How come every time I get a scene just were I want it something happens?

The Electric Company seems to be having problems getting their grids right so for two nights in a row, without letting anyone know, they cut the power off. This chapter would have been out sooner otherwise. I hope you all enjoy.

To answer some questions:

Innocently smiling Rurouni refers to the fact that as a Rurouni Kenshin has the knack for looking extremely innocent. In my fic Kenshin did wander for ten years with his non-killing vow, it's after Kaoru's death that he picks his Katana back up to kill Blood Drinkers and Shishio.

How many more chapters am I going to write? I am not really sure. I have a basic time line mapped out in my head but how long it takes me to reach certain points completely depends on my muse's. I just sit down and write and wait to see what the characters want to do. I would figure somewhere around twenty, not necessarily that many but more than likely not many after that numbers either.

For those of you wondering how Aoshi was changed, or more importantly WHEN, it's in this chapter.

Hiko and Rei are rather safe in their mountain hide out. I have been dropping hints about how and why but I will be sure to give more information soon. And as to why they can't feel the blood Ki, well it works in with the Blood Moon, I promise to go into more detail with that later as well.

Kenshin is very angry with himself for letting Kaoru get hurt.

I think that handles most of the questions in the reviews. I wish I could respond to every readers review, because I appreciate everyone of them, but I am finding more and more reviews are more difficult. If anyone has a question feel free to leave it and I will either respond in an email or here?

And once again I thank each and every one of you for reading this! Thanks so much for leaving reviews; it's partly the reason this chapter got out so quickly.

Remember I do not own the Kenshin gumi. (Pouts)

Ravyn

Sometimes control just wasn't worth it. Twice in one night what was his had been threatened, twice someone had decided to play with his emotions. And twice the darker side he kept hidden so he could gradually introduce it to Kaoru had been pulled to the surface.

This time however it wasn't going back to where it came back from. Eyes that always border-lined gold melted into the moonlit amber that he was so well known for as his jaw clenched in a fury so dark that everyone could feel it.

Kenshin gently placed Kaoru on her feet and carefully pushed her behind him.

The Vampires moved close, there eyes glowing red with a blood lust that was tangible. "We want the pretty." One hissed in a lust-darkened tone.

Kenshin smirked. "You wish."

No one saw him move. Yumi's let out of gasp of surprise when the ten Vampires that had surrounded the group went down into a series of mutilated body parts. Kenshin banked off the edge of the wall and joined Aoshi in the decimation of the rest, a handful turned to attack the women but fell to Kunai in there throats.

"NO." Yumi hissed. "You will not win so easily Battousai."

Kenshin turned in time to watch her throw something at Kaoru and Misao, Karou lightly holding her silver chain and Misao with a handful of Kunai, and watched with furry filled eyes as the woman stumbled.

"Lets see how much your darling Mate's love you when they know all of your bloody pasts and your failure to protect them." Yumi hissed.

Footsteps echoed around the alley as darker shapes began to fall from the rooftops, the wolves crouching low their fangs dripping. No matter how fast Kenshin and Aoshi where they where going to struggle to defeat this many and keep there woman safe.

"Looks like we got here just in time, Yahiko." Sano's dark voice hissed as they dropped into the circle of defense. Next to Yahiko, much to everyone's surprise stood Soujiro.

"Sou-chan!" Misao managed to grit out from her pounding head. It felt like someone had battered her head with a hammer and walls that should have been standing where slowly being ripped apart.

Kaoru stumbled next to her, her fists pressed against her temples.

Yumi laughed the sound mocking. "Tell me Battousai will you be able to win her three times?"

Soujiro moved forward. "Yumi will stop this."

Yumi froze as she stared at the young man. " Soujiro Seta." She whispered her eyes wide. "Aren't you on the wrong side?"

Soujiro shook his head. "Soujiro Seta I may be, but I fight for the correct side this time Yumi. Don't make me kill you."

