Kaoru's train of thought broke when the steam in the bathhouse became too smothering to stay in. Unwillingly, she stepped out of the tub, dried herself, and put on her sleeping yukata. Braiding her hair while exiting the bath, she walked towards her room and sat on the porch, staring absentmindedly into the sky. Kenshin came around the corner and was surprised to see Kaoru in such a depressed state. "Oro?" he said, "Kaoru-dono, why are you in a sleeping yukata? Lunch is ready to be served, I made gyūnabe."

"Thank-you Kenshin, but… I'm a little tired and don't have an appetite right now. Please eat without me. I'll rest until dinner."

Kenshin, sensing Kaoru's unsaid wish to be alone, nodded and said he'll make dinner a little earlier tonight. With that, he returned to the dining room to inform the others that the mistress of the dojo will not be joining them for lunch.

Surprisingly when Kenshin entered the dining room, Sano and Yahiko were quiet and actually waited for Kenshin's return instead of digging into the extravagant lunch he made. Kenshin, who now has confirmed that something is definitely wrong with Kaoru, just told the guys to eat.

"Jou-chan isn't coming?" exclaimed Sanosuke, "But isn't gyūnabe her all time favorite? Heck we even waited until you guys came back to start." He was already scarfing down the food when he made that exclamation. Yahiko did the same thing as well, but was concerned enough to at least ask whether or not Kaoru was okay. Kenshin just nodded while slowly chewing the tofu and enokitake.

After Kenshin had left, Kaoru went to her room and unrolled her futon to lie upon. Her mind wandered back to Dr. Gensai's story and soon fell into a restless sleep.

The dream…

Kiyoko is seen in a red kimono printed with golden marigolds which was tied together with a deep magenta obi dotted with scabiouses. She appeared to be waiting for someone, even though she was strolling along the bank of the river, coming to a rest next to a sakura tree that was in full bloom. Suddenly, a pair of rough hands covered her eyes gently, making her gasp at the touch. "Guess who?" the figure whispered cheerfully into her ear.

Kiyoko giggled as she turned around and took his hands into hers. "Ko-shi-ji-ro~" Pronouncing every syllable with a smile. "Mou where were you? You said to meet you here after noon, but you're late!"

"I'm sorry my love. I had a little delay when coming here. Will you forgive me?" asked the man who was dressed in a dark aqua yukata.

"Always," and with that she gave him a peck on the lips. "So what did you want to tell me?"

Koshijiro only smiled as he led her towards the bridge that hung majestically over the river. "Remember how we first met here?" Kiyoko nodded at that memory on the bridge. "You were running away from your father because he wanted you to go to a marriage interview. Since you were only 16 then, you didn't want to meet up with the man he set you up with, even though he had all the talent, looks, and money. I was walking home after a meeting and then I saw you on the bridge against the sunset, the warm colors of the sky highlighting that light blue kimono of yours. It really was beautiful…" he said, staring off into the distance, mesmerized by his memory. Koshijoro continued, "When I walked up to you and asked if you were okay and needed an escort home, you freaked on me and actually fell over," the man chuckled and looked at Kiyoko, who in turn blushed furiously.

"Cheh, you were the one who scared me," Kiyoko defended.

"Haha, well you sure didn't look scared when I found you in this river. In fact, your ki was so red it almost made me want to turn around and pretend I never saw you!"

"Well you didn't. Instead, you helped me out of the river like a gentleman and even invited me over to your house to stay for the night after knowing I didn't have the wish to return home."

"Yes, and after that we talked throughout the night, exposing all of our concerns and secrets to each other even though we just met."

"It really was something. I've never felt like that around anyone, even my own parents. I've always kept everything bottled up until that night." Her eyes glistened with the emotions she felt on that day. "But you know, I still can't believe you actually convinced me to go through with the marriage interview just to make up with my father. If I hadn't met you and fallen for you by then, I would've actually agreed to it."

"Hey you never told me that before! I really am a lucky man to be able to meet you before he did, aren't I?" Koshijiro smiled and walked over to Kiyoko, taking her hands into his. "And because I've met you and you stayed with me, my life has changed drastically. If it weren't for you, I'd be in the military right now. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to tell my father what I want to do. If it weren't for you, I would have never discovered a way to protect without killing. You are what I live for. You hold my heart in these delicate hands," he gripped onto her hands tighter and continued, "Kiyoko, I love you. Will you accompany me by my side, forever?"

Tears welled up in Kiyoko's eyes once she registered his words and she couldn't say yes fast enough. She embraced the man before her to make sure she hadn't been dreaming and when she felt him do the same, her heart surged with love and comfort.

