Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is not mine................... is this really necessary? ¬ ¬

A/N: A little sentimental chappie........... kind of any way.

Thanx for the reviews..... (both of them . pfffffffffff) but really, i truelly appreciate them ) so thanx a lot! On to the Chapter!

Chapter 7:

Kenshin and Sano watched Katsumi walk away untill she vanished in the distance. Kenshin felt as if he had just recieved a punch on the stomach, and he knew that Sano felt something of the sort too.

After a long, awkward silence, Sano cleared his throat:

"Ahhhem............... what just happened here??? Did I miss something.............? Cause that was NOT the Katsumi I know."

Kenshin was still quiet, as usual lost in his thoughts.......... Sano realised that funny remarks wouldn't help here. So he fell quiet again but his silence was broken by Kenshin finnally speaking.

"Sano, did you see the look in her eyes?" he asked in a rather quiet voice.

"I did, it was like she turned into a tottally different person for a moment. Actually, it reminded me of you when you're.......................... (and here he was really carefull not to mention the word Battousai) engaged in a battle" He said, scratching his head.

The thought did seem to hit Kenshin strongly, but it didn't seem to be the number one concern in his mind.

"I................. I did see that................"

"And, Katsumi's so calm........................ she's one of the most generous people I've met, I just can't understand such a violent outburst like that......................" Sano went on.

"No, that's not hard to understand............................ a sudden rush of adrenalin, the feeling of threat............... fear........................... any of those is enough to trigger such a reaction; even on the most serene person." At that, Sano realised that Kenshin was reffering to himself.

"There's something else you cought up on what just happened back there, isn't there Kenshin?" Sano asked.

"When she attacked that man, there was something else to her.................... in her eyes..................... it wasn't only hate, or anger...................... I saw fear, Sano. She was genuinely affraid of something and it wasn't that man alone. There's something bigger behind this."

"Looks like our friend is in serious need of some help..............."

In the Akabeko, the next morning...................:

" "I approove of such attitude" he says............... who does he think he IS???" she kept mumbling to herself as she scrubbed the same plate over and over again. "Acting like the older brother he should have been years ago!!!! Hmpf! And threatenning to take my sword! MY sword! MYYYY sword!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAARgh the nerve!!!!"

"Katsumi.......................?" came Tsubame's little voice from behind her.

"HE'S always walking around with HIS sword! True, mine is not a reversed blade, but its not like I'm gonna go around the city cutting people's throats!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Ka........ Katsumi..........? Please, Katsumi?" Tsubame insisted.

"DANGEROUS???? The sword is 'dangerous'????????? As if I couldn't handle a sword!!!"

"KATSUMI! What are you doing???????????" Tae suddenly burst into the kitchen.

"..................Huh?" Katsumi looked down, into the sink. She had been scrubbing Tsubame's hands for the last ten minutes........ and not lightly.

"Oh MY!!!!!!! Aw.............. Tsubame, I'm so sorry! Soooooooooo sososososo sorry! Here." She gently wrapped her hands on a towel, and appologised over and over.

"Its............ its ok Katsumi..................... really............... don't worry." She said, trying to calm her down.

"Why don't you take this day off Katsumi? You look a bit troubled....................... is something wrong?" asked Tae, in a very concerned voice.

"No.... no. Nothing's the matter. I really don't need the day off Mrs. Tae, I just drifted off, I'm sorry............"

And at that, she went back to work, trying not to think of last evening's events.

In the Dojo:

Kenshin sighed as he sat down on the front porch. Indeed............. it was way too good to be true........... and he looked up as Sano walked in, as usual.

Katsumi hadn't come to see him in almost a week, and she hadn't talked to Sano either. She was doing all she could to avoid them and that was driving Kenshin mad.

"Hi Sano." He greeted his gangster friend.

"Hey, what's with you buddy?"

"Just worried. You know..................... its obvious that Katsumi's in trouble, but she just won't see me."

"I know, she's been avoiding me too. But explain me one thing, Kenshin..................... I know you have a thing for helping people, but why are you soooooo envolved with this particular girl?"

Kenshin let his head hang down, letting his bangs cover up his eyes.

"She's very young Sano, and on her own............... she needs us, thats all."

"So the wise man says." Said Sano.

"So, why do you think she's been avoiding us?"

"Sorry buddy, but isn't it obvious? I understand your concern for the girl, but I think you crossed the line when you mentioned the danger her sword represented. You lost her trust..."

