Disclaimer: this is such a cliché..you know the facts. Rurouni Kenshin belongs to only one man and that is Nobuhiro Watsuki. The storyline of this fanfiction belongs to ME. So respective lawyers, please don't sue. Thank you.

So here's chapter four of Timeless Love… more is on the way, just have to find the time to load it all… my tests are up, so I gotta STUDY! Anyway, please r&r! arigao! bows and hits head on the floor Owww…

Also, halfway you will see this whole bunch of Italic text. That's… someone else talking. I won't do any spoiler in my pre-chapter notes here. The text that has next to it is Kenshin talking. Enjoy!

Chapter Four- Searching For The One

"Kaoru!" The raven-haired Dojo master turned round and came face-to-face with Gohei. At first she stiffened. He knows, she thought, panicking. He knows I went to Megumi's.

To her surprise, her tormentor tossed a heavy-looking coin pouch at her. He told her to go pick up a package that his men had left at the Akabeko. Relief overcame her as she realized that she hadn't been hit for the first time in a long time.

She made sure that she wasn't being followed- by Sanosuke or Megumi, although they agreed to leave her to fend for herself she wanted to be careful, just in case- and got to the Akabeko where Gohei had ordered her to go.

Once there, she asked for Tsubame. Tae was surprised to see her there on a rare occasion (her friend hadn't dropped by in a long while, and the chatty restaurant owner missed talking with Kaoru) and even more surprise when Kaoru quietly asked to see the shy Tsubame who helped her serve her many customers.

In a short while, Tsubame came over, with her tray covering her pretty little face. The youngster was still a shy person, and even as she hit her teenage years she was forever timid and afraid of showing her face to others, as if scared that they would bully her, just like her former masters.

Some things never change at all, not after half a decade where scores of events happen.

Kaoru bent close to Tsubame, her bangs covering her face so as to avoid any chance of anyone- friends, police or even ex-students- recognizing her in the crowded Akabeko, and whispered softly so that no one would hear.

"Did you get the package?"

Tsubame nodded. "Hai," she replied, her voice partly muffled by the tray that covered her moving mouth. "It came right on time this morning."

Kaoru smiled at her. "Could you please go get it for me?" she asked her. "And don't let anyone see what's inside." The teenager nodded and went on her way.

Soon, Tsubame returned with the bulky package. Kaoru gratefully paid her the money and left the Akabeko without a word, leaving the waitress with the pouch.

Wait a minute, she thought, as her eyes picked out an all-too familiar red-haired swordsman. Himua Kenshin. The very man she had avoided ever since his return. Dame… this would not do… she couldn't run the risk of bumping into him.

Kaoru readied herself… and ran as fast she could out of the Akabeko.

"Kaoru-san!" Tae called after her, wanting to have a word with her friend, but Kaoru pretended she hadn't heard her and left in a hurry. How strange, she thought to herself. Usually she would be happy to have a chance to sit and chat with me on such a busy afternoon like this!

She was about to call after her again when she heard a familiar freeloader call her am cheerfully.

…

Koaru clutched the package to her person, not wanting to lose it. The package contained a very important item that Gohei had pai a lot for the product and its passage. If she lost it- that would be the end of her, and her son.

Taptaptap… her shoes made soft tapping noises as she ran quickly along the street.

But if he attacked her, she could always fight back, couldn't she? After all, she was the sole successor of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu who'd battled against fierce opponents like Kamatari the Great Scythe of the Juppon Gatana. Kamiya Kaoru could easily bring him down with her succession technique.

Taptaptap…how far was she now? Not very, to be frank. It was as if some part of her was pulling her back, wanting to meet with the rurouni who had captured her heart and everything of her five years ago. But another part of her, the stronger half, battled against it and forced her to move on.

She could… except for one thing that always held her back: her son. She could never bring herself to take part in any physical violence. Not when her son was watching. She couldn't bear to ruin his innocence by contributing to the violence he already witnessed. She couldn't.

How long would it be before Tae revealed that she had been there. Only moments before Kenshin's skills sought her out among the people going about their business.

