T.Anjel: I'm back whether you like it or not! And with another chapter
too! I loved everyone's reviews! This chapter's for all you Mei-haters
out there. I personally love her. ^^;; Thanks to XenoMark and Kasumi for
editing.And I think that's all there is to say.
Standard disclaimers Apply
To Love the Hated - Chapter 10
"This is absolutely disgusting!"
"No one told you that you had to come, Mei-dono," Kenshin said, gritting his teeth together as to try to restrain himself from strangling her.
"Must we walk on this disgustingly dirty road?" Mei asked, lifting her thousands of skirts off the ground as best she could. "Why can't the carriage take us to the damn dojo?"
"It would be foolish to do such a thing," Kenshin replied heavily. He thought coming out a bit early that morning would keep Mei from following him, but his guess was wrong. She was up quite earlier than him to be exact; waiting for him at the front gate, fully dressed in her puffy, sky blue ensamble.
"How much longer must we walk?" Mei complained.
"Please stop complaining, Mei-dono. We will be at the dojo in a couple of minutes," Kenshin grumbled.
Mei looked at if she was slapped in the face. "I have a right to complain if my feet are being abused by this ruthless ground and if the air smells of putrid sweat and animals."
Kenshin was just about to retort back in his most polite and gentlemanly manner when the dojo came in sight. "Here we are," he said more to himself than to his companion.
"Finally," Mei huffed.
Before Kenshin was able to knock on the door, a familiar scream pierced the air.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin yelled, banging on the door. It wouldn't budge. The scream was replaced with frantic yells made by another person. "Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin yelled again, hoping to be heard over the sudden noise. Mei, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"What is that damned woman up to? She makes trouble wherever she goes, doesn't she?" Mei said with a snort.
"Mei-dono," Kenshin threatened between grinding teeth. Before he could get anywhere near completing his threat, a wide-eyed Yahiko burst the door open.
"Kenshin!" Yahiko exclaimed. "I thought I heard you!"
"What's happening, Yahiko?" Kenshin asked, noticing Yahiko's ashen face and smoke rising from the area of the kitchen.
"The kitchen went on fire and Kaoru and Yutaro are stuck inside!" Yahiko yelled frantically and ran after Kenshin who was already at a complete run towards the kitchen. "I tried to get them out, but there's no way in there!"
"Kenshin!" Mei yelled from the doorway, but she was totally ignored by the man.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin yelled, feeling the heat from the flames beat mercilessly at his face.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru yelled, coughing as she did. Her hopes rose up as she held the head of an unconscious Yutaro close to her chest as not to have him burned. The fire consumed all four kitchen walls, and she had no place to run. "Stay awake, Kaoru," Kaoru demanded herself as she felt her head beginning to feel heavy with the smoke. "C'mon.Stay awake. Kenshin will come through. I know it." She slammed her tearing eyes shut and buried her head into Yutaro's neck.
Kenshin, on the other hand, had no knowledge as how to put out a fire, which slowly decided to spread towards the other parts of the house. "Yahiko! Get water!" Kenshin demanded, and Yahiko sped off with amazing speed. Kenshin ran towards the nearest bedroom and found an amazingly large, thick blanket. He headed back to the flames and covered as much as he could with the blanket, muffling them down to nothing. He felt the flames nick his skin, but didn't feel them as he frantically killed off the fire as quickly as he could.
Yahiko heaved buckets of water back and forth from a small well to try and help kill the flames. The fire, thankfully not all that quite big, was put out. Kaoru was in the middle of the kitchen, completely unconscious, and wrapping Yutaro with her body.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin said, rushing over to Kaoru and flipping her over in his arms. "Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin repeated, lightly tapping her cheek. She didn't move. "Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin said again, shaking her slightly. His deep, violet eyes filled with worry.
"Yutaro!" Yahiko yelled, roughly shaking Yutaro's shoulders as the boy lay unconscious on the floor.
"Stop shaking...me," Yutaro coughed out.
"Thank Kami-sama," Yahiko said with relief.
"Where's the nearest clinic, Yutaro?" Kenshin asked, still holding a limp Kaoru in his arms. She was breathing slowly, but the fact that she didn't wake worried him.
"Near here," Yutaro said, trying to clear his lungs with large gasps of air.
"Kenshin!" Mei said, covering her nose and mouth with a handkerchief as she walked up to the doorway of the burnt-down kitchen. "We've stayed here long enough! Let's go stable boy! Leave that wretched woman be! I can't stand this old, rundown dojo any longer!"
"Shut your trap!" Yahiko yelled.
