomoyuki threw himself at Izubuchi in an attack similar to the Shogunate. It caught him by surprise but Izubuchi recovered quickly avoiding the blade and striking his own blade into Tomoyuki's knee. Misao began to tremble with the feeling to stay and fight and the feeling to flee.

"Let's go Misao. We have to warn the others." Kaoru said brokenly.

Misao, whose eyes had misted over nodded and crawled back with her. The sound of metal clashed as they crawled back. They could hear the cries of enragement coming from Yasuo and Tomoyuki. They were attacking together most likely.

They made it to the edge of the trees and began running as soon as they made it to the main road. They ran until they made it to Inn. They were both breathless when they got there. The door opened and allowed them access. Kaoru and Misao ran into the dinning hall. Looking for Kenshin or Aoshi.

"Kaoru, they're not here." Misao almost whimpered.

"I know Misao, I know." They left the room and stopped in the hall. Let's try his room." Together they ran through a couple of halls before stopping in front of a door.

Yamagata opened the door. He looked alarmed. "What's wrong?" He asked taking them by the arm and leading them in.

Kaoru looked around in disappointment. "They're not here."

Yamagata looked at them. "No, they left some time ago. They've gone to send word to Yatsume and to see if they can round up more help." He said to them. He couldn't help but notice they looked frightened.

"The Mimawari-gumi is here." Kaoru said shaking just a bit.

"They're hiding in the outskirts of town. They got. They got . . . ." Misao couldn't bring herself to get the words out. They were stuck in her throat, choking her.

"They got Tetsu, Tomoyuki and Yasuo." "Kaoru finished. "Some man named . . . . Izubuchi."

Misao looked thoughtful for a moment. "He said he was fifth captain of the Mimawari-gumi."

Yamagata had heard enough. "I will have the woods searched." He rose leaving them alone in his room.

"Kaoru we need to get back." Misao said nervously.

"Why, we're safe here." She responded.

Misao shook her head. "They will expect to find us at the Aoiya. I don't know about you but I want them to find us there."

"All right. I'll just grab another kimono and I'll change there." Kaoru said as they both got up. They went to her room where she took a kimono out hastily. "Let's go." She said after stuffing a thing or two into a bag.

They walked down the road with another guard. This time they stuck close to him. Fukuyama kept a watch full eye on his surroundings. He kept a hand on the hilt of his word. Though he'd feel better if it was already drawn.

The walk back to the Aoiya seemed to take three times as long as it usually did. They walked back silently. The girls glancing around nervously. They could fight and maybe even win against one or two of the Mimawari but eventually they'd fall in battle.

Okina stood outside the Aoiya, waiting. "Where have you girls been? I saw Aoshi and Himura heading out. You were not supposed to leave." He gave them a scrutinizing look. "What happened?" He asked them when they entered.

"Are you coming in?" Misao asked Fukuyama.

"No, I will remain out here till another relieves me." He responded. Misao nodded and then he turned.

Okina waited till they were seated and with a small cup of sake in their belly before he asked them. "What happened?"

Misao and Kaoru, who sat huddled together, had finally released a bit of the tension their body had held. With a sigh Misao began to retell what had happened out in the forest. Kaoru filled in certain parts when Misao paused or seemed to forget.

Okina looked thoughtful for a moment. "I see, so the fight grows near."

"Jiya, what do you expect to happen?" Misao asked having watched his expression.

Kaoru could only imagine what it would be like. Having been attacked in Izu, she imagined it would be like that. Dark and cold when they attacked. Dozens of them against Kenshin and a few others. Her heart tightened and she looked down hiding her face.

"Destruction and disarray." He responded.

"I don't remember the Bakumatsu but it will be like that won't it?" Misao said distraughtly.

"Something like it." Okina said.

Kaoru's head snapped back up. Kenshin had said that.

"You seemed worried Kaoru." Okina inquired.

"It's. It's just . . . I don't know where Kenshin is." Kaoru paused. "I worry."

Misao who'd looked somewhat at ease a moment before now looked worried too. If Kaoru was worried about Kenshin who's skill just slightly surpassed her Aoshi-sama's then she really had something to worry about. What if he got killed during this? She blinked back the tears threatening to spill. She never though about him dying. The thought just seemed so unlikely. Absurd. But now . . . . .it might be more than a possibility.

"I think maybe you girls should rest. We may all have to flee in the middle of the night." He said to them with a very serious look.

The girls looked at each other before they rose. "Kaoru you can sleep in my room." Misao said as they walked to her room. Kaoru nodded and followed her.

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

"Why the hell did you bring everyone here?" Minami was steaming mad.

Izubuchi though looked uninterested. "I'm not going anywhere without my men." He said darkly.

