Hello everyone!

Yes, Maki is annoying. Really annoying. And I hate her just as much as you do... And yes I really love Kaoru!

You are right, she is always jealous, but when someone needs her help she is always there. She really lives the Kamiya-Kasshin. In this chapter we will see her character a lot better... :)

THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SPOILER FOR JINCHUU ARC ! SO DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!

And remember: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin... only that wench ;)

He wasn't sure how long he sat like this, looking down onto the woman in his arms, when he heard another female voice.
„Shhh", he loosened his grip on Kaoru and raised his finger to his lips.
„This one will be outside with you in a minute, Maki."

„Here is your tea Kaoru-dono. It will help against the pain.", Kenshin entered the room slowly. He stood frozen next to her futon when she smiled at him, before he got himself together and knelt down.
He helped her silently to drink after that and waited for her to say something. He felt her troubled ki and knew she had questions.
„Kaoru-dono you can ask this one anything.", he said after a while.
„Why am I here in your room?", she asked then and he knew that wasn't the cause of her distress, but for him it was one of the worst things she could have asked. The truth was he wanted her to be near him. He wanted an excuse to have her at his side everytime.
„It was the nearest room. After that this one did not wanted to move you, because your condition was not very good...", he said after a moment. That wasn't exactly a lie.
She nodded and blushed: „Thank you. If you want to stay in my room for the time now, that isn't a problem, you know?"
He nodded and smiled. But of course that would collide with his true reasons.
„Are you still angry with this one?", he asked her. He watched in fascination how his hand moved to hers and how his thumb carressed the palm of it. They had always been closer to each other in situations like this, but normally it was him, who was injured and Kaoru who treated him.
She shook her head and smiled: „No, I am not Kenshin. It was silly to charge you for Yahikos wounds."
He smiled back: „You were avoiding this one for a longer time."
„Oh.", she said, „no I am not angry. I wasn't even angry with you then."
Kenshin held his breath, when he looked into her blue eyes. They were sad. Still sad. He knew what he had done wrong. He knew it. He squeezed her hand lightly: „This one is very sorry, Kaoru-dono."
„I just don't understand, Kenshin!", she burst out suddenly. He waited for her to continue and when she did her voice was again calmer as if she had used her whole energy, „I don't understand you are accompaning me for every step I take, I don't understand you are protecting me from everything that might be a threat and then... then..."
He felt her errectic pulse under his fingertips. He stroked over her wrist, trying to calm her, still fearing for her health: „This one cannot lose you one more time."
„I thought so after Enishi.", she turned her head and stared at the ceiling.
He remembered his words after his fight at the beach, he remembered his promises to her, he remembered how he had held her even in his state, not wanting to let go off her.
Now his voice was husky when he answered her again: „Those things haven't changed, Kaoru-dono."
He asked himself quickly if the medicine let her lose her restraints, when he heard her next words: „Then why Kenshin, tell me why...I am not at least a friend for you? A friend like Megumi, like Sano and Yahiko? Why do you introduce me as your landlady to a woman you are so … familiar with?"
He swallowed and lifted his hand to her face now, turning her head to him with his fingertips, where he left them on her cheek. „You are everything to this one but not his landlady.", he would make this point very clear now, „This one didn't know back then how to introduce you. And he knew many people were listening to our conversation at the Akabeko so he didn't wanted to damage your reputation any further than he already has done in the past. This one is very very sorry. It was his last intention to hurt you. This one knows how people talk and think in town and he wanted to protect you from anymore harm. But he didn't recognize then that he was the one to harm you. This one is very sorry."
„I still don't understand.", she said finally after a few moments of silence. Now he nearly chuckled. Kaoru was jealous! His innocent, sweet, young and adorable little Kaoru was jealous. It made her even sweeter.
„This one has known Maki for a long time now. He lived some years ago with her family for a few years. She was like a sister to this one."
„And now she wants you to leave Tokio with her?"
Her question came so suddenly it really caught him offguard. „Kaoru-dono...", he began, unsure what to say, „This one would rather discuss that tomorrow with everyone around."
„So you are going.", she said quietly.
„No!", he said, „ah...yes.", he didn't know what to say.
„This one won't go anywhere right now. And this one really doesn't want to go. But there are people fighting there and this one promised to help whenever there is need to help..."
„So you have to go...", she murmured, now gaving his hand a light squeeze. He looked up and saw her smile. She understood. He should have known that she would understand that it was his duty. She was the bravest woman he had ever known.
„Yes.", he whispered.
„I understand.", she whispered back. She sounded a little bit sad, but she seemed determined not to show him.
„This one planned to take you with him this time. That is why I wanted to talk to you that night.", he said now and it was true. He had planned to ask her for company.
„You wanted...", she began, stunned.
„This one thought...", he began but she interrupted him.
„I would have been glad.", she said, saving him from explaining, „but it seems I won't be going anywhere for a few weeks."
He nodded. His fingers wandered over her cheekbone, traced the lines of her face and followed the line down her neck.
„But please remember … this one has only one home to return to."
She said nothing, she only smiled at him. And he smiled back and he felt it was enough. She knew that he would come back. He would return to his home. He would return to her.
He saw how her eyes wandered a little bit lower and rested on the dark circles under his eyes.
„You couldn't sleep Kenshin?", she asked in a low voice.
He shook his head.
„Was it like it was after... Enishi?"
Now he nodded. It had been exactly like that. His sleep had only contained nightmares.
„Stay here for tonight. I'll be at your side. Warm and breathing.", she said and smiled again.
„You should finish this tea before sleeping Kaoru-dono.", he answered her, „Megumi made that very clear to this one...", he chuckled a bit and leaned forward, to help her up.
„Thank you.", she whispered and he turned to look in her face once more, the teacup in his hand, when he realized how close she was. He could even feel her breath on his lips. His eyes wandered to hers, studying the way they were curved upwards, standing lightly open. He swallowed. They looked so soft. When their eyes met again he sank into the blue.
„I'll miss you.", her words were nearly inaudible.
„This one will hurry to come back.", he answered. She smiled then and reached for the cup. The dangerous moment was over and he could breath again. He placed himself against the wall next to her bed, sword on his shoulder, legs folded infront of him.
„Kenshin?", he looked up again. She was reaching out for him, waiting for him to take her hand.
„We don't want you to forget that I am here, eh?", she grinned.
„Yes.", he agreed and entwined their fingers.

