Rating: PG-13

Firefly

The Prelude Continued.

Suddenly hearing a soft moan escape from the corner from the den, the young man looked over and saw a tiny figure stir. He had completely forgotten she was there. Sensing her vulnerable little body fidget in the dark, he couldn't help notice the irony of a renowned and merciless political assassin sitting in a den with a young girl.

For years, all his days and all his nights were covered in death, blood, alcohol, prostitutes, and other vulgarities that his many comrades – if one could call them that – enjoyed. Every night they slyly teased him for being so stubborn in his youth to refuse such luxuries and caused him to isolate himself on his own accord. He isolated himself to his duty to Lord Katsura; he isolated himself to the revolution; and he isolated himself to his own nightmares. The death haunted him. The blood and the gore tore him apart. But as the Battousai – and as broken soul – he showed no remorse or fear. All he had was his duty to the Choshu party and his duty to Japan.

But in recalling his earlier actions toward the girl, he began to question himself.

The way he held her; the way he looked at her; the way he spoke to her; they were all actions he thought he had long forgotten how to do.

A killer isn't supposed to have a soft spot…

Lifting his hand up to his brow, the young man sighed. What had he got himself into?

Awkwardly fumbling in the dark, Kaoru groggily propped herself up on the large slab of rock. Rubbing her eyes drowsily and blinking the sleep from her eyes, she shivered instinctively at the sharp chill in the air. She sensed a warm glow illuminating ahead of her and looked up. Apparently, the same young man that had carried her earlier had found an old den and built a fire.

Watching the alluring flames dance against his features, she admired how the dimensions of the shadows and light accentuated his features.

He glanced over as the girl's big curious eyes scanned her surroundings. Seeing her shiver a second time, he got up and walked over to her.

"Are you cold?"

Kaoru nodded. Undoing the straps of his coat, he shrugged it off and flung it around Kaoru's shoulders. It encompassed her completely.

"Come," his hand nudged her between the shoulder blades, "it'll be warmer by the fire."

Both of them shuffled to the small bonfire and sat down. The young man exhaled evenly and collapsed back to his position against the wall. Kaoru, a little uncomfortable with a heavy coat around her, fidgeted under the fabric before finally finding a comfortable position with it all bundled against her. Several moments passed by quietly as she indulged in the radiated warmth of the small fire.

"What were you doing out there by yourself?"

Somewhat caught off-guard by the sudden blunt question, Kaoru glanced up and looked at the young man. His eyes were not looking at her, but rather fixated on the flames. She dropped her gaze to the fire and wondered how he was able to stare at it without burning his eyes.

"I was chasing a firefly."

He smiled inwardly at her almost ridiculous answer.

"A firefly?"

Even though aware he wasn't looking, Kaoru nodded.

"I used to love chasing them when my mommy and daddy used to take me out to see them in the bushes. I saw one outside and I wanted to get it."

"And it flew it away so you chased it?"

She nodded again.

"Was the place I found you where your parents used to take you?"

"No. I…I don't know, maybe. It's been a long time since I went firefly watching."

The young man paused for a moment.

"And your parents? Why weren't they with you earlier? You know, it's dangerous for anyone to be walking around by themselves at night," he threw in another stick to the fire, "let alone a young girl."

Kaoru hesitated in her answer.

"My mommy and daddy weren't with me because they aren't around anymore." She paused, "I don't know where mommy is. Daddy told me that she went to visit grandma and grandpa in heaven, but I don't know where that is. I miss mommy a lot, and I didn't want daddy to leave too… but… something happened and daddy went away. I asked Dr. Gensai what happened and he told me today that daddy went far away to fight somewhere. He didn't tell me where he went… but I heard them before talking about a reb…reb—"

"Revolution."

Immediately, Kaoru's head snapped up to look at the young man.

"You know it?" Her searching eyes scanned his suddenly stagnant expression.

"You know of the reblushun?" She knelt up and inched toward him.

"If you do—then ... then you must know where daddy is!"

Tears welled at the corners of Kaoru's eyes as she stared hopefully at him. Unaware to the tension around him, her little hands grasped his sleeve and tugged his body toward her. Although all the muscles in his body tightened, the young man's eyes glanced over at the unexpected physical contact.

