Chapter One
Kenshin pulled his hands inside his robe and began to twist the fabric in it. He turned to see Kaoru hitting Yahiko over the head.
'Maybe I can tell her today."
He walked toward her and called "Karuo-dono?"
"Yes Kenshin" She turned to him her hair playing in the wind. Sweat glistened on her exposed chest and ran down her flushed face.
"Ah…" his resolve faltered but continued on, "I…I haven't picked what to have for dinner so what would you like?"
"Oh, well I don't know, why don't you surprise me?" She gave him a heart-stopping smile, then turned back to Yahiko fixing his stance.
"Ugly! I know what I'm doing!"
"As if you do your stance is too shallow…"
Kenshin sighed and turned to the kitchen. Sano walked his way so he kept his head up and smiled at Sano.
"The Missy out front?"
"She's training with Yahiko, that she is." And with that, Sano went to find her.
Inside, Kenshin pulled the door to the kitchen shut and almost instantly, fell to the ground in utter defeat.
'I won't ever tell her will I?' He questioned himself then got to work on making supper.
Meanwhile, Kaoru was having similar thoughts.
'And here I thought that he would pull me aside and tell me…but no…' She sighed and Yahiko glared at her.
"I'm not going to learn swords from a daydreaming girl." He spat.
"Well, you will if you want to eat dinner tonight!" She countered.
The two got into a fight, dust clouding around them. The two would have continued but Sano came out and stopped the two.
"Hey Missy," he called over to her and she stopped, with Yahiko in a head lock, "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure Sano, and you, you little brat." She glared at the pupil. "You have 300 strikes before I get back if not…no dinner." She did a Megumi laugh, and then turned to the roster head.
"Come on." He grabbed her and pulled her into the shadows of the dojo.
Kenshin pulled the pot off the stove to let is cool and walked out to tell the other that dinner was ready.
He walked out to find Yahiko rapidly striking the air.
"Where is Kaoru-dono?" He asked the frantic boy.
"Out…talking…to…Sano…"he gasped out.
"Why don't you slow down?" Kenshin offered gently.
"Don't…finish…don't…eat…" Kenshin smiled and left to find the other two.
He walked around until he heard hushed voices in the alleyway. Turning the corner, he saw Kaoru, her head bent in sorrow, Sano, sadly handing her three sheets of paper. Kenshin made sure for them to hear his footsteps as he approached. They both jerked up and Kaoru made to hide the papers. She dropped them and bent to grab them but Kenshin beat her to it.
On the top he saw the words "Final Will." He didn't get to see anymore because Kaoru grabbed them then and stuffed them in her top.
"What did you need Kenshin?" Blushing at what she had just done but happier than she had just been.
"I was coming to tell you that dinner was ready, that I was."
"Thanks, I'll be right there." She smiled and turned to Sano and quietly thanked him.
"If this one may ask," Kenshin asked quietly, "what was that with Sano?"
She sighed but opened her mouth to speak but stopped at the sight of Yahiko.
"I'll tell you later."
"Oyo! Ugly! I finished them! Now you have to let me eat dinner!"
"What did you call me?!"
And the fight from before started again.
Sano and Kenshin sighed.
Later:
Kenshin picked up the last of the dishes and set them in the sink. He turned to walk back out and almost ran into Kaoru.
"Kaoru-dono! I didn't see you, that I didn't!" He gasped in surprise. She giggled but asked if she could help with the dishes. Kenshin nodded and let her in. He ran outside to grab water and brought it inside.
Pouring the water into the sink, Kaoru started to put the dishes in the water. Kenshin and Kaoru both paused at the same time, realization hitting the both of them at the same time.
The two of them.
Alone in the same room.
Kenshin was still stiff as Kaoru relaxed. She was enjoying herself washing dishes. Kenshin finally relaxed and started to hum a song. His voice was calm and clear, ringing against the water and creating a soothing mood.
'This is nice, just the two of us.' They thought at exactly the same time.
Sano and the brat (Yahiko) sat outside the kitchen window listening in. Both with stupid smiles on their faces.
"This is perfect."
Kaoru started the conversation first.
"About that, in the ally way, with Sano," she started haltingly, "He found out that my father had a last will. It goes into effect next month."
"That's nothing to be sad about is it? All it means is that your father wished to take care of you even after he died, that he did." Kenshin answered kindly.
"Well, that's…" she trailed off and swiftly scooped up some of the boiling hot water and poured out the window. Howls of pains seconds later.
"HOT HOT HOT!!" Two voices choused. The two watch the bird and brat run to the well.
"As I was saying, in the will my father has named who I am to marry on my 18th birthday." The sorrow from earlier returned as she stared at the dish in her hand. "I haven't read it yet and I can't until my birthday next month."
