Just a heads up to anyone who doesn't check the main page of the website regularly (or at all like me, lol). I usually receive an email confirming that my newest chapters have posted, but one didn't come through today, so I had a look to see if they were having any issues. Apparently, they have instituted a new email notification setting, and in the process they set every account to 'off'. You will have to log into your account and change the alert settings in order to 'opt-in' and receive email notifications, if that is your preference. There is more detailed information on the home page. Now onto the chapter!

Chapter Eighty

The train station was packed full of commuters and police. Noise from the crowd echoed in the high-ceiling, and the chill wind of outside mixed with the body heat from those packed inside. A glance around located a few television screens with their pictures plastered on them, but they were interspersed within the array of arrival and departure screens. Like clockwork, a calm voice would announce over the intercom times and platforms, and cautioned those near the rails to stand clear until the train came to a complete stop.

Kenshin knew going there had been risky. The more people, the more likely they were to be identified. Worse, Kaoru wasn't even aware of their new terrorist label, yet. He had debated other methods of getting to Neo-Kyoto, but he didn't have the money for what a cab that far would cost. Walking wasn't really an option, either, as it would take too long and came with far too many hazards. Which was not something he wanted to subject Kaoru to, especially in the winter. Luckily, Kenshin was aware of how large crowds could also be a good thing. Strangely enough, more people most often times equaled less awareness. The busier a person was, the less likely they were to take notice or care about those around them. In large crowds, that sensation became more intense as there was simply too much to keep track of. He was counting on that, while being aware that they still needed to hide their faces.

On the way there, Kenshin had caught Kaoru coughing a few times. Though concerned, he had used it as an excuse for them both to wear a face mask; to make others more comfortable, he had told her. She had easily agreed. Perhaps a little too easily, but he had pushed the observation away for later. With their faces now covered, their heads engulfed in winter toboggins, and their necks wrapped in scarves, it was hard to see much about them, let alone their identities. Kenshin had even tucked his hair into his sweater to make sure it was hidden from view.

The hardest part was going to be dodging security and the police, who were actively looking for them, while at the same time keeping Kaoru from noticing the captioned broadcast being played on a loop. The train itself also served as an obstacle, but he would worry about that once they were onboard. What mattered was getting to Hiko's mountain as fast as possible before they were found by someone worse than the police.

It was blatantly obvious that the broadcast was only a small barrier meant to remove their options and isolate them from gaining any help from others. There was no doubt in Kenshin's mind that what was really going on would never be displayed or told to the public. Before the broadcast had even aired, Kenshin assumed that the Emperor had already sent assassins for them. More specifically, for Kaoru. He didn't understand what kind of animosity the Emperor had for someone he had certainly never met. Perhaps that would be something he would eventually ask that old fossil if they ever came face-to-face.

Next to him, Kaoru's hand reached for her scarf, and he caught her before she could pull the heavy material away from her chin. Her blue eyes frowned at him over the top of her face mask, and it was clear she was getting a little annoyed. Trying to ease her ire, he pulled her closer to his side and leaned in so only she could hear.

"We need to hurry, Miss Kaoru, or we'll miss the train. You can get more comfortable once we're seated onboard." Luckily, because of the time frame, he had been forced to purchase a late evening train ticket. This meant that most commuters would be napping on the train. They would also arrive late at night in Kyoto, which would afford them some cover for the remaining leg of their journey.

She accepted his conditions with a sigh, but nodded her head in agreement. A few suppressed coughs confirmed how uncomfortable she was, and his own anger and helplessness deepened. Kenshin had contented himself with his simple, quiet life. He had no designs or desire for power over others. What power he had gained he had already decided to commit to the protection of those he cared for and the woman he loved. Why now was the Sky Emperor trying to force him into using those powers? What did he gain from targeting Kaoru?

