Chapter 6

By nightfall, Kaoru happily announced that dinner was ready. Everyone groaned having no trust at all in Kaoru's cooking. Soujirou wondered what the problem was and Yahiko answered him bluntly, "Buso ryouri shiranai [Ugly, doesn't know how to cook]!"

Megumi's foxy ears popped out, "Sou, sou, Yahiko." then laughed her insane laugh at the back of her hand.

"YAHIKO-CHAN!!! Megumi!" Kaoru's background became fiery and a vein popped out.

"Look, I'm already taller than you are. So you don't have any right to call me chan!" Yahiko said cooling himself down since Tsubame was beside him.

"Kaoru-san, settle down. Remember what I told you: The will of one can bring his enemy's victory to defeat." She said holding a pose that seemed familiar to Kenshin.

"Ee. Sou da yo, Karu-chan." Kaoru breathed several times heavily, then came to relax.

Kenshin's eyes opened wide abruptly as he remembered the same words told to him by someone while he was a medicine man with Tomoe. "Anata wa...anata wa..." he half whispered making it audible.

"Eh? Doushita no [what's wrong]?" Kaoru asked worriedly.

"Sessha ima omoidasu de gozaru [now I remember]! Karu-dono, did you come to know a red-headed medicine salesman from the Bakumatsu?"

"Hai, Kenshin, or should I say, Hitokiri Battousai?" she smirked.

Everyone let out a gasp as they thought exactly what Kenshin had in mind - she was someone from his past!

"But, you look as if you were as young as you were when I met you." Kenshin wondered.

"That's because...It's because..." she hesitated, "I am."

"Oro?!" Kenshin asked.

Karu sighed, "To make the long story short, I'm from the future who's stuck in the past because of an error of a technology which brought me to the Bakumatsu. Now, can we eat our dinner before it gets cold? I assure you it's safe. She followed all the details I told her. And furthermore, I tasted it." she immediately changed the subject before she could go any further.

"Ee. Tabemashou [let's eat]." Soujirou supported Karu so that she wouldn't have a hard time explaining everything.

Megumi shook her head and sighed, "I doubt it tastes any better."

Kaoru just ignored her side comment knowing that they will soon be humiliated. As much as Sanosuke wanted to inquire about Karu, he couldn't resist the temptation of the foods' aroma as it got to him. Kenshin wanted to ask some questions, too, but it seemed that Kaoru's improvement in cooking intrigued him more.

"Itadakimasu!" they all said in chorus as they propped themselves around the table. Sanosuke shut his eyes tight and prayed the gods that her cooking was edible. He took a small bite and he felt like he was eating in a fancy, expensive reataurant. Kaoru's cooking has definitely improved since Karu taught her. Kenji was near tears as Kenshin forced a small piece of okonomiyaki into his mouth. He chewed it, then suddenly, tugged his father for some more. As stubborn as Yahiko was, he couldn't ignor the amount of food they were all taking in.

After the meal, everyone congratulated Kaoru for a job well done. The latter thanked Karu for teaching her and Sanosuke started to tell them all about his journeys. After all the dishes have been washed, they all went to their rooms soon after Yahiko, Tsubame, Sanosuke and Megumi had gone...And a sad parting it was for Sanosuke will go and wander off again to new places in other parts of the world before the government recognizes him and put him in jail for his assault on Shibumi at Shinshuu.

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Soujirou and Kenji stayed in the same room and so did Kenshin and Kaoru. Karu stayed in one room alone because it would be awkward if she stayed there, too.

In Kenji's room, Kenji started to make a conversation with his companion, "Soujirou-nii, naze jouzu na kanji ka [why are you good in kanji]? Anata wa rurouni desu yo ne [you're a wanderer right]?"

Soujirou continued to smile at Kenji and said, "A lovely woman once taught me how before I became who I am now, Kenji."

"Then," continued the young one, "How did you meet Karu-nee?"

"It's a long story and children like you should be going to bed now." the elder one said patting his head.

"Suman de gozaru [excuse me]." Kenshin said opening the door.

"Otousan!!!" Kenji exclaimed.

"Maa, Kenji-chan. Nande anata ni hanashite de gozaru ka [what did I tell you]?" Kenshin reminded him.

"Gomenne [sorry], Soujirou-nii." he said puppy eyed. "I didn't mean to peer into your past."

"Daijoubu, Kenji-chan." he smiled, "Do you want to talk to me about something?"

