A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction by Flori-dono
weebei17@hotmail.com
http://members.dencity.com/flori-dono/fics.html

All's Well That Ends Well by flori-dono

Disclaimer: This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fan fiction. The author is 
not making any
money out of this. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki 
Nobuhiro, Shounen
Jump, and Sony and others that should be mentioned but were not.

CHAPTER 1: Yahiko In Trouble

It was a cheerful early Sunday morning. The sun was shining brightly while a 
cool summer
breeze was blowing gently. Everything was still and quiet except for the 
chirping of birds
and the slush of water coming from the backyard of the Kamiya Dojo. As 
usual, Kenshin was
bending over a tub of clothes, washing. He was humming as he scrubbed the 
dirt away from
Yahiko's hakama. Kenshin smiled as he remembered how Yahiko got so dirty. He 
still couldn't
quite forget the boy's face as Kaoru swept him across the dojo floor like a 
rag, just
because Yahiko called her ugly, well, for a million times. And Kaoru's 
patience was never
long in the first place. How he thanked Kami-sama that he was not Yahiko at 
that moment. He
didn't relish the thought of polishing the floor with his body and the fact 
that he only
had a few clothes to spare was another thing.

"Kenshin?" The sweet voice broke into his thoughts. It was Kaoru's.

"Oro?" he replied.

Kenshin looked up. His heart skipped a bit and suddenly, it became hard for 
him to breathe.
Kenshin gulped. Kauro was walking towards him with a sweet smile on her red 
lips. A ray of
sunlight bathed her slender form and her long, raven hair was being teased 
gently by the
breeze. He had never seen anything so innocently beautiful in his life.

"After you've finished, " she said. "Maybe we can go have lunch at the 
Akabeko."

Kenshin shook his head slightly as if to clear his thoughts then turned his 
attention on
his washing.

"What's the occasion?" he asked, wringing the water out of the hakama in his 
hand. Kaoru
had settled herself on the porch and was now swinging her legs slightly, 
like a kid.
Kenshin saw this as he hang the wet clothes, and found it adorable.

"Nothing," she said.

"I heard that," Yahiko shouted as he came to the yard, his bokken slung 
across his back.

"So, WE'RE having lunch at the Akabeko, eh?" joined in Sanosuke Sagara as he 
strode
leisurely from the dojo gate.

Kenshin smiled as he saw Kaoru's fist clench and unclench at her sides. He 
bet she'd be
exploding in three counts.

One...Two...Three...

"Who told you both that you are coming with us?" she screamed at the two. 
Kenshin was right
with his prediction, as always.

"Don't get your kimono in a wad, Jou-chan," Sano said with a wave of his 
hand. "I was just
teasing."

"Well, I'm not!" piped in Yahiko. "I'll go whether you like it or not."

Kaoru was fuming already. She had been planning this quiet lunch with 
Kenshin for a week
now. And she meant lunch ONLY with Kenshin, without those two hounding at 
them. Today was
the only day the she got *him* all to herself, knowing that Yahiko would be 
with Tsubame
and Sano would be gambling all day. Speaking of which...

"Why are you two HERE?" she asked angrily.

Sano, with the ever-present fishbone in his mouth, mumbled, "I had no more 
money to gamble
with"

Kaoru rolled her eyes. That was problem one. Even if she had money, she 
wouldn't give him
so that he could leave. He'd lose them anyway. Now for problem number two...

"And what about you?" she turned towards Yahiko.

"Well, Tsubame accompanied Megumi to the next town to buy some herbs for 
Doctor Gensei" he
said matter-of-factly then added slyly, "Why so disappointed Kaoru? You 
wanted Kenshin all
to yourself?"

Silence.

Kaoru's face had gone from red to white then red again. Yahiko gulped, Sano 
almost
swallowed his fish-bone, and Kenshin... Kenshin froze all together.

"Now, you've done it Yahiko-chan," Sano said in a whisper.

Even in the face of danger, Yahiko had the guts to answer him, "Don't call 
me Yahiko-chan,
Rooster-head!"

"O-hoh!" Kaoru said in a quiet voice. "He can call you anything he wants, 
Yahiko-CHAN!"

This was a different Kaoru. Even Yahiko couldn't control his knees from 
shaking. She seemed
so menacing, so dangerous.

"Uh," he began in a slightly trembling voice. "Hey, that was just a joke, 
Kaoru!"

Kaoru then started to walk with agonizing slowness that made Yahiko wanted 
to run and hide
but he couldn't.

Kaoru was coming nearer. Yahiko was finding it hard to swallow, a lump 
formed in his throat
due to nervousness.

"Rooster-head was right," he thought. "Now, I'm gonna get it."

But Kaoru just swept past him then hurriedly went inside her room, sliding 
the door with a
vengeance.

