"You…love me?" Misao blinked her cerulean eyes, slowly repeating what Aoshi had said. They were still sitting together on the couch and he still had her hand held in his. This was too much for her poor brain to handle.

"I'm sorry I didn't deal with this sooner." He said quietly, "I've been putting it off for a year now, because I am a coward." He was being incredibly honest with her, doing something he didn't often do. He had opened his carefully guarded heart to her and if she turned him away he would be crushed.

"Aoshi…You're not a coward." She smiled at him weakly, his declaration of love filtering through her brain. His hand felt warm in hers; it felt as if it belonged there. "I'm more of a coward than you." She looked up at him earnestly, "I've always loved you. But I never told you. And I don't mean like a little crush. I've always loved you with all of my heart."

"Why didn't you tell me?" His voice sounded almost disbelieving; there was a hint of uncertainty, something Misao had never heard from him before.

"I was afraid. I never thought you'd love me like that. So I never said anything. I was afraid you would just laugh at me…" She looked back down at the pattern on the couch, her long bangs hiding her face.

"Never. I would never laugh at you." His thumb ran across the back of her hand, her skin smooth beneath it. "I was afraid too."

Then she looked up again, an incredibly cute smile on her face. Her arms were suddenly around his neck, her head against his chest. He was startled by this for a moment, then relaxed into the embrace, burying his face in the top of her hair. "I want to be with you forever, Misao. I want to be with you, but I don't deserve you. You should have so much better than me."

"But you're what I want, Aoshi. You've always taken care of me. You're a wonderful man and I love you. No one could be better than you." She could feel his heart pounding. He was incredibly nervous. But what did he have to be nervous about…?

"Can…" He began, then he stopped, looking pensive for a moment. Then he continued on again, "Can I kiss you?"

Her heart hammered wildly against her chest as he leaned towards her, drawing her face up to his. His lips met hers in an extremely chaste kiss, as if he were afraid of scaring her off by kissing her. This simply will not do…She forced his lips apart, her tongue sliding into his mouth.

His cool eyes widened, then closed as he accepted her passionate side. Oh, she is daring…But when has she ever been one to think before acting? That's all part of what makes my Misao who she is and I love her for it…His strong arms wrapped around her; he pulled her closer as he intensified the kiss. So this is the love I avoided for so long…

***

Katsu pulled on his jacket. Ren had just left his apartment and he figured he would go down to the studio to do a little work. He hadn't painted anything all day and he had some ideas in mind. Plus work would take his thoughts off other things. Other people…

Ren…She's all I think about these days. I want to get closer to her; to kiss away those tears. She doesn't deserve any of this shit. She needs some one who won't ever hurt her, some one who will treat her like a queen.

Some one like me.

Holy shit; what am I thinking?

He locked the door to his apartment and wandered down the hall to the lobby. I don't want to get caught up in a serious relationship…Do I? All the commitment…Can I do that? I've never been into commitment and Ren needs some one dedicated to her.

Going out the door, he passed a man coming in. Bleach-blond hair, a pair of round, John Lennon sunglasses, a deep frown on his face. Funny, I've never seen him around before…Oh well. I don't know everybody here.

He hurried down the street, wrapping his coat tighter around him. It had started snowing at some point and there was a nip to the air. This weather…I -Oof! He had suddenly crashed into some one.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going." He looked up, meeting the gaze of…Was that a man or a woman? Pale, pretty face; rich velvety brown eyes; short, dull hair framing that pretty face.

"It's okay. I wasn't paying attention either…Had a lot on my mind." A wan smile crossed his face. It was definitely a man. The voice gave it away. He was bundled in a pale gray corduroy jacket and purple scarf. Pretty, yes. But definitely a man.

"Well…Take care." Katsu nodded a farewell and shuffled down the street, eager to get inside and paint.

***

"Aunt Ren?"

"Yeah, Yutaro?" Ren looked over her shoulder, her eyes meeting the brilliant sapphire gaze of her nephew. He was frowning deeply, his thin eyebrows knit together. She wondered what was up with him; why he was looking so upset.

