Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ To Love Again ❯ Chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Silent Tears of Agony 
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 10.04.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 785 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 10.04.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 785 | Status: Completed
Title: To Love Again, Chap: 12
Poll results:
Swept Away - 0 ):
Smile for Me - 1
Salvation - 1
Did I Tell You that I Love You? - 4
So Ranma it is. (: I'm actually kinda excited to be writing a story for a different anime. (:
-
The first sensation Kenshin felt upon waking was pain. There was a pain in his eyes from the sunlight and a pain in his neck, the result of sleeping in a chair with his head at an odd angle.
In the process of stretching to get the kinks out of his muscles, Kenshin noticed Kenji sitting up in bed. "Hey buddy," he smiled brightly. "How are you feeling?"
Kenshin felt Kenji's forehead. "Well, your fever's almost gone. You hungry?" Kenji nodded. "I'll see what there is to eat." He picked his son up gently. "Let's find somewhere else to stay where we won't disturb Kaoru."
Kenshin started to head toward Kenji's room when the boy protested. "I want to watch T.V." Kenshin shook his head.
"Only four years old and already you're an addict." Yet, Kenshin set his son on the couch of the entertainment room, before handing him the remote. "I believe you know how to use this," Kenshin teased. Kenji smiled faintly in response.
"Chicken soup sound okay?" Kenji nodded. "Good, because that's all I have ready." Kenshin tousled his son's hair.
"I'll be right back." When Kenshin came back, Kenji was watching a cartoon starring a character that looked a lot like Kenshin. He frowned when a fight began. He didn't like his son watching such violent shows.
"What's this?" Kenji shrugged his shoulders.
"The guy with the red hair was a soldier in a war. Now he helps people that he finds as he travels. Except when he meets this girl, he decides to stay with her and later other people stay with them.
I don't really like him, I think he's stupid. I like the guy who's fighting against him. He was the red-haired guy’s enemy during the war."
For some unexplainable reason, Kenshin felt a sort of kinship with the odd little man on the T.V. screen and he winced when Kenji proclaimed his dislike for the character. "Well . . . don't be too hard on him." Kenji gave his father a weird look, causing Kenshin to realize how ridiculous his admonition sounded.
"Here, eat your soup." He set the tray on Kenji's lap. "I'll give you some juice when you finish your water."
-.-.-.-.-.-
Kaoru wasn't sure why she woke up. She knew she had felt an odd sensation upon waking, like the kind you get when someone was staring at you. Either that or she had to pee, Kaoru wasn't sure which.
Whatever it was, she hoped it went away so she could go back to sleep. But when she felt something touch her, all thought of sleep vanished. When she opened her eyes to see a large mass of red in front of her, she backed up screaming, causing the . . . thing in front of her to do the same.
"Kaoru! Kaoru, it's okay. It's just me." Kaoru stopped screaming long enough to recognize Kenshin's voice, the recognition causing her to blush.
"Himura-san, what are you doing in my apartment?" She furrowed her brows, "how did you even get in?" Kenshin cocked an eyebrow and smirked.
"Actually it's the other way around."
"What?"
"You're in my house." Kaoru looked around and realized she was indeed in the guest room of Kenshin's house, not her apartment.
"How did I get here?" Kenshin frowned.
"You don't remember?"
'Obviously not! Idiot . . .'
"No," Kaoru shook her head.
"You came over on Friday to watch Kenji, but you were too sick to watch him. I wasn't very happy about you coming over in that condition, but maybe it was for the best. You might not have made it on your own."
Kaoru winced, "I was that bad?"
Kenshin nodded, "you had a fever of 105 and you were delirious." Kaoru chewed on her lip, a gesture, Kenshin had come to find, that had many meanings. It wasn't limited to nervousness.
"I see. Thank you for taking care of me," she bowed, as best she could, to show her gratitude. Kenshin shrugged.
"Human goodwill had decreased so much, I guess I figured it was time I helped it out a little bit." Kaoru smiled.
"Still I thank you. I came over on Friday, eh? I guess that means it's Saturday now."
"No, Sunday," Kenshin corrected her. "You slept right through Saturday." Kaoru panicked.
