Disclaimer: This is the other half of me…..well just the characters and the plot that isn't a part of the Original R.K cast….. Don't steal—I don't want to use the katana I have stored in the back of my mind! Much love!

Chapter 21: What Secrets the Shadows Hide

"Aoshi should have been back by now," Misao thought aloud, pacing the room. It was getting darker outside, some rain falling to the earth as well. Frustrated, Misao ground her teeth and huffed angrily.

"I'm not waiting here any longer! If Aoshi is in danger, then it's up to me to help, damnit!" Misao yelled, reaching for the shoji door.

"But," she said as she stopped herself, "I should leave a note if he comes back before I do."

Writing a quick note, she left it on the small table near the window.

He said that he was going to check if there was any news from the Oniwaban stationed in different parts of Tokyo. I have to make sure he's O.K! Misao thought worridly, shutting the shoji hurridly behind her. Feelings that she was too late froze her heart and quickened her pace. She blew past many people as she flew down the stairs and past the lobby.

All right, the first place he would check would be…The Masamune, one of the most popular private restaurants. All the big shots from the government eat there, and one of our spies works there as well, Misao thought as she raced down the muddy streets of Tokyo. Rain splattered on her face and clothing, but she pay it no heed. All she thought of was getting Aoshi back safely.

After a few miles, she finally came upon The Masamune, lights in every window of the two-story building. Narrowing her eyes in determination, Misao ran down the nearby alley. Passing the restaurant's trash, she came upon the maintenance door.

Aoshi furrowed his brow as he walked back to the INN. Shouldn't there have been any news from any of my contacts? This is extremely suspicious of the government as well as the underground agencies. I believe we may have stumbled over something bigger than what we see, Aoshi thought to himself.

Aoshi walked up the stairs to the room he shared with Misao. Though, as he got a closer look at it, he stopped himself. The door was open a little bit.

Misao! Aoshi thought suddenly. He quickly went for his kodachis beneath his trench coat, his footsteps silent and quick. Pushing the shoji door open hastily, his eyes searched the darkness for any sign of life.

All he came upon were upturned tables and chairs, the walls torn and scratched by blades.

"Misao?" Aoshi yelled. "Misao please tell me you're O.K!" Aoshi suddenly caught a glimpse of some tattered paper on the floor. He made a mad dash for it, instantly reading the contents on it.

Widening his eyes as he finished it, he cursed and raced out the door.

Misao…sometimes you worry this cold-hearted beast….

"Kenshin," Kaoru lightly said, leaning on the shoji doorframe.

The ex-assassin turned his flaming red head around to face Kaoru. His eyes were cold; devoid of much hope. Kaoru understood, however, he needed to quickly get out of this state. They weren't going to do much good for Urako if they ended up dying or messing up the future even more.

"Kenshin, I know it's hard fo-"

"Come, Kaoru, we must plan to protect Arimoto Deguchi," Kenshin interrupted lightly.

Kenshin smiled somewhat, and walked past Kaoru into the dining room. Kaoru only looked at him with confusion as she followed him.

I only hope you aren't beating yourself up for this… Kaoru thought as she sighed.

"Ke-"

"Hey Kenshin," Sano interrupted as he entered the dining room, "So what do we do now?"

"Yea, how we gonna protect this guy from Shishio's men?" Yahiko inquired, slinging his bokken over his shoulder.

Kaoru looked from Yahiko and Sano to Kenshin quickly, trying to determine if they were only hiding their grief beneath a mask of violence and righteousness.

Even the Strong weep, however, that does not mean they will sit around and do nothing. I just hope they won't do anything foolish… Kaoru thought as she kneeled down beside Kenshin.

"Yes, of course, we will, Yahiko. However, I would like to talk about this with all the members present, but seeing as that is a pressing issue here, I will just tell you now and explain it to Saito and Aoshi and Misao later," Kenshin paused, looking at everyone at the table, "Sano and I will go the Teahouse together earlier to scope out any good hiding places and quick escape routes. Kaoru and Yahiko, you will both go with the Oniwaban and be our eyes and backup."

"Alright! I won't letcha down Kenshin!" Yahiko boomed enthusiastically, punching his fist into the air.

Nodding her head, Kaoru agreed, "Yes, I will help you Kenshin."

"Say, Kenshin," Sano began.

"Yes?" Kenshin asked, turning to face the taller man, "What is it, Sano?"

"Well, it seems to me that you could successfully take on this new threat by yourself,"

"And get more scars and broken bones that will potentially kill him quicker?" Megumi questioned from outside.

Poking his head out the shoji door, Sano saw Megumi angrily standing in the yard with her arms folded.

"But Fox-" Sano began.

"Hmph, Kenshin-san will get killed if he continues to listen to you, Rooster-head!" Megumi huffed, pushing past Sano.