Kaoru walked past the row of buildings where Megumi's clinic was located. The lady doctor never failed to flare up whenever she heard Gohei's name. She thoroughly hated men who exploited women for their own benefit, and Kaoru could see why now.

She didn't want that to happen, for several reasons.

The kendo master was soon reaching the row of apartment houses where Sanosuke often returned to late at night. Sure, there was always Sagara Sanosuke she could always turn to. He would help his friend without question, just like he had helped Katsu once. But could she afford to place a heavy burden on her friend's shoulders? No. This was her own matter to deal with. It wasn't fair to drag her friends into the picture. That was why she never asked them for help, not even once.

For the twenty-three year old, there was no one she could lean on, to hold on to.

Or so she thought. Kaoru had left out one more person.

There was one man who had never stopped thinking of her. Never stopped loving her. He would go to the far ends to the world to help her no matter what. The very person whom she was trying desperately to avoid.

And he was Himura Kenshin.

Kaoru walked on, searching for the way back to the Dojo.

…

It was Cho. Carefree, and casual, he always stopped by to get on everyone's nerves and obtain a tab the size of Mount Fuji. Tae never failed to fret every time she thought of the money he owed her. It was bad enough having Sanosuke loafing around all over the place. Now she had a broom-head whose hair was high enough to sweep the ceiling.

Absent-mindedly, her eyes traveled to the ceiling. Ah yes, free meals for a free sweeper. No wonder her ceiling was always clean, thus saving them the job of having to climb up and clean it themselves.

"I assume you've come to pay you bill?" she asked him, more out of habit then hoping to ever get the money her owed her. The former Juppon Gatana member was about make a witty reply when in walked another "regular".

"Kenshin!" Tae greeted happily. She ran over and gave the gentle-eyed rurouni a hug. Fortunately for him, she did not "suffocate" him. Kenshi smiled and said," This one is happy to see Tae-dono again, that he is." Meanwhile, Sanosuke was getting ready to pick a fight with Cho.

"What do you think you're doing here!" the former Zanza growled, clenching his fist. "What do YOU think?" Cho retorted. Sanosuke was about to deliver a Futae No Kiwami to the smirk on Cho's face when a whack from Megumi knocked him out.

"Men," she muttered with obvious distaste. She dusted her hands nonchalantly and flipped her curtain of black hair behind her shoulders.

I can't believe she's a doctor Tae thought to herself, beads of sweat drops rolling down her cheek.

"Anyway," she continued out loud, clapping her hands to get their attention. "Have you been to Kaoru-san's? She's been acting really strange lately. She was so withdrawn since your departure five years ago, but not this cold. In fact, she didn't even stop for me when I called for her just now…"

Almost instantly, Kenshin's face lit up in alertness. "When was that?" Kenshin asked her.

"Almost ten minuted ago- she stopped by to ask Tsubame about something." Tae was about to add that she was puzzled about why Kaoru had chosen to speak to the shy youngster of all people when she realized that he had already left the Akabeko in search of the one he loved.

…

Kaoru-dono's here somewhere, that she is. Kenshi thought to himself as his lavender eyes searched out the streets of Tokyo anxiously. He could sense her somewhere, running away from him. Something seemed to be wrong with her Ki- as if she was suppressing it and yet wanted to do something else, anything except to return to him.

You're useless, you know that?

In the bright daylight of Tokyo, the rurouni stopped short. What was that voice speaking to him?

Don't you know who I am? Asked the voice, mocking him. We stalked the streets of Kyoto together during the Bakumatsu, until you chose to flip your blade to protect.

Battousai. You never stop haunting this one, that you don't. Kenshi gritted his teeth.

I don't "haunt" useless rurouni, Battousai retorted. I just don't want to see the one who gave me my name go down the drain because of a mere Dojo girl…

Kaoru's NOT a mere Dojo girl! protested Kenshin vehemently.

Then tell that to the scumbag who actually DARED to share my name- Hiruma Gohei. That's what you should've done, rurouni. Not sit around and mope the whole damn day.

