(Wiping a tear) This is it. The last chapter. But, ya know it's hard to be sad when this dang thing has been in 'unfinished' mode for more than a year. I'll be happy to be done with it and moving on to my other fics. It is a little on the sad side just because this is the first fic I ever started. Anyway, enough jabbering. Here is the finale and please check out my other stories if you liked this one! Hope to see you later!

Kaoru.the Saiyan?? Chapter 19: Closure

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Kaoru opened her eyes feeling as though she had been stomped on by a giant. Kenshin sat next to her, his head bowed and his breathing deep and even. She looked to her other side and saw Megumi smiling softly at her.

The young doctor put a finger to her lips to keep Kaoru quiet as she whispered. "He's been in here since you guys came home. He was intent on staying awake until you woke up, but he couldn't quite make it. He told me he had to become Battousai to deal with your battle and I guess it took a lot out of him."

Kaoru nodded at Megumi and looked back at Kenshin. She didn't want to wake him, but she vaguely remembered his eyes returning to their normal violet and wanted to make sure she didn't imagine it. She gently touched his knee and he opened his eyes swiftly. "Kaoru! You're awake!"

Megumi quickly excused herself as Kenshin and Kaoru began to embrace. Kenshin put his arms around her and then pulled back quickly when Kaoru let out a pained whimper. "Oh, Koishii! I'm so sorry!"

Kaoru put up a hand to stop him. "Don't apologize!"

Kenshin stood up and ran out of the room, leaving Kaoru in a temporary state of panic. He returned seconds later with Misao in tow. Misao sank down next to her friend and smiled brightly. "Good, you're up! I would have healed you last night, but my energy was gone after healing Kenshin."

Kaoru nodded and laid back down as Misao put her hands in their proper positions. Kaoru closed her eyes as the warmth spread through her and sighed once Misao moved her hands away. "Why didn't you guys give me a Senzu bean?"

Misao giggled. "You're a tough cookie, Kaoru! The only injuries you had were some bumps and bruises. It takes years to grow Senzu beans and it would be kind of a waste with only minor injuries."

Kaoru sat bolt upright as a thought struck her. "Are they gone? They didn't leave yet, did they?"

Kenshin put a hand over hers to still her movements. "Rest, koishii. They're still here. They said they won't leave until you have completely recovered. Rest and regain your strength."

She let her eyes drift shut as Kenshin's soothing voice lulled her to sleep.

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Kaoru got dressed after she woke up and could smell dinner. She padded down the hallway toward the kitchen and slid the door open and was greeted with a round of cheers.

"Hooray for Kaoru!"

"She saved the day!"

"Kaoru kicked ass!"

She blushed as everyone cheered and shot a look at her brother who merely nodded and smirked in her direction.

They all sat down to eat and Goku watched wide-eyed as tray after tray after tray of food was brought in, courtesy of the Akabeko. The feast lasted for the better part of three hours with lots of talking and laughing and toasting and good-natured joking.

At one point Kaoru thought she would cry when Sano stood up to toast her. He scratched the back of his head shyly as he cleared his throat. "I'm not too good with words or emotions, but I do know a lot about family. I didn't at first, but after being around these guys the past couple of years, I'm lucky enough to say that I'm no longer a lone man fighting for money. I have a family now and it's all because of Jouchan. She took in a wanderer, an ex-gangster and a pickpocket, all because she has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met before. I wouldn't be standing here today if it wasn't for her. I don't even think I'd still be alive. I know I pick and I tease, but that's what best friends are for isn't it?" He winked at Kaoru and his voice wavered slightly as he finished. "I just wanted to let you know, Jouchan, that I'll always be here for you and that we all love you. You're the soul of our family and none of us would be here if it wasn't for you."

Kaoru blinked hard as she hugged him. "I love you all, too. Even though you are a bunch of bakas."

They all laughed heartily and continued their party.

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Kaoru played with a strand of Kenshin's hair as they sat in her room that night looking outside. She had her head on his shoulder and would bring the same strand up, twirl it around her finger, and watch transfixed as it slid back down. Kenshin chuckled as he watched her. "Is my hair really that interesting, love?"

Kaoru blushed lightly as she smiled. "Everything about you captures my attention, rurouni."

Kenshin chuckled again. "I'm not a rurouni anymore, koishii."

Kaoru tried to contain her smile. "I know." She dramatically threw her hands around as she stood to act out her statement. "You couldn't possibly live without the charming, wonderful, beautiful and amazingly strong Saiyan princess, Kaoru." She giggled as she watched him arch one eyebrow.

