Part 1

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

She sent him flying through the air one last time, then reprimanded her attacker.

"Yahiko! If you will not pay attention then go get cleaned up and do soemthing useful!"

Kaoru turned around and placed her bokken on the wall rack, she began to leave the dojo, but turned around and in a softer voice asked, "Yahiko, is something wrong?"

Yahiko looked up at her startled. "Not really, I'm sorry Kaoru, it's just my mind is elsewhere."

For a moment it looked like he would say something else but then stubbornly set his jaw.

Kaoru nodded her head. "If something's troubling you, you know you can come talk to us, ne?"

"Hai."

Kaoru nodded her head. "Whatever it is, I want a focused yahiko in lessons tomorrow okay?"

"Hai."

With a nod of her head, Kaoru walked out of the dojo, and headed towards her much longed for bath.

Yahiko looked after his teacher and sighed. How could he possibly tell her or even Kenshin that it was them he was thinking about, after he had overheard a conversation of Tae's at the Akabeko. He realized they were right, Kaoru and Kenshin deserved to be together, but what was holding them back. He didn't know why, but they were his family, he wanted them happy, and more importantly he wanted them together.

Yahiko was growing up, and for the first time in his life he began to truly understand what love really was, and it was thoughts of that which had distracted him during practice and well into the night before.

Kaoru emerged freshly cleaned from her bath to a very empty dojo. Yahiko had left, probably to go ponder whatever was bothering him at the riverside. Kaoru noticed that the tofu bucket was gone, meaning Kenshin must be out buying the groceries.

She poured herself some tea, noting that Kenshin had left it steeping for her, and sat down on the dojo steps enjoying the peace of the pleasantly crisp spring day.

She drifted off into a relaxed meditative trance, which was broken by a voice.

"Excuse me? This is the Kamiya dojo, ne?"

Kaoru opened her eyes in startlement, but also in a friendly greeting, as she raised from her perch on the steps towards the stranger.

"Hai, this is the Kamiya dojo, I'm the owner, can I help you?"

The man smiled brightly, and asked in a hesitant voice, "Are you Kamiya Kaoru?"

Kaoru blinked and nodded her head in acquiesence, "I am she."

"Kaoru-chan," with a energetic yip he rushed forward and gave her a near bone crushing hug. "I never thought I'd see you again! My you've grown! You're such a beautiful woman."

Kaoru stood there in shocked confusion, gently pushing away from those encumbering arms.

"Um excuse me, who are you?

The man quickly let her go. "Forgive me, how rude of me not to introduce myself, or expect you to recall me after all these years."

"Kaoru-chan, it's me, Sumiyo Aoi."

Kaoru's eyes widened in shock as she visibly paled.

"That can't be! Sumiyo-san is dead, just who are you," her voice rasped as she looked at this pretender before her.

The man sighed, "Allow me a few moments of your time to prove beyond a doubt that I'm the Sumiyo Aoi from your childhood. Please?"

Kaoru pondered it over, and on the slim hope that this really was her childhood friend she gave him a chance.

"Better talk fast."

"Kaoru-chan, do you remember that time I fell into the river when I tried to retrieve your hair ribbon from that bush by the water's edge?"

"How could I forget! You fell in and stood up with the ribbon draped decoriously on your head hanging in the middle of your face."

The two of them laughed at the memories.

"Aoi-chan, there is something I don't understand. How did you survive in that storm?"

"I don't really know myself…. I saw my parents swept overboard, and I followed in a few moments after sme more pounding ways… I lost unconsciousness and when I woke I was in some small fishing village in a little hut being cared for by an elderly widowed woman.

I searched for my family, but everyone had died in that wreck except me, so I stayed with that woman, she raised me and treated me as if I was her son, and I couldn't leave her, she was so sad and lonely. She finally passed away a few months ago. As I went through the hut I found some debris she had salvaged with me from the wreckage, and learned just where I had lived. When I was little I had never really known where I was living. I then decided to come here to try to find you and to carry out our parent's wishes."

