Rurouni Kenshin is the properties of Nobuhiro Watsuki-dono not mine. So please don't sue. Author's side notes: I have had some readers ask about ages, and the love life of our heroine. And I really like the idea that Mini-Oro-Kenji-Himura who asked about the age difference and I figured that I would keep it...just to make things interesting, and I was also going to change Sanosuke's and Megumi's parts...but that will wait for later-when I get there. As for the love life of Kaoru....well the idea that Mini-Oro-Kenji-Himura also gave me was to switch Tomoe with her dead fiancé Akira. Which works great...I really had no idea how to handle that...and I was going to figure that out when I got there but hey!! Thanks to you I don't have to!!! feels weight lifted partially from shoulders Also I would like to apologise for my poor spelling on the previous chapter. In my haste to get it up loaded I missed spelt some very important names. And I apologise profusely. It will not happen again. Oh and please tell me wither I should keep the 'violence' the way it is...I'm not too sure on how far to go with the interactions between Kenshin and Kaoru. Me thinks it's a touchy subject. But on ward and up ward with the story!

Act I Kaoru, Kamiya Battosai (Pt 2)

Kihei continued "I don't like to do things this way but you left me with no choice. But since you've begun to catch on to my brother I can't take anymore chances, and it was all moving so well. I thought the kindly old man routine would take care of you but unfortunately you're just so damn stubborn about this joint."
"Kihei..."was all that Kenshin could whisper, finally realizing what had happened right under his nose.
"So I used my brother to cook up this murder commotion, to discredit the school. The name Hitokiri Battosai worked like a charm. The legend of his terrifying prowess is such the no one dared to stand against him." Kihei was getting far too much enjoyment out of this slow torture over Kenshin, who still continued to stare at the old man. "Thanks to that it only took two months to reduce this place to what it is now! Buy my estimation the value of this property will increase five or six times with the westernization policy and the growth of industry. It would be wasted on some sword fighting school."
"Kihei..."
Gohei spoke up at this point forcing Kenshin's stare to him. "My big brother says your motto is 'swords that give life.' Funny, why don't you use the 'sword the gives life' right now...to save your own life?"
Kenshin glared at Gohei the anger rising in his veins.
"Are you coming here or am I going there?" he coaxed, a grin spreading across his hairy face. Kenshin answered that by dashing towards the giant, a determined look on his face. He brought his bokken up while Gohei brought his sheathed sword down on the smaller man, the crack of bamboo on hardened leather echoed through the small dojo. Kenshin stared blankly as Gohei grabbed hold of the bokken and said "your power is in your little boy dreams!" and broke the bokken. Kenshin was thrown off balance and as he staggered back Gohei grabbed hold of his gi and pulled him up to his face. "Mastery and death – that's what a swords for!" he roared. Kihei at this point pulled a small knife from his pocket and came towards Kenshin, now hanging in the air. He grabbed his hand and cut his thumb. The bright red blood flowed freely and Kihei then pressed Kenshin's thumb to the deeds he still held.
"This makes the property mine. Himura Kasshin-ryu is gone!" he gloated staring down at the paper in his hands.
Then from the door they heard someone enter. Gohei looked over and said "Nishiwaki? What's the matter?"
All the man could do was stammered "h-her..." then collapsed and standing behind him stood our lady friend. Her stare was blank and seemingly uncaring. She took in the scene with care and her amber hued eyes fell on Kenshin who was still held in the air.
"Ru-rurouni!" he gasped
"Forgive Sessha's lateness Kenshin-dono. He told me everything I need to know." She began a steady and slow walk towards them her eyes never showing anything that she might be thinking.
"You again!" growled Gohei "are you here to talk about swords that give life too?" the mocking tone in his voice was all too evident.
"No." she looked to the floor her mind in thought. "A sword is a weapon. Whatever pretty names you give it swordsmanship is a way to kill. He speaks as one who has never bloodied his hands. Kenshin-dono maintains a simple, naïve life."
Gohei smirked, and Kenshin whispered "Rurouni..."
"But in the face of such awful truth..." she faced them once again that sweet rurouni smile on her lips, "the naïve lie he tells is so much better. If Sessha had a wish it would be that his lie would become the truth of this world."
Gohei glancing over to Kihei said "Hey, bro. Is it ok if I kill this chick?"
"Yes. She's been a pain. Have your goons beat her to death."
"All right boys! Go to it!" he yelled and pointed his sword towards the woman in their path. They yelled an excited "YEAH!!!" and charged.
"Rurouni! Please run!" yelled Kenshin finally finding his voice.
"Hurting more people seems so pointless. Anyone who dislikes seeing the doctor leave-now." Was her answer to the on coming men.
They answered in unison "There will be no wounded tonight, but one dead body!"
Keeping her eyes down cast she ran full speed into the crowd her arms posed and ready. Her cry was silent as she with drew her sword and brought it down on the men, sprays of blood being the only sign that she had passed. The rest of the goons stared, shock running through them. But their looks didn't stop her; she continued her path towards Gohei and Kihei. Their men falling like leaves to her power and speed.
"One swing?! It can't be...is this some sort of sorcery!?" cried Kihei.
'No...it isn't sorcery. Its speed!' thought Kenshin as he watched in aw as the women went to work.
'Speed of sword. Speed of body. Speed at reading her opponents' moves. Taking down man after man with the least possible movement!' was all that was running through Gohei's small mind.
"Oh, two more things." She spoke after dispensing with the goons. She turned to face them and her look gave everyone in the room (who was till conscious) chills. "Hitokiri Battosai doesn't use Himura Kasshin-ryu...but an ancient style of the Sengoku era that pits one man against many...Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. If not for such a sword, the body count would increase tenfold. And Hitokiri Battosai is not a man...but rather a woman."
Everyone gave a collective stare.
"No...you...are the Hitokiri Battosai?" gasped Kenshin staring wide eyed at the woman he now knew as THE Hitokiri Battosai. Then just as suddenly a he was raised into the air he was thrown to the floor, a dull thud reverberated through the floor. Gohei moved towards to Kaoru intent on killing her.
"I thought you were just a nobody the other night. It didn't even occur to me to fight you. Now I regret it but that can be easily rectified." He grinned seeing that she didn't move, he thought this would make thing easy for him...but he was wrong.
"Unlike you, Sessha doesn't care for violence. If only this had ended earlier. It's quite regrettable actually." She glanced up at him no sign of fear in her expression, if that is you could all it that. She stared at him as though there was not a care in the world.
"Well you're confident...or just vain! This world has no room for two Battosai! I am the real one!" he yelled as he brought his unsheathed sword down on where she stood, but wasn't there.
"Over here." Came her deep and emotionless voice, over head of the giant. She was above him her sword posed for the death stroke; her eyes flashed amber as she brought her sword down. As the dust settled she stood amidst a prone Gohei, his face and upper body embedded in the floor. "Sessha has no attraction to the name Battosai. But still...the likes of you wont use it either." She slowly walked to where Kihei stood backed up against the wall, her blade still in hand and a gleam in her eyes. "Now, one left." she turned her blade point to Kihei who stood pressed against the wall and she turned her blade, the sharp edge ready to take a man's head clean off his shoulders. "Your soul is bloody even if your hands are not. Now shall we test..." she held the sword across her face, the shine of the sharp edge flashing against her amber hued eyes, "the sharpness of this blade?"
Kihei in his fear gurgled and stuttered never actually making a coherent syllable. Kihei finally succumbed to his fear and collapsing on the floor and...piddled...on the floor. She sighed in response to his reaction and taking the deed to the dojo ripped it apart. "Those who send others to their deaths are usually cowards."
All Kenshin could do was stare at the great warrior that now stood before him.
"My apologies Kenshin-dono. Sessha did not wish to hide the truth...but it usually is better, if this isn't known." She looked up at Kenshin, her eyes once again the soft blue oceans that had beckoned Kenshin in the first place. But all Kenshin could do was stare. "Excuse me. Farwell." She said as she turned to leave.
W...w...WAIT A SECOND!!!!" Kenshin yelled making the sweet rurouni trip on her way out.
"Oro?"
"How do you think I'm going to run this dojo by myself?!" Kenshin yelled his eyes no longer angry but fearful. "The least you could do is help me out! I don't care who you used to be!"
The Battosai turned back and facing Kenshin said "you should have cared who Kihei used to be." While shaking her finger in his face.
"...I'll be more careful..." was all that Kenshin could say through his clenched teeth, his anger rising.

