Yeah, well, I've been really busy with stuff. I'm sorry that I haven't updated lately. But I'll make it up by putting up an extra long chapter. Its really long too Well, here you go!!!!!!

Disclaimer: Don't feel like saying something smart. I don't own the original story, Rurouni Kenshin.

I'm not what you think- First talk, first mission.

Kenshin sat in the spring till he realized how pruney he was getting. He left the springs and traveled down a hidden path. Walking half a mile, he came to a meadow, spotted with a rainbow of flowers. In the middle of the field, there was a large, shinny, black boulder, shaped expertly to round so you can sit molded into it like a chair.

The sun raced across the field, the cloud's shadows making a parallel light show of light and dark rows racing across the grounds. Kenshin walked over to the rock, and sat in the grove, facing a small crystal placid pond.

He just sat there, reminiscing about his past with his surrogate father. How he missed that, stubborn, ignorant man. He needed to leave though, needed to protect, to use the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryuu name to save lives.

Kenshin also thought about some of the serious talks he had had with Hiko. Like, how his sister ran off with the first man that asked for her, then never kept in touch. He had mentioned he had a niece, but wasn't too sure if that was true. Like he said, she never kept in touch, it was a rumor from a wonderer passing by.
If he was correct, then she would only be a year or so younger than him.

'That boy, he was not a boy. What happened while I have been gone?'

Aonami was waiting for Kaoru to return. He couldn't stop asking questions about what went on in the hot springs because she arrived at the inn clad in only her towel.

"I just got on his nerves. Nothing really happened and it was the usual threatening leave me alone crap."

"He threatened you? Did he put a blade to you or just words?"

Kaoru cut him short and told him not to ask too many questions. She said she needed cloths and she didn't know were to go. Anyways, it was always Hiko who bought her cloths so she didn't know what size she was.

At the market, Kaoru and Aonami walked for about an hour till they found a cloths booth that sold cloths that were Kaoru's size. She was extremely small and nothing seemed to fit. She settled for an extra small man's gi and a petite looking hakama. All the cloths were Ishin uniform. Blue shirts and off-white hakama. 'Beautiful sense of style' Kaoru hated the colors.

"Kao, you are very small, about the size of a malnourished boy."

"I'm only fourteen and you guys expect me to wear men's clothing."

Aonami turned a surprised look to Kaoru. "Fourteen? I thought you were at least sixteen or fifteen, your four years younger than I am, and even younger than Battousai. You're now the youngest member of the Ishin Shishi.

Aonami was laughing. He was making fun of her, about something that she was very sensitive about, her height. It was an ok size to be as a woman, but not a man. Her anger grew and she pulled her sheathed katana out of her belt and hit the young man in the back of the head.

Gingerly, Kaoru stepped over the prone body of Aonami towards a booth selling Kimono's.

Aonami stood and followed Kaoru, who was staring in awe at a beautiful Kimono with silk border and flowing sleeves. It was a light purple with green flowers flowing from one side of the material and ending at the opposite side ending at the sleeve. The obi was a light green and so was the silk border of the whole outfit.

"Aonami, do I have enough money to bye this kimono?"

He looked at the price and blanched. "Only if you don't mind buying anything else until next pay check."

Kaoru pulled out her purse and emptied it on the table to purchase it. Only a few coins remained as the woman handed her the wrapped parcel.

"What do you need a kimono for?" Kaoru stopped and thought. 'What had I told Katsura? Oh I remember.'

"My sister, she loves to wear a kimono ever so often." It was getting dark and the two turned and headed back toward the inn. The two departed and Kaoru left for her room where she locked the door and then unwrapped her new kimono.

She quickly dressed and looked at herself in the mirror she had found in the closet. Not since living with her father had she worn a kimono, and then it was only to try and interest one of her father's friends. When they showed no interest, her father put her in rags and sold all her kimonos. This is her firs time ever wearing a kimono as elaborate as this though. As she examined herself in the mirror, she realized for the first time how feminine she really was. If she cleaned up just a bit, she would be most beautiful. She did have her mother's looks, but her father's blue eyes.

