Author's Notes: This chapter was born purely from the fact that Jane Austen did not have enough sword fights. Thanks everyone for the reviews and for following. So happy that everyone is enjoying this so far.

Beta: Sumiregusa (check out her new website, link on her profile page!)
Rating: T
Warnings: Some violence and mild swearing.
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Persuasion is in the public domain, but was written by Jane Austen.

Chapter 6

Half the sum of attraction, on either side, might have
been enough, for he had nothing to do, and she had hardly anybody to love;
but the encounter of such lavish recommendations could not fail. - Persuasion, Jane Austen

Edo, 1863

After a few weeks at the Kamiya dojo, Kenshin found himself settling in to the easy routine. Every other day or so, the dojo was filled with the sounds of the students practicing. Kenshin had spent several afternoons watching Kaoru and her father teach. A few of the students had given him curious glances as to his presence and he didn't know what excuse they gave for his being there, but he enjoyed watching them go through their drills and kata. His own training had been one of solitude with only his Master to keep him company. The training had been harsh and disciplined, and while training at the Kamiya-dojo was strict, the students left with easy smiles and the satisfaction of practicing hard and receiving praise for their effort.

During this time, Katsura and Kenshin hadn't strayed far from the dojo. Kenshin was allowed to come and go as he pleased, but Katsura had stayed mostly within the confines of the dojo's walls. He received numerous messengers with updates on recruitment and the current conditions in Kyoto. A few quiet meetings had also been held at the Kamiya-dojo, with Katsura and sometimes Kamiya himself sitting with with their visitors till the late hours of the night.

When the dojo wasn't in use for teaching, Kenshin had taken the time to practice himself. Kaoru would practice with him, and despite Kenshin being unwilling to spar against her, they had trained through their various styles in tandem.

Their first awkward meeting had been long forgotten, and Kenshin and Kaoru had quickly become fast friends. Kaoru teased him about his guarded nature and under her laughing looks he had relaxed. He talked of growing up with Hiko, and his training. She spoke of her home and family, speaking wistfully of her mother who had died when she was very young. The discussed the philosophy of their schools, and though he knew the true nature of kenjutsu, he couldn't help but think wistfully of the day when swords could be used to protect, but without bloodshed. That was an ideal worth fighting for, worth changing the world for, but Kenshin wasn't that naive to think that they could get there without lives being lost. This was still how the world worked. Kaoru hadn't asked what exactly his role would be in the revolution and after hearing about "the sword that protects life" he didn't know if he wanted to answer her. Right now, Kyoto seemed so far away.

Today he was accompanying Kaoru in to town. He hadn't explored much of Edo since he arrived and Kaoru had said she would show him around while she had some errands to run. After lunch they had set out, casually strolling through the streets, while Kaoru told him about the various neighbours and households.

"My friend Sayuri lives here," Kaoru gestured to a rather grand house. "She's gone for the summer to visit her aunt. It's too bad, I think she would have liked you."

Kenshin nodded and kept pace as they walked towards the market. Kaoru greeted a few people they passed and Kenshin tried not to blush as he got some odd looks from Kaoru's neighbours. Kaoru didn't even seem to notice the double-takes at her red-haired companion.

They rounded a corner and Kaoru stopped, quickly reaching out a hand on Kenshin's arm to stop him also. Up ahead was a group of young men, laughing and joking. They were dressed like common samurai and a few carried swords, similar to the ones at his hip. Kaoru tensed and took a step back, tugging on his sleeve.

"Let's go this way, Kenshin," she quickly whispered, trying to get back around the stone corner and to a different alley before they were noticed. It was too late though, and one of the young men called out her.

"Hey Kaoru-chan," one of the men called as he sauntered up. He was well over a head taller than Kenshin, and had a leering look on his face. Kenshin could feel the tension rolling off of Kaoru and whatever their history, he did not like it. He shifted his stance slightly, shielding his eyes behind his long red bangs.

"Hello Ryota," Kaoru replied. Kaoru stood straight, projecting an image of calm. Kenshin could see her fists clenched at the edge of her sleeves and he didn't need to read her ki to know that something was definitely wrong.

"Where you been hiding Kaoru-chan? We missed you." Ryota gave her a mock pout.

"Teaching."

"Still pretending to be a swordsman?"

"It's not pretending, I'm an assistant-master," Kaoru replied defiantly. "Nice to see you, but we should be going." Kaoru tried to step back but was blocked by Ryota's friends. They had moved around them and now surrounded Kenshin and Kaoru. Fortunately they had been focusing on Kaoru and hadn't payed much attention to Kenshin.

