Disclaimer: I do not own the RK characters. They all belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki.

A/N: Thank you for reviewing! And I'd just like to note that chapter four and up will be somewhat longer so it'll take me longer to update having to juggle with other stories also. Anyways, enjoy! Please do review! Thank you!

Drive Me Crazy

Chapter 3: Storm Brewing Inside and Out

By: LadyYuina

It was well past 3:00 pm when Kaoru and Aoshi ended their mock-like conversation. Kenshin bid Aoshi goodbye as he made his way towards the office door to go out. Kaoru followed him. He stopped and turned to face her once he got out of the building.

"Why are you following me?" he asked, violet eyes watching her carefully.

"I have no place to go to; can I live with you?" Kaoru laughed when she saw Kenshin's expression. "Just kidding!"

Annoyed by her behavior Kenshin faced forward while he quickly walked to the parking lot. Kaoru, for some odd reason kept following him like a loyal pet dog.

"Where are you headed?"

Kenshin sighed. His business was not this woman's in the slightest - he didn't have to tell her if he didn't want to. "I'm sorry but if you need a ride it isn't going to be from me. Besides, your car looks fine." Getting into his own car he started the engine and drove off. Kaoru watched him go.

When Kenshin made it to the school he could see his two sons Naoto and Ietsuna standing by the front gate. They both looked annoyed - or, rather pissed off.

"Daddy, you're late," Ietsuna whined, being the younger one of the two siblings. He crossed his arms and pouted. Naoto did the same.

"I'm sorry kids, daddy got held up at work helping a friend," he explained.

"Aoshi?" Naoto asked. Since he was a year older than Ietsuna he seemed to be more reasonable and understanding.

"Yes, Aoshi. I had to help him unpack - he has quite a bit of stuff."

"I see." Kenshin smiled at Naoto. He was grateful that at least one of his kids were understanding. Not always but nonetheless.

Ietsuna hopped into the backseat while Naoto got in the front seat beside his father. Once they were seat belted down Kenshin sped off down the driveway heading towards home.

Kaoru drove over to her friend's house. Before exiting her car she looked up at the sky momentarily - from the looks of it, it looked like it was going to rain. The sky was an ominous, dark-gray color. Even the air smelled kind of moist. A downpour was definitely coming.

The doorbell rang several times before someone finally answered. A petite girl with seemingly large bottle green eyes popped her head out. Her long black braid trailed behind her head like a rope that was connected to an object.

"Kaoru, hi! I wasn't expecting any visitors but please do come in!" she greeted warmly.

"Thanks, Misao." The difference in temperature didn't go unnoticed. Kaoru relaxed as nice warm air greeted her compared to the frosty chill outside.

"You look kind of down - did something happen at work?" her perky friend asked. Kaoru nodded stiffly. Misao's expression changed from a 'I'm so happy' to 'Do you want to tell me about it?'

Words flowed from Kaoru's mouth now that she was allowed to speak. "Of all the people that can replace me it had to be Shinomori Aoshi."

"Aoshi?" Misao squealed. Her eyes shone brightly with delight.

"Gee . . . whose side are you on anyway? Mine or his?" Kaoru asked accusingly.

"He's cute and all but I'm your friend so I'm on your side."

"Really?" Kaoru spat sarcastically.

"Pinky swear?" Misao held out her small pinky for her friend to grab a hold of with hers. Kaoru laughed and swatted the girl's hand away. "What? You don't want to do the pinky swear anymore?"

"When we were younger, yeah, but we're too old now, Misao. I'm twenty-four!"

"So? I'm twenty-one. That doesn't make that much of a difference."

Shaking her head, Kaoru said, "you're hopeless!"

"How about hopelessly in love?" Misao changed the subject.

"In love? With who?" Kaoru nailed her friend with words, forcing her to answer. But before Misao could even say anything though Kaoru looked crestfallen - she knew who she was in love with. It wasn't hard to guess.

"Aoshi . . ."

"You shouldn't call it love - it's more like infatuation. You hardly know the man!"

"I was always around you when you competed with him." Misao compensated. "One year of high school anyway . . ."

"Don't even remind me," Kaoru groaned. "I'm already down in the dumps - don't make me sink a good six more feet under."

"Um . . . Since you don't have the money to pay for your rent - wanna move in with me?"

Kaoru contemplated the thought but shook her head at the idea. "I don't want to burden you with my presence . . . I'll move in with my cousins."

"Are you sure they won't mind?"

"No - because they'd love for me to help watch over Suzume and Ayame." Kaoru smiled warmly at the thought of embracing the small bundles of joy again - she hadn't seen them in months. "Saitou dumps his kids on Okita and Soujirou all the time when he and his wife go out! I bet they need a break from all the nanny jobs they've had to go through. Let me use your phone - I'll call them right now."

Misao handed her brightly colored wireless phone to Kaoru. With calculated purpose she dialed up her cousins' phone number. Kaoru found herself drumming her fingers on the coffee table in the living room - it was a habit she developed while working in the business industry. She disgustedly stopped her drumming to fiddle around with her dress skirt instead.

"Hello?" Soujirou answered the phone. Kaoru could hear Ayame's voice in the background. "Excuse me -Ayame, stop that! Your daddy would be mad if you broke it!"

Kaoru stifled a laugh and waited. When Soujirou got back to her he politely asked who she was.

"It's me, Kaoru!" A smile spread across her lips when she could hear Ayame in the background again. This time she was saying her name.

"Hold still Ayame! Uh, sorry Kaoru, Ayame suddenly went into hyper mode! I think it's because she heard your voice through the phone." Kaoru laughed.

"I need to ask a favor of you."

"Sure, what is it?" Kaoru could still hear Ayame's voice - she was now begging for Soujirou to let her talk to her.

"I'm moving in with you guys . . . is that okay?" Soujirou went silent for a moment save for the little girl's whining on the other end. "Soujirou?"

"I just asked Okita and his parents about it - they said they'd love to have you as a part of the family."

Kaoru sighed in relief. "Thanks, I really appreciate Okita and his family's kindness."

"Okita would like to have a word with you. I'm handing the phone over to him, take care!" Kaoru could hear a soft thud - it sounded like Soujirou had placed a phone down on something hard. It was probably a table or something of the sort.

"Hello?"

"Soushi, Okita Soushi?"

"Hi, Kaoru. Since you're moving in with us I was wondering why. I hate to be nosy but this is an issue that cannot be ignored. My parents would like to know also."

"Heh . . . I've lost my job - I can't pay for the rent. Guess who replaced me?"

"Shishio?"

"No - what made you think it was Shishio?" Kaoru wrinkled up her face. "Shishio has no interest in being a business employee anyway . . . he'd be more interested of being a boss of one."

"If it's not Shishio then is it Aoshi?"

"Bingo!"

"Wow . . . I'm sorry to hear that. Um, please come over here whenever you're ready, we'll prepare a warm welcome party."

"Okay, thanks Okita."

"No problem."

"Bye."

"Bye. Hope to see soon." The line went dead on the other end. Tears welled up in Kaoru's eyes as she hung up on her end.

Misao placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be all right, Kaoru. Hang in there."

The soft pattering of raindrops could be heard hitting the living room windows. The gloomy sky brought out the worst in someone. That certain someone was Kaoru . . . she was miserable but perseverance will weather through the storm? Perhaps . . .

Chapter 3: END