Chapter 6
Kimonos and Headbands
Of course Sano never did laugh the next morning, but as things usually did, all was eventually forgiven.
A few days later, Saito, Tokiyo, and Eiji headed back for home, and Kaoru was giving her class lessons for the Kamiya Kashiin-ryu. Since Yahiko was showing a lot of improvement lately, she let him take a break from lessons today. Besides, he was already the top of the class. What could go wrong?
Out of nowhere, the door to the classroom burst open and Yahiko ran as fast as he could through to outside, cradling a few things close to him as he did. "Yahiko?"
As if to echo her confusion, Aki ran through the room right after him, covering her bare forehead with one hand. "GET BACK HERE WITH MY HEADBAND, YOU WHELP!!" "Aki-Chan?"
Right after her, ran in Misao, her hair half down from its usual braid. "I SAW YOU TAKE MY HAIR TIE!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FIGHT WITH MY HAIR IN MY FACE?!" "Misao-Chan?"
Adding to the train, Suzuka darted through. "YOU SNOT-NOSED LITTLE RAT!! THOSE EARRINGS WERE MY MOTHER'S!!!!" "Suzuka-Chan?"
Soon after, Megumi poked her head in apologetically. "Did you see Yahiko run through here, Kaoru-Sama?" Kaoru pointed confusedly to the door leading outside. "Domo," she said happily. She immediately ran through the room bringing out a whip she had apparently been keeping behind her back. "Oh, Yahiko-Chan.!! HOW DARE YOU STEAL A LADY'S PERFUME YOU SPOILED GOOD-FOR- NOTHING BRAT?!" "And Megumi."
"Class dismissed. Come back tomorrow. Maybe things will be quieter," Kaoru said to her class.
"Sayonara, sensei!" her class told her before filing out of the dojo. The assistant master sat and tried to collect herself. Then noticed something missing from the back of her head. "YAHIKOOOO!!!!"
~
Kenshin hummed to himself as a slight breeze picked up around the dojo. He was doing the laundry as usual, but he never complained. He noticed something out the corner of his eye. What was Yahiko doing running like mad? And why was he running right toward him?
"KENSHIN, RUN!!" he shouted.
"Why, Yahiko?" Kenshin asked, a bit confused.
"DON'T ASK QUESTIONS UNLESS YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH, JUST RUN!!" he explained as he pushed Kenshin to his feet and shoved him in front of himself.
Kenshin chanced a glance behind them. There was Aki, Misao, Suzuka, Megumi, and Kaoru. Why were they chasing Yahiko? Then he noticed Yahiko had been holding a few things close to him as if he might accidentally show them to someone.
"Yahiko, why are you being chased by half the dojo?" Kenshin asked.
"I told you, don't ask questions!!"
~
Sano stood in the middle of the dojo, rather confused. Every now and then, Kenshin and Yahiko would run in and out of rooms, being chased by every female in the dojo. Excluding the smallest, of course. No one looked up from the pursuit when he tried to ask what they were up to. And of course they didn't notice when someone knocked on the door.
He sighed to himself. He didn't know who it was, or what they would think when they saw the entourage, but apparently, he was the only one to answer to the door.
"Hai?" he asked as he slid the door open. "Oh, hello, Shura-San. Long time, no see."
"Hello, is Himura here?" Shura asked.
"Was afraid you'd ask that. He's being chased at the moment."
"Nani?" she asked.
Sano would have answered, but Kenshin-who was still at the front of the chase-slammed into him, knocking both into the ground, Yahiko landing on top of them.
"Himura, is that you?" Shura asked, pulling at Kenshin's long red ponytail.
"Oro...Hello, Shura-San," Kenshin said in muffled voice with a small wave.
Aki would have added to the dogpile, but she grabbed the sides of the door as the rest of the chase slammed into her. She was concentrating extremely hard as to not fall on Yahiko, Kenshin, and Sano. Then she noticed the dojo had guests.
"Welcome to the Kamiya dojo?" she said as Yahiko got up and helped Kenshin up, and Sano shook his head and got up too.
"Eh?" Kaoru's voice asked from the back. "We have visitors?" she apparently ripped herself from the back, which in turn made everyone else do the same. Kaoru walked up to Aki and opened the door the rest of the way. "Shura-San! Irrashaimase!"
"Fork it over, munchkin!" Aki and Misao said to Yahiko, who hung his head and handed Aki her headband and Misao her hair tie. The boy tried to escape with what else he had left, but Aki grabbed his collar before he could get away.
