Disclaimer: See either chapter one, two, or three, they'll tell you I don't
own Rurouni Kenshin.
Author's Notes: I am really on a roll with this story, it seems. I won't repeat all my old notes, but, this chapter will introduce Misao... I couldn't leave HER out of my story, considering that she is my favorite character of all time. Well, go read!
Oh, to the anonymous reviewer Mai, I'm sorry you don't think there is enough romance. I just wanted to tell you this since you didn't leave your email, the chapters before this took place over a two day time period. If I had put more romance, this story won't be as long as it should, and I don't want it to turn out short. It will get more romantic as I go, I am not going to cram it all in one chapter anytime soon, and so, this won't be incredibly romantic for a while. And sorry if you are expecting citrus, not happening. That is all.
The Message to Her Heart - Chapter Four - The Burning Fire of Cousins and
Love
"KENSHIN NO BAAAAAAKAAAAAAAA!"
Kaoru instantly clocked Kenshin in the side of the head.
"You FORGOT your own COUSIN was coming over!?"
"Hai, Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru stepped away from Kenshin about a foot, and turned to the door.
"Well, in that case, I'd best be going, seeya later, Kenshin!"
"Iie, wait, stay!"
Kaoru stopped in her tracks, and looked behind her. Kenshin gave the most innocent smile her could muster, and Kaoru felt her heart melt like chocolate.
"But this is family!"
"Family that really wants to meet you."
Kenshin slapped his hands over his mouth. It look like he had let slip that he talked about her to his cousin. Well, actually, Misao knew something was up when she called the day before and forced him to tell using blackmail.
--- Flashback ---
"HIMURA, YOU JACKASS, I KNOW SOMETHING IS UP! TELL, OR I WILL TELL SEIJURO THAT YOU WERE LATE DELIVERING MY PACKAGES * THIRTEEN * TIMES!"
"Misao-chan, there really is nothing..."
"I'M A-DIALIN' HIS NUMBER!"
"Alright, alright! I think I'm in love!"
"Oh......? With WHO?"
"K-Kaoru Kamiya."
"Kamiya? This could get interesting... she'd better be at your place when I go over tomorrow, ya hear?"
--- End Flashback ---
Kaoru turned pink along the cheeks. Kenshin really wanted all close friends and family to know about her, didn't he?
Kenshin, being the dense dolt he was, had forgotten his cousin was coming over, even if she did call the night before. He felt really stupid now. He had also made that plan to have her over about two months ago, being as organized as he was. She was supposed to come at 12:00 PM on the dot. And it was 12:00 PM right now. And knowing Misao...
A few loud knocks could be heard at the door, and someone screamed "HIMURA!" at the top of her lungs. Kenshin opened the door to reveal a short, smiling girl who looked exactly like the one in the picture with a dark purple sweater that had a light purple stripe going around the arms and torso, and jeans. Kaoru peeked out the door timidly behind Kenshin. Misao quickly hugged her cousin around the neck.
"Hiya Himura! Long time no see for relatives, eh!"
"Misao-chan, you came over last week."
"Well, I consider that a long time since I love my big strong cousin Kenshin so much!" Misao yelled in a babyish voice. In fact, most of what Misao did was yell and talk loudly it seemed, and Kaoru soon realized why. Misao had two little devices hooked on her ears, one on each, that could be recognized as hearing aids.
"Well, then, you must be Kaoru-san! Nice ta meetcha, I'm Makimachi Misao! And you already know cousin Himura here, obviously. Actually, this isn't my first time meeting you. Remember that little girl in pre-school who got sent out of the school because she started losing her hearing and needed to learn sign? I'm her. My hearing finally improved enough though, although everyone says I talk loudly. I'm only trying to hear myself! It's a pain in the neck not to hear yourself... Oh, sorry, I'm rambling, I do that a lot."
Kaoru gave Misao a strange look.
"Misao-san, I'm twenty one, I couldn't have gone to your pre-school."
"Eh? I know there was a Kamiya there..."
"That was my little brother Yahiko (yes, he's sixteen in this one)."
Misao sweatdropped and nearly fell over. Kenshin snapped up.
"You didn't walk here Misao-chan, did you?"
