Gunshot Roses
Chapter Seven
.................... do I have to say it?
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"Kaoru?"
A soft tapping came from the other side of Kaoru's door. She jolted awake, got tangled in the covers and fell to the floor with a bang. She moaned slightly, out of pain and Kanryuu knocked again, "Kaoru? Are you alright? Well, anyway, come downstairs, breakfast is ready."
"Breakfast?" she questioned, getting changed. "But I never eat breakfast, and besides I have my chores to worry about."
"Chores?" he slightly laughed. "You don't have to worry about those, you're part of the house now, and you are above chores."
"Are you sure? I mean, it'll be harder for the others to work." She brushed through her hair and thought, 'Although . . . no, no, no, mustn't think like that! The others have chores, why shouldn't I?'
"Come on, Kaoru, you and I both know that you do the minimum amount of work around here, so you could work at that bar . . . Remember? I said you could only work there if you finished your chore everyday. I'm not stupid . . . I know what's going on . . ." Kanryuu laughed again.
"Fine . . ." she whispered. "I'll join you . . ."
'He manipulates people, by using their weaknesses,' she thought to herself. 'If only there was a way I could have no weakness . . . but as long as I love Kenshin, I guess Kanryuu will always have the upper hand.'
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Breakfast was silent. Kaoru didn't want to speak, for fear her tongue would betray her thoughts. Her mind raced as she ate in silence. She thought of the possibility of sending Kenshin away, where she couldn't see him, and maybe she would forget. But they say absence makes the heart grow fonder. She also knew that Kenshin wouldn't go unless she told him that she hated him or something. Even then, her eyes would betray her, like they always did.
She stared down at her meal. She then realized that Kanryuu was watching her. She met his intense gaze, but quickly looked away. "It's good . . . the food I mean . . ." she managed to say.
"I haven't noticed . . . I was to busy-"
'Please don't say "I was intoxicated by your beauty",' she thought, turning her head away.
"-being intoxicated by your beauty," he grinned, thinking he was the most clever man alive.
She groaned inwardly and smiled on the outside, "I thank you for your kind words."
"Have you made a decision yet?" he asked, obviously referring to his marriage proposal.
'I get it now,' she thought, 'he wants to sweet talk his way into my heart by letting me stay here and not making me do chores, and giving me pampered treatment.'
"No Kanryuu . . . I've actually been so worried over my health, that I haven't given it much thought . . . I promise you though, I will seriously consider everything you offer." She smiled politely and excused herself from the table.
His eyes watched her go, and he sighed, "What are you going to do today?"
She turned around, "Huh?"
"I'm not allowing you to go to the bar anymore, and I don't think there's much to do around here, so what will you do all day?" Kanryuu grinned a little.
"I actually wanted to see if anyone need any help with chores . . ." she smiled.
"You will do no such thing!" Kanryuu shouted across the dining room. She stared at him. "You are now above chores, I told you that. I will hear nothing of this, helping with chores nonsense. You are no longer a servant."
"B-but . . . very well then . . ." Kaoru sighed. 'I have to play by his rules . . .' she thought. "Then will you allow me to go into town? I think I would enjoy doing a little shopping. My sister needs a new skirt . . . she ripped hers."
"Fine, but I will accompany you. I have some business anyway, and I am worried for your well being." He stood and smiled. Kaoru nodded with a sigh and went to get her shawl.
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"Kanryuu, really, you don't have to watch me like a hawk . . ." Kaoru complained, as Kanryuu stared over her shoulder at a vendor's stand. He huffed and pulled away.
"I have to get to that business I mentioned earlier. I'll be back at twelve o'clock. Meet me in the center of town, by that hat shop then." Kanryuu stalked off and Kaoru watched him go in surprise. 'I wonder what his 'business' entails . . .'
An hour later, Kaoru sat in front of the hat shop, the gift for her sister in hand. It was ten minuets past the time had Kanryuu said, and she was getting a bit restless. She looked up and caught a flash of red hair. Her heart pounded as the owner of that hair walked towards her. She stood up and smiled whole heartedly.
