Disclaimer: Eat a chicken.

Why I wrote this story: I wrote this story because during the night I couldn't sleep. My Kenshin poster is above my bed so I stared at it for a while and fell asleep. I dreamt that I was Kaoru but I was blind in my left eye. I was fighting in a war with a handgun. Kenshin was also there. Muahahaha but I can't tell you what the dream was about because I'm writing about it. So thanks subconscious ness for allowing me to dream.

Romance/Action/Drama

Rating: PG-13/R

Reader Discretion is advised

Please forgive an misspellings or grammar errors

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Gun Smoke and Sword Blades

Chapter Two: Street Fights and Women's Rights

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Sanosuke opened the door to the Kamiya Mansion. "Home sweet, home, eh Yahiko?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Yahiko said as they entered the house.

"It is a lovely house, that it is," Kenshin said, looking around.

Megumi approached and bowed. "Welcome to our home, Himura Kenshin." She looked at Sano and tried to tell him with her eyes that something was wrong. "Please make yourself comfortable."

Sano was oblivious as to why Megumi kept making her eyes widen when she looked at him. "Where's Missy I want her to meet Kenshin as well."

Megumi sighed and looked down as she sat. "Kaoru recently got a telegram regarding her father's situation. He died on the field."

Sano and Yahiko's eyes widened and both exclaimed, "He died?!"

"That's correct," she nodded. "She's in her room, crying."

"I am sorry to hear that, that I am," Kenshin said. "May I see her?"

Megumi looked shocked as to Kenshin's request to see a mourning woman who had enclosed herself in her room. She looked at Sanosuke who was in utter shock still. "I don't think she'd like to be bothered, right now Mr. Himura."

"Forgive me for asking you," Kenshin said. "I have another question."

"Yes?"

"Where is your restroom?" Kenshin asked.

"Down the hall, past five doors on your left," Megumi answered. "There's a sign on it that says 'Restroom'."

Kenshin bowed and left the three of them to discuss further information on Kaoru's suffering.

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Kenshin walked along the halls and entered the bathroom. Then he went up the stairs after using the bathroom. He listened intently for crying and heard the steady going sobbing.

He stopped by the door and knocked softly.

"Go away!" the girl cried out. "I don't want anything."

"Miss Kaoru..." he said and he heard a gasp. "You do not know me, but my name is Himura Kenshin. I was wanting to know if you were okay, that I was."

He heard silence to his question. "I'm coming in, is that okay?"

No answer.

"Miss Kaoru?" he turned the knob. "Miss Kaoru?" He saw no one in the bedroom and heard water rushing. His eyes grew wide and he rushed to the bathroom and opened the door. "Miss Kaoru, suicide is not the answer, that it is not!"

His violet eyes settled on the cream naked body of the girl. She was in the position of getting into the bath.

She screamed and grabbed a towel and wrapped it hurriedly around her body. Her eyes were still filled with tears and that was when he noticed the patch across her left eye.

He blinked and blushed hard. "Er...uh..." he turned around abruptly, trying to erase her naked self from his mind. "I am deeply sorry, that I am!"

She slammed the door and locked it, making Kenshin feel even worse. He sighed and closed his eyes, trying to rid himself of her image. He had to admit, she was indeed beautiful, but what happened to her eye? He decided not to ask since he was already on her bad side.

He went down the stairs.

"Find the bathroom all right?" Megumi asked. "We're about to eat."

"Took you a long time to use the bathroom," Sano teased, knowing exactly what Kenshin had done.

"Oro?"

"I'll go and get Kaoru," Megumi said and then started for her room, disappearing.

"Megumi...she's still up tight about the whole me joining the army," Sanosuke explained. "She wouldn't look at me in the eye and I could've sworn I saw tears in her eyes."

"She is frightened, that she is. Kaoru's father has died and now Miss Megumi thinks that you may die," Kenshin explained. "I will tell her that I will do my best to protect my people, that I will."

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Who was that man? The man with red hair and violet eyes. They had stared at her and she had screamed in surprise. Suicide. Why would she commit suicide? Kaoru sighed. Now her father was gone. Leaving the estate and everything else he owned, in her hands.

Now she had to worry about men after her money and possessions. She wanted someone who loved her, not her money. She took off her patch. Did he notice it? He went so crimson. She giggled. He looked so funny. Like a deer in headlights.

She dressed for lunch. A white halter-top, summer dress with red magnolias dancing about on it. She brushed out her dark hair and tied it up in white and red ribbons. She then picked out a white patch for her eye. She slipped on some white sandals and then headed for the dining room.

"Miss Megumi?" she called as she approached.

"Coming!" she heard her reply and then Megumi appeared in the hallway. "Yes, Kaoru?"

"I want to sit across from our guest. I want to see him," Kaoru instructed.

