Disclaimer: I do not own RK. For the nth time =)

~o~o~o~

He carefully listened to the report being discussed in front, though his mind would occasionally be occupied by something else. His eyes were seeing numbers and graphs and figures, and the team would notice him sigh every now and then. His brows crinkled in irritation and his sharp amber eyes looked at the obviously nervous subordinate doing the honor of presenting their team's results that month.

"You seriously call this a monthly report?!", Kenshin yelled at the project executive. "I'm sure you can do much better than that.", he added with a hint of disappointment.

"But Sir, our production increased by 24 percent this month.. It almost doubled last month's 13 percent…", Kamatari reasoned out. How could the vice-president be so hard-to-please?

"Let me ask you Mr. Kamatari, what's the production rate of Seta corporation?", the boss tightened his grip at the ballpoint pen he was holding.

"They are up by 15 percent, Sir..", the executive answered back.

"But they're still on Number 1, am I right?", Kenshin said sarcastically.

There was no answer. The whole team knew where that discussion would eventually lead.

"And where is our company standing? Number 2?" He waited for anyone to tell him otherwise, but was disappointed to see their nervous expressions instead.

"Number 2! We've always been number 2 – just so you know ladies and gentlemen!" Kenshin angrily threw the pen he was holding. The room became uncomfortably silent.

"So, Mr. Kamatari.. Can you give any reason why is this so? It's not mentioned in your so-called report!" This time, Kenshin stood up and demanded an explanation.

Kamatari was stunned. He sure did prepare well for that meeting, but he did not anticipate the boss to be this angry. He thought the increase would be good enough for him, but apparently it was not.

"I see.. so you don't have an answer? Can anyone here tell me why we're still at number 2?", Kenshin walked to the front, his eyes carefully dissecting each and everyone in the room.

"We're always left behind because there's nothing new!", his loud voice sounded through the meeting room. "It's always the same strategy month after month.. So tell me! What should we do to get us to number 1?!"

Still, nobody stood up to talk. So the boss angrily slammed his hand on the table and said: "Am I the only one thinking here?!"

"Uh – Kenshin.. I think we should set another meeting to discuss the new strategies." Megumi spoke out to pacify the tension. "Besides, we've already covered all the essential topics. So why don't we just call it a day?"

The project supervisor did not wait for the redhead to respond, and she asked everyone to leave the room right away. "Thank you for your time everyone. We'll discuss the matter later this week."

Kenshin watched as the members left the room one by one. Misao was about to ask him about his other meeting, but the secretary was too afraid to get near the terror boss. So she left the room as well.

"You seem to be so uptight today. What's the matter?", Megumi approached the irate redhead, her calmer voice tried to tone his mood down.

"These people.. why do they get contented with being just the second best?", he croaked in irritation.

Megumi laughed softly. Her senses can fully read Kenshin's bad mood was not just about the project. "You're sure about that?"

Kenshin looked back at her. And somehow, he relaxed. "Is it because of Kenji and what happened this morning?", he heard Megumi ask.

He looked at her for confirmation, and Kenshin took it as a cue to air his frustrations. "What do you want me to do? And how do you expect me to feel? Your child almost had an accident…"

"I mean, I can't help but be really pissed about it.. She already knows what and what not to do..", he was referring to that irresponsible woman who let Kenji play outside.

"Then you better define her boundaries. From what I can see, that woman is spoiling your son. And she even had the guts to call herself Kenji's mom." Megumi almost laughed in sarcasm.

But Kenshin did not anwer, so Megumi continued. "I don't know about you, Kenshin. But my instinct says not to trust that woman."

And with that, the supervisor left the room – leaving Kenshin all by himself. He paused to contemplate on what Megumi said about Kaoru.

Don't trust her, is that what Megumi was saying? Don't trust the woman who genuinely cares for his son? The woman who patiently teaches Kenji his lessons at school? The woman who is able to convince his son to obey orders? The woman who made Kenji's situation a whole lot better? Yes, it perfectly makes sense!

"You're just a nanny… You are so irresponsible… We're not yet through…"

Kenshin reflected on what really happened that morning. He was upset, yes. Who wouldn't? But fortunately, Kenji was not harmed. It's all that matters, right? So why did he say those things to Kaoru again?

Some form of reality finally hit him – that he must have been too hard on the babysitter. And little by little, Kenshin was starting to feel something he was not quite accustomed to – is that guilt trip as they call it?

~o~o~o~

"Mommy, show me how you sang that song from the musical." Kenji was excited to hear his mom sing for the first time.

Kaoru's smile was a bit forced. Why did she have to mention that musical again? And now, she had to perform in front of the kid – because Kenji wouldn't let such an opportunity pass.

Given she didn't have much choice, Kaoru stood up from Kenji's bed and prepared her vocal chords for the presentation.

"Okay…" Kaoru cleared her throat. "Please don't laugh at mommy, okay?"

"I won't!", Kenji reaffirmed and he sat straight up. He was overjoyed as any child could get.