"Our parent's wishes?"

"Hai, our engagement."

Kaoru stodd there jaw gaping, she had totally forgot, but she knew what he said was true, her parents had promised her to his family when she came of age.

"You are still unmarried, ne Kaoru-chan?"

"Hai."

"Kaoru-chan, I'm sorry, this is all to sudden for you, ne?"

"Hai, it feels as if I'm talking to a ghost."

Aoi nodded his head fully understanding. "I imagine it is. Why don't I go, and let you get used to this. I'm staying at the Seiko Inn if you need me. Otherwise I'll come back in a few days. Ok?"

Kaoru nodded, "I think that would be best, it's just so shocking."

"Ja mata ne, Kaoru-chan. Ki o tsuketene."

"You take care as well."

And with a wave of his hand, a smile and a wink he walked out of the dojo gates, just as Kenshin rounded the corner.

Hmm, wonder what he wanted at the dojo...

Kenshin walked in the dojo gates and saw Kaoru standing in the apth in utter shock.

"Kaoru-dono, daijobu?"

Kaoru blinked and smiled hesitantly at Kenshin.

"Hai, I'm just shocked, someone from my past popped back up. Can you take care of dinner? I have some errands to run."

"Hai."

"Arigato Ken-san, I'll be back by dinner time."

Kaoru went back into the dojo, grabbed her purse, and walked out of the dojo only to aimlessly walk around the city.

What am I going to do.

Stranger from the Past ~ Part 2

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

It was when Kaoru walked past a shop on the far side of town, and felt her stomach wrap bitterly around her backbone, that she realized it was well past dinnertime.

I should hurry back, they'll worry…

She arrived at the dojo, hearing Yahiko complain bitterly to Kenshin on why they were waiting for Kaoru to eat.

"It's okay, I'm here. Sorry I was late."

She said as she slipped into the dojo. She was surprised to find not only Kenshin and Yahiko there, but Sano, Megumi, and Tae as well.

"Well only a country bumpkin would leave her man hungry and waiting," said Megumi as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Jo-chan, your timing sucks." Replied Sano indifferently as he began to dig into his meal.

Kaoru arched an eyebrow at Sano, "well you could just not come get free meals off of me you know……"

Tae looked at Kaoru and giggled, "I think that's all he knows how to do, how to get free meals."

"Definitely, that and destroy property….."

Yahiko laughed at Sano, and Sano whapped him on the head, which caused Yahiko to start gnawing on his hair.

Kenshin merely looked at them in amusement, smiled at Kaoru and handed her dinner to her.

Kaoru looked at them, her family, and felt her heart constrict painfully.

I have to tell them….

The meal was a normal meal for them, noisy, and full of affection. Kenshin noticed that Kaoru barely ate her food, that she picked at it and had a distant look on her face.

Kaoru-dono…..

Kaoru finally pushed away her food, and the others looked up at her.

"There's something I should tell you guys…." Kaoru whispered, staring at her fidgeting hands.

"A childhood friend stopped by today. I was surprised because I thought he and his family all dead years ago. But it's really him. And, our parents betrothed us to one another when we were young…"

Everyone looked at her in mild shock. Kenshin's startled violet eyes had widen in surprise, and then his head bowed, his hair hiding his face.

"Want me to go beat him up and tell him to get lost?"

"Yeah Sano and I can go beat some sense into this creep!"

"Who said you were coming, shorty?"

"HEY!"

Sano and Yahiko faded into the background as they wrestled one another. Kaoru merely sighed.

Tae looked up at her, "but I thought…. I would say he has no right anymore if you thought he was dead all these years…."

Megumi looked at her, "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know, I just don't know…."

Her news had effectively interrupted everyone's dinner. Megumi had to get back to the clinic, and Sano decided to escort her back. Tae needed to return tot he restaurant, and Yahiko went with her because he had promised to come work that nite with Tsubame.

