Author's Note: I am so afraid that this fic will not meet your expectations. Yes, "Pig-boy Romances Tanuki-chan" was wacky. This on the other hand will focus more on the romance aspect. Course, I will still try to make it funny, but there will be more WAFF here. After all, it's about Kenshin realizing that there's more to his Kaoru than he thought. I dunno, please do not expect to be laughing your heads off. WAHHH! I wish I could do that, but these are things beyond my control. Perhaps that genie…no, I will not go into that again!

BTW, Thank you for the reviews! Really appreciate it. I also discovered that Mel Gibson has a following on FF.net. (*grins*) Isn't he dreamy? Just like Kenshin…two guys I won't be getting.

So sorry this installment took so long.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Mind of the Woman

Part VI: Immersion

"Why do they stare at him like that? When they look at him, they see only the scar and the red hair. They call him the Hitokiri Battousai, as if Himura Kenshin does not exist. They fear him, because they insist on clinging to the legends, as if he wasn't alive for them to find out who he really is. He's already trying so hard with the smile he puts on and with that cute 'oro' he does. Can't they at least extend him the courtesy of not whispering about him behind his back? Then they refer to me as his woman, as if it was a bad thing. Don't they know how much I WANT to be his woman? Don't they know that the only thing I hate about living with him is that he DOESN'T make me is woman? Of all the ironical things…Kenshin you moron!"

I smiled slightly at what I heard. Her face was blank, not a hint of what troubled her, but she has been going on like this since we got on the crowded streets. Funny how her litanies always ended with that inevitable "Kenshin you moron!"

She really shouldn't be bothered about what other people think of me. I've been dealing with that sort of thing for more than a decade. I'm used to it by now. Heck, I even think I deserve it. It actually sort of lessens my guilt.

Talk about masochism. Doesn't translate to anything more than social-rejection, I hope. If I find myself with Hurt-Me-Perv tendencies, I will absolutely kill myself.

I shuddered at the thought.

One thing I've noticed, though. In response to Kaoru's mental defense of my social well being, she has taken to walking close to me, as if daring anyone to loathe her for acknowledging my companionship.

What an odd couple we make. I stay close to her because I want to scare everyone into thinking that to harm her means to deal with me, while she's furious at the revulsion people feel for me when they watch me walk down the streets.

I could almost laugh.

"Ooh! What a pretty color! And the embroidery is just lovely!" Her thoughts gushed, her eyes conveying nothing but casual interest for the length of fabric with lavender and pink hues laid out on one of the market stalls. She continued to surmise. "Affordable too! Oh, but I don't think I should indulge myself. I have enough kimonos. And it's not like Kenshin would notice, then there's Yahiko who would just keep calling me hag…what's the use?"

I tried to keep down my sighs. Of course I notice when she's wearing something new. It's just that…well, I shouldn't be encouraging her to fall for an old-fogy like me, even if the same old-fogy's hopelessly in love with her...She just shouldn't! She should find someone younger, with a better spirit.

Like…like…okay, presently, there's no one I consider to be remotely deserving of her.

I think Sano hinted that his ex-Sekihoutai friend Tsunan casually expressed interest in Kaoru once or twice. Shyeah right! Like I would really let her go and marry a bomb expert. Take a hike, buddy. See ya!

Then there was that painter what's-his-name. Weirdo pervert! Tried to peep on my Kaoru in the bath. Capturing her image, he says. If you ask me, he was trying to capture something else. Of all the lame excuses to get off…like I haven't heard that one before. I've walked in on her bath (been in it, in fact, just recently) and yes, it may have been art, but in no way was I thinking about proper shading and perspective.

Enishi was the worse. I'm not even going to go into that.

Call me picky, but Kaoru deserves more than a pack of losers.

Maybe a king, or a prince…that would do for her. Yes…yes…where she can live in a castle. I could be the miserable bodyguard to Her Highness Kaoru…

What…WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING? Get a grip Himura!

Kaoru reached out and touched the fabric with her fingertips. Her eyes were attuned to her emotions now.

"Oh, but then it's really nice. I ought to buy it anyway, even if it's just for myself. Even a tomboy like me wants to feel pretty once in a while. I'm allowed that, ne? Boy, oh boy. Raccoon-girl, all dressed up and no where to go. Well, SO WHAT? Aaargh! I am so PATHETIC!"

She dropped her hand and looked straight ahead, intending to leave the stall with nonchalance.

This is just all my fault. "Kaoru-dono, don't you like the fabric?"

