Chapter 2
Unexpected Attraction
The sun shone brightly and Kaoru sighed happily as she snuggled into the bed and pulled the blanket tightly around her. It was so comfortable, she thought. The bed was so comfortable. Since when did my bed become so soft and enchantingly comfortable?
Her eyes flickered open and she took a deep breath. The smell of fresh flowers instantly had her eyes snapping open and she practically jumped out of bed. Kaoru took notice of the strange bedroom and yesterday's events burst in her mind. Groaning, she trudged to the bathroom and took a nice long hot bath. Feeling like a million dollars and able to face the red-haired monster from yesterday, Kaoru slipped into her favourite jeans and yellow jersey. Combing her hair neatly, she only applied powder before opening the door and prepared to face the music.
It was a beautiful house, she realised. Tapestries hung on the walls and pictures decorated the hallway. It looked like an old house and can easily be dated back for centuries. That was much she got when she noticed the ancestry pictures hanging on the wall. Fresh flowers decorated each vase and curtains were pulled to the side giving the old mansion a homey and easy atmosphere. Kaoru felt like she has fallen in love with the house.
Feeling absolutely famished, she caught the sight of the butler from yesterday and nearly sprinted towards him. Bowing respectfully, she greeted the older man and asked for breakfast.
Hiroshi nearly stared at the young lady before him. She looked much better than the beat up girl from yesterday. Her clothes were really loose but other than that she looked fresh and cute. Very cute, he thought as he guided her to the dining. Very cute and very polite, he realised and appreciated the country air around her.
Kaoru noticed the butler didn't seem scary today and smiled winningly at him. Her azure eyes twinkled when he apologised for mistaking her yesterday fro a boy.
"Don't worry about it, Hiroshi-san. I guess I did look kind of like a boy yesterday. No harm done. Anyway, can you tell me how to meet Uncle Hiko? I do not want to intrude and Himura-san seemed eager to kick me out," Kaoru asked playfully, wriggling her nose even as her voice darkens when she mentioned Kenshin's name. That man had some nerve, she thought angrily at the way he practically bossed her around.
"Ah..Seijuro-sama is already here actually. But he told us to allow you to sleep in. You had a rough day yesterday, after all," Hiroshi told the youngster as he stopped at the dining. "The maid will bring your breakfast, Kamiya-san. Why don't you wait for a while?"
Kaoru nodded. "Arigato Hiroshi-san. Demo, if you can just call me Kaoru. You are older than me and it is not polite, you see."
Hiroshi smiled slightly at that. All the rich brats were practically demanding respect and it was nice to have someone knowing the true meaning of respect. "Unfortunately, Kamiya-san, you are a guest and Kamiya-sama's daughter too. So, it would not be my place to call you by your name."
Kaoru sighed. "But it's so weird!" she grumbled as she waited in the dining room. Hiroshi smiled inwardly. He had a feeling this girl would change the household within a month!
The breakfast was wonderful and Kaoru enjoyed every bite. It was different than the burnt food she usually got at home when her father cooked and she was no better! Then, she got up and was directed to the room she was told that Hiko Seijuro was waiting for her. Stilling her nervous heart, Kaoru braced herself to meeting her father's friend.
"Ohayo-gozaimasu, Uncle Hiko," Kaoru greeted with a customary bow when she entered the room. Straightening, she met the eyes of a large man drinking sake.
Hiko watched as the young girl greeted him and then looked up. She looked like Naoko, he thought with fondness. Her short black hair and baggy clothes gave her a boyish appearance but her eyes stole the show. She had her mother's eyes, wide and innocent. Her small lips were pursed together making him realise she was nervous and her body was slight. He could not make out how much she had developed under her oversized t-shirt.
"Ohayo. You had a pleasant sleep?"
Kaoru nodded and took the seat across him. He was so large, she thought with a smile. He was a muscular man and she remembered that her father told her his friend was a swordsman. She could easily see this man wielding a sword. He looked dangerous and at the same time, he looked like a big cuddly bear. Kaoru laughed inwardly at that thought.
"There seemed to be a misunderstanding, Uncle Hiko. I think you gave the wrong address," Kaoru told him pointedly, unhappy with being a burden. Hiko raised an eyebrow.
"Have I now? Pray tell what gave you the idea," he said calmly as he studied the girl before him. She needs a haircut, one that would be stylish and feminine. Her wardrobe has to go. What was his friend thinking dressing her up like this? No boy would approach Kaoru with a romantic interest if she was dressed like a boy herself.
