A Date With A Senpai

Chapter 6b

Standard Disclaimers apply. I don't own the characters - no matter how I wish it were true - I'm just borrowing them. Please don't sue me.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This is about Chapter 6a. There's this part when Tae was doing Kaoru's hair and talks about the "split-peach" hairstyle. I borrowed it from 'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden. A highly recommended book, I must add and also I think 'oro-chan' has been used in another fanfic, if I'm not mistaken it's was on 'All That Matters' by Tae-chan. And I apologize for borrowing them. It just sounded well with Kenshin ne? And i'd imagine Kaoru to be as pretty as an apprentice geisha wearing that hairstyle. Sorry again, if it bothers other people I can take them off. Also I'd like to thank Meike for telling me about it. And sorry for taking me so long to post this part. Our computer is busted. I hope that you bear with me. But I do promise that I'll finish this. Even if it's the last thing i do!!! Well, as always...reviews please! Thanks and have fun reading!

Make pain beautiful

Against the red dipping sun

Tears on your blue eyes

Kenshin stared at the retreating figure of Kaoru, the rays of the setting sun making her dark hair seem midnight blue, wanting desperately to follow her and tell her that he was lying, that he longed and desired for her in every way a man would. He wanted to touch her, to take away the pain he himself had inflicted.

He looked down at his hands, seemingly transfixed at them.

He can still see blood, he can still smell it.

He loved Kaoru. There was no question about it. His feelings for her were a combination of heated desire and a need to protect her innocence. But it would be such a great risk for both of them. For her to be a used as constant pawn against him and there are limits to how much he can take. He was afraid that the day would come the battousai would eventually re-emerged and ultimately destroy both of them.

Memories still haunted him. The one person that he had vowed to protect had died in his very own hands. He wasn't sure if he'll be able to live again if it happened the second time. He can't let himself open up to such intense feelings.

And yet he loved Kaoru.

And there was nothing he can do to change that.

The conflicting emotions inside him did not serve him well, because it was already a little too late when he saw the sake bottle looming above him, inches from his precious head. Flinching to avoid its impact on his skull as much as possible he watched with morbid fascination as it hit him in the head.

"Oro!"

The sound of pottery hitting the stubborn head of the rurouni was so distinct that it brought out almost a wicked satisfied smile on Sano's face. It reverberated in every single space of the silent dojo proclaiming part of Sano's half fulfilled plan. Pieces of broken ceramic flew from every direction as sake soaked the dazed rurouni. He collapsed at the floor and the ex-street fighter was quick to lean over and check if he had inadvertently killed the insufferable shy red-haired.

God, he hoped not.

Jou-chan would surely hunt him up to the very end of the world to shake him inanely until his brains start to ooze from his eyes.

Definitely not a pretty picture.

"Fuck it!" he grumbled checking for pulse on Kenshin's neck. "Oi! Don't die on me…not yet ne?" Sano said leaning down at Kenshin, who had his back flat on the floor, eyes swirling. "No wonder Hiko called you baka deshi even up to know. In fact, it suits you just fine." Sano spat out glaring at him. "I bet your shishou would be terribly disappointed at the spilled sake and the ruined jug. Hell, if I don't make a man out of you today, I might as well go to Kyoto and drag your master over here."

"Oro?" Kenshin said as he tried to stand up hearing every bit what had passed on Sano's mouth. Trying to suppress the look of doom at the thought of his shishou being dragged here by Sanosuke no less and hear his master tell him in the crudest possible way how to get past his guilt and lay the smack down on Kaoru. He couldn't help but cringe.

Sano helped him up by taking the collar of his pink gi by the fist and lifting him off the floor. Sano looked like he was actually going to punch him. Kenshin knew the reason why. And if Sano did, he deserves it.

"Well, lookie here if it isn't the biggest asshole in Japan." He said conversationally, as if he was merely stating a fact.

"Orororo" Kenshin repeated. Hoping to avoid the oncoming tirade of 'how could you's and 'Kenshin no baka's'

"Your language pattern is becoming ridiculously annoying. Or do you do that on purpose to turn Jou-chan off?" Sano said blithely, his brown eyes piercing through Kenshin's.