Yahiko let out a sigh of relief. But he felt really bad. He knew he 
shouldn't have said
that. Even if what he said was true, it was rude to embarrass Kaoru like 
that in front of
Kenshin. He groaned inwardly, now he'd be tortured everyday in his lessons. 
But he'll take
them without a word. It was his fault anyway. He tried to control the tears 
that were
coming. He had hurt Kaoru really bad. And the knowledge hurt him too.

"Told you so," Sano chided him.

"Shut up, Sano!" Yahiko said and ran out of the dojo.

Kenshin sighed. He had watched the whole scene quietly. He had seen Kaoru 
flushed after
hearing Yahiko's remark. The romantic part of him was glad and the other 
part of him was
filled with doubt.

Was it true? Did she really want to be alone with him?

"Kenshin no baka!" he thought, scolding himself. "Now is not the time to 
think about it. He
needed to solve the rift between Yahiko and Kaoru. His romantic self has to 
wait."

"Yahiko was right, you know," Sano said quietly as Kenshin turned to put the 
tub away.

Kenshin stilled. Now what was Sano getting at?

"Oro?"

"Don't oro me, lover boy!" Sano spat out impatiently.

"You know what I meant."

Kenshin sighed. "I don't think so, Sano-san."

Sano wanted to hit Kenshin but controlled himself. He just couldn't face the 
fact that the
infamous Hitokiri Battousai, a man with great sword skills, was a dunce with 
women.

"It's not like he wasn't married before," Sano said to himself 
exasperatedly.

"You see my friend," he began, deciding that his impatience will get him 
nowhere. "Yahiko
was right. Kaoru wanted you to herself."

Kenshin's face turned as red as his hair. He wanted to smile, heck he wanted 
to grin like a
madman!

"So, what are you going to do about it?" Sano asked.

"Do about what?" Kenshin asked still a little dazed.

"Come on Kenshin, you're trying my patience!"

"Gomen nasai, Sano-san but..." Kenshin apologized.

"The girl likes you and we're not blind to see that you like her as well!"

"Was I that obvious?" Kenshin thought.

"Don't ask yourself Kenshin, of course you're sooo obvious! You look like a 
lovesick calf
everytime you see her," Sano pushed unmercifully.

Kenshin smiled a little. Lovesick calf?

"Now, what's that smile about huh?"

Kenshin shook his head then sighed. If he wouldn't give Sano an answer now, 
he'd be
badgering him all day, or maybe even the whole week. Kenshin shuddered at 
the thought.

"All right, I like her," Kenshin admitted in a low voice as if he was afraid 
anybody would
hear.

"Yeah!" Sano whooped and began to dance like a lunatic on the loose.

Kenshin sweat-dropped.

Then Sano suddenly stopped when he realized that must be looking like an 
idiot, cleared his
throat then lounged on the porch again. "And?" he prodded on.

"And what?" Kenshin asked, shuffling his sandaled feet.

Sano gave him the GLARE.

"I don't know..." Kenshin started.

Sano's fist began to itch...

"I mean, I can't do anything. Even if she likes me, I just couldn't let her 
innocent self
be stained by a killer like me..."

Sano clenched that fist to his side...

"I mean, she deserves someone else better than me..."

Sano's arm slowly started to rise...

"And what can I give her? I don't have a job! I can't even buy myself 
clothes..."

Sano took his aim...

"I just can't..."

And WHAM!

Sano's fist landed on Kenshin's head.

"KENSHIN NO BAKA! KUSO, YOU ARE HOPELESS!" Sano said and strode out of the 
dojo feeling so
much better. He couldn't quite stand Kenshin's blabbering and he only had 
that much
patience. Now, he'd better find Katsu, maybe he could borrow some money 
after all.

On to chapter 2


A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction by Flori-dono
weebei17@hotmail.com
http://members.dencity.com/flori-dono/fics.html

All's Well That Ends Well by flori-dono

Disclaimer: This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fan fiction. The author is 
not making any
money out of this. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki 
Nobuhiro, Shounen
Jump, and Sony and others that should be mentioned but were not.

CHAPTER 2: Yahiko Plots

Unbeknownst to Kenshin and Sano, Yahiko was standing just outside the dojo 
gate
eavesdropping. He was about to go to the river to think and to bide time 
until Kaoru's
temper cools down. But hearing Sano's voice made him stop and listen. They 
were talking
about Kaoru and how she felt about Kenshin. Yahiko could sense Sano's 
frustration as
Kenshin poured out his doubts and insecurities. He put a hand over his mouth 
to keep
himself from laughing, as he saw the gangster bopped the poor rurouni's head 
with his fist.

Hurriedly, he hid in the corner when Sano began to walk towards the gate. He 
waited until
he was out of sight before coming out of his hiding place.

