Disclaimer: Kenshin is not mine!
Chapter 11:
The three sat around the table chatting lightly, waiting for the last and final 'member' of their group. "Where on earth did you go? Plus you never even sent a letter. You have no idea how worried we were."
"You act as though I'm a family member." Sano smirked.
"We are family." Kaoru gazed at him. "What has this not felt like family?"
"I never said that. I guess, besides the Seikihoutai(whoa sp?), I do consider us family. A little odd I suppose, but never the less family." Kaoru smiled.
"So, the rooster boy finally shows." A sultry voice came from the doorway.
"Oh and I see the fox lady returned." He smirked.
"Is that you under all that hair? Have you not bathed in a month or two?" Megumi pinched her nose.
"What no 'Hello, where the hell have you been?'"
"We need to clean you up. That's all I care about right now. Kaoru could you help?" She said as she tugged on Sano's dirty white shirt. It still had the symbol of 'bad' on it.
"Oi! What are you?"
"Throwing you in the bath! Then, we're gonna trim you up."
"Kenshin! Oi! Kenshin, a little help here?" He pleaded as he was dragged by the women.
"Sorry Sano, demo you really do need to get cleaned up, that you do." He chuckled.
"That's so not right! Kenshin!"
"Stop acting like such a child. Let me warm up some water." Megumi dropped him to the ground.
"Jo-chan? Why are you on her side?" He whined.
"Because if I'm not she won't teach me how to cook."
"You cook? Hahahahaha!!" Kaoru's eyes narrowed and she whacked him over the head.
"Baka! I'm gonna learn from the best! Tae-san and Megumi."
"Bath's ready..." *sweat drop* "Ano..Kaoru dear did you?" Sanosuke was unconscious on the ground.
After the bath had been accomplished and his clothed cleaned all that was left was his hair. "You look like you're 30! Gosh what a mess." Megumi said as she ruffled his tangled mess of hair. She took a blade, sharpened it and shaved the man.
"OW! God woman!"
"Don't make me do it again." He shut up and she placed a cloth on his cheek where she had cut too close. "Now for this hair." She winced as she tried to figure out what to do with it at first. She took the shears and cut until his spiky hair was restored. She smiled at her accomplishment. "Whew.I'm exhausted. This is worse than looking at patients." Megumi handed him a mirror. "There, better, ne?" She sighed as she tied his red headband back on. He stared wide-eyed at himself. Megumi had done an excellent job. 'How do I thank her?'
"Ummm."
"Huh?"
"Arigato. I feel much better." She smiled and nodded her head. Megumi took his hand and led him outside where everyone was relaxing. He blushed as she held his hand.
"Introducing the new and improved Sanosuke Sagara!" Ooooo's and ahhhh's could be heard throughout the crowd of three people.
"Great job Megumi! He looks like the same Sano, finally!" Kaoru cried excitedly.
"Why thank you." She took a bow. "Now it's time for dinner, ne? How about ohagi?"
"Yeah!" Yahiko yelled. A half an hour later 2 dozen of the ohagis came out on the table. Sanosuke and Yahiko were at it like old times, fighting over the food. "Oi! That one was mine!"
"Nu uh! I touched it first!"
"There's plenty here, that there is." Kenshin and the women looked on as the two plowed through the ohagi.
"Well I must be leaving. I might not be able to come over tomorrow, depending on how busy I am. See you later!"
"Bye and thanks for the wonderful meal."
"No problem."
"Sayonara." Sanosuke said with his mouth full. She sighed and smiled back at him.
"This is so great! Everyone is back and things are looking up." Kaoru said as she looked around the table. She then noticed: the food was all gone. "You pigs! I only had three!"
"Yeah and that's more than enough for you." Yahiko smirked. Kaoru shot up with flames in her eyes.
"Shouldn't have said that Yahiko." Sano sighed as he scratched his head. "Have you had to put up with this everyday?" He asked Kenshin, who nodded his head, yes. "Feel bad for you, but then again wouldn't it have become boring around here?"
"Hai, it was rather boring without you here anyway."
"I told that brat to move out and go over to my place. Did he?"
"No. It's still empty, just how you left it."
"Might as well go home, ne?"
"If you want, demo you can always stay here."
"Naw. Ne, Kenshin?"
"Oro?"
"I bet it's been hard to get some time alone in this dojo with Yahiko around, hasn't it?" He elbowed him playfully and winked. Kenshin only nodded his head and blushed. "I'll take him with me."
"Is there enough room?"
"Oh yeah and if there isn't he'll just have to go elsewhere. Kaoru will be glad to get him out of the house, ne?"
