Tae and Tsubame stayed at the dojo to make sure no one like the Hiruma brothers tried to move in and Doctor Gensai brought his granddaughters to visit at least once a week. Ayame and Suzume liked playing with Tsubame while their grandfather and Tae discussed the latest letters from Kaoru and Sae. Tae was disappointed that Kenshin didn't come back with them "Oh Kaoru, you poor thing, and the two of you were doing so well last spring. Since he's a wanderer maybe he'll show up again."

"Our relationship isn't like that." Kaoru frowned as the two women ignored her to begin cooking a welcome back feast. Sano went to get sake and came back with two jugs and Tsunan so it was almost midnight before anyone fell asleep.

After Breakfast Kaoru sent Yahiko to tell Yutaro that training will resume tomorrow then set about cleaning the kitchen. She was standing at the sink washing the set of sake saucers and reminiscing about the last party with Tae and Tsunan when Kenshin got tipsy enough to laugh with her.

Sano strolled into the kitchen "Hey Missy, we're taking off now."

"Will you be back for dinner?"

"I don't want to give anyone the wrong idea by coming here while he's gone, but I'll check in on you."

"Oh." Kaoru watched her friends cross the yard and returned their casual good-byes as Sano closed the gate.

She didn't expect Yahiko to return for a few hours at least so she had most of the afternoon to wash their sheets. Hopefully it was warm enough for them to dry before dark. She heated water for the wash tub and began scrubbing trying not to think about his long fire red hair or the long diagonal scar across his chest that was usually fully exposed by the time he began rinsing. Kaoru wondered if the two cuts on his face were from failed attempts to behead him. No doubt he didn't want to be in Kyoto. Why didn't she listen to Kenshin when he said he was ready to leave?

Once Kaoru finished draping everything over the bamboo drying rack she decided to practice her father's most difficult katas as a way to take her mind off her missing friend. Were they still friends? Did he think of her as a friend or as a landlady? What did her old hair ribbon really mean to him? This wasn't working. Meditation? Yeah, right. Kaoru stalked back to the kitchen, his primary domain, and grabbed the sack of rice to work on her upper body strength. Her father used to use this as a punishment when she was younger, but lifting the weight was sure to drive him from her head eventually.

Yahiko came back with a nasty bruise on his upper right arm; Yutaro spent the summer perfecting the katas that Kaoru taught him. He had no intention of telling Kaoru about the fight and thought he hid it well until she narrowed her eyes at him from across the dinner table.

"What did you learn from it?"

She was using her sensai tone of voice so he answered seriously "Don't take someone with less experience too lightly."

"And?"

"And they will resort to using tricks and ranged weapons if they have no honor or ability."

"You aren't speaking of Yutaro are you?" She thought he already learned those lessons.

"That turd may have taken my right arm, but I took his shoulder first."

Kaoru let the subject drop since he didn't want to talk about what was really bothering him. Kenshin or Sano might be better able to help him work through his current problem anyway, if either of them showed up tomorrow.

Kenshin ran around the steam engine and made it to a roof without being seen; trailing the silent pair to an inn was easy. Once inside the cloak and mask were cast aside revealing a heavily muscled man wearing some sort of armor plating on his forearms. The sleeves of his green splotched gi were cut off and his identically green splotched hakama were tucked into black western style boots. Kenshin didn't recall his face or chi at all. They paid for separate rooms leaving him to wonder who had been under the cloak last May. He regretted paying too much attention to the known enemy and not nearly enough to the unknown. It didn't make him feel any better to learn that the ride to Shinbashi Station in Tokyo was less than an hour according to the schedule posted at the station.

They were both sleeping peacefully; she was curled on her right side and he was splayed across his futon. Kenshin padded quietly back to the kitchen and strung the rope over the two hooks above the stove while waiting for a pot of water to heat. Scrubbing his clothes by moonlight was a little awkward, yet he wasn't going to wait until morning and have Kaoru see him in only a loincloth.

