Thank you everyone for the reviews and I am sorry that it took me this long to finish. I've been working the past two months with twelve-hour shifts, and on my days off I just wanted to be lazy and sleep. But I promised that I would finish this fic, and finish it I will.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin characters.

SANO'S PAST

Last time….

Akane dropped her remaining word.

"You win."

Present…

The gang watched as Akane quietly picked-up her swords and joined them as one again. No words were spoken, for they knew not what to say. As for Saito he could care less.

Akane and her grandchildren bowed to the onlookers.

"Thank you for your hospitality. You shall not see us again. Sagara Sanosuke, be happy with your choice. When you choose."

Megumi walked up to his side.

"Don't worry, I will be." Sano replied giving Megumi a quick glance.

Akane nodded.

Yara hesitantly stepped forward and approached Kenshin. She looked nervous about something, but what he could not tell.

"Himura-san. I…you…" she paused to gather her thoughts. "I am sorry but it will never work between us. I know that you have feelings for me, especially when you thought that Kaoru would be Sano's indefinitely after her father won. But I could not stay here, besides there is still hope for you and Kamiya-san. Please forget the feelings that you had for me and go love another. I know that it will be hard, but time seems to heal all wounds." She bowed again and with her family, the three left the dojo.

Kenshin was confused.

Kaoru was mad.

"Oh Kenshin…"she drew out.

"About what Yara-san said Kaoru-dono…"

"So it is back to Kaoru-dono is it?" Kaoru asked as she advanced on the once assassin and rurouni. Kenshin took desperate steps back away from her looking for a way out.

"Well you see…"

"That's it! Kenshin no baka!" Kaoru pounced onto Kenshin and started to hit him.

Now one must wonder why the legenary swordsman, with god like speed, was caught by a mere swords-woman, but the situation explained itself. Kenshin loved Kaoru with all of his heart, and part of him was greatly attracted to the angry Kaoru. Besides it was an excuse to have her near him, or in this case on him (regardless if she was hitting him), without the others thinking too much on it. Yep, he truly loved his new life.

Unfortunately, his enjoyment was spoiled, by a clearing of the throat by Saito.

"I shall be back later with a fitting…shall we say…punishment for bringing me into all of this, Kaoru-chan."

Kaoru froze on-top of Kenshin, one hand grasping his gi, while the other was about to come down on his face in a hard punch. Kenshin rested his elbows on the grown to support his elevated upper body and looked at Saito with the same shock Kaoru had.

Saito did not elaborate, but merely walked off, thinking what that punishment would be.

"I think that it would be better if I left for Kyoto in the morning. It does not seem that I will be getting the peace that I needed." Aoshi then walked into his room.

Yahiko shrugged his shoulders. "I'm going fishing."

Megumi started to walk away. "Well, I have some patients to take care of."

"I'll go with you." Sano volunteered.

And thus it was like every time a challenger came, the Kenshin-gumi went on with their so-called normal lives as if nothing happened.

A week later…

Kenshin was getting mad.

Saito thought of a double punishment for Kaoru and Kenshin the day after Akane and her grandchildren left. So for the past week, he was stuck with the stupid washing basin, washing dark blue police uniforms. Whereas Kaoru, was stuck mending them.

Kenshin loved doing the laundry, but see the same color day in and out was wearing thin on his nerves. To make it worse Saito had specific instructions on how outfits should be washed and mended. He could tell that Kaoru was loosing her patients also and was ready to go on a ripping spree.

Kenshin reached over to pick up the next uniform to be wash, when his eyes went amber. The uniform belonged to Saito. For the past week Saito was so careful to keep his uniform away from Kenshin, but apparently he forgot one this time. What was the saying again, pay-back's a... Kenshin was going to have fun with this.

His plan was simple. He would wash Saito's uniform till it would be too small for him to wear. He could already imagine Saito trying to put on the uniform that would end at his shins and above his wrists. That would teach him.

Kaoru was a little concern when she saw an amber eyed Kenshin staring at a uniform. She was afraid that he finally lost it, and she would have to start washing instead of sowing. At first she hatted it, but it gave her good practice. She was getting better on getting the sleeves even instead of having then at different lengths. It wasn't so obvious anymore where she hemmed at the seams. But what really made her day the loud sounds of construction occurring in her dojo.

True to his word, and with persuasion from Battousai, Sano had begun refining the place, and was actually doing a very good job.

Her musings were interrupted when a knock came from the gate. Setting the uniform she was working on down, she passed Kenshin briefly looking at him seeing an evil grin on his face, as he happily washed the uniform. His eyes were still amber.

She shook her head and continued to go to the gate. Sano, who also heard the knocking, came beside her. His shirt was off and his muscles were glimmering in sweat.

Kaoru opened the door and there stood a reddish-brown hair girl with bright green eyes. She wore a dark purple kimono with flower designs. Her eyes lit up when she saw Sano. With a high pitched voice she squealed and threw herself into his arms.

"Sano-baby. It's me Mae!! Oh I've waited for this day for years. Do you remember? Ten years ago you said that you would marry me on my 19th birthday. Guess what? I just turned nineteen last week!" The woman giggled and hugged the dumb founded man again.

Kaoru got a sick feeling in her gut, when Sano looked at her.

Kaoru hoped that Kenshin would show up soon.

"Listen Mae, I have something to tell you. You see I can't marry you because…"

_--_--_--_--_--

Hindsight is interesting. Two results can happen. One is that a person can learn from it, or two, that person is doomed to repeat it while feeling guilty and constantly saying "baka baka, baka" and "I should of".

Apparently Sano is the latter one of the two. Maybe one day he would learn…maybe.

The End

Thank you all for your support. Till next time, Ja'ne