A/N: I solemnly swear that I will never be selfish and complain about reviews again. Thank you so much for those reviews. You have no idea how much that encouraged me to write more. I'm sorry Voilet Eyes, I can't kill Mika just yet and this is a K+K story so don't worry about it.

Disclaimer: Disclaimers are lame!

I'm sorry Miss Mystic Firefly but you have to say it, that you do.

Come on Kenshin do I have to? We all know I don't own you.

That's all you had to say, that it is.

We also know that if I did own you we'd be having a party right?

Oro…

Chapter 5: The Past Comes Back

Kaoru sat there in slight confusion. It had to have been a dream. There was no way that was real. Kenshin hadn't confessed his feelings yet. She lay back down on her futon and stared at the ceiling. It was true, he hadn't confessed his feelings yet. She really hoped he would soon. Kaoru closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

Kenshin got up and started to walk around his room. He hadn't had a good dream in a long while. Actually, he hadn't been dreaming much at all lately which was strange because he always had nightmares of the past. This had to mean something. He just knew it. Why did it seem so real? Maybe he was thinking about it too much. Maybe it really was only a good dream. Happy with that conclusion Kenshin went back to the wall. Then he heard it. It was such a faint sound that one could have dismissed it as a creaky flooboard but Kenshin was trained. That was the sound of something landing on the ground. It also came from outside.

Kenshin grabed his sword and quietly made his way outside, staying in the shadows out of habit. Kenshin went on to the porch and sat down. He closed his eyes and listened. After a few minutes he still hadn't heard anything. He decided to walk around the dojo just to make sure everything was all right. After he circled the entire dojo twice he scanned the front yard once more. He saw something he didn't notice before. There was a rock in the middle of the yard with a piece of paper stuck to it. Kenshin slowly walked over to it and picked it up. His eyes widened at what it said.

We know where you are and you will die for what you did to me. If you try to hide we will find you. No one can save you now.

Underneath the words was a tiny swordfish. Kenshin knew that this came from that fish market owner. He would use all his power to protect the residents of the dojo. No one would get hurt while he was around. Apparently the sender of this message was no longer in the area so Kenshin took the note inside and went to his room. He wasn't going to show Mika the note. He didn't need her getting scared. Kenshin stayed awake for another hour. When he was sure that everything was back to the way it should be he went to sleep. The next morning Kenshin and Mika went back to the clinic to get Kaoru and Yahiko. Neither Kaoru nor Yahiko were awake yet so they sat and talked with Megumi. Yahiko came stumbling into the room a few minutes later.

"Megumi, my head hurts." Yahiko swayed and almost fell over.

"Serves you right for drinking sake."

"I did not drink it on purpose, I accidentally…"

"Yeah whatever just make sure it doesn't happen again. I don't like babysitting foolish little boys."

"I am NOT little! Anyway, I think I'm going to head to the Akebeko now, Tusbame says she needs my help today." At the glare Megumi gave him he added, "I won't drink any sake I promise. I have learned my lesson!" With that, he left.

Kenshin chuckled at that comment. That boy was going to grow up into a fine swordsman. He got up and went to Kaoru's room. He opened the shoji and peeked inside. There was Kaoru sleeping soundly on her futon. She hadn't put her hair in a braid so it spilled all around her face. Kenshin smiled. She looked so angelic. She was his biggest reason to protect the dojo. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her. He didn't want to wake her up so he went back to the other room.

"Miss Megumi?"

"Yes Kenshin?"

"So, everything is perfectly fine with Miss Kaoru?"

"Oh yes, you came just in time last night. She will be okay I promise. If she gets so dizzy she can't walk straight make sure she comes and sees me. Don't let her train today, she needs to rest."

"Thank you Miss Megumi. I appreciate it, that I do."

"Like I have told you many times, it's the most I could do to help a friend."

"I'm going to go sit outside now, please let me know when Miss Kaoru wakes up."

"Sure, no problem."

Mika watched Kenshin walk out of the room and head outside. After he was out of earshot she looked up at Megumi.

"What?" Megumi asked.

"You like Kenshin don't you?"

"Of course I do, he has done so much for me. He actually caused me to be a doctor. Please don't ask it is a really long story."

"No, I don't mean like that."

Megumi's eyes narrowed. "Oh, well I know he's Kaoru's and I actually have my eye on someone else now."

"Who?"

