Author's Note: Kaoru spends an evening alone.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Story 21, Alone with Her Thoughts

It was around five o'clock in the evening when Kaoru entered the kitchen to complete silence, for the first time in months. Kaoru sighed and went to the cabinets to grab a few items and placed them on the counter. It would be just her tonight and Kaoru wanted to make some miso soup. 'Something simple will do. It's rare for me to have some time for myself.'

Kaoru placed the ingredients out on the counter and began to heat the pot with daishi, and prepared the other items. The tofu still smelt good and there was enough miso paste to last several more pots. As Kaoru cooked the soup, she could not help but listen to the quiet sounds within the dojo. 'It's been so long since it was just me.'

Kenshin and Sanosuke were off on a case for the local police, Yahiko was at work, and Megumi was busy at the clinic. 'Everyone has something to do this evening but me. I wish there was something to keep myself occupied.'

Kaoru had thought about numerous things to herself busy. She had already trained at other dojos today and cleaning up around the home was not very appealing. Kaoru sighed. 'Maybe I should just relax this evening. With all the quiet I should just enjoy.'

Suddenly, Kaoru smelt something burning and looked down to find that the soup was over boiling. She gave a yelp and quickly lowered the heat then removed the pot from the fire. 'That was close.'

Kaoru grabbed a ladle and poured the soup into a bowl. After giving thanks to the meal, Kaoru took a spoon, blew on the hot liquid to cool, and then slurped the soup. Upon the taste, she had a disgusted look on her face. All she could taste was burnt liquid and slightly sour tofu.

'My nose must be betraying me. That tofu must have been on the verge of rotting. Good thing that was the last of it.'

Unable to eat the soup, Kaoru pushed it aside and decided to have some rice and fruit. 'Luckily there is still some rice left over. Who cares if it's cold.'

Kaoru finished her bowl of rice and an apple before cleaning up the dishes and putting them away. She left the kitchen and was met with the pretty colors of a sunset. 'It will get dark soon and the bath will take forever to make.' Kaoru sighed and turned to the bath house and pictured an image of Kenshin bent down as he stoked a fire for the bath. She could see him now stoking the flames and making sure the temperature was just right for her.

Kaoru smiled. 'I'm spoiled by that man. He does so much around the dojo with little complaint. Even when he gets the groceries and the yoke is too heavy. I really shouldn't buy everything at once and give his shoulders a break.'

Kaoru chuckled as she thought about Kenshin and her in town picking up the groceries. He always gave a small smile to her with a hint of a sarcastic remark about the heaviness of the buckets. Despite his pleasant demeanor, Kenshin could always be a bit sarcastic in his ways and provide a surprising blunt humor.

'I hope he and Sano are okay though. The case didn't sound dangerous but knowing those two they are likely to come home injured in some way.'

Kaoru sighed at the thought. The last time Kenshin and Sanosuke came home from a case, both had been bruised and slightly bloody. Kenshin had a cut shoulder and a small dark bruise appearing on the right side of his cheek. Sanosuke on the other hand had bruises all over his chest and a bloody forehead. Kaoru had yelled at him for being careless and tended to his and Kenshin's wounds before taking them to the clinic.

'Sanosuke is always pushing himself harder than anyone else. It must be the fighter in him.' While Kaoru disliked Sanosuke's freeloading, she had deep respect and appreciation for her friend. He was a loyal person and one that Kenshin had great trust in. 'I trust him too.'

Leaving her thoughts behind, Kaoru left the kitchen to her bedroom to grab a yukata. 'I could at least wash up a bit.'

After she finished washing up, Kaoru changed into her purple yukata and began to braid her hair while looking at the clock. 'It's only seven-thirty. Seems strange to be getting ready for bed this early.'

After finishing the last of her braid, Kaoru tied the end with a small band and got up from her seating position on the floor. 'It will be a while before Yahiko comes home. Around ten and I still have no clue how to occupy myself.'

Kaoru sighed and turned to find a yellow gi with black spots adorning the fabric, and lying on top of a small box. 'Yahiko's gi. That's right I need to sew it.'

Kaosu walked over and grabbed the gi and small box then headed outside to sit on the porch with the items. She unfolded the gi and inspected the tear that needed to be sewed and mended. It had been torn during a recent training session when Yahiko had thrusted his shinai little too hard, resulting in a rip. He had been angry and agitated by the tear, not understanding why it happened.

Kaoru believed it was simply the worn out fabric. 'He's had this gi forever. I can't remember the last time I purchased a new one for him.' She smiled and lay the torn area out in her lap then grabbed some yellow thread and a needle. 'This will look brand new once I'm finished.'

After getting the needle and thread ready, Kaoru began to sew up the tear and paid careful attention to make sure it was well mended. As she sewed up the tear, Kaoru thought about Yahiko and how much he was growing. 'It seems like only yesterday that he was a small kid with no skills. Only ambition to be stronger.'

