Kaoru got to the market and was even more thankful that she didn't look anything like a geisha today, usually people would look in awe like she was just some kind of statue which was quite annoying. She picked out some seaweed and tofu from the open stand and paid the woman. She put her purchases in her basket and took the long way back to the teahouse. A walk would be good for her. As she walked further and further from the main streets she kept thinking more and more of Kenshin. The cool crisp air calmed her though so she didn't feel the need to cry and just kept walking briskly.

She came to the tree line of the forest that ran along the path and heard some voices behind the bushes. As she was about to dismiss them as children playing until she heard a man yelling.

"This is my territory Himura! Don't you think I'd let you come in here and take your little rewards! I'll never let you have a cut of Tokyo!" the man protested loudly.

Himura? Kaoru's heart gave a little leap from her chest and led her to some bushes from where she could see some dark figures. She crouched down low and parted the bushes quietly. She looked around hopefully looking for any sign of red hair.

"Shishio, I don't think you're quiet prepared enough to even challenge my authority. Your men lack discipline and skill the same lacking you have when it comes to the proper management of this town. I'm taking Tokyo from you Shishio and I'm gonna watch you squirm around trying to save yourself when its too late."

Kaoru turned to see the speaker and saw it was Kenshin. Her first impulse was to run out and go to him, but when she heard his words they sounded cold and threatening. Not at all like the Kenshin she knew, even his face was emotionless and his eyes gave off an amber glow even in the shadows of the forest. She remained quiet to listen in some more.

"How dare you have the audacity to speak to me that way! You are in my town and here we play by my rules. And by the looks of things Himura the game doesn't look too good for you," said, who Kaoru assumed was the one Kenshin called Shishio.

Wait, that name sounded familiar. Kaoru gave a quick and sudden gasp and clamped her hand over her mouth as she remembered who Shishio was. He was at first a ringleader of a small group of men who roughed up a few storekeepers but his followers were growing and Shishio's gang was on the verge of becoming the Tokyo yakuza. Tearing apart restaurants and bars, beating up officers. He even started to get some important men working for him. Why Kenshin was talking with him was still puzzling to her.

"Don't be so inviting Shishio, you're the small fish in a big pond. I've given you a fair warning so don't come begging for mercy on my doorstep when it all comes crashing down," said Kenshin and he turned around and started back to town with Sanosuke and other men behind him.

Kaoru stuck close to the bushes and hardly breathed, afraid to be discovered. As Kenshin passed she looked back to Shishio. As he stepped into a small ray of light, Kaoru eyes opened wide and held her breath as she saw the bandages draped over Shishio's whole body and the small but of exposed skin around his eyes was horribly burnt. It seemed the rumors were true. His fists were clenched with anger staring down Kenshin's path. Kaoru was staring in awe until she heard a sound in the brushes behind her. She looked behind her slowly and she saw an immense hand closing in on her. It picked her up by the neck and flung her to Shishio's feet. Kaoru gave a yelp as she hit the ground and cried out loud when Shishio stepped on her back.

"So you've been listening on us eh? Did you hear something that interests you? Well did you!" he yelled in her ear while holding her head up by her hair.

Kaoru started crying and screaming, struggling to get free. But she was surrounded by Shishio's men laughing at her, there was no way out and she thoroughly regretted ever stopping along the path. When Kenshin heard Kaoru's scream he turned back and started running with his men confused and trailing behind. He knew it was Kaoru, having heard her scream this morning and it was still fresh in his mind.

He ran pushing through the bushes, his heart pounding with dread. As he reached the spot he was previously at he pushed a tree branch aside and came upon Kaoru lying limp on the ground, and Shishio and his men over top of her. Very aware that Shishio and his men were watching him he maintained his emotionless face not to show any sign of weakness. But inside he was dying, he wasn't sure if Kaoru was still alive until he saw her rise up a little in breath.

"Shishio, the girl is mine," Kenshin stated coldly.

"And what if she is? You think I'll surrender her to like I will Tokyo?" said Shishio sarcastically and started laughing with his men. Shishio flipped Kaoru over and crouched down beside her. He held her upper up and roughly grasped Kaoru's chin and shook it, "You see this Himura, this is from Tokyo and therefore its mine."

