What Does it Matter?
"Aoshi-sama!!!" The cry was heard through the entire Aoiya compound. There was just one problem, the voice which had called for the man in question didn't belong to Misao. It belonged to Kaoru.
Okina and Omasu almost dropped their cups of tea when they came to this realization.
"Okina, do you think they know that Himura and his other friends are here?" Omasu asked, worried.
With a merry twinkle in his eye, Okina answered, "I don't think so. All the better, for the entertainment."
Meanwhile Misao and Kaoru had been searching for Aoshi since he had already left the temple they had been training at. Misao and Kaoru had agreed to Kaoru pretending to be in love with Aoshi and Misao would explain the situation to Yahiko and Sano when they arrived. As they were passing through the kitchen on the way into the living room they were met with the site of the very person they were looking for. And Yahiko and Sano. And Kenshin.
'Oh my.' Kaoru thought. 'I didn't think that he, of all people, would ever show up. And just like Sano or Yahiko not to write ahead and warn me or tell me when they'd arrive.' With a quick glance at Misao, she nodded her head. 'Guess I still have to go through with it. She'll explain.' Kaoru launched herself at Aoshi and gave him a full amazon-type glomp.
Seeing the shocked expressions one the four men's faces made Misao and Kaoru want to burst into laughter. Fortunately they were able to hide it, that or the guys were to preoccupied to notice.
"Aoshi-sama! Where did you go to? Misao and I were worried."
"Kaoru-san, I… I," Aoshi by this time was thinking that Kaoru had decided to help him convince everyone how ridiculous it would seem if they were in love. "I'm sorry Kaoru-chan," The angry glare was apparent on Kenshin's face, Sano noticed and grabbed to back of his gi. "I didn't mean to leave so quickly, but Shiro came and gave me the message that Himura, Sagara, and Yahiko-kun were all arriving today and might be best for me to meet them at the train." Kaoru let go of Aoshi and turned to her companions.
Giving Sano a hug she laughed, "Finally able to ride the train Sano."
Sano hugged her back, "Laugh it up 'Jou-chan." Then he whispered in her ear. "What's all this with you and Ice-man?"
Whispering back, "Misao will explain you to later, just go along." Then she turned to Yahiko. "My, my. I think you might have grown Yahiko-chan. But, you look a little thinner. Have you been eating?"
Sano laughed and Yahiko blushed. "Sort of. Sano's cooking is worse than yours." He gave her a big hug. Through out this all Kenshin stood there, anger building up inside of him at the thought of his Kaoru in love with Aoshi, and sorrow that he had lost the opportunity to be the one she loved. Finally she turned to him and instead of giving him a hug she stood there and bowed.
"Thank you Himura, for accompanying Sano and Yahiko to Kyoto. If you will all please follow Misao I'm sure that she'll make you some tea, then show you all to you rooms. My Aoshi-sama and I have one or two little matters to discuss, if you will excuse us." She walked off and expected Aoshi to follow, which he did.
"Kaoru's right. Come on guys, do you want tea or your rooms first? I think that tea would be best. In the kitchen." Willingly they followed after her, but Kenshin gave a longing glance in the direction Kaoru and Aoshi had left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In the kitchen Misao was deciding on the best way to break the news to Kaoru's three all-time protectors. "How's the tea guys?" Upon receiving no answer she continued. "Pretty weird how Kaoru seems to be in love with Aoshi now isn't it?"
"Now that you mention it, why aren't you going wild Weasel-girl?"
"Well Rooster-head, this is just a joke." Clueless looks graced Sano's and the other two's faces. Misao sweat-dropped. "Kaoru doesn't- well she's no in love with Aoshi. We are playing a trick on him. Giving him a taste of his own medicine rather." She went on to explain what had happened earlier that morning, and how she had kinda forced Kaoru to go along, leaving out the part where Kaoru had said that she indeed loved Kenshin, not Aoshi. "So will you guys go along with it?"
"Sure, I'd love to see that ice-man show some emotion." Yahiko readily agreed while Kenshin just pondered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Now Aoshi-sama, I just wanted to let you know Misao is perfectly fine with our feelings for one another, and has blessed our decision to be married. How about tomorrow?" Kaoru was pretending to be mending an old practice gi while speaking to Aoshi.
"Okay Kaoru-san, that's enough now. Misao's not in the room you don't have to fake it anymore." 'What is going on? Misao doesn't seem to be all that fazed about Kaoru's actions. Also how am I supposed to reach with Himura breathing down my neck at the same time?'
"What are you talking about Aoshi-sama?" Kaoru looked up into his face with a quizzical look on her face. " I'm not faking anything. Since you said we didn't have to hide our love anymore I've decided not to. To tell you the truth," She got a very dreamy look in her eyes, "It's really easy to fall in love with you." This got Aoshi to sweat.
