MISMATCHED
Chapter 8 - The Glitch
Author's Note: Unfortunately, for the fanfic world, I've gotten a break and had the time to update this fic. For the long delay, this isn't much of an update really. Well, anyway, as always, feel free to tell me anything that you want. Keep the reviews coming. I appreciate them all. And oh, I didn't tell this bit in a linear sort of way. For a change and to drive myself insane. If by any chance I confused you with the way I told it, please tell me, I promise I won't experiment with this kind of narration anymore. And one more thing, can anyone tell me the place where Aoshi goes to to meditate? I don't know the name of the temple (if it is in fact a temple) Gees, I wish I had more time to research on this, gomen ne... Well, now, on with the fic shall we?
Chapter 8 - The Glitch
Kyoto, 5:00 AM
Old folks used to say that weather, funny thing that it does, affect the people. And the morning that greeted Kyoto was different from yesterday. The day was decisively darker and more somber. Heavy clouds hanged from the sky and the sunlight filtered in weak little beams. There was a chilly wind coming from the far North sweeping the streets, bringing with them dancing golden leaves that silently brushed against the street - as though foretelling something unpleasant. A change in balance. A slight glitch that no one saw coming.
AOSHI
At the Temple, 10:00 AM
He had woke up early today. As always. It was quite common for the household to find him awake and already on his way out of the Aoiya even before dawn. People around him surmised that it was because he wanted to be at the temple and have his head straightened out. At least that was what Okina had told the rest of the residents of the Aoiya. The phrase, "Aoshi-sama had gone to the temple," was already a standard familiar line that echoes in every wall and room of their home. There were a few snide comments he had heard, the most recent was from the chicken head punk, about him substituting the temple for the loony bin.
Sagara always sounded like a stupid monkey to him. Not that he'd actually voice out that particular opinion. He knew very well that that statement would be contested by Sano - the pointy-haired one would tell him indignantly that he was no monkey, dammit!
The Temple and the Zen stuff, as what everyone referred to his sudden immersion in meditation and nature was his way of coping. Changes were coming on him faster than he was capable of understanding. He wanted to deal with this changes head on. And maybe, he could find something for him to do that would allow him to redeem whatever he had lost over the years of blind search for power and recognition. Besides, an oni is always connected with nature - the elements of nature - and how he can use them to his advantage. Lame excuse of course, but no one had bothered nor dared point that out.
The time he spent alone in the temple, pondering and reflecting, freed him from the many years of anger, self-hate and guilt he had knowingly and unknowingly inflicted upon himself.
Perhaps there was little credit for Sagara's accusation that he was using the temple as his sanctuary to keep him a little saner and normal than the rest of Battousai's gang of weirdoes.
But he didn't woke up early. Not at all. He never woke up early. It was just he never found sleep. Months had passed ever since the incident with Shihsio but he still had not sleep longer than three hours. Nightmares still haunted him.
He had done his little part in saving Japan, but in the end it had rendered him almost broken. Now, though he had all the time in the world to fix himself. Not just the tortures of the mind and dreams that he battled silently everyday, but just as well for his ice-encased heart.
He would never admit it to anyone but it was her smile that healed him. Truly healed him. The reason for his stay at the temple was that it was the only time he ever had the chance to watch her as she prepared his lunch without having to worry that Okina might notice his lingering stares or listen to Okon and Omasu's obvious innuendoes, or Shiro's winking and teasing. It was his only private time with her.
But today, he missed her smile.
Aoshi stared at the blue eyes that was staring up at him and offering a cup of steaming green tea. She was smiling at him. Her lips were a shade paler than yesterday. They had bite marks. He could tell from her stiff body movements that she was a little nervous and shy. And angry. There was a glint of annoyance in her eyes that somehow brought up the color blue more.
He missed the blue-greenness of her eyes.
He frowned and eyed the cup dubiously. He looked up intently staring at the new girl in front of him. He could not figure out if he had stepped into some bizarre dimension or if his eyes were playing tricks on him. He quickly dismissed his last logic. It could not be that, since that would be like betraying her.
He had done his usual ritual today, woken up around two in the morning, waited out until the dark sky had turned lighter, bluer - night silently slipping into day and had gone off to his temple, sat down, meditated for a while and waited for his lunch. For her.
Everything he did this morning had been right on schedule, nothing different, nothing a miss. He cocked his head to the side and frowned.
Only one word passed through his head.
Huh?
Robbed of eloquence, Aoshi silently accepted the cup, and summoning up the very same intensity of courage he had used when he faced death and Battousai, he silently drank the tea, offered to him by none other than Kamiya Kaoru.
He fervently hoped the tea wasn't poisoned.
SANOSUKE
Aioya, 1:00 PM
Eleven hours after Aoshi had woken up, Sano's eyes finally fluttered open. He woke up late. As usual. He wasn't in the least bit worried, no one seemed to mind.
Except for that 'I'm-the-king-of-the-fucking-ice-world-Shinamori-hear-me-roar" Or not roar for that matter.
And well, Megumi too.
But then again, Megumi was always on his case, whatever it was he was doing, or not doing. It didn't matter. He was so used seeing her, standing with hands firmly planted on her hips and glaring at him. She looked scary and somewhat adorable at the same time.
Where could his little spitfire be? He asked himself, lips curled up in a smug smile. He was expecting that she'd be the one who'd wake him up, but that didn't seem to be the case today.
He had been waiting for Megumi to come banging on his door like always but she seemed to be taking too long. Or as the silence would imply, she wasn't in the house. He tried to listen for any voice; Kaoru's familiar screeching, Misao's shrieking and Kenshin's signature "oro, oro" but he hadn't heard anyone in this damn house since he opened his eyes, which was roughly like five minutes ago.
Sano pouted, had they all went out for a good time and left him? Surely, no one took him seriously when he had told them that he had another date with... Sano paused, what was the geisha's name again? Yuki? Akemi? Mimi? She certainly could not be named Megumi. Could she? Damn. Whatever.
He did brought her over last night for dinner, but that was because he had begged her and she had only agreed because he had saved her from the pesky little scumbag who had a little too much to drink and was harassing her.
Oh, Sano smiled gleefully, suddenly remembering the dark look that crossed Megumi's eyes when she realized that he had brought home a girl. He hadn't meant to create such an uproar over dinner. Kaoru and Misao had looked at him with wide, 'how-could-you' looks while Kenshin merely spewed off a dozen or so 'oro's'. Their reactions however were not what he was looking forward to seeing. He was expecting Megumi to be show some sort of, what was the term?
Jealousy.
Yeah.
As if.
Admittedly, it was a little juvenile of him to use such tactic and it didn't even worked as planned. Megumi had sat all throughout dinner quietly (after taking her a moment to regain her composure) and had even smiled oh-so-sweetly the whole night. She had not once glared at his direction and Sano found it quite disturbing that he actually missed (and longed for) the 'if-looks-could-kill-' stares that Megumi so loved giving him. It was thoroughly confusing and he did not even enjoyed what's-her-name's company. She was sweet and all, but she barely talked, let alone grate on his nerve.
Huh?
Wait! What did he just thought of? Did he actually want a girl to grate on his nerve for him to consider her as sexy?
Oh, Kami! What had Megumi done to him?
"Sano-chan?" A girly voice called out from outside his room.
Sano-chan?! He hadn't heard anything so entirely ridiculous in his entire life. He got up, frowning. He threw the door open and was completely bowled-over by the sight of Weasel Girl in front of him looking so... so...
"Misao?" He asked squinting his eyes at her choice of clothes for the day. She was wearing a freaking kimono. Yes, Misao in a kimono. Someone had obviously spiked her drink. But that wasn't the biggest surprise of all. It seemed as though, overnight, she had er, um... grown. He sneaked a lightning fast glance at the deep-V cut of her ocean green kimono and almost choked, literally speaking. He swept his eyes up and concentrated hard on staring at Misao's face. "Is - um... I mean, is that..." he paused, knowing what he wanted to ask, but also knowing that should he actually voice it out, he'd be dead faster than he can say, 'tits'. "Is everything ok?" He managed to croak out instead.
"Of course Sano. Everything is just... peachy!" She said looking at up him with a bright smile.
O-kay, Sano thought, keeping the door between them slightly closed. This was weird. Am I still dreaming or is it April's Fool already? "Ugh, what can I do for you?" He asked slowly scratching his head.
"I was hoping you'd asked that." Misao purred.
Sano's eyebrows shot upward. Maybe that wasn't the little oni had said, "'Cuse me?" He said slowly.
"Aren't you going to open the door Sano?" She leaned forward and Sano almost slammed the door shut on Misao's face.
"I... I... um, I'm not sure that's... eh, hehehe...." He stammered lamely trying to get a grip on what was happening. Misao looked liked she was... uhm, flirting with him?
Nah! It can't be that, he thought horrified.
He looked at Misao. She was pouting up at him and batting her eyelashes. "Ohohohohoho...." He laughed loudly, desperate to grasp at straws, never mind reality, because this was obviously happening in some twisted alternate reality where girls can become shapely, voluptuous women overnight. Over-freakin-night. "I get it. I get it." He announced, grinning widely. Without another word, he slammed the door shut, scrambled to get dressed properly (just to be safe) and went back to his futon, throwing the blanket over him.
Ok Sano, snap out of it. Dreaming of Misao coming on to you is sick! Sick! Sick! Sick!
He closed his eyes tightly and added loud snoring to convince himself. He distinctly heard Misao muttering a curse and smiled. That was the Misao he knows! Yatta! He hadn't gone mad after all! He kept his eyes closed as he heard the door open with a creak and light footsteps echoed over the room.
