Chapter II

In which Kenshin and Kaoru have dinner

Kaoru paused outside the dining room. She had gotten rid of Sano. Now how to get rid of Yahiko?

"Yahiko, slow down. You might choke on something."

"Well who knows when that Rooster-Head will come barging in here trying to grab my food?" chewchewgulpgulpswallowchewswallowchewgulp

Kaoru heard Kenshin sigh over the sounds of Yahiko devouring his food. "Well, make sure you leave some for Kaoru-dono. And please try not to choke."

"Sure."gulp chew gulp glubglubGLUB…aah "Well, I'm all done. Gotta run, Kenshin. I promised Tsuba- I mean, Tae-san that I'd help out at the restaurant tonight. Ja ne! Don't wait up for me." Yahiko pushed open the door and nearly ran over Kaoru. "Hey, what're you doing standing outside? Food's getting cold." He was about to run off when he stopped, looked her up and down, and snickered, "You got a date? Hey Kenshin, I think Kaoru's got a date!"

"Oro?"

"No I do not!" Kaoru's eyes flickered towards Kenshin. "Well…not really…"

Yahiko snorted. "Figures. Who'd want to go out with an old hag like you?"

Kaoru's fists clenched, "You better leave NOW Yahiko-CHAN or all Tsubame's going to see of you tonight will be able to fit in a little box delivered to the doorstep of the Akabeko!"

"I'm NOT a CHAN! I'm outta here. Have fun on your DATE," Yahiko winked at her suggestively and walked towards the restaurant.

"Are you going out Kaoru-dono?"

Kaoru jumped, Kenshin's voice as effective as cold water to her sizzling temper. "N-no…" I'm ALONE with Kenshin! I'm actually alone with him. Oh, kami-sama, give me strength… Kaoru, drew herself up and tried to remember everything that Megumi and Tae had told her about Wrapping a Man Around One's Tiny Finger. "I just wanted to dress up for dinner. Don't you think this kimono is lovely?" She put some swing to her hips as she walked slowly towards him.

Kenshin's eyes followed the entrancing movement of her body. Kaoru felt her cheeks blush slightly as he looked at her, embarassed yet pleased that The Walk that Megumi painstakingly taught her seemed to be taking it's effect.

"Are you alright Kaoru-dono? You seem to be walking funny. Is there something wrong with your hips?" Kenshin tilted his head to the side, scrutinizing the lower half of her body.

Kaoru stumbled and caught herself at the last minute. "There is NOTHING wrong with my hips!" she said through gritted teeth.

"Gomen, gomen…your feet maybe?"

"NO."

"You're sure? Maybe we should call Megumi and have her take a look at you because--"

"NO! I said I'm alright," Kaoru dropped the Damn Walk and practically stomped to her place beside Kenshin. She nearly broke her chopsticks in half in frustration. Remember Kaoru. Lesson Number 1: Violence won't get you anywhere. Breathe in. Breathe out. You are a flower opening up to the sun. Not a shinai-wielding-man-killing-monster-from-hell – no matter how much you'd like to be one. This is Kenshin. Remember the letter…

Kaoru ate in silence while Kenshin uncharacteristically chattered away. Kaoru's strange behavior made him very nervous. He felt as if he was on a hunt…and he was the prey. He observed Kaoru as he talked about the most inane topics, his keen eye catching the flush of her cheeks and the thread of amber that suddenly flashed in her eyes. He gulped. Why does she remind me of the Battousai? He was considering the wisdom of suggesting an appointment with Megumi again. Then Kaoru started doing strange things to her lips.

Tae and Megumi'sWrapping A Man Around One's Tiny Finger Lesson Number 9:

Draw attention to your lips.

Kaoru knew her lips were one of her best assets. And since they were kneeling down and eating, it was the perfect opportunity to apply Lesson Number 9. She sucked on her sushi, puckering her lips, and turned her face to the side so that Kenshin had a better view. She felt rather stupid, but it seemed to work because Kenshin stopped talking about the increase of the price of fish and, well, stared at her. Not adoringly or passionately like she hoped, but it was a start.

Kenshin stared at Kaoru. He couldn't help it. What the HELL is she doing? his mind screamed. All of a sudden, he didn't want his sushi anymore.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked innocently and batted her eyelashes. "Don't you want to eat anymore?"