Minami fisted his hands. He and his men had spent the last couple of day hiding like rats and this . . . . this . . . . He just comes along and brings his whole fucking army in here with him. During the DAY when people can see him.

"Look Kawamori said to lay low and wait till the fifth day before we start anything." Minami said through a clenched jaw.

Izubuchi gave him a nasty look before he left to his room.

Minami gave a shuddering breath and stalked back to the dinning were his men were. He had been waiting for the day to draw near but he hated seeing Izubuchi. With any luck he'd meet his end here. Whether at the hands of their enemy or his own was yet to be decided.

He took a seat in front of his men. He had waved dismissively at two of his personal guards and they walked out to guard the doors. Once he was sure there would be no one listening to them. He began. "We will set the fires and engage only the police." His men broke out in protest. "I know someone you were looking forward to this." Al lot of his men nodded in confirmation. "However, you must remember that the Battoussai is here. And though it's been some ten years since his last appearance on a battlefield. I will remind you he killed all of Ono's men. I don't know how he and Touya survived but I don't think we'll all be that lucky. If any will die here it will be Izubuchi and his men. Not us. We'll make it to Yokohama, where we'll fight alongside Kawamori and the others." His men remained silent. He knew they didn't agree with the change in tactics. "All right then, who here volunteers to fight the Oniwa-banshuu." He looked around. " I won't get mad. If you are willing to stay and fight then that's fine. A group of you can stay and engage the Oniwa-banshuu" Still none of his men said anything. "Did you want to stay and fight the Ishin Shishi?"

For grown men they acted like children sometimes he thought. Shaking his head. He'd spent over a year with these guys and he didn't want to see them die. Not here anyways.

"Our plan will proceed like these." Minami said taking away the offer of choice. "We will leave at midnight tomorrow night. We well separate into two groups. One will burn the police station and anyone inside who can raise the alarm. As soon as the fire is out the group will disband into sets of two. Should you engage the enemy." And he really stressed the word SHOULD. "You silence them as fast as you can. Even if you don't kill him, slash his throat or cut his tongue out. Just don't let him raise the alarm. Other policemen and guards here will come when they see the fire. They will head for the police station. You kill them when you see them." He looked at them intently. "The second group will wait in town. Despite our efforts I know Izubuchi. He won't care what he does and that will raise the alarm. This group will wait in sets of three in the streets leading off to the main road. You engage only the men." He looked at them again. "Do you understand?" Snapped at them.

"Yes sir." They voiced in unison.

"We will leave at dawn. No matter where you are. You get out, odds are we will be separated and we will get attacked on the road to Yokohama. That is why you have to stick to your inner groups." With a deep sigh he sat back into his place. "I'd like to let you out tonight. Enjoy Kyoto maybe a woman or two. But . . ." He knew he was making a sour face. "Because of him now I can't risk exposing us. We'd become the target and loose the element of surprise." He moved away from his sitting position and moved away to the window. His men sat still. Minami removed a straw from his gi. He put it to his lips and blew something out.

"whhhp."

"Two of you go out there and hide him where Izubuchi won't find him." He heard several footsteps before he even turned around. 'That'll teach the bastards for sending someone to spy on him,' he thought darkly.

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

Kenshin and Aoshi approached the Aoiya sometime after twilight. They'd run around all day going as far as Hyogo were they met some contacts.

Kenshin eyed the guard suspiciously. "Why are you here?" He asked Fukuyama.

"Yamagata told me to take over watch." Fukuyama said not really looking him in the eyes.

"Where are the others?" Kenshin asked though his voice took on a threatening quality.

"He didn't say." Fukuyama answered quickly.

Kenshin eyed him once more before continuing his walk inside with Aoshi.

They walked in to see everyone eating. Almost everyone. Kaoru and Misao sat a bit to the side looking glum.

Misao and Kaoru's head snapped up at the same time. Relief crossed their features before they ran up to them.

Only Kaoru however threw herself at Kenshin in reassuring hug. Misao had stopped in front of Aoshi knowing she couldn't hug him like that, especially in front of people.

"What happened?" Aoshi asked looking at Misao face which had little scratches all over the place.

Kaoru hugged Kenshin tighter at the question unwilling to let him go.

"We . . ." Misao said pausing to lick her lips. They were going to get mad. "We were out in town and . . . ."

"You were what." Kenshin bellowed. He'd pushed Kaoru back and was looking at her guilty face.

Kaoru looked at him a bit defiantly. "You never said we couldn't leave the Aoiya." She said stubbornly.

Sparks of amber began to swirl in his eyes.

Aoshi repeated his question. "What happened?"

"We where near the outskirts of town when Kaoru saw something in the woods . . . ." Misao trailed off again as she looked at Himura.

His thumb and index finger pinched his nose like a headache was coming on. When he removed his hand away though Misao stepped back. He looked extremely angry.