Misao is going to wake me up... I mean, Megumi is going to wake me up, he corrected himself. And then everything would be back to normal. He felt her kneel down on the side of his head and as always, she was shaking him awake.
He mumbled and grumbled incoherently (just as he had always done) and opened his eyes expecting to stare at dark hazel orbs filled with annoyance and something more.
Blue-green eyes stared back at him and slowly, the face of Misao came into view.
So it was Misao that woke him up. Big deal. She wasn't... he looked at her whole outfit and let out a big sigh of relief. Back to her ninja outfit. Back to her 12-year old boy body. The world was still a safe place, thank Kami!
"Ohayou Weasel girl!" Sano said brightly.
"Ohayou Chicken Head Punk!" She returned looking relieved too.
"For a moment there, I thought I saw you looking like a woman." Sano chuckled and shook his head, missing the dangerous look that passed Misao's eyes. He sat up and again chuckled at his weird dream, he reached out and messed up Misao's hair. "What's the plan for today, eh Misao?"
"I was hoping if you could teach me a few moves." She stood up and reached out her hand to him. Sano took it and smirked at her.
"Wanna learn from the expert huh?" He said looking down at their linked hands.
Misao rolled her eyes. "I'm just bored. And I have nothing else to do." She informed him. "I'll wait by the back. Get ready to get your ass kicked, Sagara!"
Sano raised his eye brows, happy to have his little Weasel Girl back. Come to think of it, that weird dream didn't even look real. Of course it wasn't real you dumb ass! He chided himself. "Me? Get my ass kicked? By you?! In your dreams!" He smirked and winked at her. "And, oh, where's The Fox Lady by the way? Not that I miss her or I'm looking for her or anything, just you know, curious..." He trailed off, horrified at the way he babbled. Kenshin babbled. Aoshi stared. But he? He was cool and composed always. "So, ugh, Megumi still here?"
"Oh, well no. She and Kenshin went on a date." Misao announced in a cheerful voice.
"Oh! That's nice... Whaaat? A date? Did you just used the word date? Do you mean that as 'date' date or as 'date' referring to the day and month and year? I mean, Kenshin and Megumi?" Words stumbled out of his mouth faster than he could stop them.
"Yes. Heard they'd be going to this garden... they left hours ago."
"Hours ago?" He exploded. Hours ago! Kenshin and Megumi! On a date! TRAITORS! CHEATERS! How could Kenshin do this Kaoru! As soon as those two came home he was going to have a talk with them. A very long talk on the virtue of friendship and loyalty and trust and…
"Sano?" Misao asked slowly touching his arms.
He looked down at her, trying to focus.
"Is everything ok? You're not jealous are you?" Misao asked with a strangely dark scowl on her face.
"Um, me? Jealous!? Hell no! Fuck no!" He maniacally screeched. "Why should I be? Right? Let them, date," he said the last word with contempt. "I'm perfectly fine." He stressed through tightly clenched teeth. "Perfectly fine" He repeated more to himself.
"Good. Now let's start with the ass kicking!" Misao said, punching him in the arm.
He let her and winced at the pain that spread from his arms to follow the strangest path that lead to his chest and his heart. Grumbling at over-worked weasels and sly sly foxes, Sano stood up and got out of the room, not seeing the balled up sea green kimono Misao was clutching behind her back.
He wondered how in the holy hell Megumi had gotten Kenshin on a date. And for that matter, where the fuck was Jou-chan?
KENSHIN
Aioya, 8:00 AM
Five hours prior to Sano's waking up and two hours before Aoshi got the surprise of his life, Kenshin had already been staring at the ceiling, contemplating whether or not he can face her today. All night he had seen her blue eyes dark with anger and hurt. Anger and hurt he had caused.
After a night of heated debate with himself (very creepy, to say the least) he had decided to he should and would face her. He had planned his day. He was going to find Kaoru and apologize for his behavior and tell her that they could never be. That he thought of her as his little sister (little sister, what a riot!) It was better that he thought of her as a child. It was easier for him to play dumb. He was willing to lose Kaoru's affection and keep her safe. He can't lose her. Not her presence, not the vibrant spirit that warms and burns his heart and soul. To live without her smile was something he could not even think about. It brought a sudden ache inside of him that he could not ignore.
He had thought about their situation and admittedly, he had done one stupid thing after another. He couldn't accept whatever it was Kaoru was offering to him. He was sure it could not be love. How could she love a man like him? And more importantly, what sort of a person was he if he allowed her to love him? To want him. He was only capable of bringing her pain. How could he ever risk her? He had vowed to protect her, and he would be damned if he failed her. He'd go as far as protecting her from him.
Besides, there was still a chance that what she was feeling for him was nothing but a silly infatuation. What Sano called as, "puppy love." Although for the life of him, he could not comprehend why it was called such.
What would a damn puppy know about love anyway? He asked himself almost inanely. Sure, puppies may be all cute and adorable, just like Kaoru, he thought with a smile, but they sure as hell no nothing about love and how painful it is and fragile and precious, like Kaoru. He grimaced. He had to stop thinking about Kaoru, especially about the way she looked and smelled and tasted - he flashed on their little kiss and had to take in deep calming breaths.
Stop. Dammit, just stop.
But he couldn't stop. He pictured her small frame and her sweet innocent smile and that wide child-like blue eyes and lips so red and soft and tempting...
He had to stop torturing himself. Kenshin sighed, he'd give anything to have at least one normal day where he could just... just be with her without feeling any guilt or fear. That was all he wanted. To be with her. Even for just one day. Tell her how he really feels, hold her, worship her... just *be* with her.
"Oh, Ken-shin..."
The sing song voice of Megumi filled his ears and he turned to look at her, a wide welcoming smile plastered on his face. Perhaps the lady doctor knows where Kaoru was. He had been looking for her all morning and she seemed to be avoiding him. Not that he can blame her entirely. Not that he had any right to go looking for her in the first place, after what he had done. After hurting her. "Megumi-dono, ohayou." He said politely.
Megumi gave him a bright smile, but he noticed that it barely reached her eyes. He tilted his head to have a better look at her. "Everything ok?" He asked slightly concerned.
"Oh, yes. Of course!" Megumi breathed. Not said, but breathed in a rather odd, heavy, slightly slurred speech.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "Have you been drinking, Megumi-dono?" He asked, taking a small step forward, trying to smell her breath. He failed to notice the slight twitching of Megumi's perfectly arched eye brows.
"Nani? Why would I do such a thing, Ken-san?" She asked in a syrupy voice. Kenshin had to fight off the urge to shudder and wince.
"I thought, well," Kenshin paused looking at her closely, "I thought you might be upset over Sano and his, ugh, friend." Kenshin answered slowly, seeing how Megumi's nostrils flared at the mere mention of Sano's name. Boy, oh, boy, he thought unkindly, Sano was in a bigger trouble than he was expecting. Of course, Sano did brought that geisha over to dinner last night, the mere act was enough to warrant Sano a death certificate.
"Oh, that." Megumi waved her hand flippantly in the air. "It all in good fun ne? I understand Sano and that... girl..." Megumi said through clenched teeth, as though trying her hardest to get the word out of her mouth. Kenshin frowned. Megumi was showing really subtle hints that...
"...are going out for dinner tonight again?" He heard Megumi finish in a hurry.
Kenshin nodded, vaguely remembering Sano making arrangements to meet his new fried, "Sano did said that he'd meet up with her tonight."
"Oh." Megumi said in a high pitched voice. "I wonder where in Hell's corner would Sano find the money to buy that nice... girl... dinner."
And again, Kenshin noticed the effort Megumi gave just to say the word, 'girl'. He was so very tempted to tell Megumi the 'girl's' name, but seeing the look of distaste on her face, he figured discretion was the best policy. "I wouldn't know, Megumi-dono. But I think he won at the gambling house the other day, so..." He trailed off, suddenly seeing the dangerous glint in Megumi's eyes. He opened his mouth to assure Megumi that it was nothing serious, somewhat understanding why he should assure her. It felt like it was the right thing to do. He didn't get to say anything anyway as he was cut off by the doctor's foxy laughter.
"Sano? Won? At a gambling house? Oho-hoho-ho. My, there are a lot of fools in this town, wouldn't you say so Ken-shiii-n?"
Kenshin blinked at the way she said his name. It sounded odd even to his own ears. "Well, ugh, oro, I guess so." He answered, chuckling nervously and scratching the back of his head. He fought off the urge to ask Megumi again if she had been drinking this early morning, but decided against it. This little talk was getting weirder by the second and he better ask her if she had seen Kaoru, "Megumi-dono, could you..."
"Ken-san, would you like to..." They both started at the same time. Kenshin paused as did Megumi. He watched perplexed as Megumi giggled. Yes, giggled, his mind shouted at him. Somehow the image of Megumi giggling was quite... disturbing to say the least. Megumi slowly looked up to him and took one step forward.
Kenshin immediately took a step backward.
Megumi advanced towards him and he almost jerked away but caught himself. Megumi slowly snaked her hand around his arms, deftly rubbing his skin with her fingers as her hands went up, stopping not so innocently at the collar of his gi. He swallowed hard. Dear, God, don't let Kaoru walk in on us like this! He thought suddenly panicked.
"Yes, you were going to say something?" She purred into his ear.
"Ugh, why don't you go first." He said with a cough. This is ridiculous, he told himself. Of course, Megumi had in the past flirted with him, but never this way. Never so... seriously.
"I was just going to ask you if you'd want to..." Megumi said this while her other hand crept from his stomach across his chest. Kenshin stiffened, to the point of actually looking and feeling like a frozen corpse under Megumi's touch.
