We all know that Kenshin and his company are not mine!

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Okay I thought it was clear that the one narrating the first chapter is Kanshin. You know I mentioned his Master and the daisho…well I apologize if it wasn't that clear…

Her job

I believed my work would make me complete…

And it did…

It led me straight to you…

It's been a week since she regained her consciousness. She was still weak. The wound has been deep and it took the doctors some time to patch her back together but they were successful. Now her time at the hospital was ending. She would soon return to the old castle.

Someone brought her to the public clinic. She couldn't remember who it was, if it was a he or a she. She asked the nurse appointed to her who helped her but the lady had no clue. They found her on the steps in front of the clinic wrapped in improvised bandages. She was extremely grateful to who ever took care of her but she was uneasy at the same time. It was well known that only civilian were aloud in public clinics. No soldiers of the Kingdom and no rebels. It was a rule. The doctors of such hospitals wanted to work in peace and the only way to do so was not to take sides, though it didn't work every time. There was a hospital at the other side of the city which refused to help the rebels. The rebels' leader ordered to his soldiers, to burn the building to the ground. They didn't let any one out alive. Everyone died, including children, women and old people.

The actions the Kingdom did weren't as tragic but were a strong warning for those who wanted to break the rule. They didn't threaten but they would kill the stuff of a hospital if they found out a rebel has been recovered there. At least the patients would survive. All these things were enough to keep the clinics out of the war. They only tended people who had nothing to do with the civil war. After all in times like this every person had only one thing on their mind; how to survive?

Well not everyone thought this way. The girl for example had another thing on her mind. How to get out of the clinic? She was a threat for the people there and she knew it. She was working for the Kingdom after all. She wasn't a soldier but that didn't matter to the enemy. They would destroy the clinic if they knew she was there. The hospital stuff wasn't aware of who she was. They would leave her to die in the street if they knew. They didn't think like normal doctors when it came to those who fought this war.

She had to get out of there as soon as possible. She wasn't been able to do so until now due to her injuries. But now she was almost healed and she was planning to leave in secret. It was better not to call too much attention on her. She knew she had to leave at night but sometimes she had a strange sensation that somebody was watching her while she was supposed to be sleeping. She didn't know if it was good or bed. No, she was sure it wasn't good but why would anyone watch a patient of a public clinic. Did somebody know who she really was? That was not likely. The doctors and the nurses didn't even know her name, at least not the real one. The constant feeling of being spied was one of the main reasons she decided to leave that night though she was still a little bit dizzy.

ooOOoo

She opened the doors of her room slowly and carefully looked around the corridor. It was empty so she continued on in the direction of the fire exit. She knew she wouldn't be able to leave unnoticed if she went to the main gate. The only option was the fire exit but that door was locked so she hoped to be able and break the lock. She finally reached the door. She pulled out s small metal needle and pushed it into the lock. She turned it slowly and the gates give in. She pushed them aside and stepped into the night. The sensation of being watched again! She looked around. Nothing. She stood there for a moment telling her self that if it would be an enemy they would already attack. Then another thought struck her. What if they wanted to follow her to see where she was heading? But she was going to the old castle. They all knew there was the Kingdom's headquarters. It didn't make sense so she decided to try and loose her stalkers. She run down the fire stairs and was soon at the bottom. Then she proceeded through a dark, narrow lane. She still felt eyes on her but she had the impression that the distance between her and the person or people' watching her was getting bigger. Suddenly she couldn't feel anything more. She lost them. She sighed with relieve. Now all she had to do was run until she reached the castle's gates. There she would be safe.

ooOOoo

"My Lord the girl has been found." Lady Yumi informed Lord Shishio as soon as she entered the large room. The tall man with long black hair tied in a high ponytail looked up from his papers with surprise.

"I never knew she was missing." He really didn't know. He didn't need her in the last month that much so he lost track of her. Not that he was worried about it. The girl was able to take care of her self even if she wasn't a soldier. Beside there was her brother who was more the able to protect her. Why she was missing was not known to him but he didn't bother to ask. Each of his people had his own life and what they did in their free time was none of his business as long as they didn't mess with his plans. And the girl didn't do anything like that. He was sure of it, he would have know it if she would do something strange.

