Chapter 2
It was quiet for now, apart from Sano's angry bitching under his breath, about why no one even considered that he should have a room for himself. "Well, Battousai" Saitou broke the silence "lets continue with the match. And will you be quiet, Ahou. If you so much reject the idea of sleeping in the same bad with the kid, you can come sleep with me." He set in front of the chess board, ignoring the many pairs of eyes that turned to look at him. Aoshi's sad gaze was turned back towards the window. Kenshin looked at Saitou bitterly and set in front of him. Sano was still blushing but caught himself and said "I'd rather sleep with a lawn mower. It'd probably be more comfortable then you." He smirked at him and walked to the kitchen. Saitou looked back at the board and thought of his next move. Only Kenshin heard the tiny sigh coming across from him. He glanced at Saitou, worried, but could see nothing in the man's expressionless face. Meanwhile Kaoru and Misao sat on the comfy bed. Misao was telling her companion about her trip with Aoshi, but Kaoru listened only with half an ear. "And then I said 'let compete to that tree' but Aoshi Sama was too busy with his thoughts again and. Hey Kaoru San, are you listening to me?" "What? Oh sorry. Yes, you were competing.?" "No, I told you- Aoshi Sama. Hey what are you thinking about anyway? You seem spaced out" Misao gave Kaoru a worried look. "Oh! It's nothing! Really" said Kaoru defensively. "It's not like you to be so quiet. There must be something really important that you're thinking about." Misao continued, not going to give up. "Let me guess. you're thinking about who would win in the big match downstairs." "I don't really ca." "I hope Himura would win! I couldn't imagine him loosing to someone like Saito." "Misao Chan, it's really not that." "Oooo! Do you think Aoshi Sama would want to play against Himura when he'll win?" "Misao Chan! Will you get serious for once?" "I wouldn't want to miss that! Wait for me Aoshi Sama! Don't start without me!" Misao yelled and ran out the door, leaving Kaoru on the bed, very confused. Misao ran as fast as she could. *Aoshi Sama! Wait for me!*
Sano was in the kitchen looking for food as Megumi entered to make dinner. "Hey Fox! What are you doing here in the kitchen? Weren't you watching the game?" "It will get dark soon so I figured I should start making dinner." She said and started to cut the turnips. *this can be my chance* Sano thought to himself as he walked slowly towards Megumi. Megumi looked outside the window and saw Aoshi. He was looking to the kitchen. She smiled to herself. "Can I help?" Sano asked. "You? Cook dinner? I think it will be best if you'll go back to the living room. You'll only be in the way." She said in a mocking tone, still looking outside. "I have some talents you've never seen." Sano said softly and placed his hand on Megumi's. Megumi was a little startled by the sudden move and lowered her eyes. Megumi then raised her gaze and their eyes met. "Sano.." she said quietly as she felt her cheeks getting red. "There you are guys! Hey, if you'll get all mushy over the food, it will go bad!" said Yahiko, entering the kitchen with a big smile on his face. "You know, the best ingredient is love." Megumi's face grew even redder than before, and Sano's eyes darkened. The next thing Yahiko felt was Megumi slapping his left cheek and Sano's punch on his right cheek.
Back in the living room, Kenshin and Saito kept on with the game. Suddenly they heard loud noises from the kitchen. They both looked around and found out they were all alone. "Battousai? Where is everyone?" asked Saito, a bit disappointed that no one was around. "Kaoru dono and Misao dono are upstairs. Sano went to the kitchen, and if I remember correctly Megumi dono said something about making dinner. Yahiko said he'll look for a snack and Aoshi just disappeared." Said Kenshin. "Maybe you should go check what everyone's doing in the kitchen." Said Saito with his wolfish grin. "Why?" said Kenshin "So you could cheat?" The Wolf of Mibu's grin turned to a frown. There was silence in the room as the ex-hitokiri and the ex- Shinsengumi stared at each other with hatred. Suddenly the silence broke as Misao rushed down the stairs shouting "Aoshi Sama!" "Can't leave your old man for one second, eh?" said Saitou under his breath, and even quieter "I don't envy him". "What did you say, stick face?" Misao shouted at him. "Ma ma, Misao Dono" Kenshin calmed her down "I think Aoshi just went out side for a bit". "But it's snowing hard outside! Himura, I'm going to look for him!" she run outside with God like speed. Kenshin rolled his eyes and he and Saitou resumed the game. After a few more intense moments of staring Saitou moved a piece on the bored. "Check" he smirked at Kenshin in triumph. "I don't think so" said the red head, his eyes narrowing, and block Saitou's attack. "And now you're in trouble." "But not for long, Battousai." The game got more thrilling by the minute. The pawns fought with all their might. Both Kings were in constant danger. The Queens got more vicious in every move. A few more exceptional moves and then the game subsided a bit. The two players took a breather, each in his thoughts. Suddenly the quietness felt heavy to both. They looked at each other knowing the other have the same feeling. Knowing Saitou won't say a word, Kenshin decided to speak his mind. "Saitou, no one is here and I think we're wasting our time right now, that I do". "I agree with you. Fighting each other with no one watching isn't worth the bother." "All our good moves are going to waste. I'll suggest that we'll stop and carry this later, that I will". "Alright. We will carry on after everyone is settled." And they got up, leaving the chess board as it is.
