Another chapter in only a few days! Wow! I felt like you all deserved a new one after I made you wait for so long! Please read and review! I really appreciate hearing your thoughts and comments. I know there's ghost readers out there but I don't bite, I promise! Just let me know what you think :)

The snow was seeping through her socks as she ran through the forest. Her heart was beating up in her throat and she was sure if she stopped running she would become sick. She had passed two places that were covered in blood and she was sure part of it had been Kenshin's. The only thing she cared about was getting to him in time. She knew she had no way to help him as she had given her only form of protection to Tomoe but the only thing she cared about was making sure he was okay.

'Please! Please don't take another person I love! Please! Let Kenshin be okay!' she let out a gasp as her foot caught on a root hidden under the snow. She groaned as the cold seeped through her kimono but she quickly climbed to her feet. She froze as she heard the sound of swords clashing. She followed the sound and soon found herself in a clearing.

A house stood in the middle and Kaoru vaguely registered that Tomoe was standing on the porch with knife in hand. Her eyes immediately locked on Kenshin only for her heart to fall to her feet. He was kneeling in the snow, one hand on his shoulder, completely covered in blood. She could also see that his katana had been knocked away from him. She watched his opponent raised his sword obviously intent on finishing Kenshin.

"NO!" she screamed as she ran to protect her beloved. She stopped in front of him, facing his attacker, with her arms outstretched. The pain was hot almost as though she had burned herself. She glanced down only to blink as there was something, a sword her mind whispered, pushing through her abdomen. She heard the attacker gasp in pain but before she could do anything else the blade that had pierced her was pulled from her. She gave a gasp of pain as she began to fall back.

She felt warm arms catch her and cradle her to an equally warm chest. She wondered why she was so cold before remembering it was winter. She would have to build a large fire once they returned to the house. She hoped Tomoe would be able to keep it going as Kaoru felt exhausted. It was only as she raised her eyes to meet Kenshin's that she finally realized what was happening. She would not build a fire.

"Kaoru, hang on. We'll get help. Just hang on!" he whispered. She managed a small smile at him even though she could feel blood in her mouth.

"Kenshin…your wound's bleeding again….you should have…let me…care for it." Kaoru was finding it harder to breath. The pain was becoming sharper and the blackness seeping into the edge of her visions was welcome.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please…I didn't…I'm sorry…you're covered in blood. And it's yours." he whispered. She only shook her head as she reached up to trace his left cheek. She turned her gaze towards Tomoe when she felt the woman touch her shoulder.

"You both need to be happy. The world….needs more happiness." she whispered. Her hand fell from Kenshin's cheek as the darkness began to become more prominent. She mouthed her love for him one last time before closing her eyes as his last scream echoed in her ears.

"Megumi, how is she?!" Kenshin demanded when the woman left her room. The doctor sighed as she had expected as much from the redhead.

"She's fine. I checked her over three times but there are no wounds and no signs of any physical trauma. Her breathing is fine. I gave her some sedatives as she woke up when I was checking her and she was in an absolute panic. Something about saving you." Megumi told him. The redhead's eyebrows rose as he uncrossed his arms.

"Saving me? What could she have meant?" he wondered. He glanced at Tomoe who had also been standing with him waiting for news. She shrugged her shoulders and he noticed that she was still in a yukata. She had come running from her room, after getting ready for a bath she had informed him sourly as they waited, when she had heard him scream.

"She seemed convinced it was winter as she was also upset the blanket I was trying to cover her with was so thin. She kept saying something about blood-stained snow. It was all very confusing." the woman observed. She noticed the way Kenshin had tensed at the mention of snow.

"Perhaps the shock made her think about when we told her how all of this started. I shouldn't be surprised that it finally got to her. She has been taking it all so well. A mental breakdown could be considered normal in these circumstances." Tomoe said. Megumi thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"I would like to agree with you but I'm not so sure. She was acting as though she was living through it and while that's normally indicative of such a reaction, she said something odd that made me realize there's something else at work." Megumi responded.

"Oh? What did she say?" Kenshin asked.