Maki growled inwardly, waiting for Kenshin to come out to his usual spot on the porch, where he would sit and watch the stars for the night. She waited for him to come out of Kaorus room, no, his own room. She had watched him for the last week, wondering what his relationship to Kaoru truly was. He had introduced her as his landlady. She was his landlady in a way. But there was something else about the two of them she couldn't lay her finger on. Kenshin had wept at her side for hours and days, when she didn't woke up directly after the fight. He had assisted Megumi in every possible way of treatment. His mood had been so dark, he had been so far away from all of them, he had not spoken to them when it wasn't really necessary, he hadn't slept...
She knew he probably thought it was his fault that the woman had been injured. But she didn't understand why it concerned him so much, that he had nightmares as soon as he closed his eyes. She had watched him falling asleep one evening, only to see him screaming after a few seconds. He was wide awake then, ignoring her question what was wrong.
She remembered how she had listened to his conversation with Sanosuke two days later.

Hm, Kenshin, you really need to sleep, ya know? The missy will be very upset when she wakes up and sees you like that."
This one tried to. This one cannot sleep. Everything this one sees when he closes his eyes, is failing her again."
You didn't...", Sanosuke had began to object, but Kenshin had interrupted him directly: „This one did. This one is very glad you came in time to save Kaoru-dono. He would have been too late."
Kenshin you couldn't know that... damn, normally Jou-chan would have kicked his ass!"
It doesn't matter Sanosuke. It was so close for Enishis jinchuu to become reality this time."