Yahiko grumbled under his breath as he handed Suzuka her earrings, Megumi her perfume, and Kaoru her ribbon and started to walk off.
"Yahiko, it would be polite of you to stay and talk to our guests," Kaoru explained.
"Irrashaimase," (AN: Welcome) Yahiko growled as he stomped off.
Kaoru sighed and shook her head at the departing youth. "How have you been, Shura-San?" she asked, turning around.
"Apparently not as active as you've been," Shura said, looking around her at all the new faces.
Megumi looked at the height of the sun on the horizon and gasped. "I have an appointment at the clinic!" she exclaimed. "I'm really very sorry to leave like this, but it's very important." She handed her newly-recovered perfume to Suzuka and darted off down the street.
"That was Megumi," Kaoru explained.
"Himura, I need your help," Shura said before any more introductions could be given.
"What's the matter, Shura-San?" Kenshin asked.
"First off, do happen to know any doctors?" she asked with a worried look.
"Aki's a doctor," Sano explained, indicating his friend, who was busy putting on her headband.
"What do you need a doctor for, Shura-San?" Aki asked, finally getting the headband on straight.
"It's my friend," she said sadly. "He's very old and very sick."
"What's his name?" Aki asked. Upon receiving a confused look, she elaborated. "It's nice to stay on a personal level with patients."
"His name is Iwa," Shura replied. "You should remember, don't you, Himura?"
"I remember him, Shura-San, that I do."
"Where is he, Shura-San?" Aki asked.
"Sarujiro is waiting with him in town. I told them I knew someone who lived here and that I'd be back later with help. I need some help to get him here, though."
"I'll help," Sano volunteered. "I remember the old man, too. I'd be glad to help."
"I'll set up a room while you're gone," Kaoru said
"Before I go, what's your name?" Shura asked Aki.
"Aki," she answered, a bit confused.
"No, your full name."
"Oh, Akiyama Sagara."
Shura looked from Aki to Sano. "You're right, I'll just call you Aki."
*
After a while, Aki and Kaoru had gotten the room set up, and Iwa was finally brought in.
"What do think is wrong, Aki?" Shura asked.
Aki checked for fever and listened to his pulse. "Are there any other symptoms?"
"No, I don't think so."
"He'll be fine then, all he has to do is get some water and some rest, nothing to worry about."
Shura sighed in relief. "Thank you!"
*
Aki and Kaoru made sure Iwa got water and let him sleep after his long journey.
"Are you sure he'll be alright?" Kaoru asked Aki.
"Quite sure," Aki said with a smile
The two girls looked up to a knock on the door and Kenshin let himself in. "Dinner's ready, Kaoru-Dono. Is Iwa-San going to be alright?"
"With a few hours' rest, he'll be fine," Aki answered.
"Who made dinner?" Kaoru asked.
"We had a team of cooks tonight, that we did," Kenshin explained with a chuckle.
Kaoru and Aki shrugged as they got up and followed Kenshin into the kitchen.
However, all through dinner, Misao and Megumi had an argument. There was nothing but growls and mutters back and forth, fox, weasel, fox, weasel, fox, weasel...
"Yame!!" (AN: stop!!) Kaoru yelled, surprised to realize she had accidentally yelled in front of company. "Misao, Megumi, maybe you two would like to do something to get along better with each other. Maybe show Shura-San and Sarujiro-San around while Iwa-San rests?"
"Oh, Yeah," Aki added. "There's a festival all week this week! I'd be glad to go along."
"No, Aki-Chan, this is for Misao and Megumi to do alone."
After Megumi and Misao glared at Kaoru for a while they turned their glares to each other and sneered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later, Iwa-San was still sleeping, Misao and Megumi had taken Sarujiro and Shura for a tour and a night at the festival, Yahiko was sitting in the middle of the dojo with nothing to do, and everyone else was who knew where. The small boy suddenly heard fireworks so he decided to go to the front of the dojo to watch. He went to the front door, but stopped before he opened it, because he could see a set of silhouettes, and if his guess was right, they were Kaoru and Kenshin. Well, it gave him something to do.
He figured they couldn't tell if he just cracked the door open...
He thought it was going to be interesting, but all they were doing, was sitting there looking at the stars and fireworks. He shrugged, shut the door, and went back to being bored.
"Kenshin, a shooting star!" Kaoru shouted taking hold of Kenshin's arm and pointing to a white streak across the sky. "Make a wish."
