A/N: Sorry for the wait! Things have been getting pretty busy lately, and I didn't realize it'd already been six days! Anway, another long chapter! This one makes a little more sense since I included a flashback. Enjoy! _ce

"Hey, hey! Isn't that Himura-san?"

Kenshin heard someone in the crowded harbor gasp.

"Yeah! And Kaoru-san! And Sagara-san, Takani-san, and Yahiko-chan too! They're back!"

He tried to ignore them. He just wanted to get home…

"Maybe he and Kaoru-san didn't have a row after all. She seems happy enough."

"It wasn't a row, stupid. She was heartbroken, remember?"

A painful icy shaft when right through Kenshin's gut.

Yes, he remembered…

"Ohh. Well, what happened then, because I seem to be misinformed."

Kenshin looked around at the faces of his friends nervously, checking to see if anyone else was listening. But they seemed to be preoccupied with getting snacks from the vendor.

"All we know is, after Okubo-sama was assassinated, Himura-san disappeared. Kaoru-san didn't come out of her house for a good three days, and everyone else went over there to visit her. Umiyako-san said that she heard Tae-san was afraid Kaoru-san wasn't eating. And then, Sagara-san was suddenly gone too, and Kaoru-san and Yahiko-chan left right after. Now they're back. I don't know where any of them actually went."

"And Takani-san?"

"…I'm not sure. I didn't even hear she left Tokyo."

"Maybe it was some kind of intervention. Gin-san seems to think that Himura-san's hesitant about being in a serious relationship with the girl."

"How long has it been though? Isn't he worried she'll find someone else? Kaoru-san is well-liked around here! I might tell my brother to go to her if Himura-san waits too long!"

Kenshin felt as though this conversation had taken a rather jarring turn.

Why did people always stick their noses in others' private business? And what was this brother like exactly?

"Forget your brother, she's got another eligible man right under her nose."

Who?

"…Sagara-san and Kaoru-san? I don't think so. Look at him with Takani-san."

Kenshin looked. He and Megumi-dono were arguing again, getting right in each others' faces. But Kaoru-dono and Yahiko were laughing at them, and it seemed to be just another day.

"Sagara-san's clearly in love with her."

"Oh clearly."

"…Shut up."

Kenshin had to wonder where these people got such ideas. He supposed it was all too common for people to assume that men and women who fought so openly with each other like Sano and Megumi-dono did must have some feelings for one another... But Sano and Kaoru-dono? He just couldn't see it. Although they fought too, their bickering was more similar to Kaoru and Yahiko's sibling-like relationship.

And saying that Kaoru-dono and Yahiko were a match was going much too far.

But, he was biased, after all. Not only did he have his own selfish claim on Kaoru, at least privately, but he was privy to Sanosuke's thoughts on the neighbors gossiping. The younger man had brought up the subject to him on the boat ride home...

"I overheard something kinda interesting, before I left Tokyo," Sanosuke remarked to him, offhandedly. They were leaning against the railing of the ship, looking out at the water. Kaoru-dono, Megumi-dono, and Yahiko were all elsewhere on the ship.

"And that was?" Kenshin prompted him, sensing that he had something he wanted to share.

"Well, it's just gossip, really, but I just wanted to get it out there in case you hear some things that make you wonder when we get back home: I'm not interested in Jo-chan as a romantic partner."

"Oro?"

Kenshin looked at his taller friend with surprise.

"Yeah. After you left, I heard a few people saying that they hoped I'd come to Kaoru's rescue from her broken heart, or some stupid shit like that. They might speculate about it after we all get back too. You know how people talk..."

Kenshin merely listened, though he mentally agreed.

"That's not even all of it though," Sano continued, going on to explain that some of the neighbors might not be too happy to see him return. He encouraged Kenshin to think about making his intentions to stay at Kamiya dojo for good more publicly known.

"Because, just between you and me, you better not run out on us like that again, or I WILL Futae-no-Kiwami your face, you got that, Kenshin?"

Kenshin smiled a little nervously and meekly assured Sanosuke that he wasn't intending to go anywhere. Sano seemed to calm down a bit, as an unspoken understanding passed between them.

"Well, whatever you do, that's your business," he said, rather graciously considering his threat moments ago. "I just thought you oughta know what I've been hearing around town. It's kinda gross, if you ask me... Jo-chan's like my sister, y'know? And you're my best friend...I'd have to be a real scumbag to even consider her any other way."

That remark had gratified Kenshin in a number of ways. And now he was grateful that Sanosuke had had the presence of mind to mention those things.

It seemed that the neighbors behaved just as he predicted.

"Well, in any case, he's back now and it would seem that there's still a chance for them to be together. Let's just hope he stays this time. If he ever does that to Kaoru-san again, I'll hope and pray that he doesn't come back. She's too good to be treated like that."

The guilt washed over him again, and he tried in earnest to stop listening. Fortunately, Kaoru called to him.

"Kenshin! C'mon, we're all ready to go!"

She walked over to him, smiling brightly, and he couldn't help but smile a little bit in return.

"What were you doing all the way over here?" she asked him curiously, as they fell in step beside one another with the rest of the group walking up ahead. Sanosuke and Megumi's argument was still going strong, with Yahiko interjecting things here and there, so none of them were listening.

"Just thinking," he replied. Kaoru scanned his face with her eyes briefly, then shrugged.

"Well don't think too much, Kenshin," she said, "you'll give yourself a headache." She grinned. Kenshin smiled back more openly.

"This one will try."

The familiar road leading to the dojo gate stretched ahead of him now.

With increasingly slow steps, he approached, finding it hard to believe that he was returning almost exactly the way he'd left. He never planned to see this road again after walking away from Kaoru in the dark of that May night three months ago. The memory weighed on his conscience.

As he worried himself, Kaoru turned to him, already standing on the threshold of the entranceway. Sano, Megumi, and Yahiko had already gone inside, and were watching the other two with interest. Kenshin suddenly realized that he'd stopped in his tracks.

In a quiet, but happy voice, Kaoru spoke to him as she extended a hand.

"Welcome home, Kenshin."

She smiled, and a faint blush dusted her cheeks.

Kenshin felt his eyes widen in surprise. But then he truly smiled and closed his eyes in brief thanks. Opening them, he placed his hand gently into hers and said words he had not spoken in ten long years.

"Tadaima, de gozaru."

He did not miss the way Kaoru's fingers minutely flexed beneath his palm. Though they did not hold hands for long, Kenshin could still feel the impressions her hand made long afterwards.

He was home.

No one would need to send their brothers after Kaoru-dono, or worry that he'd leave again. It wouldn't happen, and one day soon… He'd make sure that Kaoru knew just how much he cared for her.