Disclaimer: sighs Once again I don't own Kenshin. It would be a dream come true if I did that it would. "Ops, would you look at that Kenshin seems to be wearing off on me."

Chapter 4: Hurt inside of a Heart, Painful Memories of the Past

By InuShemeeko

Sanosuke winced when he felt Nori flinch as he removed the bandage from her right shoulder.

"Sorry about that."

Nori reply was simple, "That's all right. Indeed it is."

Nori sighed and then spoke to Sanosuke.

"I wish to thank you and your friends. I truly do indeed. You all have been so kind to me as well as Akira and Kyoko."

"Hey don't worry about it alright. Helping people is something Kenshin and I do all the time."

Nori just nodded. Sanosuke then worked on finishing wrapping Nori's shoulder.

"There good as new. Well I guess I'll be going so then you can get some rest."

Sanosuke stood up and headed for the door. He then turned and looked at Nori.

"Hey, I'll catch you in the morning alright."

Nori smiled at him and replied, "Or course, Mr. Sagara."

Sanosuke spoke as he headed out of her room.

"Oh and you can call me Sanosuke."

He then slid the door closed behind him.

A few hours later Nori found herself tossing in her sleep. Memories from her past seem to be haunting her once again.

Flashback

"Give it up Tigress. Do you really believe that there is anything you can do to save these people?"

"Yes, Kin I do."

"Then if you are not with us then you are against us. And for that you shall die!"

The rain beat down hard on the swordsmen's bodies as their swords clashed together. Nori's Japanese sword caught the front of Kin's gi ripping it open. The blade glazed his chest causing blood to ooze from the small scratch.

"Is that all you can do? I would have thought the skills your father gave you would be better then this."

Nori's eyes narrowed as she stared at Kin. A glint of violet shone in her eyes as she fought the urge to draw her Japanese sword and slay him.

"I have sworn never to take away life, like I did in the past."

Kin sneered at Nori pulling his Japanese sword to the front of him waiting to strike. Nori kept her eyes sharply on him watching for his next move. He was there one minute then suddenly he vanished from Nori's view.

"That is a vow you will soon regret."

Suddenly before Nori had a chance to react or even move Kin was behind her. His blade was inches away from her flesh.

"Sen-Yin-Jin"

Kin's blade cut through the blue fabric of Nori's gi, blood flew through the air as Kin pulled his blade away. Nori gasped as she felt her body falling forward to the ground. She stabbed her sword into the ground to support her as she fell to one knee.

Kin's black eyes seemed to burn as he looked down at Nori.

"This is only the beginning Hiromasa. One day I shall be the one to take away those you hold dear, not the government. So I would never let my guard down. For one day I shall make you pay for what you have done to ME!"

End Flashback

Nori's eyes flew open as she quickly sat up. Her breath came out in heavy gasps; a cold sweat ran down her face. Nori gently lifted herself up from her futon. As she stood she could see rain falling outside. Nori sighed as she walked out to the front of the dojo; she stood outside on the porch and watched the rain falling steadily down. There were times when the rain could bring one's soul peace. However tonight it tortured a soul more then bringing it peace.

Nori shivered as the battle of that cold rainy night flashed through her mind. That's when a soft voice spoke from behind her.

"You should not be up Miss Nori. That you should not, your body is still trying to heal itself that it is."

Nori smiled gently at Kenshin and nodded.

"Thank you Mr. Himura for your concern. These dreams I keep having of late have been keeping me awake."

Kenshin's eyes widened in wonder, "What kinds of dreams Miss Nori?"

"Dreams of my past, and dreams that carry a threat with them."

"We all have dreams of our past, that we do. It never truly leaves us that it does not."

"It would appear that you are getting stronger that you are."

"As my father would always tell me. I have an iron will, and I shall not die till I am truly happy."

"When you fight you move with such grace that you do. Your movements remind me of my own Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu style."

"I will tell you that my sword style is not your Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu style that it is not. However it is not far from it."

This confused Kenshin a bit.

"I'm afraid I do not understand that I do not."

Nori turned her bright green eyes to face Kenshin.

"My father was a acquaintance of Seijurou Hiko. Whether or not they were friends I do not know. For I was only a small child when I first met Mr. Hiko."

Kenshin gasped, "Your father knew Master Hiko."

"Yes, and from that knowing my father created his own swordsmanship technique. Known as Sarasu Hiten Nokan Ryu. My father showed it to Hiko once; I am unclear on what Master Hiko thought of it, for he was always hard to read."

Kenshin's face fell.

"That is most defiantly true that it is."

Lightening flashed through the air. Giving Kenshin enough light for him to truly read Nori's eyes.

"It would seem that you have had great sadness happen to you that it does. When you feel like talking I will gladly listen that I will."

