Complete Me

Author's Notes: Yay for vacation!

Chapter 4: Interrogation

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;

The more knowledge, the more grief.

(Ecclesiastes 1:18)

"So, how do you two know each other?"

And so began their careful, walk-on-eggshells, beat around the bush conversation.

"Well," Kaoru began slowly, shifting as quietly as she could in the leather passenger seat of Kenshin's car. She swallowed, her mind racing.

"Are you cousins? Or siblings?" Kenshin shifted gears and the car accelerated smoothly.

"Not really." Kaoru said cautiously as she rubbed the hem of her skirt between her fingers. "We met under strange circumstances, actually."

Glancing into the rearview mirror, Kenshin did not miss Yahiko's concentrated gaze which was locked on Kaoru's stiff expression. "Really?" His voice was contemplative.

"Mhm." Kaoru nodded. "We bumped into each other one day, quite literally actually, and we've been friends ever since."

"Is that so."

Kaoru's lips thinned as she studied Kenshin's cool profile from the corner of her eye. He was perfectly straight-faced, but since she already knew the significance of his deadpan expression, she could sense him weighing her words. She watched him think and watched his cool eyes flick to from the road to the rear-view mirror and back. She felt his hand move, felt the agile grace he exuded as he shifted gears.

And then, his eyes met hers.

Startled, Kaoru could only stare back at him.

"What?" She blurted, too stunned to exercise caution.

He raised an eyebrow and she could almost feel him dissecting her.

"You bumped into each other?"

"Yes." Kaoru's defenses went up. "What of it?"

The other brow lifted before Kenshin turned back to the road. "Just confirming something." His voice deepened and Yahiko could barely restrain himself from squirming.

Kaoru narrowed her eyes. "What exactly do you want to confirm?" She asked, her tone peppery with irritation.

"Just how much you trust me."

"What?"

He let his gaze slide to hers for a moment. "Don't insult me."

She reared back in her seat, taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"Don't insult me," he repeated, his tone cross, "If you don't want to trust me with the truth, that's your business. But don't lie to me."

Kaoru felt as if her ribcage was shrinking in her chest. Red flushed up her neck and into her cheeks as she fought to control her breathing. "Now, look here-"

"Hey Kenshin," Yahiko suddenly called from the backseat, "You can just let me off here."

Kenshin threw a glance over his shoulder. "Are you sure your parents won't mind if I don't take you all the way home?"

"Uh, yeah." Yahiko was already fumbling with the seatbelt. "I'm pretty sure they won't care. I need to … uh, buy something on the way home anyway."

Kenshin pulled the car to the curb and the locks popped up. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Kaoru spun in her seat to glare daggers at the boy. "Don't you dare leave me with-"

"Be careful on your way home, Yahiko."

"Uh, thanks. Bye, Kaoru." Yahiko mumbled as he slid out of the car and escaped.

"You said you would take me home!" Kaoru shouted after him just as the car door slammed shut.

The car locks snapped down.

"Don't worry," Kenshin said as he pulled away, "I'm taking you home now."

-d-b-

"Do you remember the first time I met you?"

"Of course."

Soujiro smiled. "I was living with my father at that time, wasn't I?"

"You lived with your father until you were twelve. Can you still remember him?"

The young man barely winced as the fine point of a needle was inserted into his skin. Slowly, his companion injected a clear liquid into his blood stream.

"He was," Soujiro's eyes drifted closed, "A very stern man. I can't remember seeing him smile. But he was a good man, I suppose. I never lacked food or shelter."

"Indeed. But then you came to live with me."

"I didn't understand then."

The syringe was pulled away and Soujiro felt the cool of antiseptic being brushed across the pin prick left behind.

"Well, I am neither kind nor good, as your father was. And you suffered greatly at first."

"I suppose." Soujiro opened his ocean blue eyes. "But I learned quickly, didn't I?"

"Yes, much quicker than I expected."

"It was only a matter of time before I discovered the truth."

"What truth is that, Soujiro?"

"That only the strong survive."

"And protecting the weak is a waste of time."

Suddenly, the boyish grin disappeared from Soujiro's face as he doubled over, trembling. "I am not weak."

-d-b-

"This is nice," Kenshin said politely as they stepped into the elevator.

