Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. **runs off crying** :: sniffle::

Author notes: All right, I'll be frank with you. 'Forever' is boring right now, but it will get better later on(hopefully). Surprises are coming up! I seriously need to work on that fic…THIS fic is fun to write! I'm just out of it when I'm writing 'Forever'. But I got some more ideas!

Ne, does anybody notice on the episode when Kenshin gets a letter from Misao that involves Shogu Amakusa, Kaoru's cooking fish in the background and Yahiko and Sano were fighting over it. I thought her cooking was hideous…

Okaaay, enough of my ramblings! On with the show! I mean, fic!

WHERE IS IT?

Chapter 2

Predicaments

Previously:

"I have lost it." Kenshin finished.

"WHAT!" Sano shouted unbelievingly.

"No way!" Yahiko said with wide eyes.

Kenshin left his head bowed down, staring at the floor. "Sessha does not believe Kaoru-dono would want to marry a man whom does nothing right and loses very important things, that he does not."

Silence.

"You're such an idiot!" Sano hollered, grabbing the front of Kenshin's gi. "Have you searched everywhere for the damn thing?" he demanded.

"No, I have not." Kenshin answered nervously. "Only my room." He said, giving a nervous laugh at the look of pure murder Sano was giving him.

Sano began shaking him roughly until his eyes turned swirly. "So, are you just gonna give her up that easily? Look for that ring in only one room and simply say 'I don't deserve her'? I thought you would sell your soul to Shishio just to be with her! Nothing matters to her except for you! Can't you even get that through your head! Are you that selfish?"

Sano began rolling his head to the side, cracking his neck. "I guess I'll just have to knock some sense into you." Lifting his fist into the air, he was about to bring it down when Kenshin got free of Sano's hold and fell backwards.

"I remember putting the ring under my futon, that I did. But it's gone!" Kenshin said, pointing at his futon, hoping to not get punished physically.

Yahiko and Sano went over to Kenshin's futon and checked under it. Nothing but the floor was under it.

"Where could that ring be?" Yahiko wondered aloud.

Sano began scratching his chin with his thumb and index finger, staring at Kenshin's futon in deep thought.

"What's up with him?" Yahiko whispered to Kenshin. Kenshin just shrugged his shoulders and looked at Sano's form in hopes of any ideas.

Nothing but a light breeze could be heard as Kenshin and Yahiko stared at Sano's quiet figure.

"Aha!" Sano suddenly exclaimed, standing up straight and looking at Kenshin straight in the eye. "A burglar." He simply said.

"A WHAT?!" Kenshin and Yahiko shouted.

"A burglar. A thief. A person who steals. A Mr. You have better stuff than me so I'm gonna jack you. A poor-"

"Okay Sanoskue, we got the picture." Yahiko said.

"Oro… I don't think a thief could sneak in and out my room without going unnoticed by me, that I do not." Kenshin said wearily.

"Well, what else could have happened to it? Think realistically." Sano said.

"You need to think realistically." Yahiko muttered under his breath.

"What was that kid?" Sano asked, glaring down at Yahiko.

"Maa, maa. Let's not start." Kenshin reprimanded.

Yahiko stuck his tongue out at Sano and turned to Kenshin. "So, are we gonna look for this ring or what?" he asked.

"Yes, we most certainly will." Kenshin answered.

"We?" Sano asked curiously. "I never said anything about helping you look for that ring Kenshin. You were the one who lost it, and you are the one who needs to find it." He declared.

Kenshin's shoulders immediately slumped down. "I see…" he said sadly. Sano suddenly slapped him on the back. "Hey, I was just joking." He said with a wide grin. "I'll go search the kitchen for it, alright?"

Kenshin gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you Sano." He said gratefully.

"Sure thing! What are friends for?"

Just as Sano was about to walk out of the room, Kenshin slapped his forehead. "Matte!" Sano turned around and looked at him curiously. "I forgot to tell you that the ring is in a black, silk box that is a bit smaller than the size of my hand, that it is." Kenshin said.

Sano gave him the thumbs up sign. "Gotcha." He said in understanding.

"Hey, what about me?" Yahiko whined.

Kenshin and Sano scratched the back of their heads. "Check around the laundry basin, Kenshin goes there a lot." Yahiko nodded his head and rushed off and Sano just strolled to the kitchen.

"Oro?" Kenshin muttered, 'Where will I look? Hmm…' he thought. He began pacing around his room, trying to remember where he had last put the ring, but he couldn't remember. He began banging his head on the wall from frustration. Clenching his eyes shut, he racked his brain for any clues. His eyes snapped open and he slammed his fist onto his palm. 'I remember! Last night, I was in Kaoru-dono's room, staring at her face, praying that she wouldn't reject me and make me leave! I think I may have left it in there!' he thought all too cheerfully.

