co·op·er·a·tion | \ (ˌ)kō-ˌä-pə-ˈrā-shən:

1. an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action

2. the association of persons or businesses for common, usually economic, benefit

Chapter 2: Unexpected Changes

September 19th

Kaoru glanced at the wall clock, rushing through last minute chores when she realized it was almost ten o'clock. After making sure all her students had left and the dojo was clean, Kaoru turned on the alarm and locked the entrance. Outside the walled fence, she tugged on the gate a few times to make sure it was secure before heading down the street to the corner market to get a pouch of loose green tea leaves that were Aoshi's favorite. With the peace offering in hand, she walked the two blocks to her friend's apartment, climbed the stairs to the second floor, and knocked on his door.

Aoshi answered and allowed her inside. The tiny one room studio was spartan and neat without a shoe out of place. His futon was in the far corner next to the door leading to the bathroom, and there was a tiny circular dining table, and a small couch he had bought second-hand when he moved in. Two pictures hung on the wall: one of his friends and one of her and Aoshi posing with their parents long ago. That was all the personal effects he allowed to be shown. Kaoru glanced around to make sure everything looked the same as it had a month ago before turning her attention to him.

He raised his brows at her, catching the look-over. "Are you satisfied there's nothing abnormal here?" he asked.

Kaoru scowled and shoved the bag at his chest. She could just tell by the tone in his voice that something was going on. "Not in the slightest. Get to making the tea and I'll set the leftovers out." She had bundled up some food for Hiko to take home - wherever home was for the master - and asked Aoshi to take the remainder to his place for their dinner.

Lips thinning in annoyance, Aoshi opened his mouth, then abruptly spun around to march to his kitchenette.

She felt bad about acting so high-handed, but it had to be done. Very few people could make Aoshi respond, and Kaoru was one of them. He disliked it, and Kaoru knew it was only their long history that he put up with her. Perhaps it was wrong to use their relationship to force him to talk, but if she didn't, Aoshi would retreat further and further inside himself until no one and nothing could make him come out. Kaoru had seen this happen years ago, and Aoshi had barely survived. She would not let it get so bad again, not if she could help it.

So holding back a sigh, Kaoru headed to the kitchen where she walked around Aoshi to take out plates and chopsticks and cups. The appetizers were microwaved until warm, and the soup was reheated on the small stovetop before being divided into two bowls. The small kitchenette barely held Aoshi so Kaoru had to constantly move around him to get everything done, but they had done this dance many times before and it was almost second nature to them.

They finally sat down to eat, murmuring thanks for the food before diving in. Silence reigned as they chewed without talking until most of the platters were empty. Kaoru had not been joking when she told Himura she tended to get hungry. Aoshi was no exception to that rule either, after a long night of teaching classes.

Kaoru pushed her plate away and took one last sip of tea, savoring the warmth and full-bodied flavor on her tongue. When she swallowed, she noticed Aoshi watching her, his shoulders rigid. She sighed and set her cup down. Had he even enjoyed his meal or had he been so worried about their conversation he barely tasted the rich food? "So are you going to explain, or are you going to make me beg?"

Aoshi stared down at his plate as if contemplating his choices. Kaoru waited, giving him time to order his thoughts. Her patience was rewarded when he spoke at last. "I was going to tell you eventually."

"Tell me what?"

He lifted his eyes to meet her gaze. "I've been informed that Takeda Kanryuu is being released from prison early for good behavior." He paused before adding more softly, "He doesn't deserve to live."

Kaoru's eyes widened as the implication of Aoshi's words sunk in. Even after a minute of gaping like a dead fish, it took several false starts before her voice squeaked out, half in terror and half in disbelief. "Aoshi, no."

"I must. I cannot sit idly by while that...being still breathes when my friends do not."

Compassion welled up inside Kaoru until tears sprang to her eyes. Years ago, a very young Aoshi, as part of a secret government organization, had been tapped to head a long-term undercover operation to root out what was reputed to be the largest source of illicit drugs entering the country. But despite all the planning and efforts, someone had eventually tipped off the head of the syndicate, Takeda Kanryuu, about them. All of the undercover agents except Aoshi were tortured and eventually killed. Aoshi, as the leader, had gone through hell, watching the men with whom he'd forged deep bonds with die, one by one in front of him, until backup arrived. It had taken years for Aoshi to finally move on with his life, find a new job that didn't require secrecy or killing, and settle into a routine. At least, until now.