"Good afternoon, Milady!" Kenshin greeted, cheerfully. "What brings you to town?"
"Oh! My sister, she tore her skirt. I had to get her a new one." Kaoru held up the newly purchased skirt in a bag. Kenshin nodded and smiled. "And . . ." She didn't really want to tell him about her being here with Kanryuu, but . . . .
"Oh, Misao told me about Soujiro . . . I am so terribly sorry . . ." Kenshin hid his eyes from her, not wanting to meet her sorrowful gaze.
"It's not your fault, Kenshin . . ." Kaoru half smiled.
"But it is . . . I've gotten you in more trouble then necessary by being here . . ." he looked up at her. "Kanryuu might hurt you next."
"Not a chance . . ." she sighed. "If he ever wants to woo me, he wouldn't hurt me . . ." she waved her hand in the air dismissingly. "And I know that in particular, at this moment in time, he'll be doing nothing to me . . ."
"What do you mean?" Kenshin said, as they both sat down where Kaoru had previously been sitting.
"He's gone to such extents as to ask me to live in the house with him . . ." she answered calmly.
"What?! How dare he!" Kenshin said, moving to stand.
Kaoru placed a gentle hand on his arm and he settled. "It's alright . . ." she whispered. Her hand rubbed his arm rhythmically. "It's alright . . . I'll be fine, okay? Listen . . . I want you to be careful . . . I know you're probably good with a weapon . . . but Kanryuu might try to kill you, if I screw up! You have to promise me that if anyone comes after you, you'll leave . . ."
"Kaoru . . ." he whispered. She stared at him and he smiled suddenly, "That would break a promise I made you, it would. You are very contradicting person."
She pouted slightly and he laughed. "Fine, but if you die . . ." she smiled slightly, "I die too."
"I will be sure never to die, just to keep you alive then. You're too beautiful to die." He laughed and pushed her hair behind her ear.
She blushed and sighed, "If only I was free and beautiful . . ."
He grinned and leaned towards her, "Meeting you wouldn't be half as fun then."
"You should leave . . ." she whispered, their foreheads touching. "If Kanryuu finds us . . . He'll be none too pleased . . . besides . . . you could have another woman, who would be easier to romance . . ."
"Ah," he sighed, "but would I want her, if that was the case?"
For a third time, their lips met. They heard a few people around them gasp and they pulled away quickly. Kaoru was completely red, having drawn the attention of practically the whole town. Kenshin raised an eyebrow. He had known that their foreheads touching had been scandalous enough, but he was to busy thinking about how beautiful Kaoru was to care. A few whispers were heard and sounded to be along the lines of, "Isn't that Kanryuu's woman?"
Kaoru looked at Kenshin mournfully upon hearing those words and he grinned, shaking his head. He stood and joked, "I would like to do this again sometimes; your lips are all too perfect, so there's no way I can stand being away from them . . ." He blinked and heard his own words, "I meant you! Really, I meant you!" She smiled and he went on, "But perhaps in more privacy next time, right?"
"Yes . . ." she blushed again and he laughed.
"See you soon, okay?" he a fingered her cheekbone and walked away slowly. "I should go. Kanryuu would have my as- . . ." he noticed the disapproving looks a few old ladies were giving him and he corrected himself, "ashes in a jar and sent to China if he knew I was here!"
She laughed and shook her head, "What am I going to do with you, cowboy?"
'Marry me someday. . .' was his initial thought to answer her. The thought made him smile even more and he answered, "I don't know!"
He waved and disappeared into the crowd. She smiled and an old lady waddled over to her. Kaoru looked down in surprise, "May I help you, elder?"
"I thought you were that broad Kanryuu Takeda is courting . . . Aren't you marrying him?" she old woman asked.
Kaoru's blush returned, "Courting? . . . I . . . uh . . ."
"Cheating on him already? My, my, you are a whore!" the old woman shook her head contemptuously
"Elder?!" she gasped at the name she was christened. "Y-you don't even know me!"
