What Does it Matter?

Disclaimer: I've noticed that I haven't said I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters in a while. I just want you all to know I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters, heck I don't even own the tapes of Kenshin episodes I make my family watch. So please don't sue me just take it as a complement like the writer of Sailor Moon does. Now with the circus, I mean the show. No that's not right… Ah! Let's just continue the story.

AN: }…{ Kenshin/Rurouni's thoughts

… Battousai's thoughts

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Aoshi? Sorry to disturb you, but the rest of the boys including Saitou are gathering in the dojo and would like your present. I'm going to bring you and everyone else tea in there. Do you think Misao should be included or can I keep her to still help me pack?" Kaoru, it would seem, had decided to take Megumi's air of haughtiness and use it. Or maybe she finally was comfortable with herself that she could take things much lighter and easier. Basically the reason she spoke to Aoshi in the manner she did was because she didn't care what anyone thought of her any more and while she was not caring, why shouldn't she begin to act like the mature, self-possessed person she was.

"Kamiya you are astonishing. Weren't you just crying your heart out to Misao and me, then in there telling Himura the real reason that you're leaving and now you're talking about bringing tea to men holding a conference in your dojo as if you didn't have an opinion about that fact one way or another. Let Misao finish packing for you. I can tell Saitou is going to make you stay to hear the rest of the report." Kaoru bowed her head and walked toward the kitchen. Aoshi followed her with his eyes, looking inexplicable, like a fish out of water. 'What is it about her that makes me talk so much? It seems that her inner conflicts are in a state more chaotic then mine normally are. May be that is why I feel like I should comfort her. Her problems make me feel normal, as though my quandaries are inconsequential' He sighed, or rather took a deep breath and headed into the dojo.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Yahiko? Yahiko!" Kaoru really wasn't feeling as calm and collected as she had appeared in front of Saitou or Aoshi. All she felt like doing is rushing into her room and burying her head under the covers, never to come out. 'Yahiko better get here soon or I might just break down and be hauled to Kyoto by Misao. I hope those guys don't mind jasmine tea, I don't feel like fixing green tea right now. The scent doesn't soothe me as much as jasmine.'

"What do you want Ugly?" Yahiko had entered the kitchen while Kaoru went through the mechanics of making tea. "Why did you call me in here? Do you just want me to watch you fail to boil water?"

"Oh, Yahiko. What I called you into here for was to tell you I'm going to Kyoto for a while, so that means no more practices for a while, but that doesn't mean you can stop training. I just won't be here to practice with you. Also I wanted to ask you if you'd help Misao pack my things for my trip."

"Since you're leaving Kenshin, does this mean you're leaving the rest of us?" Yahiko stared straight into Kaoru's eyes looking every bit the ten-year old he should look like.

"No! No, I'd never leave you. Whether you like it or not, you are my little brother and I promise never to leave you, not even if the end of the world were to come would I leave you." Yahiko looked up at Kaoru, uncertain. 'Boy this is getting to emotional.' Kaoru grabbed Yahiko up in a hug and kissed the top of his head. 'Now to lighten the mood.' "Although if you were to grow a second head I don't know if my promise would-Mou! Yahiko this trip to Kyoto is just a visit. Don't look so desolate, I'll be back." Yahiko still looked skeptical. "Tell you what. If I feel well enough in a week and if Aoshi and Okina say it's all right I send for you. Now be a good boy and go help Misao." Yahiko ran out of the kitchen, but ran back in to give Kaoru a tight hug and then ran off again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Thank you for the tea Kaoru-dono." Kaoru nodded in Kenshin's direction.

"Thank you Kamiya-san." Aoshi seemed to sustain his cold demeanor with everyone around.

"Yeah, thanks Kaoru-chan."

'What did you call Kamiya? Kaoru-chan? My, my. Ass. You certainly are familiar with her now. Are you the cause for the rift between her and the battousai?' Saitou gruffly followed the example of the rest of the males in the room and politely thanked his hostess for the tea. "Smells funny."

"I'm so glad you enjoy my hospitality Saitou-san. Considering you spend so much time over here talking to Himura-san," the slight change in Kaoru's form of address towards Kenshin caused a silent up roar. "I was wondering if I'd ever have the opportunity to meet your wife, Tokio-san."

Saitou smirked. 'She has to be related to Tokio somehow.' "I don't know Kamiya, with you leaving for Kyoto and all the drama that follows you every where, I think Tokio would be pleased to make your acquaintance."

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

After Kaoru addressed him as Himura-san, Kenshin lost himself in thought. In other words, he started to talk to himself.

}What does Kaoru-dono mean but calling me Himura-san?{

Do I need to spell it out for you? You stupid rurouni, calling her Kaoru-dono all the time isn't going to make her leap into your arms and call you anata.

}Didn't you hear her say she doesn't think she loves me?{

And that has stopped me when? Listen, just leave her alone for awhile. Do something smart for a change.

}Are you implying I'm stupid?{

You said it not me. Now pay attention or Saitou might feel like having a go at it.

