This one does not own the Kenshin-gumi, nor does this one make any profit from this story about the Kenshin-gumi.

This idea just came out of nowhere to this one. This one hopes you enjoy the story... (Bit sappier than this one is used to, but...when this one gets an idea, this one must go with it...)

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Early evening

The sun shone through a high window, reflecting off the dust that cascaded about. Boxes stacked upon boxes were pushed against the walls, and more boxes littered the floor all around the tiny shed. In a far corner, Kaoru sat gingerly on the dusty floor, holding an ornate wooden box in her hands. It was a deep red color, and Sakura trees were painted on the top. Kaoru lovingly placed her right hand on the top of it, as if trying to extract a memory of a forgotten time.

A single tear escaped from her eyes, and her hand withdrew from the top of the box, now cradling it from underneath. More tears began to run down her face, leaving trails of silver on her pale cheeks. She suppressed the sobs that wanted to emanate from the deepest part of her being, but she held them back and stood up, keeping the box close to her, and yet trying not to become too attached.

"I suppose...it can't be helped," she managed to choke out, before turning from her spot. She carried the beautiful box outside of the shed and walked back into her home. The sun began to sink deeper into the horizon, casting shades of red over the sky...

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Chapter 1

The next day

"Oi! Busu! Where's our lunch?" Yahiko yelled from outside the kitchen, his shinai swung ever so gracefully over his shoulder.

"Who are you calling busu, Yahiko-CHAN?" Kaoru yelled out the window at her boisterous student.

"I still don't see why we're letting her cook instead of Kenshin," Sano grumbled as he strolled in through the front gates. "I'd rather eat dirt than Jou-chan's cooking...". He was subsequently greeted with a frying pan to his face, knocking him over and allowing him to greet the ground he'd just labeled as his new food preference.

"How about you cook from now on then, Sanosuke?!" an angry Kaoru yelled.

"Kaoru-dono has gotten better in her cooking, de gozaru," Kenshin said as he rounded a corner of the house. He walked over to the swirly- eyed Sano and helped him to his feet, though it was a bit difficult due to the fact that Sano was easily 2 feet taller than himself. After Kenshin was sure Sano had been balanced on two feet again, he turned toward Kaoru. "Has Kaoru-dono finished preparing lunch?"

"Hai," she smiled. "Come in and eat before it gets cold." At these words, both Yahiko and Sano (who had finally gotten over the effects of the frying pan) had rushed into the dining room and began to shove food into their faces. Kenshin walked in, about 12 seconds behind them, and immediately noticed the lack of a fourth table setting.

"Kaoru-dono, are you not eating?" he asked her, his wide, amethyst rurouni eyes questioning her.

"I've already eaten, Kenshin. Now don't worry about me and eat before they gorge themselves." Kenshin turned back to his setting and ignored the loud chomping and slurping of the two "men" in front of him. He kind of missed the feel of Kaoru sitting next to him on his left when they ate...not that he'd ever mention this little fact out loud. But he figured Kaoru had a good reason to have eaten already, so he would leave her be for now...

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Kaoru sat on the front steps of her home, looking forlornly at the sky. The sun was just a little past directly over-head and the extensive blue never seemed to end. The occasional white cloud dotted the sky, but other than that, its extent was endless. The birds twittered in the trees and the cicadas chirped there coarse melody as the hot summer breeze rustled through the grass.

Kaoru could still hear the chattering of Sanosuke and Yahiko as they gobbled up the food she had made and argued over who was going to get the last bit of this and that. She didn't hear a peep from Kenshin, but she assumed he was still eating his lunch silently, avoiding the flying bits of rice courtesy of the other two. Just the thought of the food made her stomach growl, and she suppressed the feelings of hunger that were welling up inside of her.

Her thoughts broke as she realized an immense pain was building up in her stomach. The only thing she'd had to eat that day was a small bowl of rice for breakfast, and a bit of tea. Her stomach protested its emptiness again with a small growl and Kaoru stood up, frustrated with it all.

Just then, the front gates creaked open and Megumi stepped in. Kaoru was elated to see her, and ran over immediately.

"Well? Were you able to sell it?" she asked quickly, yet quietly. The others didn't know her problem yet. She had to keep it a secret. If they found out...but she didn't want to think about that right now.

"Of course, Tanuki. I have the money right here, as promised." Megumi handed her a small sack, and it jingled with the money inside. "The lady I sold it to gave the asking price."

"Really?" Kaoru looked up from the small bag, surprised. "But I thought...I didn't think it was worth that much."

"To those who know the story, it isn't near enough." Megumi said, almost sadly.

"Me-Megumi! You told..." Kaoru's eyes began brimming with tears. Megumi slapped her lightly on the shoulder.

"Baka. It's not like it's a really big secret (I mean just look at this place...). But the woman was quite understanding, and gave the asking price...Kaoru, it was a very pretty box. Where on Earth did you get it, anyway?" Megumi looked thoughtfully at the younger girl, who stared at the bag of money strangely.

"It was my Grandmother's...but that's not very important. It was old, and you told me to over-price it so that it could be negotiated. We have to give some of this money back to the lady who bought it."

"You really are just a stupid Tanuki. Think of the extra money as the woman's donation to you." Megumi turned around and started walking back towards the gate. "That's enough for three days," she said as quietly as she could. Kaoru nodded her head slightly and waited for the gates to close before letting the collected tears fall from her eyes. Now more people knew her humiliating secret. It just wasn't fair.

"Karou-dono, was that Megumi-dono just now?" Kenshin asked, looking out the door of the house. Kaoru only nodded, keeping her face away from Kenshin's, for fear that he would ask her why she was crying. She didn't want to say anything either, afraid that her voice would break. The last thing she needed was Kenshin worrying about her over nothing, so before he could ask any more questions, she walked around to the back of the house, hoping to get to her room without running into anyone. The last thing she wanted to do was explain the money and her tears. She didn't want to worry the guys with her new problem...

Kamiya dojo was completely broke, and her only choice was to sell off whatever she had that held value...even if it also held her most precious memories...

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This one doesn't like it...but that's just how this one is...how about you? .............. you neither, huh? Oh well. Review if you want...