A/n Hi everyone! Wow I got some threats for the last chapter. But I totally deserved all of it. I'm always leaving cliffhangers. Mwhahah! Well here's the promised update. I'll Leave you to it now. Happy reading!

I don't own Kenshin.

Kaoru kneeled there gasping for much needed air, her eyes wide and unmoving. Her hands resting on her knees suddenly clenched the fabric of her clothes and she set her teeth together as she gave a slight snarl. How could he do this! She was tormented by the idea of her death all day...only to make her wait another whole day? Perhaps he had planned this all along. Maybe he took pleasure in her torment. Whatever it was, it was in his right to do so. This was her payment for sparing the life of her father. It was worth it.

"It's worth it." She repeated to herself as she struggled to get to her feet. Her legs trembled so much she had to take a few moments to herself to calm down enough for her legs to support her weight. As she turned back to the house she was upset as Kaoru realized tears had blurred her vision and she had to blink to clear them away. The tears dripped, caressing her cheeks just slightly before falling to the ground. Unsure what she should do now, Kaoru made her way back to the house and up the steps into the kitchen. There the table they were eating at minutes ago was cleared of their plates.

Kaoru swayed on her feet as she stood there, all her energy had drained out of her after facing the moment of her death. Even after such a long nap...she needed to rest. Almost as soon as the thought crossed her mind, a soft glowing light appeared in the dark hallway. Making her way in a daze, Kaoru was not at all surprised to see the soft light coming from the room she had napped in. Kaoru couldn't help but wonder what her family was doing right now. Did they think she was dead now? Where they mourning her? Kaoru hoped they were not. She didn't want her father to be distressed. Kaoru wondered if she had put her father's mind at peace with the idea of her death. She suddenly wished she had done more for her family before she left. She had been given another day of life...what she wouldn't give to have spent this day with her family.

She shut the paper screen door behind her and struggled to get out of her clothes. She gave up the weak struggle as her clothes appeared to slip off her body of their own accord. She ignored the invisible hands that slipped the garments from her body and she collapsed on the platform bed and fell back to rest against the pillows. She had no strength to dress in nightclothes, nor did she even care. She curled up under the blanket in her under clothes and chest bindings. She didn't even care when the lantern beside her bed went out.

… . . …

The sound of bird songs and the wind chime in her window slowly dragged Kaoru out of her sleep. She blinked, her blue eyes sliding over to the open window and the golden light streaming in from it. Kaoru normally loved mornings. But not this morning. This morning was the start of a new day here in this place…living on borrowed time it seemed. But as much as she wanted to, Kaoru could not pout in bed all day and feel sorry for herself. It went against her grain. So she threw back the covers and got out of bed. She was surprised to find her clothes were missing, and in their place was a bathrobe, and two towels. She scooped them up and slowly made her way to the screen door.

It slid open.

Startled, Kaoru jumped back a half step, but there was nothing, no servants nor the master of the house. Kaoru stepped to the doorway and poked her head out. The hallway was empty and sunlight was streaming in from various open windows. A large screen door just off the kitchen slid open. Light poured in and Kaoru stepped towards it. Once out on the covered patio, Kaoru could see smoke and steam rising from a small building she had not noticed before. It was set a little away from the rest of the house and a large pile of firewood was set against one wall.

The Bathhouse.

With a smile, Kaoru found her sandals and slipped them on before making her way to the small building. Inside it had a separate room for changing and there Kaoru found a fresh new Kimono of the palest blue. Quickly Kaoru removed her undergarments and her chest bindings and slid open the door to the second room. Inside it was hot and steaming, a large tub of water sat waiting for her. Knowing that the strange beast of a man would most likely not show himself and she would be alone all day like yesterday, Kaoru took her time with her bath. She sat on a small stool and took up the wooden bucket sitting next to the tub. She pulled out the steaming warm water and upended the bucket over her head. The hot water poured down, slushing off her body and draining at a small metal drain set just under the stool she was sitting on.

