Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

A/N: Okay people it has been a long, very long, time since I updated last, and I'm just fore warning that I think my writing style has changed so the story tone and style maybe a little different, though I will try to keep it how it used to be.

Warning: This chapter, as well as this story, contains many references to Catholicism in it. So if you do not take kindly, or if you not opened-minded to Christianity, just know that this story does contain Christian aspects.

Letters of Sin
Eyes of Evil

The confessional was drenched by incense to such an amount that it clouded Kaoru's senses before she could even speak. It had always been that way, ever since she first arrived in Rome. Outside it was still early dawn, but the fathers were always here, always waiting for sinners like her.

"Father, forgive me for I have sinned," Kaoru smiled and took another breath, "it has been two weeks since my last confession. Would you like me to say the Act of Contrition?" Kaoru added after a moment of silence. A melodic voice came from the other side of the dull screen, covered by a crimson curtain.

"Yes. Go on." Kaoru nodded, and dutifully recited it from memory.

Oh, my God, I'm heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell. But most of all I have offended Thee, My God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to confess my sins, do penance, and amend my life. Amen.

"What are your sins?" Again came the voice behind the curtain. In the flicker of the candle light, Kaoru barely made out the sunken form of a man, hunched over what she took to be a cane. Memories with his statement flooded her thoughts. The slayer with crimson hair and a cross shaped scar. Oh, Lord, is it a sign?

Kaoru's eyes closed, as a blush ran over her countenance. "I have had wicked thoughts, Father." Her voice was mild, and flamed with a hushed embarrassment. Never before had she ever had such thoughts of a man, not until the yester noon.

She saw the old priest lean back against his chair, and cough abruptly and briefly. It was a harsh out take of breath that scratched Kaoru's ears; the ravages of time were wearing on his body, and it almost seemed like the old priest was struggling just to listen. For the spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak, the verse entered her mind for that moment. Kaoru gave a bitter smile.

"Oh, yes, of what, my child?" He questioned, just as priest do.

"Impure thoughts of a man, Father."

"How old are you?" He asked again.

Kaoru told him her age and she could almost see the exact angle of his nod. "This is a normal occurrence for a maiden your age, but be warned that fornication and things of that matter hurt the Lord. Save yourself child, be a pure temple for the Lord our God. Is this all?"

"No, father. I'm also a coward."

"Why is this?"

Kaoru looked at her necklace which held no brilliance in the dark confessional, and sighed, feeling her throat constrict. "I'm running."

When Kaoru arrived at the Spanish Steps she was not surprised to find herself alone, well alone in the essence that Kenshin was not to be seen among the sea of faces. The buzz of activity engulfed her, but she was far away from it all with a book bound by her hand, and every inch of skin covered by a black simple dress fit for the ward of nuns.

She never paid heed when girls look her way with disgust, she was above that. Material things were something of no consequence; they were the tools of greed when one was not careful. Giving one last look, Kaoru sat on the steps near the wall as to not disturb the path of people who were roaming up and down trying to get to the little shops that covered the commonplace.

Kaoru did not bother to pay attention to anything as she opened the book and closed it just as fast with one thought in mind. I'm naive to think he will come.

What was she doing? The man could kill her. Was this just some whim of a girl who had no one? Kaoru clasped her hands together. She was smarter than this...but the mark on his face, and his warm touch...they did not awake any fear within her heart. And the remorse in his eyes told her all she needed to know-- the man had a noble heart.

Lord, protect me from doubt, from worry, and evil.

Kaoru shook her head and stopped. A cold feeling took hold of her heart, and for a moment she was unable to breath. Frantically she looked around her, making sure not to stand up as to not alert whoever was near. With unyielding certainty, Kaoru knew she was being watched, but by whom? With quite demeanor, more that she felt, Kaoru slowly stood, dusted off her dress, and started up the stairs.

Sweat trickled down her brow and yet people passed by unaware, unassuming, and unfeeling of any disturbance. It was only her again, alone in darkness. Kaoru's heart galloped faster in its cage when she reached the top of the stairs and felt the presence nearer in range; its cold hatred growing in force.

An arm grabbed hers and Kaoru jumped inside herself as she barely contained a scream. She did not close her eyes, nor did she jump physically or scream. With a certain caution in her eyes, she looked to the person who held her and almost cried out in relief. Red hair, violet amber eyes, and a cross shaped scar came into view.

Did he feel it as well?

"Good afternoon, Signore." Her voice shook a little having Kaoru frown at her own weakness.

Kenshin depressed his head slightly, arrogantly. "I'm sorry, but I was just going to leave. You see you had yet to appear." If Signore's eyes were any indication of what he thought then he most certainly did not believe her fable.

"You should not have stayed there so long." From his mouth it sounded like an accusation, but it did not fetter Kaoru in the least.

Kenshin did not scare her; that feeling did. Kaoru cocked her head a little to the side still attempting to act like she did not know anything for reasons she could not explain.

