A/N: Okay! Before anyone grabs me by the collar, shakes me, while hollering: WHY HAVEN'T YOU UPDATED UNDER THE WEATHER. I've had a busy and somewhat bad month. I'm working really hard to get it done. Heh… I'll leave my whining for when I update Under The Weather. Nekotsuki beta this and last chapter for me! THANKS NEKOSTUKI!

Reviews:

tsumesgirl05 - Thanks for the review!

lolo popoki - I'm glad you're enjoying this story again!

FairyMage - Yes, you may have Neko when you have kids!

moeru himura - BUW HA HA HA! Yes! I do love torturing my readers!

Shadow Wolf of the Blue Moon - Who said I can't kill Kenshin? -grin-

Wolf Daughter - How can I leave such a mean cliff hanger? Um? Maybe I because I'm evil! BUW HA HA HA!

Hitokiri Musei - Hope this is fast enough fro you!

Chapter 10 - Return to Slavery

Neko trembled as she waited for the thunk of Kenshin's head as it hit the ground. Her eyes were shut so tight that she was starting to give herself a headache. After a couple of moments, when the sound she had been dreading didn't come, she tentatively opened one eye. Hiroko stood over Kenshin, but he held his blade just over the top of the manslayer's bowed head. Neko opened her other eye, confused, but glad that Kenshin was alive. Her confusion turned to anger as Hiroko began to laugh.

"Yes, why didn't I think of this before?" he said merrily as he sheathed his sword. "As Katsura's best killer, you must know where he is right now. Don't you?" Kenshin didn't answer; he kept his head bowed, staring at the ground. Hiroko let out a chuckle and extended two figures and wiggled them. "Pick him up." His men did as they were told and yanked Kenshin to his feet. Hiroko looked into Kenshin's amber eyes and shuddered. Pushing his fear aside he reached up and grabbed Kenshin's jaw. "Why don't you tell me where he is?"

Kenshin glared at Hiroko. He felt the man flinch and that brought him some satisfaction. "Never."

"We'll see about that." Hiroko pushed his face aside as Kenshin felt another, weaker ki coming up the path.

A man came walking up, spotted the group and was startled. "You didn't kill him yet?" he called out.

Neko looked over at the new arrival and let out a terrified shriek. It was her old master. "Go away!" she screamed, trying to free herself from the man that held her. Kenshin also began to struggle against the arms that held him. What was he doing here?

"Ah, Muroi!" Hiroko said, waving to his friend. "And how are you this fine night?"

Muroi looked to Kenshin, uncertain of what to do. Seeing that he was bound and being held back still didn't make the fact that he was alive any easier. "Can I take her back now, Hiroko?"

Hiroko nodded his head. "Of course. I shall return the girl to you now." Neko screamed as Muroi looked at her longingly.

"NO!" Kenshin yelled, pulling against the hands that were desperately trying to hold him still. "You promised to let her go!"

Hiroko laughed. "But I did let her go! It's not my fault that she didn't run while she had the chance. Besides…" Hiroko walked up and pulled Neko's kimono up slightly, exposing the scar on her leg. "This proves that she belongs to him. It wouldn't be right of me to not return what rightfully belongs to him."

"You liar!" Kenshin snapped back. "You never planned on letting Neko go!" He was furious.

Hiroko shrugged. "Perhaps you're right. I'll make you another deal then." Hiroko walked back to the group that held Kenshin and got right in Kenshin's face. "You tell me where Katsura and I'll talk Muroi out of taking the girl."

"You lie," Kenshin said, before spitting into Hiroko's face, striking his left cheek. Hiroko reeled back with a string of curses as he wiped the spit off his face. He gave a quick jerk of his head and Kenshin felt something rushing for the back of his. He couldn't dodge it and whatever it was - it felt like a sheathed sword - struck the back of his head. Kenshin's ears rang and his vision went blurry. He pitched forward and would have fallen to the ground if his captors hadn't been holding him up. He clenched his teeth and stared hard at the ground as he got his footing back. He could barely make out the ground underneath him as his vision went in and out of focus. He could feel a trickle of blood run from the impact to behind his right ear.

