From: "floribelle maximo" I'm in a writing spree so you're getting lots of my works. I think you'll find this sort of a reminiscent of To Be or Not To Be [by (Ate)Tin Mandigma]. I actually noticed it when I was already halfway through chapter 3... anyway I said what the heck and continued it anyway. All's Well That Ends Well by flori-dono Disclaimer: This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fan fiction. The author is not making any money out of this. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shounen Jump, and Sony and others that should be mentioned but were not. CHAPTER 1: Yahiko In Trouble It was a cheerful early Sunday morning. The sun was shining brightly while a cool summer breeze was blowing gently. Everything was still and quiet except for the chirping of birds and the slush of water coming from the backyard of the Kamiya Dojo. As usual, Kenshin was bending over a tub of clothes, washing. He was humming as he scrubbed the dirt away from Yahiko's hakama. Kenshin smiled as he remembered how Yahiko got so dirty. He still couldn't quite forget the boy's face as Kaoru swept him across the dojo floor like a rag, just because Yahiko called her ugly, well, for a million times. And Kaoru's patience was never long in the first place. How he thanked Kami-sama that he was not Yahiko at that moment. He didn't relish the thought of polishing the floor with his body and the fact that he only had a few clothes to spare was another thing. "Kenshin?" The sweet voice broke into his thoughts. It was Kaoru's. "Oro?" he replied. Kenshin looked up. His heart skipped a bit and suddenly, it became hard for him to breathe. Kenshin gulped. Kauro was walking towards him with a sweet smile on her red lips. A ray of sunlight bathed her slender form and her long, raven hair was being teased gently by the breeze. He had never seen anything so innocently beautiful in his life. "After you've finished, " she said. "Maybe we can go have lunch at the Akabeko." Kenshin shook his head slightly as if to clear his thoughts then turned his attention on his washing. "What's the occasion?" he asked, wringing the water out of the hakama in his hand. Kaoru had settled herself on the porch and was now swinging her legs slightly, like a kid. Kenshin saw this as he hang the wet clothes, and found it adorable. "Nothing," she said. "I heard that," Yahiko shouted as he came to the yard, his bokken slung across his back. "So, WE'RE having lunch at the Akabeko, eh?" joined in Sanosuke Sagara as he strode leisurely from the dojo gate. Kenshin smiled as he saw Kaoru's fist clench and unclench at her sides. He bet she'd be exploding in three counts. One...Two...Three... "Who told you both that you are coming with us?" she screamed at the two. Kenshin was right with his prediction, as always. "Don't get your kimono in a wad, Jou-chan," Sano said with a wave of his hand. "I was just teasing." "Well, I'm not!" piped in Yahiko. "I'll go whether you like it or not." Kaoru was fuming already. She had been planning this quiet lunch with Kenshin for a week now. And she meant lunch ONLY with Kenshin, without those two hounding at them. Today was the only day the she got *him* all to herself, knowing that Yahiko would be with Tsubame and Sano would be gambling all day. Speaking of which... "Why are you two HERE?" she asked angrily. Sano, with the ever-present fishbone in his mouth, mumbled, "I had no more money to gamble with" Kaoru rolled her eyes. That was problem one. Even if she had money, she wouldn't give him so that he could leave. He'd lose them anyway. Now for problem number two... "And what about you?" she turned towards Yahiko. "Well, Tsubame accompanied Megumi to the next town to buy some herbs for Doctor Gensei" he said matter-of-factly then added slyly, "Why so disappointed Kaoru? You wanted Kenshin all to yourself?" Silence. Kaoru's face had gone from red to white then red again. Yahiko gulped, Sano almost swallowed his fish-bone, and Kenshin... Kenshin froze all together. "Now, you've done it Yahiko-chan," Sano said in a whisper. Even in the face of danger, Yahiko had the guts to answer him, "Don't call me Yahiko-chan, Rooster-head!" "O-hoh!" Kaoru said in a quiet voice. "He can call you anything he wants, Yahiko-CHAN!" This was a different Kaoru. Even Yahiko couldn't control his knees from shaking. She seemed so menacing, so dangerous. "Uh," he began in a slightly trembling voice. "Hey, that was just a joke, Kaoru!" Kaoru then started to walk with agonizing slowness that made Yahiko wanted to run and hide but he couldn't. Kaoru was coming nearer. Yahiko was finding it hard to swallow, a lump formed in his throat due to nervousness. "Rooster-head was right," he thought. "Now, I'm gonna