Across
the Hallway
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin et al is owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro. I'm just a Sessha follower that dreams…
A/N: Kenshin is not a saint. Just some major control wars going on beneath those wonderful eyes of his… RAted for topics and thoughts. Oh and I'm an architect, by the way, so i love to describe surroundings...
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Chapter 4
At the Akabeko Restaurant
The walk to the street corner was one Kenshin had never experienced before. Between the apartment building and the restaurant, Kaoru and Yahiko had probably exchanged just as much insults as Sano and Megumi would in a 30-minute spar, although theirs were less adult content and more of a younger brother-older sister kind. Yahiko wouldn't quit calling her Busu, Hag, Ugly and everything related to it, and Kaoru in turn, threatened him that she was going to make him do 500 swings with his bokken the next time he comes to class and to clean her whole apartment tomorrow since it was littered all over with boxes, packing tape and other assorted packing materials.
"Sheesh, why couldn't you have moved someplace else? Now I can never sleep in..." Yahiko moaned.
"To keep an eye on you, that's what!" Kaoru retorted. "Besides, it costs less to have a big apartment here and use it as the dojo and my home rather than having to rent the house and the dojo separately." Kaoru primly replied.
"Umm, pardon me for interrupting..." (The asker was rewarded with an adorable smile from Kaoru) "but Sessha would like to know how you and Yahiko met." Kenshin asked.
Whew! If she smiled more at me, I probably would have melted on the spot! She is one beautiful lady. But I can't spoil her with my... tainted past. I wish I could ask her out, but I can't.
Oh, but I can take over for you if you'd like... The hateful voice in him was taunting him again! Sheesh, what can he do to make it stop--- then Kenshin slowly realized that Kaoru was talking to him, so he put on his trademark smile and drew near enough to smell her... She smelled like jasmine flowers. He groaned inwardly. He had always been a sucker for girls with flowery smells.
In the time it took for Tae to open the doors (the restaurant was already closed) and seat all of them comfortably, Kenshin had learned that Kaoru was the Physical Education teacher in Yahiko's school and that she encouraged and browbeated him to start training with the bokken, Kamiya Kasshin Ryu or The Sword that Protects style because she had saved him once from getting caught by the high school principal in a fight with a boy who was bullying Tsubame. She felt that it would be better for him to let excess energy out with discipline, and instead of doling out detention, had included him in her roster of students.
Yahiko, having sharp ears, started to squirm when he heard his sensei telling Kenshin about that incident because he had not told him and his brother about it. He didn't want to see disappointment in their faces. He was bracing himself for it when, Kenshin turned to him and said "Well done Yahiko-san. It makes you a better person when you defend someone being bullied. I also think that it is best that you stay with Miss Kamiya in her school, I can see the improvement already." Yahiko's eyes went up to meet Kenshin's, and Kaoru's, and saw no disappointment there. It made him very happy, but of course, he had to be tough, so he said "Well, I had to do it for Busu here, or else she might have started crying and hit me with everything she's got!" At that comment, Kaoru shouted, "Mou!!!! You little brat!!!" and the bickering between Kaoru and Yahiko resumed.
-o-
The midnight snack was a lively affair, not to mention delicious as well. Tae was a very efficient woman, making sure all of their needs were taken cared of, and Kenshin was surprised that both her and Kaoru knew Sanosuke.
"Of course I know him, he has a long tab here! I'm surprised that you don't come in, though, although Sano-san and Yahiko-san both has mentioned to me and Kaoru about you several times already. It's nice to finally meet you, Kenshin-san." Tae said. "You're welcome here any time, don't be shy. And remember to refer our restaurant to others" she added.
"Hai, hai, Tae-dono, that I will. Many thanks for the meal tonight, it was very good." Kenshin replied.
"I think its time to wrap up, don't you? I'm sure Tae-chan still has a full day tomorrow and we have practice, Yahiko-chan!" Kaoru suddenly piped up.
"I'm not a kid, Hag!" Yahiko returned with a long suffering tone.
Kaoru glared at him "Don't call me Hag, you brat! Just you wait tomorrow and I'll bokken your fanny from here until kingdom come!"
Yahiko just laughed heartily at the last comment.
Liar, liar, pants on fire! Kaoru's mind taunted. You know full well you don't want it to end, he hasn't told you much about himself yet… Unfortunately for her, everybody started picking themselves up and started getting ready to leave. She sighed softly, knowing that it was the right thing to say at the moment. Who knows what the red haired guy would have said if she asked him out for a stroll. Kaoru no baka! she mentally chided herself. This is New York, girl, not a sleepy town in god-knows-where-ville. She glanced sideways, and saw Yahiko give Tsubame a long goodbye kiss and whisper something that made her giggle. Kaoru sighed again. She missed that kind of intimacy. She stood up, saw Tae look at the young couple with a misty smile, and turned towards Kenshin. It was disconcerting to see that he was observing her seriously with those amethyst eyes that seemed as if they could see into her soul. Again she felt that nagging sensation of togetherness. Get a grip, you've been watching too many chick flicks. He's probably just wondering about your goofy look! Kaoru blushed and decided to look away. And that was that.
She's looking at Yahiko and Tsubame again. Does she like that kind of thing? I would sure love to do that to her… but I'm an old fart. No way in hell would she ever consider me to be the guy to do that to her. Besides, you don't deserve someone that innocent… you'll just corrupt her. So I'll settle for just looking and dreaming things that can never happen.
Shit, Himura, you're thirty one going ninety. I'm not, though, and for the record, I can do much more than that!!!
Oh shut your trap,
Battousai. Kenshin tried
to draw a close on his troublesome thoughts while walking with Kaoru
and
Yahiko, who didn't seem to run out of insults for each other, back to
their
building. It seemed that the Battousai was in full force tonight, he
thought.
He better try meditating or centering himself, he thought, like one of
his
other friends… He mentally shook himself. Ah
Himura, the most you'll ever get out of that is a leg cramp. He
sighed,
dragging himself back to awareness of his companions and the noisy
street
rather than his thoughts.
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A/N: R&R please! Oh and in case anyone's wondering, -o- means a change of scene... Comments and suggestions very welcome! :)
