A/N: Well here it is. Took me a lot longer then expected to write (how in the world could a dialoge b/t Kenshin and Kaoru be that hard to do!). Stupid Muses must have left me...sob... Anyways thanks to everyone who has been reading. Enjoy!
IMPROTAINT!: Before you read this chapter, please go back and re-read what the last thing Kakiku says. I read that part and saw my mistake, and I fixed it, so now the plot makes a little more sense. Thank you.

WhiteRabbit5-Thanks so much for reviewing again! Don't worry if you got to it late. Anyways I will try to keep my beloved Saito in character, but I must warn yopu, he will show his softer side. BWAHAHAHA!

omasuoniwabanshi- Gee, thanks for telling me how the spell ruffians corectly, sometimes spell check and I don't get along (CURSES!). And the info on Saito was nice. Thanks again. Yah, I'd hope Kakiku and Ashira would be realistic sisters, since I have none of my own, BUT I have experinced the joys of sisterhood through two of my friends who are sisters. Man, you can guess how Saito might feel IF those girls join his household. teehee.

"..."-dialog
Italics- thought, stress on word
O0o...o0OO0o...o0O-change in scene

Disclaimer-yada yada, me on own. -.- Except Kakiku and Ashira. MINE!

0o.Chapter 2.o0

The very instant that Saito was opening the shocking letter, a certain crimsoned haired man was opening a towel in his sword callused hands. Kenshin Himura smiled at the starched piece of cloth and strolled over to the drying poles that were covered with newly washed laundry. He laid the towel upon the cramped pole, thus adding another flapping wing to the strangely colored beast that was dotted with the festive hues of kimonos and gis. A balmy wind carried itself in between the clothes, encouraging them to hasten their drying so that their washer could fully experience this stunning day. But Kenshin really did not mind if his chore lasted an eternity, just so long he could work within this sanctuary-like dojo, being renewed and cleansed like the clothes he was washing. Besides, laundry was an outside chore, and what sane person would not want to be outside on a day such as this?

Kenshin returned to the well used washing tub and began scrubbing the stains out of the last article of clothing, a training hamaka, when a strange noise came to his ears. Rather it was the lack of a noise that received Kenshin's attention. He straightened by the washing tub, cocking his head toward the other end of the dojo and attentively listened for any clues to the disappeared sound. The steady swish that was Kaoru and Yahiko's training was gone, replaced with a gradually thunderous hum. Kenshin sighed and smiled, feeling a bit foolish for forgetting the type of dialogue Kaoru and Yahiko usually experienced during their training sessions. Turning back to the tub, Kenshin continued to listen to the prelude to the comedic act that would surely follow.

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME YAHIKO?"

Kenshin's smile widened at Kaoru's outburst and the ensuing scuttle of Yahiko's sandals against the hard packed earth. Soon the rebellious, coal-haired youth entered the scene, a devilish smirk plastered on his face. He was pursued by the enraged Kaoru; looking like a demon unleashed from hell, with her raised shinai poised for a condemning head strike. After scuttling around the confined space, with Kenshin watching with a bemused look on his face, Yahiko did a most wretched thing: he tripped over a stone. With a conquering grin at gaining an advantage, Kaoru swung her shinai down upon the most unlucky head of Yahiko. The poor boy did not even have a chance to rise and flee before he was knocked down once again with the slamming blow.

As Yahiko lay there, twitching and dazed, Kaoru simply stood with her breath coming out in annoyed huffs and gasps. After gloating over her fallen prey for a moment, she turned around to face the still bemused Kenshin; a gleeful smile overtaking the look of rage on her youthful face. At that moment the balmy breeze picked up again, teasingly puling Kaoru's lengthy pony-tail to her right side. As the sunlight caught itself between the strands, it illuminated them to the deepest hue of sapphire imaginable. Kenshin smiled, drinking in this sight and patiently waited for Kaoru to speak.

"Hey Kenshin, what's for lunch today?" She said; either indifferent to the fact that she just gave a near coma-inducing blow to her one and only student, or rather choosing to ignore it.

