Betrayal

Kenshin sat on the floor of his room as Katsura tended to his wounds. He had just finished bandaging the Battousai's stomach wound and was about to stitch up his shoulder. Kenshin pushed his leader's hand away when he tried to wipe the blood away. Katsura just stared at him as he took the needle in his hand.

"If you're going to go after her," he said as he started stitching, "forget it. You'll endanger the girl and our cause. You might as well just let it go."

"How could I let this happen?" Kenshin said in a harsh voice. "Why did I let them take her? I was supposed to protect her. Now she's with that filthy piece of trash." Katsura was starting to get worried. Besides the fact that Kenshin hadn't flinched since he started sewing his wounds, he was worried because ever since Katsura had known Kenshin, the only time he had seen Kenshin like this was when he visited him after Tomoe's death. He must have been hurting.

"It's not your fault, Kenshin. She chose to go with the Shinsengumi so that you could go on with life and fight for the cause. Like she said, if she hadn't gone, we would all be dead right now, and all of our hard work would have been flushed down the toilet (1)."

"It still might be." They both turned towards the doorway and found Shiro standing in it. "If I know the shogun, he will not keep his promise. His son will find a loophole and his army will stay and try to destroy us." Kenshin looked at the samurai's cold eyes. Only this time, they weren't cold. They were filled with sympathy. Kenshin even thought that Shiro smiled at him. "You might get to save her after all." Kenshin smiled back and put his cloths on. Then he took out the comb that Kaoru gave him before the Shinsengumi took her away.

"I will find you, Kaoru," he whispered. "I promise."

It was almost midnight as the Shinsengumi marched through the streets with their prisoner. Kaoru had thought a lot about what she would do when she got back to the castle, but she couldn't get the thought out of her head that her Kenshin would return and save her. But what if he didn't? What if Kenshin had already forgotten her and went back to being a hitokiri (2)?

The Shinsengumi led her into a cellar and down a trapdoor. It felt like they walked down a never-ending staircase. Then, after what seemed like and eternity, they started to ascend until they arrived in a dark, stone room. Shackles hung from the ceiling and on the blood stained walls. In the middle stood a block of wood with chains on it that came up to Kaoru's waistline. The floor smelt horribly of human flesh and blood. It almost made her vomit. Kaoru knew what this horrible place was. This was where prisoners were tortured and executed. Kyochi even made her watch him chop a man's head off here once. She started shaking a little but then took control of herself. She wouldn't let this scare her.

The samurais started laughing as they threw a noose over a rafter. "We'll see how brave you are," one said as they tightened it around her neck, causing her to make a chocking sound. "If we bring the shogun a dead girl, then he'll have no choice but to attack the rebels." They all started laughing as they pulled the rope, lifting Kaoru off the ground. She started choking from being strangled. "Look how fast her feet are kicking. She's flying!" Just as she was losing consciousness, a sword flew through the air and cut the rope, causing her to fall to the ground. The sword had landed in the chest of the man that had ordered Kaoru to be hanged. All the men watched as Saitou picked up his sword, casually wiped the blood off, and replaced it in its hilt. Kaoru lay on the ground coughing and trying to catch her breath.

"Why would you do such a thing?" he growled at them. "We were commanded to bring Kyochi's fiancé back safely. This is almost like treason. You should all face this punishment." He quickly helped Kaoru up and looked at her. There was a rope burn where the noose wrapped around her neck. He removed the noose, deciding that the mark couldn't be helped. "I will take her back. Find some rebel samurais to kill."

As he led her up to the castle, she had to ask him questions. "Why didn't you let me die? You could have gotten your city back and crushed the rebels."

"I am here to serve the shogun. Nothing more, nothing less. As long as I am alive, I will protect you. I was ordered to do so when your father made the deal that you should be married to the shogun's son. Unfortunately, I was on a mission when you were kidnapped. I blame myself for the brutality you have faced while with them. I hope you can forgive me."

"Actually," Kaoru started remembering all the good times she had had with Kenshin. "It wasn't as bad as one might think."

They came to Kyochi's room. Before they entered, Saitou cut Kaoru's binds and then pushed her in. Kyochi smiled and ran to her with a hug and kiss on the forehead. "My sweet Kaoru, welcome home." Kaoru smiled at him, but he knew something was wrong. He ignored it and continued. "I see you have returned home safely. But before we go on, I must ask you a vital question. Did you give those rebel scum any information about our plans?"

"You never tell me anything about the shoguns plans," she replied. "I don't have any information to give away." Kyochi smiled and kissed her on the forehead once again.

"That's a good girl. You will make an excellent wife. I hope those samurais didn't hurt you."

"No, I was treated well. Speaking of treated…"

"Yes," Kyochi said with a smile. "I will have a bath and feast made in your honor. We will celebrate your return." Kaoru stared at the floor.

"That's…not what I meant. Your father made a promise to the samurai." Kyochi glared at Kaoru. How could she be siding with them? Wasn't she glad she was home? He brushed it off and smiled at her.

"Yes, I'll have father order the army to abandon Edo at once." He kissed her and brushed his hand against her neck. Then he found the rope burn. He suddenly erupted with anger. "What is this? I thought I told them not to harm you."

"No, that's not from them. It's from…" Kyochi quickly interrupted her.

"Don't lie to me! I know very well where it is from. Those rebels tried to hang you, I see. Well, they didn't fulfill their end of the bargain, and neither will we. Saitou, tell father that we will attack the rebels with full force. They have betrayed us, and we will crush them for it."

"No, Kyochi. You can't. You don't understand." Kyochi slapped her across the face and grabbed his whip.

"You dare question me?" He started whipping her back as she screamed. "I will not marry an ungrateful wench. You better start acting like a lady." He stopped after about twenty lashes. Kaoru tried not to cry from the pain, but she had to let out a few whimpers. "I will find the samurai that did this to you and slaughter him. It's for your own good, you know." He knelt down and kissed her gently on the lips. "Take a bath and get ready for dinner. I have to get ready for our attack." He left her in his room so she could cry to herself.

What was she going to do? Kyochi was going to kill Kenshin, and there was nothing she could do about it. "Kenshin," she whimpered, "where are you?"

Yeah, sorry if I made you cringe a little. And if I made Kaoru sound wimpy, sorry about that. There will be a lot of action in the next chapter, but it might take awhile to write. So please be patient.

1. I'm not sure if they had toilets in Japan back then. I'm not even sure if the toilet was invented yet.

2. A hitokiri is a manslayer.

Reviewers:

royal blueKitsune: Ha, you're funny. Don't worry. There will be plenty of bloodshed on the Battousai's part in the next chapter. I didn't want him to be so bloodthirsty too soon in the story. Violence, sword fighting, blood, and dismembered body parts coming up!

Animelover: That's great. I can't wait to read your stories. You better let me know when it gets posted.

Gypsy-chan: Awesome! That's great that you posted my story. I don't mind. Post away! I want more readers! Thanks again.

And if there is anyone I missed, I'm really sorry. Thank you for reviewing my story. Keep watching. It might be awhile before the next chapter comes out though. Thanks again. Cya!