Disclaimer: I don't own Rouruoni Kenshin or any of the characters. I could always hire some one to steal them for me though and then I could be with my darling Sano-chan!

A/N: I'm really having trouble naming these chapters! I named the second chapter secrets revealed but this chapter also reveals a lot! I dunno maybe I'll just stick to numbering the bloody chapters excuse the language. oh and if anyone doesnt like kenshin or what he's feeling dont read it.

i hate kenshin: thnx for you review but if you dont like kenshin then dont read stories bout him.

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Chapter 4:

Kaoru laid the breakfast table, just as Kenshin and Yahiko walked in. It was just miso soup and rice with vegetable pickle today. They all sat down when Sanosuke walked in humming. Then he looked down to find only three places laid at the table…

"What no one wants me at breakfast?" he raised an eyebrow. "That's so not fair! You know breakfast is my god!"

Kaoru blinked. "I wasn't expecting you so early! You always get up late in the morning!" she said accusingly. But getting another mat anyway.

Sanosuke sat down. "I'm a changed man! Hey ebi (shrimp)! Enjoying breakfast?"

Yahiko turned red in the face. "I'm not an ebi! Stop calling me that!" he almost burst with anger and Sanosuke reached over and ruffled his hair. They watched Sanosuke's exceptionally good mood all morning with surprise, he was usually grouchy in the mornings.

"Ok I'm going out now. Kaoru, do you want me to pick up something?" he put his head around the door. He almost rolled around laughing as Kaoru stared at him stupefied before reeling off a list of things.

He made his down the street heading for a certain restaurant. He whistled the whole way, paying Sakana-san more than he should. he looked forward to meeting her again.

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He clambered up the branches and jumped into her room, dodging a shuriken that hit the wall an inch from his face.

"Sanosuke! You scared me. Don't do that again you could've have died! And what are you doing here?" Mariko looked at him her eyes wide with surprise.

"I wouldn't have died. And you need to lighten up! So lets go!" he slipped an arm around her waist, dodging again as a punch came his way. They leapt of the window and fell into the mud.

Mariko dusted her kimono. "I hate these kimonos. Give me your pants any day! And I could have made a better landing!"

Sanosuke smiled. "You want my trousers? Here? Ok you can have them." He began unlacing them.

"Sanosuke-san! I didn't mean that! Stop right now or you're a dead man!" Mariko found she was blushing…stop it!

He smiled and pointed to the horse. "Shall we leave?" before the words were out of his mouth she was sitting side saddle…but she gestured for him to sit behind her. He got on and slipped his arms around her, grabbing the reins from her hands. She frowned the whole way there.

It was the fair. Mariko couldn't help the squeal of delight that escaped her lips. They checked out all the stalls. Mariko beat Sanosuke at the ball stall, by hitting all the three stacks of bottles. She got him a small stuffed bear. "To go with your childish attitude, little boy. Now you needn't be scared of the dark."

But Sanosuke beat her at the test your strength stall, winning his bet. Mariko paid the bet, by standing on tiptoes to timidly kiss him, in public. When she was done, she went redder than the clown's nose. They had a fun lunch of sushi though Sanosuke would have bought the whole menu.

When suddenly Sanosuke remembered that he had promised Kaoru some groceries for lunch! They rode back really fast, and didn't stop until they had reached the dojo. Sanosuke ran in and dumped the groceries on the small table just as Kaoru walked in with more bags of groceries.

"You're late…I just went out and bought some. What am I going to do with all these groceries?" Kaoru looked at him in despair. "What have you been doing all morning?"

Sano looked around and realized Mariko had disappeared. He went out to look for her when Kaoru stopped him. "Why are you smelling of perfume?"

Suddenly he saw her standing a little way of leaning against one of the trees. His common sense told him to leave her there. She was giving him an easy way out…he didn't have to call her in and she wouldn't be meeting her prey. But he shook off Kaoru and walked up to her.

