A/n: Ok, so I've written four chapters of this, and I guess I'm stretching it out too long. The only reason I was waiting to post this was because I was undecided on whether to take down the AoshixKaoru pairing-I don't want to get people's hopes up about it. I really thought I would get a review that would help me decide, but I guess it's not up to me anymore. So, with this, please enjoy the rest of the story. I won't bother about reviews anymore. But they will still make me very happy!

Kaoru was shocked. There was no way that gentle-looking Soujirou was an assassin. He looked too nice to do something like that. Either way, Kaoru had just about enough. Hissing angrily, she pulled Soujirou, dragging him to her room to talk in private. As she passed through the kitchen, Sano was worried enough to follow her. If something was up, he wanted to be there to help Kaoru; he was still embarrassed that he had managed to get drunk last night.

Throwing Soujirou onto the bed, Kaoru began to pace, muttering under her breath. She couldn't believe that she had been pulled into such a complicated matter. Assuming that Soujirou was another spy, she had let him in to do some more 'spying', never once imagining that he was some crazy assassin. He would be as bad as the Hitokiri Battousai!

There wasn't much she could do at this point. Instead of thinking of the cruel Enishi's fate, she focused on the hundred or so people that served him. He was their employer and only hope of survival in this city. If Enishi was killed, then these people would be forced onto the streets without any chance of survival. It was disgusting. If the Resistance gained the victory, the Loyalist troops would be pushed closer to the city. This place would be destroyed in a week's time. She couldn't imagine her childhood home as a battlefield, so empty of life and happiness. Even in hard times, there had been some hope. Today, Kaoru could feel that hope slipping through her fingers.

Angry, she turned to give Soujirou a piece of her mind for tricking her, not noticing that he and Sano were deep in conversation. In fact, it seemed like they were exchanging information. Curious, she sat on the floor, listening in on their discussion. They were talking about the execution plan.

"Yeah, he's got men around him all the time. You know Takeda Kanryu? He's Enishi's bodyguard even though he's pretty wimpy. You could take him down easily. It's just that he carries a lot of weapons on him, and he's an excellent shot." Sano mimed shooting a gun. "He takes them down every time; nobody's able to touch him."

Soujirou nodded, deep in thought. "That'll be up to Aoshi's group then. All I need to do is kill the boss. I really don't want Battousai to come here; it'll blow his cover. This is why I need to do this for him." He then noticed Kaoru sitting on the floor, looking disturbed.

"I know that this maybe a little too much for you to take in, but Enishi is one of the backbones of the war effort. He is the one who is funding the war in the south. Once he's gone, the Resistance will actually have a chance of winning this war."

Kaoru lashed out at him, angry that all he thought about was the war. To a pacifist person like her, bloodshed was disturbing. She didn't know what had sparked the war in the first place, but the situation was not better now. It was much, much worse.

"So, after this city is destroyed, what will the Resistance has taken down this city, what will happen? Will it keep marching on, destroying everything that we have worked for? You're going to destroy all of Japan if this continues. Look at the state of this city! The people!" Too angry to say anything, Kaoru grabbed her cloak and stalked out the door. It was time for her job.

Walking steadily down the dark streets, Kaoru found the opportunity to get her thoughts in order. She supposed it only made sense to take down Enishi; he was one of the kingpins of this organization. That's what made him so untouchable. Even she hadn't seen him and she had been working at the house for three years! Even Tomoe was more sociable than he was, leaving casually in her fancy clothes and cars. Enishi always travelled in secret, never letting anyone know where he was going. The only person who could control him was probably the former president, Makoto Shishio. But that man had gone insane from being burnt in an assassination attempt; it had been the Resistance's first bid for freedom.

On the way back, Kaoru was a little less discreet. Usually the streets were pretty safe because most people had run away to the farming communities in the North. The South side was being ravaged steadily and there weren't enough resources to support the poor. Luckily, she had a job. Though she wondered how long this precarious life would last. She longed to escape this country and start all over again.

Kaoru noticed that the sun was starting to rise; the light hitting the broken building. For a moment, it looked like the world was on fire. Holding her breath in awe, she didn't even notice the familiar yellow taxi puttering up the road. Aoshi leaned out the window and called out to the frozen girl. "If you wish, I can give you a ride to the mansion. But not too close, I don't want to get chased again. I have something to discuss with you."