"Himura-san all but threw me out yesterday. I'm afraid he doesn't realise you made a mistake. He is unhappy with me being here and I refuse to be a burden to him," Kaoru replied, trying hard to contain her anger. Himura being 'unhappy' was an understatement of the year. He looked downright murderous last night.
"He wasn't expecting you yesterday. This is your home for now do not worry about that. My baka deshi only lives here. He is in charge of making your stay...comfortable. We were under the impression you were arriving today, actually."
Kaoru was surprised but Hiko waved it off. "Now, tell me about your father."
She grinned at this and told him all about her life in the country. Hiko knew that Kenshin was at the door and listening to Kaoru but refrained from saying anything. The young girl was so animated when she talked, Hiko realised. Her hands were waving about and her nervousness at him practically flew out of the window. She related tales of her father's cooking and her own bad luck in the kitchen. She easily told him about going fishing, jungle trekking and sailing with her father.
Kenshin watched with interest, as the badly dressed girl from yesterday turned to be a very cute and mischievous one. He listened in amusement at her tales and his eyes wondered over her body. She was dressed in another set of baggy attire and her short hair was combed better today giving her a very adorable look. Her legs were tucked underneath her like a child. Her cobalt eyes were very bright and twinkling as she chattered about her previous life. He paused at the sight of her lips and an unbidden thought of ravishing those lips entered his mind suddenly causing him to check himself.
Damn it, Himura! She's just a 16-year-old child! She's hardly a woman and you should not think of her this way. She is young!
Even then his eyes followed the curve of her slim arm as she waved it about. Her arm was slim and her body, slight. What was hidden beneath those baggy clothes, he wondered. Was she well proportioned and curvy? Or was she a stick? He wondered if he would ever find out and again cursed himself.
Ever since the news of his engagement and the appearance of this one girl, he could not stop thinking about her. No women has ever told him to get out or even raise their voice, but here, a mere child just told him to his face to get the hell out. She had spunk he would give her that. And she was cute. If only she touched her feminine side, she would surely attract men like moths to flame.
That thought caused him to growl suddenly and Kaoru instantly noticed his presence and her head turned around to acknowledge him.
"Baka deshi, there you are," Hiko called out as he leaned back on his chair. He was thoroughly amused when he saw Kenshin examining Kaoru intently. For a brief moment, he caught the desire in his apprentice's eyes but knew better than to pursue him about it.
"Himura-san," Kaoru greeted tightly, not really wanting to be in his presence. Kenshin noticed this instantly as her eyes dulled and she stopped speaking. Kenshin wished she hadn't changed that dramatically but knew that he had to make sure his Shishou didn't talk Kaoru into the engagement.
"Kamiya-san. I hope you slept well?" he said calmly, taking the seat opposite hers. Kaoru looked up, shocked at the absence of anger in his voice and her cobalt eyes clashed with calm amethyst ones.
He has beautiful eyes, she thought as she took notice of it. Rarely has she come across amethyst-eyed people.
"I did, thank you. It is much comfortable than the bed at home," Kaoru replied tucking her legs securely beneath her. She still did not smile, her eyes watching him wearily, wondering what brought the change about.
Hiko noticed this. "Don't give a thought on my baka deshi. He is like that."
Kaoru gave a small smile and Kenshin missed the brightness she displayed with his shishou. He nodded at her clothing. "Don't you have anything else which is bigger so you can sink in it?" he asked sarcastically.
Kaoru glared at him. "I enjoy wearing baggy attires, Himura-san though I don't know how my attire is of any concern to you."
He knew she was annoyed and felt satisfied at the gleam in her eyes. "I would say it is better if you wear something that fits instead of something that looks like it's going to fall off. Or do the boys at your place enjoy clothes like this?"
Kaoru clearly was annoyed at his reference to her clothes. "I wouldn't know. I never spent the effort finding out what they liked." Too busy beating the crap out of them, she thought silently and yearned for the bokken that was usually at her side so that she could pummel him.
"Well, if you wear some skirt, they would know you are a female instead of one of them. Perhaps then they will ask you out?" he said as though it was a question but all three in the room knew he was making a statement.
"I don't do skirts or dresses for that matter," Kaoru replied with finality in her tone, which Kenshin promptly ignored.
