Chapter 4

Kenshin trudged back to the dojo with his packages. He felt weary again. "Sessha is getting old," he muttered to himself.

He arrived at the kitchen to put away his purchases, and went out to find Kaoru and tell her about their guests tonight.

She was making Yahiko rake the yard, while doing some sewing.

"Doesn't that woman ever rest?" Kenshin thought, "She's as relentless as a tsunami! Must be nice to be 19 years old and bursting with energy!"

"Kaoru-dono, Taidama!" he called out.

"Did you get everything on the list?" called back Kaoru.

"Everything but the salve, Kaoru-dono, Megumi-sensai has to make up more of it and she'll be bringing it by later. I invited her to have dinner with us, sessha hopes that is agreeable. Sanosuke is invited also, since he was there, too."

"Fine, fine, Kenshin, it'll be nice to have company for dinner." Kaoru said, distracted by her sewing.

"I'll go heat some water to finish the laundry, Kaoru dono." Said Kenshin.

"Fine, I'm almost finished with this sewing, anyway. I can at least wash the vegetables and rice for dinner, even if you're cooking."

Kenshin dragged off to heat water, and Kaoru trotted after him. "He looks tired," she thought, suddenly concerned.

"Kenshin, forget the laundry, why don't you go sit on the porch and rest a while before dinner?"

"It's all right, Kaoru-dono, I'm f...," he broke off, a huge uncontrollable yawn splitting his face." She looked into his fine-featured, handsome face and saw the dark circles of fatigue under his eyes.

"Sumanai, I guess I could use a short nap," he smiled at her. She smiled back at him, and reached out tentatively to briefly touch his chafed hand.

"I'm holding you to that, Kenshin, you do too much around here, and I guess I don't always remember to thank you. I could never run the dojo properly without your help."

Kenshin looked studiously at his feet, and peeked up through his bangs, "I'm honored to help you anyway I can, and thanks are not necessary."

"Go take your nap, baka!" Kaoru said, turning him by his shoulders towards the house and giving him a slight push in that direction to cover his embarrassment.

Grinning like an idiot, he complied.