Awakenings

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any character created by Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Warnings: None this chapter. This is ground work for the next chapter, so no smut.



Awakenings
Chapter 3
Learning

For every master there is a student.
Excellence is only gained through the careful application of knowledge gained.

Kaoru walked briskly until she reached the clinic. Her mind was still on Kenshin and his odd behavior. Maybe he was just tired. Kaoru knew she was not sleeping well, so she assumed the same was true for him, having observed the shadows under his eyes.

She opened the door and walked into the clinic, seating herself on a bench, she waited for Megumi. “Sensei! Kamiya-sensei!” shouted a young boy. Looking at the boy, Kaoru smiled. “Hello Hiroshi.” she greeted him. His black eyes sparkled, and he bounced on the balls of his feet in his excitement.

“ Will you be coming to teach us again this week, Sensei? I‘ve been practicing every day, just as you told me.”

“Yes, Hiroshi, I will be teaching at your dojo again on Thursday. I’m very glad you have been practicing, and I expect to see improvement in your forms.”

“Yes, Sensei! I will see you on Thursday!” he said, and bowing politely, he turned and left.

Kaoru smiled and looked up to see Megumi beckoning her to follow. She entered the examination room, and stood uncertainly before Megumi. “How are you today, Kaoru-chan? Are you feeling ill?” Megumi inquired.

“No, not ill, just tired. I was wondering if you had anything to help me to sleep. At least, something that ah, prevents dreams?” she asked nervously.

Megumi looked at her sharply. “Dreams? Are you suffering from nightmares Kaoru-chan, or is this for Ken-san?”

“Um, no, not nightmares, just, uh, tiring dreams.” she mumbled.

“Hmm” Megumi replied, looking at her with a calculating look. “Why don’t you tell me about these dreams, and maybe I can suggest something.”

“Megumi!” Kaoru shouted as her cheeks reddened, “It’s… it’s….embarrassing.”

“Kaoru-chan, I’m a doctor, there’s nothing you can tell me that I haven’t heard before. You need to trust me if you want help.” she said, and squeezed Kaoru’s shoulder in encouragement.

“Well” Kaoru began after a minute “they are dreams about a man and a woman.”

“Yes…” Megumi made a motion for her to continue.

“And, and…they are um, touching each other.” she said so softly that Megumi had to lean forward to hear her.

“Touching? Kaoru-chan, are you trying to say that you’re dreaming about sex?” Megumi asked with amusement.

“Ah..” Kaoru began.

“It’s quite normal for you to be having sexual dreams and fantasies, Kaoru. You are at an age now where your body is developing a hunger for the touch of a man. The same is true for boys your age. It is what drives people to marry and have children, you know. It is expected that you would have dreams of yourself and a man you are sexually attracted to.” Megumi said in a casual voice, as though she were discussing the weather.

“In fact, I would go so far as to guess that these dreams are about Ken-san.” she continued matter-of-factly.

“What difference does it make?” Kaoru muttered, as her cheeks darkened further.

“Hohohoho! Don’t be embarrassed, tanuki, Ken-san is a very desirable man, and there is nothing wrong with your mind having fantasies about him. Perhaps you should tell him about your dreams, and see if he has any suggestions for you? Hohohoho!“ She teased.

“Megumi!” Kaoru screamed in horror. “Mou!”

Turning to a cabinet while still chuckling, Megumi extracted a packet which she held out to Kaoru. “Here, brew a pot of this before you go to bed, and you should have no trouble getting a good nights sleep. “However,” she continued with a gleam in her eye, “if you decide you had rather do something other than sleep, I can give you something else to put into Ken-san’s tea.”

“No thanks, kitsune!” Kaoru huffed as she snatched the packet from Megumi. Turning on her heel, she walked back towards the entrance when she was suddenly knocked off her feet.

“Ooof!” she cried as she landed on her side. Looking up, she saw a young boy of five or six years old peering at her through a silky fringe of black bangs. He regarded her with serious, amber eyes that looked vaguely familiar.

“Masato!” cried a woman’s voice. Kaoru climbed to her feet and dusted herself off, and turned to see a beautiful woman with dark hair and eyes regarding her with concern.

“I apologize for my sons’ behavior.” she said, bowing. “I do hope you are alright?”

