Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, only the great Watsuki-sama and other companies do….not me…nor I….myself does not own it…..no….. .T.T;; So…Don't sue me! (runs and hides in cube)

No one, spoke all was silent, except for the clanging of metal against metal and the quiet retreat of a controlled woman joining the old man in the sky.

Chapter Eight: Strength and Secrets

Kenshin Himura's sword was a mere blur and the man clad in black was the same. Their swords never hit their mark, clang after clang each attack was countered. Battousai had had enough; he leapt into the air. His sword heading towards the man's head. The man was no fool; he blocked his attack as his feet sunk into the ground.

Kenshin balancing himself on the man's sword swung his sheath around and whacked the man in the back of the neck. The man slid to the ground, coughing up blood. The man felt his neck, it wasn't broken, but it hurt worse than hell.

He stood up shaking with pain. Battousai flew over to him as he feebly tried to defend himself. With the flick of his sword Battousai disarmed the man. Swiftly, Battousai's flipped sword was at the man's throat. The point dug into his skin causing blood to drip onto his chest. The man wouldn't feel any pain; he had slipped into the darkness. His vow not to kill seemed nullified at the moment.

"WAIT!" a pure voice yelled. Battousai froze. Kaoru? The woman flew down to the ground, landing before Battousai, balancing on the blunt edge of his sword. Kenshin looked at her. Her eyes were innocent and kind. Was it really Kaoru?

She bent down, her hand touching his cheek softly. He unconsciously leaned into her warm touch. "Kenshin, please, don't kill him. Remember your vow, and why." Kenshin nodded slowly not quite understanding everything. Their eyes met again and stayed linked for a moment.

Kaoru slowly leaned closer to Kenshin. Their lips touched for a mere moment before Kaoru collapsed onto him. She whispered the words he had always wanted to hear, but always thought were forbidden. Kenshin hugged her to him and murmured the same declaration in her hair. Kenshin felt her shake as tears fell on his shoulder.

Suddenly Kaoru pulled out of his embrace, and he saw what he hoped he would never see again, but to his misfortune he will more than he ever thought possible. Kaoru's innocent eyes were filled with pain and fear. They hit him like knives speeding faster then bullets. It was his fault she was in this pain. He felt like dying, but so much depended on him. Kaoru's happiness depended on him.

Slowly, a sheen of dominance iced over her eyes as she fidgeted and shook. Sweat poured over her body. Kenshin grabbed her arm, "Kaoru? Kaoru!?!" He yelled her name. Frantic, he shook her arm. He seemed to break down inside.

She turned extremely pale. Heat emanated from her. Kenshin pulled his sword from under her. He quickly caught her and held her close. He dropped to his knees. Her breath came in short gasps. The old man in the air silently swooped down, creeping toward the distressed couple.

Sagara Sanosuke and Asakura Tamahome sat tied to a tree and their hands bound together. "I'll get you for this Kyoyama Miaka!" Sanosuke yelled at the woman sitting near the campfire, his head tripling in size and teeth turning to fangs. Tamahome just sat there shuddering. "You cruel woman!" he yelled. Tears streaming down his eyes that had become large and innocent, "How could you!?!" Miaka shrugged. Sano's eyes narrowed, "What's wrong?" Miaka shook her head, "It's nothing."

Tamahome looked at her, "that 'nothing' sure sounded like something." Miaka just looked at the fire. When they were going to prod at her again she spoke, "I was just thinking…" Tamahome asked, "about what?" Miaka turned her back toward them, "about you." Sanosuke's eyes widened. He glanced at the two. What was their reason for coming to Kyoto? He decided to stay out of this conversation. Tamahome looked unsettled, "Why did you leave Tokyo?" he said softly.

Miaka turned toward him, her head bent, "I had to! If I didn't they would have, they would have done things to hurt you!" Tamahome looked at her, his eyes fierce, "They wouldn't have! It hurt more not being able to know where you were, knowing I had no chance of protecting you!" Tears appeared on Miaka's kimono. Tamahome's eyes softened. "Please, Miaka. Don't cry."

Miaka shook, "I'm sorry." Tamahome said, "Miaka, please untie me." She fell to her knees and reached over to the rope that tied his waist to the tree. Once they were loosened Tamahome put his arms around her neck, slipping her body through the loop of his still tied arms. Pulling her close Tamahome whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have acted like that. It was my fault we were in that situation anyway."

Miaka fell in his embrace, burrowing her head in his shoulder. "Did you hear that?" Sanosuke said standing. Tamahome and Miaka froze. Slowly they stepped away from each other, their faces red. "Don't worry Megumi, I'll protect you!" a voice said from behind the bushes.

"But Yahiko-chan-"

"DON'T CALL ME –CHAN!!!!!!"

"Yes, but Yahiko-kun, couldn't we simply go around the fire?"

"But Kenshin could be here!"

Sanosuke burst out laughing. Miaka and Tamahome stood there, bug-eyed.

"Oi, I know that voice…"

Suddenly a young man had his shinai flying towards Sanosuke. It clonked him on the head, and they began fighting endlessly pulling each other's cheeks and hair. A dark-haired woman with a medicine kit gave a mushroom shaped sigh. When Sanosuke finally got the boy off him he said, "Oi, fox. What made you come all the way out here?" Acting vain he said, "I knew you just could resist me!" giving a toothy grin, a fish skeleton appearing in his mouth.

"How the heck-" the young man began before Sano cut him off. "Don't ask about things only men know about!" The boy remarked, "I'm more of a man than you, Rooster-head!"

"What did you say!?!"

"Big, fat, unmanly rooster-head!!!!"

"Why you little-"

"Nah Nah Nah Nah Naaah!!! You can't catch me, unmanly man!"

"I am too manly, Yahiko-chan"

"GRRRR, YOU UNMANLY ROOSTER!!!!"

Everyone sweatdropped as they began to fight again. The woman introduced herself as Megumi and the boy as Yahiko. Tamahome and Miaka introduced themselves in turn. They had begun to explain what had been happening when Yahiko yelled out, "Why don't we ask the women if you're an UNmanly man!?!"

They stopped, "Not a bad idea shrimp." Sanosuke said. They stood apart. Sanosuke struck a pose smiling flamboyantly. The Megumi and Miaka sweatdropped and tried to back away slowly.

Author notes: Finally! Finished! Well, this chappie is done anyway. I'm glad I left this chapter on a rather comical note. And…..I brought Megumi and Yahiko in the story!!!! YAY!!! Thanks for reading, please review! Also I'm going to write a chapter for my other fic before continuing with this one. It's going to be a pattern! (mumbles) square and then cube, square and then cube, you can't beat my pattern! (gets sidetracked making squares and cubes.) Whheeeee!! Squares and cubes!