The Guardian

By: Wildfire Sky

Well dadgum!! Lots of reviews for only two chapters...sniffle I'm so HAPPY!!! What's better, no one complained (yet) about the Review Responses so I'll keep doing that (but I'll keep em short). Oh yea, just in case any of you are wondering, no, I'm not taking these from another source. My REAL pen name is Wildfire Sky, but unfortunately, I got kicked off because of a certain someone...so I had to change it. Anyway, ON TO THE FIC!!

The Guardian

Chapter Three

Genze awoke to total darkness, save for a single low flame torch mounted in a far corner of the room. He groaned, lifting his head to look around. Immediately, the world began to spin and he found himself vomiting on the floor, the putrid smell of his own waste assaulting his nostrils and causing him to throw up even more. He coughed and hacked against the bitter taste invading his mouth, spitting viciously at the floor.

Genze waited for his body to steady for risking lifting his head again. The dark was overwhelming, the light doing nothing to reveal whatever might lurk in the shadows...which could possibly be his attacker. The politician frowned, grunting as he tried to move, only to be stopped. His hands were tied tightly behind his back and around a thick pole, making movement virtually impossible. He cursed loudly, glaring into the darkness.

"Show yourself, coward!" he spat angrily, "Come out from hiding!"

The movement seemed to come from right beside him. Genze barely had time to suck in air before the cold feel of steel pressed up against his throat, barely nicking into the skin. He stared into the single red eye glaring out at him from the black, the emotions lost in the swirl of the deep ruby.

"I prefer silence, Genze-sama...please do well to keep that in mind." The blade was lowered and the shadow stepped away, "I welcome you to my keep, Genze-sama. I suggest you get comfortable because you won't be leaving anytime soon."

Genze looked directly at the assassin, "Who are you? Why do you hide in the shadows?"

The shadow paused, turning back towards Genze, "I am a hitokiri from Bakumastu...a warrior as you once were. That is all you need to know."

"Wait a damn minute! You can't just leave me tied up here!" Genze struggled against his bonds, "Do you have any idea who I am? I'm a very important man in Japan, and my disappearance won't be taken lightly!"

There was a low chuckle, "Forgive me for being blunt, but you're no more important than a common peasant."

"How dare..."

"You will be searched for, of course, however, it won't last much for than a few days, perhaps two weeks at the most. And then you'll be forgotten and replaced by another man." The assassin smirked in the dark, "The only ones who will miss you are the ones that depend on your money."

Genze stiffened, "Well then you'll have every yakuza in Japan looking for you! They will hunt you down and kill you."

"I'd like to see them kill a ghost. The only humans who say me are being buried right now, and you will be joining them if you don't watch your tongue."

Genze began to sweat, his wrists rubbing against the ropes, "Listen to me. I'm of no use to you...what could I possibly have? Is it money you want? Return me safely and I'll give you as much as you want!"

The assassin's grin grew, "Oh no, you have information that I need...valuable information in fact. Do you know who Hitokiri Battousai is?"

"That murderer from the Revolution?"

"Murderer? I thought you two fought on the same side..."

Genze laughed, "Doesn't mean I liked the bastard. He was always so quiet and slinking about, I honestly thought him dumb. Then he went and 'married' that bitch Tomoe..."

The shadow moved closer, "Tomoe? Did you just say Tomoe?"

Genze shrunk back, "H-Hai..."

The hard hilt of the assassin's blade came crashing across Genze's face, instantly knocking the old man out. He slumped against the pole, blood dripping from his cut cheek. The assassin stood next to him, staring at the man before turning sharply on his heel and leaving the chamber.

He allowed his shoulders to sag the moment the door slammed closed behind him, lowering his hood and running a hand through his wild black hair. He walked down the dim stone tunnel of his underground home. He'd found this place years ago, an apparent hideout of smugglers and bandits during the war. It was a complicated maze of natural tunnels carved deep into a mountainside, hidden by a thick tangle of foliage.

He pushed aside a thin sheet hanging over the entry way to a large dug out cave, one of the man made projects. It was sparely furnished, but good enough for him, a simple futon and table the only moveable furniture. He crossed over to the far wall, reaching into a clever cutout in the wall. Three long shelves stretched across half the wall length, deep enough for him to store food, weapons, and other essentials.

He removed a tiny, skin bag, gently cupping it in the palm of his hand. He moved over to the table, lighting a candle, yet placing it as far away from him as possible. He reached into the bag removing an old, broken mirror and held it towards the light. The shadow heaved a depressed sigh, softly trailing a hand around the cracked frame and handle.

"Oh, Tomoe...so is he the one who did that to you?" the shadow clenched his fist, anger bubbling up within his chest, "For years I've searched for you, only to find out you'd been murdered...I never imagined that Battousai was your killer...let alone your lover."

Stuffing the mirror back into the bag, he quickly made his futon and blew out the candle, dosing the room in darkness. He kneeled down on the futon and placed his sword next to him, ignoring the cool breeze of the caves as he closed his eyes, drifting off into sleep. For the rest of the night he would kneel there, back ridged as he slept, yet alert to everything around him. That night he would dream of the past and of a woman he'd once had the great honor of knowing...and loving...