"I'd appreciate it if you let me down now de gozaru." Kenshin said painfully polite.

"Give me one good reason why I should let you off the hook without so much as any physical injury?"

"You already bashed me in the head Sano but if you need a better reason I'd give you one." Kenshin said his voice almost lethal.

Sano let him go with a disgusted sigh and glared as the rurouni landed gracefully on his feet. "You deserved that and more." Sano said quietly.

"Hai. Sessha deserves more…"

"Ah cut it out!" Sano cut him off, "I'm sure that you've already finished Jou-chan telling that. And from her expression, that was your best speech ever." Apparently it fell on deaf ears as Kenshin began to dry himself by wringing his wet clothes. The smell of sake drifted through the air. Sano cursed and tried to think of something else to get Kenshin to talk and more importantly, to ACT.

Kenshin's red mane was flat against his head, like a read mop thrown over him, soaked up to his stomach, he looked liked a drenched kitten. "Sessha has to change and clean the floor. Kaoru-dono would be upset if I leave it like this." He said eyes cast down, brushing off the small pieces of pottery that had rested on his shoulder.

"Oh no you don't!" Sanos said grabbing him before he can even take a step. He glanced at his side and announced, "You can come out now Yahiko." Sano called as soon as he sensed the boy's presence. Knowing Kenshin, he had been aware of Yahiko's presence even before him, but didn't acknowledge it for fear that Yahiko was part of the conspiracy. 'Well, that's too bad Himura, practically every single soul in this dojo had been in this conspiracy…well after I get to talk to them later that is if things don't work out today.'

"Didn't go as planned huh?" Yahiko said casually leaning by the door frame.

"Clean this mess for our friend here." Sano ordered.

"Hey that's not fair! You spilled it!" Yahiko protested scowling at them.

"Well just think of it as Kenshin's fault. After all if he had been cooperative I would've never gotten the urge to beat him up." Sano replied looking directly at Kenshin. "'Sides we have to get to the Akabeko before Jou-chan starts her dinner date and we have about fifteen minutes to prime Kenshin up. Ne Kenshin?"

Kenshin stared at him blankly. "Sano, we shouldn't…"

"Oh, yes we should." Sano said his brown eyes glimmering with unsuppressed mirth.

He had a plan.

Full proof.

Failure free.

Yeah sure.

Kaoru viciously stabbed at her food, "What makes him think that he knows what would make me and him happy? It's annoying really, the way he treats me…like I'm a weakly vulnerable child!" Kaoru spat out in a disgusted voice, "My own father never treated me that way you know. Argh! That stubborn man!" she began to chew her food her blue eyes brighter than ever. "And that stupid chicken head…"

Ichiro just watched her as she vent her anger on their food. She had broken three chopsticks over the course of their dinner and Tae had graciously offered Kaoru a knife. Not exactly what Ichiro thought of as safe. But he decided to keep his mouth shut as Kaoru had gleefully accepted the piece of metal from her friend.

"How can he not understand what I'm trying to tell him? I mean he had stayed with me for almost a year…a year! Can you believe that?" Kaoru asked him blue eyes bright and tearful.

"Um…sure Kaoru-chan. But if upsets you so much maybe you should not think about it anymore and try to enjoy our dinner." Ichiro said trying to salvage their date.

Kaoru raised her eyes at him and sighed. "I'm a bad company. I know. Maybe we should just go home Ichiro, I'm just ruining your night." She said pouting. "I'm so stupid. I keep talking about…about another boy when you're being so nice to me and all."

Her blue eyes were apologetic and even though Ichiro was actually on the verge of telling her how right she was, he gave her a sweet smile instead. "Oh no! Kaoru-chan, I love it being with you. It's just that…" he paused. He already knew that his slim chance of getting Kaoru had just evaporated into thin air but that doesn't mean he was giving up on trying to be her friend. It was better than nothing at all. He had probably mistaken his infatuation towards her for the real thing, he rationalized trying to ease the dull pain he was feeling in his chest at the very moment. Every smile that had crossed Kaoru's face was because of a fond memory of another man…not for him. It had hurt to finally realize that she wasn't interested in him. Not as her fiancé anyway. The best he could do was to be a friend and help her with this Kenshin. "Kaoru-chan, look at me please." He said meeting Kaoru's reluctant gaze. "Tell me, is this man, is he…do you really love him that much?"