"Umm…" he twiddled his thumbs and looked nervously at her.

Is it working? Kaoru couldn't tell. Well, at least she had his attention. She picked the sushi from her chopsticks with her teeth, sucked it in with her lips, chewed and tried to pout at the same time, swallowed, and smiled.

Kenshin's mouth hung open. Kaoru batted her eyelashes for added effect. "To taste the wine from your rosebud lips. What bliss!" she quoted the letter – his letter – softly, and lowered her eyes to hide her blush.

"What?" Kenshin asked abruptly. Sucking sushi and cheesy poetry? Kami-sama, she must really be sick! She's delirious!

"Would you like a taste?" Kaoru blushed even redder at her forwardness. Well, there was no backing down now.

"Umm…demo…I still have some sushi on my plate." Kenshin said uncertainly.

"Silly," Kaoru said "You know what I mean," she leaned closer and fluttered her eyelashes.

Tae and Megumi's Wrapping A Man Around One's Tiny Finger Lesson number 6:

Your eyes are the windows to your soul.

Kenshin leaned back as she moved forward, gulped, and said, "Kaoru-dono, is there something in your eye?"

Surprised, Kaoru jerked back to an upright sitting position. "No. Why?"

"Well…you keep…blinking. I thought something got caught in it."

"Lashes like ribbons of silk that frame your wondrous eyes…"

"Huh?"What junk has she been reading? Kaoru blinked – blinked this time, no fluttering – and stared at Kenshin.

There's something wrong. Demo…I'm doing everything right! And the lines from his poem should…Ah! I understand. My poor Kenshin is still shy. She smiled fondly at him.

Kenshin watched as Kaoru's expression changed from one of confusion to a slow, wide smile. Somehow, the smile made him even more nervous.

"Oi! Kenshin!"

Kenshin jumped, glad for any excuse to get out of that room, "Sano's back! I'll show him in!" He rushed out of the room.

"But he knows the way in!" Kaoru's protest faded behind him as he ran to the gate –

--and headlong into Sano.

"Woah! Where's the fire?" Sano said to the red haired heap on the floor.

"Oro?" Kenshin shook himself and stood. "No…It's just, Kaoru-dono has been acting strange lately. I really think she should see Megumi-dono but she gets angry every time I suggest it."

"Well, maybe she's got a lot on her mind. Or maybe whatever she has can't be so easily cured, " Sano murmured.

"What do you mean, Sano?" Kenshin asked worriedly, images of Kaoru sucking sushi for the rest of her life flashing in his brain.

"Nothing, nothing!" Sano waved his arms in protest and laughed nervously. He cleared his throat, "Anyway, this is for Jou-chan from Tae-san."

"Uh…why don't you give it to her yourself?" Kenshin thrust the package back at Sano.

Sano sweatdropped, "Well, I – I don't want to disturb her dinner with you." He thrust the package back at Kenshin.

"Since when did that bother you?" Now SANO was acting strange. What was going on? He shoved the package toward Sano's chest. Sano stopped it midway with his hands, causing the package to be suspended between their two opposing forces.

"This is the new, sensitive Sano, okay? From now on I'll stop playing the insensitive Rooster-Head. So have a – GOOD – DINNER!" Sano used the greater strength of his whole body to force the package back at Kenshin, causing the smaller man to fall to the ground, package and all. Sano wasn't able to recover in time and stumbled, landing on top of Kenshin.

"Sano? Kenshin? Is there something wrong?"

Sano and Kenshin looked at each other nervously, "Nope! Everything's fine!" they shouted. They scrambled to their feet and quickly gathered their things.

"I've gotta go. I have to go meet someone. Say good night to Jou-chan for me. Ja!" Sano dusted himself off, hopped over the gate, and was out of sight.

Kenshin sighed. What was wrong with everyone today? Sano all jittery and Kaoru acting like a – well, not acting herself – and spouting poetry. He looked down at the package Tae sent her. There were two letters, one addressed to Kaoru in Tae's precise handwriting. The other was addressed to no one. He looked at it curiously and turned it over in his hands. It was wrinkled and smudged. It couldn't have come from Tae since the hostess was obsessively neat in everything she did. After a moment's hesitation, he put the letter in his pocket. Then he straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and braced himself for whatever Kaoru was going to throw at him next.

End Chapter II.