My Reluctant Cupid
By: Rubi A.K.A. "Phi-Dono" 2/22/o5 tues.

Disclaimer: gomen - i forgot to put this in the last chappie! i'll hafta edit that later... anywayz, i don't own Kaoru, Yahiko, Megumi or any of those guys. nor do i own... Kenshin/Battousai... (- cringe -) Enishi... (- sighs -) Sanosuke... (- sob -) or any of /those/ guys... they all belong to the ingenius, wonderful little Japanese man named Nobuhiro Watsuki! sessha is merely a lowly fan who worships his work. and writes fanfiction about it - hehe!

(- sniffs -) y-you really like it? (- sniffles -) i mean/really/ like it? AWW, ARIGATOU! (- huggles reviewers -) sank you minna-san! i love yous SO muchz :) i was really doubting on whether i should do this in the /first/ place, but now that i have some response, i'll be glad to do it, that i will! (- smiles -) anywayz, enjoy this chappie ppl - you deserve it for making sessha SOOO /happy/ wif your reviews :) i also tried making it /really/ long, because i got some really good reviews for it, plus at the moment, it's my fav to write! OH YEA! and i have to apologize for this right away - i used a lot of 'realized' 'realization' 'real' this and 'real' that. sorry, didn't know what i was thinking! (- hits self on head...swirls -) boy, i hafta expand this one's vocabulary...

oh yea! and reviewer response will be at the bottom. ok, that's all i hafta say. enjoy!

Japanese translations will be at the bottom. RnR and thx :)

"talking"
'thinking'
(- occasional authoress note -)/(- actions in the authoress note -)
actions in the fic
/emphasized/

xXx-)(-xXx-

X: Chapter Two: Mr. Dark glasses )

The birds were chirping. The sun was shining. Kenshin is oro-ing. Sanosuke's guzzling down sake.

Yeah.

This was a perfect day. A perfect day to kick someone's /ass, that is. And that 'someone' being-

"YAHIKOOO!"

...according to Kaoru...

"Yahiko! Yahiko! YAHIKO, WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Maa maa Kaoru-dono..."

"Kenshin, do you /mind? I'm trying to find that snot-nosed, insolent little brat!" Kaoru informed, stalking through the dojo yard, bokken clenched threateningly in her hand.

Kenshin sweatdropped. In the back, one could hear the soundly belch coming from Sano's direction.

"Kaoru-dono, sessha thinks that Yahiko just went for a walk, that he did," the Rurouni stated, returning to the task of chopping vegetables up, in order to cook them in with the broth.

This twenty-eight year-old wore a plain white hakama and gi, and over the gi was the once red (but now magenta) haori, that accented his Rurouni persona perfectly. At the moment, however, the haori's wide sleeves were being tied up with a thin, simple white cloth, that held them back to make his cooking duties much more easier, and it showed off his fine forearms. His very lightly tanned skin made his fiery mane all the more exotic looking. The lengthy bright orange hair was tied low in its usual place, just above the nape of his neck, his long bangs often falling into the vision of his light amethyst eyes. These eyes had at one time, struck an immense sense of fear into whoever viewed into them. Now though, his eyes were kind and gentle, and took you in with such warmth, that it was almost too easy to miss the sadness behind those violet eyes. His always faithful sakabattou lay rested in his room - unneeded at the moment. Currently, he walked around the kitchen in a set of maroon tabi's, his geta's had been placed at the entrance to the kitchen, just outside where Sanosuke's shoes rested as well, and he listened to the sounds coming from Kaoru-dono's direction.

Kaoru growled out of frustration. She felt like pulling someone's hair out. Namely Yahiko's. Or Kenshin's. Sano was a good choice too.

At the moment, the eighteen year-old kendo instructor wore her training clothes, which consisted of the usual cream colored gi and navy blue hakama. Her blueblack mass of silky hair was tied up in its usual high position on her head. Underneath her spiky bangs, were two strands of the smooth hair, falling from her temples. Her cobalt blue eyes dashed around the yard in hopes of spotting her student. Her ivory skin was slightly flustered due to the searching she was conducting for the said student. Angrily, she tucked some of her bangs behind her ear and ignored the way her gi stuck to her back because of the sweat.

