None of these characters are mine. I'm just borrowing them for this fanfiction...

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Kaoru's eyes opened slowly. Sunlight streamed through the room in golden bars. It was quiet, with the exception of an occasional call from a bird outside. The warm summer air wafted inside and seemed to gently stir summer spirit.

'What am I doing here?' she blinked sleepily. Kaoru stifled a small yawn and sat up. She rubbed her eyes, then looked around. Kenshin was sitting beside her, his arms tucked into his wide sleeves and his head bowed. Red bangs curtained his eyes. His sword was laid in the usual position; against his chest.

She started mildly. What was Kenshin doing in the same room as her? Kaoru didn't mind. In fact, she wanted him to be in the same room as her. His presence calmed her spirit and lulled her into a safe haven.

She smiled and gently placed her hand onto his soft cheek.

Kenshin looked up, and his wide amethyst eyes stared into her own sapphire ones.

"Kaoru!" he spoke softly.

Kaoru stroked his scarred cheek. Kenshin closed his eyes half-way and smiled. Kaoru's touch was so gentle and soothing. It was as if she was a mother coaxing her child to sleep after a nightmare.

"Ohayo..." Kenshin murmured. Kaoru crawled out of her futon and gently took his sakabato away and laid it onto the wooden flooring. Kenshin's eyes questioned her graceful movements. Kaoru climbed into his lap.

"Kaoru-dono?" he asked, his violet eyes glittering with mild surprise.

She placed her ear onto his chest and stared off into space.

"I felt you kiss me," she murmured.

Kenshin tensed, then relaxed. "Hai, Kaoru-dono. This one has wanted to," he teased mildly, "for a long time."

"Watashi...watashi mo," Kaoru mumbled against his yukata.

Kenshin's eyes widened, then softened. He gently positioned his chin on top of her head and tucked a strand of glossy ebony hair behind Kaoru's ear. He hugged her close to him and smiled into her fragrant hair.

It was strange. They have never expressed their feelings for each other yet they were comfortable with it now. For a long time they had lived together, but neither of them had dared to make a move. What made them decide to express their feelings now?

"Arigato," Kaoru said softly.

"Hmm? What for?" Kenshin asked. He lifted Kaoru's face up with one finger under her chin.

Crystal droplets slid down her cheeks, leaving a faint glistening path.

Kenshin's eyes overflowed with concern. "Nan da? Nakanaide..." he hugged Kaoru's head to his chest.

"I'm so happy," Kaoru whispered. They were tears of happiness and relief. Perhaps he would really settle down with her. He would no longer be a rurouni.

"Domo arigato," Kenshin smiled.

"For what?" Kaoru almost whispered.

"Everything," Kenshin murmured into her hair. His eyes were closed as he savored the sweet moment.

Kaoru smiled and wiped away her tears.

She gave a shaky laugh, then blushed. Her heart pounded and pounded; she was almost positive Kenshin could hear it. Kaoru stared at her lap.

"Kaoru-dono," Kenshin spoke, breaking the silence.

He tilted her face up and bent to kiss her. Their lips almost met; they were a centimeter apart. He hugged her close to him with one arm, and coaxed her head forward with the other. Time was standing still, and Kenshin could feel Kaoru's heart beating through her soft breast.

Soft footsteps were heard behind the door and before they could do anything, Yahiko slid open the door and looked around.

Kenshin and Kaoru quickly got up before Yahiko's gaze swept over them.

"There you are," he rolled his eyes. "Finally up, eh?"

Kaoru stared hard at Yahiko.

"Well, asagohan is served. Come when you are ready. I'm off to my arubaito."

Kaoru nodded and swept a sideways glance at Kenshin. Yahiko slid the door closed and left.

Kenshin looked at Kaoru. They blushed and glanced away.

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Breakfast was simple; it was rice porridge with pickled vegetables and dried meat. Sano and Megumi were chatting politely with them. They acted as if nothing happened. Kaoru was grateful. It was embarrassing to pass out in the bath house because she were in there for too long. They all probably though that she was a loser who couldn't even take care of herself.

Kaoru sighed and stared at her bowl of rice.

Sanosuke glanced at her. "You seem mighty quiet today," he stated airly while picking up some pickled radishes with his chopsticks.

Kaoru looked at him with slightly blank eyes.

"Hai..." she replied softly, not quite answering the statement correctly. Kenshin observed her under his bangs but said nothing. He quickly finished his meal and left with a polite bow and a muttered excuse.

Kaoru decided to follow his example. She also finished her asagohan and left with a small bow.

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Kaoru's light footsteps wandered down the outside of the dojo and stopped at the shade of a large tree. There she dropped her geta sandals onto the ground and slipped them on. She walked slowly to the tree and settled down underneath it.

A breeze drifted by and lifted her hair. It toyed with midnight strands before passing on. Kaoru gazed off into nothingness and leaned against the rough bark of the tree. She had not bothered to tie up her hair; somehow she felt as if she were drifting along. Ebony strands strayed across her face and she blinked slowly.

Kenshin had actually shown her affection after all this time. Kaoru was content. It pleasured her to bask in his presence, to see him and be with him. Even if it was only a little while. But...she was nervous.

What would have happened if Yahiko had not barged in? Would things have gone further? She was not quite sure she was ready. Her body may not have been perfect for him. She had practiced swordsmanship with her father since she was small. Her hands were calloused, and she was not the perfect geisha. She even had slight muscles. Would Kenshin approve of that?