"Yes Kaoru," Megumi smiled at her. "Are you okay?"

Kaoru nodded. "Fine. I will call afterwards to find out where my father is buried and bring some incense and flowers to his grave to honor him."

"Of course," Megumi replied. "I'll join you."

"Thank you Megumi," Kaoru said and the two walked out into the dining room.

Kaoru sat across from Kenshin, next to Megumi, who sat next to Yahiko. Sano sat by Kenshin. "Lunch is served," Megumi said. "Help yourself to anything."

"It looks delicious, that it does, Miss Megumi," Kenshin said, helping himself to the mashed potatoes.

Further into the lunch Kenshin was telling Megumi about the war.

"You are aware that your husband wants to join?" Kenshin asked.

Megumi nodded.

"And you are concerned?"

Another nod.

"If you will allow him to join I give you my word I'll protect him, that I will. I would gladly give my life for you to see his face again," Kenshin said as he noticed tears in Megumi's eyes.

"...Megumi..." Sanosuke was at a loss for words of comfort. He wasn't the best comforter or the most romantic, but he loved his fox. "I'll be fine. You can trust me."

Her shoulders started shaking with silent tears. It was clearly visible that she was crying for tears stroke down her face and onto the tablecloth.

Kaoru put her arms around Megumi as Megumi leaned into Kaoru. "Megumi..." Kaoru said. "It's a risk that I was willing to take. My father...my father was the last member of the family I had. This war, my father wanted so badly to fight in it and he asked my permission and I granted him permission."

"I...know..." Megumi said. "I...I...You are very...brave...Kaoru...for allowing...your father...war..."

"Megumi!" Sanosuke said. "Can we talk about this in the kitchen, please?" He stood up as Megumi nodded and shakily pulled away from Kaoru.

"Yahiko, could you please get me a Tylenol. It's in my room," Megumi asked and Yahiko ran off. Megumi stood up and followed Sano in the kitchen.

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"Megumi..." he embraced her once they were inside and she sobbed into his shirt. "I'll be fine. I promise I'll come back to you. I promise with all my heart."

"I know...It's just...I don't want to see you get hurt," she said as she clutched his shirt in her fists.

"Look at me," he let go of her and tilted her chin so her eyes could meet his. "I love you and you love me. That's why we got married. If I do get hurt the only way I'll truly get hurt is to see you hurt. Or you leave me while I'm gone."

"I would do no such thing-!"

"Listen!" he said firmly. "I will not hurt. A bullet will not hurt me as much as you can. You have the power to hurt my insides. Something that will never heal. Gunshot wounds can heal. Understand?"

"You're concerned of me leaving you?"

"Yes," he told truthfully. "My friends at war, their wives had left them."

"I would never!" Megumi said.

"Can we seal our agreement? If I go I won't hurt. If I go you won't leave?" And with a nod of her head he sealed the contract with his lips pressed against hers. He could feel her return the kiss and he deepened it even more.

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Kaoru ate silently, chewing slowly. She stole a glance at Kenshin and then returned her gaze to her plate.

"Miss Kaoru..." his voice broke the awkward silence that hung between the two.

"Yes?" she looked up at him and saw him smile. Was he laughing? Was he laughing at her eye?

"I heard that you teach a sword style called the 'Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu'. Am I not mistaken?" he asked.

"No, you are not," Kaoru said.

"Where, might I ask, is your training area?"

"I have a dojo on this estate," she replied. "It's past the barn."

"How many students do you have?"

"Ten currently," she replied as she sipped her lemonade. "Why do you ask?"

"I am also a swordsman. Though I have given up the way of the sword. I still carry one with me. I was wondering if you could show me your style today?" he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"I'd be happy to," she answered with a smile. "But I can't. Maybe some other time."

He let out a sigh of relief and dreaded to bring up the subject again but, "Miss Kaoru, please forgive me for disturbing your bath."

Kaoru laughed. "It's fine. Really. Sano's done it a few times and Yahiko once. They all think that I'm going to commit suicide."

"Why's that?"

She pointed to her left eye. "All because I cannot see out of my left eye."

"What happened to your left eye?" he asked, watching her expression change from happiness to rage. "My apologies I shouldn't have asked." He said quickly.

"It's fine," she replied and went back to eating, without answering his question. "I understand that you need more troops. Sano told Megumi over the phone."

"Yes," he nodded. "I only have four members of my group so far."

"Really? Well are you having sign ups?" she asked.

"Yes we are," Kenshin answered.

"Where do you sign up?" she asked.

"At the police stations," he said.

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Kaoru walked towards the police station after four PM. The lunch had ended at two. She entered to see dozens of men, boys and a handful of women waiting in line. She let out an exasperated sigh as she headed towards the back.

