She rang the doorbell with her free hand, admiring the silly little song
she had herself wired to the device as it echoed throughout the empty dojo.
Were it during the day, there would be people here... Taking their lessons,
or merely admiring the decorations, or doing projects for school on Japanese

history and culture... or finding some excuse to be there to admire the man
who ran it all.
She was lucky. She lived here.
Misao waited a few seconds more, then sighed and opened the door for
herself. It was true the dojo had closed down a few hours ago, she was quite

late... and the teachers who assisted Aoshi-sama left an hour after that.
But Aoshi-sama lived here, so he never left... But he did stop answering the

door if the bell rang. She had a suspicion he never actually did.
She edged inside the door, then dropped her backpack on the floor and let
it slam closed. There was no homework for tonight... and if so, she was in
no mood to do it. It was too late... she was too tired... Drama practice had

run late, and then she'd had to hurry out to her place...
Misao sighed, then wandered into the darkness of the dojo, not wanting to
go upstairs just yet. There was a certain tranquility in places like this,
dark places, cool places, quiet places... Home was warm, bright, always with

sound, and while she loved that, she loved it dearly, there was always
something she'd missed...
In the orphange she'd grown up in, there had been a forest, with a few
trees near the back windows... she'd been on the second floor, and every
time it was windy, a branch would scrape on her window, and she would climb
out on that branch and sit in the tree, watching the moon and the clouds...
and it had been that time she had always taken for herself. When tou-chan
had adopted her, and she had met nee-chan, she'd forgotten about that tree,

that forest, the blue-violet sky... and it wasn't to say she'd been unhappy
with them, quite the opposite! She loved them, she loved them both dearly,
and tou-chan made her feel safe, and nee-chan was the best and closest
friend she could ever ask for, but... She missed her silence.
But she'd found that again, one night... she'd made a wrong turn, and ended
up in the state forest one time after a long drama practice. After following

the road all the way through on a whim, as she did quite a bit, she'd found
a lake, surrounded by a dark forest, lit by the pale moonlight...
Tou-chan didn't question her when she came home late. Nee-chan poked
every now and then, but she was easy enough to cow. But they understood,
that everyone had things they didn't want to share. Sometimes they were
forced to, and if there was a problem, they were all there for each other to

support each other, like when tou-chan had broken down, or when nee-chan
had lost it in the middle of the night after the fire alarm went off because

the battery was faulty... Her time hadn't come yet. Not yet.
But she didn't worry. If it happened, it happened, and she knew everything
would be fine. Because tou-chan would be there, and nee-chan would be
there, and now... Sano-san and Yahiko would be there. So everything would be

fine.
Misao stood a moment more in the darkness, then sighed and went to gather
her backpack. Might as well get going upstairs.
Her fingers had only closed on the left strap when the door opened. Misao
froze in surprise, light spilling down the stairwell, along with one voice
very familiar to her and one she didn't know that well.
So... thanks again, for coming by, Nee-chan was saying, voice muffled
but sounding strangely... shy...? unsure? I appreciate it, and I know it'll

help
Of course, Kaoru-chan! the unfamilar voice returned. It was a woman's
voice...
Misao blinked, then stood aside as a young, dark-haired woman came down the
stairs, making her way with a careless grace that she couldn't help but
notice. It took a moment for her to recognize the nurse from the hospital,
who had been the nurse at the school when nee-chan had... She made a move
to stop her, baffled as to her presence, but Meg Thompson merely
acknowledged her existence with a nod and a smile and pushed past her, out
the door and into the night.
Misao blinked after her, an eyebrow quirked. Then she turned her gaze to
the head of the stairs, perplexed.
Kaoru was staring after her, the most peculiar expression on her face. One
of.. apprehension, maybe? She was difficult to read sometimes. She wore her
emotions plainly, but there were times when those feelings weren't clear at
all, even to her.
Misao considered asking her about it, but only for a moment. It was really
a fifty-fifty chance that nee-chan would tell her, and she really had
little desire to exert the effort. She was too tired... she'd find out in
the morning.
she called brightly up the stairs.
Oh-Oh! Misao! Okaeri! Kaoru thundered down the stairs, then her hands
clamped onto the banister and she met Misao's eyes with a gasp.
Misao blinked at her cautiously, backing away a little.
Nee-chan was usually the calm one, and it was never a good sign when she
started taking on Misao's characteristics.
Kaoru waved one index finger in her face. Meg is coming by every day to
check on she said desicively. I'll make sure he takes his
medicine. You poke at Sanosuke until he tells us if they're sleeping
together. Then we'll go from there.
Misao blinked, then nodded. Sounds like a plan.
Kaoru nodded back, then bounded back up the stairs.
Misao stared after her, then sighed and resigned herself. Once nee-chan
got into an idea, she jumped in with both feet. It could be sure that
neither tou-chan nor Sano-san would get a second's rest now, with her on
the job... even if she had delegated it to Misao. Never could be sure with
that girl.
Misao glared at her backpack, then sighed again and decided to leave it at
the foot of the stairs where it was innocently sitting. Aoshi-sama would
know it was hers... and she really didn't feel like lugging it up the flight

