Hello everyone! This story has been churning in my head so I'm just going to spew it all out here ^_^. It WAS supposed to be angsty but ... it came out all weird instead! No one pre-reads my stuff so sorry if I get rambly - do let me know, 'kay? Also, I have a rough story line -... but I'm very open to receiving any suggestions you may have... er... within reason....OOC ALERT!

DISCLAIMER: I'm a penniless fan who can't get enough of the RK series : P

*Chapter 1*

"Chikuso! I HATE winter!!!!" Sanosuke hugged himself as a biting wind blew down the street. "Kenshin better have some miso soup on the stove or this is just a wasted trip." He kicked the dojo gate open.

Winter is SOOO boring, he grouched to himself as he went in search of the rurouni. It just sucked the fun out of all his usual warm weather pursuits - gambling, visits to geishas, mooching free meals from Tae-San, random fights. The last time he had been to the clinic to moan about it, Kitsune-onna had suggested that putting on warmer clothes might improve his mood. !!! How is THAT even related to being bored?? Not only was it an irrelevant suggestion, it was also totally out of the question - an ex-Sekihotai has got to keep the "Aku" standard flying!! Besides, putting on a haori was just to wimpy for words.

"Oy, Kenshin!" Sano kicked the kitchen door open. "I knew I could rely on you!!" A huge pot was set over the fire.

"Sano," Kenshin smiled as the miserable fighter flung himself down on the raised platform and proceeded to lift the cover on the pot. "ITAI!" The cover went sailing, narrowly missing Kenshin's head. Sano sucked on his burnt fingers sulkily.

He soon cheered up as a warm bowl of oden was placed infront of him. A companionable silence fell over the room as he ate and Kenshin went on preparing food for dinner. Ahhh... Kenshin's the best... I knew it was worth getting up this morning. (Sano's usual winter routine was to open his eyes some time after noon and spend half an hour debating whether or not it was worth braving the cold trip to the dojo for food.) But. I'm STILL bored... Bored, bored, bored.... he let his eyes wonder around the room but they paused when they reached Kenshin, and then narrowed. Hmmmm. Ordinarily, there were too many things to fill his days for him to ever think about Kenshin and Kaoru's relationship... it was pretty obvious from the way they interacted that they were on the right track. Although, at the rate they're going, he'll only say something to her when he's eighty...Oh well. Trying to speed things along could be fun.

"So Kenshin," Sano declared, swinging himself up from his lounging position to sit up right, facing his friend. He placed his hands on his knees emphatically. "when are you and Jou-chan finally going to get it on?"

"Oro?!?!?" Kenshin dropped the kitchen knife in shock. "Urm, Sano, are you feeling alright?"

Sano had expected Kenshin to deny wanting to get together with Kaoru - but he wasn't! He took encouragement from this and hit his knees again. "C'mon!! You want her, she wants you... just say something already!!! Even better, DO something..." Sano's eyes gleamed evilly as his hands made grasping motions in the air. "I shouldn't have to give you any pointers..."

Kenshin's mouth was agape and he was beginning to look swirly eyed. OK, let's try guilt - Kenshin can't stand guilt. "You know," Sano leaned back, folding his arms across his chest, "you don't just owe it to yourself. All of us have an emotional investment in seeing the two of you working out. I mean, Yahiko practically looks up to you both as his surrogate parents.." Sano could see Yahiko gagging in his minds eye, "Megumi.. erm.. is ... erm is living vicariously through you two - its the relationship she'll never have... ha ha.. and um ME. Well," Sano beat his fist on the tatami, trying to think of something. "I want a god child, dammit!" Shit, did that just come out of my mouth? I'm getting carried away here.

Kenshin was being assaulted by the different images Sano's words were conjuring up - taking Kaoru in his arms (that was good), Yahiko running towards him with open arms crying "Otou-san!" (interesting), Megumi with a finger pressed to her lips observing as he and Kaoru made out (giant sweatdrop)... Sano and ... god child?!?! Sano as a godfather was a frightening prospect. The child would drink sake in place of milk, pick fights with random kids, be an expert gambler and money moocher by six. For his genpuku, Sano would probably bring the kid to a geisha house. He had to take a seat. "Sano... if you're feeling paternal... a-hem... why don't you think about making your OWN children de gozaru?"

Sano slammed Kenshin's face into the floor. "Dammit, I'm not the subject of this discussion - its you, jou-chan and your nonexistent lovelife!!!" He waited for the stars swirling around Kenshin's head to disappear.

"Itai...." Kenshin rubbed the back of his head painfully. It was very strange to be having this conversation with Sano - but he HAD been thinking about how to move forward with Kaoru. "Sessha has never done this before de gozaran."

"Eh?" Had he succeeded in making headway? Yosha! Make way for Sagara Sanosuke, sometime streetfighter-for-hire and Relationship Counselor!!!

"I..I mean", Kenshin was turning as red as his hair, "woo..wooing someone, de gozaru. Sessha and Tomoe just kind of happened, you know."

"Sure, sure...matchmade by Katsura Kogoro and the Bakumatsu," Sano nodded emphatically. "But, its easy, man. You already know how she feels and she knows it too... just SAY it and I dunno... try and touch her or something..."