He rubbed the chunk of soap across the wet material thinking about the time he and Kaoru were admiring ink landscapes at the art dealer and Sano came by to purchase portraits for Tae and Tsubame. His spirit was no longer twisted and he was a good man to have by your side in a tight spot. Kenshin was going to stop by his long house and ask him to make a trip to Yokohama with him since he wasn't staying here.

After hanging his wet clothes above the stove to dry Kenshin carried the remaining hot water to the bathhouse and began scrubbing away days of sweat and grime. He wasn't sure whether to tell her or not since she was the first one at the Maekawa dojo to accept Raijuta's challenge and didn't hesitate to take on a street gang. While Kaoru's refusal to back down was a good example for the boy it was bad for Kenshin's heart.

He cleaned the mess he made in the bathhouse then headed back to the kitchen to see how dry his kimono and hakama were. After rearranging them on the rope he put his travel pack in his room and took a short nap on clean sheets.

Sano wasn't at his longhouse, the Shuei-Ya, or the Akabeko; it didn't occur to Kenshin that he might be at the clinic with Megumi getting the bandage on his hand changed. There probably wasn't much use in going back to Yokohama anyway. If they chose to attack they'd come through the station after sunset and be gone an hour later when the last train left.

"Welcome home, Kenshin!" Kaoru came out with a big grin as he closed the gate.

"It's good to be home." She reached for a sleeve to check for any new injuries when he got to the steps "Thank you for your concern." He noticed her cheeks turn pink as she looked away and decided not to chance a repeat of the Aoi-Ya; it was too dangerous if either one of them caught her alone.

She met his eyes when he opened the kitchen door finding violet flecks in gold that made her forget about asking why he didn't have his travel pack and why he wasn't sweaty or dusty from traveling on foot. "I put the kettle on a few minutes ago if you'd like some tea."

"Thank you." Kenshin's knees appreciated sitting on a cushion again rather than on hard ground.

Kaoru poured his tea "I apologize for not buying tickets sooner. I didn't consider your feelings the way you deserve."

"You are not the one who ought to apologize. Leaving without saying goodbye is regrettable and being welcomed by you is more than I hoped for." A tongue lashing for making her worry was more expected than a bright smile.

"Don't be stupid, Kenshin." She tried to say it with a frown; however the idiot talked so much like himself that she failed miserably.

"I also want to thank you for giving me a choice of paths."

Kaoru took that to mean he was choosing to stay. "Yahiko and Yutaro will be here any minute so you'll have time to rest if you'd like."

"Actually if it's alright with you, being a sparring partner for Yahiko will give you more time to work with Yutaro-kun."

Kaoru paused "Well, as long as you don't mind. I could use some extra time with him after being gone so long."

The lady doctor had strictly forbidden Sano from using his right hand for anything so he was going to see if he had better luck at dice with his left.

When he entered the Shuei-Ya Hikojiro greeted him then said Kenshin came by looking for him. Sano was so glad his friend came back he didn't even glance at the two cubes tumbling to a stop. "Then I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow."

When he got to the dojo Kenshin and Yahiko were in the yard sparring. Both training hall doors were wide open revealing Kaoru in the process of teaching Yutaro a kata so Sano got comfortable on the covered porch. Kenshin easily defended himself holding a shinai with one hand while Yahiko beat on it with all his strength.

"I thought you said you weren't going to pass on your sword style and that the kid didn't want to learn it anymore."

"I'm not his sensai." Kenshin was focused on Sano which didn't give Yahiko an edge at all.

"If you can't tell I'm using Kamiya-Kasshin then Saito was right calling you a rooster head." He was getting frustrated not being able to land a single hit. That last double strike wasn't hard enough to make Kenshin use two hands which seriously pissed him off.

"What do you know about it, Brat?"

"I hear plenty because kids are ignored." Three blows in quick succession using all his strength accomplished nothing.

"Yahiko, you have been taught about remaining calm and fighting with a clear head. Perhaps if you talk about your concerns you will not be so distracted."

He fisted his hilt wondering if kicking stupid Kenshin in his face will count as a hit. Yahiko felt the weight of a shinai on his bare shoulder realizing that the tip was hooked under his collar and quickly stepped back to prevent being lifted up the way Ugly once carried him over her shoulder. "Why did you have to remember that?"

