The usual disclaimer still applies.

A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to update everyone. It's been a rough couple of months for my family and I just didn't have the time to write, but I'm back now!

Saito's POV

Warmth against my right side woke me slowly. At first I thought that my wound was bleeding again and then I realized that the Battousai was pressed up against me. I opened my eyes and stared down at him, realizing that we had been like this for several hours now. I shifted my arm, which was wrapped around his shoulder; he opened his eyes just slightly.

"Comfortable?" I asked quietly. The Battousai's eyes widened but he didn't pull away like I expected him to do. Instead he shifted his body closer to mine and sighed.

"You're warm Saito and I was cold. It was survival instincts, nothing more." He said closing his eyes again. "And yes, I am comfortable. Though I suppose you want to get up and see if you can walk so we can get out of this cave."

"What do you mean if?" My eyes narrowed. "I'm perfectly capable of getting up and walking, you insolent brat."

The Battousai froze next to me for an instant and I knew I had touched a nerve.

Kenshin's POV

"What did you just call me?!" I growled sitting up slowly and turning to face Saito. He had an amused look on his face that really irritated me.

"Brat." Saito replied pushing himself up with his elbows gradually. He stopped with a small grunt of pain when his ribs shifted. I glared at him and then stood up.

"I thought you said you could get up, old man." I cocked my head to the right and stared at him for a moment with what I hoped was a thoughtful look on my face. "Or would that be old dog?"

Saito's eyes flashed dangerously and he let out a low growl that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I knew I should not have said it the instant it came out of my mouth. I backed away quickly, but not quick enough. Saito had me pressed against the cave wall within a heartbeat, his left hand clenched around my neck. I grabbed his wrist and tried to pull him off me, but he just tightened his grip. His eyes were no longer looked human; his eyes had gone feral. He growled at me again.

"Let me go Saito." I gasped out, feeling his thumb putting pressure on my left carotid artery. He snarled at me and I knew that the human part of him couldn't hear me, so I did the only thing I could think of, I brought my knee up into his groin. He let go of me with a groan of agony and knelt down, trying to relieve the pain. I slumped against the wall rubbing my throat gently. "I told you to let me go Saito."

I closed my eyes and just listened to the sound of the two of us breathing for a few minutes before glancing down at Saito. I knew that beneath the calm exterior he held on to so tightly was an animalistic rage that could destroy him and me if he ever let go of his control. That small fit of temper he just displayed was enough of a reminder that I needed to keep my wits about me. I slid down the wall and waited for him to open his eyes, hoping that they were back to normal.

Saito's POV

Blood red mist covered my eyes and everything seemed to slow to a crawl the moment the Battousai said those last two words. The dark, swirling rage that I was extremely careful to contain slipped free and I was on my feet and at his throat before I could take another breath. I felt him grab my wrist but it was nothing more than an annoyance. I tightened my grip around his slender throat, feeling the blood pulsing through the veins beneath my grip. It was an intoxicating feeling to have him where I finally wanted him; his life fading slowly in my grip.

At the back of my mind I heard his warning, but I was too far gone to let his words take effect. I pushed harder with my thumb, cutting off the supply of blood to his brain. I felt his body shift a second before his knee connected with my groin. I released him with a groan of pain and knelt down. The pain let me gain control of my rage again and I concentrated on the sound of the Battousai's breathing to come back to myself. I opened my eyes when I heard him slide down the wall and looked at him. He was rubbing his neck where I had grabbed him and I could see the bruises starting to form already.

"You back Wolf of Mibu?" He asked his voice rough. I flinched at the way he phrased the question and he raised an eyebrow at that. "Or are you going to attack me again?"

"I give you my word, I won't attack you again." I said my own voice low with embarrassment and regret. I very rarely ever lost control of the rage inside me and to do so in front of my enemy was a blow to my pride. "I apologize for my actions, Battousai."

I nearly laughed at the astounded look on his face. "I will deny that I ever said that if you ever bring it up again."

Kenshin's POV

Did he just –no he couldn't have… He just apologized to me! I gaped at him and I could see amusement starting to seep into his gold eyes. I could tell that it took a lot for him to say it.

"Apology accepted." I said getting back to my feet. "Do you want help up or can you get up on your own?"

Saito thought about it for a moment before hesitantly reaching up with his left hand. I gripped his hand tightly and slowly pulled him to his feet. He swayed slightly but stayed standing when I let go of his hand. I walked over to the medicine box and rummaged around in it.

"Only take what is necessary, the way through the caves is treacherous at the best of times." Saito said emptying out a supply bag onto the cave floor to decide what would stay and what would come with us. I grabbed the last few rolls of bandages, what was left of the thread and the packet of needles and brought them over to Saito. I then grabbed an empty pan, filled it with snow and brought it over to the fire to melt.

"Is there a flask for water?" I asked when the snow was finally melted. Saito tossed one at my feet and I filled it with water. It only filled it half way so I started over to the wall of snow again. As I brushed snow from the wall into the pan I felt Saito moving towards me and I slid the small blade I had palmed earlier into my hand. I turned to see Saito standing about three feet behind me. "What do you want Saito?"

"Just some snow to wet my mouth with Battousai." Saito answered with a wary look in his eyes. "I gave you my word Battousai, the blade is unnecessary."

I turned back around and froze when his arm brushed mine. I could practically hear his smirk when he knocked snow from above me down onto my head. I shook the snow off but before I could say anything he was back by the supplies. We finished packing what we needed in silence. We each grabbed a burning branch and two more a piece that would make good torches. Saito kicked some of the snow that was on the floor onto the fire and we started for the back of the cave.

TBC…

Reviews craved.