Ohayo! Hanashi-san checking in! Chapter Five is finally done! I hope you like this chapter (it's the first one I've written on my brand-new Palm Pilot).

CONTEST ANNOUNCMENT: The contest is now over! I am proud to say that the winner is Zhen Ji, with her last name of 'Utsukushii'. So Tsukiyo is now going to be known as Utsukushii Tsukiyo, or 'beautiful moonlit night'. Of course, the RK characters will be waiting a while to learn that fact.

I am also highly indebted to The Rurouni Kenshin Character Name Guide for posting the various names that the characters use in the series. *bows down* I love you! (you can find them at ).

To finish up my rant of the chapter, I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or other characters.

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Kenshin sighed with relief as the whole Kamiya Dojo 'family' trooped out to the Aka-beko, the newest member of the fold included. //It seems as though I was right to ask Kaoru to let Yahiko and Tsukiyo-san work together, that I was.// Kaoru was walking beside him, smiling at the cherry blossoms falling from the trees. Yahiko was attempting to sneak up on Tsukiyo, with little to no success. She would let him get within a few feet of her and then dodge his attempts to tackle her.

Sanosuke and Megumi were also having fun, exchanging insults as they walked a little farther behind the rest of the group. //Sano and Megumi-dono have been much closer of late, that they have.// Kaoru seemed to read his thoughts, for she glanced back and hid a smile as the pair began calling each other 'Tori-atama' and 'Megitsune'. "Those two never stop, do they?" she asked, looking up at Kenshin.

"One would think that the wind would stop blowing before they stopped, Kaoru-dono." He stopped from saying anything more as they arrived at the Aka-beko.

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"And what'll you be having today, minna-san?" Tae smiled as she stood in front of their booth, her pad of paper in her hand.

Everyone chorused out his or her orders, laughing at the din that was created. Once they had finished, Tae left them to go and prepare their food.

"Tsukiyo-san, how was Yahiko?" Kaoru smiled as she asked, having a small idea already. Tsukiyo look much better, her usually pale face still flushed with excitement and the exercise.

"Yahiko-san did well, and learned new things. He is very good." She returned the assistant master's smile tentatively; unsure as to whether that was the full answer that she had needed to give. //Lady-sneak-silly is funny tonight.//

Sano grumbled as Megumi poked him in the side. "Tori-atama, you had best not be getting any more than a single bottle of sake, right?"

"Riiight, Megitsune." But on a sharp, pointed glare from every single woman in the Aka-beko, Sanosuke changed his mind. "Ach, whatever. I'll stick with one bottle."

Kaoru smiled as Megumi laughed at her success. Poking Kenshin, she whispered, "Kenshin, do you think Sanosuke's alright? He usually never gives up this easily."

Kenshin barely tipped his head, keeping an eye on their fellow diners. "It may just be that he wishes to avoid causing trouble for once, I think."

Kaoru grinned and turned back to the table. Tae had arrived with their beef hot pot, and Tsukiyo was fighting Yahiko for the biggest slice of meat. Ayame and Suzume laughed as they both accidentally let go of the meat, the offending slice falling back into the pot and splashing them both. Dripping with the juices, they made their excuses and ran for the washing area to try and get rid of the dark soup that had soaked into their clothes.

Kaoru sighed with happiness, thinking, //It has been very exciting with a new member of the dojo around. Tsukiyo-san is such a mystery though. I wish she'd open-// She lost her train of thought as Kenshin suddenly stood, his hand on his sword. "K-Kenshin? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Kaoru-dono. I simply need to go outside for a moment." His purple eyes were fixed on the door to the shop, where Kaoru could barely make out a dim outline. He then slid his sandals on, and walked outside without another word. Kaoru tried to follow him, but found a very strong hand on her shoulder, forcing her down.

"Jou-chan, you'd better leave him alone." She turned to face Sanosuke, her eyes flashing. But before she could fling a retort at him, she cooled her anger. //Sano's right. If Kenshin wanted me to know, or could let me know, he would have. I can only hope it isn't too dangerous.//

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Kenshin stepped out of the Aka-beko, breathing in the quiet night air. He could faintly hear Yahiko and Tsukiyo returning from the washhouse. Luckily for him and the stranger, it was attached to the Aka-beko, so they were relatively alone.