"Huh." Kaoru grunted softly in surprise. This was a nice bathhouse. Small soap pucks sat in a basket on a small table nearby and Kaoru fished out one that smelled of peaches, another like roses and another still that smelled of white plum. But Kaoru found a lovely lavender soap and used it to wash her hair and body. She rinsed, dumping another bucket of hot water from the tub over her head and once every trace of soap was gone, Kaoru allowed herself to sit in the tub. The water was hot, almost too hot for her to stand. She inched slowly lower and lower until her whole body was covered in the steaming clear water. With a sigh she leaned back and gazed up at the wooden ceiling.

Her thoughts instantly went to the night before and the monster of a man that had spared her life for one more day. She was both grateful and upset. She was so prepared for death that it was a shock that it did not come. She had one more day to enjoy the sun, the grass, birds...food, a hot bath.

Kaoru took a deep breath and dunked her head under the hot water and she kept it there for as long as she could. Under the water she could hear the small fire crackling under the tub that was heating the water. Her eyes snapped open and she lifted her face above the water just enough to take and breath.

Who was this man? Why did he live out in the middle of the forest? How come no one knew about him? And why didn't he kill her right away?

Out of the bath and dry. Kaoru dressed in clean undergarments and bindings. Her blue Kimono had bamboo designs growing from her hem to hip. The matching bamboo green obi completed the dress. She found a brush with her new things and quickly got to work on her hair. Brushing every snag from it and then trying it back with a green ribbon. She found that all her dirty clothes had vanished, all but her sandals, which she slipped one before leaving the hot, humid bath house.

She spent her whole morning outside. she smelled every rose she could find in the rose garden, ran her hands across the thick carpet of grass and ran through the field of wildflowers she had almost lost her life in the night before. The large peacocks spread their tail feathers in an amazing display that Kaoru stood and watched in silence. She sat beside the small stream fed pond and dipped her hands in the cool water and watched the beautiful koi snap at bugs landing on the surface.

She found a tray of food for her lunch sitting on a small table that had been set outside and Kaoru gladly enjoyed eating in the sunlight.

She was going to enjoy her extra day of life as much as she could.

Kaoru allowed herself to think of her father and what her sister's wedding was going to be like. But she only allowed herself to think nice, positive things. Anything negative was banished to the back of her mind. She didn't want to be sad this day as she had been yesterday. She wandered about the house. Most of it was blocked off. Locked, or filled with so many wooden crates full of things that she had no hope of stepping foot in the room. She found the dojo her father had walked into and the amazing collection of various swords and other weapons on the walls.

Her glittering sword was resting on its very own rack on the wall by the door. It glinted at her as she stepped in, as if welcoming her back to where it had all happened. Kaoru quickly turned on her heal and marched away before tears could come.

But finally the sun was setting and Kaoru found herself seated at the table with dinner spread out in front of her. She was more at peace than she had been the day before, but that didn't stop her heart from pounding when the door slid open again and the lantern light went out just as before. Kaoru forced herself to look up. The shadow of the man stood in the doorway just as before, his acid yellow eyes glaring down at her. Kaoru quickly turned away and without being told, went to work serving him and pouring his tea. She served herself once he sat and in silence Kaoru ate rice, vegetables and beef.

"You had a good day." The man said suddenly.

Kaoru was caught off guard and she quickly chewed and swallowed her food before answering.

"I did."

"You spent most of it outside."

"Yes." Kaoru kept her eyes glued to her plate. Her hands started to tremble but she clasped them together.

"I was watching you." He said somewhat unnecessarily.

"Oh?" Words stuck in her throat. What was he trying to get at? Was he just trying to make small talk or was it some sort of test? "I hope I didn't do anything that didn't agree with you." Her head bowed lower in apology.

"No." He said simply. And he went back to his meal.

