Author's Notes: I'm actually posting this one a bit early. I try to keep a certain number of chapters ahead so I have room to tweak if I need to. But…I'm sort of stuck on a chapter and I didn't want to keep everyone waiting. And I know you have been anticipating for this one for a while. Loving the comments, especially those from people who aren't familiar with Persuasion.

Betas: Two of the loveliest people around! Sumiregusa (she's posting some original fiction on her website, go check it out!) and Animaniacal (who has been a big help on this arc, thanks so much!)
Rating: T
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Persuasion is in the public domain, but was written by Jane Austen.

Chapter 10

She would have liked to know how he felt as to a meeting.
Perhaps indifferent, if indifference could exist under such circumstances.
He must be either indifferent or unwilling. Had he wished
ever to see her again, he need not have waited till this time;
he would have done what she could not but believe that in his place
she should have done long ago, when events had been early giving him
the independence which alone had been wanting. - Persuasion, Jane Austen

Tokyo, 1872

It was late into the night when Maekawa and the others returned from the party at the Kamiya-dojo. Dr. Genzai had came by to set Shinichi's shoulder, and gave Kaoru some medicine to give him for the pain. Shinichi had passed out a few hours before, leaving Kaoru to sit and sip tea alone, waiting for the family to return.

She could hear them laughing as they entered the gate and decided that the dinner must have gone well. Akiko and Misao were first the first of the group around the corner, talking excitedly. Akiko had managed to get Misao into a summer yukata after much protest. While not as formal as Akiko, both girls looked very lovely. Hiroki was walking with his wife, with Maekawa right behind them.

"Kaoru!" The two girls ran up to Kaoru, faces glowing with happiness. Akiko had a wide grin on her face.

"You would not believe the evening we had!" Akiko stopped for a second. "You should have been there. Tokio-san is such an amazing woman and Himura said that he…"

"Kaoru, you would hardly recognize the dojo!" Sayuri butted in, walking over to join the women, as the men headed inside the house. "She's done such an amazing job cleaning up the place. I told her so myself."

Both Misao and Akiko looked at Sayuri, surprised that she would say something so rude. Not even acknowledging them, Sayuri continued on, talking about the dinner and the hostess. Kaoru simply nodded as Sayuri continued on, willing herself to stay calm. If she suddenly looked away when Sayuri started talking about Kenshin, no one seemed to notice.

"Himura Battousai was so polite! You would hardly have guessed he was such a merciless figure! I don't believe any of those stories now, the man was too kind."

"Himura Kenshin," corrected Akiko. "That's what he wants to be called now."

"Fine, then. Whatever he wants to be called, there is no way that man could have done half the things people say. He's barely taller than you, Akiko! And he said the most interesting thing! When I asked him what he thought of the dojo he said that it hadn't changed much since he was last there!"

Akiko pulled Kaoru's sleeve. "Is it true, did he stay at the dojo? He said he was there for a few weeks and that you two had met, but he doubted that you remembered him. "

Kaoru didn't know what to say and felt slightly panicked. What did he tell everyone of their time together so long ago? When Kaoru didn't immediately answer, Akiko continued.

"He said that he travelled before going to Kyoto, and that the Kamiya-dojo was one of the places he stayed."

"We had so many people staying with us." Kaoru thought being vague would be best, to not arouse suspicion or further questions. "It's hard to remember them all. And it was so long ago."

"I know how that is!" Misao added. "We get so many people at the Aoiya, we can't keep up with who has been there before."

Akiko sighed. "I don't see how anyone could forget Himura. That red hair!"

"It was quite striking," Sayuri agreed, then yawned. "It's late. I'm going to bed."

Kaoru wished her goodnight. As soon as Sayuri left, Akiko started talking again, sitting down next to Kaoru. Misao sat with them and the two girls told Kaoru everything about the guests and the dinner that she had missed. Tokio had been a gracious host, and the party had been lively and fun. Most importantly though, Akiko told Kaoru how impressed she had been by a certain red haired swordsman.

"There were so many people there, but no one compared to Himura! Just looking at him you wouldn't think he was such a great swordsman, but I could see it. He has this quiet strength. And so kind! I'm sure I bored him with all my silly questions about the Bakumatsu but he answered them all! Don't you think he's just perfect Misao?"

"Oh him?" Misao had drifted off as Akiko went on and on about Kenshin. "Yeah, but he really isn't my type."

"Pfft, if I wanted tall, dark and brooding like you, I would have been married long ago!" Akiko declared. She paused and leaned next to Kaoru. "I've just met him, and I know it must seem silly, but I think Himura is one of the best men I've ever met."

ooooo

"Ten more strokes," called Kaoru, as she moved among the students gathered in the dojo. The class was full of new students and she was running them through various drills to get an idea of their skill levels. Yahiko was at the head of the class demonstrating the correct form, and Kaoru was correcting stances and grips.

"And this is the dojo." Kaoru heard Maekawa's voice and turned around. Next to Maekawa was a tall man, with sharp features and cigarette held between his lips. He wore a police uniform, but the collar was unbuttoned and he carried a katana on his side. She walked forward to greet the guest when she stopped, her eyes widening as someone else stepped into the dojo with a small bow.

Kenshin.

In the few short seconds before Kaoru averted her eyes, she noticed a few key details. He still wore his red hair long, but instead of it high on his head, he wore it down low tied at his neck. He was dressed in a white hakama and blue kimono, and with a set of swords on his hip. He looked more mature, but the years had been good to him. He still carried himself with an aura of strength and confidence. The only real difference that she could see was on his face where a cross-shaped scar now covered his left cheek. Kaoru had glanced away before his gaze had settled on her, missing the slight narrowing of his eyes.

