The room was silent except for a noise now and then from the bedroom where Misao was packing the last of her immediate belongings. Kenshin, Aoshi and Soujiro's hopes were all left in the hands of a blackmailed police officer and Sano, a friend whom up to this point they've known to be not entirely reliable.

There was nothing left to do but wait and pray for time. But in the midst of the silence and the drowning feeling they all had in their hearts an electronic sounding tune started playing. It was Fur Elise and therefore it was Soujiro's phone. It rang and the three of them all looked at each other knowing that this phone call could make or break their rescue mission. It rang again and Soujiro cautiously unhooked the slim silver cell from his belt as if his handling might jeopardize the news they were all hoping to get.

"Hello? Sano?"

The others all listened intently. Even Misao stopped packing in the other room to eavesdrop.

Soujiro remained quiet for a while as he listened. "How did the drugs test?"

Everyone seemed to hold their breath and strained their ears to listen. Soujiro swallowed as a bead of sweat ran down the side of his face…but his expression suddenly changed for the better. He sighed with relief and smiled back at everyone, indicating that the test went in their favour.

He quickly ended his conversation with Sano and pressed END.

Everyone looked relieved and more at ease as the moment of anxiety passed. The worst was over and now all that had to be done was for the police to come and throw Gohei in jail to rot.

"Sano said that he, Saitou and few other cops are coming to arrest Gohei," said Soujiro. "I'd say we go watch."

"Good idea. I'd love to see the look on Gohei's face when a bunch of police come busting into his office," replied Kenshin. "Come on, we'll wait for them in the foyer."

So he and Soujiro started to leave but then they realized Aoshi wasn't moving.

"Hey Aoshi don't you want to see Gohei getting booked?" asked Soujiro. "I'm sure this is going to be a killer moment to put in the yearbook."

Aoshi looked back at his friends waiting for him at the door. "I'll catch up later."

Soujiro cocked an eyebrow and was about to say something until Kenshin's hand descended upon his shoulder pulling him into the hall. For that moment Aoshi was grateful Kenshin was able to read between the lines very much unlike the squirt.

With only him in the living room Aoshi turned to look into the bedroom to see Misao but she was already there, leaning against the doorway watching him with a smile across her face. She seemed radiant.

"You know I thought you were the most stuck up ass when you told me you weren't interested in seeing me again. Remember that?" she said.

"I do, but I've also done some thinking since then," Aoshi replied as he walked closer to her.

The edge of Misao's mouth curved upwards into a smirk. "Oh? And exactly what were thinking about?"

Now they were standing close together. She could feel his soft breath upon her skin giving her goosebumps and those unmoving electric blue eyes, seemingly piercing. Aoshi who was towering over got faint whiffs of her delicate perfume. He wanted to take in her scent for all that it was worth and make it finally his.

"You see, the problematic thing was all I could think about…was you."

There was a long silence that hung between them, but both kept a steady gaze. The witty sarcasm was now gone. Aoshi had just showed the most sincere expression and feeling Misao had ever seen of him and yet even though she wanted a confession like this all along…she didn't feel at all as triumphant as she thought. The glory she promised herself would come once she'd reject Aoshi after his admittance of his true feelings didn't seem so delicious now. Revenge was the last thing on her mind…

"Well," she said finally breaking the silence. "I guess-"

"There you guys are!"

The tense, romantic and slightly confessional moment between Aoshi and Misao was rudely demolished when Sano suddenly burst through the door. But the rooster-head suddenly had a mental standstill when he added the situation in his head. Aoshi + Misao + a romantic feeling in the air …eeewww!

Sano suddenly broke out in uncontrollable laughter. The thought of the iceman hooking up with a girl was just too absurdly hilarious.

Aoshi growled and glowered at him. He took a few casual steps backwards, putting comfortable distance between him and Misao. "Did you come here for a reason Sagara?"

It took a little while but Sano eventually wiped away a tear and gave a last twitter. "Yes as a matter of fact I did. Saitou and the cops are here ready to take in Gohei. He thought it was best everyone was there to make statements after the arrest. Oh and by the way Misao," said Sano wagging his finger at her with a grin on his face. "Isn't Gohei waiting up for you?"

