As promised, I'm working on this fic and attempting to finish it! Here's another chappie for ya.

"dialogue"

'thoughts'

I don't own….duh….

The Brave Ones

Chapter 11

Kaoru had only been sitting on the blanket with Takeshi for a few moments, when the gate to the dojo yard banged open. Scooping up the infant, she rushed to see who was entering in such a manner. Yahiko's shouted warning stopped her in her tracks. Moving back toward her student, Kaoru's eyes widened as she saw men coming around the corner. There were 10 of them with swords drawn. Kaoru cursed herself for leaving her bokken in the dojo. She moved to put Takeshi down but was stopped by a hand on her arm. Looking up she saw Yahiko's face as he concentrated on the newcomers.

"Don't put him down," Yahiko cautioned. "It's safer for you to hold him. We may need to run."

"Hai," Kaoru agreed, inwardly cursing her stupidity.

Yahiko brought his shinai around so it was in a defensive position.

"Kaoru, stay behind me," Yahiko warned.

Kaoru nodded. Her eyes widened as the men in the yard parted and a single man stepped forward.

Kaoru involuntarily shuddered. The man was average height, but there was no warmth in his eyes whatsoever. Something about him oozed cruelty. His hair was black and pulled up into a topknot. His brown eyes were flat. He smiled lazily as he looked over the boy and woman in front of him. He zeroed in on Takeshi in Kaoru's arms.

"I see you possess what I've come for," the man said, his voice cool.

"You want Takehsi?" Yahiko asked. When the man nodded, Yahiko narrowed his eyes. "You won't get him. I'll protect him."

The man sneered. "A foolish notion and one you'll soon regret."

Kaoru found her voice. "Who are you?" she asked. "Why do you want Takeshi? He's just a baby!"

The man smiled and a chill ran down Yahiko and Kaoru's spines. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm known as Yoshida Aritomo. Now that the niceties are out of the way, give me that baby!" Yoshida shouted.

"Never!" Yahiko yelled.

Yoshida curled his lips back. "Have it your way. Now!" he shouted.

A loud "bang" echoed across the dojo yard. Yahiko slumped to the ground. Kaoru's eyes went wide as she dropped to his side. Rolling him over slightly, she gasped as she saw blood blossoming on the right side of his chest. Turning her attention to Yoshida, Kaoru screamed.

"You shot him! He's just a boy, why?"

"He was in my way, as are you. Now give me the baby," Yoshida demanded.

Kaoru looked at Takeshi in her arms. The shot had disturbed him and he wailed. Pulling him close to her chest she rocked him. Looking down at her student, Kaoru felt confusion for the first time. Yahiko needed medical attention and quickly. She couldn't protect Takeshi from a gun. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Yoshida smiled. "I'm getting impatient woman. The baby, now!"

Karou turned her tear-stained eyes toward Yoshida. Looking at the cruelty he exuded, she shook. Turning her attention back to Takeshi, she looked at his small, red face. Wiping the tears from his eyes, she slowly rose.

Yoshida felt satisfaction as he watched the woman slowly rise. He'd get the child. His revenge could begin.

Karou closed her eyes and said a silent prayer. Then mustering all her strength, she turned and ran in the opposite direction.

Yoshida screamed when he saw her jump away. Another "bang" echoed through the yard. The dirt a few inches from where Kaoru had been standing rose in a cloud. Kaoru kept running blindly toward the back of the yard and the back gate, Takeshi clutched to her chest.

Another "bang" sounded and Kaoru felt as if something bit her in the back of her leg. She stumbled and fell. Rolling her body to the side, she cushioned the blow and avoided falling on Takeshi. The infant was hysterically wailing and tears fell from Kaoru's eyes too.

Curling in on herself, she tried to wrap herself around Takeshi. Feeling strong arms grip her body, she screamed as she was simultaneously straightened and Takeshi was ripped from her arms. Kaoru watched helplessly as Takeshi was placed in Yoshida's grip.

Yoshida smiled. Watching the infant scream brought satisfaction to him. Turning his attention to the woman on the ground, he tsked as she brought her eyes to his.

"You should have just given him over. Take care of her," Yoshida said, turning away. "We've wasted far too much time already."

One of the men holding one of Kaoru's arms nodded. Turning he took his fist and proceeded to hit Kaoru several times in the face. Kaoru screamed at the pain. Just before she felt into darkness, she called out.

"KENSHIN!"

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As Kenshin followed his master through the streets back toward the dojo, the fear in his belly grew. He mustered all his strength and ran as fast as he could. In his ears, blood pounded and the only thing he could think of was a silent prayer that Kaoru and Yahiko were safe.

Turning a corner, Kenshin thought he heard his name screamed. He pushed himself faster.

Before him, Hiko moved at a blinding pace. Hiko's face was as still as a statue. Inside, he quivered with fear. His son was vulnerable and something was terribly wrong. He could feel it in his bones. Fear and adrenaline pushed him beyond his godlike speed. Never before had Hiko ever felt this urgency. He silently prayed to every kami to protect Takeshi.

Seeing the dojo gate ahead and standing wide open, Hiko roared. Racing into the yard, he pulled up short and examined the scene before him. The dirt was scuffed. On the ground 20 feet before him, the boy Yahiko laid. Rushing to the boy's side, Hiko knelt and felt for a pulse. It was there, weak, but there. Examining him, he saw the gunshot wound in his chest.

