Chapter 12:
Meeting of Old Acquaintances

The coolness of the morning proved to be deceptive for the afternoon sun mercilessly beamed down onto the earth, heating the air to the point that the birds grew silent and stayed perched as to not over-exert themselves. The air was still dry, meaning no rain would come to relieve the forest.
With the heat so extreme, Kenshin decided to rest a moment at a watering hole only a few minutes out the way. Quite a few of the forest animals had found their way there. Predators waded with their prey, for all only wanted one thing, to quench their thirst. The mare drank greedily as Kaoru cupped
a handful of water and splashed it on her face. They only had about ten more minutes until they were back in Kenshin's town. She was quite anxious to find out who was following them. Then she would enjoy torturing them…since Kenshin had such a big problem with her killing.

"I think we should be on our way," he said, disrupting her thoughts.

Kaoru nodded and took one last sip of water before getting back on the horse and making the short ride to the inn. She placed the cloak of her hood on her head despite the heat. It had been determined that Kenshin was the target of the stalkers and that her identity should be concealed for as long as possible. Kenshin's flaming hair seemed to burn even brighter in the hot sunlight, his soft-framed face with a hard look upon it. They were prepared for whoever was out there. Mercenaries or not, both were undeniably the best swordsmen out there. There was no one that could possibly match their combined skill.

There couldn't be.

The pair rode slowly into town. Just as on the first day she arrived, the streets were nearly empty due to the heat. Not even a single child was outside playing. It was deadly silent. It was as if they had happened upon a ghost town.

"It's too quiet," Kaoru said, still searching for some living being.

Kenshin's eyes only narrowed as they reaching Himura Lodging. It appeared as if no one had entered or exited since he left, but there were patrons here as well as servants he left in charge while he was gone. He dismounted and walked to the front door, sliding it open. Shock filled his heart as is
eyes grew wide in disbelief. Kaoru slid off the horse to see the matter and she couldn't believe her eyes. She walked over to one of the bodies strewn on the floor. She turned a young woman over to examine her cause of death. She had been impaled in the forehead, her eyes still open. Kaoru frowned
and closed the young girl's lids. Kenshin's staff and guests had all been murdered.

"Their blood is still warm," he said, picking up a young boy whose head was hanging on by a small piece of flesh. He looked at the boy, trying to figure out why. The blood on his tiny hands, he did not deserve to die like this. His vision grew blurry as tears flooded his eyes. Tears of anger flowed, anger like he had not felt in a long time. Then, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, his head snapped up and his wide violet eyes were sharper and more focused. Kaoru let out a sigh and walked over to Kenshin,
taking the child's body out of his arms.

"Just don't go all Battousai on me, ok," she said, putting the little boy's body back on the floor. She then noticed footprints in the blood than did not belong to her. They led to the back of the inn. She motioned for him to follow, but he had already walked passed her. When he did, it felt as if a
cool wind swept over her. She shuddered. His whole demeanor changed.

Kenshin arrived at the screen that led to the back, but stopped before opening it. He examined it carefully and could see the shadow of a rope on the other side. He silently pointed it out to Kaoru. She smirked and withdrew her sword, slashing the screen and the rope. As the pieces of
paper and wood crashed down, three figures could be seen. Kenshin's heart nearly leapt out of his flesh as he immediately recognized one of the figures.

"Hajime Saitou, former leader the of third Shinsengumi squad," Kenshin said, walking forward. Kaoru cocked a brow, surprised, but not too much.

"Shinsengumi? The wolves of the Revolution, eh? You were right, it wasn't just some ordinary stalkers," she said, her tone low.

"It has been a long time, Battousai. Good to see you carrying a katana again," Saitou said, removing his cigarette from his lip, blowing out smoke into the oppressive heat.

"You have sixty seconds to explain you reason for killing those people, then I will kill you myself," Kenshin said, his violet eyes narrow, his brow low. Kaoru smirked. About time his put his foot down, she thought.