Mei's eyes widened to surprised saucers. "What did you say to me, boy?" She growled.
"I told you to shut up!" Yahiko yelled. "If you want to go back to the damn palace, go! No one is making you and your sorry ass stay here. No one wants you here either!"
"Yahiko," Kenshin said under his breath, not quite disagreeing with the outspoken boy, but knowing all too well that more respect was to be paid to Mei.
Mei fumed with anger and her face flushed livid red. "How dare you!" Mei screamed. If she knew the way back to the edge of town and to the carriage from the dojo, she probably would have stormed off in that direction. Unfortunately, that wasn't so. "I better see more respect coming out of that big mouth of yours, or I'm going to have you banned from the palace!" Mei threatened.
"That isn't your decision to make," Yahiko growled.
"I could convince Hiko-sama at the snap of a finger," Mei said with overconfidence.
"I'd like to see you try," Yahiko challenged. He turned his attention to Kaoru who began to cough violently.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin said, bringing her closer to his chest and picking her off the floor. "Where's the clinic, Yutaro?" Kenshin asked frantically.
"I.," Kaoru wheezed. "I'm.fine." Kaoru began another round of choked coughs.
"No you're not, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said.
Kaoru grabbed onto Kenshin's shirt and buried her head into his chest to prevent herself from wincing from the pain in her own chest. "Water," Kaoru whispered.
"Yahiko."
"Gotcha," Yahiko said before Kenshin finished his request and rushed off to get some water from the well.
Kenshin brought Kaoru to her room and laid her down on her futon. "Wait a second," he said and ran to get Yutaro to the same room and laid him on another futon. "How are you feeling, Yutaro?"
"I'm okay," Yutaro said, sitting up and looked over at Kaoru who was breathing heavily. "Thanks to Kaoru-san," he added.
"I have water, Kenshin," Yahiko announced as he tripped into the room with two overflowing cups of water.
Kenshin took both cups and handed one to Yutaro. "Drink," Kenshin ordered gently, bringing Kaoru up and helping her swallow the cold liquid.
"Arigato," Kaoru whispered, sighing with relief and leaning her head against Kenshin as she recollected herself. Her throat burned with the fume she inhaled and she felt the effects of small burns beginning on her skin.
"You should go to sleep," Kenshin said, too aware of Mei's presence at the doorway of the room, glaring mercilessly at Kaoru.
"I'm fine," Kaoru said. "How's Yutaro? Yahiko?"
"We're fine, Kaoru," Yahiko reassured. "And.I'm sorry."
"For what?" Kaoru asked, refusing to lay back down no matter how much Kenshin persisted.
"You got caught in the fire 'cause of me," Yahiko said, hanging his head down in shame.
"How is that so?" Kaoru asked.
"Yutaro and I tried to make breakfast to apologize for our behavior last night while you cleaned the dojo. I accidentally started a fire and wasn't able to put it out on time before it spread. You jumped in to save us, pushed me out of the kitchen and you and Yutaro were stuck there before I knew it," Yahiko explained briefly. "Gomen."
"It wasn't your fault," Kaoru said, crawling over to Yahiko and embracing his boyish figure in a hug.
"You could've died!" Yahiko said, crying into Kaoru's chest. "You and Yutaro could've died!"
"But we didn't," Kaoru said, tightening her hold on Yahiko. "We're safe thanks to you and Kenhsin. It wasn't your fault at all, Yahiko. Shh.Shhh.Don't cry," Kaoru whispered, rocking back and forth to sooth Yahiko of his shaken nerves. "If anything, Yutaro and I should be thanking you, Yahiko."
Yahiko shook his head, refusing to look up and meet Kaoru's eyes.
"She would be the perfect mother," Kenshin thought, watching Kaoru console Yahiko of his self-guilt.
"Yahiko.," Kaoru said, lifting his head to face her. "I chose to go in there and save you and Yutaro. Why are you taking all my credit?"
"Ah.I'm not!" Yahiko said, wiping away his embarrassing tears hastily.
"Then I don't want to hear another word about you at fault for the situation," Kaoru demanded. "Understood?" She stifled a cough as not to worry anyone.
Yahiko nodded.
"I think we should go to the Akabeko for breakfast, ne?" Kaoru suggested with a smile.
"Are you sure, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked with worry.
"You worry too much, Kenshin!" Kaoru said. "I feel perfectly fine," Kaoru lied with a broad smile. "I'm starving! Let's get going!" She stood up shakily on her feet. "Ara? Mei?" Kaoru said as she just noticed the blonde woman sulking at the doorway.