Kaoru snorted, as she nervously toyed with her keys. The steel doors slid shut and the elevator began to rise with a complaining groan.

"How long have you lived here?"

"Awhile."

"Are your neighbours nice?"

"Nice enough."

"That's good."

"I know."

The elevator lurched to a noisy stop. They stepped out into the hallway. Kaoru fought to still her thumping heart as they began to trek toward her, at one time his and at another time their apartment.

"Do you think your parents will mind me taking you home?"

Kaoru stopped. She closed her eyes, her fingers tightening around her key. Kenshin's footsteps slowed to a halt beside her.

"Kaoru?"

"I don't live with my parents." She opened her eyes and took a step forward.

"Do you live alone?"

"Yes." Another step.

"Do your parents live in the city?"

"No."

They stopped. They were standing at the door.

"Do they mind that you live away from them? You seem a little young to be living all by yourself."

Kaoru turned the key in the lock. "My parents are dead." The door swung open.

"I'm sorry."

She didn't reply. Instead, she stepped into the apartment. "Thank you for taking me home." Her eyes downcast to avoid seeing the look on his face, she turned to close the door on him, to shut him away. She pushed the heavy door closed and let her body fall into the wood, pressing her cheek to the rough surface.

"It's a nice place."

She jumped away from the door to find that Kenshin was already five feet into the living room.

"Did you live here with your parents?"

"No." Kaoru stomped toward the kitchen, her tone clearly exasperated. "Is there something in particular you would like to know?" She asked, throwing her keys onto the counter and turning on the tap water to wash her hands.

"When did your parents pass away?"

Kaoru's hands stilled under the running water. "I'm sorry?"

"When did your parents pass away?"

Kaoru frowned and looked up at Kenshin, who simply stood in the centre of the apartment and stared at her. His eyes locked onto hers and dared her to lie to him.

"When I was nine." Kaoru shook the water from her fingertips and shut off the water. She turned away from his eyes and grabbed a dish towel. "Why do you want to know?"

She heard the creak of the floorboards as he moved closer to the counter.

"I read something interesting at the police station today."

"What does that have to do with my parents' death?"

"Well," Kenshin said slowly as reached the marble counter, "I was wondering if you knew what the files that I found had to say about your … family history."

The dish towel, which Kaoru was busy twisting between white knuckled fingers, was in grave danger of being stretched beyond repair. "I wouldn't know," she said, not daring to speak above a calm whisper.

Kenshin let one fingertip drag across the edge of the smooth marble as he paced the length of the counter and rounded the end of the only physical boundary between them. "Really," he said, entering the kitchenette, "That's quite surprising."

She chuckled dryly. "Is this some kind of interrogation?"

"In a way."

Kaoru hardened her expression and threw the towel onto the counter. She spun around to jab an angry finger into Kenshin's chest. But her heart nearly froze in her chest when she felt his rough fingers latch onto her wrist, stopping her hand in place.

Her wide, blue eyes snapped up to his face. He was looking down at her with a stern expression. Kaoru's heart leapt in apprehension. Ripping her wrist from his grip, she reached for his shirt and twisted her fingers into the fabric.

"What?" She pulled him closer. "What on earth are you trying to say?"

"Truthfully," he began, calmly detaching her fingers from his clothing, "When I first started to search police records for your name, I didn't find anything. But for some reason, when I searched for information on myself, the only thing I found was an old folder with your family name written on it."

Kaoru blanched and stepped away. She spun on her heel and walked away from him, waving a hand. "I still have no idea where you are going with this," she said flippantly.

Kenshin followed her into the foyer. "I wasn't sure of the connection myself," he said, his voice even, "until I thought about it." He stopped her flight by catching onto her upper arm and spinning her around. "The name on the file was Kojiro Kamiya. And, granted, Kamiya isn't the most unusual name in Kyoto but-"

"Kenshin," Kaoru said, her jaw clenched, "None of my relatives are named Kojiro. And besides, that file could've been misplaced. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with you."

"Perhaps, but Kojiro Kamiya's dependents were listed as Yuki Kamiya, his wife-"

"My mother's name was Yuki," Kaoru said, "But my father's name was Naohiro. The information doesn't even match."

