Standard disclaimers apply. Please don't sue me, I'm just borrowing them.

This chapter is quite long, well, long compared to the other previous chapters. Anyway, I'll be

dividing it into two or three parts. Comments please! You know where to send them.

A Date With A Senpai

Chapter 6a

*Purple eyes watch you

take the hand of another

waves of loneliness

"What the hell happened to YOU?!" Yahiko asked as soon as he saw Sanosuke.

They had agreed earlier to meet at the riverbank, after giving Kenshin a silly excuse, which

sounded so lame Kenshin didn't even bother to ask what he was up to. The day was turning

out to be one of the best in Tokyo. The air was warm but not stifling, the sky was almost as

blue as Busu's eyes when she was screeching at him. And the sound of the river flowing was

mixed with the feeling of ease and comfort as he had spent countless afternoons here just

thinking.

Yahiko couldn't help but let out a sly smile, he was exceptionally looking forward for this

day and wondered what kind of scheme Sano had up in his sleeves to get Busu and Kenshin.

And the fact that Sano seemed highly annoyed. Well, he too would be if he had that much

bandage in his body.

Sano shot him a very jaded look that said it all.

Yahiko was adamant to ignore that one. "I'd been waiting here for hours! You asked me

for a favor rooster head. You should've at least have the decency to get here on time." He

complained crossing his arms.

Oddlyenough Sano remained silent as ever. And from Sano's state he immediately

guessed where he had been. Giving Sano an insolent smile Yahiko said matter of factly,

"You were at Megumi's clinic weren't you? That's why you've got this weird bandages all

over you!"

"Shut up!" Sano bit out leering menacingly at him.

"Mwuahahaha! Foxy got you this time huh?"

Sano fist clenched at the collar of Yahiko's gi. "I'll tell you one thing kid, she hasn't heard

the last of it!"

"What exactly did she do to you Sano?" Yahiko said wiggling away from Sano's near

death grip.

"None of your damn business. And what about you? What happened to YOU?!" Sano

retorted fiddling with the lose end of the white-gray bandage Megumi had put on him,

remembering the mighty yank she gave that almost cut the entire circulation of blood in his

system. Apparently the fox has some problems dealing with 'freeloading chicken head

punks' as she had so undiplomatically put it. Which he deftly answered could have resulted

from a recent frustrating experience she hadn't forgotten about adding a wink that could

have implied several different things. Megumi had probably chosen the worst possible idea

and had decided that not only will she not let him borrow money but also add a few more

injuries to his hand.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean? I'm not the one looking like a shoo in for a Shishio

look a like contest!" Yahiko exclaimed tugging at Sano's hand.

"Yeah well, you look as if you made at least a thousand exercise today. What was it?

Swinging shinais or cleaning the dojo floors?" Sano taunted.

As soon as Megumi had him kicked out of the clinic Jou-chan had arrived. He had stayed

crouching by the window eavesdropping at the two. After his limbs went dead for crouching

too long, he was almost ready to get back in the clinic but he was glad that he did stay for

a while and was able to get some vital information for the date.

But he had difficulty standing up; it had been embarrassing enough that Genzai-sensei

had to see him and the fact that the doctor had to call some of his patients to help the

great Zanza stand up. He fervently wished that the old man wouldn't mention the whole

incident to the Fox.

Yahiko frowned, "Busu made me do 1000 swings. How did ya know about that one?"

"It's obvious with the way you're standing. Even with the slight shaking of your hands.

See! Right there! It's shaking!" Sano said in a horrified high pitched voice.

Yahiko's laughing face automatically lost all its color as he stared at his hands. They

seemed perfectly normal to him. "What are you talking about!?" he said trying to keep his

voice casual.

"I bet that's going to be a permanent disability. Che, poor kid, I kewn someday your poor

small, child like hands would suffer with the constant exercises and fights, i diodn't know it'll

be this soon though. It's tough, but ya can do other things, like maybe cooking or doing the

laundry. Hell, maybe that you can't even do." Sano said somberly his brown eyes twinkling

merrily.

Yahiko stared at his hand for sometime awful thoughts swarming at his brain.

"Permanent?" he whispered to himself and disdainfully looked at Sano. Fortunately for him

he noticed the mischievous glimmer in his eyes if he hadn't he would've burst into tears.

He almost jumped into gnawing at the spiked hair. Letting out a growl he said out loud. "Well,

at least I won't have to make up brainless excuses just to go to the clinic and get Megumi

to touch my hand and fuss over me."