"If you know where daddy is… please tell me. Where is daddy?"

He felt something inside suddenly skip at meeting her gaze. Never would he have imagined that such a young girl could have so much ardency and depth in her eyes. Hiding whatever underlying emotion he had, the young man smiled as kindly as he could and placed his hand onto hers.

"There, there, calm down little one. I cannot lie and say I do not know of the revolution, but I can neither say I know the whereabouts of your dad."

A sliver of hope faded from the girl's eyes and her hands gripped tighter.

"But…but you must know where the reblushun is right? If you know where the reblushun is, then I'm sure daddy would be there too!"

The young man's lips pursed subtly as he paused in thought.

"The waves of revolution are occurring all through Japan. To tell you one location wouldn't only put you in danger, but it'd also do no use in terms of finding your father."

Kaoru's eyes dropped dejectedly. Losing her grip from his sleeve, she leaned back onto her heels.

"I'm sorry but I —"

"You're a liar."

He stopped at the accusation.

"What?"

The girl's hands trembled as she clenched them against her lap.

"I said… you're a liar!" Kaoru's head snapped back angrily to stare at the young man.

"You're lying! You know where my daddy is and you won't tell me!"

He tried to place his hand on her shoulder –

"I told you, I don't…"

She slapped it away.

"Stop it! Stop pretending! I see it in your eyes! You're lying!"

Shocked that a young girl could read his emotions so well, his stomach churned as he realized where the conversation might lead.

"Please, stop. Some things aren't mean to be known, little one, you need…"

"Stop calling me that! I am NOT little. My name is Kaoru Kamiya, the daughter of a great swordsman! I want to know where daddy is –"

The young man desperately tried to grab a hold of her shoulders, "Please Kaoru, stop…"

"—I want to know who those men are! –"

"Kaoru please…"

"—and I want to know what is this reblushun!"

A sudden rush of air closed the gap between the two bodies. The young man had pulled the feisty Kaoru into an almost crushing embrace.

Taking a moment to lose the numbness of surprise and realize what had happened, Kaoru noticed that blood was trickling down the side of her head. His left cheek was pressed tightly against her temple.

A deep warning escaped from his throat.

"Kaoru. You need to stop."

Characteristically stubborn and unwilling to compromise, she pushed as hard as she could out of his grasp. Looking aside while she tried to scramble backwards, Kaoru opened her mouth to further protest.

"No. You stop! You must be with the bad guys too… I heard that one say your name! Himura, he called you! Himura the Battou—"

"STOP!"

She froze.

A barrage of dirt and rubble exploded from the wall behind her. Terrified, Kaoru screamed and squeezed her eyes shut.

Moments passed in nerve-wracking silence as she waited to be attacked by another shadowed figure. Not sensing anything happening or feeling any pain, Kaoru slowly opened her eyes and nervously glanced up. What she saw caught her breath.

In front of her was the young man, hunched over, wheezing in raspy, fragmented, pants. His face was paled into an odd – almost seemingly suppressed - savage expression while his eyes blazed dangerously. Glowing brightly in the shadow of his body, Kaoru realized that his eyes were not actually glaring at her, but rather through her.

Hearing a crumble, Kaoru's fearful eyes followed the reach of his lean arm to beyond the side of her head. She saw that his hand was embedded into a rock slab in the wall. Watching his hand pull out from the pulverized rock-section, she saw that chunks of skin were sliced off the knuckles and his entire hand was covered in blood.

A rugged sigh emitted from his body and Kaoru cautiously turned back to look. The murderous look in the young man's eyes had flickered back to its original hue. Shocked at the outburst, she watched silently as he treaded back to his position at the wall behind the fire.

Not daring to make eye-contact, she focused her eyes on the darkness of the den. Seconds seemed to pass by in hours as the following tense silence blanketed them completely. After a few moments, a weary whisper broke Kaoru's thoughts.

"I'm sorry."

She turned her head hesitantly.

"I didn't mean to scare you like that. I just…I hate…"

He paused as if to carefully select his words.

"Don't call me Battousai. If you need to call me anything, call me Kenshin."