"You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" Hiroko mocked as Kenshin tried to glare up at the man. Hiroko gave another nod of his head and Kenshin braced himself for another blow but instead a cloth was placed against his mouth. Kenshin squirmed and held his breath, trying not to inhale, but soon the sweet smelling chemical they had dipped the cloth in forced its way into Kenshin's system. He felt his body begin to relax as he fell into a void of nothingness.

Neko watched helplessly as Kenshin's body fell limp. "NO!" she screamed, kicking her legs, trying to free herself. "I hate you!" she yelled to anyone in general. She thought her angel was dead. The man holding her loosened his grip, and she was able to break free. "Kenshin!" She ran for him and hugged his body to her. "Don't touch him!" she sobbed into his legs. "Leave him alone." The men watched her, stunned. Neko looked up at her angel's face and stopped crying, a smile replacing her tears. He was breathing. "Kens…" She chocked on her words as an arm wrapped around her and lifted her off her feet.

"I believe this belongs to you," Hiroko said, handing Neko over to Muroi.

"No!" Neko screamed, flailing her limbs in an attempt to break free. Instead, Hiroko dropped her at Muroi's feet.

Neko's face crashed into the ground as Hiroko handed Muroi the cloth that they had held up to Kenshin's face. "Would you like to use this?" he offered.

"No, that's fine." Muroi pushed Neko up and clasped her hands together in front of her. He tried to tie her hands but Neko wouldn't sit still. "Would youi hold her please?"

"Of course, my friend." Hiroko bent over and held Neko still as Muroi tied her hands together. As Muroi was finishing, Hiroko leaned a little closer to Neko and she was able to sink her teeth into his arm. "AH!" he shouted as she drew blood.

Muroi grabbed Neko's head and attempted to pull Neko off. "Let go!" Neko sank her teeth in deeper. "I said LET GO!" Muroi shouted as he slapped Neko across the face. Hiroko stood up and looked at his arm where Neko's teeth had left their mark. "Sorry, she's a biter." Muroi grabbed Neko's neck and pulled her to her feet. "Now say you're sorry." Neko just glared at Hiroko. "Say you're sorry!" Muroi shouted, shaking her.

"I'm not sorry. You're a liar!" She scrunched her face in anger. "You promised. You're a bad man!"

Muroi slapped her. "You've forgotten your place! Now say you're sorry!" Neko hissed and Muroi slapped her harder. "Say it!"

"Sorry…" she mumbled. "…you're such a jerk," she added under her breath.

"Come on. Let's go home," Muroi sneered, yanking the rope attached to Neko's hands, urging her on. Neko refused to move so Muroi simply dragged her. "Thank you again, Hiroko," Muroi said, giving his friend a slight bow.

"And thank you!" Hiroko said, returning the bow. "Now. Let's go!" Hiroko called to his men. Neko could only watch with tear-filled eyes as she was dragged further and further away from Kenshin.

Muroi grabbed the back of Neko's neck once more, right before they reached his home; the sun had set long ago. He squeezed so hard Neko yelled out in pain. "Thought you would run away from me would you?" He yanked Neko around the outside of his house. "Thought you could hide behind Battòsai, did you!" Now Neko could hear the whimpering of dogs as he led her towards the back. "You've grown soft." Now Neko could see three big, black dogs. She screamed.

The dogs rose to their feet and lunged towards Muroi and Neko. Their ropes held them back but they stretched out barking, snarling and baring their teeth. "NO!" Neko yelled and tried to back away from the animals Muroi pushed her towards.

"You need to learn. You have to know what happens when you run away." With that he pushed Neko towards the hungry beasts.

Neko scrambled to her feet, trying to get away as the dogs nipped at her. She tried to run but one of the dogs jumped on her back and knocked her down again. Another came up and bit Neko's left thigh. Neko shrieked in terror as the big dog began to shake her back and forth.