"I never asked you to make them only wear them," Kenshin said innocently. Kaoru's face flushed with anger.
"What I wear is my business, Himura-san. I am not your sister, your girlfriend, your fiancée or your wife to flaunt about like some doll to the society. So I can wear what I want. It is easier anyway," she said with a wave as she got up.
Kenshin's eyes narrowed, his amethyst pupils darkening. "Watch your tone, Kamiya-san when you are speaking to me."
Kaoru turned to look at the man before her. He annoyed her. "Please watch yours, Himura-san. I am not yours for you to order me about."
With that, she turned and walked out with a nod at Hiko. He was laughing. "Well, well, well. At least I finally get to see a woman arousing your anger instead at throwing herself at your feet. I told you she is not like your other women who are more than willing to spread their legs for you."
Kenshin ignored the callousness of his master's words and watched the empty doorway instead. She was going to have to learn her place. Starting with her clothes.
XXX
Kaoru's mind bristled at the thought of her uncle's apprentice. She was very comfortable with what she wore and she did not need him to tell her what to wear. Grinding her teeth and thinking of every reason she shouldn't kill him, she walked around the house and her feet stopped short.
Her breath caught in her throat.
It was beautiful.
She stood in the midst of a well-kept garden with a variety of flowers blooming around her. There in the middle of roses and chrysanthemums, was a fountain. It was an old fountain of a woman pouring a jug of water with a child on her hip.
What caught Kaoru's eyes was the rows of sakura tress lined up heading towards an unknown direction. Walking in awe of the sakura blossoms as they bloomed, Kaoru saw a dojo. Her heart screamed with joy and her spirit immediately lifted.
She ran towards the dojo, uncaring if anyone was watching her. She stood at the entrance and took a look around.
It was different than the dojo at home. It was larger and a few dents were visible. There was no plates bearing student names but there were a variety of swords hanging on the wall. Beside it were a variety of bokkens and shinais. Kaoru approached almost reverently and fingered a bokken. She picked it up and tested its weight. Satisfied, she studied the swords.
One sword stood apart from the others. It was a sakabatou, a reversed-aged sword. Something pulled her towards it and she lifted it from its stand and studied it. It was old. Most probably from the 1800s. it was an antique but she could see from its sheath and sword that it was well preserved. The sakabatou was heavy almost as though it carried the weight of the world. Kaoru felt a part of her calm down at the feeling of the sword beneath her fingers. Her anger disappeared and she concentrated on studying each sword there although she never placed the sakabatou away.
XXX
She had a long bath for one reason.
She did not want to meet him after a lovely afternoon.
Kaoru sighed as she played with the bubbles in the tub. She never had a bubble bath and the scent of jasmine floated in the bathroom. Her body and mind were relaxed and she didn't give a damn about the world. This was paradise. A heavenly bath was definitely heaven. Kaoru knew this would only last for awhile until her cousin came to fetch her but she couldn't help wondering if the gods were so cruel to put her in a house with such heavenly treatment with a man who gave the her most awful treatment. Kaoru groaned.
An image of Kenshin Himura snuck into her mind and she bit her lips. She hated that man. Just because he was rich, relatively speaking, handsome, with eyes so beautiful that was sinful. Just because he had a delicious looking body, which she was forced to ignore to keep her temper. Just because he had a sinfully seductive voice even when he was angry. Kaoru could just imagine how he looked like that morning before he went to work. He was dressed in a tailor made suit which fitted his small frame. He might be short for a guy but he was still slightly taller than her and yet his presence was at times intimidating. Hell! When he told her to watch her tone, she had to control her fear (which she did very well, pat in the back) and still not be seduced by the danger in his voice.
Damn it! She hated that man for making her feel this way.
It wasn't as though Kaoru never had any boyfriends...
Ok...fine. She never had any for she was violent by nature and most guys prefer demure girls to her.
But she did have boy friends...she knew what the male species was like. Half her friends were good looking. Handsome too. But she never felt her heart racing or her breath hitching or her palms sweating at their sight. Just his.
That makes her hate him more.
Kaoru sighed dejectedly. Now, she hated her bath too. She closed her eyes and leaned back, savouring the last few moments in the tub. She wished she never thought about it. An odd feeling rested in her tummy and Kaoru didn't like it. Pulling back, she washed herself and rubbed her body dry. Feeling charged, Kaoru hummed as she got out.
