I am so, so, so sorry about taking so long to update my story. There's been a lot of stuff going on lately. I've had to redo my research paper because me teacher lost all my stuff for it. I promise that I didn't forget. Please enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 10: Cold Feet

"Gotta hurry. Everything has got to be just perfect. Oh, no! Yahiko didn't sweep this room! Where's a broom? Where's a broom? Gotcha! Good-bye dust. I've got to make sure there's nothing for him to criticize once he gets here." Kenshin was running around the dojo like a madman trying to get ready for his cruel master to arrive. "When is he coming? Kaoru, you had best be glad that I agreed to marry you this weekend before you told me about him. We've got a dojo full of guests and he's going to harass me nonstop until he leaves. I'm never going to get finished in time. I've still got to prepare the bathhouse, do the laundry, cook, and have this place spotless by the time he gets here. I hate you sometimes, Kaoru. I—"

"KENSHIN, THEY"RE HERE!" he heard Kaoru shout.

"Great timing, sensei," Kenshin thought as he slowly and reluctantly made his way to the gate. He saw his soon to be wife standing with six familiar figures just inside the dojo. Okina, Okon, Omasu, Shiro, and Kuro were all smiling and talking with Kaoru. Hiko purposely distanced himself from the others and hadn't taken his eyes off the rurouni since he rounded the corner. Kenshin made a slight frown when he noticed this, but quickly changed back to his famous smile as he approached. "Welcome, it's good to see you all again," he said. He bowed to Okina and the others before confronting Hiko. "Master," he said as he bowed.

"So, my baka-deshi is getting married again," he said disdainfully. "Hope this one turns out better than the first." He smiled arrogantly down at Kenshin, daring him to reply.

"He's only trying to irritate Kenshin. He had better be glad that I'm going to let that comment slip," thought Kaoru as she began to take the others to their rooms. Hiko and Kenshin, however, remained behind.

"Master, that was very rude, especially with Kaoru-dono within earshot. You did not have to come, and yet you insist upon turning the harshness that is usually so reserved for this one upon this one's wife."

"You're not married yet. Might as well be though; it's been what, three years now?" He sneered and studied his pupil before continuing. "So tell me why I had to be here. It was a pain to have to leave Kyoto for so long and come here to pester you for a while."

"Actually this one hadn't planned on inviting you at all." Kenshin smiled when he saw how it affected Hiko. "The wedding wasn't supposed to be until next year, but Kaoru-dono has been secretly planning the wedding with Misao-dono all month long. Sessha was only informed last night and wouldn't mind one bit if you turned around and went back to your precious mountain right now." He didn't wait for an answer as he turned around and began walking towards the room Hiko would stay in.

After a quick lunch Kaoru took Okon and Omasu to Megumi's house. Misao and Tae were also there and there was still a lot to do for the wedding so she told Kenshin not to expect her back too early. Kenshin remained at the dojo with the others. Kaoru was planning on sending Sanosuke and Aoshi back to the dojo—just to be sure that Hiko wouldn't be too cruel. Kenshin, Okina, Shiro, and Kuro were all sitting in the yard talking when they arrived. Hiko sat just in sight under the shade of a far tree.

"Kenshin, Kaoru said that we had to come to baby-sit you and Hiko," Sano teased.

"It's good to see you again Okina," Aoshi said with relief instead of his usual iciness. "I've needed you to help with Misao; she's become nearly impossible to deal with lately."

Okina laughed at this. "You knew more than anyone what you were getting into when you married her. Let this be a lesson to you Himura-kun." Okina thought for a moment then added, "But, although Aoshi did live with Misao, the relationship was not as yours and Kaoru-san's. You should be well prepared from these past years you've had with her."

Kenshin nodded, "It's true we lived together for three years, and yet, we're really not that close. Kaoru-dono and Sessha have not had a romantic relationship until just last month and now we'll be married at the end of this week. There's not that much that should change between us and we've both been harboring feelings for each other all this time. Its just, well, Sessha guesses that he must just be nervous. It's not as if he's known about this all month like the rest of you, he just found out last night."

"Himura-kun, its fine for you to be nervous. You and Tomoe-san were married a long time ago and you're worried about what could happen to Kaoru-san, right? Well, let me tell you Kaoru-san isn't Tomoe-san. She's young, strong, and confident about this, so you should be too."

"Himura you're also worried about the age difference, aren't you? There's not as much difference between Misao and me, but its still there. We've only been married just over a year and now there's a little Okashira on they way. Trust me, everything thing is going to be fine." Aoshi's smile and humor had not been lost on Kenshin. He turned his sad face up and smiled at Aoshi and Okina.

