Disclaimer of doom. I certainly own nothing that you would recognize. ATTENTION: This fic will now be placed under the Sano/Megumi pairing, starting next chapter and until further notice. Please remember so you can find it again!

A/N: I'm sorry for my very slow update and breaking my ten-day promise that I don't think has ever been fulfilled sinceI made it. I did, however, finally get Naruku's website up in this lengthy break between chapters! Props, anyone?

Anyway, I apologize and I know updating will get better! I promise. No more seventeen day gaps, for sure. I don't want you guys to forget what's going on!

Tanoshimu!


Chapter 9:

Naruku: The Meaning of a Promise

-

After Sano had dropped Outa off at the longhouse, he headed across town to the dojo. At first, Sano didn't want to leave Outa in such a neighborhood by himself, but least of all did he want his little brother with him when he went to deliver such heart-breaking news to the dojo.

Sano wished he had asked Megumi to take care of Outa, but he knew that she was busy already and he had no right to make it worse. With the instructions of not talking to anyone, not going out and not touching anything, Sano was sure that Outa would be safe in the longhouse.

Meanwhile, Sano had his own problems. He had to tell everyone—everyone, and that meant Naruku, too—that Enizu was back. Or close to it anyway.

Sano walked in an uneven pace up the path. Half of him wanted to sprint to the dojo and get it all out, and half of him wanted to move slowly, so slowly that he would never reach the front gate.

But he did arrive there. And as soon as he touched the smooth, wooden surface, he knew there was no going back. He scanned the courtyard, and was surprised to see that no one was out there.

Since it was late in the evening, Sano figured that all of the Kamiya Kasshin students had headed home already and the Kenshin-gumi had probably already eaten supper. That was good, it would make things easier for Sano. He walked casually up to the house and inside. He almost jumped when he was greeted by a man even taller than Sano himself.

"Shinomori," Sano addressed the man, who nodded back in reply.

"Hello Sagara-san. I had no idea that you were back," Aoshi said.

Sano chuckled uneasily. "Yeah, well, I only just got back."

Luckily, Sano did not have to endure any more strained silence with Aoshi because Naruku jumped out of the kitchen toward them, her hands covered with suds so it was clear she had just been doing the dishes.

"Sano!" Naruku cried. "Where have you been? Kaoru and I were about to send out a search party, and even Kenshin got worried. You really shouldn't run off like that, you know."

"Koneko," Sano said to stop the girl's rant. When she finally ceased, Sano exhaled slowly. "Koneko, are you…all right?"

She looked at Sano strangely and gave Aoshi a confused sidelong glance. "Yes, thank you for asking," she replied in all sincerity.

Sano blushed. "Well, you know, that…" he had almost forgotten that no one at the dojo knew anything about Enizu returning. In fact, the evil bastard was probably fading from Naruku's mind by the day as she immersed herself in a peaceful life at the dojo. And now Sano had to bring the demon back into her life.

Sano nervously wiped his face with his hand in anticipation. He had never been amongst the most eloquent bunch.

"Is this about Akeri, Sano?" Naruku questioned, understanding a little more. "Because I'm feeling a lot better about that, you know," she spoke carefully, trying to make eye contact with Sano, who was fidgeting.

"Uh, Aoshi?" Naruku asked her other male friend. "Can you get Kenshin from the garden. Please?" She didn't break her gaze on Sano.

Aoshi nodded to her request. "I'll be back shortly." He cast a worried glance over at Naruku before disappearing out the back door.

Sano cleared his throat. "You may as well get Jou-chan, itachi and the brat," he called after Aoshi. "This is something everyone needs to hear."

Aoshi nodded and disappeared out the door. Naruku's gaze lingered on the closed door and then she turned back to Sano, coming closer.

"Sano," Naruku said quietly. "Please tell me what this is about. You know I hate not knowing. And you know I can't be patient like this." She tapped her foot for emphasis.

Sano cleared his voice again. "Well…you know Kenshin would…and Kaoru might like….Yahiko, too…even Misao…"

Naruku raised her eyebrows. "I think I have some idea what you're getting at, but I wish you'd talk a little more coherently."

