Midnight Visitor 2

By: Jenice Coffey

Kenshin was awakened by the bellowing shouts of Yahiko who wanted his morning meal. "KENSHIN! Get up! Don't let Kaoru cook! She'll give us all food poisoning!"

Kaoru's sweet voice shouted from the kitchen. "I heard that Yahiko! You are going to get it at practice!"

Kenshin laughed to himself as he heard them argue. He loved how everyone seemed to be one big family and accepted him as one of them. As he got dressed, Kenshin thought about Tomoe's visit as only a dream. Dead people can't come back after all.

Kenshin put on his usual rurouni smile and headed for the kitchen before Kaoru could have the chance to set fire to the dojo. "Good morning Miss Kaoru. This unworthy one is sorry he over slept," he said pleasantly. Kenshin hoped that she didn't notice how tired he was.

"You work too hard Kenshin. Let me do it for once!" Kaoru said, being her stubborn self.

Kenshin marveled at her unselfish stubbornness. Sure it was true that she was at times selfish, but Kenshin thought it came from her love for her friends. *But does she love me?* he thought The Rurouni touched her hand lightly. "At least let this unworthy one help," he suggested fearing what Kaoru's cooking would do to their friends.

At Kenshin's gentle touch, a heated blush rose upon her lovely cheeks as she spoke. "I wouldn't mind the help Kenshin, but you look tired. Are you feeling all right?"

It was just like Kaoru to be concerned about Kenshin's well-being. He didn't want to worry her more then she already was so he said. "I am feeling just fine that I am. I just couldn't sleep last night is all. Now. Let this unworthy one help you." With that, Kenshin helped Kaoru with breakfast.

Kaoru, for once, made an edible meal with Kenshin's help. And afterwards Kaoru and Yahiko started in on their training. Meanwhile, Kenshin did the laundry. Kenshin watched her as he washed her practice gi. Kaoru was a goddess in his eyes. A strong goddess. A soft smile spread upon Kenshin's lips as he stopped washing for a moment to watch her more intensely.

Kaoru noticed that Kenshin was watching her and began to swing with vigor. She wanted to be strong for Kenshin, to show him that she wasn't just a weak raccoon girl. That she could take care of herself. The raven-haired instructor wished with all her heart that she could tell Kenshin how much she truly loved him. But Kaoru was too much of a coward to do so. She couldn't bear it if he rejected her. So She remained silent.

Kenshin realized that he was caught and saw how hard his lady was practicing. Was this newfound vigor for him? Had Tomoe been right? Was everything Kaoru did for him? Kenshin suddenly ducked his head embarrassed that he had been caught and finished the wash.

The morning gave way to afternoon. Kenshin and Kaoru had been left alone. Yahiko had gone off to train by himself as he often did. Kenshin scrubbed the dojo floor with zeal as Kaoru changed her clothes. Kenshin's mind kept going back to what Tomoe had told him. His heart was happy, but troubled at the same time. Why did Kaoru feel that she needed to probe herself to him?

Kaoru stepped slowly into the room and smiled softly at Kenshin as he stopped in mid-motion. Kaoru was a vision in her bright blue kimono. "Do you like it?" Kaoru asked hesitantly. She had worn this kimono especially for the clueless rurouni.

Kenshin looked into her bright blue worried eyes and nodded softly wanting to ease her mind. "It looks very pretty on you. That it does." Kenshin replied. It was then Kenshin had an overwhelming urge to spend time with Kaoru, away from the dojo. "When we finish here would you like to go for a walk around the river?" Kenshin asked softly. Kaoru gave a happy nod and with that the rurouni went back to work.

The chores didn't get done until late afternoon, but Kaoru insisted that they still go on their walk. As they walked along the riverbank Kenshin realized that during the course of the day that he discovered that with every little thing Kaoru did for him was because she loved him. The accidental touches, her unprovoked hugs and even the way she teases him showed him how much she cares. But why care for a murderer? Was what she said true? That she didn't care about his past?

"What are you thinking about?" Kaoru's voice brought him back to reality.

"This unworthy one was thinking that this is a beautiful day," He lied.

"Yes it is, but it's so cold!" She exclaimed wrapping her arms around herself.

Kenshin berated himself about forgetting that it was now fall and the air had become crisp and cold with the change of the season. Giving in to his instinct to protect the woman he had come to love and wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace.

Kaoru blushed bright red as his arms came around her. This is what she always longed for but never dared to hope for. To be in her loves arms at last. She memorized this moment thinking that this would be the only time something like this would happen.

Kenshin noted that she smelled of sweet wild flowers. Her sent seemed to fill is soul with peace. Battousai was pleased by this turn of events, but Kenshin kept him in check. He would not let Battousai hurt the woman he loved more then his own life.

They watched the sun slowly set. The pink and purple colors came together in a magnificent show. Kenshin looked upon Kaoru and smiled to himself as he saw the wonder in her eyes. He enjoyed watching Kaoru as she made the discovery of wonderment of the ending day. He wished to himself that all endings would be this beautiful, but the harsh reality of life was just not so.

When the last rays of sunlight vanished behind the horizon, Kaoru began to shiver violently from the cold. "We should go inside that we should. Yahiko is most likely home by now and wondering where we are at," Kenshin said softly. Kaoru nodded though didn't want the moment to end. She regretfully disengaged herself from Kenshin's arms and headed home with him.

As they walked, Kenshin wondered if he would dream of Tomoe visiting him again.

Authors Note: This is part is kind of slow but I wanted to show how all the little things can show one that they care There will be more stuff in the next two chapters I promise!