Kaoru's past. Not much else to say. Read the important stuff at the bottom.

Chapter 2.

Kenshin watched as Kaoru pulled out a rifle from a small closet. Checking the sights, she flipped it open to see if it needed cleaning. Her face was still moist with tears and smudged with fresh dirt. Kenshin slowly chewed on a piece of meat as she opened a small box that she had pulled out from under the floorboards. Stuffing the stacks of dollars she found inside into her vest, she took a small satchel and began to stuff hard bread and dried meat into it.

"You know, going around shooting people with high-powered rifles isn't going to bring back your friends." Kenshin nodded toward the window, where three wooden crosses stood lopsidedly in the wet earth.

Kaoru didn't look at him. "I don't intend on shooting them with a rifle, Mr. Blade Runner," she said, throwing a bag of hollow point bullets into the satchel. "I intend to shoot them with a revolver. It seems like a more fitting end to those miserable curs." She looked up at the red head, her blue eyes hardened. "Besides, you do it all the time…for money even."

Kenshin's amber eyes flashed. "There is a big difference between a vigilante and a bounty hunter, Miss Kaoru." He stood from the small dining table, grabbing his provisions he had previously arranged. "There is a line, ma'am, and you'll be crossing it."

She didn't respond, so Kenshin continued. "Not only will you be disregarding the law, but you're Japanese. People don't twice about killing immigrants. This isn't a game. It can be assured you will die one way or another."

"I ain't worried about dying," Kaoru said levelly. "And why would you care anyhow. You don't know me." She walked swiftly out of the house. Kenshin stepped out into the brilliant mid-morning sun after her. Birds twittered happily, crickets chirped in the tall grasses on the low hills, wind brushed the small, hardy trees on the edge of the property. All stood in sickening contrast to last night's gruesome happenings.

Kenshin pulled up to Kaoru, who stood staring sadly at the house. He tapped her rifle. "Do you know how to use this thing?"

Calmly, she threw the rifle to her shoulder and fired without hesitation. A loud metallic clank cold be heard as the head of the metal rooster weathervane atop the barn was shorn through. Kenshin whistled through his teeth. It was nearly three hundred yards to the barn from where they were standing.

Lowering the rifle, she flashed him a cocky grin. "I've been shooting all manner of guns since I came to this ranch. That was when I was ten." She sighed, gazing at the house again. "It's been eight wonderful years since then."

Suddenly, she pulled out a small box of matches and some paper. Looking around for some loose wood, she set them all neatly against the house's wooden walls. Kenshin watched emotionless as she set fire to the paper and watched the hungry flames licked at the now dry wood. The fire quickly spread to envelop the entire house. Kaoru watched sadly before pocketing the matches and looked at the trail the horse thieves had carelessly left behind. They cut through the long grass and up over the hills.

She tipped her broad-rimmed hat at Kenshin. "Well, thank you fer getting me out of the cellar. I think I'll go shoot some snakes."

Kenshin scowled as he watched her begin to walk, her eyes to the ground. Muttering curses under his breath, he jumped onto his horse with practiced ease and rode forward a little to catch up to her. "I don't think I saw you pack any revolvers."

Kaoru looked up, a bit surprised. "No, I was going to buy one at a town if I ran into one." Kenshin sighed and pulled down his travel pack. Not finding what he wanted, he opened his horse's saddle packs. He grinned as he pulled something out of the pack. It was a long-barreled, six-bullet revolver. It was silver and shone brilliantly in the sun. Without hesitation, he threw the gun to her. "Sorry to say, but there isn't a town in that direction for nearly sixty-three miles."

Kaoru gaped at the gun. It was of wonderful workmanship, its hilt and barrel covered with simple, yet elegant engraved vines and flowers. One word was printed along the top of the barrel in elongated letters. "Future?" she asked, looking expectantly at Kenshin.

Kenshin didn't answer her question. "Look, how about I help you with this venture of yours. I'll give you a ride. Velox is a strong mare." He patted his dusty-brown horse's flank lovingly. "And fast. But I won't kill outside the law. You can do whatever your villainous heart wishes when we catch up, but leave me out of it."

Kaoru looked bemused. "Why would you do all that? I'm sure you have other things ta take care of." Kenshin smiled. "Not really. I haven't seen a decent bounty for days. I have enough money for now." His smile hardened. "Besides, the Japanese should stick together." He gave her his hand to help her up. "And if we don't take care of each other, no one else will in this land of freedom."

Kaoru swung into the saddle behind Kenshin, ignoring his hand. "Fine, but make sure your keep your intentions honorable. Otherwise, you might find yourself singing treble one morning." Kenshin gritted his teeth at the thought before clucking to Velox. The horse took off up and over the hills.

