Another chapter. First of all everyone needs to mentally send a thank you to Dragonsdaughter because she is the absolute best and helps me out so much with both keeping everyone in character and making sure you all understand my attempts at plot.

Thank you SO much for the reviews. I actually sat down and wrote all of this yesterday in an attempt to get this out as quickly as possible. So all of you who said get it out fast...is this fast enough?

Remember, in case you haven't noticed this is completely and AU setting. I plan on messing around with the Kyoto arc and revenge arc (which has not happened because well she died) but I promise to give you all good reasons! I also will be explaining a little bit more of the past and what happened in the next couple of chapters!

I would be thanking everyone but there are so many of you! Hopefully one of these days I will go back and email all of you, but until then

THANK YOU!

Remember I do now own the Kenshin gumi. Kenshin under my Christmas tree with bow would be nice! (Christmas is such a long way off)

Ravyn

Soujiro blinked at looked at Misao but noticed her gaze was riveted on the tall man who was standing with a faintly amused expression on his face. Misao narrowed her eyes in something could faintly be called a challenge when the words the red haired man had uttered registered in his and Kaoru's brain.

"Excuse me?" Kaoru's voice was furious enough to cause the papers on his desk to spontaneously combust. Soujiro watched in fascination as the man's smile grew at that.

"She looks surprised." Megumi said evilly to Sano.

"Hey Ken-man take it easy on Jou-Chan...give her another thirty seconds and then kiss her."

Yahiko reached over Sano and bopped him on the head. " Man leave Busu alone!"

Tsubame groaned and covered her flushed face.

"Why you little..."Sano growled attempting to lunge forward over Megumi.

Aoshi reached over and grabbed the man by the back of his headband.

Kenshin continued to stare at Kaoru, his expression darkly possessive.

Time to interrupt.

"Kaoru, Misao, do you two need something specifically now or do you want to wait until after this meeting?" Soujiro questioned attempting to break the argument he just knew was going to break out.

Kaoru shook herself free of the amber tinged gaze and turned to Soujiro and glowered. She tossed him the paperwork she and Misao had filled out about there activities last night and walked over to the filing cabinet on the other side of his desk she knew held the paper work for them to keep Rei in there custody.

"Hey, Sou-chan, do you still have that extra set of Kunai I asked you to keep?" Misao's voice interrupted his watching Kaoru and he turned to blink at the small woman.

"Yes. Do you need it?" Soujiro asked politely his grin slightly strained.

Yahiko slouched in his chair. "She always needs them. I just can't believe she lost them AGAIN."

Misao growled from the wall. "What did you say?"

Aoshi grunted from his position.

Sano laughed at that. "Don't make Ice Man here too mad, Yahiko-CHAN, he might hurt you."

Misao was in the process of answering moving forward to strangle the one named Yahiko when the tall man moved forward and offered Misao a handful of Kunai. Misao blinked at the man repeatedly and for the first time that Soujiro could remember Misao was speechless.

Bless Kami.

It startled everyone when Kaoru slammed the file shut, her holding a group of papers. Soujiro blinked again. "Kaoru?"

Kaoru turned her blazing eyes on Soujiro and he wanted to crawl under his desk for once.

"I will get these back to you." Her tone was silky and dangerous and Soujiro did what any man would do under a similar situation.

He nodded.

Kaoru then proceeded to grab Misao (the girl had gingerly taken the Kunai her expression suspicious) and drag her out of the room. The dark haired little girl had beamed at them all and skipped after them.

Soujiro turned back to his office full of people, his smile barely there, and almost started banging his head against his desk again.

That Megumi looked highly amused, while Yahiko was patting the young woman on the back looking just as amused, the spiky haired man was looking at the red haired man, the red haired man was practically oozing...something. He wanted to call it possessiveness but he was not sure and the stone statue had a gleam in his eye that was rather scary.

All of this and it wasn't even ten past eight yet. He cast an exasperated glance at Megumi and sighed. "Now what child was it?"

~*~

Kaoru placed her head on the desk and sighed tiredly. "I want a bath, some toothpaste, a large feather pillow and personal masseuse. Then I want to sleep for a week on that aforementioned feather pillow."

