First of all, thanks to Icy-Kitty117;Cerulean Twin;Taishou;aerie50 who read and reviewed last chapter.

I was doing everything I could to make this the last chapter. But there is a lot of information that I need to think about how I am going to write... I don't wanna rush things...Anyway, I will do my best to post Chapter 19 until next Sunday.

This one is short, but I hope you to enjoy it.

::::

Chapter 18– Past and Present

Kenshin left her dead woman's body on the snow. She deserved a funeral; she didn't deserved to be left that way. But he needed to rush to Kaoru. Tomoe was dead, there was nothing he could do to change that, but Kaoru… she needed to be alive.

As he ran, as fast as he could in the few strength he had to Katsura's place he saw his own friends coming in his way. Kenshin shook his head: "What are you doing here?"

"We came to see what the explosions were." – Katsura said surprised to see Kenshin there.

The red-haired samurai widened his eyes in realization: "What about Kaoru? You left her alone?"

"No,… I mean,I thought you were with her."

Kenshin felt like his stomach was being punched. This was a trap. "Tomoe is dead, please, bring her body down, so that she can be returned to her family. Her brother was there too."

Katsura nod even if he didn't quite understood what Kenshin was saying. Was Tomoe dead? But the samurai had already left with no more answers. Even if he seemed weak, Kenshin still managed to run faster than a regular man.

::::

::::::::::::::::::::::

Her heart was pounding furiously inside her chest. She felt helpless. Sakura was down, the guard was dead was she was alone, with no chance to escape.

Kaoru stares at the man in front of her with rage with her eyes: "Why?" - she asked not really thinking that he would give her an answer. He was there to kill her, not to chat with her.

He shrugged his shoulders: "I personally don't believe in none of their ideals, nor democracy or imperialism. But, I was Katsura's friend and he moved crowds around him. The way he talked he really impressed people, his speeches about freedom and equality for all…" – then he turned to her: "They even impressed me for a while. I dreamed I could be his right arm… I don't had any qualities as a fighter, like the others, but he accepted me in this group as a courtesy…" – Iizuka's expression changed to one of hate and despise. "He never said that, but I know he really have no use to me, and everyone thinks of me as expendable. And I got tired of that."

Iizuka was Katsura's friend? Kaoru never noticed they were friends, she always thought about them as boss and employee. "That makes your betrayal even worse…"

Somehow her words annoyed him: "Shut up! I haven't finished yet!"

Kaoru tried to control her breath… if at least she wasn't in so much physical pain, she would attempted to escape.

"As I found this weirdos from the forest… they somehow managed to pay more than Katsura, if I just help them to destroy Ishin." – his voice was odious, she hated how it sounded, but he ignored Kaoru's reaction and continued telling his story: "At first I refused, after all Katsura was… a friend… but then" Iizuka took two steps towards her: "That's when you're red-haired samurai appeared. He was just a child. But I don't know why Katsura trusted him so much. And as time passed by, and more important people died by his sword, Ishin goal became more than a dream." – he glared at her: "And that couldn't happen. No, not by Himura's hands! He couldn't take the glory of these events, he was just a murderer after all! So I went to these guys and told them that if we could destroy Battousai, then they could destroy Ishin too."

"You're an horrible man, you did this just to feed your greed?" – she took a step forward facing him: "Kenshin never wanted a bright spot! He even thought about giving up.."

"But destroying Battousai seemed impossible." – he ignored her words and continued: "I Saw every plan we made being crushed by him. I Sent the strongest and the smartest after him, but he always turned them into nothing more than pieces of dead flesh. When they came for him, they were as good as dead. Himura didn't seemed to have any flaws any weak points…" – then his face changed and he grinned: "Until… you appeared." He took another step towards her, and this time Kaoru stepped back: "It was then that I realized that, If I couldn't kill his body, maybe we could destroy his soul… using you."

Kaoru widened her eyes:"That's why you spread the rumor that I was the traitor, so I could take the blames and maybe Katsura would put Kenshin away!"

"Of course, if he could be deceived by a woman… maybe he wasn't worthy of Katsura's trust."

"That was a stupid plan, it was obvious it was going to fail." – How could he think that Katsura would sent Kenshin out of Ishin just because of that?

"Yes, it was a failure." – Surprisingly he agreed: "First Udo, then the fire in Aka, and then again, in here…."He laughed : "Damnit girl… you're simple refuse to die! What I am going to die with you?" – he stretched his hand to touch her hair, but Kaoru snapped his hand away.

He seemed amused by her reaction: "I thought that maybe three times was enough, but as a punishment to interfere in my plans…I am going to make you suffer so much, that you will wish you have died before."

"Kenshin will come for me." – Kaoru said more to herself then to him.

"Do you think?" – his hand went to his ear: "Haven't you heard the explosions? You're dear samurai is probably dead now."

Kaoru gasped. She heard the explosions, but she never thought it would have something to do with Kenshin. She couldn't hide the fear anymore.

