a/n: sry that this chapter took so long. as I get closer and closer to the thick of the plot it gets harder and harder to write. if you have any suggestions or corrections please let me know! im open to all comments! so plz plz plz review! pretty please? *makes puppy face* k, enough of me blabbing. read the chapter already! ^_^

Chapter 8

Of Love and Hate

Kenshin stared with disbelief at the dagger set before him. His eyes clouded as he removed the sheath and studied the blade before letting it fall to the ground. It clattered to the ground with an audible clank. He threw himself to his knees and pounded his fists into the dirt. "Why? Why? Why didn't she tell me?" The questions raced through his mind. He couldn't comprehend it. What had happened to his sister? Where had she been taken? And why?

Tears came to his eyes. He tried to fight them back but they came just the same. Were they tears of sorrow or anger? He couldn't tell. His emotions mixed together until he could no longer contain them.

Megumi watched with complete silence from the dojo with pure sympathy and curiosity at the poor rurouni who was overwhelmed with emotions in the courtyard. What was wrong with Kenshin? Where were the others? She was truly confused and utterly oblivious to what was going on.

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Karou jumped off the train before it even came to a complete stop. Yahiko and the others struggled to catch up with her in her rampage. As they stalked to the dojo no one spoke. Everyone knew better than to confront Karou. They could feel the heavy tension in the air.

"KENSHIN!" Karou announced as she stomped through the gates of the dojo. Not immediately seeing her prey she searched around the corner of the building. Her heart stopped and her anger instantly subsided as she saw Kenshin kneeling on the ground, his face tormented with bitter sadness.

"Kenshin?" Her tone had softened as she slowly sidled her way up beside him, coming to squat next to him. "What's wrong?" Deep concern was in her eyes as she tried to make eye contact with her one true love.

"She's gone." Kenshin tried hard to speak, forcing the words out between the gasping sobs that wrenched his body. "We know." Karou comforted, putting her hand on his shoulder, trying to reassure him. His eyes flashed a golden yellow for a split second and she saw a piercing look of determination in his eyes. His mood changed from anguish to a cold, harsh, anger. "She should have told me. I could have helped her!" He said, thrusting the dagger's sheath into Karou's hands.

Rising, Kenshin picked up his sword and fastened it to his belt. With angry movements he hastened to the gate when Sano stepped forward. "You can't help everyone Kenshin. Why can't you see that? There's nothing you could do that could have prevented what happened. What's important now is that we look for her. This isn't like you Kenshin!" Sano nearly screamed in the smaller man's face. Kenshin's eyes just hardened more. "That may be true in most cases, that it may, Sano. But this is different. This is my own problem." He replied, not looking his companion in the face. As Kenshin turned to leave, Sano grabbed his shoulders, whipping the wanderer around to face him. "Listen to me Kenshin." He glared into the violet eyes beneath the amber red bangs. "We're your friends. Kaiya is our friend too. You don't have to do everything alone. We're here for you. We can help you."

Sano's words pierced Kenshin's rurouni heart. His eyes softened and he stared back at his friend. Suddenly, he found himself at a loss for words. Regaining his composure he sighed and continued, "You do not understand Sano, that you don't." "Well then clarify for us? How can we understand when you're hiding something from us?" He shook Kenshin's shoulders. Releasing himself from the muscular man's grasp Kenshin continued to the gate. "I need to clear my head, that I do."

Karou spoke up from her position on the ground. "Kenshin, where are you going?" At the soft voice of the girl he secretly loved, Kenshin turned around. "Just for a walk, Miss Karou, that I am." He forced his rurouni smile before fully exiting the courtyard.

Karou stared in astonishment and him leaving. Her gaze shifted to the dagger sheath she held in her hand. "Why does he care more about Kaiya than me?" Her thoughts rang. Suddenly filled with rage she stood, throwing the sheath to the ground she stomped off to her room, leaving everyone else in the courtyard unusually quiet and quite worried about they're two dearest friends.

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With shaky fingers Kaiya drew her hair back in the style of a ninja. She still could not control her fear. It had been many weeks since she had been taken away from the Kamiya dojo. Her ankle now healed she was forced to go through rigorous training exercises every day. With little, or nothing, to eat she had become very thin and fragile. She knew now that any day she would be asked to do something evil for Lord Toshi. Her forehead creased with just the thought of his name. Today she was alive and living in Lord Toshi's hideout, but who knew what tomorrow would bring.

a/n: ooh, cliffhanger huh? sorry that I have to leave you at such a spot but I don't have anymore time for writing tonight. I'm just trying to get something posted because I haven't for a while. sry for the wait. the next chapter should be up sooner. o.k. so you know what to do now. review or else!