"Kaoru-dono, will you teach me to…uhhh…dance?"

Kenshin asks Kaoru for a dance lesson, a favor asked by Sanosuke. The kenshin-gumi is up to something to get Kaoru and Kenshin together, but will their plan succeed? Will a simple dance bring Kaoru and Kenshin together or apart? Please read and review.. K+K and a bit of S+M!

DANCE THE TEARS AWAY

Discalimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, that I don't.

Chapter 1

Dances and Memories

"Kaoru-dono, will you teach me to…uhhh…dance?"

Kaoru almost choked on the tea she was sipping. She never expected Kenshin would ask such a favor.

EARLIER THAT DAY

"No way, Sano! I don't even know how to dance, that I don't," Kenshin stated firmly, as if his resolute rejection of Sano's request would stop the street fighter from pestering him.

Wincing from Kenshin's clear-cut refusal, Sano scratched his head, thinking of ways to convince the rurouni to accept his appeal. 'I could kidnap his sakabattou.' He eyed Kenshin's sword tied securely to the band of his hakama. 'No, that won't do. His sakabattou's like his Siamese twin. It's impossible to remove it from his side.'

Sano released a frustrated sigh. 'What to do, what to do…You can do it, Sagara… think, think, think!' Nothing came.

"Oh c'mon, Kenshin!" Sano leapt from his sitting position and stood in front of Kenshin. "That's the reason why you're going to ask Jou-chan to teach you!"

Shaking his head lightly, Kenshin straightened himself. "If you're so keen on learning, why don't you ask her yourself?"

"You don't think I've thought about that already!" Sano was almost yelling, trying to calm himself down. This wasn't going as easy as he thought it would be. The rurouni was being stubborn, and his refusal to cooperate was pushing the street fighter to the brink of his sanity.

"And…" Kenshin said calmly.

"And…well…I figured if I asked her, she wouldn't take me seriously. She'd just laugh at my face," Sano frowned at the thought of Kaoru's mocking billows of laughter. "Plus, she'd probably think I'm too perverted to ask her to teach me."

"Are you not?" Kenshin chuckled.

Apparently, Kenshin was taking Sano's dilemma lightly. It tempted Sano to hit Kenshin with Kaoru's bokken, which was propped against the wall. He, however, abandoned the idea, thinking it wouldn't do him any good. He'd just have to use his "communication skills" rather than his fighting proficiency to coax Kenshin into going along with his plan.

"C'mon! Be serious, will ya? This is the first time I asked fox-lady go to the dance with me at the Tanabata Dance Fare," Sano's gaze drifted towards the window. He had a dazed look on his face obviously reminiscing a moment he had with Megumi. "Unbelievably, she said yes…"

His goofy grin made Kenshin think Sano was having an out-of-body experience when he thinks of Megumi. It was…creepy.

"And now, the problem is…you don't know to dance…"

Kenshin's words hauled Sano back to reality. It hit him hard. Turning his attention back to Kenshin, Sano placed a hand on the ex-hitokiri's shoulder. "That's why I'm begging you to ask Jou-chan to teach you!" Sano plead. "Then… you teach me what she taught you. That simple!"

Kenshin stared at him for a moment, squinting his eyes as a thought crossed his mind. "Sano, don't you think it would be a little awkward… me, teaching you…'you know…guy to guy."

"You're impossible!" Sano burst incredulously. "Of course we wouldn't…ya' know…dance as partners."

Kenshin shuddered inwardly. 'That would be…gross."

"Anyhow, I still don't approve of your idea. Why don't you just ask Megumi-dono to teach you since SHE is the one you asked out," Kenshin said as he turned his back from Sano to prepare the ingredients for their dinner.

"Are you stupid!" Sano yelled, sitting on the countertop, watching Kenshin chop the radish. "She'd never dance with me if I'd do that." Sano gave a half-hearted groan. "Besides…" His voice was soft, almost an inaudible whisper. "I told her…I'm a good dancer!"

Of course, nothing escapes the senses of the ex-hitokiri. He heard every single word Sano had uttered. Kenshin didn't know whether to laugh at what Sano just told him or to be disappointed at Sano for lying to Megumi…plus he's being asked to connive in Sano's little scheme. He continued chopping the ingredients carefully, thinking of what to do about Sano's problem. He did want to help Sano, but it wasn't really that simple for Kenshin.

'At least you'll have time alone with Kaoru' Kenshin thought hopefully

'Yeah, but…it would be an unnerving situation. I mean, what if she doesn't know how to dance!'

'Nonsense! You know she knows how to dance.'