Iizuka grunted:"Even if he isn't dead, he is in no condition to come and rescue his princess…"

"You're bluffing!" – Kaoru tried to fight back the feeling inside her chest, but she was afraid that he was telling the truth.

"No I am not. And to prove you that I have all the time in the world, I will have some fun with you first…" – he grabbed her close to him and even if Kaoru tried to push away, as he craved his nails on her back, that tortuous pain made her stop."Take your hands of me!"

"Maybe if you ask nicely." – he whispered at her ear.

She hated him, she hated his smell she hated his breath over her: "Let me go!" – Kaoru trampled on his feet with all her strength. Iizuka grunted in pain and threw her against the wall, making her hit her head hard.

Kaoru starts seeing everything spinning around…With No Sanosuke to stand up for her, No Kenshin to come and save her. Was was she going t make it? Was he dead? Was he so injured that he couldn't come to save her?

Is this the end? Am I going to die, now?

You will not elude death forever Kaoru… - she remembered Aoshi's words and how everything seemed to make sense now. She was going to die…. "Kill me Iizuka! That's all you ever wanted isn't it? Then go ahead and kill me." – she said trying to support herself on the wall. She couldn't clearly see him, since her head was so dizzy… Kaoru felt like she was on a carousel.

"I went through all of this and now you wanna rush my grand finale? No, No."

He kicked her on the stomach and she falls down.

"Don't sleep princes; it's too early for that." – he knelled down and lifted her chin. "She is out…." – he sighed. "But I didn't want to kill you so soon…. First I need to have some fun…" – his lips curved: "Well, maybe I can wait a bit more."

:::::::::::.

:::::

:::::

:::::::

Suddenly his repugnant voice didn't reach her ears anymore...

Silent. So quiet and so calm.

A warm hand was grabbing hers… and it was then when she heard his voice… even if it was from far, she knew it was her old friend…

"I am sorry I wasn't able to help you Missy… If it was someone trying to hurt you, I swear, I swear I would kick his ass and do everything in my reach to protect you… But I just didn't notice you were hurting yourself so much."

There was silence again for a while. Kaoru tried to talk, but she couldn't. It was like when you dream that you're running, but you never get out of the same spot because your legs don't move… Well, in her case, it didn't matter how hard she tried to speak, no voice came out.

"But I can't stand see you here anymore!" – she was puzzled by the way he said his next words. There was hurt, sadness and even a glint of anger in his voice. "I had hope that you would fight against this stupid coma. But coming here every day to see you like this… it kills me. Damn Missy don't you get it? I don't have parents too! Misao and you are all that's left of my family. So, I refuse to believe that you're not going to get up from this bed anymore!" – Sano's voice cracked, and there was silence again.

Was he crying? Was her old tough and bad-ass friend crying?

"I am sorry Missy…That's not your fault… What's this? Hey? Kaoru?… wait I will call the doctor, just wait ok?"

::::::::::::::::::::::

"It was Short nap princess."

"No…" – Kaoru murmured – "Not you again..." – she wanted so much to cry, not only because of what happened with Sano, but also because she felt helpless in both situations…

"Ohhh… were you having a good dream?...Well I can give you something good before you go…" – he picked her up by the obi around her chest – "It will be an amazing goodbye gift…"

Kaoru was tired, physically and mentally. She didn't have the strengths to fight anymore. And if Kenshin was dead, and her friends were suffering because of her, what was the purpose on living anyway? "Iizuka… just kill me… please."

He ripped off one of the sides of her kimono exposing her leg : "What a snow-white…"

She used the few strengths she had, to say: "I can't take it anymore, please kill me." – Kaoru knew what was his idea of fun, and she would rather die than live with the memories of such thing.

"Just wait a bit, ok?"

She felt so angry. How could he do this to her? How could this man do this to the people who always trusted him? "Someday You're going to suffer… You will be punished for all the wrong you did." – she opened her eyes to stare deep into his.

He only shrugged his shoulders: "Yes, maybe… But until that day comes… You're going to suffer first…"

::::::::::

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Iizuka hairs rose hearing that voice. He immediately left Kaoru fall. "Can't be!"

He turned around to attest that his ears weren't fooling him. He must be immortal! He thought as he saw Kenshin panting, with blood on his face, ears and his hands.

Kenshin stared at him as if he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. First there was shock, but then as he acknowledge that the situation was real, Himura's eyes turned into amber.

I can't fight him, even if he is weak – he thought

"How dare you!" –Seeing part of her clothes were ripped apart, Kenshin jumped to conclusions that would make Iizuka's head roll– "I never believed her… I choose to believe you when you told me about the treason…. And when she told it wasn't she, I put the informant out of any suspect… I put you away of any suspect…I thought that maybe you were misinformed." – Kenshin unsheathed his sword and Iizuka didn't had the time to scream, before he could move Kenshin's sword was already trespassing his stomach: "No one else is going to suffer by your hands anymore." – Kenshin turned his sword causing Iizuka more pain, and didn't even care to take it away.

