Heart of a Wolf Chapter Eight, a rurouni kenshin fanfic

AN: GOMEN NASI!! I know I know! I'm really late with this chapter and I want to apologize profusely! I've been bogged down with a lot of homework (anyone in College knows what I am talking about) and work! ;_; I've been so stressed out lately I'm having a migraine everyday!!! ;_; WAH! In any case I don't know if this is a temporary lapse in time or if it is going to be more permanent (at least until the semester ends) HOWEVER, I will continue to write this story! I am dead set on finishing this! Erm... look out also for a one-shot on Misao and the orginal idea I had for introducing Kenji and Shiroi called Forces of Nature. I want to upload it and see what your reaction is. If you guys like it I may go and write that one too, if you guys hate it I'll dump it with some of my other zanny ideas. ^^;;

I've set up a new RoKen website called ORO! Obviously Rorouni Obsessed! You can check it out here at http://www.geocities.com/himura_san1/ It's not finished though. There are a lot of pages missing but I wanted to put it up to see if you guys liked it or thought that I should um... kill it. ^^;;

Another website I put up is for this story! Yes Heart of a Wolf has it's own site now! With art, side stories, and other things you can't find on Fanfiction.net! Check it out at http://www.geocities.com/himura_san1/index2.html

You know I've always wondered if anyone ever reads these Author Notes or at least all the way through... I mean I could probably put a sex scene in here and no one would notice. Watch. Kenshin sauntered into Kaoru's bedroom her sleeping yukata slightly opened showing the swell of her full breasts. Her skin was damp and each droplet caught the moonlight that filtered in giving her skin an ethereal real effect. Keirii Kenshin thought as he let his eyes devour her sight. "Kenshin." Her voice pleaded filled with want and need. "Kaoru" He answered just as passionately. "Kaoru-dono, sessha has to go save Japan again. Could we do this at another time?" Kaoru threw the sakabatou hitting the rorouni on the head.

There no one will notice that.

Also my apologies! I am an airhead! I misspelled Shiroi's name! It's not Shiori but Shiroi meaning White not Guidebook (or bookmark) -_- Gomen ne I am a goof and a half!

YATTA! I had my birthday last weekend! I was going to post this story then but it wasn't even half way done yet! ^^;; So as a late b-day present you guys could review and get me past 100 reviews ne? NE?! Nah it's okay! I really appreciate all that you readers are doing! ^-^ But remember wonderful reviews really are very nice and I love to get them. It's because of you guys that I write this story and all your reviews just motivate me. Arrigato mina-san. ::bows::

Heart of a Wolf

Ch.8

Kaoru gave a small whimper of anguish as she watched her husband curl into a small ball crying. She could barely remember all the details of the scene that happened moments before. Only the pain of the moment existed in her memory now. The events flooded her mind like shadows playing out a scene that she couldn't understand. Moments danced around, switching their order making the sequence vague and confusing. She couldn't understand. Why? Why had he left? Why did he say those things? Where had she gone wrong?

"Kenshin," Kaoru pleaded her voice cracking around the choked sobs. "Kenshin please… let me help you." Ever since Kenji had left, Kenshin had not wished anyone to touch him, to help him. His coughing had become worse and he looked paler than before. The wound, the cursed cross shape scar, refuses to seal itself up, or rather Kenshin wouldn't let it close. Every time the blood would stop, he'd claw at his face making it bleed again. What was going on through his mind?

Kaoru once again tried to uncurl her husband, to gather him up into her embrace and just hold him tight against herself. But he rejected her again, swatted away her hands and her attempts. He didn't want her there. It hurt her to have him hurting like so, but it hurt worse that he refused her love.

Tears spilled from the sad blue eyes. She had lost her son and her husband all in one stroke. She didn't know how much more she was going to cry, how many more tears she could spill before she dried up completely. Her whole body ached with the sickness but also with all that had happened. How much more could she or Kenshin take before they were left empty?

"Anata… please… you're killing me." She pressed her face against his rounded back letting her tears stain the sleeping yukata. The body beneath her shuddered with tremors before stopping suddenly. Kenshin twisted with a speed she could not believe facing her with large, swollen, violet eyes, searching her equally red face.