Misao picked another color of play dough and began squishing it into shape. She chewed on her lower lip and then looked at Rei. "Yellow or blue tower?"

Rei put a forefinger to her chin and then smiled. "Rei thinks yellow."

Kaoru raised tired eyes to the two on the floor. They where building a play dough castle since Rei had told them she liked sandcastles and Misao simply could not pass up the opportunity to show the little girl her play dough stash.

How they had gotten into the conversation of sandcastles Kaoru did not know.

"Rei thinks yellow because it will match that man's eyes." Rei added cheerfully.

Kaoru raised her head and gaped at the little girl. Rei turned and offered a full smile to Kaoru. "I like the man with the yellow eyes."

"Do you?"

All three heads turned to Soujiro standing in the door. His smile was in place, but his eyes flickered with amusement. "Nice castle."

"Than you Soujiro-Sama." Misao replied, responding to the under spoken sarcasm and returning it full turn. "What can we do to help you today?"

Soujiro sighed. "Do you realize that I have the most powerful group of Vampires to walk to the Underworld in my office?"

Kaoru blinked at the man. "What?"

Soujiro walked in and shut the door behind him. "Have you ever heard of Battousai?"

Kaoru and Misao blinked. "You mean the so called Heir to the Darkness?" Misao questioned softly, in her hand the play dough was being pulverized.

"Yes." Soujiro sighed and raked his hand through his hair again. He smiled at them. "He is sitting in my office calmly sipping tea. Rather ironic isn't it?"

Kaoru groaned. "I have a really bad feeling."

Soujiro's smile brightened. "Oh it get better. Apparently his little groups goals are about the same as ours. They wish for that little girl hiding behind Misao to not fall into Enishi's hands. And they are more than willing to work with whoever you two have decided to place the child with."

Kaoru let out a slight whimper.

Misao blinked at Soujiro. "She is staying with us."

"Rei like Mi and Kao!" Rei said cheerfully.

Soujiro blinked. "You're not handing her over."

Kaoru gave Soujiro a dark look. "And who exactly are we supposed to hand her over to? None of the contacts have what it takes to protect her. We are going to have to find another way and right now this is the only option."

Soujiro smiled cheerfully. " Then you go and talk to them."

Kaoru moaned.

Misao turned back to Rei. "Blue this time?"

~*~

Kaoru walked into the room Soujiro had moved the meeting to so that there was enough room for everyone. She ignored the surprised looks and leaned against the wall.

"Soujiro tells me you are interested in keeping Rei safe." Kaoru said softly. She kept her eyes on the Lady who Soujiro said did all the talking.

Megumi swung her eyes to Kenshin who nodded slightly. " Yes we are."

"Why else would we be here?" Yahiko muttered under his breath.

Kaoru crossed her arms and frowned at her. "Why." She shot Yahiko a rather evil look.

Megumi blinked. "Excuse me?"

Kaoru raised her eyebrows. "Would you like me to say it in a different language?"

Sano snickered lightly at that and Megumi smacked him upside the head.

Tsubame muttered something about manners and wished desperately for a tea- tray to hide behind.

"We do not want the blood paths opened any more than you do, Kaoru." Kenshin said softly.

Kaoru swung her eyes to the one Soujiro had told her was the Battousai and immediately regretted it. There was something about the intensity of his eyes that shook her. She jerked her chin up, because she was never intimidated by anyone.

Even Prince's of darkness.

Kaoru watched irritably as his lips curved gently in amusement. "Yes, but would you be willing to kill the child in order to keep Enishi from killing her in the ceremony?"

Tsubame let out a startled gasp and Kaoru allowed it as an excuse to swing her gaze somewhere else. "Most people would count the life of a child as something of little value." Kaoru's tone was harsh.

Yahiko and Megumi gaped at her.

Sano groaned in disbelief.

"We will not kill her."

Kaoru swung her eyes back to the Battousai. "I have no reason to trust any of you with her life." Except for those damn dreams. And I am not sure if I am to trust them either.

"Are you sure?" His golden gaze flashed with fire again and Kaoru felt something in her shift in response to that gaze. Something craved that fire, but Kaoru forced it down.

