Time leap! I refuse to do the math.(crosses arms and humph) I just finished up with my classes and I do not want to think anymore.

***************

"I'm home!" I yelled as I walked through the door.

It had been years since I last came home.

I had decided, no, it had been decided for me that I would go to graduate school overseas. I was extremely lucky to have been accepted to an Ivy League University in the States but I had wanted to stay in Japan.

To this day I have no idea how I got into grad school let alone college. My...she had not been there to help me. My only motivation of getting through middle school.

After the first week of high school, she disappeared. My grades went straight down the shitter and I couldn't be bothered to pull them up. There just was no reason to be there is she wasn't there too.

Hiko somehow struck a deal with the admissions office at Todai. If I could get and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA in a two year preparatory college then they would accept me to the University. He must have called in many heavy favors to do this.

Of course he beat me to a pulp and worked my bones off until I agreed to do this. He told me to shape up and be the man she believed I could be. That when the time came and we could see each other again, I could stop being afraid.

Actually he yelled at the top of his lungs while smashing me into the dojo wall.

"Baka Deshi! You moron! Stop being a bitch and get your shit together! You're lucky Kaoru isn't here to see how pathetic you really are. Although I'm sure she already knows. Pathetic piece of shit. Get up, take my offer, go to university and become a man who can stand on his own. Instead of a puppet getting strung along by fads and falsehoods. Who is by you now? Your old friends dropped you the minute you started becoming a bum. She always stayed by you and what did you do for her? She a definitely thought too much of you."

That kind of woke me up. What would she think? Maybe I would be able to find her. She was the smart one. The high school was large so maybe she was in the advanced classes in another building.

From that point on, I tried. I worked hard. I graduated prep. school with high honors and in the top 15 at Todai.

All that time, all that hard work was for nothing. I never saw hide nor hair of the one person who motivated me to become a man. A good man. It was as if she fell from the face of the Earth.

I took a year off before grad school and went traipsing around Japan looking for her. Her house had burned down some time ago. They said it had been Yakuza. Apparently her father owed a large debt and they went to collect; but she had disappeared long before that.

I would not let myself believe that she was no longer among the living. I planned to continue to look for her even after I was called back to move on to grad school. I had applied to Kyoto University. They had a department specifically geared to my field of study.

Then Hiko dropped the bomb. I was going overseas. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

I did good and was able to get a well paying job right after graduation. I had almost forgot about Kao-chan. Almost. When the confusion of waking reality left me for the dream world, I dreamt of her:

Everything she did for me.

Everything she meant to me.

Everything I didn't do for her.

All the feelings I never allowed her to know.

And everything that we did together.

Despite this, I could not yet bring myself to leave my work and come back home; to continue to search for her. I did not give up per se, but I had become afraid. Once again, I was weak and not deserving of her. So I stayed in the States and refused to return...until today.

It was my brother Aoshi's engagement party. I would not miss this for the world. Especially since he was the last of us who we would have thought to get married. He was always so cold and distant. The quiet type. He never spoke unnecessarily. I suppose I could see what a woman might see in him--strong, silent type. I guess he wasn't too bad looking too. He was Kaoru's cousin after all, and she was...she was beautiful.

Hiko took him in after his parents died, but he chose to continue his education in Europe. He was only two years older than myself and I couldn't help feeling the tug of settling down. The only problem was that the woman I wanted was no where to be found. I can't wait to see the type of woman who caught his attention.

Speak of the devil. Ice cold calculation personified came walking down the hall. He looked good. Much to my dismay, he grew too.

'Must have been an early adult growth spurt,' I mumbled to myself.

I plastered on a big smile, in truth I was happy to see him even though I did not feel ready to be home.

"Aoshi! How have you been? You look...tall?" My smile widened, slightly fake now.

I was a bit startled as he came closer to see some of the fatigue on him. He looked stressed and weary. Aoshi never gave away anything of his thoughts and feelings. I could only assume something was wrong.

"Himura." He stated in a monotone.

"Is that the kind of greeting you give to your ototo whose been away working hard to support himself for so long?" I asked trying to lighten the mood.

