Back to work or classes everyone, right? Hope this cheers you up a bit.

Chapter II: Instinct

Kenshin witnessed the scene with a budding feeling of rage bubbling inside of him. Two of the men were holding the young girl in a tight grip, while Takeyama strolled towards him in such a confident manner, it made Kenshin feel a stab of annoyance. He recognized the girl they'd been harassing from the marketplace. What was she doing there? If she worked for them, he would have to kill her. If she didn't… unless some miracle happened, he'd have to kill her as well. He felt his stomach churn uncomfortably at the thought.

Takeyama had said something, but Kenshin was too busy regarding the woman to catch what he said. Before he could make up his mind though, the man spoke again.

"Stay quiet then, just as well," Takeyama unsheathed his sword.

Taking his gaze off the woman, Kenshin examined Takeyama with a tang of curiosity. What did he have to do with her?

"I see, redheaded and stuck-up. You must be the Battousai. Some of the soldiers talk about you, you know?"

Ignoring Takeyama, Kenshin addressed the two soldiers behind him.

"Let her go," he repeated dryly. "Now."

The men exchanged baffled looks, then peered nervously at their boss. The young girl stood frozen, and Kenshin noticed that in spite of her short, agitated breaths, she was trying to hold her own.

"Hey!" Takeyama yelled in exasperation, annoyed at being ignored. "You can't take the girl if you're a corpse!"

What happened next was over in a matter of seconds. Takeyama launched himself towards Kenshin, who deflected the blow with the sheath of his katana. As Takeyama passed by, Kenshin pierced his side with the blade, pulling it out again before his adversary took a couple, hesitant steps. Next moment, Takeyama's limp body fell to the ground, a small pool of blood forming around him.

Staring at the corpse dispassionately, Kenshin flicked his sword lightly, splattering droplets of blood over Takeyama's clothes.

The men recoiled uneasily, not knowing what to do. Kenshin closed the distance, watching with mild satisfaction as the men withdrew in fear. But then, one of them reached for his sword tentatively, gaze fixed on Kenshin, and placed the blade over the woman's neck. Kenshin stopped in his tracks, uncertain.

"I'll cut her throat if you take another step."

The girl flinched when the cold steel touched her skin. Kenshin felt himself growing angry. That wasn't right. There was something very wrong in the way those men treated the woman, something that bothered him deeply.

It was in that moment that he felt it, rather than see it. The girl was about to hit her captor. Do it. The diversion, however brief, would give him the enough time to get her away from the men and attack. Do it, come on. The girl looked up and locked his gaze. Then, she raised her leg and stomped on her captor's foot with unbelievable strength. The man barely had time to let out a howl of pain before she crashed her elbow against his nose with surprising ability. With the men temporarily stunned, Kenshin hurled himself forward to the soldier with the broken nose and cut his throat open in one, clean stroke. The other two unsheathed their swords and darted forward at the same time. Using the sword on his right hand to block the thrusts, he connected a powerful blow to the head of one of them with the sheath on his left hand. Following the impulse of his own arm, Kenshin spun on his heels to finish them both. Glancing around, Kenshin looked for the woman, then sighed in relief at finding her safe, away from the last man standing. Walking over to him, he had only taken a few steps when he felt a soft tug on his clothes.

"Let him go," she whispered to his back. "Don't do it."

Kenshin frowned, awkward at the unknown emotion the woman's plea stirred in him.

"You don't have to do this."

Exhaling heavily, Kenshin walked away from her, releasing himself from her grasp.

"I don't have a choice."

Wishing the woman wasn't watching, Kenshin stood in front of the man, with the strangest sensation he'd ever perceived in a combat. He heard the man's yell as he launched to attack. Kenshin hesitated. Did he really want to do this? He didn't even know the man he was about to kill. With both hands, one on the handle and the other on the blunt side of his katana, he blocked his blow and pushed him back. He had no choice. Let him go. Apparently not knowing what else to do, the soldier darted forward again. Don't do it. Kenshin dodged his assault and spun to cut the man's back easily… but not fast enough. His hesitation allowed the tip of the soldier's blade to graze his cheek. Kenshin looked at the motionless corpse on the ground, then lifted a hand to his face, staring fixedly at the blood, his own blood. The man had managed to wound him. A tad bewildered, he looked up to check the woman was still there. Careful to sheath his sword so he wouldn't scare her, he took slow steps toward her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, attempting to soften his tone.

"I'm fine," the girl spoke in a low, but firm voice. "You are hurt. Are you all right?"

"You work for Shinji Takeyama," Kenshin ignored her inquiry.