"Yes, Kamiya. Surprised to see me?" Mei retorted. "Kenshin, the stable boy and I are headed out anyway. So you and the other boy could go eat breakfast together in peace."
"I'm not going," Yahiko said. "Especially with a."
Kaoru clamped her hand over his mouth, much wishing she didn't. "I'm probably going to need Yahiko's help with the mess in the kitchen anyway. No one is forcing you to stay, and Kenshin.," Kaoru said, turning over to the man. ".can decide whether he would like to stay or leave, but I do believe you only came to pick up Yahiko and leave and nothing more. There must be more pressing matters to attend to back at the palace. I mean, especially for some influential and powerful woman such as yourself."
"That's right," Mei said, sticking her nose in the air, totally oblivious to the sarcastic insult Kaoru implied. "Kenshin, let's leave."
With no hesitance at all, Kenshin said, "I prefer to stay."
"Nani?" Mei asked.
"I don't think Kaoru-dono is in the perfect condition she claims to be," Kenshin said, glancing over at Kaoru. "Am I right?"
"Don't stay because of me," Kaoru said under her breath so only she and Kenshin could hear.
'I would do anything for you,' Kenshin thought, wishing he had the guts to say it out loud to her. "It's no problem, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin replied in the same low tone.
"If Kenshin stays, so will I. I'd rather not have him be stuck in this dump with a lowly woman like you all alone and with that sorry excuse of a stable boy," Mei snapped, angry at Kenshin with his decision. Her retort was quickly replied back with a hard, resounding slap. Mei's body nearly fell backward from the restrained force that hit her. "You bitch!" Mei gasped, caressing her swollen cheek and regaining her posture.
"There is only a certain amount of arrogance I can stand coming from you," Kaoru growled darkly, forcing her legs not to give out from under her. "I request that you leave my residence at once before I decide to punch you instead."
Mei instantly backed away slowly, glaring at Kaoru as she did so. "You better watch your back, Kamiya," Mei said. "I have more power in this kingdom than you think."
"I'll grovel at your feet if that's so," Kaoru spat.
"Kenshin, let's go," Mei demanded.
"I will head off towards the palace when Kaoru-dono is feeling better, Mei-dono," Kenshin said quietly, not helping but smirk inside at Mei's furious expression.
"How am I supposed to find my way back, Kenshin?" Mei shrieked.
"Continually go westward, and you'll find the carriage soon enough," Kenshin explained vaguely.
"Get out," Kaoru snarled before Mei could complain any more.
Mei sneered at Kaoru before strutting away from the dojo. Once Mei slammed the door shut, Kaoru sighed and collapsed onto the floor.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin cried, bringing her over to the futon.
"I'm fine, Kenshin," Kaoru said, resting her hand on his shoulder. "Really. She just gets on my nerves."
"That's an understatement," Yahiko pipped.
"Does she really have the authority to do anything in this kingdom?" Yutaro questioned, still sitting on his futon, empty cup in hand.
"Iie," Kenshin answered.
"She just wishes that she does," Kaoru added, stretching a cramped arm around in circles.
"How many classes do you have today, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked.
"Just one, later today," Kaoru informed. "And don't worry, I'm not going to strain myself. Thanks for caring," Kaoru said with a smile.
"Aa.," Kenshin replied, trying to hide his blush with his bangs.
"Ewww!" Yahiko yelled, making barfing noises. "Busu and Kenshin are going to be making out before you know it!"
Kaoru and Kenshin turned a bright shade of red before Kaoru chucked a pillow at Yahiko's face.
"Oy!" Yahiko said, rubbing his face. Yutaro stifled a laugh, only too glad that the air in the room returned to its original, relaxed state.
"Let's go to the Akabeko, ne?" Kaoru suggested, finding the uplifting mood to be in her favor.
"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be doing strenuous activities today, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said worriedly.
"Maa maa, Kenshin!" Kaoru said. "The fresh air and walk will probably do me some good. Walking and eating are not strenuous activities! I'm starving anyway."
Yahiko and Yutaro led the way out of the room. Kenshin helped Kaoru stand and allowed her to use him as support. She was obviously still feeling weak and strained but didn't want Yahiko and Yutaro to worry. "I suppose the most I can do is to make sure she doesn't overwork herself," Kenshin thought, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her steady.
Kaoru blushed as Kenshin's hand enfolded around her slender waist and kept it there. They exited the dojo, heading towards the Akabeko. Yahiko and Yutaro amiably bantered about who was better with the sword, trying to outsmart each other with their immature words of wisdom.
