Author's Note- What's this? I do exist? Crazy. Well, I know many of you are probably thinking, "It's about damn time she updated," and to be honest you're quite right. I however find it hard to write when I'm bogged down by other things, so expect most of my updates during the school year to be made during holidays or other school breaks. Homework, unfortunately, has to be done, and obligations need to be filled. On a side note, who do you have to kill to get a decent Anime Club? I might have to travel to another school for my weekly fix.

Second Side Note- Well, I struggled with this chapter a bit. Hopefully it does itself justice-One unfortunate aspect of not having a lot of time to write is that at times, your like, "What did I say again? What happened?"- which is always wonderful…not. So if you're wondering why certain things seemed to be said five hundred times…that why.

Disclaimer- I am just a fan.

Rating- R/M- Some like it hot.

Things Left Unsaid

Chapter Eight

Memory

Kenshin watched Kaoru walk down the street with hooded eyes. Easily staying out of her line of sight he followed her from her apartment at a reasonable distance. His eyes observed her every movement, soaking in each step she took, each swish of her hair against her back. He couldn't stop studying her. Every memory he had of Kaoru seemed to grow in detail as he basked in her presence. The way she walked, the way she smiled, the way her eyes grew dark when she was angry or averted themselves when she was embarrassed- She robbed him of his sanity. She made him complete. How had he survived for so long without her? Kenshin could see the same need in her, why couldn't she recognize it?

Running a hand through his hair in frustration, Kenshin took a deep breath. Finding her in many ways was the easy part. He still needed to convince her that she belonged with him, that he was here and not going anywhere. Even if he was able to convince her, it was probable that Kaoru's own stubbornness may cause her to put up an even greater fight. He rubbed his temple. How was he going to be able to do this? Kenshin was still frustratingly unaware of her specific reasons for leaving. Although she had said a lot, he still only had bits and pieces. His eyes followed her form as she crossed the street, his mind listing off what he did know in his head.

Firstly, she had left for him. That much was obvious. Going over the snippets of what she had said, that was more than abundantly clear. Not only that, but Kaoru had admitted unknowingly that she still loved him. His heart clutched at the memory of her words. Love your touch, love you. The emotion beneath those few words had all but melted him. She had sounded so desperate for him, so glad to see him. Her words had made it painfully obvious to him- not to mention the way she had responded to his touch- that he still had her heart. Kenshin had wanted so badly to simply remove her clothes and become intimately reacquainted with her body. Hell, he probably would have if she hadn't gotten a phone call. Kenshin had never felt skin so soft, hair so silky. The memories that sustained him through the last four years seemed pale in comparison. He shivered slightly, his body still hyper sensitive to what had happened in her apartment. He wanted her so badly his body ached. Taking a calming breath, he pushed down the taste of her that still lingered in his mouth and thought back to the facts.

Despite her protests and stubborn closed off attitude, she had not wanted to leave him. But what did she feel she was accomplishing for him through leaving? When he'd asked her Kaoru had mentioned a scar. Which scar had she meant? A physical one on himself? Lord knew he had dozens of them, but many of those had been there before she'd even met him. One of his many emotional scars? He wouldn't even know where to start.

He broke out of his stupor when Kaoru closed herself into a phone booth. Kenshin stopped immediately, darting into a nearby alley to watch her, his brows furrowing in scrutiny. What was she doing? He watched her dial a number, her hands visibly shaking even at his distance. She hadn't been lying about the phone call earlier had she? No. Kaoru was walking to work. He hadn't detected any sort of concealment from her, just a tiredness and an inability to cope with her raging emotions. She had never been able to conceal things from him…well, he'd always thought so before she had disappeared. So in her apartment he had backed off, giving her the time she needed to let herself get her emotions in order. He had hoped that it would make her more willing to accept his presence. It wasn't everyday that he walked back into her life.

He watched her lips form words haltingly, and although far away he did his best to decipher them. She turned from him then, resting her head against the side of the booth, her hands absentmindedly rubbing her left shoulder. The tenseness that was so apparent in her form visibly reduced. The apprehension held in his own body lessened as well. Although at this angle he couldn't make out her mouth, he had caught the first few words.

She had said Yahiko. Her brother. Of course.

