Kenshin and Kaoru went straight to the hotel after arriving to Yokohama. Fortunately, Kaoru's morning sickness faded away and the couple were nicely snuggling on the western bed of the hotel.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru murmured as she kissed the skin in between the opening of Kenshin's gi.
"Yes, honeybunch?" Kenshin replied, stroking Kaoru's hair.
"Let's enjoy our trip, ok?" Kaoru continued pressing kisses down to Kenshin's stomach. She pulled herself up, straddling on Kenshin's stomach as she lowered her head to catch his lips.
Kenshin caught her lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He whispered huskily, "What do you have in mind, love?"
Kaoru leaned up and placed her finger at the side of her mouth, thinking hard. Eyes gleaming with excitement, she snapped her fingers as she jumped out of bed. She pulled Kenshin with her as she said excitedly, "I know!!! Let's buy chocolates now!!!"
"Ororororo!!! Anata, that wasn't what I had in mind!!" Kenshin complained as he allowed himself to be dragged out of the room by his energized wife.
Kenshin and Kaoru locked the doors of their hotel room as they proceeded downstairs. They strolled around town, looking at the shops and enjoying the view. They stopped by a Western Confectionary Restaurant.
Kaoru happily pulled Kenshin inside as she marveled at the variety of sweets the store was selling. Like a little child, she clapped her hands and pointed, "Oh Kenshin! Look at those!!!"
Kenshin smiled warmly and said, "Does my lovely wife and baby want those?"
Kaoru nodded gleefully and pointed to another kind of sweet.
"Ano… excuse me," Kenshin began, trying to catch the attention of the shop owener."
A rather plump-looking westerner turned around and smiled, "Welcome… Oh I see, you're wife is interested in sweets."
"Yes, sir," Kenshin replied.
"Madam, would you like to try those? Taste tests are free…" The shop-keeper politely offered.
"Really?" Kaoru said wide-eyed.
The shop keeper nodded and handed her a fork, "You may get a piece for those you want to try."
Kaoru drooled at the sight in front of her. "Can I try it all?" She asked pleadingly, looking at the shopkeeper with puppy dog eyes.
The man sweatdropped and nodded. He nudged Kenshin and whispered, "First child?"
Kenshin looked at the man quizzically, "Ano… how did you know?"
"Oh my wife was like that when she had our first child…" the man began staring into space dreamily.
"Congratulations, eto…"
"Hershey. Hershey Cadbury. That period was really hard for me. You know, adjustments… preganancy woes, if you know what I mean," Cadbury winked.
Kenshin scratched his head and replied, "I know exactly what you mean. But, I don't mind. I love my wife very much." He turned his head to glance at his wife. "Kaoru?" He face-faulted.
Kaoru's face was smudged with icings, chocolates and bread crumbs. She took a nervous glance at Kenshin and squeaked, "Hmmm?"
Cadbury's eyes bolted out when he saw that half of his sweets were already eaten.
Kenshin held Kaoru's hand and he said gently, "Koshii, didn't you hear the man say that taste tests are only a piece?"
Kaoru's eyes twitched in irritation as she hit Kenshin with a bokken, "Kenshin no baka! Do you think I am deaf? You are going to pay for this, silly."
"Oro!" Turning to Cadbury, Kenshin said, "Hershey-dono, how much should we pay you?"
"Wait a second, okay? …. About 500 yen…"
"Ororororo!!!" Kenshin fainted swirly-eyed.
"Kenshin! Kenshin!" Kaoru ran to his aid and muttered, "Mou Kenshin! We are on a vacation! Don't go all cheap on me!!!"
"But… sweetcakes!" Kenshin protested.
Their argument was interrupted by the chuckling of the storekeeper. "You remind me of my wife and I when we were newlyweds," He said as he wiped a lone tear on his eyes. "You amused me, that's why its on the house!"
Kaoru immediately flung her arms around the man and pecked him on the cheek, "Oh thank you, sir! Thank you! Thank you!"
"You're welcome, missy."
"Eto.. sir…" Kaoru began. "Can we take home a few chocolates.
Cadbury's jaw dropped and Kenshin fainted again.
~~~~~
That evening, Kenshin and Kaoru went back to the hotel exhausted. They had roamed around the streets in Yokohama, stopping by a store or two for another set of taste tests.
After changing into his yukata, Kenshin slumped on the bed and sighed, "What a tiring day, ne muffin?"
"Uh-huh. I'm so tired," Kaoru said as laid beside Kenshin. She rested her head on Kenshin's shoulder and wrapped one arm around him. "Honey?"
"Yes, amor?"
"I love you…"
"I love you, too and thank you for the wonderful day," Kenshin said sleepily as he closed his eyes.
"I'm glad you enjoyed… Ano… Kenshin?"
"Yes, dear?" Kenshin murmured in his sleep.
"Our baby wants some wagashi," Kaoru purred as she kissed his lips.
"Hmmm… kissing won't work this time," Kenshin said, mischief gleaming in his eyes.
"Oh really?" Kaoru went down and trailed kisses on his face and then she gently suckled on his neck.
Kenshin let out a soft moan and said, "Okay, you win… which kind?"
"Hmmm…. Everything available."
"Ororororo!!!"
Preview of Next Chapter:
Pregnancy Blues
Author's Notes:
Thanks you for all those who left or didn't leave a review:
Sasura- ::bows down::: thank you… I am so flattered!.
Midori- here it is… as requested.
JML & Hana- Orororo! (Kenshin style) Sorry for torturing Kenshin-sama
Hatokirei- I'm really happy you enjoyed my chap… hope you enjoy this one as well.
Gypsy-chan- Here are more facts!! Hope you like 'em, too! =)
Craving Fun Facts:
There is no proof where pregnancy cravings come from but theories say that it comes from the hormonal imbalance. Hormones again? Oh well, hormones causes new sensations which are aggravated by an altered sense of smell and taste. There are some nutritional attributes to cravings. Some doctors say that a pregnant woman craves what her body lacks. E.g. If you crave for bananas it may be an indicator that you lack potassium.
A strange type of craving is called a pica. It is when mothers-to-be crave for something that isn't food. Stuff like soil, laundry powder, etc. [ulk!!!] Nevertheless, I don't think anyone on the right mind would give in to that.
Indulging to cravings is okey, but one must always consider her balance and correct diet to meet the nutritional needs of not only the mother, but the baby as well.
Wagashi Fun Facts [Yum! Yum!]:
Wagashi is a traditional Japanese sweet. It came from the word wa meaning Japanese and kashi meaning sweets. It changes through eras, which is why it is said to reflect the culture at that period.
In the 700's, Buddhism came to Japan causing many Japanese to go to China. Dangerous as it may be, people still came and went home with many Chinese artifacts. Among these are "kara-kudamono". This is a Chinese sweet, where the wagashi originated. At first, it was used as a gift for a god, but in time, it was eaten even by the masses during tea ceremonies.
It is divided into three categories: moist sweets, semi-moist or grilled sweets and dry sweets.
Wagashis, which are made in beautiful and colorful designs, are called jyogashi.
Examples of Japanese sweets are, Toku Nakazono, Sasadango, Bekko Candy, Sakura Mochi, Kashiwa Mochi, and Yokan.
~~Minna-san… chibi-angel really has a sweet tooth!!! I love sweets!!!