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Nanakiyoda: puts on shades Let's do this.

(Present)

I was locked in a room, furnished with a bed, a dresser with clothes and a tray of food brought in every eight hours. It wasn't a bad treatment I was given, but my freedom didn't exist. There was always a guard at the door, always a guard escorting me into the bathroom, always. I didn't know why they were waiting, or why my co-worker didn't just tun me in. I decided that I wasn't going to complain about it, as long as I was alive. During all this time, I mostly slept. Othertimes, I thought about my life before all the confusion, before I lost my friends. It was hard to remember a day that my friends and I weren't together, laughing and goofing off. We were always so close. Why did they leave me so quickly? Why did the group fall apart so quickly? Why was I blamed for everything? Tears were regular, but I could never find an answer. One night, my co-worker came in with my tray of food.

"You know, you've never talked about your past. Not once have I heard a word about the friends you have." He stated. I glanced up at him.

"It's a long story. Let's just say my friends are no longer with me." I said, not wanting to discuss them.

"Oh...they died didn't they?" He said in a remorseful voice. I nodded, just to stop they conversation before he decided to continue it. He shook his head and left.

(Future)

Back then, I thought it was a lie. Now, it seems closer to the truth than anything else. I sighed. The project had taken me to a hotel. I was now taking a shower, trying to get the blood that had been caked upon my skin off. When I had finished, I stepped out and wrapped a towel around me. The project opened the bathroom door and sighed.

"How much damage did they do to you?" He asked. Damage? Wait...this is confusing me...He took a step towards me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Here, some underwear I found at your apartment for you. Put this on." He said, handing me a bra and my boxer briefs, then he left the bathroom. None of this is making any sense. I sighed and put them on.

"Are you finished?" The project asked.

"Yeah..." I answered. He stepped inside the bathroom again and took a look at me. He then kneeled down and looked at my leg, where I had been shot and stitched at.

"They did this?" He asked.

"Yeah...look, Mr. Project, I re-" I started but he stood up and looked me in the eyes.

"It's Shinta. Call me Shinta." He said. I nodded.

"Shinta, what are you doing? I mean, are you going to kill me or what?" I asked. He sighed and then looked back into my eyes.

"Miss Kaoru, I would never harm you, much less kill you. You may be the one to destroy me, but I refuse to add anymore suffering to what you've gone through. It's my fault they are after you, my fault they've hurt you, and if they kill you, that will be my fault too." He said. My mouth flew open in shock, and I just stood there, connecting the pieces of what he just said and registering them in my mind. Finally, I shook my head and looked down at the bathroom floor.

"Why? Why take the blame? I mean, don't you know that I have the chip containing information as to how to destroy you in my head?" I asked him, raising my gaze back to his.

"That's why I take the blame. That's the only reason you are involved in this." He answered. I shook my head at him and sighed. If he wants to play mind games with me, thats fine. At this point I could care less.

"So, what is the plan then?" I asked. He looked at me as if I told him I had the button to blow up the government.

"Um...actually, I hadn't thought about that. I only had planned to resque you, and figured that I would come up with something." He responded. I shook my head and sighed.

(Past)

The dojo was empty except for me. Just like before right? Nothing you cannot handle until Kenshin gets back. I sighed out and brought up my bokken. Besides, ever since he's been here, you've had less time for training. Think about it Kaoru, your arm muscles are disappearing! You're starting to look more like a woman. That's not all that bad, seeing as you are one, but still...who is going to take a geisha looking girl seriously when it comes to swordsmanship. Right. Now get on it. I lifted up the bokken and stepped forward slashing downwards. the air that was moved by my swing kicked the dust up from the floor of the dojo. Looks like someone hasn't been cleaning the dojo like he's suppose to...that Yahiko brat. Shaking my head side to side, I took a step back to swing again. How about some imagination? Let's see...Jineh? No...too many painful memories on him...hm...how about Saitoh? That Jerk is always coming around here and snatching Kenshin to do his dirty work. I nodded my head in agreement and closed my eyes, invisioning Saitoh standing before me, smoking his cigarette and smirking. Step forward, downward slash to the right and swing around inclining bokken to top right. Jump back, dash forward pierce. Arms grabbed me up from behind. Whoa! That's not what I'm thinking up! Someone's really got me! I opened my eyes up and saw two arms, clothed in dark blue haori, holding my arms against my chest. Warm air sent shivers through my body. I closed my eyes, and concentrated on my next move. I sucked in air, and dropped down, sticking out my right leg as I spun to the right and finally brought my leg up higher and spun back, connecting with the person's face as my first spin had brought them to their knees. I rolled back, grabbed my bokken that I had dropped and and stood back up.

"Oo...Miss Kaoru...you have a strong foot to the head, that you do..." Kenshin muttered out. I dropped my bokken and immediatly ran over and kneeled bside him, trying to see if he was okay.

