The setting sun let it's last rays linger on the dojo as Kenshin let loose a sigh of deep relief. Despite difficulties, they had been able to sweep all evidence of yesterday's fiasco under the rug. Everything looked just the way Kaoru had left it, perfect. Kenshin had even been able to unearth a sack of rice amid clutter in the back shed.
Full belly, no ruckus, beautiful sky, everything was ideal.
*But Miss Kaoru has still not returned… she planned to be gone only a short while… What could be keeping her?*
Worry was a completely foreign emotion to Kenshin. For fifteen of his nearly thirty years, worry was not an option. Worry led to distraction, distraction to carelessness, carelessness to death… death… and failure. But many aspects of his former life had gone under polar change since the wanderer had stumbled across that delicate raven-haired girl.
There was life for him where there never could have been before. It made him joyful just to see that she was still smiling, through it all, always smiling. Her eyes unlocked his soul; he almost felt that he could love again… if only…
*But she can never know… I could never be found worthy of her innocent heart. All I can do is pray her travels are safe… that she finds her way home soon…*
"Hey Kenshin… Keeenshin…." Yahiko stared quizzically at the daydreaming rurouni, hoping to snap him from his apparent reverie. "Hey look! There's clean laundry on the ground!"
"ORO! Where?"
The little boy laughed at his own wit before resigning to sincerity, "You were thinking about Kaoru weren't you…"
"You're more clever than you appear Yahiko, that you are." Kenshin chuckled as he stretched out on the now moonlit grass.
"Don't give me too much credit, it's not that hard to tell!"
"Oro?" Kenshin snapped his head back up again.
"Yeah… you get this misty kind of look… like you're not sure whether to laugh or cry, haha… sometimes it's pretty goofy!"
Kenshin rubbed his temples in an effort to conceal the light smile on his lips, *I don't think anyone would notice if I threw him in the river…*
"Anyway… I may be no more than a silly kid… but I figure if you like someone that much, you might as well tell them while you still have breath to do so… hmmm… I think I'm going to turn in now…"
With that he left, and Kenshin was once again alone with his thoughts.
*It's so simple, but somehow too much…*
***
Springtime… A small house on a hill…
Warm breeze freeing a few pure white cherry blossoms from their fellows…
A black haired woman showing her child the infant buds…
A red haired man, arm held fast at her waist…
"I'm home…"
***
"I'm home!"
He wasn't sure when he had dozed off, but the next thing Kenshin remembered was the morning sun tracing a familiar silhouette before his face.
"Hello? I'm home Kenshin… are you awake?"
"Miss Kaoru?"
"Kenshin… I'm back!"
Kenshin sat up and brushed his eyes as the smiling face came into focus.
"Welcome home Miss Kaoru, how were your travels?"
"Fine, fine… I'm glad to be done though," she blushed lightly as she reached out to help him up, "I missed you guys… you know?"
"You were missed here as well Miss Kaoru, is there anything I can do for you?"
"I'd really like a bath! That is, if you wouldn't mind…"
"I'd be glad to help, why don't you go put your things inside while I go start?"
"Alright, I should go see Yahiko and Sano too…"
Kenshin meandered over to the woodpile and started to pick out some choice logs. Should he tell her about what he had been thinking? About his dream?
*No, not today… but someday…*
Another smile crept over him before he could stop it. Things were indeed right again. Above him, he could here the light pattering of Kaoru's feet as she prepared for her bath. He started to fan the embers into small flames when he heard her distinctly pause.
"Kenshin… are you down there? Something's wrong with the bath water! It's a bit dark and… oh this seems silly… it smells like… sake…"