Standard Disclaimers Apply

AN: Gomen ne for the *ahem* long absence. School just started and I can't think of anything to write. I MIGHT change the first two chapters…I still don't know. I'm trying to sort out my thoughts. =)

Thanks to:

sou_fan: You''l find out in this chapter who this person is. Well…you actually guessed it! *sweat drop* hehehehe…Maybe I'll add a few SxM. We'll see…

angel chan: Thanks! Here's the update!!! =)

darkangelwings: My ever present supporter! Thanks very much! Without your support, I may not be able to write the next chapters!!! Thanks you very much!!!,

Chibigreenwizardmon: Mmmm…If I try to explain the plot to you, I might accidentally tell the story or I might change my mind about it. But, anyway, there will be a plot (hopefully) Yes…yes…there will be a plot! =)

Rei_Ayanami: And in turn, I'll give you a very, very big hug too! Thanks for reviewing!!!

Kraci: Mmmm…I guess that's all. O well…let's continue with the sto…

Voice: Ei! What about me??? HMMMMM!!!!! -_-

Kraci: Who are you???

*****BONK*****

Voice: It's Tesuka, you baka-onna!!!

Kraci: Hmph, I won't mention you! I DON'T NEED STARIGHTENING OUT YOU KNOW! I'm straight! Humph!!! You're so mean to me…huhuhuhu…

Tesuka approaches Kraci (maybe to comfort her? I doubt it )

*****BONK*****

Tesuka: I would be meaner if you don't thank me…you…

Kraci: I give up! (holding up her arms, surrendering) ThankyousomuchTesukaforreviewingmybeautifulficevenifyoudon'tlikeitandyou'resuchabusuuuuuuuonna!!! Bwahahahaha!!!

Tesuka: (a vein popping on her temple) What the heck did you say!!! Repeat it!!! Or else (waves a wooden stick in the air)

Kraci: *large sweatdrop* Anyway, hope you all have fun I reading this chap. I'm sorry that it's short but maybe in the next few chapters, I'll make long chapters and (ducking from the waving wooden stick) hopefully, get my scaterred thoughts together. Ja ne!!! (runs fast from Tesuka while shouting: Tesuka is such a crazy friend!!!)

A GENUINE SMILE CHAPTER FOUR: ANSWERS? NEKO-ONNA?

It was Seta Soujirou.

She smiled, a bit nervously but it was replaced by a warm welcome.

She said, "Ohayou," bowing slightly, "did you come to see Kamiya-san?"

Inside the dojo, Kenshin felt a familiar yet strange ki at the gate. He opened the gate and saw Sakura talking to Soujirou!!!

'Ah…we have many guests today' he thought, as he approached Soujirou warmly. Soujirou saw him and bowed.

"Himura-san, I was just passing by and I thought that I should visit you," he said, smiling his…err…smile.

"Hai. You can stay here if you like," Kenshin said, knowing Soujirou's position being a rurouni himself, having difficulty for a place to sleep. He continued, "I have to ask Kaoru-dono first. Soujirou this is Hoshi Sakura," indicating to Sakura. "Sakura-dono, this is Seta Soujirou. Please come in." Kenshin opened the gate wider for them to come in. Inside, Kenshin introduced Soujirou to Kaoru who came out of the dojo.

Kaoru' thoughts ran as she heard Soujirou's name. 'Seta Soujirou? Tenken? Kenshin beat him but Sano says he is very fast and good fighter…' her thoughts were cut of as Kenshin added that Soujirou was wandering, looking for answers.

"Ah…okay. You can stay here if you want," Kaoru smiled, this time her nervousness was gone.

"Arigatou Kamiya-san," Soujirou smiled, bowing.

"Ano…just Kaoru please," Kaoru said making Kenshin slightly uncomfortable at this request. Kaoru didn't notice this; however, Sakura did.

"Come, Soujirou-san. I'll show you to your room. Sakura-chan, can you please help me?" she asked Sakura who was beside her.

"Sure."

