Ohhh well, I know this took me a little chibi tinny beet long, but at least was sooner than Chapter 4 ne?, I hope you all "wonderful and kind" readers aren't mad at me, I swear I do my best.

To be honest, this chapter was going to be released sooner, but I don't know how, everything I had write about it was erased from my computer ::sob:: I nearly cried!!! I was soooo sad.

Chapter 5: The Wolf's daughter

Kenshin was pacing around the cramped spaced of his cell. He was thinking madly about everything that happened in the last 12 hours, and he told himself that he was an idiot. He hadn't even the lightest idea of what Saitoh had to do with all this, but maybe, he thought, the Mibu Wolf remembered his past life -- and that was definitely not a good thing. How had the Mibu wolf found him? Or more important, why had he reacted in the way he had? He had been furious, Kenshin had no doubt about that, but for what reason? He didn't know.

The redheaded stoped a moment. There was a strange sound coming from outside. He tried to listen closely, but the voices were too soft.

.....

"Do you know who I am?" asked Kaoru imitating (incredibly well ) the tone her father used when he was pissed off.

She hadn't had any problems getting inside the school using the excuse that she was going to visit her father. The guard had no objections when he found out who her father was, as the captain was VERY well-known at the school. And because no one kept a record of when the captain was in or out, the guard had let her pass without a fuss. But keeping her charm and shiny smile, like any daughter looking for her father, was driving her mad, and now the poor official in charge of guarding the jail was paying for it. Here, Kaoru had found a big problem because it was forbidden for civilians to even get near that area, much less to see the prisoners.

She noticed with satisfaction how the official trembled in front of her. Kaoru smiled to herself. Of course the poor man knew who she was, she thought maliciously, but that didn't matter, she was going to make it that much clearer.

"I am the daughter of Captain Hayashibara Hajime," she said, walking closer to the officer and looking him straight in the eyes.

The official was at least a head taller than she, but from the way he was sweating and trembling, he didn't seem to notice.

Kaoru put on her best imitation of the Mibu's smile, she breathed deeply and tried to relax. She recalled everything she had learned about her mother, the wolf's tamer, like she used to call her. Yeah, maybe it would be better if she eased herself up a little and tried to reason with him.

"Well, now that we have been introduce and all..." she said kindly, "…could you please open that door? I need to see the man you have detained; it is a matter of great importance and very 'personal' -" she said, emphasizing the last word "- so, if you don't let anybody inside while I am there, I know that my father would be pleased," added Kaoru with a shine in her eyes that made the official tremble worse than jelly thinking what would happen if the captain or his daughter were not 'content'.

"Mi-Miss Hayashibara..." he stammered.

"Oh come on, let's no be so formal, just Kaoru, please," interrupted Kaoru smiling sweetly.

The official swallowed hard he didn't like what was happening. No, not one bit. Everything has been pretty strange. He had just begun his shift a couple of hours ago, but before the previous officer had left, he had passed a warning concerning the prisoner inside. His friend had said that the Captain Hayashibara himself -- known in all Japan as the Mibu Wolf, terror of all the cadets, the one who had more medals for special services than anybody else and one who had refused promotion twice, because he said, he would never became a desk oldie -- had arrived the previous daybreak with an unconscious man and put him in a cell, forbidding anybody to look or talk to him.

And now the Wolf's daughter was standing in front of him asking to see the prisoner. Why haven't he stayed in bed with Miori that day? The poor official didn't know.

"Ah, Kaoru-san, you father said that no one..."

'Oh great. He is not going to let me inside', she thought. Kaoru had tried to be nice, but she was not the patient type like Aoshi or her mother.

"Look, Sargent. Let's make things easy for both of us. I am going to see the man inside, and if someone asks why you let me in, you just answer that I made you do it, understand?" said Kaoru frowning.

The official couldn't help but smile at Kaoru's words.

"Make me?" repeated the official, confused but doubting that the little girl was talking seriously. After all, he was much taller than she and stronger. The girl didn't know how well-trained the cadets were, how many methods of attack and defense he had learned, as well as the classes of survival, basic of course, this was the cadets school after all, but he was very proud of having been one of the best in sports.

"Yes, Sergeant," answered Kaoru with a very serious tone and without a smile on her face. "Do you wish to see how well-trained the Wolf's daughter is?"

The Sargent swallowed again, harder that before, and stepped back quickly. Had it been his imagination, or the girls eyes had suddenly change color for a second? And why was it so cold in the room? ....

