I do Not own Rurouni Kenshin ;-)

Jewel

Chapter 4 - Discoveries

As the days passed Kaoru was not left alone for barely a minute. Kenshin remained within her presence every moment as if spending more time with her might illicit some semblance of a normal relationship. So far he had forced her to cook with him. Cook for god sakes! Despite informing him repeatedly that she was a lost cause in that department.

'So we're baking a sache torte today,' nodded Kenshin while running his finger down the list of ingredients.

'And how would you like your cake Himura-sama? Burnt, charred or well done? Alternatively you can have raw, gooey or severely undercooked,' she returned sarcastically.

'Look, don't be sarcastic about it otherwise the cake will hear and it won't cook well,' he stated neatly folding his arms.

'The cake will hear? You really have gone crazy…besides which I thought it was Soufflés which won't cook well if you curse it'

'So you do know something about cooking?'

'Hardly,' she bit out.

After the little cooking escapade Kaoru decided that she wasn't completely hopeless at cooking, she just needed the right teacher.

The next day he had taken her on a picnic to a neat little vineyard on the outskirts of his property.

'See these grapes Kaoru? They're called Pinot Noir. They are the most difficult grapes to grow. It is also one of the very best when it is grown and tended properly. It has very specific requirements for its growing conditions. It needs warm days and cool nights. If Pinot Noir receives too little heat in the growing season, its wines are thin and pale. If the growing season is too warm, the wines have an overripe, cooked flavour…I like this wine the best…it's just like you.'

Kaoru frowned at his comment.

'I'm difficult?' she demanded almost wanting to slap his serene face.

'You're like rare and beautiful wine love. Precious, difficult to find, and even more so to maintain but once it's nurtured correctly it's the most beautiful thing in the world.'

She hadn't known what to say. How could a man's countenance be so serene yet his heart be so deceitful? Every single day she spent with him reminded her of why she had fallen in love with him in the first place, and that was something she didn't need.

On day five Kenshin announced that they were travelling into the city, for the duration of 6 days.

'I have a surprise for you when we get there love.'

'Is it blonde?'

'Blonde?' Although he recognised the barb, Kenshin stroked his chin thoughtfully 'Not quite, though with some might disagree.'

Instead of actually staying in Paris like Kaoru had first thought they would, a plane awaited them for a trip elsewhere.

'Where are we going?' she demanded. He was carting her all over the place like he owned her! Then again she did agree to this...

As the plane swept closer to land she recognised London city.

They're bags had been taken and of all the placed he could have taken her, Kenshin took her to see Sano.

'Sano, wake up soon…'

On the thirteenth day of her conditional imprisonment Kaoru could not rest.

She didn't want to think about the blonde bimbette. She didn't want to know but at the same time she did.

'It's like a really bad train wreck, you don't want to stare but you can't look away…'

There had to be some confirmation of Kenshin's liaison with the woman and she had to find it. She slowly picked her way through Kenshin's study. Taking out each book separately she flipped the pages like they did in all those mystery films to reveal some sort of evidence which allowed all the puzzles to fall into place. As she continued her search she realised that when she first saw Kenshin she should have pretended that his presence in her life meant very little. Her hurt behaviour clearly demonstrated to him the important position he had played in her life, in fact the role he continued to play. The moment he appeared her self preservation seemed to desert her completely.

On his desk she found the paperweight she had given him for their 1 month anniversary.

'It's very beautiful love…the colour is so vivid, it reminds me of your eyes.'

'Yep, that's why I bought it… so whenever you look at it, you're always reminded of me.'

'I could never forget you even if I tried…actually my board members claim that board meetings are becoming tedious because I no longer pay attention! You're always on my thoughts Kaoru, always.'

It glistened with beautiful sapphire hues reflecting blue rays across the room.

'What exactly would you be looking for? I can help if you tell me what it is.'

Kaoru stiffened and spied Kenshin lounging in the doorway to his study. He looked even better in casual attire. His black jeans clung to his narrow hips and the plain white T-shirt wasn't extremely tight but enough to reveal a well muscled torso.

