A/N: This is a love triangle type story with Kenshin stuck smack dab in the middle. I am a HUGE K+K fan, so don't worry, this is about them. 'nough said.

Disclaimer: If I owned RuroKen do you think I'd be sitting here? Well, maybe…Oh, and Mika is mine so don't take her without asking!

Chapter 1: Who is this girl?

Kenshin and Kaoru were taking a walk by the river. It was early fall and the leaves were just starting to turn a golden brown on the trees. There was a warm breeze blowing in the air that caressed their faces as they walked. Kaoru looked up at Kenshin and smiled. He had such a serene look on his face, but she knew deep down that he would always carry guilt with him where ever he went. She blushed when he caught her staring at him.

"Do you want something Miss Kaoru?" he asked very innocently.

"No Kenshin, not really," she replied quickly.

He stopped for a second and turned to the river. "It's Fall all ready, that it is."

"Yes I know. The seasons go by so fast."

Kenshin turned back to Kaoru. "Do you remember when we first met?" he asked.

Kaoru laughed at this thought. She had falsely accused him of being the Battousai who had caused many murders that month. It was shocking to find out he really was the Battousai. Kenshin took her laughter for a "yes" and just smiled. He had enjoyed spending his time with Kaoru over the past year. They had been through so much together and met many new friends. "Why don't we start heading home? It's getting late, that it is."

"Okay, Yahiko and Sano are probably starving. I don't understand why that rooster head can't make food for him and Yahiko. He's perfectly capable of doing it himself," she answered.

On the way back to the dojo Kenshin stopped abruptly. Kaoru ran into him and was about to yell when he made a sign for her to stay quiet. He had a stern look on his face so she did. Faintly in the distance, Kaoru could hear screaming. Before she could say anything Kenshin was running quickly into the forest.


Kenshin ran as fast as he could toward the screaming. He knew instantly that it was a young woman crying for help. He had to get there as soon as possible. As he came to a small opening in the woods he saw a large group of men surrounding this young woman. The apparent leader of the group was a big and bulky man who carried a large saber. He had backed this girl against a tree. Kenshin decided to observe for a second before he intervened.

"Come on girly, we won't bite…that much," said the man with a sinister smile.

"No please, just let me go. I have no money to give you," she pleaded. Her eyes widened in fear as he edged closer.

"Money isn't what we want." His smile grew wider showing all of his rotten yellow teeth. The rest of the men in his group just laughed hysterically.

"N-no p-please don't…" She started to shake. The man grabbed her and she started to scream again.

Just then, loud thuds were heard all around the two. The man looked around to see all his men lying on the floor. He dropped the girl and she landed hard on her side. As he scanned the area he met a pair of two amethyst eyes that were dotted with amber.

"You should leave that girl alone, that you should," Kenshin said.

"Heh, why should I listen to a wimp like you?" the man replied but fear was evident in his eyes.

"You will have to fight me all though I would much prefer not fighting, that I would" Kenshin unsheathed his sword ever so slightly just to make his point.

The man became angry and grabbed the girl by her hair. "If you even try anything, she gets hurt." He tightened his grip on her and she let out a yell. This gesture was all Kenshin needed to see.

The girl shut her eyes as she flew up into the air but was surprised when she felt two strong arms holding her. She opened her eyes and looked up to see the man that saved her. He had the most handsome face she had ever seen. She looked around to see the scoundrel that was holding her captive twenty feet away on the ground. She couldn't believe that this kind looking man had killed the whole gang.

Kenshin noticed the frightened look on her face. "Don't worry, my sword can't kill. It is a reversed blade sword."

At the confused look on her face he showed it to her. After examining it carefully she looked up at him. Kenshin took in her features for the first time. She was a pretty average looking girl. She had whispy, short brown hair and green eyes. She had small cuts on the side of her face but nothing too serious. She was small in stature but had a nice figure. Although there was nothing extremely different about the way she looked she gave off a slightly different ki. He didn't have time to figure out what was different though because Kaoru had just come on to the scene.

Kaoru had finally caught up to Kenshin. She knew he could run fast but not that fast. She was shocked and slightly jealous at the scene before her. Bunches of men were sprawled across the ground and Kenshin was standing there holding some girl in his arms. This girl couldn't have been any older than she was. At this thought she felt a fire burn deep inside her.

"Kenshin, would you like to introduce me to your friend there?" she said as calmly as she could.

"Oro? Miss Kaoru, I uh…I was just…" Kenshin couldn't find the right words to say but set the girl down on her feet.

"My name is Mika Yoshida and this man saved me."

"Oh…well I guess we should be leaving now," Kaoru replied.

"Please wait, my parents died just recently and I have no family to go to. I was heading towards town to find a place to stay when this group of men got me. Do you know of any places I could stay for little money?"

At this comment Kenshin found Kaoru's gaze and looked straight at her. Kaoru understood what he wanted to do all though she knew she would regret it later. "Mika, I have a dojo near by and we seem to be the place for people to stay. Would you like to stay with us before you find your own home?"

