Disclaimer: I'm so sick of this job! DJ, you should be paying me!

DJ: No way! I'm not getting paid to write this story, am I?

Disclaimer: No you're not, because if you were, I wouldn't be here.

DJ: Well, I'm not paying you.

Disclaimer: Then I won't say it and you'll get sued.

DJ: Here. : Hands disclaimer 50 bucks: Now do it.

Disclaimer: She does not own the story and I just made a quick 50!

DJ: STUPID DISCLAIMER!

Hello all! Long time no see, hun? Like it matters, anyway, I am here to present you with (Finally) a turning point in our story. This will probably be my last post for the next two weeks for I'm going away soon and then school starts back up. I wanted to leave you guys with this because it seems that over a week I got 600 new hits! I will be working on Whispers while I'm away but I do not know if I will post. So enjoy this and I hope it keeps you happy. By the way, you all got the foreshadowing right so I deiced to give you all Battosai plushies!

Reignashii: I don't know how you're review gave me the idea of Sano kissing Battosai, but somehow it did!

Khmer Moon Blossoms: No! Not my Battosai plushie! Ah, you all get one anyway. And I'm happy you loved that last little scene.

Sims are awsome: Yes, you were all right about the foreshadowing. So you all get the cute little Battosai plushies!

Matt the really cool dude: Sometimes I enjoy you're reviews the most! And yes, Saito is FUNKY FREASH.

Enishi's Disciple: Kudos to you Enishi! I'll keep an eye out for your story.

Chrnoskitty: Yes, Tomoe did die in the snow in the original story and yes she dies in the snow in this story. Only thing is Battosai and Tomoe's past together is a bit different.

AuburnMoonlight: Well, you still get a Battosai plushie! Yay! And I hope more people start reviewing too. I mean I got 600 new hits!

davis45108: I hate to admit, but if you didn't already notice it, I got that from Teen Titans. Ugh, now I feel as bad a Watsuki. :)

And now, our feature presentation!

Rurouni Kenshin: The Whispers of Insanity

Chapter Six: Burn Your Bridges

By, DJ Baka-chan

"We can rest contentedly in our sins and in our stupidities, and anyone who has watched gluttons shoveling down the most exquisite foods as if they did not know what they were eating will admit that we can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

-C.S. Lewis

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I handed Kaoru a cup of tea and sat down next to her to enjoy my own. The snow had startled me, didn't usually come this early. I looked down. One could not demand a worse situation.

It was cold, it was snowing, and I'm here sitting next to the girl I supposedly love reminiscing about the woman I used to love. She's probably sensed something by now. I felt a shiver run down my spine and clutched my arm together. I grasped my tea cup and took a long sip.

It's polite to let her have the haori. What's the point in you using it anyway?

Uh, the fact it's freezing out side and we have the shoji open so she can look at the snow?

Oh, yeah… Still? Do you want to be rude to the girl?

No, but I bet she doesn't have conversations with herself inside her head.

Shut up.

I let out a sigh. Maybe I should confront the past. If I worry about it for the rest of my life it will always be with me. I should make peace with Tomoe and her brother. Of course, Enishi's forgiveness won't be easily earned. Then, there would happen to be the thousands or, possibly millions, of family members of those I have slain. Maybe, I could start with the one right next to me.

But what would her reaction be to me being the Hitokiri Battosai?

It'd be pointless to try. She'd never forgive you for tricking her so. Her father's murderer, the man the she's been living with for past two months. If you told her you'd only be burning your own bridges. You'd be risking the happiness you'd sought for so long.

She will find out soon though. I can't keep running from my past. It will all catch up with me eventually. Soon someone will find out and I'll have to leave town. Happiness is only temporary in this world of demons.

You're not the only one with demons you know. She must have her own after living by herself for four years.

True. Knowing that her mother had to have died before my slaying of her father must mean she's had quite a rough childhood.

Quite the opposite of you, hm lover boy?

Ah, quite! My childhood wasn't exactly perfect!

All up until you were eleven it was!

Now is not the time to be discussing my-rgg-our past!

Kaoru, by now, had noticed my brooding. I shivered again. The cold was starting to get to me. Taking another long sip of tea, I tried to warm myself.

Kaoru gave a soft look then stood, placing the haori over my shoulders.

"Kenshin, you look frozen. I'll go get myself one, you take that one." She gave a faint smile. I wanted to protest. I knew this was the warmest one she had in the entire house. She had told me so this morning before I set out for town. She had said she made sure to give me this one because I was "going to need all the warmth I could get on these could days".

As she had her back turned, I stealthily walked up behind her and grabbed her from behind. She immediately fell back into my arms as if expecting me to grab her so.

Kaoru let me take her into the passionate embrace, my arms and hands sliding upwards towards her breasts, holding her to my chest.

"This is the perfect way to get warm, ne?" I breathed into her ear. She could feel my breath run warm against her neck. One of her hands clasped over one of my own and the other grasped onto one of my arms.

My head was next to hers, lustful amber eyes searching for her beauteous sapphire ones. She looked at me, those long raven lashes of her so prominent now that my mind was set on her beautiful body. But those eyes weren't telling me something, nor was that face. But it barely registered. Right now she was mine.

I reached for her lips with my own, the memory of their soft, tender touch etched in my mind from the last time we kissed. I was so aroused; I didn't know where it all had come from. We broke away for a breath then returned yet again with passion and fire. I needed more. I broke the kiss and looked her face. I could see the fire running through her eyes. She wanted more also. I smirked lustfully.