"Megumi-dono! Kenshin!" The all too familiar voice rang out of nowhere, making Kenshin want to jump a hundred meters away from Megumi, but unable to do so. He was frozen in his place, feet planted to the ground, heart beating painfully against his chest.
Oh no. Kaoru!
Kaoru looked as frozen as he was, a strange look crossed her face and before Kenshin can name it, it had disappeared and was replaced by a not-so-natural smile on her face.
Kenshin's stubborn heart suddenly stopped beating, his breath catching on his throat. She was wearing her favorite kimono, (he knew this because he had seen her wear it only during special occasions) and she looked stunning, with the soft light surrounding her, making her look so... so... any word or language would be inadequate to describe how she looked that moment.
"Well, I um...." Kaoru cleared her throat looking away and shifting nervously from foot to foot. Kenshin half expected her to be annoyed with him, or ignore his very presence, but she seemed acting quite the opposite. As though *she* had done something wrong. Something that she knew he would disapprove of.
"Breathe Kenshin, breathe." He heard Megumi whisper in his ear. He wanted to actually disentangle himself from Megumi's hold, as politely as he could, but Megumi's arm only tightened around him.
"Ka-ka-kaoru-dono." He stuttered stupidly, unable to stop himself.
And then Megumi's laughter filled the air again, "Kaoru-chan, what is it that you need? Can you see Ken-san and I are quite busy right now?" She asked sweetly, playfully tugging at his collar.
No we're not at all busy! Kenshin's mind screamed. He shot Kaoru a 'trapped look' and hoped that she do her usual screeching that would get Megumi's hands off him. They always had that sort of silent communication and understanding between them.
Kaoru looked away and shook her head. When she turned to face them, she was all smiles. "Oh, gomen ne for disturbing you two."
"Well? Ken-san and I haven't got all day to wait for you." Megumi purred once more and Kenshin's forehead creased with confusion. This was the second time Megumi had used the words, 'Kenshin and I' and stressed it a bit too much.
Kaoru swallowed hard and looked at the floor for a moment as though trying to compose herself and then she stared back at him. Only him. Her vibrant blue eyes looking straight at him. Kenshin could feel sudden heat rising up from the deepest corner of his heart to fill his whole body.
"I'm... I am going to bring Aoshi's lunch today. I was hoping I could come with him to the temple and meditate together and I was wondering if..."
Her other words were lost on his ears however. All that his brain could comprehend were the words "Aoshi" and "Together".
Together. Kaoru and Aoshi.
To-ge-ther. His mind emphasized.
"Oh, well then, better run along, he's already at the temple" Megumi answered a little too loudly, or maybe she was indeed shouting in his ears, he just didn't notice. Didn't care.
Together. The word echoed inside his head, to every hollow part and back over and over again until it reached his heart where it stabbed him there. Repeatedly. Viscously. A mere word, stabbing his heart.
Kaoru didn't seem to hear Megumi's answer. She was still looking at him. Blue eyes once so open and trustful now held nothing for him to read. "Arigatou." She said finally. She slowly turned her head at Megumi and nodded, "See you at dinner," and then she turned to look back to him. "Bye Kenshin." She said quietly. Finally. And then she was gone.
He could barely hear what Megumi was telling him. His eyes were still locked on that place she had been only seconds ago, so beautiful it actually hurt to look at her. Kenshin was in a state of daze, maybe even shock. When he heard Megumi ask him if he, "wanted to", tugging at his sleeves, he turned to look at her. Frowning he said the first word that popped inside his head, amazed that he could still think.
"Huh?"
Well, maybe not think as coherently as before.
Megumi rolled her eyes, "I said do you want to come with me and see this old garden Okon was telling me the other day. It's supposed to be romantic."
Kenshin just stared at her blankly, his eyes stinging.
"Ken-saaan!"
"Oh," he said blinking at her rapidly. What had she been telling him? "Sure, Megumi. Whatever you say." He answered, not caring if Megumi had just asked him to jumped off a cliff and drown in the blueness of the ocean. The blueness of her eyes. That seemed like a fitting thing to do today, he thought numbly.
Megumi clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Great, c'mmon, Kenshin!" And she proceeded to drag him away. Hopefully, Kenshin thought, to a steep cliff.
On their way, he miserably filled his head with images of Kaoru and Aoshi... meditating inside the temple.
Oh, the pain...
KAORU
The Temple, 4:00 PM
Eight hours later, inside the temple. Kaoru and Aoshi, meditating together, just as Kenshin had imagined. Although in his version, the meditating part was fairly different and held more activity that what was actually happening.
Oh, if he only knew, Kaoru thought miserably, remembering the look of pain that darkened Kenshin's eyes, turning the lavender orbs into purple pin points.
But she was not supposed to think about him. Vanishing all thoughts about Kenshin, Kaoru slowly opened her eyes and peered at Aoshi. She looked at him with half interest and shifted in her seat, stifling a groan. Her limbs were already aching and the lotus position she had copied from Aoshi wasn't helping. In fact, she thought with annoyance, it was the very reason why her legs felt hot and achy.
Aoshi still had his eyes close and he seemed to be deep in trance. If he had been surprised that she was the one who brought his lunch, he didn't show it. He had silently accepted the cup she offered and didn't seem to mind the taste. He didn't even grimace and Kaoru was thankful that he hadn't fainted like Hiko. Her face immediately took on a sour look as she remembered the amount of teasing she had endured when Yahiko told everyone that Kenshin's master had suffered the worst fate by just drinking her tea. She shook her head trying to erase the memory of the laughing contorted faces of Sano and Yahiko. It was still by far the most embarrassing moment of her entire life.
She had taken great care in preparing the tea and had been rewarded by a barely heard grunt of thanks from Aoshi. The silent ingrate! She fumed, balling up her fist.
"Mmm, arigatou," that was the first and last word ever spoken. She bit her tongue, using all her willpower not to speak. How the hell does Aoshi do it? How could he remain so stone quite? She tilted her head and studied his face.
He was nowhere like Kenshin. But he was good looking, in a non-Kenshin kind of way. Of course, this whole stupid scheme would not work if you keep comparing him to Kenshin, she reminded herself with venom.
She regarded Aoshi again, this time shoving all thoughts of a certain red-haired she refused to name. Aoshi had a long angular face and even with his eyes closed, he still looked so serious and grave. His jet black hair brushing the nape of his neck was somewhat... well, admittedly, sexy in a dark sort of way and Kaoru had to smile at this. She had never taken the time or the interest in other men. Of course she had in some distant past thought of Sano as being sexy in a rugged sort of way too. But that was before. She had confused ruggedness to Sano's total disregard for hygiene.
Aoshi was so very different from Kenshin and yet she could see traces of Kenshin in him. There was this ever present dark brooding quality about them. The only difference was that with Aoshi, it wasn't just manifested, it was him. It was his persona. His whole, I'm-The-Ice-King-Vibe. Or it could be that it was just what he was showing them. Hidden beneath all those ice blocks was a sweet warm being.
Right.
She was feeling all fuzzy right now, she thought sarcastically.
Kaoru let her mind wander back to Kenshin, realizing that it was thoroughly futile to not think of him at all. She tried to imagine what in the world Megumi had planned for today. She wished it was something, well, fairly innocent. Although she had a bad feeling that Megumi didn't particularly know that the word "innocent" existed.
She scrunched up her nose, feeling a muscle in her leg twitch. She had nothing against meditation, as she herself had used it before practicing, but in her humble opinion, Aoshi needed to get a life, soon. Staying here, cooped up in a temple and sitting like this for the whole day wasn't in the least bit relaxing. It was boring.
Bo-riiiiiinnnnngggg.... her mind sang back, mocking her.
That was the difference between Aoshi and Kenshin. Kenshin was painfully shy and quiet at times, but Aoshi was painfully...
"Bored already Kamiya-san?" His low voice interrupted her thoughts.
Kaoru jerked back guiltily, afraid he had read her mind. Don't be silly, she chided herself. He can't read your mind anymore that you can read his. She briefly thought if Misao ever had any headaches trying to decipher the mystery that was Aoshi. Kaoru looked at Aoshi with a forced smile, shook her head, shifted her weight and clumsily lost her precarious lotus position - it was bound to happen, she thought scowling with annoyance.
Why her? Why *always* her?!
She fell back on the mat, with a distinct thumping sound, eyes closed. She groaned out loud, muttered a nasty word she had learned from Sano and slowly opened her eyes. She found herself staring at the high wooden ceiling. What have I gotten myself into? She asked silently, not even waiting nor expecting for any reaction from Aoshi. He probably thought that she had just dropped dead and she wouldn't be surprised if he's only reaction would be a flat "Oh" of surprise. If he was cable of that emotion.
Suddenly, a pair of blue eyes looked down on her and shivered... almost... pleasantly. "A-Aoshi-sama..." she mumbled...
"Daijobou?" He asked in a low voice.
Kaoru could feel her face suddenly heating up, "Fi-fine... just a little, clumsy..." She said sheepishly. Aoshi nodded and she watched as he held his hands towards her. She took it after a moment of hesitation and let him pull her up effortlessly. She stepped away as soon as she was standing. "Gomen, I'm not used to..." she waved her hands around as if it would explain what she meant and shrugged when she realized how weird she must've looked.
"We're going back." Aoshi announced turning away from her.
"Oh! It's ok. You could stay here, I'll just head back on my own." She told him picking up the basket where she placed their lunch, suddenly eager to get home, mentally kicking herself. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She turned to face him struggling to fight off the urge to run away as fast as she can.
