Hey all. Sorry for the lengthy delay in up-dates. I won't even begin to out-line all that has taken place these past couple of months, just know that I am back, things are good again, and I will be trying to get back to up-dating regularly again. Thank you for your support, and I hope you continue to bear with me!

I do not own these Rurouni Kenshin characters.

P.S. Do you all know Japan will soon be releasing another Rurouni Kenshin anime series? I am so happy and excited, I can't wait! I am truly hoping for some more RK fanfics after it's released, and a larger fan base. Fingers crossed!

To Bare Witness

Ch. 5

Kaoru used Sano and Megumi's time out and about to gather any necessary things she would need for her overnight stay in Kenshin's room that evening, wishing to avoid the couple completely. She still wasn't entirely comfortable around Megumi's penetrating stare, and as Kaoru shoved sleepwear and extra blankets into her duffle, she forced her mind toward worrying over Megumi so she wouldn't be thinking about what it would mean for her to stay in Kenshin's room alone that evening.

Also so her mind wouldn't keep replaying the news article Misao had unwittingly shared with her half an hour before. Heart pounding and body numb, Kaoru had to force her mind away from the forbidden subject repeatedly. She found her rapid movements were just enough to keep her mind forcefully blank—her body's movements focused solely on her task. When the sound of her duffle's zipper finalizing her actions finally took hold however, Kaoru found herself suddenly wishing she was packing for a much longer journey. Now her mind and body had nothing to focus on.

Panicking, Kaoru quickly scanned the room. Her breathing was shallow and coming much too quickly for her liking, but she couldn't focus on that. She was certain she would forget something—and she refused to return to this room once Sano and Megumi were back, lest she walk in on them. No. She would steer clear. Very clear.

Spotting her innocent, white pillow laying atop her twin bed, Kaoru made a mad dash to grab it—just in case—turned to her door, and couldn't get out of the room quickly enough. Locking the door behind her with hands that trembled only slightly, Kaoru then turned and made her way to Kenshin's room, pasting a small smile on her lips as she walked. She knocked at his door, knowing he was there because he had left Aoshi's room the same moment she had. Sure enough, she only had to wait a short moment before the door swung open to reveal a rumpled Kenshin, a small smile for a greeting as he opened the door wider to let her in.

The simple sight of him, along with his easy mannerisms, had Kaoru relaxing in no time, and she smiled with a relieved sigh, stepping into his dorm room as he quietly closed the door behind her.

"I moved the twin mattresses apart so you might be more comfortable, that I did," He began, and Kaoru was already grinning sheepishly upon realizing her worries concerning this night—with this oblivious young man—had been needless worries after all. This was Kenshin, after all, and he was nothing but a gentleman.

Also, he believed her to be a male friend. If he was at all interested in his own gender, he had done nothing to make it undoubtedly known. Then again, he never showed very much romantic interest in any manner—though he was almost charmingly kind to a fault. As Kenshin moved to help take her bag and pillow, placing both on one of the twin mattresses in his room, he then turned to her with such a warm expression that Kaoru had to stifle the sudden hitching of her breath.

For a man who never showed romantic interest of any kind, he sure knew how to make her heart pound. His eyes captured hers, and her breath halted in her chest and caught in her throat. Returning his stare, she again wondered at the RA that could seemingly hold her attention so completely—and look at her as if he saw all she encompassed, not simply a face or a name.

"You have been uneasy tonight, that you have." His eyes swam with unspoken emotion and caught in the light. Kaoru couldn't find her voice—didn't know what to say even if she regained use of her tongue.

"It's okay. I am certain Sano and Megumi will not do anything in your room while you are away, that they will not. Sanosuke basically said it himself, after you left, if that is what has you so uneasy?"

Kenshin moved to the unoccupied desk in one corner of his room were a lonesome burner was plugged into the wall, a small tea kettle on it. "Would you prefer tea, or hot chocolate?"

Humorous at the situation—Kenshin's accuracy missing one mark and hitting another—Kaoru couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head at the situation. Seeing curiosity in Kenshin's expression as he held the hot tea kettle poised over one of two mugs, Kaoru laughed louder again, and moved towards him.

