Um, wow. I had no idea what I was getting myself into! So many expectations! I think, after reading all the reviews thus far, I know what my main problem is. I didn't set anything up! No warnings of OOCness, no set-up of timelines or ages or if I'm following the anime or manga, etc. So, here's a set up. Okay, OOCness on Kenshin's part! I mean the guy just found his mother for goodness sakes. I would think even people who hide everything would break down a bit there. And as for ages and timelines, I'm not really following the anime or manga, I guess. I kinda made him the age I want him to be. Kenshin's 30 here, which if I remember correctly would make Kaoru 19. And that would mean he was taken by the slave traders at 7. Also, Enishi's happened. I'm pretty sure my ages are correct, hopefully, maybe, kinda. ^__^ I think that settles most of it. More is explained in here. Here's the next chapter and hope you like! Hugs and kisses!

More OOCness for Kenshin!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

The Reunion

Chapter 2: Explanations

Kaoru slowly began to walk towards her house, unwilling to break up the moment for Kenshin and Akino. She took slow, measured steps hoping not to make any sounds. She felt the tears welling up in her own eyes. So many emotions were running through her at that moment. Elation for Kenshin and his mother, jealousy that her own mother was not there and then anger at herself for feeling jealous. What right do I have? They deserve all the happiness in the world right now and I will not have petty jealousies racing around in my mind. She continued into the kitchen and began preparing tea.

Akino pushed her son at arm's length to get a good look at him. "My, how you've grown. You could use a little more meat on those bones though."

"Oro?"

Undaunted, she continued her inspection. "That young lady should cook more for you! A growing boy needs lots of food. And this old ratty gi, we need to get you some new clothes."

Kenshin's eyes grew wider and rounder with each statement. He couldn't tell her that Kaoru's cooking was for the most part inedible. He clutched protectively at his gi and then the comment about a growing boy registered in his mind. "Growing boy? Okaasan, I'm thirty years old!"

Akino stopped poking and prodding and looked guiltily at Kenshin. "It has been a long time, hasn't it? You're not…angry with me…are you?"

Kenshin saw her bottom lip start to tremble and pulled her in for another hug. "How could I be? There was no way you could have found me back then. And I've always believed you to be…" He just couldn't bring himself to say the word.

Akino rubbed his back soothingly. "Now, now, Shinta. It isn't the time to cry!" She pulled back and looked at him with a bright smile on her face. "It's time to get to know each other again and look forward to the future! We can't bring back the time we've lost, but there's lots left to have fun with!"

He nodded once and led her into the house.

Kaoru saw them walk in and brought some tea over. "Here you go. I prepared some tea for you."

"Oh, thank you, dear. Now, sit down with us. I need to get to know you as well." Kaoru

sat down and poured everyone's tea.

"How about if you start, Shinta. Do you have any questions?" Akino glanced at her son over the rim of her cup.

"Well, Okaasan, for starters, what happened back then? The town doctor said you were…" Kenshin swirled his hand trying to convey the word without saying it.

Akino spoke for him. "Dead?" Kenshin nodded. "Love, I was almost gone. My pulse was weak and I was unconscious for a long time. I woke up in a cabin with a family in the next town over. The man was a doctor and had come over to our village to try and gather information on cholera. When he started to examine me, he found a slight heartbeat and took me to his house to recover. When I came to, I immediately began to ask about my children and your father. I was told the sad news about two of my boys and my husband, however there was one unaccounted for. I asked them where my Shinta was and they had no idea. I tried to leave right then and there, but I was so weak I passed out before I reached the front door. So, once I regained my strength, I returned to our village. The townspeople said you had been picked up by slave traders. So, I started on a long journey to try and find you, but I found nothing. Then, the revolution started, and with all the chaos it was nearly impossible to continue my search." She turned sad eyes to her son. "I heard the legends about the Battousai. When I heard he had red hair, I began to panic. Surely, my son, my sweet Shinta who hated conflict, was not the Battousai." She raised a shaky hand to his scarred cheek. Her voice began to break with choked back sobs. "But, you have the scar. The cross-shaped scar. What happened to you, love? What made you into the Battousai? Who taught you to fight, to shed blood?" She bit down on her bottom lip to keep from crying loudly.

