Hello guys! I hope you're still with me cause here's another chapter! I'm taking down all of the author's notes just to let you guys know ^^ Enjoy this chappy!
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A DREAM FROM THE PAST
Kaoru sat at the table intent on finishing her food as quickly as she possibly could. She hadn't talked to Kenshin for a week, since the night he came back. Being in the same room with him was dreadfully hard to force herself to do. Quickly clearing her plate of all its contents, she stood to take it from the table and then made her way towards the porch.
Sano watched her carefully as she went out of her way to ignore Kenshin. He had never seen Kaoru like this. Most of the time she was caring and loving to everyone she met regardless of who they were. He hoped she would come around soon, or he would die from the tension that was constantly hovering in the air.
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That afternoon rolled around Kaoru sat against a post on the porch peeling the petals and leaves off a poor unsuspecting flower. A warm breeze floated the trees creating that familiar soft whisper of leaf shuffling over leaf. Her hair blew around her face as she distantly stared at the flower she was shedding of its beauty. It was so peaceful and she was actually able to think.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door beside her opening and out stepped Kenshin carrying a large basket of laundry. He glanced at her, holding her eyes with his for a split second, then ambling down the stairs letting out a soft 'oro' when he almost missed the step below his feet.
One of Kaoru's eyebrows shot up when she realized what he was planning to do with the basket of laundry, watching him make his way towards the clothes line in the middle of the yard. She fought the urge to let her curiosity get the best of her but she was fighting a losing battle.
"What are you doing?" she asked to his back. He slowly turned around his mouth in a small 'o' shape, his eyes wide with surprise.
"The laundry, Kaoru-dono." He said it as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. It was. Both eyebrows hit her hairline when she heard the -dono at the end of her name. It was unusual to hear such polite formality these days.
"I figured that but…why?" She asked using the same tone he had used.
"Because it's dirty, Kaoru-dono." At this her look turned rye, thinking that he was off his rocker. Of course she knew WHY he was doing it, that was a given, but a man wasn't supposed to do laundry. It was one of those unwritten laws.
"I know its dirty, but you're…" she paused thinking how to phrase her question. "Men don't do laundry." She finished matter-of-factly.
"Who said men don't do laundry?" He had her there. No one actually SAID that they didn't do laundry, it was just a thing everybody knew. Well, she THOUGHT everybody knew. With that he turned and started back towards the clothes line.
She watched as he bent and one by one dipped the clothes into the soapy water sitting in front of him. Sun played off of his hair turning parts of it a golden-orange color. He was intent on his work but she could she he was very aware of what was going on a round him.
"Kaoru!" A voice cut through the quiet stillness from across the yard. Kaoru turned to see Jiro standing at the gate.
Her eyes lit up with pleasure at the sight of him. She loved being around him and lately, as if noticing her distress, he spent even more time with her. Taking her places, walking with her to the river, buying her things. He was especially charming and fun to be around, he was almost too good to be true.
She made her way to the gate to lead him to sit down on the porch. He was staying for dinner this evening and she was overjoyed to see him. His prescence comforted her as though helping her cope with the reappearance of Kenshin. Throughout the time they spent talking on the porch she didn't notice the cautious looks Kenshin kept sending Jiro's way, or the glare Jiro sent right back.
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All through dinner Kenshin sat tensed at the table his eyes only leaving his bowl to settle on Jiro, as though waiting for something. His shoulders were taught, his eyes narrowed a little with unsettled distrust. He had to be careful and go slow or else he would hurt Kaoru.
Sano seemed to notice his friends distress, taking careful note of the glances he sent across the table to Jiro throughout the meal. Something was up and it had to do with Jiro. It was now Sano's job to find out what Jiro had to do with the uneasiness of Kenshin.
After dinner everyone gathered on the porch. Kenshin sat in a corner his head bent and his hair covering his eyes. Kaoru sat leaning on Jiro's shoulder just as she had the night Kenshin came back while Sano and Megumi were huddled in their own corner whispering incoherent things to each other, some of which made Megumi blush bright red.
Crickets chirped from unknown places in the grass while a soft wind blew warm air around them. Stars twinkled brightly overhead and lightning bugs were scattered everywhere. It was calming and peaceful for anybody that was willing to slow doen enough to take it in. But Kenshin wasn't. He was uneasy and ready to turn in for the night. He had a few suspicions and they weren't good ones. He needed to sleep and rest his mind. Try to gather his thoughts and keep his brain focused enough to finish what he was supposed to do. It was harder now that Kaoru was involved. Leaving the porch he quickly stole to his bedroom where he soon fell into the dark abyss of sleep and dreams.
