Chapter 23

By Crystal

*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*

Toshiko was sitting on the porch when she suddenly broke into a malicious grin.  Kenshin had caught that very small moving and could almost see the wheels turning in her head and winced inwardly.  He had no doubt that she had a plan to try to get him and Kaoru together.  The last one failed, but that sure didn't discourage Toshiko.  Quite the opposite, really.  Toshiko's been sitting on the porch and looking at the two little girls play while her mind was turning around, making plans as a matchmaker.  Kenshin almost groaned.  His little sister was impossible.

If possible, Toshiko even grinned wider when she saw him looking at her with those eyes.  She winked at him, hinting at him that all was going to go along well, that the plan would work.  It just worried him more.  Her head jerked up as she suddenly smelt a faint smell of smoke.  She jogged over to Kenshin, who winced, wondering what she would ask of him.  Surprisingly, her voice was dead serious with a bit of amusement moulded together, "Himura Kenshin, if you don't go help your Kaoru-dono cook a bit, I will take up Sano's favourite hobby and bet that the kitchen will be burned any second now."

He was suddenly alarmed and used his god speed and ran into the kitchen, but not without seeing the glint of amusement in her eyes.  She giggled like a child when she heard yells from the kitchen, followed by some 'Oro'ing.  Sometime, when Kaoru turned less stubborn, she was going to teach her how to cook without endangering the house.  Sometime...  She sat down where her brother had been doing laundry and started scrubbing at the clothes, after all, Kenshin would be busy in the kitchen helping Kaoru.  Without paying much attention to what she was doing, her mind soon drifted once again, to a certain young black haired rurouni with a smile plastered on his face.  She smiled.

That's how Kenshin found her again after he had finished Kaoru with lunch and was about to call her to eat.  A peaceful smile dancing on her delicate lips and her hands doing the laundry without even paying slight attention to it.  She was like him, sometimes.  Using the chore laundry as an excuse to think about stuff.  You really couldn't blame him.  Other than the time he had in the bath and with laundry, he barely had enough time to think, with insults being thrown every way and bokkens whacked in every direction.  He had no doubt she was thinking about Soujiro again, not that he minded much, no.  She had taken the news quite well, actually.  If you didn't count going off to commit suicide.  Well, he didn't blame her either, he knew what she felt...  10 years ago.  Wanting to stop the memories from coming, he called to Toshiko for lunch and she followed while once again, teasing him about Kaoru, which he ignored.  Or tried to.

* * * * *

Lunch was just over, Yahiko had gone to help the Akabeko, Kenshin was finishing up his laundry, Kaoru was doing something while Toshiko was thinking how to get out of the dojo without getting Kaoru to be suspicious of her.  Of course, she hoped that once nobody but the two of them were in the dojo, Kenshin would somehow confess to her...  Toshiko hoped it would work, after all, her brother-in-law was way to dense.  Any other man would have detected that Kaoru was interested in Kenshin.  He was such a dumb idiot sometimes.  She often wondered why her sister had actually fallen for Kenshin...  He is a bit...  stupid on the topic that included women.

A knock on the door and Kenshin stood up and went with Toshiko to open the gates.  It was Mokaku, smiling at the sight of Toshiko.  Toshiko had a mental image of herself punching the guts out of Mokaku.  Oh how she hated him...  But then, a sudden idea came up to her mind.  Perfect...  Perfect way to leave the dojo.  She smiled brightly, "Mokaku-san!"

"Himura-san, Toshiko."  He bowed down respectfully and smiled at the young girl who looked so excited to see him.  Little did he know, inside, she wanted to tear him apart, bit by bit and that she was only using him for a plan.  "Toshiko, do you mind to go out and have a walk?"

If possible, her smile grew even bigger, "Hai!"  She turned around to face Kenshin and gave him a wink which he replied with a soft groan.  She giggled playfully and went out for a walk with possibly the man she hated the most...  Actually, disliked.  Hate was too much of a powerful word.

Toshiko quickly dragged Mokaku out on the streets and closed the gates behind her, smiling.  Mokaku was smiling the nice smile again.  Mission Accomplished.  He thought, as he lead her to the lake.  (or is it river or something?)

* * * * *

Toshiko had her back against a tree, watching the first leaves of autumn fall.  Leaves were swirling down beautifully and she looked beside her at the sleeping Mokaku.  It's been half an hour since she was out here with him, she wondered how Kenshin was doing.  Thinking about the person in front of her again, she couldn't help but think that Mokaku didn't seem like someone who would work for the Juppon Gatana.  But then again, neither did Soujiro.

She took a mouthful of fresh air and slowly closed her heavy eyelids she couldn't hold any longer.  And smiled while she slept.

* * * * *

Finishing the laundry, he hanged it up to dry them and when he turned around, he saw a daydreaming Kaoru...  Looking straight at him!  Kaoru blushed crimson as she saw his gaze on her and looked away, hoping he would come up to her and ask her what was wrong.  Instead, a minute later when she was looking around, hoping to catch sight of a certain red head rurouni, she saw him warming up the water for the bath house.  Kaoru made some angry sounds, He is so dense sometimes!

* * * * *

Soujiro, Enishi, Kamatari and Chou walked to where they were meeting and as usual, everyone showed up.  Instead Mokaku.  "Where's Mokaku-san?"  Soujiro asked, a bit curious about him since the last time he saw him with Toshiko in the market.

"He'll be coming soon.  Once he comes back, we're going to the base."  Uedo answered and smirked.

Sadistic Bastard.  Enishi thought, but then, someone showed up and once he caught glimpse of the two, his mouth went dry and he looked over to Soujiro, who was clenching and unclenching his fists, anger on his face as clear as the day.  Chou and Kamatari, with their backs turned to the entrance, decided that whoever it was 1, someone who was more annoying than Saitoh Hajime, which was very much impossible or 2, was very stupid to get Tenken and Enishi angry in less than a second.  Turning around, the sight caught them both by surprise.

Standing there was no other than Mokaku with a woman in his arms.  Why was Soujiro and Enishi either too shocked to say anything or too angry to control their usually well controlled emotions?

XenoMark – I kinda know what you mean, cept I don't have a small sibling and my brother would be the one killing the guy that kissed me.  LoL.

Chiki – I know, that was a cute scene ^^.  Maybe I should put more Kaoru and Kenshin scenes...  Hopefully, they won't sound to awkward.

Naomi - *grins*  Well, I guess looking at art the whole day could be slightly boring.  Enishi normal?  I think not ^^;;

Blueraingurl – Arigatou!  Well, I guess I just kinda wrote that scene cause I needed Toshiko to understand Kenshin and tease him about Kaoru, telling the readers that she didn't mind if Kenshin married Kaoru or something.  Mood swings?  I think so ^^;;

Author's Notes: I took so long to update, not to mention it's one of my shortest chapter ever!  I'm so sorry, but I guess this was the time to stop this chapter.  Barely two pages.  Anyways, I apologize again and hopefully, I'll make the next chapter longer.  How about that?  Later!