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 Five
.....Kenshin stared at the door after Kaoru had left. "I never thought I'd see her again! Kaoru…"
He placed a finger on his mouth and touched it gently, remembering the tender kiss he placed on her hand.
========================The next day, Kaoru snuck inside the back door of the restaurant. Once inside, she glanced around the back area checking for any signs of her new boss. Seeing that he wasn't around, she gave an audible sigh of relief as she entered the kitchen. Kaoru dropped her bag on the counter, closed her eyes and sighed,
"Whew! I'm glad Himura-san isn't here yet. I know I couldn't get my work done with him standing around. Just thinking about him and the way he kissed my hand last night makes my stomach ball up in knots. I don't know why I'm getting all worked up over a kiss on the hand. After all, it was just a kiss."
Kaoru glanced down at the hand that Kenshin had kissed. As she extended her hand foreward, she gazed at it for a moment and smiled as she recalled Kenshin kissing her hand.
"His lips were so soft against my hand… I wonder how it would feel if…"
She lifted the back of her hand to her mouth. Kaoru slowly parted her lips.
"Dreaming so soon, Kaoru-chan?" Misao whispered teasingly as she suddenly appeared from behind.
Kaoru jumped up in surprise and clutched her chest, panting heavily, "Misao!!! You startled me! I am so right when I told myself that you will bring me near to my end. I felt like you just took off ten years from my life!!!"
"Well, what were you thinking of anyway?" Misao asked as she peered into her eyes, "You have that dreamy look on your face… Could it be?" Misao giggled childishly, blushing, "Kaoru-chan, are you in love?"
Kaoru felt her hair rise to the end at Misao's comment. "Now where did you get that idea!!?" demanded Kaoru.
"Let's just say I know you a little too well."
"That's where you're wrong Misao Mikamachi!" yelled Kaoru defensively. "I, Kaoru Kamiya, don't know the meaning of falling in love!" she finished, crossing her arms to her chest.
"As you say Kaoru," Misao winked as she headed towards the dinning room.
Kaoru frowned, "Mou! What's going on around here?! First, I get kissed on the hand by my new boss, then Misao accuses me of being in love. I need to stop thinking about all of this and get to work." Kaoru took her waitress uniform out of her bag and went into the ladies room.
After changing into her uniform, Kaoru went toward the dinning room to help the others with the chores. As she stood outside the door, she poked her head into the dinning room to check to see if her boss was inside. After taking several quick glimpses, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Unbeknowst to her, a pair of violet eyes were staring at her from a dark corner. Kaoru cautiously entered the room.
Kenshin grinned mischievously as he watched her.
"She's so cute when she sneaks around like that. Seeing her do that makes me want to run up behind her and tickle her. I better take it slow, don't want to scare the poor girl. Maybe I'll have a little fun teasing her instead."
"Looking for something, Kaoru?" he asked in a husky voice.
Kaoru jumped backward and began blushing furiously. She looked at him and stammered, "Eto… I was… Anoo… I was checking if Misao was inside because I was.... uhm..... planning to surprise her."
Kenshin smiled at her little story and replied, "I'm sorry to have ruined your fun."
"No, it's okay," she smiled. "Mou! Couldn't I have thought up a better lie? "I was planning to surprise Misao." Geez, I'm sure he didn't buy that story. I've got to get out of here."
Kaoru lowered her head to hide her flushed face as she walked in front of him. She whispered breathlessly, "Excuse me, Himura-san."
Kenshin felt her unease and decided to tease her some more. He walked over to her and asked,
"So do you and Misao play games like this all the time?"
"Games? What do you mean by that," she said while wiping the table off.
"Games where you sneak around and surprise each other," smiled Kenshin.
"Mou! Why didn't I just tell him the truth! The truth? What is the truth? Hmm... I don't think I could have said, Himura-san, I sneak around a lot because I get butterflies in my stomach every time I'm near you. Sure, if I say that, then he'll think that I'm falling in love with him. And falling in love is something I swore I would never do. So, until I can figure out what's happening with me, I'll have to act more business like around him. I had better do it fast. He's beginning to stare at me."
Kaoru cleared her throat and answered, "We only play those little games when there are no customers. But I promise that it won't happen again Himura-san."
"Now look at what you've done you idiot. The poor girl must have thought that you were scolding her. Now you've ruined her fun. I should have told her the truth. The truth? Yes, the truth, that I am falling madly in love with her. Which is something I shouldn't do since I am her boss. Sano is in enough financial trouble. He doesn't need me to cause that girl to sue us for sexual harrassment. So, until I can figure out a way to get closer to her, I'll have to act more professional when I'm around her. I better do something quick before she think that I'm going to fire her or something."
"Kaoru, you don't have to change the way you work or interact with Misao and the others because of me. I want you to enjoy working here," smiled Kenshin.
"Thank you Himura-san," smiled Kaoru.
"That's Kenshin, please call me Kenshin."
