The first loud crash of thunder woke Kaoru from her sleep, much to her dismay; she’d lain awake for seemingly hours before accomplishing a state of fitful—though desperately needed—slumber. Now she was back at square one. Groaning discontentedly, she sat up and pulled more blankets around her, as the rain had made the air cold.

Lightening flashed, and Kaoru nearly leapt out of her skin. Scolding herself for being so foolish, she set upon returning to her sleep. But she couldn’t. Her mind was filled with too many frightening images, and rest wasn’t an option. Frustrated and distraught she wandered outside.

The rain was coming down lightly despite the harshness of the thunder. Kaoru followed nothing in particular, but ended up in the courtyard by the well. There she paused, coming upon an unexpected sight: Kenshin was there. He was leaning with his hands on the edge of the well, head bowed and coat shed to allow the rain of running down his back. He’d removed the bandages and she was surprised by how severe his burns looked. He hadn’t noticed her yet. As she watched, he turned his head to the sky. There was a look in his face she’d not seen before.

"Kenshin…?" Kaoru stepped boldly into the rain, her shoulders dampening and feet splashing in the puddles. It made her shiver. "What are you doing out here?"

Kenshin turned to face her, a kind of soft smile creeping upon his face. "Oh, Kaoru-dono," he greeted. "I thought everyone had gone to bed."

"They did. I just couldn’t sleep." She scrutinized him carefully. "Are…you okay?"

"Yes. Just thinking." He raised on hand, palm upward, letting the droplets collect on his skin. They rolled down his bare arms. "It is a cool rain, like snow. It feels good against the burns."

"Oh, yeah. Does it hurt?"

"No, not much." She couldn’t tell if he was lying or not. "But…the thinking…"

"…Tokio-san…"

Kenshin nodded, letting his hand fall. "We were a lot alike inside, I think. We both lived through hard rimes at the same age. I…" He sighed deeply in regret. "I would have liked to speak with her more."

"Yeah." Kaoru thought back to when Tokio had came to the dojo and stayed the day, and how open she’d been about her thoughts. It was impossible to think that such a lively woman could be ended in such a way. "I don’t like Saitou very much," she said quietly, "but I can’t help but feel sorry for him. This must be killing him…"

"Yes. I wonder what he would do if he knew…"

"Knew what?"

"Oh, nothing." He smiled grimly. "Saitou…he has survived a long time. He will yet survive."

She watched him, feeling a rise of sympathy for the man in question. "When you lose someone you care about," she whispered, "it really hurts."

Kenshin wasn’t looking at her anymore. His eyes, full of secrets, turned again tot he cloud canopy above. "Yes. I know."

Several moments passed, and Kaoru knew he would not elaborate. "I know these feelings," he’d told Saitou, but no explanation would accompany that declaration. By now she was willing to accept his silence, for fear of raising more painful memories. Instead she tired to change the subject. "Well, I’m glad Tsuyoshi-kun is at least all right. I’m a bit worried, but he’s a strong boy. I have a feeling that Yahiko will help."

"Yes. I think he will. But…" Kenshin faced her, his deep violet eyes reflection seriousness. "I need to ask a favor of you."

"Favor? What?"

"It is important." His gaze faltered, dancing about the dampened scenery. "I have known you for over half a year, right?"

Kaoru nodded, not comprehending the change in subjects. "It feels like a long time."

"It does," he agreed. "To me, very long. In truth, I find it difficult remembering my life any other way." Kaoru felt herself blush a bit, then silently scolded her own foolishness. He continued. "You started it, Kaoru-dono. Had it not been for you, I would not still be here, and neither would Yahiko, Sanosuke, or Megumi-dono. It was you that brought us all together."

"That’s not true," she protested, though she was surprised by his words. "It was you, Kenshin. All along it was you."

"It was your kindness that convinced me to stay," Kenshin reminded her. "But allow me to go on." Though his words were kind, his face was filled with restrained urgency. It was something she didn’t understand yet. Why was he speaking so openly to her now?

