A/N: I hope I start off okay…my first try at E/K. although Enishi isn't coming yet…Looking forward to getting your reviews…please? A/K/E

Disclaimer: RK is my best-loved manga, along with Yukishiro Enishi and Shinomori Aoshi. If only Nobuhiro Watsuki gave me the right to own the two of them at least… wishful thinking..

Chapter I. A Dreary Monday

"Riiiinggggg!" the six o'clock alarm clock sounded loudly, waking up a cringing half-sleepy, disheveled Kaoru Kamiya in the process. She grumbled and reached out for the off button half-heartedly. "Ooow, Monday morning sucks!" she exclaimed loudly while rubbing sleep off her pretty azzure eyes.

Walking, or rather, slowly dragging her feet toward the bathroom, she noticed a pile of dirty laundry huddled not-so-neatly at one corner. Frustrated sigh escaped her lips, "Must remember to do laundry………" she made a mental note on her mind. After Stumbling into the shower, she turned on the shower tap on full force, wincing on the initial icy water that was poured upon her body, before sighing contentedly when it warmed up.

"Yahikoooo!" She screamed on top of her lungs in an attempt of waking her little brother up. He has to go to school at seven, and there was no sign of him being up and about still. Currently engaging herself in the breakfast making ritual of toast, egg and ham sandwich, she made a mental note of things to be done on that day. Yahiko finally peeked out from upstairs, all blurry-eyed and messed up spiky brown hair framed his face. Kaoru almost giggled before she took a serious note and told him to quickly take shower. He certainly took his time to do that. Oh, she's about to have a long day ahead of her.

She was so busy scolding Yahiko for being so unprepared, took his things, threw them all into his backpack, and shoved him out of the door in a flash. Hurrying herself to change into her usual work uniform, a crisp long-sleeved white shirt and a modest, knee-length gray skirt, only to find that her shirt was not so crisp to begin with,

which means….crumpled beyond belief…

she let out another exasperated groan. She knew that today wasn't her day.

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"Tap..tap..tap" the sound of her heels dug the hard cement of the sidewalk could be heard while she's half-running to her destination. It was 6.50 when she came out of the house, only this was undesired, since she doesn't want to be late, no no, not today, never on Mondays, when she knew that the supervisor on duty was Takani Megumi, the sharp, witty and one that could be downright annoying if she wants to be. And Kaoru was sure that she will be displaying her latter characteristic if she comes in late today. With that thought in mind, she hastily fastened her pace.

The 7.00 o'clock train was very full. Clutching her handbag, Kaoru let herself think over her monotonous, almost boring life, if she dares to say it out loud (granted, she's in denial sometimes, but she refuses to acknowledge it for her pride's sake!) Yes, Kaoru Kamiya is a proud and strong-willed girl, or rather stubborn as her friends say. A flock of school girls chatted amiably, a brooding teenager stood up on the other corner while listening to his ipod, and some elderly gentlemen were making a hushed conversation in the background, when Kaoru suddenly heard her poor stomach make odd rumbling noises, which thankfully, wasn't very loud, and remembered her prepared ham sandwich on the kitchen bench, long forgotten in her haste to get to the office. She frowned internally and let other, more pleasant thoughts occupy her mind to distract her from the sudden pang of hunger.

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It was 7.15 when she arrived at the office, late by fifteen minutes, and Kaoru was seriousy thinking of turning around and going back to her house, when suddenly she heard, "Well..well…if it's not Kamiya breaking her record of being late three times this week", a rather haughty tone was heard clear across the foyer room. Kaoru sighes in defeat…Megumi wasn't one for subtleness when she's upset.. And how the heck does she know I was late three times this week? Despite her own irritated self, Kaoru for once gulped down her emotional words that almost surface up with no easy feat, and bowed her head politely, muttering words of apology to her supervisor.

Megumi was slightly surprised 'What have we got here? A subdued tanuki? Unbelieveable!' but unfortunately for Kaoru, she decided not to press the issue since they usually have a lot of work to be done on Mondays. So she only walked past the raven-haired girl and humph-ed as she went into her office, holding a steaming cup of coffee in her slender fingers.

Kaoru noticed this, and was grateful, although not knowing what force has made Megumi stop her tirade of complaints against her lateness, as she walked to her designated desk, suddenly feeling more optimistic about her day. And so, Kamiya Kaoru, 22, began her usual at work.

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Monday 4.00 p.m.

On the other part of the town

A frustrated man was practically banging his fist on the table, while muttering curses against a certain someone. "&$….what a freaky, insufferable, #(#&…" more colorful words and animated gestures were on display, as the spiky-haired Sanosuke Sagara slammed the phone down at the same time. He huffed and puffed to let himself cooled down, threw himself on his black leather chair, and closed his eyes. 'No, this won't do!' he gritted his teeth as he remembered his old time comrade, Tsukioka Tsunan, a.k.a Katsu practically begged him to take over his place for a week.

(flashback)

A few days ago in Tsunan's Gallery…

"Come on Sano…I don't wanna be chained to my desk for months, I need a vacation too, for goodness'sake!" Katsu was using his pleading tone at best. Katsu was trying his best to persuade Sano to take his place for a week, for he desperately needs some air..

perhaps Hawaii doesn't sound too bad of a vacation…

No, not at all, he had even booked for his flight and accomodation before he asked Sano. He is that confident that Sano will be easily persuaded.

"No way, I'm never good with this office crap, dunno what to do..heck..I don't even know what you're working here as!"

"This is such an easy job, I'm sure even a lazy-ass as you could do it! What you need to do is just pick up a phone and sign documents at the most!"

Sano sported a bewildered look on his handsome face, "Whaddaya say!"

Uh, oh…Katsu realized his slip of tongue, and decided to fix it before it was too late.

More pleading, forcing and persuading was definitely needed.

Finally… Sanosuke relented.

(and Katsu made a mental pat on his shoulder proudly)

But only when he was reminded that he was actually owing Katsu a favour from last time. Geez…why me? Why now Sanosuke shot a pained look when reminded of that favor.

Katsu, that lying, good-for-nothing comrade. He said only picking up phone calls and signing some papers, when in fact, more like, lots of phone calls that require his constant attention, and plenty of papers to be checked! Damnit!

Now, sitting down on a comfortable leather chair, surounded by cool air-conditioning humming softly in a nicely decorated office of Tsukioka Tsunan didn't help to ease his frustration either. And this was only day two, for goodness' sake! Suddenly the prospect of working for a week makes him dizzy. Him of all people, a free-spirited, adventorous, and laid back self does not appreciate being locked up behind some office desk, either. He opened his eyes and spotted stacks of papers and a blur of letters in front of him, so he stood up and reached for his jacket.

'This calls for some sake!' he decided, and out he went from Katsu's office.