Disclaimer:  All standard disclaimers apply.

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Author's greetings: Man, I want to throw up.  I'm not feeling so well.  First, I'm going to let you guys in a secret.  I never really had a properly detailed plot for this fic before (hahaha, big deal)….  WHHAAT?  You guys knew all along?!  *sigh* Well, at least I'm honest.  So, here it is.  Read this chappy and enjoy.

Rating:  PG (may fluctuate)

Love Me As Who I Really Am

Chapter VI:  Contrast

*This is soooo embarrassing.  Kaoru, how did you get into this mess?* Kaoru asked herself bluntly the next morning.  She was wide awake but lay still on Kenshin's bed, eyes still closed.

She could vaguely remember Kenshin opening his apartment door last night, handing her his white T-shirt and lastly, seriously interrogating her.  She evaded his questions as good as she can and even feigned sleepiness just to escape.  That's when the man reluctantly opened his bedroom door to let Kaoru sleep while grabbing a single pillow and a blanket from the closet.  He then closed the door behind him on his way out to give Kaoru privacy for the night.

*We need to discuss something, he said.* Kaoru mimicked his voice in her mind sarcastically as a frown marred her face.  *Pah!  Who does he think he is?  I don't even know him!  That Soujiro just wait and when I see him, I'm going to wring his scrawny neck and make him wish he never associated with the likes of Kenshin Himura!!* Her brain screamed.  All these ran through her head but a teeny part of her, a teensy weensy part of her wanted to go up to Kenshin and pour her heart out to him.  This teensy weensy part of her said, "He is nice.  He respects you.  He understands you.  You can talk to him."  But Kaoru had trusted a man she didn't know once and that was a mistake.  She didn't want to make the same mistake again.

Her eyes suddenly jerked open as she came fully awake in the dark room and saw a figure leaning over her bed, staring at her with the concentrated look of an assassin.

Gathering all her voice power into her throat, she was about to scream when she heard Kenshin say, "Uh… Miss Kaoru?  Are you awake already?"

The male voice, even though it was rather high-pitched, startled Kaoru so much that her stored voice power suddenly broke lose and… she screamed.  She grabbed the pillow from under her head as she jolted into a sitting position then she roughly shoved the pillow into Kenshin's face, clutching the blanket in front of her body protectively.

Kenshin let out a muffled "orororo!"  He fell on his back with the fluffy pillow still on his face.  He started getting the pillow from his face and stared at Kaoru with a bemused expression.  "What?"

Kaoru blinked several times as she let the situation sink in.  She stared back at Kenshin and she began to redden.  "Hey!  What were you trying to do?!  You could have at least knocked on the door!"

"I'm sorry!  I'm sorry!"  He apologized as he started to get up.  He walked towards the switch and turned the lights on.  "But the door was open and I need to get my clothes and---"

"Oh my God!"  Kaoru cut in.  "Clothes!"

He turned towards her.  She was looking really cute at five in the morning with her tussled hair and white shirt (belonging to Kenshin of course) which came down to her knees.  He shook his head.  "Wha-what?"  He was having trouble understanding her.  What clothes?

Kaoru threw up her hands in exasperation.  "I said I have no clothes!  I can't wear the---the ones I wore last night since the straps snapped and the skirt's too short!  My God, I remember, I just borrowed them."  She paused as she saw Kenshin's confused expression.  "Can you hear me?!  I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!"

He blinked several times.  Finally, he said, "Oh…"

"Oh?" She asked, frustrated.  "I could very well go into the streets naked and all you can is" - her mouth turned down into a scowl - "Oh?"

"Uh…"  He started as he tried to clear the fog that had settled on his brain.  "I think I've got something which would fit you all right."

"Yeah, and I'm going to be one scruffy tomboy."  Kaoru muttered as she fidgeted with her blanket.  She watched him open drawer after drawer in his closet, apparently searching for something.  She reddened even more.  *Stop that, Kamiya!*

"Here it is!"  Kenshin announced triumphantly as he took a small pouch from the bottom drawer.  He tossed it on the bed at Kaoru's feet and took a hanger from his closet and placed it on the bed. 

It was a simple green blouse and a black pencil skirt reaching the knees.

Kaoru stared at what he placed on the bed then she looked up to him.  "Whe-where'd you get these?"

Kenshin grinned adorably.  "Honestly, these belong to somebody I know.  The blouse and skirt was actually my gift to this friend of mine, but she bought the pouch and its contents herself.  But she never stayed long enough to using them."  He explained.

