Chapter 2- Hour One…I Think He Wants To Kiss Her!
Kaoru stared at him, completely flabbergasted. She blinked slowly and tried her very hardest to register the words Kenshin had uttered only seconds before. She had thought it sounded like, 'I think I should go with you.' But, Kaoru thought, I have had a very stressful day so far.
She might just have been hearing things…
"What?" she asked, her voice tense and nervous.
"I think I should do with you." He said again, very calmly. TOO CALMLY!
"WHAT? What makes you…you think…" Kenshin placed a fingertip to her lips to silence her, "Well, you are a slave Kaoru, you might run away…" he chuckled low in his throat and smiled at her slyly.
Kaoru shook her head, "I won't!"
"You might." Kenshin replied.
"No, no I promise! Please?" She clasped her hands in front of her to show her desperation.
"Nope." Kenshin answered her plea. Kaoru slumped against the post nearest her, "I hope you know, this is the last birthday you'll…" Kenshin silenced her again, "No death threats until midnight." He said jokingly.
But Kaoru took it very seriously.
She stood up and turned towards the bathhouse, "Well, let's go…no never mind!" She said brightly, turning around, "I don't need a bath…"
"Now, now." Kenshin said, grabbing her arm and turning her back around, "Nothing to be shy about…" He smiled at her and pushed her on, "Everything will be normal, and I'll just be standing by the door." He smirked at her and stopped in front of the door.
Kaoru shook her head, "Oh no…" she gulped and opened the door, "at least, can you start…"
"Of course Kaoru…" he stepped away, "I'll try to be quick." He chuckled again.
Kaoru groaned and stepped inside, stripping of Kenshin's clothes and the binding she had wrapped around her chest, which she needed to put on later and folded them. Her shoulders tensed when she heard the crackling of the fire from outside and sighed, feeling the water inside the tub.
It was the perfect temperature.
That was annoying.
She climbed inside the tub and dunked her head underneath the water, not even bothering to tie it up in a towel.
She tensed when she heard the muffled sound of a sliding door and a chuckle. She popped her head up and gazed at Kenshin, leaning on the nearest wall. She closed her eyes and went back underwater until her lungs needed more air, she through her head up and covered her face.
Kenshin just stood there, not a sign of emotion on his face.
No disappointment.
And no…pleasure…
Do I not please him? Kaoru thought frantically, covering her mouth in horror, her cheeks turned red and she slumped down further into the tub. She shook her head, "Of course you don't please him fool…think of what he's had…" she said sulkily.
Now think of you…
Kenshin's face changed to concern as he stood straight, "Kaoru, are you all right?" he asked, leaning toward the tub.
Kaoru sat up and nodded, "Just thinking about something!" She said brightly, "Gee, isn't it hot in here?" She smiled and turned her head away from him.
"Uh, yes, I suppose it is…" Kenshin said, rubbing the back of his head, somewhat confused at her overly bright façade.
Kaoru bit her bottom lip and looked slightly over her shoulder.
Kenshin's look of concern and confusion didn't leave him…oh she hated that look right now, she wanted nothing more then to make it go away!
She then smiled like she was some crazed…she smiled like she was Jin-e. She turned back around, and smiled widely at Kenshin, "Can you come here?"
"Uh, I don't…"
"Please Kenshin…Master…I really need you." She said in a desperate, pleading, fake…voice. She slid to the other side of the tub and held out her hand, calling him over.
Kenshin walked over slowly, and by his face the fear of something…anything showed through. He stopped and Kaoru scooted closer to him, "I have something to tell you," she whispered.
Kenshin leaned down towards her and tried his best to ignore the full front vision that was before; he closed her eyes tight and suddenly heard…
"For you Master!" And Kaoru grabbed Kenshin's head and flipped him into the tub with her amazing, yet random…super strength. She laughed wildly and crossed her arms over her chest as she watched Kenshin squirm to the surface.
He threw his head out and gasped for air. "What was that for?" He asked, wiping his face with his hand in one fluid motion.
"Well," Kaoru said, trying to suppress her laughter, "You said you wanted to go with me…I thought that meant joining me…" she said in her most innocent impression. She smiled brightly then fell underwater in mid-laughter.
