The Guardian

By: Wildfire Sky

The next installment in my series for those who have a love for anime and a love for fan fiction. I received a lot of complaints about not having enough Kenshin and Kaoru scenes, and that my political parts are boring, therefore they skim over them. I'm not mad; I'm just offended that you think parts of my story 'aren't important'. Newsflash. If they weren't important…I wouldn't write them IN THE FIRST PLACE!

So, to satisfy all, I'll make this chapter as much Kenshin x Kaoru as possible. Just to note in the future, however, supporting characters do just that. They support the story and are therefore necessary. Thanks and remember to R&R!

The Guardian

Chapter Ten

Kenshin released a quiet sigh as he lay on his cot, staring up at the ceiling…or at least trying to stare at it. He'd been blind before, cursed by a Christian and his god. But this…this was different. Before, his blindness was something he'd accepted and quickly learned to deal with, but this time, every time he tried to concentrate on something, tried to seek out the presence of others, his mind would being to ache, filling with a dull throbbing pain that he had yet to understand, and even the slightest movement caused a flash of pain to shoot up his spine.

It seemed that this poison did a great deal more than simply blind him…he knew that right now he was virtually defenseless, save for the protection of Kaoru and the others. Protection he did not want them to offer. Should Toorima recover, and return for a third attack, he would cut them down as easily as he had to him…they would die miserably and he'd be forced to listen to their cries of death. If they ever happened, he would drive a blade into his own heart and save himself the anguish of knowing that his weakness had caused such evil to befall his family.

Kenshin was pulled from his thoughts at the sounds of the shoji door opening with a soft whisper of wood upon wood. Soft, distinct footsteps padded towards him, the rattle of a bowl mixing with the walk. Kenshin allowed a tiny smile to cross his features and he lifted his head to stare in the approximate direction of the sounds.

"Kaoru-dono…"

There was a rustle of clothing near his head and a clatter as the bowl was settled on the wooden floor. "Good morning, Kenshin." Kaoru whispered softly, her hand reaching down to clasp his clammy one, "How are you feeling today?"

Kenshin shrugged one shoulder. "I'm doing fine, that I am. Have your wounds healed yet?" It been almost a week since Toorima's attack and he'd at least be allowed to take off the medicine wrapping, but he still didn't know about the state of Kaoru's injuries. She'd refused time and again to tell him. The lack of the scent of blood in the air was at least of some comfort to him.

Kaoru picked up the bowl at her side. "I've healed for the most part, besides, it's you that I'm worried about. Have you been able to see any kinds of colors or shapes?"

"Iie. There's…nothing." He sighed dejectedly. She'd asked the same thing for the past week at least four times a day. It was grating on the nerves, but he knew that she was only worried about him. "I think this is something that will take a long time, that I do." If I even recover that is.

Kaoru gently stroked the long bangs from his face, bending forward and planting a warm kiss on his forehead before lifting the chopsticks into the bowl and scooping out a clump of rice. Allowing the smell to reach Kenshin's nose, she waited for him to sit up and open his mouth before depositing the food inside. She watched quietly at the samurai chewed his food; calmly taking his time to savor the treat he couldn't see. She knew in the back of his mind, being feed like this was degrading beyond all reason for a fighter like him. To have to succumb to having your food feed to you like an ill child was emotionally straining and depressing. So Kaoru, to ease his well-placed pain, said nothing about these humbling interactions, speaking only when Kenshin talked to her directly.

Kaoru set the half-full bowl aside momentarily and picked up the small clay cup of water. She brought it to her lips, releasing it as Kenshin's strong hands wrapped around it. Emptying the cup, he set it aside and lay back down, closing his unseeing eyes.

"Arigato, Kaoru-dono."

Kaoru nodded, gathering the utensils back onto the tray and setting it aside. "Are you sure you don't want anything else to eat?"

"Iie…" Kenshin smirked, "You can have the rest. I know we don't have much money left, that we don't."

Taken aback, Kaoru blinked, her eyebrows furrowing together with concern. "Kenshin, I…"

"Don't try to deny it, Kaoru-dono." Kenshin opened his eyes, titling his head towards her. "My hearing has become much better now, that it has. I heard you and Sanouske arguing last night. You should discourage him from gambling so much."

Kaoru smiled. "I wish I could, but the big goof doesn't know how to stop." Her smile faltered and she leaned closer to him. "I don't want you to worry about the rest of us, Kenshin. We're quite capable of handling ourselves." She reached out, lightly running a finger over his smooth cheek. "I want you to concentrate on getting well…maybe, if you get up and move around you'll start feeling better."

