A/N: Chapter seven darlings! Yep, chapter seven and it's beginning with a nice little flashback.

Disclaimer: I'm sure you'd all know how things would go down if I owned Rurouni Kenshin, however I do not…

Warnings: Teen pregnancy, cursing, not edited…

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She hadn't been feeling well at all lately, and her father was worried. He'd ask her if she was all right to go to school and she'd tell him she wanted to go. Even though she felt the nausea. What really made her afraid was that she might just be pregnant, and even though Kenshin wanted to marry her, would he be ready to be a father so soon? Now here she was sitting on the bathroom tile of Kenshin's house with his mother Tae hovering over the door asking her if she was really all right.

"Kaoru, honey, do you need some saltines? I'll go get some for you," she worried and her footsteps retreated from the bathroom. Why was she here in the first place, she wondered leaning back against the sink. Why had she agreed to study with Kenshin when she knew she wasn't feeling well? It was his eyes pleading her to come over even if they'd just study. He didn't need contact, he told her, but he liked when she was near.

"Kaoru?" Kenshin's voice wafted through the door. "Kaoru may I come in?" He had asked to come in and she didn't have the heart to tell him no. Maybe now would be the time. They knew when they started having sex that this had potential of happening. 'Please tell me this is a scare.'

"Come in," her voice was shaky and she cursed because of it.

Kenshin opened the door; softly like a cat he entered. Kaoru really didn't notice until his shoulder hit her own. Glancing up at him with big blue eyes she took a deep breath.

"So, what are you doing on the floor?" he asked a smooth easy smile on his face. Oh, how she really didn't want to take that smile away.

"Kenshin."

"Yes, Kaoru?" he asked leaning his head towards the side.

"I-I-I-I," she stuttered and tears began rolling down her face. She hated when she was weak, but this might be pregnancy and didn't mood swings come along with it or something. Hugging her knees to her chest she wailed.

"Kaoru what is it?" Kenshin furrowed his brows and rubbed her back trying to comfort her, but she continued to cry. Kaoru looked up at him tears racing down her cheeks.

"Kenshin I might be, well, I might be pregnant," she bawled and buried her face in his chest. The red head was shocked; his fiancé was pregnant with his child. Shock still apparent he wrapped his arms around her tiny frame and held her, but he hadn't been the only one to hear Kaoru's statement. A box of saltines dropped to the floor and Kenshin looked up to see his mother standing there with her hand over her mouth shocked.

----

Tokio paced through out the room waiting for Saito to come at least that's what Hikaru was led to believe. She was sitting on the couch still thinking about Kenji. He'd been really sweet that day and that had made her dilemma worse. She had a crush on Kenji Himura, a big one, and she really didn't want it to get in the way of her friendship with him. So, she sighed and her mother stopped pacing. Instead she glided over towards the couch, in such a way that Hikaru was jealous of her mother. She could never glided or look as elegant as her mother did.

"Hikaru what's wrong? Are you really that upset about the hearing?" her mother's voice for once in her life she had heard it waver. When her mother talked her voice never wavered it was always strong and confident, never weak like her own.

"No, I'm not sad about the hearing I'm happy to live with you," Hikaru grabbed her mother's hand and squeezed it. Actually it felt weird to be the strong one while her mother worried. Tokio was always peaceful and calm.

"Then what's wrong sweetheart?" she asked squeezing Hikaru's hand back. "Is it a boy?" Her question was dead on and Hikaru felt a blush on her face, and Tokio smiled. "Is it that Himura boy?" The blush deepened and Tokio could not restrain herself not to hug her daughter. Finally she was interested in boys.

"It's not like that!" Hikaru protested. Luckily she was saved by a knock at the door.

"Well, remember Hikaru don't try to change him okay? If his mother hasn't done it by the time you get him, you'll have no chance," Tokio reminded her of her favorite motto before heading to the door, gliding again.

Standing in the hall Hikaru watched as her mother greeted a man, who was a lot taller than she did, but still she stood upon tiptoes and snagged a cigarette that lay between his lips. Promptly she got rid of it and allowed him to come in a glare on her features.

