It was now a year later, and Kenshin still hadn't returned. What she had so desperately wanted to tell him was that she was, well, pregnant. She had been close to her due date when he left that fateful day, and had covered her baby's chi with her own, a trick that Kenshin had taught her before he left. His exact words were "While I'm gone, use it to hide from anything you need to". Well, she did! She planned to surprise him with being a daddy once she had given birth, and tell him that it was his. Karou sighed and sadly looked around the empty dojo. Sano and Megumi were together now and she missed their company. Annoying as that witch, and the temper trying ways of the wayward rooster. She even missed the brat! Yahiko lived with Tsumbae now, and she was expecting to hear some news from the two of them... So it was her here all alone, other than her son Ryu. That little sea monkey that she had so carefully hid was growing up fast now, and she still didn't know why she choose that name, but it seemed just right for him. With a rueful eye she glared at the now empty tofu bucket. Time to go to the market. She silently strapped a protesting Ryu to her back and grabbed the bucket, then fixed her obi and hair ribbon. She hadn't been out of the dojo much since Kenshin had left, just getting what she needed at the market and returning back quickly. "Lets see I need tofu, soy sauce…" Karou listed off the items as she walked, loath to take a second trip back to the market if she had forgotten something, and she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings. Only when she heard Ryu begin to fuss did she stop saying her list. She paused a moment, then began to sing softly to him, hoping to calm him. Humming to get the tune started, she sang in a clear soprano,
"Hush my little dragon, it will be okay,
You're not alone, for I am here.
See the cherry blossoms fall so far,
As light as sp-"
But Karou got no further. A rough hand wheeled her about, nearly pulling Ryu off Karou's back and she found herself staring into twin pools of amber, but that's not what made Karou almost faint. It was the same flaming red hair and the large scar that covered one cheek. He had finally come back after a year…Kenshin. As she stared into his eyes, he asked roughly "Where did you learn that song? And who are you?"