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! ^_^

LONELY HEARTS
Written by Chibi-angel and Gypsy-chan
Part Six



Sano slumped in his chair behind his desk as he motioned for Megumi to sit across from him.

Megumi did as she was told, crossing her arms in front of her as she pouted to show her displeasure.

Sano couldn't help but smile as he examined her features, "She's more beautiful when she's mad."

Megumi noticed his scrutiny so she raised an eyebrow and snapped, "What are you looking at!?"

"Che! You don't have to bite my head off!!" Sano smirked.

Megumi narrowed her eyes at him, twitching her lips. She stood up and placed her hands on her hips and retorted, "It seems that nobody values my presence around here. If that's the case, then I'll just leave!!!"

With that, she turned around and headed towards to door.

Sano became alarmed at her words so he stood up immediately and grabbed her on the arm, "Wait, Megumi. Don't go! We need you here!!!"

Megumi smiled inwardly and replied icily, "Find yourself a new singer."

Sano turned her around to face him and said softly, "Megumi, please don't go. The restaurant needs you…" (I need you.) "… please stay. Just tell me what the problem is and I'll fix it. Anything you want…"

"Anything?" Megumi smiled slyly.

"Yes," Sano replied in desperation. "Just to make you stay."

"Alright then, Sagara-san, I do not work with low-class people. If you don't fire your foul-mouthed waitresses…"

"What? Fire Kaoru and Misao?" Sano asked in disbelief.

"Yes," responded Megumi said calmly while raising her eyebrow.

"But… they had been my friends and employees for a long time now…"

Megumi huffed while flipping her hair to the other shoulder, "Well, its either them or me. Choose Sagara. Who is more indispensable to your business?"

Sano stared at her wide-eyed as he contemplated his decision,

"She does have a point. I can still hire other waitresses other than Kaoru and Misao. But Megumi…I don't think I can replace her. I need her not just as a singer. She had captivated me. No. I can't lose her… not when I am just beginning to fall for her. Kaoru, Misao… I know you'll be able to forgive me someday."

Letting out an audible sigh, he said sadly, "You're right, Megumi."

Megumi smiled at him seductively as she leaned over to whisper on his ears, "I am glad to know that my boss knows his priorities."

Sano inhaled her scent, fighting the urge to sweep her into his arms. "She's one foxy woman."

He walked past Megumi saying, "I'm going to talk to Kaoru and Misao. Wait for me here."

As Sano left the office, Megumi strolled over and slid into his chair. She smiled slyly to herself thinking.

