Mismatched
Chapter 9 - The Different Faces of Love
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Thank you all for the reviews, I appreciate each one of them! Chapter 9 is finally done and it turned up longer than I planned. So I'm cutting it in to two parts. This part would be for the girls and the next would be for the boys, but it's happening on the same time frame. I hope that wasn't too confusing. And well, I don't know exactly how to describe this bit, just that I hope you're all still here with me and bear with whatever "monster" that had sprung from this chapter, because lately, I'm not so sure who's gonna end up with who anymore. And it's causing me quite a massive headache. To be honest, I don't know how the pairing is going to end up yet. Any Aoshi x Kaoru fans here? Just asking... So sorry for the senseless rambling... just needed to get it out of my system. Reviews please! Feel free to tell me what you think! I'm open for any suggestion. E-mail me! I'll be more than happy to reply! And oh, the title would be explained someway or another... I hope...
Chapter 9a - The Different Faces of Love
KAORU
Second day. Oh boy.
It was still dark outside. She wondered if Kenshin had slept peacefully. She hoped he did. He seemed distracted last night at dinner (who wasn't anyway?) and he had this look on his face that borded between sheer misery and well... she wasn't sure what else was there in those dark purple eyes of his. She had hastily turned away the moment he caught her looking at him. Their eyes barely met. She was afraid to look at them and find something that she had knowingly put there. Worry. Hurt. Pain.
As for her, a good night sleep had been out of the question. In fact, just to be exact, she had lain awake all night. Pondering. Wondering.
Normally, she wasn't a brooding type of person. If there's a problem, she took charge and dealt with it head on. But this time, it felt different. She didn't know why. She had asked herself a dozen times, but every time she tried to form a coherent logical truthful answer her mind would draw a huge fat blank.
And then there was that question of what she was going to do today. Second day, according to their plan was the day they establish a... what was Megumi's term? A more-than-friends-vibe.
Whatever that meant.
What could she do to have that "vibe"?
Meditate again? Wouldn't that just be too darn of a sacrifice in her part? Two days of getting cramps while meditating. There had to be some way to be obvious without getting any muscle pains. Perhaps it would be different in some way if she went to the temple with him and not just drop by to bring his lunch. At least it wasn't a complete repetition of what she had done yesterday. She glanced outside and scowled.
How long does it take for that damn sun to rise! She felt as though she had been staring at the grim darkness of her room for hours. A lifetime even. She wondered suddenly if she was in a way excited to see Aoshi. She shook her head. No. Excited wasn't the right word. Perhaps anxious? There, that sounded better.
Kaoru felt the anxiety (no, not excitement) rise up to her chest and then to her throat. She closed her eyes and told herself that there were only five more days to go before she can get her answer. Any answer was bound to change her life, she was sure of it. Surprisingly, she wasn't scared of the answer. Deep inside, she knew what it would be. She just have to steel herself when the blow comes.
And speaking of change... her eyes hurt. She had been crying because she knew that something had already changed. And if that wasn't bad enough, she could not even tell if it was for the better or for the worse. Well, it would have made it a lot easier for her to decide which if she could only pin point what the change was. It was something indefinite. Something she couldn't explain. She however, can site the moment the damn "change" occurred.
She held up her hands and stared at it as though it bore some mark that could answer her question. She could still feel his skin against her. Rough and soft at the same time.
Aoshi-sama was a walking contradiction if there was indeed such a person. She smiled at the thought and wondered if Misao saw him that way. A sudden sharp pang of ache stabbed her. She remembered the look of hurt that had passed Misao's eyes that afternoon. She remembered the way Kenshin had quickly looked away and clenched his jaws. In anger? In frustration? How come she couldn't read her Kenshin anymore? There had been a time when she could easily know every meaning behind Kenshin's smile, or frown, or when that little muscle just above his eyebrows twitched whenever Sano would say something that he disapproved of.
When was the last time Kenshin allowed her to see his emotions? His thoughts? His feelings?
It seemed so long ago to her. Even yesterday felt as though it had happened on another time of her life. She remembered a lot of things from that moment, but it felt as though she was trying to trace faded memories from her mind.
