* Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki.
Faithfully
Chapter 2: Longings
The day after…
"What??!!!" Kaoru shrieked, her eyes blinking at disbelief. She was sitting in a café with a friend. "Come again? Did you just say that you're pregnant?!!"
"Ssh!! You're making such a commotion out of it!" Kaoru's companion, a slender woman in her late 20's with shoulder-length dark hair, glared dagger at her. "Now everyone's staring at us!"
"Oops, sorry… But did you really mean it?" This time her voice was no more than a whisper.
Misao Shinomori's face soon broke into a happy smile. "I did. I'm expecting…"
"Oh, Misao, I'm so happy for you two!!!" Kaoru pulled the smaller woman into a tight hug. Questions bombarded the mother-to-be as soon as she was released from Kaoru's bear hug. "Since when?!! Is it a boy or a girl? Why didn't you tell me sooner?!! Was that why you're so picky about lunch?!"
"Wow, wow, easy, Girl… It's still too soon to learn about the baby's gender. I'm only two months along…"
"Oh, it's so wonderful… When did you know?"
"I've been late, so I got suspicious. I did the test last week, and the result was positive."
"Does Aoshi know?"
"Yeah, he does. I told him yesterday. Aoshi called Kenshin yesterday, right? It was after I told him. By the way, I hope he didn't interrupt something…" Seeing Kaoru's reddened face, she knew that Aoshi did interrupt something. But she didn't pursue the subject further.
"You said you've known it since last week, and you just told him yesterday." Kaoru raised her eyebrow. "Just curious, but why took so long to tell him?"
Misao's happy smile turned wistful for a split of second. But it was gone as soon as it came. "I wasn't certain of his reaction to the news. I was… kinda afraid that he would not welcome this child." She looked down at her still-flat stomach and caressed it gently.
"Any reason why you'd think like that?"
"Well, after we got married, we decided to wait for children. Children didn't seem to fit in our lifestyle. You know, with us travelling around so many times… And Aoshi, unlike Himura, is not one who loves to play with children. We've never talked about it anymore, until yesterday… I spent the whole week trying to figure out how I should break the news to him."
"How did he react?"
"He was very surprised, and didn't say anything at first. I almost took it as rejection, but then he pulled me into a hug and told me that he was glad to have a new member on our family…" Happiness shone from those jade green eyes as she let out a sigh of relief. "Really, this baby was unexpected to both of us, but not unwelcome… Aoshi was even willing to lessen the amount of time he spends at work for the baby."
"Oh, you don't know how happy I am for you!" Kaoru clasped her friend's hands, giving it a slight squeeze.
"Oh yeah, we're gonna hold a small banquet to celebrate it next week. You'll come, right?"
"Sure! Even if I have to drag Kenshin all the way!" Kaoru chuckled as she remembered her husband's dislike for parties and formal events. "Who's gonna be there?"
"The band of course, Shishio and Yumi, our parents and some other close acquaintances. Aoshi mentioned someone else, but I forgot her name. She's Aoshi's newest client, by the way. If I heard it correctly, she'll gonna do a duet with Heart of the Sword."
"I see…"
"Didn't Himura tell you about it? No wait, he doesn't know yet. That's why Aoshi insisted to come over today." Misao grinned as she leaned on the chair. "Other than to share this happy news, he wanted to talk with Himura about business…"
"Oh, I can't tell you how happy I am for you two!" Kaoru gazed at Misao's belly. A longing look flashed across her face, but it was soon replaced by a sincere smile. "It feels like I'm gonna get a niece or a nephew, 'cause you're the closest I have to a sister… Promise you'll give me a call if you ever need something?"
"Sure. And thanks in advance!"
"No problem. Well, what do you say we continue our shopping? I'm still looking something for Kenshin…"
***
In the evening…
"Where do you think our husbands are?" Kaoru asked Misao as they entered her apartment quietly. As if on cue, a loud clattering noise from the kitchen answered her question.
"I think they're in the kitchen." Misao giggled softly. "What do you say we spy on them? Aoshi never wants me around if he's busy in the kitchen."
