"T-Ten-Tenkoku…" she gasps. Ever step he takes toward her, she backs up from. The memories of beatings and her own desperate screams being left unanswered ring in her ears. Her back hits the wall of the dojo, and Rei clearly becomes panicked. Kenshin nor anyone but the supposed "Tenkoku" moves. He grabs her forearms with little resistance. There were tears slipping from the corners of her eyes. He easily forces her to her knees, keeping her arms securely pushed against the wall of the dojo.

"You know, Rei, you are a real pain to track down," he sighs. "Here I was, just wanting to renew a relationship with you, and you just keep seeming to disappear on me," he mutters, fingering the ribbon in her hair.

"I want nothing to do with you," Rei whispers in return, refusing to look him in the face. Kenshin is dumbfounded. He absolutely cannot believe that someone could strike such pure terror into Rei's heart. He locks both wrists securely in one hand, and moves her chin, forcing her to face him, though her eyes won't meet his. He leans in to kiss her, but she turns her face away quickly. He grows visibly angry, grabs her shoulders, and picks her up, banging her back against the dojo wall.

"Don't you turn away from me! Filth!" he sneers at Rei. Something in his voice triggers an anger deep within Kenshin. His eyes get narrow as he approaches Tenkoku, whose hand is raised to hit Rei. Rei has her eyes shut tightly, awaiting impact. Kenshin draws his sakabatou and slides it in front of Tenkoku's neck, the dull side facing his neck.

"It would be advised that you release her," Kenshin's voice has clearly lost all patience. Tenkoku glares at him, but drops Rei who clutches herself so tightly, she begins to draw blood. Her arms are scared with many such marks. Tenkoku backs away.

"Put the sword away," he says, with his hands raised.

"Leave," is Kenshin's only reply. Seeing no other options, Tenkoku, begrudgingly leaves.

"I'll get you back Rei!" he yells at the door. "Mark my words…" Kenshin slams the door in his face, and makes sure it is securely locked. Rei stands up slowly, still clutching her arms and still trembling.

"Reiken-dono," Kenshin whispers, seeing blood beginning to seep through the sleeves of her robe. "Rei-!"

"Don't touch me!" her voice is nothing but a harsh whisper, as she looks into Kenshin's eyes, giving him the first look at her pained crystal blue eyes. Unexpectedly, he wraps his arms around her in a hug. Her arms drop to her sides, and he picks one up to examine it.

"Yahiko," he calls.

"Yeah?"

"Go get Megumi-dono," he smiles over his shoulder to him. "She'll probably need to check out this," he tells him, and Yahiko takes off. Rei pulls harshly from his grasp. "Kaoru-dono, will you take Reiken-dono back to her room? I think she should get some rest." Rei glares at him with grudging eyes, and turns sharply away from his kind stare as Kaoru approaches and takes her inside.

Shinkage stands in shock, thinking back to the day before.

"Shishou," Shin calls as she begins toward the dojo.

"Yes?" she asks, stopping to turn around.

"Is there anything you're afraid of?" he asks. She looks at him for a moment.

"Yes," she replies, reluctantly.

"What?" he asks.

"If you ever see me get afraid, then you'll know what I'm scared of," she sighs.

Now he knew.

Rei seemed to be regaining her self-confidence and become herself again as Kaoru lead her to her room. She muttered curses under her breath about being so weak and making a fool of herself, that weren't really meant for Kaoru's ears.

She flopped down in a corner, scowling the whole time.

"I should've killed him," Rei mutters under her breath, as Kaoru instructed her to take off the top of her robe so Megumi could get a better look at her self-inflicted injuries.

"I know it's none of my business, Rei-san, but… who was he?" Kaoru asks, well aware that she was on thin ice.

Rei's eyes were icy, but they hadn't regained their hitokiri edge yet.

"Someone from my past," was her reply. Kaoru didn't know exactly what she meant, but decided, for her own safety, to leave it at that.

Megumi arrives moments after, and was shocked to see the multitude of pale scars, which covered her arms.

"What a thing!" Megumi gasps, although Rei seemed quite indifferent to it. "Rei! How could you do this to yourself?" she demands.

Seeing that Megumi probably won't be a lot of help, Rei quickly wraps the wounds then pulls her robe back on.

"Don't worry, it's not a big deal," she tells them without much conviction.

"It is a big deal!" Megumi argues, "To hurt yourself like that… how could you?" her eyes are worried and honestly concerned.

Rei lets out a sigh. "A cowardly escape," she replies, "That's all."

Megumi refuses to settle for her answer and doesn't care how much she may be pressing her luck with Rei, she wants answers. "What were you running from?" Megumi demands. Rei doesn't reply. "Answer me!" she commands. She sees something in Rei's eyes that strikes her. Maybe they were wrong about Rei. It was possible that Rei was an extremely deep person and hid it all behind a mask of emptiness. It wouldn't be their first encounter with such a person. "Kaoru-san," she sighs. "Would you leave us for a bit?"

Kaoru isn't quite sure of what Megumi has in mind, but does as she's asked.

"Now, you can tell me," Megumi announces. "I'm sure that no matter what's happened, I can relate-"

"What makes you think you can even begin to understand?" Rei hisses, crossing her arms protectively over her chest.

Megumi's tone softens considerably as she sets a hand on Rei's shoulder. "Please, Rei, I think I can understand… but I can't until you tell me," she coaxes.

"You're a doctor, Megumi, know your place," Rei snaps without a second thought.

"Healing isn't only the body, Rei, it's the mind as well!" Megumi protests. Rei's clear blue eyes shimmer as she stands up. "And as your doctor, I demand that you relax and get some rest! You're so stressed out you could give yourself a heart attack!" Megumi knew it was unlikely. If her body was anything like Kenshin's, she could push it far beyond its natural limits. Rei seemed to be well aware of the fact as well.

"Doubtful."

Megumi was fighting a losing battle, and she knew it. "You're not to leave this dojo until you've recovered!" she announces.

"Recovered from what?" Rei sneers.

"Recovered from yourself," Megumi replies, standing up.

"What?"

"You're your own worst enemy Rei. You have things in your mind you need to come to term with, then you can really begin to heal. And I believe the best way to do that is to open your heart to us…" Megumi trailed as she saw the look on Rei's face.

"If my life has taught me anything it is this," she pauses. "Never to allow anyone into my heart again!" she yells and hurries from the room, leaving Megumi stunned.