Disclaimer: Poo. you know what's sad? I Don't even own a Rurouni Kenshin
DVD, Manga, or VHS!!! AllI have are pictures I printed.. (*cries*) and the
conversations in my mind and my stories. I don't own Rurouni Kenshin!!!! My
mommy needs to get me my 12 DVD's I asked for and the OAV's I want for
Christmas.. until then, I have to settle for watching Kenshin on Saturday
on Cartoon Network and writing my stories...
Authors Notes (N0T IMPORTANT, JUST MY USUAL RANTS.): Okay, it's about 2 in the morning, and I'm FREAKING HOT!!!! We don't have air conditioning in our house, and I'm burning up right now!!!! I'm thinking about shutting my light off (it's one of them big 40 inch shoplites are usually in schools and they're fluorescent) because it's hot in here in my room!!!! Ooo. it's dark!!!! Why do I ALWAYS want to write at these ungodly hours of the day? I'm getting in so much trouble with my mom over it, too, because school starts in 6 days and my sleeping schedule is all screwed up and I have to get up at 6:15 AM at the LATEST to get ready for school. My school goes from 7:35 AM until 2:17 PM everyday. And last year, we had to start EARLIER by 12 minutes and leave LATER by 12 minutes!!! It was insane!!!! I hated it!!!! I'm not exactly the best morning person. I love late night, though. I think I'm noturnal. My mom says I was up all night and slept all day when I was a baby, so maybe I am. OH!!! If you haven't been reading the end Author's Notes, please read them today because I'm going to introduce you to my alter ego, okay!!!! AND I AM DESPERATE FOR IDEAS!!!!!!!!
~Coming of the Dawn~
(The happenings in the lives of our beloved assassin and his defiant woman.)
But now was not the time to strike. Not yet. He'd wait. Wait for the friendship to evolve more. Then.
Then and only then would he have his revenge.
***Chapter 13- Simple Gifts Mean Most***
Kaoru was in a daze then next day. She was still confused as to how Battousai- or Kenshin- had gotten into her room last night. And on top of that, why he was CONSOLING her again out of his own freewill. She had to admit, she had no problem with it, oh no, that wasn't it!!!! She LOVED his attention!!! She felt like she was breaking his cold, distant barrier just by being his friend. But she had to admit; she had felt his kisses last night.
"Looks like I'm going to have to set up some boundaries." Kaoru mumbled to herself as she walked out of her room, clad in a crisp, clean kimono.
It was a yellow kimono, trimmed with orange flowers and red dragons. She tied it together with a pale orange obi with a print of yellow flowers. Her hair was in a yellow ribbon. She didn't know why she had dressed in such bright colors. She was just in a good mood that morning, and the yellow was cheery.
She walked out into the kitchen of the Aoiya, and was shocked to see everyone jump in front of her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAORU!" they all screamed.
All of them except for Aoshi, which was expected. He just nodded and silently mouthed his own happy birthday her. But Kaoru still smiled. She had forgotten that today was her birthday!!! Everyone was pushing her farther into the room, trying to get her to the table so she could eat her breakfast.
"Eat up quick, Jou-chan, I'm taking you somewhere special today!" Sano said from a corner.
"Where!" Kaoru demanded. She remembered the LAST time Sano took her somewhere.
"Don't worry, this is a good place." He told her. "It's my birthday present to you."
Kaoru nodded enthusiastically. She really would like to get out of the Aoiya, and she knew Sano wouldn't watch of her like a hawk and would give her SOME freedom while they were gone. Unlike everyone else, who still seemed to think the Battousai was going to come back and steal her again. She grinned inwardly, wondering what would happen if she told them about her late night wish and then him turning up in her room in the middle of the night.
It didn't take long for Kaoru to finish her breakfast. After she said goodbye and thanked everyone, she ran with Sano and latched onto his arm.
"Now, Sanosuke, where are we going and where is your brother?" she asked him.
Sano scratched his head. He was REALLY bad at keeping secrets, but he was going to try REALLY hard with this one. "Yahiko is at home. he'll be by tomorrow for lessons again. And I'm not telling where we're going, it'll ruin the surprise Jou-chan!!"
"I know you can't keep you're mouth shut, Sano!"
He glared at her. "Well I'm gonna try this time!!!!"
Kaoru giggled. She let go of Sano and glanced around. She had never been in this part of Kyoto, at least not to her memory. She still had a huge smile plastered on her face. She slightly confused when Sano led her into the woods and they weaved their way in between the foliage. Kaoru still felt good and in high spirits, though.
"SANO!!! Where are we going?!" she demanded.
"You'll see, we're almost there!!! Trust me, you're gonna like it!!!" he told her.
'She BETTER like it after all this planning we all did to get it set up for her.' Sano thought to himself as he led her farther away from the town and deeper into the forest.
Kaoru stuck closer to her as the forest became thicker. They came into a clearing and Kaoru saw a building that looked much like an Inn. She gave a quizzical look at Sano.
"Hold on." He stated, his hands in his pockets as he walked farther towards the building until he walked inside.