Kenshin's inner battle was driving him crazy. From the corner of his eye, he could see Sano fidgeting, also deep in thought. Sano's a nice guy. He was always there for him when he was in trouble. Heck! He even went to battle with Kenshin against Shishio, even if it meant he could also lose his life. So, what was so hard with this teensy-weensy favor? Sano wasn't asking him to kill anybody; it was just a dance…

Sano rose abruptly off the countertop, suddenly groveling at Kenshin's feet. "Onegai, Kenshin…If you want, you could ask Jou-chan to the dance! Pleeeeeaaaassseeee…"

You could ask Jou-chan to the dance…

Sano's words reverberated in Kenshin's mind. He did want to spend some time with Kaoru, he just didn't have the guts to ask her out. What if she turns him down? What if she doesn't like him? What if she's gonna go out with someone else? Too many what ifs entered Kenshin's troubled head. Kenshin looked at Sano, who was still pleading…he's really determined to learn.

"Kenshin, please! Just this one small favor…" Sano clasped his hands together, hoping to get that angelic look children would usually have when they're begging for something from their parents.

Setting aside the ingredients and knife, Kenshin faced Sano. Sano looked ridiculous; he seemed like an overgrown kid asking for lollipop. Good thing he wasn't pouting like what kids dot o achieve the puppy-look. Kenshin scratched his chin, indecisive at that moment. 'Kaou-dono never really had time for herself lately. She's always busy training students from other dojos. Maybe this could help her relax a bit.'

Kenshin nodded slowly. "Okay…"

Sano's head jerked forward, not believing what he just heard. "Really!"

"I just said okay, didn't I" Kenshin muttered. He didn't know what mess he got himself into this time. He just hoped Kaoru was in a good mood today. He eyed the bokken on the wall disdainfully. 'Better keep that out of Kaoru-dono's sight…for safety purposes.'

"I'll make sure Yahiko's out tonight so…ya' know," Sano winked, elbowing Kenshin's ribs. "Well, I'm off to see fox-lady. Thanks Kenshin."

Sano left Kenshin to attend to his cooking. Closing the gate of the dojo, he stealthily vaulted towards the Sakura tree where two dark figures were waiting.

"What took you so long, tori-atama?" an irritated Megumi greeted the nearing street fighter.

"Lower your voice, kitsune! Someone might hear you," Sano whispered gruffly.

"How did it go, Sano?" Tae asked looking serious and determined.

"With my convincing powers, I think it went pretty well," Sano said stroking his chin.

"Did he say he'll ask Kaoru-chan to the dance?" Megumi asked.

"Well…not really," Sano replied, running a hand through his hair. "But by the looks of it, I think he'll ask her out."

"You think!" Megumi half-screamed at Sano. "You mean you're not sure?"

"Pipe down, kitsune!" Sano said calmly, poking a finger in his ear. "He didn't actually tell me he's gonna take Jou-chan to the dance fare!"

"Then, we'll just have to wait what happens," Tae intervened, hoping the two would stop arguing.

CURRENTLY

Kaoru straightened herself, not trusting her ears. "What was that again, Kenshin?"

Kenshin gulped. "Annooo…can you teach me how to dance?" Kenshin said slowly, looking down at his cup of tea. He was too discomfited to look at Kaoru, especially now that he could feel heat rushing across his face.

"Is there a particular reason why you'd like to learn?" Kaoru asked curiously. He had never asked her a favor before, but this one request…she never anticipated something like this, even in her wildest dreams. It was 'kawaii' actually.

Kenshin, writhing his fingers, struggled to find an answer to Kaoru's inquiry. Sano begged that Kenshin shouldn't tell Kaoru about what they discussed earlier. "Well…aaannnooo…I…There's this…uhhh…"

Clearly, Kenshin was having a hard time answering her question. Kaoru looked at him, brows arched in curiosity.

A minute had already passed, and all Kenshin managed to say was "uhhh…errr…" and incoherent babbles about a dance fare. Kaoru was growing impatient every second. Releasing a puff of breath, Kaoru stood up. "Never mind, Kenshin. Don't answer that question."

Kaoru placed her cup of tea on the table and walked out to the porch, leaving the rurouni in the kitchen.

"Kaoru-dono, where…"

"Kenshin, are you coming or not?" Kaoru said standing in the courtyard, observing the sky as faint glows of the stars started make itself visible on the orange tinged horizon.

Kenshin hurriedly left the kitchen and went out in the courtyard, standing behind Kaoru, whose back was turned to him.

"I figured its better here out in the courtyard. There's not enough space in the kitchen to dance." Kaoru said, turning to face Kenshin.

