Author's Notes: Hallooooo! After a long wait (and I'm so sorry) I've finally got this one ready for release. I was holding it for a while since I wanted to make sure some story threads in here would lead to the last few chapters. And I think it's finally done. As for progress, I have 2 chapters sitting with my betas, one chapter half written and the last four chapters plotted out. I figure if I set a goal of at least 500 words a night I can get this done soon. Which I'm sure everyone will be happy about.

Thanks so much for your patience and all of the great encouraging reviews. Honestly you guys are the best, this fandom is the best and I hope that I can give you guys the story that you deserve! Please feel free to follow me on my tumblr at mymanicmarie dot tumblr dot com. I'm usually on there during the evenings weeping over one fandom or another.

Betas: Sumiregusa (her first book The Redwood Rebel is almost ready for release. Go follow her! Details on her profile page) and Animaniacal (if you aren't reading The Normals…uh…go now! The amount of detail and research into PTSD in this story is inspiring)
Rating: T
Warnings: Some violence.
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Persuasion is in the public domain, but was written by Jane Austen.

Chapter 16

There was no wound, no blood, no visible bruise; but her eyes were closed,
she breathed not, her face was like death. The horror of the moment
to all who stood around! - Jane Austen, Persuasion

"Jin'eh." Kenshin growled, and Kaoru could see him tense up, ready for the inevitable fight. Around them were various shadows, telling Kaoru that they were surrounded. She moved back from Sano, pulling Akiko with her, joining Hiroki and Sayuri. The others looked worried and confused.

"Let them go, Jin'eh," Kenshin said calmly. He still hadn't moved from where he stood. "They are not your concern."

"Friends of yours are always my concern, Battousai. Especially pretty ones like that." Jin'eh pointed towards Akiko and grinned.

Kenshin's only response was the audible click of him notching his sword out of its sheath. Jin'eh laughed, and pulled out his own sword.

"Is it like that Battousai? No pretty words like what you said to Shinomori?" Jin'eh taunted. When Kenshin didn't reply, he continued on. "You should have killed him. He's of no use to you. Shinomori doesn't know who Jorogumo is."

"I don't need him to tell me when I have you."

"Just try."

The two men leapt at each other, and the sharp sounds of steel against steel rang out in the still night. Sano moved back to the others, as several men came out of the forest towards them.

"My turn?" Sano spat out his toothpick and raised his arms. "Been needing this for a while."

A man stepped forward with a long spear in hand and rushed at Sano with a wild yell. Unfazed, Sano stood until the last second, then he stepped aside to avoid the man's spear and punched him in the face. The man instantly crumpled, and Sano snatched the spear out of his limp arms. He turned and tossed it towards Kaoru who caught it deftly.

"Know how to use that?"

Kaoru gave Sano a wry look, and spun the spear around, snapping into a defensive stance as the other men approached.

"You're full of surprises Kaoru-sensei." Sano cracked his knuckles and charged the men approaching him. Kaoru leveled the spear and used its superior reach to quickly dispatch the first man who was foolish enough to approach her. Hiroki had Sayuri and Akiko tucked against him, both women terrified of the sudden violence around them.

In the distance Kaoru could see Kenshin and Jin'eh fighting, moving so fast that they were almost blurs. She couldn't concentrate on their fight though, as she was too busy defending herself and the others from Jin'eh's men. Sano was fighting several at once and the few who were wary of the street fighter had approached her, thinking her an easy target. With a yell Kaoru swung her spear, and those men quickly joined the others unconscious on the ground next to Sano.

"Are you okay?" Sano moved to her side as another man fell, groaning in pain. The others surrounding them advanced slowly, trying to figure out how to best attack the street fighter and the spear-wielding woman.

"Yea, I'm fine," said Kaoru breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath during a small break in the fighting. "Kenshin?"

Sano looked to where Kenshin and Jin'eh were still fighting. It wasn't clear who had the upper hand; Jin'eh was much larger than Kenshin, but Kenshin had a slight edge due to his speed. Sano looked conflicted, wanting to help his friend but knowing that he needed to protect Kaoru and the others.

Suddenly, a flash of movement caught Kaoru's eye. Akiko had gotten free from Hiroki's grasp and had picked up a discarded sword.

"Wait, no!" Kaoru pushed Sano aside, as she saw someone behind Akiko. In the distance, Kenshin pushed Jin'eh off and turned when he heard Kaoru's desperate yell. His eyes widened as he saw Akiko recklessly raise her sword to try and swing at the man charging her; she was too slow and the man crashed in to her. Akiko crumpled instantly, her head making a loud smacking noise as it hit the ground. Heedless of her own safety, Kaoru rushed forward dropping her spear. Sano jumped ahead of her and leveled the man who had attacked Akiko instantly.

Seeing an opening, Jin'eh rushed towards Kenshin. Kenshin turned on him, pure fury on his face. Jin'eh could barely keep up with the blows as Kenshin sought to end the fight once and for all. The two men pushed apart and seeing that he only had one last avenue of escape, Jin'eh leapt away, willing to take his chances against the Battousai another day. The few men left standing also scattered. Not even watching Jin'eh escape, Kenshin turned and rushed towards Akiko. With his speed, Kenshin reached Akiko's lifeless form first. He crouched down and gathered her up.