"How are you feeling, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked.
"A little choked, but fine," Kaoru answered.
"I apologize for Mei-dono's behavior," Kenshin said. "She had no right to say what she said."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Kaoru replied. "You're not her guardian of any sort."
"Aa.but."
"No buts," Kaoru said. She decided to change the subject. "How is the wife-picking going?"
"Not quite well," Kenshin admitted.
"Why not?"
"Half the women don't want to be there, some already have men back at home but just wasn't married to them, and others I suppose you would say wouldn't be quite fit to be queen," Kenshin said.
"Do any of them fit for you personally?" Kaoru asked curiously.
"Whoever would be a good queen would fit me," Kenshin replied.
"Liar," Kaoru teased under her breath.
"How so?"
"There can be a woman you could fall in love with, but she may not be quite applicable to become a queen, ne?" Kaoru asked.
"Aa.," Kenshin replied vaguely. "I suppose so."
"So if there was such a person," Kaoru said with a wave of an arm. "What would you do?"
"I would ask her to wed me," Kenshin replied.
"Even if she would be a bad queen?" Kaoru inquired.
"Yes."
"Not to be pessimistic, but what if she didn't want to wed you?" Kaoru asked.
"I don't know, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said, contemplating on the question.
"Ah! We're here!" Kaoru announced, entering the restaurant, totally forgetting the previous question she just asked.
"It's strangely busy in here," Yutaro commented, looking around the restaurant and dodging a waiter who zipped across the restaurant with a tray full of sake jars. "Someone's definitely not having a good day."
"I can only guess who," Kaoru groaned as she recognized the shrill voice that shrieked orders around to every waiter and waitress in sight. Before the group was able to turn around and exit the restaurant in haste, Mei spotted them. "She must be a really weak drinker," Kaoru said to herself knowing that Mei could only have been at the Akabeko for a short amount of time. "To think that she's already drunk."
"I knew you'd come here, you bitch!" Mei yelled, pointing her gloved finger at Kaoru. "Get your hands off of my man!" Her words were slurred and her eyes were unfocused as she slowly sauntered over to Kaoru. "What are you going to do now, Kamiya? Kick me out of the restaurant? I can take you on any day!"
"Please calm down, Mei-dono," Kenshin said to the flushed and raging Mei.
"No Kenshin! I won't calm down!" Mei screamed, pulling frantically at her hair. "I don't get it! I don't get it! What's so special about her that you fall for her instantly? What is it that she has that I don't? Answer me!!"
"Mei-dono."
"Kenshin!" Mei yelled. "Kenshin! Kenshin! Ever since I laid eyes on you, my life was based on my love for you! I gave you everything, Kenshin! Everything! Yet you still left, declining my offer of my love and desire for you! I come back to try and win your heart, but you're googling over some low-class excuse for a woman!"
Kaoru inwardly groaned as Mei's alcoholic breath was crowding into her nostrils. If only she could give a nice, hard punch to Mei's jaw. "Is there any way you could knock her out, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked as Mei bantered on and on about Kaoru's so-called worthlessness. "I would gladly do it myself, but it probably won't be pretty."
"I'm not sure if I should," Kenshin said.
"If you don't, I swear I will," Yahiko growled, loud enough to be heard over Mei's constant screeching. Yutaro only nodded in agreement.
"Hai hai," Kenshin mumbled before gently letting go of Kaoru's form and walking over to Mei who was dancing with a sake jug. "Wouldn't Shishou love to see this?" Kenshin thought to himself.
"Kenshin," Mei purred as she recognized Kenshin's blurry form making his way towards her. "Are you here to apolo."
Kenshin knocked her out with a quick motion of his hand to her neck, and caught her as she fell. "I'm sorry, Mei-dono," Kenshin said to her unconscious form. "I apologize for the disturbance," Kenshin said to all the people in the restaurant. "I probably should better be off, Kaoru- dono," Kenshin told Kaoru, shifting Mei's weight in his arms. "I will come back to help clean up the kitchen though. It's just probably a better idea for Mei-dono to get back to the palace."
Kaoru nodded, using Yahiko as a support for her weakened form. "You don't have to come back. It'll just be a burden. I've got Yahiko to help out, and I'll be better in at least a day. Good day, Kenshin."
Knowing all too well that Kaoru wasn't leaving any room for arguments, Kenshin gave a small bow before leaving the Akabeko and heading to where their carriage waited.
"Anyone still hungry?" Kaoru asked, taking a seat at a booth. "Let's order."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ T.Anjel: A little Mei beating there for you. I'm contemplating on whether to keep her in the story or not. You tell me. A little vague at the fire scene, but what the hey. Review onegai!