Kaoru let out a small yelp as Aoshi, without warning, reached out and took the basket from her hands. She stared first at the basket open mouthed and then at Aoshi. "Um, it's ok, really Aoshi-sama. You don't need to..." she began, but he cut her off with a stern look on his face that told her that she should not argue with him. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, she clamped her mouth shut and walked a foot behind him. He stopped on his tracks and raised his eyebrows. Amazed at how she could easily read him, Kaoru took a tentative step beside him and together, they walked back home.
MEGUMI
The Lover's Garden, 10:00 AM
Three hours before Sano woke and found a slightly changed Misao standing by his door, Megumi and Kenshin had been well on their way around the garden. It wasn't the best of days to walk about since it was a little chilly, and there were only few peek-appearances by the sun as heavy dark clouds hung in the air.
In fact, if one should ask the clouds, the only reason they hadn't let any downpour today was because of the constant glares the Fox Lady had shot upwards into the sky.
It was not going to rain. She willed it so.
Especially since she had dragged Kenshin outside to have a nice romantic walk. Everything she had planned of went against her. If it rained, she was going to curse the whole damn world - or perhaps just Sanosuke. Depending on her mood.
And no, you won't be doing any progress if you keep thinking about Sano and his sexy brown eyes. Concentrate Megumi. The task is at hand. She took a deep breath and with medical precision, mentally sliced off the part of her brain that always thought of Sano.
She had learned and practiced the seduction skills 101. She had performed it with great and out most enthusiasm.
And today she just found out that apparently, it doesn't always work.
At least with Kenshin it didn't. Megumi glanced at her silent companion, deliberating whether or not she should assure him that there was absolutely nothing going on between Aoshi and Kaoru. He looked so miserable and sad. Actually, he looked right about ready to jump off a cliff anytime soon.
She had played the playful vixen far too long and she had gotten tired of purring her words, it sounded unnatural even to her own ears. Plus, sadly, the only reaction she had gotten from the red-haired was a series of "oro's". He was so adorable, in a funny kind of way. "Ken-san, do you know why this is called Lover's Garden?" She asked trying to strike up a conversation with him.
Kenshin paused and nodded, "I heard about it before. It's an old legend I think. But I don't remember the story." He stopped to look at a plant nearby. Megumi watched as he frowned, gingerly touching the leaves. She narrowed her eyes and cleared her throat, "It's a jasmine" She informed him casually. "It's beautiful isn't it?" She bent down to examine a small bud that has yet to bloom.
"Like Kaoru." She heard Kenshin mumble. She looked up at him and was surprised to see the usual friendly violet eyes suddenly flashing into amber.
Megumi had to stifle a gasp that wanted to escape her throat. "Is... is something wrong Ken-san?" She asked placing a hand on his arm.
Kenshin looked at her and she was relieved to find the familiar purple eyes staring back at her. He smiled and shook his head. He patted her hand and walked further down the path. He glanced back at her, as though suddenly realizing she had not walked with him. "Megumi-dono?" he called out.
Megumi shook her head as she hurried over to his side. She tried to remember what had attracted her to Kenshin in the first place. It seemed so long ago that she was afraid she had forgotten already. She needed to remember it. She needed to remember how to live without the constant sight of Sano grinning at her, his brown eyes laughing merrily at a joke he wouldn't share with them - with her. It would be the only way for her to move on if this little scheme of hers didn't work.
"Ken-san," she began brightly, "Let's stop by the market and buy some stuff for Yahiko-chan and the small girls."
Kenshin smiled at her warmly, "And don't forget Genzai-sensei and Tsubame-chan too!" He added, seeming to cheer up a little.
"Oh, of course!" She squeezed Kenshin's hand, wondering if Kenshin somehow knew what she was feeling. What they were both feeling.
A little out of place and desperate to forget.
She wished Misao was doing better with Sano.
Wait, on a second thought, erase that. She wished... she wished for Sano.
MISAO
AIOYA, 6:00 PM
Two hours after Kaoru realized that Aoshi had some redeeming qualities that she might want to get to know better, Misao was lying on her back panting loudly, out of breath and bone tired.
"That was different." She quipped silently. She had never thought she'd enjoy her first day with Sano. She giggled as she heard him groan out loud. If she could get up, she would have gladly gone over to kick Sano some more, but alas, her she had reached her limit. "Wow!" She breathed out loud.
"That's it? Wow? You practically killed me and that's all you have to say? Che, you're disappointing me Weasel." Sano muttered, lying beside her, his shirt soaked with sweat, his spikes, spikier than the usual.
"Heh." Misao said, rolling to her side, facing Sanosuke. "Kicked your ass, didn't I?"
Sano turned his head to look at her with obvious effort, "Only cause I let you." He said in all seriousness.
Misao snorted loudly. "You wish." She had been wrong in thinking that Sano would fall for the, sexy-playful-bunny she had opted to use as her tactic a couple of hours earlier. She had gone as far as stuffing all of her ribbons inside her kimono (at the chest to be exact) just so she could get Sano to notice her, which the pervert did. Although he looked adorable trying to hide the obvious fact that he had been surprised as hell to find out that she had er, grown overnight. The look on Sano's face when he realized she actually had a cleavage was a classic. She wished there was a way to capture it, but she'd just have to settle with the mental image.
She had been afraid that she'd have to start swaying her hips awkwardly in her desperate attempt to seduce Sano but to her surprise, Sano had slammed the door on her face and, if she guessed it right, had pretended that everything was just a dream. Something she was all too happy about. Apparently, Sano was more into Amazon Woman, Let's Hurt Each Other Type of girl.
So instead of the sitting-by-his-lap-I'm-all-yours tactic that she had planned for the day, the two of them ended up trying to out do each other in every physical activity possible. It started out with an innocent arm wrestling that had somehow turned into an all out kick-your-ass fight. She didn't get hurt - not as seriously as Sano though. "Hey, Sano?" She asked, smiling at him, suddenly finding him not so disgusting and juvenile as she had once thought.
"Yah?" Sano answered his eyes closed.
She watched as he breathed evenly, his chest (did she just thought, 'muscular chest'?) rise and fall. Overcome by this crazy need, she sat up and straddled him, trying to find his ticklish spot, "Care for a tickling match?" She asked as her fingers traveled up and down Sano's ribs.
Sano didn't even knew what hit him. He roared with laughter. "Cut it out, cut it out!" He shrieked in such an unmanly way, Misao had to laugh at him too.
"Just to remind you, you've never once won against me. I beat you at the arm wrestling, I totally out run you, you tripped twice and I never knew you couldn't climb tress until you fell, what's the term Sano?" She asked sweetly, her fingers digging deep into Sano's sides, "fell flat on you butt?"
She had been so busy enumerating Sano's losing streak, she failed to notice his hand shooting out to grasp her wrist and before she knew it, she was underneath him. He had the unmistakable glint in his eyes.
"Payback, Misao, as they say, is a bitch."
Misao squealed as Sano immediately found her most ticklish spots. "Stop! Stop!" She pleaded.
"Was sa matter my little oni? What were you saying? About me losing to you? I don't think so..."
She laughed and laughed so hard, tears were streaming down her face. When they heard the gate opening, they didn't immediately stop, but when they heard the voice, Sano froze up almost instantly.
"No date tonight Sano?" Megumi asked, her arms wrapped securely around Kenshin's.
Kenshin had his wide 'oro' eyes at the sight of them... her underneath Sano... and she could feel sudden heat engulfing her body. Sano shifted his weight but before he can even reply or get off her, another voice interrupted them.
"We're home!" Kaoru stepped inside the gate, walking side by side with a silent Aoshi.
This time, it was Misao who practically jumped up from her position as soon as Aoshi's eyes found them. Misao winced and looked down intent on avoiding Aoshi-sama's cold blue eyes, only to see Kaoru's hand, enveloped inside Aoshi's. Her eyes shot up and she found herself staring at a stiff-looking Kenshin, a flushed Kaoru and a scowling Megumi. She could not bring herself to look at Aoshi though.
She heard Sano grunt a reply. He stood up and patted his head down, looking at everywhere and anywhere except Megumi, who also at that moment didn't look at all pleased. "We're have you guys been?" He asked no one in particular.
Kaoru and Megumi took this as a clue to answer, clearing their throats, Kaoru answered first, "Well, Aoshi and I spent the day together at the temple." She announced, sounding calm and neutral.
"And Kenshin and I went for a walk and the old Lover's Garden."
Sano paused, narrowing his eyes. "Oh. Well, how was your..." And then as though the words finally hit him, he stopped short and looked stunned. He pointed first at Kaoru and then at Aoshi and then at Kenshin and at Megumi. "Wha-huh?" He asked sounding genuinely perplexed.
"And what have you been doing Misao-chan?" Megumi asked with a raised eyebrow, ignoring the state of confusion Sano was obviously in.
"Sano and I just... got physical today...." She told them, watching closely for any sign from Aoshi's face. She hoped. She wished. As always, she failed. "We had arm wrestling," she finished, more for Megumi's sake.
Megumi nodded and so did Kaoru.
All six of them stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. There was no sound, no movement, no slight twitching of the eyebrow. There was just calmness around them, as though they were all silently trying to figure out what the hell was going on and why did it feel slightly wrong but not so entirely. Something was a miss. A slight glitch. A change. A wrongness they could point out, but could not articulate.
They stood still and so clear-cut from each other against the back light of the red dipping sun. Anyone from the outside watching them would see the obvious.
Mismatched. All of them. And it was going to stay that way for the whole week.
End note: There's a reason why Aoshi and Kaoru was holding hands at that moment. It would be explained on the next chapter, ne? And oh, for those planning on flaming me for the lack of everything in this chapter, please, do it in a nice way, ne? See ya all soon!
