Ripples In Time

A/N- Kon'ichi wa Yujin's, it's nice to know you're all still with me in this. Also, I am very sorry with how long this took to write, I am truly trying to update each of my stories.

Disclaimer- Rurouni Kenshin is someone else's brainchild, I only own some anime, manga, plushies, music, pics, keychains, etc. So no suing peeps!

Anywhoo, I received a rather enlightening review from one alwyzme and I'd like to take this moment to thank you for your review. The questions you asked have helped greatly and I hope I can answer each and every one. So on that note, this chapter is dedicated to you.

Domo Arigato, and if you have anymore suggestions or comments, I am more than willing to listen.

Also, I thought I'd inform everyone that as of right now, my e-mail account is out of commission until I can get it under control. So until it is, I won't be able to read any pm's...Gomen...

Whelp, I believe that's it for now. Onto the flick!

'Thoughts'

Chapter 8: Shinri

She had been up since the early morning hours after herself and Kenshin had gone their separate ways. Him to the living room couch and her to his bedroom.

Unable or unwilling to sleep, she wasn't sure, all she knew is that she'd hadn't been able to so much as dose let alone sleep.

Besides, she had too much to think about anyway.

Shifting, Kaoru directed her gaze from the wall to the ceiling as she tried to think things over once again. But instead her mind filled with the images of her mother and father being killed, something that she hadn't thought about in a very long time. In fact, she thought that she had gotten over it.

'I guess not...' Groaning in mental anguish, Kaoru fisted her hands in her hair and tugged, hard. The shock of pain calmed her a little.

"Damn it, why can't I just put it behind me? They're dead and there's nothing that I can do about it...so why..." Kaoru's eyes widened slightly as a thought struck her.

"Oh, that must be it...but Kenshin isn't like any of the other's, at least, I don't think so?" Boy did that sound convincing, 'who am I kidding? I don't trust him...at least not completely. Master...I could really use your help right about now...if only you were still...' Shaking her head, Kaoru pushed herself up into a sitting position, unable to lie down any longer.

She needed to do something before she went crazy.

Opening the bedroom door, Kaoru moved out into the hallway, stuffing her hands into her pockets as she made her way to the front door. She had decided to go for a walk, hopefully it would not only give her the time to think, but also make her tired enough to be able to sleep.

But she wasn't alone.

Kenshin too had found that sleep would be eluding him for the night, something that didn't make him very happy. It was everything, it was nothing, heck, he wasn't sure what it was, but he had to figure this all out and fast.

After all, he had yet to open up completely to Kaoru and that was something that he really needed to do before she would trust him. Yes, no matter how long she had been with them or what promises she had made, Kenshin could see it in her eyes.

She still did not trust him or anyone else for that matter, but he couldn't blame her. Everyone has their own demons, himself included and they both just needed to get them out into the open, or a relationship between them would be impossible.

Shifting once again from his position at the foyer window, Kenshin once again found his eyes drifting back over to the small and ornate jewelry box that sat upon one of the end tables. It had been his wedding gift to 'her,' but he had never been able to find it within himself to get rid of it, after all, it might have been from his past, but it was a reminder for him.

A reminder that one must have complete trust and devotion before one can move forwards in life, which is how he found himself in his current position. He had to tell Kaoru everything and he had to tell her soon, or he would loose her just as he had lost...

Shaking his head, Kenshin caught a flash of something outside and turned his head, his eyes narrowing in concentration. They widened slightly when he saw that it was Kaoru who he had seen, apparently she had been unable to sleep either and was going for an early morning walk to sort out her thoughts.

Heck, it couldn't have been any later than four in the morning, at the very least. Not to mention the fact that he had no clue how she had gotten out there without him noticing.

Having come to a decision, Kenshin got to his feet and went about dressing in something other than boxer shorts. Not that he thought Kaoru would mind, but he didn't want to freeze his tail off out there. Once he was dressed, Kenshin made his way outside as well and easily picked up on Kaoru's scent, it didn't take him long to catch up with her.

He followed her for several silent moments, deciding on whether or not he should approach her or just leave her to her own devices. But it seemed that choice was taken from him.

Kaoru had stopped and was currently staring up at the sky, she could feel him, heck she had felt his presence ever since he had started following her. She needed to talk to him anyway and sooner would be better.

"Kenshin...do you remember your parents?"

'That came out of nowhere...' Blinking in surprise that she had known he was there, Kenshin tilted his head, not really sure just where Kaoru was going with this but decided to humor her anyway. "No, actually I do not. My mother died giving birth to me and my father, well, I have no idea just who he is..."

Trailing off, Kenshin gave Kaoru a questioning look, "why do you ask?"

Taking a deep breath, Kaoru turned to face Kenshin, her eyes hard. "My mother and father were killed by Lycan's, literally ripped to pieces before my very eyes. I was very young..."

She trailed off, letting those few words hang in the air for a few moments even as she started walking once again, knowing Kenshin was bound to follow her.

"If I had only known then what I do now, then I would have never let it happen. But I didn't and because of that, I was driven into a fearful rage-like state which drove me to kill the Lycan's. I took down two with a small short katana that one of them carried, and then he came."

Stopping at the edge of the small brook that ran the length of the land, Kaoru knelt down and ran her fingers over the top of the ripping water. She didn't even flinch when a clawed hand was set gently upon her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.

Frankly he wasn't sure just how to reply to something like that, but he was going to try, "Kaoru, are you sure you want to tell me this, you hardly know me after all." 'This is it, depending on her response, I'll make my choice on where to begin from there.'

Closing her eyes, Kaoru took a deep breath. She had to do this, as much as she felt like running away or just acting as she always did, it was the only way she could continue to live as she was and not feel so...alone.