"Open you mouth next time." My voice was barely above a whisper when I spoke. She nodded softly in confirmation. I lunged this time, ready for excitement of the next kiss. As we kissed and broke she kept her mouth open. She didn't know what she was in for. We kissed again, my tongue dashing into her mouth to fight with her own. She gave a moan of pleasure and began to fight back before we broke.

"Kenshin…" She moaned. I smiled.

"If you want more, then you'll get more." My obsession was beginning to become evident. I continued to kiss her passionately and she little realized that my hands were moving up.

My hands grasped at the collar of her gi, trying to pull it down and reveal what was beneath. I had seen her breasts, but not her curves. I smiled possessively as she moaned in protest.

"Kenshin…not…with…the…students…here…" She had to take a breath in between each word she was so tried. It was then I knew she was… warm enough.

I let go. I needed to catch my breath anyway. I put one hand to the wall to support myself. It's stressful work. She leaned back against the wall, looking at my tried form. I did not look up when I spoke.

"It looks as if the tea has gotten cold." I said with a smile. It was then I thought about that look in her eyes I had seen only moments ago. Kaoru was defiantly hiding something from me but what? That was the question.

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It had been long since the students left when I ventured off from the dojo to go practice in the woods. The weather was excellent for terrain practice. Anyway, it was a way to get out and about for a bit. Things between Kaoru had been awkward ever since our "warm up session".

My eyes flicker dangerously when I saw a young swordsman walk the opposite direction of me. He was tall and thin. He had short ruffled brown hair on his head. His gray eyes were alert and aware of his surroundings. He look as if he were a competent swordsman, not just you run-of-the-mill thug. The boy gave me a glance when I put my arm out in front of him.

"The only thing up that way is the Kamiya Dojo. Is that where you're planning on going or are you just lost?" My voice had and angry edge to it. It was if I was the Battosai again. The boy gave a thin smile and held up his hands.

"Maa, maa. You must be the Himura-san Kaoru-san has told me about. There's no need to worry." He bowed in a polite fashion.

"My name is Tomi and I'm a friend of Kaoru-san. I'm one of Kamiya-sensei's former students. Is it the katana that alarmed you? I'm sorry, but we all must carry protection in a city such as this one, ne?" He gave a smile. I crossed my arms and gave him a look. I didn't know if I could trust him or not.

He looked friendly enough. But something I had learned in my hitokiri days was that no matter what the person looked like or how they acted, they could still be a threat.

Just let him go. My mind whispered. I complied.

"If what you say is true, go on ahead." He blinked in surprised, then was on his way. I continued the walk to my training spot but I was now uneasy with myself.

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I had a perfect two hours of practice, though I had to note that my skills weren't as good as they used to be. It was a bit depressing.

I ran my fingers through my bangs as the wind began to pick up. The snow stung at by bare skin and I regretted not taking Kaoru's offer to donning the haori. I looked to the beautifully setting sun, its rays shadowed by the buildings of the city. The snow had not stopped at all since it had started. I trekked the normal path to the dojo, my ankles protesting at me to get warmer. The piles of snow were not helping with the lack of clothing I was wearing.

The wind blasted at that moment, snow stinging my eyes. I held my arm to my brow, barely making out the dojo due the piercing gale of wind and snow.

Just a little bit farther…

I had reached the gate finally. The wind was gone due to the fact I was right up against the gate. But also thanks to that, I could hear voices.

"Kamiya-san, I've had a nice time talking to you but, it is time we talk about business." That was Tomi. I wonder what he's still doing here.

"Will you do what Yukishiro-san asked of you, or have you not the heart to kill someone yet?" My body stiffened.

Yukishiro? As in Yukishiro Enishi? Shit! SHIT! I tried to keep my composure in order to not alert the two of my presence. I listened, hoping to hear Kaoru's response.

"Don't worry; I have Battosai in the palm of my hand. I'm just toying with him so it hurts more. His pain, of course, is my pleasure. He'll be gone, soon enough." Those words hit home hard. I could feel the aching pain in my chest and the fury burning in my head. My eyes must have been burning with anger.

"You bitch…" I cursed under my breath in rage. I wanted to go up and say that her twisted little face and wipe that fucking grin right off. I wanted to just go in there and kill them both. But then I wouldn't get away with my life.

I tried to suppress my rage, but it was boiling. I had been betrayed by the one I loved. And it hurt. It took me a moment to notice the blood dripping from my cheek. My scar was bleeding. Tomoe's scar. I exhaled heavily, my breath showing in the cold winter air.

What the hell…?

I heard the gate being opened and quickly got to my feet sliding to other side of the dojo to avoid detection. I held my hand to the scar so the blood would not trail.

"Blood?" I heard Tomi say. "How'd that get there?" He must have not bothered with it for he continued on his way. I heard Kaoru closed the gate and I eased down to the ground. And I sat there, my hand clutched to my scar and tried to sort out my feelings. And all that time, I think I was crying.

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That was…sad. I don't now where I get this stuff! Kaoru was like so evil! Ugh, I feel bad now…: hugs her Kenshin plushie: Well, I hope you all enjoyed. If you'd like to see anything special happen in the story, just tell me in a review and I'll try and fit it in for you. Now, review! It is very good for the authoress! So please, review.