Something made me post this. I don't know what, but it did.

Thanks for the reviews, i love you all.

Kaoru sat on the double grave, her thoughts blank.

Her birthday. Why on her birthday?

Closing her eyes, she sighed. Laying a black rose on each grave, she stood and walked away. The rain coming down in waves meant nothing to her. Only more black clouds to black out the sun.

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Kenshin stared down at the cup in his hands. Sanouske had long gone quiet.

To lose everything at that age... He had been thirteen when his father had killed his mother and he was sent to live with his uncle who taught him swordsmanship. But at least his father was still alive.

"She went to live with me and my family after that, but she ran away when she was fifteen. She never quit her shindo lessons, though. She beat me in every style. Except fists. She's been hired as a junior detective since the age of fifteen, but she doesn't need the money. The inheritance takes care of that."

Kenshin looked down at the monitor that was laying in his lap. The little blip was coming closer.

"She's.."

"Here." Sanouske said, handing him a note. "Give this to Shinku in the flower shop, she'll give you everything you need."

Kenshin stared down at the closed note.

"Trust me." Sanouske said, showing him out the door.

He walked toward the flower shop, the blur that was Kaoru passed him, bringing a gust of rain into his face.

He handed the note to the woman at the counter.

"Shinku! You have a customer!" The woman yelled toward the back.

An old woman came out, her back bent forward in age.

"Hn. So he thinks you're something special, eh? My grandson must like you a lot to send you to me. I'm Shinku. But everyone calls me Master Genkai." She took the note and read it. "Himura Battosai, eh? Come on out back. Let's see." She led him through the store and into the little garden.

She turned toward him and grinned cockily. "Attack my pupil. But you have to find him first. Let's see if you have earned your handle." She chuckled and sat down.

Kenshin sensed for the man the woman had told him to attack and found a moving aura that faded and brightened as it moved. Closing his eyes, he drew the daggar at his belt.

He followed the movements carefully, drawing the pattern in his mind. Then he threw the daggar with his own speed, as he ran in the opposite direction.

WHen the daggar passed through the wood of the wall, a figure flashed into appearance before his drawn sword.

"That is enough. Yuuske, get back to training. Mr. Himura, please, come with me." kenshin followed the woman, confused.

"You saw through the illusion. Smart boy. I see now why my grandson chose you. Here is what you have come for. These are her roses. They are called infinity roses. They never die, but they are jet black. They only grow on the top of active volcanoes, which makes them impossible to get to unless you know how. I took the blossoms and grew my own plants, for the girl. That is why she comes only to me. No, you need to go. I think my baka deshi needs more work." The woman disappeared.

He walked through the garden and was startled to find the teen balanced over fire. A dim light eminating from his finger.

Arching a brow, he walked back into the store.

"You don't look hurt." The cashier said, looking him over.

"How much?" He asked, motioning to the flowers.

"Nothing, They're for Kaoru. My mother must have approved. Else you would be crawling from her rei-gun blast. Good luck." A loud explosion rocked the building. "Mother!" The woman yelled, exasperated, as she brushed past him into the garden.

Bewildered, Kenshin stared down at the roses.

Shaking his head, he walked out into the street.

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the rain had stopped and the clouds were almost gone, he stared into the sky, a moist breeze catching his hair and making it fly around him.

He walked back toward the hospital, following the monitor.

Something seemed wrong. Then he realized what it was...

The street was empty. Not just somewhat empty with a few people here and there, But totally empty.

This was professional work.

He raced toward the hospital, checking the pulse rate as he went. she was alive.

"Kaoru! Sano! Get everyone out of here, now!" He yelled, glancing at the window. A lens caught the sunlight.

"What?"

"Get out, Now!" He said, pointing to the hallway.

"NO. I've got it. I'm getting tired of being watched anyways." Kagome said, opening the blinds.

Grinning, she waved to the startled sniper, then she pointed to the left. Suddenly, the sniper's head was blown off.

Staring at her, kenshin glanced from the sniper to the woman in front of him.

"What? Did you think i'd let my training go that easily?" She asked a startled Sanosuke.

"Damn." Was his only response.

Kenshin remembered the roses in his hand.

"These are for you. Happy birthday." He said, smiling.

She looked at the roses and her face went from a playful smile to a blank nothingness. She took the roses, fingering them gently.

She crushed them between them as she hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shirt.

He felt her knees go out and settled her to the floor. She didn't let go of him. But she didn't sob. She only held him there.

"Thank you." She whispered, pushing him away. She forced a smile. "Let's go eat." She said, grabbing the coupons off of the bed.

"Okay. Kao, But it's your treat!" Sano said loudly.

"Hey, it's my birthday! So i don't have to pay." She said, skipping down the hallway.

Kenshin stared at the place the blackness had rubbed off onto his shirt. It was a tear drop. The roses were crying for her. They were her tears. And in that moment he made an oath to himself. He would get her to cry.

Standing, he ran to catch up. The musical laughter ahead of him spurring him on.

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Okay, now that we have this chapter out of the way, let's get to the next one!

Morals are overrated. -me.