Kenshin rolled his eyes…then he smiled, following Kaoru underwater. He grabbed onto her shoulders and her eyes flew open. Kenshin was staring back at her, she could make out some sort of hidden feeling in his eyes, but itwas even harder to make out underwater then above it. Then, suddenly, he pulled her back up, "You know, this was fun…but I need to go change my clothes now." He stood and tired to climb out, but Kaoru pulled him back into the water with a splash.
He stared at her blankly, "You know this isn't going as I had planned." He said, raising his eyebrows.
"Is that a bad thing?" She asked, biting her bottom lip, almost afraid of an answer.
"Not…really." Kenshin said, smiling at her, "It isn't even over and I can honestly say thishas probably been the best birthday ever, thanks to you."
Kaoru giggled and blushed, "Your welcome Kenshin…" she said softly, "Now…" she stood up, "I need to get dressed, and you need to get changed…right Kenshin?"
There was no answer.
"Kenshin?" She asked, turning around then covering her mouth in shock.
Kenshin had passed out...and his nose was...bleeding!
Kenshin pressed the ice pack Kaoru had prepared for him firmly against his forehead. He warily glanced up at her as she cut vegetables...
"What now?" she asked, her voice tense with annoyance and anger as she carefully laid down the knife. He could obviously tell she was sick with this entire slave arrangement. Kenshin smirked. He had a surprise that would certainly cheer her up…
But that's later…
Kenshin removed the pack and threw it into the sink from where he was standing, "I have no idea!" he said brightly.
"Oh Kenshin! That's no good!" She groaned, stomping her foot and spinning around dramatically.
"Isn't it though?" Kenshin asked, "I mean, I can tell you're hating this Kaoru-dono, this one doesn't want to feel like I'm hurting you." He frowned, "I think it's best if we just call the whole thing off, it's been fun…" he turned to leave.
"Wait! No…No!" Kaoru said, grabbing hold of his arm and tugging on it gently, "It still is…fun…for you! Please Kenshin, I'll be a better sport! It's only…" Kaoru looked at the small clock sitting on the counter by the sink, "5 and a half hours to go…that really isn't so long."
Kenshin thought for a moment and looked down at Kaoru. Loving the pleading look in her blue eyes. He smiled at her, "I guess I can't say no to those…"
"KEN-SAN!" Megumi said, walking into the kitchen, Sanosuke following behind her, carrying bags of food and sake. Megumi smiled politely at KenshinTHEN draped her arms around him.
"ORO!"
"Ken-san, the baka…"
"HEY KITSUNE!" Sanosuke shouted from the door, "I'M RIGHT HERE!"
"…And I thought that, since it's such an important day, we should have a little party for you." She finished, ignoring Sanosuke all together She was too busyplaying withKenshin's hair and wrapping it around her finger.
Kaoru stood behind them, fuming her head off. Her hands tightened into fists, as she was getting ready to pounce on Megumi like the angry raccoon she is... It scared Kenshin that he could feel her ki getting stronger…and fiercer…and deadly
He chuckled and backed away from Megumi, "That's very nice of you Megumi-dono, that it is!" Kenshin blinked and started looking around…
"But where is…"
"Yahiko?" Kaoru finished, calming herself down and linking her arm with Kenshin's and sticking her tongue out in Megumi's direction. Megumi huffed and walked next to Sanosuke.
"We told him to stay with Tae at the Akabeko, since this is going to be a very mature party." Sanosuke laughed and started pulling out the sake bottles from the bags.
"Hohohohohohohohoho! We were debating whether or not to let Tanuki-chan stay or not, but since she is Ken-san's servant…she needs to be at his side at all times…right?" Megumi gave out her high-pitched laugh again.
"I would have come, Kenshin's servant or not! Right Kenshin?" She questioned in her sweet say "Of course Kaoru-dono" voice…
"Of course Kaoru."
Even better!
Kaoru smiled triumphantly and took a bag from Sanosuke, fixing the sleeve of Kenshin's gi as she walked on, "I'll get everything ready, Megumi-san, you'll help me won't you?" Kaoru looked over her shoulder towards Megumi who was actually giving her a surprised look.
