Chapter 3: The Bizarre Theories Of Nosy Friends
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…
Kenshin smiled at her nervously, "Oro…No…no!" He squeaked at Sanosuke who was trying his best not to laugh out loud and cause a scene…no not Sanosuke!
He had to say something first!
"Jou-chan, me and the Master were talking and…"
"And!" Kenshin semi-shouted, stopping Sanosuke mid-sentence. "I think it time we be adults and act a little more maturely, I myself have been on the immature side most of the day…" He nodded, "That I most certainly have." He added quickly.
"And considerin' your age and all Kenshin…" Sanosuke snickered, "You might tire yourself out with all the excitement."
"Sano…" Kenshin said deeply, it actually sounded like a growl more then anything, but as quickly as he said it, he blinked back into reality and sighed deeply in relief at finishing his previous thought without breaking a sweat…or too much of one.
"Ha!" Megumi laughed, throwing her head back, "I don't think it's possible we all be adults…" She flipped her hair over her shoulder and giggled, "Well, Ken-san and I are certainly the only real adults in this room at least…I…"
"Kitsune!" Sanosuke snapped at the woman seated next to him, "Every person in this room is an 'Adult.'" He air quoted to get his point across. Megumi threw back an insult at him and Sanosuke; well he insulted her right back.
While all this was going on, Kaoru sat next to Kenshin quietly. He watched her from the corner of his eye, wondering what the hell could be going on through her head. He blinked and tried his best to focus any remaining attention on the arguing couple in front of him.
"Now, now Megumi-dono." Kenshin said, finally breaking through into the conversation after a few insults about Sanosuke's hair and Megumi's breasts, "Isn't the argument just a little bit belittling?" he smiled, though layers of worry were buried beneath it.
"Oh Ken-san! You are right, I was being childish!" Megumi cried, wrapping her arms seductively around Kenshin's neck.
"ORO! Uh, Megumi-dono, could you please let go of me…it…urg…hard to breathe!" he choked out, straining a cough. With that Megumi quickly let go then giggled out her apologies.
"I'm so sorry Ken-san, but I just couldn't resist your charms. Hohohohohohohohoho!" She laughed, fox ears sprouting from her head.
"Heh," was the only sensible thing Kenshin could think to say as all his attention was quickly drained to the girl sitting next to him, who's eyes were shadowed by her bangs and her entire presence seemed saddened in great depth.
"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin called, adding the honorific once again to show his respect for her. "Are you alright, your smile seems to have left you."
Kaoru blinked and faced Kenshin, waking to the sound of his voice, "Oh?" She asked softly, not truly paying attention. "Sorry Kenshin, my thoughts took over me I guess." She smiled sheepishly and reached for a small bottle of sake.
"Kaoru, is that wise?" Megumi teased, "If I remember the last time you had some sake you got a little drunk and almost spilled some deep dark secret…well in that case!" Megumi pushed the bottle into her hands, "Drink up Tanuki!"
Kenshin sat straight in shock and pulled the bottle out of Kaoru's hands, "I'd rather not have Kaoru-dono drunk…"
"Hey, what's with the dono?" Kaoru asked, turning all the way around to face Kenshin, a serious and almost hurt look to her face. She reached for his hand but was stopped by…
"Kenshin, stop hogging the sake!" Sanosuke shouted, grabbing the bottle out of Kenshin's hands.
"Shut up you moron!" Megumi bellowed to him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Hey! Who you calling a moron Kitsune?"
"Who are you calling Kitsune, you bird head!"
And so the argument had started again, snips and snaps back and forth between the two. Kaoru couldn't stand it any longer! She stood up and placed her hands on her hips, "Could you two stop arguing for 5 seconds and take the time to notice it's Kenshin's day so why don't you both shut up!" Kaoru exhaled and sat back down. "Kenshin, can I get you something to eat?" She asked sweetly.
Kenshin gulped, "Aa, yes please."
"Look Tanuki you scared him." Megumi said, sliding from her place across Kenshin to sitting in his lap.
Kaoru blinked, shocked. "You filthy woman, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing Tanuki?" Megumi giggled resting her head on Kenshin's chest, "I'm snuggling with Ken-san!"
"Megumi-dono, could you please get off of me?" Kenshin whispered, afraid of her wrath.
Some party this turned out to be…
Megumi pouted her lip, "Fine." She said, rolling her eyes and moving to her original spot.
"You…know…" Sanosuke piped up after a few jugs of the sake he had snuck without the others noticing, "Kenshin's posseda kiss ya Jooouuu-chan."
