Thanks for the reviews! I appreciate it a lot! I also apologize for the typo errors. I wasn't able to reread the whole chapter before posting it since I had gazillion things to do! Really sorry!

Anyway, this is my second chapter. I just typed whatever came to my mind. He3! 

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin (but I hope I did!-)

Chapter 2

Someday, when the time is right, you will find me beside you.

I will make up for the things I should have done. You will hear the words I should have said.

But for now, let me care the way I want…silent but deep.

The sun was yet to rise, but the stars started to disappear from the horizon. The chill in the atmosphere made it more conducive to sleep, and the soft sounds of the insects were sweet lullabies to the slumbering town of Tokyo.

Sleep, however, was no longer a leisure a certain rurouni was free to enjoy.

Kenshin slowly opened his eyes as consciousness overtook his senses. He was usually awake at this time of the day, and his first thoughts were always of the girl sleeping just behind the thin wall of his room. He had been thinking a lot about her lately. He couldn't help it. It was driving him crazy. Despite his deep feelings for the girl, there were always those nagging feelings…those feelings that always created a hole in his inner being…those feelings that prevented him from telling Kaoru how he really felt.

Kenshin shook his head slightly, willing the thoughts of Kaoru out of his head. He slowly stood up and prepared for the day ahead.

---

Shards of light invaded Kaoru's room, waking her as it battled her lethargic senses. She opened her sleep-drained eyes, smiling as the birds chirped merrily outside. An augury, perhaps, of a good day…so she wishes.

As Kaoru tied her hair into its usual high pony, an object hanging on the wall caught her eye. The same object she routinely checks daily. Her calendar. She went over to it ripping the first page, now showing the present date. It was a Thursday…an ordinary day. Kaoru scanned the next page. Friday. On it were several heart-shaped illustrations previously drawn by Kaoru. She smiled wistfully as the red hearts reminded her that tomorrow is Tanabata. The day most ladies in Tokyo had been waiting for…a day she had patiently, but eagerly waited for. Her enthusiasm, however, dwindled as the dayapproached. And now that Tanabata is just a night away, she doesn't know whether to feel excited or disappointed. Things just weren't going her way.

Brushing the thoughts away, Kaoru went back to tending to her hair and slipping into a new kimono.

Breakfast was quite typical.

Kenshin had prepared miso soup and rice balls. Sano and Yahiko were, as usual, gobbling the meal like there is no tomorrow.

"Hey, slow down you two!" Kaoru cringed as grains of rice were impelled through the air. "Looks like you fasted for a year!"

"You wouldn't say that if you actually spent the night at Sano's!" Yahiko mumbled, his mouth full of masticated rice balls. "There's no food to eat. I was almost tempted to steal the fishbone dangling from his mouth!"

Yahiko's comment earned him a round, red bump on the head. "You ungrateful brat!" Sano murmured.

Kaoru giggled lightly. She felt sympathy for Yahiko, so did Kenshin, but Yahiko's absence last night was greatly appreciated. Not that they want the boy to move out; it's just that they wanted some peace and quiet around the house, and some time alone too.

"Yahiko stood up, apparently finished with his meal. His bowl was so clean, it looked like it was just washed. "Well, I'm off to the Akabeko. I promised Tsubame to help out. Thanks for breakfast, Kenshin."

Kaoru stood up as well. "I'm going with Yahiko. Tae said she needed to see me today." Before leaving, Kaoru also reminded Kenshin to keep Sano out of the kitchen or they may end up starving for a week. "You're in charge, okay?" Then off they went.

"Looks like it's just you and me, now," Sano grinned cynically, patting Kenshin's back.

Kenshin just nodded. Let's just get this done and over with.