She sounded a little petulant, so Sano fell silent. The silence lasted a few moments before Aoshi and Kenshin finally arrived down the hall. Tailing them was Kaoru, Yahiko and Misao.

Sano surveyed them quietly and grimly. Behind him, Naruku yanked on his bandana, causing him to yelp and turn toward her.

"Well?" she said. "Everyone's here."

Sano nodded. He turned and addressed their group as a whole.

"I hate to be telling you this. I hate that it's true. But you gotta know. It's Enizu. He's back."

For a second it seemed like no one heard it. Like he had spoken and no words had come out. Everyone was staring straight at Sano, hardly a change in their expressions.

"…excuse me?" Kaoru said, breaking the heavy silence. Her voice was high and squeaky. "Did you just…"

Sano nodded grimly. "It's true."

Naruku's eyes darkened and she suddenly looked very determined. Behind her, Kenshin looked very worried, but a hint of his old battle expression could be seen.

"Did you see him?" Misao wanted to know.

"Did you talk to him?" Kenshin asked more sharply.

Sano shook his head quickly. "No. No I didn't see him, didn't speak to him. But he's in Shinshuu, he's got control of the silk export and I know there's more to it than that."

He glanced warily at Naruku, afraid of how she would take the news. To his surprise, the first thing she said on the matter was uttered in her normal tone.

"Silk export? Sano, what are you talking about?" Naruku asked.

Sano whirled toward the small girl. "Listen to me!" he bellowed, snatching up her wrist. Beside her, Kenshin started toward Sano.

"Enizu's here, I know it!" Sano roared at Naruku. A part of him was frantically worrying because she didn't take badly to the news. He wanted a reaction, anything; because there was a sinking suspicion in Sano that Naruku still cared for the evil bastard Enizu.

At his angry words, Naruku shrank back, fear and sadness in her eyes.

Sano's hold on her wrist loosened. "I'm sorry koneko…" he said softly. He was in more ways than one. Just by the fleeting look on her face, Sano knew he was wrong to doubt her at all. It was disloyal of him to think that Naruku, the one who suffered most out of all of them, would still find some way to connect with their enemy. In retrospect, Naruku had the best reason to hate Enizu out of everyone.

But Naruku nodded, silently forgiving Sano. They were all silent in anticipation for a second longer. "He really is back," Naruku said quietly.

Around her, everyone's heads were bowed.

"It's hard to believe," Yahiko spoke up, his voice unnaturally rough and uneven. "But you're right. I guess we were making ourselves believe we'd never see him again. The funny thing is, now that we know he's coming back, I can't feel anything."

Kaoru glanced over at her student, a special kind of grief in her expression.

Ever the bright one, Misao spoke up. "I'm really worried, minna. I think that it might be a good idea for you to get out of here for a while. Enizu knows exactly where you live. I know that you just came from Kyoto, Kaoru-san, but I know that we'd accept with open doors and—"

"No," Kenshin spoke very sharply to her. Misao fell immediately silent. "I'm sorry, Misao-dono. The people we leave behind here, Tae-san, Tsubame, Megumi and anyone we have contact with will be endangered. I realize that you Oniwaban know how to deal with a threat like this, but it is still not my wish to involve you either."

As he spoke, Kenshin's hands went to rest on Naruku's shoulders for comfort and closeness. Naruku brought her arm up to cover Kenshin's hand with her own. She then let her arm fall limp and drop.

"Naruku," Aoshi spoke. "Despite what Himura-san says, the choice is yours."

Naruku blinked. Part of her resented Aoshi for taking away Kenshin's authority and putting the decision in her arms. Another part of her was glad she could say what she meant.

"We will stay here in Tokyo. I refuse to let Enizu make me run," she clenched her fist. He next words were spoken in a fierce whisper. "I've been his puppet for too long. I will fight back."

"We will," Yahiko butted in.

Sano almost smiled at the sight of his friends, so determined in their choice and so ready to stick up for themselves. They had faced challenges before, and now it was evident in their fierce and determined stares. There was not a hopeless one among them.