She remembered how she had reached out, on raw instinct perhaps? She probably would never know, but she had reached out and was equally surprised to feel his hand meeting up with hers. Palm to palm for a second and then... well, she had a distinct feeling that she had tightened her hold and Aoshi merely clasped her hand and enveloped it inside his.
Warm. Did she mention that his hand was warm?
Well, it doesn't matter now does it? She viciously asked herself. Stop thinking about his stupid hands. It's not important. It's not.
Kaoru hurriedly squeezed her hands together, as if in prayer. She refused to look at it and imagine how it looked wrapped inside his hands. Her pale hands separated and she placed them squarely on the floor, putting pressure on them. Weird. Very weird indeed, she mused smiling slightly. It still feels warm.
Her face felt warm.
That's guilt! A voice hissed inside her head.
She rolled her eyes. I am not guilty! He asked for this! I gave him his chance and now...
Now, Kamiya, explain yourself!
She raised her eyebrows. Did everyone have an annoying voice inside their heads that speaks up suddenly at the worst possible moments?
Why? The voice inside her head insisted.
Why? Her mind stumbled for words. She pouted. Well, certainly, it wasn't just because she wanted to show Kenshin or anyone for that matter that she was able and was allowed to touch Aoshi. It was... it just that she had felt him flinch when they saw Sano practically sprawled on top of Misao, and she was going to talk to Sano about that by the way! she reminded herself.
Why?
Damn persistent little voice.
Well, it was because she somehow knew that Aoshi would ball up his hands into angry fists and she just wanted to comfort him. It was because...It was because it felt like it was the right thing to do. And... and...
Stop. Fair enough. Nothing serious. No damage done.
Kaoru nodded to herself. Right. Of course.
Now, the important question...
She cringed and was thankful that she was alone in her room. Clearly, she was a few inches short of being called insane. And there was no one else to blame but Kenshin and that all-too-knowing voice.
Do you love him? It was asked oh-so-slowly. As though Kaoru would not understand the question.
Her blue eyes flashed. "Of course I still love him!"
A day with Aoshi certainly could never change her feelings for Kenshin. The way she felt for Kenshin was deeper than anything she had ever felt for anyone. So deep in fact that it hurt her all the time. She love him. She's still in love with Kenshin.
"I LOVE HIM!" She declared loudly, satisfied with the sound of sincerity and defiance that echoed inside her room. At this particular moment she didn't care who heard her. She lifted her chin, daring the voice to question her yet again. Surely, she had made herself clear with those pronouncements.
There was a snort from inside her head.
I didn't mean Kenshin, you idiot! I asked if you love him, not if you still love him. I meant him... Aoshi.
And Kaoru, for the first time in her life was speechless.
MEGUMI
Second day. Scheme. Scheme. And scheme some more.
Only problem was... Kenshin himself.
She was able to drag Kenshin out again for another 'romantic' walk. Not that today was any better than yesterday. In fact, if it was quite possible, it seemed gloomier. She wondered about the weather - a clear indication of how well her little plan for today was working. Here she was walking with the man she had pinned for the last couple of months and she felt absolutely tired and bored and hopelessly hopeless. She's thinking of the damn weather. How exciting. Forget romantic. Just forget romantic. Because clearly, it wasn't part of Kenshin's renowned traits.
She turned to Kenshin, "Kenshin, where were you when Kami handed out 'Romantic Side' to the rest of the male population?" She asked half-joking, half-serious. She waited for a reaction from him.
"I was probably out with my shishou" he stated quite naturally looking straight ahead.
Megumi tilted her head her jaws hanging open. She was absolutely most definitely... there was no term to describe exactly what she was feeling. Stumped, floored, in awe, amused, vexed... damn Kenshin, what the hell was wrong with this guy? Oh right. Kaoru.
It was a reaction she wasn't expecting. Or maybe she was expecting this. This was of course Kenshin. 'He's not even listening to me.' Surprise, surprise, Megumi thought quite bitterly. 'Another point deduction to my ego.' After this whole thing, she wouldn't be surprised if her whole self-esteem had been reduced to nothing but dust.
Out with his shishou alright...damn right of an answer, she thought shaking her head and rolling her eyes heavenward. Kami help this man.
"Really?" She kept up with the conversation, keeping her tone bright and sun-shiny. "Must explain why he's living like a hermit then." She mused loudly. "And in ten years time," she added in a serious voice staring intently at Kenshin's face, "you'd have your very own hut at a top of a lonely hill at Kyoto, drinking yourself to death." Maybe Kenshin would react to that more...