"So does Kenshin." Kaoru's eyebrows furrowed. "I wonder what secret he's hiding from me there. I tried to sneak at him once, but he caught me even before I got to the entrance of the kitchen. Then he warned not to try again or no dinner at all." A sigh escaped her lips. "I swear, that man has sixth sense when it comes to sensing my presence…"
"Could it be… that they're hiding the secret of their cooking skill?"
"Hmm… now that you mention it, Misao…"
Both women were infamous among their friends for their cooking skill… which was close to nothing. And it was a well-known fact that Kenshin and Aoshi were actually pretty good cooks. It was the men who always did the cooking whenever they're around…
"We have to be very quiet if we want to catch them by surprise…" Misao whispered at Kaoru, who then nodded slowly. So they tiptoed very carefully and quietly all the way from the living room to the kitchen.
Luck was on their side. The sound of something being fried was heard from the kitchen, and it was enough to mask the soft sound of their footsteps. As they arrived at the entrance of the kitchen, both stuck their head out to peep at the men.
The sight that greeted them brought big grins to their faces.
Behind the table was Kenshin with a kitchen knife in his hand. He was chopping vegetables with precision and speed that could shame even professional chefs. And just a meter away from the redhead was a tall and devastatingly handsome man with short black hair. His sleeves rolled up above his elbows, Aoshi Shinomori was frying tempura and baking crepes at the same time.
But it wasn't the sight of them cooking that made Kaoru and Misao want to laugh their heads off. It was what the men were garbed with. Kaoru recognized her blood red apron – embroidered with white and yellow flowers no less! – on Aoshi's tall figure. And she didn't even know that her husband had a pink apron. She wondered where he hid it all this time…
A soft giggle from the entrance of the kitchen caught Kenshin's attention. His face paled as he looked up and saw their intruders. "Uhm… Aoshi?"
"What?" Aoshi replied curtly. The man hated being interrupted when he was busy.
"We have---"
Misao beat him into it. "Well, well, aren't they cute, Kaoru? And I always wondered how my adorable husband managed to keep his clothes tidy when he's cooking…"
Aoshi froze in his track as he recognized his wife's chirpy voice. His hand still holding the spatula, he turned around ever so slowly. It was a terrible blunder, since the women now got a full view of him wearing a flowery red apron. And so giggle burst into laughter. Something akin to terror flashed across his handsome face as his mind registered the fact that he had been caught wearing something so girly by his wife no less. I'll never hear the end of it from Misao…
Tightening his grip around the poor spatula, Aoshi shot the grim-faced Kenshin a 'you-said-they-won't-be-home-for-another-hour' look.
The redhead could only shrug his shoulder in response, as if trying to say 'How am I supposed to know?'.
Aoshi inclined his head to the door.
Hesitating at first, Kenshin heaved a sigh in defeat and finally nodded.
Still laughing hysterically, the women didn't see their husbands marching off toward them – the aprons miraculously disappeared – until it was too late.
Shoving Misao and Kaoru gently out of the kitchen, Aoshi slammed the kitchen's door close before them and locked it, but not before he and Kenshin tickled them mercilessly until they swore never to try it again.
"Now what?" Aoshi crossed his arms over his chest, his food tapping impatiently on the floor. If Kenshin hadn't known him any better, he would've thought that his manager was sulking.
"No dinner for them?" The redhead scratched his head and grinned sheepishly as he remembered his particular threat to Kaoru.
"Negative. Can't risk the baby…"
"You're right. I guess we'll just have---" Burnt smell infiltrated his sense. "Aoshi, the crepes!"
Aoshi grimaced as he extracted the coal-colored crepes from the pan. It was the first time he actually spoiled his cooking in several years. "Himura, remind me to bring my own plain apron next time…"
"You can wear mine if you want…" Kenshin handed his apron to Aoshi.
Sniffing disdainfully, Aoshi held up his hand as a sign of rejection and started to put on Kaoru's apron. "There's no way I'm wearing that pink apron of yours."
