I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any or the characters for that matter.

What can be seen through the eyes of an observer?

He saw her standing before the window of a storefront looking at the kimonos. She was absolutely stunning in every way possible. Never had he met such a flawless woman. He needed to spend more time with her, to soak up her beauty and poise. She was inside his thoughts and there was no way to remove her now. "Miss Kaoru, by the end of this festival you will have fallen in love with me and be mine."

The fastest way to the clinic was through a series of back alleyways which even though it made Kaoru somewhat uneasy, she was in too much of a rush to take the long route. She had successfully made it through the first alley and feeling a little safer, she slowed down to catch her breath. Unfortunately for her this was not a smart idea.

Two men came stumbling down the path, coming to a complete stop when they had seen her. Devilish grins swept across their faces as they slowly made their way up to the unsuspecting girl. Kaoru could sense the presence of someone but was to late to defend herself from the predators. The taller one of the two grabbed her from behind, cupping her mouth with his large hand. Her attempt to break free had failed. The grip that he had on her was much too strong. The other man came into view of her terrified eyes.

"Looks like we have a feisty one on our hands Yuri" he smirked then ran his hand across her thigh. "She's a cutie though that's for sure" his other hand made it's way across her collarbone.

She continued to struggle under the man's grasp. As the other man's hand made it's way further down her yukata she panicked and with all her strength raised her leg, kicking him in the face. He was sent back against the wall, holding his nose that was now gushing blood. While the man holding her was distracted she bit the hand over her mouth and as it released she screamed the only thing that came to mind.

"KENNNSHIIINNNN!"

Kenshin had been observing the kimonos that Kaoru was looking at before, debating which one would look better one her. "Hmm...the pink one with the golden flowers would really bring out that adorable color in her cheeks when she blushes...but oh the blue one with the light purple obi would be lovely too...Alas she is just to beautiful to decide." All of a sudden a wave of nerves over powered him. He knew this feeling quite well.

"Kaoru-dono!"

As fast as she had been free she was captured once again by the tall man. It didn't take long for the other one to recover from her sudden blow and with that he came at her with a rage.

"You little bitch!" was the last thing Kaoru heard the man scream as his fist pounded into her skull. She went limp in the man's arms. "All of this trouble from some dumb broad..."

Footsteps were heard at the top of the alleyway. A stranger in a light brown gi stood calmly, staring them down with his piercing blue eyes. "I'm sorry but Kamiya Kaoru is not some 'dumb broad'. I don't appreciate the fact that you have disrespected her and you will not get away with it."

The men snorted and one pulled out a large switchblade. "Hey hotshot I don't think it's any of your business! You don't know who you are messing with!"

"Obviously I don't" the stranger said with a heavy sigh. "To bad I will never find out." Reveling his long sword from its sheath, that was the last thing the men saw before everything went blank.

The man rolled his eyes at the unconscious thugs. Fortunately for them he only touched their pressure points. "I suppose they will have learned their lesson." He quickly scooped up Kaoru into his arms because he was feeling the presence of another. Turning in the other direction the man walked away from the scene.

On the rooftop of a building adjacent to the alley, Kenshin crouched in shock. He had made it to his destination in time but there was no saving that involved him. Again he felt a pain run deep inside of his body. 'Seeing this allows me to understand that I am no longer capable of protecting her. I have failed...My love."

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There was a cooling sensation pressing against Kaoru's forehead making her eyes faintly flutter open. 'I'm alive. I'm all right. Kenshin he had came for me. My love...'

"Ken...shin..." she softly exhaled. A few more seconds had gained her eyes the power to slowly open. A different pair of eyes tentatively gazed at her, ones that took her back, almost into shock.

"Sadly I am not Himura San...Gomen Miss K-"

"Tomonori San...but...how..?"

He smiled warmly when she said his name. He didn't know how to explain to her how he had rescued her. He couldn't exactly tell her that he was following her.

"I heard the scream of a young woman and as the duty of any respectful man, came to the investigate."

She responded to this with a small laugh. "It's just that simple for someone like you Tomornori San, isn't it?" Kaoru hadn't even noticed that she was blushing.

Itsuki chuckled at her question. 'She is so adorable when she blushes like that.'

"Sometimes…or maybe it's just your beauty that calls out to me." he said unfazed.

Kaoru now felt the heat of her blushing and turned away from him. She was never flattered with such skillfulness. 'How can I sit here and receive these compliments when he saved me once again. I owe him my life.'

Attempting to rise to her feet she glanced over at him "Tomonori San I can't find the words to thank you. I owe you so muaahhhh!" Her body still had not recovered from her recent ordeal and without warning her knees gave in. Itsuki's reflexes came into play, wrapping one arm around her waist and the other behind her head.

"You've got to take it easy Miss Kaoru. I don't want you to get hurt pushing yourself over physical capability. At the moment you need rest."

Somewhere inside of her current mindset she was all right to be in the arms of Tomonori Itsuki. Without a response she allowed him to place her back on the futon. 'Yes, I must rest…and at the moment…I am safe.' Kaoru closed her eyelids ascending into a needed sleep.

Itsuki exhaled heavily when he knew that she was finally asleep. Taking in every part of her angelic figure, he smiled. 'She makes me happy, something that I have not felt in a very long time. Soon she too will be happy too…with me. The only thing that bothers me is Kenshin Himura…he might cause some disturbance. But no worry…after all the great Battosai wasn't much trouble for me in the past….'

A/N: Gaahhhhh! Please review it's the only way I can continue! Actually that's sort of a fib, I just get bad writer's block sometimes. Your reviews give me energy! Hope you like it so far