"Sano was right," he thought. "Both Kenshin and Kaoru were in love with each 
other and they
were just doing nothing about it. Well, Kaoru was about to do SOMETHING but 
what did I do?
Spoil it!"

Yahiko sighed for the second time that morning. Then suddenly, an idea 
flashed in his mind.

"Why didn't I think of that before?"

But he was going to need some help with what he was planning to do.

With a grin on his face, Yahiko ran towards the direction where Sano was 
heading and
yelled, "Hey Sano, wait for me!"

Meanwhile...

Kaoru had been pacing her bedroom floor since that horrible incident.

"OOOOH!" she cried out, pulling at her hair.

"Why did I let that kid rile me up like that?" she thought desperately. "Why 
did I do that?
I shouldn't have ran. Now I can never face Kenshin again! He must think what 
Yahiko said
was true."

"But it is true," a small voice at the back of her mind said. And that was 
the worst part
of it. She was embarrassed by the truth.

She sighed. What was done was done and she should better think of something 
to say to
Kenshin when she'd see him, and that would be any time soon.

Think fast Kaoru...

"I know!" she exclaimed out loud.

Then, she faced an imaginary Kenshin and said, "Oh hi, Kenshin! Don't think 
about what
Yahiko said. It wasn't true! I just wanted to have lunch and..."

Sweat drop.

No, that wasn't it. It was like admitting it herself.

What about, "That Yahiko, always making me angry, eh, Kenshin?"

That would be worse, she'd look stupid! Kaoru whimpered and wrung her hands 
nervously. She
took a deep breath. She'd better not say anything at all. She exhaled. Yes, 
that was it.
Dead malice was the answer!

Kaoru gathered all the courage she had. She smoothed her kimono and tucked a 
stray hair
behind her ear.

Now, to try and face her adversary... Kenshin.

Kaoru opened her door slowly, the mask of indifference on her face. She was 
prepared to act
like nothing happened but she wasn't prepared to see a piece of paper lying 
on the floor.
It was a note from Kenshin!

Dread filled up Kaoru's heart. What if Kenshin decided to be rurouni again? 
Kami-sama what
would she do? He was her life, he was her everything. And now, it would be 
all her fault
that he'd be gone!

With trembling fingers, she picked the note up and read...

KAORU-DONO,

I WENT OUT TO MARKET TO BUY SOME TOFU. I'LL BE BACK IN A WHILE.

-KENSHIN

Kaoru stared at the paper in her hand for a few seconds before collapsing on 
the floor in
an unconscious heap.

                                                  ***

"This'd better be good Yahiko," Megumi warned in her sly voice. "I have some 
patients to
attend to."

"Yeah," Sano followed. "My hands are itching for the feel of dice.

"Megumi smiled, "That's all you do Rooster-head."

"Nice quip, Fox-lady."

Yahiko rolled his eyes.

"All right, the two of you!" Yahiko said. "How can I get on with both of you 
bickering?"

Sano and Megumi shut up but not without an annoyed "hmmp" from each of them.

Yahiko, Sano and Megumi together with Tsubame and Tae were seated around one 
of the dining
tables. Surprisingly, it was slow business for the Akabeko that morning, so 
Tae and Tsubame
had time to take part in what Yahiko announced as, "THE BIGGEST SCHEME OF 
ALL TIME"

Yahiko then looked at the faces around him. Making sure he got their 
attention. He cleared
his voice before stating, "It's about Kenshin and Kaoru."

He saw Megumi's eyebrow rise and the look of confusion on the other women's 
faces. Only
Sano seemed unaffected by what he said.

"I get it," Sano said lazily. "This is about what happened earlier. And YOU 
want us to help
you out of the mess. Clever boy!"

"It's not like that!" Yahiko denied vehemently.

Tae now spoke, "Uh, could you please first fill us in with details? I think 
I'm getting
confused!"

Yahiko nodded then proceeded to tell his predicament.

"I'm not worried about Kaoru, I can handle all the punishment I'm sure 
she'll be giving me.
I just want to make up for the lost lunch," he ended.

Tsubame looked at him admiringly and said, "That's so sweet of you, Yahiko."

And the poor boy just blushed.

Sano chuckled and thought, "The boy has a heart after all!"

"So what do you want us for?" Megumi asked impatiently with a toss of her 
head.

At this, Yahiko smiled and in a quiet voice, not quite like Yahiko's, said, 
"I need your
help for a DATE!"

Yahiko whistled as he walked home. Now all was set. The whole hour at the 
Akabeko was
fruitful. Not only was he able to get the group's cooperation, he got some 
added ideas too.

"A date?" they all said simultaneously.

If not for the gravity of the situation, he could've laughed. The expression 
on their faces
was priceless. What with their mouths open and their eyes wide as saucers.