I failed.

"..." All I got was a raised eyebrow.

"So, are you alright Aoshi? You look worn out."

"Aa, I am fine. Haha and my fiance have me and the others running ridiculous errands. Not to mention your return." He sighed--something weird was going on. "I'm sorry I could not pick you up from the airport."

Oh, yes. I almost forgot about Okasan. I was about to mention that to Aoshi but he quickly spoke again.

"Where is Tori-atama?"

Tori-atama, rooster head, Sanosuke Sagara. He was my best friend. Kao-chan introduced us in grade school and we've been inseparable since.

He was Kao-chan's friend first. He was the new kid who looked like trouble even then. She took to him immediately and he to her. I was jealous of their friendship, she was his Jou-chan. Kao-chan was mine.

Then Sano's father was sent to prison. He adamantly claimed innocence but a jury thought otherwise. After that, Kao-chan introduced us.

The first thing I did was punch him in the face. He returned the favor and a bloody, bare knuckle, no holds barred brawl was on.

When it was over, Kao-chan treated our cuts and bumps, while berating our brutish behavior. In the end I got a brother.

Hiko took him in after learning of his situation.

Sano was the same age as myself and Kao-chan. Only younger than me by months, older than Kao by the same. As we grew and entered middle school. We separated into the different cliques.

Kao-chan went her way. I thought for sure Sano would have followed her but he didn't. He stayed with me and followed into the popular group. Although he stayed on the outside edge. Just enough to be considered part of the group but not so into it that he followed the group.

He was somewhat of a delinquent at that time--rebelling and experimenting with trouble. Which was partially why the popular kids thought he was so cool. Sano was often serving detention or some sort of punishment after school and at lunch times.

I was thankful for this. He never got to see how I treated his Jou-chan. He would have thrown me from the roof if he did. He chalked up our infrequent time together at school as us being too busy with school stuff to really spend time with each other. I was popular so naturally I was busy.

The only reason I think he let it pass was because we spent some time together outside of school. Him especially. He would disappear for days at a time on occasion. Hiko never said anything to him and he wouldn't tell me what he was doing only that he wanted to check up on someone.

I wondered at this but he never said more. I didn't want to push him and assumed it had something to do with his father.

Sano and I split ways briefly during college. He went to pursue other things but when it was time for me to go overseas, he decided to come with me.

"Yo! Iceman." He came running in saluting Aoshi.

Aoshi just graced him with a head nod. Sano was not Aoshi's favorite.

"Where is the miracle worker who was able melt down your coolness enough to get on your knees and beg for her hand in marriage?"

"Ever the tactful one Sano. My fiance is with Hahaue and Soujiro."

"Oh yeah, O-ka-san. I forgot the old man got hitched. I bet it's some cheap, gold dig..."

Sano never finished that sentence. Aoshi slammed him against the wall.

Eyes blazing cold ice, something rarely seen from the always in control Aoshi.

"She--is--beautiful." He ground out each word so that it would stick into Sano's head. "Do not ever speak badly of Okasan."

He let Sano drop before walking away down the hall.

"Sheesh, what the hell." Sano started again.

We followed Aoshi heading toward the garden in the back.

"You gotta admit, this whole marriage thing seems fishy. Hiko is a lifelong bachelor, then suddenly he gets hitched? We weren't even invited to the wedding. What the hell is that?"

Aoshi abruptly turned glaring at Sano again. I took a step back at the intensity of his eyes. Apparently Okasan was a sore spot for Aoshi. Strange, I thought.

"All you need to know is that Hiko loves Hahaue very much. She is beautiful, smart, kind, and deserving of the happiness and security Chichiue can provide. It is not for you to question."

We were both taken aback at the emotion in our brother's words. He has never spoken such praise about anyone before.

As we opened the back door a barrel of energy came bounding through colliding with

Aoshi.

"Oh! Aoshi-sama! What took you so long? Who was at the door?"

She was a petite woman. Young and full of energy. She had her hair in a braid down her back and was dressed casually.

