Thank you my loyal reviewers! I love you guys! Like last chapter Istill a little confused. I am up to 700+ hits. So to my silent readers I still thank you for reading my story. I am getting so much more feedback than my other fics. THANK YOU! And for my general nonsense...

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters. I don't even owna car...(but then again, my parents won't let me drive anyway...)


Chapter Five: Old Flames and Flight

Two days later. Two days after Bradley Wolfe interfered with the Choshu meeting, two days after Kaoru revealed the truth behind the death of her father. In those two days Kaoru chose to distance herself from Kenshin. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, or that Kenshin wouldn't be alive for much longer. At this point if he died it would have been her fault. No doubt Mr. Wolfe knew about her closeness to the Battousai. Silent tears would fall as dread filled her heart. If Mr. Wolfe knew he would slaughter Kenshin, and there was little she could do about it. Kaoru was terrified of him, and for good reason. He does not own me, she thought. But it was in vain. Whether or not he literally had her in chains, he would always dominate her nightmares and fears. Kaoru knew that Mr. Wolfe would always be a part of her life, in one way or another. And that scared her more than death.

Kaoru shivered as she woke up. The innkeeper was nice enough to give her a room of her own, apparently holding no grudge for the damage to Kenshin's shoji. She suspected that he paid for it. Kaoru didn't know whether or not it was a blessing that nobody in the Choshu spared her a second glance, or if they did it was a scowl. They knew something that she didn't and she got the sense of it. Kenshin appeared oblivious to the cold shoulders given to Kaoru. Or maybe he doesn't care, she thought not for the first time.

The early morning air had an unseasonable chill. It was too cold to be autumn. Kaoru had a limited wardrobe. Granted she came with only the clothes on her back, Kenshin and others lent her yukatas and kimonos. But today she was going to wear her normal clothes. She bound her chest with bandages before she put on her gi and then tucked it into her hakama. She searched in her dark room for a ribbon or some kind of tie. After looking far and wide she didn't find one. Exasperated she left her hair down. She was ready to leave her room when she got a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror.

Her large blue eyes were surrounded by dark circles and looked sunken in. She sighed. I am no beauty, she thought. Of course the truth was quite the opposite, but she was feeling depressed and saw things differently. The ghostly color of her face astonished her. She looked ill. Suddenly she felt sick and she ran to the bathroom. The little she ate the night before came up violently. Kaoru felt her head pounding as a dizzy spell struck her.

After a couple of minutes she finally felt well enough to stand up straight. She swayed but her feet stayed firmly under her. Kaoru no longer felt ready to face the day. She staggered back to her room. She bumped into another woman.

"I'm so sorry." Kaoru said quickly. She turned to look at the other woman. The woman looked to be more than a few years older than Kaoru. She had brown-gray eyes and crispy black hair that was waist-length and decorated with elegant hairpieces and pins. This woman was wealthy.

"It's ok." She said her voice was curt, contrary to her graceful manner. "Who are you? I have never seen you around here before." She looked from Kaoru's sickly appearance to her boyish clothes to her unadorned hair that was dull from the fact it hasn't been washed since the day before.

"Kamiya Kaoru." She said quietly. "And you?" She asked, trying not to sound rude. The woman's face creased as she was raking her brain for the name Kamiya.

"Katashi Ayaka." She said. Kaoru hid her alarm. She knew a Katashi in the Gouka. But this graceful woman didn't look like she had any relation to the slimy man she knew. It had to be a coincidence. "Which one of the men are you with?" She asked.

Kaoru was taken back. "What do you mean?" she asked. Ayaka sighed looking down at her as though she was insignificant.

"Which one of the men did you share a bed with? Or are you just a stray that goes around?" She said painfully slow as if Kaoru were retarded. Seeing the mix of anger and confusion in the younger woman's expression she knew her mistake. "Oh, you aren't a prostitute are you?" Kaoru's face flushed red.

"No." it was strained reply.

"Ah." Ayaka said. "Sorry to insult your name. But as a word to the wise dear." She paused and leaned in to Kaoru's ear. "Young virgins like you don't last long in these camps. Someone will try to claim you."

"I don't think that will be a problem." Kaoru said honestly. She could take care of herself. Not to mention what Kenshin would do… "Why are you here?"

"I am here to see an old…friend." She said excited. Kaoru knew from the gleam in her eye that she wasn't looking for just a friend. She didn't what to know the nature of this woman's intentions. Judging by what she said, Kaoru was willing to bet money that she was looking at a whore.

"Kaoru-dono?" a familiar male voice asked from down the hall. She turned to an alert redhead. But his eyes weren't on her but something next to her. "…Ayaka?" He asked.

Ayaka grinned. "Battousai, it's been a long time. I'm surprised that you remember me."

"It's kind of hard to forget you." He said his voice restrained. Kaoru couldn't tell whether or not there was bitterness in his tone. "Why are you back?"

Ayaka walked up to him and threw her arms around him. "Because I want you back." Kaoru stared at them in complete shock. Kenshin refused to look at her, and she felt her head spinning this time worse than a couple minutes ago in the bathroom. Her knees were going weak.

"I'll see you two later." Kaoru said with a false sweetness. Ayaka didn't acknowledge her. Kenshin looked at Kaoru fearfully. She merely flashed a plastered smile at him and turned to leave.

"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin called out but she didn't turn. She continued to hurry away. He sighed and looked at the woman clinging on him. "Why did you really come back Ayaka?"

"Because the innkeeper needed another cook. And I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see the man I love." She said. Kenshin stiffened and watched Kaoru run away. Ayaka was going to be a problem. He sighed remembering Kaoru's hurt expression. Ayaka was a going to be a BIG problem.


