Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Time Changes All ❯ If I Can Help It ( Chapter 18 )

Author's Notes: note to everyone they only kissed nothing else! Ok, I have to ask this question: is any body reading my Inuyasha fic? Or are you all RK fans? I know ur all RK fans but is there no one that's a fan of Inuyasha? Well. . . um. . . yeah. . . hope u enjoy the chappie

Disclaimer: RK belongs to. . . not me?

". . ." dialogue

`. . .' Kaoru's thoughts

*. . .* Kenshin's thoughts

(. . .) author's useless commentary

If I Can Help It

By Hoshi-ni-Onegai

(People they only kissed, nothin' else)

They broke away from the kiss Kenshin waiting for Kaoru to open her eyes again. When she didn't he clasped her chin and called her name, "Kagome?"

". . ."

"Kagome?"

After trying to get her attention again he became worried, that was until he noticed she had fallen asleep. Kenshin sweatdropped. After holding her in his arms a little longer he smiled and laid her down from the sitting position she was in upon her bed. He was about to pull away from her to sleep on the floor when Kaoru caught his sleeve in her hand and mumbled in her sleep, "Ken. . . stay. . ."

He smiled down at her and tried to pry her death grip away but it only became tighter, if that was even possible. "Kaoru I'm not leaving I'll be right here." Kenshin, being the unusual one sometimes, pointed to the floor as if he expected the sleeping Kaoru to see his gesture.

Trying to force open her hand to let go Kaoru's face now held a frown and she pulled with a hidden strength making Kenshin tumble into bed with her. Out of strange and unusual Kaoru instinct she assumed that Kenshin was a very large and firm pillow strapping herself on to him. "Ka-kaoru!" He exclaimed but it still came out as a whisper.

Kenshin being the gentleman that he was, tried to get away. In the process of wiggling and shimmying he ended up lying on top of her with him in between her legs. Luckily for him Kaoru was still out of it and he was the only one that was red as a tomato. Unluckily for him she refused to let go. Her arms were now wrapped around his neck and Kenshin was trying to pull away. The frown adorned Kaoru's face again the hidden strength came again; however, Kenshin was prepared this time had kept him self up by resting on his elbows. Kaoru seemed to be wrestling with something in her dream, or trying to hug something to death. She now brought her legs up, wrapped it around his torso and she hooked her ankles behind him. To say Kenshin was blushing would be the understatement of the century.

He decided maybe if he tried standing up she'd let gravity take its course and she let go and fall off the bed. Kenshin has unusual logic as well.

So he made his way to the end of the bed with Kaoru still wrapping him. Swinging his legs over the side he jumped up to a standing position next to the bed and he was free!. . . or not. Kaoru was now still in the same position and Kenshin was standing up. He was still red and now sweat dropped. *Okay, now this isn't awkward. This is just weird.*

He figured the best way to get Kaoru off him was to wake her up, so he grasped her on her hips just in case she let go when she woke up. Kenshin's always thinking about Kaoru's safety isn't he? He never stopped to think of his safety. This was another one of those times. Trying to get Kaoru awake he started calling out her name, "Kaoru."

". . ."

"Kaoru."

". . ."

"Kaoru!"

". . ."

Yup, she was still out of it. Kenshin, being the genius that he is tried to shake her awake and call her name again. Now, if anyone walked in right now this is what they would see: Kenshin standing up in Kaoru's bedroom, next to her bed, Kaoru holding onto him with her legs wrapped around him, her arms around his neck, Kenshin with his hands on her hips, shaking her, and calling her name. If Kenshin was known as the king of getting himself in awkward situations now he was unofficially dubbed as the god.

One final call of her name and Kaoru finally woke up. The first thing she saw was Kenshin, and that made her smile but then her brain started working. `Why did I wake up to Kenshin's face?' Then some of her other senses kicked in, for example the sense of touch. At the moment it was telling her that her arms and legs were in weird positions and that she had just been shaken awake. She continued smiling and looked down. She looked back up and smiled. Then, within a split second, Kenshin was thrown across the room and Kaoru flew back to the bed landing not-so-gracefully on her butt.

