DISCLAIMER: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin… Watsuki- Dono does. And he's awesome.

As soon as kenshin left, kenji went to Tsuki's house. he still didn't know how he was going to tell her he was leaving. They have been such good friends for so many years, and the thought of leaving her behind made him feel terrible. He didn't want to tell her, but he knew he had too. Before he knew it, he was outside of tsuki's house. kenji knew she was there, he could sense her with his new ki sensing ability. her ki was beautiful, just like her. He took a deep breath, and knocked on the door as confidently as he could. Tsuki's mother answered the door.

'' oh hello kenji, it's so nice to see you.'' she said as she opened the door, '' what brings you out here today?''

'' nice to see you too, Kanata-san, uh, is tsuki here?'' he asked, even though he already knew she was.

'' oh yes dear she's here. would you like to speak with her?''

''hai, Kanata-san.''

'' okay, wait just a moment and i'll get her.''

'' Arigato.'' kenji bowed.

'' TSUKIIIIII! HIMURA KENJI IS HERE TO SEE YOU. HURRY UP NOW.''

'' she's on her way.'' then she returned to whatever it was she was doing that day.

''kenji-kun!'' tsuki yelled when she saw him '' how are you?''

'' i'm...'' he didn't know weather to tell her good or terrible. he decided to go with '' i'm okay, uh, would you come for a walk with me? i need to talk to you about some things that are going on right now.''

'' alright kenji-kun.''

while they were walking tsuki noticed that kenji was being quite and drawn in. 'he's usually so lively, i wonder whats wrong' she worried to herself.

'' kenji-kun, are you okay?''

''no, i'm not'' he was surprised how truthful he was, especially since he was so reluctant to tell her, '' have you heard about the rebellion uprising in kyoto?''

'' yeah, but i heard it was nothing to worry about. why, do you know something about it??''

'' well, people from the government came to talk to my otou-san about it. the rebellion forces, old tokugawa samurai who still feel loyalty to the shogun, have become as strong, maybe even stronger, as the ishin-shishi was. they asked my father to come help in the war and he accepted. and i, i decided to go with him. my father isn't as young as he once was, and even though he's not old, i still worry for his safety, and my mother would be hearbroken if he died.''

'' i understand that, but why would they come talk to your father?''

'' you have to keep this a secret, but, my father wasn't always the kind warm man he is today. he has a, dark past.''

'' a dark past?''

'' have you heard of the hitokiri battosai?''

'' of coarse, who hasn't. he was an assasin, the best in japan during the bakumatsu. a lot of people say he was an evil demon, but he was just like every other hitokiri, fighting for his cause, at least thats what i think. but why do you bring him up?... wait... your not saying that himura-san was the battosai?''

'' ...well... later in the war after his identity had been found out and he wasn't a hitokiri anymore, people started referring to him as himura the battosai... ''

''but..but kenji... you don't have to go'' she was staring to get hysterical, her kenji, going off to fight, and his father, the kind warm himura-san, the cold assassin hitokiri battosai. '' if he really is battosai, then he should be able to take care of himself... and.. and and '' she was wracking her brain for reason of why he should '' the kamiya kashin style isn't suited for the battle field...and... kenji... i... i love you. and if you die, i'll never get over it. oh kenji!'' she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck, then she began to sob hysterically.

''tsuki, i love you too, but i have to do this. and don't worry, my otou-san is going to teach me his sword style, the hiten mitsurugi ryu, the most powerful style in japan. i started learning today, and i promis, i'll come home to you after his is over. will you... wait for me?''

'' of coarse, kenji. i'll wait for you always and forever.''

'' i want to take you somewhere thats special to me, will you come?''

'' yes. lets go.''

after a few minuets of walking, kenji lead tsuki to a clearing in the middle of the forest. there was a huge waterfall that flowed into a mid size lake, with many different kinds of flowers and trees. '' it's beautiful kenji.''

'' i used to come here to practice, it always helped me concentrate and clear my mind. it's also really fun to jump off the waterfall into the lake. hahaha''

'' i want to try!''

''really?''

'' yeah!'' as soon as she said that she started taking off her outer kimono until she was wearing only her under yukata. '' lets go! come on, that sounds like a lot of fun'' before kenji had time to soak in what had just happened she was already half way up the cliff side it was kind of a short waterfall '' hey!'' he shouted '' WAIT FOR ME!!'' kenji ran as fast as he could and got up the cliff just after she did. she grabbed his hand, '' on three?'' kenji looked at her and knodded '' on three.''. '' one,two,THREE'' they both shouted in unison and jumped. they kept that up for about 30 minuets before kenji decided they had to go home.

'' i had a really great time today kenji-kun, promis we'll have fun like this when you come back?'' tsuki asked him

'' i promis. i was wondering, would it be too much trouble to visit my okaa-san every once in a while when i'm gone?'' kenji asked her hopefully, '' she'll need help for a while, especially with the dojo and all.''

'' of coarse kenji-kun. it won't be a problem. ''

''arigato, tsuki. i have to go now though, i promise, when i get back i will come over to your house before i do anything else. ''

'' goodbye kenji-kun.''

''goodbye, tsuki-chan''

tsuki walked up to him and kissed him on the lips, they both turned and red as kenji's hair, then she went inside her house. 'she's really something' he thought to himself as he left to see his mother.