"Hey, it's not pink! It's magenta…"
***
Except for the sulking men and the occasional teasing from the women's part, the dinner went smoothly. It was actually a small celebration for Aoshi and Misao's unborn child. Besides, the two couples hadn't done this in a while, having dinner together and exchanging stories. So the hours just flew by, and it was time to say goodbye.
"Thanks for the dinner! Sure you don't need help to clean up things?"
"Nah, you go home." Kenshin waved off his hand. "Take some rest. The baby's gonna need it." He winked at Misao. "We'll take care of everything from here."
"Okay, then we'll see you guys next week?"
"Sure! Till then! Byebye!"
"Bye!"
Kenshin and Kaoru watched as Aoshi and Misao finally entered the elevator. They waited until the door closed, obscuring their view of the couple.
"Well then, it's just the two of us again…" Kenshin put his arm around Kaoru's waist as he led her into the apartment. "So how was the shopping?"
"Now that you mentioned it…" Kaoru sprinted off to the shopping bags she left at the living room, leaving her husband perplexed at the entrance of their apartment. Rummaging through it for a few seconds, she found what she was looking for and held it out. "Look what I got for you!"
"Crossroads of Twilight?" Kenshin took the book from her hand excitedly. "Oh, Kaoru, you're so sweet! Thanks! You have no idea how I've been dying to get my hands on it!"
Her face broke into a grin. "Does it mean that I'm forgiven for spying on you?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Well, I guess I'll just have to, huh?" A smile appeared on his lips. "Of course you are! How can I not?" He pulled Kaoru into a hug and gave her a light kiss. "Now go to bed. I'll do the clean up."
"What?? But---"
"No buts." Kenshin put a silencing finger on her lips and kissed her again. "It's not like we invited a bunch of kids. We didn't really make a mess, you know? I can do it alone. You're tired anyway."
"I'm not---" Her yawn betrayed it. "--- tired…"
"See? Told you so. Now go. I'll be there in a minute. And would you mind taking my book also? You don't want me to ruin your gift, do you?" And with that he put his new book in Kaoru's hand and shoved her gently into the direction of their bedroom, putting an end to her protest.
Later that night…
Having finished with cleaning up, Kenshin went to the bedroom. It was dimly light; only the reading lamp above his night table was on. Kaoru was nowhere to be found. He was about to call out for her, but the corner of his eyes caught the light from the bathroom. She must be in there… Oh well…
Throwing himself on the bed after taking out his shirt, his eyes lightened up as he noticed the book Kaoru had placed on his night table earlier. The Crossroads of Twilight! I wonder if Rand has indeed cleansed saidin… and I wonder what the Forsaken is up to this time…[1] So he took it and began to read.
The redhead was so absorbed in his reading that he didn't notice Kaoru coming out from the bathroom and sitting beside him on their queen-sized bed.
"Kenshin…?" She leaned on the headboard and turned her head to him. Her hand reached to the remote control on her nightstand, and with it she turned on the stereo.
"Hmmm?" His ears caught the soft sound of piano from the stereo. A few seconds later Aaron Neville's voice was heard.
Look at this face; I know the years are showing…
He thought it was a beautiful song, but Perrin and his companions have found mysterious traces of something![2] I wonder what it was …
"Kenshin, can I talk to you for a second?"
Again, the 'hmmm' was all she got in reply. Kaoru sighed deeply. When Kenshin got so caught up in something, especially when he was reading his favourite books, nothing short of earthquake or calamities could take his attention away from what he's doing.
Look at these eyes; they've never seen what matters…
Linda Ronstadt was always one of Kaoru's favourites, but tonight she wasn't really in the mood. Well, how can I be, when Kenshin's ignoring me because of the book I gave him… She thought sarcastically.
Kenshin thought he heard her saying something, but he wasn't sure what it was. "Kaoru, did you say something?" But his mind was really elsewhere. So, it turned out to be a pack of Darkhounds! Boy oh boy, whoever it is the pack is hunting, things sure don't look bright for the hunted...[3]
Kaoru had had enough. "Never mind!" She snapped and lied down on the bed with her back facing Kenshin.