"Ee. Kenji-chan?" Kenshin gestured Kenji as if they were going to talk about something important like other government officials he had met up with. Kenji bowed and rushed out of the room.

"You have a well trained child, Himura-san." Soujirou complemented him.

"He's just used to staying away from conversing adults because he couldn't make any sense of it even if he tried." Kenshin chuckled, "Besides, he' s only a child."

"Sou da yo ne [he is, isn't he]?" Soujirou chuckled along, "What did you want to talk to me about, Himura-san?"

"Anou, Soujirou, how's you wandering been going?" the red-head started.

"It's harder than I thought," he sighed, "But I'm learning a lot. Keeping my sword is the hardest part of traveling since it is not reversed edged like yours is."

"I see. Have you found the answer yet?"

"Iie, shikashi... [no, but]" the younger one sighed, "Karu-chan is proving to make my travels more enjoyable since she keeps me company. Although, I still have no idea what truth you were talking about."

"Ganbatte [work hard], Soujirou." he put his hand on Soujirou's shoulder, "You'll know soon enough. I hope your happiness will last. Remember, she's not from around here." He stood up and headed toward the door. "Aa! Soujirou..." the boy looked up, "Never give up no matter what happens. Even if the most painful realizations come, there's always room for hope. By the way, where'd you get a sword? I have broken yours and haven't you given Shishio's back?"

"An anonymous man threw it to me 2 years ago as he was being chased by an officer and never came back for it. Just as I was getting used to using a cut off tree branch to replace a real sword." he giggled.

"Hontou ka [really]?" Kenshin laughed with him. "A poor replacement for a sword."

"Too heavy, too unbalanced and too slow." Soujirou added.

Kenji walked in rubbing hid droopy eyelids, yawning as he entered the room, "Soujirou-nii. I want you to teach me kanji tomorrow. Oyasumi. Soujirou-nii, otousan."

"Oyasumi, Kenji-chan." both men chorused.

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On the other room, Kaoru knocked on Karu's door and came in with a sigh. She gave Karu a warm smile and sat down beside her.

"Hai, nani Kaoru-san?" asked the younger lady.

"You knew Kenshin from before, right?" Kaoru fidgeted. Karu nodded. "Well, It's just that I'm not quite sure that Kenshin loves me as much as his first wife."

"Kaoru-san, Kenshin-san loves you a lot. Although I couldn't really compare who he really loves better, I'd say he loves you more because he had put more effort in protecting you. He also recieved more inspiration from you than from To-Tomoe?" she asked unsure of the name she had given.

"Hai. Tomoe." Kaoru assured her. "Shikashi, atashi hoshii shite iru [But, I want to know], nani wo Tomoe wa taipu no onna [what type of a woman is Tomoe]?"

"Hmm, you seem troubled, Kaoru-san. Naze [why]?" Karu asked. "Well, if you don't want to talk about it, it--"

"I want to tell you because I want to let this all out. I 'm sure you'll understand because you're a girl." Kaoru's hair hid her face although her grief was obvious.

"Sou desu ne [is that so]? Anou ne, Tomoe is a gentle LADY, well, not to offend or anything. She doesn't know how to fight though and she seems a bit weak-willed, although looks can be very deceiving. She's loyal, and a good cook--erm, hehe skip that." she said so as not to fume Kaoru. "She's the silent type. Hmm, well, I guess you seem quite the opposite of her. Not in all aspects, though."

"Sou ka [I see]." Kaoru sighed. "Kenshin seems a bit preoccupied nowadays, although no one's bothered us as of yet. And he seems not to listen at me at times. I think he still thinks of Tomoe."

"Kaoru-san," she said placing a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry. Even if he is thinking about Tomoe, I know that he will never ever replace you. Believe me," she smiled at Kaoru, "I know, I've read about it. Don't give in if you two have squabbles, OK? It's just normal. The tide will soon subside. Hey that rhymes!"

They both giggled then Kaoru breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that for once in my life, someone has ears to listen to me and understands me well."

"Although not as much as Kenshin-san."

Karu and Kaoru both giggled. "So," Karu added, "What's for tomorrow?"

"Shiranai [I don't know]. Another okonomiyaki I guess."

"How about something foreign?" Karu told her with a sly smile.

"Like?"

"Like...hmmm, with your ingredients, maybe...what do you want, Asian, European or Western?"

