~Ammara's P.O.V.~ (twelve years later)

I smiled and held my Sakabato in my hands. It had been a while since Kenshin and I traveled to another city...And I was excited! I smiled and began singing to myself as I packed my belongings (well, what little belongings I had anyway.). I decided to sing a song that I heard the other day while in one of the shops.

I brush against the freckles that I hated

So my life goes on

And I heave a little sigh for you!

It's heavy, the love that I once shared with you!

Then it dissolved like it was just a sugar cube!

Now the little pain sitting in my heart has shrunken a bit

But it really does hurt me now!

Those silly horoscopes I...

Guess I can't trust them after all!

~Kenshin's P.O.V~

I smiled as I walked back home with simple supplies for the trip. On the way back to the house I was currently residing in, I heard singing. I smiled as I saw it was Ammara. Not wanting her to hear me, I took off my sandals and walked inside, careful not to make a noise. As I walked closer, Ammara's voice became clearer and louder.

If we could get further away...

I wonder what it would be like...Yaay!

I'd be so happy...Inside my heart..!

All the memories I have

 Are beautiful in my mind!

But they don't feed the hunger

Deep inside my soul...

And tonight I thought..!

I'd be just sitting in my sorrow!

And now, I must wonder why...

What did it really mean to you?

I just can't see it anymore!

I just can't see it anymore...!

Ohhh!

((For those of you who don't recognize the song, it's the opening from Rurouini Kenshin. The video's on the side if you wanna listen. :)))

I smiled and clapped when the song ended. Ammara gasped and turned, blushing. "Jeez, Kenshin! Make some noise when you walk, will ya?!" she huffed angrily, her hands on her hips. "You scared me half to death!" I laughed a little. "Gomen-ne, Ammara-dono," I apologized formally. "You know, you can just call me by my name! What's up with the Dono part, anyway?!" she asked. I smiled. "It's a sign of my respect for you. Seeing as I raised you from a child." She blushed and smiled. "Oh...R-right. G....Gomen nasai, Kenshin." I smiled and ruffled her hair, just as I always did. Just as I always saw her parents do when she was a baby.

"That's quite alright, Ammara." She smiled, and a pang of sadness struck my heart. Even though I'd only found her when she was little, she was still like a daughter to me. She had grown up quite a bit since the day I first trained her. At that time, she could barely hold a sword. But now, she was even better than I was at her age! I was proud of her. "Kenshin? Hey, Kenshin! Are you alright?!" She tapped my forehead and I smiled. "I'm just fine, Ammara-dono. Just reminiscing, that's all," I replied. She smiled and ran to the door. "No time for that! Let's get going!!! C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" she urged.

I chuckled and followed. "I'm coming, I'm coming." I was getting too old to chase her around like I used to! I walked behind her.

-In Kaoru's town-

~Ammara's P.O.V.~

I smiled and walked next to Kenshin. I heard the scuffle of feet and looked behind me, my hand upon the hilt of my sword. There was nothing but the wind. I sighed. Guess it's just my imagination...Either that or it was a bird. I sighed and took my hand off my sword, continuing to walk. I heard it again and gasped, turning once again. "Something the matter, Ammara-dono?" Kenshin asked, his eyebrow raised. I shook my head and smiled. "No, it's nothing." He shrugged, and we continued our venture. "Hold it right there!!! Don't move!!! Battosai and Chimei Tekina Bara! Manslayer and Deadly Rose!" a woman's voice exclaimed. We turned and saw a young woman in a tan-looking kimono, brandishing a bokuto, a wooden practice sword.

