EDITED REPOST, 10/24/05… Review and let me know what you think of the editing!

DISCLAIMERS: Kenshin, and the crew belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki-sama.

CHAPTER 23

Kenshin was feeling deeply frantic.

Gentle, warm rays of a deeply toned sun roused him from his long but much needed sleep. Morning had come and gone, barely stirring him like a baby's breath upon his cheek. A warm feeling embedded itself in his body as he forcefully rubbed his eyes, urging them to awaken but when his body rolled over to come face to face with Kaoru, he was taken by surprise. The gentle, supple body of the latter was no longer peacefully beside his. Coldness was what met his fingertips as he caressed the white sheets where her warm body should have been. But she was long gone. And he only found that out after he had stretched his muscled limbs in order to find his beloved. Kenshin cursed out loud at himself and his misfortune of sleeping entirely through whatever noise she had made because mysteriously the mess that had been painfully created around the apartment was now gone. Smooth green marble counters tops shone with a glassy glow. Kaoru had efficiently done everything herself, including the quick cleansing and application of her bandages. The evidence that was found within his washroom wastebasket was enough to send anger coursing through his body; though his anger was not directed at her, only at himself.

How the hell could I have slept through all that, Kenshin wondered as he went to fetch the cordless phone, immediately punching in Sano's number. Perhaps he had a clue as to where Kaoru had disappeared or maybe she had talked to him and mentioned something. It was odd of her to leave like that although all the signs pointed out that she took her time carrying out the thoughtful duties.

As luck would have it, Sano had absolutely no clue about the girl's whereabouts. Unfortunately he had not had the chance to talk to her at all in the morning or the afternoon. Kenshin felt deeply puzzled by her actions and disappearance. She wasn't picking up on her home line or cell phone to his gloomy dismay. The most obvious action crossed his mind, so Kenshin headed towards the shower to quickly bathe and refresh his body before heading on over to her apartment.

The once seemingly happy building was shrouded with hesitance, Kenshin noted. Even the graceful sun had disappeared and backed down to the ominous presence of threatening, monotone clouds but those indecisive signs were thrown aside when Kenshin stormed through the building, demanding to speak with security at the front desk. One of the usual guards recognized him and joked about where his textbooks were. Carlos seemed to think that Kenshin was a real nerd because every time he had seen the kid in the building he was always sporting homework in his hands. But this time the young man's body language screamed out with distress waves but his voice sounded out clear and calm. "You know, now that you mention it Himura, you're the second person that's inquired about Miss. Kamiya." The guard searched Kenshin's crystal like violet eyes for any change but the other had much experience so he had no trouble at all veiling his emotions. "I see," Kenshin replied smoothly and continued to ask for a description of the previous visitor. "Oh ya know that other guy that's always around to see Miss. Kamiya." Carlo's eyes twinkled knowingly and his lips spread upwards into a playful smirk. "If you ask me," he began, "I think that he really has it for her, if you know what I'm saying." Even Kenshin's highly trained body couldn't resist the jerk that tugged through it, begging for the conversation to just be over so that he could bound through the lobby and into the elevators. He had an idea about who this certain visitor just might be. It was untimely but he figured that he was destined to run into his predecessor. "If there's anything suspicious going on lemme know eh?" Kenshin nodded. "For sure."

The second Carlos turned his back to Kenshin he was long gone. The famous adrenaline in his body was pumping out his god-like speed allowing him to sprint to the elevator in overdrive. It was surprising to him to find bead-like sweat drops cautiously trailing down to rest in a crease above his furrowed brow. "Kami-sama, I must be out of shape," he grunted to the empty air surrounding him in the large, reflective elevator. The melodious ding that sounded out would have, on normal circumstances, brought happiness to flutter through his body but right now it was definitely unnerving. Heading down the hall, treading the carpet carefully, Kenshin found himself approaching the familiar mahogany door and lacquered knocker that sat dead against the wood. With a deep breath that was eerily loud against the deafening silence, he rapped his knuckles against the door.

As the flesh of his hand molded itself against the smooth, silver door handle he felt himself incredibly taken aback when it opened invitingly without any sort of hesitation.

