YES! I DID THINK ABOUT THE AOSHI HAVING DISSAPEARED THING!

U_u;;

Honestly, you all have no trust in me

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Kaoru and Misao reclined on the front porch, Kenji swinging a little bokken around with all his might. He wasn't accomplishing much, just whapping Yahiko in the legs with it, causing growls from the older boy.

" Misao-chan, you know I'll gladly help you with Aoshi, as I stated before," Kaoru said, letting the cooling evening breeze sweep her hair over her shoulders, and smiling indulgently at Kenshin laboring to take down laundry. " But…"

" But?" Misao blinked at Kaoru. " But what? Is there something I have to do first?"

" Yes, Misao-chan, there is," Kaoru said, turning her smile on Misao and cocked an eyebrow. " I have to know where he is first."

There was much blinking and blank looks on Misao's part, for a minute, and then, a flush of deep crimson ran up her cheeks.

" Oh Kaoru-san! I forgot! I d…don't k..kno..w..where…he…i…i..is…!" Misao broke down, her face buried in her hands. Kenji, in a fit of concern for Aunt Misao, threw his bokken into Yahiko's face and raced to pat her lap frantically with his hands, trying to calm her. She smiled tenderly at him through her tears and gently stilled his hands with her own. " It…It's alright…it's going to be alright, Kenji, no need for worry." She turned to Kaoru. " You are so lucky to have such a b…beautiful…son…" Her smile faltered once again and she looked like might burst into tears again at any moment.

" Oh, Misao-chan…" Kaoru whispered, opening her arms up and enfolding Misao within the soft folds of her kimono. " It will be alright. It will. If I have to go find Saitou and make HIM search Japan, we'll find Aoshi. KENSHIN!"

Kenshin trotted over, smiling at the site of his wife, his son, and even the teary eyed Misao. He'd overheard the whole thing, and he was far from concerned. This would be a picnic for him. Well…except for Aoshi, but THIS time he would be the one watching from the sidelines, silently thanking the gods that this whole drama was finally over.

" Kenshin, we're going to Kyoto." Kaoru stated firmly, standing up and hauling Kenji up and over her shoulder, where he kicked his legs and reached his small hands out to Misao, who smiled and shook his hand gravely in the Western style.

" Maa maa, Kaoru-dono, can we pack?" Kenshin asked, smiling.

" Kenshinnnnnnnnnnnn!"

" Hai!" Kenshin trotted towards the storage shed, which held travelers' packs. He'd found that it was just as easy to find Kaoru sweet and amusing while doing her bidding then to stand around and get walloped for it.

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Ahh, yes…

I'm going to Canada for New Years

(I feel bad because I live in San Diego and my boyfriend lives in Toronto u_u)

It's going to be fun

(But I'm going to meet his family O_O)

I've got a few mid-terms coming up, so please excuse any extreme lateness of chapters.