READ THIS FIRST:

First of all
, I apologise if I've misled anyone by posting so many chapters at one shot - its all one big chapter. oops! There will be an epilogue, and maybe an omake (thanks to Akaikitsune's suggestion. However, this will depend on me finally discovering once and for all what omake means ^_^)

Secondly: I've been agonising over how this chapter should go for ages. Finally I saw the light - why should I let my hair follicles suffer over such a little problem? Let the readers decide! So here we are: the final chapter with two optional endings: the original, mushy one - and I warn you, I suck at mush! - and the second, distinctly wierder one.

Those readers who hate reading intros can now proceed to plunge straight into the fic. The patient ones - can I explain please? Wait... there's no one left.... !!! ^_^ Just kidding - you guys have proved your patience just by putting up with this fic for so long. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own RK!



*Chp 16*


The bright light and buzzing intensified. As before, Kenshin felt buffeted by a whirlwind of air. Sano was gripping his left arm rather too tightly for comfort, but at least it afforded him some stability.

A particularly strong gust blew him slightly off-balance and he found himself stumbling backwards, then falling...

Gradually, the buzzing started to fade. Through tightly scrunched up eyes,he could tell that the light was no longer as intense. Sensation returned to his limbs - he realised he was flat on his back in plain old dirt. The exceptionally heavy mass on top of him - he unscrewed one eye to look - was Sano, face down in an ungainly sprawl of arms and legs.

Sano groaned, then levered himself up, spitting chunks of earth out of his mouth. He dragged one hand across his mouth in disgust, What happened?

Kenshin pushed himself up on his elbows, squinting a bit against the glare of the sun. Gradually he began to make out the silhouettes of people's heads... His eyes began to adjust to the light. He found they were lying in the middle of a major street, ringed by a gaggle of curious passers-by, who were whispering amongst themselves. A horse-drawn carriage narrowly skirted the gathering on the left, its driver throwing a few choice words back over his shoulder.

Sano released a loud expletive as a mound of cigarette ash landed on his sleeve and sizzled a hole through to his skin.

Taking the air?

Kenshin's eyes travelled up to the source of the voice. He growled inwardly. Great. Saitoh stood in front of them puffing out a cloud of smoke, his eyes narrowed in obvious enjoyment of their embarrassing situation.

The police man flicked his cigarette casually and took another drag. I thought I'd stumbled on a pair of common drunks, he said conversationally, But it looks as if I've found myself a rather uncommon pair instead. His voice was low but pitched to carry through the crowd. Interesting...I understood the Battousai had mysteriously vanished a month ago, followed shortly after by the elaborately staged disappearance of this riff raff... he nodded in Sano's direction.

He paused for effect and then smiled slyly. Battousai, I'd always thought your affections lay with the Kamiya girl. But perhaps I should admit to an error in judgement? From the look of things, it appears that your feelings may truly lie with another person... His eyes slid tellingly to Sano as he ground the cigarette butt under his foot. A chorus of stifled gasps greeted his announcement and the buzzing of the crowd intensified. Well? Or is there another valid explanation for all of this?

Kenshin gritted his teeth. Saitoh's ki was reeking big-time.

Sano bounced to his feet. What are you implying, cockroach breath?! He waved his arms in the air ineffectually, Yeh, there IS a valid explanation, slitty eyes! We've just come back from the fu-mwhmmm!

Kenshin clamped his hands over Sano's mouth and raised his voice so he could be heard over Sano's muffled struggles, There IS a perfectly valid explanation for all of this. But frankly, its none of your business. His eyes flickered gold then returned to normal. Good day, he dragged a kicking Sano away.

Saitoh watched them leave, unperturbed. He liked to secretly keep tabs on his former adversary and it annoyed him to have lost all trace of him for a whole month. He was patient however. It would be an easy thing to accost the big-mouthed streetfighter when he was alone, and easier still to aggravate him into telling the truth. He lit himself a fresh cigarette and turned in the direction of his office. Plenty of time to ferret out the truth.

*****

Kenshin released Sano two streets away.

Why'd you do that? Sano growled angrily. I could've shut him up...

Nevermind,' Kenshin was not in the mood to explain that telling Saitoh the truth would have given him the perfect excuse to have them both committed for observation under suspicion of insanity. It'll be getting dark soon.

Sano started to emit another growl which mutated into a monstrous yawn that nearly took his head off. He stretched, Well, I'll show that Saitoh another day. I'm exhausted... all those photo shoots and commercials. It's still early, but I'm going home to crash. You'll be at the Akabeko for lunch tomorrow?

Kenshin blinked

To celebrate our return, idiot, Sano whacked his friend heartily, I'm really looking forward to seeing Tae again.

Kenshin absently felt the back of his head for damage.

And you have some catching up to do eh? Sano winked. Then grinned broadly. Don't forget who's your best bud, okay? Details, you know. Gimme the details. The relevant ones. Oh heck, he turned abruptly, lifting his hand in farewell, Actually, I don't really want to know...

Kenshin stared after his friend's back in some confusion, before his words began to sink in. Oh. He flushed.

What exactly was he going to say? He'd decided to accept everything on his return - the feelings, the fears - and what he set out to do, he always did. In his heart, he was already beginning tentatively to confront and embrace his emotions. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible for people to read hearts or minds. He would really much prefer to say, I've changed my thinking, and then pull out his heart for people - for Kaoru - to inspect, so they could see for themselves precisely what changes had been made. Preferred that to having to explain it in plain old conversation...

