Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is copyrighted by its respective owners, of which I am not one.

Warnings: AU.
"And what is your relationship with Battousai?"

Kaoru flushed at the question. Somehow she had a feeling he would be asking her that question. "Completely platonic," she said quickly.

Saitou arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Then why your face is so red?"

Not for the first time did Kaoru curse her fair skin for showing her embarrassment so easily. "We're just friends, acquaintances even. We met with mutual friends a couple of times but that was it."

The police inspector's eyes gleamed like burnished amber – was that amusement lurking in their depths? "But you wanted more?"

Kaoru scowled at Saitou before averting her eyes. "Jerk," she muttered to herself. That wasn't any of his business and she refused to answer it.

All traces of humor vanished from the wolf as he noted the flash of raw pain in her azure eyes. "Ms. Kamiya, look at me," he commanded abruptly. When her startled gaze swung back in his direction, he leaned forward as he spoke. "You strike me as a sensible if not temperamental young woman. Believe me when I tell you this. Getting involved with Himura Kenshin would be a foolish mistake. He would have no qualms about hurting you or anyone else to further his own goals, whatever they might be." Saitou slowly sat back, holding her gaze. "Besides, sooner or later, I will find Battousai. And in my code of justice, there is only one punishment fitting for a man like him." His confident tone left no room for debate on that matter -- or to the punishment that would be meted out in the name of justice.

Kenshin watched Kaoru scurry down the corridor away from him as if being chased by ghosts. He debated going after her but really, where could she go? Even more certain that she was in danger, his master would arrange for her safety, which would include having someone watch over her. And he had some business to take care of with Hiko first.

Later, Kaoru, Kenshin promised her mentally. With a loud sigh at the very thought of speaking to his master, he approached the study door and rapped on it sharply. Upon the brusque command to enter, Kenshin mentally prepared himself for a battle of wits he rarely won before twisting the knob.

Hiko was sitting behind his desk, taking a swig of sake. Letting out a satisfied sound, he quirked a brow at his student. "Well? Shut the door and come in if you're going to. Otherwise, you can run after your woman like a lovesick puppy."

Kenshin scowled; not ten seconds had passed and already his master was starting in on him. "I need to speak with you first," he said as neutrally as he could, swinging the door shut and venturing further into the room.

"I figured you might. But first, I want a report." Hiko poured himself another cup of sake and drank that down as well.

"I spoke with Izo as ordered and passed the warning along to him. But I still don't understand the purpose behind it. Usui already knows we're aware of his presence in Tokyo. What will telling Izo do?"

"It won't do anything."

Kenshin narrowed his eyes at Hiko. "Then why was I assigned that mission?"

His master shrugged his broad shoulders, swirling the porcelain sake bottle around gently. "I assume Shinomori merely wanted you out of the way while he went to chat with your woman."

A flare of anger worked its way up Kenshin's heart. "So it was Aoshi who acted on his own?"

"Che. You are such a baka. After all that publicity you gave yourself, did you really think Shinomori would stand idly aside and allow her to wander around Tokyo freely? Not only was her safety in question thanks to your carelessness, but one wrong word to Saitou and it would ruin our plans."

"She is an innocent! She should not be involved with this at all!"

Hiko met his student's eyes directly. "Tell me, Kenshin. Did you honestly think that your feelings from these past few months wouldn't go unnoticed by us, much less Usui?"

Kenshin glared back. "I didn't do anything! I barely spoke five words to her, as ordered!"

"Not good enough. Despite the police's ignorance of your disguise, people can sense you're different from the rest of society. Just the fact that you even look at Kamiya Kaoru twice is more than telling. Everything you say and do has a consequence, especially because of who you are. I would have thought you learned that lesson by now."

"So you're saying it's my fault she's in danger?"

Hiko set the sake bottle down and regarded Kenshin with his usual inscrutable expression. "It was a stroke of luck Aoshi was there before Shishio's men came for her. As it was, Beshimi nearly killed himself in getting the information to me as quickly as possible."

Kenshin's hands clenched into a fist, fury causing his body to shake. "She's not involved in this! How could Shishio …"

"Are you really going to just stand there and complain about Shishio's methods?" Hiko interrupted. He cast his student a contemptuous look. "You of all people should know how he acts and thinks. Don't waste my time and your breath on that. Kamiya and her friend will stay here, under my protection until the final plan is carried out. In the meantime, you have more work to do. I suggest you talk with your woman fast, get her compliant, and get back to doing your job."

Remaining silent for a moment, Kenshin shook the sting of the rebuke away and tried to focus his mind. "Yes, Master," he murmured, bowing his head.

Hiko sighed deeply and shook his head. "And by the way, it's just like you to find a woman who's got a temper. She's not very happy with the arrangements going on. You might want to explain the situation to her."

Caught off-guard, Kenshin jerked his head up to stare at his master. "What?" he said dumbly. He definitely needed to get his hearing checked. "It's all right to tell her … everything?"

The older man smirked at his student. "If you can find the courage to do so."

"…" Kenshin scowled at Hiko. It was just like his master to ruin good news with the stark truth. He wasn't sure just how much of himself he was willing to reveal to Kaoru. If she knew half of what he had done …

Hiko waved at him. "You're ruining the atmosphere of my room. Get out and straighten your love life up, already. We'll meet again later tonight with Shinomori and Okina and plan our next move."

Stifling a sigh at the brusque dismissal, Kenshin merely bowed to his master and headed out of the study. He tried to ignore his master muttering about having to help his baka deshi with his love life.

Aoshi was waiting for him outside of Hiko's study, leaning against the wall with his head bowed. Kenshin shut the door behind him quietly and cast a hard, speculative look at his friend.