"We have nothing to explain to you. Since when do murderers have to explain anything," the younger man stated. Kenshin looked him up and down, noting his familiar presence. His auburn hair was pulled into a ponytail much like he used to wear during the Revolution. His brown eyes and spiky hair sent goose pimples raising all over his body. Kaoru had already realized who he said the second he opened his mouth and drew the attention to him. Her hands began to tremble as her eyes gazed on someone she had not seen in six years. The thought she would be happy to see him again. Instead, she knew she would probably end up killing him.

"Yahiko," Kenshin finally managed to utter. The young boy smirked, noting the reaction he got.

"I'm surprised you remember me, Kenshin. After how you left all of us, but hey, that's all in the past. I'm only interested in killing you and the wench you are traveling with. Guess Kaoru didn't mean that much to you after all," he said, withdrawing his sword and getting in stance.
"Hey, let me handle the broad. She looks easy to handle," Misao said, balling her fists. Yahiko nodded and motioned for her to go ahead.

"So, are you prepared to die, wench? Are you so scared that you will not reveal your face. Right before Misao deals the final blow, she will remove that cloak so I my spit on your dying body for thinking you could ever replace her," Yahiko said, an evil smirk on his face.

Kaoru's eyes narrowed as the young girl approached her. She seemed too undisciplined to have any kind of real skill. Besides, how would her fists defeat battoujutsu? She shrugged and stepped forward, her hand slightly above the handle of her sword. Saitou watched her footsteps carefully, her
movements. He brought his cigarette back to his lips and inhaled deeply.
Misao would be in for a rude awakening. If she lived, this would serve as a good lesson to her.

"Prepare to die," Misao yelled, pulling a machete from her waistband and slashing at Kaoru, who easily blocked the attack. Misao stepped back and put her hand on her hips.

"Hmm, you're better than I thought. Oh well, that's what I get for underestimating my opponent, I guess," she said, charging Kaoru again. She sidestepped and withdrew her sword in the same instant, preparing to slash Misao across the back. But, she would not be so easily defeated either. She
pulled out another machete from behind and blocked the blow. She slid for a couple of feet before rising again. She was panting, surprised she was almost hit. Her eyes narrowed in anger. Kaoru only chuckled a bit.

Like a lion playing with a mouse.

Kaoru withdrew her katana and pressed her right foot into the ground…then she was a blur. Everyone's eyes grew wide with surprise at the speed she had reached in just two steps. Misao could barely follow her movement as Kaoru darting right behind her and jumped into the air, he katana raised
over her head. Misao put a kunai between her fingers and tossed it towards Kaoru, who had no choice but to block, giving Misao just enough room to escape.

Both landed on opposite sides, Kaoru standing tall, her hood still covering her face. Yahiko began to look worried. Her moves were painfully familiar and her speed was godlike. He had heard of the deadly beauty that would kill anyone for the right price. Could it be that Kenshin had hired her for
protection, the Female Hitokiri?

"Enough! You are no match for me and I will kill you mercilessly if you continue," Kaoru said, removing her hood. Saitou smirked as his own thoughts were confirmed.

Now, it was Yahiko's turn to be in complete and utter shock. The woman Kenshin was traveling with…the merciless mercenary is none other than Kamiya Kaoru. Yahiko shook his head in disbelief as Misao gritted her teeth. How dare she insult her like that and her love let her get away with it! Misao fumed and was about to leap after Kaoru before Saitou grabbed her by the collar.

"Baka, do you know who she is? She is the Hitokiri and she will kill you when she tires of playing with you," he said casually, yanking her down, making her fall flat on her rear. Misao balled her fists, steam rising from her body.

"I can beat her up, you taught me well. Don't you believe in your student,"she yelled, her head growing one hundred fold. Saitou just chuckled and threw his cigarette butt to the ground.

"Maybe if you took your training a bit more seriously and practiced your forms instead of always shitting off your time, you would be able to have a chance against her," he said, still chuckling. Misao's face grew red as she yelled obscenities in her sensei's ear. Yahiko did not pay attention to the
commotion. He was still shocked by this current revelation.

"Kaoru," he said, walking over to her. Both she and Kenshin stayed on guard. There was no telling what would happen next.