"It was only to get your attention, Yahiko. I won't embarrass you." Kenshin tucked the training sword in his belt "What are you concerned about?"

"Are you going to leave again the next time you get angry at Kaoru?"

"She isn't annoying."

Sano smirked at the look on Yahiko's face.

"Are you crazy? She's the most irritating loud mouth and the fattest ugliest woman in…hey! You said you weren't going to do that!"

Kenshin tucked the shinai in his belt again while Yahiko straightened his gi "You will learn to fight the way she does."

Sano laughed out loud at the boy's indignant "Apprentice!"

"You concentrate too much on your enemy's weapon. When she attacked the Yakuza did she aim for their weapons?"

Yahiko shook his head "Ugly smashed wrists, elbows and knees. Both times I saw men come at her two on one she managed to slip between them to take their backs."

Kenshin rubbed his forehead "A simple 'no' will do." Perhaps Seiku might be persuaded to make a steel bokken or shinai for her. "Now attack my weak points instead of the shinai."

Saito thanked the police officer for the information and when his new assistant Cho finally showed up he wanted the news confirmed. "Otowa Hyoko was seen getting off of the train in Yokohama with someone wearing a mask and cloak. Find out who it is; I want no unnecessary surprises when we make our move."

Cho frowned as he made his way back to the train station grumbling about that squinty eyed chain smoker and being his lackey wasn't better than rotting in a cell after all if he was running back and forth all the time. And what did it really matter who was with Otowa since they were all going to be Gatotsu'd anyway. Well, except for Yukishiro Enishi. Saito was going to put him in a cell that even rooster head can't break.

It was evening by the time Cho got to the mansion where Yukishiro was currently staying and he crept around the sculptured shrubs until he saw the white haired man in a second floor room sitting in a chair facing the huge back window. Moving around the patch of light on the grass he found a spot with a good vantage point of the room and waited to see who showed up.

Cho was a little surprised when the man stood and looked at the ceiling as though it was suddenly very interesting. Then he put his hands on his hips and spoke for a moment making a sweeping gesture with his left hand. He could just imagine Saito's face when he told him Yukishiro has conversations with his ceiling. Was he talking to someone who was hiding from him? What was the point in that? Skull Mask came in a minute later followed by Whale Mouth. Both of them completely ignored the ceiling so if someone was up there they either didn't know or didn't care. Whale Mouth was even bigger than Anji and only wore an old worn length of cloth tied around his waist.

Otowa finally showed up with a new face, but the man wasn't wearing a cloak. Cho took careful note of the bandana, black stripe across his nose, and clothes covered in various shades of green. Those metal plates on his forearms made him a good match for Sanosuke. He was too far away to catch the name, but Saito was probably going to send him back again anyway.

Kaoru still didn't know what to make of Kenshin sparring with Yahiko yesterday afternoon. The boy didn't say much during dinner. Last spring she would have been grateful Kenshin chose to continue living with her and yet sitting here across the breakfast table Kaoru wished she had the courage to ask why he came back. Or at least ask him why he left with Sano right after dinner last night. Did he miss her at all or did he return because of Yahiko and Sano?

Ayame and Suzume tried to help Kenshin do the laundry. Little Suzume leaned against the tub to splash the rinse water, her eyes growing wider as Ayame whispered in her ear. Ayame tried to shush Suzume as they tiptoed behind him. He dunked his face in the water when he felt their small hands push on his back and the effort was rewarded by peals of laughter.

"Yay, we tricked big brother Kenny!"

"Tricked Kenny, tricked Kenny!"

Kaoru and Dr. Gensai grinned at the joke that interrupted their conversation on the porch steps. She approached the tub to give the two little girls a hug and smiled and Kenshin as he wiped his face.

"Let's do the rinsing so Kenshin can finish hanging all these clothes."

They were more than happy to go back to playing in the tub of water when Kaoru showed them how to make little bubbles by pulling Kenshin's old pants underwater and squeezing the air out. While it entertained the girls it made her determined to replace them because the man who saved Japan from yet another war shouldn't have to wear such overly patched hakama.

