Chapter Three

"Kenji!" Kaoru called out again, relief coming off her in palpable waves, "Thank god." She dropped to her knees and enveloped the small boy in a tight embrace.

"Never leave me like that again," Kaoru murmured into Kenji's hair as her eyes shut closed; completely oblivious of Kenshin's on-looking gaze in her complete elation.

"Gomen, mama," Kenji replied, guilt glazing over his words, "I just wanted to say hi to that man."

"What man-" Kaoru stood and turned her head around and froze as an all familiar amber gaze pierced her.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

She tightened her hold on Kenji to point that her knuckles shone white.

Kenji giggled slightly then, "He has red hair just like me, right mama?"

Kaoru glanced down at her son's warm violet gaze that sparkled with glee at finally seeing someone else with his unique hair.

"H-hai," Kaoru agreed, stuttering over her words in nervousness.

She looked back at Kenshin with wide sapphire eyes, wanting nothing more than to take Kenji and sprint out of his sight. Her heart ached at the sight of him. After all these years, after all the pain, she still hadn't fully gotten over him.

"Why?" Kenshin asked, his voice was strained, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Kenji looked from the red-haired stranger to his mama with a confused look.

"Mama-" Kenji began, but he stopped when he saw his mother shake slightly. His gaze moved to the strange red-headed man who seemed to entrance his mother in a way he had never seen done before.

"You made it clear," Kaoru spoke, her voice was soft and clear, "That you didn't want me in your life anymore."

Kenshin moved forward as Kaoru started to turn away; his hand easily grasped onto the thin wrist.

"Kaoru-" Kenshin didn't know what to say. Kaoru's words struck a deep chord within him, but all he could think about was that little boy, his little boy. His mind was a jumbled mess of confusion. Standing in front of him was the woman who had plagued his dreams for the past four years, and beside her was a child who looked so much liked him. Kenshin looked down at the tiny boy who seemed to be settling himself defensively in front Kaoru; his small hand all the while gripping her hand.

The boy looked to be healthy. His eyes were bright with curiosity, and Kenshin could spot an underlying protectiveness in the young boy's gaze as their eyes met.

"Don't you dare hurt my mama," Kenji cautioned, his head inclining towards Kenshin's grasp.

"Kenji," Kaoru admonished gently, "He can't hurt me. Not anymore." Kaoru removed her hand from Kenshin's grasp and met his gaze straight on.

"I never did what you accused me of," Kaoru said, "And I have no intention of letting you in my life, or in Kenji's." She turned and began to walk away from the man who she had always thought of as the love of her life.

Kenshin made no move to stop her, but he had no intention of letting it end at this. Clutching his hand tightly into a fist; he watched as Kenji turned around slightly and he saw as the young boy's eyes flash an amber shade. Her words repeated themselves in his head, and his mind flashed back to that day their relationship had shattered. He had seen the pictures; the clear evidence of her in bed with her lover. His mind recalled the hurt in her eyes, but he couldn't recall any guilt being present in her sapphire eyes. He remembered her being speechless; which at the time, he had taken to be an admission of guilt, but what if it wasn't? What is it was merely her disbelief that he could've said such a thing. He felt his heart stop as he realized what it would mean if all his doubts were true; he'd given up Kaoru and four years with his son ….for a lie.

His mouth was set in a hard line as he flipped open his cell phone.

"Get me Yukishiro Tomoe, now," Kenshin bit out, his voice was steely and cold. He turned and walked back into the sleek building with only one thought on his head; reuniting his family.

With Kaoru and Kenji

"Mama, who was that man?" Kenji asked, tugging on his khaki skirt slightly to get her attention.

Kaoru looked down at her son was compassionate eyes.

"He was an old friend of Mama's," Kaoru replied, leaning down so she could scoop Kenji into her arms. Once he was rested on her hip he laid his head in the crook of her neck.

"Did he hurt you Mama?" Kenji questioned. Kaoru continued to walk, but she slowed down slightly.

"It was a long time ago, darling," Kaoru crooned, her free hand rubbing circles on his back now.

Kenji didn't say anything, but he knew that the only reason his mother was holding him like this was so that he couldn't see the free flowing tears that fell from Kaoru's pristine sapphire eyes.

His hands gripped the soft material of her cardigan tightly, bunching it up.

In his small mind though he wondered still about that mysterious man who seemed to affect his mother so much, and who looked so much like him. 'Just who was he?' Kenji wondered before falling into a light sleep in his mother's comforting and safe arms.

With Kenshin

"Himura-sama," the new secretary called, her voice relaying her nervousness, "Yukishiro-san has arrived." The new secretary glanced over at the intimidating woman who was dressed completely in designer clothes.

"Let her in," Kenshin said coolly. The secretary gave a slight nod towards Tomoe's statuesque form that strode by the mousy girl without a second glance. Once she entered the spacious office she spread her arms out widely and a smile graced her thin lips.

"Ken! It's been so long!" She made the gesture to embrace him, but Kenshin didn't move from his seat. Her smile faltered slightly, but she simply sat down in the plush leather armchair, crossing her legs.

"Why have you called me in, Ken?" Her voice was flirtatious, thinking that Kenshin finally wanted to initiate an intimate relationship that had never before existed between the two.

"About these," Kenshin said coldly, his eyes shone brilliant amber. A thin manila folder slid itself in front of her, and Tomoe hesitantly opened it. The photos fell out, and Tomoe blanched.

"That isn't Kaoru," Kenshin said, his voice clear and articulate and menacing.

"Of course it is," Tomoe said nervously fingering the fur cuff of her Gucci jacket.

"It isn't, and you knew it," Kenshin repeated, "You set this up."

Tomoe met Kenshin's amber gaze and she knew that her act was up.

"It was four years ago, Ken. And she was hindering you from becoming the great business man you are today. She didn't belong with you," Tomoe argued.

"You forget your place, Yukishiro," Kenshin said, "I made you what you are in this world; don't forget that I can take it all away. You're fired."

Tomoe's eyes widened.

"You wouldn't," she whimpered.

"I thought you would've learned, no one messes with me," Kenshin said coldly as he pressed the intercom button, "Please escort Yukishiro-san off company property, and relay to all our business contacts that if anyone dares to hire her in any position higher than a grunt that I will have no qualms about severing all ties with them."

Kenshin glanced up at Tomoe and gave her a slight smirk.

Tomoe stood and glared at the man that had just screwed over her career.

"You think she's going to take you back now? After you kicked her out of your life with nothing but the clothes on her back?" Kenshin stiffened at Tomoe's words. "I've been keeping tabs on her, just to see if she dared to come back to you. Did you know that she's been working thirteen hours shifts at a diner to care for that little brat of hers? She's never going to be able to look at you the same way again after the four years of hell you've put her through."

"Shut the fuck up," Kenshin roared, motioning for the guards to take her away.

He cradled his head in his hands as Tomoe's words seared themselves into his mind.

But he shoved them aside knowing that Kaoru had a forgiving nature, he just wondered if it was this forgiving.

"Kaoru, I'm going to get you back in my life. Both you and our son," Kenshin swore, "I'm never letting you go again."

With a resolved resolution Kenshin began the search to see what Kaoru had been doing for the past four years without him.

A.N. Sorry for the long wait. School's been really hectic, so I haven't found the time to update any of my stories.