Author's Note: Hey guys! I am not dead of this much I assure you. I am terribly sorry for the whopping Year (I can't believe it either) since this story was last updated. I am not getting into the details as I know you don't want to hear excuses. I hope you enjoy this chapter, even though it will be more serious to begin with. I am going to try and write another chapter soon after this one gets posted. My goal is to have this story finished by the end of my summer break. Wish me luck! Feel free to yell at me for the delay in updates too…I know I deserve them!

Thanks to Lady of Contradiction for the necklace idea! I hope you like how I used it!

Disclaimer: As usual, I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. The plot is mine though!

Previously on BTSHOH:

Megumi's thought pattern was interrupted when a small child was brought into the clinic with a broken leg. His father explained that the boy was climbing one of the sakura trees, then fell and landed wrong.

'This is going to be a long night.' "Right this way. It looks like a compound transverse fracture. I will need to set it, clean it, and stitch the skin closed too. After I finish, I will mix up some herbs that prevent infection of the area, and promote healing. You will need to apply to his leg twice a day. But, right now I need him in an exam room."

With that last comment, Megumi began working on the child. Little did she know this would not be her last case of the night, and that a certain someone was watching her from his futon through half lidded eyes with utter fascination.

Chapter Nine: Conclusion of the Sakura Matsuri Festival Part One
With Kenshin and Kaoru:

The group had long since split up and gone their separate ways, but it took Kenshin and Kaoru a moment to notice one thing. Their group conveniently left the two of them alone together. This realization and the accompanying unease struck them both into silence for a few moments before one of them recovered.

Kenshin decided to say something to break the noticeable tension, and chose to ask a question in order to do this. After all, questioning is a relatively stress free and easy way to start a conversation.

"Kaoru-dono, what would you like to do first tonight?"

To this, the teenager thought for a moment before she replied with "I don't know. The girls and I already looked at everything artistic. What do you say to walking around and looking for something to do?"

"That sounds like a great idea to sessha, de gozaru yo." Kenshin stated as he nodded.

Both turned so they were no longer facing one another, but instead facing down the corridor they intended to walk along. As they walked, they remained silent, content to simply enjoy the other's company as each reminisced.

Kaoru was lost in her memories of coming to the festival with her parents when they were still alive and noticed that many of the same activities present at this festival were there when she was younger too. She remembered all the activities that she participated in with her parents, and the ones that they watched her play. She then remembered the few times Dr. Genzai had taken her as well. With a wistful smile on her face, she thought how much she had missed this festival in the few years since she had become too old for Dr. Genzai to take her. As they continued to walk, her mind took her back to how the streets were set up, the conversations she had, and any other detail of festivals past that was particularly memorable.

On the other hand, Kenshin was busy taking in the sights while he scouted for potential threats. In over ten years he had not been to a single festival as he was always too busy with odd jobs or traveling to keep track of when and where festivals were. Other than that, on the nights he could have gone he decided there was no reason for him to go out and terrify the population out of having a good time. Besides, he felt he had no reason to celebrate. He had been a manslayer after all, and that profession cast him out of a normal life and in his mind the human race. He had even killed his own wife; therefore he was not worthy to celebrate with normal virtuous and law-abiding Japanese citizens.

'Funny,' he thought, 'this is the first time since Tomoe's death that I have gone to a festival, and it's with Kaoru I am spending my time.' This thought caused him to draw his lips into a taught line as he narrowed his eyes. The thought of Tomoe brought on a fresh wave of pain and other memories that he had been trying to suppress for a long time.

Kaoru almost instantly noticed the change in his ki and looked over to see his face go from relaxed to almost painful or angry. She questioned this change of course. "Hey Kenshin what's bothering you? Is there someone here we should be wary of?"

To her questioning her merely retreated behind his rurouni mask while putting up both hands that began making a waving side to side movement. "Nothing is wrong Kaoru-dono, de gozaru yo. Have you seen anything that you might like to do yet?"