'Mou!' she cursed in her mind. 'This is the /third/ time this week that the brat has skipped out on his lessons! It's not like /he's/ the only one who needs to train - I need to spar with someone too! What could he be up to that's keeping him from trai-'

"Oi busu! You shouldn't think so hard - you might hurt yourself!"

"Why you little!" Kaoru stuttered, glaring at the boy who just appeared at the dojo gates.

Suddenly, she turned her death glare into a sugary sweet smile.

"Come here, Yahiko..." she beckoned, luring him closer with her index finger. "I've got a new move to show you..."

Yahiko and Sano (who had just recently stepped out onto the porch) simultaneously raised their eyebrows in suspicion, while Kenshin uttered a tiny oro from his place in the kitchen.

"What's it called?" the first apprentice questioned.

"I'm /so/ glad you asked..." she said, the once sweet grin turning into a sinister one.

Before Yahiko had the time to say 'oh shit,' Kaoru had ran over to him, pinned him on the tip of her wooden sword, and flung the young swordsman in the air.

His scream was drowned out by Kaoru yelling, "Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu - Throw Brat Over Fence technique!"

And just then, as though Father Time were in on her trick, the sound of Yahiko meeting the neighbor's dog had erupted from the other side of the fence. The sounds were mainly: chomping, screaming, barking, ow-ing, and of course, the pitter patter of little feet running for their life.

Ah yes - revenge was a beautiful thing.

Kenshin had set down his knife momentarily and waited at the gate for the young boy to return. A while after Kaoru had calmed down (and after Sano's bellowing laughter stopped), Yahiko had seemed to have /just/ made it out of the jaws of death...uh/literally/... When he skidded in front of the gate, he immediately sought to kill his instructor. Kenshin, however, had a firm grasp on the collar (or what was left of it) of his tattered haori. With a few quick words of how killing Kaoru-dono wouldn't help his swordsman ship training, the samurai took a quick look over the kendo student to make sure he was all right.

Kenshin noted with satisfaction that the only thing on the eleven year-old's body that was broken, was the shinai he carried dutifully on his back. The boy's usual darkly tanned skin was red with the rage that still had yet to be released. 'What a training sesson /that/ would be, de gozaru yo...' the ex-Battousai thought, smirking to himself as his keen eyes took in the ripped and shredded material of his Akabeko uniform. 'Ahh, so /that's/ where he was...' The white gi and haori he wore was completely totaled, showing much of his young torso off. The light blue hakama that had once had a sauce stain on it, no longer had that particular stain. Nor much of anything /else/ on it really... His dark brown eyes flashed angrily at Kaoru who stuck her tongue out at him. Before he could say anything that would get Kaoru-dono to invent another move, Kenshin suggested that Yahiko change clothes and come to the kitchen (because lunch was just about done). Grumbling something about ugly old women, the preteen ran a hand through his messy midnight black spikes and stomped off in the direction of his room.

Kenshin, after completing his good deed, returned hastily back to the boiling pot in fear that something might go wrong with their meal.

Kaoru sighed, joining the men at the kitchen. (As soon as Sano heard the words 'food' and 'almost ready' come from Kenshin's mouth, he was in his seat within a heart beat.) The former Hitokiri worked behind them while Kaoru had set her wooden sword down by her side, and Sano had begun to strike up a conversation with the kendo instructor.

"Oi Jou-chan! That was a nice one!" he commented, laughing again at the memory of Yahiko's bulging eyes. He, however, had shut his trap as soon as he saw the glare that was directed his way.

"You know Sano, I wouldn't have much of a problem doing the same thing to /another/ freeloader..." Kaoru warned dangerously, narrowing her eyes at him. In her mind though, she knew she was just playing with him. She loved her freeloaders, even if they /did/ get on her nerves sometimes. Sano and Yahiko were like the siblings she never had. Sano being the older brother, and Yahiko being the younger. Even Kenshin held a special place in her heart, but it wasn't for a family member...

