So...yeah...hopefully none of ya have been plotting on hanging me for taking so long to post what I've already finished. My apologies though as I moved a few weeks ago and have just been off-put by trying to find work and all that good moving jazz...anyways, as an apology and thank you to all of you that read this and kept with it, I'll be posting the final two chapters in a single go so you can finally see how things end.

Chapter 12: The Comforts of Girl Talk

"Alright. I've done what I can Kenshin-san."

Kenshin sighed softly and began to roll his shoulders. The tightness in his chest was gone, but the muscles still ached. That really couldn't be helped as there was a limit to how much damage could be healed by the work of healing Kidö. It was fortunate enough that the more serious damage to his body could be handled which had been his cracked ribs.

He looked over his shoulder as the large man moved to stand and nodded. "Thanks Tessai…I owe you."

The man simply let out a chuckle while opening the shoji door. "Nonsense Kenshin-san. You're as much apart of this shop as Yoruichi-san." With that he left the room, leaving Kenshin a bit confused but grateful nonetheless for the healing; and, to be rid of the large man's presence.

He knew Tessai meant well, but the man was certainly an odd fellow; especially, for a man that was once the captain of the Kidö Corps.

The Fifth Division captain eased himself back on the floor, settling his head on his folded arms. From what he understood Yoruichi was talking with Tatsuki right now and would then deal with Soifon before coming to him. He really wasn't sure why she needed to talk with him as he at most was only guilty of having taken part in the fight. It was self-defense though.

Who was he kidding? She'd scold him all the same. She'd likely scold him about not being responsible and aiming to defuse the fight rather then encourage it and that he needs to remember himself as a captain. Usually these 'scoldings' were more of her way of conveying her concern while also poking fun at him over something. It was far and few that she actually got mad with him or irritated with him.

His mind began to mull over just why Soifon would have blamed him for having some sort of romantic relationship with Yoruichi or having bedded her. It was possible Soifon's own feelings for their common mentor had caused the young woman to misinterpret something she saw, but what?

In truth it was amusing to him as the thing she had told him were the feelings she held for Yoruichi. She admitted to him everything about her feelings for the Flash Goddess from how she first became entranced by the woman as a little girl and that those feelings of admiration became feelings of desire and longing.

Love did strange things to a person's perception of the world. He closed his eyes and smirked some at the thought. Time to tell her how you feel, Soifon. You've waited long enough…

Tatsuki's night had gone from horrible to upsetting to understanding. She had yelled at Kenshin to leave and go back to his mentor…or whatever she was to him.

Thinking back on that, she felt horrid about it. He had never done anything wrong to her to deserve such a nasty retaliation. Hell, he had come storming into her house concerned that she may be hurt.

Yet she chose to be cold toward him out of her own emotional confusion. Although… could anyone blame her? This was the first time she had developed a crush on a guy and she really did think it was mutual from the way he acted around her. Maybe he was just being friendly, and even if that was the case she had no right to treat him so poorly.

After some more much needed crying, she finally began to really think about it and once more came back to the same question; why would he stay around her if he could just stay with his mentor?

"Maybe…maybe they aren't a couple."

If nothing more, she had to at least apologize to him for yelling at him, if only to partially mend her aching heart. What happened instead was a shock as she found him in the midst of a bloody fight with a petite woman that was proceeding to stomp his chest in.

She wanted to scream, to run and help him but she remembered how much of a capable fighter he was, and a proud one at that. It wasn't her right to interfere, was it? Thankfully…Yoruichi had shown up to stop the fight and in doing so brought everyone back to the shop, herself included.

Strangely enough, Yoruichi had wanted to speak with her first rather then with the two individuals that had fought and were her students.

"Why me?" Tatsuki asked as she fidgeted.

The older woman only smiled while staring down at the somewhat bloodied and torn haori in her hands. "Tell me, Tatsuki, do you like Kenshin?"

That question threw the teen off who felt suddenly cornered. Why was Yoruichi asking her this? Was she asking so she could tell Tatsuki off? No…that didn't seem how this woman acted. From the little interaction she had with Yoruichi, Tatsuki noticed that the woman seemed playful and friendly.

Although right now she was seeing a tender side.

"Yes…as just a friend though."

Yoruichi glanced up and smirked some, moving to fold the haori in her lap. "You don't have to lie to me."

"W-what makes you think I'm lying?" Tatsuki asked, trying her best to maintain eye contact.

Setting the folded haori aside, Yoruichi rested her jaw in her hand. How nice it was to be young and so innocent. This girl was a good person, but she was a bit naïve when it came to the game of love and because of that she was a terrible liar.

"It's all over your face, Tatsuki. I saw it when I first met you at your dojo and saw it clear as day when we were out to eat. You like him as more then a friend."

Tatsuki bit her lip, no longer able to hold the gaze of the older woman. "Sorry…"

"Sorry for what?"

"Well aren't you two…together?"

At first Yoruichi didn't really understand what Tatsuki was implying, but when she put two-and-two together she started laughing and even slapped her knee. Holding a hand up in front of her while trying to calm herself down, Yoruichi looked up at Tatsuki with a glimmer in her eyes.

"No, I'm so sorry for laughing, but no…Kenshin and I have never been a couple, nor will we ever be a couple. I'm so sorry, but what made you think that?"

