A/N: HA! I got it done and out when I said I would! Yay! Don't know when I'll have time to get the next chapter posted. Still pretty busy. Aikida was my beta once again!

Reviewers!

FairyMage - About the name, all I can say is: Opps. See, when I pick out names I just pick my Legend of Dragoon video game book and point at a random name on the credit's page, hoping I get the gender right. Opps… and no I won't be changing it because other have already read the story and know my character as Muroi, it just wouldn't feel right to suddenly change the name. Thanks for telling me though!

Shadow Wolves - Yes, it is sad that I made someone so young go through so much… I'm just plain evil. -winks-

Shaolin 10 - I had it saved on my computer. I'm just going through it again trying to catch mistakes before I upload each chapter again. That's why I'm being so pokey at getting it back up. I haven't added In The Beginning to the Kenshin Torture C2, it's just not enough Kenshin torture to qualify… although I keep thinking about it.

BakaBokken - Thanks for coming back and reading the story again!

lolo popoki - Thanks for pointing that error out! I will fix that the next free moment I get!

AekaAnime - Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 7 - Never Go Back

"All right." He said holding her a bit tighter. "Do you know how to get to your old house?"

She pulled away from him slightly so she could look up at his face. "I think so."

"Then tomorrow we will go there." Neko sighed and fell back into Kenshin's grasp.

Slowly she was relaxing and falling asleep. "Kenshin?" She asked sleep lining her words.

"Hm?"

"Do you think my mommy and daddy are happy?"

He was silent for a moment. "I'm sure they are." Neko smiled, then frowned. She missed them so much. She yawned and slowly her eyes closed against her will. Kenshin on the other hand began to blush.

"She fell asleep… why didn't she go to her own bed?" When he had offered her comfort he hadn't expected it to last all night. He looked down at the sleeping figure in his arms. Her eyes were red and she was frowning but she looked so innocent. He let his head fall and slowly his eyes also closed against his will. The two slept peacefully through the rest of the night.

As he had promised Kenshin prepared to leave the inn to look for Neko's old home. He grabbed a straw hat and placed it on his head in hopes that would make him stand out less as they made their way around the town. Neko led the way trying to get her bearings. It took a long time to reach her house because she lived so far out of town. "This is it." She whispered when they finally arrived.

It was an ordinary looking house. It looked the same from either building beside it. A tall one-floor house that looked like a middle class family owned. Neko grabbed Kenshin's hand and led him inside. The walls were mostly bare, a wall scroll hung here or there, but for the most part it was pretty empty. Neko led him from room to room explaining which were which. That had been the dinning room, that's the kitchen, this was the living room. "This, this is my room." She said at last entering her little room. Makings of a bed sat neatly folded up in one corner of the room. A small shelf was on the wall with a few toys on it. A piece of rope she had used as a jump rope, a paper ball, a pin wheel, and a couple of fancy looking dolls were sitting neatly up on the self. Neko put the doll Kenshin had given her next to one with a glass face and looked at the two. "I like the one you gave me better," she told Kenshin. "It won't break if I play with it." She took the doll with the delicate face and kissed it. She then replaced it up on the shelf and took the doll Kenshin had given her.

She moved around the room and stopped at a dresser. She reached out a hand and opened the drawer. Inside were some of her clothes and she gently caressed them. She bit the bottom of her lip to keep from crying as memories of her old life washed over her. She moved out of her room and into a room Kenshin guessed use to be her parents room. The first thing Neko did was open the drawer and pulled out a beautiful blue kimono. She clutched it tightly to her and inhaled. The scent of her mother was still strong on the cloth.

Kenshin's memories raced back to the times that he had taken that ribbon out and inhaled just as Neko had done. Haku Baikou, her sent. He would just take a whiff of that intoxicating scent and he was back, back in Outsu and happy. Softly he heard Neko sobbing into the fabric that she had smashed her face into.

As Kenshin and Neko reminisced of things they could no longer have, Muroi was planning their demise. He woke up that morning with a slight hangover but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He rose from bed and quickly dressed. He entered Kyoto his destination growing closer with each step. He knew he was getting closer as more and more men dressed in Shinsengumi uniforms could be seen.

Muroi walked right into the building he knew was run by the Shinsengumi. "Hey, I need to speak with Hiroko," he called out to one of the men standing around.

"Why do you wish to speak with Captain Shirakawa?"

Muroi smirked. "Because I know where the Battòsai is."

Neko had walked every inch of her old house. It was her home but it no longer felt like home. Walking aimlessly around she felt the quiet and emptiness weigh her down. She ran her hand along the wall. When she had first walked through the door it had hit her. She could never go back. She could never return to her old, happy life here in this house. It had been destroyed, murdered in cold blood. Tears streamed down her face. She could never go back. She fell to her knees and cried.

