Date Started: July 9, 2005

I am really happy that you guys are liking how things are going. And yes, it's true, I did not beta chapter 8 cause I wanted to get it out so fast. So, sorry guys. I'll go back and beta it later. But it was a relatively long chapter, so that makes up for it! Anyway, thanks for reviewing and encouraging me to continue, cause that is what I'm doing here! Also, I posted up another Kenshin story! I don't have a title for it unfortunately, though I have one in mind. Go read it and let me know what you think ne?

Butterfly Kisses

By: Hotaru

Rating: R; for language, gore, and some adult material

Standard Disclaimer:

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin in any way whatsoever. I do, however, own any characters that I may introduce as my own, and this plot line. If I catch you stealing it, you grovel at my feet and beg forgiveness, or die.

The wind whispered gently around the alleyway. The night was cool with the coming of winter and the moon swam in and out of the clouds that hinted more rain was coming. Shishio stood staring at the two with a confident look on his face, as if he knew he would win. Battousai looked hard at their enemy with his emotionless eyes. Warm blood dripped from the dagger that was at her side, as Kaoru did as her captor was doing, stare with cool darkened eyes. She was angry. He had her sword. While the girl did not really like using her sword, she knew that if anyone else used it, she would go to any means to get it back.

"You've known where we were all along." Her angry voice slithered out from her throat. The enemy laughed, throwing up his head, his eyes closed. Not a smart thing. Kenshin took up the opportunity and made the first move. Shishio noticed the change in the speed of the wind and immediately stopped and brought up the sword just in time to meet the manslayer's, "Oh yes, the Hitokiri is indeed good. However, he is not good enough!" Shishio pushed his blade forward, and forced the hardened assassin back. Kaoru was looking on. She continued to grip the small sword tightly, her knuckles turning white. She was slowly making her way towards the fighting duo.

Kenshin would make an attack, then back away and Shishio would then make his move. Several times, the red head managed to hit his enemy. Not hard enough to create any serious wounds, but enough to draw blood. Both of them were far to involved in their fight to notice what she was doing. The heels of her boots softly clicked against the concrete ground. Dimly lit lamps aligned the alleyway, hanging from closed shops. A back street of downtown Tokyo this was, rather than an alley. The girl was getting closer. Her long locks were down, and the moon reflected off her silvery blue eyes moments before it disappeared behind another cloud.

Shishio's back was wide open to her. Only five feet away. Her hand brought its way up, and the bloodied tip of the dagger pointed at the man's backside. Two things happened at once.

"You're kidding!" The usual cool demeanor of the leader of the Oniwabanshuu left his face at what the girl had just told him.

She stood in front of the tall man, her petite self looking very fragile in contrast to his own large frame. She was dressed in black attire, her clothes tight fitting so they could not get in her way. Her face was halfway covered, but emerald green orbs peered out and a long braid fell down her back, "No. I am not kidding. I was at the clinic and he came in with a girl in his arms."

Aoshi sat back against the desk. His face back to its hardened self, he said, "Well then, looks like I've found you, old friend."

Hiko slowly became aware of his surroundings. Things had happened so fast, they were a blur in his memory. He was lying down, on the ground it seemed. The man opened his eyes, and he was greeted with the fluorescent light of his room. He heard the breeze flow into the room. He carefully sat up, and looked at the clock. It read five till midnight. The mirror he looked into next revealed a dart still stuck in the side of his neck, "Shit."

Kaoru buried her weapon deep into the enemy's right shoulder. Before he could allow anything to register, Shishio had found an opening and he brought up Kaoru's sword and it pierced Battousai's flesh, cutting across his chest, and then allowing the tip to bury itself two inches into the assassin's side. By then, pain had spread throughout his arm and shoulder and began moving throughout his entire body, and he dropped her sword.

The girl stared hard at her ex lover, and then saw Kenshin kneeling on the ground. She pulled the dagger out of the man's shoulder, and what she saw happen surprised her. His skin began to melt all over, and his eyes rolled up in his head. At that moment, two men came out onto the tiny street, and immediately grabbed their leader and carried him into a once hidden van and they left the scene.

Rushing towards the injured man breathing heavily, while picking up her sword and securing it at her hip, she cried out, "Kenshin!" She knelt beside him, and made him look at her by grabbing his chin and forcing his face towards hers, "How bad is it?"