Kenshin broke the silence first, asking quietly, "I noticed you have an interest in the young girl. Would you please explain it?"

He heard a low chuckle, as the young man replied, "One cannot help but have an interest when she bears a striking resemblance to the Battousai of legends. The cross shaped scar and all."

Kenshin narrowed his eyes slightly. Something about this man was making him itch to have his Sakabatou out and in a ready position. He resisted the urge and asked, "I am that girl's guardian, and if her appearance disturbs you, you may pick it up with me."

"I don't think that will be necessary. We'll meet again, Himura-san." With that cliché, the shadowy figure turned and disappeared in the darkness.

(random excerpt from Hanashi's mutterings at the compooper)

*cues creeeepy music* MUAH HAH HAH HAH HAHHHH..

(end of excerpt, but not the chapter. ^,^ I wouldn't be that mean.)

(or would I?)

(hmmm. Interesting way to use up space. *gets attacked by fans* *cough cough* On with the story!)

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Tsukiyo's head whipped up as Kenshin reentered the room. //Something wrong. Red-sad-cross. Angry? No, not possibility. Never angry.// But she stopped and reconsidered it as he sat down. Not even Sanosuke had noticed anything different about him, but Tsukiyo read his emotions through the way his voice had altered slightly, and the way he sat slightly on his feet, to be ready to move in an instant. //Maybe angry.//

She finished her food deep in thought, thinking hard over the dull ache in her side. However, she wasn't so deep in a trance that she didn't miss Yahiko's hand sneaking over to her plate to steal the last of her hot pot. Luckily, the last of the food was gone, and she was the last one eating, so she had an excuse to attack him and chase him out the door.

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Later that night, Yahiko lay awake on his futon. He had been awake for some time, trying to find a solution to his wakefulness. //I'm tired, I'm going to have bruises in the morning from Tsukiyo-san, so why can't I get to sleep?//

A tiny little voice answered him. //Because you're worried.//

Glaring at the ceiling of his room, he thought, //About what? About Kenshin, or Kaoru-san, or the others? They can handle themselves perfectly well, they've done it enough times.//

//You're worried about Tsukiyo. About this so-called 'Master' she worships, because it might mean that she's a part of some crime ring.//

//Tsukiyo can handle herself, too. She beat my pants off with that bo of hers, and she could probably do it to Busu too. She doesn't need to be protected, and would probably maul me if I tried to help her at any time.// But he still felt a stab of worry at his thoughts. Tsukiyo was still hurt, even though she seemed to be fine. When they had fought over the meat that evening, he hadn't missed her tiny wince of pain when his elbow met her side. When they had gone to wash, she had been especially careful to get the stain on her side. She had even gone to Megumi when they got home and had been pushed into the kitchen.

He had stood outside, casually settling himself on the floor next to the shoji. He had ever so slowly pressed his ear to the door, to better hear what the conversation was inside.

Megumi spoke first, as the rustling of cloth accompanied. "Tsukiyo-san, how did that wound break open? I thought I put enough bandages on it to prevent that."

There was a long pause, and Tsukiyo spoke, her soft voice barely reaching Yahiko's ears. "I. I fell, Megumi-dono. On the way to the washroom."

Yahiko could almost see Megumi raise an eyebrow skeptically. "Really? This looks more like someone hit you, either accidentally or on purpose."

Deafening silence accompanied that comment. Megumi sighed and ordered gently, "Raise your arm a bit, Tsukiyo-san." A pause, and then the doctor said gently, "You must take better care of yourself, tsuki-ko. If that wound breaks open again, you need to get me quickly. Do you understand?"

"Hai, sensei." Yahiko silently scooted over to the crack in the door, and peered in. He saw Megumi kneeling, wrapping white linen bandages around.

