Author's Note: Okay, sorry this took so long. All week I've got all these social obligations and work-related load…which has only made me crazier, so I guess you can say it's a good thing, ne? Can anyone tell me what the currency was at the time? Particularly the coins? I'm not even sure if it was already called "Yen" at the time. This detail has been a particular trial for me. Let me know if you have any info…I shall be eternally grateful!

Standard disclaimers apply. RK not mine…don't sue me.

Heart of the Woman

Part IV: Phase One

I stepped off the train and found myself on the Omiya train station at Eleven a.m. It wasn't very busy, considering not many people travel this time of year. No, travel in this cool spring-season is reserved for wimps like me who couldn't say no to dead girlfriend's fathers.

"What the heck are we doing here anyway, Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked when he stepped off beside me.

I sighed. "I already said I came here to buy something," I replied wearily.

Yes, the rooster-head is with me, and yes, it's because of Kaoru.

When I told her I had to leave for Omiya today and I couldn't give her a reason as to why, she began to cry.

I felt like such a jerk!

Anyway, tears right? And I totally panicked, so in my flurry, I told her I'd bring Sano along just to make her feel secure that I'd return. That got her to stop crying, but my coffers were no better for it. There was no way in hell that Sano would spring for tickets as a favor to me. So naturally, I had to buy the tickets for Sano as well.

I could kill Kamiya-sama if he wasn't dead already.

Hey, a dead-guy joke. I'm getting the hang of this.

Anyway, as I was saying, my coffers…just as Kamiya-sama had promised, Saitoh arrived that morning to hand my bonus over.

The reasons behind it were so creepy I could faint.

The bonus came just in time. I had to have enough to make sure I can purchase that vase Kamiya-sama was talking about. Even with what I have, I can't be certain that I could, but hey, I don't think Kamiya-sama would let me blow all my earnings on a vase. He would, after all, want his daughter to have a respectable wedding.

Gory details? Do I have to go into that? Fine.

The morning went a little something like this…

"Kenshin…" Kaoru began to say on the breakfast table. She had a perplexed expression on her face, like she wasn't sure about something.

I swear my hands began to sweat. I knew what was coming. "Y-Yes, Kaoru, my dear?"

"Was there…? Was there a thunderstorm last night?" She asked, her eyebrows knotting.

Before I could say anything, Yahiko interjected with a snort of disdain.

"Duh! Ugly you could be such a moron. You woke up the whole damn house with your screaming," Yahiko said, gnawing on a pickle. "Oh Kenshin! Save me! Save me! The big bad thunder is out to get me!" He continued, saying it in an exaggerated high-pitched voice.

If Kaoru hadn't decked him first with her fist, I would have done it. Goodness boy…shut up!

"Oww!" Yahiko hissed, rubbing his dishonored crown. "What's the big idea?"

Thus satisfied with her efforts to punish Yahiko, Kaoru turned to me again. "Kenshin, did you…?" She paused, something of an inkling crossing her mind.

Kaoru looked at Yahiko again. "You! Out!"

"WHAT?" Yahiko cried incredulously. "What the hell did I just do? I'm not even done with breakfast you witch!"

"Don't question your sensei! Get out and bring your breakfast if you want! I have to talk to Kenshin." Kaoru told him firmly. Her face was so set that Yahiko didn't have the guts to protest again.

Yikes…she's upset. It has been firmly established that I am the proverbial henpecked boyfriend. When Kaoru is angry, I am nothing, insignificant in this world.

Grumbling, Yahiko gathered his breakfast, AND the whole plate of sushi just to spite her, while he stood up from the table.

When Yahiko was gone, Kaoru looked me straight in the eyes and opened her mouth to speak. For a while, nothing came out, and I wasn't about to say anything. Damage control.

"Did you…come into my room…?" She asked uncertainly, a blush creeping up her face.

I can feel my own face flushing, but if I wanted to follow Kamiya-sama's orders, I had to be convincing. "Yes, Kaoru. I did," I replied calmly.

