Chapter 3

A/N: OK! Sorry for the wait- My schedule is kind of frantic at times- so I don't get much time to type. I left work early today and decided to relax and type a bit. I get the next chapter done for you! ^_^

That's really all you care about- so I'll skip my usual banter and get with the story! I'm in a good mood and feel extra nice-

Disclaimer: I own a cute blue GEO Tracker, a nice TV, dvd player, vcr and Playstation. A computer that hates my guts, one hostile HUGE goldfish, massive school loans, two bonsai trees, bamboo, and various plants, a nice anime collection on dvd, cd and vhs, a couple of PS 1 games…. What? No Kenshin??? I could have sworn I owned his cute butt ;) But I guess not. Although I would rather own Spike, Legato, Touya and Sano's behinds before the cute Kenshin- but anyway BISHIES are good and I don't own Rurouni Kenshin!

-

Sano met up with his usual drinking buddies that evening while everyone else sat down for their regular nightly meal.

Kenshin had made a simple, yet enjoyable meal, nothing as extravagant as the one he would have shared with Ms. Kaoru. He sat quietly trying to read the man who was talking up a storm while he sipped at his tea. Both Yahiko and Kenshin remained silent throughout the meal as Yosho told Kaoru all about England and high society.

"Kenshin… is something wrong?" Kaoru asked him finally stopping paying attention to Yosho.

"ORO?" The Rurouni asked as he almost spilt his tea out of fright. She hadn't even acknowledged he was there throughout the meal, and suddenly she was talking to him.

"You looked troubled- is something the matter?" Her sweet voice asked him.

"Oh… no. Nothing is wrong Ms. Kaoru. You need not worry about me, that you don't." Kenshin smiled putting on a big smile like he usually did.

"So wanderer," Yosho started, "Where exactly are you from? And, if you don't mind my asking- what did you do that would cause you to wander around Japan at such a volatile time?"

Kenshin continued to sip his tea. "I'm sorry, but I do mind, that I do."

"Ah… Very interesting fellow." Yosho looked back over to Kaoru. "Where exactly do you pick up these strays?" Yosho laughed touching Kaoru's shoulder.

"We're no strays! Kenshin's a hero of the revolution and my father was a samurai!" Yahiko yelled as he stood up. He couldn't let this guy keep making fun of Kenshin. Yahiko couldn't stand it.

"Yahiko!" Kaoru gasped. "I'm sure he didn't mean it like that. Right Yosho?"

"Yes, I'm terribly sorry." He smiled smugly to everyone but Kaoru. "So you were a soldier in the revolution. What happened? All the imperialists are in positions of power and prestige now- or were you on the losing side?" Kenshin again ignored the questions.

"Kenshin are you going to take that from this guy?" Yahiko asked looking over at the unaffected man. "First he hits me with a dirty hit and now he's insulting you!" Yahiko went over and stood by Kenshin.

"What? Yosho hurt your arm?" Kaoru said shocked. "Yosho is that true?" "The boy did it to himself and now he's blaming the teacher? Some respect for the sensei. For that he should be punished."

"You can't punish me! Kaoru's my sensei! Not YOU!"

"But I am your sensei." Yosho corrected him.

"What? Since when?" Yahiko yelled stepping closer to the man. Yahiko raised his fists ready to fight. Kenshin saw this and stood in between the two.

"We all need to calm down now, that we do."

Kaoru felt saddened by all of this. Usually she wouldn't like to be dominated like she was now- with Yosho assuming leadership of the school, but it was what her father would have wanted… 'Right?' She asked herself. Yosho was always her father's favorite and most talented student, and so she was actually considering the proposal as a way to continue her father's memory.

"I am taking over all teaching aspects of this dojo." Yosho stated.

"What?" "ORO?" The two said at the same time stunned.

"But Ms Kaoru- I don't understand. You have always been a good sensei, that you have." Kenshin said looking over to the woman who sat with her head bowed. She wasn't going to look at him and this scared Kenshin… something definitely was up.