Enishi. Who was that Enishi? She felt it was a keypoint for all her questions.
„Hey, Hirashi! Awake that late?", she jumped when she heard the male voice behind her. She turned to see the laughing form of the streetfighter in front of her.
„That's not funny! It is dark and late at night...and you're drunk!", she said annoyed.
„Uuh...I am, am I?", he swayed a little, „but you're right. It is late at night... still looking out for Kenshin?"
She blushed. Had he really noticed that she was out here because of that?
„I just wondered...", she began, unsure what to say, „it is cold at night and I don't want him to sleep outside!", she blurted out.
He waved her words aside: „Answer the important question. Kenshin's still in there?", he nodded towards the closed door behind them. She nodded simply.
„So he finally got his act together now that Missy's awake huh?", she didn't answer. She didn't know what to say, but Sano continued without waiting for one, „'bout time after that shit with Enishi..."
There was that name again. Now was the time to ask. She knew he would tell her.
„Who... is that Enishi? What shit are you talking about?"
Sanosuke watched her for a moment with his brown eyes, before he fell down onto the porch, padding the space next to him. She frowned. She really was annoyed, but she also really wanted to know that. She sighed before she sat down next to the tall man.
„Enishi is an enemy of Kenshins. He kind of... hates Kenshin for … for...", he slurred, trying to avoid a topic in his story, „for something that happened years ago. He wanted revenge. There were a few attacks in the city and after a week a really big fight here in the dojo... You know... there was smoke everywhere and that fucking scent... and then...", he paused, „fuck I remember it like it was yesterday. I ran into that dojo, nearly falling over Kenshin... and there was that tanuki pinned against the wall, sword through her heart, a cross on her cheek. I didn't believe it back then. I didn't believe she was dead. Then the fox came and examined her... Na... we burried her..."
He looked into her face, and Maki really was captured by his words: „What happened then? I mean... Kaoru is alive..."
„Yeah. That bastard Enishi made a fake corpse and only kidnapped Jou-chan. But it destroyed Kenshin. It really destroyed him."
Nobody of them said a word for a time, each of them following their own thoughts. Sanosuke laying on his back on the parch, staring up into the sky, Maki sitting quietly next to him.
„Mmh... guess that is what it's like when someone dies you really love...", Sano murmured then, before he began to snore.
She sat there for a long time, staring into space. He loved her. He loved her. Everybody knew. Even she had known before Sanos story.
When she got up she was determined. It was time to jump into action.

„So you two had a good night?", Sano smirked down onto Kenshin and Kaoru who sat quietly on the porch. Kaoru felt the pillar against her back through the thick blanket Kenshin had wrapped her in. He sat only a few inches away from her, ready to catch her if she fell. She knew she blushed horribly at Sanos words. „Sano...!", she began angrily, cursing inwardly that she could not get up and chase him around the yard like she usually would. Kenshin squeezed her hand lightly.
„It was quite a recreative one.", he answered calmly and smiled at Sanosuke. Kaoru wasn't entirely sure what the two men were talking about, but they came to a quiet unterstanding, when the brownhaired man grinned back and let himself fall onto the porch next to them.
„Where's the kid?", he asked then.
„He is at the clinic to get Megumi-dono here. This one has to tell you something."
Kaoru swallowed. He had decided he wanted to tell all of them together this morning. She knew he would be going soon.
„Tanuki! What the hell are you doing outside?!", Megumi yelled through the yard as soon as the repaired front gates opened.
„Ken-san! She has to lay down!", her anger was now directed at Kenshin, when her gaze fall onto the small man who knelt next to Kaoru.
„This one will be leaving.", Kenshin said without hesitation, „This one wanted to talk to you about that."
„Whoa, stop, leavin`?"
„You are what?!"
„But you said you won't go, Ken-san, you...!"
Kaoru was the only one who sat there still, when all of her friends yelled and screamed at Kenshins sudden statement.
„This one will be back.", he hurried to say now, giving Kaorus hand a second squeeze.
Kaoru could see how all of them breathed a sigh of relief at his words. And she too, let his words seep down into her head again. He would be back. He said he would hurry. She repeated to herself to stay strong. She looked down the porch, where Maki appeared around the corner. She locked her eyes with the woman, sending her a silent message. To her surprise Maki really walked in their direction and spoke: „People are fighting because of me at my home. We need help, we will lose. And Kenshin was the only one I could think of. I know how strong he is...", she knelt down next to Kenshin.
„This one promised he would be lending a hand when there is need to. It seems the time has come to fulfill that promise.", Kenshin said quietly. His head was bowed and Kaoru felt there was something more he did not wanted to tell them. One of his many secrets.
„It's okay Kenshin.", now she was the one to squeeze his hand. When he looked up and smiled a sad smile to her, he returned the gesture. Kaoru could feel Makis burning gaze on their joined hands. She swallowed again.
„You don't have to tell us about what happened then.", she continued.
„Yeah, but tell us what the fuck is happening now!", Sano swore.
„My father is a really wealthy man.", Maki began instead of Kenshin, „he is a trader. When I was younger many men came to ask for my hand in merriage. There was one man, a trader himself. His father had died a few years ago and after that he was managing the business alone. I knew both of them, Shou and my father, wanted to take that opportunity to increase their own commerce. So my father settled the engagement and Shou became my fiancé.", Maki paused, looking down onto the ground and Kaoru felt pity for her. It had to be horrible to be promised to a man like that. She imagined for a few moments how her life would have been if her father had made an engagement for her like that. She shivered, before she concentrated again, because Maki went on with her story: „First he was really nice. And he was really good looking, too. So I thought it was okay. I thought I could love him in some time. He sent flowers every day. Even some sweets and jewelry. But he came to us one day, trying to end the courtship earlier. He wanted to marry me right away. My father denied. And then he tried to kill my father. He fought back and beat him with the help of his guards. And my father broke up the engagement and threw him out. And that is when the horror really began."
She paused again, breathing in and out slowly.
„We can wait for a moment Maki-chan...", Kaoru said, but she shook her head.
„He is attacking us. He still wants me to become his wife and says my father had no right to break up that engagement. He is not giving up. A lot of people died until now. On both sides. But we will be losing. And I will have to marry him, if I want to or not. And I know he will kill my father. He is attacking our trade routes. He is attacking the mansion. He is attacking me here. I got a message from home this morning."
She pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper and held it out to Kenshin. He slowly let go off Kaorus hand and took it. He began to read while Maki explained: „He has gathered all his men now. He is planning a final attack in one week. We will nearly need that week to reach my home in Kagoshima."
A heavy silence fell upon them and nobody knew what to say.
„We will go tomorrow.", Kenshin said then, his voice sounding like coming out of a grave.
„This one wanted to wait until Kaoru-dono is better, but it seems that is not possible."
„So we finally can go and kick some more asses!", Sano yelled then, already excited about the upcoming fight, but Kenshin shook his head.
„This one has to ask a favour of you. Please stay here. This one needs your help to keep the dojo safe."
Sano looked over to her and nodded.
„But I could come with you!", Yahiko said hopefully.
„You cannot go, Yahiko. Kaoru-dono needs you for the lessons at the dojo. You will have to teach classes until Kaoru-dono is able to do so again."
„Yeah and it will be a fight for big guys, too.", Sanosuke scoffed, but Yahiko was too stunned to hear him: „Me... I... Me... teaching?!"
Kaoru nodded in agreement: „Yes. I will sent some of the older students to Maekawa-sensei. But someone has to teach the beginner classes. You will do good."
„So it is decided...", Megumi murmured and they all nodded in agreement. She sounded sad, but when she looked up again, she was her foxy self completely: „So now into bed with you Tanuki! Ken-san, take her in there!"
Kenshin jumped up to his feet next to her and Kaoru giggled. She knew Megumi wasn't really angry with Kenshin, but it still was funny to see how he hurried to obey her orders. She giggled even more when she saw his suprised face, but then he fell in and she could feel his quiet chuckle when he lifted her up and cradled her to his chest. She really would miss him. She knew Megumi wanted to give her some time alone with him and she was thankful for that.