"K-kaoru." The usually soft gentle voice sounded raspy and old with misuse. Kaoru placed her hand on his lips silencing anything else he was planning on saying. Kenshin drew her towards him holding her with a grip that made the air rush out of her lungs. He buried his face within her dark tresses letting his tears hide there. His lips moved against her hot skin trying to tell her something but she couldn't hear them.

"Shhh." The younger woman encircled her arms around the suddenly fragile body. She pulled him towards her more hoping to somehow take the pain that laced his heart away with her closeness. What could she do? How could she ease away this pain? It hurt her too. Her son, the one she had raised, hated his father. It was her fault Kenji hated Kenshin. It was all her fault.

"Forgive me anata." She whispered as she clung to him. "Please forgive me." The warm droplets of blood stained her sleeping robe as well as her neck. Kenshin pulled back suddenly looking at her in her blue eyes.

"Why? You have done nothing wrong Kaoru."

Kaoru shook her head, letting her eyes drop from his. "I raised him to be like this. It's my fault. If only I had been a better mother he would never had said the things he said to you."

Kenshin held her face between his palms. "Kaoru you are not to blame for this… There has never been a better mother than you." He gave her a sad smile. "However, sessha… sessha should have been home more often. I should have been a better father. I-I'm the one to blame for this. It is my fault not yours Kaoru."

Kaoru glared angrily at Kenshin her blue eyes blazing. "No Kenshin! It is not your fault! Why do you always take everything onto your shoulders? You are not alone here! You are not to blame! I AM!" Kaoru cried pressing her face against his hands. More tears came from her tightly closed eyes.

The red haired man took a deep breath to steady himself. He was always at fault. Someone always got hurt because of him. He had hurt Kenji without meaning too and now his son wanted nothing to do with him. He had hurt Kaoru by pushing her away as well. Now she cried and took the blame because he was stupid. 'No wonder Kenji doesn't want me as his father… Can I blame him? No… I wouldn't want an idiot as a father either.'

"Kaoru please listen to me-"

"No!" Kaoru looked up and grasped his face kissing it gently. "You listen to me." Her blue eyes were so sad. "How could anyone hate you Kenshin? You have never done anything to make it so." She kissed his nose, his eyelids. "I must have done something to make him like this." Kaoru continued to kiss his face, his chin, his lips. "I should have noticed it earlier… should have stopped him before it got like this." She kissed his right cheek and his forehead. She had covered just about every spot except…

"Kaoru," Kenshin whispered. Her loving menstruations were a balm to the wound that lay in his heart. However he couldn't forget it, wouldn't forget the sharp pieces that were once his heart. He didn't want to live. He wanted to die… but he couldn't leave his Kaoru. Not like this. "I am at fault too. I should have told him I love him more often. I should have been here with him." Kenshin searched her eyes imploring her to accept what he had to say. "I barely know him Kaoru." He choked out the last few words, the truth of it all hitting him like a powerful wave.

Kaoru eyed his cross scar that bleed slowly but surely. She pressed her lips against it tasting the coppery substance briefly. Kenshin gasped as he felt her warm lips on the bloody thing. He pulled away quickly.

"Kaoru!" Said woman looked up at him with shadowed eyes. His own violet eyes soften at their gaze.

"Let me heal you Kenshin. For once let me protect you." Kaoru pleaded with him, her sapphire eyes imploring him to allow her request. Blood dribbled off her lips as he watched her steadily debating his answer. "I love you Kenshin." Kaoru blurted out quickly, blushing just as fast.

It touched him. Warmth spread through his entire body causing him to feel sleepy. That was the thing about Kaoru, why he loved her so much. He knew that for one moment he could forget all his problems and bask in her love, her tenderness. Oh, how he loved her! Kaoru, his precious Kaoru. She was his new life, new love, new beginning. Kenji may have abandoned him but Kaoru was still here, still accepting him for all he was worth. He really wasn't worthy of her love. However, he couldn't forget.

