(Peeks around corner to see if it's safe) Hello? Anyone still care about this story? Probably not after taking so long to update, but I CAN EXPLAIN!! Ok, went on vacation for a week, fine. Got back, logged on, tried to go to a website, no luck. Next day, tried again, no luck. So, after three days of repeatedly trying multiple times a day with no luck, my fiancé declares the computer is old and busted and we need a new one. Now, the computer was old, but I think he could have fixed it. He just wanted a new one. So, off to Best Buy, I had to get a Best Buy credit card, and then he couldn't just pick one we could take home that day. Noooo. He had to pick one of those custom jobs that take two weeks to be delivered. So, finally I have a computer again and I can update. I'm really sorry about that, but the good news…I have the story finished. With no reading to do, I had lots of time to write. But, you only get one chapter a week. Every…hmm... yes, every Saturday I'll post another chapter. Anyway, here's chapter 5 and hope ya like!
The Reunion
Chapter 5: Ladies on the Prowl
Akino and the other three women huddled around the dining table. Akino sat with her head tilted toward the ceiling, eyes closed, arms crossed in front of her, thinking. "Alright, ladies."
The three women jumped slightly, surprised she was done thinking up a plan that quickly.
The older woman ignored them and continued. "Megumi, this may sound strange, but if you flirt with Sanosuke, you'll have him."
Megumi looked at her a little baffled. "All I have to do is flirt? It almost seems anti-climactic with all the arguing we do. Seems like there should be more."
Akino looked down to think this time. "Well, if you like, you could do the same thing these two girls are going to do." Her eyes glinted naughtily. "You'd be teasing him."
Megumi's grin matched Akino's eyes. "I think I like that plan better."
Akino smiled brightly then. "Okay, the three of you, listen up. I need to see how far each of you are with your relationship. Megumi and Kaoru, I have a pretty good idea about the two of you, but Misao I have no clue except for what you just told me. So, the next two days will be for Okaasan to observe, then I'll think up what you'll do next."
She stood and dusted off her kimono. "Let's get back to the guys before they realize something's up."
The others stood to follow suit.
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The three unknowing males were sitting in the dojo, Kenshin and Aoshi sipping tea and Sanosuke relaxing with his omnipresent fishbone.
The ex-street fighter cracked one eye open. "Oi, Kenshin. The girls have been pretty scarce since Misao and Aoshi arrived. Don't ya think we woulda heard from them by now?"
Kenshin continued to calmly sip his tea. "I'm sure they're all talking with Okaasan. When you think about it, none of them had a mother figure for very long or at all. I'm sure they're fine."
Sanosuke nodded in agreement and then glanced at Aoshi. "So Shinomori, anything interesting going on in Kyoto?"
Aoshi merely spared Sano a sidelong glance. Sanosuke grunted in annoyance. "Can't get you to talk no matter what."
Silence reigned for a short while when they heard giggling coming from the koi pond. Kenshin reached over to crack the door a bit and smiled at the sight. All four women were standing around the pond, whispering, giggling and gossiping with each other. The two other men joined him at the door to see what was going on.
Akino noticed and nudged Misao gently. The young ninja stood and made her way over to Aoshi. Why is Okaasan making me do this? I've already told her the whole story. She won't see anything different. She put a halt on her mental argument and looked Aoshi in the eye. "Aoshi-sama, would you please accompany me to the market later this evening? Kaoru told me about this one vendor who sells trinkets from England and I think it would be fun to go see them after dinner." Misao tried her best to sound adult and feminine, using her bandit voice.
Aoshi blushed imperceptibly, hearing Misao talk like that and nodded slowly in answer to her question. Misao thanked him and went back over to the girls.
"See, Okaasan? He'll accompany me, but he won't say more than five words the whole evening. I can already tell you what he'll say. 'Ready to go Misao?' and 'Oyasumi.' The rest will be nods and gestures to communicate." Misao pouted slightly when Akino started to giggle.
"Dearest, he blushed just now."
Misao's eyes widened. "No, he didn't! I was standing right in front of him."
Akino smiled even brighter. "Child, he did blush, but it was very faint. He does a good job of controlling his reactions, but it doesn't get past a mother. And the reason he doesn't say much is because he gets nervous around you. He sees how full of life you are and how innocent and energetic. It intimidates him. He doesn't want to taint that. He adores the passion you have for life."
Misao blushed hard at the old woman's words. She wordlessly turned to go inside, unsure of how to react to that.
