Disclaimers: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

This chapter wasn't beta-edited, sorry for the grammar.

xxoOoxx

The Voice

8

xxoOoxx

Those whispers break me, mercy!

Please shun them away.

Gently.

Lovingly.

xxoOoxx

Not the bloody mess on the stairway, not the dysfunctional elevator or the open door. None of them froze him like the voice, like the broken and mad whispers of the White tiger. He was something from another world, from a pain and a void unlike any he had ever fallen. And he couldn't understand him, the aura and his presence was greatly disturbing.

"I have missed you so much Kaoru," the young man facing the window said.

He could hear the honesty behind the madness in the way he idolized her name, the name of his partner.

"All of you," the man continued undisturbed by him. Either he didn't feel him or he didn't care. "I even think I have fallen in love with you, with my enemy, that's most unexpected."

The frustration was evident, and so was the resignation.

"Why did you return to him?" the man had asked the window once again, his left fist shaking with barely suppressed anger, "I have warned you of his sins, of the way he coldly murdered my sister, and yet you come back to him, do you want to die as well?"

The man stalked to the bed, his dark glasses covering his eyes.

"You know I know where you hide," he said once again, but continued to stare out of the window, "You are under the desk, but I don't want to force you, I want you to come back to me."

That was all he could handle. Even when his enemy was unknown and his insanity unchecked he wouldn't allow any more damage to leak to his distressed partner.

With confident strides he cut the distance from the front door to his room and stopped at the door. "Kaoru," he called with a low and commanding voice. An instant later, the small body flung to the door and behind him. Automatically his right hand came to rest at the hilt of his sword "Stay back for a few moments, I will deal with this."

The black haired woman nodded absently and braced herself, trying to stop her shivering. She was spooked beyond reason.

"Battousai," the white haired man said, his back still facing the assassin. After a frustrated sigh the man finally rose and turned to face the door. "I thought you were taller."

"I thought you would be smarter than this, to have the nerve to come into my house, you must be a fool!" the red haired assassin spat, taking his sword out of the sheath.

"No," the white haired man said and leveled his jaw a few centimeters allowing his deadly turquoise eyes to show above. His wide eyes locked on the amber eyes of Battousai and a wide smirk covered his face, "I'm simply strong enough to match your legendary sword."

xxoOoxx

It was quick.

A second later the clash of sword interrupted the tension, but the smooth moves of both skilled fighters made things easier. A blur of red followed by a blur of white, a clash here and another one there. And then, once again they had separated enough to be able to discern their bodies and asset the damage done. None held any visible injury.

A second later, both of them were once again engaged into the deadly dance. Never before had she felt so nervous, how could she not see them? She was an apt fighter as well, but still, her eyes were blind to this speed.

A rough sound, too different from the metal colliding against metal brought back her attention to the fight. It was too fast, but Enishi punched Battousai squarely, pushing him away.

Blue eyes looked at Enishi with fear, and to his sword. The sword had been caught on the wall of the room. The space too little for so deadly a fight.

Battousai spat out blood, drawing the attention of both Enishi and Kaoru. He was crunched over, his sword held limply at his right hand. He looked very dark and horrifying. The way his aura swirled around probingly was highly unsettling.

"Battousai?" whispered Kaoru, suddenly nervous of this new man. Of this new facet of her companion.

"So, the demon has come to the surface," Enishi said standing up straighter and adjusting his glasses, "look Kaoru, this is the man who killed my sister."

Then everything was once again a blur. She couldn't help it, she unconsciously stepped back, going further away from the room and coming closer to the entrance of the apartment, in case the need to flee came. Or in case, her panic overcame her rational senses.

A new presence behind her made her flip immediately and lose her balance. Her panic was her worst enemy. A pair of strong arms caught her and set her straight again.

"Are you all right missy?" the deep voice of a man asked with some concern.

Her eyes flew up to his face, but all she saw was a stranger. Instincts surged and she wriggled on his hold and came free, her arms poised in a defensive stance.

"Oi," the stranger complained, "I'm a friend of Kenshin here, I come to help."

"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked with some suspicion.

"Yeah, Kenshin…you know, small, red head…" he trailed on.

"Is that his name?" she couldn't help but ask.

"You are the girl with the trackers, right?"

"Yeah…"

"So, come let's check you up."

"What?" she asked with disbelief, "we can't go yet…they are fighting."

"So? Kenshin called me a few minutes ago, told me to hide you for a while."

Kaoru frowned and turned to the fight. Truth be told, she didn't know if Battousai would be capable of ordering something like that, after all, she didn't really knew him in such a personal way. The prospect of hiding from Enishi was relieving, but she doubted that Battousai would lose, after all, he was the company's strongest.