of stairs when she would just have to lug it back down the next morning, the

damned thing. So she cast one last glance at the now-shut door, and ascended

the stairs to her home.
Kaoru waited for her to enter the apartment before closing the door behind
the both of them. It was strangely quiet in the hallway, no tell-tale voices

to indicate where everyone was... Misao blinked, then nudged her sister with

one elbow.
Where is everybody? she asked, her own voice soft by reflex. Even so, it
seemed to echo throughout the tiny apartment, and the air of pure
strangeness didn't go unnoticed.
Yahiko's at a friend's house, Kaoru explained, her tone as hushed as
Misao's had been. 'Tou-san went to his room, and Sano went in there with
him a little while before Meg left. They were talking, I think, and there
was a few seconds I thought tou-san was really upset... but it was only
for a few seconds. Then Meg left, and here you are, so...
Misao flumped onto the couch, then pawed about for the remote, bored
and wanting to flip channels for a while. Kaoru sighed, then sat down beside

her.
You know, we should-
Both girls froze at the loud thump that had echoed down the hallway, and in
tandem, their heads swiveled towards the sound, and they popped up above the

back of the couch like prairie dogs in their colony.
Did you hear that? Misao hissed.
Kaoru nodded, waving a hand at her, distracted.
They listened raptly, hearts racing, breath labored in anxiety, and were
rewarded with another loud thump, this time accompanied by the unmistakable
sound of mattress springs complaining. Another thump followed in swift
succession... then another... and another...
Misao burst into smothered giggles as she realized what exactly was
causing those rhythmic sounds , burying her mouth in her hands and shrinking

into the old couch, shaking violently in laughter. nee-chan hissed
at her, her tone still tight in worry. What's so funny?
Misao dove for the remote and turned on the television, biting her lower
lip to hold back the hilarity she needed so badly to express, and turned up
the volume as far as she could. Luckily, she had left the TV on the channel
she knew showed loud action movies at this time of night, and the racket of
a random car chase soon overpowered the tumult echoing up the hallway.
her sister protested, trying to snatch the remote away. What-
what's going on?! What if there's-
They are so screwing back there! Misao hissed, vibrating in helpless
mirth. In tou-chan's room! How dense are you?
Kaoru stared at her, then her cheeks darkened, eyes growing painfully wide.
Misao giggled, gasping for breath, then scooted closer to the television as
a thump overrode the explosion in the movie.
Sanosuke and... and Kaoru was bright red. Misao nodded,
unable to breathe anymore from laughing.
Oh, my God... Misao punched her on the arm, stomach starting to hurt.
This is too much... I don't need to be hearing this...!
They stared at each other for a few more seconds, then the movie went to
commercials and Kaoru joined her in embarassed laughter.


