I know I promised an update by the end of last week, but I'm on holiday (in south Africa! XD) and time is a little warped…I didn't even know it was the end of the week until mum told us to get ready for church on Saturday afternoon! O.o So I'm gonna be updating erratically, sometimes in the middle of the week. If I ever hve wifi...

"Um, Kaoru?"

"Yes, Kenshin?"

"What are we doing?"

Kaoru sighed and scanned the busy room in front of them. The Aoiya was extremely busy, especially since it was summertime and there were multitudes of tourists coming in and out of Maui. The whole set up was ideal for an undercover operations headquarters; as a hotel, the Aoiya served not only to house the Oniwaban's many spies that came and went, it also served as a hub for information, as well as a way to earn a steady stream of income and employment for off duty spies and ninjas.

Kaoru side stepped past a pair of red faced tourists, both wearing straw hats and floral shirts, scanning for a familiar bright-eyed girl. Kenshin followed, albeit a bit dubiously; it was his first time in public since his accident, and Kaoru found it was high time for him to be exposed to people again.

It was the day after her kidnapping and the transformation of Kenshin to the Battousai and back, and neither showed any physical damage from the night before. Sure, Kenshin got a few stares from people with his bright red hair, his violet eyes and bright pink t-shirt that proclaimed, 'Only real guys wear pink', but other than that, they walked through the crowd inconspicuously.

"We are looking for Misao to take you out to lunch." She answered, her bright blue eyes hungrily looking for the small ninja.

"Yes, I know that, but why are we here?"

Kaoru snorted. "This is where Misao works and lives, silly."

"Oh." He replied a bit unintelligently.

A bit of movement at the corner of her eye had Kaoru spinning around just in time to see Kenshin dodge a kick to the head.

"Dammit!" Misao stood seething, glaring at Kenshin. He mussed his hair a little, a small smile on his face. "Himura, you're too damned fast for your own good."

He grinned. Kaoru propped her hands on her hips and with a mock stern voice, reprimanded Misao. "What do you think people would think if they saw an employee attacking a customer?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

Misao shrugged, a bright smile on her face. "They'll probably think that we're crazy and it isn't worth staying here, in which case we wouldn't need their business anyways 'cause-" She lowered her voice into a whisper, "-that would mean they aren't Oniwaban spies or informants." She gave Kaoru a triumphant grin and Kaoru sighed, exasperated.

"Fine, you win."

"I know."

A shadow crossed Misao's face, and she scowled. "I can't come lunch with you guys. Gramps said I haven't been working much and he wants to pick up on the other's slack. It seems that with the 'death' of the Isshin Shishi's main assassin, the Shogunate has gained a lot of lost ground, and Aoshi still hasn't decided whether that is in the best interests of Japan. So he sent out a bunch of spies, leaving the Aoiya severely understaffed in the busiest time of the year…" She frowned, and worry was shown in her deep green eyes. "Aoshi is working himself too hard." She muttered, more to herself than to Kaoru and Kenshin.

Kaoru tried to keep the disappointment off her face. Having Misao's company at lunch would make it less awkward and more lively, especially as now she was the only girl going to lunch with everyone. Megumi was busy working in the hospital, and, with that realization, Kaoru realized she would have to pay for lunch as well. Sano couldn't be depended on to pay, and Yahiko...well, it was obvious why he wouldn't pay either. Kenshin was just as bad.

She sighed and dejectedly made her way out of the Aoiya, raising a hand in response to Misao's cheery good-byes.

Kenshin jogged to catch up with Kaoru, who was weaving through the crowd of tourists with an absent look on her face. "So, where are you taking me?" He asked, keeping his voice light. Anyone could sense her black mood.

She sighed, and with a great force of will, made her own voice light and her countenance more lighthearted. She smiled, actually excited at the prospect of eating of another's food that was not Kenshin's simple meals or her own devastating tries at cooking.

"The Akabeko." She replied. She lowered her voice slightly, so Kenshin had to lean in to hear her, as she whispered, "Yahiko's girlfriend works there." She giggled, and Kenshin stared at her, his mouth agape.

"Come again?"

Now Kaoru's giggle was a full-out laugh. "It is the cutest thing. Ever since he laid eyes on her, he has been smitten. She's quiet, like a mouse, but very sweet. Technically, they aren't together yet, but everyone knows that they are destined to be with each other sooner or later." She sighed wistfully. "If only everything was that easy."

Kenshin gave her a sidelong glance, and Kaoru blushed when she noticed Kenshin's violet orbs on her.

"You look nice today."

"As opposed to every other day?" She quipped back, and Kenshin stammered an excuse. Secretly Kaoru was beaming at his praise; it was with great care that she picked out her outfit. She was aware that the only things she dressed in since Kenshin was introduced into their life was shorts and tank tops, and at the prospect of leaving the house, Kaoru took the opportunity to dress differently. She was in a short, light blue dress, the thin straps showing off her bathing suit tan and her tanned arms. She allowed her hair to flow freely down her back and she looped a dark blue necklace around her neck. The necklace was her favorite thing about the whole outfit; it was comprised of various things that people would normally label as 'junk' but laced onto the string in such a haphazard way made it Kaoru's treasure. Not one of the items were the same, and they varied in size and material. Some were broken pieces of sea glass, others were discarded beads, beautiful in their imperfections, other pieces of metallic rocks and so on. A pair of strappy silver sandals finished the outfit.