Yumi stared with wide eyes. "You wouldn't."

Soujiro narrowed his dark brown gaze. "Don't press me in this."

"Watch yourself Soujiro." Kenshin warned, his voice a dark whisper against the harsh growls and clings of swords. "She will use the wolves against you."

Yumi narrowed her eyes. "If you betray Shishio-sama then it means your death." With that she disappeared back into thin air as she had done before, leaving them to deal with the leftover.

Karou stumbled into something warm as faint images began to play across her vision. "Karou."

Kaoru-dono.

Kaoru raised confused eyes to living amber and blinked softly. "Kenshin." The last thing she remembered before her world faded black was a strong arm, once again, lifting her into the air.

Misao groaned low in her throat as she clutched at her head. She had dropped to her knees and was vainly attempting to ward off the images that seemed intent on surfacing.

I never want to see you again.

"Aoshi-sama." Misao managed to breathe, her eyes wide as her body gave into the dark that was anything but peaceful.

Kenshin watched her face, bruised from tonight's fight, his fingers tracing the darker marks along her pale neck and headed towards the car. "Sano, have Megumi meet us at the Aoiya. Soujiro you might as well come with us we have much to discuss."

Shishio, Kenshin thought furiously, you have crossed the line tonight when you decided to make this personal.

The car ride back to Aoiya was tense and silent, the only sounds coming from the ragged breathing of Misao and Kaoru and the occasional squeal of tires as Kenshin sharply took a corner.

Once they got to the Aoiya both Kenshin parked the car and then walked over the seat where Kaoru was still unmoving. Gently he lifted her limp form and headed towards their room.

Kicking the futon open with a sharp nudge of his foot Kenshin set her form down gently and brushed a stray hair from her face with gentle fingers.

"I am sorry Koishii." Kenshin whispered knowing that Yumi would have done her best to confuse to woman, most likely calling the darker memories to fore first. Kaoru gave out a faint moan and Kenshin kissed the back of one hand.

Kaoru's mental walls where shot to hell and the barriers that had guarded the memories of her past life where in shambles. He was not a mind healer but he could strengthen her mental shields to keep unwanted mental thoughts out.

Rising he moved towards the door, his Ki pulsing around him in furious bursts, leaving Kaoru to sleep off the effects of what had happened. There was nothing he could to ease what she would see, but he could, and would, find a way to kill Shishio.

The man had gone too far.

"Soujiro," Yahiko questioned as they waited for Kenshin and Aoshi, "How did you know to show up tonight? We only knew because of Aoshi's phone call. Did Misao call you?"

Soujiro gave the faint smile he was so well known for and shook his head. "No. I believe Himura-san has mentioned, or at least hinted at the fact that we have met before?"

Yahiko nodded as Sano leaned against the wall with his fishbone sticking out of his mouth. "Yes." Both men agreed thinking back to the day when he said Soujiro had his reasons for trusting him.

"I am not that much older than Kaoru-san and Misao-chan," Soujiro said softly, "I had already started my underground protection agency when I met then in high school. It was not long after I lost my partner to a werewolf and suddenly there where two women with Ki high enough to tear apart a city block who where not only willing to help, but once they found out they practically demanded to."

"Sounds like Busu." Yahiko agreed.

"Not long after that on a mission where I refused to take them along I got caught out my some Vampires. I should have been able to beat them, but there was something off about their nature. Before I could be eaten a red haired man came out of the darkness and killed them."

Soujiro smiled once again. "He told me to get stronger because I had the potential and to always remember the strong protected to weak." He looked at him with a faint tinge of amusement. "I do not know if it was deliberate or not but that caused my memories to break the same way the girls upstairs' are."

Sano nodded. "But why did you not say anything when we meat you back in Tokyo?"

Soujiro shrugged. "The last memory I have of Yahiko is of him driving a Katana through my shoulder, and yours is just as found. I did not think my presence would be welcomed. The day before Himura-san left for Kyoto he came and spoke with me on some matters. I remember Shishio quite well and I plan on helping you stop him this time."