"I guess so."
"What are you two talking about?" Kaoru said as she caught her breath.
"Yahiko is moving in with me."
"I'm what?"
"Moving in with me at my place and didn't I tell you to move in there. It's been sitting there all this time, unused. Well, it's is getting late. Yahiko gather you stuff. Clothes and bedding. We're moving."
"Now?" The boy questioned.
"Hai, now." He ran to his room and gathered the few belongings he had: his clothes, his bedding, and his practice sword. "Hurry up." He said as he tapped his foot.
"He could leave tomorrow, Sanosuke."
"No, tonight is fine, plus this way we won't have to worry about it later, ne?" He smirked. Kaoru realized why he was doing this: it was for her and Kenshin so they could finally be alone. She was a little saddened that Yahiko was leaving the dojo, but her other thoughts consumed over the sad ones.
"Ready." He sighed.
"Good, well goodnight."
"Goodnight."
"Sayonara." Kenshin said as he grabbed onto Kaoru's hand. They watched the two as they walked down the road.
"We're alone."
"Oro?"
"Demo, I'm a little sad. I think, just like I missed Sanosuke, I'll miss Yahiko staying here." A tear trickled down her face and Kenshin put his finger on her face to catch it.
"Don't cry. They'll only be a matter of minutes away, that they will."
"It's my house again. The Kamiya residence is finally restored. Ooops I meant Himura residence." Kenshin smiled and sweeped her off of her feet; carrying her into the bedroom. "Kenshin?"
"I've waited for the perfect moment for this." His kissed her passionately. She was dazed; he didn't waste any time. Kaoru slipped out of her kimono and pulled him on top of her, undoing his purplish red kimono off of him. His body was scarred and almost fragile looking.
"Oh Kenshin.."
"I know." He sighed, "They're a constant reminder of all the hurt in this world I've caused. I will never forget." She realized how horrible his life must have been. He'd been used and then betrayed. How did he even manage to smile day in and day out? "But, I have you and you've helped me realize happiness once again, something I had lost. I love you, my Kaoru." He enveloped her body with his warmth and they joined as one, finally. She reached up and touched his scar, unintentionally. He pulled away; his eyes grew wide. "What am I doing?"
"Kenshin?"
"I don't deserve to be happy. Why would I have that right? I don't have that right." Kaoru became angry.
"Now you listen to me!" She pulled him on top of her again making sure his eyes stayed glued to hers, if he tried to pull away. "I know you've been hurt and I know how you feel about your wrong-doings, demo you've wasted many precious years always thinking about that. You have paid your debt to the world. You defeated many a foe that dare threaten the peace of Japan and you've gotten hurt in the process. Let go of the guilt! Just let it go!" She began to sob and not once did he look away from her, "You deserve happiness for the lives you have saved. You saved my life, you saved my soul, Kenshin." He was speechless.
"I saved 'your' soul?"
"Yes you did, Kenshin. I was all alone until you showed up. My parents were gone and the only person who came to see me was Dr, Gensai and my few students. I was often alone in this dojo. You don't know how much happiness you gave me when you said you'd stay here. You saved me from my loneliness."
"I never realized."
"You have such a warm heart. Please don't take it away from me. I'd be lost and cold. I love you more than life itself." He sighed and got off of her, retreating to his place in the bed beside her. Kenshin wrapped his arms around her.
"I would never do such a thing. I'll never leave you alone."
"When you said goodbye and left for Kyoto.." He looked at her and caressed her cheek as she spoke, "I thought I'd lose you forever. I didn't want you to become a rurouni again."
"I didn't want to leave you behind, demo I had to or you would have been hurt or killed. It was for your protection."
"I know that now, but then, but then it was horrible."
"Gomen."
"It's in the past, among many other things. Let's forget about the past or at least the depressing parts." She giggled. Kaoru placed a soft kiss on his cheek as she shut her eyes. "I'm glad we had this time together Kenshin, to talk and.."
"Hai, this is what we needed."
"And it's all thanks to Sanosuke." They both laughed. "Now I have one more question."
"Oro?" He blinked as she spoke.
"How many?"
"How many what?"
"We've already decided."
"Oh you mean.."
"We're having kids, ne?"
"Hai."
"Well how many do we want?"
"It's up to you, that it is. Like I said before you are the woman." She snuggled into his body a little closer.
"No less than two." She said proudly. He just smiled; he never thought he'd have a family. Kaoru yawned and drifted off to sleep. Kenshin kissed her forehead and rested his head on his pillow; the last thing he saw that night was her sleeping face and that was all he needed.