His hand gripped his side, and she saw the blood slowly seeping through his grasp. His eyes for once held emotion, pain. Never before had he let anyone see what he felt. Yet, with this woman, he felt that he could show her his emotions, "I'm fine. I've had worse." His voice was soft. Thunder clapped, and moments later the rain began to pour down hard.

He was lying. She knew it and he knew she knew it, "Where's your phone!" Her urgent plea came out. The amber eyes wavered for a moment, and then said, "In my pocket. Get some of that bandaging would you?" She nodded. Digging around in the coat pocket, she finally found what she was looking for. Kaoru had forgotten it was raining, and when she brought the phone to face the elements, it died moments later as rain drenched it, "Fuck." Kenshin was currently attempting to wrap himself up, but it was not working very well.

Looking around, she spotted a small awning, and said, "We need to get out of this, come on." She reached down to help him up but he shook her hand aside and stood up on his own, using his katana for support. He was unsteady as he took a few steps and Kaoru ran to him and wrapped an arm around his waist and made him place an arm over her shoulder. When they reached their destination, she saw that what looked like an abandoned house was there. She thought a moment and then walked inside with Kenshin by her side.

It was cold and drafty and the wood was old, but it would do. She sat the red head down on the aged tatami mat that covered the floor and then told him, "We need to get your shirt off."

"I know." He quickly and what looked like, painfully, removed his drenched coat and shirt. His well defined chest was seen and numerous scars revealed. It was bloodied by the long gash that ran across it, and the deep cut continued bleeding. She grabbed the supplies he had with him, and then sat down next to him. The two were drenched from head to toe. Kaoru shivered lightly, but she ignored the chill, and then began to treat the wounds crudely, "What are you doing?"

His voice cut through the silence of the room. Her deep blue eyes looked into his fiery ones, "I'm going to stop the bleeding is what I'm doing. You shut up and let me do this. Stay still." Her demanding voice was so soothing to him. He had not felt cared for in such a long time. Her small, slender hands reached over his chest as she sat in front of him, and brought the bandaging around. She continued to wrap him up until she felt that the treatment was good enough to temporarily keep him out of danger, and then tied a knot securely.

Heat radiated off his body, and she felt it seep into her cold one. Her clothes were not very heavy, which was not good for the quickly dropping temperature, and it didn't help that they were sopping, as was her hair.. Yes, it was not yet winter, but the night temperatures these days was random. Tonight was going to be cold. Another shiver permeated herself. Kenshin saw this, and he hesitated a moment, but then he wrapped his muscled arms around her. He was leaning against a wall, Kaoru sitting in between his legs facing him. She was caught off guard by his act, and stiffened, as he pulled her close to him.

After a few moments, and a few thoughts of consideration, she relaxed a little, and relaxed her hands that rested on his chest. He buried his face in her damp hair, "I'm sorry."

She moved back a little so that he could see her, "Sorry for what?" So many feelings were emanating from him, especially hate, pain, sorrow.

He sighed and his deep voice whispered, "Betraying your trust. Causing all this trouble. Making you be a captive." He closed his eyes and looked away. The young woman took a few moments to consider what he had said. Despite all that had happened, he was the first man in all these years who actually seemed to care, "Don't be." She reached her hand up and turned his face towards hers again, "You proved yourself worthy of my trust. Yes, I lost it once, but you gained my trust back. You are the only person… aside from… aside from Yahiko, who has tried to protect me in many years. I don't consider myself a captive any longer. I consider you, a person that I can believe in."

Slowly, he opened his amber eyes, and what she saw there, again, shocked her. Tears. His eyes were filled with tears, and silently, he allowed them to fall. The Hitokiri Battousai was allowing Kamiya Kaoru to see him cry. Something he had not done since he was a small boy, "Thank you." He pulled her closer, and Kaoru reached her hand behind his head and brought it down, allowing his lips to meet with hers. They shared a sweet and gentle, yet passionate kiss.

After a few moments, they pulled apart, and another emotion seemed to seep through the golden depths, hope. The two rested in each other's arms, as the night went on. Soon, weariness overcame the girl, and she shortly fell asleep. Not long after, Kenshin followed, and he slept deeper than he had slept in years. Not a deep sleep, but deep enough that little things would not awake him. If only for the one night, he wanted it to end peacefully.