Standard disclaimers Apply
To Love the Hated - Chapter 10
"This is absolutely disgusting!"
"No one told you that you had to come, Mei-dono," Kenshin said, gritting his teeth together as to try to restrain himself from strangling her.
"Must we walk on this disgustingly dirty road?" Mei asked, lifting her thousands of skirts off the ground as best she could. "Why can't the carriage take us to the damn dojo?"
"It would be foolish to do such a thing," Kenshin replied heavily. He thought coming out a bit early that morning would keep Mei from following him, but his guess was wrong. She was up quite earlier than him to be exact; waiting for him at the front gate, fully dressed in her puffy, sky blue ensamble.
"How much longer must we walk?" Mei complained.
"Please stop complaining, Mei-dono. We will be at the dojo in a couple of minutes," Kenshin grumbled.
Mei looked at if she was slapped in the face. "I have a right to complain if my feet are being abused by this ruthless ground and if the air smells of putrid sweat and animals."
Kenshin was just about to retort back in his most polite and gentlemanly manner when the dojo came in sight. "Here we are," he said more to himself than to his companion.
"Finally," Mei huffed.
Before Kenshin was able to knock on the door, a familiar scream pierced the air.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin yelled, banging on the door. It wouldn't budge. The scream was replaced with frantic yells made by another person. "Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin yelled again, hoping to be heard over the sudden noise. Mei, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"What is that damned woman up to? She makes trouble wherever she goes, doesn't she?" Mei said with a snort.
"Mei-dono," Kenshin threatened between grinding teeth. Before he could get anywhere near completing his threat, a wide-eyed Yahiko burst the door open.
"Kenshin!" Yahiko exclaimed. "I thought I heard you!"
"What's happening, Yahiko?" Kenshin asked, noticing Yahiko's ashen face and smoke rising from the area of the kitchen.
"The kitchen went on fire and Kaoru and Yutaro are stuck inside!" Yahiko yelled frantically and ran after Kenshin who was already at a complete run towards the kitchen. "I tried to get them out, but there's no way in there!"
"Kenshin!" Mei yelled from the doorway, but she was totally ignored by the man.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin yelled, feeling the heat from the flames beat mercilessly at his face.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru yelled, coughing as she did. Her hopes rose up as she held the head of an unconscious Yutaro close to her chest as not to have him burned. The fire consumed all four kitchen walls, and she had no place to run. "Stay awake, Kaoru," Kaoru demanded herself as she felt her head beginning to feel heavy with the smoke. "C'mon.Stay awake. Kenshin will come through. I know it." She slammed her tearing eyes shut and buried her head into Yutaro's neck.
Kenshin, on the other hand, had no knowledge as how to put out a fire, which slowly decided to spread towards the other parts of the house. "Yahiko! Get water!" Kenshin demanded, and Yahiko sped off with amazing speed. Kenshin ran towards the nearest bedroom and found an amazingly large, thick blanket. He headed back to the flames and covered as much as he could with the blanket, muffling them down to nothing. He felt the flames nick his skin, but didn't feel them as he frantically killed off the fire as quickly as he could.
Yahiko heaved buckets of water back and forth from a small well to try and help kill the flames. The fire, thankfully not all that quite big, was put out. Kaoru was in the middle of the kitchen, completely unconscious, and wrapping Yutaro with her body.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin said, rushing over to Kaoru and flipping her over in his arms. "Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin repeated, lightly tapping her cheek. She didn't move. "Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin said again, shaking her slightly. His deep, violet eyes filled with worry.
"Yutaro!" Yahiko yelled, roughly shaking Yutaro's shoulders as the boy lay unconscious on the floor.
"Stop shaking...me," Yutaro coughed out.
"Thank Kami-sama," Yahiko said with relief.
"Where's the nearest clinic, Yutaro?" Kenshin asked, still holding a limp Kaoru in his arms. She was breathing slowly, but the fact that she didn't wake worried him.
"Near here," Yutaro said, trying to clear his lungs with large gasps of air.
"Kenshin!" Mei said, covering her nose and mouth with a handkerchief as she walked up to the doorway of the burnt-down kitchen. "We've stayed here long enough! Let's go stable boy! Leave that wretched woman be! I can't stand this old, rundown dojo any longer!"
"Shut your trap!" Yahiko yelled.
Mei's eyes widened to surprised saucers. "What did you say to me, boy?" She growled.