Kenshin was slightly disappointed at the emphasis Kaoru had put on the word "own". It wasn't this girl's fault she didn't have a place to stay. Kaoru didn't even know her yet. She could be a very nice young woman. "I think it would be a good idea if you came back with us, that I do."

"Okay, thank you. I will find a way to make it up to you guys later!"

Mika was so ecstatic she was going to have a place to stay. Her parents had died in a fire. She was staying at a friend's house to help her with her sick grandmother. When she got back she found her house in flames. All she could hear were the screams of her mother and father. She took what little money and clothes she had and set off to find a new home.


"Hey I've been starving for two hours!" Sano yelled as soon as the three were home. Yahiko would have joined in but he noticed this new girl he hadn't met before.

"Who is this girl?" Yahiko asked.

"Oh, my name is Mika Yoshida, who are you?"

"I'm Yahiko Myojin, samurai in training, and I live here. This is Sano and he kinda lives here too." Yahiko replied. Kaoru made a face at his rudeness but was inwardly laughing.

"I'm Sanosuke Sagara, nice to meet you. Hey Kaoru, where is she going to sleep?"

"Oh, I hadn't thought about that," Kaoru said.

"I can sleep outside tonight if you would like to sleep in my room Miss Mika," suggested Kenshin.

"Kenshin, you'll freeze if you sleep outside!" Kaoru didn't want Kenshin to give up his room for this…girl.

"It's all right Miss Kaoru, I'll be fine, that I will."

"It's okay Kenshin, I'll just sleep in the kitchen tonight and then we will figure it out in the morning." Mika said. Yahiko's stomach growled loudly signaling that it was time to eat.

"As a thank you for letting me stay, why don't I cook dinner?" Mika said.

"Well, I usually cook but if you really insist I guess it will be fine," said Kenshin.

"Okay, I will get started then!" Mika set off to get cooking.

After dinner was ready everyone sat down to eat. Yahiko tried one of Mika's dumplings. Apparently they tasted good because he only left one for everyone else to eat. Sano jumped right into the food as well.

"Wow Mika, this food is great! It might even be better than Kenshin's," Sano said between mouthfuls of food.

"Yes, the food is quite delicious, that it is," Kenshin stated.

Now Kaoru wasn't feeling too happy. Not only did this girl come out of nowhere but she could also cook. Kenshin also approved of this cooking. That was not good. She couldn't have this girl from off the street moving into her personal space. She seemed to be getting on everyone's good side in just a mater of hours. She also couldn't stand the long glances Mika was giving Kenshin.

"I started to cook for my family when I was very little. It became a custom for me to help my…my mother." Mika fell silent after that. A single tear rolled down her face. She still hadn't gotten over the loss of her parents.

Kenshin looked a little worried. "If you can, could you tell me what happened to your parents?"

Mika told the group the story of her parent's death. "It was all so sudden. One minute they were saying good-bye to me as I left for my friend's house, and the next they were really gone. I never found out how the fire started. All I have left is my mother's ring that I found in the ashes. I keep it as a necklace."

She pulled out a small sapphire ring that was strung on a piece of twine from inside her kimono.

"Wow, that really stinks," said Sano. He knew what it was like to have a parental figure taken from you so quickly that you don't have much time to realize what happened.

"Well, I'm beat. Goodnight you guys." Yahiko got up to go to sleep.

"Yeah, thanks for dinner. It was really good Mika. See you around." With that, Sano left.

Kenshin, Kaoru, and Mika were left at the table. "I guess I should start cleaning up," Kenshin said.

"Oh, no Kenshin I will do it," Mika replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah it's fine. You can go to sleep."

"Okay, goodnight Mika. Goodnight Miss Kaoru." Kenshin stared straight into her eyes as if he was telling her a silent message. Kaoru was just happy to sit in his lingering gaze. Then, as quietly as he always does he disappeared down the hall.

Mika hadn't missed this quiet exchange of gazes. She hadn't been too sure if Kaoru and Kenshin were in a relationship. If they weren't she would try to get closer to Kenshin. From the very first time she looked at him she knew he was a special guy. She wanted to know everything about him even though they had just met. She wasn't a very bold person but after her parents died she took on a new image. She decided to approach Kaoru about it.

"Um…Kaoru?"

"Yes Mika?"

"I was just wondering…are you and Kenshin, you know, together?"

Kaoru wanted to say, "Of course we are!" but it wasn't going to work that way. She was pretty sure Kenshin had feelings for her but he had never said it openly. After all, he still called her "Miss" Kaoru.

"Um…no, we are not, why?" Kaoru asked.

"Oh, just wondering…" Mika replied.

Kaoru seriously didn't like the look Mika had in her eyes. What was she planning to do?

A/N: What is Mika planning to do? Want to know? This first chapter may not have been as interesting but it is just the foundation for the story! The more reviews I get the more willing I will be to continue this story and I'm liking it so far. I have a couple directions this could go so please let me know! What are you doing, press the little purple button and review!