Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is unfortunately not my creation (and it never will be waaaah) it belongs to the brilliant mind of Nobihiro Watsuki. I just enjoy writing stories about his characters. All right you must be tired of my babbling so here goes:9

Love of a Lifetime
Chapter three: Beginning to an ending

When Kaoru awoke she turned her head to see if Kenshin was still there.

'Good he should be sleeping after what happened last night that guy that fell on him was over two hundred and fifty pounds' she thought. Kaoru let a content sigh escape her as she looked at her newly found friend. She arched her back in a full body stretch and got up to practice before her students arrived. As she closed the shoji she blew Kenshin a quick kiss.

When Kenshin awoke his eyes were still closed. He patted the other side of the futon … nothing … he stretched his arm out further still nothing. He got up and wandered around the house until he reached a dojo. He slid open the shoji and saw Kaoru practicing kenjitsu alone. He stood quietly until she stopped then collapsed to the floor breathing heavily. He snuck up behind her with god like speed. He patted her on the head.

"I didn't know you practiced kendo and kenjitsu Kaoru"

"Who the heck are you"

"Oro" He fell to the floor beside her and almost hit his head. Luckily she caught him. She sat there quietly stroking his brow.

"Shhh it's ok Kenshin I was only joking" she comforted. Kaoru tilted his head up so she could gaze into Kenshin's violet orbs.

"Huh Kaoru wh…" he was silenced by her lips pressing upon his own. She pulled away gently. Kenshin stood up pulling Kaoru along with him.

"What was that about"

"Oh that I was just practicing that's all"

"Practicing?" Kenshin raised an eyebrow to her.

"Not kissing you … well so what if I was practicing kissing you huh" she attempted to turn the tables on him.

"Umm well … you never were this straight forward I hope you know that"

"Oh trust me I know this now when I want something I always get it" she stated with the look of confidence he had only seen upon Misao's face.

"You know it's a good thing that it's the weekend otherwise we would both be in deep crap with our studies I hope you know" Kenshin desperately tried to change the subject.

"You think I don't know this" she asked.

"You probably knew I just wanted to know what you would have done if yesterday would've been Sunday"

"If yesterday was Sunday I would have … umm left you here resting while I went to school" she finished with her nerves beginning to get to her.

"Oh ok then … hey why don't we practice for a while together ok" he suggested out of nowhere. Kaoru walked up to him and wrapped her rooms around him.

"Uh Kaoru I didn't mean that kind of practice"

"Oh I know that I was just giving you a hug to thank you for helping me practice … hmm looks like someone's mind was in the gutter"

"My mind was not in the gutter thank you" he stated sounding offended. Kaoru pulled away and looked him over. Then snickered a little.

"What"

"Oh nothing … it's just I can't have my new assistant instructor doing his job in his boxers that's all"

"That would be a good idea if I changed wouldn't it"

"I'll go get you a uniform okay" she smiled and scurried out of the room quickly. She was back before Kenshin could turn around.

"Here you go this should fit you well" she handed him the uniform. He started tossing the uniform on as Kaoru gazed at him dreamily. She walked up to him and smoothed out his uniform across his well-chiseled chest. She playfully tugged on one of Kenshin's crimson locks then kissed him until he pulled away slowly.

"Whoa where did that come from"

"Whoops … I guess I got a little carried away … sorry Kenshin … bad … bad Kaoru no baka" she turned on her heel to get her sword and punish herself with five hundred swings until she had her ponytail pulled upon by Kenshin.

"Don't be sorry" he paused then caressed her back. This sent shivers down her back. She stepped away and took deep calming breaths.
'Ha that red-head baka is so in love with me ha (maniacal laughter)' she gloated happily. A hand waved in front of her face.

"Yoo hoo hello anyone home Kaoru are you ok hey snap out of it"

"Oh uh sorry bout that" she fumbled around for the right words. 'Hmm umm change of pace yeah that would be good' Kaoru thought of way to get out of this situation.