Leaving him behind Kenshin kneels at Kaoru's side and grabbed her hand. She opened her eyes: "Kenshin…." – her lips curved into a smile as she mumbled: "Your scar, is just like in my dream…"

::::::::::::::::::::::::

::::::::::::::::::

When Katsura and the others arrived Kenshin had already taken Kaoru and Sakura to their rooms. Both of them were only fainted. Kaoru was now conscious but Kenshin didn't allow her to get up: "The injure on your back is fresh, I don't want it to open again."

She obeyed. Mostly because her head was aching. "How is Sakura?"

"She is fine." – he smiled.

"And you Kenshin? What happened?" – The first thing that caught her eye was the scar on his cheek, but when she took a good look at him, concern filled her heart.

Noticing that, he assured her:"I am fine."

"You don't seem fine to me. What happened? What about the explosions?" – Kaoru asked. It was my fault, I should never asked him to go. "I am so sorry Kenshin… I…" – then she remembered of someone: "Where is Tomoe?"

Kenshin sighed. How was he going to explain her that? But before he could say anything else, he felt a familiar presence: "Aoshi is here, I will ask him to stay with you while I take a bath." – he hated the smell of blood that was impregnated on his body. Tomoe's blood. "And, after that, I promise you that I will answer all your questions, ok?"

Kaoru sighed. She knew that Kenshin was hiding something.

:::

As Kenshin left her room, he knew Aoshi was on the other side waiting. "What does a doctor say?"

"Most of the wounds will heal quickly." Others will never heal. Kenshin replied: "She is fine for now."

"What about Iizuka?" – Aoshi heard that he was at loose. How could Battousai leave him alive, after what he did?

"He can't be far… He was too injured, I thought he was dead." – Kenshin was so worried about Kaoru that he didn't noticed Iizuka was still alive. When he came back to the hall, he wasn't there anymore, but he didn't risk to leave Kaoru alone again.

Aoshi nod. "I will set up a perimeter and if we found him I tell you."

"Thank you Aoshi." – Kenshin glanced at the man in front him. The Okashira's face showed no emotion. He was a very hard man to read. "Could you stay with Kaoru for a while? I need to do something, but I don't want her to be alone."

Aoshi nod again and Kenshin left to the bathroom.

:::::

"It's perfect Aoshi, thank you." – she said looking at the object inside of the box.

He gave her no answer; instead he stared at her thoughtfully.

"What's the matter?" – Kaoru asked. It wasn't usual to see Aoshi so lost in thoughts.

His eyebrows rose. He himself didn't understood why he was thinking about that… Since very young his focus was one and only: The Oniwabanshu. He freely chose to ignore the beautiful women that used to show some affection around him. "Is that what people call love? "

Kaoru eyes widened: "What?"

He never thought about that. At first when he saw everything that Kaoru went through because of Kenshin, he thought it was just an obsession. The way she talked about him, the look on her eyes every time she saw him… But when he saw Kenshin, the famous Battousai showing concern and protectiveness around Kaoru... "Never mind." – he felt that maybe he was missing something by letting his opportunities pass by. Maybe he needed someone to balance his dark side too.

::::::::::::

::::::::::::.

:::::

Iizuka stared at the blade that was still trespassing his stomach. He knew that he could move faster without that, but he also knew that if he took it off, he would bleed to death. He escaped alive from Kenshin's sword. What a miracle was that?

He was probably being chased now, and it killed him to think that, all the money he received from Chiro wasn't going to help him now.

"Hiding like a rat." - he heard a familiar voice saying.

"Show yourself your coward!" – he yelled

Then a shadow emerged from behind the trees. A shadow of a man holding a sword. "Makoto." – he sighed in relief. He was afraid that it would be Kenshin or AOshi. He knew he would have no chance with them, but with this one, maybe he could negotiate. "Help me to get to the doctor and I share the money I earn from Chiro with you."

Shishio approached: "So he still managed to pay before he died."

"Yes. I am smart, do you think I would work for free?" – Iizuka almost laughed at this point

"I don't know… you're still the guy who got caught." – Shishio grinned – "But I don't blame you for that… after all, no one escapes me, and since I was sent after you…" – he unsheathed his sword: "A rat like you should never have the privilege of dying by my sword."

"I don't believe you're fighthing for this stupid revolution!" – Iizuka tried to buy some time.

"You're right, I am fighting for me. I am fighting for a country that someday I will rule on my own. A country were the weak like you are food to predators like me." – he positioned himself and launched his attacked upon Iizuka. It was quick and clean. Iizuka's head fell off from his neck and hit the floor.

"I will assume this is just a way for you to repair the damage you made on Aka." – he took the money out of Iizuka's dead body.

"It's her restaurant, after all." – he place the money inside of his clothes and looked at the body one more time before he left: "See you in hell."

:::::::::::

So now, the bad guy is dead.

Kenshin and Kaoru's life is going to be a bed of roses... Well, maybe not...

Lets just say that last chapter will definitively affect their lives forever.

Hope to hear your opinions. And thanks once again to the ones who reviewed and also to those who Favorited and follow this story for so long.

Jou