Disclaimer: RK isnt mine.

AN: Oh god suuuch a long time! I've been busy with work and I will be moving again soon :( Here's the new chapter of the intersection, I hope that you're still reading it (helloooo... anybody here? lol). I can't believe that I have commited myself for 10 chapters, because I am a person who never finishes what I have started, so I'm a little proud of myself. I hope you like this chapter. This chapter is just something to ease my way into the fanfiction world again since it's been awhile since I last wrote them. I hope you like it, so dont forget to review. ENJOOOY!

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The intersection

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DING DONG.

Misao gulped as she saw the elevator connecting her penthouse suite kept on blinking. No one but her was supposed to have access to the penthouse, yet the elevator sign is blinking rapidly, which means that someone had managed to reach her floor. She had thought that it probably a thief, a pro thief like in the movies. She ran to the kitchen and took a long, lean flower vase and took a stance in front of the elevator. In a few seconds, the light stopped blinking, and the elevator door slowly opened.

"DIE YOU THIEF!"

"ORO!"

That was no thief. It was Kenshin, who skillfully did a shirahadori, as if the vase was a sword. Behind him, Kaoru walked out of the elevator. Misao screamed at the sight. Kaoru grinned an evil grin.

"Hello Misao." She said with a wave.

Misao pulled Kenshin's necktie and hissed, "you told me Kaoru wouldn't know about this!"

"But look… She's not mad… Right, Kaoru?" He asked Kaoru, and Kaoru snorted.

"Riiight…" She said unconvincingly while walking around the big penthouse. "Where's Ken-chan?"

"In the toilet. He's been awhile. I told him to come out, but he locked the door instead." Misao said, and Kaoru walked to the outside bathroom. "Ken-chan… Mummy's here… What are you doing in the bathroom alone?" She knocked and asked. Slowly, the door was opened and suddenly, the room became really smelly. Kenshin cringed his nose walked closer.

"Kenji, you are polluting the room. Come out and tell us what happened." He asked him gently, and Kenji's head popped out of the little slit of the door. His face looked rather green.

"Tou-chan, Kaa-chan, I can't poo… My tummy is grumbling, but I don't poo…" He said with a sad face. Kaoru laughed and held his half-naked boy. She moved him to the bed, put his underwear on and tucked him in. Kenshin called up the room service and told them to order him some papaya, a lot of mineral water and a heating pad. Misao giggled looking at the weird family, and took her bag.

"You know what, I see that you're handling his constipation well, so I'll just go around for awhile. I really want to go to that 109 Shibuya building to see what's the hype is is all about..." She said. Kenshin smiled.

"If you want to be sent by a car, just tell the concierge your room number and tell them that you need a car. They will help you, and you can use the car the whole day." He said.

"Thanks Himura. Ciao!" She then disappeared from the bedroom. Kenshin sighed and looked at Kenji, who, even though he didn't look green anymore, looked pretty uncomfortable.

"Help is on the way. Just close your eyes and curl up to warm yourself. When you're awake, we'll eat some papaya and drink some water, and you'll be able to poo again." Kenshin said cheerfully. Kenji looked at him and frowned.

"No way, Daddy's never home so he doesn't know the tummy ache rule." Kenji said, and Kenshin looked at Kaoru confusedly, silently asking for explanation. Kenji pulled her mom's clothes. "Mummy, show Daddy." He asked her cutely. Kaoru sighed. She went inside the blanket and curled up with him.

First, we will curl up like this so that Kenji's back is warm…" She said, curling up in a comfortable position. "And then we will rub Kenji's tummy until he falls asleep… Right, Kenji?" Kaoru asked cutely and Kenji grinned.

"That's right! Come, Daddy… Curl up with Kenji!" He said. Kenshin took off his tie and his belt, and took out all the phones, keys and wallet he had with him. He curled up into the blanket, until Kaoru could only see two hairy red ball. One big and the other one was small. Kenshin frowned as he hugged and rubbed Kenji's tummy, wondering if he did it right, and Kaoru giggled before disappearing into the pantry.

Three hours later, Kenshin opened his eyes, only to realize that he had fallen asleep with Kenji as well. He got up and saw Kaoru sitting in the living room, watching TV while sipping a cup of tea elegantly. She looked like one of those models who came out from his hotel's ad. Kenshin fixed his hair a little and sat beside Kaoru.

"What time is it?" He asked with a coarse voice before yawning tiredly. Kaoru looked at her watch.

"3PM."

"Crap." He was going to get up when Kaoru chuckled and started pouring some tea into a fresh cup.

"I have called Sano to tell Mrs. Masuda that you have an urgent business outside the office." She said while offering the cup to Kenshin. "Drink some." She said. Kenshin drank it and sighed.

