"Kaoru and Kenshin"
(Tokyo, 1878)
Kenshin knelt in the warm grass of the Kamiya dojo's yard, repeating the familiar motion of washing clothing. It was late summer, and that day was particularly hot, the sun beating down hard on his back, but Kenshin didn't mind. He had no right to mind, he told himself; he had to work to earn his keep. It wasn't that he was afraid of invoking Kaoru's wrath; he just couldn't stand the thought of making Kaoru work in the sun. They'd already put off the laundry as long as they could, and it had to get done somehow. It would be best if he did it himself.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru called, coming out to where he was. She was wearing her lightest summer yukata with the sleeves tied back, but even then, she looked like she was getting hot. "You know, I can do the rest of the laundry for you if you want. Why don't you go inside and do the dishes or something?"
"No, it's fine, Kaoru-dono," he tried to reassure her. Why was she going out of her way to help him? She always did that, and it bothered him to no end. "Really, sessha has it under control; there's no need for you to worry."
"Damn it! Kenshin, you don't get it, do you? You're always like this. I want to help you, but you never let me. You're always doing things for people, but why can't you let anyone return the favor?"
The silence lay heavily over the two of them. They both realized that there was more at stake here than dirty laundry on a hot day. Finally, Kenshin said, "I just don't want…"
"I can take care of myself, you know. I am shihondai of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryuu, after all. A little sun isn't enough to bother me."
"But…" Kenshin's gaze softened, and he nodded. "This one will go do dishes, then. Oh, and…Thank you, Kaoru-dono." Kaoru smiled back as he went inside.
薫と剣心
End "Kaoru and Kenshin"
MS's notes
Bit long for a drabble… Oh well. It still follows the same general idea as the others. I know I meant to do "Rurouni" for this one, but it's Super Sheba's birthday, so I wanted to try for some K/K instead. Happy birthday, SS!
P.S.: Scene break reads "Kaoru to Kenshin", which translates to "Kaoru and Kenshin".