Kenshin came in with a steaming hot dish of something smelling delicious. His wide smile would've looked normal on him if that whole 'Battousai incident' didn't just happen a few minutes ago. Everyone was on edge as he set the plate down. Even Yahiko.

"It's time to eat."

The man really went the extra mile, serving sashimi with the rice, as well as boiled vegetables and miso soup. It looked more like a banquet than a small lunch between friends. Kaoru stared at it all in wonder. But when she caught Kenshin's eye, she suddenly wasn't very hungry. Everyone got themselves their own helping. Except for Kaoru, who just sat there. Megumi noticed what she was doing. She smartly kept her mouth closed about it. It was Kenshin who decided to mention it.

"Aren't you hungry, Miss Kaoru?" he asked. His voice sounded just like ordinary Kenshin's. The sweet Kenshin who let everyone walk all over him, not Battousai the Manslayer. Kaoru wasn't fooled.

"I guess I'm still full from breakfast," she lied with a fake smile. If he was going to pretend, then so would she.

She was surprised when Kenshin let it go. He didn't press the issue or scold her in front of everybody. She allowed herself a smile in victory.

Lunch was over and Kaoru tried to help clean up. But Kenshin stopped her.

"You should probably lie down," he suggested, "I think you might be getting sick."

"What are you talking about?" she asked him.

"Well, you did skip lunch. I think you must be getting fatigued. It's the only explanation."

Kaoru sent him a cold look. It didn't faze him in the slightest.

"Why don't you leave the diagnosis to Megumi, Kenshin Himura?"

Kenshin's only reaction was his usual, unaware smile.

"Oro? I suppose you're right. Forgive me."

Kaoru wasn't falling for it. At least she won in the end. She finished helping the man with cleaning (completely aware of how closely he was watching her), then went to train her students. She was in the middle of the lesson when Kenshin entered the room without asking. The students stared at him curiously. He didn't look their way, even with Kaoru now glaring at him

He took a seat off to the corner and began to watch. Kaoru had half a mind to tell him to buzz off, but she knew that wouldn't get anywhere. And the last thing she wanted was her students witnessing her having an argument with a man that was supposed to be her friend.

She turned her attention back on her pupils, frowning when they wouldn't look away at Kenshin.

"Alright, everyone. Time to spar. We need to get some practice in before I teach you any more moves."

One student raised his hand, "But someone didn't make it to class today. So there's an odd number of us here, Sensei."

"That's okay. Suzuki-san, you can spar with me."

Said man stood in attention. He was her best student in this class and took his studies very seriously. She would be honored to test his skills.

"Right, Sensei."

"Are you sure that's wise, Miss Kaoru?" Kenshin's voice was like a thunderclap. Kaoru was actually caught off guard by how hard the tone was. She turned to look him in the face. Battousai or not, she would not be challenged in her own dojo.

"I wouldn't have suggested it if I wasn't sure, Kenshin."

"But you're still injured."

This time Suzuki was caught off guard. He turned his eyes toward his master.

"You're hurt, Sensei?"

She waved him off.

"It's just a bruise. Don't let him fool you. He's been making a big deal out of a lot of things lately."

"I'm merely looking out for you, Miss Kaoru."

She flushed. That was not an appropriate thing to say in front of her students.

"I'll. Be. Fine."

Each word was spoken with a pause at the end, emphasizing that this was not up for discussion. Kenshin smirked. He smirked! Like he thought she was hilarious.

Let's see how funny he thought this was.

"Suzuki. Come at me with your full power. Don't worry about hurting me. I want to show this man that I can fight."

The smirk fell from Kenshin's face in a flash. He stood up.

"That's not a good idea," he said. They both ignored him.

"Sensei, are you sure?" Suzuki asked.

Kaoru nodded. They were about to spar when Kenshin got between them.

Okay Kaoru. Take deep breaths. Don't let your anger get the best of you.

She took in a deep breath.

"Kenshin, please step aside."

"Please rethink your decision, Miss Kaoru. This man is too skilled for you to fight while injured. Let me spar with him instead."

Kaoru glowered at him.

"I am the instructor. And I will do what I think is best for the class."

Suzuki nodded, "I agree, Sensei. I will fight you."

Kenshin turned around and whispered something into Suzuki's ear. For a moment, a flash of fear came across Suzuki's face. Kenshin went back to his spot. Kaoru looked at her student.

"What did he say to you?"

Suzuki paused, "I'm sorry, Sensei. It's a secret."

"Don't keep secrets from me."

He averted his gaze.

"I'm sorry," was all he said. Kaoru wanted to order him to reveal what Kenshin said. However, her father would frown on her abusing her power like that. She sucked in a breath to steady her nerves.

"Fine. Let's begin."

They bowed their respects at each other, then proceeded to fight. Kaoru performed a simple strike that hit him across the chest. She paused.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, Sensei."

He performed some moves and she in turn dodged them. The longer they sparred, the more Kaoru realized that he wasn't giving his full power at all. In fact, he was going easy on her. She stopped.

"Suzuki-san, did Kenshin tell you to go easy on me? Despite what I said?"