You left her hoping that the demon called "danger" would abandon her and follow you instead. But all you did was leave her more vulnerable to danger… and in the end, she fell in…

So what are you going to do about it? Nothing…

I can handle this myself! Kenshi argued. Battousai snorted.

I'm not going to waste my resources on mere rurouni. If you won't do anything, I will…

No! protested Kenshin. He couldn't fathom what would happen if he let the deadly Battousai emerge. Kaoru would never forgive him for doing that, even if Gohei did deserve death.

No? Fine…scoffed Battousai, and left.

Just remember what I told you…

…

To Kenshin's relief, his other half called Battousai left him and the rurouni returned to normal. Kaoru-dondo!

Quickly he continued his search for her. Using his keen sense, Kenshin was able to locate her easily this time.

With lightning speed, he now came to the spot where she was frantically trying her best to get out of the place. Her raven ponytail which brushed past him almost slipped by again. This time, he reached out and grabbed her, muffling her screams as he carried her into an empty alley that happened to be just behind Sanosuke's apartment.

"Shh," he whispered gently into her ear." It's this one, Kaoru-dono that he is. Don't' scream." Kaoru still struggled against him. Such was the effect that Gohei's abuse had on her.

Quickly he adjusted his grip on her so that her sapphire eyes met his gentle lavender gaze. "It's this one, Kaoru-dono." He tried again.

This time, his statement, his gentle words, planted reassurance in Kaoru, who responded by sobbing into his shoulder.

…

Kami, thought Kaoru anxiously as she ran. I can't let him find me!

She felt him coming after her. Then he stopped, as if something was holding him back, just like she'd been held back earlier.

Then he was gone.

Kaoru was puzzled. How could he suddenly disappear like that? Suddenly, she felt his presence behind her. Without warning, she felt herself being pressed against a hard chest as her muffled screams vibrated against his torso.

Looked directly into his beautiful lavender eyes.

"Kaoru-dono…" The male embrace that she had longed for for five years suddenly was overwhelming, too much to bear. She sobbed into his shoulder, her emotions released like a flood.

She softened, let him grasp her arm tightly. Then…

"What the hell did that bastard do to you?" Kaoru knew from his harsh tone that in his anger the Battousai had been allowed to emerge into the daylight. She felt his heated gaze as it glared down on her many bruises.

Kaoru looked up at him again. There was a tinge of amber in his gaze, a sign of anger that his loved one had been hurt.

"Kenshin!" she called out, desperate for him to return back to the gentle-eyed rurouni she loved the most.

…

Surprised, Kenshin reverted back to his rurouni half. He had not felt her in a long time.

Too long a time…

Now, holding her as she sobbed into his shoulder, unable to control her own emotions, he saw the dark bruises on her arm. Battousai had come out without his permission and demanded an answer from her.

The rurouni forced the enraged Battousai back down and spoke again, gentler this time.

"Kaoru-dono, I need you to tell me something."

His sharp eyes caught out pearly tears forming in her lovely sapphire orbs.

Somewhere in him, the Battousai spoke again. Look what happens when I leave you to handle affairs such as this. It's true what Zanza said: You may be the greatest swordsman that ever lived, but you're useless as anything when it comes to other issues that lie outside the boundary of the blade.

This time, the rurouni didn't even bother to reply. Didn't even bother to protest at the statement that he was a mere weakling lacking any strong will.

Looks like I can't leave everything to him.

Without warning, Battousai bent and kissed Kaoru hard. At first she resisted; then she let her true emotions take over.

There was no need for any words; he let his mouth do the talking as he took full possession of her lips. Kaoru's slender hands wrapped around his neck to pull him in closer…

And then, she let go.

Slowly, bit by bit, he felt Kaoru open her heart and let him in on her life once more…

Author's notes: and there we have it. Battousai arguing with Kenshin. If I put it in chibi form it could be like dark and daisuke from dn angel LOL.

Okay…. That was LAME. (;)

Chapter five will be up when I can finally get out from under my pile of work! Argh! Where's Katsu's bombs when I need them?