Disclaimer- I don't own Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter 8
Kenshin's eyes burned the color amber as he turned to look at Sakura and Genji through the sea of screaming people. Tomoe lay on the ground dead, in a pool of her own blood. "Finally that witches gone," Sakura said, "no more worrying."
"You ama!" Kenshin cried out as he got up from where he was once kneeling on the street.
"What was that?!" Sakura cried.
"You heard me ama," Kenshin said, "how could you kill her?!"
"Easy," Genji said, "like this."
Genji pulled the trigger and a bullet shot straight towards Kenshin, however Kenshin was pulled out of the way by Sano. "Kenshin what happened?" Sano asked before he saw Tomoe.
"Oh no," Misao said as tears filled her eyes, "Tomoe."
"Tomoe-chan!" Megumi cried out and ran over to Tomoe getting down and looking at her. "Tomoe," Megumi cried, "oh Kami-sama, Tomoe!"
Kaoru just stood there, what had just happened? It had all happened so quickly, Sakura and Genji talking about someone...guns! Sakura and Genji and pulled guns out of the truck. That's right then Tomoe and Kenshin appeared and Tomoe was...shot. Tears filled up in Kaoru's eyes, her life...why her? First her mother dies, then her father begins to abuse her and Yahiko, and now this?! One of Kaoru's few friends in life had been shot down by one bullet, one single bullet.
Kaoru watched Megumi hold her dead friend in her arms, and she saw Aoshi trying to comfort poor Misao, and Tae was crying. Her eyes were pouring out tears like a facet. Soujiro was frozen stiff, his mouth hanging open while Sano tried to calm down Kenshin. "His eyes," Kaoru said, "they're different...but how?" Kaoru looked at Kenshin's face, then she saw it. "That's not Kenshin, it can't be," Kaoru said, "his eyes are amber and his face is almost emotionless."
"Tomoe-chan," Tae cried as she fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands. Tae and Tomoe had know each other almost forever and now because they were so close the parting was even stronger then all the others could put together.
"I'll kill you for that!" Kenshin cried out in anger, "I'll kill you for killing Tomoe and hurting all these people!"
"Kenshin-kun," Sano said, "calm down."
"Iie," Kenshin cried, "I'm going to make sure to get them, and I'll make them wish they were dead!"
"Kenshin!" Kaoru cried out as Kenshin began to run off.
"Nani?" Kenshin asked.
"Kenshin," Kaoru said, "Tomoe's death is a pain to all of us and we all want revenge however if you kill Sakura and Genji...then you'll be just like them."
Kenshin looked at her in shock and Kaoru went back to trying to calm down Tae. Kenshin wanted to say something...say something good but the hatred in his heart and the amber in his eyes wouldn't let him speak. He just took off thinking of Tomoe's final words.
"Aoshi," Misao cried, "why Aoshi why?"
"I don't know why Misao," Aoshi said, "I honestly don't know why."
Tae shook her head and with a tear stained face looked up at Kaoru "I'm sorry," she said.
"For what?" Kaoru asked.
"I just need to go home" Tae told her and ran off as fast as her kimono would let her.
Kaoru watched her go in worry, everyone except for the group had run away in fear. Kaoru's eyes filled with tears and Aoshi told them he would escort Misao home. Soujiro was still in shock and Megumi was just getting up to leave. "Sano ran after Kenshin, Misao left with Aoshi, Tae ran home, Soujiro is finally out of his shock, and Megumi just bid us farewell," Kaoru said. Soujiro looked at her for a moment then with a face full of sadness he walked away leaving Kaoru alone with Tomoe.
"Tomoe why?" Kaoru asked as she knelt down next to Tomoe, "why did you have to die, my life is bad enough as it is." Kaoru's face fell onto Tomoe's stomach and she cried away, "why Tomoe why?!" Kaoru cried out, "my mother's dead, I left Yahiko in Kyoto, my father abused us and was soon arrested, I had no friends back in Kyoto, and now you die on top of all that Tomoe? Why!" Kaoru lifted her head back up and kneeling on her knees she said "I have seen to much pain and blood already, I came here in hopes of living a better life...but my hopes were just to high and now one of my friends is dead."
