A/N: I'm sooo sorry everyone! I haven't updated this in sooo long! I hope you all forgive me! Anyway, I'm hoping that this story will pick up on it's reviews.

Chapter 6 – wingless

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Kenshin's eyes scanned the area. He had heard…something. It sounded like Kaoru's voice. And did she say…that she loved him? How? The talks he was having with Soujiro and Sano had been abruptly cut off from his mind as he hurried down the steps and over to the willow tree.

"Kaoru…?"

Kaoru had heard their distant talking and quickly flew up into the tree. She wasn't meaning for him to hear that! She bit her lip to stop herself from answering his almost pleading call. She looked down to see Kenshin circling the tree and begged god that he wouldn't look up.

Fortunately he just sighed and shook his head, returning over to where Sano and Soujiro stood.

"What was that about?" Soujiro asked as they continued walking. Kenshin just smiled as he replied;

"I thought I heard something. It's nothing."

Sano simply nodded his head while Soujiro remained silent. It seemed as though he didn't quite believe what he was saying. They walked off down the side walk of the school together.

Kaoru watched as they disappeared down the walk and sighed in relief. She slowly started to shift, trying to loosen herself from the tree branches. She squeaked as one just snapped and she came rocketing to the ground. She landed roughly and cursed under her breath about not being quick enough about her wings.

She rubbed her rear end as she stood up sorely. She waited around the school yard a while before taking flight heading for Kenshin's house, just to be safe. It took her a few minutes to reach her destination and she landed softly on the ground making up for her rough landing earlier.

She carefully peaked through the front door, not needing to open it. (She's an angel, people!) She slowly hovered up the stairs and was just about to peak through Kenshin's door when a familiar voice stopped her.

"Kaoru, there you are!"

Kaoru almost jumped but stopped herself from doing so. She turned around and put a smile on her face as she faced Kenshin. Kenshin had a towel around his neck and his hair was slightly damp indicating that he had just finished a shower and had carelessly thrown a robe on.

"H-hey!"

Kenshin smiled and started to walk toward her. She stepped to the side as he placed a hand on his door knob and turned it, stepping inside.

"Where were you today? I looked everywhere for you…"

Kaoru sighed as she tried to remember him running down the halls shouting her name. She just shrugged her shoulders as she casually sat down on the top of his bureau. Her wings ruffled slightly out of nervousness. Kenshin was rubbing the towel over his hair, drying it more as he glanced at Kaoru.

"Something the matter, Kaoru?"

Kaoru jumped just slightly, the sudden pierce of the silence surprising her. She shook her head, putting on a quick fake smile as she hummed a little tune. Kenshin stopped his ministrations with his towel and looked at her. He then lowered the towel onto his shoulders again and started to fix up his hair, never breaking his eye contact with her.

"Kaoru…something's got to be wrong. You're acting strange…"

Kaoru blinked a little bit. She just simply denied it again, shaking her head once more.

"Kenshin, I promise you, there's nothing wrong with me."

Kenshin just looked at her a moment before he nodded his head slowly. There was something she was hiding from him…

one month later-

Kaoru was lying on Kenshin's bed, staring helplessly at the ceiling. She sighed, the boredom just eating away at her. She was waiting for Kenshin to come home. He was out at the moment. Kaoru felt some tears prick out from her eyes.

It was official.

Kenshin had let himself fall for Tomoe.

They were a couple.

Kaoru wanted to lift her hand to wipe the tears away from her eyes but just couldn't find the heart to do so. She knew that there was something fishy about the girl…she didn't like Kenshin going near her. But she couldn't change the way his heart steered.

She just…didn't know how it happened. She watched his every move yet…somehow he managed to get with her right under her nose. He was just so happy one day when he was walking back from school and she happened to ask him why and he came right out and said it.

He had a girlfriend.

Kaoru's heart practically broke right then and there. She stopped her flying and just hovered in place, eyes wide as he just continued to walk along to some beat, humming. She could feel the tears coming on right then but she refused to cry.

Not in front of him anyway.

She had held it in until she was finally alone and then cried her eyes out. She begged god for a reason as to why that was and how he could do that. But then she stopped. She wasn't human. She was just his guardian angel. And it was just by chance that he bared that gift.

Either way, he was never suppose to be with her. Angel and Human coupling…it didn't work. Humans were held higher than Angels. They were meant to be protected and that was that. But…she just couldn't help it…

She had fallen in love with him and there was nothing that could change that.

