Only With You
Standard Disclaimer Apply
K/B/K. Set in AU. Kaoru's dad remarries and she comes to meet his new family. She meets her step-cousin Kenshin and accidentally sees him naked! Chaos ensues and she thinks he's the most annoying person she's ever met but as she gets to know him, she realizes there is more to him than meets the eye.
A/N: Hi guys! Thanks for the lovely reviews! I really appreciate them! Please read the REVIEW RESPONSES! Originally, this was one really long chapter but I decided to cut it into two parts because it was too long. Don't worry about the next chapter, I will have it up in a few days. I just have to add some stuff and it'll be ready.
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Chapter Ten
"Most of the time I see you, you're either sitting down reading a book…or lying down reading a book…" Kenshin observed.
Kaoru was lying on her stomach in bed, resuming reading the book she previously been enjoying before he barged in. He was next to her with his head propped up in his hand as he observed her.
"So? I love mental stimulation. I happen to enjoy taking care of my mind," she said loftily, shooting him the snootiest glare she could muster.
He arched an eyebrow. "What about your body?"
"You are so superficial."
"Can't you think of anything except my physical beauty?" Kenshin smirked. "When I said body, I meant your general health. General exercise gets rid of those unwanted fats and burns calories you know."
"If you are trying to insinuate that I am the even the slightest bit above the recommended weight for my height, I just want to remind you that this book I'm holding is hardbound and will look very nice, smashed against your face," Kaoru said sweetly.
The arched eyebrow elevated even higher and his eyes danced with amusement. "You are aware that you will be incurring the wrath of millions by damaging one of the natural wonders of the world, right?"
"You wish," she said with an exasperated laugh as she caught a few strands of his long red hair and gave it a tug. She smiled at his exclamation of surprise and pain as his head was jerked slightly forward.
In retaliation, his hand came down hte back of her head as hegently, but firmly pressed her face against her book.
"Wow, when you bury your nose in a book, you go all out don't you?" he snickered.
Kaoru's words were muffled against the pages of her book just as her hand reached out and tugged his hair, this time pulling it harder than she had before.
"Yow!" Kenshin let go of her and raised a hand to massage his scalp. "If I develop a bald spot, it's your fault."
Kaoru rubbed her nose and glared at him. "You have so much hair it wouldn't matter anyway."
"That's not exactly an insult you know…"
Kaoru turned her attention back to her book and ignored him completely. That is, until he reached out and tweaked her nose. "Do you mind?" she huffed. "Why are you even still here?"
"Your nose. It's red."
Kaoru valiantly tried to keep from rolling her eyes. She failed. "That's because you smushed it against my book, retard."
He gave her a look. "You have a weird nose…" he made a move to touch it again but she swatted his hand away.
"Well you have weird colored hair," Kaoru retorted.
Kenshin smiled, lying back down in bed and studying the ceiling.
Kaoru looked at him for a long momentsettling her attention back to her book.
After a while, Kaoru heard Kenshin sigh and felt the bed shift as he moved.
"You are aware you might develop bedsores by being prostrate all the time…not to mention your muscles will probably end up atrophied since you don't use them much…right?"
"Oh, you mean like what happened to your brain?" she murmured distractedly as she turned a page.
He smirked, "Yeah, pretty much."
"The horrors."
The bed shifted again as he sat up. "Can I borrow you car? Mine hasn't arrived yet."
"You're going out?"
"Yeah, I like mental stimulation too and you're boring me."
"Awww, you're making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside."
He smiled. "Sure you don't wanna come with?"
Kaoru shook her head. "No thanks. Keys are on my desk. Try not to crash into anything."
"Your concern for my welfare warms my heart."
"Who said anything about you? I was talking about my car."
"Ouch. That's harsh."
Kaoru smiled. "Thanks."
.
It was later that day and Kaoru was currently trying to assure her mother that she was assimilating into the small town life pretty well. Being that it had not even been a week since she'd arrived, she felt really comfortable. In a way, it was nice to know that you would be staying in one place for the whole year and didn't have to expect to move to another location in only a few weeks' time.
"How are Hitomi and Sakura? I trust you are getting along with them well?"