"What's that s'pposed to mean?!!" Sano spat out, he couldn't believe he was letting

Yahiko win in this verbal argument. "Forget about it, just tell me the dirt on the letter from

the senpai-kid." He said sitting on the grass. As he listened to Yahiko rant about the letter

an idea was slowly forming in his mind.

"So basically, this guy is a sap. But he made his intentions quite clear. He told Kaoru

that she was as beautiful as the sunset and smelled like spring. Yuck!"

"Yeah, can't imagine any boy would ever think about such things and to actually write it

down!" Sano shook his head a smile playing on his lips as he remembered the time he had

done the same courting this country girl. Sayuri, yep that was her name. Gray eyed Sayuri

with a shy smile. Captain Sagara liked that one. He wondered what the captain would have

thought if he had met fiery Megumi. 'Bet he'd tell me I'm out of my fuckin' mind.' The smile

stayed, 'Maybe I am.'

"Hey rooster boy! Are you listening to me?" Yahiko asked waving a hand in front of

Sano's face.

"I'm here! I'm here. Anything else I should know about?"

"Well, I recited it in front of Kaoru and she beat the crap out of me. Hey, do you think

Busu likes him as much as she likes Kenshin. Coz, well…ano, I don't want to upset

busu-sensei."

"Aw! That's so sweet Yahiko no baka! Of course Jou-chan doesn't like him. I bet she just

agreed to go out with that pubescent boy just to show Kenshin that she's tired of waiting

for him to make his move."

Yahiko nodded, he didn't want to ruin Kaoru's life, he owe her so much and even if he

won't admit it to anyone he felt that Kaoru was the older sister he never had and had

always wished that he had. He felt he had a certain amount of responsibility to make sure

that she was happy. "Ok, so what do we do now?"

"Well, right now Jou-chan would already be at Tae's where she'd get dressed and all. I

heard that he and wonder boy would meet at the Akabeko." He paused and looked straight

into Yahiko's eyes. "Ok, here's the plan…"

Wide blue orbs stared back at her. It was her and yet it wasn't her at all.

"What do you think Megumi-chan?" Tae asked stepping back as she marveled at her work.

"Quite an improvement." Megumi said standing beside the young woman and staring at

Kaoru's reflection in the mirror. "Don't look so shocked Kaoru. It's the same girl. It's you."

Quite an improvement. Kaoru didn't think so.

Kaoru tilted her head and tried to see the young tomboy that can swing a bokken even

in her kimono. The young kendo instructor who had kicked ass just yesterday. The young girl

who stood face to face with battousai with fierce determination without even so much as

flinching in fear.

She couldn't find that girl in her reflection.

What she could see was a woman she never knew existed in her.

Tae had painted her lips strawberry red and she wore her hair in a more traditional style.

Tae called it 'split-peach' and had told everyone that she had seen this hairstyle worn by

apprentice geisha's at the Gion section of Tokyo. Her forelock was swept at the back and

the rest were tied into a knot that looked like a pincushion at the top of the head. She

wore a turquoise hair ornament that held her hair in place that highlighted her blue eyes

and made it seem as if it were actually glowing.

Kaoru had refused to put any powder in her face. She once heard that the pale face

symbolizes death, but was contradicted by the blood red lips; which meant life. Or something

like that. She felt like a small girl playing dress up with Megumi and Tae. She didn't know

anything about this stuff or how on earth Tae was able to tie her hair that way in the first

place. She smiled softly as she searched for Megumi's eyes.

"Oh, Tanuki! Don't get all emotional on me. I'm just helping you out so I can have Kenshin

for myself. With you out of the singles list it'll be much easier for me to seduce Ken-san."

Megumi said giving Kaoru a sisterly pat on the shoulder, which greatly contradicted

everything she had just said.

"But I thought Kaoru-san is on a date with Himura-san. Isn't that right Kaoru-chan?"

Tae interrupted.

"Well, um…no. I'll be having dinner with Ichiro. Onoda Ichiro from Tomizawa-sensei's dojo."

"Oh! That young man! He was here to have some reservations. So it was for the two of

you then." Tae said not able to keep the disappointment in her voice.

"Yes. I've met up with him here earlier and we talked for a while. He's a nice boy." Kaoru

mentally cringed at the word 'boy'.

"That's quite a surprise to hear." Tae said.

