Part 2 of my double post! READ and REVIEW!

Megumi woke up to the sound of metal hitting metal. Kaoru had already woken, dressed, and left, she'd even folded her futon and put it away. Megumi got up and dressed taking her time despite how the sounds of metal hitting metal seemed to speed up. She came down the staircase in only her kimono, her doctor's smock left folded upstairs. Three of the doors downstairs were open; the door to the Kitchen, to the dining room, and to the front area which she had seen the day before.

The back area was completely flat, tiled, and kept amazingly clean. Hiraru, Shiro and Sozo were all out on the squared off area. Sozo was kneeling on the edge watching intently as Hiraru with her broken arm carefully tied to her body, fought with Shiro, one of his arms tied behind his back. Kaoru and Yahiko sat just out of the square watching the two older siblings go at it. Hiraru was using her metal pole, pushing her brother back, despite his own sharpened sword. Hiraru came in with a final attack as Megumi reached Kaoru and Yahiko. A downward slash came at Shiro's head, perfectly in time Shiro brought up his sword. The slash was turned away and Shiro and Hiraru spin past each other attempting to bring up their weapons before the other. Shiro stopped at the same time Hiraru had. It was like watching two people finish a dance.

Shiro held his sword in place at his sister's throat, both of them watching each other. "Yield, I've won."

Hiraru's cold stare turned into a colder smile, "That's where you're wrong." She shifted her shoulder a little, poking him in the ribs with her rod, "If I'd held a sword, you'd be dead, and I'd be dead. This is what we non-perfect humans like to call a tie." She moved the rod to rest on Shiro's blade, and drew back from him slowly to allow the two piece of steel to ring. "May I suggest," She continued, "That you get use to not winning at everything?" She pulled away completely, the steel ringing as she finished pulling the rod across Shiro's sword.

Hiraru turned around and removed her sling as Kaoru, Yahiko and Sozo took the arena. She placed her rod in the belt of her pants and removed her impoverished sling as she walked away. Shiro tried to replace his sword, but was having more difficulties in placing it back into its sheath. Megumi put her hands on her hips as Hiraru walked to the side of the house and leaned in the shadows of the one wall. "I hope you haven't been doing that since you got out of the clinic," She said giving Hiraru a warning glare.

Hiraru didn't react to the glare. She merely looked at the older woman, expressionlessly, "Shiro challenged me, I wanted to remind him that he's not Kami-san, so we worked out a way that we could fight without him having an unfair advantage. I hope it didn't upset you too much."

Megumi blinked at the un-apologetic look and tone of voice. It was like she was talking to someone she hardly knew. Hiraru looked back out on to the arena where Kaoru was supervising a little fight between Yahiko and Sozo, "I was wondering when you were going to wake up, Takani-san."

Megumi was still looking at Hiraru, "I thought we were friendly enough for you to call me Megumi-san."

"You are still my elder, and as far as that goes I will call you Takani-san until you give me permission to do otherwise," Hiraru looked back at Megumi, there was a slightly dead look to her eyes.

It made Megumi shiver despite the warmth of the sun, she quickly changed the subject looking towards the arena, "So where is Kenshin-san, Sano and your grandfather?"

"Kenshin-san and Grandfather are making a late breakfast. Grandfather said last night that he wanted to make us breakfast, but he was tired this morning so we let him sleep in. As for Sano… My guess is he's still asleep." Hiraru's voice kept the calm tone but changed a little as she spoke, going from slightly concerned and gentle, to amused and a little annoyed. "Grandfather will probably make something we can snack on all day since we're eating so late in the morning. This early in the summer we'll have onigiri for lunch and in the afternoon, and then will have a good meal for dinner. Later in the summer we'd have early peaches and plums, and water melon just before the beginning of fall."

Megumi nodded. She opened her mouth so say something, but was interrupted by Akira-san's roar of, "BREAKFAST!"

Sozo and Yahiko stopped in mid-attack and ran for the open door way of the dining room, each pushing past Shiro in their hurry. Shiro called something about manners after them and followed, Kaoru just behind him. Hiraru pushed off the wall and stood next to Megumi, a warm smile on her face, "It's good to see Sozo acting his age for once. Yahiko is a good friend for him."

She then turned and walked toward the house Megumi jogged to catch up so they would walk in together. In the dining area Sozo, Yahiko and Sano had taken up one corner the two younger boys playfully pushing each other around as Sano yawned and scratched the back of his head. Kaoru sat next to Kenshin leaving three places open, two between Shiro and Kaoru and one between Sano and Kenshin. Hiraru took the place next to Shiro as her grandfather came in carrying a plate full of Wa-gashi and took the place nearest the kitchen door. Hiraru gestured to the remaining place for Megumi to take.

Everyone had their fair share of the sweet breakfast, as they finished Hiraru dropped a bomb on the group. "I was thinking to stay until after my twentieth birthday. I had hoped you would stay with me," She looked to the Kenshingumi.

Kenshin smiled, "We could not impose on your family for such a length of time, Hiraru-dono."

Hiraru studied her tea, "I ask you to remain as my extended family. My birthday would not be so wonderful without all of my family." She was silent for a moment, then she smiled at them, "Besides, The townspeople always have a big celebration. There will be more food and fun than the four of us can handle. If there are five strangers in town some of the attention will be deflected."

Sano blinked, he caught the words she wasn't saying, I don't think I can handle my brother without some support. I want to spend time with them but I'm afraid. Stay with me, please. He licked his fingers then pretending he didn't care, answered her, "If you keep up the good food, I'll stay, Even if I have to beat your brother senseless daily."

Shiro turned a glare at Sano and the rest of the Kenshingumi stared at him. Megumi spoke first, "Sano, if it hadn't been for that food comment I would have thought you were sick… Listen, Hiraru, I'd love to stay but I have patients back in Tokyo…"

Akira-san interrupted taking a deep drink of tea, "Takani-san, I hate to sound selfish but there are many people in the town that haven't seen a doctor in years. If you'd be so kind I'd like you to give everyone a physical. I do care for my people, but they don't seem to realize a doctor is for more than just when someone gets very sick."

Megumi blinked at him, "Well, ah… Sure, I suppose if I could set up a clinic…"

Akira-san smiled, "I'll ask the monks to make room for you in the temple, it'll be easier for the town folk."

"Kaoru?" Hiraru smiled at the younger woman, "Please, stay here. I could really use someone like you at my side."

Kaoru smiled, "Alright, It's not like the Dojo really has that many students. Kenshin, you'll stay too right?"

The red head nodded, and Yahiko snorted, "I guess that means I have to stay, too."

And their stay continues. What could ever happen, next… Well don't look at me, I don't know. I'm just the writer. If you want to find out what happens next, REVIEW!