"Sometimes you don't have to know a person to know what type of person they are." She turned and walked away.
Kaoru said nothing and stared in amazement. Kanryuu came by soon to collect her and escort her home. She went willingly, feeling bad about what the old lady had said.
'Am I just a . . . a whore?'
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Kanryuu stared at Kaoru in the carriage. She shifted, uncomfortable in his gaze and looked out the window. When his gaping became too much for her she looked him straight in the eye, "What is it you want Kanryuu? You've been staring at me for the past fifteen minutes."
"I'm sorry, darling, I just love the way you look. You're such a beautiful woman." He smiled sinisterly.
"I just . . . well . . . granted I love the way you look and that's what caught my eye at first, but . . . uhh . . ."
Kenshin's words came to mind, but they were so much more endearing then that of Kanryuu. The way a slight twinge of pink crept on his cheeks, the way he was stuttering and how he faintly fidgeted. She had known what he meant. He was calling beautiful, but he knew that she was much deeper then beauty.
But for Kanryuu, however, all she felt like was a piece of meat. He was such a one-night-stand kind of guy she was sickened. Kanryuu would never understand her, nor would he try. She would never be deeper then her skin to him and that always would bother her.
She snapped out of her ravine of thoughts and muttered a "Thank you" under her breath. He nodded and she looked away, knowing full well that his eyes were staring a bit lower then her face.
"Kaoru?" he called her. She looked back at him. "Do you love me?"
Her eyes widened and her face paled. She immediately thought of Kenshin and a small blush appeared. Her mind raced with answers. Yes. Not entirely. No. I hate your guts. How could you ask that? You're such a jerk and a pervert.
"Why do you ask?" she stammered.
"Aren't women usually in love with the man they are to marry?" he snickered.
"Kanryuu . . . I-I n-never gave you an a-answer." She kept tripping over her words as they came out.
"Oh, but I know what that answer will be. Kanryuu Takeda always has his way." His hand reached for hers. In her shock, she felt she couldn't pull away.
Thunder rolled across the vast plains of desert and assaulted Kaoru's ears. Like the rain that was surly falling where the thunder had emitted from, her tears splashed to the ground. Kanryuu licked his lips nastily. He jerked her towards him and kissed her, forgetting all gentility. Her tears continued and he pulled away, grinning like mad with fever.
"You're lips are so . . . are so . . ." He'd eyes ran over her face as he tried to think of a sly and flattering remark.
"I would like to do this again sometimes; your lips are all too perfect, so there's no way I can stand being away from them . . ."
Kaoru let out a small sob, and Kanryuu forgot to finish the rest of his sentence. He pulled her to him again and forced another kiss on her. She thought of pulling away and slapping him but . . .
"Listen . . . I want you to be careful . . . I know you're probably good with a weapon . . . but Kanryuu might try to kill you, if I screw up!"
She could only close her eyes, and pretend, with all her heart that it was the one she truly wanted to kiss. 'He would never be this rough with me!' her mind shouted. 'But, if this is the only way . . . Oh, gods! Please! Let someone help me!'
As if on cue, the carriage jolted and the two were thrown to opposite sides of coach. Kaoru breathed shallowly while Kanryuu fixed his glasses.
"When we get inside," Kanryuu said, "please don't forget about dinner. I asked the cook to make something special for us . . . being it's our first dinner together."
"Yes . . ." she said, emotionlessly.
"Kaoru?" he asked. She looked up and he smiled. "You never did answer me."
"I . . ." her mind raced again. What was she going to say?
"Kanryuu might try to kill you if I screw up!"
She looked up at him and answered truthfully, "Kanryuu, I'm really not sure what to say . . . I just . . ."
"It's just a simple yes or no, but I can understand . . . love between a master and servant is morally forbidden. Don't worry, once you stop feeling like a servant, you'll warm up to me right away." Kanryuu smiled as the coach stopped in front of their house.