"They'll know it was you," Kaoru said softly, hoping to be the voice of reason. "The police will arrest you."

Aoshi shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Nothing does, except justice. And justice was not done."

Kaoru remained quiet for several long moments. No wonder Aoshi had been withdrawing from everyone lately. It was probably his way of protecting those whom he loved, to get them used to his distance and absence. Even in his pain, he managed to be thoughtful and caring in the most annoying way possible. "Killing Takeda won't bring them back," she said at last.

"No," he agreed soberly. "But it will finally give me peace to know I was the last person he sees as he dies."

The darkness inside Aoshi had never gone away, Kaoru realized. It had been a long journey and he seemed to be in a better place the past few years. But his secret service to the government was a chapter she had no part in, and in fact she didn't know any details except for that last, fateful mission which had gone awry. And it was only because the government wanted to wash their hands of a damaged agent that Kaoru and her father were allowed to hear of operation at all, to care for him. At least, that was what she was told by a certain smoking police officer.

Kaoru couldn't stop him, couldn't even begin to fathom his pain. She knew that, and an ache spread in her chest until she almost gasped from the numbing sensation. "When are you leaving?" she asked in a low voice.

Aoshi exhaled slowly, deeply. "His release is scheduled for next month. I plan on finding him a week after that, giving him time to savor his short-lived freedom." He looked up at her. "I'll help you find a replacement kempo instructor."

Again, his considerate behavior rubbed her the wrong way. Kaoru wanted to throw her chopsticks at him. "That's not important right now," she hissed.

"The dojo is important and I don't want to leave you or my students in a lurch. I've asked two potential candidates to come by and be interviewed in the next few weeks. My apartment lease is almost over as well. I'll put my things in storage and pay in advance. I also intend on stopping by to visit both of our parents' graves before I go. There's-"

"Aoshi!" Kaoru snapped. "Stop. Talking." If she heard anymore about his plans, she was either going to scream or cry. Possibly both.

He did, eyes roving over her face. Whatever he saw there made his countenance visibly soften, a rare display of affection she'd only seen twice before. "Kaoru, I need to do this. You are the last family I have left. It would mean a lot if you would support me this one last time."

It was disturbing to see how at peace Aoshi seemed, now that he shared his burden with her. And that, Kaoru realized, was what bothered her the most. Aoshi wanted to kill Takeda Kanryuu. Perhaps he'd die with him. All his arrangements indicated that Aoshi didn't expect to return.

The confusing array of emotions kept circling in her head: fear, dread, anxiety, the desire to be supportive, anger at his selfishness, sympathy for his pain. Kaoru shook her head to try and clear her thoughts, but it didn't help.

And then the inevitable happened. The tears that had been building up behind her eyes spilled over and slid down her cheeks without stopping. Kaoru gasped from the pain pressing down on her chest, but she didn't make a sound otherwise. She hadn't cried since her father's funeral and she hated that she was crying now, over yet another situation she couldn't control. From that perspective, she would rather deal with ten Himuras than this impossible scenario where she would lose her oldest friend.

Something solid and warm surrounded her. Kaoru clung on to the familiar presence, dimly aware that Aoshi must be really contrite if he was being physically demonstrative. But she didn't care what his reasons were and let herself cry into his shirt, very possibly for the last time.

The next day at the dojo, Aoshi avoided her as much as possible, which suited Kaoru just fine. She still hadn't processed everything, and it didn't seem like five weeks would be enough time to do so. She ignored Hiko's assessing looks as he observed their mutually tense behavior and threw herself into planning the lessons for the evening. Tonight's schedule had classes from all levels which always lifted Kaoru's mood; the children in the beginner's classes were adorable and enthusiastic, the mid-level students always improved quickly, and the more experienced students took their training seriously so it was simply a joy to teach them.

It was also a busy night elsewhere in the dojo; Aoshi and Hiko taught their classes in different rooms, so there were always people milling about: students finished with classes packing up, students streaming in to prepare for class, parents picking up their children or watching part of the lesson, and the older students warming up and teasing their kohai. Kaoru loved the chaos, especially in between classes. She had a quick smile for both students and parents since a little charm could only help her business. And she was in her element teaching.