Kaoru gathered the dishes up with a sigh and went into the kitchen to clean them. Kenshin helped her.

I need to talk to Kenshin……

"Kaoru-dono, I have some errands to run, can you handle things here?"

"Hai," replied Kaoru softly in a whisper, feeling crestfallen.

"Ja ne, I'll see you later."

"Bye Kenshin."

Kaoru looked after him as he walked out of the dojo, and her tears began to mingle with that of the soapy water in the sink.

What am I going to do?.. Kenshin..

The evening past slowly, Yahiko returned late, and with a sleepy yawned wished Kaoru goodnite as he sought his bed.

Kaoru sat on the dojo steps waiting on Kenshin, the day was long ago a memory, and she dozed off only to awaken from Yahiko's snores. With sad resignation Kaoru went to her room and fell into a restless sleep.

She woke a few hours later, unable to sleep anymore, and got up to get some water to drink and to wash her face.

As she walked towards the kitchen she saw the unmistable red hair leaning up against the dojo on the steps.

"Kenshin," she asked falteringly as she approached him.

"Kobanwa Kaoru-dono."

Kenshin closed his eyes in bitterness.

After all the things we've been through, after I told her I love her, I still lose.

"I hope you're happy with him Kaoru-dono, with him I'm sure you can find peace."

Kaoru stared in shock at the back of his head, tears falling unheeded down her cheeks.

"Baka, how could you just give me away like that? Throw what we have away...."

She stared at the back of his red head and stepped forward, he turned his head his eyes staring into her crying ones. With a sound that tore a anguished cry from her heart, and a hollow loud reverberating thwack, she slapped him.

She stared with him, horror in her eyes at what she had done, her hands coming in front of her mouth as she muttered apologetically...."Gomen... gomen....."

She muttered as she hurriedly turned and ran away, collapsing into her room, her feet turning numb underneath her, as she cried herself to exhaustion and then a very unrestful sleep.

Kenshin with tears misting in his own eyes gingerly brought a hand to the bruising welt on his face. He closed his eyes a few lone tears falling.

Kaoru-dono... I'm so sorry for hurting you...

He sat there thinking.

Maybe it's best if I become a rurouni again... She deserves to be happy...

With his decision made he returned to his room, he couldn't leave not without telling her goodbye in person. She deserved that. And he needed to apologize to her for the way he had hurt her.

He packed the few small possesions he had, and spent the rest of the night laying in bed staring at the ceiling, as he tried to cpe with the rage of emotions within him.

There will never be any peace for me...Tomoe... now Kaoru as well...

Stranger from the Past ~ Part 3

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Kenshin never did sleep that night, and well before the sun ever peeked over the horizon, Kenshin rose from his bed, tidied up the room, and made breakfast.

Kenshin looked at through the window in the kitchen out into the dojo yard, and saw n his mind's eye so many images, so many memories of Kaoru. Of her smile, her laughter, her anger as she chased Yahiko with a bokken, her loyalty, her sense of justice as she fought those enemies who came after him or came after any innocent. He recalled the tears in her eyes…, the quiet look of her face, when she was thinking, staring up at the night sky.

"Oro," he said surprised looking down at his hand. Only then realizing he looked down, that he had cut himself while cutting up the vegetables for breakfast.

With a mechanically efficiency he tended to his small wound as he finished up breakfast and left it by the cooling stove to keep warm. He didn't eat a bite himself, he had no appetite to eat, not this morning, or maybe any other.

Why eat… why live… again I'm left with nothing…

Even Kenshin was surprised at his own thought, despite it all he could only recall one other time when he felt a deeply depression melancholy like this, after Tomoe's death. Then he lived cause dying would be the easy way, he had things to atone for. But somehow even though he felt he had things to atone for, he found forgiveness in Kaoru's heart, he found healing and comfort and a place he could call home. But without that he was even more lost than after Tomoe's death, because now he had no purpose at all…

Kaoru… Why is it that my love ones always leave me, or I them? Maybe I'm cursed and was never meant to know happiness….