Nori nodded to Kenshin once more as she head off toward her room. The night would soon be fading into morning. Once Nori was back on her futon she fell into a dreamless sleep. As her eye lids slowly closed, Nori couldn't help but wonder what dangers she was leading toward these kind people.

Miles away in Kyoto a tall figure cloaked in shadow made its way down the forest path. At first glance on would see the figure as harmless. However looks can be deicing, the shadowed figure walked onward until a wooden cabin came into view. The shadowed figure slowed his steps as he stopped in front of the wooden door. He was about to knock when the door suddenly opened, a tall brawny man stood in the doorway.

"Are lost stranger? What business do you have here?"

The shadowed man answered in a deep dark voice.

"I was told that you could lead me to the whereabouts of Nori Hiromasa. I am an old family friend."

The brawny man raised an eyebrow as he stared at the stranger."

"I am sorry for your trouble I have no idea where she might be now, the last time I saw her was seventeen years ago."

The shadowed figure spoke once more.

"Then could you perhaps tell me the whereabouts of Kana Hiromasa?"

The man in the doorway spoke once again.

"I'm not sure how close a friend you were to Kana. But I will have to say that you are about thirteen years too late, Kana is dead."

The shadowed figure nodded and bowed.

"I thank you for your time. You have been most helpful."

He turned to leave.

The tall brawny man watched the shadowed man disappear into the shadows.

"Perhaps it's high time I answered back to one of my idiot apprentice's letters? Maybe later I will pay him a small visit and see what he know of Nori Hiromasa. I wasn't even sure the girl was still alive till today."

He then closed the door behind him.

Nori fidgeted with the light blue kimono that Miss Megumi had brought her to wear. Megumi had told her that she was pleased with how well she was healing. Nori glanced down at the dark green ribbon that Megumi had brought as well. She reached a hand down toward it; at the last minute she changed her mind deciding to just to tie her hair back. Nori was brushing her long brownish red hair out, when there was a tap, tap, tap at her door.

"Hey Nori it's Sanosuke. Is it ok if I come in?"

"Oh, yes Sanosuke come on in."

The minute Sanosuke stepped into the room the air seemed to leave his lungs. As he stared at Nori in amazement."

Nori turned her worried green eyes to Sanosuke.

"Sanosuke are you alright? What's wrong?"

It took a minute for her words to register with Sanosuke.

"Wow, I mean……wow……..you look great."

Nori felt her heart stop it had been a long time since a man had told her that. However thinking of that time only brought tears to her. For the man who had once said that to her was dead, he had been killed in the war.

"Thank you Sanosuke."

To bad Sanosuke was staring at her so hard that he didn't even hear her. Sanosuke watched as a slight breeze caught hold of Nori long brownish red hair whipping around to her face. Nori then reached her hand back pulling all her hair back and tying it up in her tie.

"Shall we go eat breakfast with everyone else?"

Sanosuke blinked a few times.

"Um yeah sure why not."

Sanosuke opened the door for Nori as they went out to join the others for breakfast. Nori bowed to Sano as she headed down the hallway to the kitchen. Kaoru caught sight of Nori first.

"Oh Nori that kimono looks wonderful on you."

Kenshin smiled and nodded in agreement with Miss Kaoru.

"Yes indeed it does Miss Nori. So how are you feeling this morning."

Nori smiled at Kenshin.

"I am feeling a little bit better I believe in a couple of days I'll be as good as new yes indeed."

Sanosuke still couldn't get over the similarities that Kenshin and Nori shared. The lives the both had lived before coming to the dojo seemed almost identical. Sanosuke scratched is head it was almost like the strange thing with fate. Or maybe it's the old saying that everyone has a double out there.

One day he would just have to work up the nerve to ask her one-day. As for right now he just enjoyed watching her smile and listening to her and Kenshin laugh as they played with Ayame, Suzume, Akira and Kyoko. There was no doubt in Sanosuke mind how much Nori cared for those two kids. He just hoped that the worst was behind them. Sanosuke smiled as he thought about what it would be like to get to know Nori better.

'Yeah, I just might have to do that.'

"What are you drooling over now rooster head?"

Sano turned to see Megumi standing behind him.

"What do you want fox?"

Megumi then noticed who he had been looking at.

"Let me guess rooster head you're pining over her now huh?"

"Maybe, what do you care you old fox."

"What did you call me? RRRRRR, I could pounded you into the ground right about now."

Megumi then winked at Sano.

"She's out of your league Sano. You should just let it go."

Megumi then turned and walked out of the dojo's doors.

"You just wait and see fox. No one can resist my charms. Although I might want to be on my guard just in case, I'll give it a few months and see where I'm at."

(A/N: I know please don't hate me, that's it for now. Oh in the next Chapter about two or three months will have gone by. Well see how far Sanosuke has gotten with Nori, as well as the new tragedy that is going to strike the Kamiya dojo. So stay tuned. Oh you guys are the best.)