Look Me in the Eyes

By Slayer-Enfiniti

If you really need to see a disclaimer, I've got several. Basically, Kenshin is not mine. He will never be. I do have wall scrolls and action figures and manga and anime and….

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"Mou. Kenshin no baka." Kamiya Kaoru was mad. She stomped out toward the yard, where a certain redheaded rurouni was doing the laundry. But as soon as he caught sight of her, Kenshin grabbed an empty bucket and scooted off toward the well. Kaoru gritted her teeth in frustration. Again!

How's that saying go? Once is chance, two's coincidence, and three's conspiracy, ne? Well, Himura Kenshin, this is the third day, and I am getting MAD! She thought. Just as she was reaching for her bokken, Sanosuke sauntered through the gate like the dojo was his.

"Oi, is it lunchtime yet?" Kaoru got an idea.

"Hey, Sanosuke, over here! Can I talk to you for a moment?" He gave her an odd look, but followed her out of sight and earshot of the laundry.

"What's going on, Jou-chan?" She looked down and shuffled her feet a little.

"Well, Kenshin's been acting a little… weird the past few days. Do you know why?" Sano scratched the back of his head puzzledly.

"Dunno, he's been fine around me and the brat…" Kaoru sighed. So it was her fault. "Whoa, whoa, don't be giving up just yet! I'll see if I can't squeeze it out of him. And he ambled away.

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Kenshin made sure Kaoru had really left before returning to his abandoned laundry. Right in the middle of rinsing, too! He sighed and picked up Kaoru's training gi and immersed it in the fresh water. Behind him he sensed another presence and tensed, but it was only Sano. Kenshin smiled up at the taller man who was eclipsing the sun.

"Hello, Sano, lovely weather, don't you think?" He asked politely. Sano raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah. Just great." Sano chewed his trademark fishbone for a bit, eyeing the man who was elbow deep in suds. "Er, Kenshin?"

"Aa?" Sano chewed his fishbone a bit more, uncertain of how to pose his question. How do you ask a guy if he's avoiding a girl?

"You've been acting… a little strange." The redhead blinked.

"Oro? Sessha always does the laundry…"

"Not that! I meant… around Jou-chan." To his surprise, the swordsman turned pink.

"Ah, uh, well, that is to say, sessha…" He flushed darker. "Can you promise not to tell Kaoru-dono?"

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A few minutes later, Sano snuck back into the dojo where Kaoru was waiting, most impatiently.

"Well? Is he alright?" Now Sano wouldn't meet her eyes! What was with these men?

"Oh, yeah, he's fine, Jou-chan, you don't have to worry one bit when it comes to that guy. He's just fine." Kaoru bit her lip.

"Then why has he been avoiding me?"

"Er, uh… Just leave him alone for a bit, I think it'll work itself out." He gave her a huge grin. "Yup, it'll work itself out. Well, since you're making lunch, I don't think I'll hang around any longer!" He hurried to the gate. Kaoru bit her lip again.

"Work itself out? I don't think so." So she turned to her only option. Megumi.

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This fic is a product of a daydream in a too long US history class. That's my disclaimer. A bit of humorous WAFF later, I'll update soon.

Ja, minna-san!

P.S. That reminds me. If anyone doesn't know the terms I use and don't have a dictionary handy, ask me. I'll tell, promise.