"Auntie Kaoru?" came a small voice.
Kaoru looked up and turned around where she saw Dr. Genzai holding Ayame and Suzume's hands. "Yes Suzume?" Kaoru asked.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Iie," Kaoru said, "I'm afraid I'm not."
"Come Kaoru," Dr. Genzai said, "we should get going home."
"But what about Tomoe?" Kaoru asked.
Tomoe may have been dead but leaving her out in the cold deserted path was to cruel to bare for poor Kaoru so Dr. Genzai said, "we'll bury her in the graveyard Kaoru."
Kaoru could only sniff.
"We will give her a burial and we won't leave her here," Dr. Genzai said comfortingly, "come we will take her with us."
Kaoru who was grateful to his generosity was still too sad to smile so she simply picked up her friend and walked towards the car. Getting in the back of the car Kaoru held onto Tomoe, she knew she had told Kenshin that if he killed Sakura and Genji then he would be just like them. However right at the moment she wanted to rip their insides out and make them both feel as much pain as all her friends were feeling. Dark thoughts ran through her head as Ayame tried to stay as far away from Tomoe as possible.
Ayame relaxed when Kaoru smiled gently at her, however Ayame still kept her distance.
They reached the Genzai's place in about 15 minutes time and exited the car. "Where are we going to put Tomoe?" Kaoru asked.
"We'll keep her in the basement," Dr. Genzai said to Kaoru.
Kaoru shuddered she had seen movies about people's bodies found in the cellar's but she had all ready asked to much to disagree with Dr. Genzai so she took Tomoe down to the basement and placed her on an old mattress. Kaoru looked at Tomoe before running in fear back up the basement steps and into the kitchen where she saw everyone standing. "Is something wrong?" Kaoru asked with her tear-stained face.
"It's just that," Dr. Genzai began, "we're so sorry about this."
Kaoru's eyes filled with tears and she ran over and hugged Dr. Genzai and cried, why was it always her? Why did everything bad always happen to her? Was she cursed? Kaoru who's eyes were still filled with tears stepped away from Dr. Genzai and said "gomen Dr. Genzai" she said before running upstairs into her room where she collapsed on her bed crying.
"Grandpa," Ayame said tugging on Dr. Genzai's hand, "will Auntie Kaoru be okay?"
"Auntie Kaoru is okay?" Suzume asked Dr. Genzai who simply looked at them both.
Kneeling down he embraced the two, "I'm afraid she's not girls," he said, "and I don't think she'll be for awhile." Ayame and Suzume looked up at him before he took them to bed.
"Good-night girls," Dr. Genzai said, "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good-night Grandpa" they both said and Dr. Genzai closed the door.
Dr. Genzai headed over to Kaoru's room to check on her and discovered that she had cried herself to sleep. "Good-night little Kaoru" he said and shut-off the light and closed the door heading to his own room.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru looked around, she was in a field covered with snow. Looking around she saw Kenshin leaning against a tree and Tomoe looking at him sadly. Kenshin then unsheathed a sword and Sakura and Genji appeared behind Tomoe. With a silent scream Tomoe fell into the snow staining it red and Kenshin with amber eyes swung his sword killing Sakura and Genji. Tomoe then whispered something to Kenshin and then fell limp in the snow and Kenshin disappeared and Kaoru was alone. Tomoe had disappeared and Sakura and Genji had melted in the snow, Kaoru shuddered as she felt two amber eyes upon her and a hand whisk her around. There stood Kenshin with a face heartless and cruel getting close to her ear he said "the ke..."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru's eyes shot open and she looked around the room before closing them again, she had cried herself to sleep and when she turned her head to look at the time discovering it was 1:00 a.m. getting up she looked around and sighed. She looked down and saw that she still had blood on her so without even caring about the time Kaoru got up and grabbed her gi and headed into the bathroom where she turned on the hot water as she got ready for a nice relaxing bath.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Earlier:
"Suzume," Ayame said suddenly turning her head to look at her younger sister, "are you awake?"