He chewed over the problem all the way to the dojo. He had no problems communicating in ways that indicated his feelings. Like when he'd said he was half-relieved she had come to Kyoto, or when he'd obliquely told her that he'd found a second home with her....But these signals were so open to misinterpretation, so easily made more or less off. Besides, with all the confusion his mind had been in, the signals he'd been sending were all mixed up. And no amount of fresh signalling would be able to put to rest the confusion he had seen developing in her deep blue eyes.

Kenshin cautiously entered the dojo grounds, instantly sensing that it was empty. There was a note on the front porch, weighted down by a rounded pebble. As he bent to retrieve it, he recognised Yahiko's impatient scrawl:

[Busu,

The Akabeko got a last minute hire for a party tonight. Tae needs me to help wait. It'll end late so I'll probably stay over. She says to come over if you like when you get back from the Maekawa dojo - she's keeping extra food back.

Ja. ]


Maekawa dojo? It must be Tuesday. Kaoru taught at the Maekawa dojo as often as they needed her, always on a Tuesday. It was some distance a way, and she didn't usually return before six. Kenshin looked at the sky and judged it to be almost four. He replaced the note on the porch step and dutifully went about making ready for her bath.

*****
Kaoru readjusted the bokken on her shoulder, the duffle bag attached on the end weighted with more than the her usual change of clothes. Kawazoe-sensei
had pressed some sake on her in lieu of payment for her services

Not that I need sake... Still, she liked the Kawazoe's and she relished the opportunity to spar with different people. Beside, everyone was facing economic difficulties these days...

She set herself a brisk pace. Kawazoe-sensei had released her earlier than usual and she had been confident of reaching home before dark, so she had refused their offer of a lantern. But as she was leaving, she had been hailed by their new assistant teacher, Masao.

he had came running up, flashing her his friendly grin, Umm - I was wondering - can I see you home?

Her jaw had gone slack. Kawazoe's wife had chosen this moment to call out to Masao, saying that she needed him to borrow some shoyu from their neighbours down the way.

A flicker of annoyance had crossed his open features, but he had shrugged philosophically, Oh well, I can walk you as far as our neighbours' at least. And next time...

Still stunned, she had let him. She didn't realised 'til later that he must have been dragging his feet - by the time he left her and she had come to herself, she realised that the sun was already beginning to set. MOU!

She started to slow her steps. There was no way she would make it back before dark, so there was no point rushing. She wasn't nervous about being on a quiet road at night - she was more than capable of dealing with slimy people who waylaid beautiful kendo instructors on their way home. Although, if Kenshin had still been around, he would have insisted on accompanying her to and from the Maekawa dojo, especially in winter.

The weather is unseasonably warm anyway. She brushed away the thought of Kenshin quickly from her mind, drawing on her resolve to be grown-up about the whole matter.

Why had Masao wanted to walk her home? She still felt a little shocked. Most men in the area avoided her with a ten foot pole, unless they were sparring with her, in which case they beat her off with a three-foot bokken. She knew she had a terrible reputation - Tae was always urging her to do something about it - she was the sort of girl mothers used to reassure themselves that their daughters-in-law were not as bad as they thought. She fought, she was unladylike, she was hopeless in the kitchen... she invited strange men to stay in her home. Kaoru tossed her head. Hmmph. No one could fault her sewing skills though!

It crossed her mind that Masao had only recently taken up his post at the Maekawa dojo - perhaps that would explain his interest. He was still ignorant of her past. Unbidden, Tae's voice seemed to fill her head, Kaoru-chan, you have to make full use of every opportunity. You're not getting any younger. If a man seems even a little interested, it can't hurt to get to know him better. You never know. And now that you're alone...

And now that I'm alone... Kaoru sighed tiredly. I can't. I can't even begin to think of anyone else in that way. Why am I even allowing myself to think about this? Kenshin has only been gone a month - he could still come back. And I'm going to be waiting when he does.

Waiting for what? She shook her head in annoyance, and cleared the thoughts from her mind. She'd cross that bridge when she got to it. If need be, she might have to take some drastic action of her own. I'll steel myself against the fear of rejection. She set her jaw, then came to herself with a start. It was already dark!

Grumbling under her breath, Kaoru started on the way home with renewed determination. She was starting to get lost in thought more often these days. Yahiko was always ranting about her lack of concentration when she taught him.

A single pin point of light appeared far ahead on the road. As she walked, it grew larger and she became aware that it was the light from a lantern.

, she hailed the lantern-holder cheerily, glad to find some one else out on the road. She frowned a little when she got no response. Whoever it was had also stopped walking. She considered this briefly before shrugging her shoulders - the person couldn't have any ill-intentions, or he would have taken some action by now. At any rate, even if her bokken failed her (highly unlikely, she sniffed), the heavy ceramic jug of sake would also make a great weapon...

She drew closer and was able to make out more. By the faint yellow light, she saw worn tabi, tattered hakama, faded gi....a familiar face....




For those who want the mushy ending (BTW, in case it affects your choice, this is lime free!) : Go to Chp 16a



For those who'd rather avoid my take on Mills and Boons: Go to Chp16b




Notes to chapter posted separately!