Kendo Club
Ch 5
Hey everyone! Hows it going? I'm sorry if this took long... with finals coming up and all the reviewing stuff I haven't had a lot of time to write. But anyways.. you don't want to hear my excuses... you want to read. Have fun and please review!
Kaoru opened her eyes and blinked as they slowly adjusted to the dark room. When she was able to make out the shapes of objects easily, Kaoru realized with a start that she was in someone else's house, for surely this wasn't the living room of her own house that she knew so well! She slowly sat up, gripping at the edge and top of the couch when a feeling of light-headedness overwhelmed her.
Now that she knew the layout of the room a bit better, Kaoru knew that this wasn't her house. The room that contained the couch she was laying on had a TV facing her, a bookshelf on both sides and a table in between her and the TV. On one side of the room beside a bookcase was a hallway; opposite it was a room, with what seemed to be appliances in.
Kaoru slowly swung her legs over the edge of the couch, causing the blanket she had been laying under to fall partly off of her. When she looked down at herself Kaoru saw that she was still wearing the clothes she had on last night, but her sleeves had been rolled up and her arms covered with bandages. Then she looked down to see her legs covered as well.
'What happened last night?' Kaoru wondered, startled as she looked over herself, taking note of every injury. Slowly she stood, rewrapping the blanket around her body.
She maneuvered herself around the table and sofa until she was standing in the middle of the room, clutching the blanket tightly around herself. Desperately Kaoru tried to remember what happened the night before. 'I was walking home from work, Sano called to do something, but I was too tired so I said no. Then I kept walking and, and…' She trailed off as she remembered what had happened, and all of the things her kidnappers could possibly have done to her. Biting her lip, she continued to try and remember past her capture. Kaoru gasped after she finally remembered, 'someone showed up and stopped them. But who was it?' She desperately tried to remember the name of her savior. 'It was…'
"Kenshin!" She blurted loudly. 'So this must be his house then, Kenshin brought me back here afterwards.' Kaoru continued silently.
She turned to look around her; there was the hallway, the living room and the kitchen she had seen already. But there was a table, with chairs seated around it, and beyond that a curtain and door. 'Where's that lead?'
Kaoru slowly walked forward, skirted the table and drew back the curtain on both sides. Outside in the yard she could make out the shape of two moving figures, one tall and the other short.
To be able to see better Kaoru reached out and pushed the sliding door open so she could step out onto the patio. She paused there, waiting to catch her breath and steady herself.
When she walked out to the edge of the patio, Kaoru was able to distinguish by sight the two figures as Kenshin and Hiko. When she could see them, that is. They were moving at breakneck speed, disappearing and reappearing in different places.
Kaoru watched, unbelieving as Kenshin rushed the much taller man, then spun away as Hiko attacked him back. They then began making multiple attacks. To Kaoru, it looked as if each was trying to kill the other. Finally Kenshin stepped back, blocking a blow from Hiko.
"Getting tired already baka deshi?" Hiko mocked the redhead, who glared at him, then disappeared from sight to reappear in the air above Hiko.
"Nighty-night Shishou." Kenshin smirked, then moved to bring his sword on Hiko's head.
Meanwhile, Kaoru was thinking, "When did he get up there and how did he jump so high?"
But Hiko smirked, caught the end of Kenshin's sword between his two hands, and threw Kenshin over his shoulder by swinging the sword around and to the ground. He didn't even scratch his palms on the blade of the sword.
By reflex Kenshin let go of the sword, did a few twirls to get his fall under control, and then fell easily to the ground without many injuries.
Hiko walked up to him, smirking. "What did you say again? Oh, I remember, 'nighty-night Shishou.'"
Kenshin glared at him. "That was unfair Shishou, you could have just dodged it."
"I could have, but I didn't. Remember what I said deshi, always be prepared for the unexpected, never let your opponent get the better of you." Hiko scolded, shaking his head.
Kenshin rolled his eyes. "Yes Shishou, I know," he got to his feet and began walking towards the house. When he was a few feet away from Kaoru, Kenshin stopped and smiled at her. "Good morning Miss Kaoru, are you hungry?"
