Author's Note: You must all be wondering…is Sano gay? I dunno. We'll see what happens. I just like spicing things up, that's all. Kenshin's OOC, but I think he was more OOC in the last fic. Though he's less, well, aggravated here because there's really no one to make him go stark, raving jealous, he's more smart alecky, ne? But I think I'm keeping up his rurouni game-face pretty much the way it usually is.

Hope no one goes ballistic with the little bombs I've been dropping! I pray you enjoy these next installments. Parts 8 and 9.

Again, I apologize if this took so long, but I've just gone through 16 hours of anime. It goes with the Anime Festival around here. Next week is another 16 hours. I feel like I'm drugged.

Standard disclaimers apply.

On with the story.

Mind of the Woman

By anna-neko

Part VIII: Cautious

Over the course of the next few days, I listened to her musings.

Apart from the occasional melancholic moment, Kaoru's thoughts were mostly full of wit, laced with humor and sarcasm. Sometimes she would be irritated, by Sano's freeloading, Aoshi's patronizing silence, Misao's dizzying babble, Yahiko's name calling, Megumi's teasing, my so-called clueless-ness and her own shortcomings. Her anxiety, which was mostly centered on me and Yahiko, was constant, but could be eased with a smile, or in Yahiko's case, an uttered "busu" or "ugly".

I don't know exactly what Tomoe hoped to accomplish by this, but the more I listened, the more unworthy I felt. Kaoru knows no sorrow, which brings me to the question: Why should I even introduce her to it?

Sorrow is so close to my person that it would insist on being acquainted with her.

I simply won't let it.

I haven't given her the yard of cloth I bought the other day. I don't know what I'm waiting for, but somehow, I feel that the timing isn't quite right.

One thing I do know about this mind-reading business, it's a lot easier for me to make her smile.

When the chill of autumn stung more than usual, I would fetch her coat and earn her heartfelt thanks. When training took its toll and her bones would ache, placing a liniment bottle near the furo would gain me her appreciation later. When Aoshi became too ponderous for her taste, I offered dinner at the Akebeko for everyone to lighten things up (But I only did this once. I couldn't bloody well afford it every single time he became unbearable, unless I was willing to walk around wearing a barrel.)

In short, I have learned that spoiling her was just about as delightful to me as it was to her.

Everyone noticed it, of course. What with all of them trying to get the scoop on the great Meiji romance. I imagine they were lapping this up, but I didn't care. I just wanted Kaoru to be happy and contented. They could raise their eyebrows as much as they wanted.

I don't know what the big deal is anyway. They all knew I loved Kaoru.

For goodness sake, it was so painfully (and I do mean painfully) obvious during that Revenge fiasco, practically rotting in Rakuninmura the way I did.

I was so satisfied with pampering her that I forgot to watch out for the consequences.

After Kaoru's initial good mood because of my attentions, she began to get confused.

The idiot in me did not expect this. I thought we could go on like this forever, seeing we both liked the arrangement. But I was wrong.

Seems like even when I'm doing things right, I screw up anyway.

Story of my life.

I triggered the confusion one fine day, when almost all the leaves have left the trees that kept them.

The Kamiya dojo residents decided to take a holiday by the lake. While Yahiko and Misao tried their best to irritate the hell out of Aoshi, I sat on the grass beside Kaoru. I had my fishing pole in my hands while Kaoru insisted on being in charge of the net and bucket.

"This is taking forever," Kaoru thought somewhat impatiently.

I restrained myself from chuckling. I couldn't really blame her. We've been sitting around waiting for almost fifteen minutes.

I'm not exactly Fisherman of the Year, unless one counts catching Catfish every damn time I just want to catch anything but, and just my luck, Kaoru hates catfish.

"I wonder why Kenshin is being so sweet to me," she pondered, her mind drifting from the fishing to, shall way say, more dangerous waters. "And so thoughtful…"

I kept my eyes to the water, waiting for her to make her own replies.

"Does he…does he really love me?"