Sanosuke took a moment to blink. A few times. Then he opened his mouth and said something that will go down in Sagara history. "Ya mean Kenshin?"

Insert animefall /here/. At least on Kenshin and Kaoru's behalf.

"Wow Jou-chan, I mean, I /know/ Kenshin peeps in on you when you're bathing, and 'claims' it's an accident, but that's no reason to go after him. Plus that one time you caught Kenshin holding your underwear a little /too/ much longer than he was supposed to, when he was hangin' up the laundry that one day. Oh yeah! And that /one/ time he walked in on you when you were changing- OW! OI! What was that for Kenshin!" he asked, ending his rant as an onion met his forehead - rather /forcefully/ actually...

Kenshin shot the former fighter-for-hire a death glare. And not just /any/ death glare. A death glare with /Battousai/ eyes... (- ooh, ambeeer... -)

Sano gulped and took this que to shut his trap. Kaoru, who was oblivious to this little 'eye communication,' recovered herself after she had been blushing like mad this whole time.

Sucking in a deep breath, she yelled at the top of her lungs, "SAGARA SANOSUKE! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?"

He stuttered for a minute, trying to come up with anything that wouldn't get this bokken wielding Tanuki any more mad so that she would beat him 'til he forgot what gambling was. Speaking of gambling, he had just recently returned from a bad game, and had come here with the intention of getting a free meal (of course), and asking the Little Missy for a few extra dollars. A 'few' meaning 'a lot.' And 'dollars' meaning 'anything worth yen.' But, at the moment, with her towering dangerously over him, he figured that /maybe/ now wouldn't be the best time...

"WELL!"

"Ah- I uh- c-calm down Jou-chan... Heh heh... Ya know that I meant nothing by it... Right...?"

"Grrr..."

Kenshin decided to intervene then. "Kaoru-dono, please calm down. It will do you no good to raise your blood pressure, de gozaru. This one is pretty sure that Sano was just teasing you, that he was." He looked over his shoulder at the teens, who had just created a scene. 'Sano is going to need to see Megumi-dono soon, if he angers Kaoru-dono any further...' he thought, smiling at the two brunettes, returning to the skinning of the potato.

"See? It was all just fun and games Little Missy..." he said, laughing nervously as she moved to sit back down across the table from him. "And uh, speaking of games... Today lady luck wasn't with me I guess, so could ya spot me a few bucks?"

"SANOSUKE!"

The rooster winced at the high pitched screaming coming from deep within the tiny body of Kamiya Kaoru. How that little thing could make so much noise, he'd never know...

Kaoru opened her mouth to scold him on how gambling wasn't a very honest living (and how broke she always was after he 'borrowed' money from her), when a low masculine voice interrupted her.

"Still screeching like a banshee, I see."

All three heads snapped to the direction of the dojo gates. Immediately, they recognized the voice and it had sent a shock to their system as they realized that the head of white spikes -that appeared to gleaming due to the sunshine- belonged to non other than Yukishiro Enishi.

Kenshin immediately narrowed his eyes, his light and carefree demeanor now gone. Instinctively, his hand clenched the knife in his possession. In his mind, he mentally beat himself for not carrying his reversed blade with him. How would he protect Kaoru now...? Sanosuke moved in front of Kaoru, to protect the younger teen. He too, was glaring fiercely at Yukishiro. He had never forgotten that day he thought his Jou-chan was killed by this maniac, even if he /did/ play the carefree, gambling fool. Kaoru, unlike the two men in the room with her, stared wide-eyed at the young mafia leader who stood only a few yards away from their position. She felt as though her heart had literally stopped. Why had he come this time?

"Come on..." Enishi purred, breaking the deafening silence. "Don't /tell/ me you're not happy to see me? I'm disappointed."

"Yukishiro!" Kenshin shouted, making Sano and Kaoru jump at the rage in his voice. "What do you come here for now?"

