Always There For Me - A RK K&K Romance Fic
Always There For Me  - A RK K&K Romance Fic

Disclaimer:  Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. I do not own and did not create the series or its characters...I'm just a fan, and I have no money anyways, so NO SUING ME!!  :D

"Taka!!" I yelled. "I'm NOT your iinazuke!! And don't try to fight Kenshin!! You are no match for him!! TAKA!! I mean it!!"

"What are you talking about Kaoru? Of course I can beat him!! I'm the best swordsman in Japan!! Why do you think I was training for 12 years!!" he yelled back at me.

Kenshin laughed. "You think that all your training makes you a suited match for hitokiri battousai?" he drawled and slashed his sword expertly in a challenge to Taka.

Taka froze for a second. "Hitokiri battousai?" he repeated as if in disbelief.

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Chapter Eleven

"Hai" Battousai and I said in unison.

Taka paused again, as if thinking…do I really want to fight this guy?  "No!!" He yelled.  "My training has prepared me for such a situation!! I will not back down!! I will not back down!!" Taka did not look as sure of himself though.

I walked over to where Battousai was and stood next to him.  "It's no good Taka, Kenshin was fighting in the bakumatsu when we were still little kids.  HE is the best swordsman in Japan.  You know it's no use, besides even if you did win, I wouldn't want you around anyways, do you honestly think that trying to kill my best friend is going to win back my heart?" I questioned, trying to reason with him.  If there was one thing, I didn't like, it was seeing my friends fight each other, not to mention just seeing Kenshin fight at all, he's so lethal when he goes battousai, demo, I love him even then, because I know that he is only fighting to protect me, and our friends and family, and although other people are scared of him when he fights, I certainly am not, demo I still hate to see him like this.

"Fine." Taka said in defeat, putting his sword back in its sheath.  "This appears to be a no-win situation, so just forget it.  I was hoping that I would be able to finally live out my dream with you Kaoru, demo, it appears that you have found someone else to share the rest of your life with." He sank to his knees and started crying into his hands.

"You have made a very wise decision, Taka-dono, that you have.  If only everyone who picked a fight with me was so wise…seesha would not have to fight all the time to protect my new family." Kenshin said matter of factly.

I looked at Kenshin, who had turned to look at me also.  I felt so mean, making Taka cry like that.  Kenshin jerked his head in Taka's direction, signaling for me to go talk to him.

I nodded my head to him and walked over to Taka, crouching down next to him, I placed my hand on his back.  "Taka, please don't cry, it's ok, really." I said, trying to comfort him.

"Go away!!" he yelled to me, pushing me with his arm.

I backed away a step and frowned. Now what?  I don't know how to deal with him, I still feel like I barely know him!!

"Taka, look ok, I might not want to be your wife anymore, demo, that doesn't mean that we can't be friends, ne?  I mean…we both know Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and we can practice together!  If you need a place to stay, there is room here, and you can find someone else to marry here, I'm sure of it!! There are tons of women in Tokyo!" 

"Really?" Taka said looking up at me.

"Yeah really." I replied.

"No, I mean I can stay here with you?" he asked.

"Yes, of course." I answered.

"Do you really think someone will want to marry me Kaoru?  I'm kind-of old now, and I've been through the war…I thought for sure you would be the only woman in Japan that would marry me, and that was because you were promised to me.  I want so badly to have children, Kaoru!!" he spilled out his guts to me.

I smiled at him.  "Of course Taka!!  You're a really good looking guy, and you aren't even as old as Kenshin is, and I want to marry him, ne?" I said trying to motivate him.

"Yeah, ok, I suppose your right Kaoru.   I think I'll take you up on that offer to stay here, that is…at least, until I can get a place of my own." He said smiling back at me.

"That's great Taka!!" I said putting my hand out to help him up.

He took it and I helped him stand back up.

"Arigato Kaoru-chan" he said dusting his hands off on his clothes.