Kaoru reached out for the pouch and unzipped it, all the while thinking, *Who could this 'she' be?* A brassiere and a panty, both made of black silk, were inside it, neatly folded at the bottom.

Kenshin turned around to walk out of the room.  Before he closed the door behind him, he said," Miss Kaoru, there's a bathroom in here."

Kaoru frowned.  "I know where the bathroom is."

"So why don't you get into the shower first?  While you dress up, that's when I'll take a bath myself."  He said.

"Sure."  She replied.  "Kenshin…?"  She hurriedly called out before he fully closed the door.

He poked his head through the small opening from the outside and smiled at her.  "What is it?"

Kaoru smiled back.  "Thank you."

He smiled once again and closed the door.  He leaned on the wall and waited.  A few minutes later, he heard the shower running from the adjoining bathroom beside his bedroom.

He raised his eyes to the ceiling and then closed them.  He sighed, "You're welcome."

@@@

"Haaaayy!!!!" Yahiko yawned as he came fully awake, and then rubbed the sleep from his eyes.  He stood up from the tattered bed, drowsily scratching his ribs as he slowly made his way towards the small, almost dysfunctional, refrigerator.  He filled a glass with water.  He yawned once again then brought the glass to his lips.

It was six in the morning.

The door suddenly burst open.  A figure walked in, carrying a large, purple duffel bag.

Yahiko stared at the newcomer, surprised.  He suddenly choked on the water inside his mouth but a few seconds later, he finally recovered.  "What are YOU doing here?"

The woman walked to Kaoru's bed and placed her bag on it.  She planted her hands on her hips and looked at Yahiko.  She raised an eyebrow.  "Is that a proper greeting?"

"Well, no…"  He replied.  "But---"

"Where's Kaoru?"  She cut in.

"She's not here."

"Where is she then?"

"I don't know."  Yahiko answered helplessly.

She sighed.  She sat on the neatly-made bed and crossed her leg over the other.  "What kind of sister would leave her kid brother alone for one night?"  She asked herself aloud.

"HEY!"  Yahiko bellowed.  "I am not a kid!"

She glared at him and he suddenly shut up.  "Do not raise your voice at me."  She told him coldly.  "Now, you better get dressed and go to school.  Is Kaoru still in the university?"

"Yeah!" Yahiko shouted in reply as he headed for the small bathroom.  "So, what brings you here?"  He asked from inside the bathroom as he took off his nightclothes.

"Both of you."  He heard the visitor say.  "I'd be staying here for a while."

Yahiko rolled his eyes heavenwards.  He let out a hiss as the cold water hit his skin.  *Man, this is going to be one hell of a meeting.  Kaoru and she may be close.  But they weren't exactly the best of friends.* He grinned as he reached out for the bar of soap.  *Wonder how she'll provoke Kaoru this time…?*

@@@

"BWAHAHAHAHA!!!  So he was your knight in shining armor, huh?"  Misao said through hysterical giggles after Kaoru related to her the events of the previous night that afternoon.  Misao had earlier dropped by Kaoru's school because her class was released an hour before dismissal time.  The two girls were seated on a bench just outside the university.

"Ssshhh!  Lower your voice, Misao!  Somebody will hear you!"  Kaoru looked around nervously.  "I didn't expect him to show up.  So…" She slapped Misao's arm when she saw the younger girl starting another series of giggles.  "Stop laughing!"

"Bwahahahaha!  I'm trying!  Mmmm-mwahahaha!!!"  Misao exhaled and inhaled several times and forcefully fixed a serious expression on her face, though she was very near laughing.  She furrowed her eyebrows and appeared to be listening intently but the sides of her mouth were dangerously twitching up.  "So Himura showed up last night and saved your butt?"

"Yeah, I was really surprised when he popped out of nowhere."  Kaoru replied, hugging her books to her chest.  "And he knew Sou-chan, Misao."  She peered into Misao's face."  Hey, you still with me, girl?"  She asked when she saw that the other girl was squinting at something from afar.  She followed Misao's gaze.

"You know what, Kaoru?"  Misao said after a brief moment of silence.  Both girls were staring at a woman with long silky black hair from afar.  The woman had her back on them.

"What?"  Kaoru replied as she tried sending an ESP to the woman.  *Turn around so I may see you!*

Misao snapped her fingers thrice as she tried remembering a name.  "That girl looks familiar."

"Yeah…"  Kaoru said.  "Familiar…"

Suddenly, the woman turned around and began walking towards them.  She had in her hands three cans of coke --- DIET coke.  As she gradually shortened the distance between her and the girls, she smirked.

Kaoru and Misao's eyes turned as big as saucers.

