Hello! This is my first story, so please be kind. I have a few Japanese words, so if you don't know what they mean, just scroll down, the translation is at the bottom. There will be more romance later on. Please Read and Review!

Sano thrusted, striking at the unseen enemy. He whipped around and again threw all his strength into the fierce attack. Sweat shone on his brow from the exertion of the blows.

"Sanosuke Kamiya! For the last time, stop swinging that bokken around and come eat dinner!" The 13 year old threw an angry look at his father and begrudgingly complied.

"Sano, when will you teach me how to fight?" Kaoru looked adoringly up at her older brother.

"Kaoru chan, there is no need for you to fight." Her father said. "Your brother will carry on the Kamiya Kasshinryu when I am gone, while you will learn to cook and clean from your mother, so that one day you will find a young man to marry and raise your own sons with." Her father was not completely sexist, he just wanted his daughter to be spared the pain of fighting and war.

"But I want to learn! Why do I have to cook and do laundry?"

"If you don't, who will?"

"My husband."

Her father laughed uproariously. No self-respecting man would ever lower himself to perform simple tasks such as that. (A/N: I don't mean for Kaoru's father to sound like a stupid chauvinist, that was the mentality during that time, that women were too weak to fight or do the same things that guys did. So please don't flame me!) "Kaoru, no man will do those tasks."

"MY husband will." The naive eight year old replied confidently.

"As if you'll even get married jou-chan!" Sanosuke interjected, teasing his sister being his sole purpose in life, as least as far as Kaoru was concerned.

"Sano, that's not very nice. I'm sure Kaoru will find a fine young man to be her husband." Her quiet demure mother defended her. Kaoru in response to Sano stuck out her tongue defiantly.

"I'm just teasing 'Kaa-san. I know Kaoru will marry a good guy. 'Cause I won't let any low-life scum come near my baby sister." Sano displayed his over protective side while grabbing Kaoru and rubbing his fist into her head in what he thought was an affectionate action.

"Sano, that hurts!" Kaoru yelled in protest.

"Okay you two, stop it right now. Can we please just eat our meal in peace?"

"Gomen nasai Otou-san." Sano and Kaoru whispered apologetically. They had always had a teasing relationship. Sano would say one thing, Kaoru would yell back. It was a never-ending cycle between the siblings. But when it came right down to it, they really loved each other.

Kaoru realized just how much she cared about Sano just weeks later.

Sano had always talked about joining the revolutionaries against the "horrible" patriots. He itched to help destroy the "evil" government and bring Japan into a new age of enlightenment. (A/N: I don't know a lot about the Meiji Revolution, so please don't flame me!) His father tried to sway him, upholding his firm belief in the swords that give life. Sano instead wanted to serve his country, making it safe for the future. So he defied his father in just about the only way he could. He ran away to join the army.

Sano quietly gathered a few items to stuff into an old worn gunnysack. Two extra gis, some hakamas, and a little food was all he packed. As he got up to leave, his foot pressed down on the squeaky floor board, making him jump and curse, hoping that no one had heard the sound and awoken.

"Sano, why are you packing all your clothes up? Are you going on a trip? May I come too, please?" Kaoru asked excitedly, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she entered Sano's room. Her room was right next to Sano's, and she was a very light sleeper, so the sound had indeed woken her up.

"No Kaoru-chan. I'm not going on a trip. I'm going to fight in the revolution."

"Why? Daddy says that you can't. He says..."

"'Tou-san thinks that the revolution is a waste. But it's not! I will prove that to him!" Sano's mind was make up on the matter and nothing would make him move.

"Sano-chan, please don't leave! Who will carry on the Kasshinryu if you go?" Kaoru pleaded with her brother.

"I will return. When we have crushed the imperialists, I will come back. I promise." Sano pulled his little into a tight hug as he spoke with more sincerity than he ever had in his life.

"But I don't want you to leave me. Can't I please go with you? Please Sano?" Kaoru tried to pull her famous pout on her brother to soften him up.

"Kaoru, what could you do? You don't even have a weapon, let alone know how to use one. How could you fight?" Sano talked reason into his sister.

"I could carry your sword for you. And when the enemies come, I can kick and punch and bite them, just like when we get into fights." Kaoru smiled mischievously.

"Kaoru, I do not doubt your biting or kicking skills," Sano winced remembering the last time they had fought and Kaoru had taken the liberty of kicking him right between his legs. "But you are too young, and how can you defend against a sword? No, you can't go with me and that's final." Sano looked sternly at his sister.

"Okay. But you will come back?" Kaoru's eyes threatened to spill out the tears she had been holding back for the last few minutes.

"I promise. I'll even bring you back a present. What would you like to have?" Sano did not want to see the tears in Kaoru's eyes spill out onto her lovely cheeks.

"A new ribbon. An indigo one." Kaoru said immediately.

"Alright, an indigo ribbon it is." Sano smiled.

"Sayonara 'nii-san." Kaoru whispered as she hugged her brother tightly around the waist.

"Sayonara, my little jou-chan."

As Sano walked off into the night, Kaoru stared at his retreating form. She held her eyes steadfastly forward long after he disappeared into the darkness. Kaoru finally crept back into bed just as the sun was beginning to light the horizon.

"Goodbye onii-chan. Aishiteru." She whispered into her pillow before sleep overcame her tired body and slipped her into a quiet dream world.

Thanks for reading. For those who don't know:

Bokken - the bamboo stick that Kaoru trains with in the manga and anime

Jou-chan - "missy" Sano calls Kaoru that in the manga

Kamiya Kasshinryu - The sword style that Kaoru's father developed, Kasshin means "the swords that give life"

'Kaa-san(Okaa-san) - mother, the "o" shows more honor to the mother

"Tou-san (Otou-san) - father

Gomen nasai - Sorry

Gi - the shirt that they wear

Hakama - the baggy pants the guys wear and Kaoru wears when training

-san - a generic form of address, means Mr., Ms., Miss, etc.

-Chan - used mostly for little girls or to show affection

Sayonara - goodbye

Onii-san - Older brother

Aishiteru - I love you

Thanks again! Please review now!