He had almost thrown up. While he had been the first one to find her, he hadn't been able to see much of her wounds; the others had barred him from helping besides getting water. But when Megumi moved back to get more bandages, he saw the wound on her side fully. It looked as though the flesh had simply been shredded, and torn away from her body. It had a layer of scabbing over it that was almost done healing; but there were large cracks that seeped blood with every breath she took, expanding the cracks a little more each time.

Yahiko shook the image from his mind, trying to concentrate on how to best get to sleep. //Maybe if I. Just.// Soon he was fast asleep and snoring. Even with the strange packet of herbs that had been placed in his pillow.

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Tsukiyo was suddenly awake. She had been in a sound sleep, without even the hint of a dream, when something had disturbed her slumber. //Caution. Something wrong here.//

She reached out her right hand, not moving any other part of her body, feeling for her bo stick. She felt her hand grasp the solid wood, taking comfort in its presence. She drew a deep breath, dispelling her fears as she exhaled.

But there was still something wrong. The room. smelled funny. Like herbs, in that nasty drink that Megumi gave her. She whipped her staff up and used it as a lever, propelling herself out of her bed to land in the arms of a very unfamiliar person.

She screamed, terrified. She knew what was going to happen next, it had happened hundreds of times before. Inside of her head, she could only think, //NO! NOT AGAIN!! NO!!!// But she could feel her senses draining as a voice said gently, "Now now, chibi. You know this will only hurt a little." She screamed again, this time in pain when she felt the sting of a needle in her arm as she bit down on the hand that tried to muffle her screams.

The door to her room flew open as Kenshin slid in, the sakabatou out and ready. Behind him were Kaoru and Sanosuke, Kaoru with her wooden sword and Sano with his fists. But that would be the last sight she would see, and the drug that had been injected into her rapidly took over her body, making it fall back into the realm of sleep.

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Kenshin had been sound asleep in his room when he heard the scream. He hadn't even wasted a second, grabbing the sakabatou and running full tilt for the room that Tsukiyo called her own. He had flung open the door, hoping he wasn't too late. But he had been, for just as he had been about to attack the stranger in black who held her, he saw the spark of hope light in her eyes, and then just as quickly die, as she slumped in the man's arms.

"Who. Are. You." He spat out, biting each word off in his anger. He fought for the moment of silence that it took for the man to answer, fighting for control. //If I turn to the Battousai, Tsukiyo will not be spared. I MUST stay myself.//

"I believe you met me before, Himura the Battousai. I recall our conversation outside of the Aka-beko well, as it was only a few hours ago." The cocky arrogant voice grated on his nerves, nerves that were already frayed from seeing the child he had promised to protect fall back into an uncaring stranger's hands.

"What did you do to her, you monster?" He could barely make out the rise and fall of Tsukiyo's chest. He had seen the needle enter her arm, and had glimpsed it pushing a clear liquid into her system.

"I was only providing a little entertainment for myself, and making sure she stayed where she belongs. Now then," he said, his lips moving slightly beneath the black fabric of his mask, "I will leave you to your fight."

"Fight?" Kenshin asked, but somehow, the man was gone. Tsukiyo was crumpled in a heap on the ground, her precious bo lying on the ground next to her. He strode over to her, dimly aware of Kaoru following behind. He propped her upper body against his arm as he felt for a pulse. Her jaw was slack, her mouth open as she took slow, shallow breaths.

"Is she."

Kenshin cut Kaoru's question off with a shake of his head. "She's alive, but we need Megumi-dono. Sano can you-"

He stopped, feeling the girl's body, which had been slack and unresponsive a few seconds ago, suddenly tense. Kenshin lept back, grabbing Kaoru by the back of her kimono as he did so. Kaoru coughed, and confusedly asked, "Kenshin, what on-"

"Kaoru-dono, look at her. There is something wrong with her." She was twitching, her arms moving spasmodically. Suddenly, she popped up, bo stick in hand. There was something very wrong about her eyes, instead of being their usual golden amber, they were.

"Kenshin," Kaoru breathed, not moving an inch. "Her eyes.. they're."

He finished for her, already dreading what he feared was going to happen. "Purple. They're purple."