A/N: Sequel to "Tea" – sorry for the delay!!

Standard disclaimers apply.


092: Destiny (changed)

Kaoru didn't see Kenshin until almost three weeks later. Spring was coming to an end and the heat of summer was beginning to warm the streets of Kyoto. Conversely, the times were getting darker – the revolution was getting bloodier and more people were suffering. The okiya was beginning the feel its effects as well – it wasn't earning as much money as before.

She had just about given up on seeing him again when she felt someone gently grasp her wrist while she was on her way back from rehearsal.

"Himura-san!" she whispered, her eyes widening.

He stared at her with a blank expression before something dawned on him. "Tomoe-dono has not told you then."

His voice sounded even better than she remembered. "What…" Then she realized what he meant. "You came to see me?" she asked, her heart elevating.

"Of course, didn't I make a promise?" He gave her a small smile. "But you haven't been home – you have lessons most of the day."

She nodded. "Yes – I'm in a dance – I have a solo."

"Congratulations."

She smiled. "Thank you."

The two walked in silence, the bustling streets filling in their pause in conversation. She looked at him from the corner of her eye, sadly noting that his red hair was mostly covered by a straw hat. He also seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"Do you normally walk the streets during the day?"

He shook his head. "Not so much. This is actually quite a risk – no one is supposed to know of my existence."

"A slayer of the shadows,"

A wry smile came upon his face. "So poetic, spoken like a true artist." They fell back into silence until he whispered, "Times have been bad. We think there might be a traitor within our group. Information has been leaking…"

Her eyes widened. "That's horrible! What will you do?"

"There's nothing Katsura-san can do as of now…but we must all be on our toes."

She sighed. "Yes, we must follow the path that was set before us, follow our superiors."

He looked down at the cobble-stoned street. "Until there is peace."

They stopped in front her okiya. She didn't even realize that they were in front of it until he said, "Goodbye, Kaoru-dono, I hope to see you soon, but I can't make any promises – these times are hard."

She nodded, sadness clutching her heart. "I wish you well." She whispered.

In the blink of an eye, he blended himself within the bustling crowd.


Tomoe and Kaoru had their second appointment with Katsura's faction late on the night of July eighth. Supposedly they were to have an important meeting before allowing themselves to relax with geisha. However, while Kaoru and Tomoe were on the way to the Ikedaya, they heard yells and screams coming from the inn.

Kaoru's heart froze with fear as she saw samurai dressed in white and blue march toward them, coming out of the inn covered in blood. The Shinsengumi.

Tomoe grabbed Kaoru's arm tightly and ran into a crowd of people that had begun to line themselves along the street. Tomoe was shaking as they watched them walk through the street with pride.

Only Kaoru's hands were shaking. Was Kenshin in the Ikedaya? Was he okay? Was he alive?

"Kaoru-dono." A voice whispered in her ear.

She whipped her head to find Kenshin wearing the same hat she saw him in before, his eyes full of grief and frustration.

"Kenshin! You're alive!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. He froze before awkwardly patting her back. Blushing, she pulled away and looked down at her feet. From the corner of her eye she saw Tomoe stare at her with a hard expression.

He bowed to Tomoe. "Tomoe-dono."

She bowed as well. "Himura-san. I see you missed the bloodshed, you're fortunate. Do you know if there were survivors?" She asked a bit coldly.

Kenshin frowned a little. "Katsura-san managed to escape…but others were not so lucky." He lowered his head, his bangs covering his eyes. "You two are very fortunate as well – you were not inside."

Kaoru tried to swallow through her tight throat. "What will happen now?"

Tomoe put a hand on Kaoru's shoulder. "That is not our concern, Kaoru-chan." She said before bowing to Kenshin. "Goodnight Himura-san. Give Katsura-san my relief of his survival."

He nodded before looking up at the Shinsengumi, glaring at one in particular. "I suggest not involving yourself with us – it could result in your death."

Kaoru's heart plummeted. "Goodbye Kenshin."

