Thank you everyone! let's keep those reviews coming in, yeah!

Angle1 - Apology in advance. I know I was going to tackle your prompts in this one, but then this just popped into my head so I had to write it down. Have I told you how much your review has encouraged me? So, here I am with a Kenshin POV. I hope it's alright. Btw, are you going to be updating Spoils of war? Please! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!

caseyedith - Actually, the reason why Kaoru wants to exempt him from home chores is because she's slightly in awe of him, not because he's the Battousai but because she's seen first hand what an amazing swordsman he is and also what a good person he is, and also she is (like you mentioned) a good hostess and doesn't want him working right away. And even I wanted to see her fight in the series, but somehow, she always got sidestepped, which I think is unfortunate when you have such a strong character.

Also, skenshingumi, sulou, Scarred Sword heart, policis, amie689, kaoruyukishiro, kokoronagomu - your reviews are adored and fussed over by moi! Keep the love coming! Thank you for all of it.

And here's the next one...

Anger

He didn't realize when the faint heat behind his eyes turned into a raging fire as he watched the ujiki stomp around, invading the space around his body, jeering at him, provoking him to act. All he knew was that it was wrong. He could not lose himself in anger. He could not tell himself that they needed to be put in their place. He could not lose himself like that. So he let them say what they had to. He couldn't blame them. They were products of their time – lulled into a sense of all encompassing power, drunk on the strength they knew they had, drunk on the misery of those they were supposed to protect.

He watched them with resignation now. Something was going to happen and he was powerless to stop it. He could control his actions, he could watch his words…but he couldn't control their words, their actions. Their actions, their thoughts were their own.

He shut his eyes as the leader of the sword bearing police called him out. He demanded a match and Kenshin would not give him one.

"Draw your sword and let me see what you're made of!"

"I do not wish to fight." How many times do I have to say it? I don't want to fight. I don't want to fight. Don't ask me to fight. Don't make me fight.

"Aww….he's such a nice guy. Well then, Mr. Nice Guy, we're just going to have to make it worth your while to fight."

Kenshin let his eyelids droop down. He would have shut them completely but something shifted in the crowd. The crowd that was watching apprehensively as one slender man faced down an entire unit of the sword-bearing police, suddenly split down the middle as a young girl pushed her way to the front. Kenshin felt his heart contract and his eyes grow wide. Kaoru-dono….oh no!

"Kenshin! Kenshin!" Kaoru burst through the crowd. She stopped short as she saw the man facing Kenshin. The cruel twist of his lips seemed to stretch as his eyes sized her up and his hand shot out to grab her wrist and pull her forward. Her words sputtered and died on her lips.

The man held her close, his fingers dug into her waist. "Boys, it seems that this girl is with the nice guy here."

"Aww ain't that precious."

"Hey, I think she's angry."

She twisted and was just about to give him the biggest scratch across the face ever seen on this side of Japan when flash of steel slipped through her hair. From the corner of her eyes she saw her ribbon flutter to the ground.

"Her kimono will be next." The captain spoke. Kenshin looked at him with disbelief. His voice streaked through his mind like poison and that's when he realized the heat behind his eyes was threatening to surge and burn everything in its path. He clenched his fist. Slipping into a stance, he felt his tendons stretch as he bent, "Let her go." His voice was low and soft, like a whisper on the wind.

The captain smirked. He ran a hand down Kaoru's back, daring him to do something. "Or what? Are you finally going to use that sword?"

"Get away from her!"

"Make me."

"Alright."

He should have contained himself. He should have been more careful. As he stared at the crumpled bodies of the captain and his men, lying defeated in the dust, he watched the eyes of the crowd as they stared at him – in admiration, in wonder, in fascination and in fear. This was the last thing he wanted, but he had no choice. He truly had no choice.

Kaoru-dono…just the memory of the captain's hands on her body…he shook his head. No! She should never be tainted by the touch of someone so evil, so degenerate. Kaoru-dono was special. She was precious. This world was not meant for one as beautiful as her. Her spirit, her courage…it was like the sun. She gave her light and her love to everyone, even to one as wretched as him. For her…he could fight for her. And it would be alright. It would be alright.

"Kenshin?"

"Kaoru-dono….I am sorry."

"For what?"

"Your ribbon…it's ruined."

She smiled. "Don't worry about it. Let's go home Kenshin."

"Hai, Kaoru-dono."