Kaoru realized he was trying to get the attention off of himself, so she played along. Eyeing the stands, one caught her attention. "Hey Kenshin, let's go look at this one!" she exclaimed before grabbing his sleeve to tug him over with her. The cart that caught her eye was full of shiny items that glistened under the fading light of the sun, making them seem like they were beckoning for her to come over and take a look.

Kaoru approached the cart and admired the work for a few moments while the merchant was busy haggling with a potential customer. Almost immediately a necklace in the center of the cart caught her eyes. There on a piece of blue silk lay a simple silver chain with a beautiful pendant. Said pendant was of a sakura tree. This charm had a silver trunk and branches, but its petals were absolutely stunning. They were made of crystal parts that were perfectly shaped and intricately placed. Some petals were of a clear crystal while others were in a light and a dark pink, and interspersed in the mix were silver pieces. The whole work together was extremely delicate and ornate with each stone expertly placed. It was a work of true beauty and Kaoru couldn't take her eyes from it.

After a few more moments of admiring the piece, she moved on while telling herself that she need not hold Kenshin up any longer or waste her money on something she may wear only once or twice. Besides, it would probably get in her way during practice and if it broke she would feel terrible.

Kenshin however did not miss where Kaoru was looking, and quickly decided to catch the merchant's eyes. With a quick exchange of whispered words and a few yen that Kaoru missed, the merchant agreed to hold the necklace until the end of the night. Kaoru had walked off a few moments before the exchange was completed, but Kenshin easily caught up to her. They continued their walk in silence yet again.

After a small amount of time had elapsed, the pair came up on an event map located in the center of the street. Deciding it wouldn't hurt to look, Kaoru made her way over to it. Kenshin was quick to follow and soon they were side by side looking at all the different things to do.

'I wonder what activities the both of us would enjoy? Or maybe there's a good place to buy a sugary treat?' Kenshin thought as he continued his search.

That's when Kaoru startled him out of his thoughts with a loud but excited "I got it!" Noticing that her outburst had disturbed her companion, she made a quick apology before saying in a softer tone, "I think I have the perfect thing to do! There's a kendo competition going on a short time from now, and it's just at the end of this corridor. If we hurry, we should make it in time." That said, Kaoru began power-walking down the street.

That was until she noticed she had left Kenshin behind. With this, she stalked back to where he was plodding along and grabbed his sleeve with a huff. "Come on Kenshin! If we keep walking at this rate, we'll never make it before the event!" To her rough treatment, Kenshin let out a startled "Oro!" before letting himself get dragged along.

Swordsman now in tow, Kaoru made much better time to the large ring set up to house the activity.

'I just hope Shisho doesn't show up tonight that I do.' Kenshin thought while practically being dragged.

Just as they approached the podium to register, the slim figured man behind it bellowed, "Last call for participants in tonight's kendo tournament! Sign up now or be content to sit back and watch!"

The announcement now over, Kaoru realized without even looking back that Kenshin had stopped walking as the sleeve in her hand had gone taught. She turned around to see what was going on and saw he was staring at something. She attempted to follow his line of sight but he gently nudged her back with his hand, in the direction of the podium.

She was just about to question him before he smiled and said "It's nothing you need to be worried about Kaoru-dono. You should register now that you should. If you don't, you will not be able to participate that you most certainly will not."

"You've been saying that all night Kenshin. What is with you tonight? Why can't you tell me?" Kaoru even gave those adorable puppy eyes in an attempt to get an answer out of him.

"I will tell you later that I will." He stated in a firm tone.

With that said, Kaoru made her way to the podium. On her way, she realized with a start that the figure she thought Kenshin had been staring at was familiar but she couldn't remember from where. Before she could figure this puzzle out though, she was asked her name, style of fighting, and weapon of choice by a show steward. This effectively cut her train of thought and she forgot the incident altogether for the time being. She refocused on other things including if she could get Kenshin to join in the competition.