He stood and stared into her eyes. Kaoru stopped her giggling as she saw the intensity of his gaze. "Kenshin?"

He closed the distance between them and slid her shoji shut.

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Sanosuke and Saitou arched eyebrows as Kaoru and Kenshin entered the kitchen the next morning, each sporting a bandage around their neck. Saitou's eyes grew slightly larger as he remembered when the women were talking to Kaoru. He remembered a conversation about mating rituals and neck biting for the Saiyans and his eyes settled back to normal as he smirked. No wonder they both seem so relaxed today.

Kaoru started to talk to Kenshin mentally, using their new link. Saitou knows! Oh, what are we going to do? I'm so embarrassed!

Koishii, it's not so bad. You know he won't tease about it. At least Sanosuke doesn't have a clue. He'd be merciless.

Kaoru's shoulders slumped in agreement.

Vegeta watched the exchange in amusement. So, the princess chooses her prince. I hope he's ready for what it means to be married to a Saiyan.

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After breakfast Kaoru swept the porch as Vegeta lounged nearby. "Princess, we're leaving in a few minutes."

Kaoru's broom clattered to the wood. "What?! You can't leave, yet."

Goku stepped around a corner. "We have to go. Our families will be worried about us. We can't leave them wondering."

Kaoru nodded as she squared her shoulders. "Let me gather the others." She dragged herself away in a daze. She had been with her brother and his friends for more than a year if you count their days in the Room of Spirit and Time and she was not ready to let them go.

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They stood in the yard of the dojo, hugging and saying good-byes, promising to see each other again in the future. Vegeta stepped up behind Kenshin. "You will take care of her and make her happy, or you will answer to me."

Kenshin nodded once and put on his smile as Kaoru turned around and saw her brother. "Vegeta." She opened her mouth to say more, but instead latched herself onto his neck, hugging fiercely as she started to cry.

Vegeta snorted at her, "weakling", even as his eyes softened and he returned her embrace.

Kaoru pushed him back at arms length and offered him a smile. "Take care of everyone and promise me we'll see each other again."

Vegeta nodded once and Kaoru hugged him one last time. "You're a baka and a stubborn, stubborn man, but I love you just the same, big brother."

Vegeta offered her a trademark smirk as he latched onto Goku and they headed home.

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Kamiya Dojo.Ten Years Later

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Kaoru ran outside as she heard a crash, only to see her seven year old son emerge from the rubble of the now destroyed shed. "Kenji! I told you no flying unless I'm supervising!"

Kenji looked at her innocently. "But, Uncle Vegeta was watch-"

His voice trailed off as his mother shot a small ki blast just behind her and then turned on her heel to face her brother. "I should have KNOWN it was you! Kenji do not listen to your Uncle, he will teach you bad manners."

Kenshin came in the gate and oro-ed as he looked at the decimated shed, the burn hole in the dojo wall, and his wife glaring at her brother as their oldest son had his head bowed in shame. "Um, hi Vegeta." He meekly greeted his brother-in-law, just enough to be polite but hopefully avoid his wife's wrath.

Goku and Piccolo materialized a few seconds later and broke the tense silence. Piccolo just shook his head as Goku rolled his eyes. "Not again, Vegeta."

Kaoru snapped at them. "As usual, only a few seconds too late to save something on my property. My brother can never come by for a nice quiet visit, oh no! He has to drag my son into trouble with his high and mighty Saiyan attitude and disrupt the peace in the dojo."

She trailed off as Kenshin came up and lightly pressed his hand on the spot left behind when Dr. Genzai removed her tail again. She tried desperately to keep her eyes open as Kenshin gently rubbed the spot. "Vegeta, why don't you come on in for tea?"

Vegeta smirked. "Actually, I came by to take my nephew for his first days of proper training."

Kenshin started to object, but Kaoru came back to reality in time to stop him by speaking softly. "Kenshin, it's in his blood. He's a Saiyan, let him train. Please? Besides they won't leave our world. Vegeta knows better. The worst it will be is he'll camp out for a few nights. Goku and Piccolo will be with them too."

Kenshin glanced over and the two warriors nodded at him. "Alright. He can go."

Kenji jumped around in joy and dashed off behind his uncle after giving his mom and dad a hug.

Kaoru shook her head as she looked at her husband. "He looks just like you."

Kenshin smiled at her. "And acts just like you."

Sanosuke sauntered past them on his way to the kitchen. "Lord, help us all."

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A/N: It's done and I'm about to pass out. It isn't late here, but not sleeping well and then staring at the screen while I finished the story has worn me out. Hope you enjoyed and let me know what you think! For the last time on this one.HUGS & KISSES!!!