I'm so happy. This is the first time so many people reviewied my story in such a short time. I'm crying. You wanted me update. Even though I only received 7 reviews that made me on top of the world. This chapter is dedicated to my first review and to my beta reader.

Pinx916

Angle of loneliness

Lonely soul828

Aya 45

Reignashii

Half-bread-demon -fox

It hurts so much in my heart

Chapter 2

I was surprised to see Aoshi and Misao in front of me. How very thoughtful of my dear Kenshin to cheer me up. He's such a nice guy but some times he is more of a handful then Yahiko because I can read Yahiko's ki but not Kenshin's. He is really good at hiding his. That just makes me want to hit him on the head and knock some sense into him.

I realize that every body of the Kenshingumi: Kenshin, Sano, Yahiko, Megumi, Misao and Aoshi are all members of my new family. It makes me so happy. It's been a while since I've felt the warmness in my heart. To be loved by some one else is a wonderful feeling. I stood from my spot and welcomed them into the house.

Then Yahiko asked why I was crying. But I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the water flowing down my cheeks .It was true, I was crying. I can't believe I didn't notice, either. The last time I have cried is when I had to separate from my beloved brothers. That was the last time I ever wanted to cry.

Then I bowed to them and said, "Thank you for being my family. I'm sorry for the past few weeks. I know that I have been acting a little bit different then usual. winter is not a very good season for me . I'm sorry again and thank you for cheering me up. The whole time, I covered my mouth with my hand, for I was afraid to I would start crying again.

Yahiko's face was as red as Kenshin's hair, "Who are you and what did you do to the real tanuki? Because the real tanuki does not cry that easily. We want the old Kaoru back; the cheerful and spunky one, not the sad one. Please give me back my sister. I really miss her a lot" he said.

"You are the closest thing to family that I have ever had. To make you happy is my duty as a brother." Sano said while holding Megumi's hand. He had a big smile on his face, and you could tell that he was pleased.

" If you get sick from being sad all the time, then who will be the tanuki that I can make fun of? Without you, the real you, then my life will be a boring one with a roosted head , an Itachi , a boy and a rurouni." Megumi said while squishing Sano's hand.

"You are my best friend. The best best friend that I have ever had. Kaoru you are my family now, and I always want my family and friends to be happy, not sad. Don't be afraid to tell me who is making you sad, I will kill him for you. For making some one as cheerful as you become so sad is a sin." A warm smile on her face. Aoshi just raised his eyes brow from the statement that Misao had in store. It was so mature.

I was speechless. No word came out of my mouth. I wasn't even able to process any words. They love me so much and yet, they don't know every thing about me. I hope that after I tell them of who I really am, they will still love me as much. I hope that they will still love me for who I am, regardless of what I was. They are just as important to me in my heart then my brother.

Normal POV

Kaoru ran to Kenshin and hugged him in front of every body. She even was so bold as to kiss him on the lips. It was so sudden. So sudden that Kenshin didn't have time to really register what was happening until Kaoru lips met his. He could feel her body on his own, and how her lips were so soft and sweet.

Kaoru, her face as read as Kenshin's hair, pushed Kenshin back a little and ran into the house. On the way, she stopped a moment and turned back to say "Are you all are going to stand there in the snow or come in to the house and have lunch together?" she was giggling.

Kaoru loved the way they were all so care free, and they loved each other no matter what their past was. Kenshin was especially happy to see Kaoru return to her old self again. He was even happier to be kissed by her. Everyone entered the house. Aoshi sent smirk Kenshin's way making him blush as he recalled the event that happened just 5 minutes ago.

Kaoru's POV

We all had a very nice lunch together. After that Kenshin was found doing the laundry again. Meanwhile, Aoshi meditated in the hall. Yahiko went to the Akabeko to help Tae and to see his girlfriend, Tsubame. Sano was helping Megumi at the clinic.

I always have a nice time talking and listening to Misao talk about her love, Aoshi and her life. After a few hours me Misao chatting together, Misao decided that it was time to bring tea to her Aoshi-sama.

Normal POV

A few moments later, after Misao left, Kaoru was talking by a tree near by. "I know you're there Sasuke so come here and give your sis some love." Kaoru knew her brother's ki very well. She could recognize all four of them from a mile away. Then a boy jumpped from the tree and hugged Kaoru like his depended on her.

Kaoru hugged her youngest brother. It had bean so long since Kaoru was able to even touch her brother. Ever since the Kenshin has live with her, she hasn't seen them. It was not safe for her brothers to see Kenshin and keep the secret, a secret because Kenshin is a hitokiri like them.

"Oh sis we all miss you so much. I can't stand it any more to see you from the afar while they have all the fun with you. Especially that Yahiko that couldn't stop calling you tanuki. He has passed me from time to time." Sasuke was slightly crying against Kaoru.

Kaoru knew how her brother felt because she felt it too. It hurt her every time to know that she can't play with her brother like she used to. Kaoru stroke Sasuke's hair while saying soothing words to him in order to calm him. "Don't worry my dear brother, you just have to wait for a night. You can stand it for a little more now. Tomorrow we will see each other again and I can have so much fun with all of you. I will cook you something, I promise. Tomorrow Yukimura will come and set me free from this dojo and we will be together again. So don't worry." Kaoru smiled at Sasuke.

Kaoru could sense that Kenshin's ki was nearby so she asked Sasuke to go. With one last hug he disappeared in to the darkness leavening his beloved sister alone with Kenshin.

Kenshin was going to have a little talk with Kaoru about the kiss that she gave him. He then sensed a very faint ki that was unfamiliar to him as he neared Kaoru. She was sitting alone. Maybe he was just imagining it, so he just ignored it.

"Miss Kaoru why did you kiss this unworthy one?" Kenshin asked Kaoru after taking a seat beside her. Kenshin loved her hair. It was wrap in a ponytail and the wind played with it. It looked so silky and he longed to run his fingers through it. Her blue eyes and her so soft lips, he definitely wanted to kiss Kaoru again. But this time, he was going to iniatiate the kiss. Not the other way around.

"Because I was so happy to have you all around me, and care for me. I just wanted to make you feel the love that comes from me; it's not as the same love I harbor for the others. I love you more. I just don't want to wait for you any more. If you don't do anything, than I will. I will show you my love for you is more special then the others." Kaoru was blushing so hard; she was finding something to look at. Her eyes weren't able to look towards Kenshin's face.

Kenshin was shocked to hear that Kaoru really loved him that much. But he can"t say the same to her. Tomorrow, he will be leaving her alone. Saitou, him, Aoshi, Sano were called by Yamagata to help to stop a war from happening. So he had no other choice but to hurt her and say that he loves her as a sister. Only a sister, and no farther than that. It felt like his heart was being stabbed repeatedly he said it, but he still wouldn't die from the internal wound.

"I love you too, Kaoru. But only as a sister. Nothing more than that. I'm sorry Miss Kaoru but I'm not the one for you. If you keep looking, maybe some day you will find your true love, but I can assure you that it's not me." Kenshin could see that Kaoru was hurt by what he had said, but he had no choice..

"It's fine Kenshin, as long as you stay by my side that's enough for me. To know you will always be there for me. I can handle that." Kaoru smiled at Kenshin and kissed his forehead. Kaoru walked straight to her room. Leaving a very sad rurouni.

In her room Kaoru changed from her kimono to a yukata and went straight to bed while letting a lone tear escape from her eye. She fell asleep for tomorrow is the day that Kaoru will see her beloved brother again.

Thank you for your reviewing my story. Till next time.

Love you all.

ELLIE 31773