There was a knock at the door and Kaoru realized that she had been standing, looking at herself in the mirror for over an hour. Quickly she undressed and put on her new Ishin Shishi uniform. Opening the door, one of the guards stood there with two letters, a white one and a black one.

"Read the white one first, then the black." Then the man left for the room over and slipped another black envelope under the door.

She went back into her room and sat by candle light to read the white letter.

Kao-san

I wasn't able to fully inform you exactly how our organization works. It is quite simple. You are given a black envelope whenever you have a mission to complete. These envelopes are given to you in the morning usually but sometimes later like this one and all the others. They will first have the name of the victim, then the time and place to find them and dispose of. They are usually Togogawa informants or politicians that threaten us Meji revolutionists. If you are to want to quit your position, you will need to see me personally with a good excuse, other wise you are with us until you are killed or the war is over. This is not a threat, we just can't chance that someone will be captured and information told. I wish you the best of luck. With your help, our dream of a better life is closer.

Katsura

Kaoru folded the letter up and picked up the black one. Once she opened it, she would read the name of the person she was to kill. Hesitantly, she opened it and pulled a folded white letter out. Opening it, she saw it was only a few lines. First, a name, then a time and place, and this one had...

Honoria Jukiado
Midnight
Sakura Park passage way

Kaoru looked over the paper, memorizing it. The kill was not till tomorrow. Aonami had said that she would not be given a kill tonight since this was her first night.

There was a presence at the door and Kaoru told it to enter. Battousai opened the door and walked in, sitting down uninvited.

He stared at her for a while, not saying anything. Then, "who are you to Hiko really?"

Kaoru smiled, even though it made him even angrier. "He is my uncle."

He knew it. This was a woman, an assassin, in the Ishin Shishi! A woman! 'No,' he thought, 'just a girl.

"You are a girl. I should turn you in. I could get rid of you that easy."

"But you wouldn't hear anything about Hiko."

"I don't care. He said he never wanted to see me again."

Kaoru smiled. "Fine, I will leave. Your right, Hiko doesn't care about you. He doesn't talk about you with a longing and he didn't tell me to bring you home to him. He never talks about you, all your embarrassing moments and your accomplishments, he doesn't say a word." Kaoru's words were dripping with sarcasm. Every word she said so casually that it pissed Kenshin of, making him want to kill her right then.

Her words also made him wonder. 'Does Hiko really want me back?'

Kaoru could sense where his train of thought went. "Yes, he really wants you back." Then she remembered what her uncle said to her. 'He needs to know that he can't save and protect every one. He tries so hard that he puts the weight of the world is on his shoulders.' "Your sacrifice is futile. You can not save the world; you can't save everyone from pain." She put her hand on his shoulder, like trying to ease his pain, his burden.

Kenshin looked at her with such hopelessness, that it reminded her of a lost child.

"I know I can't save every one, but with my strength, I can help others save the world. That's why I give my all, and loose my self. I can't go back, no until I have accomplished."

Kaoru sighed. "Then I will stay until you are ready to return. Hiko will wait forever, I know." A smile slipped to her face as she looked away. "So, Kenshin, have you quit wetting the bed?" She looked over to see the boy's face redden. Then she thought. 'He's just a boy, having to grow up to quickly to save people he doesn't even know, but cares enough to ruin his innocence, his humanity.'

"Hiko!"

Kenshin was blushing madly while Kaoru was rolling over laughing, when Kenshin noticed a black envelope by her side. He picked it up and looked at it.

"Kao, you've never killed anyone have you?" He was serious and it made Kaoru stop laughing enough to look at what he was talking about.

"My name is Kaoru, and no, but I wasn't aiming to stay long enough to do a mission. I just wanted to give you my message and then go to town and work while I kept watch on you."

