Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, but I do own takes breath Meru, Rushi, Shiru, Kashuko, and Shakon. Note this chapter contains a small section that is a little shounen ai themed. Nothing too serious, so don't worry about it. However, I just thought I'd give a heads up.

The wind rattled the leaves on the trees as it played around them. Down below, they ran past the young samurai, swirling his hair in front of his face as they raced by. Shiru's eyes narrowed as he cursed lightly under his breath. Why the hell hadn't he just done away with the Battousai? Who cared that his sister had been there? Who cared that his mother, family and friends had been walking up the path to the dojo? Lord Shishio would not be pleased when the news reached him. He'd sent him out on a mission, and this would be the first time he'd failed him. Shiru sighed as he watched the stars gathering in the darkening sky. Perhaps he wouldn't return to the compound tonight. He would just sleep out here. He started to continue on his way down the path, pausing by a small running stream to dip a cloth into it. Pulling it back out of the chilled water, he pressed it over his eyes. "Kamis, my life is screwed up..." He thought to himself. With a small smile he added, "...that it is." Wringing the cloth out, he folded it and continued walking. Watching the sky rather than where his feet were taking him. Oh well. He had enough yen in his pocket to be able to live on his own for a month or two. He stopped and sat down at the base of a towering cherry blossom tree that was growing right next to the path. He sighed again, tilting his head up once more to watch the night sky above him, and as he did, a shooting star zipped across it creating a brief white streak against the black. Shiru blinked, somewhat startled to see one. Especially now. With the traces of a smile upon his lips he thought aloud.

"I wish this would all make sense soon..that I most certainly do.."

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Rushi glanced off to the left as she heard the deep hoot of an owl in the giant oak next to her. She sat by a steady fire just outside of Hiko's cabin. The sensei had walked off momentarily to collect some water from the well not too far away from his house. Rushi smiled. Hiko-sensei doing work around his cabin when one of his 'idiot apprentice's' children was there, was practically unheard of. It hadn't taken her too long to get from Tokyo to Kyoto. Saitou-san had gotten her a train ticket that would take her a little over halfway there, and she had walked the rest of the way. No doubt Hiko had been surprised to find her in a tree outside his cabin when he had returned from the local tavern in town. A movement behind her caught her attention, and her right hand fell to the nearest object around her she could either throw or fight with, and it happened to be a large stick/branch that had been cut by Hiko previously that day by "accident".

She relaxed as Hiko walked out of the bushes, two buckets of water easily carried at his sides. He set them down by the side of his cabin, and came to stand by the fire. Rushi stayed in silence. Hiko and her father were a lot alike. In situations like these, they would always speak to you when they were ready to speak. After another few minutes of silence, Hiko spoke quietly.

"You've come because of your brother, haven't you?"

Rushi didn't question as to how Hiko knew why she had come to him. That was one of the best things about him and her father too. If you sit with them long enough, they can figure out just what is troubling you, or what you wish to talk about. She nodded and turned her gaze to look over at the Mitsurugi master.

Hiko himself nodded, and continued to look into the fire. When he didn't speak, Rushi turned her own gaze into the flames and said.

"Ottosan is worried. He believes that Shiru is working along side Shishio...or a follower of him.."

Hiko watched the young girl intently. It was apparent that what she said had truth behind it. If his idiot apprentice suspected that his own son, who according to his own records was dead, was actually alive and well and working for Shishio... Then he would have good reason behind his suspicions. Brushing brown bangs out of his eyes, Hiko questioned her casually.

"Rushi-chan, tell me, what leads my idiot apprentice to believe that Shiru is in league with Shishio?"

Rushi tore her gaze away from the flames that danced their way around the logs to look over at Hiko.

"Yahiko asked the Oniiwabonshuu to go and investigate Mt. Hiei, which Misao and the others were only too happy to do, and the actually saw Hoji and Yume. They've also brought back reports of seeing a red haired man who wears his hair in a high ponytail, like a top knot almost, they believe he is their newest assassin who is committing all of these murders. The police department has also sent one of their own spies up to investigate, Shakon, and he has turned in similar reports. Or so Saitou-san says. Also, Ottosan had a duel yesterday with a man who matched the description they gave us. He talked to me as well...but, he seemed really nice Hiko-sensei. Could that have really been my oniisan? Demo, in answer to your question, that's what leads Ottosan to believe that it's Shiru.."

She said, lilac eyes upon the older man.

