Author's Note: Here's chapter 6 and our favorite couple heads back to Kyoto. This actually is a bridge chapter that will segue into the next chapter where Kenshin keeps his promise in ep 62 to Tomoe to return to her grave. And the date is May 14th 1879—a year from when he said an anguished good-bye and both Kaoru and he were torn apart—yet the occasion this time is just the opposite. Thanks to all who have read and especially those reviewing.

To PraiseDivineMercy this chapter is dedicated to you—thanks for the wonderful suggestion—I used it here and it fit perfectly.

Glossary of Japanese words and terms

Onegai—Please

Shinobi—Another word for ninja

Iie--No

BACK TO KYOTO

The early morning sun kissed the bright green new leaves of the treetops as the landscape was serenaded with the chirp of the birds and the hum of bumblebees in the balmy spring air. Kaoru had gotten up and folded Hiko's futon then washed up and got dressed anticipating the return of the men from their night in the wilderness, and debated with herself as whether or not to make breakfast for them. Cooking was not her forte and embarrassed, she did not want to have Hiko discover that her ways with preparing food left much to be desired.

At the clearing, both Hiko and Kenshin were up and preparing to return to the hut. Hiko rolled his blankets up and slung the roll on his shoulder as Kenshin did the same. The men began their trek back with their minds full.

Hiko broke the silence as he inquired, "So where are you off to next?

Kenshin replied flatly, "We are heading into Kyoto. We are expected at the Aoiya, that we are."

Hiko nodded, "I see. So you have stuck up an alliance with the Onewabanshuu, have you?"

"Aa. They have become our friends, that they have. Misao-dono and Shinomori Aoshi have proven themselves to be loyal and true."

Hiko said, "As I have said before, my baka deshi has made himself some good friends."

Kenshin just nodded and grinned.

They continued the rest of the way back to the hut in silence. . . .

Kaoru ran her hairbrush through her midnight strands as she did each morning, finishing her toilette. She sighed, worried as she tied the lavender ribbon in her freshly brushed raven locks wondering when Kenshin and Hiko would get back. Her thoughts were interrupted and her worry put to rest when she then heard the unmistakable slap of Kenshin's modest straw sandals as she went to the doorway of the hut and watched the two men approaching from the woods as if the trees had parted for them. She went out to greet them with a sunny smile.

"Ohayo gozimasu, Kenshin, Hiko-san. Did you sleep well?"

Kenshin's violet eyes were infused with the warmth of the morning sun as he gazed on his beloved. "Ohayo gozimasu, Kaoru. Hai, arigatou." He took her hands in his and squeezed them.

Kaoru blushed and then addressed Kenshin's shishou. "Arigatou for allowing me to use your futon, Hiko-san."

Hiko smirked as he grunted and then answered, "It was nothing. Did you sleep well?"

"Hai, I did. But I didn't make any breakfast. I'm afraid I'm not a very good cook." Kaoru said this as she lowered her head in shame.

Kenshin laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That's all right. I'll fix breakfast." And he went to the back room to prepare the meal.

Hiko stepped forward and reached for his jug of sake to take a drink. "That's the one thing my baka deshi could do. When he was here, he could prepare meals that were halfway decent." He took another belt of the sake as Kaoru nodded.

After breakfast, Kenshin and Kaoru prepared to leave Hiko's. They gathered their belongings as the austere Hiten Mitsurgi Ryuu master watched impassively and they headed for the door to head out. Hiko followed them as Kaoru turned to address him.

"Arigatou Hiko-san for everything." She bowed respectfully as Hiko flashed a half smile.

"I'm glad you had a pleasant visit, Kaoru-san," Hiko said evenly. He eyed Kenshin in an inscrutable manner that Kenshin seemed to pick up and in turn nodded as he took Kaoru's elbow to head off.

"Come, Kaoru. We mustn't keep those at the Aoiya waiting, that we mustn't."

Hiko watched as the couple faded from sight and he drank deeply of his sake. "Humph!" he grunted and turned back to go in his hut.

