Disclaimer: No. Plain and simple. Wait. Yes I do. No. Wait. I don't. STOP CONFUSING ME!!

Author's Notes: Okay, I am OFFICALLY stuck in a HUGE bout of writers block and I am sincerely sorry for that.  It's hit all my stories, and I think it's because I'm bent on finishing 'Silhouettes of Shadows' NOW. This chapter is NOT for those of you who DESPISE Tomoe. If you can accept her, go ahead and read. I'm not going to stop you from flaming me because she's in this chapter, or because of how I end it, if you're a Tomoe fan. BUT understand it is REQUIRED for the story. That's all I have to say. On with the chapter!! Oh yeah, the interlude is by Smile Empty Soul, called 'With This Knife'.

~Building the Hitokiri~

***Chapter 10- Road to Otsu***

'I let myself fall into a lie, I let my walls come down

I let myself smile and feel alive, I let my walls come down

No matter how I try, I don't know why you pushed so far away

You wrapped your hands tight around my heart, and squeezed it full of pain'

            The motions of the weeks and months that had passed since his last confrontation with his father had been long, stressful, and uneventful. Kenshin's mind reeled as he tried to remember everything that had occurred. It had all gone so fast and left him at a loss of serenity, of completeness. He'd never been able to get to his father in time before the Shinsengumi had taken a stronghold of Kyoto, and justly, Katsura had sent him off to remain safe until there would be a calling for his blade and hands once more.

            Everything was a blur the more he ran it over within his confused state of mind, and only the present was clear. He was living Otsu with Tomoe, where he had been sent to disguise himself as a married man, an apothecary ironically enough, so he would remain safe until he could once more return to the blood lusting grounds of Kyoto. Kenshin had attempted many times re-run the events of that, but there was always one fact confused him. It scratched at the edge of his senses, screaming out in a silent plea that something just was not right about his new, happy arrangement of married life with Tomoe, far away from the cries of blades and the slices of sounds made by dying men.

            Something about this just wasn't right.

~Flashback~

            Screams from the streets alerted Kenshin and Tomoe to the stress and problems within the festival. Tomoe had kindly and demurely asked him to escort her to the festival that night, and he had done so without much of a thought. Their conversation had been nice and light, but the sounds of swords attacking each other in carnal hunger destroyed the moment.

            "Lets get out." Kenshin stated. "We'll use the back."

            Tomoe nodded and soon found Kenshin's hand gripping her wrist tightly, pulling her toward the back exit of the dimly lit restaurant. Kenshin pulled them both close to the walls of the building until he could scan the area for threats. Sensing none, he began again to pound them through the hoards of people until they found themselves within the strangely empty company of Iizuka.

            "You need to get to that meeting, Himura." Iizuka stated roughly. "The Shinsengumi have invaded the city, and Mibu's wolves are headed directly for the meeting, hoping to destroy our leaders."

            Kenshin nodded.

            "We were supposed to tell our loved ones to leave Kyoto tonight." Iizuka continued softly. "They plan on burning the city to the ground tonight. It's much too dangerous for us here."

            "I will be fine." Kenshin nodded curtly.

            "How about the woman?" Iizuka questioned, nodding toward Tomoe. "Or the girl?"

            "Kaoru can get out on her own." Kenshin responded. "And since Tomoe is with me, I will be sure that she leaves the city safely."

            Iizuka nodded toward Kenshin and then Tomoe before he fled away from the scene. Gripping her arm tightly, Kenshin continued to lead Tomoe on toward the imminent fight, weaving his way through the hidden and disgraceful alleys of the city. Keeping up the quick pace, Kenshin twisted around a corner and discovered a small squad of Shinsengumi members staring back toward him.

            "You should turn and run." Kenshin said softly to Tomoe, his eyes trained upon the men before him and his hand shooting toward his sword.

            In a quick motion, Tomoe had taken his hand in her own. "I am your sheath; I am destined to remain with you."

            "You'll die." He stated obstinately.

            "By your side." She told him softly. "For I will have seen you kill………"

            Kenshin pushed her back lightly, standing protectively before the woman. She gasped, but Kenshin refused to take heed of her small voice at that moment. He pulled out his sword and held it horizontally before him, staring toward the men with distaste for their reasons and the fact that they would all be littering the ground and watering it with their blood sooner than they led themselves to believe.

            "Drop your swords!"

            Their response was to recite the code of the samurai. Shooting off toward them without much more hesitation, Kenshin brought his sword into an offensive movement, cleanly slicing through the first man and bayoneting the second. Taking his sword and forcing it to the side, the man fell off and landed roughly agaisnt the wall next to him, sliding down and leaving a trail to tell his tale of doom as he did. Another member from the squad bolted toward Kenshin, and Kenshin's sword hit him at the junction of his neck and ear line, skillfully swiping his face directly from his head until it landed on the ground like a used, bloody rag. Twisting his body in a sharp sprint, the next man fell with a cut directly from his shoulder to his hip.

            The last man awaited Kenshin to charge, and then attempted fruitlessly to counter the attack. Kenshin's blade found its resting place within the man's chest cavity, pinning him to the wall until Kenshin allowed the sword to fall out again and the man to drop unceremoniously to the floor.

