I'll Get you Back!

A Rurouni Kenshin fanfiction written by; RoyalJester

Disclaimer- I do NOT own Rurouni Kenshin.

A/N- hey everyone. So...ready for some Souji/Kaoru romance?? Well this isn't the chapter for you!! Lol. Joke joke. There is a slight spark. Then it's....battles!! Also just to tell you all...Battousai is in the next chapter!! BOOM BABY!!!

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Coverings were wrapped around her wrists as she breathed in calmly, closing her eyes. She needed to concentrate. She needed the soul of Bushido there with her when she unleashed her weapon from the sheath. Without warning her door was slid open as the sunlight peaked its way into her room filling it up instantly. She turned her gaze to the man that was smiling at her as the sun created a misty aura around him. His cheery azure eyes met with hers.

"Ready to show everyone what you got Kamiya?" Soujirou said with a smile as he watched the woman warrior rise slowly and walk out calmly. She kept his gaze as she nodded.

She didn't understand what was going on between them. She felt a warm aura around him and she couldn't help but want to be near him. Was she possibly falling for this man? The man who had played jokes, made fun of her? Was she falling for this warrior who showed her kindness when she needed it, helped her when she was down? She shook her head. She wasn't supposed to be fond of him - he had caused her pain. And yet, they shared an unusual bond. Both loved the art of wielding a sword, both hated to reveal emotions, so what was happening to them? When she was in his arms...it felt right.

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Six members stood in the region of the ring as they glared at the other team. Crowds piled around but kept a safe distance when a man stepped out.

"First two." He said as a man from the other team stepped out. He was built well as he held a smudge look. He seemed to be a fifth year as his sword hung around his thick waist. Kaoru, Soujirou and Sanosuke glanced at one another.

"I will take this one." Kaoru said as she smiled slightly at her opponent that laughed. Sanosuke smirked.

"You take a load off Missy, I got this fool." Sano replied as Soujirou nodded, Sano threw his white tunic down on the ground as he smiled. Kaoru let out a sigh.

"Very conceited isn't he? But he gets the job done." Soujirou said as he smiled, Kaoru glanced at him.

"You're the one to speak." She replied as his mouth fell open in shock, his eyes contained a look of amusement as he turned back to watch his friend. That Kaoru, you can by no means plan her next move.

The two opponents glared at one another as the other man towered over Sanosuke who thought nothing of it as he cracked his knuckles and threw his fist in the air.

"Alright pudgy, hit me with everything you got." His opponent smirked as he released his katana.

"Draw your blade." He said as Sano laughed.

"I don't need it." With that Sanosuke suddenly ran towards his opponent with fierce speed as his yell filled up the dojo.

"Sanjuu no Kiwami! (1)" he screamed as everyone was silent. This was his signature move.

Sanosuke ran up as he clenched his fist meeting his knuckles with his opponents stomach who leached forward in surprise as his sword flung out of his hand. Sano then met his fist with his opponent's torso as Sano shot out his five fingers flinging the opponent back that slammed against the ground and out of the ring. Everyone was in shock. Sanosuke conquered his opponent, a fifth year, with one attack? Soon, cheering filled everyone's ears as Sano shot his hand up with a sneer placed on his face.

Soujirou smirked as he leaned over to meet Kaoru's hearing distance.

"Sano doesn't wield a sword. He finds his greatest attack is with his own hands, a tool he was born with. Hai, he teases those who uses metal, but he has his privileges to gloat. Don't you agree?" Kaoru listened to him as she nodded in surprise.

"I had no idea that is the skill he taught. I should fear him I suppose." Kaoru said as Soujirou let a snicker escape at her wide gaze. Sanosuke walked up as he nodded at his teammates.

"Did you like what you saw there Missy?" Kaoru smiled at him.

"She was saying you didn't look very tough out there Sano, and I should say, I do agree." Kaoru's head snapped towards Souji who winked at her. Sano glared as he slouched down.

"Lets see what you got their Kaoru. You can have this man." Kaoru blinked as she nodded.

"Certainly." She walked into the ring as she glared at Soujirou who smiled at her; Sano punched his shoulder as she entered.

Complete silence filled the air. The other team looked at one another.

"I'm not fighting a woman!" One called out. The other one had a stern face as he walked in.

"Unlike my teammates woman, I don't care if I strike a woman." He said as Kaoru nodded and bowed in the slightest.

"Neither do I." She said back as her opponent hissed and he raised his sword out running after her.

"Die wench!" he screamed as Kaoru stood in her position. As soon as he came near she jumped up and flipped over him and landed gracefully, her challenger faulted and fell onto the ground as he let out a scream. "Stupid wench!" he screamed as he rose. Kaoru smirked as she drew out her sword. She suddenly began running towards him in full speed in which barely anyone saw her. Her voice filled the dojo.