"Yes. They're very nice, I enjoy their company very much."
"Are you getting along well with the fact that they are also your father's new family?"
The question gave Kaoru pause. She had been a little apprehensive at first. As much as she liked Hitomi and Sakura there was always that niggling hope that her dad and mom would get back together. Kaoru figured she would probably always harbor that hope. It made her feel guilty, as if she were betraying Hitomi and Sakura with her thoughts.
"I know you like my aunt and I know you like Sakura…but it's not a sin to want your family to be together. It's normal."
"Both my parents are happier now than they were together."
"They have their feelings and you have yours."
"I noticed that you hesitated the last time we talked about this. How are you handling things? I worry about you, especially since you'll be staying so far from me."
Kaoru infused her voice with as much reassurance as she could muster. "I miss you too mom, but I'm fine. Really."
Ayaname assessed her daughter's words, "I'm glad to hear it. How about your father? Did he seem fine to you? How is he adjusting to everything?"
"He's great. He's doing less traveling. He has all his papers sent to his office here, so he doesn't need to be gone all the time. Sakura loves him a lot and it's obvious he and Hitomi love each other."
"I'm glad to hear it. I'm happy for him."
Kaoru smiled slightly knowing her mother really meant it.
"I love the house you're staying in. It's so homey. It's a very nice home to start a family."
Kaoru had used her cellphone to shoot a brief video feed of the house she would be staying in, thinking her mother would be more reassured if she at least had some idea of Kaoru's living quarters. She had also taken brief shots of Kenshin, Sakura, Hitomi, her dad and Teruko to introduce her mom to the people she would be staying with for the year.
"In't it? I told Hitomi the same thing." Kaoru bit her lip as a thought occured to her. "Mom, does it bother you…thinking dad might have other children with another woman?" she asked suddenly, wanting to know.
There was a moment of silence before Ayaname spoke again. "I think the question is, does it bother you?"
"That's not an answer mom."
"Honestly?" Ayaname began, "Well, first I want you to promiseme that whatever I say doesn't affect your decision and your feelings regarding the matter. Feel your emotions Kaoru. Don't alter them to suit that of others. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Kaoru promised.
"Alright. I love your father…but my love for him now is different than my love for him when we were married. So, no, it doesn't bother me if he goes forth and multiply," Ayaname added dryly.
Kaoru laughed.
"What about you?"
"I'm glad. I'm kind of excited to have little sisters and brothers running around."
"Well in the meantime you have Sakura who is such an adorable little angel. You didn't tell me Kenshin was so lovely though."
"Kenshin! I don't think lovely, is the word exactly," Kaoru said dryly.
"Oh? And what would you suggest?"
Beautiful.
"I don't know…"
"Magnificent? Utterly superb?" Ayaname teased. "Should I be worried Kao-chan? My only daughter is going to be living under the same roof with such an impeccable specimen of a young man. I should tell you father to keep a keen eye on you!"
Kaoru laughed. "No need, I'm not interested in that stuff yet, besides I'm pretty sure I'm not his type."
"Why would you say that?" Even through the phone, Ayaname clearly conveyed her displeasure and Kaoru could practically see her mother's perfect lips twist in a semi-frown. "Are you implying that you don't think you're good enough for him?"
Uh-oh…Kaoru felt a 'self-esteem issues' lecture coming on. She had sat through enough of those to know her mom could go on and on for hours on end. "No!" she denied. "I'm not implying that at all!"
"What then?"
Kaoru's mind frantically darted through all possible excuses and latched on one plausible one. "He's uhm, gay…!"
And then she froze when she realized what she had said.
He 's…gay…"Oh. Well you know, I read something in a survey once that said most good looking guys are either married, psycho or gay."
Kaoru choked.
"Oh darling! Perhaps you should introduce him to Kamatari!" Ayaname said excitedly.
"…"
"I suppose that's what I found so fascinating about him. I sensed something different about that young man…there's something about his eyes. It is as if there is a world he holds inside of him, another part of him he hides…" Ayaname was acquainted with a lot of homosexuals, men she considered her friends. She was aware that there were those of them who had gone through a lot of suffering and grief because of the choices they had made, and the person they had fallen in love with.