"I know we'll all be just fine," Sano said. "I'm sure of it."

Naruku smiled at him gratefully, thanking him for everything. For telling them, for his confidence and helping them keep strength through it all.

Aoshi cleared his throat uncertainly. "I don't think it's a good idea for Misao and myself to remain here."

All faces snapped to pay him attention. Especially Misao and Naruku, who looked at him in shock. Something seemed to come over Misao and her expression softened as she came to understand Aoshi's words.

"But…why?" Naruku asked. She didn't want to be separated from them. Hadn't they just said they'd all stand together through it all?

Aoshi bowed his head. "Takeda has no knowledge of our contact with everyone here. Don't forget that he holds a grudge against myself as well as you, Himura. If he knew we were comrades…" Enizu's sworn enemy and the one who cursed his very name. Were Enizu to know they were allied, it could motivate him to strike quicker and even more viciously.

Kenshin smiled. At first, he had agreed with everything Aoshi said. Perhaps it was the way he had called them 'comrades' that changed Kenshin's mind. After all, comrades was the word that Aoshi used to describe the deceased Oniwaban. The only men he had trusted in his life.

"I understand what you mean, Aoshi," Kenshin said clearly. "But I will have to beg you to remain here. You and Misao-dono mean a lot to us. We will be able to defend ourselves better with everyone here."

Aoshi nodded, accepted his offer, and silently thanking him. There was a part of the stoic man that wanted to remain with all of his friends.

A big part of him, Aoshi amended as Kaoru's blue eyes locked with his. Below her entrancing orbs was a smile.

Again, Aoshi cleared his throat.

"This has been a long night," he said. "I'm sure we're all tired. We should get rest for tomorrow."

They nodded in agreement and sluggishly began dispersing. As the Kenshin-gumi filtered out of the hallway to their respective destinations, Aoshi paused next to Kenshin.

"Would you like to keep a watch out tonight? I would be willing to take a shift," Aoshi said quietly.

Kenshin silently shook his head. "I have no fears for tonight."

Aoshi nodded and continued toward his room.

Beside Kenshin, Naruku stared vacantly down the now empty hallway.

"Naruku?" he said quietly to her, grasping her upper arm and shaking her ever so slightly as if to wake her from her daze.

She took a sharp intake of breath and turned toward him. "Hearing Aoshi say that…that we might need someone to stand guard, I mean. It really…Well, Kenshin, before that there was a part of me that didn't see how real the threat is. Now that we are having to take precautions it's like…we don't even know what's going to happen, but Enizu could come at any moment." She shivered. "It scares me, Kenshin," she concluded in a very small voice.

Kenshin's arm went from her arm to around her waist, pulling her close to his body. He pressed his forehead against hers, not knowing that this was the closeness she craved, just the sheer togetherness that she longed for. To be touching Kenshin, even just near him, was to be safe.

"You know I will always protect you and everyone here," Kenshin said softly. His eyes bore into hers and she was transfixed with the strength he showed without even meaning to. "Don't let these things trouble you, Naruku. I promise everything will be all right."

Naruku was not that easily dissuaded from her fears. "I know I'll dream of him tonight," she whispered, lowering her eyes.

Oh Enizu,what woe you induce in her heart, Kenshin thought bitterly. He stepped back from Naruku and raised her chin with his hand. "I will protect you Naruku, even if that means coming right down into that dream with you. I will do everything I can."

His tone was the epitome of sincerity. There was no mocking and no tease to his voice. He was dead-on serious about his promise to her.

"How…" Naruku looked away as Kenshin's hand dropped back to his side. "How can you make a promise like that…and know that you will not break it? How can you say something like that and know that it will not be a lie?"

"Because," Kenshin answered, a note of ease in his tone. "It's true." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her brow comfortingly. "I do not make empty promises."

Naruku closed her eyes serenely. "That is something I should know by now."

"We all have our doubts," he replied easily, squeezing her hand with his own. Before he could walk away, Naruku spoke.

