I sound like I know my stuff, right? =.=;;; hehheh. See, I've never watched the OVAs. I've only read a tidbit of the manga. SO, if from here, the story seems a little off the track, gomen nasai! ^.^;;; I'll try to make it all right.

O, and sry for lack of new writing. End of school stuff, blahblah. Since summer vacation's coming up, little missy here will get down to business and do some serious writing. =) hehe.

:: chapter 4 ::

Kaoru carried a brimming bucket of water back to the kitchen. She saw her knuckles get white from the weight. She quickened her steps. Just a few feet now. Almost there . . . two feet . . .

A sharp pain shook through Kaoru's right toe. She dropped the bucket, thankfully only spilling half the water, and clutched her right foot in agony. She made a face at the sharp rock. "Accursed stone!"

Angrily, she kicked the small rock. It bounced ten feet away. Kaoru also started hopping, now tenderly clutching her left foot.

CRASH!

Kaoru stood back on two feet, and stared in horror at the shards of a bowl scattered on the ground. She felt her blue eyes fill up with tears. How shameful, she couldn't even bring in a bucket of water. And she just had to embarrass herself in front of homemaking Tomoe! "Tomoe-san . . . gomen."

Tomoe quietly gathered up the ceramic pieces with her bare hands. Kaoru shuddered; she had tried to pick up shards of a bowl like that once, and had gotten cut so bad Megumi had to give her stitches.

Tomoe looked at Kaoru straight in the eye. Kaoru noticed that the deep black was actually a dark plum red. "No need to apologize to me, Kaoru- san. Apoligize to Okami . . ."

"Yes, girls?"

Kaoru sweatdropped. This woman looked old, but she obviously had great hearing.

"Uh, Okami-san . . . I accidentally broke a bowl Tomoe-san was holding . . . gomen . . ."

Okami waved it off. "Oh, it's alright. I've broken quite a few bowls in my lifetime too. But it's ok, I don't need it anyways. Do you have the water?"

Kaoru brought the bucket in. "Here you go."

"Arigato, Kaoru. There, that's all done. Could you maybe stick around a little longer until breakfast is ready, and then bring it to the men?"

"Hai."

Kaoru walked around the kitchen, and eventually wandered over next to Tomoe. She was stirring something in a pot. "What are you making?"

"Soup."

"It smells really great. Do you think you can teach me how to make it?"

"Iie."

Kaoru sweatdropped. That was just cold. Futilely, she tried to make conversation. "So, Tomoe-san, tell me about your family."

Tomoe's hand stopped for an instant from her stirring. Then, in a flat voice she said, "Mother died when my little brother, Enishi, was born. I grew up with Father and Enishi. I left home. Enishi left home."

"I know how you must feel . . ."

Tomoe looked up. "What about your family, Kaoru-san?"

Kaoru bit her lip. "Mother died very early . . .I hardly remember her. I lived with Father. He was the master of the Kamiya Kasshin style, and he trained me. Then, he passed away and left the dojo to me. I lived with my pupil, Yahiko, and Ke . . ."

Tomoe raised an eyebrow. "Ke- what?"

"Ke . . ." Kaoru felt like slapping herself for that. Duh, That was about ten years into the future. It didn't happen yet! "Kemaku."

Tomoe stirred the soup. "Boyfriend?"

Kaoru pondered. "Uh, . . . yes. Do you have one?"

Kaoru was sure she saw a shimmer in Tomoe's eyes. "I . . . A fiancé. Kiyosato Akira."

"Congratulations! When is the marriage?"

" . . . he was killed."

Kaoru blanched. How coldhearted of her to bring that up! She glanced at Tomoe's face, and saw that the dark red eyes were laced with sorrow. Hesitantly, she brought a hand up and patted Tomoe on her shoulder a few times. "Gomen nasai, Tomoe-san. I am sorry to bring up that subject . . ."

"It's ok."

"Tomoe . . ." Kaoru paused for a second. "You will find another happiness. I promise you. You will find someone to keep you company and all."

Tomoe was silent.

"But meanwhile . . ." Kaoru swallowed. Befriending Tomoe, the one who occupies Kenshin's heart? "Meanwhile, allow me to be your friend, and keep you company, since you seem to be alone in Kyoto."

"Arigato, but it's ok. I don't need anybody."

Kaoru tried to keep her anger from suddenly exploding. That tone of voice was irritating. "Don't be so cold."

"I am simply making breakfast."

Kaoru felt heat rise up. Ok, that was the last straw. That arrogant, cold voice had finally made Kaoru crack.

"TOMOE!"

The spoon clattered in the pot, and Tomoe looked at Kaoru.

"TOMOE! Says who you don't need anybody? Everybody needs someone! I mean, I was really lonely before Ken . . . er, Kemaku . . . and Yahiko and all my friends and I met! You do need friends!"

Tomoe was silent, continuing to stir the soup.

"So open yourself up! You can't get anywhere if you keep on shutting yourself in like that, Tomoe-san!"

Tomoe stopped stirring the soup for a moment. "Then just call me Tomoe, Kaoru-s . . . Kaoru."

Tomoe's eyes averted back to the steaming pot. Even in that instant, though, Kaoru could see a small spark. A spark of happiness.

Even if it was only for that fleeting moment, Kaoru knew that she had finally gotten through to Tomoe.

"Alright, Tomoe. I think the soup is almost ready. I'll bring the bowls."

[sry, ppls, this seems kinda boring a chapter? Ah, I promise it'll get better next chapter.]