Chapter 13: Choices at Sword Point

Kaoru's POV

I still can't believe it. It's been three hours since we got back to HARM and they still don't know how we're going to get Kenshin back. I wanted to scream, to jump up and shake that idiotic calm expression Aoishi's face, to trash the stupid library I'm sitting in right now, hell I wanted to destroy the world for all I care!

As long as I got Kenshin back.

I calmed down a bit and recollected my thoughts. I looked about the exquisitely furnished library for something to occupy my anxious hands. My fingers randomly selected a handsomely bounded book in a deep scarlet colored cover, and I began flipping threw the heavily stocked pages absentmindedly, not even caring that the book was upside down.

Think Kaoru…Okay, Sano bridal-carried me into the black hummer, Megumi shouted some random orders for the medic to take care of Sano (he was hurt pretty bad but he still insisted on carrying me; I was too shocked to argue). Misao comforted me while my wounds were attended to, my head bandaged, and a few pills popped in my mouth.

On the way back to headquarters and after a few minutes of lecture from Megumi because I had diverged from the mission objectives, Sano and I sat there and explained what happened. I felt myself shake with the weariness and complexities of it all, the flash of video playing in my head of Kenshin's slow breathing with a sword pointed dangerously at his neck. I kept shivering.

Sano must have noticed my distress because he sat there and answered Megumi and Misao as they questioned us relentlessly.

And after the ride and a chat with Aoishi, here I am stuck in the library with only Aoishi to look at. That annoyingly handsome face that almost could knock me off my feet was now agitating me like a stupid fly that had a thing for buzzing right into my eyes persistently.

Dammit.

"Well, I said everything I needed to say! I have to go back and get Kenshin!" I said loudly, standing up from the soft leather chair and slamming my hand down on the desk for emphasis.

Aoishi merely gazed at me from behind a pair of rimless glasses, his beautiful steal-blue eyes boring down into me. He was trying to intimidate me. It wasn't going to work.

Aoishi sighed at the futile attempt and took off his glasses, his long tapered fingers massaging at his temples.

"Listen, Kaoru. I know you want to get the Battousai back like everyone else here, but probably with more enthusiasm. But I have no guarantee that even if you do go there and get your memory revamped, that Kenshin will even go free. Do you understand? Your sacrifice would be futile."

I stared at him, loathingly, before slowly sitting down again. "I know that. But I want to take that chance," I murmured halfheartedly, knowing I was defeated.

"You are an idiot then. The Battousai wouldn't want you to sacrifice yourself on the account of him. He's a one-man team, like any other assassin. If he is to be saved, it would be by himself and himself alone. I know what you heard from Mr. Yukishiro," he said with a little more authority as I had just opened my mouth to argue. "But, it seems we can't quite trust him. My spy has answered that much already."

"Spy?"

Aoishi's mouth curved into a all-knowing-grin. "Yes I do have a very trusted spy in the NOIR network. I don't think you've met that person."

I shrugged, indifferent. "So what should I do?"

"Wait."

Sano's POV

"OWW!! God woman!! I'm not a freaking pincushion!" I yelled as Megumi ruthlessly stuck another suture to seal up my chest wound. She had given me a paralyzing drug and some pain killers, but it still hurt like hell. Okay…I do like the feel of her hands on my chest but I would prefer that feeling in a much different atmosphere and circumstances.

"Oh stop being a baby. I'm almost done. Now, I know the whole story about what happened, and I'm surprised Kaoru is showing this much emotion. I've never seen her like this. When she got into the HumV, she looked shocked beyond words. I figured something had happened, especially since she disobeyed orders."

She jabbed again with that damn curved sickle shaped thing and I had to yelp out loud. Is it just me or she stabbing me harder than what's necessary?

I kept seeing Kenshin in my mind; he looked so weak with the bandages and stuff in the video feed that bastard was showing us in the Archives room. I wanted to strangle that Yukishiro bastard, but the little missy came first and I had save her in Kenshin's stead. She loved that little red-haired devil and if something isn't done right now, she'll never be able to show her true feelings to him.

I looked up from the soft bed I lay on and took a strand of that foxy woman's hair that lay innocently across my chest, tickling me as she kept jabbing me. I fingered the lock of silky dark hair and I couldn't help but blurt out.

