Tap, tap, tap.

It was his knock. The knock of every Sunday, just after dinner. Three evenly spaced, careful, neat little taps of knuckle against wood that told her that it was him. That made her worry during the times that she didn't hear them until much, much later when he smelled of iron and his eyes were an injured purple.

"Just one minute!" Kaoru called, juggling two sleepy children. She was beginning to run out of space to place new futons but at least their tiny bodies kept each other warm as they shared their beds. And she couldn't, wouldn't, say no when the starving and injured came knocking.

She would have been forced to a long time ago if it hadn't been for the men. Feeding, clothing, bathing and teaching the children to protect themselves all while protecting her home with nothing but a worn down wooden sword herself took up all of her time. It would be easier in a few year's time, when the older ones could help her with the smallest but for now she had to rely on the men for a steady supply of food, medicine and fabric for clothes.

And to think she had been terrible with needle and thread until war came upon them.

"Just a little longer!" She called, a little too loud for it earned her a sleepy protest and a hazy look from Suzume's brown eyes. She would charm plenty of young boys if she survived to adulthood. No, when she would, Kaoru refused to believe otherwise. The tragedy that happened to poor young Yutaro had to be an exception, not the rule.

Carefully she lowered the girls in her arms to their beds and took her time tucking them in even though she knew they were waiting at the door. Every time she tugged the blankets straight over their little bodies, smoothing out the wrinkles, she was reminded why she worked so hard. And every time she saw their faces relax in their deep slumber she was reminded of the trust they put in her.

There was no impatient knocking, nothing to hurry her and there never was. The man's patience was exceptional in these times, much more so considering how exposed he must be feeling. These days it was dangerous to linger too long in the shadows.

Kaoru didn't let him wait very long, however, for even if he didn't protest it still was bad form to keep him waiting. And maybe, if she was truly honest to herself, their little moments on the Sunday evening did much to get her through the week.

Because when she opened the door she was greeted by the gentle, calm smile he always wore and by hair of the brightest red she had ever seen. The smile was a pleasantry not many offered anymore, always in a hurry or in danger or both and no one had money for luxury items that were much brighter than pale grey. But it was that air of confidence and control that made her shoulders slump in relaxation as she answered that smile.

Kenshin had a way about him that inspired confidence. As if everything was going to be alright as long as he was there. As if it was alright to believe in things, now, even in things as unsure and fearful as the future that many no longer believed they would have.

"You're late," She greeted him, reaching out to relieve the man of bags that would be sorted later. By the gentle tinkling sounds coming from them, she guessed he had found them a few cans of beans and the like. Maybe even peaches if they were lucky, the kids did like their sweets. "I just finished putting the last of them to bed."

"They got Okina," There was real fatigue in Kenshin's soft voice, and for a moment his smile dropped. As she sucked in a shocked breath, he was quick to reassure her, "This one reached them in time, however. They couldn't bleed him dry. He'll be sleeping for a few days, so he will, but he will recover. Misao's taking care of him now."

"Was Aoshi-"

"Aoshi wasn't involved," Kenshin reassured her but this time his smile could no longer fight the reality of war. Aoshi had been changed only a few months before but it felt like years. It was never easy when humans were attacked but the ones who could fight were sired to join the vampires and their war against humanity. Even crueler was the fact that he had been preparing to propose to their small friend and had been so deep in their inner circle.

Changing locations, let alone find a place Aoshi would not consider checking, had been difficult. Much more difficult had been mourning the death of their friend even as he still walked this earth.

"Would you like to come in? I've still got some green tea left," Kaoru already knew the answer but she could not deny her need for human contact. It had been so long since she had talked to someone her age, someone she did not need to shelter from the reality that they were living in. Yahiko was coming of age but not quite yet and she wanted to protect him as long as she could…

"This one still hasn't finished his rounds," Kenshin predictably declined her invitation, resisting the temptation of his favourite tea. His bright eyes closed as his smile widened, ever friendly, ever gentle, "And it is probably best to check up on Sano as well, so it is."

"Of course," Kaoru smiled, "I understand."

But she had to look away to hide her disappointment. Just standing in her doorway, holding the carefully gathered bags of food in her hands and soaking in the red head's presence gave her new courage. It would have been nice to talk as friends by the fire rather than stand in the cold doorway as demand and supplier.

But it was undeniable that the children needed her here, at home, no matter how small her world became because of it. And in either case, she knew Sano well enough that he would check and catch up with her soon enough. The man liked to remind himself why he fought so hard to keep the general area around her home as safe as it could be.

"But maybe…" Kenshin continued and when she looked back to him she was surprised to see the odd shyness in his gaze. His eyes were not purple now, but rather a light violet shade and somewhere the sword instructor noted that she always did enjoy wearing kimonos of that fine colour. "Maybe…it would be alright if one drops by once that is done? If…If it's no convenience, that is."

"Oh..." Kaoru paused in her surprise but recovered quickly, making sure to smile, "Yes, that sounds lovely. I'll be busy sewing for a little while longer tonight. So it's no inconvenience at all."

"I'm glad," Kenshin answered and it struck her how much she believed him when his eyes lingered on her face as if afraid that he would forget the details if he didn't, "Until tonight, then."

Tea and a place he could put down his sword; it was all she could offer him. And yet, when his hand returned to rest upon his sword and the man turned to once more face the night, there seemed to be a new kind of energy in his step.

Maybe she wasn't the only one in need of human contact.