A/N: Holy moley it's been a long time! I am only slightly sorry because I have been sick/dealing with new awesome story ideas/switching schools all around the same time. Yes I have been a little busy, but I got a review recently and it made me wonder maybe I should try and semi-force myself to finish another chapter. (Semi-force because if I get a break then the story will just flow out…)

Disclaimer: How rich would I be if I owned Rurouni Kenshin? Wow really…that's awesome! Why do I not own this awesome thing? Oh yeah, I wasn't the genius who came up with it…

Warnings: there is the use of the "f" word, cussing, angst (no not really), not revealing evil plots

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Kaoru felt the need to slam the door in Kenshin's face and curl up in a tiny ball highly overwhelming. Still instead she leaned slightly so her body blocked any and all entrance to interior of her house. He looked good, she noted, and damn him for still making her heart ram against her chest.

"Talk?"

"Yes," Kenshin nodded. He was so very close to making up an excuse and then hightailing it out of there. Especially with Kaoru looked very, very delicious just standing there in her pajamas. Was she even aware she was in her pajamas? Because if she did, then she really should change into something that didn't make him want to jump her.

"About what exactly?" Could her tone be any more annoyed Kenshin wondered as she stared him down.

"The past," he replied softly and watched as her face morph from irritation to shock. It really didn't surprise him much, but what did was when she walked out on the poor and shut the door behind her, protecting Kenji.

"The past. Okay what about the past?" she tried not to grit her teeth. Really she tried, but right then she was reeling from finding Kenji harboring Hikaru, and now Kenshin popped out of no where wanting to talk about the past something he had neglected to do for years.

"The past the you don't know," he looked uncomfortable as he replied, but his words had hit a cord again. Was Kenshin actually going to give up his well-kept secrets after years of silence, and why now? She had been married to him! She had bore him a child, shared everything, and he gave barely gave anything back. Damn it!

"Why the sudden change in heart?" she spat out and almost apologized when a look of slight hurt filtered across his face.

"I, I got some sense knocked into me, so can we talk?" Kenshin took a step forward and was overjoyed when she didn't take a step back but then again this was Kaoru, she wasn't one to back down easily.

"Tonight."

"Tonight?" he frowned. She was going to postpone something she had wanted to know so badly not that long before?

"Yes, tonight. I have some errands to run and I have to talk to Kenji about something he did," Kaoru knew she had just been deliberately evasive, but she didn't want to mention what Kenji had done and remind them both of their youth. Maybe it was selfish, but she really didn't want to deal with Kenshin.

"Kenji? What happened?" Kenshin raised his brows. Of course he was interested, Kaoru sighed and dragged a hand through her hair.

"He just hide something," she replied curtly once again and Kenshin gave her a frown as if he didn't believe her. And Kaoru was almost positive that Kenshin did not believe her.

"Okay, well see you tonight at seven?" She gave a nod and he left slowly. Turning around she placed a hand on the door before glancing back and watching as the man she still loved move farther away from her.

----

Kenshin entered the tiny apartment he and Kaoru had bought with the help of his parents. It was only a few weeks before their wedding and her belly was already swollen. God, to him she was gorgeous, but that wasn't what was so significant of this day. No, that day he had entered and smelt something burning. Fear coursed through his veins as he began to imagine that one of his enemies had found his home and decided to take it out on Kaoru. With unmatchable speed he rushed into the kitchen only to see Kaoru sitting on the ground sniffling.

"Kaoru?" fear was laced within his words, and his blue eyed fiancé looked up at him sniffling still. "Baby what's wrong?" he kneeled down and wrapped his arms around her frame, silently however he was surveying the area. There was nothing really out of place but was that burning water?

"I was trying to make you tea and the damn water evaporated started burning the pan!" she exclaimed sniffling still. Kenshin, still out of her line of vision raised his eyebrow trying to gauge if she was having a mood swing or just frustrated. "I'm such an idiot. I get grouchy at everyone hovering around me acting like I can't take care of myself and then I fucking prove them right!" She was definitely frustrated. Well, still he'd have to watch was he said.