Before she could answer however, Soujiro came in then and had Misao and Rei with him.

"I see Kaoru has already started the conversation?" Soujiro's tone was his normal tone. "Kaoru have you been introduced?"

"No."

"Ah then allow me." Soujiro tilted his head as he calmly told her the names of the group in front of her.

Kenshin.

Sano.

Yahiko.

Kaoru forced herself to not make a single reaction to a name, although for some reason something was trying to claw its way to the surface and tell her something. Kaoru ducked her eyes behind her bangs to hide her eyes.

"Mr. Himura, Rei is currently staying with Kaoru and Misao." Soujiro told him amiably.

Misao glared at Soujiro. "Your sure willing to be trusting."

Soujiro just smiled.

"Trust is sometimes a matter of simple choice." Aoshi's voice said softly.

"That is the pot calling the kettle black." Yahiko muttered.

Sano and Megumi shot him dark looks. Kenshin just shook his head.

Misao frowned at him.

"We are more than willing to help hide the women as well as the child." Sano said easily, shooting Kenshin and Aoshi amused looks.

Kaoru shot him a dark look. "Since when did we ask you to hide us?"

Yahiko narrowed his eyes. "It's the best option."

"For who?" Kaoru's tone was so sweet that it caused Misao to blink. "Lets go hide where Misao and Kaoru are completely unable to use any of their resources and absolutely under your control."

Kenshin ducked his head not to laugh at Yahiko's expression.

"But you must know that Enishi is going to come after you at all full strength." Megumi said softly.

Sano's hand was clenching and unclenching repeatedly under the table.

"That does not matter. We will not put ourselves in such a vulnerable position just because you think it would be for out best." Misao said flatly. "If we decide it would be for best for us to accept your help then we will do it under our terms. As it is I don't appreciate being told by you how to do my job."

Kenshin rose then. "Misao-dono we are not attempting to tell you how to do your job. We have seen your abilities and we know that you two are more than capable of taking care of yourselves. But you must understand that Enishi will use whatever he can to get that child."

Kaoru cocked her slightly, her dark mane of hair falling over one shoulder. "Are you saying we are not capable of protecting Rei and ourselves?"

Kenshin smiled again, but this time it was a predatory smirk, one that sent a shiver down Kaoru's spine. "Not as well as I am."

Soujiro took that moment to step in. "Why don't we go ahead and accept your offer for now. If it becomes too much then we shall try something new. Rei seems to think your trust worthy, and that is enough for me."

Kaoru just gave a grunt. Her flashing dark eyes said how well that settled with her.

"Misao why don't you take Rei to your and Kaoru's apartment and whoever wants to go with you. One of you should at least get some rest and we all know Kaoru is better at the paper work than you are."

Misao sighed and nodded. "Sure. That why I can at least take a shower." She smiled at Soujiro jumping back in to her Genki personality. If the boss said they had to have their help than so be it, but she Kaoru was more than likely to say a few things about it.

Perhaps she could get that hunk of a male to be her personal protection.

Aoshi stepped forward and bowed slightly at Misao, and indicated for her to walk forward.

Score.

Misao beamed up at him and grasped Rei by the hand. "So your name is Aoshi-Sama?"

Kaoru sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I had better get to work on those papers then, Sou-chan. I will be in my office."

Soujiro smiled at her. "All right Kaoru-San."

Kaoru left without giving anyone a second glance.

Soujiro smiled at them. "Since I assume that you are going to start making sure that they are alive from this point on, Kaoru's office is the third one down the hall. Please take good care of them." Lets see how well you handle an irate Kaoru.

Sano waited till after Soujiro had shut the door before turning to Kenshin. "He sure is trusting."

"Not as much as you think." Kenshin said softly. "I have heard that he had a uncanny ability to be able to see those trust worthy. Besides, he is right about the child. She will be able to see who is trust worthy and who is not. Besides I have worked with Soujiro before."

They all turned. "When?"

Kenshin just smiled.

"Kenshin, what do you wish us to do for now?" Yahiko questioned. He could see the amber glint in his eyes and knew his friend was planning something.

Kenshin was most likely going to attach himself to Kaoru's side this time.

