Kenshin was practically awake when the first rays of sun shot through his room and carresed the smooth features of his face. He had been waking up like this for what seemed like forever. He constantly woke up in the middle of the night after the same dream. In his dream he would be following a light and no matter how fast he ran he could never reach it. In the center of the light he could see the form of a figure, a womenly figure, but he could never reach the light before he woke up. "I wonder what this dreams trying to tell me, that I do. The figure seems so familiar but i just can't make out who it is. I should get up to make breakfast, that i should."

As Kenshin got up to make breakfast, someone else in the dojo wasn't having as much luck sleeping. Kaoru lay on her futon as she heard Kenshin pass her room to the kitchen. She couldn't help but smile at the thought of the rurouni passing her room. She loved Kenshin. It seemed that with every breathe she took, her love for him just got stronger.

"Kenshin, if only you would realized how my heart longs for you. How I wish to touch those soft lips of yours, and just be safe in your arms. I still think that maybe somehow my feelings will be returned by him, but now, I'm losing hope. I don't think he will ever look at me as someone he can share his life with. I am no more than one who must be protected. Thats all I am." At the thought of this, she could not help but have a small tear escape her already watering eyes. She slowly got up, took a clean kimono and headed to the bath house.

In the kitchen, Kenshin was cutting vegetables and lost in thought at the same time. He could sense Kaoru walking to the bath house, so he looked towards the bath house in time to see her walk in. With that, Kenshin got a feeling in his stomache he had not experienced in a long time. He turned away from the bath house and tried to sort out what he was feeling.

"Hmm...maybe its a sign o f danger. I get the feeling in my stomache when ever I know something bad is going to happen. but this feeling is a little is different, that it is. Maybe I should keep a close eye on kaoru-dono until I figure it out, that I should."

In all his deep thought he did not realize that he had just cut him self until the stinging sensation finally made itself clear. "Ouch!" Kenshin immediatley dropped the knife and began to shake his finger around.

At that exact moment Kaoru walked in ,clean from her recent bath. Kenshin did not realize she was there until she ran over to him and grabbed his finger. Kenshin couldn't help but look at the women examining his wound, a look of worry on her face. "

She is so beautiful, if only I could.....what? Get those thoughts out of your head you baka! Do not think of Kaoru-dono like that!"

Carefully, Kaoru cleaned the cut ,Kenshin, watching every move she made, and wrapped a bandage around the finger. The last thing she did, which came to Kenshin's surprise was that she kissed his wounded finger. Both of them began to blush, when Kaoru said "Um...I-I see breakfast is almost ready, I'll go get sano and yahiko if the smell of the food didn't get to them first".

And with that she left the room at a kind of a sprint. Kenshin just stood there, still blushing. He looked down at his finger, smiled, and continued making breakfast.

"I'm SO Hungry. Thank kami busu isn't cooking today! She'd kill us all!" said Yahiko. Out of no where, a bokken came down on Yahiko's head leaving one big bump.

"I heard that Yahiko!" Kaoru screamed as she walked off to where she was going before hearing Yahikos rude comments.

"How the heck does she do that!" Yahiko complained at the now throbbing bump on his head. No matter where Kaoru was, if Yahiko made a rude comment about her, Yahiko would have no time to duck because the bokken would have already made contact with his head.

"I don't know how you put up with her Kenshin, she's a phycho!" Yahiko whispered when suddenly two glaring eyes were looking at him around the corner of the kitchen. The eyes held the look that said "I'm gonna kill you " and Yahiko instantly knew they were Kaoru's.

"How the heck does she do that!" Yahiko practically fell backwards at the impact of his scream.

"Yahiko, maybe if you were a little nicer to Kaoru-dono, you wouln't have to worry about being wacked every morning, noon ,and night." Kenshin said with a calm voice.

"Well I can't help it if it's the truth!" Yahiko snapped back. All kenshin did was smile, and turn around to finish the miso soup. It was true that Yahiko didn't like Kaoru's cooking, but that didn't mean he didn't like her. As a matter of fact he loved her like a friend, a sister, and even as a mother. But yahiko enjoyed the constant bickering he and Kaoru share every day. It made him feel at home in the dojo.

Before long, the ex-ganster Sanosuke walked into the room. "Hey Kenshin something smells real good" he said as he sat down waiting anxiously to be served his food.

Sano dropped by when he had no where to sleep and most of the time just to grab a free meal. So you could say he was pretty much a free-loader. But nonetheless, he was part of the unusual "family" Kaoru, Kenshin, Yahiko, and Sano seemed to make. carefully, Kenshin placed the food and tea down infront of Sano and Yahiko. Before Kenshin could even put the plates down on the table, Sano and Yahiko had already began stuffing their faces.

