Chapter 15

By Crystal

Author's Notes: Ugh... I just noticed I forgot about Misao... let's just say she went back to Kyoto. All right? ^^;; Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the chapter! [Chibigreen Tanuki] Yes Soujiro's being an idiot ^^ Oh, and I raised the rating to PG13 cause of the kissing ^^.

*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*

The second the two had gotten back to the dojo, everything was normal. Soujiro had acted like his own even though his brain was full of thoughts, Kenshin was thinking how bad of a liar he was and wondered if he could lie well in front of everyone. He'd have to anyways, Soujiro's life was going to be in danger, and if he didn't keep the secret well and if the others knew, so will the ones that know.

Toshiko was playing along with Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan happily, joined in by Soujiro. Yahiko was doing five hundred swings due to calling Kaoru a busu. Kaoru was counting Yahiko's swings and correcting the ones that weren't perfect and when she wasn't doing that, she was looking at Kenshin. Sano was...well... he was gambling somewhere in Tokyo. Kenshin was doing laundry, scrubbing stains from the clothes and was looking at Soujiro with his fake rurouni smile on. While Kenshin was wearing his rurouni smile, Soujiro was wearing his Tenken smile.

Fortunately, Toshiko hadn't notice the uneasiness in the two men's ki, since she did not know how to sense ki.

Kaoru sighed happily, the old Kenshin was back, his eyes free from the Battousai's amber coloured eyes. Her eyes shifted from the rurouni's form to Soujiro's. 'I can't believe he really is Tenken no Soujiro, the swordsman that almost killed Kenshin. He looks so peaceful right now. Toshiko and him look great together... But... There's something about his smile I can't put my finger on.' Her eyes shifted back to Kenshin and found out immediately what was bothering her from the second the two of them came back in the dojo gates. Both of them, they had identical smiles. Something was wrong and she was sure of it.

Kaoru was curious, she needed to find out, "Kenshin, can you come here for a second? I want to ask you something." She turned her face towards Yahiko, "two hundred more swings, Yahiko-chan."

"Hai, Kaoru-dono." "Don't call me CHAN, BUSU!" Kenshin and Yahiko said at the same time.

Kaoru took her bokken and whacked Yahiko on the head, then signalled Kenshin somewhere where the others wouldn't hear them talking. "Kenshin, what is wrong. I feel Soujiro and your uneasiness."

Kenshin couldn't lie to save his life, but the problem was, this wasn't his life, this was everyone's life, so he tried as hard as he could, "Nothing, Kaoru-dono, sessha was just thinking, de gozaru." Kenshin gave her a smile which betrayed no emotions at all. Kaoru's left eyebrow quirked up, she was not at all satisfied at the answer. "About..." Kenshin started, stating his thoughts.

"Himura-san is thinking about what Saitoh-san told us early today." Soujiro came over and said, giving Kaoru a Tenken smile.

"And what was that?" Kaoru asked.

Soujiro smiled, "About Shishio-san." Kenshin's eyes widened a bit, but immediately went back to his smile, Soujiro was definitely up to something.

Kaoru looked at Soujiro as he was joking around. "Seta-san, I wish you wouldn't joke about Shishio Makoto." She didn't sound too happy.

"All right, I'm sorry, Kamiya-san. It's really nothing important. Saitoh-san was just asking Himura-san about a case a while ago." Kaoru nodded and Soujiro was relieved.

"Kenshin, you could have just told me." Kaoru started walking back to Yahiko. Kenshin looked at Soujiro and mouthed 'Thank you'. Soujiro nodded and walked back to Toshiko.

Dinner was great and now Soujiro was sitting down with his back leaning against the wall back in his and Toshiko's room. Toshiko was washing the dishes with Kamiya-san and Himura-san was probably in his room too. What was he to do? He had to decide now. He can either act normal around Toshiko until the 'Juppon Gatana' come gets him, which won't make Toshiko suspect a thing, or he can either be cold to her. The latter didn't seem too good of an idea, he didn't want to hurt her more than he would have to. And anyways, he did deserve a few days of happiness before he went to spy on his own group... Did he? All thoughts were stopped as he felt Toshiko's ki coming from down the hallway.