Kaoru fidgeted. "And then what?"

I don't know how in God's name I managed it, but I croaked out the whopper of the century. "Then we slept."

She blinked then she turned even redder, tearing her eyes away from mine. "We slept…I must have dreamed…"

I said nothing. I merely looked at her, praying that she would convince herself.

"It felt so real…" she went on in a whisper. It almost sounded wistful.

I held back a groan of frustration. I couldn't even tell her how real it was for me. The passion was incredible, but so was the ghost, which to my mind was the main thing. Kamiya-sama planned it. I just know he did. God knows…if it was MY daughter we were talking about…feh! I'd boot the bastard to the high heavens…but I don't have to tell anyone that, especially Kamiya-sama. Nope. No need to do that.

"I dreamed…of daddy," Kaoru said.

Cold sweat on my brow. "Oh, is that so? Well, you were talking about him before we slept," I said as nonchalantly as I could muster. "It's only natural that you would dream about him."

"I suppose so," she said uncertainly. "But in that manner…never mind." She hastily intoned, waving her hand.

Music to my ears. However, there's the matter of my travel plans…"My love," I started. "There's something I have to do today. I have to go to Omiya."

"What?" She asked, snapping out of her own thoughts to look at me. "Omiya? Why? What for?"

"Er…I couldn't tell you…"

"Well, can I come with you?"

"No! You can't!" I exclaimed just a wee bit frantically. "I mean…"

Her eyes moistened. "You don't want me to…?"

Oh no! Please Kaoru, don't cry! Don't! Ohhh…I couldn't stand it. "Beloved, it's not that I don't want to." I hastily explained. "It's just that I can't take you with me this time, that is…"

Tears. Oh yes, and I can see her anger already surfacing. Three…two…one…

"KENSHIN NO BAKA!" She yelled. "I though we agreed that all this mystery was going to end? I thought we agreed that you'd tell me everything! WHAT IS IT THIS TIME? WHY WON'T YOU TELL ME?"

I saw a knuckle materializing on her hand.

"S-Sweetheart! C-Calm down…"

"Oh don't you sweetheart me, Kenshin!" She shouted. "I know it's not Tomoe-san. Tomoe-san is in Kyoto! Tell me what it is NOW!"

Panic suffused me more potently than ever as evidenced by the stupidest thing in the world I am about to say. "Kaoru-dono…"

Oh damn!

Her eyes blazed like fire. "You called me…yahhhh!"

I think it was a tray, or the soup bowl. Well, it must have been something, but yes, I didn't know what hit me. All I know is there was this powerful punt to my cerebral cortex, equivalent to a temporary lobotomy.

I'm not quite sure what happened next. But I think I blubbered something like, "Sano…accompany…this unworthy one…promise to be…back…midnight…" while I was in my spin-eyed stupor.

After a few more lumps to my head, Kaoru finally agreed to let me go with threats to my person if I came home later than I told her I would. At this point, Yahiko's laughter from his peeping hole could be heard through the shoji.

Of course, it was at the exact moment when Kaoru had my collar by her fists that Saitoh decided to arrive. Good luck getting respect from that bastard now.

Kaoru was gracious enough to put a halt to the onslaught just as suddenly as she began it. Releasing my gi, she smoothed her hands over the rumpled material and took a deep, cleansing breath before saying, "Good morning, Saitoh-san. What brings you here?"

Yahiko stepped into the room to hound in on the events.

The corner of Saitoh's lip twitched. I just know he wants to smirk.

The police officer plucked a cigarette from his breast pocket and lit it, earning him Kaoru's disapproving stare but with him not caring. He took a hearty puff before speaking. "Kamiya-san, I came here to see Battousai. He has completed his services and I have come to deliver his last pay-check, with his bonus."

