AN: This is rather a concise ending (and I can't claim to really be happy with it) but after many years, I don't think I will change much, if anything. Recovery is not something linear. Sometimes it's one step forward and two steps back, other times it's two steps forward and one step back. The process takes many more words than I wish to devote the time to write and I have no desire to dwell in the past any more than I currently do. That said, I hope it's satisfactory.

Part III

The night was dark. A new moon. Kenshin stood on the engawa, gripping a post as he stared, unseeing, out at the darkness. He took a deep breath, releasing it slowly through his nose. So, the last physical traces were gone. Those wounds would heal in time. His shoulders slumped and his hand tightened on the post, wood splintering beneath his fingers. The sharp pain was a welcome relief to the guilt that swamped him. Some scars went deeper than the surface. And some wounds never healed, but still…

"I heard you had some trouble recently," the speaker paused as if considering something, "Battousai."

The sudden intrusion of words on his thoughts did not surprise Kenshin. The man made no effort to hide his presence and Kenshin made no motion to face him. He acknowledged him simply by name. "Saito."

The police officer released a puff of smoke, gold eyes narrowing at the smaller man's back. Tension stretched across the redhead's shoulders even as he detected a note of weariness. "Where's the girl?"

"Resting."

The answer was short and to the point. Saito took another drag on his cigarette, carelessly knocking ash away. He could guess what the stubborn rurouni was thinking. The man made it too easy. "And here you are, mourning another loss of life."

Kenshin flinched and he turned sharply toward the man, eyes flashing angrily. He was close to breaking and didn't need the other man prodding at wounds that refused to heal. "Is there something you need, Saito?"

The officer smirked, flicking away his spent cigarette and pulling out a new one. Kenshin barely acknowledged the disrespect. Saito casually lit the cigarette, releasing a puff of smoke before speaking again, "I am surprised, given your current state, that you didn't hunt down the men yourself." He caught the sharp look the smaller man sent him. "That idiot friend of yours proved somewhat useful. I thought you'd be interested in the results of my investigation, Battousai."

Kenshin said nothing, his eyes narrowing to slits of gold. His hand immediately rested on the hilt of his sakabatou, tightening until his knuckles turned white. Saito suppressed a pleased smirk. The manslayer still lived within the peace-loving wanderer no matter how much he tried to deny it. But Saito was not here for a fight. Kenshin would refuse at any rate, despite the Battousai hovering close to the surface. Saito took another drag, meeting Kenshin's eyes. "Aku Soku Zan."

Kenshin's head jerked, his hand convulsing on the hilt of the sakabatou. Swift death to evil. The words meant one thing. The problem was dealt with. Tension left him and Kenshin frowned, his expression conflicted. Smoke curled around Saito as he casually smoked, appearing content to let Kenshin suffer through his own issues. The movement brought Kenshin back to the present and it was violet eyes that frowned at the officer in reproach instead of the gold that had been present before. "Those will kill you one day."

Saito lifted an eyebrow, responding dryly, "I am prepared to meet my end. Tokio would like to visit before we leave town."

Surprise crossed Kenshin's face and a part of Saito wondered how the other man survived the Revolution. The Battousai had never been so easy to read before. Battousai had grown soft. "Leave?"

Thin lips pulled up in a smirk and he turned away, fading into the darkness. "My assignment here is complete. You are no threat to the average civilian nor, I would venture a guess, to the not-so-average. I will bring my wife to talk to the girl."

Saito's presence faded from the dojo yard and the sounds of night intruded once more. Kenshin took another breath. The air was cool. The darkness was comforting. Slowly, the hand around the hilt of his skabatou relaxed and he let it fall back to his side. He passed a hand over his eyes, releasing his breath slowly. So it really was over. Now they just had to pick up the pieces and live. So many parts of him had shattered he was surprised there was still something else to break.

A soft sound inside drew his attention. It was time to return to Kaoru's side. She'd be afraid if she woke up alone and in pain. The door slid open before he reached for it and Yahiko froze, dark eyes staring up at him in surprise. Kenshin's heart clenched. The boy's eyes were too old for his age. He smiled, putting a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "You should be in bed, that you should."

Yahiko frowned, giving a tiny shrug of his shoulders as he let his gaze drop away from the former assassin. "Couldn't sleep. I thought you were still up."

"I was going back to sit with Kaoru-dono, that I was."

Yahiko sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, shifting restlessly on his feet. "Can I sit with you?"

Kenshin opened his mouth to gently send the boy back to bed, but then he caught the quick glance and the darkness behind his eyes and he changed his mind. "Did you have a nightmare, Yahiko-chan?"