They entered the outskirts of Kyoto and Kenshin felt that old shadow, the feeling of overwhelming sadness that he felt whenever he came to Kyoto, descend. It was still a place filled with regrets for him, a place that reminded him of the violence and blood of the Bakumatsu, and the lives his own hands snuffed out. Most especially and painfully one particular life. . . .

Kaoru noted the pensive manner of the former hitokiri who was the man that she would love forever and sensing his melancholy, took his hand in hers to comfort him.

"Kenshin."

Kenshin stopped and turned to gaze at the lovely sapphire eyes that sparkled for him like twin limpid pools and the sweet compassion that flowed to him from their depths. His heart pounded as Kaoru's face lit with a tender smile and then like a curtain, the shadow of the past lifted and he saw the spring sun.

"I'm all right, Kaoru, that I am. You needn't worry about me." His eyes were softly reassuring but they also held an intensity that caused her heart to flutter in her chest like a captive bird in a cage.

Kenshin smiled as he said, "Come koishii, everybody is waiting for us at the Aoiya." He took her elbow gently and they headed for the hostel.

In front of the popular inn, the ninja turned maid Omasu was in front, rinsing the walkway as she prepared for any guests like every morning following breakfast. She dipped the ladle in the rain gathering trough in the front of the building and poured the contents on the walkway, rinsing the dust from the road away. She was so intent in her task, that she failed to notice the approaching duo strolling up the street and was startled when she looked up into the smiling visages of Kenshin and Kaoru. Her coffee eyes flew open and then recognizing the two she greeted them warmly.

"Ohayo gozimasu, Himura-san, Kaoru-san," Omasu said cheerfully as she bowed. "Okina and Misao-chan have been awaiting your arrival."

Kaoru smiled as she responded, "Ohayo gozimasu, Omasu."

Kenshin also smiled and bowed. "Arigatou for receiving us."

She put the ladle down and opened the door. "Onegai, follow me." The three entered the Aoiya and as soon as they entered, Kenshin and Kaoru were tackled by the petite ninja dynamo known as Makimachi Misao. Her exuberant greeting was even more energetic than usual as her happiness at seeing her friends was bubbling over.

"Kaoru! Himura! I'm so glad to see you guys!" Misao exclaimed joyfully as she embraced both then just Kaoru, hugging the older girl who was like a sister to her tightly. The two immediately began to chatter.

Kenshin beheld the energetic welcome with a smile as the tall figure of Okina came into view. The bearded elderly man's angular face broke into a warm smile as he came forward to bow.

"Himura-san, it's good to see you," he said heartily then pulled Kenshin aside and spoke to him sotto voce, "I have prepared your rooms as you asked. Have you done the deed yet?"

"I'm grateful," Kenshin murmured back. "No, not yet, I have to do one thing first. But before that, I want to speak with Aoshi. Is he available?"

"He is at the shrine for his morning reflections. You can speak with him there."

"Arigatou, Okina-san." Kenshin then turned to Kaoru and said, "I'll be at the shrine with Aoshi, Kaoru. Do not worry about me, I'll be back shortly."

"All right, Kenshin."

He smiled and leaned in to plant a small kiss on her forehead. "See you in a bit." He then walked out the front door and into the crowd.

Kenshin's affectionate gesture toward Kaoru did not go unnoticed by Misao's sharp teal orbs. "Ohhh Kaoru, you and Himura seem quite close, even closer than you were before," she insinuated slyly as she hooked an arm around her friend. "And it appears he's stopped using the honorific when speaking to you. Hmmm."

Kaoru glanced at the girl ninja who was grinning knowingly at her and her dormant suspicions arose. She could not put her finger on it, but with the way they were received, it was apparent that prior arrangements had been made by Kenshin for them to stay there at the Aoiya. And Misao was right, Kaoru had noticed most recently on their jaunt that Kenshin had become more open with subtle expressions of affection with the noticeable drop of the honorific after her name. Then something really peculiar happened that had Kaoru going.

Misao took hold of Kaoru's left hand and stared at it, evoking a puzzled look from the kendo teacher who queried, "Misao, what's the matter? Why did you grab my left hand and why are you staring at it so?"