He just nodded. "Uh-huh. Kenshin and Kaoru's. I'm planning to set them up on 
a date."

Sano jumped to his feet and slapped Yahiko on the back so hard, the boy 
almost shoved his
nose up the table's edge in the process.

"Didn't think you had it in you, boy!" Sano exclaimed as Yahiko disentangled 
himself from
the table's legs. "Should've thought of that myself."

Megumi and Tae were smiling smugly, and Tsubame was gazing at him adoringly.

Yahiko rubbed his nose arrogantly, before settling down again.

After that, everything fell into place.

It was now all in the matter of putting everything to action.

And now was the right time.

On to chapter 3

A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction by Flori-dono
weebei17@hotmail.com
http://members.dencity.com/flori-dono/fics.html

All's Well That Ends Well by flori-dono

Disclaimer: This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fan fiction. The author is 
not making any
money out of this. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki 
Nobuhiro, Shounen
Jump, and Sony and others that should be mentioned but were not.

CHAPTER 3: Yahiko Acts

"Kaoru?" a voice filled with concern found it's way into her subconscious.

"Kenshin?" she said opening her eyes.

It was Yahiko.

Kaoru suddenly got up. She was still a little angry with him, but before she 
could say
anything, she was caught by surprise as Yahiko knelt and bowed down before 
her.

"I'm sorry sensei for offending you," he began. "And to prove my sincerity, 
I shall do 600
swings during practice everyday for one week.

Yahiko winced. What made him say that? Six hundred swings? He gulped.

Kaoru was surprised. She wasn't expecting this.

"Are you really Yahiko?" she blurted out.

"What do you mean?" Yahiko screamed. "I'm trying to apologize here, Kaoru!"

It was Yahiko all right. Surprised as she was, she couldn't help but feel 
pleased. And
besides, 600 swings everyday for one week... heh, she'd love to see him do 
that!

"All right Yahiko," she said gently. "I forgive you."

Yahiko let out a sigh of relief.

"That was easy," he thought. "And now for the kill."

He got up and walked towards Kaoru who also was just about to leave.

"Uh, Kaoru, wait" he started.

Kaoru turned around.

"Well, Kenshin wanted to tell you something."

"Kenshin?"

"I met him earlier and he said ...well, he..."

"Yahiko!" Kaoru grabbed him at the collar and started to shake him. "What 
did Kenshin say?"

She was getting really nervous.

"WELLHEWANTEDTOASKYOUFORA.... A DATE!" he said in a rush.

Kaoru stared at him. Was it real? Did she hear it right? WAS KENSHIN REALLY 
ASKING HER OUT?

"Ken...Kenshin?" she stuttered.

Yahiko saw Kaoru's expression and smiled secretly. Perfect! He nodded, head 
still bowed.

"He wanted to ask you himself but he said he was really shy, so he asked 
me..."

But she wasn't listening anymore. Kenshin was really asking her out! Thank 
you Kami-sama,
her prayers have been answered!

Then Kaoru turned sharply, "This isn't a joke, right?"

"No!!!" he cried.

Kaoru sighed.

"So," Yahiko interrupted her musings. "What's your answer?"

Kaoru was suddenly brought back to reality.

"When is it exactly? And where?" she asked.

"Tonight I think, for dinner. I'm afraid I still don't

know where"

"Oh, oh! Even so, tell him yes, yes! Yes!" Kaoru exclaimed and she hugged 
Yahiko, so tight
that she almost cut off his circulation.

"Ka...kao.." he choked.

Kaoru suddenly let him go, letting him flop on the floor

coughing. She suddenly panicked.

"What would I wear? I don't even have a decent kimono!" she blabbed on and 
on as she began
wearing out the floor with her pacing.

Yahiko shook his head vigorously. He was getting dizzy, following Kaoru walk 
back and
forth.

"Konichiiwa!"

Two heads turned at the sound of the greeting. Yahiko almost hugged Tsubame 
and Tae with
relief, as both women stepped inside the room . Tae winked at the boy and 
hid her smile.
Even Tsubame was struggling hard not to giggle. After all, Kaoru and he must 
have looked
funny.

Kaoru almost stumbled as she ran and greeted the two new arrivals.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Tae but...HELP ME!"

Tae, who was amused by the girl's actions pretended to look confused and 
inquired gently,
"Help you, Kaoru-san?"

Kaoru nodded her head looking more flustered by the moment, her face flushed 
a delightful
pink.

"It's about Kenshin... he asked me out to dinner tonight and.. and I don't 
have a good
kimono, and I don't know what to do with my hair... Oh Tae, please... I beg 
of you, help
me!"

And the girl just threw her arms around the chuckling Tae and sobbed her 
heart out.

Yahiko was staring at Kaoru in disgust.

"Women," he mumbled.

