Disclaimer: Standard

AN: TOOK ME LONG ENOUGH!!! Hee hee… I finally have reached the point where I have to think and write. I've been away for a trip, and I broke my laptop. I was too scared to fix it, but then I did it anyway, and I'm glad my previous writings didn't disappear!! Now I can update again!! :D

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The Intersection

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"Kamiya Kaoru?" Aoshi turned his head from his newspaper and looked at Kaoru, who were sobbing and shaking. He stood up and guided her to his sofa.

"Your husband left?" He asked again. Kaoru nodded and sobbed harder. Aoshi turned around and made a pot of tea. He served a cup for her and sat down.

"So, Kamiya, you were talking to me about divorcing your husband on the phone, and the possibilities of a custody battle. If you happen to know any of his flaws, we can use it to help keep your sole custody. Usually, the custody will automatically be given to the mother, but the fact that you were an alcoholic before and the fact that everyone knows that you ran away while being pregnant with his baby will jeopardize your position. Everything you did make you seem mentally unstable to raise a child." He said to Kaoru. Kaoru stopped crying, and then leaned back, frustrated.

"You heard me and Kenshin fighting, did you?" She said. Aoshi coughed.

"Yes. So, anything?" He asked nonchalantly.

"I do have some pictures that shows his infidelity." Kaoru said. She was a little calmer, even though her voice was still very shaky. Weird, he didn't even comfort her, but his formal and businesslike attitude diverted her from her miserable thoughts. Aoshi leaned forward.

"Oh? Do you have them here?" He asked.

"No… I'll bring it next time…" She said. Aoshi looked at her.

"How was your marriage life, Kamiya?" He asked. Kaoru smiled.

"It was the best time I've ever had."

"It was?"

"It was."

"Then why did you drink?" He asked. Kaoru looked away.

"I liked drinking." She muttered carelessly. Aoshi sighed at the sight of the lying woman in front of him.

"Okay. Why did you run away?"

"Because it was the worst time he has ever had. And it's killing me inside to know that he's been dying inside because of me."

"Why did he refuse to divorce you then?" asked Aoshi. Kaoru looked at him, hesitated.

"I don't know… Because he found out that I gave birth to his heir?"

"So… you're saying that he wants your kid? He should have divorced you, then. Since there is only a little chance that you would gain the sole custody. I'm sure he knows that."

"Aoshi-san…"

"Let's just say that he wants your kid, then."

"Of course he does. Kenji is the most valuable asset they have now, since Tomoe and him don't have any children… yet…" Kaoru explained. Aoshi sighed.

"Do you love him?" He asked.

"Yes, I do. A lot." She answered without any hesitation.

"Then why don't you trust him?" asked Aoshi casually. Kaoru went quiet.

Why didn't she trust him?

Exactly. She never once trusted him. She was always paranoid about him coming home late at night, and she was scared every second that he was going to leave her and never came back.

Why?

"I… Don't want his money, I just don't want him to bug me and Kenji anymore for the rest of my life." Said Kaoru, changing the topic. Aoshi sighed.

"Actually, if you refuse the alimony and he is still insisting to take your child away, you'll be in a fragile position, given your income instability that might lead your inability to take a good care of your kid." He explained.

"Fine! Take money from him! Whatever! I just want Kenji!"

"Alright. You bring me the leverage we were talking about earlier, and we'll wait for his lawyer to contact us. You have to calm down a little, too. He might not want to create another hassle with you and just be done with it, so there is a possibility that he will let you get the sole custody. We can still hope for that." Aoshi comforted her, even though it sounded less comfortable and more like a talking machine. Kaoru nodded.

"Alright. Thanks a lot, Aoshi-san." Kaoru said while standing up. She took the car key and put it on his table. Aoshi looked at her.

"Your payment, I guess." She added. Aoshi flashed a smile and took the key, and put it in his pocket.

"Fair enough." He said while watching Kaoru leave.

*****

Everyone was relaxing for the week their boss was gone, and that was why everyone was still in a shock when Kenshin suddenly barged into the office, still with his t-shirt and jeans, and looked at the bunch who were playing poker at that time coldly. Sano jumped and hid the money they used for gambling, Megumi smiled with a guilty face for skipping work to be with her boyfriend, and everyone else ran to their seat. The merry and noisy office was suddenly quiet, like the sea before the storm. Kenshin smiled, even though his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Sano, I need you to call my soon-to-be-ex wife's lawyer and tell him that I'm going to fight for the kid's sole custody. All finance and accounting people, gather the data about Kamiya corporation, Uncle Hiko's company and my dad's company, Mrs. Masuda, call the hotel I've been staying at in Okinawa and tell them to send my luggage to my house and bring me the data about all the private shares I own from Kamiya's and my father's company. Oh, don't forget to change the ownership of the car I used in Okinawa into Himura Kaoru. Or Kamiya Kaoru, whatever name she uses now. And call my wife… not the one I'm divorcing, the one who stays with me."