The redhead stopped reading the moment he noticed Kaoru's upset tone. One glance at her was all he needed to know that his wife was sulking. Dumbfounded, he could only stare at her, wondering what he ever did to make her angry. I was just asking if she said something, wasn't I? Putting down the book in his hands, he scooted over to her and touched her shoulder gently. "Hey, Sweetie, what's wrong? Why are you so upset?"
Shaking off his hand from her shoulder, she didn't budge from her current position. "Nothing's wrong, Kenshin. I'm just fine. And no, I'm not angry!"
Being married to Kaoru for about a year, Kenshin had learned that when his wife said that nothing's wrong, there was usually something wrong. When she said that she's fine, what she meant was exactly the opposite. And when she said that she's not angry, she was really furious… Actually, all women were like that, he mused in his thought. Aoshi and Katsu said the same thing about Misao and Tae - Katsu's girlfriend. Women and their indirect speech, as Aoshi calls it. They never say what they really want…
It was also something he learned, that if he didn't persuade her to tell him what the problem really was, he'd get a cold shoulder from her in the morning. So…
"Kaoru?" He turned her over to face him and caressed her cheek tenderly. "Come on, tell me. What is it? Did I say something?"
Her expression softened as she looked into those violet eyes she loved so much. "No, you didn't say anything wrong…"
"Then why are you upset?"
She caught Kenshin's hand on her cheek and entwined her fingers with his. "It's not what you said… well, you said nothing, didn't you? It's just…" She paused for a moment before blurting out the truth. "It was that you just kept reading!"
Now Kenshin was really confused. His wife was mad at him because he was reading? How logical. "But I thought you gave me that book so I could read it, didn't you? I didn't know that you had a problem with me reading books. Why did you buy it for me then?"
"Men!!" Kaoru snorted exasperatedly and resumed her previous pose: lying on her side with her back facing Kenshin. She muttered under her breath. "You're all just too dense…"
Scratching his head at his wife's antics, the redhead tried to figure out the connection between reading and being dense. Women are often illogical; I heard that a lot. I just don't understand what---
I don't know much, but I know I love you. That may be all I need to know…
Hey, isn't this 'Don't Know Much' from Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt? Kenshin hadn't really paid attention to it when he had been reading. And he knew that song all too well. It was the song we played over and over again at our wedding night. And she only plays this song when we… The last piece of the puzzle fell into its place, and his frown turned into a smirk. "You know, Kaoru, if you want me, you could've just told me so…"
She almost jumped from her lying position. "What??!"
Her indignant reply, her glare at him and her reddened face gave him just the confirmation he needed. He flashed an overly sweet smile at her as he advanced slowly toward her and caught her lips with his.
He nuzzled her nose after reluctantly pulling away from her. "So, aren't I right?"
"Pervert…" Kaoru punched his shoulder playfully, all the while blushing furiously.
"Hey, is it you or me who's being pervert?"
"Kenshin!"
"All right, all right!" He grabbed her by the shoulder and rolled over so that she rested above him. "So tell me, what was it that made you upset?"
"Well, for your information, it's not that! You're too proud of yourself, Mr. Himura…"
"Oh it's not?" Kenshin raised an eyebrow. His wife was a terrible liar.
"Okay, okay. It was." Kaoru just wanted to punch his smug face. "But it's not all…"
"Enlighten me, my beloved wife."
"I said I wanted to talk to you, but you just kept reading. You ignored me!" Her fingers played with his long red locks. "It's not fun being ignored, you know… It's just that when you're so absorbed in whatever you're doing, you forget about everything else, including me."
"Is that so…" For a brief moment Kenshin had that thoughtful look on his face. His violet orbs were genuine as he gazed at her. "Sorry about that. I didn't really mean it. Guess I was just too excited about the book…" He leaned forward and kissed her again. "Am I forgiven?"
"How can I not, when you kiss me like that?" She nuzzled his nose with hers and pecked his cheek. Shifting herself a little bit so that se lied beside him, Kaoru rested her head contentedly on his chest.
Both enjoyed the comfortable silence for a while.
"Kenshin…?"
"Yeah?" Kenshin was stroking Kaoru's hair idly.