I remembered Kamiya-sama's words the previous night and I suppressed a sudden shudder that overcame me. Why does this feel…weird? Is it because Kamiya-sama had expressed knowledge of this happening or was it something else? What had caused me to "complete my services"? Was I being fired?

"That's very considerate of you, Saitoh-san," Kaoru said a bit coldly. "You could have just sent word through one of your men and had Kenshin get it himself."

Saitoh's lip curled in disgust. "It has nothing to do with consideration…"

"That's for sure," Yahiko remarked, rolling his eyes around.

Saitoh ignored him. "I just want to make it clear, Battousai, that we are even. I owe you no favors and you owe me no favors. Do you understand me, Battousai?"

"Quite," I replied dryly.

The officer nodded and took a hefty pouch from his belt. Without ceremony, he flung it straight at my face. What an asshole. I caught it quite expertly, preserving my poise.

With a glint of disappointment in his eyes that said he would have preferred to see the pouch catching me right between the eyes, Saitoh turned around to leave.

"Saitoh," I called out to him.

He stopped in his tracks, titling his head a bit over his shoulder. "Yes?"

"How did I just complete my service, if I may ask?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Those guys you were protecting Hiro from, they're all dead. Died in a bomb blast about half past three in this morning. An enemy faction I think. We'll investigate it, but Hiro's safe."

Saitoh had no desire to prolong the conversation and he left in a billow of smoke.

It occurred to me just then where Kamiya-sama had gotten his information about the termination of my job and the bonus. He had been speaking to…Death. Urk!

These ghosts are doing wonders to my blood pressure.

So now I'm here, with Sano, telling him that I had to do my shopping all the way in Omiya.

"Whatever, Kenshin," Sano grumbled as we made our way out of the station. "I guess I know enough about you not to think this is some flight of fancy. But damn! This better be important! This is my sleeping time, you know."

"Yes, I know. Arigato for doing this favor for me, Sano," I replied humbly.

"You better believe this is a favor…"

I could practically see myself handing Sano a huge parchment with the letters I, O and U written in huge print.

Oh my God…I owe Sano. What is this world coming to?

"So, how are we supposed to find this woman?" Sano asked, looking around him.

"I was told that everyone knows her and that we can just ask anybody," I said, surveying our surroundings for anyone who might be affable-looking enough to give us information.

Sano tapped my shoulder and gingerly pointed to a finely dressed woman shaded by her own parasol. "How about asking her?"

I rolled my eyes around. It's just like Sano to be drawn to the pretty ones. She looked nothing like the congenial kind I was aiming for. This woman would sooner turn her nose up at us than wipe gunk off her shoe.

"Flirt later, Sanosuke. I'm on a mission!"

"Hell, you flirt later. I'm going to get my gig on…"

"Fox-lady."

"Did you say you were on a mission? I think that's first priority. Yep, mustn't get distracted."

I held down my smirk. Hen-pecked. Or should I say Fox-pecked rooster-head?

I know. I'm one to talk. The Raccoon-pecked horny-monkey.

I spotted an old man sitting easily near a Ramen store, smoking a pipe. He looked approachable and native enough in these parts to be able to give answers to what I needed to know.

Making my way across the distance, I gave him a polite bow. "Grandfather, begging your pardon, but would you by chance know where I could find the pot-maker Nurihito Aiko?"

He jabbed a thumb to his left without saying anything.

I fidgeted then bowed again. "Umm…grandfather, this unworthy one hates to impose, but could you be more specific, if you please?"

"Nurihito Aiko, the bitch, is over there," he said, taking a puff from his pipe.

Real specific. Gotcha. "Thank you, grandfather," I murmured, giving him a final bow and going to the direction he had indicated.

"Well, that helped," Sano muttered, following me.

"We'll ask somebody else," I said patiently.

We walked a few before I decided to ask again. This one was a woman, in her sixties, sweeping the outside walk of what I presume to be her home.

"Excuse me," I began respectfully. "Would you be so kind as to direct this unworthy one to one Nurihito Aiko, a pot-maker, if it pleases you?"