Instead of holding the door, he let it shut behind him. That got Kaoru a little angry, wondering why in the world he hadn't held it open for her. She pushed the thought. She wasn't going to let Sanosuke's bad manners get in the way of her happy day, especially when it was just beginning.
Kaoru opened the door, and was suddenly pulled in and she heard shouts of her name and happy birthday coming from every direction. She couldn't make out any faces because everything was going so fast. Soon she was sat down at a table in front of a nice sized cake.
Finally she looked up and saw who was talking to her. "TAE!!! HINOKI!!! MEGUMI!!!!"
They all grinned. This was ALL Sanosuke's idea; he had told them that she missed them terribly. It seemed that he was right.
She didn't take a look at the cake; she just rushed to give everyone hugs. Soon some of her other friends came in. None of them were as close as she was with the ones that were already in the room, but she was happy to see them nonetheless. She gave a side-glance to Sano.
"Thank you BAKA ROOSTERHEAD!!!" she screamed at him.
Sano sweat dropped and Megumi laughed at his expression. He turned his gaze onto her, giving her a look that made her blush and turn away. Sano grinned. 'Yup, I still got it!!!' he thought.
Suddenly, after pushing Kaoru down into the seat again, Hinoki ran off. Kaoru was a little puzzled. Tae promised that Hinoki would come back. She just had to go retrieve something.
********** **********
Kenshin opened his eyes. They were a gentle violet at first and then he closed them and reopened them. Golden-amber, the eyes of the assassin. He had to keep that façade up around the Inn. He felt many familiar ki's inside the building, but there were so many he couldn't make out any particular ones yet. It was too earlier in the morning.
The loud rapping that came to the door stole him from his musing about why he had slept in so late. He stood up and opened the door, finding himself staring down at Hinoki.
Hinoki gasped a little at his mean look. She wasn't going to let him get the better of her though.
"Himura-san, don't you remember what was going on today?" she asked him.
Kenshin looked at her, obviously confused. "Nani?"
(( nope, he can't say ORO yet, I'm saving that for later!!!))
"Remember? Sanosuke-san said that today was Kaoru's birthday?" she told him, getting slightly annoyed at his dazed look.
Kenshin was still confused. "Uh. hai?"
Hinoki rolled her eyes. Now she wasn't afraid. He seemed too confused to comprehend anything mean to do, anyway.
"We were going to surprise her? All of us? REMEMBER NOW?" Hinoki asked him, just slightly raising her voice.
Kenshin mentally kicked himself. DUH!!!! 'Baka. you should have remembered THAT!!!!' He thought.
He nodded. "Hai, I'll be down in a minute."
Hinoki nodded and left. She laughed after she was down the stairs. He certainly was strange that morning. Defiantly out of it. But then again, he'd been that way ever since he had brought Kaoru to the Inn against her will.
********** *********
Kaoru was conversing with everyone else in the room when Hinoki returned. She was laughing with everyone, really enjoying herself. Hinoki cut into the chitchat. Sano was just standing in the corner.
He saw his new friend enter the room. He grinned across the room at Battousai. Or, Kenshin. He didn't know who else called him that, but he didn't think anyone else could get away with it and live. Kenshin saw him and sent him a smug grin back. Sano pretended to look offended but ended up just grinning and placing his fishbone in his mouth.
((I think that's the frist time I've mentioned his fishbone through the entire story, I'm such a dork!!)))
They kept up their facial argument for a while. Anyone who was witnessing it would think Sanosuke was insane at that the Battousai had to be on SOME sort of drug, but it was just their way. Ever since the battle, they had become friends and trusted each other completely.
'Funny,' Battousai thought, 'ever since Kaoru came to stay here, I'm made more friends then I have ever had in my life and everything seems more tolerable.'
"Kenshin!" Kaoru squealed upon seeing him for the first time that day.
Kenshin turned to where her squeal of happiness had come from. He wanted to laugh at her cheery outfit, but it made him smile. Then he wanted to run from the room so no one could see it, but his feet were planted firmly on the floor.
'Damn, she makes me do weird things,' he thought momentarily before she had flung herself at him and was hugging the life out of him.
What was worse, IT WAS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.
Sano laughed. Inwardly, he knew that his Jou-chan and Kenshin had become friends from their experiences, but he hadn't expected that. He could tell Kenshin was uncomfortable, and was even more shocked when Kenshin hugged her back. But he drew away.
"Kaoru. I've gotta breath sometime." he told her.
Kaoru pulled away from him quickly, blushing slightly at her act. She knew everyone in that room had to be confused. She was the girl who had said she hated his guts and wanted to make him angry all the time. They all knew that. And she was HUGGING him? IN PUBLIC? It just didn't make sense. But Kaoru couldn't help herself. She was just so darn happy.
Sano grinned and looked over at Megumi again. She was another reason for his visiting of the Inn so often. but now he had to turn to Kaoru. It was her 18th birthday.
"So, you like you're birthday present?" Sano asked her.
Kaoru turned and shook her head. "Very much, thank you Sano!"
Then Kenshin mentally slapped himself. He hadn't even thought about getting her anything for her birthday! And he had known about this for at least a week! Oh well, that would help. No need for anyone to think he had gone soft.
