OMG!! I'm so sorry that it took me this long to get this updated!!! Sorry, um, I sorta forgot that I was writing this story. I was focused on the others.. Hehe... ne way, on with it!

Kaoru stood outside waiting for Kenshin and Yahiko to return. They had gone out to the Ackabeko (spelling???) to get something to eat because Kenshin was still washing out the pots that he had used for cooking earlier.

She sighed, rubbing her stomach and sat down on the steps to the dojo. Sano and Rei came out to join her, but they were arguing.

"Ha, I beat you again!" Rei laughed.

"No, you cheated! You always cheat!!"

"Face it, you never beat me before, and you never will!"

"Cheater!"

"Yeah right, you're just thinking of an excuse so that you don't have to admit that you lost! ..again.."

"Stop it you two!" Kaoru yelled. "Sano, just try harder next time, Rei doesn't cheat, he's just been playing card games since we were little. He used to rub it in every time he'd beat me too."

"I guess nothing changes." Sano sighed.

Kaoru noticed that Kenshin and Yahiko had came up to the gate. She smiled at them and ran up to help them carry the food. When they all sat down, not a word was spoken until there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it." Kaoru got up and walked over to the door, and slid it open. Everyone looked shocked at the person standing there. He smiled at Kaoru.

"Hello Kaoru, it's been a while."

"S-Soujiro!"

Kenshin got up and pushed Kaoru behind him. "How did you get here?"

"Kenshin?" Kaoru looked at him.

"Himura, I didn't know that you stayed here."

"Kaoru, do you know him?" Kenshin asked.

"Yes."

"Wait, Kenshin, isn't that the guy you fought with at Kyoto?" Sano asked.

Kenshin nodded and Kaoru and Rei both looked even more shocked.

"What?!" Rei shouted. "Soujiro, you fought for that Shishio (spelling) guy??"

Soujiro, still smiling, nodded. "But, Soujiro, how could you?" Kaoru pushed herself in front of Kenshin.

"I'm sorry Kaoru."

"Whoa, wait, what's the connection here??" Yahiko interrupted.

Soujiro looked at him and deepened his smile. Kaoru began to explain. "Soujiro lived here with us for a few months when Rei and I were 15."

"But I thought you had been with Shishio ever since you were little." Kenshin said.

"I was.."

"You, you mean you were with him during the time you were with us?" Rei asked.

"Yes.."

"Soujiro.."

"Kaoru, please, I, I don't know how to explain this.."

"Try.."

"I was assigned by Shishio to go get some things, but I got lost, and you invited me to stay with you, and I accepted, thinking that I would just leave the next day. But, I couldn't bring my self to. It just seemed natural to have you two as friends, so I stayed longer, but then I knew that I had to go back...."

Kaoru just looked to the ground and Kenshin put his arm on her shoulder. Rei looked at Soujiro. "So.. Are you still working for someone?"

"No, that's why I thought I'd journey back to here. Then when I was at the Ackabeko, I heard a man talking about Kaoru getting married, so I came here."

Kaoru blushed at what Soujiro said.

"Are you the one marrying her Himura?"

Kenshin nodded and Kaoru blushed more. "Well, you are a lucky man."

"Hey Soujiro, Kaoru and I forgive you, so if you don't have a place to go, why don't you stay here again."

"Hmm, if that is okay with the other guests."

"Whatever," Sano and Yahiko answered at the same time.

Kenshin seemed to think about this for a long time, before answering "Alright."

"Thanks Kenshin." Kaoru smiled at him.

"Anything for you Koishii."

Soujiro looked at them. "So, when is the wedding?"

Ok, like I said, I'm really sorry to not updating in so long! I'll have the next chapter up soon k? R&R!