A/N: It's been awhile my readers!! Sorry for the long delay. The last month has been a hell for me with all the exams and stuff. But I'm still writing whenever I can find some time. This section also contains an extensive flashback. Please don't get confused. The flashback is in italics!!! Without further ado…here is the third chapter. Enjoy

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rurouni Kenshin. I wish I did… ;)

Chapter 3

A tall man in a police officer uniform stood by the windows looking down upon the streets of Kyoto. The hour was late and it was a moonless night. Not a soul stirred the deep silence of the night and the streets of Kyoto were in peace – unlike those times of the Revolution when every street and alleyway was tainted with blood of samurai and civilian alike.

'The Revolution…' the man thought.

This man standing tall in his dark office with only single candle lighting up the room was the infamous Hajime Saitou, the former captain of the third unit of Shinsengumi.

Saitou has been standing in the exact spot by his office window for more than an hour now as his mind drifted to the memories of his bloody past. The candle light created eerie shadows upon his face making him look older and more world-weary than he seems and yet, the heaviness of his heart and soul were reflected in his eyes.

His dull and weary eyes drifted towards the mahogany desk placed in the center of his office and there, on top of the desk, was a letter written in elegant kanji. His eyes were not focused on the content of the letter but the name signed at the bottom.

'Your faithful soldier,

Hiroshi Yamada'

'Hiroshi Yamada…' Saitou thought to himself. He leaned against the window and closed his eyes as the memories of the past drifted to the forefront of his mind.

Summer of 1865

Saitou was walking down a well worn path towards the outskirts of the city. He had an important business to attend to that day, for the Commander of Shinsengumi Kondo Isami called upon him to ask him for a favor. Saitou went over the conversation that he had with his superior earlier that day in his head as he kept his eyes fixed upon the road in front of him.

Earlier that day

Saitou had just finished eating breakfast at the Shinsengumi headquarters and was about to head out to do his daily duties. He hated doing them but someone had to do it. With resigned sigh, he grabbed his sword that lay by his side and got ready to stand up from the table. At that moment he felt a hand on his shoulder and glancing around, he saw Kondo Isami, the Commander and the founder of Shisengumi.

"Good morning, Saitou" the Commander said with a wide smile.

"Good morning, Kondo-san" replied Saitou with a respectful bow.

Saitou had high respect for the Commander, for he was a powerful swordsman as well as a brilliant leader. He commanded the Shinsengumi with authority and passion for his cause and gained trust and respect from all of his subordinates. He was fearless and merciless in battle but compassionate and amicable outside his duties. His friendly disposition made him popular among his comrades and the members of Shinsengumi regarded him as a father figure and treated him with love and respect accordingly.

Saitou was no different in this manner. When he was wandering around Japan with no purpose, Kondo took him in and gave him the light in his life – a light to brighten the dark and gloomy life he has led until that point. Saitou pledged his life to serve Kondo and the Shinsengumi and its cause – to protect the Tokugawa Shogunate – and utilized his only useful skill he possessed – swordsmanship – to fulfill that pledge. He practiced day and night, seven days a week, and without rest. His skills were sharp and formidable and they were recognized as such, for Commander Kondo soon named him the Captain of third unit of Shinsengumi. It was the greatest honor Saitou has ever been bestowed.

"Saitou, I have a favor to ask of you" said Kondo, still smiling in Saitou's direction.

"Of course, Kondo-san, that is if your favor is within my power. I'll do anything I can" replied Saitou.

"Good…Well, here is the deal. You do the favor for me and I buy you couple of drinks" said Kondo.

"Ah, Commander. There is no need. I'd be happy to do a favor for you" said Saitou, a little embarrassed at his attention.

"Very well then, a drink it is. Anyways, this is what I need to ask of you. I have a friend in the country and he tells me that a young man has come to his town seeking revenge on the Imperialists, especially on the man called the Battousai. He said in his letter that this young man – his name is Yamada by the way – looked as if he was a samurai descendent by the way he carried himself. Apparently, the townspeople are quite afraid of him. They say that his eyes are the eyes that have seen hell and back again. So my friend thought that I might want to recruit this boy into Shinsengumi and he is right. I do want him in Shinsengumi. We always need young and eager soldiers, isn't that right Saitou? But, as you very well know, I am a very busy person. So I am sending you to go get him. Will you do it for me, Saitou?"

