Disclaimer: Still don't own Rurouni Kenshin characters.

AN: Hey guys.I'm once again apologizing for my writers block. Things have been crazy in my life too at the moment, but I really am sorry. I know how frustrating it is when people don't update their stories for long periods of time. Just wanted to thank you for all of your reviews! And to Carebear-chan: Thanks sooo much for the advice! I hadn't even realized that, but you are so right. And if you've noticed, I haven't used the POV'ssince. Thanks again! And now, without further ado, on to...

Ch. 8

"Shishio," a man knelt down before his leader. "There have been rumors that the Kamiya's have survived. That the bloodline lives on."

"What? Where did you hear ofthis?" Shishio demanded.

"Our men have heard it whispered among the towns in these parts. It could only be rumors, but they have increased lately, with some even speaking of sightings. I thought it would be wise to let you know."

"Yes, it was good of you." He dismissed the informant. "This will not do." Taking a moment to think, he decided on something. "Soujiro." A smiling young man stepped from the shadows. "I assume you heard everything?"

"Yes, Master Shishio, I did."

"Good. I want you to look into these rumors. Send out spies into various parts and see if they are true. And if you do find any Kamiyas by chance, bring them to me."

"Yes Master Shishio." The young man slipped back into the shadows from which he came.

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Kenshin had been pacing back and forth for awhile now, but he had finallycome toa decision. When they had returned from the Akabeko, he stoked the fire for Kaoru's bath and started the laundry. He needed to think, and for some reason doing the laundry allowed him to do that.

'I want to do something really nice for Kaoru, something to make today special, but what? Hmmm, we already went out to eat, there isn't any entertainment in town right now……'

Fifteen minutes later he still hadn't come up with anything to make today memorable. He had finished hanging up the laundry to dry and had started pacing back and forth in the yard.

'We could watch the sunset from the hill together. No, that wouldn't be that special, we do that a lot already. We could go for a walk, maybe down by the river……yes! Perfect! Why didn't I think of this before!' And with that he hurried into the dojo to prepare for the evening

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When Kaoru emerged from the bathhouse, things were too quiet. She noticed the laundry hanging up, but no Kenshin. 'Hmm, where is that ruruoni?' Realizing that she was clad in only a yukata though, she hurried off to her room to change, momentarily forgetting about her suspicions.

After having changed into a blue kimono that matched her eyes perfectly, she decided to look for Kenshin. She didn't have to go very far. He was waiting for her outside her room. She was a little surprised to find that in place of his usual magenta gi, he wore a dark blue one with grey pants. Deciding against questioning his change of clothes, she shut her door behind her and turned to face him.

"Hey, Kenshin. I was just coming to look for you."

"Well there is no need for that now Kaoru-dono. I came to you." Shifting on his feet a bit, he summoned the courage to continue on. "This one was wondering if you would like to accompany him on a walk in the forest."

"I would like that very much Kenshin." Kaoru gave him a bright smile.

Returning the gesture, he moved down the hall and opened the door for her. "Well then let us be off, Kaoru-dono."

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Walking along the forest, they talked about this and that, things going on in town, anything going on in the week. It was beginning to grow dark quickly by the time they reached the river.

"Should we be heading back soon Kenshin? It's going to get dark soon."

"This one would like to show you something first Kaoru-dono, if that is alright."

"Of course it is Kenshin."

Leading her down the riverbank a ways, he paused when they reached a small meadow. Kaoru gasped at the beauty. In the fading light, hundreds of fireflies surrounded them, creating a truly amazing atmosphere. Kaoru didn't think she had seen anything so beautiful in her entire life.

"It's wonderful," she whispered in an awestruck voice.

"I thought so too," Kenshin's voice matched her amazement.

Admiring the setting for several minutes in a blissful silence, Kenshin broke the silence. 'It's now or never.'

"Kaoru." The way he said that one word sent shivers down Kaoru's spine. Without the –dono it rolled off his tongue in an almost husky manner.

Turning away from the fireflies and towards Kenshin, she almost gasped again at the look in his eyes. They were filled with adoration, and, was that, love? Her heart jumped at the thought. 'Is it possible that he loves me too?' Focusing on what he was saying, he continued.