"That's nice, Megumi-dono." He answered distractedly, his purple eyes staring at nothing. Fixed at some point she either couldn't see or was not there at all to begin with.
Megumi tightly pressed her lips together. Not sure if she wanted to yell at Kenshin and shake him senseless or shake him senseless and then yell at him, or do it both at the same time.
Now, at this very instant, Megumi finally realized why Kaoru was always hurting Kenshin. The man begged to be hit in the head. She refrained herself from doing so of course. Physical pain and emotional insults were solely reserved for Sano. "Kenshin," she said instead, trying one last time, knowing she'd fail miserably. "I want to have sex right here, right now, with you, in front of everybody."
And of course because she was, as proven today, a cursed woman, Kenshin had heard every word. Every single word.
He turned beet red and actually tripped on a rock lying oh-so-innocently at the road. "Orrrrrrooooooo!" He exclaimed on his way down.
She stared at him, and realized with a start that everything looked red from where she stood.
Very predictable indeed.
MISAO
Second day. More action, she decided finally. If she talked to Sano, she was going to end up murdering him and she had promised Megumi that she would never ever take Megumi's right to kill Sano. After all, it was a given fact already that Sano was to die either by the hands of some mercenary better with using his fist or by needles, held oh-so-expertly by Megumi.
"So Weasel, going to work with that anger again eh?" Sano asked, cracking his knuckles.
She tilted her head deciding if she should punch him in the nose or in the mouth. Either way would be acceptable. She smiled. "Want to take a break. You know, talk?"
Argh! I did not mean that! I have this whole day planned. I was going to hurt him today - worse than yesterday! It would take my mind off Aoshi-sama and Kaoru-chan…
"Talk? Ugh... well, sure." Sano said scratching the back of his head. "What to talk about?" he asked raising his eyebrows.
"About yesterday." Not that! She groaned inwardly. She had already half-convinced herself that yesterday did not happened. That she was in a dream like state and after five days, she'd wake up and... and what? Be back to following Aoshi-sama again? Be the invisible girl?
Not really very promising, she thought sadly.
Sano crossed his arms protectively against his chest. "What about?" He asked in a challenging voice.
He's mad about yesterday. Of course, she did remember hearing Sano and Kenshin arguing. Sano seemed more upset with Kenshin and Kaoru and had told Kenshin just as much. Apparently, Sano strongly disapproved of their "prancing around town with a Block of Ice," which Misao guessed was Aoshi-sama, "and a Witch Doctor." The name-calling was no doubt Sano's forte. One of his many ways of being immature. Kenshin had merely sputtered a few 'oro-s' and admonished Sano for calling their friends names.
Well, maybe Sano was getting a little jealous. Points for Megumi then. Hurrah.
Oh, sarcasm. Where would she be without it?
"Oi, Weasel Girl, what do you want to talk about?" Sano asked her, snapping her back to attention.
"Oh..." she said, turning slightly pink. She glanced up at Sano and dropped her eyes, suddenly very interested at the pointed-ness of Sano's weird shoes. "Did you, ugh... was there... did you feel any... you know..." Misao stammered.
Sano balked at her. "What?" And then, his brown eyes turned to large saucers Misao was sure they were about to pop out of their sockets and land on the ground.
"WHAT?!" He screeched in a panicked voice. "Did I feel... I mean did you? Because I certainly... I mean, hell no... I never, I didn't...did I?"
"Huh?" Misao asked, her head spinning with the number of sentences Sano left dangling and unfinished.
"Misao," Sano said in a quiet voice that made her shiver. "What the hell are you talking about?" He asked in all seriousness.
A serious Sano, as Misao just found out, was an incredibly sexy Sano. His brown eyes glittered and there behind it, probably lurking, was the strong wit and keen intelligence that Sano himself would boast of.
Misao tilted her head to one side, seeing Sano's almost-bulging eyes.
Ok, so maybe on some angles Sano was eye-candy.
"What are you staring at?" Sano half-growled half squeaked.
He's nervous! Misao realized with a start. But why?