"No!" she said flaring up, her expression fervent.

"What were you doing with him?"

"I don't know what he was doing with me," she answered indignantly. "He thought I'd stolen something from him."

What did you steal? Kenshin considered asking, but thought better of it.

"Thank you," she mumbled. And then, "Are you going to kill me?"

The woman's tone was firm, almost daring. Kenshin felt a knot forming in his throat, knowing that killing her was what he should do, but somehow failing to conjure up the will to do it. Remaining silent, he occupied himself on cleaning his katana, conscious of the woman's penetrating gaze on him.

"Who was he?" the girl insisted after a long pause, moving closer. "The man you killed first."

"Shinji Takeyama," he answered flatly.

"I know that," she rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I mean, what does he do? Who does he work for? I don't know..."

Kenshin frowned. "It's none of your business."

"It is!" she said hotly. "He knows something—something I need to know too, he…" Kenshin watched her struggle to find the words, frustrated. "Maybe his friends—"

Kenshin arched one eyebrow, waiting for her to organize her thoughts. Finally, when she didn't elaborate, he spoke, deciding he didn't have to decide, not yet at least.

"You'll have to come with me."

That seemed to break the girl out of her reverie. "What? Go where?"

"Where someone can decide what to do with you," Kenshin strode down the street without waiting for her.

"No!" she said, unmoving. "I can't go with you, what about the people I live with, where I work?"

"Where do you work?"

The girl hesitated before answering. "At an inn, The Hanako."

"You'll let them know tomorrow."

"Wait!"

Kenshin stopped and turned, making sure her eyes were locked on his.

"I can get rid of you, right here, right now. Or, you can talk to my boss and ask him about Shinji Takeyama. You decide," said Kenshin, knowing he sounded far more authoritarian than he felt.

The woman's eyes widened, letting her gaze slid over the katana at his waist. A few moments later she exhaled annoyed, and started following. Kenshin heard her exclaim "God!" in a low voice. They had covered several streets when the girl broke the silence.

"So what's gonna happen?" she asked, struggling to keep the resentment from her voice. "You'll take me to see your boss and then he decides whether you kill me or not?"

Not knowing the answer, Kenshin chose to remain silent.

"Did you hear me?"

Still, silence.

"Hey, I'm already making things a lot easier for you by following you willingly, the least you could do is answer me," the woman stopped resolutely, standing in the middle of the street in front of a loud, illuminated house.

Kenshin examined the building. The light shone over them through the sliding door's panels. The chortles of the customers and the cacophony of a tuneless melody were audible well across the street. Kenshin knew the kind of place it was, some of the men in the Hantei were regular visitors.

"We shouldn't delay here."

But she simply stared at him defiantly.

"Please," said Kenshin in the softest tone he could manage. "We need to move."

The woman's face transformed into something akin to surprise, and she resumed her pace.

"I still don't know your name."

Kenshin bit the inside of his lip, hesitant. To hell with it. "Himura Kenshin."

"Right, Himura-san. My name is Kamiya Kaoru."

Kenshin nodded in understanding. The rest of the walk was made in silence, the tension acutely evident. They went through streets lined with trees so tall, the moonlight didn't reach them, and Kenshin slowed the pace so she could follow in the dark. Finally, they arrived at the Kohagi Hantei, a structure that had an outer fence that stretched for the length of two average houses, and veiled from view the lower level of a two storey building. Unlike any other hotel, it didn't have any sign that announced its name or proprietor. Opening the outer gates, Kenshin let Kaoru in first. The front yard was somewhat small, but it extended sideways and to the back of the house. At the center, a small cobbled paving led to the building's entry, where several lights were still on, as if activity there never really stopped.

Once inside the small vestibule, Kenshin asked Kaoru to stay there for a moment. He went over to the kitchen, knowing he would find Mrs. Okami there. As he sauntered, Kenshin exhaled heavily, upset at his lack of judgment. What did I get into? Just as he supposed, Mrs. Okami was fairly bewildered at the fact he had brought a woman with him, and kept asking all kinds of questions Kenshin didn't have an answer for.

"It'll be just for the night, if Katsura comes tomorrow."

"Fine by me," said Mrs. Okami, grabbing a set of sheets from a shelf. "But she'll have to stay in your room, there's nothing else available."

Kenshin felt his stomach drop.

"Not one bedroom?"

"No dear," she said walking past him toward the vestibule. "This isn't a hotel."

Kaoru, who remained where she had been told, was inspecting her surroundings curiously. Seeing Mrs. Okami approaching, she bowed.

