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

Edit: sorry, was getting used to the new features on fanfiction.net. Didn't know about the horizontal thing for transitions. This should make it run smoother.

Author's note:

Ahhhhh, finally eh? Ok, I'm apologizing in advance if it starts feeling hasty. I suck at gauging what is dragged out suspense and what is adequate to keep you on the edge of your seats. But hopefully I am not royally screwing myself over. Ok, and as for me taking forever to get this out, I have finished my story for my fiction class. It's completely my original storyline (as original as anyone can get these days). If you guys enjoy this story, that one is along the same lines (assassins) but I went for a more artsy feel. I have a friend posting it as an ebook along with stories written by the rest of the class. If any of you are interested, I will post how you can access it once it gets up on the web. Just let me know.

Two Hitokiri – True Betrayals

"He is awake and well then?" A man's voice interjected Kaoru's racing thoughts as she stood on porch outside the clinic.

"So says the doctor." She replied softly.

Katsura nodded. "Yes, I have spoken with him. He says that Kenshin should rest another night, and if he would like he can get up and around tomorrow."

"He will be glad to hear that." Her voice was flat and she never let her eyes meet those of the boss.

There was a stale silence in the air for a long moment before Katsura lead her by the arm to a place out of hearing range from the clinic. "And did you tell him about the plans?"

"I did."

The man's head slowly bobbed up and down as he replied, "Oh. How did he take it?"

She raised her sapphire eyes to his dark ones. "He doesn't approve. In fact, I am supposed to speak with you now about it. I told him I wouldn't do it."

Katsura's eyes seemed to widen for a moment but quickly returned to their state of calm. "Do you mean to stick by your word then?"

Kaoru sighed and let her head hang just slightly. "I will stand by the promise I made first. And I promised my allegiance to you first. I will continue with our arrangement."

The leader of the IshinShishi was careful not to crack a smile when he heard this. Although the fact that she would continue on pleased him, we generally worried about the welfare of his two children. He was the last person that wanted to create strife between the two, and this kind of betrayal would surely put a kink in their already difficult path.

"Are you sure? He will not let you out of his sight all night. You may have made your promise, but will he completely trust your word?" His paternal instinct suddenly overwhelmed him and he lost focus of his goal outside of his children's happiness. He was ready to offer her the chance to run from him now, even at the expense of Japan's freedom.

"He will not guard me this night." She said softly. "I told him that the attack is tomorrow. He will sleep soundly tonight, and I will be on the streets. Finishing this war."

Katsura nodded, understanding that this was a choice she had made long before Kenshin woke. She had dealt with the changes in her life differently than Kenshin had. While her counterpart chose to put down his sword, an object that kills, Kaoru chose to transform it into an object that protects. Somewhere along the way she had become deeply rooted in the new ideology, and she would not easily set it down.

"Then I well leave you to get prepared."


Kaoru pushed the shoji door to the side. She stood in the door way for a while, watching him rest with tender eyes.

No long after she arrived did his amber eyes came out to meet her. She was instantly greeted with a gentle smile and he extended a hand to her.

She stepped forward, grasping his hand with her own and gave it a assuring squeeze. Kneeling beside him she began tending to him and mixing his medication.

"Did you speak with Katsura-san?" He asked here after only a short moment of silence.

Wisps of raven hair grazed her forehead as she nodded.

"And?" He lifted his fingers to her chin and directed her attention to his eyes.

Her lips pursed at the eye contact. "Its been settled. You have nothing to worry about." She could feel her jaws involuntary clench after the words left her mouth. Instantly she returned her gaze to the tea she had been preparing, too afraid her eyes would give away her lies.

"Here." She lifted the cup with both hands and offered it to his lips. "The doctor says to drink it all. It will help you rest and speed up your recovery."

Kenshin waved it away with a hand. "I have rested enough the last few days. I would rather spend some time with you. Perhaps go for a walk." He began to rise slowly when Kaoru's hand reached out and pushed him back onto the futon.

"Now, we will have none of that. The doctor says you need rest to heal fast. And we will do what the doctor says. We will walk tomorrow. Tonight, you will rest." Her sapphire eyes softened and watered. "I want you back on your feet as much as you wish to be on them. Please, take the medicine and rest tonight."

He sighed and nodded at her before taking the cup into his own hands and sipped at it.

"All of it." She spoke sternly as he pulled the bitter liquid from his lips.

He grinned at her, replying "Yes dear" before finishing off the cup.

Kaoru retrieved the cup from him and proceeded to sit with him, stroking his coppery hair with tenderness until his lashes became heavy.

"That stuff makes me tired." He half spoke and half yawned.

She smiled at him. "That's the point. It's supposed to make you sleep."

He took her hand into his and started petting it. "Are you okay? You don't seem the same tonight."

Kaoru averted her eyes. She was silent for long moments before she could feel in inquisitive gaze upon her. "I was just worried. About the mission. I just hope they can handle it." She looked at him and saw his expression become stern.

"Kaoru."

She hushed him with an index finger. "I know, I know." She bent down, her bangs gently grazing his cheek. She touched her lips to his in an urgent kiss. "I told you. I will protect our future. I wouldn't do anything to lose that. I promise, I will protect it."