“Of course.” Kaoru said with a smile. Turning to look at the young boy, she said “You are very strong, I bet you would enjoy studying kendo.”

“I am very sorry for hurting you, miss.” he said and bowed low. “How did you know I like kendo?” he asked curiously.

“I teach Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, and it’s not that hard to recognize when someone would make a good student. Do you study at a dojo in the area?”

“My father teaches me.” he proclaimed proudly.

“I was also taught by my father.” Kaoru said with a smile.

“Forgive me” said the woman, “I am Fujita Tokio, and these are my sons, Masato and Eiji.” she said, moving to indicate an older boy standing behind her.

“I am Kamiya Kaoru.” she said bowing.

“I have heard my husband speak of you,” she said with a warm smile. “You are Battousai’s woman, aren’t you?”

“N...n…no” she stammered, suddenly flustered. “Himura Kenshin lives at my dojo; he’s a good friend.” she finished. “Wait, your husband knows Kenshin?….you’re Saitou’s wife!” she gasped, as she remembered Saitou’s assumed name was Fujita. She also realized why Masato’s eyes looked so familiar; they were just like his fathers‘.

“Yes” Tokio said with a laugh. “Kamiya-san, please allow me to apologize properly for my son’s behavior by inviting you for tea? I have long had a wish to meet you.”

“Thank you, I would love to Fujita-san, but please call me Kaoru.” Kaoru said with a wide smile. She was enchanted by the lovely woman, and more than a little curious as to who could have been brave enough to marry Saitou.

“Of course, Kaoru-san, and please call me Tokio. Now, when would be a convenient time for you?”

XXX XXX XXX

Kenshin walked home with a genuine smile on his handsome face. Since making the decision to act on his feelings, he had felt relaxed and at ease. The thought of getting closer to Kaoru filled him with such happy anticipation, that he wanted to laugh out loud. This was an entirely new feeling for him, but not unwelcome.

He had bought all the ingredients to make Kaoru’s favorite dish, and he had even stopped by the Akabeko to pick up her favorite dessert. Kaoru loved sweet things, but seldom indulged. Yahiko was working, so it would be just the two of them for dinner.

Looking across the river, he spotted Kaoru. She was walking with a rather striking woman, and there were two boys trailing behind them. Kaoru and the woman were talking animatedly, and then laughing together over some shared amusement. They were walking away from him, and after a moments hesitation, he headed back towards the dojo. Perhaps it was the mother of one of Kaoru’s students? He shrugged and continued on his way.

XXX XXX XXX

“Did he really threaten the doctor?” Kaoru laughed after she took a sip of tea.

“Of course” replied Tokio with a gleam in her eye, “Hajime is very protective. I have heard the same is true of your Himura.”

“He’s not my Himura.” Kaoru said with a sigh.

“But you would like him to be.” Tokio said looking at Kaoru.

“Is it that obvious?” Kaoru asked with a rueful smile.

“Kaoru-san,” Tokio said, moving to take one of Kaoru’s hands, “men seldom know what they want until we inform them.” She smiled gently.

“Hajime told me about what happened to Himura-san when he believed you were dead. A man would not behave that way unless the woman had already taken over his soul. Perhaps he just needs a little incentive to speak aloud the words his actions have already proclaimed.”


Kaoru looked startled, then thoughtful. Tokio sipped her tea, then regarded Kaoru seriously.

“Kaoru-san, I was a geisha for some years before I married, and I know quite a bit about men. I would be pleased to teach you. Realize that any action you take will also ensure the happiness of Himura-san. There are some things that cannot be left to chance.”

Kaoru looked at Tokio for a moment as she considered her words, then bowed low before her. “Tokio-sensei, I gratefully accept, and I pledge to faithfully learn all that you will teach me.”

“Excellent” Tokio said smiling. “Now, let’s begin with the basics…….”

End Chapter 3

XXX XXX XXX

A/N I am aware that Eiji is not the son of Saitou and Tokio, but since he was taken into their care, I just assume he would be treated as an adopted son. I also chose to give Saitou and Tokio only one son at this point (I assume he is away slaying evil for long periods of time). I named S&T’s son Masato, which is said to mean justice, which I thought was fitting.

I know this is a filler chapter, but it was necessary before I could get to the next section. Please review as it gives me the incentive to write!