Kenshin snapped to attention after listening to his two counter parts, the battousai and the rurouni argue.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Now that the Battousai seems ready to pay attention, I'll tell you why Shinomori and Weasel-girl are in Tokyo."

"Saitou-san please do not call Misao a weasel while were in my home or any where else within my hearing, is that clear?" Kaoru struck a very commanding tone while dealing with Saitou.

"Fine. Now may I continue?" Without waiting for a response he went on. "Shinomori and his Oniwa Banshu received reports of a mysterious assemblage of scoundrels planning to over throw the government. The reports are true and false at the same time." He took a drag on his cigarette and exhaled, wondering what it would take to get a reaction out of the battousai.

"That's impossible. How on earth can those stupid reports be right and wrong at the same time? I think you 'police men' need to get your heads reexamined." Sano always looks at every side of every situation doesn't he? Not!

"Do you mean that they are making plans to over throw the government, but not planning to go through with it? Is that what you mean Saitou? Or that the 'mysterious assemblage' are not scoundrels but are still planing to over throw the government?"

"Damn it Kaoru. Stop being so smart. I think that if it was either of those Saitou would say something." Sano looked smug, like a child who had just been rewarded for tattletale on someone. Of course we all know what happens to tattletales. Kaoru punched Sano hard in the arm and was going to hit him in the head when Saitou held up his hand to stop her.

"Kamiya when do you want to meet with Tokio? You were right with your first guess. The government is so tired of all the threats and plots to topple it, that they have set up a special police unit. The goal of the special unit is to investigate the inner thoughts of those who wish to demolish the government and work out ways to stop them. Right now the group is divided into two groups. The first group makes the plans to," he waved his hands and everyone said,

"Overthrow the government." And he continued.

"the second group tries to search for the 'gang' that plans to,"

Everyone said it together this time, "Overthrow the government."

"So you see, Ass, your Kaoru-chan actually has a brain and knows how to use it, which is surprising with the company she keeps." Sano was just about to show Saitou the worth of his brawls over his brains, but Saitou was saved when Misao skidded into the room and gave Kaoru a large smile.

"All ready to go Kaoru-chan. Your things are packed and Yahiko even helped." She spared a glance around the room and settled her sight on Saitou. Looking back at Kaoru she asked, "What's Catfish-face doing here?"

Yahiko who had followed in behind Misao attempted to hold back, but floundered around for a bit before he erupted in laughter. "Catfish-face?! That's so funny!" He exploded into a whole new stream of laughter.

'Saitou looks less then pleased at his new nickname. Hopefully I'll be able to salvage the situation before it turns from worse to… Okay I can't think of something worse than worse so I'm going to nip this one in the bud. Hmm, what should I say? Saitou-san please forgive Misao-chan and Yahiko-chan they haven't seen you in awhile and had started to miss you? No, that would just make everyone mad at me. I've got it.'

"Misao, I wouldn't let Saitou-san call you Weasel-girl in my home. Will you please give him the same respect and refrain from calling him, Catfish-face? And as for you Yahiko, 500 practice swings and what do you have to say to Saitou-san?"

Yahiko was sullen at the thought that Kaoru might still leave him he decided to be a good student and listen to her. "Sorry," he mumbled to Saitou all the while, Saitou just smirked. 'It is certain,' he repeated to himself once again, 'Kamiya must be related to Tokio.'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Well this is good-bye for now guys. I hope you guys can get along without me for a couple weeks." 'Of course they can get on without me, I mean they have Kenshin, don't they.' She scoffed at her thoughts. 'Stop swallowing that bitterness and think vacation!' Kaoru smiled a brilliant smile that made Yahiko feel proud that she had said that he was her brother. It made Sano happy as it always did, but it caused Kenshin sorrow. 'There she goes, off into the world and we have no part in it.'

"Kaoru-chan, come on, the train is going to leave soon. We want to find good seats." Misao whined because she didn't like good-byes, she much preferred welcome-home's.

"I'll go hold us seats so Kamiya-san can say good-bye. Don't take too long Kamiya."

"Thanks Aoshi. I won't be too much longer." Misao blinked. Then she blinked again. Slowly she worked her mouth open, then she shut it again. 'He talked directly to her! What a break through!' Misao all but jumped up and down screaming hysterically. 'Wait, why did he break through with her? I am going to definitely talk to Kaoru-chan about this.' "Wait for me Aoshi-sama!" She jumped up to follow after him.

"Guess this is good-bye Ugly. Don't forget about next week all right?"

"What is this about next week? Well, have fun Kaoru-chan, just don't get lost okay?" Kaoru looked at the two boys in front of her and laughed.

"Come here and give me a hug!" Both of her 'brothers' immediately complied and almost squeezed the life out of her with their hug. "Thank you. I'll write and Sano? Take care of Yahiko, okay? If you take him any where that I wouldn't approve of… so kami help you."

"Aww, Kaoru, I'm not a little kid. I can stomach the places Sano goes. Not that I want to go to those types of establishments anyway."

