Title: An Evil Plan Gone Horribly Wrong
Author: Sephira jo (contact at: sephirajo@yahoo.com)
Archive: With permission only
Part: 3/?? (is looking to be about 6 or 7)
Series: Rurouni Kenshin
Rating: R (For loads of innuendo and adult situations/language) But, once
again, later chapters may hit NC17 based on my mood.  (Note to FF.net users: 
If that happens I'll have edited versions of those chapters to post here.)
Genre: Romantic Comedy/Drama
Pairings: Kenshin/Kaoru, Sano/Megumi
Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin! *sob sob*
If you wanted to be notified when I update my fan fiction, I have a mailing
list.  You can join at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sephira_jos_fanfiction_updates

Authors Note: Yes.  The Sano ass kicking chapter has arrived! *Does a little
happy dance* You know, for some reason Sano is really F***** Sexxy when being
beaten up.  And Megumi's Play time begins as well!  I hope you all Enjoy!  Thanks
for all the reviews, but I crave more!  REVIEW!  Review my minions!  Review! ^_^

* * ^-^ * *

The morning sun did nothing to match the sheen in Megumi's eyes as she
practically skipped to the Kamiya Dojo, a simple tune escaping her lips.  Megumi
was on the hunt.  Not just one hunt, no simply baiting Sanosuke alone for his
little performance in her office this morning would not be enough.  If he thought
he could make her jealous by invoking the Kaoru card, she could pull the exact
same thing.  And right now, she was on the hunt for her red-haired trump card. 
Her so-called ‘ace-in-the-hole.'  Himura Kenshin.  This game was way too much fun
to pass up.

Megumi turned corners and dodged people easily, the Dojo becoming visible as she
turned yet another bend.  She stopped for a moment, taking a mental check of
herself.  Her long black hair was immaculate, not a strand out of place.  She
pulled out a small mirror she kept on her person; her lip paint was perfect, as
always.  She looked good.  If things followed their normal pattern, which there
was no reason why they shouldn't, Sano would show up in a couple hours fully
expecting lunch.  By that time, Megumi planned to have the situation under her
control.

Megumi opened the gate to the Dojo and strode in, strutting like a peacock.
Yahiko sat in the yard, looking despondent, he looked up in her direction and
came running over.

"Megumi!  I'm glad to see you!  Quick, do me a favor, will ya?  Try to make Kaoru
angry!  I think she's sick or something, I'll know for sure if you can't pull
anything out of her," The young man let out in a rush.  Megumi raised one eyebrow
quizzically, Kaoru not angry at Yahiko?  Interesting . . .  

"Are you sure it's just not you, Yahiko-chan?"  Megumi stated slyly.

"No, there's something really wrong with her!  I was going to go get you, but you
came here yourself,"  Yahiko answered, completely unfazed by the hated suffix. 
Megumi stared down at him, well that made three members of ‘Team Kenshin' acting
strangely, he hadn't reacted to the chan at all.

Megumi gave him a simple smile and said, "Don't worry, I'll get something out of
her, I promise," She finished with a wink and tapped Yahiko playfully on the
nose, "But first, tell me, where's Ken-san?"

"Sure, he's doing more laundry, he's been acting weird all morning too.  Hey,
wait a second, how's you knowing where Kenshin is going to make Kaoru angry?" 
Yahiko finished, his suspicion on the rise as he looked at Megumi strangely.

"Just make sure Kaoru can see everything I do.  I guarantee she'll be better in
no time."  And it will completely blow Sanosuke's great and wonderful game,
Megumi thought, grinning evilly.  After all, If Kaoru reacted to her plastering
herself all over Ken-san, that would be the proof she needed that Sano's speech
in the office had been nothing more than a ruse.  Making Megumi the undisputed
champion of this little game of their's.

Yahiko's eyes also took on an impish light, it was apparent that he understood
Megumi's idea perfectly, at least from his own limited perspective on the
situation, "No problem, this will wake ugly up for sure!"   

Yahiko ran off into the dojo to make sure Kaoru was in position.  Megumi walked
back to where Kenshin was hanging laundry.  She cast a quick glance at the dojo;
Yahiko had positioned the Tanuki.  The show was on.

Megumi took a deep breath, "Oh, Ken-san!" she wailed and sprinted toward the
rurouni, her best ‘I'm an innocent woman please help me' face on, she reached the
shocked man quickly and threw her arms around him.

"Oro?" was his shocked reply.  Megumi had to suppress a giggle at the comical
noise the shocked swordsman made.  Stay in character, she reminded herself
fiercely, I have to stay in character.

She snuggled as close as she could to Kenshin without causing him to loose his
balance too much and continued, putting the just the right amount of feminine
angst in her voice, "Ken-san, it's terrible Sanosuke's gone and done something
absolutely terrible!"  

She felt Kenshin stiffen under her embrace from shock.  Megumi grinned, she shot
a quick glance back at the side door to the dojo, sure enough, there stood Kaoru. 
Perfect.  She emoted a ladylike sob and snuggled closer.

"Wha-what happened, Megumi-dono?"  Kenshin asked, his voice seemed tighter than
usual, but Megumi paid it no heed.

