Hi, wow I'm actually updating when I said I would. I am never using office whatever it was again. Thank you reviewers I love you. Now the action starts in more than one way!

Warning I started right where the last chapter left off.

The price of turmoil

Chapter Eight:

...In shock before them stood a mansion. "Well", chuckled Durham, "welcome to my humble abode". An old pathway stood before them, with tufts of grass sticking out, and the terrain was rough. However all flays were forgotten in light of the house. It was made of wood (obviously from the man made clearing) however it had been sanded, and painted a light brown color. The effect gave the house a rather textured look. All the windows had been carved into elaborate shapes, exotic birds and flowers. Around the back lay a garden but hey were to far away to get a good view.

"Humble", Aoshi scoffed, this had probably taken years to build. He gave Kaoru a harsh tug that sent her sprawling against him.

"You bastard", she hissed, "you vile snake". He gave a sharp snort "my wife", he snarled, "you need your rest". Then with all the skill in the world, he found the pressure point in her neck. Silently she sagged against him. Smiling he turned to their host who had not witnessed the exchange.

"Sir let us hurry my wife" he gestured frantically to the girl in his arms. Now Durham wasn't sure of this lad, there was something odd about him, but the girl did require assistance.

"Alright son you go up to the house, while I run and fetch the healer".

"No", Aoshi cried, "I mean no its not as bad as all that". Shit, he had revealed how desperate he was; he needed to lie down.

"No I insist", Durham turned to go. What an odd fellow, perhaps he should alert the police as well.

"I'm sorry sir", Aoshi's voice had turned to ice, "but I can't allow that". Slowly he drew his sword it still bore the blood of his friends. Durham merely regarded him, his head tilted to one side. His blank stare did not deter Aoshi. Moving forward, he expertly shoved the sword through his hosts' heart. Durham kept his mouth shut which for some reason angered Aoshi. He wanted the man to cry out, curse him, give him some reason, as to why he had killed an innocent man.

Aoshi hoisted the man to his feet and forced him to look into his eyes. He had been expecting fear maybe murderous rage, however in Durham's eyes was an emotion he had never seen in any of his victims...pity. For a moment, he couldn't move, nobody had ever looked at him this way. Greatly shaken he wrenched the sword out of their host's chest. Blood spurted out of the wound soaking his travel cloak. Aoshi didn't move even when the puddle that was slowly forming under Mr. Durham bodies reached out and was nearly touching him. With the last ounce of his strength, Durham forced himself up on his elbows his face pale eyes already dimming. With his last breath, he looked into Aoshi's eyes and they still exuded pity.

"STOP IT", Aoshi cried, "I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY". Dropping to his knees he grabbed the mans collar "I don't", "I don't," he was begging now however the light in Durham's eyes had already gone out, "I don't", he pleaded gazing down he lowered the dead mans lids.

He did not know how long he knelt there time did not matter. Why did he feel for this man? He had killed many, 'but none as innocent as him', his mind interjected'. A shudder ran through and his stomach rolled over. Closing his eyes, he struggled to calm himself however; no mental discipline could calm the storm that was his mind.

Suddenly he sensed movement his eyes snapped open. Mr. Durham had risen onto his knees. "That's my blood boy its mine", his voice was clear and deep. The sky darkened yet the sun still shone. Wisps of fog danced before Aoshi's eyes and he could hear the roots of trees snapping. Instinctively his hands rose, to cover his ears. Above the din, he heard Durham's cackle and for the second time in his life, knew true fear.

Meanwhile

Kenshin hacked away at brush; that was blocking his way. They had not stopped once since that morning. The stress and fatigue was beginning to take its toll ...on everyone. Megumi felt her legs give out from under her but was unable to break her fall.

"The ground", she mused, "was a lot softer then it looked." Sanosuke knelt down and placed his arms around her waist yet found that he had not the strength to lift her up. Instead, he smiled at her, knowing that they were all in the same predicament.

Yahiko watched the scene from the back. He couldn't believe it. 'How can Kenshin be so cruel'?

"All right", said Kenshin, "lets keep moving."

"Stop", cried Yahiko, it took him a minute to realize it was him that had spoken. For the first time since that morn, Kenshin actually looked directly into Yahiko's eyes.

"We...we can't go...go...on its to...", he trailed off, what could he say Kenshin was a man obsessed, however Kenshin wasn't given time to retort for Megumi's scream pierced his ears. In an attempt to raise herself, she had stretched her arms, and disturbed the heads of Aoshi's friends from their resting place. "Ew"! Kenshin's eyes flashed in triumph, they were catching up.

Kaoru was rapidly learning how to wake up from an unconscious state. Forcing her eyes open she caught sight of Durham, tears welled up in her eyes. Aoshi would pay what had this man done to deserve such a gruesome fate? However, when her eyes came to rest on him she was momentarily taken aback. There was a cold sweat on his forehead his eyes were squeezed shut. For a moment, she felt a stab of pity. However, that was soon replaced by a new feeling anger. Whatever his problem was he would get no sympathy from her.

However, she could not be cold it just wasn't in her, she couldn't' t see him like that; so with a new burst of resolve she crawled over the hardened blackened blood to solve the world's greatest mystery Aoshi.

I will update soon

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