Thanks for all your support guys. I'm glad to hear that you like it so far. It makes me feel good. (Smile.) Anyway I am trying my best to at least from now on update every other day. Although after I update this chapter I won't be able to update until Saturday. I apologize! (All this homework and karate I have is a little stressful. Sigh.) That is enough whining from me. Here goes another chapter. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kenshin or anyone else in this story.

Chapter 2 The Midnight Talk

Kaoru as tired as she was could not find sleep. She tried everything. The murder attempt had her scared. She was trained well enough that she should have been able to stop them from hurting her. No matter what she had done though she hadn't been able to protect herself and that scared her. It also though made her feel better about Kenshin being there. What if they came again? She knew then that Kenshin would protect her.

She watched Kenshin go back and forth for an hour or two. He was such a wonderful man. It didn't matter to her that he was short and different than everyone else. In fact that was one reason why she loved him so much. Now that she knew she loved him she didn't know how to tell him. Would he even care? Did he even love her like she loved him? She didn't know and was afraid to ask or even tell him how she felt. Why did she love him anyway?

At that moment Kenshin came over and sat down next to her. It was like he could tell she was thinking about him. She blushed realizing that she also must have been staring at him for the past hour. No wonder he was coming over. He was probably annoyed by it when he was trying to be on guard.

"What is wrong Miss Kaoru?" he said quietly still eyeing the window and door.

"I can't sleep. Things running through my head."

"Like what things Miss Kaoru?"

Kaoru sat up facing him and stared into his sparkling purple eyes. There were now butterflies in her stomach. She frowned at them and him. Why did he make her feel this way? Besides she was not completely sure what she was about to say anyway.

"Kenshin . . . I want to know something."

"About what?" He said this now not staring or even worrying about the door and window. Kenshin now looked back into her blue eyes and had his own butterflies. A rurouni should not feel like this. It made him feel weak, yet . . . . happy at the same time.

"Kenshin . . . . why-why . . ." She couldn't say it.

"What is it Miss Kaoru? You can tell me."

"Why are you almost always sad around me Kenshin? Its like . . . you are afraid of something. Or you are afraid of telling me something. Why can't you just tell me?" This was the moment of truth. Did he really care for her as she cared for him? Would he even talk to her?

His eyes widened and the sparkle vanished. "Kaoru I . . . . . ."

Kaoru touched the scar on his face. He seemed sad as he looked deeper into her eyes. It was because all his feelings were coming to the surface and he was not sure how to express them to her. The last time he loved a woman everything had gone to hell and he was still paying for it.

"Kenshin. Please . . . . tell me. I need to know what is troubling you. Maybe I can help you."

He sighed and shook his head. "I do not know if you could help me. I doubt there is any way anyone could help me. It's just . . . . Still I feel pain for Tomoe, and yet . . ."

Kaoru's heart was beating so fast she could have sworn that Kenshin could hear it. She was surprised he hadn't said anything. What she didn't know was that his was doing the same thing. In embarrassment of it her head drooped so she didn't have to see his face.

Suddenly she felt his hand on her neck tracing where the cord mark still was red from the murder attempt. Kaoru couldn't breathe. His hand then went to her chin and raised it so he could see into her eyes. She was now forced to look into the face of the man that she loved.

"Kaoru . . . . I love you. That much I do know, and that is enough to give me encouragement to live each day knowing someone I love is waiting for me at home. But, I did love Tomoe and I will always love her."

Kaoru's eyes were watering. What was he trying to get at? He said he loved her but then he says that. She did not know what to expect next. Especially since it was coming from Kenshin. A tear ran down her face.

Kenshin caught it with his finger and then caressed her face to dry it. She wanted to cry even harder.

"But Kaoru," he said continuing his confession, "she is gone and you are here and I love you." The girl could not speak. All she had wanted was now coming true all so fast. It was all happening from something that had happened that was so bad.

"Will you say nothing Kaoru?"

She cried out in happiness. "Oh Kenshin! I love you too with all of my heart!"

With that all said and done Kaoru no longer felt the pain of her wound. She flung her arms around him and he did the same to her. Kenshin then smiled and gave her a real kiss on her soft lips. This was so much better than mouth to mouth, Kenshin thought to himself.

Kaoru laid back down on the futon and Kenshin laid down beside her. She smiled and pulled the covers over them. Kenshin smiled back at her and set his sakabatou beside the bed. He was no longer worried about the murderers. He suspected that they would not show until the next morning now.

Kenshin came in again and passionately kissed Kaoru. If his eyes hadn't been closed he would have noticed that Kaoru was in complete tears. Her prayers had been answered and she couldn't have been happier. Kenshin felt completely the same way.

She held his hands and laid her head onto his chest. Now she felt safe and very much not alone. Kenshin was now stroking Kaoru's hair. Nothing could ruin this night for her. The sound of Kenshin's heart and breathing was the last thing she heard.

Somewhere in southern Tokyo . . . . . .

"I am sorry Master."

"There is no excuse for your failure." The tall man whispered to his servant. "Pitiful. You no longer work for me. Kill him."

"Noooooooo!"

The tall man's bodyguards slashed open the whimpering servant. A smile encompassed the man's face. He spoke to the men beside him. "Go now and bring the girl to me. We must have her as bait. You can bring her to me dead or alive. Preferably dead."