Another womanly sob, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling herself even
closer, "He," She sobbed dramatically, "He . . . " Snuggle closer, burry my face
in his neck, that way it looks like kissing, "He broke my heart," She finished,
making sure the last part was strangled on a sob.  Now, for the finishing move,
"And . . ."

Kenshin became even stiffer if that was possible, "Broke your heart, that he did
. . . "

Megumi looked up at Kenshin, her eyes were bright with faux tears, "And, You're
the only one who can fix it, Ken-san!"  She dragged him closer, pulling him as
close as she could.  She could feel Kaoru's eyes upon them.  Perfect, Kaoru would
react to this, Sano's ploy would be exposed.  Megumi started the count down, she
knew the younger woman so well she could time Kaoru's reactions perfectly.

Five.  Four.  Three.  Two.  One.  Megumi looked up, expecting Kaoru to come
running toward them, her shinai swinging, the death of them both in her eyes. 
Megumi almost dropped Kenshin at the sight that greeted her.  Or the lack
thereof.  Kaoru was gone.

* * *

Breathe.  Breathe.  Count backwards.  Five, four, three, two, one.  Kaoru
forcibly pushed down her first reaction to the fiasco in the dojo yard.  She
turned around a walked away, feeling half dead.  The urge to pound Kenshin and
Megumi into the ground didn't fade though, not even under her dulled emotions.

She reached her room and sliding open the door, walked in listlessly.  She
unrolled her futon and flopped down on the bed face first, burying her head in
her arms.  She was sick, angry, still had a headache and nothing in this day had
gone right yet.  Well, not entirely, after all, Kenshin had hugged her.  After
she had finished sobbing, his warm arms around her, Kenshin had helped her get
some breakfast, the whole time unfailingly gentle with her, despite that fact
that he, himself, had seemed extremely tense, like he was holding himself back.

After breakfast, which had barely stayed down, she had gone back here, to her
room, only to be dragged out when Yahiko had come in saying that Megumi was here
and wanted to see her.  Kaoru bit her lip, her temper on the rise was doing
nothing to help her still pounding head, Megumi had wanted to plaster herself all
over Kenshin.  The older woman was so annoying like that, why couldn't she and
Sano have just gotten over whatever their problem was, so she wouldn't have to
be wrapped up in it.  But no, here she was stuck in the middle of this mess. 
Kaoru raised her head as her ears, sensitized by the headache, picked up two sets
of foot steps outside her door.

Kaoru made it to her feet and opening the door slightly; she peered down the
hallway.  Kenshin with a softly sobbing Megumi in tow headed in the direction of
her rurouni's room.  Bad to worse.  This day just kept getting worse, and it
wasn't even lunch time yet.  Kaoru bit her lip again and thinking quickly left
her room and went outside.  Remembering how Yahiko had hidden from them all the
first time Megumi had been to the dojo, Kaoru followed the same path and crawled
under the steps, putting herself in the exact right place to place her ear to the
floor above her and hear most of the conversation in the room.  After all, this
dojo was her home, and ever since childhood she had been perfecting small tricks
like this.  Pressing one overly-sensitive ear to the cold, hard wood above her,
Kaoru listened.

* * *

Kenshin stared at the woman sitting directly across from him.  With Takani Megumi
things were never quite what they seemed but, even so, confusion radiated off the
younger woman in waves.

She was sobbing softly, looking genuinely confused and hurt even though the
emotions didn't reflect in her eyes.  Kenshin suppressed a sigh.  Today was a
very bad day.  Right now the only thing he wanted was to go and have a ‘talk'
with Sanosuke.  Apparently Sanosuke had spent this day hurting every woman close
to him.

Bitting down the urge to be overly sarcastic with Megumi, he spoke, "Megumi-
dono," He began, keeping his voice as even as possible, "What did Sanosuke do to
you this morning?"

Megumi sniffled.  A little too dramatically, Kenshin thought, "He came to the
clinic this morning, like he does some mornings," Megumi paused, waiting for a
reply that never came.  Kenshin just stared at her coldly, he wanted this over
with as soon as possible.  The whole of events today made him sick.  Megumi
sighed and continued, "He came into my office, and . . . and . . . "  

Kenshin just stared at her, exactly how much of this was a performance, he wasn't
sure, but regardless he would listen, if only to find out exactly what the hell
Sanosuke was up to, "And?" He asked, his voice clipped.

It was obvious that the female doctor could tell the difference in his demeanor,
she looked up at him, her eyes now more questioning than anything else, but still
controlled.

"And he bragged about it.  What happened between him and Kaoru," Kenshin felt his
eyes flash amber, and he had to fight it down, "To be perfectly honest, I didn't
believe a word of it at first.  Sano pulls this type of thing from time to time,
well, not this type of thing, but something similar.  I just came here to see if
it was true."

"He bragged about it, did he?" 

"Yes," more dramatic sniffling, "I came here to talk to Kaoru-chan, and then I
saw you," a pause.  Kenshin didn't like where this was leading, but he let Megumi
keep talking anyway, "And, Oh, Ken-san," Megumi scooted closer, placing a hand
on his knee, Kenshin gritted his teeth, "If it's true, then Ken-san, you'll be
the only one for me!"