Kenshin was glad for the help and set about draping the towels and socks over one of the bamboo poles. He slid the other pole through the sleeves of Yahiko's training gi and one of Kaoru's kimonos then set it on the supports to take a dripping obi from her. He squeezed the water out of the blue and red striped silk thinking that she ought to have a tie for her yellow kimono instead of using this one for both. Knowing she doesn't spend extra money on herself he decided to buy one for her the next time she sent him for tofu.

Sano came by for dinner again "Tae's going to let us have a little party at the Akabeko Friday evening."

Kaoru noticed that Kenshin wasn't happy about it although he didn't say anything against it. She didn't want to ask him in front of Sano and then Yahiko returned from his shift at the beef pot restaurant. While she was in the kitchen giving Yahiko his dinner Kenshin and Sano left so she had no opportunity to talk to him alone.

Kenshin climbed to the roof of the rice warehouse followed by his best friend "A whole month was spent drinking in Kyoto and last night you admitted to partying until midnight when you got back."

"You can't have too many good times." Sano sat on the side of the roof overlooking the station.

"Evening isn't the wisest choice right now." Kenshin sat next to him since the locomotive was already in sight.

"If you aren't going to make the first move then what's wrong with missing a day?"

"It's the difference between being unprepared and being ready to pounce before anyone is hurt badly."

"Why are these guys any different than anyone else that's attacked you, the little Miss, or the dojo?"

Kenshin wasn't paying attention to him. He was focused on a huge man wearing a length of cloth tied around his waist. He had a very wide mouth and part of his right arm was cut off.

"Is he one of the guys?" Sano didn't remember Kenshin mentioning anyone that huge with a mouth like a whale.

"I don't know. Probably not, but if he's here in Tokyo then maybe" Kenshin turned toward Sano "I faced him at the end of the Bakumatsu. He asked me to take his life instead of forcing him to live without his right arm, but I wasn't going to kill anymore."

"Do you think he came to Tokyo for revenge?"

"Let's follow him."

"Wait a minute, Kenshin. It's the twelfth year of Meiji; a full decade since then. How long are you going to chase after everyone who survived on the chance they're still carrying a grudge?"

"Wouldn't you still be carrying a grudge, Zanza?"

"You remember my old fighter-for-hire name?"

"Come on. We're losing him."

Kaoru left for the Maekawa dojo right after breakfast and without Yahiko because he was going to spar with Kenshin until his shift started. The brat said Kenshin was making him fight like her and she took to mean using Kamiya-Kasshin; she'd pummel them otherwise. From the beginning Kenshin said Yahiko was her apprentice so she felt like he was coming between them by sparring with the boy almost every day. On the other hand it gave her the opportunity to be a visiting instructor twice a week for Maekawa and once a week at the Jouetsukan dojo. Kaoru decided to be grateful that she was able to make her father's style known to other kendo students and get paid for it.

A few men in the shop turned to look at her as a disheveled Kaoru came in and grabbed a pair of white hakama from the boys' shelf and handed them to the merchant. "Good afternoon, sir. I would like to get these." She stood with her feet shoulder width apart and her arms crossed as she waited for the man to refold the pants and wrap them. Kaoru expected the stares because she came after a few hours of training and not in a kimono; however only one man made a comment when she headed toward the door with her package.

"Between Meiji and the westerners women don't know their place anymore." A heavyset man gave her a look of disgust.

Kaoru was instantly in his face as much as she was able only coming to his chest "Come to the Kamiya dojo at any time and I will personally demonstrate my place." She ought to force feed him her miso soup for that.

After Yahiko left Kenshin decided to get tofu for dinner and maybe some red bean paste to make yokan for dessert. His first stop was the kimono shop across from the art dealer where Tae was browsing through portraits of military heroes. She happened to catch a glimpse of his red hair and went to greet him. "Oh Kenshin-san, are you buying something for Kaoru-chan?"

He looked up from a selection of yellow kimono ties "Her generosity doesn't leave much left over for the things she may want."

Tae wasn't fooled "If you're looking for something she may want then get her a ring. It's a new western trend worn on the third finger of her left hand. It's the perfect gift to give her for Tanabata, too bad you were in Kyoto at the time."

