Chapter 3

Don't own Rorouni Kenshin

Kaoru walked into the clearing again for the second time that day thinking about how her brother had helped her sort a few things out. She had been debating on whether or not to tell Sanoske about Kenshin but had finally realized that she had to tell someone because her father was starting to get suspicious about why Kao was going out all the time now. Sano would help her make up a few excuses.

Not only that but Kao was falling for Kenshin and she needed to know if that was good. She was scared that maybe it was the wrong decision to make. At 13 Kenshin was the Battousai, the most feared warrior in all of Japan and now he was the Battousai, the defender of the helpless. She was proud of the way he had turned everything around but was still afraid of loving a warrior.

When she had pointed out her fears to her brother he had told her one simple thing that had put all fears out of her mind. He had told her that if you truly love someone then you love every part of them and you accept who and what they are without questions. So she decided that was what she would do. She would accept every part of him and be there for him no matter what.

As she waited for Kenshin she smiled at this thought. Wait until she told him she loved him. She was excited about being able to finally tell him but she was also nervous about what his reaction would be. She was not sure which emotion was higher in her at that moment.

When she finally saw Kenshin coming down the hill they used to roll down as kids her heart did a flip. She watched as he walked with easy grace down the hill. The walk of a warrior. When she looked at his face, however, she saw his expression and she almost wished she hadn't come that day. He looked just plain murderous.

By the time he reached her, her voice was small and uncertain. "Kenshin? What's wrong?" She looked up at him and when she saw his expression up close she had to take a step back. She was afraid. She had never seen this side of Kenshin before.

"You have the nerve to ask me what's wrong when I saw you prancing around with other men just today?" He practically roared. She took another step back but he followed her. She was truly frightened now. It was like she couldn't get through to him. She couldn't penetrate the thick layer of ice now in his wonderful blue eyes.

The look in his eyes was enough to freeze a grown man's heart. She turned to run but he saw her move and it infuriated him. He grabbed her by the wrist and refused to let go when she tugged to get free. "Kenshin. Stop it. You're hurting me." She whispered fearfully. This seemed to enrage him.

"Why? Why did you do it? I saw you with him. I saw you just today. You were with him. Right here." He lashed out and hit her. "This is our spot and you brought him here with you. You whore." He hit her again. This time he drew blood and a small trickle came down from her mouth.

"No. Kenshin stop. Please stop." She cried to him but he was oblivious to her words. He hit her again and then threw her to the ground.

He looked as if he would continue but when she looked up into his eyes and he saw her beautiful blue ones he felt his love for her consume him. He remembered how her smile had always brightened his life. He remembered how her every smile brought his attention to her lips. Lips that were rosy and beautiful and he always yearned to kiss them.

But those lips were not pulled into a smile at that moment. He saw the tears streaming down her pale cheeks onto her trembling lips that were smeared with blood. Her blood. Blood that he had put there. And he fell to his knees. "Oh, Gods. What have I done to you?" He couldn't stand what he had done.

He couldn't stand it. So he forced himself to look at her. He forced himself to see what he had done to her. What he was capable of doing to her, and worse, he knew that he had the strength and the temper to do worse. And his heart cried out to him. Told him how much of a monster he was. And he felt tears prick his eyes. He welcomed the sting. Something that was nothing compared to what he had just put Kaoru through. His bright, cheery, beautiful Kao.

She stood there before him trembling. She had to get through to him, she knew. This was not the Kenshin that she knew. She was getting a small peek at the old Battousai right now. Kaoru decided instantly that she did not like it.

"That man you saw with me today was my brother. His name is Sanoske. He's four years older than I am. He's my greatest friend and my only confidant until you." She whispered through her tears while looking at the ground.

Kenshin felt his heart twist. Not only was he bastard enough to do something like this but he had also done it on false terms. He couldn't believe himself. "I'm so sorry Kaoru. Gods, I'm so sorry."

Still looking down she answered him. "It's alright. It was my fault. I should have told you that I had a brother before I brought him here. I was just talking with him about a few things. I'm sorry. It was my fault." She cried again. Her tears draining her of energy.

Kenshin look up and couldn't believe what he was hearing. He grabbed her arms. "No! Don't ever think that. It was me. Never you. It was my fault. I'm a monster. None of that is your fault." He yelled while shaking her as if he were actually trying to shake some sense into her.