Kenshin's Confession

Kenshin and Kaoru sat bolt upright when they heard Kano's alarmed voice. Kenshin ran from the room and met Kano in the kitchen.

"What's going on?" Concern was written all over Kenshin's face.

"I….can't….find….Kiriko." Kano stammered as he tried desperately to catch his breath.

"Ok, ok calm down, Kano. Start from the beginning."

"What's wrong?" Kaoru said with Kenji right behind her.

Kano got his breathing under control and began his story. "I wanted to start practice extra early today but when I reached for my bokken I found this note instead," he handed it over to his father, "so I went to get it back from Kiriko but I can't find her. I mean I looked everywhere even her 'secret spot'. Nothing. Where could she be? She not supposed to go anywhere without telling someone."

Kenshin read the note and looked at Kaoru. Worry was seeping from her pores. He walked over to her and gave her a hug.

"Ok, I want everyone to calm down. Kenji, Kano please go outside and look around the house and the dojo again. I'll run across to Sano's place, she's probably over there with Saganno. Kaoru I would like you to please start breakfast. Everything is going to be just fine, ok my love?"

"All right, Kenshin." Kaoru's face pale with worry. He already knew what Kaoru was thinking.

"Okay, guys lets go."

Kenshin, Kenji and Kano ran out the house.

(Knock! Knock)

Kenshin heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the door. The door opened slightly and a dark eye peered out. It was Megumi. She opened the door all the way, "Sir Ken? What brings you over here so early?"

"Good Morning, Miss Megumi. May I come in?"

"Sure, sure," she stepped aside to let him in. Sano came from out the bedroom to see who had just came into their house.

"Hey Kenshin. What's up?" Sano asked with a slightly confused expression on his face.

"Have you two seen Kiriko this morning?" Kenshin spoke softly as to not wake up the rest of the family but it was too late because Meya and Sanni came out of their rooms to see what was going on.

"No, we haven't seen her," Megumi answered.

"What's going on Kenshin?" Sano could see the concern all over Kenshin's face.

"Kano woke up this morning and couldn't find Kiriko. The boys are looking around the house again. I came here to see if maybe she came to hang out with Saganno." Kenshin just realized that Saganno wasn't in the room.

Sano also noticed that his son wasn't present. "SAGANNO, WAKE UP AND COME OUT HERE!"

Saganno was awake from the moment he heard the knock on the door. He had heard the whole conversation that was going on in the family room. He jumped a little when he heard his father's bombing voice. Should I tell them or should I keep it a secret, he thought as he walked from his room.

"Have you seen Kiriko?" Sano questioned his son. Saganno lowered his head and didn't answer his father.

"I know you hear me boy!" Sano stepped in front of Saganno; "You better answer me when I'm talkin to you!"

Megumi, Meya, and Sanni watched with surprise as Saganno stood his ground and didn't answer his father.

Sano's face was turning red. He's never deified me before, Sano thought slightly surprised by Saganno stubbornness. Sano was about to say something else until Kenshin touch his arm and stepped beside him. Kenshin looked up at Saganno and smiled.

He spoke softly, "Please, Saganno…Please tell me if you've seen her. I can see that you love her very much and you are a good friend. I'm glad she has a friend like you but I love Kiriko more then she'll ever know and I don't want anything to happen to her. If you were truly her friend, you wouldn't want anything to happen to her either. So please Saganno, tell me."

Saganno lifted his head and looked at his family then he looked into Kenshin's eyes. He could see the sorrow in them. The answer that came out of Saganno's mouth made Kenshin shudder.

"She went to… Kyoto."

"Hey dad was she over at Sano's house?" Kano asked with Kenji running close behind him.

"No."

Kano and Kenji stopped when they saw the look on their father face. Kaoru was standing in the doorway of the house. She couldn't hear Kenshin but she could see his facial expression.

"Then where could she be?" Kenji asked.

"Kyoto…. come on boys I have something I must tell you." Kenshin started towards the house. Kenji and Kano looked at each other with the same confused expressions on their face, Kyoto?

They all sat around the table quietly. Kenji was the first to speak up, "Why the hell would she go to Kyoto? We don't know anyone there, other then Shinomori family. Is that where she's going? We haven't seen them since we were kids. Why would she go to see them?"

Kaoru placed her hand on her son's arm and spoke softly, "Your father has to tell you guys something. It should clear up any confusion you might be having."

Kenshin hadn't said a word since they came into the house. Kenji and Kano looked at their father and waited for him to say something. Kenji was about to speak again until…

"Please do not interrupt me during this story. I'm going to start from the very beginning…"

They all sat quietly as Kenshin told the story of Battousai the man-slayer.

Meanwhile, just outside of town, Kiriko was just waking up from a quick nap under a cherry blossom tree. Well I better get going, she thought as she gathered her things to head into town. Kiriko didn't know exactly where she was going, so she made a decision to stop by the bookstore and buy a map. As she walked through town, she noticed many of the shops weren't open yet. I guess it is still pretty early. From a distance she could see Miss Ti sweeping in front of the Akabeko. Shoot I don't want her to see me; Kiriko darted into a small ally next to a fish market and walked around the back.

Ti saw something move from the corner of her eye. She looked around but soon dismissed went back to sweeping.

Kiriko continued her pursued to the bookstore. I hope Mr. Liu opened up early today. As she approached the bookstore, a large smile stretched across her face. YES! The door was open and Mr. Liu was sweeping the front walk.

"Hi Mr. Liu!"

The elderly man looked up and smiled brightly when he saw the pretty girl walking toward him.

"Hey there, Kiriko. What brings you here at this time of morning?"

"I need to buy a map….Do you carry any maps of Kyoto?"

Mr. Liu frowned up his face, "Kyoto, why in the world would you need a map of that place?"

She smiled, "It's a long story Mr. Liu. Do you have any?"

"Of course I do child. Come on in here." Kiriko followed the old man into the store. She wondered how he kept his business running because every time she came to buy something he refused her money and would give the book to her instead. Of course, Kiriko would always bring it back after she finished reading it.

"Hhmmm…now let's see here….," he moved a couple of boxes and dug under some old books, " AH-HA! Here it is." He turned around. In his hand he was holding a small scroll. "I've had this map for years. Some of the names might have changed but the roads should still be there. Are you and your family going to visit some friends there?"

"Uuummm…no…this map is for me." Kiriko said sheepishly.

Mr. Liu raised one of his bushy eyebrows, "Oh?"

"Uum…yes. How much is it?" Kiriko dug into her satchel purposely avoiding Mr. Liu's eyes.

He took her hand and gave her the map. "Here. Now you know I'm not going to charge you, child."

"No, Mr. Liu. I want to pay for it this time because I won't be able to bring it back. Please take the-"

"Child, every time I gave you a book, I never wanted it back. You took it upon yourself to bring them back to me. When I mean to give you something I want you to have it. Now take this map. You're obviously not telling me something and that's okay because it ain't none of my business. But take this as present from me for your journey. You'll need this more then I do."

She tried to protest again but he would hear of it. "Go on girl! Now get! I've got a lot of work to do around here and I think you better get started on your journey."

He practically pushed Kiriko out the door. "Thank you so much Mr. Liu. Oh and one more thing…you haven't seen me come by here, okay?"

Mr. Liu looked in to her gorgeous indigo eyes and understood what she was asking him.

"Child! You know I have bad memory, now GET!"

Kiriko smiled because she knew Mr. Liu never forgets. "Thanks again, bye!" She ran down the road out of town.

"Take care of yourself, child." Mr. Liu went back to sweeping the walkway.