Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Five:

'Oh Kami, what am I ever going to do? I'm only 17 for crying out loud. Other girls my age would be in schools, studying hard, having friends, getting crushes. . . And what am I doing? Sitting here thinking of how to solve my money problems. Great!' Kaoru sighed.

Yawn

"Guess I better catch up on some sleep. No point thinking when I'm sleepy." She said as she stretched her tired body and prepared to lay down on the wooden bench. She was so preoccupied with her own lamented thoughts that she was oblivious to another's presence on the other side of the bench.

"Ha. . . .AH!" She suddenly screamed and jumped when noticed that she had lay upon the red hair stranger.

"GOMEN! I didn't see you there. You see I was so… so... I… I was thinking… Oh., nevermind. I didn't mean to scare you. Sorry." Kaoru stammered, her cheeks burning and flushing like rosy apples.

She raised an eyebrow when she noticed that the red head still remained as emotionless as a stone pillar. He did not show a single sign of alarm nor anger. Instead he just sat there, eyes closed, arms folded, not paying any attention at all to what Kaoru's saying. Kaoru tried to take a peek of how he would look like, but to no avail, as his face was hidden behind his red bangs.

She soon gave up, and once more settled herself down on the other side of the bench. Silence filled the air. None of them spoke; each seemed to be in deep concentration. In the red head's case, he was meditating; Kaoru on the other hand, was reminiscing of her past, and how she and siblings came about to Kyoto.

After Kaoru's parents had passed away, she and her brothers, had been sent by the council to live in an orphanage, until someone adopted them, or they were old enough to take care of themselves During those days, the threesome had always dreamed to get out of the place they presently lived. It was not as if it was a bad place to be in, it was just that, they did not want to risk being separated from one another.

Their chance finally came. One day, as Sano was trying to climb down the window of the orphanage to try to escape, he slipped. Fortunately, at that time, a man known as Captain Sagara saved him. Captain Sagara was a navy officer. His wife of six years had filed for a divorce when she met someone else. He never remarried nor have any children of his own. Thus, after his incident with Sano, he took pity on the threesome, and decided to adopt them.

He bought them new clothes, brought them to the best restaurant to have their meals, and even wanted to send them to school. It seemed as though things had finally turned for the best, yet sadly a year later, Captain Sagara was killed at sea.

Captain Sagara had left a will leaving half of his assets to his three adopted children. The other half was to be donated to charities. But alas! Along came his estranged wife when she had heard of her ex-husband's death. She was furious that he had not left her in his will. But like others would say, there was no need to. She could not accept the fact and hired a sleazy underground lawyer to alter Captain Sagara's will.

The new will then hereby stated that all his assets were to be left in her name and that of her new toy boy. Nothing was to be given to theses three poor children and the chosen charities that were supposed to be bestowed with Captain's Sagara's gifts were bluntly cut out of the will and denied.

Sano was subjected to more hurt and anger which he bottled deep in his little broken heart. To him, Captain Sagara had become his second father. Therefore, after his death, Sano decided to carry on his surname, and thus be known as Sagara Sanosuke.

He vowed revenge and that he would make big bucks and never be poor or unwanted again. He didn't care how or what way, he was just going to do it. He began mixing around with bad company, who taught him the ways of drinking and gambling.

As for Kaoru and Yahiko, they had no one else to turn to, so they decided to peddle illegal goods along the streets. At night, they would sleep in one of Tokyo's deepest, darkest alleyways, in hope that their future will change for the better.

As the years past, Sano's attitude had become worst than ever. He would steal money from his younger siblings when he had no money, and often whacked them if they refused. He further indulged in gambling and soon began to take up an interest in drug dealing.

During those times, Kaoru had never given up hope. Instead she prayed everyday that one day her brother would change for the better. That day finally came, when Sano was caught by the authorities for drug trafficking. He was sent to a boy's home and occasionally had to go for counseling. His only two visitors were none other then Kaoru and Yahiko.

Sano thus realized his folly, and made an oath to his sister that when he was released, he will make it up to them. He would turn over a new leaf, and work the honest way.

After two years, Sano had finally served his term. He began looking for a job to support his younger siblings and most importantly provide them a place to stay. He soon found a job that allowed him to work as a tycoon's bodyguard.