"Nope, I took Harvey."
"Who?"
"My go-ped, you ding-dong."
Misao clocked Kenshin upside the head, and Kaoru stifled a laugh, considering she had done the same only a little while before.
"So, Himura, got any deliveries for Aoshi-sama?"
"I don't know, I have to report to shisho, but you're coming with me on that contraption of yours anyway."
"If you don't, can I PLEASE stay here?"
"No, Misao-chan."
"Aww, why?"
"You're only sixteen, Misao-chan; I'm not leaving you in a Downtown apartment by yourself."
"I'M NOT DEFENSELESS YOU STUPID JACKASS!"
"Misao-chan, I know, but I don't want you to get hurt, that I don't. I'm being a big brother, and telling you, YOU ARE NOT STAYING ALONE, that you are not."
"Aww, you're no fun."
"No, I just don't want to see my cousin hurt and/or used."
Misao stuck her tongue out at Kenshin, and the little digital watch beeped.
"Well, come on Himura, you know what that means, we gotta leave."
Kenshin picked up his bike and Kaoru stood on the pegs again as he braced it. Misao jumped on the motorized scooter dubbed "Harvey", and put the key in to start it up. The ride to Seijuro Hiko's house was quiet and boring, except Kaoru's face was going numb from blushing. She was glad that Kenshin was so focused on the road ahead, and couldn't turn around to look at her, because her cheeks were beet red by now. They arrived in front of a fancy looking house with flowers hanging outside the windows and a few garbage bins in the alley next to it.
Kaoru broke the silence. "Looks like a nice enough place."
Misao answered. "You aren't going to like the guy who lives in it."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
Kenshin walked up to the door and knocked twice. The man, or Seijuro Hiko opened it up.
"Baka-deshi, right on time."
"Who do I deliver to today, Shisho?"
"Let's see... oh, lucky you Weasel Girl, he has a package for the ice brick."
Misao's smile grew, and then she kicked Hiko in the shin while smiling. Kaoru barely managed to hold in her laughs; Misao looked somewhat like a robot when she did that.
"Do not call me Weasel Girl or you will feel the wrath OF my pet weasel."
"I didn't even know you had a pet weasel... Alright baka-deshi, here is the package for the stoic moron. Don't worry about dropping it, they're all dress shirts. Well, if the box gets ripped, then worry about dropping them, the shirts need to be clean, even though they are individually wrapped in plastic."
Kenshin took the box in his arms, and stuffed it into his backpack. It was then, out of the corner of his black eye, that Hiko saw Kaoru for the first time. Now, if Kenshin had gotten a girlfriend, he most certainly wouldn't tell his guardian/boss now, would he? This was exactly why Hiko was going to embarrass the little twerp now.
"Hey, baka-deshi, who's the pretty girl waiting for you over there?"
"Oro..... that's Kaoru-dono. Now, excuse us shisho, but, I have to deliver Shinomori-san's package, bye!"
Kenshin sat on his bike quickly and ushered Kaoru to get on the pegs, while Misao leapt on her go-ped and already started going ahead. Kenshin pushed the pedals as fast as he could to catch up with her, and Kaoru suggested she get off.
"Iie, that's alright, Misao-chan will wait up."
"HEY HIMURA, THIS IS AS SLOW AS I'M GOING, MOVE YOUR STUPID BUTT!"
"Okay, NORMALLY she waits up..."
Kaoru could have sworn she felt a sweat-bead fall down her face as she gripped Kenshin's shoulders tighter. They headed into a slightly deserted area that was still in Downtown, but the houses looked a bit nicer. For example, there wasn't rotting wooden door frames or vines growing along the side of the building. They arrived at a house that seemed to be the smallest one in this area.
Kaoru looked at it. For a house in Downtown, it didn't look that bad. Every brick was in place, the stoop was clean, had a clean mat on it, and the flowers hanging from the windows were in perfect condition.
"This is Aoshi-sama's pad!" said an excited Misao.
Kaoru whispered to Kenshin, "Does she always act like this when you bring her to make deliveries?"
"No. She really loves this guy."
"Oh... how old is he?"
"Twenty-five. She doesn't care though."
