Gaah! So much for updating soon, ne? Real life is definitely out to get me… But I persevere! Next!

Chapter 8: The Consequences of Letting Kaoru cook and Kami- Sama returns!

Billows of black smoke poured from the kitchen. Kaoru stood in the middle of it, glaring at a soot crater.

Darn nattou, I almost had it… Her mind grumbled.

"What happened? Are you alright?" Kenshin skidded into the kitchen and almost ran into Kaoru. She wiped a portion of soot from her face, and then smiled crookedly.

"I'm fine. I just blew up the beans. That's all." Kenshin blinked a few times to clear the smoke from his eyes.

"You… blew up the beans." He stated. Kaoru glared at him.

"Yeah? What of it?" Kenshin smothered a chuckle. A soot- streaked Kaoru glaring at him was one of the funniest things he'd ever seen.

"S- Sorry, Kaoru, sessha doesn't mean to laugh at you…"

So he says, She thought darkly. "Then why are you laughing?" She asked, voice dangerously soft. Unfortunately, Kenshin was laughing so hard he couldn't answer. Kaoru gave up trying to glare answers out of him and started cleaning the disaster area (formerly known as the kitchen).

All of a sudden, it hit him.

It being the pot she had used for the nattou that was now half-melted.

Bright pinpoints of light danced across his vision. Not again! He blacked out.

"Hello again, Himura Kenshin." This time the voice came out of the darkness surrounding him.

"Hello, uh, Mr. Kami-sama, sir."

"Have you been using your gift?"

"Yes, sir."

"And?" The disembodied voice prompted.

"It's… enlightening. Sessha has found a lot out about Kaoru sessha didn't realize before, that I have." He got the impression of a smile.

"That's good, because the hit you just took to the head will cause your gift to fade away." Kenshin panicked.

"What! But, but I need it! Sessha-"

"Quiet, boy!" The voice thundered.

"Yes, sir."

"You have an advantage over when you got it, though. It will not just vanish, but will instead fade out over the rest of today. Enjoy it while you have it, Himura Kenshin…" The presence faded from his mind. A moment later he found he could open his eyes. He groaned.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru was leaning over him, peering at him anxiously. He tried to sit up, but the pain in his head doubled and he slumped back again.

"Kenshin, are you okay?" Not a whisper from her mind reached him. Frantic, he listened hard.

I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry

He winced and tried to sit up again. The pain in his head was less this time.

"Sessha is fine, Kaoru. You have quite a powerful arm, that you do." He smiled his rurouni smile at her. Sano and Yahiko ran in as Kenshin slowly stood up.

"What is it, what's the matter, busu?" Kaoru growled at him.

"I told you not to call me that. Have a little respect for your teacher, kid!" Kenshin put his hands up in what he hoped was a soothing gesture.

"Maa, maa, everything is all right. Kaoru blew up the beans and hit sessha on the head with a pot, but other than that everything's fine." Sano and Yahiko blinked in unison.

"You did it again." Yahiko stated.

"Oro?" Sano slammed his fists together.

"Don't 'oro' us, Kenshin. You've been calling Jou-chan 'Kaoru' and you've been avoiding our questions about it." Yahiko took out his shinai.

"I realized just outside the gate that Tsubame had told me not to come today. I distinctly remember telling you that, too!" Kenshin laughed nervously.

"Did you, now. How, uh, interesting." Panicking, he reached for Kaoru's mind again.

Let's see how you handle this one, hot stuff. I really wouldn't mind if you told them, though… Kenshin looked from Sano to Yahiko and back, and then glanced over at Kaoru. She shrugged. Kenshin sighed gratefully and dropped the rurouni ploy.

"Alright, Sessha has been calling Kaoru Kaoru, and we… have a date later, that we do." He blushed to the roots of his hair. Sano and Yahiko's eyes bugged out as Kaoru came over to stand next to Kenshin.

"That's right." She said.

Yahiko recovered first.

"Kenshin and Busu? Aw, Kenshin, I thought you had better taste than that- ow!" Kaoru dealt him a hard blow to the head.

Brat doesn't know what he's talking about.

Give him a year or two and he'll understand.

Until then, he better be nice to our woman.

Oro? Our woman?

What? Battousai asked innocently. Sano sauntered forward and draped his arm over Kenshin to lead him away.

"'Bout time, Kenshin, I was wondering how long you'd take. You were gonna come to me for advice, ne?" Kenshin gulped.

Since when does he know anything about women?

"Ano, sessha thought…"

"Of course you were. You want advice on the, ah, later parts of the date, ne?" Sano grinned wickedly and Kenshin saw Kaoru turn the color of his hair.

He wouldn't! She thought. Kenshin's not that kind of guy! Personally, I wouldn't mind a kiss or two, but knowing Kenshin, he'll probably be the perfect gentleman. She sounded almost… disappointed? Kenshin blushed, and decided to tease her a bit.

"Maa, maa, Sano, I really don't think I need advice on that, that I most certainly do not." He said firmly. Sano's grin got wider as Kaoru turned, if possible, even redder. She stomped over to him.

"Kenshin!" She half-growled.

"Hai, Kaoru?" He turned his wide, innocent rurouni eyes to her. He saw her eye twitch, but didn't duck, then BAM!

"Kenshin no BAKA! Are you trying to make me DIE OF EMBARRASSMENT!"

"Oroooo…" he said, swirly-eyed.

Alrighty, now we're getting somewhere! Goodness, I really hadn't planned for this fic to be this long. As it is it looks like it will be about 15 chapters… sigh. The best laid plans… anyway, It's early afternoon, not even half a day between Kenshin and his big moment…Coming up next: Preparations and Lots of Giggles! Seeya!