'But you did.you went soft.you've got a soft spot for her.'
That stupid, annoying, very bad timed, voice in the back of his head. How he hated it.
But how he had to admit it was right.
********** **********
The figure made sure he was out of Battousai's ki sensing range. He looked in and he saw the girl hug the Battousai. He grinned. This was all going according to his plan. Just a little longer now. they only had to get a little bit closer. and then could strike. Then he could have his revenge.
He just prayed that stupid rooster head, little girl with the braid, and man in the trench coat didn't get in his way. They seemed to be his only problem.
********* *********
Kaoru spent the entire day with her friends at the Inn. She didn't speak much to Kenshin, for fear of embarrassing him again. But she planned on talking to him before they left.
Slowly, everyone had duties to attend to. She said her goodbyes to those who left, and then found out that it was just she and Kenshin left in the room. She had long since seen Sanosuke run off with Megumi, so she knew he'd be back soon.
"Kenshin?" she asked him.
Kenshin's head shot up at the sound of his name. He had been leaning against the wall with his katana propped up against his shoulder, on leg stretched out and other bent upward, his head down, much like he sat when he went to sleep at night. His eyes shown through as a steely blue, and not amber.
"Aa?"
"Why did you come last night? How did." she began, then realizing something. "Have you been watching me at night?"
Kenshin stared at her, and he blushed, trying in vain to hide his face. How did she find out?!
Kaoru grinned. "You're blushing, aren't you?"
Kenshin didn't say anything. He was going to get mad. He knew it. He counted to ten to suppress his anger. He didn't like the things she could get him to do, that was why he always got angry with her.
"Hai, I have." he responded truthfully. "I saw you having you're nightmare and decided I should come and see if you were okay."
Kaoru nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate it, more than you know. It helped to get that experience out."
Kenshin looked back up at her. "You said you wanted to be friends, so I decided I should start somehow."
Kaoru lost it. "YOU WERE AWAKE WHEN I SAID THAT?! YOU WERE JUST FAKING BEING OUT COLD?!"
"Hai." Kenshin responded. For some reason, he was GLAD she was mad at him now.
He had missed their arguments.
He suddenly found a plate flying at his head and it hit him squarely on the forehead. That was the first time she actually took her aggression OUT on him.
"Kenshin Himura, that was rude!" she stated.
"I just wanted to see what you would say! And then you kissed my forehead and left!" he yelled back.
That got Kaoru to blush. "Baka hitokiri!!! You kissed me last night!!!"
"So you were up too?!" he yelled back at her.
"You woke me up!!!"
"Well maybe you woke me!!"
"I highly doubt it, Mr. I-can-sense-everyone-all-the-time!" she shot back at him.
He glared at her. "I was trying to calm you down last night!"
"So! Listen; if we're going to be friends, then this is how it's going to go! No KISSING!!! We're just friends!" she yelled at him.
By now they were both standing and facing each other, both angered that the other had been awake when they had. uh. done somewhat intimate things for reasons they never really knew.
"Fine!" Kenshin growled.
"Fine then!" Kaoru seethed back.
Kenshin glared at her.
Kaoru glared back.
And Kenshin stomped off, uttering words about 'baka defiant women'.
Once he left, Kaoru grinned. It was fun to get an argument back in there. It might not have been as heated as the ones they used to have, but it was still fun.
**********
Kenshin grinned at himself. It felt good to argue with her again, knowing he'd be up in that tree again that night watching over her. He had to laugh. it was quite ironic, that it was
********* *********
That night, Kaoru was beat. She had been having fun all day. It was a good day. A great day. She had gotten to see everyone. And she didn't get in trouble for it! Sano got a good long lecture and beating from Misao and Aoshi, but that was about all the damage that was done to anyone. Then that night, there was a little celebration at the Aoiya again, and then Kaoru was ready to hit the hay.
She sat on her futon, having already changed when she was in the bathhouse. She started to pull her blankets back when she felt like eyes were watching her again. She turned around to the corner again.
"Kenshin, get out of there. What are you doing in the corner of my room for the 3rd time?" she asked him.
**********
Kenshin was taken aback. How did she know he was sitting there?! He hadn't expected her to know, but the came out anyway and sat next to her futon.
"What do you want?" she asked him.
All Kaoru wanted to do was sleep.
He held out his hand, his fist was clamped shut, but not too tight. "Here."
Kaoru looked at him. "Huh?"
"Happy Birthday." He told her.
Kaoru opened his hand.
And out flew one firefly, it circled around her until it landed lightly on her finger.
Kaoru wanted to cry. You might think this was a weak gift to give, but Kaoru thought otherwise. She remembered the wish she had made the night before. That firefly meant more than just to cover up that he had forgotten to get her something. It meant that he had heard her wish, and it meant that he had made his own in return.
"The innocence of a firefly for the innocence of a child, for you are no longer a child Kaoru." He told her. "As of 18, you are an adult. Now may you be able to go on and find something to make you happy in your near future. That is my wish for you."
Kenshin knew he sounded totally out of character. The next day, he planned on going back into full Battousai mode. But for some reason, at night, he seemed to slip away from Battousai. and become. more like Kenshin.
