A/N: Here we go! The last chapter! This has been great and I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: For the last time in the story…I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Chapter 11: Peace At Last

Kenshin held Mika tightly as he galloped faster. He had almost made it through the "endless" forest. The problem was that when he did get back, how was he going to return the horse? He didn't think he had enough energy to just run the rest of the way home. Mika moved slightly in his arms. Kenshin looked down at her and smiled. He saved her. He had kept his promise. He thought back to everything that had happened. The one thing that Kenshin was still worried about was Kaoru's safety. Had she gotten home in time? Kenshin had a newfound strength and was doing all he could to get home.

Akira was currently fighting off the guards that came out of the mansion. They weren't very hard to fight at all. He just wanted to give that samurai some extra time to get away. After he fought twelve men Akira decided it would be a good time to leave. He ran around towards the back of the mansion towards the stables. Akira grabbed his horse and started off away from the mansion. Once he got to the gorge he stopped. There had to be a way to get to the other side.

Akira quickly thought and got an idea. He went to the start of the bridge and cut the rope that was still there. The rest of the rope and the other planks fell to the bottom of the gorge. Akira tied the two long pieces of rope together and proceeded to try and lasso the stake that made the bridge on the other side. He tried multiple times but the rope barely made it to the other side. Akira got on his horse and tried throwing the rope from there. He finally made it on his fourth try. Instead of swinging across he tied the opposite end of the rope to a nearby tree. Saying a silent prayer to himself he held on to the rope and inched slowly across to the other side. His arms were starting to ache from holding his weight but he continued on.

Once on the other side Akira lay in the snow. After a few minutes he got up and looked at his horse that was staring at him on the other side. Akira loved his horse but there was no way to get it across. He looked at it for a long time. Then he saluted his horse with two fingers and ran into the forest. What was he going to do now that he killed his current form of income? Where would he go? It was at this time that Akira realized something. He couldn't kill Mika and he didn't think that he would ever be able to. He loved her. He really loved her. No girl had ever affected him like she did. Now that he thought about it he realized that he had to see her again. Akira knew she would be with that samurai.

Kenshin galloped through the market, which he knew would be risky, but it was the fastest way home. Coming up to the dojo he saw Sano leaning on the wall of the gate. He stopped the horse right in front of Sano.

"Sano, could you take Miss Mika and get to Miss Megumi?"

"Sure but you don't look so great yourself."

"I'll be fine but please hurry over there."

"Okay Kenshin, just don't freeze on me."

Kenshin and Sano exchanged places. Kenshin watched as Sano galloped away toward the clinic. That man was just going to have to wait to get his horse. Kenshin was relieved his job was done. Unfortunately, the cold did finally catch up with him and he struggled to get back inside. He stumbled down the hallway into his room. Kaoru had noticed him and got up to go see him.

"Kenshin you're back!"

Kenshin turned around. "Oh, Kaoru…are you all right?"

Still not use to his lack of "Miss" Kaoru answered, "Yes, Sano took good care of me."

"That's good, I was really worried about you." Kenshin fell to his knees.

Kaoru ran over and grabbed his arm to help him up but immediately let go. "My God Kenshin! You're so cold!"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Don't lie to me, you must be freezing."

Kenshin smiled. "Well, I will put more clothes on, that I will."

Kaoru helped Kenshin into his room. She brought him more blankets to put on his futon. Kenshin got in and looked up at her.

"Thank you."

"What? You would have done the same for me."

"I know, but you always do so much for me, that you have."

"It's no problem. But like I've said so many times before, you have to take better care of yourself." Kaoru got up to let Kenshin rest. "You can tell me everything that happened after you get some sleep."

"Okay…"

"Sweet dreams Kenshin."

"Wait…Kaoru."

"Yes Kenshin?"

"I love you."

The three words she wanted to hear were finally said. All Kaoru could do was stare back at him. It was true. Love was present in his eyes. She could still see the signs of guilt and sorrow that would always be there but she definitely saw love. "I love you too Kenshin."

Sano was at the clinic with Mika. He had taken her inside to Megumi. Sano set Mika down on a futon and Megumi examined her. He went outside and looked at the snow. He looked down the road and then up at the sky. Sano thought about the family he had made. Some of them were kind of crazy, but it was all worth it. Just then, Megumi walked outside.

"Sano."

"Oh, hey. Um…how is she?"

"She's fine, she just needs some rest."

"That's good to hear. It's great that Kenshin got her back."

"Yeah, it is…"

"So I guess I'll be leaving now. When should we come get her?"

"Oh don't worry. I'll send her over tomorrow."

"Okay Megumi, see ya."

Sano walked slowly down the road towards the dojo. With his mind on other things he didn't notice the figure that jumped over the back wall.