At that point, I frowned to myself. Oh, isn't life just like that? Everyone knows it but her! I thought I had made myself clear on that and the Sessha bit. It isn't important what I feel. What's important is that she deserves better than a nothing like me!

Her eyes stared at the water blankly. "Maybe he does! But then…maybe he doesn't. It's totally possible that he considers me as a little sister. Raccoon-girl and Ken-big-brother…omigod…just like Ayame and Suzume! Oh, doesn't he get it? Doesn't he know that I consider him as more than a big brother? I'm not a little girl anymore! For goodness sake, I have fantasies of the damn rurouni…"

Oro! Wonder why I never caught those.

"…if that isn't an indication that I'm one up on Ayame and Suzume, I will kill myself! But then, Megumi thinks I'm a little girl a lot of times…maybe I AM less than grown-up. Oh, but that's different! I can be immature, but it doesn't make me a kid! I lived by myself for two years of my life, dammit! And I currently manage to feed two freeloaders and one rurouni slash savior of Japan slash housekeeper into the mix!"

I suppose I had that coming.

"What the heck do I have to do to be loved by Clueless-Kenshin? Put up a sign? Aaargh! He doesn't love me! He should just quit being so nice to me! He should stop leading me on! This is so stupid! This is so…so…."

"Kenshin, you clueless idiot!" She yelled, throwing the fishing net in my face.

"Oro!" I had that coming too.

She got to her feet and stomped off to the direction of Misao and Yahiko.

"Kaoru-dono! W-What's wrong?" I asked desperately. This is great. Just great! What do I do? "Kaoru-dono, this unworthy one is sorry he couldn't catch any fish!" Oh, that was so lame. I should have kept my mouth shut.

"Leave me alone!" She cried back, not even turning to look at me.

That wasn't even the last of it.

After that episode, Kaoru began to lament everything I did for her. I use the word lament because she always kept the appreciative glint in her eyes whenever I did something for her, but now it was tinged with sadness, because it was nothing more than a desire to make her comfortable and taken cared of.

The funny thing about it is, I've been aiming for that comfort and care, but now that it's there, it isn't the least bit satisfying.

What is it that I'm doing wrong? I've delved into her thoughts, used it to try to make her happy, and yet absolutely nothing is working the way it's supposed to work. Maybe I should talk to Buddha Boy again.

No. Not such a great idea. He couldn't possibly fathom what I'm going through. Besides, he's meditating more than usual. At the rate he's going, he'll catapult right through the roof if he found out I've gone into mind reading.

I could just see him turning into a Zen Monster, demanding that I tell him how I managed to get a look-see into Kaoru's brain without meditating hours on end.

I'll just have to figure this one out on my own. I don't want him popping a vein on my account.

Two weeks after I slipped in the bath, I went to bed more perplexed than ever.

Lucky for me, somebody was paying attention.

"Oh, deeeeeeearyyyyyy…."

T-Tomoe? Boy, she sounds scary.

"Good evening, ex-husband."

I suppose it would be asking too much to talk to you face to face.

"That's right. You'll just have to feel like the idiot you are, talking to thin air."

Idiot, eh? SO…what did I do now?

"Oh, oodles of whatchama-moron things. You wouldn't believe how angry I am."

Why, pray tell? I didn't know there's PMS in the after-life.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, Kenshin, for your sake. Now tell me…WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

Oro!

"I give you a gift, and what do you do with it? You're wasting it, that's what! My goodness, if I had known you were this…this…stupid, I wouldn't have bothered! Do you realize the red-tape I had to go through just so I can give it to you?"

F-Forgive me! I'm sorry, Tomoe-sama!

"Tomoe-sama indeed! Don't you dare think brown-nosing will get you out of this!"

Panic time! I swear, I'm the only guy in this world who can do such a thing. I the great Hitokiri Battousai, can do things no normal man can do, including getting his dead wife angry at him.