Kaoru shook her head. What was she doing, thinking of these things? She was old enough, yes, but it was preposterous to even think of making love or anything else before an official marriage. But still...

How she longed for his gently touch, his caress and soothing ness. Kaoru shivered in pure delight as she remembered Kenshin's soft affectionate stroke of her face. It tingled, but she craved more of it. She wanted more than that.

A dark blush stole onto her face. She mentally scolded herself for thinking that way. How ashamed her late parents would be.

A leaf slowly descended from the tree. It twisted and danced on its way down. Kaoru watched, as if mesmerized. All her concentration was focused on the jade-hued spade that slowly spiraled down towards her lap.

The world seemed to be slowing down. Her eyes, thickly laced with feathery eyelashes drooped, and she fell into a peaceful sleep. Kenshin's soft smiling face appeared before her as her eyelids fell and closed.

Above her, birds chirped and fluttered to and fro lazily. The dappled light emitted through the leaves of the tree and gently played across her sleeping face.

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Kenshin paced back and forth in his room. Finally, after wearing the flooring thin, he settled down and furrowed his brow at nothing. Years of sword art and working under the Meiji government had taught him to keep his emotions and thoughts inside of him. That's it.

Kenshin decided that he could no longer be with Kaoru. He would probably hurt her in some way. As a swordsman, he could not show his emotions; besides, he was a rurouni. He was bound to run off someday, no matter how hard it was to leave Kaoru.

He had to keep his desires and thoughts to himself and refrain from hurting Kaoru in any way. That is how he would show her his love. Kenshin settled into the corner of his room and leaned to the walls for support. He sighed and tilted his head up. Dappled sunlight shone through the mechanical vents in his room and struck the walls. He closed his violet eyes and basked his face in the dwindling sunlight. Clouds were passing over the sun. A brief moment of cool, calm silence reigned over head. Kenshin ran his slim fingers through his tousled bangs and let his wrist drop onto his lap.

No matter how hard it was, he had to stop himself from getting any closer to Kaoru.

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Sanosuke leaned back in his chair far enough to see Kaoru leaned against the tree. She appeared to be sleeping. He watched apprehensively as Kaoru smiled to herself and her hands subconsciously wrapped loosely around her waist. Megumi watched Sanosuke's expressions. His trademark smirk played across his lips, and his brown eyes glittered with mischief and young spirit.

He, Kenshin, and Yahiko had gone after her after she left the phony note about her home in Aizu. They crushed Kanryu and his hired Oniwabanshu. And she had so little faith in Kenshin. She had thought that Kenshin could not possibly beat Shinomori Aoshi's men. How he proved her wrong. In the end, everything went well, except for that Aoshi had swore to avenge his people and disappeared into the night. Kenshin was optimistic. He was the most kind-hearted man she had ever met.

"What are you staring at?" Sanosuke smirked. He had a fish's spine in his mouth. Megumi was taken aback. She sputtered, "what are you talking about?" and flicked her hair behind her shoulder. She too stared outside like Sano had done a while ago. It was a beautiful day. Her finger absently fiddled with her cup of green tea.

"You think she'll be okay?" she asked without thinking. Of course Kaoru would be fine. She was a strong young woman. She'd be back to yelling at everyone in no time.

Sanosuke snorted in his tea.

"Nani!" Megumi's eyes flashed dangerously. Even if she did make a mistake, there was no reason to laugh at her.

"Nothing, just that you seemed so cute when you asked that question," Sanosuke wiped his mouth onto his sleeve.

Megumi solidified. Did she hear right? Her face flushed and she stared into the green depths of her tea.

Sanosuke smirked his smirk again. His eyes teased her as they swept over her. He got up, spun, and strolled out of the dining room.

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Kenshin gazed off into the warm air of his room. He eyed his wrist and his eyes followed it as he lifted it up. He placed the back of his wrist over his forehead and sighed. What he was about to do was just so hard. He dreaded it. Yet he had to.

Kenshin let out a frustrated groan and pulled at his hair. An exasperated sigh escaped his lips and he used his knees to support his limp arms at the elbow.

Kenshin looked up as Sanosuke rapped on the door with his knuckles and slid it open.

"What's up?" he commented airily.

No answer.

Sanosuke sighed. Kenshin was so distant at times.

"Do you suppose Kaoru-dono really did that on purpose?" Kenshin's mild voice spoke.

Sanosuke stilled for a while. What was Kenshin talking about? His eyes widened in recognition and he chuckled. "I was just playing with you," he stated without the care in the world. He placed his hands behind his head. "Well, come to think of it...I dunno, what do you think?"

"This one has no clue. Why would she?" Kenshin asked, his face set serious.

Sanosuke eyed Kenshin's expression. "You've been fighting in the Bakamatsu for too long. Don't tell me you have no experience with women," Sanosuke smirked.

"..."

Sanosuke's eyes widened. "No!"

Kenshin sweat-dropped and sighed. "You've been around too much women," he muttered.

Sano grinned. "Maybe." he said in his carefree way.

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Reply to reviews:

Mad4Manga- Thanks:3 hee hee. I'm glad you liked my fanfiction! Actually, I'm really glad! I hope you liked this chapter! And I'll put the translations on the top and bottom. How's that? Anything to make my fans happy. I didn't think that I needed to put translations in this one because I barley used any Japanese terms. But if you have a question, just ask in your review! Review, please! OH! Nankaide means 'don't cry' :3

getfuzzyfan04- Yup, Updated! Glad you like it! Feel free to ask or say anything, and please review!