Like hell I am, Kenshin thought, but didn't voice that.  Instead, he forced his
clueless grin on his face and smiled and took Megumi's hand and removed it from
his knee releasing it into her own lap.  Play the rurouni, now not only for
Kaoru's benefit, but Megumi's as well.  After all, it appeared that Sano had
managed to hurt both of them badly, and in less than a day.

"You shouldn't worry about this Megumi-dono, that you shouldn't.  This unworthy
one promises to take care of things, that I do," And that he would, as soon as
he got his hands on Sanosuke, the ex-fighter-for-higher would be lucky if he'd
ever be able to move again.

Kenshin stood up and walked to his door and slid it open, without even making a
back glance toward Megumi.  He stopped just before he left the room and spoke
once more, without looking back at Megumi.  Right now he didn't want her, or
anyone to see the gold in his eyes, "You're welcome to stay and join us for lunch
today Megumi-dono, that you are."

He heard Megumi stand up, he heard her walk over to him, and he felt the shift
of air around her that was the precursor to her wrapping her arms around him,
clinging to him.  Kenshin bit his cheek, drawing blood, the taste of it spiking
his temper even more.  Deep breath.  Today was going to be a very long day.

"Oh, Ken-san, thank you so much," Megumi said, her low and sultry voice grating
against Kenshin's already strained nerves.  He tried to deftly disengage himself
from her to no avail.  Megumi's attentions were something he didn't want, nor
need, at the moment. He stared at the door to Kaoru's room as they walked past
wondering if she had retreated there yet again.  Kenshin's temper spiked again
and he made his best effort to stamp it down, for now it would do no good to
loose control.  For Kaoru-dono, if nothing else, he would try to remain calm
until he had the chance to confront Sanosuke.

* * *

Kaoru crawled out from her hiding place covered with dirt and worried.  Sano had
gone to Megumi all right, but Megumi hadn't reacted the way Sano had been so sure
she would.  She wasn't getting all jealous and clinging to the fighter.  She was
going after Kenshin!  Kaoru stood up and brushed the dirt off of her the best she
could, before making the way back to her room, the whole time plagued by thoughts
of Megumi with Kenshin.  

Back in her room, she sat on her futon, hugging her legs to her chest.  So,
Megumi was going after Kenshin again, huh.  Sano to her about his and Kaoru's
supposed relationship, huh?  Head resting on her knees, Kaoru pushed back tears,
this day was a train wreck, even if Kenshin did hold her earlier that didn't mean
his opinion of her wasn't ruined beyond all repair by finding her half-undressed
in bed with Sanosuke.  Maybe his idea of her had been so sullied that he wouldn't
want anything to do with her anymore.  At least not romantically.

Kaoru fought down tears.  She had no illusions about herself.  She was a girl who
was more like a man then most men.  She beat people up.  She couldn't cook.  She
shouted all the time.  And now she was sure that Kenshin thought she was easy as
well.  The tears she had been fighting back rolled down her cheeks and an
unbidden sob came forth, then another.  Before she knew it, she was crying.

Distantly she heard the shouji door slide open.  She turned around, quickly
wiping her eyes, not wanting to be caught with the sheen of tears still in them. 
He blue eyes widened when she saw who stood in her doorway.  Kenshin.

"Kaoru-dono, are you okay?" Kenshin asked softly, as he entered the room, the
door sliding shut behind him, "What's wrong?"

Kaoru rubbed her selves over her face once more to remove any lingering traces
of tears on her face, "No-nothing's wrong," She said quietly, not trusting her
strained voice to speak any louder, "I'm fine.  Really, I'm okay," she finished,
not looking at him.  Not wanting to see the emotions she believed to be on his
face.

"No, you're not," Kenshin responded simply, his voice closer to her than Kaoru
thought he was.  She looked up to her right to see Kenshin kneeling there beside
her, his eyes violet-gold and shining, both angry looking and sad.  They enticed
her, she couldn't look away from those eyes as he slowly, almost shyly, reached
brushed a hand against the skin of her cheek, smudging not-quite-dry tears across 
her skin.  In that moment, Kaoru was trapped as he gently reached out with his
other hand, taking her face in his hands.  Kaoru couldn't move as Kenshin pulled
her closer.

Kaoru's body relaxed, her hands reaching out grasping Kenshin's arms feeling the
hard muscled arms beneath the fabric of his gi.  Kaoru was choking back tears
again, here was Kenshin, once again being unfailingly gentle with her as he
pulled her into his embrace.  

For the second time that day she was in Kenshin's arms.  She felt a hand stroke
at her hair as she nuzzled Kenshin's neck.  Kaoru was fighting down tears again,
and she began to tremble trying to keep them down.

"It's okay now, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin whispered into her hair, his breath ruffled
the wayward raven strands, "You're okay now," he finished.  

Kaoru shook her head, gulping in an effort to keep tears down, "No.  . . .
Kenshin, do you hate me now?"  Kaoru asked softly, not even aware she was voicing
her worry aloud.

"No.  I don't hate you now.  Not at all," Kenshin answered simply and Kaoru
looked up when he answered her.  Tears now flowing quickly down her face again. 
Kenshin's eyes looked vaguely amber in the dim light of her room.  Kaoru's breath
caught, causing her to hiccup on the sobs still stuck in her throat.

