*The entire series has been as edited as it's ever going to get. What I managed to write of Reclamation starts in "chapter 9" (according to FFN's numbering). The new Immortality material starts in the second scene of "chapter 45." Please read Immortality's very brief summary in "chapter 38."*

The Faerie Chronicles of Kenshin & Kaoru: Immortality, a Rurouni Kenshin fanfic by Raberba girl

Chapter 3 - The Last Himura

Because Kaoru was so busy with school activities, she and Kenshin played phone tag for the next week until he finally got hold of her late Tuesday afternoon to clarify that no, there was no mistake and she was to concentrate on her college studies without a single worry over money, and when was he going to get to meet the honored parents of this star student?

"Did you send those free tickets in the mail?" she suddenly realized. "Like, did you, personally, put them in an envelope and print out our address and put the stamp on?"

There was a pause, but when his voice came, it was perfectly smooth, even teasing. "Well, seeing as how this one might never get to meet the mysterious Mr. and Mrs. Arai without resorting to ever more drastic measures..."

"I'll bring them, I promise," she said, laughing. All the same, she felt a little uneasy. "Am I the only scholarship winner?" she asked abruptly.

"Sort of. You're the only one in need of the money at this time, but we do have our eye on several other promising students as well, that we do. You remember Aya-dono and Suzumi-dono?"

"Oh!" Kaoru abruptly felt better. "Those girls." If he was apparently such close friends with their family, it made a little more sense that he would be so interested in both Kaoru and her parents. "They're in on this, too?"

She was surprised at the note of unease in his laugh. "'In on this'...you could say that, yes. We've known them for years now, that we have. You do realize, Kaoru-dono, that we expect the winners of this scholarship to display an interest - heh, feigned or no - in the affairs of the Castle. For example, later on, there might be opportunities for internships or the like."

"Oooohh," Kaoru realized. So they were taking into account the possibility of future employees as well. Kaoru was pretty sure that she did not want her life's career to be museum-related, but it would definitely be a good resume-builder. Besides, it wasn't like she had no personal interest in the Castle; she knew it was a fascinating place in its own right. "Right, I see. Don't worry, I'm not trying to skive off or anything. I'll be there," she promised.

"Thank you, Kaoru-dono," he said warmly. "And good luck in all your endeavors."

o.o.o.o.o

Mr. Arai had the afternoon off from work on Thursday, so that was the day that the family set out on their little excursion to Himura Castle with tickets in hand. Kaoru's parents seemed excited and a little nervous at meeting one of the richest men in the city face-to-face, but Iori of course was as unperturbed as usual. "Piggy," he laughed, pointing as they approached the castle.

Kaoru looked up at the gargoyles and smiled. "Dragons, too," she pointed out. "And lions and sharks. They protect the castle from evil, Iori." She made a scary face and curled her hands like claws, making him laugh.

"From the horrors of undrained water, too," her father added with a chuckle. "Extraordinary piece of architecture, this place. I'm glad to have a chance to see it again."

"When was the last time you came here, Daddy?" Kaoru asked curiously.

"Oh!" Mr. Arai looked at the sky and laughed. "When was it, dear?" he asked his wife.

"Years ago," said, smiling fondly. "Before Iori was born, when Kaoru was at school. It hasn't changed much, I'll give it that!"

There were a few people in the foyer, one or two waiting to pay admission and others in the distance passing between corridors. The huge space seemed to lay an echoing hush over all sounds, muting them comfortably.

Kaoru was afraid that the receptionist might notice her with the same shocked recognition of all the other Himura Castle employees she had met up until now, but the lady merely offered the same smile she gave to all guests of the museum. "Welcome to Himura Castle! Would you like to join a tour, or will you be viewing at your leisure?"

Kaoru's parents both looked at her. "Uh- at our leisure," she fumbled randomly, not expecting to be the decision-maker.

