This one does not own the Kenshin-gumi and makes no profit...blah blah blah
Chapter 2
Early Evening
Kaoru had successfully evaded yet another meal, though her stomach began protesting even more. Trying her best to ignore the searing pains in her side and her head, she helped clean up the meal that Sano and Yahiko had torn through like an angry tornado. Kenshin seemed a bit pre-occupied, but Kaoru paid no mind as she finished piling the dishes into the wash basin in the kitchen.
"Kenshin," she smiled cheerfully at him, despite the growing emptiness in her stomach that made her want to grimace. He looked over at her, though he didn't smile. His mind seemed to be elsewhere.
"What is it, Kaoru-dono," he said in a voice that seemed deeper than normal...less rurouni. But Kaoru didn't have time to notice. She had to get out of there soon before Kenshin heard her stomach make those unpleasant sounds it makes when one is hungry.
"Kenshin, I have to run to town for a while. I told a friend I'd help deliver something for them. I won't be back until late, ok? So don't worry about me." She smiled as she finished her speech, though she didn't really like lying to his face. It wasn't exactly a total lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. She could only pray that he would believe her and not question her further.
"Alright, Kaoru-dono," he said, his rurouni voice coming back to him. Kaoru smiled and walked gracefully to the door. Kenshin wanted terribly to ask why she was in such a hurry, and why she had not eaten with them for the second time that day, but she seemed cheerful enough, so he only smiled at her as she waved goodbye and made her way out of the house. Kenshin just stood in the center of the kitchen for a while, before deciding that he was worrying over nothing. If Kaoru had a problem, she'd talk to him. Right? ...
Kaoru slowed her pace as she exited the gates, letting out a great sigh as her stomach grumbled most unpleasantly. The pain in her head was also becoming greater, and her eyes almost burned with the force of the headache. But she shook it away, tucking the pain inside the depth of her mind as she made her way into town. Today, she was to deliver things for Megumi, in exchange for enough money to buy food for the next two days. Added on to the money she got for the box, that was five days that she would be able to feed Kenshin and the other two freeloaders. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Since Kaoru couldn't work full time, she had asked Megumi and Tae for odd jobs that she could do when she had spare time. They had readily agreed when they heard her predicament, but since there was hardly anything they could find for her to do, the pay was always minimum. In desperation, Kaoru had begun to sell odds and ends she had collected in the shed in the yard. But not just any odds and ends would do, as enough money was needed to feed the two black holes she was housing. Sano and Yahiko could eat so much, the little money she got would barely feed one of them.
In a final desperate attempt, she began selling some of her most cherished belongings. One of them being her Grandmother's wooden box. Brand new it was quite expensive, but as old age and use had taken its toll upon it, Kaoru had no choice but to lower the price quite extensively. Kaoru had asked Megumi to find a buyer for it, mostly because Megumi had told her of many women saying they would like to find certain things. Kaoru was most delighted when Megumi told her that she found a woman who would buy the box, but she was quite upset that Megumi had told the woman Kaoru was broke.
Kaoru hated feeling useless. She couldn't support the three most important people in her life, and it was extremely difficult for her to admit to herself that she was in trouble. She had the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, to protect the people she loved, but in the end, it wouldn't save them from starvation. She sighed at the complete irony of it.
Finally, she reached the clinic where Megumi was currently working. Stepping in gingerly, feeling out of place, she looked around for the black- haired kitsune, spotting her in a far corner, tending to a patient. Kaoru walked over toward her, almost feeling lost. Megumi looked up for a minute before continuing with her work.
"The stuff is over there," she said without looking up again but pointing to a place behind her. Kaoru looked and saw some packages wrapped in brown paper. There was another piece of paper on top of it all. "The note there on top will tell you where they need to go. Now get busy, Tanuki, before it gets dark."
"Hai," Kaoru said quickly and picked up the packages. She read the note. It was all fairly local, so she should be done soon enough. She glanced over at Megumi who seemed to be concentrating on her work. Kaoru sighed inwardly. Megumi could be a really nice person...even if she did always try to steal Kenshin from her...not that he was hers or anything...Kaoru shook her head. Being hungry made her quite confused.
"Do you want something to eat, Tanuki?" Megumi asked, as if reading Kaoru's thoughts.
"No, Thank you, Megumi. I'll just get this done and then go home." Megumi didn't look up. Kaoru couldn't even see her eyes, but she left anyway, hoping nothing was wrong with Megumi. She seemed more curt than normal. When Kaoru was out of the clinic and out of hearing range, Megumi sighed sadly, but continued with her work.
"You really are a stupid Tanuki...Big-hearted, but stupid..." and with that Megumi continued to aid her current patient...
Late evening
Kenshin sat on the front steps of the house. Kaoru had said she'd be late and not to worry, but that didn't mean he couldn't wait for her to come home. The stars were beginning to come out and the crickets chirped purposefully, the sounds of the cicadas dying out with the day. The sun left cherry red streaks in the sky, which contrasted with the sapphire hue of the night.
Kenshin's attention slipped to the front gates as he heard them creak open. Kaoru stepped through, a pained look on her increasingly pale face. Kenshin jumped up immediately, fearing something had happened to Kaoru, but when she looked up and saw him, she smiled a bright smile, and his worries sort of melted away...sort of.
"Konbanwa, Kenshin," she said, her smile still there on her face. He looked at the softness in her eyes and wondered why she looked so hurt before. "Kenshin?" Her worried voice drew him out of his thoughts and he smiled at her.
"Konbanwa, Kaoru-dono. Did you have fun with your friend?" he asked, most sincerely.
"Huh? ... Oh, yeah! Yeah, I helped her deliver the uh...thing and, then we just sort of chatted the rest of the evening away. It was fun." She felt her stomach start to twist in knots, both from being hungry and from lying to Kenshin. She had never had to lie before but...she just couldn't bring herself to tell him.
Kenshin looked at her worriedly. He could tell something was wrong. She wasn't able to answer his question immediately. She had even stumbled over her words. And her eyes held something, something he couldn't quite see, but knew was there. Was she...was she lying to him?
"Ne, Kenshin. I'm kind of tired, so I'm going to go to bed now."
"Oro? Ah, alright Kaoru-dono." He was so busy thinking about what just occurred. He was almost positive...but why would she lie to him?
"Oyasumi nasai, Kenshin!" Kaoru cheerfully exclaimed as she trotted into the house. She had to get away quick before her stomach made that awful noise again. Not two feet before she reached her room, her stomach gave a sad cry of hunger, and searing pain shot through her sides. The headache behind her eyes was getting worse, and she felt like she wanted to just fall over and die. But she couldn't. Everything she was doing was for the good of the others. She couldn't give up. They were her most important people, and she'd take care of them if it killed her...
Okay then...two chapters up in one day...more to come....this won't be too long...at least it shouldn't be....well, review if you want...this one isn't going to make you or anything...
