Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

"…" talking

'…' thinking

Summary of previous chapter – Kaoru found out about Kenshin and Tomoe's relationship while having tea with Misao and Megumi. Kaoru's personal bodyguards, Tokio and Saito arrived in Hiten to protect Kaoru. Kenshin made Tomoe his lover and Kaoru was kidnapped by Jin-e.

Koi – love/tender passion

Baka tori atama – idiot rooster head

Kuso - dammit

Dono- miss

Chapter 4

A servant knocked on the door to the royal apartment, carrying a tray of food. When no one answered she opened the door and set the tray in the sitting room and quietly left. Not noticing that there was no one there.

Kenshin woke up with Tomoe in his arms. He regretted that he couldn't marry such a beautiful and sophisticated woman. "Koi, I have to go, no one knows that I'm here."

Tomoe sighed and Kenshin put a kiss on her lips. He put on a spare change of clothes he kept in her room and walked out.

Kenshin headed towards the council room grabbing a biscuit from the kitchen.

"Hey Kenshin, what's up?" Sano asked

"A council meeting."

"Hey baka tori atama, you're actually awake." Said Megumi who came up behind them.

Soon everyone was there and halfway through the meeting Tokio burst into the room with Saito right behind her.

Kenshin was on his feet his hand on his sword, "explain yourselves!" his eyes were pure gold.

"Calm down Battousai, it's about Kaoru-san, she's missing."

Kenshin froze, 'missing?'

"What do you mean?"

"We can't find her anywhere we even peeked into the room you share with her!" Tokio exclaimed.

Kenshin stalked out of the room heading towards his rooms.

'Kaoru couldn't have been kidnapped!'

He rushed into the sitting room, not seeing Kaoru anywhere. He rushed into the bedroom still not seeing Kaoru.

"The balcony door is open, could she have snuck out?" Kenshin growled out.

"The bed is untouched." Observed Aoshi. He bent towards the bed grabbing a folded piece of paper.

"Battousai, where were you last night, you're her fiancée, shouldn't you have shared the bed with her?" Saito asked magically producing a cigarette to smoke.

'Kuso, I can't let them find out about it'

"I was umm…"

'Wait a minute, I'm the king I can do whatever I want'

"I was spending the night with Tomoe." The unspoken words were evident.

Sano whistled, "So you didn't get much sleep last night?"

Kenshin growled at him.

"How kind, while your fiancée is being kidnapped you are with a whore." Saito said.

In two seconds Kenshin drew his sword and had it at Saito's neck.

"Tomoe is not a whore." He growled out.

"My lord, I think you should know I found this on your bed."

"Well, read it!" Kenshin reluctantly sheathed his sword.

Battousai –

I have your little princess and if you want her back you know where to go. Before you make a decision you might want to know that your little princess can't conceive. Oh and you have a week to come and get her.

Jin-e Udo

"Who's Jin-e Ken-san?" Megumi asked but she was ignored. Instead the red head turned towards Kaoru's body guards.

"What does he mean? My future wife can't conceive!" He wasn't angry anymore he was furious.

"Battousai, you should be asking your fiancée this question not us." Saito stated.

"To ask her would mean saving her and what good would it be to rescue a useless woman!"

"Hey Kenshin that's harsh, jou-chan didn't do anything to you."

He knew Sano was right but since Kaoru couldn't conceive there would be no heir if he married her.

He took a deep breath, "We're going to rescue Kaoru and we only have six days left." His eyes were completely gold, "she can explain herself."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Battousai didn't show it but he was truly concerned about Kaoru. 'She's just a girl who I have to marry.' Battousai thought.

'Then why do you care so much?' His other half asked him.

"Why do I care so much?" Battousai whispered but it didn't go unnoticed, everyone heard him.

Tomoe let her brother Enishi pick her up, "are you sure this will work?" Enishi asked. His hair was dyed black and he was wearing all black.

Tomoe looked at her brother determine clear on her face, "he will have to choose between me and her."

Enishi sighed in resignation and carried Tomoe off.

A scream pierced through the quiet air. Battousai turned and saw a black haired man carrying off Tomoe.

"Kenshin, save me!" Tomoe screamed.

"Tomoe!" Battousai cried. He ran after her and her captor but they just disappeared.

Tomoe's captor dropped a letter on the ground and Saito inwardly groaned, 'not again'

Battousai picked up the letter and read it aloud.

Battousai-

If you want Tomoe returned to you, you must rescue her in six days when we provide her location. If you haven't rescued her by the sixth day Tomoe Yukishiro will die.

Anonymous

Battousai headed towards the forest behind the castle, where he last saw Tomoe.

"Kenshin," Misao called, "aren't you going to rescue Kaoru, you only have six days to rescue both of them."

Battousai froze. 'How can I rescue both Tomoe and Kaoru?' Saito chuckled, "Well it looks like the mighty manslayer has to choose between a whore and his promised one."

Saito's comment earned him a whack on the head.

"Aoshi, gather the Oniwabanshu and have them search for her." Battousai ordered.

"Who?"

"Tom…" Battousai trailed off, who could he possibly choose? He remembered Tomoe's quite voice and façade, so it only seemed natural to go after her.

He also remembered the warmth Kaoru radiated and the smile that graced her pale features and he burned for her. It confused him.

His voice lowered to a whisper, "Kaoru."

A huge grin spread onto Sano's face, "Well then let's start searching!" Cheers were shouted and Misao punched her fist in the air bringing a smile to Aoshi's usually stoic face.

Tokio stepped forward and put herself in Kenshin's path, "Tell me Battousai why are you going after Kaoru?"

"I must or she will die!"

"Do you love her?"

"What?"

Tokio's expression hardened, "she wouldn't want you to go after her if you didn't love her, knowing her she would rather you go after Yukishiro-dono."

"It doesn't matter, I'm still going after her."

"If you go after her and she finds out that you had to choose between Yukishiro-dono and her, you'll give her false hope and when you reject her she'll be crushed."

"I don't know her that well, how am I supposed to know if I love her?"

"It's simple, if you feel strongly for her, you must love her!"

'Kuso, I don't know what I feel, I know I love Tomoe but Kaoru? I don't know'

'Well I for one like Kaoru-dono better than Tomoe-dono, you should rescue Kaoru-dono." Battousai's other side, the Rurouni thought.

'Give me two good reasons.'

'One, Kaoru has a more important position than Tomoe and two, you love her.'

Battousai almost choked, he loved Kaoru? How? He could feel the Rurouni's smile and forced himself to pay attention to what was going on in his head.

'I thought you were the smart one, Battousai. We're the same person and whomever I love you love, I can feel that much'

Battousai considered what the Rurouni was saying, and he realized that the weird feeling he has was what he first felt with Tomoe. He never realized it was love but now he could feel it. He didn't want to love Kaoru but it had happened, he was screwed.

Battousai turned to Tokio, his bangs covering his eyes from view, "I will save Kaoru."

A huge grin broke out on Misao and Sano's face and Sano spoke up, "so um, where do we start?"

No one spoke for a moment and Megumi laughed, "I never thought this day would come but baka tori-atama actually asked a good question!"

That broke the ice, there were a few chuckles and Sano had a full blown grin on his face.

"Aoshi assemble the Oniwabanshu, all of the stealth forces will be searching for Kaoru."

"Saito, Tokio you may search on your own, no one shall hear of her absence."

There were nods from everyone and then they were gone.

Kenshin stood there looking at the forest.

'Kaoru I hope I find you.'

A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short but I thought this would be the perfect place to end it. I promise the next one will be longer!