Nodding as a response, Kaoru sat pondering the meaning of the young man's name. She whispered it softly under her breath.

"Kenshin…Heart… of sword…"

Feeling the streaks of blood crusting on her temple, Kaoru reached up and rubbed off the burgundy flakes. Staring at the streaks on her fingers, she spoke before she realized it.

"Does it hurt? Your cut, I mean."

She turned her body toward Kenshin and leaned over to get a better look of his cheek. She was suddenly met by his calm face.

"No. It doesn't hurt." He lifted his bloody hand and smiled at her. "Anyway, with my hand like this, the cut is my last concern."

Seeing Kenshin as gentle as he was before, Kaoru lost her fear and crawled over to him. She stared at the raw skin on his hand.

"I'm sorry I made you angry." She looked up at him shamefully, "That looks like it hurts a lot."

Kenshin smiled lightly.

"Ah, all is forgotten. I don't blame you for what you said. You were concerned, that's all." He pulled up his sleeve, "As for my hand," he ripped the fabric with his teeth, "As soon as it's wrapped it'll be like new."

Watching him placidly wrap his hand, Kaoru suddenly caught sight of the long sheathed object lying propped up against Kenshin's shoulder.

"You carry a sword?"

Looking up, Kenshin followed her gaze to his shoulder.

"Why do you—?"

He stopped her.

"My apologies, Kaoru, but the less you know the better. There are some things that need to be kept secret."

Although curious as to why he carried a sword, Kaoru decided from experience to reframe from pursuing topics that the mysterious young man did not want to talk about.

She sat back on her heels and watched him continue wrapping his hand. Glancing over at his handsomely chiseled features, she couldn't help feel very intrigued, and somewhat, attached to Kenshin. Even though quite short-tempered and impatient just as many of her father's students had been, Kenshin had truly been nothing but kind to Kaoru. Whenever it seemed she was distressed or afraid, he was always able to comfort her in his gentle way. Further scanning his strong physique and fixed composure, Kaoru saw that the swordsman spirit exuded from him. She couldn't stop thinking if he had once been a student at her father's dojo.

Remembering the familial kindness her father's students had shown her as an infant and toddler, Kaoru wondered what it'd be like if Kenshin was her older brother. She began to think of the probability of that actually happening.

Just as Kenshin finished tying the cloth around his hand, a squeal and grumble echoed through the den. Following the sound of the noise, Kenshin found himself looking at Kaoru's flushed face.

"Are you hungry?"

She nodded sheepishly. He smiled at her embarrassment.

"Check the coat's pockets. I may have left something in them that you could eat."

"Aren't you hungry too?"

"I'm fine. You take care of yourself."

Pulling open the flaps of the trench coat, Kaoru reached into the lining's pockets and searched for something to eat. Digging around, her fingers caught something hard. She pulled out the object and found still partially wrapped in a wrapper. Turning the half-eaten bar over and tugging the wrapper to read it, Kaoru's forehead furrowed in puzzlement.

"Power…bar…chocolate? What's that?"

Kenshin looked over.

"Oh, that? It's an American energy bar."

Kaoru stared, confused. "Energy bar? What's that?"

"It's a bar that gives you all the nutrition and necessary protein and minerals without a lot of heavy foods."

"But… it says chocolate. It's candy right?"

"Well, not really but…" he saw that Kaoru only got more puzzled and sighed inwardly.

"Yes. It's a chocolate candy bar."

Her expression lightened and she bit into it. "Mm… I love chocolate."

As Kaoru nibbled contently, Kenshin focused his attention to the darkness outside. He cursed himself for not controlling his anger before. The other three Bakufu assassins had probably caught wind of his voice and were on their way to their hideout.

Suddenly, he sensed something.

Glancing up to, in her mind, her brother-to-be, Kaoru's body froze at seeing the abrupt change in Kenshin's demeanor.

His face was taut in austere consternation. Something was wrong.

"Kaoru," His voice was low and cautious. "I want you to remain calm and as quiet as you can."

Kaoru immediately stilled.

"What's… what's happening Kenshin?"

"Just stay calm."