"Anou...etoo..." Kaoru thought of what Kenshin and Kenji would like best, thinking of none, she said, "Zenbu [everything]. Daijoubu ka [is that OK]?"

"Chotto matte kudasai [wait amoment please]." Karu thought of whatever ingredients they have left, "Asian...iie, European... iie, Western...iie! Dame! I wish I had listened to my Home Economics teacher! All I listen to is the idiotic chemistry subject with the normality and aldehydes and hydrocarbons and stuff that makes me more idiotic than I already am!" she stopped as she noticed Kaoru's puzzled face with sweatdrops all over "Aa! Sumimasen! I'll wake up early tomorrow to get a head start. Wait for me at the kitchen early tomorrow OK?"

Kaoru nodded and stood up from beside Karu, "Domo arigato gozaimasu [thank you very much]." she bowed as she took her leave.

"Mochiron da [no problem]!" Karu gave her a peace sign. "We girls have to look out for each other."

Kaoru nodded, "And don't think of wandering off anytime. Not until your wound has healed."

"Hai, Kaoru-san."

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The next day Kaoru silently crept to the kitchen early that day to find Karu seperating the stuff she had bought quite earlier that morning. She was quite surprised as to how early the young cook had awoken as dawn was only beginning to break.

"Ohayou [good morning], Kaoru-san!" Karu greeted in such a perky manner that Kaoru almost jumped out of her skin.

"Ohayou, Karu-chan." Kaoru greeted through half-closed eyes. "How can you wake up so early? Did you wake up in the middle of the night?"

"You can say that. Come on, you can't cook while sleeping. Let's do it like yesterday, OK?" Karu held out her hand.

"Ee." Kaoru responded and they soon began to work.

After a few hours, Soujirou came out of the room with Kenji on his shoulders. "Ohayou, minna!" both greeted at the same time upon meeting Kenshin waiting at the table and seeing Yahiko and Tsubame out the door.

"Hmmmm, it smells soooo good!" Yahiko commented as he entered the dojou's doors. "Ohayou, minna!"

"What brings you here this early, Yahiko, Yutarou? Shouldn't you be in later." Kenshin asked.

"It's Akabeko's anniversary. Thought we'd bring you some breakfast before Kaoru bores a hole through your stomach." Yahiko taunted. "Come to think of it her food will also--" he stopped as Tsubame nudged him. "Oh , sure. I'll stop."

"Ii [good]. Because if you don't," Kaoru waved her laddle wildly in the air, "I'll make sure you will never--"

"Kaoru-san! Do you want him to eat his words or not? This is about to come out of the pan, you know." Karu warned her so as not to ensue their imminent fight.

"Hai." Kaoru responded.

"Yahiko you said Kaoru has improved yesterday, do you think she'll still be as good?" Yutarou sighed, "Too bad, I still had to meet that girl so I left early after the training."

"Wakanai [I don't know]. Man, you really are a playboy!"

After a few more minutes, out came the most intriguing set of dishes the Kenshin-gumi had ever seen, including Soujirou. In one big bowl, was a soup called Split Yellow Pea Soup (Asian), in a big platter was something called Lobster Au Gratin (European) and on another platter was Hunter Veal (Western). All of it looked and smelled so inviting that even Yahiko did not resist whatever urge it was for him to eat it. In a few seconds (if it were possible) everything was gone! Kaoru and Karu peeped out from the kitchen. Knowing that it would be finished even before they could get to the table, they reserved a quarter of the batch for themselves and ate it.

"Man, those were weird foods!" Yahiko commented, "Undoubtedly delicious, but weird."

"Do you still have room for dessert?" Kaoru asked.

Everyone nodded and she brought out some blueberry cheesecake and rice pudding. Soon, everyone went back to their own work and Kaoru was much appreciated by all of them.

"One question, Kaoru," Yahiko asked, "Where did you get all the money?"

Kaoru looked at Karu, "Was it all on your expenses, Karu-chan?"

"Hai. Just a way of saying thank you." Karu explained.

"Teaching Kaoru how to cook is enough thanks for us." Yutarou winked at her.

Kaoru kept her cool as she was about to open the dojou to start the session for the day.

Author's notes: '-nii' is for 'brother' (oniisan) and '-nee' is for 'sister' (oneesan).
I really must listen to the gay once and for all (gay=H.E. teacher)!

Chapter 5

Chapter 7