Standard disclaims apply since we all know whose characters these are.

::Chapter 1::

He breathed a sigh of relief as he stretched his sore body. He shook his head wryly, unable to remember why he had decided to sit in coach class when he could have easily afforded first class seating. Old habits of penury died hard, he supposed.

He grabbed his bags from the overhead compartment and followed the crowd out of the plane. Passing by the stewardess who had been giving him the "come-hither" look throughout the plane ride, he hid a grin at her wink. He walked passed, knowing she would stare at his disappearing back in disbelieving shock that her tactics had not worked.

It wasn't that he hadn't found her attractive. She was beautiful with long legs, straight black hair, and big green doe-eyes. If it weren't for his hang ups for a certain girl with deep blue eyes, he probably would have accepted her blatant invitations. But having returned to his home of his youth, he could not help the longing he felt for the past. Perhaps it was time to make amends. For he had finally..after four long years, had returned home. He picked up his phone and dialed his best friend.

"Hey, Kenshin"

"I'm home"

The reception at his homecoming was warm and full of laughter. His party-goer best friend, Sanosuke, had thrown him a welcome back party and seemed to have invited their whole high school graduation class. It had been six years since they had graduated but it felt like nothing had changed, as if Kenshin hadn't been gone for four long years. Just like old times, the jibed him about his short stature, his naturally red hair, and his soft-spoken voice.

"I can't believe you grew your hair this long!" exclaimed Misao, pulling on his hair. "Looks like you haven't cut it since you left."

Kenshin nodded, "I haven't."

"It kind of suits you, though," Megumi smiled serenely.

At her smile, Sanosuke poked her. "Now, now, let's not regress to crushes of high school past here!" he exclaimed, making everyone laugh. Megumi blushed in embarrassment, glared at Sanosuke, then proceeded to waddle, her hands on her obviously pregnant stomach, to the kitchen. Sanosuke grinned at her departing figure and shot Kenshin a nonchalant wave and set after her. Kenshin couldn't help the feeling of longing for the loving relationship between the couple. He sighed.

"Why the long sigh?" came a gruff voice.

Kenshin looked up into Aoshi's ice-blue eyes. Unable to help the slight glance at Sanosuke's disappearing back, he let out another sigh.

"I could've had that," he said.

"Aa"

"But...," he left the rest unsaid. It wasn't necessary. Even without the words, Aoshi knew what was bothering Kenshin. Aoshi opened his mouth to speak when a voice interrupted.

"Kenshin!"

Peering past Aoshi, Kenshin grinned at the sight of Yahiko.

"Hello. You've sure grown!" he exclaimed, ruffling Yahiko's hair. Although he didn't mention it, he sensed another change in Yahiko as well, a darker kind of change.

Yahiko glared at Kenshin. "Stop treating me like a kid, baka! I'm fourteen!" Kenshin laughed and tousled Yahiko's spiky hair one last time.

"Anyways," Kenshin said, peering across the room. "It seems like our whole graduating class is here, but where's your sister, Yahiko? Where's Kaoru?"

At his query, the lively room seem to quiet to an uncomfortable silence. Kenshin looked around in confusion at the sudden onset of tension. Someone cleared their throat uncomfortably from the other side of the room.

Yahiko looked stunned and none of his other friends would meet his gaze. A cold feeling of apprehension began to fill his heart, raising the hairs on his body.

"No one's...told you?"

At Yahiko's tortured whisper, Kenshin began to sweat in fear.

"Kaoru...she was in an accident..."

At those words, Kenshin felt his knees wobble and he suddenly felt sick. He reached out to support himself on a nearby couch. He felt numb.