"What'd she do this time?" Grumbled the woman with a frown. "Run out on your restaurant without paying? Gamble away something she borrowed from you?"

Hey Sano. Nurihito-san's your kind of woman.

"N-No," I replied. "I just need to buy something from her. It's very important, you see."

The woman gave me a dubious stare but replied. "Her shop's a bit more down the street. She has a big sign that says 'Fine Pottery'. You couldn't miss it. When you see her, tell her 'Go to hell' from Madoka."

Oro! "Thank you Madoka-dono," I said, bowing before I gestured for Sano to be on our way.

"Popular, ain't she?" Sano commented wryly.

"Quite," I replied neutrally. I was beginning to get an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

We soon came upon the store Madoka-dono was talking about. Stepping inside, I saw no one manning it.

"Hello!" I cried. "Nurihito-dono?"

"Maybe she's dead," Sano contributed.

I ignored him and waited for a response.

We heard something shuffling from the back and soon, a woman about the same age as Madoka-dono appeared with a sour look on her face. "Waddaya want?" She wasn't doddering. She was in fact, full of energy. Too much, actually, considering she seemed as unpleasant as the last two people made her out to be.

Yeesh. I should have brought along Yahiko, then he would have seen what a real busu looked like. "Nurihito-dono? I am Himura Kenshin. I am very sorry for barging in like this, but this unworthy one would like to purchase a particular vase from you, if it pleases you," I explained respectfully.

Her scowl deepened. "Do you? And what vase, pray tell, would that be?"

"Well…it has a rune katana etched and painted on its face."

She seemed surprised for a moment, then she got back her frown, worse than ever. "Who sent you?"

"Kamiya Tetsuro," I replied.

Sano arched an eyebrow in my direction. I don't think I'll ever explain this to him. He'll never believe me, anyway.

"Hmph. From the dead?"

"One could say that," I replied, flashing my rurouni grin.

I can tell she was discomfited with my reply, or at least irritated. "He handed it over to me for safe-keeping once upon a time. He gave express instructions that I sell it to no one…"

"Nurihito-dono," I began rather desperately. "The Sun always rises in the West."

She stopped, eyeing me with wide-eyed realization.

"Kenshin, the sun never rises in the West," Sano whispered to me.

"Shut up! I know what I'm doing."

"So," Aiko managed, walking to the back of her counter. "You will be marrying his daughter, I see."

This surprised both Sano and me.

She started to look irritated again. "I should think you'd have figured out I'd know that with the vase and all. Kamiya Tetsuro said that I should only sell this thing to the man whom he deems worthy of his daughter. Congratulations Himura-san. You're it."

He deems this unworthy one…worthy? Could've fooled me.

Sano's eyebrows furrowed. "Kenshin, how did you…?"

"Don't ask," I said. "How much Nurihito-dono?"

"One-hundred Yen," Aiko said without batting an eyelash. "On top of that, you have to do a little task for me."

I was about to go on a rampage when Sano scoffed.

"Pu-leez! I can buy your entire store with a hundred smackers and your so-called 'task'!" Sano said derisively.

Maybe saying such things will only aggravate the situation, but between Sano and me, he is the cheap one. So I'm guessing he'd do a better job at lowering the price.

Aiko did not like that remark in the least. "I'd appreciate you not insulting my store, boy."

"Then don't insult your customers," Sano told her with poise I've never seen him exude. "Besides, no one else is gonna buy that vase. You said it yourself. Kamiya Tetsuro gave you specific instructions to sell it to the one he deems worthy of his daughter. Kamiya-san is dead. You think he'll be deeming anyone else worthy from his grave?"

You'd be surprised, Sano.

On the other hand, wow! I never thought money could do that to Sano. Giving him extraordinary negotiating skills. Then again, I should have known.

Aiko bristled, seeing the logic in Sano's words. "Fine! Seventy."

