Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, a BMW X5, Magic Mountain, and the Easter Bunny. If you sue me, all you'll get are a 4-foot teddy bear, board shorts and a sorry ass. This fic is brought to you by glow-in-the-dark stars, the disturbed cd, and insomnia.
AN: Thanks for all those who reviewed. ^_^ Ya guys are tha best! And those who didn't, well you could just sh--- [guys in white uniforms drag a demented Ayame-chan away in a straight jacket. Yuki is seen smirking in the background] ^_^*
Anyhoo…
Changes
By: Souma Ayame-chan
Chapter 3
The rurouni blinked once. Twice. Thrice. But he still couldn't figure out how he had gotten into such a position with his beloved Kaoru. She had her back against the dojo wall, breathing heavily and looking as if she were about to cry. He, on the other hand, was bare-chested with the gi hanging limply from his waist.
Kaoru began to turn her head the opposite direction and ran towards the direction of her room with her face buried in her hands. While this happened, he stood rooted to the same spot, unable to think, say or do anything. 'Oh shit! What have I done this time?', he thought and silently kicked himself in the ass for letting it happen.
Kaoru's room:
'I cannot believe what just happened out there! One minute, he was kissing me like there was no tomorrow then the next thing I know, it's back to kaoru-dono again. Oh, for crying out loud! Why can't I just enjoy myself for even a few minutes?!' She felt anger and confusion at the same time. 'I don't know what has gotten into that man but I'm gonna pou--- wait!'.
She recalled the events that took place a few moments ago and again noticed that there was something different about her cheerful housemate. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on but it was there alright. It was as if he were a totally different person. 'It must be because of that new gi he's wearing…' With that thought, she fell asleep, exhausted from the day's training and feeling drained due to her encounter with Kenshin.
Kitchen:
Kenshin had taken the black gi off and hung it to dry since it had sweat all over because of… uhhh… well, he didn't know why. Earlier he had decided to go to Kaoru to ask her to explain what had happened but he decided against it when he sensed that she was already sleeping in her room. Being the sensitive man that he was, he would just prepare dinner for both of them then wake her up when it was ready. He now was wearing an old green gi which he took from his room just before starting to work on dinner.
'This sure was a really weird day! I mean: bird people, a foreign-looking guy who vanished into thin air, and the earlier encounter with Kaoru which I don't even remember anything about. Not to mention that I haven't done the laundry, the house is a mess and dinner isn't prepared!'
Kenshin stopped his train of thoughts when realization hit him. 'Omigod! I can't believe I think laundry and household chores are more important than the others. I'm really starting to think like a friggin' maid!' He shuddered slightly at the mental picture of him wearing a frilly apron, happily sweeping the yard while Kaoru chased Yahiko to oblivion.'I guess that explains why I can't remember stuff. Housework and my age seem to be taking their toll on dear old me… Waitaminnit! Did I say old?! I'm not that…' "Oro!" A firm hand slapped him on the back and he turned around to find a snickering Sanosuke Sagara.
"Oi, Kenshin! Whatcha got fo' dinner?", Sano inquired, still keeping the goofy grin on his face.
"Sano, if you wanna land a free meal [again], you could just ask sessha nicely," he answered with his usual rurouni smile and a hint of annoyance. 'And I thought I could share a nice quiet dinner with my Kaoru…'
Sano got the message. "Thanks, buddy. But… no offense or anything but you look gay in that ratty gi. I mean, man, your pink one made you look gay but I gotta hand it to ya that you outdid yourself this time. That is absolutely u-g-l-y! I think it's gonna grow some legs andd crawl on the floor any moment now, if ya know what I mean. Man, ya look real femmy in that thing! Hey, waitaminnit! Maybe you could pretend to be some gay hooker and----"
"Shut up, Sano!" Kenshin said, voice dripping with poison. "First, that gi isn't pink. It's magenta. And it happens to be my favorite one. Second, I think this looks fine. And lastly…," he paused, gathering all the strength he needed not to freak out. "I am NOT gay." He glared at the dumbfounded roosterhead. "I hope that settles it."
