Hey all! Sorry for the delay. Life is crazy busy these days! I'll just get to answering questions and writing the newest chapter, shall I? As always, thanks for reading!

To my wonderful reviewers: Thank you kindly. You all bring so many smiles to my face! I love your interest and enjoyment of the story so far, and I am happy to see you're all trying to figure things out! Yes, the dorm is co-ed, and I am sorry to not have specifically stated as much. It is a four-floored building. Kenshin is the Resident Assistant on the third floor, where Sano and Kaoru's room is, Aoshi is the Resident Assistant on the fourth floor, and Misao is rooming with a random girl on the first floor. I will make a point to mention more of that in-story.

As for who knows and who does not, you will all just have to wait until all is revealed~! It'll be more entertaining that way. I will say most of you are on the right track. If anyone has any further questions, please say so in your review, or write me a personal message and I will get back to you as soon as I am able! Thank you!

Oh~! Also, as concerns the title, originally, I wanted it to be To Bear Witness, because of all the things I am ultimately going to be showing and telling you all about Kaoru, and how she is dealing with being Witness to a murder. However, I thought it would be a bit more intriguing to title the story from the murderer's point of view. The murderer is, after all, attempting to find Kaoru and tie up loose ends~. Therefore, said murderer must go about baring the witness, ne~? ~.^ It's strange logic, but then again, this is a strange fic. Haha!

I hope you enjoy~!

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

To Bare Witness

Ch. 4

Cool, red-yellow rays from the setting sun gleamed through the large window of Misao's dorm room, lighting upon the two figures seated atop Misao's twin-sized bed as they worked on homework they knew wouldn't get done once Sano finally returned with his much talked about girlfriend. Misao's roommate was out—probably getting dinner with friends who wore too much make-up and too much perfume—so Misao and Kaoru were glad for the silence of the room for once, each dedicated to their work load.

For the time being.

Kaoru, thankfully, was only taking extra curricular courses, and therefore had to simply write a one-page essay about what she had learned so far in her kendo class, and compare it to some other form of martial art. Having completed the short paper in a rather timely manner, she found her blue eyes lifting to Misao's window, watching strangers pass by, and wondering when Kenshin and Aoshi might return from their RA meeting. Since Misao's dorm room was located on the first floor, in a position that overlooked both the entrance to her hall and entrance to the food area located in the center of the first floor of the building, Kaoru had a perfect vantage point for seeing the students whom were coming and going.

"Ugh! This is impossible! I hate business classes!"

Blinking out of her stupor, Kaoru turned away from the window and looked at the petite woman sitting next to her, taking up the majority of the small bed with her notes, textbook, and laptop.

"What is it you're doing?" Kaoru asked, leaning over. She had happened to take a few business courses as well—though fun they were not. What she thought was a rational minor that would help her out in the world when looking for work had really turned into pained headaches and a last minute switch in minors—but maybe she could help the girl out, if she remembered anything.

"I'm taking three business courses this term. I already have most of my pre requisites out of the way, thanks to the upper division courses I took in high school, but this is nuts! I practically help manage my family's business at home, a restaurant called the Aoiya, and let me tell you, we do not need to memorize some of these accounting fractions! Business management I understand. Marketing, and economics I understand. But accounting? Ugh! I want to rip my hair out!" Misao's green eyes flashed, and she lifted both hands to the sides of her head, grabbing fistfuls of hair there as if to prove her point.

"Misao!" Kaoru reached for one of the girl's arms and shook her, trying to bring the girl out of her frustrated raving. Misao turned to her, gently releasing her fistfuls of hair and looking dazed and confused, strands of hair sticking up oddly in a rather humorous manner. "Calm down…" Kaoru reiterated, feeling her own stress levels lessen as the other girl thankfully took a deep lungful of air and let it all out. "Now. What is it you have to do exactly?"

