A/N: Thank you everyone who reviewed, a special thanks to animegurl-23 for not giving up, (sorry it took so long I was gone all week )

I finally got enough money to buy my own copy of Reflection (I wanna cry, it's so sad T.T), after watching it and then looking back on my fic, I just want you all to realize that I am basing this story mainly off of the manga (except for the whole Gohei thing but I find it works better basing it off of the anime for that part.) maybe I should have said this sooner but oh well does it really matter at this point? anyway enough with my useless babble, on with the story!


LAST TIME:

Kaoru went to the training hall and started to clean it when she felt a shiver go down her spine. She looked around she had the eerie feeling that she was being watched. She started to clean the walls when she felt the feeling again and she looked around and no one was there. She shrugged it off 'I'm getting paranoid.'

Kaoru dropped her rag and went to pick it up, the next thing she remembered was a searing pain in the back of her head, and darkness....

- - - - - - - - - -

It took her a while to gain her senses of reality back, but Kaoru forced herself out of the darkness, adapting herself to her regained consciousness. It was then that she realized that three men were looking down upon her, and that she was lying face down on the floor of her dojo.

"So this is the one? Not much of a fighter." Laughed one of the men.

"His lordship told us not to underestimate her," Chimed a second voice "Well it seems that he was wrong wouldn't you say?" Kaoru then heard three men laughing, her stomach churned, what was going on?

"Hey look she's awake." Kaoru felt another searing pain shoot through her head as she felt her body leave the ground as she was lifted up by her ponytail. "Well, well missy, good morning." Chortled the biggest, ugliest, and meanest looking of the men.

Kaoru looked up at the man with utmost hatred. As he twisted her hair around so she could face him, she glanced over where Kenji was supposed to be asleep, but he wasn't there, the place that he once slept was nothing more than a pool of blood, but there was no Kenji.

"Where's my son?" Her voice had become deathly low as she felt her heart drop.

The man holding up her just smiled, "Not here... I think you know what I mean, you're a bright girl. It's something about seeing the life sucked out of a child that brings me back to the old days..."

"NO!" Kaoru yelled in disbelief as she kicked out at the man as hard as she could and connected with his stomach. She was dropped to the ground she scrambled to run but someone had grabbed her upper arm and she felt her body forced against the wall with a heavy force.

"Bitch" The man she had kicked stood up and looked at his two comrades "Leave, I can finish this on my own, tell Lord Subaru that the Kamiya line exists no more." The large man gazed at Kaoru with look of pure blood lusting in his eyes. The two other men left the dojo without another word.

Kaoru tried to stand up but her body was still jumbled, 'Have I become that pathetic? I can't give up, not yet.' she grabbed the closest thing to brace her as she stood up; she grabbed the rack holding all of the training bokkens.

Training bokkens...

"You don't think you can defend yourself with that do you?" The man laughed catching on to her idea.

Kaoru didn't say anything, at that moment her only concern was to stay alive and find her son, 'Why does this always happen when I am alone?'

She charged the man; that was a mistake. The next thing she knew he had a hold of her wrist and she found herself slammed against the wall once again; a shooting pain went down her left arm as its shoulder dislocated with a sickening pop.

"Tsk tsk Kamiya bird, your little sword tricks don't work on me." The man held her down with the force of his one hand. "So tell me, before you die, would you like me to tell you how I gutted your brat as well?" The man sneered not waiting for her answer (not that he needed), "Where to begin? It was quite gruesome actually, but the little brat didn't even cry, not even when I-"

Kaoru kicked up at him once again but missed the man as he dodged. "You cold heartless bastard- you didn't kill my son! Do you expect me to play along with your sick and twisted games?!"

"Now I'm cross," he teased "but you see games are fun, and I am going to continue mine." The man drew his dagger, "But yes I did kill your son, see that blood that is all that is left of him after I threw his little body into the river..."

Kaoru felt her body go numb as she listened to his disgusting story, she clenched her fist ready to deck him.

Without warning he charged Kaoru, she dodge-rolled out of his path and ran but fell once again, a burning pain sliced through her back. Kaoru rolled from her stomach, if the man was going to slice her open she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of stabbing her in the back. The man sat on her stomach making her wince with the pressure it put on her. She struggled to throw him off but to no avail.

