A/N Hey everyone! Thanks for all the support so far! I'm very thankful for all the reviews I've gotten so far. Well here's chapter 2 packed with drama, anguish, and lord knows what else.

Kenshin: Miss Crystalia owns nothing. That she does. But everyone should still review. That you should! ^.^

Crystalia: Thanks Kenshin. Now on to the fic!

Chapter 2

Memories

A small girl laughed as a boy with short black hair chased her playfully in the backyard of what looked to be a dojo.

"Kaoru! I'm going to catch you!" the boy threatened playfully.

"You wish!" she replied, just managing to dodge the boy's grip. "You are too slow Reji-sama!"

"We'll see about that!" he said catching Kaoru with ease. "See. I told you I'd catch you."

"Let's play again Reji-sama!" Kaoru laughed as the boy set her down. Suddenly Reji inhaled sharply causing Kaoru to look up. "What's wrong Reji-sama?"

Reji made no sound as he fell to the ground. Kaoru stepped back horrified as she saw two feathered arrows coming out of his back. His blood now pooling on the ground.

"Run…Kaoru…run…" was all Reji was able to say before another arrow struck his body, killing him instantly.

Terrified and confused Kaoru turned to find someone to help when she suddenly bumped into something and fell to the ground. Looking up she saw the ominous form of a man with long silver hair.

"Now where are you going? The fun's about to begin." He said roughly picking her up.

"Let go!" she screamed biting the man's hand which only resulted in her being violently slapped.

"Now now Bengi. The boss said to keep her alive. Nobody pays a ransom for a dead girl." Came a voice belonging to a man with spiked dark brown hair.

"I didn't hurt her none." Bengi said tightening his grip on her.

"Let me go! Reji! Daddy!" (Now listen I have no idea what Kaoru would call her father so don't start flaming me.)

"Your father can't hear you. Hell I doubt old Sajinkin can hear anything now a days. It's a shame that he's wasting his skills on a dojo…" Bengi commented.

"Shut up!" Kaoru said earning another slap.

"Bengi!"

"Sorry Lao…my hand slipped."

Lao sighed. "Let's go before somebody does decide to show up. And if the kid does give trouble then shut her up, but don't kill her."

With that Bengi laughed before punching Kaoru painfully in to stomach causing her vision to blur but she fought against the creeping sensation to pass out. Suddenly something rushed by grabbing her and knocking over her two kidnappers.

"What the hell?" Lao questioned.

"You have a lot of nerve trying to kidnap my daughter." Said the man holding the now unconscious Kaoru. He was tall with graying hair and brilliant blue eyes. In his hand was a long sheathed sword.

"So the great Sajinkin makes an appearance." Lao scoffed drawing his own sword. "It will make me very happy to see your blood covering the ground."

"Hmm. It doesn't take much strength to kill a young boy who's back is to you and knock out a little girl. You two are nothing but cowards." Sajinkin said setting Kaoru on the ground. "If you think you can best me then attack."

Bengi laughed before springing forward prepared to knock the seemingly old man out but in one fluid movement Sajinkin grabbed Bengi's wrist and sent him flying into a nearby tree.

"I know that strength is not the way to beat a samurai like you." Lao said. "No…your type have to be dealt with differently."

Sajinkin only stood there indifferently as the young man attacked bringing his sword down at a wide arch aiming for Sijinkin's right arm. At the last moment thought Sajinkin raised his left arm and blocked with his still sheathed sword.

"Who sent you?" he asked pushing Lao back.

"You'll find out soon enough." Lao said launching another attack. "But first I have to finish my mission."

Sajinkin prepared himself as Lao ran swiftly towards him but something about the young man's aim was off and he ended up brushing past him.

'No' Sajinkin realized darkly. 'His never meant to attack me. He after…KAORU!'

Sajinkin turned swiftly just as Lao reached his now awakening daughter and shouted. There was no way he'd reach them in time.

Kaoru looked up to see a man standing over her with a sword raised high over his head. A strong wind swept through the trees and just as suddenly as the man was there, he was gone thought to dirt at her feet seemed to be smoking. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her and at once Kaoru knew she was safe in her father's arms.

"Are you alright Kaoru?" he asked.

"Yes…but the bad men hurt Reji…" Kaoru whispered before sleep took hold of her.

Sajinkin frowned before turning back to the dojo where his students were taking care of the body of Reji. As he left he stopped and looked back at the place where he had just came so close to loosing his only daughter.

"I hope Kaoru that you never have to see the technique I just used. For the sake of your very soul.

~*~*~*~

"Kaoru? You lazy girl? What kind of teacher are you if you can't even wake up?" Yahiko spat.

"Don't be mean Yahiko. Miss Kaoru might be tired. That she may."

"Yeah…well she'll miss breakfast."

Kaoru woke up to Yahiko's normal annoyances. She sighed as she blinked away the last traces of a nightmare from her eyes.