"She kept saying how you refused to take care of the wound on your cheek and it kept bleeding because you wouldn't let her care for it. I know you didn't tell her about that. You didn't even tell me or Sano about it until a few months ago." she said. The way Kenshin's eyes went wide told her she had been right.

"How could she have known?" he whispered. Megumi just shook her head before nodding at Sano when he appeared in the hallway.

"That's something you'll have to ask her when she wakes. Sano and I are going to volunteer at the clinic if you need us. Call me if she wakes up and is still hysterical." Megumi instructed. The other duo nodded before watching as Megumi disappeared with Sano. Kenshin let a small smile cross his face at the way she grabbed Sano's hand.

"Well, you get to sit with her. I'm going to take my bath." Tomoe said as she turned away. Kenshin hummed in agreement. He was surprised when she suddenly turned back towards him.

"Tomoe?" he questioned. She let out a soft sigh.

"Kenshin, you said she was saying something odd when you went to check on her. What was she saying?" she asked. Kenshin swallowed as he thought about the way Kaoru had looked at him before collapsing. There had been fear and sadness in her eyes.

"I heard her talking to someone. Or at least I thought she was talking to someone but I didn't see anyone. She…she said something about reliving her death. I…I don't understand." he explained. His eyes shot up from where he had been looking at the ground when Tomoe made an odd choking sound. "Tomoe?"

"Are you sure that's what she said?" she whispered.

"Yes. It scared me. Do you know what she was talking about?" he asked. She remained silent for a few minutes that made him wonder if she would tell him the truth or was thinking of a lie to tell him. "Do not lie to me, Tomoe. We have lived through enough years together that I know when you do."

"I…I know, Kenshin. I'm trying to think of a way to tell you about what I think might be happening. I'm afraid it may hurt you if it's not true." she told him. He studied her for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.

"If you're trying to think of a way to tell me you think she may be Kaoru's reincarnation. Don't. I may seem oblivious much of the time but I am still observant. I've spent enough time with her for the thought to enter my mind. I'm assuming that by your reaction to what just happened here, you believe it to be true." he said. He watched as her eyes widened and knew he had surprised her.

"It first occurred to me once we arrived in Kyoto. She sometimes gets this look in her eyes that says she's seeing something we can't. Even when we were walking to city hall this morning she saw something about how the flower shop was gone. I don't think she even realized she'd said it. The more surprising thing, however, is that flower shop was gone…it was gone when we brought her to be buried in Kyoto. You went there to buy her flowers before we left the city again." she whispered softly. He studied her for a moment before letting out a soft breath. He was surprised when despair didn't completely engulf him at the thought of buying flowers for the other Kaoru's grave.

"The only way to get answers is to ask Kaoru herself about what is happening. I have the distinct feeling she may know more than we think she does." he whispered. Tomoe nodded in agreement. She let out another sigh before moving to place a gentle hand on his arm.

"Kenshin, even if she is Kaoru's reincarnation she is a different person. You must understand that. This Kaoru is this Kaoru. That Kaoru was that Kaoru. They share a name and perhaps even a soul but they are not the same person. Don't set yourself or this Kaoru up for heartbreak." she whispered. Kenshin chuckled as he covered her hand.

"I'm not capable of having a broken heart, Tomoe. I don't say that because of what we are but because it was completely and utterly shattered over a hundred years ago." he whispered. He didn't have to look at Tomoe to know she had tears in her eyes.

"There are times when I wish I had been fast enough to get between you and that man. At least that way…you and Kaoru could have lived a happy life together as husband and wife." she whispered. He sighed before moving away from her hand.

"No. You survived Kaoru's death. If she had lost you she would have been consumed by the grief. Not because she wasn't strong. We both know Kaoru was incredibly strong. It would be because she would grieve over the fact she hadn't been able to protect you." he whispered.

"I always thought you were unworthy of her, Kenshin. I had always told her she deserved someone who could see her strength and accept her for it. It would seem even after so many years I can still learn how worthy you truly were." Tomoe told him. He only shook his head as his hands clenched.

"I will never be worthy of her, Tomoe. I promised her I would never cover her in blood again. I took her life." he whispered softly.

"She would say you're an idiot." Tomoe told him. He chuckled as he turned towards her. She gave a small smile followed by a small bow. "I'm going to take my bath now. Please don't scream. I'm not going to come until I'm finished."

