A/N sits back and looks at the finished chapter..o.k this one is a little longer then my other one's but I'm sure y'all don't mind that. As for the question about the apologizing scene, I haven't had enough feedback to really work with, so that part will not be in this chapter. So let me know what it is I should do. Oh yeah winks back and Kohan

I also wanted to warn you that it may be a little over a week before I update again. -- I'm having some trouble at school and I need to think about some things and school and fan fiction never works well together. I know, I know, but do not worry. If I every get the school thing resolved then the chapters should start coming faster then they are now. I wanted to thank Shadowgirl and Koishii Sweet for their reviews. lots of hugs o.k enough of that, on to the story!

I don't own Kenshin yadda, yadda and so on

Devotion

By

Melissa x

Chapter 7

After Megumi finished with Karou's ankle, the three women chatted for some time. Tanako was not at all use to the easygoing talk, but she found that it was quit relaxing and amusing at the same time. She laughed as she was told many tales about her new family, with Karou and Megumi giving each other glares as one told something about the other. But after about an hour of the chatter, Tanako couldn't say indoors any longer. She excused herself from the conversation and stepped outside. The early afternoon sun beamed down on the yard and the sound of Yahiko's bokken signing though the air as he practiced was the only sounds heard.

There was a lovely tree that was growing against the wall of the yard, Tanako headed straight for it. It was time for her afternoon meditation, and the tree seemed like a perfect spot. It cast a very nice shadow on the grass and looked extremely peaceful with the leaves fluttering in the wind. Sitting cross-legged against the tree, Tanako started her meditation with a few deep breaths. She allowed her shoulders to droop as she relaxed and she closed her eyes and listened to the new world around her. The soft singing of birds and insects where heard in the distance, but the sound that drew Tanako's ear was the sound of Yahiko's practice. The rhythmic swinging of his wooden sword filled Tanako's mind until there was nothing but that sound. Suddenly a long forgotten memory flooded her vision.

Flashback

Tanako crouched down to get a better look at the tiny flower that fluttered into her line of sight and landed on a blade of long grass. The eight year-old kept her wide green eyes trained on the yellow butterfly as it slowly opened and closed its wings as it rested on the grass. The group of fellow children in training had not noticed that she was missing, and continued to follow their instructor deeper into the grassy plain to practice. The sounds of dozens of swords singing though the air and clashing with one another was the only sound Tanako heard. Nearby, a rather large group of young men where training in the art of swordsmanship, and the sound was hard for the child to ignore. She was able to slip away soundlessly, as she did often, and wandered into the advanced training field to watch the older gang members.

Her long forgotten dagger was held loosely in her hand as she gazed at the tiny flying jewel that took her attention away from the men. Tanako reached out to touch the butterfly, but before she could get anywhere close to it; the insect took to the air, dancing lightly in the breeze in front of the child's face before fluttering away. Smiling, Tanako turned back around to watch the sword fighters. However, she was only able to catch a glimpse of them, for a moment later the long grass was crushed down and a pair of legs were blocking her view. Startled, Tanko fell back and looked up to see Toshiki glaring down at her.

The eleven year old sheathed his katana and without a word, reached down, grabbed the girl and hauled her to her feet. Tanako barley had time to recover her balance, when Toshiki pulled the forgotten dagger from her hand and started giving lessons on proper cleaning technique. Tanako was about to ask him what the heck he was doing scaring her like he did and what in the world he was talking about. But before she could get a word out she saw Sasorie with his second and third in command walking right up to them. Both children bowed deeply to their leader. The white haired leader nodded in return and gazed out at the many members of his gang as they practiced. He again nodded to Toshiki as he moved on; believing that he only interrupted a quick lesson on caring for one's weapons.

Toshiki waited until the three powerful men where out of earshot before he allowed himself to relax. Then he whipped around to the girl, grabbed her hand and thrust the dagger hilt first back in her hand.

" Your lucky I saw you, you foolish girl!" The boy hissed. " I should have just let Sasorie-chan catch you wandering about and neglecting you training." Tanako bowed her head in shame, she knew she did wrong by sneaking away from her own group. Toshiki took the younger child by the shoulder and lead her back to where she was supposed to be. "Had you picked a place that had better cover, you may not have been seen." The boy added in a more gentle tone. "And you got distracted by that butterfly. It is dangerous to get distracted Girl. Your suppose to be a stalker, how will you learn to keep your eyes on your target if you let them wander?"

"I'm sorry," Tanako said, bowing her head for a moment. "And don't call me Girl!" Tanako added before punching the older boy in the shoulder as hard as she could before turning around and bounding back to her group and slipping back in just as silently as she left.

Toshiki allowed a smile to grace his still childish face as he rubbed his shoulder. Tanako was only the third girl to ever join the gang...and she was the youngest as well. But she was acting more like a boy every day. Soon, she would make a great assassin.