A brief memory of a night spent outside, sitting on deserted stretch of sand before the crashing waves of the surf ghosted through Kaoru's mind. That night, Kenshin had seemed to morph into a different person right before her eyes.
"He is like a dessert under a full moon with shifting sands. It's as if you have this feeling you can never really know him or grasp exactly who he is. Like there are so many different facets of him…" Ayaname continued musingly.
"I think the term is multiple-personality-disorder," Kaoru supplied.
However, she did agree with her mother's statement. There was something in Kenshin that didn't quite click.
Kaoruremembered Sayo saying something about Kenshin always keeping people at arm's length.
Using his friendliness as a shield.
Why did he stop studying in the first place?
Did it have something to do with the fact that even though both his parents were alive, he lived most of his life with his aunt?
He was like one of those Chinese boxes where you open one only to reveal another, smaller box within.
Boxes within boxes
Kaoru talked a few more minutes with her mother until Teruko came in and asked to speak with her for a moment.
It was not after she had hung-up the phone and turned her attention to Teruko that Kaoru remembered she'd forgotten to correct her mother about Kenshin's sexual preference.
Uh-oh…
She had blatantly, if somewhat unintentionally, misled her mother. How was she going to get out of this one?Mom…when I said gay, I meant he was happy…
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The kitchen was enemy territory for Kaoru Kamiya.
She took to it like a cat would to water.
Badly.
It was a place where seemingly harmless utensils and apparatuses turned rabid and attacked her. Ovens would suddenly burst into flames or explode and blenders would turn into projectile launchers that spewed minced goop all over the place.
She rarely visited the kitchen except on rare times when she would ask the Cook to prepare a special meal or she would grab a snack from the refrigerator.
Her only friends in the whole place were the microwave and the toaster.
Those two, she got along with just fine.
There had been a brief time when Kaoru had tried to learn to cook. She and her mother had been staying over at the château of one of her mother's friends for a brief sojourn.
Kaoru had been offered some cooking lessons by the head chef: a rather portly Frenchman who grew fond of her because according to him 'the little miss knows how to show appreciation for fine cuisine'.
In other words, Kaoru usually pigged out on his cooking, cleaning out her plate and often helping herself to second servings.
The food tasted good, what was she to do? Deny her self when there was so much available?
The trouble was, as much as Kaoru loved to eat food, she did not like preparing it. It was tedious and boring and she usually ended up cutting the vegetables wrong or getting bored and forgetting to stir, fry, turn-over or flip when she was supposed to.
Most of the time she'd tried, she'd ended up getting lost in her thoughts as she plotted a story she wanted to write or imagined a painting she wanted to work on. She would forget to pay attention and would only remember that she was in the middle of cooking, when the smell of burning would reach her nose.
After some rather heinous incidents involving broken ovens, explosions and his mustache catching fire, Jacques had finally given up and said that his 'little miss' as he called her, would be a pleasure to serve food to, but not a very good apprentice.
Tha was putting it nicely.
"Maybe I could get some frozen dinners, heat it in the microwave and have everything done with," she mused as she checked the refrigerator.
There were some meat, vegetables and stuff she did not even want to contemplate.
There were no frozen dinners.
She could probably buy them at the supermarket, but which part? She didn't know her way around town and had never been in a supermarket before.
She closed the freezer door and frowned.
Also Hitomi probably would not want her family to eat that kind of food. Kaoru had never even sampled one before, but she'd seen people eat it on TV so how bad could it be?
Teruko had come to talk to her about a call she'd received from her sister regarding a family emergency. The woman had asked to be dismissed early and had offered to fix dinner for Kaoru to heat later, before she left. Kaoru had seen the worried look in the older woman's eyes and had told her not to worry about dinner.
"But I thought you had not the slightest idea what to do…it would be no trouble, really…"
Kaoru had shaken her head, "No. It's okay Teruko-san. You can go. I can manage in the kitchen on my own. I hope the family emergency doesn't turn out to be serious…you can go now. It's no problem."
"Are you sure?"
Kaoru nodded, smiling.
