Again, apologies for the long wait. I don't have a good excuse, I just couldn't find the motivation to write. I hope to get chapters out faster but no promises. The mood to write has struck so hopefully I will be getting a few chapters out before it disappears. Also thanks for all the reviews (again) and I hope you are still interested in this story since its been so long.

Disclaimer: I don't own any character from Rurouni Kenshin. So sad.

I hadn't thought to bring any sparring gear with me, it was far too impractical to bring it when I had bags filled with more useful attire. Or, at least, it was useful in Tokyo. Misao let me borrow a set that had been in the storage closet for a long while and was close to my size and we set off to meet Aoshi and the mystery fighter.

"What did you say Aoshi's friend's name was?"

"Well he's my friend too, don't forget! Me and Aoshi have a lot of things in common, like friends, and a certain spunk for life!"

"Misao! What's his name?"

"Oh, right. It's Himura Kenshin. I think you'll like him a lot. And he'll probably like you too but he kind of likes everyone. He's just got one of those personalities you know? Where everyone just kind of gravitates to him. I don't think he likes the attention much, he's a real humble guy. Kind of clumsy too now that I think about it."

I rubbed my temples and wondered how much longer the walk to the dojo was going to be. It turns out, very long. It seems these people lived on the outskirts of the middle of nowhere. My feet were already beginning to feel sore by the time we got there and I had no idea how I was supposed to train after all that walking, let alone walk back.

After slipping off our shoes we stepped into the dojo and I was almost happy to feel the wood beneath my feet. Misao immediately ran up to a tall looming figure standing at the opposite end of the floor. She waved me over excitedly.

"Kaoru, this is Shinomori Aoshi. He's kind of like my trainer." I resister the urge to roll my eyes at her dreamy gaze pointed at him. He cleared his throat and Misao returned to the present and introduced me as well. "Aoshi, is Kamiya Kaoru. She's my cousin from Tokyo I was telling you about. Maybe once we finish training she can tell us some stories!"

Aoshi murmured a polite greeting while eyeing me up. I guess he decided I wasn't worth his time because after a moment he turned and went to stretch, Misao following him like a puppy.

That was when I noticed the other person standing in the room. He had bright red hair and violet eyes. It was such an unusual combination that I couldn't do anything but stare. Where do you even get eyes like those? They must be contact lenses right? His features were quite sharp and a little feminine but weirdly attractive too. Taking in his face as a whole, I realized he was smiling politely, waiting for me to stop ogling him I suppose. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him to try to cover that fact I was checking him out. His smile just got bigger and he bowed slightly.

"Hello, I'm Himura Kenshin. I guess Misao was too preoccupied to introduce use." His eyes showed laughter and I had a feeling he was forgotten around Aoshi and Misao often. I offered my name back, warming a little at his friendly tone.

Kenshin gestured to my not-quite-fitting attire. "Have you practiced with a sword before?"

"My dad trained me when I was younger but its been a few years since I last held a bokken. I forget to pack my gi and hakama." No sense telling him I purposefully left it at home.

"Ah, I see. Well I'm going to get started. Feel free to use any of the bokken on the wall and whatever space you need on the mats." He smiled again then went to an empty space in the room.

I turned back to Misao and Aoshi to see what they were planning on doing. Misao was chatting away, while Aoshi simply kept on stretching, not seeming to pay attention at all. I recalled Misao's words earlier, that they shared a certain spunk for life. I'm not sure I agreed. They seemed like complete opposites to me. Maybe we saw what we wanted to see in people.

Thinking they wouldn't be much company, I turned around to find a bokken and stopped dead in my tracks. Kenshin was moving impossibly fast, I almost couldn't follow his movements. The bokken sliced through the air with scary precision and I wondered just how deadly he would be with a real blade. Misao said he was a good fighter, but this was beyond anything I could have imagined.

Finished with his kata, he turned to look at me curiously no doubt wondering why I was frozen. Determined not to look intimidated or scared I marched to the wall, grabbed a bokken, and began my own kata. I could feel his eyes on me for a few more moments, then he must have returned to his own practice.

####

It was nearing lunch time when the others stopped practicing. I had had to stop awhile ago, my muscles weren't use to the excercise anymore and eventually refused to work. Misao, Aoshi, and I were sitting on the porch of Kenshin's home while he was inside making tea and rice balls.

His home was a very traditional Japanese home that I've only seen in movies. Nothing like my house in Tokyo and also very different from the traditional yet updated look of the inn. It seemed to almost be stuck in time. I wouldn't admit it to anyone, especially my dad, but I felt at peace here, like there was nothing in the world more important than enjoying the view of the cherry blossoms in the sun.

We were listening to Misao retell a story of her adventure through town to find a little boy his missing cat when Kenshin returned with lunch. As we talked and ate, I looked at the cherry blossoms and thought this summer might not be so bad.

Hope you like it, I'm not sure I like how I ended it, maybe too quickly? I don't know. Anyways, reviews are much appreciated! See ya!