"Ryu Tsui Sen! (2)" she screamed as she jumped up into the air, her opponent cocked an eyebrow as he tried to find her. Suddenly he fell onto the ground as a loud, crack filled the dojo. Everyone glanced around trying to find the woman warrior when she landed gently onto the ground and sheathed her sword; she was calm as she remained still. She suddenly opened her eyes as she smiled and stood up straight. "That was fun. I only wish I had more time." She said as she turned to her team who nodded at her and she walked out.

"She's amazing!"

"How did she do that?"

"Is she as strong as Soujirou-sama?!"

Soujirou let out a whiff of air at what he heard. Kaoru was strong, extremely strong. He couldn't help but wonder as to why Kaoru didn't beat Konjiro. He sighed as Sano punched his shoulder again.

"Don't tell me the great Seta Soujirou is jumpy?" Souji glared at him as he entered the ring. There was dead silence as the last man entered, fear in his eyes as he entered. Suddenly, without a second thought, his opponent fell onto the ground, shaking. Everyone stared at him.

"I forfeit master Soujirou!" he called out as Souji's eyes widened slightly. His opponent took off in a scurry as everyone watched him, confusion in his or her mind as Kaoru walked up next to Soujirou.

"I take it that we win?" She said as Soujirou let out a grunt and walked off in annoyance. Kaoru watched after him as a man walked out asking for the next team to come up. She cast a glance towards Sano who was speaking to a woman who was impressed with his moves. She cocked an eyebrow, wasn't there only suppose to be fighters here?

Kaoru watched as Soujirou walked out of the dojo and slammed his sword against the ground, she glanced around her to see that everyone was staring at her. When she took a step forward, they took a step back. 'This is why I wished not to fight.' She thought as she took after Soujirou who began to walk up a hill.

He sat down onto the grass as he put his head to his knee as his other leg was out. This was just like last year. No one wished to fight him because they feared him and his power. His kenki was blazing and people could sense that. He shook his head. What fools. Suddenly, a figure came up behind him. It was Kaoru. What did she want?

"Kamiya, what do you want?" Kaoru smiled slightly as she sat down next to him, but far away enough so not to assume anything.

"Seta, you shouldn't be angered at how people fear you. You should be pleased at the power and strength you possess. You earned it."

"Kaoru. Do you ever think it's a curse?" he whispered as she turned to him. Did he just say Kaoru? She smiled at him.

"Hai, I do. But I also believe it is an honor that we earned for each other. I have used my strength for the dark side and I wish to bring honor back into my name by teaching my students how to fight to protect themselves and others." Soujirou nodded as he turned to her and put his leg down as he now sat crossed legged.

"I heard stories about you when I was a mere child. Be it thirteen when I heard of you. How I honored what you did. I wished to become you. Can you believe that?" Kaoru let out a laugh at his words that had just revealed themselves.

"I could easily blackmail you with that information you just told me." This time he let out a laugh.

"I apologize for that. But who wouldn't want you by their side for a boring dinner? You brought such entertainment to me." Kaoru laughed as she blushed gently. Soujirou couldn't help but stare at her. How beautiful she was when she smiled and her enchanting laugh caused him to smile as well and join her in her expression of amusement.

They sat a while in silence, enjoying the others presence when laughter filled their ears and they turned to the lake where a couple stood in, playing in the water. They both let out a laugh as they watched Megumi splash Aoshi who in return grabbed her and they both fell in the lake.

"Love is a funny fixation isn't it Kaoru?" Soujirou asked turning to her. She nodded.

"Indeed it is. And it comes from those who you least expect it from." She said as they locked gazes. They turned away instantly as they both blushed and sat, watching the couple in the water as Soujirou placed his hand on top of Kaoru's.

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Megumi shot up from the water as she spluttered it out and glared at Aoshi who smirked at her. He had just thrown her softly into the water as she now looked like a soaked rat. But a beautiful rat. He smirked wider when she tried to run up to him when he grabbed her around her waist and threw her over his shoulder where she began screaming. Aoshi tripped over as he was sent into the lake as Megumi let out a scream. They rose out of the deep lake mere inches from their faces as they both flushed.

Aoshi ran his hand along her cheek as she closed her eyes. He closed his eyes gently, leaning towards her for a kiss when he met water in his face. He shot up when laughter rung in his ears as he saw the retreating figure running away from him. He smiled as he took off after her.