Kenshin focused on just listening, trying to catch some words that were been said in the other room, but his efforts were in vane. Suddenly, he felt an intense explosion of ki. It was strong, but fast, and for a couple of seconds he doubted that it had really happened because the energy that he felt was absolutely familiar -- but that wasn't possible... wasn't it?

A second later, the door that connected the cells together was opened, and an official hurried inside, then stepped aside to let another person into the room.

Kenshin looked at the official, his left eye was swollen and his lip broken, and he also was walking with an arm pressed against his stomach. 'What happened to him?', thought Kenshin surprised. The next moment Kaoru came walking into the cell. Firmly but painfully the Sargent made a reverence and left limping, closing the door behind him.

Kaoru looked around. The six cells were very small and dark, and in the last one was the man she had been looking for.

"Kenshin!" she yelled happily while she ran to him.

Kenshin smiled and stepped closer to the door of his cell. The bars of his prison separated them, but that didn't stop him of hugging her tightly. He could feel her shaking under his arms, and worrying, he moved away just enough to see her face. But Kaoru had her face down, and she refused to look him in the eyes.

He was confused, and with his hand, he raised her chin, becoming surprised when he found her beautiful face covered with tears and her eyes closed, but even that way Kenshin noticed the guilty expression that tugged at her features. 'Guilt?' Thought Kenshin worried.

"Kaoru?" he asked without letting go of her face.

She opened her eyes slowly. "I am so sorry that all this happened," she whispered, indicating with a light move of her head the row cells. "Everything is my fault, and I am so, so sorry..." she added, her voice cracking as new tears fell limply down her checks.

Kenshin looked at her, confused. 'How could it be all her fault?' He thought. "What do you mean? And..." he added, stumbling over the question while his checks became a little warmer "... what happened exactly yesterday? I can't seem to remember."

Kaoru looked at her shoes ashamed, the same warmth was on her checks as well. "What is the last thing to remember, Kenshin?" she asked, imaging what answer he would give.

"Well, we were –er- kissing and, um, nothing. From there I can't remember anything more. I just awoke here and..." his voice became colder "Saitoh was also here."

"Oh my god, did he hurt you, Kenshin?" she asked alarmed, looking at Kenshin closely and getting scared when she noticed , for the first time since her arrival at the prison the horrible bruise on his check, that by now had faded into blue and gray.

"No, he didn't do anything to me. He was just standing there," he said pointing with a nod of his head to the place were Hajime had stood. "And then he left; that was near two or three in the morning, and since then no one else has come."

Kenshin saw how an expression of relief replaced the precious expression from Kaoru's face. With one of his hands he caressed her black hair while the other pressed into the hollow of her back to pull her closer. Her hair was a little ruffled, and Kenshin was sure that since last night, she hadn't gotten any sleep. The same hand that was previously in her hair was now on her check. With the back of his hand he brushed away the remaining tears, and softly he leaned toward her, kissing her tenderly for in between the bars. He couldn't do more than that as the bars were in the way, but Kenshin hoped that this way, she would understand the he wasn't blaming her for anything. And for selfish reasons as well -- Why denied the fact that he wanted to kiss her and feel her close? His efforts were reward by the warmth of her smile.

"What I don't understand Kaoru, is what Saitoh has to do with all of this. Do you think he remembers something of the..." he fell silent as he felt her shaking in his arms, and he could sense how she was... in panic?

'Ohh great, and now where do I begin?', thought Kaoru desperately. She knew she would have to explain everything sooner or later. "You see Kenshin, Saitoh... Saitoh was mad at you because, well, because he's my... my, my, my fa-father," stammered Kaoru. She couldn't lift her eyes from the floor, she just hadn't the courage to meet his gaze. But after several minutes of silence, she used all her force of will to rise her head.

His eyes were bigger than tea saucers. And Kaoru was surprised of the empty look that he had. But little by little he began to blink, and Kaoru swore that she heared an 'oroo' escape from his lips, but the word was so soft, that even though she was very close to him, she wasn't sure if he had really said it or she had just imagined it.

Kenshin looked at her with empty eyes, and he blinked a few times, trying to convince himself that what he had heard was just a figment of his imagination. When he realized that what he had heared, was indeed what she had said, his eyes opened so much that he was sure they would drop out of their sockets.

'Sweet lord, NO, Saitoh, The Mibu Wolf, Saitoh himself saw me with HIS daughter no less, and she was without... and I was... OHHH MY GOD!!! Now I'm gonna die, or worse, he is going to lock me in jail for the rest of my life. He is not going to let me get near Kaoru again, not even with a net in the middle. WHAT AM I GONNA DO??!!' thought Kenshin desperately.