Kaoru was surprised that he wasn't surprised to see her, but hid it and answered, "Yes I am."
He smiled again. "Alright, I'll start pancakes then. Is that okay with you?"
She smiled back. "I love pancakes."
"Wonderful," he gently led her into the house and closed the door behind them. "Are you feeling alright Kaoru? I tried to bandage your wounds as best as I could, but I only had my shirt and-"
Kaoru shook her head. "No, no. You did a wonderful job."
Kenshin didn't respond, but led her into the kitchen and pulled out a stool for her. "Thanks Kenshin."
He smiled again. "Its no problem." Kenshin walked over to the fridge and began rummaging through it. "Let's see, eggs, syrup, orange juice. Hmm, buttermilk, buttermilk. Darn it." Kenshin steeped away from the fridge and smiled grimly at Kaoru. "No buttermilk."
"Oh, don't worry that's fine. I-" Kaoru began stuttering.
"I'll be right back." Kenshin interrupted and left the kitchen, leaving Kaoru on her own.
A few minutes later, just as Kaoru had decided to go search for Kenshin, the doorbell rang.
"Would you mind getting the door please Kaoru?" Kenshin yelled from somewhere else in the house.
"Nope!" She yelled back and walked out of the kitchen, into the living room and to the door, which she opened to reveal a tall black haired woman carrying a darling little boy also with black hair who smiled at her.
The woman frowned. "Oh, hello. I was looking for my brother Hiko?" She asked Kaoru who realized that the two must be relatives.
Kaoru opened the door wider and stepped back. "I think Hiko's in the shower, Kenshin was supposedly talking to him," she explained as she closed, and locked, the door.
"Ah yes, I see." The woman said, then held out her hand and smiled. "I'm sorry, I'm Ishi Hanjin, Hiko's sister."
"Kaoru Kamiya, friend of Kenshin's." Kaoru introduced herself as she shook Ishi's hand. "Pleased to meet you."
"Hey there sport." Kenshin greeted, picking up the boy after he materialized from nowhere. "Uncle's in the bathroom," he told Ishi who smiled mischievously and politely excused herself.
"Kenny!" The little boy exclaimed hugging Kenshin and wrapping his arms around the older boys neck.
"Hey Shinta." Kenshin responded, then shifted his arm under the little boy so he could turn to Kaoru.
"Kaoru, this is my cousin Shinta. Shinta, this is my friend Kaoru." Kenshin introduced them.
"Hi Kaoru." Shinta said quietly while blushing.
"Hi Shinta." Kaoru said, then looked curiously at Kenshin. "Your cousin?"
Kenshin nodded. "Mmm hmm. Hey Shinta, we were going to make pancakes, do you want some?"
"Yaaa yaaah!" He exclaimed, nodding enthusiastically. "Kenny's are the best!" Shinta told Kaoru happily.
"Kenny?" Kaoru asked Kenshin who blushed. "Yeah, that's his nickname for me."
"Cute." Kaoru commented.
"You didn't happen to bring any buttermilk with you, that you hid somewhere Shinta? Because we're out." Kenshin teased, then proceeded to tickle his cousin, making the little boy erupt in giggles.
"Hey Kenshin, can I use your phone? I was supposed to call Sano." Kaoru explained, causing Kenshin to look up at her. "Sure, it's in the kitchen." Kaoru walked towards the kitchen, smiling when Kenshin all of a sudden picked Shinta up and began spinning him around in the air.
Kaoru picked up the phone and dialed Sano's number, leaning against the doorway to watch Kenshin and Shinta.
"Hello?" Sano's voice came warily through the phone.
"Hey Sano, its Kaoru."
"Oh, hey Kaoru. I didn't recognize your number." Sano explained enthusiastically.
"Its not mine. I'm over at Kenshin's." Kaoru explained, switching the phone over to her right hand.
"Kenshin's? When? How?" Sano explained loudly. "I want an explanation girl!"
Kaoru laughed. "Alright, alright. Well on my home after you called I was dragged into an alleyway. They started to hurt me, when Kenshin showed up and rescued me."
