Disclaimer: Watsuki-San owns Rurouni Kenshin, not I.

But I do own Kaoru's brother! Kenji: What are you talking about?

BC: I created you, so I own you, I could bring you back to life if I wanted to you know, but you are mine and there is nothing you can say about it MWAHAHAHA!!!

Yahiko: I feel sorry for Busu's brother.

BC: I heard that Yahiko-CHAN!

A/N: I think I have made you guys wait long enough for this chapter, please forgive me for not updating my stories as fast as I used to, you know how life goes sometimes.

Now on with the story!


The dojo had filled with a doubt of ever seeing Kaoru again, though they would never voice that aloud, especially not with Kenshin around. As time slowly edged on he had become dangerously contemplative, and quiet.

Rain had just started to pound softly on the roof at the dojo as the residence all sat eating dinner in silence. It was the first time Kenshin had left his room in the past few days and his presence made some feel tense, maybe it was the fact that he was lost within his own thoughts of retaining the battousai inside of him who wanted out so badly to kill Subaru for what he had did. Though the rain seemed to lighten the mood for some reason, it seemed to bring a message that things were alright.

The silence was killing Kenshin so he spoke up, "Miss Megumi you went to go see Kaoru?" Kenshin asked he hadn't gone back to afraid that the sight of her would break him.

"Ken-san, are you sure this is something you want to hear now?" she asked looking at the anticipating dinner table.

"Yes Miss Megumi," his voice was broken between the rurouni on the inside and the battousai which despite appearances was under control.

"Oh Ken-san, if she ever comes back it would be a miracle. I haven't seen anyone that far gone since..." She stopped, the last time she had seen anyone that far gone was Kenshin, and she didn't know if she should say it aloud.

"Since me?" He finished for her.

"You know what they say Kenshin, you live with a person long enough you start to pick up on their habits..."

"That's not funny Sano," Kenshin said for a second time in the past few days. True as his friends statement may be, it wasn't something he would ever admit to. He stood up and stood over by the door of the kitchen ready to leave.

- - -

Kaoru stumbled her way to the dojo, she still wasn't healed, and with the lack of food and blood in her system she wasn't exactly at her strongest, walking was becoming harder for her. When she was outside the gate she took a moment to think over why she had left, and what was she to say? She knew she had some explaining to do but how much would there be? Would they forgive her?

A great feeling filled the pit of her stomach as she entered the gates, she drug herself further, 'You have to stay awake, don't fall now you have to find him...' whispered a little voice in the back of her mind. Something pulled her towards the kitchen and as painful as it was she made her way there.

The first thing that greeted her as she slid open the Shoji was a very surprised Kenshin who was quick to grab her as she felt her feet slip from under her. She clung to his gi and buried her face into his chest, 'What a nice feeling to feel warmth once again.' She mumbled something that no one could hear.

"What is it Kaoru?" Kenshin grabbed her chin to make her look at him.

Tears stained her face which had been covered with dry blood and dirt. "I'm home."

It could have been her imagination but she swore she could hear Kenshin smile, yes hear him smile. Not on the outside but inside something inside of him was relieved and was able to smile again.

The change was almost unnoticeable but slowly Kenshin's eye's slid back to there normal violet hue as he held his Kaoru safe in his arms.

- - -

Warm light washed over her face she muttered nonsense and snuggled deeper into her blanket. She felt a hand brush a hair from her face. 'I'd know those calluses anywhere.' She cracked an eye open to see Kenshin hovering right above her. 'Too close' she thought and swatted at him involuntarily.

"Kenshin?" She said trying to act innocent, but he saw straight through this and was about to reply as well.

"She's awake?" She heard another voice that she was pretty sure was Megumi, "Sorry Kenshin, I don't care if she is your wife you can't stay in here during the examination..." Kenshin of course protested to leaving Kaoru's side, "I'll get you when we are done." Megumi said fending him off.

Megumi examined her in silence neither said a word both had a silent understanding of what the other was thinking. She dressed Kaoru's wounds and got up to leave but turned around and did something that most never would have expected the doctor to do. She hugged Kaoru.

"You're very lucky," Megumi wiped a tear from her eye; "Not many people could survive what you have gone through, not like that."

"Thank you Megumi." Kaoru smiled as she watched the doctor leave the room, Kaoru looked at her palm and noticed that the wound was stubborn and wouldn't close. 'So this is my punishment is it?' she thought as she looked at the crimson stained cloth that covered it.

Kaoru heard Kenshin walk into the room again, but she didn't look up from her hand as tears started to burn her eyes. She felt him kneel beside her and she couldn't stand it anymore and she wrapped her arms around his middle and began to cry. "I'm sorry,"

Kenshin smiled and stroked her hair. "Shhh," He soothed, "There is nothing to be sorry for my love."

Kaoru shook her head, "I couldn't protect our son, he's gone, and I did nothing, how could you say there is nothing to be sorry for?"

He cupped her face and pulled it level with his so she could look straight at him, "I have never lied to you, and I am not about to start now; There is nothing to be sorry for because Kenji is not dead."

"What do you mean?" She blinked at him confusion swirling in her bloodshot eyes.

"It was nothing more than a trick to deceive you." He tucked a stray hair behind his wife's ear. "He's alive and I am going to get him back, I promise you."

"We" Kaoru said quickly taking a glance down at her hand. Kenshin looked at her as if he were confused, "Don't give me that look we are going to get him back, I failed my son once I will not do it again."

It was no since arguing with her at the moment (not that he wasn't going to try to later). "Alright," She cuddled onto his lap and sighed to show her contentment. "Are you ok?"

"I am now..." She said succumbing to his warmth and falling asleep once again.

- - -

Kaoru awoke again, she found herself under the warm covers of her futon with Kenshin's warm arms around her and his nose pressed lightly against her neck. 'Guess he wants to make sure I don't leave... oh how the tables have turned my love; but don't worry I will never truly leave you.' She moved a little to tell him she was awake.

Kenshin sat up and looked over her. "Is every thing alright?"

"..." Could she say yes? She wanted to but the fact still loomed that her child was alive and in the arms of the one person she would probably rather kill with her own hands first. Though a thought crossed her mind; "Kenshin? Why is every one sitting around here? What about Kenji?"

"Kaoru..." What words could he say? What could be said? "Kaoru... It was Subaru, this was all his doing he kidnapped Kenji,"

"I know that much," She said exasperated, what did Kenshin take her for an idiot? "Why aren't we doing anything?"

"We can't, it's not just an issue of saving Kenji any longer, it's a matter of-"

"Let me guess, saving the country?" She said bitterly, 'I didn't have to be a psychic to figure that one out.' She thought looking into her husbands eyes. "To hell with the country! My child is in the hands of the man who killed my family!"

Kenshin flinched inwardly, 'and I haven't even told her that we have to wait three months...'

"Kenshin... I'm sorry I-I..." He put a hand on her lips to stop her from talking.

"Shhh" he Soothed, "I understand, but everything will be alright, I promise you." He kissed her forehead tenderly.

"Do you?"

"Yes"

That was all she needed to hear and she put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep again. For the first time she could rest without feeling a lingering pain in her heart, as long as she had Kenshin with her she knew every thing would be alright.

To be continued...


A/N: Wow I didn't know I could get so sappy... Kaoru is one sleepy Kendo teacher, but what did you expect, she's no Kenshin, she can't heal that fast.