When the dance suddenly ended. All the other couples either walked away, hand in hand, or left some dejected males in their wake. Kenshin was the one who finally pulled away, and gazed deeply into Karou's eyes. Without a word he slipped away, leaving Karou alone, standing bewildered in a rapidly emptying clearing. As he got to the market place, he spotted Sanosuke leaning against a wall, casually talking to some of his buddies. One of his friends, who had seen him coming called out "Hey, hey - look who's back - wanna try with me instead?" and laughed.

Sanosuke looked at the approaching Kenshin curiously, and was protesting when he walked by and latched onto Sano's arm. He dragged Sanosuke into a nearby alley, trying to ignore the whistles and catcalls sent up by Sano's friends. "Wha?" asked Sanosuke, but was stopped by Kenshin holding up a hand to stop him. He motioned for him to lean down, and he grudgingly obliged. Kenshin whispered his plans in his ear, and as he finished, Sanosuke grinned, pocketed the money that Kenshin handed him, and strode off to do his bidding. 'How cute - so Kenshin really does like Missy…' thought Sanosuke as he peered about the market place, looking for the special something Kenshin had asked him to pick up.

He gently picked up, paid for it, and then went off to find Kenshin who was waiting in a nearby alley for him. "Thank you Sanosuke! I owe you!" shouted Kenshin in a very unfeminine voice as shuffled off find Karou, stuffing the purchase that Sanosuke had procured into his sleeve. Not a soul was left in the clearing, but as he looked into the clearing, he stopped. There lying in the empty clearing was a locket, but not just any locket. He had given it to her as a birthday gift, many months ago and he would've swore that she had never taken it off…but why now? He bent swiftly and grabbed the locket, and fingered it gently. He then casually flicked it open and there lay two pictures; one drawn of him, and one drawn of her. Hers had to be done in secret, and it depicted her face, full of joy and happiness.

He had gotten one of Sanosuke's friends to draw it, and it was still as perfect as the day that summer day he had given it to her, except… Now, it had a tiny, almost invisible wet spot that looked suspiciously like a tear. Was she crying? Because of him? Kenshin closed the locket and gripped it tightly in his hand before running off, his hair coming undone and streaming behind him. He had to reach her, and tell her… Tell her that he loved her, and wanted to be with her forever. When he finally got back to the dojo he yanked upon the gate door, only to find himself flying backwards and landing soundly on his behind. 'Damn! She's locked me out!'' thought Kenshin as he picked himself up and brushed the dirt off his kimono. But why would she lock it? On the other side of gate, he could hear a sort of sniffing sound, and then a sob. "Miss Karou? Is that you?" he asked softly, kneeling near the gate door, his kimono loose and coming undone and his hair landing gently on his shoulders. "J-just leave m-me alone!" sobbed Karou, heartbroken. When she had gotten to the dojo she had swiftly locked it and plopped on the ground, too miserable to do much else. She drew her knees up to chest and buried her face in her hands and bawled. Her hair had also come undone, and was sprawled loosely over her shoulders, and her hakama pants bunched uncomfortably up underneath her.

Kenshin sat opposite of her, his eyes staring at the ground as he listened to her sobs. "Sessha doesn't know what this one has done to make you so ang-" but was cut off as Karou screeched "You don't even know what you did? First you kiss me, then you run off for awhile to do Kami-knows-what, and just leave me there, wondering where you had gone and standing there like an idiot you bastard!" Kenshin uncomfortably sucked in a deep breath and stood up, and calmly said "Miss Karou - Sessha is coming over the wall now. Don't move." and with his usual grace, he leapt up onto the wall, then jumped over lightly. But the sight of Karou, sobbing her heart out on the ground of the dojo was enough to make Kenshin's heart break. With a swiftness that equaled no other, he dashed over to her, and cradled her in his arms, murmuring softly "Sessha did not mean to hurt you, that I did not. I just had to pick up something for my koshii…" and with one hand reached into his sleeve. What he pulled out though, was enough to make Karou look up through her tears and gasp in surprise…