Kenshin laughed softly, and Kaoru blushed, suddenly embarrassed as she hiccupped
a second time.  Finally she was able to speak without the embarrassing squeaking
noise.  Her curiosity piqued she asked, "Kenshin why did you come in here?"

"I was worried about you, that I was, Kaoru . . . "  His voice trailed off as he
pulled her close again, his embrace tighter than before.

Kaoru was shocked, no longer because of the embrace.  No longer because he was
here with her, in her room.  But because he had dropped the honorific, calling
her by just her name, "Kenshin?"

"You don't need to avoid me," Kenshin started, "I know what happened with
Sanosuke, and I know it's not your fault."

Kaoru was shaking.  Kenshin did understand.  Kaoru looked up at him and smiled,
tears of relief sparkled in her eyes.  Kenshin said nothing more, just pulling
her close again.  Only holding her, nothing more.  Kaoru treasured the quiet
moments that followed, as Kenshin just held her, muttering comforting words into
her hair, running his hands over her hair and shoulders.

After a moment Kenshin rose to his feet, pulling Kaoru up with him, "Come on,
Kaoru-dono, You can't hide in here all day, that you can't.  Even Yahiko is
starting to worry about you, that he is."

Kaoru raised an eyebrow quizzically, not quite believing that.  Kenshin chuckled,
"It's true," He reiterated simply and Kaoru snorted, a gesture typical of her
that showed exactly what she thought of that idea.

"There she is, my Kaoru-dono," He grinned, his eyes a warm shade of amber flecked
with violet, "Come on, This unworthy one will keep you safe today, that I will." 
Kenshin finished, taking her hand and leading her out of her room.  So wrapped
up in his attention, she paid no attention to the color of his eyes and the
threat inherent in the promise of protection.  She gladly followed Kenshin from
her room.

* * *

Sano grinned.  This day couldn't be any more perfect.  Although it had started
out a bit shaky, he had salvaged the situation easily enough turning it in his
favor.  Meugmi's reaction, which he had initially been dreading, was classic. 
This time she would no doubt fall right into his waiting hands.  After leaving
his fox, he had joined some friends for a game of dice and had come out the
winner.  With the fresh earnings in tow, he was able to buy more sake.  Although
not enough to make him drunk it was enough to leave him pleasantly buzzed and
content.

It was close to noon now and he was getting a little on the hungry side.  He
toyed with the idea of eating out, but discarded it quickly.  It would be much
more effective in terms of ‘the plan' to go and eat at the dojo.  Whistling a
simple tune to himself, he started toward the dojo, confident that Jou-chan had
resolved the morning's situation to their favor.

The walk to the dojo short and Sanosuke arrived quickly.  Walking through the
gate, the ex-fighter-for-higher ran right into Yahiko, who, instead of practicing
or baiting Jou-chan had been walking toward the gate, apparently not watching
where he was going.

"Hey, you little brat, watch where you're going," Sano said, picking up the kid
and setting on his feet.

"Why don't you watch where you're going?!"  Yahiko returned, his tone indigent,
then his face lit up, like he was struck by an idea, "Hey, Chicken-head, Ugly,
Kenshin and even Megumi are acting weird!  Do you know what's going on here? 
Everyone is going crazy!"

"Megumi's here?"  Sano asked, this could definitely work to his advantage.  If
he played it right.

"Yeah, and everyone's gone fucking crazy!" Yahiko shouted.

Sanosuke cuffed Yahiko across the head, "Don't swear, you little bastard," he
told Yahiko, "It's a bad habit."

Yahiko rubbed the bump on his head muttering something under his breath before
jumping the larger fighter playfully.  Sanosuke laughed, and pulled Yahiko off
of him easily, the young boy laughing too.  Sano found himself wondering idly why
he was the target for Yahiko's daily stress relief as opposed to Jou-chan. 
Maybe, just maybe, she was too busy making sure things were done on her end. 
Sano grinned.  That could be it.

Sano heard footsteps and looked up, to be greeted by the sight of Kenshin. 
Something seemed off about the other man, but Sanosuke couldn't quite put his
finger on it.  He just seemed to be standing a little more tense than usual. 
‘The Plan' must be working.  Sano grinned.

"Hey Kenshin, What's for lunch?" Sano causally asked.

"Get out of here Sano," Kenshin said.

"What?" Both Sano and Yahiko said in unison.  Sano was shocked for a moment then
grinned widely, thinking the plan must really be working for Kenshin to be acting
like this.

"I said, get out of here."

Sano laughed, "Why?  Are you upset that I got what you couldn't?" 

Kenshin didn't respond, at least not with words, the growling noise he let out
made Yahiko and Sano take a step backwards.  Yahiko looked up at the tall
fighter, "Uh, Sano?  I think maybe you should go . . . " He said quietly, so only
the older man could hear him.

"Don't worry," Sano whispered to Yahiko, adding a conspiratorial wink, "It's all
part of the plan."

"You're fucking crazy too!  He looks like he wants to kill you, and it's part of
the plan?!  What plan?"  Yahiko hissed back.

"Look, just let me deal with this."

"Okay.  Goodbye.  Nice knowing you," Yahiko said, backing away slowly.

Sano looked at the kid like he had suddenly gone crazy then shook his head,
turning his attention back to Kenshin.  He walked right up to the rurouni, a lazy
grin plastered on his face.