Slowly reaching up with a calloused hand, Kenshin aimed for her own cheek. Feeling her warm breath against his fingers, Kenshin moved slightly to the right, finding her wet cheek and cupping it.

"Don't cry, Kaoru-dono. It doesn't suit you, that it does not." Kenshin felt her face tighten into a smile. He let his own smile mirror hers and with a light tug, encouraged Kaoru to lean down closer to him. "That's better…"

Their noses were only inches apart, their warm breath mingling in the tight space between them. Hesitantly, Kaoru leaned down and gently pressed her lips to Kenshin's, her eyes locked on his face for any signs of pain, but all she saw was grateful bliss. The old samurai's eyes slid closed, pushing his face closer to hers in an attempt to deepen the innocent kiss. To which Kaoru willing replied. Her hands came up, cupping Kenshin's face and supporting it as she drew him in, her own eyes sliding shut with unsuppressed joy. She wanted to wake up each morning to a kiss like this…

"Whoooaaa! Excuse me!"

Kenshin and Kaoru broken apart immediately, Kenshin's eyes swing towards the doorway as Kaoru jerked back, a guilty look on her face. Yahiko stood at the door, legs spread and hands on hips, a wide grin on his young face. His eyes moved from one guilty party to the next, a knowing gleam reflecting in his orbs.

"Next time you don't want to be disturbed, tell me!" he said slyly, moving further into the room, "Boy, I can't wait to tell Sanouske! Hahaha!"

Yahiko let out a yelp of surprise when Kaoru was suddenly standing in front of him, the flames of Hell spouting from her eyes.

"Go away!" she snarled angrily, shoving the boy towards the door, "Out! Out! Out!"

Kenshin couldn't help but smile at the antics of the two, knowing that it was a half-show to make him feel better. He truly appreciated such things from his family, despite the fact that he couldn't see. He could hear them well enough…some times too well. Ever since the attack, Sano had opted to spend most of his time around the dojo and fashion as the protector of Kaoru and Yahiko while he was impaired, even though the fighter insisted he was only sticking around for food. With Sano's moving in, time and again Kenshin woke up to loud rumbles of snoring that had his ears ringing. He'd never realized before how loud the man slept…really never noticed many of the sounds he now did. Without his eyes, his other senses have grown stronger, more alert. Every touch, smell, sounds, and taste was intensified, almost to the point of being shocking. The first time Kenshin had noticed such a change had been when Kaoru had brought him a bouquet of flowers from town. The smell had been so powerful he'd began to gag.

"Oi, Kenshin!" The two had stopped arguing and Yahiko now addressed him directly. "I came to tell you that you have a visitor."

Kenshin lifted his head, staring in the general direction of the doorway. "A visitor?"

"Aa." Yahiko glanced at Kaoru, sending her a smooth smirk. "A girl named Atara or something like that…you wanna see her?"

Kenshin blinked his blind eyes, struggling to sit up and forcing the pain from his mind. Atara? Why would she be here? "H-Hai…"

Even from his bed, Kenshin could hear the timid footsteps of the newcomer as she approached from the dojo gates. Yahiko was talking again, his voice further away, but Kenshin was no longer worried about him. He could almost feel the waves of confusion rolling from Karou's ki. Atara's footsteps came to a pause just outside the open shoji before slowly making their way inside. There was a rustle of clothing and a creaking of boards as Atara knelt beside him.

"So the rumors are true, Ken-san." She said in the soft, innocent voice of hers. Kenshin rolled his head towards her voice, frowning in response to the blunt statement.

"Rumors?"

"Aa…" Atara looked up and over to where Kaoru and Yahiko stood in the doorway, watching them. "One of the women at the brothel told me she heard a commotion coming from the dojo, a battle she said it sounded like. When I heard it was yours I came as quickly as I could to see if you were alright."

Kenshin shifted slightly, reaching out a hand in search of hers. "I am fine, that I am. Just a few scratches."

Atara watched dishearteningly as Kenshin's hand tried to locate the one in her lap. Even now, in his weakest hour, he had to lie to her…he had to try and protect her from the truth. She knew that he didn't think her a fool; he should have known that his handicap was obvious to any. He poor, blood-shot eyes stared out like empty pools, void of any life or emotion. Certainly not the emotion she'd come to treasure, that emotion of compassion. Now, all that was left…was pain. Her pain mirrored in his eyes.

