Author's note : Phew… this one took longer than I ever remember a chapter for any story taking. But it's done and… well…

Everyone commented on the short hair in their reviews ^_^ I don't know but I thought he looked pretty good with it at the end of the manga. As for why… well that's the chapter is all about.

So yeah, I hope this works. Leave a review if you feel so inclined.

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Last Chance at Glory
Chapter 4 : The Journey Home

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Kenshin's feet eventually led him back to the Aoiya. Night had long since fallen and the lights inside made the shadows dance on the gravel road. He steeled himself and opened the door, ready for the assault for being so late.

But all activity in the Aoiya stopped the moment he stepped inside. The restaurant had closed not too long ago so the only people inside were the residents of the building. They had been in the process of cleaning up before he walked in but all interest in chores seemed lost.

Kenshin saw the familiar face across the room and nodded firmly, answering the question on his comrade's face. Aoshi looked at him and the barest twitch of a smile appeared on his lips.

"Congratulations," Aoshi said.

"To what?" Misao asked, suddenly appearing from the kitchen. "Himura… you cut your hair." Misao paused and looked around. "What's wrong with everyone?"

"Misao," Omasu said, kneeling down to the shorter girl. "Do you know why sometimes people cut their hair very short?"

Misao's brow furrowed. "To change the way they look?"

Omasu tilted her head from side to side. "Sometimes. But other times, its more symbolic, like they are cutting away a part of themselves so that they can… change something in their lives."

Misao looked from Omasu to Aoshi and finally back at Kenshin, the gears in her head turning. And then suddenly, her face lit up. "Finally," she said happily, bounding over to glomp him.

Her reaction finally broke the spell and the Aoiya quickly switched from cleaning to celebrating. And the celebrations went on for many hours, until the sun was to begin its climb in the sky. Only, there was no sun, just darkness that had no break.

The strangeness of the dawn was answered when Kyoto officials came through the streets shouting warnings. A typhoon had hit Japan up North and was heading straight for them.

"Where did it hit?" Okina asked, grabbing the man who was passing by.

"Mount Fuji," he replied. "Messengers from Tokyo were sent out immediately but they were plagued by problems getting here."

"It's that bad?"

The official nodded. "They say the mountain itself shook when it hit. The roads are washed out, the rivers have all overflowed. Mudslides took out a small village, all the messenger found was debris."

Okina nodded and let the man go on his way. Turning back into the house, he thought of how best to relay the message. His Oniwabanshu were already making preparations (though trying to do so in their half drunken state was proving somewhat amusing).

"How long do we have?" Shiro asked, trying desperately to balance a wooden board but failing miserably.

"Enough time," Okina said with a little nod. He shot a look over at Aoshi and motioned over towards the red head. Aoshi frowned and nodded.

He looked over at the rurouni as Kenshin attempted to hammer a nail into a board. Kenshin paused and looked up, sensing someone watching him. Okina walked over and relayed the story, knowing what reaction he would get. But Aoshi was there and managed to catch him before he fled out the door on a foolish pursuit.

Okina explained again, the conditions of the roads, the dangers the storm was producing. But it was obvious there was only one thing on Kenshin's mind and he seemed rather hell bent to do it.

And while Okina seemed rather determined to make him stay put, if a legend-sized typhoon wasn't going to stop him, what could one little old man do?

* * *

My feet seemed to celebrate the familiar feel of the dojo ground but my heart was still heavy. The condition of my house didn't help matters at all. I could see a hole in the roof, caused by an errant tree branch. The koi pound had overflowed but I couldn't bring myself to check on the condition of the fish.

I stumbled down the path, hearing the echo of footsteps behind me. Glancing quickly, I looked at Yahiko, his head bandaged from the cut he had received, and wondered what to say.

After the storm abated, I had managed to get up to the shrine and they took care of us before sending us back down the mountain. I searched for the equipment but… but they were just gone.

The shinais. The bokkens. But most of all the two sets of armor. I didn't have enough money to even replace one set, let alone two. And without armor, we couldn't fight in the tournament.