"What are you saying?" He said nothing when he grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the commonplace, striding down streets until they were again by the river, on a bridge, the same one where she was yesterday. Kaoru dared not look behind her fear, but she felt the cold eyes follow her. They were distant, yet the cold feeling was close enough.

"Stop." Kenshin's voice suddenly commanded and Kaoru complied. And suddenly his harsh eyes turned onto her, who in turn gave a weak smile. "Didn't you feel it?"

"You mean, Signore, do I feel it?" Kenshin raised an elegant brow, and turned around to face where they had come from searching for where the feeling came from. Was he trying to protect her? And furthermore, how had she sensed the cold feeling; never before had Kaoru ever noticed auras or things of that matter.

Kaoru did not bother him, amusing herself by leaning over the railing and looking at the slow passing water. The high noon sun blazed down on the ripples blinding Kaoru when she looked at the brightest spots. It was like golden diamonds in a drank old river.

It surprised Kaoru that she did not think of the feeling or the eyes when he was near; it distressed her to a great extent. She was use to caring for herself, and now it was like she did even care about the fact someone was following...no, watching her. She dared to look at Kenshin, and a sudden anger rose in her; it was not him which vexed her, it was herself.

Kaoru, what are you doing trusting a man you don't even know?

It was there again, closer than ever before. Cold hatred swept up her spine.

A feeling of complete panic then over took but was stopped by a voice. "Run."

Kenshin resisted the urge to reach for his sword not wanting to frighten Kaoru in the least. He had come late not without cause, in fact he was not even planning to meet her thinking it foolish of him, but against his logic something compelled him to go. And so he went. But when he arrived there he did not feel nor see her for a moment amidst the people, and was about to turn his back when he saw a maiden in black walking, somewhat hurriedly, almost terrified.

He regarded the girl for a moment uncaring if she was scared or not, until he felt her ki, saw her innocent face, and then sensed from where her trepidation stemmed.

He did not know why he did what he did, but in the next moment he started for her, grabbed her arm, and she acted oblivious. But Kenshin knew she was different. He knew she was trying to get away from something. But all she said to him was, and smiling as a matter of fact, "Good afternoon, Signore."

What was it about this young maiden that attracted him to her? It was not the type of attraction he would consider romantic or lustful, though he could not be called a romantic person in the least. But there was something about Kaoru which irritated him...

…and that person had followed them. He was near. He could feel it. Could feel him.

A hand reached out to his arm and pulled. He had felt it coming, felt Kaoru's sudden fear, but why?

"Kenshin. Come with me."

He looked at her, raising an eyebrow slightly to show that he was annoyed. Her eyes were blue, wide, and terrified-- it made his blood boil. Kenshin could not help but wonder what caused her such a frantic emotion. No longer stood in front of him a young Amazon, but a mere child.

But again she paid no heed to his eyes. He let out a sinister smile, she was one of the few who did not fear him, most likely because she did not truly know the monster he was.

Kaoru eyes flew from side to side, seeing that each was water; they had to go forward to get away. Now, quickly. She knew not from where the voice came, but she wished to do what it instructed her and it told her to run.

She was a coward; she always was running from something feeling herself unable, unwanting to face it. Kaoru glanced one more time at Kenshin; a plead etched into her eyes, and then turned her back on him and hurried off the bridge.

The pendant danced around her neck glittering in the sun until her hand clasped around it for strength. Keep going, Kaoru, don't turn back.

She knew Signore followed for she heard his soft footfalls behind her, and Kaoru was almost positive that he let his presence be known to her. The man could walk silently on water if he wanted to. Kaoru brushed her thoughts away unable to focus on barely anything except for the lurking feeling that was slowly diminishing...

...lighter...

...fainter...

...until it was gone.

Kaoru stopped her brisk pace letting herself feel the warmth of the sun on her face. Old buildings surrounded the small cobblestone street she was on decorated with little plants on window seals and laundry lines infested with clothing.

She smelled the scent of common soap; harsh, but clean. No, Kaoru did not focus her attention of the man behind her, because for now she wanted to ignore him and bask in the feeling of security which would not last for long.

Kaoru lowered her gaze. She was a coward, but what was she suppose to do. For years, it had seemed, she had lost that feeling of terror she often felt when she was traveling with the old priest, and yet here she was again in the same shadow of fear.

Is it them?

Yes, them, for Kaoru did not know who had been after her for years, if indeed they were the same people. She was never one for sensing others, but often during times when she was alone she would sense something, the same malicious, cold feeling.

Giving her head and final shake, she smiled when she looked up at Kenshin. "You must think me a coward?"

He did not answer, but only regarded her coldly, like some thing that wasted his precious daylight, and then without warning stepped away from her. It seemed like he was trying to force himself to leave.

"You don't have to stay here, Signore."

