Disclaimer I don't own Rurouni Kenshin!

Misao's eyes narrowed for what seemed like the fourth time that night, "Take him and leave now. I will not give you another chance."

The ninja immediately ran to his fallen comrade, picked him up and ran off in the direction that lead away from the Aoiya, looking back every once in a while to see if Misao was following him or not.

Misao looked back towards the direction where the ninja had fled of to and inwardly sighed lightly in relief. Misao was a great ninja, she was the best next to Aoshi, and she was okashira now, but she still preferred not to kill when she was given the chance. That was one of the reasons why Aoshi had not wanted her to be okashira, she was still too kind.

Misao had proven to Aoshi through the past two years though that she could be a successful leader despite her kind heart. Misao was not innocent, she had killed many people in these last two years, but she had not changed in the least. She still had her kindness, unlike Aoshi and Taeya and numerous others that had abandoned their emotions at one point thinking that they were a weakness. She would never detach herself from her emotions; they were what had gotten her this far in life.

Taeya looked deeply at Misao as she studied Misao's face, Misao was thinking about something again. Taeya knew it had to do with herself and Nukasa. Although she and Misao had already talked about the expected fight, Misao still wished and wondered if there was something that she could do to prevent her from fighting with Nukasa.

Taeya felt like she was being pulled into two different directions. One was telling her that she did not have to go and fight against Nukasa, she could just take Misao and Sanosuke with her and live in hiding. That way she would not have to worry about dying in the fight with Nukasa. That was her selfish side.

Her selfless side was telling her that if she did not fight Nukasa then he would go after her friends and cause problems for them. Did she really want to cause problems for others just to be happy her self? No, she would feel guilty the rest of her life knowing that others were suffering in Nukasa's hands when she had the power to stop him, even if it cost her hers.

Her life has been on the top of Death's list for quite some time now and nothing she did would take her off of that list. She did not want to die in the battle with Nukasa, she promised herself that she would do everything in her power to kill Nukasa and keep her own life so that she would be able to live in peace with her found love in Sanosuke.

Taeya looked away from Misao to see that Misao and Aoshi were walking back to the Aoiya and Sanosuke was looking down at her with concern. "Eh, what is wrong, Sano?"

Sanosuke put an arm around her, "Are you okay, kirei? You look worried."

"H-hai, I'm fine, Sano. I was just thinking about something."

"Ne, want to come with me inside?"

"Iie, I want to be alone for a while. I'll go back inside after I have cleared my head."

Sano gave her a light squeeze; "I'll always be here for you. I'll always protect you."

"Hai, I know Sano." Taeya smiled at him as he turned and followed Aoshi and Misao's retreating forms as they entered the Aoiya. Taeya was feeling slightly lost. With this attack on the Aoiya and the people she loved, she had to fight Nukasa and win. There was no other option left to her.

Most people were surprised with the age she had when she killed her first enemy, most people, like Misao, have asked her how she has managed to keep sane. The answer was simple, she did not dwell on the men and women that she had and will kill. They were worriers, they stood in her way, and she simply cleared them from her way. They all knew that one day someone stronger than them would appear and kill them on the battlefield.

To tell the truth, after every battle she had meditated and asked the Buddha to clear her mind of her victim's deaths. She would still meditate at times when she felt that she would not be able to sleep at night due to visits from those whom she had killed. Her hands were tainted with blood of countless others…and she felt remorse. She felt it everyday. And she would continue to feel it until the day she died.

To feel remorse even after so many slayings was a gift, most would not feel any sort of remorse when they killed and Taeya was grateful that she felt emotion after everything that she had been through. Again her skills as a warrior were needed to protect those she loved, she needed to fight…and she will fight.

The ninja that had escaped from the Aoiya with his comrade tucked under his arm looked to his left and then to the right before he jumped over the large fences that surrounded a large dark blue fortress. The wounded ninja still had each of Misao's kunai stuck in both of his arms, but he made quick to ignore the pain emitting from his arms when he reached the main room and saw Nukasa sitting on a large luxury chair.

Nukasa gazed heatedly down at the wounded ninja and the unconscious ninja he had laid down on the ground beside him. "What the fuck happened?" he growled out.

The wounded ninja answered his master timidly, "Misao-sama…she…she beat us." The minute he finished talking the ninja let out a grunt as he felt a strong sting on the side of his face and found him self starring at the wooden flooring beneath him.

"You, one of my best men, was beaten by a bratty girl? She was supposed to be the easiest to kill! How the hell could you loose?" roared Nukasa as he hovered over the kneeling ninja.

The said kneeling ninja, now frightened out of his wits, cautiously lifted up his head to look up at Nukasa as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "She is much stronger than what you had first anticipated my lord. She is just as strong as the others that you seek vengeance upon."

Nukasa let out an irritated sigh, "Keh, no matter. Misao-sama is the last blood born leader of the Oniwabanshu. When she dies, so will her clan. They will have no other Makimachi there to rule them."

"M-master," asked the ninja with caution, afraid of being hit again. "Why is Misao-sama so important?"

"Because baka, she is a Makimachi. Her family has ruled the Oniwabanshu for centuries. With the last Makimachi dead, I can easily gain control of the Oniwabanshu."

The ninja nodded stupidly, "Ah, yes, I see. But…now what? After Taeya-san's fight with Hitomi, they did not expect us to attack them so soon. With our latest attack, they will be more alert now."

"Shut the hell up and stop asking so many questions. I will eliminate Taeya and Misao in due time, it is simply taking me longer than I had first thought. Knowing Taeya-san, she will undoubtedly be thinking of coming to us. Send out spies, but make sure to tell them to stay well hidden."

The ninja nodded, "Yes master!"

Taeya walked quietly up the stairs that lead to her room and the rooms of her loved ones. As she climbed the final stair, Taeya walked to her right hand side and down the hall a little bit to come face to face with Misao's room. Slowly, she knocked on the door and was immediately responded to.

"Nani? What is it?"

"Misao-chan, may I come in?"

"Hai Taeya-neesan." Misao watched her sliding door slide open and Taeya walk inside her room. "What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing. I just wanted to congratulate you on your victory tonight. You have undoubtedly gotten stronger and you proved that out there tonight. Demo…Misao…I still don't think that it is a good idea for you to come with me when I go fight Nukasa."

There was a silence for a moment before Misao spoke, "Taeya-neesan, I really don't give a damn what the hell you think. I am going with you and that is final. I just finished proving to you and Aoshi-san that I am very capable of taking care of myself. Besides, we already talked about my coming with you and you said yes. There is something else that is bothering you. What is it?"

Taeya sighed slightly, "I just think that this battle may determine my fate, Misao-chan, and I do not mean that in a good way at all. I have a feeling that this battle will be my last…and I need to tell you something. Demo, you can't tell anyone Misao-chan…I am trusting you."

Misao nodded her head at Taeya slowly in agreement, "Alright."

"Right…well, Misao-chan…I'm…I'm…expecting a child…"

"NANI?"