He creaked an eye open with only a grunt in reply, tightening his grip on
Kenshin's slim waist. The redhead stirred in his arms, velvety skin
quivering beneath the rough pads of his fingertips.
Amethyst eyes were regarding him when he resigned himself to waking up
fully. An unreadable expression glimmered there, something akin to worry,
concern... Sano blinked at him owlishly, then winced as his gaze again took
in the angry red marks on his lover's cheeks. Those gashes... and the print
of his hand... how hard had he slapped him, for the marks to still be
there...? After an hour?
What is it de gozaru ka? Kenshin whispered huskily, running a palm along
the arch of his back, his fingers gentle.
Sano closed his eyes, unable to look upon the damage he had both caused and
been unable to stop, choking back a nauseous surge of guilt. He shook his
head, not willing to explain, not wanting to show...

He said nothing, though twitching inwardly at the knowing tone to his
voice. No matter how inconsequential the emotion, Kenshin always knew... and

he hated that. He couldn't hide anything from the little redhead, anything
at all... Especially when it was something that Kenshin knew was bothering
him.
There was a brief silence, then Kenshin's head slid to the back of his
neck, gently pulling his head to the thin shoulder. Sano didn't resist,
burrowing his face into Kenshin's warm skin, pushing up beneath his chin
like an insistent puppy. His lover held him gently, fingers stroking through

his hair, the other hand a firm pressure against the small of his back. It
was a sense of warm security, the feeling that there was nothing else in the

universe, that the world was only the few feet across of the bed they
shared, that nothing was happening but the steady beat of Kenshin's heart
just beneath his ear...
And in the gentleness of the little redhead's touch was nothing that could
indicate the deadly presicion of a man who had coldly slaughtered
thousands... only the love and concern of one who was worrying over the one
they treasured most, the softly petting fingers reassuring earnestly that
everything was going to be okay...
Sano let his eyes slit open, unable to stop the tranquil rumbling of a
contented purr as Kenshin stroked his hair and his back. It was calm... all
was calm, quiet, serene...
Everything is going to be just fine de gozaru... Kenshin whispered into
his hair. I'm sure of it. I'm sure of it ge gozaru na.
Sano said complacently, tightening his grip on his lover's waist
and closing his eyes again. For now, he could believe it... If only for now,

in the calm warm afterglow, Kenshin in his arms... Everything would be fine.
Everything would be fine.

*** *** ***

came the cheerful voices as he opened his bedroom door, a bright
chorus of greeting that instilled the deepest of dread in his heart.
Kenshin checked his watch hastily, noted that it was indeed five in the
morning, then looked helplessly into the two pairs of blue eyes, one darker
and one lighter, that peered at him expectantly.
Why are you two awake de gozaru ka? he inquired with trepidation.
Misao-dono grabbed one arm, and Kaoru-dono the other. They dragged him
easily into the tiny living room, sat him on the couch, then let go. Kenshin

blinked up at his daughters dumbly, his mind refusing to comprehend anything

out of the ordinary this early in the morning. Why on Earth would they be
awake...? He woke the girls up every morning, after he was dressed, and
recently, after he had gotten Sano up, so he wouldn't have to explain how
they were both-
In the same bedroom-
Last night-
His stomach churned in sudden panic, and Kenshin lifted a vain hand to stop
his youngest as she returned to the bedroom door that still hung open.
he protested helplessly.
his younger daughter said firmly, ignoring him and kicking the
faded wooden doorjamb. Put on a shirt and get out here! Her imperious
command was answered by a famliar, annoyed groan, the mattress squeaking,
and then a mortified silence.
Maybe some pants, too, Misao-dono amended.
Kenshin felt his cheeks beginning to grow hot as his innards twisted
unmercifully in the worst of dread. He cast a furtive glance at Kaoru-dono,
needing to see her sweet face, hoping to read forgiveness there... Because
no matter what anyone had said, this matter didn't only deal with him and
Sano. It dealt with the girls too, and Yahiko, and they had the right to
know... and they had been denied that...
Kaoru-dono eyed him silently, then looked away, without evincing any sort
of emotion at all. He winced, not knowing what to expect and feeling so
helpless, wishing frantically that he would wake up back in bed any second
now... This couldn't be happening, it just could not be happening... Not
now...
Sano stumbled into the living room, Misao-dono pushing him with a
business-like air, though she was barely visible behind him. His chocolate
eyes were baffled and large, his gaze settling on Kenshin, blinking down at
him plaintively. Kenshin met his beautiful dark eyes, then mouthed a silent
, drawing his shoulders up and returning his gaze to his feet. How

