Fluttering Heart
By sexypinksnow
Chapter 2
Kaoru urged her tired legs onward towards the dojo, the tofu bucket lay forgotten in the road. The sun had already set and she knew Kenshin would be worried if she didn't arrive soon. She also knew it was only a matter of time before Kenshin would head out, worried for her safety and then lecture her when he finally did find her.
March 30th...
...the day her parents met and were married...
How ironic that the day the matchmaking the flyer advertised was the same day her parents had went to a matchmaker and gotten married...all those years ago.
It made her wonder if her parents were trying to tell her something from the afterlife or something. Bring them honor in an arranged marriage? Kaoru knew it was possible to be happy in an arranged marriage because here parents had been very happy and in love with each other.
She sighed. She arrived in front of the dojo and grabbed hold of the old splintering door. She pushed it open, and stepped inside. She glanced around trying to locate the red headed rurouni. "Kenshin?"
"You're late."
Kaoru winced as he stepped out of the shadows. "I'm sorry...I'll be more considerate in the future..." She kept her eyes downcast, avoiding his questioning eyes.
He sighed. "In any case, I have kept your bath prepared for your arrival."
She didn't say anything, lost in her own thoughts.
"Kaoru-dono?" He touched her arm. She jumped.
"Oh! Kenshin...sorry, I don't feel well so I think I'm gonna go to bed if that's ok..."
He smiled. "Alright, sleep well Kaoru-dono."
She walked off without saying anything. Kenshin frowned. Kaoru's mind seemed to be elsewhere when he had spoken with her. Which was very, well, very much like himself when his mind was on the past.
Kenshin plopped himself down on the wooden floor of the house and tapped his fingers impatiently, trying to think of something that would have his Kaoru worried.
His Kaoru? Kenshin almost laughed out loud at himself.
Kenshin rememebered the bath he had prepared for her and stood up. 'A bath sounds quite relaxing, I think I'll take advantage of the hard work of preparing a bath..' He walked towards his room to grab his yukata so he could head to bed after his bath.
Once in the bathroom he stripped off his clothing and slid into the warm water, relaxing.
"Hmm..." He thought aloud. "Didn't she have something in her hand? Now what was that..."
He clapped his hands together, splashing water. "It was a flyer of some sort!"
Now he really wondered what it said. What on that flyer could have her so upset?
And decided he would find out...tonight.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Kenshin kept his footsteps silent. An old habit as an ex-assasin. He quietly slid the door open and walked over to where Kaoru lay. The relaxed movement of her chest moving up and down as she breathed, hinted she was asleep. He noted to himself she was beautiful as she lay there, and then resisted the urge to touch her soft, pink lips.
'Now...now, If I was a flyer...where would I be...'
He glanced around the room until he located it. He crept over to it and picked up the smooth yellow paper. His eyes scanned the paper and then he almost gasped as he read its contents.
'What...the...hell!'
His grip tightened around the paper and he crumpled it, resisting the urge to tear it on top of that.
"Do you really...plan on doing THIS, Kaoru-dono?" His voice hissed, amber flecked into his violet eyes.
Kaoru immediatly sat up from her sleeping, gasping. "Kenshin..!"
Kenshin's eyes widened, as he realized he had spoken out loud. 'Shit...'
"Kenshin, you---" Kaoru's quiet voice came. "Scared me, geez..." He face lit up in a cute blush. "What're you doing here anyway you---PERVERT" Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Kenshin immediatly put his hands up in self-defense. "N-no! It's not like that! You see...I w-was worried about--Kaoru-dono, did you know you forgot the tofu? And I thoughtIsawaspidersoIwasgonnasaveyoufromit." His voice spilled out in desperation.
Kaoru blinked. "Uhm...er...huh?"
Kenshin sweatdropped.
Kaoru's face became serious as she noticed the crumpled flyer on the floor. "Kenshin...you saw my flyer, didn't you?"
Kenshin looked down, hiding his eyes behind his hair. "Yes...and...to tell you the truth, this one does not approve."
He looked down as well. "I thought you might say that."
"Awhile ago," Kenshin continued. "During the fight with Enishi, this one made a promise...do you remember it Kaoru-dono?"
Kaoru did but she said nothing. Her mouth suddenly tasted bitter.
Kenshin looked up, his eyes twinkling with happiness. "I swore I would protect your smile no matter what..." Kaoru gasped. "If you are unhappy, what good am I to you? Kaoru-dono...if you go to the matchmaker, she or he might hook you up with someone you don't love."
There was a long pause. Finally, Kaoru said. "How do you know? How do you know I couldn't fall for the man I am put with eventually?"
"Kaoru-dono...I...I..."
'I love you...' His thoughts screamed. 'And that's why you can't go..."
"Well Kenshin--" Her words were cut off as Kenshin pressed his lips against hers. Actions sometimes spoke better than words. He pulled away and laughed softly.
"Please stay...Kaoru-dono."
After a long pause Kenshin stood up and tip-toed towards the door.
'Kenshin...'
He stepped through the shoji and slid it closed.
"Kenshin..." Kaoru touched her lips.
The next morning, it became evident words would have been a better choice in this case.
To be continued...
There you have it. Review please so we can keep this show on the road o
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