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Most of dinner was as uneventful as breakfast had been. Although, the difference was that Kanryuu spoke more during dinner then he had during breakfast. Kaoru tried to follow the rules that would accommodate his mind frame, which happened to be along the lines of: Women should be seen, not heard; Women don't have opinions; Women will do whatever the man says without hesitation; Women are replaceable.
She wanted to slit her wrists, or at least do that to him. He talked, and talked about the most insignificant things, and expected her not only to listen to his every word, but agree with all her heart. Kaoru's thoughts were all throughout dinner: Strike this man down where he stands, God, or so help me, I will.
She nodded and tried her best to keep her eyes on her food. However, she couldn't even eat it, let alone finish it. It was a steak! A whole steak! She had never seen a piece of me this big. She felt guilty, her brother, sister, and Soujiro are only getting some slosh they call soup and a piece of bread each.
'I'll say I'm not feeling well . . . take some food to my room, and sneak out, to give them a taste of the good life. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat anything Kanryuu has served though, it's too rich . . . I mean, when my family is suffering, I don't want to eat a meal as embellished as this one . . .' she silently mused. She was about to go through with her plan, when Kanryuu addressed her for a more personal reason.
"Kaoru . . . I don't think I want you leave this house. At all. I'm serious this time. If I'm not around to escort you, you may not leave this house. Got it?" Kanryuu peered at her over his entwined hands that were propped up on the table by his elbows.
Kaoru gaped at him, "What?! But . . . I mean . . . can I at least go to visit my family?"
Kanryuu laughed, as if this was a comedy, "Of course, I just meant not going into town at all. But honestly, I don't want you going there, it's a dangerous place."
'Dangerous for your love interest . . .' she complained in her head. "But Kanryuu . . ."
"No buts!" he thundered as if he was God himself.
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Later on, she was able to sneak away to see her family. Soujiro was doing well, and could hold a conversation, Aoshi was still dazed by the meeting with Misao, and Tsubame was asleep. Tsubame had to take over most of Sou's chores, since she worked in the stables with him, and knew what to do and what goes where. Kaoru smiled at her sleeping form and placed the new skirt on a dresser top.
She told Aoshi and Sou of Kanryuu's new rule and they had a similar reaction that she did. She sighed and told them about the stagecoach ride, leaving out a few details of course. All they knew was that he had attempted to kiss her but the coach was jostled. She told them that she was going to send a letter to her friends in town and tell them of what happened. Aoshi nodded approvingly and Soujiro said nothing, seemingly deep in thought.
"Kaoru," he said suddenly, "I bet we could pull off what we did before, when I helped you sneak out."
Kaoru blushed and nodded. Aoshi shook his head, "I only said yes that time because not only was I stupid, but Kaoru wasn't as in love with that one as she is now. Also, Kanryuu didn't have that much of a liking for her then. Doing something like this now is out of the question."
"But brother!" she pleaded.
Aoshi's face softened, "But I will help letters be sent back and forth . . . I'm sure, if we just wait a little bit . . . something will happen, and help us turn our luck around."
"You'll really give them letters from me when you go into town?" Kaoru said, getting excited.
"Of course, sister." He smiled. "I'm going into town tomorrow, matter of fact. I have a bit of work there for the next week or so, to earn some extra money. I think there's a quill and ink along with paper in that top draw." He pointed toward the draw and her eyes light up. She quickly took out the supplies and wrote a letter out.
She gave it to Aoshi, "Thank you so much, brother." He nodded and slipped the letter into his jacket.
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"Excuse me?" a voice called from behind the inn door while the owner of the voice knocked.
Kenshin got up to open it and smiled, "Why hello, Sir Aoshi. To what occasion do I have to thank for this visit?"
"The Warlord Kanryuu, of course," Aoshi answered coolly. "He has now deemed the whole town unworthy of seeing Kaoru, so she won't be in town for a while. A long while."
"Is that so?" Kenshin sighed.
"Well, it was actually because he doesn't want to have the chance that you'll persuade Kaoru's decision, but either way . . . In any case, Kaoru gave me a letter to give to you. I'll be in and out of town for a while, so if you have a reply, you'll probably find me around the hardware shop in the middle of town." Aoshi handed Kenshin the letter and nodded.