"Well…" Tatsuki grabbed at the fabric of her khakis, not sure if she should tell the older woman what she saw. "Earlier today I saw you two…holding each other…"

Yoruichi's eyes widen as she knew exactly what Tatsuki was talking about, but sighed softly as she maintained a warm smile. "Again…I'm sorry. I probably should learn to wear pants even when relaxing around my room, but….well anyways the point is, I think you saw something that wasn't there."

"What do you mean?" Tatsuki asked, now bringing her gaze up.

"I won't lie, I love Kenshin, and I've loved him for a long time. Have I ever mused over such thoughts as dating him or bedding with him? Of course, it's just natural when you're around someone for so long without anything to restrain you, but I know it would never happen. I love Kenshin the way two close friends love one another and I would do anything to protect him just as I know he would for me."

Yoruichi crawled forward to sit closer to Tatsuki and settled a hand on the young girl's shoulder. "But Tatsuki, that's all it is. I'm a touchy-feely sort of person. I like to be physically close with those that are close to me in my life which is why I was holding Kenshin and burying my face in his hair. However, I promise you he is a free man."

Tatsuki felt a surge of comfort at knowing this, but her heart sank when she remembered her accusation towards Kenshin and demand for him to leave. Sensing the sudden rise and fall in the girl's mood, Yoruichi drew her into an embrace. "You say something hurtful to him?"

"Yes…I may have blown any chances with him already…"

Yoruichi chuckled while stroking the girl's back. "Tatsuki, if Kenshin was able to forgive me after holding a grudge for a century, I'm sure he can forgive you after only a few hours. Besides…I know he likes you."

Tatsuki drew back some and stared in disbelief. "He…does?"

"Mmhmm…Kenshin was never a man to smile and in all the years I've known him, I only saw him smile once before I left the Soul Society. I wouldn't see that smile for a hundred years, and yet you are able to make him smile daily. Follow your heart and don't let him get away."

Tatsuki nodded slowly as she looked down into her lap, thinking over the revelations she had just learned. But how would she make it up to Kenshin for having been hurtful towards him?

Something still was tugging at the back of her mind though; Kenshin was hiding something from her. The way he acted seemed a bit too…casual for a man that had lost his memories. His steps, his words, everything as of recent seemed curiously well acted.

Licking her lips nervously, Tatsuki glanced up to the older woman and slowly asked, "Yoruichi, may I ask you something…about Kenshin?"

Yoruichi arched a brow but nodded once.

Letting her gaze fall to the haori and the Kanji for "five" on it, she felt a sense of true desire to know everything about who Kenshin actually is; beyond the shadows. "I want to know just who Kenshin is in this world you two are from…"

The request left Yoruichi a bit off-balanced. She really couldn't blame Tatsuki for asking, but at the same time was it really her place to dispel the truth behind Kenshin's existence as a shinigami and more so as a captain?

She wanted to side-step the request and leave it upon her pupil to explain, but the look in the girl's eyes as she stared at the haori tugged at Yoruichi.

Kenshin would understand and forgive her.

Kenshin had nearly drifted into a nap when the sound of the shoji door and someone pacing into the room alerted him. Choosing to keep his eyes closed, Kenshin waited for the individual to stop moving which they did so above his head. It felt like they were leaning over him which meant it was likely only one person in particular.

Daring to open his eyes, he found a pair of golden orbs looking down at him with a warm smile to match. "Tessai get you fixed up?"

"Fixed up? You make me sound like a machine or something…"

She chuckled and glanced over her pupil carefully to check his injuries. Still come cuts that could use a scrubbing and then some bandages, but he'd be fine. She knew he had gone through worse in his time with the stealth force, but that's what made him who he was; an iron-will that never wavered in the midst of a fight.

"So how's Soifon doing?"

Yoruichi jumped a bit, not having expected him to ask anything. "Soifon? Well…" She sighed softly. "She feels guilty for what she did and she wouldn't tell me everything. So…"

"I'll need to talk with her?"

"You always were on the same page as me." She grinned.

"Don't remind me." He shuddered some and got a smack over the left shoulder for it. "Alright…and Tatsuki?"

"She'd doing better. Some girl talk we needed to have."

"Girl talk?" Kenshin arched a brow questionably at that. "You're capable of that?"

Yoruichi pinched Kenshin's nose then began to pull, causing him to wince and smack her hand away. "Don't get smart with me Kenshin. Remember what happened last time you did that?"

Unfortunately he did. When Yoruichi wanted to get serious and discipline, she could get serious and lay down some discipline. It certainly wasn't the sort of discipline he had become use to under Soifon, but it wasn't discipline he ever wanted to repeat. "So who should I go speak with first?"

"Go ahead and speak with Soifon. She'll help patch you up. After that you and Tatsuki can speak on your way home."

"On our way home?"

"Mmhmm." Yoruichi smirked slyly. That glimmer in her eye did nothing to make him feel comfortable.

Sitting up slowly, the captain of Fifth Division glanced to the small slotted window and watched the rain continue to fall outside. Why was it that his life seemed to change significantly every time it rained?

And as promised, chapter 13 immediately around the corner!

Chapter 13: A Chance Beginning, Together