"Let's see what kind of tea you have," She murmured, a gentle smile across her lips as she set about helping him. Well, if she couldn't share one fear with him, why not focus on the other? "You really don't think Sano will do anything? It… is Sanosuke Sagara we are speaking about, after all." Her tone turned dry, her expression anything but amused.

Kenshin chuckled lightly beside her. "That is true," he agreed, but upon seeing the beginnings of panic in Kaoru's gaze he quickly went on to reassure her. "Sanosuke all but gave his word to me that he wouldn't sully your room in any way, that he did. He did, however, reiterate that he and Megumi would appreciate nothing more than a little time alone to get reacquainted. If they wish for one night to stay up late, talking away from any prying eyes or listening ears, then I suppose it is quite a gift for two friends to grant them this."

Blushing slightly at Kenshin's easy words involving her in his talk of selflessness, Kaoru turned away from him to pick out a tea bag and patiently waited for Kenshin to fill her cup before filling his own.

"So what would you like to do tonight?" Kenshin called over to her as she made her way to the twin mattress with her bag and pillow placed across it, sitting down and folding her legs under her.

"Um…I don't know. I guess I didn't really think about it. What do…" She paused, heart flipping over itself as she caught herself mid-sentence. What do boys normally do on sleepovers? She couldn't ask that. How suspicious would that be? Unless she claimed she never had a sleepover before. Still, she didn't want that.

"What do you want to do?" She asked instead, turning her face away and lifting her cup to her lips to blow on her hot tea.

"Hmm…" Kenshin looked around his room as if in thought. "I suppose there isn't much to do indoors. I have playing cards, and we could watch a movie, if you prefer. I'm afraid I don't have much to do, that I do not." He chuckled, looking awkward and helpless for a moment as he rubbed at the back of his neck with the hand that wasn't holding his tea. Kaoru smiled, finding his sheepishness and uncertainty adorable. It was nice, seeing this sometimes vulnerable side of her friend. It was nice to know she wasn't the only one around feeling unsure or lost from time to time.

They settled on playing cards, situating themselves on the floor and setting their hot beverages within arm's reach. They played game after game, time and again, Kaoru getting into the heat of battle and triumphantly crowing her victory as Kenshin bemoaned his loss more often than not. Deciding Crazy Eights, Slap Jack, and Go Fish were too easy, they graduated on to Rummy, Speed, and War.

After Kaoru's third near-victory at war, she could no longer contain her jubilee and laughter erupted from her chest as she clutched her stomach and rolled on the floor.

"Sheesh! You're really bad at this, Kenshin! Are you sure you've been shuffling well? Maybe it's the cards…" Tears sprung to her eyes and she wiped at them, humor causing her body to tremble.

The red-headed RA pouted, glaring down at his last three cards as his lips parted a hair so he could mumble, "Usually I am quite good at this…that I am."

Kaoru guffawed, laughing harder still. "Usually? Kenshin, I have beaten you nine times out of ten! I am really starting to believe you are the worst card player I have ever encountered! You had better not be letting me win! I won't ever forgive you, you know!"

Kenshin mumbled something to the negative effect—he was not letting her win, and Kaoru managed to control herself just enough to put down another card with his.

Hers was higher.

They both flipped again.

His was the higher of the two—a measly seven to a five.

They flipped again and he won again. He still had a Jack.

"Alright, four cards remaining. Give it your best shot, Himura!" Kaoru threatened, fingers running over the almost entirely full deck of cards in her hand. He sent her a look and she snorted, unable to hold in her laughter, but held her breath so they might try again.

Flip.

Tie. Two tens. Their eyes lifted and met. It would be all up to this war.

"I…de…clare…war!" Kaoru shouted, holding her breath to see a nine appear at the last of her cards. Worried eyes traveled to Kenshin's cards, and a smile twitched her lips. Kaoru's deep blue eyes swung up to catch a glimpse of the expression on Kenshin's face. Not once had he shown any anger or frustration at losing so many times in a row. She wondered if this time would be any different.

