Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters included in this fanfiction.

Author's Notes: Kaoru has been kidnapped by one of Kenshin's former enemies. Kenshin has to save her, but is he willing to give up his life for her?

To Live or to Die

By: Emilee

Part 1

It was a stormy day at the Kamiya Dojo. You could hear the sounds of thunder, lightning, and the sound of rain pouring on the dojo roof. Water was rushing in and Kaoru was trying to stop it, but it kept flowing through the shoji onto the floor. Finally the rain subsided and sunshine shone throughout the dojo.

"Look at this mess. It will take me forever to clean this up."Kaoru said with a sigh.

Kenshin could hear her complaining. He walked in and said, "Is there anything sessha can do to help?"

Kaoru turned to him and said, "Well you could help me clean all the water off the floor."

Kenshin went to get the washrags. When he sat one in the water and pulled it back out, there was no way that it could hold anymore water. "Oro?"

"Maybe we need more than one washrag."Kaoru said chuckling. She went to get the extras. While she was gone, Kenshin began to daydream. I have this suspicious feeling that Kaoru and myself are being watched.

He turned to look outside and saw leaves rustling. He jumped up and ran over there. By the time he got there they were gone. I need to keep an eye out for whoever that was. As he was standing outside he could hear Kaoru calling him.

"Kenshin? Kenshin?"

He rushed in and said, "Gomen, Kaoru-dono." She handed him a washrag and they began working.

*

Later that night another storm arrose. A man was sitting in a broken down, old shack. He said, "One day I will get Battousai for doing this to me, and I know just how to do it. That girl will be the bait to lure Battousai to me. I shall show no mercy while I kill him. I will make it slow and very painful so that he will know how I felt that night.

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Author's Notes: I bet a lot of you out there are wondering who this psycho freak is! Well you will just have to read the next chapter.