Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is copyrighted to Nobuhiro Watsuki, Sony, Shuiesha Jump... mumble mumble...

Ack! After reading Anna-neko's stories yet again, I feel I will never ever write as well as she does... Waaaah!

Anyway! On with the fic!!!

*********

Kaoru

"Itaiiiiiiiii!!!" Yahiko yelped in pain. "What are you doing to me, Busu?!"

"Hold still! I'm fixing you up, idiot! Now stop squirming or it'll hurt more and I'll never finish!" Kaoru snapped. "There." Yahiko left with a huff.

She looked at the now battered Aoiya, the only thing boasting of their battle with the Juppongatana. They had won, and it gave her a sense of pride.

Yahiko beat Hennya with his mind, not strength.

She and Misao defeated Kamatari with teamwork and precision.

Iwambo had ran, and so did their lackeys.

They had won, but that was just half the battle.

The next half is Kenshin, Sano and Saitou's part. For their sake, and everyone else's, they have to win.

Ganbatte, Kenshin...

"Kaoru-san," Okon said, jolting her from her thoughts. She handed her a cup of hot tea.

Kaoru nodded her thanks and took the cup. But she didn't drink.

Her thoughts went back to the time before Kenshin left. At the rooftop of the Aoiya. He just told her he only had 2 hours of sleep.

Kaoru had to hold herself back from decking him.

Kenshin no baka... You just don't know how to take care of yourself, don't you? Just come back to me after all this is over.

They talked about the succession technique, and she was shocked to see what great responsibility he had with Hiten Mitsurugi.

Either you control it, or it controls you......

Kaoru couldn't help but shudder.

That is until Yahiko slammed his shinai against the back of her head, which slammed against Kenshin's as well.

"Are you worrying about him?" Hiko's voice came to her. She looked up to find him drinking water from his sake cup, a lovestruck Okon beside him.

Am I worried?

"Don't worry. He can't lose with the succession technique. If the wind doesn't affect the enemy so much, the dragon's teeth and claws will. That's what Hiten Mitsurugi is. He can't lose."

Hiko then grew a bit sullen. "That is if he's in top condition, which I doubt he is right now."

Kaoru laughed a bit. "I'm not worried. I believe in Kenshin. He'll come back to us. I just know it." She stared up into the stars. Kenshin...

What if... he dies...?

No. He can't die. He won't. He promised me. He promised me that we would go back to Tokyo together. Kenshin will keep his promise.

His promise...

She would remember that promise again and again. Especially when she was fighting Kamatari.

The promise meant that they will return home together, but it also meant that Kenshin and Kaoru promised to do everything they can to have him return to her. Although unspoken, he and Kaoru understood that was what the promise really meant.

Yakusoku... Kenshin... I kept my side... and I know you will yours as well...

She did not know how long she sat there. She barely heard the officer insisting that they all go seek medical treatment. But something caught the back of her eye.

Two figures were walking towards them.

No, wait! There's three! Could it be...?

"AOSHI-SAMA!!!" Misao yelled as she ran towards them.

Yes! It was them! Aoshi, Sano... and Kenshin....

Kami... he's lost so much blood! Is he... Is he still alive...?

One look at Sano's slightly cocky face told her he is. She choked back a sob, and ran to envelop Kenshin in her arms.

Passing by she saw Misao clinging to Aoshi, crying, and he had the most tender expression on his face as he cuddled the smaller girl.

Finally, she reached him, and with her prompting Sano released his friend, placing all of Kenshin's weight on her. "Kenshin... Kenshin... you came back... You kept your promise..." she whispered, sobbing.

With his last ounce of strength he opened his bleary eyes to stare into her tearful ones, smiled and whispered, "Kaoru...dono... I've come back..." His eyes slowly closed and he slumped to the ground, Kaoru kneeling to catch him.

Kaoru couldn't stand the lump in her throat any longer, tightened her arms around him, and cried out his name.

**************

A/N: Angsty? No it ain't angsty!!! No way!!!

Sorry if my SxM and AxM scenes are bad. This is my first attempt to write about these other two pairings.

Chapter 8