Kenshin's eyes lit up. "Hai!"

Kenshin prepared for his lesson. He removed his sakabattou from his hakama and stood in front of Kaoru, waiting for her instructions.

"Ready?"

Kenshin nodded. And so the lesson begins.

"Okay, it's done like this. First place your hand…" Kaoru grabbed Kenshin's right hand and positioned it on her waist. "here". She rested her left hand on Kenshin's shoulder.

"H-hai!" Kenshin mumbled.

"Your other hand…" Kaoru, again, grabbed Kenshin's free hand and interlocked her fingers with his. "will hold mine, like this."

Kenshin nodded, suddenly feeling hot patches spreading across his cheeks.

"Now, we start with the footwork. Follow me." Kaoru instructed, showing Kenshin the slow dance step patterns, moving forward, backward and to the side.

"No Kenshin, not that foot…" Kaoru said calmly.

"Gomen, Kaoru-dono…It's just…I can't…" Kenshin muttered shyly.

"Here…" Kaoru release her hold on Kenshin's shoulder and pulled up the skirt of her kimono slightly above her knees. "You can see where my feet are going, 'that better?"

Oh, he could see not only her feet alright. Her flawless limbs were alluring. Kenshin was trying hard not to gape. "H-hai," Kenshin said, slightly shaking his head to get tempting thoughts out of his head.

"Okay, we start again," He heard Kaoru say.

After an hour of what they thought would be a pain-free dance lesson…

"Now, try to go backwards…" Kaoru said. "No…ouch…not like that…ouch!"

Kenshin was struggling to coordinate his limbs. Who knew dancing was awfully complicated. "Gomen nasai, Kaoru-dono."

"Let's try again. I think it's better if we count."

"Alright. Promise I won't step on your foot again," Kenshin joked, though he knew that was impossible.

"You better not!" Kaoru teased.

They started the dancing again…

"1,2… 1,2… backwards… 1,2…1,2… side again….1,2….1,2… forward…"

They tried dancing to the tune of Mother Nature. The crickets sang tot them, while the fireflies danced around them.

"Am I doing good?" Kenshin asked.

"Hai," Kaoru replied, though her toes still ached from the countless times Kenshin accidentally stepped o her. "We can go a little faster now, ready!"

Kenshin beamed, glad that he was making progress. "Yes."

Kaoru counted a little faster and stopped until Kenshin was able to follow the step patterns without counting.

It was growing dark. The sun had completely hid behind the mountains, leaving the moon and the stars to illumine Tokyo.

Down at the Kamiya Dojo, Kenshin was getting the hang of Kaoru's dance lessons. He was able to follow the pace smoothly, no longer hurting Kaoru's toes in the process. This was what Kenshin ever wanted since he came home form Shishio's fight…a moment alone with Kaoru. He never had the opportunity to do so because ever since the Kyoto battle, Yahiko, Sano, Megumi and the rest of the 'family' had been dogging him wherever he went like he's going to run off somewhere. Of course, he would never do that again, especially when it hurt him to see Kaoru break down like the day he said goodbye. It tore his heart to pieces. It took every ounce of his willpower not to turn back, because he knew if he did, he'd never be able to leaver her. He'd never go to Kyoto to fight Shishio. But he had to do his duty…he had to face Shishio for Japan's future…for Kaoru's future.

Kenshin unconsciously pulled Kaoru closer to him, his grip on her tightened. The memories of Kyoto haunted him, but her close presence made it all go away. Her jasmine scent numbed his senses, dissolving the pain in his heart. He could never understand his fate. He had done so many horrid things in the past that he didn't deserve to have such divine blessings such as Kaoru. Kenshin deemed himself unworthy of her, yet being close to her seems so right. He could never deny the fact that he truly loved the shihondai more than his life. Kaoru is not as elegant as Tomoe, not as reserved as Tomoe, and not as demure as Tomoe. But, Kaoru is not Tomoe, and for Kenshin, all the girls in Japan are nothing compared to Kaoru. Her beauty encompasses what can be seen by the eye, it delves deeper into her soul, and that is what makes her a priceless gem in Kenshin's perspective.

Kaoru felt Kenshin's firm hold on her. She felt so safe and secure in his arms; she wished time would stop to make the feeling last forever. Smiling wistfully to herself, Kaoru mumbled a faint praise to Kenshin, admiring his performance. Kaoru slowed the pace of their dance, mellowing down into a slow side-to-side step to rest their exhausted tarsals.

