Disclaimer: I do now own Rurouni Kenshin or anything that has been created from it. (Something that I'd wish for though…)

A Dream Angel's Problem – Chapter 5 – By Cherry Chibi

 'First Symptoms'

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 "What are you doing Kaoru? You can't take him to your refuge!" Tsuyomi said furiously, "Kaoru, I can't let you go on like this." He created a porthole and was about to leave when a hand stopped him. "Let me go Crystal!"

A woman at the age of twenty two with blonde hair and blue eyes held him still, "Brother, you have to let her do as she wants," Crystal said seriously, "When the Great Goddess sent Kaoru to the Battousai, she knew what was going to happen," She looked at her older brother's defeated look.

 "I'm her guardian," Tsuyomi muttered, "Why can't I help?"

 "Believe me, if you want to help Kaoru, let her be for now," Crystal released her grip of her brother's shoulder, "She knows what she's doing," She created an orb and showed her brother an image of Kaoru and Kenshin talking with two other people. "She's fine you see? Battousai is taking care of her." She smiled at Tsuyomi and the orb vanished.

 "I just hope that Kaoru is going to cope through this, it was millenniums ago since an angel had been bound to a human," Tsuyomi said, "Mother told me that the angel ended up,"

 "Those are fairytales, you never know the truth," Crystal interjected, "Besides, why don't you keep an eye on her a little longer? When times get desperate, you'll know when to get in there." She smiled warmly at him again. "Tsuyomi, don't forget to think about yourself a little bit before doing something for someone else." She hugged him tightly and sighed. 'If only I could find a way to get him to be happy again, nowadays, it's really frustrating too, I have to wait and see whether or not I become a full time guardian or something…'

 "Crystal, I don't know what I'd do without a sister like you," Tsuyomi said with a sigh.

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 "I'm going to be going on an overseas trip for a while," Shauna said, "Would you mind taking care of Yahiko for me?" She asked Kenshin, Yahiko was sitting on the couch with a glum look on his face. Kaoru eyed him from head to toe, 'That kid better not mess around.'

 "Sure, just, how long will you be?" Kenshin asked, "So I have an idea when Yahiko can go back."

Shauna smiled gently, "Oh, about a year or so,"

 "ORO?!"

 "I'm just kidding Kenshin!" Shauna laughed, "A month, I'm going over back to England to see someone for a while," She handed a big luggage bag to Kenshin, "I'm sorry for such a late notice but, I couldn't find anyone who wanted a brat to take care of." She smiled at Yahiko's glare, "Well, I'll be leaving."

Kaoru smiled, 'She's going to see that man she loves, after four years…' Kaoru felt happy for Shauna, after all, when a dream comes true, the Dream Angel has done her duty properly. She watched as Kenshin closed the door and carried the bag towards them.

 "Miss Shauna has gone to England," Kenshin dropped the bag on the couch beside Yahiko, "There'll be another doctor taking her place to do the rounds." Kaoru nodded.

 'Megumi Takani,' She thought, 'The one who wants to atone,' Her thoughts were muddled up when a sharp pain struck her leg. "You brat!" She turned to Yahiko with blue fire glaring in her eyes. "You're going to pay for that!"

 "Hag! Why don't you stop standing there and help me unpack?!" Yahiko snapped curtly, "Some 'lady' you are!" He ducked under Kaoru's slap.

 "I think I'll start cooking lunch," Kenshin said, he walked into the kitchen area.

 "Hey! Get back here!" Kaoru chased after Yahiko in the room and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back. "You're going to regret…" She froze when an energy charged through her nerves, when she looked into Yahiko's eyes, she saw something that wasn't quite right.

..-*-..-*-..

Through the darkness a boy looking like Yahiko stood, his eyes were narrow slits glaring at another Yahiko who looked normal. "You think that you can beat Battousai? I don't think so."

 "I can too!" Yahiko shouted as his replica, "I'll prove to you that I can!"

Yahiko's replica smirked, his eyes flared red, "I'd like to see that, why don't you kill him then?"

..-*-..-*-..

Kaoru gasped and took a few steps away from Yahiko, her left hand rested on her chest as she took in deep breaths. 'The energy, it was so strong and- dark.' She shook her thoughts away and looked at Yahiko who was glaring at her.

"I'm watching you Kaoru, kill the Battousai or else you'll die,"

 "Yahiko?" Kaoru whispered, she looked towards the kitchen, Kenshin was humming a soft tune as he chopped vegetables. She turned back to the boy and almost screamed when she found him with red eyes and fangs.