The threesome lived under the shelter provided by the tycoon, as Sano had to be constantly on duty for his boss's safety. To be honest, they weren't too happy with the arrangement. Not only was Yahiko constantly being bullied because of his age, Kaoru was often 'mistaken' as a prostitute. Sano soon realized that for his siblings' safety, they had to leave.

However, it would not be that easy for them to leave just yet; Sano had signed a contract with the Tycoon that stated that he was to serve him with his absolute loyalty and can only leave the gang by means of death. Thus, they knew they had to come up with a plan, a good one as a matter of fact. They decided to first steal some valuables to pay for some items, like their train tickets. Then, when the time was ripe, they escaped, leaving behind the trail of unpleasant memories which they swore never to remember again.

Just then the cry of a heron rang through the air, startling Kaoru back into reality. She watched it flew by and tears welled up in her eyes.

At the seaside, stood a man filled with sorrow. His heart felt empty and hope was a thread about to break. The need to build back the faith was the last restraining project on his mind. Next to him, stood a young girl, about the age of seven.

"Daddy, where's mummy?"

The man looked at his innocent daughter as he replied: "She's gone to a place far away Kaoru."

"Where?"

"It's a place where there are no suffering, no pain. Where love and happiness last for eternity."

"Wow! When will she come back?"

"Not for the moment Kaoru, not now."

"Why not? Don't she love us no more?"

"Of course she does. She will always love you and your brothers no matter what, Kaoru. You see there are some things that you can see with your eyes, yet there are also others that you can only see through your heart."

"I don't understand daddy."

"You will one day, my daughter, you will."

"I wish she'll come home soon. I have so much to tell her." sniffed the little girl.

Upon hearing this, the man took out a small piece of paper and a pen. He then wrote some words onto it, and then folded into crane.

"Here you go little Kaoru." he said as he handed the small girl the paper crane..

"What's this for daddy?"

"It's a message crane. Next time you have something to tell your mummy, all you have to do is to write them down onto a piece of paper. Then fold it into a paper crane and allow it to be carried away into the sea. As the sea is vast and will roll like eternity so will the cycle of birth. Traditions say these cranes will float to the other side of the world and mummy will be waiting to pick it up."

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm sure of it."

"Yippee!"

After which, the young Kaoru made sure she wrote a letter to her mother and folded it into a crane every day. She would walk along the shores and let it sail. However after her father passed on, she stopped doing so, and had completely forgotten about it. . . till now.

"Oh mother. . . how much I wish you were with me now." Kaoru said, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

As the red head heard Kaoru's cries, he opened his eyes. His pupils were balls of amber against the dilute of white.

"Fears and tears are the worst enemy of mankind."

Kaoru looked up from her position, and with her sapphire eyes she looked into the direction of the stranger who has finally spoken.

"Wh. . .what?"

She waited for him to repeat, but all she got was a monotonous of calm from him.

At that moment, Kaoru could not take this from him any longer. Not only was he as still as a stone statue, his heart also seem to be made of icicles.

"For your information, fears are the depths of humility." Kaoru said as she wiped the tears out of her eyes

"And the tears that had been shed are the feelings of sorrow in humanity." She concluded as she looked away from the redhead, waiting for what he has to say next.

But what she did not expect to hear was this:

"Hmph, foolish woman! Only the weak succumb to these two,"

The moment Kaoru heard this, she felt as though she was about to erupt with anger, her fury savaging like lava seeping from a volcano.

However, as she turned to face the stranger, he was gone. As though he was never there in the first place.

"Oooo! Who the hell is he? If fate were to relent and I were to see him the next time, I will personally. . AARG!" She screamed as she stormed back to her apartment.

Battousai lurked among the shadows of the trees, as he observantly watched Okita. He had been spying on Okita for the past two nights, and had taken note his every action, movement and perhaps even the way he defends himself with his swordplay.

He could see that Okita was as close to Saitou, as a son would be with his father. Almost every single detail about the Shinsengumi and its components, Saitou would share it with the young lad. Even during their missions, the first person Saitou would look out for would be Okita, or so as Battousai observed.

It would definitely prove to be a most difficult task to break those two apart so as to carry out his mission.

Yet, despite that fact alone, Battousai felt that the time to strike would eventually come soon. He would continue to remain in the shadows of darkness, watching Okita like how a predator watches its prey.

BANG

"KAORU! Where have you been? Do you know how worried I am?"

"Yes Yahiko, I. . . " But before Kaoru could finish her sentence, Yahiko interrupted.

