Under The Circumstances

an r.k fanfic

 

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

"Two's company"

 

 

"You're just an empty cage girl, if you kill the bird."

 

Tori Ammos.

 

 

********************************************

 

Misao sighed and pulled at the grass around her feet. "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to go out all alone," she thought as she watched the dragonflies dance close to the water's surface. She bit her lip as she rested her chin on her raised knees. She smiled bitterly at the next thought to enter her mind.

 

"I came here alone because I was feeling lonely."

 

It was true that life at the Kamiya Dojo was anything but dull. There was always someone there to talk with, laugh with, hell, to scuffle with if you needed to.

 

"But it's not the same."

 

Misao sighed again and absentmindedly tore at the grass some more.

 

"If you keep that up, there won't be any grass left on the whole slope." a soft voice teased.

 

Misao looked up into the prettiest pair of green eyes she had ever seen. She blinked a couple of times in surprise at the person who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He was tall, as tall as Sanosuke, with long, smooth black hair that flowed around his shoulders. His light-gray gi was slightly open in front, like Kenshin's, to reveal just enough of his well-muscled chest to make him…interesting. Below that, he wore a matching hakama. His hair and clothes stirred a little in the breeze that blew off the water and up the slope.

 

Kawaiii... Misao's mind drawled.

 

She suddenly realized that her mouth was hanging open, she immediately snapped it shut. "Say something you moron!" her mind yelled at her.

 

"Aha-ha, I guess you're right." she agreed with a sheepish smile.

 

The stranger settled down beside her and smiled in a way that made Misao's bones melt. "My, what a pretty smile you have," he complimented, "I'm glad I had the chance to see it."

 

Misao's face flushed bright pink, "Arrigatou," she stammered, "eeto…"

 

"Shinatama Kaede," the stranger offered, "but you can just call me Kaede if you like."

 

"If I like…boy, do I like!"

 

"Makamachi Misao," Misao offered, "but everyone calls me Misao-chan."

 

"Misao-chan," Kaede repeated, "A pretty name for an equally pretty woman."

 

"Gods, that was smooth." Misao thought to herself. Quickly, she turned toward the river so that her blush could be hidden in the fall of her hair. She thought of what Kaoru had said as she talked her into putting on a fresh kimono before going out.

 

"You never know who you might meet."

 

She'd thought the statement a bit silly then, but now she thanked the Gods for giving her such a wise friend.

 

"Arrigatou." Misao repeated, a little calmer this time. She turned back toward Kaede and raised her eyes to meet his. "I didn't think anybody else came up here," she admitted, "I guess I'm intruding on your space, huh?"

 

Kaede smiled again, his eyes twinkling, "I wouldn't say that," he drawled, "the space is here for anyone who wants to be by themselves for a while."

 

Misao's eyes widened, "Am I that obvious?" she asked, her mouth dropping open a bit.

 

"It's okay," Kaede reassured her, his expression becoming a bit more serious, "You want to know something?" he asked, green eyes dancing.

 

"Nani?" Misao asked, her eyebrows knitting prettily.

 

Kaede leaned close to her ear, so close, she could feel her hair stirring with his breath. Normally she would have put anyone else in a headlock for pulling a stunt like that, but this time she didn't.

 

"We're only human," Kaede whispered, his breath warm and tingling on her skin. He straightened up again and looked into Misao's wide, startled eyes, "But that's ok. If we were all invincible Kami, where would  be the fun in that?" he asked with a grin, "At least this way, we have no where to go but up."

 

Misao blinked a couple of times and then broke into a wide smile, "I guess you're right." she agreed, laughing "You do have a nice way of saying things Kaede-san."

 

**************************************************

 

Kaoru sneaked up behind Kenshin and threw her arms around his waist, snuggling her head against his shoulder. He smiled and covered her hands with his own, turning his head a bit so that he could plant a kiss on the top of her head.

 

"Mmm…"  Kaoru murmured, "I'm glad Soujiro volunteered to make dinner, now I can have you all to myself."

 

Kenshin slipped from her hands then, using his god-speed, he reversed their positions so that she was the one clasped in his arms. "Are you sure it's not the other way around?" he teased dropping a light kiss on her upturned lips.

 

"Sneaky rurouni." Kaoru scolded him, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

 

"Gods busu, don't you two ever stop?" Yahiko drawled as he came into the yard, Sanosuke and Megumi trailing behind him.

 

Kaoru, still wrapped in Kenshin's embrace, settled for sticking her tongue out at him, "What, are you jealous Yahiko-chan?" she asked, her eyes narrowing wickedly.