"Here you are dear," she said, giving her the sheets. "And this is a robe you can change into. I hope you're comfortable."

"Sure," said Kaoru. "Thank you, um…"

"Okami Natsu, a pleasure dear."

Kaoru bowed once more and Mrs. Okami left with a smile. A few seconds of uncomfortable silence passed before Kenshin spoke.

"This way," he led her up the stairs to the second floor, where they crossed a long hallway. Kenshin slid open the door to his room to let her in. Kaoru walked in slowly, taking in her surroundings.

"It's very spacious. What is this, a guest's room?"

"It's my room," Kenshin answered, his gaze fixed on the floor.

Kaoru turned to look at him with eyes wide open. "Oh… but… I thought that—"

"There's no other room available," said Kenshin, blowing out a candle by the balcony. "You can sleep on the futon, I never use it."

"What do you mean you never use it?" Kaoru was staring at him fixedly, her nervousness transformed into childlike curiosity.

"I sleep sitting down."

Looking perplexed, Kaoru looked ready to say something, but remained quiet. Kenshin felt the blood rushing to his face.

"My boss will be here in the morning," he said, crossing the room in lengthy strides toward the door. "I have to go. You can lay out the futon, no one will bother you."

Kenshin left hurriedly, not giving her the chance to answer. He wasn't sure where he was headed, but he knew he couldn't stay in that room. What do you think you're doing? What was he playing at, bringing a perfect stranger to the Hantei? How would he explain his decision to Katsura?

"Himura-san!" Izuka called in the hallway.

"It's done," Kenshin answered, walking past him. "All were members of the Shinsen-gumi, so there's no need for you to clean up anything."

Kenshin ignored Izuka's admired whistle.

Walking through the desert city streets, Kenshin started to think he had made a serious mistake. Then he tried to imagine what he should have done, he imagined the blood leaving the young woman's body, her life escaping her, because of him. No. Feeling the first inkling of peace during the night, Kenshin breathed in the cold air. He had done the right thing.

Kaoru blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting to the dark. Sitting up, she looked in all directions, taking in her surroundings. It took her a second to remember all that had happened the night before. She searched around for Kenshin, but found the room was empty. In spite of being unable to fall asleep after several hours, Kaoru hadn't heard him coming back. Feeling like a foreigner in an unknown territory, she walked to the balcony, staring at the pink and orange shades that covered the horizon. The sun hadn't even come up yet. Taking off the robe Mrs. Okami had lent her, Kaoru dressed in her kimono, straightened her hair as best as she could, and exited the room. The hallway was empty. She went down the stairs to the vestibule, and continued through the hall on the first floor toward the backyard, trying to find the kitchen.

"Hello?" she called out hesitantly.

From the last door before reaching the garden, Mrs. Okami's head peeked out.

"Good morning dear. You're up early."

"Good morning," said Kaoru softly. "I folded the sheets and left them upstairs. And here is the robe."

"Sure," said Mrs. Okami, taking the clothes. "Don't worry."

"I was wondering, is there some place I can wash my face?" Kaoru asked.

Mrs. Okami led her to the shed in the backyard, where she pointed at a couple of wooden barrels. Kaoru felt the icy water clearing her senses. When she returned to the kitchen, she saw Kenshin standing there. There was a small piece of white cloth over the wound on his cheek.

"Good morning, Himura-san," Mrs. Okami greeted him.

"Hi," Kaoru muttered shyly. "I'm sorry I took up your room last night. I didn't hear you coming back."

"I had things to do," said Kenshin.

"Right," Kaoru bit her lower lip, not knowing how to ask what she wanted. "I was wondering, is your boss already here?"

"No, he'll arrive in the course of the morning."

"I see," Kaoru was fumbling with the fabric of her kimono, feeling more nervous than she could ever remember. "The thing is… I would like to… well, I was really worried yesterday, thinking about the people at the inn. I'd like to go see them, let them know I'm fine— if that's okay with you," she added hastily, seeing the deadpan look on Kenshin's face.

But to her great surprise, he simply nodded. "I'll go with you."

"Thank you, Himura-san," said Kaoru, bowing quickly.

Kenshin told Mrs. Okami they'd be back soon, before leading the way to the exit. They walked several blocks before reaching the market, and Kaoru had the distinct impression he already knew the way.

She was so anxious. She had no idea what she was going to tell everyone, what reason would be good enough for staying out all night, and worse yet, leaving again. Telling the absolute truth was out of the question, her temporary family wouldn't react well to hear she was waiting for her sentence. Deciding the half truth was her best option, Kaoru went through her story mentally a couple times. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that the front of the Hanako came suddenly into view.