"No you don't! Look at the time, it's already noon time! You've been out all night and had just only returned! I thought you died or something. . . " the boy frantically cried out.

"Relax, Yahiko! I'm perfectly fine! See, no injuries or what so ever!" Kaoru replied, trying her very best to calm the young lad down. Yet, instead of getting an answer, she received a hug from him.

"You Baka head!" cried the boy, "Do you know I was afraid. Afraid that I will lose you like how I lost Otousan and Okaasan. I don't ever want to feel that pain again. . ." he said as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Kaoru hugged her brother back; she finally remembered her motive of her living this vagrant life. It was none other then her brothers. She did not ever want them or even herself to feel the same sense of loneliness they felt a long time ago.

"Silly Yahiko-chan. I'm not going anywhere for a long time. I want to live long enough to see you become a successful person you said you would become. I want to live long enough to see our lives change for the better. I want to live on to take care of you.. . .and Sano."

(Sniff)"You sure?"

"Hai hai. I would never lie to you about such things."

"That's good," he said, releasing his sister from the hug. "And DON'T EVER CALL ME YAHIKO CHAN AGAIN!" He burst out shouting in irritation. "That would make me look and sound like a small boy."

Kaoru giggled at the comment. She was glad to have finally rediscovered her reason for living on. And she promised never to forget it again.

"By the way, where is Sano?"

"He felt guilty about telling you off, that he simply just left. Location? Not too sure. . ."

'Figures. . . ' Thought Kaoru.

"Oh yeah! You still haven't told me where you went."

"Oh…yeah! You see, after Sano. . ." Kaoru then began her story about how she arrived at the park, and how she had chanced upon that very odd stranger.

". . . and that idiotic red-head simply just left without hearing my explanation.! Urgh! I never knew I'd meet such arrogant people here in Kyoto!"

"Chill sis! No matter how angry you get now, he wouldn't just reappear."

"You're right. What matters now is to find some dough."

"But how? Don't tell me you are going to ask us to start peddling again!"

Kaoru thought for a moment; peddling goods was no longer a good idea to earn money any more. Yahiko was still too young to handle heavy work and Sano was too much of a drunkard to rely on. . . so that leaves only her.

"Don't worry, Yahiko! I believe there must be a job that is suitable for me here in Kyoto. You just concentrate on practicing your kendo moves. I'll handle the rest."

'I hope. . . .' she thought.

Night soon fell. The winds howled through the air and crickets were singing silently in the background.

"Okita, are you absolutely sure you can collect this on your own?"

"Yes, I am sure of it sir!"

Saitou thought for a while, he knew that during these past days, someone or some thing was watching them, especially Okita. Yet he was unable to find out the truth, not only was there no battle aura present, it seems that he could sense the any feelings or emotions from the spy at all. It made him felt uneasy at the thought of what may happen to Okita if that 'thing' was to strike his move.

Thus, he made sure he was always near the boy, to ensure that he was safe from all dangers until he, himself has found that 'thing', and rid them the trouble once and for all.

"Sir, I know with my abilities, I will definitely be able to handle this case. It's just going back to the scene to collect some clues."

"Still. . . it's far too dangerous for you to go alone."

"But I wish not to trouble others, Sir!"

'The boy's skills are still not up to it, even if I sent an whole army with him, that 'thing' would still be able to get them all!'

"Sir?"

". . . No! It's far too dangerous for you to go back there. I would go there personally with you tomorrow. Besides, it's late, who knows what else may be there at this time of the night."

"But Sir. . ."

"Not buts, my decision is final! Now if you would excuse me, I have a meeting with the board of directors about the present new cases coming up. You are dismissed."

"Hai!"

Okita made his out of Saitou's door, and into the misty hallway. He felt disappointed, Saitou used to trust him with almost everything. In fact he was Saitou's right-hand man. The man he could depend on always, yet now. . . he felt that he was nothing more than a mere lackey. He could not understand the sudden change in Saitou's behavior. True, that lately he too has had the feeling of being watched, but every time he checked, nothing else surrounded him but air and mist.

"Nevertheless, I must get to the bottom of this. No way am I going to let this 'thing' put me down like that. I have to show Saitou what I am made of." Okita whispered to himself as he marched his way out of the station, with his trusty Katana, hanging loosely by his side.

Yet, unbeknownst to the naïve swordsman, in the nearby darkness, amber eyes had seen what had happened. And with a sinister smirk, he knew that Okita's time was up.