STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY:

Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me, I just borrow them. But I Love them a lot.

So PLS dun sue me… I am just a poor 17 yrs old student.. Thanx

AUTHORS NOTES: <Kon'nichiwa…. As you have know... this is my new Fanfic ^__^ Titled: Anata no tame ni... For the sake of you. Well... something like that... Well... I still cannot confirm whether this is a KxK ficcy... Soujirou would be in this ficcy too.. so it would be.. KenxKaoxSou The choice is up to u reviewers ^__^ the more vote for which couple... the couple will win at the last... ^__^>

Anata No Tame Ni

Chapter 11: Reflections...

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Previous: --

The both of them reacted fast, however Kenshin manage to exit the inn first as they went different directions. Soujirou stopped for a moment and look back. Kenshin was already gone.

Because Kaoru is mine

Soujirou furrowed his eyebrows further as he ran into the darkness to the one that held his heart. Will he give Kaoru up?

No... he won't... only... only if Kaoru chose Kenshin and not him... If not... Kenshin can forget about touching HIS Kaoru.

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Kenshin ran as he glanced from side to side sensing for Kaoru's presence. 'She couldn't have ran so far.' Kenshin thought as he furrowed his eyebrows, wanting nothing but to hold Kaoru in his arms. Suddenly Kenshin jerked into a stop as he felt another presence of someone. The lovely scent of jasmine filled his senses.

'Down south!' Kenshin thought happily as he dashed down the gravel road. Kicking on those small little pebbles that blocked him from his Kaoru. He raced pass trees and bushes and finally reaching an opening that immediately took his breath away.

It was a breath-taking site. No. That was an understatement. This place that he reached was beyond gorgeous. It was an utmost attractive site to behold.

The trillions of stars hung upon in the velvet sky and were accompanied by the crescent opaque moon. The sparkling clear river reflected those simmering little stars as it bear a resemblance to those pretty little fireflies dancing on the surface when each ripple was create. The trees at the side of the stream sway gently as the caressing breeze played. And the most beautiful creature that enraptured his full attention, was sitting near the edge of the stream with her legs submerged in the cooling water. It seemed unreal. But there his goddess was. Kamiya Kaoru.

His legs had his own movement as they moved forward. He wanted to be by her side. To tell her he love her more than anything in this world. That their love was beyond his and Tomoe's. He didn't want to sound unfaithful. But... he had never felt anything like this. He felt so much stronger when he was near her. There was no pain he couldn't stand... if he was with her. The fantasy thoughts of Kaoru being with him through those Bakumatsu nights had been a peaceful sight.

But then again... that would be a different case and a different set of feelings. That time, the Battousai within him still rages and would kill anyone who held a weapon against him. Being Kaoru, she wouldn't back off without a fight, Battousai or no Battousai, she would give the person a piece of her mind. That might just get her killed under his katana.

But then again... he had liked her for that spirit wasn't it? Brave, fiery, caring, kind, understanding, sensitive, emotional, lovely, likes complaining, trusting and lastly, cute. However, that's not all. If he were to list out all the reasons why he loved this young lady there, it would take more than a whole lifetime. But that was what made up this Kaoru. His Kaoru. And he loves her.

Unfortunately, the snapping of a twig broke those trains of wonderful thoughts. The raven-haired lady turned around to find her intruder. Those blue innocent eyes were misted with a layer of tears. She quickly stood up from the river and was ready to bolt far away from his catch.

--~~==**==~~--

Kaoru raced across the trees and bushes. Maybe running in a kimono wasn't such a good idea. She was starting to feel the strain on her ankles. The heavy material of the kimono was pulling the weight on her petite body. She slowly set her pace to a walking one to relief the soreness. Then she glanced around.

"Just where the hell am I?" Kaoru asked herself as she looked to her left.

Trees.

She looked to her right.

More trees.

She looked to her back.

Even more trees.

She gazed back front.

Nothing but trees.

She hit her forehead with her palm as she berated herself. How could she have been so careless? This wasn't Tokyo! This was Hokkaido for god's sake! Now how would she know the way back?

Kaoru let out a long sigh as she continued walking forward. One thing she knew. Although she was lost, she was definitely able to find her way out.

Hey! She isn't Sanosuke now is she?

And down south she continued walking. But those two idiots would never leave her alone. Himura Kenshin... Seta Soujirou.