Kenshin blinked back stubbornly the tears that threatened to spill, took a deep breath and decided he couldn't say goodbye to Kaoru not like this, he needed to get himself in better control.

He headed out of the dojo only to bump into a yawning, slowly waking, barely human thing that could be called Yahiko.

"Morning," the bleary eyed youth mumbled.

"Ohayou, Yahiko."

Yahiko rubbed his eyes and blinked at Kenshin." Oi are you going somewhere?"

"Hai, I have some errands to run, I left breakfast by the stove, take care of things till I get back please."

Yahiko nodded his head, the sleep clearing from his eyes. "You can count on me Kenshin."

Yahiko trailed off a bit more alert to go get cleaned up, Kenshin with a heavy sigh set off so he could rebuild the walls in his heart.

"Hey hag! It's time you got up!"

Kaoru awoke quite rudely to Yahiko pulling at her and calling her hag.

"BAKA!" she screamed as she gave him a good whallop on the head. "How dare you go into a ladies room!"

"Lady, what lady? I only see an old ugly hag late for my lessons!"

Yahiko saw the flash of anger and hurt in Kaoru's eyes, and only then saw the puffy swollen eyes, and dark circles beneath them, and instantly regretted every word he said.

With a sound near a sob she yelled at him "Go do 500 kata's! NOW!"

Yahiko merely nodded his head meekly and set off, pausing at the door

"Kaoru, gomen."

With that he walked out of her room shutting the door behind her, and only when he was half way down the hall did he begin to hear her cry.

Kaoru… did you and Kenshin fight?

He walked worriedly and feeling extremely guilty to the dojo and began kata number 1 of his punishment.

Kaoru emerged sometime later, and had washed her face, though even Yahiko could still tell she had been crying.

"Yahiko, how many have you done?"

Yahiko turned to her and was very polite as he answered her. "I've done sixhundreed and twenty one Kaoru-Sensei."

Kaoru looked at Yahiko mildly surprised, and smiled sadly.

"Very well then, why don't you get cleaned up, don't you work at the Akabeko today?"

"Hai."

"Yahiko, have you seen Kenshin today?"

"Hai, he left early said something about some errands, are you sure you want me to go to the Akabeko, I can stay if you'd like?"

"Iie, Yahiko, go to work, I'll be fine."

She turned back around leaving the dojo, Yahiko frowning after her retreating back.

Hmm I think I might want to talk to Sano about this… he usually tends to show up when I work to tease me… I hope he is there today.

Hours had passed and still no Kenshin. Kaoru decided that she might as well make use of this time and clean all the futons in the house. So she went by each persons' rooms removing the bedding, it was when she opened Kenshin's room that she got a shock.

All his stuff packed? Nani?!"

The futons she had already picked up fell from her nerveless fingers as she sank to the floor to numb to cry. She just sat there rocking back and forth holding her knees as she looked at Kenshin's one small sack.

Kenshin….

A couple of hours passed before Kaoru shakily got to her feet and left the room. She went outside and collapsed on the dojo steps leaning wearily against the wall, breathing as if she had just run a marathon and fought Saitoh and won.

She closed her eyes and let the sunlight bake into her chilled body. It was then she heard the creak of the gate, that she looked up into a pair of distant violet eyes.

Kenshin….

Kenshin looked at her and could tell, She knows…

Kenshin with unsure steps walked hesitantly forward.

"Kaoru-do-"

Intense blue eyes stared into his as she interrupted. "Don't. Don't say it. Don't go. This is your home now.. you're family…. I don't want you to go…"

She said more but Kenshin couldn't make it out over her heart-wrenching sobs.

Unconciously he stepped forward until his arms were around her, and held her fiercely not wanting to let her go.

"Kaoru… I'll only be in the way… you're promised to someone else… I won't ruin your chance at happiness."

