By: Ochako107
Standard Disclaimers apply"Why do ya' build be up (build me up) baby just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around and then worst of all you never call, baby--" Megumi sang along to the radio playing Build Me Up Buttercup, while Kaoru read a manga book of Chobits. Misao had a talk with Aoshi the night before and after much convincing (supposedly) he agreed to act the part of her fiancé.
Kenshin walked in speechless. "Kaoru-dono?"
"What's up, Kenshin?" She said lifting her eyes from her book. She looked down and blushed. "Didn't know I liked manga, hua?"
"Well, that... and about yesterday." Simultaneously they blushed and Megumi turned off the radio.
"Eh, I'm going to go look for Sano. I'll leave you kids alone." With that she picked up her purse and left.
Kaoru pulled a chair for Kenshin to sit on and placed a small bookmark of Yuki from Fruits Basket into the page she stopped reading. "Well... we need a way to get in and girls will be girls, Kenshin. Naturally she's nosy and wants to know more about us. A good reason to come in is to introduce you three. I hope you guys aren't mad but it was a good plan."
He grinned, "So it was, Kaoru-dono."
"That's one thing, Kenshin... tomorrow you can't be calling me 'Kaoru-dono' you know."
"Yes..." He glanced away. The way she was staring at him was stirring emotions that made him feel odd.
"Something wrong?"
He smiled and shook his head. "Let's go train more, Kaoru-dono. Perhaps we should all go to the gym."
She agreed and they departed to find their friends. On their way, they passed Hiko. "Hi, Shishou." They both greeted. Kenshin and Kaoru stared at each other and blinked.
"Um, why do you call him Shishou?" Kaoru asked.
"He's my master."
"But he's mine too, sorta'." They blinked again. "Maybe that's what he calls his leaders..." Kaoru whispered.
Hiko nodded to them and watched as Kaoru laughed at something Kenshin just said. Sorjirou came bounding down after Hiko.
"Sir, I have the research from Megumi. Do you think they will be able to stop Shishio-sama?"
"Kid, I told you stop calling him 'lord' you are the one who ran away from him remember. And yes, I have faith in them."
"Ah... but I can't help but remember how loyal I used to be to Shishio-sama." Hiko grabbed him by the collar and put him up against the wall making Sorjirou drop the papers he was holding.
"Are you saying you're still loyal to that drug dealer? Tell me! I was the one who kept you safe and the one who kept your identity hidden, kid. Don't go backstabbing me."
Sorjirou waved his hands up defensively while smiling, "No, of course not! I just want Shishio-sama to be stopped as soon as possible! Why now do you think I left? I don't want Miss. Yumi in on this anymore, she'll be heart broken when she finds out Shishio-sama's plans." The large man released him and walked into his office.
He stopped at the handle and spoke without turning around. "You had better watch your back kid."
[Switch scenes]
Kenshin, Kaoru, Misao, and Aoshi were in the gym training. Megumi insisted on going to the field to try out her newest creation, 'the endless rain'. Sano, wondering what it was, volunteered to follow. Since the guys were on a different level than the girls, Misao and Kaoru trained together as Kenshin and Aoshi did the same.
As the guys took a break, they watched the girls running around the room. "They haven't stopped since we got here, that they haven't."
"...."
Kaoru gave out a cry and charged Misao, aiming for her ankles as Misao flipped over her throwing a few kunai her way. Kaoru spun around and blocked them away spinning her wooden sword behind her. Both girls laughed and finally collapsed next to each other.
"Misao, you're getting more and more flexible. Good job with your flipping."
"Yeah," Misao breathed, "how about you; a new technique? Trying to trip your opponent?" Kaoru barely nodded. The two men walked over and helped them up.
"But you didn't determine a winner." Kenshin stated a bit confused. Kaoru took a drink of water and watched as Misao stole Aoshi's towel to wipe some sweat off her face. She told him since they were engaged it was okay. She shook her head at Kenshin.
"Well, we thought it was better to help improve each other by stating what needs improvement and such. Of course, we don't actually try and hit each other mostly blocking and stuff."
Kenshin blinked. "Well, Kaoru-dono, let's train this time." He held his own sakabatou up against her shinai. She nodded and stood her ground.
"Don't go easy 'cause I'm a girl." They began sparing, blocking one another's swings. Kenshin flipped up into the air striking down, as Kaoru rolled out of harms way. She instantly found her feet and pushed off the hard ground, running full speed at Kenshin. A split second before she could strike him, he slid to the left and turned to strike, but Kaoru blocked again. They both jumped apart and huffed.
