AUTHOR'S NOTE: OKAY SO HERE'S THE REAL SCOOP, AND I'M STILL DOING A BRAINSTORM ON WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT. ACTUALLY, I ALREADY HAD SOMETHING IN MIND, JUST NEED TO PUT A LITTLE SPICE IN IT. ANYWAY, LAST THURSDAY, SAMURAI X IN AXN FINALLY ENDED AND I WAS LIKE, "WHAT? IS THAT IT?" JUST THAT, NO PROPOSAL TO KAORU OR ANYTHING TELLING WHAT HAPPENED NEXT JUST THE STUPID ENDING OF THE EPISODES OF FENG SHUI? I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS SO INSANE!" IT'S KIND OF DISAPPOINTING THOUGH SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. I'LL JUST HAVE TO HELP CONTINUE THE LEGACY THROUGH MY FANFICS….ANYWAY…

SO, KAORU DECIDED TO TAKE THE BIG LEAP AND SEE WHO BATTOUSAI REALLY IS. WHAT IF SHE FOUND OUT THAT BATTOUSAI REALLY IS KENSHIN? WHAT IF KENSHIN REALLY DIDN'T REFORM AND STARTS MAKING MAYHEM IN TOKYO? IS ALL HOPE FOR FINDING SOMEONE WHO WILL LOVE HER FOR HER ALL GONE? IS SHE GOING TO RISK HER LIFE JUST FOR THIS? ANYWAY, READ ON…

p.s. My summary really sucked. Argh!

"Kaoru! You're back!" cried a girl with delight.

"Suzi!" smiled Kaoru as the girl welcomed her whole-heartedly.

"Kaoru!" cried another girl but seemed to be older than Suzi.

"Yumi! Oh I both missed you two!"

"But you've been away only for a while," said Yumi.

"Well, I missed you two pretty much quickly so I guess that's still the same," and she began to tickle the giggling children.

"Kaoru! Glad you're finally home. I thought we're going to starve!" laughed Dr. Gensai as he approached Kaoru.

"Don't worry, I'm going to make lunch right away."

"Is it fish again? I'm tired of eating fish," moaned Suzi.

"Don't worry, Suzi. I'll whip up a new delicious dish for all of you. I'm sure I've found the recipe, I just forgot what book it is…"

"Err – how about let's just stick with fish for today, okay?" pleaded Dr. Gensai as Kaoru cast him dagger looks.

"Alright, let's go in, shall we? How about helping me cook, you two?" said Kaoru as they headed to the kitchen.

"Cook! Cook! Cook!" chanted the two girls as they went to their rooms to get their aprons.

"Dr. Gensai, I'll be out this afternoon. I'll be home late so please be sure to tuck those kids tight early, okay? Please?" favored Kaoru.

"Why so late? What are you going to do this afternoon anyway?"

"Uh, I-I'll be running errands for Mr. Sakuragi," lied Kaoru without looking at him in the eye.

"That late? Are you sure that's what you're only going to do?" Dr. Gensai was getting suspicious.

"O-Of course. W-where else would I-I go to?"

Dr. Gensai paused for a moment.

"Kaoru, I know what you're up to," confronted Dr. Gensai.

"What? W-what?"

"Don't you even dare try to fight the swordsman. It's dangerous! You might get killed. I know there are many crazy lunatics out there who want to claim the title Battousai by fighting with him. Don't get involved in that, please."

"Dr. Gensai…" Kaoru's voice trailed off. No, he wouldn't understand. Things are just too complicated to understand, Kaoru thought. Dr. Gensai will never understand why she's doing this. For Kaoru, it's a matter of life and death. She has to do this, for the sake of Tokyo, for the sake of her family…and her heart.

"Now Dr. Gensai, why would I do something like that?" assured Kaoru as she was smiling to hide her agenda.

"Huh?" startled Dr. Gensai, confused.

"Of course I wouldn't be that stupid to risk my life at such a young age. I wouldn't of course leave this dojo, you, Suzi and Yumi. You're my family and you're all that I've got." smiled Kaoru. Dr. Gensai gave a loud sigh. Though it may appear to him Kaoru's happy, behind that blank smile is nothing but anxiety and sorrow.

"Kaoru-chan!" cried Suzi as she and Yumi entered the kitchen.

