Disclaimer: I do not own the Anime or it's characters. All rights go to the creator of the anime Rurouni Kenshin.

Meeting Again

The sun had long sense set by the time Kaly and Haru reached Kaly’s home, the house was dark and empty Sota had been there and gone already. “I hope Sota makes it back alright.” Haru said softly as Kaly closed the door behind them.

“Sota will be fine, you’ll see.” Kaly said pulling her into a hug, it had been a long day for both of them and Haru was close to her limit for stress. A long night of rest would do them both a world of good.

“When?” she asked softly.

“After we’re married. I still have family in that village after all.” He said smiling softly; his uncle would be thrilled to hear the news.

“I’m not so worried about Sota, as I am about what she’ll do if Rena and her children aren’t found soon.” Haru said shivering slightly.

“They still haven’t heard from them yet! It’s been close to a year!” Kaly said shocked.

“It has been a year.” Said Haru sadly walking into the next room, but suddenly stopped in the middle of the room.

“Haru are you alright?” Kaly asked, but she didn’t answer him. “Haru?” he asked again as he walked up behind her.

She was staring a something, it was a rapped package on the table that Sota’s things had been on when he come home earlier. Haru slowly walked over and carefully unwrapped the package, inside was a pale purple kimono. Haru gasped it was so beautiful and yet simple with its bright blue birds randomly placed around it and soft pink sakura blossoms around the sleeves and the bottom, it was all embroidered with a dark blue thread that matched the obi. Haru noticed a small piece of paper tucked under the folds of the kimono; pulling it free Haru saw that it was an unopened envelope. On the front of the envelope in beautifully crafted calligraphy was her name; the letter inside it was written in the same manner.

Haru-

I am truly sorry for not telling you that my planes had changed so I would be leaving sooner then I said I would. But there is a lot of work that has to be done before we send the wagons into Kyoto in a few months, by then I hope that our friends in the city have found Rena and her children. If they have not been found by then, I will be going to Kyoto. I must apologies now for what may happen and the pain it will cause you both, but I made a promise that I must keep. I am sorry that I will miss your wedding day; the kimono is a gift for you. My mother use to loved it; I hope it is something you will ware.

-Kaya Sota.

Haru just stared at the letter as tears started to fall from her eyes.

“Is everything alright, Haru?” Kaly asked as Haru started crying.

“It… its her mother’s kimono!” Haru said through her tears, Kaly just rapped his arms around her pulling her into a comforting hug.

“You know,” Kaly said after a minute. “I can’t really see Sota in something as delicate as this kimono.” He said laughing softly; Haru stared at him for a moment before laughing too.

“Neither can I.”

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It was early in the afternoon when Kenshin and his friends got off the train in Kyoto. The main street was packed full of people and carts making their journey a slow one. “Thank you for accompanying me on this trip Himura.” Said a middle-aged man with short black hair as his sharp brown eyes searched the crowds of people along the sides of the road.

“If I may Sir, why don’t you have official guards with you as well? It hasn’t been the long since the killings in Tokyo.” Kenshin asked as they walked towards the Aoiya.

“My superiors might agree with you Himura, if it wasn’t for who I was trying to find.” He said carefully.

“And who is that?” Asked Sano from behind them.

“A young woman who knew Riku quite well. She lives somewhere in the mountains around here.”

“Somewhere around here, makes it sound like you don’t know how to find her, Sir.” Karou said from Kenshin’s other side.

“I don’t. And it’s Hibari.”

“What?”

“Hibari is my name, I’d prefer it if you called me by it while we’re away from Tokyo.” He clarified softly.

“How are we going to find her if you don’t know where she lives? Those mountains are pretty big!” Yahiko asked coming up between Kenshin and Karou.

“Well twice a year the village she lives near sends wagons down for a day to triad for different supplies then heads back to the village.”

“So you were planning to follow the wagons to the village, right?” Kenshin asked.

“That’s what I hope to do. I just don’t know when they are coming, or if they have already gone.” Hibari answered honestly.

