Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Standing Tall ❯ Bonding Moments ( Chapter 7 )

A/N: *BIG BLINK* You know minna-san, you really are too kind. I didn't expect so many people to review, and you even knew the name of the fanfic I was looking for! Domo arrigatou gozaimasu! You don't know how much I appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I refuse to say it. Refer to other chapters, please.

Everyone was overjoyed to hear Kenshin's wounds were completely healed. Though his body was still weak and regaining it's strength, Megumi assured them he would be up and about in the next few days. And on top of that, in a couple of days the 'New and Improved' Aoiya would be complete as well. Everyone couldn't have been happier.

Kaoru smiled to herself as she and Misao went to sit in the small courtyard underneath Kenshin's room. During the course of the month, Kaoru had grown to love the young omnitsu as a sister, and it was moments like this that Misao couldn't help but thing of Kaoru as her older sister.

"So Misao-chan, how's Aoshi doing?" She asked, sitting down on a rock near the pond.

Misao sighed and flopped down next to her, a mushroom cloud-shaped sigh escaping her lips. "Aoshi-sama is always in the Zen Temple...he won't talk to anyone, especially Jiya and me. I think he's still upset." The young girl explained, her brows furrowing with worry.

Kaoru hummed a response, her smile falling. Aoshi was trying to avoid everyone, and from morning to late at night the former Okashira would sit in the Zen Temple meditating. Though Kaoru didn't take much liking to him (Considering what happened the first time they met him and that he caused some of the wounds Kenshin had), she could help but worry about him.

"Have you tried talking to him?" The shihondai suggested, trying to bring a smile to her face.

"No..." Misao replied, resting her hands on her knees.

"I don't want to pester him or anything..."

"You won't be pestering him. It would be the first time, right? He deserves some human contact." Kaoru said, finding her smile again.

Misao suddenly jumped up, nearly knocking Kaoru over. "You're right, Kaoru-san! I'm going to talk to him right now!" The happy omnitsu exclaimed.

"Thanks for the advice!"

Kaoru watched Misao bound out of sight, then smiled. If only Aoshi knew how much Misao loved him...maybe then he'd at peace.

As for someone else I know... Kaoru thought as she looked up to the porch above her, where a mop of red hair could be seen clearly. She smiled sadly as she stood up and headed inside.

Though Kenshin seemed pleased with her visits and their conversations every now and then, she could still feel the uneasiness in him. From the look in his eyes, just being in Kyoto, having to battle in this place once again had affected him mentally--perhaps even more then the battle with Shishio had affected him physically. The minute he's up and about, I'm buying all of us tickets back home. I can't stand seeing him in pain.

As she ascended the stairs, her mind wandered to Kenshin again. There was something happening between them, something she couldn't quite place. But what she could see was that they were growing closer, their friendship reaching to the limits and becoming something more than just that. He never seemed annoyed or angry when Kaoru would visit him, but he seemed...happy maybe? She knew everyone else came to see him every so often, and she even joined some of them every so often. But he seemed different when they were around. More..withdrawn. But the minute they left and she remained, he seemed to open up somehow. Kaoru smiled.

She wouldn't deny it. She loved the red-haired rurouni with all her heart and soul. And to see him open up to her like he did--though he did it without words--it warmed her heart and she briefly thought that maybe he shared her feelings. She wouldn't tell him though. Some things deserved to stay a secret, at least for now.

She reached his room and slid the shouji open, smiling when Kenshin glanced over his shoulder and greeted her with a gentle smile. "Konnichiwa, Kaoru-dono."

"Konnichiwa, Kenshin." Kaoru replied cheerfully, closing the door behind her and walking to him.

She knelt down and smiled at him again. Her smile is so beautiful. Kenshin mused as the young shihondai glanced out towards the courtyard. As Kaoru was musing before, Kenshin could also feel the difference in their relationship. But on his end, it meant something much more. With each passing day, he was starting to see Kaoru as a beautiful young woman whose heart was filled with nothing but kindness and compassion, and less of the 17 year old girl he promised to protect.

Memories of the night they met flowed through his mind. A young girl chasing him down without fear, calling him Battousai and challenging him...then after learning he really was the demon, allowing him to stay in her home anyway. Despite his past, despite all the people he killed, and despite the amount of blood that would permanently stain his hands, Kaoru accepted him without question.