"Sunday! I have a test tomorrow and I haven't studied for it yet." Kaoru stood too quickly and fell back on the bed. Kenshin laid a restraining hand on her shoulder when she tried to stand up again.
"Hey, slow down. Obviously your body isn't ready to move yet. You must be hungry. I’ll get you something to eat." Kaoru's cheeks flushed with guilt.
"You don't have to, it sounds like you've helped me enough already." Kenshin smiled and helped her back under the covers.
"I don't want the neighbors to start rumors that my guests starve to death," he teased. Kaoru wondered, as Kenshin fluffed her pillows and tucked the blankets around her why he was suddenly he being so kind. Maybe he had a soft spot for invalids.
"Himura-san?" Kenshin stopped in the doorway.
"Yeah?"
"Do you mind if I use your phone? I need to call a friend." Kenshin nodded and brought a cordless phone back to her.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
" . . . yes, I was sick and Himura-san let me stay over at his house." Kenshin paused in the hall, not wanting to disturb Kaoru in her phone conversation.
"No! It's nothing like that!" Kaoru hissed. "You should know by now I'm not that kind of girl." Kenshin's grip on the tray tightened. Was she talking to a boyfriend? She had told him she wasn't married but she never said anything about a boyfriend. What bothered Kenshin more than the possibility that Kaoru could have a boyfriend was that this time, he couldn't convince himself that the tightening in his chest was indigestion. As much as it shamed him, he was jealous of a phantom boyfriend.
Kenshin coughed to make his presence known, then stepped into the room. "Oh, I have to go now. Say hi to the girls for me." Kaoru clicked the phone off and smiled at Kenshin. "That was my neighbor. You met his granddaughters remember? I was asking him to feed my cat." Kenshin nodded and handed her the tray, trying to hide his guilty blush behind his hair.
Kaoru lifted the spoon of soup up to her lips and tilted her head in surprised delight. "This soup is good."
"Thanks. It's my mother's recipe." Kaoru smiled and continued eating.
"So I was delirious, eh? I hope I didn't do anything too strange." Kenshin half-smiled.
"Well you refused to speak to me when you thought I was some guy named Soujiro. Then when you thought I was your dad, you held me hostage until Meg agreed she was your mom." Kenshin tried to keep his tone and words light, concerned that she seemed upset about her past.
Kaoru's face darkened. "I see. I suppose you're curious who all these people are." Yes, Kenshin wanted to shout, instead he shrugged his shoulders in a seemingly careless manner.
"It's really none of my business." Kaoru smiled without humor.
"That means you definitely want to know." Kaoru looked down at her soup and absently poked it with her spoon.
"My mom died of cancer when I was six. I know the time she spent with us was short, but I'm glad that I was old enough to remember her. Yahiko only knows what we've told him about her. She was a gentle woman and I know she loved us very much.
My strongest memory of her is the day before she died. I didn't realize it at the time, but now I know she was in a lot of pain. But she didn't show it, she just smiled and let us spend the whole day with her. I think she might have known her end was coming soon." Kaoru dashed a hand over her tears.
"After that, Yahiko and I spent most of our time being taken care of by nannies or family members. Father wasn't home very often, but when he was we were expected to behave and represent his high status in society. He was very strict, but he provided for us. And I believe he loved us.
He was killed by a drunk driver when I was 16." She paused for a second, unsure if she wanted to continue.
"It's ok," Kenshin said. "You don't have to continue." Kaoru crossed her arms and shook her head.
"It's actually kind of relieving to talk about it.
Soujiro was the youngest son of my father's business partner. We were arranged to be married when we were very young for business purposes. Neither of us was looking forward to it; we never got along. My father wanted to postpone the marriage until after we graduated.
But when my father died, I wanted to be able to raise Yahiko. Soujiro's father told me that if I married his son right away, he'd make sure I was allowed to keep custody of my brother. He didn't keep his promise, fortunately my aunt was allowed to have custody of Yahiko.
I soon learned that the Seta family was only interested in the money left to me by my father. Soujiro's father also saw me as a means to an heir, since his only other child all but disowned the family. Despite this knowledge, I still wanted to be a good wife - so I stayed. One day, I caught Soujiro cheating on me. I had suspected it before then, but his attitude when I found out . . ." Kaoru shook her head.