Kaoru wouldn't have made a potentially fatal mistake like that.

"Kaoru-dono?" His voice echoed out cautiously as he stepped over the threshold, surprised at how awkward it sounded when regarding her now with his usual honorific. He called out to her again but decided to drop it. "Kaoru?"

However, instead of Kaoru or some malicious burglar he was face to face with the one person that always managed to make his blood boil even if it was done by just a glance alone. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He growled out his question, the smoothness of his arms no longer visible as goose bumps stood on end quivering with the mounting anger. Enishi stared at Kenshin with hateful, bloodshot eyes and the other was already making mental notes about his physical state. It didn't take a genius, just someone who was experienced to see that Enishi was screwed out of his mind. Kenshin figured that it was likely to be caused by alcohol mixed with some drugs, perhaps weed by the stench that freely emitted off the platinum blonde man. "I could be asking you the same damn thing," Enishi responded. He disregarded Kenshin as if the red-head posed no immediate threat. He was about to be proved terribly wrong by the other man who was becoming consumed and blinded by anger.

With one swift motion that had Enishi's head spinning and swirling madly, Kenshin grabbed him and threw his body against the wall with a pleasing thud. "You know, you're one sick FUCK," he spat out in the other's face, jerking his arms as Enishi tried to twist out of his menacing grasp. "How could you pull that shit on her? How dare you do that to her!" Kenshin roared like a lion, his red hair adding to the frightening appearance. "I'm going to see to it that you never lay a finger on her EVER again."

"Just like how you protected oneesan right? Now she's dead all because of you… you and that fuckin' slut of a bitch screwing behind my sister's back." Kenshin's eyes flared, the violet draining away as it was replaced by a dangerous amber that threatened to break loose and wreak havoc against the son of a bitch.

"Oh yeah?" Kenshin cocked an eyebrow. "And just where the hell were you on that evening when Tomoe was home alone? Out partying it up with your gang? Screwing a couple bitches while your sister was murdered at your own house?"

"Fuck you!" Enishi spat out in Kenshin's face and tried to free himself from the grip of deathly steel. He struggled furiously, flailing all of his limbs out but Kenshin parried away from each, his body flowing fluidly against Enishi's lagged attempts. "I don't have time to listen to your drunken bullshit," Kenshin stated, and slammed Enishi against the wall again, making sure that the other's head smacked into it painfully, hoping that some sense would be knocked into the bastard. Following his brutal assault, Kenshin let go and watched as Enishi slid to the carpet, resounding a deep noise from his throat. The guttural sound carried and traveled through the hall and out the open door. Distaste flowed through Kenshin's mouth when he read the sallow but sick expression that was plainly etched upon Enishi's face.

He's laughing, Kenshin realized. Although he found it unbelievable it also encouraged the dark side of him to pound all of his flesh in till he was a mass of bloody pulp.

"Did she tell you about it?"

"Fuck off," Kenshin cut in roughly, looking away briefly in order to check for any signs of Kaoru. He had high hopes that she had visited her apartment and was perhaps still here but hiding from the pathetic perversion of a man that sat ahead of him.

Enishi's spinning head was clutched firmly in his shaking hands. "Ne, I think she really liked it when I penetrated her. You shoulda heard the way she was crying out, man, when I fuc—" His slurred words were abruptly cut off as Kenshin picked him up and punched him deservingly straight in the face. Blood spurted out of Enishi's nose but the intoxicated fool was beyond reality and the pain that he should have felt sharply spreading out through his body. Right now he was focused on one thing, and that one thing was staring maliciously at him with brightly burning amber flames. "The slut was crying too ya know. Did she tell you that?" Enishi continued his degrading spiel, only pausing once to chuckle sadistically. Kenshin's face became tightly contorted with fury, the ferocity inside him brewing madly. It itched to spring out in a full attack like a ferocious lion. Enishi, surprisingly in the state that he was in, managed to clumsily swing his fist, coming into contact with Kenshin's firm abdominals. He barely felt the blow when Enishi charged at him again, yelling out, "Tomoe's death is on your head!" He fought with effort, battling against Kenshin's small but hard body but the other held him in place.