Misao frowned and considered this. Megumi had written to her a couple of months ago that enumerated the many ways on how to spot significant signs that a guy might like you. Of course the list was from Megumi so the top sign had been, "if he insults everything about you and calls you name, like 'Kitsune' or 'Witch-doctor. If he calls you 'Bitch', with undeniable passion, it's love." which Misao found to be weird in all aspects. But at number twenty-something, it said, "when he's nervous around you, especially when you start talking about signs and destiny and commitment and meant to be's."
Is Sano?
Misao sighed. Well, if he was... then it seemed that she had to take the next step. She had to follow rules. Even though they hadn't agreed to meet everyday of the whole week, they decided to follow a time-table. After all, they weren't exactly jumping up and down with joy at the prospect of spending more than a week with their respective 'partners'. Second day was as important as the rest of the days of the whole week. Hadn't Kaoru told them that they should be straightforward and not drag the whole thing out unnecessarily?
"I mean, do you felt any...spark between the two of us?" She asked all in one breath. Better say it now while she had the courage.
Sano looked at her long and hard.
Misao gulped. She shifted uncomfortably. Those eyes were so brown. And probing and... oh Kami, she bit the sudden urge to fan herself. What was wrong with her? Only Aoshi was supposed to make her feel like this. Of course, the difference between Aoshi and Sano was that Sano allowed her to get close to him like this, so she could see the golden flecks on Sano's brown eyes, or be able to touch him freely without being scared that he might step back or worse, flinch at her touch.
Sano bent down and was now eye level with her. His lips looked so... inviting. She watched with increasing fascination as Sano opened his mouth. She looked up and felt her face flush. Heat traveled to every vein in her body. What the hell is this?
Sano inched forward and then said, "Er, what do you mean by 'spark' Weasel?"
In the end, Misao punched him in the mouth. Bastard.
Semi-end note: Ok, Kaoru's so angsty... I hate it! What happened to my fighting Tanuki? I think Aoshi's a bad influence on her...
To the boys, shall we? Be warned though... there would be general weirdness, fluffiness, angst and oh, another appearance by Hiko-sama! A little peek on Hiko's past love life and a drunk Kenshin... Man, I am so going to get flamed for all these madness...
Chapter 9 - The Different Faces of Love
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Thank you all for the reviews, I appreciate each one of them! Chapter 9 is finally done and it turned up longer than I planned. So I'm cutting it in to two parts. This part would be for the girls and the next would be for the boys, but it's happening on the same time frame. I hope that wasn't too confusing. And well, I don't know exactly how to describe this bit, just that I hope you're all still here with me and bear with whatever "monster" that had sprung from this chapter, because lately, I'm not so sure who's gonna end up with who anymore. And it's causing me quite a massive headache. To be honest, I don't know how the pairing is going to end up yet. Any Aoshi x Kaoru fans here? Just asking... So sorry for the senseless rambling... just needed to get it out of my system. Reviews please! Feel free to tell me what you think! I'm open for any suggestion. E-mail me! I'll be more than happy to reply! And oh, the title would be explained someway or another... I hope...
Chapter 9a - The Different Faces of Love
KAORU
Second day. Oh boy.
It was still dark outside. She wondered if Kenshin had slept peacefully. She hoped he did. He seemed distracted last night at dinner (who wasn't anyway?) and he had this look on his face that borded between sheer misery and well... she wasn't sure what else was there in those dark purple eyes of his. She had hastily turned away the moment he caught her looking at him. Their eyes barely met. She was afraid to look at them and find something that she had knowingly put there. Worry. Hurt. Pain.
As for her, a good night sleep had been out of the question. In fact, just to be exact, she had lain awake all night. Pondering. Wondering.
Normally, she wasn't a brooding type of person. If there's a problem, she took charge and dealt with it head on. But this time, it felt different. She didn't know why. She had asked herself a dozen times, but every time she tried to form a coherent logical truthful answer her mind would draw a huge fat blank.
And then there was that question of what she was going to do today. Second day, according to their plan was the day they establish a... what was Megumi's term? A more-than-friends-vibe.
Whatever that meant.
What could she do to have that "vibe"?
Meditate again? Wouldn't that just be too darn of a sacrifice in her part? Two days of getting cramps while meditating. There had to be some way to be obvious without getting any muscle pains. Perhaps it would be different in some way if she went to the temple with him and not just drop by to bring his lunch. At least it wasn't a complete repetition of what she had done yesterday. She glanced outside and scowled.