"Huh?" Kenshin said as he turned. The woman glared angrily at us. "You two are a lot weaker than I thought you'd be! Now, prepare yourself! Haaaaah!" She charged us, her wooden sword raised. Just as she swung, Kenshin and I dodged. I had to tuck an roll to avoid getting seriously bruised! Whoever this chick was, she KNEW what she was doing! "Hey! Watch where you're swinging that thi-!" I trailed off as I heard a crash next to me. I turned to see that poor Kenshin had smashed into a porch by accident. "Oh no! Are you alright?" I asked, rushing to his aid. The woman sweatdropped, then her face turned serious. "Could you two be the ones? The Manslayer and Deadly Rose?" she asked. "We're rurouni," I informed her. She looked at me, confused and pointed her "sword" at me. "What in the world is that?!" she asked.

"We're wanderers," Kenshin explained, sitting up. As he did so, the bucket and rubble that was on his body fell off. "We're merely wandering swordsmen, that we are! Do you honestly believe that we could kill three people with these?" Kenshin stuck his sword's sheath out, and I took my sakabato out of mine. The woman drew Kenshin's and she gasped. "What is this?!" she asked, looking from my sword to Kenshins, then back again. "The blades are on the wrong side!" "Of course...It's a sakabato. A reverse-blade sword," I replied. "It cannot slay anyone. And there's nothing about that sword that looks like it's ever been used to slay anyone, now is there?" Kenshin said, smiling. "You're right. There isn't a scratch on either of these blades! They look almost brand-new!" the woman said, her eyes wide.

I sheathed my sword quickly and Kenshin smiled. "So we have proven our innocence, have we?" he asked, walking forward. The woman's eyes narrowed as she ran up to Kenshin, pressing his sword against his forehead. "Now you listen here!!!! The ones called Battosai and Deadly Rose have been murdering people on the streets every NIGHT!!!" She yelled angrily. "If you walk around carrying a sword at this time of day, anyone would suspect you!!!! And anyway, you KNOW this is the Meiji Era, and it's forbidden by law to walk around carrying a sword ANYWAYS!!!!" In the midst of the woman's lecture, a whistle rang out. 

The woman gasped. "There's something going on!!! It might be him!!!" She tossed Kenshin's sakabato aside and ran away. Kenshin stood for a while, dumbstruck by her words, then his face hardened as he caught his sword. I gasped. This look, I'd seen many times during training. It was his battle expression. I knew what it meant. Kenshin was getting serious. It was a look I'd grown afraid of. "K...Kenshin..." I said, timidly. He turned to me and smiled a little. "We'd better go help her." I nodded. Even if she was a little annoying and yelled a lot, I didn't want anyone hurt.

-in the town-

Kenshin and I walked the streets quietly, trying to find the woman from before. I gasped as I saw her tangling with not one, but TWO swordsmen with her bokuto. I pointed at the woman and motioned to Kenshin, who nodded. The larger swordsman had her backed against the wall and sliced the wooden sword as if it were paper. The woman closed her eyes and Kenshin and I moved in, taking her to safety. The woman opened her eyes and gasped. Kenshin held her in his arms and she smiled. "The wanderer!" she said. Kenshin smiled. "It really is rather dangerous to use a wooden sword against a real one," he replied, calmly.

The whistle sounded again and the huge swordsman, along with the smaller built one at his side (I assumed that it was a woman.), turned. Several policemen responded. "It's the Battosai and Deadly Rose!" one shouted. "Don't let them escape this time!" another yelled. The two swordsmen ran past the police, never seen again. "Our names are Battosai and Chimei Tekina Bara! And we use the Kamiya Kasshin style of Swordsmanship!" My eyes widened. "Hey! Hold on!" the woman yelled, reaching for them. "You're being reckless again," Kenshin said, his eyebrows raised slightly.

"That's the style of swordsmanship my family teaches! He's using our good name to murder people!!!" The woman yelled, before passing out. I looked down. This poor girl was only trying to help restore her family's good name. And she almost died because of that! A few tears fell. "We should help her, Kenshin," I said. He nodded.

-At the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu dojo-

I helped Kenshin get the woman up the steps and doctors ushered her into her room. I cringed, having injured myself in the process of trying to save her life. "Ammara-dono...You need to get your wound patched up," Kenshin said. I smiled. "I'll be fine, Kenshi..." I trailed off as I fell forward, blood oozing from my wound. Kenshin gasped and caught me before I hit the ground.