Kaoru looked at him, and smiled behind her tears of the sentimental gift. "Thank you Kenshin."
Kaoru looked at the firefly, as it's light came and went, then came again. She silently made a wish. One that she didn't want Kenshin to hear, one that was solely going to stay with her.
She looked back at Kenshin. He was still sitting there, looking at her. Her expression let him know the he had given her something no one else had even thought of it really touched her. He was glad. His thoughts were that he was finally bringing some happiness instead of death and tears of those of whom he had slain had left behind in their untimely deaths.
"You should sleep now. I will leave." He told her. "Plus, I think Aoshi's sensed me and I don't want to get caught."
Kaoru nodded. She said goodbye and Kenshin left through her window.
She looked down at the firefly. "If Kenshin is going to be that kind to me, then I wish for all those inner demons of his to leave and for him to find his salvation."
Little did she know that she would become his salvation.
********* *********
The figure crept closer to Kaoru's window. Everything seemed to be going in reverse in their relationship, the figure thought. No matter. He would wait, but just a little longer. He had a feeling that this was just a cover up. He slunk back into the woods to calculate how and when he would attack the unspecting people.
He would make their lives a living hell.
*********
Kaoru slept soundly. Again, no nightmares haunted her.
********* *********
Battousai slipped his wakizashi next to his katana in his belt. He threw his black tenchcoat over his white hakama pants and dark navy blue gi. His hair up in a high ponytail. Hand guards on.
Tonight, another would lose their life by the blade of his sword. He steeled his emotions. He wasn't going to let it get to him. But he knew he would fail. He just hoped everyone stayed out of his way the next day. He was going to be grouchy.
*********
Authors Notes: I'm sorry, I know this chapter probably sucks!!! I'm so out of ideas. that's why I've been BEGGING you to help me with that problem!!!! I don't want to ruin my story because of some stupid writers block. I'm trying to make it go away by writing throught it. Plus, this is an area I suck at anyway. I'm not good at making a relationship bloom, and with this mystery figure (of which I'm still not sure who it will be, but they will probably be in the next chapter if I get desperate) I am going to have a hard time keeping everything going slow. But please, tell me what you all think!!! I think maybe if you think this chapter sucked, I'll take a 2 day or 3 days writing break and then try to write something better. I'm so dry on ideas.. Truth be told, when I started this story I was hoping the make Kaoru's stay at the Inn longer so that she would start to trust him more like a friend at the Inn, and then have the battle and they'd be realizing then then they were in love. But nope, it didn't happen that way.. Oh well. But you're ideas are priceless!!! I'm open to EVERYTHING, trust me, nothing will be too weird for me, or too mushy, or too violent. Or too evil. I just need ideas of any sort. I will give you credit, I promise.
Oh!!! Do you think I should stop with the little touchy scene's at night with Battousai and Kaoru? I know Battousai is WAY out of character, but you got to think, he's confused and he's acting more like Kenshin then!!!!
Well, it's only cooled down a little in my room. It's almost 3:30 now.
Sano: (walks into room) Damn it's hot in here Crystal!!! Hey. what the hell, there's two you!! It's the work of the devil!!!
Kenshin: Oro?
Sano: Run Kenshin!!!!! Run!!!!
Crystal: (rolls eyes) No. that's my alter ego. Her name is Sireta. ((Okay, pronounce that Sir- ree-ta))
Sano and Kenshin: HUH? Oro?
Sireta: Yeah. I'm her evil side, I guess. Maybe. Let's just say I'm way more aggressive than her and I just now popped out.
Crystal: Yeah, be careful. She's got fanblades and a dragon sword that's REALLY sharp.
Sano: Kenshin? Can we leave now?
Kenshin: Uh...
Crystal: Stop being such a chicken. She won't do anything to you roosterhead unless you get her mad.
Sano: Note to self. don't get scary girl with sword another sharp and pointy things mad if I value my life.
(Sireta hears smart remark and sends Sano into a wall)
Kenshin: You shouldn't have said that, Sanosuke.
Sano: I think I know that now!! I'm embedded up to my hips in the wall!!!
Hahahaha.. Poor Sano. I like to pick on him. Well, Sireta likes to pick on him. Crystal is just to nice. nah. Sireta and Crystal are the same person!!!!
Okay, my talk subject for today: This is school related (since I'm going to school soon anywayz) do you think this sounds fair? Recently, my school got into some money problems, so they had to cut. We got a new superintendent, and he cut a lot of courses, but only our electives so were are stuck with all the bad ones! But you know why he cut all the better ones? Because he didn't like the teachers!!! Do you think that sounds fair to you? He cut 14 TEACHERS from the HIGH SCHOOL alone!!! Not mention people from our 4 other schools. but the school board gets a high pay!!! What do you think on that subject?
Anyone with a topic they would like to discuss can ask me and I'll post it. I don't know why I'm doing this, it just seems fun. Oh! And who agrees with me that it's not fair that Kenshin is only on at 9:30 on Saturdays on Cartoon Network? I personally don't like Cyborg 009, and wish they'd just put Kenshin back on Toonami again so I can watch it everyday of the week again. Saturdays are the worst because I always forget to watch TV then!!!
