A/N: Inspired after having the best hot chocolate in the entire world just recently.

Standard disclaimers apply.

053: Chocolate

"So, who's invited to your party?"

"Oh, you know, Megumi, Aoshi, Kenshin…"

Kaoru Kamiya stopped listening after that last name.

She hated when they were invited to the same party. It wasn't because she hated him – on the contrary, she had very strong feelings for him. She didn't know what to call it – she was afraid calling it love, which shouldn't be a word casually used.

This party was for Misao Makimachi's sweet sixteen – it was to be a small gathering of friends at a French restaurant. Everyone was to dress nicely (girls in dresses, boys in collared shirt) and make sure you didn't wear uncomfortable shoes since there would be a lot of standing and talking.

As Kaoru applied eyeliner on, she considered her options: Kenshin's friends weren't going to be there, at least the ones she didn't like. But that was also bad in a way because there would be a greater possibility of the two of them talking more. And whenever she talked with him for a long time, her feelings grew stronger.

It was simply ridiculous – how could she continue to like him, and only him, for two years?

On her drive to the party, which was to be in the back room of a small French restaurant, she tried her best to steel herself from his charms.

He wasn't there when she first arrived – only Misao was there to greet her along with Megumi, Kamatari, and there were a few friends from her mission trip that Kaoru didn't know.

She was completely at ease for fifteen blissful minutes until he arrived. Of course he had to have worn her favorite shirt – it was a navy blue button down, contrasting perfectly with his bright red hair.

He came directly towards her.

Oh, God.

The night went by smoothly – she was actually having a good time with Kenshin. She wasn't worrying too much about keeping her feelings at bay – the two of them acted very close. They were separated from the rest of the party, sharing a small table, their knees touching as they talked. Kaoru never felt more at peace…yet at the same time, never felt so…

She couldn't think of the right word for it. It felt like there was something igniting in her bloodstream, making her skin tingle, her breath catch in her throat. Her head felt like it was buzzing, seeing him smile like that at her was enough to make her content.

She was scared to delve intp the meaning behind it all.

After everyone said a little something about Misao and what a great friend she was, the dessert was laid out. There was a chocolate cake, which Kaoru didn't find very good, but she would never tell Misao that, and hot chocolate.

The hot chocolate made her melt on the inside – it was clearly homemade, tasting pure, sweet chocolate with every sip. It was the best hot chocolate in the entire world.

"This is the best hot chocolate in the world." Kaoru said to Misao with a dreamy smile on her face. They were standing beside the hot chocolate thermal pitcher in the front of the room.

"I know. It's incredible. It's actually better than the cake." Misao muttered quietly, a look of shame passing across her face.

Kaoru smiled at Misao reassuringly. "The cake was fine. Besides, this makes you forget all about it."

Misao laughed. "True." She looked past Kaoru shoulder and a mischievous smile grew on her face. "Kenshin is looking at you."

Kaoru's chest began to ache slightly, her heart pounding faster, yet feeling very light.

Misao gave Kaoru another smile before walking over to Megumi and Aoshi. Kenshin then stood up from his chair and walked up to Kaoru.

She couldn't say anything – he was staring at her intensely as if she was the only person in the entire world, which made her knees weak.

He silently took her free hand and led her to a door next to the hot chocolate pitcher – it opened to a quiet hallway where a door to a bathroom was at the very end. When he shut the door quietly he stared at her again with a look of passion that made her come to a very swift conclusion:

She was in love with him.

He took a step closer to her so that the tips of their shoes were touching.

"Kenshin, wait." She whispered and pressed her free hand against the wall behind her. Kenshin had her cornered.

He tipped his head to one side. "Why, do you mind?"

Her ever nerve screamed yes – it was so soon, it was poorly planned, it wasn't what she dreamed it would be. But she found herself whispering, "No," because she wanted it at that moment more than anything.

"Good." Kenshin leaned toward her, their noses a mere few inches apart. "I'm interested to see how good this hot chocolate really is." He said, yet gently taking her hot chocolate and placing it on the table next to them.

Without the slightest warning he gingerly placed his lips on hers.

Without thinking of how far he would go, Kenshin took another step closer, having her ever curve touching his body, her body temperature crashing against his. She sighed deeply and felt herself relax. In response, he wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss, tasting the chocolate in her mouth.

Kaoru put her hands around the smooth skin of his neck, brushing away a few strands of red hair from his face. They were enjoying ever moment…at least until…

A cough caused them to jump apart. It was Misao hiding an obvious grin with her hand. "Sorry to break this cute little moment up…but it is my party and I really don't like the idea of you two getting it on the back hallway if you know what I mean."

Kaoru felt her face heat up twenty degrees before she hid it in the crook of Kenshin's neck. She felt his chest shake as he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her.

She also heard the door shut before he pulled her away.

"Let's go back – that hot chocolate was really good." He said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

She laughed, but turned red once again as she grabbed her recently neglected hot chocolate. As he got his own cup, she wondered to herself what he would taste like with chocolate in his mouth.

And judging by the secret smiles he kept sending her throughout the rest of the party, she was sure she was going to find out.

A/N: Honestly, this little French restaurant in my town makes the best hot chocolate. I wish all of you could've had some because while I was writing this, I could just taste it (sigh) amazing.

Want to know the best book ever? Battle Royale. Sound familiar? It's also a manga and a movie, which I haven't read/seen. But yeah it was just SO good - you can't stop thinking about it once you're done.

Please review!

MissGoalie