Kaoru was on her return trip to her room blinded by her hair that hung in her face in frenzy. She was horribly uncoordinated to the point that comparing her to a newborn calf was like describing a drop of water to a flood. And as every person who runs like a lunatic in fanfictions Kaoru ran into someone. She fell flat on her back.

Staring down at her was Katsura, his face calm and sickeningly composed. "Good morning Kamiya-kun." He lent her a hand to help her up. Kaoru barely glanced at it and proceeded to stand on her own strength. Katsura lowered his offered hand with a puzzled expression and miffed at her stubbornness. "Very well." He said dismissively as Kaoru brushed dust of her clothes. "What has you in hurry this early?"

Kaoru looked down. She was unsure of whether or not to trust him with the truth. "I had an…unpleasant scare." She resolved cursing herself for her stupidity. Why couldn't she have a better lie? She mentally sighed; it was true.

"Well." He said slow and deliberate. "I suggest you calm down and have breakfast with me." Kaoru reluctantly agreed and Katsura place a hand on her shoulder to lead her it the right direction. Kaoru flinched under his touch and he withdrew with an apology. Kaoru looked away. She always flinched when a man touched her…except for Kenshin.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Why couldn't she go five minutes without thinking of him? She had already thought she was in love, but after seeing that her affections were obviously unreturned she reverted in her insecure self for the little comfort it could offer. It took her to a place she felt she could never escape. A never-ending winter that froze her heart solid. She didn't want to be alone, but being who she was it was best if people backed away before they got hurt. If Kenshin died because of what she was…Unnoticed a solitary tear formed in one of her eyes. I must never see him again, she resolved. Never again.

"Kamiya-kun, I don't want to alarm you but do you know a Bradley Wolfe-san?" He asked. After seeing her panic-stricken face instantly made him regret his question. But it confirmed his suspicions. No doubt he knew her, but was she really trouble?

"Yeah." She said reluctantly. Katsura seemed to understand that things were complicated for her. But he could never know the full extent of it. Kaoru carried a burden that could never be understood. Not even by Kenshin… "How do you know Mr. Wolfe?" She asked her mouth dry.

Katsura considered his answer before he replied. "I just heard his name somewhere." It was a lie and Kaoru knew. When she looked him unconvinced Katsura felt it was better to not say anything. Unfortunately, Kaoru wanted answers.

"He was here, wasn't he?" She said in a small voice. Katsura considered not answering. He nodded slowly and Kaoru felt like falling to her knees.

"You're not a spy?" He asked her. Kaoru's face flushed red with anger.

"NO!" she said her anger quickly replacing her fear. "I don't know what lies Mr. Wolfe told you but he is a bastard. Did you tell him I was here?"

Katsura thought about. "I didn't tell him…directly. Why is he looking for you?"

"Because of my father!"

"How come who don't show up in any record as Kamiya Koshijiro's daughter?" He needed to know. "I doubt you really are his daughter." Kaoru froze.

Kaoru didn't have to reply because Kenshin arrived Ayaka clinging it his arm. Kaoru made a point not to look at him. It hurt too much. "What is going on?" He asked. His voice and expression were steel. Miserable blue eyes met hard gold. Kenshin's face softened, showing her a look at he reserved just for her. "Well?" He added impatient.

"I'm leaving." Kaoru said turning away from him. She couldn't bear to see his expression. "I am have caused too much trouble." She walked past Kenshin, brushing against his strong arm. It sent lightning through her body that ached to stay. Kaoru felt a familiar calloused hand grab hers stopping her. She didn't turn to look but she knew Kenshin had her hand in his.

"You can't leave." He said his voice curt. Kaoru still refused to turn around and it was beginning to annoy Kenshin. "Kaoru." He commanded. No Kaoru-dono, just Kaoru.

"I must leave." Kenshin pulled her back against him. He whispered in her ear. "You're not going anywhere." His hot breath against the sensitive skin of her neck made Kaoru's knees go weak. It was like a flashback of their first meeting.

Kaoru felt her heart aching. She wanted more than anything to stay by his side, but she didn't want him to be killed. Wolfe knew where she was and like always she would have to run. Without the protection of her father, Kaoru felt like a sitting duck. As great as she knew Kenshin was, she remembered that if her father didn't stand a chance…She shivered.

Kaoru then knew what she had to do. Suddenly she was afraid. "You don't own me." She said shortly. She pulled away from his embrace. His arms tightened at first but didn't resist after she fought against him. After leaving the safety of his arms, Kaoru felt dizzy. "Nobody owns me!" She said shrilly. "I am sick of men claiming me. YOU'RE JUST LIKE THEM!"

Nobody moved. Tears surged down Kaoru's cheeks. This was how it had to be. Right? She took off. Kenshin stood like a statue looking as through she had slapped him. Ayaka looked fearfully at his harden expression and knew he was angry. Angry with Kaoru, but more angry with himself. He left without a word. Ayaka looked at Katsura wide eyed. He mumbled something neither knew what. Silently they both agreed never to mention this incident to another living soul.

Kaoru went to her room and in a hurry she wrote out a long note to Kenshin asking for his forgiveness. She sealed it with a kiss and left in a place he was sure to find if he looked. She packed a bag of the kimonos she borrowed praying the owners could find it in their hearts to forgive her. If only everyone could forgive her.

Kaoru was running again. She hated herself for being such a coward. She hated herself for being a Kamiya. She hated herself for running from love…


So Kaoru is running to save Kenshin although it will hurt him more than help. Before you flame me, I would just like to say that this separation will not last long. so hang tight.

I want your honest opinion of my writing. Is it good, ok, or does it suck? Please review and tell me cuz I'm dying to know!

Silent. Midnight. Rose.