To all the inquisitive readers: Gomen, lo siento, sorry! I should have clarified that this fanfiction is going to be slightly inconsistent with the series. I'm not sure if that would constitute a flat out AU description or not, but you can label it "slightly AU" if it makes you feel better. So, Kenshin is the only one aware of Soujiro's previous relationship with Shishio and he still had the fight with Soujiro (which was a tie). Sano never saw any of it, the other characters have no clue, etc etc. Again, sorry for the confusion about Soujiro and the Kenshingumi.

AN: Never fear, I will not remove the Kaoru kidnapping. I will enjoy making Kaoru give her captor a hard time and she's a strong character...so it'll work. My brainstorming has resulted in a near-genius plot (I speak lies, but oh well, propaganda works), with a twist I might throw in because my friend "said so." My writing has been bothering me. Does anybody think the balance between dialogue and description is off? Oh, and I changed the "1111111" separations to "….." . Happy? AUTHOR WITH WORK IN PROGRESS (STILL) SEEKING DECENT BETA READER.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin and such.

When You Can't Let Go

Chapter 3: Confrontations

Soujiro felt his ki jump and Battousai turned to look at him, his eyes cold and steely.

…..

I met his gaze unflinchingly, just as I had a year ago before our fight. But, the Battousai standing before me now was exponentially different than the Battousai from a year's passage.

I had fought a far more passive violet-eyed swordsman, not the amber-eyed beast in gi and hakama. A worn sakabatou no longer hung from his waist. Instead Battousai sported a katana and matching short sword, the wakizashi. A loose-fitting deep navy blue gi and the white hakama which clung to lean hips matched the stories of the legendary Battousai's attire from the Bakumatsu.

"Seta."

Battousai bit out my name, he didn't fail to leave out any tone which would suggest his dislike. Or rather, hate.

He looked over at Kaoru, who was still standing quite innocently in a wet kimono. Kaoru seemed almost as if she was in a daze, then quickly recovered.

"Kenshin!" The beautiful, young dojo instructor I had grown to admire ran towards Battousai and she embraced him. Never had I seen someone act so informally with the killer.

"Oh, Kenshin! I missed you so much…Ano, what happened? No. I don't have to know. Just don't leave me again, onegai. Kenshin." Her pleading voice struck a chord in me.

I felt a pang of jealousy and I instinctively gripped the hilt of my sword, but retained a placid smile.

…..

I felt wetness seeping into my clothes, but I didn't care. The expression in the Tenken's eyes was priceless. I wasn't fooled by the fool's smile, it was clear he didn't like Kaoru holding me this way.

"Kaoru." She physically reacted to the obvious omission of the usual honorific by tightening her hold. I gazed into her surprised cobalt eyes and thought of all the times the Rurouni had denied himself this wonderful woman. Her arms remained tight around my torso, and my hands found themselves in her black, wet hair.

Gently sweeping my fingers through the water-heavy strands, I whispered into her ear.

"I won't. I won't leave you again, Kaoru." My heart felt more passion than what justice, or lack thereof, my words did-but I refused to overstep the threshold of excessive emotions.

"Yo, Kenshin! Where'ya been?" An unchanged, boisterous Sano decided to break the moment. Typical.

"Places. I've made some changes, Sano." I coolly responded. No need to react in the rurouni way, seeing as he was no longer around.

"I noticed, Kenshin." A venomous young voice called out.

I turned and saw Yahiko glaring at me. I expected his anger.

…..

After a few seconds I could practically feel the tension growing between Kenshin and Yahiko. My young student's eyes were blazing, and I could tell he was very upset. When Kenshin had left the last time, Yahiko was sick of it and now I knew he wasn't going to be forgetting the grudge he formed.

I put on my best smile, which wasn't hard because Kenshin had returned. I didn't want to think about the swords he carried, or the change in his attitude and clothing. It was enough that he was back with me.

"Okay everybody, I guess we'll just have to get a great dinner started! Soujiro and I will finish the laundry, Sano and Yahiko-you guys go get dinner cooking."

"Er, Jou-chan. Maybe we should just go to the Akabeko." Sano said with a slight trace of fear in his voice. "I mean, we know how exciting it is that Kenshin came back…and uh….maybe we should just…uh, party and skip all the cooking…"

I admired Sano's efforts to delicately avoid my lack of cooking skills. But that wouldn't help him now. I stepped away from Kenshin and towards the ex-gangster.

"Just. What. Are. You. Suggesting? Sano…" I glared. "Are you suggesting that cooking here might lead to me helping and then ruining a meal?" More of my classic tanuki anger inched its way into my voice and demeanor.

I pushed my sleeves up and cocked an arm, ready to fight with the baka rooster head. But a breeze swept by and my still wet kimono made me shiver.

"Mou."

…..

Kaoru's pouty and upset face caused Sano and Yahiko to burst out laughing. Apparently she had just realized that the sun was becoming obscured by clouds and a little wind had picked up.

Soujiro made his move into the scene.