Akira moved quickly towards Kenshin's room. He knew that Mika would probably be close by. He quietly inched around the walls of the dojo. When he got to Kenshin's room he stopped and listened. Nothing could be heard. Akira opened the shoji and slipped inside. There was no one there, or so he thought. Kenshin was right to the left of Akira with his sword at his neck.

"Hey I thought we were friends now!"

"Yes we are, I just can't let my guard down."

"Well, is Mika all right?"

"She's in good hands. I had a friend of mine take her to the doctor."

Kenshin put his sword back in its sheath and Akira looked at him. "You know, I don't think we've formally met. The name's Akira."

"I'm Kenshin, nice to meet you…again."

"I think it's a very good thing that we're friends now."

"You know, I always knew you were a good person, that I did."

"Kenshin, I have to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"I love Mika. I'm hoping that after she gets better we can go somewhere together."

Kenshin smiled. "I think she'd like that."

"You know, you have a beautiful woman in your life too, take advantage of that."

"Don't worry, I already have. Would you like to meet her?"

"Yeah, why not?"

Kenshin took Akira down the hall to Kaoru's room. "Kaoru, can I come in?"

"Yes Kenshin…did you get enough sleep?"

"I'm fine, you know I don't need that much."

Kaoru stared at Akira. "Why is he here?"

"Don't worry Kaoru, he's not going to hurt anyone anymore."

Akira smirked. "Yeah, I think I'm done with that business. Sorry for all the pain I caused you."

"Well, I trust Kenshin's judgment. If he thinks you're good then you must be."

Kenshin proceeded to tell Kaoru the events that happened after Mika was kidnapped. Akira would add into the story as Kenshin told it. Kaoru sat and listened attentively. She was just glad that everyone was safe.

"So Akira, what are you going to do now?" asked Kaoru.

"I really don't know. All I know is that whatever I do is going to involve Mika, if she wants to."

Kaoru smiled. She was finally going to have Kenshin all to herself and Mika would be happy in the end. It's okay to be greedy when everyone wins, isn't it?

The next day when Mika arrived at the dojo she received a warm welcome. All the members of the dojo were there including Sano and Akira. The first thing she did was she walked over to Kenshin.

"Kenshin, if you weren't there to help, I don't know what would have happened."

"Oh it was no problem Miss Mika. I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

"I appreciate it."

Mika turned to Akira. "You didn't kill me."

"I couldn't kill you."

"Why?"

"I love you."

Mika's mouth dropped open. "You love me?"

"Yes, I do. I'd really like it if you left with me to start a new way of life."

"I…I don't know what to say."

"Say you will."

Mika looked over at Kenshin. He smiled at her but then held Kaoru's hand. Mika nodded and turned back to Akira. "Okay."

Sano and Yahiko started to cheer. Akira took Mika and went to his new horse. That was his last act as a thief. He had stolen the fisherman's horse instead of returning it like Sano had asked. Right before they left Mika called out to Kaoru.

"Yes Mika?"

"Thank you for letting me into your home. You did so much for me."

"Make sure you come back to visit."

"Oh don't worry, I will. And Kaoru."

"What?"

"Take care of him okay?"

Kaoru smirked. "Of course I will."

With that Mika and Akira galloped off down the road. Yahiko turned to Kaoru. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing that concerns little kids."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE?"

Kaoru laughed. "Oh, no one."

Yahiko steamed off towards his room, mumbling things about stupid girls. Kenshin turned to Kaoru. Kaoru looked at him and waited for him to say something. Instead Kenshin bent down and kissed her. After a few seconds they parted. Sano looked at Kenshin, then Kaoru, then back at Kenshin.

"Okay you guys, I seriously missed something. When did this happen?"

Kenshin grinned, still looking into Kaoru's eyes. "I don't know Sano, it just did."

Sano started to walk away. "Well, I'll leave you guys now. Just don't get too frisky on me all right Kenshin?"

Kaoru blushed but Kenshin took her chin to make her look at him. "Hey, you want to take that walk now?"

"Yes, I think I'd enjoy that."

So Kaoru took Kenshin's hand and they started walking out of the dojo. They turned down the path and walked along the river, stopping in a familiar spot to enjoy the beauty of winter and each other's company.

The End

A/N: Well, first off I hope everyone had a happy holidays. I wanted to get this done before next year, which I did so let me say Happy New Year! I'm really happy with this story. It was my first relatively long one and I think I did okay. I appreciate all of you who read from the beginning and those of you who joined later and thought the story good enough to review. I REALLY appreciate all of the support and critique I got. I'm almost at 100 reviews and probably will get there which is pretty awesome. Please check out the stuff I write in the future and let me know what you thought of the ending! I think I closed off everything but if you need further explanation let me know. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!