Disclaimer: Not mine in any way. But if Watsuki-sensei gave me Shinomori, I'd be ecstatic. Wouldn't you be? ;)

Thanks to all you guys who've read and reviewed!

My first try at fanfics…enlighten me with feedbacks! Hugs and Thanks:)

Blue and White

Chapter 4

First Impressions

Kaoru slowly scanned her surroundings as she sat on a huge white couch. She has never been to Kenshin's house before. It wasn't a very big house, but you could tell its owner was certainly well-off. Two storeys high, beautiful furnishings, eccentric glass windows and doors that showed the small, but well kept Zen garden outside…and very neat. I wonder who keeps his house so clean? It's spotless!

Her thoughts were interrupted when the man of the house himself entered the living room with some drinks. Kenshin wore a magenta button-down shirt and loose off-white pants. Kaoru smiled. Funny colors for a man to wear...but he looks so hot!...Er…I mean cute! Yea…cute! She blushed as Kenshin handed her a tall glass of lemon ice tea.

"No wine for you Kaoru-dono. I know you can't take alcohol very well."

She pouted at him. "Mou! You didn't have to remind me!" She took a sip out of her glass. "I guess I'll have to settle with iced tea, ne? Tea is good!"

Kenshin sat beside her and held his glass of wine, looking at the silver wall clock. 6:45 pm. "Is Misao coming?"

"Yup. She told me she'd catch up with us. Had to email Sou-chan or something."

She saw him look curiously at her. "Sou-chan?"

"Hai. Seta Soujiro. Her boyfriend since high school. They look so cute together! He's actually my age…a year older than her. He was in my class…one of my best friends, in fact. The guy is infamous for starting the 'weasel' nickname. Who would've known.." she paused and blushed. "Gomen…sorry for blabbering…"

Kenshin laughed out loud. "It's no problem at all. Why do you always apologize for that?"

"No reason." She looked down on the glass she was holding with both hands. Why do I feel so embarrassed?

She looked up when Kenshin stood and moved to walk away from her. She instantly felt like she had said something wrong and blurted "Where are you going?"

He turned back to her and smiled. "Kitchen. Have to check on my pasta."

Kaoru's eyes went wide. "You're cooking? Don't you have a cook for that?"

Shaking his head, Kenshin replied. "No. I don't have a cook. Neither do I have a maid, a butler, or a gardener. Nada."

"But…but…how do you keep your house so neat and…perfect? Don't tell me you're the one doing it all!"

"Hai. It's all me. I even do my own laundry…"

Kaoru mentally pictured out Kenshin wearing a white frilly apron and sitting on a small stool washing a bucket full of wet magenta clothes. Then her thoughts flashed, and there was Kenshin again, daintily hanging up his magenta shirts while still wearing his white frilly apron. Then poof! He was washing magenta dishes…dusting thick magenta curtains…watering his garden with his magenta-colored hose…all the while wearing his white frilly apron!

"Daijobou Kaoru-dono?"

Kaoru snapped out of her thoughts and smiled at him sheepishly. "Aheheh…er…Kenshin?...Need any help in the kitchen?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:05 pm

Aoshi wondered if he should still go to Kenshin's for dinner. He was sitting in front of his wide screen television, idly changing channels. Nothing good is on TV tonight. Got nothing to do. Beshimi's handling everything at work pretty well… He sighed. Maybe I should go.

He stood up, took a quick shower, and walked into his dressing room, sorting out what he should wear. His eyes caught something magenta hanging with his black and gray coats. What the hell? Picking it out, he realized it was the shirt Kenshin had given him as a joke. "Feh. What's with that guy and magenta?"

He threw the shirt on top of a chair and dressed himself in a dark blue long sleeved Polo and black pants. Folding his sleeves just below his elbows, he walked out his lavish penthouse and checked on his watch. 7:30. It's a wonder Himura didn't call yet.

Ring ring…ring ring…

He smirked. Spoke too soon.