End flashback

The sudden silence brought Tanako out of her meditating state. Sliding her eyes open she was noticed that Yahiko had long finished his practicing and was now nowhere to be seen. She turned to look of him and caught an armload of children instead.

" Whatcha doing?" the girl in her arms asked, she didn't appear to be much older then seven or eight.

" Yeah whatcha doing?" repeated a much younger girl, gazing up at her with big innocent looking eyes. Tanako relaxed and placed the girls back on the grass.

"I was meditating." She told them. When the girl stared up at her with confused faces she added, "I was thinking." Tanako shoved the memory away for the time being and would come back to it when she was alone. The vision had puzzled her, but didn't want the two children to notice that she was not at all very happy.

"Oh I see." The oldest girl said.

"I see" the youngest repeated.

"My name is Ayame and this is Suzume." The older girl said, pointing to herself and to her younger sister. "What's your name?" "Yeah what's your name?" Suzume repeated.

"Hello Ayame and Suzume, my name is Tanako, it's nice to meet you." She smiled at the two young girls and how cute they were. All thoughts of the memory faded away as the two young children charmed her. Ayame was about to ask another question when Kenshin walked up to them, accompanied by an older man.

"Ayame, Suzume you shouldn't bother someone who is meditating, that you should not." Kenshin said as he scooped the girls in his arms and took the laughing children away. The old man stayed behind and he bowed to Tanako.

"I hope my two young granddaughters didn't bother you, I would have warned them Had I know earlier that you where back here."

"Oh no, that's alright." Tanako said as she stood up and bowed to the older man. "My name is Tanako; it's nice to meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Doctor Gensi. I came by to see what was taking Megumi so long, I thought perhaps little Karou had gotten hurt worse then Kenshin was letting on. But now I see that she was just enjoying a little gossip time." He said with a laugh. Tanako grinned at the old man and walked with him back to the dojo. She was going to sit and talk with the charming old man, but she caught sight of Kenshin playing with the Ayame and Suzume. He was giving Ayame a ride on his shoulders, the girl laughed and called for him to run faster. Poor little Suzume was waiting her turn. Tanako excused herself from Dr. Gensi and ran off to join the three.

Karou knew that she must be losing her mind. But no matter what she tried to do, she could not rip her eyes away from the sight of Kenshin and Tanako with the children. True they where just running around having a good time. But with every look Kenshin sent Tanako's way, she grew more and more convinced that something strange was going on.

Megumi had long gone back to the clinic to care for her charges, and Yahiko was off in the dojo finishing up his cleaning duties. Karou sat with Dr. Gensi; though, she sat a little apart from him on the porch. The old man was too busy laughing at the antics of the children to really notice that Karou was slowly acquiring a look of despair and suspicion on her face.

It was not fair, it was just not fair. Had it not been for her stupid ankle, she would be the one out there with Kenshin, running around and having a grand old time. She should have never stepped up to help Tanako... 'Nani! What am I saying? Karou, you wanted to help protect her, the teaching of the Kamiya style, you must remember the teaching. Why would you think such a thing? Karou chastised herself for being a fool and took back her thought. It was not Tanako's fault that she ran into the fight without a second thought. And nothing had happened to bring on the suspicion that something was going of with Kenshin and Tanako.

But as soon and she was able to calm again, the nagging thoughts returned to her mind. 'What were Kenshin and Tanako talking about before I showed up? They where laughing and having a wonderful time. Kenshin did look mighty guilty, but was that for being caught saying something that was not nice at all..or was it because he was caught enjoying himself too much with another woman?' Thinking about that morning caused Karou to grimace. She still had not apologized to Kenshin for shouting at him. She had not had the chance to get him alone, and she didn't want to say she was sorry in front of everyone. She didn't know what to do.

Kenshin paused in the middle of chasing the three girls and turned to catch a sight of Karou. She was sitting apart form Dr. Gensi and looked awful depressed. He had felt her eyes on him all day. 'My poor Karou, she must feel down about not being able to play with the rest of us.' He thought, it was that or she was thinking about what happened that morning. Kenshin sighed, he should not have been saying such things about Karou, that he shouldn't have. He felt awful about causing her pain. He wanted to plead forgiveness all day, but hadn't a clue about how he should approach her. He sighed again; he had no idea what he should do.

Looking up at the swiftly setting sun, he thought it would be best if he started heating up the bath before he started with dinner. That way, Karou, Tanako and Yahiko will be relaxed and perhaps their will be little tension between them. It would also give him some time to himself to think. He excused himself from the game, much to Ayame's and Suzume's dismay, and headed to the bathhouse to start heating the water.

As soon as he had a nice fire going, and the bath water was steaming nicely, he went to fetch Karou. "Karou-dono?" He said quietly as he approached her for the first time that day. "I have the bath ready for you." He kept his head bowed and waited for her answer. He was still to nervous about looking her in the eye.

Karou was elated to see Kenshin come up to her. "Thank you Kenshin, but you may want to ask Yahiko first. He's been practicing and cleaning all day and I'm sure he's dying for a bath more then I am." She said sweetly.