And so now here she was standing inside the empty kitchen, sizing up everything with a wary eye. "I am so in over my head…"
She needed help.
Unfortunately…there was no one left inside the house to help her.
.
Kenshin got out of thecar he'd borrowed from Kaoru since his car had not yet arrived. Kaoru burst out of the house and he waited by the car, watching as she ran towards him to welcome him home.
He watched her approach, casually leaning his side against the van's door, a small smirk playing across his lips.
This was going to be so much fun.
"Thank Kami you're here!" she exclaimed as she latched on to his free hand in a vice-grip, tugging him towards the house.
Hearing her voice over the phone had made him worry for a second because she had sounded frantic. The moment Kaoru had explained her predicament to him; Kenshin had felt the overwhelming urge to laugh out loud.
Something he felt quite often in her presence.
"You have a serious mental problem," he informed her as he extracted his hand from hers. "You're getting too worked up over a silly dinner. That's not healthy."
"Oh yeah, like you're the poster boy for mental health. Besides, it's not silly!"
Kenshin gave Kaoru an, 'If you say so', look that oozed 'patronizing' as his lips formed the amused smirk Kaoruhad already grown familiar with.
She frowned at him.
He had changed his attire from what he'd been wearing when he'd barged in on her earlier today. He was now wearing black denim jeans that were artfully distressed and a simple black shirt she recognized was from Armani. Kenshin was holding a plastic bag in his right hand; the bag had a logo Kaoru did not recognize.
He smelled vaguely of light alcohol and fruit.
"Why are you so late in getting here? I called you almost an hour ago!"
A dark red brow arched elegantly over crystalline violet eyes. "I'm here, aren't I? Besides is that the way to talk to your savior?"
Kaoru paused, remembering their earlier telephone conversation.
"Let me get this straight. You want me to go home and help you cook?"
"Yes."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Because you're a decent human being who takes pleasure in helping those in need."
"Nope. Try again."
"Because technically, I am kind of your cousin which makes me family so you have an obligation to aid your kin!"
"Didn't I use a semblance of that line when I asked you to massage my temples?"
"Uh-huh…"
"And then you tried to squeeze my brains out…"
Damn, she just knew he was going to point that out! "Come on Kenshin!" she wheedled.
"…"
"Look, I really need your help. I'm desperate!"
"Exactly how desperate are you?"
"Very."
A sigh. "Fine…but there are some things that you would have to do…"
"Fine, fine. Just get back here now!"
A diabolical chuckle before he stated his demands.
"Well?" Kenshin prompted. "You're the one who asked for my help. Is that the proper way to show gratitude?"
Kaoru glared at him for a long moment before she muttered a strangled, "No."
The smirk playing around Kenshin's lips became a full-blown grin. "And what do we say Kaoru?"
"…"
"Oh, so you've decided you can cook dinner on your own? Okay then, I'll just go relax by pool…" Kenshin made a move to stroll towards the pool.
"Wait!" Kaoru said gritting her teeth. When she'd called him on the phone to ask for help, she'd expected him to make her grovel but this was just pushing the limits!
"Well?"
"This is very childish you know."
"Hey, life's too short, I take pleasure anywhere I can."
"And my mortification gives you a great deal of pleasure?"
He smiled.
Kaoru rolled her eyes and bowed in a gesture of respect. "Arigato Kenshin-sama, for helping me out."
"There, that wasn't so hard was it?" He patted head like an owner would a well-trained pet dog. "Good girl."
Kenshin started walking towards the house leaving Kaoru to trot after him muttering something unintelligible under her breath, but Kenshin caught a few words like 'moron', 'jackass', 'arrogant' and 'retard'.
"Oh did I hear something?" Innocent purple eyes glanced back at her, golden lights dancing beneath the violet sheen.
"Nothing Kenshin-sama…"
Kenshin smiled, although Kaoru didn't see.
Maybe this year really wasn't going to be so bad after all.
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A/N: Kenshin's always polite and nice to everyone else so it's only with Kaoru that he gets to play! (grins) Can you actually imagine him behaving that way with Sayo? Nope. Only With Kaoru!