"That's good Yahiko-chan," She patted him on the head as she heard the train whistle blow. "Oh, no! I've got to go! Bye Yahiko! Bye Sano! Bye Himura!" She ran to get onto the train before it decided to leave without her.

Yahiko ran after the train as it started to pull out of the station and shouted at Kaoru, "Bye Busu! Don't eat too much or you'll get FAT." All he saw was Kaoru waving out of her window, as if she hadn't heard him.

Inside the Train…

"Why did you let him get away with that? I'm sure everyone at the station heard what he said."

"I'm sure they all did, too. It's just that he's going to miss me so I thought I'd pretend not to hear. Besides, what would I have been able to do? He was out there and I was in here." Misao looked thoughtful for a minute before she nodded. "I want to thank the two of you once again for allowing me to… well I guess, escape. Misao, do you think that I'll be of any help to the Aoiya? If so do you think…," Kaoru played with the frayed sleeve of her kimono.

"Do I think what Kaoru? That you need a good shopping trip? Yes I do. Do I think you need to see all the wonderful sights of Kyoto this time of year? Yes I do. Do I think you need to lighted up and relax?"

Kaoru answered for her, "Yes you do?"

Misao laughed and said, "Yes I do. Now what was it that you were going to ask me?"

A new voice answered Misao, "She was going to ask you if Yahiko could join us in a week or so."

"How did you know?" Kaoru looked at the man who had sat next to them the entire trip and until now hadn't said a word.

"It comes with the trade." He shrugged and looked out the window.

"Well that is what I wanted to ask. Do you think it might be possible? I don't know what came over him, but before he began to help you pack, he told me he was worried that I was leaving him. So I thought that maybe he could come along after I got settled. I told him I'd have to ask you first, but- What's so funny?" Kaoru was graciously explaining why she wanted to have Yahiko come along and here Misao was giggling.

Misao waved her hand up and down in the 'come here' movement and Kaoru leaned forward so Misao could whisper in her ear, "Sure Yahiko can come, but look at Aoshi-sama, he fell asleep." Kaoru looked at him and started to giggle along with Misao.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"This is so boring. What are we going to do?" Sano looked at Yahiko, who was grinning wildly. "What makes you so happy? 'Jou-chan just left and you're happy about that?"

"Yes. I mean no. I'm going to see Kaoru in a week unlike you Rooster-head, so I have nothing to worry about. She said that if she feels settled in a week, she'd send for me. Ha!" Yahiko was glad that for once he wasn't the one left out of the information loop.

"Oi! Kenshin! Come here buddy."

"Yes Sano? What can I do for you?" Kenshin glanced back at the tub full of laundry waiting patiently for his return.

"Just answer some questions. Why are you sitting around here cleaning as if Kaoru was still here and you're her slave? What are you going to say to her when she comes back? If she comes back." Sano bit down hard on the fish bone he had previously swirling around in his mouth and broke it. He spit it out and whirled around on Kenshin. "Well? Are you going to answer?"

"I. I am cleaning because when Kaoru gets back she will want a clean house and I would prefer not to fall to far behind in my chores. I do not act like her slave. When she returns I will tell her that I am glad she is back. What are you trying to get at Sano?" The ever tranquil rurouni looked at the ex-street fighter with glazed eyes.

"Damn it Kenshin! She told you that she once loved you and now thought she didn't and all you're planning to say is 'hi, welcome home?' What kind of dense idiot are you?"

"Sano leave him alone." 'Thank you Yahiko,' the ex-hitokiri thought. "He'll never get it. Besides I think Kaoru is okay without him. If he can't see what he's losing I say good. Do you want Kaoru with a guy like that?"

The unpretentious rurouni appeared to be in a state of disbelief. 'Yahiko, my number one fan, is scorning me? Wha..Why?'

Sano release a very dramatic sigh, closed his eyes, and put a hand to his forehead, "I guess you're right Yahiko. She'd probably be much better off with someone like… Aoshi. She's the kind of person who can melt anyone's heart. See what she did for us."

"Hey Sano. Let's go and leave Kenshin to his laundry. Maybe we should write a letter to Kaoru. Don't you think she'd like that?" Yahiko and Sano walked off leaving Kenshin to contemplate what they had said.

}Kaoru with Aoshi? That would never happen, Aoshi has Misao-dono. Kaoru with someone else? No.{

Why not? She herself, as Sano just reminded you, said that she'd didn't love you. What's to stop her from finding another love interest?

}She didn't say she didn't love me she said, the she's determined that maybe, I stress the maybe, she doesn't really love me the way she thought she did. That's what she said.{

The Battousai snorted and retorted, Exactly my point you imbecile. That most likely just loves you like an older brother or, god forbid, father figure. I suggest you do some major attitude changing unless you don't love her like that anymore.

}I still love Kaoru-dono the way I shouldn't.{

Just what I thought. You don't love her. Just might as well forget all about her, because we all know it will be a cold day in hell before you ever tell her how you really feel. Next time Sanosuke asks, I'm going drinking. And that was all the Battousai said before disappearing to the back of Kenshin's mind.