"His wife, Yuki, who divorced him to marry a man named Naohiro had a daughter, one Kaoru Kamiya." He paused as he watched the blood drain from Kaoru's face. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"I…" Kaoru faltered, raising one hand to massage her forehead, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Are you sure?"

"I said," Kaoru repeated, shoving him away indignantly, "That I don't know what that means."

"Well," Kenshin said, "In any case, you said that your parents died when you were nine, which is, incidentally, about nine years ago. But in the police file I read, Kojiro Kamiya was killed only five years ago."

"I don't even know who that is," Kaoru stepped back, "I don't know what this means or why you are bringing it up."

Kenshin studied her calmly, watching her eyes spark in defiance as she placed a hand on her hip and shifted her weight. He wondered if she knew what else the file on Kojiro Kamiya had said. He wondered if she were hiding behind her anger or if she really didn't know. They stood like that for a long moment, each challenging the other.

Abruptly, Kenshin spun away from her and strode into the living area. He stopped by the fireplace and looked up.

"Those are beautiful swords, Kaoru."

He lifted a hand to run a fingertip down the length of the wooden scabbard.

"Don't touch them." Kaoru was suddenly behind him, her voice slightly shrill.

He turned to look down at her careful, resolute eyes. "Why not?"

Her facial muscles contracted. "Because."

"Because of what?"

"Because no one is allowed to touch those swords."

"I have studied the sword arts," he said, "You don't need to worry; I won't hurt myself."

She paused and then repeated, her voice cracking ever so slightly, "No one touches these swords. Never again."

"Again?"

Kaoru spun away suddenly. "Please," she said pleadingly, "Please, I think I need to take a nap. I'm not feeling so well"

"Why," he asked, pressing in, "Why won't you talk to me?"

"I need to rest." Kaoru shivered as caught her by the upper arm and turned her to face him.

"Tell me," he said softly, his finger tips resting lightly on the underside of her chin, "Are these your swords?"

She inhaled deeply and found that she couldn't lie to him, not when he was so close. "No," she said, her breath broken.

"Whose are they, then?"

Once again, she stepped out of his range. "It doesn't matter now. Please, Kenshin, please just go." She walked away from him toward the bedroom. "I need to take a nap. See you later." Praying fervently that he would just leave, she stepped into her room and gently pushed the door closed behind her. Kaoru leaned back against the door and slid down until she was sitting.

She waited, listening for his steps. She didn't hear them until he paused right outside her door. Then he moved away and she heard the front door open and close.

Then, dropping her head to her knees, Kaoru cried.

-d-b-

"He was found an hour ago by the motel cleaners." Saitoh puffed lazily at a cigarette, his face cold and unfeeling. "Seems that he's been dead less than five hours."

Kenshin stepped into the fetid room. Expressionless, he noted the blood-spattered walls, the mutilated corpse on the bed and, finally, the piece of paper impaled to the wall by a Japanese long sword.

Wordlessly, he padded over to the note and leaned in, squinting to read the scratched out characters in the low light. A deep frown etched itself into his features.

"Shinsaku Takasugi, minister of internal affairs," Saitoh read over the shorter man's shoulder, "has been found guilty of sheltering the weak, thereby diluting the strength of Kyoto, and conspiring to kidnap one of ours."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Signed, The Ten Swords."

"Have you heard of this group before?" Kenshin asked, spinning away from the paper and heading toward where the body lay.

"Yes," Saitoh replied.

"Then does the note make any sense to you?"

"Not really." He took a long drag from his cigarette. "But I do know that Takasugi was instrumental in the establishment of our new system of government in Kyoto."

"So whoever killed him isn't happy with Katsura's re-organization of the city."

Saitoh rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

"Who do you think they accuse him of kidnapping?"

"I have an idea." The police captain also moved to study the body.

"Are you going to share that idea with me?" Kenshin asked testily.

"Not at the moment. I'll have to clear it with my superiors first." He stopped for a moment and flicked the ash from his cigarette. "In any case, I think it would be prudent for you to start carrying a sword, along with the standard firearm."

"Why?"

"You are skilled with a katana, are you not?"

"Yes. So?"

"Because this particular terrorist group is obsessed with the ways of the samurai. As you can see from this murder scene, they carry out assassinations with swords and other weapons from our past."

"I see." A taut silence filled the room, which stank of death. "Takasugi, Shinsaku." Kenshin breathed softly.