He could still remember the close bond the brother and sister had shared while they had been dating. Younger than Kaoru by four years, he had bright intelligent eyes and a huge amount of energy. The two had bickered constantly, but he had seen underneath it a real genuine affection. He had checked up on her family here and there after she had gone missing, but her mother had no idea where she was. Yahiko himself had gone through a serious depression at her absence, a depression that had taken him months, a doctor, and some medication to climb out of.

Kenshin had sent the family a bit of money anonymously to take some of the burden off Kaoru's mother, and had periodically looked for any sort of contact between her and them. Although things had slowly returned to normal, he had never sensed that Kaoru had called or seen them. He was glad that he was wrong. Kenshin didn't want to think that Kaoru had been utterly alone these last four years, and if she was calling her brother- then she hadn't. He hadn't been there, she hadn't allowed it- but Kaoru did have someone to help her in her darker times. Why was she so stubborn?

Kenshin fought the urge to run over and yell at her. Why couldn't she see how much she needed him? How much he needed her? His eyes narrowed as she ended the call and exited the phone booth, brushing at her eyes as she did so. What had they talked about? There was no doubt in his mind that it involved him, he wasn't that blind- but what more was there to it? A call of comfort? Fear? Despair? Kenshin felt his stomach twist at the last thought as he watched her continue down the street.

Following her to the Blue Spot, he finally looked away from Kaoru when she entered her place of work. He continued passed the restaurant front, attempting to get his tangled thoughts under control. Walking into a coffee shop across from the Blue Spot he ordered a cup of tea and sat down near the back. He needed to do some serious thinking while she worked. The next time he saw her, he wanted to have a much better understanding of their situation.

Kenshin had already established that Kaoru hadn't wanted to leave him four years ago. The next questions weren't so easy. How long she had planned it out? What made her decide that leaving was best? Why hadn't she gone to him with the issue? How had she managed to get away so quickly? While dating, he had noticed small changes a week or so before her disappearance. This pointed out that at that time she had already decided to leave.

The biggest clue he had was her mentioning a scar.

She had said that it wasn't his fault. So, the incident involving the scar must have happened while dating her. Probably in the last month or so, if she decided to leave because of it. Taking a sip of the hot beverage, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Resting his chin against his chest, he methodically went through his memories of their time together. Kenshin couldn't think of any incidents in which he gained another scar while in her presence. He had always been careful around her to keep his business and the violence it usually brought far away. Shifting slightly in his chair, he rethought her words.

Kaoru was worried that he might blame himself. If that was the case, then the incident was probably not one that had resulted with himself having a scar. He immediately sat up straighter, a memory already in his mind of such an event.

Kenshin led Kaoru through the throng of people. He knew that she was still getting comfortable with the club scene, and delighted in the way her eyes gaped at everything with wide eyed excitement. Leading her to an area that was filled with dancers, but not as suffocating as other places, he wrapped his left hand tightly around her waist and let himself get carried away with the heavy beats of the music. Even though she had told him that she hadn't done much clubbing, he was still impressed with the natural way her body moved while dancing. With just a simple twist of her hips, she could drive him practically up a wall. That coupled with one of her innocent smiles…he had spent many a night after dancing with her taking a long cold shower.

Her hot breath danced along the shell of his ear, and before realizing what he was doing, he had her pressed up against him with his leg pushing itself insistently between hers. Letting her dress get pushed up, Kenshin felt his breath catch as she moved in an increasingly agitated rhythm against him. Although she usually dressed conservatively, the outfit she wore tonight, a tight black dress that made her every curve obvious to him, was making her ministrations all the more blatantly sexual. He wanted her. Right there, on the floor- or in the bathroom- or in the backseat of his car- anywhere. Kenshin needed to feel her underneath him, needed it so much that his body began to shake.

Knowing that this wasn't the time or the place, he took a deep calming breath and tried to turn the dance into something less provocative. She didn't seem so inclined, and for a moment he was afraid he might actually lose what little self control he had. Grasping at his last straw of restraint, he gently disengaged her form from his. Kaoru looked up at him with a flushed face, her expression showing just how little she was aware of his own inner turmoil. It was one of the many reasons he cared so much for her. The inner light that she had, the willingness to believe the best of others- her naivety toward the effect she had on those around her, himself included. She didn't have a selfish or vain bone in her body.

He on the other hand…Well, although not particularly vain, Kenshin knew that he was a selfish person. Especially when it came to Kaoru. He had wanted her from the moment he'd seen her. He had needed to have her, to hold that shining light near him. He would fight tooth and nail to keep her near him, and he would damn the consequences.

