Hey, people. I bet you're ready for the next chapter of A Samurai's Heart. Well, here it is.

True Love

Kenshin was leaning against the window in his room. He was so frustrated that he could have cut the house in half. "Why was he doing this? Katsura doesn't have the right!" He kept playing the past events in his head over and over again.

Shiro had led Kenshin to Katsura's office earlier. He wondered why he wanted to talk to him. Was it about his previous kill? Had the shogun decided to dispatch his army? Had the Shinsengumi discovered their plans? When Kenshin heard Katsura's demands, he only wished it.

"I've decided that the shogun is taking too long to respond to our requests. It has been two months. Unless he moves out within the hour, we will execute the girl." That shouldn't have mattered to Kenshin. He was the great Battousai, for Buddha's sake (1). He had been killing for the past three years. Why should he care about one girl's death? Because I love her, he thought. Even if she had been pushy at times, she was the only one that could warm his heart. She would always make him smile when impossible. She was his…his sheath.

"Must we kill her? Maybe we could take her with us," Kenshin suggested. Shiro just laughed.

"You must be getting soft, Battousai. If we don't kill her, the shogun will think we are weak. Then all our threats will be empty and we will lose this war."

"Shiro's right," Katsura decided. "I know it is hard, Kenshin, but I warned you. If the shogun doesn't respond within the hour, you will execute her."

You will execute her. Those words echoed in his head. How could he? He loved her so much. No, he thought. He was a samurai. He lived by Bushido (2). He was to protect the cause of the Meji at any cost. He grabbed his sword and looked at the clock. It was time. Shishio had just walked into his room.

"Are you ok, buddy?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's get this over with." They slowly walked to Kaoru's room. She was sitting on her bed combing her hair with her mother's comb. She looked so happy and beautiful in the sunset's light. But when she saw Kenshin's solemn face, her smiled faded. She knew something was wrong, so she didn't bother asking. "The shogun hasn't left. I'm sorry." Kaoru got up and hugged him.

"It's alright. It's not your fault. You have to do what you have to do." She didn't fight them as they tied her hands and led her to the dungeon downstairs where Katsura and Shiro stood. This was actually the first time that she felt remorse. She had an idea what was going to happen to her.

When they arrived in the execution room, Kaoru was forced to kneel down while Katsura spoke.

"Kaoru Kamiya, the shogun has refused to fulfill our requests. Unfortunately, we must fulfill our end of the bargain. We told him if he hadn't moved out of the city, we would execute you as a sign of our seriousness. Do you have any last words or requests?" Kaoru shook her head as the blindfolded her. She would accept her fate. She would have rather died than go back to Kyochi anyways. "Kenshin," Kenshin stepped forward with his sword. He placed it on the back of Kaoru's neck and lifted it in the air. For some reason, he hesitated.

"What's wrong, Battousai? Do it," Shiro yelled.

"Please, Kenshin," Kaoru said. "I don't want to live anymore. Don't make this harder than it already is. Just do it." Kenshin saw a tear trail down her face. He yelled and swung. The blindfold fell to the ground and Kaoru opened her eyes. She quickly looked up at Kenshin and her eyes widened. Kenshin was…crying. "Kenshin, what are you doing?"

"Yes, Kenshin," Shishio said. "What are you doing?"

"I can't kill her. It isn't right. She has done nothing wrong. She doesn't deserve to die. If you want, kill her yourself. But you'll have to kill me first." Katsura drew his sword and pointed it at Kenshin's neck.

"No! Stop it!" Kaoru yelled as tears ran down her face. "Kenshin, I beg you! Just kill me! It's not worth your life!"

"She's right," Katsura said as he sheathed his sword. "You do not deserve to die. You will stay with us." Kenshin walked to her and cut her ropes. She quickly hugged him and cried into his chest.

"I thought I was going to lose you," she sobbed.

"No, I will always be here for you. I'm not going anywhere." He didn't want to admit the real reason he had saved her. He didn't want to tell her that he really loved her. I guess that's what happens when true love gets in the way, Katsura thought. Then there was an explosion outside. People were yelling and screaming. "What was that?"

Sorry about the cliffhanger. I had to do. I hope you liked this chapter. Keep reading and reviewing.

1. Everyone around here says "For God's sake!" or "Oh God!" I thought it might be neat to say "For Buddha's sake!" instead.

2. Bushido is the code of the Samurai in case you don't know.