"Tae-san! It's only a date! It's not like I'm going to marry him! You sound so upset."

Kaoru reminded Tae and herself as well. She turned away from the mirror and stood up with

a long sigh. "Well, I guess I'm ready now. I'll just have to wait for Ichiro-san." She announced.

"You're absolutely hopeless Tanuki no baka!" Megumi said as she ran a comb in her long

hair.

"What did you said!?" Kaoru said hand on her hips and the other waving a fist on

Megumi's cool calm face.

"You're still wearing you're fighting gi…or whatever you call that hideous grab uniform of

yours."

Kaoru facefaults, "I…I didn't bring any kimono." She said dejectedly.

"Good thing I had anticipated your ditziness! I brought one for you. Consider it as

my…gift."

"Oh! Megumi! Sometimes, you're not so bad at all!" Kaoru said, throwing her arms

around Megumi.

Megumi let out a surprised laugh and hugged the younger girl back. "So are you Kaoru!"

Tae watched the two girls hug, pleased that they have settled their difference. Anyone

would have easily thought of them as sisters as they tend to act more like sisters anyway,

bickering at almost anything but always concerned for and with each other. She remembered

Sae and hoped she was doing well at Kyoto.

"You got that Yahiko?"

"Sure Sano. I'll be on my way to the dojo and you at the Akabeko. Are you sure this is

going to work? I mean maybe you're the one who should talk to Kenshin."

"Don't kid yourself. You wanna go to the Akabeko to see Tsubame!" Sano teased.

"Iya! Iya! You're the one who wants to see Megumi there!" Yahiko said his face as red as

his eyes.

"Che, don't act like a brat, Brat!" Sano ruffled Yahiko's hair and smiled, "I have a perfectly

good reason why I should be there. Now don't screw up Yahiko. If ya do…I'll make sure

Tsubame knows about your…Ow! Why you little…"

Yahiko was off to the dojo even before Sano could finish his sentence. "Remember act

casual! Don't screw this one up Yahiko-CHAN!!!!" Sano bellowed. Rubbing the leg that the boy

had promptly kicked, Sano made his way to the restaurant. "Heh! Before this night is over

Kenshin is gonna have Jou-chan in his arms."

The sea green kimono had white waves printed on the hem and a sprinkling of yellow

flowers at the arms. The obi was a shade darker and had the same yellow flower. It was one

of the most beautiful kimonos Kaoru had ever worn and it fitted her well. She turned

around and watched with child-like fascination as the kimono gracefully followed her move.

"Oh! It's so lovely! Thank you so much Megumi! I don't know how to repay you!" she

exclaimed.

"Just don't let the chicken head punk near me for the next couple of weeks and maybe I'd

be even willing to hand Ken-san over to you!" Megumi said flippantly.

"Did you and Sagara-san had a fight Megumi-chan? You know it's not really advisable to

let an argument between lovers last for the night. It must be resolved immediately." Tae

said as she cleaned the make-up that they have used on Kaoru.

"Lo-lovers!" Megumi sputtered out. Had the world gone completely mad?!

She was so red that Kaoru thought all the doctor's blood went to her face. She laughed

at the idea and the visual aid in front of her. She clasped her hands in delight, "Why Megumi!

I never knew you had a crush on Sano! How could you not tell us!" she giggled again.

"It's not FUNNY! Sano and I are not…we ARE not…where did you get that? Who told

you…"

"But I have heard it from almost everyone already. They say that you are Sagara's

woman. Isn't that true?" Tae asked a little bit confused.

"No! Of course it's not true. Whoever started this rumor I am going to skin him alive!"

"I'm sure as hell would do the same!" a familiar voice rang out from the room.

Megumi's face underwent several changes from lobster red to chalk white and then

back to flushed crimson. "Sagara!" she said with as much coldness as she could muster

ignoring the butterflies in her stomach and the hot current running at her spine.

Sano was leaning heavily at the door and was enchanted by the picture that Megumi

made. Beautiful, even when mad. He thought to himself. Tearing his gaze away from Megumi

he smiled as his eyes found his object of his affection, for the sole purpose of seeing

Megumi get angrier and blush more that is and of course as part of his exceptional plan.

"Jou-chan!" he said walking towards her and taking her hands, twirling her around the

room.

"Dame! Dame! I'm getting dizzy!" Kaoru complained through her giggles.

Sanosuke faced her towards him and leaned so close that he could smell her faint

jasmine scent. "Look at you! I'd say any boy or man would be charmed when they see you."

