Heart Of The Battousai

Chapter 9 - Jealousy Arises

Hey all, here's another chapter, and just in case you're wondering, Yahiko is 12 and Tonoi is 14 (old enough to know better about some things hehe :). Any ways, read on and enjoy!

The next day Tamaiya and Yahiko were practicing in the backyard and she noticed that he was very distracted by something, "What's wrong, Yahiko?"

"Nothing, I'm just wondering about something."

"What's that?"

"How do you know Tonoi?"

"He was a boy at the orphanage I was at."

"Oh, so... is he... your boyfriend?"

Tamaiya laughed, "Oh no, Tonoi's just my friend, that he is, why do you ask?"

Yahiko flushed, "Just... wondering is all... I forgot to do something, I'll be right back."

Yahiko ran off and Tamaiya smiled and set her wooden sword aside, she hadn't felt like using Kenshin's so she asked Kaoru if she could borrow one of hers. She let out a yawn and stretched then she suddenly felt someone poke her in the ribs, getting her to cry out and spin around to look at her attacker. The second she saw who it was she hit him in the shoulder, "Tonoi, how did you get in here, you creep!"

"Kaoru let me in, so what're you doing?"

"Nothing."

"You want to spar, then?"

"I won't fight you, Tonoi, that I won't."

Tamaiya turned to leave but Tonoi caught her wrist and pulled it behind her back, leaning close to her ear as he chuckled, "You may have me beat when it comes to swords but I've got the upper hand when it comes to hand to hand."

Tamaiya smiled, "Maybe so, however, one thing I did learn from fighting you was to never underestimate your opponent."

She spun around and kicked him in the back of the knees, causing him to let her go and fall to the ground from loss of balance. He quickly got back up and they started swinging at one another, before too long he had her pinned against one of the poles of the porch, smiling mischievously at her, "You're cute when you're angry."

"Shut up and fight, Tonoi."

Tamaiya kicked him away and they continued to fight, she punched out at him but he side stepped and caught her wrist before kicking her feet out from under her. She fell to the ground and Tonoi followed and pinned her wrists above her head, trapping her with his weight. Tamaiya giggled and tried to wiggle away but she was a lot smaller then him and he was too heavy for her to push off, "Get off of me, you creep!"

"And let you get your sword so you can kick my butt? No way, girl, you're stuck, just admit that you lost and I'll let you go."

"I'll never admit defeat to you, that I won't."

"I'll make you admit it one way or another."

"And how do you plan to do that, tough guy?"

Tamaiya looked up at him and saw a strange look in his dark eyes, confusion coming into her own, "Tonoi?"

He didn't answer, instead he started to lean down towards her as he closed his eyes but before anything else could happen they heard someone shout, "Get off of her!"

They both looked up and saw an angry Yahiko, holding his sword near Tonoi's head in a defensive manner, "What?" Tonoi asked

"You heard me, I said get off of her! She asked you to let her go and I suggest you do just that or else."

"Or else what?"

"Or else you'll have to fight me and I won't hold back on you!"

Tonoi let go of Tamaiya and stood up to stare at Yahiko, "You want to fight me? This isn't your business, kid, this is between me and Tamaiya so stay out of it."

"And let you hurt her? No way!"

"Yahiko, calm down, Tonoi wasn't hurting me, that he wasn't, we were just playing around, that we were."

"It didn't look like playing around to me."

Tamaiya was going to say something but stopped when she heard Kenshin yelling for her, "Coming Daddy! Please you two, behave, I'll be right back, that I will."

Tamaiya ran off to find her father then Tonoi turned to Yahiko, "What's your problem?"

"Guys like you, that's the problem! A girl says to get off of her and you completely ignore her and do what you want!"

"We were playing, I didn't hurt her and I wasn't going to do anything perverted..."

"Really? You were leaning down to her, you were going to kiss her!"

Tonoi smiled, "Well... that was my original intention until you interrupted that is."

"I knew it, you weren't trying to play with her you were trying to make a move on her!"

"What's wrong with that, you ever heard of the birds and the bees?"

"Unfortunately yes, and I don't really think that Kenshin would be happy about his daughter learning about it the hard way like you were going to show her!"