Kaoru sat for a few moments longer, trying to process what had been said between them. Even though the food was wonderful, Kaoru suddenly couldn't eat another bite. She waited and waited until finally the man was finished and he stood. Kaoru scrambled to her feet and he turned to the door and waited for Kaoru to follow him.

There it was; that same cold feeling of dread started to wash over her. She was walking to her death. Again she stepped beside the man and continued bare foot across the garden. His ki pushed against her, much stronger than it had the night before. And she heard the rasp of metal just as they reached the field of wildflowers. The fireflies bobbed gently away from them as they entered.

"Kneel" He commanded and Kaoru fell to her knees once again. Leaning forward, dropping her shoulders and waited for the killing blow. She didn't close her eyes this time, nor did she look anywhere but the ground in front of her. A moment past, then another… and another. Kaoru could see the tip of the sword just inches from her face and he used the flat of the blade to once again turn her face up to the moonlight. She glanced up at him, his shadow of a body with glowing eyes.

"I don't think I will kill you this night." He said finally, slowly, as if unsure himself.

Stunned Kaoru could only stay in that strange kneeling position with her face upturned to his. "W-why?"

His hard eyes locked onto her gaze. "Do you wish to die?" He rasped.

"No, but I don't want to think that each day is my last and dread the coming of each night." She said truthfully. The blade fell from her face but she kept looking up at him.

"I will not kill you. I will keep you here as a companion."

Kaoru's mouth dropped. She wasn't going to die? Her breath escaped her in a giant whoosh and her whole body sagged with relief.

"You will never leave…understood." He snapped harshly.

"Y-yes."

"And you will call me either Battousai or Himura-Sama…understood?"

"Yes…," She picked the normal of the two, "…Himura-Sama."

He gave a curt nod and started to shuffle away. Kaoru quickly got to her feet. "Wait! Himura-Sama."

He froze and turned to look at her. At that angle she could see him in the moonlight. He looked to have scars or cuts about his face, but he features were sharp and yet delicate. A slightly narrowing of his eyes was all the warning she hand before the back of his hand lashed out across her cheek. Stunned, Kaoru could only catch her balance, her hand going to the sting on her cheek.

"You must never look at me…understood!" He was shouting now. "Never look at me, if you do, then I will kill you!"

His sudden turn into this raging monster forced Kaoru into the submissive act of bowing low once again. "F-forgive me Himura-Sama…I didn't know."

That seemed to douse the fire at once. His smothering Ki died away and he backed down. "No, you didn't know. " He seemed to want to say more, but after a few silent false starts, he turned on his heal and marched back into the building.

Kaoru fell to her knees and then over onto her side and curled up into a ball, hidden in the thick growth of wildflowers. She sobbed, not because of the slap, but because she would live and yet never leave.

… . . …

The thunder returned. Old man Gensai knew what it was the moment he jerked awake. It was the middle of the night, but he and his two daughters rushed outside to see the black rider-less horse return once again. He took his children in his arms, as if to protect them from being dragged away if this strange spirit was a threat to them. But something large fell from the horse, as if thrown. It hit the ground with a solid thud and instantly the horse gave a snort and turned to rip down the road as fast as it had come. The sound of its hooves had long died away before Gensai dared to move.

"Stay here." He commanded his daughters as he took a few careful steps. The object was large, rectangular and covered in a cloth bag. He crouched down and untied the drawstring and pulled the bag open and found a gilded wood and iron chest inside.

Megumi and Misao shot each other a look before slowly inching forward.

"Be still!" Gensai snapped over his shoulder. He was not yet sure if this thing was safe? It was obviously from the monster…was it Kaoru's remains? Had he cremated her? The case was too large to hold simply ashes. His fingers moved slowly, his hands shook as he unblocked the belts that held the lid down and slowly he lifted the curved lid to find it was full of coin, gold and silver, gems and various other precious jewelry.

