Be Careful What You Wish For

 

A Rurouni Kenshin fanfiction

By Chibi Tenshi and Kirstian

 

Chapter Ten

 

“Now I’m thinking here.  This would be the safest place, right?” Kaoru asked as she smacked Kenshin’s hand away. 

 

He gave a wounded puppy dog look. 

 

“Don’t you try that.  I’m onto you now, Kenshin.”

 

Kenshin grinned.  “Would you really? Be on me?”

 

“ARGH.”  Unable to help her fists, she punched him.  Then, she noticed that her arm had indeed gotten slimmer from the workout she had been doing.  She smiled in delight – less using of the bokken, more fists! Surely, this would make her more beautiful – nono, that was a bad bad thing. 

 

She had been mistaken before – Aoshi, the supposed icicle turned self-gratifier, and the supposedly sexual innocent who had hit puberty right in front of her.  But this was different! Surely…

 

The drone of voices sent her ducking below some bushes.  She patted Kenshin’s lap, trying to get his attention.  “Kenshin… oi!”

 

She did not just see the look of pure ecstasy on his face.  Nope.  She decked him in the head.  “What do you think?”

 

“Oro?”

 

It was strange how the clueless rurouni came back to him so easily. 

 

“What do you think?” she hissed again. 

 

“Sessha thinks that your legs are looking sexy right now.”

 

She glared at him, staring face up at the bare length of thigh she had unwittingly exposed.  “ARGH.  I swear, where once I would’ve given anything to get an ounce of action out of you, now you’re just this… PERV!” Kaoru swatted his hands again.  She pointed in the direction of a tall pagoda. “Can’t you see where we are?! Right in front of God even, you hentai.”

 

“It IS a blessed event.”

 

She kicked him into oblivion, sending him to dream of dancing Kaorus in half open yukatas. 

 

Under the eyes of God, surely he would watch over her right? With her mind set, she was about to get up when she found herself faced with a dozen monks staring right at her.  She re-arranged her yukata and bowed her head as low as possible. 

 

“I am just a poor maiden needing assistance and seeking refuge.”

 

Who was presumably the head monk paused before rumbling, “Of course, please come with me.”

 

“Sir, she appears tired.  Would she not appreciate a bath?”

 

Even with her head down, her eyebrow quirked upwards.  Overly suspicious, Kaoru berated herself.  They have devoted their life to Buddha.

 

The head monk nodded.  “Please see to it that our guest is comfortable. Our food is simple but delicious.”

 

“What about Kenshin?”

 

“He will be properly … taken care of.”

 

Kaoru wasn’t quite sure why the hesitation in the monk’s voice bothered her but she had no time to protest as a dozen yellow robes dragged her off. 

 

***********

 

Kaoru submerged her head under the hot water.  “Is this hot enough, Miss Kaoru?”

 

The warm water relaxed her muscles.  In fact, she was feeling decidedly lazy at the moment.  Poking her head back up, she sighed, “Yes, it is.  Thank you.”

 

“My pleasure.”

 

It struck her as weird that the monks would be that hospitable but they were probably the same with other travelers that passed by.  Idly, she wondered where Kenshin was.  As perverted as he had gotten, she missed his company.  It was only when he was around that she felt safe, a thought that was surely odd since she had to beat him off herself most of the time. 

 

She chuckled.  She would’ve given anything for a hint of affection from him.  She knew that he was fond of her, but he would never give a sign.  She sighed again, sinking lower into the bath, allowing the water to lull her. 

 

She didn’t want to think of half of Japan probably close behind, especially with that eerie man-boy that was faster than Kenshin.  Blinking, she sat up abruptly.  She really should get going. 

 

The loud sound of crashing from outside caused her to shriek.  A mere couple of seconds later, Kenshin had burst into the bath (as usual).  She screamed even louder, trying to hide herself with her hands, and sending her geta in the direction of his head.  He barely got out the word “Niiiiiiice” and a lavascious grin before he got decked, with half naked Kaorus dancing around his head.

 

She hastily slipped on her yukata, and stepping on Kenshin (hard), ventured to peek outside, only to find a dozen monks strewn all around the bath house.  She saw the dozen crates and remembered the “air vents” that they had told her about when she had asked about them earlier.

 

It couldn’t be helped really – even monks were bewitched by her beauty.  She sighed wearily. 

 

“Kenshin,” she said, not surprised when he popped up beside her. 

 

“Yes my lovely Kaoru?”

 

“Will you make sure you take care of the brothers?”

 

“Already done.  They’re locked up safely in the bath house.  Anything else?” he asked with a suggestive wink.

 

“Are we safe for tonight?”

 

Kenshin paused, and listened to the still air.  “They’ll be tearing up half the city and going through mountains.  I don’t think they’ll be here till tomorrow afternoon.”

 

“Good.  It won’t be a problem if I do this then.”  She promptly pulled out a wooden laundry tub and smashed it soundly on his head.  She looked at the broken pieces on the ground.  Oh ironies of ironies.  She laughed, and turned to find a comfortable bed to sleep on.

***********

 

She was beginning to understand what Kenshin must have felt like during his hitokiri years.

 

Groaning, Kaoru rubbed her eyes and let her head tilt forwards onto her chest.  Of course, monks wouldn't have frivolous things like beds.  Oh, no.  A nice, comfortable sleep was too much to ask for - the men took an oath of celibacy, for heaven's sake!!  If they had to deal without that, at least they could have some beds?! Just one?!

 

Of course, the monks she had encountered earlier didn't seem all that interested in celibacy as they peered in on her bath - maybe the lack of beds was a punishment.

 

Snarling in frustration, Kaoru slammed her back against the corner she had found and wrapped the blanket around her legs.  This was unfair.  Very, very unfair.  Why was her unearthly beauty causing her such a problem all of a sudden?!

 

She was beginning to wish that she hadn't knocked her rurouni unconscious for the thousandth time - he would have had some hints on how to get comfortable, at least.

 

Her nose wrinkled; wait, he'd have more then just some hints - and while they would have probably felt really really nice, she wasn't that sure that he'd be all that interested in being comfortable.

 

Sighing and stubbornly ignoring the blush that had found it's way back to her cheeks - she really had to stop being so shy, considering the circumstances - Kaoru pulled the blanket back around her and shrugged her shoulders against the wall.

 

Well, she had managed to sleep in trees and even in that smiling little very-recently-post-pubescent Soujirou's futon - she could manage a corner.

 

Grumpily mumbling to herself about half-crazed red-heads as she shifted again and drifted off into sleep, Kaoru did not catch the pale, hazy beams of moonlight shifting over the ground as the black clouds drifted past the sky, an all-too eerie wind whispering through the trees.

_______________________________________________

 

 

Disclaimer: We own no part of Rurouni Kenshin or any other presences, other then Tenshi and Kirstian themselves, who will appear in this fic.  If we did, Kenshin wouldn't be as clueless as he normally is, and he'd be called Tub-by.  In any case, we have no money.  We spent it all on Sesshoumaru's spandex Halloween getup.  XD  So don't sue.  We'll sick Vash on you.