What does it matter?

Disclaimer: I don't know any part of Rurouni Kenshin or its characters and all that same jazz.

"Mou! Kenshin! What has gotten into you? All I did was go in to town with Yahiko for some groceries, since we met Sano there I asked him to help us. He looked so lost so I invited him to stay for dinner too. If I can't invite people over to my own house I wonder who can?" Kaoru looked like she was going to cry. The man she loved was acting like a selfish spoiled first grader.

"Kaoru-dono, it's not that I have a problem with why Sano is here. I was just worried and didn't recognize him at first glance. It… It… it upset me that is all." Kenshin was acting completely unlike himself without realizing it. "I think I'll go finish dinner now."

Kaoru left the kitchen without another word. She knew she had been dismissed so she head straight for the dojo and found Sano standing in the door way. Seeing an opportunity to release some anger, Kaoru grabbed Sano's arm and headed towards the main gate. While passing Yahiko who was practicing idly she cried out, "Nice job Yahiko! If Kenshin asks, I'm taking a walk with Sano!" And proceeded to drag Sano away.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Finally, when they were at a clearing surrounded by trees, (AN: I guess this would be a good time to point out I'm American through and through, so that means I don't know much about Japanese geography or much else. Back to the story.) Sano spoke, "So…uh.. What's new 'Jou-chan?"

"Sano, do you think I'm a child?"

Sano gasped at Kaoru for asking him of all people, trying to figure out what made her ask. As if she read his mind she continued, "I'm asking you because you have no trouble telling me how it is. I want to know… Do you think that you could tell me if something was bothering you, and if so, what that thing was?" She looked at him with tears forming in her eyes, "Kenshin never wants to worry me, so he never tells me what's wrong and that's when I start to really worry. Why won't he let me love him? What if…" Her voice seemed to quiet down to an almost nonexistent whisper as she said, "Maybe I don't really love him."

Sano jerked him head up as he let what she just said take root in his brain.

"Don't really love Kenshin?!?!?! Come on Kaoru this is you and your little red-haired samurai we're talking about. What makes you say that?"

"If I loved Kenshin, truly loved him, then I wouldn't be so selfish. I'd let him live his life in a manner that makes him happy. With Kenshin I have to let him do his own thing and not be upset because he won't let me in. I mean, look at Misao-chan and her Aoshi. Misao never does more than love him." Kaoru looked down the path towards her home. 'Geez' thought Sano, 'if anyone were to see her right now they'd probably think I'd just broken her heart. To me it looks like she's just rearranging it so it's in an order easier for her to handle.' Holding her in a big bear hug Sano tried to help.

"It's okay 'Jou-chan, you'll survive. Now I think I kind of understand, but are you sure?"

"I think so. Why should I pretend to be in love with someone who I might just love like I love you and Yahiko and all my friends. It's just going to be difficult. Besides Kenshin needs a mature woman he can love, not some foolish child like me. Boy, how did I ever think he loved me… Kaoru-chan, Raccon-girl, the ugly sweaty girl who can't cook."

"Kaoru-chan, you are definitely a woman, not a child, but still, a woman in need. I'll help you 'Jou-chan. If you need to talk, you know my name."

"Thank you Sano," Kaoru jumped up and gave him a giant hug, "Now let's get back to dinner. Crying sure makes me hungry."

Laughing the two friends headed back to the Kamiya Dojo. With all that said and done, what would happen next?