I wanted to cry but every time I looked at Yahiko… I realized I would have done a million times over if it meant that he could be safe. So I didn't get upset because of that and because I saw the pain on Yahiko's face and knew it would only make matters worse.

He hadn't said anything since the storm and I knew not to force him. But when we walked through the door, I heard it. It was the most horrifying thing I could have ever imagined.

"Gomensai," Yahiko sniffled. "It's my fault!"

I don't know whether it was because he was taking the blame or the fact that he actually was crying, but the combination had rooted me in place. I turned to face him and suddenly found myself coming to terms with something.

"I shouldn't have insulted you and run away," he continued. "If I hadn't, we still have the armor and…"

Yahiko was still a little boy. He had been through so much but he was still only eleven years old. And I had been pushing him so hard in this. And he shouldn't have been involved. But I had made him come along and he had almost gotten killed…

"No," I said finally letting myself cry. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have made you come. I shouldn't have gotten you involved. Restoring the school… that should have fallen only on me…"

"BAKA!" Yahiko suddenly cried, anger quickly replacing his sorrow. "It's not just you. The school doesn't just belong to you. It belongs to me to, and to Yutaro and to anyone else who studied here or who's lived here."

"Yahiko…" I managed.

Yahiko firmed up his face. "You asked me to fight with you," he said firmly. "And I agreed because this school is mine too. Unless all the training has just been for show," he said trailing off.

I shook my head. "No, it hasn't, I did need you as a partner… I feel like I was burdening you too much. You shouldn't have to worry…"

Yahiko glared at her. "Are you joking?" he asked.

I blinked. Strange, nothing I said was anything but serious.

"Feh," Yahiko said, with his hands on his hips. "You butt into everyone else's life, give them help even if they don't want it and now you expect us not to do the same."

"Yahiko…" I tried again. But looking at him with a frown on his face, most of my arguments died on my lip. Was he right? Was this a case of giving advice and not taking it?

"I messed up and we lost the armor. So what are WE going to do about the mess," he asked.

I sighed and whipped away the tears. Maybe… maybe Yahiko was right. "We need to clean up the debris," I said.

"And the armor?"

"We'll replace it," I said firmly.

"You have the money?" he asked.

Maybe Yahiko was right about helping but there were some things that he was too young to help with. "Not yet, but I will."

* * *

The woman shifted slightly, her arms pushing upwards to rebalance the load there. She leaned down and placed a pale hand on the merchandise.

"Karou-chan," she said to the bundle in her arms. "Kaoru-chan, look at your mother."

The little girl turned her head towards the voice but her fingers stayed in twined in her mother's hair. Her own hair bobbed slightly in the pigtails as she turned, bright blue eyes staring up at the woman. "Nani?" the shrill little voice called as she turned around.

"Kaoru-chan, we're here for you today. Don't you want to help mommy pick up some nice fabric for you."

The little girl frowned and looked down at the table.

"Why?" she asked.

"For pretty kimonos," her mother replied. "How else are you going to impress your husband?"

The little girl stuck out her tongue. "No husband."

"Well maybe not now," the woman said, laughing slightly before it turned into a cough. "But one day… look, feel this."

Kaoru reached out and placed a small hand on the white fabric. "Soft," she said.

"Hai," her mother said. "For your wedding kimono. I'll sew it for you. Won't that be nice?" But little Kaoru only stuck out her tongue again.

"Okay, okay," her mother laughed. "Then… what about this?"

She picked up a ream of silk and showed her daughter the deep blue material. "Then we can add some swans or cranes or…"

"Bunnies!" Kaoru interrupted.

Her mother smiled. "Or bunnies. Or whatever you want. Because my little Kaoru-chan gets whatever she wants."

"I want a bokken like daddy!"

Her mother paused. "I don't think…"

"Daddy doesn't like me, does he?" Kaoru asked, looking down at her dangling toes. "He wanted a boy."

"No, no that's not it at all!" Her mother said firmly. "When you were born, I thought he would be upset but… he was very happy."

"But he always yells!"

Her mother looked at her sadly. "Hai… but that's just… his way." She paused. "Look at the one, Kaoru-chan."

