DISCLAIMER: Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin characters are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, Jump Comics and associated parties. Please note, this is purely fiction and for entertainment purposes only. This story is not meant for sale or profit.
Author's Notes: This story is an a/u comedy/romance about Kenshin and Kaoru falling in love. Chibi-angel and Gypsy-chan co-authored this fic. We had a lot of fun working together on it. Hope you like this fic! ^_^
Written by Chibi-angel and Gypsy-chan
Part Two
As Kenshin and Sano continued on their way to Tokyo, Kenshin gasped upon seeing a cat sitting in the middle of the road. "Sano! Slow down! You're going to hit that cat!"
"Don't worry about that cat. I've seen him sitting in the road before. He's probably got another six or seven lives to go. I wished I had that many lives."
"Sano!"
Sano chuckled while easily avoiding the cat. Kenshin turned back to see the cat still sitting peacefully in the road.
"Geez Kenshin, did you actually think I would hit that cat?"
"Sorry Sano. It's just that your driving is making me nervous. Why didn't we take the plane? It would be much faster and safer than driving."
"Oi! Quit complaining you idiot! Did you think they'd let you in a plane with your sakabatou. I know you'd never leave it behind that's why we're driving to Tokyo. You know that I would prefer to sleep than drive."
"Okay. Arigato for taking for consideration my sakabatou. Ano, Sano, so what about your restaurant. You said we'd talk business on the way there."
Sano gulped. "Oh yeah the restaurant, you see its this beautiful elegant restaurant. Beautiful furnishings. Wonderful ambience. Magnificent gardens…"
"So, what's the catch," said Kenshin in a matter-of-fact manner.
"Kenshin! How dare you accuse your best friend of something! What do you mean catch!?"
"Sano…"
"Hehehe… you see I paid for the restuarant with half of my savings and half from a loan. Business is a little slow now and I can't… uhm.... hehehe…"
"Can't pay the loan that's why you need me, is that it?" Kenshin finished.
"Well, sort-of and I need help in marketing and in managing the restaurant," Sano replied.
"How much did you loan?"
"Only… $50,000.00"
"Orororo! That much!? You blew that much money in a restaurant. Did you even think about the risks involved in starting up a business..." Kenshin's words faded as he submerged in thought.
"Well, I shouldn't be that surprised. Sano is known for risk-taking. But, should I… or shouldn't I? New Life, eh? Okay… here goes nothing. "
"Okay Sano, here's the deal, I'll pay all your loan but in return, I'll own half the company with 51% voting power in all the decisions to be done."
"What!? No way! It was my idea and my resturant! Impossible! I won't agree!" Sano snapped.
"Take it or leave it Sano," Kenshin said firmly. Kenshin smiled inwardly while thinking, "He's going to take the bait I know it. Five… Four… Three… Two… One…"
"Okay Kenshin, you win. Besides since you're in charge of marketing and shit, it would be fair to give you a greater voting power. And Kenshin, don't get carried away, it's just he two of us, the voting power won't matter much."
"You're right Sano. Hmm… That was fast, we're in Tokyo already. Let's drop by my place first to drop off the baggage then lets visit the restaurant before we rest, okay?"
"Sure boss! hehehe"
"…"
"Kenshin, that was a joke baka! You're not my boss."
"…"
"Oi, Kenshin. Don't let that 51% go to your head."
After returning from their apartment, Kenshin and Sano finally arrived at the restaurant. As Kenshin got out of the car, he looked at the building before him and asked, "Is this the place?"
"Yeah. Let me show you around the outside of the place and then we'll go inside."
Kenshin nodded and followed Sano. As he viewed the outside of the restaurant he thought, "Nice investment. Sano's taste has gotten better since college. I assumed the place would be some kind of gambling den. But then again, I haven't been inside yet."
Inside the restuarant, Misao was mopping the kitchen as Kaoru stood near the back entrance preparing to leave for the evening.
"Ano… Misao-chan, sorry but I can't stay long, I promised Dr. Genzai I'd look after his grandchildren tonight. He is going to perform a bypass operation. I'm really sorry if I can't help you clean up tonight."
"That's alright Kaoru, take care okay, I've heard there were some robberies reported these past few days." Misao worriedly replied.
"Don't worry about me. Its only about a 20 minute walk to Dr. Genzai's house. Its not that far. Besides, I'm not the shihondai of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu for nothing. Hehehe." Kaoru boasted giving her bokken a couple of swings.
Misao sweat dropped. "Just take care of yourself, ne?"
"Okay! Thanks again!" Kaoru then called out, "Yahiko! I have to go now okay?"
"Bye Ugly!" Yahiko stuck his tongue out at Kaoru as she went out the back door.
As Sano lead Kenshin to the front of the resturant he smiled and said, "So, what do you think?"
"This place is absolutely beautiful. It holds a lot of potential."
"Just wait until you see the inside," beamed Sano. "Come on, let's go in.... partner," he said while winking at Kenshin.
Kenshin looked around the place almost eyeing meticulously every detail of the restaurant. "At least you got your money's worth. Congratulations Sano."
Their conversation was cut short when they were welcomed by a bushy haired boy dressed in a black western suit.
"Oi, Sano Tadaima!" Turning to Kenshin, "Kenshin! Its been too long! How are you?"
"Fine, Yahiko. I see you've grown a lot." Kenshin grinned.
"Ssssaaaannnooo! Whew! I'm glad you're back! I can't stand taking orders from this brat! Besides… Hmmm… Who's the new guy? Oh how rude! Hehehehe. I am Makimachi Misao. Please to meet you." Misao said with a wink.
"Whew! She talks so fast. I wonder if she even breathes through it. Hmm… Not even Seta Soujiro could compete with that speed," Kenshin pondered.
