Hey guys! Decided to get a jump-start on Chapter Nine while I'm stuck here in Band listening to stupid tapes.

Also, if I don't update on a regular basis, s'because I now need to devote more time to my novel, my little brainchild. So I'm going to switch off between the two. PSSSSSSTT: If you ever see a book called 'Broken Threads' in a bookstore in the near/close future, buy it!

And for those who are wondering, (if you hadn't guessed from Tsukiyo and Yahiko's plotting last chapter *^-^*), there is going to be some WAFF coming from Kenshin and Kaoru. Megumi and Sano too. ^^

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Kenshin smiled, watching Tsukiyo pretend to teach Ayame and Suzume how to use the bo. They had their little brooms, and Tsukiyo had borrowed the mop and was mock sparring with the two. The red-haired girl laughed and pretended to fall over as Suzume, squealing, whacking Tsukiyo on her butt.

Tsukiyo was better, having devoted herself to working with Yahiko and being as helpful as possible around the house. Kaoru hadn't complained once about Tsukiyo being a 'free-loader', as she had done numerous times about Sanosuke and Yahiko. Her wounds had healed, and she could move for the first time since arriving at the dojo without pain of any sort.

Kenshin hadn't felt any better about her and the Kamiya dojo's safety since the man had snuck into Tsukiyo's room. He was still out there, and the worst of it all was that he had no idea where the mysterious stranger was.

His fists clenched, one on his sakabatou, the other at his side. //If only I could track him down, make sure he never-

"KENSHIN!"

"Oro?!" He jumped, whipping around to face a rather angered Kaoru. Pissed off would have been a better term to describe her facial expression.

"You forgot to get me my cabbage! AGAIN!" He almost slumped with relief. He had been expecting that another mysterious stranger had appeared, demanding either his or Tsukiyo's life.

"Gomen nasai, Kaoru-dono. I'll go and get it immediately, that I will!" He grabbed the basket she handed him, and sped out of the door as fast as he thought prudent.

Once he was out of her sight he slowed down to enjoy the day. It was sunny, and there were thunderheads on the horizon. He looked forward to the summer days that were fast approaching. //I had better get home before that storm breaks, so the cabbage is not spoiled.//

Tsukiyo taking a flying leap, landing on his back, caught him off guard again. "Ken-sempai, Kaoru-san told self to go with you to get the cabbage!"

"What for, Tsukiyo-dono?" he asked, bending over to try and get his breath back as she slid off.

"She said self was going to get more dishes broken if self tried to wash for lunch, so she sent self out to go with you."

"Ah. Well then, let's get going before the rain comes." He continued walking, the shorter Tsukiyo trailing behind.

"How do you know there'll be rain?" She seemed to be genuinely curious, as though she had never known where her water came from.

He began to tell her as they walked down the street, heading towards the market. It was going to be a beautiful day.

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As they were heading back to the dojo, laden down with their food supplies, the storm that had been threatening to hit all morning finally broke. Within minutes, both Kenshin and Tsukiyo were absolutely drenched, with no place to hide from the downpour.

"It's really coming down hard, isn't it?" Tsukiyo called to Kenshin, trying to make herself heard over the heavy rain.

He only nodded, trudging along. His sandals were completely covered in mud. He could feel it squishing between his toes with every step he took.

Tsukiyo didn't seem to mind the weather at all, though. Her completely bare feet seemed unaffected, as she stepped lightly and with a bounce. She never really felt happy unless it was raining.

"Tsukiyo-dono, we should stop and wait this rain out in that hut over there," he said, gesturing towards a ramshackle travel house that appeared to be waterproof. They ran the yards separating them from shelter, taking their loads off and placing them on the driest part of the floor.

Kenshin had turned around for not more than a second before Tsukiyo had taken her short kimono off, revealing the bandaging similar to what Sano and Kaoru used, for different reasons.

When he began to ask her in the most polite way to put her shirt back on, she raised an eyebrow and said, "Ken-sempai, self does not feel like catching cold after getting better. You should take yours off too. Self will start a fire." And she did just that, turning her back to him, striking the flint together to start a warming blaze.

Hesitation gripped him for a few seconds before he did as she had suggested, hanging his kimono as she had done. He felt self-conscious, with all of his scars revealed to the world.

But she didn't to seem to care. While it did ease his conscience, it still felt improper to him, as though he were treating her like a man, and an adult one for that matter. But he sat there, enjoying the warmth that seeped into his bones, easing some aches that had been irritated by the cold rain.

"Ken-sempai?"

"Yes?" He kept his eyes on the fire, observing how the different colors melded together.

"What... What do you feel when you let the Battousai take over?" She blurted it, and yet there was a strange sort of hesitation to it. //Well, not quite strange. She feels as though she is prying.// Kenshin thought, as he turned his face to meet her amber eyes. A chill went through him at seeing those eyes on another face, one that wasn't completely out of control.

"I sink into a calm. As though all my feelings have been severed; I couldn't think logically if I tried." He paused, and shook his head at the memories. "Sometimes its good to be like that, but I've found that almost all of the time it's the worst thing that can happen."