get it." But Kaoru just swept past him then hurriedly went inside her room, sliding the door with a vengeance. Yahiko let out a sigh of relief. But he felt really bad. He knew he shouldn't have said that. Even if what he said was true, it was rude to embarrass Kaoru like that in front of Kenshin. He groaned inwardly, now he'd be tortured everyday in his lessons. But he'll take them without a word. It was his fault anyway. He tried to control the tears that were coming. He had hurt Kaoru really bad. And the knowledge hurt him too. "Told you so," Sano chided him. "Shut up, Sano!" Yahiko said and ran out of the dojo. Kenshin sighed. He had watched the whole scene quietly. He had seen Kaoru flushed after hearing Yahiko's remark. The romantic part of him was glad and the other part of him was filled with doubt. Was it true? Did she really want to be alone with him? "Kenshin no baka!" he thought, scolding himself. "Now is not the time to think about it." He needed to solve the rift between Yahiko and Kaoru. His romantic self had to wait. "Yahiko was right, you know," Sano said quietly as Kenshin turned to put the tub away. Kenshin stilled. Now what was Sano getting at? "Oro?" "Don't oro me, lover boy!" Sano spat out impatiently. "You know what I meant." Kenshin sighed. "I don't think so, Sano." Sano wanted to hit Kenshin but controlled himself. He just couldn't face the fact that the infamous Hitokiri Battousai, a man with great sword skills, was a dunce with women. "It's not like he wasn't married before," Sano said to himself exasperatedly. "You see my friend," he began, deciding that his impatience will get him nowhere. "Yahiko was right. Kaoru wanted you to herself." Kenshin's face turned as red as his hair. He wanted to smile, heck he wanted to grin like a madman! "So, what are you going to do about it?" Sano asked. "Do about what?" Kenshin asked still a little dazed. "Come on Kenshin, you're trying my patience!" "I'm sorry Sano-san but..." Kenshin apologized. "The girl likes you and we're not blind to see that you like her as well!" "Was I that obvious?" Kenshin thought. "Don't ask yourself Kenshin, of course you're sooo obvious! You look like a lovesick calf everytime you see her," Sano pushed unmercifully. Kenshin smiled a little. Lovesick calf? "Now, what's that smile about huh?" Kenshin shook his head then sighed. If he wouldn't give Sano an answer now, he'd be badgering him all day, or maybe even the whole week. Kenshin shuddered at the thought. "All right, I like her," Kenshin admitted in a low voice as if he was afraid anybody would hear. "Yeah!" Sano whooped and began to dance like a lunatic on the loose. Kenshin sweat-dropped. Then Sano suddenly stopped when he realized that must be looking like an idiot, cleared his throat then lounged on the porch again. "And?" he prodded on. "And what?" Kenshin asked, shuffling his sandaled feet. Sano gave him the GLARE. "I don't know..." Kenshin started. Sano's fist began to itch... "I mean, I can't do anything. Even if she likes me, I just couldn't let her innocent self be stained by a killer like me..." Sano clenched that fist to his side... "I mean, she deserves someone else better than me..." Sano's arm slowly started to rise... "And what can I give her? I don't have a job! I can't even buy myself clothes..." Sano took his aim... "I just can't..." And WHAM! Sano's fist landed on Kenshin's head. "KENSHIN NO BAKA! KUSO, YOU ARE HOPELESS!" Sano said and strode out of the dojo feeling so much better. He couldn't quite stand Kenshin's blabbering and he only had that much patience. Now, he'd better find Katsu, maybe he could borrow some money after all. CHAPTER 2: Yahiko Plots Unbeknownst to Kenshin and Sano, Yahiko was standing just outside the dojo gate eavesdropping. He was about to go to the river to think and to bide time until Kaoru's temper would cool down. But hearing Sano's voice made him stop and listen. They were talking about Kaoru and how she felt about Kenshin. Yahiko could sense Sano's frustration as Kenshin poured out his doubts and insecurities. He put a hand over his mouth to keep himself from laughing, as he saw the gangster bopped the poor rurouni's head with his fist. Hurriedly, he hid in the corner when Sano began to walk towards the gate. He waited until he was out of sight before coming out of his hiding place. "Sano was right," he thought. "Both Kenshin and Kaoru were in love with each other and they were just doing nothing about it. Well, Kaoru was about to do SOMETHING but what did I do? Spoil it!" Yahiko sighed for the second time that morning. Then suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind. "Why didn't I think of that before?" But he was going to need some help with what he