A/N: Sigh! At last were are nearing the end of this story! I never thought this would be such a long story! Some good news! I found a beta for this story! (runs around and claps) The bad news? This chapter hasn't been looked at yet. (I do that a lot. I find a beta but still post at lest one more chapter before they look at it. Why do I do that?) But thanks to Aikawarazu Ai the first four chapters have been read over by someone besides myself and all the other chapters will be replaces ASAP. I don't know why I am cursed to not being able to catch my own stupid mistakes.

ZIG-ZAG LEARNED A NEW TRICK! Ah! Why didn't QuickEdit work for me before! This is GREAT! I love it! Ah! Now that QuickEdit works on this stupid computer I'm going to be using it a WHOLE lot more! (Zig-zag beams)

On a side note and just because I like to talk. I cannot look things up to make sure I am spelling it right in the manga. I grab the one volume I know has the spelling in it but then I just keep reading… and pretty soon I have to read them ALL! I found this out the hard way. Of course after Kenshin I have to read Samurai Deeper Kyo and after that Crno Crusades and after that One Piece and after that Trigun and after that… (all reviewers walk up and smack Zig-zag on the head)

Ow… Reviewers…ow

Xavier Dailly :D - I know the story is a bit rushed. This use to be a story I would just monkey around on whenever I had a writers block. This is NOT one of my best stories. Also I know I made a lot of grammatical errors and I'm sorry. I get typing so fast my head can't keep up and when I re-read it I don't know why but I just can't find the mistakes even though I know I have lots. (Like here and hear and other things like that) I have problems with spelling which is… I can't spell. I am glad you liked the idea! Sorry I thought of it first. I wouldn't care if you wanted to do your own Kenshin fights in a swords match, however, I would care if it was cause the exact same way and see the same characters from my story appear in yours. But really, I don't mind if you do a Kenshin fights in a sword match type story. I bet you could do a better job at it then I did. Wow… I guess I can shut-up now.

Chapter 11 - Home At Last

Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko made their way to the dojo. They had been back home for about two days now. The three had just finished shopping because the dojo was completely out of food. "Hurry up Sano! We want to get back sometime today!" Kaoru yelled back to Sano who was buried under the burden of the items Kaoru had bought earlier today. Trying to balance a load of salt, rice, miso, soy sauce, vinegar, and a bunch of other stuff AND walking was very difficult.

"Why do you have to buy it all at once?" Sanosuke complained as he stumbled along. "Hey Kenshin! Could you lend a hand."

"But Sano! That would ruin our deal; that it would. When we came back I asked you to carry all of Miss Kaoru's groceries for a month. If this one helped you now your month would have to start all over again!" Kenshin explained with a big smile on his face.

"And Kenshin!" Kaoru added. "Thanks for giving me some of your money to buy all of this. I would had to gone without some items if it wasn't for you!" She gave Sano a playful, evil look.

"Kenshin…" Sano moaned.

The group rounded the bend laughing at Sano when Kenshin suddenly stopped. "What's wrong Kenshin?" Kaoru asked.

He simply smiled and pointed towards the dojo. "We have visitors." Indeed they did. Two cloaked figures, one shorter then the other, stood idly neck to the dojo's gate. Both cloaks were black and faded but when the shorter of the two turned around a bright blue stitching in the form of a Knotwork was shown.

"Maki! Senko!" Yahiko ran up to the two with Kenshin and Kaoru on his heels. Sanosuke tried to keep up but fell behind with his load, he caught up, eventually.

Senko was the first to pull back her hood. "Hello Yahiko. Nice to see you again!" She then turned to Kenshin and Kaoru and greeted them in the same fashion. Maki stayed where she was leaned up against the wall with her hood up and arms crossed.

Kenshin looked her over carefully. She didn't seem like the carefree Maki he knew, she reminded him of how he first met her. As Kentaro. "This isn't a pleasure visit is it Maki?" Kenshin said getting to the point.

From just under her hood Kenshin was able to see Maki smirk. She unfolded her arms and stood up straight. "You don't miss a thing do you Himura."

Kenshin scratched the back of his head and laughed. "No, not really."

"I want to fight again."

Kenshin lowered his hand. "This one dose not seek fights. This one would rather avoid a fight."