His arms held her saying he'd never let her go, his words and mind saying that he must.

Kaoru took a calming breath and whispered fiercely into his ear, "You are my happiness… I love you… isn't that enough?"

Kenshin's eyes welled with tears, as he crushed her to his body, feeling the heat of her body warm his chilled heart.

"But what about him?"

"I don't know…. I just don't know…. I love you, but I have a duty to him… please stay, I need you."

Kenshin closed his eyes as he breathed haggardly fighting with himself, he opened his eyes as he sighed feeling the tension in him ebb away as he made his decision.

"I'll stay, so long as you want me."

Kaoru half sobbed with relief but felt her heart jump at what he next said.

"I love you and I want you happy, no matter what decision you make I'll honor it. Even if it means you marry him… I'll always be here for you a friend, a brother. Whatever you need me to be."

Kaoru raised her head from his shoulder and looked into his tear filled eyes.

"Kenshin?"

Kenshin smiled bitterly at her.

"I want you to make the decision you have to without worrying about me…"

Kaoru closed her eyes and nestled her head against his neck the words sinking in.

He loves me so much… I love him so much… I can't make a decision without worrying about him… what am I going to do? I know what my heart wants… I want him… but I have a duty to my parents, I must honor their arrangement… what am I going to do… mother… father…. What should I do?

Stranger from the Past ~ Part 4

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

"Yahiko, like this..."

Kaoru guided his hands, and with a slight pressure on his back managed to correct his stance and position for the stance.

"Think you got it?"

"Yeah."

Kaoru nods her head and smiles softly.

"Ok, then try again."

This time Yahiko managed to complete the kata quite well. Kaoru was well pleased and smiled.

"Ok, now go ahead this time, and I'll do the counter kata, and we'll see how well you learned."

Yahiko nodde his heads "HAI!"

Clack, whack, tap... their bokens connected well in their choreographed dance.

"Good job Yahiko!"

Yahiko smiled, and the two of them began to redo the kata going faster and faster as he caught the hang of it.

Kenshin smiled softly at the scene of the two working hard with no yelling either. He turned away from his silent observation of the lesson, and turned into the yard to do the laundry.

Kenshin's world ebbed and flowed with the motion of the soap and water, his hands and arms, and the dirty laundry. He was midway through the washing when he felt someone hovering by the gate.

Kenshin looked up, his eyes narrowed ever so slighlty when he recognized who it was. Kaoru's betrothred.

"Ohayou Gozaimus de gozaru, " Kenshin spoke softly drying his hands off as he greeted the man.

"Ohayou, is Kaoru-chan here?"

"YAHIKO!!!!" Kaoru screamed, and then in a few seconds was followed by a resounding thwack. "Do the kata 100 times, then I want you to clean the dojo till it shines!"

Kenshin smiled with an ironic twist to it and replied to the man "Hai.. she's in."

Kaoru stormed out of the dojo sopping wet, and muttering under her breath.

"Ohayou Kaoru-chan."

Kaoru's head snapped up and looked at him in shock and then her eyes turned downcast with both embarassment and the dilema before her.

"Ohayou..." her voice trailed off.

He looked at her and sighed softly. "ne, Kaoru-chan. I was wondering if you would like to go to a new restauraunt for lunch. I can wait while you get cleaned up. That is if you're free this afternoon."

Kaoru looked at him and then down and in a far more subdued voice that usual replied "I.... I have cleaning I need to do."

Kenshin did not want to interfere, especially not in this. He did not want to think that he might loose her to this other man, but at the same time he knew she had to make an informed decision and delay was cruel to all three of them.

"Kaoru, I can do the cleaning today, that is if you think on your way back from the restaraunt you can pick up the groceries?"

Kaoru looked at Kenshin surprised and then nodded slightly. In a way she was both mad at him and also grateful that Kenshin was not pressuring her. She could not help but be touched as she looked at him and heard the echoes of her mother's voice love is when you can let the other person be free.