"Yes, I do hardly know you. Something that I'd like to remedy as soon as possible. But until then, I am content with just telling you my story instead. After all, this is the only way we could ever hope to understand each other."

Lifting her hand, Kaoru placed it over the top of Kenshin's and gave it a gentle squeeze as she decided to start off with a simple question.

"Tell me, Kenshin...just why is Megumi here, she is a vampire after all and are the enemies of the Lycan's."

Unable to deny the shiver that Kaoru's touch had sent up his spine, Kenshin knelt behind her, resting his chin upon her opposite shoulder. It felt so nice to be able to touch someone, "when she was young, just barely a fledgling, her coven was destroyed by a roaming pack of hunters. She was the only survivor."

Kaoru sank back into Kenshin's form as she listened to his soothing voice, his warmth seeping through his clothes to touch her own, 'he's so warm, it's comforting...'

"My master and I had been traveling through that prefecture when we happened upon her small bloodied form. I don't know what she was thinking when she first saw us, but she latched herself onto my arm and wouldn't let go for anything." Kenshin couldn't help but shake his head as he recalled that small child, covered head to toe in the blood of her kin.

In a way, Kaoru could understand why Megumi would be so desperate as to grab onto a complete stranger, it was what she had done too...in a way. "And so, because of that and my master's order's, I took her with us and she has remained with us ever since then. Frankly, I consider her more as a younger sister than a friend now."

Chuckling lightly as he finished, Kenshin moved his free hand to lift a lock of Kaoru's hair. He took a deep whiff of it and had to suppress a low growl, she smelled just as she had the day they had first met, 'like Sakura blossoms and apples.'

"Well...I guess that explains why she went to you first about her pregnancy...but I wonder if she'll be safe or not. Because if the covens ever found out, let alone any of the Lycan packs...wouldn't they kill her, Sano, and the child?"

That was something else that had been haunting her lately, yes bringing another life into the world was a great thing...but would it come back to bite them all on the ass? After all, she was a hunter and her living with them...well that in and of itself were grounds to be killed.

'Even he probably would think the same...' Shivering at that, Kaoru just wanted to curl up against Kenshin and let all her worries fly...but could she really trust him that much?

To Kenshin, Kaoru seemed to change as she asked her question. Her normally hard and strong exterior had started to crumble, right before his very eyes.

More than floored by this, Kenshin took a deep breath and hoped that what he was about to say next wouldn't snap that shutter's shut on this little peak into what was underneath all that crap that she had surrounded herself with.

"That's right...if they knew, we all would be dead. By law, all the packs and covens must keep to themselves and never crossbreed, it's just how things have always been. But I don't care, if there is love between two people then, who cares. Which is why I would never allow anyone harm a single member of my family...you included Kaoru."

She could feel her body freeze as Kenshin's final words repeated over and over within her mind, 'you included Kaoru.'

In every step of her life since her parents' death and her induction into a world of killing, Kaoru had only ever heard those words once, from her former master and teacher...Shinjou Hiratsu.

Feeling Kaoru's body stiffen, Kenshin pulled back a little and moved around so that he could look her in the eyes. That was when he saw something that he would never forget, not for the rest of his life.

Her eyes were brimmed with tears but she had such a content and relieved smile on her lips that it made Kenshin's heart nearly come to a stuttering halt, "Kaoru?"

Snapping out of her little daze, Kaoru felt the moisture around her eyes and immediately turned away from Kenshin, or at least tried too. Kenshin's grip tightened as he held her firmly in place, "don't shut me out Kaoru, I'm here for you...please don't."

The plea was clear in his voice and Kaoru couldn't help but obey, reaching out she wrapped both her arms about Kenshin's waist as she sank forwards and into his chest, "let's just sit like this for a little while..."

Licking his lips nervously, Kenshin shifted a little bit more so that he was sitting upon the ground as he wrapped his own arms about Kaoru's back, just holding her close as she had asked.

For minutes they remained that way, silence filling the air about them as the wind began to blow gently, lifting Kenshin's bangs and making the rest of his hair flutter in the wind.

It was then that Kenshin hear Kaoru's soft breathing and couldn't stop a soft smile from crossing his lips, she was asleep.

Feeling some measure of peace knowing that Kaoru was no comfortable enough to fall asleep in his arms, Kenshin knew that they had to get back inside before she caught a cold. She was only human after all.

So moving as gently as he could Kenshin lifted Kaoru's body and moving silently as not to jar or awaken her, he slowly, but surely made his way back into the house.

He was greeted by something he'd never thought he'd see.

A/N- Ahh...done, finito, the end of chapt 8!

Booyah!

Whelp peeps, I know this has a cliffy that will probably drive you all crazy, but not much I can do...I just had to end it there...believe me...it works

Anyway, here's the Jap terms in here...

Kon'ichi wa Yujin's- Hello friends

Domo Arigato- Thank you very much

Gomen- Sorry

Shinri- Truth

Katana- A short sword, sort of like a Wakizashi

Sakura- Cherry Blossoms

And that's them...not many, but what can yah do?

So, as I've said in the other recent chapts, I'm trying to update each of my stories at least once...it's taking me practically forever to do it, but I really need to get moving again...

I wonder though...how far this is all going to get me because frankly, right now all I want to do is curl up in a hole...yep, I'm depressed...big surprise there...

But ignore me...the next chapt should be done soon, I hope. I've been reading the manga series of Rk and I am awed by Watsuki-san's genius...he truly is a man among his element.

He has my greatest respect for making a series that is epic in its proportions and my whole-hearted gratitude as well...

Well, that's it for this chapt, see ya'll next time...

Ja...