I am so sorry about the delay I promise that the next update will be a lot faster. Thank you for all the reviews.

A.N to all who truly love Aoshi's coat I am sorry. I promise he will get another coat before this story is through.

The price of turmoil

Chapter five:

Rage that was all he could feel, it blurred his very sight. 'How dare Aoshi take Kaoru he will be sorry.' He cradled her sword in his arms, praying that it wasn't her blood. 'How could she have been so foolish?' Slowly he rose and made his way back to the dojo. He would track them in the morning. They wouldn't get far tonight, judging by Aoshi's wounds, not far at all. With that thought on his mind, he broke into a run trying to shake off the growing darkness in his soul. However, he already knew this was one battle the rurouni wouldn't win.

'Yahiko was at the window again,' sighed Sanosuke, hands clenched. Sanosuke watched the boy check every window hoping to catch a sight of Kenshin bringing home Kaoru. His feet made small tap every time he moved and it seemed to Sanosuke that it got louder with every step. Megumi was in the kitchen finishing Kaoru's cooking.

"You know she's probably not going to like that when she gets back", he interjected.

"Oh hush", came her reply "we all know her cooking can't hold a candle to mine". Sanosuke sat in silence trying to find something nice to say about their hosts cooking. When suddenly he realized he was sitting in silence Yahiko had stopped his relentless pacing. Mentally preparing himself for the argument that would ensue when Kaoru crossed the threshold he failed to hear Yahiko's panicked cry. "Where's Kaoru!"

He barely had time to look up when Kenshin burst in. his eyes dangerously narrow. Not a word did he speak; he seemed not to see any of them. Behind the death glare a battle was raging between the Hitokiri and the Rurouni. He needed all his concentration however no matter how hard his mind was battling his ears weren't.

"Where's Kaoru?" The words entered slowly and echoed the distraction was such that the Rurouni slipped and fell into the blackness of oblivion. Calmly the Hitokiri began to speak.

"Kaoru has been kidnapped", he began his back to them, "I must find her I do not ask that you accompany me." There was a collective gasp behind him. Yahiko wasn't sure what to be more shocked by; the news of Kaoru or the number of I's in that sentence. He was only certain of one thing he would be going with Kenshin no matter how perilous.

"We're all coming with you", they cried. Finding Kaoru was important to all of them.

"Good", Kenshin said curtly, "we leave at dawn."

Aoshi watched as Kaoru collapsed against him, only mildly concerned, pathetic, he had lost more blood than she had. Gently he lowered her to the ground he had grown to respect her, slightly. He could tell that she had a fire in her, the will to fight. It would be his privilege to break it. Ripping a piece from his coat, he proceeded to wrap it around her wrist. He may not be a doctor; but he knew a fair bit about healing. Now that she was bandaged, he turned his attention to his own wounds.

"Five gun shots" he winced inwardly, glad that the women, was not awake to here him cry out. Steeling himself against the pain, he brought his sword down to his leg, and without a second thought proceeded to cut out the bullets.

"I am beyond pain", he chanted, "Pain is in your mind no pain no pain." Nevertheless, by the third bullet even his rigorous training couldn't keep out the sting of the blade. Pain "ARGH" he shuddered dropping his weapon as all the anguish he had held at bay, came to him. He was in agony emotionally and physically. He had always been in emotional pain, he was not as immune to the suffering of others, as he would like. All the rigorous training, had failed to crush his spirit. It was times like this he wished; they had succeeded. For, now it was worse he had no reason to keep up the façade, his very purpose for the front he had put on lay dead, just a few feet away. The tears were running now unchecked. He was shocked at how cool they felt it had been years since he had cried. Rising he looked towards the horizon that was slowly lightening, inviting a new day. As he watched the sky, his mind turned to his only purpose revenge. He allowed one last tear to fall, and fall it did right into Kaoru's parted lips.

The next chapter should be up tomorrow baring a tragic accident.

Please review anything at all questions advice whatever I love all reviews.