"Right." he said with a smiled before slipping into Kaoru's room. He slid the door shut behind him before slowing moving to Kaoru's side as she slept soundly on the futon. Her hair was no longer bound and she seemed to be peaceful. He was surprised to see her face was still damp from crying. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the handkerchief he carried. He gently wiped away the remaining wetness before moving back.

'Kaoru, I find myself caring for you but I don't want to. I don't want you to get hurt.' he thought as he continued to watch her. His eyes widened when she began to move. He swallowed as she opened her eyes to look at him. He felt concerned when he saw her eyes seemed clouded.

"Kenshin…you're okay." she murmured. He nodded as he moved closer. Her eyebrows furrowed when he moved closer.

"I'm okay, Kaoru. You gave us quite the scare, you did." he told her. She shook her head at him. He watched, stunned, as she reached up to place her hand on his cheek. He was unsure how long they sat there with her hand over his scar. Her eyes suddenly went wide and she withdrew her hand. He barely managed to catch her as she sat up. Her eyes darted to a corner before moving back to him.

"K-Kenshin. What…I don't understand." she whispered. He smiled at her before helping her lay back down on her futon.

"Don't worry, Kaoru-dono. Megumi believes the shock of the past few days finally caught up to you." he said with a smile. She blinked at the way addressed her before sighing.

"I think I may have preferred 'Miss' to that. You're older than me." she pointed out. He only shook his head as he pulled her blanket up.

"That is true, it is. However, I also respect you, that I do, so I will address you accordingly." he told her. She scowled at him for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.

"Kenshin, aren't we friends?" she whispered. She could feel him tense even though she wasn't looking at him. It was almost as the air had gone completely still around him and it was making her want to fidget. However, she was determined to get an answer out of him.

"We are, Kaoru-dono." he whispered. She slowly sat up and saw that he was still kneeling at her futon, near her feet, with his head bowed.

"Then you can just call me 'Kaoru', Kenshin. I don't mind. Just because you respect me doesn't mean you have to put a wall between. To be honest, I don't mind being addressed in the old respectful manners but something…it sounds strange coming from you. I feel as though you should be able to address me casually. Like Megumi and Tomoe do. Even Misao calls me by just my name. Why can't you?" she whispered. She watched as his head turned away from effectively using his bangs to hide his eyes and his face.

"I do not deserve to address you so casually, Kaoru-dono, that I do not." he whispered. She blinked at him before letting out a soft sigh. She could almost sense the way the ghosts from his past were haunting him even after so many years.

"Kenshin, you can't let the ghosts haunt you forever. It's okay to move on. You know that right?" she whispered. She was surprised when he turned to look at her and her surprise quickly turned from surprise to alarm when she saw the tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." he whispered. She tensed when he suddenly fell into her lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. He continued to whisper apologies into her stomach as his shoulders rose and fell with his quiet sobs. It took her only a few seconds to realize he was talking to. She felt her heart crack but knew he needed to get his out. If he needed her to be the Kaoru he remembered and loved she would willingly play the part if it meant he'd start to heal.

"I'm so sorry, Kaoru. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to kill you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." he continued to ramble. Kaoru gently placed her hand on his head and ran her fingers through his hair. She watched as a transparent hand covered hers and she looked up at the other Kaoru. The ghost smiled at her before nodding and disappearing. Kaoru let out a soft sigh as she continued to play with Kenshin's crimson locks.

"It's alright, Kenshin. I forgive you. Everything's going to be okay." she whispered. She was unsure how long she sat there with Kenshin until his shoulders finally stopped moving. She checked on him and was surprised that he had fallen asleep. She gave a soft smile at the way his face looked so relaxed. It was a struggle to get him moved so he was laying next to her futon. She placed her pillow under his head and covered him with the blanket she had been using earlier.

It was with a little dizziness, she supposed they'd had Megumi look her over and give her something for her to sleep, that she climbed to her feet. She quietly made her way to the closet and pulled out the extra pillow and blanket. It only took her a few moments to settle on the futon so she was facing Kenshin as he slept beside. She gave him one more soft smile before she finally allowed her eyes to close.

