Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is copyright of it's own respected owners. I am merely a fan.

AN: Thank you everyone for your reviews. I greatly apologize for not updating soon, but my schedule is horrible at the time. Also there was the fact that I had gone to school abroad for a semester and now I have returned. I finally managed to let a chapter out. It's not that good-actually a little on the rusty side, but I'm getting there. Thank you for baring with me.

The Fire within Ice

Chapter 7: Understanding of Betrayal

Jin Mazawa. The name Misao thought had disappeared from her life forever. Now images from childhood memory flashed back, reminding her of the man whose sword clashed against the Kodachi's of another. The sound of the metals were like thunder to some, and peaceful music of the battlefield to others. The Oniwabanshu had fought in so many different battles. Aoshi, the young leader of the powerful spies, had known every warrior that walked among them. Jin and Youji Mazawa were two of those men. Youji had been one of the youngest, but never refused to fight along side his brother with his hard ambition. The same ambition that brought him his death. She didn't know much of the matter off course, but she had heard some things. Youji had been one of the poor misfortunate men to die under some of Kanryu's fighters. He was just another petal of the flower, lost in the soil, one that his brother had left alone. Jin had left Youji; he had left all of them. And now he blamed his brothers death on Aoshi.

"Please stop! STOP THIS." Her voice torn, but still loud as she screamed at them with words that had no impact. She always wanted to become a great fighter, someone Aoshi would be proud of. It was a part of her that pushed on to become better, more powerful. But she was closed out from their world. Life was so precious, and this was not how it was meant to end. Life was meant to be spent in the arms of her love, in peace.

It had started to rain outside, but none had noticed. The temple looked peaceful. Was that not an irony? Men prayed at a temple for life, yet they were acting on the edges of death.

Jin ran towards Aoshi, pushing his sword as forward as his arms would allow him, then retreating and returning from the opposite side. His movements were fast and powerful, almost matching the skill of Aoshi himself. There were a few men in Japan with that power. Maybe it was because he had been training in the foreign worlds. His style was not of a usual fighter Aoshi had fought.

Moving away from each other for momentary retreat, Jin ran again jumping before Aoshi's weapons could connect. Aoshi quickly rubbed his eyes for some kind of powder Jin had blown. He had said he was an honorable man. He attacked again and blocked one Kodachi followed by another in rapid speed of motion, then grabbing a second small knife from his side and pushing it in the edge of Aoshi's stomach, igniting a mute scream from Misao.

"enjoy your life in hell!" And as his words were said, Jin swung his sword, returned with his opponents defense as both Aoshi's kodachi's blocked the large silver weapon, the pain on his side masked behind his cold eyes. Jin smiled, loving the moment he had been anticipating.

Misao's eyes reached out to Aoshi and he finally seemed to embrace them. His eyes turned back to his opponent whose weapons tip was closer than he cared for. Adding more pressure to his kodachi's, he shot his leg in the mans stomach, causing Jin to withdraw his sword as the twin blades of his foremer leader connected with his flesh. Aoshi moved closer, using the back of one Kodachi to slam into Jin jaw, making him fall to the ground. He was ignoring the bloody wound to his side that made his body weak for he wasn't fully concentrating because of that unknown powder. It must have been used to cloud his vision for a while.

He heard Misao give out a loud shout and looked to see another man clad in the same black and red attire as Jin. The man was approaching Misao. But in the same moment the dark-haired beauty took out one kunai and slammed it into the the mans stomach. Aoshi felt like he was looking at everything through a fog as Misao was running towards him. What was wrong with him, when had he become so slow minded. His eyes contacted Jins who was laughing and then he looked down to see Misao with a sword pushed into her shoulder. She had put herself as a shield for him.

"Very nice Aoshi! Amazing how the gre-". He coughed some blood. "great Shinimori-sama defends himself and his love. I didn't actually mean for her to get wounded. My orders were for her to be transported to to Tokyo strictly unharmed... but the stupid thing has her own ideas." Jin said in a mocking tone before he fell to ground spitting out more blood.

Aoshi dropped his Kodachi's and kneeled next to Misao. She was alive and sweat covered her brow. The sword had been pushed into her old wound. Stupid girl. Why did she have to do this to herself. Disregarding the strict pain at his side and his faint vision, he lifted her from the ground and stumbled out of the temple, only for his body to give out.

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Aoshi opened his eyes to feel the cool wetness of a cloth of top of his head. His body felt slightly soar, but he lifted himself up to observe the familiar environment. His torso was bare and his side wrapped. Then he remembered the wound, Jin...Misao! He left his room, ignoring the ruined attire.

"Shinimori-san! Youd shouldn't be walking about." Okon looked into his cold eyes, for once understanding their purpose. "Misao is fine. She is sleeping. We all had found you two like this in front of the temple. We were able to kill a group of Osada's men close by. They were sent here no doubt. But Okina will talk to you later." She gave him a smile though his expression had not changed.

Aoshi stood still as Okon walked past him. He looked at the ground, despising himself. He had been right. Misao. How she conquered his mind. Her father had made a request from Aoshi...how could he follow it. The best thing was to give Misao to a man who could be pure and deserving of her. Was there such a man? Even so, he knew he was not that man. How could he deserve her when he brought her so much pain. Yet... He wanted her so badly. He wanted every part of her, and couldn't bare the taught of another man. Her father had told him- He couldn't tell her. The part of him that wanted to protect wouldn't tell her. It was a secret he had to keep. He had to keep it, because she had to be safe...safe from him.

He lifted his head lightly and entered Misao's room.

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