"Are you sure you're okay? I mean, can't the police help you? This guy…Is he really that big and tough?" He pushed his bangs out of his eyes, looking intently up at her.

"I'm fine, Kiddo." She forced a smile. "How about you set the table? Can you manage that?"

He scowled, knowing she was avoiding the subject. "I'm fine. I think I can handle setting a table, even with my bad arm." He snapped.

"Okay…Don't get so defensive. I wasn't even thinking about your arm. I didn't mean to insult you." She sighed, lifting the cover off a pot of rice to check if it was finished cooking.

Yutaro instantly felt bad. This was Ren, not the maid, not his father and not Yahiko. Of course she wasn't thinking about his arm. She believed in him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you…" He said slowly as he began to dig around in the silverware drawer.

"It's okay." She reassured him, "Sometimes people just lose patience. That's perfectly okay. And I know people make things hard for you because of your arm. But I would never do that."

"I know." He strained to reach up into the cupboard for plates and glasses, a task which was somewhat difficult when one only had one decent arm. "I -Oh, hey, some one's at the door."

"You finish up. I'll see who's there." She crept over to the door, warily peering through the peephole. Then her eyes widened and she whirled around, "Yutaro, listen carefully…Turn the stove off. Then go into my room, lock the door and call the police." She said as quietly as possible, "There's going to be trouble."

***

"Now Kenji, don't splash Daddy." Kenshin wiped soap suds off of his face and pushed his damp hair from his eyes. Little Kenji was in the bathtub, splashing happily, laughing with a deep, satisfied chuckle. Bathing Kenji was like a wet monsoon.

Kaoru stood in the bathroom doorway, laughing as she observed the puddles on the floor, her happy son and her soggy husband. It was like this every time Kenshin was the one to give the boy a bath. And it never failed to amuse her.

But her mind wandered and she found herself thinking about Ren. This, she told herself, is what Ren deserves. She needs some one who she can grow old with, some one who loves her above all other things. When I think of all the things I've been through and I think of the things she's been through only recently…None of this seems so bad any more.

"Time to get out now, Kenji."

Kaoru snapped back to reality as her son tried squirming away from his father. Getting Kenji out of the tub was extremely difficult. He loved being in the water and screamed and cried when he had to get out.

She watched as Kenshin pulled the squirming child from the tub and wrapped him in a towel. The little boy was crying, pouting, yawning all at the same time. Kenshin toweled him off, causing his downy hair to stick up all over the place. Then he snuggled him into another towel and looked up at Kaoru, the baby cuddled against his shoulder. "He's sleepy; that he is."

"Well let's get him into his pajamas and put him to bed." She smiled almost deviously, "Then we can be alone together."

His violet eyes widened, then he smiled at what she was suggesting. He nodded in agreement, following her from the room. This time, Kenji, I win.

***

Sojiro was scurrying down the sidewalk, in a hurry to get out of the snow. Precipitation only served to remind him of that night his "family" had been killed and he had met Shishio. He would always be grateful for everything Shishio had taught him -for it had made him strong and helped him survive- but not every one could live like that.

Ren would not survive.

Shishio was not what she needed and Sojiro knew it. Kamatari could help her. Kamatari could make Ren feel good about herself without belittling her or bruising her fragile ego. The young man didn't want to see another person suffer the way he had. Ren needed something that Shishio couldn't give her. She needed some one that would love her.

Kamatari can help her. I'm sure he can. He loves her so much…I've never seen love like that before, but what I saw in his eyes yesterday…Maybe he doesn't even realize it. He thinks he's gay. He thinks he's in love with Mr. Shishio, but I've never seen anything like what I saw yesterday. He loves her.

I've got to tell him.

He looked up, taking in the people bustling around him. Happy people, preparing for the holidays. People who didn't have a care in the world. None of them knew…All they saw was the black and white of life. Never the shades of gray in between.

Sojiro sighed. Life was too complicated.