Aoshi glanced at him as his ki went up.

"You went to investigate I suppose." Kenshin said though his tone lacked amusement.

Kaoru licked her lips a sign of nervousness. "I thought someone might need help so I went to go look. We walked in to the forest quietly."

"And that made all the difference." Kenshin said sarcastically." Everyone in the room stayed still. They'd never seen Kenshin as anything other than the rurouni with a smile that never really reached his eyes though they were always warm.

Kaoru's eye narrowed.

"We where in the woods when we saw some people in a clearing. Five men." Misao said for Kaoru who seemed like she was starting to become angry.

"Yasuo recognized them as Mimawari-gumi."

"What?" Kenshin almost roared with anger.

Kaoru ignored him and pressed on. "He told us to go back but . . . .we . . . we couldn't make ourselves to leave. It's like we were rooted to the spot." Kaoru's eyes took on a far away look. "Tetsu . . . he went in and the man. He killed him." Kaoru's lip quivered just a bit. "Cut his head off. It bounced on the floor." She said blinking back the memory.

Kenshin and Aoshi exchanged a look. "What happened then?" Kenshin asked turning his attention to Misao.

Misao who was startled out of Kaoru's memory looked at Kenshin and then at Aoshi. "Yasuo fought this man . . .

"Izubuchi" Kaoru put in.

"This man Izubuchi said that he was the fifth captain of the Mimawari-gumi. He fought Yasuo." Misao looked at Kaoru for confirmation on Yasuo's name. "Izubuchi said that, 'NO fucking Ishin Shishi can beat me. Not even your legendary battoussai will stand against my sword." Misao paused remembering how bravely Yasuo had fought.

"Yasuo struck out in blind anger he said, The battoussai will kill you mark my words you son-of a bitch." Kaoru gave a sad smile when she retold it. "I tried to go help him but Tomoyuki pushed me down. He told us to go back." Kaoru trailed off.

"Go back and warn them. They are here. Do you understand? They are here and with that Tomoyuki ran into the clearing in time to stop the Izubuchi's blade from killing Yasuo." Misao repeated the words.

"We don't know what happened after that. We left. We ran as fast as we could back to the Inn looking for you. But you weren't there." Kaoru said if not accused Kenshin, who'd, lost all trace of emotion from his face. Only his amber eyes stood as proof of his anger.

"Who did you tell?" Aoshi asked.

"We told Yamagata-san." Misao spoke squaring herself to look at him. Trying to defer meaning out of those eyes. "He said he would have the forest searched."

Aoshi nodded. "Let's sit." Aoshi said noticing how both girls were on the verge off falling over.

The girls reluctantly took their seat huddled together again.

Kenshin frowned in disapproval but Kaoru didn't notice.

"You will stay here." Aoshi asked Kenshin. Both girls looked up at them.

"Yes and tomorrow you will stay with me." Kenshin said.

Aoshi nodded and turned back to the table were everyone pretended to eat.

Kaoru served Aoshi avoiding Kenshin eyes while Misao did the same for Kenshin avoiding Aoshi's eyes. The rest of the meal went on in quiet silence.

Misao face almost drooped into her tea. Scaring herself and Kaoru who was holding on to the table for support.

"You girls need to go to sleep." Okina told them quietly.

Misao and Kaoru didn't argue. The days event's had taken there told on them. Slowly they made their way to Misao's room.

Kenshin rose to stop her but Okina held his arm tightly. Kenshin almost glared at the old man. "She really needs to rest, the both of them do. You didn't see them when they came back. They were whiter than a sheet." Okina said sternly. "They were too young to remember things from the Bakumatsu but they asked me if this is what it was like. The killing."

Kenshin's face became stony. To him it was like before, there was no difference. Different strategies but still the same.

Aoshi's mind drifted off to the Bakumatsu and how he and his men . . . . How the whole Oniwa-banshuu had fought.

"We have to stop things here before they move on." Okina said shaking them out of their reverie.

"It's not that easy anymore." Aoshi spoke up. "What we encounter here. It will be a distraction." Aoshi stared straight at the wall as if seeing something. "We don't leave to pursue the leader of the Mimawari-gumi because even a distraction can finish off Kyoto if we're not careful."

Okina looked taken back. "Do you know who he is?"

"Maybe." Aoshi said. "We're not sure."

"Why do you want us to go back with you Himura?" Okina asked redirecting his gaze towards him.

"The Aoiya will be attacked. Burned to the ground most likely. You will be safe at the Inn." He responded.

Okina opened his mouth. To ask how he knew that. But Kenshin waved him off. "We need to leave at sunup. Get some rest."

"You can sleep in Aoshi's room then. I will set the extra futon there." Okina said, as he was about to leave.