Kaoru smiled and gave me a cheerful half-shrug. "It's okay, but it's nothing special or anything like that."

That unaffected seeming, so non-indicative of what she really felt. Oh, but why, Kaoru? Why not make yourself happy? You liked the color and the pattern. "It will look very nice on you."

She tilted her head to the side playfully. "Is that so? Well, I suppose that ought to convince me, but I think I'll restrain myself just this once. I've got more kimonos than I have occasion to wear them. I mustn't be greedy, you know. Some girl out there probably has every reason to shop for a new fabric, and this will probably fit her just as well if not better. I think I'll leave it for her, whoever she is. I don't really need it, anyway."

Kaoru turned to continue through the market. Wouldn't it be nice if something good came out of that pretty thing?

I followed more slowly and pondered over what she said and thought.

I realized that I had misconstrued her again. Aoshi would deck me for my initial short sightedness. Even with my new insight I still almost fumbled it.

It now occurred to me just what that was all about. The pretty fabric won't make her happy. It's just woven silk. Disappointed though she may have been to decide not to get it, she finds more happiness in some other girl purchasing it because that girl might have a better reason for buying it…so unselfish, I could cry.

That's one thing about Kaoru. I just turn into this unrecoverable pile of mush whenever she does something particularly endearing. I don't consider myself overly sensitive, but my goodness, she can really get a guy all teary eyed.

Maybe for someone like me who's trying to get her to fall for someone else, what I'm about to do is totally askew of my objectives, but hell, I can indulge her, can't I?

I bought the fabric.

I didn't tell her I bought it. I just kept the package camouflaged among the food parcels I carried for her. Her thoughts in the market were dynamic, ranging from what she saw on the stalls to Yahiko's training the next day.

Kaoru's anger for those who gaped at me and her inner conflict with the fabric were about the deepest insights I gathered. I didn't really expect her to go into too much in a noisy crowded place like the shopping district.

I also realized, to my great unease, that she had quite a few admirers among the throng. Stupid little me had to pick it up from her mind, as if I didn't have eyes to see it for myself.

"Is he staring at me? I wish he wouldn't do that. It's quite uncomfortable," she would think, not looking the least bit fazed.

Silly me would look for the guy who's ogling her and try to catch his eye, only to discover that he was too enamored of my Kaoru to realize that I DON'T LIKE IT THAT HE'S LOOKING AT HER.

I don't know why I didn't notice them looking before. Besides, what am I supposed to do about it? I couldn't very well tell them to buzz off, even if I wanted to. And boy, do I want to.

At the rate things are going, Kaoru will become an old maid.

Well, they could just shoot me! Is it my fault that they don't measure up to my--er, Kaoru's standards? Right, Kaoru's standards. That's what I meant, really. It's up to her.

But it isn't a crime to come up with my own standards, ne? I'm not going to impose them on Kaoru or anything…at least, not much.

Yep, not that much. Just a little tiny bit. Just a smidgen. Maybe more than a smidgen. Marginal. Depending on how much she likes the other guy in spite of him being an absolute loser. Right, losers are a definite no-no for my Kaoru.

Oi! What's that guy looking at Kaoru for? He's a doctor from another town, they say? Well, I think he's a LOSER!

Part VII: After Effects

Of course, when Kaoru and I got home, Aoshi was there to meet us. No, he was there to meet me.

I was the project after all.

"Turn around and I'll be happy to see you," sang Kaoru's thoughts before chiming out an "I'm home!" at Aoshi.

I simmered in irritation. What the hell is it with Aoshi's butt?

I should ask Sano.

Oro! I don't even know if he's really gay!

"Welcome back!" Misao suddenly cried, popping out of nowhere. From the roof, it seems.

"Hyahhhhhh!" Yahiko yelled, shinai above his head, heading right for Misao.

"Mou! What terrible form!" Was Kaoru's immediate thought.

Pursing her lips, she snatched the shinai from the air with skillful precision and slammed it on Yahiko's behind.

"OUCH!" Yahiko complained, falling forward with his hands clutching his offended rear.

"For shame, Yahiko-chan!" Scolded Kaoru, hands and shinai to her hips. "I taught you much better than that!"

"Maa…" Misao said in her usual cheerful way. "We were just doing some ambush training."

"Oooh! Yahiko that was simply atrocious!" Kaoru growled, grabbing Yahiko by the back of his collar. "To the dojo! Right now!" She dragged him kicking and screaming towards the training hall.

