Kenshin carefully looked at the Kenji, silently reading the boy's face.

"Why... I don't believe you!! You're in love with Kaoru...!"

A/N: I'm really sorry for not explaining but Miko is a shrine priestess. If you are confused please read over chapter 3 again.

Arigatou! (Thank you)

Going Back

Chapter 7 – Meeting Kayena

Disclaimer: Do I really have to do this?

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"Okay, be careful now. We're almost at the Sunset Shrine," Kayena spoke cheerfully.

Kaoru suppressed a groan. She thought she was athletic. But this... this really was the final challenge. "How many more staircases?"

"Oh you get used to it when you live here."

After a moment of silence and Kaoru moaning in the background, they finally reached the top.

Kayena smiled brightly at Kaoru and led her into a room.

"I'll get some tea for you and then... and then we can talk," she said, excusing herself out of the room.

Kaoru looked around, the room was simple. It did not have futons or closet furniture so it must be a living area. It did have a mirror though it was only useful when held with a hand. She took in the surrounding area around her, simple but very pleasurable to feel and look at.

"Are you enjoying the room? It makes people feel very calm."

Kaoru turned, startled.

Kayena stood there, she had changed her kimono and her hair was done elaborately for such a small amount of time that she had had. The corners of her mouth quirked up slightly.

"So..." Kaoru sipped the tea. "Tell me about yourself."

Kayena looked shocked for a minute then began animatedly talking about herself.

Kaoru smiled at her and asked polite questions, closing herself from Kayena. Her mind wasn't really on the conversation. She was thinking. Of Kenshin and Kenji. She was mentally scolding herself for falling in love with the redheaded samurai.

"Don't you agree, Himura-san?"

"Hmm?" Kaoru instantly replied, though not called by her name.

"I asked you, don't you agree?"

"Agree to what, Kayena-san? I'm ashamed for saying so but I wasn't listening," Kaoru said, her face flushed.

"Ahh, I was just asking you how much attractive Kenji-san is. I bet you've gotten many fathers with lovesick daughters."

"What would I know about that?" Kaoru asked, a bit angry but partly curious.

"How can you not know?"

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

"Damn!! It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack!" Sanosuke shouted, angry.

"I agree with the rooster head! How the hell are we going to find her?"

"Yahiko, mind your language! Kaoru-dono won't like that at all. But I do agree with you. This is getting very difficult!" Kenshin replied as he wiped a sweat off of his brow.

Kenji just growled and muttered things under his breath.

They kept walking. And walking. And walking. And walking-

"You can't find her, can you?"

They all turned at the voice. It was that woman again.

"Must you torture me so?" Kenji asked in a dramatic voice.

She ignored his sentence but bowed politely.

"I have come to help you find Kaoru."

"Why?" Sano asked suspiciously. There was always a catch to everything/

"Ahh, I will help you," she smiled, "if Kenji-san promises to go back."

"Go back where?" Yahiko asked.

Kenji pursed his lips.

The woman smirked, "To the past. To the present. And to the Future."

"What?!"

"No, I won't. I can't forsake her. Especially when I'm so close! At saving her!"

"Kenji," the woman started gently. "She hates you right now."

Maybe not so gentle after all.

"What? Why?"

"She hates you and your father very much. And we all know who your father is," she said, looking pointedly at Kenshin.

Sanosuke and Yahiko traced the look to Kenshin's shocked eyes. It had clicked for them three.

"I knew it!" they both shouted. "You guys look so much like each other it's not even funny!"

Kenji hissed and glared. The woman ignored him.

"The question is," she went on. "Who's the mother?"

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"You honestly don't know. You're not jesting me?"

"No, Kayena-san. I'm not jesting you," Kaoru said the word with distaste. It sounded so, foreign.

"Truly?"

"YES!"

"Oh... I love Kenji very much."

"Oh really?" Kaoru said nonchalantly. Then the words sunk in to her head.

"WHAT!?"

"I'd like to marry him with your blessings."

"But you said you were a miko!! A priestess!! And stuff about how you have to be pure!"

"So you were listening to some of the stuff."

"That's not the point!! What about your job?"

"Himura-san, please, I need to be with him."

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because," Kayena's voice rose in to a frustrated tone. "you're his—"

"Don't you dare, Kayena!!"

Both Kayena and Kaoru turned to find the residents of the Kamiya dojo plus Sano and the lady.

"Mama?"

The lady ignored Kayena's plead.

"I meant, Miyura-san, how nice to see you?" Kayena's tone immediately changed. It was cold and unfeeling.

"Kaoru-dono, please, let's go back."

"Oh, Kenshin, how nice to see you. Go back where? I'm quite comfortable here," Kaoru replied, her voice cold and aloof, matching Kayena's tone.

"Kaoru-san. Please. These people... they're not people."

"That is very rude, Kenji-san. I'd like you to apologize to them."

Kenji kept a tight-lipped expression but muttered, "Sorry."

"But, Ugly!! We need to go home! Please?? I'm hungry and I need to train!! To be Tokyo's best samurai!"

Kaoru smiled tightly, and ignoring the 'ugly' remark, replied, "Alright, Yahiko-chan. Let's go home."

She got up and bowed politely to Kayena. "Thank you. I had a great time. Come visit me-, no, us, at the dojo."

As Kaoru walked out the door, the rest of them eyes wide at what just happened, Kayena shouted desperately, "Himura-san!! Don't go!!"

Then time seemed to stop.

"Did you just call Jou-chan Himura??"

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A/N: How was it? A bit short, I know. Please comment!! I have no idea where to go from this story...