Author's note: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. And I wish to say any cliché's in this fic I deeply apologize for because well I've been watching Rurouni Kenshin for sometime now and I have recently taken a liking to reading these fics and I have yet to see a plot anywhere near the same as this one so if it's the same then I guess it's true Great Minds think alike!

A/n: Oi!!.... Well this will be the end of the boring part hopefully many of you are sticking around because soon The fun stuff will begin! A lot of friendship, old rivalries will meet up (Kenshin/Saitou… Kenshin/Aoshi… Kenshin/Shishio) Some working together will work... some kidnapping I'm just sorry it was slow getting there. But hang on it'll get there… trust me and thanks for sticking around as long as you guys did. Now hold on it'll only go downhill from here.

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"So you're a wanderer?" Kaoru asked Kenshin.

"I know it's strange that it is… but…"

"I understand…" Kaoru said softly. "You have harmed many and probably have killed a few in the making… but that was back then. You must understand that you did what you did for the better good…"

"Can you be so sure Kaoru-dono?" He looked at her. Her eyes were wide and full of life and innocence that only one who has not spilled the blood of another could possess. "What if I had been fighting to not have the Meji Era happen?"

"Then you were fighting for what you thought was the better good. I can't say I have slain someone, nor have I ever come close to seeing a dead corpse… at least not as far as my memory serves, but I know you have a good heart Kenshin.  I don't think you would kill recklessly." She said smiling at him. He returned the smile before looking at his hands. He quickly folded them in his lap and then turned to look at Kaoru.

"How can you be so sure that I have a good heart, Kaorudono? I have met you many weeks ago yes, and I have only begun to get to know you as a person for a few days…"

"It's your eyes, Kenshin." She said turning away form his slightly blushing that the words left her mouth. She directed her attention at a bird that had landed on the ground only a few feet away. "You're eyes are calm, welcoming, and beautiful." She said softly. "I just don't see how you could do a lot of wrong on purpose…"

"I see…" he said softly. 'But you do not know of my other eyes… they burn with hatred, anger… They are not the calm ones you know Kaoru-dono, that they are not.' He thought softly.

"Kaoru!!!" The voice of Tsubame called out breaking the quiet peacefulness.

"Why are you yelling?" Kaoru frowned.

"We have to get to the palace… Misao had told me she saw a carriage approach the palace so she and Aoshi are going back there to see what is going on…"  Tsubame then leaned towards Kaoru. "We think it may be the other suitor though…" she whispered. Kaoru's face fell into a pout.

"Something wrong Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked looking at her cute pout, only after letting himself to admit it was cute.

"I have to cut today's visit short, Kenshin." She said softly.

"It's okay Kaoru-dono…" he told her with one of his reassuring smiles.

"How about tomorrow at the same time?"

"I will be here…" He smiled at her then both she and Tsubame left Yahiko and Kenshin behind.

"I don't see how you can tolerate the ugly girl."

"Kaoru-dono is really nice Yahiko and she had even offered to teach you what bit of swordsmanship she knows that she did."

"Why would I need her when I have you, Kenshin?!?!"

"Because she is a good teacher that she is… and I do not think one should automatically start with the Hiten Mitsurugi style just yet that I don't. Kaoru-dono has learned form the Kamiya Kasshin style… a sword meant to protect."

"That's not even worth it!!"

"Okay, but I just thought it would at least be a start for you that I did."

"Did you see his face just yet Tsubame?"

"No, I did not." Tsubame said as they rushed to make her 'appropriate'. They hadn't bothered with the Kimono but settled for letting her hair fall down to frame her face. The wind combed it as they finally made their way to the main hall where lunch will be served and she will have a chance to meet the suitor.

"Ah and here is my beautiful daughter, Kaoru." Kenji said while both Misao and Megumi gave her incredulous looks. Kaoru frowned a little before a bandaged hand came into her line of view. She gasped in shock and just stared at it.

"I am sorry, my appearance pleases you not." He said and she looked up at his face. He had rather long hair as dark as a moonless night and the eyes to match. He had a soft smile playing on his lips… one she didn't trust not one bit. He had kind of a cold air to him.

"No, it is not everyone one meets a person bandaged up so…"

"Yes, it seems I had been in an accident sometime ago. I was fortunate the flames hadn't touched my face for I fear I may never win your heart…" He said holding his bandaged hand out once more. This time she politely held out her hand for him and he in turn kissed it as most polite suitors would.

"Misao, I must speak with you…" Aoshi whispered to his miniature but loud fiancé.

"Excuse us…" Misao said politely which struck Megumi as odd but she'd question it later. "What is it?" Misao asked watching Aoshi's face grow stern look cross his face.

"That man… I have met him before…"

"Where?"

"I'm not sure yet. But I know I have met him before and it wasn't a nice meeting either."

"So, he's bad news?" Misao asked but had no time for an answer as Megumi, Sano and Kenji left the room obviously leaving Kaoru and Shishio alone.

"Your hand is very warm, are you sick with fever?" Kaoru asked watching Shishio's face turn to one full of anguish.

"No, you see I had been away to fight for what I believed in. Right in the middle I had found out I had been fighting for something the Hitokiri had fought to do the opposite of. Soon after I had been caught in flames… my body can no longer perspire keeping all my heat inside my body."

"Unless you wish to roll in the mud like a pig…" She joked a bit before her slight giggles ceased as he had turned away from her. A slight chuckle had released itself from his throat.

"Such a beautiful laugh…" He murmured softly and he turned to look at her. While his smile looked genuine his eyes seemed to tell a different story… one she couldn't figure out yet. "Coming from such a beautiful girl…"  He said gently taking a step towards her to inspect her hands. "Such small hands with the calluses of a fighter…" He said before inhaling deeply. The first reaction is his eyebrow twitched a bit. 'She's covered in the scent of blood.' He thought to himself gently. 'Her face is too innocent for it…' he thought as a slight draft in the room blew her dark hair around them both. He gave her another one of his false smiles as he tucked the hair behind her head. When he pulled his hand away it gently raked through her hair and several stray strands stuck to the bandages, but what shocked him quite a bit was the single strand of red that stood out.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Lord Shishio, but something has gone wrong… I have just received word from a messenger who had been trailing us for sometime Lord Shishio…" Shishio turned away from the girl and looked at the boy. "Apparently something has gone wrong and your father has been killed."

"I see…" Shishio turned his attention to Kaoru who was looking apologetic.

"Do not fret yourself… such beauty needs no worry lines." Shishio said. "But believe me I will return…" He said placing a small kiss on her cheek before stalking out. Kaoru just frowned.

"I believe that man might be ill in the head." She murmured softly when everyone returned to see what happened. She shook her head before her eyebrow twitched. "I left Kenshin's company to meet a man who doesn't even stick around long enough to get to know him?!?!" She growls angrily.

"Kenshin?!?!" Everyone mouthed to each other in shock.

"So what do you think of her, Lord Shishio?" Seta asked once they got settled in the inn within walking distance from Akebeko.

"She'd fit well as a mistress once I break that spirit of hers."

"So you will marry her?" Seta asked quietly thinking about Yumi.

"Marry her take whatever her dumb sister has turned over to her, Kill the father. Then fake her death leaving me a free man to be with Yumi…" Shishio said turning back on his 'I have my own plans'  attitude… you know what I mean the one that clearly states 'I'll do whatever the hell it takes to get it done, even kill the one I love the most.'