She pulled Kenshin three doors down to the jewelers where Hikojiro was selecting a ring to give his girl Satoshi. Tae left Kenshin in front of the display of wedding bands now that he was on the right course.

"Hello, Kenshin. When are you marrying Kamiya-san? Satoshi wants a western style wedding so I asked her father's permission to propose."

"Have you made your decision, sir?" The shop keeper gestured to the rings.

"Her favorite color is blue so I'll take that one." He pointed to a sapphire set in silver.

"An excellent choice, if I may say."

Kenshin slipped out feeling like he escaped from a trap. He made sure Tae was nowhere around before going back to the kimono shop and buying a yellow obi with pink and purple flower petals. It was the only floral one without whole blossoms to prevent Tae from making up some hidden meaning.

Kaoru was sitting on the porch steps close to sunset when Kenshin came out of the kitchen door "It's a beautiful evening isn't it."

"I'm meeting up with Sano." Kenshin paused on the bottom step "Tae-san mentioned Tanabata today. Is it a new festival?"

"There are two stars that come close to each other once a year. A legend developed about two star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, and the boatman that ferries her across the river to see him every year. Tanabata became a popular day to confess and propose so last year some of the younger girls tied wishes to the trees by the hill where the fireworks are."

Kenshin realized Kaoru didn't tie a wish to a tree last year "Sorry you missed it."

"It's only fireworks." Kaoru watched Sano stroll through the gate "Where are you two going tonight?"

"We're hitting up the brothels again."

Kenshin was displeased Sano mentioned a place like that in front of her.

"I expect that from you" Kaoru glared at the man "but why lie about Kenshin?"

"Hey, I'm not the only bad boy."

"We've been watching the Shinbashi Station for a couple of old enemies who may be planning to attack."

"What happened to waiting for them to make the first move? No, don't answer that." Kaoru stood up "I'll see you tomorrow." She had enough of both of them and decided she may as well go to bed already. If Kenshin wanted her to be his weakness instead of his strength then she was stuck waiting around for him to come back. Was she stuck waiting? Waiting for what? This was the closest thing she had to a conversation with Kenshin since…breakfast the day he got back. Kaoru was waiting for crumbs of attention the way Kamatari waited for scraps from Shishio Mokoto. Why did she have to visit him at the clinic a second time? She used to be satisfied standing at the gate until Kenshin came back.

On Friday Kenshin left for the Akabeko by himself since Kaoru was probably going straight from her outside training at the Maekawa dojo. He took the higher faster route out of old habit and heard Tae's voice as he landed by the kitchen door.

"…sweaty all the time and you two were finally doing well together. I'm sure he'd appreciate it if you powdered your face for him once in a while."

"Our relationship isn't like that!" Kaoru was relieved when a customer came in distracting her best friend. Some best friend. What did Tae know about 'doing well together'? As if Kaoru had any good opportunities to give Kenshin the hakama she bought for him days ago. He spends the morning with Yahiko and the evening with Sano while she's either at the Jouetsukan or Maekawa dojos.

Kenshin gestured to Sano making sure he noticed the huge man that Tae served. Sano gestured back indicating that of course he recognized Whale Mouth, but the guy wasn't threatening anyone.

Tsubame was in the kitchen arranging various types of sushi on two trays and Yahiko went to the cellar for a jug of sake while they waited for the last customer to leave. Kaoru and Sano sat at the table closest to the kitchen. She was facing the entrance so Kenshin sat next to her when their idle chatter turned to Hikojiro and Satoshi.

"He spent most of his winnings on a western wedding ring." Sano rested both elbows on the back of the bench.

"It's good that her father let her have a choice instead of forcing her to marry his best friend's son." Kaoru didn't move over when Kenshin sat next to her.

"How is Megumi-san?" Kenshin changed the subject content that she stayed close because they spent no time together lately.

Sano shrugged "her and her brother are writing each other daily working on a cream to make skin soft. Aoshi gave them a packet of ingredients back in Kyoto, but so far they haven't come up with anything worth selling."

