w00t! my first serious fanfic. I hope it turns out all right. For those of you who are about to read, this is based off the MANGA, because it is sooo much better than the anime, (mutter, grrr, stupid people didn't animated the jinchu arc, grr)

Disclaimer: no, I do not own Ruroken, If I did, I would be a very happy Misao, but foe now, bows down to watsuki-sensei "I'm not worthy to write a fanfic about your masterpiece"

Kaoru's eyes flickered open. She was drowsy and her head felt heavy. She struggled to rock up and sit up straight on her futon. She wiped the sleep eye out of her eyes and scratched her head.

As soon as she was fully awake, she started to think. It had been about 2 months since everyone had said their goodbyes. Megumi-san had gone back to Aizu. Misao-chan and Aoshi-san had left to re-bury the dead oniwabanshu and then head back to Kyoto. Even Sanosuke had become an outlaw and left Japan to go who knows where. Yahiko still came for lessons every few days, but he had moved out a few weeks ago. He was living in Sanosuke's old long house, though he spent most of his time either working at the Akabeko or training at the dojo.

The dojo felt incredibly empty… well, almost. The smell of breakfast floated under Kaoru's nose. Kenshin was still here. She smiled when she remembered what he had said the night by the docks.

"They will eventually start walking their own paths, living their own lives. It is not parting, but embarking on a journey. It is not the end, but a beginning. It will be lonely, but that is how it is," Kenshin explained.

Kaoru stopped in her tracks and both were silent for a moment. "But…" she protested, "I want to stay with you forever."

Kenshin froze stiff and slowly turned his head to face her in shock. Kaoru moved toward him slowly, her heart pounding with every step she took. "This one… " said Kenshin, "I…"

She cut him off, as flustered as she could possibly be. "I'm sorry!" she stated, "It was nothing! Forget it!" She took off, speed walking right past Kenshin; with her face red with embarrassment. "Now is the time to put effort into getting through the battle tomorrow." She stammered, "L-Let's go home, everyone will be worried…"

He stopped her by placing his hand on her shoulder. "Do you remember?" Kenshin asked. "When returning to Tokyo from the battle in Kyoto, this one said, 'It's good to be home.' That is the first time those words have been said since becoming a rurouni…"

Kaoru smiled gently. "Is that right?"

Kenshin walked her home with his arm around her. "Yes… It is…"

Kaoru sighed as she contemplated the possibilities of what could have happened. She was so embarrassed because of the bluntness of her statement that she had screwed up a possibly romantic moment. "He said 'I'" she though to herself. Even still, Kenshin had declared the dojo his home.

Kaoru got out of bed to fold up her futon and put in away. She got out a comb and a ribbon. Her ebony hair was much knotted, so Kaoru had to comb it out before pulling it back in a ponytail.

Kenshin was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. It was an easy fix and didn't take as long as it used to. Yahiko had started eating more at the Akabeko recently. Though Yahiko said it was because he wanted to stop mooching off Kaoru like a certain rooster head used to, and be able to fend for himself, Kenshin knew otherwise. It was common knowledge that he had a crush on a certain quiet waitress. The rurouni finished up the meal for two and set out the dishes.

"Good morning Kaoru-dono," he said cheerfully as a still sleepy tanuki walked in the room.

"Oh, good morning Kenshin," she responded. "It smells good in here. Is breakfast ready?"

"Yes, this one just finished cooking."

They both sat down to eat, mostly quiet throughout the meal. Both admitted silently to themselves that it felt strange to have a peaceful meal. Though, that's not to say that they didn't enjoy it. Yahiko wasn't there calling Kaoru 'buso (ugly)' or chewing on Sano's head. It was just the two of them.

When Kenshin finished his meal, he stood up to gather the bowls. "This one is going to do the dishes de gozaru."

Kenshin, I don't have to give lessons today. Let me do the dishes."

"But Kaoru-dono is the master of the dojo. This one is but a freeloader."

"You have enough chores as it is. Let me help out a bit. I don't mind." Kaoru stood up and took all the dishes from Kenshin's arms, rather violently I might add. "Sheesh kenshin, you need to learn to let people help you every once and a while."

Kenshin stood dumbfoundly confused with his arms still in the holding position as Kaoru walked past him into the other room. "Oro?" He stood there clueless for a few seconds and then drifted off to do the laundry.

He stepped outside just in time to be caught in a gust of wind. Kenshin shivered and pulled his hands inside the sleeves of his haori. Autumn was ending and fall was on its way. He walked over to the laundry and turned his head back toward the kitchen. "Come to think of it, it's been almost a year now since this one met Kaoru…" Kaoru. He had caught himself calling her Kaoru. He wasn't sure when it began; when he discovered that he loved her. He guessed it was before he left for Kyoto, though he would never admit it. Saying sayonara to her on that spring night was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. When he heard her crying and call out his name, he wanted so bad to turn around. He wanted to comfort her, but he wouldn't allow himself. He had to leave her there, for her own safety. Kenshin couldn't allow her to get involved with Shishio. He couldn't help it when a single tear rolled down his cheek as he disappeared into the night of May 14th.

He was surprised by himself that he called her Kaoru. Kenshin was afraid. Tomoe had died. He failed to protect her. He wouldn't be able to bear it if the same thing happened to Kaoru. When he had seen the karakuri (puppet) of her, he had died inside. He just kept seeing that haunting image over and over again in his mind. A dead Kaoru, pinned to the dojo wall, a cross shaped scar on her cheek. He had fallen on his knees, overwhelmed by despair. He closed his eyes tightly in a futile attempt to stop a flow of tears. "Kaoru… dono… KAORU."

He later found out that she was alive, he felt so happy that he couldn't contain it. He was alive again. But now, now he was afraid. What if she really died? What if he couldn't protect her, the one he loved most? He couldn't allow himself to get to close to her. He called her Kaoru-dono out of respect at first, but now it served as a reminder to himself. He couldn't let her know how he felt. There was no way she could ever return his feelings. She deserved better than him.

Kenshin pulled himself from his thoughts. He best get the laundry done. He squatted down and merrily began his work. He found joy in doing chores. It helped him feel like he was useful. Kenshin hummed to himself as he washed a pair of tabi (socks). He paused for a brief moment to turn around and look at the dojo before going back to work.

"Kaoru…"

well, what do you think, not bad for a first chapter, (I hope)

please please please review!

or I shall smite you with my onmitsu skills