Disclaimer: Never will own Rurouni Kenshin characters.

AN: Hey guys. I realize it's been a while, and I know it's kinda short, but that's just the way things go. And without further ado, on to...

Ch. 7

"Now where in the world is the desert I order?" Sano asked looking around.

"The kitchen probably ran out of food with everything you order," Aoshi said. "They had to go buy more ingredients for the pig."

Misao burst out laughing with Aoshi, and Sano even joined in too.

"Ah, here it is!" Sano exclaimed. But as he got a good look at the person who brought it, he froze, the food forgotten. The tray fell to the floor with a clatter, breaking the silence at the booth. No one could believe it. There, standing right before their eyes, was someone they'd been searching for for three years. "Yahiko," Sano let out the name as a whisper, his eyes filling with tears. "Yahiko!" he was up in an instant and hugging the shocked boy.

"Sano?" was the astonished reply. "Sano!" Although Yahiko may have been little when they were separated, he knew his rooster-like brother anywhere. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"Yahiko-chan!" Misao rushed up to greet him in an energetic hug. Tears were streaming down her face as she nearly hugged the boy to death, feeling so many emotions at once.

"I can't believe we found you! And after all these years!"

Aoshi pulled Misao back a bit, giving the brothers room for their reunion.

Sano backed up, his hands still on Yahiko's shoulders and looked him over. "Man, have you gotten big. I still can't believe it!" Sano's eyes were shining with happiness.

The boy was still speechless. "But…how….where..." No one knew what had happened to his brother or sister that dreadful day. And now, here they were, right before his eyes. Wait, sister. Looking around he didn't see any sign of her.

"Where…W-Where's Kaoru?" he managed to choke out.

Sano's gleaming eyes dimmed as he lowered his head. "We still haven't been able to find her yet, but we're still looking. I know she's alive somewhere, just waiting for us to find her." He looked at the boy's sad expression. "Hey, we will find her. We found you didn't we?"

Yahiko broke into a huge grin at this.

Seeing his little brother's smile, Sano's spirits were lifted once again. "So who have you been staying with? Who's been taking care of you all this time?" Sano made room for his little brother to sit down in the booth as he told them all about Tae and Tsubame, who Sano did remember, seeing as they were the cooks, his favorite people. Misao and Aoshi listened to his story, and looked on fondly at the two brothers reunited. Sano's arm was affectionately looped around Yahiko's shoulders in brotherly fashion, both faces shining with joy. Hope was restored to the little troupe, as one lost sibling had been found, now only one remained.

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As Kaoru and Kenshin were leaving the restaurant, they heard shouts and exclamations coming from a booth at the far end of the room. Turning their heads towards the direction of the sounds, like everyone else was doing, Kaoru mused aloud.

"I wonder what the commotions about."

"Who knows, Kaoru-dono. But whatever it is, they sure do sound happy about something, that they do."

Nodding her head in agreement, they went through the doors and entered into the bright light, not knowing that fate was trying to intertwine lost paths.

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Three hours later, the group was still chatting away, catching up on lost years. Tsubame had come looking for the lost Yahiko a couple of hours ago and had informed Tae of the customers that claimed to know her and be friends and the brother of the boy (Tsubame was too young to be able to recognize Sano and the others). She had immediately dropped the dish she was preparing and had rushed to see if it was true, and a reunion similar to Yahikos repeated itself, with hugs and tears and all.

Tae could not believe her eyes as she looked from face to face. It had been so many years, but to see them again rekindled a light in her soul that had been lost. Knowing that two of the siblings were safe gave her some comfort, and helped alleviate some of the heartbreak and guilt she had felt for not being able to save the family she had considered her own. Noticing Kaoru was not present brought a wave of sadness, but seeing Sano alive and well, as well as Misao and Aoshi filled her with more hope than she had ever felt over the past years. Maybe, just maybe, one day their kingdom would be restored to its once glorious state. It would all depend on these now young adults.

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I know not much really happens in this chapter, but it is rather important (Yahiko's found - yay!). I'm excited about the next chapter - and I hope ya'll will be too. I'm almost finished with it, so hopefully I can post it in a few days or so. I'm not making any promises though. And just for a hint, it's got some K/K stuff in it - goody : ). Well, until next time,

Western