"Koshii," he whispered to her softly his lower lip trembling. Kaoru took this as an answer and closed the gap between herself and her husband once again. Lowering themselves onto the futon, Kaoru whispered soft words of comfort as she too cried along with him. Kenshin cried himself to sleep in his beloved arms, his dreams filled with memories of times before, when they were all happy.

Kenji walked back to the room that he was given his mind still on the small girl and her words. 'Am I really a coward? Have I resorted to that? What am I afraid of? What have I to lose?' But Kenji knew those answers. He was a coward and he was afraid. He was afraid that he'd lose his father, a man who had crawled under his skin and had managed to bury himself in his heart.

Kenji sighed as he closed the rice door shut behind him silently and eyed the rolled futon warily. He was tired, emotionally and physically. The little scuffle with Saitou had proved that Kenji wasn't in great shape much less an experienced fighter. A frown formed on the thin lips. 'No wonder I always lose to Yahiko. He has more experience in battle than I will ever have.'

Blue violet orbs drifted over toward the folded sleeping yukata and Kenji let out another weary sigh. Quickly changing into the soft material Kenji let his hands linger briefly on the small cut against his shoulder. He could still feel the small tender fingers that cleansed and fretted over the shallow wound. Hands traveled to the bruise that was slowly forming on his left cheek. His eyes narrowed slightly at the memory of the strength behind the punch. The attack had made him think that bones had broken under the pressure. 'Saitou must be strong to hit so hard. Geesh! I'll be hurting for weeks!' Kenji let out a small groan at the prospect of having the wound longer than a few days.

Speaking of wounds, his heart still ached but the pain had become dull and numbing. The young yet old face of his father floated briefly behind closed lids. The look that he had painted across the delicate features caused Kenji to shudder. The red haired boy shook his head to clear himself of the image. No. Not tonight. Tonight he would rest and think more about the little girl that lay asleep only a few feet away.

Kenji began to lay out the padded bedding, his mind's eye seeing a petite, dark haired child blush scarlet and turn her face away. Kenji couldn't help but smile at the memory. 'Makes her feel funny… Do I really Shiroi? Do I make you feel different? Do you know that I feel the same around you?'

Kenji laid out facing the wooden ceiling above him. 'I have to be losing my mind. Could this be love? Is this love? How can it? I've only known her for two days! And she is so much younger than I. Not to mention that her father hates me.' Kenji frowned once again not sure of the feelings that were blossoming in his chest. He had heard of love, had seen it first hand, but he had never been in love. What was love anyway? Was it the comfortable feeling one hand with another? Wasn't that friendship? Was it the soft looks and want to be near them? Wasn't that lust? Or was it something else that Kenji hadn't heard yet?

Once again his mind fluttered a picture of his father's face. The young Himura growled and turned till he was on his stomach. His face was twisted with slight anger and frustration. He didn't want to think about him tonight. He had enough of the torture through out the days so he didn't need it now! 'Coward.' The word taunted him, laughed at him from the safety of his mind.

Kenji shook his head trying to clear it. He had to think of something…anything that would get his mind off his troubles for just one night! Nevertheless, his mind kept shifting back, guilt wiggling its way into his consciousness perturbing his thoughts. Something cool and wet traced a path down his cheek. He wiped it away angrily burying his face into the bedding.

"Get a grip on yourself Kenji you big idiot!" The red haired youth hissed out as more tears followed the first. 'Why can't I stop crying?! Am I that much of a baby? Haven't I cried enough?!' His sleep was restless, his dreams frightening. Many of them having his father die before he could say three simple little words… I love you.

Saitou gave a low grunt as wakefulness fully over took him. He hated waking up so early but years of habit were hard to break. The tall swordsman groaned in mild annoyance as he remembered a certain red haired boy. He was not looking forward to talking to the youth, but it had to be done. He needed him out of his house and way from Shiroi, preferably in the next prefecture if possible.

He didn't like it, not one bit. His little girl was not very young but she was his little girl. Saitou gave another groan as he covered his face with his hand. His mind mocked him sending stray thoughts into his head like: wait until she gets older and even more suitors line up to court her. Saitou glared at the ceiling behind his hand. 'Not if I can help it.' With a push from his hands, he was on his feet and folding his mattress.