"Come on Kenshin we better get to practicing before my students arrive ok" she said and then got him a sword as well.

"Come on Kenshin I bet you can't beat me" she teased.

"Oh I seriously doubt you can beat me Kaoru" he teased back with a mischevious smile. They sparred for an hour until they came to a draw.

"Hey 'pant' that was 'pant' a really good 'pant' workout 'pant' "

"Yeah I 'pant' think you're 'pant' pretty good Kenshin" They stood opposite of each other hands on their knees and breathing heavily. Both sat on the floor then lay on their backs. Their stomachs growling broke the silence between them. 'Blasted stomach must you intrude' Kaoru thought irritably.

"Oops I guess I forgot to feed the both of us … I better go start some lunch" she said and ran out of the room before Kenshin put say anything. When Kenshin had found his beloved she was rummaging through her refrigerator.

"Hey Kenshin could you please get the cutting board out of the cabinet on your left" she asked with her back to him.

"Wait a minute how did you do that Kaoru your back was to me" he said while handing her the cutting board.

"Huh oh that I just sensed you nothing more than that" she smiled at him.

"I have a question"

"And I might have an answer ask"

"Are your cooking skills as I remember them" he asked readying himself to dodge any flying cutlery.

She turned around and looked at him as if she was choosing which part of his body she was going to use as her target.

"You know what Himura Kenshin I honestly would appreciate it if you wouldn't say that my cooking skills might have surpassed your own by now" she stated smugly.

"Oh really then we'll just have to let you cook then now won't we" he challenged.

"Fine. Tonight we shall be serving steamed eggplant, grilled salmon, and no meal is complete with out rice" she said this statement as if she was a waitress at restaurant reciting the night's menu.

"Ooh sounds good. But where in the world did you learn how to cook that I last remember you couldn't even prepare tofu properly" he teased.

"For your information I learned how to cook from my mother when I was younger" there was a twinge of sadness in her voice that Kenshin didn't notice.

"Speaking of your mother when do I get to meet her and your dad" he asked excitedly. She ignored the question and began to slice the eggplant.

"Kaoru what's wrong did I say something to hurt you … Kaoru" he put his hand on her shoulder. She turned around with forced cheerfulness upon her face.

"Oh nothing's wrong Kenshin please I don't need or want you to worry over me okay" she pulled his hand off of her shoulder.

"Something is wrong I know it I've known you too long for you to pull that wool over my eyes" he stated then crossed his arms.

"You never will miss a thing will you Kenshin" she said beneath her breath.

"What was that Kaoru did you happen to say something" he questioned with his infamous eyebrow quirk.

"No it was nothing at all okay so please don't worry" she lamely stated.

"Oh alright … ok if you won't tell me willingly I'll just have to force it out of you" he pounced on her and gently brought her to the ground without hurting her. He began to tickle her and she couldn't help but laugh hysterically.

"Okay Kenshin … I … I give up … I'll … I'll tell you … just … just please stop … Kenshin ok get off of me … if you don't I'll … I don't know yet … anyway get off" she ended irritably. He nuzzled the nape of her neck lovingly.

"You know what Kaoru … I still am unable to believe the fact that I've found you … now I have you all to myself" he whispered into her hair. Her entire body gave an enormous shiver not due to the fact he was so close to her but it was what he had said. He got up and hoisted her up with him.
"The answer to your question earlier is you'll never get to meet them because … because" she hugged Kenshin and cried into his chest. He propped her face on one of his hands and wiped away her tears with the sleeve of his uniform. His efforts of wiping away the tears were useless because more just took their predacessors places.

Authors Random Ramblings: Sorry guys I just had to leave off there otherwise this chapter would be entirely to long for my liking. The next chapter won't be all that exciting either it's lots and lots of explaining. But please don't worry I'll make it a little more interesting than that kay. I promise. Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter please read and review!