***Kaoru POV***

Once out of the shrine, Kaoru and Kenzo boarded the JR railway and headed to the Kameoka station on the rural side of Kyoto.

The ride itself was about 51 minutes and required two train line switches.

During the ride, Kenzo sat in between Kaoru's ankles with his nose pointed out as a he watched the people board and leave the train. Kaoru carried Kenshin's old broken sword in her lap, with the pieces stuffed in the sheath.

Kaoru's attention was drawn to the change of scenery, as they passed through the city and went into the mountains.

Upon arriving at the Kameoka station, Kaoru was struck by how large and open the station was. However, she hardly had time to gawk as Kenzo tugged her right along and out through the front door.

When she was walking too slow, he would give her a little side eye to see as if he was telling her to hurry the fuck up.

To which, Kaoru would scowl back at him.

After walking 10 minutes, Kenzo pulled her down a side street lined with trees and smaller houses. Kaoru paid attention as they approached a small brown square building attached to a larger house.

As they stepped off the street and onto the lot of the small hut, Kenzo froze and sat in place.

"Kenzo? Is this the place?"

Kenzo looked up at her with his black beady eyes and nodded.

Kaoru turned back to the front of the hut and began to walk towards the door. It was a small humble brown building with a green roof. The words, "Black smith," hung over the doorway.

Kaoru approached the door and paused at its entrance. She turned back to Kenshin for reassurance.

"So do I just knock?"

Kenzo wagged his tail at Kaoru and barked expectantly.

Gripping the old sword and scabbard tightly, Kaoru knocked on the door.

Silence.

Kaoru stood there for a moment before trying again a bit harder.

Silence.

Kaoru began to get frustrated and huffed. Where the heck was this guy? Did Sword makers lead busy lives in this Era? She snorted.

Picking up the sword, she used the scabbard to bang on the door and call out.

"HELLO? Anybody home?!"

As she was beginning to grow bolder with her knocks, she heard heavy footsteps behind the door. Eventually a deep rough voice answered her.

"I hear ya, I hear ya."

Slowly the door opened, stopping halfway so the brown burnt face of an old man could peer out.

"Who's there? I don't have any appointments booked for today."

Kaoru responded with irritation.

"I am here to pick up a replacement sword for this Broken one.

The old man looked at Kaoru and then looked at the sword in her hands. He squinted from his place in the darkness at the sword before reaching forward through the door and snatching out of Kaoru's hands.

"H-Hey!" she shouted as she fell backward and onto her ass.

Ignoring her cry, the old man turned over the sword in his hands.

"Himura." He growled. Looking up, he glanced around the yard and his eyes settled on Kenzo, nodding in recognition.

"You may both enter." He turned around and walked away leaving the door ajar.

Kaoru got up and dusted off her shorts before entering the hut.

As she stepped into the hut, the room seemed to grow. It was drastically larger than the four walls she had seen outside.

The room they stepped into was meant for sitting with tatami mats, and pillows and a small table. Traditional Japanese artwork decorated the walls, with a full suit of samurai armor sitting elegantly in the left corner of the room. There was a sliding door in the right corner.

Kenshin entered behind her, in his human form closing the door behind them.

Kaoru turned to look at Kenshin, he was wearing his white gi and blue hamaka complimented by his flaming red hair.

He looks handsome as always…

Kenshin looked at her briefly before turned back to face the old man. Kaoru looked away from Kenshin and gasped in horror when she looked to the old man.

The old man was gone and had been replaced by a tall, winged demon with red skin, and a beak for a mouth.

Kaoru recoiled behind Kenshin and screamed.

"What the hell is that? Where is the old man? Kenshin!"

Kenshin chuckled from his place in front of Kaoru and turned to soothe her.

"Kaoru, this is Lord Arai Shakku, he is a Karura, a demon lord who crafts demon swords. Do not be afraid, he will not harm you."

Lord Shakku laughed heartily and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"Who is this hot-headed woman you have brought with you?

Kenshin laughed. "Kaoru? She's a spit fire that she is, but she has a heart of gold."

"I see she is willing to help out a demon."

Kaoru listened from her place behind Kenshin and tried to accept her new reality. Not only were demons real, but they also have truly monstrous forms. She felt her thoughts start to spiral.