What must he think seeing me after all this time, she thought, her mind whirling, trying to keep her face calm. She knew that she wouldn't have been able to avoid him forever, but she had hoped that she would have been given notice before seeing him, so she wouldn't have been so surprised.

Knowing that she could not avoid it and not wanting to draw attention to her odd behaviour, Kaoru approached the three men standing at the dojo entrance.

"Kamiya Kaoru, may I introduce you to Saitou Hajime and Himura Kenshin." Maekawa said. Kaoru bowed and as she stood up, chanced a look at the larger of the two men.

"Kamiya?" asked Saitou, his voice cold as he looked at her. "So you're the owner of the Kamiya-dojo?"

"I am. I hope you find it comfortable."

"It is sufficient," Saitou stepped past her, looking at the inside of the dojo, leaving her face to face with Kenshin. She met his eyes, silently cursing herself as she felt the blush creeping onto her face. Kenshin's face betrayed nothing. There was no look of soft regard or even a polite smile in greeting. His cool indifference towards her stung, and was worse than any sword hit she had ever received.

"We are quite comfortable there, Kamiya-san," Kenshin stated. He then stepped past her with Maekawa, who was in the middle of explaining the history of his school.

It's over, she thought. The worst is over. They had finally met, and the anxiety Kaoru felt about seeing him again finally fell away. Relief flooded through her.

Knowing that she didn't have time to reflect on her feelings, Kaoru returned to the front of the class, where Yahiko was leading the students through some drills, trying to keep the class focused on him and not the two visitors. As Maekawa, Kenshin and Saitou watched from the side, Kaoru and Yahiko broke the students into pairs to practice various strikes against each other. Seeing the class well in hand, Maekawa led the visitors out of the dojo and into the courtyard, towards the house. As they left the dojo, Akiko appeared at the side of the house, waving hello, and over the yells of her students Kaoru could hear Akiko invite the men in for tea.

Soon the class was over and the students left, many of talking excitedly over the fact that Himura Battousai had been there. Yahiko went off to the bathhouse and Kaoru tidied the dojo. Once finished, she went over to the house, not bothering to change into a kimono, instead preferring to remain in her hakama and gi.

When she entered the main room, she only found Sayuri, who was cleaning up the tea cups.

"You just missed them, Kaoru. Saitou-san and Himura-san just left. Akiko and Misao went with them, leaving me here to clean up by myself."

"I can help," Kaoru started gathering up the plates of cakes that had also been set out. Together the two women took the items to the kitchen.

"Saitou didn't say much, he just sat there smoking those awful cigarettes. Honestly, doesn't he have a job to do as a police officer? Himura was most attentive to me though. He complimented me on having such a lovely home. But he's not so kind to you Kaoru! Akiko asked what he thought of you now, and do you know what he said?"

"No?" Kaoru was hesitant to ask.

"He said you were so altered, that he might not know you." Sayuri laughed. "That's hard to imagine. Kaoru, you never change!"

Kaoru stopped in the hall, her head spinning. He had not changed. He still seemed the same as he had all those years ago, strong and confident in himself. The years had added maturity and wisdom to his features, which only highlighted his other positive qualities.

But what about her? Her youthful energy was gone, and she knew she now acted older than her age. She even dressed older than she was. Gone was the laughing, carefree girl with the ponytail and ribbons, and in her place was the mature, serious kenjutsu instructor, who had given up finding personal happiness and devoted herself to her father and family home. But now both were gone, her future uncertain.

She could not blame Kenshin for his opinion. She knew she had changed, despite what Sayuri had said. He had seen her, and when, asked spoke his mind. Surely he hadn't said that knowing that it would get back to her. Kaoru felt her heart drop as she wondered what he truly thought of her now, knowing that her father had passed and she was no longer in her home.

From his emotionless greeting, Kaoru was sure he had not forgiven her. He hadn't even referred to her by her given name, choosing to refer to her with the most formal of greetings. And she wasn't surprised. Even when they first met, Kenshin had been so sure of his convictions, deciding at 14 to lend his sword to a revolution so that everyone in Japan would have a chance at happiness. And what had she done? She had deserted and disappointed him when he had needed her the most. She knew him well enough to assume that he would not forgive that. He had given her his heart, and she had given him up to oblige others. She had been weak, and to a swordsman like him who lived by a strict code of honour, that was unforgivable.

Maybe this was for the best. She was no longer the girl he had loved, and maybe she should rejoice he no longer felt what he had then. Hadn't she declared that she didn't want to be married now, anyway? No, this was for the best. She had to remember her goals. The Kamiya-dojo was her priority. Nothing else.

"Kaoru?" Sayuri turned when she noticed that her friend wasn't following her. Sayuri came up to her, a quizzical look on her face. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing," Kaoru fumbled for an excuse. "It's just been a trying couple of days, what with this heat and my students, and I'm worried about Shinichi's injury. And I was up too late last night."

Sayuri's face softened. "You've been pushing yourself too hard. Maybe you should take a break for a few days. Go spend some time with Tae"

"You know I can't do that," Kaoru tried to explain to Sayuri again. "And besides, Tae is in Yokohama helping her family start up a new restaurant.

"Kaoru, what is one or two days?"

Kaoru tried to argue, but she just didn't have it in her anymore. "Okay, I'll see if I can reschedule a few classes."

"Good, about time you start listening to me. I have your best interests at heart, Kaoru. I just want you to be happy."

"So do I, Sayuri. So do I."

Glossary

Hakama - traditional type of Japanese clothing, typically worn by men.

Yukata - a casual summer kimono usually made out of cotton worn by both men and women