She picked up the red-orange fabric and held it front of her daughter's eyes. And suddenly any unhappiness fled from the little girl's face as it lit up with pure joy.

* * *

My hands held the red-orange fabric and I couldn't help but smile. Red-orange… even back then, it was like I knew what I would love. And underneath it the beautiful white silk that my mother had never gotten to sew.

They were forgotten dreams now, part of the wishes and desires I put away when I joined my father and took up the sword. But I had always kept them because… because maybe I wasn't willing to let go.

But now I had no choice. There were no other options. And I had known from the beginning that it would come to this.

So I gathered up the multiple reams of silk and placed it in the bag next to me. This would be more than enough. My mother had bought when the dojo was prosperous and the amount of money I could get for them would be more than enough to buy new armor, maybe even fix the roof.

This was the right thing to do. It was the only thing to do.

No more childhood dreams, no more wishes for a life I would never have. Yahiko was right, the school wasn't just mine. I was going to save it for him, for Yutaro and for everyone who studied here.

And for those who lived here.

* * *

It had taken the combined strength and intelligence of the Oniwabanshu to convince him to wait out the storm. Actually, it had taken most of the Oniwabanshu distracting him while Okina used a ninja stealth move to knock him out.

Kenshin could have been angry, he could have really lost his temper. But when he woke up, the sun as shining in the sky and Misao was handed him a ticket for the train to Tokyo.

"You'll get there faster then if you left when you wanted to anyway," she had stated clearly. And it was hard for Kenshin to stay mad in the face of her overwhelming perkiness.

"Tell Kaoru we'll be there in a few days!" she had called as the train pulled out of the station. "We'll be her cheering section!! And write and tell us how it goes with…"

But the last bit was lost in the train whistle. He just waved, knowing what she meant, and slunk into his seat. He knew what she meant but…

The train ride was agonizing. The only thing on his mind was the fact that he might be too late… for real this time. He might just have lost her. And even if it was something not within his control, if he had been there…

The train came to a stop. After a few moments of confusion, a conductor came out and explained that debris was blocking the tracks. Some of the engineers were going to try to…

The conductor trailed off as soon as Kenshin stood up, pushed by him and out the car.

"Sir… please, just stay…" he called trying to run after the redhead.

The engineers working on the track looked up with surprise at the man approaching them. A few pulled away, taking the pick-axes with them. Kenshin took one look at the tree barring his way to Tokyo and drew his sword.

There was a flash of light. The assembled group blinked in surprise. The tree was gone. Not moved, not cut down… just gone.

"Will that help the delay?" Kenshin asked.

The conductor just nodded and let the man board the train again. The engineers took the pick axes and got on the train as well, not saying nary a word.

For someone reason, Kenshin thought the landscape was moving faster after the incident. But it still didn't mean that it made the trip any easier. When Tokyo finally loomed on the horizon, Kenshin had to fight the urge to just jump off the train and run the rest of the way.

He settled instead for running down the streets to get to the dojo. If they weren't there, he'd go straight to Fuji itself to look.

Kenshin saw the damage to the area as he ran and it only heightened his concern. Rounding the corner, he could make out the Kamiya compound. Even from here he could see the hole in the roof.

He threw open the door and looked inside. The dojo was completely silent. They weren't here he realized. He needed to…

"Oi!"

Kenshin turned and looked at the balcony. The boy there balked. "Kenshin?"

"Yahiko," he said, relief flooding back into his voice.

"What happened to your hair?"

"Where's Kaoru-dono?"

The questions came out at the same time but for some reason, Yahiko got the distinct impression that Kenshin's was much more important.

"She went to the market…" he trailed off. Not that it mattered if he finished the sentence anyway. By then Kenshin was already half way to the market.

* * *

"This is incredible! It's pre-Meiji era silk!"

I blinked. That made it more impressive? Wait… wait, this is where I need to look very knowledgeable about it or I won't get as much money.

"Of course," I said. "This is very high quality silk. I've already had several interested buyers but since you are such a long time friend of my family…"

I should have felt bad, lying to him like this, but I knew the silk was good. And it was just a little white lie.