Akina dropped the clothes she had just folded. What had been that sound? It sounded like a child's scream. Akina clutched her heart as the screaming could be heard through the entire house. What was going on outside? She wanted to go outside and see what was happening but she was too afraid of what she would discover.
Neko screamed again as a second dog bit into her leg and started using her as a rag doll. She didn't know which she was screaming for, the pain or her fear. "I'm going to die." The thought rested in her head as she felt the two dogs playing tug-of-war with her leg. "I'm going to die."

"That's enough!" Muroi ordered his pets. The dogs backed off slightly, and Neko couldn't help but look into their eyes as they growled at her. The sight of her blood on their lips made her feel sick. Muroi walked up and grabbed her neck once more. He lifted her up from the ground and dragged her inside.

Akina heard the screams and ran towards the back door. What she saw tore her heart apart. Muroi was holding a screaming Neko up on her feet by her neck and her leg looked as if it had been pulled apart by… "He didn't." She spoke softly, sucking in her breath.

Muroi ignored the speechless Akina as he walked past dragging Neko with him. He dragged her to a small room and tossed her to the floor. "Welcome back." He shut and locked the door. Neko covered her face with her bound hands and screamed.

Akina watched Muroi's sleeping figure with baited breath. He had gotten himself drunk and passed out about an hour ago. Akina was sickened that the man could sleep with Neko's random pierced screams filling the house. She had quieted only about fifteen minutes ago.

Akina walked down the halls without making a single sound. She had a basket of medical supplies with her. Her hand reached up to unhook the simple lock but she stopped on it. If Muroi found out, what would he do? Akina shivered but opened the door. It was pitch dark in the room but Akina had brought a lantern and it illuminated the room and rested on the curled up figure of Neko.

Neko winced away from the light. She was so tired she couldn't even remember where she was. A hand reached down and caressed her head. "Oh, Neko," the owner of the hand called out to her.

"Mother?" Neko said, looking up at the womanly figure.

Akina shook her head. "No, Neko. Do you remember me?"

Neko squinted her eyes. "Akina!" she cried, happy to see a familiar face.

Akina nodded. "Yes Neko, it's me." She rubbed Neko's forehead again. "I'll be right back." She rose to her feet.

"No!" Neko cried out, grabbing onto Akina's kimono. "Please don't leave me!"

Akina reached down and touched Neko's hands. "I promise I'll be right back." She pried Neko's hands away from her and left.

"Akina," Neko moaned, as if calling her name would bring her back. "Please come back, Akina." Neko went to curl up into a ball but her leg hollowed in pain, protesting the movement. "My leg hurts. My leg hurts, somebody help." Neko thought she heard movement and tried to push herself up. Akina had returned carrying a bucket of water.

Akina set the bucket down and then untied Neko's hands. She rubbed Neko's wrists, trying to get the blood flowing naturally again. Then she turned to the gruesome task of taking care of Neko's leg. Akina took in a deep breath and held it as she reached down and pulled the bottom of Neko's kimono up so she could see better. Neko hissed in pain.

It was bad. Neko's leg had been completely ripped apart. Akina let her breath out and felt utterly helpless. She wasn't a doctor; all she knew was that you had to keep an injury clean or it would get infected, and infections were bad. As she looked at the torn up leg, Akina didn't know what to do. She got a rag and began to rub cold water over all the parts covered in blood. Some parts were still bleeding.

The water was quickly tainted red as Akina dipped the cloth in the bucket over and over. She had to constantly fill the bucket with fresh water. After she decided that she had cleaned the leg as best as she could, she wrapped some bandages around it. Akina wondered if she should splint it as well but she didn't have anything she could use to make a splint. The leg taken care of the best way she could, Akina went and got one more bucket of clean water. She also found a clean rag and wiped Neko's face clean. Neko sobbed and screamed out in agony through the whole processes.

When she had cleaned Neko as best as she could, Akina positioned Neko so that the child's head could lie in her lap instead of the hard floor. She petted Neko's head and hummed, trying to help her fall asleep. Neko's tired body couldn't stay awake for very long and soon she fell into a deep, painful sleep.

Akina sat with Neko's head on her lap until early afternoon. "Wake up, Neko," she called softly, rubbing Neko's cheek. Neko moaned in protest, but sleepily opened her eyes. "I'm sorry Neko, but I'm going to have to tie your hands again."