"I'm sorry Kenshin but you should know better than sneak up on me like that!" I apologized. He started laughing as he sat up.

"Well, at least now I know you can get yourself out of a tricky situation." He chuckled out.

(Present)

Gunshots rang out from down the hall. I sat straight up from the bed and stepped towards the door, pressing my ear against the door. Someone was running down the hall towards me. I stepped to the side, and pressed myself against the wall. The door crashed in then and there was a man he walked inside the room. He was really tall, had shaggy blonde hair, and a scar rideing the bone of his forearm. He had a .45 in his hand. He took another step into the room, and I stepped behind him, hit the back of his neck. I caught him as he fell, and laid him gently on the ground. Picking up his .45 I took a step towards the door.

"Don't worry, you'll wake up, just in a lot of pain." I assured the unconscience body and walked out of the room. Gunshots rang out again, so I pressed myself up against the wall. Two men came running towards the hall and spotted me, aiming guns to me. I dropped down, rolled forward and quickly shot them both in their legs. Standing back up, I kept running, not giving them another chance to aim at me. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the body of my coworker slumped against the corner, blood splattered on the wall. He may have been greedy for the bounty, bbut he at least treated me like a human.

"Get her! Dead or alive the bounty says!" I heard someone shout. I ran towards the door, towards the outside, where my freedom was but stopped. About thirty police cars surrounded the place. In front of them, was five motorcycles and four cars. Different people, police and the others, were guarding the door. They were all in it together. Just how big is this bounty and why do they want me so bad! I sighed and dropped the .45 put my hands up and walked outside. I'm going to get answers. Three people ran up to me, a punch to the stomach and a quick slap of handcuffs, and I was captured again, thrown into the back of a police car and transfered to the nearest station.

(Future)

I had started telling Shinta about what I had been through. He was sitting across from me on his couch, sipping on his tea. I was sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Are you sure you don't want some?" He asked. I shook my head.

"I'm just tired. It's been awhile since I've actually had time to breathe and rest." I answered. He smiled at me and stood up.

"Take as much time as you wish Ms. Kaoru. If you need me, I'll be in the living room." He said, and left. I fell back on the bed. Is this guy real? Did I die and this is heaven, or hell? I closed my eyes, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

(Present)

Sitting in a jail cell, I tapped my foot on the ground, trying to get the rhythm of my favorite song to echo through the cell.

"Keep it quiet in there you!" A hillbilly accent rang out. I spat upon the floor.

"I know my rights! What the hell am I in here for!" I shouted out. The officer stood up and walked towards the cell, his hand on his .45 in his holster. I glared at him.

"Well missy, ya shoulda thought of that when we got'cha!" He yelled out and spit his tobacco spit on the floor. I grittied my teeth. I've been in this fucking cell for two months, for some bogus charge and bounty and not a damn answer from this stupid hic! Finally, all my frustration took hold of me and I walke dover to him, grabbed his uniform from through the bars and pulled him up to me, as I was taller than him.

"Listen here asshole...I fucking demand to know what the hell is my charge! I swear, if you do not tell me right now, I'm going to pull your body through these bars and tear you in to pieces. Got that!" I yelled out into his face. Fear shimmered across his face.

"Calm down there lil' missy, or the other inmates'll hear ya." He tried to reason. I slammed him against the bars once, and held him out.

"What's the problem? Don't want them to know that you're holding me against the law and my rights?" I said, hatred glistening on every word.

"Lil' missy, please undastand...we are only doin' our jobs." He said, his hands shaking over his gun. I smirked and took one hand off his clothes, still ablwe to hold him up, and snatched his gun quickly. I held it in his face.

"Please understand the situation I'm in for a moment, if you please. I am locked in a cell. I have been for two months. This was before I was held up in a bedroom for weeks. Before that, I was happily working on computer programming. Before that, I was working as a policewoman. Before that, I was attending highschool and had a wonderful group of friends. Now you tell me where was it that I fucked up and now have a bounty in my head or I'll blow your's off your shoulders." I demanded cheerfully. He gulped and tears started down his cheeks.

"I...I only know that ya wanted because another man. The govament wants you so they can destroy the man. That's all I know...please don't kill me! I have a wife an' kids!" The police officer begged. I smirked.

"How about this. I keep the gun, you don't tell anyone, and you keep your life. Fair and simple as that. We both forget this whole incident happened, and you bring me your supervisor. If everything works out, you and your family will be safe." I smiled. He nodded quickly. I dropped him on the ground and walked over to my cot, hiding the gun under the pillow. I'll get my answers now.

OWARI

Nanakiyoda: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated...it's been crazy around here though, and I almost got kicked out of my house. I am working on it though, and as soon as I find a working monitor, I'll have Celldweller and Rurouni Evil up and updated. Hope this is turning out well, I kinda forgot what I was meaning to do with this. Oh well, I'm sure I'll come up with something, afterall, I always wing everything.