Yahiko offered Soujiro a smile. "If Kenshin trusts you enough to let you in here then it's the least we can do to trust you." Yahiko leveled the man with a dark glare. "But if you hurt Tsubame I will kill you."

"Since I assume you three have your formalities taken care of," Kenshin's dark voice commented, "Then I suggest we get down to business. I have every intention of being in that room when Karou wakes up."

There was a soft grunt from Aoshi that concluded that the man felt the same way about it. All the men watched as Kenshin sat down and leveled Soujiro with an amber glare. "Did you time Yumi?"

Soujiro nodded, "Fifteen minutes just as you said."

Sano blinked. "You were timing her?"

Kenshin nodded. "Before I left Kyoto I tracked Soujiro down and we had a long discussion on Shishio. Sano, Yahiko do you two remember what happened when we fought against Shishio in the Meiji."

Sano nodded. "Yes, he spontaneously burst into flames."

"Exactly." Soujiro wryly commented. "Because of the flames he was burned in he lost the use of most of his sweat glands, you combined that with the flame like Ki, and Shishio was set up for disaster."

Kenshin sighed. "Soujiro and I have been coordinating our spies since Yumi made her little appearance in Karou's apartment. So far Yumi has been seen through out Kyoto but the mysterious figure wrapped in bandages has only been seen in Tokyo."

Soujiro sighed. "Which is why Kenshin and I decided to see if we could pull some of his men out tonight. We did not think that they would target Kaoru, which was actually rather stupid on our part."

Kenshin growled, his moonlit eyes glowing with anger. "Shishio has now twice attempted to kill her. He should know better."

Yahiko sighed. "Yes he should." His dark eyes held a glint only slightly less threatening than Kenshin's. "But we all know he is attempting to find a weakness or to form one in her."

Sano frowned. "Well then Jou-chan and weasel getting their memories back is actually helpfully."

Aoshi choose that moment to speak up. "Not necessarily. Kenshin and I had both planned on easing Kaoru and Misao into there past memories, Yumi just went in there with a mental sledge hammer and knocked everything in her path down."

Kenshin gave a half snarl. "The problem is that Yumi could have done both woman a lot of mental damage, so I want all the mental activity in this place down to a low key. Every little touch is going to cause them quite a bit of agony. They do not know that we are telepathic, much less how it to block it."

Yahiko let out a whistle. "Damn."

Sano sighed. "You said it kid. Kenshin why is it so important that Yumi was only there for fifteen minutes."

Kenshin sighed. "Enishi is not strong enough to bring Shishio into this world completely, that is why he needs Rei's death, but he is strong enough to cause his rebirth some time. The question is what he linked Shishio ability to come back and forth to."

Soujiro picked it up from there. "Kenshin and I believe that Enishi linked Shishio's abilities to stay in this time by the same time limit he had to fight. Yumi is also bound by that so its very important that Rei stays out of their hands."

Yahiko shook her head. "Rei is with Hiko in the one spot that Enishi could never go. The hide out is so hidden by the pure Ki that even if Enishi could find it, there is not way he could defeat Hiko while Hiko is there."

Kenshin sighed. "Which is why he will do whatever he can to get Rei off of there."

All the men sat in silence at that thought until Aoshi and Kenshin headed back up stairs.

Sano stood up to try to locate Megumi and turned and looked at Soujiro. "You may be the Tenken, but the real question is weather or not you can stand against those who will be pulling off the power of Blood Moon. You might need to consider being changed."

Soujiro inclined his head but offered nothing more.

~*~

Karou tossed on the futon, her expression pinched and tired, part of her mind registering the fact that she was in fact breathing and that were voices, another part of her brain only aware of the voices and images pounding through her brain leaving the sensation of her mind being torn apart.