She smiled softly. "Arigato Kenshin." She returned her attention to Aoi "I'll go get ready, please make yourself at home."

"Sumiyo-san if you would come with me, we can have tea as you wait de gozaru."

Kaoru smiled at the two men, and left for her rooms to pick up her kimono on the way to the bath.

They sipped their tea admist tense glances at one another, neither one speaking, until finally Aoi broke the silence.

"Why are you at this dojo?"

"It is my home."

"NANI!? You mean you and Kaoru are married!"

"Iie..."

"You mean Kaoru and you... I can't believe that of Kaoru! How could you disgrace her!"

Kenshin's eyes narrowed to slits a slight amber hue glowing through.

"Kaoru is friend and family to me, I would never, nor have I ever disgraced her. She has a generous heart and has given those without homes and family, one with her. Yahiko is her student and also lives here. I help out around the dojo, and help her and the rest of my "family" when the need arises. Hurt Kaoru and you'll regret it."

Kenshin glared daggers at the man, and relaxed slightly when he saw the shock and embarassment on his face.

"I'm.... I'm sorry. Forgive me for being rude. It's just... Kaoru is important to me."

The two men looked at each other.

"I can understand your concern. Apology accepted." Kenshin spoke as his eyes softened to their usual size, shape, and color.

Aoi nodded his head and the two resumed their quiet appreciation of the tea.

Kaoru looked at herself in the hand mirror as she checked to make sure that her hair was tied back evenly, and the bow looked right and sighed.

What am I doing... Mother, Father, what should I do?

She sighed as no answers were forthcoming and stared at her troubled reflection, her visage was disturbed by the spalttering tears that distrubed the calm mercurial surface. She stifled a sob, and quickly splashed some water on her face as she breathed deeeply.

I can do this. I have to. I owe it to Kenshin if you can do this, so can I.

She wiped away the tears, dried away the streaks, and resolved herself to the situation at hand. With a confident smile, she put the handheld mirror down, tightened her obi a little more, and emerged from the bathing room, clean, fresh, and as ready as she would ever be.

She walked softly yet sure towards the room they usually dined in, and found the two men quietly drinking tea.

"I'm ready."

Both of the men's head turned towards her, and they both smiled at her. Aoi came to his feet and walked towards her. He turned around to look at Kenshin.

"Arigato for the tea," he spoke softly as he reclined his head ever so softly then turned his attention to Kaoru. "Shall we be off then Kaoru-chan?"

"Hai." She smiled, and the two left together walking side by side.

Kenshin looked after them and closed his eyes as his head now heavy fell towards his chest. his ears heard their footfalls down the stone path to the gate and then they were gone. Together.

A slow tear trickled from a corner of his eye and fell down his face, becoming caught by the textures of his scar and led down it until it finally, pendulously in air hung for a brief moment on his chin, between disappearing into the cloth of his top.

Kaoru...

Stranger from the Past ~ Part 5

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all associated characters © Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Kaoru's eyes skirted around them as she avoided not looking directly at him. The thought of direct eye contact and the few occasions it had occurred was painfully confusing for her.

Kaoru followed behind Sumiyo Aoi at a sedate pace, her eyes focused mainly on his heels, and for perhaps the first time in her life she was thankful of the custom of women trailing behind men.

It took her a few slow seconds to realize his heels had stopped moving, and she looked up only to backpedal quickly from colliding into him.

He looked at her sadly, his body slightly turned towards her, "Kaoru-chan... I had hoped that leaving you alone a few days to adjust to the idea that I'm here might help, but I guess that was wrong."

Kaoru blinked owlishly at him as her eyes unfocused and she sighed.

"Gomen..."

"Shhh... I understand it's shocking, you must be thinking I'm a ghost." He motioned to his feet drawing her attention and wiggled his toes. "See real feet," he teased.

She smiled slowly.

"Seriously though, I never meant nor desired this Kaoru-chan, let's just work at catching up on things. It's been so long that we've become strangers to one another. And we can't have that, not between such good friends, now can we?"