She had been thankful when the owner of the inn had offered her and Tomoe jobs at the inn once Katsura had decided it would be in their best interests to stay there. However, she was irritated that she hadn't run into Kenshin since the night he'd brought them there. After their first night she had found her kimono folded outside their bedroom door and completely clean. She had wanted to thank him but he seemed to be living up to his name as a shadow assassin.

"Kaoru, take this soup into those idiots." Kaoru barely had time to grab the pot when the old woman shoved it at her. She studied the object in her hands for a moment before sighing. She hated serving food to the other soldiers as they were always rude and crude in their comments towards her. She was surprised when she opened the door to find Kenshin also sitting at the table but he seemed withdrawn from his fellow soldiers. She allowed a small smile to play on her lips when she realized he truly was different.

She set the pot down near the bowls and began to ladle the soup out. Once she had enough servings for everyone in the room she placed the lid back on the pot. She took two bowls and walked over to where Kenshin was sitting against the wall with his sword against his shoulder. She knelt down in front of him and held one of the bowls out. He looked up from his crossed arms to eye her. She gave him a small smile.

"I haven't seen you for a while. Here's some soup. It's fresh so it's nice and warm." she told him. He nodded as he reached out to take the bowl. She bit back the urge to fuss when she saw he had a new bandage on his hand. If she could manage to track him down later she would ask about it.

"Thank you, Kaoru-dono." he whispered. She blinked at the way he addressed and was about to protest until one of the men decided to interrupt.

"Is this your woman, Battousai? She looks far too fragile for someone like you! Unless of course, she's better than she looks! Why don't you loan her out?!" the drunk laughed.

"'Loan me out?'" Kaoru hissed under her breath. She barely heard the unsheathing of a sword but Kenshin didn't have time to attack. Even Kenshin blinked when the bowl of hot soup met the drunken man's face. The commenter let out a squeal of pain that had all the man scrambling to get away from the woman. Kenshin swallowed as he saw the scowl on the girl's face. If he were a lesser man he would have run away from that look.

"What the hell was that for, you bitch?!" the man growled once he had wiped the soup from his face.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt your face? I was aiming for your crotch. I had hoped to keep the world from having any other jerks like you! We have enough of them as it is!" she snapped. Kenshin was slightly proud of the way she stood up to him. If he remembered correctly the man she had thrown the bowl at was well known for his actions towards women.

"You bitch!" the man jumped to his feet and Kenshin was in front of Kaoru just as weekly. He unsheathed his sword just enough so the light glinted off the blade.

"If any of you lay one hand on Kaoru-dono or her friend, Tomoe-dono, your life is forfeit. Are we clear?" he growled. Everyone grew quiet and he jumped when a hand touched his arm. He scowled when he saw Iizuka standing there with a grin on his face.

"You heard the man. And if that isn't enough, these two are also under the protection of Katsura-san. If you survive Himura, I can assure you that you won't survive him." the man said. Kaoru coughed to gain their attention and Kenshin immediately sheathed his sword.

"As of right now, you jerks can cook and serve yourselves! I'm going on strike!" she said before turning and leaving the room. Kenshin bit back a sigh when he heard all the man complain before deciding it would be best to follow the woman. He had been avoiding her, not wanting to draw her in more than she'd already been, but now he just wanted to make sure she didn't break anything they actually needed. He continued to follow her through the hallways and was surprised when she stomped past Tomoe.

"Kaoru-chan?" the woman called.

"Leave me alone!" came the reply before the younger disappeared around the corner. Kenshin nearly jumped when Tomoe glanced at him. He swallowed as she frowned at him making him wonder why the woman disliked him so greatly. If Kaoru liked him then it was safe to say Tomoe hated him.

"What did you do?!" she demanded.

"I didn't do anything! One of the men mouthed off to her, that's all. I wanted to check on her." he responded.

"Check on her? But…why would you do that? She's…you're a hitokiri! You're not good enough for her! Leave Kaoru-chan alone!" the woman snapped before she walked past him. He was unsure how to respond except for watch as the other woman disappeared. He glanced down at the floor and let out a soft sigh.