"Yahiko, you and Tsubame need to go and gather whatever supplies you think your going to need. I want you to then get the apartment under Kaoru and Misao's. I really don't care how you to get in there just do it."

"Megumi and Sano, I need to two to start using that information you have gathered and start tracking down those who had alliances with Shishio the first time around and find out what there up to."

They all nodded.

"What are you going to do?" Megumi asked gently.

Kenshin turned and started walking towards the door. "I am going to make sure no one takes a cheap shot and attempts to take out Kaoru early on in this game. Anyone who keeps tabs on the Underworld will start to narrow down who could have the child; Enishi will have his best working on it. Most of those trails are going to lead back this office and those who work here"

"Sure Kenshin." Yahiko agreed with him. They all moved to leave but Yahiko stopped next to his long time Father figure. "Take care of her okay?"

Kenshin nodded and started to move down the hall where Soujiro had said her office was.

~*~

Misao hummed to herself as she stepped out of the shower, her long dark was wrapped in a towel. Pulling on the shorts and T-shirt she had brought with her, she sighed in satisfaction as she opened the door and then scrunched the soft carpet with her toes.

"Clean at last." Misao moaned to herself as she attempted to remove all the moisture in her hair with the towel. To use a blow dryer would take close to thirty minuets to get her hair completely dry. And Misao was just feeling to lazy right now to spend that much time bent over.

Sitting down on the couch she sighed in absolute bliss.

"Tea?"

Misao looked up and blinked. OHHHHHH he made tea! Misao smiled up at him and accepted the cup. "You made tea?" Misao crooned her tone beyond perky.

Aoshi just saw down in the chair next to the couch she was laying on. Misao placed the cup of tea on the coffee table in front of her and quickly braided her hip length hair into a tight braid. Picking her tea back up she leaned back and sighed.

Until a little body wiggle into her side, causing Misao to balance her cup of hot tea hurriedly, surprising her.

"Rei clean!" A little voice piped up from Misao's leg.

Misao reached down, after she had placed the tea (after drinking most of it) onto the table, and cuddled the green-eyed child close. "So am I!"

Rei placed her little hands on her mouth and giggled. Misao smiled and traced her finger down the girl's nose. Rei snuggled into Misao's neck and gave a soft yawn.

"Rei sleepy."

Misao smiled and ran her hand through her hair. "Go to sleep then. Do you want me to move you to my bed?"

"Rei stay here with Mi!"

Misao grinned and nodded. "Okay." She waited till the little girls breathing was deep and even before shifting her to a more comfortable position. "So why don't you tell me the real reason you are so interested in helping Kaoru and I?"

"What makes you think we other motives?" Aoshi asked, his tone curious as he made not attempt to pretend she had asked someone else, as if there was someone else there.

"Call it women's intuition." Misao responded cheekily. For some reason she couldn't find it in her to alarmed that she was with this incredibly strong Vampire, and for some reason it made her feel safe.

"How did you get all my Kunai any way?" Misao questioned, changing the subject unconsciously.

"I looked for them."

Misao shifted and blinked at him. "Huh?"

Aoshi walked to the window. "If you need to sleep do so. I will not let anything harm you."

Misao sat there blinking repeatedly. This guy was weird. But very, very cute, and she could live with being guarded by a man as handsome as he was.

"Thank you Aoshi-Sama."

Misao shut her eyes and let the warmth of the little girl keep her warm. By the time Aoshi had found the blanket she was fast asleep.

~*~

Kaoru sighed as she finished filing the last of last night's paper work. Setting the last file aside she began to rummage through her desk looking for that packet of hair ties she knew she had put in here a week ago; just for emergencies.

Cursing under breath Kaoru stood up and walked over to Misao's desk. It was far more cluttered than her own desk and Kaoru wrinkled her nose at it. Fishing through the folders and scattered pens and pencil's her eyes narrowed when she found the package already opened and missing several of her favorite colors.

Securing a pale blue one Kaoru quickly tossed her dark hair into a high ponytail and sighed in the satisfaction of having the long strands off her neck and shoulders.

Kaoru looked at herself in the mirror Misao had insisted on putting on the wall incase her dream man ever needed help, that way she could 'fix myself up all pretty like', and sighed. "Maybe its time just to hack it all off."