"Bitch! Where are you! Get your ass out here you stupid bitch!" Enishi yelled out angrily, thrashing his head back and forth narrowly avoiding smacking into Kenshin's. The red head shook him violently, enough to catch his attention and to keep Enishi's frantic eyes trained on him. The way his dilated pupils roamed around quickly it reminded Kenshin of an agitated animal. "You listen to me, and you listen up good." Kenshin's one hand was at Enishi's neck pushing down on his large adam's apple. He ignored the jagged breath that struggled to pass through his lungs. "Your sister was my girlfriend and I loved her. You don't know my feelings about anything so just shut the fuck up and stop pretending that you do. Do you realize how fucked up you are? What gives you the right to go and attack Kaoru, huh? Why'd you do that to her? She had nothing to do with any of this!"

"The fuck are you talking about?" Enishi gasped in pain, his short fingernails digging into the back of Kenshin's hands but they stayed glued to his throat. "Don't play stupid with me." Kenshin's amber eyes flashed dangerously and he threatened Enishi. "If you weren't Tomoe's brother I would have killed your sorry ass a long time ago." When he continued on again he deliberately spoke slowly, allowing Enishi no excuses. "Now tell me why you attacked Kaoru."

"I don't… know… what the fuck…you're talking… about," Enishi gasped again. Kenshin dropped his hands and jerked his face so close to Enishi's that their noses brushed against another's. The other flinched hesitantly but his gaze did not waver away under Kenshin's harshness. "Yes you do. Don't play stupid with me or you will regret it." His eyes glinted as he sealed the deal out loud, "I promise you that."

Enishi did not reply to Kenshin's disgust but that did not discourage him in the slightest bit. He would have his answers one way or another. Enishi wasn't responding to the slight kindness that Kenshin extended so he had no choice but to inflict force. With one hand Kenshin pinned Enishi to the carpeted floor, his other free hand snatching up Enishi's arm. Instinctively he felt his fingers curve around the bones and he exerted pressure onto it.

"Start talking," was all that he said to the struggling body beneath him. "I don't understand!" Enishi yelled, "I didn't fucking touch her!"

"The hell you didn't you son of a bitch. You cut her with your sword!" Kenshin increased the tension which caused Enishi to tremble with the horrific pain.

"I DIDN'T TOUCH HER!"

He paused. As he looked down he took in Enishi's expression, one that was filled with extreme pain. Not just of the physical pain that he was currently in but the pain of losing his only sibling, the only family member he had left. With a hefty sigh Kenshin released his hold on him and backed away. When he saw the glimmer of tears in Enishi's already reddened eyes he knew that he was not the culprit that he was searching for. It didn't make sense but Enishi wasn't responsible.

Kenshin felt confused.

"I'm glad my sister is dead." The impulsively spoken words by Enishi drew Kenshin's attention to the source of the darkened voice. His eyes traveled over to the figure that was sitting up rather weakly against the wall, his glazed eyes staring hauntingly, accusingly at the red-head across from him.

"What did you say?" Kenshin's face cringed with disbelief.

"She doesn't have to deal with a lying bastard like you anymore." In the midst of the seriousness of the subject, Kenshin could not help himself from scoffing at Enishi's bold proclamation. "And you think you were any better?"

Enishi wiped at his bloodied nose with the back of his hand. "All that shit you used to do up to the shit that you kept on doing, you lied to her, and you lied to yourself. You never changed at all; you still hid your shit from her up until the day she died." Kenshin's heart skipped a beat but he held the burning, welling sensation back in his eyes. It hurt to know that Enishi could easily spew out those accusations. He wasn't the only victim and Kenshin was trying his hardest to keep his mind off of Tomoe. He had already decided when all of this was over he was going to properly mourn. She deserved more recognition but right now there were too many things running amuck disastrously; too many things that needed his attention right now. Kenshin found himself staring into Enishi's blank eyes dully. The latter looked as if he had fallen asleep with his eyes wide open. It was almost freakish.

I… I can't hold this against him, Kenshin realized slowly, his fingers gently pulling through his tangle free red hair. It wouldn't be right to punish him even though he greatly deserves it, Kenshin thought as his eyes narrowed to visible slits, the color glimmering as brightly as a full moon. Tomoe would not want it this way and I have to respect her wishes… even though Kaoru might hate me for it.