---

The ride was smooth and swift. Landscape seemed to blur together as the horse ran at breakneck along the trail the horse thieves had left. Kaoru occasionally glanced at the sky, making sure it wouldn't rain and erase the tracks. Streams, the distant black smudge of forest, trees, grass, and the odd lone animal all seemed to get caught up in the blur lines at the edge of her eyesight, causing the illusion that everything had stopped. The sun was slowly dying, throwing his rays out at the two lone riders and the swift mare. Long shadows stretched beside them, mimicking their moves exactly.

During the entire trip, Kaoru made every effort not to touch Kenshin. She was an expert rider and knew how to sway to a horse's movements. Nearly an entire day's journey and neither had bothered to say anything. As the sky began to blacken, Kenshin slowly brought Velox out of her gallop and finally stopped near a small river that seemed oddly out of place in the vast plane. Kenshin slid from his horse and glanced over to Kaoru to see if she had managed. She did.

Kenshin nodded resolutely. "There is where we will rest." He stroked his horse softly, who stood unsteadily, her muscles quivering from time to time. Tethering the horse to a small stake driven into the ground, he turned to speak to Kaoru. She, however, had gone to collect firewood from the trees near the river.

Kaoru returned to find Kenshin taking food out of his bag. "You're rather independent, aren't you, Miss Kaoru." He spoke without looking up. Kaoru lifted an eyebrow. "Yes, I suppose so. No less independent than you, though." She bent down and swiftly made a fire. Kenshin nodded in approval. "If you don't mind my asking, how did a Japanese girl come to live with an American family? Most of them don't even look at us twice."

Kaoru sighed and sat back on her legs. Kenshin moved forward to cook some bacon, looking up expectantly at Kaoru. Sighing again, she leaned back on her elbows. "Well, when I was about three, my parents left Japan after the Black Ships came, just before the Revolution, and came here to the States. We were getting along a bit hard, but made a livin' working on some railroads. Well, when I was ten, they both died of some disease that I was lucky enough to not catch." She paused and accepted some bacon and bread, along with a mug of coffee. "I must have walked nearly thirty miles, in a shocked stupor, before landing not far away from that ranch. The family living there took me in after they found me." She smiled at the memory. "They treated me like a daughter. They loved me and I loved them back. Me and Kit were the greatest friends, ya know. He was always a rather dashing, heroic type and I always admired him for it." She looked down at the mug of coffee, swirling its contents. A single tear fell and mixed with the dark liquid.

"We were going to get married, ya know. Have a big family, a big house." She looked up at Kenshin, whose eyes burned with sympathy out from the darkening night. Kaoru attempted a weak smile. "But things don't always work out, do they, Mr. Blade Runner."

"Kenshin," he said abruptly. "Himura Kenshin. I only use Blade Runner if I'm trying to stay away from lawmen eyes."

Kaoru nodded. "So what's your story?"

Kenshin chuckled. "Now that is a tale for another night. It's not terribly exciting." He yawned and leaned back, covering his eyes with his hat.

"Thank you."

"Hmm?" was all Kenshin said.

"Thank you for doing all this. And the gun. I really appreciate it." Kaoru pulled the gun from her holster and held it up to the flickering light of the fire. It truly was a beautifully crafted gun.

"Hmmph," Kenshin said as he rapidly fell asleep. The pale moon's glow shone down on the two travelers, kissing them with silver moonbeams. After all, what did she care that that one was going to soil her innocence with blood, and the other all ready had.

This is simply a chapter outlining what Kaoru's past is. I didn't want it to be a secret because it would serve no point in the story.

Kenshin, however, is a "horse of a different color", if you know what I mean. I want him be very mysterious without appearing dark and vicious. "What about the gun?" you might ask. Pssshh, I have a very vague idea that might or might not develop completely. I have no end in mind, which is very bad for a writer. I do have a sort of rough idea about what's going to happened near the end, though.

Really, the story isn't going to take place right now. The true story begins after Kaoru takes care or doesn't take care of the thieves. I, again, have vague plans on what to do with the other characters, but you must understand that not many Japanese can be in the old West. It's a difficult time period to work with, considering that Kaoru and Kenshin probably had immense difficulties getting to America. Also, a heads-up about the revisions I will be doing to Kaoru's attitude. Let's just say she'll be partially OOC for some of the time. After all, she had to go through the horrifying experience of burying her surrogate parents and soon-to-be husband. People change.

Oh, and Kenshin's horse, Velox, is a Latin word meaning quick. I'm just like that with names.

Lynn10- I would greatly appreciate it if you could be my beta reader. What would I have to do?

As for my other reviewers, thank you very much for reviewing. See ya in the next chapter.