Whimsical-nightmares: I think you read too fast. (Laughs) Akira left and the parents went outside. After Enishi was taken down, I just had him arrested. I didn't really bring them into that chapter again. I mean, all of that would be incredibly dramatic. As for updating so quickly; don't worry, it's not always that fast. Sometimes I take a really long time because I'm not sure what to write. It'll come to you in soon. (smiles)

Holy monkeys. This is almost my longest story ever. Seriously excited. Yes, it's the little things that get me. You're probably all reading this thinking I'm an idiot. I'm really a lot funnier in person. It's hard to transfer wit over the internet. Obviously. Anyway, I love all of you who have kept with me this far. Some chapters have obviously been harder than others. I'm sure you can pinpoint those.

I have been rereading this story (if you read previous statements I said I hate rereading them, so there's first time for everything). Yes, I know there are typos. Yes, I have been going back on some occasions and fixing them. They're irritating me... mainly because they're sad little ones that wouldn't even be there if I had paid attention. Really, I'm working on it.

To the next order of business. This fanfic is rated M. I'm not sure where I'm going with it yet, aside from all the cussing and flirting. Note: There might be sex. Might be. Like I said; not sure where I'm going yet. Warning: I am a horrible sex scene writer. I mean, I cringed as I wrote my last sex scene. That's how unrealistic it is (though it will never be more unrealistic than FSoG). So, if I do actually write a sex scene, it will probably suck ass. Bear with me. I'm trying to make this worth your while. I promise.

Anyway, after long and probably unnecessary explanations, here we go with chapter 10. I own nothing Rurouni Kenshin expect for my own story line. Enjoy my lovelies.

The news hadn't been bad; well, not horribly bad. There was no permanent damage, but there was definitely going to be some bruising. It wasn't going to go away for awhile and graduation was right around the corner.

Kaoru had sighed in despair. She had asked if she could skip graduation and just have her diploma delivered to her. Kenshin had only smiled at her.

Kenshin had talked to her father, assuring him that he didn't need to leave work to come see if she was alright. She was going to be around, so he was in no rush. After Hiko had shown up, so did all of the drama: threats of prison and million dollar lawsuits. Kaoru was touched that Hiko cared so much about her, but she didn't want the trouble. She didn't want special treatment just because he could make it happen. Enishi needed to be judged swiftly yet fairly. She did want an apology though. It wouldn't make anything better, but she wanted one nonetheless. Probably because she knew Enishi hated apologizing. It meant that he had been wrong.

She never got one though. Akira and the Yukishiros had apologized for him, but that's not what she wanted. Akira had become very friendly with them over the course of the weeks that passed. The baby was almost ready to join the world. Just a week left. They all smiled about the baby. He would grow without a mother, but he would always know her. They all promised that.

Kenshin had no more hard feelings towards them. He had confessed his love to Kaoru and he didn't want his hurt pride to hold back his happiness with her.

They all sat around Kenshin's one night, talking about Kaoru's accident. "Do you think Enishi will get what he deserves?" Sano asked.

"I doubt it." Kaoru sighed. Her voice was better, but an ugly bruised marred her fair skin.

Kenshin placed his arm around her shoulders. "Whether he serves time or not, he'll never get near her again." Kenshin promised.

"I'm surprised you left her." Misao replied, crossing her arms over her chest. Aoshi gently tugged on her braid and shook his head.

Kenshin's eyes turned dark. Kaoru had figured out that he wasn't always mad. It was his way of hiding that he was hurt or ashamed. She lifted her hand to her shoulder and linked fingers with Kenshin. "I asked him to give me a minute."

"Had it been Aoshi, he wouldn't have left." She said. Misao thought Aoshi was the sun and moon and sometimes it irritated her. Aoshi made mistakes too, whether Misao saw them or not.

"Yeah, well, he's not Aoshi, is he?" She snipped.

"Hey, I'm just saying..." She shrugged, leaving no doubt of what she was thinking. No one said a word. This was between the two of them.

"Yeah, well you can keep that to yourself. Kenshin left because I asked him to. He trusts my judgement. You don't even know what happened, so can you really say that you have any right to comment?" They had given their friends the gist of the situation, but they had left things out, such as Kaoru sleeping with Enishi, which had been the start of the fight.

Misao turned defensive. "Kaoru, Kenshin could have protected you. Why are you biting my head off?"

"Because you're blaming him!" Her throat began to hurt a bit. She wasn't supposed to put strain on it, but she couldn't help it. "I'm not as defenseless as to have someone have to protect me every second of the day."

"Apparently you are." Sano muttered.

Her head whipped towards him. "How exactly do you think I should have known that he was going to attack me?"

"Because he's Enishi." Misao answered, drawing her attention back.

"Misao." Aoshi tugged her braid a little harder.

There was that... "With it being a public place and all, I didn't think that would be an issue." She replied, her anger rising.

"Guys, knock it off." Kenshin said. He squeezed Kaoru's hand gently. "Stop yelling. You're going to hurt yourself."

She cleared her throat and winced. Kenshin only sighed. "I'll get her a glass." Aoshi said as he stood to go to the kitchen.

