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Losses and Gains

Ch.7 - The Woman Named Aiko

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"Where is that girl?" bottle green eyes full of concern. It had been a day since Kasumi left and she still hadn't come back. It had been only 24 hours and her best friend was already missing! She swigged her cup of green tea for the millionth time that morning. "This is ridiculous." She gulped down the rest of the liquid and stood up.

"I'm going to find her and this time, I'm going to beat her senseless until she breaks this damn habit!" she shouted to herself.

Kohagi Aiko muttered a few profane words before slamming the shoji of her new house.

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Kenshin awoke to the morning sunshine glowing on his face. He lifted one violet eye open to see that the shoji to his room was opened.

"Oro?" he said aloud. 'I always close it before going to sleep.'

The hitokiri sniffed a pleasant aroma in the house. Suddenly, his stomach began to grumble.

"Sessha is hungry." He smiled. "But who could be making breakfast? Yahiko doesn't know how and Sanosuke would just burn down the house but accidentally spilling sake over a flame."

Kenshin lifted himself out of bed and walked to kitchen. The heavenly scent became stronger as he neared the room. He caught sight of a slim figure pouring tea.

'That's right! Kasumi had spent the night here.' He remembered.

"Kasumi-san?" he called to her. She turned to face him.

"Himura! Ohayo gozaimasu!" she exclaimed. "Did you have a good night's sleep?"

"Hai, de gozaru yo." He replied. The awaken ex-hitokiri stood in the kitchen, feet rooted to the floor. 'She was making breakfast? But why? She's the guest. She shouldn't be doing this.'

"Ano, Kasumi," she turned to him, her eyes burning with curiosity. "Why are you cooking breakfast? Excuse me if I am being rude, but you are a guest. You shouldn't be cooking."

"Oh don't be silly, Himura. I thought that this would be a way for me to repay you for those times you helped me out." She smiled cheerfully at the rurouni. "Mou, now eat up. I'll go wake Yahiko and check on Sano." She placed the contents on the food on the table and walked out.

There was a nagging feeling in Kenshin's mind that he did not want to comply to. In ways, this new girl reminded him somewhat of his koishii, Kaoru. No! No one could compare to her.

He missed her so much. Why hadn't he gone looking for her already? He was being stupid. He had to find her! But what if her real motive for leaving was that she was tired of living her? And what if it was because she didn't love Kenshin anymore? His gut twisted at the thought. That would be a nightmare. He had never cared for a person so much before, not even his first wife.

She was coming back, her feet thumping on the wood floor. "It seems that the two are still too tired to wake up. Oh well, if by the time they decide to get out of bed and find the food missing, it was their loss." She stated, rather talking to herself. She went over and sat next to the ex- hitokiri.

"And how's Sanosuke doing?" he inquired.

"Well, he seems a bit better after your talk with him, but he still seems depressed." The chocolate brown haired girl sounded sympathetic.

"This will be most hard for him. I don't think he's ever had to experience a tremendous loss such as this. Probably even worse then what happened to the Sekihotai. Oops, I believe I have said too much." The red head said.

"No, it's alright. I wouldn't pry anyway. It's none of my business." She said smiling. "But could you just tell me who Megumi was?"

"Ah, it won't hurt if I tell you about Megumi-san." he began. He told her what he thought she needed to know and nothing more.

"Poor Sano. He must have been devastated."

"Hai, but that's why he had us here. We must help him through this or there's no telling what he'll do." Kasumi nodded at his words. It seemed that this house was passing through troubled times. She needed to help them in any way she could. She had to. Her crimson eyes turned to his violet one's. "Kenshin, If you need anything, you can come to for advice. I'd be glad to help you" She placed her hand atop his.

"Arigatou, Kasumi-san." He gave her a slight smile. "I won't hesitate." He stood from his place and walked to the hall when she stopped him.

"Himura?"

"Yes?"

"Do you always carry a burden on your shoulders?" she asked.

"Nani?" he looked puzzled.