could he have forgotten...?! The children... Misao-dono must have come home,

and Kaoru-dono had already been there... and he and Sano... they had... Oh,
Gods, how could he have forgotten?!
Kaoru-dono coughed, and Misao-dono pushed Sano firmly in Kenshin's
direction. The dark-haired boy sat heavily beside him, tugging in irritation

at the shirt he had apparently put on backwards, biting his lower lip in
obvious anxiety.
You two sit tight, Kaoru-dono pronounced ominously, and then the two
girls disappeared into the kitchen.
Kenshin cast his gaze up to his lover's, and Sano yawned, mournful eyes
blinking rapidly as he attempted to remain awake. he started to
ask, then blinked owlishly, not seeming to possess the presence of mind to
finish the phrase.
Kenshin sighed fondly, then reached up to tug at his collar, instinct not
allowing him to let Sano remain in such disarray. Fix your shirt de
gozaru, he said softly. I don't know, I think- He coughed, cheeks
flaming. Sano, last night-
Okay, then! Misao-dono's voice announced officiously, the girls
reappearing from the hallway, both with chairs. They sat them down a few
yards from the front of the couch the two outed lovers sat on, in almost
perfect tandem- a irregualrity that frightened Kenshin even further. The two

rarely worked in cahoots, but it was never a tremendously good thing when
they did. In continued sychronization, they sat promptly on those chairs and

leaned forward, bright blue eyes of complimenting shades boring deeply into
their victim's souls.
All was silent for a few agonizing moments, then Sano tugged his shirt into
place with a frustrated grunt. That sound seemed to break the ice, as it
were, and Misao-dono nodded sharply, as though to begin the inquisition.
Exactly when were you two planning on telling us you were boinking like
rabbits? she asked sweetly.
The rush of heat that prickled through the base of Kenshin's skull and neck
was not a pleasant one, and he stiffened, hands clenching painfully on his
thighs. The two girls stared at them expectantly, and though he wanted so
badly to look to Sanosuke for reassurance, for safety, he bit his lower lip
and sat up straight, prepared for the first time in a long time to face the
consequences of his actions. And for the first time... the consequences of
his feelings.
We were going to tell you de gozaru yo, he began, voice shaking
violently, shoulders tense, stomach aching... We were... and it was only a
fault of mine that kept it from you at all de gozaru. I- I- He bit his
lower lip, unsure of how to go on... He shouldn't apologize for how he felt,

he shouldn't... but it felt as though he should...
Kaoru-dono nodded solemnly. So... how long has this been going
on, exactly? There was little emotion to her tone, as though she was
inquiring about the weather or something so inconsequential... and it was so

unlike her that Kenshin felt his heartbeat pound doubly fast in his thin
chest. Was... was something very wrong here...?
Since the hospital, Sano answered for him, voice soft and rumbling low in
the still air of the early morning. Kenshin closed his eyes, reassured some
unexplicable measure that he was there beside him.
Well, that's not very long, Misao-dono commented, nudging Kaoru-dono's
elbow. I guess they just jumped right into bed, ne,
I guess you're right, imouto-chan, Kaoru-dono responded, looking over at
her sister, lips twitching. I never would have expected tou-san to have so

active of a libido... But I guess you learn something new every day, right?
You would be right there, Misao-dono returned solemnly. I could have
sworn tou-chan was just asexual... But I guess Sano-san's constant attempts

to get in his floofy pants had to pay off in the end.
Kenshin stared at the exchange silently, unable to breathe, seeing at last
the tell-tale sparkle of mischief mirrored in both pairs of blue eyes, the
shadows of smiles that danced on their lips...
They were...
They were playing with them. Teasing them. All along, they had been
playing...
Kaoru-dono... Misao-dono... he whispered, wanting to smile, but needing
to be sure. Kimi-tachi wa... You don't mind...? You don't mind this de
gozaru ka?
Kaoru-dono looked over at him, and she finally smiled, that familiar bright
smile of hers that said everything was okay... We figured it out a long
time ago, she said gently. We just needed proof.
I mean, really, Misao-dono broke in, voice laughing. It doesn't take a
genius to see you two are hot for each other. With the looks, and tou-chan
hiding and turning bright red practically every time you speak, Sano-san...
And you're both so obviously gay that it was only a matter of time.
Kenshin let himself smile, such a relief descending over him that he could
barely breathe, beaming foolishly at the children he loved so dearly, unable

