Disclaimer - I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

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Toy Store

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Her Living Room III

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"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure," Kaoru answered, setting aside her novel. Something was slightly off in Misao's voice. "Is everything alright? I thought you'd be out celebrating with Aoshi tonight."

Misao shook her head and sat down on the couch next to her friend. "I think there's something wrong with me, Kaoru."

"Do you need the doctor?"

"No. It's not like that." She paused and looked down at her hands. "I'm scared, Kaoru. It's immature and selfish and I have nothing to be upset about, but I'm jealous too."

"This is about Aoshi starting his own business, isn't it?"

Misao nodded miserably. "Yes."

"You have nothing to worry about."

"I know! Don't you think I've seen the TV shows where the immature bimbo girlfriend dumps the guy because he's started his own business so he doesn't have as much time for her as he used to? And because he's losing money? But the guy's always cool with it in the end because he has to follow his dreams. Or if he's not cool with it, the episode ends and you don't have to watch him get over his sense of betrayal. I know the story, Kaoru."

"I didn't mean-" Kaoru started to protest, eyes wide.

"Of course I'm going to stick by Aoshi. I'm in love with him," Misao declared, springing up and starting to pace. "I can't do anything else! But I'm not going to be happy until I know he's not going to lose his business and wind up starving in an alley or something. Don't businesses always lose money in their first year? I'm just worried that when I'm done pretending to be happy, when his business is solid, I'm worried that I won't be happy with him any longer, that I'll have to keep pretending. But it'll be too late by then because I'll be married to him. I'm worried that I'll hide my feelings from him for so long that I won't be able to stop, Kaoru. And then he'll know, and he won't love me anymore."

"That's not going to happen," Kaoru said without hesitation. "Tell Aoshi your insecurities and let him put them to rest. A business is a big undertaking for a couple. You need to build it together. If you invest your time and your energy in his business, then you'll have made it too, and you always love the things you make, even that castle you made out of macaroni and cheese back in sixth grade. And Aoshi doesn't cook, does he?"

"Only out of necessity. His dream is the Zen part. Aoshi would meditate all day if he didn't have to work. And I'm sure a bunch of women will take the class just so they can meditate over him," Misao pouted. "Some women are ridiculous."

This wouldn't be the best time for Kaoru to mention drooling over Aoshi the first time she saw him then, would it? "Then you better be at that Zen studio, Misao, or at least in the restaurant half of it. Why don't you be the one to scout out cooks, or to decorate the place?" she suggested.

"Get involved is basically what you're saying." Misao nodded. "You're right! I can't just mope around feeling sorry for myself. I was literally making myself sick over this. I even told Aoshi I didn't feel up to going out tonight. This is such a relief, Kaoru. When you're in love, you can't see anything clearly about the other person."

"You feel better then?"

Misao nodded. "I'll talk to Aoshi tomorrow. He's going to the bank to sign the final papers. He invited me to go along."

"I'm home!" Kamatari shrilled, opening the front door.

"We're in the living room!" Misao yelled. She smiled at her best friend and dove on her, enveloping her in an enthusiastic hug. "Thanks, Kaoru. I just needed to talk to you before I threw myself into this."

Kaoru smiled, although Misao couldn't see her since she was busy squeezing the life out of her. "You're welcome."

"Awww! Kodak moment!" Kamatari exclaimed, walking into the room and pulling out a camera from his pants' pocket. He snapped a few quick shots with a grin.

"I can't believe you did that!" Kaoru yelled, struggling away from Misao. "My hair's horrible today! Hand over that camera!"