"Let's just say there was no love lost on either side when I divorced him." She tried to smile cheerily and made a helpless gesture with her hands. "So here I am now." Kenshin stared at her awed by her enduring manner. Guilt kicked him when he realized how selfish his anger over losing his wife and father was.
At least he had happy memories about them to comfort him. Kaoru didn't seem to have many of those.
"I see," was all he could think to say. Really, what could one say when another person just laid out their life story before them? (Never mind that it was abridged.)
"You should rest for a while. I'll see if Sano or Meg can take you home. I'd take you," he added quickly, not wanting her to think she was a burden to him. "But if I take Kenji out, his fever could go back up." Kaoru furrowed her brows.
"Kenji's sick? I'm sorry. It’s my fault." Kenshin chuckled and absently patted her shoulder, causing Kaoru to blush.
"You already told me. Don't worry Kaoru. I forgave you for everything."
"How . . .?"
"You told me the other day. I guess you don't remember because of your fever."
"Oh." Kaoru was silent as Kenshin took her tray away before her eyes widened in surprise.
"Hey!" her voice stopped him in the doorway. "You called me by my first name." Kenshin was glad his back was to her as his cheeks brightened slightly.
"It was the only way to calm you down when your fever was high." Now it was Kaoru's turn to blush.
"I apologize again for being so much trouble." Kenshin nodded to show her it was okay and continued out the door. "Wait," Kaoru's voice stopped him again.
"I don’t mind, you know. You calling me by my first name that is. I mean you are my employee after all and besides, I've noticed that California is pretty relaxed about such things." Kaoru realized she was babbling and decided to shut up.
Kenshin smiled to show he understood, then hesitated before speaking. "You're right. People here are very informal. Many employees call their employers by their first name too." He looked intently at Kaoru, his eyes asking if she understood.
Kaoru gave him a small smile. "Thank you . . . Kenshin-san."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" Aoshi anxiously asked his wife.
Misao sighed, "Anata, usually I literally have to drag you out of the house before you agree to shop with me. This has to appear like a normal shopping trip." She leaned forward to kiss him.
"Don't worry about me, okay? I should be finished in an hour."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao nervously straightened some nonexistent wrinkles out of her shirt before searching for Kamatari.
Misao was very glad she had a friend (who loved to gossip) working at this particular store. She had told Misao that Kamatari would be here today, trying to sell his new line of clothing.
"Excuse me, Seta-san," Kaoru bowed.
"I'm sorry dear," Kamatari brushed her off. "I'm not looking for any models right now. Try again in a few months when you're showing more." Misao stood in shock for a few seconds before she collected herself enough to run after him.
"How . . . how did you know? I'm only three and a half months along."
"All of my models are pregnant women, that fake padding doesn't look natural. I know the real look."
"I see. It seems you don't remember me?" Kamatari stopped to look at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Am I supposed to?" Misao blushed in humiliation.
"I-i'm Kaoru's friend. I accidently spilled punch on you at my wedding, remember?" Kamatari's face brightened with recognition.
"Ah yes, I remember now. Misao, wasn't it?" Misao nodded.
"Is their somewhere private we could talk?" she asked in a low voice. "It's about Kaoru." Kamatari didn't even bother masking his eagerness to hear any news about his beloved sister-in-law.
"Yes, of course. Please allow me a moment to talk with my assistant and I'll be right with you."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
After Kamatari had talked with his assistant to reschedule his appointment with the store manager, Misao found herself sitting opposite of the effeminate man in his personal limo.
"Would you like something to drink?" Kamatari offered as he poured a glass of what Misao assumed was scotch. Misao subconsciously set a hand protectively over her stomach as if she were afraid the alcohol would attack her child from outside the womb.
"No thank you. I don't drink alcohol." Kamatari's lips curved in amusement.
"I am not so crass as to offer a pregnant woman alcohol. I have flavored water that I meant to offer you." Misao fought down her blush and accepted his offer. Kamatari handed her a bottle of the overpriced liquid, then settled back in his seat, crossing his legs in the process.
In the back of her mind, Misao remembered the myth that men who crossed their legs were homosexuals. She had sometimes wondered about her best friend's brother-in-law . . .
'Focus Misao!'
"So what is this about Kaoru?"
