=) in response to one rather graphic scene… *shrug* it just came into my head one morning while I was avoiding getting out of bed. (Clearly I am a morning person) and I wanted to convey Kaoru's internal pain in a slightly different way from what everyone else does/did. Did I succeed?
=) the bribes did convince me to continue … though I'm getting too fat… I guess, for my birthday, my friend told me she was getting me fat (she bought me fudge and candy and sweet coffee…"fluffy" coffee my sister calls it…) oh- my b-day was on the 28th of June… (So does that get me any pity points and reviews?)
Ever spend four hours shopping in chunky four inch strappy sandals? Its fun, let me tell you, and the only way to make it even better, is to wear four inch dress sandals the entire next day. For all you males out there… I challenge you to just walk across a room normally, wearing 2 inch stilettos…
And more, as if you care… sometimes when I am extremely agitated, I sneeze. (my friend decided it's some sort of defense mechanism, because sometimes I sneeze when being yelled at or reprimanded…) anyway, so last night I must have sneezed 30+ times in a 15 min per, at least.
Clearly I wrote all this before ff.net was down, expecting to post it… anyway, I decided to continue, for a while, since it isn't fair b/c you can't review (if you were going to in the first place) but my threat still stands. No reviews, heck… that ship holding the guys just might sink…
Littledragon5… this fun-ness is for you! I was *so* pleased to be e-mailed a review… (you were the first person to so do) oh- and to everyone else, feel free to e-mail me for any reason. Even to tell me it's raining (or that you hate me, but that will make me sad actually, angry, unless you justify it, and then I will feel sad). My e-mail addy is infinite_nemo@hotmail.com and… if you want to know when this fic is updated or any other fic, just tell me in a review. Ok!
Again, a key for all you kids
= Battousai
[]= rurouni
bold= Kenshin
''=thoughts (usually Kaoru's)
""= dialogue, as usual
mistakes= I am *so freaking tired!*
Chapter 5: Making Progress…
Alright… so… we'll get all the stuff Kaoru likes best….
It'll be pretty expensive…
Battousai glared. Kenshin sweat dropped. Oro- maa, maa- don't start tying me up like him her jerked his thumb at the bound rurouni. I'm on your side, remember?
Ten years of celibacy has done bad things to you… me…
Oro- odd that we actually are one person, de gozaru.
As Kenshin was grocery shopping he bumped into Kaoru.
"Oh- excuse me…"
"Kaoru-dono!"
Kaoru looked up to see Kenshin kneeling next to her, helping her pick up her scattered parcels.
"Ano… what are you doing here de gozaru ka?"
"Oh, Tae needed some supplies and I don't actually have anything to do so… I volunteered to get them."
"I see de gozaru."
Kaoru giggled. Then, "Neh, Kenshin- what are you doing here? I thought we already had some tofu, and you'd made pickles."
"Oro- well… I decided to go with Sano." There was no need to say more. "I think that the money would be very useful for the dojo…" He watched her carefully through his bangs as he spoke.
Kaoru, however, carefully schooled her expression while her mind raced. 'Kenshin… do you just care about the dojo? No… he's never been so simple… he knows I love the dojo, so… indirectly, he's doing it for me… I hope… I hope I'm not over analyzing this… wait- I don't want him doing this, I'm trying to get over him!' She realized that Kenshin was looking at her intently, probably waiting for her response. 'Mou-I guess living with crazy people has left me a little unbalanced…'
"I see…" She said softly. "Well… you know I'll worry so there's no point telling me not to… but… I can't mother you guys… so… I suppose satisfying your sense of adventure in a way that is safer than normal and also provides you with a tangible "reward" is best."
Damn. Battousai was impressed. When did Kaoru get so... insightful?
Kenshin frowned internally. Well, you didn't think I only loved her for her body.
Nothing.
Kenshin sweat dropped yet again. I'm not even going to ask de gozaru. I'm sure I don't want to know…
"Aa… sessha thought so… sessha is here to get some things- we can have a nice dinner and invite everyone since it will be a while before we will all be together again." He paused and added shyly, "Sessha is making all your favorite things de gozaru."
Tell me something- why are we still talking like an idiot?
Well, we don't want her to… we want things to be relatively normal
Normal Battousai snorted.
'He's so sweet… Kenshin… are you trying to make sure I fall even more in love with you and stay an old maid? We both know nothing's going to happen between the two of us… Mou- I thought I'd been making some progress by going out with Rui-kun. This is like one step forward, and two steps back. Rui!'
"Oh Kenshin," Kaoru sounded regretful. "that sounds so wonderful but I am-" Kaoru paused and seemed deep in thought.
"Kaoru-dono?"
"Hm?" She looked back at Kenshin. "it's nothing, I had thought of something I had to-" she cut herself off. "anyway, I'd better go- I'd told Tae I'd only be a second- ja!"
Kaoru rushed of. Kenshin looked at her rapidly disappearing figure with a perplexed expression. Battousai's mind was elsewhere… or rather… he was looking a bit lower than her bobbing ponytail that was rapidly diminishing into the crowd.
Hentai
Oi!
You're starting to sound like Sano. Kenshin pulled Battousai's mind out of the proverbial gutter and got the last of what he needed and headed home to prepare a feast he hoped would knock Kaoru's tabi off.
While Kenshin was happily chopping up vegetables- Battousai lending his sword skills for some flashier moves for fun, he began pondering.
I wonder why Kaoru didn't want to… well, why she hesitated to agree to tonight at first- she isn't mad at us… is she?
I don't think so de gozaru… we didn't do anything unusually stupid… both personalities glanced at the innocent looking rurouni and anyway, Kaoru tolerates us even when we do…
We didn't buy a fish, did we?