"Howcome? Being concerned about her shouldn't cost her trust... in fact, it should have shown her that she can... and SHOULD... trust me..." Kenshin insisted.

Sano sighed and went on, " That should be, but look at it this way: you rely on your sword for your own protection and of those around you, right?"

Kenshin nodded, looking down at his own.

"So, we saw Katsumi is skilled, which means she must rely on HER sword for her very servival... and in addition to that, she is lonely... or 'alone'... that sword is all she's got..."

"And I threatened to take it..." said Keshin, more to himself than to Sano, in sudden realisation.

"I have to talk to her.................. I need to understand whats going on. Who she meant with "they", and why are people after her................"

At that, he jumped to his feet and walked over to the gates of the dojo, Sano called out for him, telling him to wait up. But he said he wanted to do this alone, he had to. Not quite understanding why, Sano knew that he should respect his friend's feelings and decided to stay put.

Kenshin ran all the way to the Akabeko. He was feeling a sense of urgency that he just couldn't explain............ but something told him that he wouldn't have another opportunity to make things right with his sister again.

As he got there, Kenshin decided to enter through the back door of the restaurant, straight into the kitchen so that he wouldn't have to give any explanations to Tae and, to make things easier, Katsumi wouldn't be able to give a lame excuse as to why she wouldn't be able to see him.

He stood at the door, in silence. Katsumi had her back to the door, she was sweeping the floor and froze the moment Kenshin appeared at the door. She didn't see him, but considerring her skills in swordfighting, Kenshin knew that she could feel his presence. She hesitated for a while but finnally spoke:

"Why are you here?"

There was, obviously, no joy in her words, but Kenshin heard no anger or resentment in them either.

"I thought we should talk, Katsumi. I have lots of things to say and also questions I need to hear the answers, things I really need to know. Please, Katsumi."

She turned to face him and looked deep into his eyes, he did the same. None of them darring to look away. Katsumi sighed and agreed to talk. Not in the restaurant though; they left and walked in silence to the side of a river, where they sat down on the grass.

"I wanted to appologize, before anything else, Katsumi. Appologize for not understanding your affection for the sword you carry with you. You were right, it was not my place and I shouldn't have asked to take it from you. I hope you'll find it in you not to hold any resentments towards me." Kenshin started out.

Katsumi, who had been staring at her feet, looked up at him, her expression hard but not angry.

"I have to be honest Kenshin, indeed you annoyed me a lot when you threatened to take my sword. But, after this past week, I thought about it quite a bit and finnally understood. You were worried about me.................. thats all."

"Thanks for understanding." He said, his rurouni smile back on his face – one thing Katsumi couldn't resist and it had the power to make her smile herself.

"But there's something else.........." he went on. " I couldn't help noticing you're in trouble, Katsumi. Something happened that evening, something about that man that scared you. Please, let me help you............. tell me whats going on?"

"Oh............... Kenshin. I was affraid you were going to get into that." She said, and turned her face away. "I see you are worried, but I beg you............. please............... do not get involved in this."

"But I'm already involved............. deeply involved. I wont let you handle this on your own. I finnally have the opportunity to be there for you, how could I ever walk away?"

He knew that what he had just said had had a strong impact on her. He knew that she was now certain that he was aware of who she really was. She was staring at him in utter surprize.

"I can't................... I can't let you get involved..............." and now her voice was week, her eyes were shut and she wanted to get away, but Kenshin grabbed one of her hands and pulled her towerds him, trying to hold her and hug her. Despite her useless attempts to get away since she was weakenned by the whole situation, Kenshin held her tighlty in his arms, making it clear to her that he was going to be there for her, no matter what.

"No......... Kenshin......... you don't understand............. I have to leave, I........... I cannot stay............... I destroy people's lives................. I dont want to wreck what you took so long to find............... please............"

"What do you mean leave? I won't let you go. You are part of what you think took me so long to find. I wont let anything happen to you or anyone else. Just let me know what's going on."

Katsumi pushed him away gently, he could see the tears she was fighting so hard to hold back. She stood up and looked at him, a vague smile on her lips, a sad smile.

"I can't tell you any more........... I don't want to, please do not insist, Kenshin. I know you care about me............ But I also care, far too much, to let you in on this mess..........."

And with that she left. Kenshin knew better then to insist anymore at that moment............ But he was far from giving up. He was going to find out exactly what was after his sister and why.

A/U: there you go! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease please please leave ur review ................. the author needs a little more motivatiooon (