"You're really hot, you know that?"

Megumi stopped torturing me and looked down in my eyes with those beautiful dark brown eyes of hers. I was ready for another painful needle in my chest but she merely tied the thin string off and laid the needle down on the steel tray attached to my bed.

"What?" I asked incredulously, waiting for some kind of outburst of outrage from her.

"You really are an idiot."

I couldn't help but blush. She left my side and exited through the door. But before she had left, she laid a kiss on my forehead with those tantalizingly soft lips of hers.

God, I'm in love.

Kaoru's POV

"We're getting a feed from NOIR. Shall I let it through?" Misao's surprisingly serious voice said through the desk's speaker phone.

"Yes," Aoishi grunted, looking at the flat wall panel screen that flashed on.

Enishi's arrogant and handsome face appeared on screen.

"Hello, Kaoru. You left in such a hurry, I didn't get to tell you what happened to Kenshin. He will die. You see, he got injured pretty badly and I'm running out of patience for your answer," he said smugly pausing for a few moments.

"Bastard, if you hurt one hair on his head…" I muttered angrily.

He laughed. Okay, now I can say I'm thoroughly pissed.

Aoishi however, intervened before I could say some smart retort. "So what are your conditions for the Battousai's safety?"

"You know what I want. Kaoru Kamiya. I want you to go back to your mansion by midnight tonight. If you are not there by then, Kenshin is killed."

He motioned behind him and the camera focused in on Kenshin's almost still form with two menacing figures beside him, their eyes gleaming. One was a tall wolfish man with an evil face and dark eyes while the other looked quite benign and happy with almost childlike features. They both held swords.

"When you get to the mansion, Soleir, your butler, will bring you back to me. After being contacted you made it, we'll send Kenshin alive and well back to HARM. Deal?"

"No," Aoshi said firmly before I could even utter a syllable. "How do we know you won't go back on your deal?"

"The Battousai will be in the house waiting to be taken. We swear we will not hurt him or keep him any further as a hostage. He will be safe and alive in your custody. I only ask that Kaoru comes alone. I'll be aware of any additional forces. And if I do see someone besides Kaoru, Kenshin will be killed immediately."

I was growing more anxious by the second, as if I was sitting on a time bomb. I didn't want to go. But if I didn't, Kenshin would be dead. But I would rather go then have Kenshin die…

"Kaoru…"Aoishi started but I cut him off by saying loudly, "Okay, asshole. I'll go. But Kenshin better be safe. I will kill myself if he's hurt."

If Enishi was shocked by statement he didn't show it. But I could feel Aoishi's shock. Well he'll survive.

"Alright, Kaoru. You better get ready. You have 6 hours before its midnight. See you my love," he added almost wistfully and then the feed was broken.

"Kaoru! What in the hell are you thinking!" Aoishi yelled at me a few moments later. Misao had entered the room by then carrying a large goblet of red wine to buffer the expected explosion. It didn't work.

"Aoishi…" I started exasperatedly. "I'm not going to give myself up. My past is important to me, to Kaoru, not to a deceased person like Tomoe. I will always stay Kaoru. I have a plan but you're going to have to trust me. If my theory works, we'll get Kenshin back as well as my memories. It's going to be tough but bear with me." And I began explaining my hypothesis with Aoishi and Misao, praying all the while it would work.

Kenshin's POV

That bastard. If I wasn't strapped up in this damn medical crap I would wrench his damn head off his neck.

He was going to trap Kaoru. That little gleam in his eyes while he told me what was about to happen said I was going back to HARM safe and sound alright. But it looked like I would never see Kaoru again. He had to be lying…Kaoru would never…never become his pretty little doll on her own free will, right?

Okay everyone!! Well from the number of reviews i got for the last two chapters, people didn't really like my Kenshin flashback...sorry! I knkow it shoudl have been better but i had to do it! It's my decsion and I'm sticking by it! Anyways, I hope everyone likes this chapter (and again hoping for a bundle of reviews tomorrow morning::crosees fingers::) If you haven't noticed i fixed a few of my previous chapters due to quite a few mistakes that were caught by readers (thanks everyone!) so yeah if you go time check them out! I hope you enjoy this chapter and please R &R! Till next time!

-Kish