"I can't believe I fell asleep trying to get a kid to fall asleep." He said and Kaoru giggled.

"It happened to me a lot too." She said while changing the channel. "There's some fried rice in the kitchen." She said. Kenshin scratched his head and stood up.

"Have you eaten?" He asked.

"Yeah, when you were asleep."

He walked to the kitchen and saw that the fried rice wasn't actually the fried rice sold in the hotel, but the fried rice from the rundown food stall across the hotel that Kenshin loved so much. Everytime he came to survey the hotel, he always had to eat the fried rice from that stall. It was scary how Kaoru even knew about this. Kenshin smiled as he brought the fried rice to the living room.

"God knows how you know about this." He said while taking the first spoonful.

"I was stalking you." She said with a shrug before going back to channel switching. Kenshin looked at her weirdly and she chuckled. "Oh don't worry, after this weekend you don't have to worry about me invading your privacy anymore."

"Well, I don't mind."

"Don't mind what?"

"You, invading my privacy." He said casually while taking another bite.

OoooO

After Akira's and her ruined meeting, Tomoe didn't even have the mood to go anywhere, but she had to go to the office anyway. Sano just called her and told her that Kenshin was still taking care of things with Kaoru. She, as the co-leader of the company, had to "greet" the new general manager, which was Akira. She had to take him around the production hall and then familiarize with other department. One thing she didn't get; how did Akira even stuck here?

Unlike Kenshin and her who had privileges since they were born, Akira was born into a middle class family. He was in England on scholarship, so now that he had finished his studies, he really needed to focus on job hunting, because he needed money to take care of his parents. He had worked before in a decent place, with decent position and salary before he chose to go to England. Now that he was back, he tried to apply to the same place, but they rejected him. Tomoe could understand this, with the recession, they tried to cut back. Tomoe could still understand when he didn't get a job anywhere. He was an expensive worker, with his degree and his experience, the company had to pay him double. If she hadn't known him, she wouldn't hire him either, considering the bad economy.

A few months back, Kenshin's father suddenly told him that he had a perfect candidate for the general manager that Kenshin had been looking for. He told him to try this new guy for several months. A graduate from one of the top universities in England, vast experience, and able to speak in several languages. Naturally, Kenshin accepted, because even though he didn't really trust his father personally, he admitted that business-wise, his father had a good instinct and would never do anything to jeopardize the business.

No one knew until now that he was Kiyosato Akira.

What kind of sick game was this?

Tomoe couldn't help but to feel that there was something behind his employment. She couldn't think of any. She was married to Kenshin, or at least her family thought she was, the company was going great and the merger benefited Both Himura and Yukishirou family greatly. The only reason that Tomoe could think of about Akira's appearance was to break up Kenshin and her marriage. But why? Everything had been doing so great.

Was it about heir? Did Kenshin's father found out about Kaoru giving birth to Kenshin's son? It couldn't be, because Kenshin said the Kamiya family would do everything to protect Kaoru and her son. Kenshin couldn't even track where Kaoru was for the last six years, because her family erased all traces that would lead him to Kaoru's place. Especially now that Kamiya family had an equal standing to Himura family, unlike the time when Kaoru married Kenshin. Before, the Kamiyas had to follow what the Himuras had to say because they were inferior in the business world, but after Kaoru disappeared, they rose to the top and they became big, not only nationally, but in international caliber as well, despite the drawback other companies faced because of the economy instability.

However, Yukishirou company was also on the equal standing with Himura and Kamiya. Moreover, they were steadier both in management and income because they had been on that spot for long, unlike the Kamiya company. There was still no reason for her so-called father in law to break their marriage.

Tomoe walked absentmindedly towards her office when Mrs. Masuda stopped her. She looked really scared and confused.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Masuda." She greeted her.

"Anooo… Himura-san… There's a guest for you… He looked odd, though, so I suggest that you keep the door opened." Mrs. Masuda said. Tomoe opened the door and her eyes widened.

It was like a nostalgic feeling in the room. The white haired guy with piercings, eccentric designer clothes and John Lennon shades was sitting impolitely on her table, instead of her sofa or chairs. He was messing around with her magazines, smelling the page that Tomoe thought had a free sample perfume on it.

"Nee-san!" He greeted her cheerfully. Tomoe's eyes widened and she smiled widely. A smile she rarely showed to anyone.

"Enishi-kun…"

Enishi hopped off the table and hugged his sister tightly. It's been a few years since they last met, and He had missed her terribly. Tomoe hugged him and then pushed him and touched his face so that she could examine him. He had grown more mature than the last time she saw her, before he left to study abroad. But, he was seventeen years old boy who didn't want to separate from his sister then, and in front of her now was a confident, twenty two years old man.

