closed;

[maashiro]

Characters: maashiro and givingsword
Location: around Death City, wherever Kaoru drags Kenshin
Rating: PG
Time: January 11
Description: "Kenshin, get outside and do things."

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[givingsword]

"And that's exactly why you need to get out of this room." Kaoru huffed, hands on her hips, all seriousness. Kaoru hadn't exactly abandoned her style either, so she was dressed in one of the kimonos she could find, hair pulled back in not the same, but still a ribbon in a familiar shade of blue.

"I thought maybe we could go to that place Takuto took me, um,..'Deathbucks' I think it's called? They have really interesting drinks that are hot and--well, I don't know how to describe them! They're really good--and then we could walk around and I could show you some of the places I've found!" Kaoru responded brightly, before her eyes followed and trailed to his scarf, and stopped.

It was like a warm clench straight to her heart as she looked at the scarf, and she could already feel her cheeks flush a bit, she knew her eyes were probably lit up at it--something so simple as seeing him wear it (she felt like a child) but she couldn't hold back the beginnings of a touched smile. She opened her mouth to say something but clamped it shut, fearing what would come out.

Come on Kaoru, act normal!

"..A-Anyway let's go!" She blurted out, and started walking (marching) down the hall towards the stairs.

[maashiro]

"'Coffee,' you said, is it? Like the drink Tae-dono served us once?"

Kenshin overlooked her reaction to the scarf around his neck, though it was one he noted, and noted well. She was always easy to read, but sometimes Kenshin thought it was becoming even easier now without his ability to read kenki. Relying on that made the emotions clearer, but now that he was forced to read things on his own observations, he could see little things that explained those emotions: the catch of her breath that explained the surprise, the light in her eyes and the tiny twitch of her mouth, the flush and the stammer that explained all of it.

Tell her of your happiness.

Kenshin trailed behind Kaoru, moving just quickly enough not to lose her.

"You won't be cold?"

[givingsword]

"Yeah, and something called 'hot chocolate'! Think of that Western candy except it's like a hot drink!" She exclaimed, excitement once more filling her eyes. She had high hopes that she could get Kenshin out and about with no trouble.

And he hadn't seemed to notice her reaction either--that was a good thing..her heart-rate slowed considerably at that. Then again, Kenshin was a little too good at reading people--maybe he just was overlooking it? She hoped not..

At his concern, she turned, a smile on her face. "Not at all! And if I get something to drink I'll be very warm! I remember getting some for Christmas, but I..uh--" Kaoru fiddled with stray, dark hair. "..Um..it didn't turn out too well--by myself, anyway. " She started walking down the steps, pony and ribbon bouncing with her movements, a bouncing streamer.

"But I'll be fine! " She hadn't really asked for a lot for Christmas--she'd spent so much time making everyone's presents maybe she should have asked for a shawl...oh well!

"It's weird isn't it? We've been here for a while and it still makes no sense, does it---it's all so different to me still! " She turned over her shoulder, shooting him a grin.

[maashiro]

"It will never make sense to this one," he admitted, a little dryly, a little humorously. In two months his experiences had taught him that. The new era was far beyond the old-fashioned rurouni's comprehension

Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Kenshin then quickened his pace just enough to be beside Kaoru rather than following, hands undoing the scarf looped around his neck to settle and wrap it comfortably around hers instead. There his hands lingered for longer than they should have. That slip in her mood, for reasons for which he was responsible, was something that this time he couldn't let pass.

He could fix that.

"This one is accustomed to fewer layers in this sort of weather," he assured her; he must have forgotten his hands were still on her shoulders, that he was so close, because he made no move to remove them. "Kaoru-dono shouldn't risk getting sick. This is warm."

[givingsword]

"I don't think it's supposed to." She responded with laughter, smiling as she stepped down onto the floor, only to blink at the sudden warmth around her neck. Her mind slowly registered it, then she turned, staring at him with confused azure eyes.

He was so close to her. So close that her throat closed up, the ability to form words coming too slowly. Her face was flooded with heat, and she knew she was blushing. Kenshin's hands on her shoulders, his scarf around her neck. It was..an intimate gesture.

"But..." She began, her voice coming out slightly breathless, so instead she tried again. "But I made it for you. " Kaoru questioned him quietly, large blue eyes furrowing with gratitude and something else.

"I'll..--" She closed her eyes, before wrapping it around her, her chin sinking into the uppermost layer as a shy smile crept onto her face. "I'll keep it on..just for a little while then. "

With him so close it made her head spin. "But..if you get cold--we'll switch, okay? So we can both be warm...promise?"

[maashiro]

Kenshin caught his mistake at her reaction, but he was careful not to drop his hands as though there had been one in the first place: it was a slow, deliberate movement when he finally let go of her and returned his arms to his side. His left hand clenched the hilt of his sakabatou, just a little too tightly.

"I promise," he said, knowing he wouldn't be so cold as to request the scarf back from her. He had gone through harsh winters in worse-quality clothing. The chill would be nothing (though he would miss that scarf); Kaoru was the more important thing, after all.

"...Take care of it," Kenshin continued, the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "This one would like it back, de gozaru, and Kaoru-dono is not usually the most careful." A throwback to a long time ago, when she'd accused him of getting blood on her favourite ribbon.

[givingsword]

Kaoru didn't notice the clench, instead, she folded her hands in front of her, the scarf wrapped around her snugly. It was warm, but she decided the moment Kenshin looked cold (somehow she doubted he would in front of her ) that he'd get it back straight away. This trip was about him having fun--if he was cold, it wouldn't be fun for her either!