"Why did you run?" He questioned with thunder in his voice. It was so low and silent that Kaoru could barely make it out that she glanced at him in a rather suspicious way. She had already said it once before, how dare he make her say it again.

He looked at her, she saw, with somewhat of an amused visage which quickly dissolved. It only angered her more causing her face to flush.

"I told you before, I'm a coward."

"That's not what I asked." He replied still not facing her.

Kaoru lowered her head, he would think her a fool, a romantic, and silly little dreamer if she told him the root of her anxiety. It was a hopeless cause for he would keep on asking, and she did not wish to keep up a childish charade, and at the same time did not wish to lie to him. After all she was in confession earlier.

"I heard a voice command me to run." There, let him think me a fool.

She walked slowly beside him, a small breeze running through narrow alleys ways and dampen streets ruffled his long coat. It billowed elegantly behind him and the same tapping sound played until he stopped it. Kenshin spared a glance at Kaoru, she did not look his way, maybe she did not hear the beating of his sword against his leg. Maybe she did. It was of no matter, Kenshin would not have cared; his sword went wherever he traveled.

Kenshin tore his eyes away from the raven haired girl once more, and looked ahead into the darkening streets of Rome. The remainder of the afternoon after the incident, or the feeling as Kaoru ordained the event, seemed to flow by at a snail's lethargic pace. Her statement about the voice was bizarre, but he reminisced about her face when she spoke of it. He did not utter a word. He made no movement and let her statement pass as though he did not think anything of it while in truth his view of the girl became ever more apparent.

She was eccentric.

She explained to him that she thought it was God who spoke to her and at that moment he wished to laugh, but refrained. And when Kenshin Himura laughed it was not a good sign. His laugh was infamous, evil carrying, and not in the slightest bit joyful. Sometimes he laughed when he was about to go in for the kill. He supposed that's why it-the laugh, which was something to be of joy-sounded more like a sword being unsheathed. It was filled of death, for death.

Still, the thought of God was absurd. The very notion was that of a romantic child. He pitied the person who placed their faith in something they could not see, touch, nor hear. Though some would beg to differ. If this God, this Divine Lover, and most Merciful Lord was real, then where was He twenty years earlier? No bitterness of age over took him any longer; that died a long time ago with his humanity-- just like the joy in a laugh. It left him with each soul that was summoned by his hand and sword.

"What's under your patch? I have wished to inquire about it for sometime now." Kaoru talked about the bandage covering his left cheek, and for a while he did not saying anything content to ignore her question. Signore did it well.

"Forgive my disregard of decorum."

And she tossed the thought from her mind.

Kenshin slightly depressed his head signaling that he heard her, but did nothing else. Kaoru looked at him a while longer taking in the way his crimson bangs fell softy over his face, the way his eye lids closed over sun-ish eyes, and for a moment Kaoru thought he looked darkly angelic. But logically Kaoru understood that this man was no angel, maybe he was a fallen one.

Kaoru picked at her necklace idly trying to pass time when she felt the urge to look at the sky, after biding a good night to an elderly man resting on a wooden chair. Black was fingering over the dimming day, and if she squinted Kaoru could make out the first stars in the sky, however faint they were.

"It's time I escort you home." His voice was distant but commanding. Kaoru frowned a bit at his tone, she was never one to be told what to do, but in the interest of not arguing she depressed her head.

"Do not bother with that, Signore. I'm perfectly able to do that myself." He cocked an eyebrow and shook his head.

"Like earlier today?" He mocked her, and worst of all he knew. No matter, she could be just as caustic.

"The person in question did not catch me, did they? Good day, Signore."

Kaoru turned on her heel and started to walk away just as he grabbed her arm. She looked up at him seeing those amber eyes flicker just for a second before regaining stability. "Tell me a date, please."

There was a certain edge to his voice that he did not approve of. What was he doing asking to see her again? It was inappropriate and wrong. Kaoru was just a girl, a troublesome girl at that. But at the sight of her smile something quickened within him--what was happening. He had only known this raven haired God girl for just two days, but the feeling of interest was not going.

He had to yield this charade yet couldn't.

Kaoru gave him a smile, a bubble of happiness forming in her throat, but decided for the cryptic answer. For some reason she knew their paths would meet again, so with a shake of her head she spoke, "That is for God to decide. I'll leave fate in His hands."

She smiled as he frowned, but walked away from him. He did not call out to stop her, nor did she expect him to, but whatever the outcome of her decision it would remain in God's hands. Destiny may be hers to decide, but she would take and decide what He placed in front of her one piece at a time.

A/N: Okay and now about my other story, Cherry Blossom Dream, I'm waiting for my editor-- as you can see I don't have one for this story (Sorry!)--to send me the final draft, and then, and only then will I post it. But I can assure everyone that I do have the next chapter finished.

Thank you to all my reviewers. I will write to each any every one of you next time.

And if anyone would like to be my editor for this story, please tell me. And I'm sorry this chapter is so confusing.