Kenshin watched them closely. Suzuki gave Kaoru a pleading look, silently begging her not to make him tell her.

She was losing her cool. The students had stopped what they were doing in order to watch what was going on. Kaoru pointed her katana at Kenshin.

"Alright. I challenge you, Kenshin."

Kenshin's purple eyes widened in bewilderment.

"Oro? Are you sure about that, Miss Kaoru?"

"I'll fight you here and now. Unless you're afraid you'll lose."

If he was going to insult her in front of her students, then she was going to put him in his place. Kenshin stood up. He grabbed Suzuki's weapon without asking him first, and the student let him without a fuss. Kenshin continued to smile that same sweet smile typical of the normal Kenshin Himura. Not so typical of this Battousai creep.

Kaoru raised her staff.

"Shouldn't we bow first?"

"We've already passed doing anything polite when you threatened my student," she glared.

Keeping the smile intact, Kenshin shook his head.

"You must be mistaken. I would never do something like that."

"Get ready, Kenshin."

She lunged at him. He dodged just in the nick of time. She kept fighting but he kept evading each and every blow. He was humiliating her in front of everybody. And worst of all, he wouldn't fight back.

She stopped short.

"Fine. Then you attack me."

"I don't want to do that, Miss Kaoru."

The students were whispering to each other. Kenshin continued to smile sweetly. He was clearly mocking her, clearly enjoying her losing her temper. She had to do something, anything to get him to stop what he was doing. She had to get him to see that he was doing more harm than good.

She had to show him that she could take care of herself. She thought on her feet. Kaoru lunged once more. Once more Kenshin dodged. But as he stepped off to the side, she tilted at the heel so she can get a swipe at him. The blow was soft, but at least it landed. Though it landed at a steep price. The move had caused her to sprain her ankle so badly that she couldn't stand straight.

Kenshin stared in horror as she attempted to look strong.

"Alright. I think that's all for now. Class, keep practicing our old moves and next time I'll teach you something new."

"Yes, Sensei."

After they all bowed to her, the gathered their stuff and left. Suzuki was the last to leave. Just before he walked out the door, he gave her one last, remorseful look. Once they were all gone, Kenshin grabbed her and proceeded to carry her bridal style.

She struggled.

"Hey. I told you not to—"

"That wasn't clever of you to do, Miss Kaoru. It wasn't cute either. You deliberately hurt yourself just to prove a point."

His eyes weren't golden, but they were viciously narrow. Kenshin was livid at her. Even Kaoru kept quiet after he heard his heated tone. It wouldn't be a good idea to argue right now.

Kenshin took her inside the building. Yahiko was prowling around when he saw the two enter. His eyes widened at the strange sight.

"What's going on?"

Kenshin ignored him. He slowly placed Kaoru on the floor, making sure she didn't press against her injury too much. He turned to the boy.

"Please go and get Megumi, Yahiko."

"…But she just left not too long ago."

"Then go retrieve her."

Kenshin gave Yahiko a look that demanded obedience. Confused, the young male did as he was told. Kaoru rubbed her ankle, her previous feeling of victory gone at this point.

"That was very foolish of you, Miss Kaoru."

He glared at her. She returned the look with one just as fierce.

"Then why did you try and humiliate me in front of my class?"

"I wasn't. I was trying to make sure you didn't overdo it."

"You never questioned my teaching methods before."

"Well, maybe I should have."

She barred her teeth at him. What she wouldn't give to get her wooden weapon and hit him over the head with it. But he would probably just dodge.

It suddenly occurred to her that all the other times she managed to hit Kenshin over the head for doing something wrong, Kenshin had allowed it. He could've dodged everything if he wanted. She would do anything to get the old Kenshin back. The one that wasn't constantly trying to demean her in some way.

Megumi came and inspected the wound. She gave Kaoru one look before ushering her to her bedroom.

"I'm sorry, Sir Ken. But ladies only past this point."

With that, she closed the door behind her. Kaoru knew Kenshin was standing right outside the hall. The very thought made her uneasy.

"What were you thinking?" Megumi hissed at her.

"Why are you getting onto me? He was the one who was acting like a jerk."

Megumi rubbed her temples.

"Kaoru, he wanted you to get upset."

"I know. But I wanted to show him that I could fight on my own."

"You won't be able to do that by hurting yourself."

Kaoru glowered, but she knew that the doctor had a point. Megumi's expression softened when it became apparent that Kaoru wouldn't argue that point. She put some lotion on her foot.

"Just be more careful."

"What am I going to do, Megumi? He won't listen to me."

"Maybe you're onto something. Maybe we can show him that you can fight."

"How can we do that when he won't let me do anything?"

Megumi pressed her lips in thought. The lips spread to a smile.

"Maybe we can drug him."

"Drug him?"

"I can make a sleeping potion and put it in his tea. Then, Sanosuke can get one of his buddies to pretend to fight you. When Kenshin sees you winning, it might snap him out of it."

Kaoru frowned. Did they really have to pretend to fight? Kaoru could hold her own just fine. That was the whole point to all of this. Still, it was worth a shot. Kaoru relaxed.

"Okay. I hope you know what you're doing."