"I told you to shut up!" Yahiko yelled. "If you want to go back to the damn palace, go! No one is making you and your sorry ass stay here. No one wants you here either!"
"Yahiko," Kenshin said under his breath, not quite disagreeing with the outspoken boy, but knowing all too well that more respect was to be paid to Mei.
Mei fumed with anger and her face flushed livid red. "How dare you!" Mei screamed. If she knew the way back to the edge of town and to the carriage from the dojo, she probably would have stormed off in that direction. Unfortunately, that wasn't so. "I better see more respect coming out of that big mouth of yours, or I'm going to have you banned from the palace!" Mei threatened.
"That isn't your decision to make," Yahiko growled.
"I could convince Hiko-sama at the snap of a finger," Mei said with overconfidence.
"I'd like to see you try," Yahiko challenged. He turned his attention to Kaoru who began to cough violently.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin said, bringing her closer to his chest and picking her off the floor. "Where's the clinic, Yutaro?" Kenshin asked frantically.
"I.," Kaoru wheezed. "I'm.fine." Kaoru began another round of choked coughs.
"No you're not, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said.
Kaoru grabbed onto Kenshin's shirt and buried her head into his chest to prevent herself from wincing from the pain in her own chest. "Water," Kaoru whispered.
"Yahiko."
"Gotcha," Yahiko said before Kenshin finished his request and rushed off to get some water from the well.
Kenshin brought Kaoru to her room and laid her down on her futon. "Wait a second," he said and ran to get Yutaro to the same room and laid him on another futon. "How are you feeling, Yutaro?"
"I'm okay," Yutaro said, sitting up and looked over at Kaoru who was breathing heavily. "Thanks to Kaoru-san," he added.
"I have water, Kenshin," Yahiko announced as he tripped into the room with two overflowing cups of water.
Kenshin took both cups and handed one to Yutaro. "Drink," Kenshin ordered gently, bringing Kaoru up and helping her swallow the cold liquid.
"Arigato," Kaoru whispered, sighing with relief and leaning her head against Kenshin as she recollected herself. Her throat burned with the fume she inhaled and she felt the effects of small burns beginning on her skin.
"You should go to sleep," Kenshin said, too aware of Mei's presence at the doorway of the room, glaring mercilessly at Kaoru.
"I'm fine," Kaoru said. "How's Yutaro? Yahiko?"
"We're fine, Kaoru," Yahiko reassured. "And.I'm sorry."
"For what?" Kaoru asked, refusing to lay back down no matter how much Kenshin persisted.
"You got caught in the fire 'cause of me," Yahiko said, hanging his head down in shame.
"How is that so?" Kaoru asked.
"Yutaro and I tried to make breakfast to apologize for our behavior last night while you cleaned the dojo. I accidentally started a fire and wasn't able to put it out on time before it spread. You jumped in to save us, pushed me out of the kitchen and you and Yutaro were stuck there before I knew it," Yahiko explained briefly. "Gomen."
"It wasn't your fault," Kaoru said, crawling over to Yahiko and embracing his boyish figure in a hug.
"You could've died!" Yahiko said, crying into Kaoru's chest. "You and Yutaro could've died!"
"But we didn't," Kaoru said, tightening her hold on Yahiko. "We're safe thanks to you and Kenhsin. It wasn't your fault at all, Yahiko. Shh.Shhh.Don't cry," Kaoru whispered, rocking back and forth to sooth Yahiko of his shaken nerves. "If anything, Yutaro and I should be thanking you, Yahiko."
Yahiko shook his head, refusing to look up and meet Kaoru's eyes.
"She would be the perfect mother," Kenshin thought, watching Kaoru console Yahiko of his self-guilt.
"Yahiko.," Kaoru said, lifting his head to face her. "I chose to go in there and save you and Yutaro. Why are you taking all my credit?"
"Ah.I'm not!" Yahiko said, wiping away his embarrassing tears hastily.
"Then I don't want to hear another word about you at fault for the situation," Kaoru demanded. "Understood?" She stifled a cough as not to worry anyone.
Yahiko nodded.
"I think we should go to the Akabeko for breakfast, ne?" Kaoru suggested with a smile.
"Are you sure, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked with worry.
"You worry too much, Kenshin!" Kaoru said. "I feel perfectly fine," Kaoru lied with a broad smile. "I'm starving! Let's get going!" She stood up shakily on her feet. "Ara? Mei?" Kaoru said as she just noticed the blonde woman sulking at the doorway.
"Yes, Kamiya. Surprised to see me?" Mei retorted. "Kenshin, the stable boy and I are headed out anyway. So you and the other boy could go eat breakfast together in peace."