Kenshin's men started to appear behind him. "Unless you and your men want to meet our swords, I suggest you leave and give the girl to me."

Sano stepped up beside Kenshin and cracked his knuckles and all the men behind him pulled out their swords.

Shishio smiled weakly, trying vainly to show he was still unimpressed. But sweat was dripping down his face and Kenshin smirked at him. Shishio glared at Kenshin until he turned around and headed into the darkness of the forest and his men followed relieved behind him until they were nothing more than shadows. Kenshin ran to Kaoru's side dusted the dirt from her still beautiful face and picked her up in his arms.

Kenshin walked to Sano's side, "Tell the men to go back to their posts for the night. You go back to the hotel and start planning. I'll go to the teahouse and stay the night there in case Shishio finds out who Kaoru is and tries to harm her and Tokie."

Sano nodded obediently and started shouting out orders to the men. Kenshin walked the rest of the way alone with the fainted Kaoru in his arms. He looked at her face and smiled, it was unmarked surprisingly.

As the teahouse came into view Kenshin started humming a little tune, Kaoru barely opened her eyes and whispered weakly, "I'm sorry."

Kenshin smiled at her and she closed her eyes again sleeping. "Don't be," he whispered back and knocked on the door of the teahouse.

Tokie rushed to open it and froze when she saw Kaoru, "Kaoru! Oh dear, Mr. Himura what happened? Please tell me she'll be all right! Oh Kaoru!"

"Tokie, please shhhh. She's just sleeping now. Kaoru will be fine," Kenshin said even though he was entirely sure, but it seemed like the proper thing to say. Tokie lead him to Kaoru's room. He explained that she must have been hiding when he was having a 'business meeting' with the ill-famed Mr. Shishio.

"Shishio? Oh Kaoru what were you thinking getting anywhere near that madman?" said Tokie frantically helping undress Kaoru and getting her into a bath. Kenshin was standing outside the door.

"Is she bruised or cut badly?" asked Kenshin.

"No Kenshin she looks ok. How do you feel Kaoru?" said Tokie warmly.

"I'll be alright. Let me just have a bath in peace and I should be fine. Tokie go finish the lessons with the young geishas," said Kaoru wearily, forcing a smile.

Tokie stepped out and let Kaoru soak alone, "Mr. Himura until today I didn't realize how much I really love Kaoru. She came to me when she was just a very young woman, I've been taking care of her, giving her a home and food ever since that day she ended up on my doorstep. She doesn't know this but she is my sole beneficiary when I die, I truly love her as a daughter." She looked Kenshin in the eyes and a smile played across her face. "Mr.Himura, I know she gave you that butterfly pin."

Kenshin pulled out the pin from his white suit pocket and held it in his hand. Tokie put her hands around his. She looked down at it teary-eyed.

"Kenshin, I gave that pin to Kaoru the day I retired from being a geisha, Kaoru was my successor. I taught her everything I know. And Himura, I know she has feelings for you if she gave you that pin because that is her most treasured item. The day I gave it to her she was the happiest I ever seen her. Keep it close, it will bring you good luck if its passed down from someone who loves you," and with that Tokie walked away quietly.

Kenshin sighed, overcome. He looked down at the pin and held it tight and put it in his breast pocket where it fit perfectly next to his heart. Did she really care for him? Then Kenshin thought if he had feelings for her, he went back to save her, carried her to safety…

"Kenshin," whispered Kaoru as she opened the door of the bath. Kenshin looked to her and saw she was wearing a heavy white robe that wasn't soaked through. "Kenshin thank you for saving me. I… I didn't mean to intruded in the forest I just heard you and…" her voice failed her and she just leaned into Kenshin's arms crying softly. He was surprised at first and then relaxed and wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

"I'll always look after you Kaoru," he said quietly.

Kaoru sighed and Kenshin lifted her head up, her blue eyes were brimming with tears and he kissed her long but lightly. When they released each other's lips Kaoru buried herself in Kenshin's chest.

Kenshin whispered in her ear, "Kaoru, I still have to deal with Shishio."

He felt her tears wet his chest and held her closer when she murmured, "I know…"