Did the previous chapter left you hanging? Oh well, enough about that. Let's see Kaoru's reaction.
Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! is all I could say for my delay. I know I said I'll update as soon as possible but we've just finished with our exams. (I failed 2 periodicals [Physics and Earth Sci. Man! I suck at Science!!!] but despite it all I've got pretty good grades and quite a high average. [just let me gloat for a minute okay?!])
16 Want some tea?
It was a cool afternoon just a few weeks after Saito's visit, Kaoru locked herself in her room and would not talk to anybody. Learning about Reiji had meant a lot to her and she was pondering about that right now. Knowing from other people was not good enough for her. Oh no, she wants to go out and know for herself. How exactly? Well that's what she's pondering about as of this moment.
The Kenshin-gumi however is pretty much occupied as of the moment. What of the cleaning and dusting, cooking, eating, dancing you name it. They pretty much stressed themselves to the limit getting everything back in order.
As if insulting them, the sun brightly shone at the top of their heads. Speaking of heads, our rurouni is using his at the moment. Let's take a peek inside his beautiful head. (A/N: ah! Nothing better than a freaky day.)
So Reiji killed his wife and best friend because he wanted t see me? What an asshole! The Battousai side of him said. The rurouni couldn't help but agree except he couldn't call Reiji an asshole. Loony would be a milder way to put it. Because of some guy's obsession with him, they all had to be dragged into this mess. He sighed and took another cloth to clean. (He's doing the laundry, ladies and gentlemen.)
Even if he wanted to save the guy, what can he do? Reiji's only enemy was himself. Him and that stupid obsession for bloodshed! He looked at the cloth he's washing and wished it was Reiji's face, he begun scrubbing it furiously, bubble were flying all over the place.
"That's gotta be some huge stain Himura's cleaning now!" Misao observed as she swept the grounds.
"Yahiko-chan, you didn't pee in your pants again?!" Sano suddenly blurted out to an innocently cleaning Yahiko.
Because Yahiko and Sano were such traditional people, they had to perform their traditional fight. (A/N: Have I told you that my day's freaky? Therefore, resulting to some freakiness in my part?)
Meanwhile…with Kaoru
Caged, that's what she felt. A prisoner of her own mind. Finding no answersto questions flowing in eternally. Her mind, nothing but a desolate space frequently thrown into tumult by flooding memories, but as many as they are, they were all irrelevant. Images of her childhood her early teenage years, images of her father, but none about the rurouni. The one memory she longed for the most.
Who to believe and who to trust, why all this was happening, only some of the questions that has sent her waking, cold with sweat on "Owl Hours".
But she knows one thing, that alone kept her sane. The recovery of her memories would give her the answers. How and when? she put those questions aside.
What she needed were answers. But she wants to find out for herself. She never had any time alone. Those precious moments her heart and mind yearned were kept away from her, locked in some secret compartment of what was not to be known... yet.
Only time could tell, and as she sat in that sun-flooded dojo writing in her "diary", a sort of theraphy her "doctor friend" found efficient to serve as an outlet of emotions. Emotions running wild from within her. Emotions she intends to keep to herself until she's ready.
She looked outside and what a sight that held her for a seemingly endless moment, precious seconds. She was awed, she couldn't help it. She stopped writing just to look, to marvel, to be enraptured. For in front of her was one of the most beautiful creatures, stained and scarred as he was but still... beautiful. [Aren't you glad that was over?! Man1 I suck at prose!]
Kenshin....
Kenshin was surrounded by bubbles. She asked herself if she was dreaming for nothing could be more beautiful. Her eyes flew to the face of the man in question. It was so constricted by concentration he almost looked constipated. She pondered about the rurouni. Maybe he has a serious bladder disease? He really looked like he's holding everything in. Then suddenly as if someone suddenly turned on a machine inside her head, an idea was born. Not exactly brilliant but definitely something. She ran back into the house to find what she needed.
Sano and Yahiko heard rummaging in the kitchen and wondered if it's too early for dinner. They looked at Kenshin's direction and found him hanging the clothes. Misao had already went inside while they were fighting. Now where could Kaoru be?
As if thinking along the same lines they opened the door to Kaoru's room. There was no one. That could only mean one thing, trouble. They immediately changed to frantic mode and begun searching the house. When alas they realized that she might be in the kitchen. They immediately went there blaming the other for their stupidity.
"Why didn't you think of the kitchen earlier, baka?" Sano begun complaining to Yahiko. Worry tires people and he was even in frantic mode.
"We would've checked the kitchen out earlier if only you USED YOUR HEAD! " Yahiko retorted as if he absolutely had no fault in the situation at all.
"Such fools." They heard someone in the background. It was Kaoru, she was wearing a kimono in the lightest shade of blue. Her hair was up in a bundle, sticks holding it together. A pink blush colored her face immediately at the look they gave her.
"What? Haven't seen a woman before?" she said coldly.