Kaoru shrieked, "It's Megumi!"  the same time that Misao screeched, "It's the daughter of your mom's best friend!"  Misao and Kaoru looked at each other. 

"What is she doing here?!"  Kaoru hissed at the other girl.

"How am I to know?!"  Misao whispered back.

Before they knew it, Megumi was standing right in front of them.  She shoved a can to each girl's hands.  Kaoru and Misao yelped as they tossed the cold cans up and down like circus jugglers.  Megumi sat down beside Kaoru and began drinking her coke.

Kaoru stared at her and after a few moments said, "What are you doing here?"

"I need a vacation," was her curt reply.

"Tsut!  Need a vacation, like, who needs one?"  Misao muttered under her breath sarcastically as she opened her can.

"Misao!"  Kaoru warned and Misao just shrugged.  She turned back to Megumi.  "Where will you be staying?  I mean, when did you just arrive?"

"This morning."

Kaoru gasped.  "That's impossible!"

"I'm here, am I not?"

Kaoru kept silent and began drinking her coke.  *This is not good.  Definitely not good.*

Megumi broke the silence.  "Yahiko was alone last night, wasn't he?"

"He's not a kid anymore."  Kaoru replied.

"It's dangerous."

"What?  Leaving him alone?  I placed four padlocks on the door."  Kaoru replied.

Megumi rolled her eyes.  "Four padlocks, huh?"

"Yeah…" Kaoru answered warily.

Megumi sighed.  "I came to your flat at six this morning and guess what I did?  I just kicked the door and it flew open.  Where'd your four padlocks go?"

Kaoru's mouth fell open and she appeared as if she was in a trance.  A few moments later, coke trickled out of her mouth.  Misao slapped her arm happily and she snapped out of her reverie.  She shook her head then wiped the coke from her chin.  She stared at Megumi, wide-eyed.  "WHAT?!"

Misao burst out laughing.  "Four padlocks!  Right!"

"Well, I—I… uh… I---"  Kaoru stammered, blushing.  "Well… it's not my fault anymore if Yahiko forgot to lock the door, okay?"  She glared at Misao.  "Right, Misao?'  She asked through gritted teeth.

"Yeah!"  Misao eagerly answered happily.

"Where were you last night, then?"  Megumi asked Kaoru, completely ignoring Misao.

"I was with a friend."  Kaoru answered, looking straight ahead. 

Megumi stood up and began pacing before them.  "Friend?  Male or female?"

"Female."  Kaoru said quietly.

Misao smirked.  "Male."

Megumi whirled around and stared at Kaoru.  "Male?"

Kaoru glared at Misao.  Megumi shifted her attention to the other girl.  "Male?"

Misao nodded, expression as assuring as possible.  "Yeah, male.  And a very gorgeous one too."

The older woman grinned.  Then, she burst out laughing.  "A gorgeous male, you say?"  She asked through dignified fits of laughter.  "What male in his right mind would take interest on this tomboy?"  She waved her hand to Kaoru's direction.

Kaoru stood up angrily.  "Hey!  I am not a---a tomboy, okay!" 

"So, by the way, what were you doing with your male friend?"

"We were just---" Kaoru started to say.

"You were just doing what, huh?"  Megumi cut in, chin up.  "Did he fu---"

"NO!"  Kaoru snapped angrily.  "We didn't do anything like that."

"Tae called me a few days ago," said Megumi, much to the surprise of both girls.

"Tae called you?"  Kaoru and Misao asked in unison.

"Yes and she told me she'd been seeing you a lot around lately with some guy who appeared as if he possessed you or something.  And Tsubame, she said, told her that whenever she was with you and Yahiko, she could feel that you were quite uneasy and you kept looking at your brother worriedly,"

"I..."  Kaoru started to say.  "I think this isn't the place to discuss that, Megumi."

Megumi raised an eyebrow.  She, then, turned around and began strolling away from them.  "Let's take a walk then tell me everything, from top to bottom."

Misao immediately stood up.  "Come on, why not tell her?"  Then she began following Megumi.

Looking around helplessly, Kaoru ran to catch up with the other two.  "Look," she started to say, walking beside Megumi.  "This is my problem and, you know, you have got more than enough problems already and I don't want to bothe---"

Megumi stopped walking.  Kaoru and Misao did the same.  The older woman faced Kaoru and tried to use reason.  "No, you look.  I've known you since you were but a baby.  I knew you even before Misao met you.  Our moms were best friends.  Even though we aren't, I still care for you and Yahiko because I am older.  Besides," she folded her arms across her belly and began walking again.  "I assisted your mother when she changed your diaper and I was the first one to know your first crush was Jason."