The police chief came later than Kenshin expected; arriving long after Yahiko and Sano had gone to sleep. Kaoru and Kenshin had been up, finishing the dishes and talking in hushed tones when the police chief called from the entrance. Kaoru was instantly on her feet, whereas Kenshin took a little longer, not so eager to meet the man that could spell disaster for him.

By the time he'd made it to the courtyard, Kaoru was standing beside the chief, an unmistakable frown of frustration on her normally pleasant features. He sucked in a deep breath before forcing a smile to his lips as he approached.

"Good evening, Hirmua-san," the police chief said with a thin smile, "I trust you received my letter?"

Kenshin nodded, "Hai, shochou-sama, it arrived this morning."

"Then you must know of the urgency of this visit."

Kenshin glanced at Kaoru before nodded slowly, "Hai...Kaoru-dono..."

Kaoru glared, "No."

The ex-hitokiri sighed stepping towards her, but Kaoru quickly moved away, her glare intensifying. Kenshin's eyes pleaded with her as he spoke, "Kaoru-dono, I know that you want to listen, that I do...but that could put you in even more danger." He let a gentle smile grace his face, "Besides, it won't be very interesting listening to two old men, that it won't!"

Kaoru's glare softened as she smiled slightly, "Kenshin, you look as young as I am! That hardly qualifies you as an old man." She glanced at the chief, "But I'm going to hear everything. After all, this is my dojo..."

"I know, Kaoru-dono..."

"Then there won't be a problem, will there?"

Kenshin was at a lost for words. He knew that she could be stubborn, but she seemed exceptionally so tonight. Even at dinner, after all his insisting (and begging from Yahiko), she'd shoved him aside and took over cooking the rice, turning Kenshin's food into a bowl of virtual mush...one he forced down for her sake.

The police chief began to follow Kaoru, but paused as Kenshin's hand descended on his shoulder, "Shochou-sama...tell me now, will I be forced to leave?"

The police chief paused, his eyes clouding, "That, Himura-sama, will be determined..."

Kenshin sighed as the police chief finished his briefing on the current situation. It was worse than he imagined...much worse. Not only had this assassin gone after government officials, but he was taking out every man of significant ranking as well as their family members, regardless of the fact that they were women and children, he slew them mercilessly. Kenshin glanced at Kaoru from the corner of his eye, searching her face for a reaction.

She sat on her cushion beside him, hands tightly folded in her lap, shoulders stiff and head bowed. Her bottom lip of tucked beneath her teeth as she chewed with worry. As though she felt Kenshin's gaze, she looked over at him, catching his eyes with her own worried ones.

"Himura-san, I know that you'd prefer not to get involved in this..."

"It's my duty, shochou," Kenshin quickly cut in, straightening, "I would never hesitate to intervene with these pointless murders. However, you don't have very much information besides the victims."

The police chief scratched the back of his head, "We'd been positive that he only attacked at night...up until yesterday when Genze-sama was kidnapped in the middle of the day by the murder. We call him the Toorima...the phantom killer, and he, as you know is a very dangerous man."

Kaoru spoke now, her lips tight, "So how is it that Kenshin is supposed to stop some sort of phantom?"

The chief looked at her, his eyes soft behind his glasses, "I realize that this is a difficult thing for you, Kaoru-dono, but the government is in chaos..."

"Why can't you just leave us alone?" her whisper was harsh and accusing as she looked up at the chief, eyes blazing, "Don't you see that Kenshin doesn't want any part of this anymore? It was you who wanted to change Japan, but now you can't keep up with it."

"Kaoru-dono..."

"What exactly do you expect Kenshin to do? Hunt him down like Makoto Shishio?"

At this the chief paused, his lips pursed as a heavy silence fell over the group. He looked over at Kenshin, searching for help. "It...it is not nearly as dangerous as the encounter with the criminal Makoto Shishio...and Himura-san will have the full support of the Tokyo police force, that I promise you."

Kaoru looked skeptical, "So they'll be at Kenshin's side when it comes time to capture Toorima? Can you promise me that?"

The chief shook his head, "The support will be somewhat limited...we must still keep the streets safe from common criminals."

Kenshin smiled softly, "Shochou-sama, it would be better if the police force continued their usual duties, that it would. We don't want to alert the assassin to our movements."

Kaoru looked at him in surprise, "But Kenshin...it's dangerous..."

"Kaoru-dono, I must ask that you not get anymore involved as well...it could endanger you more than I could ever allow."

Kaoru's face flushed as she quickly glanced away from his intense gaze. Kenshin didn't give her a chance to reply, instead standing up and bowing to the chief. "It is late, that it is, and we should be asleep."

"So you will help us then?"

Kenshin glanced down at the floor, "I will give you my answer tomorrow, that I will."

The police chief nodded and also stood following Kenshin out to the porch smiling at him, "Arigatou, Himura-san, the government's debt to you only runs deeper each day. You shall be compensated for your troubles in this matter. Kaoru-dono...please rest safe and be assured." He tipped his hat at Kaoru before following Kenshin's brisk pace to the gate. They exchanged a few words of parting before the chief disappeared down the dark road.

