Disclaimer: still don't own them. Still waiting.
Author's Note: I know this update took forever, I started some other projects and kinda got sidetracked. Also, I was stuck and unsure where to take the story next, but I think I've figured it out. :) Anyway, enjoy! I'll be anxiously awaiting your reviews!
Chapter 7:
Kaoru didn't leave her room for days. She just couldn't bring herself to let go of the events of the night at the movie, and it was making her sullen and upset. She didn't want to bring Megumi and Yahiko down, or anyone for that matter. Instead, she just stayed in bed, lamenting and berating herself for giving up her secret. She was angry, as well, irate at Kenshin for thinking that he could play with her heart the way that he had that night. Just pester her into spilling her secrets, kissing her and then disappearing. It was crap.
Finally, after the fifth day spent in her solitude, Megumi literally dragged her out of the house. They went out to lunch, and then just walked around downtown and looked at the shops. Kaoru wasn't very talkative, but she listened and smiled as her counterpart rambled about fashion and money and shopping.
"Kaoru?"
She glanced away from the shirt she had been staring at and found Megumi looking at her, concern written all over her beautiful face.
"There's a park just around the corner. Why don't we go there and talk for a bit?" She suggested gently
"I don't have much to say," Kaoru answered simply
"Somehow, I don't think that's true," Her friend shot back
Kaoru sighed. Once Megumi made up her mind, there was no deterring her. They thanked the sales lady and exited the store, walking the block to the park in silence. They found a particularly soft patch of grass and sat down, and Kaoru was aware of the other woman's piercing stare.
"What happened the other night at the movies?"
Apparently, she was going straight to the point. No beating around the bush with this one.
"Nothing," Kaoru answered easily
"Both you and Kenshin left early; how come?"
"I was tired, he was walking me out," She lied
"So it has nothing to do with that little kiss you shared?"
Kaoru's head snapped around so fast she thought her neck was broken. Megumi was just watching her, gauging her face for a reaction. She debated on whether or not to deny it, to make some sort of excuse or just change the subject. Then again, she had spent the last few days mulling it all over, and Megumi was just the person to understand. What harm could it cause?
"Yeah, it was because of the kiss," She answered, sighing in resignation, "But it doesn't matter now."
"It doesn't matter, but you've spent the last five days holed up in your room? I don't think so. What happened when he followed you out?"
"He badgered me into telling him the truth," She said tiredly, trying not to remember the sound of his voice
"What truth?" Megumi pushed
"That I'm in love with him, and he's with Tomoe, and I give up. We argued a bit, and then Aoshi showed up and saved me. He took me for a walk, but when we came back Kenshin cornered me again and kissed me."
Megumi let out a deep breath and took Kaoru's hand in her own. Kenshin was an idiot, a certified raging idiot. She wanted to scream at him for what he had done; it was wrong on so many levels. He was still with Tomoe, and he had no right to force Kaoru's secrets from her. Or to toy with her like that. She fully intended on tracking him down and causing him some manner of bodily harm, but right now she was more worried about the beautiful girl sitting in front of her.
"Have you heard from him since?" She queried
Kaoru merely shook her head.
"Megumi," She said then, sounding unsure, "Before he kissed me that last time, Kenshin asked me the strangest question."
"What was it?"
"He asked me if I had feelings for Aoshi."
Megumi's eyes narrowed. Maybe Kaoru hadn't caught it, but Kenshin was jealous of the dark haired man. Was that what had prompted him to act so irrationally? He needed a good pummeling ….
"And?" She prodded her, "What did you say? Do you have feelings for him?"
"I don't know," Kaoru responded, dropping her head, "I'm so confused. I know that when I'm with him, I feel at ease. Comfortable. When I'm with Kenshin I always feel so … strained. On edge. I never know what to expect from him; even when we laugh there seems to be tension in the air. I'm just so tired, Meg, so sick of always guessing."
"And you don't feel that around Shinomori?"
"Not at all."
Megumi didn't reply, instead nodding her head understandingly and squeezing the younger girl's hand reassuringly. There wasn't much she could do about the past, but she could do something about the future, and she fully intended to. She was also fairly certain that she knew what was going on in Kaoru's head, even if the girl didn't know it yet herself.
