After Megumi and Sano departed Tokyo, the Kamiya Dojo was unusually quiet. Without Sanosuke's boisterousness and Megumi's flirtations there was an empty hole felt by both Kaoru and Kenshin. Yahiko as well, though he would never admit it. In fact, when he wasn't training with Kaoru he spent much of his time away at the Akebeko. Tsubame was a welcome distraction from his anger at feeling left behind. Not to mention he wanted to give Kenshin and Kaoru as much alone time as he could. The two of them were a little annoying and he felt like a third wheel all the time.
Everyone had noticed the too-long stares they cast in each other's direction after returning home from Kyoto, how when they sat beside each other Kaoru would subtly move nearer when she thought no one else was looking, and how Kenshin would use any excuse to touch her somehow. Anytime Kaoru handed him something his fingers would "accidentally" brush against hers. Whenever they approached even the smallest obstacle on the Tokyo streets, though she could walk just fine, he would take her elbow and guide her over it unnecessarily. Yahiko watched his little performance one day when a very small rock, a pebble really, stood in her path. Yahiko didn't go for leisurely strolls with them after that.
One evening as they sat at their usual spot in the Akebeko her hair had started to come loose from her ponytail and Kenshin, instead of simply alerting her to the errant lock of hair, took it between his thumb and forefinger and very gently tucked it back into place. Only when Kaoru blushed and thanked him shyly did he remember that they were actually in public. He had chuckled nervously and was suddenly very fascinated with his noodles.
Tae was especially amused at this, and she wondered if they really thought they were fooling anyone.
Weeks went by this way, and in their spare time Tae and Tsubame debated what should be served at the wedding and whether they should speak to Keiko-san ahead of time or wait for the engagement announcement, as her flower arrangements were in high demand recently. Obviously they would have Emi-san dress Kaoru's hair, she was the best and her rates weren't so bad. If they called in all of their customers' tabs they might manage it. Speaking of unpaid tabs, where was Sanosuke? It was impossible to get an invitation out to him if they had no idea where he was. Some of the heat was off so it might be possible for him to attend secretly.
Tsubame had visions of Yahiko dressed handsomely in a formal kimono, and Tae wondered if it would be improper for her to very subtly hint at Akio-san that she had no one to accompany her. She was really starting to like the friendly bookseller.
Months passed, but the announcement never came. They tried not to worry at first, but after a while Tae began to fret. Perhaps they weren't living...in an exemplary way. Yahiko looked up to Himura-san and Tae was especially concerned by this. But of course Himura-san would do the honorable thing. This sort of behavior wasn't like him at all.
It was bad manners to pry into someone's personal business and she was certainly no busybody, so instead Tae very nonchalantly approached Yahiko one day.
"Yahiko-chan, how are things at the Kamiya residence these days?" Yahiko glanced up from the stack of dishes he was washing.
"Fine I guess," he answered simply and returned to the soapy water. Unsatisfied with this, Tae continued.
"That's nice. Himura-san and Kaoru...they're well?"
Yahiko looked confused, then alarmed. He turned his full attention to Tae.
"Yeah, they were when I left this morning. Do you know something I don't? Is there danger?" His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared, as if he would somehow be able to smell whatever threatened their newly gained peace and quiet.
"No! I'm just...curious, that's all. Curious about how my friends are doing. Has anything changed at the dojo recently? Himura-san and Kaoru are getting along?"
Yahiko relaxed. He understood.
"Why don't you just ask, Tae-san? They were so annoying at first but now they act just like before, like friends. Except now it's different. Kenshin tries to act normal but I can tell he's sad all the time. Kaoru too I even feel sorry for that old hag!"
Oh. That wasn't at all what she'd expected to hear. So no nightly rendezvous under cover of darkness or tip-toeing shamefully to one's own bedroom at the crack of dawn. This was much worse.
"But why?" Tae asked, almost in a whisper. Yahiko sighed.
"No idea. I have to finish these, can you hand me that rag behind you?"
Kenshin had grown complacent, thinking he might finally be able reach out and take that tempting bit of happiness that fate dangled before him. He had been indulgent, allowing himself to touch her when the opportunity arose and even when it didn't. He tried to make it seem that they were only out of necessity, these small caresses. They were perfectly innocent, though they certainly didn't feel that way. Each time his skin made contact with hers he felt a pressing need to continue, to go further and further until they reached the inevitable conclusion.
Being who he was though, he could not allow that. Kaoru was not a woman to be taken lightly and if she were willing to give him all of herself then he would do so in return. They must be married first, and this was where the real setback started.
Kaoru was not so bothered by marriage as Kenshin thought she was, or should be.
At first she had felt a little insulted at his fussing over her, he could be so overprotective. She had grown a little tired of always being the damsel in distress, she had been kidnapped way too many times. She wasn't as strong as Kenshin or Sanosuke or really any of the men in her small circle, apart from Yahiko who honestly saw more fighting action than she did. That really got on her nerves. But this was the downside of surrounding herself with all of these almost supernaturally gifted warriors. She knew her limits now, but that didn't mean she liked it. She was still very skilled, just not in comparison to them.
