Kenshin-gumi stood in the yard pondering on myriad places Rei could be at. “Okay,” Kaoru commanded. “I am going to go to the marketplace and search for her there. Sano, you can go to Megumi’s clinic to inform her about this situation.”

“Oi.. why me?” Sano grunted, but willingly accepted it.

“I’ll go over to the police station to see if they have any new information,” Yahiko replied.

“Okay, Kenshin, where do you want to go?” Kaoru asked.

Kenshin thought about it a little bit and answered, “I think I’ll stay here at the dojo.”

“Huh?” Everyone responded.

“When I was back from the marketplace I saw a woman standing in front of the dojo. She could have been Rei-dono. There’s a chance she could be back.” Kenshin said still deep in thought.

Immediately Yahiko and Sano gave a big evil grin. “So he WAS drooling over a woman!!!”

Without the slightest pause, Kaoru kicked the two out of the dojo while Kenshin stood there with a sweatdrop.

“Shut up and MOVE!!” She yelled with a vein popping at the side of her forehead. She quickly turned to Kenshin. “Alright, you stay here and if she comes, hold on to her okay?”

“I’ll try my best de gozaru yo.” Kenshin answered smiling. With that Sano, Yahiko and Kaoru took off. After they disappeared, the dojo was filled with awkward silence. Kenshin sat on the step feeling the cool breeze. It wasn’t long before the they were gone when he felt a strong chi in front of the dojo gate. He quickly opened the door and stepped outside the dojo. Sure enough, the same woman with a con-shaped hat whom Kenshin had seen earlier stood there a bit startled at the sight of Kenshin.
“Irasshaimase. Why don’t you come in? Seems like you were waiting for the others to go out. Rei-dono, I assume?” Kenshin greeted with a warm smile.

Smiling slightly she took off her hat. “Hitokiri Battousai, no doubt.” Rei replied.

“Why don’t you come in?” Kenshin offered.

“No thank you. I have no business in visiting you. I was just curious about the rumor that a former hitokiri is living peacefully here, at Kamiya Dojo.” Rei politely rejected his invitation.

Kenshin upheld his smile. “That is me. And I believe you too can do the same.”

Rei laughed slightly. “I appreciate your gracious suggestion and yet I must move on.” Rei took a step and turned around to face Kenshin. "You look happy.” She smiled and put her hat back on. Slowly she headed down the road again. Kenshin stood there realizing there was nothing in particular he could do to stop her from leaving.

“Rei-do..”

“YATTA!!!!” Something flew by Kenshin’s like the wind.

“Oro?” He murmured as he was brutally interrupted by a loud, ‘yatta.’

“Rei-san desu nee~~!!” Kaoru yelled enthusiasticlaly holding on to her hand.

“Huh?” Rei, startled by this exuberant young girl, holding her hand, could merely stare at her dumb-struck.

“K…Kaoru-dono?” Kenshin stuttered, but Kaoru completely ignored his presence.

“It was a good thing I came back to the dojo to get my wallet!!! Yokatta!!!!” Kaoru continued her babbling without a pause, with a wide grin. “Yes, yokatta!! I’ve found you, yokatta!!” Suddenly she turned to Kenshin with a sharp and vicious glance. “What were you doing, not inviting her in!!” Kenshin stood there speechless with his mouth open. Kaoru turned to Rei again and smiled brightly. “Sorry, Rei-san. He’s not usually rude like that. Come in, come in!! You are very welcome here!!!” Kaoru literally dragged Rei by the hand while still dumb-struck by her crazy enthusiasm, could only repeat “eh” with dotted eyes. Kenshin stood there with his mouth open watching Rei being dragged by Kaoru.

Kenshin and Rei sat facing each other while Kaoru hurried off to the kitchen to prepare some tea.

“What bright-spirited girl…” Rei said with an awe-struck smile.

“Isn’t she?” Kenshin replied grinning.

Rei glanced at Kenshin’s sakabatou. “Is that the famous reverse-blade?” Rei asked looking away.

“Kore?(this?) Yes. It’s sakabatou. Didn’t know it was famous.” Kenshin answered.

“What a great philosophy. Claiming justice without killing people.”

Kenshin became serious and looked at Rei. “You are being threatened by the government, right?” He asked.

“I told them many times not to come after me. But they are so persistnet.” She smirked.l “They do not value their lives.” Rei returned Kenshin’s gaze with the eyes of a hitokiri.

“Why do you still kill?” Kenshin asked suddenly, reflecting a bloody killer in her eyes.

“Whatever period you live in, there’s always a need for a hitokiri. Unlike you I have no regrets about what I did in the past or present. It is something that has to be done for a greater good.”

“But what about whatyou want to do? Why are you still living for the government when there is no need to do so?” Kenshin asked.

Rei starred at Kenshin a bit startled. After a short silence she opned her mouth. “I envy you a bit. You are able to find your life again. A hitokiri can only be a hitokiri.”

“....”

Kaoru abruptly opened the door of the guest room and shouted. “Sorry to keep you waiting!” Beside Kaoru Sano and Yahiko stood by. “Ah!! This is Sano and Yahiko.” Kaoru introduced them maintaining her big smile.Yahiko took a good look at Rei and exclaimed,

“Eh!! This is Rei-san!! Dang!! She is gorgeous!! She’s so much better looking than Kao…!!!!!”

PUK!!!!!

@_@ Yahiko’s eyes swirled by Kaoru’s powerfully enraged punch. Rei and Kenshin smiled with a sweatdrop.

Noone dared to break the silence while they were drinking the tea. But just as soon as Rei finished hers she grabbed her sword and stood up. “I think I should make my leave now. Thank you very much for the tea, Kaoru-san”

Sano abruptly stood up and held onto her shoulder. “Kora, kora(hey, hey), where do you think you are going? You shouldn’t ignore other’s people’s benevolence like that. We are going to protect you.”

Brushing off Sano’s hand, she replied, “I can take care of myself.”

“Ne, Rei-san,” Kaoru broke in. “Why odn’t you at least stay until tomorrow? There’s a great festival here in Tokyo tomorrow night. You can’t possibly miss that if you are in Tokyo.”

Kenshin looked up at Rei and smiled, “I would have to agree with Kaoru-dono.”

Rei gave it a thought and murmured, “It’ll be too dangerous if I stay here…”

Kaoru, Sano and Yahiko quickly grabbed Kenshin and shouted with a wiiide smile, “WE ARE UNBEATABLE!!!!” Kenshin sheepishly smiled with a sweatdrop. Rei broke into a soft laughter and slowly nodded her head.

Mmm, let's see. I have already planned out all the events but it takes time to write them ^_^ hehe.. so hang in there with me. I am very sorry about the delays but with this fic I really want to include the visuals as well. Hope you enjoyed this fic~~ and thank you for reading it!!