Kenshin didn't need to see Maki's face to tell she was disappointed but she quickly hid her feelings. "I know. Just one more fight. Please, I want to know if I ever had a chance against you." She pleaded.

Kenshin shook his head. "No Maki."

Maki's hands clenched into fists. "Fine!" She spun around and stormed off.

She stormed off so quickly she didn't even notice Senko did not follow. Senko sighed before turning back to the others. "Please forgive her. We are returning to Ireland soon." She took a moment as Yahiko and Kaoru gasped. "She wants to have one more sparring match against Japan's strongest so she can be sure she can take care of us in a new country."

"Is that why you were visiting your families grave sites?" Kenshin asked remembering what they had talked about at the Inn.

"Yes, to say good-bye. It will be a long time if we ever return."

"Senko! Come on!" Maki's voice called out.

Senko gave a quick bow. "Don't worry about it. She'll be in a better mood later. She was just looking fowa…"

"SENKO!"

"Good-bye." Senko took off at a run to catch up with her sister. Later that night Kenshin sat outside looking up at the stars.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru called breaking his thoughts. She came out and sat beside him. "Are you thinking about Maki?"

Kenshin nodded. "She won't be able to leave Japan happy unless she fights this one again; that she won't." His eyes went back to the stars. Kaoru nodded even though she wasn't sure if he saw then gazed up at the stars again. After a few minutes Kenshin stood. "I'll be right back Kaoru-dono." He said as he walked away.

Maki walked towards the dojo chewing on her bottom lip. She didn't really know what she was doing coming out here this late but her feet just seemed to guide her. "Hello Maki-dono." Maki jumped not expecting anyone but relaxed when she saw that Kenshin was standing at the dojo's entrance.

Maki pulled back her hood before speaking. "Kenshin it's only you!" She acted relieved. "I just wanted to stop by an apologies. I was very rude earlier."

"That's alright." Kenshin said with a smile.

"So… you still don't want to fight once more right?"

"Right."

"Oh that's alright." She said with a smile but Kenshin easily caught the disappointment in her voice. "Senko and I would like to invite everyone for lunch tomorrow. Would you be able to come?" She smiled but it was forced.

"Of course Maki. We would love to have lunch with you and Senko."

"Good. Then we'll meet you here tomorrow and would you pick out where? I'm afraid we don't know the best places to eat around here!" She gave a wave before turning around. "See you tomorrow!" She ran off. Kenshin watched her go. He didn't like how she was forcing herself to be happy.

The next day everyone met up at the dojo then the group of six made their way to the Akabeko. Kenshin watched Maki closely. She smiled and chit-chatted with everyone but he could see pass that. She was still upset. As the friends ate their meal Senko showed Kaoru that she was wearing the ribbon and Kaoru showed that she was wearing the necklace. Everyone told stories. Kaoru told Maki and Senko how Kenshin and her first met. "He grabbed me and sprinted out from under his attack but he landed in a split!" Kaoru broke out in laughter. "He bent over complaining about a broken groin!" This brought a laugh from everyone and a blushing Kenshin who wanted to duck under the table. It didn't escape his ever watchful eye, however, that Maki merely smiled. Not once did she laugh, not even at her own stories.

"Hey!" Senko said nearly jumping up and down. "Let's walk through the cherry blossoms! It will be the last time Maki and I will get to see them."

"Yeah, the last time." Maki added softly as the group made their way to the trees. Everyone spread out slightly and gazed up at the trees when they arrived. Maki stood a little bit more away from the group and looked up intently at the trees.

"They are very beautiful aren't they?" Kenshin asked sneaking up on Maki.

Maki jumped. Kenshin guessed she might have swore but he had no idea what she said. The little bugger scared the crap out of me! Maki whispered to herself.

"Oro?"

Maki shook her head. "Sorry. You surprised me. Yes, they are very beautiful." She looked back up at the tree letting out a small sigh. Kenshin shook his head and smiled.

"You really wanted to fight this one didn't you?"

Maki sighed again. "No, it's alright."

Kenshin smiled again. "Alright in one hour. Will you meet this one at the dojo for a sparring match?"

Maki stood starring at the cherry blossoms for awhile longer then her eyes grew wide. "Really?" Kenshin nodded.