~Kenshin's POV~

I sighed as I held my student/daughter in my arms. She looked peaceful when she was asleep. I shook that thought out of my mind and handed her to one of the doctors. "She has a deep wound on her left shoulder," I informed them. "Please be careful when cleaning it." The last thing I wanted to hear was my adoptive daughter's screams ringing out near me. I thought for a while and snapped my fingers. "Yes of course! Miso soup! Ammara always loved it! It'll make her feel a lot better when she wakes. That other girl might want some as well!" I smiled, happy with myself and walked to prepare it.

-time skip a few minutes-

I waited for the girls who left earlier to bring back the vegetables for the soup. After a few minutes more, they walked up with armfuls of them. "One, two, three, four! One, two, three!" they said happily. They brought their vegetables up and smiled. "Let's put this in!" one suggested. "This too!" the other added. I gasped. "I don't think we need that MUCH!!!" I yelled as the soup splashed on me. "Blech! Pleah!" I spat as I wiped my face.

The young woman from before stepped out behind me. "Excuse me, what are you doing?" she asked. "Oh, you're awake are you?" I said, smiling. "Your little sisters are very helpful! We've already become good friends!" "He's our friend!" the girls said, smiling and hugging me. I smiled also. These two reminded me of how young Ammara was when I found her. "I was just borrowing your garden to make some breakfast, I was," I continued. "Would you care to join us?" The older girl smiled and held out some riceballs to the woman. "Here." She took one and looked at it a while. "So you made this breakfast all by myself, huh?" She cautiously took a bite and gasped. "How...Can this be?" she asked, her eyes wide. She then glared at me.

I smiled nervously. "You...You do not approve of the taste, huh?" I asked. Her glare turned into a mild scowl. "I just don't like it when people cook better than me!" I fell backward. From behind me, I heard a sigh. "You're never going to change, Kenshin." I looked up to see Ammara standing, looking healthy as usual. I smiled, seeing Ammara standing before me. She smiled and helped me up. The older girl tugged on Ammara's sleeve. "Miss, would you like to play with us?" she asked. Ammara smiled and nodded. "Of course." She held her hand gently and swung her slowly every so often, causing a giggle from her.

I took the younger one on my back, giving her a piggy back ride. She repayed the favor by tugging on my face. "So Miss Kaoru...I guess these girls aren't your little sisters after all!" I said, my voice muffled by her tugging on my lip. Kaoru smiled. "No. They're both Doctor Gensai's granddaughters," she replied. "I've been the doctor for the Kamiya family for years. And ever since little Kaoru's parents passed away, I've tried to take care of her as well," Dr. Gensai explained. Kaoru pulled her sleeve of her kimono up and closed her eyes. "Wanderers, since your in town, I've decided that you may stay at our school," she said. "Huh?" Ammara and I said, our eyes wide.

"Well, you did save my life. And you two don't look like you have money to stay at an inn. Call it warrior's compassion!" she said, smiling. "You don't even know who we are, Kaoru-dono," Ammara said, using my usual respect term for her. "Are you sure it's alright?" She sighed. "You two must have your reasons about being wanderers...Whatever they are, I feel that's your business!" Ammara and I exchanged a smile, before nodding.

Ammara, Kaoru, and I walked into the Dojo's training room. Inside, there were two plaques. One read, "Students:Genta Koshino, Sousuke Otsuka, Saburou Kazusaki". The other read, "Kaoru Kamiya:Assistant Master". "So you're the assistant master of this school then, Miss Kaoru?" I asked, staring at the plaques. "The Kamiya Kasshin style of martial arts was founded by my father," she explained. "The idea behind it was not to hurt people, but to encourage them to reach the potential in them. The sword that revitalizes." "Inochi o ataeru ken," Ammara said, her eyes wide. "The swords that give life." Kaoru nodded, then clenched her fists. "And now that murderer...Has been claiming to study the Kasshin style! Battosai is tarnishing my father's ideals!" She then turned to Ammara and I. "I'll stop him! For father!" she said.