At this, Enishi frowned. In one fluid movement, he removed his bag from behind his back and let it fall to the ground with a dull thud, the dirt picking up in a small dusty cloud as it met land. He peered over his small spectacles at the red-haired hero, his mischievous eyes narrowing upon locking his gaze with Kenshin.

"I don't come here for /you, Battousai," he stated simply. He watched curiously as the Rurouni moved to stand before the two teens who sat immobilized by his presence on the floor. Obviously, he made this notion in an effort to protect Kamiya.

Swallowing down the distaste at the move, Enishi moved his sights over to his target - the girl from his dream, who he could see between the valley the two men before her had created.

"Kamiya, it's so nice to see you again." His didn't let his voice carry the jealousy that was bubbling within him. Instead, he tired to focus on the positive aspects of the situation. Like the way parts of Kaoru's hair clung to her moist skin. And the way those deep eyes sparkled in the sun. Let's not forget that small and delicious looking mouth that hung open, still shocked by his mere being. Ahh, she was a perfect one, that girl. Not perfect in the ways his sister was, but her /imperfection/ was what made her perfect.

Taking a step forward, the sibling to the mentioned Tomoe was looking forward to properly greeting the kendo instructor. 'Greeting' meaning taking Kaoru to a private bedroom and ravishing her. But, to his misfortune, the Battousai stepped before him in his path. Bringing up a hand to rub his temple, Enishi tried hard to resist the urge to roll his eyes toward the skies.

"What do you want with Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin demanded, his now dark purple eyes never ceasing their glare.

"What I want with Kamiya is none of /your/ concern," he fairly spat out, continuing his path toward the eighteen year-old.

Kenshin, meanwhile, had gritted his teeth and stooped to a fighting position. Sanosuke and Kaoru had seen this, and Sano took it upon himself to join the fight that was about to happen. Cracking his knuckles loudly, he stepped out of the kitchen and onto the porch. No way this jerk would get past the both of them and harm Jou-chan - even if Kenshin /didn't/ have his reversed blade. He'd die first to protect this dysfunctional family that he's come to love so much.

"Kaoru-dono, stay back. This one doesn't want you to get hurt, that I don't," the former Hitokiri said, holding the ordinary kitchen knife tightly. At the moment, it was his only weapon against this insanely strong mafia ring leader.

"Missy, when ya get the chance, run for it, okay?" the fighter-for-hire asked, getting into his fighting position next to Kenshin. He didn't wait for the answer that wouldn't come, as he continued. "And get the brat outta here too. Stay over at Megitsune's until it's all over, ya hear?"

Kaoru nodded frantically, finding that her throat had went dry some time ago. On shaky legs, she managed to stand, and she glanced at Kenshin to see if he would say another word to her. His face was fierce (and worried), already set for battle. 'Kenshin...' Then, on impulse, she looked over the red head and the brunette to meet turquoise eyes. Kaoru was surprised that he had been watching her - his eyes had never left her this whole time...

She knew that he wasn't a bad person. It's just that his sister's death had effected him to a point of minor insanity. Really, deep down inside, he was just a little boy who needed to be loved and taken care of. Kaoru had realized this on her long stay at his island. In a way, he was just like-

"Kenshin!" she yelled, seeing a flash of magenta heading in the direction of the man at the gates.

"Now, Jou-chan, RUN!" Sano shouted, jumping forward too and prepared himself for a battle that possibly could mean his own death.

Hearing the urgency in his voice -and the realization that this was /really/ happening, Kaoru ran out of the room and sprinted down the hall that Yahiko had went. She was stopped, however, as she crashed into something hard and warm.

Distantly, in the background somewhere, she could hear Kenshin calling her name. He sounded so far away, and she didn't know why. That it, until she realized that she was staring into the eyes of Kenshin and Sano's target.