She grinned at the red-faced Kenshin. "Thank you, Kenshin."

The Akabeko was a short walk from the Aoiya, strategically placed along a string of hotels and gaining a lot of business from the plethora of tourists that populated the hotels at all times of the years. It was a humble building, only two stories high in which the top floor was where Tae and Tsubame lived, and the simple look of it belied the quality of the food the Akabeko was famous for. It was one of the only restaurants that served not only traditional Japanese food, but also American food.

Before Kaoru and Kenshin entered the restaurant they were greeted by the tall brown-haired fist fighter.

"Oi, Kenshin, Kaoru! I was wondering if you would ever come!"

"And leave you to starve? Never." Retorted Kenshin, strangely more at ease with Sano than the day before. Kaoru couldn't help but smile at the two's camaraderie.

Kenshin looked around, noticing one was missing. "Where is Yahiko?"

"Little Yahiko!" Cried out a girl's voice, immediately followed by Yahiko's indignant voice.

"I told you not to call me little!"

The three looked at the source of the voices and Sano openly laughed at the sight. Yahiko was dressed in a frilly apron, his hair done in various pink bows and a scowl on his face.

A small girl was cowering at his elbow, and he sighed in her direction. "Tsubame, you shouldn't be so scared of me." He gently reminded her, his voice stern. She nodded.

Kaoru joined Sano in laughing at Yahiko's outfit, and she could see a smile twitching its way onto Kenshin's face. She nudged his side, and whispered, "You could laugh y'know. I always do whenever I see him."

"Why is he dressed like that?" He whispered back, a broad grin on his face.

"Tae dresses him like that." She shrugged. "I don't know why. He works here, by the way."

Kenshin nodded his understanding, and allowed a small laugh escape him. All three stopped at Yahiko's glower, but Sano was still grinning broadly. Kenshin and Kaoru at least had the decency to look contrite.

He was still glaring at them as he walked away, towing Tsubame behind him. As they entered the restaurant, they were greeted by a tall woman who bore little resemblance to her timid daughter. To survive in a competitive industry, one had to be tough. Tae's long brown hair was done up in a bun atop her head, and her brown eyes were stern but friendly.

"Ah, Kaoru." She greeted warmly. "I'll see if I can find y'all a booth." Her accent was slightly Texan, betraying her roots, and her manner was brisk.

She led them quickly to a small booth where they had to sit, not on chairs, but on the ground like a traditional Japanese restaurant. She handed them the menus (though they all knew what they wanted, excepting Kenshin, of course) and soon Yahiko joined them, rid of his bows and apron.

The next hour passed in a bubble of contentment for Kaoru. Despite having no female companions with her, she found she enjoyed herself greatly. She divided her time between berating both Sano and Yahiko for shoveling down their food as if they hadn't eaten for moths, to which they replied that eating her food wasn't eating, and being preoccupied with the feel of Kenshin's thigh on hers.

XxXxXxX

"What?" Tomoe's voice was soft, but it carried across the quiet room as sharply as a knife. The man before her, an unexceptional man of small stature and Japanese heritage, winced at her tone.

"I-I said that Kurogasa f-f-failed." He stuttered, hunching his shoulders in an attempt to make himself smaller in face of Tomoe's wrath.

"How is that even possible?" She screeched, throwing the nearest thing she could grab at the man. Luckily for him, it was simply a small vase that, coincidentally, was given to her by Kenshin on their second anniversary. To his credit, the man caught it unerringly. All in the Shogunate had been trained in various martial arts, even those that had to sit behind a desk all day like Tomoe.

He flinched when she continued to demolish her small office, throwing papers and the such on the floor in her fury. He inched out of the room, holding onto the small vase decorated with a white plum tree tightly. Before he could make his escape, a slightly crazed Tomoe stopped him.

"No, you stay here to give General Kiyosato that piece of...unfortunate...news." She brushed her long black hair back and calmly put it into a bun, seeming to have returned to her normal, emotionless self.

The man cautiously made his way before her and she fixed him in a dark stare. "Well, aren't you going to help me?"

At his confused expression, she gestured royally to the mess on the floor. He immediately dropped to his knees, quickly placing the vase on the desk, and gathered the scattered papers, pens and folders.

Unnoticed by him, Tomoe gently stroked the side of the vase, deep regret making her weak. She had not meant to lash out in her anger, especially using Kenshin's vase. Her face softened as she regarded the vase, her slim finger tracing the lines of the tree's branches. She loved this vase, even though she didn't love the man who gave it to her.

Or did she?