"You are angry with me."

"A little bit," Kenshin conceded and turned to stride down the hallway. He wasn't surprised when Aoshi fell in step next to him.

"I was concerned."

Kenshin clenched his fists, fighting to keep his voice neutral. "I told you she was to be left out of this. Now I have the unpleasant task of facing her wrath while trying to explain everything."

"Aa, she has quite the temper, along with her friend."

Kenshin stopped suddenly, turning to face Aoshi with narrowed eyes. "You're not at all sorry you approached her, are you?"

"Whether you believe it or not, she was in danger the moment she went to the police about you."

"And she wouldn't have gone to the police had I killed her when I saw her in the alley, right?" Kenshin laughed bitterly. "And when will the killing end, Aoshi? How many more lives do I have to take, how much more of myself do I have to give before this is all over?"

There was a flicker in Aoshi's eyes that might have been something akin to pity but it disappeared too quickly to tell. "It is a hard burden we carry, but a necessary one. No one else is stronger than you in executing our plan."

"Which, might I add, is not exactly foolproof either. What if we fail?" Kenshin sighed, the anger draining away as suddenly as it had come. "What if I fail?"

Aoshi regarded him quietly for a long moment. "Do you doubt our mission, then?"

The swordsman shook his head. "No, not the mission. Just the methods to accomplish it." He bowed his head and resumed his trek down the hallway, feeling the taller man's eyes on him as he left the spymaster behind. "Do me a favor, Aoshi."

"What is it?"

Kenshin didn't look back as he spoke. "Stay away from Kaoru. I was quite serious about what I said in the café."

Saitou was on the phone when Notoya stuck his head in the door. "Inspector? Mr. Kamiya and his son are here to see you again," he whispered.

Suppressing the urge to sigh, Saitou nodded curtly and spoke into the receiver. "I'll speak with you later." He hung up and looked at the officer. "Send them in," he said impassively. This would be the fifth visit in two days he'd had from the Kaoru's father and brother and it was really starting to get a little tedious.

When both men entered, Saitou raised a brow and said archly, "I'm assuming you left someone at your home to answer the phones in case Miss Kamiya calls you?"

Kamiya Koshijirou nodded. The older man looked worse for wear with deep lines on his face and puffy bags under his eyes. He was hunched over, as if someone had punched him in the gut, looking gaunt and years older than he probably should. "We left Tae there, one of Kaoru's old friends. We're here to see if you found any leads on my daughter yet."

Of course they were, why else would they be here? "As I said, Mr. Kamiya, the police are doing everything in their power to find her. We will inform you immediately if anything develops."

Myojin Yahiko, the adopted brother of Kaoru, glared at Saitou. He, too, looked as if he had gotten little sleep and ate less though it was probably the resilience of youth that kept him from looking as bad as the older man. "It's been almost two days already and we haven't heard anything! We can't just sit around at home, waiting for things to happen!"

Saitou studied his gloved hand idly, rubbing away a smidgen of dirt. It was the typical hot-headed teenage response. He was actually grateful that Tatsuo wasn't going through the same rebelling-against-authorities stage. "The police are trained in this kind of scenario, Mr. Myojin. It's best if you leave everything up to us, especially if this concerns Battousai as we suspect."

"I don't even know how Kaoru got all mixed up with him," Koshijirou said worriedly. "And even Megumi is missing. What could have happened to them?"

Probably dead, in Saitou's opinion. Battousai had never taken a prisoner before and there was no reason why he would start now. The Kamiya family had no notable funds with which to demand ransom and Takani Megumi had no immediate family left. There were only some distant aunts and uncles who wouldn't care about someone thrice removed. No, it had to be to eliminate witnesses. Saitou was not looking forward to finding their bodies.

Yahiko was still watching the police officer carefully. His dark eyes narrowed and he said suddenly, "You don't think she's alive, do you, Inspector?"

Saitou inwardly snorted. Was the hothead into reading minds or something? "With Battousai, anything is possible. If we haven't found her body so far, she might still be alive, albeit in the manslayer's custody," he said diplomatically. "Now Mr. Kamiya, Mr. Myojin, the best thing for you to do is go home and wait for her to call you. We'll be in touch as soon as we find any leads to her whereabouts."

"Inspector, please find my daughter," Koshijirou pleaded. "Tell Battousai I'll do anything, pay anything to get her back. I'll gladly reward anyone with information who will lead me to Kaoru."

Yahiko patted the older man on the shoulder. "Let's go, Sensei. We'll leave everything to Inspector Saitou's capable hands." But from the skeptical glance the teenager shot him, Saitou knew he was only saying that to reassure his adopted father.

Saitou merely nodded as they filed out the room with Kamiya still hunched over. He stared thoughtfully at the doorway where they had disappeared to. "Did you get that, Chou?" he asked loudly after their footsteps had faded down the hall.

"Yeah, yeah. The family's worried and it's all my fault." Grumbling, Chou ambled into the room, sporting a black eye in addition to his trademark odd, mismatched clothes and spiky hair. "It ain't my fault that stupid Sagara picked a fight and I lost 'em, though!"

It took all of his iron self-control for Saitou to ignore the pitiful excuse. He asked instead, "What have you discovered over Kashiwazaki Nenji in Kyoto?"

"Nuthin'. All the old man does is garden, drink sake, and leer at the women." Snorting in disgust, the lanky police officer dropped down in one of Saitou's chairs, wincing at the impact of the hard wood on his bottom. Stretching his long legs out, Chou linked his hands together and rested them on the back of his head. "The only time he goes out is when he occasionally visits an honest-to-goodness mansion some miles away in the forest. We looked into the house and found out it belongs to some famous recluse potter by the name of Kakunoshin Niitsu. Apparently, they've been friends for a long time. And nothing suspicious about the Aoiya, either. They pay their taxes and never had a health code violation even once."

