Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ That Voodoo That You Do ❯ If You Leave Me Now... ( Chapter 8 )

Kaoru never was fond of dolls as a child, and she never would have taken an interest in this one, had Megumi not stressed its importance. But oddly, the more she played with it, the more attached to it she got. She made the littler Yahiko dance, she made the littler Yahiko flip, and when she finally thought about Kenshin, she threw the first thing that came into her hand across her room and into the wall. That also happened to be the littler Yahiko. With a bit of a sigh, and realising what she had done, she went and retrieved it.

There was a knock at her door. "Who is it?"

"Hey Missy, I don't wanna come in or anything, but have you seen Kenshin around anywhere this morning?" The shoji screen slid open by her fair hand, and she stood there in her mustard gi and navy hakama, ready for Yahiko's practice. Only thing was, she was as white as a sheet.

"N…No, I haven't."

Just then, an all smiling, all dancing Yahiko passed by. Kaoru couldn't believe her eyes. "Wait, Yahiko, why are you dancing?"

"Morning, Kaoru. Oh, I just felt so happy this morning," he spun on his heals in a twirl, "I just felt like dancing, that's all."

He went to move around Sanosuke, who got up from leaning against his wall and attempted to push the before time Fred Astaire away from him. "Don't come near me, you freak!"

"Oh lighten up, Fishface, it's just a bit of fun." He turned to Kaoru, "Kenshin said to tell you he'll be back for dinner. He's gone to the temple. Seems to me he's acting pretty odd lately." And with that, Yahiko back flipped down the hall.

"Yeah, he's not the only one." Muttered Sano, only as the two adults flinched when there was a crash caused by Yahiko forgetting to stop back flipping when the hall ended.

True enough, Misao was back to her usual hyperactive self the next day, but seemed to really be none the clearer on where she stood with Aoshi. Much of her time was spent like this. She often felt that for every step forward she took, she was pushed right back again. But that was the nature of their lives.

`A kiss is a kiss' she thought to herself, `And what an amazing kiss it was. But he didn't SAY anything. No "I love you, Misao", no "I want to be with you, Misao", nothing like that. But then… oh you just can't convey love in a kiss alone. Hmm…'

She was just ready to put him out of her mind all together when she opened her door and found him stood there. She flushed from head to toe in embarrassment. He discreetly pretended not to notice.

"Misao, I'm interested to find out where you got that doll from."

"Good morning to you too!" she put her hands on her non-existent hips. Just like him to act like nothing had happened and everything was the same. Well not for her! She couldn't understand how he had not asked her where his good morning kiss was. She shrugged.

"Yes, good morning Misao." He added hastily. Then for good measure, "I trust you slept well?"

"Yes yes," she lied, though her thoughts screamed, `No thanks to you!' Outwardly, she started again, "And what doll, Aoshi?" It pained her every time she lost the title of respect for him in her words.

"The Saito doll."

"Oh, so you thought it looked like him too! Miss Megumi sent it to me. She said it was a very special doll - magic, but I don't believe that. Aoshi?" Misao self interrupted her power talk, and looked at him. He was frowning, his eyes glazed over with heavy concentration.

"I'm going to Tokyo." He stated. "And I'll need to borrow your doll."

`He's going away again!' Misao realised, her subconscious all to once plaguing her with insecurities. "Um, no."

"No?"

She glomped him, and looked upward her words pouring out of her mouth in a torrent, "I love my evil doll, please don't take him away from me because I'll miss him and he might not come back because someone else might like him and he might like them and forget all about me and then we'll never be together ever and my world will end and and…"

"If you feel that strongly, why don't you come along too? That way you can keep an eye on him."

`I wasn't talking about Saito!!!' Misao let go, stood back for a second and tried to figure out if he was being serious or messing her around again. "Oh. Ok."