A/N: Hey! Happy to see people are interested in the story! I decided while I have some free time in the beginning of the term to crank out another chapter for you all! Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or its characters.

Far From Home

The log that Kaoru threw into the flaming pile of newly charred wood instantly crackled and steadily kept the flames high in order to heat the bath at a desirable temperature. "It should be hot enough now," she called up to the small window that was located next to the indoor bath. "It's perfect, that it is. Thank you Miss…?" he trailed off, and she realized that she had yet to tell her what her name was.

She debated whether it was logical to or not, seeing as how she lived all alone at the dojo. While her fighting skills were highly regarded, she still was a woman. She had seen how fast this man could move and did not know anything about him.

"Miss, are you still there?" his voice came again.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't hear you over the fire," she lied. Her legs were beginning to ache from squatting next to the fire to tend it. "Let me know when you are done," she began before he had a chance to ask her for her name again. "I would like to take a bath as well." Without waiting for her answer, she stood up and stretched briefly before walking over to where the practice dojo she had on her property.

Upon entering the hall, she strode to the middle of the side of the dojo and began to stretch more intensively. She made sure that each muscle felt a special pull after the long ride to the country, only to walk all the way back home thanks to the red-headed freeloading idiot. After a good amount of time stretching, she grabbed a bokken from the rack on the wall, and closed her eyes, centering herself. She mentally recited the mantra her mom had told her when she was young. 'A woman's beauty is her best weapon, but her strength is her best defense.' She let her ki fill with strength before confidently thrusting her weapon out in a graceful motion. "Ha!" she shouted loudly. Smoothly, she turned, slashing in a downward motion with skill and ease. "Tah!" Another sharp turn lead her to cut her invisible opponent perpendicularly and let out a fierce battle cry. "Ki-hah!"

"That is most impressive, Miss, that it is." Kaoru paused where she had finished the motion of striking and looked over to where the friendly voice had come from: the doorway. She saw Himura standing in the doorway with a towel around his shoulders to shield his clothing from his long, wet hair that had once again been tied at the nape of his neck in an unruly mess. A warm smile was on his face, but Kaoru could tell it was only a formal smile, not one of true happiness.

She let out a small breath and returned to a standing position before walking over to the rack where the bokkens were kept in the dojo. "How much did you see?" she asked, grimacing. The thought of a stranger watching her while she stretched made her cringe a little. She did not want to be part of some pervert's fantasies later.

"Just your exceptional swordsmanship. Where did you learn how to fight? I haven't seen that style of swordsmanship before, that I have not," he inquired, not crossing the threshold of the dojo to come inside. She had to give him points for being respectful of her space.

She hung her bokken up on the rack with care and brushed her long, ebony ponytail from her shoulder so that it swung slightly behind her. "My father taught me since I was young," she said passively as she began to walk towards the doorway. When she was in front of him, she paused, looking up at him with guarded, sapphire eyes. "You ask a lot of questions, you know that?"

Himura simply deepened his charmingly goofy smile at her. "I am sorry if they offend you, I most certainly am. I am only trying to make conversation." She saw no deceit in his smiling violet eyes, but she could tell he was hiding something as well.

With a tiny shrug, she simply walked past him and to the bathhouse, calling over her shoulder, "Would you mind stoking the fire for me? It's a pain to do it myself, and it will last longer if I have someone else help me."

"Not at all!" he agreed cheerfully, trailing behind her, and squatted to relight the embers from his bath before adding more timber to the new fire.

With a long sigh, Kaoru strode into the bathhouse, making sure, not once, but twice, that the door was locked before quickly undoing her hamaka and sliding them down to the floor. She could feel the bathhouse beginning to heat up as Himura started the fire. After disrobing completely, she entered the area where the tub resided and dipped a toe in cautiously. The water was piping hot. Perfect. "Thank you Himura. The water is perfect!" she called and heard a noise of acknowledgement from him outside.

She had scrubbed herself good and clean and was soaking up the slowly fading heat when his voice floated through the window.

"Miss," he said loudly, so that she could hear him. "Y-yes?" She stammered, wondering just how long he had been there. It was not customary for a man to wait outside a bathhouse while a woman bathed naked. A blush crept up her cheeks at the thought that all that separated her and this man was a wall, since the window was too high for his shorter self to peer through (thank goodness!).