She was going to forget Himura and his sinfully attracting eyes. She was going to happily avoid him for the month. She was going to concentrate of her age peers.
Happy with her resolution, Kaoru opened her cupboard only to have her resolution broken at once and pure rage taking over.
Trying to count until ten and failing miserably, Kaoru marched outside with only her bathrobe on. Tsubame, who was passing by instantly caught her sleeve.
"Kaoru-san! Where are you going dressed like that?"
Kaoru checked herself and growled menacingly. "Where are my clothes, Tsubame-chan?"
Tsubame took a step back and answered hesitantly.
"Himura-sama asked us to throw it away. He got new clothes for you."
Kaoru felt the anger rising to dangerous levels and confronting 'Himura-sama' with only a bathrobe wasn't an appealing idea. Furiously, she shut the door and proceeded to rummage through the clothes he got for her.
Kaoru slipped into a dark blue fitting jeans and a white blouse. She looked at herself in the mirror and felt part of her anger dissolving. She did look nice, she thought with a sigh. However, the clothes were not comfortable and she wasn't used to wearing them. The blouse was too short. When she lifted her arms, her tummy was exposed.
Kaoru groaned. She slammed her room door shut and stomped down to meet Kenshin.
Kenshin and Hiko were patiently waiting for Kaoru to have dinner when they heard the door slammed shut. Hiko winced but Kenshin knew the reason for it. Kaoru must have found the clothes. She will not be happy but he didn't care. He waited rather impatiently at the thought of seeing her. She would definitely look much better...prettier in the new clothes.
Kaoru slammed the door open and glared at the redhead sitting across her uncle. She watched as both men turned to her but her attention was on Kenshin.
He was stunned.
She was a far cry from the 'boy' he met. She was beautiful. Where he thought she was most probably a stick figure, she was curvy. Her chest wasn't as small as he thought it would be. It strained at the blouse she was wearing and the blouse, which hugged her figure, showed off her slim waist. It ended right above the waistband of her jeans, which hugged her slim long legs. The girl had a great figure.
Kaoru's eyes narrowed as she watched Kenshin's eyes trailed over her figure. This attire has shown off more than she had shown in years and she wasn't happy.
' A haircut,' Kenshin thought. 'Would complete the transformation.'
"Are you done?" Kaoru asked pointedly. Kenshin looked up at met her eyes. A slow smile spread across his lips.
"It seems I have. You look much better in these. Very much," he complimented. Hiko nodded. He agreed with his apprentice. Kaoru did look much better.
She blushed at his blatant compliment but held on to her resolve. "Thank you. But I do not appreciate the trouble you seemed to have gone through. If you would just give me back my clothes..."
"Not a chance. This is better than that pile of rags you usually wear," Kenshin cut her off. He noticed that Hiko shared his view and would therefore not interrupt. Besides, it was nice getting her riled up.
Kaoru flushed with anger. "Himura-san, I am much comfortable with my usual 'pile of rags' as you put it. These clothes are not comfortable at all."
"Sometimes, you need to put style before comfort. You'll get used to it."
Kaoru gritted her teeth. Hell no! She wasn't letting him get away with this. "So, why don't you wear it first and tell me how 'comfortable' it is. I'll think about it after that."
Kenshin's eyes narrowed. This girl loved challenging him. She was riling him up just as he pushed her buttons. He was not going to let her win. Staring at her expressional blue eyes, he told her coolly. "I'll watch where I am trading if I were you, Kaoru. I'm doing it for your good so show a bit of appreciation and say thank you."
Her head held high, she looked thoroughly annoyed. "Don't start doing things for me as though you are my father, Himura-san. And it's Kamiya-san to you."
By now, Hiko was enjoying himself with their little spat and laughing from his seat. Before Kenshin could answer, though, Hiroshi knocked and announced that they had visitors.
"Yukishiro-san and Kiyosato-san are here, Seijuro-sama," Hiroshi announced.
Kaoru watched in confusion as Kenshin's face changed to one of pure coldness while Hiko looked annoyed. However, he nodded to Hiroshi to send them in before gesturing to Kaoru to sit beside him.
"Don't say or ask anything while they are here, Kaoru, okay? You don't want any gossip floating about," Hiko warned her as he watched the door. Kaoru nodded, curious about the guests they were having but she knew better than to go against Hiko's wishes.
