The Fires of Vengeance

by Halcyon Seraphim

After realizing that his very presence is a danger to Kaoru and the others, Kenshin leaves the Kamiya dojo, unaware that he's leaving a little something more behind than just his friends. And years later, that something wants him dead... UPDATED! Chapter

2. Overcoming Grief

The Fires of Vengeance- Chapter 2: Overcoming Grief

JK: YAY! I GOT MORE REVIEWS THAN I ASKED FOR! ARIGATOU! (jumps up and down happily until Yahiko throws his flip-flop at her)
Yahiko: Someone had to shut you up.
Evil Authoress (after smacking Yahiko on the back ofhis head): Easy with the footwear!
Yahiko: Sorry. Sheesh. Women are touchy.
(Kaoru glares at Yahiko.)
Misao: You need to stop with all your wise cracks about girls, Yahiko.
Yahiko: What would ugly girls like you know?
Misao: THAT'S IT! (punches Yahiko in the face) As a member of the Oniwabanshu you should really take me more seriously that that!
Saitou: Is the Weasel starting trouble for everyone again?
Yahiko: Great, Saitou's here!
(Everyone stares at Yahiko as if he's just contracted some severe mental illness and is displaying obvious symptoms.)
Yahiko: What? He can arrest Misao!
Misao: Just try and arrest me. (sticks up fists) I dare you!
(Saitou backs away slowly.)
Misao: I thought so! Hah! Women rule, and men…well…men…they just suck. Who agrees with me?
(Every girl in the room and Kenshin raise their hands.)
Sanosuke: Kenshin! You're an insult to males!
Evil Authoress: Kenshin is a male? Since when?
JK: Evil Authoress… (picks up sword that just happens to be lying there)
Evil Authoress: What? I was stating a fact!
(JK brandishes sword threateningly.)
Evil Authoress: I was just kidding. Sheesh.
Yahiko: See, women are touchy!
JK and Evil Authoress: YAHIKO!
Sanosuke: I can't believe you raised your hand. Maybe you heard her wrong. She said women rule and men suck.
Kenshin: I know.
Sanosuke: And you're okay with it?!
Kenshin: Well…to be honest, I was worried that if I didn't raise my hand JK would make me suffer in this fic.
Sanosuke: Hold on. I'm a little confused. Didn't she already make you suffer?
Kenshin (blankly): How so?
Kaoru: KENSHIN YOU JERK! (kicks him)
Kenshin: OW! What did I do?
JK: I'm guessing it's because you left her and don't seem to care about it. Oh well. Or maybe she was upset because you did a little too much—
Saitou: Don't go there.
Evil Authoress: Saitou's a little naïve. Tell me, do you even know what a wedding night is?
Saitou: Yeah, and apparently Battousai and Raccoon Girl couldn't wait that long.
Kaoru: SAITOU!
Kenshin: Yeah, we couldn't. So?
JK: Let's not get into details! To everyone who reviewed and requested a plushie, enjoy! (hands them out to reviewers)
Evil Authoress: SETA! (glomps plushie)
Seta: That does not look like me. I'm much cuter.
Evil Authoress: Yes you are! (glomps Seta)
Seta: Ow…the pain…
JK: Anyway—
Seta: GET HER OFF ME! I'M BEING SUFFOCATED FOR THE LOVE OF SHISHIO!
Shishio: I am so respected by my minions.
JK: How do you replace "god" with "Shishio"? I don't get you.
Evil Authoress: I've stopped trying. (glomps Seta again)
Shishio: Ladies, ladies, gather round! There's plenty of me to go around.
Sanosuke: What the hell was that? Poetry?
JK: What in all the hells do you have against poetry, Sano?!
Sanosuke: To sum it up in one word: Kaoru.
Kaoru: I am not a bad poet! Listen to the poem I wrote just yesterday.
JK: That's nice and all, but Kaoru, I have to start the second chapter.
(Kaoru stares at the story. She screams.)
Kaoru: NOT THIS FIC!
JK (smiling evilly): Oh yes, this fic.

Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. If I did, the characters would fear me more than they already do.
Kenshin: I don't fear you. You got me away from Kaoru! For that I shall worship you for all eternity!

Evil Authoress: See, I always knew he had a good head on his shoulders!
JK: No…I think he just got into Megumi's secret opium stash again.
Megumi: Kenshin! I told you to keep out of there!

Megumi closed the rice-paper screen to Kaoru's room behind her and was met with Sanosuke's piercing gaze.

            "How is she?" he asked.

            Megumi sighed. "Not too good. I was forced to give her sleeping medicine to make her calm down. She's really miserable."

            "And…er…why is that?" Sanosuke asked, looking away from Megumi in a guilty manner.

            "You know perfectly well why, Sanosuke!" Megumi snapped. "You were behind the screen listening to our conversation the whole time. I heard you. If you're going to eavesdrop, do it quietly."

            "I wasn't eavesdropping! It must've been mice that you heard…" Sanosuke lied.

            "No, all I heard was one big, fat rat," said Megumi.

            "Nice, very nice. Yeah, I happened to be passing by and overheard the conversation," said Sanosuke. "But are you sure she's pregnant? I mean, how can you tell?" Megumi eyed him skeptically.