"Now, Hajime this is my daughter Hikaru, Hikaru this is Hajime Saito," her mother introduced the two. Hikaru immediately recognized the man from Kenji's birthday party the one he who set up the television. Kenji the liar! Hikaru seethed but covered it with a forced smile.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Saito," she greeted. Oh, I'm going to get that red head she thought gleefully. The reason she knew that Kenji didn't only know Saito a little was because he would have never been invited to the party if he didn't know him well. Kaoru wasn't like that.

"Like wise," Saito said, almost as if he was trying to please her mother. Tokio noticing the tension coming mostly from her daughter hurried them along into the dining room where the dinner she made was laid out.

Unlike Kaoru, Saito noted, Tokio was an excellent cook. While much like a certain younger red head, Hikaru had a glare on her face that matched his very well. Ah, I see how the twerp and her get along; he smirked leaning back in his chair a little.

"So, Mr. Saito, you were the PI who spied on my father how does it feel to be a paid stalker?" Hikaru spat out. Tokio's eyes went to saucers when her daughter asked that question, but Saito laughed. He liked the kid she liked taking shots at people. Like mother like daughter he assumed.

"It's better than most jobs," he smirked. His right hand was itching for a cigarette and the little brat had noticed, and she smirked.

"Hikaru," Tokio warned, and it wasn't the usual I'm shocked at you for saying that, it was more of a do it again and you'll see how long it takes for you to be allowed out of the house.

"Anyway, I asked you here to thank you," Tokio smiled and Saito felt his eyes on her face. She had an elegant bone structure, the type you expected on a rich girl. But he knew from a few talks he had with Tokio that she was a self-made woman, a woman whom had dealt with the underbelly of society with out batting an eye. It was then he remembered seeing her once before. He had though she was a princess of a crime ring, but she hadn't plunged in the darkness long enough for him to see her again.

"Ah, well, you paid me I did that job," he spoke curtly, but he knew Tokio could decipher what he had really said.

You're welcome.

She smiled and began to take the dishes before Hikaru had gripped the porcelain disks in her own hands. Green eyes met and flashed as the two spoke.

"Fine," Tokio lifted her hand off the plate and Hikaru raced to get everything in the kitchen with out looking at him. She could already tell her mother was attracted to that man in a way she could never be for her father. Tears streamed down her face as she placed the dishes in the sink. Rinsing them off quickly she opened the swinging kitchen door to see her mother's lips being pressed against Saito's. She took her hand off the door and allowed it to close again shielding her from her mother's new life. Turning to her left Hikaru opened the Kitchen window and climbed out to the fire escape. She needed to talk to someone anyone, and right then fifteen miles was not enough to stop her from running. Maybe Tsubame would understand or maybe Kenji, Yahiko's foster parents were too strict. The other two were okay. Hikaru took a deep breath and climbed down. The second her feet touched the cool cement she ran.

----

Kenshin was sitting beside Kaoru their hands linked as his father paced Sano had entered the house later than his curfew, but the new "dilemma" was much more important than Sano's lateness. His adopted brother was more than happy for that. While his father tried to calm down by tearing a hole in the carpet, his mother was trying to contact Kaoru's father.

Kenshin hoped that they wouldn't be able to get a hold of her father, and Kaoru was shaking slightly in fear her blue eyes shimmering in unshed tears. She was scared and he knew it, by the way she was shaking he was completely aware of it.

"You," his father stopped the anger apparent, as it seemed he couldn't form his own words. "You've been having sex? Unprotected sex? What the hell were you thinking, Kenshin are you that stupid?" he bellowed and Kenshin felt as if he was five again, but he had to protect Kaoru. Now he could hear his mother talking in hushed tones, to Kaoru's father.

"Well, she's fine. I just think you should come over. Right now preferably. We'll see you in a little bit," she hung up the phone and Kenshin could see her look over at him sad. He knew what she was thinking her baby was going to grow up, but what she didn't see is that he had long ago.