The rest of the day passed as it normally would and then it was finally time for the trip to the market. Kaoru, Megumi and Akino helped Misao get ready. She had agreed to wear a kimono, but nothing else was to change. She wanted to look nice, but not seem like she was trying to impress Aoshi. The three women helped her into one of Kaoru's kimonos, a pale blue with pale yellow and pale pink accents. A very soft, subtle ensemble. Nothing flashy and fancy.
Misao gave herself a long look in the mirror, twirling every which way. "I like it."
Megumi smirked at her. "See? If you dress up it makes a world of difference."
Misao nodded once and turned to her friends. "I'll fill you in when we get back, but I already told you what would happen earlier."
Akino smiled at her. "We'll see, child. Go on now." She shooed Misao out the door and watched as she and Aoshi got ready to leave.
"Ready to go, Misao?" Aoshi's deep voice repeated the phrase Misao told them and Akino sighed.
"He's like clockwork. That man's going to be more work than I imagined." Akino spoke to herself as she rubbed at her chin. "I'm going to take a nap and maybe something will come to me in my dreams. Wake me as soon as they return so I can hear the story as well. See you soon, girls." Akino left the room and Kaoru and Megumi were left to think to themselves.
"Kaoru, do you think Okaasan knows what she's doing?" Megumi stared out the door into the yard, absentmindedly twirling a lock of hair.
Kaoru drew her brows together. "I don't know. I trust her, but as far as if she can get the guys to notice us…" Kaoru trailed off and sighed.
"I know. We've been trying for what seems to be forever and haven't gotten anywhere. Hopefully, we've just been going about it all wrong." Megumi uttered the last sentence mainly to herself, but Kaoru agreed with a nod of her head anyway.
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Two hours had passed and the dojo gate creaked open. Kaoru and Megumi flew up from their seats in the sitting room, Kaoru heading for Misao and Megumi going to wake up Akino.
Kenshin and Sano looked at each other in confusion, wondering what that was all about.
As soon as Kaoru saw Misao she could guess how the evening went. Misao gave her an 'I-told-you-so' look and then Aoshi uttered the last word of Misao's prediction.
"Oyasumi."
"Oyasumi, Aoshi-sama." Misao turned to Kaoru with a look of despair and followed her into Akino's room.
The older woman was sitting on her futon, already rubbing her chin. "I heard, child. Give me a minute. I'm thinking."
Megumi giggled. "Don't you mean 'plotting', Okaasan?"
Akino winked at the three girls. "Call it what you wish." She continued rubbing her chin, her eyebrows furrowing occasionally as she sorted out her thoughts. "Ah-hah! I know exactly what to do next."
The younger women drew closer to her to hear better. "You need to flirt. Slowly, build it up. When I was younger, that was how to land a husband if you didn't have an arranged marriage. Be demure and reserved. But, also remain yourselves. I'm absolutely certain those men out there adore you as you are, so just be flirty when the occasion calls for it."
The devious grin she gave spread from her to the other women in the room. Akino then began to ask Misao for all the specifics from the date. "So dear, tell Okaasan all about it. Every move, every gesture, every thing that happened."
Misao gave a sigh and told her story. It wasn't anything special. They went to the trinket
store and she would look at things and talk to Aoshi and he would merely nod in understanding. She gave another sigh. "You know, I even tried using my bandit voice. I always used it on my travels when I'd run out of money. I'd find the riff raff, lead them into the forest, and then when they were sure I was some harmless young woman, I'd rob them. Yes, it was wrong, but they had stolen the money I stole from them so it wasn't too bad. Anyway, back to tonight. I used my voice which usually makes men melt, but tonight when I did it, Aoshi-sama tensed up and wouldn't even really look at me."
Akino's eyes got round. "What?! Child that is so important!"
Misao watched confused as Akino practically bounced in excitement. "If he tensed up, it probably means he began to feel emotions he didn't think he should feel. Like attraction to a certain young ninja." Akino wriggled her eyebrows and Misao blushed.
Kaoru smiled at Misao. "That's great news, Misao! I hope Okaasan's right about that!"
Megumi grew serious. "So, what's our next step?"
"Sleep, dears. Sleep well and tomorrow I'll let you know what happens next." Akino gave a hug to each girl and sent her out the door.
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Megumi hurried along the streets toward the dojo. She had meant to get there an hour before since the clinic wasn't supposed to be busy, but they had an emergency surgery and they had just finished. She reached the gate and flung it open only to find Sanosuke staring down at her.
"What's with the rush, fox?"
"Baka! I don't have time for this. I was supposed to be here earlier today to see Okaasan, Kaoru and Misao. Now, step aside." She tried to push passed him and Sanosuke merely kept blocking her, smiling to himself.
