EL 10
Fun
AN: Helloooo people! How is everyone? I would say that I updated a lot faster than usual, ne and I kept my promise like I said I would. But I have bad news though. After this chapter, you guys will have to wait a long time (at least a month) because I will be going away for a summer program, which hopefully will be fun. You can think of ideas for me, because this chapter is as far as I've written in my writing journal. Plus I want to end my story soon, because it's been out too long. Enjoy this long(er) chapter.
Bright rays of sunlight streamed in through the dusty blinds onto the sleeping form. As the young woman shifted her weight, her stomach growled out in anger from hunger. Sleepy eyes looked at the clock and then the woman pulled herself out of bed. She dressed and hurried downstairs to leave for the grocery store because she was hungry and she literally had no food to eat at home. Kaoru, previously sleeping minutes ago, opened the door only to come face to face with the infamous doctor, Megumi.
"So Kaoru, how's life going?"
Kaoru was blunt; she didn't want to wait any longer than necessary. "Megumi, go back home or stay here. I don't care which, but I'm going to buy some food now."
Megumi thought with mock frustration. "I think I'll wait. I need to talk to you."
"Ok, I'll be back."
Kaoru shut the door behind her and drove off in her metallic black car. Minutes later, she arrived at her intended destination. She picked up a plastic green basket on the way in.
She started in the produce section where bright reds, greens, and a mélange of a variety of colors attacked her wondering eyes. Exotic fruits greeted her, delighting her hungry stomach. Large yellow-green papayas, ripe and fragrant mangoes, and sweet lychees hidden under bumpy, red skins appealed to her. She picked what she liked and went off to the dairy section, followed by the grand cereal aisle. She reached for a box that was all the way on the top shelf. She stood on her tip toes while her basket of items dangled from her unsteady arm. As she grabbed the box, half her items fell on the floor with a soft thud. She bent down to pick up the items, but saw a strange hand helping her pick the food up.
The body lifted his head.
"Kenshin, what a surprise. How are you?"
"I'm quite fine, that I am. I'm pleased to see you."
"Thanks so much for helping me." Kaoru gave him a warm smile. She really liked Kenshin. She thought that he would make a great friend due to his kindness. 'Too bad I'm not that nice with my students,' thought Kaoru as she smirked mentally. 'Anyways, back to what I need to do.' She was concocting a plan in her head.
"Kenshin?"
"Yes, Miss Kaoru?"
"Will you be busy today?" She hoped he would say no to her question.
Kenshin thought why she asked that, but rejoined, "No. Today is my day off. The only thing I'm planning to do is relax, do my laundry, and buy the groceries, which I'm doing right now."
'Yes!' thought Kaoru. Now, why was she so excited about such an answer?
"Well, that's great Kenshin!" Kaoru said aloud enthusiastically. " I would love it if you could come to my home today after you finish shopping. I'd like to have you over for lunch and thank you for letting me stay at your apartment."
She waited for a positive answer. She didn't want a romantic relationship with the man, anyways. She wanted him only as a friend.
"Sure, but under the condition that you let me drop my bags off at my home and let me dress a little more appropriately for the occasion." Kenshin wore dark gray sweat pants that hung from his tapered hips and a classic white t-shirt.
"No problem Kenshin."
Kaoru and Kenshin finished their shopping together with lots of mini conversations. Afterwards Kaoru gave Kenshin directions to her house and bid him goodbye.
Kaoru opened the front door carrying an armful of groceries in her hands. Megumi heard footsteps coming from the door and greeted Kaoru by helping her with the heavy bags.
"So, what took you so long tanuki?"asked Megumi as the pair walked into the kitchen.
The younger woman cringed with annoyance at the given nickname. She closed a cabinet door, turned around, and answered, " I just invited someone over for lunch today."
Laughter was heard immediately. "Ohohoho!" Megumi chortled. "So, who's the lucky guy?"
A small wave of surprise washed over Kaoru's features. 'How did she know it was a guy? She's good.'
"How did you know?"
"A smart, beautiful and clever woman like me would know something like that."
"Don't' get full of yourself. Forget I asked. I'm inviting Kenshin Himura for lunch today."
Megumi continued her playfulness. "So quick, hmm? Don't you think you're being forward? Besides, it's wrong to kill a man so early in his life with your horrible cooking."