Kaoru smiled and nodded, "As you wish.... Kenshin."
They both stood for a moment smiling at each other until finally Kaoru said, "Ano… I have to go back to work now."
Kenshin nodded and watched her go into the kitchen. He sighed to himself, "Get a grip, Kenshin. You haven't figured things out yet. But, every time I see her smile and blush it makes be want to lose self-control. I wished I could....
Kenshin's thoughts were cut short when the front door of the restaurant flew open. Megumi stood there in a seductive pose, wearing a sexy black chiffon off the shoulder dress. She purred, "Kkkeeennssshiinn… I'm ready for the rehearsals."
"Oro!"
A woman's voice was heard echoing into the kitchen. Kaoru stood with towels in her arms wondering who was in the dinning room. "That is definitely not Misao's voice. I wonder who it could be?"
Kaoru peeked into the dinning room. She saw a woman dressed in a black sexy outfit leaning against the counter near Kenshin. Kaoru could feel her blood boiling as she watched the woman sit down across from Kenshin. The woman's side slit of her dress revealed most of her thigh as she crossed her legs. She then leaned against the table in a way to give Kenshin full view of her cleavage.
"Just who does she think she is, coming in here exposing herself to my Kenshin! Wait a minute.... when did he become my Kenshin. That's not the point, I've got to go out there and find out what's going on!"
Kaoru entered the dinning room carrying some towels. As she walked over to Megumi, she placed a fake smile upon her face and said, "I'm sorry miss, but I think you're in the wrong place. The One Night Stand motel is down the street."
Kenshin gulped down the big knot that had suddenly developed in his throat. "I smell trouble, with a capital T."
Megumi rolled her eyes over toward Kaoru and chuckled, "Oh ho, ho ho! That was sooo funny."
She turned back to Kenshin and said, "I didn't know you were hosting a circus act. Is she the new clown?"
"What!" yelled Kaoru as she dropped the towels.
"Now, now ladies," said Kenshin as sweat drops appeared on his forehead. "I think there has been some misunderstanding."
"Don't worry, when I'm through with her, there'll be no misunderstanding," scowled Kaoru as she rolled up her sleeves.
Misao quickly ran over and pulled Kaoru back by the arm. "Hey what's going on?"
Sano walked in and caught Kaoru and Megumi glaring daggers at one another.
"Nothing like watching a good cat fight over a bottle of beer," smirked Sano. "Hey Misao, bring be a cold one."
"Sano!"
Sano smacked Kenshin on the back sending him flying across the room while saying, "I'm just kidding partner. Lighten up!"
Kenshin lay against the wall with his eyes swirling, "Oro!"
"Will someone tell me what is going on around here," yelled Misao.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you girls, we've added a singing act in order to bring in more income," answered Sano.
"A singing act," Misao and Kaoru said in unison.
"Yes," replied Kenshin. "Miss Megumi Takani is...."
".....the new star of this restaurant," she boasted while abruptly cutting off Kenshin. Megumi then flipped her long black hair and went over to where Kenshin and Sano were standing.
Misao and Kaoru glared daggers at her.
Kenshin gulped again upon looking at them and said, "Uhm... Megumi-dono, uhm... Misao Mikamachi and Kaoru Kamiya are our very talented waitresses."
"Hmm.... talented waitresses, that's very interesting," smirked Megumi. "I never knew you had to have talent to clean toilets."
"That's it," yelled Kaoru. Misao and Kaoru rushed over toward Megumi.
Kenshin intercepted both of them by grabbing them by the waist and yelling, "Sano! I'll take care of these two, you take care of Megumi-dono."
"Right," he said while grabbing Megumi by the hand and leading her back into his office.
Kenshin dragged both the screaming girls into the kitchen.
"Let go of me!" yelled Kaoru. "I'm going to make her pay for insulting me!"
"Not if I get to her first," yelled Misao.
"Now, now ladies, please calm down," said Kenshin. "I'm sure we can work something out."
"Work something out with that slimy woman? No way," huffed Kaoru. "I'll quit first before I agree to work with her."
"Me too," huffed Misao as she folded her arms across her chest.
"No please don't quit," begged Kenshin. "We need you."
"Ah.... Let them go," replied Yahiko. "Misao is useless and Kaoru is ugly and useless. It's no wonder our business was going down. Now that we have a pretty face around here, maybe we'll get more customers."
"Why you little brat, I'm going to beat you to a pulp for insulting me," threatened Kaoru. She picked up a broom and whacked Yahiko over the head.
"Ouch! That hurts you ugly witch," yelped Yahiko as he covered his head.
"If you think that hurts, how about this," said Misao as she swung a mop at him.
Kenshin stood helpless as he watched Yahiko being chased around the kitchen getting beaten by Kaoru and Misao.
"I must find a way to keep get them to work together with out killing each other. I really don't want them to quit. Especially not Kaoru. There's something about her that's very appealing. I don't want to lose her. I hope Sano is doing better than I am."
TO BE CONTINUED....