"So, Kenshin, what's wrong with me wanting to stay for lunch, and maybe a ‘snack'
afterwards?"  Sano said, adding a lewd wink to accent his remark.

The smaller man looked right up at him, and Sano swallowed the cold bolt of
nervousness that shot through him.  Kenshin's eyes were cold.  And amber.  So,
this was Kenshin jealous, eh?  Sano just barely managed to keep the smile on his
face the whole time.

"Just get the hell out of here," Kenshin spat, his voice dark, his hands balled
into fists.

"Sano?"  A questioning voice broke the tension between to two men.  Sanosuke
looked up to see Kaoru standing in the dojo's courtyard.  He turned his grin on
her.

"Hey, Jou-chan!  Ya mind if I stay for lunch?" He asked, walking right up to her,
placing his hand on Kaoru's arm.  She seemed to flinch, but he ignored it.

"Kaoru-dono, go back inside."  Kenshin called to the young girl.  Sano grinned
down at the younger woman who didn't meet his or Kenshin's gaze.  But she didn't
move to leave either.

Sano pulled her close, "Aw, come on Kenshin, you're not her father.  This is Jou-
chan's home.  If she says I can be here, I can be here.  Right Kaoru?"  He winked
down at her.

Kaoru looked down at the ground, "Sure.  You can stay for lunch if you want." 
Each word she spoke sounded forced, Sanosuke raised an eyebrow at the young woman
who didn't even meet his gaze.  Strange . . . 

"See Kenshin?  It's all settled.  I get to stay for lunch."  He gave Kaoru a
squeeze for good measure then walked into the dojo's main building.  Right inside
the building stood Megumi, staring at him, her eyes glinting in the dim light.

"Sano."

Sanosuke grinned, "Megumi."

"I'm on to you."

"Really?  That's funny.  This time there's nothing to be on to."

Megumi grinned, Sano would've given anything to be able to read that woman's
mind.  She was absolutely unfathomable sometimes.  She kept that fox-like grin
as she answered, "Honestly, how stupid do you think I am."

"Do you want the true answer to that?"

Megumi snorted, "Really, you're the stupid one here.  I'm surprised Kenshin
hasn't killed you yet."

"That won't happen, Fox," Sano said, his lazy grin spread even wider as he walked
past Megumi, pointing a finger at her nose, "I'd be willing to bet on it.  My
luck has nothing but perfect today."

Megumi laughed, Sano loved the sound, even when it was directed at him, "It's
your funeral Chicken-head.  I hope you enjoy it."  She turned to walk away, "I
hope you enjoy the show at lunch today.  It's going to be something else.  That's
for sure."

* * *

Kaoru felt like lying down in a ditch somewhere and doing the world the favor of
removing her person from it.  Things had just begun to get better.  She had just
been getting a handle on everything, and her headache and hangover had almost
been gone.  Then he had come back.  The very cause of all her troubles.  That
bastard, Sagara Sanosuke.

Sanosuke had come here for some lunch.  Realistically, Kaoru couldn't refuse him. 
She couldn't refuse anyone coming to her dojo for any reason.  So, despite
Kenshin's looks of warning she had welcomed her friend in.  Kenshin's reaction
to her invitation had been more than scary.  His gaze had rested on Sano's back
and Kaoru was sure his eyes were shining amber.  This time she knew it was no
‘trick of the light'.  

In that moment he had been fully prepared to kill their friend, Kaoru was sure
of it.  She had shot Kenshin a single, pleading look and shook her head.  Kenshin
had gazed back at her, then in an act of silent agreement he had turned and
stalked away.  Kaoru wondered if Sanosuke knew just how close he had been to
death in those moments.  

Sighing, she bent over and plunged her hands into the bucket of water that sat
in front of her.  The water was cold, no one had bathed yet, so the water hadn't
been heated.  She splashed some of the cold water against her face, wiping away
some of the dirt there.  Taking a small towel from the corner of the bathhouse,
she patted her face dry, scowling when the towel came away brown with dirt.

Sighing she repeated the process.  She had forgotten how dirty crawling under
various rooms was.  Kaoru dried her face again and looking into the water
pondered her reflection.  Besides the smudges of stubborn dirt, her eyes were
puffy from tears and blood shot and she looked like she had been on the wrong end
of a fist fight.  Kaoru winced.  Then she stood up leaving the bathhouse behind
her.  At least she had gotten most of the dirt off of her face, making her
somewhat presentable for lunch.  The next step was to get out of her dirt stained
clothes.

Kaoru picked a light blue Kimono with a simple pattern and a dark blue Obi.  She
wanted something to pick up her mood, which, wasn't really helping itself today. 
So Kaoru fell back on the only girl-like thing she had.  Her large collection of
clothes.  She had just finished changing, putting the last touches on what had
to be the most complicated knot she had ever tied, when there was a quiet knock
on her door.

"Who is it?"  Kaoru called out, the previous evening having made her wary of
unexpected knocks on her bedroom door.

"Kaoru-dono, It's me," was the reply from the other side of the sliding screen
door.
  
"Coming," She sang out.  Kaoru almost danced over to the door, so happy she was
that he was at her bedroom door.

She slid the door open, unable to keep the stupid grin off her face.  She was
looking right at her rurouni, his eyes a shifting mix of violet and amber.  "Yes,
Kenshin?  What do you need?"

