Kaoru was silent. It wasn't that she was ignoring him. Simply that her mind was swamped with memories and emotions. The entire day she had been thinking of her Father.

Somehow it..had given her strength. The same strength she felt when she thought about Kenshin--thought about being strong enough to keep herself from getting hurt.

"..Takuto." Her voice was soft, her head against the wall as she stared up at the fluorescent lights. She hadn't realized how exhausted she was.

"...Everything you're saying is right. Is what I'd expect from someone I'm teaching. But right now--I just--"

A tear slid down her bruised cheek.

"I want to keep the feelings I felt today in my heart." She closed her eyes.