A/N: Sorry that this update is late. And I apoligze if this chapte rseems like filler. This is the final chapter of the exposition/ setting up of the story so the actual plot goes on from here! Enjoy!

A tired Megumi made her way out of the terminal towards baggage claim with her new husband in tow. The trip- honeymoon, she corrected herself- was refreshing and it had been just the thing that she and Sano needed to relax and get away from Tottori for a bit. But she was glad to be back. She wanted to check on Kaoru and make sure that her friend was fine. Kaoru had slowly healed from Katsura but still needed some more time to be the Kaoru she knew. She hoped that her departure hadn't stalled this progress.

The baggage claim area showed up and she sighed in happiness. "Sano, can you check for our bags- they're in carousel three. I'll go get a cart."

"Don't need that fox. I can carry them!" Megumi rolled her eyes but nodded. Their carry on could easily be stacked on top of the check-in and dragged out.

"Let's go then."

They waited with other passengers for the harsh beeps that indicated their luggage's arrival. Sano easily found their bags, theirs being in the first load, and hauled them down. Grateful, she and Sano made their way out of the airport and towards the gates. Finally, she was back in Tottori and able to go back to normalcy.

As soon as Megumi and Sano stepped out of the airport, she knew something was different- that something had changed in Tottori while she had been on her honeymoon. Kaoru stood by the entrance to the airport, as promised, and greeted them happily. But that wasn't the Kaoru she had left behind. This Kaoru looked like she had gotten a weight taken off her shoulders or had fallen into happier times. This was the Kaoru from a year ago before the tragedy.

"You sure look happy missy." Sano noted with a smile pulling the younger woman into a one-armed hug. So like him, Megumi thought, to take her change in stride.

"I should be. Enough about me- what about you. How was your trip?"

"It was good. Fox didn't like the cold weather so much, she wouldn't let us go out of the room a lot, you know?" Sano's words were teasing and Kaoru blushed at the implications.

"Idiot!" Megumi huffed smacking her husband's arm. She raked a hand through her hair and adjusted her scarf before reaching forward and giving Kaoru's arm a squeeze. It was her way of showing her friend that she cared. And that she was happy to be back with her. It was also her way of trying to show the world that she wasn't sporting a raging blush under that scarf of hers. Her husband seemed to get the message and apologized.

"Sorry, sorry! Can we go to the car now- it's freezing as hell out here!" Sano picked up the two larger pieces of luggage and nudged Kaoru who began leading the way. Megumi murmured something about language as she too followed them. It was a good thing Kaoru hadn't parked that far from the airport- it was cold outside currently. It was six am after all in the middle of February.

Kaoru pushed a lock of hair behind her ear as she unlocked her car, huddling into her coat as the wind blew. "Here, the trunk's open Sano." She hesitated before slipping into the driver's seat deciding that the chill was too much for her. "Actually, there's something I need to tell you two."

Megumi and Sano shared knowing looks neither knowing what to say about the current situation. They had known something was up when they greeted her at the airport but now they were wondering if they needed to be worried for their friends. Kaoru was still fragile, she still did wear her heart on her sleeve, and last they had checked she was still in love with Katsura. A few weeks couldn't change things this fast, in fact, they both doubted it would suddenly cause such a radical transformation in the girl. They climbed into the car and took their seats- Sano up front with Kaoru and Megumi sitting behind her to analyze her mannerisms.

"So, what you been up while the fox and I went away?" Sano asked lazily not probing her yet. Kaoru would tell them and it was best to wait. She was a spitfire when provoked.

"Same old, same old- playing with the girls, visiting Tae, doing some work on my pottery."

"Oh spill!" Megumi hissed from the backseat, having never been patient. "What or who is that thing you need to tell us about?"

"Who?"

Sano starched the back of his head sheepishly. "The person who's making you smile like that missy. You look happier than I've seen you in months. It's not that we're not happy or anything but it's just different."

Kaoru flushed as she thought about what Sano was implying. Her friends, she knew, genuinely cared for her. They had both been there to see her have her heart broken multiple times and she felt a little guilty for leading them on to believe that she had moved on. But at the same time, she was ticked. Had she been that morose? She drove onward as she thought about what to say. How could she tell them what she wanted to without making it seem like she was leading them on?

"There is no guy… at least in my romance life." Her smile faltered a little but she continued. "However, there is someone new at the clinic- Genzai's nephew Kenshin. Do you remember him?"