As she came in the room, she smiled at him, rolled closed the shoji and sat down beside him. "Soujiro, daijoubu ka? You don't seem too well tonight." She touched his forehead gently to check if he had a fever.

"Daijoubu, Toshiko. I'm just tired today." He gave her a smile and received a hug back. "...Toshiko?"

She pulled back and looked at him, "Gomen nasai... I just don't know what I could do if you ever left me." She said sadly, "You're never going to leave me, right?"

Soujiro was shocked at the question, a month ago, he would've lied to her, but he didn't know if he could right now, but if he didn't, he would put her in risk. "Iie... I'm not going to leave you." He swallowed, hoping she would be satisfied. He looked away for a second and looked back at her. She was blushing, their nose were just inches away.

He felt her warm breath playing on his own lips. And was surprised to see Toshiko close her own eyes and slowly close the distance between them. He could either push him away, but that would hurt her feeling. Or he could do the same as her and worry about everything later. He choose the latter one, for once in his life, he was tired of thinking.

She moved forward slowly, hoping he won't push her away, and was incredibly shocked when her lips touched his. It felt... good. What shocked her even more was when he wrapped his arms around her a pulled her closer.

He felt her soft lips and stuck out her tongue to have a taste of her mouth as he pulled her closer. 'Oh god, I shouldn't have done this.' He thought to himself, but did nothing to stop himself from kissing her. Finally after a few minutes, they broke off.

Before Soujiro could apologize, Toshiko had already spoken, "You don't like me... do you? You regretted it... didn't you?" She tried to keep her voice steady, but her eyes betrayed her. She was scared.

'Damn it, Soujiro. You just Had to pick the latter choice. Why couldn't you have just pushed her away? I'm just hurting you more, Toshiko. You don't deserve someone like me.' But out from his mouth came, "Iie Toshiko, I didn't regret it." And unconsciously gave her a smile which she responded with one of her own, so cheerful. It hurt his heart to think that he would have to leave in three days from now. Maybe even earlier. For all he knew, Saitoh-san could very well deliver him a message that says the Juppon Gatana is looking for him right this second and he will have to leave with them.

He didn't want to leave, not yet. Not when he had just kissed Toshiko like that. Damn it, life wasn't fair. Why did it have to be him, of all people? He wanted to stay.

Toshiko asked curiously, he had only answered her second question, he still didn't answer her first one, and she was determined to know, even if it broke her heart. "...Ano... Soujiro... Do you... Umm... like me?" Then thought to herself, 'there I did it. Please Kami-sama... Let him say yes.'

Soujiro was once again having conflicts in his mind, it was either the truth or not. He might as well say the truth, since there was a chance he might not come back anyhow. They never said who was the Juppon Gatana boss, and if the boss did find out and he was better with swords than he was, then he was certainly dead. And he did not want to die without telling Toshiko his feelings for her. "Iie, Toshiko. I don't like you." He paused for a second and cupped her face in his hands, "Aishiteru..." 'there, I said it. Aren't I glad?'

Without warning, Toshiko threw herself at Soujiro and was crying on Soujiro's shoulder. Tears of joy...

"Daijoubu ka, Toshiko?" He was worried, one minute, she was asking him if he liked her, the next minute, she flings herself at him and starts crying on his shoulder.

Toshiko looked up happily and wiped her tears away with her hands and spoke quietly, "Aishiteru, Soujiro." And embraced Soujiro while he returned the embrace smiling.

Two days had already passed with all the people in the dojo living normally. It was early morning and Kenshin and Soujiro were sitting down enjoying the sunrise like they had every morning since Soujiro had come to move in. They always talked about whatever came to their minds, Soujiro had even told Kenshin about his past. They were sitting there quietly until Soujiro held up his hand and caught a kunai between his index and middle finger with a note attached to it. "This is it..." Soujiro whispered quietly to Kenshin. He nodded and signalled him to open it, he didn't bother looking if anyone was peeking, for he didn't feel any ki that were near them. Soujiro opened it slowly.