How long does it take for that damn sun to rise! She felt as though she had been staring at the grim darkness of her room for hours. A lifetime even. She wondered suddenly if she was in a way excited to see Aoshi. She shook her head. No. Excited wasn't the right word. Perhaps anxious? There, that sounded better.
Kaoru felt the anxiety (no, not excitement) rise up to her chest and then to her throat. She closed her eyes and told herself that there were only five more days to go before she can get her answer. Any answer was bound to change her life, she was sure of it. Surprisingly, she wasn't scared of the answer. Deep inside, she knew what it would be. She just have to steel herself when the blow comes.
And speaking of change... her eyes hurt. She had been crying because she knew that something had already changed. And if that wasn't bad enough, she could not even tell if it was for the better or for the worse. Well, it would have made it a lot easier for her to decide which if she could only pin point what the change was. It was something indefinite. Something she couldn't explain. She however, can site the moment the damn "change" occurred.
She held up her hands and stared at it as though it bore some mark that could answer her question. She could still feel his skin against her. Rough and soft at the same time.
Aoshi-sama was a walking contradiction if there was indeed such a person. She smiled at the thought and wondered if Misao saw him that way. A sudden sharp pang of ache stabbed her. She remembered the look of hurt that had passed Misao's eyes that afternoon. She remembered the way Kenshin had quickly looked away and clenched his jaws. In anger? In frustration? How come she couldn't read her Kenshin anymore? There had been a time when she could easily know every meaning behind Kenshin's smile, or frown, or when that little muscle just above his eyebrows twitched whenever Sano would say something that he disapproved of.
When was the last time Kenshin allowed her to see his emotions? His thoughts? His feelings?
It seemed so long ago to her. Even yesterday felt as though it had happened on another time of her life. She remembered a lot of things from that moment, but it felt as though she was trying to trace faded memories from her mind.
She remembered how she had reached out, on raw instinct perhaps? She probably would never know, but she had reached out and was equally surprised to feel his hand meeting up with hers. Palm to palm for a second and then... well, she had a distinct feeling that she had tightened her hold and Aoshi merely clasped her hand and enveloped it inside his.
Warm. Did she mention that his hand was warm?
Well, it doesn't matter now does it? She viciously asked herself. Stop thinking about his stupid hands. It's not important. It's not.
Kaoru hurriedly squeezed her hands together, as if in prayer. She refused to look at it and imagine how it looked wrapped inside his hands. Her pale hands separated and she placed them squarely on the floor, putting pressure on them. Weird. Very weird indeed, she mused smiling slightly. It still feels warm.
Her face felt warm.
That's guilt! A voice hissed inside her head.
She rolled her eyes. I am not guilty! He asked for this! I gave him his chance and now...
Now, Kamiya, explain yourself!
She raised her eyebrows. Did everyone have an annoying voice inside their heads that speaks up suddenly at the worst possible moments?
Why? The voice inside her head insisted.
Why? Her mind stumbled for words. She pouted. Well, certainly, it wasn't just because she wanted to show Kenshin or anyone for that matter that she was able and was allowed to touch Aoshi. It was... it just that she had felt him flinch when they saw Sano practically sprawled on top of Misao, and she was going to talk to Sano about that by the way! she reminded herself.
Why?
Damn persistent little voice.
Well, it was because she somehow knew that Aoshi would ball up his hands into angry fists and she just wanted to comfort him. It was because...It was because it felt like it was the right thing to do. And... and...
Stop. Fair enough. Nothing serious. No damage done.
Kaoru nodded to herself. Right. Of course.
Now, the important question...
She cringed and was thankful that she was alone in her room. Clearly, she was a few inches short of being called insane. And there was no one else to blame but Kenshin and that all-too-knowing voice.
Do you love him? It was asked oh-so-slowly. As though Kaoru would not understand the question.
Her blue eyes flashed. "Of course I still love him!"
A day with Aoshi certainly could never change her feelings for Kenshin. The way she felt for Kenshin was deeper than anything she had ever felt for anyone. So deep in fact that it hurt her all the time. She love him. She's still in love with Kenshin.