"Then there really is something wrong," Saitou quipped. "Go out to Kyoto and find Kashiwazaki. Question him personally and see what he says."

"What about the potter?"

"Him, too. I want to get as much information about the Oniwabanshu as possible. And talk to your underground contacts."

Chou eyed his boss warily. "Even if your government contact said to leave well enough alone?"

"Hmph. He's naïve if he thinks I'll just sit back and watch Battousai and his allies get away with another kill."

Kaoru burst into the room she was sharing with Megumi and slammed the door behind her, panting as much from the exertion as the panic of facing him again. She fumbled with the lock before backing away from the entrance, half-fearing Kenshin would somehow magically open the door and stride in with that predatory look in his eyes.

But after a minute when there was no angry manslayer stalking in and demanding to know why she had run, Kaoru felt herself relaxing just a bit. And after five minutes had passed with no sign of Kenshin, she let out a long, deep breath.

That was close.

On shaky legs, Kaoru sat down on her bed and stared at her hands, trying to order her chaotic thoughts. It wasn't fear of Kenshin that had made her run. Rather, it was the overwhelming flood of emotions. It had felt like years instead of days since she had last seen him and the shock and fear and relief and joy at his sudden presence was so startling she hadn't known how to respond.

She sat up when she heard voices murmuring outside her door. The door knob turned but didn't get very far. "Kaoru?" a muffled voice asked.

Her heart leapt up into her throat before sinking back into place. "Megumi?" she said cautiously, moving towards the door.

"Yes. Why is the door locked? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. But Megumi … who's there with you?"

There was a long pause as if the doctor was considering her words. "It's just me and Rooster-head."

"Hey!" the rooster-head complained.

Kaoru breathed out slowly and unlocked the door. She trusted Megumi wouldn't lie to her if Kenshin was with them as well. Well, unless he was standing behind them with his sword drawn or something. But even then, Megumi wouldn't lie to her. She would rather die than betray her friend.

Sure enough, it was only Megumi and Sano who were standing there when Kaoru opened the door. "Sorry about that," she said sheepishly. "I uh … kinda got nervous."

Sano looked at her sharply, taking in the edgy countenance of the usually confident woman. "You saw him, didn't you?" There was no need to clarify just who the 'him' was. Kaoru nodded and tried to smile.

Megumi inhaled sharply. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, he didn't do anything."

Megumi took her by the arm and led her to the bed to sit down. "You're twitching like you've seen a ghost. What did he say to you?"

"Nothing," Kaoru said honestly. "I just … panicked, I guess." She looked at Sano who was staring grimly at her. "He really didn't do anything. I was shocked and I wasn't sure what to say or anything so I sorta just … ran."

Megumi was silent for a long moment before she looked at Sano. "I'm calling in all those favors you owe me, Rooster-head. You're going to get us out of this over-decorated prison."

Sano's eyes widened comically and he backed away, holding his hands up. "Wait a minute there, Fox. There's no way that we can leave this mansion without Hiko or Aoshi being alerted. It's simply impossible."

The doctor didn't seem impressed by his earnest assurance. "Well, you're just going to have to find a way. It's obvious Kaoru can't stay under the same roof with that madman. Look at her, she's a wreck!"

As much as she appreciated her friend's concern, Kaoru hated being treated like she was a child. She scowled at the doctor. "I am not! For some reason, I didn't expect him to be here and when I finally saw him, I just overreacted, that's all!"

Still shaking his head, Sano said slowly, "You two still don't understand, do you? There's a reason why no one knows much about Kenshin and nothing at all about Hiko, Aoshi, or the other members of the Oniwabanshu. They take secrecy very seriously here. No one comes in or goes out without them knowing. And if you cross them, you had better be ready to fight for your life."

"What's the Oniwabanshu?" Kaoru asked, her brows furrowed in puzzlement.

"It's the organization Aoshi runs. He and the members of the Oniwabanshu are the spymasters Hiko relies on to gather information."

Three heads swiveled to the doorway where Kenshin was, leaning against the edge of the doorway. Darkened violet eyes gazed at each one of them briefly until they rested on Kaoru who had leapt up to her feet at the new voice. They locked eyes with one another as silence and tension permeated the air.

Megumi automatically moved to stand in front of her friend protectively but Sano grabbed her elbow gently and shook his head. The doctor turned to glare at him but he pulled her away firmly.

"This isn't your fight," Sano said softly, gently to her. He watched as her black eyes shifted between Kenshin and Kaoru, obviously conflicted.

"It's all right, Megumi," Kaoru assured her, still unable to look away from Kenshin's steady gaze.

"I thought we should talk," Kenshin said, ignoring Sano and Megumi and focusing solely on Kaoru. "We can take a stroll in the garden."

The intensity of his gaze once again unnerved Kaoru even as a tremor of anticipation trickled down her spine. There was something so … primal about Kenshin that touched a chord inside of her, made her willing to take any risk just to stay close to him. Any idea of suppressing her feelings for Kenshin melted away at the sight of his violet eyes watching her so fixedly. It felt as though ages had passed instead of mere days since his attention was focused only on her and she soaked it up like a thirsty flower in need of water.

"Kaoru, I really don't think that's such a good idea," Megumi said in a low voice, breaking into the younger woman's thoughts. "I don't trust him." She cast Kenshin a suspicious look. "And neither should you."

Kaoru forced herself to break eye contact with Kenshin to look at her friend. "I know," she said slowly. "But I should at least hear him out, don't you think?"