The young woman pouted, turning back to her laptop to glare at the information on the screen. "I have to finish a stupid on-line quiz that's timed, by Friday at midnight, and I kind of conveniently skipped one of my classes this week, so I'm screwed!" The petite woman bemoaned, dramatically throwing herself to the side and landing sprawled in Kaoru's lap, her shoulders shaking slightly as she turned to giggle up at Kaoru after her theatrics.

Kaoru smiled and chuckled as well, glad Misao seemed to be in a little better spirits after her momentary rant. "It's Thursday today. You have all of tonight and tomorrow to complete it. I suggest looking on-line to see if your professor put the slides from the lecture up, and look through your textbook for all the bold words in the chapters you were supposed to cover, since I know you didn't do the reading, either," Kaoru reprimanded lightly, a small twitching of her lips showing she probably wouldn't have wanted to do the reading, either.

Snorting, Misao stretched from her sprawled position and quickly sat up. "Yeah, yeah. I'll get it done. I just don't want to miss any time I could be spending with Aoshi-sama!" The girl breathed, blushing, her expression one of doting affection and longing.

Kaoru snorted. "Yeah, yeah," She grinned with a wry twist of her lips, pushing the smaller girl for good measure, before rising to her feet. She knew Misao wouldn't be working in homework for a while now, with the state her mind was in. Suddenly Kaoru's small smile turned somewhat pained, and something dulled the light feeling in her chest. She realized then that she envied Misao—who was able to dote on and profess her attraction to the stoic man without qualm. Kaoru was never one to profess her attractions from rooftops, but it would have been nice to lead a normal life. One where a possible romantic future with a certain red-head would—

She shook herself from her thoughts.

Bad! Bad, bad, bad! She couldn't be thinking that way! Even a momentary lapse could oust her! She couldn't let her guard down if it might mean her life, no matter how dear to her these new friends were.

"Ooh! I know! I'll bring my homework to Aoshi's later, and he can help me!"

Kaoru tuned back to the energetic woman who leapt to her feet beside her, stars nearly visible in her shining emerald eyes. Kaoru shook her head and chuckled.

"Sure. I see how it is. Talk constantly about one guy in another guy's presence. I can take the hint…" Kaoru murmured teasingly, feigning slight hurt with her begrudging tone.

Misao shut down her laptop, moving her books and notes to her desk before heading to the door in unspoken agreement to do something else for a while. She cackled.

"There's only room enough for one man in my heart, and that's Aoshi-sama!"

Kaoru shook her head in good humor. Well, the energetic girl certainly did seem rather assured of that fact, she had to hand it to her.

Still, Kaoru staggered out into the hall as Misao closed and locked her door, clutching at her chest as if she might truly expire at the petite girl's words. "You wound me!" She gasped her words, earning a pleased and humored smile from her friend.

"Sorry, Kaoru, but you're not my type," Misao teased back, turning to walk towards the exit that would lead her to the cafeteria, and dismissing the other exit entirely. "Aoshi-sama is the only man for me~."

Kaoru chuckled, lowering her head slightly as she followed the other woman. He's a lucky man, whether he realizes it or not… Kaoru thought to herself, wondering if part of her should be hurt by Misao's easy dismissal. She laughed silently to herself. For some reason, she could only find the situation humorous.

… … …

Kaoru didn't like the way Sano's girlfriend watched her with all-too-knowing eyes. The suspicion in the med-students brown gaze constantly put Kaoru on edge, and the barbed comments and teasing words that were just inside the line of harsh caused Kaoru's prickly temper to rear its ugly head time and again. What made matters worse was the fact that Sano didn't seem even remotely aware of it, and added good-natured teasing remarks right back. If it hadn't been for Kenshin's calming remarks, Kaoru didn't know what she would have done.

Aoshi's silence seemed to add to Kaoru's mounting unease and frustration. At least if he acknowledged her, she would feel like Megumi's pointed remarks could be easily left forgotten. The way his gaze silently rose penetratingly to her own, however, did nothing to calm the butterflies flitting about in her stomach. Perhaps she should have been thankful Sano and Kenshin continued to remain oblivious at how deeply the elegant Megumi's words hit. Kaoru was more than happy to get away from the woman for a while.