With his mind made up not exactly firmly, Kenshin leaned over Enishi, startling him by whispering into his ear. "I'm giving you one last chance, though it isn't exactly for you. It's for Tomoe. I want you out of here Enishi. Go back to China and stay there because if I ever see your face around here ever again," he paused and planted his hands roughly onto the sagging shoulders, jerking Enishi's body forcefully to meet his menacing eyes that were now filled with determination. "That will be your last living day," Kenshin finished. Abruptly he let go and motioned towards the door.

"Get out."

Defeat seemed to overcome Enishi, Kenshin thought as he noticed how Enishi's body seemed so slumped when he approached the doorway but his back was towards Kenshin therefore he could not make out the twisted sly grin that fell upon his bloodied lips. "You'll see me again, Himura. Both of you will. This isn't over just yet."

Disgusted, Kenshin reluctantly let Enishi go but he continually watched as the other slowly limped out of the apartment.

Tomoe forgive me but I'm not sure if I'll be able to hold back next time, Kenshin silently prayed. He exhaled deeply, letting the troubles of Enishi slide out of his mind.

"Kaoru," he gently called out while carefully inspecting each room that he passed through. What he saw in her bedroom made him stop ghastly. Objects were scattered everywhere around the room in complete disarray. His eyes followed up to the make up table and the chair that was lying dead on its side. The books that were supposed to have been perched upon the night table were dropped upon the floor, the covers bent with several pages torn. The bathroom door was open and he stopped himself before a rather large puddle of water. Snatching up the closet door handles within his trembling hands he found that it had also been savaged mercilessly. Exhaling slowly he quietly closed his eyes, the afterimages of the mess imprinted into his lids. Tactfully he clicked all the pieces together to make sense of the situation before him.

In his mind he visualized Kaoru taking a shower and being unpleasantly surprised. There was a struggle, that much was obvious, and the mess all around was proof of it. Burning hot thoughts scraped at Kenshin internally and he felt like slicing the attackers head off for even touching his precious Kaoru.

She fought back.

Kenshin's breath hitched in his throat.

She was in a hurry… that was most likely why her clothes were all over the place.

"Fuck!"

Kenshin's fist collided into the wall with a loud thud. Feeling utterly helpless he was about to flee the apartment since there was no further information to be gathered from there but then as he turned one last time from the doorway something captured his attention. From the corner of his eye he caught a sliver of red. Approaching it cautiously he pulled it loose as it was half concealed and folded carefully into the sky blue pillow case.

Acid burned heavily in his stomach when he figured out that the paper was not just red.

It was blood.

Kaoru's.

Anxiously his widened amber spiked eyes scanned the paper.

'Himura Battosai,

I have Kamiya. Come to the Valley View Bridge at 11pm sharp. Not a second before or behind otherwise she dies. As a token of my promise I've left proof of what I'm capable of if you do not show.

Bring a weapon of your choice.'

His fist crushed the paper.

'Himura Battosai', he repeated. So they knew his former identity. And they wanted a fight.

Kenshin hurried and exited out of Kaoru's apartment feeling even more confused than he had to begin with. He didn't like the sound of it at all. Kaoru had been kidnapped by someone who knew of Battosai. They also must have known that Kaoru meant a lot to me. Perhaps they knew that Tomoe was dead so they tried to take the next best thing. If Enishi was not guilty of taking part in any of this then who was responsible?

Suddenly the situation had become a LOT more complicated.

Like an Indy racer with his foot pushed down on the gas, Kenshin sped at one hundred and forty kilometers an hour, practically flying over to his best friends place.

"Did she say ANYTHING to you?" Kenshin barged past a sleepy but cross looking Sano. "No man! Kuso, I was napping Kenshin!" Sano paused briefly to stifle a yawn. "I didn't get any sleep last night," he began to explain, "Cause the kitsune was over an—"

"I don't care!" Kenshin interrupted and slammed the front door with immense vigor. Sano cringed and itched his head while closing his eyes so he didn't have to face the ultimate stare down that he was receiving. "Look I found this," he forced the note into Sano's hand, "In her apartment, in her pillow. The whole place was a mess," Kenshin explained. Sano looked up; his brown eyes were hazy with confusion and sleep. If the moment wasn't so serious Kenshin on a normal circumstance would have laughed profusely at the fact that half of Sano's hair was spiky while the other side remained completely flat. He must have really just woken up right now, Kenshin thought.

