Disclaimer: still don't own the series or the characters.*sniffle*
Thank you everyone for reviewing!!!
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Kaoru's POV:
Kaoru felt herself slowly wake up. 'How did I get in here?' she thought. Then she remembered, just the night or morning before rather, she had fallen asleep in Kenshin's arms. 'How embarrassing' she blushed and turned over and was face to face with Kenshin who was sound asleep and smiling. 'What?' She thought surprised to see him 'What is he doing in here?' He let out a little snore Kaoru smiled softly 'tired are we?' she thought sweetly; after all they have been through she decided against hitting him upside the head. She felt a weight bear down on her heart, 'Why is there still this pain inside my heart?' Kaoru got up as quietly as she could trying not to make a sound, but when she stood up a pain shot down her side and made her double over, she bit her tongue and refrained from screaming. 'Forget it,' she thought as she lied back down next to the slumbering Kenshin and closed her eyes once again.
Yahiko's POV:
He was walking home from his long night out when a tall skinny man came running up to him.
"Do you live at the Kamiya Dojo?" The man said seeming out of breath.
Yahiko became apprehensive "...Yes" he said cautiously, fearing the worse.
"This is for the Owner" the man said handing him a letter.
Yahiko glanced down at the letter and then looked at the man. "Did you read this letter?" he asked realizing something.
The man shook his head. "No—no I didn't"
"So you gave this to me not knowing for a fact if I was or was not an actual member of the Kamiya School?" He said starting to lay into the man, "You ran through town and spotted some random person who just happened to carry a bokken and walking in that direction, and asked him if he was a member of the school rather than going to the school and to the teacher herself!?"
The man looked at him confused "So are you a member of the Kamiya Dojo?"
"Yes" Yahiko gave up exasperated at this mans foolishness. And without another word he walked off still not believing the stupidity of the man.
Kaoru's POV:
She lay on her side still half asleep (the pain had gone away and she even forgot about it) when she felt something heavy curl around her side and the warmth of another body close to hers. 'Kenshin...' she thought dreamily as she let the full warmth of his body bathe over hers. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so content, then it struck her, yes she could, 'It was right before Kenji came back...' She heard Kenshin moan or grumble something and his grip around her tightened. 'He's dreaming' she thought. 'I wonder what about...'
"KENSHIN!!" Yahiko yelled from outside the room sliding the shoji open with a bang "Kenshin I-" Yahiko stood in the door way staring at Kaoru who by then was wide awake, and Kenshin who was drearily starting to wake up from all the noise. Yahiko started to grin getting a look on his face "nice going stupid..." he said as Kaoru threw a vase at the young boys head.
Kenshin rubbed his eyes like a little child "Mmm- what's going on?" he said in the middle of a yawn.
"You little-" Kaoru said completely ignoring Kenshin, as she ran after the boy. She finally caught Yahiko and sat on him and started to hit him in the head.
"Miss Kaoru you seem better this morning." Kenshin said seeing her beat up the unlucky child.
Kaoru stopped punching the boy and blushed "Kenshin, I didn't even notice you were awake."
"Grrr get off of me fatso!!!" Yahiko said struggling to get up.
Kaoru hit him in the head one more time before letting him up. "Don't call me fat little Yahiko."
Yahiko got up and ignored Kaoru's remark, "Some dufus gave me this letter, I think it's from Sano," He said looking at Kenshin.
Kenshin looked at him as he handed him the letter. Kenshin looked at the address of the letter for a moment. "This letter isn't for me it's for Miss Kaoru."
Kaoru looked at him and grabbed the letter from his hands 'why would Sanosuke be writing me?' she thought as she looked at the letter. A realization came over her face as she read it, she smiled secretively and put the letter away.
"What did it say?" Yahiko asked curiously.
"It's nothing that concerns a child." Kaoru retorted slyly.
Yahiko gave her a disgusted look.
"Hey Yahiko where were you all night last night, we noticed that you never came in." Kaoru said as Yahiko turned to leave.
Yahiko turned on his heals and looked at Kaoru "It's none of your business ugly." Yahiko stuck out his tongue and ran off.
"Why you little—OW!! Hey Kenshin don't pull my hair!!" Kaoru yelled as she turned around to face Kenshin.