"I won't be long," said Kaoru.

"I'll wait here," Kenshin nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Kaoru crossed the threshold. Knowing Mrs. Matsumura would be up already, she walked to the back of the inn. Just as she had thought, Hikari was sweeping the kitchen. When she heard Kaoru's footsteps, she looked up and a broad grin brightened her face.

"Kaoru!" Hikari launched herself at her.

An agitated Mrs. Matsumura came running from the backyard.

"Oh, thank heavens child, I imagined the worst!" she exclaimed, looking at her with bloodshot eyes.

Kaoru felt a stab of guilt.

"I felt so bad for letting you go on your own," Hikari placed her hands on her chest.

"I'm so sorry, I never meant to worry you," Kaoru said as she stroked Hikari's cheek. "It wasn't your fault, it was nobody's fault."

Mrs. Matsumura gave her a brief hug and suggested they should all go in for a cup of tea, so Kaoru could warm up.

"Actually, I can't stay long," Kaoru rejected her kindly. "I wanted to come so you'd know I'm okay."

"So the man was telling the truth?" Matsumura asked puzzled.

"What man?"

"Last night, a man came to talk to Matsumura-san," Hikari explained in a low voice. "He said you'd been attacked, but hadn't been hurt and that you were safe."

Matsumura nodded. "I asked why they couldn't bring you here, but he said it was too late at night, and that you'd come today."

"What did the man look like?" asked Kaoru.

"He had such a peculiar shade of hair. Like a carrot's."

Both Hikari and Kaoru were stunned.

"He came here?" asked Kaoru.

"Hey!" Hikari demanded indignantly. "You never mentioned what the man looked like!"

"I didn't think it was important," said Mrs. Matsumura casually. "But then, is it true you were attacked?"

Kaoru nodded. "But that man saved me, and I'm fine."

Ecstatic, Hikari started hopping around, her anger dissolved instantly. "Oh my, Kaoru was rescued by the redhead! Wait until I tell Akane."

Mrs. Matsumura ignored her. "But child, what do you mean you can't stay?"

Kaoru looked at them, doing her best to contain her emotions. "The people that man works for might have some information regarding my family."

"What kind of information?" Hikari stopped skipping.

"I don't know," Kaoru said gloomily. "It may not be much, but it's the first lead I have in five months. I can't let it pass."

"Well…" said Mrs. Matsumura, taking Kaoru's hands in her own. "That's great news. But, why were you attacked? Were they trying to rob you?"

"I don't know," Kaoru lied.

Suddenly, Hikari gasped dramatically, covering her mouth with her hands. "Kaoru, remember the rumors about that cult of monks who worship evil spirits?"

Kaoru tried to remember, but had heard so many implausible rumors from Hikari, that she never paid much attention.

"What monks? The ones that made women disappear?"

"Yeah. Some say they use the girls for rituals. Akane thinks it's just gibberish, but last night, after you left, Midori told me it's true."

"Hikari please, enough with the theories," said Matsumura in a condescending tone.

"It's true! She said one of her cousins disappeared a week ago. She turned up in the outskirts of the city, saying she had been kidnapped."

"Who kidnapped her?" Kaoru asked.

Hikari shrugged. "The monks, I suppose.

Kaoru shook her head, smiling at her friend. "Truth is, they didn't look like monks at all."

"The important thing is, Kaoru is safe," interrupted Mrs. Matsumura when Hikari looked ready to reply. "But you really are leaving. For how long?" Matsumura gave her a mixed look of sadness and resignation.

Kaoru shrugged and swallowed the knot on her throat. "I guess it depends on what I find out."

"We'll miss you, Kaoru-chan," said Hikari, hugging her.

"And I'll miss you," Kaoru answered.

Unwilling to cry on front of them, Kaoru waved and hurried out of the room, promising she'd come back to visit as soon as she could. Out in the street, Kenshin was waiting for her in the exact same spot. Now that the sun was high on the horizon, the shade of his hair was even more notorious. Before he could see it, Kaoru wiped the single tear than ran down her cheek with the sleeve of her kimono.

"Done," she said, and they strode back to the Hantei.

"Thank you for coming here last night," said Kaoru, once she was sure of having control over her voice. "The owner of the inn said you told them I was fine. I don't know if they believed you, but I suppose they slept a bit better."

Kenshin barely nodded. Kaoru felt frustrated at her inability to draw out even a syllable from him. Knowing it would be best to leave him alone, but unable to contain her curiosity, Kaoru asked.