He named off prices and I almost fainted. Apparently, the dojo had been VERY prosperous when my mother bought this fabric. I tried to hide my surprise and started to hand over the silk but I suddenly found myself holding the red-orange ream and not being able to move.

"That's a very unique color," the dealer said, watching my movements.

I paused and looked at him. "I can't sell it," I said suddenly. NO! You have to sell it, my mind screamed.

"I'll give you twice the price," he said.

Sell it! "I'm sorry," I said softly, "but it's not for sale."

What are you doing? My subconscious yelled. It's just cloth, it's just a…

No, I thought sadly, holding the fabric to my chest. It's not just cloth. Not to me. I can't give it away. I don't think I ever will be able to give it away.

The dealer looked at me and sighed. "All right. But if you ever want to, bring it to me and I'll offer you the best price."

I nodded and took the rather large sack of money from him. He ushered me out the door and promptly closed the shop, saying he needed to bring these to some of high upper class clients right away.

I turned and touched the door, thinking of the fabric he was taking away from me, of the dreams he was taking away from me. Most of the anyway. Maybe I was weak willed. But I didn't care at this point. Even if it was one-sided forever, I wasn't going to let it go.

I still had the ream in my arms but I had more than enough money to buy everything we would need and fix the roof and… well, it wasn't going to be much more than that. It was still quite a nice sum.

I turned to buy to head to the weapon shop but the wind suddenly picked up and pulled at the fabric in my hand. It fluttered up and covered my head for a moment, turning the world to a fuzzy shade of red.

I tried to push it down but it was being decidedly uncooperative. And then suddenly, it was being tucked away, not by my hands but by someone else's.

"Arigato," I started, trying to clear my mind of color before I suddenly realized it was not the fabric that was making the world red anymore.

"Kenshin?" I said, somewhat surprised to find him standing there.

"Kaoru-dono," he said, with relief in his voice.

I blinked again. "Your hair?"

"Ah… I… I thought…"

"It's nice," I said with a smile.

"Arigato," he said with a soft smile.

"Did you have a good time on your trip?" I asked, somewhat meekly.

"Hai," he replied. "But I heard about the storm and…"

"Isn't that her?"

Kenshin and I both turned and realized there was a small crowd of people looking at us. But most of the all, they were pointing at me.

* * *

"There she goes again."

"Who does she think she is, carrying a wooden sword like that?"

"What a waste, she'll never get married."

"Does she even like men?"

"How can you walk around wearing something like that?"

A thirteen-year-old Kaoru walked in the dojo and towards the kitchen, depositing the foodstuff there. With a sigh, she walked towards the dojo, carefully moving around the things to get ready for the next class.

"Did your trip to the market go well?"

Kaoru turned and saw her father standing at the doorway. "The same as always."

He paused. "But you are not upset."

"I'm not a little girl anymore, Otosan," Kaoru said looking at him. "And I am strong enough not to let it hurt me anymore."

She turned away and concentrated on preparing for the class she would be teaching. Her father frowned but he slowly walked away.

"Yes," he said softly to himself. "You are strong."

* * *

I frowned. It was one thing to take the jabs of the townsfolk while I was alone but I really didn't want to involve Kenshin in it all. I'd just have to end it quickly, scare them away.

"What are you all looking at?" I said, feeling the anger rising.

"It is her!"

"Just like the picture."

"Picture?" I said, backing down. One of the people held up the morning's newspaper and I almost fell over with shock.

There was a picture of me. And one of Yahiko. And a long article. I grabbed the paper and started to read, working through the words that told the story of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. How my father had started, how I had taken it up afterwards. The problems with Hiruma and how the school had lost face because of it. And how we were participating in the tournament to restore its honor.

"I don't understand," I said looking at Kenshin. "Who would…"

But I trailed off, following his finger and seeing the author of the article. Tsunan… it was Sano's friend. I wish I could have thought more about it, why he would help me out like this and give such great publicity for the school. But I was suddenly deluged.

"Are you accepting more students?"

"It must be such a honor to fight in the tournament."

"Can you teach me about Kamiya Kasshin Ryu?"

