Chapter 1:

Cruel Summer

Kaoru sighed as she grabbed a cloth and wiped her forehead. She waved her hand in front of her face for some air. She sighed."Oh Kami....it's going to be a cruel summer with the heat this year."she said. Kenshin nodded."That it will, Kaoru-dono."he said as he stepped out of the dojo and gave her a glass of cold lemonade. She nodded softly."Thank you Ken-san." she said. Yahiko groaned as he sat there on the porch."Gaaahh!! Why does it have to be so hot?!"he shouted in frustration. Kaoru shook her head."That's just the way it is this year, Yahiko."she said.

Megumi stepped outside."Miss Kaoru...can I please speak with you a minute?"she asked softly. Kaoru blinked then nodded. "Hai.....I'm coming..."She said and walked with Megumi back inside and to a room and shut the door. Kaoru sat down with Megumi. Megumi looked at her."Miss Kaoru?? What happened last week? Did you go through with what we talked about?"she asked. Kaoru blinked."With what?!" she squeaked quietly. Megumi rolled her eyes."The thing that we talked about last week about Ken-san."she said. Kaoru blinked as she thought back to last week.

****FLASHBACK****

Kaoru got up and pulled Megumi into the room and shut the door. She had a light red to her cheeks in a blush as she looked at the floor."Uh...un....Megumi....you and Sano have been...well.....together for quite some time now. "She said. Megumi quirked a brow and nodded."Yes, indeed we have. Tomorrow will be 6 months." she said."Is there anything you need Miss Kaoru??"she asked. Kaoru just nodded and blushed more.

Megumi chuckled."Is this about Kenshin?"she asked. Kaoru's blush deepened as she nodded."Well....I...un...umm....I wanted to ask you something....but I'm not sure how to ask it."she said quietly. Megumi quirked a brow."Kaoru.....you're ready for him...aren't you?" she asked. Kaoru blinked as she sweat dropped."Well, I...um....."She stopped then sighed."Yes...."she said.

Megumi clapped her hands together and squeaked happily."OH!!! Yes!!! 'Bout damn time!!!" she shouted happily. Kaoru's eyes widened and waved her hand at her."Shhh....shhhh...I don't want anyone to hear. "She said, blushing. Megumi snickered.

****END FLASHBACK****

Kaoru blinked."I..uh….well, you see…." She stopped as Megumi's hand came in contact with her cheek."OOO!! Kaoru! Just stop playing and get him!!!" She said. Kaoru chuckled."yes, but I'm just a little nervous and shy, Megumi. I'm afraid Kenshin doesn't feel for me the way I feel for him." she said. Megumi sighed and groaned in frustration."Kenshin LOVES you so much Kaoru! Why do you think whenever he leaves, he can't really look at you? Why do you think he always comes back? It's because when he leaves, it hurts him too much to leave you....so he can't look at you because he doesn't want you to see him cry and he comes back...for YOU! Not for himself, not for anyone...but YOU!"she said. "Kenshin truly loves you with all his heart, body, mind, and soul. He loves you more than life itself. Are you that damn blind to see that, Kaoru? He will not ever reject you or turn you away from him!" Kaoru blink as she blushed lightly. She straightened up. "Thank you, Megumi. I don't know what I'd do without you." she said with a small smile. Megumi chuckled. "Nothing....now go get your man." she said.

Kaoru walked out of the room as she smiled lighty. She went out onto the porch of the dojo. She stared up at the sky as she contemplated about how to approach Kenshin later that night. Kenshin came up behind her quietly. "Kaoru-dono?" he said quietly. Kaoru jumped as she shrieked and turned and smacked him. She sweat dropped as she realized what she did and who she did it to. "OH! Gomen nasai Ken-san! I didn't mean to hit you!" she said. Kenshin rubbed his cheek lightly and just smiled. "Oh Kaoru-dono....it is fine, that it is. Sessha did not mean to scare you like that, that I did not."he said softly. Kaoru sighed softly. "Did you need soemthing, Ken-san?" she asked. Kenshin shrugged. "Sessha only wanted to ask you if you would accompany me to the market."he said. Kaoru nodded. "I would like to, very much."she said. Kenshin smiled. "Okay, Kaoru-dono. Let me go inside real quick and I will be right back, that I will." he said. She nodded as she watched Kenshin disappear back into the dojo.

She sighed contently as she waited on Kenshin to come back outside. 'Oh Kamis.....please give me the courage to ask Kenshin about everything and to approach him tonight...' she thought to herself. Kenshin soon appeared bak outside. "Are you ready to go, Kaoru-dono?" he asked. kaoru nodded softly. "Yes....I am." she said. The walk was quiet as they went through the market. "Sessha is happy that you accompanied him Kaoru-dono, that I am." he said. Kaoru smiled lightly. "I am glad that you are happy Ken-san." she said. Kaoru glanced over at the merchant with all the ribbons and kimonos. She sighed softly as she glanced at a white silk ribbon with cherry blossoms on it. Kenshin blinked and stopped when he realized she was no longer walking. He came up behind her. "I think that would look beautiful in your hair Kaoru-dono, that I do." he said.

Kaoru blinked and looked at him."Yes....amybe so. But we cannot get it. We must get the groceries." she said as she set the ribbon back down. Kenshin picked it up. "Then let Sessha buy it for you, Kaoru-dono. It would make me very happy to do so if you are happy with it, that it would." Kaoru blinked. "But... Kenshin..." she stopped as he pulled out money. "No buts, Kaoru-dono. Sessha would love to buy it for you." he said as he handed the merchant the money. Kaoru sighed. "Kenshin....that ribbon was so expensive. There really was no need to buy it."she said. Kenshin only smiled as he pulled out the blue ribbon in her hair then replaced it with the white one that he just bought. "Kaoru-dono....Sessha only wishes to see you happy."he said. He frowned as he saw tears in her eyes. "Oro?!" he blinked, confused as to what caused the tears. "Was it something Sessha said or did to make you cry, Kaoru-dono?"he asked. Kaoru straightened herself up then gave him a reassuring smile. "Oh no Kenshin....I'm happy." she said.

They soon returned back to the dojo, only to find it empty. Kaoru blinked as she looked around after setting down the bag of groceries. Kenshin blinked and shrugged then set down two more bags. There was a note on the table. Kaoru picked it up. It was from Megumi. It read;

"Kaoru and Kenshin,

Sano and I are going out of town for a few days to be alone together and 'catch up', so to speak. Yahiko has gone off to see Aoshi and Misao's for a few days for some more training. We all shall see you two in maybe around a week. Have fun and be safe. Enjoy!

Megumi"

Kaoru blinked and set it down. "What was it about Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked as he put the groceries away. She blinked."Sano, Megumi, and Yahiko are going to be gone for about a week." she said. Kenshin only smiled lightly as he continued putting the groceries away. 'Oh Kaoru-dono....tonight...you're mine.' he thought to himself.