"Sessha help will not be good for you. You have a chance to take the taint from your good name. Being linked with any sort of 'Battosai' will make that task harder." She now stood at the door ready to leave.
"I'm not asking Battosai to stay. I'm asking the rurouni to...stay..." Kenshin tried to bite back the last part but even a deaf man would have heard it. He was embarrassed to have admitted that he needed anybody...especially a person like a rurouni, least of all the great Battosai. Instantly he turned to face away from her trying to hide the embarrassment and anger. "F-forget it! If you want to go then just go! But- but before you go tell me your name. 'Battosai' is a warrior name right? What's your real name? Or don't you want to tell me?" Kenshin was still facing the other wall when he heard the doors slide closed fearing the worst he closed his eyes.
"Kaoru." Came her sweet voice. "Kamiya Kaoru. That is my name...today." Kenshin's eyes shot open and spun to face her, happy shock the expression of the day. "Sessha is weary from traveling. As a rurouni, one never knows when or where one will be off to next...but please excuse the intrusion for a little while."
The smile and appreciation shown off Kenshin's face then, "Hey...wait a minute! If you're a warrior from Bakumatsu...just how old are you?!"
"Oro?" was all that Kaoru could say not comprehending what Kenshin was saying.
"And what's 'oro' mean anyway?! You can't be over 30 with a face like that!?"
"Yes...how old indeed..." Kaoru pondered, beginning to count on her fingers.
"You mean you don't know your own age?!" screamed Kenshin his fists rising to shake the counting woman.