"You," Kenshin said quietly, so quietly that Kaoru wasn't sure she had heard him
right.  She caught her breath as she locked gazes with him again, in the split
second she had looked away his eyes must have changed.  They were now full amber.

"Excuse me?"  Kaoru squeaked out, her voice abandoning her as she stood, caught
by those eyes.

Kenshin blinked quickly, when he opened them a second later they were a shifting
mix of mostly violet with amber sparks, "I meant to say that lunch is ready, that
I did."  He took a deep breath and unleashed the rurouni grin, "Kaoru-dono, lunch
is ready, are you going to come and eat with us?"

Kaoru smiled and kept in check the laughter she felt bubbling up.  Kenshin always
cheered her up, no matter what he did, his very presence made her happy, "Yes,
I'm going to eat lunch, Kenshin.  I don't want to go hungry."  A wandering
thought entered Kaoru's head and she pushed Kenshin aside to look out of her door
right then left.

"Where's Megumi-san?"  Kaoru asked, she knew the doctor was about and it was
unlike her not to cause trouble, at least not as far as she and Kenshin were
concerned.

Kenshin laughed softly, "I was able to shake her off, that I was.  But you'd
better hurry, this unworthy one thinks that she'll be after me soon."

Kaoru smiled again, and shyly reaching out she took Kenshin's hand in hers. 
Kaoru felt a blush creep into her cheeks and she couldn't look Kenshin right in
the eyes.  She just stared their hands.  Even just standing here, holding
Kenshin's hand, Kaoru felt warmth spread through her, radiating from where his
hand touched hers.

"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked, his tone questioning, his voice hushed.

Kenshin's voice broke through Kaoru's thoughts and she realized what she had been
doing.  Blushing furiously Kaoru moved to release his hand.  

Kenshin's hand grasped Kaoru's stopping her quiet retreat, "No," he said quietly,
"It's okay, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin continued, his strong fingers treading through
her small ones.

Kaoru looked into Kenshin's eyes once more, and in that moment, everything
changed.  Either Kenshin moved closer to her, or she moved closer to him, Kaoru
couldn't tell.  And, caught in his eyes, swirling pools of gold, she didn't care
who had moved.  Then, ever so lightly, Kenshin's lips brushed against her own,
questioning.  Kaoru was shocked, but offered no resistance to Kenshin's
questioning kiss.  Sensing this Kenshin pulled her closer, taking this kiss
deeper.

The pure sensation of it was enough to leave Kaoru breathless.  She clung to
Kenshin and it seemed that a flood gate was opened.  And the gentle kiss suddenly
became deep and passionate.  Kenshin's mouth devoured hers, and he crushed her
into him.  Kaoru felt like her body was on fire, suddenly lit ablaze.

Kenshin growled in her mouth, the feeling of it sent shivers up Kaoru's spine. 
Kaoru twined her fingers through the fabric of Kenshin's gi, brushing the hot
flesh there.  Kaoru let Kenshin lead her, step by step, back into her bedroom.

When Kenshin's mouth moved from hers and traveled down her neck, Kaoru shuddered. 
Somehow Kaoru mustered the piece of mind to ask, "Kenshin," she started, gasping
when he bit down on her neck, "What about lunch?"  

"They can feed themselves," Kenshin said, his voice not the normal rurouni tone,
but something darker, "Besides, I don't want Sano anywhere near you," He
finished, his voice harsh. 

"Why not?"  Kaoru gasped, confused.  Kenshin reached out and took her face in his
hands, fingers brushing stray strands of raven hair out of the way.

"Because, he hurt you last night, and no one hurts what's mine and gets away with
it."

"Mine?"

"Yes Kaoru, you are mine."  Kenshin's eyes seemed to give off a light of their
own in the small room.  Kaoru felt her lower lip begin to tremble.  His.  Kenshin
had called her his.  Kenshin took her mouth with his once again, kissing her
deeper than before, leaving Kaoru gasping for breath and burning hot.

"Yes, you're mine," Kenshin spoke between heated kisses, his words as passionate
as his actions, as his hands, as his lips, "I'll protect you, I'll always keep
you safe.  Kaoru . . . "

Kaoru almost felt like crying, those words were closer than anything to a
confession of love than she had ever gotten out of Kenshin before.  She kissed
him back, just as passionately, now not even listening to the words he spoke as
his hands moved over the fabric of her kimono, as his lips took their fill of
hers.

"Ken-san?  Kaoru?"  Megumi's voice cut through the haze of passion and with it
came a very sobering and mortifying thought, the door was open.  Kaoru's eyes
shot open, and she pulled away from a now swearing Kenshin, her face, which had
been flushed with passion was now red from embarrassment.

Kenshin stood up to face Megumi, Kaoru hadn't even known that they had been on
the floor, she had no recollection of how they had came to be there.  Kaoru fixed
her hair hurriedly and tried to stand up as well, only to find her legs didn't
want to work.

"What do you want, Megumi-dono?" Kenshin's voice was its soft and normal tone
again.  The fast transition scared Kaoru.  How was he able to get back to his
normal self so fast?  Unless, a disturbing thought took her, the rurouni wasn't
the ‘normal' Kenshin.