When Kaoru thought of Yahiko, she was more and more impressed at how far his skills had come. He was getting stronger each day and growing taller as well. 'There was a time when he could barely reach my chin, now he's near my nose. Perhaps the tear is because of his growing instead.'

Kaoru continued to hum as she completed the last of the threads and closed up the final opening before tightening it. Then she knotted the end of the thread tightly and sniped the remaining loose pieces. Kaoru placed the needle in the box and then opened up the gi to inspect her work.

'Perfect! This is as good as new! Though I might have to get Yahiko another one given his growth.'

As Kaoru placed the gi down, she looked up at the sky to find it becoming darker. She would soon have to light a candle or the lantern to guide her around the dojo. It seemed strange for her to be alone in the dark now that she had everyone staying with her.

'I remember those nights when father left for war. I'd been so nervous that I couldn't sleep the first several nights.'

Kaoru recalled her restlessness at each sound or creak. Even the wind had startled her as she lay in the futon. Eventually she found her pattern and could sleep better once she got use to the silence or noises. Then her father died and Kaoru felt truly alone for the first time in her life. Her mother was gone and now her father. She was an orphan with property but no family except for the small one she had formed with Tae and Dr. Genzai.

'Now I find myself alone again tonight. It's only for the one night but it brings back memories I wish to forget.' Kaoru sighed and decided to get up from the porch. She placed the items away and went to the kitchen for some tea. As the kettle began to boil, Kaoru thought about the silent evening once more. 'I hate being alone. I should be enjoying my independence and this brief solitude but in truth I feel sad when I'm lonely.'

Once the kettle finished boiling, Kaoru poured the hot liquid into the cup and steeped the tea, careful to brew it correctly. She was missing the evenings when she would take tea or some beverage with the others. Sit on the porch and just enjoy each other's company. 'I can't believe how much I'm missing them already. I must be really spoiled by their presence.'

As Kaoru sat on the porch, hot cup of tea in hand, she looked up to the sky and sipped the hot liquid only to open her mouth and flap her hand in front of her mouth. "Too hot! Too hot!"

Kaoru felt foolish then and sighed at her behavior. "Why didn't I blow on the liquid to cool it? Ugh! If Megumi were here she would tease me to no end."

As Kaoru allowed her mouth and tea to cool, she thought about the young doctor and her teasing personality. Megumi Takani was a talented doctor with a bright career ahead of her and could handle and heal any patient. At times Kaoru felt jealous of Megumi who was beautiful, witty, and walked with elegance. However, there was a deep admiration for Megumi from Kaoru.

'She works very hard at being a doctor which is already stressful. She can handle herself well in any situation and there's no one else besides Dr. Genzai I could trust to heal our friends and myself.' Kaoru sipped her tea and looked to the sky. 'Megumi has also been alone for a long time. Maybe one day she'll find her family.'

Suddenly, the front gate opened and Yahiko came in to the front yard, a shinai strapped to his back. "Hey Kaoru!"

"Yahiko what are you doing home? Is it ten already?"

"No. I left early so I could get a better sleep tonight. I want to train early in the morning to keep up with my strength."

Kaoru smiled. 'Always thinking like a swordsman.'

"Hello! We are home that we are!"

Kaoru's smile grew wider when she saw Kenshin and Sanosuke entering through the front door and walking towards her and Yahiko.

"Good evening Miss Kaoru. Sano and I have returned that we have."

"I'm glad. How was your case?"

Sanosuke huffed. "Hardly a challenge. I can't believe how weak some people have become. Does anyone know how to fight anymore?"

Kaoru looked at Sanosuke from head to toe only to laugh.

Sanosuke's ears perked up and his head turned to her. "What's so funny Missy?"

"Sano you have a black eye that's darkening."

Sanosuke huffed and crossed his arms in front of him. "A guy got a lucky punch that's all. Kenshin has a tear in his pant leg."

"Oro?!"

Kaoru looked down at Kenshin's left leg and sure enough there was a tear but thankfully no blood. "Someone nearly got you."

Kenshin smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, sometimes it happens."

"Oh dear, it looks like I was not invited to a get together."

Everyone turned to find Megumi by the front gate and entering into the front yard with a medicine box. "Does anyone need to be patched up?"

Kaoru smiled. "Right on time Megumi. Sano and Kenshin could use a patch up."

Megumi looked the two over but could see that Sanosuke would need more tending. "Again rooster. I swear that if I you were paying me for treatment I could retire early."

Everyone laughed and soon more chatter began to fill the yard. As Kaoru sipped her tea, she looked over at all her friends who had become like her family. 'Life seems strange when I think about it. I have a new family in a wanderer, a street fighter, a student, and a doctor. I have Tae, Tsubame, Dr. Genzai, and Misao too. I have to be the luckiest girl in Japan.' Kaoru sipped her tea as she watched everyone quiet down and Megumi tend to Sanosuke's eye. 'Alone time can be nice, but I'll take this happy noise anytime.'

End

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