"Hai," Ayame replied opening her eyes and turned to look at Suzume. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm scared," Suzume said, "of that lady downstairs."
"I'm scared to Suzume," Ayame said, "come on let's go talk to Grandpa."
"Let's talk to Grandpa" Suzume repeated.
Holding hands the two little kids ran as quickly as they could to Dr. Genzai's room where they opened the door and ran over to him worriedly. "Grandpa," Ayame said as she and Suzume began to shake him.
"Grandpa," Suzume repeated.
"Wha...huh? Oh hello girls," Dr. Genzai said, "is there something wrong?"
"Grandpa I'm scared," Ayame said.
"I'm scared," Suzume repeated.
"Of what?" Dr. Genzai asked the two.
"That lady downstairs" Ayame told him.
"Oh," Dr. Genzai said, "well come on you two, you can spend the night with me."
"Really?" Ayame and Suzume asked.
"Sure," Dr. Genzai said and before he knew it both little girls was in bed lying closely next to him. "Good-night girls" Dr. Genzai said.
*~*~*~*~*
Back in the present with Kaoru:
Kaoru sighed, "I wish this warm water would make all the pain in my life go away instead of just cleaning off all the dirt." Kaoru sighed and shivered; "I wonder what Kenshin's going to do...and even if it was a mere dream I still wish I could've heard all that Kenshin had said." "I mean he whispered 'the ke...' but that was it." Kaoru washed off all the blood on her body and cleaned her hair. After almost forever in the bath she finally got out and drained all the water. She died herself off and changed into her gi, when she often daydreamed time went by fast, it was already sunrise.
"Time to go look for a dojo" Kaoru said and walked into her room and picked up her bokken. She wrote a note to Dr. Genzai incase he woke up before she got back, then with a little food she slipped on her geta and headed outside closing the door softly behind her. Her bokken in hand she headed out into the almost empty streets. "Great!" she said sarcastically, "I completely forgot that I have no clue where to go." Kaoru, sighed, she was such a baka. "Looks like I've got a little exploring to do," Kaoru said, "oh well the more exercise the better right?" she then walked across the streets. "Let's see I guess I'll take a right here," Kaoru said, "and I'll just go from there."
Kaoru turned to the right side and walked along the straight path, soon the sun was up and cars were out and driving. Kaoru smiled at the little boys and girls that were walking around with their parents, the kids were half asleep still but walked on. Kaoru stopped at a cross walk and looked around the crossing light turned green and she looked left to right, both paths seemed to head into the park so Kaoru crossed the left side and like she thought lead into the park.
"Look at this," Kaoru said in amazement, "this park is so beautiful."
"Miss," came a voice from behind her, "are you a swordsmen?"
Kaoru turned around and saw a boy no older than 13 standing there "well I'd rather it be swordswoman but yes I am a sword fighter."
The boys eyes sparkled, "then will you please come to my families dojo?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"My father's students don't think he can fight anymore and are thinking of quitting," the boy told her, "so I was thinking when I saw you that maybe you could fight him and my fathers students might want to keep learning with my father."
Kaoru looked at the boy, "sure," she said. After all it worked out for all of them, Kaoru could get someone to spar with and the boys fathers students would stay. Then it struck her though, the students might think it was a trick because she was a girl... 'oh well,' Kaoru thought with a smile, 'I won't lose."
The boy was so happy that he had found someone kind enough to help his family 'she must not be from around here,' the boy thought as he looked up at Kaoru who was following him. Finally they reached the dojo.
"Azusa Dojo," Kaoru read as they entered the gate.
"Oka-san! Okita-san!" the boy cried as they entered the dojo.