The dark haired man was silently muttering how he was not ever going to let Shiroi marry. If Tokio were still alive she would have smacked him with a broom at this point, but I digress.

After carefully placing, everything in his room in order Saitou quickly collected his bath supplies. Somehow, he had let his mind work its way into making up thousands of scenarios where Kenji would ask for Shiroi's hand in marriage and he would Gotatsu him into the next century. Sometimes though his mind found a loophole and Shiroi would end up eloping with the red haired ruffian. Too bad Tokio never let her husband drink Western coffee it might have eased his bitter morning mood. However, she knew that Saitou was the sort that had an addiction problem when it comes to things it was his possessive nature. Nonetheless, Saitou was in a foul mood and really just wanted a nice cold shower before releasing some stress by practicing.

The morning was cool with a chilly humid wind. It soothed the warm muscles as they performed movements that they knew. Kenji had given up on getting any sleep hours ago and had instead decided to focus his mind on something else, something that didn't involve his father… kendo. As far as Kenji knew his father never picked up a sword anymore and hardly did before he was born.

Kenji began a new set of katas that were softer, smoother strokes. He deepened his breathing letting his mind clear itself. He centered himself in a strange sort of meditation focusing only on the moves and his breathing. Each movement was slow, graceful as if he was dancing through thick water. It was beautiful. Well it could have been if he'd get his mind of his father.

Kenji sighed and stopped in the middle of the exercise running a hand through his messy bangs. The sun had begun its rise announcing a bright and glorious new day. Kenji stared at the golden rays piercing the dark clouds and painting the sky an array of colors. A new day, a new beginning… but was he ready? Could he face these new thoughts, new convictions with the same ferocity, the tenaciousness? Or would he fall victim to his old ways?

Kenji felt his muscles tense up at the mere thought of confronting his father. They ached and longed for a nice long bath. Kenji let the idea float around in his head for a while before setting off towards the bathhouse. It never occurred to him if it had any bath supplies or not. At that moment he really didn't care, he just wanted to dip into the warm tub and relax a little. An image briefly flashed behind his eyelids.

Kenji groaned a little as he leaned his head against the doorframe and started banging against it softly. Why couldn't he just get that man out of his head for the shortest of moments? Why did his face always have to be dancing right behind his eyes? WHY?! All he wanted was a moment of peace to collect his thoughts to somehow conclude with his feelings. But he couldn't!

'Breathe… just breathe…' Kenji chanted those words as a mantra to focus his mind as he began to strip off his clothes. Finally, his mind had cleared of all thoughts and Kenji gave a small smile before walking into the bathhouse.

…………

… Kenji froze… There, about to get into the tub, was Saitou showing that he wasn't that different from Kenji after all. Neither of the two said anything as they just stared at each other somehow in shocked into a strange, morbid fascination with each other. (This is just sick by the way) Saitou was the first to break the silence.

"Don't you know how to knock, boy?" He said as he slipped into the tub.

"Baka! I wasn't expecting anyone to be up at this hour!" Kenji gritted his teeth, inwardly seething. 'If he calls me boy one more time I'm going to…'

"Well are you just going to stand there?" Saitou closed his eyes as he leaned back letting the warm water sooth his muscles. Truth be told, Saitou had known Kenji was training and that he was eventually going to head into the bathroom. It was a perfect opportunity for him to talk to the young man with having Shiroi eavesdropping into their conversation. 'Another trait of her mother's…' Saitou snorted at the thought.

Meanwhile Kenji was having thoughts of his own, especially concerning the young girl he recently meet. He kept remembering when he had first meet her that there was no one to protect her, no one to defend her. She was just all alone and scared. It drove him crazy! Why did he leave her alone? It was the same with his father. He just didn't understand! 'Maybe he can give me some answers.' A small part of him rationalized.

"Keep scrubbing like that, boy, and you'll rub a hole into your skin."

Kenji snapped. Saitou caught the washcloth before it could hit him in the face. He turned to glare at the red head that sat on the stool next to him. Light violet eyes burned into his. Saitou was about to berate him but Kenji beat him to it.