Her last class was the advanced students, of which there were three boys and one girl. She bowed in respect to the room before striding inside and was greeted by them in unison, bowing to her. For a moment, Kaoru missed seeing a brown-haired lanky teenager in the class who always made teaching worthwhile because he was so invested in learning everything he could. But Yahiko was in his second semester at Tsukuba University, getting an education that would only help him and the dojo in the future. Pushing any further sad thoughts away, Kaoru headed to her place at the head of the room. She looked the four of them over, heart beating with fierce joy. Each face stared at her with an eagerness to learn that she basked in it. Any time she met someone who loved kendo as much as she did, it made her happy. And she definitely needed some cheer in her life right now.

But before she could call the class to start, a commotion started at the other end of the room. Several people who weren't even her students piled inside and spread out to the walls, murmuring to each other. Her current pupils turned to see what was going on and Kaoru frowned, wondering if something had happened. While some students or parents occasionally stopped by to watch the class, they were usually quiet and unobtrusive. And more people kept coming in, ripples of excited and heated whispers spreading. A disgruntled client, perhaps?

Kaoru moved towards the noise, intent on figuring out what was happening and getting everyone out so she could start her class. If it wasn't urgent, she could have Aoshi or Hiko deal with it.

But then someone else entered the room, wearing a kendo outfit similar to hers. No one crowded him but the sheer number of people created a circle until both Kaoru and the newcomer were in the ring. He met her gaze and a smile spread across his face. "Kamiya-sensei."

Her stomach dropped to her toes. Her heart leapt up her throat. The rest of her organs rearranged themselves in the empty spaces to escape the pressure and heat from the amethyst eyes boring into her. The smile held an edge of malicious pleasure at her shock, and the slight bow he offered wasn't a sign of respect, but one of mocking.

"I'm here to sign up for kendo class," he continued, once it was apparent Kaoru wasn't going to say anything. "As you can see, I don't need a uniform from you after all."

At his words, the furor of whispers and shock rose exponentially. Of course, it was too much to ask that no one would recognize the red-headed menace that now graced her class. In a building full of martial arts enthusiasts, at least a few people would recognize the head of a company well-known in athletic circles. Excitement ran through the crowd that someone like Himura would join a neighborhood dojo. Other murmurs held a note of wariness, to which Kaoru fervently related.

The tall figures of Aoshi and Hiko pushed into the room until they were just inside the circle, and they immediately realized what was going on. Aoshi looked as surprised as he would ever look, while Hiko lifted a brow and crossed his arms across his chest. Neither man said anything.

Their presence finally spurred Kaoru into action and she forced her vocal cords to work like they were supposed to. A large part of her was grateful the two alpha males let her take the lead since it was her dojo, but a small voice also wished one of them had jumped in to handle this problem themselves while she tried to regain her composure.

"I'm sorry, Himura-san, but this is the advanced class," she said, aware her voice sounded breathless and shaky. Kaoru cleared her throat in hopes it wouldn't betray her nerves again. "In order to join at this level, you'll need to be tested first. If you can perhaps come back at another time." Preferably the next century, she thought darkly.

He cast her another smug smile, those glittering jewel-toned eyes reading her mind as if it had been laid bare before him. Taking a step forward, he said, "I told you yesterday that I grew up training in kendo. I'm confident I can pass whatever test you give me." He turned slightly to face the two men behind him. "Isn't that right, Shishou?"

Kaoru felt like someone had punched her in the gut as she, too, swung her gaze at the large man. Hiko had trained Himura? Is that how they knew each other? Why didn't he say so? After working with the man for four years, she realized she really didn't know the master at all.

First Aoshi, and now this. Kaoru felt as though the ground beneath her was crumbling apart and she had no way to stay on her feet. Nothing seemed the same anymore, and she didn't know how to react or what to say.

Hiko, for his part, looked faintly pained as his gaze rested on his student, but he flicked his eyes over at Kaoru and spoke. "He's a quick study. He'll be able to catch up in no time, even if he hasn't touched a sword in a while."

Himura turned back to face her, and the triumphant little smirk just rubbed her the wrong way. He must have known how much Kaoru respected and even relied on Hiko's opinion and considered this his victory. The idea that he thought he had beaten her caused a sliver of fury to climb up her spine and she clenched her fists. She needed a win, and if it meant drubbing an arrogant red-head who had caused her trouble for the past month, then so be it.

