Chapter 9

Ice Cold Eyes, Stone Hard Fists and the Mibu Wolf

Juju: Ah, yes at last I am at the ninth chapter and because I have about 12 reviews I will do the bonus.

BONUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today's bonus is that I will write a Sequel after this and that if it's worth it I might add side stories! ^-^ But that would become separate, hopefully you all won't be come confused!

Juju: the bonus is a side story… it's in a separate thingy… I hope you all enjoy!

AND NOW FOR THE FANFIC!

Chapter 9

Ice Cold Eyes, Stone Hard Fists and the Mibu Wolf

My eyes are cold,

And unknown,

Life is short,

But still everlasting,

Because of you I know now,

All of my heart is warm.

For you I shall tell you a secret,

So short but true,

And the secret to you is,

I love you,

So short,

Be everlasting.

            -Juju

Kenshin sat in the somewhat light precipitation thinking. ~What makes me want to learn the Hiten-Mitsurugi-Ryu Ama-Kakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki? (A/n: Oro!) It is a powerful attack; yes, but why, is it just to get rid of Makoto Shishio. Or, or is it more? Can it be because I have a deep hatred for him, all for what? Taking a troublesome girl off my shoulders? Or was it because I feel something with that girl, something that draws us together.

            Kenshin thought over every little detail and also answered a few of his own.

~*Kaoru's house*~

Misao sighed, it was four days, four days, and there was no sight of Kaoru. She jumped when Aoshi's cell phone went off. As soon as he answered he got up and was heading out the door.

            "Aoshi-sama where are you going?" Misao questioned ready to burst into tears at any moment given.

"To Makoto Shishio. Coming Sagara?" Aoshi turned to there close friend while glancing at the door.

"Sure, what happened?" Sano asked making sure he knew why he was going and if there is a reason to. And a sound of a fight didn't seem that bad.

"Hannya saw one of the Juppongatana bring a body that was struggling, it might be Kaoru. Or a trap, but my bet is its Kaoru, and she was brought by Soujiro Seta, or Soujiro the Tenken." Aoshi said getting his Kodachi off the couch and placed it in his belt.

"Oh really? I was sure for a moment that Battousai had the girl." A voice said making them turn.

"Hajime Saitou, the leader of the a third squad of the Shinsen-gumi a police officer named, Goro Fujita, who also seems to dislike the battousai. And also says 'Aku soku zen, kill evil swiftly."

            "So you think you know everything about me? Aoshi Shinomori, became the leader of the Oniwaban-shu at the age of 15, and also seems to dislike the Battousai and not only that ignores a certain someone." Saitou said smiling, he turned slightly showing the katana concealed in his coat slightly. "Best put are past behind us and fight Makoto Shishio. Got that rooster?"

            "Who are ya callin` rooster?" Sano asked glaring at Saitou.

            "You of course aho. (Moron.)" Saitou said walking away like he always did.

            "Hey! You're the moron! Moron!" Sano said following after him, but waving at Misao on the way out, and you could hear a faint 'moron' in the night. Misao stood there a bit nervous because she was with Aoshi and blinked to see him looking at her.

"Misao, I might die doing this, just in case you want to know, so if you have anything important to say it to me, say it now."

            Misao smiled meekly and took a hold of Aoshi's strong calloused hands. "If I do have anything important to say I can say it to you at anytime given. But right now it's not the time, not yet. So I'll hold my secret until it's time. And something tells me that you're not going to die; not yet you won't. And I want you to promise me, because if you do you won't die." Misao said smiling gently at him. Aoshi took his hands out of Misao's. As soon as they left Misao thought and was suddenly brought into a warm hug. Misao smiled in Aoshi's trench coat as she hugged him back.

            "I promise that I will return and when I do you better be smiling." Aoshi whispered into her ear. She smiled up at Aoshi and slowly left the room to bring back an indigo ribbon.