Does Kenshin have a real form that looks like that? Do all demons use their magic to hide their true forms and walk around disguised as humans? How will I know if someone is really a demon from now on?

Sensing her tension and temporary social paralysis, Kenshin decided to focus on the matter at hand.

"As you know, I have come for my new sword."

"Ah yes, your old one has been shattered. Tell me how that happened?"

Kenshin paused, choosing his words carefully so as not to alarm Kaoru further.

"It was a result of fighting against Shishio, I barely made it out with my life."

If Lord Shakku was concerned, he didn't show it.

"And what will you do now?"

Kenshin looked back looked back at him with stern violet eyes.

"I will protect the ones I care about from Shishio and try to prevent his rise to power."

"Good, I am glad that is your answer."

With that, Lord Shakku told around and opened the door in the right corner of the room. He stepped inside, barely fitting his large golden wings through the doorway.

Kenshin turned around to check on Kaoru. She stood behind him looking down at the floor and fidgeting. He regretted bringing her here. It was all too much for her, and too soon.

"Miss Kaoru? Are you alright?" Kenshin reached out and put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.

Kaoru remained quiet and looked up at him before nodding softly.

Kenshin wanted to prompt her for more, but now wasn't the time.

I can smell her fear.

Kenshin ignored the voice in his head for now as Lord Shakku entered the room carrying a new sword in the original scabbard.

Stepping front of Kenshin, he presented him with the new sword.

Kenshin took it carefully, slowing holding the sword up in the air. Kenshin beamed.

The sword glowed in his hands, and he felt his strength returning to him.

"Ah, that's better. Thank you for your hard work, Lord Shakku, I appreciate it so much, that I do."

"Himura, I was glad that instead of choosing a weapon meant for killing, that you once again chose to wield one of my sakabato. It is a relief to know that after all this time, you have kept your promise."

"So this sword, it isn't meant to kill?" Kaoru suddenly questioned, breaking her long silence. She finally had stepped out of the corner and within arms reach of the two demons.

"No, it is meant to protect, to defend. When the battousai came to me after the war, he wanted to be more in control of his blood thirsty demon side."

"Blood Thirsty?! Kaoru squeaked and turned away from them again. Maybe she didn't want to know. It had barely been 24 hours since Kenshin revealed this other world to her. She felt like the walls were closing in.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths Kaoru.

Behind Kaoru's turned back Kenshin frowned at him. Lord Shakku stared back at him confused. This woman, she doesn't know about the battousai's past?

Kenshin shook his head curtly at him, warning him not to continue.

"Lord Shakku, I appreciate you accommodating us on such a short notice. I must return to Hiko, he has been waiting on me for three months."

"Yes, I understand, given the situation. I can create a portal for you, where would you like to go?"

"I need to go to Osaka, close to the Namba Yasaka Shrine if you could."

"Interesting choice, give me a moment, and It will be ready for you in the next room."

"Thank you, we will be right there."

Kenshin walked over to Kaoru as Lord Shakku stepped into the back room again.

Kaoru turned to face him this time, her face demanding answers.

"Kenshin, I want to know…" Kenshin cut her off, looking at her calmly, but sternly.

"Kaoru, I promise, we will talk today. I just need you to come with me to my place. Please just follow me a little longer today."

"O-okay. But.."

"Now I need you to follow me through a portal, it is way to warp time and space to get to your destination."

" A WHAT?"

But Kenshin was already leading her into the next room pulling her hand. Where she came face to face with a massive cloud of dark matter swirling in the shape of a doorway.

Lord Shakku bowed to them as they approached.

"I hope the next time I see you is sooner than a few hundred years Himura."

"I will make a better effort to visit, that I will. Thank you for everything."

Kaoru pulled at Kenshin's hand as they approached the portal.

"You want me to step through that? No freaking way, you must be out of your mind."

Kenshin shrugged and kneeled down to pick Kaoru up suddenly and sling her over his shoulders.

Before Kaoru could struggle, he picked her up and ran into the black mass of the doorway.

****Author's Note***

Sorry to end there! The next chapter will be the formidable talk between Kaoru and Kenshin. Let's see how much more Kaoru can take. :O