The door slid open, and Dr. Gensai walked in. "Miss Kaoru, I believe your students are here," he said. She smiled. "I couldn't do it by myself, but with the help of my students, I'll clear my father's name! You'll see!" She smiled and left.

~Ammara's POV~

I smiled. "She seems nice," I said. Kenshin nodded, smiling also. "Indeed." I smiled. "I'm gonna go thank her for her hospitality, and see if I can't learn a bit from her!" I ran outside and noticed three students talking to Kaoru. "Forgive us," a male voice said. "I know we were the last three students you had, and that you were probably counting on us..." All three boys bowed. "Please forgive us." Then, they left. I couldn't see her face, but I knew she was upset. Poor Kaoru-dono... I thought sadly. "Kenshin, isn't there something we can do to help her?" I asked.

He sighed. "I wish there was, Ammara. But, I don't think we can this time. All we can do is stay by Miss Kaoru's side." I sighed sadly and watched Kaoru walk away into the hot springs. We heard her talking to herself a moment, and tallest of Dr. Gensai's granddaughter's peeked inside as Kenshin placed more logs into the fire of the hot springs. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I think she's crying!" she said. We heard a splash from the inside and nothing more. Kenshin leaned his ear against the wall. After a while, he pulled away. "Miss Kaoru, would anything happen to be wrong?" he asked. No response. I began to get a little worried. "Kaoru?" I asked. Again, there was no response. Kenshin gasped, his eyes widened. "She can't be!" he said, running to the door.

I wanted to stop him, but something inside me said he needed to do this. He needed to confront and comfort her. "You mustn't give up! Suicide isn't the answer!!!" I heard Kenshin yell. I sighed and closed my eyes. Three...Two...One. After I finished my countdown, I heard a scream and heard Kenshin's body hit the ground with a THUMP! I covered my mouth, to stop myself from giggling.

-later that night-

I walked beside Kenshin, holding a matress and blanket. Kaoru steered Kenshin to a nearby stable, and locked the door. "You can just stay there and think about what you've done for the rest of the night!" she yelled angrily. "I do have one question, though..." Kenshin's voice piped from the small room. "What is it?!" Kaoru snapped. "Would you recall if any students of this school were left-handed?" Kenshin asked. "Do you remember if there was anyone who could not use their right thumb?" "Huh?" Kaoru looked at me, confused. I shrugged. "I'm reffering to the killer," Kenshin replied. "I see! So you're saying that you think he was one of our students, huh?!" Kaoru said angrily.

I sighed. She just wasn't getting it! "The killer is not our sturdent! He's Battosai, the manslayer! Didn't you know that?!" she asked angrily. "He's a ruthless murderer, killing in our name! And I will risk my life to protect the teachings of my fahter!!!" I gasped, my eyes widening. Hard on Kenshin though she was, she had a point. "I'm sure what your father would wish for first...Would be your happiness, Miss Kaoru." She growled. "You're just a penniless wanderer! What would you know about anything?! Don't talk about my father!" she yelled, running off. I sighed. "Kenshin, I'm sorry..." He chuckled a little. "Don't worry about Miss Kaoru, Ammara. She needs time. Give her a while to think on what I said. She'll come around, I know it."

I smiled. "You're right. I won't give up, Kenshin." I took out my matress and layed in front of the door, awaiting Kaoru's return. After looking up at the stars for a while, I fell asleep. When I awoke again, I was laying in the stall Kenshin was sleeping in earlier. His blankets were tucked in around me. "Hey in there! That was an apology!" Kaoru's voice yelled from the other side of the door. I gasped. "She must be looking for Kenshin!" I whispered, quickly putting my kimono top back on ((AN:She sleeps with it off to keep cool on hot nights.)). "I know you're still awake! You could at least give me some sort of answer!" Kaoru yelled opening the door. When she saw me, she gasped. "You? Where's the other wanderer?" I shrugged.