Her father handed over the tickets. The receptionist frowned as she looked at them, inspecting them closely. Then she dubiously scanned them and glanced at her computer - and her face changed. "Oh - just a moment, please," she said, sounding flustered. She picked up the phone to make a call, and from her end of the conversation, it sounded like she was unsuccessfully trying to get hold of Kenshin. "I'm so sorry," she finally apologized, "but if you wait just a few more moments, someone will come down to sort this out..."

"What's wrong?" Mr. Arai asked in confusion.

"Well...ah, it appears that you are personal guests of Mr. O'Neill himself, but he was recently called away on a short-notice appointment - he was just about to set out, in fact."

"Oh, please don't have him trouble himself on our account," Mrs. Arai said in alarm. "I'm sure the man has more important things to do. We can fend for ourselves, can't we, dear?"

"Of course," Mr. Arai put in. "I didn't even realize that, ah, that these tickets were special or anything."

"Please, just wait right here, someone should be along in just a moment," the woman pleaded.

"Excuse me, but could I just run to the restroom real quick?" Kaoru asked.

"Oh...yes, of course. It's just down that hall there, you can follow the signs."

"I think I'd better go with you, Kaoru-chan," Mrs. Arai chuckled. "Iori needs seeing to..."

Kaoru wrinkled her nose good-naturedly as she caught a whiff from her happily gurgling little brother. She waved at her father as they set off for the restrooms, where Kaoru finished her business quickly and then waited around in the hallway for her mother to get Iori cleaned up.

Bored, her attention wandered and eventually fixed on a woman in a maid's uniform, singing softly as she cleaned the tall windows. The woman worked slowly but steadily, patiently spraying glass cleaner and wiping it off in neat rows. Her movements were so graceful and rhythmic that Kaoru blinked in surprise when she realized that she had been watching as if spellbound for several minutes.

Then she registered what had distracted her - a man with spiky hair like Officer Sagara's was creeping up on the woman. Kaoru was just opening her mouth instinctively to call out when the man pounced, seizing the woman's right hip with one hand and her left shoulder with the other, pulling her backwards so he could hold her close to him and cover her mouth with a sideways kiss. She did not even have time to shriek, though her eyes widened considerably and her cleaning supplies went bouncing to the ground. She struggled and lifted her head, gasping, "Y-Yahiko! Not here!"

"Why?" he complained. "No one's watching."

Kaoru relaxed, realizing that the two knew each other, but at the sound of her released breath, both of them looked up at her. Color flooded Kaoru's face and she stepped back, but then halted when she heard the astonishing words that tumbled from the woman's shocked lips. "Your Majesty!" The woman clamped her hands over her mouth, though both she and the man continued to stare at her with expressions of shocked recognition that Kaoru was getting way too used to.

"You have baggy socks!" the man cried accusingly.

"S-So?" Kaoru shot back automatically, her mind whirling.

Then the woman gasped. "Yahiko! Please give me your radio."

"Why?" he said in confusion, even as he pulled a walkie-talkie from his belt and handed it over.

Obviously in too much of a hurry to answer, the woman clicked it on and said urgently into it, "Michiko-san, please wait! Don't leave yet! K-Kaoru-san is here!"

"Kaoru-chan?" a woman's staticky voice came bursting from the device. "Oh, yay, you found her! Hurry and bring her, Tsubame-chan! Ken-chan will be so happy!"

At least, that's what it sounded like; it was difficult to hear through all the static. Kaoru couldn't quite bring herself to believe that total strangers would be talking like that about her.

The man, Yahiko, was snorting as if the whole thing was ridiculous, but he was also grinning as he glanced appreciatively at Kaoru. "Kenshin was just about to leave - you've got good timing."

"Sorry," Kaoru said, "but I...really have no idea what's going on."

She blinked in surprise when the maid, Tsubame, curtsied prettily. "Kaoru-san, I am so glad to see you," she said, so warmly that Kaoru didn't have the heart to be irritated at the continued weirdness of Himura Castle employees. "It is truly an honor."

