Hello all! Okay first of all I would like to take a moment to say, PLEASE
READ MY AUTHOR'S NOTES! They are usually not overly long and MOST of the
time I have something important to say (not that any of you care mumble
mumble). The reason why I say this is because I got a review asking how
old Kenshin and Kaoru were when I had put it in the AUTHOR'S NOTE at the
top of chapter two. Not that I blame you guys because, frankly, author's
notes aren't my favorite thing to read either. However, most of them
contain information that may prove useful later should questions arise -
By the way I did not intend to sound rude in any way and if I did please
forgive me - I will put the ages at the top here, but this is the last
time until the ages change so, no asking me in a review. If you read this
A/N you would know already - Thank you for your time.
Kenshin- 18 (is not and never has been Battousai, he is just a well known and famous swordsmen due to his superior skills with a sword)
Kaoru- 8 (Has been w/Shinji since she was two, and now travels with Kenshin)
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CHAPTER 3: TO THE CLINIC
As always Kaoru walked beside Kenshin, mostly gazing at her surroundings but occasionally her eyes would wander to his face, judging his mood. It had been about nine months since Kenshin had rescued the eight-year-old girl in the southern coast of Japan. They were now in the area between Yokohama and Tokyo.
Under normal circumstances they would have been in Saitama yesterday, however recent events caused Kenshin to redirect his route. He had originally planned to stop in Yokohama, then proceed on a back road through the forest to Saitama to meet the police chief there. His plans were now to go through Tokyo and then take the main road, after dropping Kaoru off with a trusted friend. It would make him several days later than he had wanted to be, but now that Kaoru was with him her safety came first.
-FLASHBACK-
Kaoru's legs trembled from fear and she struggled to keep standing as the man behind her held the cold blade of a knife against her small neck. They had been taken off guard just after they had eaten lunch and the small girl was now at the mercy of an ugly bandit, who's leader was threatening to kill her if Kenshin did not give him a good fight. Kenshin defeated the man easily, while the other watched in utter horror and then sprinted off as soon as Kenshin looked at him. Kaoru had held onto Kenshin for dear life, hiding her face in his gi, seemingly never to show her face again to the world.
It was then, while Kaoru cried, that Kenshin decided to redirect his path of travel. He hadn't wanted to, and frankly it hadn't occurred to him in the past months they had been traveling together, but as he tried to console the little girl in his arms he remembered some friends he had met while he was there a year ago. One of them worked at the clinic, and Kenshin was sure that Kaoru would be welcome to stay there until he returned. Besides, it had been nearly a year since he had seen them, now he had an excuse to stop and visit.
-END FLASHBACK-
"Kenshin?" It had taken quite a while for Kenshin to persuade Kaoru to take the -sama off of the end of his name, but he had finally done it.
"Hai, Kaoru?"
"Where are we going?"
"To Tokyo. I'm going to leave you with some friends while I go on to Saitama to see the police chief." Kenshin answered not really thinking about what words came forth. As soon as it was out of his mouth Kaoru stopped dead in her tracks and simply stared at him, even when he turned to look at her.
"What is it Kaoru?"
"You're leaving me?" Tears had begun to well up in her eyes and it was then that Kenshin realized what he had said. He knelt down to her level so he could see easier see her face.
"Only for a week or so then I'll be back to get you. I wouldn't ever leave you Kaoru." He smiled softly at her tear-streaked face.
"You promise?" She finished with a hiccup.
"I promise. Now, shall we get going then?" As he said this he hoisted her onto his shoulders, earning a giggling fit from Kaoru, and then kept walking down the road as if neither had a care in the world.
---
The next day found Kenshin and Kaoru in the streets of Tokyo. Kaoru had never been to Tokyo, or any remotely large city before with Shinji, who had always stayed on the forest paths. It wasn't surprising that as the girl was lead by hand through the large amount of people she sometimes stopped to gawk at something unknowingly. Kenshin simply pulled her out of her reverie with a gentle tug on her hand.