            Misao kissed Aoshi on his right cheek getting a very faint blush, an she said, "that is from me, and this, this is for the Battousai, tell him to give it to Kaoru." Misao placed the silk indigo ribbon in his warm hands and hugged him. Aoshi gave her a small smile before leaving causing her to gasp. Leaving Misao to think. Aoshi went to his car to see Saitou and Sanosuke waiting.

            "Hi Aoshi, can I borrow your cell?" Sano asked opening the back seat door for himself. He gave Sano a small nod as the black and silver cell phone was handed over.

            "Hey foxy lady!" Sano said with a goofy smile on his face. "Can you get about four beds prepared for today or tomorrow? What? Come on Megsune! Fine Megumi." Sano incoherent soiled words as he glared out the window while handing back the cell to Aoshi who placed it in his left pocket with Kaoru's ribbon.

~*Kaoru*~

Kaoru blinked when she saw the mansion in front of her and gaped.

"So you think it's quite enormous too!" The boy said smiling, his expression never faltered.

"Why am I here?" Kaoru asked glaring her temper rising by the second. Her eyes stared into his own as he stared back, and then blinking at her he gave her a sheepish smile and turned facing the building.

"Well you see Shishio-sama wanted to speak to you so… I have to improvise with a plan." Soujiro said laughing. "We have to go over some things with something, but I can't remember what… hmm I think it was about Himura-san."

Kaoru just stared at him as they went along, actually it was more like while he carried her into the maze-like building. They took many turns, Kaoru lost track by the fifth turn. Most of the walls didn't have any frames or pictures just plain ivory walls with a few signs that looked like a dojo/room. Soujiro asked someone for directions as soon as it seemed like he had a lost look.

"Oh, you mean that its four turns to the left and then one right? Okay then, don't you think we need to put a map in here?" Soujiro said his face still set as a smile. He placed her down and smiled at her.

"Do you have to smile? I mean it's so creepy that you smile so much!" Kaoru said letting out a shutter ripple through her body. Soujiro blinked at her.

"Do you think glaring is better?" Soujiro asked with a thoughtful look. Kaoru sweat dropped.

"Not really, but shouldn't we have to go to that guy you were talking about? Shishin-san?"

"Shishio-sama." Soujiro corrected. Kaoru just huffed and said whatever as she waved her hand briskly.

~*Kenshin*~

Kenshin was still seated on the mudded ground when Hiko came into view all the things he had thought of didn't help. The thought of Kaoru dead gave him a piercing pain in his heart. All he was hoping is that Kaoru is safe and in good condition. Looking up from his spot, Kenshin could see the outline of Hiko's tall and still form. Getting up slowly, he gave a small almost inaudible sigh. And in return of the sigh Kenshin got a nice big smack with Hiko's iron sheathe.

"Oro!"

"You still say that stupid thing? I guess that's suspected from a baka pupil like you." Hiko said causing Kenshin to glare. "So you've been thinking have you. Did you find anything you think that would help you?"

Kenshin shook his head no, and then rolled his eyes as the thought of Hiko saying something about saké would help him. And because he rolled his eyes he got another bump to add with the other.

"Oro!" Kenshin cried with pain his head aching. He swore that he could feel the bump growing that very second!

"Baka. Are you sure that you didn't find anything? Because if you don't finish this you will die for sure." Hiko's voice was serious and his eyes were set on Kenshin's amber eyes searching. ~The Ama-Kakeru-ryu-no-hirameki, the ultimate attack, long and difficult, if one part of it is wrong it can end your life in an instant.

Kenshin remembered that when he was about to end his life dieing to learn it, Hiko told him to think about it and that he would return the next day. So, if it wasn't about dieing what was it about? Maybe he had to want to live. Was that right? Kenshin looked at Hiko and nodded. With out a second thought Hiko raised his katana and attacked. Kenshin did the same as the last second and did something unexpected by taking another step.

~*Kaoru*~

Growling at the catcalls she stomped over to Soujiro muttering that men were pigs.

"Not all men are like that, just those and I guess the ones in bars too." Soujiro said before she glared at him. "Now, now no need to glare at me."

Lost in thoughts Kaoru somehow followed Soujiro through a few more hallways before crashing into a tall women with a… a… a scythe?

