Grr, I struggled with this chapter for almost a whole week.  I got to the blanket part and then was like O.O … can you see the wind blowing through my ears?  Complete blank… for a whole week.  Then I sat down today and BAM!  A chapter.  Talk about pissy writing skills… sheesh.

So my Inu-Yasha readers hate me right now because I up and decided to try and give the story a plot ^_^ Hehe, silly Wulf.  And not only is that fic on my proverbial drawing board right now, but I've up and laid out the designs for a new Kenshin story.  Wah ha.  Ah… they hate… I laugh… it's a symbiotic relationship, really. 

Well, here's the new chapter of To Protect.  Get ready for a slap in the face!  No action?  Ah, but this is a short character piece.  Of course the only real action is at the climax!  Have fun!

To Protect: Blind Trust

            He thought it might change things.  Maybe her gaze would be a little less direct, or the smile dimmed by unease.  But as the days stretched on, it seemed more and more like the talk by the lake had never happened. 

            However, it had also become what their lives revolved around.  Saya never ran out of questions, and most evenings found him sitting next to her in the garden, reliving his past.  For hours they would sit side by side, shoulders not quite touching, and his past would bleed from his mouth.  And she would sit there with her patient eyes, pressing understanding words to the wound to stem the flow.  Soon the ritual became a comfortable habit, and then the habit turned into an almost sacred tradition. 

            Kenshin stared up at the sky, absently counting the stars as they flickered to life in the evening breeze.  He could hear Saya approaching, footsteps light as she settled next to him on the bench.  She'd gone inside for a blanket.  That day by the lake had been the last of summer and the days since had been pleasant, the nights crisp with the promise of winter.

            "Are you sure you don't want one?" she asked, flapping a corner of the blanket at him.  He reassured her with a shake of his head and returned his gaze heavenward.  She followed suit and the minutes melted away.

            How was it that after a decade of wandering, four months in the company of one silly, melancholy girl could tease him into such relaxation?  It was slow, but it was happening.  He was beginning to heal, despite his better judgment.  It was just so hard to keep the guilt alive when she kept gently prying it away, insisting that at this point it was doing more harm than good. 

            "What are you going to do now?" her voice was so low that at first he didn't hear it.

            "I don't know," he admitted, glancing at her when she jumped in surprise.  Perhaps he hadn't been meant to hear it in the first place.

            "Well, you're welcome to stay here as long as you can put up with my uncle and me," she assured him with a sort of bittersweet smile.  Kenshin smiled dopily, feeling the ground bogging under his feet again.  Conversations with her tended to do that.  There was something lying between them now, unsaid, and he wondered what it was.

            "I hadn't intended on leaving anytime soon," he said carefully, watching her face for reaction. 

            Saya's mouth quirked in a sort of grin, "Really?  Well, that's nice to know," her attention was once again captured by the stars.  Kenshin's eyes followed the line of her profile, taking in the tension of the jaw and quivering of the muscles around her mouth.

            "What's wrong?" he made it more of a command than a question, "Have you felt something?"

            She sighed, her gaze slowly returning to his face.  Her eyes traveled over him speculatively, as if she was weighing whether or not to reveal something important.  Kenshin braced himself. 

            "It's more like I haven't felt anything," she explained finally, again not looking at him.

            Kenshin paused, the answer totally unexpected, "… About what?" he prodded gently.  He sensed he was close to the source of her pain and while he was loath to upset her, he also wanted to provide her with the same help she'd been giving him for the past months.

            Her face screwed up in a sardonic grin, "My future.  Something is coming that will change it… but I can't tell if it's for good or bad.  For once in my life I don't know what will happen to me, and it's absolutely terrifying."

            He blinked roundly, "Why can't you feel it?"

            She shrugged, squirming in her seat uncomfortably, "I can't really say… I'm too close, and I think it's blurring my vision," she tugged at a stray lock of hair roughly and Kenshin winced.  He'd never seen her so uneasy.  There was still one more question left, though.  What was coming that would cause the change?  He asked her and she looked away, shaking her head mutely.

            "Does it have something to do with your power?"

            Her head whipped sideways to stare at him, face full of fear, "What?" she whispered harshly.  Kenshin stumbled over his words, startled by the intense reaction.

            "I was just speculating.  You seem uneasy with your power, the same uneasiness that you are showing now.  I wondered if that was more than just coincidence," he forced the issue out into the open, challenging her to deny the observation.

