Here I am, and here is the next chapter!  Yay!

Disclaimer: I own nothing… Blah blah blah… none of it is mine, sadly

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"Kaoru, who is Kenshin?" Yahiko whispered softly.

"No one." She got out of bed and put a hand on her back. "Kenshin isn't anyone. He doesn't matter." She didn't look at Yahiko as she walked to the small counter in front of the closet. "Do you like coffee?"

"What?" Yahiko looked at Kaoru, at the clock, then back at Kaoru. "Do you realize it's-"

"I take mine black, but caffeine isn't good for the baby...I think. I don't remember what the doctor said. They don't have de-caff, so unless you want some, i won't make any. it would be a waste of good motel coffee." She glanced at him. "Yes, i know it's four A.M., but i have a feeling neither of us will be getting any more sleep tonight."

"Oh. I guess I'll have some then...but only with a lot of cream. My mom-" He cut himself off.

"What about her?" Kaoru asked gently.

"Nuthin really. She just likes her coffee really creamy too." he mumbled. "Kaoru...I'd like to know who Kenshin is. You haven't told me anything about yourself. At least I've told you how my mom likes coffee and that my dad lets me drive. Even if you don't tell me who he is, you can tell me something about yourself." he gave her a cross look, and she had to smile.

"I lived in New York in a nice house. My best friend was Misao, and right before i left, she got married to Aoshi." She sat down on the bed. "I liked living there a lot. we didn't live in the city; more the suburbs, i guess."

"Wait, are there suburbs in New York?" He asked with a lopsided grin. She smiled back.

"I didn't live on Long Island...I lived in New York. The big state with all the cows." She grinned.

"Oh. so why did you leave?" Yahiko began to pull the loose threads out of the bed spread.

"Because." She stood up. "I think your coffee is done; do you want to put the cream in yourself?"

"Sure. hey Kaoru, when are we leaving?" he took the warm mug and the little cream cups from her.

"Well, i want to take a shower, but i think we can check out after that."

"Didn't you take a shower last night?"

"Yup."

"Obsessive compulsive?"

"Nope, but close."

"Do you want me to start packing?"

She paused. "If you want to. I'd like to leave soon, but i don't mind waiting a little bit." She grabbed the clothes she had worn the day before and a towel. "Just give me about fifteen minutes...I need to dry my hair too, ok?"

"Sure. Can i watch T.V.?" he smiled.

"Alright, i don't care, but i thought you wanted to pack?"

"Uhh...multi-tasking!" he grinded and grabbed the remote. "Enjoy your shower."

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It turned out that Yahiko fell asleep before Kaoru got out of the shower, so she let him sleep for a few hours while she finished packing, then watched TV. At about six, she wrote a note explaining she had gone to find a Laundromat and some breakfast and would be back soon. When she returned an hour later, Yahiko had just woken up.

"Good morning. The caffeine in the coffee didn't work, huh?" She smiled as he looked groggily at her.

"Uh... I think it will kick in later...maybe in an hour or two... What's for breakfast?"

"Microwavable Bacon and toast. Also milk, Doritos and Oreos.  I didn't know what you would like."

"Oh. That all sounds good." He grinned.

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"Twenty questions? How do you play?" Kaoru glanced at Yahiko.

"You're kidding, right? I ask you a question, then you ask me one, until we've both reached 20."

"Sounds like fun...you start."

"Ok. How old are you?"

"Twenty-four. Where did you live before you ran away?"

Yahiko sighed, "Boston. Favorite flavor of ice cream?"

"Vanilla. How long have you been hitch-hiking for?"

"About a week. How long ago did you leave New York?"

"About two months ago. Why did you run away from home?"

"I do it all the time. My parents are used to it, because I come back within a day or so. They're probably freaking out right now because I'm not back yet. They may have called the police to find me this time, but that would be a miracle." He looked out the window. "I don't want to go back. at least, not yet." Kaoru nodded. "Ok, so I told you that. Who's Kenshin?"

"He was...my fiancé. I loved him so much...now he's gone." She looked straight ahead.

"Oh. Well, it's ok Kaoru, I mean, we all have to break up with people, right?"

"No. He died."

No one said another word.

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