The self-proclaimed samurai of Tokyo blushed, muttering, "It was nothing."

Kenshin could understand nightmares. His sleep was filled with them and not all of them featured scenes from the Revolution. Kenshin gave the boy a gentle smile. "Come, we'll sit with Kaoru-dono for a while."

Kenshin quietly entered Kaoru's room, kneeling next to her futon and turning to motion for Yahiko to join him at his side when the young boy hovered hesitantly at the door. The night passed quietly. Yahiko eventually slumped against Kenshin's shoulder, snoring softly, and Kenshin watched as the sky went from black to a pale gray before being painted with the soft colors of dawn. Golden fingers of sunlight stretched across the floor, caressing Kaoru's sleeping features. She stirred, sleep mussed eyes cracking open. They closed again with a quiet groan against the light, but they opened a moment later and turned to look at the silently watching redhead.

"Good morning, Kaoru-dono."

She stared for a long moment before she spoke, her voice soft and vulnerable, "You stayed?"

His heart clenched and he reached for her hand, careful not to dislodge Yahiko, and hesitated before taking it but didn't withdraw. "Yes."

Blue eyes moved over his face then moved to Yahiko and finally to his offered hand. Her fingers twitched, but she didn't take the offer. He could see her wilting and turning away. Rejecting him. Kenshin swallowed past the lump that was lodged in his throat. "I won't let you go."

They were strong words, but they left him feeling vulnerable. He lifted his hand a little and she wavered a moment before she took his hand, holding onto it like a life-line. She turned onto her side, curling toward him, her blue eyes watching the young samurai sleeping on Kenshin's shoulder.

"Yahiko?"

Kenshin ran a thumb across the back of her hand, tilting his head to glance at the young boy. His mouth was hanging open slightly as he snored, the sight making Kenshin smile slightly. "He was worried." Violet eyes met blue. "He loves you."

Doubt clouded her features and she tried to pull her hand away but Kenshin kept a firm hold, insisting, "Yes. He does. Sano loves you. Megumi-dono. I―"

His voice cracked and his throat went dry. He swallowed, wetting his lips. "I―"

Yahiko stirred, his head slipping from Kenshin's shoulder and waking him with a start. Kenshin's mouth snapped shut and words fled. Yahiko blinked sleepily, suddenly aware of where he was. His eyes flew open wide and he exclaimed, "Kaoru! You're awake."

"I―" her eyes darted from Yahiko to Kenshin and back. "Yes."

Yahiko leaned forward, gingerly hugging her. Kenshin felt her fingers tense in his hand before her free hand rose, coming to rest lightly on Yahiko's back between his shoulder blades. "Yahiko?"

Kenshin caught the sound of a soft sniffle. Yahiko's shoulders hunched and Kaoru felt his fingers tighten in her yukata. Another small sniffle and he muttered, "I was scared."

Kaoru glanced at Kenshin, but Yahiko was pulling away, avoiding making eye contact with either of them. He brushed a hand across his eyes, darting a quick look at Kaoru. "I'm glad you're awake. I'll―I'll go fix breakfast."

He fled before either of them could say anything. Kenshin and Kaoru sat in silence for several minutes after Yahiko's departure. Kaoru's eyes were fixed on the redhead next to her, her hand clasped in his. He looked exhausted. His fingers flexed around her hand and he seemed to come back from his thoughts. He gave her a fleeting smile. "How are you feeling, Kaoru-dono?"

She looked away, avoiding the concern in his eyes. "What happened?"

Conflicting emotions crossed his face, but she didn't see. "You were ill. Megumi-dono says you will feel better in a few weeks."

Her free hand fluttered to her stomach and her mouth turned down. "I see."

"What are you doing here?"

Kaoru stiffened and Kenshin twisted, eyes narrowing toward the sound of Yahiko's voice. Whatever reply the boy received was too low for Kenshin to hear, but he recognized the presence. He gave Kaoru a placid smile, rising calmly to his feet and casually making his way out onto the engawa. Yahiko stood stubbornly in front of Saito, fists clenched and eyes narrowed suspiciously. The taller man smirked, flicking ash from the end of his ever present cigarette. "Boys should respect their elders."

Yahiko bristled, growling angrily and Kenshin stepped further to the edge, speaking calmly, "It is fine, Yahiko. I was expecting Saito."

