Disclaimer: How many of these have I written? Well anyway I dunn' own the series so dunn' sue me!

A/N: thank you animegurl23 for letting me know about the chapter, my stupid computer has been on the fritz and my documents in turn have suffered the consequences ::sighs:: anyway here is the real chapter 10 enjoy!

Sorry it took me so long to update school computer problems bad

Oh and for the date I am going by the day on absoluteanime (a fun site, IMHO)

Sleep is always a good thing, especially when you are exhausted; it's the waking up part that was always gets you. Especially when every part of the body is suffering from the aches and pains of working it past it's limits.

Kaoru groaned as she tried to turn over on her futon but to no avail her body protested to any movement what-so-ever. Kaoru gave up the futile fight and just lay on her stomach waiting hopefully for someone to get her (mainly Kenshin). Though no one came and she lay there unable to move and starting to get very hungry.

"Mmm" she grumbled as she forced herself up off of the ground, 'mental note number one, never try to work yourself into exhaustion and then go to sleep directly afterwards.

"You're awake?" Hiko asked as she meandered out into the fresh air.

Kaoru blinked a couple of times. "Where's Kenshin?"

"He said something about talking to an old friend of his. He won't be back for a while."

"Ah," Kaoru said as she slid to the ground slowly. "What day is today?" she asked suddenly struck by a thought.

"June 3rd" Hiko thought this was an odd question but he played along with it.

Kaoru smiled feebly and she closed her eyes and then started to laugh at herself for forgetting. "To think I would be here of all places."

"Hmm..." Hiko quirked his eyebrow in interest.

Kaoru realized that she had started to muse aloud again. "It's nothing," her cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment (much like Hiko's do after drinking too much sake).

There was a silent agreement between the two that whatever was on her mind was not to be brought up.

"Umm..." Kaoru began but was interrupted.

"Has my idiot apprentice ever told you about the time he ate poisoned leaves and saw in swirled color for nearly a week?"

Kaoru smiled mischievously, "No he has not, I would like to hear that... and maybe some other stories."

"That is all well in good, but I will tell you on one condition."

Kaoru looked at him worried at what he was going to ask.

"No nothing like that," Hiten-Mitsurugi does come in handy when it comes to sensing a persons uncertainties. "I want you to work on some pottery..."

An odd request, but one that Kaoru wasn't about to turn down; especially if it meant hearing incriminating stories of Kenshin that she could hold against him later. So as she started to shape a tea cup (her new specialty). Hiko began his story.

Time past and a whole tea set later, Kaoru had full knowledge of most of the tales Hiko had to offer about Kenshin growing up. As Hiko finished his long winded tale of how Kenshin learned that using a katana to cut a persons hair was a bad idea our rurouni in question came walking into the hut not knowing that he was now under serious scrutiny by a certain raccoon girl.

"So Kenshin... I thought you just liked your hair long I didn't know you were afraid to cut it ever again..."

"Oro?!" Kenshin then realized what had happened, "Master! You didn't tell Miss Kaoru those stories did you?"

"Only some of them, I didn't tell her the more incriminating ones." Kaoru smiled with the prospect of more stories about her rurouni.

Whether that was a good thing or not, Kenshin did not want to know. He instead made his exit quick deciding to himself that his making dinner was safer than either Kaoru or his master. 'Do all teachers of kenjutsu not know how to cook?' he wondered.

Kenshin sighed audibly as he started to prepare the stew that they were to eat. Something was different about Kaoru today. There was something in her eyes today that wasn't there before, but what was it? Kenshin shook his head this was just something he would just have to find out later, there were too many things on his mind now.

His visit with Okina today was less helpful than he had hoped for. This was a game of chess, and he was waiting for the next move, but the wait was excruciating. Kenshin stirred the vegetables in the pot trying to think of what to do next.

"Have you ever asked her?"

"Oro?" Kenshin looked up at his master confused by his question.

"Don't start with you're 'oroing' crap. Have you ever asked her what happened to her family?" Hiko looked at his idiot apprentice. 'Of course you haven't' he thought, 'You have been caught up in your on past to think about hers.'

