Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and Sony. The characters were used for the sake of this story. Any changes in their characterization is under the responsibility of the author.

An Unexpected Birthday Gift

By Vic'Chonn

August 11th, 2005

Chapter 1: Happy Birthday

"Makimachi Misao! If you don't get out of that bathroom right now I'm going to destroy that door and then kill you!" A fuming Kaoru said as she paced frantically around the living room. Her hair was disarrray due to her morning state, her eyes were blazing blue, and her hands were grasping her robe's belt.

"Misao!" She repeated again as she stood in front of the bathroom's door. "I'm going to be late for work!"

"Five more minutes and I'll be done!" Misao answered from the other side of the door.

"You better do!" And with that, Kaoru sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Suddenly, the sound of the bell ringing made Kaoru groan.

Fuming, she went to open the door only to find her red haired fiancee standing in front of her with a bright smile and holding three cups of coffee from Starbucks.

"I take Misao's in the bathroom and you're waiting for her to come out." Kenshin said amused as Kaoru rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation.

"What a shocker, eh? Misao, you have 55 seconds left!" Kaoru yelled again as she shut the door and took the coffees from Kenshin. She walked to the kitchen and placed them on the kitchen table. While she was doing that, Kenshin suddenly hugged her from behind and kissed the side of her neck affectionally.

"Come on, love, you shouldn't get like this. This is like everyday's routine for you so just calm down." Kenshin said as he nibbled her neck.

Kaoru breathed in deeply and shook her head. "I know but seriously, I'm going to be late for work and I need to be early there today! And stop doing that, Kenshin. Don't try to distract me, she might be your cousin and my best friend but if she doesn't get out of there now I'll strangle her."

The red haired man chuckled but paid no heed to his girlfriend's fumings. Instead, he turned her around in his arms and started to shower her with kisses on her face.

"A kiss to let the anger go away," Kenshin said after landing a kiss on Kaoru's forehead, "another one so you don't murder Misao… and another one to make you smile…"

"Kenshin…" Kaoru warned but smiled slightly at his sweet affections.

"Aw, that's sweet you guys. But Kenshin, let Kaoru go so she can take a shower." A suit-dressed Misao walked in the kitchen and took her cup of coffee. However, upon seeing Kaoru's eyes directed at her with that oh so well known I-was-waiting-for-you-to-come-out-so-I-can-kill-you expression, Misao retreated quickly to the living room and talked to the couple from there. "Or not, Kenshin! Just hold her for a bit longer while I get my stuff so I can leave the apartment."

Kenshin laughed loudly as he held Kaoru in his arms and she tried to get free.

"Don't worry, Misao. She won't do anything. Right, love?" He asked raising an eyebrow to Kaoru.

"Oh no, I won't do anything… Actually, instead of killing her with my bare hands right now, I'll kill her tonight in her sleep. Misao, you took an hour in the shower!" Kaoru said as she got away from Kenshin and walked directly to he bathroom, slamming the door shut once she was inside.

"How long for her to calm down?" Kenshin asked after he took his coffee and went to the living room to join his cousin.

"Uhm, let's see, after her shower and the lavender shower gel, she'll be like new hence no more threats. In other words, she'll be ok after the shower but will continue ranting about me taking too long." Misao said as she sat on one of the couches and check if everything she needed for the day was inside her briefcase.

"Well, Misao, an hour?" Kenshin teased.

"Hey, have you seen my hair? I tell you, it's a pain untangling it."

"Then cut it." Kenshin said nonchalantly.

"Are you insane? No way!"

Kenshin chuckled and then the two cousins continued to talk and laugh until Kaoru finished her shower. She dashed into her room and got changed as fast as she could.

"Ah! I'm going to be late! Late! Late for my first meeting with one of our biggest clients!" Kaoru thought as she tried to find her other heel in the mess of her closet. Once she found it, she put it on and walked to the living room.

"Misao, if you didn't need to go early to work why in the seven worlds didn't you let me take a shower first so I wouldn't be acting like a maniac now!" Kaoru demanded as soon as she saw her friend and her fiancee chatting happily while they sipped their coffees.

She took her coffee from the kitchen and grabbed her keys and her briefcase, which was sitting on the kitchen's counter.

"Ok, need to rush. Sorry, Ken love, but I have to get out of here now. I'll see you tonight. Misao, have a good day and I hope you choke with your coffee for depriving me of an early shower." She kissed Kenshin on the lips and then went to pat Misao's shoulder. After that, she left the apartment as if the very devil was chasing after her.

"Do you think she noticed it's her birthday?" Misao asked amused after the door had shut.

"I suppose with all the rushing she didn't." Kenshin shook his head and smiled at Misao. "Oh well, she'll find out once she's at the office."

Misao giggled as she stood up from the couch.

"Suppose… Anyway, dear cousin, I have to go now. I'll see you tonight then. Remember, don't let Kaoru come back home before 7:30, otherwise, we won't have time to decorate for her surprise party."