Chapter 8 - The Glitch
Author's Note: Unfortunately, for the fanfic world, I've gotten a break and had the time to update this fic. For the long delay, this isn't much of an update really. Well, anyway, as always, feel free to tell me anything that you want. Keep the reviews coming. I appreciate them all. And oh, I didn't tell this bit in a linear sort of way. For a change and to drive myself insane. If by any chance I confused you with the way I told it, please tell me, I promise I won't experiment with this kind of narration anymore. And one more thing, can anyone tell me the place where Aoshi goes to to meditate? I don't know the name of the temple (if it is in fact a temple) Gees, I wish I had more time to research on this, gomen ne... Well, now, on with the fic shall we?
Chapter 8 - The Glitch
Kyoto, 5:00 AM
Old folks used to say that weather, funny thing that it does, affect the people. And the morning that greeted Kyoto was different from yesterday. The day was decisively darker and more somber. Heavy clouds hanged from the sky and the sunlight filtered in weak little beams. There was a chilly wind coming from the far North sweeping the streets, bringing with them dancing golden leaves that silently brushed against the street - as though foretelling something unpleasant. A change in balance. A slight glitch that no one saw coming.
AOSHI
At the Temple, 10:00 AM
He had woke up early today. As always. It was quite common for the household to find him awake and already on his way out of the Aoiya even before dawn. People around him surmised that it was because he wanted to be at the temple and have his head straightened out. At least that was what Okina had told the rest of the residents of the Aoiya. The phrase, "Aoshi-sama had gone to the temple," was already a standard familiar line that echoes in every wall and room of their home. There were a few snide comments he had heard, the most recent was from the chicken head punk, about him substituting the temple for the loony bin.
Sagara always sounded like a stupid monkey to him. Not that he'd actually voice out that particular opinion. He knew very well that that statement would be contested by Sano - the pointy-haired one would tell him indignantly that he was no monkey, dammit!
The Temple and the Zen stuff, as what everyone referred to his sudden immersion in meditation and nature was his way of coping. Changes were coming on him faster than he was capable of understanding. He wanted to deal with this changes head on. And maybe, he could find something for him to do that would allow him to redeem whatever he had lost over the years of blind search for power and recognition. Besides, an oni is always connected with nature - the elements of nature - and how he can use them to his advantage. Lame excuse of course, but no one had bothered nor dared point that out.
The time he spent alone in the temple, pondering and reflecting, freed him from the many years of anger, self-hate and guilt he had knowingly and unknowingly inflicted upon himself.
Perhaps there was little credit for Sagara's accusation that he was using the temple as his sanctuary to keep him a little saner and normal than the rest of Battousai's gang of weirdoes.
But he didn't woke up early. Not at all. He never woke up early. It was just he never found sleep. Months had passed ever since the incident with Shihsio but he still had not sleep longer than three hours. Nightmares still haunted him.
He had done his little part in saving Japan, but in the end it had rendered him almost broken. Now, though he had all the time in the world to fix himself. Not just the tortures of the mind and dreams that he battled silently everyday, but just as well for his ice-encased heart.
He would never admit it to anyone but it was her smile that healed him. Truly healed him. The reason for his stay at the temple was that it was the only time he ever had the chance to watch her as she prepared his lunch without having to worry that Okina might notice his lingering stares or listen to Okon and Omasu's obvious innuendoes, or Shiro's winking and teasing. It was his only private time with her.
But today, he missed her smile.
Aoshi stared at the blue eyes that was staring up at him and offering a cup of steaming green tea. She was smiling at him. Her lips were a shade paler than yesterday. They had bite marks. He could tell from her stiff body movements that she was a little nervous and shy. And angry. There was a glint of annoyance in her eyes that somehow brought up the color blue more.
He missed the blue-greenness of her eyes.
He frowned and eyed the cup dubiously. He looked up intently staring at the new girl in front of him. He could not figure out if he had stepped into some bizarre dimension or if his eyes were playing tricks on him. He quickly dismissed his last logic. It could not be that, since that would be like betraying her.
He had done his usual ritual today, woken up around two in the morning, waited out until the dark sky had turned lighter, bluer - night silently slipping into day and had gone off to his temple, sat down, meditated for a while and waited for his lunch. For her.
Everything he did this morning had been right on schedule, nothing different, nothing a miss. He cocked his head to the side and frowned.
Only one word passed through his head.
Huh?
Robbed of eloquence, Aoshi silently accepted the cup, and summoning up the very same intensity of courage he had used when he faced death and Battousai, he silently drank the tea, offered to him by none other than Kamiya Kaoru.
He fervently hoped the tea wasn't poisoned.
SANOSUKE
Aioya, 1:00 PM
Eleven hours after Aoshi had woken up, Sano's eyes finally fluttered open. He woke up late. As usual. He wasn't in the least bit worried, no one seemed to mind.
Except for that 'I'm-the-king-of-the-fucking-ice-world-Shinamori-hear-me-roar" Or not roar for that matter.
And well, Megumi too.
But then again, Megumi was always on his case, whatever it was he was doing, or not doing. It didn't matter. He was so used seeing her, standing with hands firmly planted on her hips and glaring at him. She looked scary and somewhat adorable at the same time.
Where could his little spitfire be? He asked himself, lips curled up in a smug smile. He was expecting that she'd be the one who'd wake him up, but that didn't seem to be the case today.
He had been waiting for Megumi to come banging on his door like always but she seemed to be taking too long. Or as the silence would imply, she wasn't in the house. He tried to listen for any voice; Kaoru's familiar screeching, Misao's shrieking and Kenshin's signature "oro, oro" but he hadn't heard anyone in this damn house since he opened his eyes, which was roughly like five minutes ago.
Sano pouted, had they all went out for a good time and left him? Surely, no one took him seriously when he had told them that he had another date with... Sano paused, what was the geisha's name again? Yuki? Akemi? Mimi? She certainly could not be named Megumi. Could she? Damn. Whatever.
He did brought her over last night for dinner, but that was because he had begged her and she had only agreed because he had saved her from the pesky little scumbag who had a little too much to drink and was harassing her.
Oh, Sano smiled gleefully, suddenly remembering the dark look that crossed Megumi's eyes when she realized that he had brought home a girl. He hadn't meant to create such an uproar over dinner. Kaoru and Misao had looked at him with wide, 'how-could-you' looks while Kenshin merely spewed off a dozen or so 'oro's'. Their reactions however were not what he was looking forward to seeing. He was expecting Megumi to be show some sort of, what was the term?
Jealousy.
Yeah.
As if.
Admittedly, it was a little juvenile of him to use such tactic and it didn't even worked as planned. Megumi had sat all throughout dinner quietly (after taking her a moment to regain her composure) and had even smiled oh-so-sweetly the whole night. She had not once glared at his direction and Sano found it quite disturbing that he actually missed (and longed for) the 'if-looks-could-kill-' stares that Megumi so loved giving him. It was thoroughly confusing and he did not even enjoyed what's-her-name's company. She was sweet and all, but she barely talked, let alone grate on his nerve.
Huh?
Wait! What did he just thought of? Did he actually want a girl to grate on his nerve for him to consider her as sexy?
Oh, Kami! What had Megumi done to him?
"Sano-chan?" A girly voice called out from outside his room.
Sano-chan?! He hadn't heard anything so entirely ridiculous in his entire life. He got up, frowning. He threw the door open and was completely bowled-over by the sight of Weasel Girl in front of him looking so... so...
"Misao?" He asked squinting his eyes at her choice of clothes for the day. She was wearing a freaking kimono. Yes, Misao in a kimono. Someone had obviously spiked her drink. But that wasn't the biggest surprise of all. It seemed as though, overnight, she had er, um... grown. He sneaked a lightning fast glance at the deep-V cut of her ocean green kimono and almost choked, literally speaking. He swept his eyes up and concentrated hard on staring at Misao's face. "Is - um... I mean, is that..." he paused, knowing what he wanted to ask, but also knowing that should he actually voice it out, he'd be dead faster than he can say, 'tits'. "Is everything ok?" He managed to croak out instead.
"Of course Sano. Everything is just... peachy!" She said looking at up him with a bright smile.
O-kay, Sano thought, keeping the door between them slightly closed. This was weird. Am I still dreaming or is it April's Fool already? "Ugh, what can I do for you?" He asked slowly scratching his head.
"I was hoping you'd asked that." Misao purred.
Sano's eyebrows shot upward. Maybe that wasn't the little oni had said, "'Cuse me?" He said slowly.
"Aren't you going to open the door Sano?" She leaned forward and Sano almost slammed the door shut on Misao's face.
"I... I... um, I'm not sure that's... eh, hehehe...." He stammered lamely trying to get a grip on what was happening. Misao looked liked she was... uhm, flirting with him?
Nah! It can't be that, he thought horrified.
He looked at Misao. She was pouting up at him and batting her eyelashes. "Ohohohohoho...." He laughed loudly, desperate to grasp at straws, never mind reality, because this was obviously happening in some twisted alternate reality where girls can become shapely, voluptuous women overnight. Over-freakin-night. "I get it. I get it." He announced, grinning widely. Without another word, he slammed the door shut, scrambled to get dressed properly (just to be safe) and went back to his futon, throwing the blanket over him.
Ok Sano, snap out of it. Dreaming of Misao coming on to you is sick! Sick! Sick! Sick!
He closed his eyes tightly and added loud snoring to convince himself. He distinctly heard Misao muttering a curse and smiled. That was the Misao he knows! Yatta! He hadn't gone mad after all! He kept his eyes closed as he heard the door open with a creak and light footsteps echoed over the room.