            "I just know, okay?" she said. Sanosuke took this as a cue to shut up and listen, because Megumi looked like she had a very long diagnosis she needed to share with someone. "I'm not too worried about Kaoru's physical wounds. I treated those quite nicely. I'm more worried about what kind of toll this has taken on her mind. This can't be easy for her to withstand." She paused for a second, thoughtful. When she spoke again, her voice was very soft, almost as if she was hurt. "Sano…I can't believe Kenshin would do that to her and then just take off."

            "Hey, you make it seem like it's only his fault!" Sanosuke countered. "She was part of the whole…process too."

            "Still, Sanosuke, she's the one who will suffer because of it, not Kenshin," Megumi said.

            "Don't worry about it. Jou-chan will be fine," Sanosuke assured her. (A/N: Jou-chan is what Sanosuke calls Kaoru in the Japanese series. It basically means "Little Missy.")

            Megumi glared at him fiercely. "Sanosuke, does this sound like she'll be fine to you?" Megumi slid open the screen to Kaoru's room.

            "Please…Kenshin…come back…" came Kaoru's muffled voice. "I need you…please…" After allowing Sanosuke to hear that, Megumi slid the screen shut.

            "She's just like that because it just happened. Given some time, I'm sure she'll be okay," said Sanosuke confidently. Megumi didn't reply, and Sanosuke couldn't see her reaction because her back was facing him. "Hey, I don't like talking to myself." Megumi spun around to face him and when she spoke, there was a very authoritative quality in her words. It sounded as if she had reached some sort of decision.

            "Sano, I gave her a sedative. It is supposed to wipe her mind clean of any thoughts so she'll have peaceful sleep. Most people would pass out instantly after sleeping medicine that strong, but it took her a while to get to sleep. And that sleep should be completely blissful. She shouldn't even be able to remember what's troubling her, let alone dream about it. If her grief can counteract the medicine so well, then she will not be okay," Megumi said. Sanosuke nodded uncertainly, not really sure if Megumi was finished speaking. Five seconds later he found out she wasn't. "She won't be able to go on like this. You have to go find Kenshin and bring him back here. Otherwise…" She paused, glancing back at the screen grimly. "…otherwise Kaoru will go insane."

            Sano didn't waste any time. He turned around and left the dojo, going in the same direction as Kenshin. I can't believe Kenshin would do…that…to Kaoru and then take off. It couldn't have been on purpose. Kenshin wouldn't. He must not have known about Kaoru. Sanosuke thought as he walked. I have to find him. Sanosuke frowned. Easier said than done. I have no clue where he could've gone. But one thing's for certain. He definitely didn't go to the docks.

Kenshin wandered around aimlessly, not sure of where he was headed. He was so preoccupied that he bumped into several people on the way and didn't even bother to apologize. All he could do was imagine and over again what Kaoru's expression would be when she found out over. Oh well. It's better for her to hate me for leaving her than for her to love me and miss me terribly. If she hates me, she won't be as upset that I left. Maybe then she'll be able to move on in life and find someone more worthy of loving her. Kenshin thought. But am I really doing the right thing? And why do I feel like there's something I'm forgetting back at the dojo?

            "Excuse me, mister?" someone asked. Kenshin looked down to find a small girl tugging on his gi.

            "May I help you?" he asked her politely.

            "Would you like to stay at our inn?" the little girl asked.

            "Isn't it a little late for you to be outside?" Kenshin asked in return. He hadn't exactly been paying attention to the time, but he was sure it had to be past ten o'clock.

            "Well, my mommy and daddy are asleep so I manage the inn at night," the little girl said proudly.

            "I see…do they know that you're out here? It's dangerous to be outside this late at night for someone your age, that it is," Kenshin said matter-of-factly.

            "Who are you to tell me what to do? You're just some homeless bum!" the little girl shouted. Not this again. Kenshin thought, sighing.

            A woman came running toward them, looking both tired and sleepy. "Minako, are you bothering passing people again?" she asked the little girl sternly.

            "No…he looked wet and I thought he might need a place to stay since he's walking around in the rain," the little girl said irritably. "I was being nice."

            "I'm sure he would've come to us if he needed to stay at an inn, Minako," the woman reprimanded. Rain? What rain? Kenshin thought, looking up at the sky. Drops of cold water splashed his face. He hadn't even noticed it was raining. Hmm… rain seems suitable, somehow, on a day like this.

            "And I'm sorry if she bothered you in some way," the woman said to Kenshin.

            "Oh that's all right," Kenshin answered cheerfully. "I don't mind."

            "Mr. Swordsman, wanna stay at our inn? We have warm rooms and I can cook real good!" Minako bragged. "Please?" She looked at him, a hopeful expression in her eyes.

            "I'm just passing through Tokyo," Kenshin said cheerfully. "I really have no intention of staying here."

            "How about for the night?" the little girl pleaded.

            "Are you getting paid if you convince me to go in with you, or something? You seem awfully determined," Kenshin said.

            "No. I just wanna prove to my mommy that I can run the inn all by myself. So can you stay, Mr. Swordsman?" Minako asked him. Kenshin laughed.

            "I'm sorry, but I really can't stay here long," he said apologetically.