Kenshin took it, gratefully and read the contents.
Kenshin,
I'm really sorry, but Kanryuu has forbidden me from leave the estate's
boundaries. All he's allowing me to do is stay at home and . . . come
to think of it, there's nothing to do and he's not allowing me to busy
myself with cleaning, so I have nothing to do except visit with my
family at night. Thank the heavens that Aoshi was willing to deliver
this message . . .
I have a feeling that Kanryuu's wrath, or I should say love, is just
about to get worse. In the coach ride back from town this afternoon,
he had the nerve to kiss me . . . Honestly! In any case, Soujiro might
help me to sneak out, but my brother doesn't think it wise.
Please tell Misao that she's made my brother so much more of a happy
person. Even if he doesn't look it, I can tell. I hope I can see
everyone soon! And I hope Kanryuu doesn't send someone's ashes to
China before I get to kiss said person again.
Kaoru
Kenshin laughed and shook his head, "You're sister's really something . . ."
Aoshi nodded with a slight smile. "Where's Misao?" he asked suddenly.
Kenshin thought for a moment and answered, "I have no idea . . . Her and Megumi lefted a while ago . . . They'll probably be back soon, they know we have things to do and Megumi always gets tired of Misao's mouth after a while."
Aoshi laughed a bit, "Yes, well, she doesn't stop talking very easily." Aoshi checked his watch, "I must leave; I have work to attend to. Give her a hello from me and don't forget: I'll be around the hardware shop in town."
"Alright," Kenshin nodded and held the door open for Aoshi.
Aoshi paused before leaving, "Thanks for taking care of her . . ."
Kenshin smiled and Aoshi lefted the inn.
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The plan to sneak out was a failure. Kanryuu had decided to take a vacation from his work and stay at home more with Kaoru. Kaoru knew that with him relentlessly watching her, she wouldn't be able to steal away. After thinking about it, Kaoru had to wonder exactly what it was that Kanryuu did to make so much money. Upon asking what it was he did, he hollered at her that she should know her place and not question the master.
Kaoru seeing her 'cowboy' was also a not viable. As long as Kanryuu was around the house, there was no way she was sneaking out and there was no way he was sneaking in. Kanryuu would sometimes go on about how people like Kenshin should be condemned to hell, but Kanryuu never gave a specific reason why. Kaoru would just try to keep quiet and bite on her bite to the point where her teeth pierced the skin. She didn't know if she could take another boring lecture about how Kenshin is a horrible person.
It was three long weeks after Kanryuu had decreed the town unsuitable for Kaoru. Many letters had been sent back and forth between Kaoru and her family and Kenshin and his group. Most of those letters were brought by Aoshi or Sanosuke, since Kanryuu didn't know Sano. The letters, unbeknownst to Aoshi or he might not have delivered them, were mostly sweet nothings between Kenshin and Kaoru. Kaoru could have sworn that one or two of them delivered by Sano to her hand been skillfully pried open and resealed, but in any case she didn't care. He knew of their love, so what did it matter?
When Kaoru was finding things to busy herself with, Kenshin was miserable. He felt he failed Kaoru and wasn't able to protect her. Kanryuu, after all, always had something up his sleeve and he might try to confront her again. She hadn't given him her answer yet, so of course he was trying to get it out of her. She kept making excuses, such as: "My one cousin died this week, so I don't think I can, I'm trying to be mournful," and Kanryuu actually bought it. Kenshin still felt guilty though because he had promised Kaoru that he'd try to get her freedom and he hadn't been able to yet. Not that he hadn't been trying, but he had to wait for now.
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Kenshin lay on his bed at the inn, hands tucked behind his head, deep in thought. Misao bounced in suddenly and he sat up.
"Himura! Himura! Himura!" she called, jumping on top on his stomach.
The wind was knocked out of him but managed to huff, "What Misao?"
"You got a letter!"
