Author's Notes: Hi! This story is still going strong and the less frequent updates aren't because I've ignored this story but are a product of two things. One, I've been sick all this week and by the time I get home from work I just go to bed. Two, the few nights I have been able to stay up, I have been writing future chapters but I'm struggling at the moment. I have two moments in the next arc that are key to the story that I need to get absolutely right and I realized last night that I can't have them complete until I get the second to last chapter figured out. The balance is between staying true to the spirit of Persuasion, but having things happen in a very Ruroken way. Hopefully I can work out my slightly tangled plot threads in the next few days and get the next story arc off to beta and resume my normal 3 to 4 day posting schedule. Fingers crossed at least.

Thanks again for the reviews. They really help with some of the writer's block and I appreciate every single one. Jane Austen and Rurouni Kenshin are meshing together much better than I ever imagined and I'm happy people like it too!

Betas: Sumiregusa (she's my rock!) and Animaniacal (glad I'm getting to know you better through this process!)
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 11

Anne did not wish for more of such looks and speeches.
His cold politeness, his ceremonious grace, were worse than anything. - Persuasion, Jane Austen

Tokyo, 1872

Kaoru soon found herself frequently in the company of Kenshin. He was often with Maekawa, having found an easy friendship with the older swordsman. The two men would sit in the dojo, talking and watching the students practice. Kaoru refused to be made uncomfortable by his presence. They only spoke to each other the bare minimum that politeness allowed for. He did not seek out her company, and the few times they found themselves alone together, Kenshin would excuse himself and leave.

Kenshin did not always come to the dojo alone; often Tokio would accompany him. Kaoru had been nervous about their first meeting, but after the slightly awkward introductions were complete the two women had become friends. Tokio had expressed deep sympathy towards Kaoru and her situation and promised that as long as she was resident of the Kamiya-dojo it would treated with the utmost care and respect. Tokio was slightly older, but was everything that was elegant and graceful. It was apparent that Tokio had a cultured upbringing, and it was reflected in all that she did. Despite this, she never made anyone feel like they were inferior to her. Kaoru often wondered how someone like Tokio had ended up marrying the wolfish Saitou Hajime.

When Tokio came to visit, the women would usually sit in the house, drinking tea and talking. Akiko would often question Tokio about the Bakumatsu, and was determined to find out as much as possible, from the people who had actually lived through it.

"You read too many stories, Akiko!" Tokio laughed, not bothered by the girl's constant questions. The women were were sitting in a large room, the shoji doors open to the outside. Misao had left to visit some friends and Sayuri was in town running errands with Hiroki. "I assure you, it wasn't as romantic as those books make it out to be."

"But a forbidden romance! With a captain of the Shinsengumi!" Akiko sighed.

"We had our hardships, and don't forget we ended up on the losing side." Tokio reminded Akiko. "Fortunately for us, the government has forgiven the old grudges and recognized that we have a role to play in this new Japan."

"What's it like?" asked Akiko. "Being married to a great swordsman like Saitou?"

Tokio looked at her tea thoughtfully, as the other women waited for her to reply.

"Being the wife of a swordsman can be very difficult. Men like my husband, they follow a stricter code, an older code. It's part of being a samurai, and even with all the rapid advancements that Japan is going through, that won't change."

"To love a swordsman, to be his wife, you need to follow those ideals too. They are strong men, but you need to be stronger. Saitou and I, we were apart for a long time, and during that time I had to be strong, for him, because I didn't know if I would ever see him again."

"It must have been very difficult." Kaoru stated, fascinated despite herself by Tokio's story.

"It was, and I admit there were some moments when I wanted to give up. But I would go through it all again, if it meant that I could be with my husband forever."

"That's so romantic," sighed Akiko, her head full of girlish fantasies about brave samurai.

Tokio laughed. "Now I've done it! Instead of convincing her to marry a banker or a merchant, I've only encouraged her!"