* * *

My bare feet padded on the wooden balcony and I let out a little sigh. The excitement at the market had exhausted me but I couldn't sleep just yet. Yahiko had only just left to check Sano apartment for damage and I needed a few moments of peace.

I smiled remembering the way he had blushed when I showed him the article. I kidded him about it, which of course sparked the usual retort from him.

"It's not like it's on the front page or anything," he said. "I guess they thought your picture would scare people away from buying it."

I give up. We can have a trip like the one to Fuji, a bonding sessions like the one we had after we got home and still… still Yahiko would insult me. And I was beginning to realize that I never wanted it any other way.

But the article had made me realize something else. The tournament was only a few days away! We had armor again but it was still a bit stiff and it might take some getting used to. And Yahiko needed to get over his head wound.

I walked around to the front steps and took a seat on the right side, leaning against the railing. All the people today… if one article had caused that much interest, imagine what winning the tournament would do!

I smiled slightly at the thought of the dojo filled with students again. It had been empty for too long. Well, not completely empty, I thought, looking over to the candlelight kitchen.

He wasn't going to tell me where he went, I realized. We hadn't spoken that much since getting back from the market but I really didn't know what to say. It had become rather obvious that I was no ready to let go of him, even though I knew that it couldn't work… at least I thought it couldn't work.

I could read it on his face, that something was weighing on his mind. And his hair… didn't people say that people cut off their hair when they were ready to make a change. But what change could he possible make?

My heart froze. Was he getting ready to leave? Was that what this was about?

The candle in the kitchen flickered and dimmed. A second later, I heard the soft footsteps walking down the balcony. I looked up and saw him, slowly round his way to the other side of the stairs. He sat down and silence fell over us.

"Thanks for dinner," I said somewhat lamely, no longer able to take the quiet. "You didn't have to do that, especially since you just got back from your trip."

"I don't mind," he replied, staring out into the yard.

I let the conversation lapse into silence again. I couldn't really think of anything to say. I was still stuck on the idea of that this might be the one conversation I had always dreaded.

"Mou Kenshin?" I said softly.

"Hai, Kaoru-dono?"

I paused. "Why did you cut your hair?"

There was a few seconds of silence again but for me, it stretched out for years. "I realized that I have had it for such a long time but that it was weighing me down lately."

I blinked. We were talking about hair right? My heart was pitter-pattering away, like it was ready to just dance right out of my chest.

"There were a lot of people interested in the school today," he said.

I tried to calm my heart but it wasn't working at all. "Yes," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Hopefully… we'll have lots of students soon."

"It might cause you problems then, to have a rurouni staying here, people might say things."

I wanted to tell him those people could go to hell. That I would never care what people said. That he could stay as long as he wanted.

But I looked over him and caught the look in his eyes and finally understood. This wasn't about him leaving at all. I turned back to face the ground, my hands lightly clutching the hakama pants.

"It might," I said softly.

He nodded slightly. "I thought… I thought maybe we should do something about that."

Tae-san would have been so upset. There were no cherry blossoms or butterfly swirling in the sky. No heavenly choirs. No elegantly written love poems. Not even a ring.

But then… it was so Kenshin, ne?

"I think…" I started, feeling my eyes well up. I stopped and laughed a bit. Why did I always cry when things made me happy?

"I think," I tried again, "that would be a very good idea."

There was movement to my left and I saw his hand outstretched towards me. Very carefully, I put mine in his and felt myself pulled towards him. I stood up, taking the few steps I needed and then followed the pull of his arm until I found myself nestled better his legs and his chest.

I looked up into those violet eyes and smiled. He wiped away a couple of tears but I think it just made it worse. So I just took his hand in mine and let it rest one my cheek. It made him smile for a moment. But I felt his fingers uncurl and the warmth spreading through my cheek and his expression changed. I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes, feeling his hand slowly tilt my head upwards.

I was never going to be like Tomoe but it didn't matter. Megumi had told me once that I couldn't be her replacement but I didn't want to understand that then. She was right, I couldn't be a replacement. I could only be me. And that was going to be enough.

Yes, Tae-san, there were none of this things you told me there should be. But… there were fireworks.