While the couple exchanged their vows of love and made plans when to tell their family of the news, a man in a green hakama stepped into the scene, causing a shift of the wind from a gentle breeze to a roaring gust. He had followed Kiyoko around for almost two weeks now, unable to forget how he was rejected by this insolent woman; how a lowly Kamiya samurai can even be considered his rival. His mind blazed with fury when he heard the acceptance of the proposal and couldn't hold back any longer. He needed to punish the two for trampling on his pride.

"Katsu!" gasped Kiyoko when she saw the man coming towards them, an aura of malice surrounding his ki as Koshijiro noted. "Wh-What are you doing here? I thought you went back to Nagasaki to inherit the estate!" The wind and river howled in unison as Katsu grew closer, Koshijiro took on a defensive stance with Kiyoko behind him.

"Inherit the estate?" growled Katsu, "And what? Let the two of you live happy lives while my pride is being spat upon? Let me rule the estate, lonely and without a loved one? Hah, as if I would let you two carry on with a happy family. Unless… unless you would reconsider my offer and choose me instead. Yes, that's right, come to my side and we shall inherit the estate together and build a powerful samurai family." His eyes grew wild with insanity and possessiveness, causing a slight tremor to run down Koshijiro's spine.

Kiyoko gasped, "Katsu, I'm very sorry. I did not realize my rejection of your proposal would do that much damage to your pride. But is there a need to go to such extremes? Please, maybe we could settle this…"

"Settle it? Settle it over what? Some sake and hope I'll forget about everything? You amuse me Kiyoko," Katsu spat her name as if it was some vile venom.

"No! Of course not! Katsu I mean that we… I mean my family… possibly compensate," Kiyoko could not gather her thoughts and Koshijiro eventually stopped her attempts at conversation, telling her the man was now possessed by the envy and pride he held close at heart.

"Katsu," Koshijiro said sternly, staring at said man in the eye, "It is undeniable that Kiyoko has hurt you in more ways than one when she rejected your proposal and is now accepting mine. But, it is not that she isn't hurt too. She loved you as well and to have to choose between us almost broke her."

"Then why! Why did she choose you and not me? Why can't it be me who is by her side to make her happy? I love her just as much as you love her and I can give her more than you can and I know her as well as you do! So why not me?"

"Because!" screamed Kiyoko as she finally broke out of shell, "Because Koshijiro can make me feel happiness without money. He has high views of human life and won't hesitate to help others. He doesn't care about status or image and once he sets his mind to accomplish something, he does it wholeheartedly!" Kiyoko stepped out from behind Koshijiro. "You? All you want is more money and more power and I feel so constrained around you. Yes, I did love you because you were adventurous and wanted to make big changes in Japan but all there were were ambiguous ideas and none was ever put to the test. If you truly did love me, you would've realized how uncomfortable I was whenever you were around and how my mind wandered elsewhere. You would've listened at least to my opinions but you wouldn't even pause for a breath. And now you say you know me as well as Koshijiro? What do you know about me besides my name and the fact that I am a merchant's only daughter? Do you even know my birthday?" Katsu stared blankly at her, the color on his face switching between white and red, his hand inching towards the katana at his waist. "Koshijiro is the only one who is meant for me and that's why I choose him."

Koshijiro could not believe the woman in front of him. She had subdued the violent aura Katsu was emitting before with just her words. Any skilled swordsman would have all predicted that a fight would be needed to stop the man.

Once Katsu recovered from Kiyoko's abrupt bluntness, something in him shifted. The wind blew harder, causing sakura petals to swirl around the trio and fall into the river. "I see then," began Katsu slowly, "You and I were never meant to be. You had already loved another when you met me. But mark my words; you will pay for deceiving me, the both of you. One day, I will cast more grief and pain on you than you have upon me." With that, he stalked away, leaving behind an aura of lust filled vengeance.

Nobuo = trustworthy, faithful

Katsu = victory

Gyūnabe = hot pot with beef and tofu and all that fun stuff

Enokitake = long thin white mushroom

Kiyoko – the manga/anime I don't think mentions the name of Kaoru's mother so I decided to use Kiyoko which means a "pure child".

Red means danger, passion, and lust

Magenta can neutralize disorder and violence

Gold promotes courage and willpower

Marigold means grief and despair

Scabious means unfortunate love

Sakura tree symbolizes the bond between humans, courage, sadness and happiness as well as life and death.

The river symbolizes the fact that the world and the people around you move on and continue to live, as should Katsu.

The sakura tree is a Somei Yoshino. It blooms at the beginning of spring, symbolizing the beginning of something as well as the end because the flowers begin to shed.

Aqua means high ideals. Perfect for a man who came up with the idea of katsujin-ken (sword that protects life)