"Not good enough, huh? I guess that's about right. I've never been good enough for anything." he chuckled before turning to return to his room. Once things had settled down he would return to the kitchen for his meal and await orders from Katsura. He had not been on a mission in three days and knew the time was coming.

"Kenshin-san?" he paused and turned towards one of the doors he had passed while lost in thought. Kaoru was standing there with a small blush on her face. He swallowed as his heart gave a distinct thump at the image she made.

"Yes, Kaoru-dono?" he inquired. She gave a small smile as she hid her hands in the sleeves of her kimono.

"Thank you for earlier. I really appreciate it." she told him. He studied for a moment before nodding.

"You're quite brave, Kaoru-dono." he told her. She smiled at him again before biting her lip. He watched as she stepped out into the hallway then met his eyes again.

"I also wanted to thank you for cleaning my kimono. It looks like I just bought it now." she told him. He nodded before turning away from her. "You really aren't good at conversations, are you?"

"I've never had anyone to converse with." he responded. He tensed, hand on hilt, when she placed a gentle hand on his arm. He met her eyes to see she was smiling up at him.

"You have me now." she said.

"I don't know what to talk about." he confessed. She grinned at him in soft amusement.

"Well, how old are you?" she asked. He opened his mouth to answer but Iizuka interrupted.

"Himura! New assignment. Hurry up!" the man said from where he had stuck his head around the corner. Kenshin scowled at him causing the man to disappear as quickly as he'd appeared. Kenshin turned from Kaoru to follow the man.

"Kenshin-san! Your age!" Kaoru called before he was about to turn the corner. He glanced at her before giving a small nod.

"I'm sixteen." he responded. Her mouth opened in surprise as he completely disappeared.

"Why he's only a year older than me!" she exclaimed to herself. She wasn't sure how unexpected the news was but she had thought he would be a little older than he was. 'War really does age people.'

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. Kaoru found it easy to fall into a routine and after her confrontation with the rude man earlier many of the others had showed her more respect. She had also noticed the men seemed more careful around Tomoe. She had a feeling it was more Kenshin's threat than her attack with the soup that kept them from bothering either of them.

'I wonder how Kenshin is doing. I haven't seen him in a few days. I suppose he had another assignment.' she thought as she walked down the hallways towards the bathing area. Tomoe had fallen asleep earlier and Kaoru hadn't had the heart to wake the woman and invite her along. She also knew many of the men were still out at the bars which meant the inn was very much empty. She continued on her journey before freezing as she exited the building to enter the backyard area where the bathing house was located.

The object of her thoughts had just exited the bathing house, dressed in a deep blue yukata, and his hair was currently down as he dried it. She swallowed as her heart rate began to speed up and her cheeks flared. She had never noticed how handsome he was but now with his hair down and in a yukata she couldn't deny it. Tomoe had always told her she would know when she developed a crush. She must have made a sound because Kenshin was suddenly looking at her with wide eyes.

"Kaoru-dono." he whispered. She dropped her eyes to look at the wooden container she had brought with her that also held her towel.

"I…I was coming to use the bath. I know almost everyone is out and Tomoe fell asleep early." she explained even as her cheeks continued to flare. She couldn't remember being so embarrassed.

"It's free. I'll put some wood in the fire to keep it warm once you get in." he told her. She looked up at him before smiling.

"Thank you, Kenshin-san!" she told him. He nodded in acknowledgement. Kaoru didn't pay attention as she started to step down from the porch. She let out a gasp of surprise as the bottom of her yukata caught on a loose piece of wood. She closed her eyes as she waited for the impact of the ground. Instead she fell into something warm and firm as well as hearing the sound of her wooden container hitting the ground.

"Kaoru-dono, are you alright?" he demanded. She opened her eyes and found her vision filled with blue. She looked up to meet eyes that were almost as blue as the yukata he wore. She swallowed as she felt her heart beating in her throat.

"I'm okay. Thank you, Kenshin." she whispered. She watched his eyes widen at the way she dropped the honorific. She moved so she was on her feet but he didn't withdraw his arms that he had used to catch her. She looked up at him only to swallow as she saw his eyes were still trained on her. Her heartbeat continued to increase as he started to lean forward.

