(I had just noticed that I had completely forgotten about disclaimers! So here is one: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, if I did, Tomoe would have never died, and if she had to, this character Ami would have obviously been in the anime and Seisohen. @_@ Doi. So, I don't own it. -_-')

(Possibly rated R because of...**** inplications) 0_0'

Two Atonements, One Sin

Part 2:

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"Little blossoms 'ought not to wander around at evenin'. Something might happen to them..." he leaned closer to her face.

"Onegai! ICHIDOU-SAN!"

The man struck her across the face with his other hand. "Shut up, wench!" Ami screamed again, shrilly, knees sagging into the mud of the road. "Help me! Help-" A thwack sounded in the air as the man backhanded her. She fell against the mud, unconcious. The man grabbed her and hoisted her over his shoulder, and began to run home.

Elsewhere, Kenshin sat under a tree staring at his small fire, brooding to himself.

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Gakuma was angry. He had lost all of his money to gambling and sake. Well, almost all. Gakuma fingered the few coins left in his pouch. "What the hell," he grumbled irritably. He needed the sake to drown out his problems. A few hours later he was drunk. However, the emptiness of his money pouch sent him into a furious mood, and he broke some tables and cups until the owner of the bar tossed him out. Thus, he stood outside in the rain, trying to let it cool his heat, when he saw the girl.

She could've been a pretty little thing, if she were cleaned and dressed up right. She wore an over large shirt with dirty pants. Her pale skin stood out tremendously from her pitch black hair. The strands were tangled together at the bottom, and her three stringy bangs went past her eyes messily, but that didn't discourage Gakuma. She was small and dainty looking. His drunkeness destroyed his senses; other wise he would've never attempted to take this child. He was a cunning man, and he knew reputation was the only way to help you rise in success from the bottom, but now, he was angry and drunk, and what a perfect oppurtunity it was to find a lone, small girl.

He grinned at her. She stared back, coldly. But as he stumbled towards her, he could vaguely see the fear lighting in the back of her eyes. "Little blossom. Come here..," he said roughly as he came closer, hand extended. She backed away. Little bitch! Gakuma swore in his mind, anger coming back again. He grabbed her arm, hard.

"Little blossoms 'ought not to wander around at evenin'. Something might happen to them..." he said, barely containing the fury in his voice. He was unexplainably mad. He would take it out on her. He could see the terror in her eyes. It partly sparked his anger even more, and partly made him feel satisfied. The girl made a noise of terror and struggled. The satisfied feeling left and his vision almost turned red. Just do as I say, he thought furiously. Stop retaliating... He bared his teeth and squeezed harder. The girl screamed.

"Onegai! ICHIDOU-SAN!"

STOP YELLING! he thought, and he voiced his fury with the vicious slap he gave her. He was really going to give it to her now. "Shut up, wench!" The girl sank into the mud, tears running down her face from the slap. She gasped, getting her breath, and let out a plaintive cry. "Help me! Help-" Gakuma hit her with as much force as he could muster. The girl slumped into the muddy road, and he waited for any signs of movement. None. An evil grin errupted in his face. He beat her, he won! He dragged her upwards and dumped her onto his shoulder. He could feel the slender body press against him. Gakuma ran home as fast as he could.

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Kenshin watched the dying embers in his fire. The light reflected off his violet eyes. He thought of many things. He thought of the people he had helped, he thought of Tomoe, he thought of the days of the Bakumatsu. Most of all, he thought of himself. He thought of the man he had been, and the man he was becoming. With his cheerful exterior, more people had been willing to let him stay with them when the weather was rough. They were more friendly, and sometimes, in their kindness and earnesty, Kenshin had felt happy.

Do I deserve to be happy?

The last time I was truly happy...Tomoe-

But she saved me. Doesn't that mean she wishes for my happiness?

But...

Kenshin sighed. These debates in his head had been repeating over and over ever since the Bakumatsu ended and he was given time to think deeply.

The twigs in the fire broke, setting Kenshin's senses on alert. Now that he was back in the world again, he felt a sense of distrust settle over him. Something...didn't feel right.