"We should wait for Kaoru-dono, that we should." Kenshin stated.

"Why wait for busu? She takes forever! And besides, why let this delicious food get cold before it gets to our stomaches!" Yahiko said between biting and chewing his food.

After a few minutes into breakfast and kaoru still not present at the table, Kenshin exused himself to go look for her, but first setting aside some food for Kaoru so that Yahiko and Sano wouldn't eat it.

Upon turning the corner to Kaoru's room, he saw her dash into her room and slide the door closed behind her. Kenshin carefully walked up to the door putting and ear to it. He could could her the opening of a door, than the russling of clothes and than the opening and shutting of a drawer. Than again he heard the russling of clothes and than a sudden sprint for the door.

Before Kenshin realized what happened, Kaoru came running out totally knocking Kenshin down and falling on top of him. Their lips were inches away as both of them stared into eachothers eyes. Kaoru's hands were placed directly on Kenshin's chest, in which Kaoru didn't realize was so muscular until she could actually touch it.

Kenshin had his hands on the Kaoru's back feeling her soft kimono and her backs curve. Both of them blushing furiously, tried to get up stumbling here and there.

"I'm so sorry Kaoru-dono, that I am. I meant to come get you for breakfast, which is ready by the way." and with that kenshin bowed his head, his bangs covering his blushing face which was now burning red.

"No, No Kenshin, I ran out of my room carelessly, sorry." She said as she carefully bowed her head as well. Both of them stood there for a couple of minutes (which seemed like an eternity for them) and that Kenshin broke the scilence.

"Kaoru-dono, I think we should head back to the kitchen before Yahiko and Sano find your food." He said while throwing on his rurouni smile. Kaoru couldn't help but blush just a little. Whenever he smiled, she was willing to do the distance and back just to see him do it again. And with that, they walked side by side to the kitchen where Sano and Yahiko were looking frantically for the food Kenshin left aside.

"Did you find the food Yahiko!" Sano screamed while looking in the cuboards.

"Nope, but I'm looking in the floor boards next!" screamed Yahiko.

"Good thinking Yahiko!"

"Thanks Sano, now could you come over here and use that futae noki-whatever thing to break open the floor boards?!"

Both Kenshin and Kaoru fell over anime style wit big sweat drops behind their heads.

"What do you think you doing!" screamed Kaoru. "Your gonna ruin my dojo's floors!"

Yahiko an Sano were to busy planning where to create a whole in the floor to listen to Kaoru. They wanted to make the whole in the right spot so that they wouldn't blast it near the "food under the floor boards".

"No Sano, move your hand a little to the left!" Yahiko stated

"You mean right here!" Sano moved his hand over a little.

"Yah, thats just right. Ready? Pound the floor!"

Just as Sano had his hand in the air, both Sano and Yahiko were on the floor anime style with big bumps on their heads and drool escaping their lips. Above them, a furious Kaoru stood with a frying pan and sharp teeth.

"WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING! YOU WERE GONNA DETROY MY KITCHEN FOR FOOD KENSHIN WOULD NEVER HIDE UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS!"

"C'mon Jou-chan, we're still hungry!" Sano whined from the floor.

Kaoru looked over to the table. Not one dish was left unturned, not one grain of rice uneaten. She looked back at Sano with a death glare. She loved sano like her brother but when shes had enough shes had enough! Kaoru face was turning red, I mean really red. Both Sano and Yahiko jumped up to stare at this unusual event.

"Gee, Sano, you think we made her mad?" Yahiko asked.

"Oh yeah Yahiko, I think we made her just a little mad." Sano replied.

By now steam was comming out of Kaoru's ears.

"Hey ..um...Kaoru I think I'll go do 100 strokes in the dojo okay." Yahiko said weakly. Kaoru clenched her fists and Yahiko screamed "Okay I'll do 200 hundred!" and with that he ran out of the kitchen and headed for the training room.

Jou-chan I think I'm gonna go to the clinic and um.....I 'm gonna....I um....I'll help Megumi! Yeah that's it! You know having all those patients must be real hard for her. And if you kill me, I won't be able to help so....bye!" With that he slid his way to the door and ran like a wild man to the clinic.

By now the vein throbbing in Kaoru's temple had disappered and her fists were no longer clenched. She turned over to the table where Kenshin was clearing the table. She ran over and began to help him. He smiled at her and at that instant Kaoru thought she would melt. Both of the reached for Sano's rice bowl that was apparently licked clean.