"I suppose I can make miso soup again Miss Kaoru." Kenshin replied good-naturedly.

"Okay then, I'll go and get changed." Both of them smiled at the other and Kaoru turned back towards the dojo; but then a thought came to join the smile on her lips and she asked out loud,

"Kenshin, have you heard anything from Sano lately?" She halted and glanced over her right shoulder towards the laundering red head. He looked up once again from his work and locked sapphire eyes with his amethyst ones.

"Why no I haven't Miss Kaoru, why do you ask?"
"Well, usually he's always around here eating our food or just bumming out; but I

haven't seen him around lately. I'm just wondering if he's alright, that's all Kenshin." The young swordswoman bit her lower lip as if chewing would help speed the arrival of the long-awaited Sanosuke. Kenshin was starting to say the usual words of reassurance, but surprisingly enough, Yahiko spoke first, while rising from the terra firma and dusting off his training gi.

"Geez Kaoru, remember who you're talking about? It's Sano for crying out loud! The only trouble he could possibly get into is with the police, and then you know he deserves it. So stop worrying about the guy, he's probably just visiting some old friends of his and is out of town."
Kenshin and Kaoru's eyes softened at this mature reassurance; Yahiko was slowly but surely growing into adult, any day now and he might turn into the image of a perfect gentleman. But that fabled day was not this day.

"But you know Sano might still be in town." Yahiko continued crossing his arms and looking upwards with a deceivingly thoughtful look on his tan face. "In fact he could be 'visiting' Megumi for all we know."

"Megumi's sick with something very contagious Yahiko, why would Sano visit someone that would get him sick?" Kaoru cut in.

"You see that's the thing; how do we know if Megumi's really sick? Come on, how can a doctor get that sick? For all we know it's just a ploy so that she and Sano can have some 'quality time' together." He chuckled at his own speculating thoughts. Kenshin and Kaoru's eyes enlarged and their faces simultaneously turned a rather dashing shade of cherry. But before either of them could put an end to these vulgar suggestions, Yahiko's mouth babbled on unheeded.

"Yah, I bet that's exactly what they're doing, over at the deserted clinic, entertaining each other…" Thankfully, before the Yahiko's mind could fantasize any further then the closed doors of the clinic, Kaoru had already begun swinging her shinai toward the horribly suggestive boy.

O0o…o0OO0o…o0O

Sanosuke had long ago completed the short tune of his favorite drinking song, so now as he was journeying toward the Kamiya dojo he had reverted back to the tuneless humming he often practiced. Not bothering with entering the dojo through its front gates, which was most logical to many people, he chose the more casual back entrance. Upon reaching the humble wooden door, Sanosuke began opening it with an un-oiled screech with one hand, with the other firmly lodged within his pocket, but stopped immediately when his eyes beheld the sight before him.

Kaoru, holding the pitiful Yahiko by the collar and rhythmically beating him over his head with the aid of her shinai; and Kenshin, with his sleeves still tied up and arms still sudsy, franticly trying to stop their one-sided fight. And one could imagine the pure shock Sanosuke must have surly felt.

Making a noise that resembled both a sigh and a grunt, Sanosuke finished entering the dojo. As he was amiably strolling towards this slap-stick comedic act he called out,

"Geez, do you guys ever anything new around here?"

Kenshin swiveled around, owlishly blinking his mauve eyes, and then smiled in greeting; even Kaoru stopped her relentless bashing of Yahiko's head to greet the long-awaited Sanosuke.

Dropping Yahiko like the cliché bag of potatoes, Kaoru did a characteristic skip over to the languidly smiling ex-Zanza. Both Kenshin and Kaoru were excessively relieved that Sanosuke was not in fact with Megumi 'entertaining' each other, as Yahiko so delicately put it; and their relief was shown noticeably on their beaming faces. Resisting the urge to hug the lanky Sanosuke, Kaoru settled for asking in mock rage,

"And just where have you been Sano? You've better not have been off gambling and the only reason you're here is to bum money off me!"

