TrisakAminawn: Assuming I'm capable of basic math Kenji is 16/17 at this point, so yeah, embarrassing.

RavenWolfmoon: I forgot to address some confusion you brought up a couple of chapters ago. When Sanosuke is reunited with Yahiko/Tsubame/Kaoru and says "I can't believe you told your son I was dead!" I meant for him to be addressing Yahiko. Shinya's right there so it's not as weird.

Thanks so much to all of the reviewers once again! This one's longer for you! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: You know…

Otousan's Lies

Chapter Twenty-One: Stranger in the Doorway

Kaoru awoke nauseated and nervous that morning; she usually did anymore. A nightmare about Kenji hadn't been what chased her out of unconsciousness this time, though, and with relief and joy tainted slightly by disappointment she recognized that the futon was warmer than it had been in several nights. Smiling softly, sadly, she opened her eyes to the welcome face of her husband. He was breathing deeply, eyes closed, mouth slightly open.

"Welcome home," she whispered, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead; he didn't stir. She hadn't seen him look this painfully exhausted in a very long time. He hadn't woken her up when he came in, which meant it had been a Kenji-less return trip once again. She'd wanted so badly to go with him, to help him, but with his sweet and comforting smile he'd assured her that the school needed her, kindly leaving out the fact that he would be able to search more efficiently without her anyway. He didn't need to; she knew. At least he still stopped in every once in a while to rest, check if she'd heard anything, and let her see that he was still okay. But he'd been gone a lot longer this time.

She rose quietly, deciding the least he deserved when he finally got up was some breakfast. She slid the fusama shut silently behind her, and her fingers brushed achingly across Kenji's long unused one as she passed it. She stopped, blinked, and rapidly shook her head.

Her mind was just playing tricks on her. For a second it had looked like the door was open, just a fraction, but there was no way . . . she turned her head back with slow caution.

A sob rose in her throat and she suddenly felt a little lightheaded—it was! But she or Kenshin or one of the students may have just bumped it, and the wind had been particularly strong lately as well, maybe it had been open the whole time.

She bit her tongue to keep from screaming; there was definitely someone breathing on the other side. She flung the fusama open with ecstatic enthusiasm—and her elation instantly deflated.

Why was there brown hair fanning out across the pillow?

"Wow," the figure groaned, squinting tiredly up at her, "don't look so happy to see me." She frowned, trying to swallow her shock as she glanced around for a weapon.

"Jou-chan."

Oh right. She smiled guiltily. "Sorry Sanosuke," the smile faded a degree, "I guess I didn't tell you that was Kenji's room . . ." there was an awkward pause, "I'll go make breakfast."

Sano sat up and stretched, then glanced up at Kenshin, who had wandered out to see who his wife was talking to. The redhead looked at him; blinked, glanced at the retreating Kaoru, then back at Sano. A few more moments of a blank stare.

"Do I know you?"

Sano's jaw dropped in only half-feigned offense. How dare him—

"I can't believe you! I know I was gone a long time but—"

"Eighteen whole years," Kenshin interrupted with a smile. He extended a hand to help Sano up. "Welcome back, old friend. You've been missed."

Sano grinned as he rose and then nodded in the direction Kaoru was headed, raising his eyebrows.

"You and Kaoru sure have been busy," he said, elbowing Kenshin. "How many more little scamps have you got running around here—"

He saw Kaoru's ears redden. Kenshin smiled dryly.

"You haven't changed at all."

"I grew a beard."

"You should probably get rid of it; you'll frighten the children."

"I knew it—hey!"

"No Sano, just Kenji."

Kaoru was out of earshot now, and Sano dropped his grin.

"You know he's back."

Kenshin nodded with an unsettled frown. "Yes."

"You didn't tell her?"

"He wanted me to wait; I think he needs some time to think first."

Sanosuke nodded for a moment, that was the very reason he hadn't mentioned anything, then realized what Kenshin had just said and whipped his head around to stare at him disbelievingly.

"Hang on; he's already talked to you? I thought after that he'd definitely—"

"You've seen him? Don't tell me you're the fourth person they've been traveling with . . ."

Sano grimaced nervously. "I met up with them in Osaka. I did convince them to come to Tokyo though . . . you're welcome?"

Kenshin looked suddenly frantic. "Was Asuka with you?"

"What? You know her?"

"Yes, is she all right? Kenji didn't say."

"Are you kidding me? She wanted to kill you!"

"I know, that's not the point."

"You know!"

"Well yes—"

And then Sanosuke remembered; this was Kenshin he was talking to. He'd forgotten what this was like while traipsing around the world for nearly two decades. This little corner of the planet was different. Of course Kenshin was worried about the girl that had probably tried to murder him.

"Of course . . ."

"What?"

"Nothing Kenshin," he patted his friend on the back, "she's fine."

"Breakfast," Kenji muttered bleakly as he threw their meal down in front of Asuka, who remained staring wistfully out the window. "Breakfast," he repeated, "hey ookami-musume—"

Her weary gaze rolled over to greet his. "Been awhile since you used that one." He stared back blankly. "What?" she asked.

"You know, this is where you start verbally abusing me . . ."

That actually cracked a smile, the first one he'd seen on her in days. "Sorry Kenji, I guess I'm just not in the mood right now. I'll miss those, though."