Kenshin's hand swept over Kaoru's and they both looked up into eachothers eyes. It was like a warm electrifying sensation, and Kenshin slowly moved his hand off of Kaoru's not wanting too, but he had too. After that, Kaoru turned red and ran to the kitchen with the bowls. When she got to the kitchen she couldn't help but smile a big smile that would even be contagious to Sano and Yahiko.

Kenshin had gone out to buy some tofu for lunch before his daily chores had to be done. He bought the tofu and was on his way back, when some thing caught his eye. In front of him in the glass window was a beautiful indigo ribbon with white flowers on the ends. It was so perfectly designed, it would of made even the ugliest of hair beautiful.

Than he imagined Kaoru in the ribbon. "My kaoru would look so beautiful in that ribbon, that she would. Wait?.....My kaoru? Stop it sessha, she is not yours to claim!"

But Kenshin kept looking at the ribbon and he was thinking about how happy Kaoru would be if he bought it for her.

"She might give me a hug or even a...kiss. Hold it sessha, what are you thinking!? You are unworthy of such a beautiful and precious woman. But it would still be a nice gift between....friends."

That last word lingered on his tongue for a while before he made his decision. "Sessha will buy the ribbon for Kaoru-dono, and who knows what may happen..... "

He walked in the store and asked how much the ribbon would be. The cashier gave him a very expensive price. (A/N: sorry I don't know wut an expensice price is in japanese currency so bare with me on this.) Kenshin pulled out his wallet, a little bag with coins in it, and payed her every coin he had left.

"It will be all worth it to see Kaoru-donos happy face." He thought as he walked back to the dojo with a little kick in his step.

Upon entering the dojo, he could hear the swipes of Yahiko's bokken and Kaoru's comments on his imperfections. Sano was back and he was sitting on the portch with his trademark fishbone sticking out of his mouth.

"Hey Kenshin! I see your cooking again, be sure to make enough this time!" Sano screamed.

Kesnhin fell over anime style and Sano rushed to catch the tofu before it hit the ground.

"Good thing I was here to catch dinner!" Sano said proudly.

"Oro?" Was all the swirly eyed Kenshin could say.

"Hey Kenshin what else have you go there?"

Kenshin's hand was a beautifully wrapped box. Tied to the ribbon was a small white card with golden letters printed on the top.

"It's nothing Sano, really!"

"C'mon let me see! What is it? !Whose it for?"

"Its just a gift for someone, that it is!"

"It's for Jou-chan right? Am I right?"

Kenshin slightly blushed and turned his head down. The only thing he could muster was a little nod. Sano jumped in the air and gave Kenshin a little pat on the back.

"Way to go Kenshin! You finally are gonna propose to Jou-chan! I knew you had it in you. Personally I never thought you would have the guts to do it alone. Man, when do plan on having the wedding?. I'm your best man right? Hey you best not try anything on Jou-chan before the wedding or I'll kill you!"

"Oro! Sano I'm not proposing to kaoru-dono, I just bought her a gift, thats all."

Sano was just snapped out of his merry state and sat down with a frown.

"Kenshin....."

"Ne?"

"Your pathetic, you know that?"

"Oro?"

"I mean it's obvious you love her and she loves you, why don't you propose?"

"Becasue sessha is not wort......."

"And don't give me that sessha is not worthy enough for her! Me and you both know thats not true! Your killing her Kenshin. I care for Jou-chan to much for you to keep hurting her, so would you do something already!"

Kenshin looked at his friend looking at him with eyes that said you-better-give-me-an-answer-and-it-better-be-the-right-one look.

"Do you love Jou-chan?"

Kenshin stood still for a minute. With all the thoughts he thought of Kaoru he didn't think that they meant that he was in love. yeah, that was it, he was in love with karou.

"Sano, your right...I do love kaoru. But how do I know if she feels the same way about me?"

"You don't, but you'll never know unless you try. By the way...what did you get Jou-chan?"

Kenshin opened the box revealing a perfectly folded ribbon.

"Wow, Jou-chan will love this, and she will love you for buying it." Sano said getting up and winking at his oroing friend before walking into the dojo.

Kenshin sat on the portch looking up at the sky that was fading in dark. He directed his eyes to the sunset and looked at the changing colors of the sky.

Is Sano right? Could Kaoru actually love me? (A/N:as if it's not abvious already, Kenshin c'mon!)

"Hmm...I'll see what happens after I give her the ribbon....just maybe, she loves me as much as I love her." At that thought, he couldn't help but smile. The fading light warmed Kenshin's face as he thought of what could be with Kaoru.

"Kenshin?"

Kenshin was startled by the sweet voice of his beloved Kaoru.