When it was time to leave Neko took a few things with her: her mother's and father's favorite outfit, the paper ball, a couple of her kimonos, and her bedding. Everything else she left behind. "Don't you want your doll?" Kenshin asked, when she had finished gathering her things.

"No, that is my old life with mommy and daddy." She looked up at Kenshin with pleading eyes. "Can we visit them? I haven't gotten a chance to pray to them yet." Kenshin nodded and picked up the bag that held the few things she was taking with her and led the way out of the house. When they reached the doorway Neko stopped and looked back into the dark house. She would never return to this home. With a sigh she walked out of her house for what she could only guess for the last time.

Captain of the Shinsengumi, Shirakawa, Hiroko eyed the man that entered the room carefully and motioned for him to sit down across from him. When the man had been seated Hiroko made a motion for the others to leave. When they were alone Hiroko smiled at the man in front of him. "It's been a long time Muroi. You still a drunk?"

Muroi scowled at Hiroko. "Now is that anyway to treat an old friend? Especially one with the kind of information I have?" He stared down Hiroko's ice blue eyes. He looked his friend over carefully. He had changed a little since they had last met. The most noticeable difference was he had a rather long scar that started at the top of his left eye and ran down to his jaw. He wasn't as scrawny as he had once been and his arms showed great strength in the muscles that covered him. His sooty black hair was as unruly as ever, looking as if the man hadn't ever brushed it.

Hiroko laughed slightly. "I've known you for a long time Muroi, hell, we even grew up together." He looked at his friend sternly. "It had better be really big news for me to take the word of a man with breath like yours."

"You insult me. Maybe you don't want to hear what it is I have to say." Muroi was doing his best to keep his impatience out of his face. He knew how to bait Hiroko into believing whatever he said but if got angry or just bust out saying it Hiroko would never believe him. "Perhaps I should leave and come back later then. Then maybe you will treat me with a little more respect."

As Muroi rose to leave Hiroko motioned him to sit again. "I'm sorry, I want to hear what you have to say. I know you wouldn't have come here if it wasn't important."

This was the moment Muroi had waited for. He had to say this very carefully or Hiroko would never believe him. "Hiroko, the other day when I went to market the strangest thing occurred that you would never believe."

Hiroko's eyes crew curious. "What happened?"

"Well, it was so strange, one of my slaves had tried to run away…"

"…is this a story about how your dogs finally got a hold of her?" Hiroko knew his friend's reputation and grew annoyed. He was too busy with other things then to hear how Muroi's dogs ripped a person to shreds.

"No. That wasn't the strange part. What was strange was someone took her from me!"

Hiroko's attention came back. He also was well aware of his friend's feelings towards anyone that stole from him or tried to rip him off. Just a couple of weeks ago he had nearly killed a boy who he thought had pick pocketed him. This was not a matter his friend would take lightly. "What did you do? Did you kill the person this time?"

The look in Hiroko's eyes told Muroi he had won. Whatever came out of his mouth next the man across from him would believe. "I couldn't! I couldn't do anything! You won't believe this but the man who took her was the Battòsai!" Pure shook radiated from Hiroko's eyes. "I knew you wouldn't believe me."

"No! No! My friend! I believe you the Battòsai is a man after all and the women you have I can…"

"But it wasn't a woman! It was a child!"

"A child? Why would the Battòsai want a little kid? Are you certain it was him?"

"He had red hair and an 'X' on his left cheek. His eyes, they struck pure terror in me! You know I am not a man who is easily frightened!"

"Yes I know!" Hiroko shook his head. "It is so strange."

Now Muroi smiled it was time to give his information. "What's even stranger is he still has her with him."

Hiroko stopped pondering as a smile grew over his face. "You know where the Battòsai is."

"I know more then that. I know his weakness."

Kenshin and Neko walked silently, hand in hand, from Neko's old home. Kenshin felt a small ki running towards them. He stopped and looked behind them. A little boy with his brown hair pulled back in a small pony tail behind his back was running towards him. "Neko!" He cried out trying not to stumble as he ran. "Neko wait!"

Neko finally turned around and looked at the boy. "Kanai?" She said questionably. She let go of Kenshin's hand and started to walk towards the boy.

The small boy bent over and started to breathe heavily. When he finally caught his breath and looked at Neko with his big brown, puppy dog eyes he smiled. "Neko you're alright! I've been going over and knocking on your door everyday but you're never home!" He straightened and looked around. "Where's you mom and dad?"

Neko winced. "They died."

"No way!" Kanai said shocked. Neko began to cry. "Don't cry Neko! It's alright! It's alright!" He patted Neko on the shoulder. "Where have you been?"