"Oh, yes. Panic, my sweet moron. You've never seen me angry, have you? Not like this…"

Tomoe, tell me what I should do. P-Please don't kill me…

"Kill you? Oh Kenshin, I would never do anything as KIND as that. Hurt you, now there's a prospect…"

Oro!

"BUT, I've decided that I'm going to give you another chance."

Thank you, oh great--!

"Understand that I do this only because you've spent a ridiculous amount of time making yourself miserable! And the main reason I did this is because I think you've suffered enough. Letting you dig your hole any deeper will defeat the purpose of giving you the gift in the first place! I'll be the laughing stock of the after-life, and I just cannot have that. Do you hear me, Himura?"

Y-Yes!

"Very good! Then I'll tell you what you're doing wrong. Kenshin, you've been listening, but not enough!"

Oro! Not enough? I've been busting my brains trying to get the goods on Kaoru! What do you mean I haven't been listening enough?

"Just that! I'll give you a hint, Kenshin. Do you really think her mind stops processing after dinner?"

After dinner? What the --?

"You're listening to her at the wrong time of the day, Kenshin," Tomoe continued, the irritated lilt in her voice more pronounced than ever. "Do you honestly think she'd let any of you pick up on her true sorrows where you can catch it during the day? Of course not! You should know Kamiya-san better than that. She's the most unselfish creature to walk this earth, and she will not have you worried about her for anything more than a leaky roof!"

Oh, she is kind, isn't she? Always trying to make people happy. She has that adorable look on her face.

"Oh, yes. Very adorable ind--hey! Don't change the subject!" Said Tomoe sternly.

Well, well. The woman doesn't miss a beat.

Tomoe went on. "You're afraid, cautious. Just like Shinomori-san said. You listen to her mind, when what you ought to do is listen to her soul. But you've just plain refused to do that!"

Wha--?

"Kenshin, I do suggest you take my advice to heart, or else, I'm warning you, I will be the least of your troubles."

Is that so?

"You better believe it. Now, GET TO IT!"

"Ororororo!" I exclaimed, sitting up on my futon in attention.

My eyes frantically scanned the room, and seeing that everything was normal, I gave a sigh of relief.

I don't know why I was so afraid in the first place.

What could possibly be worse than Tomoe getting angrier?

A monstrously pissed Kaoru, that's what.

Enough said.

Part IX: Influenced

What am I supposed to do now?

We've just finished up with dinner and I haven't the faintest clue on how to go about this. Unfortunately for me, this Zen stuff doesn't come with a manual.

Step one: Read into your beloved's thoughts.

Step two: Don't be afraid to see into her soul.

Step three: Don't screw it up now.

Step four: Refer to step three, just to make sure.

I doubt if even Aoshi can help me. I'd call Tomoe, but she doesn't exactly have an address I can mail a letter to.

Besides, she already told me that I should listen to Kaoru's thoughts at night.

Now how does that make sense? How will that be any different from listening to her during daytime?

It's at night.

Jeez! That sounded even more stupid.

Besides, Tomoe made it quite clear that the reason Kaoru isn't freeing her thoughts is because she didn't want any of us to pick up on her feelings, which means I have to catch Kaoru unguarded, which means I have to sneak up on her, which means I have to have access to her bedroom…

Oh, don't even go there, Himura.

Well, well, well…this is only the most important phenomenon in my life, and I have to bungle it by making my other sword do the thinking.

Granted, the wakazashi hasn't had any action for over a decade, but right now, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT!

Shees! Focus, will you!

"Himura Battousai."

Speaking of gifts, Aoshi has one for bad timing.

I looked and saw him with Misao clinging to his arm while she gazed at him with woebegone eyes.

Now, there's a sight to see. At least someone's getting lucky in this joint.

Whether it's Aoshi or Misao will forever remain a mystery.

"Yes?" I asked, summoning all my will power not to snicker.

"Misao wants to go for a walk," Aoshi explained, stone-faced. "I will accompany her."

"It's a nice night for that, ne Aoshi-sama?" Misao gushed, rubbing her cheek against Aoshi's arm. "We can walk by the river, and then we can pass by the night market, ne?"

