Summary: When Kenshin hears about Shishio's betrayal at the hands of the Ishin Shishi, he is determined to find the truth about his former comrade's death. His quest for vengeance leads him to several top members of the former revolutionary outfit, but when someone starts beating him to the kill, Kenshin realizes all is not as it seems. BKK.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. I just like to spin stories about the characters.

Rating: T

The Battousai's Return

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Chapter Two

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Recap

He stood over her, watching her limp form on the bed. The effect of the drug would be over shortly, he had handcuffed her to a bedpost. He knelt next to her, and gently traced her jaw with one finger. He sat there, silently for a few minutes before walking away. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Katsura." He rasped.

"B-Battousai". A voice stammered from the other end of the line.

"I have the girl. Now, you ready to sing or not?"

End of Recap

The silence across the line stretched into minutes. Kenshin waited patiently. He was in no hurry. Hurrying implied low confidence and nervous, and he was neither low on confidence nor nervous. Although he was beginning to feel very uneasy about his former role in the Ishin Shishi, his modus operandi was too refined and disciplined to change. He could wait. There was a faint shuffle at the other end. Katsura was probably fumbling in his robes for his inhaler. A few hasty clicks and deep breaths later the conversation was alive once again.

"B…Battousai?"

"Well hello Dorothy! Thank you for waking up. Although I must admit, I'm getting very impatient with you." Kenshin leaned back in his chair and propped his legs up on the table. The apartment was a small but luxurious studio on top of one of the most exclusive buildings in Tokyo. From his vantage point, he could see the door leading outside, and more importantly the bed where Kaoru's limp form was resting.

"For heaven's sake Battousai, don't…don't hurt her." Katsura's voice trembled. Kenshin smirked.

"No?"

"Battousai…I beg you. She's the only family I have."

"Really? How touching. Lucky for her she's got nothing of you in her, otherwise I'd be having a tough time about not killing her", he lied effortlessly.

"Please…please don't hurt her."

"I'd love to say I won't but unless you get ready to tell me what I want to know, I can't make any promises."

"I'll do it! I'll …tell you whatever you want to know but…well…I…"

Kenshin lifted an eyebrow in surprise. I didn't think he had the guts to refuse me. "But you what?" His voice became dangerously cold. Katsura swallowed and clutched his inhaler.

"I'll tell you whatever you want to know but I want to see my niece first." He let out a heavy breath. There. I said it.

"No."

"Wha…what? Why?"

"Too many questions Katsura. You're forgetting I'm the one asking the questions here." Kenshin was beginning to get annoyed.

"I'm sorry. Sorry! I just wanted to make sure she's alright." Katsura pressed the receiver hard against his ears, hoping the pain would help him stop shaking. He was terrified. What could he do against a man like the Battousai? The man feared nothing and no one. He was insane. Any man who was so beyond the boundaries of control was insane.

"First, you will tell me everything I want to know then, I'll decide if the info is worth the trouble of returning her or even keeping her alive."

"No! I'll make it worth your while! Just let me see me niece, Battousai! Battousai!". Kenshin calmly switched the phone off even as Katsura's hoarse shouting dimly reached his ears. He tossed the phone carelessly on the floor. Let him scream. Let him spend the night wracking his brains, trying to find answers. For a change. Katsura had given him more than his share of hell while he was still a principle Hitokiri for the Ishin Shishi. It was time for payback.

It had been a long night. He was tired and needed a shower. He stood up and his eyes wandered back to his captive. She had shifted during his conversation with Katsura. She now lay facedown, his hair in a mess and her skirt hitched way above her knees. She looked positively sinful. Shower!! He shook his head. Cold shower. Right now. Pulling his shirt over his head he swiftly marched to the bathroom. He emerged an hour later, smelling faintly of pine trees. Kaoru had now curled up into a ball. Kenshin took a blanket from the closet and spread it over her legs. It was warm in the apartment but the sight of her like this wasn't going to help his thoughts.

He knelt beside the bed, silently observing the sleeping girl. He hadn't planned on kissing her, that had just happened. He didn't know what had gotten into him. He had acted entirely on impulse. The plan had been to follow her from the club and kidnap her before she reached home. But all that had changed the minute he saw her. He wanted her to see him, to watch him even as he watched her. He was delighted when she responded as she did.

And that kiss. Her lips had felt so soft against his, her mouth so ready and relaxed. But he knew he had to stop it before it got out of hand. He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. I wish you didn't have to see this side of me. If only I could be just Kenshin, and nothing else. I wish…in some other time and place…I wish…I wish.

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Morning came and a grey mist descended over the city. Thick rain clouds blocked the sun's rays from hitting the earth. The sky was white, interrupted by patches of dark grey. The wind had picked up and it now played with the curtains, pushing past them to enter the apartment and touch Kenshin's face.

There was blood everywhere. His hands were caked with it. The warmth in his hair wasn't heat but the blood that had spattered from his target's body. He turned the tap on, thrusting his hands under the steady stream of water. He rubbed his hands vigorously, slapping on a soap-free solution generously. He scrubbed and scrubbed but somehow…the blood never washed off. He was desperate now. He let out a scream of anguish as the stains of blood spread instead of getting washed away. They spread over his hands onto his arms, running up….He opened his eyes with a start.