"Aoshi's job transferred him to California. The location happens to be very close to where Kaoru lives." Misao bit her lip with worry. "A few weeks ago, I ran into Soujiro. He wanted to know where Kaoru is. Of course I didn't tell him." She leaned forward to earnestly stare at the man in front of her.
"Somehow he found out was pregnant and used that knowledge to threaten me. Now I'm worried he'll find out about the move and follow us to California." Kamatari frowned as he stared into his drink.
"I suppose you want me to help you?" Misao nodded. "My brother is not stupid. It was hard enough to trick him last time. It will be nearly impossible this time."
"I'm willing to take that risk." Kamatari regarded her seriously.
"Is Kaoru?"
"I talked to her the other day. She's nervous but she's very happy where she is and is willing to chance it." Kamatari nodded.
"I have a show in Europe two weeks from now. If you could be ready by then, we can purchase each other's tickets so it looks like you're going to Europe. I'm the outcast in my family, so nobody keeps tabs on my whereabouts. I'll send you your tickets in an order delivery and you can send me mine in a payment." Misao nodded then started.
"Hey! I didn't buy anything." Kamatari smiled smugly.
"Not yet, but you will have to so I have a reason to send a package to you."
"But, I can't afford anything you design," Misao weakly protested. She would have loved to own something designed by Kamatari. His designs were so beautiful, not the usual stretchy, floppy design most maternity clothes bore. But his prices were way over her budget.
Kamatari chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. I’ll charge you wholesale prices. I have a stunning pant suit that would bring out your eyes. And you may pick whatever else you like."
What else could a girl say when offered beautiful clothes at killer prices, but yes?
-
So, it will be four months until I update instead of the usual two. PLEASE do not hassle me about this. Such reviews do not encourage me and only make me mad and frustrated. Thank you.
Recommended Fanfic: Bath Time by mvdiva. While Kenshin waits for his turn to take a bath, he daydreams about Kaoru. You get the idea, don't you? (Don't worry, there is no lemon and the lime isn't overly graphic.) It's very cute!
I have signed a petition asking fanfiction (dot) net to revoke the ban on review responses. Because I want to show them I am sincere, I won't be posting any review responses for now. However if I don't hear any news on the topic by December, I will post the responses for the last chap. I already have them all typed up! (:
Thank you to: Miranda White, Easy-Company-506101, serlgee, Kenshin's little kitsune, Crystel, animeLCgrl, Starr Stealer, Anime Girl, ixchen, ken, Blak Kat, Sango89, legolasEstelstar, swimchick1614, Shojin Takeru, flclgd14, tvsweetie, Nixy-chan, Mrs. Q, Sims are awesome, vixenia, Via x Infinito, Reignashii, I LUV Anime 0.0, Miko Kagome Archer, royal blueKitsune, & Kinomoto for reviewing! (:
I would like to thank Ammersonlovey, angelic-innocence00, animefanrk, animeLCgrl, Art3m1s, ayani63645, aznangel91, bravedragon, Ceylonna, clamsofmacabre, CrypticMaidenRK, dancinggypsie, De Lazy Lime, DragonBlade666, Easy-Company-506101, EcHoInG SoLiTuDe, Element Sister, EmmyAwards, EmpressKona, Emrys-chan, Emyralld, ForgottenDreamsUnshedTears, glory angel 5, HBkGRl4Ever, Hikyuu Tera, Himuro Kirie, Horosha no Kage, I LUV Anime 0.0, Ice Angel Kaoru, inukenny, Jupiter's Light, Kaname-chan, Kenshinlover2005, Kodora Fairy, Lady Sora Love, legolasEstelstar, livworld, Mageblood, Minny May Yukibura, mizuki, MysticaElfGoddess, nes, Night Imp, Nixy-Chan, pandabear13, poeticdespair, Poi Poi, rain angst, RamenLuvinMnster, rdeveranime, RedAndBlackDragon, Reignashii, Ria Himura, Rinoa-Heartilly-666, Rurouni-Inu, Sango89, Sapphirefoxgirl, sato onigri, Scented Candles, Seishun Gakuen, sha xd, shiroshima, Shojin Takaru, Siriuslover, Starr Stealer, sweetyfanfic, swimchick1614, tearose66, Tima-san, Triste1, tvsweetie, Vision2, vixenia, & whitesparkles99 for adding this story to their favorite's list! (:
See you in February!
