The Difference Between Infatuation and Love

By: Ayashi no Tenshi

Author's note: Ayashi no Tenshi is back! I hope you guys like this next instalment, ne? I just hope it's good enough…

To brief you about this chapter, I'll tell you that this chapter is where there'll be stuff about the couples.

I forgot to put a disclaimer at the first chapter. So here it goes: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin and never will. If I did, I would make this part of the series. And any quotation or brand I put here in this fic belongs to the author or the company, respectively.

Chapter 2

Kaoru wiped the tabletop clean after Yahiko polished off a sandwich. He had volunteered to watch over the two girls as they slept. She smiled. The young man was getting more and more dependable.

The day's events had shaken her, though. Kenshin finding out, and that kiss… she mentally beat herself up for succumbing to him, knowing fully the consequences.

Testing me, huh, Kenshin? You baka… For the second time she wanted to cry her heart out. What was she to him but a little girl? He'd never treat me maturely! He treats me like a doll!

She took a deep breath, knowing her brother would be here to pick up his girls any minute. If he ever saw her crying, he would have to pry the story out of her then beat the criminal up for hurting the feelings of his 'Jou-chan.'

She sat by the couch as she waited for the familiar sound of Sano's car. Sure enough, she heard him honking in front of the gate. But to her surprise, Megumi had come with her brother. "Hello, Tanuki-chan," Megumi called by way of greeting. Kaoru scowled at her hated nickname as Megumi said as she climbed the porch, "How are my little girls?"

"Upstairs, sleeping," Kaoru said, pointing up the staircase as Sano got out of the car. As Megumi climbed the stairs, Sanosuke greeted his sister with a hug.

"Hey, Jou-chan," he said. "What's up?" He scanned her face and frowned. "Something's wrong, isn't it, Jou-chan?" Kaoru pouted, knowing full well she still looked 'cute' in her brother's eyes.

"Nothing's wrong, how could you say that?" Kaoru asked, placing back a grin on her lips, hiding her hurt and anguish perfectly. "And aren't you going to help Megumi- oneesan with the girls?"

Sanosuke gave her a half-smile. "I know you're a really talented actress, Jou-chan, complete with beauty and brains. But don't use your acting skills to fool your brother, okay?" He winked and went to get the girls.

Megumi came down first, carrying a sleeping Suzume in her arms. "Can't you stay for dinner?" Kaoru asked quietly so she wouldn't wake Suzume up.

Megumi shook her graceful head. "I'd really love to, Tanuki-chan, but so much is to be done. Thanks for watching my Aka-chan for me." She kissed her younger sister-in-law and went to lay Suzume down in the backseat of their car.

Sanosuke came later, carrying Ayame, whose head was buried in her father's neck. "Ja na, Jou-chan," he whispered as Ayame murmured in her sleep.

"Stop by this Sunday," Kaoru said softly. "Tomoe-oneechan is expecting you guys for lunch."

"Will do, Jou-chan." Sanosuke winked at her again. "My little Judge and her baby sister would love that." He carried the little girl to the car and, after a final wave, drove off.

Kaoru sighed and went back into the house, waiting for her older sister's return.

Yahiko polished off dinner as quickly as he had done his snack. "You gonna wait for Tomoe-oneechan tonight, busu?"

Kaoru, who was washing dishes, replied, "Learn to respect me first, Yahiko-chan."

"Don't call me that! I'm in college, for cryin' out loud!"

"Don't call me busu either!" Kaoru yelled at him. "I'm no hag!"

"Oh, just answer the stupid question."

"Yeah, I am," Kaoru replied, back to normal. "Do you have to go back to school tonight?"

"Nah, but I have to go to Tsubame's tonight. I promised her I'd help her out in our thesis."

Kaoru smiled wryly. "When are you going to ask her out?" Yahiko blushed.

"None of your business, busu." He got up from the table and deposited his plate on the sink. After which, he went up to the second floor. Minutes later, Kaoru heard the front door close.

Kaoru dried her hands and went to sit on the living room couch to read. After an hour or two, she heard a car pulling up in front of their gate. "Oyasuminasai, anata!" a familiar voice called. The owner of that voice opened the door to the house and said, "Tadaima!"