"Are you thinking with your head or with your emotions?" Megumi snapped. "Did you forget what you saw in the alley?"

Kaoru flinched at the brutal reminder and Kenshin immediately noticed, turning his head to glare at the doctor. Violet eyes bled into molten gold ones as he stiffened in anger. "Sano," he growled.

Sano hurriedly clapped a hand on Megumi's mouth, dragging her against him so she couldn't move. It wasn't wise to annoy the doctor but it was even wiser not to get on the Kenshin's bad side. Still, this was Kaoru they were talking about – he couldn't help but offer a tentative warning of his own to the assassin. "I know, I know. But Kenshin, she's kinda right about all this. The girls have no reason to trust you so … don't do anything to show that they're right, okay?"

Kenshin merely leveled a look at him. Sano heaved a sigh and nodded in resignation at the lack of response before turning to Kaoru. His chocolate-brown eyes were serious as he stared at her. "You sure about this, Missy? Cause once you step out that door, there's no turning back. You'll be stuck where I am and I'm telling you now it's not going to be easy to live with this knowledge. It's not always best to know things."

Kaoru bit her lower lip, looking as though she was thinking hard about the situation. But really, was there any choice? She had become involved the moment she witnessed the killing. And her feelings, no matter what anyone said, had always turned towards Kenshin. Even now, when he stood in front of her and nearly threatened to kill Megumi, she felt the pull to be at his side, whatever the risk.

"Yes, I'm sure," she nearly whispered, turning her head back to Kenshin. He was smiling in triumph, violet eyes swirling with flecks of polished gold. Yet within the smug expression was one of reverence which he bestowed upon her. Kaoru's heart clenched at the sight. She would bet her soul that Kenshin had never looked that way at anyone else. That emotion was for her alone.

Sano watched them stare at each other for a moment before sighing again deeply. It was obvious, even to Megumi who had stopped struggling in his arms, that Kaoru had already made her choice. He only hoped she wouldn't regret it later. "All right, then, Missy. We'll be here if you need us. Kenshin, you hurt her and you'll answer to us. Got it?"

The red-head offered his friend a brusque nod. "Come, Kaoru. We'll be able to talk in the gardens." He waited until she stepped out of the room before looking back at the motionless couple. "Don't try to interfere," he said flatly before leaving himself. He punctuated his words by slamming the door behind him.

Megumi was quiet, staring at the door and Sano glanced down at her anxiously, reluctantly dropping his arms from holding her. "Um, Fox, you okay?" he said tentatively.

He was answered by her suddenly rounding on him, dark eyes blazing furiously. "Tell me everything you know about Himura Kenshin," Megumi ordered.

Kenshin was silent as he led them down the corridor, turning a few times, and going down a flight of stairs before finally stopping at a patio door. Turning the ornate knob, he pushed the door open and allowed Kaoru to step through before following her and shutting the door behind him. He watched her stop a few feet away, absorbed in the carefully cultivated garden that boasted brightly colored bushes, shady trees, and flowering plants. A small, grassy path big enough for two people to walk side-by-side wounded through the controlled overgrowth of flora, disappearing around the corner and past a flourishing willow tree.

"Beautiful," he heard her murmur as he moved closer to her.

"Hiko doesn't care much for the garden but he likes things as good-looking as he is," Kenshin said by way of explanation. "And Okina stops by periodically to make sure the plants are growing properly as well."

Kaoru glanced at him. "Okina?"

"He's the advisor to the Oniwabanshu. You'll meet him later, I'm sure. Come, we can talk more privately further into the garden."

Kaoru watched his easy stride as he strolled over to the edge of the path. When he stopped to look back at her, she tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach. This was it. She was finally going to get some answers. And be alone with Kenshin for the first time in what felt like years. She wasn't sure if it was fear, nervousness, or happiness that was causing the fluttering.

Mentally steeling herself and sternly reminding herself she was strong and that she had friends to help her should she need it, Kaoru followed after Kenshin.

They were both silent as they traversed the path. Kaoru glanced at her companion, half expecting him to start explaining himself and his actions, but he said nothing. Lips twisting into a slight frown, she decided to let him start when he felt ready. Instead she focused on the scenery around her. Kaoru glanced to her right and found several hyacinth blooms arching in the sunlight. A fuzzy bumblebee zipped by, intent on its next destination. It was quite peaceful, the silence interrupted only by birds twittering and squirrels rustling nearby in their hunt for food. The air was perfumed with heavy floral scents, permeating the garden with a heady fragrance.

The further they moved down the grassy path, the more isolated Kaoru felt. It was as if the world was slowly fading away and it had placed them in this lush garden. It was just the two of them, creating a sense of false intimacy convincing enough that she almost relaxed in Kenshin's solid presence beside her.

For the first time since they had met again, Kaoru turned to take a good look at Kenshin. He was comfortably dressed in dark jeans and a plain black t-shirt that somehow accentuated and darkened his rust-colored hair. His mouth and eyes bore signs of strain but the violet eyes remained calm and assessing. He smelled vaguely of sweat, ginger, and musty clothes as if they had been stored for a long time. It was an oddly appealing combination to Kaoru's senses.

She vaguely wondered where his sword was. She wondered what was going on in his mind. He looked tired and his pace was slow but steady. Was this really Battousai the manslayer?

Kenshin caught her staring at him and a brief, sardonic smile lifted up the corner of his lips. "I can't tell whether you're deciding if I look good or like a mess."

Kaoru blinked in surprise as he suddenly spoke. "More like a mess," she said succinctly, trying for an aloof air. She turned away and pretended to be fascinated with a flowering vine that bore a deep amethyst flower.

