Gag Me Please!

Massao-na-Mizu

M/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews! I never thought it would receive a lot of reviews despite the fact that its plot is overused in so many pairings, but this! That is why I made this. ^_^ It still puzzles me it got that much reviews. -_-;; Sorrow Mingled Tears was better written and more original. *Shrugs* Not that I'm complaining much! Also, I'll let you guess whose POV it is. It's part of it. Also, it's relaxing and it's nicer to read if you're listening to BoA's Every Heart

Last Chap's Recap: when I opened my eyes, Aoshi was still beside me, asleep...I was red as a tomato when I realized that we were naked!...She'll never know that truth... she would easily take your word for it...She'll never know that truth... she would easily take your word for it...

Japanese Money: I went to the mall yesterday whenever yesterday was to check the Yen balance. Here it is:

.5 yen is 1 peso or something.

56 pesos is equal to a dollar so imagine that. ^_^ You need it for the terms. That is what I'm going to follow.

Warning: This will be an Aoshi/Kaoru, but there will be a tender moment, not lime part in this chap of Kaoru and Kenshin. But it will soon pass.

Read and Review!

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Chapter 2

"Bye," I bid to Aoshi, lowering my eyes and despite myself, blushing. He blinked and inclined his head, as if nothing happened. I wish I'd be as calm, cool and collected like him. He wouldn't be suspected for anything, except stealing the bride... (eep!) or predicted to have topped the bar exams (which he did)... or ... something else. I'm not entirely sure.

It's so hard to get to him. Even Misao still can't completely predict the actions of her brother. I totally doubt she'll ever predict this. I'm not planning to tell. He's just... a lone wolf. Someone who can exist on his own. No one really knows what he's thinking and he doesn't let just anybody see a passionate side of him.

I was still looking at his back. The muscles of his stomach that rippled when he walked towards his suite that was five doors really apart from their neighbors really made me blush to know that I was trying to memorize every single abs and make him make sounds he only omits when he's---

This should be raised to a higher rating.

He opened the door with his key card but just stood there, leaving the door ajar. It was as if he was pondering over something. Then he swiftly looked at me. I was startled and my eyes went wide, but I didn't say anything. He then did something that I didn't expect at all...

He smiled and mouthed in Japanese, 'don't worry'.

I then gave him a bright, genuine smile and a little wave. He nodded his head, not a trace of the smile on his lips that was there before. He still confuses me. Maybe it was a sign that I should keep it quiet. Even with Misao.

Can I be quiet?

Of course I can!

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'What have I done?' Kenshin asked himself for the nth time. He gave his sopping head a break and turned off the shower. His fingers were looking like prunes for being over-soaked.

He has been brooding over and over about Kaoru. To tell or not to tell? That is the age-old, over-used question that still can't be answered correctly. If he lied, he'd be too guilty. If he did, Kaoru would be too hurt. He knew she'd forgive him, but the guilt will always be there.

He unconsciously couldn't forgive himself

He must have been there for hours... Still drenched and bare, hair covering his face while he thought of every possible ways. He was not the man he used to be. The man that hurt other people...

He was now a changed man. He'd like to keep that.

But then this occurred. His prizes for being what he is now might slip all away. We all know that to whom much is given, much is expected. He valued a lot of things in his life the most.

But the most is Kaoru...

Is what is expected from him that much?

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Aoshi was used to being alone.

In fact, it never bothered him not to have partners in cases, in projects in College or High School (women were all swooning over him and men wanted to use his abilities that is why he decided to do everything himself), raising Misao alone when their parents died after he graduated college and not having a partner in life.

He was only in love once, but he never had the chance to tell her what he felt.

Despite of himself and his cool 'tude, he was quite a coward in terms of love.

In short, he never asked much for himself or for his life. He settled on everything given to him and accepts it when it's gone or gotten. Like when he is eating and Misao eats his congee. He accepts it.

But when Destiny gave him a piece of Heaven, he felt it hard to give it back. To return it to the place where it belonged...