The two looked at each other again and smiled. Though Kenshin felt himself unworthy of her kindness, he couldn't lie to his heart, or his mind. He loved Kaoru, and would do everything in his power to protect her. He had already lost one woman in his life, he wasn't about to lose another, especially when the feelings were so strong.

"Aoshi-sama?" Misao whispered, carefully approaching the meditating ex-Okashira.

Aoshi's head rose slightly, and out of the corner of his eye he saw the young girl approaching him. "What?"

Misao paused, then sat down a few feet from him, her hands folded in her lap. She rung her hands a bit, then looked up at him. "I thought that...you might want someone to talk to...since you're always here by yourself."

"I come here to meditate." Aoshi replied simply, turning his head to look at her.

"Hai." Misao agreed meekly.

They sat there in silence for a minute, before Aoshi turned to her completely and folded his hands in his lap again. Misao glanced up at him, afraid he was going to tell her to leave. But to her surprise, she could have sworn she saw a glint of happiness in the cold-stare of Aoshi. "I have nothing to talk about, but you can stay if you want."

Misao smiled at him and nodded. "Alright."

Misao...you've grown up so much. Aoshi thought as he looked over the girl. She was so different from the little girl he left years ago, who was so full of energy and happiness. He didn't deny she had energy, for he had witnessed a few of the bouts she and Okina had, but it was a different type of energy. And to think, he never wanted to see her again. A lie...to protect her.

Misao noticed the strange look in his eyes and blushed, and the edge of Aoshi's mouth twitched, almost in a smirk. Indeed...she has grown into a lovely young woman. The former Okashira thought as he turned back to the altar and closed his eyes to meditate. Misao smiled at him, then turned to the altar as well, closing her eyes in a way to copy him respectfully. I will find that smile, Aoshi-sama. I promise.

Sanosuke cursed quite loudly as Megumi finished setting the bones in his hand. She wrapped it firmly yet gently, and the minute she finished the fighter yanked his hand away and cradled it to his chest. "Damn, kitsune! Do ya have to be so rough?!"

"Only with you, Tori-atama." Megumi retaliated, a sly fox-like grin crossing her features.

"Aren't I the lucky one." Sano said sarcastically, narrowing his eyes at her.

"And don't call me Rooster Head."

"Don't call me fox."

"But you are a fox."

"And you're a rooster head.

Sano scoffed and crossed his arms, frowning. But mentally, his smirk couldn't have been bigger. You may have won this morning, fox, but Sagara Sanosuke will win the battle this time. He mused, his mental grin threatening to become physical.

Megumi caught the look in his eyes, and grinned to herself. So the Rooster Boy thinks he'll win this one, eh? He doesn't stand a chance. She thought, resisting the urge to laugh out loud. "You should be more careful with that hand."

"Aw, I didn't know you cared." The fighter said, smirking at her.

"A doctor has to show some concern for her patients, even when the patient in question is a complete idiot."

"Oi!"

"The truth hurts, does it?"

"Not as much as the torture you put my hand through."

"Are you going to cry, Rooster head?"

"Not likely, 'specially from stupid Fox comments."

"I'm not a Fox!"

"And I'm not a Rooster!"

Yahiko and Omasu sweatdropped as they watched the exchange in insults. The two slinked away to the dining room, and the female omnitsu looked down at Yahiko. "Are they always like that?"

"Most of the time." The boy-samurai answered truthfully.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" Omasu asked, concern evident in her tone. "Nah." Yahiko replied with an evil grin.

"That's just how they tell each other how much they like each other."

A/N: Eh...figured I should involve our other two couples in this one...since I couldn't think of anything for just Kenshin and Kaoru. Was Aoshi OOC, or was that me? No clue...though I love the bishie to death, I ain't quite acquainted with his personality. Whenever I tend to think of it, "Icicle" comes to mind. I guess you could call this chapter a bit Waffy....but would Sano and Megumi's bickering be considered waff? Beats the stuff outta me. Anyway, tell me what you think! Two more chapters will finish this off, one focusing on the last day in Kyoto (Ie. When Kenshin visits Tomoe's grave, Megumi and Kaoru's talk, etc.), and the other focusing on the day after their return. And I assure you, WAFF will be placed somewhere, though I tend to think the next chapter may be a bit angsty. Maybe C-Chan will attempt writing in First-person? Well, if I do...god help us all. ^^ Ja!