Special thanks to: Ichingo-kun; Rekka's Angel; Chandra; Chiruken; Selph; KekoYasha-
San. Hope that you all will enjoy this chapter. And to all the others who read this.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Rurouni Kenshin characters.
Characters are slightly OOC
SANO'S PAST
Previously:
All of the sudden, going back to the dojo did not seem so great.
Collecting their nerves, they continued on, thinking how to explain everything to Kenshin, and possibly the Battousai.
And Now:
Outside the Kamiya Dojo gates, Sano and Kaoru paused. The moment of truth was upon them. Sano couldn't help but have a bad feeling, as Kaoru reached for the bucket of tofu in his hands.
"Oi, Jou-chan. Maybe I should hang onto the tofu."
"What?" Kaoru was hoping that she could hold it. As useless as it maybe, it would hold at least as a barrier between her and Kenshin.
As if reading her thought, for he had the same idea, Sano spoke, "Don't worry. Kenshin would never hurt you. Now, I'm another story…lets go."
For some reason the gate seemed to let out a great loud, long, fore warning groan, when it opened. It made the two flinch. So much for gong in quietly and being semi unnoticed.
"Maybe I should go home."
"Sano, you can't. You started all of this, and you have to face Kenshin. The sooner the dinner is over the sooner we can get back to our normal lives." Kaoru hissed in a whisper.
"Sano, Kaoru. Why are you two so late?" asked an angry voice.
The two jumped at the new voice, only to let out a breath of air on who it belonged to.
"Kenshin can't start lunch without the tofu, and I am starving," complained Yahiko.
"Hehehe." Yahiko wasn't sure what was going on, but at the mention of Kenshin's name, both Kaoru and Sano tensed up. Now, they were doing the weirdest nervous laugh, with a trace of fear.
"Yahiko, please come into the kitchen and cut the vegetables."
"Ah, Kenshin!" Yahiko was going to complain, but the look on Kenshin's face told the boy to obey. Kenshin was immediately aware when pair came home, he was also aware of their pale faces and nervous laughter on what Yahiko asked. He exited out of the kitchen as Yahiko stepped into it, and out of sight.
"Hello Kenshin." Kaoru waved. Kenshin could not help but to smiled. However, it turned into a frown as he noticed their behavior. He knew that they were hiding something from him.
"What happened?" he asked in a less rurouni voice.
"What do you mean, old pal, good friend of mine?" Kenshin's eyes narrowed at Sano.
"What happened?" Kaoru stepped slightly forward, however at the time she wasn't sure that it was such a good idea, seeing how Kenshin's eyes were starting to change color.
"Well, you see Kenshin, it's kind of funny. Sano and I were on our way home…"
"…When we ran into an old friend of mine. Well, he actually surrounded us. Anyways he kind of wanted to call upon an old, meaningless, not very important, small, very small, little, promise. If fact it was so small that I'm surprised that he remembered…"
"Sano, you're stalling. Tell me." came Kenshin's cool voice.
"See I promised to mar…marry his twin sister. But that was when I was still Zanza, and I'm no longer that man."
"But see, he threatened to kill us Kenshin, if Sano didn't fulfill the promise. Sano didn't want to hurt the man, since he went through all of that trouble, so he came up with an alternative." Kenshin raised an eyebrow. He looked from Kaoru to Sano, both of them refusing to talk.
Kaoru nudged Sano, as he turned and looked at her questionably. Kaoru responded with a head gesture, telling Sano to tell Kenshin. Sano gave her an, are-you-crazy look. Her look became a you-better-tell-him glare. Finally, he gave in.
"So I told him…mumble, mumble."
"Sano." threatened Kenshin.
"I told Yoru that Kaoru and I were getting married, and he's coming over for diner."
"…"
The wind stopped blowing, the birds stopped singing, and the bugs stopped buzzing. In fact, all sound and movement seemed to stop.
'Did it just get all quiet here?' thought Sano.
"Kaoru?"
"It's true Kenshin, and I agreed. Sano said that they would leave after we told Yoru about our engagement. He promised to do anything, and the dojo still needs a lot of work. We don't have a lot of money, so I thought that Sano could do the work." Kaoru twiddled her thumbs, swaying on one foot then the other. She refused to make eye contact.
"Koshii," Kenshin's voice was loving, without blame. Kaoru looked up, a slight blush came to her cheeks as her eyes came in contact with his loving face.
"Yes, Kenshin?" she asked sheeply as he took her hand.
"Will you please go inside and cut the vegetables with Yahiko. I will be in shortly with the tofu (AN: remember that Sano has the tofu)." Kaoru nodded and headed for the kitchen. Kenshin kept his loving gaze on her while she walked away and as her hand slowly left his grasp. Once she left his eyesight, Sano thought that he had some hope.
He was wrong.
