Karta: I did it again! I'm so sorry. *much bowing* I always write a chapter and get stuck forever. I know this is really bad of me but I'm inching into the final stretch of this story so if you can forgive my incompetence for a while longer. . .

Oh! Now I'm taking up your time so please just go ahead with the story. I'll make my excuses later.

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Karou knew it was mean spirited. She really did. Still, the kendo instructor just couldn't help it. She was a little glad Kenshin was having his little identity crisis. For one it made him happier. That was a bit thoughtful, right? Secondly, he seemed to get bothered by thugs a lot less. Yes, that was defiantly a good thing. Still there was one plus to Kenshin's new-found feminine side that towered above all others.

"Wow, Kenshin! This is really tasty!" Karou complimented, between gulps. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"

"Why, from you, of course!" Kenshin smiled, piling more rice upon her plate.

Okay, compliments are good. But really, it was Kenshin's cooking that was most appreciated.

"Erm, Kenshin?" Karou slowed down, giving the food a skeptical look. "Where exactly did you get the ingredients for all these dishes anyway?" Sure, Kenshin, would never steal, but Katana. . .

"Oh! Well, the really nice men from the market gave them to me." Kenshin replied, politely.

"Really nice men?"

"Of course!" He giggled. "I went to look around the shops, when these nice men bumped into me. My tummy was a bit rumbley right then so they gave me food. They said that- that- what was the word? Oh yes! A hotie like me shouldn't have to go hungry."

"Uh huh. . ."

"What's a hotie, Karou-dono?

"……"

"Karou-dono?"

"I don't know, Kenshin. Now eat your rice."

There were downs to Kenshin's head injury. Yup, the downside to the whole ordeal was quite apparent. Still, Karou Kamayia was an optimist. Correction, is an optimist. She had one more positive note up her sleeve.

"Hey Kenshin," She began slowly. "Do you think you'd be up to some dancing today?"

"Oh! Of course Karou-dono!" Kenshin's eyes suddenly sparkled brighter. "I just love dancing! Will Sano be my partner today?"

"Oh. . ." Karou frowned slightly. "You know what? I think he promised to work at the Akabecko with Yahiko today. Tae went on vacation, and she promised to deduct from his debt if he'd help out."

"Really? Oh darn." Kenshin drooped visibly. "We can get started tomorrow then, I suppose." Karou looked at the former rurouni sadly.

'He was honestly looking forward to this.' Karou smiled at his enthusiasm. "You know what Kenshin. I'll get you someone to practice with. I promise."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I shouldn't have made that promise," Karou mumbled a few hours later, wallowing in her misery. At the time of said promise she was sure she knew at least one person who could dance with Kenshin. Usually she felt surrounded by males, and she was. Unfortunately, Saitoh remained missing since his little incident with Sano. Sano and Yahiko continued to lend a hand at the Akabecko. That decreased the number of suitable males to only a handful.

"Well, that's it!" Karou took the most determined stance she could. "I'll simply have to tell Kenshin I couldn't find anyone!"

All the way back to the dojo Karou pondered on ways to make it up to her red haired companion. Luckily the walk back was just lengthy enough.

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Meanwhile. . .

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"Come on, Aoshi-sama!" Misao grinned mischievously. "They won't know what hit 'em. I can see Himura now. We'll tell him and he'll get all swirly eyed and weird. 'Orororororoooooo'."

". . . . . . . . . . ."

"Hm?" Misao blinked, feeling a tad cross about his negative mood. "Now Aoshi-sama, I know it's embarrassing to lose to a red-headed weirdo like Himura but he is still the Battosai."

Aoshi remained silent until they reached the threshold of the dojo.

"There's no shame in losing to a superior warrior." He finally replied, in a soft tone.

"AOSHI-S-A-M-AAAAAA!!!!"

Aoshi had a moment to blink before the flash of pink and red latched on to him. The. . . Whatever it was firmly grabbed hold of his neck, before using its momentum to swing into a sitting position on one broad shoulder.

Warrior's instinct told him to knock the creature onto the ground, but one look at Misao's face said otherwise. Instead he merely shook the pink blur off. With a surprised squawk the young woman launched herself from Aoshi's shoulder, and landed gracefully on her sandal clad feet.

"Aoshi-sama[1]?" The girl seemed to be examining him. Quickly she circled, poked his stomach a few times and finally sat on the ground in what he supposed was deep thought. "You look quite different Aoshi-sama."

"Do- do you know this girl, Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked hesitantly. For a brief second Aoshi felt very grateful that he liked his name, considering the way the conversation was going. (A/N: Does that make any sense?)

"I. . ."

"Oh yes!," The girl smiled in a frighteningly large manner. "Aoshi and I go way back. Well, sort of. See we were in this big room at some mansion or another and I was yelling at Aoshi-sama, telling him that what he was doing was wrong. He said it wasn't in this really cool Aoshi lingo. Then-" She continued her commentary with a variety of grunts, screams, and hisses.

"Aoshi, is she . ." Misao frowned. "Your ex-girlfriend?"

"WHAT?!"

"Then he's all 'Shikijo. . .'"

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Karou stared at the scene playing out on her front lawn with a mix of amusement and horror.

"I'm sorry Aoshi-samaaa!" Kenshin screeched glancing over his shoulder as he fled. "Please don't hurt me! The laundry hasn't been done yet!"

"Hurt you?" Aoshi fought Misao's grasp. "I'll KILL you!"

"Karou-dono!" Kenshin hid behind the swordswoman. "Aoshi-sama's angry at me and I don't know WHY!"

"Um." Karou wisely didn't comment. Meanwhile Aoshi fought to regain his cool.

"I don't know who the hell you are!" Misao yelled. "But anyone who can get that kind of reaction out of Aoshi-sama can't be too bad." Aoshi sputtered.

"Er, Misao." Karou stepped aside, revealing Kenshin's shaking form. "I think you do know who this is." Karou gave the rurouni a pointed look.

"Hello. . . Misao-dono."

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[1] I wasn't sure if Kenshin would refer to Aoshi as 'Aoshi-dono' or 'Aoshi-sama', but I think 'Aoshi-sama' sounds better.

Alrighty then. My excuse. Well, I'm now enrolled in my school's Journalism course. Needless to say, in journalism we read many books on writing. Now that I've read so many books, all my descriptions (everything but dialogue) seems so clunky and bad. Really, I've been having trouble with everything I've tried to write.

The ideas are piling up, but I can't do anything with them. I'm just in a. . . not writer's block. What do you call it when you have many ideas, but can't express them properly? Jeez this has never happened before. . .

Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed or read! It really helps to have so much support. Please tell me if I'm getting any better! I really hope so. . .

Bye-bye!