Chapter 4
"Hai, Kaoru-dono?"
Yahiko and Sanosuke heard a high pitched eek, then a giggle in the same voice as they entered the dojo.
"Whoa, what's goin on?" Yahiko raised an eyebrow.
"I dunno. That was Kaoru's voice, and it was coming from Kenshin's room, so either Kaoru has snapped or....." He grinned. "Or Kenshin's.. heh heh heh.."
Yahiko sweatdropped. "What? Kenshin's what?"
"Kaoru-dono..!" Kenshin caught her as she fainted. "... Kaoru-dono....?"
"Mmm..? AH!" Kaoru stood bolt upright, which immediatly caused her knees to buckle. Kenshin caught her again and helped her stand up straight. "Kenshin...! I... I'm sorry about the scream.. I....-"
"That is alright Kaoru-dono. /my ears don't hurt too badly. and what was that giggle?/ But, what did you want, Kaoru-dono?"
She blushed a little. "Oh, I- I was just, ummm... /i'm sorry. i don't know why i giggled. i guess i was just relieved at the same time i was suprised/" Her face turned crimson. "I was just afraid you had left without telling me, that's all."
"Ah, well.." Kenshin smiled The Rurouni Smile. "You shouldn't worry about that, ever. I would never leave you."
"R-really? I....I...." Kaoru's knees buckled and Kenshin caught her. Again.
"Ah- with- without telling you.. g-go-gomen nasai, I mispoke. I would never leave the dojo permanently without telling you. Ummmm.. /that was a bad thing to say wasn't it./"
Kaoru sighed softly. "No.. it's alright.. I just.. I wish you really meant that."
"aah-.... gomen... gomen nasai kaoru.. dono...." Kenshin looked down and mumbled, barely audible, to the ground.
"Kenshin, I-... I-.. I mean, the- there's no... no reason.. to be.. uhmmm.. ashamed. I don't- I don't mind, really."
"Mind what? That I startled you?"
"No, I don't mind your, uhm, your-"
"HEY UGLY! Where's our breakfast?!" Yahiko burst into the conversation. Him and Sano had been watching from the end of the hall for a while.
Kaoru looked at Yahiko like she was going to kill him. "There is none. Go away! Annoying brat."
Yahiko stuck his tongue out at her, earning a warning bonk on the head. "OW!"
"Serves you right." Kaoru stuck her tongue out at him. He got his shinai out, ready to swing, when Kenshin stepped between them.
"Now now, there's no reason to fight right now. We're all hungry, right? I'll go cook us some breakfast. So no fighting for now."
"Ya, sure." Yahiko and Kaoru mumbled in agreement.
"Good. Now, everyone, come to the kitchen..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So, Kenshin," Sano asked as they sat down at the table, "Anything.... /interesting/ happen while we were gone?"
Kenshin sighed. "No, Sano, I am not sick enough to take a 17 year old girl's virginity away while you are gone. Or any time, for that matter."
Sano stuck his tongue out at Kenshin, earning a whap from Kaoru. "Ow! What? That wasn't for you!"
"So? Who cares? You're referring to me as some kind of sex object. I have every reason to be mad at you."
Sano sulked a little, unable to think of a response.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knock Knock.
"Who is it?"
"Kaoru."
"Ah, come in Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru opened the door and closed it behind her. Kenshin was sitting on his bed, folding his clothes.
"Yes, Kaoru-dono, what would you like me to do?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to talk to you." Kaoru sat down on the futon where Kenshin had cleared the clothes off for her.
"Ah, I see. In that case, what is on your mind?"
"Well, uhm.." She blushed a little. "I just wanted to finish my sentence, the one I had started before Yahiko so /rudely/ interrupted me."
"Oh, you mean when you were telling me what you didn't mind?"
"Ya, so.. uhmm.."
"So what don't you mind, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin stopped folding.
"Your... dream..."
"That's ridiculous, Kaoru-dono. Of course you would mind me dreaming about you in that manner."
"But I /don't/. I'm not at all bothered by the fact that you would dream that."
"... you aren't?"
"No."
"How.. come?"
"I- I don't know. Like I said, I feel safe around you, and- and I felt so comfortable in your arms, it just seems so natural to me."
"Natural that I would dream of loving you?"
"No, natural that you would love me."
Kenshin turned crimson. "W- well, natural or no, I'm still too old for you. You need to find someone younger, someone who isn't so.. mature.
Kaoru raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean.." Kenshin's voice lowered as he blushed some more. "S.. sexually.. mature. C- cause, you know, you're young and you wouldn't think about a guy like that, and hopefully vice-versa, but since I'm so much older than you.." He started to fidget.
"Oh." Kaoru blushed.
Kenshin looked up at her. /Kami-sama, she looks beautiful when she's blushing like that. If I wanted to, I could just take her into my arms and../
He was interupted as Kaoru continued. "Well.. I just wanted to tell you, so-"
She was cut off when Kenshin kissed her. "?!" Initially, her eyes widened and her body grew tense from the shock, but she slowly relaxed into the kiss. "mm..."
After what seemed like forever, Kenshin gently broke off the kiss. "I- I-.. I need to go for a while. If you need me, I'll be in the bath house." He nervously got up and rushed out the door.
"..bye.." Kaoru sighed softly and gently fell on the futon, asleep..
End of Chapter 4
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Author's Notes: Sugoi! Another chapter! Again, sorry about the big delay.. I had to finish up the projects, and then I got sick for three days and had a disgustingly huge amount of make up work. o.o;; Also, there's my website, puppy, etc etc, so I was too busy to write for a while.