"You've taken so long fetching Kaoru that I was beginning to think that you got
lost," Megumi said simply, "We've been waiting for you two."

"Kaoru-dono's not feeling well and isn't that hungry, that she isn't," Kenshin
answered back.

"Well that's all well and good, the Tanuki could stand to lose a few pounds," 
Megumi said, "But, Ken-san, I will absolutely not eat without you!" Megumi
finished.  And Kaoru felt her temper spike at the doctor's words.  It went even
higher when Megumi grabbed Kenshin by the arm pulling through the door.

Kaoru watched as Kenshin was pulled out the door and down the hallway by the
woman doctor and she felt herself start shaking with rage.  She picked up her
shinai from the corner of her room and stomped out her door, fully intending to
pound Megumi and Kenshin into the ground.  Megumi for taking her rurouni, and
Kenshin for letting himself be taken.

A hand grabbed her shinai and she looked back to see Sanosuke standing behind her
shaking his head.

"Uh, uh, uh, That's a don't.  The plan remember?  You're not supposed to care." 
Sano said, his voice lilting, and Kaoru found herself wondering if he was drunk
already, again, that thought made her want to beat him.  Sanosuke drunk was the
cause of this mess.

"Fuck the plan!" Kaoru swore, "And fuck you!  I didn't want to do this anyway!" 
Kaoru shouted, her temper getting the best of her.

"Whoa, that's the first time I've ever heard you swear Jou-chan, What happened?"

"That's none of your business!" Kaoru said, raising her shinai to use on the
spiky haired fighter for higher.

Sano grabbed the wooden practice sword easily.  Kaoru's constricting Kimono
didn't allow for the movements needed to beat the arrogant bastard into the
ground.  She made a growling noise and Sano laughed.

"No killing me until after we sort this plan out, remember?" He said, tossing her
shinai on the hall way floor, "I've managed to get Yahiko to go out to lunch with
Tsubame, so that brat isn't around.  Lunch should be fun.  Let's go.  It's lunch
time."

Grasping her by the upper sleeve of her kimono, Sano pulled Kaoru down the
hallway and toward the dining room where lunch was set up.  Kaoru gritted her
teeth, she could already see Megumi plastered all over Kenshin, sitting right
next to him, her Kenshin doing nothing to stop the advances just made her even
more angry and confused.  Lunch, despite what Sanosuke thought, was not going to
be a pleasant affair at all.

* * *

Kenshin was not enjoying himself.  Megumi had taken it upon herself to disturb
Kaoru and him in the middle of something much more pleasant than being clung to
by a clever fox.  Then again, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that Megumi had
shown up when she did.  Kenshin had almost completely lost control.  He had no
right to be doing that to Kaoru, especially when she had been taken advantage of
the previous night by Sanosuke.

Sanosuke.  That man was dead.  He just didn't know it yet.  Sanosuke sat next to
Kaoru, who flinched every time the man touched her and never once met his
laughing gaze.  The bastard had dared to come back here after what he had pulled
last night.  The only thing that baffled Kenshin was why Kaoru had let that man
back into her dojo.  He knew why, it was part of that girl's nature.  Kaoru gave
to everyone even those that hurt her.

It was that nature that made Kaoru beautiful, that giving nature that had allowed
that asshole to take advantage of her the way he had.  It was her nature that
Kenshin loved, when before meeting her, he had resigned himself to never being
worthy of love again.  And his Kaoru, his Kaoru, had been hurt deeply.  That was
something that Kenshin would not forgive.

A particularly strong hug from Megumi followed by a grating, to his ears anyway,
‘Ken-san' nearly strangled Kenshin, breaking his train of thoughts.  The only
comforting thing about it was that he was not Megumi's true target.  Kenshin had
been around enough women like her in his days to know exactly what the fox was
up too.  And playing innocent about became harder and harder as her games became
more and more bold.  Kenshin was half tempted to pick her up and heave her at
Sanosuke, the real person Megumi was after.  But Kenshin had never willingly hurt
a woman in his life and he had no desire to start now.

An even bolder squeeze from the doctor made him seriously reconsider that notion. 
Perhaps Tomoe would forgive him for doing it just once.  After all, the throw
wouldn't hurt Megumi, at least not much.

Kenshin forgot all thoughts of throwing the female doctor across the table at
Sano, when Kaoru, apparently fed up by the spectacle, got up and left.  She
shoved her tray away from herself violently, the miso soup splashing and nearly
spilling all over.  Kenshin watched and tried to disengage himself from the leech
like Megumi to follow.

Sano got up and went off after Kaoru and Kenshin saw red.  He struggled against
Megumi's hold wondering why the female doctor was so strong, it must have had
something to do with holding down patients, he thought.  Kenshin couldn't take
it anymore, grasping her arms, careful not hurt her and started to pull himself
free.

"Damnit Megumi, let go!" Kenshin said, unaware in his anger that he was speaking
out of his rurouni character.

"Of course, why didn't you just ask, Ken-san?" Megumi said, her tone light and
playful and let go, sending Kenshin flying forward.  Only his quick reactions
kept him from landing face first on the floor.

Kenshin glared at her, "I know about these games you play, and from now on leave
me out of them."

