Okay minna-san you guys seemed to be getting pretty impatient so I got this one up as soon as I could. I appreciate all your reviews and your suggestions they really mean a lot! Well anyhow, I got chapter four up so I hope you like it!

Chapter Four: Cooking lessons (I decided to go with one of the suggestions I got so I hope it sounds okay!)

Kaoru and Kenshin weaved through the crowded streets of Tokyo that warm afternoon in hopes of getting to the dojo.

"Wow, it sure is busy out here," Kaoru mumbled after being shoved for the fifth time that day. Kenshin was in the same state, oroing every now and then.

"Hai, de gozaru." Kaoru noticed they were now nearing the Akabeko. 'Oh, I bet I could keep my cover if I learn how to cook!' But then she looked at the Rurouni in front of her. 'But first I have to make an excuse to go to the Akabeko without him following.'

"Kenshin?" he turned around. "Hai de gozaru?" Kaoru looked nervously from side to side.

"Ano, eto, I remembered I have to meet someone at the Akabeko, you got o the dojo without me, I'll catch up later." Kenshin cocked his head to one side.

"Oro? Demo you don't know where the dojo is Sakura-dono, you'll get lost." Kaoru shrugged. 'Darn I forgot about that. Better think fast.'

"Ano, I know where the dojo is, I practiced with Kaoru a lot when both her parents died, I stayed there for awhile before." 'Oh yeah, I'm good.' Kenshin's eyes widened a little in surprise.

"Oro, you did?" Kaoru turned around and smirked. "Didn't I just say that? Nani, is there a problem that I stayed there?" Kenshin became embarrassed by her remark.

"I-Iie, if you're sure I'll see you at the dojo then." And he left. As Kaoru neared the restaurant she was hoping Tae would teach her how to cook in order to keep her cover as not to be suspicious at the dojo. But.that would mean she might have to blow her cover in front of Tae and Tsubame and Tae normally has a big mouth. 'I guess this is a risk I have to take.' "Anyone in here?" Surprisingly, the Akabeko was empty of customers. 'That's funny.' Tae and Tsubame came dashing in from the kitchen.

"Hai may I-!" Tae stopped mid-way in her sentence when she took one look at Kaoru. Tsubame couldn't help but stare.

"Who are you?" Kaoru pretended to look puzzled. "My name is Sakura, and you are?"

"Oh, I'm Tae and this is Tsubame." Kaoru smiled. "I just came from Kyoto, I was going to stay at the Kamiya Dojo for a while." Tae looked up.

"You know that place?" Kaoru pretended to look sad. "Hai, I had stayed here with Kaoru when her parents died some time ago before I became a wanderer." Tsubame looked curious.

"You're a wanderer, like Kenshin?" Kaoru smiled. "Hai, I came here with Kenshin, demo, I guess he's still traumatized from Kaoru's death." Tae lowered her head as well as Tsubame.

"So you know Kaoru and about her death." Kaoru felt strange talking about her death when she was really alive but she kept a straight face. "I know, I went with Kenshin to the gravesite. But if you're wondering why I'm here it's because I just wanted to meet you. Kaoru told me through letters she sent me about this place and I wanted to see it badly. She's told me wonderful things about you and how good your cooking is." Tae's and Tsubame's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Kaoru-san said that?" Kaoru nodded silently. "She's told me how good your cooking is. I was hoping to learn how to cook things like that for her when she was to come and visit me in Kyoto. She said she would someday." Tae smiled. "Suman for not being at Kaoru's reception. I was in Hakone."

"Don't be sorry you didn't know," Tsubame said trying to cheer up the mood. Tae decided to do the same. "Well, if you want that is, do you still want to learn a few of my recipes?" Kaoru's eyes lit up.

"Hai, that would be great! Although you better watch out because I'm just as bad a cook as Kaoru!"

~Dojo~

"Kenshin you're back already?" Kenshin stumbled into the dojo all wide- eyed. He received a puzzled look from Yahiko, Sano, and Megumi.

"What's the matter Kenshin you look like you've seen a ghost," Sano stated taking a look at Kenshin. Kenshin shook his head.

"Iie, demo, we'll be having company for a while." The Kenshin-gumi looked at each other. "Who?" Kenshin sighed.

"I met her in Kyoto de gozaru, she is a wanderer like me who said she knew Kaoru, she even mastered the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu." Yahiko gasped. "Who is this person?" Kenshin smiled lightly at Yahiko's surprised face.

"Well, her name is Sakura-dono, she'll be staying here for awhile. That's okay ne?"

"Well yeah sure it is!" Sano said back. "You already agreed anyway didn't you?" Kenshin sweat dropped.