Turning to her gawking four students, Kaoru commanded, "Step back and allow room for us. Everyone who is not in my advanced class is dismissed." She waited, and when no one moved, wanting to see what happened next, she wheeled around and repeated, "Dismissed."

The curt tone caused a flurry of bodies to scurry for the exit, flowing around Aoshi and Hiko, who hadn't moved since they entered. Finally, only the eight of them remained in the room, heavy with tension.

Kaoru took in a cleansing breath, trying to clear the anger from her system. She couldn't spar with her judgment clouded, that was the fastest way to lose. And she had no intention of letting Himura bask in his victory. Tonight, he was going to taste humility and defeat at her hands. And then, just maybe, her world might start to make a little sense again.

Facing her students who had gathered against the wall, she told them, "Watch carefully. Himura-san has trained under a different style, and the contrast between us should be quite clear. But I also want you to take note of what is similar. Find the strength and weakness of each ryu and how you would react or compensate if you were facing this opponent."

They all bobbed their heads eagerly and Kaoru strode towards the wall rack where she took down two shinai. Heading to the middle of the room, she tossed one to Kenshin, who plucked it out of the air with ease. She glanced at Hiko, who returned her gaze with an impassive expression, until he gave her a tiny dip of his head. She could do this. That acknowledgment gave her the confidence she needed to face Himura as he stepped towards her, stopping when he was only a few feet away.

"Standard kendo rules?" she asked brusquely.

"This isn't a tournament," Himura replied. "And we don't have any equipment on. Why not go all out? When was the last time you were able to stretch your own skills? I stretched before coming in so I'm ready whenever you are, Kamiya-sensei."

He didn't sound arrogant but damn if it didn't grate Kaoru's straining nerves the wrong way. And yet, the mockery had faded from his eyes and his gaze remained steady and solemn. It was as if he realized she was carrying around a large burden, and he was willing to let her unleash it through some physical exercise.

He understood. Himura didn't know anything that was going on in her life, and yet it seemed of all the people in the room, he knew the torrent of emotions she was struggling to grapple with. It was so odd; she had known Aoshi for almost her entire life, Hiko for as long as she had run the dojo by herself since her father's death, and her students had trained under her for years. How did this stranger, whom she would have never met under normal circumstances, see something the rest of them didn't?

Some of her anger melted away and grudging respect converged in its place. She would have to make sure not to underestimate his ability to see beneath the outer appearance. Without saying another word, Kaoru bowed and then held up her shinai, positioning her feet into the basic ready stance. If he was serious about not following kendo tournament rules, then so be it; she didn't care if he ended up with a bruise or two. Himura mirrored her movements and they held each other's gaze, ready, waiting for some signal to start.

One of her students - Aki, maybe - shifted and instantly Kaoru moved forward for a men strike to his head. She wasn't surprised that Himura blocked it, taking a step back in the process. It wasn't a retreat because his body shifted to launch an attack of his own. His speed was incredible, as was his strength. When she parried his slash, the sharp crack of bamboo against bamboo vibrated up her arm.

They broke apart and circled, then repeated the process over again. Starting to find a rhythm in the spar, Kaoru let every worry fade away. She reveled in the familiar feel of the shinai in her hand, the footwork she had long memorized, feeling the air displace with every swing and thrust and block, how her breathing deepened and centered her, a light sweat breaking out on her face in an effort to keep up with her challenger. This was definitely not regular kendo rules, but something much better. The feeling, she realized, was pure, unadulterated joy. Kaoru remembered practicing with her father like this, respecting one another and fighting not for ceremonial points but for the win. She forgot people were watching her; everything else faded from view except her opponent, on whom she focused completely.

There was no reason to hold back, and it would actually be an insult to not give it her all. Hiko had said that Himura was skilled and this was him being rusty. Kaoru suspected that the main reason why she was able to keep up with him right now was his lack of practice.

She reveled in the feeling of control and power, in attacking and defending, in showing off her skills while trying to negate Himura's. This was also another good opportunity to show off how and why the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu worked. Blood pumped and roared through her veins, waking up every sense, including her instincts, which was sometimes the only way she saw her opponent's attack.