"Oro?"

His expression was priceless, his eyes large in his face as he sheepishly looked at Kaoru, then back down at his losing cards.

A two. The lowest card of the deck just happened to be the card he finished with.

"I guess these cards don't like me after all…" He bemoaned, head seeming to totter on his shoulders as his goofy expression intensified.

Kaoru couldn't hold it in any longer. Tears of laughter streamed out the corners of her eyes and she flopped to the floor again as she attempted to cover her mouth, and the sound of her own hilarity. "I honestly don't know who would be worse at this—you, or Sano," she cried out suddenly, moving her arms down to clutch and her now aching belly.

"I don't think I would like to find out, that I don't," Kenshin murmured quite pathetically, scratching at the side of his head as if he couldn't comprehend how it was possible for him to lose so many times in a row.

Kaoru laughed all the harder, flinging an arm out at the hilarity of it. Icy dread filled her not a moment later as her forearm made contact with a small object. Turning her head as if in a daze, she turned wide eyes and gaping mouth in the general direction of her blunder before her second steeping cup of tea spilled and searing pain shot up her arm.

"Kaoru!"

It seemed to her that everything happened in slow motion. She watched as the cup teetered and spilled its steaming contents over her arm to pool in an ever-growing puddle on the thin carpet on the floor. Kenshin was suddenly crouched over her, one hand cradling her head to pull her away from the hot spill nearing her ear, his other hand gently cupping her elbow and lifting her burned arm away from the spill to quickly blow on it. Kaoru stared, her mind attempting to realign itself with what took place, along with Kenshin's close proximity. His eyes were lined and serious as he looked over her injury, his lips tugging down into a deep frown even as he continuously blew on her burned flesh. His thick red hair hung over one shoulder, brushing across one of Kaoru's cheeks. He shifted their position and Kaoru found her head pressed to his shoulder, her nose near the crook of his neck, and Kaoru dizzily held her breath at their near embrace. Suddenly she was able to breathe and she inhaled the spicy, clean scent of him, nearly swooning in his careful hold.

"Kaoru. Are you hurt?" The deep timbre of Kenshin's voice rumbled over and through her, sending shivers down her spine. She tried to push herself up into a sitting position, ducking her head to hide the deep flush of her cheeks. Upon realizing her intent, Kenshin assisted her, his hands hovering over her form. He was reluctant to remove the hand lightly grasping her burned arm from behind her elbow, fingertips refusing to leave her skin.

"I'm fine, Kenshin. It was just a small burn. The pain is lessening already." She smiled her reassurance, but his worried gaze never left her face. She made a move to soak up the spill, and suddenly Kenshin was on his feet, moving to his armoire and procuring an injury kit. Kaoru raised an eyebrow, and Kenshin shifted sheepishly on his feet.

"An RA must be prepared for anything, that he must. May I look at your arm, please?"

Kaoru quickly brought her arm up and cradled it to her chest, narrowed eyes gazing at Kenshin suspiciously.

"It's just a small burn, Kenshin. Nothing serious."

Kenshin refused to heed her words however, or the slight glare she was giving him. He smiled, walking toward her without any hesitance in his step. Kaoru continued to lean farther away from him the nearer he came.

"Seriously Kenshin. The skin is just a little red, that's all!"

"Never-the-less, an injury is an injury, and each needs to be treated." Kaoru was on her feet now, backing away until the backs of her knees hit one of the twin beds. She plopped down on it, eyes wide as Kenshin knelt before her. His smile was gone now, and his expression was completely serious as he turned his gaze toward her. Wordlessly, Kaoru released her arm and held it out to him, frowning in confusion as she turned her gaze away from that expression of his.

"Thank you."

Swallowing past the lump in her throat, Kaoru jumped when, a moment later, she felt coolness spread over the burn on her forearm. She turned curiously back to the man before her to see him now rubbing a cooling ointment over her red skin.

