An update! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and that I don't disappoint anyone with the interaction between Kenshin and Kaoru.
Ravyn
I own nothing.
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Kaoru awoke with a pounding head and a queasy stomach. She had been bashed over the head enough times in the past three years to understand the concept of ‘headache.’
The men...Yahiko…
Kaoru sat up, gingerly rubbing at her temples. She rose to her feet shakily, attempting to figure out how to stay on her feet. She had to teach class today, not to mention the fact that she was going to have to deal with…the situation.
Searching the room, she couldn’t find her bokken. However, at that point she was having trouble telling the ceiling from the floor, so she admitted that it wasn’t that large of a surprise.
Kaoru noted that the voices had stopped, but she paid little attention to details as the world swam slightly. Shaking off her momentary weakness she headed towards her chest and pulled on her training Gi.
She failed to notice the footsteps approaching her room.
She didn’t pay attention, until the shoji was yanked open in front of her. Her eyes trailed up the dark blue Gi, and rose to a set of broad shoulders.
Her gaze slithered over the blood-red locks, and rose to lock with blazing gold eyes.
“You!” Kaoru hissed, or at least she thought she hissed. “Get OUT!” She grabbed the nearest thing to hand, which happened to be the missing bokken, and threw it, hard.
He dodged it --she knew he would-- but it got the desired effect when her door slid shut. Kaoru groaned and massaged her temples as she realized that, once again, she was dealing with a red-haired samurai who had the tendency to leave her.
“I told you she wasn’t going to be happy.” Yahiko’s voice was less hostile, but there was unease, a touch of distrust that only time was going to take away.
Kenshin grunted in reply.
“You’re lucky, her aim was off.” Yahiko remarked as he headed into the kitchen to finish breakfast.
Kenshin shot Yahiko a look. “If you say so.”
Yahiko rolled his eyes. “It’s not like you can remember what her aim is like…or can you?”
Kenshin gave him a hard look.
Yahiko shrugged. “We all thought you were stuck somewhere in the back of his mind. You were trapped.”
Kenshin shrugged. “I was. But I watched, and I waited.”
‘Stalker.’ Yahiko thought darkly.
Kenshin and Yahiko quietly finished the breakfast preparations they had started before Kenshin had left as he heard Kaoru moving around.
He had intended to go in there and tell her not to be moving around, that she could have breakfast in bed.
However, her attempt to lodge a Bokken in the side of his head had quickly solved that argument. He simply sat down and finished his rice and Miso…both cumulative of his and Yahiko’s efforts.
The sound of light footsteps echoed down the hall and Kaoru walked in. She walked right by Kenshin without even sparing him a glance.
The air in the dojo managed to drop several degrees with her presence, and he was forced to keep his amusement from showing.
So, she wanted to play that game did she?
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“Morning, Kaoru.” The way his tongue played with her name, the heady drawl of his deep baritone…all of it would have set her to trembling six months ago.
Kaoru ignored him.
She had to. She could ignore the pale amber heat staring at her, the amused smirk that tugged his appealing mouth into a small smile, and she could ignore the edge to his Ki.
Himura Kenshin had made his choices. How dare he recant them and come back here, hurting her in the process?
“Yahiko,” Kaoru started, “I am going to teach across town today.”
Yahiko frowned, almost dropping his chopsticks. “Don’t you have a beginners’ class to teach today?”
Kaoru nodded. “Yes.” She waited for the implications of what she was saying to hit him fully before she continued. “I was teaching long before your age; after I introduce you, I will leave.”
Yahiko sat up straight, his eyes wide. “You’re letting me teach?”
Kaoru smiled then. She remembered the anticipation of her first class very well. “Yes. It’s only a beginners’ class, you won’t have more than a half dozen students; you are more than ready for it. I’m trusting you; don’t screw it up.”
Yahiko nodded so fast his neck almost dislocated.
Kaoru felt Kenshin’s approval, but she refused to even look at him. It wasn’t his concern anymore what they did. Yahiko was family…he was not.
“You will do well.” Kenshin told Yahiko with his sharp honesty.
Yahiko blinked; he had forgotten Kenshin was there. “Thanks.”
Kaoru finished her rice in record time. The first sounds of voices drifted into the Dojo, and the two instructors scrambled to gather their things before disappearing into the practice area.
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Kaoru stood in the doorway for a moment longer than necessary, watching Yahiko instruct carefully, then turned for her own track across town.
She was stopped, however, when she noticed Kenshin waiting for her at the gate. Kaoru gritted her teeth and made to push by him. He waited until she was almost past him before he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her backwards into his chest. Kaoru stiffened; she was forced to hold still as he had trapped her arms.
