[AN: ok I got a little off track last chapter. Ah, yes, writer's block that
makes me produce nothing more than dry writing. ^^;;; it's like a disease .
. .]
:: chapter 11 ::
Kenshin dashed towards to well. He quickly got a bucket of water and dumped it over his head. "Whew, that's better."
A soft chuckling made him look over his shoulder. Standing casually against the wall, laughing, was Iizuka. "Well, Battousai, what happened? Did you happen to like sharing a room with not one, but two girls?"
Kenshin glared and walked over. "If I had my katana right now, I would love nothing more than to slit your throat."
Iizuka made a choking sound and his finger subconsciously stroked his throat.
"But . . . I need help."
Iizuka raised his eyebrows. Battousai had never asked for any help before at all. "Yes?"
"I think I'm going crazy."
"How?"
"I slept soundly, I wouldn't wake easily, I overslept, I dreamed a nice dream, I blushed when Tomoe-san and Kaoru-san saw me in my yukata, and I freaked out when my hair was messy. Oh, and I also said oro."
Iizuka grinned. "Oh, you overslept? So that's why! I thought that you and the girls might have had something to continue what you had last night."
A menacing growl from Kenshin wiped the grin off Iizuka's face.
"Well, Battousai," Iizuka said in a more professional tone, "It's obvious."
"What's obvious?"
"It's the girls."
"Oro . . . I mean, ara?"
"You haven't had much contact with women, have you?"
"Well . . ."
"You, my young friend, have been bitten by the love bug."
Kenshin face faulted. "Eww!"
"It's not like it's a bad thing. Everybody starts getting feelings at your age."
"I . . . guess you're right."
Iizuka smirked, then snapped his fingers. "Oh, I forgot something." He reached inside his gi and retrieved a black envelope. "Katsura said to give this to you."
Steely eyed, Kenshin took it. The change was incredibly abrupt. While a moment ago, he had been an awkward, blushing teenager, he was suddenly an amber eyed, hardhearted hitokiri. "Arigato."
Without another word, he walked up the stairs to change into his dark blue gi and gray hakama. Until the bakumatsu was over, he would have to put girls all out of his mind.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Days passed, and then weeks. It was the same routine every day: wake up at dawn, help Okami in the kitchen, serve breakfast, do some chores, help in kitchen, serve lunch, read a bit, help in kitchen, serve dinner, take a bath, sleep.
Kaoru sighed. And, about every other day, serve Kenshin soba in silence, wait for him to come back, and wash his bloodstained clothes when it was her turn to do so.
Kaoru shifted the candle closer, turning the page in her book. It had been a month now, and she hadn't found the time turner yet. She had just about given up; she'd searched everywhere, in every drawer, in every fold of every garment of clothing.
She glanced out the window. Kenshin wasn't back yet. She sighed deeply. Even though she knew Kenshin was going to be all right, she couldn't help but get worried.
Kaoru laughed silently. Worry, worry, worry. It was all she did these days. She worried about Kenshin, she worried about not getting back, she worried about the world. And she worried about Kenshin's future.
True, he was rather happy right now. Well, not exactly happy, but Kaoru noticed that he was a little more social these days, and actually smiled a few times. She sighed and shut the book, unable to concentrate.
Now that she was here, would he still go for Tomoe? Well, probably. Kaoru winced. The truth hurts, ne?
She sighed. She didn't know if she could act the sheath that Tomoe had been. She had curbed his madness, and gave her the rurouni that she loved so much. No, it wasn't that she didn't know. She couldn't. Tomoe was the only one who could keep Kenshin calm and sane, unlike her, who only kept Kenshin snickering.
She looked out the window again, and saw a small figure walk into the yard.
She stood up with resolve. Tomoe and Kenshin would get together, even if it meant she no longer had a chance. Because she would do anything, anything, to make sure that Kenshin would reach peace in his life.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Kenshin quickly changed into the yukata that was waiting for him in the corner of the bath house. Even though he had protested, he couldn't admit that he was pleased: for weeks, he could expect a fresh article of clothing waiting for him, and his clothing washed by a beautiful girl.
Agh! Kenshin mentally Ryu Tsui Sen-ed himself. How many times had he had to remind himself? Girls come AFTER the bakumatsu was over.
He heard a small knock on the door. "Kenshin . . .-san? Are you done?"
Oh, so it was Kaoru's turn today.
He opened the door and nodded his head in greeting. "Gomen . . . I know you wouldn't like to wash these . . . I could perfectly wash them myself, Kaoru-san."
"What are you talking about? Please, this is the least TOMOE-SAN and I could do to repay you and Okami."
Kenshin winced. "Kaoru-san, I would appreciate it if you don't talk so loudly."