"It's okay, I'll make myself some tea." He rubbed her back soothingly. "You don't always burn water okay, you were probably just distracted. Anyway, how was school?" Kenshin leaned back and stroked her hair, so he could look at her. In about a week Kaoru would graduate from high school and then a week after that they could get married, and since Kaoru was small she could still fit in the desks and her pregnancy had yet to hinder her school work so the administrators had allowed her to continue.

"That's also part of the problem! I get looked at as if I'm some cheap whore who just go knocked up! Half the school is convinced the baby I'm carrying isn't yours! I hate it!" her lip trembled and Kenshin tightened his arms and sighed. He had been well aware that school would most likely be difficult for his Kaoru, but what really irritated him was that someone believe that he had let some loser touch what was his.

"They're all conceited and believe they're better than you, but the truth is you are so far above them that they can't even compare. Kaoru, I love you, and I don't care what they say or who knows I love you," the last part was somewhat of a lie. Yes, he cared who knew because he didn't want some half-cocked moron trying to get back at him by going after Kaoru.

"That is almost exactly what my father says," she chuckled and Kenshin smiled. He loved it when she laughed. "Are you taking lessons from him?" she asked pulling away so they could look each other in the eyes, while sitting on the floor he noticed, how quaint.

"Exactly, he's the best with handling you," Kenshin pecked her on the forehead before standing.

"Yeah, well I don't need lessons. I already know everything about you," Kaoru exclaimed. By that point Kenshin had turned around so she never saw him falter a little. 'No you don't know everything. Maybe someday I'll get the nerve to tell you, but not now' he sighed.

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Megumi was having a bad day, and it was a very bad day. It seemed that all her equipment decided to go on strike and she had been bothered again by the handsome, but irritating Sanosuke. Right at the moment even he was trying to fix a machine that had decided to forsake her.

"Is it working yet?" he asked. Cinnamon eyes glanced at the screen that was supposed be lit up. Nothing it was still blank.

"No it's exactly the same it was before you tried to "fix" it," she growled and rubbed her temples.

"Sorry, but I can usually fix things," Sano trailed off before his eyes brightened. An idea had struck him this one was actually a half way decent one. "Hey, guess what I got Kenshin to do when he's absolutely sober," he prodded. Megumi gave him a dead panned look before succumbing to his wished.

"What?"

"He's going to tell the Missy about everything and I mean everything," he grinned like he had won the lottery. His words had caught the doctor's attention.

"Really?" Megumi was intrigued.

"Yep, smacked him around good and he went off to tell her all about Battousai!"

"Sano, for once I have to agree you are kind of smart," she pecked on the cheek and sauntered out. Sano was in heaven for a few moments before snapping out of it. The pearly white gates had closed and now set him back on the ground.

"Hey, fox!" He called after her. "You want to go out tonight?"

"You haven't impressed me that much Sano. Keep working!" she responded. Sano shook his head and went back to trying to fix the machine.

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Kaoru walked through her house almost like a ghost. The types of punishments that weren't totally harsh slowly slid into her mind, but they were dashed away quickly. She really didn't want to punish Kenji, but he had to learn doing stunts like that weren't good! Nodding her head as a satisfactory punishment Kaoru strode quickly to the door. It swung open and Kaoru was shocked to see Kenji packing. Dark brows furrowed and her lips pursed as her mind raced to what he was thinking as he packed. Tentatively she wrapped her knuckles against the wood of his door.

"Kenji, what are you doing?" Kaoru asked.

"Packing," he mumbled in reply. The frown deepened and Kaoru walked closer to her son. Placing a hand gently on his shoulder, she stilled him and caused his attention to turn fully towards her.

"Why?"

"I want to go to Dad's. If I'm going to be punished I want it to be at Dad's not here," he mumbled once again.

"Once again why?" Kaoru drew in him closer to her and lifted his chin so he would look into her eyes.

"I just want to go to Dad's. Please? For the weekend at most, please mom. I don't really do much there and he's usually busy. I'd just sit and do homework," Kenji said as he gritted his teeth, and Kaoru understood. He wasn't happy and he didn't want his haven to become the place of unhappiness.

"I'll have to call your father and make sure he has the strictest rules like I would," Kaoru began informing Kenji that he wasn't getting off "easy".