---

Kaoru and Yahiko were on their way to the Akabeko when they noticed a lot of stalls in the market had mushroomed from all corners of the area. Most of the vendors were selling jewelry. Kaoru caught sight of a particular accessory. It was sapphire-studded ring. The cerulean gem seemed to taunt her as it glistened under the mid-morning sun. It actually reminded her of last year's Tanabata, when Kenshin gave her a ring…the ring…which Kenshin found in the fish he caught. A fish. Imagine her surprise when she found out. Kaoru grimaced at the thought. That was a bitter memory she never wishes to remember. Despite the incident, Kenshin was able to redeem himself in the end by giving her flowers. The flowers were great, still she felt embarrassed of the way she acted.

Several men walking past her ripped Kaoru from her thoughts. They were headed for one of the stalls selling accessories. She heard one of them say he would buy a bracelet for a girl he would invite for the Tanabata dance.

'Lucky girl' Kaoru thought miserably. She was expecting…no, she was wishing Kenshin would ask her out for this year's Tanabata.

'Dream on, Kamiya' Kaoru mocked herself. Kenshin seems more interested in other things, other than the Tanabata Festival…other than her.

"Hey busu! Hurry up. You move like a turtle!" Yahiko complained.

"You can go ahead, Yahiko-CHAN!" Kaoru retorted, "I have something to attend to first."

Yahiko released a frustrated huff, leaving Kaoru in the market.

Kaoru walked towards a booth selling ribbons and body ornaments. She spotted a silk ribbon that most probably cost more than she can afford. She fingered the material carefully noting its softness.

"That ribbon would really look good on you, miss," the vendor commented, obviously talking Kaoru into buying it.

"Oh no. I don't think-"

"Why don't you try it on?" A voice behind Kaoru suggested.

Startled, Kaoru turned to face the source of the voice. "Hiro-san! What are you doing here?"

"I was just looking around," Hiro smiled, his amber eyes trained on Kaoru's face. "How about you?"

"I'm on my way to the Akabeko," Kaoru said, putting back the ribbon where it was previously laid. "I should probably be going now."

"Ah, Kaoru-san," Hiro stopped Kaoru before she could leave. "Well…uhh… 'hope to see you tomorrow. You're coming to the dance, right?"

"I-I'm not sure yet," Kaoru said being reminded again of her wish of being taken to the dance by Kenshin. "I really have to go."

---

"Who knew dancing could be this…simple!" Sano said, playfully twirling his imaginary partner.

"East for you to say," Kenshin murmured.

Kenshin had been teaching Sano the dance patterns he had learned from Kaoru. Kenshin, who was now seated on the dojo floor, watched as the Sano pranced around the room. Slightly relieved his lesson with Sano was almost over.

'This is ridiculous' Sano thought as he did another twirl. He had to fake he was so into this dance lesson. 'This is soooooo sissy! Thanks a lot, Tae!'

Flashback

"Sano," Tae began. "I need you to do me a favor." Tae looked serious. Her eyes solely focused on Sano.

"Okay," Sano stood, doing a demonstration of his boxing techniques on a helpless table. "Whose neck do I have to break?"

Tae raised her eyebrows, looking at Sano like he was crazy. "No, Sano…nothing violent. This is just about Ken-san and Kaoru-chan."

"Oh. Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Sano said, calming his partially disappointed nerves. He was thinking Tae had called him because she had "serious business" that Sano could help out with. 'Just great. My hands had been itching for rough action And not THAT kind of action.' Sano thought. But, he was willing to help out anyways.

"As you know, Tanabata is on Friday. And, well…we need to help out Ken-san and Kaoru-chan. Maybe this is their chance to finally express their feelings," Tae said.

Sano winced. Tae was getting a little mushy. But the woman had a point. At the rate Kenshin and Kaoru was going, he wouldn't be surprised if Yahiko and Tsubame get hitched first before the two. "So, what do you have in mind?"

Tae related to Sano what he needed to do, since he was Kenshin's "best friend" and can be a little persuasive at times, he would do most of the work. Megumi had promised to help out too. "Sano, if the plan succeeds, all your debts in my restaurant are erased," Tae proposed, hoping Sano would do a good job in their little scheme.

