Disclaimer: Nobuhiro Watsuki is the owner of Rurouni Kenshin and all of its characters.
A/N: MINNA-SA~N!!!! So sorry for the late update!!! Thanks for reading thus far!! ^__^ Enjoy!
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As One
Chapter 5: The Joyous
"Will you become a member with us?"
For a moment, he was speechless. Period. What could he say? This gorgeous woman known throughout Japan was taking his hand in hers and offering him a job. That was all he was aware of, right now.
"..."
His face was faced to the ground, and his bangs shaded his eyes and features so she couldn't see him. She ducked her head slightly, looking up at him with longing, blue eyes. But then, she had to bring a hand to her mouth to keep herself from releasing a sound of delight.
Himura Kenshin was blushing bright rouge to a startling point.
"H-Himura-san!!"
She awkwardly brought a hand to his forehead and pushed it back so she could see his face clearly. She could see the panic in his expression as his tomato-face was faced to her.
She suddenly felt his hand she held wrap its fingers around hers and grip it tightly. She saw his other hand come forward and cradle it also. His eyes were lowered, but the blush did not disappear, and his features showed seriousness and immense embarrassment all at once. He released a small 'oro' as she saw him begin to blink faster.
"Kaoru...dono...I beg your pardon in advance."
"Eh? Wait, why...?"
She blinked back, startled.
He paused and blinked again rapidly.
"I...think I'm going to cry..."
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"He WHAT?"
Megumi looked up from her kimono, which she was embroidering butterflies on along the edges. Kaoru tried desperately to hold in the soda that was filling her mouth, bringing a hand to her lips to prevent it from spilling all over. With effort, she swallowed it all down and laughed out loud a second time to her full extent.
"Oh Megumi (HAHAHA) it was just so (heehee) spontaneous, I couldn't see his face at all until I (oh man...HAHAHAHA) I made him face me and then he (HAHAHAHAHA) apologized in advance and started (HAHAHAHAH!!!) crying!"
Megumi lightly smacked Kaoru on the shoulder, but she was too busy laughing she finally tipped over and landed on her side, still shaking from head to toe.
"Tanuki, if you don't shut it he'll hear you!"
"Oh I know, I'm so awful but (HEEHEEHEE) he was the most honestly adorable thing I'd ever seen..."
"Please don't tell me he was BAWLING or anything..."
"Oh no, he wasn't, trust me. Just wiping his eyes and slightly sniffling."
"Enough of that, Kaoru. Where is he now?"
"Kenshin? He went to help Sano."
"Oh ho, so now it's KENSHIN is it? Whatever happened to 'Himura-san'?"
"He TOLD me to call him that. But he just won't drop that 'Kaoru-dono' routine, and he claims it's a habit."
"Well well, he's a cutie ain't he, Tanuki-chan?"
"I-It's not like I...well..."
The shoji door slid open then, and revealed a slightly blushing Kenshin in a pair of baggy grease-stained jeans and a dirty white t-shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his shoulders. Smudges of black were smeared across his face. Kaoru shot a hand up to her mouth and stared at him wide-eyed, whereas Megumi simply dropped the kimono from her hands.
"Crap, KENSHIN!!!"
"Hai, nande gozaru ka?" (Yes, what is it?)
She averted her eyes sideways to think up an excuse. She awkwardly paused and stood up.
"Uuuh...errrrr...o_o"
"Does Kaoru-dono have a question?"
"No...nevermind.... What were you doing? Good heavens, look at you!"
She pulled out a handkerchief from her back pocket hastily and rubbed off a smear on his cheek. Megumi clearly noted the blush in his face that flickered across, as well as a bead of sweat that rolled down his brow.
"We're fixing the van, Kaoru-dono. Can you tell me where the-"
"No need for that Kenshin, I'll show you where it is, whatever you're looking for. Excuse us Megumi-san."
Little Tanuki didn't notice the sly smirk that glanced up at both of them, whereas Kenshin shuddered at the pair of fox ears that began to make their way up her head.
But then again Megumi herself hadn't noticed Kaoru give her a small wink before exiting the room.
*-.,.-*
"Umm...I think it should be...oh, here it is."
Kaoru handed Kenshin the wrench and he took it.
"Katajikenai de gozaru. (Thank you) Kaoru-dono, might I ask you a question?"
She looked up from organizing the materials on the rack of the garage.
"Hmm?"
He grinned innocently as he fondled the wrench in both of his hands.