Gritting her teeth she remained where she was.

'Why have you kept it?'

'Kept what?' he replied lightly

'You're not stupid Kenshin.'

'I kept it, because it reminds me of you…not that I really need those kinds of reminders love.'

'Does she have blue eyes too?' she asked quietly

'Actually she does.'

'So you've miraculously recalled you're transgression have you?' she stated caustically.

Kenshin now knew who she had referred to, although yesterday he hadn't known. Crossing the room lightly he remove the book she held in her hands and placed it in the shelf behind her.

'How good are you at apologising love?'

Kaoru stared mutely at him before exiting the study in anger.

'What could I possibly have to apologise about?' she muttered angrily to herself. 'Bastard'. She felt strange like she had missed something extremely important in the last exchange with Kenshin. Ignoring it she put it down to the fact that thirteen was always a bad number and today was just one of those bad number thirteen days.

Kenshin twisted the paperweight nimbly in his hands.

He wondered how she would react when she found out. 'Would she stay? Would she leave?'

He knew the moment Kaoru would know who the woman from his past was. The party he was to host for his niece's 5th birthday was approaching and he knew she would be there. After all she was practically family…

The next day Kaoru paced her room restlessly. Kenshin had told her last night at dinner that he would be hosting a party for his niece and that he didn't expect much from her, just for her to be there. That pissed her off. What was she, some hussy with the plague? In fact last night she'd heard Kamatari, a long time friend of Kenshin's and fashion editor loudly express the thought that she had been 'beaten with the ugly stick' several times over.

Mardhé De Saint Denis was a flutter with activity for the upcoming party. Kaoru was under the impression that far too much effort was being placed into a clearly adult party for a 5 year old. The child however was well adored by all Kenshin's family, friends and staff.

She thought quickly about her options regarding her outfits and wondered what Kenshin would think when he saw her at the party. Not that it should have mattered what he thought anyway…

After 16 days Kaoru felt slight ease in the pressure she had been receiving from Kenshin regarding their relationship. She still had not unravelled his cryptic remark and his recent deferential attitude left her puzzled. What exactly is he trying to achieve she thought as she smoothed the dress over her hip's, and when was the last time she had dressed up like this.

That unnerving presence remained. She couldn't quite place where it was, but that feeling of being watched had her skin prickling.

The man's eyes seemed to follow her every movement. He carried his conversation yet his eyes did not leave her for one second. She heard his low easy tone's, they're light timber sending shivers coursing through her.

Those gold eyes were mesmerising. At first glance they seemed violet, now however, they blazed like an illuminated ingot. His hand touched hers, as he lifted to his lips for a greeting kiss. His lips were soft and merely brushed across her skin like a feather.

'My name is Kenshin…'

'He likes you Kaoru, we need to use it.'

'How long will the heist last?'

'6 months absolute tops-'

'6 Months! That's ridiculous Megumi, I can't manipulate him for that long!'

'Yes you can! I saw the way he looked at you…He wanted you'

'And you expect me to hold out for that long?'

'Oh please Kaoru, we both know that man has everything a woman wants, and lets face it, how long exactly has it been since you had little bit of throwdown action?'

'Excuse Me?'

'You heard me.'

'I'm more than happy to play the passing fancy Megumi, but the duration is too much…besides which I've heard only good things about him…so it's not like I'm teaching a male pig a lesson if you know what I mean.'

'Oh God, Kaoru stop acting like a weepy woman and be the dirty thief that you are!'

The background information had left her speechless. It made Kenshin seem like a paragon of respectability. He was not only a fair and shrewd businessman but a philanthropist who had great favour in the community. He had been raised by a guardian who after waiting until Kenshin's requisite age, left him to his own devices. As a child he was considered to be quiet and intelligent. He attended high school at a state institution not private like she had expected. There he excelled in sport and was academically gifted, after which his final marks allowed him entrance to his local university. People noted that the greatest aspect about Kenshin was his ability to ease in with others no matter what their station in life. He walked with grace, and dignity but no one would have ever suspected he was a multi millionaire several times over.