Well, until the next chapter!!!
Luv,
Crystal Renee
PS- I'm so sorry if this sucked, but would you please review? I already have 51!!!! Yeay!!!! I'm ½ way to 100!!!
Authors Notes (N0T IMPORTANT, JUST MY USUAL RANTS.): Okay, it's about 2 in the morning, and I'm FREAKING HOT!!!! We don't have air conditioning in our house, and I'm burning up right now!!!! I'm thinking about shutting my light off (it's one of them big 40 inch shoplites are usually in schools and they're fluorescent) because it's hot in here in my room!!!! Ooo. it's dark!!!! Why do I ALWAYS want to write at these ungodly hours of the day? I'm getting in so much trouble with my mom over it, too, because school starts in 6 days and my sleeping schedule is all screwed up and I have to get up at 6:15 AM at the LATEST to get ready for school. My school goes from 7:35 AM until 2:17 PM everyday. And last year, we had to start EARLIER by 12 minutes and leave LATER by 12 minutes!!! It was insane!!!! I hated it!!!! I'm not exactly the best morning person. I love late night, though. I think I'm noturnal. My mom says I was up all night and slept all day when I was a baby, so maybe I am. OH!!! If you haven't been reading the end Author's Notes, please read them today because I'm going to introduce you to my alter ego, okay!!!! AND I AM DESPERATE FOR IDEAS!!!!!!!!
~Coming of the Dawn~
(The happenings in the lives of our beloved assassin and his defiant woman.)
But now was not the time to strike. Not yet. He'd wait. Wait for the friendship to evolve more. Then.
Then and only then would he have his revenge.
***Chapter 13- Simple Gifts Mean Most***
Kaoru was in a daze then next day. She was still confused as to how Battousai- or Kenshin- had gotten into her room last night. And on top of that, why he was CONSOLING her again out of his own freewill. She had to admit, she had no problem with it, oh no, that wasn't it!!!! She LOVED his attention!!! She felt like she was breaking his cold, distant barrier just by being his friend. But she had to admit; she had felt his kisses last night.
"Looks like I'm going to have to set up some boundaries." Kaoru mumbled to herself as she walked out of her room, clad in a crisp, clean kimono.
It was a yellow kimono, trimmed with orange flowers and red dragons. She tied it together with a pale orange obi with a print of yellow flowers. Her hair was in a yellow ribbon. She didn't know why she had dressed in such bright colors. She was just in a good mood that morning, and the yellow was cheery.
She walked out into the kitchen of the Aoiya, and was shocked to see everyone jump in front of her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAORU!" they all screamed.
All of them except for Aoshi, which was expected. He just nodded and silently mouthed his own happy birthday her. But Kaoru still smiled. She had forgotten that today was her birthday!!! Everyone was pushing her farther into the room, trying to get her to the table so she could eat her breakfast.
"Eat up quick, Jou-chan, I'm taking you somewhere special today!" Sano said from a corner.
"Where!" Kaoru demanded. She remembered the LAST time Sano took her somewhere.
"Don't worry, this is a good place." He told her. "It's my birthday present to you."
Kaoru nodded enthusiastically. She really would like to get out of the Aoiya, and she knew Sano wouldn't watch of her like a hawk and would give her SOME freedom while they were gone. Unlike everyone else, who still seemed to think the Battousai was going to come back and steal her again. She grinned inwardly, wondering what would happen if she told them about her late night wish and then him turning up in her room in the middle of the night.
It didn't take long for Kaoru to finish her breakfast. After she said goodbye and thanked everyone, she ran with Sano and latched onto his arm.
"Now, Sanosuke, where are we going and where is your brother?" she asked him.
Sano scratched his head. He was REALLY bad at keeping secrets, but he was going to try REALLY hard with this one. "Yahiko is at home. he'll be by tomorrow for lessons again. And I'm not telling where we're going, it'll ruin the surprise Jou-chan!!"
"I know you can't keep you're mouth shut, Sano!"
He glared at her. "Well I'm gonna try this time!!!!"
Kaoru giggled. She let go of Sano and glanced around. She had never been in this part of Kyoto, at least not to her memory. She still had a huge smile plastered on her face. She slightly confused when Sano led her into the woods and they weaved their way in between the foliage. Kaoru still felt good and in high spirits, though.
"SANO!!! Where are we going?!" she demanded.
"You'll see, we're almost there!!! Trust me, you're gonna like it!!!" he told her.
'She BETTER like it after all this planning we all did to get it set up for her.' Sano thought to himself as he led her farther away from the town and deeper into the forest.
Kaoru stuck closer to her as the forest became thicker. They came into a clearing and Kaoru saw a building that looked much like an Inn. She gave a quizzical look at Sano.
"Hold on." He stated, his hands in his pockets as he walked farther towards the building until he walked inside.
Instead of holding the door, he let it shut behind him. That got Kaoru a little angry, wondering why in the world he hadn't held it open for her. She pushed the thought. She wasn't going to let Sanosuke's bad manners get in the way of her happy day, especially when it was just beginning.
