A/N: Final chap! I'm glad you guys liked this. I thank you for all your support. Well...here we go!

XVI

"Children sit down please," Kaoru reached for the bell that was on her desk. "Children!" she began to ring the bell. It brought some fifteen heads rearing toward her. They began to file to sit down and she was thoroughly pleased. It was the beginning of a new year. The leaves had changed colors; the harvest had went well (so said the tanned skin on the children's faces) and they were ready to learn.

"I want you to take out your books and write your names in them please, and my name. I'll write it on the board."

Kaoru took up the chalk and had a hard time writing out the letters. She had married over the summer, that was what happened. She finally married out of her families will. She was nearly thirty. She was already the laughing stock of her family for waiting so long. they often made snide comments that she could no longer produce children. She smiled at the name though. He was a well off man, and she would last. She knew she would. He was old. He would die sooner or later. She could just wait for Kenshin to come and sweep her off her feet.

She turned back to the class and told them a little bit about herself and said that she wanted to learn a little bit about them as well. She left out the part of visiting a foreign country to teach a sovereign whom she fell in love with. She often times thought that Twain should be writing about her life because it seemed like such a joke.

She thought about Kenshin often though. There was nothing that could make her not. He was so bold, in any crowd he would stand out. Like Hiko still did. He stayed with her family who took to him well. To them he was like an Indian that they wanted to learn from. They loved hearing stories about Yu-Quia. Something had to keep the history alive.

By the end of the day Kaoru was worn out and waiting for the sun to be covered by clouds. She was sweating in her heavy petticoats. She really wished she had the clothing from Yu-Quia. It would have been greatly appreciated in the blistering sun.

As she walked out, she put up a parasol and greeted all the people around her and saw the children off. After she married she gained reputation among many of the women in town. She was invited to their little get togethers. Not that they were speaking of the local gossip, instead she was a suffragette and she was proud of it. She hadn't been caught by the police, but it was starting to stir up. She pursed her lips a little as she stopped to look at the commotion in the center of town. She march forward taking hold of her dress.

"Why Mrs. Mallory, where are you going in such a hurry?" an old woman asked. She was pulling her toward the home wanting to talk about the whether. They were pretending not to notice the commotion.

"I wanted to get to market," she said quietly. "I really need to get some things for Tom. I'll be on my way."

"Come over later dear. We want to have you for dinner."

"Of course, of course," she waved and went on her way. As she got closer, the crowd got tighter, but willingly let the girl through to see the fuss. She dropped her parasol when she got to the front.

"Look at that man."

"So bronze. Is he another Injun?"

"Look at that hair."

"He's sharp dressed."

Kaoru tripped into the circle. She was at his feet. His shoes were nicely shined, his knickers were new. He helped her up. His hands were covered with gloves.

"Ma'am?"

"You...you..."

"Miss Kaoru," he said without a hitch of accent. He kissed her hand. "Good to see you."

"Ken."

Her heart was fighting with her ribs, and she was getting hot. All were whispering about her now. Older folks knew where she went, and they guessed that this foreign man with the bronze skin and red hair was from where she was.

Kenshin's eyes were solemn; a shadow was cast inside them. She dropped her glance to her feet.

"Ken...what are you doing here? I thought that..."

"You mustn't worry. Miss Kaoru, it's been a while."

Kaoru collected her parasol and her books. "I need to go home."

"Miss Kaoru?"

"It's Mrs. Mallory now Ken."

"Mrs. Mallory, can't we talk?"

Even on his tongue her new name was disgusting. Still she marched on like a little soldier until she got to her home. No one but Kenshin was persistent to follow her. When she arrived at the door she noted that her husband wasn't home, but the family maid was. She opened the door and closed it in his face. She was sweating bullets.

"'S tha' you Missus?"

"Jesse," Kaoru sunk to the floor. The black maid came to her to help her up. "We have company."

"I see that."

"Will you take him to the living room?"

"Why a' course Missus."

Kaoru went upstairs making sure that Kenshin couldn't follow her. Once she was there she collapsed. She was absolutely devastated about something she'd been dreaming of for years. She felt as though she were out of her mind and this was all a dream. She pulled at her hair a moment then looked at Jesse staring at her. The woman came upstairs.

"Are you a'right Missus?"

"Fine Jesse, he's just an...old friend."

"I understand. From...?"

"Yes."

"Would ya like me t' tell him he hasta wait?"

"No, no, just," Kaoru drew a calming breath. "Do I look alright?"

"You look very nice Missus."

"Thank you."

Kaoru marched downstairs where she saw Kenshin sitting calmly on her couch. He was looking around at her things in amazement. She took another breath.

"Ken?"

He turned to look at her and then stood. "Kaoru."

"Please Kenshin. I'm married now."

"I know, I just," he sighed. "I didn't know."

"Things change."

"I know."

"I...I can't have you here."

"I know. I have a few friends who have worked things out here."

Kaoru embraced Kenshin abruptly and all her emotions spilled out of her. She was upset, and she cried on his jacket. "I thought you were dead, all this time you were alive...all this time."

"Kaoru."

"I thought you were dead. Why did you make me think you were dead!" she screeched. She fell back on the couch sobbing.

"I didn't know I upset you so much."

"What happened?" Kaoru demanded. "What all happened?"

"It's complicated."

"What happened?"

"Shishio...Shishio died amidst battle. Burst into flames almost. But, the country still broke out into war. There was nothing that we could do about it. It was just our time to leave the place. The Portuguese have control of it now," Kenshin stared at his feet. "That's the short of it at least."

"There's no more Yu-Quia?"

"I'm afraid not. All of the civilians either fled or went on to be Brazilian citizens."

"And where we you?"

"Working out the matters with the Portuguese. That was my duty," Kenshin looked her in the eyes. "There's nothing left of the palace. Or the city. It's all been destroyed and is just a harbor now."

"Oh."

"But at the inn I have your things that you left behind. All your books, and your pen. The ink dried up long ago, and some of the pages have damage. I've read them so often that its not fun to read the same text again."

"Kenshin," Kaoru took his hand. "Kenshin, I really missed you. I did."

"I know."

She wanted to tell him that he was too late to do anything about her marriage. She could get a divorce, but that would only be much worse. She put her hand to her chest.

"You're staying at an inn?"

"For the next week or so. I have no place to stay."

"I think I can find a place. You'll get to be with Mr. Hiko."

"Dad's still alive?"

"He's done well actually," Kaoru corrected. "He's a little more social now. People aren't so harsh on him. Many don't even know he's blind."

"That sounds like him."

"You've gotten so good at English," Kaoru siad. Her voice faltered. "I've never heard it so clear."

"I had a lot of time to practice," Kenshin switched back into Yu-Quian. "A lot."

She felt the tears down her face. His old language was choppy. He was so fluent in English and yet.

"Kenshin," Kaoru took his hand. "I want to be with you, you know right?"

"Yes."

"We'll just wait a little longer. Okay? Just, a little more. Until we can be safe. Until my husband dies. He's sick and won't make it much longer."

"Kaoru," Kenshin brought her to look at him. There was something between their eyes that just couldn't be matched by anything else. She resisted the urge to kiss him. An urge she'd felt for the past few years. "Kaoru, I've waited this long, I can wait longer. I promise."

"Kenshin?" Kaoru slipped into Yu-Quian. "Ro komata ah."

His face softened. The maid looked on oddly at the words.

"Ro komata ah luu."

A/N: heehee....what do you think they said? Well...im finsihed. I hope you liked it. KenSan out!