Title:    A New Beginning

Rated: PG-13 (Violence & Language)

Author: charismatic angel

Email: charismatic_angel@msn.com

Chapter Date: June 22, 2003

All the stuff you do not want to read but I have to say:

* sighs * I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Someone else owns the rights and characters to this series. You know the rest…(Please don't sue me)

Chapter 5:

Kaoru settled herself as best as she could in the small dingy motel room. She couldn't imagine what the person who designed this room was thinking. Practically everything in site was lime green. The sheets, carpet, wallpaper, curtains, and even the phone were a pukey shade of lime green.

Other than the tacky coloring, the room itself was very simple. She had a bed, nightstand, telephone, tv, lamp, chair and a bathroom. Kaoru opened the dirty looking curtains to have a peek outside. It seemed the only scenery from her room would be the dirty brick wall from the building next door. She looked down two stories below to see a couple of rats scurry down the alley. The sight of the rats made her sick.

Kaoru quickly closed the curtains and decided it wouldn't be a good idea to take a shower tonight. She had heard of sewer rats and wasn't too keen on learning if they could climb up drains or not. There was no way she would take any chances.

Kaoru changed into her sleeping clothes and went to the door to make sure it was locked. Assured that the lock was bolted she decided to head for bed. Kaoru turned the TV on and set the volume very low. She reached over to turn the lamp off and pulled the covers over her as she went to sleep.

Sometime in the early hours of the morning she was awoken by a series of gunshots and screams. Panicked, Kaoru sat up in bed and held her hand to her chest. She had been sleeping very lightly due to her surroundings and the time change. Her body wanted to sleep, but she was awake.

Unable to sleep she slightly turned the volume up and began to flip through the channels. Nothing but test patterns and infomercials were on. Kaoru sighed as she slumped back into her pillow.

American TV has just as much as Japanese TV has on at night!

Defeated, she decided to try and sleep. An hour later she fell asleep.

Kaoru slept peacefully the rest of the night. Her body finally gave into sleep and she was able to block out the noises.

* Next Day *

Kaoru awoke to a pounding noise. Drowsily she sat up and tried to clear her eyes and head. The room was dark but she could tell it was somewhat light outside, because the sun shown through the crack where the two curtains met. She was brought back to reality by the sound of someone beating against her door. Panic overtook her wondering who it could be?

The beating continued as Kaoru sat immobile on her bed. What should I do? It can't be him…NO! He couldn't of found me already, could he?!

She made herself get up as she used slow measured steps. Whoever it was, they were persistent. Her eyes darted towards a way out. She looked at the window wondering if she would be able to escape that way. No, it was too far down.

She decided the only thing to do was to protect herself. She glanced around looking for an object that would be a good weapon. Her eyes fell on the lamp next to the bed. She went to the lamp and found the plug in the back and pulled it out. Slowly she picked it up from the stand and tip toed towards the door.

Whoever it was, they'd be sorry if they entered this room. She clutched the lamp at its base and held it like a baseball bat. Palms sweating she gripped the lamp tighter.

At that moment the knocking stopped. Kaoru listened intently as she heard the footsteps outside her door disappear. She slowly gave a sigh of relief. Kaoru brought the lamp down and loosely held it.

It was nobody. They went away. Someone must have gotten the wrong room…yeah that's what happened.

Moments later Kaoru's ears perked up when she heard the footsteps come back and stop in front of her door.

I should have known. He wouldn't have given up so easy. Oh no, I can't fight him off alone.

She heard the sound of a key sliding into the lock. Swiftly, she brought the lamp up once more and was gripping it for dear life. If it were Enishi, she would fight until she wasn't able. From here on she decided not to be a victim.

The doorknob slowly turned Kaoru stepped forward ready to attack. The door creaked open and a pair of mans legs entered. Just as Kaoru was about to swing a familiar male voice called out to her.

"Missy, are you here, are you alr…." Sano's sentence was cut off as his eyes caught the scene in front of him.

He immediately backed away and put his hands in the air.

