Testing the Theory

When they got back to the house, the guys were putting away the things they bought from the market place. Kiriko went to help her brothers. While the others were preoccupied, Kaoru grabbed Kenshin hand.

"Oro?"

"Shh…come with me. We need to talk."

They quietly left the house unnoticed then walked over to the dojo.

"Kenshin, I talked to Kiriko about Shio."

Kenshin looked her sternly in to her eyes. "Yes. What did she say? Did he hurt her in anyway?" His eyes started to waver from violet to gold just from the thought.

"No. Kenshin that just it. I don't think Shio is dangerous." Kaoru sat down on the hard wood floor. She gestured for him to do the same.

"W-What do you mean? He supposed to be after my life." He said as he sat down in front of her.

Kaoru nodded. "Yes that is what we've heard from other people but hearing Kiriko's story about him makes me wonder."

Kenshin just stared at her. A confused look plaster on his face. She went into detail about what Kiriko said.

"He helped her several times, plus some other people while she was with him…….To tell you the truth Kenshin……he sounded a little bit like you and I believe everything she's told me."

Kenshin pondered over this new information.

She continued, "Also…..Hiko was right. Kiriko has deep feelings for him and I don't think she would fall for someone she felt unsafe with or someone who would hurt others. Remember that Kiriko can read people like you. She would have sensed it if she was in danger."

"Yes that is true." He looked down at his hands. Kaoru touched them softly. He looked up into her pools of sapphire. She smiled.

"There's one last thing………I asked her how she felt when she was with him…….She said she felt like he was her…………protector."

Kenshin eyes widened. "Wait a minute. She used that exact-"

"Word. Yes, Kenshin she used that exact word. So you see. He isn't like Shishio Makoto. He's different. I just know it. However, I have a feeling Shio told her what he is planning to do-"

"What-"

"Let me finish….what he is planning to do to the Battousai. Remember Kiriko doesn't know who that is. Kenshin you have to tell her even if she doesn't want to hear it. It's better if she knows now and I have a way you can bring it up to her."

Kenshin sat quietly and listened closely to Kaoru's plan.

"Where did mom and dad go?" Kano asked.

Kenji and Kiriko looked around finally noticing that their parents had disappeared.

"I don't know. I didn't even know they left." Kenji answered as he took a peak out the window.

"Hm….well anyway…Kiriko did I tell you I beat Kenji in practice?" Kano told her excitedly.

Kiriko smiled. "No, you forgot to mention something as important as that. I want to hear all the gory details."

"Oh please! He got one lucky shot and he thinks he beat me!" Kenji snickered.

"Yeah but she doesn't know how I made that so called 'lucky shot'." Kano laughed.

"Oh be quiet Kenji. I want to hear this." She grabbed Kano's arm and they went outside to the front steps. Kenji followed. He wanted to make sure his little brother didn't exaggerate the story so he stood in the doorway to listen.

"Okay so what happened?" Kiriko asked excitedly.

Kano nodded and started his story, "Well it happened a few days after you ranaway…"

Kiriko frowned a little after hearing that word.

"…we were really busy helping mom and everything that we didn't have time to practice. So mom gave us a brake so that we could. That day Megumi, Meya and Sanni came over to watch. Kenji was trying to show off because he lost a lot of cool points when Meya caught him doing the laundry…"

Kiriko burst out laughing. Kano joined her.

"Oh will you two SHUT UP!" Kenji screamed, "Kano you're not telling it right let me-"

"No I want Kano to tell the story, you'll just try to make it sound better for you." Kiriko scolded. "Go on Kano, finish the story."

"I'll give Kenji this….he started off fancy. He was kind of beating me up and I was getting very angry. But then I thought about something you did when you were fighting him. So I calmed down and went back into first fighting stance position. Here let me show you…" Kano got up and ran into the house to get his bokken. Then he came back out and stood in front of Kiriko. Showing her what he meant.

"Yes I understand. Go on, go on." Kiriko was really starting to get excited.

"So Kenji was like..'Hey Meya! Watch me do this one of a kind move I made special for you'…and you know Meya she was like 'Whatever'…"

Kiriko laughed at the way Kano mimicked their voices. It even made Kenji chuckle, too.

"…so Kenji was acting all cocky that he didn't even realize I was so focus. Like this.."

He showed her. Narrowing his eyes too small slits like she did so long ago. "And I said 'I'm ready when you are big brother' so Kenji jumped straight in the air and was coming down towards me fast but he didn't think I could do what you did. I jumped up and spun and caught him in the gut…" Kano demonstrated. "YAAAAA…just like that! Kenji went flying across the room-"

"No I didn't!" He barked.

"Well let's me put it this way…you sure didn't land on your feet." Kano and Kiriko both started laughing hysterically.

"Kano you really did that? That's great! It's about time he got a good smack down." They both laughed some more.

Kenji rolled his eyes, "Yeah, well, I have to admit. He really did catch me off guard just like you did. If I had known I was fighting someone with your skill level I would have prepared myself." Kenji sat beside Kiriko.

"Why thank you Kenji for recognizing my talent." Kiriko smiled proudly.

He scoffed, "Oh please, get over your self. You didn't do it alone."

Kiriko frowned at him, "Um…Yes, I did do it alone. No one in this house taught me how to fight. I had no choice but to do it alone."

"Yeah, yeah we know that but even if you taught yourself you wouldn't be as good as you are…….Didn't dad tell you where you acquired your skills?"

The confused look on Kiriko face answered his question. Kenji and Kano were shocked.