"In these months, I have seen you do many things," he went on. "Some simple, like laundry and chores, and some amazing. I see a girl full of life and energy, and I envy that. I fight hard to protect that." He closed his eyes, indulging in a recent, terrifying memory. "Sometimes my strength is not enough. I am not always there when you need me. So please." When his eyes opened again they were only for her. "If you must fight, do so bravely. But please be careful. Leave my enemies to me, and take care of yourself. I…do not want to see that youthful energy taken from you."

Kaoru was speechless. She thought he must have been saying things to make her feel better, because he’d never said anything like this before. Her heart was beating a bit faster. His eyes, bright and full of sincerity, bore into hers. And…

…she panicked.

"Kenshin, you don’t have to say stuff like that," she blurted out, fleeing from the tension in their situation. "I know you’re concerned, but I’m not that important, right?"

Kenshin blinked, surprised by her dismissal of the speech he’d spent nearly an hour preparing. "Kaoru-dono?"

"You need to worry about yourself," she went on, forced cheerfulness in her voice. "You’re the important one. I don’t do anything but get in the way for you, right? I can’t even cook a decent meal."

He set his hands on her shoulders. He wanted her to stop—she hadn’t understood what he’d been trying to tell her. More than that, what she was saying wasn’t true. "Kaoru-dono, you know—"

"It’s okay; you don’t have to say anything. I know I’m not much of anything." Kaoru laughed weakly. "There’s not much I’m good at. I can’t even keep up my father’s school." Her heart throbbed painfully, and her voice began trembling in shame and sorrow. "I’ve worked really hard, but it’s no good."

"What happened is not in any way your fault," he told her firmly. "Akira chose to be a part of that."

"But I should have done something," she insisted. "My school teaches to protect life, not take it. If… if I had said one more thing, or… or something… then Tokio-san…" She felt tears invading her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away; she didn’t want him to see another of her weaknesses. "But it doesn’t do any good now. I was too late. If my father…"

She started as the backs of Kenshin’s fingers brushed lightly against her cheek. He was watching her intently, his expression soft and understanding. "Kaoru-dono," he said slowly, "it is not your fault."

Kaoru stared at him, the rain soaking her hair and clothes. His too. She was trembling and a deep, painful sorrow rose in her throat. She began to cry. Ashamed of herself she hid her face in her hands—she had no right to cry when he was so brave.

Kenshin smiled faintly, ever so carefully pulling the girl into his arms. She stiffened, paralyzed the way she had been that night when he left her. He tried to remember when he had been so innocent. "Do not be afraid," he told her in a whisper, holding her head against his shoulder. "Please, cry."

Kaoru hesitated, but the warmth of his body and the strength of his arms quickly destroyed her embarrassment and shock. Clinging to his shoulders she let her tears flow freely, mixing with the cool rain. All her thoughts were in disorder now, but she could do nothing about it. There was only one thing clear in her mind. "Please don’t go again," she sobbed, leaning against him as the cold water covered them both. "I don’t think I could stand it."

Kenshin sighed, closing his eyes. She would never know how difficult it was for him those moments, the two of them together in the night. He was tentative in holding her, as her body felt remarkable delicate in his arms—like thin glass. Her warm contrasted pleasantly the weather’s harsh chill. He reveled in being reunited with a woman’s touch; but he was also afraid, as it awakened emotions and memories from a deepest of slumbers within his heart. The same memories that had driven him to the brink of reality hours before. Much of his life had passed without such joys and agonies, and being brought back to them now was something he had not expected. He realized then how lonely the past ten years had been, and how long.

"Kaoru-dono." After some time had passed he gently eased her back, as she had begun to shiver in the rain. "Let us escape this weather. I have one more favor to ask."