"I'm off on an errand Ka..." Aoshi flashed her a look and she glanced sideways to us.

"Ka-chan wanted me to meet with the photographer so I was heading out. Who are these handsome young men?"

Aoshi moved to speak.

"Not your little brothers, are they? Oooooh...let me guess, let me guess!" She squealed.

Aoshi just took a deep breath while we stood shell shocked.

"You," she pointed to me, "must be Kenshin, right? Can't miss that red hair!"

She beamed, I blushed and extended my hand.

"It is nice to meet you..."

I was cut off by her ignoring me in favor of Sano.

She zeroed in on his hair and pointed.

"Tori-atama!" Aoshi and I both choked back a laugh. She frowned.

"What? Did I get it wrong? There is no way I could have, unless there's another one of you brothers I didn't know of."

She looked to Aoshi questioningly.

"There are five of you right?"

I frowned, five? There were only four before.

"Aa, there are five." She looked relieved.

"Aoshi, who is the fifth?" I asked.

"Okasan brought in another stray. You have a younger brother now."

"I knew it!" Sano yelled smacking the wall. "I knew she was a gold digger, getting cosy with Tousan so he could take care of her kid."

Smack! Aoshi's petite little fiance slapped Sano straight across the face.

"Don't you ever talk about her like that you...you...ROOSTER HEAD!"

Then she stormed off.

"You are really going to regret your words Sano." Aoshi spoke after his fiance had stomped away.

I realized that we never were introduced.

"Sooooo, Aoshi, was that your fiance?" An affirmative grunt was my response.

We made our way outside and began walking toward the middle of the garden.

"Her name is Misao Makimachi. She is the granddaughter of Okina."

"Who?" Sano replied stupidly.

"Nenji Kashiwazaki."

"Oh." Sano looked at me behind Aoshi in a who is that manner.

I returned the look and shrugged. I didn't know either. We weren't going to admit that since it was clearly someone we should have know, according to the way Aoshi emphasized his name.

"He is the president and CEO of the largest luxury hotel group in Japan. Soon to be the largest in Europe."

"Pffft, we knew that. Sheesh, really Aoshi you didn't need to elaborate." Sano stupidly supplied.

"Riiight." Aoshi said mockingly.

As we made our way to the middle of the garden, I picked up on a refreshing scent. I inhaled, jasmine. A lazy smile came to my face.

"Thinking bout Jou-chan again." Sano nudged me in the ribs, wriggling his eyebrows.

"What? No, no way. We haven't heard from her in like what, years?"

Oh yeah, I am so convincing.

"Aoshi have you heard anything from Jou-chan? You are her cousin after all."

He turned to face us but was interrupted.

"Outta my way aniki! Busu's out of her mind. She's acting like its her wedding."

"Yahiko!" The boys shoulder slumped down a bit ashamed, mumbling something about not getting the wedding she deserved not being his fault.

"Who the hell is the rooster and girly man?" He said after recovering.

" They, Yahiko, are your brothers. Kenshin and Sano."

Sano gave his standard salute, "Yo!"

I bowed, "It's nice to meet you Yahiko. I hope we can get to know each other while I'm back."

He glared at me.

"Whatever. I got stupid chores to do before the party tomorrow. Seriously aniki, you gotta talk to her. Busu's working me to the bone and Smiley seems to be getting out of most of the work. It's not fair!"

Aoshi ruffled Yahiko's hair affectionately and sent him on his way. There were so many surprises today, I'm not sure I could take another shock.

We were still a ways from the center of the garden but there was a clearing in the middle that I didn't remember being there before. There were two people sitting closely and laughing with each other.

One turned toward us and smiled brightly, waving. I could never forget that smile. My fourth brother, Soujiro Seta.

Soujiro came into the family at the start of middle school. It was said that he was the son of a yakuza lord. The Yakuza Lord. Japan's famous anarchist--Shishio Makoto and his consort Yumi Komagata.