She leaned forward slightly, and Kenshin brushed a stray hair behind an ear. She turned toward his touch, and he felt his heart warm. This magnificent woman was his. Only his. Kaoru let her body melt against his, and he felt his body tighten in anticipation. He needed a moment to gather himself, to cool down. Not even he could handle such a temptation without a bit of time to regroup.

"Do you want something to drink?"

He spoke the words low and close to her ear. Kenshin felt her slight tremble and smiled against her neck. It was good to know he affected her as much as she affected him. Pulling away he saw her grin and nod.

Turning from her, he quickly cut through the crowd toward the bar. It was silly, but he hated leaving her unattended on the dance floor. While dancing with her, he had noticed the looks some of the other men gave her, and didn't like idea of even one of them talking to her. Never mind them asking her to dance. The thought made his blood boil.

Nearly to the bar, Kenshin felt the hair on the back of his neck begin to rise. Something, rather suddenly, did not feel right. Letting his eyes scan the crowd, he cursed how thick it had become. Trusting his instincts he moved with determination back to where he had left Kaoru. Better for him to be overreacting than not react at all. It was about halfway back when he heard her voice rise sharply over the still pounding music.

"Kenshin!"

Letting his eyes narrow in anger, Kenshin forgot all about the drinks and darted through the crowd toward her frightened voice. His name was repeated again, the desperate edge in it enveloping him in a cold fury. Whoever had caused his Kaoru this fear would pay dearly. Breaking through the masses, his eyes fell on Kaoru. Her body pulled completely from the floor, she kicked and twisted wildly, the man's hard hold keeping her from disengaging herself. Although frightened she appeared relatively unharmed. That action would probably save the captor's life.

Kenshin's hard gaze fell to the man holding her. Fuck. He recognized the stupid shit. Some low level from a rival company- a company he had recently royally beat out in a business deal. The man spit words into Kaoru's ear, low enough that Kenshin couldn't hear, and Kenshin felt his world go red even as he saw the color drain from her face. How dare that thing even touch her, let alone talk to her.

"Put her down."

He could barely identify his own voice- he rarely was able to when feeling such extreme emotion. Kenshin's hand instinctively went to his waist, a low growl sounding in his throat when he realized he didn't have his sword or one of his many guns. The man's hands should be removed for being placed on her- and his tongue cut out for daring to speak to her.

Kenshin noticed Kaoru's eyes swiveling toward him, and saw the tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. The captor's chances of coming out unscathed were completely gone. The man clutching Kaoru detected him as well, and Kenshin felt a rush of satisfaction at the fear that passed through the man's eyes. Kenshin was certain that the man under a bit of…stress…would scream pitifully. He would have to check to be certain however.

He could feel the vicious smirk on his lips.

The man could see it as well, taking one than another hesitant step back- dragging Kaoru with him.

"Stay away from me, stay away or I'll hurt her."

The voice was pitiful and squeaky. Disgusting. Kenshin took a steady step forward, knowing that even without a weapon this man would be easy to take down. They had moved closer to one of the walls of the building, and Kenshin was certain the area was empty enough to prevent any bystanders from becoming involved. All he had to do was make sure that Kaoru was safe before making his move.

Kaoru met his eyes and Kenshin couldn't help but start at the determined look on her face. Even though it was still obvious she was scared, she was not going to sit around and play the willing victim anymore. Kenshin wanted to shout at her to let him handle it. He couldn't have her taking unnecessary risks.

She bit at her lip, and Kenshin could see the exact moment she decided to act. Kaoru leaned forward toward the arm clenching her torso down and opened her mouth. He watched her bite down, blood beginning to slosh down the side of the man's arm. The guy screamed in sudden unexpected pain and threw her away from him. Her mouth let go of his arm, and her eyes widened in the abrupt realization that she was flying through the air. Kenshin started toward her, but immediately knew that he was too far away to catch her. She hit the far wall of the club, crying out at the impact, before falling to the hard floor. A large bolt on the wall was smeared with blood.

The next few moments were a blur to Kenshin, even now. He hadn't killed the man, heaven knew what had stopped him, but he had broken a total of thirteen bones in the man's body. However, he had been right- the man was quite the screamer. Later, after everything had cooled down- he made sure the man never had the chance to bother Kaoru again. He was still shocked at how good that had felt.