After a few moments he realized that it was morning and the dream had ended. He looked around with a weary expression on his face. He yawned and stood up shakily. Sleeping propped up against the wall hadn't been one of his better ideas. His neck and legs were stiff, his back felt sore and his rear was numb. He reached behind his neck and rubbed vigorously between his shoulder blades. All that succeeded in doing was to make the dull ache in his spine even more pronounced. Kenshin groaned as his eyes shut once more. They flew open immediately after. If I'm feeling so uncomfortable, how is she coping with it? He turned around and looked at the girl handcuffed to the bed. She showed no signs of waking soon although she had made short work of the blanket which now lay bunched around her ankles. He let out a relieved breath. Well at least she's not feeling uneasy…hey wait a minute, back up for a second. I'm the one who kidnapped her. She's the key to finding the answers that I seek. That's it. Nothing more. Get a grip on yourself Kenshin.

A loud knock on the door caught his attention. He walked over to the door, smoothly pulling a gun out of a holster strapped to his shin. He was a swordsman but he'd learnt long ago that having a gun meant living and winning a fight first. He could easily defend himself with a sword, even at close range against bullets but he had lost too many comrades to the bullets he dodged to worry about the integrity of a swordsman using a gun. And besides, he was a Hitokiri. Hitokiri kill. They do not fall to bullets. Hitokiri shoot first and ask questions later. He reached the door and looked through the eye hole. He rolled his eyes and opened the door. Grabbing his morning guest by the arm, he pulled her in rather roughly.

"Hey! That's my arm, Himura! It's not a piece of wood." Kenshin pushed her further inside the apartment and locked the door again.

"Why are you here?" He said without preamble.

"Gee, thanks for the welcome. You could look a little happy to see me. It wouldn't kill you."

"Were you followed?"

"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to get followed?"

"I wouldn't bet on it."

"Now that is just cruel Himura."

"Well?"

"No. I was not followed. That's why I'm here." She glared at him. Kenshin smirked. He casually walked past her, ruffling her hair.

"Hey stop that. This is no way to treat a member of the Oniwabanshu." Kenshin considered her for a moment, his eyes wide. And ruffled her hair once more. "Will you cut it OUT Himura!"

"Alright. Why are you here?"

"I came to check on Kaoru. I hope she's not freaking out." Misao tugged her coat off and unwound a long navy blue scarf from around he neck. She stopped short when she spotted her friend for four months handcuffed to Kenshin's bed, her hair tangled, the zipper on her dress half slid open, revealing a smooth back, the hem of her dress rising high on her thighs. Misao noticed the blanket curled up at her feet. She picked it up and quickly threw it over her unconscious body. She then turned to Kenshin, her eyes gleaming.

"Well! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been enjoying yourself, Himura."

"Hardly. She's been unconscious all night. I couldn't enjoy myself even if I wanted to. And rape is really not my thing." He met her eyes squarely. Misao dropped her gaze and looked away.

"I didn't think it was. But what the hell was that little performance you pulled last night. I had no clue you were going to approach her. I almost choked. You changed the plan at the last minute!"

"Were you surprised?" Kenshin nursed a cup of coffee and seemed very amused.

"Don't kid me around Himura. I almost blew my cover."

"Now why would a star Oniwabanshu operative like you do that?"

"Himura. Don't change the subject."

"I'm not changing the subject."

"Then explain yourself."

"I don't have to explain myself to you."

"C'mon Himura! I think you owe it to me."

"Do I?"

"I am this close," Misao pinched her forefinger and thumb together, "to beating the crap out of you."

Kenshin laughed uproariously. "You? Beat the crap out of me? Get real Misao."

"Just tell me dammit!"

"Shhhh….you'll wake her up."

"So what? Even if I do wake her up, you can always kiss her and then slap some chloroform on her."

"Such insensitivity, Misao. And you were her friend for four months at least."

"Whatever. What was the deal with all the kissing and the making out on the dance floor, eh Himura?"

Kenshin was silent. He stared at his coffee, completely drowning out Misao's voice.

"Oh. My. God. Don't tell me. No fucking way."

Kenshin turned and started cutting an apple.

"You like her!"

"…"

"You. Like her."

"What are you babbling about? Have you completely gone insane?"

"You're attracted to her aren't you? That's why you were turning on the charm and the sexy smiles because I sure as hell haven't seen you like that before. Ever."

Kenshin stopped and stared at her incredulously. "How naïve can you get? I was just trying to get her alone. This is a sure shot winner when it comes to sweet, virginal types like her."

Misao raised her eyebrows. "Uh huh. How do you know she's a virgin?"

Kenshin ran his hand through his hair. "I just know, ok? I can tell."

"The hell you can." Misao snorted.

"Misao."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

Misao bit back a retort and satisfied herself by poking out her tongue at him. Kenshin responded by setting a plate of fruit in front of her. Misao shrugged and began to eat. She watched as Kenshin quietly tidied up around the apartment. Her interest peaked when he settled down to sharpen his katana. He sat cross-legged on the floor, with a whetting stone in front of him and bent over, painstakingly sharpening the blade. He ignored Misao who sat beside him watching the entire operation with great interest. Half an hour later Kenshin was almost finished. Misao tossed her braid back to notice that Kaoru was stirring. She nudged Kenshin.

"Hey Himura. She's waking up." Kenshin froze for a heartbeat and then jumped into action. He picked up his sword and thrust the whetting stone into Misao's arms. "Here. Put that away in the closet. And get some water. She'll be thirsty."

He sat down on the bed, waiting for her to wake up. She wasn't just any girl. She was the key to all his answers. Kaoru turned till she was facing him. She moved her head slowly from left to right in relative discomfort. She frowned and her eyelids fluttered as they tried to adjust to the light.

As the world reeled back into focus, a splitting pain raced through her head and she saw the beautiful eyes that had seduced her from the safety of her friends last night, in front of her own.

"Hi", a velvety smooth voice spoke, "you're finally awake."

Author's Notes

I know this chapter took a long time in coming and I'm really sorry about it. I hope you like it. Read and Review!!!