Iie de gozaru
Hm… well… Kaoru must have…
A date tonight gozaru yo! Kenshin wailed, finally coming upon the reason behind Kaoru's distraction. He cut himself with the cleaver, but didn't pay attention to the blood seeping out. Both personalities stayed frozen in their shocked dismay. After a while, the rurouni said tentatively,
[Uhm… sessha thinks you ought to take care of that cut de gozaru yo. You're bleeding all over the vegetables…]
Both Kenshin and Battousai were too distracted to notice that the rurouni was no longer gagged. After a long pause, Battousai said sadly,
Who cares if dinner is ruined? Kaoru won't be here to eat it anyway…
They stayed in their depressed stupor for an indefinite amount of time until they felt someone touch the wounded hand.
"Kenshin!"
He was being tugged to a bucket of water and a soft cloth was wiping the blood away and then more cloth was being pressed upon the now clean cut. When he heard a ripping noise and felt silk being tied tightly around his hand, he focused slightly.
"Kaoru-dono!"
He was staring at his hand. She waved impatiently, "It was nothing, now Kenshin, what on earth were you doing?"
"But Kaoru-dono! Your new ribbon!"
She sighed. "Kenshin, you've just lost who knows how much blood, and you're worried about something as silly as a rag?"
"It wasn't a rag, it was beautiful de gozaru- and you'd never worn it before!"
Kaoru's hand that had been gently stroking the bandage stopped. She didn't look up at him and her voice was low. "I didn't think you ever noticed those things, Kenshin." She said softly.
Battousai and Kenshin felt as if she had slapped them across the face.
"Of course I do!" He sputtered, unable to understand the look on Kaoru's face.
"Kaoru-dono? Daijobu de gozaru ka?"
Sapphire met amethyst, and a wry smile took the place of her unreadable expression. "Only you would think to ask someone that while you're the one that's hurt. Anyway…" she got up and looked at the vegetables. "We'd better see what's still salvageable…" She picked up a piece of radish. "Mou- Kenshin, what were you trying to do?! Marinate the food in your blood?"
He grinned, noting the change in atmosphere. "It's sessha's secret to making good food- but you mustn't tell anyone."
Kaoru rolled her eyes, but Kenshin could tell that she was amused. "You'd better cook less then, because I don't want you dying from blood loss one of these days, or hallucinating for that matter… well, all I can say is you'd better not make us all sick tonight… everyone'll think I cooked!"
Oro- us?
That's what I heard, buddy! Battousai said jubilantly.
They both glanced at the rurouni who was doing his best to look innocent and unconcerned.
Oh no you don't. You're not going to drag us down again, especially if we're not going to be here to protect her from that Rui creep.
Yeah, you'd be pushing Kaoru-dono to Rui if you stay free.
Those words prompted Battousai into gagging the rurouni more carefully and checking his bonds for good measure.
When Kenshin was focused again, he saw that Kaoru was busily washing all the food he had bleed on.
"Ano… Kaoru-dono?"
She looked up at him and smiled. "Yes Kenshin?"
"Did you… did you say 'us' de gozaru ka?"
'Mou. He's usually so clueless… don't tell me he remembered I was supposed to go on a date tonight…' Her face however betrayed none of her thoughts. "Of course Kenshin- why wouldn't I eat with you guys? You're my family."
Battousai choked. I certainly hope she doesn't think of me as her brother
That certainly would be wrong de gozaru… Kenshin agreed with a wince.
As a way to distract both himself and her from that train of unpleasant thought, Kenshin said,
"Did you get what you needed to get taken care of in the market today Kaoru dono?"
Kaoru looked at him slightly suspiciously. "Yes…" She brought the now blood free vegetables to the cutting board.
"All clean now…" she looked and Kenshin and grinned. "At the risk of rendering dinner inedible, I'll help you in the kitchen to make sure you don't kill yourself."
They worked in companionable silence that was broken only by Kenshin's gentle instructions. After a while, however, Battousai got too impatient.
Is she actually going to be eating with us? Well, Kaoru wouldn't lie… not about that… something clicked. He won't be eating with us, will he? he asked, alarmed.
"Ano… Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin spoke quietly.
"Hm?" She looked up and smiled and she tucked some stray hair behind her ear. Kenshin was distracted by her beautiful face for a moment, but he focused himself with effort.
"Er… didn't you have a…" he winced.
Just get it out! We have to know!
"a… date tonight de gozaru?" He watched her carefully.
She blushed. "No… I… I uhm… it's postponed."
Damn. I hoped she told that jerk to get lost.
"I wouldn't want to miss you guy's goodbye or lose that time with you boys." She continued.
"Will you miss sessha, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked, not looking at her.
'Mou- is he… teasing? Or… and what happened to what he said a few weeks ago? Argh… Kenshin no baka- I can't understand you at all! What are you trying to do to me?' Deciding to take his words slightly less seriously in case she was misinterpreting him,
"Of course I will." She grinned coyly yet playfully, "I'm loosing my laundry man and cook in one fell swoop. And how will I ever survive without an overprotective cautious friend who is absolutely wonderful?" She looked at Kenshin and laughed at his confused expression.
Was that a complement or not do gozaru? And… Kenshin made a face.
I have no idea… give me a fight with Saitoh anytime over figuring out how women think…
AN: Can you imagine Kenshin shopping with curlers in his hair, under a hair net that clashed with the ratty pink terry cloth bathrobe he was wearing? Heh.
I love reviews.
Oh and, remember… the guys aren't out at sea yet… (as one reviewer pointed out to me… thanks!)
Minna- I just wanted to say I madly appreciate the reviews (and even if you're just reading, though I'd love reviews- they make me happy and more inspired to write) =) I like being liked, and reviews make me feel so.