"Kyaaaa~! Kenshin no hentai! Shinjirarenai! Hidoi!" (translation: *screaming* Kenshin you pervert! I can't believe it! You're horrible) Kaoru was yelling/screaming at Kenshin who was at the moment still on the floor slammed against the wall and some of the plaster from the wall falling on his head. He was sitting their swirly eyed as Kaoru kept on yelling at him and this went on for about half an hour.

After much explanation and dodging of objects by Kenshin and throwing of objects on Kaoru's part the chaos died down.

"Kaoru?" Kenshin looked at Kaoru sheepishly from the doorway.

Kaoru glared at him, "What do you want Kenshin?"

"Uh, I have your breakfast. . ."

Kaoru continued to glare. "What time is it?"

"It's 7:30am Koishii."

"Don't Koishii me Kenshin." She folded her hands in front of her chest and looked to the side.

"I said I was sorry. . ."

"Humf."

"You know, it wasn't all my fault."

"Shut up Kenshin."

"Will do." Kenshin walked in still warily of any sudden movements by the still slightly embarrassed/ticked off girl in the room. He set her breakfast next to her on the nightstand and pulled up a chair from her desk.

Kaoru seeing breakfast loosened a bit and looked gently at the tray. "You made breakfast again? You didn't have to do that Kenshin, but thank you."

Kenshin relaxed seeing the Kaoru was no longer ready to kill him. "It's no big deal. I'll cook lunch later too."

"Oh, you're packing my lunch for me too? Thanks Kenshin! I was kinda getting tired of sandwiches."

"Why don't you make anything else? Like onigiri or umeboshibentou?" (translation: rice ball and this rice with this red thingy. . . I don't know what it's called in English. . . sorry)(note to those who are Japanese: hai hai, koukousei ga umeboshibentou nante iunowa chotto hen de jiji kusai ga iijan! Atashi umeben daisuki nandamon~! Demo konbuonigiri mo oishii yone~)

Merrily eating her pancakes she answered as if there was nothing in the world to worry about. "I burn rice every time~."

Kenshin sweatdropped, "So what do you do for dinner?" (Japanese eat rice practically everyday for dinner, usually twice a day with rice as part of your meal. . . I love rice)

"The bakery and convini is a good thing my friend." (Japanese bakeries have different types of bread like bread with noodles in it or potato balls. . . yeah they're good. . . yakisobapan, koroquepan, kareepan. . . yeah) (convini=convenient store)

"If you want you can come over to my house and we can eat dinner together."

"Huh? Sure, we can stop by the convini after school."

"Um. . . I'd make you dinner. . ."

Kaoru whipped her head around to look at Kenshin with wide eyes, "YOU CAN COOK?!"

"Uh. . . yeah, Shishou kind of put that responsibility upon me."

Kaoru leaped at Kenshin hugged him, it's a miracle he didn't topple over. "OH MY GOD!!!!! YOU CAN COOK!!!!! I LOVE YOU EVEN MORE!!!!!"

Kenshin trying to regain balance smiled, "What would you say if I told you I like doing laundry?"

Kaoru thrashed her head up to look at Kenshin in the eyes, "Will you marry me Kenshin?!"

Kenshin laughed and hugged her tighter. "You're amusing."

"Okay, I have to go get ready for school."

"Oh, we're not going to school today."

Kaoru looked at Kenshin confusion apparent on her face. "Why aren't I going to school?"

". . . because of what happened yesterday. . ."

Kaoru plastered a smile on, "Oh that? That's no big deal! Don't be silly, I'm going to school."

"Aoshi and Misao already called in last night on what happened. They excused you from school, and I asked as well just in case."

"Just in case what? I become frantic? Just in case I cry and maybe even try to kill myself? I'm not stupid Kenshin." She looked at him blandly.

"I know you're not but after what happened yesterday shouldn't you take even a day off?"

"I don't need a day Kenshin. I'll be fine, nothing really happened. He didn't get anywhere."