"No, no, not again," whispered Kenshin as he cradled Akiko in his arms. She was unconscious, her face taking on a deathly pallour. Kaoru saw that she was still breathing, but she made no other response.

Above them, Hiroki held Sayuri as she screamed that Akiko was dead. Sano stood there, unsure of what to do. Kaoru saw that she needed to take charge.

"We need to get her inside." Kaoru directed. Kenshin snapped out of his murmurings and swiftly stood with Akiko in his arms. He took off towards the inn, Kaoru and Sano hurrying to catch up, leaving Sayuri and Hiroki behind. They reached the inn and yelled for help as they ran inside. Tadashi appeared out of one of the side rooms and when he saw Kenshin, motioned for him to follow. They took Akiko to a room at the back of the inn. Kenshin set her down on the futon, and Kaoru started to examine her. There was no blood, but Akiko had hit her head hard in the fall.

"Is she going to be okay?" asked Kenshin, his face distraught.

"I don't know," Kaoru continued to examine the younger girl. "There isn't any blood."

"Please, you have to help her," Kenshin pleaded. Kaoru saw the anguish in his face and instantly knew that he blamed himself for Akiko's injury.

"I'll do what I can," Kaoru tried to reassure him. He looked at her, grateful for her presence. "But I'm not a doctor, there is only so much I can do."

"There is no one more qualified." Kenshin said as he met her eyes. Kaoru's breath hitched in response. He believed in her, it was clear on his face, and at this moment he put his complete trust in her to make the right decisions to help Akiko.

Hiroki and Sayuri soon burst in to the room, and they both cried out when they saw Akiko on the floor. Kenshin stood back as they rushed forward crying out Akiko's name. Akiko didn't move and Kaoru had to push them back so as not to crowd her. At the doorway, Kaoru could see Sano peaking his head through. Kaoru finished examining Akiko and after getting the young girl as comfortable as she could, Kaoru stood and walked over to him.

"Sano, I can bind a wound, but I don't know what to do about a head injury. We need to get her to a doctor." Kaoru glanced back to where Akiko lay, Hiroki and Sayuri crying by her side. Kenshin had moved to the back of the room with a dark look on his face.

"Kenshin," Sano called across the room. Kenshin looked up at his name, and Kaoru could see him trying to pull himself away from his dark thoughts. "We should get the Fox." Kenshin just nodded.

"Please you have to help her," pleaded Hiroki. "I'll do anything."

"We need that carriage." Sano said. "I can head back to Tokyo and bring a doctor."

"And what about us?" asked Hiroki, completely out of his depth. "What about Akiko?"

"Kaoru will stay with her. No one is as capable as her." Kenshin finally spoke, meeting Kaoru's eyes with fierce conviction. Kaoru tried not to blush at the intensity of his declaration.

Clearly trying to gain some composure, Hiroki nodded. "Yes, you're right. We'll head back to Tokyo. I have to contact her father and mother."

"What?" said Sayuri fiercely between hysterical sobs. The entire room turned to her. "Kaoru? Who is Kaoru to Akiko? I am her cousin. I should stay. Why should Kaoru stay? Why would you send me back? I should be here with Akiko, looking after her."

"We should go back to Tokyo with Sano," Hiroki tried, but Sayuri exploded in anger.

"I'm as capable as Kaoru at looking after Akiko. I will not leave her!" Again Sayuri burst into sobs. Hiroki tried to soothe his wife, but she exploded in anger, yelling fiercely at him about abandoning their family. Kaoru tried to soothe her friend, knowing that this wasn't what Akiko needed, but Sayuri would not relent. She was determined to stay and nurse Akiko back to health. Sano and Kenshin excused themselves, saying that they needed to make arrangements to leave if they wanted to have the doctor back to Hakone by mid-day.

Finally Sayuri calmed but she still refused to leave Akiko's side. Hiroki shifted away from his wife and came to sit beside Kaoru, who was trying to keep herself busy by arranging all of the things that Akiko would need.

"I think it is best if you head back to Tokyo," Hiroki said.

"Are you sure?" Kaoru asked.

"Yes. Sayuri and I will stay with Akiko. It is our duty as her family. You should return. Once the doctor is here we won't need your help anyways. And you can keep my father company. I don't want him to worry while we are away."

Kaoru simply nodded, knowing that this was one battle she would not win. She left to gather her things from her room. As she reached it, she saw a concerned Misao coming down the hall, concern on her face.

"I just spoke with Sano," Misao said hurriedly. "Is Akiko okay?"

"She's still unconscious. I'm going to go to Tokyo with Sano to fetch a doctor."

"And Kenshin too," said Misao.

"What?"

"Sano said Kenshin is leaving, too. He wanted to brief the government about Jin'eh personally. I don't think he wants to lose track of Jin'eh."

"Who is he?"

"One of the more unpleasant leftovers from the Bakumatsu," Misao explained. "After the fighting stopped, he became a mercenary for hire and now works for Jorogumo. Jin'eh might be one of the few men who actually knows his true identity."