She nodded solemnly, and together they went to Kenshin’s room in the dojo. Kenshin took off the extra coat of her sleep outfit and offered instead a warm blanket which she eager accepted. She sneezed, and he chuckled. "Crying in the rain seems redundant to me," he said with a smile. "I like being dry, better."

Kaoru nodded, sitting down on the tatami. "What did you want to ask me?" She tried to look cheerful; even though it had released many of her tensions to cry with him that way, now she felt more exhausted than ever.

"Simply this." Kenshin sat in front of her and displayed the medicine Megumi had given him. "She said for me to use this, but I cannot reach my own back easily. Would you?"

"Uh…sure. I mean, of course." She accepted the medicine hesitantly, and he turned around. "But, really, I’m not good at this."

"Just spread it over anything that appears to need it," he replied. "I trust you."

"Okay." Kaoru began as he had instructed, though she felt clumsy and awkward. Her hands were shaking with embarrassment. With a deep breath she held onto her courage. "Come on, Kaoru-chan," she could almost hear Tokio say. "Don’t pass up this chance." With a bit of a rueful smile she applied the medicine, doing her best not to let her mind wander.

The task did not take long—not long enough for Kaoru, anyway. She was just beginning to relax when she realized he had no more skin for her to treat. "Oh, that’s it," she said, disappointment carefully hidden. "Is…did that help?"

"Yes. Thank you." Kenshin turned to face her and smiled. "I appreciate it."

"It’s nothing." She stifled a yaw, her fatigue reminding her of the hour. "Well, I suppose I should let you rest," she said. "It’s late. Or early; I don’t know."

"Of course; you seem tired as well." Kenshin stood and then helped her, there pausing to let their gazes mingle. Something twisted in his heart when he looked at her: her head was bandaged, outfit soaked and eyes a bit swollen from crying, but still all he could see was a beautiful young woman. A woman who had asked him to stay.

He would have to choose his words carefully. Hundreds of times before he’d spoken to people in a way meant to inspire and teach, to give insight, advice, or admonishment. This was a far different and infinitely more difficult matter for him.

Kenshin took a deep breath. "Kaoru-dono," he stated slowly, "I want you to know that everything I said before I meant sincerely. I do not judge you by your cooking, or even your sword skill, but as a terribly caring person. I admire you for that."

"You…do?"

He smiled, as her baffled innocence was enough to quell his anxieties. "Yes, I do. And I would regret living the rest of my life away from this place, never seeing the woman you will someday become." He moved closer, causing her to blush. "So please, let me stay. If only to do your laundry, I want to be here."

Kaoru’s expression quickly morphed from stunned, to delighted, to embarrassed all at once. "You…you mean that?" she asked hopefully. "You won’t go?"

Kenshin shook his head slowly. "No. I will not."

That may be the best I can do for her now, he thought to himself, silently cherishing the joy in her face. Perhaps one day I can do more. Or maybe…

Had Kaoru’s eyes reflected any more of her happiness their shine would have outspoken the moon. He could not abandon such a chance, or such a perfect moment. Slowly, almost fearfully, he moved closer to her. As he’d expected she became very still, and did not resist or even flinch as he gently pressed his cheek to hers. Her skin was warm, a sensation that did not fail to affect him. "I will protect you," he told her in a whisper, successfully hiding the tremor in his own voice. "I will do anything. So please, live happily. That is all I ask."

Kaoru struggled to respond, but she found no words. She remained motionless as he stepped back once more. Then she nodded dumbly.

"Thank you. Now." Kenshin smiled. "It is late. I will make breakfast in the morning."

"Alright." She beamed, regaining her senses in a wave of delighted euphoria. "Good night, Kenshin. Thanks for everything. I’m sorry about that."

"Do not be. You took care of me, too."

He didn’t think her grin could have been wider. She nodded, and with a final wave slipped outside. He could hear her bare feet tapping lightly as she ran back to her own room. Kenshin let his breath out in a deep sigh, preparing to sleep. That night he said a quiet prayer before letting his usual state of light sleep fall over him.