            "There, Minako, now can you go back inside? You're soaked and if you catch a fever there will be no way you'll run this inn by yourself for a while," Minako's mother said. "And I was asleep, just like you should've been." She walked over to their inn and stood under the roof so she wouldn't get wet. "Now Minako!" She was looking very weary, and Kenshin decided it would be best for him to continue on his way. But when he tried, Minako tugged on his gi again.

            "Wait a minute," she told him. She then turned to her mother. "Hold on a second, woman!" Kenshin stared at her. What a disrespectful little girl. He thought. And she really wasn't helping him. He needed to be miles away from Tokyo before someone decided to look for him. If they haven't already, that is.

            "Can I see your sword?" Minako cut into Kenshin's thoughts, looking very bright-eyed and excited. "I never holded one before."

            "Swords are very heavy, miss. You won't be able to hold it," Kenshin said, turning to continue walking. Minako pulled on his gi, this time nearly ripping it off.

            "Come on! I just wanna look!"

            Kenshin sighed. "Fine." He unsheathed his blade and showed it to Minako. Minako squealed with happiness and ran back to her mom, watching Kenshin from a distance. She's a very strange girl, she is. He thought, and continued walking.

Kaoru's head was buzzing when she awoke. She felt even worse than she had that morning when she was doubled over in the yard, retching violently. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness and when they did, she looked around the room, curious for a moment as to why she wasn't in her usual bedroom but rather the room Megumi usually reserved for treating someone who was sick. Kaoru propped herself up on her elbows only to fall back down due to the excruciating pain that came from her right arm. It was only when she examined her wound that the evening's events fully registered on her mind.

            "Kenshin…" she mumbled wistfully. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Why would you go?" she asked. "Why?" The tears flowed out of her eyes and down her cheeks, but Kaoru didn't brush them away. She could only keep repeating one word over and over like a constant echo: "Why?"

            Kaoru sat in the darkness of her room, moving only when a sob escaped from her throat. For the time being, she was in complete and utter disbelief. She refused to accept that Kenshin was gone and never coming back. It was impossible. Kenshin wouldn't behave in such a cruel and vindictive way. If he was leaving, he wouldn't leave her without as much as a goodbye.

            After a few minutes elapsed, although to Kaoru those few minutes stretched out into a miserable eternity, Megumi entered the room to check on her.

            "How are you feeling?" Megumi asked. Kaoru didn't answer, which was perfectly fine since Megumi hadn't expected her to. "You know, I sent Sanosuke off to find Kenshin. He should be back here in no time." Kaoru's reply was a simple shake of her head.

            "What's that supposed to mean, Kaoru?" Megumi asked, a touch of annoyance in her voice.

            Kaoru shook her head again, and then said in a hoarse whisper, "He's never coming back, Megumi. Never." Megumi looked at her sympathetically, half-expecting her to cry, but Kaoru only sat staring at the wall, too numb to do anything but that.

            Sighing, Megumi asked, "Kaoru, can you please get up for a moment? I have to clean up after you." She tried to keep her voice free of disgust as much as possible, but she discovered that that little task was much too difficult for her. Even when she looked at the mess, Megumi couldn't help but wince. This has to be the worst part of my job. She thought. When she glanced at Kaoru again, Megumi realized that she hadn't moved. "Please get up, Kaoru. These conditions in a sickroom are not sanitary and will not help you get better." That statement seemed to plant Kaoru more firmly to the ground, almost as if she didn't want to get better. And that was when Megumi realized that although Kaoru's body was there, consciously, she was somewhere else. Megumi seized Kaoru's arm, pulled her up, and then walked her over to the wall so she could lean on it for support. But Kaoru didn't bother to do that. She just swayed where she stood, threatening to crumble to the ground.

            It's as if there's nothing there but her body. I push her and she offers no resistance. Sanosuke…you better find Kenshin. And not just for Kaoru's sake. Megumi thought. (A/N: Three guesses who she meant by that.)

            While Megumi was distracted with cleaning up the evidence of Kaoru's pregnancy, Kaoru snuck out of the room and wandered outside, staring into the distance. Cold drops of rain beat against her skin and wind blew her hair in her face, but Kaoru paid the weather no heed. She ran desperately down the road, calling Kenshin's name.

            "Kenshin! Come back!" Kaoru cried, her strength giving way as she sank to the ground. She beat at it with her fists, still desperately screaming, and the wound on her arm opened up again. Her kimono was now covered in a mixture of mud and blood. Eventually she calmed down, and lay on the ground. "Kenshin…please come back…" she murmured. "Please, Kenshin."

            "Kaoru, you can lay back down—where did she go?!" Megumi looked around the room, but she was searching in vain because Kaoru was no where in sight. Where did that idiot girl go? Megumi thought, racing out of the room and down the hallway.

            She found Kaoru ten minutes later, lying in the middle of the road with her kimono sleeve drenched in what strongly looked like blood and dirt all over her formerly white article of clothing.

            "Kaoru! What the hell do you think you're doing, running off like that?! You stupid raccoon girl you could've killed yourself!" Megumi screeched. And in your selfish moments did you ever once think what we would do if you died? Megumi thought, although she couldn't voice it out loud. Despite all their arguments, Megumi was positive that Kaoru's death would not be easy to cope with for neither her, nor Yahiko, nor Sanosuke.