"But, Kaoru-Dono, what would I wish for? I already have everything I'd ever want," Kenshin answered with a smile and an arm around her shoulder.
She put her head on his shoulder. "Me too."
On the other side of the dojo, Suzuka and Aoshi were watching the same sets of fireworks and Aoshi spotted the same shooting star.
"You know, some people say you should wish on shooting stars, but it's completely pointless," he concluded with a nod.
"Exactly, you should work to accomplish your dreams, not wish on some streak in the sky," Suzuka agreed as she rested her head on Aoshi's shoulder.
He gave her a strange look. "What's this for?"
The redhead looked up and smiled. "Nothing."
He looked away pretending not to notice, but Suzuka felt something slip behind her ear.
She took it in her hand and looked confusedly at an origami rose. "What's this for?"
"Nothing."
"So, Jou-Chan saw a shooting star," Sano said, sitting next to Aki just around the corner from Kenshin and Kaoru. "Girl's got a voice on her."
"Well, you gonna make a wish or comment on Kaoru-San's powerful lungs?" Aki asked.
"Eh, I don't usually wish on shooting stars. Do you?"
"I did ten years ago."
"What was your wish?"
Aki gave her friend an incredulous look. "Look in a mirror."
"You too, huh?" Sano asked.
"It came true, didn't it? Even if it was ten years late."
"Yeah. Speaking of ten years ago, back when Shindo killed the Sekihottai and put their heads on display, I could've sworn I saw you there, but you took one look at me and ran off. I tried calling after you, but you kept running."
"I try not to think about that day," Aki admitted. "You've got to understand, I thought you were dead. I thought it was a ghost or something. Besides, that was the first time I had been in a really public place since...you know. It wasn't until I came here a few weeks ago I even knew you were alive."
"I ...I..."
"You what?" she asked.
Sano sat there and scratched his head, looking as though he were lost for words.
"What's the matter?" Aki blinked in amazement. "Are you blushing?!" She sighed and shook her head. "You might as well tell me, now I'm curious."
Instead of saying anything, her lifelong friend leaned over and gave her a kiss. She was a little surprised at first, but she kissed back.
~~~~~
"That's it!!" Yahiko screamed, slamming the door open. "I can't take it any more!!"
"What is it, Yahiko?" Kenshin asked a little confused.
"I'm going to the Akobeko!!"
"Why are you going to the Akobeko?" Kaoru asked. "No one's there, what with the festival this week."
"What walked over his grave?" Aki asked, coming around the corner.
"Yeah, Yahiko-Chan, you were louder than Jou-Chan."
Yahiko growled a little bit, jumped on Sano's head and began gnawing at his hair.
"I always thought he was a rabid little monkey," Aki commented.
"Well, I'm bored out of my mind and it's all your fault!" he shouted, jumping down from Sano's head pointed dramatically at Kaoru.
"What do you mean, Yahiko?" Kaoru asked innocently.
"You said I couldn't go to the festival."
"No I didn't, I just said you couldn't go with Megumi and Misao."
"What's wrong?!" Suzuka asked rushing in.
"We heard someone scream, who's hurt?!" Aoshi asked, coming up behind her.
"No one's hurt. Yahiko was just telling us that he was going to the festival, that he was," Kenshin explained.
"Suzuka-Chan, what's in your hair?" Kaoru asked.
Suzuka and Aoshi shot each other a glance. "Nothing," they said walking into the dojo.
"Why are you going into the festival, Yahiko-Chan?" Aki asked.
The ten year-old mumbled something under his breath.
"Nani?" Aki asked.
"Yeah, twerp, we could couldn't hear," Sano added.
"I'm going to find Tsubame!" Yahiko spat, turned and walked off into town.
"How come you're the only one he doesn't blow up on when you call him Chan?" Sano asked.
"I don't know," Aki said, sitting next to Kaoru.
Her friend shook his head, shrugged, and sat next to her.
"So, Kaoru-San, how've the fireworks been?" Aki asked.
"Haven't you seen them? You were only behind the corner, weren't you?"
"Oh, yes, we've have a perfect view of the thick forestry surrounding the dojo. You might be able to see something if you squint and cross your eyes," she explained with a chuckle.
"Hey, how have the fireworks been going?" Shura asked, walking up with Sarujiro, Misao and Megumi nowhere in sight.
"Where are Misao and Megumi?" Kaoru asked.
"We don't know, they started arguing, so we decided to come back and see if anyone else wanted to come," Shura explained with a shrug and Sarujiro with a nod.