Instantly, she felt herself being pulled into his body by his strong arms. She knew she was trapped, because had had caught her in a hallway that was barely wide enough for them. This meaning that Kenshin or Sanosuke had no way to get in behind him and render him unconscious. Her back was facing the two men who had run up on them when they had realized that Yukishiro had made a dash for their Kaoru. Sweat trickled off the side of the former Zanza's face as he took in the options. Kaoru was captured, and he couldn't do anything about it. A thought processed in his mind that Saitou could have been right - that he was nothing but a weakness to those around him... Kenshin tried so hard to control himself - he really did, but he could feel the amber leaking into the amethyst. His Kaoru was trapped in close quarters with danger, Enishi leering at him over his glasses and he held Kaoru up against him. He tried to push back the Battousai that he knew was trying to get out - he was simply begging to be released.

'No...'

He couldn't, not if he wanted to keep his vow and save Kaoru...-dono...

"Yukishiro..." the /Rurouni/ muttered, trying to pass on wordlessly the threat that hung in the air.

Enishi was paying him no heed. He had changed his sight from the angering Battousai, to the young woman in his arms.

'This feels so good...'

It had been such a long time since he had held anything living in his arms. It had been even longer since he held Kaoru in his arms.

"Kaoru..." he murmured, so that she was only able to hear it.

Her eyes, which had been shut tightly from fear, opened and met her capture's gaze when she heard the softness in his voice. It was such a gentle sound - so rare too, that she had only heard it once. And that was when she caught him 'conversing' with his sister.

'His eyes,' she thought, her own sapphire eyes searching his. 'They're so different. What does this mean...?'

"Kaoru," he said again, this time his tone wasn't as light as before, but more of a hushed one. "I come here with no intention of taking you away, or of hurting your Battousai. Relax, and trust me..."

He watched as her once confused eyes now became wary. "Why are you here then?" she asked in the same hushed tone as he, and he wondered why she did so.

Kaoru herself didn't know why she spoke in whispers, but she felt as though the time were right for it. His arms that held her so tightly like steel belts, loosened and she sucked in a deep and grateful breath. His arms still had possession around her body, but his hold this time wasn't as tight and harsh.

Enishi's eyes had softened for a moment, before returning to the same, semi-assuring look that was first there. "Trust me. I'm not at liberty to explain it to you, but trust me." Kaoru, still a little unsure of his plea, searched his face for any signs of untruthfulness. Before she had a chance to make up her mind, he opened his mouth to speak again. "My sister sent me..."

At this, Kaoru's eyes widened. Tomoe had sent Enishi /here? Of course, she really couldn't do that since she's buried in the cemetery, but if Enishi had brought his sister's memory into this affair, then it had to be sincere. Gazing deeply into his eyes, she realized that as ludicrous as this may be, to him, it was his truth. She couldn't let Sano and Kenshin hurt him when he was innocent, now could she?

With her mind set on a solid decision, the instructor to Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu smiled ever so softly up at the man who held her so closely to him. "Okay... I understand..." she said, watching as his face took on an almost gentle look to it, before Kenshin's voice broke their silent discussion.

"Kaoru-dono?"

Sliding an arm out of his strong embrace, Kaoru settled her hand on his firm shoulder and slowly, he released her, as though he were on her command. She let her hand linger on Enishi's skin for a second, before removing it and facing the two awaiting men who stood ridged a yard or two behind them.

"It's okay guys, he's not here to harm us."

Sano gapped at the two before him, and wondered for a moment if Enishi had brainwashed her while they spoke. Why had Jou-chan suddenly turned blind? She was in the arms of the enemy, and her own possible death was right in front of her face...

Kenshin watched the two with high suspicion. He didn't know what had transpired between the both of them. He was left in the dark. He didn't like being left in the dark.

"Kaoru..." he growled, unable to hid the fury in his voice that she had trusted him so, even after all he's done to her - to /them/. "Come over here, now."

The kendo instructor gasped. 'Kaoru? He called me K-Kaoru - no '-dono'...?' Not only that, but she could see that his eyes were a strange mix of gold and violet, which lead to the reason of why he ordered her to station next to him, when instead he would have gently told her...