Kaoru continued smiling as she made her way towards her dresser and pulled out a plaid skirt and a white button up shirt for a substitution for her uniform. The uniform she wore yesterday and was still wearing was torn in many areas but it still kept her slightly modest. The buttons off her shirt had been torn off, the right sleeve ripped at the shoulder, and her skirt was still semi-intact except for the zipper that was slit at the bottom making it unable to zip back up being held on only by the latch at the top. The only thing that helped Kaoru with modesty was the baggy hoody Aoshi draped on her last night. Kenshin felt uncomfortable changing her clothes without her knowing and Misao had left before she had a chance to. Her hair was a mess and there were bruises on her wrists and one across her left cheek. Kenshin was observing her from across the room still in his chair. His fury rose at the evidence of what Takaomi did to her and continued glaring at her bruises.

Kaoru saw the look on his face and looked hurt, "Sorry about this Kenshin."

Hearing her voice he was brought out his rage and looked at her with sadness, "It's no trouble at a-"

"Not about that Kenshin." Kaoru interrupted him.

Confusion was evident on Kenshin's face, "Then about what?"

"I'm sorry about what happened last night."

"Why are you apologizing? And to me? It wasn't your fault."

Kaoru threw the clothes she had pulled out to the ground and started yelling, tears working their way towards the edge of her eyes. "Yes it is! If I hadn't said yes to him for a date! If I hadn't led him on! If had just waited for you!"

Kenshin made his way towards her and pulled her into a tight embrace, Kaoru struggled but then she slackened and sobbed into his chest. "Koshii, it wasn't your fault. What he was trying to do shouldn't have been attempted on anyone. I'm sure you didn't lead him on, even if you did he had no right to do that." Kaoru was still crying and it didn't seem she was calming down anytime soon. Kenshin not knowing what to do pulled her back until he was eye level with her kissed her.

Kaoru quieted down immediately and gave into his kiss. As soon as she was calm Kenshin pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Kaoru. It was not your fault."

Kaoru blinked dumbly but then she grimaced as if disgusted by something on Kenshin's face and turned her head to the right. "Kenshin, I know it's not my fault. . . it's just. . . look at me. I feel so soiled. It keeps on playing over in my head over and over. The look he had in his face the way his hands kept on. . . the way he almost touched me. . . I can't stand for you to look at me."

"Kaoru. . ." Kenshin looked saddened.

Kaoru suddenly pulled away from him pushing him away. "Don't look at me! Don't look at me!"

Kenshin was pissed, at Takaomi for what he did and what he caused Kaoru to feel but also at Kaoru. He was mad at Kaoru. He marched over to her grasped her at the upper arms and looked at her with a fierce glare and started yelling. "I will look at you when I want to Kaoru! Like I told Takaomi you are mine!" Kaoru was surprised but not scared, no, she would never be afraid of Kenshin. Seeing her shock he calmed down let go of her arms and pulled her towards the bathroom with his right clasped around her left one.

"Kenshin? What you doing?"

"We're taking a long bath." Kenshin expression on his face didn't change as if he was stating the weather.

Kaoru face was red. "Uh. . . I think I'll wait my turn."

"No, you will not. You're going in there and taking a bath. I'll turn around so I won't see you."

"You can stay out here you know."

"No, I'm going to be in the bathroom with you. I don't want you doing something stupid while I'm not there."

"I won't do anything stupid thank you very much." Kaoru huffed as she was pulled in the bathroom following Kenshin.

"Fine, then let me stay in here so I won't do something as drastic as going to find Takaomi and killing him."

Kaoru was taken aback. "Y-you would do that?"

Kenshin turned around and looked at Kaoru straight in the eyes. He responded in a voice that did not seem human and his eyes flashed amber. "With out a thought."

After what Kenshin said no words were exchanged. Since Kenshin refused to leave, Kaoru ended up taking that long bath with him turned away. While in there Kaoru used her lufa scrubbing and scrubbing. Scrubbing was the only thing that could be heard, Kenshin was beginning to worry. "Kaoru?"

There was no response just incessant scrubbing.

"Kaoru?"

A response was heard, or more along the lines of a chant that she seemed to be saying over and over. "It won't come off. It won't come off. It won't come off. It won't come off."

