Not the Same Kiriko

"Kiriko…..I've missed you so much." Kenshin spoke into her hair.

Kiriko kept mumbling and sobbing into his shoulder. When she finally got some of her composer back, she pulled away from him and spoke. "Daddy…….I'm…..I'm so so sor..r..y…" She went back into her hysterical bouts of crying.

Kenshin put his arm around her shoulder and they walked to the dojo. Once they got there, they sat in the middle of the training hall. Kenshin gave her a handkerchief for her face. Then he took a deep breath and began. "When I was eight, my parents had-"

"Stop."

Kenshin stopped speaking and looked into Kiriko's eyes. "Kiriko you need to hear this."

"No I don't……Daddy…I'm not going to lie…I'm still very curious about your past but I've learned that I have nothing to do with your past. If you told me now it would be unimportant because I'll still love you… I'm your daughter. All that matters is the present, the future and the fact that you love me. You are over protective…" Kiriko smiled a little, "and you know what, that's okay. You're doing it for a reason and I trust that it is a good reason. I know what I did was very stupid and I hope you can forgive me." Tears began to fill her eyes again.

Kenshin stared at his daughter with disbelief. He couldn't believe his ears. Was this really Kiriko? She always had a manner about her that was beyond her years but this was unexplainable. He felt like he was talking to a grown woman and not his little girl. He finally snapped out of his initial shock and smiled. That was his problem. After all this time he still under estimated her. She wasn't his little girl anymore. She is a woman.

"Miss Kiriko as long as your safe and home the past truly does not matter anymore." He got up and helped her to her feet. "Come on. You've had a long journey and I know you're exhausted."

Kiriko smiled had hugged him again. "I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, Kiriko"

When they got back to the house, Kiriko said her apologizes again and told everyone goodnight. After that she took a long hot bath and went to bed. However she didn't fall asleep right away. She laid in her futon looking at the ceiling for a while. She couldn't seem to get Shio and the kiss he gave her off her mind. She never imagined in a thousand years that kissing a guy would be like that. Yet she had a feeling that maybe it was that fact that it was Shio who kissed her. She had never really been boy crazy like most girls her age.

Yes, if she saw an attractive guy, she would acknowledge it but she really didn't go dizzy over them, however, Shio was more then just handsome. He was intelligent, funny (when he wasn't playing tricks on her), kind (even though he tried to put on an arrogant tough guy exterior), and defiantly lonely and unloved. Kiriko could see it so clearly when he was talking about his mission. He'd been alone his whole life. No family. No friends. Just him and his mission. She could also feel it in his kiss. She sensed that it was extremely hard for him to pull away from her. The hurt in his eyes made her heart ache. Kiriko rolled over and looked at Laplatina leaning against the wall. The sword of peace. What good is that sword if it can't bring me peace of mind? I'm so worry about him, she thought. I wonder where he's at right now. Shio, please change your mind. Please…

"come back to me." She whispered out loud then she finally closed her eyes and fell into a restless sleep.

"Battousai! You killed my father, prepare to die!" Shio stepped closer to the Battousai. His sword pointed at his neck however the Battousai kept his sword sheathed. He stared at Shio with sad eyes.

"Why are you doing this, Shio? I can see in your eyes that you have never killed a man before. So tell me the real reason you are after my life."

"To avenge my father! You murderer!"

"Shio, I didn't mean to kill your father……It was an accident. However, your father actually killed…himself."

He stared at the Battousai in utter disbelief. "YOU LIE!" Shio ran towards the Battousai. The Battousai still didn't unsheathe his sword. Shio slashed down across his chest. He closed his eyes to keep the spraying blood from getting into them.

"Finally, the Battousai's dead and my father will love me for it." He said to himself. He slowly opened his eyes to look at the now dead Battousai's body. Shio eyes widened in despicable horror as Kiriko stood in front of him. Blood spilling out of her chest like a claret waterfall. Her once beautiful bright indigo eyes were now starting to glaze over as death was claiming her soul.

"Shio………" she breathed out as her body slowing started to collapse to the ground.

"…kiriko………NNNNNOOOOOO…

"….. NNNNNOOOOOO!" Shio sat straight up. Sweat was seeping out of every pour on his body. He unconsciously looked around still thinking Kiriko was laying on the ground somewhere soaking in a pool of her blood. To his relief she wasn't lying on the ground dead but to his disappointment she wasn't there at all. Shio looked down at his hands. They were shaking uncontrollably. What the hell does this mean? He ran his hands through his hair to wipe some of the sweat away. Then he laid back down and looked up at the moon less sky.

