Rurouni Kenshin is the properties of Nobuhiro Watsuki-dono not mine.

So please don't sue.

Exile

Chapter 2

Kenshin looked from the boy to the woman who he now guessed to be named Kaoru, such a beautiful name for such a powerful presence. Kenshin kept his tongue, waiting to see what she would do.

Kaoru stood ready. Her katana held tightly read to not only disarm these grossly over paid thugs but to kill them if necessary.

"Kentaro leave Yahiko alone. It's me you want. Or have you forgotten? Lover." The 'lover' she said with scorn, just to piss Kentaro off more, and like a pill it worked.

"Leave the punk alone. I'll take care of this 'little girl'." He sauntered up to her, his massive body dwarfing her, but she didn't move she didn't do anything; she simple started back at him without a care in the world.

Kenshin was amazed at this feat; this slight woman was intending to fight this guy? He looked back to the boy now known as Yahiko expecting him to have run away at her command but instead he stood immobile, his bokken still in hand though it shook visibly, his face a stern mask of fear, and his breathing coming in rasping short intervals.

"Sir," it was Kaoru's voice once again, "Please leave; if you stay I can not be responsible for what may happen." She never glanced in his direction, but keeping eye contact with her enemy.

"I only wish to help. Please let me do that much." Begged Kenshin, something her never did.

Kaoru sighed and setting her jaw said, "Then keep Yahiko safe."

"Like anybody would want that little skinny brat." Said Kentaro, attempting to upset Kaoru. The boy's skinniness was not for lack of trying but because they barely had the money to live as it was.

"Let's dance you and I.," cooed Kaoru her feet moving her blade set on an angle. Her stance was that of no style that Kenshin knew, and he watched fasinated. Kentaro grinned, he thought that his strength would have her at his will and so used it. He took the thick blade in his hands and instead of taking the blade out he left it sheathed, he raised it high and brought it down with lightning fast speed. The tip embedded itself deep into the ground, carving a deadly impact mark…but there was no body where there should have been one. Kaoru was air born, her head passed inches by Kentaro's, as she landed and before he had a chance to turn her blade sailed through the dark night air. The sound of flesh parting from flesh seemed to echo through the alleyway.

Kenshin watched in amazement at the young woman. She stood to one side of Kentaro who in shock held his ear…now in his hands. Kaoru flicked her katana clean and neatly sheathed it. "Yahiko." She commanded, and the small boy instantly responded. Quickly bending and gathering the bread and standing beside his sister. He began to reach out to take her hand but stopped in mid stride. He could see the tense muscles beneath her porcelain skin, she had stopped short of beheading Kentaro when she realised that the young swordsman was still present.

"You had better get him to doctor Megumi. Or would you rather I take more bits and pieces from his hide?" she addressed Kentaro's men; she never even had to look at them. They ran to Kentaro's side and took him quickly away. Just the sound of her voice was enough to send them into a frightened frenzy.

The thugs were soon gone and they were left in the ally. "Is there anything that you need sir?" Kaoru spoke softly, her voice betraying the strength behind it.

"Ah…ah, no, not really." Stammered Kenshin, never once had he been so startled by anyone…even a woman.

Kaoru turned to him and laid her deep blue eyes on him. "I thank you for your persistence in aiding me." She glanced down at Yahiko and continued "We do not have much but if we could, we would like to thank you with a dinner…with what we are able to salvage." It was then that Kenshin got a good look at her. The yukata she wore was old, and seemed to have been made for a man twice her size, though she was skilled at covering the cuts she had made to have it fit her. Also on her chest just below her collarbone there seemed to be a burn mark, he could not tell from where he was but it seemed to have been branded upon her skin marring the flesh forever.

"I would be honoured. Thank you."

They walked casually from the city and into the deeper areas of the woods surrounding the city. Kaoru never glanced to either side of her, though many people looked out from their hiding places. It seemed to Kenshin that she was a force to be reckoned with, and no one seemed to want the job. In the woods they passed many deserted homes, doors hung open by the last threads of their hinges, vines over grew everything, turning the most regal of homes into places even rats would question living in. It seemed that these homes were once residences of high-ranking people, which seemed to have fled in a great hurry. Clothing, books, and dolls lay throughout the grounds. They turned and followed an unused path that opened up to a large home. The sign hanging from the door said 'Kamiya dojo', Kenshin stopped. "This was a dojo?"

Kaoru stopped as she pushed Yahiko inside. "Yes, once, many years ago. Our father ran one of the best dojos in the city. But then Yukio came, and everything changed." She turned to him her eyes shining "You may rest here traveler, for as long as you wish. It is the only way that we can repay you."