"That's for me to know, and you to find out! Ohohohohohohoho!"

Mika looked over towards Kaoru's room. "So, are Kenshin and Kaoru really together?"

"Well, he hasn't said anything yet but we all know it."

"Are you positive?"

"Yes I am. If you had your eye on him I'd say you don't have a chance."

Mika blushed slightly. She couldn't believe it, not just yet. As long as she was still breathing, she'd never give up. Until the day Kenshin said the words "Kaoru, I love you" she was not going to lose hope. She looked back at Kaoru's room. Kaoru slid open the shoji and stepped out. Mika did have to admit she had gorgeous long black hair.

"Oh Kaoru are you all right?" Mika asked.

"Yes thank you Mika. Listen it's okay. I have no hard feelings towards you."

"Wait how did you know?"

"Kenshin didn't tell you? I heard everything you told him. It's really okay."

"Oh, well thanks…I guess."

"Where is Kenshin by the way?"

"He went outside. He told us to get him when you woke up."

Kaoru smiled and went out the door to the front porch. There was Kenshin, sitting against the wall like he normally did.

"Oh Miss Kaoru, you're awake. Do you feel okay?" He was in complete awe at how silky her hair looked in the sunlight.

"Yes I feel great. Did you get sleep last night?"

"Actually, I did. I had the most interesting dream."

Kaoru's eyes widened. "You weren't having more nightmares about the past were you? You really need to let that go Kenshin. It's all in the past you can't do anything about it now."

Kenshin smirked. "Don't worry Miss Kaoru, I wasn't having nightmares again."

"That's good to know."

"Miss Kaoru?"

"Yes Kenshin?"

"I think we should be heading home now, that I do."

"Yes, it is very kind of Megumi to not charge us for all the work we put her through."

"Lets go get Miss Mika."

They walked back inside of the clinic and said goodbye to Megumi. They started to walk home when Kaoru noticed something.

"What is it Miss Kaoru?"

"It's winter already!"

"Yes, what about it Miss Kaoru?"

"It's just the seasons go by so fast. It will probably start snowing soon."

"I love it when it snows. Everything is so beautiful," said Mika.

"Where did Yahiko go?"

"Oh, he went to the Akebeko, that he did."

"We have to train today! He knows that."

"Miss Megumi said no training today Miss Kaoru. You need to rest more."

Kaoru sighed. "I feel fine though."

"I know but we don't want to take any chances. You deserve some rest anyway, that you do."

Kaoru made a face but Kenshin just smiled. He couldn't understand how she could be so strong but so stubborn. That's what he liked, no loved about her. She really was a special person. Kenshin could see the dojo up ahead but he sensed there was something wrong. He stopped walking.

"Kenshin what is it?" Mika and Kaoru both asked.

"There is something wrong at the dojo."

"Kenshin how do…" Mika started but Kenshin gave her a look that told her to keep quiet.

"We should let him do what he needs to do," Kaoru whispered to her.

They stayed in place as Kenshin walked up ahead. They saw him stop at one point and then run off toward the dojo. Mika looked over at Kaoru and Kaoru nodded. They started to run after him. When they got to the dojo they stopped dead in their tracks. Kenshin was standing in front of the door with his head bowed. There was a large rotting fish that had been gutted at the foot of the door. The words YOU WILL DIE were written on the door in blood. Mika started to shake and then fell on her knees.

"Why? All my father did was tell the truth. The man escaped anyway. I just, just don't understand it."

"Miss Mika, I promise that nothing will happen to you. I swear it."

"What are we going to do Kenshin?" asked Kaoru.

"I don't know yet Miss Kaoru but as long as I am here, nothing will happen."

All three of them went in the dojo. Kenshin went back outside to clean the mess up.

Night fell and nothing else had happened. Kenshin was going to keep his senses extra heightened for a while. He didn't want any "accidents" happening. He sat outside a few hours after dark every day to ensure everyone's safety. Three weeks had passed and no new threats had come up. Despite this Kenshin still kept his nightly routine of staying out after dark. The only thing that was causing him problems was the cold. It was getting colder and colder and he knew he'd freeze if he stayed out too late. One night Kaoru went out to bring him some tea.

"Kenshin, you're out later than usual today. Aren't you cold?"

"It's okay Miss Kaoru. I have been in much colder situations."

"Well, I brought you some tea."

"Oh, thank you."

"Um…I think I am going to go back inside now."

