Disclaimer: I own nothing… Blah blah blah… None of it is mine, I tell you! I swear! But if you want to give it to me, I'd be a very happy girl…

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The girl opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. Birds chirped outside and the sun was slowly peaking in her window. With a yawn, she stood up and wrapped her robe tightly around her. She found a blue kimono with a pink-tinted lily pattern and grabbed a towel. She carefully slid her door open, hoping not to wake anyone. Of course, she thought to herself. With Yahiko's snores, they won't hear me anyway!

She resisted the urge to enter the boy's room and whack him awake, and continued down the hall. When she was outside the dojo, she ran swiftly to the small stream behind it. After making sure no one was looking, she jumped into the water. She floated on her back; her raven-black hair sprawled out behind her head. She sighed as the coolness of the water washed over her. Soon, a wonderful smell found her nose:
Megumi's cooking! She smiled to herself, hoping that was one less annoying insult she had to take from Yahiko. Hmm. I wonder what brings her over here so early? I hope she's not flirting with Kenshin…

She stepped out of the water, quickly dried and dressed herself, and ran back to the dojo.

"Good morning, Miss Kaoru." Kenshin said with a slight bow.

"Yeah, good morning, Ugly." Yahiko snickered. As Kaoru crossed the room, she firmly smacked Yahiko's head, causing a large, red bump to appear.

"Good morning Kenshin. Yahiko." She sat down. "Hello Megumi! What did you make for breakfast?"

"What ever it is, I'll bet it's better than whatever you'd have made!" Yahiko hissed under his breath.

Kaoru clenched her fists, but Kenshin spoke first. "Yahiko, Miss Kaoru's cooking is much better than it used to be. Besides, you shouldn't tease her, even if her food did taste bad."

'But it does! 'Come on, Kenshin, admit it. Kaoru's cooking is disgusting!" Sanosuke said, entering the room.

"Actually, I wouldn't-"Kenshin was cut off by a well-aimed bowl flying into Sano's head.

"Ouch, Kaoru! What was that for?" He sputtered, rubbing his head.

"Humph. Serves you right, chicken head!" She said with a smirk.

Sano grumbled and sat down by Yahiko. "So what's for breakfast? I'm starving."

"Sano, why don't you ever eat at your place?" Yahiko looked up at the tall man beside him.
"I do… But Megumi's food tastes better than whatever Kaoru cooks up-" He glance at the girl across the table, who seemed to have not noticed his comment. "And I haven't been over here in a while."

"Oh. Sano, didn't you just come over here just last night?" Yahiko asked with a confused look on his face.

"Shh, Yahiko! He doesn't remember! No sense in spoiling his fun. Baka." She glanced at Sano scornfully.

Kenshin smiled. He knew their bickering to be only play, no matter how heavy the objects Kaoru threw at their heads were. Kaoru could be so strange sometimes; she seemed to change in the blink of an eye from a tomboy beating Yahiko to a young girl worried about staining her new kimono. He loved her more than she would ever know. She disserved so much better than him, how could he even think about loving her?

"Kenshin, are you all right?" the doctor's voice startled him, and he nodded.

"Yes, Miss Megumi, I'm fine." Kaoru looked at him suspiciously, before returning to her conversation with Sano and Yahiko.

Megumi smiled. "Alright everyone. Here's breakfast!" she set down a bowl of rice and miso soup. Enjoy!"

As usual, Yahiko pigged out and began choking on his rice. Sano slapped the boy on his back with more than one purpose and Kenshin stared blankly at his food, lost in thought.

"Kenshin? Are you sure you're all right? You look sick, or at least tired." Kaoru looked at him worriedly. Kenshin looked up and met her eyes. He felt his heart quicken.

"I'm quite alright! I promise!" He smiled and began to eat his breakfast. Sano rolled his eyes.

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"Wow, would you look at the stars?" Sanosuke gazed upward, marveling at the star-filled sky.

"They're beautiful!" Kaoru whispered, joining him and the others on the porch.

"I don't think I've ever seen them so bright!" Megumi commented. Yahiko nodded.

Kenshin looked at Kaoru. Her pale skin, her lovely azure eyes, her raven hair… "Yes, she- it's very beautiful tonight." He managed to catch himself that time and he sighed with relief.

Sano rolled his eyes again. That idiot Kenshin. He might never tell Kaoru, and then what a mess they'd be in!

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