Chapter Sixteen:

Kaoru woke up wrapped around with a pair of arms. A smile escaped from her and looked up at the man next to her. Unfortunately she frowned. Things were bothering her and she wanted to tell Kenshin but was too afraid.

"Kenshin?"

"hmm?"

"Must we keep on killing?" Kenshin opened his eyes to look at her.

"I do not wish to see blood anymore. Don't you want to stop killing? Can you promise me not to kill anymore?" she had so many questions, so many things she wanted to say but she knew the answer.

"Gomen." Kaoru rested her head on his chest.

different scene

"Kaoru-san. you should eat." Motoki said eating his own food.

"Not until everyone has eaten will I eat." She said smiling. Katsura came in the house and sat down.

"Has anyone seen Yuji around?"

"He just left a while ago to train with Kenshin. Why do you ask?" Kaoru sat down.

"There are rumors that Shinsen Gumi sent out a spy looking for us. I wanted Yuji to go and find this person."

"Why-"

"Because you will follow Kenshin if I sent him." He said before she could ask her question. Kaoru pouted.

diferent scene

A body was pushed to the ground by a sword.

"You're still not careful." Kenshin said putting his sword back in his sheath. Yuji stood up dusting his hakama.

"My mind was elsewhere. It shall not happen again." He charged at Kenshin with his sword. Kenshin blocked his attack and jumped above him. Yuji turned around quickly and tried to hit him in the air. Kenshin appeared behind Yuji's back with the sword pointed to his neck. Yuji turned around and pushed Kenshin's sword away but Kenshin also did the same thing. Now the two were weaponless. They knew what was next. Hand to hand combat. Yuji ran towards Kenshin and tried to hit him but he was only to be tripped by Kenshin's foot. Yuji who was pissed off for being careless got up and lunged at Kenshin with both fists. Kenshin dodged back and hit him with one quick blow, knocked him down.

"Stay down there and cool off. I've been in a lot more battles than you have. I'll knock you down as fast as you can get up." Yuji gave him a glare.

"First thing you just learned" Kenshin said "is not to jump somebody with anger like that. All you're focused on is trying to hit your enemy. If you are calm you have more time to figure out what their next move is and have it backfire on them."

Then they heard someone clapping. They turned to find Kaoru applauding.

"Don't worry! You're getting strong Yuji-san. This training is helping you a lot."

'even though it looked like the two of you were really trying to kill each other.'(hmm I wonder why? Hehe )Yuji looked at her and then at Kenshin.

"umm..Katsura-san wanted to see you..Yuji-san." Yuji put his sword in the sheath and walked passed them going to the house. Kaoru let out a breath.

"You know I really hate when you two don't say anything when I'm around."

"Why is that?"

"Because I know the two of you don't like each other."

"What did Katsura-san want?"

"He wanted Yuji-san to do an assignment for him." Kenshin put some other training gears away.

"I still don't see why you two hate each other. Both of you know the truth to how I feel." Kenshin ignored her comment and left.

"Ugh! Men these days!" Kaoru followed.

In the house

"Yuji-san I would like you to go after this meeting out of the town. Not too far will be a house but it is hidden near the forest. These are the people you need to kill. Of course you're not going alone. My other men will meet you at the entrance of the town. They will help you fight off people who are protecting the victims. And if all goes wrong Battosai will be there to back you up."

"I assure you there will be no need for backup. Besides it's not like it's my first." Katsura sighed. Not just at Yuji's comment but also because he knew Kaoru was listening on the other side of the door.

"Even if it's a meeting meant for someone else, you still tend to listen Kaoru-san." Kaoru who had her ear to the door backed away in surprise.

"Might as well come in." the door slid open and Kaoru came in grinning.

"You may leave Yuji-san." He left as soon as Kaoru took a seat.

"So can I tag along too?"

"I don't know if I want you too."

"Is it always going to be like this forever? Just because I'm ill."