Kaoru opened the door, and was suddenly pulled in and she heard shouts of her name and happy birthday coming from every direction. She couldn't make out any faces because everything was going so fast. Soon she was sat down at a table in front of a nice sized cake.
Finally she looked up and saw who was talking to her. "TAE!!! HINOKI!!! MEGUMI!!!!"
They all grinned. This was ALL Sanosuke's idea; he had told them that she missed them terribly. It seemed that he was right.
She didn't take a look at the cake; she just rushed to give everyone hugs. Soon some of her other friends came in. None of them were as close as she was with the ones that were already in the room, but she was happy to see them nonetheless. She gave a side-glance to Sano.
"Thank you BAKA ROOSTERHEAD!!!" she screamed at him.
Sano sweat dropped and Megumi laughed at his expression. He turned his gaze onto her, giving her a look that made her blush and turn away. Sano grinned. 'Yup, I still got it!!!' he thought.
Suddenly, after pushing Kaoru down into the seat again, Hinoki ran off. Kaoru was a little puzzled. Tae promised that Hinoki would come back. She just had to go retrieve something.
********** **********
Kenshin opened his eyes. They were a gentle violet at first and then he closed them and reopened them. Golden-amber, the eyes of the assassin. He had to keep that façade up around the Inn. He felt many familiar ki's inside the building, but there were so many he couldn't make out any particular ones yet. It was too earlier in the morning.
The loud rapping that came to the door stole him from his musing about why he had slept in so late. He stood up and opened the door, finding himself staring down at Hinoki.
Hinoki gasped a little at his mean look. She wasn't going to let him get the better of her though.
"Himura-san, don't you remember what was going on today?" she asked him.
Kenshin looked at her, obviously confused. "Nani?"
(( nope, he can't say ORO yet, I'm saving that for later!!!))
"Remember? Sanosuke-san said that today was Kaoru's birthday?" she told him, getting slightly annoyed at his dazed look.
Kenshin was still confused. "Uh. hai?"
Hinoki rolled her eyes. Now she wasn't afraid. He seemed too confused to comprehend anything mean to do, anyway.
"We were going to surprise her? All of us? REMEMBER NOW?" Hinoki asked him, just slightly raising her voice.
Kenshin mentally kicked himself. DUH!!!! 'Baka. you should have remembered THAT!!!!' He thought.
He nodded. "Hai, I'll be down in a minute."
Hinoki nodded and left. She laughed after she was down the stairs. He certainly was strange that morning. Defiantly out of it. But then again, he'd been that way ever since he had brought Kaoru to the Inn against her will.
********** *********
Kaoru was conversing with everyone else in the room when Hinoki returned. She was laughing with everyone, really enjoying herself. Hinoki cut into the chitchat. Sano was just standing in the corner.
He saw his new friend enter the room. He grinned across the room at Battousai. Or, Kenshin. He didn't know who else called him that, but he didn't think anyone else could get away with it and live. Kenshin saw him and sent him a smug grin back. Sano pretended to look offended but ended up just grinning and placing his fishbone in his mouth.
((I think that's the frist time I've mentioned his fishbone through the entire story, I'm such a dork!!)))
They kept up their facial argument for a while. Anyone who was witnessing it would think Sanosuke was insane at that the Battousai had to be on SOME sort of drug, but it was just their way. Ever since the battle, they had become friends and trusted each other completely.
'Funny,' Battousai thought, 'ever since Kaoru came to stay here, I'm made more friends then I have ever had in my life and everything seems more tolerable.'
"Kenshin!" Kaoru squealed upon seeing him for the first time that day.
Kenshin turned to where her squeal of happiness had come from. He wanted to laugh at her cheery outfit, but it made him smile. Then he wanted to run from the room so no one could see it, but his feet were planted firmly on the floor.
'Damn, she makes me do weird things,' he thought momentarily before she had flung herself at him and was hugging the life out of him.
What was worse, IT WAS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.
Sano laughed. Inwardly, he knew that his Jou-chan and Kenshin had become friends from their experiences, but he hadn't expected that. He could tell Kenshin was uncomfortable, and was even more shocked when Kenshin hugged her back. But he drew away.
"Kaoru. I've gotta breath sometime." he told her.
Kaoru pulled away from him quickly, blushing slightly at her act. She knew everyone in that room had to be confused. She was the girl who had said she hated his guts and wanted to make him angry all the time. They all knew that. And she was HUGGING him? IN PUBLIC? It just didn't make sense. But Kaoru couldn't help herself. She was just so darn happy.
Sano grinned and looked over at Megumi again. She was another reason for his visiting of the Inn so often. but now he had to turn to Kaoru. It was her 18th birthday.
"So, you like you're birthday present?" Sano asked her.
Kaoru turned and shook her head. "Very much, thank you Sano!"
Then Kenshin mentally slapped himself. He hadn't even thought about getting her anything for her birthday! And he had known about this for at least a week! Oh well, that would help. No need for anyone to think he had gone soft.
'But you did.you went soft.you've got a soft spot for her.'
That stupid, annoying, very bad timed, voice in the back of his head. How he hated it.
But how he had to admit it was right.