“Let me go, Himura.” Her tone was frigid, icy in its disdain for him.
He hid his smile behind her hair, even though she couldn’t see it, knowing she would feel it. “No.”
Kaoru gritted her teeth. “You are –not- wanted here!”
He lazily slid his free hand through the hair that fell loose from her high ponytail. “You mean the Rurouni isn’t, Koishii.”
“You’re the same damn person! Let me go!” There was a nasty warning in her voice and he chose to ignore it.
He spun her around, grasping her hands with his. He pushed his nose against hers, his mouth tugging into the smug grin that she was so unused too. “Not anymore, thistle.”
Kaoru froze. She was aware of many things, his face so close to hers being the most obvious. The way his hands lacked the heavy calluses her Rurouni had, made from more than swordplay, being another.
Kaoru closed her eyes and took deep, calming breaths. “ I don’t care. Rurouni, Battousai…right now it doesn’t matter. You’re still Himura Kenshin and you still are not welcome. Now let me go! I have places to be.” The words were forced out through her clenched teeth, and he let her go.
“I’m not going anywhere, Koishii. We can talk about this when you get back.” His words were amused, rich tones that did nothing to hide his satisfaction.
Kaoru shot him her best impression of an angry Aoshi. “I’m not your Koishii!” She hissed it at him as she slammed the gate.
“You will be.” His voice was the most serious she had heard it, and the underlining heat sent her feet forward as fast as she could walk without running.
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Kenshin finished the dishes, but drew the line at laundry. As much as his long-lost counterpart enjoyed the task, he had developed a strong distaste for it.
He would cook, clean, and kill anyone she pointed to, but he refused to wash the clothes. There was nothing appealing at all about sitting in front of a washtub while your limbs went numb and your hands slowly softened.
The only thing he could see being a bonus was washing her clothing, but he couldn’t even see anything delightful in that. While it was possibly the only way the Rurouni had planned to see her under things, he had a much more intimate inspection planned.
A personal, up close, and hands-on investigation of all things Kamiya Kaoru!
It was, then, in his best interest to find some other means of cleaning the clothing. There were only two other people at the dojo who could do the chore, and if Kaoru’s laundry skills were on equal par with her cooking…
Which was why when Yahiko came out of the dojo after his first class, sweaty and excited, Kenshin was cleaning his katana.
“How was class?” If there was an edge to his words, it was deliberate.
“Harder than I gave Kaoru credit for.” There was a tone in his voice that promised Kaoru would never hear that statement.
“I finished the dishes.” Kenshin said without looking up, his bangs carefully covering his face. “The laundry, however, is waiting to be done.”
Yahiko paused. Kenshin waited patiently, always running the cloth up and down the steel, careful to keep his movements deliberate.
“Right, I will…just go and see to that.” Yahiko flew around the corner.
Kenshin attempt to work up the proper feelings of guilt at using his…presence in such a way, but once the sloshing of cloth in water met his ears, he couldn’t.
Besides, once dinner came around she would complain about the laundry, which would reinforce the fact that he was the Battousai and not the Rurouni.
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Makimichi Misao sat perched on the window seat of her room like a small bird. She hadn’t grown an inch since her eighteenth birthday, her petite frame just a hairs breadth under five feet.
She cursed her mother’s small size, but sighed as she held the knowledge that it made her a better ninja close to heart. Even if it meant that no one would ever take her seriously.
Take her latest escapade. She had sent Kaoru several yen in an attempt to help her out when word came that Kenshin had left for China. That money was supposed to have gone towards her ‘Kimono’ fund, but Misao knew her friend needed it more.
Besides, it was easy enough to play it off as being irresponsible with such things. It had hurt, of course, when it was easily believed, but she had expected that.
An image cultivated after years of work was hard to shake.
Still, she had survived –years- alone in the wilds of Japan and they continued to think of her as a child. She caught their surprised glances every now and then, the wonder at the skill of her slight of hand. She wondered if she should break it to them that she had a few more hidden skills, but decided against it.
There was no need to know about the time she played a boy in a teahouse, or the escapade that involved that entire damn village…
Misao sighed. You make one mistake in front of a friend, and then no one takes you seriously. Himura had meant well…but really! He could have glossed over a few his moments with her! Its not as if she hadn’t had the entire situation under control when they met!
It’s not like half those frothing idiots could swim. She had learned with her father…and… dammitt!
She missed Kaoru.