            Saya stared at him.  Then, the same sad smile she'd shown him at the lake was back.  He waited patiently as her hand came to rest on the scar on his cheek and held his breath. 

            "You're perceptive, Kenshin," she told him, "But as much as I want to, I can't say what will happen," she shrugged helplessly, "simply because I don't know.  I am as blind to the future as you are right now.  I know something is coming, but it is only a vague fear.  Terrifying, but without face or reason."

            He watched her eyes as he nodded his acceptance of the statement.  She was telling the truth, but not all of it.  Again he only received half of what he wanted to know.  She knew something about what was coming; maybe not a lot, but certainly more than she was telling him.  He hung his head in frustration. Their whole relationship seemed to be revolving around this one secret. 

            "Why can't you tell me the rest," he demanded softly, "I want to help you, Ms. Saya.  You've done much for me, and I wish to return that kindness."

            She smiled at him, this time one full of genuine happiness, "I'm glad I've been able to help, and you have no idea how much I wish I could accept that kindness," she trailed off, giving his cheek and gentle pat before letting her hand slide away, and stood.  He watched her readjust the blanket around her shoulders as she thought how to phrase her next words.

            "If I tell you more," she started slowly, gaze fixed thoughtfully on the ground, "It could change things in a way that I would never be able to accept.  My power is giving me this one tiny gift in the matter; a small choice.  It was one I made a long time ago.  All that is left is to see what happens afterwards," she smiled down at him.

            Kenshin frowned, "You decided not to tell me?" he asked, not quite clear on what she was saying. 

            "Yes," she nodded solemnly, "I made that choice even before I met you.  I've been living in this darkness for a long time."

            He shook his head irritably, standing as well.  Nothing she said made any sense to him, though it was probably all as plain as glass in her mind. 

            "I don't understand," he scowled, frustrated.  Saya chuckled at the expression on his face.

            "You're not supposed to," she pointed out.

            He shook his head again, raising his eyes to hers beseechingly, "I just want to protect you, Saya, that is all.  I can't do that if you won't tell me."

            She took a step toward him and paused, looking frustrated herself, "I don't… Kenshin, please just try to accept this.  I can't tell you, because if I do it will destroy the one thing most precious to me," she turned then, retreating to the house and her room.

            "Ms. Saya," his fists were clenched angrily.  He'd given her so much of himself, and it hurt to know that she couldn't or wouldn't do the same.

            She froze at the door, hearing the undercurrents of his tone.  Her head turned enough that he could see her profile, angled down as she quietly bade him goodnight.

            "Please respect my decision," she implored softly, a note of desperation touching her voice, "It will make it easier to respect yours."

            Then Kenshin was left alone in the moonlit garden, staring at the empty doorframe in bewilderment and anger.  He choked down a curse and slumped back onto the bench.  She was such a balm to his soul, and at the same time an itch that pervaded his entire body.  He'd never been in a love-hate relationship before, but was beginning to see why it drove most men to the bars at night. 

            Suddenly, a chuckle escaped his lips… then another.  In a few moments he was laughing full out, clutching his sides with mirth he hadn't felt in years, if ever. 

            He was being an idiot. 

            All she was asking in return for the gentle, desperate healing he needed was a little bit of blind trust.  He'd given that more times than he could count and to people who hadn't even come close to deserving it as much as she did.  Was it too much of her to ask him?  Certainly not.  It was just the overwhelming desire to protect the vibrant, strong spirit residing in her comparatively frail body getting the better of him. 

            She wanted his trust, his respect.  Fine; he was willing to give that to her.  That didn't mean it wasn't going to bug the hell out of him.         

            "Kenshin!" Saya's sing-song voice rang through the little house.  She practically skipped through the front door, a colorfully wrapped bundle clutched to her chest with bashful pride.  She heard rustling in the kitchen and moved to meet the redhead as he appeared around the corner, wiping his hands on a towel.

            "Welcome home, Ms. Saya," he greeted cheerfully, "You should have told me you were getting off work early.  I was about to come pick you up."

            She beamed at him, a bit of pink staining her cheeks as she held out the bundle to him, "I didn't because I wanted this to be a surprise."

            He took the bundle from her, turning it over in his hands curiously before pulling the paper free.  Saya twisted her fingers together nervously as he did, face torn between a smile and embarrassment. 

            "I worked on it whenever things were slow at work.  Kashi helped me a little with some of the more complicated stitching," she explained.  Kenshin stared in awe at the blue haori in his hands long enough that she started to worry.  Then, he graced her with a breathtaking smile, bowing to show his deep appreciation. 