Some people say that Soujiro was stolen from a family during infancy because Yumi was unable to conceive and wanted a child. The story goes something about a debt so the boy was given as a partial payment. I can't imagine the horrors he witnessed as a notorious yakuza's child. They would want to groom him to take over the family business so they would force him to take part in their most violent acts so he smiled to mask the pain.

I remember Kao-chan telling me to be gentle with him. After his parents got shot down by the government, Soujiro quit school and was running errands for petty thugs on the streets. Kao found him in an ally and brought him to Tousan. The rest as they say is history. I got a new brother.

He didn't adapt well to the new lifestyle so to become a positive contributor to the family, he voluntarily went to China to live with a friend of Hiko, who understood the ways of the yakuza, until he could adapt to life.

People used to joke around saying that they were twins and sometimes they would use that to cause mischief. Kao-chan missed him terribly when he left. It seemed like a part of her soul left with him. I remember her face lighting up whenever he was around. I was glad the smiley freak left since he took up most of Kao-chan's time, but he was still my brother and Kao cared for him.

Soujiro stood abruptly and held his hand out to the other, who was a woman. From this distance, I couldn't see her clearly. The sun was behind her, she look etherial. The dress she wore swayed gently with the breeze and Soujiro was being so tender with her. Was she his lover?

My breath caught as she turned slightly and gave a little wave. I was entranced though I couldn't make out her features. Aoshi, shock to my system, smiled warmly back.

Sano gasped. "Is that?"

He grabbed Aoshi and was given a pointed look in return.

"What are you talking about Sano? How can you see her? All I can see is her silhouette. Who is she?" I asked.

Really how can he see her? I was too busy squinting to care about their exchange.

He smacked my back so I missed her leaving Soujiro behind and heading in the direction of the dojo.

"Nah, don't worry bout it bro. The sun musta been playing tricks on my eyes. I didn't really get too good of a look. She looked a bit familiar but I really couldn't tell."

By this time Soujiro had met up with us.

Smiling as bright as the sun he said, "Hey guys! Welcome home!"

He bowed to us formally, "Himura-san, Sagara-san."

I rolled my eyes. He never did get over this habit of his. I guess it is too late to correct it now.

"Aoshi-san, the preparations are coming along smoothly. Tomorrows party should go off without a hitch. Okasan has gone through great pains to ensure its success."

"I am sure it will be. We were about to go to the dojo to see Otousan. Is he there?"

"No, he is at the office downtown. Hahaue has requested privacy in the dojo for now, then Yahiko will be training. I do not think it will be available for use today."

"I see."

I watched the exchange. I was missing something and Sano wasn't ranting like he usually would.

"Why don't you two take a bath and get settled in? Okasan made cookies not too long ago. When you are finished we can sit down and catch up." Soujiro offered smiling.

He would have made a great politician or a great yakuza boss, depending how you look at it.

We headed back in when Sano stopped suddenly.

"Are you sure it's safe to eat those cookies?"

I cringed. That was rude considering the fact that everyone does not take insults to our new mother lightly and we haven't even met her yet.

Smiley actually stopped smiling.

"Hahaue's cooking is delicious." He said it so seriously and looked so scary I thought Sano was going to pee his pants. His face was white as a ghost.

"Of course they are!" Sano replied shakily scratching the back of his head. "Hehehe...ahem. I'm gona go change. And Aoshi?"

"Yes?"

"You're right, she is beautiful."

With that Sano walked into the house and disappeared.

I just stared after him. That was weird. Sano was always thought to be the stupid one, so what wasn't I getting?

**************

Happy Holidays to all!

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Originally I intended to do the party in this chap but it sort of got away from me. If you couldn't tell it is all in Kenshin's POV. I figured I'd do some background on the brothers. Those of you who watched Atashinchi no Danshi know who the mother is. I do want to say that the end of that will not be the same as this. I don't want to say because it would ruin the show for those who haven't seen it yet or are currently watching. It is kind of a big piece of the show. I just didn't want anyone assuming that is how I'm going to settle that matter.

Speaking in code, I know, sorry.

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On a side note-they have made a live action Peacemaker. If they can do that, then they can make a live action Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X.