Author's Notes: One morning several months ago, Sumiregusa and I were discussing how much we loved Jane Austen and Persuasion. And I had a thought. What happens when you cross Rurouni Kenshin with a beloved classic? Thus Persuade My Heart was born. I hope you enjoy as this has been an absolute labour of love.

Beta: Sumiregusa (go read Traditions, it's awesome)
Rating: T
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Persuasion is in the public domain, but was written by Jane Austen.

Chapter 1

We must be serious and decided; for after all, the person who
has contracted debts must pay them; and though a great deal is due to
the feelings of the gentleman, and the head of a house, like your father,
there is still more due to the character of an honest man. - Persuasion, Jane Austen

Tokyo (formerly Edo), 1872

"Oi Kaoru, where do you want this last box?" Kaoru turned to where Yahiko was standing in the centre of the dojo yard with a large wooden box in his arms.

"What is it?" Kaoru yelled back. The younger boy rolled his eyes, and Kaoru could see that he was losing patience with the never ending packing and cleaning that had overtaken their lives for the past week. With the limited time they had to organize the dojo prior to leaving, they hadn't had much time for training and it was starting to show. Yahiko had been in a foul mood all day, and Kaoru knew that she was quickly losing her patience too. Nothing that a few hours of training once we are settled at the Maekawa-dojo won't fix, Kaoru thought.

"I don't know. Some random crap," Yahiko grumbled. "Same as the last box, and the same as the box before it. And the one before that, and the one before…"

"Take it to the storehouse, bottom shelf on the left," Kaoru interrupted. Yahiko snapped his mouth shut and stalked off, muttering about ugly teachers and accumulating junk. Kaoru raised a hand to her face, rubbing the bridge of her nose as her student walked away, fighting off the fatigue of the last few weeks. They were almost finished and then they could go.

Kaoru turned her attention away from the sounds her student was making in the storehouse on the opposite side of the dojo yard and looked down at the box in front her. Placed carefully in the lacquer box were her mother's set of tea bowls. She first remembered seeing them as a little girl, sitting high upon a shelf. Bright and delicate, she had never been able to touch them, and after her mother had died they had remained on that shelf gathering dust. Now, like everything else in her life, they were being put away into a box and locked away, with an unknown time passing before they would be out again.

Kaoru tried not to sigh again. It wasn't helping herself or Yahiko to be thinking such melancholy thoughts. She had to accept the reality of her situation in life and she was determined that moving out of the dojo was not going to overcome her general cheerfulness. We will endure this, she resolved in her mind. It's only a few short years until we have cleared the debts and we will have the dojo back.

Kaoru regarded the tea bowls before she closed the lid on the lacquer box. She had left much of the nicer tea ware and dishes, as per the terms of the renters agreement but there were some things that didn't need to be out. She didn't have many of her mother's items left but she didn't think anyone would begrudge her keeping some things put away.

Kaoru stood and picked up the box, moving off of the engawa and across the yard. Yahiko was still in the storehouse, re-arranging the numerous boxes in there. It was hard to imagine that Kaoru had packed up her entire life into this one shed. Twenty-two years didn't seem like much when it was packed away and stacked on shelves.

"Is that the final one?" asked Yahiko, taking the box from Kaoru's hands and placing it on the shelf.

"Yes," Kaoru replied, not wanting to linger long in the storehouse. Too many memories, both good and bad, were now contained here and she just wanted to leave. The last few months had been taxing and now that she was finally closing this chapter she was resolved to move on. Plus, the new tenants would be arriving soon to tour the house before they moved in and she didn't want to be at the dojo when they arrived. Turning quickly to exit the storehouse she didn't notice the concern on Yahiko's face as he watched her pained expression.

"If you would just let me take another job, we could stay here, Kaoru," Yahiko said roughly. They had argued this point for weeks, but Kaoru refused to budge.

"I'm not going to fight with you about this again," Kaoru replied tersely, looking over her shoulder. "I've made up my mind. Renting out the dojo is the only way to keep it and pay off Father's debts."

"But..." Yahiko began.

"No!" yelled Kaoru, whirling to face Yahiko. "It's not your fault Father over spent our income, or didn't bring enough students in. It's not your fault that he didn't pay taxes for years. It's not your fault that he died and left me with this mess. I have to fix it and this is the best solution! And I'm done arguing about it with you or anyone else. Let's finish this and go."

Kaoru stormed out of the storehouse. No one believed that she could do this. Most of her friends had told her to sell the dojo, pay off the debts and take the remaining money to increase her dowry and find a husband. As if having a husband would fix this, she fumed. Despite her frustration, she knew that she shouldn't take it out on Yahiko. Behind her she heard him step out of the storehouse and close the wooden door. Taking a deep breath, she turned around to try and apologize.

"Don't say you're sorry," Yahiko started before she could open her mouth to speak. "I get it. I'm..I'm just trying to help." He paused and looked up at her, and Kaoru could see the pain in his eyes.

"It's my home too," Yahiko continued. "I know I haven't been here long but I don't want to lose it. I don't care that we will be teaching at Maekawa-dojo or that we were lucky to find rich government people to rent the dojo. It's not fair."

"Yahiko, not much in life is fair. But we have to do our best, right?" Kaoru tried to give him a warm smile. Any anger Kaoru had felt evaporated at his admission. With her own broken heart over her father's death and then frustration over the situation he had left her in, she hadn't thought how this would affect Yahiko.

"We'll be back though?" he asked.

"Of course," Kaoru put her hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "The Kamiya-dojo is our home. I still own it, and we will be back. I promise."

Yahiko nodded, the determined look on his face matching hers. He left to go finish closing up the last few rooms in the house.

Kaoru looked around the yard, taking it all in one last time. Not knowing exactly why, she turned and walked into the dojo, bowing slightly before she entered. Memories flooded over her as she regarded the training room one last time. The first time she had held a sword. Her father teaching the most basic of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryuu katas. The hours of practice after her mother had died, trying to do anything to dull the pain. The proud look on her father's face as she was teaching her first set of students.

The flash of red hair as his bokken crashed in to hers and the force of the blow sending her back into the wall.

Kaoru shook her head and frowned. She didn't need to be reminded of him, not after all these years.

"Kaoru? Where are ya?" called Yahiko. He was standing in the yard with two small sacks slung over his arm. Kaoru left the dojo, shutting the shoji behind her one last time. Yahiko handed one of the sacks to Kaoru as she reached his side and pulled the other over his shoulder. Without a word, Kaoru turned and walked towards the dojo gate. Fighting the urge to look back, she stepped out of the gate.

I will return, Kaoru thought as she walked away determined. No matter how long it takes, I will come back to my home.

Glossary

Bokken - Japanese wooden sword used for training

Engawa - refers to the typically wooden strip of flooring immediately before windows and storm shutters inside traditional Japanese rooms

Shoji - a door, window or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood which holds together a lattice of wood or bamboo