Kaoru nodded slowly. Misao parked "Harvey" and ran up the front steps, taking Kenshin's backpack with her.
"Give that back right now, Misao-chan! I'll tell grandpa!"
Misao reluctantly shoved the backpack in Kenshin's face.
"That threat never loses its touch... If he told Jiya, I would be so dead."
Kaoru nodded. Misao knocked the door rapidly, and an ice-blue eyeball showed in the peephole. The door swung open, and the man inside the house snatched the box out of Kenshin's hand. He signed the book Kenshin held open, handed it back with Kenshin's pay tucked inside, and slammed the door. Misao seemed to be swooning over this silent, rude man, and Kaoru was left blinking. They rode back to Hiko's, and the rest of the whole delivery shift was very boring. So boring, Kaoru fell asleep on Kenshin when he was riding back to his house. He had already checked with the Central Park employees and Hiko, and both of his last shifts for the day were canceled. Misao hopped off her scooter, and Kenshin managed to get off his bike without dropping Kaoru on the sidewalk and cracking her head open. He carried her inside as Misao held the door open for him.
"So, what are we doing with her, Himura?"
"We're waiting until she wakes up. She's had a hard day. Misao, you're a good cook, I'll keep watch while you whip up dinner, okay?"
"Himura, HOW RUDE! DUMPING THE WORK ON YOUR OWN FAMILY!"
"Misao-chan, tone it down a few hundred notches, she's dead asleep and I don't want that changing."
Unfortunately, it soon did. As Misao was hunched over the stove trying to figure out exactly how to work Kenshin's "outdated piece of shit" (quote from her mouth), it caught fire.
"HIMURA, GRAB HER AND GET OUT! DO YOU HAVE ANY FIRE EXTINGUISHER!?"
"Yes, under the sink!"
Kenshin grabbed Kaoru and ran outside, and she soon woke up from the whole commotion.
"Kenshin, what is going on!? And I can walk perfectly on my own, thank you very much!"
Kenshin let Kaoru down from his grip, and she glared at him.
"I need an explanation, Mr. I-Think-I-Can-Carry-Kaoru-Around-the-City- Because-She's-Asleep!"
"Kaoru-dono, you fell asleep on my last delivery. I took you inside, placed you on the couch, and Misao started dinner. My obsolete stove caught fire."
Misao soon came rushing out the front door holding a red bottle of fire extinguisher before Kaoru could respond.
"Call the fire department! Himura, your extinguisher's expiration date is a-long time gone!"
Kaoru pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and quickly called 911. When the fire trucks arrived, the fire had gotten to a decent amount of the apartment, and it was definitely not going to be lived in for at least a few weeks.
Kenshin started chatting with Misao worriedly.
"Misao-chan, is there ANYPLACE you know of that I can stay at?"
"No, sorry Himura... maybe Sano?"
"He has enough problems housing Tsukioka-san."
"Crap..."
Kaoru quickly spilled her guts.
"Ihaveenoughroomifyouwanttostayatmyhouse!"
Misao's eye twitched.
"Okay, say that again, this time, SLOWLY."
"Kenshin, you can stay at my house."
"You can spare the space? My cousin here has a pretty big butt; it can take up a lot of room."
Kaoru would have laughed at that if this wasn't the situation.
"Yes, I can spare the room. It would be harder for you to get to your jobs though..."
"Don't worry about it, I'll leave thirty minutes earlier and I'll be fine, that I will."
"Alright. We'll leave when you are ready."
OWARI (for now)
Okay! I know that there was no romance in this chapter, it came out late, and it was kind of a filler chapter because I needed something leading up to Kenshin and Kaoru staying under the same roof, but it turned up better than it was supposed to...okay, review if you like, it would make me happy!
Translations:
Kenshin no baka: Kenshin you idiot!
hai: yes
-dono: basic translation is "Miss"
iie: no
-chan: 1: a term used for people younger that 15. 2: a term of endearment (used between close friends and family also) (in the case of a younger person saying it to an older person, it is an insult)
-san: Mr./Mrs./Ms.
