Kaoru finished cleaning the floors. Then she tended the garden, cleaned the rooms and organized the pantry. By that time it was five o'clock which meant it was time to start delivering dinner. Even though five was earlier than when most people ate dinner some like their dinner early and with so many guests in the inn Kaoru had to start delivering early. She didn't get finished until eight so that's what time Kaoru got to eat.
That night Kaoru sat wearily by the window eating her ramen. She stared at the full moon and looked over her day. It was tiring and chore filled as usual, and there was still more to go. Kaoru finished her dinner and went about folding the laundry, cleaning dishes and scrubbing more floors.
At ten Kaoru put down her scrub brush, changed out of her work clothes and went off to bed.
Kenshin lay on his futon, thinking. That girl today had been so easily startled by him. He figured that was because he had gotten so close. Kenshin couldn't help but smile to himself at the memory of her startled face. Even so, he was a little bit ashamed of himself. The lady in the kitchen who had given him his room looked so much like the girl. The girl must be her daughter. Kenshin rolled over and drifted off to sleep. He had to get up early tomorrow if he was going to work enough to pay for his rooms and meals.