He yawned aloud before giving Kenshin an odd look. "Wasn't she with you yesterday?"

"Yes she was. This morning she left without telling me." Kenshin's eyes quickly dropped the floor and Sano felt that the action was somewhat out of place. Something must have happened, he began to think and his thoughts were confirmed when Kenshin spoke up again. "A lot of things happened last night, and I just couldn't believe that she would leave like that. I went back to her apartment and found this letter along with…well take a guess?"

".. Ahh, is a trick question?"

That was awarded an exasperated look. Kenshin's brows crinkled with impatience. "Enishi," he almost hissed. He observed as Sano's once sleepy eyes widened. "He was looking for Kaoru, too. I warned him to stay away from us otherwise next time he wouldn't be so lucky and then I searched her apartment and I fo—"

"Oy chotto!" Sano put a hand to his head and closed his eyes. His long fingers snapped in mid-air as he tried to grab onto the right train of thought. "Somethin I gotta ask you… ahh… kuso! Just wait a sec. Don't talk; let me try to remember."

After the twenty fifth second, Kenshin was about to slap him upside the head to force his thoughts out of hiding but then just as if Sano could read his pissed off mind he burst out again. "Got it!" Loudly he clapped his hands together and gestured at the stove. "Hey by the way you want some tea or something'? You look like you could serious—"

"Can you just get on with it!" Kenshin yelled ignoring Sano's hand that was still pointing innocently off at the white stove. "Sorry," he muttered guiltily even though he didn't think he had done anything wrong. I mean Kenshin's getting all his feathers flapped up for… oh god he's giving me that look again. Hastily he brushed aside his mental images of Kenshin as a bird, a cockatiel, actually, that was raising his red feathers in irritation. "But um, did she by chance tell you about the day at the café?" The lean red head crossed his arms and leaned his back against the bare, cool wall. He was so engrossed into Sano's announcement that he completely missed the ill hidden smile on Sano's goofy face. "The café?"

"Yeah," Sano nodded, "Me and her went out and that's when she told me about Enishi and all that stuff." Sano waved his hand over at the couches hoping that Kenshin would agree to sit down since he was so damn tired but… I guess not, Sano thought grimly as he caught Kenshin's eyes flaring up from the corner of his own. "Just say what you have to say! Is there something important you have to tell me or are you just going to keep wasting my time while Kaoru is being he—"

"Geez," Sano abruptly cut him off and flicked his index finger at Kenshin's forehead. It left a miniature pink mark on his head. "Just shut up and let me finish then will ya?"

That response nearly forced Kenshin to seriously injure him.

"So then Kaoru never mentioned anything about taking the plans into her own hands?" Sano finally voiced up once he was a good few feet away from the menacing man that stood threateningly posed in his kitchen. "What?" A whirl of red encircled Kenshin as his hair was sent flying when he jerked his face upwards, deeply concerned. "That's what she told me anyhow," Sano said nonchalantly shrugging his broad shoulders. "She said she had a plan to stop Enishi from harassin her further." Sano casually took in the way Kenshin's pale skin etched tightly over his features. "That happened the day before she called me and said that if anything happened she had completely agreed to it. But then the next day Tomoe was killed."

Both men stopped and stared at one another. The tension that flooded through the room was one hundred percent palpable. And as if to further disturb them a passing bird outside cried out shrilly as if in pain. Kenshin's mind immediately perceived it as an ill omen. He was about to voice his opinion but Sano beat him to it breaking the silence. "I don't like the sound of this Kenshin."

"Neither do I," his reply came out sounding just as grim. "And now this note," Sano tilted his head at the piece of paper that remained firmly clutched in Kenshin's hands. "Do you think Enishi is behind this?"

