Author Babbles: Well, here it is, the second chapter of this wonderful *cough* exciting *hack* masterpiece of a fanfic.

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Chapter 2 - Steeled resolve _____________________

-That baka...- Kaoru fumed.

Why must men always go out of there way to act noble and tragic, like they barely had any feelings?

-Oh well. I'm pretty sure Kenshin can take care of himself. But, d*mn, that hurt...-

Kaoru breathed a sigh as she eased herself into the prepared bath. The water that greeted her was warm and comforting...like Kenshin. She couldn't help it. She let a tear or two trickle down her cheek. Kenshin always used to prepare her bath...

-Kenshin this, Kenshin that.- Kaoru thought bitterly.

Whenever she felt stressed, sad, or embarrassed, she usually let it all out in the form of anger and treated herself to a long, deserved bath.

Anything but the pain. She had to forget about the whole situation. It always worked when she took out her frustration on something. Or someone.

Happy with the images of a sweating, exhausted Yahiko and Sanosuke after she was through with them, Kaoru let herself wallow deeper into the water.

*****

"Ooohh, Sano! Yahiko!" A sweet, phony voice rang out into the morning stillness.

"Oiy, Jou-chan." Sanosuke greeted from the step he was sitting on lazily.

"Where's Yahiko?" Kaoru demanded as she dropped the innocent-girl act. She glared at the lopsided grin plastered on Sanosuke's face.

"What, already looking for someone to do the laundry now that Kenshin's gone?" Sanosuke teased.

He noticed a slight darkening to Kaoru's usual sunny expression and frowned.

"Why, what a wonderful idea, Sanosuke! Of COURSE you have my permission to do all of the household chores!" Kaoru drawled with a twinkle in her eyes.

"D-deh?" Sanosuke sputtered.

"It's about time you did your share of the chores since you ARE staying here and you ARE eating MY food-all for FREE. Not to mention a certain SOMEONE that seems to have abandoned his USUAL chores..." Kaoru almost spat.

"Hai!"

Kaoru nodded with approval.

"First, get some groceries in town. The usual recipe for riceballs."

Sanosuke was visibly trying not to choke.

"What is it Sanosuke?" Kaoru asked menacingly.

"Errm...nothing! Just...money!! Money, Jou-chan!"

Kaoru glared at him suspiciously before looking through the folds of her fighting gi and handing over some change.

-Ooohh...my beloved coins...how pretty are thee...-

Grinning slyly, Sanosuke stood up, did a mocking salute, and strutted away. Shaking her head, Kaoru turned back into her dojo.

"YAHIKO!!"

-Where IS that agitating boy? Arggh...he must be at the Akabeko again staring at Tsumbme. I'll train him later. I guess I'm all alone in this huge building now.-

Chirp. Chirp.

-It's quiet. TOO quiet...-

Kaoru sighed. How she missed her handsome, red-headed friend. She padded across the room to retrieve her bokken.

-Baka...why did you leave me behind?- *whack*

It was the question she kept on asking herself, trying to find the light of understanding. Why? *swing-whack* Was she not competent enough? *stab* Her skills nothing compared to his? *whack* Was she not worth anything to him so that he could leave so easily? *jump-swing-whack-stab-stab* But that certainly could not be true, because she had seen the hurt...the hurt and pain flooding his eyes as his contrasting, firm voice told her goodbye.

Did he actually worry for her safety? But he knew well enough that she could take care of herself and needed no protecting. So why...?

Kaoru cut off her train of thought angrily as she realized that she was standing dumbly in the middle of the huge room, practicing forgotten momentarily.

-Kenshin...I'll show you. I'll show you that there's no use trying to protect me from whatever it is your are facing. I would rather die fighting by your side than wait impatiently for you forever. I'm tired of waiting, tired of the anxiety...-

-Am I even waiting for him? He said he's gone back to being a wandering rurouni and that means that there is no guarantee that I will ever see him again if I just mope around. I must get stronger and go after him.-

With renewed confidence, Kaoru determinedly vowed to completely master and excel at Kamiya Kasshin Ryu - for the sake of love and friendship.

*****

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