What If? -a YYH/RK crossover Part 24 ---------------------------------------- "Omae o korosu!!!" Aoshi dropped Kurama's hand as a small homicidal blur headed straight for him, murderous intent glowing brightly in maddened red eyes. "ACK! Hiei!" Kurama lunged forward, somehow managing to wrap both slender arms around the tiny demon's waist. His delicate face showed the strain of trying to subdue four feet and eight-five pounds of enraged demonic jealousy. Kaoru and Megumi simply stared, wide-eyed, at the scene. "Anou....Kenshin?" the ponytailed girl whispered, edging a bit closer to the redheaded rurouni. "Nan de gozaru ka, Kaoru-dono?" he asked politely, calmly sipping his tea. Hmm...maybe a bit more jasmine next time to strengthen the flavor... "Is your cousin always this...violent?" she winced as the spiky- haired child wriggled out of the redhead's grasp and pounced on the hapless Oniwa Banshu. Kenshin gave her a serene smile. "Hiei-chan's just being friendly, Kaoru-dono," he said, totally ignoring the way the little demon was now jumping up and down on Aoshi's sprawled form. "More tea?" he offered, lifting the pot suggestively. Kaoru sweatdropped. "I hardly think friendly is the word for it, Kenshin..." The rurouni gave the grappling pair a thoughful look. "Hmm, perhaps I really OUGHT to have mentioned that my cousin is a bit.... POSSESSIVE when it comes to my sister." An amused smirk curved his lips, quickly suppressed as Megumi turned his way. The young doctor regarded him with canny, brown eyes. "Being a bit forgetful these days, are you Ken-san?" she asked him sweetly. He gave her an innocent look, and shrugged. "Perhaps." A hint of reckless gold flickered in his eyes. Megumi peered at him closely, suddenly struck by how grossly she'd misjudged the slender redhead. Hmm, some reevaluation was definitely in order. There was more to that pretty little head than she'd previously thought. She wondered if that dreadful tanuki-girl had even noticed the twisted sense of humor that lurked beneath the rurouni's gentle smile. This could turn out to be very interesting indeed. Giving him an appraising smile, she held out her cup. "I think I WILL have some more tea, if you don't mind, Ken-san." Winking back, he deftly poured out the requested drink. Yes, things were getting more interesting by the minute. *the author cackles evilly in the background* * * * * * Meanwhile, the two other occupants of the room, namely Sanosuke and Yahiko, had wisely removed themselves from the immediate vicinity of one pissed off fire demon. Making themselves comfortable in an out-of-the-way corner, the duo turned their attention to the center of the room, avidly watching the drama unfold. Yahiko, for his part, frowned in concentration and mentally took notes, as the little demon began gnawing on the leg of the fallen Aoshi. Leaning forward, he studiously memorized the demon's various moves. After all, who knew when such techniques could come in handy, especially when dealing with certain chicken-headed bakas? Said chicken-headed baka, on the other hand, had his eyes fixed on the beauty currently trying to pry the ugly little toad off Aoshi's leg. Ah, such gentleness, such grace! With a stupid grin plastered on his face, Sanosuke stared at Kurama and drooled.