Disclaimer: Don't own RK.

A/N: I love you, reviewers! You make my day!

StormHornet – Indeed, forbidden fluff… LOL! But yeah, I suppose Aoshi/Kaoru stuff is cuter than Ken/Kao. And – WHAT? You're reading the Last of the Sky Pirates! OMG! I love you!

The Blue Sakura – Yay! I shall update soon!

battosaichick – I agree completely. Silly Misao! –grumbles-

Recap –

I twirled up the stairs in a daze, and Yahiko narrowly missed a collision. I

ran into my room, very happy. Or I was, until I saw Mina's face. By now she had

awoken, and she was very angry with me.

Before The Dawn – Chapter 6

"Evening, Kaoru-sama," Mina said, trying to be pleasant. "Come here you little-" Mina ran over and grabbed my arm. "I dislike you so very much," she said through gritted teeth.

"Mina, let go!" I cried. "I just experienced true happiness! Now let go!"

"No. What did you do? How did you get me to fall asleep? How did you get me fired? You sent me to sleep and I wake up hours later to discover I have done none of my work! Your father fired me!" She glared at me. "I need this job! It is the only way I can," she lowered her eyes to the ground, "never mind. How did you send me to sleep? Tell me!" realization sparked in her eyes. "Wait! You are a sorce-"

I covered her mouth. "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. But you just ruined my night of happiness and please – escort yourself out." I glared at her. Extreme dislike was not a pleasant feeling, however.

Mina began walking out, suddenly silent.

Suddenly I felt bad. And for good reason too. She obviously really needed this job, and it was my fault she got fired. I was just really mean to her because I had been walking on air a second ago. I had been mean to her from the start, just because Sakura left. "Mina," I called.

She turned around and I saw, to my surprise, that she was crying.

"Mina, I'm sorry. I was really mean to you from the start because my old maid had been my handmaiden for such a long time. I'm really sorry." I lowered my head, ashamed. "I-"

Mina spoke up. "Apology not accepted. The whole reason I need this job is because my son is a foolish man, and got himself hurt in a fight. I need money to fund his recovery."

"Oh…" I did not raise my eyes. "I'm really sorry. I did not know."

"Right from the start, I tried to be nice to you. But no, you were all, 'My maid blah blah blah,'" Mina said, mimicking me.

"Well, to help fund your son, I can tell my Father that it was my fault you slept and get your job back."

"No thanks."

"I'm not taking no for an answer, Mina."

"Well that is just tough, Kaoru-sama," Mina exclaimed, her head held high.

I just noticed, Mina looked at tad like my friend Rei. Same brown hair, same green eyes. Despite the fact that my friend Rei is a boy.

"What is your son's name?" I inquired.

"His name? His name is Rei," Mina said, sniffing. "He is a foolish boy."

"Your last name – it wouldn't be Komo, would it?" I asked.

"Why, yes, it is. Do you know my son?" Mina asked, a light in her eyes.

"Well, we have met once or twice." I didn't include that time her asked if I would have liked to go to dinner with him. "He seems very nice, Komo-san."

Mina smiled. "You know my son. I don't believe it. You see, I left my home for three years to help with the injured in Shiro. They are having trouble with bandits-"

I choked.

Mina looked at me, "yes, bandits. They were also having a problem with this man who calls himself Daemon."

"W-would you like me to persuade Father to give you your job back?" I asked. "Either that, or I can give you some money."

"Thank you for your generosity, Kaoru-sama, but Rei and I are moving."

"Sou ka," I said quietly. "Sayonara, Mina. I'm sorry."

"I suppose it is forgiven. I never wanted to be a maid, anyway. Sayonara, Kamiya-dono," Mina said, and walked out the door.

And I went back to floating on air. I sat on my bed and pulled out my diary.

Dear Diary, I wrote.

I wrote up the events of the evening in my diary, then yawned and closed my book. Then I stuffed the book under my bed and got into my yukata. I immediately fell asleep.


The next morning I headed down to breakfast, smiling. Tomoe greeted me, still yawning. Yahiko blushed and looked down into his miso soup.

"Where is Sanosuke?" I asked, sitting down next to Tomoe. "Is he awake yet?" I stared at the soup hungrily, but we could not eat without Father.

"Where is Sanosuke, indeed!" Tomoe laughed. "I bet he is still sleeping!"

Just then Father strode in.

"Ohayo, Father!" Tomoe bowed her head.

Father took no notice of her. He stared angrily and me and asked, "Who was that man yesterday?"

"Man?" Tomoe swiveled around. "A man? Who was it?" her eyes sparkled, "Was it Himura Kenshin?"

"Himura Kenshin? That swordsman? That was who it was?" my Father seemed extremely annoyed. "Why were you walking together in the dead of night? Why did you kiss him?"

"You kissed him?" Tomoe exclaimed.

"Because I invited him to go to the Temple of Kurai with Misao, Aoshi and I. A troubling thing happened and he walked me home. Besides," I muttered, "it was only on the cheek that I kissed him."

"Damn," Tomoe mumbled.

My Father stayed silent.

Tomoe grabbed my hand and pulled me up and out of the room. In the hall, she asked me, "You love him, ne Kaoru-chan?"

"Neechan…" I grumbled.

"Oh, just tell me, Kaoru-chan!" Tomoe urged.

"Fine. I… fine. I love him."

Tomoe clapped her hands like a small child. "Oh! That is so wonderful, Kaoru-chan! He loves you too, right?"

"I… I guess. Hai, he does." I smiled softly, closing my eyes in a peaceful manner. "Let us go finish our Miso soup, onegai."

"Hai." Tomoe grinned. We walked into the room to find Father's stern face, Yahiko's hair, as he was looking into his soup, and Sanosuke's yawn. We sat ourselves down, and I felt Father's gaze at the side of my face.

"Mornin', Jou-chan. Mornin' Neesan." Sano's cheerful manner took the weight of my Father's gaze off me.

"Ohayo, Oniichan," I said softly. All throughout the meal I could hear Tomoe's polite conversation, Sano's slurping and my own quiet answers. When I had finished, I stood up and excused myself.

I was leaving the room when Father's voice rang out in a now near silent room, "I trust you are not going to see Himura."

I resisted the urge to snap and – for the first time in my 17 years – yell at my Father. To say things like, 'Just because you are a lord you do not have to be so rude!' and 'I am sick of you yelling at me and Tomoe and Sanosuke! Why can't you just relax – we are normal people! We make mistakes! Can you deal with it?' But no. I would not. "No, Father," I took a deep breath, "I am going to see Soujirou-kun."

TBC…

A/N: Hmm… what's Soujirou's part in this twisted tale? Stay tuned, and you'll find out! Review please!