"I'm up for it," Kaoru said. "What about you Kenshin?"
"Of course, Kaoru-Dono," Kenshin said with a smile.
"We might as well come too," Sano added. Aki shrugged.
Kaoru's face suddenly lit up with delight. "I have some kimonos that might fit you, Aki-Chan!"
"I've ne-" Aki started but Kaoru interrupted her.
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun!" she explained, taking her arm and took her into the dojo.
"Oro...that was a little fast," Kenshin observed.
"And a little high-pitched," Sano added.
Shura started to snicker, but Kaoru, now holding Aki's hair in her hand. "Kaoru-San...that hurts," Aki groaned, tumbling backwards off the porch and nearly fell, but caught herself. Kaoru took a hold Shura's hand and smiled. "This'll be fun."
She took her two captives down the corridors of the dojo until she saw Suzuka.
"Oh Suzuka-Chan! You can come too!"
Kenshin's cousin shrugged and latched onto the train. "What are we doing?" she asked after a while.
Aki moved her head to show that Kaoru was holding onto her long tail of black hair, and was forced to walk backwards. "Kaoru-San's going to lend us kimonos."
"For the festival," Shura added.
Suzuka nodded and started to walk away, but Shura and Aki grabbed the same arm.
"Oh, no you don't," Shura said.
"If we suffer, you suffer with us," Aki added.
"Hi, everybody!" Misao said with a smile walking in with Megumi trailing after her.
Kaoru looked behind her. "Misao-Chan! Come here for a little bit!"
"What are we doing?" Misao asked.
Aki let go of Suzuka frantically gestured for her not to come and picked up Kaoru's kimono sleeve when she didn't notice and pointed.
Misao nodded and walked over, handed her braid to Kaoru in the same hand she had Aki's hair. "I'm only going to do this to be a good friend and kicking and screaming."
"You too?" Aki asked.
Kaoru shrugged and kept walking.
"Megumi-Chan, you don't have to come, you're wearing a kimono already," Suzuka explained.
Megumi shrugged. "Most of you are taller than Kaoru, ergo, most of you are going to need longer kimonos."
"Dang!" Aki said under her breath. "There goes that plan."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Suzuka-Chan?!" Kaoru called through a door. "Are you ready?"
Suzuka grumbled, but came out wearing a kimono about the color of Kenshin's embroidered with white lilies.
"Wow, you took after Kenshin's side, didn't you?"
"Is that an insult or a compliment?"
"I would hope it's a compliment, Itoko-Chan, that I do," Kenshin said with Aoshi, Sano, and Sarujiro walking up behind him.
"I'm ready, Kamiya-San," Shura said, walking out a light blue kimono. After seeing Kenshin and everyone behind him her eyes popped in surprise in reflection to Kaoru's, Suzuka's, and Megumi's.
"Kenshin, how did you get Sano, and Aoshi into kimonos?!" Kaoru asked.
"I simply said that Aki and Suzuka had to wear them too, so it would only be right, that I did."
"What about Sarujiro?" Shura asked with a laugh.
"He got the picture, that he did." Sarujiro nodded in agreement.
"I'm done," Misao said, coming out in a green kimono. After seeing who was behind Kenshin, she immediately burst into laughter.
"Aki-Chan!!" Kaoru hollered through another door. "Are you ready?"
"Ano...Kaoru-San, I do have a kimono of my own," Aki's voice. "Megumi's kimono stops halfway down from my knees to my ankles. Just look through my things, you'll find it."
Kaoru shrugged, went into the girls' room and slid the door open a crack. Aki's hand came out and took the kimono. "Domo."
Five minutes later, Aki came out in a dark kimono embroidered with a red and gold dragon spiraling down it and Megumi's spare pink kimono in one arm.
"Sorry it didn't fit, Megumi-San," she apologized handing it back to Megumi.
"You never told me you had a kimono, Aki," Sano said, taking her arm and following everyone down the hall.
"Look who's talking," Aki said, then shrugged. "My mother gave it to me when I turned about....five so I could grow into it."
"Aki-Chan, do you think you should keep the headband with the kimono?" Kaoru asked, taking Kenshin's arm.
"Kaoru-San, I would get into a kimono for no one else but you, but no one touches the headband."
The assistant master of the Kamiya-Kashiin-ryu shrugged. "Suzuka, that rose goes well with your kimono.
"Domo, Kaoru-Chan," Suzuka said as Aoshi took her arm.