Sano made sure that they remembered that he was still there by blurting, "Yea, Kenshin, you and Jou-chan are going to be alright. You've got me around to look after you. Besides, now that I know that things are working out with you two, I might ask the fox to marry me one of these days."

"Sano, Megumi wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on earth," Yahiko shouted out as he suddenly appeared in the yard. "Why would she want to spend her life with a freeloading rooster-head like you?"

"What did you say you little brat?" Sano barked as he chased the boy around the yard.

As Kenshin watched Yahiko he voiced something that had been worrying him quite a while, "Are you ready for that Aoshi?" Okina sensed where the rest of the conversation was heading and excused himself to explore the rest of the dojo with Shiro and Kuro.

"Ready for what?"

"Children."

"Oh, that." Aoshi thought carefully for a few moments before answering his friend. "Well, I helped raise Misao so I'm not a stranger to the concept. And you seem to have a fair amount of experience from the way you behave with the doctor's granddaughters."

"Sessha has always been good with children, but he doesn't know if he would be a good father. Kaoru would make and excellent mother, but this one is not sure if that's one battle he's willing to fight. Look at how fast things are moving for you and Misao-dono, how can this one be sure that it won't be that way for us."

"Himura there's no way to be sure, you should know that better than any of us. I am worried about Misao, sometimes I wish that things would slow down, but the baby is coming and I can't stop it. I can tell you this though, I love Misao and I already love this child and I will do everything I can to make sure that this child and any others that we may have will have a safe life in this world. You won't have to worry about it for a while though, just enjoy what you have right now. Tomorrow will take care of itself, Himura."

Hiko had been listening in on the conversation and realized that was his cue. He quickly walked over to the two younger warriors and added, "Baka-deshi if you don't know by now to stop worrying about such stupid things, then maybe you shouldn't remarry."

"What would my arrogant bachelor master know about this?"

Hiko took the opportunity to slap Kenshin so hard across the face that he made a rut into the grass where he landed. "WATCH YOUR TONGUE OR I'LL DO A LOT MORE THAN THAT!" he yelled. "DO YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD A MARRIAGE END BADLY?"

"Master," Kenshin said in shock. "I had no idea..."

"Of course you didn't. I didn't want you to know. It was right before I took you in. Her name was Akira and we had only been married for about a month. I had some business that took me away on a trip, so I left her in the care of her parents until I returned. The day I came back the air was thick with the scent of blood and I rushed to find her. The small village had been massacred by a group a bandits. I found her body inside the house. She had been raped and then killed and left in a corner of the room naked. I picked her up and held her close to me. Several hours passed and I cried myself to sleep with her naked form in my arms.

"When I awoke I heard many men talking in loud voices. I laid her down and covered her with a blanket and went to the door to listen. It was the same men that had destroyed the village and now they were back to finish their looting. I killed them all before they even had time to scream. Then I buried Akira and her parents and went on my way. A week later I found you."

Aoshi was stunned and sat in silence waiting for Kenshin to say something. But Kenshin was unable to speak. He simply stood up, placed his sakabato in the strap of his hakama, and walked out of the dojo in a raged stupor. Sano and Yahiko walked around the corner just to see Kenshin stumble out the gate. "What's up with him?"

Kenshin wandered aimlessly throughout Tokyo that afternoon. His mind was racing and he had no idea how to slow it down. "Master's wife was also killed. He didn't do it, but he also was unable to protect the one he loved. Maybe it's a curse placed upon a Hiten Mitsurgi-Ryu swordsmen. We're supposed to remain independent; to not meddle in the affairs of normal humans. It makes sense that we shouldn't marry or else our swords may be put to other uses...Just as I have done to protect Kaoru these past years. I've got to leave her for good before this goes any farther. I can't let her end up like Tomoe or Akira-dono. Next time might be worse than what happened with Enishi or it could end similar to Tomoe..." Tears were cascading silently down Kenshin's cheeks as he returned to the dojo. He noticed that Kaoru and the other women hadn't returned so he slipped in the back gate and hurried to his room.

Kenshin entered his room quickly and quietly. Kenshin did not even bother with a light; he knew exactly where everything of value to him was. He gathered everything that reminded him of Kaoru and the clothes that she had bought him a month earlier and slipped out of the room and into the night. He was so involved in his own thoughts that he failed to notice the rather large man sitting a dark corner of the room.

