Standard disclaimer applies.

hopefully, megumi is not so out of character in this chapter. if she is, forgive me...

Chapter 13: Truth is such a simple word…

"You're awfully quiet," Kaoru noted to her friend. Megumi had just joined her in the kitchen looking a little cross. It was also puzzling to Kaoru that she received no teasing remarks about her being in the kitchen. Megumi loved to make silly comments about Kaoru and kitchen. She had gotten used to the doctor's remarks, though. But today, there was none. "I'm preparing dinner," she hinted, trying her best to expose Megumi's usual attitude.

"Yeah, don't make too much. Shinomori will not be eating with us again," the doctor grunted out.

Kaoru pointed a wooden spatula at her friend in an accusing manner. "Is that why you're acting all annoyed and different? Is there something going on between you and Aoshi?"

Megumi scowled. "Sheesh. No wonder Kenji asks those silly questions. He obviously got it from his maternal genes."

Kaoru smiled evilly. "What kind of silly questions, huh? Like, if you are Aoshi's koishii? Ha, ha. Kenji kept asking Kenshin about that the other night."

"Well, tell your son I am not Aoshi's koishii," she rolled her eyes. "And, there's nothing going on between me and Mister icy-cold man," she glared in a snobbish way. "Who can stand such a person who rarely talks? I mean, all he says are 'Aa', or 'Indeed' or…ugh." Megumi was surprised at her outburst. Why was she so annoyed at Aoshi anyway?

"Maa, maa, Megumi. You're acting like an under appreciated girlfriend who longs for attention," Kaoru teased. Now was her turn to return all those teasing remarks the kitsune had given her.

"I am not his girlfriend. It's that Aiko lady, his childhood 'friend' and business lover – er, partner I mean."

Kaoru lifted a brow. She was in the mood to be the kitsune for once, and rid her attachment to a tanuki. "Now you sound like a jealous woman. Are you in love with Aoshi?"

The question froze Megumi on the spot. The question was phrased in a silly, teasing manner, yet Megumi received it seriously. Was that the reason why she was annoyed, or even angered at the prospect of Aoshi in love with Watanabe Aiko?

"Geez, Megumi. I was only kidding. You don't have to look so grave serious about it. I know you and Aoshi can never be, you know…more than anything because of your past," Kaoru shook her head, amused. "Plus, I don't think he's your type," she added with a wink.

"Then who is my type, Kaoru? A redheaded man with a cross scar on his right cheek who keeps saying 'oro'?"

Kaoru chuckled. "Now, I thought for a moment the kitsune in you was gone. Glad you're back to your real self, Megumi," she patted Megumi, as she made rice. She was happy Megumi was back teasing her about Kenshin. Before, it used to scare Kaoru how Megumi constantly joked about Kenshin.

Megumi uncharacteristically chewed on her nails. What if Aoshi's my type? What is wrong with that? She questioned herself. They shared a horrible past together, can't that be replaced by a wonderful future? She shook her head, tired of confusing herself.

"So… he is your type?"

"What?" Megumi turned to Kaoru. Was this girl capable of hearing people's thoughts?

"You asked me what if Aoshi's your type. Or was that a rhetorical question?" Kaoru pursed her lips. Megumi was sure confusing her. "So the actual question is, is Aoshi your type?"

Megumi turned her back on her friend, and went on chopping some carrots. She was awfully shopping hard, with the knife thumping hard on the chopping board. It would take a lot to control her self from an outburst over Kaoru's silly questions. "I never said anything like that?"

"Yes you did. I'm not deaf you know," Kaoru insisted. She gave her friend a loud sigh. People always thought of Kaoru as innocent, or even ignorant when it came to romantic aspect. But she would not be happily married for five years without learning. "I think you're thinking out loud, Megumi. You should be careful who hears you. It was a good thing I heard that, and not Yahiko or Kenji. Or worse, Aoshi."

So she was indeed thinking out loud. Megumi's cheeks were tainted red. She was embarrassed to say the least.

Kaoru proceeded to get more water from the well outside. Just before stepping out of the kitchen, she gave Megumi a hearty smile. "Your secret's safe with me, Megumi-chan," she winked.

"What secret?" Megumi squeaked, but she knew what Kaoru was talking about.

Kaoru paced around the room, glad Megumi was not shooting playful insults at her for staying in the kitchen. Kaoru actually loved being inside a kitchen, cooking and all, despite the worse outcome. She sighed. This was one rare moment she would always remember being inside a kitchen: talking about Megumi's feelings and Aoshi. She wanted to laugh out loud. She had imagined the day Megumi would be the one having those girlish emotions about a boy; she expected the boy to be Sagara Sanosuke, not Shinomori Aoshi. Kaoru turned to her friend wearing a serious face.

"Megumi, tell me about Aoshi."

Megumi sighed out loud. She continued to chop some vegetables to at least make her do something in the normal range. "He is a strong man, both in a literal and figurative sense. 'He is intelligent' would be an understatement; I believe him to be a genius. His presence makes me feel calm and peaceful nowadays, compared to before. He is beautiful, and I can just drown in those blue eyes. He makes me hope for a better future. He makes me believe in that hope. He is the person I could not imagine my life without," she paused. Megumi could not believe she was saying those words.

Yet those words were the truth.

"Kaoru, I want him to be my happiness. I want him in my life…" Tears were suddenly dripping down Megumi's pale cheeks. Megumi did not want to cry. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. "Kaoru… I don't know what's wrong with me. Thinking of him makes me smile, yet cry at the same time." She sighed once more. "I am a fool. That's what you're probably thinking right now, ne?" Megumi looked at her friend, eyes blurry with tears. "What is wrong with me?" she whispered once more.

Kaoru made her way towards Megumi, her friend. She gave her a slight hug. "Nothing's wrong Megumi. You let your heart talk for once, and right now, your heart cries out for the person it desires," she gave Megumi an encouraging smile. Years of marriage made Kaoru a sentimental poet. Her words though soothed Megumi.

"My heart cries out for the person it desires?" Megumi echoed in a low tone. It sounded the truth.

It was the truth.

And Kaoru was the one who made her see it.

Sorry for the long update. Work was tiring. Also, I got extended for another week so yay! for me…easy work and easy money. What more could I ask?

Anyways, thanks for all those who reviewed. (kitsune-chan, sorry if I haven't replied to your emails. Just real busy. I dedicate this chapter to you, for compensation.) I truly appreciate these reviews and I'm highly honoured to say the least.

Enjoy this chapter, though short, as I've enjoyed writing it.