"Hey you! You should watch where your going got that? I need to look my best for Lord Shishio!" She said smiling at Soujiro, who smiled back… sort of because he's always smiling. "What's with the girl?"

"Mister Shishio wants me to take her so the Battousai would come, you know one of those chain reactions." Soujiro stated, as he did a motion with his hands. "Whish reminds me I have to get going! Well good bye Kamatari!" Soujiro said politely as the continued on.

"Alright! See you sweet heart!" Kamatari called walking away with the scythe in hand.

"Kamatari… hmm." Kaoru muttered, ~interesting people… person.~ Kaoru did a last glance at Kamatari's red/orange kimono as they took the last turn. "'Look my best for Lord Shishio.' What?" Kaoru said with a clueless look.

"Oh don't mind Kamatari, he's like that, but he's pretty good when it comes to using his scythe, he's the top 5 out of 10 Juppongatana." Soujiro answered causing her to blink and digest it.

~Oh.~ Kaoru thought as a dazed look came and went. ~Wait! What? That was a guy?!~ Kaoru stared at the corner as her mouth opened in surprise. She mouthed 'what?' as Soujiro laughed at her horror expression. As he knocked on the door Kaoru's attention was on a board of wood that was polished and was engraved with, "The strong lives and the weak dies." Kaoru thought that was somewhat true, sure the strong lived, but it died too.

"Come in. Ah, Soujiro, how was it?" A man said on a couch with a woman who, was showing too much cleavage, sat behind him.

"It was quite surprising, but it was easy too, if you ask me." Soujiro replied as he scratched his head laughing. "That's Lord Shishio and the woman behind him is Yumi Komagata, she came from a long line of geishas."

"So you mean that you get all your commands from, from Toasty over there!" Kaoru blurted making everyone to stop and think over what she said as she added. "And a slut!"

Yumi glared at her from the couch as she wrapped her arms around Shishio's shoulders.

"Your quite a rude little girl aren't you?" Shishio said lazily as he smoked on his pipe.

"A very rude girl if you ask me, Shishio-sama, me a slut! That I can never imagine!" Yumi fanned herself with an exotic fan that had sophisticated designs which few, glittered in the light. "I mean I look even better then Kamatari!"

(A/n: Can anyone NOT imagine Yumi as a slut? Is that even possible? And you know what? I think Kamatari is a lot better. *Snicker* I love cross dressers there so much fun in mangas / animes. *Sigh* I wonder if their like that in real life…)

"You mean that cross dresser that was wearing a red/orange kimono and that was carrying a scythe?" Kaoru asked watching their amused expression while Soujiro whispered into Shishio's ear.

"Oh really? Place her in the back room, don't do anything stupid." He said to Kaoru who rolled her eyes and watched him smirk at her.

"You might die doing that someday." Shishio pointed out.

"I know so I was thinking about doing it as much as I can before getting killed." Kaoru said sarcastically waving her arms in a way as if to point it out. Kaoru yelped when she felt someone grab her from behind and did the first-thought-first-do, and aimed low. Which was followed by a grunt of pain and a body falling to the floor. Thump.

She watched as Soujiro fell over from the pain and let out a small 'oops' as she tried to help him up. Laughing nervously Kaoru apologized profusely as Soujiro told her he was all right.

Kaoru turned to hear a evil deep laughter. And it was coming from… "What's your name?" Kaoru asked sweat dropping at him.

"Makoto Shishio, Soujiro you can take her now and if you really feel up to it. Kill the girl after you kill the Battousai." Shishio said AKA Toasty who was back to smoking afterward.

"Smoking is bad for you!" Kaoru yelled as Soujiro practically dragged her into the "room of evil " of the back room, as Toasty would say.

~*Kenshin*~

Kenshin stood there paralyzed for a few seconds before it hit him that he had defeated Hiko and learned the Ama-kakeru-ryu-no-hirameki. All at once and not only that but, he didn't know what to do. Run and save Kaoru or, save Hiko then save Kaoru.