            "Thank you, Ms. Saya.  It is very beautiful work."

            "You're welcome," she replied, fighting to keep herself composed when he was looking at her with such gentle eyes.  It wouldn't be fair to let him know now when the time was drawing so near.  Maybe making the haori hadn't been such a good idea.  If something didn't happen soon, she would say something she'd regret. 

            A call from the front of the house was all the prompting she needed.  Saya quickly ushered the bemused rurouni back into the kitchen and almost ran to the door.  She stepped out gratefully, gracing the visitor with an almost thankful smile.  He smiled back, giving a respectful bow.

            "What can I do for you?" she asked. 

            He bowed again, "I am here to see the Battousai.  I'm an old acquaintance of his, Junji Inoue."

            Saya's smile froze on her face, "I'm sorry, but no one by that name lives here," she explained.  Her hands trembled where they were clasped in front of her.  It was here.  His hand was around her neck before she could process anything more than the realization, squeezing until she lost consciousness. 

            With a satisfied grunt, the large man caught the limp body and slung it almost casually over his shoulder.  He spared a predatory smirk towards the house before tossing a sheet of paper onto the front step and leaving, Saya's body swaying over his back.

            Kenshin looked up from his vegetable chopping with a frown.  Something was wrong.  He turned towards the door, focusing his senses on the rest of the house.  Everything was in order, except…

            "Saya," he breathed harshly, abandoning the vegetables and rushing to the door.  He was met by the lonely front lawn, devoid of the young woman who should be standing in it, addressing the visitor who'd come to call.  The wind rustled a few leaves across it, disturbing the paper at his feet.  He bent slowly to grab it and stood, reading over the bold scrawl grimly.  So… Junji had caught up to him again. 

            Kenshin gazed across the lawn and into the distance, toward the meeting place described in the note.  His eyes held a promise as they coldly swept back toward the house and he went to retrieve his sword.  

Oh ho, I am evil!  I delight in dramatic cutoffs, if you're new to my work.  Just ask the readers of my BOTI fic ^_^  I know people hate em, but you have to admit it makes you more anxious to read the next chapter. 

See?  Action coming!  Are we getting an idea of what will happen?  This chapter is confusing as hell, but all will become clear in time, I assure you.  Then you can go back, reread it, and leave a whole new set of reviews!  Hehehe…

Wow, so a huge response to the last chapter!  I got twice as many reviews for that chapter than I did for the first three ^_^;;

Chiaroscuro: Yeah, it's a bit nonaction in plot, but that's cause it's incredibly short.  The first draft was only twelve pages long total, and most of that was the actual "conflict" which you'll see next chapter.  These first chapters were more of a "let's get to know Saya" thing since I'd just thrown her in before.  I wanted my readers to get to know her better so they could sympathize with everything that's about to happen… gah, I can't say more or I'll reveal the plot!  Hehehe… Thanks for the actual review ^_^ It's refreshing to have people actually give you suggestions amid the praise.  I eagerly await my first flame, too.  I haven't gotten one yet, but it's only a matter of time, right? 

Skitzo Pine Marten: I so know the feeling.  I don't review nearly often enough.  Sometimes I don't review simply because I'm in too much awe of the writer.  It's like, "You are a god, I cannot criticize you!" hehe.  They should really put in the counter idea… I'm all for that ::ponders:: I wonder if I could request it.  Oooh, a petition should be started.  Oh, and I found a cool name database on Baylor university's website.  It's where I pulled all the kids' names for the last chapter from. 

Jess: Whoa, I corrupted an innocent?!  SWEET!  Most of my favorite stories are romances with… stuff, heh.  What can I say, I like fluff… it's just that most writers equate "romance" with "citrus" ^_^;;  Thanks for the review promise, too!  Glad you liked Fragile Immortality.  I do that all the time.  Find a cool story, click on the author to see if they have more.  Then it's sad when you find out that the rest of their fics are from things you've never heard of/watched ::cough::

Angel of the Hazard: Ah, you have to forgive them.  OC's frighten.  I didn't expect much review power for this story cause of that, so while it is mildly distressing, it isn't surprising.  I mean… I've read some Mary Sue's… -_-;; yeah, won't go further with that.

rebuttal101: Ahhh, under major construction is a beautiful thing.  If you noticed up top, I mentioned my Inu-Yasha fic, hehe.  They hate me!!!  Weeeee!  Good luck with your story.  Let me know when you get it up and I'll come read!