"You want me to call her, my Lord?" Lady Yumi asked. She was a great help when it came to planning. She knew the city and had many connections which were very useful more than once. Shishio liked her because she wasn't afraid to counter him when she had the impression that what he was doing was wrong. In such cases it always turned out she was right and he was wrong.

Shishio pondered on what to do for a moment but then agreed to call the girl. Soon the raven haired young girl came into the office. She greeted Shishio and he told her to take a seat. She set on the other side of the large table and waited for Shishio to speak up.

"As you know somebody has been killing our generals but we have no idea who it might be." He spoke up slowly while watching the woman carefully.

She nodded. "I've heard about that but what has it to do with me?"

"This night two of my men had been killed, I want you to go there and see if you can make a profile of the killer."

"I can't do that if the place has been cleaned."

"It hasn't…I don't know why but they don't clean up the mess and we haven't touched anything so you should be able to work without a problem."

"Okay. One more thing…one assassination won't be enough for a really good profile."

"I know that too, so you and you're brother will be working on it for as long as it takes to create a profile which can lead us to the killer. I believe it won't be a problem Miss Shinomori?"

"No Sir. We'll start on it right away." The girl said.

"Good." Shishio smiled. "No go, I need to finish my work here." He waved her off and she left the room.

ooOOoo

"Lady Shinomori we were so worried about you! I'm so glad you're back." A young pretty girl dressed in servant's clothes greeted the girl who just exited Shishio's room and was walking down the hall. "Your brother will be delighted to see you. He's probably in his room."

"Thank you Kaya, I'll go see him right away."

"Do you want me to prepare you a bath and clean clothes before you go, Lady?" Kaya asked.

"No, it's been two hours since I returned so I already cleaned myself, beside I wasn't that dirty." The lady walked of in the direction of the general Shinomori's room while Kaya remained in the hall staring after her wondering what happened to hers once talkative, smiling young mistress.

She could feel Kaya's eyes on her back when she entered the generals' wing of the castle but she didn't care. She knew Kaya was surprised by her attitude and yet she couldn't act normal. The feeling of being alone was too strong. Since the presence from the hospital disappeared she had this awful sensation that she has nobody who would look after her, nobody who would care. That was ridiculous, she had her brother. Aoshi would never let anything happen to her. He promised their mother that he would take care of her. And he did. Okay he didn't actually go out to find her but she knew there must be a good reason for that. She entered the chamber appointed to her brother and true to Kaya's words he was there sitting behind the large wooden table. Without raising his head he knew who entered the room.

"I knew you would make it back in one piece Kaoru." Aoshi stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Kaoru sighed. "I did it, didn't I. Barely, not thanks to you though." She stepped forward.

Now Aoshi looked up. Her tone wasn't the one he was used to, cheerful and light but…he couldn't figure what was different about her, well except her tone, but something definitely was.

"Take a seat Kaoru, you must be tired." He almost ordered.

"I had a good rest; I don't need to sit down." She said in an even tone without looking away from his face. He sighed. She could be so stubborn sometimes.

"Fine."

"Fine" She repeated.

Aoshi sighed again. He knew this would come. "You probably want to know why I wasn't looking for you." He looked at her questionably.

She shrugged. "That would be nice." She wasn't mad because he didn't came looking for her she only wanted to know what was preventing him to do so.

Aoshi stood up and walked to the window. "There have been some movements out there Kaoru. If I went out in your search they would find out your missing, they would start searching too and eventually they would stumble upon the clinic you were in. I really didn't want that to happen and I bet you wouldn't want it either." When he finished he looked back at his sister waiting for a replay, probably a bokken hitting him over the head because he didn't tell her that as soon as she entered or maybe because he didn't check on her two hours ago when she returned. Nothing of that kind happened.

"You knew I was in a public clinic?" she asked surprised. Maybe he was the on watching her or one of his men. They always took care of her when she was younger but even now they helped when she was in trouble.

He wasn't expecting that. "Well I…someone…" He couldn't finish because she interrupted him.

"I thought so." Kaoru murmured. Aoshi didn't have a clue what she was thinking about. She was suddenly so difficult to read.