At his words, she nodded with a warm smile, before her eyes widened with recognition at his words.

This is my favorite indigo ribbon. I'm only lending it to you, so you have to return and give it back, alright?

She wasn't sure how she knew, but the fact that he remembered that far back, and that it was a memory he still thought of--it made her happy. She hadn't expected that. Her eyes crinkled, and once again, if he looked, he would see the effect 'his happiness' had on her.

"I will. I'll give it back--" And Kaoru paused at his little jab, scowling some as she lightly punched his arm. "Hey! I don't want to hear any jabs out of you today, mister! Now come on!" And without much thought, just as he had described her, Kaoru grabbed his hand and proceeded to stomp out into the cold air.

But in the front? She was smiling quietly, still a bit shyly, into his scarf. Today was going to be a good day. She could feel it.

[maashiro]

"Oro?" Kenshin stumbled a little, tripping as Kaoru's hold and tug caught him by surprise. Righting himself was easier than he made it look, fumbling along the roadside, but eventually he managed it.

"Mm, perhaps we should slow a little..."

She still had his hand; hardly thinking, he adjusted his grip to hold it more comfortably.

[givingsword]

"Okay, okay, fine." Kaoru huffed, but she did slow down, still holding his hand. She didn't realize she was still holding it--because it felt natural. Like she was supposed to be holding it.

But Kaoru didn't think that deeply about it. So just like Kenshin, she moved to settle that grip, smiling happily. "I can't wait to have some hot chocolate--then we'll be warm the rest of the way." She threw him another excited smile. "Were there any places you wanted to look into, Kenshin? Might as well knock them all out, right? "

[maashiro]

The weather was a chilly, but as Kenshin had said, he was accustomed to being in colder weather with even more threadbare clothes than he had on in that moment. Kaoru's closeness and the warmth of her hand helped, too; he didn't feel uncomfortably cold.

"Nothing this one has in mind," he said, looking up a little as he pondered the areas with which he was familiar. "This is Kaoru-dono's time with me, though. I'm perfectly happy to let you choose."

[givingsword]

"Half of two people spending time with each other is doing things both people enjoy, baka.." Kaoru sighed with a small laugh but kept her grip on his hand. Up ahead the more lively part of Shibusen was showing up and with it their first stop. "Almost there." She said lightly walking in silence with him until they arrived. With a smile she opened the door; warmth immediately surging in. "That's better! Now let's look at the menu.." In that instant Kaoru seemed to realize she was still holding his hand and she felt a bit flustered. Kenshin let her hold it for that long?! She felt like an idiot. Her fingers slowly slid out of his; blushing quietly.

She walked up to the front with a hello, gesturing him up. As she started looking. Her mind was already prepared to pay for them, it was what she always did at home after all.

"I'm sure they have tea too.. Just nothing we've heard before."

[maashiro]

"Aa," Kenshin agreed, turning to look straight at Kaoru, "but the other half is simply enjoying the company of another, de gozaru yo."

He wasn't surprised, in the end, when she finally let go of his hand; she probably hadn't thought when she'd grabbed it, and he knew her well enough to know she'd only just then realized what she'd done. But Kenshin, in turn, avoided tucking his own hands in the sleeves of his kimono as he might usually when sitting down.

"Oro?" The noise slipped out without his thinking as he looked around the room, taking note of his surroundings. "Have you been in here before?"

[givingsword]

Kaoru shook off her embarassment and turned over her shoulder, her eyes lit with excitement. "That's right. Takuto took me here after I taught him sometime before Christmas. He showed me around and it was really confusing but then I had something to drink and I really enjoyed myself! " Her smile spread across her face almost sheepishly at her confession. She was pretty simple..

"I first took a sip and I burnt my tounge! " The cashier in front of them seemed to remember this because they were holding back a laugh. "Anyway, what do you want? I'm going to get hot chocolate but let's see.. hm green tea.. But it has mocha at the end of it.." Her brows furrowed with confusion. "What's chai tea.." Kaoru's new mission was now to find something for him to drink. "Well they have coffee too.."

[maashiro]

Kenshin laughed. Kaoru had an inexplicable effect on people-especially him-in causing them to stop thinking and start relaxing. "You were very determined to have this one try hot chocolate," he reminded her, "so I think that's what I will try. We can always come back for further... experimenting."

[givingsword]

"Then two hot chocolate please! Um..for Kaoru and Kenshin!" Kaoru all but exclaimed, leaning into the counter with a bright smile. The cashier looked at them both with amusement, before nodding and going to the station where they started to put things into weird machines.

Kaoru looked up at Kenshin, gently coaxing his hands towards her so they could watch. "See! Look, they put it in this weird sort of tea-kettle and it gots hot almost instantly! Isn't that amazing?" She placed her hands on the counter, smiling. "And then they write your name on this cup and call out your order. I wish Tae-san could come see, she'd immediately put this to work back at the Akabeko..--Still, I never get tired of watching.."

[maashiro]

"It does seem to be very efficient, that it does," Kenshin admitted, watching the hot chocolate-making process with some degree of interest. For some reason he found this less daunting than laundry machines or dishwashers, but then, this was strange enough that it wasn't an unfamiliar process for a familiar result. (And he did have reasons for preferring to do laundry by hand besides not knowing how to use the machines-but that was off-topic.)

"You'll have to tell Tae-dono about it when we return home," he finished.