Instead, she glanced discreetly at Kenshin. Part of her was flattered now when he complimented her look but part of her was really angry that he bothered. She was comfortable not showing her body to the world and now he had changed that. She noticed how he took care of his appearance and found herself admiring the handsome redhead before her. He was very beautiful, to say the least. She loved his flaming red hair and half the time, she wished to feel the strands, wondering if they were as soft as they looked. His eyes were a mystery. She was sure that at one time they were gold and at others they were a gentle violet. On his right cheek was a cross-shaped scar. If anything, that scar enhanced his features making him more unique.
More desirable and of course, attached.
The chances that this man was single at his age were laughable.
Kaoru sighed quietly and earned a quizzical look from her uncle just as the door opened and two women walked in.
The first one was a woman in her mid forties, around Hiko's age, Kaoru thought. She looked elegant and beautiful. Her brown hair was tied up in a traditional chignon and she was wearing a kimono, which looked very expansive. Despite her age, her skin was flawless and she looked entirely at home in the den.
It was the younger woman beside the older one that caught Kaoru's gaze and won her awe. She was gorgeous. Her long hair was unbound, cascading her back. Her brown eyes were gentle and alert. She looked like a flower, Kaoru thought totally amazed by her beauty.
She looked away when Hiko got up and greeted them, as did Kenshin. Kaoru too followed suit.
"Airi-san, a pleasure to see you again. Tomoe-chan, nice to see you too."
Kaoru noticed the absolute coolness in the polite greeting and wondered why the two were treated that way. She watched as Kenshin bowed just as politely and barely glanced at Tomoe. Kaoru bowed slightly and sat back.
"The pleasure is ours, Hiko-san. We just couldn't resist coming," Yukishiro Airi said with a knowing smile. Hiko didn't miss the bait.
"Of course. You need some juicy line up, I suppose," he said with a drawl.
Airi laughed and waved it off. Tomoe, sitting beside stole a look at Kenshin and turned away. Kaoru noticed this but still kept quiet despite the curiousness eating away inside her.
"Now, now. After all, both our youngsters had been a hot item once, Hiko-san. It is just natural that since mine is married that I want to see who yours ends up with," Airi replied without breaking her eye contact.
An item? Kaoru looked at Kenshin and then at Tomoe. She realized, with a sinking feeling, that Yukishiro Airi was right. It was easy to see that these two were in a romantic relationship before breaking up, probably due to Tomoe being forced to marry her family choice.
"Tomoe-chan might have married one of the biggest publisher company's son but that does not mean Kenshin will end up with anyone less than his standard, I assure you," Hiko said in a sweet voice, which sent tingles of apprehension crawling up Kaoru's spine. She was sure everyone else felt the same.
"I just wanted to see how Kenshin-kun's fiancée looks like. She must be much more prettier than my Tomoe," Airi said with a bite. Her eyes landed on Kaoru but she did not think that Kaoru was the fiancée. After all, she looked very young. "I am sure it isn't that child you have sitting beside you, Hiko-san. She is too young for your apprentice, isn't she?"
Kaoru bristled. Who is this woman who comes into someone else's house and insults them? She felt an instant dislike and that feeling grew stronger by the minute. However, a hand on her thigh caused her to look at Hiko and remain silent but the gesture was not lost to Airi.
"Maybe not his fiancée, but your illegitimate daughter?"
This snapped Hiko's patience. "I would love to introduce you but I see in as unnecessary and waste of my energy. I am sorry to say no formal introductions to Kenshin's fiancée is going to be made anytime soon, Airi-san. So your visit was rather useless."
Airi got up, followed by her daughter. "People will speculate, Hiko." She warned this time with no politeness. Hiko didn't disguise his.
"I never cared about what people thought before. I am not going to start now."
Airi walked out calmly. Yet just as Tomoe was about to follow her mother, Hiko said quietly for so that Airi would not hear it.
"I suggest you keep your mother in line, Tomoe. She doesn't know that you are the reason for all of this. If she causes any trouble or tries to sabotage Kenshin's engagement and marriage, I can assure you that she and the rest of the business world will find out what you and your husband did. An I clear?"
Tomoe nodded. She turned abruptly and left.
"I'm not going to be...filled in about this, am I?"
Hiko shook his head.
That's when Kaoru sat back and closed her eyes after the little drama. She played back everything she heard and saw when an information stood out the most.