That caught Kaoru's attention. "Megumi!"
"Ohohoho. Kaoru, I'm just joking with you. But really, if you want help in anything, I'd be more than willing to."
"Well, now that you're a little more serious," she paused, "Ummm, could you help me prepare the food?" Kaoru admitted defeat. She didn't want Kenshin running from her horrible cooking. Better to keep him with Megumi's food than have him choke from hers.
"Sure." said Megumi.
The two women spent the next half hour preparing something decent for Kenshin. After they finished a knock was heard on the door. Kaoru, a bit startled, hurried to the door to greet who she thought was Kenshin. The door opened and revealed Sano, looking at Kaoru with a crooked grin. She stood for a moment, expecting him to explain as to why he came.
Sano said, "Are you going to let me in, Missy?" Not waiting for her rejection, he pushed Kaoru aside with a gentle nudge, and let himself in. Kaoru closed the door and ran after him.
"Sano, what are you doing here?" Demanded Kaoru again.
"Thought I'd come for a visit,' said Sano while he searched through the fridge as if he owned it.
"Sorry, but you'll have to leave."
He turned around, "What?"
" You have to leave."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Because I said so! Stop asking questions."
"Kaoru, stop being so childish," said Megumi.
Kaoru was about to yell an expletive at a certain someone, when the doorbell rang. She jumped and was excited at the thought of Kenshin arriving. She quickened her steps to the door and once again opened it.
"Hey."
Her expression faltered at the sight of him. "Oh, it's only you Yahiko."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean, Ugly!" yelled a 13 year old Yahiko.
"Shut up before I smack you!" She always acted like a little kid around him. Those two were so close, he was like a younger brother, but they fought like animals, and often times it was quite physical.
"Well you'll have to catch me first, fat, ugly, slowpoke!" He enunciated "ugly" and savored her reaction. He pushed Kaoru to the side and ran into the house. She took his bait and ran after him, forgetting to close the door.
She turned bright with anger. "Don't worry brat, when I catch you, I'll beat you to a pulp!"
Yahiko ran onto the familiar kitchen, zoomed by Megumi and headed for the stairs. Kaoru followed close behind and knocked Sano down in the process.
"Hey Missy, watch where you're going!" Kaoru didn't bother to stop and followed Yahiko's taunting comments. Megumi, who stood by and watched the whole incident could not contain herself and started laughing with great pleasure at Sano, who had frosting all over his face from the huge slice of cake he was about to eat.
"What's so funny, kitsune? Laughing at your hurt boyfriend like that. You're a heartless doctor."
At that Megumi laughed even more. She finally came to aid Sano. She replied, "I would watch that mouth of yours, Roosterhead, or I just might not let you into my house for a very long time."
Not being able to argue back, Sano simply said, "Che."
Kaoru ran upstairs, still chasing Yahiko. Yahiko started heading down the stairs. 'If I go down the stairs then I can escape from Kaoru and get out of the house. Yeah, that's a good idea because the door is in front of the stairs' thought Yahiko.
Every inch Kaoru sprinted brought her that much closer to Yahiko. When she saw him about to go down stairs, she knew he'd try to leave through the open door. She continued to chase him down the stairs. She was 6 steps away from bottom of the stairs and her opponent only two. She stretched her arm out to grab Yahiko's shirt but at the last minute Yahiko changed his mind. Instead of going out the front door, he took a left turn, which led him into the living room. Kaoru noticed this but it was too late. She just missed grabbing him. 'Why did he change direction?' was the last thought she had as she lost her balance and fell on the floor, flat on her face.
Yahiko's smart move angered Kaoru. She lifted her head from the cold floor only to see a pair of feet clothed in white and black sneakers standing in the door way.
'Oh my god'
Kenshin stood at the door but for a few second before he saw two bodies rushing down the steps and then saw the second body fall down. He recognized the fallen form as his friend, Ms. Kamiya.
"Are you hurt?" asked a worried Kenshin. He looked at her pale face. Her cheeks were tinted a deep cherry red, her forehead was covered in a light layer of sweat, and her breathing was uneven.
"I'm fine. Come in, Kenshin." She responded, finally overcoming her embarrassment.
"Of course."
AN: Yahhh, it's finished ( the chapter). Enjoy it because I won't be updating for a while. Ideas and suggestions will be appreciated at this point. See ya everyone.
