Suegaku Na Aki

Chapter 16

Kaoru opened her eyes and panicked. It was almost afternoon. Hastily, she changed herself and went running out of her room. She almost run smack into Yahiko who was trying to balance a tray full of food.

"Hey! Watch it! Yahiko shouted with his eyes glued to the tray he was holding, wanting to make sure soup didn't spill out of one the bowls on the tray. Megumi will have my hide if I spill the food" Moving one of the hands to the front of the tray, he muttered softly, "Stupid fox, she could have arranged it properly so that it's easier to carry"

"But why are you serving food? You're late for practice"

"Well, dummy, in case you have forgotten, Kaoru..."

"Kaoru... What's up with me?"

Yahiko's mind began to whirl fast when he realized the person he was talking to. His hands almost threw the tray so that he can hug her when he realized two things. Firstly, if he hugged her, the tray would fall to the floor. Then the job of cleaning it up would certainly be delegated to him. Two, hugging her would mean the end of his 'manly' reputation. He instead settled for a nod. "You should rest in your room, as you need to recover from your injury"

Only at Yahiko's reminder did the previous day's event come to Kaoru's mind. She began to feel pain from her injuries. Then, as if remembering something, she whisked around. "Where's Kenshin?! Is he okay?"

"Sessha is all right, that he is" Kaoru's panicked gaze softened when it settled on the red head standing in the corridor. But she felt that something was not right.

"Kaoru-dono should rest, that she should"

"Hai" Kaoru could have sworn that Kenshin seemed a bit distant toward her.

Yahiko ushered her to her room, using the tray like a prod. Alone, Kenshin looked at his slightly trembling hands. He was very happy that she was finally awake, that he had wanted to... 'Kiss her?' The voice that has become the epitome of his lust and obsession toward the young female kendoist asked. Kenshin mentally groaned. The voice was more annoying than the battousai persona he had created. And more insistent, having its own mind, as if it was another spirit that entered his body. "It was improper to think about Kaoru like that. She would have smacked me if she knew"

"So, Jou-chan is up and running?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"Ohayo de gozaru, Sano"

"A not so good morning to you, judging from your disheveled state" Sano thought about asking Kenshin about what he was saying but decided to let it pass.

Kenshin acknowledged slightly, his mind was still in turmoil. After a pregnant pause, he began, "Sano...."

"What?"

Kenshin decided to just keep quiet.

Sano looked at his tired-looking friend. "You're worried about her, aren't you? You looked like you didn't sleep at all last night. Probably worrying about her"

"Hai"

"You care for her deeply"

Kenshin's sigh was interpreted as acknowledgement.

"Well, why do you still hesitate to tell her? Didn't yesterday's event mean anything for you?" Sano's voice rose slightly toward the end of the sentence.

"Sessha's not good enough for her. Sessha..."

"I know... I know", Sano interrupted. "You don't deserve her"

Kenshin agreed to what Sano said. In his heart, Kaoru was too kind, like a beautiful flower that needed to be protected from corrupt person like him.

''Of course you don't deserve her; you deserve someone better. After all she is just an ugly, sweaty, immature, inelegant kendo practicing tomboy whose cooking can poison the whole Tokyo. So that's why she is not good enough for you isn't it?" Sano saw the sakabatou almost leave its sheath.

Kenshin shook his head, trying to calm himself. "You should not speak ill of Kaoru-dono anymore"

Sano winced at Kenshin's warning as he looked into violet eyes laced with amber shine. But then the thick part of his skull that influenced his guts stepped in and Sano braced himself for a glaring match with the shorter man in front of him. Then as a brainwave hit him, he smirked. "Okay, I was wrong. The cute tenshi deserved someone like you to protect her"

"Eto... She doesn't"

"look beautiful?"

"Ie. Kaoru-dono..."

"Is beautiful"

"Sou de gozaru"

Sano grinned. "And you want her?"

"Ie"

"So you don't want her because she can't cook?"

"Ie. Sessha likes her not because..."

"So you admit that you like her?"

