Nornal text = the present (See chapter one)
Bold = written articles: letters, newspaper clippings, etc.
Italic = the stuff that happened leading up to the stuff in normal text. (flash back)
Bold/italic = Setsunas past (flash back)
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Kaoru stirred the frying tofu getting hot oil on her hand and pulled it back with a little yelp. She wasn't making much progress with cooking dinner. She couldn't stop worrying about Kenshin.He still hadn't come back from the clinic and Sano just disappeared from the dojo without saying anything. She proceeded in cutting up the daikon root into small slices. She couldn't cook anymore. She was so burnt out...I wish Kenshin was home. Then atleast I know it'll taste better. She put a few slices of the daikon in with the frying tofu and added some scallions. Kaoru had no idea what she wasmaking, but, decided it may taste better then what she "knew" how to cook.
She rushed over to the fish and turned them over on the grill, then stirred the miso soup. Oh great, I never steamed any rice! She was about to scream when Kenshin walked into the kitchen.
"Kaoru-dono, tadaima"
"Kenshin! Daijoubuka?"
"I'm fine degozaru yo. Dinner smells really good tonight."
"Yeah besides the fact that I don't what I'm making or that I never steamed any rice."
"That's okay Kaoru. I think that Gensei sensei had expected more for dinner then are actualy there. I could run back and get some rice from him. I think it's just going to be you, Yahiko and myself for dinner anyway."
"No, Yahiko is out with Tsubame-chan for the evening and will be eating at the Akabeko for dinner. Don't bother getting rice. I'm fine without any." The smell of something buring got her attention and found that the tofu was starting to become charcoal. She let out a moan and walked over to the frying pan, grabbed a towel and took it off the wood burning stove. She poured the contents out onto a serving plate and dumped the frying pan into the sink.
"Well, dinner is almost ready if you want to set the table."
"Hai." He opened up the cabinet and took out two place setting of everything then left the room. He walked out into the dinning area and set out the bowles and other dishes. Kenshin then returned to the kitchen for chopsticks and rests for them.
"Here, use these," Kaoru handed him the good chopstick rests and lacquered chopsticks. He looked up at her puzzled and she just smiled at him warmly. He returned to the other room and put them at the palce setting then sat down.His nose throbbed but atleast most of the swelling had gone down after Megumi got some ice cold rags on it.
He put his hand into his left sleeve feeling for the small box that he had in there. He pulled it out and opened it up. A smile crossed his face and then he quickly put it away when he heard Kaorus footsteps.
Kaoru held a large tray which she put on the floor. She removed all the serving dishes and left with the empty tray to put into the kitchen. Kenshin eyed the food, thinking it almost looked edible. He took his serving and waited for Kaoru to return to take hers. She came back sitting across from Kenshin, looking exhausted.
She took her food and gave a weak smile to Kenshin, "Itadekimasu." Kaoru begain eating and Kenshin fished into his kimono pulling the box out again. He got up and sat next to Kaoru cross legged.
"Kaoru-dono...I wanted to ask you something."
She looked up from her food and saw the box in his hand. This was it! For real this time! He actualy got me an engagement ring too!
"Eeeto...nandesuka?"
He opened the box up and smiled at her, "Would you like to go to the towns Keironohi festival? I thought that this would look nice in your hair."
Kaoru looked down to see a small hair pin in the box. At least he had gotten her somthing...right? She stood up and stormed out of the room not looking back. "I've lost my appetite..." she muttered back to him.
"Oro? Is that a no Kaoru?!" He thought that atleast she would appreciate him trying to be nice to her on a day like this. What was she expecting me to...say...oh boy. "I really screwed up this time didn't I." He looked at the small rabbit hair clip and put the cover back on it. He ate his meal alone then cleaned up all the dishes. He didn't plan on seeing Kaoru for awhile.
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"I'm not hungry," said Setsuna laying with her back to the door. Megumi walked back out closing it. She really didn't want anyone to be around her. She needed to get out of this clinic even if she had to fake feeling better. She always got through the hell of learning at sword schools for only six months. She could push herself to get out of the clinic earlier if she could. She decided that she would ask politely tomorrow if she could leave. If the answer was no, then she would just walk out the door. no way anyone would try and stop her. Right? She rolled over onto her back and put her left arm over her head. She felt much better...why couldn't she just leave? She closed her eyes trying to fall asleep.
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The ninjas waited for the man to leave before they did anything to Setsuna. Her husband could only watch as the men defiled his pregnant wife. He could hear her muffled screams almost as clear as they would have been with out the gag in her mouth. Samanosuke could onyl watch as his wife went into shock, her eyes going glassy and unseeing. He watched as they finished with her and beat her pregnant stomach, causing her skin to bruise heavily.
One of them picked her up by the hair while she was still conscious forcing her to look at her husband. "Take your last look at him alive you dirty whore. The next time you see him will be in hell." A diffrent ninja walked over to her husband, and begain to beat him right in front of her.
Samanosuke....no....
She passed out cold not remembering anything that happened. She woke up with bright sunlight filtering in the window. She sat up abruptly, looked around realising she wasn't in her house. A man walked over to her that had been sitting in the room reading, trying to calm her down.
"Where is Samanosuke...Where is he? Is he okay?" She winced in pain as she tried to get out of the bed. Her stomach hurt really bad and she put a hand on it feeling that it wasn't the same. Her baby, was gone. She looked up in horror at the man that was holding her by the arm.
"What happened? What the fuck happened?!?"
"Please, Setsuna, you need to lay back down." The man finaly got her to sit back on the bed and he walked out to get the doctor. She recogined the man instantly, he was the dojos doctor which ment that she was probably in the dojo someplace.
"I'm sorry to tell you this Setsuna, but, because of the severe beating you received, you had a miscarriage. Also we unfortunatly found your husband...too late. I'm very sorry Setsuna."
She sat there on the bed in shock. In the end she may as well killed them both herself.
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