Part 22
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A groan rose from the general vicinity of the ruined dojo wall, dust rising in small clouds as a somewhat battered rurouni levered himself up from the rubble. Gold-flecked eyes blinked, taking a quick, assessing look at the situation.

//Level of damage: Minimal. Atmosphere: Worrisome. Conclusion: Proceed with caution.//

Wincing, Kenshin dusted himself off and gingerly moved towards the house, silently bracing himself for the confrontation to come. He wound up hovering uncertainly in the doorway, watching as Kaoru tossed back a healthy swig of sake, and then quailing at the scowl the other tossed his way.

"Kenshin...." Snapping blue eyes glared at him from across the room.

"H-hai?"

//Note to self: Must remember not to let the voice squeak.//

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you *were* only going to investigate that explosion, right?"

Downcast eyes and a sheepish nod was his reply.

"So just *what* is going on here?!?"

Can you tell that somebody's not too happy?

Kenshin raised his hands in a warding motion, taking a prudent step backwards. "Anou...I'll explain later, Kaoru-dono." The resulting increase in glare intensity almost had him pressing up against the wall. "Right now," he ventured bravely, "I think getting my imouto cleaned up is more important." Hopeful eyes met hers. "Ne?"

Kaoru flicked a glance at the bedraggled form leaning against Sanosuke. Her eyes softened momentarily as she took in the cuts and bruises, before hardening once more as they came back to rest on the rurouni. With a curt nod and an ominous "Later", the ponytailed girl stalked off and headed for her unexpected guests.

Kenshin sagged against the wall in relief.

//Note to self: Must also remember to work on the rurouni's backbone.//

Purple eyes slowly lost their golden shine as the redhead turned around and walked outside.

* * * * *

Kurama sighed, staring down at the bundle of red and purple silk in his arms. How *did* he manage to get himself into these situations? Closing the door quietly behind him, he stepped further into the room and knelt down on the floor. His shoulders slumped. Really, was it just him or did the gods seem to enjoy seeing him squirm? He sighed again, louder this time. At least he'd managed to persuade his hostess to let him do this on his own. Who knows *what* would've happened if those other girls had come to help? He shuddered at the thought.

With one last disgusted look at the clothes he had been given to wear, he began to unbutton his tunic. He might as well get this over with.

* * * * *

"Are you sure we ought to let Kurama-san tend to her own wounds, Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked worriedly, staring at the room the other redhead had retreated to. "She might need a little help, you know." From the look in his eyes, Kenshin could tell that the ex-gangster would be *more* than happy to offer any assistance Kurama might need.

He sweatdropped.

"Maybe *I* should take a look at her," Megumi offered, her doctor's sensibilities having been roused by the copious amount of blood she'd seen on the other girl's clothes. "It'd be no problem at all, Ken-san," she added, giving him a demure smile.

'Course, the thought of gaining some brownie points with the attractive ex-samurai while doing so *never* crossed her mind. Really.

"That's okay, Megumi-dono," Kenshin hastily grabbed the sleeve of Megumi's kimono, stopping her from going after the other boy. He gave her a weak grin. "My imouto can take care of herself."

"Demo, Kenshin," Kaoru began, her disposition having improved after several cups of sake. "she looked badly hurt. We ought to at least help her dress."

"Anou..." Kenshin cast a desperate look at Hiei-chan. No help there. The little demon was too busy giving Sano some really nasty looks. He sweatdropped some more. What to do? What to *do*?

Thinking quickly, the rurouni began babbling about shy imoutos and quiet, remote places in China, all the while fervently praying that the other redhead would hurry up and get dressed before he ran out of things to say.

* * * * *

Kurama finished tying off the last of his bandages, stifling a yawn as several hours worth of hard trekking, not to mention a murder attempt, insistently demanded that he take a nap, and do it right *now*. Absently promising himself sleep *after* he collected Hiei-chan, he reached for the red silk under-kimono. The sooner he got this done, the sooner he'd get to rest.