"I am not a boy! I have been through enough so you don't have to continue to condemn me with that word." Kenji growled clenching and unclenching his fists.

Saitou narrowed his eyes at him. "You haven't been through nearly enough, boy." Kenji opened his mouth to say something but the look on Saitou's face kept his voice back in his throat. "You haven't had to bathe in blood day and night, taste it, smell it, live drenched in it. You've never had to constantly think that you might die that day, minute, second. You've never had to watch what you said, who you confined in, who to turn your back on. You know nothing outside the walls that you have been protected in. Don't know what it feels to be hungry or poor. So don't come telling me that you're all grown up when you've barely crawled through life."

Silence reined as Saitou just bore holes into the shocked red haired youth. Thoughts raced through Kenji's head. 'Who is this guy?! How- How does he know my father?' A slight tremor ran down his spine. This man was no ordinary man, those golden eyes that stared down at him was not the glare of a police man who had arrested one to many, was not even of a war veteran that had fought through so many battles. No, those were the eyes of a killer.

Saitou snorted and fell back against the tub closing his eyes. He could hear Kenji's sporadic breathing. It was soft but he could pick it up. He could even hear the boy's heart beat thunderously against his chest. 'The skills of a Hitokori.' Saitou thought sarcastically frowning at his own mind. He knew the boy was curious now and the opening that Saitou had been looking for was given to him. However, the words just would not come out. How exactly was he going to explain who Kenji's father was without giving out too many details?

Kenji wanted to know who the man before him was. Wanted to know the relation he had to his father. But he was afraid to know it, afraid that if he knew, he'd have to find a new path on which to travel on.

"What do you know of the Bakumatsu?" Saitou's deep, steady voice made Kenji jump slightly as it cut through the silence.

"I know that it was the cause of the Black Ships when they forced to dock in our ports. The Shogonate were afraid of the western influences of America, thinking that their government of 'free' states would one day cause a rebellion against the peoples. But many of the people, especially the farmers, were already ready to rebel against their rule, so they just used the ships as an excuse to fight." Kenji thought back to whatever else his mother had taught him about the war.

Saitou sighed. Was it the war really turning to be that simple? Before it was so hard to tell exactly why it had started and the reasons that everyone was fighting for. Now it was just that simple... samurai lords who were afraid to lose their power against people who were tired of being ignored. Ages had passed, the generation that never saw the war already born and unaware of the impact it had on their lives, much like the boy before him.

"I want you to listen, boy, and listen well. What I have to say to you might put some things into perspective." Kenji leaned closer curiosity written across his youthful face. Saitou smirked he was just like his mother in that way, his emotions shown plain as day. "The war had many fighters in it, some skilled others not. Heroes and killers emerged through the chaos their names forever carved in history, but there was one man who will be forever known to street urchins and the socialites alike... this man was called Battousai."

Kenji stared impassively at the clouds as they passed by the darkening sky. It would rain soon. Such was the weather of spring. The clouds had already begun to get heavier and chill when was starting to pick up dust mites and leaves littering them about. The air about started collecting itself clinging to everything it could and making it feel slightly damp like early morning dew.

Nevertheless, Kenji didn't notice this or anything else that passed by. He was deep in thought on the one word that disturbed yet fascinated him. 'Battousai…' When Saitou had told him that his father, the gentle heart who wouldn't heart a fly, was Battousai he could hardly believe it. However, somewhere deep inside him he knew that it was truth. He had heard whispers in the market and the tales that his mother had told him about his father didn't seem so fabricated now.

There were still so many questions unanswered nonetheless Saitou couldn't provide the answers for him. His mind wandered back to their previous conversation.

"What do you mean my father is Battousai? That can't be true!"

"He is and it is. Your father was the most feared assassin in all of Japan."

*snort* "My father cooks and cleans, that is not the life of a hitokori."

"That is correct but that is what the idiot has chosen to do. He wishes to hide himself yet still achieve the same ideal without the use of a sword."

"Why? Why did he stop killing?"

*silence* "That is something you must ask your father."