"Kids have many uses Kaoru, they're weak but have the potential to be strong,

 "Enchantress, leave Yahiko alone," Kaoru said threateningly, "I'm not going to kill Kenshin, there is no way I'll do such a thing, I'll find a way Enchantress, I won't let you win over me and I won't let you bring Shishio back from the depths of Hell." Her hands clenched into fists, 'How can I free Yahiko, save Kenshin and stop Enchantress getting my powers? How? In less than six days!'

"Oh, I will leave this boy Kaoru, I'm just using temporarily but be warned, I will check up on you,"

Yahiko's eyes faded to brown and the boy fell unconscious on the floor. Kaoru knelt down beside him and checked his temperature. He was OK. Everything was back to normal for him. For now. She carried Yahiko onto the couch and laid him on it. "You'll be free, I promise you that Yahiko," Kaoru whispered.

Kenshin had been watching from the corner of his eye, if he hadn't, Kaoru wouldn't have been able to move, he heard and saw. 'So many promises Miss Kaoru. Now Yahiko is involved, I'm going to have to find a way to stop it, I can't let Miss Kaoru die like that, six days, but, how can she be so cheerful at such a time like this?'

Kaoru walked over to Kenshin and looked over his shoulder, "Chee, for ten minutes, you've done a lot," She said with a slightly teasing tone, "Need any help?" Kenshin shook his head. She leaned back against the bench and watched him a bit. Her head was slightly tilted.

There was a thoughtful silence. Kenshin gripped the handle of the knife tighter as he thought of possible solutions to his situation. His knuckled were white. Kaoru raised an eyebrow, "You can't be that tense when you're cooking."

 "Miss Kaoru, how are you going to end this?" Kenshin suddenly asked. Kaoru was taken aback, his eyes flashed amber and he placed the knife down on the chopping board. "I'm asking you an important question Miss Kaoru, how are you going to end this? You have two choices. It's obvious which one you'll take." Kaoru turned her gaze to the wall behind Kenshin.

 "How can you think like that Kenshin? I don't want to take either," Kaoru replied in a small voice, "there must be a third option." She sighed. "I'll seek help from the council later on," She mumbled, Kenshin didn't hear it thankfully.

 "Miss Kaoru, you are taking this as a joke," Kenshin said disapprovingly, "This isn't," Kaoru gaped at Kenshin's remark.

 "I'm not taking this as a joke Kenshin! I'm not taking anything as a joke!" Kaoru said aloud, she took a step closer to Kenshin with determination and hurt glimmering in her eyes. "How can you say that? You're not the one in my position! You're not the one who has to choose whether someone you care about lives or dies! You're not the one who has to be bound to another person from head to toe…" Kaoru broke off with choking sobs, "You're not the one who is missing home." If she had a choice, she would've ran out of there or transported halfway across the world.

Kenshin was silenced by her reaction. Things were getting harder on him as well as her. He placed a hand on Kaoru's shoulder and got her attention, "I didn't mean to be harsh but, this really is serious Miss Kaoru." Kaoru responded with a nod. He could tell that she was trying to fight back her tears and hold her emotions in.

There was another period of silence.

 "Kenshin…" Kaoru said quietly, their eyes locked, "You must have the strength to live, you can't just throw your life away like that." She forced a smile on her face, "Everyone deserves chances, what is life if you never make mistakes?" She placed a hand over Kenshin's, "Remember your dream? No one makes you inferior without your consent."

 "You had that dream?" Kenshin said in awe, "You did something didn't you?" Kaoru nodded slowly. He was silent for a moment. The sudden quietness made Kaoru feel uncomfortable. She felt a her body lose energy when Kenshin smiled and said, "Thank You."

 'I can see it,' Kaoru thought amazed, she gaped into Kenshin's eyes, 'I know what to do now, I know what to do!' Her smiled broadened, she threw her arms over Kenshin's shoulder.

 "Oro?" Kenshin staggered back.

Kaoru released Kenshin, her face turned bright red. She hadn't meant to lash out like that but it all made sense to her now. She now knew how to solve her problems, no matter whatever it'll cost her, she'll be able to save Kenshin and stop Enchantress from taking her powers. "Kenshin, things are going to be slightly different, I hope that you won't mind," Kaoru said sweetly.

Kenshin scratched the back of his neck, 'What is wrong with her now? She's being so cheerful.' He watched her as she walked over to the where Yahiko was sleeping. She placed turned to him and smiled. Kaoru winked at him making him feel further uncomfortable.

 'If I can help Kenshin now, before time is up, then I'll be able to patch things up,' Kaoru thought seriously, 'I just hope that my plan works.'

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A/N: How's that? Sorry if this is starting to feel that the story is getting no where, but I promise that things will pick up next chapter! Thanks for all of the reviews! I love ya all! (Don't take it the wrong way) Well, until next time ~ Ja! Cherry Chibi.