A/N, Well, here goes my first fanfic! This will be a chapter story. AU, modern day, some canon, some original stuff. I started this project because everyone writes Battousai as some sex-crazed deviant. Which is fun and all, but not realistic based on the manga. So I'm taking a crack at it! My goal is to update weekly but this is all new to me so I have no idea if I can can keep up. I'll do my best tho! It starts out teen but will eventually progress to mature. You've been warned. Again, first timer here so be gentle. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I'll do as I damn well please with Watsuki's characters. #fightme
Kaoru noticed the red-head the moment she stepped into the lobby. It's not every day you see hair like that – especially when it looked so natural. That is one hell of a dye-job, she thought, although you'd never know it next to that bright magenta shirt. What was she thinking? Magenta and *red*?! Fashion disaster. Still, the hair was pretty. Thinking maybe she would ask the girl for her hair stylist's number, she stepped up to the mailboxes and was surprised to see the redhead unlocking the box right next to hers.
"Hey! You're my new neighbor!" she said cheerfully. "I'm so glad. That apartment has been vacant for months and it was creeping me out." She flashed a brilliant smile that slipped slightly when the red-headed girl turned to her and answered with a pleasant tenor.
"Oh! Yes. Hello. I'm glad you're pleased. Most people don't like new neighbors." The red-head flashed a polite smile that didn't reach his startlingly blue eyes. Upon closer inspection, Kaoru saw fine stubble on his chin and a prominent Adams apple. So, NOT a girl then. Kaoru thought a little less cheerfully. She didn't mind men, per se, but she didn't trust them either. She'd heard too many horror stories from her students. Still, this guy seemed nice enough, and she was pretty sure she could handle his slight frame fairly easily.
She cleared her throat, "Well it's better than an empty suite that anyone could break into, hide, and do god knows what in. I'll take my chances with you." She flashed him a look that clearly said she wasn't convinced she should.
He chuckled and held up his hands. "Woah, woah, I'm definitely better than a squatter. I take showers, pay rent, and even have some furniture!" He grinned, showing off perfectly straight and very white teeth. "Besides, you won't see much of me anyway. I travel a lot."
"Oh? Work or pleasure?"
"Work. I'm an international consultant. I'm gone for weeks at a time."
Kaoru frowned, "So plenty of time for squatters to set up shop in your place."
"I should hope not! I have a camera system so there's no need to worry. You'll have the security of an occupied apartment and the quiet of an absent neighbor. It's a win, win really" he finished giving her a quick wink.
"A camera system? Ok Mr. Fancy Pants." She rolled her eyes. "Ya know you're in the wrong part of town for that stuff. It's more likely to get stolen than actually prevent theft."
He smiled ruefully, "It's for my work, company policy. Everyone in my division is required to have video surveillance in their home. It's a live feed so even if someone steals it they can still access the data and just replace the hardware."
Kaoru was vaguely aware her mouth was hanging open. Who was this guy?! Trying to decide if he was a bad-ass or a freak, she suddenly realized it didn't matter. She was going to give the weirdo a wide berth. "Umm… ok" she said awkwardly as she glanced away and went to open her mailbox. "Well anyway, welcome to the building, neighbor." Scooping out her mail, she gave him a half-hearted smile and turned towards the stairs.
"Thanks!" He said cheerily, as if the social temperature hadn't just dropped a few degrees. "It was nice meeting you!" He called to her back. Yep, definitely a freak, she thought, and began the long climb to her apartment.
Kenshin watched her go and smirked, Mission accomplished, he thought triumphantly. He found it was always a delicate balance, walking the fine line between 'weirdo' and 'threat'. He'd gotten quite good at it over the years, learning to put in *just* the right touch of 'stay away' while turning the 'harmless' up to 11. Still, no matter how many times he'd convinced people to see him exactly as he wanted to be seen, he felt the tiniest bit of smug satisfaction each time he pulled it off.
Chuckling to himself, he took the key out of his box and leaned against the wall while he waited for the girl to finish her long trek up to their floor. She looked fit, but it would take an Olympic sprinter to match his speed up the stairs, and he didn't want to startle her by coming up behind her. Something told him if he did he would be on the receiving end of some fairly competent violence. The girl was slight, but her muscles were well-defined and it was clear in the way she held her core and planted her feat, that she knew how to handle herself. Good, Kenshin thought, hopefully we can avoid any damsel in distress situations.
More than once, Kenshin had found himself saving a neighbor and having to move on before they got too curious… or worse, attached. He supposed he should blame himself. He insisted on staying in run-down areas that tended to have high crime and low police presence. It's not that he couldn't afford a place in the nicer parts of town, it's just that people tended to notice things more in those areas. His red hair and odd habits stood out no matter where he stayed. So it helped to stay in places where he wasn't the only freak and people made a point not to notice things in order to avoid 'getting involved.'
Sighing, he figured he had waited long enough and quickly trotted upstairs, reaching his landing just as his neighbor's door slammed shut. Smirking to himself again, I'm getting too damn good at this, he strode over to his door and silently let himself in.