It had been left at that. Now the question rambled on through the auburn haired youth's mind. Why had he stopped killing? Saitou had hinted at that he had not stopped killing, this of course happened when Shiroi was mentioned somewhere. However, Kenji paid no head to that little threat. He knew exactly where the police captain was trying to go with it and Himura Kenji was just as stubborn, maybe worse, than his two parents and he was not going to stop seeing Shiroi!

"BOO!"

"ORO!" Kenji fell face forward onto the hard wood porch. Laughter abounded beside him and he couldn't help but let out a few chuckles as well. He sat up again and started rubbing his nose through the laughter. Gazing at his side, he gave the petite girl a soft smile.

Shiroi mumbled something as she blushed and crawled over to be across from him. Kenji watched her and thought how lovely she looked in her bright kimono. It was red with an orange blossom print covering most of the fabric. The obi tied around her tiny waist was a dark bright green plain except for the yellowed vines weaving through it.

"You look nice." He commented causing another ripple in her ki and a blush to spread through her cheeks. "Why are you so dressed up?"

"Mou!" Shiroi felt her cheeks darken even more. "I do like to dress in my nicer kimonos every once and a while too! Besides some of my clothes are still at your house." Shiroi silently whispered the last sentence as if it was taboo to talk about Kenji's home.

Kenji smiled gently at her and gathered the tiny girl in an embrace. "Ah I see… We'll just have to get them tomorrow then, ne?"

The raven-haired child stopped thinking about how wonderfully nice his hugs were and how she was glad her father stepped out for a bit for if he caught them… oh she didn't even want to go there. "Nani? We are going to your house tomorrow?" She asked with wide brown eyes.

Kenji nodded slowly letting his words sink in not just to her but to him as well.

"Yatta!" She threw her arms around the young man causing him to fall back against the post and banging his head.

"Orororo…" The world spun around him.

"Ah! Gomen nasi!!" Shiroi fervently groped the back of his head trying to somehow sooth the bump. Through all the commotion, she had ended up on his lap both her arms cradling his head.

This time it was Kenji's turn to blush scarlet. He had never noticed it before but she had tiny freckles crossing the bridge of her nose and spilling onto her cheeks. He stared at them attentively trying to connect them in his mind to make a shape. It was then that he finally noticed the pink staining her skin.

Kenji brought his violet blue eyes towards hers and stared deeply into them. He felt himself sinking and the world around him disappear. Those eyes told him more than anyone could ever say with words. He saw the dark flecks that lined the edge and what seemed to be a golden forest within her iris. Kenji searched through each stalk of color amazed to find dark browns and greens within them. He swore that there were stars embedded in those eyes as he saw them twinkle and wink at him briefly.

He cupped her face within both of his hands his eyes wandering over more of her features. There was a tiny nick across her forehead, a childhood scar that would eventually fade. Dark, wide eyebrows were drawn in a perfect line following her almond eye shape. The thick lashes that framed the majestic eyes seemed so soft that he had to touch them to see if it was true. Her eyes fluttered shut at the barest hint of his caress. Kenji was able to feel the feather softness as the let butterfly kisses on his fingertips. His hand traveled further, now physically connecting the cinnamon dots that he saw earlier. She giggled slightly and opened her eyes again to watch him.

Her breath was coming in short pants and he could fell her pulse beat under his hands. Her full lower lip fluttered softly, tempting, inviting him to explore that too. He suddenly wanted to know how it tasted, how it felt against his. He brought his face down further whispering nonsense as the nervous lips. Each breath caused a shiver to run down Shiroi's body, as they almost seemed to deny her of something that she didn't know about. Was he really going to kiss her or was he just teasing? They were so close that she didn't know what was her breath and which was his. They were so close that she could hear his heart beat. So close…so very close.

"We shouldn't do this." Kenji whispered against her lips. They were barely an inch apart. "You're father would kill me." Shiroi gave a small whimper of both frustration and agreement. It drove him crazy!

"Tadaima!" Came the deep voice of her father. The two scampered about as if fire hand been lit between each other. Kenji once again hit his head on the post behind him but this time Shiroi wasn't so quick to aid. "I'm home." Saitou repeated a bit more worriedly.

