Okay, okay, I know I said this was only suppose to be a one shot story but since everyone seemed to really like it and I had so much fun with it, when my brilliant cousin gave me some great ideas I couldn't resist giving it a try! So arigato Sherah (you and your caffeine highs)! I hope I can do your ideas justice! (Can you believe she has never seen a single Kenshin episode? Don't worry, she vows to watch some when she comes back to Florida. ^-^) If you ask nicely in your reviews maybe she will give me more for a new chapter! If everyone likes it, I will try to keep going with more if I can get ideas so be sure to let me know what you think!

I am certainly not out to write a lemon and I vow to try really hard to keep the rating what it is, but this is gonna be really hard! Besides, my family knows where to find this!

since italics didn't work for thoughts last chapter, I'll try {} instead.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters, and I don't take responsibility for this chapter, my cousin does, hehe! She even told me to blame it on her!

The Morning After

Chapter 2

"Oro? Do you think this is a good idea? After all, Sano and Yahiko are still here de gozaru yo." Kenshin was outside heating up the promised bath from the last chapter (don't get your hopes up people, I don't do hentai, hehe) while she was testing the water temperature. Sighing dreamily, she completely ignored his protests. {So what if everyone knows anymore? I'm tired from all the problems today and just want to relax!}

"Kenshin! The water temperature is great, come in!" Hurriedly pulling off her kimono and underclothes, she leaves them hastily scattered and climbs into the water, giggling nervously. She could hear the door slide open as Kenshin entered but she couldn't see him from her spot in the water. (You have to remember how the bath is laid out in the series with two little rooms) There was some quiet shuffling and then a muttered exclamation. {What the heck is he doing in there?} "Kenshin?"

"Gomenasai, Kaoru! But did you know how dirty you got your clothes today de gozaru? Did you get in a fight or something?" Blushing, she decides to ignore this. "Forget that you baka and get yourself in here before I have to hurt you!" A hurried scrambling. "Demo, your clothes…"

"NOW!!!!!" The scrambling was frantic then as Kenshin rushes to do her bidding. But old habits die hard, and he decides to compromise, bringing the clothes with him into the bath! "Sessha doesn't want to see your beautiful clothes so dirty. We can wash them in the tub!" Happily climbing in with the clothes, he fails to notice that the water was beginning to boil. I mean REALLY boil! (Anyone for rurouni soup?) Oblivious to her anger, he begins to scrub the clothes, only trying to make her happy but obviously not succeeding. "KEN…SHIN!"

"Oro? Is something wrong?" Turning to her, he suddenly gasps and stares. Kaoru felt a little better at this reaction and began to preen a bit. "What's the matter Kenshin?" She asked slyly. "Finally remember why we are in here in the first place?" He reached out his hand to her head and slowly pulled out the ribbon that holds up her hair in its customary fashion. Closing her eyes and sighing, she waits for him to do something else, and becomes confused when he doesn't continue. Finally, her curiosity getting the better of her, she opens one eye.

"KENSHIN NO BAKA!" Still oblivious, he was happily washing her hair ribbon, which had gotten covered with dust in the fight with Saitou. {He is gonna pay for this one!} Reaching out a hand to the top of his head, the poor rurouni finds his head under water, being pushed down by a very strong Kaoru! Trying to oro, nothing but bubbles came up. Fury spent she finally lets him come up for air, which he promptly does, still clutching the ribbon!

(Cough, gasp, choke!) "Gomen Kaoru! Sessha was only trying to make you happy, but it wasn't working de gozaru. Well, I suppose there is another thing…" Finally getting a clue and looking very sly himself, he continues, "We will be in here a while now though since your clothes are all wet and you have nothing to wear, so sessha can make it up to you!" (Hmmm, is he more of a plotter than we all think? I'll never tell!)

We leave them there for now, everyone happy in the knowledge that they got the bath scene they so longingly asked for! (You didn't say what you wanted in it, so take what you can get!) I am sure anyone with enough imagination can decide what happens next for themselves. Does Kenshin finally have a sex drive? Or does he still have a clothing fetish? I guess the world will never know! HEHE!

* * * *

Later that evening, with dinner made and eaten, everything was quiet. Sano was still hanging around, alternately pondering and laughing at everything he "accidentally" overheard in the bath, and Yahiko trying his hardest to ignore Kenshin and Kaoru, embarrassed over how cozy they were. (Makes you think something really did happen, ne?) After about an hour of this, with many gagging sounds, he goes outside to practice alone in the dark.