"What's the matter can't move?" He mocked. He grabbed her right arm and thrusted her against the corner of the dojo pinning her between him and the wall once again. "This is for Seiju" She knew what he was going to do seconds before he did it and didn't even try to stop him, Kaoru watched as the man pulled out a dagger and pierced through her right hand holding her to the wall. She couldn't move, not only was she held fast to the wall, she had been hit in the head to many times and her vision began to swim as her temples throbbed.

"Where's my son?" Kaoru mumbled incoherently unable to really move.

"A persistent one aren't you?" The man looked at her limp body hanging to the wall like some rag doll hung to dry. "His blood spilled so beautifully, to bad you didn't see it... your silly sword technique could not save him, looks like you have failed to protect. You have disgraced the name of your school, of your precious Katsujin-ken philosophy, some master you are, you couldn't even save your own child. What will that husband of yours think?"

Kaoru let her head sink, she had already known this, the moment she looked over were Kenji was supposed to be, she knew that she had betrayed everything she was taught and lived for, she had been telling herself so ever since. 'Kenshin forgive me...'

Then the worse of her physical pain happened as she finished her musing, something moved slowly through her soft belly her head jerked up in pain. She let her head fall with morbid curiosity over this new painful sensation. She saw the sword that the man must have concealed slowly going through her soft flesh, and then without warning he wrenched it out.

The man's face got close to hers and he whispered into her ear, "Have fun bleeding to death, have fun soiling your little dojo even further. When you're burning in hell say hi to your brother and that spawn of yours for me." She heard the shoji close, and the sound of his footfalls fade.

Tears fell from Kaoru's face. She knew she couldn't die, but at that moment she didn't want to live either, but something told her she had to live. With the last vestiges of her strength she pulled out the dagger in her right hand and fell to the ground basking for a moment in the little crimson pool her body had created. She struggled but she drug herself over to where her child once lay; hoping maybe that he was just hiding in that dark stain. In the pool of blood lay his now torn blanket, evidence of the suffering he must have endured; endured because of her... She held it close to her heart and started to cry.

- - -

It was late before Yahiko and Sanosuke made there way home from the Akabeko. The stars were already out and the moon was high in the sky; they where headed towards the Dojo to bring Kaoru some food from Tae.

"I have never worked that hard in my life!" Sano sighed as he stretched.

"It's not like you did much, all you did was carry boxes, I would think after being a fighter-for-hire and all this would be easy for you! besides I had the hard job of cleaning the place!"

"I haven't done that in a long time, besides why is it that you will clean at the Akabeko but not at the Dojo, isn't the dojo easier to clean?"

"Yes, but I still like getting Kaoru mad."

"You're insane," Sanosuke laughed as they entered the dojo gate.

"Yeah well...Hey Sano what are you doing?" Sanosuke had put his hand in front of Yahiko and was sniffing the air.

"Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?" Yahiko looked at Sanosuke curiously.

"Blood... Stay there." Sanosuke walked into the dojo leaving Yahiko outside. "Jou-chan!" he called through the halls. "Jou-chan where are you?" He slid open the shoji for the training hall "Jou- WHAT THE HELL!!"

Yahiko didn't need to hear any more, he ran in after Sanosuke and saw what he was looking at, the training hall was covered in blood but no one was there.

"Shit." Yahiko cursed under his breath taking in the sight. "Sano look there, footprints, they have to be Kaoru's." Sanosuke nodded and they followed them out of the dojo but soon they disappeared when they got to the dirt road.

"She had to have gone this way, I am going to go look, You send a letter to Kenshin to get back here," Sanosuke commanded.

Yahiko didn't argue, "Sano...there's so much blood you don't think...?"

"No!" Sanosuke said quickly getting shoving any idea of Kaoru dead out of his head "Don't you either you hear me?! Just get to work on that letter and stay at the dojo, I'll come back for you."

Yahiko went down the hall to write the letter, what was he to say? Could Kenshin get the letter soon enough? Would he blame them for not being there for Kaoru? And where was Kenji?

What happened here?

- - -

KYOTO:

Kenshin had arrived only the day before late in the evening, but that didn't matter he was up early anyway. He snuck out of the Aoiya as the sun had begun to rise over the horizon. He walked through the town carrying a single beautiful flower and entered a graveyard and walked up to a single solemn grave, a hairpin was still sitting in silent offering, but now it also had another flower along with it. 'I wonder who else has visited you lately.' He set the flower down and prayed silently.

"Well if it isn't my idiot apprentice" It was Sejirou Hiko.

"Master!" The sound of that voice behind him had made Kenshin jump.

"Come let's have a drink, I have just bought some fine sake." He held up a gourd, his nose was already tinged red, he had obviously consumed some as well as bought it.