Kenshin quickly stood up and stepped out the fire. Immediately overcome by darkness, Kaoru nervously dropped the bar on the ground, tightened the coat around her and slowly stood up.

"What's wro– ?"

"Shh," he whispered, "Stay still. I'll be right back."

Kenshin began to stealthily walk of the den when small rapid footsteps trailed behind him. Within less than a second, a little body collided into the back of his legs. Surprised, he looked down. Kaoru's little hands were clasped tightly around his thighs.

"Wait. Don't go," she whimpered, "I'm scared."

Smiling gently, Kenshin reached down to grab her hands and turned around. Kneeling down, he looked at her. Her deeply expressive eyes never ceased to amaze him. She was longing for him to stay with her.

"Kaoru. Don't be scared. I'll be back shortly."

"But… but what if something happens while you're gone? What if the bad men come? Please don't go, I don't want you to go."

"Kaoru, you will be safe here by yourself. If I'm here with you, I can't ensure your safety."

Her brows furrowed stubbornly, "But you saved me before—!"

"Shh… relax Kaoru. Everything will be alright. Just stay quiet and everything will be alright."

Tears were now cascading down her cheeks. "You protected me before. Can't you do it again?"

Kenshin sighed. He had grown attached to this sweet girl and did not want to lead the Bakufu's assassins to her. He needed to leave the hideout and lead the men as far away from her as he could. He could already sense their presence in the distance, and if he didn't leave now, Kaoru would be in grave danger.

Wishing that they had met under other circumstances, Kenshin sighed and wiped away her tears with his thumb.

"Kaoru, I can't. Those men are looking for me. I need to lead them away, far away, from you. If I stay here, you'll only get involved."

Kaoru shook her head.

"I don't care if I'm involved. I don't want the bad men to take you away. Please," Kaoru pleaded sorrowfully, "I'm scared. I don't want you to go."

Firmly grabbing her shoulders with both arms, Kenshin stared defiantly into her eyes. The intensely warm orbs of amber hypnotized Kaoru into a calm state of passivity.

"I have to."

Choking out a remorseful sob, she jumped into his arms and buried her head into his shoulder.

"I don't want you to go…"

Holding Kaoru gently as she cried into his shoulder, Kenshin's downcast eyes clouded with regret as he came to a difficult decision. He sighed softly.

"Kaoru, has anyone ever told you about the fireflies?"

She shook her head.

"When fireflies are larvae, when they're babies, they glow as a warning sign to predators. They glow as to protect themselves." He gently pushed Kaoru off his body so as to see her face, "Kaoru, I want you to be a firefly. Don't be scared. Let your strength be your light and let all the predators know that you are not afraid of them. Your strength is something they can never take away."

"But Kenshin, I don't want to be a firefly. I want to stay with you. Please, if you stay I promise I'll be good. I'm sure Dr. Gensai will let you come stay with us. I'm sure of it!"

She jumped back into his chest and hugged him.

"Please."

Knelt still as a stone, Kenshin knew that it was now or never. Kaoru's reaction had been exactly as he had planned.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. I must go."

Her little body froze sadly against him and his hand slowly reached down to her neck. A sad mutter escaped her.

"Promise me, you'll come back."

He rested his hand behind her neck.

"Kaoru I…"

She lifted her head up, "Promise me, you'll come back."

Unable to deny a child her hopeful dream, Kenshin regretfully smiled and answered.

"I promise."

With that last line, he quickly struck a pressure point on the nape of her neck. Kaoru immediately fell limp in his arms. Tightly wrapping his large coat around her little body, Kenshin picked her up and once again placed her on the stone slab at the back of the den.

"I'm sorry Kaoru."

Turning back to the entrance of the den, the mysterious young man wrapped his hand around the deathly weapon at his waist and disappeared into the night.

Prelude End.

A/N: So… as it turns out, 'dialogue' isn't exactly my friend (heh). I can't tell you how many times I had to revise this scene to get it somewhat acceptable. I know that this second part of the prelude is much shorter than the first one and left some open ends, but I assure you, once the actual story begins, you'll begin to see the importance of this scene. Oh! And thank you already for the wonderful reviews. They always help me improve and let me know what it is you all like or are curious about. )