Kenshin's demands…any guesses what they were? Suggestions?
I know some of you guys think it's weird Kenshin and Kaoru usually use the term family to refer to each other but I think it's only natural since they don't exactly see each other as boyfriend/girlfriend yet. Still, I hope you agree that they are somewhat getting closer. Also, Kaoru now sees that there is something more to Kenshin than meets the eye and she's curious…
More insights on Kenshin's character in the next chapter: It will deal with Kenshin and Kaoru's cooking escapade!
Don't forget to REVIEW guys! Thanks much! Also, I know I should be putting up Belonging but it's taking me longer to write the next chapter for it than I anticipated so to those of you who are waiting for that, I'm sorry It's taking so long.
Read The Notes Below
Kaoru: (arms akimbo and glares at Scented) Kenshin-sama? Why in the world am I supposed to call him Kenshin-sama!
Kenshin: (looks thoughtful)I don't know Kaoru-dono. It kind of hasa nice ring to it. Better than sessha…
Scented: (nods wisely) Definitely. Now if we can only do something about your height and your penchant for girly colors…
Kenshin: (falls to the ground) Oro!
Kaoru: (helps Kenshin up) Do I have to call him Kenshin-sama the entire length of the story?
Scented: Nope. Why, what do you prefer to call him?
Kaoru: (taps index finger on her chin) Uhm…how about koishii?
Kenshin: ORO! (falls to the ground swirly eyed)
Scented: Look what you did! He's fainted! (Nudges Kenshin with the toes of her slippers)
Kamatari: I heard something about Kenshin being gay…?
Kaoru: (grabs Kenshin's unconscious form) Get away! He's mine! (growls like a fierce Tanuki)
Scented: (sweatdrops) Okay minna, just disregard this waste of space and look down. See those helpful notes? Read them, they provide insight to this chapter.
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Ayaname's Insights Into Kenshin's Personality – Remember, Ayaname and Kaoru are both artists. Generally artistic people tend to be more insightful (at least I think so, maybe I'm just biased) when it comes to people's personalities. Just think of the pictures or paintings or sculpture that you see in Galleries. They invoke feeling. That means the artist was able to capture not only a visual image but also managed to look deeper and capture the prevalent emotion as well.
(Kaoru is also starting to think about Kenshin and his 'complexities')
Shifting Sands – There's this picture I saw once of the dessert. It seemed really mysterious. When you're in the dessert, all you see is a sea of sands and the landscape is changing continuously so you really need to pay attention or you'll get lost. (In a way, it is like Kenshin's personality in this fic. You can never really grasp it fully and you really need to pay attention to catch the subtle signs he shows)
Kaoru's Phone – Phones now are really cool. It's so packed with gizmos. You can take videos and pictures and listen to music, play video games. I wonder what they'll think of next?
Chateau – It's a French country house or estate, sometimes even a castle. I think it's used mostly as vacation houses and not for regular inhabitation. Since in this fic, Kaoru is well traveled and rich, I thought it would be nice to have her stay in one for a while.
Jacques – He's the portly Frenchman chef who was trying to teach Kaoru to cook. Remember, they were staying at a chateau (see above notes) that is why Jacques is conveniently French as well. (smiles)
Atrophy – wasting away through lack of use. Kenshin was teasing Kaoru that her muscles would atrophy from lack of use while Kaoru retorted that Kenshin's brain would experience the same thing.
Kamatari – Okay, someone asked me why I portrayed Kamatari as a guy. It's because he is a man. Yes, he's male…I was surprised too when I found out. He's gay. Right? I mean with his obsession with Shishio, he's gotta be…
Review Responses:
Chikifriend – Thanks for taking the time to read! (grins) I hope you like this chapter.
Polarbear – Thanks. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please tell me what you think!
Lady Fantastic – Thank you. I'm so flattered. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.
Tsuka-kun – Hi! Yes, I checked and you are correct. I misspelled it. The proper spelling is, Louis Vuitton. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please tell me what you think!
Kaoru4 – Yes, Kaoru will meet a some of Kenshin's old friends. (grins) The jealousy is of course coming, but when it comes and how is something you'd have to find out! LOL! I hope you don't get bored with this fic.