"Ah, knock it off, Tsubame, you're freaking her out," Yahiko told her, though he was also grinning. "Come on, Kaoru. Let's not keep 'Ken-chan' waiting any longer than we have to."

"Excuse me?" Kaoru huffed. "For your information, Yahiko, my family name is Arai, so you can call me that if you don't mind."

"Nah, I think I do mind," he laughed. "Kaoru it is. Unless you like 'Busu' better."

Speechless with rage at his rudeness, the only thing that kept Kaoru from walloping a total stranger was the fact that his girlfriend/wife was begging, "Yahiko, please be nice to Kaoru-san, she doesn't know you very well..."

'I don't know either of you at all,' Kaoru grumbled in her head, but kept it silent for Tsubame's sake. She seemed nice, even if her boyfriend/husband/whatever was one of the rudest people she had ever met.

Mrs. Arai came out then, and after some restlessly polite introductions and some obligatory cooing over Iori by Tsubame, she and Yahiko led the Arais back to the grounds behind the castle, to some sort of huge garage that looked like it had once been a fancy stable. A car was sitting on the driveway just outside the doors; a woman in uniform was perched on the hood, and Kenshin waited beside one of the open doors, leaning casually against the car as he chatted with Mr. Arai.

Mr. Arai waved enthusiastically when he saw his family approach, and Kenshin smiled. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but before he could, the lady on the hood grinned and leaned to whisper something in his ear.

Kaoru couldn't hear a word, but whatever it was made Kenshin's face turn scarlet. "Michiko-dono!" he gasped, but she was already getting into the driver's seat, laughing. "Ah...er..." Obviously flustered, Kenshin ran a hand through his hair and tried to smile at Kaoru. "Apologies, Kaoru-dono. It's good to see you."

"Hi. This is my mom, by the way. Looks like you've already met Dad."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Kenshin said with warm courtesy, actually kissing her mother's hand, which prompted a startled laugh from Mrs. Arai.

There was not time for anything more, because as soon as Iori was close enough, he reached out his chubby fingers to grab two fistfuls of red hair and announce delightedly, "Akai!"

"...Hai, akai de-gozaru," Kenshin agreed, seeming totally unperturbed.

"Iori!" Mrs. Arai gasped, struggling to untangle Kenshin's hair from her son's insistent grip. "Mr. O'Neill, I am so sorry," she began apologizing, but he told her with perfect cheerfulness not to worry about it.

"Kushuru!" Iori then insisted, still holding out his arms to the redhead.

Kenshin blinked at him. "Kushu...?"

"He means-" Kaoru and her mother started to explain at the same time, but then Kenshin smiled.

"Ah! I see." He reached out to shake hands with the satisfied Iori. Kaoru had to admit that she was impressed with Kenshin for figuring it out so quickly on his own, and she could see from her mother's face that she was equally impressed.

"Hey," Kaoru said, a little nervously, "I'm really sorry for messing up your plans and all-"

"Don't worry about it, please," Kenshin said quickly. "It was poor scheduling on this one's part, that it was. Your father has agreed to postpone the tour of the castle. Are there...any objections?"

Kaoru blinked. "Well, no. Um...are you...?"

"Honey, Kaoru, we're going to see Himura Natsue!" Mr. Arai told his wife and daughter. "Mr. O'Neill has invited us along!"

Kaoru's mouth dropped open. "Himura? As in, the Himuras who own - used to own - this castle?"

"Yes." Kenshin smiled. "This one's relationship with the family is not entirely a business one."

"You're...letting us intrude on something like that?" Kaoru said awkwardly. The Himuras may not have been the richest family in the city, but they were definitely among the most influential. Putting them together with Ken O'Neill was a bit much.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Yahiko and Tsubame, and when she turned to look at them, she was surprised at their expressions. Yahiko's arms were folded and he was staring at her hard, frowning a little as if she was on the verge of disappointing him. Tsubame had her hands pressed together, looking very tense. "What?" she said.