'My first kiss!' she thought. It was only as that thought crossed his mind that she stood on her toes to meet his lips. It was warm and gentle. She could feel his hands tighten on her back and she wrapped her arms around his neck in response. She met his eyes as they separated and before he could say anything, she could almost read his thoughts, she gave him a small smile. He seemed to read her response to his self-depreciating thoughts.

Her eyes slipped closed as he leaned down for another kiss. Kaoru wasn't sure what the change in their relationship would mean. She had no idea how Katsura or even Tomoe would handle the change but she found she couldn't care. The only thing that she care about was the fact that she felt she had found someone who would care for her and accept her.

"Kaoru!" she pulled away only to turn to see Tomoe standing there in her sleeping yukata. The look on her face caused Kaoru to swallow. She felt Kenshin's arms slip away from her and she immediately missed their warmth and strength.

"I'll go put the wood in the fire, Kaoru-dono." he whispered. Kaoru turned on him with a shake of her head.

"No more of that 'dono', Kenshin. We've been friends for a long time." she told him. He studied her for a moment before nodding.

"Ah. I'll go put wood in the fire so your bath will be warm, Kaoru." he told her. She nodded with a gently smile as he disappeared behind the bath house. She turned on Tomoe when the woman made an odd sound.

"Kaoru? What is going on? Why…why were you kissing him! That's like saying…that's like saying you're married!" the woman exclaimed. Kaoru felt her cheeks flare before he shrugged.

"He's been kind to me. He doesn't seem to care I have a horrible temper and that I throw things when it rises. He also doesn't mind that I can defend myself when necessary." she told her friend.

"He's a hitokiri, Kaoru, a murderer!" she snapped. Kaoru felt her spine stiffen before she turned towards the bathing house.

"He's human, Tomoe. Don't forget that."

Kaoru's eyes opened and she let out a soft sigh. The memories were coming much more often and stronger. This time she hadn't even been aware that it was a memory like she had the two times before nor had she been just an observer like the very first time. Indeed, this time it felt as though she were truly living through it with no idea that she was actually a different person living through them.

'This has to be an aftereffect of the soul becoming whole. I'm getting her memories now because I'm the first person to be reborn with this part of the soul and gotten close to Kenshin.' Kaoru thought as she stared up at the ceiling. Her attention was drawn to Kenshin when she heard him murmur in his sleep. He was exactly where she had left him.

Kaoru's cheeks flared as she remembered the kiss that she had shared with him that only seemed like it happened a few hours ago instead of many years ago. She swallowed as she sat up and covered her cheeks. Her eyes went wide when she remembered that the other Kaoru, her former self, and Kenshin had been officially married when they arrived in Otsu.

'They were husband and wife…that means they….ehhh!' her cheeks went bright red at the thought. 'I don't want to remember that! I'll never be able to look at Kenshin again!'

"That's fish…not cow…" Kenshin grumbled. Kaoru glanced at him before raising an eyebrow as he repeated himself. She found she didn't want to know why he was dreaming about a fish and a cow nor who he was trying to explain the difference to.

Kaoru looked away from the sleeping man when the door opened to reveal Tomoe standing there. She met the woman's eyes and watched as she glanced down at the sleeping redhead. There was fond exasperation in her eyes.

"I know I told him I wouldn't come if he screamed again but I didn't think he'd actually fall asleep while making sure you were okay." the woman said. Kaoru sighed as she moved to stand up. She stretched as her muscles protested the movement.

"I think…I think he thought I was the other Kaoru. We…he had a breakdown and fell asleep shortly afterwards. I tried to make him comfortable but he's probably going to have some kinks in his muscles." she told her friend. Tomoe nodded with a small smile before kneeling beside the man. Kaoru raised an eyebrow as the woman proceeded to grab one of the man's bangs and pull. She bit back a laugh as the redhead grumbled as he tried to roll away from her but she continued to tug.

"Let go!" Kaoru watched as Kenshin suddenly shot up. Tomoe just laughed at his bedraggled appearance.

"Good to see you up, Kenshin. Kaoru told me you drooled in your sleep." the woman told him in a deadpan voice.