"Konnichiwa. I am Himura Kenshin," he said while extending his hand to her.
Misao cheerfully shook his hand saying, "Nice meeting you, but got to run, I need to go home already. Aoshi's probably is waiting for me." She then blushed furiously because of her thoughts. "See you later everyone!" With that, she skipped happily out of the room.
"What a weasel." Yahiko muttered.
"Well, Kenshin, what do you say?" Sano asked.
"Like I said, I like what I see. Now if you don't mind Sano, I would like to rest now," Kenshin politely said.
"Well, I'm still going over some papers but you can use my car if you want to go home," Sano said.
"Thank you very much for the offer. I'll be back later Sano, Yahiko." Kenshin waved goodbye and headed out the door.
"I haven't been in Tokyo for years now. A lot has changed but I don't think I'll get lost. Now lets see.. right, hmmm… the old Akabeko is still there."
Kenshin was deep in thought as he drove through the city. "So many good memories," he sighed while taking in his surroundings. "I wonder if I would feel like this if I return to Kyoto. Probably not. Kyoto brings so much painful memories. Sano is right, Tokyo will do me good. Hey, there's Tokyo University. That place really does hold many good memories too. Oro, why am I being so nostalgic?"
As he continued to cruise through the area, he came to an abrupt stop due to late night construction work. While waiting for the construction worker to give him the signal to proceed, he heard sounds of struggling. Kenshin could sense a strong fighting ki in the area. He was near a park. Kenshin got out of his car and looked into the direction he heard the struggling sounds coming from.
Suddenly, he saw from a distance, a young woman fending off a street thug. He saw someone lying on the ground. He surmised it to be the first attacker. The young woman was now fighting with the other man. He tried to rush to her aid but was detained by all of the construction in the area. The workers were yelling at him to return to his car.
Kenshin could see that the man fighting with the young woman was much taller and stronger than she was. But he could see that it didn't matter to the young woman. She continued to defend herself despite the odds against her.
Finally, she charged at the man shoving her bokken into his stomach causing him to fall to the ground. Kenshin could see that the young woman seemed exhausted but she kept her defenses up until she felt everything was under control.
As she walked over to where her purse lay, the man she had knocked down earlier jumped up and stabbed her with a knife, grabbing her purse. Kenshin jerked his arms from out of the construction workers hold and jumped over the hood of his car to rush to the young woman's aid. After pummeling the knife-wielding attacker, he looked over to where the young woman was.
Kaoru's sight blurred and her knees gave up on her. Kenshin, from the other side rushed to her and carried her in his arms.
Oro? What am I going to do now? What a courageous girl? Who is she anyway? Oh kami-sama! She's bleeding. I better take her to the hospital.
Kenshin ran to his car and laid Kaoru on the passenger's seat. He positioned himself in the driver's seat. Before starting up the car, he stared at the girl he just rescued. He pushed a stray hair away from her eyes. He gasped at the softness of her skin.
She's so beautiful. Just like an angel. He kept staring at her for a while until he remembered that her wound is bleeding. Snap out of it Kenshin! With that he drove full speed to the nearest hospital.
Kaoru slowly opened her eyes only to blinded by a white light. Where am I? As her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized that she was in a hospital. How did I get here? Flashes of the incident the night before filled her.
I was walking from the Akabeko. Some goons blocked my way. I tried to fight. Then all became black. Oh my! I need to go now, Ayame-chan and Suzame-chan must've been waiting for me. She stood up, slightly shaking because of her weak knees using her right arm to balance herself.
Itai! She gasped as she noticed her bandaged arm. She walked out of the room thoughts filling her head. I wonder who brought me here? What happened last night!!!? She mentally yelled at herself for not remembering.
I'll just ask the nurse in the reception maybe she knows what happened and where Dr. Genzai is, if he is still here.
"Ano, sumimasen…" Kaoru began.
"Oh, Kamiya-san, you're awake." The nurse said. "You had quite an adventure last night, ne?"
"Eto, I was wondering who brought me in last night?" Kaoru flushed feeling quite embarrassed for not knowing what happened to her.
"So he's not your boyfriend?" the second nurse nosily said, "I thought he was with the way he made goo-goo eyes at you. I'm glad he's still avai…"
"A bishounen with red hair brought you in. Quite a hunk I must say!" the first nurse cut in.
"Yup, he carried you in his arms! Ooohhh!" the second nurse said, "I wish I was as lucky as you!"
"Hentai…" Kaoru muttered under her breath.
"Yare, yare, he left his contact number, just in case. I'd call him if I were you," remarked the second nurse as she jotted some number on a piece of paper. Kaoru absent-mindedly accepted the paper as the nurse handed it to her and put it in her pocket. She then looked around and asked, "Where is Dr. Genzai? Is he around here somewhere?"
"Yes, he just finished his operation. I think he's at the hospital cafeteria downstairs," replied the first nurse.
"Arigatou," Kaoru said as she left the room. While running down the stairs toward the cafeteria, a piece a paper fell from her pocket. She grabbed hold to the handrail as she bent down to pick up the paper. She looked at the paper remembering what it was.
"Oh yeah, this is the number to the guy who "saved me," she quipped. "Mou! I could've handled those guys on my own! I am the shihondai of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu! I don't need anybody to "save me". I've been on my own for years and I am doing just fine. I like being alone..."
Karou looked down at the number of the piece of paper and sighed, "who am I kidding. I'll never find a man to love me." She took the piece of paper and crumbled it up, tossing it into the garbage can.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
Author's Comments: Ok, what you think? Hope everyone like it so far. There's more fun and action coming up next. ^_^