"Sano, sessha had no idea you were so ecchi de gozaran...arrgh....! 0.0X" Sano landed a punch square on Kenshin's jaw.

*****

Sano had eyeballed Kenshin beadily all through dinner but the rurouni was acting exactly as per normal. What a waste of breath! He reached past the battling Kaoru and Yahiko (She was beating him with the cover of the rice container as he poked at her with his chopsticks) to refill his rice bowl.

"Kaoru-dono," all three heads swiveled in Kenshin's direction. "After dinner, would you join me in the practice hall?"

"H..hai, Kenshin" Kaoru's cheeks were faintly pink, as she lowered the rice cover.

Kami-sama! The practice hall!!! What kind of a place is that to make a declaration of love???? Sano was slapping his forehead inwardly. Still, it's a start...

*****

"Ne, is he going to beat the crap out of her??" Yahiko had been told to do the dishes, but he had abandoned the job as soon as Kaoru had made her way to the practice hall. He was speaking to Sano, who was peering through the shoji screens, trying to make out what was happening in the room.

"You brat!! Don't sneak up on me!" Sano hissed, grabbing Yahiko by the collar and slamming his hand over his mouth, "Just shut up will you...itai!" Yahiko had clamped his teeth over Sano's hand.

"What are you doing?" Yahiko hissed back suspiciously, taking a peep as well. The practice hall was pretty dark, but he could discern Kenshin talking to Kaoru. Ack - he was reaching out to her... he was cupping her face in his hand!!!!!! "Dirty... Adults are so dirty!!!"

"Then why are you still looking?? Move over..."

*****

"Kaoru-dono..." The time had come. His heart was thumping loudly - could she hear it? "Sessha has wanted to tell you something for a very long time..."

"Yes?" Kaoru's eyes were pools of hope and anxiety - struggling between not wanting to pass out at the feeling of his hand cupping her face, and wanting to throttle him to make sure he coughed up the right words.

The front door to the practice hall burst open. "Himura-san! Please excuse me, but Kawaji-san of the Metropolitan Police wants to have a word with you immediately!!" Chief Uramura adjusted his glasses on his nose. "... that is... uhm. Have I come at a bad time?" Both Kenshin and Kaoru had crumpled to the ground and were staring catatonically up at him.

"Iie... ha ha," Kenshin tried to make a hasty cover-up as he helped Kaoru to her feet. "We were ... discussing ... something went into her eye."

"KonbanwaUramura-sanI'llgetsometeapleasemakeyourselfathome" Kaoru said to the floor before turning to flee through the side entrance to the practice hall -where she tripped over Sano and Yahiko. "Bakas!!!!!!!!!" she screamed boxing both to the sky in turn, "Can't a girl get any privacy in her own home?!!!"

*****

It had turned out to be another request for assistance. Chief Uramura had accompanied Kenshin to the Metropolitan Police headquarters where Kawaji had explained the situation. A reliable source had informed police that a wanted man had been spotted in a small village outside of Tokyo.

"An ex-hitokiri gone mad, Himura." Kawaji said, mopping perspiration from his brow. "He's taken to serial killing and is extremely dangerous. We lost track of him for two years and the spate of murders had stopped. However, our informant tells us he has resurfaced ... He hasn't killed yet, but we want to round him up before he starts. You fought him before in the Bakumatsu - we need you to tell us more about him, to plan our approach..."

Kenshin blew out his breath in annoyance as he trudged through the woods towards Tokyo. Some serial killer. The mysterious man had turned out to be a retired small time gangster looking for the quiet life in a rural setting. He tried not to wince as he recalled the elaborate plans they had laid to surround the man's dilapidated hut. "Ishikawa Eisu! Surrender yourself!!!" Kenshin had had to slam open the door brandishing his sakabatou. "Oro?". They had caught the so-called mass murderer reading a romance novel.

He bent his shoulder to the wind and trudged over the snowy ground determinedly. It was late, but the full moon lit his way. He REALLY wanted to reach home and finish up that business with Kaoru...it was his nature to try and get through unpleasant experiences as quickly as possible. oRO? Did I say unpleasant? Nani???!

Kenshin stopped short as he was engulfed in an intense white light - he had to look away - a loud buzzing filled his ears - the light was dying down and he was able to squeeze his eyes open for a look... at autumn leaves????

"Tasukete kure!!!". Someone was in trouble! Help first and ask questions later - Kenshin's hand flew to his sakabatou as he rushed to assist.

*****

Notes: Maigo-chan's manga translations really helped - for getting the names of the police chappies - thank you! Re: Yahiko's "Adults are dirty" remark - I'm actually quoting Kaoru from the anime, from the episodes with Sano's friend, Katsu ^_^. About Sano's choice of genpuku present (inspired by the manga, when Kenshin gives his sakabatou to Yahiko as a coming of age present) - I have a friend of whom we always used to say the same.

Also, thank you to Lizzie for reviewing my very first fic!! The only review, but it was enough to encourage me to post a new fic ^_^ ...