The shadows of the night were the perfect cover Kenshin and Sanosuke needed for their mission. Kenshin jumped high into the air and landed gracefully onto the tile roof of the next building. The wind was blowing strongly on his face and the sky would sometimes let slip the light of the full moon from behind the clouds.

Sano was starting to fall behind and the dark wasn't helping him any. Luckily as Sano was struggling to keep his footing on the still damp roofs he landed on Kenshin rushed up to him and put a hand to his mouth so quickly Sano didn't have time to react.

"We're hear," Kenshin whispered with a deadly tone.

He removed his hand from Sano's mouth who tried to catch his breath as quietly as he could. Kenshin started walking to the other side of the roof of the teahouse when there was an earsplitting cry of pain from a woman Kenshin instantly recognized to be Kaoru. He quickly looked back to Sano who was wide eyed at the sound of the pain and they stared at each other for a while until the screaming stopped letting the terrible images brew in their heads.

Kenshin's eyes glowed in the darkness and Sano to Kenshin guided by them when there was silence again, "Kenshin, what do we do when we get in?"

"Kill them. Kill them all, but leave the leader to me." And with that they entered the building threw a window to a hall.

Kenshin climbed in first handing on to the rafters on the ceiling and started moving forward hanging on as quietly as he could. Sano entered and followed him until they reached the corner that would lead to the room where voices and the stench of blood was coming from.

Kenshin heard a barely audible sob and immediately jumped down and turned into to the room with every muscle in his body itching to pull out the deadly sword. He spotted Kaoru with her back to him, and he noticed a fairly large burn threw her kimono and onto her skin that was scared and burning red.

The room went quiet when the thugs first noticed Kenshin as he pulled down the black cloth from his face and Sano ran in without any stealth at all.

Soujiro looked up from his seat in the shadows beside Kaoru and he met eyes with Kenshin. The thugs quickly stood up but Sano was already on them, punching his way threw the masses of muscle. Soujiro smirked noticing Kenshin's fury building and moved his leg to gently push Kaoru over on her other side to face Kenshin.

"Kaoru," whispered Kenshin and for a very brief moment his eyes shone violet again with heartache as he gazed upon the bloodied face of his beloved. Her once smooth skin now bruised and scarred, her lip was cut and her left eye was swollen.

"Kenshin," Kaoru barely managed to say using whatever strength she had left.

Kenshin narrowed his eyes at Soujiro.

"Welcome Himura!" he said getting up and raising his hands into the air. "I am Seta Soujiro. If I am correct to believe that old wrench did as she was told, you know me do you not?"

He did not wait for an answer from Kenshin before going on, but in a more serious tone, "You know Himura I've traveled a long way to meet you. To look on the face of my master's murderer, and now I intend to murderer you just like you did to him. And I will succeed where Shishio was too weak!"

Kenshin remained silent and Kaoru laid on the floor finally passing into unconsciousness and Sano had just finished with the thugs, not letting one get by him, and slowly walked over to tend to Kaoru.

Soujiro had a mad look in his eyes when he drew out his sword, "WELCOME TO HELL HIMURA!" He charged with battle cry.

Kenshin quickly drew out his own sword and their sword met with a clash. The two jumped back from the initial hit.

Kenshin spoke, "You die now, just as your master."

Angered Soujiro charged Kenshin again and again but Kenshin was too smart for the fury-blinded killer. Each time swords met the sharp sound would fill the room and on the fifth time sparks flew into the air. Kenshin managed to stop Soujiro from backing away and picked him up despite their similar frame, and threw him threw the paper screen window taking the battle to the now moonlit streets.

Soujiro lay on the streets struggling to get up, using his sword as a cane. Kenshin ducted under the large hole in the wall and started circling Soujiro.

"Do you know you're lucky I let you live this long, especially after what you put me through," said Kenshin watching Soujiro struggle to stand with pleasure.

He continued on, each word dripping with sarcasm, "Hmmm, why does it feel like I've done this before…Oh yes, moonlit street, destroyed teahouse…this is the exact same scene where I killed Shishio."

"SHUT UP! Don't you dare speak his name!"

Soujiro charged Kenshin, whom with his godlike speed jumped into the air. Soujiro stopped thinking Kenshin just vanished when he looked up in the direction of the battle cry he heard. Kenshin came thrashing down and just before his blade touched Soujiro's shoulder he quickly flipped the blade so that Soujiro was struck with the dull end. He collapsed to the ground and his sword flew into the air and landed in a puddle of mud.

Kenshin came back down to the earth and walked over to the limp body of his enemy the amber in his eyes slowly receding to violet again, "Sorry kid. You weren't ready to be with your master. Thank me later."

Sano carrying Kaoru in his arms walked over to Kenshin and handed her over. Kenshin quickly dropped his sword and held Kaoru close.

"Kenshin," said Sano as they started walking down the street.

"You crippled his arm didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"I think its time you left Kyoto…for Kaoru,"

" She deserves better," he agreed solemnly.

"Kaoru? Kaoru are you up?"

Kaoru gentle stirred and the sunlight on her face wouldn't let her rest again, "Kenshin?"

"Hey, glad to see you're feeling better," said Kenshin with a earnest smile.

Kaoru smiled back as best she could. The swelling had gone down and her face was still bruised but the blood had been washed away and the cuts tended to. Kenshin leaned over and gently kissed her forehead, and then her lips.

"Look," he whispered as he opened a small box.

Kaoru eyes swelled with tears of joy and let them stream down her face, "Oh Kenshin." And she slowly but surely wrapped her arms around his neck.

Kenshin was glowing himself as he snuggled in between Kaoru's neck and shoulder. They held the embrace for a long while, not wanting to let the other go, as if holding onto life itself. Kenshin closed his eyes and breathed her in, plums...he saw him and Kaoru in a small house in a open grassy field, and Kaoru was holding a bundle in her arms that giggled.

"Kaoru?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you think about the country?"

"Kenshin?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you think about kids?"

There was a long but peaceful pause, and Kenshin sighed, "That sounds very nice…"