Megumi did- she didn't think she could ever forget that haunting face she had seen months ago. Sano reached for her hand and she absently gave it to him needing his touch as a comfort. Two questions went through the newlyweds' heads: Why was he here and what did he need? Kaoru sensed this and continued to explain before her friends could interrupt.

"He- well I'm not sure why he's here exactly but he came for a visit I guess." She shrugged her shoulders. "He's helping the doctor at the clinic but that's all I really know."

Silence pervaded the car since none of the occupants knew what to say. Sano remembered the man from Kyoto- the redhead whose face made him cringe. Megumi meanwhile wondered if she had to find alternative employment. And just what was he doing upsetting the delicate balance they had established? Kaoru was slowly healing- she didn't need such a huge upheaval in her life at the moment.

"We're here." Kaoru announced parking the car in a tiny parking lot close to the clinic. She didn't need to use her car a lot to travel around Tottori and instead walked everywhere. But sometimes, such as when she had a large load of clay or groceries to bring home, using her car had its benefits. And it allowed her to hide in her car for a moment before she faced the crowd in the dojo.

Sano and Megumi got out of the car and waited for Kaoru to leave with them. Sano grabbed their small carry-on bags and barreled up the gravel driveway startling the neighbor's cat that always slept by the dojo. She sighed and followed them up the driveway, stopping Sano before he stomped inside and startled the occupants in the house. Dr. Genzai had been awake when she left but everyone else was asleep. She led them to the kitchen where a tired Dr. Genzai was making coffee. Smiling, he greeted the newlyweds.

"Megumi, Sano- I trust your trip went well?"

Megumi leaned down and gave the elderly doctor a kiss on the cheek. "Wonderful, Genzai-sensei. How were things at the clinic?"

She shed her coat and took the pot of coffee from the elder man to pour into cups. It was something she had been doing for ages. She and Sano often stayed over for lunch and dinner so it was normal for her to see to things in the kitchen. It was also just the thing she needed to keep her distracted while the doctor talked.

"It was good of course. The girls missed you and I had a little bit of trouble with flu season but it wasn't that bad." The doctor looked at Sano and Kaoru, ushering them into the seats at the nearby dining table. "We have a new visitor for a while."

Sano huffed taking a seat at the table as instructed. "So I heard from missy over here. Anything else? I see the snow hasn't been shoveled lately."

Small talk was what Sano was known for. And Dr. Genzai noted he was on edge about something. He wondered what exactly Kaoru had told him that had him bristling at just the mere mention of Kenshin's presence. Or was it because he remembered the awkward encounters from Kyoto? If that was his first impression of someone, he supposed he would probably be feeling the same way Sano was. Still, he had to attempt to clear things and put them in the open so he spoke.

"Yes, Kenshin helps me out in the clinic." Megumi's hands faltered and she spilled some coffee onto the counter- was she replaced by family? The doctor's next words calmed her though. "He only agreed to help me until Megumi returned so now that she has, I'm not sure what he'll do. He might finally get around to the shoveling."

"I'll take care of it!" Sano announced grabbing the cup his wife was handing him. He'd been helping the doctor around the house and it wasn't going to change just because another pair of hands were there. "Say, Dr. Genzai- do you know why he's here?"

The doctor took his own cup from Megumi with thanks as he sat at the table next to Sano. It wasn't that he didn't trust Sano, but this was something that Kenshin had to sort out on his own. He couldn't rush the young man on it. So instead, he shook his head and Sano quieted. It seemed the young man understood what he was trying to say.

In another room of the house, Kenshin woke to voices. He thought he recognized one but wasn't sure about the others. Slowly getting up, he rolled up his futon and stretched his tired muscles. The mundaneness of the task eased him and he went about his regular routine-odd how it only took him a few days to fall into it- before he opened the door and padded down the hallway to the dining room and kitchen. He wasn't completely awake yet but he was coherent enough to function until he had his coffee- a habit he had picked up from his colleagues. He stifled a yawn as the voices grew louder the nearer he came to the kitchen.

"Kenshin!"

Still a bit groggy from sleep, Kenshin shook his head as he noticed who had wished him the greeting. Giving Kaoru a nod in return, he turned to see the other two people in the dining room beyond Kaoru and Dr. Genzai. One was a tall lanky man wearing a red scarf around his neck. His spiked hair reminded Kenshin of a teenager's rebel hairstyle. Next to him, was an equally tall woman who reminded him a little of Tomoe- straight hair, pale skin, and the like. He remembered their faces and realized that these two must be Sano and Megumi- the very people Kaoru had told him she was picking up last night at dinner. He'd almost forgotten all about it.

