Kagamimashta Ai (Mirrored Love).
Genre: Romance
Secondary Genre: General.
Rating: PG-13
Soundtrack to chapter: Gekka no Yasokyoku: Malice Mizer.
Kid: Okay, so maybe I do get to turn this into a angst/tragedy story. I was told that I was a good fluff writer (something I've never been told before!) and that I needed to write a second chapter, so here I am! I hope you all like it! It's going to focus more on Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko (for reasons to be later revealed!). I haven't thought much about this chapter, so if it's a bit more than a little confusing, gomen nasai.
Fuyu: And! I get to help this time!
Kid: sideglances at Fuyu Uh huh. Right. Anyway, he-
Fuyu: Well, I do!
Kid: We'll see. Here's the second chapter, people!
Chapter Two: Reactions.
It had been over a month since Soujiro last kissed Kenshin, and they didn't seem to be slowing down either. Anymore, Kenshin couldn't be found at the dojo, he was at the forest, or a resturaunt, but always with Soujiro. And Soujiro was always with Kenshin. Many believed that the only place they didn't go with each other was the bathroom and bed, though the latter one was arguable to more than a few people. And there was rumors, rumors that made both question each other and their love, but it soon enough died down and all of the rumors were forgotten.
By everyone except for three people that still roamed around the dojo: Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko. They questioned the ex battousai about the rumors, but he'd always dismiss the rumors like they were nothing, and frankly, it was getting on Kaoru's nerves just a little too much. And it wasn't too much longer till her birthday. (an: anyone see a plan in motion here?) She'd get him to tell her the truth if it killed her.
Kaoru walks around, not really looking or caring where she's going, just wanting to walk. It was a cold day for this time of year, but she didn't feel it on her skin, she only felt the hot anger that had swelled up in her mind. She had overheard Kenshin talking to someone. She didn't know who, but she didn't like them, she knew that. She had heard Kenshin and the other person talking, but she never figured out who the other person was. the one time they talked, they talked so softly it was.. Well, indistinguishable to the girl.
"Oro? Kaoru-dono?" Silence, a bit of fabric rustling. "No, I couldn't be with her. She's to.." Silence again, then a sigh. "Hai. That she is. I can't tell her. It'd just break her heart, that it would." A soft whisper, but still too soft to actually hear what's being said. "Of course I'd care." Kenshin lets out a deep sigh. "I know. I'll..." Silence, then movement can be heard. "I don't know. Maybe it'll work itself out." "Kimi ga shinpaibekidenai. Daijobu, ii ka." ("You shouldn't worry so much. It'll be okay.") "Hai, hai."
Kaoru shakes her head, feeling the tears swell up in her eyes once again. She wouldn't cry again. She had swore to herself that she wouldn't, not over something like this. She had better things to-
The girl stops, watching the red haired battousai walk past her, not even noticing her, or even looking up from the ground for that matter. What had gotten him so distracted? A shudder wrecks her frame, and just as she was about to go and follow him, seeing as her curiosity usually got the best of her, a solid grip keeps her in place. The girl turns, ready to attack, when Sanosuke grins at her. She half closes her eyes and sighs.
"Not planning on following him, are you On'nagata?" Sano's grin spreads farther, trying to prepare for her retort, but when it didn't come, he opens his eyes, wishing he hadn't. Tears had once again filled her eyes and threatened to overflow. He backs up slowly, bringing his hands up for defense. "I uh... I didn't mean it Kaoru. I didn't know- Uh.." He stops, seeing her turn toward the dojo. He sighs, scratching the back of his head and following her when she began walking to the once place she had turned toward.
"It's all right Sano. It wasn't you." Was the whisper of forgiveness before she locks herself in her room, leaving a very confused Sanosuke outside. "Duh.." He says. "Right. I guess that explains it." He looks around. "Where is that guy anyway?" Sanosuke shrugs, heading off in the direction of his room. But he never gets there. At the gate stood Kenshin, not looking in, and talking loud enough, though barely, for the rooster to pick out bits and pieces of what he was saying. So he listened, hoping to figure out who the other person, behind the gate, was.
"Sorry, but I have to go, that I do." Kenshin says, looking down slightly. The one on the other side speaks, but is unheard. "I know, and I'm sorry, Sou." Kenshin steps forward, disappearing behind the wall, speaking slowly and quietly to Sou. Sanosuke, being the person he is, and being in the predicament he was in, gets closer to the two. Yes, he was doing this for Kaoru some, and some for his own curiosity, but he was mainly doing this for himself, having this little...thing? No, it was bigger than that, but he wouldn't go as far as to say he was in love with Kenshin, but whatever it was, it was there, and it didn't seem to be going away at all; if anything it seemed to be getting bigger. That could be a problem, considering that, one, Kenshin was a guy, no matter how feminine he seemed, and two, he seemed to already have someone, and three, Kaoru. Nothing else needed to be said, right?