Kaoru silently nodded, biting her lower lips. "I love him and the truth is I KNOW that he feels something for me too. He's just…I don't know. Scared or something." She added softly tears springing back into her eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't…"

"It's ok. Tell me Kaoru-chan, maybe I can help." He answered tentatively.

Kaoru's eyes brightened but it quickly faded. 'Kaoru no baka!' she thought berating herself. She was almost glad that Ichiro had finally accepted that they could only be friends but still she felt a pang of guilt for even thinking of using Ichiro against Kenshin. It was decidedly such an immature and insensitive thing for her to do. "Daijobou Ichiro, I can handle it. I just probably have to shake him a bit harder and more often ne?" She said nonchalantly a smile crossing her face as she imagined Kenshin's purple eyes swirling before her.

Ichiro tried to ignore what she had just said and gladly nodded a small smile brightening up his whole face. He really didn't know how to react on that one. He had never seen this Kenshin guy and briefly wondered what kind of a man he was, obviously one that was patient enough to let Kaoru-chan shake him senseless and that, more that anything, intrigued him all the more.

"So tell me, how did you get into kendo?" she asked hoping to change the subject and at least get her mind off a certain gorgeous insensitive red haired.

Tae watched as the young kenjutsu instructor chatted with her date. She seemed sad and why not? The poor girl is on a romantic in date one of the best restaurants of Tokyo with someone she doesn't love! She wondered why Kaoru had agreed on this particular arrangement. She might have been that frustrated and Tae instantly fumed at the thought of Kaoru ending up with someone who was totally wrong for her.

Call her a hopeless romantic, but Tae was dead set in correcting this little mismatch.

She knew who was meant for Kaoru-chan.

Himura Kenshin.

Now a lot can be said about that young man, but the best was to describe would be - dense - a gorgeous dense but gorgeous nonetheless. And kind too, and honest and should she dare forget polite? And…well he would be perfect for Kaoru.

Ichiro look like a fine outstanding young boy who had been awe-struck at Kaoru-chan when they had met a few moments ago. Tae had spoken with the boy too several times and rather found him charming indeed with good manners however she couldn't help but feel that no matter how honest his feelings were for Kaoru, he could never truly make her happy, for already she had given her heart to Himura-san.

With another glance at the young couple, Tae had begun to plot. The main objective: get Kaoru with the man she truly loves. She knew that this wasn't any of her business and the last time she tried to help she had failed miserably but if she wasn't sure that the feeling between the Kaoru-chan and Himura-san was not mutual she would have gladly back down. And besides this was different.

Her plan didn't involve any engagement ring or half-realized proposals, so what could possibly go wrong? Having made up her mind, she hurriedly went into the kitchen and scanned the room for a special servant girl.

The one known for her big mouth and love of gossips, the official town crier on who's dating who and who's husband was caught at the pleasure house near their town. She had purposely selected her for she would play a major role on this sort of scam.

Leaning over, Tae whispered something in the girl's ears.

The servant's dark eyes widened and started nodding gravely and then after a few more exchange of hushed words hurriedly stalked off.

Tae watched keenly as the girl picked Tsubame out of everyone else at the kitchen and whispered something at the shy girl who blushed instantly at the news delivered to her.

The ripple of rumor about Kamiya Kaoru and Onoda Ichiro would soon be a gigantic wave and would hopefully reached the rurouni in time and then after that all will be perfect.

Megumi was on her way home after dropping by at the clinic to see if there are other patients waiting for her. Fortunately Genzai-sensei had it covered and had suggested to Megumi to just go home and rest. She agreed almost at once which was so very unlike her, but it had been a long day. And between playing big sister to Kaoru and dealing with Sanosuke, she was just damn tired. Her hand ached. But it had nothing to do with treating her patients earlier. Oh, nothing at all.

That Sano…

The punch had been bone jarring, not exactly what she intended, but she was satisfied with it nevertheless. Sagara had been lucky he was still able to duck just in time before it hit him right in his face. After all cutting his blood circulation for two minutes or so didn't seem to work she decided that the rooster head needed more convincing that, no she had no money and no she wasn't flirting with him.