"What were you thinking Kenshin?" his father bellowed.

"I was thinking that I loved Kaoru and I wanted to show her in a special way," he shot back.

"Are you ready to be a father?" his mother pressed. Kenshin turned towards her and smiled.

"I don't know, but I'm not leaving Kaoru's side. If she wants this baby then we'll take care of it," he spoke confidently. Hiko snorted and muttered how he couldn't take care of anything.

"Kaoru, do you want to keep the baby?" Tae squirmed a little, watching the girl that had already been set to be her daughter-in-law. Kaoru's blue eyes met the older woman's.

"Yes, I want this baby," her words were confident and Kenshin wanted to hug her to him. They were going to be a mother and father.

"How are you going to take care of a child? You're both children yourselves!" Hiko pointed out and Tae nodded. Kenshin stood up his body shielding Kaoru's.

"We'll make it work!"

"You're a child! You're both children. Kaoru are you sure you're ready for this?" Tae wrung her hands. Kaoru stood up next to Kenshin her hand finding his, finding her strength.

"I am," she spoke forcefully.

The door opened and in came her father who looked bewildered as to why he was here. Turning to Hiko he posed the question.

"What's going on?"

"You're daughter's pregnant."

----

Kenshin laid on his back staring at the ceiling in the hotel he was staying at. Maybe he should move back, maybe he could be nearer to his ex-wife and son. Not that Kenji would be too fond of that he supposed. The boy practically acted as if he despised him. Pushing himself into a sitting position he rested his chin on his fist and sighed. He was going to take Aoshi up on his offer. He was going to protect Kaoru and their son. From could he really believe it, Shishio?

The man was dark, but Yumi had been a decent friend to Kaoru for a very long time. Would she be in the whole mess? He didn't know, but if Aoshi's findings were correct then one of Shishio's men was living next to Kaoru. Shifting in his bed he sighed. It was time to call the one person he dreaded speaking to. Dialing the number he closed his eyes.

"Hello?" the voice was calm, but there was another one on the end that was frantic.

"Saito?" he asked trying to make out the words the woman was blabbing.

"Ah, Battousai, make this quick," Saito bit out.

"Kaoru's in trouble," he sighed. There was silence for the moment before Saito snorted.

"Well, then you'll just have to be a man for a while Battousai and wait for my abilities later. I have a missing kid to look for." With that Saito had hung up and Kenshin frown at the phone. He had only called so that they would have a man inside the better side of the law. Saito had left the underworld while he and Aoshi were still swimming in it trying to get oxygen, trying to get back to the light.

Kenshin sighed. The light reminded him of Kaoru. She had been his one ticket out. Why had he been so stubborn to let it go and just tell her?

You didn't want her looking at you as if you were a monster. Remember? She thought the crime ring was disgusting, you were afraid. Imagine the Battousai afraid. You didn't want to lose her love, but it seems you have. To that Aoshi man.

Shut up! Kenshin hissed. He knew it was true however. He had been so scared that Kaoru would have left him if he presented his real job, even though that very same job led him to her.

Clenching his fist he stood and changed into an outfit good enough to jog in. Kenshin left his hotel at five thirty in the morning; he checked the clock and began to jog. This town had been his hometown, and when he was younger he dreamed of taking Kaoru away from here. It was small, but it was deeply riddled in the underworld. It acted as if it were a good place to raise your child, but in actuality it was the closest you could get to the crime ring without being a in a large city.

He jogged until he couldn't breath properly. By that point he came across a dainty house with a "For Sale" sign up in front. Checking his watching and noticing he'd been running for about two hours. It was around seven thirty, so he called the office.

"Hello, Alderman's Real Estate office, this is Sophia speaking. How may I help you?" a tired voice answered on the third ring.

"Hello, I'm Kenshin Himura and I just saw a house for sale that I'm very interested in."