"Are you trying to poison us?" they asked in unison.
She let out a coy laugh. Definitely not like the old Kaoru. "Why didn't I think of that!" she said snapping her fingers for emphasis. She straightened herself up and said "Would you like me to?" one corner of her mouth rose.
Both boys shook their heads. She walked past them.
"What's that you've got?"
"Oh, something to drink in. I was bored and thought I'd prepare some tea for us." She said while setting the tray to the floor
"What does being bored have to do with tea?" asked Yahiko innocently.
She simply shrugged her shoulders and said in a somewhat faraway voice, "Back then, when I was in the cave the only thing I did besides training and reading was preparing tea for my master… Does that answer your question?"
"No…" both boys answered in unison. They both seated themselves. Misao just came in. It seemed like she went to take a bath.
"What're you guys doing?" Misao asked in between drying her hair.
"Kaoru's preparing tea." Yahiko said bightly.
Misao cast her a suspicious eye and went nearer.
"There's no poison there. Besides I'm gonna drink too, I don't want to accidentally kill myself." She said as a-matter-of- fact.
"I think I'll pass guys," Sano was holding up one hand. "tea's too mild for me. How 'bout some sake?"
"Sake would be nice, will you get some?" Kaoru smiled at him. No one was even suspicious as to why she's being so nice. Sano bolted upright and went back to his living quarters to get the jug of sake he's been saving.
"Why tea though?" Yahiko asked still innocently.
"Well, I didn't want to join my master in his pot sessions, if you know what I mean." Both he and Misao didn't understood.
"Pot sessions?" asked Misao.
"Um… that means when he smoking some pot, you know, opium." She said as if everyone should have known that like it was 1-2-3.
"It's when I'm preparing tea that I'm able to be at peace with myself when everything seems okay and when I don't feel any pressure at all. That's also the time when I drift to thinking what the outside world looks like. I think it's the same with the laundry, right Himura-san?" she asked looking up at the newly arrived man.
Misao and Yahiko hadn't noticed Kenshin come in. They both looked at his direction. Kenshin only gave them a weak smile.
"I guess it's like that…" with that he let out a fake laugh. Did Kaoru already forgave him for what he's done to her that night? She didn't seem to cringe at the sight of him. Maybe that report about Reiji helped them in more ways than he thought.
Kaoru begun preparing the tea. (I don't know how tea's supposed to be served because I don't drink tea, so I won't elaborate it.) Misao looked at her with surprise. She's never seen Kaoru so lady-like. She looked at Yahiko and he seemed to think the same.
Kenshin however seemed pleased with what he's seeing. Kaoru looked very pretty indeed. A tinge of pink could be seen in her face for she knew all eyes were on her. She prepared the tea with such profound skill she's learned that after that she had four steaming cups ready for each one of them. Sano hasn't arrived yet.
Kaoru drunk hers first. After seeing that she didn't turn purple or choke and no foam was forming in her mouth. Kenshin and the others followed suit. By the end they all had to agree that the tea was great.
Yahiko was looking at Kaoru in a new light. If she could prepare good tea like that, could it be that her cooking has improved as well? He hardly dared hope.
Misao thinking the atmosphere too tranquil for her decided that she'll prepare dinner. She went to the kitchen immediately. Yahiko, energized once again decided he could do some training. Half of himself didn't want to disturb a time romance was blooming again for Kenshin and Kaoru. There were only Kenshin and Kaoru left.
"Um… would you like more tea, Himura-san?" Kaoru hesitantly asked.
Kenshin nodded his head. He wanted to spend time with Kaoru. He took a sip and begun speaking.
"Kaoru-dono, sorry"
"Iie, that's alright. I myself am confused by my name now that I've heard the story about my master. You could call me however you like."
"Ah, that's not it." He gulped more of the tea. It was really good. Kaoru poured him another cup.
"Eh?" she seemed mildly surprised.
"About that night…" he immediately bowed his head ready for some kind of a blow.
"Oh that." She bit at her lip. "I'd rather not talk about it now."
"Right." He really felt uncomfortable. He drunk more of the tea. Again Kaoru poured him some more.
"But you confuse me, Himura-san."
"Please call me Kenshin."
"Alright, Kenshin"
"That's better than Battousai." She smiled a bit. "I confuse you? Why?"
"The way you're treating me is…different. Um… why don't you hurt me, Kenshin like my master does?"
Kenshin took one swig again and said simply that "I didn't want to. I don't want you hurt you, that's all. You are free to think whatever you want. I wouldn't force you into things."
"Oh…" she nodded her head as if trying to understand. She sipped her tea and Kenshin did the same. How much has he drunk anyway? It seems like all of it.
"Kenshin… ah…never mind."
Kenshin decided not to say anything and finished his cup of tea. Kaoru poured him some more. How much was there anyway?
"Kaoru-dono, how did you feel that morning when Saito came?"
