Thursday: Dinner and an Invitation




"Oh my! That sounds complicated!" Kaoru Kamiya commented as the woman doctor, Megumi Takani, finished telling the group about a medical procedure she was to perform a few towns over.


It was dinnertime at the Kamiya dojo and Kaoru had invited Megumi, as well as little Ayame and Suzume to sample the new recipe she was serving. The three men- Kenshin Himura, Sanosuke Sagara, and Yahiko Myoujin- were hardly listening to the women's chatter; faces eagerly involved in their plates. Even Yahiko would agree that Kaoru's cooking had been drastically improving lately.


"Yes, quite complicated!" she replied, "That's why I have to make the trip. And of course the old doctor picks this week to come down with a cold. I'm not nearly as experienced with it as he. especially as I am without a capable assistant."


"Hmm-mm," Kaoru nodded in understanding as she watched the two little girls wolf down her cooking with a slight smile.


Megumi let her chopsticks linger on her lower lip as she chewed thoughtfully in the silence, "Say, do you think you would be able to take a few days time off from dojo work to come along? I could really use another pair of woman's hands."


Kenshin perked up from his bowl at these words, *Kaoru leave the dojo? Without us? .she's never done that for more that a few hours before, that she hasn't.*


"Do you really think I'd be any help?"


"Oh yes! I won't be leaving until tomorrow after lunch, if you need time to think on it. Oh! And it'd only be fair to give you part of the fee, if money's any incentive."


Sanosuke heard this part, *.maybe then Missy could afford to feed us stuff like this more often.*


"Hey Yahiko, you listening?" he whispered to the little boy next to him.


"Mmph?" Yahiko mumbled with his mouth stuffed full of food. Grains of rice were stuck all around his face like an old man's white stubble.


"Little missy might be gone on a trip with Megumi for a while."


"Ah ha ha!" Yahiko banged his fist on the table, " I wouldn't have to practice!"


"Yeah, and I could finally invite some of my friends over for a little shindig."


"Now, now!" Kenshin raised his finger in an authoritative manor {U.U}, "If Miss Kaoru were to go, we would have to be responsible, and respectful of her property, that we most certainly would."


"Sure Kenshin," Sanosuke grinned and threw his bowl at the fire haired mans head {@__@#;}, "but that doesn't mean we couldn't have some fun too."


Megumi got up and smoothed her kimono, "Well, it has been quite nice seeing all of you, but I have to visit a few patients before it gets dark. Ayame, Suzume! Say thank you and goodbye."


"Awww! But Aunty Megumi!"


Kenshin and Kaoru walked their three guests to the gate. Sanosuke and Yahiko were still audible, grumbling at having to do the dishes.


"So, I'll stop by tomorrow then?"


"Yes, I'll have made a decision."


"Alright, until then. Thank you again for dinner!" she held each girls hand and started down the road back into the city.


Their hosts watched until they were out of sight around a corner.


"Oh Kenshin. do you think I should go?" Kaoru asked the rurouni as they walked back, "I mean, would you guys actually be able to handle yourselves?"


Kenshin smiled warmly, "we've all been bachelors long before we came to live here. I'm sure if you wanted to go, everything would be fine here, that it would."


"Really?" Kaoru looked into his beautiful amethyst eyes, " I think I would enjoy a brief change of scenery."


Kenshin absent-mindedly picked up her hand as they mounted the porch and squeezed it, "all is settled then, will you need anything washed before you pack?"


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