Misao is going to wake me up... I mean, Megumi is going to wake me up, he corrected himself. And then everything would be back to normal. He felt her kneel down on the side of his head and as always, she was shaking him awake.
He mumbled and grumbled incoherently (just as he had always done) and opened his eyes expecting to stare at dark hazel orbs filled with annoyance and something more.
Blue-green eyes stared back at him and slowly, the face of Misao came into view.
So it was Misao that woke him up. Big deal. She wasn't... he looked at her whole outfit and let out a big sigh of relief. Back to her ninja outfit. Back to her 12-year old boy body. The world was still a safe place, thank Kami!
"Ohayou Weasel girl!" Sano said brightly.
"Ohayou Chicken Head Punk!" She returned looking relieved too.
"For a moment there, I thought I saw you looking like a woman." Sano chuckled and shook his head, missing the dangerous look that passed Misao's eyes. He sat up and again chuckled at his weird dream, he reached out and messed up Misao's hair. "What's the plan for today, eh Misao?"
"I was hoping if you could teach me a few moves." She stood up and reached out her hand to him. Sano took it and smirked at her.
"Wanna learn from the expert huh?" He said looking down at their linked hands.
Misao rolled her eyes. "I'm just bored. And I have nothing else to do." She informed him. "I'll wait by the back. Get ready to get your ass kicked, Sagara!"
Sano raised his eye brows, happy to have his little Weasel Girl back. Come to think of it, that weird dream didn't even look real. Of course it wasn't real you dumb ass! He chided himself. "Me? Get my ass kicked? By you?! In your dreams!" He smirked and winked at her. "And, oh, where's The Fox Lady by the way? Not that I miss her or I'm looking for her or anything, just you know, curious..." He trailed off, horrified at the way he babbled. Kenshin babbled. Aoshi stared. But he? He was cool and composed always. "So, ugh, Megumi still here?"
"Oh, well no. She and Kenshin went on a date." Misao announced in a cheerful voice.
"Oh! That's nice... Whaaat? A date? Did you just used the word date? Do you mean that as 'date' date or as 'date' referring to the day and month and year? I mean, Kenshin and Megumi?" Words stumbled out of his mouth faster than he could stop them.
"Yes. Heard they'd be going to this garden... they left hours ago."
"Hours ago?" He exploded. Hours ago! Kenshin and Megumi! On a date! TRAITORS! CHEATERS! How could Kenshin do this Kaoru! As soon as those two came home he was going to have a talk with them. A very long talk on the virtue of friendship and loyalty and trust and…
"Sano?" Misao asked slowly touching his arms.
He looked down at her, trying to focus.
"Is everything ok? You're not jealous are you?" Misao asked with a strangely dark scowl on her face.
"Um, me? Jealous!? Hell no! Fuck no!" He maniacally screeched. "Why should I be? Right? Let them, date," he said the last word with contempt. "I'm perfectly fine." He stressed through tightly clenched teeth. "Perfectly fine" He repeated more to himself.
"Good. Now let's start with the ass kicking!" Misao said, punching him in the arm.
He let her and winced at the pain that spread from his arms to follow the strangest path that lead to his chest and his heart. Grumbling at over-worked weasels and sly sly foxes, Sano stood up and got out of the room, not seeing the balled up sea green kimono Misao was clutching behind her back.
He wondered how in the holy hell Megumi had gotten Kenshin on a date. And for that matter, where the fuck was Jou-chan?
KENSHIN
Aioya, 8:00 AM
Five hours prior to Sano's waking up and two hours before Aoshi got the surprise of his life, Kenshin had already been staring at the ceiling, contemplating whether or not he can face her today. All night he had seen her blue eyes dark with anger and hurt. Anger and hurt he had caused.
After a night of heated debate with himself (very creepy, to say the least) he had decided to he should and would face her. He had planned his day. He was going to find Kaoru and apologize for his behavior and tell her that they could never be. That he thought of her as his little sister (little sister, what a riot!) It was better that he thought of her as a child. It was easier for him to play dumb. He was willing to lose Kaoru's affection and keep her safe. He can't lose her. Not her presence, not the vibrant spirit that warms and burns his heart and soul. To live without her smile was something he could not even think about. It brought a sudden ache inside of him that he could not ignore.
He had thought about their situation and admittedly, he had done one stupid thing after another. He couldn't accept whatever it was Kaoru was offering to him. He was sure it could not be love. How could she love a man like him? And more importantly, what sort of a person was he if he allowed her to love him? To want him. He was only capable of bringing her pain. How could he ever risk her? He had vowed to protect her, and he would be damned if he failed her. He'd go as far as protecting her from him.
Besides, there was still a chance that what she was feeling for him was nothing but a silly infatuation. What Sano called as, "puppy love." Although for the life of him, he could not comprehend why it was called such.
What would a damn puppy know about love anyway? He asked himself almost inanely. Sure, puppies may be all cute and adorable, just like Kaoru, he thought with a smile, but they sure as hell no nothing about love and how painful it is and fragile and precious, like Kaoru. He grimaced. He had to stop thinking about Kaoru, especially about the way she looked and smelled and tasted - he flashed on their little kiss and had to take in deep calming breaths.
Stop. Dammit, just stop.
But he couldn't stop. He pictured her small frame and her sweet innocent smile and that wide child-like blue eyes and lips so red and soft and tempting...
He had to stop torturing himself. Kenshin sighed, he'd give anything to have at least one normal day where he could just... just be with her without feeling any guilt or fear. That was all he wanted. To be with her. Even for just one day. Tell her how he really feels, hold her, worship her... just *be* with her.
"Oh, Ken-shin..."
The sing song voice of Megumi filled his ears and he turned to look at her, a wide welcoming smile plastered on his face. Perhaps the lady doctor knows where Kaoru was. He had been looking for her all morning and she seemed to be avoiding him. Not that he can blame her entirely. Not that he had any right to go looking for her in the first place, after what he had done. After hurting her. "Megumi-dono, ohayou." He said politely.
Megumi gave him a bright smile, but he noticed that it barely reached her eyes. He tilted his head to have a better look at her. "Everything ok?" He asked slightly concerned.
"Oh, yes. Of course!" Megumi breathed. Not said, but breathed in a rather odd, heavy, slightly slurred speech.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "Have you been drinking, Megumi-dono?" He asked, taking a small step forward, trying to smell her breath. He failed to notice the slight twitching of Megumi's perfectly arched eye brows.
"Nani? Why would I do such a thing, Ken-san?" She asked in a syrupy voice. Kenshin had to fight off the urge to shudder and wince.
"I thought, well," Kenshin paused looking at her closely, "I thought you might be upset over Sano and his, ugh, friend." Kenshin answered slowly, seeing how Megumi's nostrils flared at the mere mention of Sano's name. Boy, oh, boy, he thought unkindly, Sano was in a bigger trouble than he was expecting. Of course, Sano did brought that geisha over to dinner last night, the mere act was enough to warrant Sano a death certificate.
"Oh, that." Megumi waved her hand flippantly in the air. "It all in good fun ne? I understand Sano and that... girl..." Megumi said through clenched teeth, as though trying her hardest to get the word out of her mouth. Kenshin frowned. Megumi was showing really subtle hints that...
"...are going out for dinner tonight again?" He heard Megumi finish in a hurry.
Kenshin nodded, vaguely remembering Sano making arrangements to meet his new fried, "Sano did said that he'd meet up with her tonight."
"Oh." Megumi said in a high pitched voice. "I wonder where in Hell's corner would Sano find the money to buy that nice... girl... dinner."
And again, Kenshin noticed the effort Megumi gave just to say the word, 'girl'. He was so very tempted to tell Megumi the 'girl's' name, but seeing the look of distaste on her face, he figured discretion was the best policy. "I wouldn't know, Megumi-dono. But I think he won at the gambling house the other day, so..." He trailed off, suddenly seeing the dangerous glint in Megumi's eyes. He opened his mouth to assure Megumi that it was nothing serious, somewhat understanding why he should assure her. It felt like it was the right thing to do. He didn't get to say anything anyway as he was cut off by the doctor's foxy laughter.
"Sano? Won? At a gambling house? Oho-hoho-ho. My, there are a lot of fools in this town, wouldn't you say so Ken-shiii-n?"
Kenshin blinked at the way she said his name. It sounded odd even to his own ears. "Well, ugh, oro, I guess so." He answered, chuckling nervously and scratching the back of his head. He fought off the urge to ask Megumi again if she had been drinking this early morning, but decided against it. This little talk was getting weirder by the second and he better ask her if she had seen Kaoru, "Megumi-dono, could you..."
"Ken-san, would you like to..." They both started at the same time. Kenshin paused as did Megumi. He watched perplexed as Megumi giggled. Yes, giggled, his mind shouted at him. Somehow the image of Megumi giggling was quite... disturbing to say the least. Megumi slowly looked up to him and took one step forward.
Kenshin immediately took a step backward.
Megumi advanced towards him and he almost jerked away but caught himself. Megumi slowly snaked her hand around his arms, deftly rubbing his skin with her fingers as her hands went up, stopping not so innocently at the collar of his gi. He swallowed hard. Dear, God, don't let Kaoru walk in on us like this! He thought suddenly panicked.
"Yes, you were going to say something?" She purred into his ear.
"Ugh, why don't you go first." He said with a cough. This is ridiculous, he told himself. Of course, Megumi had in the past flirted with him, but never this way. Never so... seriously.
"I was just going to ask you if you'd want to..." Megumi said this while her other hand crept from his stomach across his chest. Kenshin stiffened, to the point of actually looking and feeling like a frozen corpse under Megumi's touch.
