Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Now and Forever ❯ The sound of your laughter ( Chapter 1 )

~ Now and Forever ~

Chapter 1: The Sound of your Laughter

Disclaimer: The characters here of Rurouni Kenshin are the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki… I just borrowed them…

**- thoughts

""- speech

Kaoru sat on the porch looking as Kenshin played with Suzume and Ayame. A slight giggle escaped her as she saw Kenshin land squarely on his butt as the two girls pounced on him, giggling and laughing at the same time.

Kenshin knew that she was watching them. He has just finished doing the laundry when Kaoru arrived with the two girls. Both children wanted to play so he had given in… but not without dragging Kaoru into their little game. They had spent the afternoon playing and giggling and laughing until their sides ached. She has just sat down on the porch, but he knew very well that she was watching over them like an angel guarding an innocent child. Despite Suzume and Ayame's attacks on him he saw and heard the giggle which escaped her. *So she's laughing at me..*

Kaoru's attention was focused on the blue sky, that she didn't notice Kenshin give a sly wink to Suzume and Ayame before moving stealthily in front of her. Shocking her as her tickled her, his unexpected assault sending her flat on her back.

"EEEEP! Kenshin! Dame! Yeoww! Stop!!!!"

Tears were streaming down her face as he continued his assault on her. Kenshin laughed as he held Kaoru's hand to help her sit right back up. His eyes softening as he looked at her as she was catching her breath when he was the one caught off-guard with Kaoru's unexpected retaliation. A swift and hard poke on the ribs.

"ORO?!"

Kaoru stuck her tongue out on him. "Serves you right!" she grinned wolfishly as Suzume and Ayame ran straight into Kaoru's arms laughing.

"Oro?" was his only reply before they all fell back into peals of laughter. It was really good to hear her laugh. Her eyes shone as she laughed and she even looked more beautiful. His smile deepened at his thought before his line of vision picked up the form of the chief of police outside the dojo's fence.

"Konnichiwa. It's a really nice day today. What brings you here Chief-dono?" he greeted the chief of police as he approached him.

"Konnichiwa, Himura-san. I'm sorry to have bothered you, especially on a nice day like this, but I would like to ask if I could be able to talk to you now, in private." He said as he adjusted his spectacles.

Kenshin looked at the man before him and nodded.

"Himura-san. Again I would like to say I'm sorry for bothering you again, but there's trouble brewing down south. And if possible, we would like for you to help us in this matter."

Kenshin's eyes darkened, "What seems to be the problem?" he finally asked.

"A man named Kitaro Sukijiro is leading a group of rebels and creating havoc at Kyoto and at it's surrounding cities. We have sent spies to monitor their location so that we can track them down and bring them to justice. The only problem is, they're always on the move that's why it's hard to pinpoint their actual location. We have already asked the Oniwabanshuu for whatever assistance they may be able to give us. They are now on the look-out at Kyoto." he added.

"Hmmm… Kitaro Sukijiro…" he said thoughtfully as he gazed outside the room only to see Kaoru gazing directly at him. His eyes widened a bit in surprise but then he slid into the usual rurouni mask and gave he a warm smile as to not worry her. Then facing the chief he answered, "I'll be glad to be of service. I'll do whatever I can to help you." With his response the chief sighed in relief, but deep within his heart he heard a small voice whispering to him, *Then you'll have to leave her again…*

To be continued…

On to Chapter 2: Promises

Authors blabbering:

Please I beg of you to e-mail me your comment on this story! This is the first chapter, forgive me if it's short. Hopefully the other chapters will tend to be longer than this one. I hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter… more to come!