"I LOVE HIM!" She declared loudly, satisfied with the sound of sincerity and defiance that echoed inside her room. At this particular moment she didn't care who heard her. She lifted her chin, daring the voice to question her yet again. Surely, she had made herself clear with those pronouncements.
There was a snort from inside her head.
I didn't mean Kenshin, you idiot! I asked if you love him, not if you still love him. I meant him... Aoshi.
And Kaoru, for the first time in her life was speechless.
MEGUMI
Second day. Scheme. Scheme. And scheme some more.
Only problem was... Kenshin himself.
She was able to drag Kenshin out again for another 'romantic' walk. Not that today was any better than yesterday. In fact, if it was quite possible, it seemed gloomier. She wondered about the weather - a clear indication of how well her little plan for today was working. Here she was walking with the man she had pinned for the last couple of months and she felt absolutely tired and bored and hopelessly hopeless. She's thinking of the damn weather. How exciting. Forget romantic. Just forget romantic. Because clearly, it wasn't part of Kenshin's renowned traits.
She turned to Kenshin, "Kenshin, where were you when Kami handed out 'Romantic Side' to the rest of the male population?" She asked half-joking, half-serious. She waited for a reaction from him.
"I was probably out with my shishou" he stated quite naturally looking straight ahead.
Megumi tilted her head her jaws hanging open. She was absolutely most definitely... there was no term to describe exactly what she was feeling. Stumped, floored, in awe, amused, vexed... damn Kenshin, what the hell was wrong with this guy? Oh right. Kaoru.
It was a reaction she wasn't expecting. Or maybe she was expecting this. This was of course Kenshin. 'He's not even listening to me.' Surprise, surprise, Megumi thought quite bitterly. 'Another point deduction to my ego.' After this whole thing, she wouldn't be surprised if her whole self-esteem had been reduced to nothing but dust.
Out with his shishou alright...damn right of an answer, she thought shaking her head and rolling her eyes heavenward. Kami help this man.
"Really?" She kept up with the conversation, keeping her tone bright and sun-shiny. "Must explain why he's living like a hermit then." She mused loudly. "And in ten years time," she added in a serious voice staring intently at Kenshin's face, "you'd have your very own hut at a top of a lonely hill at Kyoto, drinking yourself to death." Maybe Kenshin would react to that more...
"That's nice, Megumi-dono." He answered distractedly, his purple eyes staring at nothing. Fixed at some point she either couldn't see or was not there at all to begin with.
Megumi tightly pressed her lips together. Not sure if she wanted to yell at Kenshin and shake him senseless or shake him senseless and then yell at him, or do it both at the same time.
Now, at this very instant, Megumi finally realized why Kaoru was always hurting Kenshin. The man begged to be hit in the head. She refrained herself from doing so of course. Physical pain and emotional insults were solely reserved for Sano. "Kenshin," she said instead, trying one last time, knowing she'd fail miserably. "I want to have sex right here, right now, with you, in front of everybody."
And of course because she was, as proven today, a cursed woman, Kenshin had heard every word. Every single word.
He turned beet red and actually tripped on a rock lying oh-so-innocently at the road. "Orrrrrrooooooo!" He exclaimed on his way down.
She stared at him, and realized with a start that everything looked red from where she stood.
Very predictable indeed.
MISAO
Second day. More action, she decided finally. If she talked to Sano, she was going to end up murdering him and she had promised Megumi that she would never ever take Megumi's right to kill Sano. After all, it was a given fact already that Sano was to die either by the hands of some mercenary better with using his fist or by needles, held oh-so-expertly by Megumi.
"So Weasel, going to work with that anger again eh?" Sano asked, cracking his knuckles.
She tilted her head deciding if she should punch him in the nose or in the mouth. Either way would be acceptable. She smiled. "Want to take a break. You know, talk?"
Argh! I did not mean that! I have this whole day planned. I was going to hurt him today - worse than yesterday! It would take my mind off Aoshi-sama and Kaoru-chan…
"Talk? Ugh... well, sure." Sano said scratching the back of his head. "What to talk about?" he asked raising his eyebrows.
"About yesterday." Not that! She groaned inwardly. She had already half-convinced herself that yesterday did not happened. That she was in a dream like state and after five days, she'd wake up and... and what? Be back to following Aoshi-sama again? Be the invisible girl?