"I suppose I did." Kenshin's eyes fell to the ground in deep thought.

"Nani Kenshin?" Yahiko asked. Kenshin sighed at the ground. "Sakura-dono, she reminds me so much of Kaoru de gozaru, she has the same eyes, hair, she could almost be Kaoru' sister demo, she said she was the only child." Yahiko and Sano exchanged glances.

"Does she really look like Jo-chan that much?" Sano asked. Kenshin nodded. "You'll see when she gets here de gozaru na."

~Akabeko~

"Wow, you've done really well!" Tsubame said after she tried the food Kaoru had cooked. Kaoru blushed lightly.

"Well, it's all thanks to you guys I would've stayed a horrible cook if it weren't for you two." Tae simply grinned. "It wasn't anything special, demo how come you wanted to learn now?" Kaoru thought about the dojo.

"Well, I wanted to cook something good for Kenshin and the others back at the dojo in return for letting me stay there." Tae smiled sweetly.

"That's nice." Then Tsubame asked an unexpected question. "Are you related to Kaoru somehow?" Kaoru became nervous.

"Why do you ask Tsubame?" Tsubame looked from side to side. "Um, eto, it's just that you look so much like her Sakura-dono." Tae nodded.

"I have to admit you look almost exactly like our departed Kaoru. Are you her cousin or something?" Kaoru sighed.

"Okay you two, I have to tell you a secret. It's very important that you don't tell anyone, even Kenshin and the others you have to promise okay?" Tae and Tsubame looked at each other then at Kaoru. When they saw how serious she was, they both agreed.

"Okay, what is it?"

~Dojo~

Kenshin sat on the porch gazing at the sky. 'I hope Sakura-dono didn't get lost, she sure is talking awhile de gozaru.' He sighed softly. 'She looks so much like my Kaoru.' his eyes became wet. 'Kaoru.koishii, I miss you so much..why'd you have to leave me?'

"Um, earth to Kenshin, oi what's on your mind?" Sano asked waving a hand in his face.

"Oh, uh, gomen ne I was just um.thinking."

"'Bout what?" Kenshin blushed but kept a straight face.

"About Kaoru." Sano's eyes fell. "Still upset ne? You miss her don't you?" Kenshin nodded sadly.

"Aa, sessha misses her very much de gozaru." Sano patted him on the back. "We all miss her, but don't worry I'm sure Kaoru is here somewhere with us."

Kenshin's face broke into the least bit of a smile. 'Kaoru.'

~Akabeko~

"NANI?! Is this some sort of a joke?!?!" Kaoru did her best to calm them down. "Iie, would I joke about something like that?" Tae and Tsubame couldn't believe this. Didn't they just bury Kaoru in Kyoto?

"Demo, how did you get back here if you are Kaoru?"

"I came with Kenshin. I was lucky he was there and that I didn't suffocate under all that dirt!" Tae and Tsubame were still pretty skeptical about the whole thing.

"This is hard for us to believe you know." Kaoru couldn't take it.

"I am Kaoru!" She pulled the ribbon out of her hair and tied it up in the usual way Kaoru would wear it. Tae's and Tsubame's eyes widened.

"I don't know, you may look like Kaoru demo, she was-"

"Shot in the heart? Well actually, that wasn't right," Kaoru interrupted pulling down some of her kimono, exposing none other than the bullet wound. "I think you made a mistake on that one."

"Then, you really are.Kaoru-chan!!!" Tae screamed as she and Tsubame hugged her hard. Kaoru hugged them back tears coming out of her eyes. "I missed you all too." Tsubame kept holding Kaoru's arm. "I bet Kenshin and the others will be happy when they here this!" At this Kaoru freaked.

"IIE!" They both stared at her. "Don't you want Kenshin to know?" Tae asked. Kaoru closed her eyes.

"Of course I do, demo, I can't tell them just yet. It's too soon."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I could tell Kenshin was still pained by all this. And if I were to tell him then when he was in that state he could take this wrong way, you know, like the way you reacted when I first told you."

"Oh." Tae and Tsubame said at once. Kaoru put a hand on both their shoulders. "That is why I need you two to do me a favor and not tell anyone, not even Megumi or Dr.Genzai, no one. Understand? I need you two to promise me. Don't worry when I feel the time is right, then I will tell them." Tae and Tsubame looked at each other and at Kaoru's anxious face for a moment before they both smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry Kaoru-chan, we promise."

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Well, there you have it. So was it okay? I promise I'll get started on the next chapter as I can but please wait until then okay? Thank you for reading and please review!!!

~Souryusen~