Tsubame gasped and stammered something apologetic, but Yahiko merely shook his head. "The Himuras," he said meaningfully, though she couldn't think what kind of message he was trying to convey. "They're a real important family, and you've got a golden opportunity to meet them. You really, really don't want to pass this up."

Kaoru frowned a little, and Kenshin said quickly, "Really, it's no trouble at all. You don't have to come if you don't want to."

"Ken-chan," the Michiko woman in the car protested, but was silenced by the look he gave her. Kaoru stared - she had not seen him look so stern before.

Yahiko sighed. "Whatever. Come on, Tsubame, I'll help you finish the windows."

"Thank you," came her soft voice, though Kaoru was sure they were still watching her. As their footsteps retreated, Kaoru looked at Kenshin and shrugged. "If Mom and Dad don't have a problem with it, I'm in."

He beamed. "Excellent. Now, this one is very pleased to have met you all, but unfortunately, we are quite late. Please?" He held out the car door invitingly for the Arai family to get in, then slipped in himself.

"This is roomy," Kaoru said admiringly as Michiko started the car. "Do you always drive everywhere in this?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes other vehicles are used," he said.

"Cold," Iori complained, pushing at an air conditioning vent, and Kenshin hurried to remedy the situation.

The trip was an interesting one, with Kenshin and Mr. Arai getting caught up in an enthusiastic conversation about traditional swords, and Kaoru and her mother gazing happily out the window at the beautiful neighborhoods they were passing through. The houses all seemed so old and grand, most of them wonderfully kept up. "Such an opportunity," Mrs. Arai murmured in Kaoru's ear. "You really were lucky to catch Mr. O'Neill's eye, Kaoru-chan."

"Yeah," Kaoru murmured, wondering suddenly what her mother would have thought of Kenshin watching her sleep at the castle. She looked at Kenshin's profile, eyes alight with whatever he and her father were talking about, the way his throat moved when he spoke, the gentle set of his mouth... Then, suddenly aware of her gaze, he glanced at her and smiled so warmly that Kaoru felt her cheeks heating. The pure love that shone in his face at that moment was very flattering, and disconcerting, but above all, puzzling.

'Do I...know him?' Kaoru wondered. She found herself rewinding her memory, trying to think if she had ever met Ken O'Neill before. Of course she hadn't, there was no way; not even a guest appearance at school or anything. 'Have I ever seen Kenshin before?' Put a different way, using his 'nickname,' Kaoru suddenly froze. She couldn't, in her mind's eye, imagine meeting a redhead like him before, but...Kenshin...Kenshin...why was that name so familiar? Why did she get so emotional at the thought of that name?

"Ah, we're here."

Kaoru was startled to be drawn out of her thoughts. She peered out the window again to find them parked in front of a huge old house, and she kept craning her head to look at it in awe even as she was getting out of the car. She finally looked down to realize that Kenshin had held the door open for her again. "Oh - thank you," she said awkwardly. Shouldn't that be the driver's job?

"My pleasure," he assured her. Kaoru smiled and took the arm he offered her before realizing she had done so.

The door was answered by a maid, whose eyes fell on Kaoru and paused.

'Oh no - not again! What is with these people?!'

"Maya-dono," Kenshin said meaningfully after a moment. "These are the guests Michiko-dono called about, the Arai family."

A smile spread slowly over the maid's face, and Kaoru was exasperated to see that her eyes were still fixed only on her. "Lovely. I'll tell Lady Himura that you've arrived. Please come in."

The only thing that prevented Kaoru from gawking at the amazing richness of the house was the fact that her parents were doing it (Iori seemed more interested in making faces at himself in the mirrors they passed). She felt slightly embarrassed as she watched them, thinking that they looked like tourists. Darting a glance at Kenshin, she found him eyeing her and her family with a smile. "Do you like it, Kaoru-dono?"

"It's beautiful...but I think Himura Castle is nicer." That made him laugh for some reason.