The corners of Sanosuke's mouth twitched with a suppressed smile; he had in fact missed Kaoru's fireball antics and the arguments he shared with her. Completely breezing by the supposedly enraged Kaoru, he went to the porch and settled himself comfortably with his back resting against the rough supporting beams.

"Aw, come on Missy, can't you have just a little bit of faith in me? With a personality like that it's a wonder that Kenshin's still here doing laundry and cooking. And speaking of which," Sanosuke cut his eyes over to Kenshin, who was happily finishing the delayed washing of the hamaka, "when is lunch Kenshin?"

Kenshin continued to smile and told Sanosuke the information. With another hasty flash of a smile, Sanosuke settled himself even more comfortably against the pole, ignoring the annoying grumbles from both Kaoru and Yahiko, and mused off. No; he would not tell them the real reason behind his absence, that would only muddle their serene lives. He had already confessed to himself and that was enough to lift the burden of guilt off him. Sanosuke would have to simply learn to love the sweet monotony of an adventure free life; but then, what harm could be done through a small adventure? Sanosuke's thoughts returned to the man he spotted in the streets.

"Hey Kenshin, you know anything 'bout anybody new in town who just so happens to be taller then me?"

O0o…o0OO0o…o0O

Thrice Saito read the letter, thrice he examined the concise information it held, and for a third time he felt an uncharacteristic befuddlement. But still, the carefully written words buzzed in his vision like angry gnats; no matter how Saito tried to shoo them away. This letter was neither a morbid prank of some sort nor an easily believable document; annoyingly enough, it held characteristics of both categories. There was ample plausible information, all laid out in a realistic manner; but it hardly made any sense as to how this was landed upon Saito.

Someone out there is going to pay for ruining my life. Saito thought most unpleasantly.

She had been watching him for nearly two minutes now, almost having to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the sight she held before her. Her husband, the infamous Wolf of Mibu, was standing in the middle of the courtyard looking utterly confused; and she was certain that one could count the number of times Saito had been confused on a lone hand. He looked as if he might reach up a hand to scratch the back of his head; and if that happened, Tokio was certain that she then could no longer hold back on any laughter whatsoever.

To prevent herself from bursting into hysterical giggles, which in turn would cause Saito to look more bewildered, which would lead to her laughing more, and so on and so forth until ultimately an awkward moment was produced; she cooed out,

"Welcome home Hajime."

Her reply was his silence. Not even a flicker of his amber eyes from the letter to acknowledge her presence. She tried again.

"Hajime?"

Once more silence answered her. Tokio's merriment was soon invaded by a feeling of concern for her husband. Saito always answered her, even before she could ask anything; it would be rare occasion indeed if she ever had to repeat herself. Yet twice his attention was captivated by that letter. What exactly did it read?

As graceful as the morning's fog, she laid down the spare futons she had been holding and walked toward her oddly acting husband with wary steps.

When she had finally reached Saito, Tokio planted herself right before the man, simultaneously touching his arm with her concerned hand. Saito blinked once in response and looked down to gaze into a pair of eyes that were the color of the darkest emerald clouded with questions and concern.

"You never answered me Hajime." A statement that caused Saito to temporarily slip out of his mask of cold severity, and he allowed his wolfish eyes to soften. Reaching up with a vacant hand, Saito rested it against Tokio's raven-colored head. Placing his thumb at the V created by the part in her hair, he stroked her bangless forehead while his other digits found the odd callic that separated one strand of velvet from the rest.

"Oh? I'm sorry" He softly replied, still absent mindedly playing with her tresses. Tokio's eyes still held questions, but in-between the clouds of confusion shone glimmers of amusement. She never really understood why Saito always played with her hair, but truthfully she liked this odd habit of his. But, there were still things that needed to be answered, so she crossed her arms across her butter cream obi, cocked one eyebrow and asked in mock severity,

"And what exactly are you reading?" Saito stared at her for a moment.

"It seems," he replied, his tone returning to the norm, "that we'll be expecting guests sooner then we thought."

O0o…o0OO0o…o0O

Kenshin blinked in surprise at Sanosuke's blunt question. Placing the finally clean hamaka upon the drying poles, Kenshin turned back to answer him.