"I…I have enjoyed every day of the last three years Kaoru. And I can only hope that you have too." When shenodded her head and smiled, he went on. "I want you to know how much you mean to me. Before you came along, I was lost; I had no purpose in my life. I only went on day after day because I could. But now….now I wake up each morning, and I'm happy. I'm so very happy when I'm with you, and I wake up knowing I get to spend each day with you. You've given me a purpose in my life. A reason to live. I can only hope that you are happy with me." Pausing, he waited to see her response to his confession.

Kaoru's eyes filled with tears as she smiled. "Oh, Kenshin. I am so happy when I'm with you. Don't ever doubt that. After you saved me, I was broken. But you put me back together, never leaving my side. I know it was difficult, but you stuck with me, and fixed me. You fixed me. You healed me. I don't think I could ever live without you now. You are a part of me. I never want to leave you, ever."

"Then I will always remain by your side Kaoru."

And to seal his promise, he leaned down to press his lips to hers, in a simple, yet sweet kiss that spoke volumes.

Kaoru could not have been happier, knowing that he felt the same way as her. When he broke away from the kiss, he met her gaze and whispered those three words every girl longs to hear.

"I love you."

Smiling the brightest smile Kenshin had ever seen from Kaoru, she looked up and kissed him this time. Her eyes shining with love when she pulled away, Kenshin realized that he could never live without her, that she accepted his love, despite his past. He had never felt so joyous in his life. He slipped his hand into hers and sat down on the little hill, pulling her down into his lap. And they sat there in a blissful silence, neither of them wanting to break the special moment.

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Leaning back into Kenshin, Kaoru realized that she wanted to share her past with Kenshin. She wanted him to know everything now.

"Kenshin?"

"Hmmm?"

"I…I've been wanting to tell you this for awhile now, but I could never find the right words or strength. But you've given me all the strength I need." Pausing, she took a deep breath and turned to face him.

"I want to tell you about my past."

Surprise filled Kenshin's eyes. "Kaoru, you don't have to; I don't need to know."

"No Kenshin. I want to. I want you to know."

Gathering her strength, she found it much easier to talk about it now. Kenshin comforted her, and so she began at the very beginning. He had been very surprised, to say the least, to find out she was royalty, much less a princess, but he didn't interrupt her with questions, knowing this was hard enough for her as it was. She told him everything, about her parents, brothers, and friends; everything including the attack, up to when he came in. She never cried once, she had shed tears for them long enough, though her voice did get very soft at parts, to where Kenshin had to almost strain to hear. But she got it all out, and was astonished to find that she felt relieved when she was through. She felt as though she had hid her past from the one she loved for so long, and now she was free of that small guilt. And all Kenshin had to do was hold her. Hold her and love her.

As they walked back to the dojo, hand in hand, Kenshin couldn't resist asking her one question.

"Do you ever want to go back, to your homeland Kaoru?"

After a moment of silence, Kaoru responded. "I don't think there's anything left to go back to." After another pause, she continued, smiling up at him. "Besides, all I need is right here."

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Sano and the group stayed in the Akabeko catching up on lost years well into the evening. Finally Aoshi suggested they get settled in at an inn before it got to be too late. Everyone agreed, and Yahiko, not wanting to leave his brother's side so soon, decided to bunk with Sano for the night. Saying goodbyes to Tae and Tsubame, the group set off for the nearest inn.

Once they had paid for their rooms, and goodnights had been said, the brothers parted from the others and went to their room. Yahiko had wanted to talk to Sano in private all day. Not that he didn't trust the others; he just wanted to bring up more serious family matters that would have ruined the joyful mood.

Turning to Sano, he kept his eyes trained on the floor as he asked, "So, there have been no signs of Kaoru?"

Sighing tiredly, Sano answered him, "Although we've been searching these parts for years, that doesn't mean she's not here. She could be anywhere in the countryside. Or even in the next town over. All I know is that she is alive. And that we will find her."