At one particular shop Kenshin noticed Kaoru as she gazed longingly at a small blue kimono. It was patterned in little white birds, and it came with a white obi that had thin stripes of black and blue. The woman behind the table on which it was laying smiled sweetly at the gaping eight-year- old.
"How much is it?" Kaoru heard Kenshin's voice from above her. She was surprised, even though she had spent several months with him; she still was awed by his kindness. Shinji had never bought her ANYTHING new, so it was no surprise that the kimono she had on at the moment was a bit worse for wear.
"Well, under normal circumstances it would be about 2 yen, obi and all. But, since this girl looks like she hasn't seen a new kimono for several years, I'll give it to you free of charge." The woman had already begun to wrap it up.
"We can't do that-"Kenshin began but she cut him off.
"You can and you are. That poor child needs something new and by Kami someone will have to give it to her. Now don't take offense lad, but you don't exactly look like you could spare the money." She handed Kenshin the package she had wrapped, and he in turn tucked it safely into his gi.
Kenshin's hand went to the back of his head in a seemingly apologetic gesture, "You sure know how to read people, that you do." He grinned sheepishly.
---
They turned a corner that led down a relatively emptier street, and towards a gate with a sign that named the clinic inside. He opened the gate and stepped in scanning the yard for the owner and the friends he hadn't seen in so long. Being a master swordsman made him dreadfully aware of his surroundings, which is why he surprised himself by not noticing the presence of a certain doctor as she came up to bonk him on the head.
"Oro?" Kenshin stumbled a bit until he hit the wall and slid to the ground, all the while sporting a large bump on the head. Kaoru began to giggle madly at the picture he presented.
"Well, Sir Ken, long time no see." Megumi greeted dryly.
"It has been a long time, that it has." By now Kenshin's eyes were all swirls.
Kaoru, who's hand had slipped away from Kenshin's as he had fallen towards the wall, abruptly stopped laughing and her face filled up with horror. What if he was hurt? She ran to his side and shook him a bit trying to bring him from his dazed state.
"Kenshin? Kenshin are you alright?" Her brows were furrowed in worry.
As his young charge began to shake him, Kenshin began to come to and stood, dusting off his pants and giving a reassuring smile at the girl beside him.
"I'm fine Kaoru. Hello, Miss Megumi." Kenshin smiled at the young doctor. Megumi's answer was to grab Kenshin into a fierce hug. Kaoru simply hung by the wall watching.
"Well, aren't you two cozy, maybe I should come back later." A voice said from the still opened gate. He obviously hadn't noticed the child that was quietly standing near the fence.
Megumi immediately stepped back and sniffed indignantly, "Stupid rooster, I was just saying hello."
"Looked like a lot more than hello to me." The said rooster smirked at her.
"You jealous Sanosuke?" Megumi gave him a rivaling grin.
"What's there to be jealous about? I for one and happy that it was Kenshin standing there and not me." He acted disgusted at the mere thought of Megumi hugging him.
Megumi huffed and stuck her nose in the air while Sanosuke turned to Kenshin.
"Hey Kenshin! Long time no see! Why didn't you come visit?" Sano grabbed Kenshin into a head-lock and Kenshin could only chuckle nervously.
"I'm sorry Sano I've just been rather busy lately that I have." Sano let go of Kenshin abruptly.
"Hey, Kenshin, who's the kid?" Sano asked having finally noticed Kaoru's presence. Kaoru, who had moved to Kenshin's side, looked up with big eyes.
"This is Kaoru. I saved her on my way to Saitama. Speaking of, I have a favor to ask of Miss Megumi." Kenshin looked expectantly at the doctor.
"Of course, Sir Ken. Why don't we go inside." Megumi said leading the way.
Kenshin was about to follow when he felt something pull on his pants. With a glance downward he saw Kaoru gripping hold of them tightly while looking at the two people walking away from them.
"It's alright Kaoru. Sano and Miss Megumi are very nice, that they are." Kaoru nodded but did not let go of his pants as they walked into the clinic. Even if Kenshin was nice to her, she still wasn't too keen on trusting other people too quickly.