"Megumi-dono! Kenshin!" The all too familiar voice rang out of nowhere, making Kenshin want to jump a hundred meters away from Megumi, but unable to do so. He was frozen in his place, feet planted to the ground, heart beating painfully against his chest.
Oh no. Kaoru!
Kaoru looked as frozen as he was, a strange look crossed her face and before Kenshin can name it, it had disappeared and was replaced by a not-so-natural smile on her face.
Kenshin's stubborn heart suddenly stopped beating, his breath catching on his throat. She was wearing her favorite kimono, (he knew this because he had seen her wear it only during special occasions) and she looked stunning, with the soft light surrounding her, making her look so... so... any word or language would be inadequate to describe how she looked that moment.
"Well, I um...." Kaoru cleared her throat looking away and shifting nervously from foot to foot. Kenshin half expected her to be annoyed with him, or ignore his very presence, but she seemed acting quite the opposite. As though *she* had done something wrong. Something that she knew he would disapprove of.
"Breathe Kenshin, breathe." He heard Megumi whisper in his ear. He wanted to actually disentangle himself from Megumi's hold, as politely as he could, but Megumi's arm only tightened around him.
"Ka-ka-kaoru-dono." He stuttered stupidly, unable to stop himself.
And then Megumi's laughter filled the air again, "Kaoru-chan, what is it that you need? Can you see Ken-san and I are quite busy right now?" She asked sweetly, playfully tugging at his collar.
No we're not at all busy! Kenshin's mind screamed. He shot Kaoru a 'trapped look' and hoped that she do her usual screeching that would get Megumi's hands off him. They always had that sort of silent communication and understanding between them.
Kaoru looked away and shook her head. When she turned to face them, she was all smiles. "Oh, gomen ne for disturbing you two."
"Well? Ken-san and I haven't got all day to wait for you." Megumi purred once more and Kenshin's forehead creased with confusion. This was the second time Megumi had used the words, 'Kenshin and I' and stressed it a bit too much.
Kaoru swallowed hard and looked at the floor for a moment as though trying to compose herself and then she stared back at him. Only him. Her vibrant blue eyes looking straight at him. Kenshin could feel sudden heat rising up from the deepest corner of his heart to fill his whole body.
"I'm... I am going to bring Aoshi's lunch today. I was hoping I could come with him to the temple and meditate together and I was wondering if..."
Her other words were lost on his ears however. All that his brain could comprehend were the words "Aoshi" and "Together".
Together. Kaoru and Aoshi.
To-ge-ther. His mind emphasized.
"Oh, well then, better run along, he's already at the temple" Megumi answered a little too loudly, or maybe she was indeed shouting in his ears, he just didn't notice. Didn't care.
Together. The word echoed inside his head, to every hollow part and back over and over again until it reached his heart where it stabbed him there. Repeatedly. Viscously. A mere word, stabbing his heart.
Kaoru didn't seem to hear Megumi's answer. She was still looking at him. Blue eyes once so open and trustful now held nothing for him to read. "Arigatou." She said finally. She slowly turned her head at Megumi and nodded, "See you at dinner," and then she turned to look back to him. "Bye Kenshin." She said quietly. Finally. And then she was gone.
He could barely hear what Megumi was telling him. His eyes were still locked on that place she had been only seconds ago, so beautiful it actually hurt to look at her. Kenshin was in a state of daze, maybe even shock. When he heard Megumi ask him if he, "wanted to", tugging at his sleeves, he turned to look at her. Frowning he said the first word that popped inside his head, amazed that he could still think.
"Huh?"
Well, maybe not think as coherently as before.
Megumi rolled her eyes, "I said do you want to come with me and see this old garden Okon was telling me the other day. It's supposed to be romantic."
Kenshin just stared at her blankly, his eyes stinging.
"Ken-saaan!"
"Oh," he said blinking at her rapidly. What had she been telling him? "Sure, Megumi. Whatever you say." He answered, not caring if Megumi had just asked him to jumped off a cliff and drown in the blueness of the ocean. The blueness of her eyes. That seemed like a fitting thing to do today, he thought numbly.
Megumi clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Great, c'mmon, Kenshin!" And she proceeded to drag him away. Hopefully, Kenshin thought, to a steep cliff.
On their way, he miserably filled his head with images of Kaoru and Aoshi... meditating inside the temple.
Oh, the pain...
KAORU
The Temple, 4:00 PM
Eight hours later, inside the temple. Kaoru and Aoshi, meditating together, just as Kenshin had imagined. Although in his version, the meditating part was fairly different and held more activity that what was actually happening.
Oh, if he only knew, Kaoru thought miserably, remembering the look of pain that darkened Kenshin's eyes, turning the lavender orbs into purple pin points.
But she was not supposed to think about him. Vanishing all thoughts about Kenshin, Kaoru slowly opened her eyes and peered at Aoshi. She looked at him with half interest and shifted in her seat, stifling a groan. Her limbs were already aching and the lotus position she had copied from Aoshi wasn't helping. In fact, she thought with annoyance, it was the very reason why her legs felt hot and achy.
Aoshi still had his eyes close and he seemed to be deep in trance. If he had been surprised that she was the one who brought his lunch, he didn't show it. He had silently accepted the cup she offered and didn't seem to mind the taste. He didn't even grimace and Kaoru was thankful that he hadn't fainted like Hiko. Her face immediately took on a sour look as she remembered the amount of teasing she had endured when Yahiko told everyone that Kenshin's master had suffered the worst fate by just drinking her tea. She shook her head trying to erase the memory of the laughing contorted faces of Sano and Yahiko. It was still by far the most embarrassing moment of her entire life.
She had taken great care in preparing the tea and had been rewarded by a barely heard grunt of thanks from Aoshi. The silent ingrate! She fumed, balling up her fist.
"Mmm, arigatou," that was the first and last word ever spoken. She bit her tongue, using all her willpower not to speak. How the hell does Aoshi do it? How could he remain so stone quite? She tilted her head and studied his face.
He was nowhere like Kenshin. But he was good looking, in a non-Kenshin kind of way. Of course, this whole stupid scheme would not work if you keep comparing him to Kenshin, she reminded herself with venom.
She regarded Aoshi again, this time shoving all thoughts of a certain red-haired she refused to name. Aoshi had a long angular face and even with his eyes closed, he still looked so serious and grave. His jet black hair brushing the nape of his neck was somewhat... well, admittedly, sexy in a dark sort of way and Kaoru had to smile at this. She had never taken the time or the interest in other men. Of course she had in some distant past thought of Sano as being sexy in a rugged sort of way too. But that was before. She had confused ruggedness to Sano's total disregard for hygiene.
Aoshi was so very different from Kenshin and yet she could see traces of Kenshin in him. There was this ever present dark brooding quality about them. The only difference was that with Aoshi, it wasn't just manifested, it was him. It was his persona. His whole, I'm-The-Ice-King-Vibe. Or it could be that it was just what he was showing them. Hidden beneath all those ice blocks was a sweet warm being.
Right.
She was feeling all fuzzy right now, she thought sarcastically.
Kaoru let her mind wander back to Kenshin, realizing that it was thoroughly futile to not think of him at all. She tried to imagine what in the world Megumi had planned for today. She wished it was something, well, fairly innocent. Although she had a bad feeling that Megumi didn't particularly know that the word "innocent" existed.
She scrunched up her nose, feeling a muscle in her leg twitch. She had nothing against meditation, as she herself had used it before practicing, but in her humble opinion, Aoshi needed to get a life, soon. Staying here, cooped up in a temple and sitting like this for the whole day wasn't in the least bit relaxing. It was boring.
Bo-riiiiiinnnnngggg.... her mind sang back, mocking her.
That was the difference between Aoshi and Kenshin. Kenshin was painfully shy and quiet at times, but Aoshi was painfully...
"Bored already Kamiya-san?" His low voice interrupted her thoughts.
Kaoru jerked back guiltily, afraid he had read her mind. Don't be silly, she chided herself. He can't read your mind anymore that you can read his. She briefly thought if Misao ever had any headaches trying to decipher the mystery that was Aoshi. Kaoru looked at Aoshi with a forced smile, shook her head, shifted her weight and clumsily lost her precarious lotus position - it was bound to happen, she thought scowling with annoyance.
Why her? Why *always* her?!
She fell back on the mat, with a distinct thumping sound, eyes closed. She groaned out loud, muttered a nasty word she had learned from Sano and slowly opened her eyes. She found herself staring at the high wooden ceiling. What have I gotten myself into? She asked silently, not even waiting nor expecting for any reaction from Aoshi. He probably thought that she had just dropped dead and she wouldn't be surprised if he's only reaction would be a flat "Oh" of surprise. If he was cable of that emotion.
Suddenly, a pair of blue eyes looked down on her and shivered... almost... pleasantly. "A-Aoshi-sama..." she mumbled...
"Daijobou?" He asked in a low voice.
Kaoru could feel her face suddenly heating up, "Fi-fine... just a little, clumsy..." She said sheepishly. Aoshi nodded and she watched as he held his hands towards her. She took it after a moment of hesitation and let him pull her up effortlessly. She stepped away as soon as she was standing. "Gomen, I'm not used to..." she waved her hands around as if it would explain what she meant and shrugged when she realized how weird she must've looked.
"We're going back." Aoshi announced turning away from her.
"Oh! It's ok. You could stay here, I'll just head back on my own." She told him picking up the basket where she placed their lunch, suddenly eager to get home, mentally kicking herself. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She turned to face him struggling to fight off the urge to run away as fast as she can.