"Oro... Demo, sessha doesn't deserve her"

"Sigh. You mean you deserve Megumi?"

"Ororo"

"Not Ororo. Kaoru. Ka – O – Ru"

"Sessha lead a tainted life"

Sano wasn't oblivious to Kenshin's private history. Throwing his hands up, he shouted, "Fine. So you're not an angel"

"Sessha is an ex-hitokiri" The sentence's meaning was deep and profound.

Knowing that telling Kenshin that Tomoe would have wanted him to be happy didn't seem to be a good idea to Sano as the mentioning of his friend's deceased wife would probably have a contradictory effect. "Very well. Now close your eyes"

Kenshin did what he was told.

"Now. Imagine your ugliest and most annoying enemy that you have fought"

"I fought you"

"Yeah. But I said 'ugliest and most annoying', not 'most handsome and most dashing'. So that would not be me. Try Gohei and Hiruma instead"

"Oroooo...."

"Make sure you can see them clearly"

Sano waited for a few seconds. "Now. Imagine them flirting with Kaoru instead of you. And imagine you were at another place in Japan, making that speech about 'sessha this' and 'sessha that"

Kenshin's eyes snapped open, not liking what they saw.

'Kenshin, you're as silly as they come when it comes to Jou-chan' "Good. I take this as proof that despite the crap coming out of you mouth, you want her to be yours badly. You should make your move, DE GOZARU"

"Eto... Sessha"

"Shut up before you contradict yourself"

Kenshin clamped his mouth shut. Sano made a peace sign as he had finally won his first verbal match. He considered whether he should make Megumi his next target. Or Saitou. But first things first. He put a hand on Kenshin's shoulder. "Kenshin, you know what I really meant"

"Hai, sou de gozaru. But sessha is still angry towards you because of your unkind words toward Kaoru-dono"

Sanosuke looked at the direction of Kaoru's room. "She's one of a kind, isn't she? I mean, if I hadn't noticed the looks she was giving you when I got to know you people, I would have gone after her"

'Gone after her' Sano's last words echoed in his mind. Kenshin stood transfixed to his place, making Sano very worried.

"Oi! Daijobou?'''

Kenshin was actually reliving the event that took place the previous night, except that in this one, Kenshin gave in to his desire and Kaoru was awake and reciprocated his advance. It was as if his being obstinate for the last ten years has finally taken its toll on him. Kenshin, in that rare moment, had lost his self control.

Sano wondered whether he should wipe the drool off his friend's mouth.

At a river bank not very far away, a young man was sitting leaned against a tree. Although there was a fishing pole in his hand, h didn't really pay attention to it when there was a slight tug to it. Instead, he was looking off in the distance, lost in reverie. Then a hand took the pole from his hand and pulled it, causing the fish that was hooked on it to come out of the water to rest on the river bank. The newcomer didn't pay attention to the fish struggling for oxygen; he sat near the young man.

"Lost in distant memory?"

A pair of eyes looked at him from the corner. "Why are you here, Orochi? And don't give me rubbish for an answer"

Orochi ignored his comment and recast the fishing line into the water after baiting it. "So, how's life, Yukishiro?"

"Fine," Enishi mumbled.

Orochi looked at Enishi's hair. He could see that some of his hair had begun to turn black. The Yukishiro that he once knew seemed to have changed. He shook his head. It was evident that Enishi would not and could not help him. "Actually, I wanted to ask your help. But now I think it is better for me just to spend an afternoon with you, as a friend"

"Orochi considering me as his friend?"

"Whatever. Do you have a spare rod?"

In response, Enishi took another one and baited it. He cast it and kept quiet.

An hour or more passed in solitude before Enishi turn to his companion and asked, "So, does this, help have anything to do with your men who were captured?"

"Actually, it was about something else. But forget about it as I remembered that I have few questions I want to ask you"

Enishi gave a tug to his fishing rod when he felt a slight pull. Then the line went slack as the fish managed to free itself. Enishi shrugged. "Ask me, but I can't promise that I will answer"

Orochi smiled and asked him about his final battle with Kenshin. Enishi told him; albeit in an abridged form.