"That's right- we haven't told you yet. But I have asked Kaoru to accept my offer to become my wife." Yosho reached out his hand and pulled Kaoru up. Drawing her close suddenly he gave her a kiss in front of Yahiko and Kenshin.

"NO WAY!" Yahiko screamed. "You can't marry him! You love Kenshin!!! Remember? You couldn't live without him when he left the last time…"

"Yahiko…" Kaoru said in a frail voice, tears were welling up.

"I hate you both! Kenshin! What are you…" Kenshin lifted up his hand and Yahiko stopped mid sentence. Yahiko stormed off out of the room and out of the dojo.

"Ms. Kaoru- if this is your choice, then I am very happy for you… but this unworthy one asks you to excuse me…I.. Need to go now, that I do." He said not even looking up at her when he left. Even Kaoru saw the extreme pain in his large eyes.

Kenshin quickly gathered his things and went out. He found Yahiko standing out at the front gates.

"So you're leaving then?"

"I have nothing left here to do, that I do not…" The wounded Rurouni spoke.

"So this is goodbye? Just like that?" Yahiko asked angrily. "What ever happened to the always fight till the end, or battling for others?"

"Yahiko- losing is also part of life… I've lost before- truly I've lost many that were dear to me… and it seems like I have lost again, that I have." He spoke looking up at the stars which were starting to come out in the beautiful night sky.

"Can I at least come with you?" Yahiko asked.

"No Yahiko. You must stay here… this is your home…"

"It's yours too!"

"No… I am a wanderer, that I am. I need to continue to repent for what I've done… now more than ever. Say goodbye to Sano, Ms. Megumi, the doctor and the girls for me… it's better this way."

And with that Kenshin took off into the night, leaving exactly the same as he had come- in the shadows….

-

"Yahiko?" Came Kaoru's voice a little later as Yahiko came back into the dojo. "I… I never said yes yet." She said quickly trying to explain everything.

"Yes you did." Came a voice behind her.

"No, I haven't and I've made up my mind." She continued. "Here's your ring back Yosho, I.. I don't want it." She said as she took off the ring on her finger an gave it back to Yosho. She had been reminded again what the Rurouni had said about her father and wanting her to be happy. Marring Yosho would not make her truly happy… but some

"Kaoru?" Yahiko was stunned.

"If you know what is good for you and this dojo, you will put the ring back on." Yosho growled at her.

"Why? I'm just as strong was you are- I can rebuild this place with my friends just fine!" She said madly at Yosho.

"How willing will they be to help you? You've yelled at them all. Even crushing the wanderer's heart… you are just so perfect. I hardly had to play it up."

"What?" Kaoru asked as Yosho came up laughing and grabbed her arm.

"By now your wanderer is walking away from this dojo and leaving. He thinks he can just escape back into thin air again? No way! Not after what he did to our master in Kyoto!"

"What do you want?" Kaoru asked as he grabbed both her and Yahiko's arm.

The head of the battousai." He grinned evilly.

-

Sano had had one to many shots of sake that night. As he staggered in the streets on his way back to check on Kenshin, he tried to clear his mind enough to think.

He knew something was not right- Kenshin thought so too- and that always meant trouble.

Without warning a large explosion rang out from the wooded area beyond the dojo. Already on wobbly legs Sano fell to the ground and groaned.

'Not tonight.' He thought. 'Why can't they at least schedule trouble when it works best for me?' He grumbled as he picked himself up and ran towards the area. But before he could get there he heard the sounds of bullets being fired and more explosions thunder from the same spot.

-

"Say goodbye to the battousai!" Yosho smiled as Kaoru and Yahiko were tied up before the explosions sounded.

"No! Kenshin…" Kaoru said in a sad voice, tears streaming out of her eyes. "NO!"

-

A/N:

Again a short chapter- sorry- but it just works better if I cut it off there. Also it adds to the suspense… could I be so evil as to kill off the very cute and o so lovable Rurouni? - Maybe… I have been known for having a evil streak! But you'll have to live through the suspense and find out in the next thrilling episode! ^-^

Ja Ne!