Misao rolled her eyes and she and Aoshi followed Sano out into the foyer that had Saitou and another officer making last second preps and checks before the arrest.

"Guys!" waved down Kenshin as he and Soujiro walked over to the group. "They're just getting ready to make the move. We've pretty much cleared the halls in case this thing gets out of hand."

"Aoshi," said Soujiro in a sarcastic lecturing tone. "I hope nothing went on in that room after we left that I wouldn't approve of."

Misao turned a little red but Aoshi only narrowed his eyes into a death stare. "Can't you be mature for one moment?"

He only shrugged.

All at once it seemed that silence had befallen the foyer and Saitou and his partner started down the hall to Gohei's office. The others all followed after the cops but Saitou quickly stopped them.

"Get back there!" he ordered.

"No! We deserve to see Gohei go down for what he did," said Sano.

"Look Sagara I don't have the time, patience nor desire to argue with any of you. The arrest is only based on probable cause and strong suspicions, not damning evidence, so I'd like to make it clean and simple. So since this is my arrest we will be doing things my way. Now back off and clear the hall."

The group did as they were told reluctantly but at least they'll be able to see Gohei being lead out in cuffs.

So they waited in the foyer listening as they heard the sound of Saitou knocking at Gohei's office door and explaining the reason of his immediate arrest. They heard Gohei shout something that none of them could successfully decipher then suddenly screams were heard and shots were fired.

They all rushed back toward the hall but stopped in their tracks when they saw a spray of red from the dimly lit hall. Out of the shadows rushed Saitou carrying an injured officer on his shoulders with blood trickling down his blue uniform.

Kenshin rushed forward and took the other arm of the officer on his shoulder. "Saitou what happened!"

They set the officer onto a bench, knelt at his side and removed his outer jacket with haste. The white shirt beneath was now turning a rich red and the officer slowly drifted into unconsciousness.

"Damn it! Stay with me kid!" cried Saitou as his quickly pulled off his partner's shirt to inspect the wound.

It didn't look so good. Positioned just left of the right shoulder was a deep sword wound that was giving up blood generously. Saitou quickly rolled up the bloodied shirt in his hands and pressed it against the wound.

"Oh my God."

Saitou turned around and saw Aoshi, Soujiro, Sano and Misao with her hand over her mouth. Soujiro was calling 911 on his cell.

"Come here," he barked with urgency as he grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her forward.

Misao bent down beside Saitou and looked nothing short of disgusted with the smell of blood now pungent right under her nose. The urge to vomit was strong.

"Listen to me!" said Saitou. But Misao was still staring at the horrid sight of the officer's bloodstained face. "Listen!"

Misao looked up to him. Her whole body was shaking.

"I want you to hold this down on the wound," Saitou instructed. He placed Misao's hand over the crimson shirt and pressed it down. "If we don't keep pressure on it he'll die."

Misao swallowed and nodded. This man's life was now in her hands. She placed her other hand on top of the one on the shirt and pressed down trying to think of happy thoughts and not the warm feeling growing under her hands or nauseating smell of blood.

"Saitou," said Kenshin as they both stood up. "Where's Kaoru?"

But suddenly a shrill scream came from behind them. They all turned around and saw Gohei holding Kaoru around the stomach like a shield. A thin blade was held against her pale neck. The sword had a cane head that suggested that it was a hidden weapon. Kaoru hand her hands around the arm that Gohei was holding the sword.

"KAORU!" cried Misao from beside the free bleeding officer.

Everyone froze. Kenshin looked upon the situation with panic, fear and a burning angry rolled into one. His balled up his hands, causing the knuckles to crack. "GOHEI! Give her back!"

But the monster smiled like the devil himself and put his face next to Kaoru's. His beard scratched against her skin. He laughed maniacally, "You'd like to have this Kamiya bitch back wouldn't you!"

"Soujiro," Aoshi whispered. "Go into the kendo room, get the shinai."

Soujiro nodded and just under Gohei's radar he managed to slip away unnoticed.

"Well you can't have her," spat Gohei violently making Kaoru whimper as the cold, sharp edge of the sword pressed against her skin.