Kenshin nodded and stood up as well.

"Understood, I'll distract her. Now, I have to go to work as well but I'm really dissapointed that Kaoru forgot her own birthday. I wanted to give her a birthday kiss." Kenshin said innocently enough that Misao started to crack up.

"Oh gosh, you guys are so in love."

"That's why we're getting married."

"I know, I know, and I'll leave now before you start telling me for the zillionth time about how wonderful she is despite her cranky mood when she's deprived of her oh-so-called-early-shower."

Kenshin laughed at that. After a few minutes, both cousins walked out of the apartment and headed to their own jobs.

oo------------------------------ooo-------------------------------oo

Her heart pounced loudly and she felt as if she was dying. What met her sight was a nightmare. She choked while trying to avoid her sobs and she wirled around, ignoring the voice calling her name. She ran out of the place paying no heed to the curious eyes that were staring at her. Luckily, the elevators' doors had just opened and she got in and let the doors close back, deaf to the man telling her to stop.

At the main floor, she ran to the parking lot and quickly retrieved the keys for her car. She turned the ignition on and pushed the gas. The car started to move and not even her tears could blind the sight of a man with red hair running towards her, trying to catch the car before it could leave the building.

Wiping away the moisture from her eyes with one hand, she used the free one to make a turn to the right. Pushing the gas for one more time, she left the building and drove back home.

The only thought in her mind while she was driving, was how he could do this to her, especially during her birthday.

oo-----------------------------ooo------------------------------oo

He was a stupid, an idiot, he really was.

After the car was parked, he ran to her apartment. He hoped she was there and that he could talk to her. It didn't matter if everyone was there to witness everything for several of their friends had been invited for her surprise party.

He rang the bell once and in a few seconds, a confused Misao opened the door.

"Kenshin, what has happened?" She asked as the red haired man walked in without greeting and headed directly to Kaoru's room.

Some of the friends who had stayed in the place looked at each other awkwardly and decided that it was best to stay silent at the moment.

Kenshin knocked on Kaoru's door only to receive no answer at all. He knocked again and called her name without success.

"Kaoru love, please, open the door. I'm going to explain but please, love, open the door." He repeated the same sentences over and over again only to be greeted by silence and his friends' worried expressions.

"She just came back crying and went directly to her room. I tried calling her but she didn't answer as well. Kenshin, I've never seen her like that. What has happened for God's sake?" Misao asked fearfully, too scared to hear Kenshin's reply, too afraid to confirm her suspicions.

She was too afraid that her thoughts were true and that her cousin had hurt her best friend very deeply.

"Kenshin?" Misao questioned Kenshin when she got no reply from her cousin.

"Not now, Misao, please. I just want to get Kaoru out of there so I can talk to her. Please." Kenshin spoke as he knocked again unsuccessfully.

Several minutes ticked only to be transform into hours. Almost at midnight, Kenshin gave up knocking and sat against Kaoru's door.

Misao looked at him sadly. She approached him silently and tapped his shoulder.

"Kenshin, you can sleep in the couch." She whispered softly. "I left some blankets in there. If you need anything you know where everything is."

Kenshin looked up at her with red eyes and showed a small smile. "No, thanks. I'll stay here."

Misao wanted to say something else but she knew that once a decision was made, nothing could change her cousin's mind.

Nodding in understanding, she moved to her room and flicked the lights off. Once her door shut Kenshin's hands covered his face and he started to cry silently.

"God, what have I done? What have I done?"

oo---------------------------------ooo-----------------------------------oo

She heard her friend knocking but she wasn't ready for any answers just yet. She only wanted to cry and be alone. She didn't need anyone right now.

After a few attempts, the knocking stopped and she was left with nothing but soft murmurings that were coming probably from the people who were in the living room.

She assumed they were wondering about why she burst into the apartment weeping and sobbing during her birthday and then locked herself in her bedroom. She didn't care.

Then, she heard the bell ring and after a few minutes, she heard him knocking on the door just as her best friend had done earlier. She ignored the noise and his voice calling for her to open the door.

She tried to ignore it for a bit longer until it started to bother her. She looked for her music player inside of a drawer and turned it on. She put the headphones on and lay on her bed.

The music was loud enough to be deaf to the outside world. Several songs played and after a while, she fell asleep completely unaware of the man who continued calling for her desperately with the hopes to get an answer.

oo----------------------------------ooo----------------------------------oo

"I won't get out if he's here. I don't want to see him!" The annoyed reply came from behind the door and Misao tried to reason again.

"Come on, Kaoru, he only wants to talk. Please, I understand that you may be mad but you can talk to him. Perhaps some explanations can be made." The plead was made carefully and the man standing next to her looked at her with hopeful eyes.

"I said no and that's the end of it. I don't care if he's here for another ten hours but I won't get out until he leaves this apartment."

Misao sighed

"Kaoru, love…"

"Don't you dare to call me that and get out of here now!" Kenshin was interrupted as soon as he said the last word. He breathed in deeply and tried for one more time.