----

Kaoru awoke with a stretch and scratched her arm. It was early, but she still needed to wake up her own sleepy head. Stumbling to her son's room she opened the door to reveal the sleeping red head, whom had apparently during the night had kicked off his covers and now was sleeping spread out on his bed.

Careful as to not trip over anything, she made her way towards his bed a small smile on her face.

"Wake-up sleepy head," she shook his shoulder. Kenji glanced up blinking a little. The sleep was still in his eyes as he looked blearily at her. He was probably wondering what was going on.

"Mom?" he asked shifting slightly.

"Yes, I have a question for you. Did you like Aoshi?" she asked. With his mind still muddled with sleep Kenji gave out a little more than he meant to and Kaoru wanted the truth or as close to the truth as she could get. It might be wrong, but she'd rather know what Kenji really felt about the man she was dating than what he thought she wanted to hear.

"Yeah, he's okay, but I saw him at Dad's once they were talking about something," he trailed off almost going to sleep once again.

"Wait! Kenji, what did you say?" she leaned down wondering what her son had meant. Another yawn came from her son before he sat up.

"He was at dad's when Tomoe left him, they were talking about something dad didn't want to do because it ruined his marriage last time he did it," he rolled over as if he didn't know he was giving information that Kaoru wanted so badly. It scared her how badly she wanted to know. How much she needed to know what Kenshin was doing, and why it was so bad that he could never tell her.

"Did they say anything about what it was?" she felt horrible asking that. Grilling her son for information while he was half awake and very into telling the truth. Was she really that horrible?

"No, it sounded illegal though," he turned on this side and finally fell asleep. Kaoru sighed and left the room. She second she did Kenji blinked his eyes open and stumbled over to the closet. Opening it he reveal a haggard looking Hikaru, whom was scrunched up in a ball half-asleep.

"C'mon," he grabbed her arm and dragged her back to the bed where she snuggled in next to him. It was strange that she was in bed with him but they were both closed. Plus he had decided that since Hikaru had no real attraction towards him it would be fine. He wouldn't end up like his mother and father. Thus when she had crawled through his window and climbed in bed he let her without freaking out. They were only friends. Period.

----

Kaoru watched her father pace back and forth, shooting glares at her fiancé every few seconds. He looked so incredibly mad and she couldn't help but move closer to Kenshin. Finally her father stopped pacing and looked Kenshin dead on his blue eyes narrowing.

"You, you got my little girl pregnant?" he asked his fist clenching.

"Daddy! We don't know if I'm really pregnant!" Kaoru tried to intervene, but her father would have nothing of it. The vein in his neck was throbbing, and that meant he was very, very, very angry.

"That's not the point Kaoru! The point is you two have been having unprotected sex! You are too young! Too damn young!" he hollered. Kaoru stood up hand over her belly in a protective measure her eyes were burning with fire, as was Kenshin's.

"I chose to do that daddy because I love him," she stopped when her father gave a glare in Kenshin's direction, "No, he didn't force me or pressure me into giving it up! I chose!"

"What then are you ready to take care of a child, Kaoru?" he asked and she could tell that her father so dearly wanted to punch Kenshin's lights out. All he had to do was reach over and punch him.

"Yes," she cried, "I am ready to take care of Kenshin's child. I want to bear his child!" By this point Kaoru was shaking. Kenshin wrapped his arm around her body and held her close as she cried, and she cried hard.

"Well, then," he was quiet and it made the hairs on the back of Kenshin's neck stand up, "If you hurt my little girl, if she cries because of you, you are a dead man Himura understand?" The look in his eyes told Kenshin he meant it with all his heart.

"Yes, sir," he nodded.

"You both have my blessing. I'll help with the baby as much as I can," he said softly before turning towards the door. "I would think you'd help out your boy too Hiko?" It was said as a question, but the underlining meaning was that he expected Hiko and Tae to also help the two out.

"Of course we will," Tae nodded.

---

Tokio was hysterical as she paced throughout the room. Saito couldn't help but watch as the woman he had seen as so composed mumbled under her breath trying to figure out where her daughter had went. They had called her ex-husband to see if Hikaru had talked to him and the bastard had laughed.