"About that? I was confused. True, I didn't know that much about master. It opened new doors for me."
"You said you didn't trust either of us. Have you somewhat changed your mind?"
"Hai, I think, I'm beginning to trust you guys a bit more. Eversince coming here, more memories seem to flood me. Somehow being around you people had done that. You don't hurt me either and I'm happy about that. At first I was scared but you were all nice to me so…I think I'll look for my memories first."
She sipped more of her tea. Kenshin did the same, again.
"Kenshin?"
"Hm?"
"Was I happy… with you?"
"I have reason to think you were. You can still be happy, if you set yourself free."
A long moment of silence passed. They both sat there contentedly drinking their tea. Misao could be heard humming in the kitchen. Yahiko's "ha's" could be heard from outside as well followed by the sound of his shinai swinging.
"Kaoru-dono, are you still angry?"
"Quite." She said curtly, remembering how Kenshin had touched her that night. "but you seemed guilty enough so I forgive you."
Kenshin's heart swelled with happiness. It felt like a huge burden was lifted from his chest.
"And I'm curious…" he heard Kaoru's voice. "what were we like? I mean, the two of us?"
Kenshin immediately blushed at that moment. That seemed to be the only answer Kaoru needed. She nodded her head in understanding and sipped her tea again. Kenshin couldn't believe it! She only drunk one cup when he seemed to have drunk all of the rest.
"S-sano still hasn't arrived…"
"I trust that the sake he's getting must be pretty heavy."
Long silence again. Misao seemed finished cooking already.
"Um… Kenshin?" Kaoru looked at him hard. "Did you love me?"
Kenshin shook his head to say no. He saw the surprise on Kaoru's face. He smiled his famous rurouni smile, "I still do so using the past tense is not right, that it is not."
Kaoru turned a bright shade of red and bowed her head demurely. She seemed so much shyer than before. Misao was about to come now.
"Um… did I… love… you?" she asked slowly. Kenshin's face immediately became sad and said in a subdued voice.
"That is not a question that I have the answer for…" Kaoru seemed disappointed with something then Misao came in bawling…erm singing at the top of her lungs. Kaoru took all the cups away. Kenshin finished his nth cup and wondered what had gotten to Kaoru.
They had dinner almost immediately after Kenshin finished his cup of tea. (A/N: yep! Lots of tea going on today, you did read the chappie title right?)
It had begun raining. Strange, the weather becomes more unpredictable. First, it was shining brightly, the next thing, it was raining hard. Kenshin had saved his laundry in time. It was after dinner that Sano finally showed up. He was drunk to the bones. While coming back to the dojo, he apparently took sips at his precious sake and well, drank a lot.
"Sorry guys, I just couldn't resist." He showed a very toothy grin and slumped to the floor sleeping.
"Nobody would share it with him anyway, I had so much of Kaoru-dono's tea, that I have."
Kaoru quickly went back to her bedroom. Kenshin left the dishes to a reluctant Misao. He just had a bad feeling, he felt like he needed to watch over Kaoru that night. Misao and Yahiko seemed confident that Kaoru wouldn't do anything anymore since she seemed so settled.
When he got to the room, Kaoru was already asleep. He slumped to the wall. Kaoru stirred.
"Gomen, did I wake you?"
"Iie, I'm finding it hard to sleep."
"I'm disturbing you am I?"
Kaoru seemed frantic for an instant. "No! I mean, don't leave me. I'm…I'm scared."
"Alright, I won't leave you." He sat down. Kaoru went back to sleep immediately.
A few hours later...
Kenshin felt like he needed to go. He drunk too much tea and he needed to give in to nature's call. But how was he supposed to go when everytime he stands up Kaoru would wake up and plead him not to leave her. He can't just say, "No can do Kaoru, I gotta pee!".
It was well midnight then and no matter how much he wiggle to control himself he couldn't take it anymore. He feels like he's about to explode! He stood up. Kaoru didn't stir. He breathed deeply and went to the bathroom.
Unknown by him, Kaoru had opened her eyes. She quickly reached a bundle of clothes she hid earlier. Everything went according to plan! She can't help praising herself at how brilliant she was. She stepped outside.
Meanwhile, Kenshin is busy doing his business. When he was done, he had an inexplicable feeling, something seemed wrong. He thought for a moment. He had already saved his laundry. Sano's tucked in his sleep although still drunk. Misao and Yahiko had retired. Then a thought passed through his head and he cursed silently.
yawn well that was it! For those of you who haven't figured things out yet. Kaoru made Kenshin drink all those tea to make his bladder exceptionally full. Then she had to by all means, restrain him from going to the bathroom for a long time until she could escape. Heck! Even though Kenshin's got some training in controlling himself but geez! he's about to explode with all those tea. MWAHAHAHA!!!!! (EVIL LAUGH). A full bladder beats the Battousai!!!! Mwahahahaha!!!!