The boy grunted but stepped back and folded his arms moodily, watching the policeman with a wary eye. Kenshin darted a quick look at the woman standing silently behind Saito. She was tall, attractive―not unlike Megumi though she had a softness about her that Megumi lacked. "Good morning, Saito." He paused. "Tokio-dono."

"Battousai," Saito greeted.

Kenshin caught the momentary surprise that flashed across the woman's face before it settled into a sort of bland curiosity. She gave a short bow in greeting, but remained silent. He glanced at Saito for some direction, but the man seemed content to watch him struggle through social necessities. Kenshin cleared his throat. "Would you like some tea, Tokio-dono?"

The woman smiled, giving her husband a subtle nudge with her elbow that most would not have noticed. Saito rolled his eyes, drawing lazily on his cigarette. "Speak your mind, woman. You've got a tongue."

Tokio huffed, but good-humor shone in her eyes. "No, thank you, Himura-san. If Kaoru-san is willing, I would like to see her."

Kenshin nodded, excusing himself. "I will tell her you are here."

They waited patiently while Kenshin retraced his steps back to Kaoru's room. Kaoru was sitting on her futon, her blankets wrapped tightly around her, her face pale. He caught her relieved sigh when he stepped through her door though her eyes still darted anxiously toward the low murmur of conversation. "Tokio-dono would like to speak with you, Kaoru-dono."

"Tokio-dono?"

"Saito's wife," Kenshin offered by way of explanation. Alarm crossed her features and he hurried to reassure her. "She seems very kind, that she does. Will you see her?"

For several long minutes Kenshin thought she would refuse. She'd hidden out in the dojo since the incident, refusing all contact with old friends and acquaintances that dropped by to show their support and concern. Kenshin worried she'd lose herself and be unable to find her way back. Rakuninmura was full of just such people. Finally, she nodded stiffly and he went to bring Tokio in.

Once satisfied neither woman was in need of anything, Kenshin retreated back out to the engawa, shooing Yahiko out to the Akabeko. The young samurai grudgingly left, eyeing Saito suspiciously. Kenshin hid a smile. Saito may have proved to be an ally on several occasion, but the boy still believed the police officer only came around for a fight. Yahiko wasn't necessarily incorrect in that belief.

Saito huffed out a quiet sound of amusement, smoke curling around his head. "The brat ought to learn some manners."

"Yahiko is young. He is not a bad kid, that he is not."

Saito didn't dispute that and instead watched the smoke curl lazily through the air. Both men fell silent, neither having ever been on particularly pleasant terms with the other. Kenshin gave Saito a sidelong glance, commenting neutrally, "Tokio-dono seems like a pleasant lady, that she does."

Saito smirked. "It's amazing you lived through the war, Himura."

"Oro?"

Whatever Kenshin had been expecting, that was not it. Saito flicked his spent cigarette away, ignoring the shorter man's frown of disapproval. "Tokio wished to provide some kind of support and understanding for the girl."

Understanding dawned and the reason for the visit made sense. He was almost afraid to ask. "Tokio-dono?"

Saito was silent, his expression brooding, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. He glared as if he could reach across time and space and slay his enemies. "War brings out the evil in many men."

Kenshin swallowed, focusing on a point across the yard. "Ishin Shishi?"

"Would you bear the guilt of other men, Himura?" Saito sneered. "No. It was an opportunistic crime. They paid dearly for their crime."

Kenshin could readily believe that. Saito suddenly pinned him with a flinty look. "You have a nasty habit of running from your problems, Himura. For the sake of your girl, don't."

Kenshin blinked in surprise, not so much from the threat beneath the words or the clear insult but that his former arch-nemesis was giving advice. Tokio stepped out onto the engawa, her gaze moving from her husband to the red-haired man standing at the edge. She smiled, moving toward him and placing a hand gently on his shoulder. Kenshin tensed beneath her touch and she caught his quick glance toward Saito. She ignored her husband's glare of disapproval and spoke calmly, "I've done what I can."

His eyes swiveled toward the bedroom. "Kaoru?"

Her smile turned sympathetic. "I've asked her to write if she wanted to. I also promised to visit should she wish. She's in that confusing stage where she knows it wasn't her fault, but still blames herself. Some days she'll accept your comfort, others she will shy away from it. She'll scream, cry, and reject you, but don't give up. Let her set the physical aspect of your relationship."

Kenshin nodded, his throat tight. Tokio smiled, releasing his shoulder and stepping toward Saito. "My husband spoke to you?"

"Hai," Kenshin agreed.

Tokio turned expectant eyes on her husband, raising her eyebrows. Saito sighed. "We understand each other, wife."