-sama: lord, someone of higher respect
baka-deshi: stupid apprentice
shisho: master
oro: how Kenshin says he is surprised, basically means "huh" or "what"
Jiya: gramps
Author's Notes: I am really on a roll with this story, it seems. I won't repeat all my old notes, but, this chapter will introduce Misao... I couldn't leave HER out of my story, considering that she is my favorite character of all time. Well, go read!
Oh, to the anonymous reviewer Mai, I'm sorry you don't think there is enough romance. I just wanted to tell you this since you didn't leave your email, the chapters before this took place over a two day time period. If I had put more romance, this story won't be as long as it should, and I don't want it to turn out short. It will get more romantic as I go, I am not going to cram it all in one chapter anytime soon, and so, this won't be incredibly romantic for a while. And sorry if you are expecting citrus, not happening. That is all.
The Message to Her Heart - Chapter Four - The Burning Fire of Cousins and
Love
"KENSHIN NO BAAAAAAKAAAAAAAA!"
Kaoru instantly clocked Kenshin in the side of the head.
"You FORGOT your own COUSIN was coming over!?"
"Hai, Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru stepped away from Kenshin about a foot, and turned to the door.
"Well, in that case, I'd best be going, seeya later, Kenshin!"
"Iie, wait, stay!"
Kaoru stopped in her tracks, and looked behind her. Kenshin gave the most innocent smile her could muster, and Kaoru felt her heart melt like chocolate.
"But this is family!"
"Family that really wants to meet you."
Kenshin slapped his hands over his mouth. It look like he had let slip that he talked about her to his cousin. Well, actually, Misao knew something was up when she called the day before and forced him to tell using blackmail.
--- Flashback ---
"HIMURA, YOU JACKASS, I KNOW SOMETHING IS UP! TELL, OR I WILL TELL SEIJURO THAT YOU WERE LATE DELIVERING MY PACKAGES * THIRTEEN * TIMES!"
"Misao-chan, there really is nothing..."
"I'M A-DIALIN' HIS NUMBER!"
"Alright, alright! I think I'm in love!"
"Oh......? With WHO?"
"K-Kaoru Kamiya."
"Kamiya? This could get interesting... she'd better be at your place when I go over tomorrow, ya hear?"
--- End Flashback ---
Kaoru turned pink along the cheeks. Kenshin really wanted all close friends and family to know about her, didn't he?
Kenshin, being the dense dolt he was, had forgotten his cousin was coming over, even if she did call the night before. He felt really stupid now. He had also made that plan to have her over about two months ago, being as organized as he was. She was supposed to come at 12:00 PM on the dot. And it was 12:00 PM right now. And knowing Misao...
A few loud knocks could be heard at the door, and someone screamed "HIMURA!" at the top of her lungs. Kenshin opened the door to reveal a short, smiling girl who looked exactly like the one in the picture with a dark purple sweater that had a light purple stripe going around the arms and torso, and jeans. Kaoru peeked out the door timidly behind Kenshin. Misao quickly hugged her cousin around the neck.
"Hiya Himura! Long time no see for relatives, eh!"
"Misao-chan, you came over last week."
"Well, I consider that a long time since I love my big strong cousin Kenshin so much!" Misao yelled in a babyish voice. In fact, most of what Misao did was yell and talk loudly it seemed, and Kaoru soon realized why. Misao had two little devices hooked on her ears, one on each, that could be recognized as hearing aids.
"Well, then, you must be Kaoru-san! Nice ta meetcha, I'm Makimachi Misao! And you already know cousin Himura here, obviously. Actually, this isn't my first time meeting you. Remember that little girl in pre-school who got sent out of the school because she started losing her hearing and needed to learn sign? I'm her. My hearing finally improved enough though, although everyone says I talk loudly. I'm only trying to hear myself! It's a pain in the neck not to hear yourself... Oh, sorry, I'm rambling, I do that a lot."
Kaoru gave Misao a strange look.
"Misao-san, I'm twenty one, I couldn't have gone to your pre-school."
"Eh? I know there was a Kamiya there..."
"That was my little brother Yahiko (yes, he's sixteen in this one)."
Misao sweatdropped and nearly fell over. Kenshin snapped up.
"You didn't walk here Misao-chan, did you?"
"Nope, I took Harvey."
"Who?"
