It was the next morning when Sano and Kenshin arrived at the dojo. "Tadaima," said Kenshin as he walked through the door. They were greeted with a frantic Yahiko who rushed to the entrance as soon as he heard someone coming in.

"Oh. Okaeri Kenshin, Sanosuke. Ne, have you guys seen Kaoru when walking home?" he inquired.

"Oro? Kaoru-dono is not present?"

"Yeah. Actually I think she hasn't been home all night. But I didn't know 'til this morning 'cause I came home late from Akabeko last night and all the lights were out, so I assumed she went to bed. But when I went to wake her up this morning, I saw a tray with half finished side dishes and a bowl of rice and chopsticks on the floor beside it, like it was dropped. I checked her room and it looks like it hasn't been used at all. Then I heard you guys coming back."

A dark shadow crossed Kenshin's face while Sanosuke commented, "Jou-chan probably got scared of her own shadow since she was home alone and then went to a friend's house or something."

"Kaoru-dono was… home alone?" asked Kenshin in surprise.

"Yeah," answered Yahiko, "I went to help at Akabeko all day yesterday."

"And Dr. Gensai went to visit a friend with his granddaughters," finished Sano.

"I should have stayed with Kaoru-dono then instead of going with you…" Kenshin replied glumly. The rurouni felt guilty for leaving Kaoru all by herself and with the evidence that something might've happened to her did not help at all. "We should go look for her!"

Yahiko nodded in agreement, but once the three were about to depart and start their search, Kaoru walked through the door, head hung low with her bangs covering most of her face. She was wearing the same thing as she did yesterday, with the exception that her outfit was much dirtier.

"Kaoru!" shouted Kenshin and Yahiko simultaneously while rushing towards her.

"Where were you?!" asked Yahiko.

"Kaoru-dono, did something happen to you?"

"Yo, Jou-chan glad you could make it home," said Sanosuke.

"Eh?" Kaoru looked up to see her friends standing in the doorway. "Oh. Okaeri-nasai. When did you guys come back?" she asked with a quizzical look on her face, her voice sounding as distant as her eyes looked.

"Hah?" gawked Sano in surprise, "We should be saying that to you, Jou-chan."

"Yeah, are you alright Kaoru? Where have you been?" questioned Yahiko.

"Yes, I am alright. I just went to see Dr. Gensai. Something came up," she replied.

"What? Isn't Dr. Gensai in another town?"

"What's so important that you have to go running off without cleaning up? You always tell me to clean up whatever I'm doing before I leave for somewhere; don't go back on your word. "

"Oh… it… it was just something really important so I needed to go right away. I'm sorry, Yahiko, for being hypocritical. I will… eh… I'll clean it up after a bath."

"I'll heat the water for you, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin finally spoke. He was observing Kaoru and noticed that she was rather remote and her ki was filled with nervousness instead of her usual bliss. Something is definitely bothering her.

"N-N-No that's okay Kenshin!" Kaoru said frantically while backing away towards the bathhouse. "I can manage, so don't come! Okay?" Quickly, she turned on her heel and disappeared around the corner, leaving behind the stunned trio.

Kaoru fetched the water from the well and began to heat the tub. Once the fire was started, she went inside the bathhouse and stripped down her dirty attire. Slipping into the warm water, she signed and let her mind wander back to yesterday.

Flashback

After reading the note, the first thing Kaoru needed to do was see Dr. Gensai. Mou! Of all times he leaves town now! She quickly locked the gates to her dojo and ran towards Namekawa. She reached the town two and a half hours later and then went about to look for Dr. Gensai's friend's house after recovering from her long run up against a sakura tree. Searching up and down the streets of Namekawa, she finally found the house close to the outskirts of town. Before she reached the entrance, the door opened and Dr. Gensai stepped out, smiling gleefully like he always does.

"Dr. Gensai!" Kaoru called.

"Kaoru-chan? My, my, what brings you all the way here to Namekawa?" the doctor asked with surprise.

"I need to discuss something important with you. It's…It's about father and him. He's alive! Oh what should I do?" She covered her face with her hands as a wave of fear crashed through her.

"Oh dear! Kaoru, please come in and sit down first. Tell me everything that happened." They went inside to the guest room where the mistress of the house kindly handed them some tea brewed with wild celery.

"This will help you, Kaoru-san," said the lady, "It'll ease your mind a bit. I'll leave the two of you alone now, but please call me if I'm needed. I will try to help to the best of my ability."

Kaoru thanked her for her kindness and slowly sipped the beverage, taking in the aroma and calming her mind so that she can be sure to tell her story without breaking down. Then, she began. Dr. Gensai listened to her attentively and gasped when she revealed the note that had came flying past her with the arrow. "I'm still so confused," said Kaoru, "That's why I came all the way here. You've known my parents since they were young so I figured you must know more than I do. Why does he still seek vengeance against the Kamiya name? Had something happened in the past?"

"I will tell you Kaoru. But please calm down first." Kaoru did not realize her death grip on her hakama, turning her knuckles as white as the light of the moon; her whole upper body was trembling. She released her hands and took the tea near her face, inhaling the aroma of wild celery.

"Okay. Dr. Gensai," she whispered, "Please tell me what happened."

"Yes… it is finally time for you to know more about your parents' past."

[Namekawa is a real place. It's about 6 miles away from Tokyo, reasonable enough to run to, ne? ^^ And I found out "kawa" means river and that's going to be seen again during Dr. Gensai's story.

The aroma of wild celery is said to have a calming effect on people who are filled with tension or are restless. It was the one most compatible with the situation.]

Tadaima means "I'm back" and is said when one has returned to their home.

Okaeri/Okaeri-nasai means "Welcome back"

To the next chapter…