I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. The characters are not mine (like most things I want), but the story is (as to whether that's good or not I'll let you decide).

Thoughts are in italics

Dreams are no different than other text, if only to confuse you.

Big words will be used whenever possible to make me look smarter.

Flames will be used to heat my bath.

Enjoy.

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Where did he go to? I haven't seen him all morning. Kenshin, why didn't you tell me if you had an errand to run? You could have at least told me so that I wouldn't worry. Don't you know I worry? Mou, Kenshin you baka.

   Kaoru sighed and let her eyes fall to her feet, watching the broom go back and forth on its trip along the half dirty floor as she went about sweeping out the dojo. It was true she wanted to know where he had gone off to so early in the morning, and without telling her to top that! It was very unlike him, but she wasn't sure how she would manage a normal conversation with her favorite rurouni at the moment, not with the images from last night still playing in her mind. He had called her 'koishii'; he had said 'aishiteru' to her. She closed her eyes remembering the feeling of the moment while continueing on with her current chore absentmindedly.

"How are my lovelies, koishii?"

The quiet way he had spoken, and the way he held her…

"We are fine, anata."

She felt a shiver run up her spine.

   If only it could have been real. He was treating me like he loved me; he was treating me like more than that. Like I was truly a part of his life.

Almost as if…

Like his, dare I say, wife?

Even fantasies have their limits.

Mou, I know that.

But you liked it?

Hai, I did like it.

It felt right.

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Part 3- Just a thought

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   She frowned slightly, her expression furrowed in thought as she opened her eyes, bringing herself back from the warm safe haven of her dream. Where had he gone to? The question was getting old, but she still wanted an answer. He wouldn't have left again, this time without saying goodbye. Would he? She felt her heart skip a beat and her throat tightened at the thought. No, that couldn't be it. He had said goodbye the last time he'd left. That self-reassurance did nothing to calm her. What if he had to leave unexpectedly, and didn't have time to tell her goodbye? Kaoru took in a deep breath.

He probably just forgot something we needed for meals. He probably just forgot to tell me he would be going out. He left early; he probably didn't want to wake me.

   Logic had told her that that outcome was probably the most likely. Well, it was some comfort at least. There was nothing to do now but wait for him to get back and finish doing the daily chores that still needed doing. With a final and more forceful sweep she sent the dust flying out of the dojo in a flurry of tiny motes dancing around in the shafts of sunlight that were peeking through the trees. Kaoru smiled, as if that solved everything and then turned on her heels, heading back inside to finish the daily cleaning that the large place constantly commanded.

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   Kenshin smiled to himself as he walked down the street, passing shops, resturaunts, market stalls and booths. The weather today was a bit warm, sunny and bright, but still more than worthy of being out in. Besides, he was looking for something. Oh, he had things to pick up, normal errands such as things for meals, but he had already finished those and was looking for something else as well. Only one of the downsides to be noticed of being a penniless wanderer, he thought.

Perhaps I should have told Kaoru-dono I was going out shopping. Demo, I left so early and she was sleeping so soundly. It would have been a shame to wake her.

You know, she might be angry with sessha.

Oro, let's hope not.

   Kenshin frowned at the thought of her being angry or unhappy with him. True, she was sometimes a tad… moody, even in his own mind he selected the word carefully, but it was still part of her, how she acted, who she was, and more importantly who he had come to care for as he did. Looking at it that light he couldn't help but smile at least a little bit. If anything her temper could at times make her seem rather cute, more so than usual, he mused.

Such spirit.

Demo, I hope she does not end up worrying too much.

Or being too angry with me either, de gozaru.

Now where was that shop at?

   He stopped for a second, casting a confused look around himself while trying to remember where he had seen it. It was just a small place really, so it was understandable it could be passed over if he hadn't been paying attention. He wasn't even sure if he could recall the little shop's name; just that it might be a good place to start to find something for Kaoru.

Next to that resturaunt, was it?

Ah, right there.

   Though there was really no occasion, but yet he still wanted to find something for her, even if it was only to serve as a small token of apology.

Indeed, perhaps I was too bold last night.

   He felt himself flush as his thoughts turned and Kenshin ducked his head, hiding the reaction to his own mind behind the fiery bangs that normally framed his face.

Though, sessha would have liked to give her a real kiss, de gozaru.

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   "Kaoru-dono, dinner will be ready shortly," Kenshin said over his shoulder to her when she entered as he went about setting everything out on the table.

   He had gotten back later than he had originally expected to, he hadn't expected it to take so long to find something for her, and so their evening meal had been delayed by at least an hour or two. Kenshin watched her from the corner of his eye as he set out the food.

I wonder if she is as famished as I am, at least she wasn't angry.

"Arigato Kenshin," she said, taking in the scent of the meal that hung in the air around the room, "it smells delicious."

"Ah, sessha does try to make it enjoyable."

Kaoru sat down, looking over at him as he took his place to eat as well, "Sometimes I think you try too hard. You do so much around here."

 "Maa maa, Kaoru-dono, sessha is happy to help," Kenshin replied contentedly.

Kaoru took a bite of her dinner and smiled, "Mou Kenshin, you should take some more time to yourself every now and then. You deserve it as much as anyone."

You deserve time to enjoy yourself, maybe you could even enjoy some time with me.

"Aa, Kaoru-dono," he answered agreeably, letting their dinner slip into a companionable silence.