Kenshin followed.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kaoru showed Soujirou his room, which was beside Sakura's. Kaoru left them, making Kenshin go with her. She had already sensed Sakura's interest in Soujirou as soon as she went inside the room. Sakura offered to fix his futon in his room.

While watching Sakura fix his room, Soujirou thought, 'This girl is different from all the girls I have seen. She's not clingy. I can sense from her ki that she has different feelings at once. A cheerful girl yet a sad one inside…she's very beautiful too.' Soujirou was startled as this thought entered his mind. He felt an emotion he couldn't understand. He was very puzzled indeed. On the other side of the room, Sakura was putting the finishing touches.

She thought, 'This is Soujirou. WOW! He's cute…oops, now where did that come from? Hihihi!!!' Earlier, she felt nervous but after being alone with him for a moment, she felt strangely comfortable and giddy. 'Maybe, it's because if his smile…' Sakura thought as she looked at him and smiled. He smiled back. 'But it's a bit creepy…'

She approached Soujirou, "Ano…Seta-san…"

Soujirou cut her off, "Just Soujirou please." He smiled.

Sakura smiled back. She said teasingly, "Well, that's too long! How about if I call you…Sou-chan!?!"

Soujirou's eyes widened but the rest of his face was still the same, even his smile.

When Soujirou didn't answer her, Sakura became worried, "Ano, Sou-cha…I mean, Soujirou-san, I won't call you that if it bothers you."

Soujirou was amazed, yet pleased. 'I haven't heard that name for a long time now. She worries easily.' "Daijoubu, Sakura-kun, you may call me Sou-chan. I was just thinking," he added.

"Good!" Sakura's mood changed from concern to cheery. "Well, I'll leave you to settle down, Sou-chan. If you need anything else, just call me," she said, leaving Soujirou to his thoughts.

'What is this I'm feeling? I just met her and I'll have to continue my journey. Maybe I'll ask Himura-san. He's more experienced than I am,' he thought as he unpacked his bundle. He liked the way Sakura said his name, 'Sou-chan'. He strangely felt as if a part of him that was seeking answers found it.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kaoru was in the dojo practicing while Kenshin was back to his laundry that was not finished because of Sakura's arrival.

In the dojo, Kaoru was thinking, 'Mou! Two new guests, two more mouths to feed but that's all right. More company I guess…now about that money…Sakura needs some clothes. I have to talk to her later about it and see what she has. She's an interesting person. Kenshin was right. Something is bothering her. I'll talk to her later, I guess. She has everything! Looks, talent and her attitude. She might as well be a geisha. I hope we get along…'

Kaoru was so engrossed in her thoughts that she did not hear Sakura enter the dojo. Smiling evilly, she quietly walked towards Kaoru. She went behind her and tickled her.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Kaoru screamed dropping the bokken and instinctively swung her fists to the person who surprised her. She stopped when she saw Sakura on her knees, hugging her stomach and laughing very hard. Kaoru was surprised, replaced by a little bit of anger and a teasing smile.

"Sakura-chan!!! YOU!!!" She picked up her bokken, running after Sakura who had already gotten up on her knees and ran towards the dojo exit, running past a surprised Kenshin and Soujirou who had heard Kaoru's scream. Sakura was followed by Kaoru who was waving her bokken in the air.

"HAHAHAHA!!! Tanuki-chan!!!" Sakura taunted Kaoru, still laughing making Kaoru laugh and mad as well.

"Stop…you…NEKO-ONNA!!!"

"Nani!?!" Sakura exclaimed at her newfound nickname.

"Ha! Neko-onna, come here you!?!" Kaoru ran after her. She dropped her bokken as she caught Sakura who paused catching her breath. Kaoru tickled Sakura, which caused her to laugh again. Kaoru was laughing too as Sakura tried to tickle her back.

