Disclaimer:

I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Summary:

She thought he was in love with another girl, when he realized that he was in love with her. This is a story of how a man falls in love with the best friend and how he will do everything to make her realize what he feels for her is true.

Note:

Four years have passed. Shinta is now Kenshin and is now in love with Tomoe. Kaoru in the meanwhile, you will learn something… little hints in the beginning.

(",)(.")(,")

I'll make you… Chapter 1: Together again…

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"You'll write back also, neh?" he asked.

"Of course. And you'll write everything and keep nothing from me, neh?" she countered as she squeezed his hand in assurance.

"Of course. And you'll never forget me, neh?" he squeezed her hand back in promise.

"Why would I?" she asked and so they ended their day with Shinta walking her home.

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At least they wouldn't loose touch. She promised to write to him as soon as she learned how to mail a letter or let her parents mail it for her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Shinta,

Oops… I mean Kenshin.

Dear Ken-chan,

Ohayo! I still don't know how to mail a letter… But hey! At least I know how to start one, neh?

And I'm still not used to your new name. Funny huh? Since it has been four years now. But though you may tire of hearing or should I say reading this from me, the name kind of suits you now. I mean Kenshin is better suited for a kendoist (is this right?). Not that I don't like the name Shinta. I like both names, really. Oh well… I think I'm going off course.

Before I do that, you know, my friend came back. Too bad I didn't get to introduce (that's the spelling, neh?) you to each other. Hah! For a nine turning ten-year-old kid, I would just have to say "I'm not half bad" bwahahaha! (at writing a letter I mean.)

Either way, my friend's name is Shogo (he helped me write this letter… he is looking over my shoulder now… and he is patting my head, grr). He is about as old as you, I think (because I don't know your age exactly). He's ten years old and his hug is as strong as yours.

He is strong and so are you. So don't you forget that!

Dad has now, started training me in the next level of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Oh, did I tell you about that? Hmm, oh well, I'm telling you now. I am the proud heir of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, a kendo art that dad made. You know what dad first taught me? He told me that the code of our art is that 'the sword protects'. I am so proud to carry this art on.

What else? Ah! Oh yes, I almost forgot. My mom's also teaching me to cook. I think I did pretty good, although Shogo won't be seeing me for awhile. Something's wrong with his stomach he said. I think he is sick. I wonder why? There was no rain and he had no other food than my cooking… oh no, do you think it was my cooking?

Oh no, I'm a terrible cook! Wah!

Oh well… how about you?

But wait, I think I forgot something else… hmm, oh yeah! Grandma and grandpa got me a camera. I'm learning how to take pictures. You know, it's not as easy as I first thought it was. I mean, you don't just need a view. You need to find the proper lighting, angle and such if you want the picture something 'not boring' that when you look at it time and time again, you won't tire. That is what every photographer tries to achieve. Well, that is what I think in my opinion.

What do you think?

When I'm good enough, I'll start my first real roll. Not those practice shoots. And I'll send you copies if you want. Hey! Maybe one day when we see each other I'll take your picture and you can keep it.

Wow, now looking back at what I had written, I'm doing a lot of stuff. Mou, but it's fun. You know, 'I'm going to live every day of my life as if it were my last.' Nice quote, neh? I got it from an anime. Now, what was it's title again?… oh yeah, Gatekeepers. You know, watching really passes time. Sigh, tv, such a nice invention. I wonder how my parents ever lived without it. I mean can you? I for one cannot! It's –it's just not right.

Oh look at this, I've already filled the paper with nonsense and it's in ink. Oh well, you won't mind would you? Tell me as soon as you get this…

Write soon…

Your wart-free friend,

Kaoru

P.S. I know I am forgot something. Oh well, I'll tell you as soon as I see you.

He looked at the letter and when he finished he carefully folded and put it back in its envelope.

He sighed. Four years had already passed and she was still the same child-spirit he came upon. He looked over at the wall of his godfather's dojo, where an extra bokken hang. It was a bokken that he got for Kaoru when he received the letter some weeks… and weeks ago. But then he tilted his head in deep thought. Now, what did she mean by 'as soon as I see you?' could it be… nah…

Sometimes, she could be just so confusing. He shook his head and went back to training. A thousand strokes for this afternoon and then after that he had to prepare dinner, clean the bathhouse, and feed the fishes at the pond.

