Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just using them.

Well, last chapter was interesting. This chapter is going to be back to normal.

Thanks to darkbandit01 for the great advice!

Kenshin's POV

Saito shifting woke me. I studied him for awhile, noticing that he looked a lot younger when he was asleep. His entire body seemed more relaxed and I didn't have to contend with his knowing stare. I stared at the fire, remembering his questions. Why had I saved his life back at the river? Why am I still trying to save him? I drew my knees up to my chest and wrapped my right arm around my legs. Saito opened his eyes slightly at my movement but I could tell that he was still unconscious.

"You ask me why I saved you, yet you've saved me too Saito." I whispered feeling the stitches tug when I stretch my legs back out. "We may be fighting on opposite sides of the war Saito but we both fight with everything we are. I think I saved you because, like you, I would rather die in battle with a respected foe than by any other means."

I began to think back to all of the battles that we had fought over the last year alone. There had been many since the first time we had crossed blades. I close my eyes letting the memories flash by.

Flashback

We were standing no more than fifteen feet apart. Blood dripped from both of our swords, the blood of the men lying dead around us. I was bleeding from two deep cuts but so was Saito. Okita had fought side by side with him until his coughing1 had forced him to back away and let Saito fight against me on his own. Saito shifted his stance into the first form of the Gatotsu and I knew he would put all of his strength into this next blow, hoping it would be enough to kill me. I shift my stance to match and wait for the tell- tale tensing of muscle that will begin this dance of death. I don't have to wait for long. Saito lunges forward, covering the distance with ease. Our swords clash once, twice, and then a flash of lightening brightens the sky.

Saito's eyes seem to glow with the energy that the lightening has released into the air. He lunges again and I feel the blade slicing into my left side before I swing my katana down; cutting his right calf from the knee down to his ankle. We break apart, both breathing heavily as the pain from our wounds set it. Saito bares his teeth and lets out a snarl of pain and anger as he attacks yet again. I step back and to the right as his blade pierces the air where I stood moments before.

"Too slow Wolf." I said using my god-like speed to go airborne. My katana sliced down, the tip cutting through fabric and skin. Saito went down on his injured leg, aiming a swift kick at me as I landed. I easily dodged the kick and landed one of my own to his ribs. Saito's katana slid from his grasp as he fell to the ground. He was still conscious, but barely. His golden eyes were glazed and his breathing weak. His blood began to pool beneath him, joining the blood of the dead. I kicked him onto his back and put my blade to his throat, making a small cut just below his jaw line. As I went to press the blade deeper, I heard the signal whistle I had been waiting for when the Shinsengumi had interrupted me. I pulled my blade away. "You're lucky Wolf of Mibu. Next time we meet, it will end in your death."

I walked away as the rain began to pour down on the body strewn street, leaving a rival to either survive and get stronger or die.

End Flashback

"There have been many times we should have died by each other's blade Saito." I mutter opening my eyes to stare at Saito, only to find myself staring into the wide open, lucid gold eyes of the Wolf of Mibu. I felt my face heat up and I let out an involuntary yelp of surprise.

Saito's POV

I had been awake for only a moment when I heard the Battousai speaking. My head ached and felt like it was full of wool, but his words were becoming clearer. I didn't dare to move, knowing that the Battousai would stop talking as soon as he sensed my movement. What he was saying made sense to me and I found myself silently agreeing with the Battousai, which surprised me. The Battousai opened his eyes and when he noticed that I was awake, he let out an amusing yelp. I couldn't help but chuckle weakly at him.

"How are you feeling?" he asked his blush fading slowly. I licked my lips to wet them before answering.

"Sore. I feel like I've been dragged behind a team of horses over a rocky road." I watched the Battousai get up slowly and walk to the snow cover entrance. He grabbed a handful of snow and brought it over to me. The snow was melting fast in his hands and I gratefully licked at the snow; knowing my teeth wouldn't take the cold right now. Nearing the end of the handful, I accidentally licked his hand, which made us both blush like school girls. The image that came to mind made me chuckle again.

"What is so funny?" The Battousai asked going back to the snow wall and grabbing a handful for himself. He sat down beside me and took a mouthful of snow.

"We were trying to kill each other only a few days ago and now we're taking care of each other like an old married couple. That combined with the fact that we're dancing around each other like school children is hilarious to me." I answered truthfully. I was still thinking about what the Battousai had said earlier as well. He raised an eyebrow and gave me a funny look.

"I think you still have a fever and are delusional." He said putting his snow cooled hand on my forehead. I shivered at the cold. Just to see what he'd do, I leaned my head back quickly and licked his wrist before he could move. He jerked his hand away and his face went as bright red as his hair. "Now I'm positive you're delusional."

I couldn't help it, I laughed until my broken ribs protested. The Battousai shook his head. I could tell that he was smiling though and for some odd reason, it delighted me.

"We should both get some rest. I think we'll both be up to starting our journey to the next cave." I said when I finally got my laughing under control. The Battousai nodded and laid down beside me. It didn't take long before we were both asleep.

TBC…

Well, that was fun. I actually did quite a bit of research when I started this chapter. It started out as a search for the spelling of something and ended up with me doing research on Okita Sōji for over 2 hours.

Okita Sōji died of tuberculosis on July 19, 1868. History tells us that he originally contracted it in 1864 either before or after the Ikedaya Affair. He is buried in Edo and his grave is only open to the public to pay their respects 1 day a year.

Most people only last a few weeks to a year after contracting tuberculosis back in this time.