Author's Note: Bleh…I think I'm losing interest in this fic…I really need an ego-boost right now. So…you can easily give me one by reading this chapter, and then, of course, reviewing it. Please?

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Do you? I thought not…HA!

Chapter 6

From all the lies

Told by the world

If only we could

Just walk away...

How much longer must I stall? There wasn't a moment to lose. Had his brother not given away the time of their first attack? Of course, Nakago knew that he could not attack at the same time as his brother had said. Shinomori would be expecting it.

Must I kidnap the girl? Yes…it is the only way…

But what time would Shinomori least expect it? When would they…

What about now? But what if it fails?

Nakago shook his head. This kind of thing needed proper planning. The thing was: this wasn't planned. And he wouldn't have time to plan it either. What am I going to do?

And as if things couldn't start getting worse, it began raining.

The drops had begun to fall. One by one.

Nakago did the only thing he could do at the moment. He cursed.

Okina took off his pink bow, and fingered it affectionately. This little thing has been with me for a long time…almost as long as I can remember…

He sighed, and then put it down on a small table next to his futon.

This little bow has gone through a lot of things with me…though I don't seem to remember how I got it…

It always warns me whenever there is trouble…I think this thing has magical properties or something…

And I'm thankful for it…

Okina crawled into his futon, and listened to the drops of rain hit the Aoiya. And he took comfort in it, as each drop fell: one by one…

Keiichi hated rain. It made him feel unsafe. Like he would get struck by lightening at any moment.

He never knew exactly when he began to feel this, but a nagging feeling told him that it was when he had begun to lie.

At the Aoiya, one lone figure could be seen in the garden, sitting quietly on the bench. Those who knew him well would know that he was always deep in thought. And that was exactly what he was doing at the moment—despite the rain. He was thinking.

I have to be ready. Aoshi stared out into the sky, the rain pouring down on him. He couldn't sleep, so he had decided to go take a walk. But then it started raining. He didn't mind. In fact, he kind of liked it—he liked watching the rain fall. One by one.

He may or may not attack tomorrow at dawn.

By now, Aoshi was sure that Nakago knew that he knew. He had probably even killed the scout person for telling.

The only thing in that madman's mind is revenge. But what did I do to deserve this? I haven't betrayed him or anything—have I?

Why…? Perhaps he blames me for the deaths of Hannya and the others…I certainly don't blame him.

Aoshi turned as he heard the sound of a stick snapping behind him.

"A-Aoshi-sama…?" said a voice.

It was Misao.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked, trying to stifle a yawn. Aoshi could tell that she was tired.

"…"

"You're getting all wet, Aoshi-sama…" Misao said sleepily.

Aoshi looked down. "So are you…"

Stretching lazily, Misao sat down next to Aoshi on the bench. Maybe he does care…

Misao smiled, now almost wide awake—partially because of the rain, and partially because Aoshi seemed to be somewhat answering her. "I guess you're right. So…what are you doing out here?"

"…"

"Could you not sleep?" Misao tried again.

"Aa…" came his usual reply.

They sat together in silence, still feeling the rain pounding on both of their backs.

"You should go inside, Misao. You might get a cold," Aoshi said suddenly.

"Why do you care?" Misao asked.

Aoshi glanced at her, and then returned his gaze to his hands. "…"

"Aoshi-sama…"

"…"

"Are you angry?"

"No…"

"Oh…okay then. Is something wrong?" This was the second time Misao had asked this. He really seemed to worried about something.

"…"

"Hey…what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"…Aa…"

The rain had stopped.

"Go dry off, Misao. Then go to bed," Aoshi said. It's not safe out here…

Misao sighed, and then finally agreed. She was getting tired again, anyway. She rung out her hair, and watched as the water streamed down. "Okay, okay…I'm going, Aoshi-sama…but…what about you?" She looked concernedly over at him, his bangs wet and dripping.

"I'll be fine…" Aoshi replied simply.

"Will you come in soon?"

"Aa…"

And Aoshi watched as Misao hurried off into the Aoiya. He quietly got up, and walked inside.

Nakago watched as the clouds cleared, revealing the beautiful silver moon. That moon was the moon the had always given him hope. However, it no longer brought the comfort he wanted.

Who needs planning? I've been planning long enough. I've waited a long time for this day to come.

Instead, it brought anger. Nakago stood up.

It is time…

Nakago almost laughed.

Time to torture Shinomori as he did me…

Misao pulled the covers over herself. Aoshi-sama…

Do you care at all for me?

She stared at the ceiling, though she wasn't really seeing it.

Then something dark blocked her view of it. What the…?

Misao realized too late that it was a person. She reached over to the small table next to her futon, where she put her kunai at night, but a hand caught her wrist in a vise-like grip. She brought her other hand up, and curled it into a fist.

She aimed it at his stomach, expecting to make contact with it. His hand caught hers, and that plan failed. So Misao did the only thing she could do…it was the only weapon available to her at the moment. She opened her mouth to scream. But, before she could do so, something was pressed over her mouth and nose.

And everything went black.

Author's Note: So…um…what did you think? Did this suck? Tell me the truth!!! REVIEW AND TELL ME!!!! Should I update? REVIEW AND TELL ME!!!! (How repetitive can one get? I don't know…but…oh well…)

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