"Please," she blurted. "Stay with me tonight. At least…until sleep takes me." It was a request, not a demand, and it was uttered in such an uncertain tone.

But she said it, nevertheless, and Kenshin slowly nodded his agreement.

Naruku shyly led Kenshin back to her room. Once inside, she instructed him to turn around while she changed into her sleeping yukata. He complied and when Naruku was done changing she slipped into her futon, quickly blowing out the lantern. Near her, she could hear Kenshin settling down next to the wall, his sakabatou on the floor, pinned beneath his left hand.

It was like that, in the dark, that Kenshin soon heard Naruku's soft breathing and knew she was asleep.

It was Kenshin's presence that drove away Naruku's midnight demons that so often visited. That night, Naruku slept dreamlessly.

-

­It was a lovely afternoon and Megumi was well aware of it, so she invented some excuse to go into town. Earlier that day, she had picked Outa up from Sanosuke's longhouse, after berating her beloved for leaving a young boy all alone in such a place.

Outa was cheerful and lovable and Megumi liked having him around, always asking questions, but always questions about her practice. She loved knowing that such a small mind was so eager to do great things and study the art of healing and the science of medicine.

Because she liked his company so much, Megumi had invited Outa along with her to go to town. To her surprise, the boy politely declined the offer, preferring to stay in the clinic, even under the oath that he wouldn't touch anything.

"No thank you Takani-sensei," was what Outa had replied to her invitation. It sounded like something he had practiced beforehand, the way his little boy's voice grasped the words. "I'd like to look around some more."

His sincere curiosity made Megumi laugh and delight, so she agreed to let him stay there by himself.

"That's fine, Outa," Megumi replied. "Just remember not to touch anything, especially the needles."

Outa nodded seriously.

"Oh, and one more thing," she said, halfway out the door already. "If Sano drops by, tell him to beat it." She accompanied this with a wink so Outa would know she was joking.

A quarter of an hour later, Megumi was well on her way into town, enjoying the way sunlight dappled her face and the way the air smelled of plum and cherry blossoms. So immersed in these joys was she, that Megumi did not notice the evil that lurked behind her footsteps.


A/N: I know, I don't update for more than two weeks and then when I do it ends a cliffhanger. I'm just so easy to forgive, aren't I?

Thank you everyone who's been sticking with me, and everyone who's found their interested piqued by this fanfiction. I am always eager to receive your comments, no matter what they are. (Of course, if you must know, I'm a sucker for detail. Means a lot more and it helps me a lot more, you know?)

Crewel: Not in this fic, I don't think. More Sano and Megumi in next chapter, for sure!

Yuna: I understand what you mean about Soujiro. Don't worry, his part isn't over yet. Do you think I'd leave Misao like that? Nah. I'm surprised that you think that Kenshin's part is short, because he's supposed to be one of the very central characters. (Well, they all are, really.) I see where you're coming from, though…don't worry, Kenshin's part is going to become very important later on.

Zioncross: I love hearing from you. I think I'll have more Outa and Sano in the next chapter. I'm glad you like the way I portray them.

Mysterious samurai: Thanks! I love knowing that someone's thinking positively about my fanfiction.

Erica Mandarine: it seems like everyone likes a different pairing! Soujiro and Misao will definitely get some spotlight later on, but for now Soujiro's AWOL.

Genki Ninjagirl: I know, I'm so sorry for taking so long! Please don't give up on me because I will never give up on one of my fanfictions. In the event of my death, I guess I'll just have to buy some cheap typewriter in the Other World. 8-) There will always be an update at some point, until this fic is done.

Cathy Mark: I know, I'm sorry. Of course I'll always continue. Please try and be patient and I'll try and be quicker!

Okane-sama: I'm glad you like how I portray Sano, headstrongness and all. Awesome penname. 8-)

You guys are awesome. Every time I receive a review I feel that much more motivated to write the next part. I swear, without reviewers I might've lost interest with this series long ago. Thanks to you, I'm completely submerged in my writing about Naruku and the rest of the Kenshin-gumi.

Before I forget: does anyone care to explain this "atom" device to me? What's it even for?