MISMATCHED
Chapter 6 - Before it all Began

MISAO

She was distracted. No point in denying it. And she had made it so very clear to the rest of the Aoiya. So clear that in fact, Aoshi had even stopped her on the hallway to ask if there was something bothering her. She had seriously considered telling him that it bothered her greatly how cold and distant and annoyingly blue his eyes were. But then, she was not that distracted. She managed to think up an excuse so lame, so embarrassing that even Aoshi hadn't bothered to ask her further. He just nodded his head and looked at her for a few very brief but highly charged moment. Then as usual, he walked of to the other direction.

It seems as though Aoshi would never see her as anything more than a small child to be doted upon. Of course being cared for was nice. But not when it made you feel as though you actually need a grown up to help you take a bath. Not that it was a bad idea. A bath with Aoshi would be great. In fact, it would be heaven. Scandalized by the thought, Misao let herself giggle out loud.

"Care to share the funny story?" Sano asked coming towards her.

"Yeah, I just..." She paused. She looked at Sano who was staring at her expectantly. A small smirk playing at his lips. Tell Sano that she just visualized her and Aoshi in a bath tub, together? "No." She said finally.

Sano arched his eyebrows at her. His smile was warm and infectious. He looked like he just got out of bed and his hair and clothes were rumpled. He looked ok for a recently up rooster, maybe even cute. But Misao wasn't attracted to the sloppy kind of guys. She smiled to herself as she pictured Aoshi-sama as he stared at her moments ago. Aoshi who was always so neat, so prim and smelling like clean soap. Soap and bath. Her and him, bubbles everywhere. Misao giggled again.

"You hit your head or something eh Weasel?" Sano asked.

Misao stopped short and could almost see a fuming Megumi from last night. Infuriating rooster in deed! She didn't even know why Megumi-san had gone to so much trouble thinking up a scheme to get Sano when he... again she stopped herself short. She remembered the lady doctor's plan. She looked at Sano, sizing him up. Maybe he can ask for his opinion. She'd have to be careful or else he might get an idea on what they were planning. Sano gave her a lopsided grin. Maybe she shouldn't be too worried about that. "Hey, Sano, can I ask you something?" She tilted her head up at him and smiled slowly.

"Ugh, this isn't going to be about the 'birds and the bees' is it? Cuz the last time I talked about this with Yahiko, Jou-chan had almost banned me from the dojo... actually I think she did, but that's not the point. So is it?" Sano asked smiling wider.

Why the hell would she be interested in the birds and the bees? And why was Yahiko interested about them in the first place? Men! She shook her head, "No, I think I already know a whole lot about the birds and the bees." She declared and was completely floored by Sano's reaction.

He laughed out loud, clutched at his stomach. "You do? I bet Shinomori doesn't know that, huh?" He roared even more.

Misao rolled her eyes. What the hell had Megumi seen in Sano anyway? And what the hell was so dam funny? "I missed the joke Sano." She complained pouting. "And for your information, it was Aoshi-sama who taught me about," she repeated the phrase this time with emphasis, "the birds and the bees."

This apparently shut Sano up. He looked at her seriously with a raised eyebrow. She held out her chin defiantly, daring him to make fun of Aoshi-sama. It was true, she and Aoshi-sama used to spend their time at the garden and he'd teach her the name of insects and animals. She was sure they had come across a lesson on birds and bees.

Sano shook his head, "Damn. I think I got messed up." Sano muttered to himself.

Misao raised her own eyebrows. "I have a question remember?" She said reminding Sano of more important topics.

"Oh, yeah." Sano paused still seemingly in a state of confusion.

"If the girl you liked, but she didn't know that you like her back, at least she thinks you do but she isn't sure and well, she starts spending her time with another boy, not because she likes him or anything, just you know..." Misao trailed off.

Sano gave a quick customary nod, although he wasn't sure what the fuck the little oni was talking about. "Ugh, go on. I'm trying to understand... I mean listen" He corrected himself as soon as Misao glared at him.

"Anyway, this girl you liked who as I've said..."

Sano, panicked and immediately cut her off, "I got that part already, I think."