"Kaoru, maybe I should handle the remaining laundry and you could go change. Perhaps afterwards, we could all go to the Akabeko."

The others in the group either remained quiet or nodded their head in affirmation. Battousai chose to alternate between eyeing Kaoru and sending heated glances at the Soujiro.

"Ok, Soujiro. You're always so reasonable." Kaoru sighed when she looked at her kimono. At least it wasn't ruined.

…..

After Kaoru had made her exit, Sano and Yahiko muttered about getting changed too. That left me and the Tenken.

I started the conversation. "Tenken…or should I call you Soujiro?" I said with a straight face and neutral body stance, neither aggressive nor too relaxed.

"Soujiro is fine. I ceased to be the Tenken when our fight ended, Battousai." Soujiro replied with a calm look on his face, and the ever present smile solely on his lips. I briefly wondered if Kaoru knew this boy's smile never reached his eyes.

"Battousai, I am correct in calling you this, ne?" Soujiro's blue eyes hardened.

"I suppose you are, Kenshin would be good in front of Kaoru though. What happened is relatively simple, but you don't need to know it-just that Battousai is correct. It should be suffice to say that I have returned." Battousai paused. "I have no resentment towards you. You fought well last year. Crossing blades with you now would probably serve only to upset Kaoru, so we will not engage ourselves that way. Agreed, Soujiro?" I set my face in a plaster of seriousness. I honestly didn't want to upset Kaoru now, especially not with the plans I had for her.

"Agreed, Battousai."

…..

I changed into a lavender kimono with white sakura petals on the sleeves. A matching obi of a darker shade fit my waist as I struggled a little to tie it. I was never really one for fashion like Megumi. The stupid fox-doctor, I could already see her laughing at my attempts to make a beautiful knot instead of a normal one.

With a sigh, I settled for a slightly more formal knot than my usual, but not nearly as sophisticated as the complicated knot would have been.

My hair was drying quickly and I decided to leave it down instead of putting it in a ponytail. I also decided not to bother with the makeup Megumi used. She had given me some before, and I still had it, but had yet to use it.

With a quick dab of lavender oil on my pulse points, I checked to make sure I was presentable and slide the shoji door open.

Stepping into the hallway, I could hear Sano and Yahiko joking around on the porch.

…..

I felt Kaoru's ki move through the house, making its way towards us. My instincts screamed that Battousai was also tracking her. I ignored him.

When she finally came onto the porch, my heart almost stopped.

She was beautiful.

Somehow she was even more attractive than her everyday self. Her kimono complemented her azure eyes and the curtain of ebony hanging down to the small of her back perfected the image of a tennyo. Tennyo: a beautiful celestial maiden. An air of confidence and contentment surrounded her, appealing to me…and Battousai.

If she didn't see the way he was drinking her in with his eyes, she was blind. I felt that familiar pang composed of anger and envy rip through my chest. Kaoru simply smiled at us all and asked if we were ready to go.

Go where? I thought with a hentai grin. Good grief, Seta. She's only one girl, don't get so worked up. I honestly couldn't explain how this young kendo instructor had wormed her way into my heart, but I wouldn't change it now. I knew we were only a year or two apart, and she had been the first to accept me, despite how shadowed I kept my past. She was the first person I cared about this way…the feeling was new.

Jerked from my thoughts, we all began the procession towards the Akabeko.

…..

I thought dinner went well. Walking to dinner I had made sure to remain by Kaoru's side and the Tenken was ever so amusing in his attempts to draw her attention to him. Of course she was polite with the others, but I could tell she was drawn to me and her sparkling eyes begged for me to tell her where I had been.

I would tell her one day.

On the way back from the Akabeko Soujiro had stolen my spot beside Kaoru, but I remained close to the two as they conspiratorially whispered and occasionally laughed.

I allowed spite to flood my gaze, and I focused my anger at Soujiro. He couldn't be that close to Kaoru, not after only two weeks at the dojo.

When I had left I had initially gone because I wanted to repair my sakabatou, but that was the Rurouni's plan. The old woman was an incident that just happened to work in my favor.

I kept tabs on Kaoru, through my own means. I knew how distressed she was, how angry Yahiko was, and I was also aware of the Tenken.

But how could he have gotten that close to her? I'd had enough.

"Ah, Sou-chan! You do the funniest imitations!" Kaoru clutched her sides as she laughed harder. Her face was flushed and she was glowing with an inner fire.

"Sou-chan?" I questioned with an almost teasing voice.

"Mou, Kenshin! You shouldn't sneak up on people like that! I thought you had gone with Sano and Yahiko!" Kaoru said in a mock-stern voice.

"No. Sano went to be with Megumi and Yahiko stayed to help Tsubame." I calmly stated. I breathed. "I was just practicing my ninja skills." Soujiro's smile almost faltered as he figured out I had made a joke. Ha. The little swordsman is easily surprised.

Kaoru simply slackened her jaw as she gazed at me, almost unsure of what happened.

Apparently my little Kaoru was also easily surprised.