"Misao and Aoshi are getting a baby."
"I know…"
"Don't you think…"
Kaoru was sure acting a bit strange tonight. Why is she being shy all of a sudden? "Don't I think what?"
Kaoru gulped. "Don't you think… don't you think that their baby needs a company?"
"Well, you don't have to worry. I'm pretty sure that their baby will have plenty of companies. Aoshi and Misao will surely be good parents. Besides, there are still you and me, and of course the band. You know how Sano, Katsu and Soujirou adore little children. Enishi might not show his fondness for children, but I'm sure we'll all be good uncles and aunts for the baby."
"No, that's not what I meant!" Kaoru groaned inwardly. Why are men so clueless!! "I mean a company around his/her own age…"
The implication of her words hit him so hard that he jerked from his lying position. The redhead stared at his wife in disbelief. "Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"
She nodded shyly.
It was all Kenshin could do to stare at her. His jaw fell open and he couldn't say anything for a while.
"What??" Kaoru shot her husband a look. "Do you think it's ridiculous?"
"No, no, no! It's not that." He pulled her into his embrace. "Sorry, I just didn't know what to say. I never thought you would ask…" After a few moments he pulled away and held her firmly in her shoulders. "Are you sure you're ready for kids? I mean, we've been married for just a year, and you're still so young…"
"Kenshin, I've been dreaming of having children of my own ever since I can remember. I know I want this… But what about you? Of course I won't insist if you think you're not ready."
"Silly girl…" He ruffled her hair affectionately. "You, of all people, must have known how I love the idea of being a father. Rest assured that I want this as bad as you do… I just thought you that might want to wait for a little while." He caught her gaze, his eyes were serious. "So you're really sure about this? Sure we can handle it?"
Kaoru held his hand firmly in hers as she replied, "As long as we're together, we can climb even the highest mountain, right?"
Kenshin just had to chuckle at that. "Well, I guess you're right. You're an amazing woman, you know that?"
"So, can we give it a try?" Kaoru looked up at him shyly.
A warm smile appeared on his face as he ran his fingers through her hair gently. "Anytime, my dear… anytime you want me to…" And he turned the light off.
***
A week went by without everyone realizing it. Aoshi and Misao's small celebration was approaching very rapidly. They decided to keep it simple; the place was their own mansion, and the food was taken care by none other than Aoshi and Kenshin themselves. This time there was no incidents in the kitchen…
As a surprise for the hosts, Kenshin performed a song acoustically with only Soujirou on the piano. Enishi and he wrote the song together special for this occasion. Misao was so touched by the song that she wanted the song to be included in HotS' next album. The evening was definitely a success. Even Shishio, who usually looked dead-serious the whole time, relaxed and laughed at Sano's jokes. Katsu and Tae announced their engagement, and it only added to the blissful atmosphere. But no one was really surprised. They saw it coming as the couple had been going steady for several years. Tae was the stylist of the band when they went on tour; that's how she met Katsu. Both had been a bit unsure and shy at first, but Enishi and Kenshin made sure they got hooked together.
So everybody was enjoying the party. Or was it?
***
They were playing soft music now. What a gigantic living room… it could even be used as a dancing floor once you set aside all the furniture. But my attention wasn't on the couples dancing amorously on the floor. I had eyes only for the woman standing before me. Occasionally she smiled at me while we were conversing.
"I'm coming! Just a minute." She had been talking to me when he called her.
Damn him… he would have her for himself after they went home. Why wouldn't he just give me some time to talk to her? Or was I not allowed to?
"Sorry…" She smiled apologetically at me.
Her smile was so genuine, so sweet, so warm… I could've just devoured those lips. But I was not entitled to. The smile she gave me was not the same smile she gave him. Her special smile belonged only to him. Oh how I wished that it was mine instead!
"I'll talk to you some other time, okay?"