"What about his ougi? Can you tell me how it is done? What is the driving force behind it?"

Enishi gave a stare that told Orochi that he would not answer that question.

"Very well. You don't want me to gain an unfair advantage over your brother in law. I can understand that. If I were in your place, I would have done the same"

"He's not my brother in law" The statement was said without as much venom that Orochi had expected.

"But your sister married him" Despite the minor setback, Orochi tried to instigate Enishi's anger. "He accidentally killed her, accidentally, but when the event took place, they were husband and wife"

Enishi gritted his teeth. "Look, I don't why are you so bent on trying to influence me, but I wouldn't be tricked by you" Lost in anger, he bent his fishing rod until it snapped. "I... promised.... no, swore... to.... Onee-san that... I would... leave the bloody murderer alone" He threw the now useless rod into the river and sighed sadly. "Onee-san would probably have asked me to do the same if she had lived" Now calmed, Enishi looked at Orochi, "It's probably better if you take your leave"

Realizing that he could not influence Enishi, Orochi stood to leave. "It was nice having a friendly chat with you. It has been a while"

The younger man looked at him. "Well, maybe friendly is true, but I don't think the word nice fits. I wish you would stop trying to nose into my life.

Orochi smiled. "Well, I will keep it in mind" He began to walk away. After a few steps, he stopped. "By the way..."

"What?"

"Send my regards to your father"

Enishi was looking at his back with wide eyes. His father was still alive? Enishi felt blown away by Orochi's statement. His father was ALIVE?

"Consider this one of the benefits of me snooping around in your life. Take care of the old man. Ja, ne. Yukishiro-san"

"Kaoru!"

Kaoru was almost tackled to the ground.

"Watch it, you don't want her wound to reopen" Megumi who was nearby reminded..

"Oppss. Heh heh, sorry"

Kaoru had a good look the person who was hugging her. "Misao?"

"Hai... hai... Makimachi Misao dess", Misao said playfully.

"What are you doing here?"

Misao stiffened for a fraction for a second. Quickly, she put on a smile. "Why, you're not happy to see me?"

"No, not that..."

"Okay then, Aoshi and I have to impose on your hospitality for a few days.

"Aoshi's here?"

"Mr. Personality in person", Megumi answered.

"I see" Kaoru looked thoughtful. "I don't remember receiving any letter from you"

"Of course you don't. This is a surprise visit"

"Oh" Kaoru cocked her head. "Any particular reason for coming to Tokyo?"

"No"

Kaoru fumed silently as she felt that everyone conspired to keep her uninformed of what had happened the day before. She knew that Misao's sudden visit must have something to do with what had happened. Kaoru had asked everyone, and she had gotten a basically similar answer; a rare occurrence, since the Kenshin-gumi rarely agreed on anything. She was only told that the woman named Ichijo left after wounding her, and Misao and Aoshi only arrived later in the evening

"Well, I'm glad you decided to drop by"

"Well, so am I," Misao answered with a smile.

Kaoru decided it was probably pointless to ask any more questionsdespite her desire to know about what had happened. The fact that she managed to hear the conversation between Ichijo and Misao had inflamed her curiousity. "Okay, Misao-chan. Why don't we go to the kitchen to see what we can whip up for the others?"

Megumi shook her head, wondering what will happen to the kitchen with the weasel and raccoon inside it.

21 October 2004

Author's note
1. Ahh, it's been a while. It's hard enough that I have a critic that question everything I write. Of course, arguing with myself about the story made it more difficult to write it
2. Anyway, thank you for everyone's patient enough to wait and welcome to the new readers. Reviews are very appreciated, but don't let that get to you. I take pride in knowing that somewhere, there is someone who's reading this labour of love and soul (and time) ; that is enough for me. I just hoped that if I made a blunder or something, you wouldn't hesistate to tell me.
3. Everything written so far, such as Kaoru's dream, Kenshin's 'third' personality has their reason for being included, at least that's what I thought when I wrote about them. Heck, even the training session served a purpose for me.

This chapter was beta read by fujifunmum