"Look at you… You have grown a lot…" She whispered, and Enishi showed her the same cheeky smile she remembered he always had.

"I'm back now, Nee-san! I'm here to protect you! Father and mother might be too blind to see how wretched the Himura family really is, but I know everything! After using us like this, they are trying to get rid of you by enticing you with Akira-san! With your words, Onee-san, I will mount Himura Kenshin to death before he hurts you further!" He said.

"No, Enishi. No. Kenshin never tried to hurt me. He tries hard to help me with Akira…" Tomoe said, and Enishi snorted.

"So Akira's appearance right after he found his legal wife is not a coincidence?" He asked angrily. Tomoe bit her lips. But then she looked at Enishi confidently.

"I believe in Kenshin, and I also believe in myself, that I can solve this problem. You don't have to worry, just take care of our family and the company for me." She said with an assuring tone.

"Don't you remember, he dumped you and then married that woman! After that woman ran away, he then pretended to marry you. He didn't even want to let go his legal wife! He thinks of you as a toy he can dump and pick up anytime he wants!" He exclaimed, and Tomoe touched his lips with an anxious face.

"Please don't be too loud… Just promise me, don't do anything rash. I don't know how do you know about the deal with Kaoru, but don't tell anyone about this." She pleaded. Enishi looked at her.

"All the higher positioned employees in this company know about this! I have people in here as well you know. I know about how Kenshin just barged into the office one day and screamed at his lawyer about his legal wife. The managers heard that, you know! They are just smart enough not to talk about this in front of their subordinates. Are you not ashamed about this?" He asked forcefully.

"Enishi… Please…" Tomoe looked at her sadly. Enishi sighed.

"Fine. But know this; my life is for you, Nee-san. I will eliminate anyone who hurt you, even if they're our own parents." He reminded her before leaving her office. Tomoe fell on the sofa and sank weakly.

"You don't know… Enishi…" She whispered.

Tokyo, 2 years ago

"What's wrong, Tomoe? You wanted to get married to Kenshin before!" asked her mother. Tomoe shook her head.

"People change, Mother. It's been years since we have forgotten about each other's love. We're friends now, but I have no intention in marrying him." She said clearly.

"This is all because of that Akira guy! I can't believe that you moved in with him! Even Himura-san knows about this! What a disgrace!" She screamed.

"Mother…"

"It's lucky that he still wanted to accept a woman like you, and you're going to repay his kindness with rejection?" She asked sharply.

"Don't you know that he was married?" Tomoe asked back.

"Yes! I know that Kenshin married that crazy girl who ran away with another man. Himura-san helped that girl's father, and she repaid him by running away. My job here is to guarantee that you're not going to be like her." The mother said mockingly. Tomoe shook her head.

"My decision is final."

Her mother chuckled, and then took out a picture. Tomoe's eyes widened. It was Kiyosato family picture. Akira, his father and mother.

"Do you know who they are? Akira's father, a principal in a public high school. His mother was a nurse in nearby hospital, but she retired before her son left to England. Rumours said that Akira's father has a fatal disease that would kill him pretty soon if it's not treated properly. Also, from what I know, Akira's effort to get a job has been in vain. Their money is not going to be enough for the medical treatment, you know." Her mother took out a piece of paper and gave it to Tomoe. It was Akira's father's medical record. "Now, we can help him, only if you help us." She added. Tomoe looked at her mother bitterly.

"I can't believe you…"

"Well, then, Tomoe. Tell me your decision."

Tomoe closed her eyes. Like she had a choice now.

"Fine. I will marry Kenshin."

"Not only that, you have to make sure that this wedding really is on. If Kenshin's family cancels, then we'll cancel the funding for the medical treatment as well. We will expose this wedding to the media. That way, Himura family can't run away from it anymore." She said. Tomoe shook her head incredulously. She couldn't believe that this woman actually raised her for twenty nine years.

She left the house and went back to her apartment. On the way, Kenshin called.

"How's the meeting with your parents?" He asked. Tomoe sighed.

"They have Akira's family in their grip." She said. Kenshin went silent, and then chuckled bitterly.

"I can't run away either. Anyone who will help me oppose my father, be it, Sano, you or even my uncle Hiko, will be doomed before they know it. I don't know what to do anymore… "

"We have no choice, do we?" She asked quietly.

OoooO

Tokyo, present day

"Are you done eating?" asked Kaoru when Kenshin entered the pantry with an empty plate. Kenshin put it on the counter and saw Kaoru grinding a cinnamon stick, and a few other spices. Kenshin looked at the grinder with a confused face, wondering how she could get such tool, and Kaoru smiled. "I asked the room service to bring me these from their kitchen using Misao's name." She said as if she was reading his mind. "Apparently you give her so much power to abuse in this hotel. They even got me this induction stove when I tried to ask one. So I figured that I would try asking for a ridiculous thing, like a Vespa, and it really scared me when they asked me what colour and type do I want my Vespa in." She continued with a giggle. Kenshin smiled and watched him as she brewed some tea, and then mixed those spices with the tea, before she added cream and brandy. Kenshin smiled.