"Miho, Miho, what's wrong?!" cried a woman running in. "Who's this?"
"Mommy," Miho said, "this girl said she would fight Daddy in hopes of keeping our students."
"What?" the woman said in astonishment.
"Um...Ohayo," Kaoru said, "your boy wanted me to help you keep your students by sparring with you."
"Yes," Miho said, "Daddy can show them all that he still can fight, right Daddy!"
"Are you really a swordfighter?" Miho's father asked Kaoru.
"Hai" Kaoru said.
"That's great," he replied, "all we have to do is fight and I'm sure my students will want to stay."
"I'm sure," Kaoru said, "but you must promise to fight to your full potential, and not hold back just because I'm a woman got it?" Kaoru asked him her voice turning serious.
"Got it," Miho's father told her.
"Miho domo-arigato," Miho's mother said to the small boy embracing him into a hug, his father joined in forming a "family hug." Kaoru watched in sadness.
"He's so lucky," Kaoru said.
"My students should be arriving any minute now," Miho's father said removing himself from the hug. "As a matter of fact here they are now."
"Wow 15 students," Kaoru said in amazement after she counted them all.
"Haazui-sensei," said a small boy.
"Wait Keno," the sensei said holding up a hand, "everyone I want you all to come into the dojo, I want to show you all something."
The students walked into the training hall and froze when they saw Kaoru in her gi and padding. "Haazui-sensei what's going on?" asked one of the kids.
"Everyone this is..." Haazui stopped and looked over at Kaoru.
"My name is Kaoru Kamiya," Kaoru said, "and I'm here to spar with your sensei. We figured why not let you students watch your sensei fight me."
"Haazui-sensei," said one of the students, "is this some kind of a joke?"
"Iie Yuki," Haazui said, "now sit back, give us room, and watch, you'll be surprised, trust me."
The students retreated to the back giving the two more room. "Remember Haazui," Kaoru said, "no holding back."
"A promise is a promise Kaoru," Haazui said, "and I always keep my promises."
Chapter 8
Kenshin's eyes burned the color amber as he turned to look at Sakura and Genji through the sea of screaming people. Tomoe lay on the ground dead, in a pool of her own blood. "Finally that witches gone," Sakura said, "no more worrying."
"You ama!" Kenshin cried out as he got up from where he was once kneeling on the street.
"What was that?!" Sakura cried.
"You heard me ama," Kenshin said, "how could you kill her?!"
"Easy," Genji said, "like this."
Genji pulled the trigger and a bullet shot straight towards Kenshin, however Kenshin was pulled out of the way by Sano. "Kenshin what happened?" Sano asked before he saw Tomoe.
"Oh no," Misao said as tears filled her eyes, "Tomoe."
"Tomoe-chan!" Megumi cried out and ran over to Tomoe getting down and looking at her. "Tomoe," Megumi cried, "oh Kami-sama, Tomoe!"
Kaoru just stood there, what had just happened? It had all happened so quickly, Sakura and Genji talking about someone...guns! Sakura and Genji and pulled guns out of the truck. That's right then Tomoe and Kenshin appeared and Tomoe was...shot. Tears filled up in Kaoru's eyes, her life...why her? First her mother dies, then her father begins to abuse her and Yahiko, and now this?! One of Kaoru's few friends in life had been shot down by one bullet, one single bullet.
Kaoru watched Megumi hold her dead friend in her arms, and she saw Aoshi trying to comfort poor Misao, and Tae was crying. Her eyes were pouring out tears like a facet. Soujiro was frozen stiff, his mouth hanging open while Sano tried to calm down Kenshin. "His eyes," Kaoru said, "they're different...but how?" Kaoru looked at Kenshin's face, then she saw it. "That's not Kenshin, it can't be," Kaoru said, "his eyes are amber and his face is almost emotionless."
"Tomoe-chan," Tae cried as she fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands. Tae and Tomoe had know each other almost forever and now because they were so close the parting was even stronger then all the others could put together.