"Hontou?" Kaoru asked as she batted her eyelashes, feeling warm and flushed at the

intensity of Sano's gaze. She had never felt anything like this, except when she would catch

Kenshin gazing at her. But it was almost the same with Sano. She could almost pretend

that he was Kenshin holding her this close.

"If I've seen you like this the first day we met, Kenshin wouldn't stand a chance. Not

when you're smiling like that with the stars in your eyes!" he said sincerely. For a brief

moment he had forgotten that Megumi had existed and had imagined how things would've

been different if it had been the case.

Megumi watched them, arms crossed across her chest. 'What is that rooster head up

to this time?' she asked herself as she tried to brush aside the slight envy tugging at her

heart. Sano can flirt with any he wishes, but not with the tanuki. Not in front of her.

"Oi, Rooster what are you doing here?" she asked impatiently waiting for Sano take his

hands off Kaoru.

"Well, I wanted to see Jou-chan!" Sano answered defensively, if anything pulling Kaoru

closer an arm protectively wrapped around Kaoru's shoulder. He was fighting off the urge to

laugh out loud at the expression on Megumi's face. All she needed was ask him to let

Kaoru go and he would've. But the look of jealousy in her hazel eyes was enough for Sano.

"And to tell her that Senpai Boy Wonder is at the dojo waiting for her."

"What?" Kaoru asked disentangling herself from Sano.

"Yup. Saw him there with my two eyes. Actually he was talking to Kenshin. I volunteered

to come here and let you know." He said his brown eyes serious, loosing its interest in her.

'Oh no!' Kaoru groaned inwardly. The last thing she wanted was for Kenshin to talk with

Ichiro. She was sure Kenshin was already giving Ichiro the 'take care of her de gozaru'

speech.

"But Ichiro had told Kaoru to that they'll meet up here." Megumi protested giving Sano

a suspicious look.

'I knew that fox ain't gonna buy that story. Oh well, time to use my charms.' Sano

thought as he crossed the room and was in a flash, besides Megumi. "Well, maybe he figured

that it wasn't right to make women wait so he decided to do it more traditionally. And

beside what do I care about what Ichiro and Jou-chan do for kicks. They could meet up at

the end of the world for all I care, as long as you're right here, ne Foxy?" he teased.

"Oh cut it out Sagara!" Megumi answered looking away, not wanting to drown in Sano's

warm, sincere eyes. She was glad that evidently Sano has no interest in Kaoru. "I know

what you're up to." She said facetiously.

"You do huh?" Sano returned audaciously.

"No. I won't lend you 60¥. I've already given free services with treating your hands. So

there, no amount of flattery, although true, will get you anything from me, especially money."

"Well, that's too bad. I was planning on treating you for dinner today. But I guess I'll

have to pass. Anyway," Sano said returning his gaze at Kaoru trying to conceal the

laughter in his eyes. "You better head at the dojo Ichiro has stayed with Oro-san far too

long, next thing you'll now he has already picked up not only Kenshin's speech pattern but

also his cluelessness."

"Nani?" Kaoru shook her head as if the act would clear her buzzing head. The more time

Kenshin gets to spend with Ichiro the more Kenshin might feel unworthy of her compared

with the young untainted boy. "I'm already on my way." She hastily thanked Tae and Megumi

and almost fled the room.

'Yatta!' Sano thought watching Kaoru leave in a hurry, 'Phase one completed! I just hope

Kaenshin would play his part just fine.'

"Well, I'm done here. I have better things to do than watch two young lovely women put

on their girly stuff. Ja!" with that he stepped out of the room and decided to have himself a

sake maybe two, one for him and the other for Kanshin and Jou-chan!

"Are you sure Yahiko?" Kenshin asked distractedly as he began slicing the pickles.

Yahiko made a face at the vegetable. Dinner, he hoped not. "Yup, Sano told me that

Busu'll be arriving soon to get um…" he paused. Kaoru had stopped by here to take her

bath and changed into a clean gi, Kenshin had even suggested that he'll take Kaoru at

Tae's which the latter had refused. What could Busu have forgotten? "Um…her…"

Yahiko made a face as Kenshin turned at him, not impatient just a little curious,

"Her kimono! That's it. Her new kimono for her date." Yahiko said satisfied with himself.

He hadn't seen busu carrying a bag or anything.

"Well, I'll just bring it to her then." Kenshin said taking off his apron.