"No," Kenshin replied quickly, firmly without doubt. "Eh..?" Sano's nose wrinkled as if just discovering that Kenshin, was in fact, not a male. "How come?" He questioned without hesitation. "The guy is fucked up, I'll admit that much, and I can't say that he wouldn't do something like this but I've got a feeling that he's got nothing to do with it. It just doesn't fit. He was completely out of it, too. I don't think he was capable in the condition that he was in. I confronted him about Kaoru's wound, and he clearly acted as if he had no idea what was going on." Sano cleared his throat, and Kenshin sharply turned back to him. "Are you plannin on heading on over wherever this person wants you to go?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I? Kaoru's in danger."

"Ah yeah I understand that but uh… did you read this part here that says 'bring a weapon of your choice'?"

"Of course I did," Kenshin replied calmly.

"Ah…" Sano continued with hesitation, "I don't think you understand it, Kenshin. They want you to bring a weapon like a sword or somethin."

"I'm not stupid, Sano." Kenshin felt his patience begin to slip again. "You can't just pick up your sword and start fighting again," Sano admitted flatly.

"I'll deal with that when I get to that point."

His friend seemed doubtful but he briskly shook his head and kept quiet. In his mind though he was awfully worried about the possible consequence of Kenshin taking up his sword again. The outcome depended on several things but Sano felt as if nothing good could happen. If it went the way his gut was telling him, it would end up being horrific.

"What?"

He was aware of Kenshin's glare but he refused to return it. "Nothing," he nimbly responded. "No, tell me." He tugged on his spiky brown locks, hesitation filling his voice. "You're acting like this is so simple. It's not. Once you pick up that sword there's no turning back, and if it's a fight they want you won't be able to say no. Kenshin," he paused to look back to his expressionless friend, "You could lose everything that you've gained. You REMEMBER that promise you gave to Hiko?" A blur of red was all that Sano caught before he found himself shoved up against his own wall. "You're expecting me to just sit back and watch Kaoru get hurt all over again?" The question was snarled in his face. Sano's body twisted uncomfortably and his eyes failed to meet Kenshin's burning amber gaze. "I don't know Kenshin, I really don't know." The tension was released and Sano slouched as Kenshin hurriedly walked back towards the entrance.

"Do you want me to take care of Yukishiro?" Sano offered knowing that it was the least he could do.

"No. He won't be here for much longer, I told him to go back to China and he will comply."

He continued to trail after Kenshin slowly but he was wrapped up in his own personal thoughts of the whole dilemma. Like hell Enishi would just leave. That would be like asking god to give you the winning lottery numbers.

"Call me if you need anything," he told Kenshin in an almost apologetic tone. The red head lowered his eyes and gave a brief nod before turning his back and exiting.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Hidden in the darkest corner of the tidy closet, covered by a cleanly cut piece of rug, was a dark colored solid wood chest. It lay underneath the carpet piece and the floorboards. The heavy, gold padlock on the front would have piqued the interest of anyone who spotted it however it was cleverly concealed away.

From the day he made that promise to Hiko Seijuro he had been bound to it just like the lock itself. Inside of it was something evil indeed that deserved to be held prisoner in its dark wooden coffin. The pure power that it contained had stolen away countless human breaths and never gave a second thought about its foul actions. Yes, it deserved to remain untouched, and cold, waiting, calling out till the end of time for someone who would never come; someone who had heard the battle cries numerously but learned over time to quell his ears.

Kenshin's heart pounded as he slid the key into the lock. It went in effortlessly as if anticipating this exact day, the day when the lock and box would have to forfeit its terrorizing contents but it was not sad about this untold moment.

Pale, calloused fingers reached out and carefully lifted the shining steel just by fingertips alone. Ah yes the memories flooded back. Pleasant and painful ones. He had almost forgotten how perfect the sword was. Kenshin shifted it in his hands and balanced it carefully. If death took on a shape of perfect cool precision, then it would be more fitting to say that Kenshin held her in his hands. The heat from his fingers stained the blade for only a momentary second before dissolving; its thirst ran much deeper than that. With this sword in his hand he was unstoppable. The feelings that were desperately trying to break away were only held back by almost invisible threads. If a life needed to be taken in order to save Kaoru then so be it. The innocence of that girl had been shattered much too painfully, she deserved a better life and if that meant Kenshin was to sacrifice everything that he had so painstakingly built up he would do it. Because she deserved the love and protection that only he could give her now. His unworthy life would save hers.