He stopped long enough to take a deep breath and then resumed in his training. It's going to be a long day.

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A week has passed when she last set foot on land. Most has been spent on traveling and she never really found time to plant her feet on the ground and just feel it. Now that the ship had stopped she relished the sight that greeted her.

She took a deep breath of the earthly smell of her homeland and with that she ran down the steps and onto the baggage counter where she waited for her parents to arrive.

"Kaoru darling, be careful. Remember -," a flustered beautiful woman said as she approached an over eager bouncing ten-year-old, who only looked at her with a glint of excitement in her eyes.

"I know, mom. Don't worry. It doesn't hurt anymore," with that she continued to wait for their luggage to be presented in the conveyer belt.

Her mother was about to comment again when a large hand clutched her comfortably at her shoulder. The woman turned to face her husband.

"She'll be fine. She said so herself," he comforted. The woman can only give in to the little hope given by her husband and child. With that they turned to look at their only child who was practically jumping off her skin. She was practically excited to say the least. Who wouldn't after all longing to return home after extensive tests and training as well as school at a foreign country.

But now, she was home and that was what mattered.

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Kenshin wearily took his shoes off and entered the house. After fixing his things he went immediately to the kitchen to make his and his godfather's or should he say shishou's dinner. This has become a routine for over a year now and yet he couldn't feel that something was going to happen. He shook the feeling off.

Ever since he took on the sword and his godfather as his teacher he was to call him shishou. Not that it mattered, at least he was not going to be defenseless anymore… and he would definitely have more face to show to his Tomoe.

He blushed as he thought of her as his own. Of course, she wasn't. She was Akira's likewise Akira was hers. He sighed. He just wished that she would give him a chance to love her. He would make her happy that indeed he would.

After finishing cooking dinner, he prepared the table and then he went to his room. There he plopped himself on his bed and looked over at his table. There he saw Kaoru's letter. It had been some time since she last wrote to him. Two weeks had almost passed and still no letter.

I wonder if she has forgotten me? He shook his head at the thought. She never would do that even at the time when he couldn't write to her for a year because he had nothing to say nice about his life because he didn't want to burden her, she still wrote to him faithfully every week since they parted. Why should she stop now?

He got up as he heard his shishou coming home. He went down and greeted him. Most days his shishou would give a nod to acknowledge him but right now he was just looking at him.

Kenshin began to fidget under his gaze. His shishou was not a bad man. H only had trouble at showing his emotions, not to mention that he was overbearing and cocky. But then he had a right to be since he has never been wrong, not that it helped matters.

"Pardon?" Kenshin said as the sound of his shishou's voice broke his train of thoughts. His shishou rubbed his temple and sighed.

"I said baka deshi, to prepare an extra plate. We are going to have a visitor…" with that he made his way up the stairs. But before Kenshin could go and do his bidding, his shishou looked back at him and scrutinized his clothes. "And wear something presentable." He turned and left.

Kenshin only shrugged. As he was fixing up an extra plate he couldn't help but wonder at who would be their guest.

Kenshin wasn't that popular and he had no real friends at school. His shishou… he didn't know much about him as he thought. His shishou was kind of distant though he did know some powerful and influential people. Who could be their guest?

After he set the table, he went to his room and changed.

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Kaoru skipped happily down the lane she had come to know so well for the pass week. She giggled.

I wonder what he will think? Should I have told him I've come?… She rubbed her chin in thought and then smiled. Nah! It would be fun to surprise him. Hmm… I wonder if he remembers what day it is? He should. But then there might be the possibility he has forgotten… She stopped and then she shook her head. How can anyone forget? Nah! He remembers. He should. If not, well, at least I'm here to remind him now.

With that she continued to make her way to Kenshin's house.

She looked up and saw Kenshin's godfather opening the gate. Sensing her he glanced her way and gave her a smirk as she returned it with a smile. She approached him and bowed.

"Give him fifteen minutes," he said and then he left her to wait.