Himura Natsue was waiting for them, with a boy at her side, in a large, elegantly furnished room with well-placed sofas and full-length windows that let the sunlight pour in. Her smile was very large but very stiff. "Mr. O'Neill," she greeted with frosty graciousness. "How good to see you again, especially on such short notice. It has been too long."

"Has it?" Kenshin said with courteous amusement, going over to kiss her hand. "Forgive our lateness, Natsue-dono, but this one knew you would regret not being able to meet such honored guests."

The look on Natsue's face was almost funny in its conflict, as she seemed half-mollified by the honorific, annoyed that he had used her given name, and puzzled about how such ordinary-looking, uninvited guests could be so important. (Well, Kaoru wanted to know the answer to that, too.) Kenshin made graceful introductions, which did little to soothe the curiosity of either.

"I am pleased to meet you," Natsue said, in a manner that left her sincerity in doubt. "This is my son, Kensuke." She turned to the sullen-looking boy at her side, who had fixed his eyes on the floor and was tugging uncomfortably at his collar. "Kensuke!" she barked. "Straighten up, we have guests! Show proper respect to Mr. O'Neill!"

"Yo," the boy muttered.

"Kensuke!" his mother cried, mortified and outraged.

"Hello, Kensuke," Kenshin said, his eyes sparkling. "We came all this way so that Kaoru-dono could meet you." He said it as if it was a joke, and Kaoru's parents and Natsue evidently took it as such, but Kaoru noticed the way that the boy lifted his face to look at her, his eyes narrow and appraising. Kensuke said nothing, but nodded.

A few pleasantries later found the Arais seated and eating snacks in a rather forbidding drawing room. Natsue and Kenshin had disappeared for whatever meeting she had needed him for so urgently, leaving Kensuke to play host.

He was a terrible one. He spent the entire time slumped on the couch across from them, scowling at the floor and speaking only to make terse replies to Mrs. Arai's attempts at conversation. She finally gave up, and they all fell silent. Luckily, it was not long before Natsue and Kenshin returned, she tucking something away into a folder and he looking almost liberated, like a kid heading out to recess. 'That bad, huh?' Kaoru thought, suppressing a snicker. She could imagine that Himura Natsue would not be a pleasant woman to have to do business with.

Kenshin sat down next to Kaoru, though at a proper distance away, and struck up conversation so energetically that it was hard to tell at first that all the life in the room was coming from him. The Arais thawed a little, Natsue began to lose her pinched expression, and Kensuke occasionally showed glimmers of a personality, but it was obvious that Kenshin would not be able to keep the talk going smoothly forever unless the others started helping him out.

Kaoru found herself watching the maids, two silent women in uniform who observed the gathering with intent, knowing eyes. The conspiracy theory was getting harder and harder to dismiss. Kaoru deliberately tried to focus her attention back on the conversation, which was turning more and more awkward despite Kenshin's valiant attempts. Natsue was obviously still disgruntled, her parents were mildly uncomfortable, and Kenshin and Kensuke...

Kaoru frowned, watching the way they shifted restlessly, their eyes wandering, the politeness of Kenshin's speech and Kensuke's almost total silence. It seemed like they were...waiting for something.

Another maid came in just then, holding a cordless phone. "Lady Himura," she said demurely, though Kaoru could have sworn her amused eyes flicked to Kenshin for a moment, "there is a phone call for you."

"I have guests, Kimiko," Natsue snapped. "Take a message."

The maid curtsied politely. "If you please, Madam, it's the senator."

Natsue paused. Then she rose and made her excuses, rather hopelessly ordering Kensuke to entertain the guests while she was gone. When she had left the room, Iori chose that moment to suddenly complain of a condition that made Kaoru's cheeks catch fire, especially when she saw Kensuke's smirk. 'I'd like to see you change a diaper, you stuck-up rich boy,' she thought hotly.