"I'm not going," Yahiko said. "Especially with a."
Kaoru clamped her hand over his mouth, much wishing she didn't. "I'm probably going to need Yahiko's help with the mess in the kitchen anyway. No one is forcing you to stay, and Kenshin.," Kaoru said, turning over to the man. ".can decide whether he would like to stay or leave, but I do believe you only came to pick up Yahiko and leave and nothing more. There must be more pressing matters to attend to back at the palace. I mean, especially for some influential and powerful woman such as yourself."
"That's right," Mei said, sticking her nose in the air, totally oblivious to the sarcastic insult Kaoru implied. "Kenshin, let's leave."
With no hesitance at all, Kenshin said, "I prefer to stay."
"Nani?" Mei asked.
"I don't think Kaoru-dono is in the perfect condition she claims to be," Kenshin said, glancing over at Kaoru. "Am I right?"
"Don't stay because of me," Kaoru said under her breath so only she and Kenshin could hear.
'I would do anything for you,' Kenshin thought, wishing he had the guts to say it out loud to her. "It's no problem, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin replied in the same low tone.
"If Kenshin stays, so will I. I'd rather not have him be stuck in this dump with a lowly woman like you all alone and with that sorry excuse of a stable boy," Mei snapped, angry at Kenshin with his decision. Her retort was quickly replied back with a hard, resounding slap. Mei's body nearly fell backward from the restrained force that hit her. "You bitch!" Mei gasped, caressing her swollen cheek and regaining her posture.
"There is only a certain amount of arrogance I can stand coming from you," Kaoru growled darkly, forcing her legs not to give out from under her. "I request that you leave my residence at once before I decide to punch you instead."
Mei instantly backed away slowly, glaring at Kaoru as she did so. "You better watch your back, Kamiya," Mei said. "I have more power in this kingdom than you think."
"I'll grovel at your feet if that's so," Kaoru spat.
"Kenshin, let's go," Mei demanded.
"I will head off towards the palace when Kaoru-dono is feeling better, Mei-dono," Kenshin said quietly, not helping but smirk inside at Mei's furious expression.
"How am I supposed to find my way back, Kenshin?" Mei shrieked.
"Continually go westward, and you'll find the carriage soon enough," Kenshin explained vaguely.
"Get out," Kaoru snarled before Mei could complain any more.
Mei sneered at Kaoru before strutting away from the dojo. Once Mei slammed the door shut, Kaoru sighed and collapsed onto the floor.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin cried, bringing her over to the futon.
"I'm fine, Kenshin," Kaoru said, resting her hand on his shoulder. "Really. She just gets on my nerves."
"That's an understatement," Yahiko pipped.
"Does she really have the authority to do anything in this kingdom?" Yutaro questioned, still sitting on his futon, empty cup in hand.
"Iie," Kenshin answered.
"She just wishes that she does," Kaoru added, stretching a cramped arm around in circles.
"How many classes do you have today, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked.
"Just one, later today," Kaoru informed. "And don't worry, I'm not going to strain myself. Thanks for caring," Kaoru said with a smile.
"Aa.," Kenshin replied, trying to hide his blush with his bangs.
"Ewww!" Yahiko yelled, making barfing noises. "Busu and Kenshin are going to be making out before you know it!"
Kaoru and Kenshin turned a bright shade of red before Kaoru chucked a pillow at Yahiko's face.
"Oy!" Yahiko said, rubbing his face. Yutaro stifled a laugh, only too glad that the air in the room returned to its original, relaxed state.
"Let's go to the Akabeko, ne?" Kaoru suggested, finding the uplifting mood to be in her favor.
"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be doing strenuous activities today, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said worriedly.
"Maa maa, Kenshin!" Kaoru said. "The fresh air and walk will probably do me some good. Walking and eating are not strenuous activities! I'm starving anyway."
Yahiko and Yutaro led the way out of the room. Kenshin helped Kaoru stand and allowed her to use him as support. She was obviously still feeling weak and strained but didn't want Yahiko and Yutaro to worry. "I suppose the most I can do is to make sure she doesn't overwork herself," Kenshin thought, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her steady.
Kaoru blushed as Kenshin's hand enfolded around her slender waist and kept it there. They exited the dojo, heading towards the Akabeko. Yahiko and Yutaro amiably bantered about who was better with the sword, trying to outsmart each other with their immature words of wisdom.
"How are you feeling, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked.
"A little choked, but fine," Kaoru answered.