-------
Yes I do know that this chapter is... counts on fingers...about three days late, but what can I say? I was gone most of the day Saturday, which is the day I usually write a new chappie, so I didn't get much of a chance to write shrugs. Ah well, I think this chapter is rather cute so maybe you'll forgive me, ne? Please leave me a review! Ja!
Kenshin- 18 (is not and never has been Battousai, he is just a well known and famous swordsmen due to his superior skills with a sword)
Kaoru- 8 (Has been w/Shinji since she was two, and now travels with Kenshin)
--------
CHAPTER 3: TO THE CLINIC
As always Kaoru walked beside Kenshin, mostly gazing at her surroundings but occasionally her eyes would wander to his face, judging his mood. It had been about nine months since Kenshin had rescued the eight-year-old girl in the southern coast of Japan. They were now in the area between Yokohama and Tokyo.
Under normal circumstances they would have been in Saitama yesterday, however recent events caused Kenshin to redirect his route. He had originally planned to stop in Yokohama, then proceed on a back road through the forest to Saitama to meet the police chief there. His plans were now to go through Tokyo and then take the main road, after dropping Kaoru off with a trusted friend. It would make him several days later than he had wanted to be, but now that Kaoru was with him her safety came first.
-FLASHBACK-
Kaoru's legs trembled from fear and she struggled to keep standing as the man behind her held the cold blade of a knife against her small neck. They had been taken off guard just after they had eaten lunch and the small girl was now at the mercy of an ugly bandit, who's leader was threatening to kill her if Kenshin did not give him a good fight. Kenshin defeated the man easily, while the other watched in utter horror and then sprinted off as soon as Kenshin looked at him. Kaoru had held onto Kenshin for dear life, hiding her face in his gi, seemingly never to show her face again to the world.
It was then, while Kaoru cried, that Kenshin decided to redirect his path of travel. He hadn't wanted to, and frankly it hadn't occurred to him in the past months they had been traveling together, but as he tried to console the little girl in his arms he remembered some friends he had met while he was there a year ago. One of them worked at the clinic, and Kenshin was sure that Kaoru would be welcome to stay there until he returned. Besides, it had been nearly a year since he had seen them, now he had an excuse to stop and visit.
-END FLASHBACK-
"Kenshin?" It had taken quite a while for Kenshin to persuade Kaoru to take the -sama off of the end of his name, but he had finally done it.
"Hai, Kaoru?"
"Where are we going?"
"To Tokyo. I'm going to leave you with some friends while I go on to Saitama to see the police chief." Kenshin answered not really thinking about what words came forth. As soon as it was out of his mouth Kaoru stopped dead in her tracks and simply stared at him, even when he turned to look at her.
"What is it Kaoru?"
"You're leaving me?" Tears had begun to well up in her eyes and it was then that Kenshin realized what he had said. He knelt down to her level so he could see easier see her face.
"Only for a week or so then I'll be back to get you. I wouldn't ever leave you Kaoru." He smiled softly at her tear-streaked face.
"You promise?" She finished with a hiccup.
"I promise. Now, shall we get going then?" As he said this he hoisted her onto his shoulders, earning a giggling fit from Kaoru, and then kept walking down the road as if neither had a care in the world.
---
The next day found Kenshin and Kaoru in the streets of Tokyo. Kaoru had never been to Tokyo, or any remotely large city before with Shinji, who had always stayed on the forest paths. It wasn't surprising that as the girl was lead by hand through the large amount of people she sometimes stopped to gawk at something unknowingly. Kenshin simply pulled her out of her reverie with a gentle tug on her hand.
At one particular shop Kenshin noticed Kaoru as she gazed longingly at a small blue kimono. It was patterned in little white birds, and it came with a white obi that had thin stripes of black and blue. The woman behind the table on which it was laying smiled sweetly at the gaping eight-year- old.
"How much is it?" Kaoru heard Kenshin's voice from above her. She was surprised, even though she had spent several months with him; she still was awed by his kindness. Shinji had never bought her ANYTHING new, so it was no surprise that the kimono she had on at the moment was a bit worse for wear.