"Haven't I made myself clear?" Sano asked, cocking a smile.

"Sixty!" Aiko hissed.

"Fifty and we'll call it a deal," said Sano, his demeanor calm but firm.

"Son of a…alright, fifty!" Aiko growled. "But you still have to do me that task I have in mind. Without it, no vase! And I don't care if it means I never get to sell it at all!"

"As long as it's not illegal, that is," I interjected.

Aiko thought about it. "Well…probably not…much…"

"I want you to know, Nurihito-dono, that this is totally against my principles," I whispered, crouching down with Aiko and Sano in the shadow of a bush. It was late, at least an hour before the last train to Edo left for the day. We have spent the whole day with this unbearable woman, and my mood wasn't the better for it.

Sano uttered an expletive.

I don't know about his principles, but all I know is, this was Sano's time for work, and I couldn't blame him for hating this as much as I do if not for the same reservations.

"And the only reason I'm doing this is to get that vase," I continued. "Because it is very, very important to me."

"Yeah, yeah," Aiko said, peering at the house of Madoka, the woman we had gathered info from that morning. "Honor, principles…all that shit…"

I cringed.

"…this is about that too," Aiko went on, hitching a pouch which contained the vase. "Now quit griping and get that plank ready!"

Sano and I groaned as we hauled a six-foot wooden plank.

"I can't believe we got caught in some bitch fight…" Sano grumbled, making soothing circles on his temples with his fingers.

I wouldn't exactly agree with him. I've been in enough fights between Kaoru and Megumi to know that getting caught in the crossfire was entirely possible. What I couldn't believe is that we have to assist this woman, this potter from hell, in pursuing her dastardly deeds.

It has come to our knowledge that the hostility Madoka felt for Aiko was wholeheartedly mutual between the two. Stemming from an incident when they were in their twenties about some man they fought over, and of which neither of them ended up with. Since then, the two have been at it like a couple of children, plotting revenge on each other every day of their lives. I don't know where they get the strength to be so consumed with hate even after forty years!

True, Aiko wasn't the most loved citizen in Omiya, and one would think that she would be used to people despising her, but Aiko said that what she had with Madoka was way too personal for her to ignore like she did the rest of the town.

Besides, Aiko had said, everyone expected her to retaliate, because Madoka had scored one over her the last time.

"W-What if she wakes up, Aiko-dono?" I asked a bit nervously. I don't think I can handle the look on Madoka's face if she suddenly wakes up and sees the two men she had helped earlier assisting her arch-enemy.

"Feh!" Aiko scoffed. "The dead would sooner wake up than she will!"

That is entirely a possibility, especially in my lifetime.

Aiko led us to Madoka's front yard, carefully pushing the bamboo fence swinging-door open. There was a slight squeak that I swear echoed through the night.

"You SO owe me for this, Kenshin," Sano muttered as we skulked through the grass behind Aiko.

My debts are piling up. This is all Kamiya-sama's fault.

"Will you two shut up?" Aiko hissed over her shoulder.

"I thought you said she doesn't wake up easy," Sano pointed out.

"She doesn't, but her neighbors do, and you know how they feel about me," Aiko replied.

Boy, do we know. While we were with her the entire day, we were met by nothing but disdain, because we were her companions. Bad service in the restaurant; glares that could kill; acidic side-comments, I've never felt such consistent hate-ki in my entire life, not even when I was Hitokiri Battousai.

We followed Aiko as she made her way into the house, moving like a cat. She was surprisingly light of foot, and as we crept through the house, I noticed her taking small decors from off shelves and tables.

"Hey!" I cried in a whisper. "Put those back, if you please!"

Aiko gave me her signature scowl. "What the fuck do you care?"

This woman…I hate her! "It's bad enough I'm breaking and entering, you see, but I won't be an accomplice for theft!"

"Kenshin, can we just get this over with? Please!" Sano said, giving an exasperated sigh.

