A/N: -dragging large bulging bag- "uh…don't mind me. Continue reading the fic. Nothing to see here." -muffled 'oorrroooo'- "eheheh…this is not the rurouni you are looking for?" -drops bag and runs for life from angry mob- (lol…I don't own Kenshin or Star Wars)
Chapter Three
In the last chapter of The Proposal, everyone's favorite wanderer received some surprising news while a rooster-haired freeloader was out-Foxed. A letter was dispatched, who wrote it and for what purpose? –dun dun dun-
~-~-~Into the setting sun, a hastily written message was sent with a flurry of wings. ~-~-~
~-~-~-~-Kamiya Dojo
Rurouni grin in place, a miserable wanderer served breakfast to a teenage bottomless pit and the dojo's cheerful teacher. Though the assistant master's queries of "Are you alright Kenshin?" and "what's the matter Kenshin?" proved his efforts to act normal were wasted.
With a strained smile, he attempted to reassure time and again that "sessha is well, that I am" or "no need to worry about this one, Kaoru-dono." The look of complete disbelief that darkened her eyes increased the red head's sense of guilt.
~-~-~-~-~Kyoto
Fluttering wings and a soft calling coo brought icy blue eyes around to the new arrival. Long slim fingers grasp the tiny metal cylinder, its contents carefully unrolled.
The leader of the Kyoto Oniwabanshū ninja clan re-read the scrawled message just as Misao bounded into the room.
"Aoshi-sama, Okina's got a report from Hokkaido for you…" her attention distracted by the slip of paper and green eyes glanced at the messenger pigeon, easily spotting its metal band, "that's one of Kaoru's birds. What's the trouble this time? Another maniac bent on Japan's destruction? Or better yet, world domination?"
"It appears that Kamiya is getting married," Aoshi states evenly.
"Himura finally did it!" Misao cheered, jumping around with glee, "Kaoru must to be so happy!"
"It's not Himura…"
~-~-~-~-Tokyo
After breakfast the trio headed into the busy town, where Yahiko darted off to begin another shift at the Akebeko. The teen grudgingly relaying Kaoru's request for a table.
Her attention shifts to him next and she asks, "Would you let Sano and Megumi know to meet us for dinner? Dr. Gensai too, that is if he's not busy tonight."
"What about you Miss Kaoru?" Kenshin inquires.
"I'll meet you and the others later. I've got some errands to finish before supper," she ran off with a cheerful wave.
Purple irises watch her lively form disappear into the crowd; Kenshin emits a dejected sigh and his feet wearily shuffle towards Ruffian Row.
~-~-~-~Kyoto
Misao froze in mid-celebration, her feet settling back on the wooden floor, her green eyes blinked once, twice. She shook her head, "sorry must have misheard you Aoshi-sama."
"It's not Himura," His cool blue eyes connected with her surprised gaze, "According to this message, Kamiya is getting married to someone else."
Misao's jaw dropped, and for the first time in a long time she was rendered speechless.
~-~-~-~Ruffian Row
A fishbone rolled between teeth, Sano watched his companion uneasily, "Sorry Kenshin."
The shorter man shook his head, "there is no need to apologize for this unworthy one's sake, Sanosuke," his voice soft, sad, "sessha...failed to act."
A large hand came to rest on his shoulder, Sano squeezing lightly in reassurance. Kenshin finally meet the other's brown gaze and nodded, the gesture combining appreciation and resignation.
~-~-~-~Gensai Clinic
"Ken-san," her dark eyes watch him, "what are you going to do?"
His smile weak, "you know the answer already, Megumi-dono."
"Well, I've enlisted Sanosuke to be my pack mule. Ken-san, if you must wander..." The lady doctor uncertainly, hesitantly, ventures, "if you must wander, would you mind wandering with us to Aizu?"
His head tilts, crimson hair hiding his eyes.
~-~-~-~-~-~Akebeko
"It is true Yahiko-kun?" Tae fretted.
He shrugs, hiding discomfort with indifference, "I guess that Kaoru's going to tell everyone tonight."
Tae frowned, "I feel sorry for Kenshin-san,"
The boy scoffs, "well I feel sorry for the poor sap that's going to marry her."
"why?" the restraunt owner asks surprised.
He snorts, "the guy probably doesn't know that Kaoru can't cook."
~-~-~-~-~-~Kyoto
The unnatural silence, the uncharaceristic stillness, Aoshi quickly became concerned as Misao stood motionless for several long minutes. Her eyes distant, empty of her normal bubbling energy.
He rose and went to the smaller ninja's side. She stirs and whispers, "no…that's not right." Her long dark braid whipped through the air as she shakes her head, vehemently denying the news. Aoshi eyebrow raises at her muttering about painful dismemberment of "...that stupid-red-haired-idiot...'
Suddenly the light, the energy, all that is -Misao- flashes back into her eyes, a fist clenches and her battle cry resounds, "Time for Super Ninja Teleportation!"
White smoke envelops the girl's form. When the billowing, concealing mist clears, Misao has vanished.
~-~~-~-~-The end of Chapter three
A/N: Thanks to readers and followers/alerters/reviewers of The Proposal thus far. And 'thank you' to the following:
New story favers: MixinFiction and CharmlessUnicorn.
New story alerters: SRAS9, Satirically Inclined, CharmlessUnicorn and DuShuZhi.
New reviewers: DuShuZhi
-waves to everyone following/alerting/reviewing/faving-