Disclaimer: I don't own RK and all that other stuff
"Um, Kenshin do you know where we are?" Kaoru asked cautiously. She knew if he said no, it would be the same as
admitting that they were lost. Which they were NOT lost! "Not quite," came his reply. Kaoru looked at Kenshin in shock
and practically screamed at him,"ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE'RE LOST!" "I'm afraid so," Kenshin replied coolly.
He was well aware that his answer would make Kaoru lose her temper but that didn't matter too much at the moment.
Right now what mattered was getting back to the dojo before it was too dark to see where they were going. The sky was
already turning a dark blue and stars were starting to pop out of the sky."Young couple, HEY you two over there,
HELLO I'm talking to you two young ones, YOU here me over there!?!" At last, Kaoru and Kenshin realized the old
man was talking to them and both pointed a finger at their nose questioningly. The old man nodded and pointed to their
linked hands. Both blushed, Kenshin more deeply than Kaoru. He tried to pull his hand away but Kaoru held it more
tightly than before. He wasn't too sure if he could feel his fingers now. Kaoru's eyes gleamed at the prospect of being
called a couple. "What is a couple doing in these parts?" the old man asked. Kenshin and Kaoru stepped into the light of
the lantern on the porch. Kenshin saw the old man's eyes widen and a smirk appeared on his face before it left a moment
later but he did not comment on his odd behavior. Without waiting for an answer to his question he said, "Come in for
some tea. I just got a shipment of some foreign tea I need some opinions on." "Actually, we better get g-" Kenshin started
but was cut off by the overjoyed Kaoru. "Of course we will!" she said elbowing Kenshin. "But Kaoru-dono w- " Kenshin
tried again but cut off by Kaoru pulling him into the building. Oh well Kenshin thought some tea won't hurt.
♦
"I'll give you couple some tea on the house!" the old man said enthusiastically. "Oh, no there's no need for that
Kaoru said. "Nonsense, nonsense!" "All right, all right, if you insist!"
The old man seated them at a table near the front door. Kaoru was excited for she had always wanted to try some foreign
tea. "Here you go," the old man said a moment later as he put two cups of tea on the table along with the teapot. "Where
is it from?" Kaoru asked. "Oh, um, er, Europe!" the man threw over his shoulder as he left the room. Kenshin looked at
the cup of black tea with little curiosity. "It smells odd," Kenshin said making a face. "Don't be a party-pooper, Kenshin."
Kaoru replied and took several sips of the tea. "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" she asked a several minutes later. "It's
just you Kaoru-dono." Kenshin answered. Kenshin was about to take a sip when he felt Kaoru fall onto his shoulder. He
put his cup down and reached over to lift her up. When he touched her arm it was burning hot. (Her temperature would
be something like 105.8. *) Kenshin felt her pulse. It was dangerously slow. Just then Yahiko burst in yelling, "Finally I
found you guys! Why are- What's wrong with busu?" Silently Kenshin put a finger in tea which should be cold by then. It
was hot, very hot. "Poison**," he said to Yahiko who turned several shades paler. "I-I'll go get Sano and Megumi," the
boy stammered and ran out so fast that his feet could not be seen*. Kenshin bent over Kaoru and picked her up. She
looked so small and weak in his arms he stopped for a whole moment until he remembered that (by his calculation) the
poison was strong and spread quickly. Every second counted and he was not going to waste any time. He walked out of
the unusually empty teahouse. Why hadn't he noticed all these suspicious things before? He walked over to the corner of
the building and set Kaoru down leaning against the wall. He went back inside to see if anyone was still there. Several
minutes later he returned. As he suspected no one was in there. Sano reached Kenshin at a run. "Yahiko went to get
Megumi. Where's Kaoru?" he panted. Kenshin led him to the spot where he had left Kaoru. It was dark and the candle
had gone out, so Sano lit a match. Kenshin walked over to the wall but did not find Kaoru leaning against it. "Kenshin
where's Kaoru?" Sano repeated. Kenshin stared at the empty wall and whispered two words that seemed to echo
through the night: She's gone…
* = I think I exaggerated a bit there, I don't think that's really possible
** = I made the poison up so don't get mad at me if there is no such poison which I don't think there is
End Of Chapter One