"She sleeps in there!" Aiko told us, pointing to a door.

They have completely ignored my valid protests.

"Let's go," Sano said, pushing me forward.

"Hey!" I complained as I was pressed to the door. I suppose I should just do this. The sooner it's done, the better.

I slid open her bedroom door and stepped in with Sano and Aiko close behind.

Poor Madoka was so sound asleep on her futon that she didn't even stir when Sano and I slipped the board beneath the mattress. After a bit of pulling, Madoka was right on top of the board, and taking the edges of it, Sano and I lifted her together.

Quietly, we made our way out of her room then out of her house while she breathed evenly, not the least bit disturbed.

The plan was actually to transport Madoka out of her room while she slept. She would then be brought to a floating community raft in a nearby lake. Once she is on the raft, we will arrange the furniture in the same manner as her bedroom, so that when she wakes up in the morning, she will find herself in the middle of the lake and feel right at home...It's so infantile I could die!

A juvenile prank. One I myself never endeavored to do as a child.

Aiko already carried the measly furniture with her, like the lamp, some books and a standing tray. Sano was made to carry a small trunk in the crook of his arm because Aiko thought I was too puny to manage it.

To get to the lake, we had to go through a growth of trees and foliage. It was awfully dark, and I had to rely on my so-called super senses to lead me, banking on the sound of Aiko's footsteps and the rustle of leaves. I had to guide Sano with warnings and some spoken directions.

It's not the first time I've been blinded, no thanks to Shogo Amakusa.

I grinned a bit. After I got back my sight during that fuss, Kaoru had given me this awfully sweet hug…the poor darling cried for me…

"Ouch! What the hell!" Sano cried all of a sudden, prompting both of us to stop in our tracks.

Er…oops. In my daydreaming, I had forgotten to guide Sano. "I am sorry, Sanosuke…"

"Ain't your fault, rurouni. My head hit something and you're not tall enough to know…what's that sound?"

Oro! Not tall enough? Hey, I know I'm small, but…what's that?

Buzzing, and it's getting louder.

Sounds like…

"WAAAAAASPSSSS!" Sano screamed, dropping his end of the board.

"Oro!"

"You idiot!" Aiko cried.

I felt Sano's body collide with mine and I fell on my face, the sound of angry wasps coming too close for comfort.

"Run!" Aiko shouted.

That's the only thing we'll probably ever agree on!

Scrambling to my feet, I was already feeling the swarm nipping at my skin.

Damn! I couldn't even whip out my sword and deflect them! It's too dark and it would be too dangerous! I don't want to end up shredding Sano.

Ouch!!!! They're already beginning to sting!

"Every man for himself!" Sano shrieked as we rushed forward.

I could only think of the lake, and the deliverance it would impart on us when we jumped into the water.

We emerged from the growth and the light of the moon afforded us some vision. Aiko, Sano and I were of one mind as we all splashed full-bodied into the lake.

The biting spring-cold was of little concern.

"Oh damn! It's freezing!" Sano cried.

Sputtering and threading, I turned to Aiko with my next concern. "Aiko-dono! The vase! Is it safe?"

"Will you shut up with the vase for one minute?" Aiko yelled.

I frowned amidst my efforts not to drown. "Aiko-dono," I said firmly. "I trespassed on private property, consented to your looting Madoka-dono's home, barely escaped from wasps with my life and I am now in a lake, freezing my balls off. I think I have every right to know if the reason I'm doing this for is undamaged!"

Aiko glared at me. "It's fine, alright? It's a good quality pot that won't break easily, and it's sealed tight. Tetsuro made sure of that. So you can just quit nagging me about your precious vase and just let me swim, dammit! I'm sixty-three years old, for God's sake!"

"Yes, yes!" I shot back, resolving to help her in spite of her repulsiveness. "I just wanted to be certain, that is all!"

"The wasps are gone," Sano told us. "But shit! The little monsters got me almost everywhere!"