As Aoshi disappeared, Kenshin cleared his throat and stood up. "Excuse us for a minute." He said as he took Kaoru out of the room.

He took her into Hiko's empty office. He would be out for the night, so it was as private as they could get. "Kenshin what-"

He slammed his mouth over hers. Kaoru's eyes widened, before she drew him closer to her. Since they had become a couple, he had been a lot more physical with his feelings; not that she minded. She liked that he was so eager to kiss her. She also found it very charming that he explained, in his own little way, of why he kissed her. Kaoru didn't think that Kenshin realized that he did it, though.

He pulled back from her, though she kept her arms around him. "Thank you." He smiled before giving her another quick kiss.

"For what?" She asked.

"For defending me. Misao is right, of course, but thank you just the same."

She sighed. He wouldn't ever give himself a break about this. "I would have been mad at you if you hadn't left." She stated, watching his surprised reaction. "I asked you to leave. Meaning I really wanted you to. Had you stayed, it would have meant that you didn't trust me or my judgment." She kissed his cheek. "We both know what it means to be trusted."

Kenshin sighed. "I'm just sorry that he got to you." He hated to see her so limited by the pain.

Kaoru cupped his cheek, looking into his tormented eyes. "Hey," she smiled, "if this is the worst he did to me, I am definitely counting my blessings."

He looked at her for a minute, not saying anything. Finally he slightly ran his hand over her neck, barely touching it. Kaoru sucked in her breath as he leaned down and lightly kissed her bruised skin. He leaned back slowly and gave her a gentle smile. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."

He was talking about his kiss, but she wasn't sure that's all he meant. "You didn't." She smiled. Her skin was a sickening color. It was bruised, but it was in the process of healing. Purples, greens and yellows mixed together; she didn't know how he could stand looking at it.

"You're beautiful, whether your bruised or not." He answered without thinking.

Kaoru smiled at the surprise that crossed both of their faces. "I love you." She said as she gave him a hug and another quick kiss. "Let's get back to everyone. I'm sure they're tearing up Hiko's living room."

Kenshin laughed. "You're probably right." He pulled her to a stop before they entered the room. "I love you too." He whispered into her ear.

As they came back into the room, everyone looked back and them and Kaoru blushed. They totally knew what they had been doing.

"That was more than a minute." Megumi smiled.

"Shut up." Kaoru muttered.

"I don't know why you make out behind closed doors." Megumi smacked the back of Sano's head. "Gah! What? You know I'm right. We all know that's why the disappear for minutes at a time." He looked at the couple. "I'm just asking why. You don't have to hide what you do from us." He grinned as Aoshi groaned at his ignorance.

"It's called intimacy, which is best in private." Kenshin answered with ease; amused by his friend's thoughts.

It was true though. They had never kissed in front of their friends. Even if Sano had seen them kiss once, which happened before they started dating, they hadn't intentionally done it in front of him. They sat back down, and Kenshin returned his arm around her shoulder.

"Why do you want to see us kiss?" Kaoru teased.

Sano's mouth opened and then closed, not sure of what to say. Megumi smacked him again and Misao laughed. Kaoru looked over at the girl and noticed her nod. Kaoru returned the subtle gesture. Misao had apologized for her earlier outburst, and Kaoru had accepted. They smiled at each other as Kaoru leaned into Kenshin's embrace.

"Your water is by you." Aoshi startled her.

She thanked him before picking it up and taking a small sip. The water was cool on her throat and soothed the remaining strain she felt. There was silence once again.

"So, whose ready for graduation?" Misao asked out of the blue.

They all froze. It was next week. No one could answer. It was bittersweet; they would all be separating. Kaoru reached out and took Kenshin's hand again. "I'm ready for vacation." She joked. "I'll miss you guys." She smiled at them. They really were separating.

"Come with us." Misao stated.

"What?" She and Kenshin glanced at each other and then back at the group.

"Go to Kyoto; that way you won't be by yourself." Misao smiled.

"We'll stay here." Kenshin answered before Kaoru could.

Their mouths dropped open. "What?" They asked.

He looked down at Kaoru. This was for her. "I'm staying here." He told her. "I'll be going to Tokyo with you."

"But Kyoto-"

"Can teach me just as much as Tokyo can."

"But-"

"Kaoru." He smiled. "I'm not going to leave you."

Her eyes watered. She really did love him. "Thank you." She let go of his hand, only to bring it to the back of his neck and pulled his lips down to hers. It wasn't an ideal kiss; tears rolled down her face and her throat burned again, but she didn't care. Kaoru could feel his smile against her lips. Their friends gave a little cheer and let out cat calls, causing them to pull back from each other. She placed her mouth against his ear. "You're the best. I really do love you."

"I love you too." He admitted out loud, causing more commotion from the group. He smiled at her, and then at them. It wouldn't be the same after graduation, but he would still have Kaoru.

Almost 2k words less than my last chapter. I'm ashamed, but oh well. School is kicking my ass, that's why it's taking so long. Inspiration is put on hold in the back of my mind as I try to pass my classes. Meh.

Anyway, tell me what you think of this shorter chapter.

-K