He chuckled, startling her anew. She had never heard him laugh and the sound was low, warm, and soothing. Her traitorous heart leapt at the rare sound and thudded in excitement. "Can't I look both a mess and good?" he asked.

Oh, no, he was using his I'm-sexy-and-you-know-it voice. It was affecting her as much as the first time when she had heard it in her apartment. Kaoru tried hard not to succumb to the tone as it reverberated deep inside of her. "P-perhaps," she managed to stammer out, only to mentally kick herself. So much for being aloof, Kamiya, she thought ruefully.

"I'm glad."

Kaoru blinked and risked flashing him a glance. His deep violet eyes no longer held any trace of amusement or playfulness. He was now solemn, watching her, searching her face with assessing eyes. The sudden change of demeanor threw her off again; she was beginning to think the man had multiple personalities or something! "You are?" she asked cautiously.

Kenshin nodded. He had stopped walking and looked off into the distance. His profile revealed more of his weariness and Kaoru once again wondered what had happened that made him so tired. Had he killed another person? Was the police – Saitou – getting closer to capturing him? She wanted to reach out and hug him but restrained herself; she had to hear his so-called good reasons for his actions first. Sano himself had vouched for Kenshin but Kaoru wanted … no, needed to hear everything. As Megumi had accused her, every time she was in his presence, she felt her heart falling for Kenshin just a little bit more.

He still wasn't facing her. Kaoru watched him as he inhaled slowly and set his shoulders in determination.

"Do you know why I kill?"

Kaoru paused for a moment to regain her composure at the sudden, blunt question. She aware that whatever Kenshin said next would cause her to make up her mind about him once and for all. A shiver of apprehension ran down her spine. She wanted to know so badly but she was afraid. What if she didn't like the truth? Could she really have feelings for a man who took the lives of so many people without proper remorse?

There could be no answer to her questions until Kenshin finally explained what was going on. Kaoru took a deep breath and looked at him, steeling herself to accept the truth, no matter how horrible it turned out to be. "No, I don't know," she said honestly. "Why do you?"

Kenshin turned and looked down at her, his molten gold eyes burning so brightly it seemed to make his whole face glow from its light. "I kill," he said slowly, "because I have to."

Kaoru blinked twice, feeling suddenly and ridiculously let down. What kind of explanation was that? Trust Kenshin to say something then stop, causing more tension! "That's not a reason," she said derisively. "Do you have to because there's a little voice inside your head telling you that you have to? Or is it a demon haunting you until you go crazy and let it out on poor, unsuspecting people? Those are reasons, not your 'Because I have to' schtick."

The red-head seemed torn between amusement and irritation at being interrupted. "If you'll allow me to continue, I'll elaborate," he said, finally settling on a neutral glare.

Folding her arms across her chest, Kaoru tapped her foot on the ground. "All right, I'm waiting."

"I kill," Kenshin said again, "because it is the only way to end the lives of those who would overturn our world and mold it into their own vision. There are many people right here in Japan who desire to take over the government and eventually the entire earth. And they will do anything to achieve their goal, from simple bribery to assassination attempts."

Kaoru absorbed his words for long minutes, frowning as she stared off into the distance. "I'm sorry," she said at last. "But this sounds like too much like an action movie or book or something. Are you sure there's no camera around here?" She looked around as if trying to spot the hidden people or equipment.

"I'm deadly serious," Kenshin said patiently, a little surprised – and disappointed – at her response. Kaoru wasn't reacting the way he was expecting and it troubled him. Why wasn't she recoiling in horror? Why was she so calm about this? "Do you think this is a joke?"

Kaoru turned to face him. "I don't think you killing that girl was a joke. But do you expect me to stand here and nod and encourage you to kill bad guys who also kill? Isn't that being a little hypocritical there?"

"I didn't say my reasons were perfect," Kenshin said stiffly, offended by her words. "And I know it may seem hypocritical and rather vigilante-ish but there it is. There's nothing else that would stop them so we have to play the game by their rules. No prison in the world can hold them or cause them to abandon their goals. Killing them is even better than they deserve, anyway."

Kaoru was now staring at him as if he had grown a third limb and Kenshin sighed deeply. He knew he was messing the explanation up but he honestly didn't know what to say. How could he convince a generally moral and upright, courageous citizen that there was no other choice? "Look, let me say it this way," Kenshin said. "Shishio has created an organization to take over the Japanese government." He snorted. "The funny thing is, Shishio thinks he can do a much better job of ruling the country. He is ruthless, bloodthirsty, and will use anything and anyone to gain control. And yes, he would kill innocent people as well. In order to combat that type of ruthlessness, we can't just slap him on the wrist and send him to jail. Either he would break free or he would continue his plans from his cell without any interruption of business at all. He is tenacious, stubborn, extremely intelligent, charismatic, and willing to do anything to achieve his goal. That is a dangerous combination.

"The government, while having an official police force, has no other way of dealing with such criminals. But within the shadows of said government, a group was formed for times like these, to maintain the current peace and order in Japan. This organization is charged to do whatever it takes to stop men like Shishio. And the only way to stop them is to kill them."

"You're no better than Shishio is," Kaoru pointed out bluntly. "While your reasons may be different and even well-meaning, killing anyone is wrong, regardless of orders or whatever."

Kenshin looked away and stared at the swaying tulips in the breeze. Trust Kaoru to hit on the point that had always troubled him. "You're right. But as I said, there is no other choice. We've been chosen to protect the citizens of Japan in this way. The cost is our soul but at least we can save hundreds, maybe even thousands of people. Sacrifice the few for the many."

Kaoru frowned as she thought about it. Finally she said, "And the woman you killed in the alley ..?"