"Kaoru-san, maybe we should check up on Himura and the others." Misao bounded into the room at that moment.
"Kaoru-chan, Sano and Yahiko would like it if you'd join them for a walk into town. Also, Aoshi-san, Sano told me to tell you that he'd would not try to steal Kaoru away if you treat her right. Or something like that. Are you going Kaoru-chan? Take an umbrella, if you go, it might rain." Misao accompanied Kaoru out of the room as Aoshi headed upstairs to his own bedroom.
Unsure if Aoshi or anyone else was still around Misao whispered, "How's it going? I explained to the boys."
"I told Aoshi that you approved of our 'wedding.' You should have seen his face, it was priceless. What do you think I should do next?"
"I think that you should pit him against Sano or Himura. Either one seem like they'd defend you 'til the cow come home." AN: See how that works, as I think they have little or no cows in Japan.
"How? Sorry that I haven't supplied any of my own suggestions, but they seem a little…lame."
"Like what? Or by the way I was serious when I said that Sano wanted to walk with you."
"What?! I got to go Misao. I can't deny Sano anything, he's my pillar of strength, since I said that I didn't like Kenshin. He's such a sweetie. We'll talk about 'Aoshi-sama' later, okay?" Kaoru hurried off in the direction she thought Sano's room might be.
"SURE THING KAORU-CHAN, AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK." Misao shouted after her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru wandered into the front yard and saw that it wasn't Sano waiting for her. Her heart decided at that moment to jump up into her throat. His back was to her, but that didn't mean that he hadn't notice her presence. Slowly she approached him, as if approaching a ferocious lion. Suddenly he turned around.
"Kaoru." That was it. Her name. If it had been anyone else she wouldn't have melted inside. If it had been anyone else she wouldn't have felt her heart skip a beat, only to speed up tenfold. If it had been anyone else she would've had an easier time then she did.
"Himura-san. Is Sano escorting me on my walk or are you?"
"I think that I'll go with you this time, Kaoru."
"Then I suggest that we go now." She headed off a little bit ahead of him, causing him to take a couple long strides to catch up. When they were a ways away from the Aoiya she turned to him. "Okay, Himura, why now? Why are you calling me Kaoru, after the fact that I told you that I didn't love you."
"Kaoru, you are my life. My heart. My every breath. My very soul that wills me to do anything. When you left, I felt like an empty shell. You complete me Kaoru. It took your absence to make me grasp the idea that I might not be able to continue my life without you. Kaoru, I know you're not in love with Aoshi-san, but before you do fall in love with someone else," He gently took her hand and got down on his knees in front of her, "I want you to know that I love you and if you will allow it, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I'll use the time proving my love to you and trying to make up for any infliction I have caused you to have. If I can be the lucky man to have your heart, I-"
Kaoru bent down and gave him a gentle kiss on his lips. She withdrew before anything else could happen. "Kenshin, my love, you will never have any idea how long my heart has needed to hear those words. Somewhere inside I knew that you did, but never hearing it caused me to doubt. I also doubted my love for you. Well I have come to a resolution. I do love you. And subsequently, as you have just told me of your love, what are we going to do now?"
"Marry me Kaoru." Kaoru raised an eyebrow at the apparent command. "Please make me the happiest, most fortunate man in the world, give me the chance to make you half as happy as I am to be able to see you everyday." He produced a simple silver ring, with a small sapphire set on top.
"Yes, yes, yes! A million times yes." Kenshin kissed Kaoru and placed the ring on her left ring finger.
"Now what are you going to do with Misao and Aoshi?" Kenshin's mind was in turbulence. He was extremely blissful that Kaoru was going to be his wife, but he didn't like the idea of her hanging on to another man. Even if it was only pretend.
"Kenshin, anata, this is where you can help."
"What can I do Kaoru?"
'God, I don't think I'll ever get enough of him calling my name.' Kaoru thought. "I need you to maybe, challenge Aoshi or make him confess it's all fake and maybe even profess his love for Misao?"
"Consider it done. Let's go get it done with. Then we can go home and attend to our marriage." Kenshin picked Kaoru up and raised toward the Aoiya. 'Guess he really wants to get this done quickly. That or he really wants to be married.' Kaoru blushed at her last thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Yahiko, where's Misao?"
"I don't know. Why are you looking for Weasel? I thought you and Kaoru were going for a walk."
"We were, but she never showed. That's why I'm looking for Weasel- ah there you are! Where's Kaoru?"
"She isn't with you?" Misao looked puzzled as she looked from Yahiko to Sano. "Well she's not here. I just did my routine check of the grounds and didn't see her. Nor is she with Aoshi."