Kenshin couldn't stand the look in her eyes and did something totally out of character; he pulled his hands out of the clear water and pulled her into a tight hug. Just like he did when he had left for Kyoto, her arms where pinned to her sides but unlike then, she didn't stay shocked. She picked up her arms and rapped them around his slim waist.
"Miss. Kaoru, know that, no matter what, this one will always be here for you as long as you need this one's help, that I will."
Tears pricked her eyes and she squeezed him slightly harder.
"Thank you."
They released each other at the same time and each got back to work, the atmosphere much lighter.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Sano and Yahiko came back from the well to hear "That I will" and they knew that he had just promised to do something.
"Nuts, we missed it." Yahiko whispered.
"I know what it was about but I don't know what Kenshin said." They trailed off as they saw a man walk through the gates. Sano stood up and walked over.
"Can I help you?"
"Is Miss Kaoru here?" The man asked in English.
"Eh?" Both the boys asked at the same time.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he switched to Japanese, "Is Miss Kaoru here?"
"Yes, what do you want with Missy?"
"I would like to speak with her, some please move." He gave Sano a cold glare but Sano held his ground.
"I need a reason." He growled.
"Well, it's a personal matter so you won't be included in it. So move." At that moment Karou can out of the kitchen and saw the two staring one another down.
"Sano? What's going on?" She saw the other man, "Can I help you?"
"If your Miss. Kaoru then you can."
"I am, now, can I help you." Kenshin walked out to hear Karou getting angry with someone or something.
"Karou-dono…" he started to say but stopped as he saw the new comer. The new comer glared at the red head and yelled.
"BATTOSI!!" He pulled Karou behind him and drew a sword and slashed at Kenshin. Kenshin pulled his blade and blocked, forcing the man off of him. The man recoiled and shot forward again.
"ORO?!" he yelled as he dodged out of the way from the man.
With as much restraint as he could muster, Kenshin tried to knock the man out on the back of the neck but he missed and tried to double back.
'This man is better that I thought.' Kenshin stopped the reconsider the situation. Obviously this man knew what the hell he was doing with a sword.
"DAMN IT!!" The man yelled and charged at him blade at the ready. Slightly shocked, Kenshin charged at the same time pulling his sword free.
"STOP!!" Karou cried at the two men. Kenshin stopped and turned to her but the man continued on, stabbing Kenshin in the shoulder.
Kenshin grunted in pain and dropped to one knee. The man turned to continue his attack but found a bokken at his throat.
"I said stop." Karou growled at the man. Yahiko ran to Kenshin to see if he was ok but he was already standing. The man glared at Kenshin then spat.
"Do you know who this man is? He's the…"
"No he's not. This is Himora Kenshin, a good friend of ours."
"Then what about his face."
"This one got it as a child working on the family farm."
The man looked at him then sighed.
"I apologize. But I was worried. You know, what with the old days and stuff." He looked down and coughed.
"Just who are you?" Sano asked.
"I'm Roy Etna, late of America." He looked up and smiled sheepishly.
"And what are you doing here?" Karou lowered her weapon and stepped back to examine Kenshin's wound. The stab was deep and would need stitches for sure.
"Shall we go in?" she asked more worried about Kenshin but was trying to be nice to Roy for his mistake.
"Yes, thank you. Could I bother you for a drink. Tea perhaps?" He looked pointedly at her and she realized he thought her to make it.
"S-sure." She stuttered. Kenshin saw this and pulled her back.
"On the side board is some rice balls and there is some tea simmering on the stove." He whispered in her ear. The air in her ear gave her shivers but also the fact that he was so close made her light headed.
"Thanks." She whispered back and hurried off to the kitchen so to avoid Kenshin seeing her red face.
"Really sorry about the wound again." Roy said looking at the blood on his gi.
"This one is all right. No harm done." He smiled and when to grab the bandages so Karou could help him.
"Here you go." Karou came back in with a tray laden with tea and rice balls. She had also changed into her best kimono that was a dark sapphire blue with cherry petals falling from her shoulder to her feet. The obi was a pale pink with purple wisteria scattered on it. Kenshin always liked her most in this outfit but he never told her for fear that she would get embarrassed and probably smash his head in the wall.
"My Miss, you look quite spectacular in that kimono." Roy exclaimed as she came in.
"That she does. It's one of this one's favorites." Kenshin felt like he could just kick himself, or stab or something worse. Karou started to turn red.
'Here it comes' Kenshin gritted his teeth.
"T-thank you." She stammered. Kenshin braced himself, but the hit never came.
Still shocked, Kenshin looked at Roy trying to come up with something to fill the silence.
"So what brings you here?" Sano asked him.
"I told you. No? Oh I'm to marry Miss Karou."