"What about Aoshi?" asked Kaoru.

"Aoshi-sama said he only ever met with Jin'eh, never Jorogumo."

"That's what Jin'eh said," Kaoru muttered. They entered their room and Kaoru quickly started packing, knowing that they wanted to leave within the hour. Misao helped her and together they had her trunk packed and moved downstairs.

Sano was waiting for her and helped her out to the carriage. Inside sat Kenshin, impatient to be off. Kaoru took the seat opposite him as Sano climbed in behind her. With a quick wave to Misao, the carriage was off, hoping to be in Tokyo before sunrise.

The mood in the carriage grew more solemn as the miles towards Tokyo decreased. Sano tried a few times to draw Kenshin in to a conversation but soon gave up when all he was met with were silent stares or one word responses. After a lack of response on Kaoru's part too, Sano resolved to sleep until they arrived at Tokyo, and was asleep almost instantly, with his head thrown back and soft snores coming from his chest.

Kaoru envied Sano's ability to sleep. She had tried a few times to shut her eyes and lose herself to the comfort of oblivion but she found she couldn't. Kenshin remained still on the other side of the carriage, his eyes watching the darkened landscape outside the window. Not being able to take it any longer, she finally spoke up.

"It's not your fault," she said softly.

Kenshin turned towards her. Hopeful, Kaoru continued.

"It isn't. I shouldn't have let Akiko out of my sight. I should have stopped her."

"Don't," Kenshin finally said. "What happened is my fault. I didn't protect her, or any of you. I should have never let you come here, when I knew that there was a chance of an attack. I should have never encouraged her. It was my fault she thought she could handle a sword."

"You can't blame yourself. It was an accident."

"Nothing is ever an accident," said Kenshin. He reached up and touched the scar that crossed his cheek. "Nothing."

He turned away, and Kaoru let it go, knowing well enough that he did not want to talk any more. She leaned back in to the corner of the carriage and finally managed to fall into a light sleep. She had incoherent dreams and when she finally awakened the carriage was entering Tokyo. She felt no more rested than before.

It was still early, and the streets were empty as the carriage rolled through an unfamiliar part of Tokyo. Beside her, Sano stirred as the carriage came to a stop. She looked out the window and saw that they were in front of a small medical clinic.

"I'll go get the Fox," Sano yawned and stretched before leaving the carriage and heading inside the clinic. Kaoru saw a tall woman meet him at the door. Sano gestured towards the carriage and Kaoru met the other woman's eyes before she took Sano inside. Kenshin remained still, his face hidden behind his hair. The silence between them was overwhelming. She was saved from trying to start a conversation to pass the time by Sano's return. His spiky head popped up alongside the window.

"Fox is gathering her things, should be ready in the hour. Kenshin, you should take Kaoru-sensei back to the dojo."

Kenshin just nodded. Seeing his friend's glum expression, Sano nodded back and quietly spoke to the carriage driver; soon they were off, heading towards the Maekawa dojo. The quick trip to the dojo was again passed in silence. Once the carriage stopped, Kaoru rose to open the door but was stopped by Kenshin's hand on her wrist. She turned to him, shocked.

"I should go in first," Kenshin said quietly. "I should be the one to tell Maekawa-sensei what happened. It was my responsibility to protect her and I failed him." Kenshin paused and then looked at Kaoru. "Do you think this is a good plan?"

"Yes… yes, I do," said Kaoru, startled that he would again defer to her opinion. Kenshin nodded grimly and then with a gentle squeeze released her wrist. He exited the carriage in front of her, and helped her down. Kenshin then headed through the gate into the main house where he would find Maekawa. Kaoru took her trunk down from the carriage and carried it over to the dojo. Hearing the noise, the shoji opened and a sleepy Yahiko poked his head out

"Kaoru? Why are you back so early?" the boy questioned with a yawn.

"I'll tell you in a few minutes." Kaoru turned back towards the house as she saw Kenshin exit.

"You should go to Maekawa-sensei," said Kenshin, as Kaoru hurried over to him.

"What about you?" asked Kaoru. "Are you going back to Hakone?"

"I…I don't… Yes, I probably should," Kenshin paused. "I must get back to the clinic. We need to take Megumi back to Akiko as soon as possible, though I have to stop at the government office first."

Kenshin paused and looked at Kaoru. He swallowed and opened his mouth to say something more, but closed it again, his face resolute.

"I guess this is goodbye for now," stated Kaoru. She didn't know how she felt about this sudden turn, and Kenshin's newfound reliance on her opinion. But she had no claim on him. He was needed elsewhere. Akiko was practically his fiancee and would need him by her side to speed her recovery.

"Yes. I believe it is." Kenshin looked her in the eyes, and for a moment, Kaoru thought she saw the same longing she'd seen the night before there. But only for a moment. "Goodbye, Kamiya-san,"

"Safe journeys, Himura-san,"

Kenshin turned and left the dojo, not once looking back. Kaoru watched his form disappear into the carriage and then went inside to console her old friend.