At the question, Kenshin stiffened. "She was an information dealer. A snitch, if you will. Only this time she discovered one of our operatives had infiltrated Shishio's inner circle and caused their death. An unpardonable crime." His voice was flat and hard as if daring Kaoru to protest.

She stared at his profile for a long moment. "He must have been a very close friend of yours," Kaoru said at last. From Kenshin's quick but cold execution of the information dealer, he had taken the death quite hard.

"Not particularly." He turned to look at her. "But seeing any of your colleagues die isn't something that should be taken lightly."

Kaoru bit back the reply that killing people shouldn't be taken lightly either, but refrained herself. It seemed odd to hear him be so grieved over a fallen comrade while coldly efficient in taking lives himself. Who was the true Kenshin? Had he ever really shown himself to anyone before?

"I don't know what to say," she said at last. "This is too … fantastical to believe but I don't want to think there's another explanation of why you're killing people, either."

Kenshin smiled humorlessly. "You mean like we're all crazy?"

She nodded, quite serious. "For all I know, everyone in that house is wackier than an asylum full of inmates. I mean, Kenshin, do you honestly believe you're helping the country by killing people? You're reputed to have assassinated over a hundred people!"

"A hundred and two," he murmured, bending down to sniff at a flowering honeysuckle. "Handa Michi was number one hundred and two."

Kaoru blinked and stared at him. "You keep count?" The idea was somewhat unsettling.

He turned to gaze at her, violet eyes curiously devoid of any emotion. "I remember everyone I killed."

His expression wasn't cold but there was something disturbingly blank and flat about the way he spoke and looked that sent a shiver down Kaoru's spine. There was no remorse or guilt yet there wasn't any joy or eagerness, either. She wished he would stop being so complicated. Why couldn't he just be himself for once? Her voice dropped, shook even, as she spoke. "Do you … do you have any regrets for killing those people?"

Kenshin remained silent for a moment. He finally plucked the honeysuckle and straightened up, twirling the flower between his fingers. "To be honest? No. It is sad to see people die by your own hands but I know that what they've done is far worse than what I do."

Kaoru felt her heart freeze at his answer. It wasn't what she was expecting him to say and it hurt. How could she be with someone so remorseless? "Two wrongs don't make a right," she whispered. Tears stung her eyes but she fiercely blinked them back; there was no way she was going to cry over this. To cry over Kenshin.

He lifted his eyes to meet her gaze. He could see the hurt lingering in the cobalt eyes and his resolve almost broke. But he had to be strong. If they were ever going to be together, Kaoru had to see every part of him. "In this case, I will make it so that it will turn out right," he said simply.

Silence fell over them so that the twittering of the birds sounded louder than usual. The nearest bush rustled before a squirrel darted across the path and up the nearest tree, chattering to itself as it scampered up to the flourishing canopy. Sunlight filtered onto the path, brightening the deep green shades of the plants. A butterfly fluttered by, flaring the bright colors of its wings. It was so peaceful and tranquil, unlike what was going on inside Kaoru's head and heart.

This was simply to fantastical to believe. She needed to talk to Megumi, the voice of reason. She wanted to confirm everything Kenshin said with Sano, who was in the same boat as her – well, not really since he wasn't falling in love with Battousai the manslayer. Still, he would be able to tell her the truth. She was even willing to talk to Aoshi or Hiko, just to make sure Kenshin wasn't completely delusional or something.

Not that that reason was any better than the explanation she had just received.

And even more important, Kaoru had to consider if she could be with someone who killed so easily.

"I need time to think about this," she finally murmured, looking away.

Kenshin simply nodded. He didn't want to tell her that her options were quite limited whether she accepted the truth or not. But now, only time would give him the answer he was looking for.

Kaoru slanted him another sideways glance before turning around to head back to the house. The look in her eyes caused Kenshin's heart to lurch. It was a mixture of fear, uncertainty, and disapproval. It didn't seem as though the odds were in his favor. So, despite the large part of him demanding he claim her with or without her approval, he let her go. It was the same side that allowed him to kill and still live with himself. He would wait for her until she was ready.

Without even thinking about where she was going, Kaoru wandered around the mansion aimlessly. In hindsight, it was rather stupid to leave Kenshin without at least finding her way back to her room. The past two days had given her a vague idea of the layout of the house but she still found herself lost more often than not.

Still, she needed distance from Kenshin until she figured out what to do or even how she felt about the whole affair. If that meant she was lost in the house for an hour or two then so be it. Someone would find her eventually.

Her feet eventually carried her to the end of a corridor with two double doors. Kaoru recognized it as the attached dojo she had inadvertently found right after she had spoken with Hiko two days ago. Kaoru had been so furious at Hiko's high-handedness in her and Megumi's fate that she figured it would be a good idea to exercise her anger out. Imagining swinging a sword down on Kenshin's arrogant master had worked like a charm.

Maybe it would also work if she imagined swinging a sword down on Kenshin. Pushing the left door open revealed a practice room filled with various martial arts equipment on the walls. The room was made of wood panels, as was the floor. The air was cool and undisturbed, though sunlight streamed through from the skylight in the ceiling. Kaoru ventured further inside and noted the usual weapons like a set of swords, several kunai, and the more exotic ones like a lance or flail. They were all hung on the wall as if ready for use.

She didn't have the right clothes on, but Kaoru figured it didn't really matter, at least not in her state of mind. She focused on the set of crossed shinai. Perfect.

Positioning herself in the middle of the room, Kaoru began to perform kata after kata, trying to clear her mind through physical exertion. She swung down fiercely, methodically, her muscles remembering what to do despite years of no training. Still, the chaotic swirl of her mind refused to end.

