Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin...sorry.

So now we go on with the storyline. Sakura is willing to let Kenshin go for the better good...but what about the others?

Sakura sat up in bed, a week later, smiling, unlike almost anyone else except her brother. Even Shinta was troubled with the possibility of his uncle leaving. She had her reasons for smiling though: it didn't matter if her brother left for Kyoto or not, she would follow him, knowing the streets quite well, although not as well as him. She would be with her brother and distant love.

So with that in mind, she walked about, a soft smile on her face. Kaoru, Yahiko and Sano noticed her cheerful mood and thought it was even odder than Kenshin's. She stayed close to her brother, sensing that he had decided already on what to do. He stood and wiped his hands on his hakama. She stood with him, having had washed the laundry with him.

"Are you going now?" she asked, the calm look still on her face.

He nodded. "This one will be going to see Okubo. There are many things to talk about."

"All right, Nii-san. Please, stay out of trouble, and be safe on your journey." She put her arms around him, murmuring, "If you're leaving for Kyoto as I think you are, goodbye."

He held her back, whispering in her ear, "Nee-san, you are a comfort to this one, by accepting what this one does so readily. Thank you, and sayonara."

They let go, and he walked out of the dojo. Kaoru and Sano came running, but were already too late.

"Sakura-chan, wasn't Kenshin here just now?" Kaoru demanded, looking around frantically.

"Yes, he was. He just left to talk to Okubo-san. From what I'm expecting, he should be back around late nightfall." If at all, she added to herself.

"He didn't even tell us what his answer was!" Sano yelled.

"Sanosuke, he should be fine. If he wasn't, I would be worried," Sakura reasoned. Then again, they don't know Kenshin-nii as well as I do. Maybe I should tell them that he's going to leave…then again, I don't think so. They'd make sure he would stay for sure then. All I have to do is make preparations for the trip to Kyoto. It must be painful for Nii-san to go back to a place where so many memories lie, of him killing so many and the bloody streets. For me, it was a place where I was reunited again with him, where Shinta was born, and where I met Soji-kun and Saito-san. We both have different views, yet if I'm seen with my cross-shaped scar, I could be targeted by Shishio's men and killed. So I'll have to be careful.

By late afternoon she had herself packed and also for her son, as well. She didn't tell anyone what she was doing, but waited until morning to tell Shinta what had happened.

"Uncle Kenshin's gone to Kyoto?" he asked, eyes wide.

"Yes. We must follow him, to give him support. We can't just stay here."

"Great! When are we going?"

"Now."

Sakura tied her headband on and put on her coat. "I don't care if this attracts attention, I'm not letting these two gifts from Soji-kun go to waste. They might be a little threadbare, but they're in good condition otherwise. Come on, we'll walk there."

When they got on the main road leading to Kyoto, many people steered clear of them, because of the Shinsengumi coat Sakura wore. Murmurs of how she was defying the government and how brave she must be to display the colors of the famous Bakufu swordsmen were heard but ignored by the redheaded pair. It had been the same for ten years as they'd wandered, so they were used to it.

"Oka-chan, we've been walking for a week and nothing has happened," Shinta said one day, as they stopped for a small rest.

"Shinta, be patient. We'll probably meet Kenshin-nii in Kyoto. I know my way well enough around the city to probably guess where he could be staying. Not unless we get there first."

"I wouldn't be surprised if we did, since I'm sure he'll run into trouble along the way. He seems to naturally attract it."

"So, if I calculate correctly, I suppose by now he's around a day, maybe two, behind us. We've been unhindered thus far, and have made good time along the road, only stopping to rest at night. I think by now Kamiya-chan has regained her normal cheerfulness and is on her way to Kyoto with Yahiko. And, considering Sanosuke's lack of direction, he ought to be good and lost somewhere."

"So we're going to arrive first. Where are we going to stay, once we get there?"

"I know this inn that seemed pretty good when I crossed it ten years ago, called the Aoi-ya. We should stay there and search for Kenshin-nii during the day."

"Is it a good place?"

"Yeah, I think so. The people running it were friendly and the food was good. So let's head there!"

Is the heading she has intentional? Or is it just coincidence? Find out in the next chapter, of course!

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