Note: Contains stuff about Tomoe's past so here is the warning. I haven't seen the OVA thing yet so this ibfo might be wrong. I got this info off a Rurouni Kenshin fan site so it might not be true or it culd be completely accurate.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Kenshin-gumi or any of the songs.

Performance 8

Kaoru yelled "Again! Come on Yahiko!"

Yahiko replied, "Shut up Buso!"

Kaoru "Buso!" She ran after Yahiko. He received a good beating for that. "Try again Yahiko! Attack me!" Yahiko was about to when a familiar voice was heard.

"Yahiko-kun?" said Tsubame. Yahiko ran to her. He's such a lovesick puppy. Kaoru thought.

Yahiko and Tsubame turned to Kaoru. "I need to help at Akebako."

"Okay, be back by dinner Yahiko-chan!" Kaoru called as he ran off.

"Not CHAN!" she heard him call. She smiled to herself. What do I do now?

She looked around the courtyard. She was immediately sickened at the sight.

Everywhere she looked there was love.

First there was Aoshi and Misao. They were meditating but Misao kept doing some position wrong and asking Aoshi "Is this how you do it?" Each time she did he would have to get up and fix her in the right position. Misao was doing it just for his attention and have fun too. Even Aoshi, the rock he was, couldn't help but crack a small smile.

Second, there was Yahiko and Tsubame who were almost out of sight but obviously liked walking side by side. Soon they would be holding hands, kissing, possibly getting married…

Third, there was Megumi and Sano. Sano was sitting on the porch holding Megumi on his lap who apparently got a 'sick' day. They sat there whispering sweet nothings to each other and arguing too.

Fourth, there were hundreds of little animals like squirrels, birds, and insects were all together love all around the dojo. EVEN INSECTS!

The only two who seemed out of place were her and Kenshin. He stood there doing laundry and humming. How could he be so happy? How could he not even notice the love around him? How could not even know that she loved him?

Kaoru was full of anger. At herself for being slow. At Misao and Aoshi for flaunting their relationship. At Yahiko and Tsubame for moving faster than her. At Sano and Megumi for showing their affections for each other. At the stupid little animals that just HAD to be there at the time. And finally, at Kenshin for just completely ignoring it all!

She raised her boken, took aim, and threw it at the nearest thing in sight, Kenshin's head!

"Ororrororo!" Kenshin cried out as he was hit with the flying boken. He was knocked right in to the laundry bin.

Water and soap splashed everywhere as Kaoru yelled "KENSHIN NO BAKA!"

She turned and ran in to the woods. She dared not look back, for she knew she would cry if she looked at Kenshin again. She ran through the woods not caring where she was going.

Even though she didn't look back, she was on the verge of tears. She ran as fast as she could to get away from the dojo.

Please get me away! I can't stand it! I'm such a baka!

She finally grew tried and began walking. She reached a small pond where she sat. She couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Kenshin… can't you see… I LOVE YOU!" she shouted the last part. The truth finally crossed her lips but she didn't feel relieved. She felt more worries come upon her.

What if he doesn't love me back? What if he just thinks of me as a friend? Misao and Megumi said that he did but I'm not sure anymore...It must be my fault! I'm just a stupid raccoon-girl…

She stared at her reflection in the water and sang something she heard somewhere but not the exact words:

"Who is that girl I see?
Staring straight,
back at me.
When will my reflection show

Who I am…

What I know…

When will my reflection show
who I am inside?"

Then she finally cried. Tears of sadness flowed out of her but it didn't seem to help.

She cried harder trying to relieve the pain. It still was not helping.

"Why won't the pain go away?" she said unknowingly out loud.

"It's because no one is here to comfort you," said a voice.

She looked behind to see…

(Readers: Kenshin! Right? Right?

Animelover: No.

Everyone: (stares in confusion)

Animelover: I can't let Kenshin proclaim his undying love here! I'm mean look at the setting! It's not romantic! It's just a random pond, with a random frog, on a random lily pad saying random things like 'Croak' and 'Rib bit' and 'Will work for flies' and that tree (points to random tree) is way to stupid. I mean why can't it be brown? Why does that tree whitish brown? I mean can't it decide on a color? Was it trying to express individuality? If it was, try harder man! Gosh!

Whitish-brown Tree: Hey!

Readers: uh…

Battousai: This is getting weird.

Readers: Can we get back to the story now?

Animelover: Sure. Why not?)

Kaoru stared at the young woman with black hair. Her eye seemed sad and she had no smile. "Who are you?" Kaoru asked.

"My name is Tomoe, Kaoru," she calmly said. She walked over and sat next to Kaoru.

"How do you know my name?" Kaoru asked.

