Ruroni-Chan: READERS!!!! I'm so sorry about not posting last week… It seems someone never mentioned that they didn't have this chapter (Glares daggers at Gerry-sama)

Twilight-kun: Ruroni!! Are you going to use your sparklers?

Ruroni-chan: Of course I am! Take one and I'll beat you into a bloody pulp!!!

Gerry-sama: I don't know why I agreed to buy those for you…

Twilight-kun: It's tradition!!!

Ruroni-chan: The Japanese always light fireworks during the summer!!!

Gerry-sama: You know I would have liked it more if you had said it was for the fourth of July…

Ruroni-chan: Oh…. right… Anyways readers. Here's the long awaited chapter, I know it's short, but your all going to love the next one. Remember to Read, Review and enjoy!!!

Hiraru sat carefully at the table, cutting vegetables for Kaoru. It had been four weeks since the last time she'd seen Sano, and she'd been released from the clinic two weeks ago, with orders to stay off her feet as much as possible and special slippers that put two inches of padding between her and the ground. She had worn kimono since coming back, causing Yahiko to look at her oddly, but Kaoru had risen at the chance of having another female to talk with about girly things. Kenshin either hadn't noticed one way or another, or had pretended not to notice; he was outside doing the laundry. Kaoru was in the kitchen beginning dinner, soon she'd come for the vegetables. Hiraru finished chopping the vegtables, and moved to the porch to watch as Kenshin tried to keep the clothes clean as men stirred up dirt around him, going up and down ladders. The roof repairs were almost finished; they were just replacing the ceramic tiles. Meaning they'd be done this afternoon. Yahiko chose that moment to come running in, jumping over Kenshin in his hurry, and kicking the redhead in his crimson locks.

Hiraru suppressed a laugh, but only so that it was a chuckle instead. "What's the hurry Yahiko-kun?" She said in good humor.

"Haru! There's a letter for you in the mail! And you've got to see the paper!" He slid on the porch until he was sitting next to her. Strangely enough picking up the name had been the easiest thing for him about welcoming her back

"Alright, if it's that important go get Kaoru," She said as she took the mail and newspaper from him. It was obvious the paper had already been read by someone. "Kenshin! Mail's here," She called as Yahiko disappeared into the house.

Hiraru placed the mail next to her and looked over the paper. There was nothing of importance on the front page, she began to search through the rest of it as Kenshin sighed and gave up trying to do the laundry then. He brought both dirty and clean clothes over and set them on the porch, though you couldn't really tell which was which. He looked at Hiraru when he heard a strangled noise come from the girl. "Hiraru-dono?"

Hiraru had paled, her hands clutched the paper, and Kenshin had a feeling she'd be trembling if her knuckles weren't white from trying to hold the paper. Kaoru joined them then, "Hiraru-chan?"

"'Once respected government official, General Ikeda Toshimi has been tried and convicted for the kidnapping and torture of an undercover police officer. When officers went searching for said agent at Ikeda's manor, they found numerous artifacts that were once thought missing for all time. The artifacts are being returned to their owners. Within those found were the swords of several Meiji heroes, names have not been released. As Ikeda was moved from his prison cell in the police station to a more permanent prison, he said these words before a police lieutenant silenced him, 'The false army lives, their leader is alive. The Sagaras must be punished for their crimes.' It is believed Ikeda's sanity was lost after learning that his one and only heir, Takashie, was found dead in an alleyway near a bar know for its exchange of illegal drugs. Government officials have ordered Ikeda's other holdings to be researched to make sure they were legally obtained…'." Hiraru said reading the paper out loud. "Saito said he would keep my family out of the papers…" Her breathing was getting tense.

"Hiraru," Yahiko said, "It's fine. Everyone thinks Ikeda is insane. No one will actually look your family up. And if they do they're only going to find Sano. You said it yourself, your family kept you legal name Kojima."

"Yes, but if they look up Sagara Sozo they'll find that there's no birth records of a samurai by that name, and someone might dig deeper and find the name of Kojima Sozo, my uncle, and that he's dead and that he had a brother, Kojima Shiro. Then it's only a hop and a skip to my brothers," Hiraru worried.

"Relax, Hiraru-dono," Kenshin insisted, "Read your letters first. There's one with Saito's handwriting on it."

Hiraru snatched the paper away from him. Inside was the shortest note Hiraru had ever seen, Sorry about not keeping Sagara's name out of the news. I made sure the only name anyone would come up with was the rooster head's. He can handle any noisy reporters that come his way. Hiraru let out a sigh that was heard around the room, and set the note on the table. Yahiko took it up and read it. "Who's Uncle Wolf?" He asked seeing the signature.

Hiraru chuckled. "He's a man with a bad sense of humor. Who's the other letter from?" She asked taking it off the dining table. Instantly she recognized Sozo's hand writing. This letter she also ripped open. She read it to herself, then tucked it into her kimono and stood slowly, "I need to go see Sanosuke. Tomorrow I'll be heading home."

"What?" The other three all did a double take at her.

"That letter was from my youngest brother," She said placing a hand where the letter was tucked. "He says my grandfather is fading, and he's worried that I won't get home in time to see him alive. I have to go home. I have what I came for, but the minute I'm back on the temple grounds, I'll never get to leave again. So I'm going to go apologize to Sano, then I'll come back and pack. I'll try to leave tomorrow morning without waking you." Gingerly she walked towards the door.

"Hiraru, wait," Kaoru turned to the others, "Yahiko, go see Megumi and tell her Hiraru's grandfather is failing in health and we'd like her to come with us to see what she can do for him. Kenshin, you go start packing." She looked back at the other female as the boys quickly left, "Hiraru, let us help you. We'll come with you, traveling back with friends will be better for you than traveling alone."

Hiraru looked at her, shocked by the other woman's actions. Kaoru smiled as she stood, "You're not alone, Hiraru-chan. You don't have to be by yourself anymore."

Hiraru flung her arms around Kaoru, burying her face in the other woman's shoulder. Whatever words were said between the two in that moment are lost to all time, for even I will not write them and break those sisterly bonds.

Eventually Hiraru pulled away, scrubbing her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono. Kaoru smiled, "Now, let Kenshin or Yahiko come with you to see Sano, so you don't go alone."

Hiraru shook her head, "No. Sano will respect me more if I'm by myself. If you could have Kenshin saddle Katsu though, I need to go put on a different kimono." She shared a smile with Kaoru, and the younger woman nodded, going to find Kenshin while Hiraru went to find the kimono she'd worn when she'd gone to meet Tsukioka.

Ruroni-chan: Three… Two… One…

Gerry-sama, Twilight-kun and Ruroni-chan (all at the same time): HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!

Twilight-kun (begins running around with lots of lit sparklers in his hands): WAAHHHOOOOO!!!!!!

Ruroni-chan: Twilight-kun! Those had better not be my sparklers!!! (Runs to check her packages)

Gerry-sama: Oh… Gre---at… Highly flammable objects in the hands of two immature teenagers… We're all doomed…

Ruroni-chan: THOSE ARE MY FIREWORKS!!!! TWILIGHT-KUN!!!!!!!

Gerry-sama (To readers): Quick! Review then get out of here before those two blow us all up…