to say a single word... They... they didn't mind? It had been the only thing

left, that could have shattered his dreams, if his precious daughters had
objected to this new love, this love he was becoming sure he couldn't live
without...
Kaoru-dono said more seriously, now that the preliminaries are out
of the way, we have some things to take care of.
Misao-dono agreed quickly, sitting up straight. Her eyes
centered unerringly on Sano. A member of the family is a member of the
family. That means chores, responsiblities, and all that comes in the
package. If you're gonna be with our father, Sano-san, you're gonna be with
us too.
Which lead to the second point. Kaoru-dono picked up Misao-dono's thread
seamlessly. Sanosuke, tou-san needs a solid committment, and so do we.
Yahiko needs it too. So what you both have to understand is this can't just
be a casual fling. If it's nothing more than that, it'd be best to end it
now before things get even more complicated.
Kenshin stared at his feet, bright red. It seemed... it seemed to be quite
a lot to be demanding of a boy who was only nineteen... To require a
committment after... well, what in reality hadn't been very long at all...
And only twice...
All right, Sano said firmly.
The decisive words startled Kenshin from his sad contemplation, and he
started, blinking in wonder at his dark-haired lover, who sat so tall and
strong beside him, jaw squared, shoulders back in unconscious dignity.
I know that, you two, he continued. I knew that a long time ago. And I
wouldn't turn my back on Kenshin or you two for the world. I... He glanced
down at Kenshin, and his beautiful eyes softened. I love you, Kenshin, he
said softly. And you know I'm never gonna walk away.
Kenshin felt his lower lip tremble, and he nodded tearfully in return. I
know de gozaru na, he returned, voice shaking.
There was a long pause, then a heavy sigh from across the room.
Oh, stop it, you two. It's too early for watchin' mushy crap.
Kenshin chuckled nervously, Misao-dono's voice breaking the spell. Sano
grinned down at him.
So what are my chores, naa, koishii? he teased.
Kenshin considered that for a few moments, eyeing his beloved, so eager to
be accepted into the home he had managed to make for himself, for his
children...
Take out the trash on Thursdays, he said at last. And do the dishes de
gozaru na. That leaves Misao-dono with keeping up the living room and
hallway, as well as her room, and Kaoru-dono with keeping finances and her
own room de gozaru. I will cook and clean the bathroom de gozaru... as well
as pay the rent.
Sano blinked dumbly at him for a few seconds, then shook his head and
laughed softly. Mataku... gotta wonder what I've gotten myself into...
What's Yahiko-kun gonna do? Misao-dono piped up, voice thoughtful.
Kenshin took a moment and quickly reconfigured the chore list in
his mind. He'd always had somewhat of a talent for organizing things like
that... he had baffled Misao-dono the one time she had gotten him to play
one of her video games, on the Playstation he had scraped together all his
spare income to buy her one Christmas... He'd been quite good at

the various characters in order to conserve supplies and still get a good
result. It was all the same thought process, really. There isn't really
much he could- Oh! Keep up the grocery list. That's what he can do de
gozaru. Kenshin thumped his fist into his palm, smiling brightly.
Kaoru-dono broke in, voice more serious. Just... as long as this
is what makes you happy, we'll both be with you all the way. It only matters

that everyone's happy, right? That's what you always told us,
Kenshin felt his face soften, and he nodded, smiling gently. As long as
everyone's happy de gozaru, he agreed.
Okay then, Kaoru-dono said quietly, smiling in return. I guess we're all
settled.
Kenshin blinked up at her, then nodded, his heart light in his chest.
Everything was going to be all right. For the first time, he could be
sure...
Everything was going to be fine.

*** *** ***