All eyes turned on him where he stood by the kitchen entrance making him feel a little shy. "Morning." He felt a tad underdressed and sheepishly combed a hand through his hair.

Megumi noticed his fidgeting and decided to spare him the misery. She may not know him that well, nor could she forget the haunting image she had of when she had last seen him, but she did know her arrival with Sano was strange to this man. She gave him a polite greeting before disappearing towards the kitchen intent on letting Kaoru and Dr. Genzai take care of things. Kenshin, still a little surprised seeing the newcomers, merely followed her movements with his eyes. What did one do in a situation such as this? Especially if he hadn't had coffee yet?

Kaoru approached him. "Morning. Sorry if we woke you." He merely nodded wordlessly. "I think we'll go see what Megumi is doing in the kitchen okay?" Grabbing Sano's hand, she dragged him off in the same direction Megumi had disappeared leaving the nephew alone with his uncle. Resigned to his task, the doctor sighed before talking.

"As you can see Kenshin, my head assistant and her husband have returned from their honeymoon." The doctor appraised his nephew's appearance. "Why don't you wash up and join us? Today's Sunday and we generally don't have that many patients today."

Kenshin nodded as he turned back around. He made his way back to his room and washed his face with cold water before brushing his teeth. The act woke him a little more but still he didn't leave the bathroom. Leaning forward over the sink, he took in his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Tired eyes on a fresh face, red hair sticking out in all directions and sleepwear that had seen better days. He really should have waited before going into the kitchen as he had. Rearranging his appearance, he shuffled out of the bathroom and headed back towards the kitchen.

Sano was at the table sitting next to the doctor and Kaoru while his wife was searching the refrigerator for something. This time no one ran away at his appearance. Instead, they acknowledged him. Partial retreat it appeared had been the better option for him. He snagged a cup of coffee and stood awkwardly in the tiny opening that connected the kitchen to the dining room.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru broke the awkward atmosphere and indicated to the seat across from hers- the one next to Sano. "Come have a seat with us."

He shuffled forward and took the seat not sure what else to do. Kaoru smiled warmly and reached over to pat his shoulder. The action surprised him. He wasn't used to touch- even platonic- outside of his immediate family these days. A part of him craved for the feeling of someone's hand on his shoulder or a pair of arms engulfing him in a hug. However, that part of him was quickly extinguished by the guilt he felt at tainting Tomoe's memory. He wondered if he would ever come to terms with that- Tomoe. Would he continue to wallow in his unrequited love?

"Kenshin, this is Sano and that's Megumi. I'm not sure if you remember them but they um… they accompanied me to the funeral." He uttered a small greeting to them which they returned. Sano eyed him for a minute before deciding that he was okay with whatever it was he saw. Taking his mind off the matter, Kenshin resumed drinking his coffee.

"So," Sano started when the redhead had gotten comfortable, "what brings you here to Tottori?"

The redhead nearly choked on the coffee as he heard the question. He idly wondered how long he'd have to keep answering all the different variants of that particular question. It was getting rather tiring to say he wanted a change of pace from Kyoto but that was all that he could inform others about for now. His past was still an area of his life he didn't want to visit just yet. And he still had to face his demons, something he wasn't ready for yet. It was Kaoru who helped him again making him feel grateful for her presence.

"He's here for a break." Kaoru had jumped into the conversation when she had noticed the unease. She fiddled with the empty cup in front of her as she rounded on Sano. It was hard to get over grief and people asking uncomfortable questions only made it that much more difficult. She rounded on Sano giving him a glare. "Now are you done grilling him?"

Sano stiffened but let the argument go. "I get it missy. Lay off now." He looked towards Kenshin and took another sip of his second cup of coffee. "I just wanted to know if he was permanent is all." No one answered his question. After all, what was the answer? Kenshin himself didn't know. Tottori was an escape but that was all- or at least that's what he thought.

Kenshin downed the rest of his coffee and stood watching Megumi cut some vegetables for omelets. So that was what had her peering into the fridge. "Do you need some help?"

It was a simple question but one that was perceived differently by all the parties in the room. Megumi bristled; for as long as she had worked with Dr. Genzai the kitchen had been her and Tomoe's domain. With the latter having passed away, she was used to cooking in it, it had become her kitchen and she was possessive of it. Sano was shocked because he wasn't used to it. Like Megumi, he couldn't see anyone but the two women in the kitchen. It was Kaoru and Dr. Genzai though who understood his request.

"Kenshin has been cooking while you were on the honeymoon Megumi. I can't cook that well and the girls seem to like his cooking so I let it slide."