Mizu-Ruuseisui Inc – That's okay, I squeal too when I see an update on a story that I'm reading or when I receive reviews (hint, hint) LOL! The next chapter is about Kaoru and Kenshin's escapade in the kitchen, the chapter after that is the 'going to school' chapter, which introduces some of the Kenshin-gumi plus others. Clamsofmacabre – Not much in terms of fluff here but there is a lot of interaction. I find I like writing Kaoru and Kenshin's bantering in this fic. Anyway, you burn toast? I don't even make toast. (grins) At least you try, I don't. LOL! Anyway I hope you weren't disappointed with this chapter!Vision2 – Thanks! I love writing their interactions too! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Not much romance but I am trying to convey the subtle evolution of their relationship. They are more free with each other now than they were before. Please tell me what you think of this chapter!
K&K Forever – What did Kenshin think of Kaoru when she was soaking wet? (hmmm) Use your imagination! (LOL!)
Erica6060 – Hi! Kaoru actually does wear nice clothes. Remember the yacht birthday party, Kenshin commented that the dress she wore was nice? Plus he already said he liked her arms, commenting that they were 'not emaciated', so in a way Kenshin is very subtly expressing that he finds Kaoru pretty.
Miko Kagome Archer – Wow, you know a guy who behaves like Kenshin does in this fic? Cool! And you've liked him for TWO years? Whoa! He must be really dreamy then huh? (grins)FCChibiKenshin – I like writing Kenshin and Kaoru's banter too. It's a subtle way of showing the progression of their relationship, which is basically what this fic is all about. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please tell me what you think!
Mini-Moonstar – I know, this is my relaxation fic too! (grins) Piercing Silence and my other KBK stories are most angst-centric so this fic provides a nice balance. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Venus goddess – Hello! Nope, I don't think your comments are rude at all! It's nice you tell me how you feel! As for their relationship, right now they refer to themselves as relatives because they don't really see each other as bf/gf yet. But believe you me, they will! (grins) Anyway, I hope you send me a draft of your story! I'm excited to read your ideas!
Blackz – I'm glad you like my fic! Be careful and don't get caught but also study really well so you get good marks on the exam. Good luck!
Pinay Tiger – Hi! Wow, I really liked your review. It was long and so very helpful! BTW, I love your drawings! I'll send you mine when I can get it scanned. I haven't used my scanner since forever and I think it's busted anyway. Thanks so much for the helpful advice although what in the world is a polysendenton? (I have no idea, gomen for being an ignoramus) And yeah, I think I won't really change the tone of the way I'm writing this story. People seem to like it because of the way it is written now, to change it might ruin the whole pacing and tone of the story. Thanks for the help! I hope you finish the posters you're working on!
Dagorwen of Ithilien – Thanks for the review. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please tell me what you think!
Enchantedsleeper – Hi! Glad you like the story! One of the best stories you know? (blushes) thank you! (hugs) I hope you liked this chapter! Please tell me what you think!
Videl621 – Hi Videl! Congratulations on breaking the 200 mark! I'm glad you like his character and pick up on the subtle flirtations! September 2003! Wow, I'm glad you still haven't lost the thread of inspiration for that fic! I hope you never do! not until you finish it! (glares threateningly) Yeah, I try to update as frequently as I can but some people are noticing that I'm slowing down. Oops! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Brittanie Love – Hi! Thanks so much for the review! I know! I just love Kenshin shirtless! (drools) I hope you liked this chapter and please tell me what you think!
Jbella – Hi! As always your review was very helpful to me! As for Kaoru learning how to cook, the next chapter is dedicated to Kaoru and Kenshin's kitchen escapade! I'll upload it in a few days. It was supposed to be part of this chapter but it made the whole thing too long so I cut it in half and I'm adding some stuff to the last part before I upload it. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Triste1 – I actually did catch that error and tried to correct it but it took some time for the site to replace the chapter. It's fixed now though. Gomen! As for the plot moving faster, it will progress and the next chapter will show Kaoru more of the Battousai side of Kenshin. The darker side of the smiling, teasing retard she knows. This chapter actually sort of alludes to that…but anyway I hope you don't get bored with this fic! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review!