Rushing, but also keeping their movements unsuspiciously calm, Kenshin pulled her after him towards the platform for their train. Security was tighter around the trains themselves, and he had to detour them multiple times before he found an opening near the back of the train. Timing the security guard's attention, Kenshin craned his neck to watch as the guard carefully scanned the people boarding the train further up. Unfortunately, where they were was quieter without the oppressive mass of people. Just as he tugged Kaoru's hand to hurry towards the open train door, the screen over their head clearly said her name.

It was natural for her to glance at the screen, but she dead-stopped in the middle of the platform once her eyes landed on the side-by-side pictures of them both.

"What…?"

"Kaoru, we have to go." Sharp words broke through her surprise, but he too glanced up when the broadcast announced that they had obtained new information about the named terrorists. A short clip of his pillar of violet flames from the day of their outing played on the monitor, and even to him it looked threatening. Losing his temper had only provided credence to the Emperor's outrageous claim.

"Dammit." Hooking his arm around her waist, he tried to force her forward.

"Did you know about this?" Her words slightly hissed with hurt and anger, but he was thankful they were not loud. Unfortunately, just as they turned, he found their way blocked by a familiar grass demon.

"There you are."

Cho grinned at them, and his naturally devious nature made him appear insincere despite the amiable expression. His long legs bent to release him down the short step off the train, and he jogged up to them eagerly.

"The boss's been waitin' for you." Tall and lanky, Cho came up next to them assuming that Kenshin couldn't do anything without making a scene. Strangely, he turned so that his back was blocking them from view of the other security further up the platform. Kenshin, however, had no qualms about drawing attention to them if confronted.

One hand slammed palm flat into Cho's sternum, and the heat of his fingertips seared into the grass demon's skin instantly.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Jerking back, Cho scowled down at the burnt material of his uniform. Underneath, his skin had dried up and turned brittle like scorched grass. "Dammit! This is coming out of my paycheck."

"What the hell do you want?" Kaoru glared at him in confrontation while Cho sullenly brushed away the ashes on his chest. When she spoke, his pale eyes glanced up in surprise, and her voice brought the smile back to his smirking mouth.

"You talk now, huh? Good for you, Missy." A large hand reached towards her to rub the top of her head, but Kenshin blocked him at the same time that she ducked to avoid it. In his mind, Kenshin was quickly calculating the risk of fighting or fleeing. He had no intention of being caught, but they really needed to board that train if they wanted to make it to Kyoto as fast as possible. Before anything else could be done, though, a fourth voice spoke up sharply from the train.

"All of you in here now."

All three of them snapped their attention to the passenger door, and Cho full saluted. Inside the small entrance space on the train, Saitō stood tall and menacing, his yellow irises glowing slightly under the shadow of his military cap. A second later, he turned on his heel to disappear onto the passenger car. Relaxing his salute, Cho waved for them to go first. Uncertain, Kenshin glared at the empty space the okami had vacated. The situation was strange, and growing stranger by the second. Why were they trying to speak with them in private, on the train that they wished to board? They were clearly military. Why weren't they just arresting them?

"Hey! What's going on down there?!"

The closest security guard had grown suspicious, and Cho cursed under his breath.

"Come on, man, you gotta make up your mind."

Taking a risk, Kenshin encouraged Kaoru onto the train first and followed her up the steps, while Cho turned towards the security guard to smooth things over.

"Just a mix up with their tickets. Everything's good."

Inside the empty train car, Kenshin glanced at the far closed door before turning his attention on the okami standing in the middle of the aisle. Other passengers were boarding on the next train car up, but the car they were on was blocked off by a third military-personnel. They had been isolated, but Kenshin had yet to decide if their situation was a trap or not.

"Sit down." Saitō's hand pointed at the back row of seats that faced the very back of the train.

"And then what?" The question was calm, but held a hint of danger. One arm extended slightly behind him to keep Kaoru close but guarded.

Yellow eyes narrowed at him, and Saitō stared him down for three seconds. One step placed the okami in his personal space, and the tall wolf demon bent until he was threateningly close.

"Then you get the hell out of my city."