"I don't require a futon."

"What? Are you going to sleep standing up?" Okina asked. Aoshi frowned and waved him off before Kenshin could respond.

"We need to discuss what we'll do." Kenshin said to Aoshi when the old man had finally left.

Aoshi nodded. "We'll do what we discussed on the way here."

"Everyone will stay at the Inn while you and eight of yours wait for them here. I will leave for Kawamarachi Sanjo at Midnight. I'll take eight of mine and we'll patrol. The rest will stay at the Inn. I don't believe it will get attacked but if it should . . . . There will be seven of yours and seventeen of mine. That should be more than enough. However if it isn't, they need to head for the mountain where my shishou lives." Kenshin paused when Aoshi raised and eye brow. "Why not the mountains?"

"It'll be dark. The Mimawari-gumi could hide in the woods, slaughter than as they run into the safety of the darkness." Aoshi stated calmly.

The Mimawari-gumi will know we know they will attack the city. Kenshin thought for a moment. "Where do you suggest they go?"

"Back into the city."

"Why? The city will be swarming with them." Kenshin frowned, his ki rising just a notch.

"They'd know we'd run away from them not at them." Aoshi stated coolly.

The battoussai however didn't like taking chances were his wife was concerned which is why he wanted her far away. Away from the danger. His frown became a scowl. "You must have a place in mind. Since they can't just run around the city looking for us."

Aoshi almost smiled. "There is a place. The Oniwa-banshuu know it as point A. They can redirect everyone there."

Kenshin would have to trust this man. Misao was with Kaoru and as long as they remained together . . . . Shinomori cared for Misao and if he thought this place was safe for her then he would have to trust it was safe enough for Kaoru. Reluctantly or perhaps stubbornly. He nodded.

They both walked up the stairs in silence ready to sleep for three hours before they rounded everyone up.

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

Yamagata was up at the crack off dawn. He watched as a large group made their way to the Inn. Twenty he counted yet he knew only three of them. He squinted trying to get a better look.

As they got closer he could see. 'Ah, the Oniwa-banshuu along with their leader too.' It was nice to have more protection but what prompted Himura to bring them back to in Ishin Shishi establishment.

He went down stairs quickly rousing up the landlady along and together they both waited at the door for them.

Everyone filled into the dinning hall which at this hour was completely empty. Having had little to eat. They became silent when Yamagata cleared his throat. "I have spoke with the landlady about getting you rooms unfortunately we are down to five. I apologize for the inconvenience, as you will have to share." Yamagata said after sometime.

All the people nodded.

"There are housekeepers waiting to take you up. Four for each room." He smiled at them and rose.

Everyone followed suit and left. All except for Aoshi, Kenshin and Yamagata.

"What have you learned?" Kenshin asked when the door had closed.

Yamagata gave a him a sad kind of look. "They searched all day and all they found was some blood. No body, no head. Nothing but traces of a fight."

"Where they able to track them then?" Aoshi spoke in.

Yamagata shook his head no. "What about reinforcements?" He asked looking at the other two.

Kenshin half glanced as Aoshi. "Some should arrive as early as tonight while the rest come in the next few days."

Yamagata spoke hesitantly. "Do you think the statesmen should leave?"

Kenshin almost frowned. "They are not here to kill the statesmen. I really doubt they've seen them since they haven't left the Inn in the last couple of days. They are here to do what has been done to Hyogo, Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya. That is what they are here to do."

Yamagata nodded.

"Seven of Shinomori's group and seventeen of ours will remain here to keep watch. Tonight he and I will try to draw out the Mimawari-gumi." Kenshin spoke clearly. His deep voice resonating in Yamagata's ears.

"You think tonight will be the night, then?" Yamagata asked though he knew that answer. It's all been leading to this.

Kenshin only nodded.

"Then there are things I should take care of just in case." Yamagata tone sounded resolute. Not frightened or eager but resolute.

He left the room leaving only Kenshin and Aoshi behind.

"We should prepare for to night then?" Aoshi said leaning away from the wall. Kenshin nodded and together they left the room.

: : : : : : : : : : : : :

Kaoru ran as fast as she could. She ran until she felt her legs would give out. Panting as she was, she was relieved. She'd made it on time. The Inn looked odd. She made her way inside. Dread filled her at not seeing the guard where he should be.

She sped up her pace when she saw the front door was open too. What is going on she said as she began to jog. Upstairs was empty she ran back down and strained to listen. The whole house was empty. Her heart constricted, there was something seriously wrong. "Kenshin," she called out. Hesitantly at first but then it grew louder. "Kenshin!" She called. She ran to the back maybe he was in the back. Sliding the door open.

She breathed. "Kenshin," she said calling to him. His face turned slightly and she gasped.

"Kaoru." He said though his expression didn't change. "Stay back."