"Huh?" the also amused Tsubame who was watching in silence, glanced at 
Yahiko.

Yahiko mumbled a half-apology, chiding himself that he forgot Tsubame was in 
hearing
distance.

Tae composed herself before turning to Tsubame and Yahiko.

"Tsubame, I want you to fetch the purple bag in my room," she said.

Tsubame nodded, giggling and started off. Yahiko grabbed her arm and told 
her that he'll
accompany her back to the restaurant.

"I'm meeting with someone," he announced and glanced at Tae. Seeing that 
Kaoru couldn't see
him , he mouthed to Tae, "I'll go check on Kenshin." And finally went out 
with Tsubame but
not before giving her a thumbs-up sign.

"Thank you for the bargain," Kenshin thanked the vendor with a smile.

***

"That buy one, take one was surely a great deal," Kenshin said to himself. 
He sighed. His
head was still hurting with the bop Sano gave him. But it was better than 
having to answer
his questions.

Kaoru. Was she feeling better now? He knew that the plan to have lunch at 
the Akabeko was
spoiled.

"Lunch-date," his romantic side corrected him. And he couldn't help but 
smile again. A
date, with Kaoru...

He was about to turn around the corner when Sano spotted him.

"Hey, Kenshin he shouted.

"Oro?" Oh no! Not another game of one hundred questions which would end with 
another bump
on the head.Kenshin looked up at the heavens asking for help from the gods. 
He sighed. . If
this was his fate as rurouni, he was having doubts already.

"What is it this time Sano?"

The man walked beside Kenshin and clapped his back.

"Well, I was just going to say sorry for that," he said pointing to the 
still swelling
bump.

"I know you're not telling me everything Sano."

"Heh,"Sano smirked then turned serious. "I can't hide anything from you! Oh 
well, it's
about Kaoru..."

He saw Kenshin's eyes slanted and grew steely. Just the reaction he was 
expecting and Sano
gave himself a pat on the back.

"What about Kaoru, did something bad happen to her?" his voice also 
switching to battousai
mode.

"We-ell..." Sano deliberately stalled and stopped as he saw Kenshin's hand 
grabbed the hilt
of his sakabatou.

"Sano, " Kenshin warned.

"Hey, cool down a little Kenshin," Sano said. "Nothing THAT bad happened to 
her."

"But bad nevertheless."

Sano put his hands in his pocket. "If you call crying over lost lunch bad, 
then it may be
is."

"Oro?" Kenshin was back to his old rurouni self and frankly Sano was 
relieved by it.

"Well, she was crying about the lunch that she had been planning for a week 
already. And
nothing could appease her."

"Oh, I see," Kenshin said quietly.

"I heard that Yahiko already apologized and Kaoru accepted it," Sano crossed 
his fingers at
that, hoping Yahiko already did that. "But he said that Kaoru was still sad 
over the whole
thing."

Kenshin sighed. It was just a little matter for anybody but anything that 
would sadden
Kaoru was a big thing for him. He would do anything to see her happy.

Sano knew that and it was what he was hoping for Kenshin to think.

"So, what do we do?" Kenshin asked.

"What do you mean we?" Sano said, frowning. "You should do something!"

"But..."

Sano stopped. This was a little harder than he thought.

"Look, whether you realize it or not, Kaoru planned that lunch so she can be 
with you
alone," he scolded him. "The least you can do is take her out to dinner!"

"You mean take her out on a date?" Kenshin asked incredously.

Sano raised his hands to the heavens, he got it at last!

"Yes!"

"Bu...but..."

"Oy!" Yahiko greeted the two men. He and Tsubame had just parted after he 
had escorted her
back to the Akabeko to get Tae's bag.

"Oy, how's Kaoru?" Sano asked, the gleam in his eye warned Yahiko.

"Oh, well she forgave me but she's still sulking," he answered, acting 
really sorry about
the whole thing.

Kenshin was just silent.

"I hope she'd take a boyfriend," Yahiko continued. "So someone can take her 
out."

Sano glanced at the completely serious Kenshin then replied, "Well, I know 
Shintaro has a
crush on her. Maybe we can ask him to take her out."

Yahiko and Sano were enjoying this. They could see Kenshin seething in 
jealousy.

"Eek! That pervert?" Yahiko pretended to be disgusted. "He'll just paw at 
her."

Sano sighed exaggeratedly. "I know, but he's the only one I know who has the 
guts to go out
with her. Well there are some other fellows but , they're too much 
intimidated by Kaoru's
skill with the sword. Shintaro would do."

Yahiko nodded. "I'll just tell Kaoru," he said and started to walk away.

Sano said, "You do that and I'll tell Shintaro..."

"Wait," Kenshin said in a low voice with his head bowed down, hand on his 
sakabatou. "I'll
take her out to dinner."