She nodded, confirming his fears. //Kami-sama, how could this happen to a child?// His anguished thought raced through his mind, making him wish that he could turn the clock back for the girl sitting across the fire from him.

She seemed to have recovered some of her broken spirit, however. Whatever had been done to her appeared to be slowly slipping away from her, leaving her much happier, and much more relaxed. But Kenshin could still see a hint of the hysteria and fear she must have become acquainted with throughout her lifetime. He could only hope it would leave her soon.

When the rain finally let up, Kenshin put out the fire while Tsukiyo shrugged back into her kimono, handing Kenshin his as he stood up from throwing dirt over the logs. He thanked her, picking up his basket and waiting for her to grab her bundle of food.

Outside, the late spring shower had swept the landscape clear, leaving behind beautiful emerald leaves encrusted with leftover diamonds, which fell as Tsukiyo brushed her hand over them, marveling at the miracles of water. The rurouni found it extremely amusing when she accidentally splashed into a mud puddle, showering herself with splatters of thick muck. He tried to hide his smile at her crestfallen expression, and simply helped her wipe off the worst of the splotches.

When they finally arrived at the dojo, they found Kaoru looking worriedly outside for them. When she spotted the pair, she ran out, snatching the bundles and basket from them both. "Do you know," she mock-growled, glaring at Kenshin, "just how annoyingly frustrating it is to have to deal with a hungry Sano and Megumi-san?"

"Gomen, Kaoru-dono. I would have stopped the rains if I could, but-"

"Oh never mind, Kenshin. I'll have lunch ready in a half-hour." She winked and bounced back into the kitchen, leaving a slightly stunned Kenshin and an amused Tsukiyo.

"Do you-"

"Maybe, maybe not. Self won't tell." She grinned evilly at him, pleased at how Kaoru had suddenly become bolder. //Mayhaps Silly-Bad-Cook won't need self and Short-Spike-Talk's help after all.// She shook her head as she ran off to find Yahiko. //Nah. Silly-Bad-Cook isn't that brave.//

Kenshin simply shook his head at the antics of women, and made a beeline for his rooms, intending to change his socks.

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After lunch, Tsukiyo decided that she would set into motion the first part of her and Yahiko's plan to get Sanosuke and Megumi together. It called for one-part timing, one-part acting, and one-part wildflowers.

So it was with a bounce in her step that she took Ayame and Suzume out to pick flowers. She brought her bo staff along to make Kaoru feel better about them going out by themselves. The girls had been overjoyed to have a chance to go out so soon after a rainstorm, and kept Tsukiyo on her toes trying to keep track of them.

"Tsu-chan! Look what I found!" Ayame held up a wriggling frog, giggling as she felt it wriggle against her chubby fingers.

"Pretty frog. Put it back now, please?"

"Okay!" the toddler placed it back in the flash pond she had caught it in, bowing as is swam away.

"Tsu-chan, I found a really pretty flower! What is it?" Suzume had found a small, black flower, shaped like a bell.

"Self does not know, Suzume-chan. It is very pretty though." Tsukiyo bent over, sniffing it. "It smells good as well. Put it in the basket with the others, please."

They continued picking for almost an hour, with Ayame and Suzume racing about, trying to find more and more unusual flowers to have Tsukiyo identify, laughing when she didn't know any of them. They taught her, leading her around to look at them all waving gently in the breeze.

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"You there!" Tsukiyo's head whipped up, accidentally dropping the yellow flower she had just picked. She found herself looking into the eyes of a policeman, his own yellow eyes meeting her amber ones. She felt a rush of fear course through her veins, leaving her petrified.

Suzume and Ayame came running, slipping and sliding on the damp grass. They looked worried, dropping their bundles of flowers next to Tsukiyo's to stand protectively in front of the slim girl.

"Mean policeman! Scare nice Tsukiyo!" they cried, tugging Tsukiyo's hands to try and move her away.

"I am not mean, you little babies." His eyes narrowed even further, making his slit eyes all the more frightening. "I simply wanted to ask this young lady some questions. If you would please tell me where you live, then I can prove that I am indeed a police officer."

"We live at the Kamiya dojo!" The two little girls ignored his surprised expression, instead tugging a confused Tsukiyo down the road as fast as they could.

"What is wrong, Suzume? Why are we leaving the police officer?" While she was secretly glad they were leaving him in the dust, the children seemed to be truly worried about Tsukiyo.

"He came once, a while ago," the elder of the girls explained, breaking into a fast trot. "He and Ken-san got into a biiig fight, and hurt Kenshin. He's mean."

"Ahh. Self understands," she said, but she didn't quite get what the girl was trying to tell her. She only followed, with a twinge of sadness for the flowers that had been forced to leave behind by their departure.

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It was after dinner when the Saitou made his appearance at the dojo. He had been coolly polite, greeting Kaoru with a nod, and sweeping past her to find Kenshin in his room. The shoji door sliding shut was the only noise that he made as he entered the room. "So, Himura-san. I find you living comfortably."