"Why?"
"Because I don't particularly enjoy people noticing me coming back from an assignment.
"Oh. Gomen."
Kaoru carried the sodden clothing over to the well, where she began drawing a pail of water. "You know, Tomoe-san is a great girl."
"Hmm."
"You don't notice it, but she's had a hard life really. And she's really caring and all, and beautiful."
"Hmm?"
"And she's a REALLY good cook, I heard that she was really popular . . ."
"Kaoru-san?"
"Hai?"
"You don't have to tell me all the qualities of Tomoe-san."
Kaoru froze, and then giggled falsely. "But she's a great girl, ne?"
"I am 15, Kaoru-san," he said coldly. "I'd rather not get married before puberty."
Kaoru cringed at the cold tone of voice. Kenshin sighed. "Kaoru-san, gomen if that was a bit harsh . . ."
She shook her head. "It's ok . . . why don't you get some sleep?"
"Hai, I will. Arigato." With that, he walked upstairs.
Kaoru scrubbed the gi darkly. "Always knew I was a bad actor. More subtle approach, maybe?"
[AN: Hehheh, a bit of crazy matchmaking here. I can't seem to get time to go very fast. It takes me a long time to get past a few minutes of storytime. Of course, I can also skip one month with the enter key. Hehe.]
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
[I have a new story, called "The Superstar and the Swordsman". Ah, yes, bad title, but I'm working hard on it! It is, as you can probably tell, a Ken/Kao story again. And yes, still romance. Do I just have to write romance? ^^;;; It's set in present day, and there's some OOC-ness. =) But please, check it out, oka? Arigato!]
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
[eh, time to talk to my reviewers =)]
XP-DarkAngel: Yes, DarkAngel-sama, I shall update! * salutes * Hehe. Thanks for reviewing my story, your comments are always nice, and yes, quite helpful. Arigato! And as for the transporter . . . I'll just say that she'll eventually find it. ^^
AnimeFan26: Sorry if the Kenshin thing seemed a bit cruel. Don't worry, he'll end up ok! I won't kill him or anything, he's still going to have a future and all.
Icy2: Personally, I have no idea whether this will be a KT or KK fic. I guess we'll know when I write it, I often get ideas for a chapter after I start writing it. ^^;;; and I'm glad the second sword amused you . . . I couldn't find a less vulgar way of talking. XD
And to everyone else, thanks for reading! Arigato Arigato Arigato!
:: chapter 11 ::
Kenshin dashed towards to well. He quickly got a bucket of water and dumped it over his head. "Whew, that's better."
A soft chuckling made him look over his shoulder. Standing casually against the wall, laughing, was Iizuka. "Well, Battousai, what happened? Did you happen to like sharing a room with not one, but two girls?"
Kenshin glared and walked over. "If I had my katana right now, I would love nothing more than to slit your throat."
Iizuka made a choking sound and his finger subconsciously stroked his throat.
"But . . . I need help."
Iizuka raised his eyebrows. Battousai had never asked for any help before at all. "Yes?"
"I think I'm going crazy."
"How?"
"I slept soundly, I wouldn't wake easily, I overslept, I dreamed a nice dream, I blushed when Tomoe-san and Kaoru-san saw me in my yukata, and I freaked out when my hair was messy. Oh, and I also said oro."
Iizuka grinned. "Oh, you overslept? So that's why! I thought that you and the girls might have had something to continue what you had last night."
A menacing growl from Kenshin wiped the grin off Iizuka's face.
"Well, Battousai," Iizuka said in a more professional tone, "It's obvious."
"What's obvious?"
"It's the girls."
"Oro . . . I mean, ara?"
"You haven't had much contact with women, have you?"
"Well . . ."
"You, my young friend, have been bitten by the love bug."
Kenshin face faulted. "Eww!"
"It's not like it's a bad thing. Everybody starts getting feelings at your age."
"I . . . guess you're right."
Iizuka smirked, then snapped his fingers. "Oh, I forgot something." He reached inside his gi and retrieved a black envelope. "Katsura said to give this to you."
Steely eyed, Kenshin took it. The change was incredibly abrupt. While a moment ago, he had been an awkward, blushing teenager, he was suddenly an amber eyed, hardhearted hitokiri. "Arigato."
Without another word, he walked up the stairs to change into his dark blue gi and gray hakama. Until the bakumatsu was over, he would have to put girls all out of his mind.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Days passed, and then weeks. It was the same routine every day: wake up at dawn, help Okami in the kitchen, serve breakfast, do some chores, help in kitchen, serve lunch, read a bit, help in kitchen, serve dinner, take a bath, sleep.
