I don't own RK, for God's sake people! I would really like to, but I don't.

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Kaoru hit the gas as some guy behind her blared his horn. She gave him the finger.

She didn't know how long she had been gone for; she didn't really care.

She could feel the baby moving and she carelessly put a hand on her ever-growing stomach. Tears glistened in her eyes, blurring her vision. She was sure that there was someone standing on the side of the road, and she blinked back her tears to see him clearly. It was a kid hitch-hiking. She slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the boy. He jumped out of the way to avoid a collision with her car and she rolled down her passenger side window.

"Hey. You want a ride?" She asked gently. The kid looked to be about fourteen or so. His hair was spiked up and he shaded his dark eyes from the sun.

"Yeah, but how do I know your not a child-molester or something?" He said with a suspicious look in his eyes.

"You don't. That's the risk you take when you hitchhike; you never know who you're going to meet. But look at me kid. I'm eight months pregnant. I'm also less than five feet tall. What harm do you think I could do to you?" He smiled and looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.

"I guess that's true, but where are you going? I don't want you to have to take me somewhere that's really out of the way." He said.

"I'm not really going anywhere." She sighed.

"Neither am I." He stated. "Could I go nowhere with you?" His dark eyes looked pleadingly at her.

"Sure. I pulled over for you, didn't I?" She moved her purse and he got in, throwing his small bag in the backseat.

"Thanks. I'm Yahiko." He said with a grin.

"I'm Kaoru. Pleased to meet you."

"You know something?" He said softly. "You're Japanese."

"I know that, thank you. So are you, incase you haven't noticed." Kaoru glanced over at him.

"Yeah, it's just I didn't think... Never mind." He decided to change the subject. "You haven't asked me if I'm running away from home or if I'm some sorta wanted criminal. Most people do that before I even get in the car."

"You didn't look like you really want to talk about it. And I know you're not a criminal because you didn't ask for a ride to the airport." She changed lanes and slammed down on her horn.

"You're good. So what's your deal? Why aren't you going anywhere; or rather, why did you leave in the first place?"

"I'll tell you once you tell me."

Yahiko and Kaoru drove in silence for the next few hours.

***

A gentle rain was falling outside. Kaoru looked at Yahiko and said, "Well, we can sleep in the car tonight, or we can drive 'til we hit a motel. What's your preference?" Yahiko looked out his rain-spattered window and sighed.

"Well, a motel sounds more comfortable, but if we can't find one in the next hour, we can sleep in the car." Kaoru nodded and rubbed her neck with one hand. "You want me to drive?" He asked.

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"No." Yahiko laughed.

"Don't worry, my dad lets me drive all the time." He glanced at Kaoru to see if she'd heard, but she didn't take her eyes off the road. He looked back out the window.

"Who's your dad?" He jumped. He was sure she hadn't heard it, but it seemed he was wrong.

"No one you'd know." He said a little harsher than he had intended.

"Well, if I don't know him, what harm can it be to tell me?" She still didn't look at him.

"I guess you're right. His name is Sanosuke Samara. My mom is Megumi." Kaoru smiled.

"Well, you're right about your dad. I've never heard of Megumi either, so I guess your safe for now."

Yahiko responded with a curt nod and gazed out the window again. "Look. There's a motel 8. Or a motel 6. What's the difference?"

"Not much. The eight and the six, I guess." She pulled in. "OK, you go wait in the lobby and I'll get our stuff. Actually... tell them your staying here with your sister and you want a room with two beds." He looked at her and shook his head before walking inside.

She leaned in the back to grab Yahiko's small sport bag and the baby shifted around a bit. She smiled. "Hey kiddo. What's up in there?" She laughed and patted her belly, glad his bag was light. Her own bag was a little heavier, but that was probably because hers was an actual suitcase.

When she arrived inside, the clerk at the desk was having a fit because Yahiko couldn't show him some ID. Kaoru sighed and put her bags down.

"Hello. What's wrong here?"

The clerk sniffed and said, "Your brother, is he? Well, if you could please check in we wouldn't have a problem. However, he can't because-"

"I get the point. Do you have any rooms with two beds available for tonight?"

"Yes. Room fifty-four. It's on the second floor. Please sign here."

As the two went up the elevator, Yahiko stated that Kaoru was eight months pregnant and shouldn't be carrying heavy things. She smiled and allowed him to take both bags.

When they reached to room, he flopped on the bed closest to the TV and switched it on.

"I guess I get first shower then, huh?" Kaoru shut the door and took off her jacket.

"Sure. Save some hot water for me." He said, staring blankly at the TV.

"It's a motel, Yahiko. It doesn't run out of hot water." She smiled.

***

Kaoru leaned out the window ad smiled. It was such a great day. She suddenly felt a pair of hands massaging her shoulders and her smile widened.

"Nice, day, isn't it Kaoru?" There was a chuckle behind her.

"Uh-huh." She leaned back and the man wrapped his arms around her, softly kissing her neck.

"Goodbye Kaoru. I'll be home before you know it." She wrapped her arms tightly around him, and whispered, "No, you can't leave today. Please, don't go."

But the man was now ignoring her. He was really just a figment of her imagination, floating lamely beside her. "No! Come back!" She cried. But a sudden burst of wind blew him out the open window away like a paper doll.

"Kaoru!" She ran to the window and tried to hold on to him, but he was slipping... "Kaoru!" She could only hold him for so long and the wind was growing fiercer, trying to pull him away for her forever. "Kaoru, wake up!"

She opened her eyes and looked around her. She was back in the motel room with Yahiko clenching her shoulders tightly. He let go and sighed. She found she was shaking and covered in cold sweat. She sat up and buried her face in her hands as she burst into tears.

Yahiko awkwardly patted her back, looking as though he had never seen someone cry before. When she had calmed he took a deep breath and whispered, "Kaoru, who is Kenshin?"

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Wow. OK, now I'm done with chapter one. It's... 3 am and I don't feel like going to bed. Tell me if you like it, you love it (You got it at Ross...) or you hate it. Thanks and G'night.

~Wolf~