Disclaimer: Guess what! I don't have a disclaimer! You want to know why? I find them unnecessary. I don't need a disclaimer if I'm posting a story on If I 'owned' anything that I wrote about, I sure as hell wouldn't be posting it online, I'd be selling it for my own money. I've read the TOS and the rules and the story etiquette rules many times, and (correct me if I'm wrong) I haven't seen one rule that says you HAVE to post a disclaimer. I'm sorry if I seem a bit harsh, but why would an author deliberately go to a fanfiction site to sue someone? Why would the staff allow people to post stories if they weren't entirely sure it's all right with the authors or if they didn't have some sort of legal protection? To me it does not make very much sense. I understand disclaiming for products or songs and whatever you use in a fic because it is not part of the original story, but anything more I believe is just excessive. Sorry about that. If you don't agree with my opinions, just forget you read anything, enjoy my fic, and don't leave me any nasty reviews if it so pleases you. Now, before I dig my grave any deeper, on with the story!–Jackie

Heh. I lied. Another author's note before you start reading: In this fic I decided against using Japanese honorifics and phrases with the exception of Megumi's 'Ken-san' and Kenshin's 'Kaoru-dono' (I just find it so cute when he says it!) Because I have found lately that the constant 'de gozaru yo's (especially when it is not used correctly) and 'sessha' this and 'sessha' that I see everywhere in fics these days are starting to annoy me. Though I shouldn't be complaining, seeing as that is the original way Rurouni Kenshin was scripted. So, don't leave me any reviews telling me my story is wrong, m'kay? My, I'm opinionated today. Now (for real this time) on with the story!-Jackie

Megumi and Kaoru were kneeling across from each other on the verandah of the Kamiya dojo. The older woman frowned as she resumed her heated lecture. "You know it as well as I do; you must tell Ken-san your true feelings soon, before it is too late."

Kaoru glared and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "First of all," she began in a bad-tempered manner, "I have no idea what you are talking about Megumi." The doctor huffed impatiently. Kaoru continued, "Kenshin is my best friend, well more than that, he's the person I can rely on and trust the most. He already knows that. What 'true feelings' are you referring to?" she demanded, a little embarrassed to reveal so many inner emotions to her.

Before Megumi could answer however, the young dojo master continued, "Second, what do you mean, 'too late'? Why exactly are we in a hurry?"

Megumi slapped a hand to her forehead in exasperation. "You are so incredibly naïve! I'm leaving for Aizu in a couple of days, so I don't have much time." She looked intently at the girl across from her. "I know that everyone around here agrees with me when I say some closure must be made with this damn situation." She leaned forward so her message would be heard loud and clear. "Hurry up and tell Ken-san you love him so I can leave without regrets or worry hanging over my head, stupid girl!" she snapped.

Kaoru was rendered speechless as a violently red blush formed on her face.

When she finally found her words again, she stuttered, "I-it's not like that! I…I, don't l-l-love him." She said the words slowly, as if purely uttering them caused her agony. "Of course he's special to me…I like him, a lot…more than anyone…" She twiddled her fingers in her lap in an edgy manner. "…but that's not love!" she said disbelievingly, and then added feebly, "Is it?"

The other woman decided not to answer, but continued her speech. "You've never told him that much before, have you? He may not even know you have feelings for him at all," she stated plainly. "He could be completely unconscious to the whole state of affairs for all we know."

Unconvinced, Kaoru snorted at the preposterous idea of the man being unaware of anything for even a second. "Kenshin's never like--," she faltered as she recalled the scene this morning when the swordsman had tripped and fallen on his face while carrying a sack of rice to the kitchen, not knowing that he wasn't even in the right direction of the kitchen. Kaoru winced. "He couldn't! I mean, I've told him before that I never wanted him to leave. That I wanted him to stay…" She gazed down into her lap."…with me forever…isn't that enough?"

A shinai cut through the air to whack her on the back of the skull, causing tremendous pain for the adjutant master. "Of course it isn't, idiot!" a disgusted voice said matter-of-factly.

"OW!" she wailed, grabbing the weapon from her student and proceeding to thrash the ten-year-old with it. "That hurt, you little numbskull! And who said you could listen in on this conversation!" she violently inquired, delivering blow after excruciating blow on the kid's head.

When the hot-tempered girl finally ceased the beating and sat back down, Yahiko declared crossly, "I was trying to help." He glowered. "I was going to say that I don't think what you said was good enough, stupid. You have to do all that hug and kiss girly stuff for him to get it!"

Kaoru reddened once more and gripped the stolen shinai tightly, about to strike her student again, when a tall figure stepped from the shadows to join the discussion.

"Y'know Missy, the squirt has a point," the street fighter said casually.

Opening her mouth to demand where all these people were coming from, Kaoru was quickly hushed with a wave of the hand from Sanosuke. She obeyed, quietly steaming as he made his own statement. "You gotta know with this guy," Sano jerked a thumb over his shoulder, "he's absolutely oblivious to everything other than swords. The only thing he knows completely is swordsmanship…well, that and his not to kill and 'be nice to everyone' rule," he said diplomatically. "I say go with a more direct approach." He slammed his fist into the other hand, enthusiasm radiating from him. "Throw everything you've got at him, force him to understand!" Sano punched the air in triumph.

Megumi rolled her eyes at his aggressive tactics. "And I bet you know so much about relationships," she said mockingly. "This isn't some drunken thug fight, you fool. This is Kaoru's big confession. It's supposed to be special. People like you would never understand," the sharp-tongued doctor said harshly.

Sanosuke squatted to come face to face with her. His nerves twitched with suppressed anger as he spoke. "'People like me…'? What are you suggesting?"

"Only that mindless brutes like you are completely useless in such matters and should have the sense to bug off when they are not wanted," she replied with an unquestionable air of smugness.

As the two bickered endlessly, Yahiko decided to interject with his own opinions. "You're both wrong! You have to--,"

"What do you mean I'm wrong? It's the perfect strategy, kid," Sano interrupted, knocking his knuckles against the child's head.

"That plan is garbage! In this type of situation, it subtlety that's most important," Megumi reasoned.

Throughout the exchange, Kaoru's fury kept building until she could endure it no longer. She rose to her feet, towering above the quarreling group with Yahiko's shinai grasped menacingly in her right hand.

"Listen here!" she announced dangerously through clenched teeth. "I've had just about enough of you three maniacs dictating what goes on in my life! I don't know where or how you got the ridiculous idea that me and Kenshin are…" she struggled with the words before going on, "…like that, but I sure as hell am NOT going to confess anything of that sort to him!" The outraged young woman pointed her weapon at each person in the group. Her face was livid with rage as she spoke. "So you can all just take your stupid ideas and shove them--,"

"Kaoru-dono?" a gentle voice called from behind.

haha...cliffy.-Jackie