"You want my help?"
"Well, I certainly can't ask Kenshin, and Sanosuke would just complain if I ask him…" She said, motioning her hand towards Sanosuke who was picking his teeth with a fishbone.
"Got that right…" Sanosuke scoffed under his breath, then suddenly slapped Kenshin on the back as hard as he possibly could, "Come on birthday boy, let's go wait for the party!" Sanosuke whooped and left the room with a limp Kenshin following behind. But before Kenshin left, he secretly peered over his shoulder and smiled coolly at…
His Kaoru.
He left the room with a new energy.
"So," Megumi started, taking some of the dishes Tae had prepared for their get together out of the bag and setting them down.
"So what?" Kaoru snapped, taking the rest of the sake out of the other bag.
"So, how far as Ken-san gotten with you?" Megumi looked up, her Kitsune ears popping out of her head. She giggled wildly, like some insane, dirty, FILTHYwoman!
"WHAT!" Kaoru asked, dropping a sake bottle and making it shatter on the floor. She jumped away from the pieces and looked up nervously hearing the footsteps of Kenshin and Sanosuke running hurriedly.
"An attack?" Kenshin asked, stepping into the kitchen, ready for a fight.
"An enemy!" Sanosuke shouted excitedly, hands already tightened into fists.
"No…a klutz." Megumi said pointing to Kaoru who was hastily cleaning up the pieces of the bottle. "She dropped it." Megumi sighed and went back to work,ignoring Kaoru's whimpers of maybe getting cut by the broken bits.
Sanosuke turned back around and walked away, while Kenshin kneeled down by Kaoru and smiled at her warmly, "I'll help you."
"You don't need…"
"I can do as I wish…I'm your…Master…" Kenshin said with a slight suggestion in his voice, which even he couldn't tell if he meant to do so or not. He blushed at her blush and he swept the bits and pieces into his hand. He stood up, threw them away and quickly made his way out of the room.
Kaoru wiped the alcohol away with a rag and sighed, "I did this whole…slave thing…" she started, glancing at Megumi who was actually paying attention to her as she finished getting the food ready, "To get closer to Kenshin. I mean, what a way to say "I love you!" to someone then on your birthday right? It was a smart plan, and me being stupid and kind of forgetting his birthday worked out for the best.
But, maybe he won't say anything at all! I mean, Kenshin is so shy when it comes to his feelings and I thought, maybe if I do whatever he wants me to, some…sexual…desire as to come out in the open! Then I finally got it!" Kaoru said exasperated, hugging her knees when she finished with her chore.
"Got what?" Megumi asked, walking over towards Kaoru and kneeling on the floor to be at her eye level.
"I'm not what Kenshin finds…sexually attractive." Kaoru sighed, biting her bottom lip.
Megumi slapped her upside her head. "Baka Tanuki!"
"Eh? Ow! What was that for?" Kaoru asked, covering her head with her hands and glaring at Megumi. She bit at her bottom lip in pain and backed away from the woman. "Aren't you always saying something like that anyway!"
"Well, of course...I really don't understand but...you're an idiot for not seeing the love Ken-san has for you!" Megumi shouted, standing up and crossing her arms over her chest.
Kaorustared at her, shocked. "What…?"
"I think you want to kiss her." Sanosuke said, leaning back on his elbows and biting on a fishbone. "But your a chicken Kenshin, baak!"
Kenshin cocked his eyebrow, "Wow Sano, I have no idea where you came up with that idea..."Kenshin replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"I dare you to…"Sanosuke started, laughing evilly...
But before he could even finish, Kaoru walked into the room, followed by Megumi who seemed to be eyeing Sanosuke in some sort of wanting to know way.
"Kiss her." He finished in a whisper.
Kenshin stared at Kaoru intensely as she set everything down then took her seat next to him.
Sanosuke sat straight up, grinning like a mad man. "Do it! Do it!" he chanted, stomping his foot on the ground repeatedly.
Kenshin looked at him then to Kaoru, and back and forth. Kaoru tilted her head to the side, "Do what?" She asked Kenshin curiously.
"To…" KISS YOU! He screamed in his head…
Could he actually do it though?
Well…she was his slave…