Disclaimer: I confess that I don't own Rurouni Kenshin and its characters. They all rightfully belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki-sensei so don't sue or condemn me. I write this kind of stuff for entertainment purposes only.

Author's greetings: Hello. How are you? How's Chapter I? Chapter II is up so please read on and enjoy. Please review too. Thanks guys.

WARNING: Tell me if this fic contains OOCness, okay?

Rating: PG (because of some scenes you won't mind so G is still acceptable anyways! BWAHAHAHAHA!)

Tadaima

Chapter II: You Left Without Telling Me

"Welcome to my Kamiya Kasshin Dojo!" Yahiko said to no one in particular as he bent his knees lower, gripping his shinai tighter. He concentrated, exhaled and then struck the air with much force. "It's all at the back of the hand." He said once again, as if he was teaching somebody kendo.

"I don't care if it's all at the back of the hand, Yahiko." A voice at the dojo door said. It was Kaoru.

Yahiko sweat dropped but recovered quickly. "Oi, busu! I'm practicing here, so could I have any privacy?!" He shouted at her.

Kaoru snarled at him. " I don't care. Anyway, I'm going to teach at Shinoyama-sensei's dojo now. I want a hot bath when I get home." Kaoru said, turning her back on him as she started for the gate, swinging her bokouto over her back. "Don't try getting any ideas of escaping, Yahiko." She warned him.

"Oi! Didn't I tell you I'd still be working late tonight at the Akabeko?" Yahiko asked her, right hand on his waist. "I promised Tae I would. There's a large group of people coming over there tonight, and she asked me to help out."

Kaoru turned around with a surprised expression on her face. "Really? Well, who'll prepare my bath?"

"I will, Kaoru-dono." Kenshin volunteered. Kenshin approached her, holding a basket in one hand. "As soon as I get back from shopping." Kenshin grinned.

"Sounds great." Kaoru said. "All I want when I get back is a nice, warm bath." She went out of the gate, happily humming to herself.

Yahiko grinned. "Thanks, Kenshin!"

"Don't sweat it, Yahiko. I just hope you do your chores well at the Akabeko." Kenshin told him as he turned around for the gate.

"What'll we have tonight?" Yahiko questioned him unknowingly, leaning on his shinai.

"You won't be eating here tonight. You said you're gonna work at Tae's tonight, ne?" Kenshin stated, walking slowly towards the gate. He stepped outside the premises of the dojo. He turned around and smiled at Yahiko. "And Sano won't be coming here tonight too." His expression became serious. "Is it just me or were Sano and you avoiding Kaoru-dono and myself?"

Yahiko was taken a back. He felt like the answer was written all over his face. *Stick to the plan, Yahiko. Stick to the plan. * He chanted to himself over and over again.

"No, of course not! Why would we… we won't… of course not…!" Yahiko was stuttering helplessly. He's not that good at keeping secrets from Kenshin.

Kenshin smiled. "Yare… I'll get going now. Bye." Kenshin closed the gate and continued walking towards the market.

Yahiko sighed. He wiped some sweat from his forehead by brushing his left arm on top of his eyebrows. *That was close. * Then he smirked. *Now for Step II of the plan… I better get to the Akabeko fast! * He made a mad dash for the Akabeko with his right hand holding his shinai tightly.

"Konnichiwa, Tae-san!" He greeted Tae at the entrance of the Akabeko.

"Konnichiwa." She responded smilingly. "How'd it go? Did they suspect anything?"

Yahiko grinned broadly. "They have no clue at all." He gave her a thumbs-up.

Tae smiled, feeling very pleased with herself. *Tonight's the night, Kaoru-chan, Kenshin. *

@@@

"Whew… I've got lots of things to do this afternoon." Kenshin said to himself loudly. "I've got to cook the rice and then the miso. I've got to prepare Kaoru-dono's bath and I have to take a bath myself. I smell like…" Kenshin lifted his right arm and smelled himself. He frowned. "Smells like sweat…"

Kenshin began taking out the groceries from the basket. He began placing them on the table, sorting them out. Just then, he realized something was missing. "The radishes! I forgot to buy some radishes! I better get back to the market fast!"

He began running out of the kitchen, headed towards the gate when he realized something. *What if Kaoru-dono comes back home and finds me not here? She'll be infuriated. * He thought for a few seconds, then shrugged. *I'll just have to prepare her bath and then go back to the market. * Kenshin began running towards the bathhouse.

He spotted the firewood. He picked up a big bundle and carried it to the back of the bathhouse. Then he started the fire, careful enough to not burn himself.

*Chotto matte… I should go to the market now to get the radishes. * Kenshin told himself as he got up, assuring himself that the fire wouldn't burn the whole house down.

He reached the marketplace just in time. The stalls in the fruits and vegetables section were starting to close. He didn't see Kaoru go by him and Kaoru was not able to see him either.

Kaoru realized that she was already nearing the Dojo. She sighed with relief as she paused in front of the gate.

"I just hope Kenshin started the bath already…" Kaoru sighed tiredly as she pushed open the Dojo gate. She walked slowly towards the Dojo and, after leaving her bokouto in the rack, she proceeded to the kitchen.

"Kenshin?" She called, hoping Kenshin could hear her. "Have you started supper already?"