Tomoe laughed saying "How could I not know the name of my ex-husband's bride-to-be?"

Kaoru stared at this woman in shock. She had to be crazy! "I'm sorry Tomoe but I'm not engaged. At the rate I'm going, I'll probably never be."

"Oh but you will be engaged. To that rurouni at your dojo," Tomoe responded.

"Oh no! You must be mistaken! He doesn't love me!" she cried. Tomoe took a hold of Kaoru's hands.

"Calm down child. You know that's not the case," Tomoe replied.

Kaoru stared at her blankly. "Why do you keep calling me child? I'm the same age as you!"

Tomoe sighed "Child, remember when I said you were my ex-husband's bride-to-be? Well, Himura Kenshin is my ex-husband because I died. So I have every right to call you a child. "

Kaoru said in shock "YOUR DEAD!" She fell back and started to move away in fear. Tomoe reached on to Kaoru's shoulder and pulled her back.

"Calm down. You weren't scared before," Tomoe said. Kaoru relaxed and moved back to her original position. She stared at the water.

"I never knew Kenshin had a dead wife. Now that I think about it, we never even talked about our pasts," Kaoru said. She turned to Tomoe. "Were you in love?"

Tomoe smiled at Kaoru. She turned away and said, "Not really. I don't know what love is." She turned back and said, "It's a long story. I believe Kenshin will tell you in time but I tell you the basic story.

"I was young and engaged with a man who was in the war. Kenshin murdered my fiancé as assassin and received the first part of his scar on his face. When I heard the news, I was crushed and swore revenge whoever the killer was because I didn't know it was Kenshin at the time.

"I went to Kyoto to fine the killer. I met Kenshin after one assassination and fainted at the sight of all the blood. The next morning, I was in the inn he was staying at and he had posed as my husband to get me in his room. The inn was attacked by the Mibu Wolves, Kenshin and I got away. He and I were then ordered by Kogorou Katsura to head to Otsu and pose and husband and wife to go in to hiding. We found a farm there and lived peacefully for the time.

"Then I found out that he was the one who killed my fiancé. Me and my brother plotted to kill him. But, as time passed on, I began to develop feelings for him. It was not love but more like a crush. Finally, my brother arrived and began to fight with Kenshin with swords. I didn't want either of them to die but they were both going to fight to the death.

"So when Kenshin went in for the kill, I ran out in the middle of it and he couldn't stop so I received the force of the blow. My brother lived but was badly wounded while I died by Kenshin's sword. Kenshin held me in his arms as I died and I knew that he truly loved me. Before I died though, I took Kenshin's sword and crossed it over my fiancé's scar. Thus he has that cross-shaped scar.

"Even though I never completely loved him, I did deeply care for him. He loved me though. He felt responsible for killing me and has left this pain locked deep in side him. He is afraid of love because of Battousai and me or more of what happened to me. He's is afraid of hurting those he is close to or loves…like you Kaoru."

Kaoru stared at Tomoe. "I don't know what to say…I never knew…Kenshin…" she said as tears began to fall.

Tomoe put her arm around Kaoru. "Why are you crying?"

Kaoru muttered, "I'm crying for Kenshin. And you." She cried a little harder.

Tomoe comforted her. "Shush. Kaoru it is really not that bad. Everything is better now. I am in heaven with my fiancé and Kenshin has found happiness here with his dojo 'family.' Kenshin has you Kaoru."

Kaoru looked at Tomoe, Kenshin's ex-wife. They smiled at each other. Kaoru looked at the water. Her reflection stared back at her. "Kenshin deserves better than me. Look at me! I'm an ugly, raccoon-like, fat tomboy who can't cook and practices swords which is not the least bit ladylike. He deserves someone who can be more feminine. I bet you made a better wife than I'll ever be."

Tomoe couldn't hold back a giggle. She began to laugh hysterically falling back on the dirt. She looked up at Kaoru who stared at her confused. "Kaoru, you think like Kenshin! You both think you're unworthy of each other when in truth you're actually the perfect couple!" She continued to laugh.

Kaoru thought about it and couldn't help but laugh too. How stupid Kenshin and I are! "Well Tomoe, what do you expect from the future fiancé of a girly-man who is carrot-topped, scar-faced, law-breaking, wearing a pink gi, likes to do laundry, can cook and clean and just happens to be the most dangerous assassin not to mention greatest swordsman in the world?"

They both burst out laughing. When they finally calm down, Tomoe says "I haven't laugh like that in ages! You really have some personality Kaoru. But I see my job is done here." They both stand up.

Tomoe cups Kaoru's chin with her hands and says, "I'll be watching over you and Kenshin." She begins to fade away. The last thing she says as she is almost gone is "Good luck at the festival tonight Kaoru…" She disappears completely.

