Ack, sorry to keep you guys waiting! Once again, in my rush to get this up, I haven't had time to proof read… we're lucky I got this one up at all, what with the writers block I've had…

I don't own RK.

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Misao read her letter once more, checking for any mistakes.

Aoshi-sama,

I would be delighted to write to you, as long as you promise a prompt reply to my letters.

You mentioned your stay in Kyoto would be much longer than you expected; how much longer do you intend to stay? And, if you don't mind me asking, what is the business that keeps you? I miss you dreadfully, and I stay awake some nights, just thinking about you, and when I'll be able to see your face again.

I admit as well that I haven't always thought of you as my husband. It's almost as though we're childhood sweethearts who have forgotten each other, but I hope that some day, we'll remember who we are.

Please write back soon, but would you please address any future letters to my maid, Misao? It would make me feel better, knowing that no one else would be reading these letters. Arigato.

She left it unsigned again, allowing Aoshi to chose who it was from. She had been a little hesitant to write the part about childhood sweethearts, but she eventually decided that there was relatively little harm in it.

She had decided there would be a great deal of harm in continuing these letters to Aoshi, and that she needed to tell him the truth, but when she sat down to write to him, this is what came out. She sighed and went to find Matsuda.

"This is my reply to Aoshi-sama. Can you please send it to him?" Matsuda looked a little surprised, but said nothing. "I'm just thanking him for being so kind in his anger." She made up quickly.

"And what did he suggest we do about finding Kaoru?" Matsuda took the letter. "Does he have any ideas?"

"Umm…" Misao thought quickly, hoping it would seem like she was trying to remember what had been said in the letter. "He uh… He recommended that we check with her father to see if they have had any word from her." Matsuda seemed content with this, and walked off.

"What have I gotten myself into?" Misao questioned aloud.

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When Kaoru woke up, she noticed immediately that something was different. Kenshin wasn't there. Though he wasn't often sleeping in the corner when Kaoru got up, it felt like he wasn't there at all. It unnerved Kaoru that he wasn't there, but what unnerved her more was the fact that she could sense it.

She got up and dressed as quickly as she could before going out to breakfast, where she found only Sano and Megumi eating in silence.

"Where is Kenshin?" Kaoru asked, feeling slightly embarrassed that she was so worried.

Without looking up, Megumi answered, "He left early this morning for Kyoto on business. Come, sit down and eat."

Kaoru crossed the room and was served her breakfast. "What kind of business?" She wondered thinking of Aoshi.

"You are nosey, aren't you?" Megumi said with a smile, but didn't offer any real answer.

"When will he be getting back?" She asked.

"When he feels like it." Megumi replied.

The younger woman glanced at Sano. "Look Missy, it's not that we're just not telling you, we honestly don't know. And it's better that way, if you believe me." The three finished their breakfast in silence.

When Megumi and Sano got up to leave, Kaoru tried to follow them, but Sano stopped her. "Sorry, but Kenshin said you're not allowed to work today. He says he doesn't want you getting into trouble again, with out him there to help."

Kaoru crossed her arms, annoyed. "I can take care of myself. That's not fair."

Sano smiled. "Life ain't fair, Missy." He walked outside.

"Well, what am I supposed to do all day?" She was not happy about his whole situation. What right did Kenshin have to say she couldn't go work?

"I dunno," Sano replied. "Do laundry, chop fire wood, but whatever you do, don't cook!" He chuckled and closed the door, while Kaoru fumed.

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After two weeks, Kenshin had still not returned, and Kaoru was contemplating murdering him if he didn't show up soon. What is it with men and keeping me locked in a house while they're gone? She grumbled.

She had chopped more firewood than could be used in a month, everybody had clean clothes, the floors were polished, there were cleans sheets on the beds, and the courtyard showed no sign of ever having been unkempt.

True to her word, she had stayed out of the back room, but it tugged at her mind more and more with each passing day. What harm could it possibly do just to have a little look around? She thought. And besides, Kenshin probably won't be back until who knows when… He'd never know if I was in there.

So, one morning, after Megumi and Sano had left her alone once more, she tiptoed outside. She had to laugh at herself; there was no reason for her to try to be so careful. No one would see her.

Sliding the door open carefully, she peeked inside. Her eyes took a minute to adjust to the lack of light within, but she soon realized it was a practice room, much like the one Aoshi had converted form a shrine.

She stepped inside and noticed the differences between this room and Aoshi's. There were no storage spaces in this one, nowhere to keep swords or anything, and it was a bit smaller, but Kaoru didn't care. She was suddenly filled with a desire to find a sword and do more katas than humanly possible.

After a few minutes of searching in vain for a practice sword, she closed the doors and went to find an axe. She wondered why Kenshin had tried to keep her out of that room; it wasn't as though she had never seen him wearing a sword.

She found some bamboo near the gate, and cut off a part that was about the size of a sword. She tried to figure out why she hadn't thought to do this before; she could have done katas all day in the courtyard, and no one would have cared.

But now there was a room she could practice in! She smiled, happy to finally have something to do.

She soon lost herself in her katas, and had no idea how long she had been inside, nor did she particularly care. She fought with an unseen opponent, and she always came out victorious.

She was sweaty, and could have chosen better clothes to do this in, but she smiled and wiped her face. It almost felt like there was someone behind her, and she shivered. She turned around swiftly and brought down her bamboo rod onto the imaginary person behind her, only to connect with something.

"K-Kenshin!" She stuttered. He had brought his sword up to protect himself from her blow, and now looked at her with almost amber eyes. "W-w-where did you c-come from?"

He smiled, and she was suddenly frightened. This was not the Kenshin she knew. "I thought I told you to stay out of here?" He hissed. He pushed her away, and brought his sword down. She blocked it, but realized that he wasn't even trying to hit her. "Bamboo? Do you realize how easily a real sword could cut through your bamboo rod?" He sheathed his sword and sighed, closing his eyes. When he opened them, they were once again the familiar amethyst orbs. "It makes me sick to think how easily men can kill other men." He gave her a reassuring smile. "Now, would you care to tell me why you are in here?"

"I don't know." She muttered. "I just thought…"

"In the future, will you please keep your word, and stay out of here?" He took her hand and led her out, closing the door behind them. Kaoru could smell something on him, something mildly metallic and familiar, but she could not place it.

She didn't respond at first, as all she could think about was how warm his hand was, and how good it felt to have his wrapped around hers. She finally nodded, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Could you help me heat up the bath? It's a long way from Kyoto, and I'm tired. Ordinarily, I wouldn't ask you, but no one else is here." He said.

"Of course."

"I was also hopping I could convince you to make me something to eat." He let her hand fall. "And I'll have to do some washing later today…"

"Wouldn't you rather let me do the washing? My cooking is terrible…"

"No." he said firmly, then he chuckled slightly. "Besides, I don't mind your cooking."

"Really?" She smiled. "Alright, I'll go get some wood to heat up the bath, and then I'll get right on your lunch."

He smiled gently. "Arigato."

After he had finished bathing, Kenshin sat in the courtyard and did his laundry. When his meal was prepared, Kaoru went outside to get him, but the second she saw him, she felt a bolt of electricity go through her body. His wet hair dripped down into his face, and he wasn't wearing a shirt. She blushed. "Kenshin, your lunch is ready."

He looked at her and poured the water out of the washbasin. It was almost the color of dried blood, Kaoru noticed with a shiver, though she supposed dirt could have the same color. "Arigato."

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Funny that the chapter I can't proof read opens with Misao proof reading her letter… lol. OK, so, not the best of chapters perhaps, but there it is. Please review!