AN: In previous entries, Kenshin has referred to Kaoru as "Okaa-san" when speaking to Kenji. I didn't use that here, because it didn't seem to flow well. So for this drabble, Kaoru is "Mommy."

Summary: Oh what a tangled web we weave...

The Spider and the Fly

Dishes were finished and Kenshin was off getting Kenji ready for bed. Kaoru had just settled herself down at the table for some after dinner tea when a whirlwind with red hair came barreling into the room.

"Mooommmyyyyyy! Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!" it screamed before launching at her.

Kaoru caught her son, laughing at his current state of undress. "Kenji! Where are your clothes?!"

The boy only giggled in reply, enthusiastically rubbing his bare skin over the worn cotton of Karou's yukata. "Soft Mommy! Soft Mommy!" he chanted before darting from the room again.

Kaoru shook her head in amusement, listening as tiny feet went pounding down the hallway.

"Where'd he go?" asked Kenshin's breathless voice from the doorway behind her.

"That way," she replied, unable to contain her laughter as she pointed toward the opposite door. Kenshin took off after their son, but moments later, the tornado reappeared.

"SOFT MOMMY!!"

"What in the world has gotten into you?!" she exclaimed, catching the toddler once more. This time, she made sure to hold onto him until Kenshin arrived.

"Hehe… soft Mommy!" The more Kaoru laughed, the more Kenji laughed, rubbing face and arms over the soft cotton.

"There you are you little escape artist!"

A chuckling Kaoru looked up to see Kenshin, red hair sticking out in every direction from where it had escaped his ponytail.

"I haven't seen you like this since Misao brought you candy! C'mere!" he said scooping up and tickling the boy who squealed in delight.

Kaoru's eyes widened as her boys left the room. 'It can't be!'

On light feet, Kaoru hurried to her room, yanking open the drawer containing her hair ribbons, pawing through the tangle of brightly-colored silk.

"They have to be here somewhere… they just have to!" she whispered frantically to herself. If Kenshin found out that she had spirited the sweets away, there would be no end to the torment he would inflict on her.

"Kaoru? Everything alright?" She stiffened at the sound of her husband's voice in the doorway.

Pasting on her best smile, she turned to Kenshin. "Of course!" she replied just a little too brightly. "Where's Kenji?

"Oh he crashed. You know how he is. One minute he's running around, the next he's face down in the futon drooling," he replied with a smile. "You sure you're okay? It looked like you were trying to find something."

"U-uh, just, um, needed to find my brush," she stammered, scrambling for an excuse.

"It's right here," Kenshin replied, strolling over and picking it up. "Would you like me to brush your hair for you?"

"Sure." Kaoru settled herself more comfortably on the cushion while Kenshin drew the brush through the long length of her hair. "Kenji was sure something tonight wasn't he?"

"Mmm hmmm," Kaoru hummed in lazy response, eyes closed.

Kenshin smirked. His wife had always been one for having her hair played with. "Any idea what would have made him so crazy?"

Kaoru stiffened slightly. "No," she replied after a moment's pause.

"Nothing at all?"

Kaoru heard the small rattle of something being placed on the table. With trepidation, she cracked on eye, fearful yet knowing what she would find…

"I caught you, koishii," Kenshin purred in her ear. "Now what shall your punishment be?"

AN: This drabble was originally intended for the LJ community fanfic_bakeoff March theme, "tangle." However, weighing in at 546 words, it was well over the 300 word limit for that community.

And for those of you who may be wondering, the "Soft Mommy" scene is drawn from real life, based on an incident involving my four-year-old daughter and her consumption of a pixie stick. I don't think there's just sugar in those things!