"I wanted to ask you what your name is. You have been most generous to me, and I would like to at least know the name of the person I am indebted to, that I would."

"Kaoru," she answered, ignoring the thoughts from before that crept into her mind. "My name is Kaoru Kamiya."

He was silent for a moment, and Kaoru was about to ask if he had heard her when he spoke again. "Miss Kaoru," he said thoughtfully, testing the name on his tongue. "That is a beautiful name."

She could not tell if it was the steam or the sudden rush of heat to her cheeks that was causing her to suddenly feel dizzy. "Uh!" she said hurriedly, standing up from the warm water quickly. "I'm done bathing, so I'm going to dry off and get dressed!" Swiftly, but carefully, she stepped out of the tub and almost cursed as the cold air nipped at her bare, pale flesh. She instantly regretted leaving the warm water, but her head was a little clearer in the cold air. Slipping on the kimono she had placed in the bathhouse prior to her ride out to the countryside, she wrung out her wet hair and put it in a braid to dry. She despised having wet hair cling to her clothes or skin and cause the possibility of sickness. Since she was alone in the dojo and had to do all the chores herself, getting sick was not an option.

Himura was still leaning against the side of the bathhouse lazily when she stepped out. He tilted his head to look over at her and she had to look away, still a little caught off guard by his glanced back at him, however, when she realized this was the first time she had seen him so relaxed since she had met him several hours ago. He was not looking at her anymore, but instead staring up at the clouds. He looked very at peace, calm, and somewhat vulnerable, not like the tongue-tied idiot she had encountered in the woods earlier. She felt a small smile grace her lips. Maybe he was not so bad to have around. It had been a while since she had had the company of a male presence.

"It is getting late, that it is," he said quietly after the long pause, his eyes still gazing at the sky overhead.

Kaoru looked at the sky to see that the sun was beginning to dip down slightly. Soon, the sunset would begin and quickly fade to the dark of night. "Mm," she agreed.

The noise his motions made when he stood caused Kaoru to turn her attention back to him, and she found his kind eyes were already looking at her. "I think it is time to return back to my home now, that it is."

Confusion took over Kaoru's features. "Home?" she repeated.

He stared back blankly at her. "Yes, Miss Kaoru. I live at a neighboring property, that I do," he answered.

She could not keep her jaw from dropping and anger from beginning to fester inside her. Clenching her fists to keep from lashing out, she tried to ask calmly, "So you came to my house and used up my time, firewood, and water to take a bath when you already have your own at your house? I thought you were a freeloader!"

He looked surprised and once again put his hands up in defense, an apologetic expression on his face. "I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea, that I am, but I told you I was not a bum when we met in the woods…I was simply following your orders when you took my sword with you."

She could not hold back her anger any longer. "You never mentioned any of that earlier!" she yelled.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, bowing deeply to her. "I will make sure to repay you for your kindness, Miss Kaoru. I live at the property on the other side of that forested area behind your dojo. Please feel free to come collect from me any time you wish."

A growl of annoyance slipped through her lips, but her anger had subsided. She knew where he lived at least if he did not pay her back for his freeloading. It served her right for trying to be nice. 'No more helping strange men,' she decided firmly. "That sounds fair," she answered after a long pause. "It's really no big deal. I just don't want to be taken advantage of. You sound like you're good for your word, so I'll let it slide this time."

He straightened and a smile broke out on his face. "Thank you, Miss Kaoru. You truely are a generous woman."

His sudden compliment caused her to blush once again and she turned her head to avoid his smiling face. "Just go home," she muttered, feigning irritation. She wanted to tell him that he was a nice man too, but she did not want to give him the wrong idea.

As the red-head turned to leave, Kaoru's stomach let out a long, loud growl and her stomach suddenly hurt with hunger. "W-wait!" she called out before she knew what she was doing.

He stopped, turning to look at her with wide, curious violet eyes that made her cheeks slightly warm. "Yes, Miss Kaoru?" he asked.

"Are you a good cook?"

A/N: I made this one longer for you guys! I hope you like it. More of the plot will be added in the next chapter when Kaoru finds out she has become rich and so forth. I just want to establish the relationship with her and Kenshin first. He will become more masculine in later chapters. Promise! For now, peace out girl scouts!