"A penny for your thoughts."

"I don't think I should come in Sanosuke. You're leading me right to his house and you know I'll have to kill him." Mariko looked up at him irritated.

"I'm trying to stop you from killing him. Just come in Mariko…meet the others, socialize a bit, I bet you haven't done that in a long time."

"Sanosuke…I will kill him. I don't want to meet him here, not in his house. Do you know how easy it will be for me to kill him if I explore his house?" Mariko whispered angrily.

"Sanosuke! Oh…hello. Sanosuke you never introduced me to your friend!" Kaoru stood a little distance from them and there was nothing for Mariko to do but force a smile on to her face.

"Hajimemashite. I'm Takashi Mariko; I own the restaurant, Oishii Ryori. I met Sanosuke-san, yesterday. We met again today while buying groceries and he accompanied me part of the way, but your home is on the way to so he said he'd drop off the groceries before walking me home." She lied smoothly. Forgetting the teddy bear and the other fair stuff.

"But you must come in. we were just having lunch." Kaoru cut off her protests. "I'm Kamiya Kaoru."

They went in, Mariko talking nineteen to dozen with Kaoru. She liked her a lot. Well Mariko…glad you like her; after all, all you're going to do is kill her love. She thought sarcastically.

As they ate, Mariko having declined politely, just drinking sake, Kenshin arrived. He saw her and stopped. "Mariko-san."

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Kaoru watched Mariko stand up…more like glide to her feet and bow. "Himura-san. How are you? I was passing by, having met Sanosuke, when Kaoru-san invited me in."

Kaoru saw the slight appreciative look flit across Kenshin's face. "It's nice to see you again. Please sit down." He took his place next to Kaoru opposite Mariko.

It was a revealing meal for Kaoru…she saw the way Sanosuke looked at the beautiful woman. He was clearly in love with her and her with him, though she hid it very well.

She didn't pay too much attention to him, talking and laughing with everyone. Kaoru didn't miss the mix of emotions in Kenshin's eyes either. When he looked at Mariko, she saw admiration, concentration on her every word, anger and what hurt her most of all something like love. No… wasn't love really, more like Kenshin liked the woman, like he wanted her.

But didn't Kenshin love her…Kaoru? Or was she mistaking it with friendship? She tried to hate Mariko, but found she couldn't. She liked the beautiful, lively woman a lot. Oh Kenshin…what's going on?

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Kenshin couldn't take his eyes of her. She looked so pretty and her perfume somehow sent his head reeling. He was watching her every move. The way she moved her head when talking to Yahiko, her laugh, and the amused look in her eyes…everything was perfect. Kenshin didn't notice anything else, he didn't notice the way Sanosuke looked at her and she him, she didn't notice Kaoru watching him with a hurt expression, he just stared hungrily and if Mariko had been meat he would have eaten her.

Suddenly he turned and found himself staring into two pained blue eyes. Kaoru was staring at him hurt. That brought him back to senses and he tried hard to look at everything but Mariko.

Soon she glided to her feet and he had to look at her. "Thank you for your hospitality, Kaoru-san, Himura-san, Yahiko. I must be leaving now or everyone will wonder where I am."

Kenshin looked into her deep blue eyes and felt a small thrill go down his spine. She was beautiful…

Sanosuke jumped up. "I'll walk you home!" and followed her out.

Yahiko watched them walk out. "Those two make and excellent couple…Sanosuke couldn't have chosen better."

"What?" Kenshin looked at the boy whop made a face at him. "Don't tell me you didn't notice Kenshin. They were all over each other."

Kenshin stared at him. "I don't think anything is going on between them. What do you think Kaoru?"

Kaoru had left. She was behind the house wiping away a few quick tears.

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A/N: I guess it'll be an M rating from the next chapter or maybe next to next onwards. Hope you like this chapter! Have fun.

Arashi/Taka.