Kaoru cried into his Haori, her sobs shaking them both as he held her close to his heart.

"It's alright. I'm here. I promise i won't leave you. Ever." He promised, making her look up at him. "I'll always come back to you." he said, smiling his best Ruroni smile.

"Kenshin, you jerk. You'd better." Kaoru's voice was still throaty and hoarse from crying, but it held a sense of relief and laughter.

"You haven't eaten, have you kaoru-dono?" Kenshin's voice was stern, as if scolding a child.

She shook her head.

"Kenshin.." Aoushi's voice startled them both.

Kenshin looked over his shoulder at the black haired man. Everyone else stared as well. Aoushi had actually called him Kenshin. Surprised, yet not, kenshin stood. Helping Kaoru up, he stood beside her, his slender form swaying from exhaustion and dizziness.

Aoushi noticed this, just a little too late. Kenshin collapsed, but instead of Aoushi catching him, Tien did.

everyone stared at the man that held his nephew.

"You thought his speed came just from his swordsmanship? It's in his blood." Tien said, grinning as he set down the bowls of miso soup. "Like cooking and his great looks."

Laughing, Yahiko tasted the soup and grinned. "It's even better than Kenshin's cooking!" he exclaimed, digging in without waiting for the others.

Shaking his head, Tien sat next to Kaoru who was feeding Kenshin. Kenshin was surprised by his own weakness, much less his own inability to lift his arms.

"It's very good, that it is." kenshin agreed between mouthfulls of the tasty liquid. "Kaoru-dono, you should eat." He said.

"kenshin no baka. You can't even lift yourself after you nearly killed Tien. Just let yourself be cared for for once." She said, hitting him softly over the head with the spoon.

Sighing, he resigned himself to her loving care. if, for now.

"Yuushi will come for the rest of us now." Aoushi said, shattering the relaxed atmosphere.

"Well, what can we do?" Sanouske asked, looking at the two red haired men.

"We attack back." Kenshin said. His voice had changed back to that of the battosai.

"What!" Kaoru shreiked, standing abruptly, knocking over the bowl of soup she had been feeding Kenshin into his lap. immediately, she was trying to clean the still steaming liquid off of his lap. (Poor kenshin.)

"Yeah!" yahiko grinned, standing.

"Sit down, kid. You need to stay here and protect the dojo." Sanouske said, pulling the boy toward the floor.

"Don't call me kid!" Yahiko yelled, biting Sanouske's head.

Kenshin, Tien, and Kaoru laughed, even Aoushi smiled.

When Yahiko was subdued, he began gathering the dishes.

Suddenly the room went quiet, kenshin, Sanouske, Tien, and Aoushi sensed the presence of a fighter.

"Shinomori!" Came a yell from outside.

"Stay here, Kenshin." Aoushi said, rising. (Like Kenshin had a choice)

Sanouske and Tien followed Aoushi to the door. Kaoru looked at Kenshin worriedly. "it's saito." Kenshin said quietly.

"Shinomori!" He yelled for the shinsengumi leader. A whole family had been killed, and another was found massacred a few hours ago. With kenshin gone the only hope he had of equal help was Aoushi. And the Wolf knew he needed help.

When the shorter man came out, followed by Zanza, Saito told them to follow him inside as he waked brisquely into the dojo.

They tried to stop him and he breezed past them, walking into the only place he knew where he wouldn't be overheard. He started at the appearance of the red haired man, thinking it to be kenshin at first, but then noticing the major differences in eyes, face, height, intensity. Plus, this man wore no sword.

"I need to discuss something with you, Shinomori.." He started as soon as they got into the main training area.

then he saw Kaoru sitting closely to another red haired man. At first he thought it another look-alike, then he caught the aura.

He stared closer at the man on the floor that did not rise when he came into the room.

Cross scar on his left cheek, violet and gold specked eyes, long-ish flame red bangs, Fusha Gi and Hakama.

He felt his eyes widen as he backed away. "You're dead!" He heard his own voice croak. Then the floor came up to meet him.

Kenshin watched in amazement as the feard and respected Wolf of Mibu feinted at the mere sight of him. Kaoru laughed, as did Sanouske and the others. Tien slapped the bigger man on the cheeks, trying to wake him up.

"And we thought rooster head was scared of ghosts!" Yahiko blurted out, laughing hard.

Sanouske hit him with an expertly aimed shoe, making them all laugh harder, even Tien.

Ha! it's even longer than the previous chapter! Yay! And it's the first of six, so expect more!.

Yay! I actually got it right this time!

Sometimes i wonder about you -william.