Coughing interrupted their glaring competition, and Saitō's gaze flickered toward Kaoru briefly. Waving his hand for her to sit down, Kenshin kept his eyes on the wolf despite his concern for her. Kaoru gratefully sank into the seat next to the window, and her hands instantly began yanking on her scarf to relieve some of the stress on her windpipe. The coughing did not escalate, but it did stubbornly hang around long enough to suggest she was not doing well. Straightening his spine and squaring his shoulders, Saitō jerked his head at Cho, who had followed them onto the train. The grass demon skipped back down the steps behind, but the other military personnel remained in place.

"Let's clear something up now, fire demon. I'm not helping you. Sagara asked for a favor, but I'd sooner throw you in prison if that was the safer option. I know all about the collateral damage your kind inflicts. You're better off leaving the fighting to someone else."

"What does he want with Kaoru?"

The frown on Saitō's unfriendly features hardened, and his next words sounded suspiciously like a threat.

"Stay out of it. Babysit your sick little human and don't interfere with what happens next."

Human. Red brows lifted to disappear under the toboggin on his head. Does the Emperor know that she's human. Is that what this is about?

The okami turned to march up the aisle and passed through the closed door. Orders were whispered into the ear of the third military guard, and the third demon saluted before continuing to deter anyone from entering the last train car with them. Saitō exited the train without fanfare, and they were left with a single escort. Continued coughing pulled Kenshin's attention away from their unexpected assistance, but instead of settling into the seat next to her, he knelt on the floor in front of her for a better view of her face.

Carefully, he removed the mask, and dismay filled him as he studied the ash and soot that had smeared over her chin, cheeks and nose. She swallowed, and her flame-blue irises drooped miserably as she weakly coughed some more.

"I'm sorry, Kenshin. I thought… I could deal with it."

Sighing, he wiped the soot away with his hands and burned the residue off his fingers the same way he would use his cleansing fire on his own body. Arguing with her now would be of little benefit to anyone.

"Does it feel hot in the same spot as before?"

Lightly her hand covered her sternum, and she nodded. Placing his hand over the top of hers, he instantly felt again the same flickering flame he had discerned on the playground days prior. It fluttered and sputtered as if frightened and crying out, and he frowned. Whatever it was, and however it had ended up there, it was affecting Kaoru. He needed to deal with it as gently as possible. Instead of forcing it into submission like before, he calmed the flame gradually. This time, it did not fight him, but accepted him quickly, like a frightened child crying for safety and familiarity.

The release of pressure pushed Kaoru into sleep, and he caught her hastily as she slumped forward into him. Her breathing echoed in his ear, and he relaxed as it sounded easy and unrestricted. From outside, the intercom could be heard asking everyone to step away from the train, and the doors slid shut with a noticeable clang. Beneath him, the brakes released, and the wheels began to churn them towards their destination.

X

Seated at the small table in her apartment, Tomoe stared blankly at the wooden grain illuminated by a light from outside. It was dark inside her apartment, and she had forgotten to turn on any lights when she had entered hours earlier. The darkness seemed appropriate for what she had to do next.

She had returned to her apartment to pack. She had no way of knowing how long she would be in the company of that shadow demon, and the sense of familiarity of needing to prepare had eased the notion of being in his presence. At first. Upon entering her apartment, however, the day had slowly sunk its despairing claws into her, and she had slid down onto the floor in numb despair.

I'm alone.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she did not sob or moan. The pain was hollowing, as if her insides had been torn from her. Tending to others, caring for them and their well-being, had always been easy for her. She enjoyed taking care of her family and friends. She loved when they were together and happy. She wanted to always be surrounded by the warmth and light that being with them produced. It was self-fulfilling, she realized, because she also received something. She also gained something from giving. This time, what she would give would give her nothing in return, and she was frightened of what her path required.

I don't want to be alone.

