Kaoru eyed him strangely. "You should get some rest. I'll wake you up in time for dinner."

She was supposed to... but the setting sun kissed her face warmly and the winds sang a lullaby that she couldn't resist. She fell asleep, leaning against the wall with Kenji's head on her lap. As she fell asleep she couldn't but think how familiar this all felt.

And that was how Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yahiko found them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Going Back

Disclaimer: I do not and will never own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter 5

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kenshin could feel the anger bubbling up in the pit of his stomach and clenched his fists tighter. Strange... after a moment of looking at them, he could tell that it wasn't anger he wasn't feeling. Nor was it madness or desire to slice Kenji's head off its shoulders.

It was happiness.

Rather strange. All he wanted to do was shout, "I'm home!!" and Kaoru and Kenji to wake and welcome him.

"Why that little fu-" Sano started to say.

"Please refrain from swearing," Kenshin interrupted. "Why don't you just stay quiet for awhile."

Sano was about to protest when he saw Kenshin close his eyes. Yahiko's eyes widened.

"The poor guy's heart must be breaking." Sano whispered.

Yahiko just nodded.

Kenshin's heart was far from breaking. In fact, it was mending. Just seeing both Kenji and Kaoru made him feel at ease. He felt for Kenji's ki.

Even in his sleep... the kid had hidden it. Kenshin felt his frustrations rise a bit. Then he remembered. He felt it during battle. He could remember thinking how powerful this kid was.

He remembered the 'spar.'

He remembered his ki, too. It was there... The ki itself was raring to show off how powerful it was... but around it was another ki... It was more peaceful. Not bloodthirsty but more... serene.

He let out a very uncharacteristic growl. This was NOT working out.

Then he felt someone bump in to him from behind.

It was that... lady.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Please... PLEASE!!"

"No, Sanosuke."

"But why not??"

"No."

"But, Kaoru. If... why shouldn't we be able to know?? I didn't know you fell asleep with strangers on your lap!!" Yahiko shouted.

"I don't know... I can almost... feel him, drawing closer... He doesn't feel like a stranger to me..." Kaoru got a faraway look on her face.

"Why can't you tell us? Why can't you be trusting of us?? Why won't you let us kick him out? He's a jerk!! I hate him!!" Yahiko cried out.

Kaoru glared at the kid. "You will refrain from speaking in that manner of Kenji-san. And Sanosuke, if you do not move out of the way, so that I might be able to deliver this tea to our guests and Kenshin, I will kick you very hard."

Sanosuke gulped and stepped to the side, so that Kaoru might get out of the kitchen.

When Kaoru snapped the door with a 'snap' Yahiko cried out in frustration, stomping the ground in a very childish manner.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'm sorry... here is the tea... now if you could fill me up with what is happening..." Kaoru handed them a cup of their own.

"Well, actually, Sessha was outside while Kenji-dono... and... and..." he seemed to struggle.

"You still didn't tell us your name," Kenji said and leaned against a wall.

"Ahh... and you did not tell me the reason of your... visit..." the woman countered back, her face looking angry. "Do you know what you have been doing?"

"Yes... I know exactly what I have been doing..." Kenji replied, his forehead creasing slightly.

"No!!" the woman shouted hysterically. "You don't know what's happening in the future!! The Battousai has risen again-"

Then the woman, noticing that there were people around her shut herself off with a loud gasp, her hands rising to her mouth.

"Stupid..." Kenji muttered.

"No! The truly stupid one is you!" the woman shouted again and got up. "I've had enough of your stupidity. If you wish to erase yourself out of existence... that is fine with me. But bear in mind that Kaoru in the future... she will not be saved from whatever you're trying to protect her from... instead... it's going to get worse."

And as she walked out, a body clung to her.

"Please... tell us more... what about Kenshin?? And why is Kenji trying to protect me?? I don't understand...!" Kaoru had tears streaming down her face. And the man... his body seemed rigid and his face was void of any emotions.

"Girl-child... Your s-" at a sharp glare from Kenji she quickly changed her words. "Kenji... he has been... trying to..."

"I have been doing absolutely nothing." Kenji stood, sniffing at the accuser.

"Girl-chil-"

"It's Kaoru," Kenji snapped.

"Well then." She glared at Kenji before turning loving grandmotherly eyes to the young girl. "Well, then Kaoru. Kenji-san... he has been doing things that were forbidden..."

"F-F-Forbidden?" her tears were beginning to dry.

"Yes..."

"What, he was in a yakuza or something??"

"Yahiko!"

"The kid's jus wondering... I'm wondering the same thing..."

"Oi, Sano! Since when do you protect Yahiko over these kinda things?" Kaoru snapped, tired and moody.

"Well," the woman sighed, "if I may go on. No, Kenji isn't in a gang... he has been messing with things that he did and still does not know of."

"What? What is there to know? All I know is that-" then he cut himself off, taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

"Why don't you talk to Kaoru for awhile... figure out her feelings... do the same thing with Himura..."

The woman softly murmured in Kaoru's ear, while Kaoru's own eyes seemed to widen. The woman gently pried Kaoru's arms from her waist and left with a knowing smile.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Not much of a cliff-hanger but it'll do... thank you everyone for all your encouraging reviews!! ::cries::