Yahiko and Sano looked at each other, "Kenshin." They raised out of the Aoiya to the front entrance as Kaoru and Kenshin came through it. "Kaoru why didn't you meet me here for our walk? I know Misao told you."
Kaoru looked at Kenshin as he sheepishly bowed his head. "Mou, Kenshin! I'm sorry Sano." She jumped up and gave him a hug as she whispered in his ear, "We're getting married! He told me he loved me!" Sano twirled her around, knowing exactly who she meant.
"Finally. Shit, if he took any longer I think that I might have had to do it for him." They laughed and Yahiko hit both of them on the head.
"What's so funny? Why am I always left out of everything?" Kaoru inclined her head towards Sano, giving him permission to clue Misao and Yahiko in on her happiness. Tousling Yahiko's hair as she went into the Aoiya.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Aoshi-san. I'm challenging you to a fight. Kaoru is my property and I will not let you have her." Kenshin said this as he let his eyes become infected with shades of amber to scare Aoshi. Kaoru had previously given Kenshin permission to call her 'property' or he would have been the one scared.
"Himura, I have no wish to fight you. I don't want Kaoru-san. She's her own person. Hardly property, if you ask me." Aoshi wasn't scared of Kenshin. He was afraid of allowing the evil inside of him to take over.
"No one did ask you," Kenshin growled. He didn't really want to do this but if it brought Kaoru home sooner he was all for it. "How do I know you haven't spoiled her? Enough talking, FIGHT!"
He attcked full on, and disappeared. Aoshi closed his eyes, centering in on Kenshin's energy. It seemed nearly nonexistent. It pretty much was, as Kenshin had raced out of Aoshi's room down to the kitchen to wait for more instructions. He rushed back after Misao told him to taunt Aoshi and get him to draw his Kodachi.
"Had enough?" Kenshin seemed to reappear from thin air behind Aoshi.
"What do you want?" Aoshi was trying quickly of this little game it seemed.
"Convince me that you haven't touched Kaoru. That she's pure from being handled by the likes of you." He continued to play cat and mouse with Aoshi. Stalking him from one corner of the room to the other. Aoshi reached up behind his back to grab on of his kodachi. Kenshin raced forward and stopped right in front of Aoshi, and stomped his foot loudly on the floor. Kaoru came rushing into the room.
"Himura, STOP! What are you going to my Aoshi-sama? Are you trying to kill him?" Kaoru wedged herself in between him and Aoshi.
"No Kaoru, he's battousai." Aoshi shoved Kaoru behind him.
"So you do love her." Kenshin took a foreboding step forward.
To protect Kaoru and come to truth with himself he blurted out, "I'm not in love with her damn it! I' m in love with Misao! Kaoru isn't involved in this any other way then helping me."
"Correction Aoshi-sama, she's been helping me."
"Misao?"
"That's right. You must be getting rusty, letting us pull the wool over your eyes like that. After you made that horrible scene this morning, that may I add almost broke my heart, I spied on you. Actually, I hid in a tree to ashamed of my tears to go any where else when I heard you and Kaoru talking. So do you want to make your confession again or does Kenshin have to kick your butt?"
Aoshi captured Misao in a hug and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you Misao," He whispered. Everyone chorused an "Awwww!" "Give me a break. When are you two going to get together?"
Kaoru held up her left hand. "We already are Aoshi-sama." She gave an apologetic look to everyone. "Sorry, I just wanted to say it one more time."
"This is fine and dandy. Hugs and kisses all around. This is not what we came here for?"
"What did you come here for then Yahiko?"
"Well I came to see you and…"
"What's seeing me if it's not all hugs and kisses?" Kaoru raised an eyebrow as if warning Yahiko not to make a smart retort.
"Well it's that, but in your letter you told us you could cook miso soup. I'm starving. Also you said that you had a surprise for us."
Everyone looked at Kaoru expectantly as she blushed. "Well I'm training to be a ninja." Everyone face faulted and stayed on the ground. "Umm… Guys? Mou! This is not funny!" She stormed out of the room. "Yahiko come here."
"Hai!" Yahiko raced up and followed Kaoru to the kitchen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru finished her training and returned home to her dojo. After marrying Kenshin she won money in tournaments which led to the improved condition of the dojo and attendance of students. They lived happily ever after.
AN: Just humor me, I'm admitting a weakness here. Endings!!!
Kenshin's porposal was inspired by The Bachelor.
Thank you, all of you would found it fit to read my story and review. I have two other Rurouni Kenshin stories and a Ranma ½ that as of now are just on paper and I don't know if I'll ever get them on-line. Would anyone read them if they didn't have K/K pairings?