Kaoru was vaguely aware of the soft fingers pressing against her temples but she was more aware of the gentling of the destruction. The harsh edges where blunted and the voices became softer, gentler, and understandable.

It could have been minutes or hours later when Karou became aware of her own self again. The cool hand she had felt at some point was gone and instead there were warm fingers laced with hers.

Karou forced her blurry eyes open and let out a stifled moan.

"Koishii," Kenshin whispered his voice low and soothing. "Don't try to do anything just yet. Your mind needs time to recover."

Kaoru closed her eyes and sighed. "What..."

"Yumi," Kenshin mummered kissing the palm of her hand again.

Kaoru sighed softly, attempting to process two life times of memories and bring them to together. Everything was so confusing, a jumble of past and present that was impossible to tell which lifetime she lived in and which lifetime she considered past.

Everything raced against each other, one memory attempting to force another out, and one father's face overriding the next. A sword style she had never practiced made part of her muscle memory, colorful pictures blurring and melting with another.

There was no center point, nothing to hold one way of life from another, no way to twist them back into the rightful place. Edges of what should have been melted to create fine lines with the future and twisted away from her control.

There was one focal point, one similarity that gave her the point she needed to pick the memories apart. Kenshin. In the frantic tumble of images his face was constant and allowed her to place the images back into the proper place, to use his eyes and touch to force them back into the correct place. Past or present.

Kaoru moaned as she grappled with what her brain was trying to tell her. To put the crazy jigsaw puzzle back into place. To find what her heart and that curious heat she felt had been forcing her to recognize. And once the whirlwind paused and settled she could easily see what had been pulling at the back of her mind for weeks now. To find that secret behind the dreams and that lonely ache that his touch seemed to fill.

For two lifetimes it seemed she had battled with herself and dealt with the fact that she fell for a man who held life cradled in the palm of his hand. In this lifetime she was falling for him and in the past she had loved him, and no matter how many times she told herself otherwise there was no denying it now.

She may not have been the Kaoru of back then; she was different in many ways simply because of the different times. The Kenshin she knew now was different as well, but Kaoru had a faint feeling she was never going to loose the heat that soak in her bones this man seemed to ignite.

"I am sorry." Kenshin mummered keeping his lips pressed to her hand. "I should never have taken the risk I did."

"No." Kaoru pressed, forcing blurry eyes to open and to focus. It took a moment to put his blood colored locks and amber framed eyes into focus but she managed. "Don't blame yourself, itoshii."

Kenshin froze at the endearment that slipped from her mouth, his amber gaze snapping to hers just a hint of the placid violet peaking through for the first time that evening.

"Koibito." Kenshin breathed kissing her fingers as her eyes slid shut in exhaustion. "How much do you remember?"

Kaoru sighed. "Most of it now, but it's all in fragments and it's hard to put them in order." Your touch helps.

Kenshin let out of faint rumble that could have been a growl. "I am sorry. I was planning on waiting till we mated to bring them back, slowly, that way I could ease the memory walls down so they wouldn't try to rip your mind apart like that."

Kaoru struggled to stay coherent as her body registered the exhaustion seeping into her bones. "They became easier to separate after something..."

"Omasu has a healers touch for such things. She came in and attempted to sort through the your shattered barriers and put them back into order. She did as much as she could without straining your already drained mind." Kenshin told her softly, careful to keep his voice in his natural low register so it would soothe instead of bring pain to her pounding head.

Kaoru mummered something as she felt her lashes flutter shut and her world slowly slipping from her grasp.

"Get some rest Kaoru," Kenshin breathed against her ear. " I will be here when you wake." Kenshin sat there for some time watching her chest move up and down with each careful breath she took.

Reaching down he pulled out his cell phone to place as call to Hiko. He would need to be warned that Enishi was up to something and to keep an extra eye on his surroundings.

~*~

Misao lay on her side, her wide blue-green gaze open and filled with emotion. Turning on her stomach Misao buried her face into her pillow, attempting to place exactly what she was seeing in her mind.