To bust herself, she looked herself over at a puddle on the street. She was wearing her loose shorts that looked like a skirt from afar and her favorite sweater. She wore her sneakers and wore her hair in a high ponytail.

Looks like a butterfly but stings like a bee. She sang the line in her head making it a tune. She glanced in her watch at time and instead of giving Kenshin fifteen, gave him instead twenty. She looked at her watch and then made her move to ring the bell.

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Kenshin buttoned down his dark blue polo when he heard the doorbell ring. He ran down and passed by his shishou who was reading a book. He smiled a little. Typical shishou wouldn't lift a finger knowing there will be someone to do the work.

He turned to look at the door and fixed his hair that was in a boy cut. After struggling with his hair, he finally opened the door to which he expected would be their guest.

What he saw perturbed him.

Right in front of him was a girl. A very pretty girl. She had long raven blue hair, which was tied in a high ponytail by an indigo ribbon. She was smiling up at him with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She seemed to be amused at something.

She tilted her head at him and he felt her warm gaze searching him. It seems as if – she were trying to reach me. She gave him a small smile. It was then that he noticed that he was staring at her.

He blinked his eyes and started to blush. Nobody from school came to visit him. Even at school no one approached him. And right now, there was a girl standing before him looking at him as if she knew him. Which maybe she does… Come to think of it she seems familiar.

He shook his head. He was staring at her again. Her smile grew and he blushed some more.

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He closed it and tried again.

"Can I help you, miss?" she giggled in response and then she coughed to straighten herself up. She looked up at him and he couldn't help but be caught by her beautiful eyes.

"Yes indeed… well, at least I hope you will be," she said as she tried to look serious but she failed miserably as she couldn't help but smile at him.

"I will try, miss," he replied as he smiled shyly at her.

"You look so cute when you're embarrassed, you know that?" she said. That must be the most random thing she could have said at the moment, Kenshin thought. He blushed as he scratched his head.

"Umm… I don't know. No one has ever told me," he admitted as he chuckled shyly.

"Well you are." With that she looked at him. He felt as if he were the only thing in the world. How come she makes me feel this way so? Never has someone looked at him and made him feel special like she was doing right now.

He was a little shocked as she stepped forward and touched his cheek. But he soon recovered. He stood there just looking at her looking at him warmly. He felt himself warm up to the unknown girl before him.

She reached out with her other hand and cupped his face gently in her tiny hands. He reached for her hands and held them there. She pulled him closer and he wondered what she was going to do.

He blushed when she tiptoed to meet his face. He blushed some more as he realized that she was going to kiss him. Him. Me. He closed his eyes and felt her kiss him on the nose.

He opened his eyes to see her smiling up at him with her hands now wrapped around his shoulders. He moved his arms down to her waist.

"So what can I help you with, miss?" he blushed as he realized that a girl had kissed him and she let him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"I believe you already had," she replied as she gazed at him fondly.

"Oh?" he questioned. She nodded.

"I came around the neighborhood… well, it took a bus and walked down from the bakery downtown to get here, you know the drift. Anyway, I came to look up on a friend of mine. I think you know him," she said mysteriously. Kenshin took the bait as he wrapped his arms around her waist bringing the ten year old close.

"I would?" she nodded.

"He's about your height. Your same kind of build. He has red hair and warm violet eyes that lights up just like yours. And it changes to blue or amber depending on his current mood." Kenshin was a little confused. Is she describing me?

"And he is fourteen as of today. It's his birthday you see and his name is Kenshin Himura though I used to call him Shinta," she finished. Kenshin's eyes grew wide. It was indeed his birthday, how could he have forgotten. He looked down at her. And how could she have known his old name… then he realized…

"Kaoru?" he whispered. She smiled. He smiled back. With that he gathered her in his arms and hugged her tight.

"Kaoru." She giggled.

"Yes, that's my name so don't wear it out," she said as she patted his head.

"Happy birthday, Ken-chan," as he heard her he buried his face into her hair. Jasmine.

"Little Kaoru." After that their warm moment was disrupted with Kenshin's shishou calling them for dinner. They went in and caught up with old times. Kenshin's shishou smirked as he saw his pupil become open more than he had been in the years he had taken care of him.