Disclaimer: If I did own Rurouni Kenshin, I would be in the story with my kawaii Yahiko. Since I'm not in the story, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

The Secret Kept From Yahiko

Chapter Nine

From last time:

"Isn't it obvious Yahiko-Chan," said Gasuke emphasizing on the Chan, "that we want you dead."

My face reddened at the comment to my age and my gaze dropped to the floor. "And how are you planning on doing that?" I countered, "Kenshin will come. Just you wait."

"I don't think so Yahiko. Not when there are bigger problems going on back there. No one is going to miss one little street brat."

"W-what? He will come!"

"Such bravado Yahiko, but how can he once we send him on a wild goose chase?" My eyes widened. "Yes Yahiko, you are ours for the taking and there is nothing you can do about it."

After the two still remaining residents of the Kamiya Dojo realized that the little samurai was missing, each did different things. The younger resident, Kaoru, had a minor freak out. Kenshin, on the other hand, stayed calm.

"Kaoru-Dono we will not find him if you are running around the yard like a chicken who has lost it's head. We need to think clearly, not panic."

"You are right Kenshin," said the girl who had stopped running around the yard, Where should we start looking? The gang's headquarters?"

"Iie, Seesha does not think so Kaoru-Dono. Yahiko mentioned to me that it was a different building that he say Gasuke in. So he wouldn't be there."

"Yes, that makes sense," mused the black-haired girl, "why bring him to the same place that we already know the location of? That wouldn't make any sense."

"We should start by searching the town, maybe someone heard or saw something."

"Yeah! Maybe Sano could talk to his gambling buddies or something! Finally, his bad habits might pay off!"

Kenshin was about to say that that sounded like a good idea when he was interrupted by the knocking on the front door.

"Maybe it's Yahiko," squealed Kaoru as she ran for the door. She threw it open to find a boy about Yahiko's age, but not Yahiko standing there. "Can I help you," she asked pleasantly.

"Yes, are you Kamiya Kaoru and does a Himura Kenshin live here?"

"Hai, I'm Kaoru, and Kenshin is staying here... What do you need?"

"I was told to deliver this to you," the boy said handing Kaoru a piece of rolled up paper.

"By whom?" questioned Kenshin.

"The man standing at the gate...," said the boy pointing and then noticing that his employer wasn't standing there anymore. "Or at least the man that was by the gate."

"Thank you for the note," said Kenshin, "now you best run along."

"Yes Sir!" the boy ran down the path and was soon out of sight.

"What does the letter say Kaoru-Dono?"

"Hold your horses Kenshin, I'm getting there." The letter read:

If you ever want to see the brat alive again, bring fifty yen to the inn in Kyoto. Someone will be waiting there to escort you. You have 24 hours to get there or the brat dies.

"Kenshin! What do we do? We don't have that much yen! And Kyoto is like 36 hours away! How do we get there is 24 hours?"

"Calm down Kaoru-Dono. Seesha has an idea. You could ask Tae-Dono if she would be willing to lend us the yen."

"Kenshin we can't do that! How would we ever pay her back?"

"Seesha does not intend to give them the money. Seesha will fight to get to Yahiko."

"Then why even bother with the money?"

"Because Kaoru-Dono, they might ask to see it to make sure that we can pay."

"So assuming Tae lends us the money, how do we get there in 24 hours?"

"Seesha is not sure about that." Kaoru face-faulted on the floor.

'He gets these great ideas, but doesn't finish them. Grrrrr.'

"Ill go run down to Akabeko Kenshin. You find Sano and ask him to snoop around."

"Hai Kaoru-Dono."

Kaoru POV

I literally ran down to Akabeko and crashed into three people all who I did apologize to, but I heard comments of , "A girl shouldn't be running in a kimono, it isn't very ladylike."

'Ha,' I thought to myself, 'if only you knew I was a kendo instructor.'

I reached Akabeko in five minutes thanks to my running, but I knew it would have been faster if I had been wearing my training clothes. I pushed open the door and was greeted with a very familiar sight.

Akabeko waitresses in their orange and black striped uniforms were all over the place running around taking orders, and all those who weren't busy looked up when I walked in and said sweetly in unison, "Welcome to Akabeko."

I walked over to one of the girls who I had none for a long time. "Ohayo Amarante, could you tell me where Tae is? I need to speak with her."

"Of course Kamiya-San, she's in her office, be careful though, she is a bit cranky this morning."