"Kami." Megumi whispered as she and Misao stepped up behind Gensai and gazed into the golden and glittering splendor. "There's enough here to keep us well for a long time." Her mouth open, Misao was a mirror of her.

Then in an instant it was gone as Gensai slammed the lid back down. "Its blood money." He growled out. He took the chest by the handles and stood. He turned around and shoved it into Megumi's arms. "This monster gave payment for your sister…this is your sister's blood money." He looked his girls in the eyes. "I'll have nothing to do with it." He said as he stiffly stepped around his daughter and walked back into his home. The girls watched him, his movements were slow, painful, his head hung and his shoulders drooped. He was a man broken at the loss of his youngest child.

… . . …

The days past slowly for Kaoru alone in the large dojo. Her days were spent wandering the grounds, and her evening's spent eating dinner with her master. They spent their time together in silence, and in darkness. Not another word was said between them and Kaoru didn't mind that. But after a while, she grew restless of the silence.

One night Kaoru set her chopsticks down in the middle of the meal and gazed across the table and the dark shadow that was her master. "How long have you been here?" she reached for her cup of hot tea, lowing her gaze as she did so.

Himura-Sama was silent for only a heartbeat. "Years." He said simply. There was silence again but he was the one to break it this time. "Too many years to count. I've lost track of how many times the winter snow has come."

It was the longest burst of conversation he had offered since she had arrived. His voice was rough, hard and clipped, yet his gentle tone eased the harshness of it.

Kaoru sipped her tea, trying to create an air of ease, as if her heart didn't shudder at his company. She set her cup down. "So, you don't know how old you are?" she felt his icy gaze the moment the words left her mouth.

"No I don't." he said.

Kaoru felt the air rush from her lungs; she didn't even know it had caught in her throat.

"How old are you Kaoru-san?"

"Um…seventeen." She took up her chopsticks again.

"I remember being seventeen." He said in a thoughtful tone. His glowing eyes closed for a moment.

Kaoru quickly ate, trying to stay relaxed as she looked down at her plate. She didn't want the conversation to stop though the sound of his voice made her skin prickle and crawl. It was far better than sitting in silence like before. "Those must have been good times?" She offered as she took up her chopsticks once again and picked up a tender slice of beef. She glanced up as she took the bite. He had locked his intense yellow eyes on her. She could see them glowing from the shadow that was his body. He didn't seem to mind her looking at him when they were in the darkness of the room. There was only a tiny hint of light from a small lantern around the corner in the kitchen.

A long moment stretched. Kaoru had already chewed and swallowed her bite and was reaching for more when he finally spoke.

"There were no good times." He growled. "When I was seventeen a war was starting to break out."

"I don't remember a war; my father never spoke of a war." Kaoru was intrigued even though she knew she was questioning him. Not wanting him to think she was calling him a liar, she quickly added," Did you come from someplace far away? A different country?"

There was a low animal-like growl and he shot back his small cup of sake that he sometimes had during dinner. "Not very far from here."

Kaoru quickly moved to refill his sake. That didn't answer her question. She had no idea where she was. All she knew was that she was in some random forest. At least she was in the same country, that much she did know. She could only figure that this demon was very old, and this war long gone from memories. But she didn't want to question him anymore tonight. She fell into a silence and they quickly finished their meal. Now that she didn't have to worry about her death coming at the end of her dinner, Kaoru was able to really enjoy the amazing food.

"Kaoru-san?" The Battousai nailed her down with his yellow eyes once again.

"Yes Himura-Sama?"

"Will you marry me?"

a/n OMGOMGOMG! (Uses a pot for a helmet and dives to hide under my desk) What's Kaoru gonna do now! Thanks for reading! Reviews are loved (though feared at this moment)

P.s. Shameless plug: I've posted a new Kenshin-gumi tales story. The Deep Sea Love. It's Ken/Kaoru I hope to see my reviewers there!