So, this is the final one, minna-san. I return it to Kenshin to tell what's on his mind.

Yes, of course, Rurouni Kenshin is not mine.

"I am not a hero

I am not an angel

I am just a man

Man who's trying to love her

Unlike any other

In her eyes I am"

(In Her Eyes – Josh Groban)

"Kenshin!"

"Battousai!"

Kenshin looked up and saw the man kicked Kaoru until the girl fell into the water. Without thinking, he escaped from his opponent only to meet with Shishio.

"What is this? Is this the only thing a legendary killer can do?"

Kenshin screamed and quickly jumped into the water.

Kenshin opened his eyes with a gasp. His thundered heart slowed when he realized where he was. The familiar ceiling of his room calmed his stormy mood. He turned his head when he heard his shoji being opened.

"Kenshin?"

Kaoru stood there, wearing light kimono with her hair down and carrying his red gi. He only remembered his gi was totally damaged and apparently the kendo teacher already fixed it for it looked like a brand new.

Kenshin blinked and took a deep breath, trying to sit.

Kaoru frowned and sat next to his futon, putting the gi down. "What is it?" she asked in soft voice.

Kenshin smiled a little and shook his head. "Just a dream when this one saw you being tossed into the water."

"Oh.."

This also made Kenshin realized they never talked much about what happened until they met again in Tokyo. He remembered he was so devastated when he thought Kaoru was dead and also very happy when Misao told him that the girl was indeed still alive.

"May this one ask what happened to you after you fell, Kaoru-dono?"

Kaoru smiled grimly and sighed. "I don't remember much. I think some people found me on the beach and they took me to nearby hospital. And then, Sanosuke and Yahiko found me. They also talked about Misao was going to look for you so I knew you were still alive." And then, she looked at Kenshin. "What about you, Kenshin? How do you survive?"

"The same as you. Only I was found by my Shishou."

"Shishou?"

Kenshin nodded. "Aa. My Shishou. He was the one who saved this one when he was little and taught this one Hiten Mitsurugi."

Kaoru smiled slightly. Either Kenshin realized it or not, he was just told her some of his past and she sent her gratitude to Kami for letting Kenshin's Shishou found him.

"This one is sure Shishou would like to meet you, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said again, giving the kendo teacher a slight blush.

Kenshin was so sure about that. Hiko was very perceptive. The master must have found out why his desi was so devastated when he thought he lost someone who drown on the water. And his delightful face when Misao told him Kaoru was still alive. Kenshin was sure Hiko knew another reason for him to live.

"I'd like to meet him someday, Kenshin. It will be an honor for me to meet a person who brought a great swordsman."

Kenshin almost scoffed. He shook his head weakly. "Iie. Truthfully, this one failed his Shishou. This one ran away, ignoring him. This one is not a great swordsman, but a killer."

"Maybe in another time," Kaoru said gently, causing the redhead swordsman stared at her face. "You heard what the man said. Battousai is dead along with the end of the Bakumutsu. From now on, you are only Kenshin Himura. You said for yourself that you agree with my family's sword style and you already proved it by protecting the weak and saving our country. Isn't that enough?"

Kenshin blinked. He couldn't understand why this young girl could easily found the light despite a difficult situation. Even when she knew who he was, she never backed down, but accepted him with open arms instead. And Kenshin knew what he felt for this girl was not only for responsibility for protecting the weak. Kaoru was not weak. She stood by him in Kyoto, even surviving the ocean. She was young, innocent, and also brave. And with this realization, Kenshin finally knew what he really felt for the girl.

The reason for him to say goodbye before he went to Kyoto and only to her.

It was because she owned his heart.

But…he still remembered the love he had when he was young. And he admitted what he felt with Kaoru was so much different than what he felt before. His old love was still there, but enough to appreciate the new life. While this one was the truly he needed.

Kaoru looked closely at Kenshin's face that was still mulling over anything and sighed. She picked the red gi and handed it to the swordsman.

Kenshin looked up and Kaoru smiled. And for the first time in ten years, his heart thumped.

"I know you are a wanderer. I don't know if you're going to wander again or not, but please remember I will always welcome you to this dojo. You are not alone anymore, Kenshin. You have family here."

Kenshin blinked and slowly took the red gi from the girl's hand. His mind was still reeling with the new realization in his heart.

"I think I survived after I fell because I kept thinking I couldn't die until I meet you again. I wanted to be the one who heal your wounds," Kaoru said again.

Kenshin couldn't say anything.

"This is the new era, Kenshin. The one you helped to build. Try to live in the present. But, if wandering is the thing that makes you happy, I will be happy too." Kaoru looked at Kenshin softly, causing the redhead swordsman stared at her in a daze.

"But, what about you, Kaoru-dono? You deserve happiness too."

The girl smiled. "My happiness is your happiness. Perhaps you have to do the same thing."

Kenshin blinked.

Kaoru slowly rose to her feet. "Get rest, Kenshin. Oyasuminasai." She bowed slightly and then got out from the room.

Kenshin sat still on his futon. His gaze slowly turned to the red gi. His gi was just like new, the tattered and blood stains were there no more. His eyes turned soft. He finally understood Kaoru also has feelings for him, and for the first time he was so eager to return the feelings.

When he pondered about what Kaoru had said, he almost chuckled when he realized she said the same thing as his Shishou. Hiko would be happy to meet Kaoru someday. Kenshin fingered the red gi and smiled. Kaoru was right. This was the new era. Even the Oniwabanshu members were doing the restaurant and inn business to survive. They already knew they couldn't depend on their kunai forever. And it was for him, too. His past would always haunt him, but he was given a chance to live in the present.

And he would do it with Kaoru by his side.

-Owari-

Yes, the final scene in the third movie happened after this…at least in my world hehe…

The next chapter is default chapter answering some of the questions from my PM.

By the way, Josh Groban's song (In Her Eyes) is become Kaoru and Kenshin's theme now. I thought 'Shape of My Heart' by Backstreet Boys is so Kenshin, but Groban's song is the icing of the cake. Go check YouTube, there are two vids about Kaoru and Kenshin with this song based on live action movies. It's AH-MA-ZING!