was planning to do. With a grin on his face, Yahiko ran towards the direction where Sano was heading and yelled, "Hey Sano, wait for me!" Meanwhile... Kaoru had been pacing her bedroom floor since that horrible incident. "OOOOH!" she cried out, pulling at her hair. "Why did I let that kid rile me up like that?" she thought desperately. "Why did I do that? I shouldn't have ran. Now I can never face Kenshin again! He must think what Yahiko said was true." "But it is true," a small voice at the back of her mind said. And that was the worst part of it. She was embarrassed by the truth. She sighed. What was done was done and she should better think of something to say to Kenshin when she'd see him, and that would be any time soon. Think fast Kaoru... "I know!" she exclaimed out loud. Then, she faced an imaginary Kenshin and said, "Oh hi, Kenshin! Don't think about what Yahiko said. It wasn't true! I just wanted to have lunch and..." Sweat drop. No, that wasn't it. It was like admitting it herself. What about, "That Yahiko, always making me angry, eh, Kenshin?" That would be worse, she'd look stupid! Kaoru whimpered and wrung her hands nervously. She took a deep breath. She'd better not say anything at all. She exhaled. Yes, that was it. Dead malice was the answer! Kaoru gathered all the courage she had. She smoothed her kimono and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. Now, to try and face her adversary... Kenshin. Kaoru opened her door slowly, the mask of indifference on her face. She was prepared to act like nothing happened but she wasn't prepared to see a piece of paper lying on the floor. It was a note from Kenshin! Dread filled up Kaoru's heart. What if Kenshin decided to be rurouni again? Kami-sama what would she do? He was her life, he was her everything. And now, it would be all her fault that he'd be gone! With trembling fingers, she picked the note up and read... KAORU-DONO, I WENT OUT TO MARKET TO BUY SOME TOFU. I'LL BE BACK IN A WHILE. -KENSHIN Kaoru stared at the paper in her hand for a few seconds before collapsing on the floor in an unconscious heap. "This'd better be good Yahiko," Megumi warned in her sly voice. "I have some patients to attend to." "Yeah," Sano followed. "My hands are itching for the feel of dice. "Megumi smiled, "That's all you do Rooster-head, roll dices" "Nice quip, Fox-lady." Yahiko rolled his eyes. "All right, the two of you!" Yahiko said. "How can I get on with both of you bickering?" Sano and Megumi shut up but not without an annoyed "hmmp" from each of them. Yahiko, Sano and Megumi together with Tsubame and Tae were seated around one of the dining tables. Surprisingly, it was slow business for the Akabeko that morning, so Tae and Tsubame had time to take part in what Yahiko announced as, "THE BIGGEST SCHEME OF ALL TIME" Yahiko then looked at the faces around him. Making sure he got their attention. He cleared his voice before stating, "It's about Kenshin and Kaoru." He saw Megumi's eyebrow rise and the look of confusion on the other women's faces. Only Sano seemed unaffected by what he said. "I get it," Sano said lazily. "This is about what happened earlier. And YOU want us to help you out of the mess. Clever boy!" "It's not like that!" Yahiko denied vehemently. Tae now spoke, "Uh, could you please first fill us in with details? I think I'm getting confused!" Yahiko nodded then proceeded to tell his predicament. "I'm not worried about Kaoru, I can handle all the punishment I'm sure she'll be giving me. I just want to make up for the lost lunch," he ended. Tsubame looked at him admiringly and said, "That's so sweet of you, Yahiko." And the poor boy just blushed. Sano chuckled and thought, "The boy has a heart after all!" "So what do you want us for?" Megumi asked impatiently with a toss of her head. At this, Yahiko smiled and in a quiet voice, not quite like Yahiko's, said, "I need your help for a DATE!" Yahiko whistled as he walked home. Now all was set. The whole hour at the Akabeko was fruitful. Not only was he able to get the group's cooperation, he got some added ideas too. "A date?" they all said simultaneously. If not for the gravity of the situation, he could've laughed. The expression on their faces was priceless. What with their mouths open and their eyes wide as saucers. He just nodded. "Uh-huh. Kenshin and Kaoru's. I'm planning to set them up on a date." Sano jumped to his feet and slapped Yahiko on the back so hard, the boy almost shoved his nose up the table's edge in the process. "Didn't think you had it in you, boy!" Sano exclaimed as Yahiko disentangled himself from the table's legs. "Should've thought of that myself." Megumi and Tae were smiling smugly, and Tsubame was gazing at him adoringly. Yahiko