In short, he can't just give up Kaoru. But he will because he respects Kenshin and her duty to him. A Japanese Woman's life's destiny is decided either when she is given the person to marry or who she chooses. So Kenshin is her final destiny. He just has a tiny question...

When Kaoru went to him, wasn't that a part of destiny too?

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The guilt somehow dulled for me. I don't remember doing anything else than letting the service of the hotel/resort clean my room after that deciding to get a few more hours worth of sleep. Nothing extra-ordinary. It still throbs in my heart, but numbly. As if a cramp in your foot that prickles when you move it too much, but when you let it be, it heals itself to new.

Maybe I just need to let it work its magic on my heart. I don't want to be unfair to Kenshin or anything--

Kenshin, then suddenly the numbing throbbed so hard again. I sensed tears, heard sobs coming out of my mouth, but it felt so alien. As if I wasn't experiencing the pain first-hand. Rather feeling it through another person. I'm not really sure.

I took a shower then put on my bikini pair, a blue halter Kenshin praised, saying that it brought out the color of my eyes more while Sano bantered Aoshi of wearing one too to bring out the blue-ness of his eyes. Aoshi didn't even look at him and seemed not to hear him. I slipped on a khaki-colored shorts that was half-way my thigh.

I didn't need any money for the reason that we are guests of Kenshin, the owner. Still, I felt compelled to bring at least two thousand yen.

I put it in my back pocket and on the other my key card. My Nokia 6600 was safely tucked inside my front pocket. I tied my hair in the usual fashion and locked the door behind me. Maybe some swimming or jogging or just doing what I want will help me think.

After three hours of buying souvenirs, 30 minutes of swimming and 10 minutes of walking around, I decided to head to the Hotel/Resort's bar and sat myself to one of the high stools and ordered.

"What's your specialty drink? Don't answer that, just give me one," I said, looking out to the beach.

"Enjoying your stay?" A soft, kind voice I have come to love said, making me turn my head and force a smile on my lips. It was Kenshin, cleaned as he always was. He was smiling. But there was a hint of sadness to it.

Will he be honest to me and tell me of what happened between he and Tomoe? Will he lie? What will I do if he does?

I couldn't bring myself to ask him anything and settled for the formal, "Good morning, Kenshin-kun." He smiled at me kindly. The way he smiled when he was going to correct me. I was closed to perfection in memorizing everything he did.

"It's already afternoon, Kaoru-chan. Perhaps you're having fun in your stay here that you are oblivious of the time," he commented in his usual kind fashion. Something inside me stirred.

"Are you saying that I am ignorant of what is happening around me?" I asked in a stiff voice. Where did that come from? It was probably from the fact that I kept what I knew inside of me. The fact that he did it with his former. The reason that he wasn't with me yesterday. I was still hurting. I am a defiant girl that doesn't want to be dictated by anyone. There was something about him and me that made me irritable.

"N-no, I'm just saying that I hope you're having a great time," he said quietly, hurt showing in his eyes. I sighed and hung my head low.

"Yes. I guess you were... I'm sorry for over-reacting... I have... I have PMS," I lied, in an unconvincing way. My cheeks were flushed, the tips of my ears were red. My bangs covered my eyes and and hands that were on my lap were clenched into fists.

"Not to worry, Kaoru-chan... I might have not been clear. I'm sorry for offending you... I understand completely about the women's cycle," he said gently, comfortingly. I said nothing, even when the waiter gave me my drink and told me that it's something-something. I didn't reply. I was never a very good liar. Acting is different from lying.

You see, you lend yourself. Your feelings, your heart including to the character you play. You don't hurt anybody in reality. You gave pleasure to your audience. Lying... lying hurts people. They make you feel guilty and all that... There is a big difference. Take note of that. That is one of the things I've learned that are true. *Nods, nods*

A hand in my arm, so comforting and warm drew me back from my reverie and I looked at him. His green eyes I had marveled in day one. I still did. There was something about them... How they could hide his emotions in a flash and then release them in a second. There was something about them now that I couldn't put my finger on... He pulled me to him, his hand now guiding my head to his shoulder and another on my hips. "Kenshin..." I said, in a voice that conveyed my startle, surprise and love. It always makes me feel safe, engulfed in the tender, but raw emotion of love. As long as I was with him, I didn't care about anything else. My arms looped around his stomached and he pulled me closer. We were so intimate... I never wanted to end it.

