Kenshin felt awkward standing by the side of Inkadi Jade. No conversation was happening so he decided to start one.

"So, where do you live?" Kenshin looked at Inkadi, expecting a smile, but a there, instead of a bright cheering smile, was a sad looking expression on her face.

"Wha- . . . Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Could you repeat that again?" This time she was listening inventively.

"Of course! I was asking where you lived." She nodded and pointed ahead.

"It's right up here. Be careful of the steps." She took out a brass key and unlocked the doors, revealing a small, yet beautiful garden with many different wild flowers. There were butterflies fluttering around everywhere.

"Wow! It's a beautiful place you have." Kenshin admired. He snuck a glance at her face, which now had a proud smile.

"That's why my mother was nick-named Butterfly." She was remembering, Kenshin could tell by the look on her face. Then she looked at Kenshin and remembered that she had no clue what she was talking about. "My mother ran away a couple of years ago."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Said Kenshin, sadly. Inkadi wanted to brush away the topic.

"That's okay, Kenshin. Come inside, it's getting chilly." She went into the house and put her fan on the table. "I'll get some food, wait here." She then rushed into another room to get some snacks for her guest.

"Thank you!" Kenshin yelled after Inkadi. He started to examine the room he was in. There was an old-fashioned Japanese cupboard on the wall containing many delicate china cups.

Inkadi came in with a platter full of different foods she had managed to find. She placed the tray quietly on the table, because she didn't want to disturb Kenshin, who had a sophisticated look on his face.

"He looks so . . . lonely. Almost like me." Inkadi thought to herself. Then she noticed the "X" scar on his cheek for the first time.

"I wonder how he got that." The thought again, but she decided not to ask until she knew Kenshin better. It probably wasn't a story that was happy and cheerful.

Inkadi then cleared her throat and Kenshin whirled around.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't hear you come in." Then he saw the tray of different foods. "Wow that looks appetizing."

"Go ahead, have as much as you like. I haven't had company in a while, so we might have to go shopping tomorrow for more food, is that okay?" He nodded while he stuffed a rice cracker into his mouth. She seemed to like him this way, when he was happy. It made her feel comforted inside.

"Aren't you going to have some?" He pointed to some crackers in the platter. She smiled, sat down, and took one flower shaped cracker. It was orange, like the ones on her fan.

After a while they had finished most of the food on the tray, so she quickly washed it and dried it off. Kenshin, meanwhile, was searching for a room to sleep in. After Inkadi had finished with the tray, she went off to find some blankets and sheets that Kenshin could use. She found a green blanket with little shapes all over it in the closet. Her father used to love the patterns on the blanket, but Inkadi quickly pushed that thought away.

"I think these will keep him warm for tonight." She thought aloud. She then took another pale green sheet, to match the blanket, and folded them up. Inkadi gave them to Kenshin who was still deciding where to sleep.

"I wouldn't recommend sleeping in the north-west room, because my family always complained it was colder there than anywhere else." She informed him. He nodded politely.

"Why did I invite him in? He is a stranger, but it feels like I've known him for a very long time." This thought was still troubling her. She wondered what he was thinking about.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Kenshin had finally found a room to settle himself in. He only had one item that he carried, which was his sword. He placed the blanket and sheets next to his sword and started to make his bed.

"Kenshin, would you like some tea?" He heard 'clinks' as Inkadi was taking some cups out of the cupboard he had inspected earlier.

"Yes, thank you. I'll be there in a moment." Kenshin wondered if Inkadi would mind him bringing his sword. He felt like something was missing when he took it off, so he decided to bring it.

When he arrived in the first room he could smell the tea. It was strong when he tasted it, but still very good.

"May I ask you a question?" Inkadi waited for his reply.

"I believe you just did," said Kenshin with a small smile. "But you may ask another." Inkadi could help laughing. She nodded and proceeded.

"Why were you roaming this small town of ours?" She could tell that he didn't live here.

"Oh, of course, I am a Rurouni and I was just passing through." He paused for a second. "I didn't expect to meet such a kind person." She smiled at him.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Day after day the two began to know more about each other. Inkadi told Kenshin how her father and grandmother had died, how her mother ran away, and how her grandfather was dying too.

Kenshin told her about the cities he had already passed through, but he never mentioned the word 'Battosai'. She was very intelligent and knew most of the cities he mentioned.

"I passed through Tokyo a couple of days ago."

"Ah! Yes, I remember my mother had always wanted to live in Tokyo. Maybe that's where she ran off too." Even though this was sad to Kenshin, Inkadi didn't seem to mind.

"Can I ask you a sort of personal question?" Kenshin was surprised at her. "I mean . . . if you don't mind."

"Go ahead; I'm sure I won't mind."

"Well, if you are a Rurouni, where is your family?" Kenshin thought about how to answer this.

"Ah . . . well, you see, I never knew my parents. I was an orphan." Inkadi looked down at her feet.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked that." She said with a hint of shame in her voice.

"Don't worry, I'm okay." He chuckled. For the second time, Inkadi smiled.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A week passed, and both began to find feelings for each other. Kenshin saw Inkadi smiling more often, and Kenshin was starting to tell more about his past than he had ever told anyone, of course, except for Tomoe.

Before, Kenshin was thinking about Tomoe all the time, but now, when he was with Inkadi, he didn't think about her. "Maybe when I have company it helps." He figured out to himself. "Maybe it gives me something more to think about, unlike when I'm alone."

Maybe that was the reason, but maybe not. If anyone was just a by-stander, they would probably think Inkadi and Kenshin were a couple. How long would it take for Kenshin and Inkadi to realize that they were in love?

~*~*~*~*~*~

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've received many reviews saying that it was weird having Inkadi suddenly invite Kenshin in, but if you read the first chapter carefully, you'll see that when she mentioned him not having a place to stay, she also wondered that to herself. Maybe that'll answer all your questions, maybe not. All I can say is that it was her instant reaction.

I hope you enjoyed the second chapter of Taking Another Path. It's going a bit slow, I know, but it'll make the end and middle even more exciting! Reviews are great, I can't wait for more!