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Umbrellas and Flowers
by: MrFoshizzlePro
Disclaimer: Since Nobuhiro Watsuki has ownership over Rurouni Kenshin, I own nothing except this little fanfiction ^^;
The beautiful afternoon had been spoiled due to a storm capturing the days beauty in the form of heaping black clouds. The Kenshin-gumi rushed in to save what they could of the items brought on their afternoon picnic. By the downcasted looks sweeping across each of their wetting faces, it seemed obvious they had not rescued as much as they had anticipated.
Kaoru stiffled a sneeze as they strode through the rain. She rubbed her hands together to circulate the warmth back into them, puffing breaths of hot air through her lips.
"Are you cold, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin paced himself to meet up with her, concern glinting in his soft violet eyes. Kaoru shook her head and reassured him, "No, no I'm fine. It is a little chilly though, but I can manage."
"Oi, couldya two pick up the pace back there?" called Sanosuke from farther ahead, two folded blankets slung over his shoulder and a few bento boxes in hand.
"Yeah busu, hurry up!" exclaimed Yahiko, carrying the remainder of the bento boxes brought on the trip. "You can flirt with Kenshin all ya want when we get back to the dojo!"
A tense mark pulsated on Kaoru's forehead. She rolled back her drenched kimono sleeve threateningly. "What was that, Yahiko?"
Kenshin sweatdropped and interviened before a fight could ensue. He told them, "Now, now I understand that we're all cold and hungry and waiting to get back to the dojo, but please try not to fight until then." After one more glare shared between master and apprentice, the two both turned their attention away from eachother, huffing.
Kenshin sighed and let his gaze travel on. Kaoru in the meantime kept herself occupied with warming herself up.
We're all going to be soaking to the bone by the time we get back, she thought miserably. And to think it was such a nice day, too.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru was going to try speaking with said-rurouni in a more upbeat attitude, but to her bewilderment, Kenshin was gone! Where did he wander off to now? she wondered, head twisting and turning this way and that to find her missing red head.
Suddenly, the pelting rain ceased to beat upon her head and shoulders. She looked up into the opening of a umbrella. Kaoru gaped in surprise.
But where did the umbrella come from...?
"For you, Kaoru-dono-" Kenshin's voice rung in her ears. Kaoru found herself face to face with him only a heartbeat after hearing him speak. She nearly tripped over his feet but was caught in his slender arms fast. Through dripping ebony bangs, Kaoru stared into the face of the man whom she had known only for a year and a half.
Kenshin helped her regain her footing and shortly after presented her with a bundle of colorful Azalia - Tsutsuji's. Kaoru gaped.
"K-Kenshin..."
"Sessha didn't want you walking through the rain and catching a cold, de gozaru," he explained cheerfully with a mischievious glint in the corner of his eye.
Kaoru was still baffled beyond words to ask about the purpose of the flowers. Nevertheless, she accepted them and blushed a light shade of pink upon doing so. "Arigatou, Kenshin," she murmured, burying her nose into the sweet fragranted flowers.
Kenshin smiled. "Do Itashimashite Kaoru-dono."
"Hey, were almost there!" Yahiko was excitedly shouting back to them, quickening his pace until he was racing down the path with Sanosuke following. Kenshin and Kaoru laughed at the sight. The rain was beginning to lighten up, furthering no more use of the umbrella for the time being. However, Kaoru kept the bundle of flowers pressed close to her chest, wishing that the memory would be forever engraved in her mind.
— Owari —
