Disclaimer: Ummm...do you really think I own Kenshin? I mean, come on!


Wow! It's good to be back! Thank you so much for all of you who waited so patiently for me to get this up! *Hands out cookies* I love you so much! ^_^ Thank you all for just bearing with me, and I'm sorry it took so long!

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He rested a hand on his sword and his eyes were a steel-blue color, flecked with amber. He had a plan, but they had to act fast.

"Miss Megumi, I would like it if you could start working on that antidote as soon as possible." His voice was harsh and she was startled that he had realized she had followed him. "Tell Sano and Yahiko to come up here," he paused. "Min as well. I need to tell them..." When she was sure Kenshin would say no more, Megumi bowed and quietly left him alone.

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"Kenshin!" Kaoru screamed. It amounted to nothing but more anger. "Kenshin!" Tears streamed down her face. "Kenshin... I can't tell you... I want to..." She let out another scream, her eyes clenched in pain. "Please..." she fought desperately but hatred poured from her like the tears that had been flowing for so long.
Her wrists were raw from pulling her chains, but she used almost every ounce of strength she had left to try to break free. She slumped over, exhausted.
She felt she would never move again, and succumb to the dark emotions that had simply been biding their time...

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Yahiko paced the room, Sano stood quietly watching Kenshin. Megumi was in her room, quietly trying to find an antidote for Kaoru. Min was already in place, but the other four had to wait until morning for their parts to come into action.


It would be a long night.

Kenshin sighed, and Sano opened an eye to look at him. "Kenshin, it'll all be ok, you'll see. Kaoru's gonna be just fine."

"Sano," The swordsman looked at him. "I want to believe that with all my heart. I really do, but I'm so worried. It doesn't make sense. Why would he give me a letter to open tomorrow night why it's almost a given that I would open it tonight? What if he's already killed her? What if-"

"Kenshin, stop it. stop it right now." Yahiko hissed. "You know that Min would have figured it out and come to warn us if that had been the case. Just shut up and stop talking about that. You know you're wrong."

Kenshin managed a smile. "Thank you Yahiko. I'll try." He leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. "It often seems when you are waiting for something to come, time slows down, but when you are dreading something, time speeds up. I'm so worried about Kaoru; dreading to face tomorrow...Time is so slow right now..." He whispered.

"Because you want it to happen, Kenshin. You want to be able to save her, but you know you can't do it until tomorrow. you want tomorrow to come more than anything." Sano replied.

"No. I want her safe more than anything." Kenshin looked at Sano. "Yahiko, Sano, what we are going to do is very dangerous. I want you to know that you are both allowed to discontinue right now if you want to."

"No way Kenshin, I'm with you until the end tomorrow." Sano sat down. "You know you can't get rid of me that easy."

"Yeah! There's no way I'm backing down either! I want to see the look on Toshiro's face when he's defeated!" Yahiko cried.

"Shh! Yahiko, you'll wake the other guests." Keshin looked at the boy. "Thank you both...for everything. I don't know what I would do without you." he closed his eyes and soon fell into a restless sleep, dreaming of Kaoru.

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"Kaoru." The young woman looked up to see Toshiro standing by the door. "Kaoru, would you do something for me?"

She smiled, but as she did an odd feeling developed in the pit of her stomach. "Yes darling, anything."

"Good. Then tomorrow night, I need you to come with me. you may have to see Kenshin again, but he will be gone shortly." Kaoru twitched at the mention of Kenshin.

"What do you mean, gone shortly?" She asked quietly.

"Ah...Disposed of, if you will." He smiled and walked to her side. "I know it will be hard on you, but I'll be right there with you." he put a hand on her bare shoulder. She pulled away in discomfort. "Kaoru..."

"I'm sorry, I don't feel like myself tonight Toshiro." She stood up. "Please excuse me." As she walked from the room, he smiled.

"No Kaoru, I don't think you have felt like yourself in a very long time. I think you don't understand just what this little favor you are doing for me is." He chuckled. "No Kaoru, I'm very sure you don't."

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Wow. Look at that. I managed to get it done!
Sorry it's not very long, but there was only so much I could think to put in there! The good news is, I'm posting again, so those of you who like 'The Road to Nowhere', I ought to get the next chapter for that up as well.
Please Review! ^_^