The three nights at the hotspring was one that no one ever forgot, everyone sat in silence, not hard for Aoshi, but the others kept looking over at the old lady from time to time.

' She's going to die... in a week. She's going to leave us forever...' Kaoru thought looking out of the windows, watching as the scenery pass her by. The old lady looked over at the little girl and smiled, yes she was going to spend the rest of her days happy with these wonderful children. The children wasted no time to fall asleep on the moving train afterall it was a 4 hour ride back to Tokyo. Once they had arrived back in Tokyo, they went home to take a rest before Kaoru and Sano went on their errands.

Filled with rejuvinated energy, Kaoru bounded down the stairs and picking up the list of people who were waiting for their order of candy. Spotting the old lady sitting behind the counter, Kaoru went back inside and brought out tea and some sweet mochi to go with it. Before Kaoru could make it outside, Sano appeared behind her and snatched a stick of mochi and popped one into his mouth. Kaoru stood agast at the beast.

" Sano!" Kaoru cried, " That was granny's, you jerk!" Sano just blinked a couple of times and blushed sheepishly.

" Oops. I thought you were eating that." Sano replied. Kaoru suddenly snapped.

" Get out there, Sano!" Sano ran off into the candy store and away from the raging girl. Kaoru sighed and went back into the kitchen to get more mochi and brought it back out.

" Here, granny. Something to eat." Kaoru replied setting the plate of mochi down along with some green tea to the side. The old lady smiled at Kaoru before telling them to hurry along. Kenshin walked out and replied,

" Is it okay if I watch the shop with you, granny?" The old lady nodded as Kenshin sat next to her staring at the passerbys.

Outside, Kaoru spotted a familiar name on the list; Misao Makimachi. She scowled. ' Looks like she orders them almost every single day. I wouldn't be surprised if she already have cavities in her mouth.' Kaoru thought. She looked up to see the person she hated most. ' Misao...' Kaoru growled inwardly as Sano yet again flirted with her and she was taken in with him.

' I wonder what she sees in the buffoon? He's not good looking as my Kenshin that's for sure.' Kaoru thought as she lookd over at Sano's figure and blushed. ' What am I doing, googling Sano's body!' Kaoru thought as she began bashing her head in attempts to get rid of the nasty picture that had suddenly popped in her mind.

" Kaoru, eh Kaoru-chan. Are you okay?" a voice replied. Kaoru cracked an eye open to see Sano's face before her. She screamed as she pushed Sano away and he landed on his behind.

" Hey! You didn't have to do that, Kaoru!" Sano cried getting up and brushing his pants off.

" Sorry." Kaoru replied softly and they both headed to their next customer.

Back at the shop, Kenshin and the old lady had a little talk.

" Granny?" Kenshin asked. The old lady just took a sip of her tea before looking over at the red head.

" What is it, Kenshin-kun?"

" I was wondering, would it really be okay for us children to take care of your shop?" Kenshin asked. The old lady just nodded.

" Yes, after all I sighed the contract and the government agreed that since you are now legally my children, then you have the right to this shop." the old lady said.

" So does that mean, this will be our home?" a voice replied by the door. Kenshin and the old lady looked at Aoshi who had happened to listen to their conversation.

" Yes, Aoshi-kun, this will be your new home from now on. No one can take it away from you." the old lady said.

" Good." Aoshi replied before heading back inside.

" Kawaii!!" Kaoru replied as her face pressed up against the glass, she was staring at a purple kimono with pink white lilies displayed on them. Sano stopped and pulled Kaoru away, Kaoru was thrashing in Sano's hold.

" Let me go, Sano or you'll regret this!" Kaoru cried. Sano didn't release his hold as he took the list from her hands and began to go to their next customer. It was lunch time and they both took a break. Grabbing some food out of the nearby stands, Sano took a bite from his bread and handed some to Kaoru. They both ate until their hearts were content. Leaving some money behind, they went back to work.

" So, who's left on the list, Kaoru-chan?" Sano asked as he looked into the sack. Kaoru looked through the list to find only three were left and it was on the other side of town. Kaoru sighed and fell to the ground, Sano looked at Kaoru and hurried over to her who only just waved him away.

" I'm just tired, Sano and the last three are on the other side of town." Kaoru replied. Sano just made a face,

" Why'd they have to live so far away? If you're tired, you can always ride on my back that is if you're light." Sano smiled. Kaoru wanted to bash him.

" Are you calling me fat?!" Kaoru cried. Sano waved his hands in front of his face as he backed away.

" N-No! Of course not! It's not like you are. I mean, you're skinny to me. I was just saying that you might be heavy... Oops." Sano cried as he dodged an attack from Kaoru.

" Sano!!" Kaoru growled as she tried to get up, but she was just too tired to walk anymore. Seeing that, Sano walked over to her and replied,

" Come on. Climb on, heavy or not I'll carry you Kaoru." Sano said. Kaoru blushed at his sincerity and obediently climbed on, Sano almost fell and Kaoru gave a whack to his head.

" You better not drop me Sano or you'll get it!" Kaoru cried. Sano regained his balance.

" All right, all right." Sano replied as he headed towards the outskirts of town. They arrived there after taking three breaks and it had already become dark when they arrived to deliver the last one to a boy name Enishi Yukishiro.

" Oh? Is the lady injured?" Enishi asked gesturing to Kaoru on Sano's back. Sano shook his head,

" She's just a little tired that's all." Sano replied. Enishi nodded and thanked them for delivering his candy. Sano shifted Kaoru a bit more higher and began his way back to the candy shop. Kaoru looked down at Sano and saw sweat forming on his brow, she bit her lip.

' Sano... why do you care about me so much?' Kaoru thought as Sano continue to make his way back home where the rest of the family was waiting for them.

" Where's Kaoru-chan and Sanosuke-kun be? It's already 8:00pm." the old lady replied as she, Kenshin and Aoshi gather at the dinner table waiting for Sano and Kaoru to return from their errand.

" Maybe, they're lost." Kenshin replied but was hit in the gut by Aoshi.

" Stupid Himura, how is that thinking positive?"

" Oro?" Kenshin replied. Shuffling was heard in the shop and the door opened to see Sano and Kaoru walking in.

" Sorry we're late." Kaoru replied. Sano nodded. The old lady smiled settling down at the head of the table as Sano and Kaoru sat in their seats.

" Let's eat!" they all said as another day passed and another day closer to the dreaded death of a loved one.