She reached out and took Kenshin's hand, pressing it against her cheek lovingly. "Ken-san…you're like a brother to me. So why must you lie to me all of the time? Can't you trust me?"

Kenshin smiled. "You tend to have a big mouth, Atara-dono."

Atara broke into a wide smile, despite the jab to her character. She released his hand, setting it back beside him. Brushing his bangs away from his face, Atara examined his swollen eyes. "How did your eyes become like this?" she asked, leaning close enough to see the veins running across his eye and the traces of discharge in the corners.

Kenshin sighed lightly, "During the attack…it was some sort of toxin."

Atara hummed to herself, gently pushing his eyelids back. "Are you still in pain?"

The answer was a low whisper, one that Atara wasn't sure she heard. "In more than just my body…"

Atara's questing hands paused and she sat back, looking down at Kenshin. Even in his now blank eyes, the self-loathing was back. The same look he'd held on his face when he learned of her present situation. The same look from the past. She hated it…hated that he blamed himself for every bad thing that happened to every person he met. He wasn't at fault for most of what happens. Sometimes things happen that can't be predicted or changed…by anyone save God.

Kenshin turned his face towards her, his eyes moving uselessly. Atara shook her head slightly and frowned. "You've been blind before, Ken-san…is the pain any different from then?"

The ex-hitokiri blinked. "How did you know…"

"I was in the region at one time." Atara smiled, "They still talk about you, do you know that? The warrior who defied God. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but the people are certainly impressed with you."

Kenshin smiled lightly. "If you talk to a Christian, I'm sure they're not going to speak of it well, that they won't."

"Oh, who cares about the Christians?" Atara snapped, waving a hand dismissively, "Let them have their 'god'. I'm more worried about you right now, Ken-san. You recovered from that blindness after a short while."

"It was not a natural attack, that it was not." Kenshin closed his eyes at the memory. "I've never felt pain like this before."

Atara glanced up at Kaoru who stepped further into the room, but addressed Kenshin. "This is most likely a venom, Ken-san. Probably from a snake or spider."

"How would you know that?" Kaoru asked, kneeling across from her. "Are you a doctor?"

Atara instantly reddened, lowering her head bashfully. "No, Kaoru-sama, I am not. But I am familiar with poisonings."

"Where would you learn of something like this?"

A heavy silence fell over the group, Kenshin staring in Kaoru's direction and Karou staring at Atara. The young girl's gaze was held firmly on the ground before she addressed Kenshin once again.

"For such a long period of pain, Ken-san, I fear that you've absorbed a toxic mix of the venom of the yamakagashi snake and the leaves of a yew. When combined they can cause a great deal of pain in the area." Atara looked up, "I can't say I've ever heard of it being used in such a way as this. Whoever made the mixture must be more familiar with venom than I am."

Kaoru looked down at her love. "Is there any cure for it?"

"I…I really don't know, Kaoru-sama." Atara said nervously, also looking down at Kenshin, "Has he seen a doctor?"

"Yes. She's as unfamiliar with this as you are." Kaoru smiled softly, "But she didn't know what the poison contained. Perhaps you should talk to her, Atara-chan."

Atara was on her feet in a flash, slowly backing away. "N-No…that's fine, really. You can tell her yourself."

"Atara."

Kenshin's stern voice stopped the girl's hasty escape. She looked at him, already shaking her head at what he was going to say.

"You must stop being afraid of them."

You don't understand, Ken-san…" Atara said, her eyes darting towards the exit. Her heart clutched when Yahiko moved to block her. "I can't talk to them. I just…"

"Megumi-dono is a very kind person." Kenshin insisted. "She won't hurt you. You have my word, that you do."

The young girl glared at him, continuing to back away. "Megumi-dono? You say she's nice, well so was she! But then she did that to me and I…I just can't talk to any more doctors! I don't trust them, not with anything!"

Kenshin lifted his head. "Do you trust me?"

Atara shook her head, and turned away. "I trust you Kenshin, I always will…but this isn't about trust."

"What is it about, Atara-dono?"

Atara lifted her head towards the bright sunlight streaming through the open door, her eyes sliding closed. "It's about my own weakness."

For the first time since his training, Toorima found himself lying on his back, trying to sleep. The pain was too much for him to handle, unable to go to a doctor, and too weak to kidnap one, Toorima was forced to care for his own injuries. Needless to say, setting his knee back in place was a painful endeavor that he had no future plans of repeating. His leg was still wrapped, his mixing bowl still partially filled with medicine even after a week.

