A/N: Hi readers. It's me. Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Some things have come up in the last couple of weeks. For those of you who read my bio and saw my news category you know why, but for those who don't here are the reasons why: (1) My cat Kara, who I have loved, raised, and took care of for the last 14 years passed away on 10/13. It saddened and broke my heart when my mom brought me to where she laid dead, (2) Quarterly exams came along last week of October so I've been studying, and (3) my birthday came the 30th and I turned 16. So it has been a labor of love for me. So, I want to thank you for your patience and reviews. So please enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own RK

Chapter 5: Prayers and A Meeting Outside School

Sunday morning was very beautiful today. The sun was shinning and the birds were singing (A/N: I hope that didn't sound to weird.). Kaoru was happy that a day like this had come; she had gotten up, and headed outside for a nice walk to the park where she could read and just relax in the lovely day. She headed off to Temple first to do her usual Sunday morning prayers. Kaoru came in to see others praying too and she knelt down in an empty space and prayed.

'Dear heavenly father, first I'd like to pray for the needy and the ill, that they be blessed and looked after. I'd like to pray for my family and my friends and that they all live a long happy life. And I do have this one question, is it a sin to like a teacher the way I like Mr. Himura? Mom says that many girls have crushes on their teachers, but I fear heartache will come to me if I start to have deeper feelings for him. Maybe I'm nuts, but I can't stop this feeling I have towards him. I hope it isn't a sin. Pray for me and for him. Ahem.'

Kaoru then got up and headed out the door towards the park. She found a bench and sat down on it and began to read her book and became completely absorbed in it that she didn't notice a man come towards her to sit down.

Kenshin had come out to the sunny and wonderful day that had greeted him when he opened the door. He had headed down to Temple to do some prayer. When he reached there he knelt down and began to pray.

'Dear God, I'd like to pray for all those ill, needy, and mostly for Tomoe. I really do miss her and I know she's watching from above. And I need to ask you for your forgiveness for two things, one, the way I'm using Aya for keeping my mind off this student I'm attracted too, and two, for even thinking of a student in that way. I know that Kaoru is a nice kid, but that's all she is, a kid, a plain 17/18-year-old kid. However, I can't seem to keep my mind off her. It's strange I just met her 4 weeks ago and already I feel something strong towards her. It may not be a sin to feel this way for someone, but I believe it is a sin to feel this way towards a student. Please forgive me and pray for me and for her. Tell Tomoe I said hi. Ahem.'

Kenshin then got up and headed towards the park. When he got there he saw all the little kids playing and sharing the moments with their parents. Kenshin felt warmth and happiness at the site he had seen, but it slowly turned into sadness. He wanted to have children, to be able to watch them grow, play, and he could be there witnessing it all, but he knew he couldn't. It would have been great to have had a child with Tomoe and what saddened him more was that she was 2 months pregnant when she got into the accident. Kenshin didn't just lose one person that day, he lost two and that made him all the more sadder. He then came to a bench and sat down not noticing a girl completely absorbed in a book.

After reading the chapter Kaoru closed the book and put it into her bag. She looked to her side and so, a familiar red head. "Hi, Mr. Himura?"

Kenshin looked up and turned to see the girl that occupied his thoughts. "Oh, hi Kaoru. How are you?"

"Fine, thanks. You?"

"I'm fine."

"I've been meaning to tell you something Mr. Himura."

"Oro?"

"Umm, oro?"

"Oh it's just something I usually say sometimes. I have a habit of saying it a lot."

"Oh. Anyways I wanted to say thanks for uh, talking with me several weeks ago. Everything been okay since that talk we had."

"Well, that's good. I'm glad to hear it. You should smile more often and not be so sad, it makes you look lovely." 'Oro? Did I just say that?'

"Thanks, I'll try and do that." 'Is it me or did he just say I look lovely when I smile?'

Kaoru then looked at her watch. "Oh, would you look at the time? I got to get going before my parents worry."

"Okay, it is getting rather late, that it is."

"Well, I'll see you in class tomorrow. Bye."

"Bye."

Kaoru and Kenshin hugged suddenly, it was going to be only for a quick second, a simple little hug, but it lasted a bit longer. Kenshin smelt her wonderful scent and couldn't get over how good she smelt.

"You smell nice, that you do." 'Oro? Why am I saying this?'

"Thanks so do." 'Ugh, that sounded so corny you dope head.'

Kaoru liked being in his strong and warm embrace, she felt oddly safe in his arms. As they pulled away from the embrace, they looked into each other's eyes, both absorbed in them. They began to lean closer till they were just a breath away from touching each other's lips. Kaoru pulled back once she realized what was happening.

"Uh, uh, I better go."

"Uh, yes me too. Bye."

"Bye."

They walked away stiffly not daring to look back with shock in their eyes.

'I can't believe that almost happened. What was I thinking? Being in his embrace was great, fantastic even. When I was with Enishi I didn't feel that way at all and now all of a sudden I feel that way with Mr. Himura. This is nuts, I know I like him, but I didn't think that . . . Hey wait a minute. He was going to kiss me too; I wasn't the only one leaning in. Could it be that he likes me the way I like him? Ugh! How did life get to be so complicated?'

Kenshin was busy hitting himself in the head against a tree he was standing behind. 'Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! What was I thinking? Me kissing Kaoru would have been wrong if she didn't pull away. I'm glad that it didn't happen but a part of me wishes it did happen, maybe I'm crazy, but I could actually like her in the way of a person and not a student. (A/N: Did that make any sense?) Holding her just now and smelling her scent felt so right. Something I haven't felt since Tomoe. She was going to kiss me too so that must mean she likes me not in a teacher way. Oro? Please help me Lord.'

It seems like things are beginning to heat up between Kenshin and Kaoru. Sorry that this chapter is relatively short. I have homework to do. Chapter 6 will be out soon as possible. The chapter for my other story, One night can change your life, forever will be out by tomorrow or Tuesday. Thanks for reading and please review.

Also to be honest I think my prayers written in this chapter sounded a bit sappy. Oh, well.