The clock ticked incessantly inside the quiet of her apartment, and she sat there for several hours without moving until someone knocked on her door. Blinking herself free of withering emotions, she sniffled before carefully clearing away the dried rivers of tears. Was Sōjirō there to demand her decision? She had assumed she would have until tomorrow to ready herself. Unlatching the door and pulling it open without checking who her caller was, she froze to find her Daitengu standing on the other side.

The red mask rested firmly atop his head, leaving his serious features free, and he looked nearly breathtaking in his flight attire. Thick, traditional hakama seemed to intensify the strength she knew he had, and his shimmering black wings glistened in the muted light from the streetlamp behind him.

"Tomoe-san." He bowed more graciously than traditionally, and his usually timid voice was deeper than normal with conviction.

She swallowed, and her lips parted to take a tremulous breath. The action was mistaken, however, and he held up a hand as if to stall her from speaking.

"Please, let me speak my mind before you send me away." Dark arm guards covered the backs of his hands, and looped over each middle finger. Another added detail to emphasize that he was not only an intellectual, but a powerful fighter. "If you want to break it off with me, I can accept that. I cannot force you to love me, nor would I want to. But… something just isn't right. You've been acting strangely for days now. I thought it might just be that you have grown tired of me, and were impatient with my presence, but… the others have noticed it, as well. You are not yourself, Tomoe-san."

Coal black eyes looked down to hide the well of tears pushing against them, and again her actions were mistaken.

"I won't force you to tell me what's wrong. That's not why I'm here. You can keep whatever secrets you are hiding until you are ready to reveal them. But I refuse to leave you to deal with your problems alone. Use me however you will. Just let me bear as much of your burden as I can."

A watery gasp finally broke her composure, and she stepped into him before he could process the emotional response. Her arms tightened against his back, and her face buried into the crook of his shoulder.

"Stay with me. Please. I-if… if only until morning."

Firm and warm, his embrace folded around her in acceptance.

"I will stay for however long you need me, My Lady."

X

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews. They help more than you realize, and not just with keeping me motivated. Observations that you might not think are very important actually give me a lot of insight into how the story is being perceived and if I'm writing it the way that I want it to come across. For instance, it's hard for me to keep all of these personalities straight at all times. Sometimes, I have to edit multiple times so that the characters are staying true to how I want them to be, and sometimes this happens after I've already posted a chapter, unfortunately. In particular, there were a few instances where a couple characters came across a little more childish than I wanted, and so I've finally found some time to go back and edit those particular instances out. It's tedious at times, as I try to stay true to the original RK characters, but also take into account how the environment of my story might shape them a little differently. This isn't always age, either, but experience and the personal environment of each character.

A good example is Misao and her sister Yuna. Misao is about 200 years old. While she is a princess, she has had to suffer a lot of hardship. Namely, the death of her mother at the hands of her father. She's driven, skilled in fighting, discusses tactics with her grandfather regularly, is a master at stealth, and has broken out of the palace on multiple occasions. She's had more experience in the real world than any of her sisters, which makes her less innocent and a touch shrewd. Yuna, on the other hand, is a little over 100 years old, but she's much more innocent. Her life has been very cushioned, but she's not weak in any way. Her daily life has also consisted of a more traditional education in literature, music, dancing, calligraphy, etc. She is extremely lady-like and poised, and her demeanor is softer and demur. She is also very intelligent and has been trained to use her sky powers, but she is ignorant of the real-world outside of her palace. She's book smart, not street smart like Misao. (Though, she does have a secret love for the angsty romance novels that her maids sneak to her.) Sometimes it's hard to keep her innocence from sounding childish, but I am trying hard. Kaoru's playfulness also comes across childish at times, and I've had to fix it as well. I do continue to edit, so thank you for bearing with me! On a side note, I know it's easy to revert to thinking of Yahiko, Tsubame, and Yutaro as children, since they were around ten in the manga/anime. In my story, however, they are in college, so they're in their early twenties. Which still makes them the babies, lol. (Yay for chapter 80!)