"Really?" Sano's eyes lit up. "Well, consider me now debtless since you picked the right man for the job. Our plan will succeed. No doubt."

end of flashback

"Kenshin, thanks for your help," Sano said as he sat in front of Kenshin, massaging his dance-beaten toes. "I want you to have this." Sano handed Kenshin a package which he had kept from Kenshin and Kaoru when he entered the dojo.

"Thanks, Sano. But what is this for?" Kenshin said as he ripped open the covering.

"It's a thank you gift!" Sano said as he helped Kenshin open the package.

Slowly tearing the last of the covers, it revealed a back gi and a white hakama. "Wow! This looks expensive, Sano," Kenshin said, admiring the fabric.

"You know me…I have good taste," Sano grinned.

"Wait. Where did you get the money for this?" Kenshin asked, skeptical. He knew Sano very well. If Sano had cash, he'd either use it for gambling or to buy sake.

"Well, that's not important—"

Kenshin cocked a brow. "You didn't…steal this, did you?"

"Hey! I may be a gambler but I'm not a thief," Sano said as he stared incredulously at Kenshin.

"Sorry…"Kenshin apologized. "Just making sure."

"Well, I won this game, okay!" Sano said, shrugging his shoulders. "Besides, I'm sick of your pink gi so I thought of buying you a manly garment!"

"And what are you trying to imply with the 'manly garment'? This gi is perfectly manly," Kenshin said defending the pink gi he was wearing.

"Yare yare! But you have to wear the black one for the dance," Sano suggested. "So, have you asked jou-chan?"

"Well…" Kenshin scratched his head.

"Well, what?" Sano asked impatiently. Operation Get-Kenshin & Kaoru-Together isn't going the way Sano had planned. He's starting to feel like this is a hopeless case. 'No. I shouldn't give up' Sano thought. 'Remember your tab, Sagara! Remember!'

"Why don't you try on the gi and hakama, Kenshin," Sano said as he stood up. "Go on."

'In the meantime, I have to re-think my plan to get you and jou-chan together' Sano thought as he watched Kenshin head for a room to change.

---

Kaoru could feel Hiro's stare on her retreating form, her cheeks started to feel hot. Hiro had been asking Kaoru for the past few days for the Tanabata dance, but she politely turned him down. He was just one of the many men who Kaoru had rejected. But now, Kaoru started to doubt whether she did the right thing, seeing that her platonic relationship with Kenshin wasn't going anywhere. She wasn't even sure of what Kenshin feels for her. Kaoru pursed her lips in sad acceptance. She was just hoping against hope that Kenshin shares the same feelings. Which may be utterly, depressingly impossible.

Tae had spotted Kaoru as she approached the Akabeko. She had prepared a table for Kaoru where lunch was served. Beside the table lay a small package Tae had intended to give to Kaoru. Kaoru was like her little sister and she would willingly take dire measures to make Kaoru happy. She did owe Kaoru a lot. Together with Kenshin, Kaoru and the rest of their friends had been saving Tae and her restaurant every time drunken jerks or mindless gangsters decided to show up and make a scene. Now is the time to give her 'little sister' something to smile about.

Kaoru seemed deep in thought as she entered the restaurant.

'What could she be thinking?' Tae thought to herself, but she decided not to pry.

"Hello Kaoru-chan. I'm so glad you're able to come over," Tae greeted as she showed Kaoru to the table she had set up earlier.

The Akabeko was a bit busy that day. There were a lot of customers dining. Kaoru could see Tsubame bustling in the crowd, plates and bowls in hand.

"Kaoru-chan, let's have lunch first, shall we?" Tae said as she poured tea on Kaoru's cup. 'I hope she'll like my gift.' Tae thought eyeing the package.

