Editorial Note: Please be aware that the end of this chapter has changed slightly. I apologize to all of my readers for the confusion but I simply couldn't forgive myself for the previous ending.

Disclaimer: Most people view time as a linear construct of cause and effect. This is not the case. The truth is, time is more akin to a soap bubble that keeps getting popped every time someone does something genuinely stupid. The thing is, immediately after the bubble is popped, a safety mechanism, put in by higher life forms, shocks the whole universe into rebooting and removes the stupid person from the equation, effectively preventing the bubble from popping in the first place. People who study this sort of event say it happens all the time. In fact, it's likely happened at least three times since you began reading this disclaimer.

"That's what people do who love you.

They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable."
― Deb Caletti

LAST TIME

Hiko stared at Kenshin blankly for a couple of heartbeats. Then he took a great breath and let it out slowly. "Idiot."

And it was then that Kaoru realized two very important things. Firstly: she needed to apologize to Kenshin as soon as possible, and give him a hug if he would let her. He looked really upset. And that was just his shoulders!

Secondly: Hiko Seijuro, Kenshin's Father, was on her side.

THIS TIME

After a few seconds of silence Kaoru decided it was time for her to emerge. She stood up and pointedly made a bit of noise as she descended the remainder of the steps. She put on her best innocently curious face and turned the corner into the living room.

Kenshin turned toward her as she stepped in.

"Kenshin, is this – "

Kenshin cut her off before she could finish. "Kaoru, I can explain. This is –"

"Mr. Seijuro, Right?" Kaoru smiled and bowed her head in welcome to the older man. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Kaoru Kamiya."

The man mountain returned the gesture although it was more of a nod than a bow. "Call me Hiko, Ms. Kamiya. Kenshin has mentioned me, then."

Kaoru shrugged. "A bit. I asked about a photo in his house." She glanced sideways at Kenshin and grinned. "He says you aren't very nice."

Kenshin nearly gaped at the woman standing next to him. Was she teasing Hiko Seijuro? Nobody teased his father. It just wasn't done. He was about as welcoming as a porcupine. He was rude, anti-social and critical. It wasn't that Hiko was malicious or anything he was just . . . prickly. And yet, there she was, grinning ear to ear, eyes alight with mischief.

Hiko looked a tiny bit shocked as well. There was a heartbeat, two, then Hiko's great shoulders began to shake and a chopped, rumbling sound began to emerge from his chest.

Hiko was laughing.

It was an odd sort of laugh – all stop and start – like it was rusty or unfamiliar. Still, it was deep and rich with joy and amusement. It made Kenshin want to laugh as well.

Hiko spoke on the tail end of his laughter as it lowered to a gentle chuckle. "Not nice, huh?" He smiled and rubbed at his jaw – his palm scratching lightly on two day old stubble. "I suppose the idiot's right about that."

Kaoru shrugged and did a poor job of hiding an emerging smirk. "I'll believe it when I see it." Her hands came together in a light clap. "Who wants tea?!" She was busy filling her little pot before either of the men had answered.

"I prefer sake."

Kenshin shot Hiko a withering look. "Megumi doesn't keep alcohol in the house."

Hiko lifted an eyebrow in Kaoru's direction.

She saw it and replied. "It's true. Not a drop. And I don't drink either."

"Religious?"

"Nope." Kaoru laughed. "Just don't like it. And I'm awkward enough on my own without impaired motor skills and slurring my words." She opened the pantry and looked over her newly bought teas appraisingly. "How does macha sound?"

Hiko nodded. "It'll do."

Hiko left after the tea was finished. The entire ordeal left Kenshin in a weird state of internal freeze-up. He couldn't decide whether he wanted his father to leave, or to stay. Staying was weird. Sure, Kaoru didn't seem to mind him, which in and of itself was weird, but sitting and having tea with him was something he hadn't done since childhood. Surreal. Not computing. At the same time, Hiko leaving means talking about their little argument over a dinner that, to his eternal shame, was decidedly less than his best.

Though, if Kaoru noticed the lack of perfection in the food, she was a very, very good liar.

"This is really good, Kenshin!" Kaoru finished the last of the yakitori on her plate and grinned. "I'm thinking, seconds?" She was up and moving toward the extras in the skillet before the last word was out. She never quite got to dishing out another helping.

"I'm sorry." The words came out like the cork on a champagne bottle. She hadn't planned it like this!

Kenshin went completely stiff. He stared at her back, silently begging her to turn around.

Kaoru kept talking. Not quite brave enough to face him yet. "About earlier, when I shouted. It was my fault. I was upset and embarrassed and – oh, I don't know – I just lashed out."

"Kaoru, you don't-"

Kaoru spun around and put a hand up to silence him. "Hang on. I need to finish before the panic sets in." She took a deep breath. "I went to some job interviews today, some really important ones. They, uh. They didn't go-" She crossed her arm over her chest and rested her palm flat against her collar bone. "I left every one of them feeling really useless and stupid. It was pathetic. I cried my eyes out when I got back." She finally looked at him – right at him. "I didn't want you to know that I was behaving like a blubbering child who didn't get what she wanted. It was all my fault. So…I'm sorry."

Kaoru's eyes sank to looking at her feet. Her shoulders relaxed. She looked an odd mix between relived and scared. Resigned, perhaps?

Something inside Kenshin, something dusty and lost, suddenly clicked into place. He stood up from his seat at the table. The kitchen took barely two strides to cross. Then, just like that, she was in his arms.

"Kenshin?" Her voice was wavering and she swallowed to push down the knot in her throat.

"I'm sorry too."

Kaoru shifted against him. "No. You-" He held tighter.

"Hang on. My turn." He spoke quietly, breath tickling the side of her neck. "I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. It's just, the last time-" He paused, searching desperately for the right words. "I have an unfortunate history with, uh, crying women." He pulled back from her. "But that's no excuse. It's your life and I don't have any right to demand anything from you. Least of all when you're crying."

Kenshin's cheeks were tinged pink. He dropped his arms from around Kaoru's waist and crossed them over his own chest, tucking his fingers into his armpits. Kaoru felt bereft the moment he stepped away. But she smiled sheepishly anyway.

She had to ask. "Forgiven?"

Kenshin blinked and had to stop his jaw going slack. "Of course. Am I?"

"Of course!"

They shared a moment of silence.

Kaoru said what they were both thinking. "We-we blew that way out of proportion, didn't we."

"I think we might have."

They both grinned and laughed. Kaoru reached forward toward Kenshin.

"What are you-"

"Hugging you." She wrapped her arm around his torso and squeezed. "I liked the last one. It ended too soon for me."

"Oh." Kenshin relaxed and returned the hug. "OK."

CHAPTER END

Editorial Note: Please be aware that the end of this chapter has changed slightly. I apologize to all of my readers for the confusion but I simply couldn't forgive myself for the previous ending.

That was possibly the most difficult thing I have ever written. And I'm not entirely sure why.

Hope you enjoyed this latest installment!

Later, Loves! ;)