"My go-ped, you ding-dong."
Misao clocked Kenshin upside the head, and Kaoru stifled a laugh, considering she had done the same only a little while before.
"So, Himura, got any deliveries for Aoshi-sama?"
"I don't know, I have to report to shisho, but you're coming with me on that contraption of yours anyway."
"If you don't, can I PLEASE stay here?"
"No, Misao-chan."
"Aww, why?"
"You're only sixteen, Misao-chan; I'm not leaving you in a Downtown apartment by yourself."
"I'M NOT DEFENSELESS YOU STUPID JACKASS!"
"Misao-chan, I know, but I don't want you to get hurt, that I don't. I'm being a big brother, and telling you, YOU ARE NOT STAYING ALONE, that you are not."
"Aww, you're no fun."
"No, I just don't want to see my cousin hurt and/or used."
Misao stuck her tongue out at Kenshin, and the little digital watch beeped.
"Well, come on Himura, you know what that means, we gotta leave."
Kenshin picked up his bike and Kaoru stood on the pegs again as he braced it. Misao jumped on the motorized scooter dubbed "Harvey", and put the key in to start it up. The ride to Seijuro Hiko's house was quiet and boring, except Kaoru's face was going numb from blushing. She was glad that Kenshin was so focused on the road ahead, and couldn't turn around to look at her, because her cheeks were beet red by now. They arrived in front of a fancy looking house with flowers hanging outside the windows and a few garbage bins in the alley next to it.
Kaoru broke the silence. "Looks like a nice enough place."
Misao answered. "You aren't going to like the guy who lives in it."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
Kenshin walked up to the door and knocked twice. The man, or Seijuro Hiko opened it up.
"Baka-deshi, right on time."
"Who do I deliver to today, Shisho?"
"Let's see... oh, lucky you Weasel Girl, he has a package for the ice brick."
Misao's smile grew, and then she kicked Hiko in the shin while smiling. Kaoru barely managed to hold in her laughs; Misao looked somewhat like a robot when she did that.
"Do not call me Weasel Girl or you will feel the wrath OF my pet weasel."
"I didn't even know you had a pet weasel... Alright baka-deshi, here is the package for the stoic moron. Don't worry about dropping it, they're all dress shirts. Well, if the box gets ripped, then worry about dropping them, the shirts need to be clean, even though they are individually wrapped in plastic."
Kenshin took the box in his arms, and stuffed it into his backpack. It was then, out of the corner of his black eye, that Hiko saw Kaoru for the first time. Now, if Kenshin had gotten a girlfriend, he most certainly wouldn't tell his guardian/boss now, would he? This was exactly why Hiko was going to embarrass the little twerp now.
"Hey, baka-deshi, who's the pretty girl waiting for you over there?"
"Oro..... that's Kaoru-dono. Now, excuse us shisho, but, I have to deliver Shinomori-san's package, bye!"
Kenshin sat on his bike quickly and ushered Kaoru to get on the pegs, while Misao leapt on her go-ped and already started going ahead. Kenshin pushed the pedals as fast as he could to catch up with her, and Kaoru suggested she get off.
"Iie, that's alright, Misao-chan will wait up."
"HEY HIMURA, THIS IS AS SLOW AS I'M GOING, MOVE YOUR STUPID BUTT!"
"Okay, NORMALLY she waits up..."
Kaoru could have sworn she felt a sweat-bead fall down her face as she gripped Kenshin's shoulders tighter. They headed into a slightly deserted area that was still in Downtown, but the houses looked a bit nicer. For example, there wasn't rotting wooden door frames or vines growing along the side of the building. They arrived at a house that seemed to be the smallest one in this area.
Kaoru looked at it. For a house in Downtown, it didn't look that bad. Every brick was in place, the stoop was clean, had a clean mat on it, and the flowers hanging from the windows were in perfect condition.
"This is Aoshi-sama's pad!" said an excited Misao.
Kaoru whispered to Kenshin, "Does she always act like this when you bring her to make deliveries?"
"No. She really loves this guy."
"Oh... how old is he?"
"Twenty-five. She doesn't care though."
Kaoru nodded slowly. Misao parked "Harvey" and ran up the front steps, taking Kenshin's backpack with her.