---

Sano scrutinized every angle of the new gi Kenshin was wearing. The black cloth contrasted well with Kenshin's skin. "That looks good on you," Sano praised.

"Thanks, Sano." Kenshin said as he fingered the hem of the gi's neckline. "It fits well." Kenshin had to agree to Sano's earlier remark that the gi looked manlier. Not that his magenta gi made him less of a man but this color just radiated certain qualities befitting a man.

Sano looked satisified. He nodded to himself, and giving Kenshin the thumbs-up. 'Jou-chan will fall head over heels for Kenshin, and my tabs will all be gone…poof!' Sano snickered.

Just then, a knock from the gate was heard.

"I'll get it, Kenshin," Sano said as he proceeded towards the wooden entrance of the house.

"O-ohayo. Is Kamiya-san home?" A man slightly shorter than Sano asked. He seemed nervous, fidgeting a lot under Sano's curious gaze.

"No," Sano replied directly.

His response seemed to relieve the man, but he also looked disappointed upon hearing Kaoru wasn't there.

"What do you need from her?" Sano asked, not caring if he was being a little nosy.

"A-are you his boyfriend, sir?" The man looked intimidated by Sano's tall stature but he needed to inquire.

"Hell no!" Sano said, surprised by the man's question. That was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. Then it struck… "Why do you ask?" Sano queried, eyeing the man suspiciously.

"Well, I was wondering…" The man looked hesitant, but he proceeded anyway. "I would like to take Kamiya-san for Tanabata…"

Sano's eyes widened as the man went further to telling Sano of his long time crush on the shihondai. 'This guy has got lots of loose screws in his head to have liked jou-chan that much.' Sano thought.

The man had finished telling Sano his romantic narrative. Feeling slightly embarrassed of his sudden outpour of bottled emotions, the man looked at Sano hoping Kaoru's friend would tell him something about Kaoru…anything.

"Well, that was…" Sano couldn't find the word…mushy?…no…pathetic?…no…I know… "That was interesting," Sano said drawing the words out really slowly. "Unfortunately, Kaoru is no longer available. She-"

"You mean she has a boyfriend?" the man interrupted abruptly.

"No. I meant, she can't go top the dance with you because my friend already asked her out," Sano said, making sure the man got what he was trying to say. He wasn't going to let anybody stop him from getting Kenshin and Kaoru to the dance…and getting his tabs forever erased.

"Oh. I understand," the man said as he walked away, feeling disconsolate.

Sano stared as the man walked slowly away from the dojo. He felt sorry for the guy, but hey! He's got a job to do.

"Who was that?" Kenshin asked. He had changed into his old gi, and is now curiously peering over Sano's shoulder, looking at the retreating form of a man.

"Oh nobody. Just one of the many admirers of Jou-chan," Sano said, shaking his head. "He was asking if he could take Jou-chan to the dance."

"What did you tell him?" Kenshin asked inquisitively.

"I said, he can't', coz you're taking Jou-chan," Sano grinned, satisfied with his answer.

"You said that?" Kenshin looked worried. "But I haven't asked her yet."

"What!" Sano almost yelled. "You want that man to go out with Jou-chan? Fine!"

Sano craned his neck to look for the long-gone man. "Oi…come back here!" Sano shouted, apparently acting he could still see the guy. "You can take-"

Sano stopped yelling when he felt Kenshin's hand on his shoulder.

"I-I'll ask her," Kenshin mustered, his eyes covered by the fringes of his red mane. "I'll ask her tonight.

A/n:

Sano…tsk tsk…always the clever guy…hitting two birds with one stone! -x

Hope you liked it. That was like a little insight of what happens before the big event. I felt it was a little rushed…sorry…but I promise to make up for the next chapter. Super sugary waff on the next chapter.

I was a bit pressed for time since school started the other day and I wanted to post the 2nd chapter before classes resumed…so it was a little hurried… sorry! But I do hope to hear from you… please leave me a review. Thank you for taking the time to read.