So when Kenshin would take her arm and guide her over rocks she was a little offended, even though each time he touched her it sent an electric jolt through her and forced her thoughts to wander into unexplored territory. She had misconstrued his unnecessary vigilance as trauma from her almost daily kidnappings and worst of all, her "death". When Misao told her about that she'd nearly fainted. After recovering from that shock (and resisting the temptation to ask who had attended the funeral) she had felt an overwhelming sadness for Kenshin. She tried to imagine what she would have done in his place and couldn't. So she let it slide.
It hadn't really occurred to her at first that he was actually just touching her for it's own sake. Not until Cho-san pointed it out.
Cho-san was practically ancient and she had been the sole proprietor of the (thus far) only cosmetics shop in downtown Tokyo since her husband died decades before. Really it had always been her place, his name was attached to it as the owner only because he was a man and the "head of the household" but he had only ever kept the books. It was her expertly crafted formulas that were sought after by the women of Tokyo. Although she looked like she would wither away at any moment she still opened the store six days a week, the only exceptions were festivals and holidays. She manned the counter, wrapped the merchandise, counted the money, and swept the floors. Her son, who looked even older than she did, kept the books now.
Kenshin and Kaoru passed her shop one day and as they did some poor girl's lost ribbon blew into their path. Before the harmless ribbon could brush against her person, Kenshin grasped Kaoru's arm and easily swung her out of the way, as if she weighed absolutely nothing. Strange that he didn't just reach out and catch the ribbon. Stranger still how he had swung her toward him so they were now in much closer proximity.
"Ah, careful Kaoru-dono!" He had exclaimed, smiling widely. His attention was distracted then by a small boy who ran past them, chasing the brightly colored ribbon down. The boy tripped on his own feet and fell, howling loudly at his freshly skinned knee.
"Oro!" Kenshin exclaimed, running toward the boy.
"That man sure is sweet on you, isn't he?" Kaoru turned toward the direction of the rough and raspy voice that had spoken. Cho-san had been sweeping the front entrance of her store but she now leaned against the front of the small building, resting a moment. Kaoru looked around as if trying to find who the lady was actually addressing. Cho-san's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I'm talking to you, of course! Silly girl. No, not a girl at all. A young woman, and beautiful at that! That man of yours couldn't be anymore obvious." Cho-san winked and when she did, impossibly, her deeply carved crows feet wrinkled further.
"I...w-what?" Kaoru stammered, flushing with embarrassment. Cho-san laughed, revealing mostly toothless gums, and the three that had managed to hold their place were stained nearly black*
"Kenshin is just very protective, that's all," Kaoru defended, but Cho-san didn't miss the dejected set of her shoulders or her downcast eyes. She reminded Cho-san of someone from her long ago youth, another young woman who had needed a little nudge. It was a story as old as time. Cho-san decided she would do as she had before, and give this girl the figurative swift kick in the rear that she needed.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and I've heard a lot of stupid in my time! I've seen it all, girl. That guy?" She jerked her thumb toward Kenshin, who was now nervously explaining how the boy had come to be injured to his very flustered looking mother. "He's got it bad." Cho-san finished. Kaoru could only gape at her open-mouthed, at a complete loss for words.
"He hasn't done anything about it yet, not really. I can tell. Longing glances from across the room and soft sighs, chaste hand holding if you're lucky. Seen it all. You haven't done anything about it either, huh?" Cho-san chuckled at Kaoru, who had started opening and closing her mouth soundlessly. She looked like a fish.
"Come inside, dear. Have a chat with this lonely old lady. Your beau is probably going to be busy a little while longer. In fact..."
Cho-san waved her twig-like arm toward Kenshin, beckoning him with gnarled fingers. He, of course, noticed instantly even without a single word uttered. He was always aware of where Kaoru was at any given moment, hysterical child and his suspicious mother or no.
"Young man, I'm borrowing your beautiful wife here for just a bit." Kenshin turned beet red. "You see, I need help in my shop. My useless great-granddaughter has 'gone to the shrine', an excuse not to help her poor old granny. Kids these days aren't like they used to be and I need the kind of help only another woman can provide. I have a new formula that needs testing, something specifically made for a lady's--"
"Oro! Very well, hurry back Kaoru-dono." He said, his hand nervously scratching the back of his head. His tone was lighthearted but his other hand rested casually on the hilt of his sword. Cho-san got the message. He sensed no threat from her, so far. So he would wait, but not long. Cho-san nodded and led Kaoru through the shoji and inside.
Authors note: Coming up, more of our wise woman Cho-san and that sweet former sinner trying to find redemption in a world so seemingly against him angst! What happened to poor Kenshin and Kaoru? It looked like things were going so well for them. Sigh.
Blackening one's teeth was an ancient practice observed by men and women up until it was banned by the Meiji government. It was considered a mark of beauty. During the Edo period it was most commonly done by married women or geisha.