"This has been my favourite drink for a long time, but I never know the actual name of the drink." He said. Kaoru chuckled softly.

"Well, I created this when you cancelled our honeymoon. And anyways, the name is a little… Well… You know." She replied.

"No I don't . Is it full of contempt towards me? I'm curious." He said.

Kaoru took a deep breath. "The name… it's 'Marriage'. That's the name I picked for the drink." She said. Kenshin went silent. Kaoru stirred the tea, which she heated up on the stove, and continued. "The drink is actually a pair; coffee for the morning, and tea at night. Sometimes it's bitter, and then sweet, but most of the time it's flavoursome. The scents are always different, but there's a sort of familiarity within, it doesn't matter whether you drink it as a morning coffee, or evening tea, you can still taste that familiar flavour. It's also a little intoxicating and sometimes a little bitter. I thought that the taste suits the name." She explained softly. She then turned off the induction stove and poured the tea into two large cups.

Kenshin, who was silent before, sighed. "I have no idea what are you trying to do. You're nice to me, and then you bring me down. And then you smiled again, knowing perfectly well that I would come crawling to you. You're acting like a perfect wife around me, and then when I reacted, you dumped me flat. Tell me, what should I do?" He asked quietly. Kaoru didn't answer. She just moved from the kitchen and sat on the fancy bar and drank her tea quietly. Kenshin sighed and sat beside her. "Thank you, the tea is really good." He complimented, and braved himself to pat her shoulder. He had lost control earlier today and forced a kiss on her, so he felt a little awkward now.

He was a little surprised when she touched his hand which was sitting on her shoulder. It went so naturally that it didn't feel out of place. Again, something went over him. Not anger like he felt in the car, not a feeling of overpowering her. He suddenly remembered the happier time. They were always awkward towards each other, yes, but there were times when he knew that they were happy.

"I have no idea what you're thinking either. One minute you're angry, and then the next minute you'd smile again like nothing happened." She said softly. She drank her tea and continued. "I spent my whole life obsessing about you, learning about you and when I married you, I thought I knew you well enough. It turns out that I don't know anything about you at all, which is ironic."

"That's true."

Kaoru looked at him. "You know I love you, even until now. I have built my life around you since I was born. I always asked myself 'would Kenshin like this?' everytime I did something. I wore colours that you love, I did things according to your likings, and even after I left you, I can't get through one day without thinking about you. I had everything; pictures of your and Tomoe's wedding, magazine and newspaper cuts about you… For more than twenty y ears, I seek solitude and sanctuary in you, even though you never realized it. I cursed myself for that."

"Surprisingly, I kind of get what you mean. For six years, I've been obsessed about looking for you." He said. He looked at her with darkened eyes. "Do you regret living your life for me? Do you regret being what you are now because of me?"

Kaoru smiled widely. "No. I never regretted it. I love myself and I love who I have become. I took beverage management course because I know you love to cook, and I want to accompany your cooking with nice drinks that I made myself. I listen to jazz and old rock because you like them, but I'm glad that you sort of introduced me to them because I really do love jazz more than any other kinds of music. There are many other things that I am grateful about." She paused, and then looked at Kenshin seriously. "At the same time, Kenshin, I want to stop being a doll that only caters to your preference. For six years I was confused, numerous time I unconsciously asked myself 'is Kenshin going to like this?' only to remember that it really doesn't matter, because you're not around and I don't have to please you anymore."

Kenshin looked at her with an uneasy face as he held Kaoru's hand. "That sounded like a farewell speech to me." He said. Kaoru chuckled.

"I just think that I owe you my true feelings and all." She said with a bright smile. "Thank you for listening."

Kenshin sighed and smiled a bitter smile. "What am I going to do now? It seems that you'll be happier without me." He said sadly.

Kaoru chuckled. For the first time, she actually felt strong. It wasn't as if she never broke down and fell into the bottom of the hole, but the fact that she was still living and surviving until today, and the fact that she could smile and explained everything calmly to the person who she loved and she hated the most, the same person that drove her to the brink of insanity actually surprised her and made her realize that she was stronger than she thought she was.

"It's not that I'm completely happy, but this time, I will let myself live… for myself. No matter how hard it is." She said calmly. Kenshin nodded and let go of her hands.

"Then I will wish for your happiness." He said with a strained smile.

Kaoru looked at the two empty cups in front of her. It's finally coming to an end.