Kaoru was filled with terror. She had completely forgotten the festival! She looked at the sun. The festival would start soon.

She began to run back to the dojo. She had to gather the others. They need to practice for tonight. Watch out Kenshin! You're in for a real show tonight!

Hey! I'm back with a new chapter. I know there wasn't a real song here but who cares!

One Reader: I care!

Second Reader: Yeah me too!

Animelover: No one asked you!

Battousai: Yes you did.

Animelover: Shut up!

Battousai: No need to get testy. Sheesh!

Answers to Reviews:

(Animelover: So many reviews! Where to start…?

Battousai: How about where you left off?

Animelover: Good idea!)

Estel-Elf-Lover: Hey I'm glad you can't wait for the next chapters! I like to make them that way!

jep: I love 1, 2 Step too! I might just add it. Thanks for the idea!

chaotic bliss: Seeing them dancing with swords would cool! And Megumi does have a nice voice.

Half-breed-demon-fox: Thanks for e-mailing me back and stuff! You suggested Reflection so I tried to fit it in. Hope you like!

Blitz17: I'm glad I made you laugh! Hope you liked this chapter! (answer to your other review is farther down this list)

-: um… which next story? I have a lot of stories that I will eventually continue and complete. I'm aiming to finish The Performance first than Seduce Me, Fire Goddess! And then go from there. I will add chapters to the other elemental stories too but fire is the one I mainly want to finish out of the elements first.

ungu-petite: I don't like Brittney Spears but I like Toxic. So I included it. Your right. It is the song not the person.

Lisa: I understand you hate the song and Brittney. She gets on my nerves too. Just take the basic meaning of the song and take the pain of reading it. It was just to get Megumi and Sano together anyway. You understand.

Angel-of-Dark-Spirits: Don't worry. I said would never include the B.S. lady or her songs in my fan fics ever again. I won't torture you. Anyways, when I listened to that Crossfade song, it completely screamed 'Aoshi' to me. I just had to make it that way. Finally, Candy Shop was a last minute idea. I was kind of stalling for time to come up with Kaoru's performance; same thing with this chapter. I'm looking for the perfect song for her to sing. If you want to ensure no more torture songs, give me some ideas!

Blitz17 (again): Sorry I didn't use the Only One by Yellowcard this time. I love the song and all but it didn't fit the mood. The thing is, Only One is a sad song about a messed up relationship. I might add it later just as a song to dance to or something like that but the Kenshin-gumi all have good relationships. I try my best to add it though. And you can make requests by the way. Thanks for the ideas.

midnite cherry blossomz: Yes. Cold is perfect for Aoshi. Also, Candy is perfect for …ahem… the situation. Battousai is so hot!

Battousai: You think I'm hot?

Animelover: (Blush) Well… you know…you kind a…

Kenshin-gumi: OO (staring)

Yahiko: (singing) Animelover and Battousai sitting in a tree…

Megumi and Sano join in: …k-i-s-s-i-n-g…

Rurouni joins in: …first comes love…

Misao without Aoshi joins in:…than comes marriage…

Kaoru joins in: … than come Animelover with a baby carriage!

They all fall laughing to the floor.

Battousai: (turns to Animelover) So… (walks very close to Animelover) lets start working on that baby.

Animelover: (staring in shock) um…

Battousai: (feels Animelover's butt)

Animelover: (in anger) Your … such a PERVERT! (punches Battousai in the gut and kicks him in some-place-that-hurts-him-really-bad-if you-know-what-I-mean which makes his fly fifty feet) Your worst than MIROKU!

Battousai: (Knocked out)

Everyone: (thinking: She took down the Battousai! She is much stronger than she looks.)

Animelover: I'm so bad! (smiles)

Somewhere in the feudal era...

Miroku: (sneezes) I wonder who was talking about me... I hope it was a woman!

Sango: (smacks Miroku) Get your mind out of the gutter!

Note: Any ideas for the next chapter? Any song you want me to use? Let me know by REVIEWING! So I can consider your ideas!
Side note:

Do you think the Battousai is hot? I do! I mean who can resist a man who never ages and has an amazing body to boot?

Take this week's episode for instance. He dodges the opponent's blade with ease but gets cut on the right arm which opens he gi up (revealing his manly chest by the way drools ) and is not even fazed by the 'scratch.'

He is way to irresistible! With his long red hair he is a god among us earth beings. And he probably has so many battle scars that you may be able to see if you get close enough. OO

Anyways, if you think the Battousai is hot, leave some reviews! I don't care if it isn't about the story or if it is bad. JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!