"Good evening Miss," said a group of young women in unison bowing to Kaoru as she entered her teahouse.

"Good evening girls," replied Kaoru idly.

The group of women went back to their duties, except an older one who went to Kaoru's side and took her coat.

"Is anything wrong Kaoru?" she asked concerned.

"No Tokie. You needn't worry about me. So how is the teahouse doing tonight?" said Kaoru quickly changing her mood.

The old woman didn't ask anymore questions but still looked worried at her once greatest student. They walked together to the rooms of the teahouse saying hello to all of their clients, patrons, and geisha.

When all was said and done Tokie and Kaoru entered a private room in the back reserved for Kaoru's own parties. They sat at opposite ends of the table kneeling on dark silk cushions. The room itself was extravagant; the walls were painted a subtle red with gold phoenixes and dragons glistening in the light. Bonsai plants were a common theme in the room on top of elegantly carved stands with vases, and ancient looking scrolls hung on the wall. This was Kaoru's retreat; her own fantasy turned reality. Simply put Heaven.

A maid came in and Kaoru asked for one bottle of sake and some herbal tea for her older companion.

Tokie still wore a worried look at what Kaoru was going to confess to her, "Kaoru, it'll be best if you tell me what's bothering you."

Kaoru sighed and poured the sake into glass that the maid had set down, "Tokie, can change for the better ever be the wrong path?"

Tokie's face eased at the response; "Does this have to do with your swordsman?"

Kaoru winced slightly, "He's changed so much since he left the mob. Sometimes when I come home at night and I see sake bottles and he's even started cocaine…" Her face darkened, "I wonder if he's still the same man who saved me in Kyoto. Every time I put my trust in him he lets me down." Her tone grew with frustration, " I don't know if he wants to push me away or is crying our for help or…"

It pained Kaoru to say this, she still loved Kenshin and always will, but she didn't know how to help him. She didn't know how to get him to confide in her, release all his turmoil. She'd gladly take all of his pain and make it hers if it would save the love they have for each other.

Kaoru's sapphire depths became dark and the tears wouldn't hold back, "I would like to be alone. Leave."

The maids were the first to exit the room then Tokie got up, "Kaoru, I can't say I know how you feel. But I know you better than you probably know yourself. You can handle worst than this, don't turn your back on him. He needs you more than you think. " And with that Tokie slowly walked out of the room and left Kaoru to give her sorrow to the darkness.

Back at the Himura residence Kenshin had just said his goodnights to Sanosuke who was taking home the two geisha who entertained them that night.

"Maid," he called.

A petite and timid woman quickly appeared in front of him.

"Has Miss Kaoru come in while I had company?"

"No Sir. But a Miss Tokie did leave this note for you." She handed Kenshin a small piece of paper.

It read, 'Himura, don't let it all be in vain.' And that was all.

An uncomfortable silence came over the room. The maid was unsure if she was able to leave until Kenshin gestured her away and walked out to the porch. His face wore a grim expression as he starred up to the cloudless night sky and gazed up at the moon. It reminded him of moonlit the battle in Tokyo. When he saved a young girl from his own foe and still she found love with him despite the danger he put her through. He relived every moment he had with her back in Tokyo, every embrace and every danger, and she was always by his side. How could he forsake her know? He didn't mean to push her away, he just felt

"Please," he thought. "Kaoru don't go. I always loved you."

Kenshin then whispered those last words into the night again. They hung in the air and filled him with guilt. He still loved her, but did she know that? He owed this girl more than he'd given her. He was the reason her life in Tokyo vanished and it was his responsibility to make sure she was happy here with him.

"I love you Kaoru…please forgive me," he said.

Kenshin knelt his head down, his crimson hair shadowed his face, and soft sniffling noises could be heard from the once stoic mob leader. After he sighed and looked up to stars one last time and there he made a silent vow, he would honour the woman how stood by his side after all he's been through, he wouldn't let her sacrifice to have his love be in vain. He loved her more now than he ever did, and it shone in his violet eyes.

"I don't deserve her, but I love her…"

Feeling renewed and with a fresh purpose ahead of him he turned to go back inside and get ready to greet Kaoru when she came home. But as he turned around his eyes met a pair of sapphire eyes with wet diamonds rolling down an ivory face.

"Kaoru…"

Kenshin stood there not knowing what to say or how to apologize and as he took a breath to say something Kaoru jumped in his arms and they both started laughing sincerely for the first time in a long time. Kenshin lifted Kaoru from under her legs as she hung onto his neck; her face still wet from tears of joy and carried her to their room where wordless apologies would be made.

"Master, we've located Himura. He's back in Kyoto, in the company of the woman he saved here in Tokyo," said a man kneeling on the floor of a warehouse.

A shadowy figure looked up from his sword and bloodied cloth to the man that addressed him, "Good, now Himura can pay for what he did to Shishio."

He threw the cloth down to the floor that landed on top of a what could barely still be considered a man's lifeless body, "Get this mess cleaned up and then its off to Kyoto."