"Ehhehe..," Kenshin nervously laughed as Megumi eyed him, "Welcome, Ms. Megumi."

Kaoru sighed lightly, knowing what Megumi said was true. She and her had that conversation after Kenshin defeated Shishio Makoto. Even before Megumi said anything, Kaoru just had a feeling that Kenshin's seemingly unwavering strength was slipping away from him.

"Don't you 'Ms Megumi' me, Himura Kenshin! If you die, then I'll find a way to kill you again!" Megumi pointed at Kenshin dangerously.

Widening his eyes, Kenshin only replied, "Oro! M-Ms. Megumi, this one cannot die twice, that he can-cannot!"

"Wanna bet?" Megumi snarled, grabbing his gi tightly in her hands.

"Che, Fox, you sure know how to make people sick. I thought you were a doctor," Sano said off-handedly, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Turning her deadly stare towards Sano, she replied, "And I thought you were just some schmuck getting beaten for fun, Rooster-head!"

"Hey now! It's Fighter-for-Hire, Fox, and don'tcha forget it! 'Sides, Kenshin here can take care of himself just fine," Sano replied, pointing at Kenshin.

"Oh brother, here we go again." Yahiko mumbled, crossing his arms.

"Indeed, Yahiko. But I want to hear what Megumi has to say, some of what she is saying makes sense." Kaoru whispered to Yahiko.

Tossing his head and arcing an eyebrow, Yahiko said, "You lost me there. Weirdo-lady doctor hasn't said a word that made sense yet."

"Take care of himself? Take care of himself? Do you call almost getting killed by Shishio Makoto, taking care of himself?" Megumi yelled, letting go of Kenshin.

Waving his hands in front of him, Sano squealed, "Oh no-no! Um, I ….He…you… He's still alive, ain't he?"

"Only by a miracle, you idiot!" Megumi shouted as she slapped Sano's face.

Holding his face protectively, Sano replied, "Hey, now Meg-Fox, this is the only one I have! Don't go messing up the merchandise! Y'know how many ladies are wanting this face?"

In the only response Megumi had, she began to growl ferociously at Sano, grabbing onto his white jacket.

"Uh, Sano, I don't think that was the right thing to say," Kaoru lightly interjected. What an idiot… she thought, a smile creasing her lips.

"I think I get that now, Missy. I..I..I uh-I gotta go now, I'll meet up with ya later, Kenshin," Sano said as he pried himself from Megumi's grip.

"I'm not finished with you, Sagara!" Megumi raged, jumping on top of him.

"I'd never thought I hear you say those words, Meg-I mean Fox!" Sano replied as he ran out the door. Megumi only groaned and proceeded to hit his head, screaming curses as the two vanished from the dojo grounds.

Kaoru watched them fondly, however, Megumi's words still rang true in her mind.

I must protect Kenshin in any way possible. However, this mission endangers all of us and not just him… I guess this is a risk that I can't do much about except be prepared, Kaoru thought as she turned to Kenshin.

"What is it Kaoru?" Kenshin asked as he saw Kaoru's thoughtful gaze drift to him.

"I guess I'm just worried about everyone. I have a bad feeling about this, Kenshin. Like …something very bad will happen that we can't undo," Kaoru explained, rubbing her arm worriedly.

Kenshin smiled lightly and moved closer to Kaoru, wrapping his arms around her small frame. "I promise you Kaoru, that no matter what, I will come for you."

Kaoru merely smiled and leaned into his embrace. Even though your words warm my heart Kenshin, I can't help but think that this bad feeling…has to do with you.

"I will hold you to your promise, anata," Kaoru whispered into his chest.

"ARGG! Lemme go! I swear if I get outta here, I'm gonna kick your ass!" Misao's voice rang loudly.

Misao felt a sharp pang of pain emit from her arm, almost like a pinprick. She couldn't see anything because of a sack tightly wrapped around her head. Her arms were bound in metal bonds behind her as well as her legs as she sat uncomfortably in a chair.

Her legs felt numb from the numerous lashings she had received from her captor, or captors. She couldn't tell. Only one of them spoke, if only the one there. She had tried to get an understanding for the reason for her capture, however, her captor just repeated himself.

"It's time things changed…" the nameless voice would say.

Misao had never heard the voice before now, however, that didn't stop her from wracking her mind to find the smallest resemblance.

She couldn't tell how long she had been there, her vision being blocked as wells as her body feeling extremely sore. She determined that she had been out for an hour, perhaps a bit more than that.

She felt someone walking around near her as well as hear that person's footsteps. They were slow and heavy, as if the person's foot was lead.

Misao felt her captor's icy cold fingers press into her collarbone, one of the many pressure points on a human body. Wincing and gasping in pain, Misao fought against the need to accept submission. Misao knew that not everyone in Japan knew about pressure points. Only assassins, fighters, doctors, and ninjas knew of them.