"You thought what?" He asked interested, hoping she wouldn't do what she was best at doing, which was change the subject of discussion. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side this time.

Kaoru, seeing that he had no idea of what she had on her mind, decided it was best to keep her stalker to her self. What if it wasn't somebody sent by Aoshi? She didn't know why but she had to figure this one on her own. "Shishio wants us to find out who the guy killing our generals is. He said we should go to the house where the last killing happened."

Aoshi nodded. "He already informed me. We must go there as soon as we can."

"What about now?" Kaoru inquired.

Aoshi thought for a second. "We could do that. Just wait until I get my things."

He walked to where his white cloak was hanging and put it on. Then he grabbed his swords and soon the two of them were walking down the corridor. Aoshi glanced at his sister. He knew she had something on her mind and he was determined to find it out. After all how was he supposed to help her if he didn't know in what kind of mess she was in? And she was in trouble, he could sense it. She has been hurt though she was hiding it and also there was something about the expression she had when he told her he knew she was in a clinic. Something smelled fishy and he was sure to get to the bottom of it.

ooOOoo

The place was one of the usual safe houses they used. Well it wasn't usual because it has been discovered. Two guards were surveying the zone around the building and thanks to them nobody entered the place so everything inside was just as it was when the manslayer left. Kaoru and Aoshi stepped inside carefully not to destroy evidences. The smell in the main room was awful. Kaoru had an attack of nausea and she stopped in the middle feeling dizzy. She wasn't prepared for the sight in front of her and the metallic smell of death. Aoshi looked at her and gently touched her shoulder.

"Will you be alright?" He asked quietly, worry evident in his voice.

Kaoru shivered but then she realized that this is something she must do. It was her job. She nodded and looked around more calmly this time. The room was painted in blood. In the middle near the table were six bodies, two generals and four bodyguards. Kaoru stepped nearer to the victims. What she noticed right away was that their swords were not drawn. That was strange. How come they didn't defend them self when it was obvious they were facing death it self? They didn't seem to be ambushed. By the way the bodies were lying they must have seen the killer enter the room. Why didn't they act? Kaoru pondered for a moment. She even thought of asking Aoshi, who was now talking to the two guards, for his opinion when something dawned in her mind. How come she didn't think of it sooner? It was so clear! The dead men didn't have a chance to react because it all happened to fast. As if the killer moved faster than light. She smiled. She had one clue. How many swordsmen where that fast? Okay her brother was one but judging by the cuts the guy didn't use twin kodachi but a katana and a wakizashi.

Kaoru stood up. She had to check something else. She noticed it when she entered the building. She went out in the yard and looked around. There it was. Mud and in it foot prints. She knelt. They were small and not to deep so the person in question must have been of a small stature, maybe a woman or a kid. It was a bit unbelievable, she doubted it could be it especially when she reentered the room and took another look at the mess. Two bodies were decapitated. Other three were almost cut in half and the sixth was cut in two parts. The killer must have had a lot of strength to do something like that. The idea of the assassin being a woman or a child was impossible. Kaoru looked away. She was used to the smell and blood by now but seeing lifeless eyes and intestines falling from the bodies was not something she liked to watch.

After looking everything carefully she decided she had enough of it for one day. She waved to Aoshi who approached her.

"You finished?" He asked her and she nodded. They left the room and when they were out side they all (the guards exited with them) took deep breath. It was good to be on fresh air again.

"You can clean the mess now." Aoshi told the guards, then he and Kaoru left to go back to the castle and report what they have find out.

On the way to the headquarters Kaoru was thinking of what she had learned about the slayer. He was sure fast and strong though he was small and might even look weak at first sight. He was accurate and didn't use his strength unnecessary. That wasn't common for killers of the rebel army. They liked to show off when they were supposed to do their work. This one was not like the others. It made Kaoru think that he didn't enjoy in his work.

ooOOoo

She decided to leave this night. Maybe it's batter this way though I'll miss her. Even if I only watched her from afar she made me feel complete and serene. I didn't follow her and I lost her. I don't think I'll see her again but I'll never forget her.

I'll always remember Jasmine.

Hope you like it! Please review and tell me what you think!