'Keep going. Don't stop!' The thought swam through her head as she ran on and on down what seemed an endless, tree lined path to the doorway, 'Don't you dare look behind you!' As the conscious words were thought, her terrified blue eyes turned as she did what she had told herself not to do. They were gaining.

Looking back towards her, a branch smacked her in the face hard, causing her to fall onto her back on the hard packed ground, "Shit!" Her desperate voice whispered, "Get up, get up, get up!" Kaoru quickly followed her commands and stood up, but she had been too slow.

The men surrounded her, and she was stuck in the middle of a small circle, "Leave me alone!" She cried out as a man reached out and struck her face. Their own faces were invisible to her, somehow shadowed. The girl felt helpless, weak. She hated that feeling. That was the only way she had felt since the whole trials began, and she was sick of it. Somehow, her sword appeared in her hands, unsheathed. The men saw this and their white glowing eyes widened.

An odd sensation over came her body, and then she opened her black eyes. The dai katana was brought over her head and came down in a quick slash, slitting the throat of one of the men. What came next was a quick slaughter of the group of six. Blood covered the maid's body, dripping from her bangs and onto her face. The eyes flashed silver, and then returned to black, "Sleep now, Kaoru." The cool collected voice of Polaris spoke.

'I don't want to sleep!'

"But aren't you tired of feeling weak? You said so yourself. I am strong, I am trained, and I can use this sword." The calmness of the powerful being found in her voice.

She closed her eyes again, and they reopened as dark blue, "NO! I will be myself. I can use the katana as well as you. You know it. Stay out of this." She began shaking in a struggle for possession of her own body, as Polaris tried to come forth again.

'What must I do to make you see that you are better off asleep until Shishio is destroyed!'

"If I sleep I cannot learn!" A desperate cry uttered from her body. Kaoru felt her power over herself being lost. A few moments more, and Polaris would win.

"Kaoru!" Warm hands shook her shoulders. The petite woman sat up straight, leaving the warmth of his chest. She was shaking and sweating profusely. It sounded like the rain had stopped. Indeed, the night was chilled. The closed door and windows did not help to keep the cold out. Kaoru let out a cough.

"A dream." She whispered fearfully, "I pray to god it was only a dream." Her eyes were wide with a new fear. It seemed like a slight fever was taking over, as the assassin felt her immense body heat radiate.

"What was?" The red head asked, his worried eyes boring into her scared ones. He feared that she would make herself sick.

"Po-polaris. She… she nearly won and took over again. She is… stronger than me." Tears finally streaked her pale face, and Kenshin wrapped his arms around her and hushed her, "It's alright. Don't let fear overcome you. Shh…" They had both now shed their tears that night, for maybe the last time it could be allowed.

"Nee-chan…" A weak voice called out. A small form lay on a small cot in a darkened room. It was still and the rise and fall of a chest were the only signs that this being was alive.

Spiky hair covered the boy's head, and he slowly opened his chocolate eyes. He had a crude bandage wrapped around his chest. His shirt was ruined, and his pants were covered in his own blood. He did not dare to try and move. Yahiko wasn't quite sure as to how he had survived the gun shot. All he knew was that he had blacked out and woken up here, and that the enemy was probably keeping him alive just so they could use him as bait. He hoped with all his being that Kaoru was alright.

Hmm…. Not as long as the last chapter, but longer than my short chapters. I must say, thank you for reviewing! I am writing away. I don't think I beta'd this chapter very well… so forgive me. I am trying to make my updates weekly now. I have recently had the urge to write every day. Perhaps its my boredom in school that makes me want to write. BUT thats a good thing right? I will make the next chapter long. So... I might take two weeks, but probably not.

The second half of this chapter was REALLY hard to write. I had a difficult time figuring out how things should go and be said and I didn't really get much of a descriptive side to set the mood either. The first half I really am satisfied with… but bleh. Yahiko is alive? OO And guess who? Aoshi-sama and Misao. So, now I have all of the main characters involved. Sorry, I am not bringing Tsubame into the story. To many characters to worry about as is. And how the hell did they know that Hiko was supposed to meet Kenshin and what not? Maybe I'll tell you in the next chapter. Hope you liked and give me your thoughts.

Hotaru