"Where is this boy?" asked Saitou curiously, for he was also excited to recruit another faithful member to the Shinsengumi.

"I knew I could count on you, Saitou. Yamada is currently wandering around the outskirts of the city, near the countryside. I'm sure you can find him once you get there" said Kondo with a wide smile.

"Of course, Kondo-san. I'll go right away" replied Saitou with a respectful bow. "If you will excuse me…" He got up to leave when Kono's hand grasped his across the table, stopping him from getting up.

"Ah. Just a moment, Saitou. When you find this boy, I want you to gauge his abilities and treat him with care. Let him learn swordsmanship under you and nurture him to become a great warrior. I ask this of you especially because I am sure you can understand how he feels," said Kondo in an uncharacteristically serious tone and with a knowing glance in his way.

Saitou remained silent for awhile, staring at the solemn look on his commander's face, looking deep into his eyes.

"Of course, sir" said Saitou with equal graveness.

"Well then, have a safe trip, Saitou. I'll see you when you get back."

"Yes, Kondo-san" and with that last comment, Saitou turned away and headed out the doors of the Shinsengumi headquarters towards his new destination.

That was early this morning. Now, Saitou was nearing a small town in the outskirts of the city by the countryside. As he walked, he pondered upon the words of his commander. "Let him learn swordsmanship under you and nurture him to become a great warrior."

'It is just as Kondo-san treated me when he first took me in. Hiroshi Yamada…I wonder what kind of young man he is.'

With this thought, he resolved to do what Kondo asked him to do: to take care of this young man and help him to become a great warrior for the sake of Shinsengumi.

When he arrived at the quaint little town where he knew Yamada to be staying at, he was first met with the town elders. They greeted him with great kindness and some apprehension. 'Of course they would feel this way' thought Saitou. He was, after all, the Captain of third unit of Shinsengumi. He exuded the air of fearless soldier with his katana hanging about his hip and standing tall in traditional Shinsengumi hakama.

"Saitou-san?" asked one of the elders.

"Yes, that's me. I've come on behalf of Kondo Isame-san. I am sure you know the reason why I am here?"

"Yes, yes, of course. He is staying at an inn by the river. If you would please follow me, I will take you there."

"Thank you," said Saitou and followed the old man down a road towards the river.

The sun was beating down upon his brows and the river was shining against the bright rays of the sun like clear crystals, blinding him. He squinted up at the sky and once again thought, 'I wonder what kind of man this Hiroshi Yamada is…'

Even he could not explain why he had such an interest in this young man. It is true that they share many similarities, but being such a reticent person, Saitou almost never showed emotions let alone take interest in someone else. However, there was something about this person that nagged him in the back of his mind and he has yet to meet him in person. As Saitou was thinking these thoughts they had, unbeknownst to him, arrived at the inn by the river.

Saitou looked up the two-story building and turned to the town elder and bowed respectfully, muttering a quite 'Thank you' before entering the building.

The interior was modestly furnished, with simple but elegant painting on the wall and clean floors. As his eyes roamed about the room, the landlady entered and bowed, welcoming him. Saitou bowed in return and said, "I am here to see Hiroshi Yamada." His tone was quiet and composed yet exuded authority and the landlady immediately complied, "Of course. We have been expecting you. This way, please."

As Saitou followed the landlady up the stairs towards the back tea room – which was only used to hold formal and secret meetings between high-ranking officials – he braced himself mentally for the faithful meeting with Hiroshi Yamada.

When he entered the room, Hiroshi Yamada was already inside, waiting for him by the window looking over the river and leaning against the frame. An antique-looking katana hung about his hips in a careless way and his midnight blue hair looked as if it had been washed for a good few weeks. His shoulders were hunched forward as was his back and he had his arms wrapped around himself as if he was protecting himself against something.

He looked weak and lost; defeated and hopeless.

Saitou pitied him. What could have ever happened to him that made him this way? What horrendous event led such a young man – if you can call him a man, for he was only thirteen years old at the time – to become so broken inside?