"Kenshin... Kenshin, it's /okay/. Enishi isn't here to harm /any/ of us," she pleaded, staring at the older man directly in his two-toned eyes. When the red-haired samurai finally tore his gaze away from Yukishiro and locked eyes with Kaoru, she nodded at him in some confirmation that he was supposedly supposed to understand. But he did understand. Gritting his teeth, Kenshin forced himself to calm down, for Kaoru's sake...

After an uneasy moment of tension, Kenshin looked up and met Kaoru's blue eyes with pure violet eyes. "Alright, Kaoru-dono..."

Kaoru sighed, finding it weird that she hadn't realized that she was holding her breath.

"However," Kenshin said, continuing and ignoring the incredulous look Sano shot him. "You have something to let us in on, do you not, Kaoru-dono?" Cautious of the man standing next to the teenage girl, Kenshin's keen eyes glanced back and forth between Kaoru and Enishi in wary silence.

"Yes, well, uhmm..." she stuttered, lifting a hand to rub the back of her neck. She looked up at Enishi in an effort to gain some form of help. Instead, what she found was him smirking down at her. Glaring at him, since he offered no help and since he thought that he could play the tough guy after what she witnessed, Kaoru cleared her throat and looked back at the impatient Rurouni.

"Well Kenshin. Enishi said he's here on - uh, 'family business' and I've decided to lethimstayhereforawhile..." she said, running the last few words together on purpose.

Kenshin knew what she had said, and so did Sanosuke. But Sano, thinking that the sake had given him /too/ much of a buzz, asked her to repeat what she said. And slowly.

Biting her lip nervously, she sighed and decided to give in peacefully. "I've decided to let him stay -as a guest- until he's ready to resolve this family affair..."

xXx-)(-xXx-

Next chapter: Back to square one
Summary: as Kaoru figured - the household didn't take well to the news of Enishi staying. what was she to do now, now that everyone is upset with her? what was that, Megumi?

XxX

Japanese translations: in order of appearance:

Dono - more respectful than san; today would be used as 'Milord so-and-so' (- though i don't use it like that on myself. i'm not /that/ egotistical... -) As used by Kenshin, it indicates both respect and humility.
xX) -San - Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms
Gomen - i'm sorry
Battousai - murderer, man slayer
Sessha - this unworthy one
Arigatou - thanks, thank you
Sank you - a form of 'broken english.' it means 'thank you'
Minna-san - everyone, everybody
Oro - huh/wha?
Sake - rice wine? it's alcohol made of rice water or something like that...
Maa maa - now now, settle down
Dojo - training hall (- though sometimes i use it referring to the whole houz -)
Bokken - wooden sword. i think it's pointy-er or sharper than a shinai
xX) Shinai - wooden sword. it has a rubber-looking top thing on the tip
Rurouni - wanderer, vagabond
Hakama - the very loose pants
Gi - the shirt underneath the haori
Haori - outer shirt/jacket thingy... (- anyone have something better i can use for these two (gi/haori) -)
Sakabattou - reversed-edge sword (the dull edge on the side the sharp edge should be, and vice versa); carried by Kenshin as a symbol of his resolution never to kill again.
Tabi - split toed socks
Geta - the sandal-looking shoes (- sweatdrop -)
Kendo - sword arts
Mou - 'geez'
Oi - hey
Busu - ugly girl, old hag
Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu - sword-arts or kenjutstu school established by Kaoru's father, who rejected the ethnics of satsujin-ken for kentsujin-ken.
xX) Ryuu - meaning 'style' i think, not sure though. but it /is/ behind Hiten Mitsurugi-RYUU and Kamiya Kasshin-RYUU, so there's my assumption
xX) Kenjutsu - the art of fencing; sword arts; kendo
xX) Satsujin-ken - "sword that gives death"; a style of swordsmanship rejected by Kaoru's father
xX) Kentsujin-ken - "sword that gives life"; the sword-arts style developed over ten years by Kaoru's father and founding principle of Kamiya Kasshin-Ryuu
Samurai - swordsman; meaning "one who serves." there has been some debate about this, on whether Kenshin is a samurai or not. i think he is, bcuz it means 'one who serves,' meaning it's not necessarily the government. he 'serves' justice, and helps ppl and does what he can for them - so there.
De gozaru yo - i. have. no. idea. what. this. means. it's very irritating, can someone please tell me! but all in all, i think it means 'that it is' or whatever Kenshin says after his sentences.
Akabeko - not sure what the name means, i think it's the name of Tae's father or something. anyway, it has to do with 'hot beef pots - akabeko restaurant'
Hitokiri - assassin
Jou-chan - babe, baby or with young/er girls, can mean "little missy"
Animefall - this is an action. it's when they fall to the ground for some reason or another. i'll also call it, 'crash' or something
Tanuki - raccoon (referring to Kaoru)
(X)
Domo arigatou - thanks a lot, thank you so much
-Chan - can be used as diminutive (i.e.: with a small child - like "Little Yahiko" or "Little Shippou"), or with those who are grown, to indicate affection ("My dear...")
Ne - right/okay?
Ja ne - see ya later, bye for now