"Can I talk to him?" The request surprised her and Kaoru almost felt herself reeling, but she didn't instead she gave a nod. Kaoru left Kenji for only a moment to retrieve her cell phone, and as she walked her fingers punched in the phone number she had memorized. It reminded her of the times she was about to break and she would dial his number only to stare at the phone and hang up because he was dating Tomoe. Pressing the send button she felt her stomach turn to lead as it rang.

"Is seven not going to work?" he answered instead of the usual hello, and for some odd reason her heart warmed that he still recognized her number.

"Oh, no. Kenji has a request and I'll let you speak to him before I set new ground rules," Kaoru replied. She handed the phone to Kenji after Kenshin said okay, in a shocked tone however.

"Hey Dad. Uh, Can I stay with you this weekend." Pause and Kaoru imagined the grin that would be on Kenshin's face as his son requested to stay with him. "What? Are you serious? You're moving! To where?" Another long pause and Kenji's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "Here! You're here?" Shock froze her lungs as Kenji continued to talk to his father. Kenshin moved back to town, but why? Was the memory of Tomoe too great? No, that couldn't be it, she shook her head, No, Kenshin wasn't really all that depressed when Tomoe left not a wreck he was when we parted, not anything like I was during those days. "Uh, yeah. Mom here you go," Kaoru woke up when Kenji shoved the phone under her nose as he began packing.

"You moved here?"

"Yes, is that a problem?"

"No, no just a surprise."

"I see. Now Kenji struck up a new deal I didn't know if you were in the room with him, so I thought I should confirm it with you instead of going through him. We know how well that works." Kaoru laughed in memory of the times when either she or Kenshin would have Kenji pass on a message. Like for instance the message, "Kenji has to complete his math homework before any fun!" and the boy wouldn't pass on the message causing the homework to be left in the dust and Kenshin in trouble.

"Okay, shoot."

"Since I'm in town Kenji wondered for the duration of his grounding if he could stay with me. Now, I told him not to expect me to be easy on him or be any more lenient than you are, but he was insisting on the arrangements. Here's my actual question Kaoru, what's wrong? Kenji normally insist upon staying with me and even stranger he wants to extend the visit." A shocking thought slapped Kaoru in the face and she slumped down on a magazine covered chair. Kenji hated Aoshi, and he wasn't happy with the male attention she was getting. Also he was getting even unhappier with the fact that she was now going to deal him a harsh punishment.

"I think he wants to stabilize his feelings at the moment and sorry but he always thought of staying with you as bad so maybe…"

"Kaoru. Don't lie to me. Not when we are going to be finally honest with each other, but I'm not going to pressure you over the phone you can tell me at dinner. However, is it okay that Kenji stays with me?"

"Y-yes, it's fine, but what are you going to do when you go out tonight?" Out of the corner of her eye Kaoru saw Kenji shift in attention.

"I suppose I'll get a "baby" sitter. Maybe Megumi is free or if I can get Saito to agree he'll be sure to keep Kenji in line."

"That sounds good. I'll drop him off at your place now where do you live now?" As Kenshin rattled off the address Kaoru jotted it down.

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Aoshi rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. Even more complications were going on as Kaoru's good friend Misao was now assigned to his job. She was bubbly, hyper, and very close to Kaoru so along with her joy had told him that, she had also mention that this information was only because he made Kaoru happy, the underground job was more than enough to send him packing. Plus after he had contracted Kenshin's help he had realized that he might have just condemned his relationship with Kaoru to death. Damn.

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Shishio scoured over his plans trying to see an opening. Soujiro had told him that the Battousai had visited the Kamiya household earlier and then the two would meet up again later that night. Well, well, well it would be a nice time to put his plan into motion. A very nice time. As a malicious smile spread over his face Shishio began to make some calls.

----

She was officially grounded until thirty. Actually, no her mother had forbid leaving the house except for school and she damn well knew that she wouldn't be aloud to hang around school. That had been very obvious. Scratching her cheek she wondered how Kenji was fairing. Sure Kaoru had been dubbed early on in their friendship as the "cool mom" but she had moments where she scared Hikaru. Plus the few times she had actually met Kenji's dad she had felt that he was even more intimidating than Kaoru.