"Sou, you know I can't do that. They'll worry about me, that they will. I promise, I'll stay next time." Kenshin leans foreword, maybe even a little downward (there's someone shorter than Kenshin!) Sanosuke whistles, letting Kenshin know he was there before running up to him, not really giving the other person time to run, or jump depending on who they were. He hooks his arm around Kenshin's neck, rubbing his knuckles into his head before letting him go.
"Think you can go all day without seeing me? I don't think so, Kenshin." He grins, backing up a little because of what he was getting ready to say. "You done talking to whoever it is?" Kenshin's eyes grow and Sanosuke can hear his heartbeat now. "Relax, I'm not going to ask who it is or try and find out who it is." Sano grins at the redhead. "Kaoru was worried about you, Kenshin. Oh, what's for supper. Your turn to cook again." Kenshin laughs, reaching up to scratch at his head.
"Didn't I cook last time, Sano?" Sano grins again. He opens his mouth to say something, but a hand reaches out to Kenshin's and tugs on it child-like. Sano looks at the hand momentarily before shrugging. The Fighter for Hire turns around, calling out to Kenshin.
"Hurry up, I'm hungry, and I'm not in a mood to eat Kaoru's... stuff." He waves to the other man as he walks, disappearing inside.
Kenshin lets out an audible heavy sigh before turning back to Soujiro. He smiles at the boy, getting a half smile in return. Laughing at the boy, and whispering "I'm sorry." into his ear, he kisses Soujiro on the forehead before turning and following Sanosuke.
"Soujiro!" Behind him, Yahiko stands, bamboo sword at ready, a scowl on his face. "How dare you come here!" Soujiro raises his hands, a smile coming up on his face as he tries to explain.
"No, no! I'm not here for a fight! Really, Yahiko-Kun." Yahiko falters for a bit before running toward the boy. Soujiro, being unarmed now, just looks around for a way to escape, but before he can, Yahiko stops, just a few feet from the Tenken.
"Leave. Now." Yahiko says, putting down the shinai, his head bowed. Soujiro cocks his head at the boy, a confused look forming on his face. "Well?" Soujiro shrugs, walking on past the young swordsman. As he passes, Yahiko turns, watching him go, an expression of sadness flooding his features. He sighs, going back into the dojo to be greeted by Kaoru chasing Kenshin out with a bucket. Sano come to stand beside the young trainer and laughs at the two.
"What happened this time?" Yahiko asks, listening to Kaoru's shouts of "tell me Kenshin!" "You better tell me! " "Get back here!" and "Why won't you tell me!" Yahiko shakes his head.
Sano, who just leans against the wall, says "He won't tell her about this new girl." Yahiko looks up at Sano then to the running ex-Battousai.
"Kenshin has a girlfriend?" Sano nods.
"Never knew he had it in him." The man says, giving an almost knowing smile to the red head that was still being chased.
"I saw Soujiro outside just before this happened. He didn't want to fight." He tells Sanosuke suddenly, who goes ridged. Yahiko pokes Sano before the man come's back. "Sano?"
"What, what?" Sano smiles goofily. He rubs Yahiko's head, messing it up even more than usual, before going back inside. "Oh, by the way, Kenshin fixed supper." Yahiko smiles as he runs after the words "fixed" and "supper" in the same sentence. Especially with Kenshin being in front of both. Sano looks back at the entrance of the dojo before slowly walking back inside.
Yahiko, Sanosuke, and Kaoru all grab their spoons, smelling of the soup before eating, Yahiko and Sanosuke 'wolfing it down'. Kenshin laughs as Kaoru smacks Yahiko in the back of the head for slurping and getting the juice on her. The boy samurai growls at her before, instead of retaliating, he goes back to his soup.
"Hey Kenshin." Sano suddenly says, bringing said person back to the table. "What was Soujiro doing outside the gate?" Kenshin's eyes widen and he starts to stutter before composing himself just to answer another question, from Kaoru.
"Soujiro? What did he want?" She asks, setting down her spoon.
"He...ano... just thought he'd stop by, that he did. That's all, Kaoru-dono." He laughs, almost nervously, then cocks his head to the side as Kaoru gives him her worried look before reluctantly going back to the soup. The ex-battousai lets out an inaudiable sigh of relief. He'd have to watch out more, in case one of them connects it, especially Sanosuke, who currently was lost in thought, staring outside again. "Sano?" Slowly, Sano turns his head to look at Kenshin, only smiling, a knowing look in his eyes that he quickly pushes back. The red head unknowingly smiles back, though he was still worried.
It was a queit supper after that, Kaoru bringing up every girl in Tokyo and condeming them to a Hell-like fate, occasionally letting her imagination run away with her. Worriedly, Kenshin watches as a sadistic grin spreads across the assistant managers lips, thinking kami knows what. He reaches over to tap her on her shoulder, but before he can, she lets out a loud (and quiet startiling) "HAH!" as she uses her spoon as a dart against the most current girl, and her unfinished bowl of soup following soon afterword. Kaoru, now coming out of her daydreaming, realizes what happened, and carefully peeks under the bowl that she had used to attack the mans head.