As he was asking himself these things, Yamada turned around to look at him. Then, Saitou looked into his eyes for the first time. It is as the townspeople said; Yamada's eyes looked haunted. His eyes held so much sorrow, anger, and hopelessness that it hurt to just look into them. They had no life in them, almost as if he had died inside and just merely existing instead of actually living in this moment.

Saitou took another step forward and slightly bowed his head in Yamada's direction.

"My name is Saitou Hajime. I've come on behalf of Kondo Isame-san's request to recruit you into Shinsengumi."

Yamada stared at his bowed head for a moment and turned away from him. He gazed at the river flowing and remained silent.

"Saitou-san, have you ever listened to the river?" he abruptly asked.

Saitou remained silent. Frankly, he did not know how to respond. What do you say when a thirteen-year-old boy asks you such a philosophical question?

"I used to listen during the peaceful times when I still lived with my family. Lately, I have not," responded Saitou, breaking the thick silence that has settled in the room.

"Since I came here, I listen to it everyday. Do you know what I hear, Saitou-san?" asked Yamada, turning his body so that he was facing Saitou now.

Saitou looked back at him but remained silent. Where was he going with all these questions?

"I hear…" Yamada looked back towards the river and closed his eyes.

"I hear many voices. Voices of the past, the present, and the future. I hear my parents' voices when they were alive and happy. We were happy back then. I hear myself laughing with them, talking with them, and I even hear their even breaths when they fell asleep on either side of me when I was little. I hear my mother's voice begging that man for my life. I hear my father's voice when he tried to fight him off for our family. I hear their dying breaths. I hear the townspeople voices, whispering behind my back; telling me to leave their village. I can hear their unwelcoming hisses and mutterings. But I also hear your voice, Saitou-san, and the one you called Kondo Isame, telling me that I can become stronger for the sake of the nation as well as for my own. I do not know how I know that these voices are yours, but all that matters is that I do. Did you know, Saitou-san? This ever flowing river is like Time. It will not stop for me, nor will it stop neither for you nor for any of us. Did you know, Saitou-san? Even if I know this, sometimes, I wish it would just stop, even for a moment…" said Yamada in quiet and pained voice.

Hearing him talk about these things cut through Saitou's heart, as if a blade has been shoved cruelly into his chest and twisted around, leaving him to bleed. It was no wonder that Yamada seemed so broken with all these pains weighing down on him, chaining him to the depths of despair and unable to break free.

Saitou took another step towards him but stopped when Yamada turned around and looked up into his eyes. His eyes showed a torment of emotions: anger, sorrow, hatred, hopelessness, and despair. What can Saitou do in this situation? No words would comfort him nor would any actions be sufficient to erase the haunting memories from the depths of his mind.

Instead, Saitou stepped towards him and grabbed his precious katana at his side and held it out towards him.

"This sword was a gift from my mentor and my savior, Kondo-san. When I became the Captain of the third unit of Shinsengumi, he presented me with this sword. Even before then, he has been the one that I admired and he became like a father to me in more ways than one. As he has done for me, I will do unto you. I will guide you through your turmoil, though I cannot understand the full extent of your sufferings, I had my fair share of despair and hatred. I will be the light that you need in the darkness of your life and give you purpose. I will give you this sword as a first step into fulfilling that goal. As it has been passed down to me, I pass it on to you" said Saitou in a solemn vow.

Yamada looked at the well-worn hilt of the sword and its impeccable sharpness of the blade. It has obviously been used a lot – rather in practice or in real life, he did not know – and Saitou has taken painstaking care of it. After all, it was his only treasure. Yamada reached out a hand towards the hilt and with slight hesitancy took the sword in his hands.

"Will you make me stronger?" asked Yamada.

"Yes" replied Saitou with confidence.

Yamada looked at the sword in his hands again, contemplating upon Saitou's promise.

"Then I shall go to Kyoto and become a member of Shinsengumi. It isn't as if I have much of a choice anyway. I have no home to speak of nor do I have any other family members. Even if I did, I wouldn't want to go to them anyway. I want to get stronger and avenge my parents' deaths" said Yamada with conviction and determination. For the first time, his eyes showed life in them and the darkness seemed to have been lifted.

Saitou smiled a rare smile.

"I am glad that you are determined. It will not be an easy road; you will need all the determination and courage you can gather" said Saitou.

"Yes, Saitou-san" replied Yamada.