Kaoru let out a small yelp as Aoshi, without warning, reached out and took the basket from her hands. She stared first at the basket open mouthed and then at Aoshi. "Um, it's ok, really Aoshi-sama. You don't need to..." she began, but he cut her off with a stern look on his face that told her that she should not argue with him. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, she clamped her mouth shut and walked a foot behind him. He stopped on his tracks and raised his eyebrows. Amazed at how she could easily read him, Kaoru took a tentative step beside him and together, they walked back home.
MEGUMI
The Lover's Garden, 10:00 AM
Three hours before Sano woke and found a slightly changed Misao standing by his door, Megumi and Kenshin had been well on their way around the garden. It wasn't the best of days to walk about since it was a little chilly, and there were only few peek-appearances by the sun as heavy dark clouds hung in the air.
In fact, if one should ask the clouds, the only reason they hadn't let any downpour today was because of the constant glares the Fox Lady had shot upwards into the sky.
It was not going to rain. She willed it so.
Especially since she had dragged Kenshin outside to have a nice romantic walk. Everything she had planned of went against her. If it rained, she was going to curse the whole damn world - or perhaps just Sanosuke. Depending on her mood.
And no, you won't be doing any progress if you keep thinking about Sano and his sexy brown eyes. Concentrate Megumi. The task is at hand. She took a deep breath and with medical precision, mentally sliced off the part of her brain that always thought of Sano.
She had learned and practiced the seduction skills 101. She had performed it with great and out most enthusiasm.
And today she just found out that apparently, it doesn't always work.
At least with Kenshin it didn't. Megumi glanced at her silent companion, deliberating whether or not she should assure him that there was absolutely nothing going on between Aoshi and Kaoru. He looked so miserable and sad. Actually, he looked right about ready to jump off a cliff anytime soon.
She had played the playful vixen far too long and she had gotten tired of purring her words, it sounded unnatural even to her own ears. Plus, sadly, the only reaction she had gotten from the red-haired was a series of "oro's". He was so adorable, in a funny kind of way. "Ken-san, do you know why this is called Lover's Garden?" She asked trying to strike up a conversation with him.
Kenshin paused and nodded, "I heard about it before. It's an old legend I think. But I don't remember the story." He stopped to look at a plant nearby. Megumi watched as he frowned, gingerly touching the leaves. She narrowed her eyes and cleared her throat, "It's a jasmine" She informed him casually. "It's beautiful isn't it?" She bent down to examine a small bud that has yet to bloom.
"Like Kaoru." She heard Kenshin mumble. She looked up at him and was surprised to see the usual friendly violet eyes suddenly flashing into amber.
Megumi had to stifle a gasp that wanted to escape her throat. "Is... is something wrong Ken-san?" She asked placing a hand on his arm.
Kenshin looked at her and she was relieved to find the familiar purple eyes staring back at her. He smiled and shook his head. He patted her hand and walked further down the path. He glanced back at her, as though suddenly realizing she had not walked with him. "Megumi-dono?" he called out.
Megumi shook her head as she hurried over to his side. She tried to remember what had attracted her to Kenshin in the first place. It seemed so long ago that she was afraid she had forgotten already. She needed to remember it. She needed to remember how to live without the constant sight of Sano grinning at her, his brown eyes laughing merrily at a joke he wouldn't share with them - with her. It would be the only way for her to move on if this little scheme of hers didn't work.
"Ken-san," she began brightly, "Let's stop by the market and buy some stuff for Yahiko-chan and the small girls."
Kenshin smiled at her warmly, "And don't forget Genzai-sensei and Tsubame-chan too!" He added, seeming to cheer up a little.
"Oh, of course!" She squeezed Kenshin's hand, wondering if Kenshin somehow knew what she was feeling. What they were both feeling.
A little out of place and desperate to forget.
She wished Misao was doing better with Sano.
Wait, on a second thought, erase that. She wished... she wished for Sano.
MISAO
AIOYA, 6:00 PM
Two hours after Kaoru realized that Aoshi had some redeeming qualities that she might want to get to know better, Misao was lying on her back panting loudly, out of breath and bone tired.
"That was different." She quipped silently. She had never thought she'd enjoy her first day with Sano. She giggled as she heard him groan out loud. If she could get up, she would have gladly gone over to kick Sano some more, but alas, her she had reached her limit. "Wow!" She breathed out loud.
"That's it? Wow? You practically killed me and that's all you have to say? Che, you're disappointing me Weasel." Sano muttered, lying beside her, his shirt soaked with sweat, his spikes, spikier than the usual.
"Heh." Misao said, rolling to her side, facing Sanosuke. "Kicked your ass, didn't I?"
Sano turned his head to look at her with obvious effort, "Only cause I let you." He said in all seriousness.
Misao snorted loudly. "You wish." She had been wrong in thinking that Sano would fall for the, sexy-playful-bunny she had opted to use as her tactic a couple of hours earlier. She had gone as far as stuffing all of her ribbons inside her kimono (at the chest to be exact) just so she could get Sano to notice her, which the pervert did. Although he looked adorable trying to hide the obvious fact that he had been surprised as hell to find out that she had er, grown overnight. The look on Sano's face when he realized she actually had a cleavage was a classic. She wished there was a way to capture it, but she'd just have to settle with the mental image.
She had been afraid that she'd have to start swaying her hips awkwardly in her desperate attempt to seduce Sano but to her surprise, Sano had slammed the door on her face and, if she guessed it right, had pretended that everything was just a dream. Something she was all too happy about. Apparently, Sano was more into Amazon Woman, Let's Hurt Each Other Type of girl.
So instead of the sitting-by-his-lap-I'm-all-yours tactic that she had planned for the day, the two of them ended up trying to out do each other in every physical activity possible. It started out with an innocent arm wrestling that had somehow turned into an all out kick-your-ass fight. She didn't get hurt - not as seriously as Sano though. "Hey, Sano?" She asked, smiling at him, suddenly finding him not so disgusting and juvenile as she had once thought.
"Yah?" Sano answered his eyes closed.
She watched as he breathed evenly, his chest (did she just thought, 'muscular chest'?) rise and fall. Overcome by this crazy need, she sat up and straddled him, trying to find his ticklish spot, "Care for a tickling match?" She asked as her fingers traveled up and down Sano's ribs.
Sano didn't even knew what hit him. He roared with laughter. "Cut it out, cut it out!" He shrieked in such an unmanly way, Misao had to laugh at him too.
"Just to remind you, you've never once won against me. I beat you at the arm wrestling, I totally out run you, you tripped twice and I never knew you couldn't climb tress until you fell, what's the term Sano?" She asked sweetly, her fingers digging deep into Sano's sides, "fell flat on you butt?"
She had been so busy enumerating Sano's losing streak, she failed to notice his hand shooting out to grasp her wrist and before she knew it, she was underneath him. He had the unmistakable glint in his eyes.
"Payback, Misao, as they say, is a bitch."
Misao squealed as Sano immediately found her most ticklish spots. "Stop! Stop!" She pleaded.
"Was sa matter my little oni? What were you saying? About me losing to you? I don't think so..."
She laughed and laughed so hard, tears were streaming down her face. When they heard the gate opening, they didn't immediately stop, but when they heard the voice, Sano froze up almost instantly.
"No date tonight Sano?" Megumi asked, her arms wrapped securely around Kenshin's.
Kenshin had his wide 'oro' eyes at the sight of them... her underneath Sano... and she could feel sudden heat engulfing her body. Sano shifted his weight but before he can even reply or get off her, another voice interrupted them.
"We're home!" Kaoru stepped inside the gate, walking side by side with a silent Aoshi.
This time, it was Misao who practically jumped up from her position as soon as Aoshi's eyes found them. Misao winced and looked down intent on avoiding Aoshi-sama's cold blue eyes, only to see Kaoru's hand, enveloped inside Aoshi's. Her eyes shot up and she found herself staring at a stiff-looking Kenshin, a flushed Kaoru and a scowling Megumi. She could not bring herself to look at Aoshi though.
She heard Sano grunt a reply. He stood up and patted his head down, looking at everywhere and anywhere except Megumi, who also at that moment didn't look at all pleased. "We're have you guys been?" He asked no one in particular.
Kaoru and Megumi took this as a clue to answer, clearing their throats, Kaoru answered first, "Well, Aoshi and I spent the day together at the temple." She announced, sounding calm and neutral.
"And Kenshin and I went for a walk and the old Lover's Garden."
Sano paused, narrowing his eyes. "Oh. Well, how was your..." And then as though the words finally hit him, he stopped short and looked stunned. He pointed first at Kaoru and then at Aoshi and then at Kenshin and at Megumi. "Wha-huh?" He asked sounding genuinely perplexed.
"And what have you been doing Misao-chan?" Megumi asked with a raised eyebrow, ignoring the state of confusion Sano was obviously in.
"Sano and I just... got physical today...." She told them, watching closely for any sign from Aoshi's face. She hoped. She wished. As always, she failed. "We had arm wrestling," she finished, more for Megumi's sake.
Megumi nodded and so did Kaoru.
All six of them stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. There was no sound, no movement, no slight twitching of the eyebrow. There was just calmness around them, as though they were all silently trying to figure out what the hell was going on and why did it feel slightly wrong but not so entirely. Something was a miss. A slight glitch. A change. A wrongness they could point out, but could not articulate.
They stood still and so clear-cut from each other against the back light of the red dipping sun. Anyone from the outside watching them would see the obvious.
Mismatched. All of them. And it was going to stay that way for the whole week.
End note: There's a reason why Aoshi and Kaoru was holding hands at that moment. It would be explained on the next chapter, ne? And oh, for those planning on flaming me for the lack of everything in this chapter, please, do it in a nice way, ne? See ya all soon!