"Not so fast, Kaoru-chan," said Ryota. "We haven't had a chance to chat about what happened last time." He stepped menacingly closer, his eyes narrowing.

"I warned you not to touch me," said Kaoru.

"Oh Kaoru-chan, it was just a friendly hug."

"Like the one you gave Mariko?"

"Well, maybe not that friendly," Ryota smirked. "She asked for it you know. Not my problem she didn't like what she asked for."

"We really should be going now," said Kaoru. She tried to step forward past Ryota but he grabbed her hand and pulled her roughly towards him.

"No, I don't think so," said Ryota. "If you want to act like a man, with your stupid swordstyle, then you should know what happens when a man hits another man." Ryota raised his hand, a dark look on his face.

A fierce feeling of protectiveness surged through Kenshin, hitting him like a high wave during a winter storm. This ends now, he thought, finally speaking.

"Let her go."

Ryota stopped, and looked over Kaoru towards Kenshin. He took in the diminutive red-head and laughed.

"And who are you?" Ryota asked incredulous. "Another girl playing dress-up?"

"No," said Kenshin. He raised his eyes and fixed Ryota with a harsh stare. "Now let her go."

"Ha, or what you little shit?" Ryota gestured towards a few of the other men, who approached Kenshin. Ryota tugged Kaoru back and away so that the others could completely surround him. Kenshin could see her struggling with the much larger man, but her confining kimono didn't give her much room to move and try to position herself to break his hold.

Five men surrounded Kenshin. None of them had drawn their weapons, and Kenshin was hesitant to draw his first. Kaoru cried out for them to stop, and he could see the concern on her face as he was surrounded, seemingly outmatched by the more numerous and much larger men. He relaxed his stance for one second and then almost faster than anyone could see, launched himself forward. He easily side-stepped the telegraphed strikes and moved towards Ryota. A quick elbow to the side and Ryota dropped Kaoru's hand, grunting in pain. Kenshin spun, putting himself protectively between Kaoru and the others, who all had incredulous looks on their face.

"What the hell," said Ryota angrily, clutching his side. "You're going to pay for that! Both you and that bitch!"

Ryota pulled his katana out of his belt. Behind him, the others quickly drew their weapons. With a loud cry, they charged at Kenshin.

Time seemed to slow for Kenshin as he stepped forward to meet their attacks. It seemed like he had prepared a lifetime for this moment. He struggled to keep the thrill of finally reaching his full potential in check as he moved to cross swords with someone in battle for the first time. This was not training, or fighting against his Master, who despite being unrelenting would always be counted on to pull his attack before cutting him with his blade. The safety net was finally gone and Kenshin could feel the rush from the battle start to surge through his veins.

A sharp metallic ring sang through the air as he drew his katana. Hiko's relentless training snapped in to place and Kenshin didn't even think as he met the attackers, steel on steel. The first man to meet him found himself thrown into the air, hitting the stone wall and collapsing in a heap. The next two men faired equally as well, with only Kenshin adjusting his blade at the last second and hitting them with the flat instead of edge, saving their lives. Even though they were coming at him with murderous intent, some part of him checked himself, knowing that he didn't want to take his first life in front of Kaoru.

The next two attackers fared as well as the first three, and collapsed into crumpled heaps at his feet, clutching their arms from where they had taken strikes with the flat edge of his katana. From the loud crunch sounds, Kenshin was sure he had broken some bones. Re-sheathing his sword with an audible click, Kenshin faced Ryota, who had moved back once his friends had charged.

Despite dispatching several men in the course of a few seconds, Kenshin felt very calm. He had moved through the men quickly and with precision. It had almost been easy.

"Now," Kenshin fixed Ryota with a cold stare, "We were leaving."

"Like hell you bastard!" Ryota charged.

Kenshin crouched instantly into his battojutsu stance. At the last possible second, he drew his katana and stepped forward, swinging the weapon towards Ryota, who had just enough sense to raise his sword to block the attack. But Ryota screamed in pain, as Kenshin executed the second part of the attack and struck his side with his sheath, sending him crashing to the side.

"Hiten Mitsuryugi Ryu. Sou Ryu Sen." Kenshin snapped his sword down into the sheath. His only reply was a groan from the direction of Ryota's crumpled form. Kenshin turned towards Kaoru, who had watched the last exchange in shock. He approached her slowly.