"Oh, ok. So anyway, she starts spending an awful lot of time with another boy, would it like, bother you or something?" Misao asked slowly.

Sano frowned. Huh? "Well, sure I guess. But if I happen to like a girl, she'd know about it and she wouldn't be spending her time with another boy." Sano said scratching his head.

Sure. Misao thought. What a horrible liar Sano was. She snorted. Well, that sure helped her a lot, she thought sarcastically.

"What the hell is this about anyway?" Sano asked crossing his arms, getting suspicious.

Oh-oh. Maybe she should've been more careful. "Oh, nothing, just a friend of a friend of mine asking for an advice." Misao mumbled lamely. "So, you're saying you'd get jelous and do something about it?" She tried to press on.

"Damn well I would!" Sano announced with conviction

Misao finally smiled a full smile that reached up to her ears. "Thanks Sano! You're great!" She reached out to mess his hair and backed away as soon as she heard him growl. "See you at dinner!" She skipped her way out of the house. She couldn't wait to meet up with Megumi! The plan didn't seem so dumb after all!


SANO

He watched as Misao disappeared at the end of the hall. Why did all the women he was always stuck with ended up being so weird? He cursed and lightly patted his head, quite sure that his brown hair would be standing on its end, another opportunity for them to tease him about his hairstyle. Well, they were just old and conventional. Kenshin and Aoshi's hair were all boring anyway. He sauntered off towards the dining room and smiled as the smell of food wafted through the air. Immediately following his growling stomach he reached the heavenly scent in record time. "Oh Kami that smells wonderful!" He announced elated to wake up in time for lunch, "What's cooking..." his sentence trailed off as he saw the last person he expected to see standing by the steaming pot of good-smelling food, the one and only, "Megumi?" He asked, his voice sounding aghast.

Megumi turned around. "I believe your jaw is hanging open Sano." She said archly.

Sano tried to stop the stupid buzzing sound in his head. Huh? Oh. Jaws. Hanging open. He snapped it shut. He cleared his thoughts, "Didn't know you can cook Kitsune? Or is that poison?" He jabbed at her smirking as her own jaws fell.

She quickly hid the surprise, and was that hurt that he saw in her eyes. Nah, it was probably exasperation. "Are you going to eat it?" She asked instead, her red lips beckoning him.

"If it's edible. Sure, why not." Sano shrugged.

"Oh, it's edible." Megumi purred.

"Ok, now I know its poison your cooking up." Sano squeaked out. Dammit! She's flirting with you! You're supposed to flirt back and not act like a sweaty nervous sixteen year old! He cleared his throat, "But if you insist, I think I'm brave enough to face death for you."

Smooth.

Megumi raised her eyebrows. "Actually, it's just soup." She smiled sweetly, "It's for Ken-san." She added with a dreamy sigh.

Sano gritted his teeth. Flirting with you huh? Smooth huh? He mentally kicked himself. "I feel sorry for the poor guy! First Jou-chan! Now you!" He said rather lamely. "I hope he chokes on it." He muttered darkly, feeling somewhat guilty for thinking ill of Kenshin.

"What was that?" Megumi asked taking a step towards him.

"I said I hope he lives after eating it." He said out loud. "As for me, I'm not really a soup-person. I'm gonna get the hell outta here and grab some real edible food." He said pointedly.

"Bye Sano. Have a nice lunch." Megumi said softly, her red glossy, full lips smiling up at him.

Sano clenched his fist and bit down the urge to grab Megumi's face and kiss her senseless. Until she forgets about her damn soup, and Kenshin and everything else for that matter. He was going to kiss her until she's breathless and weak in the knee and...."

"Sano?"

He turned towards the voice and sure enough, there was Kenshin standing by the door with his oh-so boring pink gi. And hairstyle. Don't forget about the hairstyle, he reminded himself grimly. "Kenshin." He said tightly.

Kenshin seemed taken aback by the tone of his voice. "Everything ok Sano?" The red haired asked.