"I'm not afraid of Mr. Himura and I'm sure that if I ask him he'll be more than happy to let me ask Tamaiya out."

"I doubt that, Kenshin's so protective it's scary, but that's not the point."

"Then what is the point?"

"You need to keep your hands off of Tamaiya."

Tonoi chuckled, "Oh really, what's your name, kid?"

"Yahiko Myojin."

"Well, Yahiko, you can't tell me what I can't and can't do, especially when it comes to Tamaiya, I'll do as I wish."

"Not when I'm around you won't! You keep your hands off of her and we'll do just fine!"

"Oh I get it, you want her for yourself, don't you, Myojin?"

"What! No... Tamaiya's just my friend and I'm trying to protect her. I know all about guys like you, you lead a girl on to think that you're sweet and caring and when they don't give you what you want then you just take it. Well I won't let you do that to her, so just stay away from her or else!"

"Or else what?"

"I'll... fight you."

"Really?"

Without warning Tonoi pushed Yahiko into the porch and pinned his shoulders there with surprisingly strong hands. At this range Yahiko saw the major difference between them, Tonoi was much bigger and taller and most likely much older than he was, making it near impossible to fight him without some help. Tonoi leaned down close to him, his voice low and warning, "You don't stand a chance against me, Myojin, even with that little sword of yours. And this is the only time I'll tell you this, Tamaiya is mine, so you stay away."

Yahiko growled in anger, "Tamaiya's a human being, not a possession!"

"Maybe so, but her heart belongs to me and you won't take that from me... Tamaiya's coming, this conversation never happened."

Tonoi moved off of Yahiko and they straightened themselves up just as Tamaiya came back around the corner, "Are you two fighting?"

"No, just having a friendly chat, right Yahiko?"

"Yeah... right... a chat."

"That's good, that it is, so what do you guys want to do?"

Before either could answer Kaoru came around the corner and smiled brightly, "What's going on over here?"

"Nothing Miss Kaoru."

"Do you guys want a snack or anything?"

Tonoi cleared his throat, "Um... I've actually gotta go, I'm supposed to get something for my mom."

"Oh... well you're welcome back anytime, Tonoi." Kaoru smiled at him.

"Thanks Kaoru, oh by the way, there's a festival in town tonight are you guys gonna be there?"

Kaoru giggled at the thought, "We'd love to go but we'll have to convince Kenshin first."

"Well I hope to see you there," Tonoi went past Yahiko and whispered in his ear, "I'll catch you later, Myojin, remember what I said."

Yahiko growled under his breath and clenched his fists together as Tonoi went up to Tamaiya and kissed her cheek, getting a flush from her, "see you later samurai girl."

Tonoi smirked at Yahiko and left without another word, not noticing the happy smile coming from Kaoru or the death glare coming from Yahiko, "Well, I'm going to go ask Kenshin about the festival."

Kaoru took off down the hall and found Kenshin, Hiko, and Sanosuke sitting on the porch talking. She went up to him and put her arms around his neck, "Hello Kenshin."

"Hello Miss Kaoru."

"Did I tell you that you look really handsome today?"

Kenshin smiled, "Thank you, Miss Kaoru, now what do you want?"

Kaoru gasped as if in shock, "Kenshin... can't I say something nice about my wonderful guy without wanting something?"

Kenshin turned around and ran his fingers over her chin, "Sure you can, but usually when my beautiful girl says such nice things about me she's up to something, that she is."

"What makes you think that I'm up to something?"

Kenshin just smiled at her and she sighed, "Ok, ok, you caught me, there's a festival tonight, can we go?"

"Miss Kaoru I have a lot to do tonight and..."

"That stuff can wait till tomorrow, please Kenshin?"

Kaoru gave him the big puppy dog eyes and he had to give in, "Alright, we'll go, that we will."

"Yey! Thanks Kenshin!"

Kaoru hugged him tightly and the others laughed when he started to turn blue, "You are completely whipped, Kenshin."

"I'm not whipped, Master, that I'm not."

"Oh please, the girl snaps her fingers and you come."

Sanosuke chuckled, "I wonder if he does the same thing when they're in bed?"