"Did you know him?"

"I don't know," Kenshin said honestly, "But he looks … familiar."

"Hm."

"His ankles have been broken. His knees, too. In fact, it looks like the bones of all his limbs were broken," Kenshin commented as he assessed the scene.

"But he died by decapitation," Saitoh continued, pointing the slim gap between the neck and shoulders, "And someone took the time to place the head by the neck. A message perhaps?"

"So this isn't a random crime."

"Highly unlikely."

Takasugi's body lay twisted on the blood-soaked sheets, his long limbs arranged at various angles to show where they had been fractured. His eyes were open and staring upward. Simultaneously, Kenshin and Saitoh looked up to stare at the ceiling.

There, painted in blood, were words that made Kenshin's blood run cold. Vaguely, as if detached from his own horrified shock, he wondered how the perpetrator had managed to scrawl out the characters on the yellowed ceiling. The blood must have run down his arm as he painted; it must have dripped onto this upturned face. Even if Kenshin had no idea what the words meant; even if he knew nothing of the organization that called itself The Strong, he recognized the threat in the words inscribed in blood.

"We will find her."

-d-b-

Kaoru was sitting at the edge of the dojo, inhaling the scent of freshly cleaned hardwood floors when the splitting headache assaulted her. She bent over and resisted the urge to retch. Blindly, she reached for her shoulder bag and dug through it, searching for the small container of pills Megumi had given her. She popped the cap gracelessly and fumbled to spill several into the palm. Throwing back her head, she tossed them back into her throat. She rolled into herself for several minutes while she waited for the painkillers to take effect. When she finally felt that she could breathe without shuddering, she unfolded her limbs and sat back with a loud sigh.

"How is it, Kaoru-san?"

"It could be worse," she answered, turning to Aoshi, who sat beside her. She nodded in the direction of the gradually dispersing students. "It would be better if I could get my mind off it."

"Well," Aoshi said, "You could wait until all the students have left. There are a few spare bokken on the far wall."

"Thanks." Kaoru stood, stretching. "I'd really appreciate it."

"I will go supervise Yahiko," Aoshi said, also standing, "He is being trained in kendo."

Kaoru smiled. "Thank you Aoshi."

He raised an eyebrow.

"He needs something to do," she elaborated, "And he's always wanted to learn martial arts. So, thank you."

The tall man's expression softened. "You should occupy yourself as well, Kaoru-san. The exercise would do you good."

"Hm." She smiled and headed for the far wall to pick out a bokken to practice with as Aoshi left the dojo as silently as he had entered.

When the ninja stepped into the cool courtyard, Yahiko was still viciously swinging his wooden practice sword. He could see the boy imagining his enemies in front of him.

"Stop," he commanded quietly as he approached the child, "Don't swing without control."

Yahiko paused in his wild swings to wipe the sweat from his brow with the edge of his sleeve. "What? I was controlling them."

"Show me."

Yahiko tightened his grip on the bokken and brought it down with heavy force.

"Stop," Aoshi said sharply and the boy froze in place.

"Don't only think of your arms when you swing," Aoshi said patiently, "You need to control all the muscles in your body. For instance, do you know the exact position of your foot at this moment?"

Yahiko's face crinkled in thought and then he slumped out of his frozen position. "No, I don't."

"A martial artist must always know where the parts of his body are, not to mention his weapons. That is why complete control is absolutely necessary." Aoshi paused and stiffened. "Wouldn't you agree, Kenshin Himura?"

Yahiko whirled around to see Kenshin standing between the gateposts, his cool eyes trained on Aoshi.

"Yes, I would."

"I didn't know that police officers carried swords."

"New policy," Kenshin replied. He watched as Yahiko's expression widened in horror as his eyes dropped to see the long sword hanging at his hip. He brushed aside the questions that immediately surfaced because of the boy's apparent fear. Instead, he leveled his gaze on Aoshi's cool face.

"Where is she?"

-d-b-

She was working hard at a complex kata, her arms and legs moving with exquisite precision. She was so concentrated that she didn't even notice his presence. He could smell the salt of her sweat as it shone on her skin. Her jaw was set and her eyes determined as she moved seamlessly from one movement to the next and he wondered how long she had studied the art of the sword.

