There was a difference in the air when Kenshin walked back into the dinning room. Misao looked stunned, Tsukioka-san and Sano looked far too close to giggles for his liking, and even Aoshi-san looked almost amused.
He had gone back in (Kaoru had told him to go back in) after they heard Misao's outburst, wondering what could have caused it. And now he was met with this.
It made him suspicious.
But no. Aoshi was here, and he would kill himself before allowing any harm to come to Misao.
Still … it couldn't hurt to ask.
"Sano? Is everything alright?"
"Fine, Kenshin." Was it just him, or did Sano have to swallow a chuckle before answering? "Why? Anything wrong?"
"No, no it's nothing." Kenshin frowned at the floor slightly, before shaking his head and turning to leave. There was laundry to be done, and Kaoru-dono still wanted him to buy some tofu this afternoon …
When Kenshin shut the door, he heard the smallest sound imaginable, so small that even his heightened hearing barely picked it up. It almost seemed to be a snicker, but Kenshin dismissed that immediately.
It was probably just the wind.
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Poor Kenshin's out of the know. Everyone go "awwwww." Now, this is what I meant by this fic "suffering" while I focus on my other project – shorter chapters, that do little to forward the plot and yet are still recognizably part of this story. Not the actual quality of the writing decreasing any (I hope).
(for 33)
Nicky: (sorry I didn't see this 'till after the last chapt. was up) You're not stupid. I haven't introduced this character yet, though I did write one other chapter about her a little bit back. I didn't introduce her there either, though, and they're both mean to be something you understand in hindsight rather than when I post them, so it would take a fairly decent leap of faith to assume the two are about the same character. And … three weeks? In a row?!?!?! Man, I pity you when that happened – I've only had this for about five days and I still think sometimes I'd be less miserable if I just killed myself. *shudder*
Kuroiyousei: … I've been spelling your name wrong this whole time, haven't I? Yes. Yes I have. *bashes head against wall* stupid… (Me, not you) Well, you can tell what's not my strong suite now, can't you? Yahiko is a cutie … but he's probably my least favorite main character (out of the Kenshingumi, Oniwabanshuu, and those sort of people), not because I don't like him, but just because I like everyone else so much more. And just cause it's not going to be my first priority, that doesn't mean I'm going to stop updating so … could be worse, right? *shrugs* Thanks for the understanding though – means a lot. And nope, I've never heard of Quest for Glory, but I'd also be surprised if anyone here (that is not a rabid or semi-rabid AD&D fan) has heard of Baldur's Gate, so it even out then, huh? ^_^ You'll find out about the scary lady soon enough, I promise (and then she'll disappear and pop back up again at a really inconvenient time).
Nicky (Again!):Yeah, Yahiko's pretty underrated. I mean, he's not my favorite, but that doesn't mean I don't think the kid is way cool (just not as cool as Saitou, Sano, Aoshi, Katsu … etc.). … And I actually like doing these semi-character-sketch things. They're fun. ^_^