"Kenshin!" a female voice called out.

One that could only be Kaoru's for the very reason that upon hearing it, Kenshin's hear

began to beat twice faster and twice louder. The effect she had on him was undeniable.

'Perfect!' Yahiko thought. "Gotta go and…and…uh…good luck!" Yahiko said running off

to the back gate. Sano had specifically told him to stay away and leave the two alone. That

one Yahiko was willing to obey no matter how tempting spying on them would be.

'Good luck?' Kenshin stared at Yahiko's fading back. 'What was that about?' he asked

himself as he rinsed and dried his hands. Kaoru called again, her impatience was clear and

Kenshin had to smile. Always almost fanatical, it seemed that she has so many things to

do, to see and to learn that time can be so limited for her. So much like a child filled with

unquenchable zest in life.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru called out again. Maybe Ichiro had already left and had been mad waiting

for her for that long. Mad enough to actually call off their date!

She wished.

She was slightly flushed from her walk and from the second glances she had received

from almost every man and boy that she had passed on her way. Even Saito who walked

passed her gave her a strange look. She was expecting a nasty comment about a dressy

tanuki walking around time or something equally nasty. But Saito just nodded his head in

recognition and even glared at the young boys hooting and whistling at her.

"Kenshin!" she called out again. Where was he? Did he leave after talking with Ichiro?

She hoped Ichiro didn't say anything that would have made Kenshin leave. If he had,

Kami help him. She had worked so hard to get Kenshin, if he left again, she won't hesitate

to turn the whole of Japan upside down just to find her rurounin. She rounded up a corner

and started to call him again. "Ken…sh…"

Her voice died down as she found herself staring at his violet eyes.

Her heart started beating over time as her hand began to sweat. For a moment Kenshin

seemed taken aback by the sight of her. And then violet eyes had turned darker than usual,

holding a well of unsaid emotions that she could now clearly see. She swallowed a lump in her

throat. 'Why is he staring at me like that?' she asked herself as heat traveled from her

stomach to her face making her cheeks flush red.

'So much like a child?' a voice in his head asked him.

Obviously not.

"Kaoru-dono." He said barely a whisper.

It took him some time to finally realize that he wasn't dreaming, that the vision of

radiant beauty inches away from him was real and not the work of his overly active

imagination.

Her red lips beckoned him. Her blue eyes drowned him. He drank in her presence. Time

had officially stopped for both of them and the moment that their eyes had locked,

they were the only person in this room, in this house, in the whole world. Suddenly the air

around them seemed so…warm.

She was beautiful.

Fatally.

He stepped closer as she tilted her head lips partially parted.

Oh Kami…he wanted to kiss her and she wanted him to, he could see it in her eyes; by

the way she held her breath.

'Control Kenshin. You have to control yourself.' His mind chanted although his body has

another different idea. It was hard to fight off the urge to touch her. But he had to,

because he knew that if he did, there would be no turning back. That once he knew the

taste of her lips or the feel of it against his he could never again put the distance

between them.

She saw the struggle in his eyes. She sighed and tried to make it easier for him by

taking a step back and turning around to show him her kimono and to hide the pain and

the disappointment in her face. When she was facing him again, she asked softly raising

expectant blue eyes at him, "So how do I look? Do you like it?"

'Did he like it?' He didn't find the word 'like' appropriate for what he was actually feeling.

He loved it. The way her hair was arranged and how soft it looked as it rested on her nape.

The way the green kimono contrasted with her blue eyes making them shine in a way that

he had never seen before. "You look pretty Kaoru-dono. Sessha likes it very much." He said

silently berating himself for the words he so unsuitably used.

'Pretty? Hadn't Sano said something more extreme than that? Mou! Kenshin!' Kaoru

pouted. "Well, um…is Ichiro-san still here?" she asked looking past his shoulders.

If she had only kept her eyes on his she would have found the anger that flicked in

them, followed by the look of pure unadulterated jealousy that had passed in his violet eyes.

"Ichiro? Is he supposed to be here de gozaru?" he asked softly recovering from his initial

upset that it had been Ichiro who she was looking for and who she had dressed for. He had

clenched his fist so tight that his knuckles had turned white to fight off the impulse to

wrap them around Kaoru's body and pull her close to his heart so she'd understand how

much this was killing him.

To love her only at a safe distance.

'Who are you protecting Kenshin?'