rubbed his nose arrogantly, before settling down again. After that, everything fell into place. It was now all in the matter of putting everything to action. And now was the right time. CHAPTER 3: Yahiko Acts "Kaoru?" a voice filled with concern found it's way into her subconscious. "Kenshin?" she said opening her eyes. It was Yahiko. Kaoru suddenly got up. She was still a little angry with him, but before she could say anything, she was caught by surprise as Yahiko knelt and bowed down before her. "I'm sorry sensei for offending you," he began. "And to prove my sincerity, I shall do 600 swings during practice everyday for one week. Yahiko winced. What made him say that? Six hundred swings? He gulped. Kaoru was surprised. She wasn't expecting this. "Are you really Yahiko?" she blurted out. "What do you mean?" Yahiko screamed. "I'm trying to apologize here, Kaoru!" It was Yahiko all right. Surprised as she was, she couldn't help but feel pleased. And besides, 600 swings everyday for one week... heh, she'd love to see him do that! "All right Yahiko," she said gently. "I forgive you." Yahiko let out a sigh of relief. "That was easy," he thought. "And now for the kill." He got up and walked towards Kaoru who also was just about to leave. "Uh, Kaoru, wait" he started. Kaoru turned around. "Well, Kenshin wanted to tell you something." "Kenshin?" "I met him earlier and he said ...well, he..." "Yahiko!" Kaoru grabbed him at the collar and started to shake him. "What did Kenshin say?" She was getting really nervous. "WELLHEWANTEDTOASKYOUFORA.... A DATE!" he said in a rush. Kaoru stared at him. Was it real? Did she hear it right? WAS KENSHIN REALLY ASKING HER OUT? "Ken...Kenshin?" she stuttered. Yahiko saw Kaoru's expression and smiled secretly. Perfect! He nodded, head still bowed. "He wanted to ask you himself but he said he was really shy, so he asked me..." But she wasn't listening anymore. Kenshin was really asking her out! Thank you Kami-sama, her prayers have been answered! Then Kaoru turned sharply, "This isn't a joke, right?" "No!!!" he cried. Kaoru sighed. "So," Yahiko interrupted her musings. "What's your answer?" Kaoru was suddenly brought back to reality. "When is it exactly? And where?" she asked. "Tonight I think, for dinner. I'm afraid I still don't know where" "Oh, oh! Even so, tell him yes, yes! Yes!" Kaoru exclaimed and she hugged Yahiko, so tight that she almost cut off his circulation. "Ka...kao.." he choked. Kaoru suddenly let him go, letting him flop on the floor coughing. She suddenly panicked. "What would I wear? I don't even have a decent kimono!" she blabbed on and on as she began wearing out the floor with her pacing. Yahiko shook his head vigorously. He was getting dizzy, following Kaoru walk back and forth with his eyes. "Konnichiwa!" Two heads turned at the sound of the greeting. Yahiko almost hugged Tsubame and Tae with relief, as both women stepped inside the room . Tae winked at the boy and hid her smile. Even Tsubame was struggling hard not to giggle. After all, Kaoru and he must have looked funny. Kaoru almost stumbled as she ran and greeted the two new arrivals. "Oh, I'm so sorry Tae, but...HELP ME!" Tae, who was amused by the girl's actions pretended to look confused and inquired gently, "Help you, Kaoru-san?" Kaoru nodded her head looking more flustered by the moment, her face flushed a delightful pink. "It's about Kenshin... he asked me...well not really him... i mean Yahiko said... oh well its still him, he asked me out to dinner tonight and.. and I don't have a good kimono, and I don't know what to do with my hair... Oh Tae, please... I beg of you, help me!" And the girl just threw her arms around the chuckling Tae and sobbed her heart out. Yahiko was staring at Kaoru in disgust. "Women," he mumbled. "Huh?" the also amused Tsubame who was watching in silence, glanced at Yahiko. Yahiko mumbled a half-apology, chiding himself that he forgot Tsubame was in hearing distance. Tae composed herself before turning to Tsubame and Yahiko. "Tsubame, I want you to fetch the purple bag in my room," she said. Tsubame nodded, giggling and started off. Yahiko grabbed her arm and told her that he'll accompany her back to the restaurant. "I'm meeting with someone," he announced and glanced at Tae. Seeing that Kaoru couldn't see him , he mouthed to Tae, "I'll go check on Kenshin." And finally went out with Tsubame but not before giving her a thumbs-up sign. *** "Thank you for the bargain," Kenshin thanked the vendor with a smile. "That buy-one-take-one was surely a great deal," Kenshin said to himself. He sighed. His head was still hurting with the bop Sano gave him. But it was better than having to answer his questions. Kaoru. Was she feeling better