The day after the big warehouse ordeal, the soldiers were all quite happy with themselves. According to Katsura's contact in the Shinsengumi, they were unable to find anything incriminating at Matsumoto-sans warehouse. A letter was sent to Iruka-san and Matsumoto-san was able to return to his facility, and Okami got all of her rice back. Kenshin was also glad to note that he had no job today, which automatically made this a pretty good day.

He came to breakfast early and was able to eat alone, much to his delight. As much as he likes his friends, he also values his solitude, and today was just that kind of day. He hurriedly finished breakfast and went back to his room. After making sure the coast was clear, he jumped out of the window and made his way down the street. It was a nice day, sunny, but not too warm. There was also a nice breeze that made made the leaves and other light debris on the road swirl around in a symphony of sorts.

''Nature is beauty, everything, from the largest tree to the smalled leaf, harmonizes with each other just as it was intended to do. " He remember his shishou telling him. Kenshin smiled slightly at the memory.

Soon he began to notice places where he had accomplished his assignments. Random ally ways, bridges with blood stains, and even houses. He closed his eyes and tried to push the guilt away. ' I feel no regret, this is for the new era, for the people who cannot protect themselves.' He told himself fiercely.

Soon after he spotted a dango shop and decided to stop. Dango was a relatively new food for him. Sure, he had known it existed, but when he was a child, his family couldn't afford such luxuries, and his shishou didn't care for them, but since Sousuke and Tatsuki had taken him out to a Dango shop last week, he had found that they were in fact quite delicious and got them whenever he had the chance.

After his quick break he started his walk again, not paying much attention to where his feet were taking him. Soon enough, he found himself walking past the stores and carts that lined main street. He had to step to the side every so often as to not run into the children who ran through the streets without a care in the world. His mood darkened considerably when he sensed the Ki of several swordsmen coming around the corner. When he saw them, he scowled outright.

He watched as they marched through the streets, pushing anyone aside who didn't move quick enough. His scowl deepened. ' And their supposed to be ' protecting' the people of Kyoto from the rebels.' He scoffed. Unfortunately, one of the thugs seemed to have noticed his scowl. They group, which consisted of 5 shinsengumi swordsmen, walked right up to Kenshin, the latter swore under his breath when he saw them coming.

'' Hmph. Only a rebel would frown at the Shinsengumi.'' one of them, presumably the leader of the group, said as he eyed Kenshin. Kenshin opted to remain silent. '' So kid, I'll let you go if you give me some, information, about your little rebel faction.'' he laughed.

Kenshin just stood defiant, still not giving this man an answer.

He seemed to no be fazed by this however, and continued his questioning. '' Even if you're not an upper rank, you should still know the whereabouts of certain, individuals.'' He sneered, '' Like, say, Hitokiri Battosai...''

Kenshin nearly blanched, nearly. His years of training to master his emotions managed to save him in many situations, such as this one. Kenshin noticed that being silent wasn't going to work with this man, so he did the next best thing, lied.

'' I'm no rebel, and if I knew where Hitokiri Battosai was, you'd be on your way to arrest him instead of giving me that incredulous look.'' Kenshin said flatly. The Shinsengumi member frowned.

'' So you're saying you know nothing, huh.'' He said. Kenshin nodded.

'' And what if I don't believe you? I think you know something boy.'' He glared. Kenshin was, however, unaffected.

'' I could care less if you believe me, but your wasting your time with someone who knows nothing. There could be someone walking by us as we speak who knows this assassin personally.''

The group started looking around, scrutinizing every passer by.

'' If you'll excuse me, I'm needed elsewhere.'' Kenshin said as he turned to leave, but the swordsmen were already walking away. Kenshin sighed a breath of relief. He decided to go back to the inn, not willing to risk another run in with a potentially intelligent member of the Shinsengumi. He arrived back about an hour later and headed to the court yard to get in a little practice before heading to Katsura's office.

He once again found himself lost in the peace of his kata, flying through the moves with a grace only attained after hours of harsh training. When he finished, he sheathed his sword, took a deep breath, and walked to his boss's office.

'' Come in.'' Katsura said in a hurried voice. Kenshin slid the shouji open and Katsura looked up. '' Ah, Kenshin, I don't believe you have any work today.'' He said.

''No sir.'' Kenshin responded as he sat down. '' I was approached by the Shinsengumi.''

Katsura's face paled as he looked up. '' How did your identity get leaked?''

Kenshin shook his head quickly. '' No sir, they don't know who I am yet, but they questioned me, I believe their questioning random people on the streets, however they did ask for information on Hitokiri Battosai specifically. ''

Katsura's look didn't brighten any. '' Yosho, will you get Katagai please?'' he said. Yosho bowed and left quickly. Katsura turned his attention back to Kenshin. '' Should we pull you out for a while?''

'' No.'' Kenshin answered quickly. '' No one knows my identity, they can sniff around as much as they like.'' he said flatly. '' It'll just draw out the war if I lay low for no real reason.''

Katagai entered after that statement. '' Why would you need to lay low Kenshin?''

'' Shinsengumi are questioning people on the street, searching for the identity of Hitokiri Battosai, Kenshin had the pleasure of being the target of such questioning today.'' Katsura responded. Katagai frowned. '' I agree with Kenshin, he doesn't need to lay low, however, you will be careful, understand?''

Kenshin nodded and was dismissed.

Kenshin abruptly woke up when he sensed a hostile Ki coming close to the inn. He slid his swords into his obi and left his room quickly and quietly out the window and made his way to the roof. He couldn't get a good look at the man's face, but could tell that he was shinsengumi from his haori. He cursed under his breath and lept down off the roof. He landed noiselessly. He masked his Ki completely and melted into the shadows. He crept around the building to get a better look.