Hiko turned his own eyes back to the flames before looking back at Rushi.

"Anything else?"

He asked as he watched her expression.

Rushi turned her gaze upwards to think, when a flash of white shot past. A shooting star. Her eyes widened slightly for a moment before she said happily.

"Look Hiko-sensei, a shooting star!"

Hiko looked up to witness a split second or two of the strip of white, before it was gone from sight. He shook his head and looked down at his newest apprentice, small traces of a smile upon his lips.

"Rushi-chan, you're still such a child.."

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Kenshin looked up at the bright night sky. A breath escaped his lips and arose in a cloud of mist in the chilly November air. 'That really was Shiru...he really is alive. Everything Kashuko said was true...And yet, it seems as if he doesn't really want to change, that it does.' The breeze ran past him, sending his own blood red hair swirling around the former samurai. His hands sat upon the railing of the dojo's walkway, and his own lavender eyes traveled downward to rest upon them. He turned them over and inspected the deep calluses that had formed from the countless years of handling a sword. The corner of his mouth twitched upwards in a small smile. How ironic was it, that his own past and that of his son's present, were so very similar? It was too surreal. 'But, why Shishio? Why would Shiru choose to help Shishio? What is Shishio even doing among the living? I was sure that he had been killed in Kyoto in his own compound on Mt. Hiei that day.. What could've gone wrong? And Hoji and Yume... Yume was killed by Shishio's own hand. She died right there in his arms in front of us. And according to Chou, Hoji died while he was in prison because no one would take his and Shishio's dream seriously. Why have they been seen around the ruins of the compound? Does this mean that... is it even possible that someone revived them? I just don't know, that I don't...'

Sanosuke watched Kenshin's movements from around the corner of the dojo. He'd just gotten in from the local tavern in town where he'd met with Katsu to discuss his concerns about Kenshin. The ruffian was truly worried about his friend. Only god knew what this was doing to him. Or what he was planning on doing to resolve it. Sano knew that the Tokyo PD had asked Kenshin to slay this 'assassin', but Kenshin was now sure that the assassin was indeed Shiru. And anyways, didn't Kenshin still have an oath never to kill again? He rolled his dark eyes slightly. Kamis, what was it about 'never kill again' that these people didn't seem to understand? Sano came out of his 'hiding' spot, and approached Kenshin. He wasn't surprised when lavender eyes looked over Kenshin's shoulder long before he got there. They softened when they recognized Sano, and they turned back around to face the moon and the stars when Sano stood behind him. Sanosuke's own dark eyes followed their path upwards, and he locked his gaze on the moon.

"Kenshin?"

Sano asked the older man as the breeze blew past them again.

"Hai Sanosuke? Nahn desu ka?"

Sanosuke looked down at the red head and said concertedly.

"Are you going to be all right? I mean, with what they're asking you to do and all..."

He trailed off.

Kenshin's expression changed somewhat. Sano couldn't quite put his finger on what it changed to, but it defidently changed. Sad maybe? Or perhaps bemused?

"I don't really know Sanosuke...."

Much to Sano's surprise, the former samurai leaned back against him, and again turned his gaze upwards.

"...That I really don't...."

The red head leaned farther back into the ruffian, and before he knew it, Sano found his arms coming around the former battousai in an embrace. He wouldn't let them make Kenshin choose. Not even if he had to knock each and every one of them out himself. He wouldn't let them make Kenshin suffer anymore. His grip tightened around Kenshin. He didn't care what else might happen because of it. He would find a way to help Kenshin around this obstacle, and if anyone had anything to say about it, they'd find themselves flat on the floor as far as Sanosuke was concerned. So what if Katsu would call this overreacting? So what if the police decided to have him arrested for interfering with their personal business? After all, he'd broken out of prison once before hadn't he? All of these thoughts were interrupted when he saw a white streak fly by overhead. It took the ruffian a few minutes to realize that it had been a shooting star, and he smiled a bit. Maybe it could bring a bit of luck into their lives..

A smile touched Kenshin's lips as he witnessed the shooting star as well. A thought struck him at that exact moment, and suddenly he knew what he was going to do with his present situation. Still smiling to himself, he said quietly in a whisper.

"This will all make sense very soon.... That it most certainly will..."

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And that's the end of chapter nine! Wow, it's finally here!!! Well, I hope you enjoy it and please R&R!!! And I shall try to update quicker if school doesn't get in the way again!!!

Ja ne,

-Whistful Wanderer