As soon as Kenshin turned towards Sano, his aura changed. His eyes golden.
Softly Kenshin spoke, "Shame on you Sano, using Kaoru's good nature," Kenshin paused as if he was in deep thought. Making a decision he spoke once more, "I will not have Kaoru's lunch ruined. Put the tofu down Sano."
"No, it's the only thing protecting me."
"Put it down."
"No."
"Yes."
"Don't wanna." Sano practically hugged the tofu bucket against his body.
Kenshin let out a chuckle, a very mean chuckle. "Do you really think that holding the tofu will save you, do you, Sano? I have ways of getting around the tofu without damaging it." Kenshin hissed stepping into a battoujutsu stance. The amber look in his eyes told Sano that he was not lying.
Nope, he was being straightforward, painfully, honest.
"Kenshin, as much as I love visiting the kitsune, I would prefer to be conscious, this time."
Kenshin gave him a simple, evil, smirk.
Kaoru and Yahiko were in the kitchen doing as Kenshin said, when they heard aloud crashing sound outside, followed by a pathetic "ouch."
Kenshin walked in seconds later, his eyes violet, wearing a bright smile on his face. In his hands was the bucket of undamaged tofu.
&&&&&&&&&&&
After Lunch, Yahiko went off to do his usual five hundred swings, as the three adults remained sitting, discussing their current position. Sano tried his best not to move too much, after all, his ribs still hurt.
"So, maybe you should cook dinner and take Yahiko out tonight, Kenshin." Sano flinched when Kenshin looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"I don't know Sano. I think that Kaoru should cook."
"But, Yoru might force Kaoru and I apart…not that there is anything really going on with the two of us. It's just he might refuse to acknowledge our fake engagement and force me to marry his sister." Kaoru remained silent. She really wanted to add to Sano's pain, but since he was already injured…
"I disagree Sano. If Kaoru was to cook, and you would eat it, it would show how much you love her and are committed to the relationship."
Kaoru gave Kenshin a questioning look.
"Fear not koshii. I believe that you are a wonderful cook." Kaoru smiled at that. The couple then turned to Sano's slightly panic look. Kenshin was making it all to clear that Kaoru would cook.
"I guess you're right," two smiles filled that room, one was of excitement, and the other was more sinister. Kaoru got up and headed towards the kitchen.
"I better get started then." Kenshin remained seated.
'Payback is going to be fun,' thought Kenshin. Sano paled, as he understood what Kenshin was planning, he was planning revenge.
Kaoru was more than happy. She did not get to cook food for many people very often. For some reason, they found it hard to forget when the whole place smelled like burnt fish. They had to camp outside in the forest for a week after that. But she would not let it get her down, no-siree. Yep, she was not a quitter. Besides, Kenshin was there observing her, to make sure no rehaps would happen. Oddly enough though, he did not once help her. He would just sit there watching her with a big smile on his face, offering no advice. Once in awhile she would swear that she heard him crackle a few times, or make a funny snorting sound, trying to cover up a laugh. Yet, every time she turned to look at him, he would just smile lovingly to her, encouraging her to continue, with no trace of humor in his face.
Very strange indeed.
He was having a hell of a time keeping his laughter to himself. Kaoru almost caught him a few times laughing, and he was sure that she heard him too. Yet, every time she would look at him, he exercised the greatest control. He was in the kitchen for one purpose only. Since he could not be there to witness the dinner, he had to see what she would cook. He was not disappointed.
He could only imagine what the dinner would be like. It was not that Kaoru was a horrible cook, she really was getting better, but she was too excited about cooking, and paid less and less attention to what ingredients she was adding.
And how much of what she was adding. He was sure that Miso Soup did not require that much sake. Oh well, if it doesn't all get cooked out, at least they would all be happy, very happy. He snorted once again.
%%%%%%%%%%%
It was time for Kenshin and Yahiko to leave. The boy wished Sano good luck, not feeling one bit sorry, that he was leaving. Kenshin kissed Kaoru on the cheek.
"See you in the morning, koshii."
"Bye." Kaoru blushed once more. Boy, did he love seeing her blush.
Yoru arrived awhile later in western clothing. The 'happy' couple greeted him with bright smiles on their faces. Kaoru was dressed in a red kimono, whereas Sano was in his usual white and black outfit.
"I see that you and Kaoru are ready. It was my misfortune to realize that I did not know where the dinner was going to be. Thankfully, a kind man with red hair told me I was looking for the Kamiya Dojo," Yoru looked around. "Not too bad. Yet nothing compared to where Yara and I live."
"Oi, Yoru. Don't insult my Jou-chan."
Yoru bowed. "You are right Sagara. That was rude of me. Please for give me Kamiya-san."
"All is forgiven. Now please come inside, I have tea ready, and dinner should be done shortly."