"What was so funny, earlier?"
For a second, he could have sworn she was made of pure ice, with her position unchanged and her hands still stretched out before her. There wasn't so much of a response except a little cough and a hint of pink at her cheeks. She waved a hand at him and guided him out the garage door gently.
"It's...a woman-thing Kenshin..."
"A woman-thing, de gozaru ka?"
"Yes..."
"Like what, shaving cycles?"
"Well...actually no, not really..."
"Fashion tips? Cute...things...?"
"No, NO. It's all deep and complicated, Kenshin. It's nothing that sort of-"
"Deeper and complicated de gozaru ka? You mean, periods?"
"KENSHIN NO BAKAA~!!!!" (KENSHIN YOU IDIOT~!!!!)
*-.,.-*
"Aoshi-sama, did you just hear something?"
Aoshi looked at Misao, who was listening for sounds curiously as they rummaged around their tools to find a screwdriver to fix the van. His face was unchanged and blank, and he examined a pair of pliers intently, refusing to be distracted.
"Kaoru."
"Oh."
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"My goodness, she certainly didn't have to smack you THAT hard, did she Ken-san? I'm afraid the lump on your head will only heal with an ice pack..."
Kenshin smiled warily at Megumi and rubbed his head that was still stinging sore from the blow.
"Katajikenai de gozaru, Megumi-dono. It's my fault that I was too direct."
"Don't you worry, she's just sensitive."
"Megumi-dono?"
"Yes?"
Kenshin looked around the room, making sure that the doors were closed behind them. He then turned back to Megumi and whispered in a low voice.
"What were you and Kaoru-dono talking about earlier?"
She looked at him, surprised.
"Us? Oh Ken-san, I had no idea you were so nosy!"
"I apologize Megumi-dono. It's just either that my ears failed me, or I heard my name somewhere in the conversation..."
At that point, he couldn't decide whether it was his deceiving eyes or some capricious illusion. Megumi was looking oddly enough like a grinning fox, chuckling lightly to herself.
"Oh Ken-san..."
She pointed a finger at him and poked him lightly in the shoulder, just so that he tipped over slightly in his sitting position.
"You'll see soon, I assure you greatly."
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"Oh, Kaoru-chan, I'm so proud of you!"
Kaoru looked up from washing vegetables in the sink, in preparation for dinner. Tae came bustling over through the kitchen doorway with excited sparks lighting her face.
"Eh? What's this about, Tae-san?"
Tae hugged Kaoru tightly and clapped her hands together.
"He's finally agreed, Kaoru-chan, he's going to become a member!"
"Who?"
"Himura-san, who else?"
Kaoru stared blankly at the woman for a second.
"Really?"
"Does this face look like I'm lying?"
Kaoru suddenly tossed the carrot she was holding behind her and flung her arms around Tae, filling the tiny kitchen with shouts and squeals of great enthusiasm.
"YATTA~!!!!!" (YAY~!!!!!)
At that point, Kenshin poked his head in, still holding an ice pack to his swollen bump.
"Nani goto de gozaru ka, Kaoru-dono, Tae-dono?" (What's happened, Kaoru, Tae?)
Kaoru lit her eyes up like gems being rotated in the light so they glanced off brightly at the sight of him. Before he could utter another word, he found his free hand entwined with hers and was hastily dragged out the door as she ran.
"Sano, Aoshi, Misao!!! He's going to jo~in!!!!!"
Tae watched the two young ones go scampering out the back door in their excitement, and she sighed happily as imagined possible futures for the two of them, holding hands.
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"Heh, what did I tell ya, Ao-chan, eh? I knew he was gonna join..."
Aoshi sipped his sake calmly as Sano, drunk beyond limits, hiccupped his victory in their bet. He watched blankly as the ex-gangster poured himself some more.
"I resent being called that, Sano."
"Whaaat? You no like *hic* Ao-chan~?"
"No Sano, I hate it."
"Awweee, but *hic* Ao-chan~~"
"No."
"Ao-"
"Just shut up."
Sano swayed greatly to one side, then suddenly threw himself into Aoshi next to him as he bear hugged the icicle man affectionately. Well, maybe a little TOO affectionately...
"Sano, get off me."
"Awe, but Ao*hic*chan, you need some man to man *hic* contact once in a *hic* while..."
"No, I hate any sort of contact coming from you. Now get off."
"Is Ao-chan being *hic* shy~?"