She had to stop after an hour, panting and muscles aching from continual movement. Kaoru collapsed onto the dojo floor, the shinai clattering noisily next to her. Leaning back on her hands, she looked up at the skylight that allowed the sun's rays to stream through. The clear, cloudless sky was bright and warm, offering to carry her worries away. Her heart ached with all that she had learned.

The door opened and Kaoru stiffened, glancing at the intruder. She relaxed when she saw it was Misao bounding in with her usual energy. She didn't want to see Kenshin right now, at least not until she could figure out what to do. Find Saitou and tell him everything she learned? She shook her head slightly; if the police officer would believe her in the first place, that is.

"Hey, Kaoru, I didn't know you were here." Misao flopped down next to her and glanced at the shinai. "You do kendo?"

Kaoru nodded. "I used to." The appearance of the younger woman was actually a welcome distraction; she had discovered that if she wanted to have an actual conversation with Misao, total concentration was required. It would give her brain a chance to rest from all the chaotic thoughts whirling in her mind.

"Used to? Why did you stop?"

She shrugged. "I lost interest, I guess. My father owns a dojo in Tokyo and it was always expected that I learn it. But I hated it more and more when I got older so I gave it up when I was a teenager."

Misao nodded knowingly. "Your father must have been disappointed when you quit, though. After all, it's a family business, right?"

"It is. Luckily, we sort of adopted a little brat who was all gung-ho about learning kendo. He's going to take over the dojo when my dad retires." Kaoru had to smile, however briefly, at the memory of Yahiko: his first time gripping a shinai and the sheer delight that radiated from his face. "Unlike me, his enthusiasm for the sport has never waned. In fact, we were supposed to spa--" Kaoru stopped suddenly and clapped a hand over her mouth.

Misao blinked and leaned closer. "Kaoru? What is it? What's wrong?" The other woman's complexion had suddenly turned ashen, as if she had suddenly seen a ghost.

Without giving an answer, Kaoru scrambled to her feet and sprinted to the door. "Gotta go, Misao, I'll talk to you later!" Throwing the door open, she raced down the hallway.

The petite woman stared after Kaoru, puzzled at her odd behavior. She finally shrugged and hopped up, stretching her arms out lazily. "She's kinda weird but I still like her. Don't you, Aoshi-sama?" she asked out loud casually.

There was a long pause before Aoshi detached himself from his hiding place in the room. "I have always thought she was an intelligent woman," he said noncommittally.

"That comment, as you know, doesn't really answer the question. But it's all right. I know deep inside your cold exterior, you admire someone as strong as her, even if you act all mean and scary." Misao offered him a teasing smile. "But now I wonder, were you following her or were you following me?"

Aoshi tilted his head slightly, watching the petite woman thoughtfully. "Perhaps I was in the dojo before the two of you interrupted me?"

Misao grinned. "Maybe. But you'll forgive me if I think you were following me, right?" Without waiting for an answer, she added, "I think I'll go after Kaoru and make sure she's okay. She looked kinda pale there." With a wave, she bounded out of the dojo to track down the distraught woman.

Aoshi stood there for a long while, considering the situation for a moment. Obviously Kenshin had told Kaoru everything, only she wasn't taking it well if the ferocity of her swings were any indication. It was to be expected; after all, it would be difficult for anyone not involved from the beginning to believe that what they were doing was for the best.

Still, Kenshin was usually a good judge of character. If he felt Kaoru was strong enough to know the truth then Aoshi was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. He only hoped his friend's trust wasn't misplaced.

The meeting always started off with the older two men sharing some sake together as old friends, occasionally poking fun at their respective protégés for being so uptight and not partaking in what they considered a manly tradition. However, Aoshi always declined because of his low tolerance to alcohol and Kenshin wasn't in the mood to drink, not when he had things to worry about. So he brooded as he watched the ceremony.

Okina accepted the saucer of sake Aoshi had poured for him, taking a sip from it in satisfaction. "Ahhh, excellent as usual."

"Of course. Good sake is absolutely essential," Hiko said in what Kenshin privately considered was his stuffy voice. He took the saucer his student offered him and took a drink himself. "It's the best."

"Only the best for Kakunoshin Niitsu, don't you think?"

Both men chuckled and Kenshin couldn't help rolling his eyes. He glanced at Aoshi who was patiently waiting for the drinking ceremony to end so they could get down to business. The taller man seemed more subdued than usual, making Kenshin wonder if something had happened. Although it wasn't evident in Aoshi's face, the red-head had known him long enough to recognize the subtle differences in his friend's composure.

Kenshin sighed, knowing he couldn't disguise his emotions half as well. Of course, everyone knew just how 'well' the talk with Kaoru had gone. Thankfully, his master had restrained himself from making any sort of snide comments about it.

"Well, I suppose we should start the meeting," Hiko said at last, to Kenshin's relief. "Shinomori, what have your men found out so far?"

Aoshi pulled out a pile of neatly stacked folders which presumably contained all the logs his spies had recorded. "Shishio has been unusually quiet these past few days," the Oniwabanshu leader said. "Okon and Hyottoko have reported no discernable activity in the Kantou region, which is somewhat worrisome. Even Usui seems to have disappeared from Tokyo. We don't know what is causing this silence, but it cannot be good. We should be alert to anything remotely suspicious."

"Hmm, very odd," Okina said thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "What are they up to? None of our reports even hint at what they could be planning."

"It is possible they are launching an offensive before Battousai attacks Usui and dislodges Shishio's hold in Tokyo," Aoshi said. "However, their silence occurred even before Izo was given the warning. Perhaps they are farther advanced in their planning than we realized."