Afraid that she would scrub her skin off he took a deep breath trying to gain composer and turned around. Luckily for Kaoru she was submerged in the tub and her modesty was somewhat kept. Seeing that her left arm was already red from the abuse it received from Kaoru and her lufa Kenshin made his way quickly over to her and pulled her right wrist into his grasp. Kaoru instantly winced as Kenshin's grip came in contact with her bruised wrist. Noticing her wince he apologized, "Sorry. But you should stop that. You're going to rub away your skin."

Kaoru forgetting her modesty tried to pry her wrist away to continue scrubbing, "It won't come off. It won't come off. It won't come off."

Kaoru kept struggling against him and repeating the same words. After about five minutes of this continuing Kenshin became frustrated and yelled, "What won't come off?!"

"THE SMELL! THE FEELING! THE MARKS! LET GO OF ME KENSHIN! IT NEEDS TO COME OFF! I'M FOREVER GOING TO BE DIRTY AND DISGUSTING IF I DON'T GET IT OFF!" Tears were now rolling down her faces as she kept on tugging at her right wrist.

"Kaoru! Look at me!" The harsh tone in his voice made her slowly look at him and when they made eye contact he began speaking. "You're not dirty and trust me, you're not disgusting. If you don't stop you're going to rip off your skin."

Kaoru was silent now looking at the tiled wall in front of her still oblivious of her state of dress/undress. Then she whispered, "You wouldn't want me anymore."

With her comment Kenshin was surprised and blushing. "Uh. . ."

When one thinks of Kaoru, the first thing to pop into their head is not if she was worrying if someone wanted her in that way. Kaoru was usually associated with fuzzy rabbits and freakishly colorful bright rainbows. The question of if Kenshin wanted her. . . let's keep that up in the open, he is a guy after all. Taking his hesitant answer badly she whispered again.

"See? No one wants something that's been used. You don't have to feel obligated towards me anymore."

Kenshin once again looked pissed; that's been happening a lot today for him. "Don't say that." His voice was fierce and his face stern. "I don't feel obligated towards you. If anything I feel it is a privilege to be with you. I'm hesitant to answer your question about wanting you because either way I answer it's a lose-lose situation for me. I say yes and you think I'm shallow for not wanting a girl because she was nearly raped. I say no and you think I'm a pervert. Instead I will say this: I am never letting you go. If I can help it I will never lose you. Nor will you ever lose me. So I want you to get rid of that thought from your head."

He still looked stern but Kaoru lost it when she looked him in the eyes. She threw herself into his arms and allowed the already flowing tears and wet hair to soak into his shirt. "Thank you Kenshin."

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A/N: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You still don't know about Kenshin's past! HA! It'll come up in the next few chapters~ not yet. There will be hints along the way~ I hope you guys don't hate me. . .

Answer to ppl who had some questions or had amusing commentary:

Shiroiryu144: I know that "these are the hands of the boy" excerpt thingy was annoying, hell I didn't even proofread it cuz I didn't get past the first two lines. That wasn't really important if you look at the thing closely you just see that's it's a chronological order of what has occurred since the story started. Just helping ppl out who forgot what has happened so far. Trust me, I got irritated by my own writing.

Flyinangel777: ok, so I am doing the typical topic of which u have mentioned. But there is also a twist I'm adding to it. I'm sorry if the story seems slightly predictable but I hope you enjoy it anyways. Sorry.

MikoGoddess: I should change the genre to romance/humor?! My story is funny? Wow. . . I wasn't really trying to make it THAT funny. . . I mean comic relief here and there so it won't be all angst and serious but in the humor genre? Whoa. . . I gotta think about this. . .

I had a lot of ppl say that it was a sweet chapter. . . I though it was overly sweet in some parts. . . plz tell me if there is too much WAFF. . . come on! I even started cringing at the sweetness at some parts. . . but if you guys are enjoying it I'll keep writing like that b/c in reality I'm a hopeless romantic. A lot of the weird situations u see in this fic are from personal experience (not the thing in this chapter. . . cuz that's just wrong) but yeah. . . till next time~