"Oh hello Karou-dono." Kenshin said with a hand behind his his head, the other hand hiding the gift in his gi. He noticed that Karou looked rather exhausted and was pulling her yukata tightly over her so that you could not see the usual bandages she wore underneathe.

"Karou-dono are you okay? You look tired, that you do."

"I'm fine Kenshin, I'm just gonna take a bath before dinner. Would you mind heating up a bath for me?"

"Of course not Kaoru-dono." Kenshin said as sweetly as he possibly could, Kaoru smiled and hurried to her room. Kenshin walked to the bath house humbing a pleasant tune. He would do anything to please her, even if it was just warming up a bath.

Kaoru had just gotten her clean kimono and was headed towards the bath house. Kenshin was there throwing would into the fire, smiling the whole time. Kaoru couln't help but stare at the rurouni that had taken her heart without knowing it.

She didn't care that he was once a battosai who killed during the revalution. She didn't care about his past at all. She only cared about and loved Kenshin Himura. With him there she felt whole, like nothing was missing. The other gaps were filled in by Yahiko, Sano, Megumi, Ayame and Suzume, Dr. Gensai, and her friends at the Akebeko and the Aoiya. But Kenshin was most important. He filled a space in her that she thought would never be filled. True love.

"I love him so much, and I hope someday he will know...."

She walked up to her rurouni and smiled a smile that would make even the saddest of people smile.

"Thank you Kenshin." she said sweetly her eyes glowing with love she lobned to show.

"Your welcome Kaoru-dono, I shall go prepare dinner now so it will be ready when you are done." Kenshin headed for the kitchen, and Kaoru for her bath.

Dinner was ready and Sano and Yahiko had just taken their seats, mouths watering and chopsticks in hand. Kaoru walked in and the room was filled with the smell of jasmine which Kenshin couldn't help but stop and smell. Everything was set and Yahiko and Sano were eating like mad.

Kaoru could of sworn they didn't take one breathe until they were done their meal. Kaoru took her usual spot next to Kenshin who smiled that oh so adorable smile. Quietly they both ate their food, thinking silent thoughts about eachother. The room was pretty much quiet except for Sano and Yahiko's chewing noises and slurping.

Kenshin was looking at Kaoru the whole time, but you couldn't tell because his long, firey bangs were in the way. After dinner was eaten and the table cleaned up, everyone scattered from the kitchen. Sano and Yahiko had retired to bed. Kenshin sat outside on the porthc after losing the argument on who would do dishes.

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"Kenshin, you made dinner, and bought it too! I will do the dishes! You just go an relax!" Kaoru said in a serious but sweet tone.

"But Kaoru-dono, you had a long day, and you look tired as well, sessha will do the dishes and you will go to bed, that you will." Kenshin fought back with his sweet tone.

"Kenshin, I'm serious! Please let me clean the dishes....." Her bottom lip was quivering, trying to look cute for Kenshin so he will go and relax.

"Kaoru how do you do it? How do you make me listen to every little word you say? You truly are amazing....." he thought to himself.

"Okay Kaoru-dono, sessha will be on the portch waiting when you are done the dishes." Kenshin said smoothly and calmly. Then he turned around and walked outside.

Kenshin sat on the portch in the same spot where he was talking to Sano. "I belive this would be a good time to give the ribbon to Kaoru-dono, that it is. I hope she likes it. I wonder what she will say? Only time will tell, that it will..........."

Kaoru walked out on the portch, sitting down beside Kenshin with two cups of tea. She handed Kenshin his cup of tea and began to sip hers.

"Aren't the stars beautiful Kenshin?"

"Yes they are kaoru-dono, that they are." " But not as beautiful as you Kaoru."

"I wonder what it would be like to soar in sky and be closer to the stars...."

"It would be truly amazing." "But not as amazing as you."

"Kenshin, did you taste the tea yet? Tae gave me a sweet foreign tea. It's quite good."

"Really? ......Your right Kaoru-dono it tastes very good". "I know something that probably tastes better!" he thought while looking at her pink, perfect, lips.

"Well Kenshin, I think I will go to bed now. your right, I was tired. Good night....." she got up to walk into the dojo when Kenshin grabbed her arm.

"Wait Kaoru-dono! I forgot to give you something!" Kenshin stood up infront of Kaoru. He was at least only an inch taller than her, but Kaoru didn't mind. He stuck his hand into his gi and pulled out the beautifully wrapped box.

"This is for you Kaoru-dono, I hope you like it." Kenshin said, sweat running down the side of his face.

