Author's note:Gomen!Gomen!!For the lousy format of Chapter 3!!!I am truly sorry!!when I posted it and realized that it is like that,I screamed!!Cos,I swear that I've edited it!!Cos,my HTML didn't work.I don't know why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sorry!Sorry!!!

Thank you all those who have reviewed!!!

Steelphoenix:Gomen!For the bad layout!!And thanks for your suggestions,I'll try hard to improve!!What is a Kiwi,BTW?

Nekotsuki: Sorry!I'll try my best to remember leaving a space after each comma and fullstop!!


Chapter 4

Kenshin woke up early the next day. He still could not believe what had happened last night,so much had change in one night. He didn't know why this Kamiya Kaoru seemed to be always be uneasy around him .Like she has something against him.

I have something against her as well,especially after finding out what kind of powers she has. She seemed to get along with Sohjiro pretty well. Always kind to him. And the many sword techniques she claimed to know...I somehow doubt what she had said...she can't not be better me...if she is as good as she says,I would have known about it.

Kenshin decided to see if Sohjiro is up as well, and maybe they can explore the house before she wakes up. Kenshin still do not believe that there is such thing as magic, or mind-reading...

She is just a fraud...trying to scare people away for some reasons. But...I still cannot explain why Sohjiro's wound got healed after whatever that she did...

He walked stealthily into the opposite room and saw that Sohjiro was still fast asleep. Kenshin decided to look around the house alone. Unknown to him, a pair of azure eyes were fixed on him,watching his every movement.

Kenshin was amazed by the wide and splendid labyrinths of corridors. There were so many doors and each path seemed to have no end. On the tall,white walls hung many paintings and photographs. And then,he saw a photo with three people in it. A man,a woman and a young girl. It was easy to tell that the girl was Kaoru, with her pale soft face and bright eyes. But she was smiling happily into the camera, so full of spirit and hope. Kenshin grunted in irony at how the Kamiya Kaoru is like right now....

So cold,mysterious...and maybe a little scary.... Kenshin thought wearily.

The man was handsome, but not smiling with a stern and determined expression on his face. Like he wanted something but couldn't get it...and is going to do anything to get

it...no matter what. The woman was smiling weakly, her brown hair long and silky, but most of her face was covered by her thick fringe. She was a woman who needed a cover and afraid to show herself. Kaoru has her father's eyes and hair colour. But her features were identical to those of her mothers. She seemed foreign in the photo as she was the only one smiling happily. Still so innocent and naïve. So full of hope....

Kenshin looked mournfully at the photograph. It wasn't a happy photograph but hope was still there. But it seems to him that that hope no longer exist anymore in this house. It was to eerily quiet with its equally eerie owner. Kenshin walked on slowly when he noticed and door much larger than all the others. It was a magnificient wooden door. He pushed the door opened slowly and he creaked loudly. Kenshin winced at the sound. He hoped that no one had heard him.

Kaoru was watching him silently. The man before her was not much taller than her, yet he demanded others' attention with his presence.When she first saw him in the grocery store, she felt dazzled like a teenager.

Luckily I didn't show it....

Lean, graceful, and red-haired, he had a smile that could heat a room,eyes the colour of a...bright amber and sometimes violet. She can remember still how he looked like when he laughed when they first spoke to each other after they are properly introduced. He was such a study of contrasts, he had so much sex appeal, and he managed to look so fantastic in those over-larged clothes that was her father's. Kaoru found herself looking tenderly at him.

What was I thinking?!He certainly is no good. He is a man of too much past...and I'm sure everything he told me are basically lies...

He was now walking around the training room, looking at all the variety of weapons available there. He seemed overwhelmed at what he was seeing.

"You can train here if you like...with Seta-san."Kaoru said softly, coming out of the shadows.Kenshin spun around. He cannot believe that he didn't sense her presence again.

What the hell is wrong with me? Why doesn't she have any aura at all? All living things are detectable...

He looked at her carefully.She was wearing white as usual.A soft white gown and a thin coat. It traces her curves perfectly. She was so feminine. So beautiful. Standing there with her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

"Kaoru-dono...good morning. I do not mean to pry at all..."Kenshin muttered, embarrassed to be seen when he was so sure that he was alone.

"It's all right. All people are curious. You can train here...but you should come and eat breakfast first. I think Seta-san is up as well."Kaoru said kindly, smiling warmly at him, gesturing him towards the door. They begun to walk down the corridor.

"Why are there so many weapons here?"Kenshin asked slowly.

"They were my father's.Many of the techniques requires other types of weapons instead of a samurai sword...." Kaoru replied.

"Are you coming to train with us later on?You said that you'll show me the techniques..."Kenshin said seriously.

"No, I won't be able to do that."Kaoru said quietly. I can't possibly show him what I know...I can't trust him yet...it is the only protection I have...if he finds out about it...he might used it against me...

"Why not?" Kenshin asked mockingly. Ha!So I guess I am right...she doesn't know a thing.All those lies...