Japan, in ways she could never have imagined. Nature at its most beautiful and stars a clear as diamonds pinpointing in the sky. And then there was Aoshi.

He had left her.

Misao felt her eyes begin to leak the gentle salt water at the thought of the man she knew and the man she once knew. He was different now, Misao could place that easily, and the cold had been chipped away carefully over time. Instead of lines of despair and guilt, there was mourning to his eyes that seemed to clear when he looked at her.

Her Aoshi-sama was beginning to love her.

Oh it hurt, her mind and her heart, and Misao was not sure which hurt worse. The mind screaming agony that Yumi had inflicted on her, ripping all the carefully built barriers from her mind and then taking a blender and blending them all together, or the dull ache that had started somewhere in her chest with the loss of the innocence she had retained.

Aoshi-sama had been a monster. Not because of his teeth and cold nature, not because of his being changed into something beyond human, that was Aoshi-sama. No his guilt ridden manner had caused him to abandon her and her family. She knew those downstairs now, knew their faces their habits and what made them smile.

She knew Aoshi.

"Misao." His voice, smooth honey to her shattered nerves, slipped into her ears and caressed her aching temples. "Misao please don't cry."

Misao turned over then, wincing at the movements and the pain it caused, but forcing herself to face him. She had never hidden or backed down from a challenge in either lifetime, she had the memories to prove it, and she was going to conquer this.

"Why." It was simply really. Why did you leave me, why did you not save me, why did you come after me? Why the guilt, why the pain, why the separation?

"Do you remember when you where barely thirteen and I left with what was left of the Oniwabanshu?" Aoshi whispered brushing the remaining tears from her face.

Misao scrunched her nose as she thought, attempting to work past the dull ache in her temples. "No."

Aoshi sighed. "During the Bakumatsu I was changed into what I am now. I precede Kenshin by several years as a Vampires Misao. When I came home I found my protective instincts going into overdrive, and it was nearing a Blood Moon at that time. I was afraid I would hurt those I held most precious to me. So I left. The other demanded to go with me but I would not, could not, put you into danger."

"Why." Misao begged. "Did you not trust me?"

"Oh Misao, you where still so much a child. I did not want to force you to grow up any faster than you did. I never thought you would chase after me or that you would force yourself to grow up."

"Didn't you understand?" Misao questioned, her fists bunching up the front of his shirt, "I would follow you anywhere." Her brow wrinkled in thought. "And I think I told you that at one point."

Aoshi allowed a hint of smile to touch his mouth. "Several times. But when I came back after Shikijou, Hyottoko, Beshimi, and Hannya died I was so stained with blood and guilt I could not allow myself to enter back into your life."

Misao looked at him questioningly.

"The part of myself that I refused to accept, the Vampire part, had already claimed you as its possession." Aoshi explained gently. "You where only sixteen and even though you had traveled across Japan I could never forgive myself if I changed you. I told myself that no matter how much I craved you and found myself loving you, I couldn't."

"And then word came of Shishio. He was working with a madman named Enishi and both hoped to topple the already unstable government. With your connections to the Kamiya Dojo, a place you had stayed for some time in your search for me, long before the Battousai had come, you got word of the Battousai's plans to learn the rest of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu."

Misao nodded her mind supplying the memories to the story he was telling. "You wished to help Battousai and his family out, but the rest of us did not wish to get involved. And then word came of the death of Kamiya Kaoru, and two nights later we found you dead in your bed."

"I later found out that Soujiro had killed you," Aoshi told her and attempted not to smile at her shocked face, "And then I traveled to Tokyo and met up with the Battousai and what was left of the Kamiya family. I helped train Yahiko and Sano and ten years later, Shishio had hidden deep in the mountains and it took time to find him, we destroyed him."

"Once that was over I came to realize, much as Kenshin had, that you would be reborn. When that happened I promised myself I would open myself up to you, if only you, and not let you leave me again."