"Sorry. Perhaps I should have warned you. This ointment will help soothe your burn, that it will. I will bandage your arm so the medicine can sink in, and unwrap it before we turn in for the night. Your arm should be able to breathe tonight, that it should."

Peering into Kenshin's first aide kit, Kaoru watched as he grabbed gauze and began to wrap it around her arm. His movements were precise—even. His hands were gentle, his grip firm as he wrapped her with practiced ease.

"You've done this before…" The words were a breath of air on Kaoru's lips, and she didn't realize she said the words aloud until Kenshin's entire body froze in its movements. The air was suddenly abuzz with tensed energy, and Kaoru felt her muscles bunch together at the uneasy feeling now permeating the room. Her heart pounded, and she desperately attempted to slow it.

Slowly the intensity in the room began to lessen, and Kenshin bent his head over his task, moving to finish his wrapping job once again—more meticulous in his actions this time.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"

"It's alright," Kenshin murmured, and Kaoru's heart flipped within her chest. He lifted his head to offer her a small smile, and Kaoru stared, scrutinizing his look and trying to see if it truly was okay or not.

"Kenshi—"

"I am well-versed with injuries of every kind. Quite a few of the whispered rumors around here are truer than many could know." Kenshin's voice was so soft Kaoru had to lean closer to hear it. Her heart reached out to him, and Kenshin studied her face before his smile turned bitter, and he shook his head as he tied off her wound, then began placing everything back in his kit. "Do not feel pity or sympathy for this one, who is unworthy of the sentiment. I have spilled much blood in my past, and have seen many more spill their blood for causes they believe to be just."

Kenshin attempted to stand, but Kaoru reached forward and grabbed hold of his shirt. He paused, confusion bubbling in his amethyst eyes as he turned to stare at her.

"Kenshin…" She didn't know what to say. What could she say?

His expression turned somewhat pained, but he still managed a smile. "It's okay now, that it is. That kind of bloodshed has long since left my life. I atone for the lives I have taken by doing all I can to help those around me." He grinned, stood, and settled a firm hand on her shoulder. "I do not know how most soldiers cope with their pasts, but I hope that one day, I might find peace."

Kaoru reached up, and grasped the hand on her shoulder as if she could pour all her strength and belief into him during such an action. Kenshin grinned and nodded, then quickly turned away, taking his time in putting his first aid kit away.

"I don't suppose… you changed your mind in staying here for the night…?" His hesitant voice wafted over at her from behind the door of his armoire.

Kaoru's temper snapped. She rose to her feet in one swift movement, both fists clenched at her sides.

"What? Why would you ask such a thing like that? You're still Kenshin, aren't you? You said you wish to atone for the lives you have taken, and I believe you can do it! I've never met someone so—" Cutting her words off, realizing how embarrassing they were, Kaoru forgot all about her embarrassment as Kenshin peeked out at her from behind his armoire, his eyes warm and understanding.

"You are the most compassionate person I've come across, Kenshin, and I—I really admire you." She blushed, turning her back on him in case he saw. Suddenly he was behind her.

"Thank you…Kaoru…"

Her blush deepened, and she tried to remedy the situation by turning around and lightly punching Kenshin's shoulder with her good arm. His eyes widened comically, then he blinked and let out a laugh, grabbing her head in a one-armed hug, which she laughingly accepted before jerking out of his hold and elbowing him in the ribs.

"We're friends, ne, Kenshin?" She asked finally, when the roughhousing that commenced finally dissipated.

His eyes were soft and filled with a warmth that gleamed with untold happiness. The light of his gaze betrayed a firm protectiveness that showed just how much having a true friend meant to him.

"We are friends."

Kaoru smiled, her heart falling for him all over again.

Kaoru and Kenshin put away their cards and cleaned the spill after that, spending the next hour talking and joking with one another. The sun had long since departed in the sky, and finally Kenshin lifted his gaze to his bedside clock.

"It is getting pretty late, that it is. We should probably get ready for bed now."