Snapping out of her daze, she looked at the handsome man. Her feet were killing her and he was saving her from another hour of walking. Resisting the urge to shout in happiness, Kaoru managed some semblance of grace as she got into the car, putting the groceries in the trunk. Strapping herself in, she tried to ignore that fact that she was sitting on top of a pile of weapons and other illicit things.

"I have a message for you. Soujirou says he needs a couple more days to complete his scouting. He wants you to be ready when he gives you the signal." Kaoru suppressed the shudder running up her spine. She didn't want to be around when the murders happened.

Aoshi responded after a while. "Thank you Kamiya. You have been a great help, and now we have another mission for you. Nothing dangerous, we just want you to carry some things to Soujirou. And, you are to be our go-between. I'll be waiting here tomorrow at the same time; we can talk then."

Kaoru had some inkling that there was more to his statement than was apparent. She figured the 'things' that Soujirou needed were probably weapons and the like. It was too late to refuse; she supposed she could sneak it in with her groceries and hand it off to Soujirou when she passed by him on the way to the kitchens. Luckily, his position was in one of the cameras' blind spots. She would be discreet.

Nodding her assent, she watched the landscape fly past her. All too soon, she was forced to disembark, her groceries and another paper bag held in her hands. Smiling lightly at Aoshi, she waved at him and proceeded to walk the few blocks back to the estate.

Aoshi watched the young woman walk away. She might have seemed weak and incapable, but she really was managing quite well. She was independent; overcoming her obvious fear and doubts to help out someone she considered an enemy. Kamiya Kaoru was definitely a smart woman.

Kaoru looked like she did every morning. Forcing herself to look more awake, she hoped she would pull this off before her senses became muddled. She was one of those people who needed ten hours of sleep to function properly. Slipping past the scanners and outside guard, she walked down to the kitchens. Suddenly veering off course, she went to go see Soujirou.

Kaoru was concerned for Soujirou's health. The man looked even more tired than yesterday. His skin was pale and the bags under his eyes were more pronounced. Coughing weakly, he smiled at Kaoru, and reached for the bag. Checking it briefly, he gave her a sunny smile. Unable to find the conviction to be angry at him, she returned his smile and went on her way. Not a word was exchanged between them.

Pulling herself through the normal routine, Kaoru woke up when Soujirou entered her room. She pushed the covers off, leaving him a bed corner to sit on.

"Thanks." Soujirou's voice was quieter than usual. Noticing Kaoru's unasked question, he smiled slightly. "I'm not feeling well. The doctor lady said that it was some sickness caused by being too close to the weapons. The fallout damaged my lungs or something; the effects are really starting to show now. But I can't give up now, not when I'm so close. Give these to Aoshi. He'll understand what to do. Oh, and please stay out of the way. I don't want you hurt tomorrow."

Kaoru took the packet with shaky hands. In some twisted way, she had come to think of Soujirou as her brother. She didn't have any siblings, so she supposed that this is what a sister would feel for a brother who might not live to see next week. Hugging him gently, she whispered quietly, "Please take care of yourself. I don't want any part in this, but it's too late for that. I'd rather everyone was safe."

Soujirou's smile grew as he returned the hug. He pointed out, "I have to be there. You, on the other hand, should escape. As soon as they hear gunfire, the guards will head to the source. It'll be enough of a distraction-you should escape with your friends."

She began to feel the tears starting. Wiping at her face with clumsy hands, she waited till Soujirou was out of the room. It was beginning to feel like déjà vu. People that were here one day would disappear the next. Only she was left, adrift in a sea of loneliness. Sickened by her thoughts, she washed her face and left.

As promised, Aoshi was waiting for her. Handing him the packet, she said nothing. She knew he would be there tonight, participating in the murders and changing her life. Sighing slightly, she turned to him.

"I'd like to see the sunrise tomorrow."

His smirk was less intimidating today. Slowly braking, the little taxi jerked to a halt. Turning to face her, Aoshi ran a hand through his hair.

"Me too."

A/N: Ok, so the next chapter should be out over the weekend. Please look for it then! There was a bit of SouxKao here, but it's only as siblings. I'm so bad at writing romance...

Hate it? Like it? Either way, please review! (Oh, and should I change the pairing to none?)