"Oh yeah, everything's just peachy!" He announced viciously. He rubbed his forehead, "I'm going out for lunch." He said to no one in particular and strode out of the room. He didn't bother to wait for Megumi or Kenshin to respond. Feet pounding on the floor he hurriedly got out of the Aoiya. He remembered Misao's question earlier on. Fuck. It fitted him so perfectly. The Weasel girl was probably mocking him. Well, fine. Let her mock him. If Megumi thinks he was going to react like an immature sixteen year old boy and try to get her from Kenshin she was out of luck. There was no way he'd be jealous! No freakin' way. And if someone needed to haul Kenshin away from Megumi, that would be Jou-chan's job. And not his. Definitely not his!


MEGUMI

She watched as Sano stalked out of the room. Oh, God, she hasn't even started her plan yet and it was already working like a charm. She is so very good!

"Megumi-dono?"

Oh. She had forgotten about Kenshin. "Hai?" She said turning back at the pot she was fusing about when Sano entered. She smiled again and tried not to start laughing as she remembered Sano's expression. If he only knew.

"Is everything ok between you and Sano?" Kenshin asked his concern was obvious.

"Yes of course it is. It's all very..." she paused and then smiled wider, "peachy." She said using Sano's term. She watched the puzzled expression in Kenshin's face and she almost laughed out loud. "What is it that you came here for?" She asked.

"Oh!" Kenshin said, "Okon-dono was just asking if you're done with the herbal medicine you were making for Okina's rheumatism?"

Megumi let out a small sly smile appear on her lips. "Oh, it's coming along pretty well. It'll be done in a few minutes." She informed him. She could almost imagine the look of horror on Sano's face if he found out that he was actually drooling over a pot of boiling leaves and roots. Oh, Kami help that poor man! As soon as her plan is on the way, he'd never know what hit him. She could just imagine him on his knees, begging for forgiveness. Or maybe, he'd tower upon her, grab her by her arm, no more words, just his burning eyes claiming her as his and then his lips would descend upon her, hungrily. She let out a foxy laughter as she fanned herself.

"Megumi-dono, daijoubu?"

He's still here? "Ne, Ken-san, it suddenly felt a little hot in here that's all. I think I better go out and get some fresh air. Do you think you can take care of this for me?" She asked sweetly.

"Of course Megumi-dono." Kenshin was immediately by the stove. He stirred the pot and checked the fire. "You should've joined Sano for lunch." he said absentmindedly.

Megumi stopped herself short of a squeal, "Maybe next time." She purred to herself. Maybe they can even skip the lunch part and get going with... better things. She fanned herself even more. Megumi was right about the door, occupied with thoughts on what those better things were when she slammed into a rushing Kaoru. She raised her eyebrows at the girl and then turned her head towards the silent rurouni bending over the pot. She turned at Kaoru again and looked at the flushed girl straight into her fiery blue eyes, "And it's gonna get hotter, Ken-san." She said out loud before getting out of the room.


KENSHIN

The fire was just about right. He wondered why Megumi felt it had become hotter inside. He heard her mumble something. "What was that Megumi-dono?" Kenshin asked turning his head. No Megumi-dono there. Only an angry Kaoru standing by the door. Kenshin gulped. Uh-oh.

"Ken-shin..." She positively, absolutely growled.

And Kenshin knew he was in deep trouble. The syllabled pronunciation of his name was already a clear sign. He greeted Kaoru cheerfully, ignoring her present state. "Kaoru-dono!" He said in a cheerful voice, "I seem to be missing you all day. Are you looking for me?" He asked his voice faltering a little.

Kaoru glared at him. Ok, maybe pretending to be cheerful wasn't the best idea. "I ugh," he paused, stalling for time. Not sure what to say. He didn't have any excuse why he had been avoiding Kaoru. It's not like he can just say that he couldn't face her after the kiss last night. Because that would be acknowledging that the kiss had happened. Which he was sure didn't. Because it had to be a dream. It had to be. There was no way Karou could've kissed him. No way the he could've let her. Even though he could still smell her jasmine scent, and feel her lips and the pounding of his heart and the many thoughts that raced to his brain, all of which were about Karou and the heat of her breath against his cold cheeks and...