"Oh my gosh! Kenshin are you okay! Gomen nasai, gomen nasai! Are you hurt?" Kaoru stops, looking Kenshin over, then clutches her stomach in a fit of laughter that is soon chorused by Sano and Yahiko's laughter. Kenshin, finding this not in the least.. Well, actually, it was kind of funny... And Kenshin's laughter joins them as he picks the bowl up, setting it down on the table. Finally when all the laughter had settled down, Kenshin gets up and begins to take up all the dishes, piling them in his arms.
"Here Kenshin-san, let me help." Kaoru says, jumping up. She reaches out to pick up a few of the dishes but Kenshin moves a little to keep her out of reach and smile at Kaoru.
"No no, it's alright, Kaoru-dono. I don't min-"
"Yeah, Little Missy. You just stay there and we'll handle these." Says Sanosuke, who suddenly jumps up, scaring Kaoru into sitting back down, and nearly causing Kenshin, despite the swordsmanship qualities, to drop the dishes. Sano catchs a few that do fall and grins. "See? Now, let's go Kenshin-san." He steps over the table and the people to push Kenshin out of the door not giving anyone time to argue.
Kenshin looks behind him at Sano. "I can do this, Sano-kun. Really, it's no problem." Sano gives the red head a sharp look and continues to push him down the hall and to the outside, setting the dishes out of the other man's arms. Kenshin looks at his friend worriedly. "Sano-kun, is there anything wrong?" Sano looks at Kenshin, then anywhere but Kenshin. He scratches the back of his head, sighing. Still not looking at Kenshin, Sano begins to pick at his shirt. "Sano-kun, you seem worried, that you do. What is it?" Kenshin says softly. Sano looks back at Kenshin before closing up most of the space between them, nearly backing Kenshin into the side of the dojo. He studies him a little before turning back around.
"You don't have a girlfriend, do you Kenshin-san?" The ex-fighter-for-hire says so low Kenshin can barely hear, and when he finally desiphers the words, he sighs then smiles.
"No I don't Sano-kun. Is that it? Did Kaoru-dono tell you to-" Suddenly Sano is glaring at Kenshin. Seeing the look in the other's eyes, Kenshin's expression changes, becoming frighteningly serious. "That's not it, is it Sano-kun? There is something else bothering you."
"It's the Tenken." He says shortly, making it a statement, not a question. "It's not a girlfriend. It's a boyfriend; it's Soujiro-san. I'm right aren't I, Kenshin-san?" Sano pushes himself from Kenshin sharply when there is no reply to offer him comfort. "I knew it." Behind him Kenshin looks down, a shadow covering his eyes.
"How'd you find out?" He asks. A slight breeze stirs the leaves in the yard and Kenshin's hair.
"Yahiko saw Soujiro outside after you left. I put one and one together and got two." He turns back around to Kenshin, smiling. "Hey, it's not like I'm judging you or anything, and I'm not speaking of this unless you say so. Don't worry. I just wanted to assure myself that I wasn't going crazy." He places a hand on Kenshin's shoulder as he returns back inside, a few of the dishes in hand.
Damn. Sano knew that it was Soujiro-kun. Now what did he do? Sano-kun knew, and he knew Kaoru-dono wanted to know... He needed to tell them, didn't he? They are his friends after all, and he couldn't keep something like this from them. Even if it did hurt them. But wouldn't that be the main reason for keeping it from them? He didn't want to hurt them, and this would most certainly do damage, especially to Kaoru-dono. It'd hurt her the most, Kenshin guessed as he picked up the rest of the dishes. But he had to tell them, no matter how much it hurt them. He couldn't keep something like this from them much longer, and the better the sooner, was the old saying. He just hoped that the saying was right. Even in a time like this.
Especially in a time like this.
Fushigi(8/31/05)- Well, it took me long enough didn't it? It isn't all that good, and it certainly isn't my best, but it isn't too horrible I don't think. Well, Sano knows now, next chapter will be Kenshin telling everyone face to face, possibly with Soujiro. I haven't come up with anything past them getting told. But, it is longer than the first chapter, but it's relativly short compared to... oh, I don't know.. say... Promises Chapter Five, with 3324 words... (this has around 2800). Yeah, I know, I'm slacking, but I didn't want the actual reactions until the next chapter and it's staying that way.
Kid- But it'll probably just turn from a romance/general to a romance/angst or angst/romance. Just so you know.
Fushigi- Oh yeah, forgot about that. It'll really just depend on the next chapter. Hmmmm.. Well, I'll leave you with that. Oh, and the Japanese probably isn't right. I need to go back and fix that don't I? Well, I'll figure it out latre (no that's not a typo.)... Baibai buu!
tbc