"All right. Arigatou Amarante." I carefully made my way around serving girls and pushed open the doors to the kitchen. It smelled like frying rice, fresh brewed tea, steaming beef, vegetables; just like a kitchen should smell like. It was a pity mine only smelled like that when Kenshin was the one cooking.

Tae's office door stood open with the owner of Akabeko sitting on a tatami mat on the floor drinking a hot cup of tea. "Tae? Are you all right? Amarante said that you were a bit cranky this morning."

"No, I'm fine Kaoru," the southern-sounding woman said, "just woke up with a headache that's all. I predict that Tokyo gets a storm tonight."

"Oh good, I thought you were sick or something."

"Speaking of sick Kaoru, how's Yahiko doing? Tsubame has been wanting to see him again, you can tell because she keeps asking when you are coming again."

"Uh Tae? That's why I'm here."

Tae's face paled considerably. "He isn't dead is he?"

"Not yet. We only have twenty-four hours. You have to help us Tae!"

"Shouldn't you be talking to Genzai-Sensei or Megumi-Sensei? They are the doctors..."

"No Tae! He was kidnapped! And they are going to kill him!!!"

"They are going to kill Yahiko-Chan?" a timid voice asked as a brown head of hair appeared in the doorway.

"Oh Tsubame-Chan! You weren't supposed to hear that," I said. 'Whoops, I forgot to close the door.'

"Come here Honey," said Tae holding her arms out to the girl who looked like she was about to cry at any minute. "No one is going to die. How can we help Kaoru?"

I could feel the tears I had been holding starting to pool at the corners of my eyes. "They want us to bring 50 yen to Kyoto by tomorrow morning. They are giving us 24 hours! The only thing is, I don't have that kind of money, and it's almost to get to Kyoto in one day unless you are riding the train, and I don't have money for that either!"My voice grew more hysterical as I went on.

"Now calm down Kaoru," said Tae sternly, "crying isn't going to help anything, especially not Yahiko. It was then that I noticed that the tears were pouring down my face and leaving a small puddle on the floor.

"I'm sorry Tae," I hiccupped through my sobs, "but I don't know what to do."

"There, there Kaoru, it will work out, you'll see. I'll help you."

"Thank.. hic... you.. So hic much Tae. How can I repay you?" For Tae had just shoved a large back that was very heavy into my hands.

"That bag has sixty yen. That should be enough to get you both train tickets to and from here to Tokyo. Keep the other 50 for his ransom. My return: bring Yahiko back."

"I will bring him back Tae! Me and Kenshin will do it!" I threw my arms around my best friend and hugged her tightly. "What would I ever do without you?"

"Kaoru-San? I don't mean to be rude, but it would be Ken-San and I."

"Of course Tsubame-Chan," I replied absentmindedly. "Well I have to be off, time to grab Kenshin and catch a train. We are coming Yahiko, don't die.

Yahiko POV

After Gasuke's announcement of Kenshin on a goose chase, I had gotten beaten around a bit and then had been thrown back into that dark room to await whatever they had in store for me.

My wrists and ankles had lost all feeling due to the ropes tied extremely tightly around them. Soji hadn't undone the rope around my neck either, and even though it wasn't as bad, whenever I moved my head the rope would rub against my already burned neck and sting.

I was hungry and my stomach kept me very well informed my grumbling every few minutes. I had nothing to distract myself with seeing as I couldn't see anything in the first place. With nothing better to do, I curled up in a protective ball and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Overall View

Kaoru came back to the dojo with the sack of yen looking very happy. "I got it Kenshin! Enough money for Yahiko and train tickets! We are going to Kyoto!"

"Hey Missy! Heard the kid got kidnapped."

"Sanosuke! Did you check around? Did you find anything?"

"Sorry Jou-Chan, no one has heard or seen anything. I hope you find him. The fox is worried too."

"Oh, you've talked to Megumi? Hard to believe."

"I didn't mean to, I got into a brawl and had to get my hand fixed. Genzai wasn't in, so I had to make do with her. She asked how the kid was and when I told her that the syndicate got him she got all worried."

"Seesha is ready to go Kaoru-Dono," said the red-head who was walking down the steps holding a bucket that probably held lunch while on the train, "is Sanosuke coming with us?"

"No way," said the rooster headed man, "you wouldn't get me on one of those steam thingies even if Tae gave me a week's worth of food from Akabeko. No way in Hell am I getting on a giant tea kettle!"

"That's all right Sano," said the Rurouni, "you don't need to come."

