Kenshin sat silently on the old wooden porch of the Kamiya Dojo, his long crimson red hair blowing faintly in the gentle springtime breeze. He picked up a small cup of tea, sipping the warm liquid slowly, letting the warmth of the tea wash over him as he leaned against one of the supporting beams of the porch. Laid back and calm as always, his eyes wander for a moment, lost in a memory of the past, reliving some moment that somehow surfaced in his minds eye. For a moment, Kenshin sat motionless, staring off into the sky, a cup of tea held gently in his hands.

Soon enough, however, his revere was interrupted by a timely visit from Kaoru. Her footsteps pulled him from his daydream, and his soft blue eyes met hers, causing him to smile softly to her and bow his head slightly.

"Hello, Kaoru-dono. It is such a beautiful day, would you like to sit beside this one and...."

Kenshin paused in mid-sentence, getting an angry look from Kaoru.

"Kenshin-san! What are you doing out here, daydreaming and sipping tea! There are chores to be done! You are a wanderer, and you live here for free! The least you could do is help me run the dojo!"

Kaoru glared down at Kenshin, causing him to utter a confused 'Oro...', but Kaoru couldn't keep the smile from her lips and the kind sparkle from her eyes, and she gave a soft sigh as she sat beside him on the porch.

"Kenshin-san... being a wanderer, you must have done many odd jobs. Tell me, which job do you think is the most difficult? And which do you think is the most rewarding?" Kaoru asked.

Kenshin tilted his head back, folding his hands in his lap as he thought, and turned to Kaoru with a warm smile as he watched Ayame and Suzume playing in the garden

"This one thinks the most difficult job is being a father..."

Kenshin looked to Kaoru and chuckled softly "Being a parent" Kenshin corrected himself.

"And the most rewarding job is being a parent..."

Kaoru beamed at Kenshin, seeming very pleased with his answer. She suddenly blushed, unable to look in his eyes, instead looking into her lap, rubbing her hands together softly

"Do... do you wish to be a father someday, Kenshin-kun?"

Kenshin smiled to Kaoru and nodded softly

"Yes, this one would love to be a father, someday.... Though this one is not sure if this one is worthy to have a son or a daughter...."

Kenshins' smile faded as he looked at his hands, and Kaoru gently wrapped her arm around his to pull him from his sadness

"You will be a father Kenshin-kun, and you'll be a great father, because you are kind-hearted, sweet, loving and have such a warm smile"

Kaoru purred out these words lovingly, smiling as Kenshin rested his hand atop hers and his smile returned. Kaoru blushed, both at the lovey-dovey words she had just said to Kenshin, and at his gentle hand that rested on top of hers. And those eyes...

Kenshin smiled softly at Kaoru, and as she smiled back, there wonderful romantic moment was inturrupted by Kenshin being slapped in the face by a wet rag, causing him to fall on his back with a pathetic whimper

"Well? Are you two just going to sit there, or are you going to try to fix up this musty old dojo? Though I must admit, that might take a few years..."

Megumi sighed, the picture of elegance, her long black hair blowing in the wind, wearing a long blue kimono, her lips painted red with lipstick. Kaoru pouted at her and stood up Kenshin, dazed for a moment, pulled the rag from his face and stood as well. Kaoru went into an angry rant about Megumi, and was too busy to pay much attention to Megumi. Kenshin, however, caught the momentary jealous look in Megumi's eyes at seeing Kenshin and Kaoru so close, and noticed she had been dressing up when coming to visit the dojo, at times when Sanosuke wasn't around. Her eyes were on Kenshin and not Kaoru, even as Kaoru was screaming and stamping her feet. Kenshin returned her gaze, making her soft red lips smile. Kenshin smiled in return, bowing to them both. He smirked, backing away without a word, intending to slip out while Kaoru was busy yelling, but Megumi walked right by Kaoru and up to Kenshin, reaching out and taking his hands into her hands, squeezing them softly

"Kenshin-san, I need your help! I need to go to Tsukishiro, a far off village to get some very important medicine, and I hear tales of bandits along the roads, so I would ask you to come with me and protect me!"

Kenshin looked to Megumi, blinking, and tilted his head, shrugging softly

"As you wish, Megumi-dono. This one will accompany you to the village and protect you"

Megumi smiled happily

"Oh! Thank you so much, Kenshin-san! We will leave tomorrow!"

Kenshin nodded with a smile, but soon enough that smile faded as Kaoru stormed over, noticing Megumi and Kenshin holding hands.

Megumi grinned, watching Kaoru out of the corner of her eye as she spoke

"Oh, and pack some extra clothes, Kenshin-san. It will be a long journey, and since I have little money we will just have to rent a small room together at an inn. A few nights at the inn, a night or two to collect herbs, and a few nights at an inn on the way back, we will be together the whole time! I look forward to it!"

Kaoru's face was red from anger, causing Megumi to gently hold her hand to her mouth and laugh softly 'Oh-ho-ho-ho!'

"H..How dare you! What are you thinking, taking Kenshin on some long journey, sharing a room with him all those nights, all alone with Kenshin, just the two of you, I.. I won't stand for it!" Kaoru raved.

"The Fox is at it again..." Kenshin said with a sigh, taking his hands from Megumi's grasp and eagerly leaving the two alone to talk..or in this case yell. Despite her teasing, Megumi really did need Kenshin to take her to the village, so Kenshin prepared to leave with Megumi. He just hoped he'd survive that long and Kaoru wouldn't intervene and end his life prematurely...