Poll results:
Swept Away - 0 ):
Smile for Me - 1
Salvation - 1
Did I Tell You that I Love You? - 4
So Ranma it is. (: I'm actually kinda excited to be writing a story for a different anime. (:
-
The first sensation Kenshin felt upon waking was pain. There was a pain in his eyes from the sunlight and a pain in his neck, the result of sleeping in a chair with his head at an odd angle.
In the process of stretching to get the kinks out of his muscles, Kenshin noticed Kenji sitting up in bed. "Hey buddy," he smiled brightly. "How are you feeling?"
Kenshin felt Kenji's forehead. "Well, your fever's almost gone. You hungry?" Kenji nodded. "I'll see what there is to eat." He picked his son up gently. "Let's find somewhere else to stay where we won't disturb Kaoru."
Kenshin started to head toward Kenji's room when the boy protested. "I want to watch T.V." Kenshin shook his head.
"Only four years old and already you're an addict." Yet, Kenshin set his son on the couch of the entertainment room, before handing him the remote. "I believe you know how to use this," Kenshin teased. Kenji smiled faintly in response.
"Chicken soup sound okay?" Kenji nodded. "Good, because that's all I have ready." Kenshin tousled his son's hair.
"I'll be right back." When Kenshin came back, Kenji was watching a cartoon starring a character that looked a lot like Kenshin. He frowned when a fight began. He didn't like his son watching such violent shows.
"What's this?" Kenji shrugged his shoulders.
"The guy with the red hair was a soldier in a war. Now he helps people that he finds as he travels. Except when he meets this girl, he decides to stay with her and later other people stay with them.
I don't really like him, I think he's stupid. I like the guy who's fighting against him. He was the red-haired guy’s enemy during the war."
For some unexplainable reason, Kenshin felt a sort of kinship with the odd little man on the T.V. screen and he winced when Kenji proclaimed his dislike for the character. "Well . . . don't be too hard on him." Kenji gave his father a weird look, causing Kenshin to realize how ridiculous his admonition sounded.
"Here, eat your soup." He set the tray on Kenji's lap. "I'll give you some juice when you finish your water."
-.-.-.-.-.-
Kaoru wasn't sure why she woke up. She knew she had felt an odd sensation upon waking, like the kind you get when someone was staring at you. Either that or she had to pee, Kaoru wasn't sure which.
Whatever it was, she hoped it went away so she could go back to sleep. But when she felt something touch her, all thought of sleep vanished. When she opened her eyes to see a large mass of red in front of her, she backed up screaming, causing the . . . thing in front of her to do the same.
"Kaoru! Kaoru, it's okay. It's just me." Kaoru stopped screaming long enough to recognize Kenshin's voice, the recognition causing her to blush.
"Himura-san, what are you doing in my apartment?" She furrowed her brows, "how did you even get in?" Kenshin cocked an eyebrow and smirked.
"Actually it's the other way around."
"What?"
"You're in my house." Kaoru looked around and realized she was indeed in the guest room of Kenshin's house, not her apartment.
"How did I get here?" Kenshin frowned.
"You don't remember?"
'Obviously not! Idiot . . .'
"No," Kaoru shook her head.
"You came over on Friday to watch Kenji, but you were too sick to watch him. I wasn't very happy about you coming over in that condition, but maybe it was for the best. You might not have made it on your own."
Kaoru winced, "I was that bad?"
Kenshin nodded, "you had a fever of 105 and you were delirious." Kaoru chewed on her lip, a gesture, Kenshin had come to find, that had many meanings. It wasn't limited to nervousness.
"I see. Thank you for taking care of me," she bowed, as best she could, to show her gratitude. Kenshin shrugged.
"Human goodwill had decreased so much, I guess I figured it was time I helped it out a little bit." Kaoru smiled.
"Still I thank you. I came over on Friday, eh? I guess that means it's Saturday now."
"No, Sunday," Kenshin corrected her. "You slept right through Saturday." Kaoru panicked.
"Sunday! I have a test tomorrow and I haven't studied for it yet." Kaoru stood too quickly and fell back on the bed. Kenshin laid a restraining hand on her shoulder when she tried to stand up again.
