Disclaimer - I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

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Toy Store

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The Reception

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"Wanna dance?" he asked her, his face slightly flushed. He was a little drunk. It was the first time she'd seen him since the guests shook hands with the wedding party. He'd been the best man.

"Sure," Kaoru nodded, setting down her punch glass (someone had spiked the punch) and taking the hand he offered. "Megumi's beautiful tonight," she said, catching a glimpse of the bride in the crowd.

"Yeah. Sano's lucky," Kenshin agreed leading her into the middle of the dance floor as a slow number started. "I'm lucky too." He grinned down at her as he placed his hands on her waist and she lifted her arms to rest on his shoulders.

It was funny. She hadn't actually looked at him before. Now she saw why her sister had wanted to go out with him in the first place. He was handsome; not tall dark and handsome, like Misao's Aoshi, but his features were exotic. Red hair, but no freckles, and as tan as Sano, fine features, marred only by a cross shaped scar (she wished she knew where he'd picked that one up), and then deep violet eyes, sometimes more navy blue than violet. She found she loved the way his hair fell across his forehead, and she hadn't realized how long it was before. How did he manage to keep it so neat looking all the time?

"What?" he asked softly. And then there was the way he was looking at her. She hadn't realized until this moment, but it was the way he looked at her every time he looked at her. Only now, because he was a little drunk, he had a harder time hiding it.

She smiled and slid her arms around his neck, pressing close and leaning her head against his shoulder. He held her to him. "Nothing," she said, remembering she had to answer.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked after a moment. She could feel his voice against her chest as they relaxed against each other. He was tense most of the time, or maybe only most of the time she'd known him. When he'd driven her to the mechanic shop he'd relaxed, once he discovered she wasn't going to yell at him or apologize to him, or bring up awkward moments. But he hadn't been this relaxed. He was enjoyable relaxed.

She closed her eyes. "Are you?" she asked.

"It's my brother's wedding," he replied. "But what about you?"

She smiled although he couldn't see it. "What would you do if I said I was having a horrible time?"

"How could you? You're dancing with me."

Sano would have said something like that. It was all too clear, the fact that they were brothers. "Funny," she commented, opening her eyes and lifting her head from his shoulder.

"You're having a good time," he said confidently, "but you don't want to admit it." He leaned back to look at her, a barely suppressed smile quirking his lips at a funny angle. "You're funny, Kaoru."

"I am?"

"Yeah," he observed. "And it's not just because everything's funny tonight. Did Sano spike the punch?"

"I don't know, but someone did."

Kenshin nodded. "He told me he would, but I've only had wine and champagne and mixed drinks, so I don't know."

Kaoru made a face. "Are you an alcoholic?"

He laughed. "No. I never drink this much. Are you?"

"I don't have the passion for it," she said. She was starting to think he was more than just a little tipsy.

"Passion, huh?" he said thoughtfully.

"Yeah. Passion. To be an alcoholic, I'd need a passion for oblivion. You said you jump into things. The things I do, I'm too passionate."

He smirked and considered this quietly. She knew it wasn't news to him. If she had tighter control over her feelings, she wouldn't have held a blind grudge against him.

The dance ended and they stepped away from each other. "Later?" he asked.

Kaoru nodded even though she wasn't sure what 'later' meant, and watched as he turned and walked away into the crowd. Snapping herself out of whatever funk she'd settled into, she turned away and promptly bumped into a sharply dressed, almost feminine looking man. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"No, no, honey, it's my fault," he gushed. "I was trying to catch my brother-in-law before he ran off. Did he tell you where he went by any chance?"

"Do I know him?" Kaoru asked in confusion.

He laughed. "You were just dancing with him. Are you two going out? You look cute together. It's about time he got another girlfriend."

"Kenshin's your brother-in-law?" Kaoru asked in amazement.

"Well, duh! Weren't you paying attention during the wedding toasts, silly?"

"I must have missed that one," Kaoru excused herself. "So you're married to who?"

"Kenshin's sister. She's the oldest of the three of them, but don't go spreading that around. My wife is very sensitive about her age, which I'm sure you can totally understand."

"Oh yes," Kaoru agreed a little uncomfortably. "I'm Kaoru Kamiya," she introduced herself, holding out a hand.

He shook hers. "I'm sorry! I've been rude. I'm Kamatari Honjo."

"Did you find Kenshin?" a voice asked, a little annoyed. Kaoru watched as he slid his arm around the waist of one of the most beautiful women Kaoru had ever seen. Her calm and serenity contrasted against her husband's flurry of motion.

"No, but I found his girlfriend," Kamatari told his wife. They both looked at Kaoru, who immediately blushed.

"Hello. I'm Tomoe Honjo, Sano and Kenshin's sister," the woman said, extending an elegant hand, which Kaoru shook. The annoyance was instantly gone from Tomoe's tone, replaced with just the right amount of interest to be gracious.

"Kaoru Kamiya. Pleased to meet you. And I'm not his girlfriend or anything," Kaoru said, because it was true. "Just a friend," she added.

"Kenshin's mentioned you to me in passing," Tomoe said politely. "It's nice to meet you."

Kamatari was watching their interaction with raised eyebrows. Kaoru hoped it was because he was surprised at the change in his wife, because if Tomoe acted like this all the time, it wouldn't be much fun being married to her.

"Is this a party in the middle of the dance floor, or is it a party?" Sano broke in, relieving some of the tension as he appeared next to his sister with his arm around his new bride.

"Congrats again, you two," Kamatari said before either Kaoru or Tomoe could speak. "I just love your dress, Megumi. Is that Belgian lace?"

"I don't remember anymore," Megumi said blithely. "I'm too happy."

"Awww," Kamatari said sympathetically. "I'll remember for you when you come back to your senses, okay?"

Sano frowned. Tomoe frowned and elbowed her husband.

"Sticks and stones, Kamatari, sticks and stones," Megumi said, beaming.

"Congratulations," Kaoru broke in, to relieve some of the tension. They really weren't doing well as a group. "The wedding went wonderfully and the reception's a blast. Thanks for inviting me."

"We've worked together for the past two years, Missy, of course I invited you," Sano said, focusing on Kaoru with a lazy smile.

"Oh give me a hug," Tomoe said to him tearfully, breaking out of her genteel shell and holding out her arms. "My little brother's married." Kaoru smiled because that meant Tomoe really wasn't all civility and no emotion. It also meant she just didn't like Kaoru, but it wasn't as if Kaoru was really Kenshin's girlfriend and had to worry about his family liking hers.

Sano grinned down at his sister and obeyed, winking at the rest of them. "It's a miracle, right? Even Megumi had doubts once in a while, didn't you honey?"

Megumi shook her head. "Not one."