'Or was that a memory?' she asked herself. Before she could even question it any further Yahiko spoke up again.

"So the sleeping troll finally wakes up." He said.

"Just who do you think you're calling a troll." Kaoru said, ready to deal out some pain. "And just what do you two think you're doing in MY bedroom?"

"You were having a nightmare. That you were." Kenshin explained, concern written across his face. "We were worried. That we were."

"Yeah you were screaming like a banshee." Yahiko added. "Stop! Let go! Kenshin!" Yahiko imitated dramtically earning blushed from both Kaoru and Kenshin. "You should really keep it down when you're dreaming. There are children present."

"No there were children." Kaoru corrected. "Cause I'm gonna kill you! Come here you little brat!"

"Now, now." Kenshin said though he was drained out by the pair's shouting. "I think I should go make breakfast."

"How could you just leave me here Kenshin?" Yahiko shouted while Kaoru pulled mercilessly at his hair.

"One must know when they're out matched Yahiko…that they must." Kenshin said backing out the door. Once he was sure he was safe he ran down the hall.

"Miss Kaoru is scarier then any samurai…that she is…" Kenshin muttered before sighing and starting on breakfast.

~*~*~*~*~

"Can you explain to me just what I'm doing here?" Sanosuke asked indignantly as Kaoru handed him two large sacks of groceries.

"You're here because for some reason you manage to eat at my dojo for free…" Kaoru muttered. "The least you can do is carry the food you're going to mooch later…"

"Come on Sano, it's not that bad." Kenshin said smiling, readjusting the barrels of rice he was carrying on his shoulders. "Besides I'm making dinner tonight. Maybe a bit of udon would be nice…"

"Anything would be better then  having to eat Kaoru's cooking!" Yahiko said.

"I second that!" Sano added.

"If you hate my cooking so much…then why don't you go eat some where else?" Kaoru growled from behind Sano.

"You know as well as I do little missy…" Sano said grinning. "When it comes to fighting I'm your man. There's nobody who can stand up to my fists!"

"But when it comes to paying a check Sano's as weak as a kitten." Yahiko joked causing the spiky haired man to sweat drop.

"There's no need to be so blunt Yahiko…"

"Don't blame me." Yahiko said, walking backwards so to grin at Sano. "The truth hurts."

Because Yahiko wasn't looking where he was going he had no way to know that he was walking right into someone.

"Oh…I'm sorry…" Yahiko began apologizing to the tall man he had bumped into, but he was cut off suddenly when the man slapped him viscously.

"Yahiko!" Kaoru gasped hurrying to his side. "Why would you do that? He said he was sorry!"

The man glared at Kaoru as if she were something nasty he had stepped in. "Young lady I do wonder who gave you permission to speak to me?"

By now not only was a crowd gathering but Kaoru's temper was rising. Sensing trouble Kenshin stepped forward.

"I apologize for our rudeness. That I do." Kenshin said smiling, hoping that his kindness would make the man go away. "Please forgive us."

"How dare you bow down to him Kenshin!" Kaoru spat angrily. "He's the idiot who over reacted over nothing!"

The man looked away from Kaoru and now gazed at Kenshin. Slowly he raised his eyebrow and let out a hollow laugh.

"I never thought I'd see the Battousia take orders from a woman. Ten years has made you weak!" the man spat.

Kenshin looked up, all traces of happiness gone from his face. "How do you know me?"

"The red hair and cross shaped scar are a dead give away." The man said calmly. "Not to mention sword you carry. "I'm sure if I were to check right now it would be a reverse-sword."

"Who are you?" Kenshin asked frowning.

The man only chuckled. "I'm what you may call your successor. You and I met before in Kyoto." When Kenshin made no signs of remembering the man sweat dropped. "You should remember me as Hajime Soitoh."

Kenshin's eyes widened with recognition. "I remember you! You're the one who use to turn into a panda!"

"No you fool!!" Soitoh spat. "That's Genma Sautome!!!" (^.^ from ranma ½. I could see them really saying that you know!)

"No matter." Soitoh said reaching for his own sword. "Now that I've found you…I can kill you!"

Kaoru gasped as the man moved with god like speed, prepared to slit Kenshin's throat.

~*~*~*~*~

A/N I am evil! I am evil!! I know it's cruel to put such a cliffhanger after taking forever to update…but just think of it as an incentive to review! Thanks for all the cool reviews. I really do appreciate them!!!

Sakuya: Then you should show

 your fans you care and hurry up and update!

Crystalia: . I said I was sorry…I'm going to update. Promise! You trust me don't you?

Sakuya: Don't ask questions like that if you want to hear the truth!

Crystalia: . *sniffle sniffle* I'll show you! I'll show you all! I'm going to start typing chapter 3 right now!!!

::runs off and starts on chapter 3::

Sakuya: never say I don't do anything for you humans!