"I'll kill you for that!" Kenshin cried out in anger, "I'll kill you for killing Tomoe and hurting all these people!"
"Kenshin-kun," Sano said, "calm down."
"Iie," Kenshin cried, "I'm going to make sure to get them, and I'll make them wish they were dead!"
"Kenshin!" Kaoru cried out as Kenshin began to run off.
"Nani?" Kenshin asked.
"Kenshin," Kaoru said, "Tomoe's death is a pain to all of us and we all want revenge however if you kill Sakura and Genji...then you'll be just like them."
Kenshin looked at her in shock and Kaoru went back to trying to calm down Tae. Kenshin wanted to say something...say something good but the hatred in his heart and the amber in his eyes wouldn't let him speak. He just took off thinking of Tomoe's final words.
"Aoshi," Misao cried, "why Aoshi why?"
"I don't know why Misao," Aoshi said, "I honestly don't know why."
Tae shook her head and with a tear stained face looked up at Kaoru "I'm sorry," she said.
"For what?" Kaoru asked.
"I just need to go home" Tae told her and ran off as fast as her kimono would let her.
Kaoru watched her go in worry, everyone except for the group had run away in fear. Kaoru's eyes filled with tears and Aoshi told them he would escort Misao home. Soujiro was still in shock and Megumi was just getting up to leave. "Sano ran after Kenshin, Misao left with Aoshi, Tae ran home, Soujiro is finally out of his shock, and Megumi just bid us farewell," Kaoru said. Soujiro looked at her for a moment then with a face full of sadness he walked away leaving Kaoru alone with Tomoe.
"Tomoe why?" Kaoru asked as she knelt down next to Tomoe, "why did you have to die, my life is bad enough as it is." Kaoru's face fell onto Tomoe's stomach and she cried away, "why Tomoe why?!" Kaoru cried out, "my mother's dead, I left Yahiko in Kyoto, my father abused us and was soon arrested, I had no friends back in Kyoto, and now you die on top of all that Tomoe? Why!" Kaoru lifted her head back up and kneeling on her knees she said "I have seen to much pain and blood already, I came here in hopes of living a better life...but my hopes were just to high and now one of my friends is dead."
"Auntie Kaoru?" came a small voice.
Kaoru looked up and turned around where she saw Dr. Genzai holding Ayame and Suzume's hands. "Yes Suzume?" Kaoru asked.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Iie," Kaoru said, "I'm afraid I'm not."
"Come Kaoru," Dr. Genzai said, "we should get going home."
"But what about Tomoe?" Kaoru asked.
Tomoe may have been dead but leaving her out in the cold deserted path was to cruel to bare for poor Kaoru so Dr. Genzai said, "we'll bury her in the graveyard Kaoru."
Kaoru could only sniff.
"We will give her a burial and we won't leave her here," Dr. Genzai said comfortingly, "come we will take her with us."
Kaoru who was grateful to his generosity was still too sad to smile so she simply picked up her friend and walked towards the car. Getting in the back of the car Kaoru held onto Tomoe, she knew she had told Kenshin that if he killed Sakura and Genji then he would be just like them. However right at the moment she wanted to rip their insides out and make them both feel as much pain as all her friends were feeling. Dark thoughts ran through her head as Ayame tried to stay as far away from Tomoe as possible.
Ayame relaxed when Kaoru smiled gently at her, however Ayame still kept her distance.
They reached the Genzai's place in about 15 minutes time and exited the car. "Where are we going to put Tomoe?" Kaoru asked.
"We'll keep her in the basement," Dr. Genzai said to Kaoru.
Kaoru shuddered she had seen movies about people's bodies found in the cellar's but she had all ready asked to much to disagree with Dr. Genzai so she took Tomoe down to the basement and placed her on an old mattress. Kaoru looked at Tomoe before running in fear back up the basement steps and into the kitchen where she saw everyone standing. "Is something wrong?" Kaoru asked with her tear-stained face.
