Author's Note: I hope this came soon enough for you all. I do warn you, though, I have a tendency to do things all in a rush, and then not do anything for a while...it's just a bad habit, so don't freak out if I don't write anything for a month or two after I post. Oh, and if you didn't know this, I began this story with just the poem prologue, then didn't write anything more until a year or so later. That's how long I sometimes take. Yes, that's bad, but with reviews, I usually continue writing, just out of a guilt complex for keeping people waiting.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. No tengo nada.

()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()

No matter what Kaoru did, no matter what trick she pulled, she could not get Hiko alone so that she could give him the third degree. Everyone, including her students from the dojo, competed with her for the master swordsman's attention, except for Kenshin. The quiet ex-assassin made himself useful by cooking, cleaning, going to the market for tofu, etc., instead of bugging his former shishou. Kaoru barely noticed his reticence anymore, since she was used to his introverted nature by then, but this day she noticed it as she tried to catch Hiko's eye to no avail.

The day passed in a blur, classes had to be taught, food prepared, and more. Hiko watched Kaoru teach her class, and even memorized some of the moves to incoporate into his own style of fighting. One rule of practical fighting is: if you like what you see, use it. Of course, such little tricks that one picks up on his own never are passed on to the students. Usually. Most likely. Hiko managed to keep his bad habits away from Kenshin for the most part, luckily one part of that was all the dirty tricks you learn to use while fighting. There is no honor in battling theives, after all.

The students pestered Hiko during their short breaks, wondering why the tall, muscular man wore the daishou, where he was from, was he part of an old samurai family, etc. Hiko managed to wave them off after a bit, after demonstrating that he would not answer questions. Yahiko, Hiko noticed, was a fine teacher. The kid had lost most of his youthful cockiness and learned what his limits were. He was a powerful young man, wise beyond his years through the massive amounts of experience he had when he was just a kid tagging along with the other Kenshin-gumi on their adventures.

It was near evening when Kaoru managed to tell Hiko in near privacy that she would like to talk to him alone. Kenshin overheard the quiet request, and wondered what was going on for a moment, then shrugged it off. Kaoru would tell him soon enough, she always did. For now, it would not trouble his mind.

()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()

Sanosuke and the others made good time over the next few weeks. They reached Kyoto, then passed by it after only stocking up a little on some fine sake. Taking the train, they made it to Tokyo far more quickly than a horse and carriage could carry them. The group admired the city as Sanosuke lead them towards the Kamiya dojo. It looked far more modern than before Sanosuke left for China. The back alleys were cleaner than before, Sanosuke noticed. The police were doing their job admirably, he supposed.

When they reached the gates of the Kamiya residence, they stopped for a moment to get a hold of their surroundings. They breathed deeply, catching the myriad scents of the dust on the street, the people surrounding them, the people in the dojo, the fish being cooked for supper, and so much more. Sanosuke was startled to find he could recognize the scent of his friends. He never noticed before that he could identify their smells. He felt excited, he could finally again see those he loved and hated to leave. He would never regret meeting his pack, but he did wish that he had not been forced to leave Japan.

"Shall we go in?" Bai Ru asked quietly.

"Sure, why not," Sanosuke replied, then opened the door. The six of them slipped in unobtrusively, catching no one's notice. The students left through the door they came in only minutes after they arrived. Sanosuke and the others went towards the dojo. They heard a woman's voice- Sanosuke recognized it as Kaoru's- asking someone a question. The scent from the person Kaoru was talking to was a heavy, strange scent. It caused great unease amoung the rakshasa.

"What is that smell?" Shui Ping asked. "It is almost...familiar."

"I don't know," Bai Ru answered slowly. "But it smells dangerous."

"It smells dead," Osamu hissed. "Can't you smell that sweetness of carrion?"

Heng Hai nodded jerkily. "Yes, I smell that."

"As do I," Bai Ru and the others stated.

"We should proceed with caution," Bai Ru ordered. "Keep close and let Sano do most of the talking, since he knows those who live here."

()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()

Saitoh pretended to be surprised when the onna oni jumped in front of him, holding a sword that glinted as if fresh blood was spilt on its edges. "Say your prayers," she mocked, then attacked swiftly.

Smirking, he dodged her attack and slashed her back, drawing blood. The oni screeched and instinctively tried to feel the cut by reaching behind her with one hand. While she awkwardly tried to assess the damage, he went on offense, attacking her before she could gather her wits.

It was over quickly. A stab through the heart will kill most oni, and she fell into the majority section. Not so much as a drop of blood stained his crisp uniform. Performing a quick chiburi, he then sheathed his sword. Squatting down, he exaimined the lifeles body. Already decay was setting in. The spells around Tokyo tended to do that to yokai corpses, swiftly decomposing them so that humans did not start poking into yokai affairs again.

Resuming his stroll, Saitoh continued his patrol of the streets as if nothing had happened.

()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()()()00()()

Author's Notes: Sorry if my Saitoh scene disappointed you, but I figured it wouldn't take much to off the RK equivalent of Yura of the Hair when we're dealing with a full-fledged ookami yokai that's lived for ages. Don't worry, more detail, and longer fights will be coming up in not too long. What do you think rakshasa would have against chiang-shi? Not really much, other they're below chiang-shi in the pecking order. Like how a hyena will give up his kill if a lion challenges him for it. Ya know? (Lions are bullies! glares) Will Kaoru ever manage to grill Hiko for some answers? Will Kenshin ever run out of laundry to do? What is Kenji doing while Momma is teaching and Daddy is cooking? Expect a few more visitors to show up at the Kamiya household soon!

Review Responses:

Hitokiri Musei: I have regular updates? Oro! Me? Nevah! It goes against my principles. Glad you liked.

Cleo: Please don't use poison, that can be messy to clean up. I hope this was quick enough for you. If you're bored while waiting for me to get off my lazy ass and write, check out roku kyo (I think that's her name...she's on my favorites somewhere), she's an awesome writer. She deals with Fushigi Yuugi, not Rurouni Kenshin, but she's brilliant, just brilliant. I bow to the sensei of fic writing.

Omasuoniwabanshi: Gomen nasai! I'll try to update soon, since this chapter was so short. Snapple green tea! Nani! That's WORSE than the Arizona Green tea! Admittedly, I think it's better than pop (soda, soda pop, coke, what ever you wanna call it), but still, just get some Tazo tea. It's not the best, but it's better than most stuff you'll find in American stores. You can find it in grocery stores or at your local Starbucks. It's a $1.70 in my town for a venti of the stuff. I live on Zen tea while studying...