Kimonos and Headbands
Of course Sano never did laugh the next morning, but as things usually did, all was eventually forgiven.
A few days later, Saito, Tokiyo, and Eiji headed back for home, and Kaoru was giving her class lessons for the Kamiya Kashiin-ryu. Since Yahiko was showing a lot of improvement lately, she let him take a break from lessons today. Besides, he was already the top of the class. What could go wrong?
Out of nowhere, the door to the classroom burst open and Yahiko ran as fast as he could through to outside, cradling a few things close to him as he did. "Yahiko?"
As if to echo her confusion, Aki ran through the room right after him, covering her bare forehead with one hand. "GET BACK HERE WITH MY HEADBAND, YOU WHELP!!" "Aki-Chan?"
Right after her, ran in Misao, her hair half down from its usual braid. "I SAW YOU TAKE MY HAIR TIE!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FIGHT WITH MY HAIR IN MY FACE?!" "Misao-Chan?"
Adding to the train, Suzuka darted through. "YOU SNOT-NOSED LITTLE RAT!! THOSE EARRINGS WERE MY MOTHER'S!!!!" "Suzuka-Chan?"
Soon after, Megumi poked her head in apologetically. "Did you see Yahiko run through here, Kaoru-Sama?" Kaoru pointed confusedly to the door leading outside. "Domo," she said happily. She immediately ran through the room bringing out a whip she had apparently been keeping behind her back. "Oh, Yahiko-Chan.!! HOW DARE YOU STEAL A LADY'S PERFUME YOU SPOILED GOOD-FOR- NOTHING BRAT?!" "And Megumi."
"Class dismissed. Come back tomorrow. Maybe things will be quieter," Kaoru said to her class.
"Sayonara, sensei!" her class told her before filing out of the dojo. The assistant master sat and tried to collect herself. Then noticed something missing from the back of her head. "YAHIKOOOO!!!!"
~
Kenshin hummed to himself as a slight breeze picked up around the dojo. He was doing the laundry as usual, but he never complained. He noticed something out the corner of his eye. What was Yahiko doing running like mad? And why was he running right toward him?
"KENSHIN, RUN!!" he shouted.
"Why, Yahiko?" Kenshin asked, a bit confused.
"DON'T ASK QUESTIONS UNLESS YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH, JUST RUN!!" he explained as he pushed Kenshin to his feet and shoved him in front of himself.
Kenshin chanced a glance behind them. There was Aki, Misao, Suzuka, Megumi, and Kaoru. Why were they chasing Yahiko? Then he noticed Yahiko had been holding a few things close to him as if he might accidentally show them to someone.
"Yahiko, why are you being chased by half the dojo?" Kenshin asked.
"I told you, don't ask questions!!"
~
Sano stood in the middle of the dojo, rather confused. Every now and then, Kenshin and Yahiko would run in and out of rooms, being chased by every female in the dojo. Excluding the smallest, of course. No one looked up from the pursuit when he tried to ask what they were up to. And of course they didn't notice when someone knocked on the door.
He sighed to himself. He didn't know who it was, or what they would think when they saw the entourage, but apparently, he was the only one to answer to the door.
"Hai?" he asked as he slid the door open. "Oh, hello, Shura-San. Long time, no see."
"Hello, is Himura here?" Shura asked.
"Was afraid you'd ask that. He's being chased at the moment."
"Nani?" she asked.
Sano would have answered, but Kenshin-who was still at the front of the chase-slammed into him, knocking both into the ground, Yahiko landing on top of them.
"Himura, is that you?" Shura asked, pulling at Kenshin's long red ponytail.
"Oro...Hello, Shura-San," Kenshin said in muffled voice with a small wave.
Aki would have added to the dogpile, but she grabbed the sides of the door as the rest of the chase slammed into her. She was concentrating extremely hard as to not fall on Yahiko, Kenshin, and Sano. Then she noticed the dojo had guests.
"Welcome to the Kamiya dojo?" she said as Yahiko got up and helped Kenshin up, and Sano shook his head and got up too.
"Eh?" Kaoru's voice asked from the back. "We have visitors?" she apparently ripped herself from the back, which in turn made everyone else do the same. Kaoru walked up to Aki and opened the door the rest of the way. "Shura-San! Irrashaimase!"
"Fork it over, munchkin!" Aki and Misao said to Yahiko, who hung his head and handed Aki her headband and Misao her hair tie. The boy tried to escape with what else he had left, but Aki grabbed his collar before he could get away.