Kaoru could very well imagine what kind of thoughts must be flashing across his mind. But she was not going to let her father step between her and the love of her life –er- two lives.

Kenshin blinked a little more, trying to erase thoughts of the possible kinds of torture from his mind. He then looked at Kaoru. She had a look of pure determination and trust in her blue eyes. Kenshin couldn't stop himself from smiling, at the same time relaxing a bit. She was right. No matter who Kaoru's father was, that wouldn't change his feelings for her; they would find a way, together, to solve the problem.

"Don't worry Kenshin. You'll see; everything will be fine. We just have to be careful and take care of everything that we do. Dad is angry, but it will surely pass. You should have seen him when he met my first boyfriend..." she added smiling, but after remembering what 'exactly' he did to her first boyfriend, her smiled faded a little, "... emm, we better focus on the present, ne?"

Kenshin looked at her jealously. Whatever Saitoh had done to the boyfriend of HIS Kaoru, he had well deserved, he thought fervently, noticing, just seconds after, that now HE was the boyfriend her father would punish.

"Kaoru..." said Kenshin trying to understand the situation so he could face it later, "What exactly happened last night? And why am I detained?"

Kaoru sign before she started.

.

.

.

Hajime exhaled the smoke of the cigarette slowly while he looked at his son who was seated in front of him. The fact that his daughter had sent him to speak for her meant that she was desperate. Of course that didn't matter at all to the Wolf. 'Let the girl shout, scream, cry all she wanted. Time would help her forget the ahou.'

But there was something about the kid that made him interested in the boy personally. He looked again at his son for a couple of seconds and then looked down, at the file that Cho had given him only minutes before.

What his son was asking wasn't really that much. Just a second chance for Niiyama. Aoshi promised to watch over them so nothing like last night would happen again. Hajime was convinced that it would be a long time before his daughter lost her head like that again... but of course one could never be sure with kids these days.

But letting the son of a &%$# free now without a proper punishment was simple ridiculous. It couldn't happen. But the subject in question was quite interesting.

It seemed that his father was one of the greatest swordsman ever. He had won every tournament in his category with a large margin, and he had taught his style to his son: Niiyama Kenshin. Hajime had also learned his sword technique from his father, and his father from his grandfather before him. And the so succession had continued for several generations.

But would Niiyama's millenary style would be better than his? He smiled when the idea hit him. He rise his head and looked at his son who had been waiting quietly for several minutes.

"All right, I am going to give the ahou a second chance..."

Aoshi looked at his father. He was sure that there must be a catch in his words -- or he was getting deaf. No. Definitely he wouldn't let Niiyama go like that. "What's the condition Otou-san"

The wolf smiled. The smile that everyone knew... and feared. "He has to beat me in Kendo."

Aoshi looked his father, surprised. He listened to the time and place for the match. Minutes later he was in his car. He took out the cell phone from his pocket and dialed the number of his sister. "Kaoru, otou-san agree to free Niiyama, without any accusation on the condition that he beats father in kendo."

Aoshi listened to the answer of his imouto from the phone: "Father wants what??? !!! Is he crazy??!! I am going to speak with him. He will see!!! I am going to beat him into puree!! Kenshin can't... wait... what? NO! Kenshin, but, of course you, but it's just that... but, but.... argh!! Aoshi? Ok, where is going to be?"

Aoshi frowned, 'She couldn't be with... that is not possible', he thought, "Kaoru, where are you?" he asked her coldly.

"Mm, ohh... my battery, I can't hear you very well brother..."

Aoshi sighed, 'At least she has her good humor back,' he thought. "Kaoru, the Matsukawa dojo, in an hour. Hurry."

"Thanks!!" she replied before turning off her phone.

Aoshi closed his eyes briefly. The problems his little baby sister had gotten herself into were big. He had his doubts about the fight, but there was nothing he could do now. His father was going to make Niiyama suffer. Of that he was sure. But he didn't understand why his father wanted such a thing. Of course he wouldn't miss this encounter. He just hoped his sister and Niiyama were on time as the Matsukawa dojo was far from the cadet's school. And Otou-san would not be happy if they weren't on time.

Aoshi turn on the car and drove to the west, to the dojo.

.

.

.