Outside in the snow, Aoshi sat deep in his thoughts. He could see the house from where he was sitting. He saw thru a window upstairs the Kamiya girl and Misao sitting on a bed. He saw thru another window the kitchen, Sanosuke was there and Megumi just entered. Megumi started to cut some vegetable. She raised her gaze and saw Aoshi. Aoshi was a little startled when she smiled at him but he kept his face expressionless. *what was that? I'd better keep an eye on her* he thought. But Megumi was soon forgotten as he moved his gaze to the living room window. The Battousai was sitting with his back to the window so his red head covered almost all of it. But the person that sat in front of him was taller than the Battousai so Aoshi could see his face clearly. Saito was tensed from the game. He stared at the board for a long time, and then moved a piece and smirked in triumph. Aoshi didn't know how long he's been watching Saito. He remembered that moment in the house when Saito talked to Sano. Saito thought that no one heard that sigh but Aoshi did and understood immediately what it meant. He couldn't stay in that room anymore. He had to get outside to organize his thoughts. Aoshi gave a small sigh and the tree which he was sitting under fell on him.
Misao ran outside the door and the coldness stroke her like a sword. *Aoshi Sama! Where are you?* she looked around and found Aoshi sitting under a tree, looking at the house. *I know what I'll do,* Misao thought cheerfully, *I'll surprise him!* and ran to the direction of Aoshi.
Yahiko went out of the kitchen all bruised and pissed. He went to the window and saw Misao sneak up on Aoshi. "What is that weasel girl doing?" he said to himself.
It was quiet for now, apart from Sano's angry bitching under his breath, about why no one even considered that he should have a room for himself. "Well, Battousai" Saitou broke the silence "lets continue with the match. And will you be quiet, Ahou. If you so much reject the idea of sleeping in the same bad with the kid, you can come sleep with me." He set in front of the chess board, ignoring the many pairs of eyes that turned to look at him. Aoshi's sad gaze was turned back towards the window. Kenshin looked at Saitou bitterly and set in front of him. Sano was still blushing but caught himself and said "I'd rather sleep with a lawn mower. It'd probably be more comfortable then you." He smirked at him and walked to the kitchen. Saitou looked back at the board and thought of his next move. Only Kenshin heard the tiny sigh coming across from him. He glanced at Saitou, worried, but could see nothing in the man's expressionless face. Meanwhile Kaoru and Misao sat on the comfy bed. Misao was telling her companion about her trip with Aoshi, but Kaoru listened only with half an ear. "And then I said 'let compete to that tree' but Aoshi Sama was too busy with his thoughts again and. Hey Kaoru San, are you listening to me?" "What? Oh sorry. Yes, you were competing.?" "No, I told you- Aoshi Sama. Hey what are you thinking about anyway? You seem spaced out" Misao gave Kaoru a worried look. "Oh! It's nothing! Really" said Kaoru defensively. "It's not like you to be so quiet. There must be something really important that you're thinking about." Misao continued, not going to give up. "Let me guess. you're thinking about who would win in the big match downstairs." "I don't really ca." "I hope Himura would win! I couldn't imagine him loosing to someone like Saito." "Misao Chan, it's really not that." "Oooo! Do you think Aoshi Sama would want to play against Himura when he'll win?" "Misao Chan! Will you get serious for once?" "I wouldn't want to miss that! Wait for me Aoshi Sama! Don't start without me!" Misao yelled and ran out the door, leaving Kaoru on the bed, very confused. Misao ran as fast as she could. *Aoshi Sama! Wait for me!*
Sano was in the kitchen looking for food as Megumi entered to make dinner. "Hey Fox! What are you doing here in the kitchen? Weren't you watching the game?" "It will get dark soon so I figured I should start making dinner." She said and started to cut the turnips. *this can be my chance* Sano thought to himself as he walked slowly towards Megumi. Megumi looked outside the window and saw Aoshi. He was looking to the kitchen. She smiled to herself. "Can I help?" Sano asked. "You? Cook dinner? I think it will be best if you'll go back to the living room. You'll only be in the way." She said in a mocking tone, still looking outside. "I have some talents you've never seen." Sano said softly and placed his hand on Megumi's. Megumi was a little startled by the sudden move and lowered her eyes. Megumi then raised her gaze and their eyes met. "Sano.." she said quietly as she felt her cheeks getting red. "There you are guys! Hey, if you'll get all mushy over the food, it will go bad!" said Yahiko, entering the kitchen with a big smile on his face. "You know, the best ingredient is love." Megumi's face grew even redder than before, and Sano's eyes darkened. The next thing Yahiko felt was Megumi slapping his left cheek and Sano's punch on his right cheek.