"Something's wrong," Kaoru thought as she and the other women returned to the dojo for dinner. "Misao, something's wrong. Something's happened to Kenshin. Something..." She trailed off breathlessly.

Misao noticed that Kaoru was shaking and said, "Kaoru, nothing's wrong. We'll be back at the dojo in just a few moments; you'll see."

Kaoru's eyes went wide and she shouted "NO!" as she began to run towards the dojo. She heard the other women calling to her, trying to get her to stop. Just as she reached the dojo she saw a small male figure steal a glance at her before darting away from her. Clouds had covered the moon so that her eyes couldn't decipher who it was, but in her heart she already knew. "KENSHIN!"

Kenshin heard Kaoru scream his name and ran faster into the darkness. "Gomen, koishii, but this is how it must be. I promised you long ago that I would protect you at all costs, and I must to do this to honor that promise. I can't let you end like those before you. Aishiteru..." And he hurried off into the night before she and the others could pursue him.

Kaoru passed the other men in her mad dash to Kenshin's room. "Oh, Kenshin, there you are," she said breath with when she saw him sitting in a dark corner. But as her eyes adjusted to the light she realized that the silent figure was much too big to be her rurouni. "Master Hiko, where is Kenshin?"

"You just missed him. He was running away, for good I think."

"AND YOU DIDN'T STOP HIM?"

"What good would it have done?"

"IT WOULD HAVE KEPT HIM HERE! YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE OF US WHO HAD EVER HAD ANY POWER OVER HIM AND YOU DID NOTHING!" Kaoru was in tears by now and shouting through the sobs.

"You've had more influence on him than I ever could have had. Besides, would you want him to stay here if his heart doesn't want to marry you?"

Kaoru dropped to the floor crying so hard that she couldn't speak. "He promised that he wouldn't leave. He told me that he would never leave me again and now he's gone for good. We were so happy...What happened?"

Hiko crawled over to Kaoru's limp form and picked her up off the floor. She tried to push him off of her, but to no avail. He shushed her until her tears were silent and she clutched his shirt in desperation. He stood with her in his arms and took her to her room and left her there. Then he went outside and told Misao and Megumi to change her into her kendo uniform and not to ask her any questions. They both gave him a stunned look, but obeyed. Then he told Yahiko to fetch her wooden sword, which he did.

When they returned, Kaoru was still crying, but she had let them change her. Hiko then went to her room and again picked up her docile form. She made no struggle, but her face was red and puffy from her crying and voice was already becoming hoarse. As he was leaving Yahiko returned with Kaoru's sword. Hiko placed it alongside his own and exited the dojo with Kaoru still in his arms.

"Does anyone want to tell me what just happened?" asked Yahiko as he watched Hiko's massive figure disappear into the darkness with his teacher. "Where's Kenshin and why is Hiko carrying Kaoru out of the dojo?"

His questions went unanswered as no one knew the answers. They all sat and starred into the darkness in silence waiting for the others to return.

"Where is he taking me? Does he know where Kenshin went? Why does he want me dressed like this; he can't possibly expect me to fight Kenshin can he? Why d—"

Kaoru's thoughts were interrupted when Hiko spoke. "You're probably wondering why I had them dress you like that. Well, you're the only one who can get through to my baka-deshi. If you want him to come back to you, then you are going to have to do it by force. Even I'm not powerful enough to do anything for him, and I can't bear to see him rot again."

"You really do care about him don't you?" Kaoru asked. "For all your insults and rudeness, you really do care about him." Hiko didn't take the remark to kindly and Kaoru sensed it, so she quickly added, "But I won't say a word to him. I swear." Hiko let out a relieved sigh. After several minutes of silence passed she asked, "Master Hiko, if you don't mind my asking, why are you carrying me?"

"Because you couldn't even stand on your own a few moments ago and now I want to be able to catch him. He always could run faster than me because he's so light and there's no way that you'd ever be able to keep up. I'm carrying you because it's faster and I want to find him before sunrise so I can get some sleep. Now, are there any places in particular that I should look for him in?"

Kaoru thought for a moment, placed her hand over her heart and sighed, then said decisively, "The riverbank, lets go there."

"What's so special about the river? Why would he go there?"

"It's just a feeling. Please trust me Hiko-san. I'm positive that's where he is."

Again, I'm sorry for taking so long to update. I promise I'll do it again as soon as possible, but graduation is next week, so I don't know how long it will be! Please be patient, the best part (in my own delusional opinion) is yet to come!

Kat