The Guardian

By: Wildfire Sky

Oh happy day!! In response to the reviews, I am going to continue my fic!! And don't worry; we're getting to the good part...just...be patient, alright? Good Lord...

The Guardian

Chapter Two

Kenshin dipped the wet cloth back into the washing bucket, rubbing it against the riveted washboard. The sun was high in thenoon hour, the blue skies over run by billowing white clouds, and the huge forms casting shadows over the ground. It was days like these that set Kenshin's heart at ease, no matter what dangers were beyond the gate of the Kamiya dojo.

He released a small sigh, tilting his back as a cool breeze brushed through the courtyard. If there weren't chores to be done, he'd sit out on the back porch and enjoy this calm, perfect day. However, there was so much to be done before Kaoru got back from her lessons...cleaning, washing, drying; cooking...too much it seemed, too much for just one simple rurouni. But he'd do it and more if it meant that Kaoru would be able to relax when she got home.

"Oi! Kenshin!"

Kenshin lowered his head and looked towards the hall. Yahiko stood in the open shoji doors, bokken leaning against his shoulder; hand on his hip, looking like the confident samurai he was becoming.

Kenshin stood, dusting off his hakama and walking over, "Yahiko...what's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing!" Yahiko said with a slight smile, "I just wondering if you'd like to spar with me."

"Spar..."

"Yea!" Yahiko grinned, "Come on Kenshin, what harm could it do?"

Kenshin shook his head, "Yahiko, you know I won't pass on my sword style. It dies with me, that it does."

The young boy frowned, but never lost the twinkle in his eyes, "Ok, Kenshin...just thought I'd ask...so since you're not going to practice at all, what's for dinner?"

Kenshin scratched the back of his head in thought, "Well...if I leave now, I can go into market and buy some tofu and fish...and we need some rice as well..."

Yahiko nodded, waving a hand as he turned away, "Fine then, Kenshin, I'll see you later."

"Yahiko..."

"Hai?" the young samurai paused in the door way.

Kenshin smiled slightly, "You must understand that I can never pass on what I know. It would be too dangerous, that I would," he held up a hand as Yahiko opened his mouth, cutting off his word, "Especially right now...too much is going on for me to relax."

Yahiko rolled his eyes, "There's always something happening in Tokyo, Kenshin, and you're always in the middle of it! Why don't you lay back and let the police deal with the criminals? Hang out with Sano or something..."

Kenshin let out a soft chuckle, "Yahiko, you know that Sanosuke is another trouble in himself. Where ever he's at, trouble is usually right there next to him."

"Yea, that's true!" Yahiko joined in his laughter for a brief moment before letting it fade away, silence claiming the dojo once again. Kenshin cleared his throat and turned away, adjusting the straps on his arms.

"I should get back to the laundry, that I should..."

"Kenshin..."

The rurouni paused at Yahiko's low, nervous voice, waiting for the young boy to continue. Yahiko jumped down from the porch, his footsteps slow and heavy as he neared. Yahiko moved in front of Kenshin, his eyes averted as he reached into his creamy gi and removing a crumpled letter.

"This came for you this morning...a police officer delivered it."

Kenshin frowned slightly as he unfolded the letter, "Why didn't you tell me earlier, Yahiko? It may have been important."

Yahiko rubbed his foot against the back of his leg sheepishly, "I, uh, I kind of read it Kenshin..."

"Yahiko..."

Yahiko flinched, "G-Gomen, Kenshin...I was just wondering if they were taking you away again..."

Kenshin shook his head, resisting a smile. Although he was annoyed with the paranoia surrounding the Kaimya dojo, he was also touched by it all. It was goes to show how much they all cared about him...it also went to show that his decisions effected more than just himself and Kaoru. He unfolded the letter, his eyes swiftly running over the characters the littered the page.

Himura-san: I write to inform you that I will be arriving at the Kamiya dojo this evening to discuss the recent events plaguing Tokyo. It is very important that we meet face to face and not put this off any longer than it already has been.