"Sano-"
Sano fluttered his eyes open only to meet a fist. Too bad he didn't see the fist long enough to get to know it. His face was already too busy meeting a concrete wall.
"-I said get off."
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Kaoru and Kenshin looked up at the shoji doors after hearing a harsh sound coming from its other side. They heard Aoshi calmly shuffle to his feet and walk away, leaving a moaning voice (clearly drunk) to mumble about happy things in his sleep.
"Man to man *hic* contact isn't as *hic* ba~d as you *hic* think, Ao-chan~~~~~"
Kaoru twitched a little and smiled at Kenshin as he looked at her, slightly warily.
"I-It's just Sano, don't worry."
"Is he alright?"
"He's...himself-"
She looked around the room, with everyone on the floor either fast asleep or sprawled out, dazed. The stench of sake was beginning to get over-powering.
"-as is everyone else..."
"I'm sure it was just the sake, Kaoru-dono. I haven't even seen Tae-dono act so...so..."
Kenshin was lost for words. Kaoru held up a hand to silence him.
"Please don't describe it Kenshin. Let's leave the room and retreat to sleep, shall we?"
The two of them left the room in silence, stepping over drunk bodies quietly snoring to themselves in happy thoughts. Tomorrow was bound to be a crabby day for all of them, being that none of the people of the Sparrow Theatre group were strong with alcohol.
Kenshin stopped at his room, as did Kaoru, to say good night. As he was about to speak, she unexpectedly brought a hand to his arm and gripped it lightly.
"Oyasumi nasai (good night) Kenshin, and-"
She boldly took a step forward and neared her face to his. She paused one slight moment before bringing her lips to his scarred cheek, making his flesh burn at the contact. She hastily stepped away and lowered her eyes in embarrassment.
"-thank you, for making everyone so happy, including me."
With that she smiled and turned away, silently walking down the hallway with flowing steps of an elegant woman. Kenshin watched as she slid open the door to her room and looked at him one more time, giving him a small bow before entering and closing the door shut behind her.
"My thanks to you too, Kaoru-dono. You've made me equally joyous tonight, just as I'd made you happy."
And he too, retired to his room for well-deserved sleep in contented thoughts.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
I hope you are all pleased with Kenshin's answer! Happy reading! ^__^
A/N: MINNA-SA~N!!!! So sorry for the late update!!! Thanks for reading thus far!! ^__^ Enjoy!
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
As One
Chapter 5: The Joyous
"Will you become a member with us?"
For a moment, he was speechless. Period. What could he say? This gorgeous woman known throughout Japan was taking his hand in hers and offering him a job. That was all he was aware of, right now.
"..."
His face was faced to the ground, and his bangs shaded his eyes and features so she couldn't see him. She ducked her head slightly, looking up at him with longing, blue eyes. But then, she had to bring a hand to her mouth to keep herself from releasing a sound of delight.
Himura Kenshin was blushing bright rouge to a startling point.
"H-Himura-san!!"
She awkwardly brought a hand to his forehead and pushed it back so she could see his face clearly. She could see the panic in his expression as his tomato-face was faced to her.
She suddenly felt his hand she held wrap its fingers around hers and grip it tightly. She saw his other hand come forward and cradle it also. His eyes were lowered, but the blush did not disappear, and his features showed seriousness and immense embarrassment all at once. He released a small 'oro' as she saw him begin to blink faster.
"Kaoru...dono...I beg your pardon in advance."
"Eh? Wait, why...?"
She blinked back, startled.
He paused and blinked again rapidly.
"I...think I'm going to cry..."
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"He WHAT?"
Megumi looked up from her kimono, which she was embroidering butterflies on along the edges. Kaoru tried desperately to hold in the soda that was filling her mouth, bringing a hand to her lips to prevent it from spilling all over. With effort, she swallowed it all down and laughed out loud a second time to her full extent.
"Oh Megumi (HAHAHA) it was just so (heehee) spontaneous, I couldn't see his face at all until I (oh man...HAHAHAHA) I made him face me and then he (HAHAHAHAHA) apologized in advance and started (HAHAHAHAH!!!) crying!"
Megumi lightly smacked Kaoru on the shoulder, but she was too busy laughing she finally tipped over and landed on her side, still shaking from head to toe.
"Tanuki, if you don't shut it he'll hear you!"
"Oh I know, I'm so awful but (HEEHEEHEE) he was the most honestly adorable thing I'd ever seen..."