She walked into the empty kitchen, forehead wrinkling in confusion. *Where in the world is Kenshin now? *

She looked around the kitchen. The tofu tub was positioned on the table and vegetables were scattered all over the table in complete disarray. She felt her head heat up.

She tried restraining herself as she clenched her fists in annoyance. "KENSHIN, YOU LEFT AGAIN WITHOUT TELLING ME!!!!!"

@@@

Kenshin stopped on his tracks as he listened to the air. *Weird… I'm imagining that I'm hearing Kaoru-dono's voice… * He listened for a few more seconds.

After assuring himself that he was just hearing things, he shrugged and continued walking towards the Dojo, swinging the basket of radishes in accompaniment.

As he neared the Dojo's gate, he made a mental note that he should bring some towels to the bathhouse after putting the groceries in order.

He pushed the Dojo gate open and proceeded to the kitchen, not even bothering to check if Kaoru's bokouto is already in the weaponry rack inside the Dojo.

He reached the kitchen and began putting the groceries in order. He started cooking the rice. Right after that, he went into the house to get some towels in Kaoru's room.

He slid her door open, then poked his head inside. He glanced at the left then at the right. After ensuring that there's no angry-looking Kaorus inside the room, he tiptoed towards the closet like a neko; the whiskers was very visible on his cheeks. He slid the closet door open and got a pile of towels from there. Then he tiptoed out of the room, sliding the door close behind him with his right foot.

*I wonder what's keeping Kaoru-dono out so late. Maybe Shinoyama-sensei had some extra students that he needed help with. * Kenshin concluded as he walked towards the bathhouse, balancing the heap of towels in his arms.

Finally, he stood outside the bathhouse. With the use of his right foot, he slid the bathhouse door open and stepped inside.

His purple eyes widened with fear, nervousness… and definitely FEAR… at what greeted his eyes. A mother-naked Kaoru was standing in front the wooden bathtub. The good thing is that she had her back on him, so all he could PROBABLY see is her back; from her neck to her feet.

*KAMI-SAMA!!! * Kenshin's inner self shouted. *Save me! *

Kaoru stared back at him in panic, hoping he won't be seeing anything more than just her back. The head began heating up… her head was probably hotter than the hot bath at the moment. She hugged herself, folding her arms across her chest.

"Kenshin… close your eyes." She ordered him icily, but the anger was evident in her voice.

Kenshin shut his eyes tightly with much obedience, fearing for his life.

While Kenshin had his eyes shut, Kaoru grabbed her gi (training shirt) and put it on to cover her nudity.

"Now… open your eyes." She commanded once again.

Kenshin opened his eyes slowly and carefully. The first thing he saw was a clenched fist coming right at his face. He closed his eyes once again and braced himself for the impact.

He flew out of the bathhouse and landed on a pile of firewood outside the cabana.

"ORORORORO!" He shouted as he landed on the pile.

"Kenshin no hentai!" He heard Kaoru shout heatedly at him.

"Gomen nasai, Kaoru-dono… I wasn't intending anything indecent! I thought there was nobody inside the bathhouse! Gomen nasai!" Kenshin apologized pathetically.

Kaoru's heart went out to him. "Fine… I accept your pathetic apology." She said, folding her arms across her chest.

Kenshin sighed in relief and smiled weakly at her. "Arigato, Kaoru-dono."

Kaoru wrinkled her nose. "In one condition."

She saw Kenshin's shoulders drop.

"You should clean the storeroom… it had gotten dusty over the years." She told him.

"Hai, Kaoru-dono… for you." Kenshin replied, standing up and facing her squarely.

"Chotto matte…" Kaoru said all of a sudden, a thought suddenly coming back. "Where were you?!!! You left without telling me!!!!" Kaoru threw a bucket at him.

Kenshin wasn't able to dodge the bucket and it hit him on the head. He fell once again on his back.

"Orororo…" He muttered as he rubbed a bump on his head. "Kaoru-dono… I forgot to buy some radishes, so I went back to the market to get some…" He explained, a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh…" Kaoru said softly. "Gomen…"

"Gomen for not asking permission, Kaoru-dono…" Kenshin said smilingly, sitting down Indian-style. "Please don't worry, Kaoru-dono. I have no intention of leaving."

Kaoru's sapphire eyes softened at what she heard. She smiled at him adorably. "Kenshin…"

"Yare… tadaima." Kenshin said, a little late though.

Kaoru chuckled. "Umm… okaeri."

TBC

Author's notes: BWAHAHAHAHA! My crazy side is coming out! BWAHAHAHAHA! I hope you liked this chapter. Thank you for reviewing.

Ms. Susan: I'm honored that you reviewed my fic. I have always liked your own fics. '^-^'

Okachan: Whatever… my friend… people won't understand your review anyway… uh, it's written in our own language, dummy! Susmariosef! (By the way, this okachan is actually my friend and classmate. We're both anime otakus!)

Onna: Thank you for reviewing!

LinaNverse: Thank you for reviewing! ^-^

Thank you very much, you guys (including okachan)! Thank you for inspiring and motivating me to make a chapter 2. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Arigato! Aishiteru! Ganbarimasu!

REMINDER: PLEASE REVIEW, I'D BE LOOKIN' FORWARD TO IT!

lieveit1 '^-^'