This is an AU fic, also a K&K one. However, K&K would be kinda OOC due to their different background. Kenshin hasn't met Hiko yet, and Kaoru wasn't born in a kendo family. I tend to divide this fic into two arcs, but that has to depend on the response I get. Well, that's all. Enjoy!

Summary: Kenshin started as a young monk who hasn't cut out all emotions as all monks should do. All suppressed feelings seem to rise by their own will once he met Kaoru.

Could she release him from the invisible cage?

Chapter 1 The Encounter

There's no other city in Japan that has more temples than Kyoto.

Usually there are hardly any figures would be seen around these temples except for those monks. Today, for the most famous temple in Kyoto, no, in Japan, is another exception.

"Get out of my way, you dirty old beggar. Didn't you see I have to get near the deity?" a middle-aged man dressed like a merchant bellowed. Nudged with elbows mercilessly in the stomach, the poor old man was pushed down to the ground.

"If I could see, I wouldn't come all the way just to get a glimpse of the…ah, child, give this old beggar a hand, will you?" while in complaining, the nearly to blind old man seemed to notice there was a young man standing beside him.

This young man, Himura Kenshin, actually was easy to be mistaken as a girl. For almost each part of his figure could be described as slender. Fragile limbs with pale skin; soft, flaming hair pulled in a high pony tail. On his near-to-perfect face stood an ugly slash of scar, which was the only flaw of his appearance.

At first sight, it was hard to decide how old this young "man" really was, considered his stature. But once taking a look at his eyes, one would found he could hardly breathe under that intense gaze. The malice held inside those unusual gold pupils was far could be comprehended by a teenager, which only confuses viewers more judging from his monk's attire.

What kind of tragedy happened to this little monk so unbearable that he still couldn¡¦t wipe out the hatred he carried, even if after staying in the temple for such a long time?

Two finely shaped eyebrows drew together. Kenshin asked instead of answering, "What were those people excited about?"

"Shouldn't you help me get up first? Seriously, nowadays these teenagers think too much of themselves…alright, alright, I'll tell you! Ju…just let me take a breath," seeing Kenshin was about going away, the old beggar used all the strength he could manage to grab Kenshin's leg, making him stay. But if the old man could see how Kenshin's eyes flickered, maybe he would decide against that.

Taking several deep breaths, to which Kenshin rolled his eyes, the old man started. "Kamiya Megumi the deity had been known as possessing a great healing power from the day she was born. Her power is so great that with only one touch, she could make a fester, which no prescription issued by famous doctors could cure, disappear right away," at this, the old beggar sighed.

"As you could see, young lad, my eyes are nearly blind. I was hoping I could get near the deity, to let her take care of my eyes. But from the look of things going, I guess I have to live the rest of my life with these useless eyes." the old beggar said dejectedly.

"I can help you," said a calm, even cold voice. Seeing the old man raised his head, surprised, Kenshin continued. "I have nothing to do today anyway." Turning around, he made a pose to help the old man up.

"Thank you, young man, thank you very much! It's very nice of you to help such a poor old man. Kami sama would let you get what you deserved!" Recovered from the shock, the old man's mouth filled with compliment, only without kowtowing.

Holding the old beggar's side under shoulder, Kenshin murmured darkly, "If you know what my real intention is, you would think twice before thanking me."

He never believed in anything in this world connected with so called "God". Not even these years staying in the temple could make him paid any respect of those statues. At one night in many years ago, he had abandoned any concern for human beings or god. Almost in his every waking minute, he was thinking about escaping from this temple, these people.

Actually, he didn't care about any single word of the rumors told by the old fool. If there's really such an existence in this world, he'd really like to know what kind of treat he deserved to get… at this he sneered. But if this "deity" could gather such a crowd, he guessed it won't hurt just to pay a visit to this idol of Kyoto people's minds, right?

They tagged along the crowd, only were pushed by more people behind them. Just when Kenshin got impatient and decided to push his way through, he heard of girl's voices talking.

"Young Miss, you should really let Yoko deal with that old bald monk! How could they let Miss Megumi walk through the main entrance while we have to condescend to this back door? Who do they think they are?" a high-pitched voice complained loudly.

"Yoko, there's no need to be so upset about that. I think the back door is fine. This way, we won't have to push through the crowd." another female voice answered softly.

The voice made Kenshin stop. He didn¡¦t know why, but he felt a strong force compelled him to turn around and take a look at the owner of this voice.

What he saw was nothing but a girl with an emaciated look. Although her face was covered by a piece of veil, he could almost see the vein under uncovered skin. And if it was not for the maid, Yoko, holding her there, she looked like a gust of wind could blow her away. At this, Kenshin humphed. What things could this girl do? She could barely stand by herself.

He was about to resume pushing through the crowd, when the old man decided to interrupt at this moment. "Ah, is this young miss the famous deity? What a pleasant voice she has."

"No, didn't you hear their conversation? She is that woman's sister. Besides," here Kenshin smiled sardonically, "I doubt how this lady could heal people. In my opinion, she should be the one who needs curing."

Without hesitance, Yoko jumped forward to defend for her miss, "How dare you insult my miss! And by what dare you use that degrading way to address…"

"Don't be rude, Yoko. He wasn't wrong, I really am not Megumi neesan, and I indeed don't have that healing power. What this young monk said is truth." The veil-faced girl reprehended the maid. Although her voice remains light and soft, the authority carried in it can't be ignored.

Hearing that, Kenshin observed this "young miss" with more interest. Now that she stood nearer to him, he found something he didn't notice at first sight. Her raven hair, which was arranged in a simple hairdo, swayed like willow in the breeze. Compared with her pale face, her hair seemed used up the rest of energy left in her body.

But what really caught his attention were her eyes. Under the blazing sunlight, her eyes were like the kaleidoscope once he had a chance to play. There seemed to be a stream of indigo swimming inside those bottomless black pupils. While she looked no older than a teenage girl, her eyes spoke more than that.

Those eyes conveyed nothing but a kind of unconditional forgiveness, and there was a plain peaceful aura around her. No ecstasy, no suffering, jus…plain peace.

Seeing this, Kenshin suddenly had a strong will to destroy that satisfaction. He wanted to know how those eyes would scrunch under merciless pain.

Pain, yes that's all he had known in his 15-year experience living in this world. He wanted to know if this young girl will still carry this satisfaction with her once she learned to know the inhuman pain he had gone through…

Kaoru returned his intense gaze with unwavering one. She could feel the savaged aura carried by this young monk from a mile away. However, she wasn't surprised of this contradiction, nor was she intimidated by his "unfriendly" stare. After a long silence, she decided she should be the one to warm up the situation first.

"Nice to meet you," she bowed, in her usual slow tone. "I'm Kamiya Kaoru, the younger daughter of the Kamiya family. Kamiya Megumi is my elder sister."