AN-To readers out there, I want to thank you for your support! I wrote this chapter for you! I hope you like it; especially those of you who love to see action! Battousai may not have feelings, but meeting with Kaoru is about to change all that. If any of you have questions, comments please leave them in your review. Please read and enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin series. I wish I did, but I don't. : (

Being Alone

Chapter 2

It was a rainy morning. The rain from last night never stopped pouring. Kaoru was tired from staying up the whole night to watch over the sick man. She knew when she discovered his identity; she couldn't throw him back on the streets. That wasn't her nature. Even though he took away her happiness, she couldn't leave him to die. Kaoru once, wanted revenge against him, but gradually it faded away, because she struggled to live her life. She was a woman with a bad reputation, but a kind heart. Many people didn't like her. They thought she was more like her mother. What really made them mad, was no matter how bad they treated her, she never took them on. They tried really hard to make her sell the dojo, but she never wanted to leave her hometown. She worked so hard in her life to survive. She worked for two different jobs, did house chores, and cooked for herself. Sometimes she took home meals from Akabeko. She hardly had any friends. There weren't much people for her to trust. They envied her mostly due to the fact she was an independent woman who didn't need a man.

Kaoru walked into Battousai's room with a tray of food for him. He was still sleeping. His body temperature went down dramatically. Kaoru swore to herself not to make a big scene. She had to be very careful, now that there was a manslayer staying in her home. She would have no other choice, but to wait until he fully recovers, before his departure. After his departure, Kaoru never wanted to see him again.

Kaoru laid his tray of food beside his limp form. She heard footsteps and felt someone's ki at the dojo gates. She decided to leave him by himself. She knew, when he woke from his slumber, he would be capable of feeding himself. As Kaoru entered the dojo yard, she saw her very dear friend waiting for her.

"Good morning Dr. Gensai. I am glad to see today. How are your grand children doing? Are they well?" asked Kaoru with concerned voice.

"Yes of course they are. They asked to see you today, but since it's raining today, I thought it will be best if stayed inside where's it safe and dry. How are you Kaoru?" asked Dr. Gensai in a polite mannerly voice.

"I'm just tired from a long night. I'm thinking to take the day off from chores today, since it's raining outside," said Kaoru. She looked up and saw the dark cloudy sky. The morning so far wasn't a pleasant one for her. Today was going to be a rough day. She only hoped Battousai wouldn't wake so soon. If he didn't she could get some sleep.

"Kaoru if you need sleep, then get some. I wouldn't want to be the cause for you not to have any sleep. You need sleep, before you go off to work in the evening," Dr. Gensai told Kaoru. His face was full of concern.

"I'm just worried that's all, but I'll make sure to get some sleep thank you. By any chance, can you give me instructions to how to take care of someone when they had a fever," Kaoru asked.

"Yes of course, but why if I may ask?"

"Last night, I found someone who had a fever. He was wet, tired, and cold. I thought it would be best for me to take care of him. I didn't want to leave him in the street to die. I thought it was a harsh way for anyone to die," replied Kaoru earnestly. She trusted Dr. Gensai. If he knew she talked about Battousai, Dr. Gensai wouldn't tell a soul.

"If you don't mind, may I have a look of this young man staying in your home," said Dr. Gensai.

Kaoru nodded her head. She lead the way to the room, Battousai was staying in. She hoped he didn't wake up from his slumber. She wanted him to sleep. She wanted not to face this man at all. All she could do was hope when he awoke from his sleep; he decided not to kill her.

Battousai awoke. He was astounded to find himself still breathing, and wasn't lying in the streets. A man who killed, who took life so easily, was astounded to know his death wouldn't come to him so easily. He arose from the futon. He scanned his surroundings. He found himself in a room with just few furniture. Basically they were a dresser, trunks, a mirror, and a table that lay beside him. He was also shocked to see food. He wondered what he did to ever deserve what he was getting right now. Since Kenshin was so hungry, he gulped down the food, without chewing it so much. He then drank some tea.

Battousai slowly, but carefully snuck out of the futon, careful not to attract any attention. He walked around the empty dojo looking for life. He found no one. He thought this was weird. How could someone live in a dojo like this? The dojo was so big, yet there was no one at sight. The gates were locked. The gate walls were high enough to block people from seeing the dojo properly. He decided since this place was so empty, he could stay for a while. This was the perfect place to hide from the police, and unwanted enemies, not that he was afraid. He was just sick and tired of having to deal with the police every day. For the first time he was living a day, where blood wasn't going to be shed.

Battousai continued to search the dojo. Someone had to save him, but who? He hoped it wasn't a man, or else he would have to kill him. As Battousai rounded the hallway, he noticed there was one room he didn't check upon as yet. Quietly, and carefully he snuck into the room to check if there was any sign of life. What he saw surprised him. There was someone in the room. The room looked perfectly neat. The clothes were perfectly folded and placed on the trunks. The things on the dresser were neatly placed in order. The only mess in the room was the limp form covered in the blankets on the futon.

