Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Standing Tall ❯ Blue Skies ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: *Cries* Thank you all for the nice reviews! It makes me happy to be a fanfiction writer knowing such nice people are willing to review my story....^^ Anyway, I've decided to continue this into another chapter out of request....so I hope you like it! Arrigatou, Ja ne, and Review, onegai!

Disclaimer: I t'nod nwo inuoruR nihseK.

When Sae stood at the foot of the stairs and alerted everyone it was breakfast, she immediately regretted it. For only 2.5 seconds after her announcement did a horde of people come barreling down the stairs, and poor Sae was almost knocked over and trampled.

And of course breakfast was as loud as always. Sanosuke, Yahiko, and the two male Oniwabanshuu members (A/N: Gomen! I don't remember their names.) sat at one table, and the two omnitsu stared in shock as Yahiko and Sanosuke battle for their food--literally. Megumi, Kaoru, Misao, Omasu, and the other female Oniwabanshuu member (A/N: Once again, sorry. ^^) sat at a table nearby, talking about the sights of Tokyo and Kyoto. As for Okina and Aoshi, the former Okashira was in the Zen Temple meditating, and the old man was still sleeping.

Of course breakfast can never go normally. Halfway through Sanosuke and Yahiko started fighting because the fighter stole a rice ball. After a few harsh insults, Yahiko attached himself to Sano's head and began to gnaw. Then that battle grew to include the onna-sensei, who started to insult the fighter. Everyone else simply sighed and continued eating.

After everyone left for either the Aoiya or the help out around the Shirobeko, Kaoru prepared a tray and went up to Kenshin's room. When she slid open the shouji, she was surprised to find the rurouni sitting on the small porch outside his room, looking up at the sky. The shihondai sat down next to him and smiled. "Ohayou, Kenshin."

"Ohayou, Kaoru-dono." Kenshin replied, smiling back at her.

Kaoru placed the tray in front of him. "I brought you some miso soup for breakfast."

"Arrigatou gozaimasu, Kaoru-dono." The rurouni replied, then returned to looking up at the sky.

Kaoru sat there for a moment, then turned to Kenshin. "Are you alright?"

"Aa. I was just admiring the sky, de gozaru." The ex-hitokiri replied, lowering his gaze to Kaoru and giving her a smile.

"It's very blue today, isn't it?" Kaoru said, looking up.

Kenshin looked up again, still smiling. "Sessha has never seen the sky so blue over Kyoto."

Kaoru nodded, shifting a bit closer to him. She was about to say something, but Kenshin continued.

"Back during the Bakumatsu...no one ever had the time to admire the sky..." He said softly, remembering the battles in the streets.

"Fighting mostly took place at night, and even then, no one could admire the stars."

Kaoru turned to him again, smiling. "But now you can admire the sky whenever you want, ne?"

Kenshin looked at her and nodded, a slight smile coming to his face. "Aa...Sessha can admire the sky all he wants, de gozaru yo."

"Here and in Tokyo." Kaoru added.

The rurouni nodded again, turning his attention back to the sky. Kaoru's smile faded a bit, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, sighing. Kenshin stiffened a bit, looking down at her.

"Cheer up, Kenshin. We'll be able to leave soon. I can see how much it hurts you to be here." She said softly.

Kenshin wrapped his arm around her and hugged her tightly, sighing. "Sessha is looking forward to going back home to Tokyo."

He thinks of Tokyo as home... Kaoru thought happily. She stood up and looked down at Kenshin, her smile coming back full-force. "You should eat your soup before it gets cold. I'm going to go help with the re-building." She said, brushing some of the wrinkles from her kimono.

She turned to leave, but suddenly turned back to Kenshin with a mock glare in her eyes. "And I better not come back and find you like I did last night, understand?"

Kenshin chuckled. "Hai, Sessha understands."

"Good." The shihondai replied, then left the room.

Kenshin waited for the shouji to close before sighing and looking back up at the sky. Being here does bring back terrible memories. He thought as a fluffy cloud floated by. Let's go back, together. Kaoru's voice rang through his head, making him smile. "But in Tokyo, I have so many good memories, thanks to everyone, especially Kaoru."

A/N: How was it? I know it's not as good as the other, but I can't seem to write a good dialogue scene between Kaoru and Kenshin.....grrrr! Anyway, review and let me know what you think! Ja!