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Stranger from the Past: Part 1
She sent him flying through the air one last time, then reprimanded her attacker."Yahiko! If you will not pay attention then go get cleaned up and do soemthing useful!"
Kaoru turned around and placed her bokken on the wall rack, she began to leave the dojo, but turned around and in a softer voice asked, "Yahiko, is something wrong?"
Yahiko looked up at her startled. "Not really, I'm sorry Kaoru, it's just my mind is elsewhere."
For a moment it looked like he would say something else but then stubbornyl set his jaw.
Kaoru nodded her head. "If something's troubling you, you know you can come talk to us, ne?"
"Hai."
Kaoru nodded her head. "Whatever it is, I want a focused yahiko in lessons tomorrow okay?"
"Hai."
With a nod of her head, Kaoru walked out of the dojo, and headed towards her much longed for bath.
Yahiko looked after his teacher and sighed. How could he possibly tell her or even Kenshin that it was them he was thinking about, after he had overheard a conversation of Tae's at the Akabeko. He realized they were right, Kaoru and Kenshin deserved to be together, but what was holding them back. He didn't know why, but they were his family, he wanted them happy, and more importantly he wanted them together.
Yahiko was growing up, and for the first time in his life he began to truly understand what love really was, and it was thoughts of that which had distracted him during practice and well into the night before.
* * *
Kaoru emerged freshly cleaned from her bath to a very empty dojo. Yahiko had left, probably to go ponder whatever was bothering him at the riverside. Kaoru noticed that the tofu bucket was gone, meaning Kenshin must be out buying the groceries.
She poured herself some tea, noting that Kenshin had left it steeping for her, and sat down on the dojo steps enjoying the peace of the pleasantly crisp spring day.
She drifted off into a relaxed meditative trance, which was broken by a voice.
"Excuse me? This is the Kamiya dojo, ne?"
Kaoru opened her eyes in startlement, but also in a friendly greeting, as she raised from her perch on the steps towards the stranger.
"Hai, this is the Kamiya dojo, I'm the owner, can I help you?"
The man smiled brightly, and asked in a hesitant voice, "Are you Kamiya Kaoru?"
Kaoru blinked and nodded her head in acquiesence, "I am she."
"Kaoru-chan," with a energetic yip he rushed forward and gave her a near bone crushing hug. "I never thought I'd see you again! My you've grown! You're such a beautiful woman."
Kaoru stood there in shocked confusion, gently pushing away from those encumbering arms.
"Um excuse me, who are you?
The man quickly let her go. "Forgive me, how rude of me not to introduce myself, or expect you to recall me after all these years."
"Kaoru-chan, it's me, Sumiyo Aoi."
Kaoru's eyes widened in shock as she visibly paled.
"That can't be! Sumiyo-san is dead, just who are you," her voice rasped as she looked at this pretender before her.
The man sighed, "Allow me a few moments of your time to prove beyond a doubt that I'm the Sumiyo Aoi from your childhood. Please?"
Kaoru pondered it over, and on the slim hope that this really was her childhood friend she gave him a chance.
"Better talk fast."
* * *
"Kaoru-chan, do you remember that time I fell into the river when I tried to retrieve your hair ribbon from that bush by the water's edge?"
"How could I forget! You fell in and stood up with the ribbon draped decoriously on your head hanging in the middle of your face."
The two of them laughed at the memories.
"Aoi-chan, there is something I don't understand. How did you survive in that storm?"
"I don't really know myself…. I saw my parents swept overboard, and I followed in a few moments after sme more pounding ways… I lost unconsciousness and when I woke I was in some small fishing village in a little hut being cared for by an elderly widowed woman.
I searched for my family, but everyone had died in that wreck except me, so I stayed with that woman, she raised me and treated me as if I was her son, and I couldn't leave her, she was so sad and lonely. She finally passed away a few months ago. As I went through the hut I found some debris she had salvaged with me from the wreckage, and learned just where I had lived. When I was little I had never really known where I was living. I then decided to come here to try to find you and to carry out our parent's wishes."
"Our parent's wishes?"
"Hai, our engagement."
Kaoru stodd there jaw gaping, she had totally forgot, but she knew what he said was true, her parents had promised her to his family when she came of age.
"You are still unmarried, ne Kaoru-chan?"
"Hai."
"Kaoru-chan, I'm sorry, this is all to sudden for you, ne?"
"Hai, it feels as if I'm talking to a ghost."
Aoi nodded his head fully understanding. "I imagine it is. Why don't I go, and let you get used to this. I'm staying at the Seiko Inn if you need me. Otherwise I'll come back in a few days. Ok?"
Kaoru nodded, "I think that would be best, it's just so shocking."
"Ja mata ne, Kaoru-chan. Ki o tsuketene."
"You take care as well."
And with a wave of his hand, a smile and a wink he walked out of the dojo gates, just as Kenshin rounded the corner.
Hmm, wonder what he wanted at the dojo...
Kenshin walked in the dojo gates and saw Kaoru standing in the apth in utter shock.
"Kaoru-dono, daijobu?"
Kaoru blinked and smiled hesitantly at Kenshin.
"Hai, I'm just shocked, someone from my past popped back up. Can you take care of dinner? I have some errands to run."
"Hai."
"Arigato Ken-san, I'll be back by dinner time."
Kaoru went back into the dojo, grabbed her purse, and walked out of the dojo only to aimlessly walk around the city.
What am I going to do.
End Part One