Yahiko grumbled under his breath as he handed Suzuka her earrings, Megumi her perfume, and Kaoru her ribbon and started to walk off.
"Yahiko, it would be polite of you to stay and talk to our guests," Kaoru explained.
"Irrashaimase," (AN: Welcome) Yahiko growled as he stomped off.
Kaoru sighed and shook her head at the departing youth. "How have you been, Shura-San?" she asked, turning around.
"Apparently not as active as you've been," Shura said, looking around her at all the new faces.
Megumi looked at the height of the sun on the horizon and gasped. "I have an appointment at the clinic!" she exclaimed. "I'm really very sorry to leave like this, but it's very important." She handed her newly-recovered perfume to Suzuka and darted off down the street.
"That was Megumi," Kaoru explained.
"Himura, I need your help," Shura said before any more introductions could be given.
"What's the matter, Shura-San?" Kenshin asked.
"First off, do happen to know any doctors?" she asked with a worried look.
"Aki's a doctor," Sano explained, indicating his friend, who was busy putting on her headband.
"What do you need a doctor for, Shura-San?" Aki asked, finally getting the headband on straight.
"It's my friend," she said sadly. "He's very old and very sick."
"What's his name?" Aki asked. Upon receiving a confused look, she elaborated. "It's nice to stay on a personal level with patients."
"His name is Iwa," Shura replied. "You should remember, don't you, Himura?"
"I remember him, Shura-San, that I do."
"Where is he, Shura-San?" Aki asked.
"Sarujiro is waiting with him in town. I told them I knew someone who lived here and that I'd be back later with help. I need some help to get him here, though."
"I'll help," Sano volunteered. "I remember the old man, too. I'd be glad to help."
"I'll set up a room while you're gone," Kaoru said
"Before I go, what's your name?" Shura asked Aki.
"Aki," she answered, a bit confused.
"No, your full name."
"Oh, Akiyama Sagara."
Shura looked from Aki to Sano. "You're right, I'll just call you Aki."
*
After a while, Aki and Kaoru had gotten the room set up, and Iwa was finally brought in.
"What do think is wrong, Aki?" Shura asked.
Aki checked for fever and listened to his pulse. "Are there any other symptoms?"
"No, I don't think so."
"He'll be fine then, all he has to do is get some water and some rest, nothing to worry about."
Shura sighed in relief. "Thank you!"
*
Aki and Kaoru made sure Iwa got water and let him sleep after his long journey.
"Are you sure he'll be alright?" Kaoru asked Aki.
"Quite sure," Aki said with a smile
The two girls looked up to a knock on the door and Kenshin let himself in. "Dinner's ready, Kaoru-Dono. Is Iwa-San going to be alright?"
"With a few hours' rest, he'll be fine," Aki answered.
"Who made dinner?" Kaoru asked.
"We had a team of cooks tonight, that we did," Kenshin explained with a chuckle.
Kaoru and Aki shrugged as they got up and followed Kenshin into the kitchen.
However, all through dinner, Misao and Megumi had an argument. There was nothing but growls and mutters back and forth, fox, weasel, fox, weasel, fox, weasel...
"Yame!!" (AN: stop!!) Kaoru yelled, surprised to realize she had accidentally yelled in front of company. "Misao, Megumi, maybe you two would like to do something to get along better with each other. Maybe show Shura-San and Sarujiro-San around while Iwa-San rests?"
"Oh, Yeah," Aki added. "There's a festival all week this week! I'd be glad to go along."
"No, Aki-Chan, this is for Misao and Megumi to do alone."
After Megumi and Misao glared at Kaoru for a while they turned their glares to each other and sneered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later, Iwa-San was still sleeping, Misao and Megumi had taken Sarujiro and Shura for a tour and a night at the festival, Yahiko was sitting in the middle of the dojo with nothing to do, and everyone else was who knew where. The small boy suddenly heard fireworks so he decided to go to the front of the dojo to watch. He went to the front door, but stopped before he opened it, because he could see a set of silhouettes, and if his guess was right, they were Kaoru and Kenshin. Well, it gave him something to do.
He figured they couldn't tell if he just cracked the door open...
He thought it was going to be interesting, but all they were doing, was sitting there looking at the stars and fireworks. He shrugged, shut the door, and went back to being bored.
"Kenshin, a shooting star!" Kaoru shouted taking hold of Kenshin's arm and pointing to a white streak across the sky. "Make a wish."