"Miss Kaoru don't start running around just yet you still have bruised ribs and it isn't good for you to try to break them by running around like that." Kenshin smiled innocently as he still had a hold on her ponytail.
"Kenshin, I'm fine the only thing wounded was my pride." She gave him a false smile, this wasn't true ever since she had gotten up she had felt a slight twinge in her ribs no doubt thanks to her brother.
* * *
The day seemed to roll by quickly, Kaoru didn't even notice the fact that Kenji had left early that morning (Kenshin and Yahiko thought it best not to point it out), although she did notice when he came waltzing back into the dojo later in the evening.
"So what's for dinner?" Kenji said sweetly as if nothing was wrong between them.
Kaoru ignored him; she felt her stomach sink as she thought of how long that she might have to put up with him. "Kenshin, how about going out for dinner? I don't feel like cooking and we haven't seen Tae for a while."
"That would be nice." Kenshin smiled.
"No." Yahiko said bluntly.
"No?" Kaoru looked at him, "What do you mean no?"
"I mean I don't want to go to the Akabeko can't we go somewhere else?" Yahiko seemed to panic. He acted like the world would end if they ate there.
"Why? Did you get turned down by Tsubame?" an impish smile crossed her face. "It's too bad for you because we're going anyway."
Yahiko didn't respond he just sat and glared at Kaoru.
"That place is still around?" Kenji said trying to get into the conversation.
Kaoru ignored him again, but this time Kenshin didn't "Yes, you are welcome to join us if you want-" Kaoru slammed her heel into Kenshin's foot. He winced in pain and fought back tears.
Kaoru couldn't believe what he was saying, 'come with us?!' she thought 'I don't even want to be with in a hundred foot radius of him! Who does Kenshin think he is to invite him with us?' Kaoru looked at him; she noticed something in his eyes as he looked at her. She took a deep breath, and with full confidence that Kenshin knew more than she did, agreed with him through gritted teeth. "Yes if you would like to come with us you may, but you have to pay for your own meal I don't have enough money to support another person."
Kenshin's POV:
Kenshin looked at her, he was amazed that she was going to let him go with them, 'And I only invited him because I felt sorry for him,' he thought to himself. He sighed 'If she lets what happened eat away at her soul... she needs to confront him.' He couldn't help but feel he was beginning to meddle in other peoples business, 'I have become too nosy' he smiled at the thought.
"What are you smiling at?" Kaoru snapped as they walked to town, she was obviously still upset with what Kenshin had done.
"It's nothing just a thought that crossed my mind." He replied ignoring her anger towards him. They had been walking some distance behind Yahiko and Kenji, who they themselves seemed to be in the middle of a conversation.
"Yeah sure, Kenshin why did you invite him?" She looked at him expecting some plausible answer.
"I felt sorry for him..." he trailed off waiting for her to hit him or something.
"Why?" she looked at him suspiciously.
"Well I-umm-" He was shocked that she was being so calm it scared him a little. "He reminded me of me when I first came here, someone who has a past and obviously wants to repent for their past."
"How do you know he's doing that?" She stopped and stared at him.
Kenshin turned around to face her, "I don't, but I do know he came back, and that he still cares about you and this place..."
"How do you know?" she was getting frustrated 'he barely knows my brother!'
"Because, he looks at you the same way that I do." Kenshin put his hand on her cheek. "Maybe someday you will be able to see it as clearly as I do now."
Kaoru looked down as she fought back a tear 'How could my brother care? If he cared-' but she stopped herself. "Someday, but not soon." She looked up at him "Kenshin I-"
"Hey what are you two waiting for!? we don't have all night!!" Yahiko yelled from the restaurant.
"Yes?" Kenshin said looking back at her, ignoring Yahiko.
"It's nothing, forget I even said anything." Kaoru blushed.
"Miss Kaoru, what was in that letter from Sano?" Kenshin asked seeing that a change of subject was needed.
"Well you see..." Kaoru said with an evil grin as they entered the Akabeko.
To be continued...
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AN: Wow I had some serious writers block on this story!! *wipes sweat off brow* I hated not having Sano in the story since he's so cute ^^. But since this takes place after he runs off (oops, sorry to those who haven't seen or read the whole series) I couldn't think of a way to put him in until just now Muahahahahahaha*cough cough*hahahaha!!!