Kenshin drew in a deep, shaky breath and closed his eyes for a moment. He felt a warm, small hand cover his and looked over at Kaoru. She gave his hand an encouraging squeeze and let out a sympathetic smile. Kenshin told his mother all about his training with Seijuro Hiko, his days with the Choshu Clan, his short time with Tomoe, his ten years of wandering, coming to the Kamiya Dojo and finally his fights since living there.

"I just recently healed from the fight with Enishi. And I'm hoping that was the last fight I'll have. Megumi-dono has informed me that my repeated use of Hiten Mitsurugi has taken its toll and my skills will be useless within a few years."

Akino watched through her own tears as Kaoru held Kenshin's hand through his story and bravely fought her own tears, trying to be strong for him. The love she had for the man was so apparent it was almost tangible. And obviously, Kenshin's time in Rakuninmura (is that spelled right?) shows how lost he was without Kaoru. Akino was determined her son would be happy. He's had too much sorrow in his life. Well, now that Okaasan's here to set things on the right track, happiness is on its way!

She stood abruptly. "Shinta, I think I need to go clean up. All this crying is making my eyes hurt." She gave a small smile and Kenshin stood to show her where her room would be.

"Okaasan?" She turned, hearing how small her son sounded right then. "Are you angry with me, for being who I was?"

She took both of his hands and brought him closer to kiss his forehead. "I have always loved you and I always will. I am not angry with you. I'm angry with the men who made you kill, who told you that was all you had to offer. But, you were just a child back then, trying to help protect the weak. I could never be angry with you for what happened all those years ago." She kissed his forehead once more and went into her room to get settled.

Kenshin slowly made his way into the kitchen where Kaoru was washing the tea things. He stopped abruptly and looked up, eyes wide, when he heard sniffling coming from her.

"Kaoru-dono? Are you alright?"

Kaoru wiped her eyes and turned around with a bright smile on her face. "I'm so happy for you, Kenshin! I was hoping you were the one she was looking for. I wished for it with everything I am." She took another swipe at a wave of oncoming tears.

Kenshin smiled back at her and stepped closer. "Then, why are you crying?"

"Oh, Kenshin! I'm just so happy." She giggled at his lost expression and the soft 'oro' that was emitted. "People cry when they're extremely happy! And right now, I don't think I could be any happier for anyone."

He smiled softly at her and closed the space in between them, drawing Kaoru into a tight, friendly hug. Her eyes widened slightly and then she relaxed, bringing her arms up to return the gesture. "I don't know what I'd do without a friend like you, Kaoru."

As much as she loved hearing how important she was, the word 'friend' cut into her like a knife. She covered her pain with another bright smile. "Why don't you go tell your mother that we're going to the Akabeko for dinner? I'll go get Yahiko, Megumi and Sanosuke. I'm sure they'd all love to meet her."

Kenshin nodded and turned to tell his mother the news. My mother. Okaasan. I haven't even uttered the words in years. My life was so empty for so long and then I found Kaoru-dono and all of our friends here. All of my fights from the revolution have been resolved, and now Okaasan is alive. I don't know what I did to deserve so much, but I thank the powers that be for every bit of it.

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Kaoru hummed happily as she made her way down the street toward the clinic. If her hunch was correct, she'd find the doctor and a certain rooster there. As she drew nearer, she smirked as her hunch was confirmed.

"Look, baka, tori-atama! I don't have time to fix your hands every time you get into another stupid fight! It probably wasn't even over something important."

"You don't even know what it was about, kitsune! Don't make judgements unless you know the facts!"

Truth was, Sano had just pounded a guy in the gambling hall for saying some rather choice words about a lady doctor. He would never admit it to Megumi, but he would risk losing use of his hand forever to protect her.

Kaoru entered the front room of the clinic to find the two glaring at each other. She could make out the muscles in Sano's jaw moving where he was grinding his teeth, and she saw Megumi's hand twitch, obviously wanting to slap some sense into the street fighter. She cleared her throat and Megumi's eyes lit up, baffling Sano.