This person doesn't feel like an assassin or a fighter though… Misao thought amidst the rising pain.

"You don't know who I am, do you, girl?" he asked, adding more pressure. "If you did, then you would know what I did."

Whimpering and moaning in pain, Misao spat out the first thing that came to mind. "I don't know anything! I swear!"

The pressure on her collarbone ceased, and Misao slouched to the side. Cold sweat started to drip from her temple as she waited for any other movement from her captor.

"Then why did you come? The other man, with eyes of ice, came but didn't stay," the man replied aloud near Misao's ear.

At the mention of Aoshi, Misao perked her ears up, trying not to be obvious however in her actions.

Aoshi! I hope you're O.K! I'm so sorry to put your life in danger… Misao thought dejectedly.

"Why didn't you capture him instead?" Misao asked monotonely.

"I have plans for him, don't worry. I just needed the right bait, girlie," the deep voice answered. Misao could detect a sickening sneer at the end of his statement.

"I see you and him together, so I only put the two and two together," he said matter-of-factly.

Cursing silently, Misao twitched nervously in her bonds.

"Oh, and that slight prick you felt on your arm a few minutes ago, was from a syringe. I knocked you out in the alley with a chemical that causes temporary unconsciousness, and the one I just injected into you is created to slow down your heart until it stops completely," the man replied nonchalantly.

Misao widened her eyes in immediate panic, moving around frantically trying to get out of her bonds.

Oh my god! I'm gonna die! Where are you Aoshi! I need you now! Please! She thought desperately. She could feel her heart beat within her chest, panic increasing her pulse.

Misao screamed, "Why? What good will this do you?" Misao choked on tears that began to stream down her cheeks.

Her anxious request was only met with heavy silence. Misao waited a moment longer, however, the answer never came. It was only then she heard a door off to her right, close and lock.

"Hello? Hey! Where are you??" Misao screamed in fright, moving her chair as she bounced. Her jerky movements caused her to fall backwards, and she landed heavily on her bound wrists.

Snapping her eyes open as the sudden burst of pain shot through her wrists, Misao heard the bone crack. Straining her mouth open, she managed a gargled scream, more tears flowing quickly from her eyes.

Aoshi rushed towards the Masamune restaurant, intent on finding his beloved. The weather seemed to worsen as he came closer to it, rain pounding on his body. He raced towards the alley, sure that this was where Misao would have gone.

Finding only overturned trashcans, and different footprints in the mud, Aoshi tensed his muscles in anger. Scanning the ground for any clues to Misao's whereabouts, Aoshi only found a syringe with an iota of red liquid inside. It wasn't blood, Aoshi was sure. It looked too watered-down to be the thick life source that flowed through men's veins.

Picking it up with care, Aoshi carefully inspected it, wiping it clean of the mud. Why would there be a syringe here in the alley? Near a restaurant of all places? Aoshi thought, frowning.

Squinting his eyes closer to the medical object in his hand, Aoshi made out a name on the side.

Arimoto Deguchi

Snapping his eyes open in realization, he quickly pocketed the item in his jacket and ran off.

Everyone must be notified before it's too late! I just hope I'm not late to save Misao.

Yahiko left the cuddling couple as quickly as he could, walking outside towards the dojo. He started swinging his shinai half-heartedly, his mind elsewhere. He promised he'd help Kenshin and now that he had the chance, he would do his best. However, his heart ached for Tsubame; Kaoru and Kenshin's cuddling reminding him of his young love.

"Maybe I can…nah, she and Tae are off on a break," Yahiko realized dejectedly. He sighed and sat on the wooden stairs of the dojo.

His gaze drifted up towards the sun and then to the nearest shadows cast on the ground.

Frowning somewhat, Yahiko thought half-heartedly, I wonder what's taking the Oniwaban so long to gather information? I thought that the Weasel was fast at her job. Maybe she is only hindering Aoshi….Eww! Stupid weasel girl…

Chewing his bottom lip in slight nervousness, Yahiko thought more seriously on the Oniwaban's tardiness.

They wouldn't be this late unless something happened… I have to see if there is anything I can do! Yahiko thought, determination shining in his cinnamon eyes.

Deciding that his mission was to locate the leaders of the Oniwaban, Yahiko stood up and walked out of the dojo grounds. He turned to gaze once more out towards the house he had called his home for a little more than a year, and quickly closed the gate behind him.

----A/N---- what do ya think? Eh? Huh? Haha—It's coming along well, I believe! I enjoy writing new chappies, figuring out what new twists and turns to add to it! College life will complicate more—but ya know what??? I have a class that is called story telling or something like that! Yea! I want my anime to be approved!! Ahah Akuma Kokoro, that is . Much love ya'll! I will have the next chappie out ASAP!