Sano had taken Megumi out for a bite—much to everyone's surprise—so Kaoru stuck to Misao's side until her nerves had re-settled. They talked and grabbed a bite to eat when Aoshi and Kenshin were drawn away, then Kaoru later found herself agreeing to help the woman find Aoshi.

The fact that Kaoru was secretly hopeful that Kenshin was with Aoshi had nothing to do with it. Mostly.

"So how long do you think Megumi will stay?" Misao was asking while she and Kaoru roamed each of the four floors in their halls, looking for the tall young man. Students were flitting about, girls and boys in the co-ed dorm laughing, some flirting, and Kaoru noted at least three people walking from the bathrooms in nothing less than a towel covering their forms. Kaoru shook her head and blushed, wondering if she would be so bold if she was known as a girl on her floor, and didn't have anything to hide.

She seriously didn't think so—but maybe that was nerves talking.

"I don't know, but hopefully not the whole weekend. I don't think I can stand being mercilessly abused verbally for all of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday," Kaoru grumped under her breath.

She expected Misao to giggle. To tease her and dismiss the whole thing. Possibly to reassure her. She did not count on the quiet, oddly calculating silence that ensued at that moment. Feeling uneasy, Kaoru turned to glance at the shorter woman walking at her side, and noted Misao's expression of considered thought.

Kaoru felt her heart plummet, and her face go stark white. Misao had been there during Aoshi's snapped glances in her direction. Had she noted something? Had Kaoru not been conveying her life as a boy in ways which wouldn't make her friends suspect?

Kaoru refused to life a lonely life at the University, too afraid at discovery. That wasn't her, and she had already lead that kind of life style before. She didn't care if it was selfish. She wasn't going to lose her new friends now!

"It almost seemed as if Megumi had some kind of vendetta against you, which is kinda silly, huh?" Finally Misao laughed, and Kaoru couldn't help but feel immensely relieved.

"Yeah. Silly…" She breathed out, attempting to push away her thoughts of worry.

"But still…" Misao's tone of voice held a rare, serious note to it that drew Kaoru's attention, and she waited uneasily for her to continue.

"Still?" Kaoru hedged, hoping Misao said nothing, and thought about the moment no longer.

"Did you know Megumi at all before today?"

Kaoru silently shook her head. "No. I've never met her before in my life. Do you think maybe she's jealous? Because I'm Sano's roommate and get to see him every day, and she doesn't?"

Please let her think it's that. Please! Kaoru hoped desperately, unable to keep herself from mentally crossing her fingers.

Misao hummed in thought. "Yeah, that could be it. Lucky for me, I don't have to worry about Aoshi spending a ton of time with a roommate, because all the RA's get a room to themselves! They're so lucky!" Misao giggled, and both girls headed up the last flight of stairs that would take them to the fourth floor, and subsequently, Aoshi's room. "It also makes it nice when I want to spend quality alone time with him~."

Kaoru nearly choked, then was about to laugh, but thought better of it.

"Misao… Aoshi never really spends quality alone time with anyone. And he and Kenshin usually have to keep their doors open during the day, so it's not exactly a private rendezvous."

Misao sniffed, exiting the stairwell with a huff and making a beeline for Aoshi's dorm room door, zigzagging around meandering students and keeping a little added distance between herself and her now estranged friend Kaoru.

Kaoru wryly shook her head, but mentally applauded her ability to change the subject, and Misao's line of thought. She noticed Misao's form still as they turned a corner in the U-shaped building, and Kaoru's gaze lifted in time to see a very flustered Kenshin standing in Aoshi's doorway, hands held up almost defensively as four different girls surrounded him.

Kaoru's brows snapped together in irritation, and she told herself it was from Kenshin's uneasy expression as he tried to bodily lean away from the press of converging girls, and nothing to do with jealously that was rearing its ugly head.