"Kimiko-dono, if you will please show them where to go?" Kenshin said with perfect courtesy, though Kaoru thought it a little odd that he addressed the woman as if he had any right to give orders in this house.

"Certainly, Ken-chan," she said with a smile.

'Ah,' Kaoru realized hopelessly. 'The conspiracy again.' She watched her family leave the room, since her father had decided to take the opportunity for himself as well. By the time she looked back at the remaining people, they were already in motion. She watched in surprise as Kenshin got up and ambled around, running his hands thoughtfully over the bokutô she had earlier noticed displayed on one of the walls. Kensuke glanced between him and Kaoru, then shrugged and got up to do the same. The maids were already clearing away the refreshments and shoving back the furniture, leaving the middle of the room open.

"What's-" Kaoru started, but had no sooner opened her mouth when Kenshin and Kensuke, having selected their weapons, flew into action. The boy seemed totally transformed. No longer a sullen, rebellious figure, Kaoru watched in astonishment as he whirled with athletic grace, his eyes alight, mouth open in good-natured taunting. Kenshin said little, but his eyes were also bright and his mouth pulled into a grin. Kaoru had never seen two people more happy as they slashed at each other with wooden swords, each trying to get the upper hand. "They're having a fight, here?!" she yelped.

"Yes! Aren't they wonderful?" one of the maids laughed. "Go! Ken-chan, go!"

"Which Ken-chan?" her companion giggled.

"Both of them!"

Kaoru stared at them, these two maids who had dropped their quiet facade to raucously cheer on the opponents. 'Who are these people?! And...does it mean that Himura Natsue isn't part of the conspiracy?'

Kenshin was scoring hits without even looking out of breath, to Kensuke's obvious annoyance; he yelled and charged, was countered, elegantly moved into a second strike, was countered again, then in the next instant was able to score a clumsy blow. "Hah! Take that, Gramps!"

"Wonderful," Kenshin laughed. "Of course, seeing as a glancing blow to the shoulder isn't very debilitating-"

"Oh, shut up!" Kensuke yelled, attacking again.

Then all five of them froze, open-mouthed, when Kensuke's bokutô suddenly flew out of his grasp and hurled straight through one of the windows. The crash was tremendous, and they all stared for a moment at the jagged hole in the glass, still occasionally dripping shards. Then Kenshin and Kensuke burst into laughter, as the maids scolded them teasingly.

"You all are crazy," Kaoru muttered, though she couldn't help smiling as well.

Just then, the maid Kimiko hurried back into the room, saying urgently, "Quick! They're coming back!" The others sprang into action at once, Kenshin and Kensuke and the maids shoving furniture back into place and getting the snacks back into position, so that by the time Natsue and the Arais came back into the room, Kenshin and Kensuke were seated as if nothing had happened and the maids were standing at attention. Somehow, the hole in the window was gone, though Kaoru could still feel a breeze from outside.

"My apologies," Natsue was saying in embarrassment for her absence.

"Kaoru-chan?" her mother said in concern, "Are you all right?"

"I'm...fine," Kaoru said faintly.

"Kensuke, your cheeks are flushed," Natsue said sharply. "What have you been doing?"

"Drinking too much hot tea," her son grunted, hiding a smile.

The rest of the visit was a little anticlimactic. Kensuke had subsided back into his sullen, quiet persona, though Kaoru knew now that it was only a mask, that his true self was lurking somewhere, ready to be brought to life again with the right touch. The maids did nothing more extraordinary than watch the conversation more attentively than they should, and occasionally exchange glances, or (now that Kaoru was watching so closely) brushing Kenshin with affectionate, oh-so-casual caresses when their mistress couldn't see.

'So the conspiracy,' Kaoru thought to herself in half-amused frustration, 'is that he magically attracts all females and is waiting for me to fall into his lap as well.' The idea was absurd, though she had a hard time dismissing it. 'It's not just the girls, though...the men love him too. Not in the same way, but you can tell the way they admire and look up to him.' Even Natsue, proud and unpleasant as she was, treated Kenshin with a sort of deference. She may not be fawning over him so like many women did, but there was certainly something about him that seized your attention. 'Kenshin...what's going on?' She would find out the answer, even if she had to work up the guts to come out and ask him directly.

