Chapter One: Kenshin and Aoshi (Written to Live & Direct by Sugar Ray with KRS-One, I don't know what Firefly listens to btw)

Kenshin Kaoru sat on the porch of the Dojo, her eyes gazing at and past the spot where the last strand of bobbing red hair had disappeared He said he didn't want to hurt her anymore. He said he was sorry. That he never should have intruded on her only to leave. That he could no longer protect her, and that staying here was bad for them both.

Never before had she met a more selfless man. He was so intent on hurting himself that he didn't realize when it wasn't actually helping others. He didn't even notice when it was hurting them. He must have thought the numchuka in her hand a kind gesture. They were of course non-lethal weapons, and he said he hoped that the Kayima Kasshin style had room for them, that they would be better at protection than her bokken. She certainly hoped so.

There was no one left now but Yahiko, and even he was muted by the loss of Sano, and the retreat of Megumi into sorrow. She should be glad, thought Kaoru. At least she can think that Sanosuke loved her. That he would have spent the rest of his life with her. Not like him. Not like Kenshin

It had all started with the death of Sanosuke at the hands (and feet and elbow) of Anji the Destroyer, his earstwhile sensei. Sano had lived just long enough to convince Anji that the children he spent his life trying to avenge wished merely for him to be happy, as he had wished them. Kenshin was never the same when he heard. Yahiko was young enough to recover someday, but Kaoru and Megumi could tell that he had scars too. Kenshinno one in the dojo had cracked a smile since the day Sano died. Anji was of course heart broken, and only a visit assuring him that it was not his fault kept him from killing himself in shame.

Soon the kenshin-gumi fell apart. The oniwabanshu of Kyoto was busy with new revolts against the Mejii, Megumi was doing her level best to get to Sanosuke, even having to be restrained occasionally, Sano himself was dead, Yahiko and Kaoru muted, and KenshinKaoru had hoped that in his time of need she could be there. That she could tell him that even though his friend had died, he still had her love, that his life could still be happy.

But Kenshin, with his warped logic, was hell-bent on punishing himself for the group's misery by returning to wandering. By getting Sanosuke involved, he reasoned, he had done this to his entire circle of friends. To his family. Now he could never risk hurting them again. He could not even embrace Kaoru this time, could not even promise her that he would try to return someday. He could only walk.

Kaoru sat. She couldn't cry yet. She could only begin to wonder what she had lost.

Kenshin

Aoshi-Sama Misao stared at the dirt between her knees. She couldn't even hold her head up. The man she had loved so hard, then thought dead, then back, killing her grandfather, then back again as a good guyshe had never managed to hate him. Because for to long he had been perfection for her. He was so smart, so smooth, so suave, never inefficient, always doing the best thing possible.

But when gramps had died, and Misao had tried again and again to foist leadership of the Oniwabanshu onto his shoulders, that logical mind of his knew. It knew that his presence would never be a benefit. That he could never be leader to the Oniwaban again, and that as long as he sat in the Aoiya neither could Misao. So he left. Not even a word. He was a ninja after all, and was gone before anyone could even think to check.

Except Misao. Misao had studied her lord' Aoshi her entire life. She tracked his thoughts flawlessly. He would try to leave. She tried to confront him, saw his shadow as she went towards his tiny room in the Oniwabanshu's inn. When she slid open the Shoji he was gone.

I was never good enough, Aoshi-samaI'm so sorry I ever dragged you downSomewhere, the logical part of Misao said. But why? Asked a more emotional part. Why did you have to leave me to this? Why couldn't you have taken me with you?

Lord Aoshi

(SEE?? I TOLD you it would have a plot! And I DID label it angst, so whaddya expect? Anyway, to those of you who want more angst I promise this wasn't just token, and to those of you who are reading this because the only words of the disclaimer you read were Misao, Kaoru, homosexuality, and naughty, your day will come soon enough. My co-author assures me of this. Please review us! We love you! Oh, and if anyone can find any random misspellings of Japanese names or terms please shoot me dead and flame me into the ground. Thanks! L8r!)