Kenshin looked up suddenly and smiled, Karou sounded happy, perhaps she had forgiven him in her own way. He would still apologize as soon as they got alone, that he would. "Alright Karou-dono, I'll call Yahiko." He gave Karou another smile that caused her to bow her head to hide a blush. Kenshin chuckled to himself in surprise, and headed off into the dojo to find Yahiko. The day it seemed, was starting to look up. He had gotten a few words out of Karou and she blushed at his smile, she must be feeling a lot better, that she must. He found the young man sitting against the wall of the freshly cleaned dojo. "Hello Yahiko, You did a wonderful job cleaning the dojo, that you did."

"Thanks Kenshin," the boy said, as he gazed out at his work. It seemed to take him all day to do everything. He didn't know why it would take him so long...perhaps it was all the time he wasted running around with Ayame and Suzume.

"Karou wanted me to ask if you wanted to get into the bath early today, being that you spent all day working." Kenshin sat next to the boy and placed his Sakabatou against the wall.

Yahiko nodded, "All right, boy Kenshin, I hope you make something great for dinner tonight, I'm starving," the boy shouted as he got to his feet and darted to the bathhouse. Kenshin smiled as he watched the boy. Yahiko would be starving anytime. Kenshin leaned back against the wall and relaxed, today was a strange day, that it was.

Tanako settled next to Karou, She had been playing with the girls and now she was exhausted. However, she did not at all mind about playing with the children. She had not been around children very often, and she herself missed her childhood. She was glad she could spend some time with the youngest members of her new family. She heard Kenshin saying something about a bath when he left, she could not wait until she could get a decent bath.

Karou looked over at Tanako as she sat next to her and suddenly remembered that they had a guest here. Tanako should be the first to take her bath. "Tanako, If you wish, you may take your bath first," Karou said to her, a little embarrassed that she had not offered it sooner. "You're our guest after all, and you shouldn't have to wait." She added.

"Are you sure Karou?" Tanako asked. "I know Yahiko was working very hard today, I'm sure he's dying for a bath as much as I am."

Karou nodded, she was absolutely sure. After that little show she put on early that morning, she wanted to make it up to Tanako and be the host she was suppose to be. "Yes Tanako...now go get in the bath before the water gets cold." she said with a smile to the girl. "I'll bring you some of my clothes so you can get out of your uniform, I'll bring them to you before you get out."

"Thank you Karou" Tanako said as she bowed to Karou and left for the bathhouse. Stepping into the small wooden building, she was greeted by the warm steam of the bath. She was sure going to enjoy this, she couldn't wait to climb into the warm water and relax for the first time in over a week. Pealing off her sweaty, dirty yellow uniform and unbraiding her impossibly long hair, she slowly slid into the almost too warm water. The warm water not only washed away the dirt and grime from her traveling, but also seemed to wash the pain and sorrow from her body as well. Tanako allowed her mind to relax and shut off as she washed, she didn't want the worries of her past life to interfere with the life she was about to have now.

Karou caught Yahiko just as he was heading off to the bathhouse. "Wait a minute Yahiko, Tanako gets to take her bath first. She is a guest, and you will take your bath after her alright." she said sternly to the boy, expecting another argument with him. However, to her surprise, the boy nodded his head.

"Alright, it's no problem, she's been out traveling for a week, I bet she was dying for a bath. I don't want to get between her and what she wants" he joked. "Besides, you're right. ugly!...she is a guest." he added as he darted away laughing.

"Grrr, YAHIKO! Just you wait until I can chase you!" Karou shouted at him as she got to her feet and hobbled after the laughing boy.

Kenshin returned from seeing off Dr. Gensi and Ayame and Suzume. The two girls had refused to let go of their Uncle Kenny until he had promised that they could play longer next time they came over. He was just about to step into the kitchen where he thought Karou would be resting. But as he reached the steps and removed his sandals, he noticed Yahiko's clean gi on the ground. He picked up the garment wondering why it was there, ' Yahiko must have dropped this on the way to his bath, that he must have.' He thought, poor Yahiko was going to be stuck in the bathhouse with only half his clothes. 'Well I'll just step in and give it to him' Kenshin stepped back into his sandals and headed for the bathhouse.

A/N Mwahahahahahaha! gets strange looks for the students in the computer room I thought that I would stop right there and let Y'all stew over that. Hey! At least I'm not ending every chapter with a cliff hanger like I did with my last story. LOL I got lots of threats over that. winks at Shadowgirl I also noticed that I was using a lot of flashbacks in my story, I know that for some people that can get pretty old, but the flashbacks are needed to get to know the characters more. The story would not be as good without them. And for those waiting to see some Kenshin and Karou together time..do not fear! I will get around to that, I just need to get all this out of the way first. The story should pick up in action and all that good stuff in the next few chapters. Well tis time for me to go and get to work on that next chapter! love you lots and Please review!