Note: Nobuo is using "ore" which is a way of referring to himself in a masculine, informal way. When Kenshin is talking and there is an (*) after his 'I', that means he's referring to himself as "ore" instead of "sessha."

Also, in Japan, the formal way of sitting on the floor is to sit on your feet so your knees are touching the floor. (the name given to this formal way of sitting is Seiza)

Glossary:

Kotatsu – the table that has a futon (blanket) surrounding the rim (in the story the thing that's suppose to be in the middle is removed because it's some time in spring)

Suisen – a.k.a. the daffodil; in Japan, it means respect

Shion – Aster Tataricus; they are miniscule flowers that have yellow centers with many long, thin purple petals.

Note: I'm using the Japanese terms for these flowers because it would be… odd and confusing to write out names like Aster Tataricus

Gold (color) – evokes the feeling of prestige

Dark purple – evokes gloom, sad feelings, causes frustration

Tamaryokucha – type of Japanese green tea with a tangy, berry-like taste with a long almond aftertaste. It has an aroma of citrus, grass, and berries. Has a floral fragrance.

Drusies – a black gem stone that's sparkly. It's seriously sparkly.

Hokkaido – one of the four main islands of Japan. It is the one farthest to the north.

Honshu – one of the four main islands of Japan. It's the largest and the one with Tokyo on it.

Nobuo entered the dining hall and seated himself at the kotatsu, his back facing the screen door that separated this room from the next. He began to slowly drum his fingers on the sleek wooden surface as he looked around and slowly took in the familiar surroundings. At the far left corner from where he sat, there is an old bookshelf filled with detailed journals of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. On the spacious middle rack were golden suisens complimented with deep purple shions in a decorative vase made of clay. It gave light to the old, yellowing books and highlighted Kaoru's respect for her father's style. Nobuo smiled gently and wondered where Kamiya-sensei was. Hm… could he be out at the moment? He shifted his attention to the opposite corner for there was something there he could not recognize. On the wall hung a black and white photograph of Kaoru and three other men. Oh! So Kaoru has discovered photography! My, that certainly is an interesting photo. The visitor chuckled to himself and continued his observations. His black eyes fell on the all too familiar dent on the wooden floor implanted about 2 feet away from where he sat. Ah, how nostalgic. The dent I made with my elbow when we last fought…

Nobuo's pondering was interrupted by the opening of the shoji as Kenshin stepped in with a tray of tamaryokucha, Yahiko following behind with a tray of rice and fried fish. "Yahiko, please go and get the rest from the kitchen," Kenshin said whilst moving the items on the tray onto the table. The young boy nodded and quickly exited with the empty trays. Kenshin then sat across from Nobuo and served the tea. The visitor got a whiff of the aroma and wrinkled his nose.

"What kind of foul-smelling poison are you serving to me?!"

"Oro?" the rurouni stared with wide-eyes at the visitor, "This is not poison. This is Kaoru-dono's favorite, tamaryokucha. She likes the taste and the floral scent."

"Don't joke with me! No way in hell would she like something like this!"

"I am sorry, Nobuo-san, that you find this tea distasteful." Kenshin fought the urge to correct the younger man now and decided to allow Kaoru-dono to prove his statement wrong. He didn't want to fight with the man again in fear of upsetting the girl. Instead, Kenshin tried to create small talk and asked, "What kind of tea is your preference?"

"What I like is none of your business." Nobuo crossed his arms across his chest and glared at Kenshin. This man was starting to annoy the passive rurouni. After all, no matter how patient Kenshin was, he was still a human with limits.

In reply, Kenshin plastered on a mask to hide his irritation and just smiled. At that moment, the shoji slid open and Kaoru stepped in wearing a pastel yellow kimono and a striped, pink obi; Yahiko trailed behind her, carrying the tray of vegetables and miso soup.

"Kaoru!" Nobuo's dark face fakedly brightened and stood up to greet the young girl. "My, you look like a real beauty in a kimono! I bet all the boys in town try to court you, huh?" he exclaimed teasingly. Kaoru replied with a blush, a giggle, and denied the man's joke.

Seeing Kaoru blush and giggle at Nobuo's words made Kenshin squirm on the inside. Is what Nobuo-san said really true? People are courting Kaoru-dono? Why is Kaoru-dono reacting like that? Kenshin couldn't comprehend the turmoil in his heart. Instinctively, he showcased his infamous rurouni smile and scooted over to let Kaoru sit beside him. To his dismay, Yahiko plopped down at the newly opened space; Kenshin swallowed his surprise and mechanically distributed the food. When he looked up, he saw Kaoru sitting opposite from him; her body turned slightly towards the center of the kotatsu, but her sapphire eyes were following Kenshin's movements. She shifted them to the side when they met violet ones and a splash of pink colored her cheeks. Unconsciously, Kenshin responded with an adoring smile, his chest swelling with an odd, but pleasant emotion.

