Disclaimer: don't own 'em, only own Ryu… holds Kenshin plushie I have many, many things in store for you…. cackles evilly

Many moons had past since that tragic day, and Kenshin had settled down near a small village far, far away from that horrible place. His son Ryu, now 6 years old, looked more like Karou more than ever. The same eyes, the same hair, and the same movements - even the same voice. The only thing that he had of Kenshin's was his placid-like temper…. Soundlessly, he picked up his sword from its place next to the futon and slid it out of its sheath. He did have another one - the one that… Kenshin swallowed hard, and rammed it back into its sheath and let it fall with a clatter to the earthen floor. The slight noise was enough to wake Ryu, and in a sleepy voice he asked "Papa? What was that?" and blinked.

The rurouni turned to his son and said calmly "It was nothing - ready to practice?" Ryu nodded eagerly, and jumped up to grab his dagger from under his pillow. Kenshin had been teaching him to defend himself with it - and he had promised to make him a real sword once he mastered the small dagger. Kenshin headed outside to set up the practice dummy, and Ryu shortly followed. Across the clearing where the two began to set up for practice, a small, pale looking women watched them with sorrowful eyes. Her dark blue kimono fluttered in the wind, and she reached up to gently touch the single sakura blossom that lay her ebony hair. She remembered when she had received it, that day with him sitting next to her, and talking about what they meant to each other. With a pang of regret, she moved her hand to press it slowly to her mouth, remembering the time they had kissed beneath the sakura tree - did he remember it too? With a fond smile she looked upon the boy, who had finally succeeded in puncturing the practice dummy with his dagger, and heard him laugh. '

So much like when I used to laugh' thought the women sadly. What did she have to laugh about now? It had taken her many years trailing after them to finally catch up, tracing and retracing her steps until she finally stumbled upon the small hut they called 'home'. If she hadn't had to decide whether or not to see them first was mostly the reason that it had taken her so long - the other part was if she should even go after them… Once, she would have made the decision in a heartbeat's time - now, it took her many moons… She stepped back, and a loud crack rang through the clearing and looked down in horror, as she felt terrible pain and everything went black…. Kenshin immediately whipped out his sword and in a low voice told his son "Ryu - go inside and wait until I say its okay" and began to creep into the forest. Ryu began to protest, but when he heard the urgency in his father's voice, he ran into the hut.

Kenshin's eyes darted wildly around the forest, and he was able to pinpoint someone's chi - a very familiar person indeed. He crashed into the underbrush, only to find the one he still loved, looking deathly pale. He swiftly picked her up in his arms, and without a word rushed into the hut, scaring his son. "Papa? Who is the pretty lady? Is she hurt? Will she be okay?" asked Ryu timidly as he watched his father rush around, trying to locate bandages and to find some cold water. He could tell that she must have either broken or sprained her ankle, as he noticed it when he picked her up that it was rapidly swelling. With gentle fingers he probed her ankle, and found that it was wasn't broken, just badly sprained - just as she came awake, in the slightly darkened room of a hut. She sensed that she knew the person whom she was laying on, and remained quiet as he gently treated her ankle, only crying out when he tied it tightly about the bone. She heard him murmur "Almost done - don't know what she could've done to hurt it so badly…" She then sat up, startling Kenshin as he moved back to lean against the wall. They crashed, sending Karou onto the floor and Kenshin into the wall, and leaving Ryu to jump out of the way. She picked herself up and winced as she tried to put weight on her ankle when she found herself being picked up from behind and set onto a futon in the nearby corner.

She found herself looking into a pair of amethyst eyes, and a reassuring voice saying "Its ok - your safe now…" She heard herself reply "Thanks…" and looked at him uncomfortably. Kenshin finally couldn't stand it - he leaned in quickly, and set his lips upon Karou's, his need and want coming into the open as many moons of loneliness poured out. Ryu saw his father lean in and give the strange lady a kiss, and ran out of the hut, disgusted. What caused him to do something like that - AND IN FRONT OF HIM! Ryu ran on, trying to hide the fact that his dad must like this lady - and he might lose him forever……