“So who is she?” Kenshin asked now interested, Riku’s friends were few and far between, even less were still alive. But he’d worked as a spy so he’d had no chose but to keep to himself. He’d met Riku just months before he’d died.

“Her title use to be Shadow, and she should be willing to help identify the Ghost if he did in-fact know Riku.” Hibari said sounding far more confident about her being willing to help them then he actually was.

They walked in silence for a bit before, “Hey I’ve got a question for ya Hibari. Who was this Riku and why does this assassin blame you guys for what ever happened to him?” Sano asked it seemed a far question to him.

“His full name was Riku Sanami, and he was a spy for the Choshu, a good one too.” Kenshin said before Hibari could speak.

“Right you were assigned to Riku for a short time after I got wounded.” Said Hibari thoughtfully.

“Hai. Thou I had hared that she’d died along side Riku.”

“Officially she did, but she is still alive and last I saw her she was as tall as your friend here.” Hibari said with a smile, nodding his head towards Sano.

“So what’s her name?” asked Sano annoyed that his other question had been forgotten.

“Oh, it’s Kaya. Kaya-”

“HIMURA!” the sudden shout droned out the rest of Hibari’s answer. A young girl raced through the crowd and slammed into Kenshin giving him an enthusiastic hug, he stumbled a bit from the force.

“Well hello Miss Misao.” Kenshin said pulling back slightly.

“Hey Misao.” Greeted Yahiko quickly steeping out from behind Kenshin.

“Come inside everyone’s waiting for you guys.” Misao said pulling Kenshin towards the front of the Aoiya.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sota looked around, this was turning into another crappy year; first the trip to Tokyo and now here she was sitting atop a wagon in the middle of the one place she tried her hardest to stay away from. Kyoto. She sighed deeply knowing it had been her chose to come in the first place. Sota sighted again before finally climbing down off the wagon. Once on the ground she pulled a small bag with what appeared to be a rapped umbrella attached to it, using a small bit of rope she attached both to her back.

“Are you sure about this, Sota? The boys and I are willing to stay longer if we need to.” Said an elderly man standing on the other side of the wagon.

“No, I’ll stay. You and your sons have been away from you’re families long enough, Kenjiro.” She tolled him cautiously watching the crowed street around them.

Kenjiro looked at her and the way her eyes watched the people on the street and it clicked. “It all comes back to life when you’re here, doesn’t it?” there was a strange tone to his voice, one that spoke of personal experience, Sota met his gaze and blinked her eyes clearing slightly.

“I don’t recall ever saying it was dead in the first place.” Kenjiro blinked, now he was starting to worry about the state of her mind. “Where’s the room you rented for me?” She asked suddenly.

Kenjiro smiled she hadn’t changed at all; she still didn’t like people fussing over her. “It’s an inn and dinning establishment called the Aoiya, the owner is quite helpful. Do you need directions to where it is?”

“No. I can manage, I’ve spent too much time in this city not to be.” She answered softly.

“Are you sure? A lot has changed sense you were last here, Sota.” Said a young man who’d just walked up and placed a large bundle in the back of the wagon. He was the older of Kenjiro’s two sons, Kazuhiro, if she remembered right. He was tall and lean like his father was at his age, but his dark brown hair and grayish eyes were like his mother’s.

“Hai. Now go get your brother and go home you guys deserve a rest.” Sota said tapping the side of the wagon, they hadn’t seen their families in nearly six months and Kazuhiro’s wife was close to giving birth to their third child and she wanted Kazuhiro home when she did.

“Toshihiro is just getting the last crate now.” Said Kazuhiko, she nodded turning to leave but Kenjiro stopped her.

“Here.” He said pushing a good size book into her hand. She looked at him questioningly. “It’s a account of the people we’ve talked to and their answers. It should help you while you look.” He explained.

“Thank you, Kenjiro.” She said bowing slightly before walking into the crowd and disappearing completely.

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