Chapter 11:
The three sat around the table chatting lightly, waiting for the last and final 'member' of their group. "Where on earth did you go? Plus you never even sent a letter. You have no idea how worried we were."
"You act as though I'm a family member." Sano smirked.
"We are family." Kaoru gazed at him. "What has this not felt like family?"
"I never said that. I guess, besides the Seikihoutai(whoa sp?), I do consider us family. A little odd I suppose, but never the less family." Kaoru smiled.
"So, the rooster boy finally shows." A sultry voice came from the doorway.
"Oh and I see the fox lady returned." He smirked.
"Is that you under all that hair? Have you not bathed in a month or two?" Megumi pinched her nose.
"What no 'Hello, where the hell have you been?'"
"We need to clean you up. That's all I care about right now. Kaoru could you help?" She said as she tugged on Sano's dirty white shirt. It still had the symbol of 'bad' on it.
"Oi! What are you?"
"Throwing you in the bath! Then, we're gonna trim you up."
"Kenshin! Oi! Kenshin, a little help here?" He pleaded as he was dragged by the women.
"Sorry Sano, demo you really do need to get cleaned up, that you do." He chuckled.
"That's so not right! Kenshin!"
"Stop acting like such a child. Let me warm up some water." Megumi dropped him to the ground.
"Jo-chan? Why are you on her side?" He whined.
"Because if I'm not she won't teach me how to cook."
"You cook? Hahahahaha!!" Kaoru's eyes narrowed and she whacked him over the head.
"Baka! I'm gonna learn from the best! Tae-san and Megumi."
"Bath's ready..." *sweat drop* "Ano..Kaoru dear did you?" Sanosuke was unconscious on the ground.
After the bath had been accomplished and his clothed cleaned all that was left was his hair. "You look like you're 30! Gosh what a mess." Megumi said as she ruffled his tangled mess of hair. She took a blade, sharpened it and shaved the man.
"OW! God woman!"
"Don't make me do it again." He shut up and she placed a cloth on his cheek where she had cut too close. "Now for this hair." She winced as she tried to figure out what to do with it at first. She took the shears and cut until his spiky hair was restored. She smiled at her accomplishment. "Whew.I'm exhausted. This is worse than looking at patients." Megumi handed him a mirror. "There, better, ne?" She sighed as she tied his red headband back on. He stared wide-eyed at himself. Megumi had done an excellent job. 'How do I thank her?'
"Ummm."
"Huh?"
"Arigato. I feel much better." She smiled and nodded her head. Megumi took his hand and led him outside where everyone was relaxing. He blushed as she held his hand.
"Introducing the new and improved Sanosuke Sagara!" Ooooo's and ahhhh's could be heard throughout the crowd of three people.
"Great job Megumi! He looks like the same Sano, finally!" Kaoru cried excitedly.
"Why thank you." She took a bow. "Now it's time for dinner, ne? How about ohagi?"
"Yeah!" Yahiko yelled. A half an hour later 2 dozen of the ohagis came out on the table. Sanosuke and Yahiko were at it like old times, fighting over the food. "Oi! That one was mine!"
"Nu uh! I touched it first!"
"There's plenty here, that there is." Kenshin and the women looked on as the two plowed through the ohagi.
"Well I must be leaving. I might not be able to come over tomorrow, depending on how busy I am. See you later!"
"Bye and thanks for the wonderful meal."
"No problem."
"Sayonara." Sanosuke said with his mouth full. She sighed and smiled back at him.
"This is so great! Everyone is back and things are looking up." Kaoru said as she looked around the table. She then noticed: the food was all gone. "You pigs! I only had three!"
"Yeah and that's more than enough for you." Yahiko smirked. Kaoru shot up with flames in her eyes.
"Shouldn't have said that Yahiko." Sano sighed as he scratched his head. "Have you had to put up with this everyday?" He asked Kenshin, who nodded his head, yes. "Feel bad for you, but then again wouldn't it have become boring around here?"
"Hai, it was rather boring without you here anyway."
"I told that brat to move out and go over to my place. Did he?"
"No. It's still empty, just how you left it."
"Might as well go home, ne?"
"If you want, demo you can always stay here."
"Naw. Ne, Kenshin?"
"Oro?"
"I bet it's been hard to get some time alone in this dojo with Yahiko around, hasn't it?" He elbowed him playfully and winked. Kenshin only nodded his head and blushed. "I'll take him with me."
"Is there enough room?"
"Oh yeah and if there isn't he'll just have to go elsewhere. Kaoru will be glad to get him out of the house, ne?"