"Don't you dare." The voice was the warm croon she had begun to associate with the man name Himura Kenshin, Battousai and Heir to darkness. It was rather unfair that his voice was enough to turn her into a warm sticky pile of mush.

Kaoru turned then with one eyebrow arched high over her eyes. "Excuse me?"

Kenshin shut the door softly behind him and gave her a once over. Her hair was in the high ponytail that was familiar enough to cause him to ache, her eyes where just as dark blue with that same fringe of thick, dark lashes. Her face was still peaches and cream and the bruise was stark against her fragile skin from the night before was a dark reminder of the danger she was in.

Her full bottom lip was still as kissable and right now it was pulled into a rather disapproving frown he was practically begging himself to kiss off.

Instead he leaned against the door and gave allowed himself to rakishly run his eyes down her full figure, all the while a small grin pulled at his lips. "It would be such a shame to cut such beautiful hair."

Kaoru twitched slightly at the roughness and absolute need in his voice. What was this man's problem?

Kaoru rolled her eyes and moved back to her desk to finish filing the last few reports she had gotten from several sources on Enishi's movements. One thing she prided on her people was there ability to gather information regardless of what she asked them.

She would have to give the information she and Misao had collected to Soujiro so he could give it to Saitou.

"Is there a reason your in here? If you're looking for directions to the bathroom you could have asked my secretary." Kaoru did not look up at him to sense his amusement; his Ki practically screamed it. It was the other, darker emotion she felt from that confused her.

Kaoru blinked when two hands where placed flat on her desk in front of her. Kaoru looked up and froze when she noticed once again how close he was to her. Kaoru moved to kick herself and the chair backwards, thank Kami for chairs with wheels, when he grasped her wrists.

"Kaoru," his voice was lower than before and Kaoru had to force herself not to shudder. "Do not hide behind such a thick wall." He shifted her wrists together and held them easily with one hand. He brushed a strand of hair that had worked its way loose behind her ear with his now free fingers, and then let his fingers trail down her jaw.

"How did you know my name? You knew if even before you got here." Kaoru whispered, mentally slapping herself for sounding breathless.

He trailed his thumb over bottom lip and this time Kaoru did shudder. "I will always know your name Kaoru, always." He reached down and lightly kissed both sides of her mouth before delicately kissing her bottom lip. He pulled back and starred into her wide, startled eyes.

"I will be waiting for you to finish whatever you need to." Kenshin whispered before walking over and setting himself down at one of the cushioned chairs and simply watched her.

Kaoru blinked and then bit back a growl. He had just waltzed in here, not answered her question, or at least what she would consider an answer, and then kissed her.

Well granted it wasn't what she would call a kiss -but that was beside the point- shooting him a heated glare Kaoru turned her back to him and began to rapidly accumulate the information on the computer.

Misao and Kaoru both used a series of programs that a grateful Vampire had designed for them some time ago. He was one of the few that they still kept in constant contact with, as he had opened an electronics shop a few months ago, and thanks to the system they used they could encrypt files easily and accumulate information quickly. They searched out patterns and possible attacks with whatever they could get their hands on.

Kaoru ran a hand through her hair and turned the chair and quickly went through her files and grabbed the one she was looking for and chewed on her bottom lip as she thought over the information.

As for Kenshin he knew the moment she forgot he was in the room with her. Her Ki relaxed and her shoulders loosened up. He enjoyed watching her work, and the way she chewed on her bottom lip when she was deep in thought.

If she ever decided to give up the habit he would happily take over.

Kaoru sighed as she finished with the paper work Soujiro needed and rolled her shoulders as she stood and stretched. She heard the faint intake of breath and turned in surprise. "Your still here?"

Kenshin stood with her. "What you have failed to understand, Kaoru, is that I will always be here."

Kaoru narrowed her eyes at him. "And if I don't want you here?" To her it was a simply matter of getting him to leave.

Kenshin walked forward and Kaoru repressed the urge to move backwards, she had not intention of being bullied by anyone. He grasped her hand and brought it to his scared cheek. It was warm under her cool fingers and she blinked when his thumb began to trace the back of her knuckles, the same knuckles he had kissed last night. "Kaoru if you ever tell me with absolute certainty that you have no wish to be around me, I shall simply do everything in my power to change your mind." He smirked at her startled expression.