"Hey Kenshin!" She cried out, making her way towards the poor red-head with Misao just a step ahead.

His attention shifted over, and Kaoru could see the lines of his body relaxing as his gaze lit on her and Misao walking towards him. "Kaoru. Miss Misao," he said in greeting, offering a smile as they stopped near him. One of the girl's shoulders slumped, and she walked away, followed by another after a short moment.

"Is Aoshi-sama in?" Misao asked hopefully, trying to peek through the open doorway for a better glance.

Kenshin chuckled quietly. "Yes, he is in. He is a little busy at the moment, though," Kenshin warned, not unkindly.

Misao grinned widely. "That's okay! We can wait! Right Kaoru?" She winked, and Kaoru shook her head and grinned.

"Right. Why don't we talk to Kenshin for a while instead?" Kaoru scanned the remaining two girls, watching her and Misao with open hostility, and nearly grinned. "We'll wait, of course, until you're finished helping your students, Kenshin."

Kaoru smiled politely, happily, and the expressions on the two girls' faces were priceless.

"Ah! Sure." He turned his attention back to the girls, and they knew their time was now limited. Misao decided to gently push past Kenshin and seat herself comfortably on Aoshi's large make-shift bed, folding her hands under her head and staring up at the ceiling while Aoshi continued his work.

Kaoru leaned comfortably against the wall, near enough to wait her turn.

"So… uh… I was wondering if the rumors were true. Have you served in the military? How old are you? Are you single?" One girl asked, and Kaoru felt herself grinding her teeth at the girl's impertinence.

"A-a-ah… so many questions!" Kenshin murmured, and Kaoru took pity on the guy.

"Don't you think he may not want to answer all that?" She finally asked, quietly, but noticed all their attention shifted her way at her softly spoken words.

"Wh-what?" The girl asked a bit breathily, turning to stare at Kaoru incredulously for having interrupted.

Kaoru sighed. Pushing away from the wall, she planted her hands on her hips, looking at the girl with a small, reproving frown. "Kenshin. You've obviously made him uneasy. Do you think everyone wants gossip flying around about them from not one, but four halls of students living in this building?" She shook her head. "Besides, if he did serve, then he would talk about it when he was comfortable talking about it. Even then, I can only imagine it would be to close friends, or family. Think before you ask personal questions!"

The girl stared, mouth parted slightly in a pale face, and suddenly she was flushing slightly, ducking her head and giving a small shrug. "Yeah. Sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking…" She was backing away slowly, and Kaoru felt a twinge of regret.

Kenshin moved toward Kaoru, offering a kind smile as he settled a warm, friendly hand on her shoulder, and turned to the two girls now uneasily backing away. "Innocent curiosity never hurt anyone, that it does not, but I must agree with Kaoru that some things are too personal for me to wish to talk about comfortably, that they are. I am glad, however, that you felt comfortable enough in coming to ask me about them." He looked at them kindly, and Kaoru almost rolled her eyes at the blushes that spread across both girls' faces. "I hope that means you will both continue to talk to me whenever you have need?"

They nodded enthusiastically.

Kenshin smiled, and his tone deepened. "Good. Now please remember to keep in mind the comfort levels of those with whom you are speaking. It will help with unnecessary misunderstandings."

The girls nodded once more, bid Kenshin good-bye, and hurried on their way back to their respective dorms. Kaoru let out a deep sigh at Kenshin's 'handling' of the situation. Those girls would think themselves in love with him, the way he went about that.

She frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

Startled, Kaoru turned to look at her RA, noting he was a little too close for comfort—his gaze a little too concerned. She quickly shook her head, and he smiled, eyes alight.

"That is good to know, that it is," he murmured, and she almost shivered at the rumbling tone, his hand moving to her back to usher her into Aoshi's room, before falling to his side once more.

"Those girls were annoying…" Misao breathed out, a small petulant frown to her lips.

Kenshin chuckled, and Aoshi finally turned away from whatever it was he had been doing.