It almost made Saito's blood boil when the man started to say Hikaru never ran away when she was with him, and that Tokio must be a horrible mother if she couldn't keep their daughter there for one day. He had almost grabbed the phone before Tokio had said some choice words before hanging up.

"Oh, god what if one of my old business partners got her?" she pressed her hands to her lips. Turning towards him she walked briskly in his direction. "Do you know who she hangs out with? She hasn't talked to me in ages. I was going to get to know all her friends," she cried. Actually tears were trailing down her cheeks and if someone had kidnapped Hikaru, Saito was sure that that bastard was going to die a slow and horrible death. Yet, if she had just ran away like teenagers do he'd suppress the urge to hurt the person who had made Tokio cry.

Wait.

Saito stopped when had he become so protective over Tokio? A client? Well, she wasn't a client right now. It wasn't unprofessional to be attracted and actually want to be with the woman. So, he had no reason to shy away from these feelings, right? Plus, Tokio had been well over her ex-husband long before she divorced him.

"I didn't cry when I found out he was in bed with another woman. Instead, I was pissed that he thought he could cheat on me. It was also then I knew I didn't really love him, I hadn't for a while. I just stayed with him from Hikaru's sake, but because he cheated on me I wasn't going to let him go on without tearing his world apart. I am a very proud woman, and the fact that he stomped all over that has caused me to wish harm upon him."

Her words had been straightforward a few days after he told her of what he had found. It had made him wonder why she actually wanted to know if he was cheating on her, but that statement had erased all thoughts that she had maybe wanted to believe he wasn't a scumbag that had gotten her pregnant and married her.

"Hikaru wasn't planned, at all. I found out I was pregnant and my parents wouldn't let me be a single mother. They were traditional and thought I needed a strong man to take care of me. Hikaru's father was found out and forced to marry me when I was a little over a month along. I didn't really love him ever; he was just a man who took advantage of me while I was drunk. It was practically rape, but he told me I had begged him to. Still I allowed him to marry me. The bastard was not allowed to touch me, no man was. I was a wreck for a long time before I decided I needed help. I went and got a psychiatrist so I wouldn't jump every time that asshole was near me with the slight fear that he'd take me over. I got better and was actually able to act like I was in love with that piece of shit."

She had spoken those words after he had offhandedly asked her about Hikaru and how she didn't love her husband. He had been expecting a quick brief explanation that she had fallen out of love with her husband, not that she had been forced to marry when she would have been more than happy with being a single mother. That was the first time he wanted to kill a man on Tokio's behalf and it had freaked him out.

"Hikaru was my world for the longest time. My little girl. She was so innocent and she even loved her father, and for a while I thought he was a decent man. He had been a good father, even though he wasn't a man I'd marry he had been good for Hikaru, but it changed. I would have been okay if he hadn't started to neglect my baby."

It seemed after she asked him to get her back her baby that all their conversations went along the lines of the girl. Saito could see how much Tokio loved her daughter; it was like how Kaoru loved Kenji. It rolled off the women in waves. They were great mothers and he knew that both would do anything for their children.

Still unlike Tokio, Kaoru was still deeply in love with Battousai, even if she was in denial now. She couldn't cast out the man whom had given her a child, while Tokio had thrown the man on his ass with a few flicks of the hand. Both were strong but they were so different.

Saito stopped her from pacing anymore by wrapping his arms around her. She cried in his shirt and he knew that she wasn't one to do such a thing, but here she was crying thinking she wasn't good enough.

"Tokio, she's probably at a friends. Why don't you try Kenji Himura? His mother it Kaoru Kamiya," he tried to sooth, but it came out gruff. Tokio didn't seem to mind she still allowed him to hold her, at least until she could break off the sniffles. Tilting her head up she gave a watery smile.

"I didn't think of that," she shook her head, "I'll call."