Saitou looked into Yamada's eyes. "Very well. We leave for Kyoto at the first light tomorrow."

That faithful day was over ten years ago.

Saitou walked towards his desk and tried read the letter again but his eyes were automatically drawn to the words at the bottom of the page.

'Your faithful soldier,

Hiroshi Yamada'

Yes, Hiroshi Yamada was one of Saitou's best soldiers, if not the very best. He was like himself; hardworking and very dedicated to Shinsengumi's cause. He put his life on the line everyday to defend what it stood for and did it willingly and proudly. Saitou, in turn, sheltered him and taught him to be a warrior to be feared by many and admired by all.

Saitou sighed and folded the letter and put it in his pocket. Tomorrow, he would have to make an unexpected visit.

With that thought, he blew out the lone candle and walked out of his office into the streets. As his footsteps guided him to his house where his wife waited for him, he resolved in his mind to make the inevitable visit to the former legendary Battousai the next day.

Sano walked down the path leading to Kaoru's house, whistling a light tune as he went. The sun filtered through the green foliage above and when the leaves rustled in the wind, shadows danced upon his face. It was a fine day and Sano was going to make the most of it. After visiting Jou-chan and Kenshin, he will go visit some old friends and go gambling. Oh boy, how he had missed gambling with his friends! After that, perhaps he will go to the Akabeko and eat some lunch and have a chat with Tae and Tsubame. Then, may be he will go bug the kitsune doctor Megumi. In between, he can help Yahiko train his students and call it a day. Yes, it was going to be perfect.

When Sano arrived at the back entrance to Kaoru's house, he was met with an unexpected scene. He hid behind a tall oak tree and let the scene unfold before him with a wicked smile gracing his lips.

As usual, Kenshin was outside doing the laundry. His sleeves were pulled back and his elbows were hidden beneath the mountain of soap bubbles. What was unusual was that Kaoru was helping him this morning. As Kenshin washed, Kaoru hung up the dripping clothes onto the clothes line.

'They already look like a married couple' thought Sano as he watched this tender scene. 'If they can just get their acts together and admit that they love each other…'

As Keshin finished the last of the laundry for the day, Kaoru was struggling to get a heavy futon on the clothes line. Her hair in disarray and her kimono sleeves pulled back like Kenshin's to reveal her creamy white arms, she was the vision of an angel to Kenshin. During the entire time he was washing and scrubbing away, his eyes would occasionally – more often than not – drift towards her face and gaze upon her radiance. She was beautiful.

Kenshin got up from his position on the floor where he had been squatting by the wash tub and approached Kaoru to help her get the heavy futon on the clothes line.

"Here, Miss Kaoru" said Kenshin as he reached over and grabbed the futon and pulled it on to the clothes line while Kaoru helped from the other side. As they both struggled to hang the futon, Kenshin's hand closed over Kaoru's.

It was as if time had stopped. Kaoru's hand felt warm against his cold and rough hand and slowly he shifted his eyes to meet hers across the white futon that was in between them. Her face was partially hidden from him but he detected a faint blush on her cheek. Kaoru met his eyes for a brief moment and hurriedly looked away towards the ground. Kenshin could not stop looking at her. He studied every feature of her face: her clear indigo blue eyes, her rosy mouth, the flushed cheeks, and her blue hair framing her face. He faintly smelled a whiff of jasmine as he unknowingly held her hand tighter. Kaoru blushed prettily and looked back up at his face, searching his eyes as if looking for an answer to the unasked question.

Kenshin opened his mouth to say something when unexpectedly Yahiko came around the house. Kenshin quickly let go of Kaoru's hand and tried to reign in his wayward emotions as Kaoru tried to cover up her blush and fix her hair.

"What is it Yahiko?" asked Kaoru in an irritated voice.

"You won't believe who is at the front door right now" said Yahiko, panting heavily.

"What do you mean, Yahiko? Who is here?" asked Kenshin, concern showing on his face. He had a very bad feeling about this.

"It's Saitou. Saitou Hajime is here."

A/N: So what did you think? Please take five seconds to review! I love them!!!

Next Chapter: What was the content of the letter? Why did Hiroshi Yamada write to Saitou? What is he planning? Why did Saitou come to Kenshin? You will find out in the next chapter.