He put the paper down and turned solemnly to Kaoru. "You are stuck here. You can't get out. They will have many people searching for you and you will not be able to escape."

"Relax. They think I'm a boy, and I'll leave as a girl. But I have decided to stay, to be closer to you."

"I will go with you tomorrow. You will not like your job, and I don't think you'd be able to take it." He looked at the paper and also memorized it. "Good night Kaoru and I will see you tomorrow morning."

"Good night Kenshin."

As Kenshin left the room, he was thinking about Kaoru. 'She thinks it will be no problem, just like I thought. She is too innocent to be sullied by blood. I have to stop it. She doesn't know that Honoria is the young daughter of a politician that has great power. Killing that little girl will break her heart, and maybe more. I will go with her, and then talk to Katsura-san.'

"No, Kenshin, I appreciate what your trying to do, but I will have to learn someday. I realize what I'm putting my self into but it's my decision."

"If we win this war, no one will have to kill or die by a sword again. Take my advice, it's not worth it."

"Even it we win, there will always be someone out there that will kill and not obey the law, there always has and will. This new government can only do so much, and that's why there has to be some people strong enough to fight those who decide to kill."

They had been arguing for about an hour outside, and a small group of men were watching the debate with interest. It wasn't often that the young battousai talked to someone with out the threat of death. But here was the new boy talking to the famed killer like it was nothing, both arguing like little kids.

Katsura also saw the two fighting. He listened carefully to what both boys had to say, and when they were both reaching for their swords, he stepped between them and asked them to his office.

"Now, Himura, Kao-san, I have listened to each of your arguments, but I don't see the reason. Why were you two bickering like children?"

"Kenshin doesn't want me to go on my mission because he's afraid I will not complete it because it's my first time killing some one."

"Well, he won't do it! I know because I have been in that same position and I almost didn't complete it. If he does do it, he will sulk, and be a damaged boy and loose his skills."

"I will not. I may not have killed before, but I am more than determined. I have prepared my self for any emotional breakage."

Katsura put his hand to his chin in thought. Finally he looked at the two cruelly. "Why don't you two go together? Aonami gave me the expenses from your shopping spree and it seems you bought a kimono for your sister. You and Himura will go to the park as a couple. It's a small party in the park and small, rich families can go. You two will fit right in."

The two blanched. "Wear a kimono?"

"Even pretending to be married to HIM?"

Katsura stood. "Glad you understand. I have a meeting now, and I will be waiting for the report of tonight."

The two looked at each other and blushed. Then Kaoru smiled. "Ah, so I'm married to you know. I've been dreaming of this since I met you. The love of my life, Kenshin Himura." Kaoru said this dreamily and Kenshin put his hand around her waist.

"I have loved you from the start. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever met, and I love you," Kenshin watched as her face grew red. "But I don't think it will work out. Kaoru Himura sounds very strange. Maybe you should change your name to suit mine better?"

Quickly, Kaoru's embarrassment turned to anger. "I have a weird name? Hiko was out of his mind when he gave you the name Kenshin Himura. I actually like Shinta better, it suits you."

Kenshin let go of her waist. "You know what my name was?"

"Yah, Hiko said he could never forget your name. He said he could never forget anything about you. He said you were like a son to him." Kaoru's voice was soft, as she saw that her words meant a lot to him.

"You should go back your room and get every thing ready, then sleep some. You'll need it." It was more of a whisper, but she heard it. She gave a small smile to Kenshin, then left to do as he advised.

It was awkward, but she was able to hide her katana upside down, hanging from her breasts to her knees. For a while, she practiced taking it out then quickly putting it back in, all so fast that any one watching would not suspect her. Finally, she got tired and laid down to rest. Kenshin woke her up after a while, the two walked out of the inn. Many guys hooted and hollered at her, saying that they never saw a boy look so damn good. Kenshin shut them up with a glare, and the two ran off.