The group began to eat after saying "Itadakimasu!" Kenshin had to swallow his laughter with the rice halfway through when Nobuo gawked at Kaoru drinking the tea happily. It was near impossible to not snicker when Kaoru half forced the beverage down Nobuo's throat and he had to pretend he liked it just so she would stop.

Once they finished, Nobuo started his story of his trip to Hokkaido (so that he could avoid another generous cup of tamaryokucha from the girl). "So it took me two weeks to get to the island by boat and thankfully was it a nice one else wise I would not have survived! Wh-"

"When did you leave for the trip?" interrupted Yahiko.

"Oh I left after I got thrown out of the dojo, but I already had plans of going so it all worked out fine. Anyways…" Nobuo continued his story in a strong tone, a tone that did not permit any disruptions.

As the man told his story, Kenshin gazed at Kaoru and fixated his attention on her. He noticed how her cheeks weren't as profound as they were before (probably due to her lack of appetite over the last few days), but still colored the same way that took the rurouni's breath away. It always reached past her cheeks and down her long slender neck, disappearing into her kimono. Her blush would highlight whatever color she was wearing and make her seem brighter. In retrospect, Kaoru would look like a figure in a painting, the focus and desire of the artist. Sure, her lack of natural elegance and years of kendo training made her movements boyish, but it refined her figure and Kaoru actually emitted this subtle, feminine aura that Kenshin found himself drawn too. He wondered if that was a natural trait of hers, like one of an alpha female, and the longer he stayed, the more prominent the feeling became. The rurouni would've been perfectly content to watch Kaoru while tuning out the noise that spewed out of the visitor's mouth for the next hour or so, but with Nobuo invading her bubble just a bit too frequently, Kenshin could not calm his heart down. To be honest, he envied Nobuo's ability to get so close to Kaoru within being blinded or intimidated by her brightness.

Then, Kenshin's body seemed to move on his own as he tried to distract Kaoru so that she would notice him. He shifted his weight and moved his feet from under his body and sat cross-legged. Slowly, one foot began to inch forward until it brushed the bottom of Kaoru's knee. His heart skipped a beat at the contact and he quickly retracted his foot.

Kaoru, who had been listening intently to her visitor's story, felt the immediate electricity run from her knee up to her torso when she felt something brush against her. Her attention was diverted to the man sitting across the table and wondered if that was Kenshin's foot for she noticed he was no longer sitting in Seiza. Sensing nothing profoundly strange in his ki, she ignored it and tried to concentrate on Nobuo's story. As he went on about some great hike up the mountain with the goats, Nobuo placed one arm around Kaoru's shoulders and pulled her in towards him, rather roughly as Kaoru noted, and tried to make her see the view he had in his mind. It was then that Kaoru felt the same spark that ran from her knee to her torso and quickly, she peeked at Kenshin, whose violet eyes bore into her sapphire ones. She had to suppress the shudder that appeared within her chest and gently pushed Nobuo away for she knew it must've been uncomfortable for Kenshin… and Yahiko to witness that childhood intimacy she shared with Nobuo. She moved a few centimeters farther away from the storyteller and refilled empty teacups. As she sat back down on her feet, Kaoru felt the familiar sensation again, but this time, it lingered instead of vanishing right away. She looked up at Kenshin and he was looking at her. Before he averted away with a subtle blush, Kaoru could've sworn that she saw minute specks of amber behind the purple of his irises and for a moment, she thought it was jealousy, possessiveness, and desire that hid within his eyes.

"And so, as I was in search for the ruby butterfly in the northern part of the island…" This part of Nobuo's story particularly caught Kaoru's attention.

"You were in search of the ruby butterfly too?!" interrupted Kaoru.

Nobuo gave her a displeased expression before answering, "Oh, so you know about the ruby butterfly?"

"Yes! Before my mother died, she'd always tell me how much she wanted to see one and if lucky enough, own one. It wasn't until a few years ago that I discovered how rare and expensive the accessory was. Did you ever find it?"

"If you hadn't interrupted me, you would've found out sooner… but no, I did not actually find the ruby butterfly. I only found the person who used to own it and she had given it away to someone else. The old woman told me she gave it to a man who wanted it to win the heart of the woman he desired. But of course, you can't really expect to believe a spoiled old hag."

"I do not wish to interrupt," said Kenshin, "but could Kaoru-dono or Nobuo-san tell me what exactly is the ruby butterfly?"

Kaoru was the one who answered since Nobuo gave the rurouni a scoff. "It is a silver hairpin in the shape of a butterfly which is made up of rubies and black drusies. It's said that there are only five in the whole world and one of them is in Japan. I've heard stories of how only the past empresses or someone within the Royal Family owns it and passes it down generation after generation, but then during the Bakumatsu, the empress who at the time owned it, gave it to her servant and told her to hide herself and the hairpin in Hokkaido. 'Once the war is over and the Royal Family regains control,' the empress told the servant, 'I will come and find you and bring the both of you home.' A few weeks later, she was assassinated and it's said that the butterfly is passed down within the servant's new family and they are waiting for someone to bring them back to their home in Honshu."