The next morning Kenshin prepared breakfast as he’d promised, but found them to be one place short: Saitou had left sometime during the night. Tsuyoshi and Eiji ate, silent despite both Yahiko and Kaoru’s efforts to coax some conversation from them. Finally they settled into the stillness.

"Where’s my father?" Tsuyoshi asked at one point.

Kenshin and Kaoru exchanged glances. "We’re not sure," the latter admitted. "He left last night, but I’m sure he’ll be back."

The boy nodded solemnly. After a silent moment he spoke again. "Where is my mother?"

This time the answer was longer in coming. Kaoru looked at him, his head bowed and hands clasped to his knees, and found no words. She looked to Kenshin for help. He shifted and was about to answer when the panel that led outside slid open. Saitou was there, dressed in simple clothes, and though his face bore no emotion his eyes were plagued with bags of sleeplessness, and his manner was one of tightly restrained pain.

"Father." Tsuyoshi stood very slowly, wincing at the pain in his back. "Where is Mother?"

"Being prepared," he replied. His voice was hoarse and weary. "She enjoyed this city. She’ll be buried this afternoon."

Kenshin swallowed hard; it pained him to see this man reduced to such a state. In his heart, he did not want them to be enemies. "Saitou…"

"I have business today," Saitou went on. "Battousai."

"Yes?"

He hesitated only a moment. "I want you to look after my two boys."

Kenshin nodded slowly. "Yes."

"Thank you." Without another word he turned and left.

The rain continued to pour throughout the funeral precession and the burial. Kaoru stayed close to Kenshin’s side as Tokio’s body was placed in the dampened earth, her eyes sad and brimming with tears. As Tsuyoshi and Eiji knelt before the grave in prayer she too prayed, wishing well the soul of so brave and spirited a woman. She felt Kenshin’s hand take hers, and she wondered vaguely if it was for her comfort or his own.

The grave was covered. Kenshin took a deep breath, glancing about at the people who were there to witness the event. There were many people there mourning; he was surprised, as she hand not spent long in Tokyo. It was somewhat pleasing, however, to know that so many care for her. He looked to Saitou. The man’s eyes were very distant, almost as if they were blind to the scene about him. Kenshin didn’t understand how the man would not cry from his departed wife, unknowing that, in truth, he had done so alone. Even more startling and mysterious was that he had the boy Shiburo Akira with him. Akira’s wrists were tied securely behind his back, the physical sign of the imprisonment that reflected in his face. He too was staring without true sight at the grave. Saitou’s long fingers dug harshly into the boy’s shoulder.

The grave mound was completed, and with a final prayer the mourners began to drift away. The two sons of the woman stayed, however, uncaring of the rain. Kaoru bit her lip, considering for a moment, then turned to Kenshin. "Can you share an umbrella with Yahiko?" she asked.

He nodded, understand. "Go ahead."

Kaoru moved over to the boys and knelt between them on the muddy ground. She held her umbrella over them. Eiji lifted his head first, his wide eyes swollen and filled with sorrow. "It’s not fair," he said hoarsely, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "I lost my family again. I couldn’t be like my brother."

"It’s all right, Eiji-kun." With her free hand she urged him closer. "I know. It’s not your fault."

The boy clung to her and cried, and Tsuyoshi turned dully to see what was happening. Kaoru invited him with a soft smile, welcomed him into her arms so that he could weep freely. Yahiko held both his and her umbrella to shield them from the rain.

Kenshin watched, smiling ruefully at the scene. Kaoru-dono…she is so caring…

"Hey, Kenshin." Sanosuke tapped his shoulder to gain his attention. "Megumi’s volunteered to make us all lunch after she checks my hand."

"Alright. Go ahead back to the dojo, and Kaoru-dono and Yahiko and I will be there shortly to help."

"Don’t worry about it." He glanced at Saitou briefly, debating on whether or not he should say something. Finally he merely sighed and shook his head. "See you later, okay?"