"It's just that," Dr. Genzai began, "we're so sorry about this."
Kaoru's eyes filled with tears and she ran over and hugged Dr. Genzai and cried, why was it always her? Why did everything bad always happen to her? Was she cursed? Kaoru who's eyes were still filled with tears stepped away from Dr. Genzai and said "gomen Dr. Genzai" she said before running upstairs into her room where she collapsed on her bed crying.
"Grandpa," Ayame said tugging on Dr. Genzai's hand, "will Auntie Kaoru be okay?"
"Auntie Kaoru is okay?" Suzume asked Dr. Genzai who simply looked at them both.
Kneeling down he embraced the two, "I'm afraid she's not girls," he said, "and I don't think she'll be for awhile." Ayame and Suzume looked up at him before he took them to bed.
"Good-night girls," Dr. Genzai said, "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good-night Grandpa" they both said and Dr. Genzai closed the door.
Dr. Genzai headed over to Kaoru's room to check on her and discovered that she had cried herself to sleep. "Good-night little Kaoru" he said and shut-off the light and closed the door heading to his own room.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru looked around, she was in a field covered with snow. Looking around she saw Kenshin leaning against a tree and Tomoe looking at him sadly. Kenshin then unsheathed a sword and Sakura and Genji appeared behind Tomoe. With a silent scream Tomoe fell into the snow staining it red and Kenshin with amber eyes swung his sword killing Sakura and Genji. Tomoe then whispered something to Kenshin and then fell limp in the snow and Kenshin disappeared and Kaoru was alone. Tomoe had disappeared and Sakura and Genji had melted in the snow, Kaoru shuddered as she felt two amber eyes upon her and a hand whisk her around. There stood Kenshin with a face heartless and cruel getting close to her ear he said "the ke..."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru's eyes shot open and she looked around the room before closing them again, she had cried herself to sleep and when she turned her head to look at the time discovering it was 1:00 a.m. getting up she looked around and sighed. She looked down and saw that she still had blood on her so without even caring about the time Kaoru got up and grabbed her gi and headed into the bathroom where she turned on the hot water as she got ready for a nice relaxing bath.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Earlier:
"Suzume," Ayame said suddenly turning her head to look at her younger sister, "are you awake?"
"Hai," Ayame replied opening her eyes and turned to look at Suzume. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm scared," Suzume said, "of that lady downstairs."
"I'm scared to Suzume," Ayame said, "come on let's go talk to Grandpa."
"Let's talk to Grandpa" Suzume repeated.
Holding hands the two little kids ran as quickly as they could to Dr. Genzai's room where they opened the door and ran over to him worriedly. "Grandpa," Ayame said as she and Suzume began to shake him.
"Grandpa," Suzume repeated.
"Wha...huh? Oh hello girls," Dr. Genzai said, "is there something wrong?"
"Grandpa I'm scared," Ayame said.
"I'm scared," Suzume repeated.
"Of what?" Dr. Genzai asked the two.
"That lady downstairs" Ayame told him.
"Oh," Dr. Genzai said, "well come on you two, you can spend the night with me."
"Really?" Ayame and Suzume asked.
"Sure," Dr. Genzai said and before he knew it both little girls was in bed lying closely next to him. "Good-night girls" Dr. Genzai said.
*~*~*~*~*
Back in the present with Kaoru:
Kaoru sighed, "I wish this warm water would make all the pain in my life go away instead of just cleaning off all the dirt." Kaoru sighed and shivered; "I wonder what Kenshin's going to do...and even if it was a mere dream I still wish I could've heard all that Kenshin had said." "I mean he whispered 'the ke...' but that was it." Kaoru washed off all the blood on her body and cleaned her hair. After almost forever in the bath she finally got out and drained all the water. She died herself off and changed into her gi, when she often daydreamed time went by fast, it was already sunrise.