********** **********
The figure made sure he was out of Battousai's ki sensing range. He looked in and he saw the girl hug the Battousai. He grinned. This was all going according to his plan. Just a little longer now. they only had to get a little bit closer. and then could strike. Then he could have his revenge.
He just prayed that stupid rooster head, little girl with the braid, and man in the trench coat didn't get in his way. They seemed to be his only problem.
********* *********
Kaoru spent the entire day with her friends at the Inn. She didn't speak much to Kenshin, for fear of embarrassing him again. But she planned on talking to him before they left.
Slowly, everyone had duties to attend to. She said her goodbyes to those who left, and then found out that it was just she and Kenshin left in the room. She had long since seen Sanosuke run off with Megumi, so she knew he'd be back soon.
"Kenshin?" she asked him.
Kenshin's head shot up at the sound of his name. He had been leaning against the wall with his katana propped up against his shoulder, on leg stretched out and other bent upward, his head down, much like he sat when he went to sleep at night. His eyes shown through as a steely blue, and not amber.
"Aa?"
"Why did you come last night? How did." she began, then realizing something. "Have you been watching me at night?"
Kenshin stared at her, and he blushed, trying in vain to hide his face. How did she find out?!
Kaoru grinned. "You're blushing, aren't you?"
Kenshin didn't say anything. He was going to get mad. He knew it. He counted to ten to suppress his anger. He didn't like the things she could get him to do, that was why he always got angry with her.
"Hai, I have." he responded truthfully. "I saw you having you're nightmare and decided I should come and see if you were okay."
Kaoru nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate it, more than you know. It helped to get that experience out."
Kenshin looked back up at her. "You said you wanted to be friends, so I decided I should start somehow."
Kaoru lost it. "YOU WERE AWAKE WHEN I SAID THAT?! YOU WERE JUST FAKING BEING OUT COLD?!"
"Hai." Kenshin responded. For some reason, he was GLAD she was mad at him now.
He had missed their arguments.
He suddenly found a plate flying at his head and it hit him squarely on the forehead. That was the first time she actually took her aggression OUT on him.
"Kenshin Himura, that was rude!" she stated.
"I just wanted to see what you would say! And then you kissed my forehead and left!" he yelled back.
That got Kaoru to blush. "Baka hitokiri!!! You kissed me last night!!!"
"So you were up too?!" he yelled back at her.
"You woke me up!!!"
"Well maybe you woke me!!"
"I highly doubt it, Mr. I-can-sense-everyone-all-the-time!" she shot back at him.
He glared at her. "I was trying to calm you down last night!"
"So! Listen; if we're going to be friends, then this is how it's going to go! No KISSING!!! We're just friends!" she yelled at him.
By now they were both standing and facing each other, both angered that the other had been awake when they had. uh. done somewhat intimate things for reasons they never really knew.
"Fine!" Kenshin growled.
"Fine then!" Kaoru seethed back.
Kenshin glared at her.
Kaoru glared back.
And Kenshin stomped off, uttering words about 'baka defiant women'.
Once he left, Kaoru grinned. It was fun to get an argument back in there. It might not have been as heated as the ones they used to have, but it was still fun.
**********
Kenshin grinned at himself. It felt good to argue with her again, knowing he'd be up in that tree again that night watching over her. He had to laugh. it was quite ironic, that it was
********* *********
That night, Kaoru was beat. She had been having fun all day. It was a good day. A great day. She had gotten to see everyone. And she didn't get in trouble for it! Sano got a good long lecture and beating from Misao and Aoshi, but that was about all the damage that was done to anyone. Then that night, there was a little celebration at the Aoiya again, and then Kaoru was ready to hit the hay.
She sat on her futon, having already changed when she was in the bathhouse. She started to pull her blankets back when she felt like eyes were watching her again. She turned around to the corner again.
"Kenshin, get out of there. What are you doing in the corner of my room for the 3rd time?" she asked him.
**********
Kenshin was taken aback. How did she know he was sitting there?! He hadn't expected her to know, but the came out anyway and sat next to her futon.
"What do you want?" she asked him.
All Kaoru wanted to do was sleep.
He held out his hand, his fist was clamped shut, but not too tight. "Here."
Kaoru looked at him. "Huh?"
"Happy Birthday." He told her.
Kaoru opened his hand.
And out flew one firefly, it circled around her until it landed lightly on her finger.
Kaoru wanted to cry. You might think this was a weak gift to give, but Kaoru thought otherwise. She remembered the wish she had made the night before. That firefly meant more than just to cover up that he had forgotten to get her something. It meant that he had heard her wish, and it meant that he had made his own in return.
"The innocence of a firefly for the innocence of a child, for you are no longer a child Kaoru." He told her. "As of 18, you are an adult. Now may you be able to go on and find something to make you happy in your near future. That is my wish for you."
Kenshin knew he sounded totally out of character. The next day, he planned on going back into full Battousai mode. But for some reason, at night, he seemed to slip away from Battousai. and become. more like Kenshin.
Kaoru looked at him, and smiled behind her tears of the sentimental gift. "Thank you Kenshin."
Kaoru looked at the firefly, as it's light came and went, then came again. She silently made a wish. One that she didn't want Kenshin to hear, one that was solely going to stay with her.