"I could not burden you so. But I would like to stay the night, and I thank you."

The dojo was quite and extremely clean though obviously well used. The bokkens along the wall each had their signs of use. The kitchen was small but it seemed that very few of the previous students ever really ate there. It seemed this was once an active family and dojo. The students ate on the run, much like Kaoru and her brother. Speaking of the two they stood at the pot quietly cutting the small vegetables into the pot, and using small amounts of a precious soup mix. Kenshin looked around trying to find some way of being useful but not finding anything. They had even already set the table, all that waited were the occupants and dinner.

"The soup will be ready soon. Please sit." Said Kaoru, she stood in the doorway, as any well-groomed woman should, her hands clasped in front of her and her face a mask of calm.

Kenshin nodded then realised that he had yet introduced himself he stood again coming up to the two siblings. "I am sorry I seem to have forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Kenshin, Himura Kenshin."

Kaoru turned and addressed him with a soft smile said, "I am Kaoru Kamiya, and you have already met my brother Yahiko. Now please sit, dinner is ready." She motioned to the table and Kenshin sat reluctantly. Dinner was uneventful; they sat in silence except the odd glance that Yahiko gave Kaoru. He seemed concerned but did not know how to address it. Kaoru never looked up from her soup. She was ashamed at the meal and at the job she had done to Kentaro, especially in front of Yahiko and this man – this - Kenshin, but what also troubled her was the job she had yet to do. She waited until each had finished and quickly whisked the dishes away. "Yahiko show Himura-dono to one of the rooms, then get a bath ready for him." Kenshin looked from Yahiko to Kaoru's graceful back. She was treating him like he had entered an inn. It left him with a distant feeling that he didn't like. She – both of them deserved better then this. A home in the middle of nowhere and the city guards hating them for no real apparent reason. But he did as she asked and soon found himself in a descent size room; 'It must have been their father's'; thought Kenshin, as he wondered what had happened to him.

Kaoru bathed after she had seen to Yahiko and found him already fast asleep, 'Good, at least he won't hear us.' She locked the door just in case and went to her room. Quickly drying she pulled out her best sleeping yukata and stealing herself, she padded softly to Kenshin's room. She stood at the door readying herself and slowly entered. She was silent as the dead Kenshin didn't even stir. The only sound she made was the soft click of the door, at this Kenshin turned surprised. He had felt a presence but had ignored it thinking that she was simply locking him in the room for their safety like she had with Yahiko. But now there she stood her eyes plastered to the floor and her body barely covered by a barely there sleeping yukata.

Seeing that unfortunately created the sensation that Kaoru was hopping for and she pulled her shoulders back exposing more of her chest. The blood and heat that covered Kenshin went straight to his crotch. Kenshin pulled angrily at his pants trying to cover the bulge there.

"K-Kaoru-dono…" he stammered licking his lips and trying desperately to keep his eyes from her seductive form, still pressed against the door.

"When I said that we had nothing to give you I meant both of us. But there is something that I can give you that would be sufficient payment for your help this evening." This said she felt that she could face him. She really had no idea if he would agree. She had had never had to do this before and was scared stiff as to what he would want of her (but like she would ever admit to that). But she had heard that women had done this sort of thing when they had no money to give in thanks, plus dinner was a bust. Half of the vegetables were rotten and had to be tossed, which made for a dismal meal. At least if she gave herself then he might be satisfied.

Kenshin saw all this, she allowed him to read it in her eyes. This aroused him even more, that this sexually innocent woman was going to allow him to deflower her, for the love of her brother. He opened and closed his mouth not knowing what to say. Kaoru took this as a sign that he wanted it, and she pushed away from the door. Swaying her hips she sauntered up to him and pressed her body close to his. She could feel his heat, and she swallowed deeply calming her own arousal. This man was gorgeous, she would have been all too happy to have him take her just for that fact that, but all good men have their price, and she hoped that this was payment enough.

Kenshin loosing himself to her heat and her assertiveness roughly grabbed her waist and half pulled half threw her to his futon. Once there he loomed over her, his face hidden in shadow but his lust for her all too evident. Kaoru lay there trying desperately to steady her heart. She wasn't prepared for how aggressively he took her. She had expected him to be all too ready but this was ridiculous. He was like an animal, and just at that opportune moment Kenshin growled. Kaoru in her shock gasped and looked in to amber eyes instead of the soft violet that she had assumed were Kenshin's. Now she was faced with a creature utterly different then the man that she had walked in on. As Kenshin bent down to stop within centimetres of Kaoru's face she swallowed her pride and turned her face away, and felt Kenshin's weight upon her.