Misao followed behind them, doing her monkey-dance.

"Why does she do that?" I muttered, heading for the kitchen to deposit the food purchases and start with lunch.

Inevitably, Aoshi followed.

I gave a frown of distaste. Here we go again. Laundry…cooking…next thing you know he'll be invading my Bath-for-Kaoru time.

"I don't suppose you'll leave me alone," I said calmly.

Aoshi shrugged. "This new depth of yours, it fascinates me. I can feel it in your ki that you do have some odd…shall we say, handle on Kamiya-san, but for the life of me, I could not figure out how you acquired it."

"Ah," I replied, entering the kitchen where I began to put down the supplies. "I was hoping you would be the one to tell me that."

He looked at me in restrained surprise. "You mean you don't know?"

"Shinomori-san," I began patiently. "Do you even know the extent of the depth I speak of?" Let's see if I can surprise Buddha Boy here.

Aoshi, predictably, gave a superior huff. "Of course, Himura. You've tapped on to the labyrinth of Kamiya-san's spirit. You have begun to unite the nature that is yours and hers."

I raised an eyebrow and stared intently at his face. "You haven't the slightest idea, do you?"

He frowned and turned away. "I can't know everything."

Odd that he thinks that it's some major flaw in a person.

Who would subject ones self to so much pressure? Apparently, Aoshi would. Stick a coal up his butt-hole and in a week you'd get a diamond.

"Well, you don't have to know the depths." It was my turn to be haughty. "And you don't have to know how this unworthy one happened to do it, either."

Aoshi began to grit his teeth and clench his fist.

What's the matter now?

"You must tell me how you did it," he finally said.

I looked away in irritation. I swear, he considers this quest for the cosmos as some kind of competition. He probably thinks I have one better over him. So obsessive. "I told you. I don't know how it happened." Well, I did, in a way. But what was I going to tell him? Go get an ex-wife and kill her so she can give you a gift when you're screwing up your love life?

"Well, find it out!" He practically commanded me.

"Oro! Quit ordering me around, you control freak!" I snapped back, facing him and slicing ten turnips in half in the process. "Honestly!" I huffed, straightening the front of my gi and hakama pointedly, then I turned back to my cooking. "Shinomori-san, I thought you were the model of self-constraint."

This seemed to have embarrassed him considerably.

Good. He can just shut-up for a while. Find it out…feh! I ought to beat the hell out of him.

He stayed quiet for a few minutes before speaking in his subdued voice again. "It disturbs me that you can find enlightenment without even trying, Battousai. I am thinking that maybe there is something wrong with me."

Oh, there's something wrong with you, alright. It's finding out to how far-gone you are that's the trick.

I cocked an eyebrow at him. "You know what your problem is? You meditate and you plunge yourself into the spiritual abyss with so much intensity that you've forgotten the most basic thing about the whole hoopla."

He glared at me. I don't think he liked it that I called his mission for the divine a "hoopla".

I ignored him without batting an eyelash. "Shinomori-san, you have forgotten to relax," I finally told him.

He stared, thunder struck.

Ah, so now it occurs to you, you spellbound twit. "Meditation is all about finding some measure of inner peace and focus. How can you do that if you're stressing to get there faster than anyone else? It isn't a race. I cannot figure out why don't already know this." Ha! In your face, Aoshi!

After a few more moments of gaping, Aoshi cleared his throat and looked away from me. "I suppose I had that coming. Thank you, Battousai, for pointing it out. I will heed your words."

Isn't this the strangest of days?

"On a more personal note," Aoshi continued, picking a stray leaf of vegetable from off the counter top and disposing of it. "What have you learned of Kamiya-san?"

Changing the subject now, aren't we? Well, I can live with that. "Enough to give me better insight into her personality. I have more to learn."

"Wouldn't have anything to do with that silky thing in the fruit parcel, would it?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I now have proof that no one could resist the lure of intrigue. "Maybe it does."

"Well, it's about time you got a move on, Battousai," Aoshi said. "All this tension between you and Kamiya-san is absurd."

"Yeah, put yourself out of your misery, Kenshin," came a voice from the entrance of the kitchen.

Sanosuke couldn't have come at a better time. Of course, his topic of conversation didn't contribute to my relief. At least Aoshi would stay out of it for the time being. Sometimes I wonder if that guy is actually awake during group conversations, or he has learned how to sleep with his eyes open.