Kaoru sighed. And, about every other day, serve Kenshin soba in silence, wait for him to come back, and wash his bloodstained clothes when it was her turn to do so.
Kaoru shifted the candle closer, turning the page in her book. It had been a month now, and she hadn't found the time turner yet. She had just about given up; she'd searched everywhere, in every drawer, in every fold of every garment of clothing.
She glanced out the window. Kenshin wasn't back yet. She sighed deeply. Even though she knew Kenshin was going to be all right, she couldn't help but get worried.
Kaoru laughed silently. Worry, worry, worry. It was all she did these days. She worried about Kenshin, she worried about not getting back, she worried about the world. And she worried about Kenshin's future.
True, he was rather happy right now. Well, not exactly happy, but Kaoru noticed that he was a little more social these days, and actually smiled a few times. She sighed and shut the book, unable to concentrate.
Now that she was here, would he still go for Tomoe? Well, probably. Kaoru winced. The truth hurts, ne?
She sighed. She didn't know if she could act the sheath that Tomoe had been. She had curbed his madness, and gave her the rurouni that she loved so much. No, it wasn't that she didn't know. She couldn't. Tomoe was the only one who could keep Kenshin calm and sane, unlike her, who only kept Kenshin snickering.
She looked out the window again, and saw a small figure walk into the yard.
She stood up with resolve. Tomoe and Kenshin would get together, even if it meant she no longer had a chance. Because she would do anything, anything, to make sure that Kenshin would reach peace in his life.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Kenshin quickly changed into the yukata that was waiting for him in the corner of the bath house. Even though he had protested, he couldn't admit that he was pleased: for weeks, he could expect a fresh article of clothing waiting for him, and his clothing washed by a beautiful girl.
Agh! Kenshin mentally Ryu Tsui Sen-ed himself. How many times had he had to remind himself? Girls come AFTER the bakumatsu was over.
He heard a small knock on the door. "Kenshin . . .-san? Are you done?"
Oh, so it was Kaoru's turn today.
He opened the door and nodded his head in greeting. "Gomen . . . I know you wouldn't like to wash these . . . I could perfectly wash them myself, Kaoru-san."
"What are you talking about? Please, this is the least TOMOE-SAN and I could do to repay you and Okami."
Kenshin winced. "Kaoru-san, I would appreciate it if you don't talk so loudly."
"Why?"
"Because I don't particularly enjoy people noticing me coming back from an assignment.
"Oh. Gomen."
Kaoru carried the sodden clothing over to the well, where she began drawing a pail of water. "You know, Tomoe-san is a great girl."
"Hmm."
"You don't notice it, but she's had a hard life really. And she's really caring and all, and beautiful."
"Hmm?"
"And she's a REALLY good cook, I heard that she was really popular . . ."
"Kaoru-san?"
"Hai?"
"You don't have to tell me all the qualities of Tomoe-san."
Kaoru froze, and then giggled falsely. "But she's a great girl, ne?"
"I am 15, Kaoru-san," he said coldly. "I'd rather not get married before puberty."
Kaoru cringed at the cold tone of voice. Kenshin sighed. "Kaoru-san, gomen if that was a bit harsh . . ."
She shook her head. "It's ok . . . why don't you get some sleep?"
"Hai, I will. Arigato." With that, he walked upstairs.
Kaoru scrubbed the gi darkly. "Always knew I was a bad actor. More subtle approach, maybe?"
[AN: Hehheh, a bit of crazy matchmaking here. I can't seem to get time to go very fast. It takes me a long time to get past a few minutes of storytime. Of course, I can also skip one month with the enter key. Hehe.]
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
[I have a new story, called "The Superstar and the Swordsman". Ah, yes, bad title, but I'm working hard on it! It is, as you can probably tell, a Ken/Kao story again. And yes, still romance. Do I just have to write romance? ^^;;; It's set in present day, and there's some OOC-ness. =) But please, check it out, oka? Arigato!]
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
[eh, time to talk to my reviewers =)]
XP-DarkAngel: Yes, DarkAngel-sama, I shall update! * salutes * Hehe. Thanks for reviewing my story, your comments are always nice, and yes, quite helpful. Arigato! And as for the transporter . . . I'll just say that she'll eventually find it. ^^
AnimeFan26: Sorry if the Kenshin thing seemed a bit cruel. Don't worry, he'll end up ok! I won't kill him or anything, he's still going to have a future and all.
Icy2: Personally, I have no idea whether this will be a KT or KK fic. I guess we'll know when I write it, I often get ideas for a chapter after I start writing it. ^^;;; and I'm glad the second sword amused you . . . I couldn't find a less vulgar way of talking. XD
And to everyone else, thanks for reading! Arigato Arigato Arigato!