"Mm-hmm. I see. So, what's up?" Sano asked, changing the subject.
"Nothing, just called to check in." Suddenly she had a brilliant thought. "You want you come over for pancakes?"
"You bet!" Sano exclaimed happily. He'd eat dirt as long as someone else cooked it for him. "Where are you?"
"I told you, Kenshin's." Kaoru reminded him.
Sano rolled his eyes. "I know that, I meant where's Kenshin's house?"
"Oh." Kaoru paused and thought. "That's a good question, hang on a sec," she removed the phone from her ear and put her hand over the mouthpiece. "Hey Kenshin?"
Kenshin stopped spinning and lowered Shinta to the floor. "Yeah?"
"Would it be okay if Sano comes over for pancakes?" Kaoru asked.
"Sure, the more the merrier." Kenshin answered.
"Could you tell Sano how to get here?" She asked, gesturing at the phone.
"Right, well I can try," he picked Shinta up and walked over to Kaoru. "Would you mind looking after Shinta?" Kenshin asked, taking the phone.
"Course not." Kaoru took Shinta from Kenshin and held him tightly as Kenshin began talking into the phone, trying to guide Sano. From the number of times "No, that's not it" was said; it was going to be a while.
"Come on Shinta, let's leave your cousin alone." Kaoru told the boy as she walked out of the kitchen to sit down on the couch. Shinta crawled out of her lap to sit next to her.
"You know, he wasn't always so happy." Ishi said, materializing and sitting down next to Kaoru, startling her.
"What do you mean?" Kaoru asked the woman curiously as she rested her feet on the table.
"I don't think I've ever seen Kenshin smile or laugh at all in the past few years," she sighed, her eyes half-closed in sadness or pity. "I suppose his life was doomed from the beginning after his parents died."
"What?" Kaoru exclaimed, "His parents are dead?"
Ishi turned to look at her, "Yes, didn't he tell you?" Kaoru shook her head. "Well, I suppose Kenshin should tell you himself then. I'm happy he has friends though; you'll be a good influence on him. Hiko and I have been worried about Kenshin for so long," she smiled. "But he looks so happy when he's with Shinta. I suppose he's making up for his own missed childhood."
Kaoru stared at her, then looked over at Kenshin who was still talking on the phone with Sano. 'What happened to him? Why wasn't he happy?' She wondered.
"Well I suppose Shinta and I should leave." Ishi said as she stood and picked up Shinta.
"Don't you want to stay for pancakes?" Kenshin asked, from where he was standing next to the couch.
Kaoru blinked and then stared at him and Ishi gasped and put a hand to her heart. "Don't do that Kenshin! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"I always nearly give you a heart attack." Kenshin teased. "Sano's coming over, and he said he'd see if anyone else could come." Kenshin informed Kaoru.
"Great!"
"Mommy, are we going to stay for Kenny's pancakes?" Shinta asked from his spot next to Kaoru.
"If Kenshin's friends are coming, then we should leave them alone Shinta. You can have Kenshin's special pancakes some other time." Ishi told her son, scooping him up under her arm.
"Are you leaving already?" Hiko asked walking into the room wearing sweatpants and an overlarge sweatshirt.
Kaoru stared at Hiko as Ishi responded, "Yes we are. Some of Kenshin's friends are coming over, and Shinta and I wouldn't want to be a bother."
Hiko turned to glare at Kenshin. "And why didn't I hear of this?"
"Because I didn't think you would mind." Kenshin responded coolly under Hiko's gaze. "You were the one who told me to spend time with friends as a way to reacquaint myself into society."
"Baka deshi, turning my words on me." Hiko grumbled, then turned his back on Kenshin, ignoring him completely.
Kenshin tugged lightly on Kaoru's sleeve. "Come on Kaoru, we need to start the pancakes." They snuck away together after a quick wave to Ishi and Shinta.
"Your cousin's cute." Kaoru commented when they were safely in the kitchen. Kenshin smiled at her. "Yes he is."
"What do we need?" She asked curiously, looking around them.