"I'd love to compare battle scars, Sano, but can we just get out of here first?" I said wearily, leading Aiko and myself to shore.

"Yeah, yeah," Sano replied, trudging after me. "I wonder if Madoka's alright."

No sooner had he said it that a resounding shriek echoed through the night from the growth of trees we had so frantically left behind.

It seems…Madoka's not exactly happy being where she is.

Aiko was so satisfied with the vibrating scream Madoka emitted that she let us have the vase even if we didn't exactly complete the task.

It was an absolute relief. The moment she handed me the vase, I bowed my thanks, said my goodbye, hightailed with Sano to the train station and never looked back. Of course, we got weird looks with parts of our faces swollen and all that, not to mention the weird rashes on our exposed arms. I just had to thank Kami-sama that those wasps didn't find the slits in my hakama. I don't think I'd have survived it if I had been stung somewhere there.

The number of times Sano said, "You SO owe me, Kenshin." would have convinced anyone that Sano was some big-time loan shark. "Evil" kanji and all that.

We arrived in Edo a bit past midnight, and Sano said goodbye. Actually, he said, "I'm never going to go with you on some weird quest again," then he left.

And a goodnight to you too, Sano.

Vase secured in the bag strung over my shoulder, I hurried back to the dojo just so Kaoru doesn't kill me so much. I'm already late, and I'm betting that every second past midnight, I'm digging my grave a bit deeper.

When I finally arrived at the house, I saw that Kaoru sat steaming on the porch with a lamp beside her. Her face was set in angry frown and I could only imagine that my death will be a slow one. However, that wasn't the worse part.

Sitting, or rather levitating beside her, was her father, arms crossed over his chest with a smug smile on his face.

I was too distracted to give a proper announcement of my arrival.

Kaoru's frown deepened as I approached her. "Kenshin, it's almost one in the morning! You said you were going to be home…!"

Staring at Kamiya-sama, I hardly noticed her gasp of horror.

"Kenshin! What happened to you?" She cried, going to me and delicately touching the sore spots on my face.

My eyes shifted between Kaoru and Kamiya-sama, but I replied. "This unworthy one…had a run-in with wasps…"

"Wasps! Oh my poor, poor Kenshin…" She crooned, planting kisses on my face while she held me by my jaws.

It would have been the sweetest thing in the world, being kissed and fussed over by my beautiful girlfriend, if the beautiful girlfriend's father wasn't getting this dark look on his face.

"K-Kaoru…" I stammered, my enjoyment of the moment completely and utterly ruined by Kamiya-sama's piercing glare.

Kamiya-sama gave a cough of disapproval.

"Kenshin, you see what happens when you go off to Kami-sama knows where?" Kaoru intoned, continuing her ministrations. "I can't be there to take care of you…"

Oh, what I would give to welcome her sudden eagerness to administer to my boo-boos.

I don't think I've ever been so confused in such a situation. Especially when her lips found mine and she gave me this incredibly, luscious…

"Himura…" Kamiya-sama said in a warning tone.

Goodness…shut-up you fuddy-duddy. Can't I just have a minute alone with the love of my life?

Closing my eyes, I took Kaoru into my arms and tried desperately to ignore Kamiya-sama's incessant throat-clearing while I got lost in a lip and tongue lock.

Oh, get a cough-drop big daddy.

"Himura, if you don't let go of her right now…!" Kamiya-sama barked.

Not breaking my contact with Kaoru and keeping my eyes closed, I raised a hand to wave him off.

"HIMURA! RELEASE HER THIS INSTANT!" Kamiya-sama boomed right into my ear.

The sound reverberated through my brain and punctured my eardrums quite nicely. "Oro!" I yelped, letting Kaoru go and covering my ears while I doubled over.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru exclaimed in shock, catching me in her arms. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"That's what you get for taking advantage of my little princess!" Kamiya-sama growled, bending over to speak right into my face.