"I erm- umm..." Kenshin looked at him perplexed, what more was there to know? Kaoru's father died in the war over a year ago, and her mother died of illness. What would she have that she was not telling him? She wouldn't keep something from him would she?

"That pretty much answers my question." Hiko said shaking his head, "Have you ever thought that the answer to all of this lies with her, maybe with her family."

Kenshin blinked "What do you know?" Then his eyes narrowed "You aren't telling me something master, what is it?"

Hiko only smiled in response.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru questioned as she stepped outside as well, "Is dinner ready yet?"

"No Miss Kaoru, soon though."

Kaoru raised her eyebrow, 'that was very un-Kenshin like.'

"It looks like dinner is going to need some sake!" Hiko said making his exit.

"You couldn't find out anything today Kenshin?" Kaoru asked trying to make conversation.

Kenshin shook his head dejectedly.

Kaoru sighed and nodded. "I'm sure something will happen, just give it time..."

"Time is one thing we don't have, who ever this is, is killing innocent lives."

Kaoru looked away, "I know." She had a distant look on her face. 'This is my fault...'

"Miss Kaoru?"

"It's nothing Kenshin, I was just thinking... Dinner looks great, just- just tell me when it's ready." Kaoru walked off towards the waterfall.

- - -

Kaoru sat down at the edge of the water looking at her reflection. 'Come on Kamiya, look at the bright side of things. It's a beautiful warm day you're not dead, and you are safe with Kenshin looking over you, what more could you ask for?'

"I can think of something." Kaoru muttered out loud.

"What would that be Miss Kaoru?" Kenshin smiled as he came to join her.

Kaoru blushed, she hadn't noticed that he had followed her. "It was nothing... I was just thinking about today."

Kenshin gave her his sweet rurouni smile, "What about today Miss Kaoru?"

"It's nothing really; I was just thinking of how peaceful today was for once." Kaoru smiled back at him.

'That smile... it's so sad like...' The voice in the back of his mind started to snicker. 'Go on say it, I know you want to,' said his battousai half.

"Miss Kaoru, what do you mean?" He asked escaping before his thoughts could battle.

Kaoru shook her head, "It's just that today is June third, I have never had much luck with this day." Kaoru smiled as she looked at their reflections in the water, "But it was just an ordinary day, and I am grateful."

"Miss Kaoru I-" 'go on say it you stupid rurouni get it over with' the battousai said exasperated by his hesitation.

"Yes Kenshin?" Kaoru looked at him in anticipation.

Kenshin smiled his rurouni smile once again. "Dinner is ready."

Kaoru's face faulted. "Alright Kenshin," She stood up and followed him silently to an awaiting Hiko.

"It's about time you got here!" Hiko said already eating his share of the stew.

Kaoru smiled politely before she began to eat as well, 'Hmm, it seems so calm today, I wonder if that is a good sign or not.' Kaoru thought as she began to eat her meal in silence.

"May I ask you a question?" Hiko directed to Kaoru snapping her back to reality.

Kaoru nodded looking at the older man in front at her, wondering what it could be that he wanted to ask her.

"Today, it's a special day for you is it not?"

'Master?!' Kenshin thought shooting Hiko a startled look, why was he pressing on something Kaoru obviously didn't seem to keen on talking about.

Kaoru smiled bitterly, "No more special than any other day."

"I think Miss Kamiya that you may be lying." Hiko smirked.

Kaoru chuckled darkly, "I think Mr. Hiko you seem to know more than what you let on, so maybe we should start with you, is this a special day for me?"

Kenshin blinked not sure how to react to the conversation between the young kendo teacher from Tokyo, and his old master. 'What's going on here?'

To be continued...

A/N: I know I am leaving you hanging, but I promise to update sooner this time (and with the correct chapter) if I don't then you should know it's not because I gave up on this or any other story ::Coughlostcoughcough:: It's my senior year and I have stupidly decided to take a few AP Classes along with a new art club advisor who is an evil bitch (and I am being nice).

So here is BC's sage advice: Never sign up to be the head of a club where the advisor has a personal vendetta against children.

Yahiko: Is she worse than busu?

BC: -.- seeing how Kaoru isn't that bad, I would have to say yes.