She looked back at Kenshin. He was still sitting there, looking at her. Her expression let him know the he had given her something no one else had even thought of it really touched her. He was glad. His thoughts were that he was finally bringing some happiness instead of death and tears of those of whom he had slain had left behind in their untimely deaths.
"You should sleep now. I will leave." He told her. "Plus, I think Aoshi's sensed me and I don't want to get caught."
Kaoru nodded. She said goodbye and Kenshin left through her window.
She looked down at the firefly. "If Kenshin is going to be that kind to me, then I wish for all those inner demons of his to leave and for him to find his salvation."
Little did she know that she would become his salvation.
********* *********
The figure crept closer to Kaoru's window. Everything seemed to be going in reverse in their relationship, the figure thought. No matter. He would wait, but just a little longer. He had a feeling that this was just a cover up. He slunk back into the woods to calculate how and when he would attack the unspecting people.
He would make their lives a living hell.
*********
Kaoru slept soundly. Again, no nightmares haunted her.
********* *********
Battousai slipped his wakizashi next to his katana in his belt. He threw his black tenchcoat over his white hakama pants and dark navy blue gi. His hair up in a high ponytail. Hand guards on.
Tonight, another would lose their life by the blade of his sword. He steeled his emotions. He wasn't going to let it get to him. But he knew he would fail. He just hoped everyone stayed out of his way the next day. He was going to be grouchy.
*********
Authors Notes: I'm sorry, I know this chapter probably sucks!!! I'm so out of ideas. that's why I've been BEGGING you to help me with that problem!!!! I don't want to ruin my story because of some stupid writers block. I'm trying to make it go away by writing throught it. Plus, this is an area I suck at anyway. I'm not good at making a relationship bloom, and with this mystery figure (of which I'm still not sure who it will be, but they will probably be in the next chapter if I get desperate) I am going to have a hard time keeping everything going slow. But please, tell me what you all think!!! I think maybe if you think this chapter sucked, I'll take a 2 day or 3 days writing break and then try to write something better. I'm so dry on ideas.. Truth be told, when I started this story I was hoping the make Kaoru's stay at the Inn longer so that she would start to trust him more like a friend at the Inn, and then have the battle and they'd be realizing then then they were in love. But nope, it didn't happen that way.. Oh well. But you're ideas are priceless!!! I'm open to EVERYTHING, trust me, nothing will be too weird for me, or too mushy, or too violent. Or too evil. I just need ideas of any sort. I will give you credit, I promise.
Oh!!! Do you think I should stop with the little touchy scene's at night with Battousai and Kaoru? I know Battousai is WAY out of character, but you got to think, he's confused and he's acting more like Kenshin then!!!!
Well, it's only cooled down a little in my room. It's almost 3:30 now.
Sano: (walks into room) Damn it's hot in here Crystal!!! Hey. what the hell, there's two you!! It's the work of the devil!!!
Kenshin: Oro?
Sano: Run Kenshin!!!!! Run!!!!
Crystal: (rolls eyes) No. that's my alter ego. Her name is Sireta. ((Okay, pronounce that Sir- ree-ta))
Sano and Kenshin: HUH? Oro?
Sireta: Yeah. I'm her evil side, I guess. Maybe. Let's just say I'm way more aggressive than her and I just now popped out.
Crystal: Yeah, be careful. She's got fanblades and a dragon sword that's REALLY sharp.
Sano: Kenshin? Can we leave now?
Kenshin: Uh...
Crystal: Stop being such a chicken. She won't do anything to you roosterhead unless you get her mad.
Sano: Note to self. don't get scary girl with sword another sharp and pointy things mad if I value my life.
(Sireta hears smart remark and sends Sano into a wall)
Kenshin: You shouldn't have said that, Sanosuke.
Sano: I think I know that now!! I'm embedded up to my hips in the wall!!!
Hahahaha.. Poor Sano. I like to pick on him. Well, Sireta likes to pick on him. Crystal is just to nice. nah. Sireta and Crystal are the same person!!!!
Okay, my talk subject for today: This is school related (since I'm going to school soon anywayz) do you think this sounds fair? Recently, my school got into some money problems, so they had to cut. We got a new superintendent, and he cut a lot of courses, but only our electives so were are stuck with all the bad ones! But you know why he cut all the better ones? Because he didn't like the teachers!!! Do you think that sounds fair to you? He cut 14 TEACHERS from the HIGH SCHOOL alone!!! Not mention people from our 4 other schools. but the school board gets a high pay!!! What do you think on that subject?
Anyone with a topic they would like to discuss can ask me and I'll post it. I don't know why I'm doing this, it just seems fun. Oh! And who agrees with me that it's not fair that Kenshin is only on at 9:30 on Saturdays on Cartoon Network? I personally don't like Cyborg 009, and wish they'd just put Kenshin back on Toonami again so I can watch it everyday of the week again. Saturdays are the worst because I always forget to watch TV then!!!
Well, until the next chapter!!!
Luv,
Crystal Renee
PS- I'm so sorry if this sucked, but would you please review? I already have 51!!!! Yeay!!!! I'm ½ way to 100!!!