"Busu and Kenshin, who would have thought?" he muttered. "Well, I admit it was pretty obvious to everyone but them…" Not paying attention to anything around him the but feel of his sword slashing through the air, he doesn't hear Sano approach. "Oi, Yahiko!" He whispered. "Wanna have some fun? I got thrown out by the love birds. Even Kenshin was less than polite when he asked me to leave! This has gotta mean something! Let's go listen!" Without giving Yahiko a chance to protest, he grabbed him by the arm and drug him to the door of Kenshin's room. There was a faint light glowing through the rice paper wall and low voices. Without a second thought to how rude he was being, Sano placed his ear on the door. Yahiko was being gagged by Sano's hand so he wouldn't scream. He REALLY didn't wanna be there. {I don't wann hear this! I feel sick…}

(Through the door) "Iie Kenshin! You can't have it in bed!" Kaoru muttered through gritted teeth. She sounded slightly out of breath. A slight scuffling could be heard, followed by Kenshin's voice. "Demo, Kaoru! You know how much I love it!" Sano and Yahiko sweat dropped. "I said NO! I'm surprised you didn't want to have it in the bath too!" There was more thumping and a triumphant yell, when a very sharp sakabatou pierced through the paper wall, less than an inch from Sano's nose! "AAAGGHHHH!!! I only just stopped having nightmare's of Jo-Chan throwing knives at me!" (Think circus episode)

Running as fast as he could, Sano broke the land speed record headed for home, with plans for getting as drunk as he possibly could before he had to face Kaoru tomorrow to get breakfast. Unlucky Yahiko was dumped in the dust and left to face Kaoru's wrath. Could things get any worse than that for him? They could, and they will. "Yahiko! Were you and Sanosuke spying on us?!?!"

A very fierce Kaoru was standing on the porch, still breathless over her tug-of-war with Kenshin for the sword and where it was going to spend the night. Kenshin was a few steps behind, cuddling his poor abused sword. "I didn't want to! He made me! Why would I spy on a busu like you!" Making evil faces he began to back away. "Not so fast Yahiko-CHAN! If this is going to keep up, I think Kenshin needs to have a talk with you!" Shoving a very confused Kenshin forward, she explained. "If you are so curious about us you should just ask instead of spying. You're a growing boy and old enough that you should know some of these things. So tell him Kenshin. I will just listen."

"ORO? Demo…" Kaoru looked at him expectantly. "Well, uhhh, you see….when a man and a woman…if they like each other…" He was looking very panicked by this point. "They like to sleep together…and take baths together. And, ummm…"

All this time Yahiko was about to die of embarrassment, but do we detect a hint of evil smile? Nah, probably just imagining things. But then, being around Sano so much we wouldn't be surprised "Uhh, what do you DO in the bath and stuff anyway?" Could our little rurouni actually answer this? "Sessha and Kaoru…we…SESSHA WASHES KAORU'S CLOTHES!"

"KENSHIN NO BAKA!" Kaoru yelled! "Can't you do better than that? Yahiko is gonna be scarred for life! What kind of parents are we going to make if we can't even handle this!"

Finally not being able to hold back any longer, Yahiko starts to laugh. "Never mind that busu, I already know everything! Sano took me down too…umm, this place and told me all about it! I probably know more than you do!" Kenshin had almost fainted with relief at this admission till he saw Kaoru's face. He didn't know which was worse! "Sano…took you…WHERE?!?!"

"None of your business busu! They wouldn't let you down there anyway with a face like that!" Kaoru was torn between who she wanted to kill first, Yahiko or Sano. Unfortunately for Yahiko, she settled for the one within reach. Snatching Kenshin's sheathed sakabatou, the race began. Knowing better than to step in, he stood back to watch. He was worried for his sword, and of course for Yahiko, but he was much more scared of Kaoru. (Smart man) In the mist of the chaos, a goofy smile formed on his lips. {Sessha loves Kaoru anyway, and she can play with my sword anytime she wants.}

* * * *

Meanwhile, in a house somewhere else in Tokyo, there is a man lying in bed, a woman sitting in a chair next to him. He is in a lot of pain, and whispers every now and then in an agonized voice, "Tokio…must take…revenge…" Silence. Then, "I want…revenge…but first…where are my cigarettes?"

The woman would just pat him on the hand; giving him comfort when needed, and every now and then, assure him that tomorrow she would go and see her husband's assailant to see that they got what they deserved. She would say nor promise anymore than that. What would the next day bring?



Guess you will find out in the next chapter, HEHEHE (devil horns pop up instead of fox ears)! I had a many more ideas left but decided to save them for the next chapter or chapters, whatever the case may be. If this gets a good response I will have the next one up in a few days. (Sherah will kill me if I don't!) Please review, I watch for them obsessively and love reading every single one. LOL!