"I'm so sorry Kaoru..." He whispered in my hair, kissing me softly there. My eyes were closed, savoring the moment. I was half-dazed and my eyelids went half-open. I tightened my grasp on him. I breathed in his scent that welcomed me... What have I done..?

"You already said sorry. I've accepted," I replied softly, hoping he'd just hold me and say nothing more. I don't want anything else in this moment. I only wanted him...

"I've done something wrong... Something unforgivable... Something--" I raised my head and my arm to put a finger to his lips and shook my head. I put my finger away and kissed his lips.

"Please, don't tell me... I forgive you. Kenshin, we can all make mistakes. Nobody's perfect. We can hurt each other, wound deep in the heart but we love each other, ne? So I forgive you," I said to him, my eyes pleading for him to stop. I knew Kenshin. This was not going to be good if I don't handle it well.

He shook his head, looking away. His eyes covered his eyes in typical anime mode. Things were not going well. I bit my lower lip. What if...? What if he decided to cancel our wedding? No! No please no! "Maybe we should cool down for a bit," he said finally, releasing his breath. I blinked. Cool down for a bit?

"You mean cancel our wedding and break up?" I blurted before I could stop myself. This was what I was so worried about. I was so afraid... He didn't say anything. The eerie silence so deafening but I refused to say anything. Instead, I stood up, letting his eyes follow my movements, but keeping my eyes straight out to the sunset.

If I look now, I'll burst into tears, surely. I must be strong... "No, I don't mean that... I mean we need some space without each other. I'm very confused right now, Kaoru-chan. My mind is clouded with my thoughts and conflicting emotions. I don't think I'll be able to make the right decisions..." He reasoned. It made no sense to me.

"Well then, you just made your first wrong decision," I said coldly and turned away. I was relieved that he decided not to follow me. I turned the corner and pushed the 'Up' button of an elevator. It opened for me and inside was Aoshi, eyebrows raising a bit just to show his surprise.

It was then that I couldn't contain myself. I couldn't take hold of my emotions anymore. If I didn't burst right now, I might die. Tears flowed down my cheeks, my head lowered. He didn't say anything. Neither did I. He just took a step towards me and pulled me into his arms, wherein I collapsed and cried, sobbing so hard and my fingers clutching tightly on his shirt while his arms enveloped me.

The elevator closed and I felt it go up. I held tighter to him, not wanting to let go. He didn't hush me. He never reprimanded me. "I probably look like trash," I sniffed, sobbing and trying to stop myself. I felt him lean on the mirrored wall of the elevator. "I'm sorry for always troubling you."

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Aoshi leaned at the wall, his blue eyes blankly looking at the numbers changing as the elevator went up. He held her close, hearing her sniff and clutch tighter on his shirt.

His poor, poor, battered shirt.

He didn't mind. He let her soak him wet with her tears. She was in pain and anguish. No gentleman would let her wander around unescorted. He held her to him, trying to calm her by rubbing her back.

"I probably look like trash," she sniffed. He looked at her head, buried in his chest. "I'm sorry for always troubling you..." Was that what she think she was doing? She never asked for help. He handed it to her. She never asked for these problems. He needn't ask. It was very obvious.

And if it wasn't, he'll let her relate the story.

"I'll take you back to your room and make tea," he said quietly. She nodded her head, taking her hands away from his crumpled shirt and resting them on his shoulders. It took him aback.

"Thanks, Aoshi..." she said, raising her eyes to him. Cerulean Blue eyes to Cobalt Blue. He couldn't stop himself. He cupped her face putting his lips to hers.

For the second time, they were engulfed and torn away from reality.

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***On the side note of Kaoru about I raising the rating, it will never happen. Why? Because I do not want to write an R.