***

Kamatari was pacing back and forth outside Ren's building. He still hadn't found the courage to open the door and go in. He didn't know why he was so afraid, but he just could not open that door. Even when a young man with long, dark hair had come out and ran into him, his thoughts had all been on what he would say to Ren.

What's so hard about just opening the door and going in? I just want to talk to her.

'She won't want to see you. She hates your nasty guts. She thinks you're a freak.' That pesky little voice argued.

Why are you being so damn mean to me? You are me. You shouldn't be insulting me like this…

'I'm only trying to prepare you for the cold hard truth. You're going to be damn sorry soon, boy. Ren isn't interested. It's gonna hurt like hell.' The voice became sing-song, taunting him, teasing him.

What is that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting that…?

'Bingo.'

Impossible. I'm gay, remember? G-A-Y; gay. There's no way…

'Oh, but there is, my friend. There is.' The voice concluded smugly.

I'm going insane…

He slumped down on the steps of the apartment. "I'm such a coward. I can't even go in there and talk to her. I'm so worried so what do I do? I get in an argument with myself…This is-"

He stopped speaking at the sound of police sirens. A couple of cop cars came screeching down the street, squealing to a stop in front of the building. Police officers swarmed up the steps, nearly trampling the dejected man.

"Don't let him get away this time!" A tall, familiar-looking man barked. Kamatari recognized him as the police chief, Saito Hajime. "I'm sick of getting calls from that woman and having nothing to show for it."

"Right, Chief." The men swarmed into the building, leaving Kamatari in a daze on the steps.

What the…? REN! Ren's in trouble…Her ex…He must be here! Oh, Ren! I'm coming! He leapt to his feet and tore into the building.

***

"Please don't…" Ren was huddled on the floor, sobbing, her hands over her head, "Don't hurt me any more. I can't take this…"

"But it's so fun." He laughed lightly, his powerful fingers running across the top of her head. His teasing action caused her to shiver. She still remembered why she had been attracted to him in the first place; his sensual touch was one reason. "You know you like it, Ren. You know you do. You still love me and we both know it."

She looked up, her hazel gaze resting on his face, taking in that taunting smile, the one sky blue eye that was opened and focused on her. "No…" She shook her head slightly, tears trickling down her cheeks and dripping off her chin.

His fingers found their way to her chin, lifting her face so he could get a better look at her. His other eye slid open and a sly smile crossed his face. "I remember when ya weren't afraid of me. What happened? You finding' things in me undesirable, Sweetheart?"

"Please…Chô, you don't want to do this!" She gasped desperately, "You don't-"

"Let her go!" Yutaro had come running out of the bedroom, brandishing an alarm clock. He swung his good arm back, lobbing the timepiece at Chô's head. "Leave her alone!"

Chô ducked, throwing Ren back to the floor and advancing towards the boy. He scooted back, looking for something else to throw. Ren needs to get out of her…It's more important that she's okay. I'm just a spoiled brat. The world would be better off without me. But Ren…She makes a difference.

"Yutaro!" Ren shrieked as the deranged man grabbed for him.

The boy sidestepped, dodging out of Chô's grasp and running to the door. He flung it open, finding himself face-to-face with a few police officers. "All right! You're in trouble now!" He stuck out his tongue, running over to Ren's side, "You okay, Aunt Ren?"

"I've been better…" She looked up at him, "I'm so proud of you, Kiddo."

"I had to do something." He hugged her.

"Ren! Ren, are you okay?" Kamatari pushed past the policemen swarming the room. She was huddled on the floor, her face streaked with tears and blood trickling from a small cut on her forehead. A skinny boy was hugging her protectively, his face also wet with tears.

"Kamatari…? What are you doing here?" She blinked, trying to sift through the evening's events. Then she burst into tears, burying her face in her hands. Yutaro hugged her tighter and Kamatari smiled sadly.

"It's going to be okay now. They got him. You don't have to worry." He said softly. He brushed back her hair, and she looked up, a trace of a smile on her face.

"Thank you."

"Any time."