Kenshin slouched uneasily back onto his heels, his body rocking slowly to an invisible rhythm. As if to taunt his weariness the clock in his apartment chimed timidly.

He would come face to face with what fate held behind her black wings.

Very soon enough.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ok so I'm a little overdue on the update. I'm sorry!

Whoa I got sooooooooo many reviews for the last chapter! Hmmm I wonder why you hentai's? Could it possibly have been because of what FINALLY happened? Hehe anyways though I LOVED it! It made my day, week, and month! Seriously!

Argh I'm so tired right now but doesn't that always seem to be the case when I'm updating? Another late night weekday update.

I wanted to specifically say THANK YOU to my constant reviewers and supporters. Yeah I bitch and complain about the ones that don't review but, sigh, I should thank you at least for adding me to your author alert emails or whatever they are called now :D I hope you are enjoying this story while I'm here toying around mischievously with the characters.

I mentioned in my T.I.K. Trois update that I got a puppy. I also asked for help but, lol, I signed up for a puppy class now. I seriously needed help but the stress has already seemed to lessen. I guess it was just that big stressful rush of dealing with the puppy for the first couple of weeks that had me feeling completely hopeless. Everything seems to be alright for now. God I need sleep.

Anyways onto my individual thank you's!

Sims are awesome: I'm glad you liked the last chapter a lot. I especially hope that you liked this one as well although there isn't too much action going on at the moment. Thanks for reviewing!

royal blueKitsune: Hey you! Lol yes I know of that song called 'Caught Up'. I really like it a lot, the music is pretty cool! Hehe it sort of does go with the story doesn't it? Thanks for reviewing the last chapter and I'm glad you enjoyed it :D

animeguzman: Hello! I'm happy that you thought the lemon was nice. It's the first time that I have written a lemon but trust me there were MANY attempts before the final piece was finished and put up. Please do not apologize because you believe your reviews sound the same each time because they don't and I am so happy that you actually do take the time out to review. If they were 2-3 words long that would still mean so much to me because at least you're doing it while many others don't bother, so for that I thank you.

Phi-Dono: Another long and enjoyable review from you! Honestly you are much too kind! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your reactions to that chapter, especially the bit where you mentioned that you kept thinking that Sano was going to burst in. That would have been funny… but ah definitely inconvenient at the same time lol. I can't really express enough how much you brighten my day with your reviews. I absolutely LOVE reading them because you express yourself, and your thoughts on the chapters so well. It's great and thank you so so much! Enishi is still around and as you can see he won't really be leaving anytime soon. I've got a lot planned for him in the sequel… meaning he will still be around to cause some serious trouble… oops I can't reveal too much otherwise it would take some of the fun out of it! Hmm... this story might be close to being done. I can't really estimate how much longer but I'd say maybe another 4-5 chapters or less. Something around that number. Well anyway, I hope you liked this chapter!

Sally: Hello again! Yeah I'm happy that you could see that Kenshin was overcome with his grief that he basically used Kaoru as a security blanket. Ok well that sounds kind of harsh but it was sort of selfish on his part. Oh well I guess it sort of works both ways huh..? Kenshin and Enishi were about the same age as the rest of their peers in high school. I never really gave too much thought about it but they were both juvenile delinquents with serious problems. I guess you could also say that Kenshin and Enishi skipped a lot of school, you know the usual bad ass kids. I hope that answers your questions and thank you for reviewing: )

Kaoru4: Exactly, perfectly said. What is love without a whole bunch of nagging problems, angst, and a killer? I hope you liked this chapter as much as the last!

Immortal-Blood: Yay for your working internet! Thanks for reviewing and I'm happy that you liked the last chapter! I also agree on Kaoru and Kenshin being cute. They are. And hey don't worry your secret is safe with me:D

Kinomoto: Thanks for reviewing my last chapter, it was much appreciated:D

anime pixie: Hello! Yeah I can't wait till Kenshin finds out either. He's an idiot for not letting Kaoru finish and he's just made his life a whole lot worse. Lol, well anyways thank you for stopping by to review : )

Desanera: Thanks for reviewing! Hmm yeah I agree with you. I don't think Kaoru would really stand by and let something like that happen but in my story she's can be very passive about certain things. She's naïve; I think that would be a better word.

