Kenshin couldn't sleep and, at the moment, couldn't care for sleep any less. With sleep came the nightmares, and with the nightmare came the sudden and jerky knowledge of awakening once more to find that he had sweat through yet another yukata. He was sure that he had called out many times in his sleep and he was amazed by the ability the people in the Kamiya dojo had for sleeping through such things. He was grateful for it though, he had no wish to worry Kaoru, and had no doubt that if she knew she would be very worried. She didn't deserve to be kept up in the middle of the night because he was having nightmares. They were about her anyway, and that was something else she didn't need to know. He could still see it vividly, the scarlet of her blood falling around them like cherry petals, and her small form falling to the ground in a limp and lifeless heap. In the dream, it was his sword that had dealt the blow, just as it had with Tomoe twelve years ago. It had been so many years now since he had settled himself at Kamiya dojo. Two in fact and the friends he had made had matured since then. Kaoru had become older, and with her maturity had come the good looks of a young woman of nineteen years. Sanosuke had become just as matured, though he was already nineteen when Kenshin had net him. Now being twenty-one the very tall man had finally stopped growing, permanently. He had grown a good five inches more over the course of the two years. Yahiko had entered his teens and was now a very proud thirteen. He had many years to grow yet, and Kenshin had a pretty good feeling that he would be taller than himself. Kenshin's gaze shifted to the window and his violet orbs registered that it would soon be daybreak. He sighed and pushed back his covers. He may as well get out of bed, he wasn't going to get anymore sleep. He dressed and then silently padded out of his room, going to the kitchen to start breakfast.

Kaoru made her way to the kitchen, the smell of breakfast drawing her there as though she hadn't eaten for months. She had no doubt that it was Kenshin in the kitchen making food. Sanosuke was too lazy to make breakfast and Yahiko was still in bed at this hour. She slid the shoji screen opened and greeted Kenshin cheerfully.

"Ohayou Kenshin!" He turned and smiled at her.

"Ohayou Kaoru-dono!" He greeted in return. He put some rice into a bowel and handed it to her along with some chopsticks. She accepted the food gratefully and began eating as soon as she sat down. She watched as Kenshin sat across from her, eating as well.

"Yahiko and I are going to another dojo to train today, would you like to come with us?" She asked, trying to make conversation. She knew that Kenshin didn't enjoy going to other dojos much, but he usually complied anyway to get out of having to go to the market to buy food. She saw him consider it and waited patiently for his answer.

"This one will come today Kaoru-dono." He answered.

"Good." She smiled at him. Kenshin seemed very far away though, his usually very alert eyes distant. He was daydreaming again. Kaoru smiled and shook her head, her round face scrunching into an even deeper smile. She decided she would let him stay like that for a while. She got up from the table and put her bowl into the wash basin. With that she headed down the hall to get Yahiko up, turning the corners to get to his room and rapping firmly on the door. An annoyed and sleepy mutter drifted through the door, the voice of the fast maturing youth cracking. She giggled. Kaoru slid opened the door and walked over to the still half-asleep Yahiko and nudged him in the ribs with her foot. He grunted and rolled over onto his other side. Kaoru kicked him harder this time and swiped his blankets. He rolled convulsively into a ball and shivered.

"Ah...Kaoru!"

"No complaining Yahiko." She told him cheerfully. He sat up, giving her a death glare.

"Hurry up and get dressed, you have to eat before we leave." She told him, turning to leave. "Oh, and by the way...I didn't make breakfast today." She said. His eyes widened and he sprang up out of bed, ripping opened his drawer and flinging out everything he needed. He started to jump into his clothes. Kaoru shook her head, slightly insulted by his enthusiasm at the fact that she had not been the cook. Sliding the shoji shut again she continued down the hall, going back to the kitchen where Kenshin still sat dreaming the day away.

disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters residing within this fic and do not make any profit off of them. All rights are reserved to Nobuhiro Watsuki and Shonen Jump comics