With a sigh Hikaru flopped back on her bed and listened to her mother argue with her father over that phone. It was probably about her running away. That stunt had caused nothing more than trouble. Well, this sucked…

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At seven o'clock Kenshin had arrived and picked her up for their date, and as usual he picked a fancy restaurant. Kaoru felt glad about the fact that she had slipped on her fancy/casual little black dress. And, as they sat staring across the table into each other's eyes Kaoru felt her heart ram against her chest.

"So the past?" she started and Kenshin gave her a strained smile.

"Yes, the past," as he spoke he could feel the fear of rejection ball up in his throat, "Kaoru, you remember how I never talked about my job."

"Yes, you were always evasive about that fact." She interrupted and Kenshin forced himself once again to smile and nod.

"Yes. Well, you remember the famous assassin Battousai?" he prodded and when she nodded, "I can't see an easy way to break this to you, but I'm him. I am a murdered the scum of the earth as you once called them." Kenshin glanced up at her before staring at the table she was so shocked.

"Wait, you are a shadow assassin? Then what the hell was that letter about! Some bimbo called you pet names and talked about meeting up later!" he heard her snarl and slam her hands against the table.

"Kaoru we live in the digital age if I actually had a mistress don't you think that we would have spoken over e-mail or something? It was a code" he reached for her hand and she snapped it back. Kenshin felt as if he had been slapped.

"Code huh? For your phony underground business! Why letters then?"

"My boss if very old fashioned."

"Bullshit!" Kenshin watched as Kaoru made a move to stand, but before he let her his hand shot out and gripped her own.

"No, Kaoru listen. Didn't you eve wonder how I could afford things when I was only a teen? Or even what the hell I was doing at the park so long ago? When we first met I was sent on a mission to kill a politician who was taking advantage of his position and of young girls like you," he sighed, and once again as he looked at her he saw a memory click

"Oh, my god I remember. There was some rapist that couldn't get caught or something my father had warned me again and again about that, but I didn't listen. That night," she trailed off almost grasping at him to confirm it.

"You could have been the next victim, yes."

"But you saved me. You made me go home," Kenshin hadn't noticed that he was still holding her hand until she squeezed his back. Oh, god, Kenshin why didn't you tell me?"

"I, I didn't want to disgust you. You were so adamant that the underground was a bunch of slime."

"Kenshin! I wouldn't have given a damn because I love you!" her air left her right then, and she saw the shock freeze his face as he noted that she didn't use love in a past tense. Kaoru tried to jerk her hand away as if doing so would indeed cause her words to disappear from his memory but instead Kenshin's hand enclosed on hers like a vice.

"Kaoru?" he leaned forward across the table and cupped her cheek with his other hand. "Is that true?"

Lie! Lie! Tell him it was just a slip of the tongue and it happens all the time! Lie damn you!

"Yes, I love you, but don't you dare think that is an easy ticket for you to get back into our lives Kenshin! Because I have loved you ever since we first met and damn it I have been shoveling my feelings into the pit because you found yourself a girlfriend a moved on!" Now she was ranting why was she ranting?

"Kaoru, Tomoe was never," Kenshin was not allowed to finish as his work phone rang, and as tempted he was to ignore it his assignment was too dear to allow any amount of error.

"Himura."

"Battousai, this is Aoshi. Shishio is on the move."

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A/N: Dun, dun, dun! Exciting huh? Okay not really. There are only certain parts that I like in this chapter, but this is the only way it's coming out. I'm sorry! Once again I apologize on the wait.

Notes:

Sorry for the lack of side characters. Also I am going to rewrite some parts in the earlier chapters and then that happens I hope some of you will re-read them.

Okay at the moment the couples that are indeed going to happen within this story are Kaoru and Kenshin (of course), Saito and Tokio, a slight bit of Megumi and Sano, and Kenji and Hikaru (Sorry to those who hate OC/cannon character, but I think they're cute and other people seem to agree with me!)

Next chapter we'll find out what Shishio has planned and it could or could not be what you think. Guess I dare you!

Free tickets for one date with favorite Rurouni Kenshin male/female for: kagomes heart, Lazy Reader, airam, Sakura Kaoru-Chan, monya, kagfan5, onhiro, Kagura910, 3karen3, and Balmaudaj