Kaoru felt like the air had been knocked out of her. He looked fifteen. But how could that be? Kenshin redirected his gaze and so did she. Her mouth opened wider. "Izubuchi." His name left a bitter taste in her mouth. "Why are you here?" She moved closer and Kenshin's right hand went up, stopping her. Her hand clutched at the front of her Kimono. He was Kenshin. He would be all right. Despite that she began to tremble.

Kenshin's hand gripped the hilt of his sword a second before he slid it out. He lashed out in a battou jutsu but the man stepped back in time. Still some hairs fell to the floor where Kenshin sakabatou had cut them off.

She shivered wildly.

Izubuchi barked out a laugh. "That's the best you could do. That's so sad." He attacked. His sword ran through Kenshin's shoulder trying to twist the blade but Kenshin drew back.

Kaoru gripped her hair, pulling at it. She wanted to run there. To protect him. "Kenshin." She whimpered. She stepped from foot to foot. Kenshin was breathing hard but he was still breathing. He took several steps back and then leapt into the air, striking the ground with such a force she thought the earth would split.

Izubuchi laughed again. "The legendary battoussai can't even scratch me." He gloated since he'd moved just in time. "Maybe I should fight you when you're older. When you've had more life experience." He barked again. His laugh sounded vain. Kaoru shook with pain. With rage, with hurt. He was killing her. He should have killed her first so she wouldn't have to watch. "Kenshin." She yelled. "Come on Kenshin." She screamed encouragingly.

Kenshin struck out fiercely. His blade struck and it cut the tip of Izubuchi's sword.

Izubuchi stared in disbelief. He pulled out another sword and struck Kenshin in the same arm.

"Kenshin, please." She sounded desperate but she didn't care. In the next moment Kaoru's world fell away.

Izubuchi ran the sword through Kenshin's throat. His own Sakabatou stuck through Izubuchi's back. When they pulled away though Only Izubuchi remained standing up.

"Not so tough were you." He said pulling out Kenshin's sword out of his side. He stared at the wound. No ribs or organs were vitally injured. He'd live.

Kaoru shook her head running to him. "Kenshin! Kenshin!" Her tears began to fall. "Kenshin," she said bringing her face down close to his. The tears fell onto his lids making it seem like he cried too. She felt the blade slice into her back but she paid no mind to it. She didn't jerk as it was pulled out. She let out a sigh when it was done. She stroked his hair lovingly. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I'm so very sorry. It was all my fault Kenshin. Kami I love you so much." She whimpered. "Won't you look at me please." She begged. "Kenshin." And even though she called to him she knew. She'd never see his beautiful eyes flutter open. His beautiful eyes so intense and so kind. Eyes that darkened with passion or anger. She looked up to the heavens. Looking at the Blue Moon. "Why?" She screamed. "Why did you give me what I wanted only to snatch it away."

She screamed in pain.

: : : : : : : : : : : : :

Pain. She felt pain. Kaoru opened her eyes. Confused by it all. "I . . . want happened?"

Misao stood over her with Omasu and Okon at the door. "You were dreaming Kaoru. Something horrible I think. You were screaming."

Kaoru noticed for the first time just how glazy Misao's eyes were. Kaoru's mouth move to say something when she felt the pain. Her hand reached for her cheek, still looking at Misao in confusion. It was a dream. Izubuchi wasn't here. He hadn't killed Kenshin. Her eyes began to water and she laughed. "It was a dream."

Misao nodded. Giving her a teary smile she hugged Kaoru. "Just a bad dream. Everything is fine." She said reassuringly. "He's fine." Misao whispered into Kaoru's ear.

Kaoru nodded and pulled away. "Thank you for waking me. I don't think I could have made it much longer."

Misao nodded. "I'm sorry I slapped you but I couldn't wake you up. Your screams . . . I'm sorry." She apologized.

"It's fine." Kaoru said wiping at her eyes, just incase.

"I think that maybe you should take a bath before we go down for lunch." Misao said trying to help her off.

"Yes that sounds good." Kaoru said while looking around for the things for her bath. "Will you walk me, Misao?"

Misao nodded. It seemed the other two women had disappeared. They walked down the hall. When they reached the stairs, Kaoru just had to ask. "Is he here?"

"No, he and Aoshi-sama left I'm told but neither has come back yet." Misao didn't look at Kaoru. She tried to be reassuring even if she was beyond worried herself.

After her bath Kaoru made her way back to the room where she was glad to find Misao with a nice arrangement of food. Her mouth opened in a large smile. "I forgot we didn't eat last night."

Misao nodded happily. "I though about that too when I brought this up here. I didn't know why I was so hungry till then."

They ate contently talking about trivial things. Avoiding the subject of the Mimawari-gumi and how it could affect them.