"I apologize for Mei-dono's behavior," Kenshin said. "She had no right to say what she said."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Kaoru replied. "You're not her guardian of any sort."
"Aa.but."
"No buts," Kaoru said. She decided to change the subject. "How is the wife-picking going?"
"Not quite well," Kenshin admitted.
"Why not?"
"Half the women don't want to be there, some already have men back at home but just wasn't married to them, and others I suppose you would say wouldn't be quite fit to be queen," Kenshin said.
"Do any of them fit for you personally?" Kaoru asked curiously.
"Whoever would be a good queen would fit me," Kenshin replied.
"Liar," Kaoru teased under her breath.
"How so?"
"There can be a woman you could fall in love with, but she may not be quite applicable to become a queen, ne?" Kaoru asked.
"Aa.," Kenshin replied vaguely. "I suppose so."
"So if there was such a person," Kaoru said with a wave of an arm. "What would you do?"
"I would ask her to wed me," Kenshin replied.
"Even if she would be a bad queen?" Kaoru inquired.
"Yes."
"Not to be pessimistic, but what if she didn't want to wed you?" Kaoru asked.
"I don't know, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said, contemplating on the question.
"Ah! We're here!" Kaoru announced, entering the restaurant, totally forgetting the previous question she just asked.
"It's strangely busy in here," Yutaro commented, looking around the restaurant and dodging a waiter who zipped across the restaurant with a tray full of sake jars. "Someone's definitely not having a good day."
"I can only guess who," Kaoru groaned as she recognized the shrill voice that shrieked orders around to every waiter and waitress in sight. Before the group was able to turn around and exit the restaurant in haste, Mei spotted them. "She must be a really weak drinker," Kaoru said to herself knowing that Mei could only have been at the Akabeko for a short amount of time. "To think that she's already drunk."
"I knew you'd come here, you bitch!" Mei yelled, pointing her gloved finger at Kaoru. "Get your hands off of my man!" Her words were slurred and her eyes were unfocused as she slowly sauntered over to Kaoru. "What are you going to do now, Kamiya? Kick me out of the restaurant? I can take you on any day!"
"Please calm down, Mei-dono," Kenshin said to the flushed and raging Mei.
"No Kenshin! I won't calm down!" Mei screamed, pulling frantically at her hair. "I don't get it! I don't get it! What's so special about her that you fall for her instantly? What is it that she has that I don't? Answer me!!"
"Mei-dono."
"Kenshin!" Mei yelled. "Kenshin! Kenshin! Ever since I laid eyes on you, my life was based on my love for you! I gave you everything, Kenshin! Everything! Yet you still left, declining my offer of my love and desire for you! I come back to try and win your heart, but you're googling over some low-class excuse for a woman!"
Kaoru inwardly groaned as Mei's alcoholic breath was crowding into her nostrils. If only she could give a nice, hard punch to Mei's jaw. "Is there any way you could knock her out, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked as Mei bantered on and on about Kaoru's so-called worthlessness. "I would gladly do it myself, but it probably won't be pretty."
"I'm not sure if I should," Kenshin said.
"If you don't, I swear I will," Yahiko growled, loud enough to be heard over Mei's constant screeching. Yutaro only nodded in agreement.
"Hai hai," Kenshin mumbled before gently letting go of Kaoru's form and walking over to Mei who was dancing with a sake jug. "Wouldn't Shishou love to see this?" Kenshin thought to himself.
"Kenshin," Mei purred as she recognized Kenshin's blurry form making his way towards her. "Are you here to apolo."
Kenshin knocked her out with a quick motion of his hand to her neck, and caught her as she fell. "I'm sorry, Mei-dono," Kenshin said to her unconscious form. "I apologize for the disturbance," Kenshin said to all the people in the restaurant. "I probably should better be off, Kaoru- dono," Kenshin told Kaoru, shifting Mei's weight in his arms. "I will come back to help clean up the kitchen though. It's just probably a better idea for Mei-dono to get back to the palace."
Kaoru nodded, using Yahiko as a support for her weakened form. "You don't have to come back. It'll just be a burden. I've got Yahiko to help out, and I'll be better in at least a day. Good day, Kenshin."
Knowing all too well that Kaoru wasn't leaving any room for arguments, Kenshin gave a small bow before leaving the Akabeko and heading to where their carriage waited.
"Anyone still hungry?" Kaoru asked, taking a seat at a booth. "Let's order."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ T.Anjel: A little Mei beating there for you. I'm contemplating on whether to keep her in the story or not. You tell me. A little vague at the fire scene, but what the hey. Review onegai!