Kenshin's fiancée.
So he was taken after all. Kaoru smiled sadly. He might be an annoying jerk but Kaoru knew she was in love with Himura Kenshin.
Just great.
There was no way he would return her feelings. He would just laugh it of, she was sure of it. For her sake, she would avoid him, treat him indifferently and try not to be nice.
That way, he would stay away from her and she would not fall for him even more.
She groaned, not caring that Hiko and Kenshin were looking at her.
This is puppy love.
A crush.
She would get over it soon.
She hoped.
"Kaoru, let's have dinner."
Kaoru opened her eyes and looked at Hiko before slowly nodding her head. Then, she turned to Kenshin with a halfhearted smile. She stuck out her hand to shake his. "Congratulations."
The redhead looked at her curiously and then, his expression turned to one of amusement. He shook her hand, reveling in the warmth and gripped it tightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Thank you."
"She is a...lucky girl," Kaoru said simply before turning to leave. She tugged at her hand but he refused to let go. Kaoru gritted her teeth.
Or not so lucky a girl, she mused.
"Let go, Himura-san. We don't want your fiancée to get any ideas. Do we?" Kaoru said sweetly before pulling her hand. Kenshin let it go with an amused smile.
"Yes, well...I am sure she wouldn't mind."
She raised an eyebrow at his answer but shrugged it off.
He was an odd man.
"How come they know about your engagement?"
Kenshin shrugged. "It was in the papers. Don't you read them?"
This time Kaoru's face flushed in embarrassment. "Actually, I just read headlines and leave information out," she admitted with a grin and walked out following Hiko. Kenshin laughed at that and felt himself liking the blush on her cheeks.
He watched as she left before following her behind. His gaze dropped to her butt. She had a very cute butt, he thought with a light blush on his cheeks. She had a style of walking. It was done with such natural grace that he wondered if she noticed. Her style was more apparent with her current outfit.
'Damn it, Himura! You're fantasizing about a child? Get a grip! That girl is at least 7 years your junior and a student and a minor at that! Do you want to get arrested?' Kenshin berated himself. Darn it! She wasn't even as voluptuous as half the women he had slept with and yet...somehow, she turned him on.
Now that he had seen what hid under her baggy clothes, Kenshin was aware that he wanted to taste it too. What amazed him was that, unlike other times Tomoe's visit or appearance had affected him, this time, he couldn't care less. He was too preoccupied watching Kaoru watching him. Her innocence called out to him. He knew she thought she was being discreet but he caught her glancing at him more than once.
Maybe...just maybe this engagement was what he needed.
Maybe Kaoru was what he needed.
But Kenshin stilled his heart.
He would not give Kaoru his heart. If ever Hiko talked her into marrying him, Kenshin would treat her well. But he had learnt his lesson and was not about to repeat it.
Women loved money. That was all there is to it.
XXX
The sight of his spiky haired friend leaning against the doorframe of his office was not unusual. Kenshin grinned easily as Sanosuke walked in...more like staggered in. He had a certain sense of style and magnetic pull that women loved about him and it was no secret that Sano loved women too.
Hell! Even Kenshin secretary had slept with him.
But somehow, the women never minded that it was more a one night stand than anything lasting but his father, Souzou Sagara was getting frustrated with his son's nightly 'touring' with different hosts.
Not that Sano cared.
Kenshin leaned back on his chair after finishing the last touches on the computer. He nodded to the chair in front of him and Sano plopped into it.
"Heard bout your engagement, Kenshin. Care to fill in your old pal why you forgot to mention it?" Sano said with a cheeky grin. He was more curious about this engagement than anyone else because Kenshin had not said a word.
"How did you hear about it?"
"Well...considering that it was in the papers..."
Kenshin smirked. "That's how I found out too."
This time Sano gawked at him. "Hiko?"
Kenshin nodded. "She's not bad though. But she is just a child."
"How much of a child?"
"16."
"Ouch."
Kenshin gave him a look. "She's too young for me."
Sano sat back in ease. "But you like her."
"Just like. Sexy body though."
This time they both laughed. "She'll only be here a month before her cousin takes her in. This company legally belongs to her but she doesn't know and doesn't want it. So Hiko wants me to marry her so that I can keep it."
Sano nodded. "Makes sense but if she's just a child...you ain't gonna fall for her. It's different if it was a woman."