"Hey, slow down. Obviously your body isn't ready to move yet. You must be hungry. I’ll get you something to eat." Kaoru's cheeks flushed with guilt.
"You don't have to, it sounds like you've helped me enough already." Kenshin smiled and helped her back under the covers.
"I don't want the neighbors to start rumors that my guests starve to death," he teased. Kaoru wondered, as Kenshin fluffed her pillows and tucked the blankets around her why he was suddenly he being so kind. Maybe he had a soft spot for invalids.
"Himura-san?" Kenshin stopped in the doorway.
"Yeah?"
"Do you mind if I use your phone? I need to call a friend." Kenshin nodded and brought a cordless phone back to her.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
" . . . yes, I was sick and Himura-san let me stay over at his house." Kenshin paused in the hall, not wanting to disturb Kaoru in her phone conversation.
"No! It's nothing like that!" Kaoru hissed. "You should know by now I'm not that kind of girl." Kenshin's grip on the tray tightened. Was she talking to a boyfriend? She had told him she wasn't married but she never said anything about a boyfriend. What bothered Kenshin more than the possibility that Kaoru could have a boyfriend was that this time, he couldn't convince himself that the tightening in his chest was indigestion. As much as it shamed him, he was jealous of a phantom boyfriend.
Kenshin coughed to make his presence known, then stepped into the room. "Oh, I have to go now. Say hi to the girls for me." Kaoru clicked the phone off and smiled at Kenshin. "That was my neighbor. You met his granddaughters remember? I was asking him to feed my cat." Kenshin nodded and handed her the tray, trying to hide his guilty blush behind his hair.
Kaoru lifted the spoon of soup up to her lips and tilted her head in surprised delight. "This soup is good."
"Thanks. It's my mother's recipe." Kaoru smiled and continued eating.
"So I was delirious, eh? I hope I didn't do anything too strange." Kenshin half-smiled.
"Well you refused to speak to me when you thought I was some guy named Soujiro. Then when you thought I was your dad, you held me hostage until Meg agreed she was your mom." Kenshin tried to keep his tone and words light, concerned that she seemed upset about her past.
Kaoru's face darkened. "I see. I suppose you're curious who all these people are." Yes, Kenshin wanted to shout, instead he shrugged his shoulders in a seemingly careless manner.
"It's really none of my business." Kaoru smiled without humor.
"That means you definitely want to know." Kaoru looked down at her soup and absently poked it with her spoon.
"My mom died of cancer when I was six. I know the time she spent with us was short, but I'm glad that I was old enough to remember her. Yahiko only knows what we've told him about her. She was a gentle woman and I know she loved us very much.
My strongest memory of her is the day before she died. I didn't realize it at the time, but now I know she was in a lot of pain. But she didn't show it, she just smiled and let us spend the whole day with her. I think she might have known her end was coming soon." Kaoru dashed a hand over her tears.
"After that, Yahiko and I spent most of our time being taken care of by nannies or family members. Father wasn't home very often, but when he was we were expected to behave and represent his high status in society. He was very strict, but he provided for us. And I believe he loved us.
He was killed by a drunk driver when I was 16." She paused for a second, unsure if she wanted to continue.
"It's ok," Kenshin said. "You don't have to continue." Kaoru crossed her arms and shook her head.
"It's actually kind of relieving to talk about it.
Soujiro was the youngest son of my father's business partner. We were arranged to be married when we were very young for business purposes. Neither of us was looking forward to it; we never got along. My father wanted to postpone the marriage until after we graduated.
But when my father died, I wanted to be able to raise Yahiko. Soujiro's father told me that if I married his son right away, he'd make sure I was allowed to keep custody of my brother. He didn't keep his promise, fortunately my aunt was allowed to have custody of Yahiko.
I soon learned that the Seta family was only interested in the money left to me by my father. Soujiro's father also saw me as a means to an heir, since his only other child all but disowned the family. Despite this knowledge, I still wanted to be a good wife - so I stayed. One day, I caught Soujiro cheating on me. I had suspected it before then, but his attitude when I found out . . ." Kaoru shook her head.
"Let's just say there was no love lost on either side when I divorced him." She tried to smile cheerily and made a helpless gesture with her hands. "So here I am now." Kenshin stared at her awed by her enduring manner. Guilt kicked him when he realized how selfish his anger over losing his wife and father was.