Kenshin had called Aoshi to come take care of the mess, and then brought Kaoru to the hospital. She'd lain unconscious for a good hour do the concussion she'd sustained, and had part of her left shoulder ripped due to the bolt on the wall. The doctor had needed to give her stitches, and told Kenshin she was lucky that no more damage had been done with such a forceful impact. Unfortunately however, the mark on her shoulder would scar. He'd never been so scared and pissed in his life. And it had been all his fault. If Kenshin had just kept her with him, if he had just been more studious of their surroundings…there were a thousand things he could have done to change the circumstances. But he hadn't, and she had been hurt.

When she'd awoken, he had clutched at her hand afraid that she would suddenly slip back into unconsciousness. But she hadn't. Her eyes had found his and the first words she'd said were asking if he was okay. Never mind herself, never mind the fact that she had woken up in a hospital with probably a killer headache and a throbbing shoulder. He could feel the small shakes that trembled through her. It made him feel even guiltier. Kenshin had thought even briefly for a moment that she would look at him with accusing eyes, but her eyes showed nothing of the sort. And that was when he knew with absolute certainty that this was it. He could never want anyone else, could never find anyone else who was so right for him. A perfect mix of smarts, strength, innocence, and kindness- it was as if she had been created especially for him.

Later when she'd been released and he'd driven her home, he asked what the creep holding her had said to her. She had tensed, her hands clenching to the point that her knuckles turned white and turned from his inquiring gaze telling him very nicely that she would rather not say. That it didn't matter, all that mattered was that they were both okay.

That was it, that was the event. Kenshin rubbed at his eyes blearily and looked down at his reflection in the wobbly half cup of tea. He was exhausted. When was the last time he had gotten a good night's sleep? Not for a long time.

It had been after that incident that her actions toward him had subtlety shifted. He could see it now. She had never said that the evening had bothered her, had never asked to talk about it with him- he had assumed that she was over the extremeness of it. He had been wrong. How could he have been so naïve? Something about that night, something that he had overlooked until now was the reason that she had felt obligated to leave.

Now that he had finally figured that out, the real work could begin.

Yahiko slumped in his seat and looked out his window at the changing scenery. Stifling a yawn, he stretched his arms above his head in an attempt to relieve some of their stiffness. He had been on a bus for more than several hours, and could feel the tight space finally start to get to him. Cracking the bones in his neck, he rested his head on his head and eyed the dark landscape.

His reflection stared back at him, and Yahiko took in his bedraggled form. His hair was rumpled and sticking out at odd angles from the nap he'd taken over an hour ago, and his clothes were equally wrinkled and disheveled. Glancing into his own dark brown eyes, Yahiko could see the tiredness and sudden stress in them. After all, it wasn't every day that he got a call from his sister. Kaoru.

It was funny he supposed. Four years ago he hadn't had a care in the world. At only fourteen he had been like most other kids his age. Going to school, active in sports, doing household chores…arguing with his older sister- he had thought that nothing could change. Instead one day he'd woken up with one less family member.

He had gone down to the kitchen for breakfast, knowing that Kaoru and his Mom would already be there eating. Kaoru would call him lazy for sleeping in so late, he would reply that at least he wasn't ugly, and then breakfast would continue. It was a shock to instead find his Mom crying over a cup of coffee, Kaoru nowhere in sight. He remembered briefly asking his Mom what was going on… and she had simply sobbed and motioned to a folded piece of paper on the table.

Yahiko had read the note, read it multiple times, before telling his Mom that it must be some sort of joke. Kaoru wouldn't leave. Why would she leave? He had searched her room, searched the house, search the small yard. He had expected her to be hiding somewhere, waiting to jump out and call him gullible. But she hadn't appeared.

He'd spent the next few weeks in a sort of daze, certain that at any moment Kaoru would be there at breakfast- and it would have all been some sort of weird dream. It hadn't happened, and even as him Mom accepted that she was gone, he had been unable to. He'd skipped school, stayed out all night, and gotten into more trouble in that short amount of time than the rest of his life combined. His mother hadn't known what to do, and to be honest Yahiko hadn't been sure himself.

Yahiko looked at the shifting sleeping figure next to him and shook his head. It had taken a visit from one of Kaoru's friends, Sanosuke, to finally get him straightened out.

He had finally gone somewhere for help, the anger, sadness, and confusion becoming too much for him to bear. And looking back on it now, he was glad that he had been able to. Yahiko wasn't sure what direction his life would have taken if he hadn't.

