Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Always There For Me ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. I do not own and did not create the series or its characters...I'm just a fan, and I have no money anyways, so NO SUING ME!! :D

"Oi Kenshin, don't look so sad…ya know. Jou-chan could very well have you in mind for her husband" I heard Sano say quite matter a factly to Kenshin as I closed the shouji to my room to change.

I grinned…this is all working out perfectly. Finally!! Things are going my way!! And of course, my way is always the best way. (Insert maniacal laughter)

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Chapter Eight

As I was walking over to the bathhouse, I rehearsed in my head what I would do with Kenshin…ok, more like I tried racking my brains on a good route to go from here…should I try to seduce him? Or talk to him? Hmmmm…. decisions, decisions, decisions….

As I stepped into the bathhouse, I discovered that my decision was already made for me!!

"Konnichiwa Kaoru" Kenshin said quietly to me when I came into the room, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. I noticed Kenshin standing by the bath, with his fingers in the water, checking its temperature. He gave me a half smile.

NANI?!? Since when did Kenshin give half smiles? Mmmm, this is a problem…that it is…

I smiled, a truly sincere one at him. "Daijoubu Kenshin?" I asked.

"Ah, nothing…" Kenshin started to trail off, he looked down at the bath water…then he straitened his shoulders and looked back at me, right in the eye. "So, Kaoru, when did you meet this guy you're engaged to?" he boldly asked.

I tried not to be too shocked at this…I swear…I really did, demo it was so unlike Kenshin…or was it? True, he had never been this direct with me, well, maybe when he told me he wanted to stay here with me at the dojo, demo since then…well, he is direct with other people.

"Kaoru?" Kenshin questioned me, taking a few steps closer to me, bridging the gap between him and me.

That snapped me out of my reverie…"Oh, um…a…you see…" I fumbled for the right words. How long has it been since I met Kenshin anyways? "You know Kenshin, I'm not quite sure…" I answered honestly…It's hard for me to keep track of time…true, I remember the day we met like it was yesterday, demo, the time that has passed since…I'm not sure.

"Hmm" Kenshin said in response.

He took another step closer to me "Well, when did you get engaged when you were here at the house with me all day yesterday and the day before that?" Kenshin asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

Mou!! How did he do that?!?!? How on Earth did he turn this all around on me? GRRR…If Sano blew my cover…I swear…

"Well, umm…you see Kenshin, I'm not quite engaged…" Kenshin raised his left eyebrow at me "…yet." I added on lamely.

"Aaa…" he paused as if thinking very hard about something "so who is this guy anyways?" he pressed.

I blushed furiously. Ok, enough of this Himura, you want to play mind games with me? "Why do you want to know so bad…Kenshin?" I asked back.

He looked taken aback for a second. Weren't expecting that one were you Kenshin? ::heheh:: Then he blushed furiously.

"Well, uh…you see Kaoru…" Kenshin scratched the back of his head and then turned back to the bathtub. "I think your bath is getting cold, I'll go put some more firewood on." he hurried past me and out the door.

I sighed. Mou!! Almost had him…I hope. He better be in love with me that baka!!!

I stripped off my clothes and sunk into the warm bath water.

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BANG!!!

I woke with a start…and realized that I was still in the bath.

"Kenshin!!" I yelled covering myself as best I could. "What are you doing?!?!!!!???" I yelled at him, as he rushed forward.

"Kaoru!!" Kenshin yelled as he continued to rush forward to me. Oh no, something must really be wrong…Kenshin would never run in on me in the bath just to run in on me…bummer…

He reached the side of the bathtub and kneeled next to me, taking my hand. His eyes alone spoke volumes…fear, hurt, pain, confusion…

"Kaoru…" he began again, slowly this time, he looked down and then blushed as he quickly looked back at my face. I looked down, and seeing what he just saw, blushed myself. Kenshin stood and grabbed my towel and handed it to me "Get out." He ordered.

Dumbfounded, I stood and took the towel from his outstretched arm and wrapped it around myself. Kenshin turned around, placed his arms around me and lifted me out of the tub. I slid down the front of him as he lowered me to the floor, and couldn't help but get goose bumps from the intimate contact. Ah Kami-sama…I had no idea it would be this good.

Kenshin smiled at me, that slow smile…the same one he gave me the day we met, in the ally, after he saved me from that big bully, battousai impersonator and his cronies. I shivered in his arms, and blushed, realizing that he was still holding me.

"Kaoru…" he whispered to me "there is a man at the gate, demanding to see you immediately." He paused…"Sessha…sessha, was thinking that he is Kaoru's…um…" he stumbled at what he wanted to say, and then closed his eyes, as if it would kill him to say another word to me.

"Nani?" I questioned, "What are you talking about Kenshin? Who could possibly be here to see me?"

Kenshin looked rather confused.

"Demo, Kaoru, you said, that there was someone-"

I cut him off by placing my hand over his mouth. "Shh…Kenshin, you silly goose, of course there isn't anyone else." I smiled up at him.

The smile he returned to me…would have melted any woman.

So I stood there in his arms, and melted. While I was making confessions, I might as well…

"Kenshin" I whispered to him.

"Hai, Kaoru…" he drawled.

"I was just teasing you to…" I began.

Kenshin stopped me with, the quickest of quick kisses, demo, it stopped me. Mou!! I want more!!

I stood there, with my mouth slightly open, staring at him. Kenshin threw his head back and laughed, that deep, happy, rumbully laugh of his.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY KAORU!?!?!" a male voice yelled from the doorway of the bath house.

Kenshin and I jumped together at the rather loud disruption and looked towards the doorway.

There, with the sunlight beating on his back, stood my friend…or rather, my more than just a friend…demo, I hadn't seen him in years. I was so sure he was dead!! And Yahiko was right behind him, panting.

"Gomen (pant pant) nasai, (pant) Kenshin, (pant pant) I tried to stop him" Yahiko said.

I stood there in shock, demo, Kenshin; always the man of action (well, at least when it isn't concerning me) gently pushed me behind him and turned to the figure in the doorway with his yellow battousai eyes…

"Your Kaoru?" he questioned menacingly.

AN:

Someone asked for a Japanese words translation:

Nani = what

Gomen nasai = I'm sorry

Anata = endearment for husband

Koishii = endearment for wife

Kawaii = cute

Demo = but

Daijoubu = are you ok? I'm ok.

Oro = Kenshin's weird expression

If I left anything out, lemme know ;D

Ja ne,

Bunny ;D