DISCLAMIER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin gazes wistfully at nothing
Chapter One
Her red kimono, littered with white and blue flowers, shifted gracefully around her, and the breeze tugged at her blue obi. She glanced over into the soft, smiling violet eyes of her companion, who enjoyed the wind as much as she did, even though it loosened strands of his fiery red hair from it's tie. He grinned and turned back to look ahead up the road. Also looking ahead, she cradled the basket of fresh vegetables in her arms, careful not to drop her burden. She shifted the weight in her hands to tuck a lock of her waist-length brown hair behind her ear, struggling to pull it from in front of her blue-green eyes. Her companion chuckled and took the basket from her while she shifted her long mane, careful around the cherry blossom tucked behind her ear.
He had eyes only for her. He gazed at her slim form, from her beautiful unique eyes to her small feet. She noticed him staring, and blushed furiously before she took back the basket and started back along the road. He hesitated only a moment before following her.
They walked for some time until they entered a town, with gaily-lit homes and shops. An elderly couple was stringing up their own festival lights outside their shop; at the AKABEKO, the best beef stew place in town, business was booming. People milling all about the streets laughed and called to their friends and family; mothers were hard put to keep their wide-eyed children by their sides. The pair walked through, smiling at those who cared to notice them, and waving to those they knew. Her eyes wandered over the clothes in one window of a lit shop.
"Oh, Kenshin, look! Isn't that kimono beautiful?" She exclaimed, pointing to a silver-flowered midnight-blue kimono.
"Yes, it would look very nice on you, that it would." He replied, glancing up at it.
"Oh, do you really think so? I could wear it at the festival!" Her eyes shimmered as she imagined, and she clasped her hands beneath her chin, the vegetable basket swinging recklessly on her arm.
"But Miss Kaoru, do we have enough money for it?" Kenshin asked her, catching sight of the price tag.
She noticed it too, "You're right. Oh well. I wouldn't be so selfish anyways. Yahiko needs some new shoes." She sighed and dragged him into an adjoining building.
They reached the dojo later that night, with a new pair of shoes for Yahiko, some soap for Sanosuke, and the vegetables for a soup.
"Yahiko? Yahiko! Come get your shoes! And Sano, we have some soap for you, rooster-head!" Kaoru called as she set the items down on the steps and sat beside them, patting the step beside her for Kenshin to sit.
Yahiko came shooting around the corner before he tripped over his feet and fell.
"Ouch! Kaoru, I don't need new shoes. I like the ones I have!" He whined as he stood and walked up to her. She glanced down and noticed one of his shoes was cracked straight down the middle, causing one side to flop erratically when he walked.
"Yes you do. Look at yours! They're half falling off your feet. Here." She said as she handed the new pair to him and dug out the soap when she saw Sano storming around the same corner. He slammed to a halt in front of her and glared down.
"First of all, I don't need soap, second of all... I AM NOT A ROOSTER-HEAD!" He spat through clenched teeth as Kaoru shoved the soap into his hands.
"Go take a long bath while Kenshin washes your clothes. When was the last time they've been washed? And yes, you do need soap, you'll probably use that whole bar just to get the stink off." She said as she passed a hand in front of her nose to ward off the smell, "You don't mind, do you Kenshin"
"Well, someone's got to do it." He mumbled as he followed Sano at a safe distance to the bathhouse to wait for the clothes to be handed to him.
Kaoru stretched back on her bed, arms behind her head, staring at the dark ceiling. The kimono she had seen floated to memory in the back of her mind. She sighed as she pushed the vision away. It was just a kimono, she didn't need it and it wouldn't benefit the dojo. She sighed again and rolled over onto her side. Smiling, she drifted slowly to sleep, dreaming of the oncoming festival and wondering if Kenshin would ask her to dance with him.
Kenshin sat back, wiping his soapy hands on the towel laid next to him. He had finally finished washing the smell out of Sano's clothes. Grimacing, he remembered the stench, before he hung the wet clothes out to dry. He looked up at the slowly darkening sky. He had only enough time to run over to that store and buy the kimono Kaoru wanted. Slipping his hand in his pocket, he felt the coins hidden there. He had plenty saved to buy it; he had been busy doing the odd jobs around the AKABEKO to earn extra money for the festival tomorrow night. Smiling, he thought of the gifts he had bought Sano and Yahiko. A small carved wooden rooster for Sano, and a new shirt for Yahiko. He chuckled quietly to himself as he slipped out of the silent dojo.
Stretching and yawning widely, Kaoru slipped out of her bed and slid into the kimono she had selected for the festival tonight- green with white flowers. She sighed as she thought once more of that special kimono before she shook her head and stepped outside. Breathing deeply, she twitched her nose and looked around for Kenshin. It smelled like he was making his glorious miso soap.
Kenshin winced and bent further over the soup as he heard Kaoru's shout.
"Kenshin"
How had she found out? She was dead asleep when he left, and when he got back. How could she know?
"Kenshin? Oh there you are." She said behind him. He didn't turn, afraid his expression would give him away.
