Author's Notes: I sincerely apologize for not writing any sooner. The truth of the matter is I lost my direction when writing this fanfiction. I thought I knew where I was heading but obviously not. I since have found my re-direction but I won't be updating as often as I like. My number one priority will always be my daughter who is now three. How time flies, I hope you enjoy -Destiny18au

Blossom

"Do you think this will work Master?" A deep male voice said, clad all in black.
"Who do you think you are?" The Master's voice boomed, scaring away the birds in the trees. "How dare you question me, I should have you commit seppuku, but I have much larger fish to catch." The black figure was on bended kneww, head lowered to the ground.

"Forgive me Master, I meant no disrespect. I humbly apologize." The Master grunted in satisfaction. The plan had been set in motion, the wheels starting to turn slowly. "This will work because she cares for that Jiro brat. I should have gotten rid of him, after she made sure he could never hold a sword. It doesn't matter we will soon be rid of him, her and the Battosai.

The Master laughed it was cold and hard, almost soul-less. "Jiro is slowly dying you see. I've been poisoning him." The black clad mans head shot up, in what could only be surprise from his stuttering. "M-Ma-Master?" The Master began to pace the wooden floor, a habit it seemed he could not fight.
"I thought that if the brat would suddenly die, it might make Kaoru even stronger, when she is enraged that's when the Rei Hitokiri emerges. Unfortunately I didn't count on the brat being so strong, and then Kaoru taking him away meant his system could recover, so I've had to double my efforts. Hopefully he will not live to see the morning sun." The black clad figure said nothing, no expression conveyed on his face.

"Go! Make sure everything is prepared." The Master commanded. Within a blink of an eye the black clad figure was gone. The black clad figure walked back to a house, this wasn't right using these children as weapons. First Kaoru, then Jiro, the Master had finally snapped. Poisoning a child just to get the killer in the young girl worked up. He was meant to look on to make sure everything was in place, but he wasn't going to do that, he had somewhere else to be, someone else he had to see. He would make up for all his past mistakes, and make sure the girl and the boy were safe at all costs.

"Remember what I told you. Takabari won't fight fair, in his letter he states he wants both of us to come unarmed. Don't even think for a minute he will keep his word. The bastard has done more devious acts than the devil himself. Don't let your weapons be seen, hide your sword in your hamaka. If you can fight with other weapons that are smaller, faster then take them with you. Watch out for poisonous arrows, Takabari's speciality." Kaoru said pacing around the room, either looking for weapons or making sure her hair was secure, she didn't need the disadvantage of not being able to see.

"I know your worried but that won't help Jiro, focus Kaoru. We need more strategy, we have no idea what's going to happen, but we have to be as prepared as we will ever be."

"I'm sorry you know." Kaoru whispered quietly. "Everything that's happened is my fault. Takabari drilled it into my head that you were the cause of all my misery. That I suffered because of you. It's taken me all this time to finally understand, you weren't the one who made my life a living hell or miserable. I think you should keep hating me though, it's for the best." Kaoru picked up the scroll for the seventh time when Kenshin placed his right hand on her left. Kaoru was confused, there was so many things about the world she had yet to learn.

The black clad figure walked through a part of town, that seemed to be even worse than the redlight district. The apartments were small, the pathways in between even smaller, and the reak of booze high on the nose. The figure made his way over to an apartment door and knocked, waiting for the owner to answer. It took about three or four minutes for the man to come to the door, his hair was spiked, his brown eyes shinning with mischief. He was wearing all white in strike contrast to his tanned skin. His lips had a small smile splayed on them. "Junichi man what can I do for you?" He looked to be about sixteen.

"I'm so glad your at home Sagara-san, I need your help." Junichi stated.

"Cut with the formality crap Junichi. I go by Sanosuke or Sano you know that. Well just don't stand there come in."

Author's Notes: To Be Continued...Yes I know I am evil.