"What's wrong Kenshin? Can't get me?" She laughed. Kenshin felt himself loosing control. He looked up and Kaoru gasped, his eyes were amber!
Kenshin charged again this time at a remarkable speed. Kaoru barely jumped out of the way but not without getting a blow on her shoulder. He faked up and instead came down at her ankles. She tripped and fell face first. "Ow!" But that wasn't it. He continued to pound the ground with his sword as Kaoru kept rolling.
Aoshi and Misao stood unsure what to do. "Aoshi, what's wrong with Kenshin?"
"When Kenshin fights, he usually turns into a whole other world. We have to try and stop him." Misao held his arm.
"But if we try and interfere, you might get hurt!" Aoshi almost smirked.
"Misao...are you worrying about me?" She let go of his arm and whacked him over the head.
Kaoru kept rolling but thought of a good plan. She flipped her sword around her body pushing it off the ground to give her just enough air to trip Kenshin to the floor. Timing right, she put her plan to action.
Kenshin tripped up and rolled right on her. "Kenshin! Kenshin what's wrong with you, we're just sparring!" He stared at her with those glowing amber eyes swirled with violet. "Kenshin! Stop it you're hurting me!" He pinned her to the floor with his arms and Kaoru writhed beneath him. Tears almost came to her eyes but she remembered what Kenshin told her: to focus.
She didn't move just letting her body go limp. She knew she couldn't get out of his death grip... she needed something to catch him off guard. She watched his eyes still pinning her down. "Kenshin..." She smiled and with what strength she had, she kissed him on the lips. She held him there until she felt him loosen his grip. She moved her hand to run it through his hair. He groaned and let her go. She took the chance to pull his hair hard and bite his lip down.
"ORO!" He shot up off her and fell over. He shook his head and looked over to Kaoru with full violet eyes and a bloody lip. "Kaoru-dono! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! I'm so sorry, I understand if you hate this one." Kaoru rubbed her shoulder.
"Well, that was unexpected, but still, I won hua? I got you off me, and you didn't hurt me that much." She blushed and got up with Kenshin's help. "Besides, it's you who helped me win, you told me before you have to focus, keep your cool. I did and hey it worked! Erm... sorry for biting you, Kenshin." She smiled at Kenshin who was still watching her with worry. "Well, aren't you two going to spar?" She asked Aoshi and Misao.
Misao inched away from Aoshi. "Um... not if he's going to pin ME to the floor like that." Aoshi rolled his eyes.
"Come now, maybe I can give you a few pointers."
[Switch scenes]
"EYAH!" Megumi shrieked with joy. "It works! My beautiful bomb works!" The endless rain exploded in a small boom and two seconds later a smaller yet more powerful bomb exploded destroying everything with in the ten-meter radius. Sano's eyes widened.
"You're a demolition girl?"
Megumi lifted her goggles and smiled. "No, but I've been working on the right powders for years and finally made this beauty! My old instructor Katsu-sensei made me interested in bombs." Sano's eye's widened.
"Katsu was my brother!" She gasped and rubbed her eyes.
"No way."
"Yeah, I didn't know he was your teacher. So you're the pretty..." he scratched his head, "...pretty student he used to talk about." Megumi blushed and nodded. "But I mean, it's a shame he died three years ago."
"I know. I'm sorry about that." Megumi turned away from Sano.
"What?"
She gave a few assortments of bombs to Sano and smiled. "Here, you never know when you might need one."
"I don't want to blow people up thanks."
"Not to blow PEOPLE up, baka." They gathered their stuff and began heading to town. "So it's two o'clock. Want to grab some lunch?"
"Lunch? YEAH!" Sano exclaimed. He picked Megumi up bridal style and ran into town. "I'm starving!"
"LET ME DOWN! DON'T YOU TOUCH ME SANOSUKE!"
An hour later, the whole team met up at a burger shop across the way. Kenshin was still apologizing to Kaoru, Misao and Aoshi were smashed up on one side of the booth, and Megumi was saving Sano's life the third time that meal since he wouldn't slow down to chew.
"Hey, let's relax tonight, hua? Tomorrow is that stupid party thing and I think we should celebrate the first mission together!" Kaoru smiled. "I know a cool club down by the park called Zone. Not too many people go there so we can beat the crowd." Misao smiled at the idea of going to the old club and encouraged Aoshi to come. Megumi and Sano of course agreed, as did Kenshin. They left the restaurant chatting idly.
