Okay! I'm trying to get a good chapter out, and this is my latest attempt! Here you go, guys!

Thanks for the reviews!

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Tien was alone. The darkness enveloping him completely. He had failed.

A tear ran down his cheek and caught some distant light as it fell silently onto the dust.

"I'm sorry, sister. I failed." He bowed his head as he held the dagger before him.

"What do you think you're doing! Stop you idiot! nothing's bad enough to take your own life. A good friend taught me that!" Came a booming voice from above him.

"I have killed..." He said, trying to bring the blade through his chest, only to be stopped by a strong, calloused hand.

"So had my friend. He died the other night. Nothing is worth taking your own life." the man said.

"I promised my sister, and i failed to fulfill that promise. I deserve to die." Tien said, trying to get the daggar from the big hand that held it.

"Kenshin killed thousands, even his first wife! And he lived until he was killed! You think you can solve everything just by taking your own life? Ha! That's a joke. If i could bring him back by taking my own life i would, but it doesn't work that way! It cant and it wont! The only thing you can do is try to do your best to make it right." Sanouske said, throwing the daggar into the nearest thick-wooded wall.

Tien stared up at the tear stained face of the ex fighter for hire.

"Where do you live?" The big man asked.

"I...I don't..." He stammered, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Come on. You're staying at my place." He said, nodding as he pulled him along. "What's your name, kid?"

"Tien...Tien Higestu." He said, his eyes travelling to the ground.

"Sanouske Sagara. Nice to meet ya." Sano said, his burly voice strained slightly.

-

Flashback.

Tsuya sat beside Kira, her face pale white, her firey auburn hair lay like a halo around her.

"T..Take care of Shinta and Yuushi, okay, brother? They need someone to keep them safe." Her voice faded and she stopped breathing.

"Kira!" He cried, hugging his sister to his chest.

"What's the matter, uncle tuya?" Asked little three year old Kenshin, his firey red hair a mop of frizz.

"Your mommy has joined your daddy in heaven, Kenshin-chan." Tsuya said, holding the child to his chest.

"That's good, ri'ht?" Kenshin asked, pushing away from him.

"Yeah, it's good." He said, smiling softly at the bright, hopeful violet eyes.

"Mommy? Mommy!" Six year old Yuushi screamed, pounding on Kira's chest, trying to get her to wake.

"Please, Yuushi, Please stop. Mommy wouldn't like that. You'll get in trouble when she get's back." Kenshin said, his small voice the most adult in the room.

"Shut up! Mommy's dead! She's not going to come back. She's gone!" Yuushi screamed, running out into the rain.

-end flashback-

-

Aoushi watched Kaouru closely as she ate, bits and peices of things.

"Kaouru, You must eat. Battosai would have me killed if he thought you weren't being taken care of." Aoushi said.

"Stop! Stop calling him that! He's not the battosai! He's Kenshin! Our Kenshin! MY Kenshin. He left that name behind at the end of the revolution. So, please, stop calling him that. He hated it." Kaouru screamed, then faded into a whisper.

"He's not dead." Aoushi said. his voice cold.

"What are you talking about! I saw him with my own eyes. He's got no warmth! He's not breathing! He's dead! Quit trying to make me okay!"

"He's not dead. Everyone had to belive he was dead, so i made it look like it. He's alive, just barely." Aoushi said again.

"You sick bastard!" Kaouru screamed, charging at him with a knife.

-

This one was longer than the last one, i think.

Anyways, Thanks for sticking with me, and i look forward to your comments.

This is my darkness. -me.