She remembered with satisfaction, the crunching sound it made as she connected squarely on Sano's jaw. She was surprised that she hadn't left a mark on his skin that would have been more pleasant for her. Something to brag about in case Sagara unwittingly forgets to mention it to any one.

And what had prompted such a violent reaction from the lady doctor?

Not only was Sagara asking her for money like she was some sort of 'sugar mommy' but had boldly suggested that her contempt towards him was a product of frustrated unrequited sexual advances that she had been showering him for the past few months.

She lost it then.

And to top it all off, try going around town, hearing from almost everybody that the fox lady otherwise known as Takani Megumi was crazy about the chicken head punk. Crazy enough to actually follow him around begging for se-

She choked on the memory. The punch seemed oddly irrelevant to the rumors he had been spreading. Of course she still didn't have hard evidence that it was him who had started all this talks about them being an item. But Tae had even heard of it and worse had actually believed in it!

She had confronted Sagara when she chanced upon him buying two bottles of sake at a local store and what had he said?

'Foxy, if you're so bothered by it, then just tell everyone else that it's true and then the rumors would stop, coz by then they won't be interested in it anymore, ne?' he said and then walked off leaving her with her mouth open.

She was mad because he didn't seem to care and because to him they were all just rumors.

Just rumors.

'Too bad it isn't true ne?' a voice in her head chided her and after hearing it for almost everyday she was able to block it without any problem. She however wasn't able to block the voices of two women idly gossiping.

She hadn't meant to eavesdrop but with the mention of Kaoru and Ichiro's name she couldn't help but linger on and find out what the chitchat was all about. And she was glad that she did. Prompting the two women to start from the beginning, her eyes slowly widened until they were almost the size of the fancy saucers used at the Akabeko.

So we have, or so it seems, the first victim of the wave.

Thanking the women for the vital information she hurriedly skipped the corner to her home and ventured towards the dojo.

"C'mon Kenshin, we all know that you're in love with her." Sano began leading Kenshin into the streets with Yahiko trudging along not far behind them. Sano watched Kenshin open his mouth and beat him to it, "And I swear one more 'oro' from you and I am going to pound you into the ground that next spring you'd be growing cherry blossoms even up to your ass." He said frowning slightly, wondering where on earth he got that. Even Yahiko shot him a strange look. Sano shrugged, "What?" he asked defensively, "I've used every threat I could possibly think of. I'm drained, brat."

Yahiko rolled his eyes. "Kenshin, why are you making this hard?" he asked slowly.

"Ha! So the kid has brains after all!" Sano said ignoring the deadly glare he got from Yahiko. "Unlike you." He said glancing at Kenshin who was next to him eyes averted on the dirt road. "Should partly blame Jou-chan on that one though. Che, shaking you senseless and beating you with her bokken every time of the day, who knows how much damage she had done to your brain. Should probably stop by at Megumi's to have a check on you or something." He added with a slight wishful note in his voice.

"Puhleeez! You're just suggesting that cuz you wanna see Megumi. Can we straighten out our priorities here?" Yahiko said making hanging motions in the air. "Kenshin and Kaoru first. Then we deal with your obsession with Megumi, ok?"

"Shut up brat!" Sano bellowed glad that he had finished the sake bottle on their way and no one would notice him blush amidst his already reddening cheeks.

"That was a lame come back punk, what's the matter losing your annoying streak already?" Yahiko retorted catching up with them and walking beside a silent Kenshin.

"Can't blame me. I've used up every energy trying to get into Kenshin's thick head." Sano muttered darkly.

Kenshin let out a sigh and stopped walking. He had enough of the constant name-calling and death threats he had received. Had this occurred during his days as a hitokiri both Sano and the kid would have probably run off to cry somewhere in fear. "Daijobou." He said finally as his two friends stared at him expectantly. "Sessha…sessha loves Kaoru-dono." He said slowly his voice calm and sure.

Complete silence as the two stared at him dumbfounded. It lasted for a few brief seconds and was replaced by cries of relief followed by merciless teasing.

Kenshind blushed furiously.