Kaoru furrowed her eyebrows. Why are their actions so complicated? She still remembered vividly what Kenshin had told Soujirou

"Soujirou... Sessha believes that sessha have set the barriers for you to submit."

What barriers were they talking about?

"The barriers are for fools to follow Himura-san. There are no barriers in love."

There are no barriers in love. That sentence coming from Soujirou made her even more confused.

"Soujirou... sessha will repeat only another time... if you ever do what you did just now... you'll meet the consequences... namely... me."

Then again, in the first place, why was Kenshin so darn worked up over her? She was after all... just a little sister to him.

"And why is that so Himura-san or should I say Battousai-san."

Kaoru could still remember the smile that Soujirou wore was taken off instantly when he called Kenshin - Battousai. No. Soujirou wasn't afraid. Soujirou was calling out to him. But for what?

"Because Kaoru is mine..."

Yup, and this sentence exploded Mt Fuji. Kaoru thought and thought again. Why were the two baka-s acting as if... as if she was theirs? And does she have no say to it? They were practically fighting in front of her. Fighting because... of her.

Realization then dawned on her.

"Could it be that?" Kaoru was about to ask herself that question again when she came to a big opening. The tranquil scene caught her utmost attention.

"Ki-kirei..." Kaoru said softly to no one in particular. She took a few steps forward and breathed in a deep breath. It was lovely. The air was fresh and the wind was so comforting.

It was then she found out that she had no shoe on her feet. And those blisters were getting their revenge on her. She bended down to have a touch on the calm water. It was cold and refreshing. She smiled to herself.

She pulled up the hem of her kimono and rolled up to her thigh. Yes. It was obscene, but it was better than getting it wet now wasn't it? The cooling water instantly washed the pain that stapled to her leg. She was already feeling better.

She looked up to the crescent moon. Soujirou and Kenshin must be searching for her somewhere. She just knew it. Maybe she should go back to the inn. She thought. But then... she shouldn't let them off so easily. A little more worry time will do.

...

So peaceful... so quiet. Then why does she still feel so empty? Why does she feel hollow all of a sudden?

Tears involuntarily misted her eyes. It was then, a picture of two particular person flashed through mind.

Seta Soujirou... Himura Kenshin.

Her mind screamed at her. Telling her that she shouldn't, that she couldn't. It was impossible to...

"Could it be that... I love the both of them?" Kaoru whispered to the wind. It was then when Fuji's words came back haunting her.

'But remember Kamiya san, between the two that you wish to heal. You can only fully recover one and you would wound yourself in the end.'

She wasn't sure of her feelings before. Now... it was as if reading from a book. She can no longer deny it. It hurts to see them sad. It hurts to know that they are hiding something from her. It hurts... it rips her heart to know that... you can only have one and you will hurt the other.

She finally got the hidden message behind those profound yet simple words. And how much it hurts to know the truth.

Soujirou or Kenshin?

Her mind didn't know... this wasn't something that the mind chooses to decide. It is the heart. Kaoru knew it... but... she couldn't bear to hurt anyone... especially Kenshin or Soujirou. They meant everything to her. They were the last people in this word would she want to hurt.

It was then she heard a snapping of a twig. She whirled her head behind to find her redheaded rurouni. Her feelings wavered. Her head felt dizzy. She quickly got out of the water and was ready to bolt out of Kenshin's predatory sight when she felt his calloused hand kept hold of her wrist and pulled her to a tight hug.

"Sumanai..." Kenshin apologized as Kaoru struggled to be out of his embrace. She needed time... at least some time to think.

"Let me go Kenshin! Please!" Kaoru pleaded as she tried to escape. But he was not Battousai for nothing. Kenshin had her within his deadly lock.

"I'm not letting go Kaoru-dono. Please understand. We need you back there. I need you." Those three words again. How much effect it had on her. Her wriggling and struggling stopped as she clenched her fist around the magenta fabric.

"I'm not letting you go... ever..." Kenshin continue whispering into her delicate ears. Kaoru only tightened her hold on him. Partly afraid that this was a dream... yet afraid it wasn't a dream. How could reality be so? Kaoru had waited for Kenshin to tell her show signs that he was interested in her. And yes! Finally he was reacting... but why... why is her heart rejecting to absorb what had just happened.