"You got me a gift Kenshin?" Kaoru said with her eyes wide in joy and one hand over her chest. She reached out with the other hand taking the box but not before carresing her hand against Kenshin's. She looked at the box and Kenshin studied her face to see what she was feeling. What he saw was a big smile that made his heart skip a beat. She slowly opened the card with the gold writing on it. It read:

To kaoru-dono

With love Kenshin

"With love! He wrote with love!" she thought excitedly.

She slowly opened the box ans she gasped at the most beautiful ribbon she had ever seen. Kenshin wasn't sure if it was a good or bad gasp but he rubbed his hands together not really wanting to find out. She carefully grabbed the ribbon out of the box and felt the smooth fabric. She studied the design for quite a while and than finally looked up, her eyes wet with tears.

"Oh no! I made kaoru-dono cry. She must hate my present! Kenshin you baka! you should of looked for a more expensive gift. She is worth so much more than a ribbon. Sessha is a....."

"KENSHIN I LOVE IT!" Kaoru said quite loudly, bringing Kenshin back from cursing to himself.

"You love it Kaoru-dono? Really?" Kenshin was so excited. She loved his gift. "sessha isn't such a baka after all, I'm not a ba..."

Before he could finish the thought, Kaoru had her arms wrapped around kenshin's neck. The stunned Kenshin just realized what incredible event had just happened. The one women he cared about most, had her arms wrapped around him, her body touching his, her sweet smelling hair caressing his neck. Than he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her back.

"I cannot believe Kaoru-dono is hugging me! I never thought she would want to hold my hand, but this, this is one of the happiest moments of my life. I love you Kaoru and someday I will tell you, but right now, I will just let things be." Kenshin thought to himself.

"Kenshin hugged me back! I love him so much. He thought of me! He bought me the ribbon! I never want to let go of him but I have too....."

Both of them reluctantly let go of their embrace, Kaoru still clutching the ribbon, and Kenshin, still trying to hold on to the sweet smell of jasmine. She carefully placed the ribbon back in the box and shut the lid. Kenshin watched her hands caressing the ribbon before placing it in the box. He wished at the moment that he could of been the ribbon, Kaoru's soft hands were touching. She walked up to Kenshin and placed a kiss on his scarred cheek, than turned around and walked to her room. Kenshin was dumbfounded. He brought his hand to his scarred cheek and a smile formed on his lips. "She kissed me. Wow. Kaoru-dono kissed me. Her lips are soft. She kissed me....."

Later that night Kenshin was sturing in his sleep again........

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"I have to reach the light, I have to make it, that I do." The room was swallowed up by darkness. Kenshin was standing in nothing. Than he sawe a distant glow. He walked towards it. It was getting bigger and brighter.

"Will I finally reach the light? Will I finally end this haunting dream, if you could call it a dream!"

"Kenshin......"

"That voice it sounds so familiar, that it does."

"Kenshin.....".

Kenshin was so close to the light and to the figure. He was closing in and as he got closer it got brighter. He had to squint to see. The womenly figure stood there with her arms wide open. Kenshin looked at her face and saw two shining saphire eyes looking at him with a look he had to admit he liked.

"Kenshin...."

"Kaoru?"

Then it all became clear. Kenshin was brought out of the darkness and into the light. No longer was he in a room swallowed by the dark, but in a room bright as ever and he could see again. And right infront of him stood Kaoru wearing the most beautiful kimono he had ever seen her wear. He also noticed that she was wearing the ribbon she gave him. She was absolutley breathtaking.

Kenshin stood there, words couldn't express what he was feeling. She got closer, and closer, and closer, their lips were only inches apart, he could feel her warm breathe and smell her beautiful sent, their lips barley touched when........

Kenshins eyes sprung wide open. (A/N:oh, I'm so evil) he looked around to confirm where he was. Than he just bowed his head. "It was only a dream...but it felt so real! How come now I know who the womenly figure is. Why is it Kaoru? This has to be a sign...maybe its a sign of the future...."

Kenshin couldn't get back to bed. He kept thinking of Kaoru and their future that could be. He got up and put on his gi. He wanted to go see Kaoru. Maybe than he could get back to sleep. He walked silently to her room, making sure not to wake Sano and Yahiko. He slid open her paper thin door and found she wasn't there! Millions of thoughts were now running through his mind. "What if something happened to her! What if someone kidnapped her! What if......"

Kenshin was running frantically through the dojo, holding his reverse blade sword tightly. Than he stopped in the middle of his sprint. He could feel Kaoru's aura. he walked and walked to where he was sensing her. It was to a room in the dojo he had never been before. He could hear soft but very beautiful music coming from the room. He slid open the door and he found Kaoru and she was doing something that made his mouth drop and his eyes widen.