Her breath was warm on his lips as she spoke. He finally nodded off into a deep sleep.

She stayed close, her lips still caressing his skin. "I'm sorry." She whispered against him, holding back her tears. "I'm sorry."


She stepped gently on the tiled roofing of the house. She could already hear the voices of men below her feet, laughing to the taste of their sake. With a quick leap she perched herself in a tree along side the rooftop where she could get a better view.

She only saw one squad of Shishengumi stationed outside but she was sure there were at least three within the heavily guarded walls. It wouldn't be easy taking them all out without causing alarm inside. The outer perimeter guards were alternating posts in order to stay alert. The man guarding the backside would relieve the man to his left, and that man would do the same to his left until all positions were filled with new people. If she tried to take one out, the others would know as soon as they came to trade. That meant she would have to deal with them all within one cycle.

Kaoru slid down the backside of her tree and approached the first guard, a side guard and the least alert. He had been busy staring at the moon when she attacked him, thrusting her blade into his jugular. He went limp on her sword and she held his body up as she pulled out the blade. As she rested his body along a shadowed wall, she made a grab for his gi and threw it on over hers. Perhaps it could buy her enough time if she at first appeared to be a comrade.

She crept to the corner of the building and peered around the edge at the next man that would come to relieve her victim's station. His hand rested firmly on his hilt, proving he would be ready for her. Kaoru pulled back from the wall and turned away so that he would not instantly see her face. They would switch soon and he would approach her for the trade.

The footsteps were fast approaching and Kaoru tightened her grip oh her sword. As a single hand reached out touch her shoulder she spun around releasing her blade on him so that he fell instantly.

Laying the body on top of his fallen comrade's she made for the man she was to relieve. She continued until all six men were down.

Now the only thing that stood before her and her final prey were those thin shoji doors. She watched as the dim light of the candles made their shadowed figures dance. The rest would be nothing but complete slaughter and bloodshed, the sloppy kind. But it would finally put an end to all bloodshed, and would give a start to a new life in a new era.

Slowly she touched her hand to the wood and slid the shoji door back.


"Kenshin! Kenshin!"

The violent shaking pulled the young red head from his sleepy stupor.

"Himura! Wake up!"

Amber eyes snapped open to meet those of a concerned darkness. "Katsura-san. What is it?"

"It's Kaoru."

At the sound of her name, Kenshin immediately sat up but was grounded by the dizziness that accompanied his hasty rise. "Where is she?" He managed to ask as he rested a hand on his forehead, steadying himself.

"She went out for the final mission."

Kenshin's eyes widened, but before he could respond, Katsura began again with eagerness. "I think she is in danger." A look of concern glazed over the amber eyes and he seemed to interrogate with his piercing stare. "I found out tonight Hachiro-san was not the spy." Just past his mentor, Kenshin could see the big burly man standing in the doorway of his room, his large arms folded across his chest.

"It was Iizuka." Katsura whispered. "He paid Hachiro to keep his mouth shut, but my men hunted him down and got the truth out of him. Iizuka is missing now too. All his belongings are gone, that includes all his salary. I think he went to meet up with the Shishengumi. I think they might ambush Kamiya at the meeting tonight."


Kaoru slid the shoji door open, sword in hand, but gasped at the sight before her. "I killed you."

A thin smile touched his lips as he drew a long breath from his cigarette. "Foolish Karasu. The Mibu Wolf doesn't die so easily."

TBC- kinda short kinda sucks.

I realized upon reading this its really choppy. Sorry. But right now I don't know how to fix it. Maybe some day in the future. I hate to not put out my best work. But I'm really lazy….its the sun.

Dragonmasterofdashadows – hey new face! Welcome aboard.

Paisita- another one! Always happy to see new people stumbling on my story. Thanks for the support.

LeiLa777- awe thanks, but there is always room for improvement.

Alex- oh sorry, I made you wait so long!!

Kenshin's angel – heh, I suppose (according to my profile) I tend not to give many details about myself. Well I attend a University, so all I do is sit in lectures all day. So there is no homework…all tests. In fact I just took one and it's worth a whopping 55.5 percent of my grade.

Gaby-hyatt- thanks. I try not to put out crappy chapters…but it happens occasionally.

Ena- heh I'm afraid I'm not the best at WAFF. Personally not the sentimental type, so I don't write it well or often.

Mz. Amber eyez- more with the waff….I should just take out all the waff. Action all the way!

Mirage- I see we are getting the picture. Someone finally noticed (despite the fact that I say it all the time) that begging doesn't really help. Yay! A supporter.

Msashlee28- awe thanks. I'm glad they didn't turn out to be hollow characters.

Rain angst- I thank you, de gozaru ka

Mishorou Mie- moi? A liar? I am offended. I lie not. The house was on….oh I shouldn't say. That's personal info. I wouldn't want to put someone's personal info on the internet for all to see.

Battousai Katana- yay! Tears. Sadistically enough, I like to make people cry…oh that sounds really weird. With stories! Make them cry with stories! Doh.

Noner89- sorry to have kept you waiting

Crystal Renee- ouch, that would be cruel….if Kaoru didn't come back because she was dead. But I'm a cruel person….hmmmm. twiddles thumbs