Last time:

"Tomoe…" I growled out.

A soft laugh was my answer. "My, my, Battousai. I thought you were dead."

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Chapter Four: The Past

She looked exactly like she did the last time I saw her, three years ago.

Tomoe, at first glance, was a beautiful woman. She walked with a certain grace that most models did not possess. Long, dark hair ran across her back in soft waves, but was usually kept in a low ponytail at the base of her neck. Her features were soft, yet strong. Though, that is only when you first glance at her.

I stared into her lifeless eyes; the same eyes that I used to look in for comfort so long ago. Those same eyes that now mocked me, and burned with a deep hatred for me. Her usually expressionless face held a spiteful smirk that enraged me.

My gaze traveled down the gun she held in her right hand, and I cursed myself for not noticing it right away. My stance immediately switched from offensive to defensive, and I felt Sano do the same.

"What do you want?" I demanded.

Her smirk grew into a wry grin. "Well, well. Straight to the point now, are we?"

"Hey, bitch. Answer the question." It was slightly comforting to have Sano back me up. That is, until he opened his mouth.

Tomoe switched her gaze from me to Sano, seemingly noticing his presence for the first time. She glared at him, but then smirked, "Oh? What's this Battousai? Your fan club?"

Sano growled, but I lifted my hand to prevent any remarks that could get him killed. Ironically, I learned the hard way that her temper was short fused when provoked, even though Tomoe's demeanor was usually very placid and stoic. I also knew that she would not hesitate to pull that trigger.

I scanned her body for weaknesses. Tomoe was smart, but sometimes would forget pivotal points. She was clad in a simple black dress that hugged her curves. Always traditional, I never saw her in a simple pair of sweats and a tee-shirt. She always dressed up.

Let's see… unprotected legs. But she's very swift and extremely quick when avoiding attacks to the legs; trademark hidden dagger on right inner thigh right above the hem line of her dress, which fell a little above her knees; most likely a bullet proof vest under the dress. A blow to the lower abdominal area where the vest ends will slow her down.

I needed a distraction.

"So, how's Akira?" He is the asshole of the century.

Her features contorted slightly. The smirk turned into a snarl and the grip on her gun tightened. "You know very damn well how he is, bastard!" she yelled.

Oh, I'm sorry. Was the asshole of the century… how could I forget…

I allowed myself a small smirk. Her thoughts traveled to her deceased lover, and my hand inched to the dagger kept hidden on my person.

Ok, one shot Kenshin. Don't screw this up buddy.

One…

Two…

THREE!

The dagger left my fingertips and flew through the air, causing a slight wisp-ing sound to reverberate around us. I held my breath, and felt Sano stiffen as he did the same.

The glazed look in her eye evaporated when she heard the unmistakable sound of the dagger cutting through air. Her eyes, almost never expressive, widened as the dagger hit its intended target. As an extra bonus in our favor, the gun dropped from her hand. However, she quickly picked it back up.

But by then, Sano and I were halfway home.

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She's so cute.

I watched her travel around her room, doing her morning rituals and mumbling to herself. Her blue eyes had not yet caught sight of me sitting in her window. Still in a sleep induced haze, she collected the things she needed for the day and continued her small morning rant.

"You know the problem with the world?? People are always doing the same old damn things every single day. Damn, why is the morning so dumb? And reflective? And bright. And early..."

I had to intervene here. How could I not? She was so setting herself up.

"So, you argue to yourself about the problems with the world?"

Her reaction was almost surprising. She stiffened, but made no move to turn around. Instead, she relaxed again, and went about her normal routine.

"I argue with myself about life, not the world. The world is too fucked up. But life includes more then just our world."

Interesting. "That's deep."

"I continue to surprise myself with my morning philosophies."

"Let's play some sad music, and you can recite proverbs to me."

"Why sad music?"

"Because Proverbs suck?"

"Probably because your feeble mind can't understand them."

"Or because the thought of a bunch of old guys sitting around a million years ago thinking of ways to improve our life with fancy words and puzzles disturbs me."

"They were probably naked too."

"Makes the image even more disturbing, thank you."

"Anything to cause you emotional pain, my dear." And with that, she left the room.

What the hell?

So not fair.

Since when does she win verbal spars with me??

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"So, tell me who this Tomoe is." The statement was a demand, not a question.

"She is the past." Someone I had long let go.

"What was she? A past fling, or something?"

"Honestly, Sano, I don't know what she was." And it was true. My relationship with Tomoe was hard to explain.

She took me in when I was younger. She brought me to her place of work, and that's where I lived and grew up in. But she was a different person back then.

I looked into Sano's questioning gaze, and the past returned to me.

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The rain came down in sheets and soaked a little boy with bright red hair. He was situated on a bench, hunched over dejectedly, in the middle of a park. Tears ran down his face and mixed with the rain already dampening his cheeks. Silent sobs shook his body along with the shivers that ran down his spine from the cold. Incoherent mumbles escaped his lips.

