Standard Disclaimers Apply. Ruruoni Kenshin is not mine, never has been and will never be! Too harsh but that's the reality folks! @_@;;

            Let's test Kenshin Himura's ever-popular denseness. Up to what extent can he stay inside his 'shell' when his so-called Kaoru-dono, ever-respected and protected; put on the highest pedestal that he could, suddenly becomes the object of his attention.

                       

"When A Man Loves A Woman"

Chapter One

            "Ahoy there, Kenshin!"

            Kenshin tipped from surprise; adjusting his hold on the wooden tofu basket, he turned around to see a smiling Yahiko approaching him.

            "Ohayou, Yahiko. Where are you going? You haven't got any work at the Akabeko today?" he said, continuing on his way with the boy.

            "Yeah, somethin' like that. Tae gave me a day-off today and I've got nothing much to do in my house so I thought I could drop by the dojo. Besides, its almost been a month since I went there. Is busu home?"

            The ruruoni smiled as he nodded. "Hai. I just left her to buy these," showing the tofu. "We're running out of it, especially now that I'm planning to cook something delicious tonight…"

            Yahiko's eyes widened with mischief. "Oi, don't tell me you're making your move on busu…finally," he said with a playful nudge.

            The older man just smiled. Indeed, it has already been two years since he came to the dojo and yet, despite the rumors in town he has been hearing about his relationship with Kamiya Kosaburou's only daughter, it seems that it only makes their situation 'awkward-er' than ever.

            He too had not figured out it yet clearly: since he has 'feelings' for the girl. Its been obvious even just from the angle of him laying down his life for already countless number of times for 'his woman', as Udou Jin'eh had called her, and he will continue to do so if the situation calls for it. For him, she will always be 'his Kaoru-dono'. A special lady… that requires exceptional treatment...

            From him? Maybe.     

            Kenshin sighed.

            The feeling is there. The 'love'… the fondness… he knows it. But just what will it take him to admit blatantly (as Sanosuke—Kami protect him wherever part of the world he may be—had wanted to put it), openly and boldly to everybody that he REALLY loves Kaoru?

            Oro…

            He could see from those scheming looks of hers, those eyes, like open windows telling him to his face all her feelings, her sentiments, her emotions; that she is not at all happy of the way their relationship is going.

            Since the day Sanosuke had 'ventured out into the world', Yahiko had moved out and lived apart from them. Everybody waited…

            …to no avail.

            Everybody in town could see them walking frequently together in the market. Everybody waited…

            …again, to no avail.

            Those quiet, after-dinner walks by the river. Everybody waited…

            …still the same as always: to no avail.

            Even Kenshin doesn't understand himself anymore. It has not been seldom he could here many people talking on his back about his 'dim-wittedness', 'ignorance' and even 'stupidity' for taking it too slow in 'making a move' on Kaoru.

            He knows that Kaoru would want to see more of him—what he feels inside—but he just couldn't. Its like something holds him back…

            Tomoe-san?

            Kenshin frowned at the thought.

            Not in the least now, de gozaru.

            Well, he means that THAT tragic chapter of his life had been finally over, and if not forgotten, cherished as a beautiful memory full of lessons that makes him more a man. But wait…

            When was the last time I felt my heart flutter?

            When was the last time I laughed heartfully?

            When was the last time…?

            Am I getting really old now?

            Kenshin grimaced and erased from his mind the thought. He then pictured himself fully wrinkled, with a cane in one hand (in place of the good 'ol Sakaba), lecturing Kaoru's suitors on the porch about how to please and take care of her…

            "Orororo…"

            "What was that Kenshin?"

            "H-huh? Nothing Yahiko. H-hey! We're here…" he changed the topic. Closing the gates behind Yahiko, when he was about to call out for Kaoru…

            "Kaoru-don—"

            "Sshh!" Yahiko had a finger on his mouth telling him to be silent. Thinking of what could have been the reason, he let his eyes roam around.

            There, leaning on the porch beam, sat Kaoru with her hands on a book, sleeping peacefully.

            Kenshin grinned inwardly at the sight. "Kaoru-dono. Always sleeping in the wrong places."

            "Why? Didn't she sleep last night?" the boy asked.

            "She did," he replied, carefully taking the book from her hand and giving it over to Yahiko. "Probably its her training at the other dojo this morning that exhausted her."

            "Poor busu," Yahiko commented. "Trying to earn as much when there's just the two of you here."

            "I already told her that. Though I'm not earning as much as she does, my work at the police station can provide for us enough. But you know her… she insists on working. She would always complain that staying inside the dojo for a whole day would just bore her."

            "She has a point there, Kenshin. But for how long are you two going to stay like this?" raising a hand to his mouth, "Oops! Gomen ne? I'm really getting too personal now, am I not?"

            Kenshin only glanced at the sleeping form in the porch.

            I also don't know Yahiko-chan… I also don't know…

            Yahiko stayed in the dojo for dinner and then sped off to 'his' pad afterwards.

            I hope Yahiko wouldn't get Sano's attitude of constantly freeloading, de gozaru yo.

            Kenshin was left to himself, humming, while he began to scrub briskly the used dishes when the door slid open.

            "Kenshin! Gomen! I left you to cook by yourself! Have you eaten already? Did you buy the tofu?" Kaoru worriedly asked, as Kenshin couldn't do anything but plaster his ruruoni smile to bite back his amusement, seeing her eyes still looking puffy from sleep.

            "Hai, hai, Kaoru-dono. Yahiko and I ate already. I thought you must've been tired from your classes this morning so I didn't purposely wake you up…"

            "Yahiko was here?"

            Kenshin nodded. "He just left a few minutes ago."

            The raccoon girl sighed and then pouted. "How sad. I hate to admit this but I kindda missed the rascal… you should've waken me up."

            "Gomen, Kaoru-dono. You slept at the porch so I assumed right then that you're really tired."

            Thinking for a second as she frowned. "I did?" she blushed. "T-then how did I get to m-my room?"

            "I carried you."

            "N-NANI?" Kaoru's face turned bright red now. Kenshin had carried her to her room for dozing off the porch for three times this week already.

            What might he thinking right now of me? This has to stop!

            "Kenshin-no—"

            "…"

            "… no—!" Kaoru paused, as if remembering something. "N-nothing. Forget it."

            The ruruoni frowned. I'm sure she was to call me stupid again…

             "Oro…"

            Kaoru could not raise her eyes. "Anou… what's for dinner?"

            Kenshin's frown doubled but he answered anyway. "I cooked some meat and vegetables…"

            "Aaa," was Kaoru's try to divert the topic. "Don't wash the dishes, I'll take care of it, I'll eat first."

            "Demo…"

            Without looking at him, with a waning tone, "Kenshinnn…?"

            "Let me help you at least, de gozaru…" he said smilingly.

            Kenshin watched Kaoru from under his bangs as he scrubbed off the thick soot of their stove.

            Something's really wrong… I can feel it, he thought.

            She had been unusually quiet as she ate. Just last night they both enjoyed her stories, her 'adventures' of the whole day she was in the next dojo. She told him about friends that ran into her along the way; and her delight upon seeing that, she would say, 'perfect' fabric she dreams of buying for her kimono downtown and many more.

            But now? She's rather mum, as if concentrating on her every chew.

            Did I do anything wrong?

            Was it my 'not waking her up' a while ago?

            Is the food bad?

            Or is it the smell of her evenly washed (by me)  kimono?    

            Kenshin stopped scrubbing. Kaoru-dono's not a simpleton.

            But what the heck's wrong with her? Or maybe…

            … with me?

            And that's what he intends to find out.

            Please review. Thank you. – T.P.D.V