"That wasn't so hard now was it?" Sano asked blatantly. "Didn't actually kill you ne?" he added with a smile.

"Now all you gotta do is walk up to Busu and tell her that." Yahiko concluded, glad that this whole thing is over and eager to go back to the dojo and have supper.

"I…I can't." Kenshin said mournfully his violet yes somber.

"Now you see this is where the problems starts." Sano said looking disdainfully at Kenshin. "I know you feel unworthy of her, but let me ask you, has she ever told you that? Has Jou-chan ever made you feel like that in anyway?" Sano asked arching his eyebrows.

Yahiko watched with curiosity wondering why in the world he was seeing Sanosuke as a serious adult for the first time since he got to know him. Was it something in the air? Or was it something on the sake?

"No." Kenshin answered quietly.

"Good. So we're getting somewhere here. Now, I also understand that you're afraid of losing her and not being able to protect her. In all the times Jou-chan has gotten herself into trouble because of your past, has she ever blamed you for it?" Sano continued watching the rurouni.

"No. But…"

"Ah, ah, no buts." Sano said shaking a finger in the air. "And you know that she's in love with you and if you're going to insist that it's just a silly little girl infatuation, I am going to strip you naked and then throw you in the bath house first thing in the morning, right about the time Jou-chan is taking her bath." Sano paused seeing the blood rise in Kenshin's cheek. 'Damn, talking like this is hard, I sound so stupid. Even in my ears.' He shuddered 'but this is probably the only way to get him to take me seriously. After this Iam going to make Kenshin suffer by asking him to help me with Megumi.'

Yahiko suddenly interrupted, "And her cooking doesn't really bother you or her lack of grace and finesse and the way she dress, they way she beat up people when she's mad and the way she screeches at you and the fact that sometimes she can be such a nag?"

Sano tossed Yahiko a strange look, his frown deepening at Yahiko's casual shrug. "Brat." Sano mouthed.

"Of course not!" Kenshin protested, "I love Kaoru-dono for who she is even her for her flaws."

"So go ahead and barge into the Akabeko and tell her everything that you have just said!" Sano said nearly smacking himself.

"No." Kenshin said with finality his voice gruff with unsaid emotion.

Sano threw up his hands in the air "Fine, I'm giving up on you. It seems to me that you're already bent on hurting Jou-chan anyway. I've done everything I could possibly do. Let me tell you Kenshin and believe me on this one, at the rate your going, Yahiko would already have three kids even before you can tell Jou-chan how you really feel. I bet she knows it by now, hell only an idiot will miss out on what you have. But if you wanna throw it away, that's just fine with me. What do I care about a selfish man like you anyway?"

"Was that a complete sentence from you? And my, I think that actually made enough sense to me!"

A female voice interrupted them and lucky for Sano both Yahiko and Kenshin had turned towards the direction of that voice and did not notice the dreamy smile that had passed in his face. 'Foxy' he thought miserably, suddendly remembering the punch she had thrown at him earlier fearing that she'd gloat about it.

"I think he just threw it away Sanosuke." Megumi said stepping out.

"Huh? In case it passed your highly publicized common sense, I was only kidding!" Sano retorted with a defiant toss of his head, glad that the 'sluggng' issue wasn't going to surface.

"Well, apparently, Kaoru-chan is no longer willing to wait." Megumi said, purposely ignoring Sanosuke and instead noticing the involuntary flinch Kenshin made upon hearing her declaration. 'He's hurting.' Megumi thought. But this will probably hurt him more.

"Ken-san, there's something I need to tell you…"

"No!"

"Aw, gimme me a break. C'mon, after what you've just heard? Don't tell me you're just going to stay here and wallow in self pity?" Sano shook a fist on Kenshin's face.

After Megumi had dropped the bomb Sano had watched contemplating, as Kenshin struggled to control the emotions inside him. He knew he wasn't mistaken when he saw violet eyes change into amber for a split second. Megumi had noticed it too, even Yahiko. They had left Kenshin standing there, rooted to his spot as the three of them huddled for a plan C. After much debate and ruthless bickering they had decided that they have to go to the extremes.

Which meant a confrontation between Kaoru, Ichiro and Kenshin.