“Misao?” The voice was Aoshi’s, the even tones as bland as ever. Misao wondered, half-heartedly, what she saw in him, but she shook the thought off. It wasn’t as her feelings were going to change in the future; they had stubbornly stayed the same, in spit all her efforts.
“Aoshi-sama?” Misao answered, turning to face him. Her brows were tucked together in question. “Is there something wrong?”
Aoshi paused, taking in the sight that was Makimichi Misao, and shook his head. “You’re brooding.”
“Learned it from the best.” Misao absently commented, not really aware of her words. Aoshi raised his brow in surprise, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Have you heard anything from the Tokyo clan about Kaoru? They have been checking on her, right?” Misao’s tone was suddenly worried, as if she was missing something.
“She is fine.”
Misao paused then, turning to glance at the man who stood in the doorway. Some days it was difficult to see the man behind the Okashira, behind the frozen mask he hid behind.
Today was one of those days. Misao had found, if she looked hard enough, the key to knowledge of his moods, his thoughts, lay in the small, almost invisible lines next to his eyes.
It wasn’t something you would notice if you didn’t spend hours watching his face, looking for any change of expression.
Luckily for her, she did.
Those tea sessions hadn’t been just for him.
“Alright.” Misao agreed, smiling brightly in her genki way, wondering how long she had before he realized she was more suspicious that she let on.
There had been a tense set to his shoulders lately, and each pigeon that came back in had those small crinkles deepening.
Something was up. Whether or not it had something to do with her beloved Kaoru was a moot point. Misao swung down, hollering to Okina that she was going out.
She would send word her way and if Kaoru needed her, she would go.
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Kaoru sat on a well-worn, familiar log, watching as the river swelled and twisted down its path. She had been finished teaching for hours now, it was going to be dusk soon, but she couldn’t make herself move.
Pulling her knees to her chin she wrapped her arms around her legs and attempted to make sense of everything that had happened.
Dammit, she didn’t –want- to think about it.
She normally would not have had such a struggle with her emotions. It was –Kenshin- of all people, and she had loved him.
Kaoru had known for some time that a part of her had died when Kenshin left her. Left everything he had fought for, left her Dojo, Yahiko, the friends he had cultivated…left her! Left them all for some sense of guilt that they couldn’t touch.
Kaoru struggled with her resentment for that particular move. He had gone to China, gone away with Sano. It was as if she wasn’t important enough to stay with, as if she and Yahiko and the many lives he touched simply did not matter.
Kaoru dropped her head. Now he was back…sort of. She wasn’t stupid. It wasn’t the Kenshin that had left that sat in her kitchen with Yahiko, or the Kenshin that she had fallen in love with that did her laundry.
He father had once told her that her problems wouldn’t simply go away because she ignored them. Kenshin was just as stubborn as she was, and no matter what mental state he was in, she was going to have to deal with him.
Sliding off the log she began her trek back to the Dojo, knowing that she was going to have a reason why she was so late.
Kaoru paused, a frown marring her face. Why did she have to explain? If he really had changed (she really didn’t believe him) then he was going to have to get used to a few things on her end as well.
The first and foremost being that she wasn’t in love with him anymore; there was simply a limit to what the human heart could take and she had reached it.
Kaoru trudged on determinedly, her mouth set into firm lines. She didn’t love him, not that he had really showed that he cared in the past, and she wasn’t even sure she wanted to be friends with him anymore.
If they had been friends... there had been so much they didn’t know about each other that it was hard to decide.
Kaoru shook off her thoughts and stomped along the path that led her home. He could stay at the dojo, but only until he found somewhere else to live.
Hell, if Yahiko had no objections, he could bloody well stay at Sano’s old place.
Actions decided, she allowed herself to ignore that part of herself that wanted him to be there, that wanted him to stay. As far as she was concerned, that part was dead and nothing he could do would bring it to life again.
Ever.
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Yahiko sat on the porch, watching the gate for Kaoru. She was ridiculously late, but he suspected she had needed some time to herself.
The logs to warm her bath were just waiting to be kindled and Kenshin had left her dinner covered for her to eat whenever she was ready.
Kenshin had disappeared into the Dojo and Yahiko had the impression he was practicing. Most likely the basics, the rough forms that made up Hiten Mitsurugi, but he really had no desire to watch Kenshin practice.
Obviously, in the past, he would have jumped to watch his idol. Of course, the fact that he was practicing was enough to keep him on the porch.
If Kenshin had never learned Hiten Mitsrugi, then he would never have fought in the war, and he would never have left her.