Not really very promising, she thought sadly.
Sano crossed his arms protectively against his chest. "What about?" He asked in a challenging voice.
He's mad about yesterday. Of course, she did remember hearing Sano and Kenshin arguing. Sano seemed more upset with Kenshin and Kaoru and had told Kenshin just as much. Apparently, Sano strongly disapproved of their "prancing around town with a Block of Ice," which Misao guessed was Aoshi-sama, "and a Witch Doctor." The name-calling was no doubt Sano's forte. One of his many ways of being immature. Kenshin had merely sputtered a few 'oro-s' and admonished Sano for calling their friends names.
Well, maybe Sano was getting a little jealous. Points for Megumi then. Hurrah.
Oh, sarcasm. Where would she be without it?
"Oi, Weasel Girl, what do you want to talk about?" Sano asked her, snapping her back to attention.
"Oh..." she said, turning slightly pink. She glanced up at Sano and dropped her eyes, suddenly very interested at the pointed-ness of Sano's weird shoes. "Did you, ugh... was there... did you feel any... you know..." Misao stammered.
Sano balked at her. "What?" And then, his brown eyes turned to large saucers Misao was sure they were about to pop out of their sockets and land on the ground.
"WHAT?!" He screeched in a panicked voice. "Did I feel... I mean did you? Because I certainly... I mean, hell no... I never, I didn't...did I?"
"Huh?" Misao asked, her head spinning with the number of sentences Sano left dangling and unfinished.
"Misao," Sano said in a quiet voice that made her shiver. "What the hell are you talking about?" He asked in all seriousness.
A serious Sano, as Misao just found out, was an incredibly sexy Sano. His brown eyes glittered and there behind it, probably lurking, was the strong wit and keen intelligence that Sano himself would boast of.
Misao tilted her head to one side, seeing Sano's almost-bulging eyes.
Ok, so maybe on some angles Sano was eye-candy.
"What are you staring at?" Sano half-growled half squeaked.
He's nervous! Misao realized with a start. But why?
Misao frowned and considered this. Megumi had written to her a couple of months ago that enumerated the many ways on how to spot significant signs that a guy might like you. Of course the list was from Megumi so the top sign had been, "if he insults everything about you and calls you name, like 'Kitsune' or 'Witch-doctor. If he calls you 'Bitch', with undeniable passion, it's love." which Misao found to be weird in all aspects. But at number twenty-something, it said, "when he's nervous around you, especially when you start talking about signs and destiny and commitment and meant to be's."
Is Sano?
Misao sighed. Well, if he was... then it seemed that she had to take the next step. She had to follow rules. Even though they hadn't agreed to meet everyday of the whole week, they decided to follow a time-table. After all, they weren't exactly jumping up and down with joy at the prospect of spending more than a week with their respective 'partners'. Second day was as important as the rest of the days of the whole week. Hadn't Kaoru told them that they should be straightforward and not drag the whole thing out unnecessarily?
"I mean, do you felt any...spark between the two of us?" She asked all in one breath. Better say it now while she had the courage.
Sano looked at her long and hard.
Misao gulped. She shifted uncomfortably. Those eyes were so brown. And probing and... oh Kami, she bit the sudden urge to fan herself. What was wrong with her? Only Aoshi was supposed to make her feel like this. Of course, the difference between Aoshi and Sano was that Sano allowed her to get close to him like this, so she could see the golden flecks on Sano's brown eyes, or be able to touch him freely without being scared that he might step back or worse, flinch at her touch.
Sano bent down and was now eye level with her. His lips looked so... inviting. She watched with increasing fascination as Sano opened his mouth. She looked up and felt her face flush. Heat traveled to every vein in her body. What the hell is this?
Sano inched forward and then said, "Er, what do you mean by 'spark' Weasel?"
In the end, Misao punched him in the mouth. Bastard.
Semi-end note: Ok, Kaoru's so angsty... I hate it! What happened to my fighting Tanuki? I think Aoshi's a bad influence on her...
To the boys, shall we? Be warned though... there would be general weirdness, fluffiness, angst and oh, another appearance by Hiko-sama! A little peek on Hiko's past love life and a drunk Kenshin... Man, I am so going to get flamed for all these madness...