"Why? Why say everything now?" Kaoru asked boldly. She could understand neither Kenshin's motive... nor Soujirou's.

"Because... you have a right to know..." Kenshin answered while tightening his embrace. He wanted to let Kaoru know how he felt since god knows when. But he didn't have the courage. He thought that being Battousai's woman would cause her nothing but danger. He wanted to protect her... not harm her.

"I want to protect you... with this pair of arms." Kenshin continued as he breathed in the lovely scent of jasmine. Kaoru's leg buckled but Kenshin had a firm grip on her.

"I told you that I'm not letting you go was didn't I?" Kenshin smiled as he queried her. She pulled away from the hug and looked behind Kenshin. Where was the other rurouni?

"Where is Soujirou?" Kaoru asked casually as her eyes darted to every shadow searching for him.

"Isn't he with you?" she asked again. Kenshin closed his eyes to press down his anger. Could Kaoru be in love with Soujirou now? It couldn't be... could it?

"He went the opposite direction from me." Kenshin answered swiftly emotionlessly. Kaoru tugged his gi and gave him a concern look.

"Let's go and find him. If you are already this worried... I hate to imagine what is happening to him now." Kaoru uttered as she walked in front of him. Kenshin didn't know what to say. Was Kaoru implying that he wasn't as worried as Soujirou was?

He opened his mouth to protest that statement, but then he noticed that Kaoru was limping. His gaze followed to her foot. He saw that it was covered with terrible splinters and blister. He winced at the sight. His Kaoru must have been through hell with those injuries.

Kaoru took a few seconds before realizing that the she was not standing on the ground surface

"Kenshin! Put me down this instance!" Kaoru demanded as she struggled out of his hold. But it was to no prevail. She suddenly just stopped struggling.

"You hold painful wounds Kaoru-dono. I'll carry you to where Soujirou is... that sessha will." Kenshin's face was only inches away from hers. Kaoru's mind refused to registered anything that happen but to lay in the warm embrace. The pain she felt had already vanished without her knowledge.

--~~==**==~~--

Soujirou continued to pace on the muddy path. His sandals had already been caked with black soggy soil and he wasn't the happiest person right now. But something kept pushing him to continue.

Kaoru...

He had run to the cliffs where Tsukiyama Junrou jumped off. Not even Kaoru's shadow was there. He ran around the forest routes hoping to see Kaoru somewhere. But he found none.

He was really tired and dead worried about Kaoru.

'Where could she have gone?' Soujirou thought seriously and was hoping that Kenshin would have found her by now. His pace slowed down to a jog. His legs were screaming for him to stop this torture on himself. But he couldn't. Because without Kaoru... he won't be the same... not anymore.

"Soujirou!" A cry came from the back. He immediately whirled back to find a red-headed rurouni and in his arms was the woman he wanted most.

"Himura-san! Where did you found Kaoru? Is she fine? What happened to her? Is she feeling better?" Soujirou worriedly look over Kaoru's features. Kaoru was breathing evenly with her eyes peacefully closed. She had fallen asleep. Soujirou smiled briefly. The feeling weighing him down was relieved in a second. Kaoru suddenly stirred and her blue eyes opened. She smiled towards Soujirou and without knowing, she raised her hands and leaned towards him.

Kenshin could not do anything but to just stare and see how his beloved was going to Soujirou's arm and snuggling close to him. With a sweet smile plastered on her face. Soujirou looked more than contented.

His arms felt light without Kaoru.

"Let's go back to the inn, Himura-san."

Kenshin never replied as he just stood there staring at the blank space he now held within his arms.

Had he already lost since he abandoned Kaoru at the bridge?

Soujirou did not wait for Kenshin as he walked ahead first. Knowing that Kaoru was most likely exhausted through the night. However, he did observe the look on Kenshin's face. He felt sorry for him. After all before he came to Kaoru's life, Kenshin was all Kaoru really thought of.

But no. He didn't regret nor will he give Kaoru back to him. Kenshin had made a stupid choice in letting go of her hand; chances were given to him again and again. The last chance was at the bridge where he let her go. Soujirou had came into her life there and then... he was not going out of Kaoru's life without a fight.

Kaoru was only half-asleep. She snuggled further into his neck and smiled slightly as she breathed in his scent. She had gotten to love this scent of his. He smelt like musk with a tinge of forest smell. Her hands clenched around Soujirou's blue gi. She never wants to let go... not now.