"I haven't seen him since earlier," I replied. "I can look for him if you wish, Kaoru-dono." She shook her head. "That won't be necessary. But...Will you come with me to my room? I could use the company, and you must be sore from sleeping in a barn." I smiled. "It would be my pleasure." I walked Kaoru-dono back to her room, smiling. We talked the whole way about girl things. How we would find the man of our dreams, what he would be like, how many kids we wanted. It was good talking with another girl. Heaven knows I couldn't talk about these topics with Kenshin! "So, Ammara-chan...Where are your parents?" Kaoru asked. I sighed.

"I don't know them...I was really little when they died, and I've been a traveling swordsman ever since," I replied. "You're very lucky, Kaoru-dono. You have your father's memories and his teachings in the dojo. I don't have anything left of my parents. I'm all alone." She smiled a little. "Arigato, Ammara-chan. But you're not alone either. You have the wanderer," she replied. I smiled. She was right yet again. She sighed. "I wish I had...At least asked him his name..." I smiled, putting a hand on her shoulder.

I escorted her to her to her room and watched over her as she slept. No, don't get the wrong idea. It was only to make sure she was safe from any attacks. She slept peacefully for a while, until...She gasped and bolted upright. She put her head in her hands. "I remember now...That man who's right thumb my father incapacitated!" she said. "I know where you're going and what you're plannning," I said. "And revenge isn't the answer." She scowled at me. "I'm not going to kill him! I'm just going to check something on him, that's all!" she said. I nodded. "Then I'm coming with you." She smiled and hugged me. "I knew you'd understand! Arigato, Ammara-chan!" she bowed to me. I smiled. "Of course, Kaoru-dono." Man...Kenshin was going to kill me later for this! Ah well. Water under the bridge now.

Kaoru looked through some records in her father's old study, and she had me guarding the door. I was ready to fight, or if need be, die to insure Kaoru-dono's safety. I hoped and prayed that she'd find what she was looking for or that Kenshin would return before things escelated that far. "Found it! He was expelled 11 years ago! Gohei Hiruma..." she said. The door behind me opened and I gasped. I aimed to shout a warning at Kaoru-dono, but the big guy from the other day slammed me into the opposite wall before I could pull my sakabato. I cried out in pain. Kaoru-dono gasped as she saw the man. "So, it was you after all!" she yelled as she helped me up,. "Gohei Hiruma..!"

Gohei smirked. "You finally remembered! I've been waiting in the bowels of Hell for 11 years to pull this off! So I could pull the Kamiya Kasshin style into the abyss, where it belongs!" Kaoru-dono growled angrily. "So it's revenge you're after! You've been trying to disgrace my father!" Gohei chuckled evilly as he walked up to us. "Actually, I'm thankful to your daddy! I'm sure he'd be proud of his former student. After perfecting my left-handed swordfighing techniques for 11 years!" I gasped as I noticed that the other girl who was with him wasn't now.

"Hang on, where's your apprentice?" I asked. He chuckled and smirked. "Oh, her. I sent her after that wanderer friend of yours! She's probably finished the job by now." I gasped. Kenshin?! No...No, it couldn't be true! I refused to believe it! I charged Gohei, my full fury unleashed. Kaoru-dono gasped at my speed. I turned to her. "Run away, Kaoru-dono! He's not after revenge, he's after blood! Get out of here!" I yelled. If I lost Kenshin, I wasn't about to lose Kaoru-dono as well. And even if I didn't lose him, I was willing to protect her with my life! "Ammara-chan..!" Kaoru-dono said, her eyes wide. It was getting more and more difficult to fend him off. "Go! Get out of here, now!!!!!" At this point, Gohei was tired, and he growled, tossing my sakabato aside and slamming me multiple times into the floor, before throwing me into a wall.