She's fun to get riled up. Sanosuke kept smiling as Megumi got more and more frustrated. 3…2…1. There goes the hair flip, the hands on the hips, and…
"Tori-atama! Get out of my way!"
"Say the password, fox. That's all you have to do."
Megumi grit her teeth. "Please, Sanosuke."
"That's better. Of course, you can go by." Sanosuke smiled smugly as he bowed when Megumi passed. Big mistake on his part. Megumi raised her fist and slammed it into the back of his head, knocking him over into the dirt.
Akino giggled as she watched Megumi's entrance. "That poor man had it coming."
Megumi sighed. "He's so annoying! What do I see in him?"
Akino tried to keep her smile down. "Tell me this, dear. Do you like it better when you're fighting or if you and he are getting along?"
Megumi paused to think. "I see your point."
"He offers the challenge of wits you so desire. And you're used to men just stepping aside and giving you what you want due to your beauty, however Sanosuke isn't about to do that for you. That, my child, is what keeps you intrigued."
Akino motioned for Megumi to follow her to Kaoru's room where Kaoru and Misao were sitting on the floor waiting. The two looked up as the older woman and doctor entered. Akino took control right away. "Okay, girls. Today is the day it starts. I plan on taking Shinta out to buy new clothes today. I'm also going to take along Sanosuke and Aoshi. While we're out, make yourselves up. Put on your prettiest kimonos, fix your hair, and put on a little makeup. The party's tonight, so you have a reason to dress up. When we return, I want you girls to be ready to flirt. Got it?"
The three nodded, determination on their faces. Akino noticed and rolled her eyes. "And for Heaven's sake girls! This isn't battle! Smile!"
A chorus of "Sorry!" came from the three and Akino picked up her purse. "See you when we get back!"
Kaoru, Misao and Megumi went to the door to watch them leave. What they saw was quite a sight.
Kenshin was in the yard, doing laundry. Sanosuke was sitting on the porch lazily and Aoshi was doing some light meditation by the koi pond.
"Alright, boys! Get up, we're going to town!" Akino clapped her hands to get their attention.
"Okaasan, there are a few chores left. But, once they're done Sessha would be glad to escort you out." Kenshin gave her a rurouni smile, but Akino was not about to let him spoil her plan.
"No, Shinta. Later won't do. Come on, we have to get you new clothes! Those old rags you're wearing are about to rip apart any day now. Best to buy new ones before that happens."
Kenshin sighed in defeat. "Yes, Okaasan."
Sanosuke chuckled. "Better do as your Mommy says, Kenshin."
Akino then made her way over to Sanosuke. "You too, young man. You're in need of a few new clothes as well."
"What?! Okaasan I appreciate the offer, but you don't need to buy new clothes for me. The ones I have on are just fine."
"But they're your only set. Come on, don't argue with me. Let an old woman spoil her son and his friends in her twilight years." She smiled sweetly at Sanosuke and he couldn't refuse her.
"All right. I'll go."
Akino turned her sights to Aoshi and got ready for battle. That one's gonna be tough. He has plenty of money. He won't need me to buy him new clothes, he has lots of clothes already. Akino thought a bit more and decided to just be forceful with him.
"Aoshi, would you please come with us? I really haven't seen you dressed up, either. I'm sure the ladies would love to see you in something more formal."
Aoshi looked at her. "I already have formal clothes. There just is no need for them here.
I thank you for the offer." He closed his eyes and returned to his meditation.
"Aoshi, are you sure dear?" One nod of his head. "That's it. Come on, you're going as well."
She grabbed Aoshi's ear and yanked him up. "I tried to be nice, but none of you boys are making it easy for me!"
The scene started a ruckus from the other two. Kenshin tried to creep away, but Akino was too fast and booted him in the rear to make him keep walking. Sano tried to escape, but the old woman had a handful of hair before he got too far. She dragged the three helpless men out the dojo gate.
The three girls inside had been trying to keep from laughing, but as soon as the gate closed they let loose and doubled over. Misao regained control of her breathing and voice first. "Oh! I never imagined I'd see that! The great street fighter Zanza, the feared Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu, and the infamous Hitokiri Battousai, all defeated by a little old lady no taller than I am!"
That started another fit of laughter with the three. Megumi swiped at her eyes. "Okay, girls. Okaasan can keep them busy for a while, but not forever. Let's get ready."
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A/N: I actually am not completely satisfied with this chapter, but it just wouldn't come out any better. Oh well. I guess there's one chapter like that in every story. I have one in 'Kaoru…the Saiyan??' as well. Okay, so there's chapter 5! Please review and let me know what you think! Hugs & Kisses and I missed everyone!