"But, Kaoru-Dono, what would I wish for? I already have everything I'd ever want," Kenshin answered with a smile and an arm around her shoulder.
She put her head on his shoulder. "Me too."
On the other side of the dojo, Suzuka and Aoshi were watching the same sets of fireworks and Aoshi spotted the same shooting star.
"You know, some people say you should wish on shooting stars, but it's completely pointless," he concluded with a nod.
"Exactly, you should work to accomplish your dreams, not wish on some streak in the sky," Suzuka agreed as she rested her head on Aoshi's shoulder.
He gave her a strange look. "What's this for?"
The redhead looked up and smiled. "Nothing."
He looked away pretending not to notice, but Suzuka felt something slip behind her ear.
She took it in her hand and looked confusedly at an origami rose. "What's this for?"
"Nothing."
"So, Jou-Chan saw a shooting star," Sano said, sitting next to Aki just around the corner from Kenshin and Kaoru. "Girl's got a voice on her."
"Well, you gonna make a wish or comment on Kaoru-San's powerful lungs?" Aki asked.
"Eh, I don't usually wish on shooting stars. Do you?"
"I did ten years ago."
"What was your wish?"
Aki gave her friend an incredulous look. "Look in a mirror."
"You too, huh?" Sano asked.
"It came true, didn't it? Even if it was ten years late."
"Yeah. Speaking of ten years ago, back when Shindo killed the Sekihottai and put their heads on display, I could've sworn I saw you there, but you took one look at me and ran off. I tried calling after you, but you kept running."
"I try not to think about that day," Aki admitted. "You've got to understand, I thought you were dead. I thought it was a ghost or something. Besides, that was the first time I had been in a really public place since...you know. It wasn't until I came here a few weeks ago I even knew you were alive."
"I ...I..."
"You what?" she asked.
Sano sat there and scratched his head, looking as though he were lost for words.
"What's the matter?" Aki blinked in amazement. "Are you blushing?!" She sighed and shook her head. "You might as well tell me, now I'm curious."
Instead of saying anything, her lifelong friend leaned over and gave her a kiss. She was a little surprised at first, but she kissed back.
~~~~~
"That's it!!" Yahiko screamed, slamming the door open. "I can't take it any more!!"
"What is it, Yahiko?" Kenshin asked a little confused.
"I'm going to the Akobeko!!"
"Why are you going to the Akobeko?" Kaoru asked. "No one's there, what with the festival this week."
"What walked over his grave?" Aki asked, coming around the corner.
"Yeah, Yahiko-Chan, you were louder than Jou-Chan."
Yahiko growled a little bit, jumped on Sano's head and began gnawing at his hair.
"I always thought he was a rabid little monkey," Aki commented.
"Well, I'm bored out of my mind and it's all your fault!" he shouted, jumping down from Sano's head pointed dramatically at Kaoru.
"What do you mean, Yahiko?" Kaoru asked innocently.
"You said I couldn't go to the festival."
"No I didn't, I just said you couldn't go with Megumi and Misao."
"What's wrong?!" Suzuka asked rushing in.
"We heard someone scream, who's hurt?!" Aoshi asked, coming up behind her.
"No one's hurt. Yahiko was just telling us that he was going to the festival, that he was," Kenshin explained.
"Suzuka-Chan, what's in your hair?" Kaoru asked.
Suzuka and Aoshi shot each other a glance. "Nothing," they said walking into the dojo.
"Why are you going into the festival, Yahiko-Chan?" Aki asked.
The ten year-old mumbled something under his breath.
"Nani?" Aki asked.
"Yeah, twerp, we could couldn't hear," Sano added.
"I'm going to find Tsubame!" Yahiko spat, turned and walked off into town.
"How come you're the only one he doesn't blow up on when you call him Chan?" Sano asked.
"I don't know," Aki said, sitting next to Kaoru.
Her friend shook his head, shrugged, and sat next to her.
"So, Kaoru-San, how've the fireworks been?" Aki asked.
"Haven't you seen them? You were only behind the corner, weren't you?"
"Oh, yes, we've have a perfect view of the thick forestry surrounding the dojo. You might be able to see something if you squint and cross your eyes," she explained with a chuckle.
"Hey, how have the fireworks been going?" Shura asked, walking up with Sarujiro, Misao and Megumi nowhere in sight.
"Where are Misao and Megumi?" Kaoru asked.
"We don't know, they started arguing, so we decided to come back and see if anyone else wanted to come," Shura explained with a shrug and Sarujiro with a nod.