Well until next time *waves while running out the door*
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Kaoru's POV:
Kaoru felt herself slowly wake up. 'How did I get in here?' she thought. Then she remembered, just the night or morning before rather, she had fallen asleep in Kenshin's arms. 'How embarrassing' she blushed and turned over and was face to face with Kenshin who was sound asleep and smiling. 'What?' She thought surprised to see him 'What is he doing in here?' He let out a little snore Kaoru smiled softly 'tired are we?' she thought sweetly; after all they have been through she decided against hitting him upside the head. She felt a weight bear down on her heart, 'Why is there still this pain inside my heart?' Kaoru got up as quietly as she could trying not to make a sound, but when she stood up a pain shot down her side and made her double over, she bit her tongue and refrained from screaming. 'Forget it,' she thought as she lied back down next to the slumbering Kenshin and closed her eyes once again.
Yahiko's POV:
He was walking home from his long night out when a tall skinny man came running up to him.
"Do you live at the Kamiya Dojo?" The man said seeming out of breath.
Yahiko became apprehensive "...Yes" he said cautiously, fearing the worse.
"This is for the Owner" the man said handing him a letter.
Yahiko glanced down at the letter and then looked at the man. "Did you read this letter?" he asked realizing something.
The man shook his head. "No—no I didn't"
"So you gave this to me not knowing for a fact if I was or was not an actual member of the Kamiya School?" He said starting to lay into the man, "You ran through town and spotted some random person who just happened to carry a bokken and walking in that direction, and asked him if he was a member of the school rather than going to the school and to the teacher herself!?"
The man looked at him confused "So are you a member of the Kamiya Dojo?"
"Yes" Yahiko gave up exasperated at this mans foolishness. And without another word he walked off still not believing the stupidity of the man.
Kaoru's POV:
She lay on her side still half asleep (the pain had gone away and she even forgot about it) when she felt something heavy curl around her side and the warmth of another body close to hers. 'Kenshin...' she thought dreamily as she let the full warmth of his body bathe over hers. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so content, then it struck her, yes she could, 'It was right before Kenji came back...' She heard Kenshin moan or grumble something and his grip around her tightened. 'He's dreaming' she thought. 'I wonder what about...'
"KENSHIN!!" Yahiko yelled from outside the room sliding the shoji open with a bang "Kenshin I-" Yahiko stood in the door way staring at Kaoru who by then was wide awake, and Kenshin who was drearily starting to wake up from all the noise. Yahiko started to grin getting a look on his face "nice going stupid..." he said as Kaoru threw a vase at the young boys head.
Kenshin rubbed his eyes like a little child "Mmm- what's going on?" he said in the middle of a yawn.
"You little-" Kaoru said completely ignoring Kenshin, as she ran after the boy. She finally caught Yahiko and sat on him and started to hit him in the head.
"Miss Kaoru you seem better this morning." Kenshin said seeing her beat up the unlucky child.
Kaoru stopped punching the boy and blushed "Kenshin, I didn't even notice you were awake."
"Grrr get off of me fatso!!!" Yahiko said struggling to get up.
Kaoru hit him in the head one more time before letting him up. "Don't call me fat little Yahiko."
Yahiko got up and ignored Kaoru's remark, "Some dufus gave me this letter, I think it's from Sano," He said looking at Kenshin.
Kenshin looked at him as he handed him the letter. Kenshin looked at the address of the letter for a moment. "This letter isn't for me it's for Miss Kaoru."
Kaoru looked at him and grabbed the letter from his hands 'why would Sanosuke be writing me?' she thought as she looked at the letter. A realization came over her face as she read it, she smiled secretively and put the letter away.
"What did it say?" Yahiko asked curiously.
"It's nothing that concerns a child." Kaoru retorted slyly.
Yahiko gave her a disgusted look.
"Hey Yahiko where were you all night last night, we noticed that you never came in." Kaoru said as Yahiko turned to leave.
Yahiko turned on his heals and looked at Kaoru "It's none of your business ugly." Yahiko stuck out his tongue and ran off.
"Why you little—OW!! Hey Kenshin don't pull my hair!!" Kaoru yelled as she turned around to face Kenshin.