The rain had stopped, and the clouds made way for the sun's light to shine over the ground, its farewell for today. Kenshin snatched up his sword and put it in his belt. Kicking over the fire, making sure the embers were all dead, he picked up the umbrella and his sack. He walked along the muddy road, not caring that the mud was seeping into his socks.

A suspicious feeling was lurking over him. It may be nothing...but I won't take that chance. His pace quickened. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but as the feeling grew darker, he was sure it was close.

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Gakuma dumped the girl onto the wooden floor of his home. She moaned, and curled into a ball, hands over her head. If Gakuma had been sober, perhaps he would've felt a little guilt, but now all he felt was anger and anticipation.

Ami moaned once more, and let out a choking sob. Her face hurt; it was probably going to bruise. She slowly lowered her hands and took in her surroundings. She froze as she saw the man who had beaten her. Gakuma heard her breath increase faster and faster. Her heart was probably beating as fast as a scared rabbit's. As her breath nearly became ragged at the pace, she darted up and ran towards the door. Gakuma beat her to the door; one stride of his could match at least three of her steps. He hit her viciously and she fell to the ground.

Her vision became unfocused, her ears were ringing. She sensed the man coming towards her. Through her terror she knew that she could not escape on her own. She began to scream as loud as she could.

"Somebody! ANYBODY, HELP ME!!!"

Gakuma roared and seized her arm and shook it hard. She kept screaming for she knew it was her only hope. Someone, somebody, please help me... Gakuma punched her in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her temporarily. He was furious. It was time to take her. He grasped her sleeve and pulled it down past her shoulder. Ami, still winded, managed a noise of terror and she struggled backwards, knocking over a wooden stand.

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Kenshin walked down the path at a moderately fast pace. His instinct made him uneasy and suspicious.

It may still be nothing, he thought to himself, grimly. Well, his other side argued, the more you travel, the more chance you may find someone to help. That's your life purpose now, isn't it?

A scream rang through the air. Kenshin's eyes widened. He halted and looked around through the trees. He tensed his hand, ready to draw his sword. Another scream came, and this time he could tell it was farther up. He walked faster. As the panicked scream came once more, he decided to run.

"Somebody! ANYBODY, HELP ME!!!" the voice shrieked desperately and as Kenshin came to a clearing he halted at the run-down house. A growl of anger errupted from inside the house and Kenshin heard something topple over, a piece of furniture. Kenshin narrowed his eyes. He threw down his possessions and sped to the door and kicked it open.

A huge, brawny man lept back from the small girl who was pressed against the wall. Her shirt was askew and her eyes were wild. Both of their breathing was labored. The man's face was red and he smelled of Sake. Kenshin knew immidietly what had happened. His eyes narrowed even harder as he took in the crime. It was one of the most disgusting things a man could do, in his opinion. Taking advantage of a young child like that...

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Almost immidietly after the wooden stand crashed to the ground, the door was kicked open. Gakuma sprang back, alert. Ami clutched the collar of her shirt. As the man stepped in, Ami's eyes opened wide in wonder and hope. It was the red haired man from earlier of today...

The red haired man could've been trembling in fury, and as her panic gradually lessened, she saw the rage in his eyes. She now saw the cross shaped scar on his cheek. And the sword at his belt.

"Let the girl alone. I do not know your connections with her, that I do not, but if you attempt to touch her again, I shall be forced to draw my sword," he said, steel in his voice. Gakuma laughed, harshly.

"Tha's right! Iz none of 'ur affair. Shove off, shrimp. Get 'ur own."

Kenshin closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. When he opened them again, Ami noticed how cold they had become. So different from before, when he had thanked her for the umbrella, she thought dazedly. She felt sick. She tugged her shirt upright and knelt down to the floor, a hand to her mouth as she tried to stop herself from vomiting. Gakuma growled at her. He took a step forward. He halted as the flash of steel errupted in front of his throat. He took a look at the man. His eyes were...

Gakuma suddenly felt afraid. Kenshin kept the sword pointed at Gakuma's throat.

"It is men like you, that sometimes make me wish to turn this blade around..." he murmured.

