Legacy

An RK Fanfic

 

Chapter 5- Play it cool

 

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Some girls try to hard to impress

With the way that they dress

And those things on their chests

And the things they suggest and…

 

Blink 182

 

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Aoshi seemed pretty much oblivious to what was going on about him, so when Hideki suddenly appeared next to him he didn't even look up.

 

Most women would have let this put them off immediately, but not Hideki Kusokube. She was a seasoned pro when it came to angsty introverts like Shinomori. Unaffected, she cleared her throat gently to catch his attention.

 

Looking up, Aoshi was greeted with the sight of a bright (though somewhat predatorial) smile. "Hello," the smile's owner said cheerily.

 

"Hello," Aoshi replied, his monotone voice barely above a whisper, he cocked his head to the side slightly, "You're Kamiya-san's relative, are you not?"

 

"That's right!" Hideki replied smiling away, "and you're Shinomori-san, Kenshin's friend."

 

Something glimmered at the back of Aoshi's ice-blue eyes, "Yes," he replied, "I suppose that I am."

 

Hideki's eyes softened involuntarily and her smile became a bit more thoughtful and for a moment, Aoshi almost believed that he was looking into another pair of sapphire eyes he knew.

 

"Do you mind if I sit down?" Hideki asked softly.

 

"Not at all." Aoshi replied gesturing to the spot across from him.

 

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"Man, you should have seen Kaoru that day!" Misao declared proudly, "Everyone else was in a complete panic, but she held her ground like a pro!"

Kaoru pretended to blush, as she looked away, "Oh, Misao stop!" You know very well I couldn't have done anything without your he…what the hell?"

 

"What's wrong Kaoru-chan?" Misao asked following her friend's gaze. What she saw shocked her senseless.

 

Aoshi Shinomori and Hideki Kusokube were engaged in a…conversation? Misao began to feel faint. Sure, since that whole incident with the Tsuran family, her guardian had been a little more sociably inclined. However, this, this was just…drastic.

 

"A-Aoshi-sama's talking to a…gi…a wo…he's hitting on Hideki?!" she stuttered.

 

Kaoru's eyebrows went right down, "Somehow I suspect otherwise…" she gritted out from behind clenched teeth.

 

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Hideki suddenly felt a rush of ice-cold air whip around her and she shuddered.

 

Aoshi noticed, "Is something wrong Kusokube-san?" he asked.

 

"Hm? Oh it's nothing, Shinomori-san." Hideki replied rubbing her shoulders, "I'm just a little cold I guess." She said glancing back to the other side of the room.

 

Kaoru glared back at her disobedient relative, only to be further irritated when Hideki flashed her a mischievous smile and wink.

 

"When I get my hands on you…" she fumed inwardly.

 

"You'll what? Spank me?" a cheery voice echoed inside Kaoru's head.

 

"Oh, shut up." Kaoru replied in kind.

 

"Spoilsport," the voice replied, "Hm…" it continued after a short pause, "

Maybe you should put your friend Misao to bed, she looks a little…pale."

 

"Oh, like you wouldn't have anything to do with that would you?"

 

"Temper, temper."

 

Kaoru and Hideki continued their secret glare/smile match for quite a bit before Kenshin returned from tucking Yahiko in and placed a hand on her shoulder.

 

"What's wrong Kaoru? You seem a bit tense…" he followed her gaze just in time to see Hideki smile prettily at something that Aoshi had said.

 

Kenshin almost face faulted, "Oro!" managed to exclaim.

 

"That's what I said." Misao cut in, still pale-faced.

 

Kenshin knew he was staring but was unable to stop himself. Not only was the quiet Oniwanshuu ninja engaged in a conversation with Kaoru's, well…not so quiet cousin, the man actually seemed to be enjoying himself!

 

"This, this is just too weird." He said softly.

 

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Aoshi started inwardly, his keen ninja training alerting to him that something was not right; he could feel himself being watched. Following his instinct Aoshi peered over Hideki's shoulder too see most of the Kenshingumi, his Misao included, staring at Hideki and himself as if they were a pair of square eggs.

 

"…"

 

Hideki noticed Aoshi's reaction and shrugged her shoulders. "I know," she said, "they've been up to it for about fifteen minutes now."

 

"Do you think maybe we should…?" Aoshi began.

 

"Nonsense!" Hideki interrupted, "They'll get over it, and I'm having a good time talking with you. Ne?"

 

Aoshi's face remained stoic but deep within his eyes there was a glimmer of…amusement?

 

"I was going to say that maybe we should go somewhere a little more…private?" he asked.

 

Hideki's face turned as pink as her obi, "Well, I uh, that is um…sure!" she managed to stutter.

 

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When Aoshi got up and offered his hand to the blue-haired woman next to him, everyone who was watching sweat-dropped. When Hideki wrapped her arm in his and allowed him to lead her into the garden Kaoru face-faulted, while Kenshin and Misao fell into a dead faint.

 

 

Kaoru, with her nose still pressed to the floor, opted for a bit of copyright infringement.

 

"Orooo…" she yelped.

 

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Japan-speak

 

Obi- stylin' belt worn with kimono

 

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