"Really? Unless it's too cold I'd like it if you stayed, that I would."

Kaoru blushed a nice shade of pink. "Okay Kenshin. Let me just grab a blanket."

She went back inside and came out a few mintues later and sat down next to Kenshin. To his surprise she put the blanket over the both of them. At the confused and very innocent look on his face she giggled.

"What, you think I was going to let you freeze too?"

"Oro?"

"Kenshin you need to start taking better care of yourself."

He flashed a rurouni smile at her. Even though it was used as a mask for true feelings, she still liked it. "Kenshin, how many times have we had this conversation? You deserve all the good things there are in the world. The fact that you realize killing isn't the way to solve problems should be enough. I know you will always feel guilt for the rest of your life and I can't do anything to stop that. Still, you did what you did in the name of helping people. Don't punish yourself over it."

"But Miss Kaoru, killing people is still killing people no matter what the cause is. I chose the wrong way to save people back then and I intend never to make another bad choice like that again."

"Kenshin, everyone makes mistakes. Humans aren't perfect. You weren't like the other killers who wanted to kill. You did it because you thought it was the only way. You were so young, how could you have known the difference?"

"I'm sorry Miss Kaoru but it's so much more than that, that it is."

"I know Kenshin. Of all the people here I understand you the most. I know what you went through and I think it is unfair. You deserved so much better. You're not an evil person."

After she finished her sentence, Kaoru noticed that Kenshin was holding her hand and staring very attentively at her. When Kenshin realized what he was doing he blushed and put an awkward grin on his face. Kaoru just smiled.

"You do understand me Miss Kaoru. Words cannot describe how wonderful that is to me. When you first told me you didn't care about my past it was a very nice feeling. It seemed to me everyone only cared about me because of the person I was, not the person I had become."

"Kenshin, you will always be a swordsman, that was what you were destined to be. The fact you use your talents to do good now is a wonderful thing. You could say you were doing good in your past, you just went about it the wrong way."

"That's why I intend to protect every person I can. To make up for my mistakes."

"And that's why you need to take better care of yourself. So you can achieve your goal and finally be free of some of the guilt you carry."

Kaoru slowly took her finger and traced the scar on his face. "Kenshin, you don't have to tell me but…how did you get your scar?"

Kenshin frowned. He knew she'd ask him one day but he wasn't completely prepared to tell her all of his past. "Miss Kaoru, I didn't tell Miss Mika because I didn't completely trust her yet but…"

"It's okay Kenshin, I'll be ready when you are."

He looked up at her and smiled a small smile. He couldn't stop the tear that rolled down his face. He wiped it away. "I'm sorry, that I am. It is just that it holds some dark and sad emotions deep inside that I still haven't gotten over yet. You have helped some of the pain go away though Miss Kaoru."

"Really, it's okay Kenshin. I'm sorry."

Kenshin shook his head. "No really, you've helped me through so many things. I couldn't have fought half the people I have had to fight since I've come here without you."

Kaoru blushed again. It seemed to be something she was doing more often.

"Miss Kaoru."

"Kenshin."

"I…"

Before they could continue their conversation Mika stepped outside. She looked at the scene before her and let a small gasp out.

"Oh! Was I interrupting anything?" she asked.

Kenshin gave Kaoru's hand a light squeeze. "Actually Miss Mika, we were just talking, that we were."

Mika stared into his eyes and became slightly intimidated very quickly. "Um…well I'll be going now. Goodnight!" She disappeared into the dojo.

"Kenshin what did you do?" asked Kaoru.

"Now what on Earth are you talking about Miss Kaoru? The cold must be getting to you, we should go inside, that we should." Kenshin winked at her before getting up. She knew he did something. She just couldn't figure out what.

"Well Kenshin, I'm going to bed now, goodnight."

"Goodnight Miss Kaoru. Thank you for staying out with me. I appreciate it, that I do."

"Oh, it was nothing at all."

Kaoru went inside the dojo. Kenshin looked up at the stars. They seemed to be twinkling extra brightly, just like his mood. Kenshin followed Kaoru inside the dojo. He felt so lucky to have someone like her in his life.

A/N: Well, I'm pretty happy with that chapter. That end section there kind of conveyed what I've always wanted to say to Kenshin myself. I think he is way too hard on himself. Thanks again for all your nice reviews. I had a new inspiration to write. That's why I got this chapter up so fast. : )