Shio was still in the woods just outside of Tokyo. Ever since he left Kiriko earlier that day, he'd been having second thoughts about his mission. He didn't know why he told her his life story in the first place. He figured it was the same reason why he asked her to travel with him. He just wished he knew what that reason was. He had never talked to anyone about what he was planning to do before. So he had no other opinions but his own. He just kept telling himself that this was the only way to receive the love that he so desired. However, when he told Kiriko and heard her strong opinions about his mission. He began to have serious doubts, especially when he saw the worry in her eyes. She was truly scared for him. It was the same frightened look she gave him when she thought he was drowning. She genuinely cared for him. He felt honored that she cared so much. To top it off were the nightmares he been having. It was like his subconscious was screaming for him not to go through with it.

"I have to." Shio spoke to the night sky. "I can't turn back now and besides…" He closed his eyes. "I have nobody to go back to."

The next morning, Kenshin and Kaoru were up first thing to see Aoshi and his family off. They were going to stay awhile and keep a look out for Shio Makoto but Aoshi received some distressing news from Kyoto about the Yagi Yakuza. Aoshi decided that they should get back immediately. Kenshin and Kaoru thanked them for their help and told Aoshi if they needed them just give the word and they would come to Kyoto.

On their way back from the docks, Kaoru asked Kenshin about the night before.

"Did you tell Kiriko about your past?"

Kenshin shook his head, "No."

This confused Kaoru. "Well why not? You said that was the first thing you were going to do when you saw her again. Did you change your mind?"

"Kaoru, do you think Kiriko looks different?"

She gasped. "Yes! It took me a moment to realize that she was standing in front of me. She almost doesn't look like my daughter. I was wondering if anyone else noticed too."

"Yes her appearance has changed and so has her attitude. Last night I tried to tell her about my past but she cut me off and told me she didn't want to know. She said that as long as I love her, the past didn't matter. She really shocked me. I mean…Kiriko was always mature but I felt like I was talking not to my daughter but to a woman that I just met off the street. It was very eye opening experience."

Kaoru thought about what he said. "So you're never going to tell her about your past?"

"Of course I will tell her but only when she wants to hear it."

Kaoru smiled. She's not a little tomboy anymore, she thought.

When they got back to the house, Kenshin went to the back of the house to start on the laundry but when he got there all the laundry was done. Kenshin took a closer look at the clothes that were hanging up to dry. I'm impressed, he thought, Kenji did a really good job. Since the clothes were done, Kenshin decided to help his wife with breakfast.

Kaoru went to wake up the boys but to her surprise, Kenji was already up starting breakfast and Kano was setting the table. Kaoru smiled brightly. She was so proud of her boys. They had become the men of the house when Kenshin was gone. She thought it would end now that he was back but they were still helping out.

"Sit down mom. We're making a welcome back breakfast for dad and Kiriko." Kano said. "Even though she doesn't deserve it." He mumbled.

"Hey, hey be nice little brother. I hate to admit it but she had me worry too." Kenji commented while he started cutting some carrots.

Kaoru sat at the table and watched her boys do their thing. She was a little saddened that even her sons were better cooks than she was.

Kenshin came in, "ORO?" He yelped when he saw his sons making breakfast.

"Yes! I know. I know. Come sit down with me and let our sons do the cooking. It's a welcome home breakfast for Kiriko and you sweety." Kenshin sat down and watched his sons with wide eyes.

Just as the boys were about to place the food on the table, Kiriko entered the room. Everyone gasped when they saw her. She was wearing one of Kaoru's old kimonos. It was yellow with purple and pink flowers all over it. The yellow made her hair and skin look even more vibrant than before.

"What? Why is everyone staring at me like that?" She said with a blush creeping into her cheeks.

"It's nothing. Come and sit down. Your bothers have made a welcome home breakfast for you." Kaoru gestured her to sit in her usually place across from Kenshin.

She sat down and Kano placed a bowl of food in front of her. Kiriko sniffed it. "Is it safe to eat?" She teased.

"HEY! You can eat dirt for all I care!" Kano barked.

Kenji pushed him into his seat then he sat down. "What your dear sweet brother is trying to say is…….that we missed you little sister and we're glad you're home safely." Kenji gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Yeah. We're glad your home. I really did miss you, I think" Kano gave her a peck on her other cheek. "Or maybe I'm thinking of my bokken- OUCH!" Kaoru pinched his ear.

A tear came out of Kiriko's eye. That was the first time her brothers ever said anything remotely nice to her and meant it. "Thank you so much…..I apologize for making everyone worry. I won't ever do that again. Please for give me."

Kenshin touched Kiriko's hand lightly. "Miss Kiriko we're just glad your home."

More tears fell out of her eyes as she smiled at her family. Nothing more needed to be said. They all sat quietly and enjoy their breakfast.