Kenshin and Kaoru both turned red and she hit Sanosuke in the head and stormed off towards the other side of the house. Kenshin shook his head and groaned, "Sano, how could you ask something like that? Miss Kaoru and I have never done anything like that, that we haven't."

"You mean to tell me that you and Missy haven't done it yet?"

"NO!"

Hiko laughed, "Of course not, I doubt Kenshin's ever had sex in his life."

Kenshin blushed and glared at his master as Sanosuke laughed, "Master! Not like it's any of your business but I have once or twice, thank you."

"Really? When?"

Kenshin thought for a long moment and Sanosuke and Hiko patiently waited until he finally answered, "Fourteen years ago..."

"Dang! You haven't had sex in fourteen years! You're something else Kenshin, you're just not human!" Sanosuke laughed, amazement shining in his eyes.

Kenshin just shook his head then he felt a tap on his shoulder and he turned around and smiled at Tamaiya, "Hey there, little one, what do you need?"

"Can I ask you something, Daddy?"

"Sure, sweetheart, what is it?"

"What's sex?"

"WHAT!" all three men asked in shock

"What did you say?" Hiko asked, as if to make sure he'd heard her right.

"What is sex?" she repeated

Kenshin turned red and started to stutter, "Where... where did you hear about... that?"

"I heard you, Mr. Hiko and Sano talking about it, that I did, so what is it? Is it bad?"

"Um... well..."

Hiko laughed and nudged him, "Go ahead Kenshin, I'm dying to hear this explanation."

"Yeah, come on Dad, tell us what you know." Sanosuke teased

Kenshin glared at them before he turned to Tamaiya, trying to think of what to say, "Well... sex is... kind of... complicated, that it is."

Sanosuke tapped Hiko with his foot and he leaned over to hear him, "I bet it's complicated, especially since he's a little bit out of practice."

They snickered before they felt Kenshin hit them on top of the head with his fists, "I don't need your help, that I don't! Now Tamaiya... I'd prefer to wait until you were a little older before we have this conversation, that I would."

"Oh... so it is bad?"

"Well... not really... let's just say that it's between a man and a woman who love each other very much and it's a way of... showing that you care, that it is."

"Was that what you and Miss Kaoru were doing the other day in the yard?"

Kenshin turned the color of his hair and the others busted up laughing, "Um... no, sweety, that was just kissing, I'll explain when you're older, that I will, for now just understand that sex is something between husband and wife, ok?"

"Ok, sorry to bother you, that I am, I'll go practice now, that I will."

Tamaiya left and Kenshin buried his face in his hands to hide his red cheeks, "I can't believe she just asked me about that..."

Hiko patted his shoulder and chuckled, "Welcome to the wonderful world of being a parent. Now you know how I felt when you asked me."

Kenshin looked up and glared at him, "What're you talking about? I learned the hard way about sex, I walked in on you and Miss Kiri!"

It was Hiko's turn to flush, "Oh... I forgot about that..."

"Yeah... hey, where's Sano?"

They suddenly heard Tamaiya yell before she came running around the corner, her face blood red, "Daddy! Why didn't you just tell me what sex was!"

"What do you mean?"

"Sex is..."

She leaned down and whispered in his ear before his mouth fell open and he looked at her with shock, "Where did you hear that!"

"Sano told me, that he did, is that really what sex is?"

"Um... yes but..."

"EWWW! Gross! I'm never going near guys, that I'm not! I'm going to talk to Miss Kaoru!"

Tamaiya took off and Kenshin yelled, "SANOSUKE SAGARA!"

He poked his head around the corner and smiled, "Yeah?"

"Why did you tell my daughter that!"

"Um... I hear Yahiko yelling for me, I've gotta go help him now, bye!"

"I bet you've gotta help Yahiko."

Hiko busted up laughing and Kenshin hit him in the shoulder, completely embarrassed by what had just happened.

Tamaiya went to the other side of the house and sat next to Kaoru on the porch with a heavy sigh, "Hey Miss Kaoru, how come guys are so gross?"

"Because they're guys, don't worry about them, and why are they gross?"

"Sano told me what sex was."

Kaoru glanced at her before flushing brightly, "Oh... I see... does Kenshin know?"