The girl watched him from underneath the safety of her umbrella. Her skirts made small whooshing sounds in the wind, and her unbound hair flew with the wind. She approached him silently, leaning over so her umbrella would protect him too.

The boy looked up into dark eyes. She did not smile, nor did she frown. Her face was completely neutral as she looked into his puffy red eyes. No words were spoken between them. But she beckoned him to follow her. And follow her, she did, for she was the only one who had acknowledged his existence ever since they died.

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She was four years older then him, but that didn't stop his affection for her. He followed her wherever she went, and adored her in every way. The place she had brought him to was odd, and filled with odd people. She and he attended classes every day. Combat classes, weaponry, first-aid, martial arts, and target practice. The first year was difficult. Fatigue plagued him constantly every day and his muscles were always sore. But he soon grew accustomed to the pain and the work load, and followed happily what he was forced to do.

The girl adored the boy as well. Though he was younger then her, she quickly grew fond of him and his bright personality. He was so hardworking, and extremely determined. She feared what the changes he would endure when he was finally put to work.

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Ten years past. Now a young man of 14, he excelled in every single of on his lessons, quickly making it to the top. The two of them made an unbeatable team. It was time to put them to the test.

He was confused at first, but she assured him that everything would be fine. She had been on numerous missions already. She new what was to be expected.

She led him down the dark alley. And here, they waited for their "target".

The target was surrounded by many men. The small party turned down the alley the two were waiting in. She pulled him out of the shadows. One of the men that circled the target noticed their presence and alerted the other men. They attacked.

Before he could register what was happening, his mind immediately went into battle mode. The rest was a blur. He remembered unsheathing his sword, and the feel of steel cutting through bone. And soon, all of the men guarding the intended target were dead. Blood dripped from his sword as he watched the girl finish off the target.

Then he knew.

He was an assassin.

They named him Battousai after that night.

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After that, he was sent on many missions. He completed each and every one. Because she commended it for him. He craved her attention, and her compliments.

Finally, she paid more attention to him, and he finally got what he desired for so long. They entered into somewhat of a physical relationship soon after. The young woman had a stoic disposition, always dispassionate. Their relationship was not an emotionally connected one. But the young man was happy with what he got, none the less.

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The first time he saw her smile, she was with another man. A man of the name, Akira. Anger surged through him. The woman he had fallen in love with over the years, and whom he thought reciprocated his love, had only used him. She deceived him, and his soul paid the price. He was an assassin, a killer. All because of her. She knew what she was doing when she brought him to this place so many years ago.

And then she played with his heart. That was unforgivable.

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At the end of that week, he made his last kill- the man who she had shown her smiles to.

His victim was not a mission, and thus, he knew he would be punished for it.

The young man was gone before anyone found out. He was fifteen, and he would find his way in the world.

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"So where did you go after that?" Sano did not have any pity for me, and for that I was thankful. Pity was not something that I wanted or needed. He understood, and he trusted me, and that was all that I needed.

"I wandered around for a while, and my shishou, Hiko found me on the street. He took me in, and supported me. He enrolled me in the high school. I told him my story, and he understood. He knows about the organization I ran away with. He agreed to help hide me."

Sano nodded in understanding.

"So what are you gonna do now, man?" He was referring to Tomoe.

"All of my past feelings for her have long since evaporated. And my heart belongs to someone else now." Blue eyes flashed in my mind.

Sano watched his friend's eyes glaze over with the thought of a raven haired girl whom the ex-assassin was enamored with.

"What is she doin' here?"

"They found me, and they must want me back. And they know that Kaoru is close to me," anger flowed through my veins at the thought of these murderous people. "They'll do anything to get what they want."

"We need to protect Kaoru." Sano stated the obvious. I will not let any of those people near her. "But…"

I looked at Sano questioningly.

"Well, how do we know that these people are only after you?"

What the hell is he talking about?

He must've noticed my confused face. "Well think about it. The first attack was the Hiruma guy, right? Well, he didn't even know you. What he wanted seemed to be just something that Kaoru could give him. Then there's Tomoe. She said herself, Kenshin. She thought you were dead."

What the hell? I didn't even register that until now.

"Maybe she was just saying that…"

Kaoru can't be the one who's being targeted here. What the hell is going on?

"Kenshin, something is going on here. I don't think these people are after just you."

Damnit. Kaoru is the source of my happiness. I will die before someone or something hurts her.

I will not be defeated.

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A/N:I am soooooooooooo sorry!!!!

There really is no excuse for this extremely long delay. I've just been super busy. And I kind of forgot where I was going with this. Again, I am so sorry. I hope this chapter makes up for it, kind of.

I'd like some reviews please. Whether you reprimand me for the late update, or you compliment the chapter.. I'd like it none the less.

Again, I'm sorry for the delay… Please review!!

Lonely Soul