She found it strange that Kenshin had not had one serious relationship. He was seen with women but each one became a good friend and never more. Each woman had only good things to say, and they each fell for the strange labyrinth of enigmatic beauty that was Kenshin. He was asked repeatedly what he wanted in a woman, or what was he waiting for, yet his silence ensued on that particular topic. The media however, loved secrecy surrounding him. He was an oddity. A rich boy but not a play boy. Their perfect mystery.

Just her luck that the man she was meant to love and leave had a heart that was good. In fact it was too good to be true…

Kaoru remembered that damn party and the ridiculous love sick manner in which she had acted in their relationship after that fateful night. Their relationship had descended straight into an erotic cesspool and every moment she was apart from him was physically painful. Strangely, though throughout their whole relationship, they had isolated themselves in an inexplicable manner. It was as if their whole world had revolved around their relationship. Before Kenshin the emotion of isolation reminded her of abandonment or unwanted solitude, somehow it had become necessity…sharing Kenshin was simply not an option. Strange how isolation could have brought a certain amount of happiness, and even more distinct epoch imbued with pain. Tonight she would show Kenshin that she was a woman who survived when disaster struck and emerged with poise.

Kenshin murmured polite responses to his guest's greetings and discreetly watched the staircase which swept down into the middle of the ballroom from the second level. He knew she would descend, and he wanted to witness, memorise, and constantly recall it. Her beauty was indescribable. Oh he knew that there were more physically gifted women, but she was something else. He knew that if he had directly asked Kaoru to dress accordingly for the occasion she would turn her nose up at his suggestion and do the exact opposite. Instead the idea that Kaoru would have to overhear the conversation regarding her attire or physical looks, would have to be the catalyst. Convincing Kamatari to do it had been difficult indeed…

'I can't do it, it's simply impossible! I cannot say it!' exclaimed Kamatari

'You have to, otherwise she won't dress up!' reasoned Kenshin.

'She's beautiful in rags or robes and you know it' he claimed stubbornly

'Kamatari, I don't actually think she's ugly, but she won't listen unless she thinks I don't want her there and formally attired!'

'And all I have to say is ONE degrading remark?

'As long as she "Overhears"' said Kenshin mimicking the quotations 'then yes'

'SIGH, Fine BUT if and when you two do get hitched, I get to design all the attire for you, Kaoru, your groomsmen and Kaoru's bridesmaid's at your wedding. Deal?'

He probably would have asked Kamatari to do the designs anyway, but it was better if Kamatari thought he was getting a good deal. His attention was drawn downwards to his niece Ayame, whose birthday they were all celebrating, as she tugged excitedly on his hand.

Lifting her into his arms he faced her Ayames parents.

'You're looking sharp tonight big brother,' grinned Soujirou

Chuckling in response, Kenshin kissed Soujirou's wife Maya on the cheek.

'And as per usual you're looking exceptionally stunning tonight Maya.'

'Always the charmer Kenshin!' she said smiling warmly 'More importantly have you brought a date tonight? I'm getting worried about your continued bachelor stance; it's highly irritating having to field the questions.'

'I'm glad that you and Soujirou have your problems are under control, which might I add paled in comparison to mine.'

'Oh Kenshin you helped us so much…without you we would have never had Ayame.'

'You're family Maya. Anything for family.'

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Kaoru descending the stairs slowly. She walked like a queen, her hand sliding lightly down the banister. The dress she wore was black. There was no intricacy in its design. In fact the simplicity of the gown was its best attribute. Her gleaming hair reminded him of the gothic girl in the veggie shops freshly lacquered nails. Apparently it was s deep obsidian tone called 'Mortisha'. The material clung to her body like a second skin. Kenshin was mesmerised.

The corners of his lips lifted as she slowly approached where they all stood. As Kaoru neared however, her serene countenance faltered slightly. Her eyes were fixed on the individual who had caught her eye as soon as she had entered the ballroom.

Kenshin knew that she had finally recognised the woman from his apartment.

As always tell me what you think ;-)

Cheers,

Iuvenalis.