Kaoru did not reply.Kenshin just look at her curiously and walked on, leaving her behind.


They had pancakes and bacon for breakfast. Sohjiro was cheerful and polite. Kenshin remained silent all the while watching Kaoru quietly.His eyes amber and a thin smile on his lips.

She had to lie to protect herself. Pathetic...

Kaoru retired quickly after breakfast. She just disappeared. Sohjiro begun to look for her.

"Sohjiro, stop looking for her. She won't come out even if you find her. All the techniques she claimed to know...are lies...she doesn't know a single a thing.."Kenshin said coldly.

"Himura-san,how can you say such unkind words? You saw how she healed my wounds last night...I believe what she had told us." Sohjiro said defiantly.

"I asked her to train with us this morning. She refused,if she really possess all the power that she claimed to have, why is she afraid to show it? And look at her, she is so frail and skinny. Her hands look like she can barely hold anything heavier than paper. She always look like she is going to collapse any moment. Plus,she does not have any Ki energy at all..." Kenshin said seriously.

"Ki energy? You mean you also can't detect her as well? I thought that it was because I was weak... so I can't feel her Ki energy at all..." Sohjiro exclaimed.

"Let's go to the training room.There are so many different types of weapons there. Some of which I've never seen before..." Kenshin said, ignoring Sohjiro's comment.

Sohjiro nodded and took his sword.

"I'll need to get a new sword..."Kenshin said gloomily. His sabakatou had been with him for so long...

They walked towards the room quietly, both deep in thought.


Kaoru couldn't believe what she was hearing. Not that she was eavesdropping. She had decided that she need to hear this Himura guy's thoughts.And they sent her blood boiling.

He thinks she is frail, how could he see her in such a way. On the other hand, Sohjiro does not have any thoughts at all.In her head she could see images of them training. Himura-san was fighting with passion, reading and predicting Sohjiro's moves. His heart beating fast in excitement. Like a young boy aroused by a new toy. And Sohjiro wasn't thinking of anything. He was fast. But not as fast as her. He was smiling and his heart calm. Kaoru remove her hands from her head when she heard a weird noise. Someone was trying to break in at the front gate. She peered out. It was the tall, brown-haired man. He seemed familiar and then it clicked.

He is the man from the painting I drew...the one that Kenshin asked about. Sanosuke...he had said. What is he doing here? Probably looking for Kenshin...

Kaoru put on a thick coat and walked down. She opened the front door slowly and he stopped jerking the gate. He stared at her , shocked. He gasped and let go of the gate quickly. Kaoru walked towards the gate and he backed away slowly, he eyes on her watching her every movement. She smiled lightly.

"What are you doing here?"Kaoru asked. She opened the gate for him to enter. Sanosuke just backed away from her even more.

"Don't worry. I won't bite, Sanosuke...."Kaoru laughed, amused by Sanosuke's frightenened expression.

"How do you know my name?" he demanded , already in a fighting position.

"Himura-san told me. I assume that you are looking for him..."Kaoru replied .

"Kenshin?! Do you know what happened to him? So many windows are broken in his house, there were blood and his front door and gate was left wide open!" Sanosuke cried.

"I think he got in to a fight. He is all right now. Recovering very well. He is in my house. Would you like to come in?"

Sanosuke walked very slowly,constantly staring at Kaoru. Suddenly Kaoru turned her gaze towards him as well.

"I know what you are thinking...you must think that I am a witch..."Kaoru said glumly.

"Well,everyone calls your house The Witch's House...so...are you really a witch?"

Kaoru sighed. "I suppose...I am...but I am not responsible for anything that had happened to others when they past by my house...." Sanosuke gasped again and looked even harder at Kaoru.

"I don't use magic anymore. Well, except for last night when I had to help Seta-san's wound..." Kaoru murmured. She did not know why she was telling this man about herself , she just know him. He just seemed like someone whom she can confide to.

"Seta-san? Who's that?"

"Another man who seemed to be wounded from the same fight..."

"Ahh..."Sano sighed,though he had no idea what she was talking about.

They arrived infront of the training room's door.

"They are inside. I'll leave you now..."Kaoru said and she walked away.

Sanosuke opened the door slowly and saw two man pointing their swords at him.One was Kenshin and the other a man he could not recognize. For a moment he could not recognize Kenshin with his eyes in a weird amber colour.

"Sano!"Kenshin blurted,lowering his sword. "It's okay Sohjiro. He's a friend..."

"Oi Kenshin! What happened? Your house is a mess! And what are you doing in The Witch's House?" Sanosuke exclaimed.

"One question at a time, Sano..." Kenshin said patiently.He pointed at Sohjiro, "This is Sohjiro and Sohjiro, he is Sanosuke , my neighbour..."

"Yeah! And who is this Sohjiro guy? I heard from Jou-chan that he is involve in the fight or something..."Sanosuke demanded again.

"Jou-chan?"Kenshin and Sohjiro said together.


Kaoru couldn't help using her powers to listen to their conversation. She need to find out more about these mysterious men.