* * * * *

"Nonsense, Kenshin, *no one* could be that shy," Kaoru snapped impatiently, pushing the scarred redhead out of her way. "Megumi and I will just go see how Kurama-san is doing."

"Demo-" he protested, stepping forward.

"*Is* there a problem with us being alone with your sister, Ken-san?" Megumi asked suspiciously. "What are you afraid of?"

"N-nothing!" Kenshin exclaimed defensively, drawing himself up.

"Then there's no problem, is there?" she asked sweetly.

"Anou..."

"Good! Let's go, Tanuki-chan!"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!!!"

The door swished open.

* * * * *

Kurama whirled around, clutching the gaping front of the under-kimono tightly to his chest. Large green eyes widened even further as the two young women entered the room and declared their intention to help him dress. A frantic glance outside gave him a brief glimpse of apologetic violet eyes, before the view was cut off by the closing of the door.

With a horrible feeling of impending doom, Kurama watched the two advance towards him and cursed that dratted baby again.

<*Why* me???>

* * * * *

Kaoru reached up and adjusted the ends of the ribbon she'd just tied, humming softly as she twined them around the long ponytail. Picking up her brush, she gently ran it through the shining tresses, sweeping stray curls back over slender, silk-clad shoulders. When the last wayward strand was in place, she stood up and took a small step back, greatly admiring her handiwork.

"Ara, Kurama-san, you look so pretty!" she exclaimed, beaming brightly down at the object of her ministrations.

Kurama looked back up at her uncertainly, self-consciously tucking back a strand of her long red hair.

Kaoru stared down at the faintly blushing redhead and sighed. "Mou, you really shouldn't be so shy, you know," she admonished, turning to place the brush back in her drawer. She recalled the almost panicked way the other girl had snatched the under-kimono around herself when she and Megumi had entered the room, and shook her head in exasperation. From her reaction, you'd think no one had ever seen her naked before. She wondered if the Chinese were truly that reserved.

The third occupant of the room suddenly cleared her throat, drawing the other two's attention.

"Kurama-chan," Megumi began, moving closer to the young girl's side, "are you sure you don't want me to take a look at your wounds? You *were* bleeding rather badly."

"I-"

"I *am* a doctor, you know," Megumi continued, reaching out to finger the ties to the other girl's obi. "It's all right for you take your clothes off in front of me."

The redhead's eyes grew huge. "It's okay, really it is," she babbled frantically, clutching the front of her kimono with white-knuckled fingers. "My injuries weren't that serious."

"Kurama-chan..." Megumi gave her a stern look. "One really shouldn't neglect one's health, you know."

"A-anou..."

"Besides," Kaoru piped up cheerfully, "we *are* all girls here, after all."

Kurama choked, blushing even harder.

* * * * *

Fortunately for Kurama's peace of mind, Hiei-chan chose that precise moment to barge into the room. After all, it wouldn't do for our favorite youko's secret to be revealed so soon, now would it?

* * * * *

"Kurama-chan!" Hiei-chan cried, glomping his taller friend happily.

"Hiei!" Kurama gave him a relieved smile, arranging the small form more comfortably on his lap, and incidentally preventing any further access to his clothing. One couldn't be *too* careful. "What are you doing here? I thought you were having tea with Hi- with *Oniisan*," he corrected himself.

Hiei-chan sparkled up at the redhead. "You look really pretty, Kurama- chan."

"Hiei..." His voice took on a reproving tone.

Hiei-chan snuggled closer. "I was bored. 'sides, *he*'s got a visitor. Some guy named Aoi or something."

"Aoshi?" Megumi and Kaoru looked at each other. What in the world was *he* doing here?

"Un." Hiei-chan rubbed his cheek against Kurama's chest. The cool silk felt really nice against his skin.

"H-Hiei...," Kurama's cheeks turned pink once more as the other two turned to stare.

"Um...we'll just go now," Kaoru said uncomfortably, heading for the door.

"Yes, I'll...just go and see what Aoshi is doing here." Megumi hastily followed suit.

Kurama, blushing as he'd never had before, just stared at the fire demon in his lap, and sighed.