'Tenken,

They're coming today, get ready. Someone from Juppon Gatana will give you a note at the dojo and you go where they indicate you to go. If you want to pass a message to Battousai or me while you're spying, ask Chou.

Fujita Goro.'

"Himura-san." Soujiro said. "They came early." Kenshin nodded. "Promise me, take care of her... and the others." Kenshin nodded, of course 'her' meant Toshiko. He had seen the way Soujiro was looking at her lovingly all the time, and she had done the same.

"Soujiro. Good luck. Come back, or Toshiko will be terribly heart broken."

"She will be heart broken within a few hours. I think this is going to be the last conversation we're having alone... until I come back. I'll send you a message once in a while." Soujiro stood up and walked back to his room while Kenshin walked towards the kitchen and began cooking breakfast.

Soujiro sat beside the futon Toshiko was sleeping in and brushed away her bangs lovingly. This would be the last time he would see her asleep in a long while... or maybe forever. Toshiko was a light sleeper and woke up immediately, staring up at the face of his lover. "Ohayou, koishii." He whispered softly.

She raised her eyebrow slightly at the change of name, but replied, "Ohayou, …anata." And smiled at what she had just called him. "Thank god you're never going to leave me..." She mumbled in his chest.

"I would never leave you, koishii. Remember that." Soujiro said quietly and her head nodded. "Anyways, wake up. Himura-san is cooking breakfast. You go help him while I wake up Kamiya-san and Yahiko-kun."

"Hai, anata." She stood up and once she was at the hallway, shouted "Ken-nii! Soujiro told me to help you with breakfast!" Soujiro chuckled to himself. Toshiko had started calling Kenshin Ken-nii sometimes due to Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan.

Breakfast was once again disturbed at the knocking at the dojo gates. Soujiro and Kenshin looked up immediately and told everyone to stay at the table. Kaoru had insisted that they go together and Kenshin had gotten her to stay with a glare from his Battousai eyes. "Stay, Kaoru-dono."

There was definitely something wrong at the way Kenshin had gotten Kaoru to stay, but when they came back, their face was normal and they were acting normal too. Nothing was out of place. When Kenshin was doing his laundry, Soujiro had gone back inside packing, Kaoru was training with Yahiko and Toshiko was in the shower. He had to leave now. It was no problem avoiding Yahiko-kun and Kamiya-san. But he definitely had to say bye to Himura-san. He ran outside and said a quick farewell to the rurouni that wished him good luck, went back in and left the set of new clothes Toshiko had bought for him in Kyoto neatly folded in the middle of the room for memory. She probably didn't want to ever remember him though.

No matter, he turned around and sniffed the scent of white plum one was time, 'Gomen nasai, koishii.' And went out the door farthest away from the three of them and Shukuchi-ed his way right beside them and jumped on the gates and disappeared behind it. Only Kenshin had been able to sense him and had for the I-don't-know-many time wished him good luck and to come back alive.

Soujiro carried his stuff, looking carefree, but was actually very alert to everything that was going on. He travelled onwards to his destination, the Shinjo Shrine [it's made up] having his mind on only two person. The person he loved the most and the most feared assassin in Japan.

Author's Notes: I finished this chapter quickly, but I'll revise it tomorrow morning. Thank you for everyone's review, I really appreciate it! Next chapter will come in a day or two, maybe even three, but no more, I'm pretty sure. Thank you DiaBLo, Shuro, Seta-Yukiko, Chris Kugler, Chibigreen Tanuki, Naomi, L. Sith, Tomoe Ayanami, EK, Magia, Chiki and XenoMark. I'm sorry for anyone that I have missed, you may whack me on the head if I forgot you. ^^

Busu - ugly, hag
Bokken - wooden sword
Shoji - traditional Japanese door.
Daijoubu/Daijoubu ka? - I'm all right/Are you all right?
Kami-sama - God
Aishiteru - I love you.
Koishii - term from husband to wife [no they're not married yet]
Anata - term from wife to husband.
Gomen nasai - I'm very sorry