"Give that back right now, Misao-chan! I'll tell grandpa!"
Misao reluctantly shoved the backpack in Kenshin's face.
"That threat never loses its touch... If he told Jiya, I would be so dead."
Kaoru nodded. Misao knocked the door rapidly, and an ice-blue eyeball showed in the peephole. The door swung open, and the man inside the house snatched the box out of Kenshin's hand. He signed the book Kenshin held open, handed it back with Kenshin's pay tucked inside, and slammed the door. Misao seemed to be swooning over this silent, rude man, and Kaoru was left blinking. They rode back to Hiko's, and the rest of the whole delivery shift was very boring. So boring, Kaoru fell asleep on Kenshin when he was riding back to his house. He had already checked with the Central Park employees and Hiko, and both of his last shifts for the day were canceled. Misao hopped off her scooter, and Kenshin managed to get off his bike without dropping Kaoru on the sidewalk and cracking her head open. He carried her inside as Misao held the door open for him.
"So, what are we doing with her, Himura?"
"We're waiting until she wakes up. She's had a hard day. Misao, you're a good cook, I'll keep watch while you whip up dinner, okay?"
"Himura, HOW RUDE! DUMPING THE WORK ON YOUR OWN FAMILY!"
"Misao-chan, tone it down a few hundred notches, she's dead asleep and I don't want that changing."
Unfortunately, it soon did. As Misao was hunched over the stove trying to figure out exactly how to work Kenshin's "outdated piece of shit" (quote from her mouth), it caught fire.
"HIMURA, GRAB HER AND GET OUT! DO YOU HAVE ANY FIRE EXTINGUISHER!?"
"Yes, under the sink!"
Kenshin grabbed Kaoru and ran outside, and she soon woke up from the whole commotion.
"Kenshin, what is going on!? And I can walk perfectly on my own, thank you very much!"
Kenshin let Kaoru down from his grip, and she glared at him.
"I need an explanation, Mr. I-Think-I-Can-Carry-Kaoru-Around-the-City- Because-She's-Asleep!"
"Kaoru-dono, you fell asleep on my last delivery. I took you inside, placed you on the couch, and Misao started dinner. My obsolete stove caught fire."
Misao soon came rushing out the front door holding a red bottle of fire extinguisher before Kaoru could respond.
"Call the fire department! Himura, your extinguisher's expiration date is a-long time gone!"
Kaoru pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and quickly called 911. When the fire trucks arrived, the fire had gotten to a decent amount of the apartment, and it was definitely not going to be lived in for at least a few weeks.
Kenshin started chatting with Misao worriedly.
"Misao-chan, is there ANYPLACE you know of that I can stay at?"
"No, sorry Himura... maybe Sano?"
"He has enough problems housing Tsukioka-san."
"Crap..."
Kaoru quickly spilled her guts.
"Ihaveenoughroomifyouwanttostayatmyhouse!"
Misao's eye twitched.
"Okay, say that again, this time, SLOWLY."
"Kenshin, you can stay at my house."
"You can spare the space? My cousin here has a pretty big butt; it can take up a lot of room."
Kaoru would have laughed at that if this wasn't the situation.
"Yes, I can spare the room. It would be harder for you to get to your jobs though..."
"Don't worry about it, I'll leave thirty minutes earlier and I'll be fine, that I will."
"Alright. We'll leave when you are ready."
OWARI (for now)
Okay! I know that there was no romance in this chapter, it came out late, and it was kind of a filler chapter because I needed something leading up to Kenshin and Kaoru staying under the same roof, but it turned up better than it was supposed to...okay, review if you like, it would make me happy!
Translations:
Kenshin no baka: Kenshin you idiot!
hai: yes
-dono: basic translation is "Miss"
iie: no
-chan: 1: a term used for people younger that 15. 2: a term of endearment (used between close friends and family also) (in the case of a younger person saying it to an older person, it is an insult)
-san: Mr./Mrs./Ms.
-sama: lord, someone of higher respect
baka-deshi: stupid apprentice
shisho: master
oro: how Kenshin says he is surprised, basically means "huh" or "what"
Jiya: gramps