"Women first," the police chief called and Kaoru rolled her eyes as she walked to the front of the line with a few others. A small teenage girl stood behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.

Kaoru turned around, "Yes?"

"What are you signing up for?"

"I want to fight in the battle," Kaoru replied.

"Me too. Shinomori Aoshi is fighting so I know I'll be safe as long as he's around."

"Who's Shinomori Aoshi?"

She giggled. "He's my master, but..." she leaned and whispered. "I love him."

Kaoru smiled sweetly at the girl, "My name is Kamiya Kaoru."

"Mine's Makimachi Misao," she replied with a large smile. "And this is Tae."

Tae smiled warmly at her. "I'm sighing up to be a cook and Tsubame is signing up to be a nurse."

Kaoru looked at Tsubame, "How old are you?"

"Eleven," she said, "But I don't get queasy and I'm good around bloody situations."

Kaoru smiled. "That's good to know."

"Next!"

Kaoru realized she was next and gulped as the police chief grabbed her roughly by the arm and shoved her in the room. "Sit!" he barked and she sat.

She noticed Kenshin sitting across the table. She was mildly surprised but he was more surprised. "Miss Kaoru?"

She nodded. "I want to sign up."

"As a cook or a nurse?" he asked.

"Neither. I want to fight!" she stated and chortles filled the room.

"Mr. Himura, you can clearly see this woman is handicapped and she wants to fight," the chief laughed.

"I am clearly aware of it, that I am," Kenshin replied and he turned to her. "Miss Kaoru, why do you want to fight so badly?"

"To avenge my father," she whispered and the men stopped laughing. They respected her for wanting to avenge her father. Everyone respected that request.

"Why not ask someone else?" Kenshin asked.

She shook her head, "This is something I must do. The Chinese...they killed my father! I must put an end to them! I don't want them killing anyone else! I want to protect Japan like my father did!"

The chief snickered, "I told you idiots would want to sign up."

Kaoru grew angry and stood up. "I assure you I am no idiot! I am doing this for my father and all of Japan! I suggest you back off for me wanting to protect what I love!"

The chief glowered at her in a menacing way.

"Miss Kaoru," Kenshin spoke softly. "Please sit down."

Kaoru was surprised by Kenshin's soft tone and she stopped yelling abruptly. She sat down. "Please, Mr. Himura. I want to fight. For my father's life..."

"We cannot allow her to fight!" the men protested. "She's half blind and she's a woman!"

He held up a hand, silencing them. "Miss Kaoru, please stop by my house. We will discuss this privately." He read the fear on her face. "I promise I will not lay a hand upon you, that I won't."

Kaoru seemed calmer and she stood up and bowed, leaving, unaware of the police chief following her.

Kenshin watched the police chief keenly. "Excuse me," he got up from his seat and followed the police chief.

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"Stop right there bitch!" The police chief shouted as Kaoru was walking down the sidewalk.

Kaoru halted and turned around. SLAP! A tingly sensation filled her cheek. "Who in the hell do you think you are! You're a stupid blind wench! We will have no use for a blind, handicapped woman!"

She stood there, anger burning in her eyes. She drew her shinai and got in her stance. She closed both of her eyes. "I will not allow someone to just come up and tell me off!" Several people stopped to watch as the police chief drew out his beating stick.

The police chief grinned maliciously at her. "You will pay for daring to speak against a man."

"I am sorry, but we do not live in the past! Women now obey only themselves! We have rights!"

The chief charged at her only to clang with her shinai. She jumped up as he attacked her feet. She did all this with her eyes shut.

She struck him on the head and he stumbled backwards. She landed on the ground gracefully and sensed a calm presence.

"Enough," the voice made her open her eyes to face Kenshin's back. He had struck the man into the ground, his sword touching his throat. "You will bring no harm to Miss Kaoru, that you will not."

The chief panted and looked at Kenshin with wide eyes. "Fine. Fine! Just don't point that thing at me!"

Kenshin sheathed his sword and turned around to face Kaoru. "I think this street fight has ended, don't you agree?"

Kaoru had wanted to continue the fight and show that bastard, but she nodded as she tucked her shinai back on her waist belt. She bowed and turned around and started towards the limo.

Kenshin went back inside, a pleasant smile on his face. He had to give her credit for fighting. 'Her eyes were closed and yet she managed to hit her target and avoid his attacks,' he thought as Misao entered.

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Kaoru came back home and entered her room. She locked her room and sat near the window. She closed her eyes. 'Father, no matter what, I will avenge your death!'

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Crisa Rei: Well how'd ya like the second chapter and yes the chapter titles will rhyme. Anyways no information on anything thus far. So far Kenshin's people are: Saitou, Seijirou Hiko, Sagara Sanosuke and Shinomori Aoshi.