Author Notes:(I'm a horrible person so you'd better read this note or I'll haunt you in my own special way.)Thanks! I am so happy, I feel so loved even after only two reviews. *Special Review Dance* (looks like the Snoopy dance) Extra super-special thanks to Koneko-dono, for being the first to review, and to LinaNverse, for her helpful criticism, hopefully it reflects what more of you want. I still am not sure about who will wind up with Kaoru though. While I'm thanking people I also want to thank (I feel like I'm at the Academy Awards) my mom, she got me hooked on Kenshin, and Joe and Adrian who helped feed the need to know more. Love ya guys!
What Does it Matter?
As Kenshin set up the laundry, from out of the corner of his eye he saw Sanosuke and Kaoru laughing and chatting lively. He sighed as he noticed them moving in his direction, but plastering the happy-go-lucky rurouni smile on his face all the same. 'What does he think he's doing spending so much time with Kaoru? You'd think they were suddenly attacked at the hip. Does this mean-' His thoughts were cut off by Sano.
"Oi! Kenshin just wanted to tell you I'm borrowing 'Jou-chan and taking her for a walk just in case you need her for anything and find she's not around and then-uff!" Sano had been about to say something to the effect of Kenshin going battousai if he couldn't find his precious Kaoru-dono.
Jabbing Sanosuke in the rib cage Kaoru smiled and said, "Well we'd better be going. Bye Kenshin."
"Thank you Sano, Kaoru-dono for telling me," Kenshin called out to their retreating backs.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru looked around to make sure no one was following them. She had a feeling that someone was watching them and couldn't shake it off.
"So Sano what's up? Why drag me all the way out here?"
"Why 'Jou-chan I'm hurt! Can't I spend a little time with one of my friends? Besides, this is the only place I could think of short notice where we can talk without the increased possibility of eavesdropping."
"I guess your right, but… but I still feel like-"
"We're not completely alone?"
Kaoru nodded her head in agreement, "What do you think we should do?"
"Your guess is as good as mine Kaoru, so the choice is yours."
"Hey!" Kaoru shouted up into the trees, "Come out! We know your there. Well? We don't have all day, do you?"
From out of the tree behind them came some rustling of leaves, then a string of curses. Sano and Kaoru looked at each other, bewildered. Finally a small person popped or rather plopped down out of the tree.
"Misao? What are you doing here, following us, scaring us all for what? Did Kenshin send you?" Kaoru looked like a tomato ready to burst.
"Kaoru-chan? I thought that you knew it was me, I mean you called me out and made it seem like you had people following you all the time. Sorry if I startled you, it's just that Aoshi-sama thinks that I need to practice my ninja skills, although I do think they are still very sharp, I mean-"
"Weasel, do you think you could shut up for a second? Why were you following us, not a stranger?"
"Uhmp! Stupid Rooster-head, don't you know that if I follow someone who knows me that they're more likely to realize it's me then a stranger? And if I can trick those I know and follow them easily then I will have mastered the skill."
"Wow! All in one breath, I'm impressed. Tell ya what Misao, do me a favor, go back to the dojo and try and spy on Kenshin, that should greatly increase your skill. When he's found you out, which should be a lot quicker then Sano and I tell him that you and your Aoshi-sama are staying for a visit. Have him cook something for you guys for lunch, but tell him that we won't be back until dinner. Can you handle all that?"
"Sure no problem Kaoru. Got it all down right here," she tapped her head. "Guess I'd best be off. Later." With that she bounced off towards the Kamiya Dojo.
After they noticed she was out of range, the two started to laugh, "Kaoru, that was some quick thinking. I didn't think that there was really anyone we knew following us, but when Misao jumped out, I thought I'd start laughing right there. Oh Gods! It was so unexpected." Laughing so hard he was forced to bend over for fear that he might colapse.
"I do think it's funny, but not that funny." Kaoru waited for Sano to stop laughing and crossed her arms in front of her chest. When Sano saw her he let loose a whole new string of laughter. "Mou! Sano, when are we going to finish our walk?"
Straightening up, with few snickers, he waved his hand like a gentleman and said, "Let's go."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You want me to do WHAT?" Kaoru glared at Sano with her own Battousai-glare. Sano sweat-dropped when he also noticed the glares he was getting from other costumers.
