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			  Jealous...No way!
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Part 2
				Dying Laughter
  

With callous fingers, he pushed shimmering red strands of hair away from his 
face. He examined the wetness sparkling in his fingertips.

"I don't even sweat this much when I fight... "
he chuckled inwardly at his secret joke. Sweating was absurd on a night so 
calm... blue with mystery. He chuckled again, this time more loudly in the 
dull still. laughing outwardly now at his joke. Or rather at himself for 
being the joke.

"Kenshin... you talking to yourself?"

Kenshin eyes followed the quaintly familiar voice to a tall figure in the 
doorway.
"oh Sano... I didn't even notice you de gozaru."

"Man you're pathetic... Do you need help cleaning up?"

Kenshin's eyebrow arched reflexively in suspicion.
"Since when do you help clean after dinner?"

"It's just that ya got that dumbass look on your face... I feel bad for
you."

"Why de gozaru?" Kenshin forced a casual smile in Sano's direction.

"Noth--"

"Sano... Kenshin! What are you still doing up?"

The raquet of echoes from her voice sent chills up his spine.
"Kaoru..." he whispered om partial relief.

"Hey Jou-chan! You trying to sneak in."

Kaoru giggled loudly. Patience and self-control slowly drained themselves
from Kenshin's skull. All that remained now were insignificant dreggs of 
pride and anger... or was that jealousy?

Kenshin swiftly heaved plates and cups into a large blue basin... yes...
He would wash dishes soon.

"I'm serious Jou-chan!"

"Oh stop already!... konbanwa Kenshin!"

Kenshin stopped. His eyes swarmed about him while his mind tried to stamp
out the disquieting signs of his discomfort.

"How was your date Kaoru?"
He inquired searchingly... politely, yet searchingly... Was it a date?
He clutched a small cup. The cup, now sleeping Suzume had used earlier.

"Eh?... uh...It was nice... I guess..."
Kaoru stared nervously at the ground. She was too nervous to notice Kenshin's
hopeful countenance crumble into shy defeat...

"Glad to hear de gozaru..."
Kenshin's grip tightned on the small cup... It was as if he could feel
the very hilt of his sword.

Kaoru stared at the pile of dishes.

"Kenshin it's late... Let me help you with those."

Kaoru drew nearer reaching for the porcelain cup in Kenshin's grasp.
"Come now... Let's go... Kenshin?"

She was startled by the grip he had on the cup... He hid his strength
well...
"Kenshin... You can let go now..."

Kenshin pulled slightly away from her.
She pulled back with more force than he expected...

:::CLANK:::

The small struggle caused a small item to fly out of Kaoru's sleeve.

"It's okay!" Coaxed Kenshin... "Look you dropped your... Handcuffs?"
Kenshin watched the item more carefully...
"Your handcuffs?"

Sano inched nearer in shock...

Kaoru ran towards her fallen luggage. She clamored brokenly at the floor.
"Ah ha!" she laughed nervously...
"I-i-it's not what it looks like!"

"Are they yours?... Since when did you become a cop?" Sano laughed at his
own joke. "ah ha ah ha ha..." Finding himself alone in rapture, he stopped.

"Very funny!" Cried a flushed Kaoru. "They're Ryu's and you don't know what 
we use them for!"

::: ping :::

The cup collapsed against itself from Kenshin's mighty grip.
Blood and shards of crystal splattered brilliantly in the air.

"Kenshin!"

Kaoru dropped her handcuffs and hurried to Kenshin's aid...

"What happened! Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Kenshin."

"Sano, clean up this mess! You do nothing in this house but make bad jokes
and debt... Kenshin" her tone softening at his name...
"Let's go... and I mean it!"

Kenshin closed his eyes quietly...
"Hai."     

********

"Ah Megumi!"

Megumi turned her head, long dark strands swinging crelessy after.
"What is it Genzai-sensei."

"I was wondering if you could bring Ayame and Suzume back the dojo... 
Kaoru asked if they could be home before mid day. I would do it,
but I have a patient coming for physical therapy."

"It's alright. You don't have to explain...I'll do it."

"Thank you!"

"No problem."

*********

By the time they reached to dojo. Megumi carried both girls in her arms.
They were exhausted, and had fallen asleep about halfway through the 
clearing.

"Just a little bit more... these little kids are heavy..."

"Oh no which room???" She whispered rather loudly to herself.

"I guess this one."

Megumi used her knee to pry apart the slightly ajar sliding door.
Pushing it open farther with her hip, She entered awkardly into the silence. 

She carefully placed each precious bundle onto a waiting futon. 

"Heavy, but precious." She whispered to each one.
She had a tacit longing for children of her own. A child... Just one
would be enough.

She rose and began to tiptoe gracefully out of the room.
She was stopped by voices that carried through the thin wall...

"Hey! What's the big deal pushing me in your room!"

*Sano?* She thought... She pushed her ear to the wall, satisfied when she heard
the poignant sliding of the neighboring door.

"Kenshin's home!!" 

"Shh! Don't be so loud!... He's fishing anyway... we're alone."

*KAORU!?!?!* She thought...

"Are you going to come tonight?" Kaoru asked tensely.

"Of course you moron... YOU'RE the one who screwed things up
last night!"

"That... that wasn't my fault..."

"And who is this Ryu fellow... I don't trust him!"

Kaoru swiftly responded...
"He's just a friend!"

"Just a friend... friend my ass! You know men and women CAN'T stay friends...
You women are too hot and bothered to keep guy 'friends'!"

"Sano!!! Be serious."

Megumi pressed closer.

"Here."

"Huh?"

"Your handcuffs... You left them last night."

*HANDCUFFS!!!* Thought Megumi...

"I didn't know you were that wild... POLICEWOMAN!"

*KAORU!!!!* Thought Megumi...

"Stop!... I have to make sure I see you tonight!"

"You really don't trust me yet."

"No."

Megumi heard nothing but the shuffling of light feet...

"Look at me." His voice less harsh, now concerned.

"Did Kenshin find out what REALLY happened last night?"

"Well..."

Megumi shivered involuntarily... 

"Did he!"

"No."

"And who cleaned up all the evidence POLICEWOMAN!"

"You..."

"Good. Don't worry... Tonight will be fine."

"Sano."

"Now let's get of your room before EVERYONE fucking finds out."

And the door shut.

Megumi waited for the pounding to disappear... She had to get out of here.  


			To Be Continued
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