Kaoru ended up giving the whole story behind the accessory to Kenshin and he listened appreciatively.

"Anyways…" Nobuo then continued his story after Kaoru was finished with her explanation. Yahiko, who had been bored all this time, wanted some kind of action between the two grown men. It was the reason why he was here after all. He decided to use Kaoru as the spark to the upcoming action because the young student noticed how Kenshin always tensed up in irritation whenever Nobuo got intimate with his teacher. Thus, Yahiko boldly interrupted Nobuo and asked, "So are you married yet? If not, then you should take busu away 'cause that might make her more womanly!"

Playing innocently along, Nobuo retorted, "Haha well just maybe. I mean I need someone to cook for me after all." With that he pulled Kaoru into one of his side hugs and wouldn't let her go. Kenshin's emotions soon got the better of him and he finally interjected.

"Kaoru-dono looks rather uncomfortable Nobuo-san. I'd think it'd be best if you would let her go."

Sensing the rurouni's demur and wanting to tease him a little, Nobuo responded by hugging Kaoru even tighter and said, "But I'm rather comfortable."

Kenshin's irises began to turn amber. "I* don't care about your comfort. Only Kaoru-dono's and if you don't her go this instant, I* won't hold back."

"Oh really now? Well then why don't we have a one on one and see who is more fit for Kaoru."

"That would be best."

The moment "ore" came out of Kenshin's mouth, Kaoru began to panic. Why? Is Kenshin reverting back to Battousai?! She finally pushed Nobuo away from her and staggered to stand up. Placing herself in-between the two men, she demanded, "STOP! The both of you!" However, they did not seem to hear her as there ki continued to rage on. The men exchanged a few more remarks and then prepared to draw their swords right then and there. In desperation to stop Kenshin from doing something he might regret, Kaoru flung herself to Kenshin and pushed him back. The tension in the room snaps and Kenshin's irises slowly returned to their purple color.

"Kaoru…dono," he whispered, "I am sorry to have caused you distress." Kenshin placed a hand on her shoulder to calm the girl who was still trembling.

Without turning to face Nobuo, Kaoru tried as calmly and steadily as she could to say, "Nobuo, I'd think it'd be best if you would leave this instant. Maybe we can meet again another time." And so, the man left after leaving a half-hearted apology and a glare at Kenshin.

"Kenshin…" Kaoru still clung onto the front of the rurouni's gi. Suddenly, she lets go and bonks him on the head while screaming "YOU IDIOT! I thought you were going to revert back into Battousai and I'd lose you. Why did you get so frustrated? Wh.. Me.. Bll… Grr.. !" Tears were trickling down the girl's face and her words were all mushed together. In embarrassment, she stormed out of the dining hall with Kenshin following behind to make sure she was okay.

Left behind was Yahiko and he cleaned up the dishes willingly. After all, the adults gave him a rather interesting act.

Kaoru fumed for the rest of the day and Kenshin tried his hardest to cheer her up. Yahiko advised him to give her some flowers and who would've thought that it would work! The mess of the afternoon was forgotten by dusk and Yahiko went to the Akabeko to help with dinner service. The duo then decided to take a stroll through the moonlit night, with Kaoru leading the way.

"Kaoru-dono?"

"Yes, Kenshin?"

"Is something a matter?"

The girl did not respond and just continued walking. Kenshin recognized where they were heading. It was the grassy area where he had bade farewell to Kaoru before leaving for Kyoto to fight Shishio. Once they reached Kaoru's destination, they sat down next to each other and looked at the fireflies.

"Kenshin…" she whispered. The rurouni turned his head to look at the girl. "If anything happens in the near future, I want you to stay out of it."

"Eh? Why is something going to happen to you?"

"Please don't worry Kenshin. I know how to take care of myself. And it's only a precaution."

"What's going on? If it's only a precaution then why can't I help you?"

"Just… something from the past is coming back. It's not a big deal though and I don't want to get you involved and possibly harmed. I don't want to see you get hurt…"

"And I don't want to see Kaoru-dono hurt either." The girl would not look up to meet his burning gaze.

"Thank-you Kenshin for your kindness, but I believe this is something I must face alone."

"Then could you at least tell me what's happening?" Kaoru finally looked up to meet Kenshin's eyes and he could see desperation and fear within them.

"It's going to be a long story…"

"We have time."

"It'll be confusing…"

"I won't mind. Just do your best and I'll be your support."

"Mou Kenshin. Who taught you that line," Kaoru chuckled jokingly to soothe the building tension.

"Ororo?!

"Well then… I guess I'll begin with the story of my parents."

Okay so I had writer's block around the middle of the story and then rushed to finish… I hope it was still alright though. Part of the true story behind Kaoru's past will be revealed in the next chapter! And it's definitely a perfect setting for some cute fluff ^^ heehee.

Hope that wasn't too OOC… and critics really help motivate me. Good, bad, any kind of comments are welcome! It helps me shape my stories better… I think.