'I wonder if I could convince him somehow to join in the fun. He refuses to spar with me at home, but if we get paired up here then he'll have to fight with me. How am I supposed to get any better if I don't fight someone more skilled than me anyway? Even thought Yahiko has made tremendous progress he still isn't much of a challenge because his skill level isn't close to mine. It probably won't be for awhile.'

'Well, I guess I had better scrap the Kenshin sparring idea because I know he'll say no, no matter what I do. He probably doesn't want to draw attention to himself or to his skills. Yahiko was impressed when he watched Kenshin fight and he had to turn my student down saying that he had no intention of passing his style of swordsmanship on to future generations. No doubt he'd have to do the same to hundreds more people looking to learn his style or become his apprentice. Oh well. But at least he will be watching me to see how much I have improved and that I am capable of defending myself against most opponents.'

The steward once again broke her thoughts with the location of the changing tents so Kaoru could get her clothes and weapon ready for the competition. Kenshin approached shortly after.

"Hi Kenshin!" she exclaimed, "I am going to change and get ready. Will you stay to watch?"

"Of course sessha will Kaoru-dono. I'll be sitting over there where-ever I can find a seat that I will." With that, he pointed in the general direction and Kaoru nodded before heading to the separate tent to go prepare for her upcoming battles.

She finished her task and came out of the tent just in time to see the pairings being posted on the entrance to the ring. She looked and noticed her first competitor was a man who was wielding a bokken as well. The time was whenever the first three matches were over; her fight was the fourth one that evening. After looking all this over, she began scanning the crowd for her red-haired swordsman friend. She found him on the edge of one of the benches near the back with that same familiar figure. Squinting a little while shading her eyes from the light of the sun, she noticed that the figure belonged to none other than Hiko Seijurou.

'Well, I've really gotta' show them what I am made of then!' She thought with a determined look on her face and in her eyes as she gripped her bokken tighter.

End Notes: Sorry this was so short. I will write the fight scenes and show you what was going on with Kenshin and Hiko next time. The next chapter will conclude the festival, and from there I hope to get back to the main plot in the story. Let me know what you thought of this chapter, and feel free to yell at me for not updating sooner!

Personal Review Replies:

Leah Durose: Glad you liked chapter eight! Hope all your finals went well. I admit I hate tests too. I hope you liked the revisions to the chapter; I tried to put more Aoshi and Misao in along with more of what Aoshi was thinking. I was afraid to write him for a time because I wasn't too familiar with his character (and I still am not an expert). Will you let me know if you liked it and what you think still needs to be worked on more?

Lady of Contradiction: Thanks again for the idea with the necklace. Look for more on that next chapter and in the conclusion. That was a great suggestion! Sorry for the long wait, and I hope you liked this chapter too.

Invader Zim: There should be KK fluff later in this story I promise if you were not happy with how I set up their time together. I'm a sucker for a little fluff too!

Night-Owl123: Again, sorry for the terribly long wait for this chapter. I hope you will continue to love this story!

GoldAngel2: I have to say I was extremely excited to see that you reviewed each of my chapters, and that you liked them! That really made my day as I definitely admire you as an author. I am really glad to know you think this story is amusing and that you like my idea to de-sessha Kenshin too. . As for Kenshin, I am not sure if he is going to turn the tables on the group or not. . .only time will tell! Yep, Sano's always been directionally challenged hasn't he? It makes me happy to know you like the way the festival was set up too. And here's a huge thank-you for all your compliments and wonderful reviews! I hope to hear from you again!

enchantedsleeper: Kenshin will ask in the next few chapters I promise. I bet Misao is enjoying the game and I am pleased to know you are too! I don't know how I am going to convince Aoshi to say the word, but I guarantee he will in due time. The concealer in chapter seven I know was a bit far fetched as I am not sure that they had it back then but I imagine it's more like a powder. Hope you got your fill of Kenshin and Kaoru in this chapter, though they will take the spotlight again in the next chapter too. And as for chapter eight, Aoshi should spar with Misao I agree. That's Sano for you too, right to the sake! Hope you liked this chapter and I hope to hear from you soon!

'Til next time!

Ladysword04