XxX

-Reveiwer-Response-

lovely1 - I love this story already! Plz write more .
(- sniffs -) you're my very first reviewer for this fic! a BIG THANK YOU to you! (- huggies -) lol, now for a response! wowzers! you love this /already! man, either i'm getting better at this fanfiction thing, or you're just really into a KaoKenEni love triangle! either way, domo arigatou for your review! i hope you liked this chappie, and you'll review for future ones too :)

Princessyoukai - oh, I can't wait to see what happens o What's Enishi going to do! What's Kaoru and Kenshin going to do? o NEED UPDATE! I can't wait for Enishi to get jealous! WOOT. I'm a KK fan myself but I can't help but want to pair Kaoru up with a complete psychopath who's just lost his way because of his sisters death and yadda yadda! lol. GO KAORU-FANS! Good job! Keep up the good work!
out of the few reviews i've received, yours made me the happiest! i love long and random reviews (cuz i write the same kind) that talk about my work! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! it means so much to me that you enjoy the fic! i hope this at least answered a few of your questions, and that you enjoyed this chappie too, hehe :)

GreenEyedFloozy - Update soon! PLEASE! It's so good!
short. sweet. to the point. i like it! lol! WOW! someone of /your/ stature is reviewing one of /sessha's/ fics:O (- faints -) ...(- 5 hours later -) whoa... (- shakes head -) i still can't believe it! lol! well in any event - THANK YOU SO MUCH! i'm glad that aurore-chan liked this lil ficcy at all, that i am:) honestly, i thought i wouldn't get /any/ reviews for this fic! it's good to be surprised, ne? (- winx -) :)

are-en1 - Oh, I like this story.Pls continue
plain, but encouraging nevertheless. :) thank you for taking the time out to read my fic. i hope you really liked this chappie. i worked so hard on it! (- sniffs -) and i /also/ hope that i can continue to please you in future chappies, that i do. (- smiles -) and again: thank you for first of all - reading my fic, and second of all - for reviewing for it. so thanks! lol :)

and to anyone else who will review for the first chappie after i post this - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

and to the readers out there who don't review - PLZ REVIEW! even a short and sweet one makes me all giddy and girlie! so plz review for this unworthy one! (for the love of Rurouni Kenshin - REVIEW! lol!)

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thank you EVERYONE who took the time to read this fic! i'll try to keep my updates coming within a week's time (meaning 7 days). i'll do my best to update fast, and keep the chappies long and interesting, but! this one does have other things to do, so if i miss an update date, don't be mad plz! i'll just /try/ to do something to reward your patience in the next update, ok? like make it extra long or add a lil mini fic or something. oh yea, and i know i did descriptions for everyone but Sano and Enishi - GOMEN! don't worry, they'll come in chappie 3, oks? anyway, that's all this one has to say, so again, thx for your time and reviews, and i hope you enjoyed it! til the next update, ja ne everyone! (- waves -) :)

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Phi-Dono rox