"Yes, I asked him first and he told me that he'd tell me when I was older then Sano told me and he confirmed, that he did. I don't see why people want to do something like that, that I don't."

Kaoru smiled, "Well... if you really love someone then it's not gross."

"Have you ever done that, Miss Kaoru?"

Kaoru flushed brighter, "No, but... I suppose I would if I ever married someone."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Is there someone you'd like to marry?"

"Yes... there is actually."

"Who is it?"

Kaoru smiled and whispered, "I'd... actually like to marry Kenshin."

"Really? If my father asked you to marry him would you?"

"Of course I would, I really like your father, oh... if that's ok with you that is, I don't want you to think that I'd be trying to take your place."

Tamaiya smiled and shook her head, "No, I wouldn't mind at all, that I wouldn't, I'd like to have you as my mom, that I would."

Kaoru felt a tear of joy come to her eyes and she hugged the young girl, "That's so sweet, thank you."

"So has he asked you?"

"No... I don't think he will."

"Then why don't you ask him, Miss Kaoru?"

Kaoru giggled, "I think it's the man's job to propose, that's why, besides, I'd be too embarrassed to ask him."

"Hm... I'll be back, that I will."

Tamaiya took off and ran back to where Kenshin was talking with Hiko, Sanosuke, and Yahiko and put her arms around his neck, "Hey Daddy, can I ask you something?"

"My, you're just full of questions today, aren't you, Star? Please tell me that this has nothing to do with sex."

"Oh no, nothing about that, do you love Miss Kaoru?"

"What?"

"Just answer me, do you love Miss Kaoru?"

Kenshin smiled, "Yes I do, very much, why?"

"If she asked you to marry her what would you say?"

All the men arched an eyebrow at her, "Where did this come from?"

"Just tell me, what would you say if Miss Kaoru proposed to you?"

Kenshin chuckled, "I'd... say yes... why all the questions about proposing and me and Miss Kaoru all of the sudden?"

"No reason, just curious is all, I've gotta go and get ready now, that I do, love you."

Tamaiya kissed his cheek and ran off, not noticing the smiles everyone had on their faces. Hiko poked Kenshin and chuckled, "It sounds like she's hinting, Kenshin."

"I know, but let's not worry about that right now, we need to get ready to leave too, that we do."

Yahiko muttered something under his breath, catching the others' attention, "What Yahiko?"

"Do we really have to go? I mean... Tonoi's gonna be there and I just really don't like that guy."

"Why not?" Sanosuke asked

"Just because..." he looked to the ground and muttered, "he's too rough with Tamaiya, that's why."

The others heard him and Sanosuke cheered, "Oh, Yahiko likes Tamaiya, Yahiko likes Tamaiya!"

"I do not! She's my friend, nothing else!"

"Come on, admit it, kid, you totally like her."

"No... I just... think that Tonoi's a creep is all... and... I don't want her to get hurt."

Kenshin smiled and nudged him, "Do you have a crush on my daughter, Yahiko?"

Yahiko blushed, "NO! I mean there's nothing wrong with her or anything... she's pretty and all but... oh just forget it! I'm going to get ready and if anyone says anything to Tamaiya I'll kill ya!"

Yahiko stormed off, ignoring the laughter of the others as he left, "Looks like Tamaiya's got a secret admirer." Hiko laughed

"Yeah, as long as we can keep Kenshin from killing him, that is." Sanosuke joked.

"I won't hurt Yahiko, that I won't, I actually wouldn't mind him dating Tamaiya if she wants to but... I suppose it is up to her... whoever she chooses to be with I'll be happy with him, that I will."

"Oh really?" both asked suspiciously

"Yes, as long as he takes care of her and doesn't hurt her, that is. Now both of you shut up and let's get ready to leave."

Hiko and Sanosuke nodded in agreement and they all went to their rooms to get ready for the festival, each plotting about what they were going to do when they got there.

Hey again, I have a problem (besides the obvious, of course :). Any ways, I asked my family about this and it came out to a tie so I need your help to settle it! Should Tamaiya get together with Tonoi or Yahiko? It's up to you guys, whoever you pick I'll put her with, even if I may not like it... :), just kidding. Let me know ASAP and then I'll type up the next chapter and get it up soon. Thanks guys, I'm counting on you.