"Kenshin," said the tanooki girl dangerously, "we can't be standing around chit-chatting, we need to get to Kyoto."

"Hai, Kaoru-Dono, you are right. Sano, please keep an eye on the dojo and an ear out for any news about Yahiko."

"Got it covered Kenshin, make sure you bring the brat back safe."

"Sanosuke," hollered Kaoru, "don't you dare eat all the food!"

"All right Jou-Chan," he chuckled, "safe trip."

Kenshin and Kaoru reached the train station in record time due to very fast footwork on Kenshin's behalf. Kenshin looked fine if a bit red in the face. Kaoru, that was another story. The poor girl hadn't known that Kenshin was planning on picking her up and running to the train station. Her hair was wind blown and tangled, her blue eyes were still tearing due to rough winds, and when Kenshin set her back on her feet she promptly fell over in the middle of the road.

"Kaoru-Dono!" Kenshin cried as the raven haired young woman collapsed in a heap. He carefully leaned over and helped her back to her feet. "Are you all right Kaoru-Dono?"

"I'm fine Kenshin," the tanooki girl said as she straightened her kimono, "just let me get my land legs back. Why'd we stop anyway?"

"Well Kaoru-Dono, we are on the road in front of the station. Seesha did not think it would be wise to come running in so quickly. There could be a lot of accidents."

"You are right again Kenshin," she said, "just like always," she whispered under her breath so that only she could hear. Kaoru marched off towards the station in a rapid walk to get to the train. "Hurry up Kenshin! We don't want to miss the train!"

"Hai Kaoru-Dono," said the swordsman as he jogged to catch up with her. "It would be very unfortunate if we missed the train, that it would. And not only for us, but for Yahiko's sake as well."

The two companions quickly reached the ticket stand and bought two round trip tickets to Kyoto and back. Tae had given them enough money so that they could buy tickets for second class so they had a very nice view. Or it would be a nice view as soon as the train started moving. Kaoru's window was currently looking at the station door.

With a loud whistle the train started and continued to pick up speed as it left the station. Kaoru would have loved to stare at the beautiful scenery that was flashing by the window, that consisted of large, rolling, green hills and trees that seemed to stretch out towards the sky, and at the opposite window it was possible to see the ocean. But Kaoru and Kenshin saw none of this, both too wrapped up in thoughts of Yahiko.

Meanwhile, back at the Yakuza's new hideout, the black haired child was waking up from his restless sleep. With a groan he rolled over so that he was sitting up with his back leaning against the wall. He wasn't quite sure what had awoken him, and he longed to go back to sleep after the memories of what had just happened came rushing to him.

Kenshin's on a goose chase and Kami knows where he is right now! Probably nowhere near where I am if Gasuke had anything to do with it, the boy thought, of course, he probably did I mean he is the leader now, he added as an after thought.

Out loud the little samurai said just barely above a whisper, "Please hurry Kenshin, I'm scared."

Author's Notes:

Hehe I know as a fact that it took me a long time to update even though I said I would do it sooner. Neopets got in the way again. Gomen.

Kenshin and Kaoru still have not reached Kyoto and Yahiko is still in his room. I must say, that I am very proud of myself. I did not torture him at all this chapter! Speaking of this chapter, you will soon meet a new character! Any guesses who?

I promise that the next chapter will be up sooner than this one was! It took me exactly one month! Gosh that might actually be the longest it took!I am also getting better at my boldening! Yeah! Stick around for reviewer's comments!

Reviewer's Comments:

StarofFoam: Font Contests are these things where you can make a font (hehe) that has glow and shadow and sparkle and stuffs. Then you enter them in a contest that someone hosts and can sometimes win a prize! But recognition is also good. =) New mouse with a scroll! Yeah! I love those! My brother is messing up my mouse though. It is starting to act sluggish. See you next chapter!

IcyPanther: Yes I think I am doing better in updating RK fanfics than you are. Please update SOTP soon! I can't wait too see what happens! =) Why thankies! I'm trying my best to draw everything out and describing it a lot more. Reading your work helps me out a lot!

tocole: Hope you have a great summer too! And hurry and update Flower of Life!! We are nearing the end! And I can't wait to read the sequel when you get that started! Your story is awesome so I have to review, plus as you said, we Yahiko fans have to stick together!

Bloody Akiko Nagi the Insane: Eggshells, hmmm? I think that would hurt. Yes, I decided that Kenshin needed to do something aginst his normal early nature and then to wake up to breakfast burning? Perfect! =) See you next chappie!