"Please don't tell me he was BAWLING or anything..."
"Oh no, he wasn't, trust me. Just wiping his eyes and slightly sniffling."
"Enough of that, Kaoru. Where is he now?"
"Kenshin? He went to help Sano."
"Oh ho, so now it's KENSHIN is it? Whatever happened to 'Himura-san'?"
"He TOLD me to call him that. But he just won't drop that 'Kaoru-dono' routine, and he claims it's a habit."
"Well well, he's a cutie ain't he, Tanuki-chan?"
"I-It's not like I...well..."
The shoji door slid open then, and revealed a slightly blushing Kenshin in a pair of baggy grease-stained jeans and a dirty white t-shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his shoulders. Smudges of black were smeared across his face. Kaoru shot a hand up to her mouth and stared at him wide-eyed, whereas Megumi simply dropped the kimono from her hands.
"Crap, KENSHIN!!!"
"Hai, nande gozaru ka?" (Yes, what is it?)
She averted her eyes sideways to think up an excuse. She awkwardly paused and stood up.
"Uuuh...errrrr...o_o"
"Does Kaoru-dono have a question?"
"No...nevermind.... What were you doing? Good heavens, look at you!"
She pulled out a handkerchief from her back pocket hastily and rubbed off a smear on his cheek. Megumi clearly noted the blush in his face that flickered across, as well as a bead of sweat that rolled down his brow.
"We're fixing the van, Kaoru-dono. Can you tell me where the-"
"No need for that Kenshin, I'll show you where it is, whatever you're looking for. Excuse us Megumi-san."
Little Tanuki didn't notice the sly smirk that glanced up at both of them, whereas Kenshin shuddered at the pair of fox ears that began to make their way up her head.
But then again Megumi herself hadn't noticed Kaoru give her a small wink before exiting the room.
*-.,.-*
"Umm...I think it should be...oh, here it is."
Kaoru handed Kenshin the wrench and he took it.
"Katajikenai de gozaru. (Thank you) Kaoru-dono, might I ask you a question?"
She looked up from organizing the materials on the rack of the garage.
"Hmm?"
He grinned innocently as he fondled the wrench in both of his hands.
"What was so funny, earlier?"
For a second, he could have sworn she was made of pure ice, with her position unchanged and her hands still stretched out before her. There wasn't so much of a response except a little cough and a hint of pink at her cheeks. She waved a hand at him and guided him out the garage door gently.
"It's...a woman-thing Kenshin..."
"A woman-thing, de gozaru ka?"
"Yes..."
"Like what, shaving cycles?"
"Well...actually no, not really..."
"Fashion tips? Cute...things...?"
"No, NO. It's all deep and complicated, Kenshin. It's nothing that sort of-"
"Deeper and complicated de gozaru ka? You mean, periods?"
"KENSHIN NO BAKAA~!!!!" (KENSHIN YOU IDIOT~!!!!)
*-.,.-*
"Aoshi-sama, did you just hear something?"
Aoshi looked at Misao, who was listening for sounds curiously as they rummaged around their tools to find a screwdriver to fix the van. His face was unchanged and blank, and he examined a pair of pliers intently, refusing to be distracted.
"Kaoru."
"Oh."
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"My goodness, she certainly didn't have to smack you THAT hard, did she Ken-san? I'm afraid the lump on your head will only heal with an ice pack..."
Kenshin smiled warily at Megumi and rubbed his head that was still stinging sore from the blow.
"Katajikenai de gozaru, Megumi-dono. It's my fault that I was too direct."
"Don't you worry, she's just sensitive."
"Megumi-dono?"
"Yes?"
Kenshin looked around the room, making sure that the doors were closed behind them. He then turned back to Megumi and whispered in a low voice.
"What were you and Kaoru-dono talking about earlier?"
She looked at him, surprised.
"Us? Oh Ken-san, I had no idea you were so nosy!"
"I apologize Megumi-dono. It's just either that my ears failed me, or I heard my name somewhere in the conversation..."
At that point, he couldn't decide whether it was his deceiving eyes or some capricious illusion. Megumi was looking oddly enough like a grinning fox, chuckling lightly to herself.
"Oh Ken-san..."
She pointed a finger at him and poked him lightly in the shoulder, just so that he tipped over slightly in his sitting position.
"You'll see soon, I assure you greatly."
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"Oh, Kaoru-chan, I'm so proud of you!"