Neko pointed over her shoulder at Kenshin who stood a few feet away, just within ear shot. "I've been living with Kenshin. He's an…" She trailed off. She was suppose to keep his secret.

"He's an what?"

"He's a… a really nice guy." She nodded her head. "That's what I wanted to say. He's not an angel, but he's really nice." She smiled at herself. She was good at keeping secrets.

Kanai laughed slightly and tried to get a better look at the man that was taking care of Neko. His hat hid his eyes and most of his face but he had really long red hair. That was a really strange hair color. He carried a wakizashi and a katana, nothing strange there. The man tilted his head slightly and Kanai was able to see his cheek. It had a cross shaped scar. "Neko… is…is he the Battòsai!"

Neko seemed stunned for a moment. "Why would you say something like that!"

"It's him! Just like in the stories!" Kanai was scared now. "You've been living with the Battòsai! How many people has he killed? Did he kill a hundred? Did he kill your paren-" Kanai didn't finished because Neko slapped him across the face. "Neko?" Kanai whimpered holding the right side of his face.

"How dare you!" she hissed at him. She had her fingers spread apart and bent so her nails had clawed Kanai's face. "How dare you say that about him!"

"Neko! It's really the Battòsai! From all those stories I told you!" He growled at her, angry at being hit. They had been neighbors and friends all their lives, Neko had never once hit him that hard before or viciously before.

Neko narrowed her eyes. "He's not the Battòsai! He's not! He's not! He saved me!" Neko turned her back to Kanai. "I'm leaving!"

All the anger in Kanai's face vanished. "You're leaving? When will you be back?"

Neko stopped but she didn't turn around. "I don't think I'm ever coming back."

"WHAT!" He yelled out. "But… but, but then who will play with me?"

Tears streamed down Neko's face. "I'm sorry."

"I don't want you to go. Neko, you're my best friend."

"I want my mommy and daddy back. I'm so scared." She was sobbing now.

Kanai ran in front of her and looked her in the eye. "It's okay Neko. I'll always be your friend and I'll always be here for you!" He said striking his chest, trying to look like a strong grown-up to her.

"But I can't live here anymore," Neko said between sobs. "I don't want to leave. I want to stay here with you and mommy and daddy!"

Kanai didn't know what to do. Acting on impulse he reached out and grabbed Neko. He pulled her close and hugged her. "No matter what happens Neko you'll always have me." Kenshin watched the two closely as Kanai held Neko until she was able to calm down. "We'll be best friends forever!"

Neko nodded then ran to Kenshin's side. "I'm ready to go now." She took his hand and the two walked away together.

"Be careful Neko!" Kanai yelled after her then softly he spoke to himself. "Surly that man is the Battòsai." He was worried for his friend. Living with the Battòsai couldn't possibly be safe. "I pray the stories aren't true and he will be able to protect Neko." Kanai watched the two walk away until he couldn't see them anymore, he then made his way home.

"Are you sure this plan will work?" Muroi asked once the two had finished talking.

"As long as the information you have given me is true then there is no way my plan will fail!" Hiroko assured him. "Unless the Battòsai is even more of a heartless demon then we expect. He will fall."

Muroi smiled. "And what about me?"

"As soon as the Battòsai is eliminated then we will worry about returning to you what belongs to you." Hiroko chuckled. "If the Battòsai is here then Katsura can't be far behind I will kill both of them at once."

Muroi rose and nodded a farewell to his friend. "I wish you good luck. I can hardly wait." With that he left and headed home finally feeling at ease. 'Once the plan has been set there is no going back and there will be no more Battòsai to stand in my way.' Nobody stole from Muroi, not even the Hitokiri Battòsai.

Neko kneeled at the gravesite of her parents. She shed not a single tear as she gave her blessing. Silently, she prayed for a long time. She told her parents of all the nice things Kenshin had done for her and how she will try to be strong. She said one last prayer and rose to her feet. "I'm ready," she said turning to Kenshin. Kenshin nodded and the two walked all the way back to the inn without a single word passing between them.

It was already dark by the time they returned. Neko ate dinner but mostly just pushed the food around on her plate. Kenshin suggested going to bed early and Neko took it. She climbed into bed and shut her eyes, falling instantly asleep. Today had been too hard for her, saying goodbye to her old life had taken all her strength from her.

Kenshin sat and watched her sleep. He felt disgusted with himself. He couldn't ignore the fact that he had done the same thing to other children. He had taken their parents from them. He looked once more at Neko before letting his eyes close. He would atone and maybe someday he could help others like Neko. "Give me strength Tomoe," he whispered just before sleep took him.