Unknown to Yoru, he was walking into a dinner he would never forget, or maybe it would all become a distant memory to him. It all depended on how well he held his liquor.
Once settled at the table, they began with the miso soup, which had a oddly, familiar, strong, smell to it. After one taste, Sano let out a laugh.
"Boy Jou-chan. That is sure some flavor you added." Perhaps dinner would not be so bad. After all, Sano had a slightly high tolerance to sake, Yoru's tolerance was not as high, and Kaoru, well, Kaoru's…
"Oi, Jou-chan. Perhaps you shouldn't have any right now. Why don't you get the rest of the food." Kaoru gave Sano a death glair. 'What's wrong with me having the soup?' she wondered. That thought ended when she took a sip.
"Perhaps you're right. Excuse me." Kaoru stood and went to get the rest of the food. Sano had to keep his laughter in, when he saw Yoru finished the soup, with a pale look on his face. After all, honor forbade him to be rude and not finish it.
The sake flavored miso soup made the rest of the food tolerable. For that Sano was thankful.
Near the end of the dinner, Yoru's speech became slurred, he even told some very embarrassing stories about himself. One of which was running around town naked, saying "I am a pretty, pretty butterfly, and a gazelle." No one could really figure out what he meant by that. He also, shocked Kaoru by jumping onto the table (thankfully it didn't break), and started to strip dance. Apparently he was ready to run around naked again while repeating the butterfly/gazelle sutra.
Sano thought that that was enough and pulled Yoru off the table. However, Yoru felt offended to this.
"SagARA. How, dares you do that to me. Prepared to dieee." Yoru picked up a pair of chopsticks and started to chase Sano all across the lawn, not very gracefully I might add. It ended when Sano, trying to evade the chopsticks, fell into the laundry bucket still filled with the dirty water. Apparently, Sano was a bit intoxicated himself.
It took him five tries till he got out of the buck, swearing that it was a possessed bucket sent to steal his soul, and chased after Yoru with his own chopsticks. Kaoru really wished that Kenshin was there share in this moment with her. Silently, she cleaned the kitchen, and plates, and headed to her room to sleep. The two drunks, still outside fighting with chopsticks like they were swords.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
The morning sight was one to behold. In the dirty laundry bucket rested Sano. His shirt (or gi, not sure what it is called) collar was halfway on the top of his head. The chopsticks were up his nose. Yoru apparently woke up sooner and left for home before anyone saw him.
Yep, Sano had the honor of waking up to see, Kaoru, Kenshin, Megumi, and Yahiko, laughing at him. Trying to save some face, he got out of the bucket (only taking one try this time), straightened his gi collar back to his shoulders, and headed towards a spare room with his chin held high.
As soon as he left, a group of laughter was let out. The others really wanted to question Kaoru on what happened last night, when they were interrupted.
Saito walked through the open gates.
"I need to talk to you." He spoke directly to Kaoru.
Kaoru could feel the tension between the manslayer and ex-manslayer, so she though of the only thing she could.
"Kenshin, could you please make some breakfast." Kenshin saw the pleading look on her face and agreed. Once gone, Saito smirked.
"What is this about Saito?" asked a ticked Kaoru. He looked down at her.
"Complaints of two men fighting with chopsticks. Making lots of noise, saying lines such as," Saito cleared his throat, "'I'm a pretty, pretty butterfly, and a gazelle.'" The remaining gang tried their best not to laugh. Just hearing those words coming out of his mouth…no wonder he did not object to Kenshin's leave.
Holding onto a giggle, Kaoru spoke, "Sorry Saito. That was Sano and a friend of his getting a bit drunk." She smiled up at him.
Now to a stranger, lets say, wearing a green silk kimono, height shorter than Kaoru, with brownish-blond hair, and green eyes, who had an over active imagination, sees that smile, lets just say the gears start turning into a misunderstanding.
"HUSSY!" yelled a voice. The owner, just happened to be that stranger mentioned above, ran up to Kaoru in her green kimono, and pathetically slap Kaoru across the face.
"I heard rumors about you! A single woman, living with two men! I suppose he's one of your men." Accused the stranger, in discussed, pointing a finger at Saito. "Just wait till I tell my brother! Does Sano even know about this? Huh?!"
Kaoru was mad. How dare this, snobbish, weak, woman slap her! But then, the stranger's words came to mind. 'This must be Yara' thought Kaoru. 'Great, just great. Well I guess I better think of something fast.'
"You're mistaken. Saito is not just a man living with me. In fact, he's not living with me at all. This is my dojo and he's…he's my father."
T.B.C.
Next Chapter: Kaoru introduces Yara and Yoru to her 'family'. How will Saito respond?
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Once again, see any mistakes or misspellings, especially of Japanese words, please tell me.
Don't you just hate it when after you publish your work, that's when you find all of your mistakes?
If you have any ideas about what should happen next, please tell me.
Till next time.