Aoshi gave a grunt and began to walk away with Misao.

"Don't wait up, Himura!" Misao chimed over her shoulder as they made their way out of the gate.

I guess I won't.

"Blech!" I heard a voice behind me say. "How can she like that guy? Not only is he the most boring freak in the world, he also tried to kill you and Okina!"

I chuckled as Yahiko sat beside me on the porch.

"Maa…people forgive and forget, Yahiko-kun," I said to him. "As for the boring part…well, love can make you see things others don't."

"Oh Kenshin? Like what?" Ah, the tone of that thought I know so well now.

I grinned to myself. Kaoru.

I looked over my shoulder and smiled at her. She smiled back and took the other side of me.

Yahiko crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly. "I think she just has a silly infection for him."

"Oro!"

Kaoru giggled. "I think you mean infatuation, Yahiko."

"Same difference, that one is," I responded, chuckling.

This caused Kaoru to giggle some more. "Oh Kenshin, that was mean, but very funny."

"What is it with girls and older men, anyway?" Yahiko asked, not the least bit worried about the consequences of what he had said.

Kaoru's face turned red. "Eh? What's wrong with girls and older men?" I dare you to say it, Yahiko. I DOUBLE dare you!

For your sake, Yahiko, SHUT UP!

Yahiko didn't. "Oh, it's okay when the guy's just two or three years older. Heck, I can stand a difference of five. But fourteen? That's just plain weird. Even ten's hard put."

I frowned at Yahiko. Hey! What's wrong with ten?

"Ohhhhh! This brat's going to get it from me! He's so dead!" Thrummed Kaoru's mind.

I should save his ass. I really should, but somehow, I don't feel like it now. What's the hell's so wrong about a thirty-year-old guy falling for a twenty-year-old?

"Aoshi's old enough to be Misao's father!" Yahiko said, completely oblivious to the rage he was causing.

It was then it occurred to me that Yahiko was really just talking about Misao and Aoshi.

With Kaoru's surmised "The boy is actually just rambling," it pretty much figures that the conclusion was not lost on her.

I blew a slight breath through my lips. There's one insight. Kaoru and I don't like being dissed about our age gap. Not much of a surprise, since I used to consider it an issue myself.

"Hey, I got another mystery for ya," Yahiko said. "Anyone know what rooster-head's new job is? He hasn't been showing up as regularly in the dojo lately."

I just knew it was bound to be brought up. Kaoru's mind was strangely blank. Whatever thoughts she had on it, she did not permit even herself to think it.

"No," I replied, adjusting my sheathed reversed edge sword on my shoulder. "All this unworthy one knows is that Sano keeps odd hours."

Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "Odd hours…?" No Sano, you WOULDN'T. But if not, why won't you tell us?

Uh-oh. Kaoru has an inkling.

I gave a nod. "Yes ma'am. Odd hours. He refused to give any more details when I asked him."

"Sano…if you're…ooh! I can't just stand by and let you!" Said Kaoru's mind with conviction.

What? What won't she let him do? Dammit! What was so horrible that she wouldn't even think it?

"Alright, maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, but if I'm right…if I'm right!"

Oro! I can't stand this suspense! "Kaoru-dono, what do you think?"

"Quit calling me 'dono' and maybe I'll answer you!"

What the heck? She didn't like "dono"? But…that's my thing.

"I have no idea," she replied, gingerly getting to her feet and grinning. "I think I'll fold in now. I've had enough of this intrigue." She gave a yawn.

Yeah right. Whether or not I can read her mind, I just know that this isn't over. Kaoru isn't much of an actress. She overdid it with the yawn.

"Me too. Got a lot of chores to do tomorrow!" Yahiko said, bouncing to his feet and heading for his room.

I live with a bunch of lousy actors. There's no way Yahiko ever looked forward to chores. These two are completely hopeless. No future for the stage around here.