Kaoru nodded in agreement "He had a bucket full of packets and jars that he left with them the day I showed Megumi where the clinic is."

Tae set the warmed sake on the table looking at her hands "I'd pay good money for some of that cream."

"I think you'd have more use for the stuff that preserves meat." Sano poured sake into his saucer.

She decided to take that as a compliment and took a bit off his tab.

Kenshin wondered what the former Okashira was up to, but was distracted from asking when Kaoru poured a little sake for him carefully holding her kimono sleeve with her left hand to prevent exposing her wrist. She closely observed proper etiquette for a woman and had the chi of an honored swordsman just under the surface. He loved that about her…and the smile she gave him when he thanked her. Kenshin should have given her the obi already. There was no point in waiting.

Halfway home they heard a loud explosion and stopped. When Kenshin stated that it was an Armstrong cannon Sano put drunken Yahiko down "Are we going to check it out?"

"It was the wrong direction to be the dojo." Kenshin began walking again "We can look into it tomorrow."

"True." Kaoru agreed "There's nothing to be gained by running around now."

A few minutes later the emergency bells began ringing and Kaoru held Kenshin's sleeve when a number of police officers ran by.

"Himura-san!" The Chief of Police stopped.

"Chief Uramura, what happened?"

"It was cannon fire from Ueno-Yama. A restaurant called Akabeko was hit." He continued running toward the hill of ancient maples overlooking the commercial district.

Kenshin ran off followed closely by Sano. Kaoru tried to stop Yahiko because in his state he'd only get in the way. Kenshin and Sano arrived at the pile of rubble to find the Sekihara family and Tsubame were safe because unlike some merchants they had a separate house.

"Oh, Kaoru-chan" Tae cried at the devastation "This is so cruel."

Kaoru hugged a bawling Tsubame "I'm so glad no one was hurt."

"Kenshin-san and Sanosuke went to Ueno-Yama to see if the police found out who it was." Tae gave up trying to dry her tears.

Kaoru heard a policeman ask Sekihara-san if anyone held a grudge against him. When the officer conceded that a grudge was unlikely she thought of Kenshin's old enemies. So many men who survived the Bakumatsu held a grudge against him perhaps this attack wasn't supposed to be aimed at the Akabeko. "Tae-san, I'm going to take Tsubame home now and I'll be by tomorrow if there's anything I can do to help."

"There's no evidence that a cannon was mounted here."

Kenshin knelt by the stump of a huge old maple. "See this deep footprint? He probably dropped his back against the tree to take the recoil."

"It's possible he's big enough to fire an Armstrong over his shoulders, but how could he hit Akabeko in one shot?" Sano's eyes swept over shops in the distance.

"We can't assume he was by himself even though we followed him here the other night."

"So he was testing the range somehow? You were right; we should have stayed on him until he went back to the station."

"Himura-san, the criminal left a note." Chief Uramura handed a folded paper to him.

"Jinchu." Kenshin read the single word out loud.

"Did they mean 'tenchu'?" Sano was confused.

"Ishin Shishi hitokiri used 'tenchu' because heaven's justice lay in their hands." Kenshin gave the paper back.

"The term 'jinchu' means that this wasn't a judgment from the heavens, but a personal grudge." The chief put the note in his pocket "This isn't a weapon that any person can acquire and they aimed at the wrong part of town to attack the government. Did they have the wrong target, Himura-san?"

"I was there for some time this evening, but they waited until it could be safely assumed that the restaurant was empty."

"You won't be in the official report, but come by my office some time tomorrow with detailed descriptions so my men will know who to look for."

Sano waited until the two of them were alone halfway down the hillside before trying to console the one who least deserved this level of retribution "Kenshin-"

"Don't worry about it, Sano. I accept my past. As a most trusted friend there is one favor I'd like to ask of you."

"Just name it."

"If you ever come face to face with any of them don't aim for their weapons to make it a fair fight. Use your Mastery of Three Layers on whatever weak spot you can hit first."

Sano considered that for a moment imagining having to search for little Tsubame's body in the rubble. "No mercy."

"Sano, he didn't catch the last train to Yokohama."

"We've done guard duty all night before."