"Knowing you wont listen I'm not going to stop you." Kaoru got up with a smile and walked out.

Once Yuji was ready he left and reached the house without being noticed. As Katsura said there five guards standing in front of the house. Kaoru and Kenshin followed from a distance watching for any sign.

-Inside the house-

"They're here."

Yuji easily defeated the guards and as the last guard fell dead to the ground a guy came out. Yuji looked at him in defense. The man smirked and brought his sword to his shoulder. His hair was spiked up and it was white. Kaoru noticed who it was and warned Yuji but was to late for he was already giving a war cry and rushing up to him.

"Yuji-san no! He's no match against him!" Yuji swung his sword to the man but he disappeared and appeared at the back of him. Yuji turned just in time to block his attack. Although he had a hard time blocking for he was strong. Yuji jumped back and glared at him.

"humph. They send a boy to do a man's job. How pathetic." Yuji appeared behind the guy's back and slashed his shoulder. The man moved away and faced him like he wasn't even hurt. But the man wasted no time and started to attack him. Yuji blocked all of his attacks but the man managed to trip him and he fell to the ground hard. The man grinned at him.

"You were good. But you're no match for me." The man attacked him with his sword but a figure went in-between them and blocked his sword. Both guys looked at the person shocked. It was Kaoru. She pushed the man away forcefully.

"Kaoru."

"Enshi."

"So you're the girl that does not kill." Kenshin came to Kaoru's side. He took his sword out and attacked Enshi. Enshi blocked his attack but he was not fast enough for Kenshin was already behind his back and mange to scratch his back before he moved.

"Humph. I expect no less from the Battosai. Let's just see how strong you are." Enshi attacked him but Kenshin dodged him and attacked him. Enshi quickly moved away and threw another attack to him and again Kenshin dodged it. Kenshin looked at Enshi eyes. That is how he can tell where and when he would attack. Kenshin would look to the eyes of the person to determine the enemy's next attack and block it. Enshi was strong and with this kind of fighting they would be fighting forever. Kenshin used Mitsurugi style. Enshi was pounded to the ground making him loose his sword. Kenshin put his sword to his neck.

"I hear that you and Kaoru have been close. But are you sure you can really trust Kaoru?" said a female voice. Kenshin looked over to the house and Tomoe was coming out of it.

'good it's working.'

"What are you talking about" Kenshin said in a demanding voice.

" I guess she never told you huh? It's about when she first joined the Ishin Shishi." Kaoru's eyes widen.

'no! she's talking about-'

"Kaoru used to work for the Shinsen Gumi."

"Tomoe" Kaoru wisphered.

"I'm sure she never even mentioned it to Katsura. Of course not, if she did she would have been killed."

"Tomoe stop it!" Kaoru yelled. Kenshin looked at her.

"Oh it gets better battosai. Not only was she working for the Shinsen Gumi, she was also to have you gain her trust and make you fall for her. Once that was done the Shinsen Gumi knew by now that you had a soft side and would attack." Kenshin looked at Kaoru questioning her. Kaoru looked away with shame.

" Humph! Even Kaoru admits it!" Kaoru looked back at Kenshin.

"No Kenshin it's not like that! I-"

"Even though it wasn't precisely how we planned it, it'll have to do. We will be taking Kaoru back. She has done her part." Two men dropped down beside her and grabbed her.

"Kenshin no! I didn't mean too!! When I found out that I didn't have to kill and you were the battosai I didn't go back to the Shinsen Gumi . " Kenshin who was looking at her seriously looked away.

"Ken-" Kaoru bowed her head. She closed her eyes sadly and in shame. There was no use. It was half true. Kaoru was afraid something like this would happen and never wanted to face it. But now it has happened.

"I never meant to hurt you Kenshin…" she whispered. The men chained her. She could have struggled to get out but she knew if she went back she would have to face the consequences for trying to betray the Ishin Shishi. Yuji looked at her in disbelief. Kaoru looked at Kenshin one last time before she followed the two men.