"Should I not? I have earned the right to live peacefully for a few months, at the least." Kenshin sipped his tea, keeping a nonchalant air about him. Secretly he was pleased. He had not seen the police officer for some time, and had been curious as to what the man would say about Tsukiyo.

Saito's lip almost curled, but he restrained himself. "I have come to inquire about a young girl that is living here. You presumably know why."

"This unworthy one? Surely not, I only write poems about cherry blossoms now." The rurouni smiled, making light of it. But Saito didn't react, as Kenshin had hoped he wouldn't. "Come outside, if you think her a danger."

They moved to the garden, which had become one of Tsukiyo's favorite haunts. She had taken her bedding out to the raised walkway that cut through the greenery, apparently with the intention of sleeping outside. Not that Kenshin could blame her. The warm, night air had made his room stuffy and uncomfortable.

The bedding was empty, as its owner had found herself a small spot where only grass grew, and had settled herself down to either meditate or enjoy the beauty. Her small face, usually somber and solemn, had a relaxed, happy picture painted upon it. Lying across her folded legs was her bo staff, completing the portrait of someone who had released all their burdens, and was ready to start anew.

Kenshin allowed Saito to watch in silence for a few moments before speaking quietly. "There sits one of the few people who would, if given the time, find the meaning of true happiness. She is an innocent, Saito. I do not know how she was so twisted, but she somehow has received only the worst parts of myself."

"And do you truly expect me to believe that?" Saito had not taken his eyes off her, seemingly trying to bore a hole into the child's unmoving body. "Any child that has a drop of your blood would be nothing but a innocent." He waved a hand towards the unmoving girl. "She, however, is not of your blood."

Kenshin was confused. "Then how-"

"I seem to recall only one time, during your reign as Himura Battousai, that you truly lost your control. Yes," he continued, ignoring Kenshin's half-growled remark about that, "there were the times when you allowed battle-lust to control your actions, but I never knew you to loose all control, except once."

Suddenly it hit Kenshin in the gut, and he staggered. Memories flooded back to him, making it nearly impossible to breathe. //The woman... Her blood... She made me angry...// He blanched and nearly threw up.

"Oh, get yourself under control," Saito growled, picking up the slender warrior and bringing him back to his rooms. "I didn't expect you to do something quite as foolish as you did then. But, what's done is done. You raped her. She was a common whore. And unluckily for you, she had a child."

Slumped boneless on the floor, Kenshin's head was whirling. He could see it now, the way she had cried out, the way she had begged him to stop, that she hadn't meant to challenge the Battousai...

//The worst of it all,// Kenshin thought, trying desperately to keep himself under control, //is that I can now see the resemblance... Faint as it may be, it is there.// Tsukiyo had inherited not only her father's incredible speed, but also her mother's spirit. Combined with all her other traits, it made her a doubly dangerous child.

"So what will you do?" the policeman asked, without a drop of pity in his voice, "Will you shun her now, for the memories that she brings up? Or will you turn her over to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"She's an assassin, Himura-san. Sent by who, I don't know, but she is here to kill you."

"How do you know?" Kenshin whispered, trying to hold onto what little sanity he had left. //Tsukiyo wouldn't hurt a-//

He remembered the fight, between him and Tsukiyo not more than a week past. The way she had been totally devoted to one thing: killing him. Not to mention the fact she had outright told him she was going to kill him; he had totally forgotten it.

"I'm not here just to pay you a visit and let you know all this for nothing, Himura. The government wants her. For assassinating a number of they're under workers. Oh," he continued, ignoring the way Kenshin was blankly staring at the floor, "they weren't really important. It was just that she was found out, and now they want her. Dead or alive."

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Tsukiyo hadn't moved from her spot for hours. Saito had left, taking one last look at the immobile child. He hadn't been able to see the tear tracks, running down her face in the moonlight.

//So. Self has a... father. Red-Cross-Sad.// She brushed away the tears that wouldn't stop pouring out of her eyes. //He is... One I must kill...// Her hands clenched convulsively around the dark, reassuring wood of her staff as she used the word 'I' to describe herself for the first time. If anyone had been able to look into her eyes at that moment, they would have seemed to swirl, as her indecision allowed her alter-ego to emerge slightly before she beat it back down again.

She had cried only twice, in front of Sanosuke and Kenshin. Her eyes welled up even further as she tried to imagine how he would see her if she went through with what she had been told she must do: kill Kenshin and then commit seppuku.

Giving into her terror at death, and her grief at the thought of what she had to do, she began to bawl, for only the third time in her life. Wracking sobs shuddered through her frame, rendering her oblivious to Kenshin quietly moving behind her, gingerly placing his arms around her.

She leaned into him, instinctively wanting to be held as she released her pent up emotions. He tightened his hold on her, rubbing her back and crooning under his breath as he did so. Father and daughter sat there, ignoring time as they sat and cried together.

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Wow. That got a helluva lot more angsty and dark than I though it would. Anyways, on to the next chapter!