"Ah, Kenshin. Perhaps we could have an emulation competition-" Soujiro started, using my name to make Kaoru more comfortable.

A feminine voice interrupted him "-a copy cat test, Kenshin. Soujiro is always making things sound so mature." She glanced at him and quietly snickered. Kaoru really was a sight.

"I suppose we could. Kaoru, you start. Try…" I paused.

Soujiro cut in "Sano! Do Sano, Kao-chan. Er, I mean, Kaoru…" He blushed slightly at himself. Kaoru beamed at him.

"Alright, Sou-chan." She said teasingly, obviously not disturbed by his familiarity with her name.

Then, with a big intake of breath which caused her chest to rise then fall, she made a nonchalant Sano expression and pretended to chew on a fish bone.

"Oi, Jou-chan! What's for dinner?" Kaoru grunted out in a brutish tone which held, however ridiculous, an uncanny resemblance to the Rooster.

Soujiro burst out laughing. His blue eyes smiled along with his mouth now. My, my…Kaoru had the ability to bring out almost everyone's happiness.

"Ah…Kaoru…" Soujiro had to stop to laugh some more. "That was good. Very, very good. Quite accurate also."

Kaoru stopped her imitation face and began to laugh along with the Tenken. I was amused on the inside, so I figured I might as well join them. I couldn't have the Tenken laughing with my Kaoru unaccompanied.

"Yes, Kaoru. That was impressive. I had no idea you had so many talents. Instructor of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and perfect impersonator of Sagara Sanosuke."

And then I laughed.

The things I must do, I thought with an internal sigh.

…..

Kaoru laughed along with the Tenken and Battousai. She didn't know of their animosity, but she did know that her Kenshin was changed. But as young girls often do, she clung to what she wanted to see, not the reality she walked beside.

With a high ponytail and a striking gaze of molten gold, Battousai was every bit alive as he was in the Bakumatsu.

On the other side of the girl walked the infamous Tenken, the only one to match Battousai's unholy god-like speed. His black hair and light blue eyes were similar to hers, yet simultaneously, vastly different.

Kaoru continued walking and talking with the two men down the street lit only by the fading sun. Kaoru was laughing again, and she failed to notice the small hole in the road. Her foot was caught and she fell forward with the momentum of her walking.

Before she could even come near to the ground her two companions were gripping onto her arms and stomach, preventing her from sprawling onto the dusty street. Kaoru could feel her cheeks grow warm as she thanked her two saviors. Both eyed her and smiled-Battousai's dangerous and mysterious while Tenken's was softer and more comforting.

Kaoru found both irresistible.

Suddenly, a low growl and many guttural chuckles emerged from a nearby alley. A group of eight or so thugs emerged, each brandishing a makeshift weapon. The unkempt brigands all stood at least five or more inches taller than Soujiro, who was the tallest of the trio.

"Hey, little lady. Why don't you come with us…we'll be a lot more fun than those two shrimps you're with. And remember, if you don't want to come quietly, we can always take you our way." With a suggestive grin, the leader stepped forward and reached for Kaoru.

Before he could even touch her, Soujiro and Kenshin stood between Kaoru and the thug.

"Now, Sir. I hardly believe that is the proper way to address a lady such as Kaoru." Soujiro said with a hard voice, full of unspoken anger and condescension.

"What Soujiro means to say is that you better get lost, or we'll deal with you." Kenshin's steely voice reinforced Soujiro's warning.

The group behind the leader tensed and moved forward. Their leader made a very foolish decision that night.

"We can take you. Boys, take care of these two pathetic excuses for men!" Spittle flying, his harsh and cacophonous voice signaled the start of the fight.

"DON'T KILL THEM!" Kaoru yelled with all her strength before she turned to fight with the thug who was coming closer to her, but before she could raise her hand, Soujiro had knocked him unconscious with the hilt of his sword.

Kenshin heeded her warning, altering his attack midair so he could only smack the leader's head with the flat of his blade.

Soujiro and Kenshin finished the rest of the men with relative ease, never allowing any to come close to Kaoru. Their teamwork was flawless, Kaoru noted.

Easily dodging in and out of the thugs' attacks, the infamous Tenken and Battousai used their unmatched speed to knock all the burly men unconscious. Their grace and agility seemed almost impossible, it was as if they were angels-or demons.

In less than five minutes, all swords were sheathed and Kaoru stood in between the two men who weren't even breathing harder. Kami-sama, they are amazing.

So, how'd you like it? I didn't really go into detail with the fight, but I figured I didn't need to. I mean, com'n. It's KENSHIN and SOUJIRO versus a bunch of random thugs! Gomen for the lack of dialogue, I'm going to be upping it in future chapters-I just felt descriptions were needed here. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns-just let me know. Oh, and my friend, BlackRosesRed wants everyone to read and review her story (it's in her profile thingy, just search her name). It's an Inuyasha story, though. So if you don't know Inuyasha…read it anyway. You don't need to know the series to get her fanfiction. Arigatou!