Disclaimer: Don't own it!

Apology accepted

Kaoru's POV

I opened my eyes… 'Where am I?' everything was dark… I blinked once, twice and then I finally started to focus the things around me. Out of the blue I realized that I was laying down on something cozy and soft and then I realized there was a lump, no wait… two lumps at the ends of my… bed.

I don't remember ever sitting up so fast, especially not after waking up! Worst… I jumped of the bed not worrying about the two sleeping silhouettes who, by the way woke up in the moment.

"My room…" I whispered "I missed this so much…" blindly I walked to where I knew the light switch was.

As soon as I switched the lights on…

"Kaoru…" a trembling voice said "Kamiya-sama she's awake! Our Kaoru is awake…"

I swirled around… my heart was beating fast 'Was it all just a dream? Was… Kenshin just a dream? Am I so unlucky that I'm bound to dwell in madness and suffering?'

Moments later I was crushed into Nana's sweet and strong hug. Even though I didn't mean to, a couple of tears ran down my face.

"I missed you…" I whispered. "I missed all of this…"

A loud but discreet cough was heard in the background.

"Otou-san… I…" my head was downcast.

"It was nice to see you again Kaoru-chan… I'll be outside…" Nana-san got out the room with a bow.

The room was filled with silence, an uncomfortable one by the way…

"Otou-san… I…" I couldn't bring myself to look at him… to face him… to begin with I didn't even know what to tell him… 'How did I end up in my room?'

Slender, cold and trembling fingers lifted up my chin, I closed my eyes shut "I'm sorry… Kaoru-chan…"

My eyes snapped open in shock and even more when I felt two strong arms around me…

"I'm sorry for everything…"

The tears that ran down my face slowly began running down with more and more intensity, I was crying…

I don't know for how long I cried but after a while his voice was heard again.

"I shouldn't have done what I did… all this years…" I lifted up my head, he cleaned my tears and motioned me to sit with him on the room sofa "Foolishness of mine… and now you're leaving…" my eyes snapped wide open 'How could he know?'

My father looked at me gently "Oh yes… your mother made it clear… you're going back…" I chocked, he patted my back lightly "Your mother always knew how to take care of you. I'm sure you're going to be happier from now on."

"Otou-san…how could you know?"

"You see Kaoru-chan it may be strange to other people… but I'm not one to hallucinate even if I'm at loss." for the first time in many years I saw a true glimmer of happiness in his eyes "I'm happy for you… besides your mother made it clear that you found someone o really deserves you."

"You mean…"

"Oh… I think he had a few some… ego problems… let's just say he wasn't all that happy when I told him to scram off…" he let out a deep laugh.

There wasn't much I could say… so I said the only thing I thought it was appropriated. "Domo arigatou gozaimasu…" I got up and bowed to him. And I finally felt that I had a father, a real one that cared for me deeply and it hurt more than I had ever imagined thus now I was going to leave him.

"How long do you have here?"

"About one day…" I looked out the window "Maybe less…" my eyes tear up again.

"No, no… it isn't time to cry. It's time to enjoy… let's just go outside, Nana-san has missed you terribly too."

"Does… does she know?" I was almost afraid to ask.

He smiled and nodded "Like I said your mother always knew how to take care of things…"

Normal POV

There was only few time to enjoy the moment… and the three of them did so… they all forgot about past problems and grudges. But not all problems should be forgotten sometimes… On a corner with anger glowing eyes stood one that did not forgot the past.

"Oh but my sweet little Kaoru… you're not going anywhere… not without me! The last time I checked you were "my" fiancé."

Meanwhile in the kitchen…

"Oh! Common! I mean… I'm not that bad of a cooker!" Kaoru laughed embarrassed.

"Of course you're not… you just made the fire alarm actually… well fire 10 times… and let us not talk about the time when you prepared lunch without setting fire to anything but managed to food poison us…" Kaoru's father said playfully.

Both women were amazed at how much he remembered although he always seemed to be so cold and uncaring.

Kaoru smiled sweetly "Ok… you guys bake the cake! And make it a surprise one! I'll go see the dojo. Maybe train a little. Don't take long." She was starting to feel the need to be alone and digest everything that had happened in the past two hours.

She entered the dojo she was so well acquainted with. She took a deep breath…

Kaoru's POV

'Gosh… this feels so good…' it felt just like back… with them… Kenshin and the Seta's… 'I miss them…' I closed my eyes and blindly walked to where I knew the family katana was. I opened my eyes and picked it up… 'It remembers me of you so much Kenshin… so much… it almost hurts…'

As I pulled the blade out of its sheath and heard the soft murmur of the cold blade against the old fabric of the sheath I couldn't help but to close my eyes and remember 'you' again… 'Damn you… you… stupid oroing Himura! Will you even understand what I'm leaving behind for you…? Will you!'

With slow motion movements I remembered the katas I had watch him do several times, at night… sitting, hidden on a dark corner.

Suddenly I felt something wasn't right and did something I did not have the conscience I could ever do… I attacked the presence which had just entered the dojo.

"One more step and you'll know the pain of death Atsu Fuyaki…" I don't know what in hell possessed me to say something like that… worst I didn't even understand why I had reacted that way nor how I had known it was him!

"Tsk… tsk Kaoru… I know very well you don't have the guts for that sweetheart…" I was petrified at the sound of his voice… I hated him… I hated him so much… it made sense now why I'd reacted that way… 'I've been around the 'Battousai' for too long… I guess…' I thought with an inner smile…

This was my big error… as I let down my guard he took profit of the moment and unarmed me… 'Oh my… Kenshin would be very disappointed with this…'

"Get your filthy paws of me…" it was sickening the way he put his arms around my waist.

I felt his breath against my neck and just wanted to get away… it was almost as if it burned me… and then he talked… no… more like whispered viciously letting his lips brush against my skin…

"Why Kaoru… that's not how a lady is supposed to act you know?"

"If you don't let go of me right now… I'll scream…"

"Oh no you won't…" and he did just what I had expected him to do… the mistake of putting his hand on my mouth.

With all the guts I could muster I bit his hand until I felt it was bleeding and then screamed "OTOU-SAN!"

Normal POV

The scream was heard and very well heard on the kitchen… both adults left the cooking has quick as they could and ran to the dojo…


Quick note:

I didn't put it in the beginning cause I knew you guys were too anxious to read the chapter and would just skip it… l0ol well anyway… I'm sorry if it took longer that it should have… it's just that my week has been a complete crap… my grandmother is in the hospital, my brothers with the blues, my mothers full of work and getting real depressed… hell even my dog got sick… so I'm sorry if this chapter's not as good as it should be… but it was really hard to write it just as it is…

I hope you enjoyed it… and once more I'm really sorry

4rt3m1s

Ja ne!