"The owner of this house? That ghostly girl? I don't know her name...she know my name though..." Sanosuke said.

"Oh,you mean Kamiya-san!"Sohjiro exclaimed.

"Kamiya-san?"

"Her full name is Kamiya Kaoru.Know anything about her?" Kenshin asked

"Kamiya Kaoru...Kaoru....I swear I've heard that name somewhere!"

"Yeah, you must have. I think she knows you as well. She even drew a portrait of you...it is hanging in the room I am staying in right now..."Kenshin said.

"My portrait? But I don't remember her at all!" Sano cried,surprised.

"Please try to remember Sano. Any information can help."Kenshin urged.Sanosuke scratched his head.

"Ah! I remembered now!Her father is this lengendary swordsman right? But then he disappeared...or something...."

"How did you know,Sano?"

"It was a story that my father always tell me whenever I couldn't sleep at night...my father told me that the legendary swordsman had a witch as a wife...and they had a daughter.The daughter...Kaoru Kamiya suffered from something I forgot.I forgot....she possess some kind of power or something...I forgot what kind of powers..."

"How did your father know?"Kenshin asked

"I dunno..."

"Ask him!"Kenshin hissed.

"He passed away three years ago!"

"Oh...I am sorry.What powers does she have anyway?"

"I think my father told me that it is a power so destructable... that it could destroy the whole world. And he said something about her... not able to use it or something...something like that.Won't be good for her or something...haiyah..I forgot ! Don't ask me anymore!"Sanosuke said in frustrtion.Kenshin just nodded.

"See all the weapons there?She said that they belonged to her father..."Kenshin said."She healed Sohjiro's wound last night... and she claimed to know how to read minds..."

"Really!?"Sano gasped. "So that explains it!"

"Explains what?"Sohjiro asked. He had been listening to the conversation for so long...he was bored.

"When I walked in just now.She spoke to me...she knew all my thoughts!"

"Are you sure?" Kenshin said unbelievingly. "It may just be a coincidence."

"Well...yeah.Maybe." Sanosuke mumbled.He turned to Sohjiro, "Who are you anyway?"

"I'm Seta Sohjiro."Sohjiro said,bowing politely.Sano just grunted at wait for Kenshin to explain.

"Okay.I'll tell you...but you must not tell any other."Kenshin said seriously.

"Of course."Sano replied sincerely.

"I use to work for this powerful organization called The Aorta. They are well-trained assassins and I used to be one of them .I was the lead assassin until one day I realized that they are the ones who had killed my parents long time ago.I was once named Shinta...but after I got adopted by my foster father at the age of 8, he renamed me Himura Kenshin. He is a very skilled swordsman, he taught me the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu technique which I now use. He is a multi-billionaire, so rich...maybe too rich. Anyway, I got in a terrible argument with him and I ran away from home when I was 14. I joined The Aorta...I regretted doing that at first. I was slaying people but soon I grew used to it. If I don't kill them, they will kill me. If I don't obey my seniors I'll get killed as well. So I killed without any emotions. I was merciless. The Aorta is an organization, there are many assassins like me. But we are not friends, we just make sure that the other person doesn't get killed on a job. We are emotionless, and if necessary we will kill each other. It is a world of fierce competition and blood. There is no one you can possibly trust, you always have to on your guard. So, when I found out that they killed my parents, and they were actually already planning to get rid of me as well after I finished a very important job. Luckily I found out and I tricked them. I didn't do the job and instead I warn the person that I was suppose to kill. Many of The Aorta's man died because of this incident. I just ran. And here I am. They've found me again..."Kenshin said gloomily.

It was such a short version of what had actually happened.

Sanosuke remained silent and Sohjiro is still smiling happily.

"And, Sohjiro joined The Aorta and came to kill me last night. He changed his mind at the last minute. He let me go... and now The Aorta is after him as well. We were both rescued by Kaoru-dono..." Kenshin added.

"Ah..." Sanosuke grunted. He didn't know what to say. Things are just too weird. He was amazed at how everything had developed.

"I think that once we are well enough we should get going. They would find out very soon that we are here. And we'll put Kamiya-san in danger as well...." Sohjiro said solemnly.

"Yes, I think we should leave as soon as possible. She is too mysterious. Telling us all those lies...what if she have something to do with The Aorta?" Kenshin agreed.

"No, I believe that all she told us is true. I do not doubt her at all. And if she is with The Aorta, why would she save us? They could easily ask her to finish off the job." Sohjiro said defensely angry at Kenshin's comment.

Meanwhile, in Kaoru's room...

Kaoru removed her fingers from her temples. She was furious.

That man! That ignorant, selfish, arrogant and boorish man!

She regretted ever helping him. She should have known that no one will ever believe her if she tells them. But deep inside, she know that if she go back in time, she would have done the same thing. And save him...again...

If they want to leave...better for me! I can't afford any more distractions...they should go and I'll be back leaving a peaceful life...


Author's Notes: I know that it isn't very romantic so far.But please be patient with me...I promise you that it is definitely a KK fanfic!!