Yami Kitsune: Sorry, we jud HAD to redo this chapter before posting the next one.  There were so many mistakes.  How did we spell KYOTO wrong?

Rurouni_agra: Yea, it was pretty bed, so we redid it.  We didn't change anything if you've already read it, but we fixed all the annoying mistakes. (Hopefully)

Yami Kitsune: Yea, so, we don't own Ruouni Kenshin, if we did Kenshin, Sano, and Saito would be tied up in my room and Shishio would die ten thousand deaths by impalement for hurting my red headed rurouni!

Rurouni_agra: I think I'm gonna be sick… even Shishio doesn't deserve that.  Any way no warnings, not in this chapter.  Start the fic!

Old Friends

Ch1

"Baka!"

Kaoru's shout floated on the breeze to Kenshin's ears as he knelt washing.  He chuckled at the now common sound of Kaoru's and Yahiko's bickering.

            "I always wanted a family," thought the ex-assassin to himself, "I just never thought I would get it this way…"

            Kenshin had been living with Kaoru for years now.  Yahiko had become a young man and was now taller then the red head.  Kaoru was still madly in love with him, though he pretended to be ignorant of the fact.  Megumi had left Tokyo and started her own medical practice in Kyoto near Misao and her husband's new home.  Misao gave up on Aoshi for reasons unclear to everyone but them.  Sano had left to travel the world.  It was kind of lonely without everyone there.  Even Saito had been moved out of Tokyo and hadn't been seen for months.  I was quiet and peaceful, except for Kaoru and Yahiko.

            The dojo had grown since he had come.  Paying students were taught the art of fighting with the wooden swords.  Students were constantly in and out of the dojo but none had ever become as close as Yahiko, Sano, and the other friends Kenshin had made since settling down.

            He had finally admitted to himself that he would live the rest of these days here.  He had nowhere to go, he was no longer young, he had no urge to travel, and as long as Kaoru let him, he was willing to do laundry and clean to earn his keep.

            He sighed as he heard Yahiko call his name.  Their game had recently changed from, Kaoru chasing Yahiko until either she collapsed or managed to hit him, to Yahiko hiding behind Kenshin so he wouldn't get hit period.

            Sure enough, the dark haired youth danced behind Kenshin, putting the redhead between Kaoru and himself.

            "I have done nothing, that I have not.  Keep me out of this."

"Aww… but you're such a good defense, Kenshin-san."

"A true man faces his fears, that he does.  He does not hide behind others, that he doesn't."

"I'm not scarred of that HAG!"

"Why you little brat!" shouted Kaoru.

"But you are hiding from her, that you are."

"Shut-up Kenshin."

"You started this, that you did."

"Excuse me."

All three stopped and turned to see Saito Hajime standing watching them.  He had a cigarette on his lips to go along with his smirk.

"Can't even get the kid's to stop fighting, eh Battousai?" sneered the taller man.

"They are not kids, that they are not."

"Hn."

"What do you want, Saito?" asked Yahiko slightly annoyed.

"Actually, I need your help, Battousai."

"There is no one here by that name, that there is not, Saito-san, however, may I offer my assistance."

Saito's eye's narrowed and he became serious for the first time.  "Actually, you may not be able to help me.  I need Battousai the Man Slayer."

Kenshin motioned for Kaoru and Yahiko to go inside.  Thanking whatever deity was out there that the students had already gone home for the day.

"I repeat Yahiko's question: What do you want Saito."

The former captain watched until Kaoru and Yahiko had entered the dojo before he resumed talking.

"I meant what I said Kenshin.  Your help would be nice, but the Battousai might be needed."

"Detail's Hajime."  Kenshin dropped his rurouni act around Saito Hajime, the man knew him to well for him to put up the effort.

"Consent, Himura."

Kenshin's eye's flashed.  They both knew that in a head to head battle, the former Battousai would win, they also knew that battle would never occur. He also puzzled over the fact Saito had called him "Himura."  He never called him anything besides Battousai.  How strange.  "No.  I will agree to nothing until I know what it is I am in for.  If you don't wish to explain, leave."

"If I were to try and deal with this on my own I would most certainly end up dead.  More certainly then if I was chickenhead fighting Shishio."

Glaring at the snide remark about their mutual… friend… Kenshin considered what Hajime said.

If, whatever the problem was, was more then Saito could handle alone, them perhaps the Battousai would be needed.

"Detail's Saito, I don't want Kaoru-dono in danger."

"Ah, still haven't told her you love her yet?"

"Hajime," Kenshin's tone spoke volumes but mostly it said, you're of dangerous footing, wolf, got back to your own territory.

"Hn, fine.  I believe an old friend of ours has come out of the shadows."

"Another swordsman from the revolution?  Someone from the Inshinshishi or the Shisengumi?"

"Hai, we think anyway."

"Think?"

"Well this person is assassinating politicians from all factions of the government.  Who ever they are doesn't seem to care what side the politician is on, only if they are being dishonest.  Everyone we found murdered has been part of some kind of corruption.  Who ever this is, is some kind of self proclaimed exterminator, extracting the bad from the good, or their judgment of it."

"Someone after your own heart, eh?  Kill, Evil, Instantly?"

"Shut-up, Himura, this is serious.  As of right now, both you and I are not only the only two who can solve this case, we're also the main suspects."

"Nani?" Kenshin had an idea where this was leading, but apparently he was wrong.  "Us?  Why would we be suspects?"

"The sword stile is a mixture of many forms.  The Hiten Mitsurugi and the Shisengumi style among them."

"That is impossible, only I and my master know the Hiten Mitsurugi."

"Hia, and who ever it is also knows the Secret Sword techniques."

"Shishio's attacks?"

"Hai."

"So why are we subjects again.  You know no Hiten Mitsurugi, and neither of us know the Secret Sword techniques."

"We know we don't know them.  But anyone higher up who knows it was us who fought Shishio knows we've seen the techniques.  Tell me, Battousai, do you not think you could perform the Shinsengumi attacks or those of Shishio?"

"I could, if I wanted, but my style is Hiten Mitsurugi.  I would use no other."

"Again, we know that, they don't.  Others do not understand that a swordsman's technique is part of who they are.  They think we would use whatever attack best suits us."

"Like this assassin does."

"Yes, like Shadow."

"Shadow?"

"The name we've given to the assassin."

"And you want my help in catching this Shadow?"

"I want your help in destroying him."

"You know I will not kill."

"You will, Battousai, or die trying."

"You forget, I do not have to help you at all."

"You will, Himura, you will."

And with that the wolf left.  Kenshin stood for a few moments puzzling over the police officer's words.  He would, eh?  The wolf was up to something and that was never good.

A few days later, Kenshin was once again kneeling at the tub of soapy water washing clothes.  No one else was at the dojo.  Kaoru was teaching lessons somewhere and Yahiko was visiting his girlfriend.

He heard the gate to the dojo open.  Assuming it was someone looking for Kaoru, for the dojo had become quite popular as of late, he said over his shoulder, "Kaoru-dono will not be back for a few hours, that she won't, please try again tomorrow, she will be here all day, that she will."

No answer came; no movement was made by the unseen presence behind him.  Whoever it was did not seem hostile, but the silence was beginning to unnerve him. 

"Is there something I can do for you?" ha asked.

A voice answered him.  It was feminine, most defiantly, but it was deeper them most women's voices, "You can turn around and make my dreams come true."

Yami Kitsune: REVIEW!!

Rurouni_agra: umm… please?