            Kaoru calmly stood up, eyeing Megumi with a completely different expression than the sadness and horror that had been etched into her eyes earlier. It was a look of cheerful happiness, not unlike the look permanently plastered on Soujiro Seta's face. It was almost as if she no longer cared that Kenshin was gone and probably never coming back. (Although Megumi had just sent out Sanosuke to find Kenshin, she didn't bother getting her hopes up. The chances of him finding Kenshin were rather slim.) In fact, it looked as if she didn't even remember that fact. Kaoru wiped away her tears with her sleeve, leaving a muddy trail behind.

            She smiled at Megumi and said, "I'm sorry, Megumi. It was stupid of me to leave somewhere when I was so weak. I didn't mean for you to worry."

            Megumi just stared at Kaoru, too stunned to speak. It was like the flicking of a switch. One minute, Kaoru was sobbing miserably, her seemingly bleak and cruel future hovering over her head, and the next she was cheerful, as if that future had been rewritten.

            "I'm sorry, okay?" Kaoru said irritably. "I'm fine now, so you can stop looking at me like that."

            Megumi blinked several times before saying weakly, "You sure you're okay?" Heck, not even medicine could bring about such a recovery! She thought.

            "Never been better," said Kaoru. "Well, actually, I have been better, but that's beside the point. So let's head home."

            "Sure," Megumi replied, still studying Kaoru although not as obviously.

            They turned around and walked back, Kaoru smiling bittersweetly the whole while. She knew what she needed to do. Her future was no longer bleak. In fact, if all went according to plan she no longer had a future.

            "I need to go get something from the kitchen," Kaoru said cheerfully when they arrived. "I'll only be a minute. Wait, you know what, why don't you go get some rest? It's been a long day. I'll change my clothing on my own."

            Megumi was about to decline on Kaoru's offer, but she realized that Kaoru was looking very persistent and probably wouldn't take no for an answer so she just nodded. Thankfully, Megumi hadn't realized that Kaoru's wound had opened up again. Good thing she's not too observant. Kaoru thought, smiling weakly.

            "Great," said Kaoru as she and Megumi went their separate ways.

            "Now where is that damn thing?" Kaoru muttered in the kitchen. "There has to be one here somewhere!" She shifted a piece of cloth and found what she was looking for. Under that cloth laid an assortment of knives. She grabbed the one that appeared sharpest, and ran from the room.

Megumi sighed heavily and slumped down onto a pillow. She was exhausted. Glancing at the clock in the room, she thought, I'll go check on Kaoru in a few minutes.

            "Megumi, you awake?" someone asked, entering the room.

            She opened her eyes, praying that the voice belonged to Sanosuke or Kenshin since she was too tired to tell just by listening. But she was thoroughly disappointed, for a few feet in front of her stood Yahiko.

            "Yeah, I'm awake," said Megumi. She glanced at the clock again. "Yahiko! It's almost two in the morning! Why aren't you asleep yet?"

            "You expect me to sleep, Megumi?" Yahiko demanded angrily. Then his voice was calmer. "How's Kaoru doing?"

            "Fine," Megumi replied. "Her wounds are okay."

            "Is that all that's wrong with her?" Yahiko asked.

            "Yup," Megumi lied, studying Yahiko suspiciously. Did he know something that he wasn't supposed to know? "Speaking of Kaoru, I have to go check on her." She stood up to leave.

            "Wait," Yahiko said. "Maybe you should give her some more time alone."

            "I can't leave her alone for too long," Megumi said grimly.

            "You said her wounds are okay…"

            "They are."

            "Then why?" Megumi was silent, unsure of how to answer Yahiko's question. How was she supposed to tell him that she didn't trust leaving Kaoru alone, how she feared Kaoru would commit suicide, and how she sincerely doubted that what Kaoru had taken from the kitchen had been a good thing?

            "She's my patient, Yahiko. It's dangerous to leave her unattended to for long," Megumi settled on. It wasn't really a lie…it was more of an omission of the truth.

            "Megumi…just leave her alone for a while. She must be feeling really bad," said Yahiko, acting wiser than Megumi had ever seen him. But still, she placed an intent and suspicious look on him.

            "Okay, that's it. What did Sanosuke tell you?" she asked.

            "Nothing," said Yahiko innocently. "I was behind the door with him."

            "Yahiko!" Megumi glowered at him for a moment, and then smiled. It was actually a good thing that he'd overheard the conversation. It spared her the trouble of explaining the situation to him. "Yahiko, you could be a spy, you know."

            "Megumi…I have a question," Yahiko said quietly. When Megumi looked at him, he appeared almost shy.

            "What kind of question?" she asked him cautiously. He couldn't mean that question, could he?

            "Well…I wanted to ask Kenshin, I really did, but since he's gone and I figured that Sanosuke would probably scare me with gruesome details about the whole process and I obviously can't ask Kaoru after all that's happened so that leaves you," Yahiko said all in one breath. But Megumi understood what he meant just the same. It was obvious, considering he was blushing fervently now. "And after the situation with Kaoru…I guess I'm…well…more curious."