Kaoru's eyes widen with a red face and Kenshin fainted in a terrible shock, "Oh yea…smooth, smooth!" Sanosuke roared with laugher and fell back off his mat. "Yea…that's how it goes…" He took another gulp of sake and cuddled it in his arms, falling asleep.
"Jeez, what a moron." Megumi sighed, taking a bite of some tofu. "Kaoru, what are you going to do?" Megumi suddenly asked, placing her chopsticks down and facing the girl with the bright red face.
"What are you talking about?" Kaoru asked, her mind not totally there yet.
"About Ken-san's love for you?" Megumi asked like they had only been talking about it seconds before…
Well, more like minutes…
"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.
"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.
Kaoru looked at her, shocked. "What…?"
"It's so obvious that Ken-san loves you, we all can see it. Your both very dense people you see." Megumi sighed and stood up straight. "I'm jealous that I never even had a chance to win his heart…you've had it all this time…" She smiled at Kaoru and took a deep breath in.
"NOW DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!"
"What am I supposed to do?" Kaoru asked, watching Kenshin to make sure he wouldn't suddenly awake from his pervious shock.
"That's up to you…" Megumi said softly, picking up her chopsticks and eating some more of the tofu. "I can't tell you how to make a love confession…it's Ken-san…I'd guess something subtle…don't scare him." Megumi sighed, "That's all I can think of…"
Kaoru nodded, taking a mental note of the situation. As much as Megumi drove her crazy…she was useful for woman-to-woman talks like this.
Then all of a sudden…
"HEEEELLLLLOOOO DID WE MAKE IT IN TIME FOR HIMURA'S BIRTHDAY!" A loud voice squealed from outside. "I HOPE HE'S STILL ALIVE! I HEAR HE'S THIRTY!"
Kenshin's eyes slowly opened as he sat up facing the sliding door, "Did I hear Misao-dono or was I dreaming? Oro…"
"No, I really think…" Kaoru started, getting up and heading towards the door but it swung open as she was reaching for it, it scared Kaoru and knocked her back on her bum.
"Lookie Aoshi-sama I found them!" Misao cried cheerfully, entering the room and sitting down in the semi-circle the four had made.
"Happy birthday Himura! We came all the way from Kyoto to celebrate with you!" And like magic, Aoshi was standing in the doorway; he nodded to acknowledge everyone's presence.
"Wow that was really nice of you Misao-chan." Kaoru smiled, taking her friend's hand in her own. "Now I'm sure Kenshin's birthday will be even better!"
"Of course!" Misao said matter-of-factly. She nodded, "It isn't really a party unless I'm invited." She laughed while everyone else groaned, except Aoshi who was still standing in the doorway.
"Aoshi," Kenshin grinned, "Come and join us." He waved him over then focused his attention back on the conversation unfolding in front of him…
He wasn't really sure what was really going on…but he stayed polite.
…And Aoshi had a seat…
"Kaoru-san!" Misao cried, jumping up and down in the dojo's kitchen. "I come to Tokyo for Himura's birthday, I find out you're his slave and you still haven't told him you LOVE him?" Misao stomped her foot and stuck her tongue out at the awe-struck woman.
"Misao-chan! Could you be any louder?" Kaoru bellowed back, finding she was choking all the air out of the girl. As quickly as she could, Misao coughed out her apologies and with that Kaoru dropped her to the floor.
"I never said that I'd tell Kenshin anything! You assumed everything, like always!" Kaoru sighed and covered the boiling pot of what looked like rice.
"But Kaoru-san! Just say it out loud!" Misao whined, hoping to get something out of her…something juicy.
"Say what?" Kaoru wondered like she didn't really know. She blinked as innocently as she could to try to fool the little weasel girl.
"SAY YOU LOVE HIMURA!"
"Misao-chan…"
"SAY IT!" She shouted, shaking the entire kitchen.
"ALL RIGHT! All right, jeez." Kaoru took a deep breath, feeling her cheeks burn up with blush. "I'm in love with Himura Kenshin," she said quietly, making Misao groan with annoyance.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" She shouted, throwing her hands up into the air almost hitting poor Kaoru's face. "Say it again!" She demanded from her.
Kaoru yelped and backed away, "But Misao-chan!"
"Kaoru-san!" Misao screamed, jumping up and down, "Say it, say it, say it!"
"I LOVE HIMURA KENSHIN!" Kaoru shouted, then quickly covered her mouth, "What if he heard that?" she asked, her voice muffled by her hands.
"Good!" Misao giggled, crossing her arms over her chest. "Now he'll make a move, and you to will be happily ever after and you'll no longer be his birthday slave!" She grinned broadly at Kaoru and nodded her head like it was a sure thing.
Kaoru blushed, liking the thought but shook her head to push the idea away, "I won't get my hopes up for something I really want." She sighed and continued to struggle to make more rice for their party.
