Rurouni Kenshin

Eyes on Me

Chapter 6 ~ Visitors

By: C-Chan

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.  Do you think they'd trust someone like me with an anime series?

Warnings: More making fun of Aoshi, and out-of-control kids. ^^  

Notes: Yay!  You guys are so great!  The last I checked, I had 99 reviews!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!  That's the most reviews I've ever gotten on a story, and I'm so glad you guys are still with me!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Wheee….onto chapter 6!

……

            Something brief flashed in the man's unusually-colored eyes, but his face remained impassive, showing nothing.  "Thank you." And with that, he walked right back out the ER doors and into the night.

            Megumi raised an eyebrow, then picked up her clipboard.  Men.  She huffed mentally.

.……

            Kaoru groaned as she woke up that morning, the light from the rising sun blinding her.  Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, she eyed the clock on the nearby dresser as if it had created some problems against her.  It read 7:40 AM.

"It's too early." She whined, getting out of bed and stalking downstairs, where the tell-tale signs of breakfast-making were going on.  She raised her eyebrow as she saw Misao standing in front of the stove, making pancakes.  "Misao, what are you doing up?"

"Making breakfast for my best friend and boyfriend," She said, flipping one of the pancakes before turning a full-blast grin at her.  "Did you get in late last night?"
            Kaoru paled a bit, then managed a shaky smile.  "I was visiting a friend, that's all."

"Oh?  A male friend?" Misao inquired, turning back to the pancakes.

"Yes, a male friend." Kaoru hissed, sitting down at the kitchen table.

            Her and her brother had decided to sleep at Misao's house that night, since Kaoru had decided to come home late and causing the couple to wait.  They didn't mind though, and Kaoru was glad.  She was too exhausted to argue with anything when she got in.  "A FRIEND." She said seriously, glaring at Misao's back.

"Yeah, yeah…that's what I said about Aoshi before he asked me out." Misao giggled, turning around and placing a plate stacked with pancakes on it in front of her.  "Eat up.  They're chocolate chip."

            Kaoru sighed and rested her chin in her hand, remembering the events of the night before.  She had stayed at the hospital LONG after visitor hours had ended, and between talking with Kenshin, comforting him, and then trying to get him to go back to sleep with the help of Sanosuke, she hadn't gotten back until 1.

            Misao turned off the stove and placed the rest of the pancakes on the table, sitting down to take a bite.  She noticed Kaoru's thoughtful expression and decided to ask her something.  "Is that who you've been visiting the past few days?"
"Uh-huh." Kaoru replied, frowning.  Maybe I should go see him today..

"Did you meet him at school or something?" Misao continued around a mouth of cooked batter.

"N-No…just around." Kaoru lied.  I can't tell her the truth!

            Misao raised a skeptical eyebrow and swallowed.  "Seriously, where did you meet him?"

"Promise you won't tell Aoshi?" Kaoru said immediately.  She could at least tell her best friend; she was definitely good at holding secrets, but Aoshi would have a cow.

"Sure." Misao replied hesitantly.

"He's a mental patient at the hospital." Kaoru said quickly, then shoved a pancake in her mouth, looking anywhere but Misao's face.  She waited for the screaming reaction, or even a pancake thrown at her, but…it never came.  Kaoru stole a peek at her best friend to see she was…eating?

"Why aren't you yelling?" Kaoru asked after she swallowed.

            Misao smiled and swallowed.  "Should I be?"

"Well, yeah…he's a complete stranger, and in the hospital as a mental patient…" Kaoru counted off all the reasons she could think of before Misao interrupted.  "Can I meet him?"

            Kaoru raised an eyebrow.  "Sure, but…he doesn't talk to strangers much.  In fact, he barely talks to anyone at all." Except me.  She finished silently.

"Oh, that doesn't matter!" Misao giggled.  "Is he cute?"
            Kaoru blushed.  "Yeah, he is."  More like handsome.

"What does he look like?" Misao asked excitedly, practically bouncing in her seat.

"Well, he has red-hair, beautiful eyes…" Kaoru trailed off as a picture of Kenshin's smiling face appeared in her mind.  She smiled wistfully.  "He's very handsome."

"But not as handsome as Aoshi!" Misao giggled, prompting Kaoru to join in.

"OH!" Misao suddenly exclaimed, surprising Kaoru.  "My cousin's coming for a visit today!"

"Soujiro?" Kaoru asked; Soujiro was Misao's oldest cousin at 24.  He was currently working for a company called the "Ten Swords" in Michigan under a man only known to Misao and Kaoru as "Mr. Shishio".  One thing Kaoru remembered about him was he was always smiling.

"Yep!  We have to pick him up from the airport." Misao mumbled around some pancakes.  "Can he come with us when we visit your friend?"
            Kaoru shrugged, smiling.  "I don't care.  It would be nice to see Soujiro again too."

"Yay!" Misao giggled, then promptly stuffed the last pancake into her mouth.

            A shuffling in the hallway caused the girls to draw their attention to it just as Aoshi stumbled into the kitchen, wobbling on his crutches.  His hair was disheveled from sleeping, and he silently sat down next to Kaoru, covering his mouth as he yawned.  "You two are aware it's too early to be as loud as you are."

"Oh hush Spaz." Kaoru said with a giggle, ruffling her brother's hair.  Aoshi Glare Count: 1. "It's not THAT early."

"It is for me." He mumbled, taking the offered plate of pancakes from Misao.  "You're cousin is coming to visit?"

"Yep!  Isn't that wonderful?" Misao chirped.

"Hn.  Wonderful." Aoshi replied.

            Misao hopped over to the sink to drop of her dishes, then over to Aoshi to place a kiss on his cheek.  "Do you feel like going out today?"
"That would be a public hazard." Kaoru snickered.  Aoshi Glare Count: 2.