He scowled. ' I still can't see his face.' he thought angrily. He approached his target from behind and hit him in the back of the head with the handle of his katana, effectively knocking him unconscious. He nearly smirked when he finally got a good look at the mans face. He tied him to the tree and bound his ands and legs as well as gagged him before reentering the inn.

Katsura awoke to a light knocking on his shouji. Confused, he reached for his sword before calling out a quiet enter. He was surprised when he saw Kenshin, still in his sleeping yukata, but armed with his swords. ''Kenshin? Whats the problem?''

Kenshin looked at him. '' One of the shinsengumi members who approached me today was lurking around the Inn. I knocked him out and tied him to a tree.''

Katsura frowned, '' Do you know why he was here?''

Kenshin shook his head. '' I figured I'd keep him alive so you could question him. He didn't even know I attacked him, he still probably doesn't.''

Katsura nodded. '' go watch him, make sure nothing happens to him, I'll meet you outside with Katagai in a few minuets. We'll discuss what to do then. Kenshin nodded and left to watch his quarry. He showed signs of waking as Kenshin approached, which was quite a feat, considering how hard Kenshin had hit the man.

Kenshin stood next to the tree and watched the man as he woke up. '' Uh... itai.'' He groaned. He slowing got his barrings and after a few minuets finally seemed to understand where he was and what kind of situation he was in, for he started struggling. '' Wha... how?''He looked around and spotted Kenshin. '' You!'' he said accusingly.

Kenshin looked at him. He glared back. ''I knew you were a rebel.'' He spat, '' this is the HQ for the Choushuu Ishin Shishi isn't it!'' He declared. Kenshin glared at him coolly, not giving away anything. However, on the inside he was more worried. The fact that his guy knew that was bad. First off, he was shinsengumi, and if he had even the slightest bit of intelligence, then he would have told his captain of his suspicions, however he was alone, so he might not have. Secondly, someone had to give him this information, which meant the security was too lax and an outsider found out, or there was a traitor.

Katsura walked out just as the man yelled at Kenshin. He stopped short and cursed. His line of thoughts were roughly the same as Kenshin's. ''Himura, '' he said, using Kenshins sir name,something he didn't do often, '' Knock him out again, we're taking him inside.'' He said curtly. Katagai was waiting at the door for the two. Kenshin nodded and knocked him out again before he could protest. Kenshin untied him from the tree and pulled him inside the inn and down to the basement.

They tied him to a chair and waited for him to awaken.

'' Kenshin, what do you think about this?'' Katsura asked as he examined the unconscious man.

Kenshin frowned. '' I don't think his superiors are aware, I doubt they would have sent him alone. Especially if they believed this to be HQ.''

Katsura nodded.

'' But the fact that he has suspicions worries me.'' Katagai said.

'' I don't like to think we have a traitor in our midsts, but...'' Katsura started.

''Our security isn't that lax.'' Kenshin finished. '' Of coarse, it could just be coincidence.''

'' What do you mean?'' Katagai said.

'' He could have just stumbled upon this place, recognized me, and drew a conclusion when he found out he was tied to a tree.''

They decided that they wouldn't know until he woke up, so once again they waited. He woke up a few minuets later and the interrogation began.

Kenshin stayed in the back corner and just listened, shile Katagai did most of the actual questioning.

'' So, we can do this one of two ways. Hard, or easy. you choose.'' Katagai said as he fingered a dagger in his hands. The man paled.

Katagai smirked. '' How did you know to come look in this inn?''

The man quivered but kept his mouth shut. Katagai frowned. He took the knife and put the tip over the mans hand. '' Are you sure you don't have an answer?''

He still kept silent, so Katagai put one hand over his mouth and thrust the knife through the knuckle of his middle finger, basically severing the finger. The man screamed into his hand. When his screams died down, Katagai removed his hand. '' Do you have an answer yet?''

He nodded. '' I-I heard that B-battosai was here... that this w-was the head quarters of the r-rebel army.'' He stammered through the pain.

'' How did you hear of this?'' Katsura asked this time.

'' A-a man approached me, h-he told me e-everything.'' He said quickly.

'' That is a lie.'' Kenshin said from the corner. He stood beside Katsura and glared at the man. '' You'll tell the truth.'' he said as he drew his wakizashi, '' or you'll regret it. ''

A musty smell assaulted their senses as the man wet himself. Assured that he wouldn't try to take Katsura for a fool again, Kenshin returned to the corner once again.

'' I-I over heard t-two men t-ta-talking about it over s-sake at a local b-bar.'' He confessed. Katsura was both relieved and angry at the same time. There was no traitor, however, his men were foolish enough to compromise the safety of the ishin shishi. This would require a long talk at breakfast tomorrow.

'' Why were you sent in alone?'' Katagai asked again.

'' I-I wasn't sent in... I-I never t-told my c-c-captain.''

After a few more hours of questioning, Katsura and Katagai were glad to note that there were no traitors, and were both fairly pleased with the information they got. So far, none of their bases of operations were known of, at least to soldiers of this level, and there was still nothing known of Kenshin's true identity. Katagai had quickly cut the mans throat and had him transported to an ally somewhere.

The next morning at breakfast, Katsura came in and addressed his soldiers. He told them of the nights events, and of the foolish behavior of two of his soldiers which could have cost them dearly. Not that Kenshin expected it, but the two that were drinking that night didn't fess up, so Katsura was forced to leave things as they were until he could find out who it had been.

It wasn't long after that Kenshin got his next assignment from Iizuka. He finished breakfast and left for his room to find out what his next job was.