So many things seemed wrong with that statement at first. Remembering who Kaoru was talking to, and the circumstances concerning Kenshin and herself, Kaoru simply laughed at herself and nodded her agreement. "Sure Kenshin, I'll just—"

Again she had to stop herself. How weird would it seem to him if she left to change? And now that she was staying in Kenshin's room tonight, she certainly didn't wish him to recall the fact that he wished to see her scars.

"I'll just get my stuff," She murmured quietly instead, turning pale as she gave Kenshin her back. She heard drawers opening, and fabric rustling, and her heart leapt to her throat.

No way…

Unable to think of any reason not to, Kaoru surreptitiously turned her body slightly, glancing at Kenshin from the corner of her eyes as he rummaged, topless, for what she hoped was a shirt. Seeing the pajama pants he pulled out instead however, had Kaoru flushing a brilliant shade of magenta as she quickly turned away from the sight of his leanly muscled form. Her mouth ran dry. There wasn't an ounce of fat on him.

"Kaoru?"

Snapping from her thoughts, Kaoru quickly grabbed her pajama pants, stripped out of her pants, and stuffed her legs into the cotton material as fast as she was able, keeping her back to Kenshin all the while. She decided she would sleep in the shirt she had on.

"Yeah, Kenshin?" She feigned indifference with her tone even while her heart sped a mile a minute. She turned to him, polite question in her gaze, only to be confused by his mannerisms, his still shirtless and well-defined back turned toward her as a small dusting of pink tinged his cheeks. She tilted her head to one side, wondering at his sudden silence.

"O-oro? Ah… I have extra blankets…if you have need of them…"

Shaking her head, wondering at her silly RA, Kaoru pulled her own extra blanket from her bag and settled it over the extra twin mattress Kenshin had already fitted with extra sheets. "I'll be just fine, Kenshin, I brought my own."

As Kenshin left to brush his teeth, Kaoru mentally applauded herself for already having planned ahead, brushing her teeth and taking care of any nightly activities before she headed to Kenshin's room. Thinking ahead once more, she removed the bandage so that her burn might breathe during the night. She then settled under the covers and closed her eyes, getting comfortable and feeling the effects of how late it was.

Kenshin returned, eyes landing on Kaoru's bandage-free arm before he met her eyes and gave a single nod of his head.

"I'll be turning off the lights now. Is there anything you need?"

Smiling her consent, and murmuring that she had everything she needed, Kaoru breathed a happy sigh of relief at the feeling of safety she received from being so near this man. She was finally made aware of exactly how quiet Himura Kenshin could be. A shiver traversed her form until she heard his covers being drawn back, and flimsy bedsprings squeaking their protest as he got into bed. Kaoru sighed, a small smile on her lips, and rolled over on her side.

"Goodnight, Kenshin."

"…Goodnight, Kaoru."

. . . . . . .

Blood. So much blood.

A man's last scream.

Night air tainted with the smell of copper—the smell of life destroyed.

A young man's ever-smiling face, as, with a flick of his bloodied sword he once again made the blade clean.

A whimper, followed by a gasp drifted across the quiet of the room.

Two bright irises immediately snapped open as Kenshin strained to listen for that which woke him in the first place.

The smiling man turned, his gaze piercing her—to her soul. Suddenly Kaoru couldn't move—couldn't draw breath into her frozen lungs.

"You saw that, did you? Well, Shishio said we can't have any witnesses."

The young man had a boy's face and a boy's young voice. He looked too innocent to be a killer. The blood on his face, on his sword, and on the ground said otherwise, however.

"Wh-wha…?" Trembling, forgetting almost all her kendo training at the sight of death and blood, made Kaoru nearly fall to the ground and retch.

"It really is too bad. Oh, well," The boy-man lamented, shrugging his shoulders as if making the decision to kill someone was an every day occurrence, and didn't require much thought.

"No…"

"No…" The word was a breath of air. Sweat drenched Kaoru's form from brow to the tips of her toes.

Across the room, muscles tensed at the sound of Kaoru's labored breathing. At Kaoru's second whispered no, Kenshin's eyes narrowed and slanted sharply to the side, his irises a burning gold.