"Not it wouldn't…well, maybe…" Misao giggled.  Aoshi Glare Count: 3.

            Aoshi placed a piece of pancake into his mouth, swallowed, and turned glare number 4 to Kaoru.  "I am not a public hazard.  I just have…trouble with my crutches."

            Kaoru giggled and placed a kiss on his cheek before heading out of the room.  "I'm going to get dressed." She paused at the door.  "What time does his plane come in?"

"Hmmm…" Misao looked up at the kitchen clock.  "Two hours."
            Kaoru nodded and headed off to change.  By the time her and Misao left, the Aoshi Glare Count was up to 20.

^_^

            Jokes and funny stories filled the car as Misao, Kaoru, and Soujiro drove to the hospital.  Soujiro didn't mind meeting Kaoru's 'new friend', as Misao called him, but Kaoru was still a bit weary.

            What would Kenshin say?  It was the first time she was bringing anyone to see him.  What if Dr. Takani didn't allow them in?  What if Kenshin had escaped from his room?  What if…Kaoru shook her head to rid her mind of what ifs.  She didn't need to worry about that now.

"So Kaoru, what's your friend like? Soujiro asked, leaning forward so he could see Kaoru's face.  Kaoru turned to him and smiled lightly.  "He's quiet." Very quiet.

            Soujiro's normal smile widened a bit.  "Quiet, you say?  That's no fun.  I'm sure Misao and I can get him talking." Soujiro said with a wink.

            Kaoru giggled and turned back towards the front, sighing.  "Hn." She replied in Aoshi-like quietness.

            Misao pulled into the hospital and the three headed into the ER and towards the Nurse's station.  Kaoru was just about to reach out for the pen to sign in when all of a sudden…

"HEY UGLY!  OUTTA THE WAY!"

            Kaoru managed to dodge the speeding wheelchair coming at her, turning to glare at the kid sitting in it.  He stopped short and turned around, leveling a glare of his own.

"Watch it kid!  This isn't the race track!" Kaoru snapped, scribbling her name on the sign-in sheet.

            The kid bristled and rolled over to her, his brown eyes dark.  "I'm not a kid, damnit!  And you should watch where you're going, ugly!"

"Ugly?!" Kaoru turned to the kid and knelt down so she until she was eye-to-eye with him.  "You should so adults more respect!"

"Hah!" The kid scoffed, leaning over until their noses were practically touching.  "You ain't no adult."
"YAHIKO!"

            The kid smirked and looked around Kaoru at the person who called his name.  "You gotta be faster to get me, Rooster!" And with that he spun around and took off down the hallway, yelling warnings and insults at people who got in his way.

            Sanosuke skidded to a halt next to Kaoru, his hands on his knees.  "I'm going to get that brat one of these days…" He mumbled.

            Kaoru looked over at Misao and Soujiro, who were both sweatdropping.  She giggled and walked over to them.  "Sorry about that.  You two stay here, I'll see if Kenshin's in his room."
            They nodded and took seats in the waiting area.  Kaoru grinned at Sanosuke before heading down to Kenshin's room, where the door was wide open.  Peeking in, Kaoru saw the red-head sitting on his bed, unrestrained, reading the same TIME magazine as a couple days ago.  "Kenshin!"
            He looked up and smiled, placing the magazine down.  "Hello Kaoru." He greeted as she sat down next to him.

"I have a couple of friends who want to meet you." Kaoru said nervously, clasping her hands together.  "I know you don't like to talk to people much, but—"

"That's okay." Kenshin said softly, smiling at her.  "I don't mind."
            Kaoru smiled back and disappeared into the hallway, soon returning with Misao and Soujiro.  Kaoru sat back down on the bed and motioned to them.  "This is my best friend Misao Makimachi, and her cousin Soujiro Seta.  Guys, this is Kenshin…." Kaoru trailed off, realizing for the first time that she didn't know Kenshin's last name!

"Himura," Kenshin continued for her in his soft voice.  "Kenshin Himura."

            Misao bounded over and grabbed his hand to shake it, the whole time smiling.  "It's nice to meet you Himura!" She chirped, then turned to Kaoru.  "You're right, he is handsome!"
            Kaoru's face turned bright red and she ducked her head.  "Misao." She hissed, glaring up at her.

"T-Thank you, Misao." Kenshin stuttered, also turning a bit red.  Soujiro stepped up and offered his hand politely.  Kenshin shook it and smiled a bit nervously.  He hadn't been around so many people at once (Without them trying to catch and/or restrain him) in a while.

            But soon, any nervousness in Kenshin ebbed away as they broke into conversations about everything to the latest movies to Kaoru's classes and even to the horrid taste of hospital food.  Kaoru noticed with a smile that Kenshin was actually enjoying himself.

            As the conversation turn into an argument between Misao and Kaoru about the better of Leonardo DiCaprio's two newest releases, someone cleared his throat from the door, drawing all attention to him.

"I see you already have some visitors." The man said with a wolfish grin.

            Kenshin narrowed his eyes slightly at the man before taking a deep breath.  "Hello Saitou."

Notes: Wow, I introduced THREE characters instead of two!  I love that little monster Yahiko-chan…he's so silly!

Yahiko: ORE WA CHAN JA NAI!

*Ahem, shoots a glare at Yahiko* Saitou was the most voted for, so here he is all you rabid Saitou-lovers!  *Smiles* And Soujiro too!  Wheee!  I think this is my longest chapter by far….*shrugs* I made it light-hearted because of tall the angst and Waff last chapter.  I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it!

By the way…Gangs of New York is a great movie!  I have yet to see Catch Me If You Can!

Clickity click click…clickity click click…*Sings that to the tune of Frosty the Snow man* ^^