"You know I was talking to the landlady today and she told me something that I thought you might find interesting." Misao said as she continued sewing a gi.

Kaoru stopped her sewing to look up.

"She said there would be another full moon tonight." Misao said lightly.

Kaoru looked at her rather confused. There were full moons all the time.

"No Kaoru," Misao said guessing at what the other thought. "Another blue moon. She says that this . . . . phenomena." She paused trying to find the words to explain it. "When two full moons appear in the same month. The second full moon is called the blue moon. It only happens every nineteen years." Misao finished.

Kaoru opened her mouth but all that came out was an 'Oh.' And then suddenly the idea struck her. She could fix this. She smiled brightly at Misao.

While Misao smiled slyly.

Their staring was cut short by a rasp at the door. It slid open and Omasu and Okon stepped in with two large trays of food. "We thought we'd bring dinner up here." Okon said smiling.

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

Aoshi and Kenshin came back just in time for dinner. They sat in the dinning hall. Neither speaking to each other nor at the others. The rest of the men looked at Aoshi strangely but he paid them no heed. Kenshin wanted to finish first but it happened that Aoshi finished at the same time and so together they both left making their way upstairs. They heard laughter as they reached the upstairs and Kenshin bit the inside of his cheek. He was hoping for some alone time with his wife.

He slid the door open quietly and sneaked in to sit in a far corner of the room. Aoshi stood there with a blank look on his face. His eyes narrowed in anger but he came in just the same. He closed the door behind with a soft click but unlike Kenshin he didn't sneak in. He walked into the room not bothering to hide. If they saw him they saw him.

"I can't . . . I can't . . . believe he did that." Misao said straightening up from her laughter, wiping her eyes in the process. "All right well it's my turn again." Smiling brightly she began. "When I was little, Aoshi-sama and I were walking down the road leading to the house. He was trying to keep me from jumping into puddles. Anyhow, I saw a particular puddle I wanted to jump into and I tried but Aoshi-sama stopped me. He pulled me out of the way in time. But he landed in the puddle instead. It was deep and he fell headfirst. He came out sputtering and the first thing he spit out was a baby frog. I went wild laughing."

The women broke out into pearls of laughter. Imagining a fifteen-year-old Aoshi covered in mud, sputtering frogs.

"You know when he finally cleared his eyes and looked at me there was an initial look of shock on his face. He'd splashed me and I was completely covered in mud."

More laughter.

"I love Aoshi-sama." Misao said wistfully.

"Oh, Misao." Okon said putting her hand over hers. "One day he'll see how much you love him."

"He'll give in eventually. If not one of these days." Kaoru reassured her.

"Your turn Kaoru,"

"All right my turn." Kaoru agreed. "Two years back. Kenshin and I were . . . . " Her ears pricked up suddenly. She'd heard the door. She got up and opened to the door but to her surprise there was no one there.

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

Kenshin entered the room quietly. The women were gone and only Kaoru remained. The atmosphere had mellowed down a great deal. Kaoru sat on their futon with her back to him as she stared at the moon.

"Did you leave before or after my story?"

"Before." He answered.

"Was Aoshi with you?" Kaoru asked softly.

"Yes." Kenshin admitted walking closer to her. "He heard."

She thought so. Kaoru let a deep sigh escape her. "Did you eat already?" She asked.

"Yes."

She turned around to look at him. "Lay with me." She said stretching her hand to him.

Odd as he felt the request was he obeyed her and kneeled in front of her.

The moment he was close enough to her she wrapped him in her arms and held him. She'd thought that the moment she'd see him she'd give a tongue-lashing but the dream. Even with the laughter of tonight. When she was alone there was only the dream. She withdrew from him slowly. "What's wrong?" He asked, scanning her face. She sat a bit more comfortably and patted her lap. "Will you tell me what's wrong?" He asked. His eyebrows drew together when her face drooped down in sorrow. So without another question he did what she asked. He placed his head in her lap. She smiled sadly at him but she smiled nonetheless. She undid the tie in his hair and began to comb it with her fingers. He watched her without expression but inside there was confusion. What had brought on this sadness?

"You won't let anyone hurt you, will you?"

He watched as her eyes glistened. "I won't." He answered.

"You'll come back to me, won't you?"

"I will." He said. He watched intently as one tear slid down her cheek. His thumb wiped it away as he caressed her cheek. "I will protect your happiness." He promised her.

She shook her head, knowing what that meant. "No you mustn't. You mustn't say that." She said as she bent over, resting her cheek on his forehead. "No Kenshin. The only thing that matters to me is you. And as long as you return to me . . ." She closed her eyes trying to keep the tears back. "As long as you return, I will be happy."