Akiko blushed and Kaoru forced a smile. It was no secret that Akiko was becoming increasingly enamoured with Kenshin, and it was a match that everyone seemed to be encouraging. Kenshin was a war hero, and even though he didn't speak directly about what his role was with the new government, he had more than enough income to support a home and family.

Kaoru tried to change the subject, and steer the conversation away from Kenshin, but Akiko was determined to know more about the red-haired swordsman.

"How long have you known Himura?" Akiko asked, and Tokio saw no harm in answering.

"For a few years. Though we were not always on such friendly terms."

"How are you friends now? How does an ex-assassin of the Ishin Shishi and a captain of the Shinsengumi get along?"

"Carefully", came the answer from the doorway. The women turned to see Kenshin standing there. He entered and sat down next to Akiko, who offered him a cup of tea. He sat across from Kaoru, but didn't look in her direction.

"You tease, Himura!" Akiko said playfully.

"Please call me Kenshin. I'd prefer that."

"Okay…Kenshin," Akiko smiled prettily, and even someone blind could see how Kenshin was being drawn in by Akiko's warmth and friendliness. Despite being determined not to be uncomfortable by his presence, Kaoru felt the need to leave. There was only so much she could take.

"If you will excuse me," Kaoru stood up and quickly left the room. She would have to return for dinner, but at least for now she could get a few hours of solitude on her own. Kaoru headed to her rooms, and tried to keep herself busy by tidying up. She even cleaned up Yahiko's room, since he was too busy between teaching at the dojo and working at the Akabeko to do more than straighten his futon in the morning. Kaoru opened the windows to air out the room, and took the bedding outside to hang up.

As she rounded the corner to the hanging racks, Kaoru stopped, as she heard hushed voices speaking at the edge of the house. Kaoru instantly recognized Misao voice and figured that she had just returned. It was hearing Kenshin's voice that surprised her.

"Are you sure?" asked Misao.

"Yes," came Kenshin's hushed reply. "I'm certain of it."

"Oh Himura!" Misao exclaimed a bit more loudly than before. "You've made me the happiest person alive!"

Kaoru turned back, not wanting to overhear anymore. Kenshin…and Misao? Kaoru thought. It didn't make sense. Sure, Kenshin was often in the company of Misao, and for such a short acquaintance they did seem very familiar with each other. Was there more to it than everyone assumed? But what about Akiko? He was very attentive to her also. But would Kenshin actually court both Misao and Akiko at the same time?

Kaoru sighed and felt like she hitting her head against something repeatedly. No, she thought, Kenshin is too good of a man to pursue both Misao and Akiko at once. He was noble and honourable and despite his lack of attention towards herself, very considerate of his new friends. Try as she might, Kaoru could find no fault in him, and silently agreed with Akiko that he was one of the best men that they had ever met. One that Kaoru had given up a long time ago, and even in the deepest depths of her heart, she knew that she no longer had any claim to him. He made that abundantly clear every time he looked past her.

oooooo

"Hurry Kaoru, class is going to start and you're still trying to get dressed!" Yahiko yelled through the door. Kaoru rolled her eyes and straightened out the hem of her gi, before quickly tying her hakama. Today was supposed to be her day off, her one day a week where she didn't have to teach and could run errands. It was also the rare day when Maekawa would teach at the dojo. But early this morning he had been called away with Hiroki, and Kaoru had to teach the class instead.

Kaoru hurried to the dojo, knowing that she didn't have long before the students arrived. Yahiko, for all his earlier yelling, wasn't in the dojo, so Kaoru started opening the walls and windows, letting the morning air in. Her back was turned, when she heard someone come in to the dojo.

"Yahiko!" Kaoru yelled over her shoulder. "Honestly if you are going to wake me up early to teach on my day off, you better be helping and not sneaking off to the kitchen." Kaoru whirled around to continue giving the younger teen a piece of her mind when she saw who was there.