And now, here she lay, pathetic and helpless like a lost little girl on the bed of the one she loved, waiting for him to return from his date.

She suddenly heard a click to the door and jolted up, expecting to see a large mane of red hair and glittering violet eyes but instead…there was something…different. Completely different.

Floating in the doorway hovered another angel. Much younger than herself. He had a mess of black hair on his head and chocolate brown eyes. (Gad zooks, it's-)

"Yahiko?" Kaoru questioned. Kaoru stood up a little bit. Was it really her little brother? But…what was he doing here?

Kaoru stood up from the bed and walked over to him. She smiled sincerely. It was her brother. She drew him into a hug and his small arms also wrapped around her waist. She smiled once more. She hadn't been that friendly with her brother and vice-versa. She stroked his head carefully before bringing his head back.

"Yahiko…what are you doing down here? You're not suppose to be here."

Yahiko shook his head and opened his mouth to speak.

"I was told to come down here and tell you…that Kenshin…the one you're guarding…he can't be with that girl…"

Kaoru's face then tightened up into a scowl and she tightened her fists and nodded her head curtly with a snort as she held up her fist, her wings spreading defensively.

"I know! I knew that from the very beginning that he-"

Yahiko quickly quieted her with his hand.

"No, sis. You've got it all wrong!" He shook his head annoyed and shook his head muttering something about 'women' and 'stupid' as well. Kaoru scowled at him but waited for him to continue.

"…You know what happened to Kenshin's dad…don't you…?"

Kaoru's face then straightened as she looked away. She knew but she could never bring herself to tell Kenshin the truth. She slowly nodded her head.

"…And you know that that woman isn't…finished…right?"

Kaoru bit her lip. She did know that. But still…she just couldn't ever tell Kenshin that. She sighed and nodded once more. She turned back to Yahiko.

"Well…that girl…that Kenshin is with…is the daughter of that woman who killed Kenshin's father…"

Kaoru's eyes widened. How did Yahiko know that? God…God must have been the one who told him and sent him down here to tell her this. Kaoru quickly grabbed his shoulders.

"What do I do!"

Yahiko bit his lip and looked away slightly as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"…You'll need to tell Kenshin…"

Kaoru's eyes widened. She couldn't do that…she just couldn't. And even if she did there was a small chance that he'd believe her. She shook her head and still kept her hands on Yahiko's shoulders.

"Yahiko, there has to be some other way of doing this…isn't there…?"

Yahiko simply shook his head.

"I asked myself the same question…but there isn't."

Kaoru sighed as she lowered her head. She hadn't seen her brother in so long…she wished they could have met under different circumstances. She nodded her head and then pulled him into a large hug.

"Alright, Yahiko…"

She felt his arms around her waist tighten as he buried his small head into the crook of her neck. She never remembered her brother like this before…what could be wrong? She stroked his head to comfort him. She then pulled him back and he quickly wiped away the tears that had formed in his chocolate eyes.

"I want you to come back home, sis…I miss you…"

Kaoru's eyes softened as she cupped his face in her hands and placed her forehead against his own. She smiled and looked into his eyes.

"You're not getting weak on me, are you…?"

The fire suddenly returned in his eyes as he jerked away from her and brought up his fists and shook his head.

"Never!"

Kaoru laughed and nodded. She then stood up and ruffled his hair a little, earning a small grunt from her brother as she laughed once more. Her brother was very dear to her. They were close. When she had to leave him because of guardian duty, he was left by gods side and he took care of him.

"Well…I think you should get going home, Yahiko…you told me what to do and I appreciate it…I promise to come visit when I get the chance, alright…?"

Yahiko's eyes brightened up as he smiled and bobbed his head up and down, his black hair swishing this way and that. Kaoru laughed and hugged him again before he disappeared in a flash of light. She sighed. That was just so…out of the blue.

So…Tomoe was the daughter of the witch who murdered Kenshin's father…

Kaoru breathed in deeply. He'd never believe her…

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Kenshin had walked into his house, humming happily to himself. The last month of Tomoe and himself together had been great. He had a feeling that it would come out the way it should. It felt as though he had just opened up everything he had sealed away.

"Ma, I'm home!"

His voice echoed in the house. There was a small reply coming from, not his mom, but Kaoru. He lifted his head to where the stair case led up to the hall that connected to his room to see Kaoru quickly fluttering out.

"Kenshin!"

