disclaimer: you know I don't own it. you KNOW I don't, so must I say that if you know the truth? *author breaks down sobbing* you all live to terrorize me don't you? well I don't want your reviews then ya evil reviewers!

Kenshin: of course she does, uh haha. she just said that because she and someone she knew just got into a huge fight. but she does want your reviews! really!

Sano: and so do we because if she had no reviewers then Mizu wouldn't continue the fanfic and we all would kinda just disappear into nothing until she started it up again or unless a reader had the crazy idea to continue it. but she is, and they aren't, and if they are, then continuing an author's story without their permission is plagerism (sp?).

Mizu: SHUT UP! You're scarin' away all the readers! *glomps him, knocking him out.* oh, and I apologize right now for and errors I may have made, typing, story follow-up, blah blah blah, cheese, purple,

Kenshin: (O.o) please read the fic now...

Mizu: NO! one last thing! sorry if it's stupid about halfway through, the (could you call it a?) fight scene between Kao/San. I thought it was stupid. funny, yes some. but stupid. NOW ON WITH MY FIC!

~ * Chapter 9= Meeting By the Trees

~

"Kaoru, you look perfect for Sir Ken."

"Really Megumi, you think so?"

"Certainly. And your hair looks so nice all pinned up. It really is a shame you wear it the way you do so often."

"I like wearing my hair that way."

"Yes I know."

"Rrrr, did you come here to help me get ready or to be a pest?"

"Well, the first choice but apparently I've accomplished both with ease."

She laughed as Kaoru shot her a death glare. MEANWHILE, outside...

"Kenshin what the heck are you doing?!"

"The laundry."

"Duh! I mean why aren't ya gettin ready to meet Little Missy?"

"I only would have to stop and rinse off my hands."

"No. You're not gonna just go looking like that! You look terrible!"

"Oro?"

"Now go inside and change, brush your hair, just do somethin!"

After a minute Sano called, "And change outta that pink gi! It has holes in it!"

Kenshin looked down at himself. 'Oro? This gi was fine looking yesterday, that it was. I wonder what happened.' He rushed into the dojo and past Kaoru. 'I wonder why he is in such a hurry. He didn't even stop to say hello,' Kaoru thought.

Kenshin quickly changed into a violet gi. Sheathing his reverse-blade Sakabatou ((Is it Sakabatou? or a Katana? someone please tell me so I don't make any more mistakes!)) and sticking it in the waistband of his hakama, he ran outside.

Aftersaying good-bye to Sano, he quickly but calmly walked down to the riverside.

"Konnichi'wa ((sp?)) Miss Kaoru."

"Konnichi'wa, Kenshin."

At the same time they both said, "I got your note. Huh? I didn't give you a note I only recieved one."

"Kaoru-dono, I think we have been set up."

"By who though?"

Kenshin thought for a moment. "Sanosuke and Megumi-dono."

"Hmm. I was thinking Yahiko. But do you really think they could--if they would do--darn it Kenshin! I'm going to kill Sano!"

She ran back to the dojo, Kenshin close behind. ((We all know how fast Kenshin is. Well, Kaoru was doin 60+ what his speed is)).

"Sano!" she screeched. "I'm going to hurt you!"

She took out hern bokken and started hitting him in the head with it. Kenshin quickly came up behind Kaoru and firmly grasped it, putting an end to the bodily harm she was inflicting. Kenshin then wrapped and arm around her waist to restrain her ((NO it's not romance. That is called RESTRAINT, thank you very much)).

"Ken-shin, let me go!"

"No, Miss Kaoru, Sessha cannot do that."

"But-"

"No."

"But Sano he-"

"No. I will let you go after Sanosuke leaves, but I will not give you back your bokken. Sano, go now."

Kaoru pouted as Kenshin walked inside, holding her wooden sword by the handle and balancing it on his right shoulder. She sank to the ground, sticking her bottom lip out in a pout. Yahiko walked in; trailing behind were his friends Ryoshi and Tsubame.

((Ryoshi is my char. I invented his name, and I even did a drawing of him cuz I got bored. so you don't own him and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not use Ryoshi in your fanfic unless you ask me first, if you want to ask me faster than a review, my email is mizukitty74@hotmail.com . okay?))

"Wait up Yahiko!" Ryoshi shouted after his friend. "Tsubame and I can barely catch up."

He saw Kaoru sitting on the ground, her arms folded across her chest.

"Hey Kaoru?" He poked her arm. "You 'kay?"

"Yah, Ryoshi. I'm just mad s'all."

"Why?" asked Tsubame and Yahiko in unison.

"Kenshin took away my bokken."

Suddenly, the three children started laughing. Kaoru glared at them and they ran inside screaming hysterically. ((Isn't that a fun word? I'll shush it now.)) So Kaoru went inside too. She went to sleep, trying not to think about anything.

About ten minutes late when she was half asleep, she heard the soft clack of something wooden being laid down, then felt warmth as the blanket was drawn up to her shoulders.((No romance!)) Sensing somebody in the room, she tensed up and gripped the edge of it. An eye opened and Kaoru saw Kenshin sitting across the room, his red-orange bangs hiding his own eyes. She groaned inwardly and turned over onto her side so that she was facing him.

"Ken. Shin."

"Yes, Kaoru-dono?"

"Aren't you tired?"

"Iie."

"Oh."

Kaoru shivered and curled up into a ball under the covers. Kenshin, seeing this, sat down behind her, pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. ((NOW it is fluff!)) She brushed her fingertips back and forth against Kenshin's exposed forearm ((he has on a shirt, the sleeve is pulled up.)), giggling as he trembled from her touch.

"Kenshin?"

"Hai?"

"You really--I mean I--you--I think I--"

"Kaoru, Sessha loves you." ((Notice how he dropped the -dono's and Miss's?))

Kaoru's mouth resembled a perfect ' O '. She smiled and sighed happily.

"Oh Kenshin that's just what I wanted to tell you !"

Kenshin put a hand under her chin and lifted her face. Then, ..

"..Tea would be nice, that it would. Shall I go make a cup for us?"

Kaoru puzzled over this. "Yes. May I come with you to...watch?"

Kenshin smiled his rurouni grin. "Sure, Miss Kaoru!"

He stood and bent over slightly, extending his hand. Kaoru stared, then took it and pulled herself up and together they walked to the kitchen.

~

*

~

A/N: Guess what I found out? "Mizu" means "water" in Japanese! yep, found it out by readin a fanfic. and I already knew that "Akuma" meant "devil", so basically my name is (da da da da da da...) WATER DEVIL! but call me that and you might die.

SO WHADAYA THINK? Good? Bad? Don't know? Don't care? Whatever? Review and let me know, please and thankies!

~Mizu Akuma