Misao stared at him as he cradled her face in his hands. "I want you as my mate Misao. I am willing to give you the time you need to adjust to these memories and the time you need, but you will be mine in the end." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Get some rest. Tomorrow you are going to find yourself bombarded with people wanting to see you."

Misao leaned forward and rested her head against his chest. "Stay with me."

Aoshi gentle wrapped her in his arms. "Always."

Gently he lowered them to the futon and simple contented himself with watching her drift off to sleep.

~*~

Kaoru wiggled into the warm covers with a content sigh. The throbbing pain had left some hours ago and she had been left with a boneless feeling and simply allowed herself to sleep.

Kaoru opened her eyes to the sound of the door being slide open, sitting up she noticed she was in a large shirt and a pair of shorts threatening to fall off, and she had to keep from smiling at the site that met her eyes.

Kenshin was balancing a try with only a pair of boxers and a carelessly thrown on shirt as he attempted to shut the door and not burn himself. Turning he smiled at seeing her awake.

"Good morning Kaoru." Kenshin said lightly as he set the food down next to the futon. He felt her forehead for the fever that had wracked her last night and was pleased to see that she was once again normal temperature. "Are you hungry?"

"Ravenous." Kaoru admitted as she tossed a dark strand of hair over her shoulder. "Is the tray for me?"

Kenshin grinned at her child like look. " Of course Koishii." He sat the tray in her lap. Kaoru easily broke open the chopsticks and ginned at him. " I haven't had breakfast in bed since I was a child."

Kenshin brushed her bangs away from her face playfully. "Then I will have to make a point to spoil you more often."

Kaoru rolled her eyes. "Then I won't want to get out of bed silly."

Kenshin smiled his amber eyes playful and tinted with quite a bit of amusement. "And the problem with that is what?" Kenshin leaned back and allowed his eyes to scan her draped form once again in his clothing. "I wouldn't mind you in my bed at all Koishii."

Kaoru tossed a small amount of rice at him. "Kenshin Himura!"

Kenshin just smiled at her. "What?"

Kaoru rolled her eyes. "As much as I enjoy longing around in bed all day I really don't think so. Besides," Her eyes took on a particularly evil glint, "I think I need to refresh some of these sword techniques banging around in my skull and I think Yahiko would the be the prefect dummy."

Kenshin laughed at that. "Your one devious woman." Using to his god like speed he moved her tray and had her pinned to the futon. "And I find that a highly attractive quality."

Leaning down her kissed her lightly, his bangs brushing her face. Pulling up he smirked. "Well while you are so casually planning you say, do be sure to fill in some quality time with me." He kissed the corner of her mouth. "There are some things we need to discuss once you are up to it."

Kaoru nodded her head in agreement. Feeling slightly daring she pushed up and kissed him solidly. "We will. Now get out so I can finish my breakfast and get dressed. It you want to be helpful you can locate Yahiko and tell him to met me in the Dojo."

Kenshin blinked at her for a moment before sliding off her warm body and sighing. "The things you do to me Koishii."

Kaoru just smiled and picked the tray back up and dug into it with gusto.

Kenshin walked out of his room, despite the very tempting woman currently eating in his bed, and headed into the kitchen to get his own breakfast.

"How is she?" Omasu questioned as she set out bowls and chopsticks.

"She looks great. Whatever you did last night seemed to do the trick and she has full color and actually plans on utilizing several of her memories today."

Yahiko, Sano, Tsubame and Megumi had walked in on the later part of his sentence. "Utilize what part?" Sano questioned.

Kenshin forced himself to keep his expression neutral as he looked at Yahiko, who looked slightly apprehensive as if he knew what Kenshin was going to say. "She wanted to test out some of her combative memories and has asked that Yahiko meet her in the Dojo once breakfast is over."