The fight broke once again, Battousai's back to her. She could easily note some changes in their semblance. Both were breathing heavier, strain was getting to them. And adding to that, both of them held superficial injuries, Enishi the most. Still, she knew that it could not be compared to that, the fight would be decided not by the edge of the sword, but based on mistakes. The first one to make a mistake would surely loose his life.

A calloused hand closed over her left hand and gently tugged her, "Let's go."

"But…" Kaoru asked, but the lack of reaction from Battousai assured her of the sincerity of the rebel at her side.

She allowed herself to be pulled away, her eyes fixated on Battousai's back, but as she neared the main door, she glanced at Enishi. His turquoise eyes were locked on her, but his eyes weren't angry, no, it was something else. He was contemplating something, and she didn't like it.

xxoOoxx

"Mou! That hurts Sano," whined Kaoru as the taller man continued to probe against the tracker on her hip, the one she had gotten for Enishi.

"You are so weak," the taller man wearing dark goggles and a strange machine replied tiredly, "and this doesn't hurt."

"Well, it very uncomfortable then," she murmured with a pout.

Sagara Sanosuke took of his goggles and glared at the black haired teen, "do you want to get rid of this or not?"

"Of course!"

"Then stop whining you idiot!" he barked angrily, "now tell me, where is the other tracker?"

Kaoru glared back at the offensive way he treated her and turned away. "On the back part of my head."

The way he frowned made her flinch, but then noticing he moved to check her head. "Bad place to put a tracker, usually very complicated."

"I know…I am a mediator after all…" she commented and wriggled her fingers to prevent herself from moving, Sano was quite fed up with her jumpy nature, but what could she do? She didn't know him nor Battousai after all.

"Doesn't have any clear signs of a shutting device," Sano commented and he took of his weird glasses, "still, it doesn't mean it isn't there."

"Hn, haven't you helped anyone from Aku Soku San before me?" she asked as she moved to stand and stretch her muscles.

"No," he said with a poisoning look, "I am against the company, I'll remind you, and the company usually kills them before they even have a chance to think about it."

"Sorry," Kaoru said sympathetically, "why are you against them?"

Sano glared at her wholeheartedly, but somewhere deep down she knew it was not directly at her, but at the organization, "Because they use people and then kill them."

It was simple, it was true.

"Now, what do we do?" She was worried, the battle from before seemed to be quite rough. The only way for a one of the samurais to come victor would be if one made a

mistake and it was well used by the other. That was highly uncertain. She had not seen Yukishiro fighting before, neither Battousai, but they both stole her breath. They were demons.

"We wait," Sano said simply and walked in front of a computer. He dropped on the chair and reclined back, closing his eyes.

"Wait? Just wait?" Kaoru insisted, it seemed a farfetched idea.

"You wait, or sleep, and I will try to check those trackers. If we are lucky you will be free of them by tomorrow." Sano's eyes remained closed, he was tired.

"Really?" Those were the best news she has heard in quite a while. But, it was scary too. Too many tragic stories floated around about trackers, but, where they fake? To scare her? Or where the truth?

"Kenshin will be here shortly," Sano commented as his eyes now glanced at the metallic roof, "he never looses."

"Hn," replied Kaoru and she walked to the sofa in the corner and sprawled there, "I hope you are right."

After some unintelligible mumbles, she fell asleep.

xxoOoxx

She awoke to the scent of blood. It was so unreal, and so strangely disturbing that she trembled. As her blue eyes came open, she saw Battousai speaking in hushed tones by Sano. He was the source of the blood.

"I need you to hurry," Battousai said impatiently, "there is no time left."

"Chill out!" hissed Sano, "give me a couple of minutes to be certain."

Battousai merely nodded and then glanced at her. His lips parted in surprise as he saw her looking straight at him. He patted Sano's shoulder and moved towards her, his steps silent and his golden eyes looking guilty.

"Are you all right?" he asked as he knelt at her side, his fingers twitched with the need to reach out for her, but restraining himself.

"I am," Kaoru replied sleepily, "are you all right?"

"I've been better, but I'll survive," replied the scarlet haired assassin, "Sano will take off those trackers soon, and then we have to leave."

"Leave? Where? My younger brother lives here," she complained softly, she didn't want to go away.

Battousai tensed, and his golden eyes became colder. "We have to leave," he repeated with a tone that left no room for arguments, "I didn't kill him."

"Why?" Kaoru asked with evident confusion.

"I killed his sister, I don't want to give his father more grief…besides, it my fault," Battousai said with an even voice, though his eyes looked anything but calm.

Kaoru pondered for a moment before reaching out to touch his cheek, "All right then, I'll leave with you." It made her uncomfortable, since she now seen him actually battle and it scared her, but she would be damned if she was careless and ended up with Yukishiro again.

