When Kaoru finally fights the fake Battousai, she loses and gets a hurt on her shoulder. Kenshin, always appearing to help those in need, brings her back to her dojo. This is when Kaoru finds out that Kenshin is the real Hitokiri Battousai. But she also finds out that he no longer fights. And uses his sword to protect people. Kenshin tells her that he has become a wanderer, and has not killed anyone in ten years.

Kaoru tells Kenshin about her dojo. And explains to him what the Kamiya Kashiryu teaches their students. But she no longer has anymore students.

Kenshin admires Kaoru's teachings. He hopes that other people will follow in her footstep. Because that is what he has been fighting for. And that was what the new era needed. People that where willing to help and protect each other.

Kenshin after 10 years of wandering, decides to stay at the Kamiya Dojo. We're not quite sure if it's because he like Kaoru (which we can see plainly) or because he likes what she believes in. But Kenshin and Kaoru are a couple, even though she beats him up a lot.

Their relationship is a very complex one. Although they both like each other, they don't show their affection much. In the beginning of the anime, they fight a lot, and Kenshin seems to be Kaoru's slave,(ooo, erotic, MWHAHAHA!!!) but then there is the fireflies scene. (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!!)

Kenshin can no longer stay with Kaoru, because Japan needs him. He must go to Kyoto and fight Shishio. Kenshin leaves without telling anyone. EXCEPT for Kaoru. She does not want him to leave. But is unable to stop him. All she can do is cry. Because she knows that Japan needs him.

After Kenshin leaves, Kaoru is unable to do anything. All she did was lie in bed. That is until Megumi,the fox lady, snaps some sense back into her. Megumi tells Kaoru to bring medicine to Kenshin. And also that Kenshin truly did care for her. Because Kenshin only said good-bye to Kaoru. And so Kaoru heads for Kyoto.