Chapter 6: Calm Before the Storm

Kaoru had been watching him like a hawk since he'd returned to the dojo. She knew it had to be irritating him, especially given his little fit earlier that day, but that only made it more worthwhile. If that baka was going to work himself to death at her dojo, then she had every right to at least wonder what was going on. Especially given his strange visitor...

She thought back a moment to the boy. He's seemed pleasant enough... at least outwardly. He was polite, constantly smiling. He'd offered no threat. In fact, he was the sort of boy she'd normally gladly take into her dojo. But something didn't settle right with her about this youth... this... Tenken. And so she worried quietly... still uncertain as to whether or not she should mention the boy to her only boarder...

Kenshin was cooking supper at the moment, carefully mixing ingredients and tending the fire.

Kaoru hovered not far out the door, pretending to be cleaning the engawa. She honestly was waiting for him to yell at her any moment now. She'd been sweeping the same spot for ages. But he seemed distracted. She couldn't help but wonder if something had happened at the market. Had the boy found him already?

"Is there something you needed, Kaoru-dono?"

The sudden question startled her so much, she jumped. The broom dropped from her hands and clattered down onto the wooden floor. "Oh! I just... I'm only..."

"You're only wearing a hole in the wood," he responded, softly. He wasn't looking at her, but for the first time in days, he didn't sound angry or frustrated. He was like a different person entirely at the moment, quietly cooking.

"You sound tired," Kaoru said, without meaning to. She blushed. "I mean, you never sleep anyway, so that isn't a surprise..."

He just shook his head. "You don't give up do you?"

She just glared at him, her blue eyes on fire. Her mouth open, ready for a vicious retort, when suddenly she realized unexpectedly that he was laughing softly.

He glanced up at her, his tired eyes a soft, almost violet blue. "It's been a long day, Kaoru-dono. I don't really feel like talking. But if it will put an end to your questions... last night I wound up having to stay out later than expected. I'm tired. That's all. You can stop worrying. It will all be over soon." He glanced back at the pot of soup, stirring a little. Then, as though his thoughts had never strayed from cooking, he commented, "Kaoru-dono, would you please get us some bowls? The soup is almost ready."

Kaoru went inside thoughtfully and grabbed a couple of bowls. She couldn't understand him. At times like this, he seemed so gentle and amiable. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, his temper would flare and he would seem dangerous. Controlled-very much so-but still clearly dangerous. She found herself constantly keeping her guard up, even in these moments of peace, worrying that he'd change moods out of nowhere. Though, if she were honest with herself, the only times he'd shown any sort of temper around her was when she'd pushed him too far. Often after he'd warned her several times by that point to back off.

She sighed, reemerging from the dojo with the bowls. She sat across the fire from him, handing his bowl over. He ladled out some soup, and set it down at his side, then motioning for her to hand him the other so he could fill it for her. Startled, she complied. It was easy to forget that this man, this ex-revolutionary, could be so surprisingly polite. She never knew how to treat him.

Now, however, he seemed so relaxed, much more comfortable and... well... normal than she'd ever seen him, that she asked him a question that had been tugging at her mind for some time now. "Kenshin?" she started hesitantly, watching carefully for any of his sudden shifts in mood.

He handed over her bowl of soup. A vague grunt was his only acknowledgment of his name.

"Can I ask you a question?"

He paused in the action of picking up his bowl and glanced up at her, his brow furrowing and a slightly suspicious expression flickering in his eyes. Finally, he lifted the bowl and responded, "Ask." His voice was soft, wary. "But I might not answer."

Kaoru nodded. "It's fine." She took a deep breath. "Who is the Tenken?"

Kenshin immediately tensed, his hands tightening on the bowl so much that his knuckles went white, and shooting her a glare that silenced her. She was suddenly afraid. Until she realized that his anger wasn't focused on her. Wasn't focused on anything really. It just flickered in his eyes like a barely contained fire burning though his careful mask.

His eyes turned toward her. Amber. Dangerous. It suddenly occurred to Kaoru that this man whom she knew nothing about could be a danger to her.

"Where did you hear that name?" His voice was low and frigid. At odds with those burning eyes. That hypnotic stare.

She stood and shook her head, freeing herself from his gaze. Regaining her composure. And her temper. She took a deep, calming breath, irritated by his response. "Some kid showed up here when you were at the market. He said he was looking for you. That he had a job you'd like."

"What else did he say?"

"Nothing. Just that." She turned away, refusing to look at him. If she didn't look, he was less intimidating. "And stop staring at me like that. Glaring at me won't change my answer." She began eating her soup as though she were ravenous, mostly to focus on something—anything-other than those eyes. "You're such a bother sometimes," she muttered irritably, glowering into her bowl.

There was a small choking sound in front of her that took her so by surprise that she glanced up without even meaning to. "A bother?" he sputtered, an odd look on his face. "I'm a bother?"

She suddenly realized what was going on. He was laughing. Well, he was coughing and choking while trying not to laugh, but still... the moment of danger appeared to have passed. He was just Kenshin again.

"What about it?" she snapped, a bit embarrassed by his laughter, even with her relief at his response.

He smiled faintly, startling her again. "I've been called a number of things in my life," he responded quietly, "but I've never been called a 'bother.'" His smile grew a bit more and he brought the bowl to his lips, taking a sip of his soup.

She just stared at him, confused by his abrupt shifts in mood. "So... you aren't angry anymore?"

He glanced back up at her. "No." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I wasn't angry with you. It's just..." He paused, glancing away. "The Tenken..." He stared at her for one long, quiet moment before continuing. "The Tenken works with me on some... specialized jobs at times." His expression darkened. "But he's not supposed to be here. Not yet, anyway. I expected to meet up with him when I left. When my work was done. And he has no right to be hunting me down, watching me."

Kaoru shook her head, discomfited by the flash of anger in his eyes at that last comment. "Maybe he just wanted to tell you about the job," she said, trying to help. "He didn't seem too dangerous."

Kenshin's jaw clenched at that. "No offense, Kaoru-dono," he responded carefully, "but you aren't exactly the best judge of how dangerous people are."

"Excuse me?" she snapped, insulted.

He shook his head. "The Tenken is not someone you want to mess with." With those words, his eyes met hers. "Any more than I am." His eyes suddenly darkened. "I shouldn't have dragged you into this. He knows who you are now..."

Kaoru got the impression that the redhead was speaking more to himself than to her.


Author's Note: I apologize for this chapter being so short. I've been sitting on it thinking that I might add more, but I realize that it's complete enough for this chapter, and I'd best post it, so I can move on. Sorry for the wait for such a short continuation. And thank you, as always, for reading.

Also, thanks to sueb262 for her beta work way back when I originally wrote this chapter!

Dewa mata!

Sirius:)