Disclaimer: I do not own the Anime or it's characters. All rights go to the creator of the anime Rurouni Kenshin.

Not Now

"How did you ever meet someone like that?" asked Sano. Kaly looked around not really sure what to say to them. Haru was out in the yard waiting for the female Dr. to finish, trying her best not to look scared. The Inspector was back from seeing that the men were arrested and was now sitting by a wall in the training hall. The elderly man had gone outside with his grandchildren but the rest of the dojo's occupants were sitting around waiting for him to answer their questions.

"I first met Sota in my home village out side of Kyoto. I was three or four, Sota was always around the village helping in the fields and anything else the villagers needed help with." Said Kaly.

"He must have had a weird childhood to end up like that. Wonder what his family is like." said Sano idly, Kaly looked from Sano to the floor.

"Sota has no family… But Sota's family or lack of one is not the reason that Sota is that way. When Sota first came around the village Sota was always happy. The first time I saw something had changed was about fifteen years ago."

"Changed? In what way?" asked Kaoru very curious.

"Little things no one would really see." Said Kaly evenly "Sota stopped sleeping for a while… Now when Sota sleeps it's always against a wall or a tree. Sota won't talk to the villagers much; practiced more then needs and Sota comes back with cuts. Sota never use to get hurt at all." He stopped for a moment. "As I said little things." 'Its harder to not say the wrong words then I thought it would be. No wonder Haru doesn't talk about it much.'

"Sounds like he's trying to forget something." said Sano breaking Kaly's thoughts.

"Come to think of it, that's about the time that Sota started drinking sake." Said Kaly more to him self then to anyone else.

"Whom did Sota fight for in the revolution?" asked Kenshin looking at Kaly, who met his gaze and held it for a few moments before answering.

"That's one thing I honestly don't know." Saitou's eye narrowed, so he did know more then what he was telling them. "For the most part Sota just protected the people around the village. I really can't tell you anymore then that, Sota has this thing about fighting in front of kids so any time there was a fight in the village the kids were kept inside."

"That's a bit odd." Said Kaoru off handily.

"Everything about Sota is odd. The way Sota talks, acts. Even knowing what Sota is still makes it odd." Said Kaly, after a moment he realized that he'd said the last part out loud. He hadn't meant to.

"What do you mean 'knowing what Sota is'?" asked Sano looking at Kaly like he had two heads the looks he was getting from the Inspector and Mr. Himura weren't any better.

'Okay fool you got your self in this, now get your self out.' He could feel eyes on him. The inspector was getting very suspicious. He needed an answer and he needed one now.

"Kaly?" Haru asked from the doorway. Kaly relaxed a little. "Has the doctor come out yet?"

"No she is still in there. But don't worry Sota will be fine, you'll see." He said with a smile. "Why don't you come sit down?" Haru looked around one more time before stepping inside and sitting next to Kaly.

"I hate it when Sota does this." Said Haru quietly. "Doesn't it matter that it worries me."

"You know Sota never tells anyone, Sota is the soul care taker of Sota, always has been and more then likely always will be." Said Kaly softly.

"If you don't mind could you tell me a few things Miss Mutou?" asked Kenshin.

"If I can Mr. Himura." Said Haru turning to look at Kenshin.

"Mr. Taniguchi-"

"Please it's Kaly."

Kenshin nodded then continued "Kaly said that Sota brought you to the village he lived in. If I may ask where did you live before that?"

"Kyoto. But with all the fighting my father felt it wasn't safe for me." Said Haru.

"So how'd you end up with that guy?" asked Sano.

"I would like it if you didn't talk about Sota like that." Stated Haru "Sota has saved my life more times then I can remember!" she had clearly been upset by Sota being referred to as 'that guy'.

"Sorry." Sano said softly.

"I owe Sota so much. My father was fighting in Kyoto and asked Sota to look after me for a while."

"Why is he still looking after you instead of your father or mother?" asked Saitou coldly.

"As Sota already told you my father died, fifteen years ago in the revolution if you must know." Haru said bitterly glaring at Saitou. "And my mother died when I was very little. I don't remember her." The last part was whispered as she fisted her hands in her lap. Kaly put his hand on her fisted ones.

"It must have been hard for you to louse the only family you had left." Said Kaoru with a wealth compassion.

There was a long stretch of silence before a door opened down the hall and Megumi started walking towards the training hall. Haru got up and met her half way. "Is Sota all right?" she asked Megumi with fearful eyes.

"Yes, Sota's fine. The wound is an old one that's mostly healed; the fight reopened it a little. It was well taken care of when it was first made so there will be very little scaring." Said Megumi with a small smile.

Kenshin witched them talk. Something was out of place, he knew the name Sota from somewhere, but he couldn't think where he'd heard it. And Miss Haru and Kaly were holding things back, but whether it was because of Saitou or not, he couldn't tell.