"They were harmless, that they were."

Kaoru couldn't hold back her small scoff at his statement. "Kenshin, you need to be more assertive. Those girls will never leave you alone at this rate, and if you're uncomfortable with something, then you need to say so!"

Startled, Kenshin glanced over at Kaoru, expression somewhat confused. "This one did not think the situation called for assertiveness, that he did not, though your words were a relief to hear. Many of the students in this building need someone to talk to, that they do, and while Aoshi seems somewhat hard to go to, this one simply wishes to be of service to any and all who need it."

Startled by his lines of thinking, and feeling warm admiration welling within her at his words, Kaoru could only meet Kenshin's gaze and hope her expression was enough to tell him she understood.

He smiled, and Kaoru felt her heart ease.

"So Aoshi-sama! What were you up to?" Misao, a bundle of energy, was suddenly jumping up off the bed and making her way to Aoshi, who was still seated at his desk. She leaned over one of the man's broad shoulders, and Kaoru nearly giggled. For some reason Kaoru couldn't explain, Misao's nosiness where Aoshi was concerned seemed somehow socially acceptable.

Their group really was a strange one.

"Is that today's paper?" Misao asked, seemingly undeterred by the man's silence—even though she barely gave him a moment's breath to speak had he wished it. "Is that an assignment for a class? Hmm. 'Serial Murderer Switching Tactics.'" Misao shuddered visibly. Kaoru had turned to follow Kenshin to Aoshi's corner of the room when she suddenly halted mid-step, blood leaving her body unerringly cold as the room dipped and spun.

No way…

"Ah… Misao…" Kenshin moved toward the energetic girl, but she had already snatched the paper and was reading aloud with a firm intensity that quaked Kaoru to the core.

" 'Today, the third body of a young woman was found at Hashin Academy. While Hashin Academy is not the first undergraduate school to—"

"Misao, that is enough." Aoshi's firm voice was enough motive for Misao to stop reading aloud, but it didn't account for the confused look apparently visible in the girl's eyes as she stared at the stoic man in confusion. He held his hand out for the paper, and Misao wordlessly handed it to him.

"What is it? Why don't you want me to read it?"

Kaoru held her breath, attempting to get her heart to calm before she started hyperventilating. She turned on her heel, keeping her back to the occupants in the room as she tried to gather her bearings.

"It is not pleasant news, that it is not," Kenshin murmured quietly, and Kaoru hoped no one in the room was paying particular attention to her in that moment. "Especially not for…" He sighed, and Kaoru held her breath as she waited to see what it was he would say.

"Not for what?" Misao questioned, and Kaoru was both thankful and worried at a chance to hear the answer to that question.

"Not for young women going to University." It was Aoshi who answered.

Kaoru couldn't move.

"Why is that?" Misao wondered aloud, and Kaoru shut her eyes tightly.

She didn't want to know. She didn't want to hear this. She didn't want to remember.

She didn't want to fear.

"There was a serial killer going after politicians not too long ago." It was Kenshin's kind, firm voice that answered the petite girl. For that, Kaoru was thankful. Did he sound nearer to her now, though? No. The room was small. "The same killing style of this serial killer has shifted this past month from politicians to a very specific type of young woman." There was more. Kaoru could hear it in his tone of voice, and was thankful he hadn't continued.

Oh kami…

"But… Hashin Academy… is only half an hour from here."

The blood in Kaoru's ears roared, and she wondered if she would faint.

Kami, no…

"Aa."

Kaoru couldn't breathe. Those girls. All those deaths. Were those deaths… because of her?

"Let's not worry about it for now." Kenshin. Saving the day. Diffusing the situation. Always with a smile. How she loved him for that.

"Aa."

Misao seemed slightly reluctant, but Kaoru grasped at the idea, calming herself and listening to their words on some new topic with relief. She forced herself to smile, nod, and laugh at the right moments, but internally she screamed.

She just knew she would have nightmares tonight…