~~~~
Kenshin stood in front of a large man, eyes narrowed and senses focused. The man was two or three times larger than he was and weighed about that much more than him too. He would be easy to beat, surprising considering he was the leader of this mob. But somehow, it made sense considering he had at least a hundred other guys to protect him.
They were currently stuck in a stand-off, both men's swords relaxed but ready to strike if need be. Tension curdled between them making Kenshin painfully aware of the twenty other men hidden in the shadows waiting for a signal to move in. The man suddenly darted towards him sword poised about his head ready to be brought down. However, metal struck metal in the futile attempt to aim a blow to Kenshins chest. The larger man knew he was beat, but he had to keep up his act until he could send his signal.
Kenshin suddenly disappeared before the other man's eyes as he jumped into the air to come down upon the guy's head. The large mass of body dodged just in time to only get a large cut in the shoulder of his right arm. The arm he used to hold his sword. He had already lost and they both knew it, but he couldn't stop until he had given a signal. Seeing a small motion come from a bush, he nodded towards it then ran at Kenshin sword horizontal in front of his massive chest. Kenshin easily dodged it, knowing that it was a diversion.
Landing on the ground he looked around and saw the man was gone. The other men had left along with him. Except for one……Kenshin felt it. A small chi but it was there. Kenshin looked just in time to see a small boy stopped in the middle of the yard in front of one of the buildings. Wide, frightened brown eyes took him in, swiftly brushing over the red head and the sharp sword that glinted in the moonlight before the boy quickly ran off down the street, disappearing around a corner.
~~~~
Kenshin's eyes shot open, then quickly closed again as sunlight hit his sensitive pupils without warning. He had forgotten that night up until now. It had happened nine long years ago. It had been one of his jobs given to him by the police chief in Saitama. It seemed strange that it would come to him in his dreams at a time like this. Vowing to forget about it now he rose and began to dress for breakfast. He would have to sort it out later.
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It's been a while since I've written a chapter that long. How bout we celebrate by giving lots of reviews eh? -_-' I like the laundry scene, its kinda funny when you think about it.
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A DREAM FROM THE PAST
Kaoru sat at the table intent on finishing her food as quickly as she possibly could. She hadn't talked to Kenshin for a week, since the night he came back. Being in the same room with him was dreadfully hard to force herself to do. Quickly clearing her plate of all its contents, she stood to take it from the table and then made her way towards the porch.
Sano watched her carefully as she went out of her way to ignore Kenshin. He had never seen Kaoru like this. Most of the time she was caring and loving to everyone she met regardless of who they were. He hoped she would come around soon, or he would die from the tension that was constantly hovering in the air.
*-*-*-*
That afternoon rolled around Kaoru sat against a post on the porch peeling the petals and leaves off a poor unsuspecting flower. A warm breeze floated the trees creating that familiar soft whisper of leaf shuffling over leaf. Her hair blew around her face as she distantly stared at the flower she was shedding of its beauty. It was so peaceful and she was actually able to think.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door beside her opening and out stepped Kenshin carrying a large basket of laundry. He glanced at her, holding her eyes with his for a split second, then ambling down the stairs letting out a soft 'oro' when he almost missed the step below his feet.
One of Kaoru's eyebrows shot up when she realized what he was planning to do with the basket of laundry, watching him make his way towards the clothes line in the middle of the yard. She fought the urge to let her curiosity get the best of her but she was fighting a losing battle.
"What are you doing?" she asked to his back. He slowly turned around his mouth in a small 'o' shape, his eyes wide with surprise.
"The laundry, Kaoru-dono." He said it as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. It was. Both eyebrows hit her hairline when she heard the -dono at the end of her name. It was unusual to hear such polite formality these days.
"I figured that but…why?" She asked using the same tone he had used.
"Because it's dirty, Kaoru-dono." At this her look turned rye, thinking that he was off his rocker. Of course she knew WHY he was doing it, that was a given, but a man wasn't supposed to do laundry. It was one of those unwritten laws.
"I know its dirty, but you're…" she paused thinking how to phrase her question. "Men don't do laundry." She finished matter-of-factly.
"Who said men don't do laundry?" He had her there. No one actually SAID that they didn't do laundry, it was just a thing everybody knew. Well, she THOUGHT everybody knew. With that he turned and started back towards the clothes line.