----

"You did what?" Sanosuke asked leaning against the chair as Kenshin ate. The red head just gave a smile before setting down his silverware. Sanosuke had been a brother to him, so Kenshin had decided to tell him what he had done. It wasn't bad, but he wasn't so sure everyone would be that happy with him. Yet, right now he didn't feel like caring.

"I bought a house," he stated. Sano, whom had been taking a drink, spit out the coke and blinked.

"Kenshin, you still have a house! Why did you buy a new one?" he placed a hand on the table still confused. A laugh came from the other man.

"Yeah, I'm renting it out to others," he shrugged still grinning, "It's only a few blocks away from Kaoru and Kenji."

"Wait! You moved nearer to the Missy? Kenshin are you crazy! She's getting on with her life and what about this others? Do you mean the underground? I thought you were trying to get out, for Kaoru and Tomoe?" Sano questioned. Kenshin sobered up at the mention of Kaoru and "getting on with her life" bit. It was a sore spot because he didn't have a reason to try to really protect Kaoru; Aoshi could do fine with protecting her.

"The reason I'm still in the underground is some man is threatening my family. Shishio has someone as a next door neighbor to Kaoru and they want Aoshi, but they also want me," Kenshin took a drink and leaned back.

"Hold on, Shishio wants to take out Aoshi? Who the hell is Aoshi to Shishio and where did you come into the mix?" Once again a slew of questions came from his best friend's mouth.

"Aoshi is the boss of a group, I can't remember the name of it for the life of me, but he's top notch underground assassin. Shishio is feeling threatened and since Aoshi is near," he paused willing the words of my wife to go back down his throat, " Kaoru I suppose Shishio is thinking of killing two birds with one stone. Why not get the Battousai who is the most feared man alive out of the picture along with a ninja who can sell you to the police on a silver platter?"

Sanosuke frowned again and set his hand under his chin. He wanted to believe that Kenshin was saying was true, and if it was then he should tell Megumi that Aoshi wasn't the best for Kaoru. Not if the man she was dating would get her under the speculation of a mob boss. He had been watching Yumi and Shishio during Kenji's party knowing full well who Shishio was and he knew Kenshin must have been wary of the mob boss' appearance at his son's party. Yet, he didn't show any hostility so Saito, Kenshin, and Sano didn't jump the man even with knowing who he was. Of course Kaoru had no idea she had about three very dangerous men at her party, two being men she trusted well Saito and Kenshin. Sano didn't place himself in the dangerous category. Probably because he knew Kenshin could disarm him in about .0005 seconds without using any violence.

"Wow, Missy is in the thick of everything, huh?" Sano whistled.

"Yes, and I know that staying away won't make her safe remember all those times I tried to convince myself that it'd be better that she was away from me? It was those days work almost followed me home," Kenshin shook his head. "I wanted to tell her some days, but I couldn't bear to see the look of hatred in her eyes."

"Kenshin you fucking moron!" Sano hit him. It actually hurt and Kenshin had to steel himself from retaliating. "Missy wouldn't care, hell I doubt if she still would even with you being a selfish bastard! What I think you should do is tell her what you do before Aoshi can. Start getting back to where you want to be. You still want the Missy back right?" the brunette leaned forward.

"Yes, I would love to have Kaoru back in my arms, but she doesn't want me anymore. She's happy with Aoshi," Kenshin sighed and was smacked again.

"Bullshit! That's just another fucking excuse you're using to save face and not have to put yourself on the line. Kenshin, Kenji is cutting you slowly out of his life and Kaoru's not fighting it as much anymore. You need to show you care because you were fucking up all that time you were with Tomoe. I know you didn't mean to but you were rubbing it in her face that you got a new dish. Kaoru's been in love with you all along. Aoshi doesn't have anything on you," Sano snapped. He stood towering over the red head.

"You see Kenshin, Missy has always had this place in her heart for you, maybe if you're lucky you'll be able to get back into her heart. But… you have to work hard Aoshi's almost got her. Get her while there's still hope in her heart that you'll come to your senses. Now I've got to go bother the fox." Kenshin watched his friend walk away and he felt a buzz in his head, probably from the hits he had taken. Yet, he knew Sanosuke was right, very right. He needed to get his act together. Placing the money on the table he stood and took a walk.