"How's your wound? Does it bother you?"

"No. It's nothing serious, it's not even bleeding anymore."

Kaoru nodded. "I'm glad."

They continued until they left the busy main avenue behind, and onto the quieter, smaller streets.

"Himura-san? What's your boss like?"

Kaoru noticed the question took him by surprise.

"My boss?" he asked, taken aback.

Kaoru tried to explain herself. "Yes, I mean… is he someone who gets angry a lot, or…?"

"He's an honorable person," Kenshin answered softly. "And just," he added, looking at Kaoru with the hint of a smile that left her feeling he could read her fears.

"I see."

"And you can call me Kenshin."

Kaoru nodded, feeling the flush creeping on her cheeks. Cheered by his change of attitude, she ventured to say the thing that had haunted her thoughts since the day before, when she had seen him for the first time.

"You have very unusual hair," she said in a low voice, observing him carefully.

"I'm sorry?" he asked baffled.

"In a good way," Kaoru corrected quickly. "It's like… hum, I don't know. But I like it."

Kenshin stopped in his tracks and turned to stare at her, blinking. Holding his gaze, Kaoru suddenly felt very self-conscious, and not knowing what to do, she shrugged. Kenshin looked like he was about to smile. Instead, he resumed walking.

"Thanks, I guess."

On the other side of town, Hijikata Toshizo walked at a brisk pace towards the tearoom, inside the building that served as headquarters for the organization. Kondo and the others would be there by now. Being the kind of person that reproved bad manners exceedingly, unpunctuality was one of the flaws that irritated Hijikata the most. But since he was attending importan matters on the other side of town, and this reunion was improvised, Hijikata was unusually late. The knowledge that it wasn't his fault did nothing to appease his temper.

Hijikata Toshizo was an inflexible leader. When founding the Shinsen-Gumi, he and his peers had agreed to follow a strict code, based on the samurai's way of life. It was precisely because of these strict rules that the Shinsen Gumi had surged as an incredibly powerful force in such a short space of time. Their warriors, as opposed to so many other amateurs, were disciplined, honorable swordsmen, who never hesitated in the battlefield, or out of it. Even so, once in a while, they found themselves confronted with the shameful disobedience of a member. And now that Takeyama guy was giving them problems again, with his arrogance and delusions of grandeur. Gripping the handle of his katana tightly, Hijikata hurried his steps, thinking Takeyama had tested his patience for the last time. The only thing he regretted was that the enemy, instead of them, had done something about it.

Just as he had guessed, when the maid slid the door open, Kondo was already sited at the table, Saito and Yamazaki to his left, Okita to his right.

"Good day, and forgive my belatedness," said Hijikata gravely.

"You were attending imperative matters," said Kondo unimportantly. "How much do you know about last night's events? I assume you've been informed."

"I know what Harada told me. Takeyama got involved in a fight and got himself killed, along with other five soldiers of Takeda Kanryuusai's unit."

"Takeyama did more than just getting himself killed," Saito intervened. "Yamazaki found some very interesting things."

Yamazaki nodded. "The cadavers of Takeyama and the five men were found near the Noto, a restaurant Takeda visits often."

Hijikata's jaw went taut. Takeda wasn't one of his favorites either.

"Five of the corpses showed nothing unusual, battle signs only. The sixth corpse, the one belonging to a man name Sadawa, shows clear signs of the Seppuku ritual."

Yamazaki, the head of spies for Kondo's fraction, was also in charge of verifying the conduct of the members. By orders of Kondo himself, Yamazaki and his men kept an eye out for Takeda occasionally.

"Instead of bringing Sadawa in, so that you or Kondo could issue the order," Saito addressed Hijikata. "Takeyama thought he had enough authority to punish Sadawa right there."

Hijikata remained silent for a few seconds, taking the time to sip from his cup of sake. "Since Takeyama was murdered last night, there's no need or way to punish him. The question we should be asking ourselves is, why would the enemy take the trouble to murder someone like him?"

"Is there any chance Takeyama simply got involved in a street fight?" asked Okita with half a smile.

"No," said Kondo resolutely. "Yamazaki showed us the bodies. Whoever killed them has an extraordinary ability, an assassin purposefully sent there to kill them."

"But why?" asked Yamazaki. "Takeyama wasn't an important member for the organization."

"The answer is quite clear. Takeyama was involved in other dealings," said Saito simply.

Okita smiled. "It seems that Yamazaki-san will have to watch Takeda carefully now, don't you think, Kondo-san?"

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