"Kenshin!" This time Kaoru had screeched his name. Now she was mad and annoyed.

"I ugh, I- I ah, I was just stirring the pot." He blurted out and he was shocked - no, appalled as soon as he heard the words come out of his mouth, in his own voice. I didn't said that! His mind screeched. If his shishou had been here to hear that... he didn't even want to think of the possibilities.

"WHAT?" Kaoru exploded her blue eyes darker than usual. "I want an explanation!" She announced.

"The pot," Kenshin began even though a voice inside his head was begging him to shut the fuck up. He cringed at the voice and its choice of words. He knew what Kaoru meant. He had to explain to her why he had been avoiding her, running away from her ever since she had kissed him. How could he tell her that it was all for her own good? That after she had kissed him, his mind hadn't been functioning properly. And all his senses were still stuck on that very second her lips touched his skin. He opened his mouth again. "The pot is ugh, it's um - filled with leaves and roots and it's medicine for Okina, Megumi was making it and she asked me to finish it for her and..." He finally got the will power to bite down on his tongue.

What in Kami's holy-name is wrong with you!? The familiar voice roared inside his head.

Great! There was that voice again. Kenshin cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

You are not talking anymore! The voice shouted hysterically.

Well, what was he going to do? He can't just stand here and try to make it better by just looking at Kaoru. Which by the way wasn't helping him any because she's standing there, a few feet away from him licking her red lips.

Kiss her back you idiot!

No. Not that one. He shook himself and tried to silence the voice. "Kaoru-dono." He began and sighed. Well at least he hadn't mention that goddamn pot! He walked towards her.

"About last night." Kaoru said her eyes leveled with him.

"Hai." He watched as Kaoru's face tensed. He was going to do this. He grabbed her shoulder and took a deep breath. He braced himself. "It was a mistake." He said slowly.

NOOOOOO! The annoying voice inside his head screeched. No! Take that back you idiot! You didn't mean that! I didn't mean that!

He refused to listen to the voice and concentrated instead on watching Kaoru's face. Kaoru stared at him blankly. Her brows knitted. She seemed to have finally heard what he said. The look of pain that filled her eyes was enough to make Kenshin to look away. But he forced himself to hold her eyes with his own. He had to see this. He had too, so that he'd remember how much he can hurt her. So that he can stay away from her for good. He was always hurting her!

"Kenshin... I... it's wasn't... why?" Kaoru asked her voice sounding small and confused.

"It was a mistake Kaoru-dono." He repeated, he insisted. "You shouldn't have... I shouldn't have let you."

Kaoru stepped away from him. "Why? Why is it a mistake?"

"Because, Kaoru-dono, you know that it can't be."

Oh, good answer you've got there! The voice said sarcastically, dig a deeper grave for yourself why don't you?

He gritted his teeth. "You have to understand, Kaoru-dono. I don't want to hurt you. I'd rather die, but I am..." he swallowed hard. Could he say it? In front of her? He straightened his back. Yes he could, for her. He'd do anything for her. "Sesha wa does not deserve you." He said softly. And now she knows. Now she'll realize the truth and she'll never love him anymore.

Good job Kenshin! There was the sound of sarcastic applause inside his head.

Kaoru gasped loudly. She wrenched away from his hold. Her eyes were ablaze. "You - you idiot!" She screamed.

Kenshin winced and looked away. Better that she found out now then let her feelings grow deeper.

"You think I am that shallow? You think I am that naive? You think I am that stupid not to know who I love?"

"You can't love me Kaoru-dono." He said softly. He expected the voice to come howling his stupidity. No voice came. Looks like it had given up on him.

"I was going to ask you why, but I guess that would just be pointless." Kaoru said. "I don't care what you say. I know what my heart says." She paused and waited in silence until he looked at her again. "And you just broke my heart Kenshin." She whispered. She turned away and fled from him.

Well, now it wouldn't be hard to avoid her anymore. Kenshin reasoned out, ignoring the pain in his heart. It seemed only fair. He broke Kaoru's heart. Hell, he even broke his own heart. He had a feeling there was no way it would ever get healed. Not when Kaoru would never even look at him anymore. He closed his eyes and fought the waves of emotion coursing through him.

