D/C: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

I am so lousy at keeping promises! More than two months since my last update - now that's just unforgivable, isn't it? sniffle I've been letting you all down, haven't I? My excuse this time? I had my finals, and frankly, I had no idea how to write this chapter properly. I believe I wrote five opening passages before I finally decided on one. Also, I was busy managing my new fanfiction site! Do visit my homepage and check it out, won't you? Anyway, for now, happy reading!

The Geek in the Pink

Chapter 11: Snoopy

There was but one way to describe how Kenshin felt: happy.

Sitting there in that fancy restaurant across from Kaoru, who was looking absolutely stunning tonight, Kenshin was able to call him self truly lucky. Yet at the same time he felt rather guilty; he was leading the girl on when he knew that his job really didn't allow him to be involved with anyone. But when it came to Kaoru, he found it difficult to be selfless, especially due to her lively spirit and the fact that she accepted him completely. He doubted she'd accept him if she found out about his true identity, but she did accept him as a geek, didn't she?

Besides, she was absolutely beautiful. She had the most lustrous hair, the brightest eyes and the prettiest laugh...not to mention the cute bum she had on her. Anyone would immediately admit that she was a real catch. Kenshin "caught" her, and he wasn't ready to let her go just yet.

"My, my...Kenshin, are you absolutely sure you want to eat here?" she asked, scrutinizing the menu. "Everything looks absolutely pricey!"

He smiled at her. "Yes, I'm sure," he replied. "Now stop worrying about it and only try to think how you're going to eat and still have room for dessert."

"Ooh, yes! Dessert!" she said, a dreamy look coming across her face. She laughed. "You're still going to have to help me figure out what some of the meals on the menu are! I have never heard of the majority of the dishes here! Bouillabaisse? What the heck is that?"

Kenshin scooted closer to his aqua-eyed beauty, and for the remainder of dinner they talked and laughed and even sneaked in a few titbits of food into each other's mouths. Kenshin couldn't remember the last time he'd been able to act so relaxedly. He wished he could be like that all the time, but at the same time knew that once the beeper went off he was going to have brush all this off and go to perform his duty.

He just hoped his beeper wouldn't go off on his date with Kaoru. Was one night for him self just too much to ask? The businessmen and drug dealers and corporate workers who always requested his services could lay off the killing for a day, couldn't they?

In truth, Kenshin and Aoshi had arrived in America upon an invitation from a businessman, who wanted a rival of his finished off. Once the job was done, the pair decided to extend their stay and put out the word in the black market that they were in town for a couple more weeks, and soon job offers were showering upon them like rain! Kenshin preferred the beeper to a cell phone because it prevented people from tracing his whereabouts, but the disadvantage that came with this device is that he had to drop whatever he was doing to rush and find a phone to call from...and he didn't want that to happen tonight.

"Are you okay?"

Kenshin realised that he had let himself get carried away with his thoughts, and he broke out of his reverie with a quick shake of his head. He smiled at Kaoru, who was regarding him anxiously. "Sorry, I was just thinking," he told her.

"About what? You never tell me what you're thinking, Kenshin," she said softly as she reached across the table to put her hand over his.

"I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have such a beautiful lady accompanying me tonight," he replied, and his eyes glinted with mischief.

To her credit, Kaoru didn't even giggle, let alone blush. "I'm not stupid, Kenshin." Her hand squeezed his and she added, "I know you're hiding something from me. There's something you're keeping to yourself and you're refusing to let me in on it."

Kenshin withdrew his hand and gave her a lopsided grin. "You aren't getting at the strip club again, are you?" he teased her, in an attempt to diffuse the tension that had seemed to appear out of nowhere.

She frowned. "I'm not joking this time," she said, giving her a reproachful look. "I mean it. You're troubled. I can tell."

"You're imagining things," he assured her. "I'm very happy, actually. Do you want to go for a walk? They have a beautiful garden outside."

Kaoru sighed and slumped back in her chair. "I give up."

"I'll go get our coats."

-

A few tables away, a young man with a serene smile was dining by himself. He sliced his steak in total silence. He sipped his wine in total silence. He ate his cake in total silence. All this he did with his eyes fixated on the couple. He seemed to have reached a sudden decision when Kenshin got up and gave Kaoru a quick kiss on the lips before walking away from the table, and he quickly whipped out his phone and pressed a number that was on speed dial.

"It's affirmative. Battousai has a thing for the girl." He took a sip of wine. He wasn't spying, who was spying?

"I thought so."

"What should we do now?" He put down his glass.

"Carry on with the original plan. I don't want any mistakes."

"Yes, sir, Shishio-sama."

The young man flipped his cell phone close and pocketed it. He wiped his mouth on his napkin, before folding it neatly and pushing back his chair. He made sure that Kenshin was a good distance away before approaching Kaoru.

"Good evening, Kaoru-san."

-

A/N: Any guesses on who the man with the serene smile is? grins I know this chapter was short, but you can imagine the drama and secrets that are going to be revealed from now on, eh? And now, before I leave, I feel I must thank those who've reviewed and put up with my lousy promises.

TheTwilightRurouni: But this is better! This way everyone can see that I'm replying! Hehe. Yes, it was a sort of a filler, but I'm glad it made you laugh! Thank you!

Adelaide MacGregor: Thank you!

Falln4DarkAngel: sweatdrop Here's your update. Sorry it took so long!

California-cheese: I hope those muffins kept you busy until now! I'm so terribly sorry it took me so long to update! I hope you liked this chapter.

Evee-san: Misao always has a knack of embarrassing herself, eh? Hehe. Thank you for your review!

KyteAura: Well, that was a humorous chapter, but they may be getting darker from now on. I will keep trying to sneak in the occasional punchline, though. Not to worry. Thanks!

KIT27lovesBAN: So sorry I haven't been updating! And thanks for the review!

PaCT: Haha, I'm glad you liked it. Thanks!

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Chris's girl 14: grins Thank you for those kind words! Glad you liked it!

Valaroma: Everyone seems to like that pick-up line. Poor Misao! Well, you'll get your answers soon enough. Thank you!

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The Only Love for Soujiro Seta: Oooh, you tried it? That must've been interesting! Hehe. We'll see how the relationship between Misao and Aoshi develops later on, won't we? Thank you!

That is all for now. Wait for my next chapter!

- S. N. B.