"Disturbing, but true. Even with all the information we gathered on Shishio's lieutenants, we still can't figure out what they're going to do. It has to be on a grand scale, something that would suit Shishio's flair for dramatics," Hiko commented. "Even when he was younger, he was prone to great fanfare."

Kenshin nodded in agreement. "Shishio wants everyone to recognize him as the greatest figure in Japanese history. Whatever he's planning, it's probably going to involve the loss of many innocent lives."

Silence pervaded the room for a moment. "I will inform my men to dig as deep as they can, then," Aoshi said at last. "At this point, since we have no further information to assist us in a counter-attack strategy, we'll have to risk discovery to find out what we need to know."

Okina sighed deeply, suddenly looking somber. "I hate to put any of our people in danger but we have no choice. At this point, we're going to need to use every resource at our disposal."

"They understand the perils of their work, Okina. I'm sure they understand we are without other options," Aoshi said quietly.

"I'm sure Sano would be willing to ask around the Underground as well," Kenshin added. "He can check to see if anyone heard any rumors or mass recruiting efforts."

Aoshi nodded in approval. "In the meantime, police activity has increased in Tokyo because of Ms. Kamiya's report. Okon suggests it might be safer if Battousai stayed away until things have settled."

Everyone looked at Kenshin who frowned fiercely. "Usui is my next target. Wherever he is, I'm going to go. We don't have time to sit around and wait to see what happens next."

Hiko snorted and took another sip of sake. "So you're finally getting serious about this. Maybe having a woman around isn't so bad after all if it'll get you to focus on your job."

Kenshin scowled at his master. "Kaoru has nothing to do with this," he said stiffly. "As soon as your spies find out what's going on, Aoshi, send word to me immediately. We'll need to finish this soon."

"Aa. So we are in agreement, then? I'll begin by sending wor—"

There was a knock on the door, cutting Aoshi off in mid-sentence. All eyes swung to the door in surprise. Everyone knew the group wasn't to be interrupted when in a meeting unless something urgent happened. Hiko barked, "Enter."

The door swung open and Hannya stepped in and bowed. "Forgive me, Okashira, but there is a situation that is developing. We have received word from Beshimi that there are a half a dozen police cars traveling to the mansion."

Eyebrows shot up at that pronouncement. "What? Are you certain?" Aoshi asked. His expression didn't change but the news had also caught him off guard.

"Yes. Also, Usui's men are on their way to Hiko's cottage in the forest," Hannya continued, his voice calm as if reciting a speech. "It seems as though we are being surrounded, albeit inadvertently."

There was silence for a moment while the men absorbed the news. Then Kenshin stood up abruptly. "Where's Kaoru?" he demanded.

"Miss Kamiya, Dr. Takani, and Sanosuke are in the ladies' rooms right now, debating ways on how to best escape the mansion," Hannya offered. "I have already notified the staff of the situation and we are awaiting orders."

Hiko shot a scowl at his student. "And exactly how did Usui's men or the police find us?"

"No one followed me, if that's what you're asking," Kenshin protested. "I know better than that."

"We'll have to figure out the 'how' later and focus on what to do now. How many of Usui's men are coming, Hannya?" Okina asked.

"There are three cars with four people each."

"Hmph, a pitiful number," Hiko snorted. "How long until they arrive?"

"Both parties will arrive in approximately five minutes. What are our orders?"

Sighing, Hiko said, "Well, we can't exactly let the police come in while Usui's men invade us from behind. We should head to the second safehouse and observe what happens."

"I'll get the girls," Kenshin said, already starting for the door.

Aoshi opened his mouth to protest but Okina laid a hand on his arm to silence the taller man. "Let him go," he said quietly. "He needs to make sure she's safe."

"Omasu is more than capable of leading them to safety," Aoshi said stiffly.

Okina smiled. "But you would do the same if it was Misao, wouldn't you? Come, Aoshi, you can help me to the front door to greet the police officers."

Aoshi blinked and stared at his mentor. "You aren't serious."

"I am, actually. No doubt the police followed me here. I've been watched the past few days at the Aoiya. Someone must have found a connection between the Oniwabanshu and Battousai and is coming here to investigate."

"But what about Usui's men?" Aoshi said. "You can't be left here alone."

"If no one is here to greet the police, they'll be even more suspicious about us," Okina said simply. "Help me to the front hall, Aoshi, and then retreat with the others. You will need to coordinate orders with Hiko about what to do next." He smiled kindly at the younger man. "Don't worry about me, my boy. I've been in this business far longer than you have and know what to do. Hiko, I'm entrusting the safety of everyone to your capable hands."

"Of course. You know the way to the safehouse, Shinomori. Don't delay in getting there so we can plan our next move." Hiko stood up, his great cape billowing out with his movement. "Begin the house evacuation procedures immediately. Any enemy targets should be eliminated as they're seen, but discreetly."

Aoshi frowned but obediently stood and helped Okina to the door. He paused only when Hiko added, "Oh, and Shinomori, if you happen to see my baka deshi out there, tell him he's got work to do after getting his friends out. It would be rude for Battousai not to greet to Usui's men when they've come so far, don't you think?"

AN: Whew, the chapter is finally done! Not perfect by any means despite Laegdin's hard work at desperately correcting my mistakes, but at least I'm done! I'm dancing the dance of victory!

I know it took me a long time to update but this chapter is by far the longest one I've written so far. I'll try to keep much shorter next time but I'm usually pretty wordy. I'll work on it! And as usual, you can check out my profile for the tentative update schedule.

Next Chapter: Kenshin shows off his awesome sword skills (and just maybe wants to impress Kaoru with them :D)