He hadn't meant for the words to upset her. But it seemed they had. She tried to hide her sobs but they were hard to ignore. He felt each and every single one, ripping at him. "Kaoru?"

"I had a dream Kenshin." She said with her cheek still on his forehead. "A nightmare." She withdrew her face slowly. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and rather than looking at him she stared at the moon. It seemed to be getting bluer. Almost like before.

"I was looking for you but I couldn't find you. When I did you were in the back, in the yard. I went to you but you weren't alone. Izubuchi was here." She paused. "You fought and though you were incredible. . . . It wasn't enough. He." She swallowed hard. "He." She didn't know how to describe it.

"He killed me." He said with no undertone of any kind. Her hand tightened in his hair but she didn't look at him.

"I ran to you then, screaming. It's all I could do. I screamed for you. I begged you to open you eyes. But you wouldn't." She looked down at his beautiful face. Her tears fell on him and it was too much like the dream. The tears fell on his lids, running down the corner of his eyes. "I was glad when I felt his sword run me through." His body tensed and she was aware of it to some degree. But at the moment it didn't register. "It meant I would be with you soon." She continued on as if she hadn't felt it. Her eyes left his face and she continued to stare at the moon again. "Rest." She said as she soothed him. "I want you to rest here with me before you." She said so quietly he almost didn't hear it. In a soft whisper, her lullaby began . . . . .

Time is leaping forward.

Feelings filled to the brim.

You're voice is extremely clear and so fragile.

Once it starts walking towards those eyes.

The unplanned future keeps going.

The emotions are weaker than anyone thought.

Everyone's emotions are already broken.

Getting wet in the rain makes you stop again.

But I know you believe in me.

A painful person's . . . .

Dreams that never come true.

How come it's from the bottom of the heart . . .

Love is born.

Once I start walking towards those eyes.

I'll be devoted to the endless forever.

"You had someone sing that to me once." She said to him as she massaged his scalp in a way that made his eyes close. He realized she was making him sleepy but he was helpless to stop it. She sang to him ending the song and starting over. She knew he was asleep even if he didn't show it. "I wish you could remember your training Kenshin. All of it. How you used it against Saitou, against Shishio and Amakusa. I need for you to remember." She murmured.

Kaoru woke up almost as soon as he'd left. She threw the blankets to the side and got up. Taking a look out the window she knew. The moon, it was like before. She was still wearing her kimono, it was a little crumpled since she'd slept in it but it was night and no one would notice. She walked down stairs quietly. She made her way out the back and into the yard. She walked to the far end of the yard and sat in the shadow of a great big tree. She knelt like before. With her hands clasped to her heart she began her plea to the heavens. She pleaded and wished for his sake, for hers and for everyone else's.

Kenshin and Aoshi walked down the road leading away from the Inn followed by sixteen men. Eight for each of them. It was a bit before midnight but there was no harm in getting started early. Side by side they walked down the road silently. They only glanced at each other before they separated.

Aoshi and his men took the road leading to the right while Kenshin and his men took the left.

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

Izubuchi and Minami stepped out of the house at the same time, though neither acknowledged the other.

Minami and his men walked down the road leading to the police station. He'd decided to join the first group so they wouldn't be at odd numbers.

The walk didn't seem all that long he noticed as he stared up at the moon. He frowned at it. It made him afraid for some reason. To be honest he would have preferred a moonless sky it was easier to hide in the dark.

He looked back down and there it was. It was so quiet all of a sudden. He put his hand to his lips in a hushing gesture. His men nodded. Minami approached the police station in quick strides. He opened the door and walked in.

"Hey!"

But that was all that was heard aside from the swishing noise of a blade slashing at flesh and bone. Splashes of blood splattering the walls and the swishing off a blade throwing the blood off.

Minami stepped back outside as if nothing had happened while a small splatter of blood stained his right cheek. His face was stony and his eyes looked angry. "Burn it."

And they obeyed.

Minami ran with the rest as two of his men stayed to set the fires. He hid in an alley with Hideki. Here they would wait for the rest to show up. He watched as the flames consumed the police station. 'The others should have made it to town,' he thought as he saw the first of the off duty policemen approach.

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

Aoshi sat in the middle of the dinning hall waiting. A sensation ran over his neck, like a draft. They were here. He blew out the only candle in the room and set out to meet them.

He stood at the gate waiting. He wasn't going to let them through. The Mimawari-gumi stood out in the street frozen to their spot. They didn't think he was expecting them. He almost smirked; there were only sixteen. He might not even need to get involved.

Using the Onmyou Kouzo he started with his left handed attack at the man closest to him; he followed on with a right-handed attack. His kodachi slammed down on the left kodachi, doubling the impact and force.