"No." Neko moaned still half asleep. "Why?"

"I'm sorry, but if he found out I helped you…" She trailed off. Would it be that bad to leave Neko's hands untied? He was sure to see the bandage on her leg but maybe? She sighed. "I'm sorry." She picked up the ropes from where she had left them the night before and Neko allowed her to tie it loosely around her hands.

When Akina was done, Neko was surprised to find tears falling on her hands. "What's wrong Akina?"

"I'm sorry, Neko. It's just I was so happy when I heard you got away. I thought you had found freedom. I… I didn't think you would… would come back. I'm so…" Akina leaned down and cried. "I just thought if you… then maybe I…"

Neko reached up and rubbed Neko's face. "It's all right. My angel will come and save us."

Then Neko remembered. The way they had pushed him over, the way he was just going to let them, then they had hit him … then she thought that they really had killed him. Maybe he couldn't save her this time. What if he was already dead? Tears fell from Neko's eyes. "We have to help him."

Akina looked curiously at Neko. "Who?"

"Kenshin, my angel. He's in trouble!" Neko tried to sit up. "WE HAVE TO SAVE HIM!" Akina held her down. "Please, we have to help him."

"Neko." Akina said, gaining the child's attention. Akina had heard stories about how Neko had escaped Muroi and now she needed to know the truth. "Did your angel have red hair?"

"Yes." Akina's mouth dropped. "Please. We have to help him."

Footsteps could be heard coming down the hall. Akina's heart pounded in her chest. "I've got to go." She said, quickly getting to her feet. She ran for the door and gave Neko one more apologetic look before shutting the door and replacing the lock.

"Akina." Akina jumped and whirled around but it was only another slave. It was an older woman, but she was still beautiful. "Be careful. The Master won't like you taking care of that kid," she warned.

Akina bowed her head. "I know, but…" She didn't know what to say.

"Just be careful."

Neko didn't know how long she waited in the dark. She was scared and her leg pounded with pain. When the door finally opened, letting some light in, she was severely disappointed when Muroi stood in the doorway.

He walked up and pulled Neko to her feet. "Did you learn your lesson yesterday? You won't run away again, will you?" He let Neko go and she crumpled to the ground. "If you could." Neko glared up at Muroi, but the effect was distorted with the tears running from her eyes. Muroi chuckled and ran his eyes along Neko's body. He stopped angrily at her leg. "Who helped you?" he asked, pointing at Neko's bandaged leg.

Neko froze; she didn't want Akina to get hurt. "I don't know." Muroi gave her a swift kick to the face. Neko flew back and grabbed her face. She opened her mouth and blood splashed to the floor.

"Who helped you?"

Neko sobbed and thought of Makoto, how he had taken a beating for her. "I don't know," she repeated and braced herself.

Muroi slapped her across the face. "Tell me. Who helped you?" Anger rose in his voice with each word.

"I was asleep. When I woke up my leg was like that," Neko lied. Muroi balled his hand and slammed his fist into Neko's stomach.

Akina covered her ears and cried. "Tell him, Neko. Tell him it was me." She couldn't move. She wanted to run to the door and tell him. She wanted to stop Neko's pain, but her legs just wouldn't move. "Neko, tell him, please." Tears rolled down Akina's face as she sank to the floor and cursed her weakness to stop this.
Neko wanted to yell out. It all hurt so badly. Tears stung her eyes. She had to stop it. Stop the pain. Muroi's hand slapped her again. She wriggled and was able to free her hands from Akina's loose knots. With a scream, Neko reached up and ran her fingernails down Muroi's face.

For such a strong man, Muroi cried out as if he had been cut by a sharpened knife. As Muroi fell clutching his face, Neko attempted to run away, dragging her leg behind her. She didn't get far. With an angry yell, Muroi grabbed a fist full of Neko's midnight hair and pulled her back just as she reached the doorway. "Don't you dare even think about running away!" he screamed at her as he brought his foot down onto her bad leg. Neko's scream drowned out the snap.