"Bed, relax a bit, and when everyone's asleep…"

Ah-ha. Caught you, Kaoru. I'm not about to let you go alone in Sano's district. No way, no how. Beautiful woman like you…those goons would mob you if you weren't protected. It's no problem for me, anyway. Got my trusty reversed-edge blade. We'll spy on Sano together. It's almost romantic, ne?

There I go again. Overcompensating for the date I could never ask for.

Romantic…feh! Yeah right.

The day skulking in the thug-district is romantic is the day Yahiko stops calling Kaoru "hag".

There she goes. Just as I thought.

Frankly, I'm quite surprised that she'd go through these lengths to find out what our resident freeloader is up to. It's not like anybody bothered to look out for him before. It wasn't for lack of caring either. It's just that Sano looked and acted like such a tough guy that everyone assumed he didn't need anyone's concern.

It seemed Kaoru had taken a different approach this time. I wonder what she thought he was doing. She still hadn't taken to thinking it for me to hear.

Her thoughts went on about taking care of her friends, not wanting them to be pushed to do things they shouldn't do, desperation for money, stuff like that.

Following her from behind, I was relieved to discover that she had enough sense to dress in her most unattractive kimono. It was a brown and blue one. Blech! Small wonder she never wore it before. It was either given to her by some aunt with poor taste, or she had bought it in a fit of insanity.

With the stealth of the hitokiri, I skittered about, following my liege.

She didn't duck or skulk, which was much to her credit. Kaoru knew she couldn't pull off something like that. However, it did seem like she knew where to go.

Come to think of it, did she? She was turning this way and that, seemingly without destination, yet she neither hesitated nor stopped for directions. Where is she going?

I followed her through the alleys, crouched in the darkness, frowning in disapproval at the route she was taking. What possessed her to go through these passageways alone?

She was focused on where she was headed. I can hear her mind thrumming to turn here and go there. Her thoughts revealed nothing as to where she intended to end up in.

Then after a long and winding "goose chase", as I had begun to call it, her mental scream assailed my head.

"Caught you!!!!" She emerged from the shadows, bokken raised above her head. "Kiyahhhhh!"

"Ororororo!" I exclaimed, tumbling back to avoid her swing.

Something slammed at me from behind and we fell on the ground in a heap.

"Ouch! Watch it!" Cried the voice of a little boy. "Ouch, my foot!"

Yahiko! "Kaoru-dono, stop!" I yelled desperately, my sword already raised to block her bokken, which was helter-skeltering to pulverize my precious treasures. Heaven help me if her bokken connects. I could already tell by the arc of it that I wouldn't be able to walk for weeks! "Desist!"

"Omigod!" Kaoru yelped, pulling her bokken back just in time but landing herself on both me and Yahiko.

"Ouch! Get your dead-weight off us, ya hag!" Yahiko complained.

Kaoru gasped. "You two! Do you realize that you almost gave me a heart attack? I thought I was in danger!"

Yahiko grunted and I tried to get off him in spite of Kaoru being on top of me. "You thought you were in danger? Who the hell got jumped, anyway?"

"Kaoru-dono, you were trapping us," I said in extreme approval after recovering from my scare. I was distracted from the chaos by her cleverness.

She seemed a little irritated. "Well, what would you have me do? I'm not exactly up to facing two strangers from the thug-district in a fair fight."

I grinned and pinched her nose. "That's very smart, Kaoru-dono."

There she goes again, blushing. So cute.

She hastened to get off me and smooth her clashing kimono in front of her. "You might as well accompany me." Sure beats being alone in this place.

I smiled and helped Yahiko to his feet as I rose to mine. "Of course, Kaoru-dono. This unworthy one was just looking out for you."

Kaoru shook her head and rolled her eyes. "And unlike normal people, you had to follow me in secret. Honestly, Kenshin. If you had wanted to come, you could have just asked."

Ah, indeed. My stupidity never ceases to amaze me.

"Hey, hag! Do you even know where to go?" Yahiko asked.