"Oka-okaerinasai Chichiue!" Shiroi stumbled onto her feet and quickly ran to face her father. Kenji patiently waited on the back porch and tried to steady his breath and heart. 'What was I doing?! How could I take advantage of her like that?! She's only a kid!' He could faintly hear the father and daughter conversation that was getting closer.

"Why are you flushed?"

"Eh?… ano… because I was running to see you daddy!"

"Hum…"

"Are you hungry? I made some miso soup today. Would you like some?"

"Aa."

"Great! I'll get it right now!"

"Shiroi."

"H-hai chichiue?"

"What are you trying to hide?"

"Eh? Hide? Whatever are you talking about father?" Shiroi asked with large honey colored eyes.

Saitou narrowed his eyes as he watched his only daughter carefully. She had that pose, that look, those innocent eyes that said she did nothing wrong, yet it was there. She was hiding something from him but he couldn't tell what.

"Oi, old man, where'd you run off to?" Kenji leaned against the doorframe leading out to the porch from the living area.

Saitou raised a thin brow. "What are you still doing here, boy?"

"I'm watching over Shiroi jiji." Kenji gave him a lazy look as Saitou inwardly bristled at being called an old man.

"Well, I'm here, she's safe you can go now, boy."

Kenji growled.

"Father! You can't send him out there in this weather!" Shiroi shook her head as she felt the flush starting to rise again. "Let him stay another night. Tomorrow he will go home. Right Kenji?"

"Aa."

"Fine."

…and dinner presumed without a hitch… or at least that what Shiroi prayed for. Between their insults at each other's age and other things the two boys had managed to spill the soup all over themselves and almost everything in their vicinity.

Shiroi let out a deep sigh as she sat outside the bathhouse. The rain had stopped and gave her a clear view at the star filled night sky. She momentarily thought about the almost kiss she received today, in her head she completed the task. She giggled to herself and blushed at her small daydream. 'Maybe… maybe one day Kenji really will give me a kiss!' She giggled again hugging herself tightly. She didn't know where this feeling of giddiness was coming from and she didn't know why she wanted that kiss so badly, but whatever the reason she was extremely happy.

"JIJI!"

CLANG

BONK

Shiroi ducked as a wash bucket flew through the doors and landed with a clatter at her feet. The battle inside the bathhouse continued and she could only sigh and roll her eyes. A smile tugged at her lips as the commotion grew loud enough for her to hear. She had never seen her father act like so except occasionally with her mother or brothers, but never with a stranger. It was funny, her dad like Kenji too.

---- tsudzuku ----

Fan Art: Can you believe it?! I got a fan art! That's right! Tanuki-dono drew some wonderful and incredibly accurate drawings of Shiroi! I swear she was reading my mind! You can view them here (http://www.geocities.com/himura_san1/heart/tankui_shiori.jpg) or on my new website for Heart of a Wolf at http://www.geocities.com/himura_san1/index2.html ^-^ Be sure to check it out!

Speaking of art! I drew two more Shiroi pictures! ^-^ One of them is when she's older too! Check it out here:

http://www.mediaminer.org/fanart/view.php?id=78380

http://www.mediaminer.org/fanart/view.php?id=91738

Also I'm not sure if you guys have seen my Kenji Watuski Style but here he is too:

http://www.mediaminer.org/fanart/view.php?id=39937

And while you're there check out the rest of my art and leave a review or two! ^-^

Emails:

Tanuki-dono- Thank you so much for emailing me about this story! I also want to thank you again for the wonderful drawings of Shiroi that you did! Eh heh… Even I misspelled Shiroi's name. -_- I'm so stupid. Here's another chapter!

Tales from the Meiji Era:

Arysta- Thanks for reading my story! Yeah I usually update frequently. ^^;; However things have been a little stressful this week! Gah! Gomen for making you wait so long!!