The two men were amused by this display and were also laughing. Sakura and Kaoru stopped, looked at the two men laughing and looked at each other. A similar evil grin was reflected on each of their faces. Before Kenshin and Soujirou knew what hit them, they were being ambushed by the two girls.

~~~~~~~~~~

After that 'small incident' at the dojo, they went back to what they were doing except for Kaoru and Sakura who went to the kitchen.

Inside…

"Humph, neko-onna…that's quite unique, considering you call your friends animals, kitsune and tori-atama," Sakura said, pretending to be miffed but failed.

"Hahahaha!!! It came to my mind when you sneaked up on me. You were quiet, like a cat and I guess I had a lot on my mind too that's why I didn't hear you but you know, that name suits you!!!" Kaoru admitted, pulling out the knives and chopping board for Sakura to use.

Kaoru's thought ran, 'Maybe I can ask her to teach me how to cook.' While Sakura's thoughts, 'In exchange for that, she'll have to teach me kenjutsu!'

"Ano, Sakura-chan…" "Ano, Kaoru-chan..." both girls started before laughing hysterically again at each other.

~~~~~~~~~~

Upon hearing their laughter, Kenshin smiled. He liked it or rather, loved it when Kaoru laughed. Even just a smile, Kaoru would make his day complete. He regrets it when Kaoru cries especially if he was the one who caused those tears to fall. Now he wished that he was the one making Kaoru laugh, not Sakura. 'Demo, Sakura-dono would be a great companion to Kaoru-dono, apart from Megumi-dono' he thought remembering what happened earlier. As he set aside the laundry basin (and all those things that were used for washing the laundry), he saw Soujirou come out of his room and approach him. Kenshin knew that something was troubling him from his ki.

"Gomen ne Himura-san but I just want to ask you something," Soujirou said, crouching beside Kenshin.

"Sure Soujirou-san, what is it?" Kenshin asked, motioning towards the porch where they could talk.

"Ano…Himura-san…" Soujirou paused, trying to collect his thoughts. "I hope you don't mind but can you answer this personal question?"

Kenshin nodded.

"Ano…when you're with Kaoru-san, how do you feel? I mean, does she, in a way, helped you to find your answer?"

"Oro!" Kenshin exclaimed, surprised at the question.

"Gomen, Himura-san…you don't have to answer that if you don't want to," Soujirou said, smiling as he stood up.

"Iie, Soujirou-san, please stay. I was just surprised," Kenshin said, giving him a sheepish look, suddenly, turning serious.

"Kaoru…-dono," He started, almost omitting the –dono. "When I first met Kaoru-dono, I was surprised at her fiery spirit. She had great courage in accusing a stranger in the middle of the streets as the person who destroyed the name of her dojo. When she welcomed me in this dojo, again, I was surprised because she is very trustful and understanding when she did not ask about my past. Being with her makes me feel peaceful, contented and very happy indeed. She was the one who made this family together…In my life, I have killed and now, I protect the ones I love. Kaoru-dono and the rest provided me that. She can protect herself using the style that her father had left her and at the same time, she can be vulnerable and needs to be protected. That is suitable for me. You see, I can protect her without cutting off her independence and so do the others. I protect the ones I love…" Kenshin trailed, finished. 'Plus, I'm stained and I cannot love her. I will stain her purity and innocence. I'm unworthy for her.' He added silently. He looked at Soujirou who was pondering on what Kenshin had said.

"Sou ka…" Soujirou trailed off.

"Why do you ask Soujirou-san?"

"Iie, Himura-san. I can't answer you yet, not now anyway…Arigatou for telling me," Soujirou said thoughtfully, standing up. For the first time his smile faltered but he still maintained in it his face. He walked towards the dojo gates. "I'll just go for a walk Himura-san. I'll be back."

"Hai, just come in time for dinner. Kaoru-dono and the others might be worried if you don't come."

"Hai, Himura-san. Ja!"

'I wonder why he asked me that. It looks like he's already finding his answers now, little by little. He needs to feel how to be loved…yes…I think that is what he is seeking. Demo…now he knows or has a gist of what I feel about Kaoru-dono…no…Kaoru…' Kenshin thought, looking towards the kitchen where the girls were giggling.

AN: *ducks heavy objects* I know, I know, this chapter is pathetic…So as the stupid title…O well, just write what you think. Is it fast-paced? Suggestions, comments and criticisms are accepted. (harsh criticisms are ignored! *looking at Tesuka*)