"My! Why, you two look so cute in your aprons! C'mon, let's get started," and after lunch, Kaoru spent the rest of the noon hanging out with Dr. Gensai, Suzi, and Yumi.

Kaoru looked up in the sky. It's getting dark. This is it, and she kissed the two girls sleeping. She took her wooden sword and walked out of the room, but took one last look at the two angels sleeping peacefully. Am I really this low in giving up my life just to save myself from being hurt again? Kaoru knew that she might never be able to see them again, if Battousai didn't have a heart. But this is only to be sure he's not Battousai, right? Or to be sure he is? And if he really is Battousai, this is to make sure he's not as dreadful as everybody else thinks so, isn't it?

She tried to make one step forward, but somehow her foot was rooted to the ground. Is what I'm doing right? She was in a state of dilemma, confused what's right or wrong, if to go on or back down.

No, I have to go on. Baka, Kaoru! This is for everybody's sake, remember? This is for the safety of Tokyo and for the sake of your family. You made a vow. Bakeru!

"I'm sorry, Dr. Gensai, I have to lie to you. It's for your sake. You just wouldn't understand," muttered Kaoru and she finally walked out of the door, not daring not to look back as tears started to fill her eyes.

Just a step needed. Kaoru closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She lifted her eyes slowly, and ahead of her she could see the bridge connecting the forest to the town.

You can never back out. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Remember that, Kaoru.

"For the sake of Tokyo, for the sake of my family…" she continuously muttered as she took steps forward.

When she was already at the other end, something troubled Kaoru.

Where am I going to attack? She thought as she tried to find as place to hide.

"It has to be a surprise attack," and she searched for a perfect place to hide.

"But where?" muttered Kaoru and suddenly had a great idea. Before her stood a massive cherry blossom tree, sturdy enough that makes it reliable. But is this going to work? Obviously, she had never climb a tree before. But she had to give it a try if she wants to know who Battousai really is.

With one hand she held her hakama high to avoid from tripping and her wooden sword, and with her free hand she reached for the lowest and nearest branch to hold on and slowly climbed the cherry blossom tree. When she was already on the sturdiest branch of the tree, she positioned herself for attack, gripping tightly her wooden sword. Her heart started beating faster. What if the plan backfired? What am I to do? What if he thought I was an assassin and decided to eliminate me? Would he even remember me? Questions such as these whirled in Kaoru's head.

She stared hopelessly at the sky.

Sundown, she remembered. This is when he passes here. Nobody usually passes here at this time.

Anxiety bothered her. She thought of backing off, but something made her stay. Her mind was in complete confusion, but her heart said "stay," go for it.

"What's taking him so long?" she wondered to herself. True enough, the notorious slasher was nowhere in sight and it was getting darker and darker every moment.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before her eyes. It seems running towards her direction holding a big box.

Then suddenly, Kaoru remembered the traits the boy mentioned to her earlier.

Fiery red hair, fuchsia kimono, white hakama, reversed-edged katana? Doubted Kaoru but there's only one way to find out. She gripped her wooden sword tightly. The swordsman was getting nearer. She could hear her heart beating furiously. He was getting nearer…and nearer…and nearer…

"HIYAAAAAAHHH!"

"WHAT THE -."

Kaoru made the great leap and with her wooden sword she tried to struck the swordsman. But the swordsman was too fast for her. Immediately drawing out his sword to block the wooden sword from the trembling hands of the girl, dropping the box with a loud breaking noise. They appeared to be fine china.

Kaoru opened her eyes and with a fierce look, looked into the eyes of the swordsman.

"No!" whimpered Kaoru as the swordsman gave her a shocking look.

"K-Kaoru-dono!" said the shocked man.

"H-Himura…KENSHIN?" mortified Kaoru.

Kaoru dropped her now sliced wooden sword and fell to the ground.

It can't be…it can't him!

She removed her eyes from the shocked face of the man to his sword. A reversed-edged katana! Kaoru was even more shocked. Everything seems to fit into place.

"Kaoru-dono! Wh-well, why? What's going on?" stuttered Kenshin. Kaoru returned her stare to the swordsman's face. She tried to utter a word, but her lips seemed numb to move. Kenshin Himura is Battousai himself! How, Kaoru cannot seem to believe it. Her hopes of having a man who will change her life are now gone. Of a man who will love her for who she is, they seem to fade away.

