Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X
Original Japanese Version © N.Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works
Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me)
were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for
publication or sale.
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The Blanket Scenario
Hiko & Kaoru
by Chiruken
Chapter 8
Kaoru sipped her tea with a grimace of
distaste. It was way too strong for her
liking. It left a decidedly bitter
taste in her mouth. She studied her
companion in silence. She supposed she
ought to be more grateful to Hiko for helping her. The situation was much better than when she’d been trapped with
Aoshi in the spring. No dry clothes,
just a little fire to provide warmth and one blanket. She’d definitely learned her lesson about going out without a
haori. The upside was that they did
find out what they’d been looking for…namely information about Kenshin’s
past. She shrugged inwardly. She supposed it was worth all the
embarrassment when Kenshin took her for that lovely boat ride on Lake
Biwa. She smiled into her cup as she
remembered when she’d been stuck with Saito.
Now that she thought back on it she could see the humor in the
situation, though at the time she’d been much too angry to laugh about it. She’d never look at mushrooms quite the same
way again. She wondered if Saito had
managed to get all of the thugs into custody and wrap up his case. Well, she certainly wasn’t about to find him
and ask. She didn’t think she’d ever be
able to look at him without blushing.
She’d always remember that horrid fight with the criminals and her
accidental exposure. She could feel a
flush of embarrassment working its way up her neck into her face. Ever since then she’d taken Kenshin’s advice
and carried an umbrella. “Fat lot of
good it did me THIS time.” She muttered
under her breath.
“What was that, Kaoru-chan?” Hiko lowered his jug of sake with a
frown. It was almost empty. He’d have to go into town to get more
supplies soon. His frown disappeared
and was replaced by a grin when she bristled.
“Don’t call me ‘chan’. I don’t like being insulted.” She couldn’t quite keep the petulant note out
of her tone.
Hiko laughed and shook his head
slowly. “Silly girl. I’m not insulting you.” He reached over and placed one large hand on
her head and ruffled her already disheveled hair. “Would you rather I follow my baka deshi’s example and resort to
absurd formality?” His grin widened
when he heard another growl from the direction of the window.
“No.”
Kaoru couldn’t help herself. She
pouted. She had to admit, though, that
when he put it that way, his constant usage of the diminutive ‘chan’ could be
seen as an affectionate way of addressing her.
She rolled her eyes. Yeah,
right. As if Hiko Seijuurou, thirteenth
successor to the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, actually liked anyone.
Hiko glanced towards the open window and
cleared his throat before speaking in a rather loud voice. “So, Kaoru-chan, when should the big day
scheduled for?”
Kaoru frowned uncertainly. “What big day?” What was he talking about?
And why was he being so loud?
Was she missing something?
Hiko quickly hid his growing amusement
as the familiar ki outside his cottage displayed signs of confusion. Instead he faced Kaoru and schooled his
features into an expression of severity and disapproval. “Kaoru-chan, it is fairly obvious, even to
someone without my outstanding intelligence, that your honour has been
compromised. And as such the only way
to salvage the situation is for you to marry.”
‘What?!” Kaoru jumped to her feet just as the sound of shattering pottery
could be heard from outside the window, accompanied by muttered curses. She whirled and stared with eyes narrowed in
suspicion at the window. “What was
that?” She turned her glare on Hiko
again. “And don’t give that excuse
about mice. There’s someone outside
spying on us.” She grabbed her bokken,
which was conveniently leaning against the wall by the door.
“What are you doing, Kaoru-chan?” Hiko stood slowly, scowling towards the
window. That better not have been his
recently finished pottery he heard shattering out there.
“I’m getting to the bottom of that
mysterious mouse of yours. Kami-sama
knows how longs it’s been there. For
all I know it was there while I was getting undressed!”
“I highly doubt that.” Hiko reached out for the bokken and hastily
snatched his hand back when Kaoru turned on him. “Hey!”
“Don’t even think about it,
Hiko-san. I’ve had it up to here…“
Kaoru lifted her hand and made a slashing gesture in the vicinity of her
chin. “With peeping toms! This one is going to be taught a lesson he
won’t soon forget.”
“Um…Kaoru-chan…“ Hiko began as she
marched towards the door again. “I
don’t think you understand the situation…“
Kaoru stopped and turned to face him
again. “I understand perfectly
well. As you said, my honour has been
compromised. YOU won’t tell anyone
about what happened here today, that much I know. But that ‘mouse’ of yours can’t be trusted to keep silent. That means I’ll have to…“ Another loud crash
interrupted Kaoru’s diatribe, followed quickly by the sound of running
feet. Hiko turned towards the door as
it opened with enough force that it banged against the wall leaving a large
crack in the plaster. “Kenshin?” Kaoru blinked in surprise at his furious
expression.
“Baka deshi…so good of you to finally
join us.” Hiko regarded his furious
successor mildly and pointed to the zabuton across from him. “Stop hovering and sit down.”
**To Be Continued…**
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