Aoshilover – Here you do, I updated. Hope you enjoyed it. Please review!
Dakota – Thanks. I'm glad you like my story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review.
Jessica – Hope I didn't keep you waiting long. (grins) Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review!
Drac-frst – Yup, I am leading somewhere. I hope you don't get bored with this fic but I like taking the time with character development as well as their relationship with each other. I'm trying to make their interaction as normal as possible so that the evolution of their relationship seems natural and not forced. Please review!
Peachie-chan – (stares at Kenshin plushie enviously) Yup, more Ken-Kao romantic interactions in the future! Wanna trade Kenshin for the Beshimi plushie? LOL!
Nes – Thanks so much for your words of encouragement! I like to go slow with the pacing of their relationship in this particular story so I'm glad you are not getting impatient with me! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!
Nanakiyoda – HI! (grins and catches Nanakiyoda as author bounces off the walls) I updated! (grins) I loved your review. It made me smile. I'm glad you enjoy my stories and thank you so much for your support! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Animegurl23 – Hey girl! Thanks so much for the review! Really, you've never seen a fic like this before? (grins) Thanks for calling me an Original! I really appreciate it! And thanks for always reviewing my stories!
Ravyn – Hi! Finally I was able to update! Thanks for the E-mail and encouragement you gave me! I'm glad you like the pacing of the story and are not impatient with the development of Kenshin and Kaoru's relationship. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thanks for the advice! Please tell me what you thought of this chapter. Thanks!
S3r3nity – Hi! I hope you studied for finals! And I hope you get good marks on the test! (grins) Thanks so much for always reviewing my story. I will try to update BHTY more often! Kaoru can't cook and Kenshin is going to help her do it! Next chapter is about Kenshin and Kaoru's kitchen escapade! The chapter after that is about the first day of school. Jenanna – Thanks for your review! I really appreciate it! I'm glad you like my portrayal of Kenshin and Kaoru in this fic and that you enjoy it! Also, thanks for putting me on your Author's Alert! (grins) I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please tell me what you think! Thanks!Clemen – They will get together…eventually. (grins) I hope you liked this chapter! Please review!
Lendra-chan – Hey there! I hope you don't have laryngitis anymore! Ah…a kiss between Kenshin and Kaoru…you got me all excited to write a scene like that! (grins) Don't worry, they will get together…but that fact that they are not very romantic right now will only make it even more…'sweet' and 'intense' when they finally realize their feelings.
Nim – Yay! You noticed Kenshin is getting more touchy-feely! It's because he's getting more comfortable with Kaoru! A step-up in their relationship progression! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!Raeyn-chan – My stories keep you enthralled? (grins) I'm so happy! Thanks! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please tell me what you think!
Shinta-Fan – Thanks for liking my story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!
Crystal Winds – Thanks! I do try to make this fic as humorous as I can. With my other KBK stories, it's mostly angst so this is the fic that balances everything out for me.
Sutefani-Chan – YES! Their teasing and bantering are what bonds them. Remember, Kenshin really doesn't tease anyone else like he does Kaoru. Remember Kaoru says that Kenshin is a perfect gentleman with everyone but her? That means Kenshin is actually more comfortable with Kaoru than with anyone else because he doesn't feel the need to constantly be nice!
As for traveling, I love it. I love visiting new places, but I don't like going alone (yeah right, as if my parents would let me anyway, LOL). I usually travel with my mom and little brother during summer or Christmas vacations. My mom sometimes brings along my aunt and my little cousin so we have company. Sometimes I travel with my whole family, dad, mom, my two brothers, everyone. Sadly, I don't get to travel anymore. (sobs) I think it's been…two, three years since I last got away from the 'city'.
Someone – thanks for the review. I think I have already updated BHTY…anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review.Tintin-chan – Yeah, I know Slam Dunk. I'll think about making some of the characters from that anime have cameo appearances in this fic. I think it might be fun. I like Rukawa and Sendoh though, although I think Jin and Fujima are cute too.
