A/N: Okay now...hm...how bout we keep moving eh?

8.

"I need to be calling him a sour puss. He was, at least when I first met him. Sano had yucked this guy up like he was part of The Beatlesor something, but when I met him, he seemed a bit dull. Maybe I was looking at his face too much, which, with the nasty mark on his cheek, wasn't really pretty. His eyes were dull, his conversation was minimal, and he wasn't really paying attention. And that was before dinner...Trust me, you really don't want to know about dinner."

-Megumi Takani

I stalled, my heart freezing for the next minute. I couldn't breath, couldn't move. I stopped like a frame on a faulty television, my eyes blinking several times before I comprehended what was before me. I was thankful for the limited light, because it made everything seem all the more imaginary. Like this was all a dream and I was going to wake up a young boy in bed. I thawed out, my eyes looking her up and down. She was with the times, like a bohemian, but much, much more. Her eyes were glittery, her hair was braided and hanging over her shoulder, and she had a circlet around her head like an Indian princess. She was dressed in a woman's jumpsuit, held by two thin pieces of string that looked ready to bust at any moment. Her pants flared and her shoes made her taller than me for once.

"Hey," she said, waving vehemently. "Long time no see," she giggled, walking up to me and putting her arms around my neck. It was like nothing had ever happened to her or to me. Like her father had never died. She shoved her nose in my shirt, tottering on the tips of her shoes. "Oh do I miss that smell," she giggled out. "You just have the sweetest smell. Like you've run througha field of flowers."

"Hello Kaoru," I replied. "You look like you're doing well."

"I am. Eighteen and riding free," she said. "I graduated near top of my class too. Auntie got me a nice car and a book," she said. Kaoru was full of so much laughter and energy that it made me tired to try and think of keeping up with her. I took a few steps back, making it as inconspicuous as I possibly could, and feigned a smile. I didn't comprehend the feelings. It was this surge of relief and, needless to say, my libido had probably flared up, but there was also this rush of pain and anger. I knew that there was no reason for her to assume that I had done anything to hurt her, and by now I was sure that she had gotten passed all the fuss and grieving, but it just made me so conflicted that I couldn't understand what my mind, my heart, hell my libido wanted.

"A book?" I heard Megumi say. "What was that?"

"She gave me this thing called The Feminine Mystiqueby Fryman or Freeman or whatever and my God it is so true."

"Feminine Mystique?" Sanosuke seemed a little less than pleased by the sound of it. "What the hell could that be about?"

"Well, it's a girl thing you know," she said, as though it was everyday. "We better go inside to eat. I don't want to waste everyone's time by explaining it."

"Oh, please do," Megumi said, pushing her to continue. "I want to hear about this."

Kaoru cleared her throat as we got a table. It was a nice little restaurant. It wasn't really uppity per se. We knew some people who pulled some strings. It had good food and good people if you knew them. We sat at a booth, Sanosuke and Megumi on one side and Kaoru and me on the other. I sat on the inside, more near Sanosuke as if it would make things seem any more realistic.

"Well you see," she said, clearing her throat again. "It's about how the housewife is stupid really. At least that's what I gathered, and that it's not being that kind of trained woman that makes a woman happy. That we are being dehumanized by men, sorry guys," she said, holding her hands up to both me and Sanosuke, "by doing the chores around the house and being represented by our husbands. It makes so much sense."

"So what? Marriage is a stupid thing?" Sanosuke scoffed.

"You are such a man," Megumi jabbed him hard in the side with her elbow. "You still have this book Kaoru?" Megumi asked, leaning over to the raven haired woman inquiring further about it. We ordered our food, and all the while the girls talked Sanosuke rolled his eyes or yawned out of boredom and frustration. Not only couldn't he get in a word edgewise, as he really liked to do, but he was getting annoyed at hearing a certain amoutn of woman power. Megumi was right, Sanosuke was a traditional man. I guess it was the product of being raised by a father only. I wasn't any better though, with my father and Hiko for all my life I really had no true chance of being around a tender woman. It made me start wondering about what made a man the way that he was; or a woman for that matter.

I was into it about as much as Sanosuke was. I really didn't want to be preached at just for being the opposite sex, but I understood well that there were movements that happened all the time that were out of many people's control, even those who pushed it and nursed it along. Kaoru was happy, I realized for the first time, about being a true person. Maybe it was this book that had made her that way, or the idea that she was free of anything. She represented what the last ten or so years of life had brought to us. The nonconformity and the free will that we so richly desired. I had to admit, it made me to feel proud to be a with a woman who had enough balls to fight the system, whatever system it was she was fighting. It made me put my life in a perspective.

Stepping outside myself, I stood on hollow ground and examined from a long distance, eyeing the person that I was and wondering exactly what it was that I was doing with my life. I was a part of something, my own movement if you will, that wanted to be the best in society through whatever means that meant to get there. It was slimy, it was degrading, but it was our own way. You had to go through mud to get the golden prize that was at the end of the tunnel. Worst of all you weren't sure that there was anything to really be fighting for in the first place. You were just...there and seeing when you'll get to the end.

"Ken," I heard. That hollow ground falling out from under me. "Ken, did you hear what I said?" it was Sanosuke.

"What's that?"

"Meg here's a med student. Isn't that great?" he said, shaking her shoulders. "She's going to be a doctor someday."

"Oh stop it," Megumi said, "you make me blush." They worked well together.

