before anything, i sincerely apologize if this is not up to your expectations...gomenasai!!! as you might have guessed, this is my first attempt at writing fanfic and if it wasn't from my friends' encouragement, it would have remained forgotten in the computer for ever and ever.......

Do me a favour, would you? Please review and let me know what you think...please...please...pretty please....!!!! puppy dog eyes Even if it's only a word or two, I'll really appreciate it......arigato!!!

Disclaimer: I...I ...do......do..n..n...not own Rurouni Kenshin!!! wahhh!!!sob sob

Chapter 1

The fluttering wings of birds returning home to their young ones and the gentle breeze sounding the wind chimes signaled the approaching dusk. The fast-fading rays of the setting sun struggled to illuminate the gloomy-looking interior training hall of the Kamiya dojo. The atmosphere inside, however, was far from gloomy. In one corner, a vixen-like lady was threatening to smother a red-haired samurai with passionate smooches, despite the latter's cries of pleas and protests. At the other end.....

"I'll lay my odds on the fox lady," Sanosuke regarded the situation with a critical eye. "There's no way Kenshin's gonna get out of this, especially if she's in this crazy mood."

The small spiky-haired kid beside him did not seem to think so. "Oh, yeah? I'll bet you a hundred washing-up days that Kenshin's not gonna lose to some psycho maniac woman like that."

"N..No.... Miss Megumi, Y....Y...You can't...." Kenshin put up a barrier of stammering words in a feeble attempt to discourage the advancing woman.

It was all part and parcel of a typical day where constant bickering and chaos were not uncommon. It was, therefore, highly unlikely for any of them to anticipate the terrible fate lurking JUST around the corner.....

"DINNER TIME!!!!" A loud, resounding voice bounced off the walls of the dojo, taking its occupants by surprise. "Oro?" Kenshin's eyesbrows shot up as his flailing arms ceased to function as a protective shield for a split second. Quick as lightning, Megumi lurched forward, seizing the perfect opportunity to plant a big sloppy kiss on the red-head's unscarred cheek. "Ororo..?" Realization dawned upon his face. "Arrggggghhhh!!!!!"

Kenshin's vigorous scrubbing of his cheek was interrupted by the dojo's door sliding open and the appearance of a young girl about 17 bearing a huge dinner tray. The sight of it should be inviting, but somehow her beaming face sent shivers down their spines. The presence of a sickly smell seeping through the thick cover of the tray did little to ease their feelings of discomfort.

"You're in luck today, guys, I made you all something special," Kaoru sounded really pleased with herself as she gestured for them to come closer. Everyone gulped. Special! There is no denying it, Kaoru's cooking is certainly special. Special enough to keep the toughest and meanest character groaning and moaning in bed for three days straight. Even Kenshin, the only one able to actually tolerate Kaoru's cooking, looked a shade greener than usual.

"Ta...da!" With one fluid movement, Kaoru lifted the lid off the tray, revealing some kind of raw poultry soaking in bluish sauce, emitting a foul, disgusting stench.

"Uugghh!!" Yahiko and Sano made a wild dash for the front door in a desperate attempt to obtain fresh air while Megumi firmly restrained the urge to pour out the contents of her stomach right there and then. Only Kenshin stood immobilized, despite the fact that his face is now a deathly white, impressed that she could produce something even worse than the breakfast last week.

It was surprising...no, amazing....no, miraculous that Kaoru was unaffected by her own cooking. Gazing down lovingly at the dish she managed to put together, she had not noticed the others' reactions.

"So, who'll like the honour of being the first to taste it? Hmm..?" Her probing eyes lit up with hope when her gaze fell upon the now-shivering Sanosuke. "Sano! You look hungry....here....go on...no need to be shy," She pushed the dish right under his nose and waited expectantly.

Sanosuke's heart literally stopped beating the moment her searching eyes fell upon him. W...Why me? I've pulled through uncountable near-death experiences but t....t....this is the nearest thus far!!!Why?...Why did it have to end like that? I....I can't....can't...... go on......it's...it's...getting dark...

"Hey!" Sano snapped out of the verge of death as sudden inspiration washed through him. "Why not let Kenshin have a go at it first? Look, he's practically drooling now....."

All Sanosuke could do was mutter a silent apology as Kenshin's expression underwent a complete transformation from an emphatic look to one of sheer terror and agony. How.....How could you, Sano???!!! And to think I've always thought of you as my most trusted friend!!! I've been betrayed....betrayed....NOOOO!!!!!

Kenshin's thoughts broke off when his vision cleared sufficiently, revealing the hurt look on Kaoru's face. Kenshin immediately melted, his heart captivated by the sight of the innocent-looking girl with fresh tears welled up in her mournful eyes, threatening to burst into tears at any second.

"Don't....Don't cry, Kaoru-dono...p...p....please....I...I....ummm ...I ...," stammered Kenshin, straining to come up with a plausible excuse, but failing miserably. Well aware he was facing a danger that even his Hiten Mitsurugi cannot save him from, he sighed resignedly. "Oh, well, alright.....I'll try your cooking, Kaoru-dono."

The tears were gone in a blink of an eye. With a gleeful cry that chilled Kenshin's blood, Kaoru had the dish in front of him in a matter of seconds. There was no way out of this now. It was either do or die.

Kenshin grasped the spoon with trembling hands and proceeded to scoop the bluish gravy. Accepting his own terrible fate, he started to thrust it into the open hole of his mouth.........