Author's notes: Thanks for darkangelwings for reviewing even if you're the only one. Anyway, Soujirou is not yet here. Hehehehe…sorry for the mistake. He will come in the…I think…next two chapters! Please review!!! ^_^
A GENUINE SMILE
CHAPTER TWO: SETTLING IN
Sakura woke up but did not open her eyes. She *thought* she had a dream about being transported to RK's world. She sighed and blindedly patted her side to find her pillows. She also realized that her bed was hard. Feeling no pillows, she frowned and opened her eyes. She was greeted with five curious faces.
"AAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" a scream was heard as it vibrated throughout the halls of the dojo.
Sakura was surprised and she sat up straight on her bed…um…futon and looked back at them who were quite rattled at her outburst. She couldn't believe her eyes. Kenshin was there and so were Kaoru, Sano, Megumi and Yahiko.
'She is strange.' Sano noticed, as he saw Sakura looking at them as if she had seen them, before.
'…but we don't know her. At least I haven't seen her before.'
'Maybe she is a spy. She might harm Kenshin…'
'She looks innocent, but appearances can be deceiving. I hope she doesn't call me Yahiko-chan.'
'She looks young, maybe 19 or 20. She's very beautiful but I'm more beautiful, ohohohoho…'
"Ano, daijoubu?" Kaoru asked, concern written on her face.
"Hai," Sakura replied honestly.
"Good …umm…"
"Hoshi Sakura desu," Sakura replied.
Kenshin nodded, a faint blush showing on his face, as were the others.
"Is something wrong? I'm sorry if I have intruded but I was just standing there on your door knocking because I didn't feel so good and I think I fainted. Gomen ne," she rattled on, not knowing what was making the others uneasy.
Sano was just gaping at her, not saying anything. Yahiko was at the same state. Both of them had to control their noses to stop the nosebleed. Kenshin tried to talk but Kaoru beat him to it.
"Umm…it's your clothes…" she trailed off.
Sakura looked down and saw that she was wearing a sleeveless shirt and shorts. She looked at her state and at the others and remembered that at that time, it was inappropriate.
"Ano…Kamiya-san, can I borrow a yukata or maybe a kimono?" she asked, oblivious to the surprise and suspicion written on their faces when she said Kaoru's name since they haven't introduced themselves.
"Ho…how did you know my name?" Kaoru asked.
"I know all of you." Pointing to Kaoru, she said, "You're Kamiya Kaoru, known as Kaoru-dono by him (pointing at Kenshin), busu, tanuki. You don't cook well. (Kaoru was red in anger and embarrassment) Your kenjutsu style is Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. Your father thought you. Dr. Gensai took care of you. I know how you met the others. You met Himura Kenshin first. Battousai (Kenshin's eye were suspicious, a tinge of amber in them), Shinta. He's style is Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, which was thought by Hiko, otherwise known as Shishou who calls Kenshin his baka deshi. He loves doing the laundry and cooking. His blade is a sakabatou. You met him when your school was jeopardized by his name," she paused catching her breath.
"Please continue, Hoshi-dono"
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Myoujin Yahiko. Yahiko-chan. You met him when he pick pocketed Kenshin and when Kenshin gave it to him, he threw it back at Kenshin. O yeah, I forgot, Kenshin loves saying 'oro'." The others face faulted.
"What!!! Even people outside knows his favorite word? HAHAHAHA" Yahiko said.
"Anyway, before I was interrupted by this Yahiko-chan," Sakura said, noticing Yahiko getting frustrated, quickly added. "Kenshin saved him and you taught him your style. Sagara Sanosuke. Tori-atama by all of you (Sano protested) and ahou by Saitou-sama. Also known as Zanza and his weapon, though it is destroyed, was the zanbatou. You know how you met and last Takani Megumi. She's a doctor and she lived in Aizu but was used by Kanryuu to make opium. Again, you saved her," She finished.
