Chapter 110:- Back home

Yuki ruffled Kenshin's hair one more time, a small, fond smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, Kenshin, it's getting late. You should head home. Your sister's probably waiting for you."

Kenshin glanced up at her, his expression hesitant. "Sensei, why don't you come with me? You could stay for a bit."

Yuki shook her head with a gentle chuckle, waving him off. "No, no. You go back to your sister, okay?" She gave him a playful wink. "I think she'd appreciate having you all to herself right now."

The words struck a nerve, and Kenshin's mind immediately flashed back to his earlier comment about Akane being pent up. His face turned an even brighter shade of red, almost as red as his hair, as the embarrassment hit him once more.

Yuki grinned at his reaction, clearly enjoying the rare sight of Kenshin flustered. Without saying anything further, she gestured for him to lead the way as they started walking through the quiet Uchiha compound.

The path was peaceful, with only the sound of their footsteps and the faint rustle of the wind in the trees. As they approached Kenshin's house, the soft glow of the lights inside was visible through the windows.

"Well," Yuki said, stopping just short of the door. "This is your stop. Go on in. And Kenshin?"

He turned to look at her, curious.

"Take care of your sister. And yourself, okay? And don't stay up all night, it's bad for your health." Her tone was light, but there was a deeper sincerity behind her words.

Kenshin nodded. "I will, sensei. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Kenshin."

He stepped inside, leaving Yuki standing outside. She lingered for a moment, looking up at the house with its lit windows. A faint sigh escaped her lips. "I really need to pick up the courage to face him properly someday soon. Maybe then, I'll stop feeling like such a coward."

As she began walking away, she thought about Kakashi. His strength in enduring loss, had always been something she admired deeply. Yuki let out a soft chuckle, muttering to herself, "I should probably ask him out. We're not getting any younger, and even Asuma and Kurenai made it work. But Kakashi…"

She pouted slightly, the memory of his usual nonchalance surfacing in her mind. "What does he even get out of those porn novels anyway? They're disgusting. Men are weird."

Yuki shook her head, dismissing the thought for now. "Maybe the festival would be a better time. After all, they say festivals are romantic." She glanced up at the night sky, a faint smile forming on her lips as she continued her walk home.

The ice clone's thoughts, however, were far more preoccupied. It had to report back to the real Yuki, who was waiting back at home. There was so much to convey—about Kenshin, about their conversation, about his subtle changes and vulnerabilities.

And maybe, just maybe, she'd bring up the idea of asking Kakashi out to herself again. The clone's lips quirked into a small, wry smile. "I'm seriously overthinking this," she muttered. "But the Rinne Festival is in fifteen days. Plenty of time to figure this out. I won't chicken out again... hopefully."

The ice clone walked through the quiet streets, her thoughts swirling. She couldn't shake off the feeling of frustration with herself. He had been so honest, so open despite his hesitations, and she had failed to meet him with the same sincerity.

An idea struck her as she neared Yuki's apartment. "Yeah that might work. In theory at least. Worth a shot."

Once inside the apartment, the ice clone stepped into the small living room. The door to Yuki's bedroom was ajar, and the sound of soft footsteps drew her attention.

She pushed the door open to find the real Yuki sitting cross-legged on the bed in her bathrobe, drying her damp hair with a towel.

"Oh, you're back," the real Yuki said, her voice casual but curious. "How'd it go?"

The ice clone didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stared at the real Yuki, her expression unreadable.

"...Well?" the real Yuki prompted, a hint of concern creeping into her tone.

Finally, the clone let out a frustrated sigh and muttered, "There's nothing I want to do more right now than punch you square in the face."

The real Yuki froze, staring at her clone in shock. "What?! Did I miss something? What's wrong with you?"

The ice clone shook her head and smirked bitterly. "You'll understand soon enough." Forming a hand seal, she summoned a shadow clone, which stood silently next to her. "Now deactivate me."

The real Yuki frowned, her brows knitting together. "You're acting weird, you know? But fine." With a reluctant sigh, she dispelled the ice clone.

The shadow clone's face darkened, her frustration evident as she clenched her fist. Before the real Yuki could react, the shadow clone muttered, "You're a coward," and punched herself, dissipating into a puff of smoke.

The memories hit Yuki all at once. Kenshin's honest apology, his self loathing, and his desire to mend his relationship with his sensei. His sincerity had been palpable, and all he wanted was to repair the bond between them.

But alongside those memories came the ice clone's own feelings—a deep, simmering frustration at Yuki's cowardice. The real Yuki's chest tightened as she realized just how much she'd been holding back, unable to meet Kenshin halfway.

Letting out a shaky breath, Yuki buried her face into her pillows, groaning softly. "I really am the worst," she muttered, echoing the ice clone's earlier sentiment. "I should've gone myself. I should've… That clone was right, I'm a fucking coward."