Sano and Yahiko almost laughed out loud with glee but controlled themselves 
or their plan
would be ruined.

"I'd rather take her than let any pervert harass her," the rurouni 
continued. "Yahiko tell
her I'll take her out to dinner tonight."

"All right!" Yahiko said scampering back to the dojo laughing all the way. 
His plan was
working! Now all he had to do was to tell Kaoru when and where, after all he 
had the
information beforehand. He was just waiting for Kenshin's "confirmation".

When he was out of sight, it was only then that Kenshin let out a sigh. Sano 
couldn't tell
of what that sigh was.

"Kenshin, come on!" he said as he grabbed the other man's sleeve.

"Oro?" he asked bewilderedly as the gangster dragged him towards the 
direction of the
clinic.

Sano had a wicked grin on his face. "If you're going out, you'll have to 
have a make-over."

On to chapter 4


A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction by Flori-dono
weebei17@hotmail.com
http://members.dencity.com/flori-dono/fics.html

All's Well That Ends Well by flori-dono

Disclaimer: This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fan fiction. The author is 
not making any
money out of this. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki 
Nobuhiro, Shounen
Jump, and Sony and others that should be mentioned but were not.

CHAPTER 4: MAKEOVER

"Sano," Kenshin said exasperatedly. "What are we doing here in the clinic?"

"Well, we're going to ask help from the Fox-lady," he said as he pushed 
Kenshin inside the
clinic. "If you're going out on a date then at least, you should look your 
best."

"But why Megumi?"

"Do you want me as your fashion consultant?"

Kenshin looked at Sano's hair then at his clothes.

"Uh, it's not that..." Kenshin protested.

Sano just snorted.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Megumi said as she greeted the 
two. "I'm sorry
Sano, but we don't do brain transplants!"

"Very funny Megumi," Sano started, controlling himself not to return that 
last bit.

"Kenshin here just asked Jou-chan out for dinner and he's asking if you can 
help him out
with clothes and stuff."

Megumi pretended not to know.

"Is that all? Then you made the right decision to come to me, Ken-san," she 
said. "If you
let Rooster here get loose on you, then you'll have Kaoru-chan laughing her 
head off."

"Oh yeah?" Sano asked heatedly. "For your information Kitsune, I was the one 
who advised
him to come to you!"

Megumi smiled. "See, you've said it yourself."

Kenshin almost laughed as he saw Sano's mouth still gaped open like that of 
a frog.

Sano snapped his head towards Kenshin's direction. "And what are you 
laughing at Kenshin?"

Kenshin controlled himself, although his lips kept twitching. "I was not 
laughing
Sano-san."

"You could've fooled me then," Sano muttered.

"Okay, enough sour-graping Rooster," Megumi said linking her arm to 
Kenshin's. "We've got
work to do!"

***

"Blue!"

"Pink!"

"Blue!"

"Pink!"

"Are you a sissy?" Megumi shouted waving her hands in the air. "Why pink?"

Sano himself was yelling. "Can't you see pink suits him fine?"

The two looked at Kenshin who was sitting quietly in one corner, watching 
the two of them
while they squabbled over the color of his hakama.

Megumi sighed in exasparation but she wasn't about to give up.

"Look, any color looks good on Ken-san, but he can't wear pink forever!"

"Uh, Sano-san, Megumi-dono..." Kenshin decided it was time to speak up. The 
two had been at
it for an hour. First it was the gi, now it was the hakama. What next? 
"Can't I just wear
black?"

Two heads turned and two voices snapped back at him, "Stay out of this!"

"Oro?"

Sano rolled up his sleeves. "Alright, there's only one way to settle 
this..."

Megumi balled her fists, the light of battle shining in her eyes.

"Sure, say when Rooster head!"

"Ichi... ni... san!"

"Gotcha Sagara!" Megumi squeeled. "I won!"

"Dammit!" Sano said as he slammed his fist on the wall. "You cheated!"

She tossed her head and gave a cute little lady-like snort.

"I did not! I had paper and you had stone. It's as plain as day, I won!"

He shoved his hands inside his pockets and leaned against the wall, chewing 
on his
fishbone. "Alright, dress him in blue. Fine, see if I care!"

Megumi chuckled and got out the dark blue hakama and forest green gi from 
their wrappings.
She handed Kenshin these.

"Ken-san, why don't you try these on?"

Kenshin accepted the clothes and stared at the doctor. "Here?"

"Yes here, where else?" she answered patiently as if Kenshin was a 
schoolboy.

"Hey Kitsune," Sano piped in from behind. "Aren't you going out? Give him 
some privacy for
Kami-sama's sake!"

Undaunted, Megumi raised her eyebrow and turned slightly around. "Why not? 
I'm a doctor, I
won't gape!"

