Disclaimer: don't own them, wish I did.  Oh but I do own any mysterious characters that I made up.

AN:  Wow thanks for all the super great reviews.I seems like I get more when I wait longer to update.hmmm, now there's an idea.  j/k.  I update when I can, and well when I actually have story to post.  Anyway, enjoy this next part. 

Two Hitokiri - You are my Happiness

Kaoru's eyes widened in horror as she watched Kenshin fall to his knees; the blood pooling around him.  She hardly heard Okita's words when he was sentencing Kenshin to his death, but she followed that sword's movement meticulously. 

This wasn't happening.  It wasn't going to fall apart, now, just when it was all about to come together. 

"Looks like you were wrong Karasu."  Saitou hissed in her ear, choking her a little harder with his blade.  "And now you have to watch your lover die."  She could practically feel the smirk on his lips.  "I hope it doesn't affect your game."

Kaoru shut her eyes tight.  They had known.  They had used them against each other.  How the hell did they know?  She felt the tears begin to sting in her eyes.  Fear and anger began to overwhelm her at once.  Okita had talked of honor, and this was no such thing.  They had been played, and now they wanted a handicapped fight from her. 

She wouldn't let this happen.  She refused them the satisfaction.

Saitou, caught up in his own pride, was suddenly stunned when his body sailed through the air and slammed to the ground.  The last thing he felt was the thrusting of steel through his chest cavity before it was lights out.

With the same pure adrenaline that had allowed Kaoru to throw the bigger, stronger man, she grabbed her blade and leapt in the air.  'Tonight would not be the end for these two hitokiri' she told herself has her brought down her sword at full force Okita's neck, slicing through his jugular and diagonally crushing his collarbone.  

His sword fell from his hand as he collapsed to the ground, lying limp in a puddle of his blood mixed with Kenshin's.

Upon realizing what was going on, the remaining Shishengumi charged at her, but their attempt was in vain as each was cut down without mercy by the murderer that was called Karasu.

~

Kaoru breathed heavily as she stood, her legs spread shoulder width and her blade gripped in hand.  Blood of other men lined her face and soaked her hair.  She had left no man standing. 

She took a few moments to breathe deep until returning to her calmed state.  The raw energy that had flowed through her began to subside and her vision cleared.  Only then could she return her sword to its place and go over to the only man left on his knees.

"Kenshin."  She spoke as she pushed Okita's mangled body aside and knelt before him.  "Kenshin, are you ok?"

Blood tricked from his neck where Okita's sword had rested.  He had been cut when Okita dropped the sword and now there was a small gash on there to match the one Saitou had inflicted on her. 

"Kenshin?" She called his name once more, this time eliciting a response.  His head shifted so that his eyes could meet her and he gave a meek smile, signaling that he was still there. 

Kaoru began to beam with joy and pride, wanted to embrace the man just for being alive, but his body gave way and fell against hers.  Hastily she tried to lift him by the armpits and half dragged him into the alleyway where she could prop him against a wall.

She untied his gi, and opened it up to take a look at his wound.  He was soaked in his own blood, but the messed seemed to be worse than the wound.  She only had to stop the bleeding, and surely he would be okay.  Instantly she started tearing at the sleeves of her own garment, making them into long strips to wrap around his torso. 

She wrapped it several times, but much to her dismay the bleeding continued to seep through the cloth.  He would need medical attention soon, but the compound was so far from here. 

She pulled the ribbon from her hair and used it to tie down the bandages and put pressure on the area. 

"Kaoru." 

She let her raised her head to look at him and touched her face and hair with a weak hand.

"You are going to be alright Kenshin."  She assured him, though not confident in her own words.

He didn't respond to her comment, but seemed content with just touching and watching her. 

After many moments of silence, tears began to spring from his bright amber eyes and leaving clean trails down his cheeks.  Kaoru made an attempt to wipe them away without asking the cause of their arrival.

"I didn't deserve the death he was willing to give me."  He spoke at last.  "He said I was an honorable man, and always killed only for the cause.  He said I never took an innocent life.  At least not in my eyes."  His head fell to his chest.  "But I have taken an innocent life.  I took her life.  I took her happiness.  I've taken so many lives, and so much happiness."  His breathing became labored with his agitation.