            "Shoot," said Megumi. She had explained the facts of life once before, so explaining it for a second time shouldn't have been too difficult.

            "Well…you get my question, don't you?" Yahiko asked eagerly. His face was now a color to rival Kenshin's hair, so she decided to spare him the embarrassment of actually forcing him to say what he meant.

            "Okay. It starts out with a man, and a woman. And they…" Megumi went on and got into a pretty extensive description of what exactly happened to Kaoru. When she was done, Yahiko was looking smug, the last reaction she expected to see. "What?" Megumi asked.

            "Sanosuke was right!" said Yahiko, smiling with what looked like triumph. "Only his description was more graphical than yours."

            "If you already knew, why would you ask me?" Megumi asked, feeling very sorry she had taken pity on him earlier. She was really ticked off about having to talk about something like that unless it was absolutely necessary.

            "I suspected he was lying. It seemed a little hard to believe," Yahiko admitted. He then added, "I'll never look at Kaoru the same way again!"

            "Yahiko," Megumi warned. "Don't mention this to her."

            Yahiko glanced at his wooden sword and then said, "You know, I don't think I'll be able to look and swords and sheaths the same way again, either!"

            "Yahiko!" Megumi screeched, smacking him on the back of the head. So much for the naïve act. She thought sullenly.

            "It was a joke…just a joke," Yahiko said defensively, rubbing the back of his head.

Kaoru lay staring at the ceiling, the knife she stole from the kitchen clutched in her hand. Her cheerfully demeanor had completely disappeared. Tears were streaming out of her eyes unchecked. She had been holding back a lot for years, and she was finally letting herself unbottle her feelings. Although her life was nowhere near as dramatic as the other members of the group, the Revolution had not been an easy time for anyone in Japan. And it wasn't as if she hadn't had her own hardships to bear, so she was no exception. She was forced to cope with the deaths of her entire family, and she had to do it alone. And afterwards, alone was how she stayed. When she met Kenshin, he became more to her than just her friend or companion. He became her will to live on. He kept the fire of life burning inside her. Without Kenshin, it was as if that fire didn't even exist. He kept it alive, and by leaving he had extinguished it.

            When she had these thoughts, she was immediately guilty. She no longer lived just for herself, and her body was no longer just hers. If she were to die, her life would not be the only one lost. If she were to commit suicide, she'd be murdering not only herself but also the child inside her. But still…what did it matter? Without Kenshin, her life seemed worthless. Was there even a point to the child's existence if Kenshin wouldn't be there to help raise it? No, a little voice in the back of her head replied sadly. By killing it, you would be doing the child a favor. Kaoru dropped the knife and sobbed, shaking her head.

            "I can't," she choked. Yes you can…or at least you could…if you weren't so gutless, that voice teased her. Kaoru glanced at the knife. "Maybe I can," she whispered. She sat up in her futon and picked it up again. She studied it for a few moments, wondering if a slab of metal would be her demise and eventually, not even caring. I can do it. A life without you, Kenshin, she thought grimly, is a life I don't want to live. Kaoru shut her eyes tightly and thrust the knife into her stomach. (A/N: WAIT! BEFORE YOU GO AND FLAME ME, READ THIS! I suspected that I couldn't just leave that part of the story without a note since all the Kaoru fans would click the button down there and write something like, "This story sucks. Where the hell did you learn how to write?" or "If Kaoru was real she'd kick your ass so you shouldn't be writing such crap about her!!!" Am I right? Well, if you don't really care, then by all means continue reading the story because the next line in this author's note gives away whether she dies or not and I don't want to spoil it for you. [Although if you continue I can't really stop you, now can I?] However, if Kaoru dying really bothers you, than I guess I have to tell you this: Kaoru does not die. So please don't flame me for that! She lives!)

Kenshin stumbled. Something's happened. He thought, glancing back in the direction of the dojo. I can feel it. Kaoru-dono's in trouble. Kenshin shook his head, mentally kicking himself. If he was going to stay away, he needed to completely detach himself from her. It would bring him nothing but pain if his thoughts kept straying back to her. Besides, I'm sure I just imagined that. I'm probably just being paranoid. It's strange though... He thought sadly. I miss her already.

            Turning back around, he said softly, "Kaoru, I am so sorry."

            "Well, well. Just the man I wanted to see at this hour," came a voice. Kenshin looked up, startled. But it wasn't the fact that the speaker was Hajime Saitou that caused the shock, it was his location. Without realizing it, Kenshin had ended up at the docks, the very last place he wished to be at the moment.

            "They must pay police officers a lot of money," Kenshin commented suddenly, not bothering with a greeting.

            "What?" Saitou asked, removing his cigarette from his mouth. Although Kenshin hadn't noticed it, Shinta Wakamaru was lying paralyzed a few feet away from Saitou. He had forced the "stupid felon" to tell him the events that had taken place that night and if Saitou didn't know the Battousai any better, he would've sworn that Kenshin was traumatized.

            "I mean, every single time I see you, you always have a cigarette sticking out of your mouth. Either someone gave you a lifetime supply of tobacco, or you waste a lot of yen buying it. In fact, I'm surprised you haven't dropped dead of lung cancer. Your doctor should label you 'Walking Miracle'," Kenshin commented dryly.