Satisfied, she turned to bow farewell. "Good bye, Himura-san. I would like you to write my husband to keep us up-to-date on your family."

"Arigatou gozaimashita, Tokio-san."

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

The soap suds swirled slowly across the surface of the water. He'd been staring at the slow popping of bubbles for nearly an hour, the pile of dirty laundry next to him remaining untouched. He didn't really see the bubbles any more, lost deep within the barren wasteland of his thoughts. If, later, anyone should ask, Kenshin would not be able to say where his thoughts took him. His mind was disconcertingly blank.

A sharp yell from the dojo snapped him back to attention, eyes swinging to the nearby building and rising from his low crouch before his senses returned and he realized what he was doing. He forced the tension from his shoulders, not fully relaxing until he verified that it truly was just Yahiko practicing.

The people of Tokyo knew it was foolish to threaten anyone that inhabited, or was involved with, the Kamiya dojo. Especially after the placid, friendly redhead had stormed through town with murder in his eyes all those months ago. The jokes that the diminutive redhead living with the Kamiya girl was actually the dreaded Hitokiri Battosai were suddenly not so funny nor so far-fetched. Kenshin sighed, picking up one of Yahiko's hakama. That was more than ten months ago and he was still getting wide-eyed, fearful stares and uncertain smiles when he ventured out to the market.

Tokio was right. There were times Kaoru sought his presence, sought the comfort of his embrace to chase away the demons that haunted her. Not all the embraces involved tears. Other times she'd cringe from him, terror in her eyes and though he knew it wasn't him she was so terrified of, it still sent a dagger of ice through his heart. Those terror-filled panicked moments happened when he least expected them. She'd be helping him with the tea or looking at ribbons in the market and he'd reach past her, unintentionally brushing her shoulder and she'd flinch. He had no idea what to do when that happened and he hated that helpless feeling. He couldn't touch her because then the screams would start and it'd get worse. When those moments happened, he'd leave her with tea or his old gi and, if they were in the dojo, he'd flee to the washtub. Things were improving. Slowly. Kaoru was having more good days than bad now. Yahiko wasn't waking from nearly as many nightmares.

Gritting his teeth, he plunged his hands into the soapy water, scrubbing furiously at the dirty cloth. He still wasn't sleeping and he was feeling frayed. The one thing he'd feared more than anything was failing to protect those he loved. How do you protect someone from something you can't see? The furious scrubbing slowed and then stilled. He couldn't escape his own nightmares, how could he even think to rescue someone from theirs?

Kenshin put his head down, shoulders slumping. A hand fell to his shoulder, startling him to his feet. He hadn't realized his legs were numb until he was standing. He stumbled, tripping over the hem of his hakama and landing in a dusty heap.

"Oro?"

Surprised blue eyes looked down at him. "Kenshin?"

Shock went through him and he gaped up at her. She stood above him, the sun behind her back, her bokken over one shoulder and her hand extended towards him, fingers curling uncertainly. She was dressed in a hakama and gi. Her hakama and gi. He stared. Concern marred her features and Kenshin quickly shook himself from his daze, exclaiming, "Kaoru-dono!"

He hurried to his feet, dusting himself off, flushed that he'd been caught unaware. He froze when a hand stilled his, surprise increasing when another touched his face. Kaoru stepped closer, ducking to look to his face. "Are―Were you crying?"

Kenshin blushed. "I―I'm sorry."

A compassionate smile rose to her lips―the first he'd seen in what felt like years―a glassy sheen of tears in her eyes. Both hands cupped his cheeks, her voice reaching his ears in a breathy sob, "Oh, Kenshin."

She stepped into him, her hands slipping from his face to around his shoulders. She pressed her face into his gi, sniffling quietly. Kenshin's hands hesitantly rose to rest on her back and her arms tightened around him. Uncertainty and the desire to comfort warred in him. This felt different. His heart thundered so loudly in his ears he almost missed her whispered, "I—we'll be okay."

His heart skipped a beat and he wondered if he truly understood what she'd started to say before she changed her mind. Shock held him immobile until he felt her tremble against him, uncertainty leaking into her ki. He stopped her before she could pulled away, gently drawing her closer to his body, careful to keep his touch light. Tears burned behind his eyes and he squeezed them closed in an attempt to hold them back. His heart leapt and he released a quivering breath, pressing his lips to her temple. They would be okay.

Final AN: I actually spent a great deal of time deciding whether or not either of them would say "I love you" on screen and, up until posting, the words were the last thing written... and then subsequently deleted. And that's all she wrote.