Predictably, she bristled at the nickname, but she kept her composure with great willpower. Yahiko wouldn't believe the vile epithets her mind was spewing. "As a matter of fact, I do. Somewhere around this time, Sano hangs around a small food stall just a bit off his pad. I think he goes to work from there."

I raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

"I just do," she said a bit snappishly.

"I've seen him before," her mind betrayed.

Kaoru didn't seriously mean that she's gone to this part of town at this time of night before, did she? Alone, no doubt. Kaoru-darling, what have you been up to? Anything could have happened to you! And then where would I be?

"Let's go!" Kaoru said to us, leading the way.

The issue on how she obtained the information would have to wait. Right now, we were on this rather pointless pursuit of…I can't believe I'm saying this…taking care of Sano.

We saw Sano in the distance accepting a note from some dubious character. Sano opened the note, read its contents and nodded at the messenger.

Almost immediately, Sano hefted a bag over his shoulder and went his way.

"I can't believe it! I won't!" Kaoru's thoughts cried stubbornly. "Ooh!"

What?!?!? What can't she believe?

I felt Kaoru grabbing me by the wrist simultaneously with Yahiko's. "Let's go!" She whispered urgently.

Now we were skulking. It wasn't very hard. The thug-district had enough seedy corners and shadows to lurk into. Hiding was not a problem.

Sano stood in front of a small house, an apartment, really, and knocked on the door.

A man, larger than Sano, answered the door.

They exchanged pleasantries, it seemed, and then Sano was welcomed inside.

"Oh Sano! Don't do it!" Kaoru voiced out, leading us into a deeper alley that emerged where the window of the particular house was placed.

"What is he doing?" Yahiko asked in a whisper.

"I'm not sure yet, Yahiko," Kaoru replied, putting a finger to her lips to signal for silence.

Still not having the faintest idea as to what Kaoru was concluding from all of this, I listened.

"Glad you can make it here fast, Sanosuke-kun," said the other man in a gruff voice. "But I just couldn't get it off by myself."

"Get it off?" She thought, blushing to her roots.

I stared at her in wonder. Is she…thinking what I think she's thinking?

"No problem," Sano said casually. "Let me at it."

"Here, let me just take this off…"

"Whoa!" Sano cried to our utter astonishment. "Jeez that's big!"

"Can you do it?"

"Course I can do it!"

"What a relief. My wife freaked out when she saw the size of this thing. Wouldn't go near it with a ten foot pole!"

Sano laughed. "I can understand her sentiments. Let me just get some stuff here…some lubricant ought to make it easy. Shees, it's huge!"

My eyes widened at the same time as Kaoru's. Our stares were filled with horror.

No way! No way can Sanosuke be a…a…

"…Man-whore!"

Her thoughts, not mine! Oh, who am I kidding? Sano, you idiot! Why'd you have to go and be a He-bitch? Are you that much in debt?

"Should I pay you now…? Or after?" The man asked.

"After will be fine. Mind if I take off my shirt?" Sano asked. "It's kinda hot with all these lamps…"

The man laughed. "Go ahead. You must forgive my wife's insistence to the lighting. Winter isn't proof against it. I'm feeling hot myself."

Kaoru grabbed my collar and Yahiko's sleeve, biting her lip and shaking us both frantically. Omigod! Omigod! Omigod!!!!

Oro! What does she want me to do?

"Let me just bend over a bit…" Sano said. "Can you hold that up for me?"

"Sure, sure. Whatever makes it easier," replied the man.

"Can you pour some of that lubricant for me? My hands are busy," Sano requested.

"How's that?"

"Perfect. Now I just gotta slide this in…"

Kaoru's thoughts suddenly boomed through the tension. "NOOOOO!!!!"

"Oro!" I cried out loud, actually covering my ears.

"Stoooooop!" Kaoru shrieked, grabbing me by the scruff of my neck and lifting me to my feet.

"Ororororo! Kaoru-dono!" I cried in panic.

"Ugly, what the--!"

"I can't stand this! Don't let him, Kenshin!" She yelled, shoving me with uncanny strength right through the window.