Suddenly a blood bank team caught Megumi's eye. "Hey, you guys, look at this. Let's see, last time I gave blood was a while ago."
"Yeah! Come on, I haven't given any in a while either." Misao smiled. She waved to Kenshin, Aoshi, Sano, and Kaoru. "You guys wanna give blood?"
Kaoru shook her head. "No, I gave some only a month ago, Misao."
"Ah, this one has to agree with Kaoru-dono."
Misao then glared at Sano and Aoshi. "Oi! You aren't getting me near any damn needles! It'll kill you, that sharp demon tool of DEATH." Sano said rolling his fingers together as if crushing something beneath his palms.
"You are WAY too dramatic; it's just a little blood, gesh. How about you, Aoshi?"
He looked thoughtful at first before shrugging and following Misao and Megumi into the shop.
"See? We are helping give blood to people who are injured or have blood loss, it's wonderful giving back to the community." Misao said as they exited the shop a half hour later. She was unconsciously holding Aoshi's hand and Kaoru noticed.
"Misao, I didn't think you two were so close." She nudged her friend's side. "Your engagement is only an act, don't get to close."
"Yeah, you two look like a married couple already, ohoho!" Megumi and Kaoru laughed together as Misao let go of Aoshi like he was fire, blushing madly. "I've never seen Misao so attached to anyone before!"
"Well, at least she's not a lesbian like Yumi thought!" The whole group bursts out laughing remember how Yumi had assumed such a thing.
"Hey! Come on, leave me alone."
Sano grabbed the smaller girl by the shoulders. "Come on we're just playing, no harm." He winked at Misao who just blushed an even deeper color. Aoshi sensed her heart fluttering when Sano did this and glared. So when did Sano get so close to Misao? And why did they have to make fun of her?
Aoshi gently pulled Misao away from Sano and placed his large hand on hers. She looked up and she tensed up entirely. Her heart beat loudly over her friend's laughter she thought it might pop out of her chest. Aoshi looked down at her and his eyes softened for a moment.
"Aw, that's so sweet!" Kaoru chirped.
Megumi flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Humph, I believe someone got a kiss from Kenshin this afternoon, so I don't see why a simple hug is so endearing to you, Kaoru."
Kaoru's eyes widened and she stared at Kenshin. "It's okay Kaoru-dono, Megumi is just teasing you."
"Oh Ken-san, if it doesn't bother you will you kiss me too?" She fluttered her eyes as Sano in the background was fuming. His knuckles were itching to punch a certain redhead.
"Maa maa, Megumi-dono." He watched as Kaoru's eyes fell with hurt. He hesitantly put a finger to his red lip that Kaoru bit and flinched at the pain. "Kaoru-dono kissed me to make me get off her."
"Get off her?" Sano grinned at Kenshin. "Congratulation man never knew it was in you!" Kenshin's eyes were large and Kaoru went over to pulverize the brunette.
"We were sparing and he went all battousai on me, so I kissed him to bring his guard down you baka! It wasn't even a kiss! It was a bite! I BIT him!" Sano shook her shoulders telling her to calm down.
"Hey, so raccoons really do give rabies hua?"
"SANOSUKE!"
"Stop wasting time, I want to go home and get ready." Megumi huffed. Kaoru and Misao smiled mischievously to one another.
"Oh, Megumi are you jealous Sano doesn't do anything sweet for you? Let alone any man?" They ended up running home as an angry fox woman threw bombs after them. They waved bye to her male counterparts as they dodged incoming bombs.
A/N: Hello everyone. No school again today because of the hurricane. A six day weekend? Weird. On another note, I'd like to give an explanation of why I type: [Switch scene]
You see, I don't know how to make a line between the scenes. It shows up that way on the word processor, but when it comes up on the site, the symbol I put to indicate scenes doesn't show up! Oh well, this will have to do for now. I hope this doesn't bother anyone but I don't know what to do for now.
Thanks to kimi.the.water.spirit and Ikia for your reviews and everyone for reading!
To answer your question Keokome: I don't mind too much Kaoru confessing her love to Kenshin, but yes, it does get repetitive and overused. I came up with this idea a long time ago, at the beginning of summer actually. I was tired of the guys saving the girls all the time (Not that I don't mind seeing the 'damsel in distress' sometimes!) and just wanted to see how well I could do with the girls saving the day instead, hope that's okay.
See you all next time, bai.