 

"Don't call me chan!" he snapped angrily.

 

"Don't call me busu." she retorted.

 

"Maa, maa," Kenshin interjected calmly, "Can't we see each other for five seconds without it turning into a fight?"

 

"Ken-san's right," Megumi agreed solemnly. Then she turned to Kaoru with a foxy smile, "Tanuki-girl, can't you even pretend to be civilized for a little bit?"

 

Kenshin's loving embrace soon turned into a restraining grip as Kaoru lunged at Megumi. "Why you…fox-lady you!" she growled.

 

Megumi ducked behind Sanosuke and tiptoed so that only her eyes were visible above his shoulder.

 

"Oh Ken-san!" she squealed, fox ears twitching, "Save me from that crazy Tanuki you proposed to!"

 

"Grrrrr!!!!!!!!!"

 

"Ohohohoho!!!!"

 

"Eeto…" a soft voice interrupted them. Everyone turned to see a somewhat startled Soujiro standing on the front steps.  "Dinner's ready, minna." he announced, "You all can come in and eat now."

 

Kaoru flashed Megumi one last mean look then beamed up at Soujiro. "We'll be right there Soujiro-kun!" she said cheerily.

 

"Man, if this meal is anything like that breakfast you fixed Soujiro, I'll worship the ground you walk on." Yahiko grinned.

 

"Ditto." Sano agreed, "You're even better than the Fox."

 

"Hey!" Megumi exclaimed, slapping him on the arm.

 

Kenshin's face contorted with an afterthought, "Misao-dono's still down by the river." he reminded them, "Someone should go out and look for her."

 

Soujiro smiled his most endearing smile, "I'll do it." he offered helpfully. Kaoru opened her mouth to protest but Soujiro held up his hand.

 

"I can find her the fastest," he insisted, "Believe me, we'll be back in no time."

 

Kaoru conceded. "Alright." she said, "but hurry back alright?"

 

**********************************************

 

"My heart is sick of being in chains…"

 

Tori Ammos

 

 

*********************************************

 

Soujiro paused about twenty yards away from where Misao and another young man were chatting. He was well-dressed and handsome, and Misao was animated in the way she talked with him. Her now bright eyes and wide smile reminded him more of the raucous teenager he'd met in Eji's village.

 

"No," he corrected himself mentally, "Vivacious, energetic,  spirited, sexy …"

 

He shook his head vigorously at that last thought. Where in the hell did that come from?

 

"Well thanks for the sparkling conversation, Kaede-kun," he heard Misao chirp happily, "Maybe we can do it again sometime."

 

"Oh, most definitely Misao-chan." the young man agreed with a grin while helping Misao to her feet.

 

"Uh-oh," Soujiro thought, "Time to disappear before they see me." and disappear he did.

 

********************************************************

 

Misao hummed to herself as she skipped down the road toward the dojo. She started at a blue-clad figure sitting in the grass at the side of the path. "Gods Soujiro, you scared me!" she exclaimed, one hand flying up to her chest. She was in too good a mood to be angry at him for startling her.

 

"Gomen." he apologized, "I was coming down the road to tell you that dinner was ready, we're all waiting for you."

 

Misao slapped her forehead. She was so busy talking, she didn't realize it was so late, "Mou," she swore at herself, "Because of me the food will get cold."

 

"Not necessarily." Soujiro said, looking up at her somewhat sheepishly.

 

"Huh?" Misao asked, puzzled.

 

"If you'd let me," Soujiro continued, "I could…um, carry you."

 

Misao looked at Soujiro blankly for a moment. "Is she mad at me?" Soujiro wondered. To his surprise, she burst out laughing.

 

"Makamachi-san?" he asked, startled.

 

Misao struggled to bring her laughter under control. "It's nothing," she managed to say, "I was just thinking about something a friend of mine said." She crossed over to where Soujiro sat with a puzzled look on his face. "Never mind," she giggled, "Let's put that god-speed of yours to some good use before the miso freezes."

 

Surprised that she took him up on his offer, Soujiro stood up. "Okay then." he said cheerfully, taking her into his arms carefully, "Hang on to me."

 

Misao blushed a little, but she obediently entwined her arms around Soujiro's neck. "Gods, he's stronger than he looks." she realized as he swept her up as if she weighed nothing at all.

 

"Ready?" he asked, tapping his sandal on the ground.

 

Misao held on a little tighter, "Ready." she said bravely.

 

With that, they were gone.

 

****************************************************

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

  next             main