"Yes sir!" everyone said in unison, even though their faces were a little reluctant. Megumi grabbed Sano's hand as they walked into his office.

"What the hell, Sano. I told you letting him go is a bad idea." Megumi hissed in his ears. Sano snorted.

"As if there was anything I could do to make him stay that night." He whispered back with an annoyed tone.

In a flash, everyone was busy running around. Kenshin went into his office and locked his door. He needed a little bit of rest, but he couldn't calm his heart. In 15 minutes, he heard a knock on his door. He dragged his feet and opened the door to find Tomoe, looking all concerned, standing in front of his office. Unlike the usual, Kenshin realized that she hadn't even have a chance to go to the salon and do her hair like how she would spent her all of her morning before leaving home to have a lunch and take care of her business at the office. She went into the room and hugged him.

"Kenshin…"

Kenshin crushed her into his hug.

"I found her, Tomoe… We found her…" He said while burying his head into her long hair. Tomoe closed the door behind her and sat on the sofa. Kenshin sat beside her and closed his eyes.

"I was so stupid, I screamed at her and ran away." He said. Tomoe looked at him.

"Why?" She asked.

"Why what? Screamed at her? I don't know, maybe somehow I suddenly felt the anger again, just like when I found out that she abandoned me. I said some bad stuff to her, and now I don't have the face to meet her."

"Did you ask her about her departure six years ago?"

"She said the same thing over and over. She said she left to make me happy. But then when she got mad, she mentioned something about my infidelity and I said something about her being delusional while intoxicated." He mumbled. For once, Tomoe's expressionless face changed into a shock. She gasped loudly and looked at him judgingly. Kenshin looked away and she sighed.

"What does she mean by infidelity? What did you do, Kenshin? You're not that kind of guy…" She asked carefully, this time in a longer sentence. Kenshin looked at her.

"I'm not that kind of guy, Tomoe. I don't understand either. She said she had the proof. Even now, I still think that it might be some delusion she believed while she was… Uh…" Kenshin's voice faded away. Tomoe nodded.

"Then?" She questioned him. Kenshin sighed as Tomoe got up and went to the small counter and boiled some water with the electric kettle Kenshin had in his office. She made a pot of tea and offered a cup to him. He sniffed it and sighed again.

"She made the brandy tea for me. It was amazing." He mumbled.

"Alright."

"I'm sorry, Tomoe. I know she's your last resort, but at this point, I think it will be best if I divorce her."

"But, I heard from Sano that you're fighting for the child's custody? You know that if you're asking for that you're going to see her again, sooner or later, right?" Tomoe asked.

"Kenji is my heir." Kenshin said.

"You sound like your father." Tomoe pointed out. Kenshin nodded.

"Yes, Tomoe. Like father like son. Petty and disgusting." He answered stoically.

"You are trying to find a way to see her again, aren't you?" asked Tomoe. Kenshin sighed.

"I don't know. I'm confused. I don't even know what I want." He muttered.

"Kenshin… Let's just stop… I don't mind spending the rest of my life with you." She said softly. Kenshin shook his head.

"Just trust me, Tomoe. I'll figure it out. This is for you. You deserve your freedom." Kenshin insisted.

"Don't make all these about me. You're saying that you don't want to meet her, but you're looking for a trouble by starting all these custody battle. And you know by doing this, you will have to meet her again soon. I am free, Kenshin. I can leave with Akira anytime I want, and just disappear without any news. You'll be the husband who lost his wife for the second time... again… But you know what, I'm staying, because we have to do this the right way. We are not like our fathers who would do anything to get what they desire. Now please, please sort out your mind so that you can save us both… I'll be by your side, supporting you. Just be honest with her. These dramas and tricks are not working well anymore." Tomoe said. Kenshin looked at her, a little surprised that she actually said long sentences. Tomoe flashed a small smile, took her bag and kissed him in the forehead before leaving the office. Kenshin sinked into the sofa and closed his eyes.

"What have I done?" He muttered to himself.

*****

Misao climbed the stairs at Kaoru's apartment building. It was already late in the afternoon, and everyone became so worried about their boss. It was the first time their boss missed work without telling anyone beforehand. In front of Kaoru's door, she knocked. She heard music from behind the door. Me and Mrs. Jones, as usual. Misao moved the door handle, taking a chance, and successfully opened the door. She looked at the door, a little worried. It was not like Kaoru, leaving the door unlocked.

Misao shook her head as the smell of liquor entered her nose. She came into the house and frowned, looking at some newly cut newspapers and magazines. Apparently Kaoru fell asleep while drinking and making a new Himura Kenshin collage. Misao sighed. The other day, Kaoru was crying and telling her how much she hated him. And now, there she was again, searching and cutting every news and pictures of him she could find in the magazine.