"She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee, her dress has got a tear…"

Kenji watched in delight as his mommy began singing, her hand gestures and facial expression matching the lyrics.

"She waltzes on her way to mass and whistles on the stairs… And underneath her wimple, she has curlers in her hair…"

Kaoru used exaggerated hand movements this time, still maintaining the projection of her voice.

"She's always late for chapel but her penitence is real… She's always late for everything except for every meal…"

Kenji then saw his mommy act like one careless nun, pretending to be late for something.

"I hate to have to say it, but I very firmly feel… Maria's not an asset to the abbey…"

Now, Kaoru moved to the other side for the next part of the song.

"I'd like to say a word in her behalf… Maria makes me laugh… Ahahaha…"

She pretended to laugh as required by that line. And Kenji couldn't help but laugh with her.

Meanwhile, Kenshin just got home after a long day at the office. He was about to take his much-needed rest when he heard the lively chatter on Kenji's room. Curious to see what was going on, he walked slowly and hid behind the door.

"How do you solve a problem like Maria… How do you catch a cloud and pin it down… How do you find a word that means Maria… A flibbertigibbet, a willow the wisp, a clown…"

Kenji playfully pointed at his nose just like his mom. And Kenshin was seeing everything – every little bit of detail from Kaoru's theatrical antics to Kenji's contagious laughter. It was pure enjoyment, and Kenshin did not notice the smile curving on his usually straight, expressionless face.

"Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria… How do you keep a moonbeam in your hand?"

She extended her arm then pursed it back again.

Kaoru bowed after the performance, to which Kenji had given a loud applause.

"Yey!", the kid was filled with glee. He can't believe how talented his mommy Kaoru was – and he's really proud!

"Okay, time to sleep baby." Kaoru turned back to the usual babysitter mode. She assisted Kenji in putting his night socks on.

"But mommy – ", the boy was still unwilling to sleep. "You told me you'll also sing the Do-Re-Mi song…"

"If you'll always be a good boy and sleep early, then I'll sing you the Do-Re-Mi.."

"Okay, I will. But you must promise me, mommy."

Kaoru laid him on the bed and kissed his forehead. "I promise, Kenji."

And as if on cue, Kenji closed his eyes as his mother instructed. Kaoru carefully put the blanket on and collected the empty glass of milk from the side table. She looked around to check if everything's in order before she heads to her own bedroom.

Kaoru walked towards the door, though she did not expect to see the terror boss leaning there by the wall.

Kenshin was caught off-guard – that awkward moment when one irate, eavesdropping boss was busted by one irresponsible, careless nanny.

Kaoru looked at him in the eye – dark blue irises sending him a message that she's the type of subordinate who would fight back when provoked. But as her eyes remained unblinking, she noticed the sudden change in Kenshin's eye color. She can remember it clearly – that the boss' eyes were amber, not lavender. But how come?

It did not matter – even the change in color could not take back what's been said. So Kaoru stayed calm but reserved.

"G-good evening, Sir..", she started with the customary greeting. Her passive voice was the exact opposite of her lively vibe just a while ago.

She did not wait for him to respond though, and Kaoru walked ahead. Kenshin wanted to make her stop because he wanted to tell her something.

Tell her what? Thank you for taking good care of my son? Or more appropriately, sorry for everything I said this morning?

But why would he do that? He is Kenshin Himura, for Kami's sake! He is the vice president of the Hiten group of companies. A man with such a high stature does not apologize to commoners like her.

"Wait!", his baritone voice echoed through the corridor. Kaoru stopped and looked at the boss, questioning.

What now, Vice-President Himura? Go on – say it! Say that magic five-letter word. Kenshin held his breath. Was he ready to humble himself and admit he was wrong?

"Nothing…", he said after much deliberation with his so-called pride.

Kaoru heaved a sigh, then turned at the next corridor. While Kenshin watched her slowly disappear from sight.

It was an emotionally exhausting day for her. There she was – about to forget the insults of that red-haired terror boss. And now she had to see him again right before she sleeps? What a really nice way to end the day.

The nanny was about to embark on her sleep when someone knocked on the door. Kaoru got up, scratched her loosened hair, then lazily walked to see who it was that caused the disturbance. And to her surprise, the last person she expected to see was in front of her. It was dark – but Kaoru was quite certain the person had red hair.

~o~o~o~

A/N: So, can anyone guess who knocked on Kaoru's door? (*giggles*)

Thank you again for all the support, especially the reviews. Don't worry, I take everything positively =)

See you all on the next chapter. Sorry to keep you waiting. Hopefully, I can update sooner than expected =)

P.S. As for Megumi's character, I'd like to think she has a thing for Kenshin. And she also wants to be close to his son.

P.P.S. Credits to the musical/movie "Sound of Music" for the song on Kaoru's part. I used to play the role of Sister Bertha (if I remember it correctly) when I was in high school. So I kind of incorporated that song in this chapter ;)