"Taking advantage?!?" I cried, unable to help myself. "But--this unworthy one was just--!"

Kaoru stared at me dumbfounded. "What…Kenshin, what is wrong with you?"

Kamiya-sama waved a fist in my face. "Oh, you just wait until you get to the after-life, boy. I'm going to pound you deader than road kill!"

What the heck is he talking about? "Road-kill?"

"I'm calling Megumi," Kaoru said in resolute tone.

"No!" I shouted, grabbing her sleeve before she could go anywhere. "It's…it's nothing, Kaoru. This unworthy one is fine."

Kaoru frowned. "I don't know, Kenshin. You look terribly shaken up. It might be the wasp bites…"

I straightened and tried my best to compose myself amidst Kamiya-sama's continued threats to my person. "I'll be alright, Kaoru. I think I just need to get some rest. So do you, for that matter. We're all rather tired, you see."

After giving me a critical stare, she finally sighed and gave me a hug, leaning her head on my shoulder. "I guess so. I'm not even going to ask what that thing you have there is," she said, pointing to the vase. "Honestly Kenshin. You get me so worried sometimes. Are you sure you'll be fine? Maybe we should put a hot compress on your stings. You're looking kind of…swollen in places."

Making a supreme effort to disregard Kamiya-sama's cursing and flinging about, I hugged Kaoru back and led us to the house as I spoke. "No need, Kaoru. Sleep will do fine. I've had a long day."

Kaoru sighed and gave me a smile. "Alright, Kenshin. If you promise to put some ointment on those sores, I'll leave you alone."

"I promise," I told her solemnly.

She pinched my ribs lightly. "I think I'm going to put off mangling you for getting home later than you told me you would."

"Thank you," I replied, half-seriously.

Kaoru chuckled as I escorted her to her room.

I casually looked over my shoulder and of course, there was Kamiya-sama, an eyebrow raised.

"Goodnight, dearest," I said to Kaoru.

She gave me one last kiss before slipping from my arms and replying, "Goodnight, Kenshin."

I watched as she stepped into her room and closed the door.

Sighing wearily, I turned to attend to the enraged father.

I gave him a two-second glare before walking past him to head to the dojo as quietly as I could.

"What are you looking at, monkey?" Kamiya-sama asked as he floated right beside me.

I held off my replies lest Kaoru hear me and think I was going insane talking to myself.

"Where do you get off making out with her right in front of her father? Eh? What am I, chopped-liver?" He went on.

No! I wanted to say. You're dead! And you're not even supposed to be here!

Kamiya-sama continued to badger me and I kept quiet with martyr-like patience.

When we were a considerable distance from the house, I looked at him. "Kamiya-sama, whatever Kaoru endeavors to do with me in your presence is beyond my control! For goodness sake, what did you expect me to do? Please tell me!"

"You're a decade older than her, monkey-boy. You should have stopped her!" Kamiya-sama replied.

"W-What?" I asked incredulously. "The woman I love wanted to kiss me! Who do you think am I? Saint Kenshin?"

"I swear!" Kamiya-sama growled. "I don't know why I'm doing this for you!"

I clutched at my head in frustration. "Doing what?" I implored through grit teeth. "I don't even know what the heck this goose-chase is all about!" I screeched.

"Oh for heavens sake, calm down, Himura," he said in disgust.

C-Calm down?

"Last one to the dojo's a horny-monkey!" Kamiya-sama suddenly said, disappearing into thin air.

My fingers curled.

If he wasn't Kaoru's father…if he wasn't dead…!

Aaaaaargggggh!

To be continued…

Author's note: Isn't Kamiya Tetsuro just annoying? I luuuuvvvv doing that. Anyway, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you again for your wonderful support. You've been so kind. Even Sakura-dono who had so pointedly showed me the exquisite make of her latest weapon…

I also dedicate this chapter to Lesly-chan who gave me the much-needed push to get this installment out sooner than naught.