                                                                                    

I turned back to where Kenshin was standing, demo he was gone.

I sighed.  I suppose he's finishing dinner, or rather, throwing away all the burned food. 


Taka and I headed into the kitchen to find Yahiko and Kenshin cleaning up the burnt mess in there, just as I suspected.  I sighed, so much for a great dinner…oh well.

"Oh, this is all my fault!!" Taka exclaimed.  "Let me treat you all for dinner out or something to make up for it."

"***YAY!!!***" Yahiko cheered.

Kenshin raised an eyebrow at me as if waiting for my approval on the matter.

"Hai, that sounds like a fabulous idea Taka-san, we can go to the Akabeko" I responded, looking at Kenshin, who in turned grinned at me.

"Ok, then, let's go!" Taka said, heading out the kitchen and out past the gate.

Yahiko ran right after him, and Kenshin and I smiled at each other and then walked out together following Yahiko and Taka.


The walk to the Akabeko was very quick, Yahiko and Taka being excited about eating out, and they began talking animatedly about training together.

"So you really know Kamiya Kasshin Ryu also?  And you were trained by Kaoru's DAD?" Yahiko questioned Taka.

Taka put his hands behind his head. "Yep, I sure did, he was a great guy…I really miss him." Taka answered nonchalantly.

I giggled; Taka must be feeling really "cool" with all the attention Yahiko was giving him.  I glanced at Kenshin, who also seemed to be suppressing laughter.

I'm so happy that everything worked out…talk about a busy day…I was really making some progress with Kenshin before Taka came…I sure hope he didn't set me back to much…so I suppose now it's back to getting Kenshin to marry me, what's my plan going to be now?  Hmmmm, maybe Tae has some ideas…

When we arrived at the Akabeko Tae exclaimed "Oh my!! Who are you?" to Taka, noticing that he was in tow with Yahiko, Kenshin and I.

"My name is Sou, Taka" he replied, bowing politely.

"Nice to meet you Taka-san" Tae said. "You can call me Tae, I'm the owner here at the Akabeko, and good friends of Kaoru and Kenshin."

"Aaa." Taka said.  "Well, then it is very nice to meet you also."

Tae smiled.  "Let me take you all to your usual table." She said, leading us through the restaurant.

 Tae seated us and we ordered.  Yahiko and Taka were still talking, Yahiko having a million questions for Taka.  Kenshin and I were listening, and smiling at each other every once in a while.

After dinner, we all walked back to the dojo with happy smiles on our faces and full tummies…just as before, Yahiko and Taka walking just in front of Kenshin and I.  If only, Kenshin would hold my hand…or put his arm around me…then, my night would be perfect.  I sighed to myself…fantasizing about it…I looked up at the stars…so beautiful…what a beautiful night…I turned my head towards the river…I should go for a walk down to the river…I bet it's really pretty right now…fireflies dancing around…I sighed again, remembering when Kenshin had left me to go to Kyoto and had hugged me there by the river…maybe I won't go there, such sad memories…I will just die if he ever leaves me again.

"Kaoru…" Kenshin called.

I turned to where his voice was coming from, in front of me, and realized that I had stopped walking just outside of the gate and had been staring off into nothing.  I blushed, remembering what I had been thinking about. 

"Hai?" I questioned.

"Kaoru, daijoubu?" Kenshin said walking back to where I was standing.

Well, at least he hasn't reverted back to calling me Kaoru-dono…I suppose that's step in the right direction, even if it is, a small step.  "Daijoubu." I answered, smiling sadly at him.

He smiled back, demo his smile was a happy one.

"So…uh, Kaoru, did you really mean what you said about me to Taka?" he questioned.

My faced flamed.  I had forgotten all about telling Taka that I wanted to marry Kenshin!!  Oh no!! He really heard that!! No wonder he has said barely two words to me all night!!  And here I had thought it was just compatible silence!!  Ah Kami-sama!!  How on earth will I ever get out of this one?