HEY GUYS, DON'T FREAK OUT. THIS IS STILL ME, SENTIMENTAL BUTTERFLY. I JUST HAD CHANGED MY PEN NAME RECENTLY. REALLY, DON'T…

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE RURUONI KENSHIN CHARACTERS EXCEPT TAKA, MR.SAKURAGI, THE SNOOTY LADIES AND THE YOUNG BOY IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. MORE ARE TO COME… AUTHOR'S NOTES MOVED TO THE BOTTOM PART

CHAPTER 6

PERHAPS THE RIGHT TIME IT IS?

"Kaoru-dono? Where would you like me to place the tofu?" asked Kenshin.

"…"

"Kaoru-dono?" worried Kenshin as he was waving his hand at her face.

"Huh?" startled Kaoru as she came back to her senses.

"Oh, just place it here on the table," said Kaoru as she motioned where he should place the tofu.

Tanabata day…confession…Himura Kenshin…right time…appropriate?

"K-Kaoru-dono?!?" Kenshin was getting really worried.

"Huh?" At last she came back to her senses.

"Are you alright, Kaoru-dono?"

"Me? Oh, I'm fine, really."

"Are you sure? Do you want me to cook lunch instead?"

"No, it's alright."

"Well, maybe I can help you cook. You seem to be a bit not yourself today…"

Kaoru bit her lower lip, "oh, you know me, always an odd girl. Oh, okay you can help. Arigato, Kenshin."

Kenshin smiled warmly at her and started preparing the stove.

Kaoru can't seem to calm down at that time. Often she would recklessly drop the knife from her hand and almost burned Kenshin when she was about to pour the boiling water on him instead on the bowl.

"Kaoru-dono, are you sure you're feeling fine?"

"Me? Of course! Never better! Why?"

"Well, you really are not yourself today."

"Uh, er, maybe it's because…I'm just excited be-because," she fumbled for words to say, "Er, because there would be a fireworks display this evening! That's right, a fireworks display."

Kenshin was a bit taken aback.

"Kaoru-dono, there's always a fireworks display every evening."

"No!" Kaoru flustered, "Tonight's a special one since it's…Tanabata day…" she felt her cheeks turn bright pink.

She thought Kenshin would react, but he just smiled at her and went back to his chore.

Perhaps it would be the right time to tell him, she thought so. After all, she couldn't keep it from him anyway. It always finds a way to come out. She was having a hard time keeping it all to herself; the flame inside her was getting bigger and bigger.

This is it; it takes a lot of guts to do this. Although she might think it rather inappropriate for a woman to confess her affections her affections for the man, what have she got to lose? Well, maybe her dignity and pride but in not giving her torn heart another chance seemed to be a greater loss than the latter.

But to say it directly would be a bit shocking to hear, she thought. Of course, if someone would tell me that, I would really be surprised myself. To think of an alibi would be the best idea.

Then, an alibi struck her.

"K-Kenshin?"

"Nani, Kaoru-dono?"

"Uh, er, a-anata wa…you do know what day it is?" She felt herself blushed. Although it may be a lame alibi to go with, she had no other choice.

"Hai, Kaoru-dono. It's July 7."

That was not the answer Kaoru was expecting from him.

"No, Kenshin. I'm asking you if you're aware what DAY it is today."

"Kaoru-dono, there is no other date today than July 7."

"Bakeru!" Kaoru snapped, "Today's Tanabata day! A festival! Lover's festival! How stupid of you not to know!"

Kenshin was stunned. Not because of he forgot today's Tanabata day, but because of how Kaoru shockingly acted. Surely she wasn't possessed as to such but she was acting real odd. Maybe it was the food that she cooked for breakfast that made her feel aggressive. No, Kenshin, you shouldn't think like that. She's doing her very best to make it better, he thought. If it wasn't the food, what was it? She was, unmistakably, sunny and cheerful this morning but the alter of mood worried Kenshin. This doesn't usually happen to Kaoru. Some must have been wrong.

Kaoru finally realized what she had done and her cheeks flushed red. "G-Gomen nasai…" it was all she can say.

That was the most humiliating thing I have ever done in my whole life!Of course, she had no right to say that, to tell Kenshin how stupid he was to forget Tanabata day. They weren't together, and maybe Kenshin has no cue of what's going on in her. Nice move, Kaoru.

"Baka! Baka! Baka!" she was murmuring as she was continuously slapping her forehead.

"Oro! Kaoru-dono, please stop that. No doubt you'll get dizzy with a few more slap. Please feel free to tell me what's wrong," troubled Kenshin.

How can I tell you what's wrong if it major-ly involves you!

"Kenshin, I'm really sorry if I bothered you so much. I don't know, I feel so uneasy lately and I.…it's just that I…" But the right words can't seem to utter from her lips.

"Maybe you just need fresh air, but I think it's best to call Megumi to check on you. Wait here, I'll tell Sano to get Megumi -."

