It's literally been years since I even gave thought to this story. Sorry readers, I hate to admit this, but I can't invest as much as I'd like into this story. I assure you, this story won't be a novel, but a rather short n sweet story. Enough with my rambling, on with this show….

Chapter 2- "Dinner just wasn't the same."

"Sano you free loading pig," Yahiko sarcastically spat out. "Do you show enough consideration not to eat ALL of the tofu." Yahiko was able to swipe at the morsel of tofu Sano had on his chopstick and gobbled it down before Sanosuke could retaliate.

Sano gently patted Yahiko on the shoulder. He foolishly chucked. "Gomei-nasei, little one but I had a busy day today. A growing, handsome man like myself needs all of the nutrients he could get."

"Save the excuses Sano, Fox-lady wouldn't appreciate a man that free loads and makes excuses all of the time." He jokingly jabbed Sano in the side with his chopstick "She's a professional, hot chick," Yahiko went onto say in between his bites of food. "With the brains and beauty, why would she go for beast like you?"

Sano glared at the juvenile and slammed his rice bowl on the table. "Why you see here punk…"

At such a normal occasion for the family four, usually Kenshin and Kaoru would have loved join in with the bickering between Sano and Yahiko. Something else was on the minds of the two, an occasion they won't ever forget, an occasion that involved a combination of sheer agony, sorrow, yet relief.

"How do I live my life like this forever?" Kaoru thought to herself as she fazed out the silly argument that was occurring at the dinner table between Sano and Yahiko. "To look at him and not be with him. Does he really love me like he professed on the fateful day to Enishi?"

Recognizing her lethargy, Kenshin attempted to break her silence despite the fact that Sano and Yahiko were oblivious to Kaoru's unusual behavior.

"Kaoru-dono, did shessa make you angry about something or is something the matter?" he questioned. "I noticed you hardly touch your food so far. I advised you to quickly eat it before one of this wolves fight over it."

"KENSHIN!" Yahiko and Sano harmoniously said.

"Shessa's teasing you two!" Kenshin playfully responded.

Startled, Kaoru jolted up head up, not realizing she had been absently staring at her dinner. "Oh, no, not at all Kenshin," she quickly asserted. She looked at him and mildly smiled. "I'm just not feeling well," she fibbed, as she purposely avoided looking at him straight in the eyes. "Excuse me as I go to my room. She looked at Sano and Yahiko. "Play rock, paper, and scissors for the rest of my dinner, you two."

"Fine by us!" Yahiko exclaimed with glee.

Trying to mask her inner feelings, she wearily smiled at the three, sat up from her seat at the table, and turn towards her bedroom. "Good night everyone."

"Wait…."

Before realizing it, Kenshin's hand snapped out under the table and grabbed Kaoru's left arm. Taken, aback, she looked down at Kenshin and responded, "Yes?"

"Kaoru-dono, please be careful."

Kaoru let out a tiresome, sigh. "You know me, Kenshin, I always am." She shook Kenshin's gripped off her arm. "Good night," she quietly said.

Kaoru quickly paced to her bedroom and slid the door closed before allowing Kenshin to respond. With her back against the wall, she slowing slide downwards until she sat on the cold, wooden floors. A single tear slid down her check and another sigh emitted from her lips.

"You baka," she quietly said to herself in reference to Kenshin. She wiped the tear away from her check as slowly got dressed in her nightgown and slipped herself under her bed covers.

"Why does he have to be so protective? He acts like he has to be such a big brother to me and I'm growing sick of it. I got kidnapped once; just because Enishi is still out there, doesn't mean he'll come over us again."

Kaoru eyes drifted towards her window and she stared at the stars twinkling in the ebony sky, reminding her of that fateful day her loved ones that she was killed in cold blood. She remembered looking up at the same stars at the time of her kidnapping, pools of tears brimming at her eyes as Enishi held a cold knife up to her delicate throat. Enishi's other calloused hand was feeling up and down her womanly body as she trembled in fear. She recalled him saying, "Move and I'll kill you," into her ear as she quickly stopped struggling and fell limp in his powerful grip. His icy lips had trailed up and down her creamy neck as he next whispered, "You're coming with me…"

She shuttered in her bed, vividly remembering the enemy. Enishi sought bitter revenge against the former Battosai, using herself as the catalyst to break Kenshin. Despite the painful memories, sleep was overpowering her. Her eyes slowly grew heavy at first, but as the hours finally went by, she was able to fall asleep. Little did she know that her red-headed guardian was setting cross-legged on the other side of her bedroom door, protecting her as she slept.

What do you think? More to come soon!

Next Chapter: "Life on the island"