Perhaps, he thought as he strode silently to the middle of the room, the well-used swords in her apartment were hers, despite her vehement denial.

Her back to him, she thrust her practice sword forward and then swung around in a horizontal strike. Without a second thought, Kenshin grabbed his own sword by the sheath and pulled it upward so that the wood connected with a resounding crack.

Startled, Kaoru froze. Her eyes did not leave the sight of his hand on the sheath of his sword. Her heart began to beat against her ribs and her eyes started to sting painfully.

After everything …

"Kaoru?"

The sound of his voice brought on a sudden wave of anger and her fingers tightened around the wooden sword.

After everything I've done …

Angry blue eyes shot to his face, her features clenched in rage. "Why?" Her voice was quiet, and laboured with all the things she couldn't tell him.

He frowned down at her as he automatically compensated for the force she was suddenly exerting against the sheath of his sword. She stepped back suddenly, sliding her sword away. The smooth wood surfaces glided against each other as she pulled back, her anger tangible in the air.

"That sword." She punctuated the word with high-pitched intonation.

"The police captain recommended I carry one."

"Why?" She spat the question.

"Because a new group of criminals is using swords." He regarded her angry countenance critically. "Besides, you have two swords in your apartment and you've just shown that you are acquainted with the art. I don't see what the problem is."

Kaoru was immediately and irrationally filled with a rabid fury that spread from her chest to every extremity in her body. With a sudden yell, she lunged forward and swung at him with all her might. Hardly surprised, Kenshin parried easily, knocking her bokken away with a dry chuckle. But Kaoru didn't even pause in her attack. Now silently infuriated, she pivoted slightly and sliced at him viciously. Kenshin swiftly pulled his sheathed sword from his belt, and blocked her downward strike. Kaoru dropped into a crouch and spin kicked, aiming to sweep his legs out from under him. Kenshin jumped backward to avoid it, and then swung his sword upward to counter Kaoru's next move. She was drawing him into a small battle, and he sensed that it was more than just friendly sparring. Her strikes were aimed not to disarm him, but to disable him. He knew, through the splintering force with which she attacked him, that she was targeting his limbs and solar plexus. She was trying to render him incapable of fighting by breaking his bones or knocking the air from his lungs. Kenshin accepted the challenge readily and was distantly surprised, though not threatened, by her level of skill.

Then, through the flurry of attacks, Kenshin noticed something that almost caused him to allow himself to be hit.

Kaoru was crying.

She timed devastating attacks with grit teeth and resolute eyes. But tears were silently streaming down her cheeks and dripping from her chin. In that moment, Kenshin decided that he'd had quite enough.

As Kenshin lifted his sword horizontally to block one of her ferocious downward strikes, he slid the blade free of the scabbard. The smooth wood connected with steel and fell in useless pieces at her feet.

She stopped, her chest heaving. He didn't wait for her to begin hand-to-hand combat. His own sword clattered to the floor as he stepped forward and pulled her into his chest, his arms as unyielding as bands of steel.

"Why are you crying?" His lips were pressed against her ear.

"Let me go." Her shuddering intake of breath betrayed her, even though her voice was cool.

"Tell me." He only wound his arms tighter.

"I can't!" Her cry was anguished.

Kenshin released her body only long enough to catch her face between his calloused hands. "Kaoru." He thumbed away the tears trekking down her smooth face. "You can tell me."

Her fingers found their way to his wrists and she tried to pull his hands away. "I can't."

"You can." His tone was stern as he lowered his forehead to hers. "And you will."

To say that Kaoru wasn't tempted to spill all the secrets about their past would be lie. She desperately wanted to tell him everything, to share their history. As her heart twisted in agonizing indecision, she imagined being protected by him again, being with someone who understood her life. But then, she could also picture the look of absolute horror when this new and perfect Kenshin discovered her tainted past – her dirtied hands and her unforgivable sins. Then to find out she had lied to him about their relationship. He would hate her, she knew it.

And so, Kaoru tore herself away from the hope of his embrace. "I can't," she said spinning away, "And I won't."

He was silent behind her and she bit down hard on her fist. "I'm sorry." The words left her lips against her will.

"I investigated a murder scene today." His voice was quiet and cool, a sharp contrast to just minutes before. "It took place in a motel a few blocks from where you live."