Worse, his employer would be impatient with his delay. The Battousai was supposed to be dead by now. Long dead. Toorima was supposed to kill him on the first night of the attack, but never expected such a fierce response or the unfortunate interruption from the police.

Toorima closed his eyes as another spike of pain lanced up his leg. He hated being so helpless! As the pain passed he relaxed, releasing a pent-up sigh and wrapped his robe around him tighter. Sitting up against the stone wall, he reached for the container of sake and took a long gulp of the powerful liquid. The burn was a welcome distraction from is injury.

"Planning on drowning your misery in that?"

Toorima instantly flung the bottle away from him, reaching for the weapon at his hip. Before he could pull the blade from its sheath, the tip of another tickled at his throat. The owner of the blade slowly forced Toorima's head back, a dangerous smile on his face.

"So that's what the face of a killer looks like…" the intruder mumbled, examining Toorima's exposed features. "You're pretty ugly aren't you?"

"No uglier than the evil in you." Toorima shot back, knocking aside the blade. "What do you want with me this time?"

"I want to know why the Battousai is still alive." The intruder replied, sitting cross-legged on Toorima's mat. "Things cannot proceed as long as he walks this Earth. You know that, Toorima."

The dark assassin glowered, "You don't need to remind me how important this mission is. I wanted to this at first in order to test my own worth, but I realize now that your scheme has become a danger to us both."

"He's quite an opponent, is he not?"

Toorima snorted, looking away. "More his bitch than he."

The intruder started in surprise, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Really? You fought with Battousai's woman? Is that how you were injured, by her? Was she strong, a threat?"

Toorima growled dangerously and shakily came to his feet, ignoring the screaming pain. "You ask too many questions. The Battousai will be dead, as I promised. However, unexpected circumstances will cause a change in tactic. I will have to kill the bitch and her friends before I can get to the Battousai."

"That is no small task by the looks of things, Toorima." The intruder also stood. "Let me stress this again, we have very limited time to complete this full circle. Any more failures will be taken from your skin. By my blade."

Toorima's lips pulled back into a deadly grin. "Then you should also be prepared to lose your own. I'm no easy target."

"A woman defeated you."

Toorima's smirk fell from his face, replaced with a snarl. "Once I recover, the Battousai will die."

"Be sure that he does, Toorima." The intruder nodded, "I want to see his name in the newspapers as another violent death in Tokyo." He reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper, handing it to Toorima. "This was delivered to my employer to be given to you. It seems that a man has been looking for you, Toorima."

Toorima took the paper, his eyes widening as he read. "This is…"

"A friend of both my master and I." The intruder shrugged one shoulder, "When he found out that you were amount our ranks, he demanded access to you."

"And?" Toorima questioned, looking up, "What did you tell him?"

"I simply said that such a contact would be for you to arrange with him. Shall I tell him that I couldn't find you?"

Toorima shook his head, limping over to his primitive shelves and setting the letter on one. "No, don't bother. He trained me and knows how to find me. When he wants to speak with me, he shall come."

The intruder nodded. "Very well then, I'll take my leave of you. Remember, Toorima. He must die and soon. Take care of this before I'm forced to terminate our contract."

Toorima wasn't watching him as the man exited his dwelling. Instead his gaze remained on the shelves, one in particular, where an object of his deepest desire remained missing.

Walking from the hidden cave, the visitor lightly patted the other object in his coat, whistling a small tune as he strolled through the dim forests and towards the outskirts of the city. He would return the mirror, but not at the moment. Ever since Toorima's precious object was taken, the man seemed sloppier and less controlled. Which, in the end, would be a good thing. Toorima would kill the Battousai, perhaps being slaughtered at the same time. If not, killing him would be quite simple.

The intruder beamed from ear to ear. "I'll return it to his grave."

Whew! Ok. Done. Oh, thank God, I'm done. I certainly hoped you guys liked this chapter, and I hope I put in enough Kenshin/Kaoru to satisfy you. If not, oh well. Wait for the last chapter when I have nothing better to write about. I'm not sure if I asked this before, but do you guys mind this little "blurbs" at the beginning and ending of my chapters? I always feel like a writer should interact with their readers. Just to engage them that much more in the story.

Anyways, please remember to R&R and watch out for my next chapter! Thanks for reading!