"Oh, I see." Megumi brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and stopped in her task. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take over cooking duties again as much as I am able."

"Of course." It was Kenshin who spoke now feeling like he had infringed upon something he shouldn't have. "I'll… I'll go wake the girls."

He put his now empty mug in the kitchen sink before disappearing down the hallway. It was another hasty retreat and Kaoru felt guilty about it. But at the same time, Kenshin's presence wasn't going to suddenly change the habits that had been there in Tottori. She watched him go with a calculating look. He was obviously trying to escape the awkwardness in the kitchen and she wondered if she should attempt to go to him. Dr. Genzai placed an arm on her shoulder.

"Let him be Kaoru." He stood; putting his empty cup next to Kenshin's in the sink and addressed his assistant. "I don't mean any harm when I say this Megumi but cooking is my nephew's way of stabilizing his emotions. If you could, would you let him cook at least one meal a day? I realize it may be a lot to ask but cooking does help him heal."

"Breakfast then." The young woman announced cleaning her blade. "It'll be one less thing for me to worry about in the morning."

Twenty minutes later, things were different. The presence of the girls was the catalyst for all of it. They didn't understand the tensions present between their beloved uncles and aunts. Instead, they saw two people who had come back. The departure of Sano and Megumi had been a little scary for them because they feared that they wouldn't return like their parents. Ayame ran into Sano's lap and refused to budge leaving a hungry Sano to share his breakfast with her. Suzume was patiently waiting her turn and had taken a seat in her godfather's lap. She realized he was feeling out of sorts and wanted to calm him a little.

"Now that Megumi's back Kenshin I think I found something for you." The doctor was peering at a letter that Megumi had found in the mailbox. He'd forgotten to check that yesterday. The doctor handed the sheet to Kenshin who took it from his hands.

"The University was just telling us how they needed someone with real expertise to work in their hospital. They're looking for an orthopedic doctor." Kenshin skimmed the details. That had been his specialty before he turned to work on Tomoe's cancer research. And even when working in the ER he had found himself focused on breaking and mending bone problems.

"Orthopedics?" Sano asked pulling his chopsticks out of Ayame's reach. "Isn't that bone stuff?" Megumi rolled her eyes as she took the remaining seat at the table and put down the plate of omelets.

"The study of bones rooster. And to think you married a doctor." She regarded Kenshin closely. "If I remember right from what Dr. Genzai told me, orthopedics is your specialty isn't it?"

"Yes it is." Kaoru looked at the redhead apprehensively. She wasn't sure about him but if her career path was basically being set in stone for her she probably wouldn't appreciate it. And Kenshin had just quit working at a hospital, she was sure he wasn't too keen on going back. Curious, she waited for his reply while entertaining Ayame with funny faces.

"I'll look into it Uncle." Kenshin sighed out.

He wasn't too keen on going back into a hospital but having to work fewer hours in an environment he was comfortable in made the idea slightly appealing. But he had strayed from orthopedics for a while and his uncle knew the exact reason why. He needed to think about the best option for him when he stayed in Tottori. It wasn't going to be an easy decision and he needed some time to dwell on the subject. Maybe he could do household chores- hadn't his uncle mentioned something about shoveling.

"Uncle, you mentioned something about shoveling?"

"Yes! We haven't been able to shovel anything since the snow Friday night. I know the gravel walkway is clean but the rest of the walkways are packed with snow." The doctor pointed to Sano. "I know you aren't used to it, so you can get help from Sano."

"Eh, we'll get started on it soon then. The girls can play in it if they hurry and get there before us." His comment was met with squeals and Ayame practically tumbled out of his lap. Grabbing her snugly around the waist, he calmed her down.

Kaoru laughed and opened her arms into which the girls ran. "Oh girls come here, let's get you into coats and then we can go crash Uncle Sano's snow piles." The girls didn't need to be told twice and they raced out of the kitchen Kaoru and Kenshin following them.

Sano rolled his arms as he sighed and stood up. "I'll go now then. See you later!"

A while later Sano and Kenshin shoveled snow off one of the paths leading to the garden by the dojo compound. Kenshin took the top half and Sano the bottom portion. Not that they were getting much done with the girls darting around and thwarting their work in the process. Sano finally dropped his shovel and tackled Suzume when she was running past him. The little girl's shrieks of laughter filled the air and Ayame- not wanting to miss out- promptly tackled her other uncle.

