5

Sano: "Well, it looks like someone has an admirer."

Sano teased.

Kenshin only smiled briefly.

Kenshin: "It would seem so."

Chapter 2: Himura Alexandria

Kaoru: "Wow, there was a painting of Kenshin? That's amazing!"

Sano: "Well, technically Kaoru, it was a painting of Battousai."

Sano explained. Yahiko looked over at them.

Yahiko: "If it was really that detailed and everyone but a few only knew what Kenshin actually looked like, could that mean that this Alexia knows Kenshin from his days in the Revolution?"

Kaoru thought about this. What Yahiko said made since. Because Kenshin had worked in the shadow of the war, civilians didn't really know what he looked like.

Kaoru: "Maybe we should go visit her? How about it Kenshin?"

Kenshin, who had just entered, looked up.

Kenshin: "Oro?"

Kaoru: "I was saying, why don't we go visit with Alexia. I think it could be interesting, don't you guys?"

Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled.

Kenshin: "I don't know…"

Yahiko: "Yeah, come on Kenshin. It could be fun!"

Kenshin looked around at them and sighed.

Kenshin: "I can see when I'm outnumbered."

Kaoru: " Alright. Come on Yahiko, we need to change first."

Quickly Kaoru and Yahiko went to wash up and change. Kenshin sat down to wait when Megumi came to sit next to him.

Megumi: " You don't seem very thrilled Ken-san. What's wrong?"

Kenshin sighed.

Kenshin: " Honestly, I'm not sure."

Finally Yahiko and Kaoru were ready. So they made their way towards the mansion. It took them quite a while to get there. As they approached they noticed that the gates were open.

Kaoru: " Should we just go in?"

Before anyone could answer though a young girl, no older than 16, came to greet them.

Naomie: " Welcome. My name is Naomie. Are you friends of Alexia?"

Kaoru: " Actually, we came because two of my friends saw a painting she had done. We wanted to ask her about it."

Naomie smiled.

Naomie: " Oh you must mean the one of the Hitokiri. Yes many people come to try and get her to paint them one for a little cheaper prize. That's not why you've come, is it?"

Kaoru: " No, don't worry. We only wanted to talk to her."

Naomie nodded.

Naomie: " Then come this way."

So they all followed Naomie up to the mansion. Here and there a servant would stop to talk with Naomie and ask about the guessed. As they made their way to the front doors, they passed by many gardens; most home to the most beautiful flowers they had seen. There were roses of all colors, dandy lions, sakura and cherry blossoms, and a beautiful purple flower.

Kaoru: " Oh wow, what kind of flower is that?"

Kenshin: " It's called a Lilac. They are very rare." ( Ok not sure if lilacs even grow in Japan but we're gonna say they do and their rare. )

Kaoru and the others looked at Kenshin, who seem to have a far-off look in his eyes, as if remembering something.

Finally they made it to the front doors. Naomie pushed them open and then led them to a large room. The room, it turned out, had been somewhat modernized. There was a couch that arched in front of a huge fireplace. The fireplace itself was inlayed with red dragons. There was a small fire going, mostly to make the room more comfortable. The walls were made of a grey granite stone with black enamel. On the far right wall there were shelve with many assortments of books and papers. There was also a large wooden desk with dragon motifs to the right of the door.

Naomie: " Please make your selves comfortable. I will go inform Alexia that you are here."

With that Naomie bowed and then went out through a door to the left hand side of the room. Sano and Yahiko went and sat on the couch while Megumi and Kaoru went over to look at the books. Kenshin went over and leaned against the wall by the fireplace.

Megumi: " Amazing. She has so many books on modern medicine. I've never seen this many."

Yahiko: " Hey Kaoru, you should get on of these for the dojo. They're really comfortable."

Kaoru gave him a hard look.

Kaoru: " Oh no, then all you would do is lay around instead of train. And on top of that, Sano would probably never leave. Besides, we probably couldn't afford one."

Yahiko & Sano: " That's not true."

Kaoru smiled and turned back to the books. She scanned the binding of the books, noticing how many there were on just one subject.

Kaoru: " Wow, she has a lot of books on the Revolution. Wonder why?"

Naomie made her way down to the main room where Alexia was most likely to be found. She knew right away that she had to get her mistress to see these people but, more importantly, she needed to get her to see the man with the cross-shaped scar on his cheek. She smiled to herself. Alexia or Alex for short had told her many stories when she was young before her grandparents had died about a mysterious man known to most as Battousai.

She, however, had known him as Shinta. Naomie could hardly contain herself. She had heard about that fateful night when Alex had been seriously wounded to the point of death. She could tell that Alex really loved him, and now, a man who fit Battousai's description perfectly was here. She only hoped that it was really him. She finally made it to the doors. Naomie closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she pushed them open.

The room she was in had a huge bed with purple sheets and hangings. There was a small desk for putting on make-up and such. There were also a few books scattered on the bench next to it. To the left of the bed there was a pair of fine wooden doors with dragons carved into them.

To the left there was a balcony with purple drapes. The doors to it were open and standing on it looking out over the mountains stood a women. She had long blonde hair that almost touched the ground, though at the moment it was in a high ponytail. She had on a dark blue silk kimono that hung just below the bottom of the shoulder blades. The edges were black with gold dragons (can you tell I have an obsession ) inlayed in them. The front came down to show a little of her chest but, still managing to stay somewhat modest.

She had her eyes closed, but the minute Naomie got closer she opened them to reveal stunning emerald.

Naomie: " Alex, you have visitors."

Slowly Alex turned to look at Naomie. She sighed and turned back to look outside. When she spoke, her voice was quiet.

Alex: " I thought we went over this. I don't want to see anyone who just wants me to paint them pictures for a cheaper price."

Naomie: " I know but, that's not why they are here, they saw the painting of Battousai and wanted to come talk with you about it. And, I really think you should see them."

Alex turned back to give Naomie a quizzical look. Naomie only smiled and shrugged her shoulders. Alex smiled.

Alex: " I can see you aren't going to tell me, are you?"

Naomie's smile only grew.

Naomie: " Nope."

Alexia shook her head.

Alex: " Alright, where are they."

Kenshin and the others had been waiting for a while when the door that Naomie had gone out opened. They all turned to see who it was. Naomie came in with a smile on her face.

Naomie: " I would like to introduce, Lady Alexia."

Alex: " Naomie quite that. You don't have to be so formal"

Kenshin started.

That voice. It can't be

Slowly Alex came into the room. The others smiled, but Kenshin however, stared right at Alex with an expression of shock and pain.

Alex: " Now Naomie…"

Slowly Alex's voice trailed off into a whisper. Her expression turned to surprise as she stared at the man in front of her. Kaoru and the others looked from Kenshin to Alex, puzzled.

Alex: " …Shinta…"