"Kaoru keep it down. And the rest of you mind your business and get your minds out of the gutters." Sano cracked his knuckles for added affect. "I just want to tell Kenshin about what you're feeling. How do you know that he doesn't love you? Did you ever ask?"
"No, but then again do you think he would have told me?"
'This has to be affecting him some how or has he really gone full on rurouni? Maybe I should feel guilty-but wait he had his chance and if he's not going to do anything then I'm going to do all I can to make our little 'Jou-chan happy. Ha, the Kenshin-gumi headed by the most feared assassin during the battousai and he's 'afraid' to discuss his feelings'
"I guess you've got a point we'll leave that alone for the moment, but only for the moment you understand?" Receiving a nod he continued, "So what do you think we do in the mean time? That run in with Misao made me think-"
"What? Sanosuke thinking? What will this world come to next?"
Ignoring her and her giggling he went on, "Made me think that we need more training. What do you say? Me and you, a team? We'll train and become better than we are now. Then maybe I'll be good enough to finally give Saitou a run for his stupid tobacco smoking habits. Hahaha!" He trailed off in a fit of laughter. Kaoru suppressed a shiver it reminded her to much of Megumi.
"Are you done yet? I think that your idea is wonderful 'not to mention slightly impossible' and that I think we should go for it 'or at least try'. What's there to stop us? Plus with a more rigorous work out I think that I might be able to get Yahiko to stop his bragging about he's almost as good as I am."
" 'Jou-chan, don't ya mean how he thinks he's better than you?" Kaoru looked at Sano and then burst in to pearls of laughter,
"You're right," More giggles, "for once in your life." She nearly toppled over if she hadn't been caught by Sano who was going to try and tickle her to death.
"Hey! Do you mind? There are minors present, if you hadn't noticed." The sound of Yahiko's voice caused Sano and Kaoru to almost laugh some more but then they notice the rest of Yahiko's party. It seemed that he was walking Tae and Tsubame back to the Akabeko restaurant in town. Tae and Tsubame was staring at them with wide eyes.
"Umm… Sorry?" Kaoru tried to hide her embarrassment but failed as it was made worse by the sight of Megumi walking towards them. "Tae why don't I talk to you on the way to your restaurant, I was coming by to see you anyway." Kaoru took Tae by the arm and led her back in the direction of the Akabeko with Yahiko and Tsubame following. "Good morning Megumi-san." Kaoru said aloud, but her eyes said, 'Try and flirt with him today. Go ahead, I want to see how it affects me.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So you see we're just friends. Nothing more. I just found out how much…" Kaoru paused, searching for the right word, "fun he is to be with. Also it feels good to not worry about what Kenshin thinks and how I'm going to support everyone at the dojo. It makes me feel like I'm living my life." Kaoru had just finished explain the whole situation about what was going on in her life at the moment, especially the part with Sano and her. Tae was a little taken a back at what Kaoru said about Kenshin and even a little disappointed, but let it pass because Kaoru is her friend, no matter who she is in love with.
"I guess this means that you're available? Can I introduce you to this nice young man who just came into town? He used to work at Sae's restaurant, but now he's in Tokyo so-"
Kaoru held up her hand to stop Tae from going any further. "Tae I'm trying to sort my life out the way it is now without wanting to worry about anyone new. Please understand and try to stop any rumor you hear, that is if any go around." Turning to Yahiko, "Come on, let's go home and clean the dojo. I feel like mindless work." And they left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yahiko had overheard parts of Kaoru and Tae's conversation. From the gist of it he got that Kaoru was no longer going to pursue Kenshin and that she wasn't involved with the Rooster-head or anyone else. He wished he hadn't because he didn't know how it made him feel. Kaoru was the main anchor in his life and he didn't know what he'd do without her, but Kenshin was just as important. Yahiko's face showed the controversy going on inside his head. 'Poor Yahiko. I wonder what he thinks of me. I hope he'll want to talk.' As if he heard her Yahiko came to a decision, "Kaoru, I'm sorry that I listened to you talking you Tae, but can you explain it to me?"
Smiling a true sisterly smile Kaoru said, "Sure kid, whenever you and I get a chance, I'll explain it to you."
"I'm not a kid! I'm just like any other man, confused!"
More notes: Sorry the chapters are so short, I just feel like I'm cramming too much info in one space.