As she moved forward for another strike, Kaoru realized that he was maneuvering her around the room, turning her here and there. At first, annoyance sank in that he was managing to make her respond in such a predictable manner, but as he brought down his sword for a side slash, she noticed her students had a better view of what was going on.

That flattened her irritation, but only a little. While appreciating his effort in helping her teach, Kaoru decided it was time to step it up and end it, if possible. When Himura swung his bokken, a little off-center from her throat, she dodged it from the opposite direction, bringing her own weapon for a sweep from the side. But he seemed to have anticipated it because he reversed the direction of his strike in a split second, intending to block her sword from hitting him. She grinned to herself as she spun away from the parry and into his guard, their swords just grazing each other as she completed the rotation and let the rounded end of her shinai rest against his Adam's apple.

They froze in that position for a long moment, panting hard and staring at each other. With his near preternatural speed, Himura had almost reacted fast enough to touch her torso into the 'kill' area but his weapon wasn't quite positioned high enough. Kaoru realized that if she had hesitated even a split second, the results would have been different.

Clapping and cheering noises from one wall of the room broke her concentration and Kaoru drew the shinai away and stepped back for a brief bow. Himura, again, copied her move and the spar was over. She had won.

Wiping her forehead with the sleeve of her hakama, Kaoru turned to her students, ever vigilant as their teacher. "What have you learned from the match?"

"That you're awesome, Kamiya-sensei!" Aki exclaimed. His fellow classmates murmured their support.

"And Himura-san is also really good," Kimiko added shyly.

"How come Hiko-sensei isn't teaching kendo here?" Momoshiro wanted to know. "He's only teaching those self-defense classes full of women."

"Does Shinomori-sensei know kendo too?" asked Iori. He turned to the man in question. "Do you, Sensei?"

Kaoru ran an exasperated hand over her face, wishing her students would exercise their usual discipline instead of asking twenty questions about everything else - especially in front of their guest. But before she could scold them, Himura drew closer to her.

"It might be a good idea to just excuse them. They just saw you in a different light," he murmured. "It's not every day one gets to see their beloved teacher spar so seriously. It was a good match and they want to bask in the pleasure of seeing it."

Despite her irritation that he was telling her how to run her class, his comment did have merit. Kaoru shot him a glare in appreciation for his advice before she dismissed the students. She would make up their lesson another time.

They bowed to her and attempted to crowd around the four adults but a few well-placed frigid glares from Aoshi convinced them to leave. Undaunted by the chilly reaction, they raced out of the room to spread the news about how the match went. That meant Kaoru was going to be hearing rumors and gossip about this for days to come.

Sighing, she turned to the three men in the room and found them glowering at each other. Aoshi's scowl had the least effect since he was the outsider of the group, but he didn't seem to mind. Hiko, on the other hand, delivered his criticism with the sharpness of a real sword.

"Well, baka deshi, it seems like you've forgotten almost everything I taught you. You made me look bad in front of my colleagues with that sloppy display of yours."

Himura didn't move, but Kaoru noticed his mouth tightening into a flat line. He didn't respond for a moment, but finally said, "It's nice to see you too, Shishou."

"Your deteriorating skills tell me you haven't picked up a sword in ages," Hiko replied bluntly. "What the hell did I train you for if you're just going to concentrate on being a so-called hotshot in the business world?"

"I'm here now, aren't I?" Himura retorted with an edge to his voice. "Perhaps it was fate that led me to the very dojo you're guest instructing in."

"Or just terrible luck." When no response came from the younger man, Hiko snorted and strode out of the room without looking back.

Kaoru looked at Aoshi who had stopped glaring at Himura, but he didn't leave. Himura simply met his gaze, looking unaffected by the taller man's presence. The atmosphere grew brittle and uncomfortable and finally she decided to say something. "Aoshi, can you please make sure everyone is on their way out? I need to talk to Himura-san about joining the dojo."

He didn't move for a long moment, making Kaoru wonder why he was so reluctant to leave them alone. Finally, he nodded stiffly. "I'll see you in a bit," he murmured as he passed them.

AN: Thanks to all those who've read the story so far! I'm looking forward to sharing more with you guys. As always, please let me know what you think.

Next Chapter: Kaoru and Kenshin talk. Aoshi annoys Kaoru.