"Well, no, not exactly Sano. Why?"

"Hm, don't know, just wondering I guess." Sanosuke sighed and closed his eyes, still speculating on whom exactly that tall man was. A peaceful silence once again returned to the dojo as Kenshin quietly left to prepare another of his famous meals. Sanosuke was still sprawled out on the porch when Yahiko re-entered, carrying a shinai he probably dropped while fleeing from the fuming Kaoru. He took one look at the near dozing Sanosuke and an impish idea stole into his head. Coming closer to the still unaware Sanosuke, Yahiko smirked once and asked loud enough to wake him rudely,

"HEY! What were you and Kenshin talking about?" Sanosuke winced as his awakening was yelled into his ear and grumbled out,

"Nothing a little kid should worry about." Yahiko sighed exasperatedly at his not so beloved nockname and shook his head.

"Geez, why do people still call me 'little'?"

"Because you are. Anyways, I was just asking Kenshin if anyone new just came into town, he said there wasn't, so don't worry your little head over it." Sanosuke replied.

Instead of grumbling and stalking off as Sanosuke predicted, Yahiko stayed in place and answered calmly,

"That's odd, 'cus I know of at least two people who just moved here. At least that's what I heard from Tae."

His attention instantly risen, Sanosuke cocked an eyebrow at this, "Go on."

"Well, she said something about a Western carpenter that came about two weeks ago and now there's some new police man that just moved into that old abandoned house a few blocks from here; but that's about it."

Silence hung between the two as each carefully examined this new information. Sanosuke broke the silence first,

"Hm, I wonder why Kenshin didn't know that."

"To tell you the truth, Kenshin has barely left the dojo! Kaoru's been like a slave driver and keeps him here with all the chores he has to do." Yahiko answered.

Sanosuke smirked as the mental image of Kenshin sweeping the floor with Kaoru laughing menacingly upon her throne adorned with images of racoons ran through his head.

"Yah, that makes sense."

O0o…o0OO0o…o0O

"Oh man, I feel like my feet are going to snap off if I have to walk any further in these shoes." Kakiku moaned out.

The sisters had been traveling upon the well kept pathway for nearly an hour and their sore feet were taking a toll. Even though they smiled brightly at anyone who they crossed on this busy way, inside they were near exhaustion. Kakiku could freely voice any discomfort she might experience on this trip, but Ashira bit her tongue; her ego would not allow her to say that she too was in pain.

"You know, you shouldn't complain so much Kakiku; it doesn't suit you." Ashira called back behind her.

"Hey, I'm just complaining because you're too proud to." Kakiku bantered back, ever so slightly annoyed.

Not wishing to begin yet another argument Ashira kept silent. Soon however she felt a small tug on her obi and glanced over her shoulder to be surprised at how close Kakiku came to her. Scuttling away with a small squeak, Ashira hastily got over her surprise to become annoyed at Kakiku and her laughter.

"You're really too easy to scare Ashira, it almost takes the fun out of it. Almost." Ashira sighed at this and began to walk again. However Kakiku had become talkative.

"So anyways, I never really found out why we have to get to Tokyo by tonight. You know, just want to see the reason why you're acting like a slave driver."

"Well Kakiku, I just don't want to keep him waiting any longer."

"Waiting?"

"He has probably been waiting since he got the letter, about a week now."

Kakiku stopped in shock. "A week…?"

"Yes, judging by the time it would take for the letter to reach him when you sent it, he should have had it for about a week now. That is," Ashira turned to look at the guilty acting Kakiku, "if you sent the letter when I told."

Kakiku giggled nervously and replied while scratching her head,

"Um, I forgot?"

Travelers many yards away stopped in their tracts as they heard a vicious bellow,

"KAKIKU!"

A/N: Heh, Ashira gots a temper. Oh, heres another question for "you all". About how old is Sojiro? I think he's about Kaoru's age but I'm not sure. It's just somethiing that's been bugging me AND I'm too lazy to research it. Anywhos, tell what cha think! Seed ja's