            Glaring fiercely at Kenshin so that it was visible in the late-night darkness, Saitou dropped his cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. Kenshin vaguely made out phrases such as, "moron", "weakling", and "product of the explosion of a nuclear power plant." He chuckled, although he had no idea what a nuclear power plant was. But Saitou's tone was sufficient enough to relay the message. (A/N: Okay, so I doubt they even HAD nuclear power plants back then but it sort of fit in the sentence, so I decided to leave it.)

            "Feeling particularly venomous today, aren't we Saitou?" Kenshin asked cheerfully.

            "Just because your girlfriend's got problems doesn't mean you should vent out your anger on me," Saitou replied coolly. Kenshin froze and his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

            "What do you know, Saitou?" he asked, frowning.

            "Everything, Battousai," said Saitou. "And I got it all from a source that witnessed it first-hand." He indicated Shinta, who was lying unmoving on the ground. Kenshin glared at Shinta, the source of so much misery. No, that's not right. I can't go blaming Mr. Wakamaru for that. He isn't the source. He thought grimly. I am.

            "But of course," Saitou continued conversationally, "I need at least one more source to confirm tonight's events. So let's hear it, Battousai."

            "I'd rather not," said Kenshin. He really needed to stop getting distracted from his departure. It was as if some divine force was trying to stop him from leaving.

            "Well then, Battousai. Will I have to blackmail you into giving me information?" Saitou asked. Realizing that his resistance was futile, Kenshin sighed, took a deep breath, and relayed the events that had taken place that night. Saitou noticed that Kenshin had forgotten to mention the part about Kaoru throwing up when Shinta found her and how he mainly attacked her because of his suspicions that she was wither really sick or pregnant. He decided not to mention it. One witty comment from his nemesis was enough for one day, thank you very much.

            "Told…you…" Shinta choked. "I…wouldn't lie…about someone…as great as…the Battousai…"

            "Shut up, you!" Saitou barked. Kenshin only looked at Shinta vehemently. "You know, Battousai," Saitou said evilly, "you could kill him right now and I could make it seem like an accident… I'm sure you're itching for revenge."

            "No," Kenshin said flatly.

            "Come on…I would want him dead if it were me," Saitou coaxed.

            "Stop it, Saitou!" Kenshin snapped. "Killing him would be doing him a favor, and I'd rather swallow a burning coal than do that."

            "I didn't know you were so eager to commit suicide," Saitou answered smartly.

            With one last, dark look at Shinta, Kenshin turned away from him. "Besides, Saitou. I think a more fitting punishment would be to let him suffer some more."

            Saitou blinked several times, pondering whether he actually heard those words or if he simply imagined them.  He walked over to Kenshin to study him since it was a difficult task to do from afar in such pitch black darkness. Damn weather. Saitou thought, staring up at the sky. I can't see a thing and I'm wetter than Chicken Head was after our battle.

            For Saitou, this had been one of his most stressful cases yet. He hadn't had a decent night's sleep for a week and his wife was complaining that he was starting to look thinner, having finally given up on his cigarette addiction. But when Saitou looked at him, he realized that the Battousai seemed to have been affected in a much greater way. There was a malevolent, even manic, look in his eyes. His eyes weren't amber though, and that made the situation all the more frightening. The fact that he could manage such an expression when not completely back to his former self was shocking.

            "You know, Battousai, you seem tense," Saitou noted. Apparently, this was the wrong thing to say to Kenshin.

            "Would you like to give me a massage then, Saitou?" Kenshin snapped.

            "No," said Saitou quickly, shuddering when he pictured that scenario, "Simply a bit of advice."

            Kenshin was awed. "Are you trying to help me?" he asked incredulously. Well, I'm happy to see he's completely back to normal. Saitou thought with disgust.

            "Yeah, you know. Manslayer to manslayer. Or even just man to man," said Saitou.

            "I'm listening."

            "Just don't worry about it. I had to go through the same thing with Tokio. Just…I don't know…give her some sort of support for nine months. I can't guarantee that it'll keep her happy the whole time…but it should for a while," Saitou said. Kenshin stared at him, a little shocked. He and his wife went through something like this? I knew he was leader of the third squad of the Shinsengumi, but does anyone besides me even know that nowadays? Kenshin wondered. And would anyone even care enough to attack them?

            "Thanks, Saitou. That…erm…helps," Kenshin lied. In all honesty, he had no idea what Saitou was talking about. "But I've decided to leave instead. That way I won't cause anymore pain." Saitou narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Is he toying with me, or is he really stupid enough to leave his pregnant…whatever she is to him… just like that?

            "Man, you really are a moron," said Saitou, shaking his head with disgust. "You're positively spineless."

            Kenshin, who up until now had been inching away from Saitou to make a run for it when he was distracted, stopped. "Excuse me?"

            "What, you're language-challenged too? I'll spell it out for you: S-P-I-N-E-L-E-S-S," said Saitou.

            "Shut up," Kenshin retorted, wondering what the hell Saitou could've meant by that.

            "Just consider that compensation for your little tobacco comment earlier," said Saitou airily, almost as if he was conducting a business deal. "Damn, I need an umbrella. I'm soaked," Saitou added in a disgruntled fashion.