„Kaoru-dono you really should not be up and out here like that...", Kenshin began, when he saw Kaoru coming down the yard with Sano at her side.
„Be silent Kenshin.", she scolded him and gave him a light slap onto his arm. He smiled then. She would be better soon. It made it somewhat easier for him to go now.
„So guess it's time now, isn't it?", Sano said, his arm casually around Kaorus shoulder, helping her to stand upright.
„Yes...it is time.", he answered, looking over to Maki, who had finished packing. He compared his own little package with hers and smiled. There wasn't much in it. The magenta gi of Kaorus father and a yukata, a second hakama and Kaorus indigo ribbon that he had destroyed in the fight with Jiné.
„Are we going, Kenshin?", Makis voice ripped him out of his thoughts. He looked up and got caught in Kaorus gaze. „Yes. This one will just say his goodbye."
He turned then to Yahiko who stood next to him. He ruffled his hair, knowing he was the only one allowed to do so. „Please watch for me over Kaoru-dono, Yahiko."
The boy nodded, face serious. For one time he didn't make a joke about his shihondai.
The next was Kaoru. He turned slowly. They had already said their goodbyes earlier. He looked into her eyes, that glittered with unshed tears. „Kaoru-dono. Please stay safe for this one. This one will be back soon at your side."
„Yes, Kenshin.", she said with her shaky voice. He smiled again and bowed a little, before he patted Sanos shoulder.
Then he turned and walked out of the gate, without looking back. He knew Maki followed close behind, but he didn't talk to her. His thoughts wandered to his real farewell with Kaoru. To the words they had whispered to each other in the silence of the morning, the promises they had made to each other. He stealed his heart. It would be a difficult time without her.