"Well, pans are in that drawer." Kenshin pointed. "Mixing bowls in that one." Point. "And other utensils we need finally in there." A final point. "If you wouldn't mind getting that stuff, also the buttermilk's in the fridge." Kenshin finished.
"Alright." Kaoru nodded and began to get the bowls, pan and utensils out. 'I'm so glad I'm not the one cooking, I would make a fool out of myself.' Kaoru thought to herself as she put the pan on the stove and the other things on the counter.
Then she took the buttermilk out of the fridge and turned around to see Kenshin standing on the very edge of the counter getting ingredients out of the top shelves of the cupboards.
"Kenshin!" She shrieked, nearly dropping the buttermilk and eggs.
He turned slightly to look back at her confusedly. "Yes Kaoru?" Kenshin jumped down to land lightly on the floor, holding flour and baking powder in one hand and salt and sugar in the other.
"H-how?" Kaoru stuttered as she turned to set the buttermilk and eggs down on the counter so she wouldn't drop them.
Kenshin walked up to her and worriedly put a hand on her forehead. "Are you alright Kaoru?"
Hiko stuck his head in. "I heard a scream, are you two alright?" Kenshin moved his hand and stepped back from Kaoru.
"She screamed when she saw me standing on the counter." Kenshin explained.
"Ah. I told you not to do that baka. You could get hurt, and what if someone saw you? Everyone's not as agile and balanced as the two of us." Hiko scolded, his tone becoming smart-aleckedly at the end. He paused thoughtfully. "I don't suppose you want to do twenty laps around the house?"
Kenshin shook his head. "No, not really."
"Then don't do that again!" Hiko concluded, and walked back out. Kenshin rolled his eyes. "Here Kaoru, why don't you sit down?" He asked, pulling out a stool.
"Thanks Kenshin." Kaoru said, sighing gratefully as she sat down to relieve her trembling legs.
Kenshin looked worriedly at her. "You should be resting Kaoru, you're not even close to being fully healed yet." Kaoru opened her mouth to protest, but Kenshin interrupted. "I know that will be hard Kaoru, but you need to stay off your feet. You'll find that you'll tire more easily then usual."
"Since when do you play at being doctor baka?" Hiko asked teasingly, causing Kenshin to turn around and glare at him.
Hiko smiled mischievously and walked back out of the room. Kenshin turned to Kaoru. "Just try to ignore him Kaoru, I usually do," he smiled. "Now how about those pancakes I was talking about?"
Kaoru nodded and Kenshin walked to the counter and began making the batter. Kaoru watched his back as he moved. 'What was your Aunt talking about Kenshin? What happened that made you so sad?'
Can you imagine Hiko wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt? I would FREAK OUT if I saw that. And if your wondering if I named Kenshins cousin 'Shinta' for a particular reason... yes, I did. Besides the fact that I thought it would be cute. Also if anyone's saying to themselves: 'Kenshin and Hiko are related!' Yes, they are, but don't think too much on it. Also, Ishi ISNT Hiko's wife, she his SISTER. Just in case anyone's confused.
I think thats all the things I need to comment on. I hope you enjoyed it. I do have a plan for where this is going, I just have to figure out how to GET there.
Thanks to Yanikei for beta-ing this for me... and all of my stories. THANKS!
Moving on...
To my reviewers:
Yanikei: Thanks, and thanks again for beta-ing.
ELLIE: Sry you had to wait so long... is this one better? Next chap will be longer then this... I promise.
Aceraptor: Im glad you love it. Thats always good to hear. Thanks, I appreciate the wish. Sya.
Kristy-chan: Thanks, and yes... it was short. Sry about that. ;)
Gypsy: I'm glad it was really good. yes, he's always the 'man to the rescue!' okay, just ignore that, im being weird. Your right, he could... interesting. Keep on looking forward!
Du: Im sooooo glad. Yeah, short I know... but to the point... and cute. ;p
Thanks again to everyone who reads and reviews! And if you don't... please do so! I would love to hear from you! (poitns finger out at reader)
See y'all later. This time wil be shorter... I promise.
miji-chan