            Kenshin laughed. "Yes, the weather is horrible today, that it is." It was almost as if the heavens had been cut open, so relentless was the rain. Although I have to admit...the day was gloomy enough without the rain. Kenshin thought. Then suddenly, he was reminded about the part if the day that he had actually enjoyed: gambling with Sano earlier that day. He also remembered that he still had the money he won. Wow…I'll have enough money to actually buy myself some food. I feel a little guilty, though. Maybe I should've given the money to Sano before leaving.

            "Battousai…I'm still serious about that offer. Why don't you just kick him into the water? I could make it seem like he drowned swimming here," Saitou interrupted Kenshin's thoughts.

            "I've already refused, Saitou. Besides, you think someone will buy that story when there's a wound on his head that could've only been given to him by use of a reverse-blade sword?" Kenshin said skeptically.

            "Oh, but that's assuming they find his body," said Saitou wickedly.

            "I'm not interested, Saitou. If you're so eager to have him killed, do it yourself," said Kenshin irritably.  

            "Fine, fine," said Saitou. He took out another cigarette and lit it.

            "Walking Miracle strikes again!" said Kenshin cheerfully.

            "Shut up, Battousai, and stop being so happy all the time. You're starting to resemble Soujirou Seta."

"Where. In. All. The. Hells. Can. Kenshin. Be?!" Sanosuke shouted, panting.

            "Mommy, another visitor!" Sanosuke heard someone say. A high-pitched, girly voiced someone.

            "Minako, you only had three hours of sleep! Get to bed right now and let me sleep!" her mother said, sounding thoroughly annoyed now. The anger was evident even though her voice was groggy. But Minako was already out of the inn, running toward Sanosuke.

            "Come on, mommy! It's five in the morning! Time to be up!" Minako shouted. And it was easy for her to say, considering she spent at least five hours every day napping once her energy finally gave out. She addressed Sanosuke and began to say, "Would you like to stay at our—" But she interrupted herself, her jaw hanging open slightly and looking awed.

            "What?" Sanosuke asked, looking around and completely unaware that the girl was looking at him.

            "You're cute!" Minako squealed and hugged Sanosuke's leg. "And tall, too! The guy who came here before was short."

            Sanosuke froze. "Guy? What guy?"

            "Some bum who didn't wanna stay at my inn," she replied dismissively, embracing Sanosuke's leg even harder. "But you will, right? You can even stay in my room, if you like!" If Sanosuke hadn't been so preoccupied with looking for Kenshin, he would've seriously been worried about the girl and what she meant by that.

            "No thanks…" he muttered. Minako let go of his leg, slightly downhearted. "What did this bum look like?"
            "He had red hair and…was short," she said. Sanosuke knew that there was probably only one person in Japan with that hair color, but he needed to make sure.

            "Did he have a cross-shaped scar on his cheek?" Sanosuke asked. Minako looked puzzled.

            "What's a cross-shaped scar?" she asked.

            Sanosuke looked at her desperately. He didn't have time for this! Sighing, he said, "A scar is a cut, and a cross is…" He made an X with his two pointer fingers. "Did he have a cut that looked like that?"

            "Yeah…and he had a weird sword too! The sharp part was on the wrong side. If you ask me, he was kinda confused…" said Minako. The reverse-blade sword was the final clue Sanosuke needed.

            "Which way did he go?" Sanosuke asked hastily. Minako pointed ahead of them, and he would've dashed off at a run if she hadn't latched onto his leg again.

            "You're cute! I like you! Wanna marry me?" she asked him hopefully.

            "Maybe some other time," he replied, trying to pry her off his leg with little success.  "I really have to find someone."

            "The swordsman guy?" she asked, her iron grip loosening enough so that Sanosuke was able to free his leg.

            "Yeah, but I'll come back," he lied and sped off.

            He ran on until he reached the docks. It was a dead end, so Kenshin would have to be there.

            "Well, looks like Chicken Head has arrived," Saitou said genially.

            "Ha, ha. So funny," said Sanosuke. "Now where's Kenshin?"

            "You just missed the Battousai," Saitou said airily.

            "Damn it!" Sanosuke screamed, and punched the ground in frustration.

            "Moron!" Saitou barked. "What if the dock disintegrated?!"
            "I didn't use the futae no kiwami, so there's no problem. Well, actually, there is. Kenshin has to get his sorry ass back to Kaoru!" Sanosuke said angrily.

            "He's just running away from the prospect of becoming a father," said Saitou, grinning. "Spineless moron."

            "Wait, what?" Sanosuke asked, glaring at the squinty-eyed police officer suspiciously. "How do you know about that?" Could Kenshin have told him? Is it possible that Kenshin knew all along? Sanosuke wondered.

            "My good friend Shinta Wakamaru told me all the details, and the Battousai didn't seem too keen on talking about it so I didn't ask," said Saitou.

            "That's because he doesn't know," Sanosuke said darkly. Saitou raised an eyebrow.

            "You mean to tell me that the Battousai has decided to wander off away from his pregnant….Raccoon Girl…without even knowing that he was leaving her a souvenir of his visit?" Saitou asked incredulously. When Sanosuke nodded, he said, "Whoa. You should feel honored, Chicken Head. There are even bigger morons than you are."