"The one near the train station?"

"You know it?"

Kaoru nearly smiled as she dropped her arms so that they hung at her sides. How could she forget that motel? Though dingy and dirty, it had been the place where she had spent her last happy moments with Kenshin.

"Yes." She paused. "Who was murdered there?"

"His name was Shinsaku Takasugi-"

"Takasugi?" Kaoru whirled around to face him, "Did you say Takasugi?"

"You know him?" Shock was written all over Kenshin's face.

"Takasugi is dead? How?"

Kenshin took a step forward. "What do you know?" He demanded.

She wasn't listening to his question. "Who killed him?" She looked away, one hand covering her mouth. "Who would want him dead?"

"Kaoru." Kenshin took her by the shoulders. "How did you know that name?"

"I can't believe this."

"What do you know?" Kenshin shook her.

Her wide blue eyes met his and for the first time they were unguarded. "Don't get involved, Kenshin," she said, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him close, "Please don't get involved in this."

Kaoru watched as Kenshin's face changed. His eyebrows drew inward, the corners of his lips turned down and suspicion crept into his eyes.

"Kaoru," he began slowly, "Why shouldn't I get involved?"

"Because," she said helplessly, "I don't want you to get hurt."

"Why would I get hurt?" The policeman in Kenshin had emerged and was interrogating her.

"Because it's dangerous."

"I've already told you that I have spent years training with the sword and in combat. Why are you so worried? Is there something you should tell me, Kaoru?"

Now, it was Kenshin's turn to watch Kaoru's face change. She paled, the blood drained from her face and suddenly, the brave young woman could not meet his eyes.

"Kenshin," she said, and there was a tone in her voice that he had never heard before, "When you found Takasugi – and yes, I knew him – what did it look like?"

"I don't think-"

"Was he killed by a sword?" Kaoru interrupted, her voice detached, "Were any of his bones broken? Had he been tortured?"

"Kaoru," he asked, his grip on her shoulders tightening, "How do you know this?"

It took a while for her to work her eyes up to his. "It doesn't matter, Kenshin. All I know is that there are people in this world who will do anything to get what they want. And they will kill, torture or maim anyone who gets in their way. I don't want you to get involved."

"Do you know who did this, Kaoru?" He pressed in close so that she could not tear her eyes away.

"No," she replied frankly.

"Do you know why they did this?"

She shook her head.

"Kaoru," he said, drawing his palms up her slim neck, "I can't help but feel that you are hiding something from me."

"I knew Takasugi," she said, unblinking, "He had his faults but he was a good man. And he was … kind to me." A wry, unhappy smile worked its way to her lips. "When I knew him, he was fighting for a cause he believed in. It was a good cause, but his methods were brutal-"

"Are you defending the killers, Kaoru?" Kenshin stopped his tone from sounding accusatory, but the thoughts would not stop turning in his mind.

"My Kenshin," Kaoru smiled sadly and stepped close to him, running her fingertips across his cheekbones, "That's not what I meant. I don't know who the killers were or what they are fighting for." She leaned in further and when she spoke next, her lips were almost touching his. "But what will you do when you find these men, Kenshin?"

"I will bring them to justice."

"And if they refuse to go with you?"

"I will make them." Kenshin suddenly felt as if she were the one conducting the interrogation.

She was close now, so close that the heat from their bodies mingled. "Don't you see," she said in a whisper, "If you get involved, you will become like them – you will fight like them, you will kill like them." She backed away suddenly and Kenshin immediately missed her warmth. "And that thing," she said contemptuously, pointing at the sword that lay a few feet away, "Nothing good can come from that thing."

"This is the reason I came to Kyoto," he said calmly, "To protect the peace by any means possible."

He watched as that same, sad defeated smile crept onto her face.

"I know," she said, walking past him toward the door, which was bright rectangle of light in the dim dojo, "You would make war to protect the peace."

She paused by the entrance, and looked over her shoulder at him, her body a grey silhouette. All Kenshin could see was a set of blue eyes, made luminous by tears.

"And you will wield your sword, Kenshin, and many will die by your hand." Her breathing hitched ever so slightly. "And afterward, when your hands are dirty with the blood of criminals, you will regret it."

And then Kaoru turned and left Kenshin in the dark.