MediaMiner.Org:

Lina: Thank you very much for reviewing! And I wouldn't mind doing that at all! ^-^ Here's the next chapter for you! ^-^

FanFiction.Net:

JML- LOL! That is so funny! ::gives JML a new chair:: Gomen ne… Shiroi maa, maa…

Leila Winters- Heh heh… Yeah I love Saitou ^-^ He'd be one funny father that's for sure. ^^;; It's so hard to write fight scenes! I mean I can see them in my head but writing them down and making them believable! Gah! I rewrote that scene 5 times! Yeah I'm starting to get used to Shiroi and Kenji moments. Eh heh… Yeah guy friends are pretty frustrating! I don't really have that problem... Guys aren't attracted to me. -_- Here's another chapter for you with Shiroi & Kenji mush! Hee hee!

DiaBLo- AWWW!! Don't cry! ;_; I'm glad though that you like my Kenji-kun!! (er... not technically mine...)

Shuro- Arrigato for reviewing! ::blushes:: I'm not sure this is the best fic. But thank you anyway! ^-^

Gypsy-chan- Ah ha! There you are!! lol!! ^-^ Maa, maa it's okay I can plead guilty to that too. Erm... that reminds me... I better go back and review all those stories I have been reading. ^^;; Bad bad Ro-Chan!

fujifunmum- Eh heh... I kinda avoided the Saitou talking to Kenji in this chapter... might avoid it some more. ^^;; Actually Kenji will have flashbacks I hope... maybe... let me think about it... lol

Koneko-chan- Aww thank you! I try hard to make nice scenes between KenxShi ^^ Eheh... yeah but there is a reason for her age though. ^-^ Kenji is supposed to be really smart. So smart that he can do moves just by hearing about them! O.O Now that's skill! Oh... let's not even go to when Saitou and Kenshin meet! ^^;;

Nymph- ::blushes:: Awww! Thank you so much!! ^-^ Glad to hear that you think Shiroi is cute! ^-^

LSR-7- Gah! Thank you for correcting me! ^^;; I misspelled a lot of Japanese words last chapter. I checked this one though! Arrigato! Ano... it shouldn't be all in italics... ^^;; I don't see it that way. Maybe there is a setting on your browser that is causing it to look like that. ^^;; Thank you for reviewing!

Vesca- Thank you so much for reviewing! ^-^

Black Wind- Arrigato for reviewing! Here's another chapter for you!

Larbyrinth- ::bows:: Thank you so much for all the kind words! ^-^ I know that it's hard to imagine the big age difference (well not that big Kenshin and Karou are much bigger!) There is a reason for it though! You'll all hate me for it (maybe) but there is a reason! ^-^

J.Liha- Thank you so much for reviewing both chapters! You don't know how much that means to me!! ^-^ Erm.. talk? there was supposed to be a talk? EH HEH! ::coughs and blushes:: Maybe next time? ^^;;

Little swordfighter- Yeah I didn't like it when they killed Kenshin either! ;_; Waah! ::Blushes:: Wow! What a fan! ^-^ Thank you for reviewing and reminding me to get my butt in gear! Kill Kenshin? Or Kenji? Erm... ::mumbles something incoherent::

Chibi-redhead- Hee hee another great fan! Yeah the OVA was so horribly sad!! ;_; Yes Kenji and Kenshin will have a happy ending. It's the least that I can do for such a great guy like Kenshin! ^-^ Kill Kenshin? Ororororo!

Pia-san- Arrigato gozaimsu! Here's another chapter for you to read!

AngelsExist- Now THAT would be cool! Unfortunately for Kenji he won't be able to. ;_; Kenshin just can't do that anymore. ::sniffles:

Ladymercury- Actually it was...... no I'm just kidding. lol ^-^ I base a lot of the emotions Kenji goes through on some personal experiences that I've had to deal with. (er.. not that severe though! ^^;;) as well as some things I've noticed from other people. A lot of times people act mad one moment (especially if it's something that hurts them deeply) and then try to act cheerful to cover it up. Kenji just tries to move away from that pain and deal with something else. The something else? Shiroi of course! ^-^ But she's having problems of her own... ^^;;

Sabbie- Thank you so much for reviewing!! ^-^ Here's the next chapter!

Crystal- Actually I'm ignoring the last 2 OVAs there are somethings that I am going to pick up from them but a lot of it is going to be based off of what Watuski-sensei said he wanted to do. Thank you so much for reviewing!!