Yahiko raised his head at his brother's declaration, and the determined glint in Sano's eyes made him believe that that was the truth. "I miss her." Yahiko's whispered confession reminded Sano that he was still a young boy who needed his sister's love.

"I do too Yahiko. Everyday."

After several moments of the boys being lost in their own thoughts and memories, Yahiko broke the silence. "Have you ever gone back?"

Sano understood what he meant right away. "Once. A year after, well, everything. It was so different I left almost as soon as I got there." At Yahiko's questioning expression, he continued. "All thieves and murderers. Criminals make it their home now. They've run everyone else out and made their own little city. Some guy, Shishio I think, calls himself their leader. It's nothing as it once was." Sano finished, his expression mournful.

Yahiko didn't even know what to say. The place he had once called home, reduced to a hideout for criminals. "What are we going to do about it?"

"What can we do Yahiko? We have no home there anymore. It's all gone. And without Kaoru…." He trailed off, his fists clenched and head bowed. "Without Kaoru, I don't want to go back." Meeting Yahiko's gaze, he continued. "We'll find Kaoru first, then worry about that later."

Agreeing with a nod, Yahiko hugged his brother once more before turning in for the night.

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Not so far away…….

Kaoru, who was usually not a morning person, greeted the day with a smile. Remembering the events from a week ago still filled her with so much delight. 'He loves me.' She wanted to shout it from the roof.

She went through her morning routine smiling, and by the time she started working in the garden, she was humming. Kenshin had gone into town to get some tofu for lunch, and had even kissed her goodbye. She couldn't have been happier. But as the saying goes, 'what goes up must come down.' And it all started with a lone visitor.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Straightening from her crouched position, she turned to face the man. He appeared to be a traveler, a bit dirty and carrying some kind of sack. But what the most peculiar thing was that he smiled continuously. It never seemed to waver.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I couldn't help noticing you had a well and I am rather parched from my journey. If I could just have a chance to fill up my water canister, I would be greatly in your debt."

"Why of course! It would be no trouble at all." As Kaoru led him over to the well, she noticed him looking around at their home.

"This is a wonderful home you have with you, husband I assume?" He ended the compliment with a question.

"Oh. Kenshin's not my husband. We're just…well…I guess…..uh, it's complicated."

The visitor chuckled at her answer. "I am Soujiro by the way." He stuck out his hand in greeting.

"I'm Kaoru," she replied as she shook his hand, not noticing the gleam of recognition in his eyes when she introduced herself. She turned to the well to fetch his water while Soujiro pondered over the coincidence.

'Same name, about the same age, has the Kamiya traits: black hair and blue eyes. It has to be her. Master will be so proud I found her so quickly.' Granted, Soujiro had never seen Kaoru Kamiya, but he had seen the pictures of her ancestors on the walls of the castle. She certainly resembled them. But just when he was considering the best way to take her, a new voice broke through his thoughts.

"Kaoru?"

Turning, Soujiro sized up the man before him. 'Well, this certainly complicates things a bit. He's definitely a swordsman, and is rather strong at that. Hmm.'

"Kenshin!" Kaoru's eyes lit up. Realizing Kenshin's gaze was fixed on the unexpected visitor, Kaoru rushed to explain.

"Kenshin, this is Soujiro. He was passing by and thirsty, so I'm getting him water."

Nodding, Kenshin continued to assess the man before him. He was no ordinary traveler – he could definitely sense that this was a skilled fighter. Something about Soujiro didn't settle right with him – there was something off about the whole thing. He'd have to keep a closer eye on Kaoru for a while.

"Nice to meet you Soujiro." Kenshin's smile seemed genuine, but Soujiro read the warning in his eyes. Kaoru handed Soujiro his filled canister, the tense moment broken. Taking a sip, Soujiro thanked Kaoru and said goodbye, knowing that he would be seeing her again very soon.

Yay! Another chapter done! I hope you guys liked this one - it's a bit longer than the rest. I figured ya'll deserved it with bring so patient with me and my sporadic updates. But I think I know where I want to go with the story now, so hopefully I'll be updating sooner. Reviews might help a bit too...just to know ya'll really do care. : ) Well, until next time,

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