Megumi had volunteered to be a non-participant of something so preposterous not to mention ridiculous and had left with a warning: Never play with a broken hearted man.

Sano and Yahiko had rolled their eyes. Women could be so melodramatic. If someone were going to end up broken hearted it would be boy wonder Onoda Ichiro.

It was getting Kenshin to be part of the confrontation that was proving to be difficult.

Hell, Sano saw no surprise there. And so the pleading and reasoning had come to a stand off. Where everything Sano had utter, Kenshin would answer a simple 'no'. Sano was reaching his limit.

"No, Sano. If Kaoru…if Kaoru has chosen…him…it's her choice." Kenshin said his jaws tightly clenched. Liquid violet eyes were darker and more somber than they have ever seen.

"You twit! Of course Jou-chan hasn't chosen him yet! You still have time." Sano argued.

"No." Kenhsin said flatly.

"Fine. Yahiko, on to plan C!"

Even before Kenshin could ask himself what plan C was, both Yahiko and Sano were already ganging up on him and somehow a large brown bag materialized out of nowhere.

And that was where he stayed for the whole trip to the Akabeko.

With a muffled cry of protest as Sano deposited him on to the ground, Yahiko finally took pity on him and released him.

Well, only up to his neck.

Positioning the bag, directly behind Sano, Yahiko glared at Kenshin, a silent threat for the rurouni to keep quiet, which was already unnecessary for they have already put a gag on the poor red haired and mainly because the once most feared assassin still had his purple eyes swirling and swirling and swirling…

Tae stared at Yahiko and Sano and then back to Sano. "Did you join in any street fight today Sagara-san?" Tae asked taking in the badly beaten, bruised and bandaged Sanosuke.

"Ano…um…you could say that." he said in between coughs, "Is Jou-chan still here?" he asked peeking inside the Akabeko. There were still a lot of customers inside and not one of them was Jou-chan.

"Oh, you just missed her. They left a couple of minutes ago." Tae informed him distracted by the brown bag behind Sano. Suddenly Tae let out a yelp of surprise her hands flying to her mouth as she stifled another scream.

"What is it?" Sano asked worriedly snapping his head behind him and then returning it at Tae with a quizzical look on his face.

"The brown bag…it move Sagara-san!" Tae said in a shaky voice.

"Oh, that." Sano stepped aside to give Tae a full view of the brown bag, with Kenshin's head jutting out just below the rope that tied it securely. She raised confused panicked eyes at Sanosuke.

"It's a long story." He said with a sigh. "I'm sure you don't wanna hear it right now." he quipped solemnly.

"Hai. I'm sure I won't." Tae responded faintly.

"Oi hey, Tae-san, before I forget do you have any idea where Jou-chan and her date went off to?" Sano asked trying to get Tae's attention back to him. She seemed a little daze.

"I heard that they'd be heading at the river side near Kaoru's dojo." She answered her eyes still locked on Kenshin in the brown bag. "Ano, Sagara-san…is Himura-san ok? I mean is he…he's not…"

"His fine. Perfectly fine." Sano said with a jubilant smile on his face. He hauled Kenshin into his shoulder and wave goodbye, thanking Tae for her help. Yahiko was behind him, same innocent smile plastered across his face.

Tae had stood there at the opening of the Akabeko trying to tell herself that what she had seen, she had really seen it.

No illusions. It was real and certainly she hadn't gone insane to imagine something like that.

Himra Kenshin tied inside a brown sack swaying ever so lightly at the back of Sanosuke as he walked off with Yahiko happily skipping not far behind him.

And, it wasn't part of her plan.

Notes: Ok. End Chapter 6b. LOL! That was a lot of fun doing! I played with this chapter (as you can all see) and I'm sure I'd be flamed for this…but I hadn't slept for like three days…I had to let it out somehow… I don't know where I got the whole big brown bag idea, but I kept imagining Kenshin in it and I just had to put it as part of the story. I was trying for some humor. I hope I hadn't failed miserably or anything. FLAMES are most welcome. On to chapter 7, where hopefully, I'm not as messed up as I am today. Please pray for that. Keep the reviews coming people! I really appreciate them. Thanks so much!