Kenshin smiled happily and waved but she didn't seem to be in the mood. She quickly rushed down to him and nearly mauled him over in a hug. Kenshin blinked several times in surprise.

"Kaoru…is something wrong?"

Kaoru quickly withdrew and nodded frantically. Her eyes were hazed over and her face was troubled. Kenshin cocked an eyebrow, confusion dwindled in his eyes.

"Kenshin, you must listen to me!"

Kenshin nodded his head slowly, confused to the seriousness of his guardian angel. She took a deep breath, readying herself to break the news to him.

"Kenshin…you have to get away from Tomoe."

A couple seconds passed before the comment finally hit. His brows then furrowed and he drew away, fists tightening just slightly. He looked at Kaoru sternly.

"Kaoru, what the hell are you talking about! Why!"

Kaoru drew in another shaky breath and her hands trembled. She didn't want him to suffer this way. She didn't think she'd me able to bare it if he knew. But she needed to tell him.

"Tomoe…she's dangerous. You mustn't go near her anymore!"

Kenshin's anger didn't diminish. It simply grew stronger. His voice rose and his eyes narrowed and for a moment, Kaoru could almost see a flash of gold flare.

"Why the hell not!"

Kaoru's eyes almost shed tears then. She didn't like it when he got angry. He became frightening. She carefully trudged toward him and placed her slender hand on his arm to try and get him to listen.

"Kenshin, please…heed my warning!"

"I will not!"

Kenshin simply shook his head roughly and jerked his arm for her to let go. He growled and tried to get her away from him. Finally, he resorted to pushing her off, and she stumbled backward. She couldn't take it anymore.

It slipped.

"Tomoe is the daughter of the woman who murdered your father!"

As if a gun shot were heard, the whole house seemed to go silent. Kenshin stood still, a look of shock spread across his features. He stared at Kaoru who trembled in fear. Tears were streaking from her sapphire eyes. Kenshin's voice finally was found and he let out a raspy question;

"…what…?"

Kaoru bit her lip, frightened to repeat what she had said. She slowly drew in once more, another shaky breath as she did so repeat.

"Tomoe…she is the daughter of your fathers murderer…and she was taught…to come after you… Kenshin, you mustn't go near her, please…she could hurt you…even kill you…"

Kenshin's face didn't change. It still held it's look of shock and surprise. But, to Kaoru's surprise, it grew rigid once more. His mouth curled into a snarl and his chest budded out, indicating that he had taken a large breath. When he spoke, his voice boomed causing Kaoru's heart beat to race.

"You're wrong! You're lying!"

Kaoru shook her head, fear was obvious, displayed clearly in her azure eyes.

"Stop pretending, Kaoru! I can see right through you!"

Kaoru still shook her head, more tears flowing from her eyes. He was so frightening…so angry. She didn't know what to do.

"N-no, y-you don't understand…"

Her voice was soft and quaking, terror coursing through her fragile body, her wings fluttering nervously. Kenshin's eyes didn't soften. They simply grew even more terrifying.

"You know what! I can live my own life! I don't need someone holding my hand! I don't a damn guardian angel! So why don't you just get the hell out of my life!"

Not a note of hesitation. Not a word of denial. No sign of regret. Kenshin hissed and seethed those words at the precious creature, that truth stinging her golden heart. Her eyes grew blank, her wings falling limp.

He didn't need her…

He didn't need her…

The words echoed in her mind over and over. Like a forceful reality in a horror movie. Her heart felt like an arrow had come and pierced it. Oh, how she wished it could have been cupids arrow. Her mind kept repeating that phrase but it didn't sound right to her. Finally, the truth hit.

No, it's not that he didn't need her…

He didn't want her…

Suddenly, a burst of lights surrounded her. Her limp body started to lift from the floor beneath her and she started to glow a bursting bright gold. Almost as if it were mocking her, the beautiful golden rapture seared a shattering pain through her body. She screamed as it grew more immense by the second.

Ripping.

It was ripping her apart. It felt like it was. But when the pain ceased and she fell to the floor, spread all around her in a pool of white were soft feathers. They were her feathers.

An aching pain throbbed through her back, tears cascading down her face. Her heart was shattered. Torn. Ripped out and stomped on. And as she finally gained back enough strength to move her neck, she glanced behind herself to look upon her pain filled back to see that nothing was there.

Nothing…

Her wings…

Were gone…

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Well, that's all for now! I'm so sorry for taking so long! Please review!