Kenshin felt about thirty years older as he walked into the Sun Room, haggard and exhausted. He wanted nothing more than to go back to his room and go to sleep, away from everyone else, but he had an appointment to keep. No matter how upset he was, he still had duties to perform. Duties that had increased overnight, it seemed, with Homura's disappearance. Now Okita was in charge of the History Club and Kenshin was...what? Second in command? A person of no great importance?

He supposed he would find out right now, wouldn't he?

But...Tomoe. Why Tomoe? Of all people, why her? Just looking at her was painful. It dredged up too many memories, too many feelings far better left in the past, impossible though that was now. She was here. As much as he didn't want her to be, she was. And he had to deal with the consequences.

The rurouni shook himself and headed over to where Okita was sitting.

"Good morning, Okita-dono," he said somewhat stiffly. "May this one join you?"