Hiko felt Kenshin right behind him, looking over the dojo yard. Hiko broke the silence.

"The boy's alive," he said.

Kenshin made an affirmative sound and continued on toward where Kaoru lay.

"We need to find Kaoru-dono and Takeshi," he said.

Hiko closed his eyes. "Takeshi is not here. I can't feel his ki anywhere nearby," Hiko said softly.

Kenshin rounded the corner of the house and he cried out at the sight of Kaoru. Rushing to her side, he knelt beside her. Reaching out with a shaking hand, he felt for a pulse. The steady thumping in her neck broke him. He leaned over to her shoulder and cried.

Kaoru's face was a swelling mess of shiners, and welts. Someone had taken a knife a cut her arms in several places. Pulling himself together, Kenshin began tearing strips of cloth from his gi to wrap the many cuts.

A few moments later, he detected Sano and Misao approaching the dojo. Rushing into the yard panting, the two stared wide eyed at the sight of Yahiko laid out with a gunshot wound. Beside him, Hiko sat, holding a piece of cloth to the wound.

"You have a friend who's a doctor. Go get her!" he shouted, as the two stood paralyzed.

"Kuso!" Sano yelled as he ran with all his strength to get Megumi.

Misao dropped to Hiko's side. "Is he?" she asked, her voice quavering.

"He's alive but badly wounded. Check on Kamiya," Hiko ordered.

Misao nodded and shot to her feet. Following the tracks in the dirt she stopped when she saw Kaoru laid out near the rear gate. Rushing to Kenshin's side, she dropped and began to help him wrap up the many cuts.

Kenshin didn't stop his actions, he merely nodded to Misao as he continued to wrap Kaoru's injuries. Misao leapt to her feet and ran in the house. Returning a few moments later, she carried a bucket of water and some clean bandages. Taking a cloth, she softly began to wipe Kaoru's face.

Kaoru felt the darkness recede slightly. She felt a soft touch on her sore cheek. Mustering her strength, she tried to open her eyes.

Misao watched as Kaoru's eyes fluttered. "Kenshin," she called in alarm.

Kenshin moved til he was in Kaoru's field of vision. Holding her hand, he softly spoke to her.

"Kaoru-dono, I am here. You're going to be alright," Kenshin said, warmth flooding his voice.

Kaoru fought against the darkness and managed to open her eyes. Before her, an angel sat. Warm violet eyes, looked at her with love and the most beautiful golden halo hung above fire red tresses.

"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin said.

Suddenly, memories flooded back to Kaoru of Yoshida, Takeshi and what had taken place. Fear flooded her body. Grasping Kenshin's arm, she looked into his eyes.

Kenshin's eyes widened as he saw the panic in Kaoru's gaze. He watched as she worked her throat until she could speak.

"Yoshida...," was all she said before fainting once again.

Kenshin felt his master at his side. Looking up from Kaoru, he stared into black eyes blazing with the fury of hell itself. Hiko's fist was clenched and shaking at his side. Those eyes memorized each cut and welt on Kaoru. Emotions washed themselves through him, until he nearly blazed with the fire of righteous anger.

Looking into Kenshin's blazing eyes, Hiko spoke. "The doctor is here. Bring Kaoru to her. Once they've been stabilized, we hunt."

Kenshin nodded. He knew his master would not leave Yoshida alive for this. Inside himself Kenshin felt the Battousai scrambling for dominance. Taking a deep breath, he forced his murderous other half down. They would exact revenge for the pain Kaoru and Yahiko had to endure, but the killing would be left to the dragon next to him. No, he would not kill, but for every cut and hit Kaoru had received, someone would receive them in triplicate.

Misao watched in awe as the two Hiten Mitsurgui masters practically blazed with anger. The tension in the air was thick and she silently said a prayer. Not for those who'd done this travesty but for her friends. Misao wanted them to come back from this safely. They were close to a line that once crossed, one could not come back from. Silently Misao promised that she would lend her strength to their cause. She would help them return an innocent child to the arms of the man he belonged with. Looking at Hiko's face, Misao felt her heart wrench. Takeshi had wormed his way into Hiko's heart and without that small child, he would be a monster. Returning her attention to Kaoru, she helped Kenshin bring her to Megumi.

Hiko stood by the back gate, looking at where Kaoru had lain. Noticing some of the tracks in the dirt, he followed them out the gate. Following the trail to a tree, Hiko stopped. In front of him was a note, held in place by a dagger.

Growling, Hiko grasped the dagger and tossed it aside. Opening the note, his eyes scanned it quickly. When finished, he raised his eyes toward the setting sun. Instead of black pupils, Hiko's eyes blazed fire red.

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Far to the Northwest, a carriage rushed along the Tokaido trail. Inside a man sat holding a sleeping child. Yoshida Aritomo smiled. There was no warmth in that smile. He possessed the one thing he'd searched for as soon as heard it existed. Yuriko's child. He'd possessed her body at times, but he'd never come close to possessing her heart. Now a piece of her heart lived on in this small child. He would enjoy giving this child his own special brand of love. He'd left Hiko a parting message and even now he knew the man would plan to follow him. Another smile crept across his face. 'Let him come. He'll regret it soon enough.' Yoshida erupted in a peal of laughter. He delighted in pain, and soon, he'd make Hiko feel pain like he'd never experienced.

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Okay folks, there ya go for now. I promise I'll get on the updates a little quicker. I hope you enjoy this. Reviews are always appreciated.