"Time to go look for a dojo" Kaoru said and walked into her room and picked up her bokken. She wrote a note to Dr. Genzai incase he woke up before she got back, then with a little food she slipped on her geta and headed outside closing the door softly behind her. Her bokken in hand she headed out into the almost empty streets. "Great!" she said sarcastically, "I completely forgot that I have no clue where to go." Kaoru, sighed, she was such a baka. "Looks like I've got a little exploring to do," Kaoru said, "oh well the more exercise the better right?" she then walked across the streets. "Let's see I guess I'll take a right here," Kaoru said, "and I'll just go from there."
Kaoru turned to the right side and walked along the straight path, soon the sun was up and cars were out and driving. Kaoru smiled at the little boys and girls that were walking around with their parents, the kids were half asleep still but walked on. Kaoru stopped at a cross walk and looked around the crossing light turned green and she looked left to right, both paths seemed to head into the park so Kaoru crossed the left side and like she thought lead into the park.
"Look at this," Kaoru said in amazement, "this park is so beautiful."
"Miss," came a voice from behind her, "are you a swordsmen?"
Kaoru turned around and saw a boy no older than 13 standing there "well I'd rather it be swordswoman but yes I am a sword fighter."
The boys eyes sparkled, "then will you please come to my families dojo?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"My father's students don't think he can fight anymore and are thinking of quitting," the boy told her, "so I was thinking when I saw you that maybe you could fight him and my fathers students might want to keep learning with my father."
Kaoru looked at the boy, "sure," she said. After all it worked out for all of them, Kaoru could get someone to spar with and the boys fathers students would stay. Then it struck her though, the students might think it was a trick because she was a girl... 'oh well,' Kaoru thought with a smile, 'I won't lose."
The boy was so happy that he had found someone kind enough to help his family 'she must not be from around here,' the boy thought as he looked up at Kaoru who was following him. Finally they reached the dojo.
"Azusa Dojo," Kaoru read as they entered the gate.
"Oka-san! Okita-san!" the boy cried as they entered the dojo.
"Miho, Miho, what's wrong?!" cried a woman running in. "Who's this?"
"Mommy," Miho said, "this girl said she would fight Daddy in hopes of keeping our students."
"What?" the woman said in astonishment.
"Um...Ohayo," Kaoru said, "your boy wanted me to help you keep your students by sparring with you."
"Yes," Miho said, "Daddy can show them all that he still can fight, right Daddy!"
"Are you really a swordfighter?" Miho's father asked Kaoru.
"Hai" Kaoru said.
"That's great," he replied, "all we have to do is fight and I'm sure my students will want to stay."
"I'm sure," Kaoru said, "but you must promise to fight to your full potential, and not hold back just because I'm a woman got it?" Kaoru asked him her voice turning serious.
"Got it," Miho's father told her.
"Miho domo-arigato," Miho's mother said to the small boy embracing him into a hug, his father joined in forming a "family hug." Kaoru watched in sadness.
"He's so lucky," Kaoru said.
"My students should be arriving any minute now," Miho's father said removing himself from the hug. "As a matter of fact here they are now."
"Wow 15 students," Kaoru said in amazement after she counted them all.
"Haazui-sensei," said a small boy.
"Wait Keno," the sensei said holding up a hand, "everyone I want you all to come into the dojo, I want to show you all something."
The students walked into the training hall and froze when they saw Kaoru in her gi and padding. "Haazui-sensei what's going on?" asked one of the kids.
"Everyone this is..." Haazui stopped and looked over at Kaoru.
"My name is Kaoru Kamiya," Kaoru said, "and I'm here to spar with your sensei. We figured why not let you students watch your sensei fight me."
"Haazui-sensei," said one of the students, "is this some kind of a joke?"
"Iie Yuki," Haazui said, "now sit back, give us room, and watch, you'll be surprised, trust me."
The students retreated to the back giving the two more room. "Remember Haazui," Kaoru said, "no holding back."
"A promise is a promise Kaoru," Haazui said, "and I always keep my promises."