Kenshin quickly folded the letter, stuffing it into his maroon gi. When he looked up, Yahiko still stood there, staring at him expectantly, albeit fearfully. "Are you really going to see him?" he asked, his bokken nervously tapping against his shoulder, "He'll get here before Kaoru does and I don't think..."

"It would be better if Kaoru-dono not be here, that it would." Kenshin smiled at the young boy softly, "She already has much to worry about." Too much it seems...I am not helping...

Yahiko's jaw dropped, "You...you're just going to leave Kaoru in the dark?"

"Of course not," Kenshin turned and picked up his wash bucket, tucking it under one arm, "I will tell Kaoru-dono my decision, I promised her I would, that I did...but if the police chief is coming for the reason I think, Kaoru-dono must not interrupt." I do hope she will forgive me for what I am going to do. I know that the police could eventually take care of this man, that I do...however, to protect Kaoru-dono, I will do what I must.

Yahiko sighed, scratching his head, "You know Kaoru will kill you if you leave, right?"

"I do."

Yahiko stared at Kenshin, "If he asks you to...will you leave?"

Silence. Yahiko knew he'd hit a sensitive topic. Kaoru would be devastated if Kenshin left...even more so if he was to be injured...or killed...

Yahiko quickly shook his head, dispelling the horrible images of Kenshin's death from his mind. Kenshin wasn't just some hitokiri from the revolution...many samurai claimed that they were...but Kenshin was the hitokiri...he was Battousai, a legend amongst all men and some one that an enemy would have one hell of a time defeating. He was invincible...even after all his injuries; Yahiko was utterly convinced that Kenshin was a god.

"Yahiko..."

The young samurai looked up in to Kenshin's deep violet eyes.

"Whatever decision I make...I will not make lightly." Kenshin smiled, "And it will be the best for everyone, that it will. That I promise you."

Yahiko nodded, turning away to go back inside. He paused in the doorway of the training hall, bowing his head. "Kenshin..."

"Hai?"

Yahiko looked over his shoulder, "Just don't break your promise..."

The smile fell from Kenshin's face, "I won't."

"Genze-sama, hurry...onegai!"

The shadow crouched lower in the shadows of the room, his hand tightening on the hilt of his katana. He'd been sitting there for hours now, waiting for the right time to strike. The numbness in his legs went unnoticed...it would quickly dissipate when he struck. For now, he would deal with the minor discomfort...he would accept it and strike.

"Genze-sama, we can not delay any longer! If you wish to get out of Tokyo, we must go now."

The shadow suppressed a chuckle, his red eye narrowing with laughter. They were nervous...scared...knowing that the end was upon them like Hell's fury. It wasn't in his style to send his victims notice, it gave the police something to work with, however, he felt it was appropriate this time. He wanted to test it...see the effects. Killing was fun with the fear of his victims...perhaps with warning the fear would be heightened. After all, he was very well known now.

The heavy thudding of boots drew his attention back to the doorway...back to the task at hand. Tori Genze. Another dirty politician and threat to his livelihood...they seemed to be everywhere nowadays. Genze was a good man by all accounts. A loving husband, dependable father, and well rounded when it came to manipulating others. But more than that, Genze personally knew the Battousai.

An acquaintance that he would soon regret ever having.

The voices were closer, more frantic. Unwitting of the danger that lurked in the shadows of Genze's dark room. They should have lit a candle...

He hated the light. Hated it and avoided it like a plague. Why? Even that was something he had yet to understand. Perhaps it was because the light took away his mysteriousness. Perhaps it was because he preferred to kill in the dark. Or maybe he just found comfort in it. Whatever the reason, his hatred for light was intense. And that was why he didn't want to do this...not right now, anyways.

He mentally cursed Tusume for talking him into this, this ludicrous. He was throwing away all of his morals and ideals to get at one man. To get a chance at fighting Battousai, he was willing to attack in the daylight...to succumb to his greatest weakness...

"I will not flee like some headless chicken!" a gruff voice filter through the closed door, the footsteps halting, "The assassin may have declared his intentions to kill me today, but never before has he struck in the day. By the time he crawls out from his little shit hole, I'll be long gone!"

Another, timid voice answered, "B-But Genze-sama...how can you be so sure of his intent? What if he's waiting in Kyoto as well?"