            Taking his eyes off of the carnage he created, Kenshin gazed over toward Tomoe, who was still standing in shock on the other end of the battlefield, this time unmarred by the spraying of blood. Her eyes pleaded with him to help her find a way to get over the field of body parts and fluids, and she didn't move from her scared position. Kenshin took cautious steps until he was next to her, and they fled off down another alleyway, one closer toward the building that would be holding the meeting.

            Stepping silently agaisnt the wall and peering over the edge, Kenshin mentally began counting all of the Shinsengumi members standing outside the small Inn. They were flowing out of the doorways, dragging bodies of their comrades and communicating about the dead Ishin Shishi leaders and guards within. Keeping his ears trained for the name of the man that Kenshin served under, more men seeped from the building, blood dripping from still drawn swords and soaked clothing.

            "Katsura has escaped." One of them stated.

            "The assassin wasn't sighted either."

            Preparing for attack, he felt a small and gentle hand take his, shaking with fear and unasked pleas. Kenshin glanced over his shoulder, eyes widening at the terror upon Tomoe's usually sad face as she shook her head in a plea for him not to kill again that night. He nodded to her, showing he would accept her wishes for the moment. Tomoe pulled on his arm and led him across the open way, taking off toward the Inn where they had been living for the past month.

            The doors flew open, and the mistress stood there, holding Tomoe's umbrella and other parcels expectantly.

            "Go. It's too dangerous here."  She stated quickly, handing the umbrella to Kenshin and the parcel to Tomoe. "Now go out the back!"

            The couple bowed before leaping through the back doorway and sneaking out through the gate. They took cautious steps until a sound alerted them to another person leaving the gate. Kenshin turned to face the person who was approaching, and was surprised to see Kaoru standing their in a purple kimono and yellow obi, shaking slightly as she held a small book in her hands.

            "You're leaving, too?" Tomoe questioned. "You shouldn't remain here, Kaoru-chan."

            Kaoru shook her head. "No, Tomoe-san. I just came to give you this. Katsura has told me to remain here."

            Taking her time to slowly approach them, Kaoru handed Tomoe the book. Tomoe smiled at the girl before tucking it with her shawl, hiding the words written within from sight. Kenshin watched the two women interact with one another before looking up at Kaoru on her own. The girl was obviously frightened, but she hid it well as she pulled her hands toward her lap, holding them together roughly.

            "You will remain safe. I'm certain Katsura has a reason for asking you to stay." Kenshin told her.

            "Wait. Don't go yet." Kaoru stated suddenly. "Katsura had to leave suddenly, and he asked me to deliver this message to you. He has arranged a safe house for you and Tomoe in Otsu."

            "I would like for you to live there as husband and wife." Katsura finished coming up next to Kaoru. "They are looking for an assassin, not for a happily married man."

            Kenshin looked at Katsura and then averted his gaze to Tomoe, who appeared to be equally as surprised as he was. The words had shot straight to the core; that was not something Kenshin had been expecting. His only job toward the annihilation of Shougonate was that of a hitokiri; he hadn't planned on marrying. Tomoe tensed, but kept her position close beside Kenshin.

            "Kaoru-chan will wait here for you to return; she will remain under my care." Katsura responded. "Now you two must go. Thank you, Tomoe."

            Turning to leave, Katsura walked down the opposite direction of the alley. Kaoru's eyes flew between the two directions before she ran up to Tomoe and took a hold of her hand.

            "Take care, Tomoe-san. We shall see each other again and you can finish teaching me how to cook soba!" Kaoru stated brightly. "I will miss you!"

            Tomoe nodded, a small smile flying over her lips. Kaoru bowed to Kenshin, not saying a word, and then turned and jogged in an attempt to catch up with Katsura. Keeping his eyes upon the woman who was to become his wife in a deep cover up scheme, Kenshin allowed his gruff exterior to soften slightly.

            "We will do as he says. Let's go."

~ End Flashback ~

            It was confusing. Why had Katsura taken to keeping Kaoru in Kyoto, directly within the heat of the battle, but sent Tomoe and himself away from the fires? He had lost much sleep over that question, but some questions never came up with answers, he realized mutely.

            "Here's dinner." Came Tomoe's voice, intruding within his thoughts.

            Looking up from the floor, Kenshin smiled at her. He experienced odd emotions whenever Tomoe was near; it was like his heart leapt up in chest, and a warmth befell his body. But something had been bothering her that night, ever since her younger brother had turned up to greet her. It baffled him to see her so open with emotions; she had never been an open book.

            "Is something bothering you?" he questioned, looking at her with eyes filled with a softness he hadn't realized he had been capable of.

            Tearing her gaze away from the meal before her, Tomoe turned her head slowly to look at him.

            And then, in a waterfall of emotion, everything she had kept from him, everything she hadn't wanted to admit, came forth, sending both into a moment of bliss, vulnerability, and a sea of promises. A reluctant couple became one, tied together by emotions neither admitted.

            That was the last peace filled night either would experience.

Author's Note: Sorry this is a really bad chapter. ^__^ I felt so bad about my lack of updating. Don't forget to review, please!

Love and hugs—

Crystal Renee