a/n: I am soo sry for the long wait for this chapter, but seeings as no one has reviewed for like forever I don't think anyone reads this story anymore '-_- plus school, I think we will all agree, takes up a lot of time. So anywhoo- for those of you who actually read this story, this is your long awaited promised chapter.

Chapter 9

Longings

Kaiya's long, amber braid swished back and forth down her back as she was hurriedly escorted down the dark corridor where at the end, she knew, Lord Toshi would be waiting for her.

Weeks, maybe even months, had passed since she had last seen daylight, outside of Lord Toshi's compound. A stray tear trickled down her cheek. She quickly flicked it away, less her tormenter, Akio, see it and add to her misery. She thought back upon those days that were all but a memory now. She scarcely had time to think about those blissful days, when she was.free. What was her adopted family doing right that very moment? Were they searching for her, or had they given up? Would she be forgotten? Erased from their memories forever? Was Kenshin mad at her? Her eyes widened and she hung her head in shame, she had forgotten about Kenshin, her long lost brother.

A door was opened at the end of the corridor, splashing a stream of light on the dark surroundings. Kaiya's mind quickly snapped back to the present. If she was ever to see her brother again she would have to survive the present first.

__

Kenshin concentrated on the cloth in his hands, rubbing it furiously in the soapy water, as if removing the grease from the dishtowel would solve all of his problems.

"Hey Kenshin, you're going to wear a hole right through that cloth if you don't let up a bit." Sano quipped from his forced position with a broom. Karou, having gone to town for the day, had left the guys with a long assorted list of chores.

Kenshin looked up from his pile of laundry. "You surprised me Sano. I did not see you there, that I did not." He tried to force what he thought looked like a pleasing smile.

"Right, Kenshin." Sano turned back to his sweeping, not believing Kenshin for a minute.

"Yaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!" Yahiko screamed, running into the courtyard in a panic, franticly scratching at something on his head.

"What is wrong, Yahiko?" Kenshin rose from his laundry.

"Get it off! GET IT OFF!!" Yahiko yelled as he still ran about in a frenzy.

"Hey slow down! Watch where you're going!" Sano scolded as Yahiko bumped into him.

"What's the matter Yahiko?" Kenshin repeated his query.

"Sp-sp-SPIDERS" Yahiko stammered as he continuously scratched up and down his back.

"You mean this?" Sano picked up a rag that had fallen out of Yahiko's shirt sleeve. "Is this your spider?" He laughed as he waved the little scrap of cloth in front of Yahiko's face.

"Would you cut it out!" Yahiko shouted back at Sano as he slumped down into a sitting position on the ground, crossing his arms in a stubborn fashion.

"Yahiko, you're not afraid of spiders, are you?" Kenshin questioned with his first genuine rurouni smile in weeks.

"No! I just don't like cleaning out their cobwebs is all." He pouted.

"Well in that case I'll clean them out for you." Kenshin gleamed.

Yahiko stood quickly. "Really, Kenshin? All right! You're the best!"

Kenshin cleared his throat. "That is if you stoke the fire for the Miss Karou's bath."

"No problem!" Yahiko assured him.

"AND." Kenshin stated, "You must also wax all the floors when Sano is done sweeping them."

Yahiko fell over backwards, taken aback at what Kenshin said that he must do. Regaining his composure he stood up to the more experienced fighter, fists made, ready to attack, waving them in Kenshin's face. "No way!" He shouted. "There's absolutely not way that I am going to wax ALL of the floors."

"Hey, yeah!" Sano joined his young comrade. "And there's no way I'm going to sweep ALL of the floors!"

"Hmm." Kenshin just shrugged, heading back to his pile of laundry. "I guess Yahiko can sweep out all the spider webs by himself."

"Grrrr." Yahiko clenched his fists together. "C'mon Sano, you better get to sweeping." He said, stalking off. "Hey c'mon, this isn't fair!" Kenshin could hear Sano complaining in the distance. But his mind had turned to other things. He sighed as a pang of sadness struck up in his heart. He gazed about the dojo, noticing how empty it felt. Shifting his gaze, he stared up at the white-clouded, blue sky and suddenly he felt a longing to be able to soar among them. To fly to the place where his sister was. Oh, how he missed her. He had barely gotten to know here before she was whisked away by a person who could only be described, by the young grandchildren of Dr. Gensai, as a bad man.

His thoughts raged within him. How could he have been so stupid as to leave her alone? But what puzzled him the most was the solitary dagger that was found at the dojo after Kaiya's disappearance. Whose was it? Who had wielded it in the struggle between Kaiya and her captor? If it was Kaiya's then what secrets had she been hiding from him? Then something awful struck him, what if Kaiya really isn't his sister? What if he really doesn't have a sister, and the dreams, the picture, they're all part of his imagination? Was she sent to assassinate someone? Who was she after? Who was she, really?

No, Kenshin told himself, Stop thinking like that. Whether or not Kaiya is my sister, she had depended on me. She needed me to protect her, and I failed. He blinked a tear back. He could not stop thinking about her, but he had searched everywhere, there was no place left to look. Kaiya was gone, and it was all his fault. Or was it?

a/n: bwa ha ha ha ha! I like leaving you with cliff hangers. Don't worry though, the next chapter will be up soon! For those of you who wanted humour I hope you like the Yahiko & the fear of spiders thing. I'm sry that a lot of you who are pressuring me for more action are prbly disappointed. But do not fret. I guarantee that the next chapter is going to be loaded with action. Keep reviewing and I'll keep updating. ^_^