"Then damn it, I'll face him myself!"

"Genze-sama...we can not falter...the carriage is waiting outside..."

The gruff voice sighed loudly, "Very well, very well. At least allow me to gather my things from my desk."

The door opened as Genze strode in, looking every part the former samurai he was. Lean and muscular, his gi hung smoothly across his body, tucked neatly into his hakama. It was interesting that a politician would wear such garments. Today, they were keener to western clothing than anything else. His dark beard was neatly combed, hair slicked back and pulled into a short ponytail, blue eyes sweeping the room cautiously.

For all his talk, he's certainly nervous...

The shadow slowly began to stand, drawing his sword with a soft hiss of metal against leather. He'd mastered drawing his sword to the point where it made virtually no sound...it had always irked him whenever a target was alerted to his presence all because of his sword. Now, that miniscule trouble was a thing of the past.

Genze was sitting at his desk now, pulling out drawers and shifting through the contents, his heavy breathing loud against the quiet off the room. His bodyguards stood silently, one by the drawn curtains, the other by the door, shifting nervously and glancing over his shoulder. Genze coughed lightly, calling over his shoulder for more light.

The shadow instantly fell back into a crouch, pressing up against the dark corner as light flooded the room. He shrank back from the sun's piercing rays, curling up and away from the golden light.

Of all the...damn it all!!

Genze continued his search; ignorant to the discomfort of his would be assassin. He pulled open one last drawer, a smile breaking out across his face. He dumped a wrapped package on his desk, and from the look of it, it was filled with documents. Next he gently placed a revolver on top of the package, patting it softly.

"This will keep that assassin at bay..." he said with a smile, "With this, he wont get closer than five feet before---"

"Before what?"

The two bodyguards shot forward, weapons drawn as they glanced around the office. Genze was on his feet, gun forgotten as panic over took his mind. "Where...where is he?"

"It's amazing that you'd think simple daylight would hinder me."

One of the bodyguards stepped out of the pool of sunlight, eyes darting back and forth, "I can't see him..."

Genze glared, "Damn you! Get searching, he has to be in here!!" he jerked from behind his desk, a wisp of wind brushing by him. He stumbled into the middle of the room, his body trembling, "B-Behind my desk! He passed by me!"

The bodyguards looked towards the desk, faces etched with confusion. The smaller slowly walked forward, sword dropping as he searched. "Genze-sama...there's nothing..."

The room was suddenly plunged into darkness as the curtains fell back into place, the door slamming closed a moment later. Genze lunged for the door, snatching at the knob in panic. Locked.

The smaller guard blinked, "What the hell..."

He never felt the blade slice through his neck, never realized that he would have so brutal a death that his blood would drench the walls. He simply pitched forward, blood gurgling from his mouth as death took him in its wings.

The second guard rushed in Genze's side, sword raised in preparation. "Genze-sama, you must get out...quickly now!"

Genze shook his head, "The door has been locked."

The guard tightened his grip, "K'so...k'so!!" he chanced a glance over his shoulder, "Genze-sama, this man...he runs in the shadows...if we want to get out, we must use the window."

Genze snorted in shock, "The window? Have you lost your mind?"

The guard faced forward again, looking around, "Genze-sama, I know you can make it...you fought during the Bakumatsu, and this can't be any different."

The air was displaced again as a form rushed by. The guard turned with it, weapon trained on a dark corner. He could barely make out the outline of the man's body, but the gleaming red eye was good enough. The form shifted slightly, the shine of his blade heavy against the black.

"Don't look so scared, officer...I'll make it quick..."

The guard spat angrily, "Go to hell! If you think I'm going to be scared of death, then you're wrong!"

The shadow paused, amused by this sudden display of bravery. It wasn't like the Bakumatsu, when people would run and hide at the first signs of danger...today, they'd face that danger head on and fight it...

The shadow stepped away from his corner, licking the tip of his sword as he approached the two shaking men. The officer firmly planted himself in front of Genze, saber raised in preparation for whatever attack might come. He could barely see him...but he knew the man was there, just beyond the tiny pool of light he and Genze feel his hot breath rolling across his face. The guard took a slow swipe at the air, hitting nothing. There was a low chuckle from his right, and the man swung around towards it, eyes wide.