She trailed off, her thoughts drifting briefly to Kakashi. Her cheeks warmed at the idea of confronting him about her feelings. But she quickly pushed the thought aside, muttering, "I'll handle that later, festival's in two weeks."

After several minutes of lying in silence, Yuki finally sat up, determination hardening her gaze. "No more excuses," she said quietly. "I'll meet him properly tomorrow. Maybe we can train together—start fixing things little by little."

She tightened the sash of her robe and looked out the window at the moonlit village. "Kenshin's trying so hard to make things right. It's about time I did the same."

With that resolve, Yuki stood up and began preparing for bed, her mind now focused on how to approach Kenshin the next day. Whatever awkwardness lay between them, she was determined to face it head-on.

Back at his house, Kenshin opened the door to find Kaede standing just inside, her arms crossed loosely. She greeted him with a respectful bow, but there was an unusual tension in her posture, and her golden eyes betrayed a flicker of hesitation—something uncharacteristic of her usual confidence.

"Welcome back, Master," she said, her voice steady but softer than usual. "If it's not too much trouble, may I have a word with you? Just for a little while."

Kenshin blinked, surprised but not entirely caught off guard. Kaede's behavior had been erratic since their confrontation, and he knew he needed to tread carefully. He offered her a small nod. "Of course, Kaede. Let's talk."

Kaede gestured toward the living room, and they made their way to the empty space. Kenshin followed her to the couch, where she sat down gracefully. He hesitated for a moment before sitting beside her, keeping a casual but attentive demeanor.

For a moment, Kaede was silent, her gaze fixed on her hands as if searching for the right words. Finally, she turned to him, her expression unusually serious. "Master… what exactly did you do to me during our battle?"

Kenshin's heart skipped a beat at the question. He had been expecting it, but the directness still caught him off guard. He took a moment to compose himself, his crimson eyes meeting hers evenly.

"What do you mean?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Kaede exhaled, her voice tinged with uncharacteristic uncertainty. "What I feel… It doesn't make sense. It's not like me. This… loyalty, this need to follow you—it feels foreign. I can't shake the thought that it's not entirely my own."

Kenshin studied her for a moment, carefully weighing his words. He couldn't let her suspicion lead her to uncover the truth about the Kotoamatsukami. "Kaede," he began, his tone calm but firm, "everything you're feeling is yours. I didn't do anything to you, I promise. You made a choice—out of your own pride, out of your own will."

Kaede's eyes narrowed slightly, and Kenshin raised a hand, gesturing for her to hear him out. "You said it yourself, Kaede. You see something in me—potential. That's why you chose to stand by my side. I know it feels strange, but that doesn't mean it's not real. You're unyielding, proud, and strong. This… loyalty you feel, it's just another reflection of that strength."

Kaede's golden eyes searched his face, her expression unreadable. Kenshin continued, his tone softening. "To me, Kaede, you're a precious comrade and a friend now. And you're still the strongest enemy I've ever faced, and I haven't forgotten my promise to grow strong enough to defeat you someday. But until that day comes, I want you to stand with me, not against me."

Her expression wavered, a flicker of vulnerability flashing in her eyes. "You truly believe that?" she asked quietly.

"I do," Kenshin replied without hesitation. "And if I could ask for one more favor…" He chuckled lightly. "Maybe tone it down a little with Akane. My fragile little heart can't take the constant tension between you two."

The joke seemed to have it's intended effect. A rare laugh escaped Kaede, a sound that surprised them both. She stood up, her confident aura returning as she looked down at him. "You're bold Master. Perhaps too much for your own good. And I will try to be less confrontational with Akane-sama from now on."

Without a word, she leaned down and placed a soft, fleeting kiss on his cheek.

"Goodnight, Master," she said quietly, her voice carrying a rare gentleness. She turned and left the room, her hair shimmering faintly in the dim light as she disappeared into her room.

The moment she was gone, four figures cautiously peeked out from behind the doorway to the staircase. Akane, Kana, Yukari, and Kira had been watching the entire exchange, their expressions a mixture of surprise and relief.

Kira let out a soft sigh, her ears twitching slightly. "Well, that went better than expected," she murmured. "I was half expecting to use this eye again."

Akane crossed her arms, a slight pout on her lips. "She kissed him," she muttered, narrowing her eyes in the direction Kaede had gone. "She just had to kiss him."

Kana chuckled softly, nudging Akane. "She kissed his cheek. Don't start a war over it, Akane-chan."

Yukari, ever calm, smiled faintly. "It seems Kaede-sama is finding her place here. That's a good thing."

Kenshin, noticing them immediately, sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You know I can see you, right?"

The group lingered for a moment longer before retreating to their own rooms, leaving Kenshin alone in the living room. He let out a quiet breath, leaning back against the couch. Things were far from perfect, but tonight had been a step forward—for both him and Kaede.

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