I landed on the floor with a crash and immediately rolled to my knees, pressing my forehead to my hands that were flat on the floor. "I am very sorry! I beg for your forgiveness! I didn't mean to barge in!" I blubbered, bowing a countless number of times. I kept my eyes closed, mostly because I didn't want to see Sano in any compromising position.

The sound of running feet and then Kaoru's loud gasp almost made me miss her next thought.

"Shit! I SO screwed up!"

"Eeeeew! He's touching it!" Yahiko whined.

That's more than I'd like to know. Cautiously, I cracked open an eye to see for myself.

Sano was indeed shirtless, something he couldn't be blamed for with all these infernally burning lamps all over the house. He was on his knees, crouched over a built-in breadbox, holding a very big and oily dead rat in one hand and a spatula in another.

The other man was holding the lid of the breadbox up, crouched in a very decent position beside Sano. In his other hand was a bottle of castor oil. He was fully dressed and nothing more than surprise of our entrance blanketed his face.

The bag Sano had been carrying around was draped open on the floor, where I can make out various handy-man tools. Hammers, nails, cranks…

I am so ashamed.

Sano blinked in momentary surprise, then he recovered. "What the hell are you all doing here?" He demanded, depositing the dead rat in a tin pail.

"Oh! Oh! Retreat! Oh, CRAP! This is all just a big mistake!" Came Kaoru's frantic thoughts.

I hastened to explain. "Sanosuke, I am very sorry for barging in like this! But we were worried about you! We had to know what kind of job would keep you from showing up in the dojo every day like you used to."

Sano raised an eyebrow, then he shook his head, turning to the man. "See these idiots? I freeload and they complain. I become self-sufficient, they complain. What's a guy to do?"

The man chuckled kindly. "They are truly your friends, Sanosuke-kun."

"Jou-chan, were you the one I heard screaming a while ago?" Sano asked.

For a moment, Kaoru's mind was wailing for her to lie, but always honorable, her shoulders slumped and she sighed. "Aa. It was I. I thought you were…well, I'll tell you later, but…what is this all about?"

Sano stared at us for a moment, then he turned to his client. "Is that all that needs to be done, Arataki-san?"

"Oh, yes!" Replied Arataki pleasantly. "The wife will be pleased we had it out so soon. It's sickening, though, that we couldn't find out where the smell was coming from sooner. It might have saved you from having to pry that thing out at this hour."

"Rigor mortis does that," Sano said flatly, then he smiled. "Well, that's why I'm here. Emergency Handyman at your service."

"And such good service it is! Here you go, slugger. Keep up the good work!"

Sano was paid, after which he headed out of the house with the rest of us following shamefacedly behind him.

Kaoru has not stopped blushing, I noticed. This is SO embarrassing! I can't believe I put Kenshin and Yahiko up to this! This is precisely the reason why I sneaked out in the first place! Oh, this is what I get for worrying about the rooster-head! How did I even think he was capable of such a thing? You mean, mean raccoon-girl! Just because I saw him the other night going into some strange woman's house…

Alright apparently, Kaoru's been getting around without my knowing. Now, why would she do that? And why would she keep it from me?

I am thoroughly at a loss. And to make matters worse, it just occurred to me that all this had been because Kaoru got me so worked up about what Sano's mysterious occupation was.

This is a perfect example of Kaoru's influence over me.

I can't believe it. We haven't even started dating and already I'm henpecked.

I peered at Sanosuke. He was smirking to himself. At least, he didn't seem like he was angry.

Well, I've been so caught up in my own problems that I've rather neglected my friendship with the rooster-head. I think Sano and I are really due a talk.

And boy, do I have questions for him.

To be continued.

Author's Note: This chapter may seem pointless, but it was used to establish something for Kaoru. Just so you don't get so turned of (*tries to give a pretty smile*). Anyway, this will go on. I can't wait to get to the Sano-gay issue. It's just too yummy to keep you guys guessing!

Tee hee! 'Till the next installment!