A/N: omg, did i just lose readers cuz they thought that i was done with this? shit! dammit... o well, for all of u left, there'll be at least another chappie after this... this one kinda sux, focusing on kk quite a bit... but there is a crucial s/m moment! so read, and review! i luv u all! smoochies!

disclaimer: hum diddy dum... omg wat's this? i saw the bedroom toyz...

Chapter 15: After Effects (Continuations, Time's Passage)

Megumi sighed happily as he dropped her off at work with a satisfactory kiss. Kamatari was practically crying at the desk when she walked in, though.

"What's wrong?" she asked, wondering about the state of her secretary.

"Oh, it's just… another man off my list… oh dear… and I thought he liked the way I 'examined' him…" 'she' mourned.

Megumi tried hard not to snicker at the 'woman' because it would be rude. Kamatari had never really had a chance for 'she' was really a he. Poor Sano had found out the hard way…

"And… And that's not even the worst part! Kenshinny is gone, too!" Kamatari blew 'her' nose rather loudly and Megumi made a point to give 'her' the day off later on in the week.

Secretly she was intrigued by this tidbit of news… It seemed that kaoru had finally nabbed the man of her dreams. So caught up in her giggles was she, that she was completely unprepared for the sight of Kaoru grinning roguishly in her office chair when she walked in. She jumped in the air and held her hand over her heart.

"Dear God in heaven! Who let you in? Kamatari seems like 'she's' in no shape to do such a thing," she asked.

"Oh… 'She' was so preoccupied, I just kinda walked in." She shrugged. "So… You bedded him."

"Oh!" She blushed a bright red, having been caught already. "Maybe…"

"Sano didn't come home last night and you were late to work today," she informed her with a sly smile. "Besides, you're practically screaming, 'I've been screwed and I loved it!'"

"I am not!"

"Kamatari seemed to notice," she pointed out.

"B-But-!"

"So… Tell me. What happened to that, three month rule you had?"

"Hey, I've known him for-"

"Not even one month, hun."

"Oh! And you and Kenshin is nothing, either, is it?" she asked, coming back.

"All we did is kiss! And I've known him since high school! It's different!" she exclaimed, pointing at her.

Megumi sighed, admitting defeat. "Okay, okay, you win. I give up!"

"Good. Now, how about you give your best friend all the details?"

"Kaoru, I'm willing to bet you've had sex before and you don't need to know all the details," Megumi told her.

"Yeah… You're right…"

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Three Months Later……

"Sano!" Megumi called, heaving a box up the stairs. "Help me!"

"Sorry, Meg!" He came bounding down said stairs and taking the box from her.

"Thank you," she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey you guys!" Kaoru called, coming with yet another box.

"How are you doing?" Kenshin asked. He too had a box.

"Gawd Megumi! When'd you get so much crap!" she asked, setting the box down. "Your apartment seemed so small…"

"That's because it was. But it was also cluttered," she informed her. "Now! March up those stairs and drop those boxes!"

"I'm going, I'm going," she grouched. Kenshin chuckled behind her and offered to take her box.

"But Kenshin, you've already got your own box!"

"Yeah, Kenshin. Jou-chan's manly enough to carry it. Don't worry," Sano assured him.

"What did you call me?"

When they'd managed to successfully move all of Megumi's belongings into Sano's spacious apartment, they all settled into watch a movie while Kaoru and Megumi grouped together order a pizza.

"So… how's your relationship progressing, dear Kaoru?"

She sighed. "Not good, but not bad. He's never even considered going farther than kissing and its starting to piss me off."

"Ah… Kenshin's just that way," she told her, reaching for the menu and phone.

"I know, but gee, you'd think he'd take a hint after so long… and after all those stupid outfits I've been buying…"

"What can you do? He's dense. Now shush," she ordered, pointing to the phone.

She sighed, watching Megumi place her order. It seemed like so long ago, her scheme to get them together to make amends for her own screwed up love life… Well now that she had her man, she wanted to take it further… but he was so unwilling… With another sigh she headed back into the living room.

"Kaoru-dono? Is there anything wrong?"

She shook her head but her mind was screaming at her. They'd been dating successfully now for three months and he still called her by that infuriating outdated honorific. She grit her teeth and sat down next to him and he smiled. She had hoped he would at least wrap his arms around her but, no. He didn't.

"All ordered! Ken-san, you don't have to stay here if you don't want to… I think Kaoru wanted to go somewhere later…"

"I'm perfectly capable, Megumi, thank you," she said, getting up. "I'll be right back… I forgot, Yahiko needed a ride home from Tsubame's house…"

She stood up and Kenshin stared after her… She'd been so distant…

"Ken-san… I think you should go with her. She's been feeling kind of down lately…"

"Alright." He got up and swiftly followed her out the door.

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Megumi was happy to be able to help her friend out, especially after all she'd down for her in the past. She smiled at Sano and sat next to him and he wrapped her up in his embrace as she cuddled into his side.

"Hey," he said. "I have to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Marry me." It didn't really sound like a question.

"Hmmm… I'll have to think about that one," she teased.

"Huh?"

"Yes, of course-"

"So you will!"

"Actually I was going to say I needed to think on it," she continued to torture him.

"But-"

"Yes," she answered finally.

"I know you need time, but please-"

"Sano, you idiot, of course I'll marry you!" She made certain to clarify what she was answering this time.

He kissed her, gently at first before moving into it little more. As his hands started to roam her body, she hoped Kenshin and Kaoru worked things out and decided not to come back to their house. She was also thankful she'd ordered for pick up so the pizza guy wouldn't interrupt.

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"Kaoru-dono…." Kenshin asked, opening the passenger door. "What's wrong?"

She breathed, deeply, wondering how she was going to tell him to back off and stop calling her 'dono.'

"Nothing's wrong," she lied, starting up the car.

"Yes, something is wrong, I can tell…"

"Kenshin. Please…"

"Kaoru…"

She froze in the action of taking the car out of park. He'd actually called her by the name given to her…

"Why won't you let me in?"

"It's you who won't let me in Kenshin. Always putting distance between us with that stupid honorific. It kills me," she admitted.

"Kaoru…"

"Why don't you ever call me that? It's always Kaoru-dono."

He looked shocked. It had never occurred to him that his -dono complex had ever been a problem or burden to her. Then again, he'd never really considered her feelings…

"I'm sorry," he whispered, leaning over to hold her. "I never meant… I was stupid."

She buried her head in his chest and murmured endearments. He stroked his hand through her hair, pulling her closer so he could kiss her. Only this time, he didn't withdraw after the fist initial touch…

a/n: stay tuned! more to come! sry, tho, it's not a kk lemon... if u want those, i suggest going to and searching authors and 'ducky-dono' cuz i have lemons up there... and soon to be on mediaminer... hopefully... tee hee... and review!