A/N: CONVERSE BRANCH OFF! Yes, that's right folks! This was actually supposed to be a scene in the actual story, but it got pushed off and there was never a right place to put it. If you haven't read Converse, it's fine, no spoilers, but I highly recommend it :)

Standard disclaimers apply.


014: Muscular Training

Kaoru tried to raise one eyebrow at his previous comment, but it didn't quite work and she ended up raising both. Kenshin noticed her attempt and patted her on the shoulder, which sent a shock down her spine.

"It takes years of practice, darling." She shivered in delight when he used that term of endearment.

"Does it?"

"Well, you need to have flexible eyebrows, too. Part of it is a gift."

"Flexible eyebrows? Uh huh, I'm sure." Kaoru was determined to work on her one-eyebrow lift in the mirror later.

"Yes. Here." He took her hand and ran up the stairs to his bathroom and shut the door. "Your eyebrows need to go through some serious muscular training."

"Are you shitting me?"

"Hey, do you want to do the one-eyebrow lift or not?" She promptly closed her mouth. "Right. As I was saying…first slightly close your…wait you're a righty, right?" She nodded. "Okay, slightly close your right eye and open your left eye as wide as possible."

She obeyed him and thought she looked like a stoner, which she said out loud. He laughed at her and said that he had to go through the same process.

"When did you learn how to do it?"

"I don't know…I just saw it in a movie when I was younger and practiced for a few weeks and I was eventually able to do it. Anyway, just practice this in front of a mirror even though you look like a dumb ass."

Kaoru slapped his arm and glared at him. "Shut up!"

"Ouch…misery…"

"Okay, what's next?"

"Well…you can use your fingers to guide your eyebrows into place for the first few times…you know, so you know which muscles are used in lifting and lowering."

"Wow…who'd of thought this would be hard core?" She commented as she lifted her right eyebrow higher than her left.

"It totally is…people underestimate how difficult it can be."

"You're so full of shit."

"Maybe I am, but at least I don't look like a stoner when I lift an eyebrow."

Kaoru had to admit that was true; he looked quite sexy when he did it. "I hate you."

"No you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"No, you don't because I'm about to make tofu."

"You're right, I don't hate you."

"We'll get back to your muscular training after lunch."

"Fine. But no more wise cracks about my face and how deformed it looks."

"Right now it doesn't look deformed."

"Aw, how sweet."

"It's beyond distorted!" Kaoru promptly hit him once again. "I'm kidding! You're beautiful." He said, laughing. She stared at him blankly. "I'm serious!" She continued to stare at him, but a blush crept up her cheeks. "Okay, how about I'll make you tofu and chocolate chip cookies and then say you're beautiful?"

"That sounds good." She said, smiling.


A/N: Aww…I miss them already! I'm really considering a sequel at this rate…

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MissGoalie