"Nanimo." He shrugged it off and left.

She slammed her fist on the table. 'What am I doing? I'm being so stupid.' She thought. "Baka."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. The brown haired girl rose and went to the door. She slid the shoji open to find someone who made her regret being at the Kamiya Dojo that moment.

"KISAGARI KASUMI! WHERE IN JIGOKU HAVE YOU BEEN?! I'VE BEEN LOOKING ALL OVER TOKYO FOR YOU!" a woman her age shrieked.

"Aiko." Kasumi squeaked. "What a surprise!"

"DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME! YOU KNOW DAMN WELL THAT YOU KNEW I WAS COMING! DO YOUKNOW HOW WORRIED I'VE BEEN ABOUT?!" this 'Aiko' screamed even louder.

"Aiko-chan, onegai, quiet down!" her friend whispered. "You are at a guests house. Be respectful."

"I DON'T CARE WHOSE HOUSE IT IS! IT COULD BE KAMI'S HOUSE, OR THE EMPORER'S, OR EVEN THE MAN THEY CALL BATTOUSAI'S HOUSE. I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!" the other woman's bottle green eyes burned with rage.

"Aiko! Watch your mouth." Kasumi scolded. That was the last straw. She had just completely embarrassed her. "How dare you! Who do you think you are coming into a stranger's house like that?!"

"KOHAGI AIKO! THAT'S WHO!" she shouted. Kasumi was becoming quite spiteful of her friend's temper, that was one problem living with her. Just when she was about to tell her off, Sanosuke entered the room.

"What's all this ruckus?" the ex-gangster seemed irritated. His eyes were red and puffy with dark rings under them. There was a stench of sake lingered about him as well. "And who's this murasakige no fushigi?"

"Sano please excuse my friend's horrible behavior. She's in a bad mood today, ne, Aiko?"

If it was possible, you would see steam coming out of Aiko's ears right about now. Kasumi's voice had been drained out and all she was focusing on was the baka rooster head.

"MURASAKIGE NO FUSHIGI?! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ROOSTER HEAD?!" Aiko was definitely furious. It had to be Sano to provoke someone; even he wasn't himself that day.

"I am referring to you, onna! Who else has purple hair here?" Sanosuke asked the obvious.

"What's happening in here?" the rurouni peeked his fiery red hair through the doorway.

"Kenshin-san, please excuse my friend. This is Kohagi Aiko." She nudged her ribs with a muttered 'Say hello.'

"Konnichiwa." She said. She looked to be around Kasumi's age, maybe a year older. She had bright, bottle green eyes that shone brilliantly and long, dark violet hair that fell lose. Her kimono was a deep read while the obi matched her eyes. Another muttered reply of 'Apologize' was said. "I am extremely sorry for barging in your lovely.erm, I mean in just your home.

"Aiko!"

"I am also sorry that you had to deal with my friend as she usually runs away from me to be with strangers, where I really don't know why she does that."

Kasumi groaned. "Kami-sama, you're a pain in the ass."

"And you're a saint?!" both girl's began arguing in the most non-lady like manner ever seen. It almost seemed like someone had replaced their mouths with men's because they just had profane words flying out of them. Then, Kasumi slid the shoji open and walked out with Aiko following, continuing their spat.

Both men collapsed anime style and decided to not let anymore women enter their house from that day on. It was just too much work and headaches.

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Author's Notes: I'm not really satisfied with this chapter. I think I got writer's block. Damn! Well, it'll pass. I don't have much to say about this one. What did you guys think of Aiko? She's feisty, ne? well they just all have tempers. I can't think of anything else that I want to comment on. Gomen, if these chapters are getting short. I haven't had any inspiration to write at all. But I should be able to have more time since skool's out for me. And I want to thank my reviewers as well. Ja!

Ohayo gozaimasu - Good Morning! (Formal)

Nanimo - Nevermind

Murasakige no fushigi - Purple haired wonder (would really consider it an insult?)