Well, here's the second chapter! I hope you guys like it! Don't forget to Read & Review okay? I'd really like the pointers, suggestions, and comments you all would like to make! Okay, enough with the chitchat, and on with the story!

Oh yeah, the disclaimer… I disclaim everything that's not mine… there…

Kaoru awoke to the sound of the wind blowing eerily through the trees. She blinked her eyes in the growing darkness, noting that the sun had already declined behind the horizon.

"How long have I been out?" she asked herself sleepily. She sat up, clutching her yukata closer to her body as a shiver traveled down her spine. "It's so cold!" she said. She got up from her futon and opened the door, noting that it was far chillier outside of her room.

Kaoru walked down the hall and out onto the porch. It was eerily silent, and it didn't look as if anyone was around. She walked out to the front gate, which had been closed tightly. 'Strange…' she thought, 'Where is everyone? Why is it so dark and cold?' Her mind wandered, thinking of what could have happened.

"They're probably just out getting a bite to eat" she thought out loud. A sudden fear in the air caused goose bumps to travel down her back. Her eyes went wide as she felt a presence behind her.

"Hello Kaoru Kamiya…" a cool voice said. Kaoru moved slowly to look at the stranger. Turning, she saw the glimmer of a blade coming toward her, and she screamed.

"K-kenshin!"

Kaoru suddenly felt her body being shaken violently. Her eyes snapped open and she let out another cry, scrambling to get away from the hands that shook her.

"Kaoru-dono! Get a hold of yourself! Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin yelled. Kaoru stopped thrashing as she heard the voice of her protector.

"Kenshin?" she said quietly. She looked up into his eyes; violet eyes that were swimming with flecks of amber. "I'm sorry Kenshin…" she said, her body becoming more relaxed as she became aware of her surroundings.

"Kaoru-dono… You were dreaming…" he said. Her eyes went wide as she remembered the mysterious man's snicker, and the flash of his sword crashing down on her. Her body tensed up again, and her heart began to beat faster. "Kaoru-dono? If you'd like, you may tell me what happened. I will listen, that I will" he said quietly.

"It was only a dream... That's all..." she said quietly, remembering the disturbing chill she felt as she had walked to the gate of the dojo. Kenshin noticed her strange behavior, but urged her to go on. She nodded and closed her eyes. "There was a man…" she stopped, shivering from the fear of the dream which shefelt had been so real. Kenshin grasped her hand, not really aware of his doing so.

"Kaoru-dono… If someone is after your life, I promise I will be there to protect you at all costs. I will stay here at your side, that I will" he said sternly, the flecks of amber growing in his eyes. Kaoru looked up, wanting desperately to tell him how she felt again. She searched her heart to try to find the words, when suddenly her door crashed open. Kenshin and Kaoru stared at the heap in front of them.

"Y-Yahiko? Sanouske?" Kaoru said, bewildered. Sano sat up quickly, putting on a very mischievous smile.

"Well, we heard you screamin' in here, and then Kenshin ran in" Sano said. That was when Yahiko sat up next to him.

"And so, we just wanted to see what was going on!" Yahiko finished. Kaoru's face flushed with anger, while Kenshin scratched his head, not knowing what to say.

"SANO, YAHIKO! GET OUT!" she yelled. She grabbed the nearest thing she could throw, her hand clutching one of her sandals. Her aim hit its mark as it collided with Sanouske's forehead. Yahiko scrambled out of the room after Sano, not wanting to suffer the same fate. As soon as the two were out of the room, Kaoru took a deep breath and fell back onto her pillow.

"Kaoru-dono! Are you alright?" Kenshin said worriedly. Kaoru stared at the ceiling and whispered her answer. She had wanted to tell him again… and again she wasn't able to…

"Hai, Kenshin… I'm fine… Just tired…" she whispered as she closed her eyes. Kenshin frowned down at the girl, but then gave a defeated sigh. That was when he noticed he was still clutching Kaoru's hand.

"My apologies Kaoru-dono" he said as he laid her hand next to her. Kaoru felt as if a winter storm had frozen her hand. His hand was so warm… so protecting… She wished he had never let go, but all good things must come to an end.

"Get out…" she whispered. Kenshin snapped his head towards Kaoru, not sure if he really heard her words, but she refused to open her eyes. Kenshin lowered his head and stood. Kaoru opened her eyes to stare at the ceiling once more. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought of Kenshin. She wondered why she had uttered those words to him. She wanted him there didn't she? That's when she remembered watching his back as he left for Kyoto. She cried for him, but he would never return her feelings. Not to her. "You don't love me… You never will... " Kaoru sobbed. "Ken… shin…" she cried softly as she drifted off into yet another restless sleep.