"From Kaoru?"
"No!! From the government!!" she bubbled. "It's gotta be about-"
"Give it here!" he shouted, not listening to the rest of what she had to say. He reached for it but she pulled it away.
"Say please!!" she giggled.
"Please!!" he begged. She gave him the letter and he ripped in open and read it. "Holy sh-"
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"-it isn't what I want to do. But duty calls." Kanryuu smiled. Kaoru gave him a blank stare and he sighed. "I'm sorry, Kaoru, I'd rather stay at home and waste time with you but this is urgent. I was able to do minimum amount of work in order to stay home with you to make you feel . . . comfortable, but I can't waste anymore time. My . . . business needs me." He fixed his tie and smiled, "You understand, don't you?"
"Perfectly," she muttered. A thought went through her mind and a small smile came to her face. "You think I could come with you? Shop around town?"
"No!" he said abruptly. She looked at him in surprise, "I mean, no, no I don't think it's proper."
"But what does formal-"
"No, Kaoru! No!" he shouted again.
She huffed and walked away to her room. When Kanryuu left, she went to the servants' quarters and found Soujiro sitting in her old room, carving into a piece of wood. She talked to him for a while and he just kept smiling. She finally was getting tired of him barely replying and shouted, "Sou! I'm not in a good mood! Why the hell do you keep smiling?!"
He looked her in the eye, "Cause you're gonna get to see them. Tonight."
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"Man, he's been in the dumps for too long now!" Sanosuke said, slamming his fist to the table, a bit drunk. "I'm telling you, it ain't healthy!"
"We know that, but there's not much we can do," Megumi sighed.
Misao came down the stairs, "He said that he's gotta think it over."
"I see . . ." Megumi sighed. "Well then . . ."
"Why is everyone so gloomy around here?" Yahiko piped up. "He's bounced back before, he'll do it again!"
Megumi smiled at the younger boy appreciatively, "Let's hope so."
Sanosuke got up abruptly and muttered, "I'll be back in an hour at the most."
He walked out and Megumi called after him, "Wait! Where you going?!" He was gone by the time she called and she sighed, "What's gotten into everyone?"
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Kenshin stared at the ceiling, in the same position he had been when Misao had unexpectedly came through the door. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Damn I miss her," she said to no one.
The door opened slowly with a squeak and Kenshin sighed, "Misao, go away."
"But I'm not Misao . . ." a rich voice said sweetly.
Kenshin sat up, "Kao-" he was cut short upon seeing the woman before him. It was in no way Kaoru.
The woman looked young, but . . . experienced in life. She had dark plum eyes and long lashed that fluttered alluringly. She had long black hair with a green tint that was pulled oddly on the top of her head, with a few strands that were falling loose and resting on her hoary pale skin. Her dress was that of a showgirl. It was a dark red top with green trim that stopped just above her thighs and a similar colored bussel that rested just above her hips covered the back half of her long legs. She sighed and he noticed the jade color painted on her lips and the small beauty mark near the corner of her mouth. Kenshin looked at her face closer and noticed the immense amount of make-up applied to the woman.
She walked towards him and pursed her lips together in a smile, while swinging her hips. He swallowed hard and sat up. She delicately moved her dress and sat down on the bed next to him. He looked at her with widen eyes and choked out with his voice cracking, "What do you need?"
She smiled again in a seductive way and raised an eyebrow, "What is it that you need?"
"Oro . . ." Kenshin muttered, his face becoming completely red. "I- I- . . . I don't need anything from you, Miss . . .uh?"
"Yumi Komogata," she wink and held her hand out, palm down, to Kenshin. He gave her a confused look, and turned her hand to shake it. She laughed, "You're something else."
"Why are you here, Miss Yumi?" he asked again, trying to word in a way she could make it inappropriate.
"I was sent here to cheer you up," she laughed faintly. "What's troubling you, partner?"
"Well . . . uhh . . ."
"Come on . . ." she said leaning forward, "tell Auntie Yumi . . ."