"It's just me! I came by to pick you up. When you didn't answer I thought something was wrong. I got the key from my friend. Just put the lamp down! He said defensively.

Kaoru dropped the lamp once more and gave a sigh of relief.

"You big jerk! You shouldn't go around scaring me like that! Why didn't you just call me?!" she said.

"I did call you! No one answered. I was knocking on your door for fifteen minutes and calling your name. I was worried and so I got the key. Sorry for caring!

Kaoru set the lamp down.

"Are you going to invite me in?" Sano asked.

"Well, you practically already are, so you might as well." She said in a highly irritated voice.

Sano moved inside and closed the door behind him. He made an odd expression as he looked at Kaoru. She noticed his expression and arched her eyebrow.

"What are you looking at?!" she asked angrily.

"Well, ummm, uhhh", he tried to say as he pointed at her nightgown which was showing a little more cleavage than it should have.

Embarrassed she retrieved her robe from the chair and wrapped it tightly around her.

"Pervert" she muttered.

Sano stood their awkwardly rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin on his face.

Seeing she had taken care of the problem he moved to sit at the edge of her bed.

"Why are you so jumpy?" he asked

"Wouldn't you be if you were in an whole other country and were attacked only a few hours ago?" she said hotly.

"Sorry for asking. I have never seen anyone as jumpy as you." He replied.

"Why should you care?" as she gave him a cold glare.

Sano gave her a serious face

"What are you hiding? You must be hiding something to be so jumpy. I know it's none of my business." He calmly said.

"I have nothing to hide from." Her voice getting an octave higher.

"Listen missy, I'm a gambler and I can spot a bluff a mile away. You aren't fooling anyone. This is a dangerous city and you aren't the kind that can go around hiding something and not get hurt. I am trying to help you."

He gave her another serious face.

Kaoru shot up from her chair and walked to where Sano was sitting.

"You really want to know. Then I will show you."

She pulled back her robe and lifted up the bottom of her shirt so that a small portion underneath her ribs and above her abdomen was showing.

Sano let out a gasp as he saw the gigantic purple and blue bruise that covered the area.

Kaoru gave a mock smile

"Courtesy of my ex fiancée. He really knew how to treat a woman. I have plenty more just like them. Poor Kaoru huh? She said sarcastically.

She pulled her shirt down and wrapped the robe around her.

"And you wonder why I am running or why I'd be hiding things. Did I answer you questions?"

First Sano was shocked, and then he became angry. More than anything he hated a men who beat on women. It sickened him that someone could do such a thing to a kid like her.

He frowned

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" He solemnly said.

"Tell someone." She started laughing, "Even if I did, no one would help me. My friend knew about it but I couldn't get her involved. My ex fiancée is dangerous he has money and connections. There wouldn't be a place in Japan where he couldn't find me."

Kaoru sat back down and put her head in her hands.

"I was so stupid, wasn't I? She started sobbing.

Immediately Sano got up and put a hand on her shoulder.

"No, you were not stupid. You may be a lot of things, but not stupid. Consider yourself lucky most women don't make it out."

Kaoru starting bawling even harder and got up and started crying against Sano's chest.

Sano patted the top of her head.

"It's alright kid I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Kaoru looked up with tears gleaming from her eyes and smiled. Their little moment was interrupted by the sound of Sano's growling stomach. She gave a soft chuckle.

"Sounds like someone is hungry." She smiled.

Sano laughed, "Yeah, I am always hungry."

He took his hand away from her head and she moved away from him.

"I guess I should get ready" she softly said.

"I will wait in the front entrance while you get ready." He suggested.

Before Sano walked out the door she caught him by the shoulder.

"You are like the big brother I never had. Thank you"

He smiled "Right kid" and nodded as he turned to leave.

End of Chapter 5!

I am getting so many good reviews for my first fic! I am so happy. Thank you everyone! I am trying not to be too predictable. I want to have some originality. I know how it is to read the same storyline over and over again. Better things are coming up, but you will have to read and find out :)

Thank you once again for the reviews. They are what keep me going!