She watched as he bent and one by one dipped the clothes into the soapy water sitting in front of him. Sun played off of his hair turning parts of it a golden-orange color. He was intent on his work but she could she he was very aware of what was going on a round him.
"Kaoru!" A voice cut through the quiet stillness from across the yard. Kaoru turned to see Jiro standing at the gate.
Her eyes lit up with pleasure at the sight of him. She loved being around him and lately, as if noticing her distress, he spent even more time with her. Taking her places, walking with her to the river, buying her things. He was especially charming and fun to be around, he was almost too good to be true.
She made her way to the gate to lead him to sit down on the porch. He was staying for dinner this evening and she was overjoyed to see him. His prescence comforted her as though helping her cope with the reappearance of Kenshin. Throughout the time they spent talking on the porch she didn't notice the cautious looks Kenshin kept sending Jiro's way, or the glare Jiro sent right back.
*-*-*-*
All through dinner Kenshin sat tensed at the table his eyes only leaving his bowl to settle on Jiro, as though waiting for something. His shoulders were taught, his eyes narrowed a little with unsettled distrust. He had to be careful and go slow or else he would hurt Kaoru.
Sano seemed to notice his friends distress, taking careful note of the glances he sent across the table to Jiro throughout the meal. Something was up and it had to do with Jiro. It was now Sano's job to find out what Jiro had to do with the uneasiness of Kenshin.
After dinner everyone gathered on the porch. Kenshin sat in a corner his head bent and his hair covering his eyes. Kaoru sat leaning on Jiro's shoulder just as she had the night Kenshin came back while Sano and Megumi were huddled in their own corner whispering incoherent things to each other, some of which made Megumi blush bright red.
Crickets chirped from unknown places in the grass while a soft wind blew warm air around them. Stars twinkled brightly overhead and lightning bugs were scattered everywhere. It was calming and peaceful for anybody that was willing to slow doen enough to take it in. But Kenshin wasn't. He was uneasy and ready to turn in for the night. He had a few suspicions and they weren't good ones. He needed to sleep and rest his mind. Try to gather his thoughts and keep his brain focused enough to finish what he was supposed to do. It was harder now that Kaoru was involved. Leaving the porch he quickly stole to his bedroom where he soon fell into the dark abyss of sleep and dreams.
~~~~
Kenshin stood in front of a large man, eyes narrowed and senses focused. The man was two or three times larger than he was and weighed about that much more than him too. He would be easy to beat, surprising considering he was the leader of this mob. But somehow, it made sense considering he had at least a hundred other guys to protect him.
They were currently stuck in a stand-off, both men's swords relaxed but ready to strike if need be. Tension curdled between them making Kenshin painfully aware of the twenty other men hidden in the shadows waiting for a signal to move in. The man suddenly darted towards him sword poised about his head ready to be brought down. However, metal struck metal in the futile attempt to aim a blow to Kenshins chest. The larger man knew he was beat, but he had to keep up his act until he could send his signal.
Kenshin suddenly disappeared before the other man's eyes as he jumped into the air to come down upon the guy's head. The large mass of body dodged just in time to only get a large cut in the shoulder of his right arm. The arm he used to hold his sword. He had already lost and they both knew it, but he couldn't stop until he had given a signal. Seeing a small motion come from a bush, he nodded towards it then ran at Kenshin sword horizontal in front of his massive chest. Kenshin easily dodged it, knowing that it was a diversion.
Landing on the ground he looked around and saw the man was gone. The other men had left along with him. Except for one……Kenshin felt it. A small chi but it was there. Kenshin looked just in time to see a small boy stopped in the middle of the yard in front of one of the buildings. Wide, frightened brown eyes took him in, swiftly brushing over the red head and the sharp sword that glinted in the moonlight before the boy quickly ran off down the street, disappearing around a corner.
~~~~
Kenshin's eyes shot open, then quickly closed again as sunlight hit his sensitive pupils without warning. He had forgotten that night up until now. It had happened nine long years ago. It had been one of his jobs given to him by the police chief in Saitama. It seemed strange that it would come to him in his dreams at a time like this. Vowing to forget about it now he rose and began to dress for breakfast. He would have to sort it out later.
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It's been a while since I've written a chapter that long. How bout we celebrate by giving lots of reviews eh? -_-' I like the laundry scene, its kinda funny when you think about it.