Lukyirish12: Wow! I am so overwhelmed by that last review! I'm also so happy and excited to receive such praise back, really! I'm happy that you like this story that much and that you think so highly of it. Thank you for commenting that you think I've progressed with my writing. I've been trying really hard and I've also been working a lot on using different ways to say things and trying to be a bit more expressive with the words I use. Thank you for seeing that, it means the world to me that at least someone can notice. Thanks again… gosh I think I'M the one that needs to come up with a few new words on how to say thank you because I can't seem to say it enough to you! Muah: x

kara mcpherson: Thanks Kara for still reviewing even though you skipped over some of it. That's a kind gesture and I appreciate it. Thanks again : )

Tameka-tanuki-jouchan: Oh please! You're writing still is awesome and I think you should try out a lemon scene too! Oh and hey your new story is so funky and cool! Update it again soon!

lyn: Thanks for reviewing lyn! You're another of my avid reviewers and I appreciate that!

Pixel-the-evil-fairy: Hehehe I'm blushing. I'm glad you liked that lemon! I hope you liked this chapter as well although it didn't have as much action in it. Thanks for reviewing!

FaNfIcTiOn CrAzY: Hey it sounds like you were going on vacation… did you already go and come back? I'm sorry, ahhh I didn't write another chapter until well… now! I hope you can forgive me because you mentioned that you wanted to read a few more of them together at the same time. Thanks for reviewing even though you didn't read it! That was very kind thanks!

kenshinlover2002: Lol yeah I think they enjoyed their moment. And like you said it won't last for long. You can already see it happening. Thanks for reviewing! You're awesome!

Wolf Jade: Hey : ) No Kaoru did not mention anything about Kumi's husband before. Well I think in the earlier chapters I hadn't really come up with the idea of it BEING Kumi's husband as the culprit. That sort of came up later on and I guess you sort of picked up on the oddness of that. My apologies but I guess it might've been kind of off. Thanks for reviewing I appreciate it : )

Xujin: Hey Xu :P Thanks for not thinking that the lemon was dirty. I was trying NOT to make it dirty but there are only so many other words you can use for.. um certain stuff lol. Aww, thanks for writing out your opinions and your emotions on the story and how it affected you! It's really nice to get that from reviewers so I thank you!

tiffany: Hehe I'm not a very big Tomoe fan either! Thanks for reviewing twice lol : ) Thank you also for commenting about my writing. You're a sweetie! Muah!

crest fallen212: Woohoo thanks I'm glad you liked the lemon! Yeah it was about time for the sparks to fly. Thanks for reviewing!

Mizz-Clumsy: Hehe you sure can that again! Well the bit when you stated that Kaoru sure is in a big mess. I'm glad you found the condom bit humorous hehe. Thanks for stopping by and reviewing!

erica6060: Hmmm well I don't think Kenshin is going to be very happy when he learns the truth, although it was partially his fault because he didn't even let her finish. I guess we will have to see what happens! Thanks for reviewing as always : )

achi: Hehe I guess you are going to have to keep on reading in order to find out what's going to happen to Kenshin and Kaoru :O Thanks for reviewing!

Kenshingumi#6: I do love drama. I absolutely love reading angsty, romantic drama! I try really hard to create the same effect in my story. Your compliments really made me blush, honestly! They were too kind. Yeah there is way too much crap going on in this story and it's not very likely that everyone will be happy when it all blows up… or when Kenshin finds out the REAL truth. Hmm you know I only write this kind of stuff because I thought this is what everyone wanted. I'll consider your thoughts and maybe write something happier and funnier. Thanks for your comments! I truly appreciate it : )

julie: Thanks for loving this story! I hope you liked this chapter, and thanks for reviewing!

flclgd14: Thanks for reviewing :D Kenshin's reaction will be in the next chapter!

Thanks to everyone and if I missed anyone please accept my deepest apologies!

Take care and see you all later : )