His opponent made a feeble attempt to counter the attack but the second part of Aoshi's attack broke the attempt. His kodachi cut the man down where he stood. The rest of his men had come out from behind the buildings they'd hidden in. Aoshi looked around him as many of his men fought on. He frowned when he realized there were more than the original sixteen. He left his spot in front of the Aoiya and walked out into the middle of the street where he was eagerly met by four Mimawari-gumi.

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

Half way through the road he stopped, he felt something. The battoussai turned back to see large flames engulfing a section of the city. Not the Aoiya but maybe the sector near . . . .

His head snapped back to the road. "Head back to town." He felt a coldness sweep into him as he said it. His hands gripped the hilt of his sword and he ran into the shadows of the road.

The men he was with stared with their mouth opened as they saw him move. The hitokiri battoussai ran into dark spots within the shadows. They could see the shadows moving and the blades glowing and eerie blue with the color of the moon reflected upon them. He ran and slashed. His opponent dropped with a thud. He repeated the movement six times. And then he was gone. The men looked around for any sign of more Mimawari-gumi. They drew their swords out and turned back slowly. Looking back from time to time.

Kenshin ran to Kawamarachi Sanjo. He had a feeling; there was something there. He ran down the street taking shortcuts where he could. He ran until he reached the street leading to the Ikeda house. The whole street was covered in darkness. The dogs that usually barked at night were unusually quiet. He walked down the street slowly. His breath had evened out. Taking a deep breath he walked into the old Ikeda house. He caught the shadow of someone moving. He walked in looking around closely. The reflection of the moon tipped him off as it reflected off of cold steel and into his sight. With out a yell he ran the rest of the way in. His sword clashed with someone else's pushing them back. He drew back near the window and paused. With the bit of light coming into the house he could see his opponent taking on form he recognized. "Hirazuki."

I know a lot of you want to kill me but come on give a girl a break. I work hard on this for you guys. This chapter is forty pages. To be honest though by the time I stopped crying over Kaoru's dream I'd run out of inspiration as well. I have an outline and it's true I shouldn't have stopped where I did. I was supposed to go all the way into savage tactics and . . . well I can't reveal that either. But you'll be happy to know I'm beginning chapter 13 right now after I post this one. Shall we move on.

Small Note: Infoplease.com

Blue Moon the modern definition of a blue moon is as follows. When two full moons fall in the same month, the second is called the "blue moon." This occurs only once every few years_hence the expression "once in a blue moon." Full moons occur about once every 29.53 days, or 12.3683 times a year.

Blue moons occur, on the average, every 2.72 years. The first of the full moons must appear at or near the beginning of the month so that the second will fall within the same month.

The rare phenomenon of two blue moons occurring in the same year happens approximately once every 19 years. It usual happens in the beginning of the year but for my story it happens towards the end. I like my stories taking place during winter.

Let's start with the dream.

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When you guys see anything between these lines it mean dream sequence. In this chapter it was Kaoru who had a nightmare.

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Now, the reason the words, "I will protect your happiness." Upset Kaoru is because that's what he said to Tomoe, his first wife. It's a bad omen. Kaoru doesn't fear her death. She only cares about how it would affect him if it should happen. She doesn't want the pattern to repeat itself.

The words from her lullaby are actually from a song in the movie. L'Arc - en - Ciel - Chokkaku. Though a lot of people know the song by 'Nigi' which is how I recognize it.

Can you guess why she wishes for him to remember his training and not his whole life? No, well it's because he's killed people already. The rurouni might not be able to deal with the things he's done. So instead she wishes for him to remember his training. The succession technique in specific. He would not fall in battle if he remembered ten years worth of practice. Such skills include his own groundless air spinning battou jutsu, which is his own version of Ryu Tsui Sen, something he didn't use very often in the anime but he used this move in the movie against Shigeru.

Who is Amakusa?

Amakuso Shougo first made his appearance in episode sixty-seven or sixty-eight depending on what fansub you're watching.

Amakuso was supposedly taught the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu by a man named Nishida Hyoue. Nishida had been a man under Hiko Seijuro 12th learning at the same time as Kenshin's shishou. He stirs some trouble in the anime and Kenshin is the one who goes to try and stop him after being asked to help by Shinomori Aoshi. I'd tell you what happens but there are some people who haven't gotten there yet and I will not spoil it for them. But you can guess who wins. I love it when he fights ::sigh::

Hirazuki - This technique was originally used by the Shinsengumi. This is the technique from which the gatotsu was created.

That should cover everything you might have questions on. Oh and by the way. The marriage thing I keep getting e-mails on. Go back to CHAPTER 07, that's when it happened. Look at the bottom of the chapter, the small notes tell you where it happened within chapter seven.

There are some people I wanted to e-mail back about some questions they had. When you include your e-mail address please make sure it's spelled correctly. Ok, that's it.

Thank You for reading. Please continue to review.