"What are you writing, witch?" Yahiko said, grabbing at Midoriko's red book. "Cmon...lemme see."
"I'm a miko. And I was trying to think of a way to make your outside reflect your putrid inner self." Midoriko retorted.
Kenshin chuckled in spite of himself, and she smiled at him.
"Kenshin." Midoriko came over. "Please let me walk you to your room."
Kenshin looked at her. Was she trying to protect him from something?
"Thank you, but I don't need—"
"But I insist." Midoriko pressed.
Kenshin stopped. He sensed an evil aura.
"Kenshin...I will make this city mine..." the demon said.
"This is my city." Kenshin said. "I warned you once before. Begone!"
"I cannot wait to see your face...when you see my leader." The demon said.
Kenshin moved his hand to his pocket drawing three leaves when an arrow flashed by his face, destroying the demon.
"I had a feeling something was stalking you, Kenshin." Midoriko said. "Way to go facing off with it like that. You almost looked like a real demon."
She smiled at him, took his hand and lead him downtown.
Xxx
Sanosuke sat on the rooftop of Hikawa Shrine and looked down, watching Midoriko and Kenshin.
Normally he wouldn't care, but he had a soft spot for Midoriko.
Sanosuke couldn't let anything bad happen to her; and he had a bad feeling.
He climbed down, and followed them.
Xxx
Kenshin held Midoriko's hand as the two walked home.
Bundled in in her arms was a fox plushie (he understood the irony) and a duck bath toy. He held in his other hand a bag containing a chocolate truffle dessert for Yahiko—it had been Midoriko's suggestion.
He had never felt like this for a human other then a family member, and even so his feelings for Midoriko were different then the natural protective urge he felt for the city and its people.
Kenshin's eyes flickered to her face. She feigned innocence, but she was a miko. She must know him for what he was; but she did not out him, and made no mention of it. She waited for him to speak of it.
Everything, her scent, her reiki, the sound of her voice—drew him in. There was only one explanation—this little miko was his mate.
As he came to this realization however, a demon in black brandishing a sword, Sanosuke, leapt upon them. Kenshin lifted Midoriko into his arms and leapt back.
"Consorting with a priestesss...or is she your next victim?" Sanosuke said, attacking.
Kenshin drew his blade and, unceremoniously dropping Midoriko and their parcels, went to battle.
"Kenshin! Let me help!" Midoriko stood and drew her sword from beneath her shirt.
"No! Stay there!" Kenshin growled at her, and drew Sanosuke into the darkness.
As soon as he was gone a demon appeared and reached out to Midoriko.
"KENSHIN!"
XXX
Sanosuke slept and he dreamed.
A woman fighting beside him. Always.
And the same ending, always the same ending.
"Brother..." a woman's voice. She had long dark hair. Her eyes were blue, face blurred. "Brother please...find me..."
He reached out to her, his burning hand touching her pale skin. A lonesome broken cry ripped through the darkness.
"Brother!"
Xxx
"Good you're awake." Kenshin said. "Four hours is a fast healing rate."
Kenshin looked at Sanosuke. "You called for someone in your sleep. Your sister."
"Hn..." Sanosuke snapped.
He stood, putting his shirt on.
"I'm going." Sanosuke stood. "And you...surely you heard her calling?"
"I heard." Kenshin said. "I'm coming with you. We've wasted enough time already...what should I call you?"
"Sanosuke." Sanosuke said.
The two were off, into the night.
xxx
"Sanosuke. Kenshin. How nice to see you." Sadako purred at them.
She was a tall, pale onryo with sunken dark eyes and extremely long dark hair. She wore a white dress, but it was coated in blood.
"I just finished my dinner." Sadako said, eyes boring into Kenshin. "She was delicious."
Kenshin's eyes flashed gold and he attacked, but just as his blade almost made contact, Sadako's eyes flashed blue.
"Please don't hurt me Kenshin!" Midoriko cried.
Kenshin jerked back as if stung.
"I'll kill her then." Sanosuke snapped.
Kenshin put a hand on his chest, growling. "Don't touch her."
"That is your mate? You choose that?" Sanosuke growled back at him. "Fine then. But she's baiting you. And I still have questions for that monster."
Sadako took control back.
"Relax the both of you." Sadako smiled. "I was given new life. It's beautiful...rather like you, Kenshin?"
"Don't compare us!" Kenshin snapped.
In a sudden move, Sanosuke and Kenshin had their weapons to her neck.
"You'll destroy your only chance for happiness Kenshin?" Sadako said. "If I die so does she!"
In response he pressed the blade harder against her throat.
"Finish her." Sanosuke said.
"I intend to." Kenshin said
Before they could stop her she was holding Kenshin by the throat, crushing his windpipe.
He choked, reaching out to her. He mouthed one word, the only word he was thinking of.
"Mi...do...ri...ko..."
Midoriko awoke.
She looked around her, at the blood, at everything, and let out a horrified scream.
Xxx
"Kenshin..." Midoriko leaned on his shoulder. "I had a nightmare."
"Yes. You hit your head. I'm taking you home." Kenshin said.
"Yes...a bad dream..." Midoriko leaned her head against him. "K-Kenshin..."
She slipped into unconsciousness.
"An amnesiac pill." Sanosuke said. "You are a masochist. She is your mate. No matter what you do, you will long for her, pine for her. You can't keep making her forget the pain."
"It doesn't matter." Kenshin said. "She will be happy. That's all I care about."
"Who are you trying to convince? Me? Or yourself?" Sanosuke asked. "And...I never heard your name."
"It's Kenshin."