"I did not!" Kaoru exclaimed at the same moment that Kenshin denied he drooled in his sleep. Tomoe just laughed at their reactions.

"Your expressions were exactly the same!" she laughed. Kaoru scowled before letting out a cry of surprise when there was a loud explosion. It shook the building and she lost her balance. Kenshin immediately caught her. When her eyes met his the memory of that kiss flashed through her mind. She immediately pulled away from him.

"Thanks. What on the earth was that? It sounded like a bomb went off!" Kaoru exclaimed. Tomoe nodded as she slowly opened the door and peered into the hallway.

"I would say that's a very good guess." Tomoe said. Kaoru and Kenshin followed Tomoe out of the room and down the stairs. Kaoru's eyes went wide when they reached the kitchen. It looked as though it was the area where the bomb had originated. Her eyes went even wider when she saw Misao leaning against the wall with Megumi hovering over her. Aoshi was currently wrapping a bandage around a wound that she must have received in the explosion.

"What happened?!" Kaoru cried as she moved over to the small group. Tomoe and Kenshin followed her.

"I don't know. I had opened the windows because I accidentally burned the oatmeal in one of the pots and I wanted to let the smoke out so it wouldn't cause the fire alarms to go off. It was open maybe ten minutes before someone threw something through it. Next thing I know there's a loud explosion and I'm on the ground hurt. Megumi and Aoshi have me taken care but what we are going to tell the firemen when they get here?" the girl asked.

Kaoru thought for a moment before she turned to look at the pot that contained the smoking oatmeal. Without looking to anyone else she moved over, grabbed the pot, and set it on the place where it look as though the bomb had landed on the counter. She raised her hand and smacked the side of the pot as hard as she could which sent oatmeal everywhere including on the people in the kitchen. She heard Megumi's growl as well as Kenshin's 'oro' of confusion.

"We're lucky it was a small bomb and didn't start a fire considering we're in the kitchen. We'll just tell them that the oatmeal exploded. It looks as though whatever the bomb was made of completely disintegrated in the explosion so therefore they won't have anything to go on." she explained with a smile. She glanced at Tomoe when the woman cleared her throat. Kaoru gave her an apologetic look when she realized the woman was also covered in oatmeal.

"That's great and all, Kaoru, but how are we supposed to explain the shaking of the building?" she asked. Kaoru shrugged her shoulders with a small smile.

"It was a very volatile pot of oatmeal." she said. Tomoe just groaned in response. Kenshin laughed.

"Is everyone…why is everyone covered in oatmeal?" Yahiko asked. Kaoru bit back a giggle as Megumi once again growled. She had always felt as though the doctor was uptight about being clean.

"It was a cooking accident, Yahiko. Did you need something?" Tomoe asked with a smile.

"Well, we have some guests that wanted to meet Kaoru and see you and Kenshin." Yahiko said. Tomoe blinked and looked at Kaoru. The other girl just shrugged.

"Well, Battousai, I had always wondered if your cooking skills were better founded than that stupid vow of yours to never kill. I was wrong." Kaoru blinked at the narrow eyed man that had appeared behind Yahiko. Her gaze moved to the small woman that stood behind him with her hair in a braid and kind smile on her face.

"Hajime Saitou!" Kenshin growled. Kaoru blinked again as the name rang a bell before her gaze turned to the woman at his side.

"Tokio, it's been a long time." Tomoe greeted. Kaoru watched as the woman nodded before her gaze turned on her. Kaoru swallowed at the curious look on the woman's face.

"Indeed, Tomoe. Saitou told me you had been injured by Yumi and that another young woman had saved your life." the newcomer said. Tomoe hummed in agreement as Kaoru felt her eyes widen.

"Wait…you talk like you know what they are! Does that mean?!" she cried. Tokio just nodded with that serene smile.

"I am just like Tomoe and have saved my share of people. Saitou and Okita are my two closest comrades. I am also like your former incarnation, Kaoru." she said. Kaoru felt her eyes widen as the one thing she'd been trying to keep from her friends, to save them the heart ache, easily spilled from this stranger's lips.

"Kaoru's…" Tomoe whispered.

"Former incarnation?" Kenshin finished.

Remember to review! See you all in the next chapter!