Kenshin didn't disagree he was afraid of being cuffed upside the head if he didn't.

"Himura!" This time it was Misao, she was running up to him a panicked look on her face, "Himura, Okina needs to speak to you he said it was urgent-" She huffed running up to him.

"What is it?" Kenshin said looking curiously at the worried young lady. 'Do people have respect for a praying man?' He sighed inwardly knowing he would have to leave.

"He didn't say, but he looked really serious and said for you to come now. I haven't seen him look that serious in... well... in a long time."

Kenshin nodded, "Another time master?" Hiko just nodded and drank deeply from his gourd. Kenshin followed Misao 'I'm so sorry Tomoe; I'll come back soon...'

Misao seemed to pick up her pace again she seemed anxious to get back to the Inn. 'Why would Okina send for me this early in the morning, and today at that? He knew what I would be doing.' A foreboding feeling filled him and he quickened his pace towards the Inn as well.

"Ah Himura, please sit down." Okina motioned for the spot across from him. "You probably wondered why I called you here at this time, and on this day," He seemed to act graver than he usually would.

"It crossed my mind."

"Have you ever heard of a man named Subaru? He has no last name...none that we could find that is..." ((A/N: Yeah kinda like Cher or Madonna))

His eyes narrowed he knew Subaru alright.

"Judging by your expression that would be a yes." Okina sighed "Then you know about his army...cult following I should say but it is all the same when it concerns him-"

"Army?" Kenshin raised an eyebrow, "But he was locked away, and his followers disbanded."

"Hardly, our government is corrupt, you should know this. Money will get you anywhere." Okina was looking more serious now than ever, "Things have come to my attention, you may know this already but Subaru has some sort of vendetta against the Kamiya line and is seeking some sort of revenge on Kaoru, or her family more like. I would seriously think on going back to Tokyo as soon as possible. Before it is to late for her, you never know what a man like Subaru will do."

"Okina, how do you know this?" Kenshin asked, 'if Subaru had been freed all this time then he was just waiting for an opportunity like this.' Kenshin cursed himself for leaving Kaoru. 'At least she has Sano and Yahiko there with her.'

Okina just looked at him, "Because we have connections everywhere, and one can't move in the shadows without hearing things." ((A/N: I just noticed I use this line in every story ;;))

Kenshin nodded before standing up, "It looks like my visit has been cut short, I am sorry, maybe we can all come back, I think Miss Misao would love to meet Kenji."

"Ooo Himura can I come with you?" Misao bounded into the room upon hearing her name.

"Misao, you have stuff to do here and Himura has something important to do. He doesn't need to be slowed down." Okina said.

Kenshin couldn't express his gratitude, he didn't want to be rude to the girl but he had to leave fast. He knew that she wouldn't be able to catch up.

"So you better take your leave."

Kenshin nodded and was soon on his way back. 'I hope I make it in time...'

- - -

Outside of Tokyo on a dirt road as the smallest bit of morning shone across the horizon a weary Kaoru stumbled her way to a destination she did not know, she seemed to be lead there by an invisible force. She still clutched onto the remains of the blanket that she carried with her, it was all she had left and she would never let it go. She found herself in front of a place that seemed unwelcoming. It was a place that had an array of shambled makeshift buildings and filled with people with no destination in their lives, people who wished to abandon reality.

This place was known as Rakuninmura.

Kaoru walked past the hapless men who were awestruck and gazed at her with utter confusion, what was this woman doing here? Kaoru stopped in front of a stone wall and the person sitting against it. The person looked up his white hair was covered with dust and he held a small diary.

"Is this place taken?" She asked in a monotone voice looking at the spot next to him.

He didn't answer but just looked at her with bewilderment as she set herself down looking at the blanket in her hands letting the pain and sorrow consume her body entirely.

To be continued...
A/N: Bet you didn't see Kaoru going to Rakuninmura did you? ;;

Now I have typed over half of this story ((typed not uploaded)), and I want your opinion, on this

Please vote A, B, or C for this question.

What should happen to Subaru? Should he:

Die at the hands of a character ((which I won't name ::grins evilly::))

Live but spend the rest of his pathetic days in some cold jail cell in Hokkaido ((ok so I like sending people there, is that so bad?))

Other, please explain.

Example: "Put him in a circular room and force him to watch pokemon over and over and over..."

I am at a loss at what to do with the cult building little prick so if you have an idea please share, I like hearing ideas.