Kk – thanks for the review. I hope you like this next chapter. Please review!
The guardian – THANK YOU! I am trying to build up their relationship slowly. I want this fic to be more about the growing emotional closeness of the two of them. I want them to fall in love without realizing they have. I've read some romance fics that are about instantaneous physical attraction and although I enjoy reading them, and am writing one as well, I want OWY to be different. It will make their 'ehem' love more sweet and intense once they realize their feelings (I hope).
Aninymous miss – Thanks for the review and for the complement. You're so nice! (grins) I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please tell me what you think!
Reignashii – I think if your personality is like Kaoru in this fic, they you are cool. I find Kaoru's personality in this fic interesting, I like writing her because she's deep and intelligent but she also has feelings of insecurities but she doesn't dwell on them. Kudos to you! PS, I think everyone has those issues to deal with. Just in varying degrees. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. Please review!Himura Kamiya Kaoru – Thank you so much for the encouragement. Really, you think my stories are some of the best out there? (grins) Thank you! Don't say you are not a good writer! As long as you like writing, then go for it! As for Ken-Kao romance, it's already started. Kenshin has trouble sleeping but falls asleep when he's with Kaoru, Kenshin treats everyone nicely except Kaoru (which means he's comfortable enough with her to stop being nice all the time), Sayo's comment about how maybe Kenshin has changed, Kaoru catching a glimpse of Kenshin's 'Battousai-dark-side'…those are very subtle hints that there is something between the two of them, it may seem platonic now but the seeds have been planted! (grins)
Princess-oro – AU means Alternate Universe is when the characters of Rurouni Kenshin are put in a different time, place, world that is not related to the anime. For example, this fic is AU because in the anime Rurouni Kenshin, Kenshin does not have a cousin named Sakura, is not a model and they don't exist in the modern time. Cannon Universe means that the RK crew are in their own world where Kenshin is Battousai, Kaoru is a kenjutsu instructor...so on. The Kenshin-gumi are going to show up in chapter 12.KeNsHiNlUvEr – Thanks for the reviews and your encouragements. I'm glad you like my story and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review!
Marstanuki – I wanted to give Kaoru a break. She's always so lovesick over Kenshin. (grins) Thanks so much for the review and the encouragement. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please tell me what you think!
Hannah – Hi, thanks for the review. I'm a girl. As for the action, don't worry, it's coming. If you want more intense love stories that I have written, try Piercing Silence or Back home To You or Belonging. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review! Thanks.
Kaname – Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please tell me what you think!
Chibi Mistress – LOL! Glad you liked it! I loved writing that chapter too! Anyway, thanks for the review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please tell me what you think!
Fly gurl – Hi! I updated! Did you enjoy the chapter? Please tell me what you thought of it. Thanks.
RoxxyEva – You will see Kenshin's Battousai side. A glimpse of him will be given in the next chapter. More of Kenshin's darker side will be introduced as the story progresses and Kaoru finds out more and more about Kenshin. (did that sound sinister? LOL)
A.B.C Otaku – Thanks. Hmmm, contacts on anime characters. They would probably be HUGE! (grins) Did you like the chapter? Please review!
Battousaifriends – Thanks for all the review! Did you like this chapter? Please review!
PunKrocKergrl – Thanks for the review. Glad you liked my story. I would have fainted as well…possibly molest him…(grins) Did you like the update? Please review!
Anon – I'm glad you think my story is refreshing and different. Your review made me smile. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! Please review!
Pego – Thanks for adding me! I appreciate it and I feel so honored! (grins) u hope you liked the update! Please review!
Hikari-Kawaii – Thanks for the encouragement! KK scenes will develop more! I hope you liked the update. Please review!
Ixchen – Thanks for the review! I hope you enjoyed the update. Please review!
KazeAme – (catches KazeAme before she floats away) Hey! I updated! I d o try to update as fast as I can but I am balancing other stories as well so it's kind of hard. Anyway, I'm glad you like my story and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review!
Japanese Noodles – The best story you've read so far? Wow, I am truly honored! Or perhaps this is the first story you have read? (grins) Anyway, thanks so much for the review and I hope you liked this chapter. Please review!
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