The air was getting chilly. The cold wind wafted past them, nipping at their skin. Kenshin could feel Kaoru shiver from the cold. Kenshin was about to tell Kaoru that they should get in the house now before she catches a cold, but something was preventing him from doing so. A voice echoed in his head "Not yet…"

'But Kaoru-dono will get sick, that she will,' Kenshin thought worriedly.

'Just not yet…' the voice repeated.

His yearning for Kaoru's presence made him long for more.

Another involuntary shiver from Kaoru brought Kenshin back to his senses. Letting go of Kaoru's hand, and placing it on his shoulder, Kenshin positioned his untangled hand on Kaoru's waist, pulling Kaoru closer, hoping to protect her from the frigid atmosphere.

"Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said breaking the silence. "Where did you learn to dance?"

"Otou-san taught me," Kaoru smiled at the thought of her father. "He was an excellent dancer." Kaoru remembered those times when they'd dance in the dojo after a tiring Kamiya Kashin Ryu training.

'You need to learn how to dance, Kaoru-chan…in case a boy asks you out,' Kaoru remembered her father joking about how graceful and good she is at dancing and that she's ready to dance with other dance with other boys.

'Boys are disgusting!' That was what Kaoru usually told her father every time he'd tease her. Kaoru was boyish when she was little. She'd rather play with bokkens than with dolls, and would rather have male playmates than girls.

It was nice reminiscing the fun moments with her father, but she couldn't help missing his presence and his soothing voice. The last dance they had was before he went to war. It was a slow, sad dance. Kaoru held his father tightly, as tears poured freely down her face, staining her father's gi.

"Don't cry, Kaoru-chan. I'll be back," Kaoru's father whispered. "Don't worry."

"You'll come soon, ne, otou-san?" Kaoru said in between muffled sobs.

Her father squeezed her small arms. "Hai. I'll return right after the war."

But he never came home. Kaoru waited for her father. Everyday, she'd sit on the porch, hoping for her father's return. One day, a telegram came saying her father got killed in the war. Ever since that day , she stopped dancing, and busied herself in perfecting the Kamiya Kashin Ryu.

Kaoru's eyes started to sting as tears threatened to spill down her face. Blinking back the tears she wished Kenshin wouldn't notice, Kaoru pulled away from Kenshin's hold. "You learn fast, Kenshin," Kaoru muttered pertaining to their dance lesson. She was no longer in the mood to continue, now that memories of her father plagued her mind.

She turned and was about to go back in the house but Kenshin seized her arm and pulled her into his arms, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Kenshin knew it broke Kaoru's heart every time she'd talk about her father. He knew how it felt mourning alone for someone special, and he wanted Kaoru to feel she was no longer alone.

Shocked by Kenshin's forwardness, Kaoru stood paralyzed under Kenshin's strong arms. Fresh tears started to pour freely down her face as soft sobs managed to escape her trembling lips.

Kenshin stroked Kaoru's hair, a silent plea to stop her crying. "It' alright Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said softly hoping his reassuring words would comfort her.

Kaoru nodded slightly as if saying she will be okay. Kaoru buried her head in the crook of Kenshin's neck to stifle her soft sobs and calm her spasmodic breathing. She was glad she found solace in Kenshin, a feeling robbed from her since the day her father left their home.

Pulling away from Kaoru, Kenshin reached for her bowed head tilting her face up to look at him. "I'm sure your otou-san doesn't want to see you sad," Kenshin hushed. "You're not alone anymore. You have us… and you'll always have me."

He reached for her tear-stained face, wiping the tears away with his fingers. His face edged closer to Kaoru's, trying hard to fight the temptation to kiss her. Kenshin knew it was a futile battle. Their faces were mere inches away from each other when…

CRASH!

Both of them jumped, startled at what they heard. It sounded like something broke from inside the kitchen. They rushed towards the source of the sound only to find a cat licking its paws beside shattered shards of clay pot.

"It was just a cat," Kaoru mustered, relieved it wasn't someone dangerous.

'Darn feline,' Kenshin thought scornfully, eyeing the cat who disturbed his rare moment with Kaoru.

"I'll take care of this mess, Kaoru-dono. You should go to bed now. It's pretty late." Kenshin said as he crouched to pick up the ruins of the pot.

"Okay," Kaoru replied.

"Thank you, Kaoru-dono…for the lesson," Kenshin said, feeling his cheeks heat up.

"You're welcome." Kaoru smiled as she turned towards the hall to her room.

A/N: That's the first chapter! What ya' think! Please review… This is my first fanfic so please be nice… Thank you for reading…

- dHensKy021

Did a little editing.. with the typo errors! ;)