"Konnichiwa, Sanosuke," I said, grinning at him. "I was wondering when you would show up. You haven't freeloaded for the last two meals. Kaoru-dono said you might have turned up dead in some gutter somewhere in Edo."

Sano frowned. "Hey! Do I have to be dead not to turn up in this joint?"

I nodded with rurouni innocence.

My unequivocal agreement made him scowl. "For your information, I got a job."

There is something definitely supernatural at work here.

I could say nothing for several seconds and Aoshi was more deadpan than usual.

"What are you two looking at?" Sano asked.

As if he didn't know.

Gathering my senses, I smoothly got on with the discussion. "What kind of job, if you please?"

Sano fidgeted and looked away uncomfortably. "Oh, you know. The job… here and there, odd hours and stuff like that."

Aoshi and I raised an eyebrow at the same time.

"Odd hours?" I inquired. "What kind of job is it?"

"Jeez! You're nosy!" Sano growled. "It's none of your business. The point is I got a job that pays. That's all you need to know."

I raised my palms up in surrender and went back to chopping. "No need to bite this unworthy one's head off. Forgive me for insisting."

Aoshi then excused himself and began to leave the kitchen, no doubt put off by Sano's presence.

I wonder what the rooster-head is up to. What kind of job does he have that he snapped at me when I asked him what it was?

I sneaked a peak at Sano and noticed that he was looking at Aoshi's retreating figure. Is he…? Is he checking Aoshi out?

No way! Ooh! Kaoru, the things you think and say just boggles my mind.

"What?" I asked Sano.

"Eh?"

"What are you looking at?"

He frowned at me and leaned back on the other counter behind me. "Nothin'. What is it with you today? Asking so many questions…"

He doesn't even know half of it.

"Nothing," I replied, taking a pot and filling it with water like it was the most important thing in the world.

I worked a bit without saying anything and then I turned to go to the spice shelve, only to catch Sano looking away from me.

This is getting freaky. Was he just staring at my…backside?

Aaargh! I can't take stand the intrigue!

"Sano, is there anything in particular that you want to talk about with me?" I asked.

He scratched his head. A sure sign he was thinking. "So, how are you and Jou-chan coming along?"

What is it with everyone wanting to get the juice on my relationship with Kaoru? I can't make developments with this kind of pressure!

I glared at him. "I'll post an announcement about it, every third day of the week so none of you miss out."

"Cool it. I was just pre-ambling," Sano said with a frown. "The thing is, I came to talk to you about the Fox-lady."

I gave him a suspicious look before getting on with my cooking. "What about Megumi-dono?"

"Do you…think she likes me…?"

My, people are just scrambling to get answers to the mysteries of the universe, and in the process making me even more confused. "I'm…I'm not sure…is it a problem if she does?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Of course it isn't a problem," Sano replied almost immediately. "I mean, she told me the other day that I was a useless, freeloading ogre."

No surprise there.

"So?" I asked.

Sano gave me an irritated scowl. "What do you mean, so? You don't think it's bad she thinks of me that way?"

What is he, an idiot? "Everyone thinks of you that way. She only said that because it is common knowledge." Come to think of it, this issue of his may mean that he's more interested in women (or more particularly a woman doctor) than men. Well, that's one mystery solved.

"What?!?! I do not look the least bit like an ogre!"

Or not.

I think I won't go into that right now. "Sanosuke, why do you care about whether Megumi-dono likes you or not?" It would have been a stupid question yesterday, but in view of the, ahem, observations of Kaoru and the slight alteration in the scope of my perception because of it, I think the question is valid enough.

"Well, duh!"

Silence right after.

What?

He was not saying anything.

"'Duh' what?"

"Just 'duh'!"

We may not look like a couple of ogres, but we sure sound like it, "duh-ing" and what not.

I am so not in the mood for this. "Sano, this unworthy one has to cook lunch," I said quietly, going back to my work.

He sighed. "Yeah, whatever Kenshin. I'll be outside."

This is going to be a long day.

To be continued

Author's Note: Not much going on in that last one, but I am taking my time on this. I was laying out the groundwork, so to speak. I hope I don't offend any of you with what's going on with Sano. I'm NOT making any promises about that. It will be a secret, for now. As for Kenshin and Kaoru, they will have more action in the next installments.

I know this is going slow, but I've been very busy at work. So sorry! I'll try to make it up to you all by releasing a few one-shots (not related to this!). Anyone care for a one-shot lemon? Well, you don't have to answer that.

I'll be back to give you more on this fic. Stay tuned.