Kenji groaned and threw down his chopsticks. "Asuka, we've been through this. It won't be as effective if we look for Toru separately—"

"But you're going back now. I agreed to come to Tokyo since he's probably here, but I never said I'd go back to that dojo with you. Besides," she added, grinning at him playfully, "if you bring a girl home with you what will the neighbors think?" He responded with a stare severely lacking in amusement.

"Then stay with Yahiko and Tsubame."

"Great idea! I'll just walk in and say 'hey, remember me? I almost died in your house that one time? No?'"

"Asuka—"

"No, you're missing the point, Kenji. How many times do I have to remind you that I tried to kill your parents? I can't go back there at all."

Oddly, that excuse seemed almost laughable to Kenji after the information he'd gleaned from his father. "So did Sanosuke," he blurted. "Well, just my father, but still. Aoshi too. And Saitou or Fujita or whatever his real name is has wanted to off my father since the revolution. I don't think they're on the greatest terms, but—"

He paused to gauge her reaction; she suddenly looked ashen.

"It's Saitou," she muttered miserably.

Right . . .

"Look, I was there too; at least you're not their kid. Obviously it's not going to be easy, but I need you there to help find Toru and keep all of them safe. And—" he stopped, his face reddening as a twitchy frown took over.

"What?"

"It's just—he almost killed you once, Asuka, and if you're on your own that could happen again, and I—don't . . . want it to . . ."

He was glaring at her in offended horror seconds later. She had snorted at him. Actually snorted.

"Is this your protective side Kenji?" she asked when her laughter had subsided long enough to allow her to properly breathe, "because it's absolutely precious."

His eyes grew wider and his face turned redder. "Shut up, stupid ookami! I just meant it would be inconvenient if—"

"She's right Kenji, that was adorable."

"What the—SHUT IT, KATSU!"

Kaoru's bristling glare was beginning to unnerve Sano. He hadn't missed this.

She was too astute not to realize they both knew something she didn't, too used to it. Sanosuke had come close several times to just telling her, but that would surely send her on an instant manhunt and he knew Kenshin didn't want to do anything that would scare Kenji away.

Still, she was beginning to look menacing with that sword, even if it was only a bokken. He pitied the frightened-looking students scampering around their sensei in hopes that they didn't catch a random strike from that thing.

"Why is she so angry?" one of the younger students whispered, shifting nervously. "She's reminding me of Kenji-san."

That lesson ended abruptly. Sano didn't watch the grateful kids scurry out; instead his eyes were focused on Kaoru, who had dropped her bokken as her head fell languidly back so she faced the ceiling. He frowned.

"He'll come back, Jou-chan."

Her head snapped back up and she turned on him furiously, her ireful eyes making him shrink a little bit. "Don't patronize me, Sanosuke. You brought Shinya back; I know you've seen him. If he were coming back too he would have already." She snatched up her bokken and slammed the shoji shut, leaving him to stare blankly.

An hour later she still stood in the now clean training hall. Kenshin would probably be calling for dinner soon. Sanosuke would be there, and Yahiko and Tsubame were coming over, Shinya with them . . .

Her hand slipped from Kenji's name on the wall and her face fell. Was it selfish to be angry because she hadn't gotten her son back? Was it wrong that she could feel tears coming on when tonight was about celebrating the reunion with Shinya and Sanosuke?

The door slid open and there were footsteps behind her, and silence. She couldn't turn around, she didn't want Kenshin to see her like this; he'd probably just feel guilty. Of course, it had to be obvious that she was crying; otherwise he wouldn't have awkwardly paused upon seeing her. "Sorry," she murmured, "I'll be there in a minute. Is Yahiko here already?"

Still silence, though she heard the rap of nervous fingers against the door. Finally a quiet voice.

"He's here. Are you almost ready?" Kenshin said; she was having difficulty discerning the tone of his voice. She glanced over her shoulder and arched an eyebrow at the raven-haired man standing next to him, who promptly muttered something vulgar.

"Look, she's already crying!"

"She'll be angry soon enough," she heard Sano say from somewhere outside, and both her husband and his companion smiled nervously, the stranger obviously more so. She turned fully around, glaring at them in frustrated confusion but stepping forward to welcome her husband's guest.

"Um, it's been awhile . . ." the man who was apparently actually a boy said uncomfortably as she approached. He glanced at Kenshin with a baffled look on his face when she said nothing.

"The light is in her eyes?" Kenshin suggested.

Kaoru stopped a few feet from them, now thoroughly annoyed and wondering what on earth was going on. Was she supposed to know this scrawny, rude little—?

His nervous gaze shifted from his father back to her. She stared back for a moment, appraising, blinking away the teary blurriness of her eyes. The boy smiled weakly.

It can't be . . .

She inhaled violently. He was taller than Kenji, thinner, darker, and had an entirely different hair color, but those eyes . . .

She lunged at her son, furious tears burning red tracks down her cheeks.

"YOU!" she shrieked, her voice cracking as she gasped for breath, "you—" She let go of his gi, stared for a few moments into his hard but repentant expression. Then she punched him in the face.

Sano took a moment to step back and observe the scene before him. There was Kenji, on his butt and holding his nose as he cussed at his mother, and Kaoru, unapologetic but sobbing, trying to be angry but grinning like an idiot and repeating his name joyfully. And then there was Kenshin, who seemed quite at a loss of what to do, though he seemed unbothered by that fact. He caught Kenji's eye over his wife's head (as she was now hugging/smothering him) and smiled; Sano was more than mildly shocked to see Kenji nod and half-smile back.

Seriously? This family would be the death of him.