Back in the living room, Kenshin and Saito kept on with the game. Suddenly they heard loud noises from the kitchen. They both looked around and found out they were all alone. "Battousai? Where is everyone?" asked Saito, a bit disappointed that no one was around. "Kaoru dono and Misao dono are upstairs. Sano went to the kitchen, and if I remember correctly Megumi dono said something about making dinner. Yahiko said he'll look for a snack and Aoshi just disappeared." Said Kenshin. "Maybe you should go check what everyone's doing in the kitchen." Said Saito with his wolfish grin. "Why?" said Kenshin "So you could cheat?" The Wolf of Mibu's grin turned to a frown. There was silence in the room as the ex-hitokiri and the ex- Shinsengumi stared at each other with hatred. Suddenly the silence broke as Misao rushed down the stairs shouting "Aoshi Sama!" "Can't leave your old man for one second, eh?" said Saitou under his breath, and even quieter "I don't envy him". "What did you say, stick face?" Misao shouted at him. "Ma ma, Misao Dono" Kenshin calmed her down "I think Aoshi just went out side for a bit". "But it's snowing hard outside! Himura, I'm going to look for him!" she run outside with God like speed. Kenshin rolled his eyes and he and Saitou resumed the game. After a few more intense moments of staring Saitou moved a piece on the bored. "Check" he smirked at Kenshin in triumph. "I don't think so" said the red head, his eyes narrowing, and block Saitou's attack. "And now you're in trouble." "But not for long, Battousai." The game got more thrilling by the minute. The pawns fought with all their might. Both Kings were in constant danger. The Queens got more vicious in every move. A few more exceptional moves and then the game subsided a bit. The two players took a breather, each in his thoughts. Suddenly the quietness felt heavy to both. They looked at each other knowing the other have the same feeling. Knowing Saitou won't say a word, Kenshin decided to speak his mind. "Saitou, no one is here and I think we're wasting our time right now, that I do". "I agree with you. Fighting each other with no one watching isn't worth the bother." "All our good moves are going to waste. I'll suggest that we'll stop and carry this later, that I will". "Alright. We will carry on after everyone is settled." And they got up, leaving the chess board as it is.
Outside in the snow, Aoshi sat deep in his thoughts. He could see the house from where he was sitting. He saw thru a window upstairs the Kamiya girl and Misao sitting on a bed. He saw thru another window the kitchen, Sanosuke was there and Megumi just entered. Megumi started to cut some vegetable. She raised her gaze and saw Aoshi. Aoshi was a little startled when she smiled at him but he kept his face expressionless. *what was that? I'd better keep an eye on her* he thought. But Megumi was soon forgotten as he moved his gaze to the living room window. The Battousai was sitting with his back to the window so his red head covered almost all of it. But the person that sat in front of him was taller than the Battousai so Aoshi could see his face clearly. Saito was tensed from the game. He stared at the board for a long time, and then moved a piece and smirked in triumph. Aoshi didn't know how long he's been watching Saito. He remembered that moment in the house when Saito talked to Sano. Saito thought that no one heard that sigh but Aoshi did and understood immediately what it meant. He couldn't stay in that room anymore. He had to get outside to organize his thoughts. Aoshi gave a small sigh and the tree which he was sitting under fell on him.
Misao ran outside the door and the coldness stroke her like a sword. *Aoshi Sama! Where are you?* she looked around and found Aoshi sitting under a tree, looking at the house. *I know what I'll do,* Misao thought cheerfully, *I'll surprise him!* and ran to the direction of Aoshi.
Yahiko went out of the kitchen all bruised and pissed. He went to the window and saw Misao sneak up on Aoshi. "What is that weasel girl doing?" he said to himself.