"I thought I smelled miso soup. Thanks." She said as he handed her a bowl, "Have you seen Yahiko? He skipped sweeping the dojo again." She huffed before spooning a mouthful of soup into her mouth.
He relaxed considerably. So that was what she was shouting about.
"No, I haven't seen him anywhere. He might still be asleep." He suggested, turning back to the soup.
Kaoru glanced quizzically at his back. Why had he seemed so tense just a moment before? Oh well, she thought, and shrugged her shoulders as she spooned the last of the soup into her mouth.
Yahiko chuckled evilly as he listened around the corner. He wouldn't have to do the sweeping today. Oh no, he would get Kenshin to do it, as soon as Kaoru left. Kenshin wouldn't mind, especially if he knew that Yahiko knew about his little midnight adventure. Yahiko chuckled again. Kenshin could be so simple, it was hard to believe he had been the Hitokiri Battousai.
He heard a patter of feet grow distant just before Kenshin called out, "You can come out now Yahiko. She's gone." Yahiko stood and walked into the room. Kenshin sat with his back to him, still bent over the soup. Yahiko gulped. How had he known? He regained his composure, plastering a fake grin on his face.
"Well hi Kenshin, what's for breakfast?" Yahiko asked cheerfully.
"You should know its miso soup, Yahiko. You've been sitting there long enough, that you have." Kenshin turned and smiled at him.
Yahiko blushed.
"You skipped sweeping again, Yahiko. Kaoru's out looking for you as we speak"
Yahiko opened his mouth to say that he wouldn't have to sweep today, because he knew of a certain-someone's midnight adventure, but he quickly swallowed his words. Kenshin gave to everyone at the dojo selflessly, with no concern for himself. Why should he give him one more thing to do? His mouth snapped shut.
"Why don't you go start sweeping after breakfast, and get it over with?" Kenshin smiled, and handed him a full bowl. Yahiko felt ashamed of himself as he took it from him and sat down to eat. That he would even think of blackmailing someone as selfless as Kenshin! He shook his head and dug in.
"Hey Kenshin! What's for breakfast? I'm starving!" Sano laughed as he strode inside, "By the way, thanks for washing my clothes. I didn't realize how much they needed it!" He said as he fingered his now-white clothes. Kenshin breathed deeply through his nose. Finally, Sanosuke no longer smelled of dirt and sweat. Everyone could breath easily again.
"Miso soup, Sano." Kenshin smiled as he handed him a bowl.
"YAHIKO!" Kaoru yelled.
Sano almost dropped the bowl as Kenshin released it with haste.
"What have you done now?" Sano groaned. Yahiko muttered incoherently under his breath as he left the room, meeting Kaoru just outside the door.
"How many times do I have to tell you to do your chores? You're getting a free ride here ya' know, so you might as well have some courtesy." Kaoru berated him.
"Stop yelling ugly, I was just going to do it!" He yelled back.
"What was that"
"Yes ma'am." Yahiko muttered, deciding not to argue further, and left to retrieve the broom.
"Oh, that Yahiko!" Kaoru grumbled as she stormed in, "Sano, you go help him, you're getting too many free meals." She shot at him.
"Not that I could live off your meals." He shot back as he left, dodging a swat from Kaoru.
"Oh." Kaoru sighed as she plopped down beside Kenshin who was finishing his own meal. He looked over and smiled.
"Ready for the festival tonight Kenshin?" Kaoru asked quietly.
"Ready for anything, that I am." Kenshin answered, "What about you Miss Kaoru"
"Yes, I suppose." She said, twirling a lock of hair around her finger.
Kenshin set aside the bowl and stood. "I have something for you Miss Kaoru." He went to the door and looked back, waiting for her to follow. She looked up at him quizzically.
"Are you coming?" He asked quietly, holding out his hand.
She shrugged, stood, and took his hand as he led her to his room. Before the closed door, he turned to her and released her hand, and passed his own over her eyes, silently commanding her to close them. She complied, wondering what in the world he was doing. She heard the door slide open, and then shut quietly; he rustled around, searching for something, and then she heard the door slide back open. She caught her lower lip between her teeth with anticipation, wishing he would hurry up and tell her to open her eyes. She could almost feel him smile when he saw her eagerness.
"You can open your eyes now." He spoke, laughter evident in his voice.
She slowly slid her eyes open and gasped, delighted. Gracefully draped across his arms was the kimono she had seen the day before, gleaming in the sun.
"Kenshin!" She could only gasp, staring at the beautiful kimono before her. A faint smile crossed his lips.
"Oh Kenshin!" She cried, and caught him tightly in a hug.
"Oro!" He cried as his breath was crushed out of him. But he did not pull back, he couldn't. This felt so, right. But the feeling was swept away when she released him and eased the kimono into her arms.
"It's even more beautiful than it was in the store window! Oh thank you, thank you so much Kenshin! Where'd you get the money for this?" She asked suddenly, concerned.
"Oh, a few odd jobs here and there at the AKABEKO." He grinned.
She smiled back.
"I'll wear this tonight. Thanks so much Kenshin!" She said, and trotted off to put it into her room.