"Okaerinasai, Tomoe-oneechan," Kaoru replied, smiling. Tomoe kissed her younger sister in greeting.

"Where're Yahiko and Soujiro?" she asked.

"Yahiko went to make his thesis with Tsubame-chan, and Sou-niichan had some business to do," Kaoru replied. "How was your date with Akira-san?"

Tomoe smiled, practically glowing with happiness. "Oh, Kaoru, you'll soon have four brothers!"

"Oh, you don't mean---!"

Tomoe laughed, tears shining in her amethyst eyes. "Akira asked me to marry him!" Kaoru shrieked in joy.

"And you said?"

"Of course I said yes, Kaoru-chan!" Tomoe spread out her fingers, and there on her ring finger was a diamond ring. "See? Oh Kaoru-chan, I've never felt so happy!" She grabbed Kaoru in a hug. "I feel… I feel like spring after winter! Like a rainbow after the rain! I…" She laughed again, to let out her feelings of joy.

Kaoru grinned. "We'll have to get your dress ready, the date of the wedding, and oh! The after-party... we have to have tons of food and flowers and sake…"

"Don't plan too much, Kaoru-chan," Tomoe warned her, still smiling.

"Oh, come on, oneechan! Akira-san is as rich as can be! There's no reason we can't overreact!" Kaoru exclaimed.

"I think so too," Tomoe replied seriously. "But shouldn't you be planning on your own wedding?"

Kaoru stopped smiling, memories of that afternoon flooding back into her mind. Tomoe seemed not to notice. "That Enishi character seems to like you a lot. And Kenshin—"

Kaoru held her hand up as she sat down on the couch. "Don't talk about him to me."

Tomoe blinked in surprise. "Why not, Kaoru-chan?" She examined her sapphire-eyed sister. She sat down beside her. "Did something happen between you guys?" When Kaoru didn't reply, Tomoe continued, "You can tell me, Kaoru."

Kaoru bit her lip and took a deep breath. She told her older sister what had happened that afternoon. "Don't you dare tell anyone," she warned, feeling like she sounded like a thirteen year-old girl.

"You know I won't, imoutou." Tomoe put an arm around Kaoru, who felt like sobbing. "I'm sure Kenshin likes you in more ways than one, Kaoru-chan. He just… likes acting a bit macho, that's all."

"But… I just want to prove to him I'm worthy of being loved in a mature way, that's all… Not that I still want to be loved by him!" she added hastily.

Tomoe only smiled. "Well, don't let him get to you. I'm sure he'll see you in a different light." She stood up. "I'm going to take a shower." She smiled again at Kaoru and left her in her confused thoughts.

Sano-niichan has Megumi-oneechan. Tomoe-oneechan has Akira-san. Sou-niichan has Ayane-chan. Even Yahiko-chan has something with Tsubame-chan. And I'm left all alone. I'm the only one with anyone to love and to be loved by. I'm all alone. She allowed her tears to flow freely. Even with her happiness for her older sister, she couldn't help feeling left out. I wish someone would love me the way I want to be loved. Enishi is really nice, except that he tends to be over-possessive. I don't want someone like that, though he's a very nice friend. And Kenshin… I may not be in love with him anymore, but… Oh, why do I still feel the need to be accepted by him? I… wish… he would just see me as a grown woman…

I know he had a crush on Tomoe-oneechan once, and it was because she was older and quite mature. I wasn't. I've tried hard, and I know I've achieved it. So why does he still treat me like an annoying little kid? Like… like a lovesick thirteen year-old? I've become the best I could be, and it's all thanks to Kenshin. But… shit! I he never sees me as a mature individual! It makes me want to crave for his approval even more, and it's going to look as if I still want him to be the one to love me! She hugged a pillow to her chest. She never felt so lost.

She prayed with all her heart that one day, Kenshin would see her in a different light, as Tomoe said.

Will that ever happen?

TBC…

So, that's it. I know it's a bit short, but that's the way it has to be. The next chapters could be longer, I dno't know, but I won't promise it, because later I might have to eat my words. So thanks to those people who reviewed! It's really great!

If you guys have any suggestions, comments, questions, please review. Or if you can't (the goes balky at times) send it to . Thanks a lot!