I returned her smile with my own and nodded. I could not keep her. I could only watch as she turned and going away from me. To him. Even after all this time, she still ran whenever he called her. Her eyes lighted up at the very sight of him. Some called it childishness; I called it devotion. She loved him with all of her soul, might and strength, and he loved her just as much. I just had to accept that. But I couldn't get her out of my head…
I watched her every movement as she danced with him. As he pressed her body close to him. As he guided her step carefully and graciously. My eyes traced every curve of her body as I sipped my champagne. My mind imagined how soft her lips would feel if I ever had the chance to taste them with my own. Too often had I tried to tell myself to forget her, but she fascinated me. What's a man to do when he is bewitched by the beauty of a goddess? And maybe I didn't want to… The room was dimly lighted, so I thought no one was aware of me watching her. But I was wrong.
"She's lovely, isn't she?" A woman whispered in my ear.
I was inwardly surprised, but I didn't let it show. I didn't look at my intruder as I put my champagne on the table and replied calmly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You can't fool me…" That woman's smile reminded me to a vixen. A sly and dangerous vixen. "I know the look you've been giving her."
"What look?" I kept my gaze steady and said nonchalantly, "I still don't know what you're talking about."
But she didn't buy it at all. "Oh you do know what I'm talking about." Fortunately she kept her voice no more than a whisper. "The look on your face says that you wish it was you who holds her in your arms. You wish you could run your hand through her hair. You wish you could feel the softness of her skin under your palm. You wish you could hear her moaning and craving more for you. You wish---"
I couldn't stand it any longer, so I interrupted her. "Are you sure you should be having this conversation with me? Shouldn't I advertise you on the program 'Call me, I'll warm you up'? You'd be the favourite of the listeners, no doubt about it. And I'd love to be your manager." I was being sarcastic, but I was hoping to insult her so that she'd just stop talking.
"Are you admitting that I have that effect on you?" She still had that smug, vixen smile on her face despite the insult I had just hurled at her face. And the worst of it all, she was right. "Don't play dumb with me. You've been desiring another man's wife secretly, and you and I know that it's a sin… How do they say it? Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife."
I was surprised that she could recite a biblical verse. "You know nothing about me." This woman began to get through my skin. But I was too proud to let her see it.
"My, my, defensive, aren't we?" She laughed. She would've sounded like an angel, but all I could hear now was the laugh of the devil. "I wouldn't be so rude if I were you, cause I might be able to help you get what you want."
"Oh, I thought you said it was a sin?" Sarcasm hadn't gone from my voice. "And you speak as if I needed any help from you."
Again that devilish laugh. "I'm not afraid of committing sin, you know. Especially when I have my own interest." She shoved a small piece of paper in my hand and whispered to me, her breath tickling my ears, "Just think about it…" Then she kissed my cheek and left me.
I resumed my champagne sipping. Outwardly I was just a man enjoying himself in a party. But inwardly, it was turmoil… I had long since accepted that she could never be mine. I had settled with only fantasizing about her. Until now. Somehow, that vixen woman managed to awake this dormant feeling I had buried deep in my heart. The desire I felt for her had been only the light of a small candle. But she fuelled it, and now it was a fire blazing so brightly that it made me sweat. And suddenly I wanted more than just a fantasy.
I shook my head and tried to calm my mind down. I would not cross the line. I would not stoop so low. Flipping the small piece of paper in my hand, I looked at it and saw a phone number. No doubt it was hers. I almost threw it away, but something made me keep it.
- End of Chapter 2: Longings -
Author's Note:
* Does anybody still remember this fic? I know I haven't updated for about half a year or something like that…
* Anyway, it's to put some plots into it! This chapter's a bit longer than usual, but I guess it is to make up for my lack of update… ^_^x
* I'm right in the middle of exam period._ So I don't really have time to respond to reviewers individually. Sorry… Next time I'll do better. And wish me luck, guys!
* Oh yeah, this is actually the first time I write something in the first person's PoV. How did I fare with it?
* Thank you so much for sticking with me despite me being a lazy writer! Can't tell you how much I appreciate every single review you gave me… Keep reading, and keep reviewing! ^_~ See ya at the next update!
[1] Crossroads of Twilight is the 10th book of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. This is where he left off in the 9th book.
[2] Again, this is a reference to events in CoT.
[3] Yet another reference to CoT.