He found that terribly uncouth not to mention misused but he tried to tell her, thinking she might lay off if he did, "Well . . . I'm being separated from the woman I love," he said, trying to give her a hint. She apparently missed it and he went on, "She's been asked to marry another man that will most likely abuse her and she doesn't love him. But he's blackmailing her into believe there in no other way but to marry him."
"Oh that's terrible . . ." she feigned pity while leaning forward. She lifted herself up and settled in his lap.
"M-M-M-Miss Y-Yumi? C-Could you s-stop that?" he squeaked.
"Yes, but I don't want to," she said playfully. He swallowed hard again, trying to knock the lump out of his throat. "Maybe you should . . ." she pushed him back, so he was propped up on his elbows, "move on and forget her."
"Miss Y-Y-Y-Yumi??" he stared at her. He was beginning to hate himself for not being a rougher man like Sanosuke and also for having a weakness to people; women and children in particular.
"Relax, she's not here . . . have some fun," Yumi tried to seduce him. He pulled back from her, using his arms and shook his head vigorously. She soon became fascinated with the buttons on his shirt.
He gagged, "M-Miss Y-Y-Y-Yumi?!?! Oro!!!!!!"
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A young man with dark hair hidden by the cowboy hat he wore stepped into the inn. He had on brown riding pants and suspenders that went over a baggy white button down shirt. His eyes were a sapphire blue and had peculiarly long lashes. He was built small and if not for the pants, looked like a woman.
Megumi glanced at the new comer, but quickly looked back down to Misao's hair, which she happened to be re-braiding. Misao did the same thing, but looked back at the stranger a second time.
"KAORU?!!" she gasped. "Oh my God!!!"
Kaoru removed her hat and her raven hair fell down her back. Her boots clicked against the floor as she walked towards them. Yahiko and Megumi's mouths dropped. "You look just like a guy!!" Yahiko spat out.
She made a face, "Gee, thanks." She looked at Megumi and smiled, "Where's Kenshin?"
"U-Upstairs!" she said, starting to get over the initial shock. Kaoru ran towards the stairs with a huge grin. "Hurry up woman! He needs you!" she called. She heard Kaoru laughed half way up the stairs and she turned to Misao, "She's a good person . . ."
"Yeah . . ." Misao nodded. Megumi chided her and told her to hold still or she'll never be able to braid all her hair.
"She's still not attractive," Yahiko muttered. No sooner then he could breathe again; a medicine chest and a short of knives flew his way.
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'He'll be so surprised!! I can't wait to see the look on his face!' Kaoru giggled to herself. 'I bet he'll be so happy to see me that's he'll swept me off my feet! Oooh now I'm being silly! I hope he doesn't mind I'm dressed like this . . . but if it helped me get out, I don't think he'll care. Or maybe he'll be too busy with my lips to care!' She blushed and giggled at her gushing and slowly crept to the door. She stopped and her eyes widened when she heard a woman's voice on the other side.
"Come on, I don't bite . . . often . . ." she heard the woman say temptingly.
Kaoru gulped with difficultly and thought, 'Please don't be Kenshin, please don't be Kenshin, please don't be Kenshin, please don't be Kenshin . . . Please be Sanosuke . . . I'm sorry, Megumi, but please be Sanosuke . . .'
She opened the door a tiny bit and peeked through. Kenshin lay there, with a beautiful woman on top of him, who was busy unbuttoning his shirt. She gazed at Kenshin who looked like he was about to have a nose bled.
Kaoru stepped back slowly, staring at the door. She felt the wall behind her and slumped to the floor. 'Oh my God . . . Oh my God . . .I know I sort of told him to do something like this . . . but he could have told me!! Oh my God . . .'
She scrambled to her feet and unsteadily ran to the stairs. She reached the first floor and stumbled to find the door. Megumi looked up at her in shock and Kaoru stared for a second, emotions playing over her face as clearly as crystal. She turned and ran outside into the streets.