now? He knew that the plan to have lunch at the Akabeko was spoiled. "Lunch-date," his romantic side corrected him. And he couldn't help but smile again. A date, with Kaoru... He was about to turn around the corner when Sano spotted him. "Hey, Kenshin he shouted. "Oro?" Oh no! Not another game of one hundred questions which would end with another bump on the head.Kenshin looked up at the heavens asking for help from the gods. He sighed. . If this was his fate as rurouni, he was having doubts already. "What is it this time Sano?" The man walked beside Kenshin and clapped his back. "Well, I was just going to say sorry for that," he said pointing to the still swelling bump. "I know you're not telling me everything Sano." "Heh,"Sano smirked then turned serious. "I can't hide anything from you! Oh well, it's about Kaoru..." He saw Kenshin's eyes slanted and grew steely. Just the reaction he was expecting and Sano gave himself a mental pat on the back. "What about Kaoru, did something bad happen to her?" his voice also switching to battousai mode. "We-ell..." Sano deliberately stalled and stopped as he saw Kenshin's hand grabbed the hilt of his sakabatou. "Sano, " Kenshin warned. "Hey, cool down a little Kenshin," Sano said. "Nothing THAT bad happened to her." "But bad nevertheless." Sano put his hands in his pocket. "If you call crying over lost lunch bad, then it may be is." "Oro?" Kenshin was back to his old rurouni self and frankly Sano was relieved by it. "Well, she was crying about the lunch that she had been planning for a week already. And nothing could appease her." "Oh, I see," Kenshin said quietly. "I heard that Yahiko already apologized and Kaoru accepted it," Sano crossed his fingers at that, hoping Yahiko already did that. "But he said that Kaoru was still sad over the whole thing." Kenshin sighed. It was just a little matter for anybody but anything that would sadden Kaoru was a big thing for him. He would do anything to see her happy. Sano knew that and it was what he was hoping for Kenshin to think. "So, what do we do?" Kenshin asked. "What do you mean we?" Sano said, frowning. "You should do something!" "But..." Sano stopped. This was a little harder than he thought. "Look, whether you realize it or not, Kaoru planned that lunch so she can be with you alone," he scolded him. "The least you can do is take her out to dinner!" "You mean take her out on a date?" Kenshin asked incredously. Sano raised his hands to the heavens, he got it at last! "Yes!" "Bu...but..." "Oi!" Yahiko yelled at the two men. He and Tsubame had just parted after he had escorted her back to the Akabeko to get Tae's bag. "Oi, how's Kaoru?" Sano asked, the gleam in his eye warned Yahiko. "Oh, well she forgave me but she's still sulking," he answered, acting really sorry about the whole thing. Kenshin was just silent. "I hope she'd take a boyfriend," Yahiko continued. "So someone can take her out." Sano glanced at the completely serious Kenshin then replied, "Well, I know Shintaro has a crush on her. Maybe we can ask him to take her out." Yahiko and Sano were enjoying this. They could see Kenshin seething in jealousy. "Eek! That pervert?" Yahiko pretended to be disgusted. "He'll just paw at her." Sano sighed exaggeratedly. "I know, but he's the only one I know who has the guts to go out with her. Well there are some other fellows but , they're too much intimidated by Kaoru's war-freakedness. Shintaro would do." Yahiko nodded. "I'll just tell Kaoru," he said and started to walk away. Sano said, "You do that and I'll tell Shintaro..." "Wait," Kenshin said in a low voice with his head bowed down, hand on his sakabatou. "I'll take her out to dinner." Sano and Yahiko almost laughed out loud with glee but controlled themselves or their plan would be ruined. "I'd rather take her than let any pervert harass her," the rurouni continued. "Yahiko tell her I'll take her out to dinner tonight." "All right!" Yahiko said scampering back to the dojo laughing all the way. His plan was working! Now all he had to do was to tell Kaoru when and where, after all he had the information beforehand. He was just waiting for Kenshin's "confirmation". When he was out of sight, it was only then that Kenshin let out a sigh. Sano couldn't tell of what that sigh was. "Kenshin, come on!" he said as he grabbed the other man's sleeve. "Oro?" he asked bewilderedly as the gangster dragged him towards the direction of the clinic. Sano had a wicked grin on his face. "If you're going out, you'll have to have a make-over." ***TBC*** --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Get great offers on top-notch products that match your interests! Sign up for eLerts at: Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------