I coughed up blood as my vision blurred. "I won't let you!!!" Kaoru-dono yelled. "I won't allow you to smear the name of Kasshin anymore!" she charged Gohei with her bokuto. I gasped. There was no way she'd be able to defeat him with a wooden sword! That was proven already when she was injured the other day! "Ka...Kaoru-dono..." I murmured. She swung her bokuto with the force of a samurai sword. Gohei caught it and smirked. "See, I don't feel that at all!" He swung at Kaoru-dono with his own wooden sword, and it hit her shoulder. She fell and the man grabbed her by the kimono. I gasped. "Kaoru-dono!!!!" I yelled. I sat up and tried to hit Gohei again, but to no avail. I was just slammed into a wall. I didn't care. I kept trying, no matter how many times I failed. Until finally, I just couldn't fight anymore. K...Kenshin...I'm...Sorry...I thought as I fell backward.

I could only hear Kaoru's voice barely now. "A sword is meant to save people!" she yelled. "Then maybe you should save yourself! What's wrong?! Daddy not here to protect you anymore?!" Gohei said, smirking. I couldn't move. Even if I wanted to. I had failed to protect Kaoru-dono. And I had failed Kenshin. I closed my eyes, until I heard Gohei speak again. "What's up, Nishiwaki?" he asked. He spoke two words, very weakly. "I'm..sorry..." he said, falling forward. He was knocked out. And standing behind him...Was Kenshin. "The wanderer!" Kaoru-dono said. Kenshin payed Gohei no attention and walked to me. I coughed up blood. "K...Ke...Kens...shin..." I said. He smiled at me. "How do you feel?" he asked. I coughed up more blood in reply, giving Kenshin his answer. "Not good at all".

I cried. "I'm...So sorry...Kenshin..." I said. "I...Tried to protect...Kaoru-dono...But...I...failed. Her...As well as...you... I'm...Sorry..." With that said, I blacked out.

~Kenshin's POV~

I looked down at my adoptive daughter, who had just passed out from her injuries. She'd be alright, but she'd need her rest. I put a hand on Ammara's forehead gently and smiled. "You did fine, Ammara-dono. You deserve to rest. And I promise you, you haven't failed. You've given this one the answer." I kissed her forehead gently before turning to Gohei, my eyes filled with rage. "You'll put her down gently, you will," I said. He scowled. "I remember you from yesterday!" I stared him down with ferocity. "I had a feeling Ammara and I should've taken care of you then.." Kaoru gasped. "You mustn't get involved!" she exlaimed. "You're no match for him-Ah!" She was pulled backward by Gohei, who smirked.

"Another fool who thinks a sword can bring out potential!" I looked down, closing my eyes. Ammara-dono's smiling face entered it, along with memories of her chasing me, yelling "Ken-san!". "No," I replied as calmly as I could while walking over to him. "A sword is a weapon." Many different memories from my past as Battosai mixed in with my current ones. "Swordsmanship is learning how to kill...That is the truth. But what Miss Kaoru  believes is sweet and innocent talk that only those whose hands have never been stained with the blood of men can believe," I continued. My expression softened as I reached him and I gave a smile worthy of Ammara-dono's teacher.

"But..I prefer Miss Kaoru's sweet and innocent talk over the truth, indeed I do!" I said. Kaoru's face brightened at those words. "I hope that someday, her words will become the truth for all of us to live by." Gohei growled. "What are you guys waiting for?! Kill him and make him die slowly!" he barked. The henchmen nodded and charged at me, their swords raised and poised to kill. "No, don't!" Kaoru yelled.