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Darkness filled the land as Soujirou sat on his cot, opposite of Sanosuke's who was gone on a date with a medicine girl who was foreign to him. He couldn't help but smile at the day he had spent with Kaoru. It was filled with laughter and joy as they told stories about their lives. Kaoru had insisted that they walk around the area in which they did. As they walked Soujirou would talk about the tournaments of the past and said this year would be the most complicated. He flushed gently when he remembered she had tripped over a root and on instincts and reaction; he grabbed her where their faces were merely inches apart. He felt like kissing her, holding her. He had never had that emotion before.

Suddenly, he was pulled away from his thoughts as a knock was placed on his door. The door slid open as in walked Kaoru who nodded and bowed.

"I'm sorry, but Aoshi-sama had decided to go into our room and speak with Megumi in which they have been talking all night. Do you mind if I rest here just for this evening?" Soujirou nodded as Kaoru smiled and sat on the third cot that was suppose to be for their third member, but since she was a woman, she stayed with Megumi in her room. Soujirou smiled at her as she leaned against the wall.

"What were they speaking of?" Soujirou asked. Kaoru sighed.

"Their wedding. War. Love. Birds. Nature. Fighting. Name it and they were talking about it. They are truly a match made in heaven." Soujirou laughed as Kaoru smiled at him.

"Seems like a pure joy. She brings out the good side in my brother. A side I have never seen before." Kaoru nodded.

"Same with Megumi-chan." Kaoru said as she yawned gently. Soujirou smiled as he blew out his candle. Complete darkness filled the room.

"Good night Kaoru."

"Good night Soujirou"

They both laid in bed in complete silence. That felt right the words they had just spoken. It felt as if they were made for one another as they both laid there, waiting to hear the others ones calm breathing.

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"Kaoru and Soujirou!!" Sanosuke screamed as he slid the door open to reveal his teammates in the same room. They shot up from their slumber as Sano walked in. "When were you going to tell me this Soujirou! Not that Kaoru isn't a great girl for you, probably the best but when were you going to say she was your lover!" Both flushed as they glanced at one another.

"Sano...how could we be lovers when we are sleeping in different beds, on the complete other side of each other?" Soujirou said as his blush deepened. Sano blinked as he glanced at them. Indeed the beds were on complete other sides. He blushed as he put his arm behind his head.

"Right – good call there Souji. Erm...welcome to our room Missy." He said as Kaoru nodded in confusion and shot back down on the bed. She did not want to wake up. Soujirou rose as he stretch his arms up.

"So Sano, I suppose that evening with the doctor went well sensing you didn't come here last night to sleep." Sano smirked as he gave him thumbs up and glanced at Kaoru.

"C'mon there Missy. It's morning! Breakfast time! FOOD!" Sanosuke said walking over to Kaoru and pushing her with his foot as she let out a groan. Soujirou smiled as he beckoned Sanosuke out and slid the door closed. He walked over to Kaoru as he kneeled down. He came to her ear as he whispered gently, tickling her.

"Last night was great..." he said as Kaoru flung up, her eyes wide as her mouth fell open.

"WHAT!" Soujirou laughed as he shot up, missing her slap. "NOTHING HAPPENED YOU HENTAI!!" She screamed as Soujirou fell onto his cot amused. His brown hair fell over his eyes.

"Easy there, it was only to get you to wake up. Come. We have a match soon." Kaoru nodded as she rose. It was very fascinating how warm they were to each other now and how close they were getting without the eyes of others. She had to admit, he was very attractive and his vivid sapphire eyes could pull anyone in.

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Four teams were left, only four teams to fend for the honor of winning this tournament. Each match would consist of a different task for each team to do. And for team Soujirou and team Youshi, it would be fighting with all six men in the ring at the same time.

Kaoru, Soujirou and Sanosuke smirked at their opponents as they lined up, each picking their own prey mentally. A man ran up as he flung his arm out signaling for the start of the match as the opponents took out their sword quickly as Soujirou and Kaoru kept there's in the sheath. Sanosuke cracked his knuckles as his eyes flashed; the competition ran up to the three when suddenly Kaoru and Soujirou disappeared from their view. They gazed around the entire dojo as Sano instantly punched them as they fell on the ground.

Voices reached their ears as they each shouted the same attack.

"Ryu Tsui Sen!" (2) The voices echoed as swords slammed against the two remaining opponents as they fell onto the ground. Kaoru and Soujirou smirked as they sheathed their swords and nodded at one another as a man called victory to them.

Everyone bowed at the winners as they left the ring. The two men, Sanosuke and Soujirou left off towards the mess hall as Kaoru sat on a boulder to watch the other battles as she unsheathed her sword as she gazed along the edges. She had chosen to use her old katana, not that new one she had gotten from forgotten shack. The edges were cracked and unclean as she ran her fingers along the edge that seemed as if it couldn't cut anymore. She pulled back suddenly as a trickle of blood fell from her fingers and onto the ground. For two years she had not had this blade touch blood, for two years this simple katana hadn't been used to kill.