Kenshin silently followed behind as his brain washed through many scenes where he hurt Kaoru just to keep her safe.

"Battousai... we need to talk." Saitou said as he blew another cloud of smoke.

"What is it Saitou?" Kenshin asked as he placed his chopsticks down.

"Something that doesn't concern your woman." Kenshin winced a bit.

"I understand. But Let me get this straight... Kaoru dono isn't my woman de gozaru. We will talk in my room."

He had pushed Kaoru away from him. Not once... instead... it was more than what he thought.

"Kaoru dono. We don't need you here. As you have heard Saitou. This has nothing to concern you de gozaru. So could you please let us have some private time together de gozaru ka?"

Could he ever turn back time?

"Saitou, Let me repeat... She is NOT my woman. She is only a little sister to me. Anyway... I am not so desperate in finding a wife who doesn't know how to cook or might even kill me." Shattering of glasses could be heard as everyone looked at the shoji seeing a womanly figure there. Sanosuke opened the door to revealed Kaoru... she was crying.

When Kenshin saw Kaoru's tears then... his whole world crumpled. He didn't meant those words. If he knew that she was there... if only he knew...

"You are just a damn girl! And you are not good at it! What use can you be?"

"You are always being caught or even worse creating more trouble for us. Stop being such a bother. A woman's place is at home, not in battle. You should know that very well. With you there, the enemies would find you as our weak point, because you are just so damn weak."

No... Kaoru wasn't weak... She never was. He never wanted to go so far into hurting her. Had he destroyed what was left in Kaoru's heart? Had he lost her forever then?

He clenched his fist into a tighter ball as his knuckles turned white from the pressure.

He couldn't afford to lose. All of a sudden, he felt warm. Wind rose about him as he turned and followed where Soujirou had just paced. His eyes narrowed as he felt an unfamiliar ki.

In an instance, Kenshin whirled behind and drew his sword out. Kenshin plunged the katana in the gravel ground and dragged the sword out. Sending debris and a force of stones towards the unknown enemy.

As expected, the person jumped away from his hiding place and landed perfectly where Kenshin wanted him to be.

Kenshin smirked as he heard the person gasp when the sliver blade was plastered on his neck. The sharp part... and it reflected molten gold....

TBC….

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Author's Notes:

Kon'nichiwa minna sama…

So, How was this chappie??? Please R&R ne keep me happy and INSPIRED… A happier me… a faster update ne thanks a lot…Do R&R… Arigatou Gozaimasu…

Suggestions are welcome….

Gomen for the slow update...

Minna sama… Konnichiwa… erm... firstly, i would like to apologize for the 'temper' outbreak. Really... that day didn't belong to me. I flunck one of my favorite subjects and i came back to find my stories being flame... being scolded by my mother. -__-'' i really didn't felt good that day. So... Im really sorry... I hope this chapter will brighten up your day. And may you enjoy this chap. There are both SxK and KxK waffy... So I hope i satisify those Soujirou and Kenshin fans' hunger for just this while. About the slow update.. gomen... i really am busy with my school work and test. I'm HAVING my PRELIMS ON MY B'DAE!! Which is like... coming soon!! >__< oh god... Anyway!! R&R ne!! Hope you enjoyed this chappie!!! ^___^

Glossary

-san/dono - honorifics

baka - Stupid // idiot

sessha - This unworthy one (Kenshin uses this when referring to himself)

kirei - beautiful

rurouni - wanderer

bakumatsu - the tokugawa era when Kenshin is still Battousai.

FOR ALL THOSE WHO REVIEWED AND ENCOURAGED ME!! I want to give all of you a big smooch *muacks* and big HUGS!! And A GREAT THANKS!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THERE! You guys RULEZ!!

I have updated tis story first... as i felt really guilty for putting a suspence over the few months that i might just remove this story... gomen nasai ne~! I'm really busy and many things have happened -__-'' prelims are coming... so i really need to study. Wish me luck ne ^__^ arigatou!! I'll update my other story as soon as possible! This i promise all of ya!!

Thank you SO MUCH!!

Anou... those who want me to notify ya when I update do notify urself

ENJOY! Vote for your favourite couple.

Review and make Kamimura Kaoru chan HAPPIE!!