AN – This story is being reformatted to bring it into compliance with the new FF.N guidelines that state script format is now unacceptable. It's not my best work, as I have to reformat and repost all 10 chapters before I'm reported. Please bear with me.

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and its characters are property of Watsuki Nobuhiro. I'm just borrowing them temporarily and promise to return them. This story is intended purely for the entertainment of fans of the show. I'm making no money off this nor do I have any, so please don't sue me.

Summary: AU romance. I made Kaoru and Kenshin closer in age as I wanted Kaoru in her twenties but I didn't want to age Kenshin all that much. I started writing this a couple of years ago and haven't finished it yet. Thought I'd post it for your reading pleasure.

It's got some inconsistencies, kinda like I didn't reread my earlier chapters before writing the later ones and I apologize for that. I tried to fix it and just made it worse so I left it alone.

Italics denotes thought

Chapter 1

Monday dawns bright and sunny over downtown Los Angeles. The first rays of sunlight filter through soft lilac curtains, falling onto the tousled bed. The clock radio turns 6:00am and turns on, playing the local rock station. A groan is heard from the blankets and a delicate hand reaches out from their recesses and smacks the snooze button. Blissful silence fills to room once again, broken only by the twittering of the birds outside.

6:30 am

Suddenly, the phone by the bed rings. The same delicate hand reaches out and pulls it under the blankets.

A sleepy, muffled voice comes from the bed, "What?"

A woman's voice is heard on the other end of the phone."Kaoru? It's Misao. I just left my house and I should be there in thirty minutes."

Kaoru shrieks, "Eek!" I'm late. "Gotta go Misao."

Without waiting for Misao to answer, Kaoru hangs up and throws back the blankets. She jumps out of bed and runs to the shower. Hurrying through her morning routine, she throws on a pair of black slacks and light blue top. Hearing Misao pull up out front, she grabs a black blazer and her workbag and runs out to the car.

Misao grins as Kaoru gets in and says, "Woke up late, did ya?"

Kaoru's brow furrows and she asks, "How'd you know?"

"You hung up on me." Misao answers, "Now what would be an appropriate punishment, let me think."

Kaoru feigns fear and pleads, "Please, I beg you, nothing painful."

Misao thinks for a moment and replies, "I know, you can treat me to lunch at the Akabeko."

Kaoru, as they pull up outside the Aoiya Agency, answers her, "Deal."

The Aoiya is a talent agency specializing in casting Asian talent in American film. Many of their clients come from China, Korean, and Vietnam but most of them are from Japan. The president, Nenji Kashiwazaki, is known for starring in the Okina films of the 50s and 60s. Kaoru has been his assistant for the past 2 years.

Okina looks up as she enters his office and motions for her to sit. "Ahh, Kaoru, good. We have a very busy day today so let's go over the agenda."

Kaoru pours tea for the two of them and pulls out her notepad.

"As you may recall," he begins, "we signed some new talent in Japan last month. One of them, Mr. Kenshin Himura, is coming in on the 10:15 flight from Tokyo this morning. You need to pick him up at LAX and drop him at his hotel. This is his first time in the States so stay with him today and show him around, ok?"

Kaoru marks the important information on her notepad. "Gotcha. I'd better get going. Oh, I forgot, my car's in the shop. Misao picked me up this morning."

Okina shrugs and offers a solution, "So, take Misao's car."

Kaoru smiles, happy at the opportunity to irritate her friend a little, "She won't like that."

Okina frowns a bit and says, "I paid for it so technically it's mine. Take her car, oh and use the expense account for lunch or whatever."

Kaoru thinks, "Free lunch and shopping. Woo Hoo."

Kaoru leaves Okina's office and grabs her purse and a couple of CDs. After wrestling the keys from Misao, she heads toward the airport.

10:45am, LAX

Kaoru stands outside customs, feeling like an idiot, as she holds a sign with Kenshin Himura on it in both English and Japanese. She recalls the buzz at the agency around the time he was signed. He had been highly sought after by a number of agencies for his martial arts talent. Kinda like a Japanese Jet Li. Scanning the crowd, Kaoru tries to figure out who he might be.

Kaoru notices a small red-haired man emerge and stop to check his bags. It is hard to miss him with that hair. He gathers his bags, turns and starts scanning the area, looking for someone. Kaoru observes how gracefully he moves. It's rare to see that kind of movement in a man. With a shake of her head, she returns to waiting for this Himura person to come out. She envisions someone who looks like a samurai. Tall, dark with dark intimidating eyes. Yeah, and a big sword too.

A flash of red catches her attention. It's the red-haired man from before. Their eyes meet and Kaoru is mesmerized by his.

To Be Continued...