He looked at her and gave her a weak smile before lowering the tip of his hat down to hide his face in its shadows. For the second time he disappeared before her eyes.


"Kaoru! What did I tell you the first night you met him?" Tomoe exclaimed as soon as they entered their okiya.

Kaoru bit her painted bottom lip. "Geisha are not permitted to pursue their emotions."

"You know it, but clearly you don't respect it! You are not free to love!"

Kaoru narrowed her eyes. "I know! I don't love him! I barely know him!" She said rather rudely.

Tomoe laughed coldly. "Your behavior said otherwise! It was disgraceful – and in public too! It was embarrassing!"

Kaoru flushed. "That was scary back there! I was worried about the entire clan – I was glad that at least one person survived!"

Tomoe walked up to Kaoru until they were a foot apart. "Your destiny is sealed – your life is about entertaining others! You live in the willow world where everything is beautiful and nothing is substantial."

"I don't want to be like that! I don't want to live my life that way!" Kaoru cried, tears falling from her eyes.

Tomoe stared at her protégé. "My dear sister…this is the way of a geisha…it's best you close off your emotions and forget your personal wants. I've done this and so can you."

Kaoru walked up the stairs and stared down at Tomoe from the balcony. "I used to want to be like you – elegant, charming, sophisticated…the perfect geisha. But times have changed – war is suffocating the streets and people are dying all around us. Who knows if this revolution falls through that we will be around?" Kaoru shook her head. "Houses are being burned throughout the country, what if our street is next?" With that, she turned on her heel and slammed her shoji shut.

After that night, the two regarded each other with an obvious coldness. What added to it was the fact that business was growing steadily worse – nobody had the time, money, or desire to be entertained anymore.

All the same, Kaoru continued to practice her dances and her instruments all day and into the night when she and Tomoe had no appointments. A few weeks after the Ikedaya incident, she was going over a complicated trick with her fans when she heard a tap on the floor. With a scream lodged in her throat she saw Kenshin standing by the window, a finger to his lips.

"Kenshin? Wh-what are you doing here? It's almost dark! If you're caught –" She stopped herself from continuing when she saw his grave face.

"Come with me." he whispered.

She stared at him for a few moments before choking out, "where?"

He shook his head. "Katsura-san is on the run as we speak – I have to lie low until given further instructions. Please…" He walked over to her so he was standing a few feet away. "Kyoto is not safe – half the city will burn within the year – I fear for your safety. The life of a geisha is no longer beneficial for you now."

She looked down at the floor. "I know…but I can't just leave! I owe my okaa-san…and my onee-san. How could I just leave them after everything they've done for me?"

"Go, Kaoru-chan."

Kenshin and Kaoru whipped their heads to find Tomoe by the half-open shoji. She was staring at Kaoru with a resigned expression.

"T-Tomoe?" Tears were forming in Kaoru's eyes.

"There's no future as a geisha here." Tomoe said in a soft voice.

"But what about you? And okaa-san?"

Tomoe gave her a sad smile. "I gave up…everything…to become a geisha…including one very dear to me. Since this war is destroying everything…my future is gone." She then looked over to Kenshin and said, "But you can still live your life. You still have another option."

Tears spilled over onto Kaoru's cheeks. Tomoe walked over to Kaoru and wiped them away. "Hush, everything will be fine. Okaa-san is immortal – she can never die." Kaoru laughed at this – agreeing. Their okaa-san had seemingly seen and been through everything imaginable. "And I'll be okay, no matter what happens."

Kenshin bowed deeply. "Thank you Tomoe-dono."

"Protect my little sister and love her well." Tomoe said, bowing back.

"Well? What're you doing standing around Kaoru-chan? Get packing! I doubt you wish to spend the rest of your days in the same kimono!" Tomoe said, clapping her hands.

Kaoru whisked to the corner of her room and began packing, her mind buzzing. She had no idea what the future will bring, but she was sure that destiny will manage to reunite them in happier times.


A/N: Eh, what the hell, I'll write a third one. Sorry again for this delay – spring break is coming up soon so I'll have more time to write :)

Please review!

MissGoalie