"Kaoru-san?"

Kaoru started and looked at Natsue, who was giving her a disapproving look. "I...I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Yes," Kenshin jumped in helpfully, "Kaoru-dono has been awarded the scholarship this year, that she has. This one is very proud of her, and is sure she will fulfill expectations."

"I see," Natsue said coolly. "We hope to have Kensuke apply when he is of age. It would be such an honor-"

"Oh, don't worry, he'll be awarded by default," Kenshin assured her, to her surprise. "That is, if he stays in school and doesn't get into too much trouble to overlook." He turned to Kensuke. "Meaning, no more stolen science projects or toilet-papering the auditorium, yes?"

"Mr. O'Neill," Natsue murmured, red-faced as she glanced at the amused Arais.

"That was last year," Kensuke grumbled, not quite able to hide a smirk. "I've been good this year. Mostly."

"This one is glad to hear it. By the way, when are you going to drop by the castle again? We haven't seen you in a while."

Kensuke suddenly raised his head. "I would go," he said hotly, "but Mom won't let me! She says-"

"It seems improper," Natsue said quickly, "for a Himura to have the run of that place when it no longer belongs to him. Perhaps on his next vacation from school we can arrange an educational visit."

"Himura Castle," Kenshin said quietly, "will always belong to your family, Natsue-dono, no matter who owns the paperwork."

Kensuke grinned triumphantly and Natsue seemed not to know what to say, so Mr. Arai made a comment on the wooden swords on display and started Kenshin and Kensuke off on the lively topic. At one point, Natsue complained of a draft, and Kaoru breathlessly looked to Kenshin, who smoothed it over as usual (though she did notice, as they were leaving, that he slipped Maya a check with sternly whispered instructions).

As they were in the car, driving home again, Mrs. Arai bravely made the comment, "Well, Lady Himura seemed very nice."

Kenshin smiled knowingly. "Do you really think so?"

There was a pause.

"You seem to know them pretty well," Kaoru ventured.

"Yes. Kensuke is a very good friend."

"That boy?" Kaoru's father said in surprise. "He didn't seem to have a lot to say, at least until we started on kendô."

"It is difficult for a child to flourish in a stifled environment." Kenshin's voice was very low, and did not invite further comment. Then he blinked. "Oh," he said, as if suddenly remembering something, "if you still want to see the castle, please feel welcome to come at any time, free of charge. This one apologizes for changing your plans, he should have put more thought into it." He suddenly smiled at Kaoru. "What did you think of Kensuke, Kaoru-dono?"

She did not say, 'He's just as weird and interesting as the rest of you people.' What she said was, "He seemed...like there was more to him. Like he was hiding, except when-" She broke off, remembering that her parents had not seen Kenshin's friendly bout with the young Himura boy.

"Except when," Kenshin said meaningfully. "What about then?"

"I think it would be worth getting to know him better," she said slowly.

"Yes," he said, satisfied.

To be continued...

Author's Notes: I haven't quite decided yet what age to have the Kenshingumi at...I guess, since a 53-year-old Sanosuke wouldn't be as much use as a twenty-something-year-old Sano, I'll have them drink Tomoe's elixir, too. Though not all of them will choose to keep doing this after Shishio's taken care of.

"Akai" is the adjective "red." I'm not sure if I am spelling Iori's nickname for Kenshin correctly; it took some guesswork and some hunting through my Japanese dictionary to figure out what he might be saying.

Btw, Titania woke up one day and decided that she was furious that Tomoe had been the first to break her contract. So Ti released all her other handmaids in a temper tantrum and took on a new set. I have yet to decide whether this will be a serious event or played for laughs, but either way, it won't have much impact on the story.