"K-Kenshin…y-you're Battousai! How…" cried Kaoru. She was trembling in fear and disbelief.

"Kaoru-dono, let me explain -."

"NO! DON'T YOU DARE COME NEAR ME! GO BACK!" shrieked Kaoru as she crawled back trying to get away from Kenshin.

"Please let me help you! I'm not as fearful as everybody else thinks so!" pleaded Kenshin, who was now worried of Kaoru's sake.

"H-How could y-you? YOU LIED TO ME! You said you were just a swordsman/wanderer but truth is you're really Battousai! You've come here to kill us all, do you?"

"No, Kaoru-dono! You've got it all wrong. Battousai is my past and I've abandoned it all behind. I'm here to make up for all the mistakes I've made. Believe me, Kaoru-dono!"

Kaoru seemed to have regained her senses back. She stood up, her head lowered. She did it, she proved to herself that the once warm-hearted stranger that she had just met is the legendary Battousai. Everything seemed so ironic.

"K-Kaoru-dono?" approached Kenshin. But Kaoru held out herhand to stop the man.

"No," trembled Kaoru, "please don't. I've had enough. Just forget we e-ever m-met," and she turned around to leave him when…

"KAORU-DONO!"

Suddenly, a massive arm caught of Kaoru's neck. Kaoru tried to let go, but every time she did, the grip gets tighter and tighter. She was too weak compared to the man.

"Thought you can escape me, huh? Well, TOO BAD!" laughed the gigantic man as he was choking Kaoru.

"G-GO-GOHEI!" screamed Kaoru between chokes.

"The one and only!" smirked Gohei.

"Kaoru-dono! Get your hands off her!" warned Kenshin.

"And what do we have here? A bodyguard? You stay out of this, you sick lizard!" barked Gohei.

"Let-me-GO!" demanded Kaoru as she tried to free herself.

"QUIET, YOU TRAMP!" shouted Gohei as he tightened his grip even more.

Kaoru was getting paler and paler. She needed air, and yet she was suffocating more and more each time she tried to free herself. It's as if Gohei was torturing her more every time she tries to fight back.

Little by little, her vision became blurred. Her fingers became numb, and her heart started racing fast. Everything backfired. All of her hopes, her dreams, Kenshin Himura…it's as if all of them went up in smoke.

Then suddenly, something flashed back in Kaoru's mind…

"…Kaoru?"

"Yes, Yumi?"

"Promise you'll never leave us, okay?"

Kaoru stared at the girl, astonished.

"Please?" pleaded the girl with her puppy dog eyes.

"Okay, I promise," smiled Kaoru.

ANOTHER FLASHBACK…

"Now Dr. Gensai, why would I do such a thing like that?" asked Kaoru as she was smiling to hide her agenda.

"Huh?" startled Dr. Gensai, confused.

"Of course I wouldn't be that stupid to risk my life at such a young age. I wouldn't of course, leave this dojo, you, Suzi and Yumi. You're my family and you're all that I've got…"

Kaoru's eyes welled up with tears.

How could I do this? How could I risk my life for just personal and selfish reasons? I didn't come here to save my town, not even my family. I just came here just to save myself from being hurt. To save myself from hoping and waiting in vain, that someday somebody will love me for me, but that I didn't even accomplish. How selfish it was of me! Bakeru! How dare I even used the good name of my town, of the ones I love, just to satisfy my wants. I just wished none of these ever happened. If given the chance to turn back time, I wish I could change everything to the way it were, to the day way they're suppose to be. Gomen nasai, Tokyo, Dr. Gensai, Suzi, Yumi…Kenshin Himura…

Of what happened next, Kaoru never knew. The last thing that her eyes saw was Kenshin Himura striking forward with his sword in position for attack and Gohei shouting furiously.

Then, darkness fell upon Kaoru.

GLOSSARY:

Baka/Bakeru: idiot, dummy, moron

Gomen nasai: sorry (is it right-the spelling I mean?)

A/N: Ei, what do you think about this one? Sorry about the typographical errors in chapter 2, I was kind of in a hurry back then…and of there are any in this chapter, please remind me, okay? Argh! I'm really disappointed with the series ending. I just wish they would feature the OVA's and the movie. I can live in hope.