Yahiko dropped his head onto the table with a groan. "Kenshin I don't care how many times Aoshi, Hiko, or you have beat me around Kaoru is still the single most scary woman I have ever met and the freakiest teacher."

Laughter rang out over that statement and Sano clapped his friend on the shoulder. "And just think her memories of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu are probably better than yours."

Yahiko groaned again. He had learned various techniques over the years, bits and pieces of many, and he used a Katana now because of the needed strength, but Kaoru with a Bokken or Shinai was just damn frightening. Especially since he would only be able to Kamiya Kasshin forms.

Yahiko looked up. "Megumi you promise to patch me back up?"

Laughter followed Yahiko's attempt at humor, and the hilarity just increased when he sat down and slowly began to bang his head to some forgoing beat.

"I.Am.Dead." Yahiko continued as he rapped his head against the table, those words being a type of mantra.

"Did you say something Yahiko?" Kaoru questioned as she stuck her head in, waiting for the young man, her voice innocent but her eyes glinting with enough evil that everyone erupted back into laughter.

"Nope. Not a thing." Yahiko quickly responded, straightening at the look in Kaoru's eyes. He may have been accustomed to Hiko and Kenshin beating him around on a regular basis, but this was Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, and Karou was the master at making those who where under feel stupid. Plus when it came to a Bokken or Shinai no one stood up to the woman.

"Good. Why don't you hurry up Yahiko-chan." Kaoru teased as she turned to head to the Dojo.

Yahiko, in the spirit of things, responded right back. "Don't call me CHAN BUSU!"

" 500 strokes YAHIKO-CHAN!" was the response that sent everyone into side stitching hilarity. "And HURRY up!"

"Oh that boy is going to get it." Sano chuckled attempting to get his breathing under control. "You would have thought a couple of decades would have helped him remove such childish behavior.

Kenshin wiped away tears. "I can attest that a persons master can make you feel like your twelve again."

"Perhaps I should relay that information to Hiko?" Sano teased.

The clicking noise of a Katana being prepared to be drawn shut Sano up rather quickly with the implied hint. Kenshin may reverse the blade but it would still hurt like hell.

"Or maybe not." Sano hastily added.

"Good Morning everyone." Misao said loudly as she bounced into the room. Chopsticks and bowls went flying as the Oniwabanshu rushed to say good morning.

Okon, Omasu, Okina, Shiro, all faces that had names now, all of them people who she knew and loved well. Misao let out a slight shriek as she disappeared under hugs and fast questions.

Aoshi stood next to the door and watched Misao's laughter flushed face with a loving glance. "Later." He told them all simply when he noticed Sano eyeing the food in a sneaky manner.

Everyone sat down to eat and enjoyed some light chatter except for occasional laugh and "BUSU' completed by a loving '500 STROKES YAHIKO-CHAN!'

Everyone eventually cleared out leaving Aoshi and Kenshin alone.

"I hope you evening went as well as mine." Kenshin told Aoshi. "Kaoru seems to be pretty much the same except for the occasional blush and that look is back in her eyes."

"We talked." Aoshi responded unwilling to go into detail.

Kenshin nodded.

Both jumped when Kenshin's phone went off. "Hello."

"Baka Deshi." Hiko's voice responded. "Everything is normal here, Enishi would be a fool to attempt to attack me here."

Hi to you to, Shishio. Kenshin thought darkly, his amber eyes glinting in amusement and irritation. "That is nice to know."

"You will mate the girl as soon as possible." Hiko told him flatly. "The sooner you have her the sooner the Blood Ki is going to be less of a temptation."

"That is not why I am mating her." Kenshin told him firmly.

"It will also increase your powers."

"Again its all a mute point." Kenshin told him. "I am mating her because I am in love with her."

"And you get a few added bonuses." Hiko replied. "If you want to defeat Shishio who has mated with Yumi then you had better do so soon. The Blood Moon grows."

Kenshin sighed when Hiko hung up. "And such a loving person."

Aoshi calmly sipped his tea.