Several months later, Kaoru had called. It had been a day like any other- just like the day she had disappeared, and he supposed that that was how he would always see it. Of course, it had ended a bit differently. At fifteen he had hopped on a bus to go visit his very pregnant sister in Florida- and then stayed to meet his nephew. Did his Mom have any idea that he hadn't been at a friend's house those few days? He had his suspicions, but she never said anything about his trips- and neither did he.

Yahiko glanced at the man next to him again before trying to smooth out his hair. He recalled the conversation that had led him to this bus. He hadn't been in contact with Kaoru for months, she had told him explicitly that he should never try to contact her- she would contact him. That irked him to no end, but he respected her wishes. He'd been eating pizza, contemplating what to wear to the movies that night with Tsubame, when the phone rang. Sanosuke had been napping on the couch. And of all the people it could have been, he was infinitely thankful that it had been Kaoru.

Too bad she sounded perfectly awful, if only-

"You thinking about the Missy?"

Yahiko jumped slightly in his seat before scowling at the person next to him. Sanosuke was just as bleary eyed as Yahiko, his hair standing at more angles than Yahiko thought possible. His breath smelled atrocious.

"What of it?"

The younger man didn't hesitate in his defensiveness. It was part of their interaction. They could argue and bicker all day in good fun- well, usually good fun.

"Just curious. Either that or you're thinking about your girlfriend- what's her name again? Tsub-"

"She isn't my girlfriend!"

The words were hissed out and Yahiko could feel the blush on his cheeks. He inwardly cursed Sanosuke. The man could push his buttons almost as well as Kaoru.

"Anyway, aren't you going to sleep again or something? I still can't believe you insisted on coming- Kaoru is going to be so pissed."

Sanosuke gave him a look, and Yahiko knew that they were both thinking the same thing. Whatever was happening with Kaoru, she needed the support. The last time she had sounded so upset was when she had called him the first time. Rolling his eyes Yahiko looked back out the window.

"Yahiko, don't worry. Whatever the problem, we'll help."

Sanosuke's voice was quiet in the mostly still bus. His sudden seriousness broke the otherwise light mood. It was hard to enjoy oneself when worried about someone else. And Yahiko was definitely worried about his sister. He almost always was.

"I know."

His voice was quiet and spoken towards the window. Yahiko hated the fact that his sister was so far away. No matter why she had left, he believed wholeheartedly that she needed to come back. Nothing could be solved by running away from one's problems. He had learned that the hard way after she had disappeared.

Yahiko did know it had something to do with Kenshin. The man she had been dating up until her disappearance. Kenshin asking questions after she was gone, and the small amount of information Sanosuke knew had all but confirmed his suspicions. Not to mention Kenji. His small nephew was a replica of Kaoru's ex. Just what had happened between them? Kaoru shied from all his questions, telling him once point blank to cut it out. Kenshin had seemed infatuated with her, had seemed like one of the nicest guys he had ever met, he didn't know what he had done to make her take such extreme measures.

He would find out however. No way would Kaoru spend the rest of her life the way she was now. Yahiko would go to school, get a great job, and help her support herself. He was determined that she would go back to school- there was so much she deserved that she had given up. So much that her son deserved to have. It wasn't her destiny to spend the rest of her life waiting on tables and struggling from paycheck to paycheck.

Who knew what Kaoru would say if she could hear him thinking? Yahiko knew that he was still only eighteen, but he would do whatever was needed to make things right for her. She had practically raised him with their mother working so much.

"Yahiko?"

Yahiko turned from his inner thoughts and back toward his sleep deprived seat mate.

"What is it Sanosuke?"

"Are we almost there?"

Yahiko resisted the urge to pound his head against the window.

"No. I told you when we left that we probably wont arrive until early morning."

He watched the color drain from Sanosuke's face.

"What! That is ridiculous! Can't the bus go any faster! Stupid machine, less trustworthy than a fucking train!"

Ignoring Sanosuke's outburst, Yahiko turned back toward the window. Forming a makeshift pillow with his arm, he shut his eyes and tried to rest. He had a feeling that the next few days would be stressful. And although he was still young, he was determined to be there for Kaoru.

AN- Wow…I actually finished this. Go me. Thank you all for sticking with me through everything- Your reviews truly mean everything. Please continue to offer your super support. I'm thinking that the next update will be during my Christmas break…so be on the lookout.

Next Time- Kenshin and Kenji bond, Misao and Aoshi reflect.