She smiled faintly. "No... "

"Good, now we better hurry or we'll be stuck waiting."

He had not been exaggerating, as they arrived the place was already packed and bustling with waitresses in a seeming less endless dance as they served the food and waited on the customers. They had to wait for a few minutes until a table opened up, meanwhile there was an ever growing line of patrons behind them.

They were efficiently shown to the table, and given the menu which Kaoru curiously poured over.

"Aoi-chan?" she motioned to the odd food listed on the menu.

He smiled.

"European food. It's quite delicious. If you'd like suggestions?"

Kaoru smiled, "yes, please!"

He chuckled softly and winked at her.

"Why don't we stick with the familiar... this dish here, has cooked chicken in a sauce served on noodles. This one is a soup that has noodles, cooked beef and vegetables in it..."

Kaoru was overwhelmed and smiled rather nervously.

Aoi smiled, "if you have a hard time deciding, we can order a couple of things, split the dishes between us, and if there's any we don't get to eating, you can take it home with you.

Kaoru brightened at that and nodded enthusiastically.

Aoi motioned to the waitress and placed the order, and turned back to Kaoru to watch her as she stared at her hands... and watch... and stare... and watch...

Aoi sighed.

"Ne, Kaoru-chan, why don't you tell me about what happened to you these past few years?"

"Well... a little over a year after we thought you dead, mother died, she had caught the winter fever and it would not leave. Father and I took care of the dojo, and after a few years I convinced him to train me with his other students. I was an adjutant master, when father was commissioned to fight in one of the wars. He died.

It was difficult but I managed, until someone went around committing crimes using the name of the hitokiri battousai and saying that he used my father's style. I lost all my students. That's when I found Kenshin... I had accused him mistakenly as the one who was spreading the blasphemy. He got involved and helped me. I asked him to stay, he's been most helpful around the dojo, and he's become family.

Then there's Yahiko one of only two students I really have, the other one is in Europe at the moment. We saved him from some street thugs, and he's been unofficially adopted into the family I guess you can say. I always wondered what it would be like to have a younger sibling, now I know."

Aoi laughed at the positively vile yet tender look on her face as she spoke of Yahiko. He listened intently as she related the tale of Sanosuke, Megumi, Misao, Tae, Tsubame, and Yutarou. He was awed, and was disappointed when their food finally arrived.

She looked at it curiously, and bravely picked up chopsticks instead of the western eating utensils, and took a tremulous bite... chewed... and smiled.

"Different, but very good!"

Aoi laughed finding her reaction cute, and whispered the order for a chocolate soufflÈ to be brought to the table.

He began eating as well, tidbits of conversations merrily being discussed between them as they ate, and smiled with relief and charm noticing how Kaoru was FINALLY relaxing.

He smiled with delight as she took her first bite of the soufflÈ, and watched at her in amusement as thoughts of the future went through his head. He had been debating between going off to Europe or setting up corporate offices in Kyoto. He knew neither of those options would be easy hearing of Kaoru's acquired family and the knowledge of how important they and the dojo were to her. He wasn't too worried about it either, maybe it wasn't the best thing for his business, but he still could do well here in Tokyo, and if it meant Kaoru was happy... well then it just didn't compare.

He grinned ruefully at himself. This is no time for thinking such thoughts, we still need to be re-acquainted. Kami-sama, she's still so vibrant after all these years.

He caught himself from sighing like some besotted fool.

"Ne... Aoi-chan?"

"Hai?" he blinked sluggishly.

"Are you going to eat that?" she blushed.

He chuckled and pushed his soufflÈ towards her.

"Bon appetite."

"Nani?"

He smiled, "It means enjoy the meal."

"ah.. ne... how come you know that? And other European stuff?"

He leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, "it's a secret."

"MAU..." she fumed.

He chuckled as he eased back against the chair smirking.

On to Part 6:.....