But the great Sagara Sanosuke was not even fazed. The smirk returned to his face and without even batting an eyelash said, "Whatever, girly-man. I'll be outside. Call me when dinner is ready. But seriously, lose the gi."
After a few moments:
The delicious smell of food wafted to her room and assailed her nostrils. Kaoru quickly sat up from bed, remembering that she was famished. But that was not the only thing that she remembered. She also remembered the kiss she had with Kenshin. The way his body looked when he was practicing out in the backyard. The way he moved with such grace and precision. The way he held the sakabatou and how his muscles--- 'Aaarrgh! Kaoru no hentai! Masaka. I must have been dreaming of the whole thing. Right. I must have fallen asleep while mending his gi and it was all a dream.'
She put on a smile, left her room and made her way towards the dining area. Kenshin greeted her with his usual friendly rurouni smile and asked her to have a seat. He had just finished setting the table and was now bringing in the food from the kitchen. Sano was there, too and she gave him a weak smile since she was still a bit dazed from getting out of bed in a rush.
As Kenshin brought in the food, Sano caught his eye, pointed to the gi and rolled his eyes. He gave out an evil laugh while thinking of how Kenshin would look with ribbons in his hair and all. Kenshin glared at Sano and bit down his lip to restrain the urge to Do Ryu Sen him out of the house. Kaoru, however, was oblivious to the mockery around her since she had her eyes transfixed on the food on the table as if it was her last meal on earth.
Kenshin sighed. There was no way he was going to quarrel with Sano in front of the dinner table and in front of Kaoru. There was only one thing to do.
"Anoo… Kaoru –dono, you and Sano go ahead and eat. Sessha shall be right back" Kaoru muttered something inaudible, nodded her head, and continued to attack the food.
When Kenshin returned to the dining room he was wearing [okay, all together now] the black gi.
"Now that's better than that hideous green thing," Sano said. "I guess girly-man here does have taste after all ne, Jou-chan?'
Kenshin said nothing. He just sat down and ate silently.
Kaoru's eyes were bulging out of their sockets. 'Omigod! It WASN'T a dream!' Her eyes were transfixed on the samurai sitting across her and she drew a deep breath, 'Is it just me or did the room suddenly get hot?'
Sano, on the other hand, being…well… Sano was unaware of the tension between the two and continued with the story he was telling before Kenshin entered the room. "Anyhoo, Jou-chan, there was this real fine chick I met this morning. Ya know, nice rack, cute a--- oh, don't worry bout Mr. Rurouni here taking interest." He said while glancing at Kenshin's direction. "He just doesn't like girls. Or rather, he doesn't *ehem* prefer them as compared to men. Hawhawhawhaw!" He was teasing Kenshin again about being gay. Heck, he thought the joke was funny.
Kenshin didn't.
Kaoru was still staring at Kenshin to notice anything going on in the room.
"Sano, I. Am. Not. Gay.", he said calmly. In a scary way. Then a naughty grin spread across his features. "Ask Kaoru." The last sentence was punctuated with the rise of his left eyebrow.
This caused Kaoru, who seemed to be lapsing into a coma, to snap out of it. "Ehhh?" was all she managed to say.
All the while, Sano's eyes were as big as Usui's turtle shell shield. He could not believe---. He refused to believe that---. That the gentle-mannered, cheerful, kid-loving, laundry-washing, pink-dressed man is actually capable of----- A huge [and I mean real huge] grin spread on his face and he said "Kenshin, you lucky dog! Didn't know you had it in ya! So ya two were screwing your brains out all afternoon?! Woo-hoo! Jou-chan here must have been screa----"
Amber eyes. Angry amber eyes glowing. Angry amber eyes glowing AND staring directly at him. "I think," Kenshin began, "my sakatabou" he placed his hand over the handle, "wants to, as you said, 'screw your brains out."
And that was enough for Sano to go running out of the Kamiya dojo. Still with the silly grin on his face.