Katsura and Battousai leaned in closely to hear her story.

"I was retuning home after spending the day at the Akebeko with Miss Tae. 'Wow, that took longer than I thought and it's now dark! Way to go Kaoru, you know you hate walking home in the dark." Then I noticed some suspicious men going down an alley. I decided to follow them. I came to a little house where about ten men where talking. I couldn't make out what they were saying from where I was, so I moved closer to the house.

FLASHBACK

"We are going to plan a surprise attack on the Hitokiri Battousai one month from now and that will give us enough time to think of how we will destroy him. Understand?!" The man shouted at his assassins.

All the men shook their heads in agreement.

"Wow, they are going to plan an attack on The Battousai? How stupid can you get?"

END FLASHBACK

"He said they were going to plan a surprise attack on The Hitokiri Battousai on month from now, but I can't remember when or where right now, but I'm sure I will soon"

Battousai's eyes widened when he heard this.

"And then a mouse scurried across my feet and I screamed. It was pretty stupid of me considering what I was doing."

Battousai smirked, almost forgetting about what Kaoru ha just said. "You bet it was Missy, lucky for you I was in the neighborhood."

Kaoru ignored him and continued her story. "Any way, they heard me and one of them started to chase after me. The last thing I remember was him pushing me on the wall, and that's all I remember."

"Well, well, it sounds like you are still in danger Miss..."

"Kaoru... Kamiya Kaoru"

"Oh! That's a cute name! And I think we need to keep you here with us for your own protection and so you can remember when and where this is going to happen."

Kaoru was puzzled. "Uh, why do you need to know Mr. Katsura?"

"Well, to be honest Miss Kaoru, this man over here is not my business partner, he is Hitokiri Battousai, himself."

Kaoru's eyes widened. "W-What did you s-say?"

"Katsura! Why did you tell her that?" Battousai's eyes flickered with anger.

"Well, mister hothead, it's because YOU are going to protect her!" Katsura said in annoyance at his assassin's stupidity. "Honestly Himura, how can you so skilled with a sword, yet be so thick headed as to not wanting to protect this girl!"

Battousai's eyes softened as he spoke "Katsura.... you know what happened the last time I tried to protect a person...and she died." Battousai's voice trailed off as his eyes glazed over in thought.

"I'm sorry Himura, but that was the past. You will protect Miss Kaoru. It's for your safety as well."

Kaoru was now very confused. "Uh, so you want the Battousai to protect me?"

Katsura looked at her and answered; "Yes, Kenshin will take you to one of our safe houses in the city, and you will stay there with him and you can try to remember when the attack will take place, OK?"

"Uh, sure..Um is that your name Mister Battousai? Kenshin Himura?"

Kenshin snapped out of his thoughts an answered, "Yes that is my name."

Ok, this was an extremely long chapter, but I had to get it all in cause my best friend is leaving to Washington D.C. for a week, so we will continue the story then. Please read and review. Please don't not leave a review, because........... "If you happen to do that, a pig's gonna hit ya!" Sano

Peace! Mystic Ice signing off