"Looks like Ayame caught the monster's minion!" Kaoru yelled out from the side. "Ayame, quick, go help Suzume with the king!" Kenshin dutifully lay still in the soft snow as the two girls leaped at and ran at Sano. Sano, ever the playful one tickled the girls until Ayame pulled his hair in a feat of courage. At that, even the tall man had to admit defeat.

"Oh all right, all right- you two win. Now get out of here so we can finish shoveling the snow." He looked at the porch where Megumi, Kaoru, and Dr. Genzai stood patiently. "You could help me here!" Kaoru stuck her tongue out childishly but did as she was told carting the girls off in the other direction of the dojo.

"Genzai-sensei!" A call came from the gravel driveway where a young woman was coming in carrying her baby. "Sorry to bother you today but Shin-kun won't stop crying!" The man nodded and he and Megumi left as well leaving Sano and Kenshin to shovel by themselves.

It was quiet when they shoveled. Neither knew what to say since they were both strangers to each other. Sano had questions- a large number that he wanted addressed but couldn't find in himself the right way to phrase them. Kenshin meanwhile wondered where he fit in within this Tottori existence. He'd come as a visitor but was he also looking for a job? Would that make him permanent? He sighed as the walkway cleared to the point he couldn't shovel anymore. He'd think more about that later.

Sano turned to see the redhead finished with his task. "You're used to this?" He asked surprised.

"The driveway to my house in Kyoto gets quite backed up this time of year."

"I see." The younger man leaned casually on his shovel trying to figure the elder out. "Say Himura- I don't know a lot about you. Why don't you tell me something?"

Kenshin stared at the elder man his expression one of confusion. Tell him what? The other male seemed to understand his confusion.

"Look, I'll start. Name's Sanosuke Sagara but round here everyone calls me Sano. Kaoru got me a job with a construction company here and well I just got married to the fox. You?"

This was something Kenshin could do- small talk. "Kenshin Himura- an ex ER doctor. I… I'm currently unemployed."

"There, that's a good start." Sano tossed his shovel down and walked over to him. "Genzai's got some wheelbarrows we can use to take the snowdrifts to the curb. Up for it?"

"Ah- of course." The redhead had never heard of tossing the melting snow aside. In Kyoto the shoveled snow generally melted by night and he salted the driveway when he got home. Here, he supposed, it was easier for the snowmelt to become an icy residue.

The shoveling took a few hours with the two males developing a small camaraderie. They hadn't become good friends overnight but Sano had invited Kenshin out- to drinks at a local bar. And Kenshin had said he'd take him up on the offer. When they finished, they came inside and shuffled out of their coasts stomping their boots in the genkan to get rid of any residual snow. Kaoru met them- two cups of hot chocolate in her hands which they took eagerly before joining the others in the living room.

"Kaoru," Megumi stated after teaching the girls how to play patty-cake, "have you heard back from anyone yet regarding the kendo classes?"

The young woman shook her head putting her chin in her hands dejectedly. "No one's interested. I was desperate enough that I even went to the university to ask them."

Megumi made a quick correction of the patty cake game. "Hmm, what about the pottery?"

"Well, I did get a letter from the University a while back." The others looked at her with baited breath. Kaoru hadn't told anyone about it because she herself was unsure about whether or not she would take up the university's offer. "They- uh- they heard that I do pottery and they were interested in looking at some of my pieces."

"That's wonderful!" Dr. Genzai enthused. "Do you know if they want to buy your pieces?"

"I'm not sure what they want. I know that there's an exhibition coming up but I doubt they'd want my pieces for that."

"Try for it!" Sano yelled thumping his now empty cup on the table. The sound startled all and Kaoru hit Sano in retaliation. He made a sound of pain but it was ignored and the living room became silent again.

"You know what?" Sano stated after a while. "I think you should say yes Kaoru- it might work out for you. And you too Kenshin- I think it'd be nice if you stuck around for a bit you know?"

"We'll think about it Sano." Kaoru murmured as the silence in the room began to overpower things again.

The sounds of the girls' game permeated throughout the living room as Kenshin stood. It was time for lunch anyway. Megumi saw him stand and glanced quickly at the clock. She stood as well and spoke.

"Well then, now that's that. We'll go make lunch. Any requests?" Her husband was the first to speak.

"No tofu!"

"Den, Den!"

"Something hot Megumi." Dr. Genzai finally translated. "Go now, get started." Nodding, she and Kenshin left leaving the others in the living room.

Hours later, when the clinic was quiet again, Kenshin realized that Sano did have a point earlier. He supposed he was going to visit the University Hospital first thing tomorrow morning.