"Yes. Take care."

Kenshin waited until all the others had left before approaching Saitou. He’d spent much of the night before after Kaoru’s departure as well as the morning trying to formulate some way of speaking to this man, but even now he knew all he could do was speak as they went. Silence between them, in his eyes, was not acceptable. He was also curious as to Akira’s presence. He licked his lips and started. "Saitou—"

"You’re a fool, Battousai," he interrupted before he could think of a full sentence. "I always knew you were a fool, but now I know you are even more so."

Kenshin stopped, startled and struggling to comprehend. "Maybe if I knew what you were referring to, I could defend myself."

Saitou nodded his head, indicating where Kaoru was huddled with Tsuyoshi and Eiji. He didn’t have to say anything. Kenshin even admitted to himself that it seemed unfair that he be granted such a gift, undeserving and unappreciating, and his enemy’s be taken. "I may be," he consented. "But Saitou—"

"I know you would try to do this," he interrupted once more. "I don’t want to hear the preaching of a hypocrite. I don’t need you to tell me how to live my life now. I never did."

The red-head nodded, bewildered. He quickly recovered his wits. "Granted. Did…you speak with Kagewara?"

"I didn’t have to," Saitou said, his manner stiff and brisk. "I know now what they did to me."

"And…?"

He didn’t answer at once. His hands twitched as if in want of a cigarette, and Akira winced just barely as the grip on his shoulder tightened. "I spoke to my superiors. After some persuasion they admitted to me what they did. It was all meant to destroy the Night Wolves." He paused again. "But now more than ever I must think of my sons. I won’t kill Kagewara. I have no choice but to continue. Someday Tokio may forgive me for that."

"If it is for her son’s sake, Tokio-dono will forgive you." Kenshin smiled grimly, though he was inwardly pleased. Saitou was acting more reasonably than he’d dared to expect. "What will happen to the boy?" He indicated Akira.

Akira lowered his head, choosing to answer for himself. "Imprisonment," he said quietly. "Three years. Hayato and Mari-san have seven."

He didn’t know how to answer, but then Akira spoke again. "I wanted to be here to apologize to Tokio-san. And Kaoru-san. I won’t want them to forgive me, but I wanted them to know that I regret what I did."

"They know. We all know."

The boy nodded, and Kenshin could see damp trails on his cheeks that weren’t from the rain. Though Akira’s fate saddened him, he knew that this outcome was unavoidable.

"Battousai."

He lifted his head. "Yes?"

Saitou stared straight ahead as he spoke. "Our dual isn’t finished. You were right about it not being fair. I will defeat you as an equal."

"Fine with me." This is something he needs. It will help if things do not change between us.

"Father." Tsuyoshi and Eiji approached, Kaoru and Yahiko lingering behind. "We’re hungry," the former said quietly, wiping his eyes and nose. "Can we go?"

Saitou nodded, then turned to Kenshin once more. "Keep yourself prepared, then," he advised. "We’ll meet again." He turned and began to leave, his two boys falling into step at his side and Akira in tow. They departed together.

"Do you think they’ll be okay?" Yahiko asked, holding his hand out as the rain began to stop.

"They will be," Kenshin assured, wringing out his hair and shaking off his coat. "Saitou may not be the best of men, but he is smart and very strong. He will survive."

Kaoru nodded. "You’re right. Shall we go back now?"

"Just a moment." Kenshin reached into his sleeve and pulled out a folded piece of paper. This he placed beside the gravestone along with the other gifts. "Behind every great samurai," he whispered, smiling faintly, "there should be a woman like you, Tokio-dono." Then he rejoined his friends. As they left the silent place a gentle wind stirred the paper, unfolding the seems to reveal the picture Kenshin had purchased that morning: a samurai family; father, mother, and two boys, dressed in handsome robes. Their eyes almost seemed to shine on the flat paper. In the corner, beside the author’s signature, was a short message scrawled in somewhat messy handwriting:

--The End

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