Megumi just laughed, "Well I would hope that you would know.  After all, I think
I understand you as well as one can, and if you were as clueless as you let on,
you would've died a long time ago, wouldn't you've Ken-san?"

"Just leave me out," Kenshin said again.

"But it's so much fun," Megumi said under her breath as she ate a pickled radish. 
Kenshin turned and left the dining room, going in direction he saw Kaoru and Sano
leave in. More than a little grateful to be leaving Megumi behind.

Before Kenshin rounded a corner, the sound of voices reached his ears.  Kaoru's
voice, and Sano's. 

". . .Damnit Sano, I didn't want to do this last night, and I don't want to do
it today!  Just leave me alone!"  Kaoru's voice cut through the air, her words
snapping the last strains of Kenshin's temper.  

Seeing nothing but red, Kenshin rounded the corner.  Kaoru was backed against the
hallway wall, Sanosuke standing over her an arm on either side, effectively
trapping the small woman.

"SANO!"  Kenshin shouted, both Kaoru and Sano looked up, Karou looking relieved
to see him, Sano just looked shocked.

"Get away from her, NOW," Kenshin said through gritted teeth.  Sano backed up a
little from Kaoru, that grin still on his face.  Kenshin very much wanted to bash
it into his face right now.

"Hey, Kenshin, I was just leaving," Sanosuke said casually, as if nothing was
wrong at all.  He looked at Kaoru and took her chin in his hand.  Kenshin felt
his blood boil, "We'll pick this up later, Jou-chan," He said, before walking
down the hallway and out the door.

Kenshin followed him, this time nothing would stop him from giving Sanosuke the
beating he so deserved.  As he left, he thought he heard Kaoru asking where he
was going, but he paid it no heed.  He was, after all, doing this for her.

* * *

"Well, there goes a dead man."

Kaoru whipped around, Megumi was standing behind her, a sardonic smile on her
face, "What do you mean, ‘there goes a dead man'?" Kaoru asked.

Megumi smiled kindly at Kaoru, "Don't worry about it.  It's Sano's problem now. 
That idiot.  Well, I better get back to the clinic," Megumi sighed, "I have a
feeling that I'll be seeing Sanosuke there very soon."

"Why?"

"I said don't worry about it Kaoru.  Oh and by the way, when Kenshin gets back,
you may want to explain to him that he just beat up a very stupid, but innocent
Sano."  Megumi added, as she walked out the door then added, "And that he didn't
do anything to you at all last night."

Kaoru just stood there dumbfounded.  Unsure of what had just happened.  She shook
her head.  Megumi was right.  It wasn't her problem anymore.  She'd let Kenshin
take care of it.  After all, whatever was coming his way, Sanosuke so deserved
it right now.  At least as far as Kaoru was concerned.  She sighed, and turning
around headed across the dojo to heat some bath water for herself, and just
forget about the events of the past day.

* * *

Sano never even saw it coming.  One moment he was walking down an alley way,
humming some mindless tune to himself, the next he was being held by his neck to
the wall of a building by Kenshin.  A golden-eyed Kenshin.  Ohhhh Shit.

First response, try to explain, "Hey, Kenshin . . . trust me, it's not what you
think!"  Sano said, his hands up.

Kenshin's eyes just narrowed, and Sano never even saw the fist that punched him
move.  The blow was to the side of Sano's face, and it hurt, just the first blow
and already Sano had heard something crack.  This wasn't good.

Second response, try to reason, "It really wasn't what it looked like, I mean,
I don't even find Jou-chan that attractive."

Kenshin's eyes narrowed even further, and Sano immediately regretted saying that,
he opened his mouth to try to salvage that last one somehow only to get another
blow to the head.

"I've forgiven you for a lot of things, Sano," Kenshin started, the tone of his
voice alone disturbed Sanosuke, "A lot of things.  But what you did to Kaoru-
dono, how you hurt her, and then tried to cover it up, and just now in the dojo
hallway, when you tried to do it again," A knee to the groin robbed Sano of any
breath he would have used to reply, "I won't kill you, after all, I promised I
wouldn't any more.  But you have no idea how much I'm tempted to kill you right
now."

Gee, I can guess.  Sano thought.  Third response: play dead and hope he DOESN'T
kill me.  Kenshin didn't say another word, at least not with his mouth.  His
fists did the talking form there on out.  Sanosuke's last conscious thought was,
that if he lived through this, he'd never touch another cup of sake again.  Ever.

* * *

Megumi checked the small pocket watch that Dr. Genzai kept in the office.  It
should be any minute now.  As if cued, the door to the clinic opened and Kenshin
walked in, dragging, by the collar, an unconscious, bleeding, and beaten to a
bloody pulp Sanosuke.

Megumi pointed to a cot in the corner of the clinic, "Put him there, that's his
usual one." 

Kenshin didn't say a word as he practically threw the beaten fighter onto the cot
and turned around and left the clinic. He was still obviously very angry and
tense.  Megumi sighed and walked over to the half-dead Sano.  Looking down on
him, even knowing he couldn't hear a word she said right now, she spoke,
"Sanosuke, you really are the biggest dumb-ass I have ever met in my life."

Pulling out the small kit of bandages and medical supplies she had labeled ‘for
use on Sano only', Megumi got to work, patching up her beloved dumb-ass.

* * ^_~ * *