"Kenshin!" Kaoru stopped him. She gripped the sleeve of his gi tightly to prevent him from going. Kenshin was a bit surprised.

"Kenshin, nothing's wrong. It's only me. It's just that anxiety struck me because I really wanted to tell you something I've been concealing for the past five months, ever since you came into our lives. I know you may find this absurd but… I…you see…Kenshin, I-I think I'm inl-lo –."

"Oi! Kaoru! Somebody's looking for you outside!" Kaoru was cut by Sano's voice as he entered the kitchen.

Nice timing, Sanosuke!

"Sano, why do you always have to ruin everything!" screamed Kaoru furiously.

Sano threw her a questioning look then looked at Kenshin. Kenshin just shrugged. Sano shook his head.

"Jou-chan, a man is waiting for you outside."

Kaoru held her nose high, "if it's not that important, tell him to scram. If he insists to see me, whatever you do, I won't attend to his needs, particularly his wants."

"Kenshin, why does your girlfriend became so scornful all of a sudden?" taunted Sano.

"Oro…"

"Kaoru, the man outside seems so desperate to talk to you. He even begged to me when I told him you were busy. Wait, what's for lunch?"

Kaoru shot him a brow, " 'lunch'?"

"Yeah, lunch," Sano said nonchalantly.

"And just, what do you mean by that?"

"Well, a man's got to eat, you know."

Kaoru let out a loud sigh, "Well, I'm making teppanyaki, fried tofu and I guess we have to count Megumi's curry and rice balls too."

Sano winced, "Y-You're m-making l-lunch?"

"Hai," Kaoru said.

"Why you? Why not Kenshin?"

"Got a problem with that?" spat Kaoru.

"Well, I guess it's not that you're trying to poison us, are you? ACK!" A flying pan smacked Sano's face, "You don't have to be mean. I'm just trying to do everyone a favor."

"What was the man's name, Sano?" said Kaoru as she was brushing dust off her hands.

"Koshikawa…Koshikawa Taka," squeaked Sano.

Kaoru dropped the plate she was holding and stood cold-stricken on the ground.

"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin was alarmed.

Kaoru was speechless. Koshikawa Taka…it does ring a bell. How could Kaoru ever forget? But she was trying to forget those bitter moments she had, and for her Kenshin helped her. Yet how come he's knocking on her door again? Everything's over between them, yet what is it that made him face her again…desperately? Her mind was circling in tangles.

"KAORU-DONO! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" worried Kenshin as he shook her carefully to regain her senses.

"Huh? Oh! I-I'm fine. I was just thinking about something, must have taken the whole of me. Kenshin, would you please take over while I meet this man? Or else there wouldn't be lunch for everybody (Sano sighed with relief)."

"Kaoru, I let him wait in the dojo," said Sano.

"Arigato, Sanosuke."

Step by step, she made her way to the dojo slowly as possible. She didn't want to see him but she wanted to know why he wanted to see her all of a sudden so desperately. Could he be here to boast how happy he is with his woman now? To crush her spirits like before?

There, ahead of her she could see the dojo. It would only take her ten more steps to arrive there. She slowed her pace, preparing her mind and self of what awaits her inside the now cursed place.

Five more steps…three more…two last…

As soon as she set her foot on the polished floor of the dojo, her eyes widened with fear.

Before her stood Koshikawa Taka.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Okay, so here I am again with a new chapter, trying to console my worrywart self that I'm doing fine, really. It's all up to you and your reviews. Sigh, tsk, tsk, tsk…I know, this chapter's short. I promise to make it up to you on the upcoming chapters! Gomen nasai!

By the way, finally I managed to borrow my friend's Ruruoni Kenshin OVA 1 cd (the one where Tomoe is). I've got to admit, it's really brutal and the killing scenes are sort of gruesome. But still, it's worth it! And I can't believe that Tomoe and Kenshin had, you know…

Though it's not that expressed vulgarly, it's still there. Sigh; anyway, it's the past. Best to look forward to the future!

From now on, my pen name will be Sutefanichan. Sentimental Butterfly is sooooooo long for a pen name – for me. And besides, I think its Sutefanichan is a cute pen name, don't you think. Hey, it's my suppose to be my Japanese pen name! Apparently, I'm not a Japanese and though I want to have a Japanese name, that's not to happen since my parents won't allow me to. Anyway…

Many thanks to gaby (hyatt (is the spelling right?) for reviewing my fanfic. Hope you keep on reading this, err, absurd fanfic of mine and I hope it won't keep you bored! Always a pleasure to make people happy! To make the world happy and a better place to live in! Why am I being so patriotic and perky today? Must have been the food…argh! Sugar rush…

Next chapter, what would happen to Kaoru and Taka? Would history repeat itself? Or would Taka bring an end to this? Forever? Secrets to be revealed…and a lot of flashbacks…

Keep those reviews flowing! Gomen, just don't sue me or kill me. I'm only a harmless and innocent girl trying to survive this out-of-this world life of mine. Fortunately, I'm making progress. Yey!