"Kaoru?" She shook her gently. Kaoru opened her eyes, and looked a little disoriented for awhile.

"Misao-chan?"

"I thought you're done with this stuff?" asked Misao while looking at Himura Kenshin's pictures on the table. Kaoru inhaled and looked at Misao.

"It's not time to pick Kenji up yet, is it?" She slurred. Misao sat beside her.

"Not yet, but soon." She said, checking her watch. Kaoru sighed. She got up and limped to the bathroom, and then Misao heard a loud vomit voice. She sighed and took Kaoru's teapot and started making some tea. Kaoru went out from the bathroom with a grin.

"A trick I learned by living with Kenshin for a year. Puke 'em all out, and feel refreshed." She said lightly with her sore voice while stretching her joints. Misao served her a cup of hot tea with a thin slice of lemon in it.

"I heard everything from Aoshi. Even though he's all stiff and business-like, he actually cares about you. He told me to take care of you." Misao said. Kaoru smiled.

"Thank you." She said sweetly. Misao looked at the half empty bottle of liquor.

"No drinking anymore, Kaoru. And you know what, why don't you just go to sleep? I'll take care of Kenji today." Misao offered. Kaoru smiled.

"That's very nice of you, but it's okay. You can come with me if you want to, though." She said. Misao pressed her lips while gazing at the Himura Kenshin cut-outs.

"Hey, Kaoru? Why don't I tell Okon or Omasu to pick Kenji up, and we stay in, order some food, and tell stories about the past?" She asked carefully. Kaoru looked at her suspiciously, but then leered.

"You wanted to do those psychoanalysis crap on me!" She said suspiciously.

"No I don't." Misao answered quickly with an innocent smile.

"Why now, though, Misao-chan?" she asked weakly.

"Aoshi told me about how you answered your questions in his office, contradicting everything, suspecting stuff that might not happen… You should stop living in your own little twisted world with all those contradictions and mysteries, and tell me what happened." Misao said.

"Do you think I'm crazy?" Kaoru asked, a little offended.

"No, I think you're running away." Misao answered briefly. Kaoru shrugged.

"Fine." She said with a sigh.

*****

Tokyo, 7 years ago

Kenshin was being very nice to her ever since she moved in to Himura mansion to get used to the surroundings. The first month she moved in, he was still polite and a little distant, but for the next two months, he warmed up and they gradually became quite close. Kenshin invited her into a few dates, ranged from a sparring date, where he lost intentionally and pissed her off, to the classy, Frech resto date, where she got to dress up and received a "wow, you're beautiful" look from him. There were also nights when they rented out some DVDs and just watched them with a big bowl of pop corn. She fell in love deeper than she thought. She was sure that he felt the same way too, until two days before their wedding.

She was just walking around and saw Kenshin and his father in the study. Kenshin was playing with a small pen nonchalantly, while his father were looking as grim as ever. He threw a newspaper in front of Kenshin's face. Kenshin frowned and took the newspaper.

"Oh, our rival company announced that they are going to bring in the same technology that Kamiya company is trying to get into Japan. They're going to hold the sole right of this technology usage… That's ambitious…" Kenshin commented lightly. His father slammed his hand on the table.

"If they are going to bring it into Japan in six months, we have to be able to do it in five. That way, no one can use the technology other than us. I doubt that Kamiya Koshijirou can do that. He's too kind and too meek for his own good." He said with an annoyed voice. Kenshin shrugged.

"Dad, it's just a cellphone. They will have newer and newer technology created rapidly."

"You don't understand, Kenshin. We have to have this one because it's the root of every developing technology that will come in the future. If Kamiya can't act fast enough, I don't see the point of you marrying his daughter. I mean, she doesn't work, she can't do anything, her only degree is a degree is in those tea and coffee stuff and what not…"

"It's called Beverage Management, Dad." Kenshin cut him.

His dad snorted and continued. "She is not like your ex girlfriend Yukishirou. If the Kamiya company collapses, then she would become nothing but a trophy wife. We don't need trophies, Kenshin. We need profit and sales."

"You were the one who separated me from Tomoe. Now you want me to marry her as well?" asked Kenshin, displeased.

"Of course not. We'll see how this plan is going first. Besides, I heard the Kamiya girl is a virgin. Lucky for you, eh, son?" His father snickered and Kenshin looked away.

"Dad…"

"Listen, Kenshin. Do as I say, and I give you your freedom. You're free to create and expand any business you like, you're free to live wherever you want, and get this, you can even marry your old girlfriend Yukishirou. Only if everything goes well." His father said. Kenshin sighed.

"Fine. I'll do as you say, but you owe me my freedom." He said.

Behind the door, Kaoru's ears burned up. She gulped her tears as she walked shakily to her bedroom, wondering what this marriage would lead her to.