Misao's and Kaoru's mouths dropped open.  Misao then slapped Kaoru's arm. 

"Hey!  What was that for?"  Kaoru exclaimed.

Misao glared at her.  "You said I was the only one who knew that."  She grumbled under her breath then after a few more upset complaints, she ran towards Megumi.

Kaoru stared at her friend's back incredulously then ran after her.  "I didn't know how she found that out!"

"So are you going to relate with me what's happening or are you going to just argue?"  Megumi called out over her shoulder.  She slowed down.

Kaoru and Misao caught up with her and began ambling, much more relaxed. 

"Here's what happened…"  Misao started.

Megumi listened intently, once in a while nodding, trying to swallow everything in.

@@@

"Let's see," Sano looked down to his grocery list then to the basket he was carrying.  "Bath soap, check.  Toothpaste, check.  Toothbrush, laundry soap, oil, vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, Doritos, check.  Beer, check.  Well," he proceeded to the cashier.  "That's about it."  He smiled at the young girl at the counter, who readily flashed at him her most flirtatious and perpetual smile.

After he paid for his grocery supplies, he said, "Thanks, babes."  The girl batted her FAKE eyelashes.

He exited the mini grocery store, whistling tunelessly.  He stopped on his tracks when he saw a group of women walking towards him, deep in conversation.

He recognized the other two as the girls he saw at somewhere, no, he doesn't remember where precisely, but the woman at the middle was definitely someone he knew.  He smirked then he pulled his shoulders back and began approaching them.

@@@

"So that was it."  Kaoru ended.

I hope the guy would drop dead."  Megumi cursed, not mentioning the subtlety of the curse though.

'Yeah," Misao agreed.

"This is getting quite complicated, Kao---" Megumi suddenly looked ahead… and her mouth dropped open, literally.  Cool, calm Megumi actually had her mouth drop open.

There in front of them, was the goofy-looking man with Kenshin and a goofy grin plastered across his face completed his really goofy look.

"Hey," Misao said.  "You were the one with Aoshi and Kenshin yesterday."

Kaoru looked at Misao.  "Who's Aoshi?"

"Oh!  Sorry," Misao apologized.  "I met him last night at a coffee bar and made friends.  He was the tall one with the ice blue eyes."  She made gestures with her hands nd raised an eyebrow.  "You know.  Blue eyes, serous expression, tall, from yesterday with Kenshin…?"  She stopped.  "Gorgeous…?"

"Oh."  Kaoru nodded vigorously, her mouth forming a perfect oval.  "Him."

"Hi!"  Sano greeted Kaoru and Misao cheerfully."  I'm Sanosuke Sagara.  Call me Sano."

"I'm Kaoru." 

"Misao here."

Kaoru looked at Megumi.  She saw the other woman glaring at Sanosuke.  "Hey, Megumi, introduce yourself."  The other woman kept quiet.  Kaoru shook her head.  "This is Megumi."

"He knows me."  Megumi replied abruptly, her chin going up an inch.

Sano's goofy grin widened.  "It's a small world after all."  When Megumi said nothing, he continued, "What'd I tell you?  I'll always be right where you are."

Megumi flipped her hair over her shoulders arrogantly.  She snapped her fingers.  "Evaporate, Sano."

Sano held up his free hand before himself defensively, palm out.  "Okay, okay, I'm letting you pass.  As you wish."  He stepped aside to let them pass.

Once they were out of Sano's hearing range, Kaoru glanced behind her shoulder and saw him still standing where they left him, staring at them.  "Who's he?"

Megumi's answer shocked them both.  "He was my boyfriend.  WAS."

TBC

Author's Notes:  Sorry for not being able to update sooner.  I finished this chapter thirty minutes before January 1, 2003 honestly, but I never got around to typing it into the computer. 

                        People, I've realized that Kenshin still calls Kaoru –dono even though they were already married.  What the hell… somebody, explain that please.

                        By the way, 'Tadaima' is still to be continued.  And don't worry; I'm trying to rack my brain for 'Second Chance'.  I'm really busy.  Anybody here who's a Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood or Judith McNaught fan?  One of my girl friends is and she kept pestering me to read those books even though I thought they were too girly.  But yeah, I read them and now I'm sort of like a fan of Deveraux.  Jude's a really great writer, you know, good knowledge about what she writes... or something like that.  During a festival at one of my friend's place, we watched Vision of Escaflowne.  Frankly, I wasn't a fan of V of E before but now I am.  But Kenshin still rulez!!!!  So enough… see ya, guys.

lieveit1 '^-^'