Chapter 4

A/N: sorry for the delays- I had originally planned to have this up last week :( Sorry! But it's here now and better late than never- right?

Anyway- Kate's life is hectic! Anarchic right now- work- school- life- boys-

Here's a question for all you readers out there- do you go for a guy your friend likes? He's been hitting on me left and right- but I know she has a crush on him- and then she won't even try to talk to the guy!!! Kate has problems! I'm going with forget about the guy *Kate's shoulder angel appears and pats her head*. but he is cute!!! * Shoulder devil appears and grins* Ok you two- duke it out! The winner takes all!

Anyway- you don't care- in fact you probably skipped my banter here and went straight to the fic :( No one loves Kate

D: Me no own- you no sue!

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Running as fast as his inebriated legs could carry him Sano made his way, stumbling at times, to the wooded area. Things had gone quiet after the explosion, and Sano didn't like the silence. Looking around as the smoke cleared he held someone's presence above him. Before he could prepare top counter attack, strong arms pushed him to the ground as a gunshot rang through the air.

The mass on top of him quickly rolled off and was back up in mere fractions of a second. Through the dim light, Sano saw they gleam of a blade as it was unsheathed. And soon the threat of the gunman was over.

The red haired wanderer walked breathing heavily back to where Sano stood up a little confused.

"Kenshin?" Sano called to the shorter figure.

"Everything is alright now, that it is." Came the reply of the now friendly wanderer, moments before his movements were that of the legendary battousai.

"Are you sure? That guy Yosho, and now this attempt to kill you, they can't be coincidence."

"I know now what is going on. but we must move quickly now, that we must." Kenshin said as he finished re-sheathing his sword and walking back towards the dojo.

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"Now Kaoru, be a nice girl and listen up. You'll have the main role in catching the legendary battousai," the once thought friend, now showed hit true colors.

"Why Yosho?" Kaoru struggled against the binds she put them in.

"Why? I don't just have a single reason. It's a number of things. Like I said before- revenge.the thrill of the hunt- I've been all over Japan and the New World looking for a great adventure. I heard of stories during the revolution about a single red haired man with a scar on his cheek that was the most lethal being of them all, he even was able to best the master Shishio. True, I never studied under him personally, but while I was in England, I met several who were."

"So you hunt for sport?" Yahiko yelled. "You're a disgrace to the Kamiya style!"

"Oh but it's the thrill of the hunt that makes it worth it. And I have to admit that keeping you, my dear Kaoru is an added bonus." He came a little closer to her ad forcefully kissed her again. He was not gentle like before, this one truly told her she was in serious trouble.'Kenshin. please come back.' She prayed as a tear came down her cheek while Yosho started to pull her robe down off her shoulders.

Both Kaoru and Yahiko were stunned and shocked at Yosho's actions. Yahiko couldn't take it as he trashed at the ropes that held him tied with his back to Kaoru, a pole from the dojo between their backs.

Yosho grew madder with Yahiko's squirming he wasn't able to take advantage of his secondary prize. Standing up, leaving a distraught Kaoru, he walked around to face Yahiko.

"If you don't stop moving around- I'll save time and kill you now!"

Yahiko stopped moving and looked up at him.

"I'd rather die than have to sit here and watch you hurt Kaoru!" Yahiko said defiantly.

"Yahiko- no!" Kaoru gasped. "Yosho- please, don't hurt him! Do. do what ever you want to me, but please leave Yahiko out of this." She broke down trying not to sob out loud. She had almost given up hope that Kenshin would come to their rescue like he had so many times in the past.

"Why don't you both be silent? I'm getting tired of your consistent whining. And I wouldn't want either of you hurt till our prize gets here. He should have survived our little trap, and be on his way soon."

-

"Kenshin? Wait up!" Sano said finally sobering himself after a nice dunk in the cold stream. "I thought you said that they were all over the dojo! And you're just walking up in there?" Sano questioned the red haired man as they came closer to the dojo gates.

"I have no choice but to go- they have Yahiko. and Ms. Kaoru, that they do."

"Kenshin it's a trap! That Yosho guy is setting you up!"

"I know." Kenshin said as the moonlight reflected the battousai look for a moment.

"Then why no fight them? I mean- why leave your sword behind?" Sano asked as he tried t give Kenshin back his sword. On their journey back to the temple Kenshin had taken it out of his belt and handed it to Sano.

"I cannot endanger their lives anymore." Kenshin said with a sigh. "I have already cost Ms. Kaoru too much since I came, that I have."

"What are you talking about?" Sano said looking at the usually cheerful Rurouni. His spiky fire red hair covered his eyes, Sano could usually tell Kenshin's mood by his eyes, but they were hidden from view.

"Don't get like that. Missy there knew what she was getting into when she let your sorry butt stay. And she still went all that way to Kyoto just to be by your side. you might be very smart there when it comes with the head and the sword, but Kenshin, you know nothing about the heart." Giving the swordsman a powerful hit on the back Sano tightened his headband, and cracked his knuckles. "Well, what do you say we crash this little party?"

With a nod from the once legendary battousai, the two barged into the seemingly peaceful Kamiya dojo.

Just as Yosho was about to continue humiliating Kaoru a loud crash came from the far side of the practice room.

"If you value your life you will release them, that you will." Came a familiar voice once the dust cleared.

"Ah, the battousai. Or should I address you as the worthless Rurouni? Since you believe you can still change." Yosho said standing up.

"Yahiko, Ms. Kaoru are you alright?" Kenshin called to them.

"Kenshin! I knew you wouldn't leave!" Yahiko said happy to see his friend back.

"Kenshin." Kaoru said in almost disbelief. "You came back."

"I wouldn't get all happy to see him. He does have to get over here to you first." Yosho said with a wave of his hand. With in seconds dozens of sword yielding samurai came out of the darkened corners.

Sano threw Kenshin his sword before he started to beat back some men.

"This isn't the time to be caught without your sword- you're not going to die on me today." He said taking his frustration out on a man's jaw. "You've got everything waiting for you over there- go get it back."

With a silent nod of the head, Kenshin agreed and picked up his sword. Eyeing Yosho he avoided killing any of the men that came in his way. He never took his eyes off Yosho. The fires of the battousai began to fire once more as he approached.

"Has the battousai come for his used whore?" Yosho laughed gesturing at Kaoru. "She didn't want you- no one would. But she did enjoy out time together, isn't that right?"

For the first time Kenshin's eyes trailed down to Kaoru. If it wasn't such a serious moment his eyes would have bugged out and he would be sputtering 'Oro' left and right, but not now.

"Kenshin." Kaoru called to him to try and explain.

"Are you alright Ms. Kaoru? Yahiko?" A cold toned voice questioned. Both Kaoru and Yahiko knew what this tone meant. It meant that Kenshin was getting mad. The battousai wanted to be released, and right now Yosho was the reason..

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A/N: Ok- there you go- almost to the end. next chapter they'll battle- I know I said it would be this chapter- but Kate does have to sleep some tonight.I have to be at work at nine tomorrow :( So this should be something to hold you till after the 4th- I'm going to have a three-day vacation! And that means- Kate will be glued to the computer seat typing all of her stories!

PS- if you haven't noticed Kate likes talking about herself in third person :D Sorry, Kate can't help it- and it drives my English major friend nuts!

Anyway- Happy 4th of July-

Go America.. And stuff!

I'm out..