Kaoru, not wanting to see him that way, took his face in both her hands and spoke softly to him.  "It wasn't you fault.  You did what had to be done.  You had a cause.  You are not a mindless killer Kenshin.  Don't think you are.  We do what we do because we have to.  We do it for the sake of the future."

But Kenshin had hardly heard her words.  "So many men have died by our swords.  But have you ever thought about the people behind those men?  Mothers, wives, children.  All expecting the one they love to come home, and when he doesn't, they have all had something important taken from them.  We took it Kaoru.  We took their happiness."  He paused, dwelling on his thoughts and letting her do the same.  She didn't know how to respond.  Had he been toiling with these emotions since that night?  Had this been the guilt that plagued him?

"I didn't really know until tonight."  He began again, his voice softer this time.  "I had not understood what it meant to lose something as important as happiness until tonight.  Until the reality struck that I could lose you."

Fresh tears streaked Kaoru's cheeks as he spoke his words and they began to sink in.  She couldn't forget the feelings she had when she saw Kenshin struck down.  She couldn't explain the panic and fear that the thought of losing him induced.  She hadn't realized how she had taken their happiness for granted.

She touched her lips to his forehead, letting them linger there in comfort. 

"I truly feared losing you.  I feared that he would kill you."  Kenshin's eyes met hers with an intense stare.  "I feared that I would die."  He coughed into his hand, and it had left a streak of blood.  "I still fear I will die."  He looked down at his wrapped wound.  The makeshift bandages were well soaked.  "There is too much blood."  His breathing suddenly became shallow and Kaoru watched as he strained just to sit up on his own.  "I don't want to do this any more.  I don't want die like this."

Kaoru shook her head furiously.  "You won't.  You won't die like this.  Stay with me Kenshin.  Please, don't go to sleep.  Please, stay awake, stay with me," she repeated as his eyes blinked languorously before fell shut.

TBC.omg I didn't.  I couldn't have.  To leave it like that again?  That's just cruel.  I'm sick.just sick.  Please don't leave me.  Its not over.

Kawaii_baka14-  I love suspense.it's the best way to keep readers around.

Oroness forever-  haha, I dunno, did it get better?  Personally I think it did..but it just all happened so fast.  Would have drawn it out but it was one of those things that should have been blink of an eye fast.

Brittanie Love-  Yay for newcomers.  Thanks for reading and I am glad you like it.

Mandy-  Oh he can't die can he?  Hmmm.  Sounds like a challenge, I do love challenges.

Kenshin's angel-  Ah, my favorite reaction.  Speechlessness.  I consider it a great compliment, THANX

XxKenshinlubrxX-  wow, all I can say is wow.  That is one of the best compliments I have ever gotten.  I mean.wow. 

Mishorou mie-  As long as you review, you get mentioned.  Even if someday you say you don't love it..but chances are you won't like what I have to say back.  j/k.  I take flames too, even this story has a few of em.

Noner_89- you guys can't ask if he's going to die!  I can't answer that question out of story line. =P

Kawaiililaznkitsune- Basically I am one of those people that likes to toy with readers.so that's why I do things like end in the most annoying spots.in hopes that you will come back to read again.  I know.its cheap.

Crystal Renee- haha, you must be the only one that was excited I left it as a cliff

Zsilver- OMG, you must hate me now for leaving with another cliff.  You're going to leave now aren't you?  Well hopefully not.  I want to answer all your questions, but I can't, because that would give everything away.  But I can tell you that this story already has an end.it's a little ways off, but you don't have to worry about me abandoning the story or anything.

Mz. Amber Eyes-  Evil eh?  Well my friend brian always said I was evil.maybe its true.

Dragonbladegurl-  yes.traditionally it is a sword style that gives life.but traditionally Kaoru isn't even old enough to hold a sword.I like to bend rules.  But perhaps there is potential for a prequel to explain how she came to be a hitokiri and how she dealt with her sword ideals.  Don't really know.  Everything is about inspiration.  But we'll see.

Battousai-katana- haha, well Battousai didn't, but I say they got what they deserved huh?  Haven't you noticed I'm a 'strong girl' kind of writer?  Oh and sorry you fell, hope you didn't get a bump and anything.

Tenshi no sin-  I live to interest people.