He leaned forward. "I do not give up what is mine easily."

Kaoru frowned at him. "I am not yours." Her tone was irritated and Kenshin allowed himself a full-blown smile at that.

He traced his free hand down her cheek and then placed his index finer at her temple. "Here, is where you do not think your mine." He took her other hand a raised it to his lips and then placed it on her heart. "Here is where you know you belong to me. Deny it all you wish, Kaoru. But in the end you will belong to me." His amber eyes glowed. "You will always belong to me."

Kaoru stared at him. "Of all the..." Kaoru jerked her hands free and shoved him away from her. Turning she grasped the disk for Soujiro and turned back around. He stood where had been pushed back to and Kaoru was given the impression that the only reason he had moved was because he had allowed himself to be moved.

Moving down the hall Kaoru tapped on Soujiro's door and walked inside to drop the file off. He was on the phone so he nodded his thanks. She motioned that she was leaving and he nodded, pointing to the phone to signify that he would call if he needed anything and Kaoru nodded.

Kaoru reached the door and almost groaned at the fact that Kenshin was still out there. "Mr. Himura," Kaoru started but he stopped her.

"Kenshin. Call me Kenshin." His eyes where faintly shadowed with what could have been a memory but Kaoru shrugged it off.

She turned and swiftly moved by him, her feet almost silent against the stairs as she moved towards the door. Once getting outside she started to walk down the sidewalk.

"Kenshin, where exactly do you think your going?" He had followed her out of the building and she was trying to figure out exactly where it was that he thought he was going.

"Where ever you are." Was his soft answer, and Kaoru couldn't help but shoot him an annoyed look.

"I hope you like buses then." Kaoru commented dryly. Her car was back at the apartment as she and Misao had used the company car and been on foot for most of last night. Which would be the reason why her feet where killing her.

Kenshin stopped her by gently grasping her arm. "I have a car. I will be more than willing to drive you home, Kaoru."

Kaoru wished he would stop saying her name like that. It was almost like he was rolling it around and caressing every vowel slowly. Almost as gentle and loving as a lover's voice in the night.

Kaoru opened her mouth to answer him, but was interrupted.

"Hitokiri Battousai and with his lovely reincarnated mate," A mocking voice roughly hissed at them. " What a lovely surprise. This time I will kill you, Himura, and perhaps take her for myself."

Kaoru froze at the utter fury that crossed Kenshin's face and then turned to see a man with hair that appeared to have borrowed from a broom. " I am Cho the Sword Collector of the Juppongatana, and I want revenge."

Misao rushed through the crowds, her little form moving as rapidly as possible.

"Aoshi-Sama, wait please!"

The tall man did not stop and Misao picked her speed up. "STOP Aoshi-Sama, I even asked nicely!"

He made no move to walk faster, or stop, so she through her entire form onto his back and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Please don't go."

"Misao, let go of me."

" I won't."

"Misao." This time there was an edge to his voice.

She tightened her grip on his waist and gritted her teeth in frustration. "You're leaving!"

"Misao, let me go now."

"You don't have to leave because of what happened." She felt him stiffen but pressed on, her Aoshi-Sama needed to know she did not blame him. "Its okay!"

He turned then, his eyes as hard as ice; an expression she was not used to having turned on her. Her eyes filled with tears and she glared at him.

"Misao, I don't ever want to see you again."

She froze and then placed one little hand on his heart. "Here is what matters Aoshi-Sama. And here is where you will always be Aoshi-Sama. It doesn't matter what that man turned you into. I don't care!" She raised tear filled eyes to his face and smiled. "If you have to leave for a while, and you can't take me with you, at least promise to come back to me!"

Aoshi slowly removed her arms from his waist and turned back around.

"I will always be watching and waiting for Aoshi-Sama." She bunched her little hands together in his shirt and looked at him. "When I am older I will come after you Aoshi-Sama!"

He never even looked back.

"And I will always follow you Aoshi-Sama."

Always.

Am I a stinker or what?