Kenshin's face went red and Sano's was also of the same shade.

"Er, Megumi-dono..."

She laughed heartily, with her hand near her mouth. "Geez your faces are 
priceless. I was
just teasing! You're taking things too seriously Kenshin-kun, lighten up a 
bit!"

The two men sweatdropped.

But the Kitsune was not yet finished. "And what about you Sano, aren't you 
going out too?"

"Huh?"

"Don't tell me you like to see Kenshin naked ?"

"Nani!" Sano cried out. "I swear Fox, one of these days, I'll get one over 
you."

"I've heard that before Rooster-boy,"she answered. "Now are you coming with 
me or not? Or
do I have to drag you out of here?"

"Nope," he said resignedly. "My ego's been bruised badly enough as is."

"Heh," Megumi retorted as she went out of the room. "You still have hope. 
You don't need a
brain transplant after all!"

***

"Hey my man, you look good!" Snao said as he saw his bestfriend in his new 
clothes.

Megumi herself couldn't help but admire 'her' handiwork. "Are you sure you'd 
rather take
Kaoru-chan out than me?"

"Desparate," Sano mumbled under his breath. But kitsunes also have big ears 
and this one
was no exception.

"I heard that..." she said then added. "Oy Ken-san don't sneak out, we 
aren't finished with
you yet!"

Kenshin trudged back like a lost puppy. This was making his head ache.

"You can't go out with your hair like that!" Megumi scolded.

"What's wrong with it?" Kenshin asked, although he already knew the answer.

"Just when did you last comb it?"

Kenshin stared at his sandals.

"See?" she said then eyed his red mop of hair. "Now what should we do about 
that?"

"I have an idea!" Sano said as he pat his own head.

Megumi rolled her eyes. "Geez, you really don't have any fashion sense do 
you?"

"Okay, I'll shut up, will that make you happy?"

Megumi circled around Kenshin slowly, eyeing his hair from different angles. 
Kenshin
visibly squirmed under her scrutiny. Sano was silent. He decided it wasn't 
his lucky day so
he'd better keep his mouth closed.

"Ah hah!" Megumi exclaimed suddenly. "Just wait here." And Megumi went out 
of the room.

Kenshin almost toppled over.

"Do you have any idea what she's up to?" he asked the still sulking Sano.

"She exists to humiliate me!" the gangster replied.

"Are you ready?"

Both Kenshin and Sano stared at the doorway where Megumi was.

"No..."

Kenshin's eyes widened, shadows of fear darkening them.

"Come on Kenshin, this won't hurt!" she said as she slowly made her way 
towards the scared
rurouni.

"Please Megumi, anything but that!"

"Eh, Kenshin don't tell me the Master Swordsman himself is scared of that 
little thing?"
interjected Sano.

Kenshin gulped.

Megumi tapped her foot on the floor impatiently.

"Ken-san sit!"

He sat down immediately. In his eyes, Megumi has turned into the General of 
his nightmares.
Nevertheless, he obeyed her.

"Now, don't move..."

Sano chuckled as he watched his friend cringed.

"This is more fun than I thought," he said to himself.

Snippity-snip-snippity-snip

"There!" Megumi said.

"Good," her victim muttered.

"Hey," she said as she pulled Kenshin back to his seat. "We're not finished 
yet."

Kenshin slumped his shoulders. He wasn't sure if he'd still want to go 
through the date.
Being subjected to this kind of torture had almost worn him out. He winced 
as he felt the
comb battle with the tangles in his hair.

Finally, after a few more minutes of hair-tugging and tangle-cursing, Megumi 
declared that
her mission was over. Upon hearing this, Kenshin almost got to his knees to 
give a prayer
of thanks.

"Hey buddy, here's a mirror," Sano said. "Just in case you'd like to see 
Kitsune's
handiwork. Though I may have to agree, you look so much better now."

"Of course," said Megumi with a toss of her head.

Kenshin was almost afraid to take a peek. Hundreds of what if's zooming in 
his mind. What
if I look like a china doll? What if I look like a mop? Or worse what if I 
look like Sano?

He took a glance. He was almost taken aback. The man staring back at him was 
not the
rurouni that he knew. This one was smartly dressed in dark blue hakama and 
forest green gi.
The man's red hair was done in a neat ponytail with his bangs cropped 
artistically. This
man was actually handsome.

"Hey, not bad!" he said, smiling despite himself.

"See," Megumi said triumphantly. "I told you to trust me didn't I?"

Sano now seemingly uninterested walked towards the door.

"Hey Ken-san, we have to do some reservations first for dinner, right?" he 
said. "Well
Kitsune, thanks for the help but we have to go."

"Arigatou Megumi-dono," Kenshin said unable to say anything more.

"No prob," Megumi answered. "If you need something else Kenshin, just ask me 
huh?"

