Kaoru adjusted the gloves on her hands for the third time, shivering a little as she waited for her date to show up. Giving into the urge, she dug out her cell phone and checked the screen. Nothing. So he hadn't called. Putting the phone back into her pocket, she shivered again. Snow was coming down in lazy flakes, silent testimony to the bitter chill in the air. Thankfully, the wind had died down to a little breeze, instead of the wind that threatened her carefully curled hair. These sorts of things were supposed to happen on the first date, not the fifth.

Sighing, she glanced at the large clock that overlooked the little fountain and the park benches. It had opportunity to be a romantic meeting place… if it was warmer and her date was on time. Well, she wasn't going to spend the evening looking this good outside in the snow waiting for a date that wasn't going to show. The man had promise, but there was only so much a well-dressed woman in heels was willing to take. She had even used some of her expensive perfume.

'Well,' Kaoru thought was a sigh. 'This is why you don't dress up very often. It never works.' She wasn't entirely disappointed in missing the play he had bought tickets for. In fact, she had slightly dreaded it. Still, one didn't turn down free dinner at the price of mild boredom. Not when all that was waiting for you at home was a cup of ramen or her choice of Healthy Choice microwaveable dinners.

Maybe she would give in and pick up take-out on the way home…

"Kaoru Kamiya," the voice was soft with surprise. "Is that you?"

Blinking, she turned around and found herself starring at a very familiar face. Kenshin Himura had been her best friend's roommate for the first semester that Sano had lived in the dorms. The quiet and serious student was best known for his skill in the kitchen. Every Monday night they would curl up on old furniture, ignore the smell of Sano's old socks, and eat Kenshin's world-class spaghetti.

She had only seen him occasionally since then. She didn't remember what he had majored in, or even where he had gotten his first job, but she hadn't expected to see him in Chicago of all places.

"Kenshin," for the first time that night she smiled. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I'm in town for a business conference this week," his smile showed off the dimple in his right cheek. "I decided to take a walk to clear my head before I went to find dinner. What are you doing out here?" His eyes flickered over her form, the edges of his mouth kicking up further at the sight of her heels. "I vaguely remember you hating the cold."

"I was waiting on someone," her tone was slightly waspish. "I think his time is up."

Those curiously pale eyes of his blinked. "He had you meet him… here? In the cold?"

Kaoru shrugged and shoved her hands into her pockets.

"So you haven't eaten then?" Kenshin questioned, a brow kicking up into his hairline in a familiar expression. Making a face as she reached upwards to shove a stray curl behind her hear, she shook her head.

"No."

Clicking his tongue, he moved forward. "Knowing you, you're probably going to go home and indulge in a cup of ramen."

Kaoru stuck her tongue out. "You make it sound like such a horrible fate."

"It is," he replied, "which is why I'm going to take you out to dinner."

Kaoru lifted both brows. "Is that so?"

It was difficult to hold in her smile with him sounding so mischievous, but when she looked up, realizing how close he was suddenly, her mouth ran dry. It had been a long time since she had seen Kenshin Himura and he carried the years well. His features were still those wonderfully smooth lines, and those curious indigo-violet eyes smiled at her. The wind carried the faint scent of spicy cologne.

"It would be a pleasure to spend the evening with you, Kaoru."

Her breath caught in her throat at the low timbre to his voice before she smiled. "I would like that."

"Good," he murmured, tucking her arm into his as he lead her away from the little park. "I would have hated to call in an old favor."

Bumping his shoulder with hers, she scowled. "You wouldn't!" That had been a particularly embarrassing favor and her cheeks flushed pink with more than the cold.

Mischief danced in his eyes, even if his face was completely serious. "Never underestimate the lengths a man will go to have dinner with a beautiful woman."

Kaoru snorted, but didn't pull away as they walked towards the parked vehicles. She couldn't say she was the least bit disappointed that when her date eventually arrived, she wouldn't be there.


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