What she didn't know was that Kenshin had heard the entire conversation.
She didn't know he heard her confession.
As fast as he could Kenshin walked away from the window. He walked back to the room, which the party was being held and sat down across from Sanosuke; thankful Megumi had excused herself a few minutes before. He looked over at Aoshi was sitting diagonal from him. He didn't matter.
"She loves me?" Kenshin uttered, trying to break through Sanosuke's drunken thoughts.
"Wha?" Sanosuke asked, sitting up and staring at Kenshin for a good answer for waking him up.
"Kaoru-dono has feelings for me, right?" he asked, hating this feeling of uncertainty, if he knew that she wasn't kidding…or just screamed it to make Misao shut up…
He would do something about it.
Sanosuke smacked his forehead, "I bet Jou-chan's loved you since she's known you…well, as long as I've known you two." He said, matter-of-factly. "And you just noticed now?" He asked, raising his voice to his best friend's stupidity and density.
"Well, honestly…no. I over heard her talking with Misao-dono and Misao-dono made Kaoru-dono shout out, "I LOVE HIMURA KENSHIN!" and since I'm pretty sure I'm the only Himura Kenshin she knows, I assume she is talking about me!" Kenshin gasped for air, "That I do."
"Really?" Sanosuke asked.
"Really." Kenshin replied.
"Well," Aoshi suddenly spoke, "Misao does have a strange ability to make people admit things they rather not say aloud. I assume she did this to Kaoru." He closed his eyes.
Kenshin blinked and nodded his head in agreement. "You do have a point, so that means…"
"Whatever, Jou-chan does love you, the weasel making her say it out loud aside, what are you going to do about it Kenshin?"
"What am I going to do Sano? I've never really had to deal with things like this before…" Kenshin sighed in defeat, "The feared Battousai…is lousy with women…who woulda guessed it?"
"Weren't you married?" Sanosuke asked surprised, not really getting everything Kenshin was saying.
"Well, yes…but Tomoe isn't Kaoru, that she isn't. Besides that, it wouldn't even be close to being right if I treated them the same." Kenshin sat straight and nodded, "That's what I believe anyway."
"Well," Sanosuke smiled, "You're right, see you aren't as half bad with women as you thought, and just think of it this way…your birthday present is still in effect…go for it."
"For what?" Kenshin asked, honestly having no idea what Sanosuke was talking about.
Sanosuke sighed, "Kenshin…" Growing in irritation.
"He means," Aoshi broke into the conversation again, "To tell Kaoru that you too have feelings for her and, thus, proceed to making love I suppose." Aoshi sighed and nodded.
"What!" Kenshin shouted, turning white in fright. "It's not possible."
"Don't say that Kenshin!" Sanosuke laughed, smacking Kenshin on the back, scaring the unfortunate man even more. "As soon as Kaoru and the weasel come back with Kitsune, operation "Slave for a day!" will really commence!"
"I think Battousai's problems are not that he's waiting…"
"Oh…right…I know!"
And in the kitchen…
"You've got to take advantage of this whole, slave thing Kaoru-san!" Misao cried, shaking Kaoru by her shoulders, "Look at you! You're dressed in his clothes…you probably smell of Himura now!" Misao groaned, covering her nose in disgust.
"Lucky her." Megumi sighed, massaging her temples with her middle finger and thumb. "But she is right Kaoru…you have him completely to yourself and you've hardly done a thing about it." Megumi scolded angrily. "I mean, if I was in your position with…"
"With Kenshin?" Kaoru asked, assuming that is whom she meant.
"Maybe." Megumi replied, taking a piece of her hair and twirling it, "Anyway…"
"Oh me too!" Misao suddenly cried, "Well, not with Himura but with…"
"Aoshi-sama." All three girls spoke at the same time, "We know, we know." Megumi and Kaoru spoke in sync. They laughed at Misao's predictability.
"Well, fine…but anyway…"
"Right, wait…what?" Kaoru asked, losing herself in the chatter.
"You need to step up and do something about this!" Misao and Megumi shouted, making Kaoru back away in fright of the two girls' fury. "He loves you!"
"Okay! I will, I will!" Kaoru cried, not quite believing it all herself.
"You better." Said Megumi, pouting her lip angrily.
"No, no!" Misao shouted, coming upon an idea, "It isn't that she's waiting for something…it's just that…"
Suddenly, Megumi's face changed to one of enlightenment, "Oh I see!"
"She needs ideas!"
"He needs ideas!"
"NO I DON'T!"
"Yes you do!"
"Yes you do!"
"NO!"
"YES!"
"YES!"
"Ugh…what do ya got?"