"So how do you know us? Are you a spy?" Kaoru asked bewildered when this strange person with strange clothes knew them.
"No, I'm not a spy but how I know you, that I cannot explain. You may not understand," Sakura replied, not knowing whether she should tell them that they were just created. Animated. She continued, "but what you may know is that I am from the future."
Kenshin's eyes widened and the others looked shocked.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Megumi asked.
Rummaging through her bag, which was beside her, she took out a Polaroid camera. Holding it up, she asked them, "Do you know what this is?"
"Umm…no? Is it a weapon?"
"Can it be eaten?" Sano and Yahiko asked together.
"For beautifying oneself?" Kaoru and Megumi asked.
"No, no and no. This is a camera. For taking pictures," she added feeling amused when Sano' face turned pale.
"It's the one that sucks souls," he cried out making Yahiko laugh.
"Tori-atama, frightened of just a picture. Hahaha!!!" Yahiko laughed. Sano frowned at him.
Megumi, noticing Sano's reaction, smiled seductively at him.
"Mmmm…tori-atama. You look a bit pale. Can I comfort you? Maybe you could go to the clinic and I could examine you. Ohohoho…"
At this, Sano sat up and moving his eyebrows up and down, he replied, " Sure kitsune…" he didn't finish for he was already flying straight to the wall.
"I have a name you know!!!" Megumi said, putting her fist down.
The others sweat dropped.
Turning back to Sakura, Yahiko asked, " But why is it small? The one where our picture was taken was so big."
Explaining, she said to them, "As time passes by, things evolve. This camera was made smaller but it's still the same. Here," At this she took a picture of Kaoru who was staring blankly at nothing. The photograph was pulled out and shown to the others.
"Sugoi!!! It's fast!!!" Kaoru exclaimed, excited by having her picture taken.
"Why did you take a picture of busu? It's so ugly." Yahiko commented, earning him several bumps on his head by Kaoru's bokken.
"Sorry for the manners," Kenshin apologized.
"That's okay. Here," putting Kaoru's picture in his hand, "you can keep this."
Kenshin nodded, accepting the picture making Kaoru blush madly and the others amused.
"Arigatou Sakura-dono."
Kaoru being the generous person she is asked Sakura if she didn't mind staying here since she knew all of them.
Looking at the other Kenshingumi, she asked uncertainly, "Are you sure?"
All of them nodded.
"Can you cook?" Yahiko added making Kaoru hit his head again with a bokken.
"Don't ask ladies those questions!!!" Kaoru yelled at Yahiko while the others sweat dropped.
"Jou-chan, that's okay. Let someone else cook other than your poisonous cooking," Sano added making Kaoru hit him too, harder than Yahiko's.
Sakura smiled, feeling very happy and warm at this household. "Hai, I can cook."
"Okay, well you can cook tonight. Is it okay?" Kaoru asked.
Sakura nodded.
"So, since it's lunchtime and Kenshin did not cook, I'm going to treat you to the Akabeko," Kaoru announced, Sano and Yahiko already standing up and heading for the door.
"Arigatou, Kaoru-chan," Sakura said gratefully for she did not eat breakfast, standing up.
"Aa…"
"Demo…"
"Nani, Kaoru-chan? Megumi-san?"
"Your clothes…"
"Oh…can I borrow Kaoru-chan? I promise I'll buy but for now…"
"Sure, Sakura-chan," Kaoru replied cheerfully, feeling very excited at having another girl live in the dojo.
Sakura hesitated, "My bag…"
"Daijoubu, I'm sure Ken-san will put it in your room," Megumi assured her making Kaoru slightly annoyed for her nickname.
Grinning, Sakura went in the room with them, also feeling excited in living in the dojo with Kaoru. She was an only child and living with Kaoru made her feel very happy.
*So, did you like this chapter? Just tell me what you think. =) Comments, suggestions, etc are accepted. =) Please review. (just press the button down there!!!) hehehe