"This is ready," came Sano's voice, "Come when you have said your prayers."

Kaoru looked frightened but Battousai's hand over her own helped her focus, "he's joking."

With heavy feet, Kaoru sat on the chair next to Sano and remained still as he connected a few things on her. Mostly machines to follow her vital signs, that was highly upsetting.

"Wow, you have a strong heart," commented Sano and the smirked, "or are you scared?" A glare was his only answer and he chuckled.

"Battousai," Kaoru called, but when she was about to continue, he interrupted her.

"Kenshin, Himura Kenshin," he corrected her. He had a small smile on his face.

"Kenshin, my younger brother, Yahiko…if someone happens to me…"

"I'll see to him," Kenshin promised, and it served to calm her substantially.

"Well, I'll begin now," Sano announced, "any preference missy?"

She scowled, "Yukishiro's first, the one at my hip."

"Well then, recline back," Sano directed. She did and instantly his bigger hands gripped her hip. After that she felt cold metal touch her skin as a strange device was placed over the tracker. Technically, it was supposed to fry and remove the tracker, although this one, because of it's atypical round shape will leave a burnt scar. "Ready?"

"Yes," she whizzled out and then blinding pain exploded on her hip and a ragged breath escaped her. She didn't know it was going to hurt this much! Strong arms held her and she dug her nails on the flesh of those arms. Seconds later, the worst of the pain disappeared, "You son of a bitch-motherfucker-asshole—"

"Hey, it's out…and you seem to be in your senses," Sano complained with a grin, "You know you want to fuck me just for it, so shut up."

Kaoru continued to mumble profanity while tears fell down. It hurt too much. Her sobs grew, and she was half-aware of the soothing motions on Kenshin's hands on her arm and leg, "you are going to be all right," he whispered and, somehow, it helped, it brought her a sense of peace.

"Let's finish," Sano said and after received a blue glared he raised his hands, "You don't want the white freak barging in here, do you?"

Hearing no objection, Sano came near Kaoru again. He looked at her over and sighed, "The head," he commented dejectedly, "I don't like this, only foolish people allows this torture… a tracker in the head…"

"Sorry!" growled Kaoru as she doubled over a little to allow the machine to reach the back part of her head, but her breathing became ragged, "I can't, I don't think I can."

"Come here," Kenshin said and opened his arms. He waited until Kaoru came to him and then squeezed her, "we are going to do this, I'll help you," he offered and he sat on the chair and brought Kaoru down over him.

She was tense, weary of the incoming pain and of him, but she had no choice. She felt his arms grip her waist almost painfully and she was thankful because it diverted her attention. She let her head rest on his chest and breathed in his scent, sadly, it was covered in blood.

"Here I go," warned Sano.

Her whole body tensed again, and she felt her body pressed too intimately to the assassin below, but she was at a loss for words. The machine neared her head and she felt it's coldness. "No, no, no, no, don't please don't…" but then, once again, blinding pain hit her and this time, she thought she was going to over-use the voice of her lifespan. But she was silenced when the heated mouth of Kenshin found hers.

xxoOoxx

"You are finally awake," Saito's voice caught his attention.

"Where am I?" Okita asked with uncertainty.

"In the hospital of course," the Mibu Wolf said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why am I here?"

"You tell me, I think the White Tiger kicked you ass," Saito commented with an arched eyebrow.

"Ah, that, yes," Okita said with a frown, "How long have I been here?"

"Around ten hours," Saito said simply and then made a shrugging motion, "if you are wondering why is it me here, well, let me tell, your wife is next door… she almost aborts that son of yours when she found out about you. In fact, if you want me to, I'll go tell her you are dead, that way she will abort and you wont complain anymore about her strange cravings…. What do you say?"

Okita's eyes widened as if offended, "You will do no such thing," he admonished his Master seriously, "I think I have come to enjoy her strangeness… and after this, I think I need to secure my lineage."

"Good boy," Saito said with a knowing smirk, "well see you later, I need a cigarette."

xxoOoxx

To be continued…

xxoOoxx

JeniNeji's Note: Sorry for being late. I was feeling resentful of the story, and didn't want to continue. I think I did something wrong somewhere because it was going in downfall and it depressed me, but I LIKE to finish what I start so…

This time, it's a crucial time in the story, and I hope to finish it in the next chapter, or the next. You will decide that.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN ANOTHER SIRE FOR RK STORIES, THE RK CHALLENGE COMMUNITY IS HOSTING A CHALLENGE. READ AND VOTE. THE LINK IS ON MY PROFILE. THERE ARE FEW RK READERS OUT THERE, PLEASE, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT TO THOSE WRITERS.