She shook her head as she remembered when she first touched this sword, and felt power, remembered the smile of the man who had given the blade to her. She couldn't stand this, she quickly sheathed the sword as her eyes flickered. 'Battousai will pay...' she thought when a shadow came over her, Battousai would be the only reason to taint this blade once again.

"Kamiya..." Kaoru glanced up as she saw Konjiro standing above her. His brown hair was tied back as his black eyes were cold and angry. His usual golden sash was around his waist as he held a smirk. "Are you ready for our match tomorrow evening? I will be sure of it to battle against you...make sure you practice." Kaoru glared at him as she rose and walked off.

Konjiro. Was she ready to fight him? Night hung over the dojo as a warrior flung their sword around to hit a tree as they let out a war cry. Sweat poured down her face as her hands here numb as she jumped up in the air and slammed her sword down. She froze suddenly as she whirled the sword around to meet a figures neck as it froze, as its blade was barely an inch away. She blinked her eyes ridding away the auburn.

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"Kaoru, are you fairing well?" Soujirou asked in worry as he stared at the worried figure that rose and whirled her katana back in the sheath, her back to him.

"What do you think? I am to battle Konjiro who wishes death of me. I was not able to beat him before, what would change my mind in believing I could this time?" she asked harshly as she glared at the tree trunk, she hung her head.

"Kaoru, you have grown as a person and a fighter. You have overcome many tasks in which has made you stronger. Do you not realize this?" he asked, taking a step forward.

She flipped around, anger in her eyes.

"Why are you speaking to me like this? Why is there care in your voice when you are the one who has brought pain upon me? I only wished to rid the memory of my past, do what my sister wished. But you, you are acting as if we are friends, as if you care when not so long ago, you wished to kill me." Soujirou kept her gaze as he listened to her words.

"I never wished to kill you. Pain, yes. We have both grown as a person and this experience here has shown me that you are worthy of learning at this school, not because of your skill Kamiya, but because of your heart." He answered as Kaoru shook her head.

"I am not worthy of this!" She screamed as she ran off, Soujirou didn't look after her, instead he turned his gaze to her katana that lay on the ground, the sword that she wished to complete one last task with. He slowly picked it up as he took off in the forest, to clear his thoughts about this warrior beauty.

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She closed her eyes as night had fallen over the land; the sky was blank as the moon was the only light in the sky as a knock came to her door. This was it, the final battle. Where Konjiro was waiting to spill her blood. She rose as she slowly walked over to the door sliding it open as there stood Megumi, a look of worry on her face as she took Kaoru's hands in her.

"Please be careful Kaoru-dono. You must promise me." Kaoru hung her head as she nodded.

"I will do my best Megumi-chan." She answered as she left, but her sister's voice stopped her.

"Aoshi-sama was sent back to the palace..." she whispered as Kaoru turned back to her, Megumi had a sadden look over her face. Kaoru walked over to her lifting up her face.

"Aoshi-sama is fine, nothing is wrong." She said as Megumi nodded, she then went into the ring as Megumi watched after her in worry and concern. She hung her head as she followed after, to watch the final match in which her sister had to fight, the battle Aoshi would be in if he wasn't sent off.

She waited in the ring as she began to jog in place in the sand, stretching her muscles, as she waited for the final battle. This one match would declare the winner of the entire tournament. Soujirou had won the first match, and unless this ended in a tie, this would be it.

The night was chilly as everyone surrounded them, waiting for the opponent Konjiro. After all the pain he had caused her, after everything she had been through, after all the threats, this would be it. Death could be the end of this, but she was ready. Suddenly her breath was caught in the back of her throat as her opponent entered, his eyes flashed dangerously as he held a smirk on his face.

"Kamiya." He said as Kaoru nodded at him. They remained locked in each other's gazes as the dojo filled with tension. This was it, one would fall. One would fail while the other would rise above the rest. With the noise of a blade being released from its protection, the battle had begun, but not before she met blue eyes watch her carefully as she couldn't help but stare into his.

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A/N OHKAY!! I just wanted to leave it here. This chapter didn't have much action, but next chapter will make up for this. The next chapter will be...BLOOD!! BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD!! Blood on the walls, blood staining everywhere, people going insane and being slaughtered!! But that's not at the tournament...MUWHAHAHA!! Read and Review!!

Next Chapter- BATTOUSAI, the final battle, and a friend with a shocking past.

1. Sanjuu no Kiwami – A hands-only move. The user strikes his opponent with his knuckles first, then his fist, where then he snaps their fingers out. (Futae no Kiwami)

2. Ryu Tsui Sen – The user of this move jumps up into the air and comes down hard where they slam their sword on an opponent's body part.