Amber eyes focused on the prey before him. His right hand reached the hilt of his sword, ready and waiting to strike. He was wrong, completely wrong. He thought today was a day his katana wouldn't get any bloodshed, but he was so wrong. This limp form, which laid in the futon, had to die. He had no doubt this person knew who was in their home, yet they were brave enough to let him stay. Battousai walked slowly to the bed to see whom the person was. His amber eyes took in the shock when he saw whom the limp form was. Right before laid a beautiful raven haired girl. Her hair in disarray covered the curves of her face. Her petite body entangled itself in the sheets. His amber eyes traveled from her petite form, to her lush full curvy pink lips. The young woman sleeping before him enthralled him. He wondered what a young beauty like her was doing alone home with him. Her husband had to be a fool to leave a young woman home with him. Actually he had to stupid to leave an innocent to be home with such a murderous monster. His lips smirked at the thought of his fun playing. He was fully going to enjoy playing with the fool's wife. He was going to teach her husband a lesson, to never leave his wife home with a murderer like him.

Amber eyes waited patiently, as his hand touched her face lightly. The young woman made no reaction to his light caress. He smiled a feral smile. If the young woman were going to play hard to get, then he would truly enjoy playing with her. Using the same hand that caressed her face, he traced the side curves of her body. Still he received no reaction from her. With the same hand he touched her breast slightly. She still made no response. This young woman intrigued him so much. It's been a long time since Battousai bedded a woman. He sometimes thought he needed that to cool his anger, his stress but that was a long time ago. He hardly felt any emotions. When he killed he, he just killed. He was so use too seeing bloodshed all the time; it reached a point to never affect him. From there he assumed all of his humanity, left him.

Battousai was slightly amazed of how he was touching this woman, when she was sleeping, but even now he couldn't get her to respond to him. All of his five senses were tuned to her. If she decided to he was going to give up, then she was in for a surprise. Slowly his hand moved up her leg. He gently messaged her calve, going up to her smooth, soft, creamy thigh. This young woman amazed him in every way. Her body was well shapely. She had some muscles; it was as though she worked out. Whoever her husband was, he was a lucky man not to only have such beauty, but a raven hair beauty with a nice figure to please any man. The thought of any man laying a finger on this young woman irked Battousai. He felt strong feelings gathering in him for this young woman. Feelings like possessiveness, protection, and something he didn't want to admit. Something he didn't feel a long time ago except with his wife Tomoe. Somehow the raven hair beauty found a way to bring out some of his emotions. It scared him half to death.

His hand continued to travel up her thigh, until he slightly touched the most intimate part of her body. The raven hair beauty reacted so fast; he didn't have time to see what happened next. One minute she was sleeping peacefully, not reacting to his touches. The next minute she was out of bed running out the door, to a next room. Battousai using his god like speed followed the young woman, until he corned her one of the rooms. She trembled slightly at the feel of his presence. She looked at him with fear in her eyes. Fierce amber eyes clashed with sapphire eyes. The beauty her eyes held amazed him. He knew this girl was a rare girl to find, yes indeed.

The young woman looked at Battousai with fear, her small form shivering. She backed herself into a wall. There was nowhere to run. He blocked her from escaping. Kaoru had no choice but to look in his amber eyes. She hoped for him not to wake up so soon. She was afraid if he did something bad was going to happen to her, but she didn't know it was going to be anything physical. No man had ever touched her in her most private areas. They were not allowed too. Usually if they dared lay one hand on her, she gave them a cold look, one facial expression they were afraid of meeting. Many men lust for her body, and even though she was born with a bad reputation, she still held dignity and honor for herself. However, Battousai was a different man. He was like the angel of death. He brought people's death faster then their eyes could blink. She didn't know why he was just staring at her. She hoped with all her heart he was going to leave, without making any further advances on her.

"Where's your husband? Why will he leave an innocent person like you behind?" asked Battousai with a harsh voice.

Kaoru could do nothing but stare at him. Her sapphire eyes spoke quite well to his amber eyes. She was afraid of him, but her fear was different. Instead of fearing for her life, she was only afraid of what he will do to her next. He smirked at her expression.

"I said, where's your husband? Why would he leave you home with me? Is he a fool for doing such a thing?" asked Battousai in a demanding, soft voice.

"I… don't… I… don't… have a… husband," replied the young woman shakily.

Her frame small, and shivering, stirred something inside of Battousai. Inside him, his conscience told him to comfort the young woman. How in hell didn't she have a husband? How could a young woman like her live all by herself? How can she support herself? He wondered so many different things, but he still kept a cold look on his face and in his eyes. This young woman had to be an extraordinary young woman. She lived by herself, found someway to be independent in such a big home like this. Battousai glanced one last time the angel before him. A woman her age would've been married and had kids by now, but she wasn't married, and didn't have a single child. This young woman must have struggled in life to be able to support her. He didn't advance any further on her. Instead he glanced at her one last time before he turned his back to her. The one thing he had to admit, they both had something in common. And that was, the both of them knew how it's like to be, and to feel alone.

Before Battousai could walk out the room he felt a sword by his throat. The young woman, who was afraid of him before, was so different now. Her voice seemed so much colder. The grip of her sword that pressed against his neck was firm. Battousai secluded the fact a woman could do this. He thought her to be graceful young woman, who was independent, and had so much to lose. He also had to admit the woman had courage to do what she did to him. No one ever did what she did to him, and lived to tell the tale of it. He turned to face the woman. His fierce amber eyes clashed with sapphire eyes. His only reaction that Kaoru received was his feral smile.