"Well, under normal circumstances it would be about 2 yen, obi and all. But, since this girl looks like she hasn't seen a new kimono for several years, I'll give it to you free of charge." The woman had already begun to wrap it up.
"We can't do that-"Kenshin began but she cut him off.
"You can and you are. That poor child needs something new and by Kami someone will have to give it to her. Now don't take offense lad, but you don't exactly look like you could spare the money." She handed Kenshin the package she had wrapped, and he in turn tucked it safely into his gi.
Kenshin's hand went to the back of his head in a seemingly apologetic gesture, "You sure know how to read people, that you do." He grinned sheepishly.
---
They turned a corner that led down a relatively emptier street, and towards a gate with a sign that named the clinic inside. He opened the gate and stepped in scanning the yard for the owner and the friends he hadn't seen in so long. Being a master swordsman made him dreadfully aware of his surroundings, which is why he surprised himself by not noticing the presence of a certain doctor as she came up to bonk him on the head.
"Oro?" Kenshin stumbled a bit until he hit the wall and slid to the ground, all the while sporting a large bump on the head. Kaoru began to giggle madly at the picture he presented.
"Well, Sir Ken, long time no see." Megumi greeted dryly.
"It has been a long time, that it has." By now Kenshin's eyes were all swirls.
Kaoru, who's hand had slipped away from Kenshin's as he had fallen towards the wall, abruptly stopped laughing and her face filled up with horror. What if he was hurt? She ran to his side and shook him a bit trying to bring him from his dazed state.
"Kenshin? Kenshin are you alright?" Her brows were furrowed in worry.
As his young charge began to shake him, Kenshin began to come to and stood, dusting off his pants and giving a reassuring smile at the girl beside him.
"I'm fine Kaoru. Hello, Miss Megumi." Kenshin smiled at the young doctor. Megumi's answer was to grab Kenshin into a fierce hug. Kaoru simply hung by the wall watching.
"Well, aren't you two cozy, maybe I should come back later." A voice said from the still opened gate. He obviously hadn't noticed the child that was quietly standing near the fence.
Megumi immediately stepped back and sniffed indignantly, "Stupid rooster, I was just saying hello."
"Looked like a lot more than hello to me." The said rooster smirked at her.
"You jealous Sanosuke?" Megumi gave him a rivaling grin.
"What's there to be jealous about? I for one and happy that it was Kenshin standing there and not me." He acted disgusted at the mere thought of Megumi hugging him.
Megumi huffed and stuck her nose in the air while Sanosuke turned to Kenshin.
"Hey Kenshin! Long time no see! Why didn't you come visit?" Sano grabbed Kenshin into a head-lock and Kenshin could only chuckle nervously.
"I'm sorry Sano I've just been rather busy lately that I have." Sano let go of Kenshin abruptly.
"Hey, Kenshin, who's the kid?" Sano asked having finally noticed Kaoru's presence. Kaoru, who had moved to Kenshin's side, looked up with big eyes.
"This is Kaoru. I saved her on my way to Saitama. Speaking of, I have a favor to ask of Miss Megumi." Kenshin looked expectantly at the doctor.
"Of course, Sir Ken. Why don't we go inside." Megumi said leading the way.
Kenshin was about to follow when he felt something pull on his pants. With a glance downward he saw Kaoru gripping hold of them tightly while looking at the two people walking away from them.
"It's alright Kaoru. Sano and Miss Megumi are very nice, that they are." Kaoru nodded but did not let go of his pants as they walked into the clinic. Even if Kenshin was nice to her, she still wasn't too keen on trusting other people too quickly.
-------
Yes I do know that this chapter is... counts on fingers...about three days late, but what can I say? I was gone most of the day Saturday, which is the day I usually write a new chappie, so I didn't get much of a chance to write shrugs. Ah well, I think this chapter is rather cute so maybe you'll forgive me, ne? Please leave me a review! Ja!