"I need to keep this attitude to finish my med school. Mother is right… Talk like a star, act like a star and you will be the star… I feel kindda bad for those two but… I have to focus on my ambition. I won't let those two girls get on my way."

~~~~~
After hearing the bad news, Misao burst into tears and ran out the back door. Kaoru called after her.

"Misao! Misao!! Wait!!"

Misao never turned back. Kaoru stood helplessly as she watched the form of her friend running out the gate until she disappeared from her sight. Kaoru sighed in resignation as she wiped a stray tear from her cheek. She banged the door leading towards the patio, huffing, "So much for friendship!!! I can't believe Sano chose her over us!!!"

Kaoru felt her blood boiling to inhuman degrees and she fisted her hands to contain her anger. She wanted to scream, jump and hit somebody with a bokken because of utter frustration.

Watching her from behind, Kenshin slowly held out his hand and placed it on her shoulder. Kaoru slightly jolted in surprise as she glared at the one who startled her. Kenshin warm violet eyes stared into raging blue.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No!!" Kaoru snapped as she walked away from Kenshin.

"Where are you going?"

"What's it to you!!? You're not my employer anymore! I was fired!"

Kenshin's eyes widened at her words. "Fired? Who fired you?"

"You know who," hissed Kaoru. "That backstabbing, good-for-nothing partner of yours, that's who!"

"There must be some kind of mistake," replied Kenshin, as he stood dumbfounded by Sano's actions. "I will speak with Sano at once. I'm sure I can…"

"Forget it," huffed Kaoru as she grabbed her bag from the counter. "I'm out of here!"

Kenshin grabbed Kaoru's arm before she left the room saying, "Please don't leave Kaoru. We need you and Misao here. You have been a very important part of this restaurant. Please don't go… Stay."

Kaoru's eyes were beginning to soften when she looked deeply into his violet orbs and saw his sincerity. She took a deep breath and in a calm manner replied, "Sorry, Kenshin but I can't stay. Sano has already chosen that snotty, stuck up prima donna, Megumi Takani. Besides, Misao and I don't want to work in a place where our presence and loyalty are not valued."

"That's not true Kaoru. You and Misao are very valuable," replied Kenshin as he reached inside his jacket pocket. "Look at these notes," he said while handing her the notes. "They are all complimentary notes from all the satisfied customers you've served. Read it for yourself."

Kaoru quickly flipped through all the notes stopping at a card that caught her attention. The customer had written how much she appreciated Kaoru's help in arranging her engagement party at the restaurant. She even sent an invitation to her wedding to Kaoru.

"This…. is really nice," commented Kaoru as she continued looking at the note.

Kenshin noticed a smile forming on Kaoru's face as he watched her reading the notes.

"That's only a small portion of the notes we have received. There's many more back in the office," smiled Kenshin.

Kaoru's smile disappeared after hearing the word office. She handed the notes back to Kenshin saying, "I guess all this wasn't good enough for Sano. He stilled fired us. Thanks for trying Kenshin."

As she headed toward the door, Kenshin called out in desperation to her, "Kaoru wait! I need you, please don't go!"

Kaoru stood frozen near the door. She had an odd feeling in her stomach. She turned her head slowly around to meet Kenshin, anxiously awaiting his next word.

"I….." He paused for a moment gazing into her eyes wondering if it was the right time to express his true feelings for her. "I…."

Kaoru's heart began to beat rapidly. She swallowed the lump that had suddenly developed in her throat and asked, "What is it Kenshin?"

Kenshin felt his palms becoming sweaty.

"It's too soon to let her know how I feel, but if I don't she may walk out that door and never come back. I'll never get another chance to tell her if I don't speak up now."

"I need you to stay…. Because… I care about you."

Kaoru blushed as her eyes widened in shock at what she heard.

Kenshin immediately reprimanded himself after seeing her shocked expression.

"Kenshin no baka! You've frightened the poor girl. I knew I shouldn't have said anything. She probably doesn't have the same feelings for me as I do for her. I've got to get out of this situation quickly."

"Uhm, uhm…. (he suddenly began clearing his throat) What I mean, is…." Kenshin racked his brain trying to come up with an excuse for his bold statement. "…that jobs are so hard to find and I would hate to see something bad happen to you because of not having enough money."

Kaoru was a little disappointed. Even though she was unsure of her feelings for Kenshin, a small part of her was hoping that he would take the initiative in expressing his feelings for her.

"I… I have to go…" Kaoru stuttered as she hesitantly turned the doorknob.

Kenshin walked towards her and placed his hand on top of her hand, which was holding the doorknob. Kaoru blushed slightly under his touch. Lavender orbs were gazing intently into a sea of blue.

"Kaoru, the loss of your smile is more important to me than Sano or the restaurant," said Kenshin as he leaned in closer to her. "My life outside of this restaurant is very complicated. However, none of that seem to matter when I walk through those doors and greeted by the sight of your smiling face. You seem to have a way of reaching out to people and making them feel that everything will be all right through your smile."

Kaoru blushed and smiled deeply.

Kenshin tenderly turned her chin toward the mirrored walls and said, "Do you see what I mean? You have a very beautiful smile Kaoru. It would be missed if you left. Please don't leave. Stay and work with me."

Kaoru's heart fluttered as he caressed her chin lightly. She blushed deeper and whispered breathlessly, "Alright… I'll stay."

Kenshin slowly removed his hand from her chin. He smiled warmly and said, "Thank you Kaoru. I'll talk to Sano immediately."

Kaoru nodded then asked, "How about Misao?"

"Will you please send her my apologies," he asked while heading toward the office.

Kaoru stood near the glass wall and began staring it in. She blushed and smiled while touching her chin in the spot that Kenshin had touched her at.

"Why am I staying? I should have walked out but I couldn't. Could it be that I'm attracted to Kenshin? I'm so confused. What about him? I think he has feelings for me too. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would sweet talk a girl into doing whatever he wants. I could feel his sincerity by the way he kept looking at me. I need to find out more about him. But first, I better go and see Misao. I'm sure she will stay because of me. I'll probably have to fess up to her about Kenshin. She'll definitely stick around for that."

~~~~~

Kenshin stood in the doorway of the office preparing himself for a meeting with Sano.

"Hey Kenshin, come on in," said Sano as he motioned for Kenshin to enter. "What's on your mind?"

Kenshin entered the office and sat down across from Sano. "I understand that you fired Kaoru and Misao. Why?"

"Well…. uhm," Sano cleared his throat several times before continuing with, "They've been neglecting some of the customers and giving other customers a hard time."

Kenshin narrowed his eyebrow at Sano and asked, "Is that really so?"

Sano shook his head nervously.

"I went through the mail the other day and found many notes from customers complimenting the service they received from Misao and Kaoru."

Beads of sweat began to form on Sano's brow.

"I believe Kaoru and Misao were fired for a different reason," said Kenshin as he continued narrowing his eyes and Sano.

Sano noticed a hint of amber in Kenshin's eyes. He knew that he had to come clean.

"Okay, okay, I fired them because of Megumi," he confessed. "She felt that Misao and Kaoru was giving her a hard time. It was your idea after all to bring in a singer to make more money for the restaurant."

"Yes it was my idea to hire a singer, but it wasn't my idea to fire Kaoru and Misao," responded Kenshin. "How could you do that to your friends."

"I'm sorry Kenshin, but I had no choice. Megumi absolutely refuses to work with Kaoru and Misao. She even threatened to leave. The thought of searching for a replacement singer was scary. I really don't want to go through that again."

"I see," replied Kenshin as he lowered his head and folded his arms. "It seems we have a problem. Megumi-dono is a good singer and…."

"Kaoru and Misao are the best waitresses I've ever had," finished Sano as he slumped down further into his chair. "What are we going to do?"

"I think we should call everyone together and discuss the matter openly."

Sano arched an eyebrow and Kenshin saying, "You can't be serious Kenshin."

Kenshin nodded.

"Three women who hate each other all under one roof. I'd rather sit through an earthquake than stay in the room with those three," replied Sano.

"I am sure everything will turn out fine," smiled Kenshin. "Let's go find the girls."

"It's your funeral, buddy," said Sano as he smacked Kenshin on the back and laughed.

Sano and Kenshin left the office in search of Kaoru, Misao and Megumi.



To be continued....

Chibi-angel's Notes:

Sorry, I can't seem to update my fics until Friday. I did a major offense against ff.net ::sweatdrops::. Sorry guys!!! My fault!!