Kenshin shook with rage as he saw Kaoru struggle to free herself of this monster. Gohei saw this and smirked with sweet satisfaction. He turned his face, just so nose was touching Kaoru's cheek. He breathed her in and slowly, ever so slowly took the tongue from his mouth and let it run up the side of her cheek leaving a wet streak behind. Kaoru started to cry. Her throat felt hot and sore, breathing became difficult.

"You monster!" yelled Kenshin as he took a step forward.

But he was quickly put back in his place when Gohei lifted Kaoru's neck up with the sword, exposing her vulnerable skin. "Tell me Himura, do you think she'll still look as beautiful as she does now with blood gushing from her neck?"

Kenshin growled maliciously. Gohei laughed again. But it seemed that without Kenshin's knowing Aoshi, Sano and Saitou had spread out surrounding Gohei in half circle, the hall was his only place to run without instant confrontation was the dead end hall. Whether or not he noticed his dilemma, Gohei showed no concern.

"Gohei," said Saitou firmly trying to be the voice of reason. "Let her go. You've done terrible things but hurting the girl will not make your situation any better. I can help you get through this, just let her go."

"NO!" Gohei shouted. "I will have my revenge!" He tilted his head to Kaoru again as if talking to her. "I was at the top of my game, my skills unsurpassed. I had the power! Until that fateful day when Daddy came and broke my hand. Never allowing me to ever hold a sword again."

His words hung in the air uneasily. They were all unsure if this reminiscence would lead to a rash outburst.

But then Gohei's expression suddenly became one of cheerfulness in a sick, demented sort of way. "But we can see that Daddy didn't cover all his bases. Obviously that weak coward underestimated me. For you see, I learned to deal with my disability and learned everything I had since childhood all over again. I master my skills once again…with my left hand."

He smiled a toothy grin, looking nothing short of a lunatic. He met eyes with Kenshin. "You have no idea how much suffering I went through."

Kenshin's tone was dangerously low and threatening. "No, but I can tell you how much suffering you're going to be going through soon enough."

Gohei snickered, "You always did have guts Himura. You showed that to me when you played kendo. But this isn't some sport."

Soujiro just returned into the foyer with four shinai under his arm.

Gohei eyed them, "So I see you all want a fight."

Saitou tried to direct Gohei away from fighting. "Gohei, calm down. I know you don't want to go where murders go."

Gohei looked to him, "Sorry Saitou, time's up for sensible actions." He turned to Soujiro who jumped at the sound of his name, "Soujiro, hand out those shinai. Let's see how long you fools stand up steel."

Gohei suddenly threw Kaoru aside where she hit her head hard against the wall. She felt a little dazed. He waited for Soujiro until everyone was armed, except Sano who preferred his fists over anything.

Saitou felt his gun at his side. Did he want to shoot and cause an even bigger ordeal? If it came down to it, he would have no choice. But if they could manage to bring Gohei down without a gun then this would all clean up much easier.

Suddenly Kenshin ran forward, shinai in hand, with godlike speed. His eyes reflected his anger, no longer kindly violet but burning amber. His wooden sword met Gohei's steel one and a power struggle occurred. Kenshin pushed against Gohei's advantageous weight. He felt the steel slowly cutting through the wood; he couldn't keep this up for much longer. Kenshin glanced to Aoshi who immediately came rushing up and held his shinai up. Gohei saw this and managed to part from Kenshin before it came crashing down onto the tile, echoing.

Next Gohei was attacked from all sides consecutively; Soujiro ran up thrusting his shinai to Gohei who dodged it. Soujiro ran past Gohei until there was distance between them after his attack failed. Then Aoshi, Saitou and Kenshin all followed suit and this offensive maneuver continued again and again until Gohei was breathing very heavily. They were all so fast and he wouldn't be able to keep dodging them successfully much longer.

Then Kenshin came in again and lunged his shinai forward but it just missed Gohei as he jumped to the right. Finally that was it. Sano made a fist and came running forward silently and with all his strength. He took a final step launching him forward and his solid fist met Gohei's unsuspecting nor ready face.