"Kaoru, please get out of there so we can talk."

"I have nothing to talk with you. Please, just leave. I don't want to see you."

"You'll be late for work…" Misao tried this time.

"I don't care. I can call for sick. Now, tell him to leave or I will stay in here all day long."

Kenshin massaged his temples at Kaoru's stubbornes and walked to the living room. Misao followed him and looked at him with even eyes.

"Kenshin, I still don't know what has happened last night and I'm sure I'll know eventually. But now, she's hurt so just let her be at least for today."

"I know, but… I really need to talk to her before she does something stupid. You know how she is and I don't… Misao, no matter what, I love her immersely and I don't want to lose her." Kenshin's hands fisted at his sides and Misao stared at him with pitiful eyes.

"I know. But you're tired. Just go home and come back later. I'll try to convince her to talk to you again."

At that last part, Kenshin's head shot up from its bowed position and smiled at his cousin gratefully.

He thanked her as he hugged her and then walked towards the door.

"I'll come later, then."

Misao nodded and once the door was shut, she walked back to Kaoru's room.

"Kao, he's gone. You can come out now."

A few minutes passed and the door was ulocked. It cracked open slowly and when it was completely opened, it showed a dishelved woman with sad blue eyes.

oo--------------------------------ooo---------------------------------oo

"Good afternoon. This is Kamiya Kaoru, I know you're going to close soon but may I speak with Mrs. Yasuno, please?" Kaoru said as she played with the telephone's cord.

"What are you doing, Kaoru?" Misao's sudden voice came from behind her.

Kaoru turned her head around and indicated her to stay silent.

"Hi, how are you, Hitomi." Kaoru said turning her head back, her eyes focusing on the window in front of her.

"I'm alright," she continued. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that… Well, I was wondering if you could cancel everything… Yes, the engagement is broken…"

"Kaoru!" Misao shot up from her seat and was about to say something when Kaoru glared at her with teary eyes.

"It's sad, I know… I rather not talk about it, please… No, it's alright… So, is it ok if I meet you in half an hour?… That percentage is okay. I'm aware of your refunds policy… Great, bye and see you then. Thank you." Kaoru hung up and sighed. Misao was about to open her mouth when Kaoru stopped her.

"I don't want any questions, Misao. I know what I'm doing and I'll trust that you won't intervene."

"But how about Kenshin?"

"He made the decision for me. Now, if you excuse me, I have to meet Hitomi."

Misao saw Kaoru enter her room and reappear with a jacket on and her purse.

"See you later."

As soon as Kaoru left the apartment, Misao hurried to dial Kenshin's number, hoping that he would answer soon before it was too late.

oo------------------------------ooo-------------------------------oo

"Fuck!" Kenshin yelled as soon as he heard his cellphone voicemail. He checked his watch and swore again.

He put his suit jacket on and left his office in a hurry. Once he passed by his secretary he instructed her to call his cellphone in case of any problems since he needed to leave the office for an emergency.

At the parking lot, he turned on the car and drove as fast as he could. The only thing in his head was that he was in time to stop Kaoru. He knew she was hurt but what she was going to do was ridiculous.

His cousin's message played continously inside his mind.

He made a turn only to groan at the sight. Damn it, the traffic was terrible and he needed to get there before it was too late.

He didn't want to lose her. He wasn't going to allow her to walk away of his life like that.

"Kenshin, it's me, Misao. Listen, I don't know where you are but as soon as you receive this message go to Yasuno's Wedding Planers Co. Kaoru called them and cancelled your wedding arrangements. Keshin, she said that you guys broke the engagement. She's heading to meet Hitomi as I'm leaving you this message. I hope you get there in time. Call me in case you need me. good luck."

The line of cars was moving at twenty miles per hour and Kenshin started to get frustrated.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

oo--------------------------------ooo---------------------------------oo

Kaoru sat on bench in the park and stared at a random tree sadly. She looked down at the envelope with the documents she had received just a few minutes ago, and let a sob escape her mouth.

She looked at it angrily as tears began to damp her pale face.

She smiled bitterly and read the papers for the second time in one hour.

"Happy Birthday, Kaoru." She said to herself as she looked at the diamond engagement ring in her left hand. "Happy Birthday." She whispered again as she took the ring off of her finger.

oo-----------------------------------------------ooo-----------------------------------------------------------oo

After a lovely night celebrating my birthday the idea came to my mind. This is like a re-invented and "better" version of my old fic "Just One More Day." As you may have noticed, it's not happy at all. It was intended to be a one-shot but it seems that I fail miserably every single time I try to write one. Yes, I love making Kenshin and Kaoru suffer. Actually, all the characters will suffer a bit. I lack imagination when it comes to this but I'll let you guess about what Kenshin has done to Kaoru for her to act in such a way. I'm just that cruel.

Until next chapter, and yes, this is a short story.

Vic