At the park, there were many people, couples, and richly dressed children.

"Where is Honoria?"

Kenshin looked around and pointed toward a little girl walking with her father. Horrified, Kaoru turned to Kenshin. "She's just a child."

"Can you do it?"

Kaoru turned toward him and smiled. "Yes, I will show you that I can do many things." Puzzled, Kenshin looked at her, and when the girl and father approached, Kaoru grabbed Kenshin's head and forced a long, experienced kiss upon him.

When he was starting to catch on, he started kissing back and didn't notice the child walk by then abruptly fall down dead, blood splattering everywhere. Kaoru pulled away and looked at her dress and then the girl, and screamed. She screamed so loud that every one turned horrified eyes to the scene of a small girl murdered and a young woman splattered with her blood.

No one suspected Kaoru because every one saw her kissing her lover and how the attack was from behind the girl, splattering her with blood in the opposite direction of the wound. No one knew that this whole thing was planed out, and by a woman.

Kenshin was still in shock from the kiss to register that some time during that kiss; she had actually killed the kid. 'That was the best kiss I've ever had, but not the best circumstances. She killed somebody while we had our first kiss.'

As they walked home in silence, he tried to figure out why he cared so much about the kiss. She was only using him to make it less suspicious. But he did care. For some reason, that one kiss meant more to him then a cover up. He enjoyed it.

"Kenshin, do you think the blood will forever stain my kimono?"

He stopped thinking about the kiss and examined the stains.

"It's still wet. When we get back to the inn, I will help you clean it. I have to clean my gi as well. This is the only one I have for a couple of days."

"Good, I would like to wear this when I return to Hiko. He said that he would have liked to see me wear one more often but I never had the time."

It was quiet again when Kaoru stopped walking. "Kenshin, I'm sorry for what I did. It was the only thing I could think of that would divert attention to us. Please don't be mad."

Kenshin realized that he had a stiff face. He turned to her and smiled lightly. "I'm not mad. I'm just concerned for your well being." He smiled more quirky, "any ways, that kiss was the best unexpected kiss I've ever had."

Kaoru blushed then pushed him to the side. "I didn't know you thought of me that way. Maybe we should get married." Kenshin burst out laughing, a real laugh not shielded, but real and meaningful. He loved how she teased him. Then he turned serious.

"Really, Kaoru, I don't want you to sulk. Now that you started, Katsura knows you can do it and he will start giving you more assignments."

"I will live, so don't worry so much about me. I may be younger than you, but I have just as much strength, physical and mental. Now, let's get home before this blood dries."

Kenshin washed the clothes. Kaoru did it messily and got water every where. Kaoru went to put on her yukata while he washed hers, and he changed while she was cleaning his, then he came back to finish her job.

"I don't know how Hiko could live with your cleaning skills. You are very messy and you don't even get all the dirt and grim off of them."

Kaoru splashed water at him. "I guess uncle just loved me so much."

Kenshin splashed her back. "Or maybe he just thought you were a hopeless cause."

"Kenshin..." Kaoru looked at him sweetly then dumped the bucket of water over his head. He sat there a minute, then picked her up and carried her to the small pond and dropped her in. Kaoru came up from the water gasping for air and cold. Kenshin laughed and helped her out.

Kaoru put her hands up. "We're even now. Let's go in and dry off."

The two walked to Kenshin's room and he lent her one of his extra yukatas he never used. Kaoru thanked him and went to leave. Kenshin let her get as far as the door when he grabbed her and pulled her into another short kiss.

"Now, we are even."

AHH to sappy. But hey, its nine pages and I think it's the longest chapter I've ever written. But it's for all you who have waited so long. I hope you enjoy. I don't know when the next one will be about but as soon as I think of something to write about, I'll have it up as soon as I can. HEY its three thirty now and I think I will start on another story. Just to make every one happy.

Love Ymir-chan