That night was very disjointed. I was out of whack, tired and a variety of other things to describe the general lethargy and down troddeness I'd been experiencing ever since I realize it was a fully grown up Kaoru who was standing in front of me. We were having coffee when Sanosuke told me about Megumi. I hadn't really drank any of it, and I realized that my head had been in the crook between my thumb and forefinger the whole time.

"Ken?" Kaoru touched my hand gingerly. "You alright?"

"I have somewhere I need to be," I said, standing up. I left a few bills on the table to pay for the meal then wormed my way out of the booth and toward the door.

She didn't try to hide that she was following me up to my car, and she grabbed my wrist hard, nearly pulling me into her chest. "Ken, what was that for?"

"I don't feel good and I have things to do," I said. "So, I need to go."

"You...don't feel good? Did I do something? Say something?" she asked.

"No, no," I shook my head. "I just, need to..."I had lost my breath suddenly, her arms tightening around my chest. "Kaoru, please...we're..."

"Don't leave!" she demanded strongly. "I'll never see you again. Never," she sounded like she was going to cry. When she was assured taht I wasn't going to leave she let me go and allowed me to turn around and look at her in the face. She wasn't going to cry, she was too strong to do that, but I could see the weakness in her face. "I know I won't. Because I know what happened when I left. I came back though. I know you won't."

"I'm in the same town," I said to her. "You can always look me up, you know that."

"It won't be like that though. I'll try and then, and then I'll get sad and scared and not call. And then I know you won't call cause your...your always busy with work and school and...family," she threw her arms up. "You don't get it that it hurts me do you? All these years you weren't here it hurts, badly."

I couldn't say anything. My voice was clogged up in my throat like it was rush hour. I closed my eyes and walked up to her. I didn't know what I was doing when I put my arms around her. I thought, at least for a brief moment, she needed a hug. That maybe that would make her feel better. She turned in my arms, her head up against my and I brought my hands below her stomach. It was all urges, my fingers tracing her breast bones and sinking into her shirt. She wasn't wearing a bra.

"Ken..."she moaned out. It brought me back to reality.

"I...look I need to go really. But, come by the restaurant tomorrow. I'll treat you to something real special alright?"

I bolted to my car, narrowly dodging a police car going down the road. From my mirrors I saw her standing there, her hand at her breast, almost in where I had touched. I smiled to myself. It was a invigorating to say the least.

I stopped at the restaurant on a whim, as if I knew there was going to be something happening. It was closing time when I walked in, and the busboys were clearing out what was left from the night. I saw Hiko sitting and talking to a man who I'd never seen before. He was well kept, and by the way he spoke, well versed as well too. I didn't want to interrupt Hiko who seemed to be listening intently to what this man had to say, so I walked along. By the time I got to the kitchen I was startled by a cool hand on my shoulder.

"Kenshin isn't it?" I heard. I turned back to see this man look me in the eye. He was intimidating, maybe moreso than Hiko or Enishi, but not in the way that made you sick to your stomach in horror. I was more proud than anything because I felt that I knew who this man was and what he wanted with me. "My name is Katsura Kogoro, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

And the same thing happened like when I met Hiko. "The pleasure's all mine Mr. Kogoro."

"Please. no formalities. Katsura. We're all friend after all," I nodded. "I've heard some things about you," he said. "Good things."

"Oh. I hope so," I laughed out. I was trying to be as care free as possible, but when I took momentary glances to Hiko I noted a certain aura about him that seemed off. Like this wasn't a normal meeting with Katsura who, as I recalled, was out designated patriarch, our Don.

"I've also heard a few disturbing things, something I'd like to bring up with you."

"Oh," I sat down after Katsura did, my eyes flittering over to Hiko who had gotten up and left at this point. "What is it?"

"It's about a woman named Yukishiro."

"You mean Tomoe?" I asked, touching my cheek. "I don't know where she is or what happened to her."

Katsura didn't seem surprised at this. He was a stoic man, warm hearted, but mostly stoic as I would begin to gather in later years. "Were already aware that you've cut your ties," he said, making it delicate, "but I must remind you that even if you haven't had a hand in the disappearence that this could still end up in hell with us."

"She's part of the Yukishiro clan, I know. Not good people."

"They're great people," he said, pointing a finger at me. "What I mean to explain is that it's not they're family that we don't like. We've had many successful dealings with them and they're clients. Often out clients go between our families anymore. The times have changed and we really can't afford to be so exclusive, so long as we be careful," he explained. "I just want you to understand that they're are consequences to whatever had gone on between you two. She's the daughter of the head of the family. She's as sacred as any family member comes."

"I understand, really I do," I nodded. "Is there anywhere that should could have gone so that I know why she left."

"You didn't see her leave?"

"No."

"We have no way of knowing for sure where she is. She hasn't been with the family for some time; she's always been a loose cannon." Katsura stood up signaling the end of the discussion. "I have to get home to my wife, but I have one other thing that I want to tell you. Mind coming outside?"

I didn't mind at first, but I wished that maybe I hadn't.

He told me things that he wanted me to do that were less than honorable, me being Sanosuke's accomplice in these 'missions', but felt that I could carry out. It didn't surprise me that it had to do with more stiffing of the family, but it was going to be worse than just killing the man. Humiliation was now in the picture.

A/N: Short and sweet. They'll be some more juicy stuff coming up later. Stuff...just cool stuff...swear....so...till next time, KenSan out!