"I guess so."
"What are you two talking about?" Kaoru said as she caught her breath.
"Yahiko is moving in with me."
"I'm what?"
"Moving in with me at my place and didn't I tell you to move in there. It's been sitting there all this time, unused. Well, it's is getting late. Yahiko gather you stuff. Clothes and bedding. We're moving."
"Now?" The boy questioned.
"Hai, now." He ran to his room and gathered the few belongings he had: his clothes, his bedding, and his practice sword. "Hurry up." He said as he tapped his foot.
"He could leave tomorrow, Sanosuke."
"No, tonight is fine, plus this way we won't have to worry about it later, ne?" He smirked. Kaoru realized why he was doing this: it was for her and Kenshin so they could finally be alone. She was a little saddened that Yahiko was leaving the dojo, but her other thoughts consumed over the sad ones.
"Ready." He sighed.
"Good, well goodnight."
"Goodnight."
"Sayonara." Kenshin said as he grabbed onto Kaoru's hand. They watched the two as they walked down the road.
"We're alone."
"Oro?"
"Demo, I'm a little sad. I think, just like I missed Sanosuke, I'll miss Yahiko staying here." A tear trickled down her face and Kenshin put his finger on her face to catch it.
"Don't cry. They'll only be a matter of minutes away, that they will."
"It's my house again. The Kamiya residence is finally restored. Ooops I meant Himura residence." Kenshin smiled and sweeped her off of her feet; carrying her into the bedroom. "Kenshin?"
"I've waited for the perfect moment for this." His kissed her passionately. She was dazed; he didn't waste any time. Kaoru slipped out of her kimono and pulled him on top of her, undoing his purplish red kimono off of him. His body was scarred and almost fragile looking.
"Oh Kenshin.."
"I know." He sighed, "They're a constant reminder of all the hurt in this world I've caused. I will never forget." She realized how horrible his life must have been. He'd been used and then betrayed. How did he even manage to smile day in and day out? "But, I have you and you've helped me realize happiness once again, something I had lost. I love you, my Kaoru." He enveloped her body with his warmth and they joined as one, finally. She reached up and touched his scar, unintentionally. He pulled away; his eyes grew wide. "What am I doing?"
"Kenshin?"
"I don't deserve to be happy. Why would I have that right? I don't have that right." Kaoru became angry.
"Now you listen to me!" She pulled him on top of her again making sure his eyes stayed glued to hers, if he tried to pull away. "I know you've been hurt and I know how you feel about your wrong-doings, demo you've wasted many precious years always thinking about that. You have paid your debt to the world. You defeated many a foe that dare threaten the peace of Japan and you've gotten hurt in the process. Let go of the guilt! Just let it go!" She began to sob and not once did he look away from her, "You deserve happiness for the lives you have saved. You saved my life, you saved my soul, Kenshin." He was speechless.
"I saved 'your' soul?"
"Yes you did, Kenshin. I was all alone until you showed up. My parents were gone and the only person who came to see me was Dr, Gensai and my few students. I was often alone in this dojo. You don't know how much happiness you gave me when you said you'd stay here. You saved me from my loneliness."
"I never realized."
"You have such a warm heart. Please don't take it away from me. I'd be lost and cold. I love you more than life itself." He sighed and got off of her, retreating to his place in the bed beside her. Kenshin wrapped his arms around her.
"I would never do such a thing. I'll never leave you alone."
"When you said goodbye and left for Kyoto.." He looked at her and caressed her cheek as she spoke, "I thought I'd lose you forever. I didn't want you to become a rurouni again."
"I didn't want to leave you behind, demo I had to or you would have been hurt or killed. It was for your protection."
"I know that now, but then, but then it was horrible."
"Gomen."
"It's in the past, among many other things. Let's forget about the past or at least the depressing parts." She giggled. Kaoru placed a soft kiss on his cheek as she shut her eyes. "I'm glad we had this time together Kenshin, to talk and.."
"Hai, this is what we needed."
"And it's all thanks to Sanosuke." They both laughed. "Now I have one more question."
"Oro?" He blinked as she spoke.
"How many?"
"How many what?"
"We've already decided."
"Oh you mean.."
"We're having kids, ne?"
"Hai."
"Well how many do we want?"
"It's up to you, that it is. Like I said before you are the woman." She snuggled into his body a little closer.
"No less than two." She said proudly. He just smiled; he never thought he'd have a family. Kaoru yawned and drifted off to sleep. Kenshin kissed her forehead and rested his head on his pillow; the last thing he saw that night was her sleeping face and that was all he needed.