DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN RUROUNI KENSHIN

AN: THANK YOU TO ALL THE READERS WHO REVIEWED, I REALLY APPREACIATE IT! THIS CHAPTER ISN'T ONE OF MY BEST I ADMIT AND IT'S SORTA A FLASHBACK TO HOW K/K MET!

HOLD ME PLEASE?

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY :(

AN: YES I TOOK VERY LONG IN UPDATING, BUT HEY MY FINALS WERE GOING ON! ANYWAYS SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING!

Kaoru awoke that morning feeling more blue than usual. Graduation time was headed her way soon and she still hadn't completed any of the things on her things-I-should-get-done-before-grad-list, fall out of love with Kenshin, go dress shopping, get Kenshin to like you, get new shoes, be Kenshin's girlfriend. 'Well things are looking up!' Kaoru sighed ruefully, as she flipped over onto her tummy. She blew her bangs as she thought back to the day she met Kenshin.

Flashback

The rain was pounding down fast on the dojo's roof, Kaoru stared at it defiantly daring it to just try and fall. Kaoru and her father were cleaning up the dojo after their recent class, "I feel bad for anyone stuck in this weather!" Koshijiro huffed as he stacked the bokkens up, Kaoru just nodded absently as she watched the rain droplets stream down the window pane. As Kaoru and Koshijiro made their way to their home they could smell the scent of miso soup practically wafting into the garden. Koshijiro smirked proudly as he tugged his daughter inside so she wouldn't catch a cold.

Kaoru walked into the kitchen hoping to get sneak some of her mom's amazing cooking. She saw a small boy about her age with extremely long red hair, that reached his back, and violet eyes slurping away on some soup. Kaoru giggled at her hallucination and then did a double take and stared at the boy sitting at HER family's table! She haughtily went to him wagging her finger at him and was about to let out a series of insults when her mother came into the kitchen. "Oh Kaoru! I see you've met Kenshin ne? Poor thing had nowhere to go, be nice to him ok?" Kaoru nodded, her anger turning into overly sweet peachiness as she took a seat beside him hoping for a personal introduction. "Ahem hi! My name's Kaoru Kamiya! What's yours?" Kaoru smiled cheekily at the boy, who just stared at her if she'd completely lost her mind. "Umm Kenshin? Didn't I hear your mother JUST introduce us?" Kaoru bit the inside of her cheek ignoring his last question, or statement. "Ohh that's a nice name, so how old are you Kenny?"

"9 and half" Kenshin's voice quivered as he stared at the all too scary girl in front of him.

"Really? That's great cause I'm 9 too! What school do you go to?" Kaoru stared as Kenshin's face went through a chain of emotions; sadness, conflict, fury, and most of all pain, he looked at her sorrowfully with those violet eyes so downcast that Kaoru suddenly felt conscious about what she said.

"I don't go to school."

"WHAT? That's not fair, then why do I gotta go? You gotta go to school; I bet you're just lying! You're parents would never allow that!"

"I don't have-"

"That's quite enough Kaoru! I told you to be nice to the boy not interrogate him on his life!" Kaoru's mother snapped at her s her cerulean eyes blazed with anger and disappointment. Kaoru sunk into her seat and glared at the boy sitting across from her.

"Kaoru, I need you to stay here with Kenshin and keep him company alright? Me and your mom are just heading down to the orphanage."

Kaoru's confusedly stared at the red-headed kid and put two and two together. 'I'm so stupid sometimes! He doesn't have a parent that's why he doesn't go to school!'

"But daddy! You said yourself NOT to go out in this weather, please don't go!" Kaoru pleaded.

"Don't worry Kao-chan, I'm an expert driver and we'll be back before you know it!" her father boasted as he winked, kissed her forehead, and headed out the door. Kaoru's mother right behind him pulled on her white trench coat and hugged both the children. "Take care and make sure you treat Kenshin nicely!" her mother chastised right before she left.

By time her parents returned her and Kenshin had been engrossed in a deep conversation about their favourite things, it turned out that Kenshin wasn't half as bad as he seemed. Kaoru smiled in relief when her parents came into the living room with apparently good news, and EVEN better news. Good news was that Seujiro Hiko, famous entrepreneur, owner and founder of Himura INC. has been trying to adopt Kenshin recently, ever since Seujiro had heard of the rebellious, obstinate, shot-tempered child he'd been interested since, running away from the orphanage, had only slowed the process but Seujiro was a man of business and something as little as running away wasn't going to stop Seujiro from getting what he wanted and, to put it in a nutshell he wanted Kenshin to be his successor. The better news was, since he wouldn't be able to come anytime soon Kenshin was allowed to stay with the Kamiyas.