Genze reached inside his formal gi, pulling out a short knife and wielding it. "Damn coward! Come forward and fight this samurai!"

The guard glanced at the old man over his shoulder, "Genze-sama, please don't involve yourself in this fight. I'll distract him and let you escape, sir..."

"Oh, don't bother. He knows that neither of you are escaping here alive."

There was a commotion outside the door, raised voices and clomping boots filtering in from the hallway. The men turned towards the door, Genze sighing with relief. "At last...you see, assassin? You can't win now, how are you going to escape? It's daylight and the room is surrounded." He smirked into the darkness, "Give up now, and I swear I'll show you mercy."

"Genze-sama! Genze-sama!"

"Open the door, damn it! Move!"

The shadow snarled at the annoyance. Well this would certainly cause some delay. Heaving a disappointed sigh, he rushed forward, thrusting his sword through the guard's throat. Before the man even slumped to the floor, the shadow had Genze up against the back wall, a gloved hand muffling the man's surprise groans.

"Not a word, Genze..."

The door moaned from the impact of a hard body slamming into it. More cries then another vicious hit. This time, the door cracked, a wood chip flying across the room. With the next hit, the door swung open, admitting a troop of men, each with their pistols drawn, eyes darting back and forth.

The shadow cut off another of Genze's moans with a tight squeeze of his arm against the throat. The old samurai slumped forward in the assassin's arm, his eyes rolling back in his head. The guards never saw what rushed out into the suddenly dark hallway...the next thing they knew, they'd been locked inside a dark office staring down at two murdered officers.

I know, I know...it took me forever. So sue me...or at least ridicule me a threaten me next time. Ok, I want to know, do you want me to do "review responces"?? I do it for my other fics, but they're Cyborg 009...I'm not sure how RK fans would like it. So I'm gonna do it this once and depending on your opinion, I may or may not do it again.

Goldangel2: my god, as usual, you are the FIRST to review my fic, and that gives me a boost of happiness!! It's good to see you're going to support my RK fic as well as my Cyborg fic!!

Animefreak5483: hot damn!! Another transfer from Ante-Mortem!! OH HAPPY DAY!! I'm so happy that people actually trust my writing! Thank you!! What's more, you are my beta. I love you so much (in a beta reader...type...way...)

xZig-zagx: I promise you that I will not abandon this fic. I've only done that once and that was b/c it was going no where...but this one I will do my best on and complete!

Sakura Mori: not first, but close!! You WERE the first truly critical reviewer that actually got me thinking about my fic realistically, so thank you. And I promise, this won't end up like you think it will.

DeguChan: hola...welcome to my world of insanity. I hope that you will enjoy my fic as much as I enjoy writing it!!

animeinsomniac: the FIRST??? Well my friend, maybe you should check out my Cyborg 009 fics!! You might like them...sorry it took so long for the next chapter

Setafox: thanks for your support!!

dang that was really good. Plz continue: yea...next time why not just put a name?

TanukiChin313: thanks for your review!! Please keep reading and enjoying!!

Jupiter's Light: thanks!! Keep reading!!

Imagination Queen: choppy huh? Ok I'll TRY and work on that...however, you need to be more specific. If you're referring to the way it jumps from different place to different place, that's just my writing style and I'm not going to change that. Sorry, but thanks for your opinion!!

Nekotsuki: hot damn!! You're fic is seriously my favorite RK, except for a couple of Goldangels2's. But I'm waiting for YOU to update...you got me checkin just about everyday and I'm getting anxious. So we'll do this trade for trade, alright?

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS!!

Ok, let me just say this right now...i like reviews and all that, but if you're that creep "The Masked Reviewer" who got me kicked off last time, you're really not wanted here. Read all you like, but keep your opinions to YOURSELF. I don't need people like you giving authors a hard time...writing is hard enough w/o have some jerk forcing people off the web. So there. Like I said, read all you want and enjoy, but I better not kicked off again because of you...