Kenshin nodded without saying anything and closed his eyes. That's what he wanted. If marriage goes through, he didn't want feelings involved. Kaoru was interesting enough. She could rile him up and keep him on his feet. She didn't swoon at the sight of him and that was good enough. He had enough of wide-eyed adoring teenagers.
"I am not going to fall for anyone again, Sano. I told you that."
Sano shook his head. "Don't let one bad experience get you clamped up, man. There are much better women out there. Maybe this fiancée of yours is one of them."
Kenshin ignored him but smiled when he thought of her congratulating him. "You know, she doesn't know she is my fiancée. She actually congratulated me on it. She is not going to be happy when she finds out."
"Why not? Most teenagers would love to get between the sheets with you," Sano teased his childhood friend. Kenshin grinned.
"Yeah but we end up fighting more than we talk. Some harmless flirtation on my part doesn't shake her much."
Sano nearly dropped from his chair. "Man, this I have to see."
Kenshin nodded and got up. "Coming?"
With a chuckle and curiosity reigning, Sano followed him out back to his mansion.
XXX
Kamiya Kaoru cursed every lucky star she could think of. How could she have changed physically so much within a few days.
First, Kenshin bought her clothes and got rid of her old ones.
Now, Hiko forced her to get her hair styled.
Kaoru looked at the mirror.
And sighed.
It was not as though she hated her image. She looked so different. So...feminine.
"You look pretty," Hiko said calmly as he watched her rake a hand through her hair once more. The change in hairstyle brought out Kaoru's features even more and she looked very pretty. He knew Kenshin would share his views too in this matter.
Hiko was hell bent on making Kenshin fall for Kaoru and marrying her. It was one way to keep the business and take care of his best friend's daughter.
"I look...different," Kaoru muttered helplessly. "This is not me."
"You look better and Kenshin would love it."
"I don't care what he thinks. He's a jerk."
Hiko smirked at that. If Kaoru thought he had not noticed the sparks in the air when these two were about, she was wrong. No two people belonged together like them and he was going to make sure his plan succeeded.
The sound of Kenshin's car in the driveway caused him to look up. He frowned when he heard a loud voice.
Sagara was here.
Kaoru was taking a book to read when the door opened and two men walked in. Abruptly, their conversation ended and she turned to the door to see Kenshin and a spiky haired man staring at her.
She looked like a young lady, Kenshin thought as he watched in appreciation at the change of her hairstyle. The new hairdo matched her face well and she looked stunning.
Far cry from a child.
Kaoru waited until she was sure he finished staring to wake him up.
"Can you stop looking at me as though you are dissecting me piece by piece and studying me?" Kaoru said, annoyed but secretly pleased with his attention before mentally banging her head.
He was engaged.
Kenshin raised his eyebrow. "Was that what I was doing? You look better...much better."
"Thank you."
She turned to the other man and saw him eyeing her up and down. Her irritation increased until brown eyed locked with hers and a friendly, playful smile graced his lips.
"Well, well, well, Jou-chan. Kenshin's desciption barely did you justice. You are very cute, aren't you?" he said cheekily and Kaoru found herself liking this man instantly. There was something...brotherly about him.
"I don't know about cute. I am very ordinary, I assure you...uh..."
"Sagara Sanosuke. You can call me Sano and there is nothing ordinary, trust me," Sano said with a wink as he extended his hand. Kaoru shook his and smiled a winning smile that made Sano like her instantly.
This girl is so pure and innocent. She is just what Kenshin needs. I see where Hiko is going with this.
No one except Hiko noticed Kenshin's clenched jaw and tight fists. He smiled knowingly.
Himura Kenshin is smitten with Kamiya Kaoru just as Koshijiro was smitten with Naoko.
Both are trying to deny it and will fail.
Miserably.
Hiko knew Kenshin was trying not to fall in love again. Love had played him a fool the last time but he silently hoped Kenshin would not be blind to the girl's feelings before him. Unlike Tomoe and the rest of the business world, Kaoru was unspoiled.
As it is, she is falling for him. Since Kaoru has never been in contact socially with any boy her age, she was oblivious about her feelings and very naive. She was also falling for Kenshin and Hiko hoped his baka deshi would not be such a baka to hurt her.
XXX
Author's Note:
Another chappie done!
Wow! It is taking more effort than I originally thought. Hope you guys enjoy this and thank you for your reviews. It is great.
