Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Watsuki-sama and whoever else has the rights to it. ^_^ I'm just borrowing the characters for awhile.

Timeframe: This is set after the Kyoto affair.

Coming Home

by Meimi

She was angry. He could tell in the slight tension evident at the corner of her lips, in the forceful jerk she gave each cloth before hanging it up to dry. She was angry at him. He had to smile, he couldn't help it. Even at her worst she was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes upon.

Ah, but how to avoid the brunt of her anger? He had been watching for quite some time now, not quite sure how to best approach this volatile situation. She was always kind with the boy, but then she adored children. That's why he had brought the boy home in the first place...

He was letting himself get sidetracked again. The part of him that just wanted to avoid the problem was starting to win. If anyone saw him now he'd probably have to kill them just to keep it quiet. That's all he'd need, his previous allies finding out about this and then he'd never be able to live it down. He'd have to kill everyone just to have some peace. *That* would go over well.

No time like the present. You just keep telling yourself that, he thought as he prepared himself for what was about to come. In afterthought, he flicked his ever present cigarette off into the distance. If he showed up with that she'd definitely blow up. A quick sigh and then he hesitantly walked over to what might end up with him on a spit or worse.

She didn't turn around to greet him but he knew that she knew he was there. Several minutes passed like this, neither moving just waiting, until he realized he was going to have to make the first move after all. He lightly brushed her fine hair out of the way as he gently placed his bare hands upon her slim shoulders. The white gloves had long since been discarded. They were far too impersonal for now, for her.

"I'm home," he whispered quietly.

Her only response was an indrawn breath. So it was to be the silent treatment this time. He hadn't expected this so he wasn't quite sure what to do now. Sometimes, like now, he wished he could figure her out but he knew he never would. Whenever he thought he knew what she'd do she did something different. It's one of the many reasons you love her. He smiled at that thought, for it was true, very true.

This time.. this time he'd have to give in some. While he did have a good excuse, quite good actually, he had left her alone far too long this time and he had promised not to.

He bowed his head and whispered into her sweet smelling hair, "I'm sorry."

At that, she shrugged out of his grasp and turned to look up at him. An understanding of sorts was present in her deep caring eyes as she cocked a delicate eyebrow at him in mock humor. "Oh really? Well then," she crossed her arms, closed her eyes and lifted her chin up in that superior expression she took on whenever she knew she had won, "*you* can finish the laundry."

He blinked several times in bewilderment. This was certainly turning out odd. She smiled up at him impishly as she relieved him of his sword. "You won't be needing this. Now, be sure you hang them up securely. Otherwise you'll be washing them again if they fall." She grinned and swiftly kissed him before running off to the house. "Welcome home, anata."

Several moments passed in silence before a chuckle that was very unlike its source echoed throughout the yard. Saitoh Hajime was home and Tokio wasn't too upset, even though she *was* making him do the laundry. It could've been worse..