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Kenshin sat outside, the cresent moon barely showing in the fog that grew more and more. His head was lowered so that no one could see the hurt in his eyes as he thought of Kaoru's words... "Get out…" He gave a heavy sigh as the words wrapped themselves around his already broken heart.

His mind wandered back to Kaoru and the spiteful words she had spoken to him. Why couldn't he tell her? Why couldn't he tell her he loved her? But then he knew why… She hated him… He knew she hated him… How could anyone love a manslayer? A manslayer as terrible as himself. Kenshin stood from the porch, his hand going automatically to the hilt of his sakabatou. Kenshin walked to the gate of the dojo and turned to take it in once more before walking out into the cold street.

"It's almost winter… I should get some supplies…" he said to himself. He walked quietly into the growing fog, becoming a faint shadow as he stepped silently down the road.

8------------8------------8

Sano and Yahiko walked down the dirt path to Megumi's, not wanting to talk about what happened at the dojo.

"Hey Sano, you think Megumi will let us stay the night? I don't want to chance getting hit by Kaoru" Yahiko stated. Sano's hand traveled up to the bump protruding from his forehead.

"I think that'd be the best thing to do" he replied.

"Man, it sure is getting foggy out tonight!" Yahiko said.

"Yeah, a sure sign that winter is on its way!" The two boys walked down the road to Megumi's without exchanging another word.

8------------8------------8

The next morning, Kaoru awoke to birds singing their morning songs. She yawned sleepily, and then placed a hand on her head. 'Kenshin…' she thought as stared at the ceiling. 'Get out…' Kaoru cringed as she remembered the harsh and hateful words she had uttered to him. She sat up quickly, fear suddenly surging through her tired body.

"Kenshin! Kenshin!" she yelled. Kaoru jumped up from her futon and quickly put on her kimono, not bothering to do anything with her hair. She swung open the door to her room with such a force that the edge cracked against the wall. She then proceeded to run about in search of the rurouni, with no such avail. She felt her eyes begin to swell with tears as her heart ached with the possibility that she had driven him away. She heard the back gate close suddenly, and with a new and refined hopefulness she ran to greet whoever had entered.

"Kenshin!" she yelled, but when she reached the gate, no one was around. Kaoru lowered her head to the ground, fresh tears flowing from her azure eyes. Suddenly, with just a moment, the smirk she had seen in her dream flashed inside her head. Kaoru's head snapped up, and her body trembled in fear. That was when she noticed that the birds had stopped their singing. It felt as if the whole world had grown silent with the horror that filled her. That was when she knew she had to get out. She had to go find Kenshin; she had to apologize and tell him how she really felt.

There you go! Hopefully that's a little better (and a little longer!) Now you have to review – PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU! PLEASE REVIEW! … Okay… now that I'm done yelling, I'd like to take a moment and breathe… breath in… breath out… okay, I'm done! Hope you're here for the next chapter!

Okay, before I leave, I'm gonna reply to the reviews!

dah539 :They were doing some kendo practice, and Kaoru wasn't paying attention, so he hit her hand. That's all :)

Bradybunch4529 : I'm glad you like it so far! And if you have any pointers, let me know!

fpc : You're right, Kaoru isn't easily shaken, however, if someone were to hit your hand, it would probably hurt, regardless on how long you've been training kendo. To explain when Kaoru ran away, usually she'd just knock Kenshin out, and be about on her way right? Well, I'm trying to portray the more sensitive side of Kaoru that isn't shown much. She really cares about Kenshin, and she's become distraught over her feelings- I mean, love can be a pretty complicated and confusing thing for someone to deal with. As for Megumi, you're right. I did take her out of character, and I apologize. She'll be in the story more, and more into character, I just needed a major distraction for that particular spot in the story! But thanks for the pointers, they are much appreciated, and I'll keep them in mind when I continue!

animefreak-shinobi : Thanks for the compliment, and I'm sorry if it seems that their relationship is being rushed! I'll try to slow it down!

kentana : I know! I'm sorry it was so short, but I promise the coming chapters will be longer okay?

Thanks for the reviews everybody! They are very much appreciated!

Coming Soon – Chapter 3!

Candizzle