She shook her head to release it of these strange thoughts. The sooner I rid myself of Kenshin, the sooner these confusing emotions would disappear.

XxXxXxX

When Akira entered Tomoe's office fifteen minutes after, he was greeted by a stony faced woman and a visibly shaking man standing in the corner.

"What's wrong?" He asked, taking on the airs of the General he was instead of the secret lover of Lady Tomoe.

Tomoe gracefully inclined her head in the man's direction. "He has some news I am sure you would want to know."

Akira turned his dark brown eyes on the man, his expression stern. "Well, spit it out already."

The man gulped, and pulled nervously at the collar of his white button down. "Our spies have just given us the information that Kurogasa has failed in his mission." The man said, his voice shaking. He wasn't sure if the General's wrath was worse than the lady's and he knew he didn't want to be around if it was.

Instead of lashing out like Tomoe did, Akira instead placed both hands wearily on the desk and sighed, bowing his head. Never raising his head, he ordered, "Get out." The man scuttled out as quickly as he could.

Akira felt Tomoe move from her place behind her desk to behind him, and she wrapped her arms around him. She placed her forehead against his back, lending him support by her presence alone.

"Let's move to Australia." She joked, her voice muffled against his back. However, when he turned around to face her, her dark eyes were serious and grave.

"I think that the time has come to do the job ourselves."

She nodded. "That is exactly what I was thinking too. 'If you want a job done right, do it yourself', isn't that how the saying goes?"

Akira nodded, his mind already on preparations he may need to make to ensure the Battousai's death. A vague plan was forming in his mind, and he looked at Tomoe unhappily.

"I have to use you to pull it off."

She nodded. "I know."

XxXxXxX

Kaoru was now paying the bill and seeming rather chipper about it too, when Misao burst into the Akabeko.

"Why, hallo Misao." Greeted Tae, but Misao rushed past without a word. Breathless, she stood before Kaoru, hands on knees, trying to regain her breath.

"Misao, you don't have to rush everywhere you go." Said the older girl, a fond smile on her face.

"Builds...stamina…" She gasped out, then shook her head. "Where is Himura?"

Kenshin appeared at Kaoru's side, Sano following with a fish bone in his mouth. Yahiko was making his way back to the kitchens to re-adorn the apron and horrid ribbons.

Misao looked around the bustling restaurant, and yanked Kenshin's hand, leading him outside to a more private place. Kaoru and Sano followed curiously.

When they had finally exited through the kitchens, Misao lowered her voice into a whisper. The three had to lean in to hear her.

"Aoshi has just intercepted a Shogunate spy who just gave information to the General of their forces." They all shrugged; what did that have to do with them?

Misao looked at them expectedly, but when it was obvious that they didn't really know where this was going, she threw her hands into the air. "Important information." She stressed.

"And…?" Elaborated Kaoru, her dark eyebrows raised. Sano leaned against the side of the building, looking to all the world lazy and disinterested, but his eyes spoke a different story. They were alert and watching the small girl with an unwavering stare.

Misao rolled her bright green eyes. "The spy just told General Kiyosato that Kurogasa failed in his mission. His mission to kill Kenshin."

At that, Kaoru's eyes widened while Kenshin's narrowed, flecks of amber appearing in his violet eyes. Sano stayed the way he was. Finally satisfied by their response, Misao rocked back on her heels and folded her arms across her stomach.

"What else?" Sano's voice was emotionless and commanding; it was obvious that he was serious. And for him, his work in the Oniwaban was serious. It was the only way he could help his father, and he relished in it.

Misao also became more serious. "It seems that, while the Isshin Shishi is oblivious to Kenshin's presence, the Shogunate aren't. They decided to take advantage of his memory loss to get rid of him."

Kaoru looked at Kenshin, her cerulean eyes wide with worry. "Kenshin, you have to return to the Isshin Shishi. For your own protection." And even though her heart squeezed painfully as she said it, she made her tone firm.

However, he was shaking his head. "I'll not return. I don't want to be a hitokiri any longer; I have finally found a small measure of peace and I'm not willing to let it go so easily."

"But the Shogunate…" Protested Kaoru weakly.

"Will come whether I am here or in Japan." He replied calmly. Kaoru looked to be on the verge of tears, and his gaze softened. "Shh, it's alright. I prefer it here." He then reached for her and she gratefully fell into his embrace, burying her face into his chest.

The necklace described is based on a necklace I bought recently, and I love it :] it's so different than all other kind of jewelry I've seen and so unique...it was next to a set of necklaces like it but none were exactly the same. The materials were different and colors...but the theme was the same.

This was mainly a chap to show that the three (Kenshin, Kaoru and Sano) were getting closer as friends...a filler chapter. Also to introduce the Aoiya, Akabeko and Tae and Tsubame, as these places and people were featured quite a few times in the series and manga.

And I dunno what was wrong with me tdy, but the past 3 chaps I've written for my stories have been just under or a lil over 3000 words O.o

Any thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? Like it? Hate it? Love it?

R.e.v.i.e.w.

Please?

;]