Kaoru sighed. She still had her cell phone in her hand and was looking at it fixedly. But it was not the cell phone what was on her mind right now. She was thinking on the consequences of the fight. Now she remembered (with some mortification), once upon a time when her father, no, Saitoh Hajime, had fought against Kenshin. She didn't want that to happen ever again. And the last thing she had ever wanted was that the repeat would be her fault. 'Why do they have to always be fighting?' She thought. Didn't Kenshin deserve some peace? If she hadn't had lost her head like last night maybe nothing of this would have happen.

Kaoru sighed again, but she raised her head when she felt the warm touch of strong hands on her shoulders. And when she did it, she found herself looking at the most beautiful eyes of the world, in her humble opinion.

Kenshin was regarding her calmly. It wasn't difficult for him imagine what she was thinking. She was worried, and it was his fault. But there was nothing to worry about, he thought. Kenshin was looking at everything pretty simply. He had found her. And he was NOT going to loose her. If that means that he had to make the Wolf eat the dirt of the floor, so be it. He was not going to let anything or anyone step between them. Of course he would have preferred to be on the good side of his future father-in-law, but the fact the Mibu's Wolf had to be that man from all the men in the world made him wonder if the gods truly liked to watch him suffer.

But that didn't matter. He would find a way. What he had to do now was make Kaoru smile. He could not let her be this depressed.

"Daijoubu Kaoru," he said while softly stroking her long black hair. "Everything is going to be fine. I just need to..." he would have continued but the same official that had let Kaoru in opened the door again.

The poor man looked at the young couple nervously. His stomach still hurt, and he was sure that the miss had broken a couple of his ribs. That was ridiculous, of course, because if it were true, then he wouldn't be able to walk at all. He swallowed before be spoke. "Niiyama Kenshin, from superior orders you have been released." He swallowed again, noticing that the pair hadn't move at all. The redhead man was still hugging the miss, daughter of the captain. He kicked himself mentally for that thought. It was pathetic of him to have been unable of think about the miss without the word "miss". He sighed again. It would be better if he left now, before the miss got angry with him. Oh no, not again.

The poor official was leaving when the sweet voice of the miss stopped him. The Sargent looked at her blue eyes, a little afraid. A cold sweet was falling from his brow. He knew he shouldn't have entered, he just knew it...

Kaoru coughed a little. Maybe she had been too mean with the man. Weeeeellll, what have been done was done, ne? "Shouldn't you open the door then?" she asked as kindly as possible. There was no need to scare him further.

The official almost fell. Off course!! How could he have forgotten? He took the key set from his belt and stepped closer to the cell where the red- haired man was, all the time murmuring his apologies.

Kenshin was amazed. The poor man was completely and utterly frightened. What could have Kaoru done to a perfectly well-trained official of the military force? A not too gentle smiled played on his mind. Ohhh, Kenshin knew what kind of things his Kaoru would be willing to do if she was desperate... even more if she was desperate to see a man with only a single official separating them... What wouldn't he have given to have been there. He thought that there wasn't nothing cuter that his Kaoru showing the weak side of the weaker sex. Kenshin laughed silently. Ohh the poor man...

The hand of the poor official were sweating and trembling so much that he couldn't choose the right key from the other five of the set, even though the keys were numerated with big numbers.

Kaoru sighed. This was too much. If someone didn't do anything soon, she would certainly lose her head. Her brother was the patient one, not her.

Kenshin cleared his throat loudly. It was better to save the man from the fury of his Kaoru. It wasn't that he didn't want to see her in action, but this wasn't the time. He had things to do and not to much time for them. "Maybe I could open the door, Sergeant. I think it is easier to do for inside, that I do." It was a blatant lie of course, but by the time the official had opened the door, the deadline for arriving at dojo would have passed... or Kaoru would have made the official into a chopped salad.

The Sargent raised his head to look the redhead. What he was asking for was not orthodox. It was utterly forbidden for a civilian to use the keys, even worse for a prisoner. He was just going to tell him that his idea was completely absurd when out of the corner of his eye he saw the miss's look.

Seconds later Kenshin was giving the set of keys back to the Sergeant and was walking out of the prison with Kaoru's hand in his, and on his way to the dojo where he would have to fight against the Mibu Wolf, practically for the hand of his daughter... if he had seen that plot on the TV, he would have thought that is was absurd.

---- It will continue ----

So, what do you think? This fic is coming close to the end. I hope everyone liked it.

The next chapter would be the fight!!! Any suggestions?? Sano is running a bet, he goes for Kenshin of course.

I think it's pretty obvious that Kaoru has inherited her father's patience, ne? While Aoshi has his mother's.

Don't forget to review!!!!