"Are you okay?" he asked hesitantly. Kenshin touched her arm and she looked at him with a scared look in her eyes. Suddenly, she leapt into his arms, crushing him in a fierce hug. Kenshin wrapped his arms around her, puzzled at her reaction. Kaoru seemed to be okay, and wasn't crying, but he could feel her shaking slightly in his arms. He held her tighter, knowing that he had been victorious. A small part of him hoped that his Master would be proud.

After a few moments, he felt Kaoru stir in his arms and pull herself away. He loosened his hold and asked her again if she was fine. Without really understanding why, he needed to know that she was okay, that she wasn't hurt and more importantly, he hadn't scared her with his actions.

"Yes, I'm okay." Kaoru released a breath that Kenshin didn't even notice that she had been holding. She peered over his shoulder.

"Are..they dead?"

Kenshin shook his head. "No." To prove him correct, one of the men groaned and shifted.

"Thank you," Kaoru smiled softly at him, her eyes dancing with some emotion that he couldn't name but was growing quickly familiar with. Kenshin felt his heart clench, and the fierce first stirrings of protectiveness he felt towards her seemed to grow.

"Come on," Kenshin started to lead Kaoru away. "Let's go." He kept an arm around her, and they left leaving Ryota and his men on the ground.

"Kenshin, can I come in?"

Kenshin stood and opened the shoji door, seeing Katsura standing there. It was late at night, and the rest of the house had long since retired for the evening. The older man came into Kenshin's room and sat down. Kenshin sat across from him, the lone candle in his room casting an eerie glow around the two men.

"Kaoru told her father what happened this afternoon. She said that you defended her against several of the local troublemakers. That you took out five men in the blink of an eye."

Katsura fixed Kenshin with a stern look and he felt his feelings of pride over his first fight quickly evaporate away. Kaoru had explained as they were walking away that Ryota and his men were thugs. A few months ago they had attacked a merchant's daughter, leaving her battered and broken. Kaoru had run in to them herself one night returning from teaching, but when Ryota had tried to grab her, she had defended herself with her bokken and fled. Knowing that they had been men trying to prey on young women only justified Kenshin's actions more.

"Six actually. They deserved what they got."

"I'm sure they did. Kamiya said that they had attacked some poor girl and left her for dead. Kaoru herself had a run in with them and managed to escape." Katsura didn't flinch at Kenshin's fierce look.

"Men like that shouldn't be allowed to roam free. I didn't kill them. But I doubt they will attack anyone else ever again."

"You don't fear them coming after you?" asked Kastura.

Kenshin thought for a moment before he replied. "No. I showed them mercy, not for their sake, but for Kaoru's. They would be fools to try something against me or her."

"You've been spending a lot of time with Kaoru, haven't you?" asked Katsura, changing the subject.

"Is that a problem?" Kenshin didn't know where Katsura was heading with this question but he wasn't sure if he liked it.

"No. I think it's healthy for you to have some friends. God knows when we get to Kyoto we won't have many. Just be careful, Kenshin, about how close you two become. Once we leave here, I will need you focused. You will become our greatest weapon and our darkest secret. And your burden will be heaviest. Unfortunately it is likely one that you will have bear on your own."

"What are you talking about?" Kenshin asked. Katsura fixed him with a direct stare and stood up.

"Guard your heart carefully Kenshin. Kaoru is a sweet girl, but naive in how the world works. Her naive ideals don't have a place in our current world but I hope that they will exist in the one we create. Don't fall in love with her Kenshin. I don't know if your burden is one she could share." With that, Katsura left his room, leaving Kenshin alone in the dim light.

Kenshin sat down, Katsura's words echoing in his ears. Was he falling in love with Kaoru? Love was such a foreign concept to him. He liked spending time with her. He felt lighter when she was near, and he knew that he looked forward to spending time with her. But was that love? He thought back to earlier in the day, when Ryota had grabbed her. Without a second thought he had protected her, and punished those who had thought to harm her. Even after a few weeks here, he was growing reluctant to leave, not knowing if he would see Kaoru again. Was that what it meant to be in love? To wake, thinking of her and waiting to see her. To want to spend every moment with her? To see her smile and know that everything was right with the world in that moment?

Whatever he did feel, he knew it was growing stronger.

Glossary

Battojutsu - "the craft of drawing out the sword". A combative quick draw sword technique

Kata - literally "form", are the detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs.

Shoji - a door, window or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood which holds together a lattice of wood or bamboo