Kenshin flushed as she winked at him. Sano snorted.

"What about me, Megumi, aren't you going to offer me your services too?" he 
said, also with
a wink.

For the first time, it was Megumi who blushed, though she recovered easily. 
"Not in a
hundred years Sano, not in a hundred years..."
***
Meanwhile...

"This one makes my hips look bigger... oh, yellow makes me look pasty..."

"Kaoru..."

"Don't you think the pattern's too simple on this one?

"Kaoru..."

"I think this red one is so slutty..."

"Kaoru-chan!"

Kaoru snapped her eyes towards Tae. The poor woman was shaking her head like 
mad. Her usual neatly arranged hair was in complete disarray. Kaoru gasped.

"Leave this to me!" Tae snarled.

Kaoru backed away. She had never seen Tae looked so frighteningly 
determined. Perhaps, it was because the latter had never been so dazed in 
all her life. It had been an hour since Kaoru tried the first kimono on and 
until now, she still hadn't decided which of the five choices she wanted to 
wear. Her head spun from watching the other girl flutter here and there, 
sighing and making comments.

Tae took a deep breath.

"Okay, just sit down over there and I'll be the one to choose your kimono 
for you."

Meekly Kaoru knelt on the tatami mat and watched as Tae took a white kimono 
and a matching obi. The kimono was made of silk and was decorated by little 
peach blossoms. It was very simple yet very becoming.

Satisfied with her choice, Tae helped the now docile Kaoru get dressed. And 
soon after, she had her hair fixed up as well.

"Eep!" Kaoru squeaked as she saw her reflection on the mirror.

Tae frowned at the other girl. Now what?

"Tae-chan," Kaoru said, her voice breaking. "I... I... I..."

"Yes, you...you...you..."

"I... I... I..."

"SPEAK UP KAORU!" Tae finally screamed.

"I'VE NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD BEFORE!"

And she broke down.

"Yikes," Tae panicked. "Don't cry, you'll ruin your dress.. and the hair!"

"Gomen," Kaoru said, still sniffling. She still couldn't believe it was the 
same Kaoru who stared back at her in the mirror.Now with her artistically 
arranged hair and the kimono, she had never realized that she was indeed 
pretty. Kamiya Kaoru- budo instructor,the old hag as Yahiko sometimes put 
it. Kamiya Kaoru... the woman.

"What's this style called?" she asked Tae as she turned her head. Her hair 
was plaited up to her nape and the rest flowed down softly down her back.

"It's a french braid," Tae said. "Well, at least a half braid."

"You're heaven-sent Tae-chan, do you know that?" Kaoru said.

Tae smiled smugly at the compliment. Of course she knew that, but she would 
never admit it aloud.

Suddenly, there was a rap at the door.

"Who is it?" Tae asked.

"Oh my Kami," Kaoru said, her hand clutching at her chest. "It's Kenshin!"

"It's Yahiko," said the voice.

Tae opened the door, revealing a slightly panting and breathless Yahiko.

"What happened?" Kaoru asked.

"Er, Kenshin wanted to tell you that he'll be back to fetch you at... 
whoah!"

"What are you staring at?" Kaoru asked, turning self-conscious.

"Hey, I didn't know you can look not like an old hag!"

"Why thank you," Kaoru said beaming.

"Now, you look just like a hag!"

"Ya...hi...ko..."

Tae glared at Yahiko with a don't-ruin-your-own-plan look on her face. 
Yahiko promptly apologized.

"You surprise me today," Kaoru said. "But remember you still have to show me 
that 600 swings starting tomorrow!"

He cringed at the thought.

Tae intervened.

"Er, Yahiko-kun what were you saying a while back?"

"Oh," Yahiko said, remembering the reason why he came actually. "Well, 
Kenshin wanted to tell you that he'll fetch you at around six thirty."

"That... that's only an hour and a half from now!" Kaoru exclaimed. "What do 
I do?"

Tae looked at the nervous wreck before her. "Kaoru-chan, one and a half 
hours is a long wait. Later, you'll be complaining that he hasn't arrived 
yet."

"But... but... I'm so nervous."

"Sush!" Tae said. "Don't worry I'll be here."

"Oh thank you!"

Then it happened...

As Kaoru stood up, she accidentally stepped on the hem of her kimono, 
causing her to stumble forwards, the hem making a loud unnerving ripping 
soud. It all happened so fast that even Yahiko and Tae weren't able to do a 
thing. The last thing they saw was a flash of white hurtling towards them 
and falling at their feet.

"Kaoru-chan!"

"Kaoru!"

They both moved at the fallen girl.

Kaoru raised her tear-streaken face.

"Gomen..."

Tae sighed as she saw the ripped kimono, and the unruly hair.

"Here we go again..."

*TSUZUKU*