At least he had happy memories about them to comfort him. Kaoru didn't seem to have many of those.
"I see," was all he could think to say. Really, what could one say when another person just laid out their life story before them? (Never mind that it was abridged.)
"You should rest for a while. I'll see if Sano or Meg can take you home. I'd take you," he added quickly, not wanting her to think she was a burden to him. "But if I take Kenji out, his fever could go back up." Kaoru furrowed her brows.
"Kenji's sick? I'm sorry. It’s my fault." Kenshin chuckled and absently patted her shoulder, causing Kaoru to blush.
"You already told me. Don't worry Kaoru. I forgave you for everything."
"How . . .?"
"You told me the other day. I guess you don't remember because of your fever."
"Oh." Kaoru was silent as Kenshin took her tray away before her eyes widened in surprise.
"Hey!" her voice stopped him in the doorway. "You called me by my first name." Kenshin was glad his back was to her as his cheeks brightened slightly.
"It was the only way to calm you down when your fever was high." Now it was Kaoru's turn to blush.
"I apologize again for being so much trouble." Kenshin nodded to show her it was okay and continued out the door. "Wait," Kaoru's voice stopped him again.
"I don’t mind, you know. You calling me by my first name that is. I mean you are my employee after all and besides, I've noticed that California is pretty relaxed about such things." Kaoru realized she was babbling and decided to shut up.
Kenshin smiled to show he understood, then hesitated before speaking. "You're right. People here are very informal. Many employees call their employers by their first name too." He looked intently at Kaoru, his eyes asking if she understood.
Kaoru gave him a small smile. "Thank you . . . Kenshin-san."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" Aoshi anxiously asked his wife.
Misao sighed, "Anata, usually I literally have to drag you out of the house before you agree to shop with me. This has to appear like a normal shopping trip." She leaned forward to kiss him.
"Don't worry about me, okay? I should be finished in an hour."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Misao nervously straightened some nonexistent wrinkles out of her shirt before searching for Kamatari.
Misao was very glad she had a friend (who loved to gossip) working at this particular store. She had told Misao that Kamatari would be here today, trying to sell his new line of clothing.
"Excuse me, Seta-san," Kaoru bowed.
"I'm sorry dear," Kamatari brushed her off. "I'm not looking for any models right now. Try again in a few months when you're showing more." Misao stood in shock for a few seconds before she collected herself enough to run after him.
"How . . . how did you know? I'm only three and a half months along."
"All of my models are pregnant women, that fake padding doesn't look natural. I know the real look."
"I see. It seems you don't remember me?" Kamatari stopped to look at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Am I supposed to?" Misao blushed in humiliation.
"I-i'm Kaoru's friend. I accidently spilled punch on you at my wedding, remember?" Kamatari's face brightened with recognition.
"Ah yes, I remember now. Misao, wasn't it?" Misao nodded.
"Is their somewhere private we could talk?" she asked in a low voice. "It's about Kaoru." Kamatari didn't even bother masking his eagerness to hear any news about his beloved sister-in-law.
"Yes, of course. Please allow me a moment to talk with my assistant and I'll be right with you."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
After Kamatari had talked with his assistant to reschedule his appointment with the store manager, Misao found herself sitting opposite of the effeminate man in his personal limo.
"Would you like something to drink?" Kamatari offered as he poured a glass of what Misao assumed was scotch. Misao subconsciously set a hand protectively over her stomach as if she were afraid the alcohol would attack her child from outside the womb.
"No thank you. I don't drink alcohol." Kamatari's lips curved in amusement.
"I am not so crass as to offer a pregnant woman alcohol. I have flavored water that I meant to offer you." Misao fought down her blush and accepted his offer. Kamatari handed her a bottle of the overpriced liquid, then settled back in his seat, crossing his legs in the process.
In the back of her mind, Misao remembered the myth that men who crossed their legs were homosexuals. She had sometimes wondered about her best friend's brother-in-law . . .
'Focus Misao!'
"So what is this about Kaoru?"
"Aoshi's job transferred him to California. The location happens to be very close to where Kaoru lives." Misao bit her lip with worry. "A few weeks ago, I ran into Soujiro. He wanted to know where Kaoru is. Of course I didn't tell him." She leaned forward to earnestly stare at the man in front of her.