"Did it work out, Kaoru-san?" Megumi pushed past Sano, quickly making her way over to Kaoru.

"He's the one!" Kaoru smiled happily at the doctor and Megumi's eyes became suspiciously bright, though she would never cry in front of anyone..

"I'm so happy for them both!" Sano looked at the wetness in Megumi's eyes questioningly.

"If you're happy, then why are you crying, fox?"

"I am not crying, baka."

Kaoru rolled her eyes at both of them. "You men are all the same. I had to explain it all to Kenshin as well. Happy tears, Sano. It's okay."

Sano scratched the back of his head and then another thought entered his mind. "Oi, what's this about, 'He's the one'?"

Kaoru and Megumi both beamed at Sano. "We found Kenshin's mother!"

A soft thud was heard as Sano fell over.

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"Really, Sanosuke. How do you always end up injured?" Megumi sighed as she packed up the bandages she used to wrap his head.

"Well, you have to admit, it's big news. I thought he had no family left."

"That's what Ken-san thought, but she was brought into the clinic last night. She was passed out down by the bridge. Poor woman hadn't eaten properly in days." Megumi stood to put away her supplies and looked at Kaoru. "Why are you here, anyway? Shouldn't you be at the dojo with them?"

"Actually, I came by to see if you two wanted to join us at the Akabeko. Sort of a mini-party for Kenshin's okaasan."

Sano nodded heartily. "Of course we'll go to the Akabeko!"

Kaoru let one corner of her mouth curve into a grin. "No shock, there."

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The five people walked to the Akabeko chatting happily. Sanosuke and Megumi were leading the way, bickering non-stop. Kaoru, Kenshin and Akino were walking behind them, making small talk. Akino was only half-interested in the conversations going on beside her. She was much more interested in the two people in front of her. Hmmmm. Looks like Okaasan's got more work to do.

They finally reached the Akabeko and stepped inside. Yahiko came out to greet them and was about to call Kaoru names when he spotted the older woman with the group. He looked her over curiously and cast a glance at Kaoru. "Yahiko, meet Kenshin's mother, Akino."

Yahiko's eyes widened as Akino bent down to his level. "Well, isn't he just the most handsome little swordsman, ever?" Yahiko wanted to shout about the 'little' remark, but kept his mouth firmly shut. After all, this was Kenshin's mother. "Someday, the ladies will swoon over you, sweetheart." She hugged the little boy and he blushed.

"Um, thanks, Akino-san." He bowed politely and Akino put a hand to her chest.

"Oh, my! Such good manners. But, you may call me, Okaasan." She winked at Yahiko. "I think it suits me better, anyway."

Yahiko smiled. He liked this woman already. He led them to a large table and Tae dismissed him from work for the rest of the day after introductions were made.

Akino told the whole group her story and they all listened intently. After two hours, the little circle of friends was winding down from all the excitement. Akino looked out a window and tried to stifle a yawn. "My, it's getting late. I hate to be the one to end the party, but after all of today's events, my old age is catching up to me. I think it's time to go home, don't you Shinta?"

Kenshin stood and the rest followed suit. Sano and Megumi said their good-byes and left in the opposite direction of Kenshin and the others.

Kaoru glanced at the small woman walking next to her. She had so many questions she wanted to ask her. All of that would come tomorrow. She wasn't willing to wait any longer.

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A/N: Kind of a bumpy chapter ending, but I didn't know where to end it and it just seemed to keep dragging out, so I just chopped it off. Anyway, another chapter done and more to go. Not sure exactly how long this story will be, I'll just figure it out as I go along. This is the first story that I have a beginning and an end, but no middle. Hmm, guess it'll write itself somehow. Anyway, please review! I'll give you a little lemony treat if you do! (Well, not me exactly…can't get the fingers to type a lemon. But, I'll ask someone to do it! I promise!)

Yes, I will bribe you if need be! Hope you enjoyed. Hugs & Kisses!