"Miss Kaoru don't start running around just yet you still have bruised ribs and it isn't good for you to try to break them by running around like that." Kenshin smiled innocently as he still had a hold on her ponytail.
"Kenshin, I'm fine the only thing wounded was my pride." She gave him a false smile, this wasn't true ever since she had gotten up she had felt a slight twinge in her ribs no doubt thanks to her brother.
* * *
The day seemed to roll by quickly, Kaoru didn't even notice the fact that Kenji had left early that morning (Kenshin and Yahiko thought it best not to point it out), although she did notice when he came waltzing back into the dojo later in the evening.
"So what's for dinner?" Kenji said sweetly as if nothing was wrong between them.
Kaoru ignored him; she felt her stomach sink as she thought of how long that she might have to put up with him. "Kenshin, how about going out for dinner? I don't feel like cooking and we haven't seen Tae for a while."
"That would be nice." Kenshin smiled.
"No." Yahiko said bluntly.
"No?" Kaoru looked at him, "What do you mean no?"
"I mean I don't want to go to the Akabeko can't we go somewhere else?" Yahiko seemed to panic. He acted like the world would end if they ate there.
"Why? Did you get turned down by Tsubame?" an impish smile crossed her face. "It's too bad for you because we're going anyway."
Yahiko didn't respond he just sat and glared at Kaoru.
"That place is still around?" Kenji said trying to get into the conversation.
Kaoru ignored him again, but this time Kenshin didn't "Yes, you are welcome to join us if you want-" Kaoru slammed her heel into Kenshin's foot. He winced in pain and fought back tears.
Kaoru couldn't believe what he was saying, 'come with us?!' she thought 'I don't even want to be with in a hundred foot radius of him! Who does Kenshin think he is to invite him with us?' Kaoru looked at him; she noticed something in his eyes as he looked at her. She took a deep breath, and with full confidence that Kenshin knew more than she did, agreed with him through gritted teeth. "Yes if you would like to come with us you may, but you have to pay for your own meal I don't have enough money to support another person."
Kenshin's POV:
Kenshin looked at her, he was amazed that she was going to let him go with them, 'And I only invited him because I felt sorry for him,' he thought to himself. He sighed 'If she lets what happened eat away at her soul... she needs to confront him.' He couldn't help but feel he was beginning to meddle in other peoples business, 'I have become too nosy' he smiled at the thought.
"What are you smiling at?" Kaoru snapped as they walked to town, she was obviously still upset with what Kenshin had done.
"It's nothing just a thought that crossed my mind." He replied ignoring her anger towards him. They had been walking some distance behind Yahiko and Kenji, who they themselves seemed to be in the middle of a conversation.
"Yeah sure, Kenshin why did you invite him?" She looked at him expecting some plausible answer.
"I felt sorry for him..." he trailed off waiting for her to hit him or something.
"Why?" she looked at him suspiciously.
"Well I-umm-" He was shocked that she was being so calm it scared him a little. "He reminded me of me when I first came here, someone who has a past and obviously wants to repent for their past."
"How do you know he's doing that?" She stopped and stared at him.
Kenshin turned around to face her, "I don't, but I do know he came back, and that he still cares about you and this place..."
"How do you know?" she was getting frustrated 'he barely knows my brother!'
"Because, he looks at you the same way that I do." Kenshin put his hand on her cheek. "Maybe someday you will be able to see it as clearly as I do now."
Kaoru looked down as she fought back a tear 'How could my brother care? If he cared-' but she stopped herself. "Someday, but not soon." She looked up at him "Kenshin I-"
"Hey what are you two waiting for!? we don't have all night!!" Yahiko yelled from the restaurant.
"Yes?" Kenshin said looking back at her, ignoring Yahiko.
"It's nothing, forget I even said anything." Kaoru blushed.
"Miss Kaoru, what was in that letter from Sano?" Kenshin asked seeing that a change of subject was needed.
"Well you see..." Kaoru said with an evil grin as they entered the Akabeko.
To be continued...
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AN: Wow I had some serious writers block on this story!! *wipes sweat off brow* I hated not having Sano in the story since he's so cute ^^. But since this takes place after he runs off (oops, sorry to those who haven't seen or read the whole series) I couldn't think of a way to put him in until just now Muahahahahahaha*cough cough*hahahaha!!!
Well until next time *waves while running out the door*