He chose the second. Minutes later Kenshin found himself helping Hiko out of his top and with bandages in hand. As soon as he was done he heard his Shishou started to mutter.

"Shishou?" Kenshin whispered leaning closer so that he could hear well.

"B-baka d-deshi." Hiko managed to mumble making Kenshin stare with amusement. ~After all that, he still says it. ~ Kenshin thought blinking. "Go, go get Shishio, and after that, buy me 2 bottles of saké." Kenshin sighed getting up. As soon as he got up he tripped over Hiko's katana. ~Stupid katana. ~ Kenshin thought before running away leaving Hiko with a note to go to the Aoiya (spelling).

~*Kaoru*~

Kaoru sighed as she looked over the books; they were boring as well as pointless. If only she had matches… Matches! She could remember clearly in the room there was a box full of matches! Not only that but a giant bucket of water, what it was for only they knew. Lifting the box full of matches Kaoru lit one and was about to burn the pile of books before she felt cold metal touch her warm skin.

~*Aoshi*~

Aoshi parked the car as Sano and Saitou got rid of the guards. Aoshi watched a figure with bright red hair running towards the building and stop to put out a katana. Aoshi parked the car and locked it as he pulled out the kodachi from it's sheathe. Saitou followed and Sano just nodded as they went along.

~*Kenshin*~

Kenshin glared at the women as she was waiting for someone.

"You must be the Battousai, welcome to Lord Shishio's hideout."

"Nice to see you here Battousai, it's been a while hasn't it?" The Mibu wolf spoke with a taunting voice making Kenshin roll his eyes.

"Yes it has, lets get going." Aoshi said nodding curtly at them both before facing the women in front of them.

"I am Yumi Komagata, I will be your tour guide, but don't think that you'll get anywhere without me, this is a large mansion so you better stick with me!"

~*Misao*~

Misao walked out of Kaoru's house and locked the door. Slowly making her way she crashed in someone.

"Owww, you stupid—Arg. why don't you watch where you're going!" A familiar voice said. Looking down Misao saw a boy with spiky hair that seemed to have been cut and he was holding a bokkon, in his dark chocolate eyes stared at her. "Hey what are you doing here? Don't you have to work at the Aoiya?" Yahiko asked. Misao nodded and glanced at his bokkon.

"What are you going to do with that?" Misao asked watching a blank expression draw it's way to his face.

"Huh? Oh this come on Misao, you know Kaoru trains me!" Yahiko said watching Misao stare off."

"Kaoru's been kidnapped."

"WHAT?!"

~*Kenshin*~

Kenshin watched everyone appear, Aoshi of the Oniwaban-shu, Saitou of the Mibu wolf and leader of the 3rd Shinsen-gumi, and… a stranger? Kenshin nodded curtly watching the Rooster looking guy frown.

"What's this small guy doing?" He asked making Kenshin glare away.

"Whoa! He's really short now that I look at him up close!"

"Shut up moron." Saitou said glaring at Kenshin causing him to glare back.

(A/n: The Glare-Away-group!)

~*Soujiro*~

Soujiro sighed as he slowly placed Kaoru's form on the couch. He picked up her left wrist and stared at the long thin scar, it was at least four years old. It started at the base of her wrist and went down about two inches, almost 3.

His smile was still in place but there was a bit of a change in his eyes. There was a slight change of emotions in his eyes, of what? He wasn't sure. Soujiro moved the left gi sleeve until it reached his elbow. There were many scars, long thin, short wide. They were still too painful to look at. But it didn't mean that he didn't have to smile. He let the sleeve fall into place. "Well, I better see Mister Shishio." Soujiro said happily… or is that what we think?

Kaoru, I may have been the one to protect you, and take you away from the life you should have stayed in. I'm sorry to bring you into this but I'll try to fix it.

Next time on Project Kaoru

Chapter 10, Battles of Bloodshed.

REVEIWS!

SesshaWaRurouni: Well thank you!

Bob-san: *Gasp!* Do I really? I haven't noticed I guess I just to it cuz of cliffhanger or something without thinking! Sorry!

Well good-bye! Thank you for reading!