"What?"

"Aoshi, it's 7:30.Where you at?"

"Still at home. On my way though."

"Good. By the time you'll arrive, we'll be just about done with the cooking."

"See you then."

He hang up.

He invited me over at 7. It's 7:30 and he's not done cooking yet? Strange…he's not one to be unprepared, or late for the matter.

With that thought, Aoshi started his black Benz and drove away.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The door opened and Kenshin grinned at him. "So you decided to come."

Aoshi smirked and walked past him. "Got nothing better to do."

He looked around and caught a glimpse of a girl with long black hair sitting merrily in the living room. Who's that?

Kenshin walked up to him. "Kaoru-dono and her friend are already here. I'll introduce you."

Kaoru-dono? Is that who Himura wanted me to meet? Aoshi frowned. Having dinner with the daughter of his greatest competition was not how he wanted to spend the night.

Kenshin led him to the living room and Aoshi found himself looking at the dark-haired woman he saw earlier. She looked up and her eyes went wide at the sight of him. Aoshi studied the woman intently. Scratch the woman thing out. This is a kid. He noticed the girl didn't stop staring at him and he had the sudden urge to put her in her place. He cleared his throat and was rewarded with a slight jump and an embarrassed blush from the girl.

Then he remembered Kenshin mentioning Kamiya Kaoru was in Med school. This kid doesn't look like she's old enough to be in college. Damnit Himura. Kamiya Tetsuro is going to have your head served on a plate when he finds out you're playing with his teenage daughter. Aoshi gave Kenshin a disapproving look.

Kenshin ignored him and held his hand towards the girl. "Aoshi, meet Makimachi Misao…Kaoru-dono's friend. Misao…Aoshi."

The girl bowed politely at him. Aoshi just stared. So this isn't his Kaoru-dono. But if she hangs out with some kid, she might just be one as well.

He motioned to open his mouth to say something until he heard a voice shout.

"Kenshin! It's ready!"

He turned his head around and saw the most beautiful blue eyes he had even seen.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

She swallowed hard.

The first thing she noticed about him were his ice blue eyes. Cold and guarded, they showed no emotions. Short black hair hanging over his eyes, long sleeves rolled up to his elbows, hands in his pockets, his tall stance strong.

Kaoru felt her knees go weak. Who?

She suddenly felt Kenshin's presence beside her. He smiled at her.

"Kaoru-dono, I'd like you to meet Shinomori Aoshi. I've told you about him."

She snapped herself out of her daze and frowned.

Shinomori Aoshi?

This man is my father's greatest business rival?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He saw her frown at him. So she realizes who I am? She's not some ignorant teenager after all, although she could certainly pass as one.

He silently observed her. Striking blue eyes, long beautiful raven hair tied up in a high ponytail, soft pink lips, skin as fair as porcelain. No wonder Himura is smitten. He could also easily tell this girl wasn't a pushover. With the way she frowned and glared at him disapprovingly, he sensed her strong will and fiery temper. Not to forget smart. Anyone who can get in Med school is up there in the brains department.

He suddenly felt the unusual urge to irk her. Strange. He never provoked anyone out of the blue. Now why was that? Probably coz she's my rival's daughter. He rationalized.

Aoshi smirked at her. "Nice to finally meet the famous 'Kaoru-dono'…tanuki-onna."

He saw her stiffen. She glared at him and he braced himself for her angry retort. But it didn't come.

She mustered up a sweet smile and responded coolly. "Nice to meet you too…ice block."

Then Aoshi felt himself do something he hadn't done in quite a while.

He smiled.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

End of Chapter 4.

Was that a quick update or what?

So? So whaddya think? I know, Aoshi seems bitter…but he was kinda like that after his friends died…

I've already made some plans on how this story is gonna progress! I'm so excited! You guys are gonna luv it! Evil grin heheheheh

Please please REVIEW! It's positive reinforcement for me! ;)