Kenshin stood in the doorway, an equally surprised expression on his face. It lasted for half a second, and the indifferent look he usually had when he saw her slid back in to place.

"Oh, I thought you were Yahiko," Kaoru apologized.

"I didn't mean to disturb you. I thought Maekawa-san was teaching today. He asked me to observe some of his students."

"He was called away suddenly. I'm teaching the class instead."

"I see." Kenshin turned to go, but Yahiko appeared at the dojo entrance.

"Kenshin!" exclaimed the boy. "Are you here to watch us teach?"

"Well, actually…" Kenshin started, but seeing the excited look on the boy's face, he stopped and gave Yahiko a slight smile. "Yes I am here to watch."

Yahiko cheered and led Kenshin in, talking excitedly about kenjutsu. Kaoru continued prepping the dojo for the class, trying to ignore Kenshin's presence. She still had a class to teach, and just because he was there didn't mean she had to be nervous. She tried to push away the growing realization that around everyone else he was easy and relaxed. In the few moments where they had been forced to make polite conversation, he had been always been cold, giving her only the minimal responses that manners required.

Soon the students arrived, and Kaoru knew that this was going to be a difficult class. It was full of students who had been learning under Maekawa for years, and most of them did not appreciate having a woman teacher. Kaoru called for their attention at the front of the class, but after a few snide looks, the men just continued talking, effectively ignoring her.

"Hey!" yelled Yahiko. "We're trying to teach a class."

"I didn't sign up for this!" someone yelled from the back. Feeling bold, others shouted out too.

"Where's Maekawa?"

"A woman and a kid?"

"Get the Battousai to teach!"

The yells grew louder and the students started milling about. Yahiko came over to Kaoru, clenching his shinai, ready to start beating some sense into the older men. In the corner Kenshin sat still, silently observing.

"Let's just start Yahiko," said Kaoru. "Follow my lead."

Kaoru started the first few drills, yelling out the moves as she did. Yahiko followed her movements, but it was no use. No one was paying attention.

All of the sudden, a hush fell over the students. Kaoru turned, wondering if Maekawa had returned but what she saw was equally surprising. Kenshin had gotten up and after taking a shinai from the rack on the wall, walked to the centre of the dojo. With perfect precision, he executed the drill. All looked on in awe, as the Battousai worked through the first lesson. He looked towards Kaoru, his face completely neutral.

"Was that correct, Kamiya-sensei?" he asked.

Kaoru nodded as her ability to speak slowly came back. "Yes, that was perfect. Again."

Kenshin worked through the drill again, this time faster. As he finished, Kaoru started the second drill, showing the sword movements of the next form. Yahiko moved to stand beside Kenshin, and following Kaoru's lead, they moved along with the lesson.

One by one, the students lined up and it wasn't long before the entire class was working through the drills. Noticing that the men were to starting behave and listen to Kaoru, Kenshin finished the current drill and with a bow, moved back to the side of the dojo to watch the rest of the class. After the rocky start, the class went well, but Kaoru was not easy on the men, quickly putting them through some of the more difficult kata as punishment for their earlier behaviour.

As the class ended, Kaoru approached Kenshin, who was chatting quietly with some of the students.

"Excuse me, Himura-san," Kaoru said, as the student moved away. "Thank you for your help earlier."

Kaoru meant what she said. Despite what they once were, and what they once had, she did appreciate his help. She hoped he would understand that. Kaoru met his eyes, and for a split second they softened, before becoming hard again. Kenshin nodded at her, and then excused himself, leaving her alone in the dojo.

Kaoru watched him go, and sighed. It was clear. There was nothing between them. He had no lingering feelings, and she doubted she even crossed his mind any more. The years had put a distance between them and there would be no bridge, no return to even slight friendship. It was clear he would be nothing but cold and indifferent towards her. It was better to do what she had vowed when she first heard he would be here. He had moved on. And she would, too.

Glossary

Shinai - bamboo practice sword used for sword training and practice