'He was so distant back then' Kaoru murmured as she breathed in the silence. The only reason why Kaoru and Kenshin had gotten so close was because of one thing, one thing that's all it took, yet it cost her so much. The death of her parents.

Kaoru and Kenshin were sitting in the living room watching T.V, waiting for Kaoru's parents who went to pick up Seujiro from the airport when RINNG RINNG. "I'll get it!" Kaoru screeched with joy as she jumped off the couch and opened the door to reveal a huge expressionless man, with black hair as long as Kenshin's, and eyes which bore into hers, Kaoru speechless just stepped aside and let the man through. She looked out the door and didn't see her parents. 'That's weird.' An overwhelming feeling of fear and adrenaline bubbled in the pit of her stomach. Kaoru led Seujiro to the living room where Kenshin sat, he barely acknowledged the man. Kenshin glanced at his foster father and gave him a slight nod, which Hiko respond to with a smirk.

"Umm Seujiro-san?" Hiko stared at the little girl looking up at him with big full of determination and worry.

"Please call me Hiko." He grabbed Kaoru's tiny hand and shook it enthusiastically. Kaoru pulled her hand away from his vice grip and asked "Hiko, where are my parents? Didn't they come home with you?"

"With me? I came all by myself, I waited at the airport for a FULL half hour and when your parents didn't show up I took a cab."

"But..They've been gone for at least 3 hours now!"

"Don't worry yourself, we'll just go back to the airport and see if they're still there."

Unfortunately they didn't even go as far as the corner of their block when Hiko got a call. "Yes, I understand. We'll be right over. Driver please turn the car around, and head to the local hospital."

'Hospital!' Kaoru's eyes widened at the possibilities. Just as soon as the hospital came into sight Kaoru rushed out of the cab, as it parked, with Hiko and Kenshin in tow. Hiko walked to the main desk and calmly stated "Kamiya," the secretary, annoyed, looked up and lazily said "room 214." Kaoru felt a sudden surge of anxiety as she walked towards her parents' room. '212...213...214' Hiko gave Kaoru a slight push towards her door as she stood apparently in trance. Kenshin reluctantly grasped her tiny hand in his; Kaoru looked up at him hesitantly as he pulled them both through the door.

Kaoru's heart hammered as she saw her father, his breathing irregular and excruciatingly painful. She began to close the distance between them and touched his hand gently, as if afraid that she'd be the reason behind his pain. Teardrops fell and landed on his hand "I'm sorry otousan," Kaoru whispered as she wiped the tears on his hand. The door opened slightly, and a doctor peeked in through the door, subliminally asking Hiko permission to come in.

Kaoru twiddled her thumbs in anxiety, as she listened intently to what he had to say, "Mr. Seujiro would you please care to step outside with him for a minute?"

Hiko followed him outside, and they could be heard through the door conversing in a hushed tone, Kaoru whipped her head and glared at Kenshin. "You," She hissed as she shook as she menacingly took a step towards him. Kenshin, looked into her sapphire eyes and saw the deep resentment and despair that was held in them...towards him? Kaoru seized Kenshin's shirt and brought him closer, "I hate you, this is your entire fault! I hate you!" Kaoru choked back a sob as she slammed her fists into Kenshin's chest.

"Woah there!" Hiko pulled Kaoru away from Kenshin, as he straightened himself. Kaoru ashamed, looked over at the doctor and suddenly whispered, "Where's my mother?"

The doctor obviously looked distraught by the question and shifted uncomfortably as he thought over how to break the news to her.

"Kaoru, I'm really sorry but your mother wasn't able to make it, the impact of the crash..." Kaoru just stared at him in disbelief, and shook the tears away but only momentarily, "And daddy? Is he ok?"

AN: CLIFFY, WELL SORTA ANYWAYS! ;) REVIEW AND PLEASE TELL ME HOW I DID, I ENJOY ALL KINDA REVEWS BAD, GOOD, W.E! DON'T I WILL UDPATE SOON! I JUST WANNA FIGURE OUT THE OTHER HALF OF MY STORY BEFORE I CONTINUE, ANYWAYS TELL ME IN WHICH DIRECTION I SHOULD TAKE THIS STORY? ALL IDEAS ARE APPREACIATED! MY RUNNING LOW ON CREATIVE JUICES :) REVIEW. NOW.