"Can I see Sota now?" Haru ask innocently, Megumi nodded and pointed to the room Sota was in. Haru bowed then quickly walking down the hall.

After Haru had gone into the room with Sota, Megumi walked into the training hall and looked Kaly strait in the eyes her smile gone her mouth set in a grim line. "How long have Sota's wounds been self-inflicted?" she asked him calmly

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Haru slid the door closed softly. "Is it safe to trust her?" she asked softly.

"I think it might be a little late to be thinking about that now. Don't you?" Said Sota pulling on the clean kimono Megumi had given her. "But hai, I think it will be all right." Sota smiled softly at Haru, she really had a gentle heart.

"They are asking about you and father." Said Haru her smile fading.

"I knew they would. I think that the Battousai might remember me. It's not that big of a problem thou." Said Sota.

"You mean Mr. Himura, don't you?"

"Hai. And I am sure you remember the Inspector."

"Not really, but his eyes are a bit familiar."

"They should be he was the captain of the third squid in the Shinsengumi."

"Then why is it so important that he doesn't know fathers name? I would think it would be safe for him to know."

Sota stepped up to Haru. "It is best to keep it to yourself for now. I don't want you hurt by the past." Haru nodded she really didn't want to tell him anyway.

Sota smiled and turned to get her dagger and kodacki hiding them away before she moved to get the old kimono. Sota moved to the door and opened it, then moved so Haru could leave first, they slowly walked side by side down the hall.

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Seijuro Hiko stopped outside the back of the Kamiya dojo. He had been walking around the streets of Tokyo for a couple hours trying to find this little dojo. He sighed; his stupid apprentice hadn't even noticed his presence yet. Hiko slowly opened the back gate and walked in. Stopping to look at some one kneeling in front of the washtub. It wasn't Kenshin. He was coming around to the back of the dojo apparently he'd sensed him after all.

"Sota why are you here?" Asked Hiko evenly stepping into the yard fully.

"What does it look like I'm doing Hiko?" Sota answered calmly rinsing the kimono for the last time.

"You shouldn't be in this city."

'That's Hiko for you always stating the obvious.' Her mind chimed bitterly, Hiko didn't think she belonged anywhere and he was probable right about that, but she wasn't going to tell him that. She stood up snapping the wet cloth a few times before she bothered to turn and look at Hiko. "My business here is my own, Hiko."

"If your are near that baka apprentice of mine it is my business."

Sota chuckled a little. "One; He's not your apprentice anymore. Two; I was leaving soon anyway."

"What?" Haru asked running out of the training hall and across the yard. "I thought you were staying… for the night at least." She said with tears in her eyes.

Hiko looked at the girl in front of him. 'So this is Fanel's child.' She couldn't be much younger then Kaya.

Sota looked at Haru for a moment. "I have to go. I may have stayed too long as it is." Sota said softly.

Haru quickly rapped her arms around Sota's waist below the bandages. "You're not coming back this time," she asked as tears fell from her eyes. "Are you?" her hands tightened with the last part of her question.

Sota looked down at Haru, not really caring that there was a crowd around them. "Haru I gave your father my word that I would protect you, and the best way for me to do that now is to leave you to live your life with Kaly." She said pushing at Haru's shoulders lightly, but Haru just tightened her hold.

"But Why? Why can't you ever stay?" Sota could feel the sobs shake through her body.

"A Shadow can not live in the open." Sota's voice whispered in her ear.

"But that's not you… that's just your past!" cried Haru shaking her head nearly hitting Sota's head with hers.

"The past is not so easily forgotten. I will not knowingly in danger your life." She said firmly.

"But…"

"No. Now please stop your crying." Sota said softly, pushing Haru's arms to her sides. "I am not now or ever have been worth your tears." Letting go of Haru she grabbed the damp kimono and left through the back gate.

Haru wanted to follow her but she couldn't. Kaly walked up behind her and slowly pulled her into his arms. "Sota doesn't deserve this…! No one does!" She sobbed into his chest.

"Your right. But the past can be hard to get over." Said Kaly softly.

"I know how hard it is to move on after something like that." Said Haru looking up at Kaly.

"Hai. But do you know how it feels when you're responsible for it?" Asked Kaly as he looked at her. "Come, we should get home. It's been a long day." Haru nodded, then turned back to the dojo, walking back to the training hall steps.

"Thank you all for every thing you did for us." Haru said with a bow. Megumi just smiled in return as Haru and Kaly turned to leave through the back gate.

"What a foolish child." Said Hiko as he walked past Kenshin into the dojo.

"Who is master?" Kenshin asked following him inside.

"Kaya." Kenshin froze that was it!!

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