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Lessons: Epilogue "Wait a minute, wait a minute! You mean that's it?!" Sano protested, his expression a mixture of amazement and disappointment, "You didn't go back to see Meirou? What happened?!" Smiling shyly, almost hesitantly, Kenshin reached up to scratch just behind his ear. It was a familiar gesture; not quite anxious, less than embarrassed, but akin to each. "Che, Kenshin, you're hopeless!" Unable to choose between his initial reactions, the ex-gangster settled for disgust. "Oro?" The rurouni blinked, his habitual utterance sounding betrayed. "Don't give me that! I'm not saying you should have done anything . . . but . . . but . . . but . . ." he faltered, searching for words to tell Kenshin that -- in some indefinable way -- he was a traitor to his sex. Words that didn't sound as the stupid as the ones in his head. Yahiko shook his head at Sano's stuttering. "But what, ahou? So what if he didn't go back to see her? You don't go visiting every pretty girl you meet, do you?" He better answer "no" if he knows what's good for him, Kaoru thought, itching for a reason to snitch to Megumi. Although, truth be told, telling her how much enjoyment he got out of that obi joke would probably be enough. Sano's gaze switched from boy to rurouni and back again. Kenshin's face was a mask of deceptively innocent curiosity, Yahiko's gleefully expectant. Chikusho. "Just forget it," he grumbled, knowing as well as they that answering "yes" would somehow land him in trouble with his wife, and answering "no" just seemed wrong. "It's getting late anyway. I'd better go meet the Fox Lady at the clinic." Straightening, he pushed away from the support post he'd been leaning against. "Oi, are you working at the Akabeko tonight?" he asked, eyeing Yahiko consideringly. "Aa. I should probably be leaving, too," his expression twisted slightly with suspicion, "Why?" It wasn't likely that Sano would let anyone -- much less Yahiko -- get the better of him for long. Retaliation was coming . . . it was just a question of when. "Want me to explain that joke now?" Kenshin groaned faintly, picturing the boy's impending embarrassment. It would take a miracle to keep him from blushing when he saw Tsubame. Sano shot him a look, his eyes gleaming with renewed humor, and the rurouni subsided, satisfying his conscience with a single, soft, "Orororooo." The need to know quickly winning out over the need to preserve his dignity, Yahiko agreed to Sano's offer. After all, their game of one-upmanship continued day in and day out, winner and loser momentary designations at best, dignity always fleeting. And besides, he was gonna tell me anyway. "Arigatou," he murmured to Kenshin, thanking him for sharing all he had, for putting up with their frequent questions and interruptions, and for trying to warn him about Sano's intent to humiliate. His mouth curved in a sudden grin, acknowledging that he -- just as Kenshin before him -- had a lot to think about. "Yeah, thanks for the story Kenshin," Sano's smirk had returned, mirroring the one he'd worn when he discovered the Himuras discussing sex education in the dojo's yard, "it's too bad Jou-chan missed it." Her eyes scrunched shut against the tickle, Kaoru hastily pinched her nose between two fingers to stifle the sneeze. Distracted, she only half-listened as Kenshin murmured a non-committal response to Sanosuke's teasing. By the time the urge to sneeze had faded, Sano and Yahiko had already departed, leaving Kenshin alone on the porch. Afraid that any movement would give her away, Kaoru waited, expecting him to return to the laundry now that the life-lesson was over. Five minutes passed, then ten, and she began to feel impatient. What was taking him so long?! Although it was too late to continue with the washing, the clothes on the line still needed to be taken down. She fidgeted a little, thinking that sneaking up on them had been much easier -- although unintentional -- as their conversation had covered the rustle of her clothing and the chink of the glassware. Now it was far too quiet . . . maddeningly so. Just as she was wondering if she should chance slipping away without the dishes -- she could always return for them later -- his voice broke the silence. "You know," he announced conversationally, "I did go back to see Meirou-chan. Several times." Kaoru stared at the partition in shock, wondering who he was talking to, and certain she couldn't have heard him right. As if sensing her disbelief, he asserted, "She was always very friendly." Without pause and without thought she slammed the door open, stumbling outside to confront him, more than a little stunned by what he'd just said. "Kenshin!!" Her voice was strident with surprise and -- just possibly -- jealousy. Unfounded jealousy, but jealousy just the same. "Nani?" he answered calmly, his tone and the glimmer in his gentle violet eyes hinting at suppressed laugher. Kaoru gaped at him, realizing belatedly that his words had been directed at her, which meant . . . he'd known she was listening. Of course. Her eyes narrowed and her hands fisted on her hips. "You knew I was there?" "Aa." "For how long?" He smiled, tilting his head slightly, his eyes crinkling with mirth. "From the moment you paused on the other side of the door. I also heard you giggle several times." Rising to his feet, he lightly touched a finger to her nose and wiggled it back and forth, her eyes crossing as they followed the motion. "And I knew that Sano's mouse was considerably larger than he thought." Kaoru flushed a little at his teasing, but reminded herself that two could play this game. Reaching out, she slid her hands up the neckline of his gi, her fingers toying with the loose folds. "Ne, Kenshin," she whispered, watching him through her lashes, "Kiriko-chan should sleep for another hour or two . . . which means we've got the house to ourselves." "Sou de gozaru ka?" His eyes still gleamed with amusement, but now a question was reflected within them, too. What is she up to? "Mm." Leaning closer she whispered in his ear, "If we go back to our room, you can take off your gi and show me your muscles." At that, Kenshin's laughter finally escaped, his entire body shaking with it as he folded her close. "Koishii . . . I love everything about you, have I told you that?" She fluttered her lashes at him. "Maybe . . . but I don't mind if you tell me again. Just promise me you didn't marry me because of the way I tie my obi." He gave another shout of laughter, and then he was whispering in her ear, "But you really are g--" Her palm plastered itself over his mouth, cutting off the rest. "Kenshin," she warned. "Sumanu," he apologized, still grinning, "you confused me when you did that thing with your eyes." "Mm-hmmm. And Meirou? Did you really go back to see her?" One eyebrow was raised skeptically, although she strove to keep her voice light. I am not jealous of someone he met when he was fourteen! Nodding, he dipped his head to whisper in her ear, "I saw her almost weekly for about three months." He paused just long enough for her to start stewing, then added, "Shishou used to send me into town after his sake." "Kenshin!" She slapped him lightly on the arm for teasing her so, but couldn't hide the smile curving her lips. "Mou, I think your shishou taught you too well! What am I supposed to do with you?" "Weren't you listening when I explained it to Yahiko?" "Kenshin!" His voice still trembled with suppressed laughter, "Sumanu! I'll behave, I'll behave." Her blue eyes twinkled back at him. "You'd better. Now come on . . . I want to see those muscles." Author's Notes:
Index of Japanese terms:
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