He didn't know the answer to that question anymore. Once, it had been Kaoru. To keep

her from being used as leverage for battousai. Now, it seemed to him that more than

anything he's only protecting himself.

Kaoru stared at him. "Sano told me that…" she paused.

Sano! Why hadn't she thought of that!

"Stupid Chicken Head Punk tricked me into coming here!" she said out loud as revelation

struck her full force. She looked at Kenshin who seemed to have reached the same

conclusion as her.

Kenshin knew the reason why Sano had made Kaoru come here in the first place. Sano

had wanted him to see Kaoru all dressed up looking absolutely beautiful. Sano's intention

was clear and clever too.

Of course, if Kenshin sees Jou-chan looking like that, he'd have nothing else to do or say

but to beg Jou-chan to ditch Ichiro and consider going out with him. He takes her in his

arms and then…

'Well planned', Kenshin thought a smile tugging at his lips. 'But it takes more than that

Sano.' He considered. 'It had been difficult not to let my emotions ran wild and ruin Kaoru's

life by taking such a bold step as claiming her as mine. Could it also been part of Sagara's

idea? That I'd just take her into my arms forget everything that I am and had been and

offer myself to her.'

"Sano probably has the best intention in mind de gozaru and Yahiko too." He said out

loud.

"What was that? What do you mean by that?" Kaoru asked not quite understanding why

Sano had palyed this trick on her.

"Ano…I meant, maybe Sano wanted me to see you before your date, because he thought

that seeing you will change my mind about letting you go with Ichiro." He explained

absentmindedly.

That made Kaoru angry. "And you're saying that it wouldn't?" she said crossing her

arms and glaring at him.

"Ano…Kaoru-dono, don't get mad. I think it's best that you consider other boys from

around here they have better things to offer you and not…not…" He couldn't finish his

sentence. He was pushing her away again and it was hurting him as it would hurt Kaoru,

but he believed in his heart that it would be better for Kaoru to find another man. Someone

worthy of her, someone who would give peace, stability a normal life not what he would be

offering her...a life filled of uncertainty.

"Kenshin no baka!" Kaoru hissed, "What makes you think that you know what is good for

me? How dare you tell me who I should and should not love!?"

"I only want you happiness Kaoru-dono." He said sincerely.

"Is that true? So what you're saying is that you're just going to let me go. Without a

fight. Just watch me take the hand of another man and let him lead me into a new life

without you?" she asked tears welled up in her eyes.

"It is for the best Kaoru." He said through his aching throat.

"Then I don't believe you at all. You don't want my happiness Kenshin, you're just cruel."

With that she walked away trying hard not to cry. She wasn't going to cry over a man

who would never love her. Not the way she needed and the way she wanted. She had never

thought Kenshin would be able to tell her that he was willing to step aside and eventually

leave her. After all that they have been through, after what she had seen in his

violet-passion laced eyes. She wasn't going to cry.

She was going to murder Sanosuke for ruining her plan.

Sano had two bottles of sake at his hand. By this time, Kenshin and Jou-chan would

already be an item and they had him to thank. 'Heh, it's a good thing I won today at the

gambling house. Seems as though my luck has come back. Full force!. We could

all celebrate at the Akabeko!' He hoped Yahiko had took his word and stayed out of the

couple's way. Kami knows what sort of monster the brat brings out in Jou-chan, if his

pretty little tanuki lost her fiery temper at Yahiko in front of Kenshin, the plan he had

worked so hard for would be ruined. He was half way to the dojo when he sighted Jou-chan

running away from the door. Her green kimono tangling between her legs, he was half scared

that she'd stumble or something. She was able to make it out and was heading towards

him when the dipping red-orange sun caught her face, he saw the tears glistening in her blue

eyes. Behind her, Kenshin was a dark shadow standing by the door watching her leave.

"Fuckin' hell!" Sano muttered. "Aw! What now!" he cursed again and stepped behind the

thick bushes. Kaoru passed him and she seemed a bit more relaxed. Fortunately for Kenshin

she wasn't crying, because if she was, Sano would've kicked Kenshin ass without any

question. Kaoru was already out of sight when Sano stepped out from his hiding place,

gritting his teeth, "It ain't over yet!" He began to walk, grim faced towards Kenshin.

" Time for Plan B: Knock some fuckin' sense on Kenshin's head!"

Notes:

Ok, that was way too melodramatic, don't you think? Anyway it's still a rough draft.

Comments please.

On to 6b.