"Somehow he found out was pregnant and used that knowledge to threaten me. Now I'm worried he'll find out about the move and follow us to California." Kamatari frowned as he stared into his drink.
"I suppose you want me to help you?" Misao nodded. "My brother is not stupid. It was hard enough to trick him last time. It will be nearly impossible this time."
"I'm willing to take that risk." Kamatari regarded her seriously.
"Is Kaoru?"
"I talked to her the other day. She's nervous but she's very happy where she is and is willing to chance it." Kamatari nodded.
"I have a show in Europe two weeks from now. If you could be ready by then, we can purchase each other's tickets so it looks like you're going to Europe. I'm the outcast in my family, so nobody keeps tabs on my whereabouts. I'll send you your tickets in an order delivery and you can send me mine in a payment." Misao nodded then started.
"Hey! I didn't buy anything." Kamatari smiled smugly.
"Not yet, but you will have to so I have a reason to send a package to you."
"But, I can't afford anything you design," Misao weakly protested. She would have loved to own something designed by Kamatari. His designs were so beautiful, not the usual stretchy, floppy design most maternity clothes bore. But his prices were way over her budget.
Kamatari chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. I’ll charge you wholesale prices. I have a stunning pant suit that would bring out your eyes. And you may pick whatever else you like."
What else could a girl say when offered beautiful clothes at killer prices, but yes?
-
So, it will be four months until I update instead of the usual two. PLEASE do not hassle me about this. Such reviews do not encourage me and only make me mad and frustrated. Thank you.
Recommended Fanfic: Bath Time by mvdiva. While Kenshin waits for his turn to take a bath, he daydreams about Kaoru. You get the idea, don't you? (Don't worry, there is no lemon and the lime isn't overly graphic.) It's very cute!
I have signed a petition asking fanfiction (dot) net to revoke the ban on review responses. Because I want to show them I am sincere, I won't be posting any review responses for now. However if I don't hear any news on the topic by December, I will post the responses for the last chap. I already have them all typed up! (:
Thank you to: Miranda White, Easy-Company-506101, serlgee, Kenshin's little kitsune, Crystel, animeLCgrl, Starr Stealer, Anime Girl, ixchen, ken, Blak Kat, Sango89, legolasEstelstar, swimchick1614, Shojin Takeru, flclgd14, tvsweetie, Nixy-chan, Mrs. Q, Sims are awesome, vixenia, Via x Infinito, Reignashii, I LUV Anime 0.0, Miko Kagome Archer, royal blueKitsune, & Kinomoto for reviewing! (:
I would like to thank Ammersonlovey, angelic-innocence00, animefanrk, animeLCgrl, Art3m1s, ayani63645, aznangel91, bravedragon, Ceylonna, clamsofmacabre, CrypticMaidenRK, dancinggypsie, De Lazy Lime, DragonBlade666, Easy-Company-506101, EcHoInG SoLiTuDe, Element Sister, EmmyAwards, EmpressKona, Emrys-chan, Emyralld, ForgottenDreamsUnshedTears, glory angel 5, HBkGRl4Ever, Hikyuu Tera, Himuro Kirie, Horosha no Kage, I LUV Anime 0.0, Ice Angel Kaoru, inukenny, Jupiter's Light, Kaname-chan, Kenshinlover2005, Kodora Fairy, Lady Sora Love, legolasEstelstar, livworld, Mageblood, Minny May Yukibura, mizuki, MysticaElfGoddess, nes, Night Imp, Nixy-Chan, pandabear13, poeticdespair, Poi Poi, rain angst, RamenLuvinMnster, rdeveranime, RedAndBlackDragon, Reignashii, Ria Himura, Rinoa-Heartilly-666, Rurouni-Inu, Sango89, Sapphirefoxgirl, sato onigri, Scented Candles, Seishun Gakuen, sha xd, shiroshima, Shojin Takaru, Siriuslover, Starr Stealer, sweetyfanfic, swimchick1614, tearose66, Tima-san, Triste1, tvsweetie, Vision2, vixenia, & whitesparkles99 for adding this story to their favorite's list! (:
See you in February!