Kaoru looked up from washing vegetables in the sink, in preparation for dinner. Tae came bustling over through the kitchen doorway with excited sparks lighting her face.
"Eh? What's this about, Tae-san?"
Tae hugged Kaoru tightly and clapped her hands together.
"He's finally agreed, Kaoru-chan, he's going to become a member!"
"Who?"
"Himura-san, who else?"
Kaoru stared blankly at the woman for a second.
"Really?"
"Does this face look like I'm lying?"
Kaoru suddenly tossed the carrot she was holding behind her and flung her arms around Tae, filling the tiny kitchen with shouts and squeals of great enthusiasm.
"YATTA~!!!!!" (YAY~!!!!!)
At that point, Kenshin poked his head in, still holding an ice pack to his swollen bump.
"Nani goto de gozaru ka, Kaoru-dono, Tae-dono?" (What's happened, Kaoru, Tae?)
Kaoru lit her eyes up like gems being rotated in the light so they glanced off brightly at the sight of him. Before he could utter another word, he found his free hand entwined with hers and was hastily dragged out the door as she ran.
"Sano, Aoshi, Misao!!! He's going to jo~in!!!!!"
Tae watched the two young ones go scampering out the back door in their excitement, and she sighed happily as imagined possible futures for the two of them, holding hands.
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"Heh, what did I tell ya, Ao-chan, eh? I knew he was gonna join..."
Aoshi sipped his sake calmly as Sano, drunk beyond limits, hiccupped his victory in their bet. He watched blankly as the ex-gangster poured himself some more.
"I resent being called that, Sano."
"Whaaat? You no like *hic* Ao-chan~?"
"No Sano, I hate it."
"Awweee, but *hic* Ao-chan~~"
"No."
"Ao-"
"Just shut up."
Sano swayed greatly to one side, then suddenly threw himself into Aoshi next to him as he bear hugged the icicle man affectionately. Well, maybe a little TOO affectionately...
"Sano, get off me."
"Awe, but Ao*hic*chan, you need some man to man *hic* contact once in a *hic* while..."
"No, I hate any sort of contact coming from you. Now get off."
"Is Ao-chan being *hic* shy~?"
"Sano-"
Sano fluttered his eyes open only to meet a fist. Too bad he didn't see the fist long enough to get to know it. His face was already too busy meeting a concrete wall.
"-I said get off."
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Kaoru and Kenshin looked up at the shoji doors after hearing a harsh sound coming from its other side. They heard Aoshi calmly shuffle to his feet and walk away, leaving a moaning voice (clearly drunk) to mumble about happy things in his sleep.
"Man to man *hic* contact isn't as *hic* ba~d as you *hic* think, Ao-chan~~~~~"
Kaoru twitched a little and smiled at Kenshin as he looked at her, slightly warily.
"I-It's just Sano, don't worry."
"Is he alright?"
"He's...himself-"
She looked around the room, with everyone on the floor either fast asleep or sprawled out, dazed. The stench of sake was beginning to get over-powering.
"-as is everyone else..."
"I'm sure it was just the sake, Kaoru-dono. I haven't even seen Tae-dono act so...so..."
Kenshin was lost for words. Kaoru held up a hand to silence him.
"Please don't describe it Kenshin. Let's leave the room and retreat to sleep, shall we?"
The two of them left the room in silence, stepping over drunk bodies quietly snoring to themselves in happy thoughts. Tomorrow was bound to be a crabby day for all of them, being that none of the people of the Sparrow Theatre group were strong with alcohol.
Kenshin stopped at his room, as did Kaoru, to say good night. As he was about to speak, she unexpectedly brought a hand to his arm and gripped it lightly.
"Oyasumi nasai (good night) Kenshin, and-"
She boldly took a step forward and neared her face to his. She paused one slight moment before bringing her lips to his scarred cheek, making his flesh burn at the contact. She hastily stepped away and lowered her eyes in embarrassment.
"-thank you, for making everyone so happy, including me."
With that she smiled and turned away, silently walking down the hallway with flowing steps of an elegant woman. Kenshin watched as she slid open the door to her room and looked at him one more time, giving him a small bow before entering and closing the door shut behind her.
"My thanks to you too, Kaoru-dono. You've made me equally joyous tonight, just as I'd made you happy."
And he too, retired to his room for well-deserved sleep in contented thoughts.
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
TO BE CONTINUED...
I hope you are all pleased with Kenshin's answer! Happy reading! ^__^