When Kenshin returned to the room, he found it empty, the lamp light softly illuminating the vacant space. For a moment, his heart clutched in his throat before his mind registered the soothing ki of his Kaoru. Blowing out the lamp, he quickly closed the shoji behind him and made for her room. It was dark when he opened the thin, rice paper door, peering inside, yet Kaoru sat there on her futon, staring blankly out of the high window, the moon light spilling around her upright body.

For a moment, Kenshin hesitated, entrapped in her beauty, yet disturbed by the increasing anxiety of her ki. Considering calling out, he instead entered the room, leaving the shoji open a mere crack. It was bad enough that he was entering Kaoru-dono's room without her consent, but to close the door would be an extreme violation of her privacy.

He knelt down in front of her, searching her face before cautiously reaching out and clasping her hand in his own. At the absence of a reaction he went further, gently turning her palm face up and staring at it. There were calluses and blisters all over her hands, blemishes any other man might find degrading, but Kenshin saw it as strength...a testament that she could hold her own if need be.

Please...please, great Kami-sama, don't force her skills to be needed in this...

Kaoru finally looked at him as his fingers lazily traced patterns over the rough skin of her palm, a warm sensation pooling in her belly. Kenshin never touched her like this...so why now? She wanted to pull away, but his hands were so warm...and she felt so venerable...

"I do not want you to worry about me, Kaoru-dono, that I do not."

Kaoru blinked at the words, her eyes focusing on Kenshin's soft smile, "And why not Kenshin? I can't help but worry everytime you go off on these fights that belong to the government. Why can't you let them handle their own problems for once?"

Kenshin sat down next to her on the futon, her hand still held in his, "The Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu will never allow me to do such a thing, that it will not. My sword and my sword style were both created to protect people...I am ashamed that I did not get involved earlier, even after reading about the murders in the paper."

Kaoru shook her head, "No, Kenshin, there's nothing to be ashamed about...whatever held you back did so for a reason."

"Kaoru-dono...do you really want me to stay and let things take it's own course?"

For a moment, Kaoru didn't know how to answer. Her mind was screaming at her to tell him yes, force him to stay at her side and not release him to the wolves. Yet her heart was telling her that holding him back would only do him more damage. Already he was in pain over the fact that he did not step forward before now...she could only imagine the depression he would seep into should there be more killings.

Slowly raising a hand to his cheek, Kaoru forced him to look at her, "Kenshin...it's your decision and you know it. I'd never hold you back from what your heart desired, but I can't help but wish that the police chief never came tonight."

Kenshin nodded slowly, "I know, Kaoru-dono...but he would have come eventually...had you not been there, I would have quickly said yes, no matter what the circumstances. But now, I'm not so sure..."

Kaoru smiled as she ran her hand through Kenshin's fiery strands, "Do what you think is best, Kenshin. I won't lie to you though, none of this makes me happy...but no matter what you do, you have my blessing."

Kenshin plastered a short smile on his face, nodding slowly and gathering Kaoru into his arms. "Arigatou, Kaoru...Arigatou..."

Kaoru sat stiff and amazed at the sudden contact, before allowing her body to melt into his firm hold and burying her face in the nape of his neck, her own arms going around him. They remained that way until Kaoru slowly drifted off into a peaceful, dreamless sleep, the warmth of Kenshin soothing her worried mind. The ex-hitokiri sat quietly, enjoying the feel of her and listening to her soft breathing, regretful that he was going to have to leave.

He moved to pull away, but Kaoru's grip suddenly tightened around his gi, forcing him to remain close. Kenshin glanced around the empty room nervously, embarrassed at his situation...he could wake her up from her sleep by prying her lose...or he could remain her with her, but risk detection by Sanouske and Yahiko in the morning.

The sound of her soft whimper when he tried to move again made up his mind. Gathering her into his arms, he stood, blanket in tow, and sat against the far wall, drawing out his sakabatou and placing it beside him. He lower Kaoru into his lap, throwing the blanket over them as he leaned back, shifting into a comfortable position. He watched the sliver of moonlight entering from the cracked shoji, regarding it lightly as he gently placed in his chin on top of Kaoru's head, his eyes fluttering closed.

Should anyone have looked inside, they would have seen what might have been two lovers enjoying the warmth and company of each other.

What Toorima saw was a weakness and his advantage.

Tada!! I updated quicker than I thought I would!! And I've come to a decision...every time I do Review Responses, I always B.S. them at the end because I'm tired and I'm sleepy (I usually finish my chapters at night)...so I've decided that if you have something you really want me to address and/or respond to, put it in your review...if not, then meh...review your ass off!! However, I shall always thank my beta reader for their input on my chappies!! I LUV YA MAN!! And please, for the love of GOD, tell me if you see a problem people!!

Thanks for all your reviews!!

Watch out for my next chapter!!

Oh yea...

PS: Alright, Neko, it's your turn now...