The young man smiled, and Kaoru felt icy fear trickle along her scalp. Suddenly he was running at her at such a speed Kaoru felt blind to it all. Her eyes widened, and she turned to run—to throw herself to the side and out of the sword's path that moved too quickly to see.

Kaoru's throat constricted, and a garbled half whimper, half sob left her mouth. Kenshin was up and out of his bed in an instant, crouching over her bedside. He hesitated, anger at the nightmares that plagued her, and worry at how to wake her warring within his soul. He reached out to her, but didn't touch her, panic and uncertainty in his gaze.

"Kaoru…?" He whispered soothingly. "Kaoru… please wake up…"

Body jerking suddenly, Kaoru's body bowed backward at impossible limits as her mouth opened in a silent scream. Kenshin cursed, grabbed her shoulders, saying her name over and over as sweat dripped from her face and terror and pain lit her sleeping expression.

Burning pain seared along her back, and Kaoru cried out as her flesh wept crimson blood. A curse permeated the night behind her, and with tears shining brightly in her eyes, she turned to the young man behind her, seeing a small frown of intense concentration on his face as he fiddled with his broken shoe.

"Well that wasn't supposed to happen. How am I supposed to run now?"

Whistles sounded. Police. Shouts echoed from all directions as Kaoru lay weakly in the street. The boy sighed regretfully, his grip on his sword tightening for a moment, before he shook his head and turned to make his get away.

"I will find you, don't worry. Master Shishio would be very angry if I let you live, now. Catch you later, then."

And he was gone. She was saved seconds later—but it never felt as though she had truly been saved. She never felt safe from that moment on. Even as police uniforms swarmed her, and Saito gave her a new name—a new gender—the serial murderer was still out there.

And he wouldn't rest until he killed her.

"Kaoru! Kaoru! Kao-ru!"

With a gasp, tear-streaked eyes opened wide to reveal the deepest of blue depths. Stark terror still alive in her expression—in her gaze—Kenshin's grip tightened on her shoulders as his head dipped and he hid his golden gaze from view.

"You were having a nightmare."

His voice was deep—rough. Kaoru's panicked mind only barely registered the change. Shakily she sat up, her gaze darting around every corner of the room, and Kenshin sat on the edge of her bed, muscles taut and poised to strike if any of her demons were to manifest in that moment.

Kaoru shook and trembled, weakly grasping at Kenshin's strong shoulders as he wrapped an arm under her and helped her sit up, supporting most of her weight for himself.

"Ken…shin…?"

It was a dream. A nightmare. That was all it was, and Kaoru repeated the mantra over and over, hoping to calm her nerves. Oh how sheepishly humiliated she felt. First Sano, and now Kenshin? She hadn't had a nightmare this intense for a long while. Her breathing came in shallow pants. What would Kenshin think of her?

"Were your nightmares created by an overactive imagination, or were they based on something real?" That dark, unrelenting tone was there, and Kaoru shivered suddenly as if cold. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Kenshin wouldn't let this go easily. Still, she tried anyway.

"Kenshin…" Her tone was calmer now. If only there was some way to reassure him…

His grip on her tightened, and Kaoru gasped.

"Are your demons real, Kaoru? Not many have shown this kind of fear and lived to tell of it."

An immense shudder quaked her form, and she knew that was all the answer he needed. A whimper escaped, and she felt foolish for letting him see her like this. Again, she had been caught off-guard. Again she had done something that quite possibly might lead to her discovery and death.

"Kenshin…" There was fear in her voice, and Kenshin wrapped Kaoru's body in his arms and began rocking her, hiding his face in her shoulder, reassuring her with his touch.

He was so warm.

"I am here, that I am."

With that one sentence, all Kaoru's pent up emotions caused her tensed muscles to completely slacken. For the first time since that fateful night, Kaoru felt safe.

Cherished.

Protected.

"Nothing will get you here…" He murmured against the side of her face, and Kaoru's exhausted mind finally slipped towards true sleep.

"Thank you…Kenshin…"