SHADOWS OF RED
by Hime-kou

Author's RANT: Beware longness! I'm so sorry this took me so long to write! And it's disappointing too, after last chapter's utter brilliance if I do says o myself. I rather hoped my brilliance would carry through, BUT...unfortunately, to Sachiko and Kenshin's great detriment, it did not. And yours, readers. Have I made Kenshin and Sachiko get along too well too soon? I feel as if I am. However, as I TRULY do not want this story to drag on for more than thirty chapters as it seems it might, I'm hurrying. I think next time, I'll skip a couple of days. And, my first few chapters were SO bad, I really feel this intense urge to rewrite them. And then I remind myself, finish. So, I'll follow my own good advise. Changing viewpoints very often in this chapter...and that's all I'm going to say. Except, thank you so much for reading!

Thanks to the sacred night as always...god, if there were a reviewer's award you would win it. Thank you so much for your input, it helps me so much. Your reviews make my day (and nights, since it's late and I'm still typing this).

Thanks to all my reviewers, especially KawaiiSess68, thanks for your comment, it made me feel good! Yay! Goodness! THANK YOU!

Disclaimer: Yah,blah,gah, not mine...wah!

Chapter 12-In True Light

"Please...call me Kenshin."

He had no clue what came over him. Nothing prepared him for the words that flew out of his mouth, between his lips, as effortlessly as if he said it everyday.

Which he did not.

When was the last time he'd used his name? Kenshin…Himura Kenshin. Heart of Sword. The name given him by the tall, sarcastic, conceited teacher of his. Thinking of Hiko brought along a wave of bitter regret that thundered over him.

However, that still didn't explain why he'd said it. And to her, of all people. Maybe it had just been the way she looked in the stairwell, darkness clinging to her slender form, strangely silver eyes gleaming. Gleaming with some emotion he couldn't and didn't dare to name.

He had to admit that he'd never fought one as talented as her. And the way she looked…all grace and beauty combined with skill. Silver, black, and grey, quiet and smooth and sleek and deadly. She gave a new meaning to the word shadow-assassin.

Unsettled by his thoughts, he shook the crimson hair from his eyes and followed her retreating figure out into the bright hallway. The sunlight that came in was less golden now, merely a memory of its former glory. Miyuki led them to the main room, where she left them, again giving them a glance filled with strange emotion.

There was someone waiting for them in there. Kenshin gave a gasp of surprise when he recognized the calm face of the man who's shadow stretched far, sunlight framing his black hair.

Katsura-san, Kenshin thought in surprise. And not without a little awe and bitterness too. here was the man who had brought him into all the chaos and confusion of the shadows. The man who's tutelage brought about the blood that now submerged and stained his hands. Of course, it wasn't his fault. The leader of the Choshu faction had little concern with a young red-headed hitokiri. And the bitter regret came rushing back.

"Ah, we are all here. Please sit. Let me begin," Katsura said calmly. He had the easy grace of a swordsman yet he carried no sword. The light in the room caught on his kind dark eyes, deep and sad.

"You have been informed about why you're here, right? Well, let me get straight to the point then. We need to find out more about the Bakufu's Shadow Assassin. Your…assignments…tonight. Before you dispose of them, please ask or press about the Shadow Assassin."

Sachiko's stomach tensed and she gave a terse nod. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Battousai's—no, Kenshin's—face tighten and eyes veil. Katsura's fingers twined as if betraying the slightest emotion, then stopped. When he spoke again, his voice was as calm as ever.

"So, how does it go with the two of you? Please, forgive me when I say you must live together. It is for a reason. I do promise, however, you will be free of each other as soon as we can track down the Shadow Assassin for the Bakufu." Neither answered.

Katsura's mouth turned up a tiny fraction at the sight of the two bowed heads of the silent hitokiri. A pity, he thought. For they are such a good match.

Sachiko felt an irrational surge of anger at Katsura. Free of each other... was that how Ba--Kenshin thought? However silly of her, she found that living here was perfectly fine with her now. Living with…Kenshin was perfectly fine now. She tightened her fingers into fists.

Once more Katsura's mouth smiled, just a small bit. His sharp eyes picked up the slight movement from the female hitokiri. Sachiko, he thought ruefully. Ah yes. Five years ago, that dark, dark, night. That house, ripped up and stained with blood. No sight fit for such a small girl and it was only luck that called me out to that particular house that night.

He'd heard of her before, of course, of her family. And he knew of the skills she just might possess. He gazed fondly at the girl before him, yet the sight of her in hakama and gi, complete with katana and wakizashi tore at the resolve he had strengthened over the many years. This was what he himself had made her into, a killing machine. So many sacrifices had to be made…and she among them.

For a new world, for a better world, he told himself fiercely. Now there might yet be a chance for her gain her due happiness. With a sigh, he stood.

"I'm off now. Do feel free to call on me if you need anything." Politely, Sachiko and Kenshin stood in the doorway to see him off. Sachiko watched especially, her eyes tracing the receding figure and its bodyguards until they rounded a corner and disappeared.

That dark night. That horrible, terrible, bloody night. A kind man. "Come with me, hime." Princess. What her father used to call her. "Come on, hime, come this way…" A hand, covering her eyes.

"Don't look."

Memories again. Would she be running from them forever? And the secrets that they hid? The pain of her past hit her, hard and she raised her eyes to the sky out the door. The blue, blue, sky, the deep, rich,sapphire of fall, bright sunlight bathing her features and turning her black hair into blazing blue-silver.

Kenshin watched her from the corner of his eyes. She's sorrowful. Does she have regrets like I do? Does death press its hand on her heart as on mine? What is the secret of her past? He felt compassion in his heart, for this girl, this hitokiri, this shadow of himself. Compassion and…

"Let's go in, Sachiko-san." The amber eyes were momentarily softened, glowing gently and filled with golden undertones. She stared at him, framed against the sunlight, bathed in bright light, at the understanding in his gentle eyes.

She'd found a…friend, it seemed. A friend in a time so strange. Never had she had anyone to call a friend, but this hitokiri, this man called Kenshin, accepted and understood her. Understood. In a world of blood and darkness, a rare moment of light. Such a short period of time, and yet, they were somehow comfortable.

There was another Sachiko, one locked behind the steely courage, the one who was scared and indecisive, the uncertain, the timid, the emotional. And it was this Sachiko who took the hand that Kenshin offered her, took it, and stepped with him into the pool of golden light.

Of interest, perhaps

1. Wakizashi...two short swords carried by samurai. Since Sachiko's not exactly a samurai...let's just say she carries one! Problem solved.

2. A pity...for they are such a good match...says Katsura. Does he harbor some hope for his charge and Kenshin? Will Kenshin like her back? How to solve this...actually, I've already planned this out but it's a secret!

3. Sachiko's family...next chapter, I promise, stuff will be revealed about Sachiko. And her mysterious, cheesy past. Can you bear the lameness?

4. Katsura Kogoro...for non-RK literate individiuals. An actual man. He was born with the name Kido Takayoshi, in Choshu province, and represented the Choshu faction in the Satsuma-Choshu alliance. He was one of the Ishin-no-sanketsu, or roughly, "three nobles of the restoration." Leader of the rebellion against the shogunate in Choshu, and in RK, the man who employs Kenshin to become an assassin.

Thank you so much for reading this!