Misao, noting the still bare ring finger, dropped Kaoru's member and said nonchalantly, "Oh nothing. Let's go to my room, I want to show you something." And she pulled the still confused older girl along. . . .

Meanwhile, Kenshin walked up the steps leading to the pagoda that housed the shrine where Aoshi spent his mornings in deep meditation and reflection. The still form of Shinomori Aoshi was seated on the floor before the opening to the ceremonial garden, as the early spring blooms were displayed in a myriad of color and new life.

Kenshin slipped his sandals off and moved soundlessly toward the former shinobi leader, who not moving said softly in greeting, "Battousai."

Kenshin removed his sword, laid it down, knelt beside him, and murmured, "Aoshi."

"I see you've arrived."

Hai, arigatou for receiving us." Kenshin responded.

Aoshi simply nodded then stated, "I take it you've been to the Aoiya first."

Kenshin nodded, "Aa. Kaoru-dono is with Misao-dono."

Never one to beat around the bush Aoshi asked bluntly, "Have you become betrothed to Kamiya-san yet?"

"Iie. I have not asked her to be my wife yet," Kenshin replied. " I am feeling unworthy of her still, yet she has my heart in the palm of her hand, that she does."

Aoshi nodded slightly as he said, "What is holding you back, Battousai?"

Kenshin sighed deeply, "A part of me still feels that the sins committed in my past are too great a burden to inflict upon her. There are those seeking revenge that could try to gain their objectives by hurting her."

"Like Enishi."

Kenshin swallowed hard and nodded. "There are still many out there who want to see me dead as I killed the ones close to them. Or at least hurt me as they themselves have been hurt."

Aoshi took a deep breath and the two men sat side by side silently for a while. Then Aoshi spoke.

"Battousai, you need to seek peace within yourself. Only after that will you be able to put your broken heart about your past sins to rest."

Kenshin nodded as he pondered at Aoshi's simple statement. He had beaten himself up over his past role as hitokiri for so long it had become a moment to moment reckoning that he bore as a mantle of guilt believing he had no right to a happy life. He then reached in his sleeve pocket for the small black tome that had been his interest and strangely enough his comfort since he found it on the ship to Nagasaki. He opened it and drew Aoshi's attention.

"What is that book, Battousai?"

Kenshin replied, "It's the book known as the Bible. The Christian holy book and it has me very intrigued, that it does."

"Christian holy book?" Aoshi turned to Kenshin with a curious light in his ice eyes. "And what has it been saying to you?"

Kenshin turned to the book of Acts and explained, "Most recently I've been reading about the apostle named Paul who had been a man named Saul who had slain followers of Christ. He had been certain that he was doing the right thing and then one day discovered that what he did was wrong. Kami-sama struck him with blindness and he realized that he had committed many sins. So to atone he began to follow Christ and preach of him to others."

Aoshi studied Kenshin intently as he said matter-of-factly, "You relate with this story having taken so many lives yourself."

Kenshin nodded as he commented, "From reading this book I am seeing that no matter what I do to atone for what I've done, I can never do enough to truly be saved alone."

He read from the next page he opened to, Romans 3:23. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." He continued, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. The shed blood of Christ, however, is the atonement for all mankind."

Aoshi looked ahead into the sunlit garden and watched butterflies flutter about as he mused about what Kenshin had imparted to him. Then he said in his low taciturn manner, "It is quite a concept to believe in. And one stained by many sins cannot help but feel hope from the words."

Kenshin nodded, "Uh-huh."

He then reflected on the words as a sense of peace came over him where indecision and doubt was plaguing him before. His spirit began to lighten as he realized that a loving Kami, the Kami spoken of in these very pages, had seen to bless him in spite of the bloody past he harbored and still clung to. He then realized the next and final task to accomplish before he could step forward confidently into the future was ready to be done.

Both he and Aoshi stood up as the stoic shinobi remarked, " You have found your answer, Battousai."

Kenshin looked up at the calm eyes that were the color of the midsummer sky and he responded, "Yes, I have found my answer, that I most certainly have."

Aoshi nodded and said, "Let's head back. No doubt everybody is waiting for us."

"Aa," Kenshin said and both men turned and headed out of the shrine.

NEXT---CLOSURE