"Eh?" Gakuma muttered drunkenly. He eyed the weapon. Through the fuzziness in his brain, he acknowledged the dullness of the opposing side. Ami looked up to them at Kenshin's words. She didn't know too much about weapons, but she could see that the blade was dull. Her eyes felt tired. She let herself collapse onto the floor. She was being taken care of. She watched them with glazed eyes.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kenshin saw her collapse. Gakuma saw Kenshin's eyes flicker towards her, and he took this chance. He bellowed and tried to punch the man, but Kenshin dodged and struck Gakuma in the side with no hesitation. Gakuma yelled, then fell to the floor unconcious. His unseeing eyes stared into Ami's, and she tensed once more. There was a mark in his side... Kenshin let out his breath, then turned to Ami. She seemed to be in shock. He couldn't just leave her there...

He came towards her and knelt down. Ami slowly turned her head and looked at him, dully. "Shall we leave this place?" he asked kindly, and seeing no resistance, reached over and picked her up. Her body was tensed. Kenshin felt sorrowfull. He stepped out of the doorway, and the setting sun bathed them in its red light. He breathed the fresh air, and felt the girl copy him. He could've smiled.

He walked over to the place where he had thrown down his sack and umbrella. Kenshin cradled the light girl in one arm, and used the other to sling the sack over his shoulder and insert the umbrella into his belt. He didn't know where the girl lived and whether she had any real relation to the man who harrassed her, but he definately thought it was a good idea to take her away for a while. She seemed to be in too much truama to tell him anything either.

Ami sighed and stared up into the sky with almost unseeing eyes. Her brain was frozen. After a while, her body slowly relaxed in Kenshin's arms as he carried her farther down the road, away from Gakuma's house. She slowly nestled her head into the crook of Kenshin's elbow. He glanced down at her in surprise. She ignored his gaze and settled hers on the orange clouds. After a while, she became aware of a poking sensation on her leg. Her eyes flickered over to it, and Kenshin saw. He positioned the umbrella so the end wouldn't jut into her. He looked back to her, and this time she met his gaze. The beginnings of life appeared in them.

"You kept...the umbrella," she said hoarsely. Kenshin blinked. She coughed a bit, then pushed herself out of his arms as she bent down to the road. She clutched her throat, choking. After a few moments, she restrained herself and looked at him. The glazed look was disappearing. "Did it help?" she asked.

Kenshin realized she was talking about the umbrella again. He looked at her, and suddenly his eyes flashed in recognition of the form of the girl who had slunk into the trees. He nodded. She smiled at him, a contented expression settling over her features. She glanced back at the way they had come. Kenshin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Can we go farther?" she whispered. Kenshin's heart took pity on her. Did she have no family? If she did, surely she would've wanted to go back to them. Unless that man was her family... but that he sincerely doubted. How could that ox of a man be related to a small girl like this?

She stumbled towards him. Kenshin grasped her arm, helping her up. He felt her tense involuntarily again. Kenshin cursed the man. Ami slowly relaxed again and stared up at him questioningly.

"We can go a little farther," he said softly. "Do you think you'll be able to tell me what happened later?" Ami nodded slowly and pressed against him like a lost chick. Kenshin scooped her up to him again as she looked too weak and they walked till the sun completely set.

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~OWARI~ of this chapter ~ -+--=-

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Author's Notes:

That was a little too choppy, in my opinion. Oops.

I realized I had never described what Ami looked like, so I tried to do from Gakuma's POV so you would get at least a little idea of what she looked like. Right now, I'm getting permission from my friend if I could use her scanner to post pictures of Ami I've drawn on her website. Once we work it out, I can give out the link and you guys can see what Ami looks like.

A note: right now, I'm making this like it was being played in an OVA. No extreme goofiness=swirly eyes, etc. I might let Kenshin say "Oro" but I'm not sure. When I start writing as if they were in an anime, you'll see the difference. ^_^

After I did Gakuma's POV, I kept going by using everybody's POV. I wanted Kenshin's POV so you could see how angry he was, I wanted Ami's POV cuz I wanted to convey her feelings of relief after Kenshin came in, and Gakuma, I already explained. I made up Gakuma's name. I got the "Kuma" from a dictionary. Apparently, it means "bear". The animal kind. ^^ The "Ga" I think I segmented from the word "brawny". So there you go.

Next chapter, I'll let you know how old Kenshin is. I wonder if any of you were curious. ^^;