"I don't want anyone else to get hurt..." I said as calmly as possible, my hand slowly drawing my sword. "Aw, nobody's gonna get hurt...Somebody's gonna get dead!!!!!" I closed my eyes and drew my sword, knocking them back, their eyes completely white. I did the same with the other henchmen that attacked. Gohei growled as he watched his accomplices fall. "Red hair....A cross-shaped scar on his cheek...He CAN'T be!" I slowly turned to him, my expression darkened. "Oh yes, and by the way," I said. "The technique of Battosai the manslayer is niether Kamiya Kasshin nor is it whatever your style is...He uses Hiten Mitsurugi. Ultrasonic sword attacks that do not fail to slay an opponent. Unless, of course, you use a sword like mine, that is." Kaoru's eyes widened. "But that means that...You're the real Battosai! So Ammara-chan must be...Chimei Tekina Bara! The deadly rose!" I nodded slowly and walked over to Gohei.

He dropped Kaoru and turned his attention to me. "Interesting," he said. "But there's only room for one Battosai in this world! We'll have to see who's worthy of that title! After I defeat you, I'll burn this place down and kill the girls!" My face was like stone as I raised my sword again. "Then I guess I have no choice..." I said. "DIE BATTOSAI!!!" Gohei yelled raising his sword. I quickly jumped into the air. "Over here!" I yelled. He gasped, and I brought the sword down hard on his left hand. He fell like a ton of bricks, and I stood, victorious.

"I have no attachment to the name Battosai. All the same, I can't allow someone like you to wear it. I'm afraid now, you'll no longer be able to hold a sword with either of those hands." One of the henchmen still remained. "I..I don't believe it! They're all still alive! He didn't kill anyone, not a single one!" he yelled. I turned to him and scowled. "Go to the police and tell them what this man has done," I ordered him. "You got it?" He turned tail and ran as quickly as he could. I turned to Miss Kaoru and smiled. "I am sorry, Miss Kaoru. That I am. I didn't mean to hide my identity from you, and neither did Ammara. It was entirely my idea, so don't blame her. It's just that...We didn't want you to know if you didn't have to, that's all." She looked as if she was about to cry, so I turned to walk away.

"Well, take care," I said. I picked up Ammara gently and began to walk away. But Miss Kaoru stopped me. "YOU JERK!!!!!!" she yelled. I pulled my usual scared/nervous face. "You're just going to leave me here alone to fix up this place by myself?! You're not even going to help?! Or get a doctor for poor Ammara-chan?!" she said, her hands on her hips. "I can't rebuild the Kasshin style on my own! I've told you both before that I don't care about your past, and I MEANT it!" I smiled. "Yes, but now that this mess is over, you'd only have more problems if you had the real Battosai and Chimei Tekina Bara staying here," I said calmly. "I never said I wanted the Battosai or the Chimei Tekina Bara to stay here! I meant I wanted you, the wanderers to..!" she gasped and covered her mouth.

"If you insist on going, you could at least tell me your name before you go...I'm not talking about the Deadly Manslayer either. If you don't mind, I'd like to know your real name," she continued, staring at the name of her dojo. I smiled. "Himura. It's Kenshin Himura. And the girl that's traveling with me is Ammara Kai." "Kenshin. I guess you and Ammara-chan should be on your way, Kenshin!" I slid the door shut and Kaoru sighed, thinking that I left. "I have to admit...We are a bit tired of wandering. Although, you'll never know when we'll have to hit the road again," I said, smiling. "I am a pretty lousy cook.." Kaoru began walking with me, so we got closer to each other. "Yeah, but you're better than me," she said, smiling. "And I might accidentally see you taking a bath." She cracked her knuckles. "No problem at all! If you ever do that again...Haaaah!" In a swift move, she punched me, knocking me silly.

"Hey!!! I thought you'd be able to dodge my punch!!!" she yelled. I layed back, the wind knocked out of me. "Wow, you've...Got a pretty hard right, don't ya?"  I spent hours on the floor, dazed and confused by Kaoru's attack. I knew Ammara would be pleased to be informed that we were staying. I'd tell her as soon as she woke up. But for now, I had to catch my breath and lay down until the dojo stopped spinning!

To be continued!

Next time:Yahiko Myojin, Kid Samurai!