You've got what you want. The voice came back again. It didn't sound angry, or sad, or irritated. It sounded hallow. Exactly the way Kenshin felt.

He stood there silently, the now boiling medicine completely forgotten. It's green content spilling into the floor. There goes Sano's lunch, Okina's medicine and Kenshin's heart - evaporating into thin air.


KAORU

Well, you've got what you want. Kaoru berated herself. You wanted to corner Kenshin, you wanted him to explain why he had been avoiding you and there you have it!

Kenshin thinks so little of her. No, that's not right. She told herself. She knew what Kenshin was trying to do. Did he really think that she'd easily believe him? After all that they've been through! She couldn't believe he'd use that "I'm unworthy for you" speech. She couldn't believe that he actually thought she'd believe him!

If Kenshin expected that she leave him alone after today, well he can just kiss that thought goodbye! Everything that he said, everything that he had done only made her love him more. Sure, she was pissed as hell right now. But she was still thinking clearly. Kenshin was a very lucky man. He's very lucky that she was in love with him, because if she wasn't she would've punched him in the nose right there and then. Well, Kenshin's just gonna have to deal with her.

She paused and took deep calming breaths. She had seen the look in his eyes. The look of raw pain. And she almost reached out to him and kissed him. A real kiss this time. On his lying red lips!

Kaoru rolled her eyes. She could never understand why Kenshin was so afraid of loving her. She understood his fear. And she accepted that Kenshin would always be shadowed by his past. If he would just let her - she firmly believed that she could bring him light. The same kind of light he had given her. The one that warmed her heat and soul.

The only thing that would've kept Kenshin from loving her would be guilt. But there was no reason for him to feel guilty for loving her. Ok, so he was older. But really, guys would never care about that. She had asked Genzai sensei about this. And Kami knows she had lived long enough with these complicated fools, otherwise known as men, to at least get an idea of how their brains worked (if it actually worked that is). And she hadn't been seriously hurt because of her involvement of Kenshin. And she knows for a fact that Kenshin respected her as warrior. Maybe not entirely trust in her skills, but he never once belittled it. He knows that she can take care of herself.

So what was the problem?!

Well, she'd soon find out. Megumi's plan would start tomorrow. She wasn't betting much on it, but if it worked then all the better. But if not, well, she's just gonna come up with her own plan.

"I swear to God Kenshin, I'm going to straighten out that twisted brains of yours!" She shrieked menacingly.


AOSHI

He chanced upon her pacing by the front porch. She didn't even seem to notice that she was moving. She was so deep in thought that she hadn't realized he had arrived. Her small frame was hunched and even from a distance, Aoshi can see the blueness of her eyes.

"I swear to God Kenshin, I'm going to straighten out that twisted brains of yours!" She shrieked menacingly her fists shaking in silent rage. He gave out a short snort of what seemed like a laugh. The Kamiya girl stopped dead on her tracks, her arms raised in attack. When she saw who had walked in on her, she relaxed visibly. "Oh, Shinomori-san." She greeted with a sigh, "I didn't notice you standing there." She said trying to smile up at him.

The corners of Aoshi's eyes slightly twitched in a smile. Such a volatile girl. Battousai is lucky to have her. Even if it meant that she'd get very, very physical with him, straightening the former hitokiri's brain. Whatever that meant. Kaoru reminded her of Misao. Well, that's not entirely right. He sighed. He knew by now that pretty much anything and everything would remind him of Misao. "Battou-" he stopped himself as Kaoru's head shot up. "Himura-san?"

"Inside" She informed him.

"And the rest?" Kaoru shrugged her shoulders. "It's lunch time." He said. Again the girl shrugged. He stepped towards her and looked down at her blue eyes. He felt the need to make her feel better. "Tea?" He asked.

She looked at him for a second, tilting her head. She finally smiled. "Sure. I'd like that." Aoshi nodded and went inside. He stopped and watched as she followed him. Maybe with her he could talk about Misao. She should have plenty of Misao story. He'd love to hear each and every one of them.

End
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