Gohei was sent airborne until he came crashing into an empty bench. It shattered under shut force and Gohei was face down on the floor among its ruins. They all stepped forward surrounding him, uncertain if it was over. They waited in stillness. But first it was the slight twinge in the finger that hinted to them that this battle was definitely not over. Gohei slowly rose to his feet, looking unstable as he wobbled in place.

"I will not be denied revenge," he declared in a low voice.

They all just stared at him, a broken man with nothing but prison waiting for him. Just desserts. Gohei glanced toward a barely conscious Kaoru from the corner of his eye. If he would go out like this then she'll share at least some of his suffering. He darted toward her in a mad screaming rage. The others followed after him. Aoshi managed throw his shinai along the ground so it got caught up in Gohei's feet. He started to fall forward, with a dramatic yell of defeat until a shinai came surging up toward him and made contact with his chest. The final blow sent him colliding with the side wall. He hit it hard with his back and he landed on his stomach screaming in pain until it became too much to bear and so he passed into senselessness. Kenshin stood up straight from his finishing position, threw his shinai to the ground and ran to Kaoru's side. He cradled her in his arms and gently whispered her name until she came to.

"Kenshin…"

He smiled at her; words could not express how relieved he was to know that she was safe. Those beautiful ocean eyes of hers filled with tears as she gazed into the familiar violet ones that gave her such comfort. Between them no words were said, Kenshin only pulled Kaoru up to him and kissed her tenderly.

Saitou, Aoshi and Soujiro all threw their shinai down to the floor. It was done and they washed their hands clean of all it. Without warning the foyer doors burst open and a swarm of police and medics came rushing in. Saitou held up his badge and started explaining while medics took over care for the injured officer, relieving Misao of her duties.

Aoshi walked up to her and noticed her hands were stained red. "Good job," he told her as they watched the medics take their patient away.

Misao looked to him, "I helped save his life."

The corner of his mouth curled upwards just barely into a slight smile.

"What about you?" she asked. "Are you okay?"

For his answer Aoshi in one graceful sweeping movement wrapped his arm around her middle and pulled her into a kiss. Misao was at first surprised at the sudden show of emotion but it became quite captivating and she was inclined to pull away just yet.

Sano and Soujiro both rolled their eyes.

"How that never happens to us?" whined Sano.

The foyer started to fill with students who came to see what all the commotion was about but the police up a line and pushed them back. Soujiro heard his name called somewhere from within the crowd and saw Izumi waving trying to get his attention.

"Sano," he said as he started to walk away. "I think you better speak for yourself."

Sighing with pitiful mix of regret and envy Sano walked over to Saitou.

"So this is all over?"

Saitou raised an eyebrow, "Well not exactly Sagara. You see there is still the issue of you being in possession of cocaine. But-"

Sano suddenly jumped back, "WHAT! You can't be serious! I helped take the bad guy down!"

"Will you let me finish? But since your assistance proved useful I'm letting you off."

Sano sighed with relief then shrugged to Saitou, "Well guess you're going to have to catch me some other time Saitou."

Saitou growled, though he was amused. "Next time, Sagara. Next time."

With that he walked away and Sano was asked by an officer to give his account of the incident. Kaoru too was whisked away to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. Kenshin offered to accompany her but she said no and the persistent officers asking him and the others to make statements wouldn't let him leave either. The whole ordeal was followed and gossiped up among the university and nothing felt quiet the same to any of them. After all they had love, or at least most of them. Sano kept on his love-hate relationship with Megumi, and the school was absolutely buzzing about them. Later on Saitou informed them that Gohei suffered a serious injury in the spinal cord and wouldn't be able to move around without a walker. The news didn't make them happy but neither sad for him, he suffered the consequences of his actions. He was also found guilty and successfully sentenced.

Life went on for everyone and by the looks of it would only get better…

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A/N: Yay! Everyone its finally over and I thank you all for the most amount of reviews I've ever recieved, I'm very grateful. Oh and I'd also like to mention that I recent was informed that the correct name for the wooden sword used in kendo is shinai not bokken, so excuse me for that. Well everyone this is it, thanks for the experience. Until my next story, toodles!