Sneaking up to Kaoru's door, he listened for any noise that would hint that she was in there. Hearing nothing, he gently slid the shougi door back and took a step into her room, only to get pummeled by a bokken.

"Kenshin no baka! What do you think you're doing?" Kaoru demanded, pointing the tip of her bokken at Kenshin menacingly.

Kenshin peeled himself from off the floor and dusted himself. Looking up at Kaoru's angry face, he gave her his sweet, innocent rurouni smile. "Nothing at all Kaoru-dono. I just came to check on you, that I was." Kenshin lied.

"By sneaking into my room?" Kaoru suggested.

Kenshin scratched the back of his head. "No, not all Kaoru-dono…" he drifted off as he stared past her and into her room, trying to find a black box or ring anywhere in sight.

Kaoru abruptly turned on her heels and shut her shougi door and turned back to Kenshin and glared at him. "What are you doing? Trying to get a good look at what's in my room?" She asked angrily.

Kenshin waved his hands in front of him. "Iie, nothing like that." He said. He then began to look at her suspiciously. 'Why did she get so angry just because I was looking into her room?' he thought. 'NO! But she wouldn't, would she? Kaoru-dono is not like that, she is honest, she would never steal anything.'

"It's just that I lost something, and I think I may have left it in your room the last time I was in there." Kenshin said.

"Well Kenshin, I haven't found anything that doesn't belong to me in my room." Kaoru replied timidly. "Are you trying to imply something Kenshin? Trying to hint me to fess up for something? HMMMM?" she asked angrily.

"No. not all Kaoru-dono." Kenshin began but was cut off.

"Give me a description of what this "something" looks like so I can keep an eye out for it."

"Alright. It's a black, silk box that is a bit smaller than my palm, that it is." He answered, watching her expressions change in any way of recognition, but she simply shrugged her shoulders. "Alright."

"Kaoru-dono, could I have a talk with you?" Kenshin asked.

"Sure, what is it?" Kaoru asked, not budging from the spot she was standing at.

"Ano, could we maybe go in your room to talk! It's a bit hot and bright out here, that it is." Kenshin said, trying to find a way to get into her room.

"Why don't we go to your room instead Kenshin?"

"Because your room is closer."

Kaoru opened her mouth to retort, but he was right, it was a bit hot out here and her room was right next to her. "Alright, but could you hold on a sec?" Not waiting for him to reply, she went into her room and closed the door quickly.

Kenshin stared at her shougi door. 'What's she doing in there?' he thought as he heard a few crashes and thumps coming from in her room.

The door swung open and Kaoru smiled sweetly at him. "Come in." she said, letting Kenshin walk into her room. As Kaoru was closing the door, Kenshin quickly scanned her room for a sign of a black box or a ring, but he didn't find anything.

Kaoru sat down in the middle of the room and Kenshin sat across from her, looking down at his lap and trying to search for any clue out of the corner of his eyes.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Kaoru asked.

Kenshin looked up and stared at her. Suddenly sirens went off in his head. 'Her closet! I heard her throwing something in her closet a little while ago!' he thought.

"Welllll…?" Kaoru asked.

"Paper!" Kenshin suddenly said.

"Huh?"

"Paper! Do you have any paper?"

"Yeah, there's some in my closet. Let me go get it for you." She said, standing up. Kenshin immediately stood up also. "No, let me get it for you." He said walking briskly over to closet. As his hand was about to touch the door, Kaoru flew in front of him and blocked him from going to his destination.

"What's wrong Kaoru-dono?" he asked in worried tone.

"Nothing, it's just that…This is my closet! You can't go in there!" she said in a nervous tone.

"But we are friends, that we are." He said, trying to convince her to move.

A blush began to creep up Kaoru's face. " I… I h-have undergarments in here!" she said. Kenshin felt heat rise up to his face. "Can't a girl have some privacy?" She asked.

Kenshin just nodded his head dumbly. "I don't need the paper anymore." He whispered.

"Eh?"

"I just remembered I had to do something!" he exclaimed, now only wanting to leave this embarrassing scene.

"But didn't you say you wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Oh yes! Ummm…." Kenshin rubbed the back of his neck. "I forgot what it was!" he exclaimed and quickly rushed out of her room.

Kaoru sweat dropped as she saw him run like the devil was chasing him. Turning around she securely closed her closet door tightly. Making sure it was shut tight, she unknowingly gave a sigh of relief.

'I've got a surprise for you, Himura' she smirked to herself.

Many thanks to all whom reviewed! I'm really happy!

**grins evilly** I know where Kenshin put that ring. :: fox ears pop out:: OHOHOHOHO! No wait, :: pulls out fox ears and throws them away:: :: devil ears pop out:: MWAHAHAHAHA! I'm sooo evil.

Remember to leave a review! I'll love you so much!

^___________^

cutie-chan