She walked aimlessly, not caring that everyone was giving her odd stares because of her attire. 'So I'm just a piece of meat to him too? Won't men ever get a brain!! So I was replaceable? So I was worth nothing more then a good time? So I was nothing?! God . . . please just let me die right here . . .'
She stopped and looked up to where her feet had carried her.
'Tae's bar?'
-------------------------
Yumi's hand ran over Kenshin's bare chest and he tried to squirm away. "Miss Yumi get off me . . .!" he yelped as her cold hand touched his skin.
"Mm . . . not yet . . ." she teased.
"Miss Yumi???? Please?!"
"Oh shut up . . ."
"YUMI!" he barked, pushing her off of him and towards the end of the bed. He blinked and sighed, while standing up, "I'm not a rough man, please don't put me in a position where I have to be."
She blinked and stared at him. "You jerk!" she huffed.
"That's a mouthful coming from you," he snapped back.
"Fine . . . leave a girl out in the dirt!" She got up and lefted the room.
"God . . ." he sighed, "what's with women?"
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Megumi saw Yumi coming down the stairs in a huff. Megumi raised an eyebrow at her and Yumi gave her a nasty stare.
Sanosuke came through the door and took a look at Yumi. She wrinkled her nose at him, "I have never met a man who'd turn me down just like that!!!"
"I'm sure you haven't," he grinned.
"Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?!" she yelled back.
Sanosuke put his hands up, "I didn't mean any-"
"Don't expect anymore favors from me!!" she snapped and lefted.
"I think . . . I screw up big time," Sanosuke sighed. "Kenshin's gonna be pissed when he found out it was me . . ."
Megumi tapped Sano's shoulder lightly, "And just who was that?"
"Uhh . . ."
"And how do you know a woman like that?!" Megumi shouted, grabbing his ear and tugging him down to shout in said ear. "I swear you're a perverted JERK!!!"
Sanosuke held his head and uncharacteristically said, "Oro . . ."
---------------------------
"Good girl, now don't cry!"
"But, but, but . . ."
"I have a plan that will work on any man!"
"W-What are you t-talking about?"
"Come upstairs! I have to get you dressed up for the occasion!"
"What?"
"You're gonna make him wish he never took you for granted."
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Kenshin stared, yet again, at the ceiling over head while trying to think over the predicament he was in. The door opens slowly again and Kenshin became annoyed.
"I swear if it's Misao or Yumi OR Sano, I'll kill you!" he growled.
The door continued opening so he sat up to tell whoever it was off. He stared at the figure in the door way and lost all power to think properly.
"My God . . ."
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"Desert Rose, dreamed I saw a Desert Rose, dressed torn in Ribbons and in Bows. Like a Siren, she calls to me."
U2- "In God's Country"
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A/N:
Hey! You like?! I hope! Because it's 13 pages long!!! Oy . . . . Anyway, I'm sorry if it took long, but I don't remember what day it was when I updated last.
And I have something important to say!
::Gets really depressed:: In real life, Kenshin and Kaoru wouldn't work out . . . Here's a lesson in . . .
RL K&K 101:
First off, Kenshin would only see Kaoru as a SISTER!!! Not a girl who he MIGHT POSSIBLY like. He probably doesn't see her as pretty . . . even though he lied and said he did . . . . Also!! Sanosuke doesn't help!! He only tells m- . . . I mean Kaoru that she should tell Kenshin and get it over with because he's obsessed with torturing her . . . well, ok; maybe he WAS trying to help . . . BUT STILL. AND Misao isn't a help with her saying: "Oh it'll work out! Don't worry!" Well you know what? It won't so, there! And that's the truth people!!!!!!!!!
(Nkechele: Please disregard her . . . . I'm telling you this for your own good . . . She's having these weird episodes . . . please don't listen to her, for your own romantic sanity . . .)
Me: Shut up Nkechele!! ::takes a swig of booze:: You should talk, having those weird obsession with all those Japanese singers and actions!!
Nkechele: Mou! They're hot!
Me: Whatever! ::downs another bottle:: 'Till next time! ::hiccup::
-Ciao