            "Don't call me Chicken Head, Squinty!" Sanosuke spat.

            "Would you prefer Cock Head instead?" Saitou asked innocently.

            "Shut up! This isn't a laughing matter, Saitou!"

            "On the contrary, I think this is hilarious," Saitou said. Does he enjoy watching people suffer? Sanosuke thought.

            "Just tell me where the hell Kenshin went!" Sanosuke demanded. Saitou grinned wider and pointed at the water.

            "See that speck over there?" he asked Sanosuke. Sanosuke squinted and saw a tiny ship in the distance, visible only because of the early morning sunlight.

            "The Battousai would be on that ship, sailing to Kami-sama knows where," commented Saitou. "So have a pleasant swim." Sanosuke glared at Saitou fiercely, but in truth he was crestfallen. He spent all night searching for Kenshin only to have him escape by a matter of minutes.

            "Glad you're enjoying this, Squinty," said Sanosuke, and expected Saitou to deny such a thing.

            Instead, Saitou said, "Well, it is funny. How often does the Battousai make a mistake this stupid? Wait…that would be everyday. But I would seriously love to see the look on his face when he finds out. Be sure to inform me."

            "That's if he ever does find out," Sanosuke pointed out.

            "Oh trust me," Saitou said, smiling maliciously, "he will."

            Sanosuke ignored this statement from Saitou, too absorbed in his own thoughts. He turned around and, walking back, he made sure to step on Shinta Wakamaru's head before continuing. Damn bastard! He thought angrily. He then heard Saitou chuckle.

            "Do you always speak your thoughts out loud?" Saitou asked him.

            "No!" Sanosuke retorted, hoping to God that he didn't. He often had thoughts not exactly suitable for his companions. But what I am supposed to tell Megumi? He wondered helplessly, the rain starting up again and beating down hard on his shoulders. And more importantly, what'll happen to Kaoru?

Megumi entered a room only to find that everything was drenched in blood. As an added bonus, the room was steadily filling up with the dark red liquid as if leaking from somewhere…or someone. The blood level was just under Megumi's chin and she was sure she was going to drown in it…and in the background, she could hear mirthless laughter…laughter that sounded familiar even with the cruelty added…Kenshin's laughter…

            Megumi jolted awake from what was possibly the worst nightmare she ever had. (This was saying something, once you considered her line of work.) Megumi glanced around and found Yahiko asleep on the floor, snoring loudly. She realized sunlight was seeping into the room. Alarmed and fully awake now, she glanced at the clock. Five o'clock?! I was supposed to check on Kaoru hours ago! She jumped up and ran from the room, ignoring Yahiko's annoyed protests at being disrupted from what was a very peaceful sleep.

            "She couldn't be hurt!" Megumi told herself desperately, although memories of her dream seemed to tell her otherwise. "No! Kaoru is fine!"

            She ran into the room and spotted Kaoru. She backed away slowly, her hand over her mouth. The foreboding presence left by her dream had been confirmed. For there lay Kaoru in a puddle of her own blood, the knife used to create that puddle still clutched in her hand.

JK: Sorry for the crappy update!

Evil Authoress: I didn't think it was crappy. Any story that ends with Kaoru lying in a puddle of her own blood isn't crappy at all.

JK: Well, that's your opinion.

Shishio: Is this moronic fanfic over yet?

(JK nods.)

Shishio: Good! As I was saying earlier…ladies gather round! I'll pay you five hundred dollars to spend some time with me!

JK: SHISHIO! THIS ISN'T THE PLEASURE QUARTER!

Evil Authoress: Are you insane, Bandage Dude? That's no where near enough money!

JK: Don't tell me you were considering taking him up on that offer!

Yumi: Don't bother. (sighs unhappily) It was pretty boring, if you ask me.

Shishio: Y-yumi!

Yumi: What did I say?

Evil Authoress: Come on, Shishio! Offer more money!

Shishio: Are you crazy? I'm not that desperate!
JK: STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP! YOU ARE NOT USING MY FANFIC TO PICK UP PEOPLE, SHISHIO!

Shishio: Why not?

(JK picks up the same sword that she had threatened Evil Authoress with earlier.)

JK: Would you like to go to hell, Shishio?

Shishio: Hey, been there, done that, enjoyed it!

JK (while glaring at him menacingly): You sure about that? Because I could send you there again, since you seem to have enjoyed it so much…

(Shishio shuts up.)

JK: Authority is good!

Evil Authoress: And I was looking to make a few extra bucks and kill Shishio in the process, too. How disappointing!

JK: You can kill him anyway, if you like.

Evil Authoress: Really?

(JK nods and Evil Authoress smiles wickedly.)
Evil Authoress (taking out flamethrower): Oh Shishio…would you like to have the remnants of the flames of hell burning inside you again?
Shishio: Eek! No! I just finished getting off all my scabs! And it took me over ten years!

JK: Trust me, Shishio. You won't have that long to pick off your scabs this time…
Shishio (while running from Evil Authoress): Just how long do I have?
JK: I'd say about…a minute.

Shishio: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

JK: Please read and review! I'm hoping for as many reviews as I got last time, and if not just five. I'll update as soon as I can if people want me to! Ja ne!