----

"What were you two thinking?" Kaoru placed a hand on her face looking at Kenji who was looking at the ground. A few hours ago Tokio had called asking if Hikaru was there, and when Kaoru said she didn't think so the woman asked if she could check. Kaoru being the woman she was agreed and went into her son's room to see if he knew where Hikaru was. Instead of seeing her innocent red headed son in bed alone she also saw a black hair girl along with him, and they were cuddling. Luckily they were both very clothed, so she didn't have to freak about her son having sex, so much like her father had to.

Numbly she had told Tokio that Hikaru had come to her house and the woman had cried in relief before stating she and get this Saito would be over to pick up Hikaru. Kaoru had woken her son up a little roughly, but she wasn't happy and had him wake up Hikaru. Whom by the time her mother and Saito arrived was sitting on the couch looking at her feet.

Tokio had been close to hysterics when she entered the house and went straight for her daughter. After the whole "Thank God you're alright!" bit Hikaru had been grounded for a very, very long time. Kenji during the whole drama had plastered himself against the wall hoping that he wouldn't get the same fate. Unfortunately his mother had already noted where he was and after the trio left she turned on him.

"I wasn't really, I mean, Hikaru came here crying because her mother was already hooking up with Saito! She was upset and she didn't want to go home," he scratched his cheek. "I was going to try and convince her to go home after she cried it out, but she looked so sad…" Kaoru almost faltered with his confession, it reminded her of when she sneaked out of the house and crawled into Kenshin's room not wanting to go home. He wouldn't force her until the morning he would try to convince her that she needed to be home. Without knowing it Kenji had just acted like his father, she vaguely wondered how much he'd hate that.

"I don't care you should have told me or had Hikaru call home so her mother didn't have to worry! Now go to your room, I'll figure out your punishment later." Because right then it was too raw to deal with the memories of Kenshin and how he held her tight when she was so sad.

"Fine," Kenji said dejectedly. He walked back into his room and closed the door softly. It was strange he didn't blow up or fight her. He just took it. Shaking her head Kaoru sighed and sat on the couch. It was a few minutes she just sat there just trying to let the emotions go when there was a knock on the door. Standing up she walked slowly towards the door and allowed it to swing open revealing a man she wasn't expecting to see her face to face.

Kenshin

His eyes were boring into her own and she could almost see the internal battle he was fighting. He shifted his weight for a few seconds before waiting for her to greet him, yet she was still shocked he was there at all. Instead he took a deep breath.

"Kaoru, we need to talk."

----

A/N: Wow, thirteen pages baby! Yep, that's a lot more than the last two chapters were. Not combined unfortunately. So, how'd you like it? Nice, did I over do the Tokio/Saito thing?

Finally Kenshin has been smacked around! Who better to do it other than Sano? Hmmm? Sorry no Aoshi today. He didn't fit in and I wanted to bring Sano back in. Well, because Sano has been away from the main action, don't worry both him and Megumi will show up in the next chapter.

I'm sure you all know what Kenshin is going say right? Finally we're moving on yes! I have an idea where this is going so don't worry I don't plan to forget about this story even if I bring new stories into light. I have an idea about the Epilogue too. Yeah, finally I know where this is going!

Oh, yeah if you like this story then you should totally check out Believe Yes, that was a shameless plug of my story, but do you care? It's around the same style of Divorce so it's not that different, but enough to keep it from being the same story.

Here's some take-out food, curtsey of Kaoru, and some homemade food, curtsey of Tokio, and just to add on to that a cute little puppy that has a Rurouni Kenshin bandana or a kitten for: Onhiro, kagomes heart, Lazy Reader, kagfan5, alwyzme, Sakura Kaoru-Chan, Kagura910, and anyone I may have forgotten sorry!

Thank you for the alerts it makes me giggle when people alert it also, but I smile much more when I get reviews. Oh well! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Kiba out!