He didn’t really care at that point that Kenshin was responsible for getting him out of the Yakuza, or that he had saved Kaoru, or any of the million other things he had done.
He was still responsible for her depression. Twice.
“That’s a long face.” Kaoru’s voice interrupted his musing and he wondered when she had snuck into the yard.
“Bleh. Your bath is waiting busu, along with your dinner.” His tone was abrupt, harsher than he meant, but Kaoru didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes were fixed on a sight behind him before she jerked her eyes back to him.
Yahiko didn’t have to look to see that Kenshin had come outside at hearing her voice. It was in the small, but fierce flame in her eyes.
“I think I will take that bath first if you don’t mind, Yahiko.” Kaoru firmly asked, ignoring Kenshin. She didn’t want to deal with him until after she had cleaned the day’s sweat from her body and filled her stomach. She was crankier when she was hungry.
“I’ll go and light the fire.” Yahiko agreed hurriedly. The hairs on the back of his neck were rising with the intensity of the man behind him. He wasn’t even the one who had the full force of Kenshin’s gaze directed at him.
Kaoru stepped through into the shoji door that led into her room and gathered a clean Kimono. She fingered the soft, if slightly worn material and shrugged.
Yahiko had needed new clothes more than she had the last time she had had money to spare and she didn’t really mind not having anything new.
Gathering the rest of her bathing articles she turned and froze when she met eyes the color of pale amber.
“You came home late.” His tone was soft, but there was an edge to it. If it had been the Rurouni, he would have come looking for her.
Kaoru paused, her hands full. “Yes.”
He raised a brow and didn’t budge when she made to go around him. Kaoru blew her bangs out of her eyes. “I really don’t see how it concerns you.”
Kaoru flinched as he ran a hand down her face, his fingertips barely even touching her. “You have so little trust.”
Kaoru jutted her chin out, her eyes flaring. She laid a hand flat against his chest and pushed lightly enough to prove her point. He stepped back, his eyes never leaving the setlines of her face.
She stepped forward and breezed by him. She turned and faced him just before she went outside.
“You have not earned it.”
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Kaoru stepped into the kitchen and snagged the food that Yahiko had left out. Sitting down she hurriedly ate, worn out from both the physical and emotional exhaustion.
What she wanted to know why she was baiting him. Baiting him! Kaoru wanted to gouge her eyes out with her chopsticks, but she figured that wouldn’t solve anything.
“You should be in bed.” The silky tones of that voice caused Kaoru to grit her teeth.
‘You will be.’
Kaoru forced herself to keep from lunging and gouging –his- eyes out with her chopsticks. As it was, he would probably use it as an excuse to depend on her for the rest of his life.
It wasn’t until he gave a soft, muffled laugh did she realize that she had been growling. Shoving the last of her rice into her mouth, she turned and frowned.
“Do you need something?”
Kenshin favored her with a particularly intense look, but sat down across from her anyway. Kaoru cursed mentally; she had been sure that she had gotten her point across.
She didn’t want to talk to him.
“Kaoru,” He drawled her name and she swore that goose bumps rose under her Kimono. “Do you know anything about those men who attacked you?”
Kaoru paused to look at him. “No.”
Kenshin leaned forward. “Are you sure?”
Kenshin the Rurouni…he wouldn’t have done this. He would have asked Yahiko or…well his other options weren’t there, but discussing battles or situations with her wasn’t something he did.
Kaoru shot him a speculative glance. “As far as I know there is no one with a grudge. The only person I can think of was found dead…you don’t know anything about that, do you?” Her voice had dropped to a suspicious pitch, but he only shrugged.
“Gohei, right?” His voice was even, but there was a sadistic glint to his eyes that promised he knew something. “No clue.”
Kaoru gave an unladylike snort but held her tongue. “If that’s the end of this conversation…I am going to bed.”
He leaned forward and caught her wrist. Kaoru turned and glared.
“I’m not the Rurouni, Thistle. Don’t make the mistake of treating me like him. It will only be a weakness for you.” His mouth held that curious smile again, the one that sent shivers down her spine.
Kaoru jerked her wrist out of his hand. “Why do you call me that?”
“Thistle?” His voice was amused. “Because of your temper.”
Kaoru narrowed her eyes. “Is that so?”
He smiled brightly. It was a smile that the Rurouni would never have given. It was too honest. “Your Ki lights up, Koishii, when you are upset. You’re a beautiful woman.”
Kaoru hissed. “Good NIGHT, Kenshin.”
Kenshin watched her disappear around the corner, his mouth curving. “Beautiful.”