"I'm up for it," Kaoru said. "What about you Kenshin?"
"Of course, Kaoru-Dono," Kenshin said with a smile.
"We might as well come too," Sano added. Aki shrugged.
Kaoru's face suddenly lit up with delight. "I have some kimonos that might fit you, Aki-Chan!"
"I've ne-" Aki started but Kaoru interrupted her.
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun!" she explained, taking her arm and took her into the dojo.
"Oro...that was a little fast," Kenshin observed.
"And a little high-pitched," Sano added.
Shura started to snicker, but Kaoru, now holding Aki's hair in her hand. "Kaoru-San...that hurts," Aki groaned, tumbling backwards off the porch and nearly fell, but caught herself. Kaoru took a hold Shura's hand and smiled. "This'll be fun."
She took her two captives down the corridors of the dojo until she saw Suzuka.
"Oh Suzuka-Chan! You can come too!"
Kenshin's cousin shrugged and latched onto the train. "What are we doing?" she asked after a while.
Aki moved her head to show that Kaoru was holding onto her long tail of black hair, and was forced to walk backwards. "Kaoru-San's going to lend us kimonos."
"For the festival," Shura added.
Suzuka nodded and started to walk away, but Shura and Aki grabbed the same arm.
"Oh, no you don't," Shura said.
"If we suffer, you suffer with us," Aki added.
"Hi, everybody!" Misao said with a smile walking in with Megumi trailing after her.
Kaoru looked behind her. "Misao-Chan! Come here for a little bit!"
"What are we doing?" Misao asked.
Aki let go of Suzuka frantically gestured for her not to come and picked up Kaoru's kimono sleeve when she didn't notice and pointed.
Misao nodded and walked over, handed her braid to Kaoru in the same hand she had Aki's hair. "I'm only going to do this to be a good friend and kicking and screaming."
"You too?" Aki asked.
Kaoru shrugged and kept walking.
"Megumi-Chan, you don't have to come, you're wearing a kimono already," Suzuka explained.
Megumi shrugged. "Most of you are taller than Kaoru, ergo, most of you are going to need longer kimonos."
"Dang!" Aki said under her breath. "There goes that plan."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Suzuka-Chan?!" Kaoru called through a door. "Are you ready?"
Suzuka grumbled, but came out wearing a kimono about the color of Kenshin's embroidered with white lilies.
"Wow, you took after Kenshin's side, didn't you?"
"Is that an insult or a compliment?"
"I would hope it's a compliment, Itoko-Chan, that I do," Kenshin said with Aoshi, Sano, and Sarujiro walking up behind him.
"I'm ready, Kamiya-San," Shura said, walking out a light blue kimono. After seeing Kenshin and everyone behind him her eyes popped in surprise in reflection to Kaoru's, Suzuka's, and Megumi's.
"Kenshin, how did you get Sano, and Aoshi into kimonos?!" Kaoru asked.
"I simply said that Aki and Suzuka had to wear them too, so it would only be right, that I did."
"What about Sarujiro?" Shura asked with a laugh.
"He got the picture, that he did." Sarujiro nodded in agreement.
"I'm done," Misao said, coming out in a green kimono. After seeing who was behind Kenshin, she immediately burst into laughter.
"Aki-Chan!!" Kaoru hollered through another door. "Are you ready?"
"Ano...Kaoru-San, I do have a kimono of my own," Aki's voice. "Megumi's kimono stops halfway down from my knees to my ankles. Just look through my things, you'll find it."
Kaoru shrugged, went into the girls' room and slid the door open a crack. Aki's hand came out and took the kimono. "Domo."
Five minutes later, Aki came out in a dark kimono embroidered with a red and gold dragon spiraling down it and Megumi's spare pink kimono in one arm.
"Sorry it didn't fit, Megumi-San," she apologized handing it back to Megumi.
"You never told me you had a kimono, Aki," Sano said, taking her arm and following everyone down the hall.
"Look who's talking," Aki said, then shrugged. "My mother gave it to me when I turned about....five so I could grow into it."
"Aki-Chan, do you think you should keep the headband with the kimono?" Kaoru asked, taking Kenshin's arm.
"Kaoru-San, I would get into a kimono for no one else but you, but no one touches the headband."
The assistant master of the Kamiya-Kashiin-ryu shrugged. "Suzuka, that rose goes well with your kimono.
"Domo, Kaoru-Chan," Suzuka said as Aoshi took her arm.