The 12th Street Apartment

Sorry everyone... updates will be slow....

Sorry... I've been really busy too... I need my spring break!!

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noner_89: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like this story. ^.^

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MissBehavin: Well... I can't make Shishio COMPLETLY good... it just wouldn't fit him. Thanks for reading! ^^

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Updates will be slow.... because of school... and I have three stories going....

I'm updating them one at a time, taking turns.

Here's another chapter.

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"Will you marry me?"

Blood pumped in Kenshin's ears; its loud thumping block all other sounds.

Kaoru was uncomfortable, now glancing around in embarassment, "I'm sorry..."

"Me too..."

Kaoru's felt tears burning in her eyes, "I---" She started to get up.

There was a dreadful hush in the cafe. Kaoru ignored the pained looks everyone seemed to give her.

She took her gamble, and lost.

Life didn't give you second chances. Enishi was wrong. She remember when they agreed she would leave, and he told her that life sometimes gave second chances, especially to people who needed them the most, like her.

And she thought he had been right.

She gambled with Enishi, but he had been caring enough to let her go.

Her gamble with Kenshin...her last chance... lost ...











































































































































"Wait..."



































































































Kenshin raised his head to look up at her, "Don't go...."

"Wah.."

Kenshin pulled a small blue box out of his pocket, "I was going to ask this anyhow.... You just happened to beat me to it... I kind of wanted to do it.... Kaoru... will you marry me?"

Kaoru grinned and drew Kenshin into a deep kiss.

"AWWWWWWWW!!"

Kenshin and Kaoru glanced up to see a foolish sloppy smile on Soujirou's face, "How romantic!"

Yumi wiped the unshed tears from her eyes, "You're so lucky..."

Kenshin looked into Kaoru's eyes, "I know..."

(A/N: Did I scare yah?)

***

Aoshi sat in his office, tossing a baseball up and down. He was boredly, and putting off his task at hand. He finally took the telephone off its cradle and punched a few numbers.

"Hey. Yeah... it's me. You okay? Good. Kenshin and Kaoru are getting married. Yeah... soon... PLEASE!"

Aoshi sighed, "It's about Misao... you know... how you never know how lucky you are... or were... until its gone..." He crumbled the paper on his desk and angerily pitched it at the waste basket. It fell short, but Aoshi's attention was on the phone call.

Aoshi stayed on the phone until the lights of the city burn brightly against the black night.

Aoshi placed the phone down with a heavy sigh; life was just so unfair.

He had locked up his office and was heading upstairs when he was met by grandmother. "Something I can help you with Grandmother?" He asked politly.

The old woman nodded, "What's this Kaoru like?"

"Why?" Aoshi questioned.

"What kind of woman is she... she's pregnant with another man's child you know." The old woman shook her head, "She also married another man before... with a marriage that failed. Kenshin deserves better."

"No... Kenshin deserves her. She only married that other man to save her father..." Aoshi replied.

Grandmother grew silent. Aoshi nodded solemnly and headed upstairs.

The old woman leaned on the wall, "To save her father...."

Memories swirled around Mrs. Tamba.

Tokio was sweeping the front steps when she saw her mother trudge up the stairs. "Mother?" Tokio called out worriedly.

"She married once to save her father..." was the old woman's reply. She gave her daughter a bittersweet smile, "If only I had been lucky enough to leave..."

Tokio gave a soft sigh, "You raised us well..."

"Out of respect.. not love." The older woman replied, "You're lucky Tokio. He loves you."

Hajime Saitou watched as his mother-in-law and wife returned, "What's wrong?" He mouthed to his wife.

"Old memories..." Tokio replied.

Saitou nodded understandingly as he joined his wife on the balcony, "Your father seemed nice..."

"My parents seemed in love. Thier story mirrors Kaoru's and Enishi's."

"Lucky for Kaoru, she got a second chance."

"My mother never did..."

"Oh the choices we make." Saitou said, seeming to the dark night sky.

"Do you ever want to change the choices our children make?"

"There is a BIG difference in giving someone advice and making the choice for them."

***

"I think Grandmother likes you." Kenshin said softly to Kaoru.

"I think so too..." Kaoru sat on a comfortable chair. "So we're living..."

"My place... fifth floor."

"Across from..."

"I know... Uncle Hiko."

A groan escaped Kaoru's lips. Kenshin smiled, "He's not that bad."

"Key word: NOT THAT." Misao said from then doorway. She was pulling a big box into the room.

Megumi joined her, carrying a smaller box, "When's the wedding?"

"Very soon..." Kaoru said, "I'm going to be stressed with this baby. I want the wedding VERY SOON."

"GREAT!! I'll start planning!" Misao exclaimed, "Just leave it to us, right Meg, Yumi?"

Yumi, who had brought Kaoru some tea, scoffled, "Speak for yourself."

Misao scowled and Yumi laughed, "I'm just kidding. Of course we'll help."

"GREAT! How about three weeks from Friday?"

"Fine." Kaoru said warily.

"GOOD!"

Kaoru soon drifted off into a sweet sleep.

***

One week later...

"Okay. I've got it all planned out. Kaoru's dad is walking her down the aisle. Aoshi is the best man. Okita and Soujirou are ushers.... Sano is the ringbearer." Misao looked over her list.

s Megumi giggled, "Fun."

"I'm the maid of honor. Yumi's the bridesmaid. Meg-"

"I'm taking care of food. I'm NOT walking down that aisle."

"Fine." Misao chewed on the back of the eraser.

Kaoru placed her hand on Misao's arm, "I'm sure it'll be beautiful."

Misao looked at her friend, "You just don't want me reading down the list again."

Kaoru smiled and leaned back on the chiar, "You' got that right."

Yumi looked at Misao, "So... how are thing with Aoshi and you?"

Misao flushed, "I-- I- I've go- got- Ch-Chou.."

Megumi chuckled, "Right... your married cousin."

"GUYS!" Misao moaned, "PLEASE don't tell Aoshi!"

"We won't. We just want you to stop playing 'hard to get'." Yumi started.

Megumi cut in, "Don't you DARE hurt our cousin."

Yumi nodded, "Our family is vicious in revenge."

"Count me in." Kaoru yelled loudly.

Yumi raised an eyebrow as Megumi scrunched up her nose.

Kaoru bopped both of them on the head, "I'm marrying Kenshin..." Seeing thier still blank faces she sighed, "Your OTHER cousin... Kenshin."

Megumi blinked, startled. Yumi nodded slowly, "Right... we knew that..."

***

"It's wedding TIME! It's wedding TIME!" Misao sang down the hall.

Kaoru sighed, there would be no fancy white dress. You had that chance once in your lifetime. This was just a simple ceremony, afterall this time it was one of true love.

"Is everyone ready?" Kaoru asked Yumi.

Yumi looked worried, "No..."

Megumi popped her head in, "Haven't seen him yet..."

"Who?" Kaoru asked.

"Aoshi's MIA."

"It starts in ten minutes." Yumi glanced at the clock.

"Oh dear..." Misao looked at her list, "We can have Sano as the best man... and the ringbearer."

"Aoshi BETTER make it." Kaoru gritted her teeth. She could feel a headache coming on.

***

"Aoshi... keep your eyes on the road. You can stare all you want at me later, jerk." The woman in the passenger side of the car point out.

Aoshi gripped the steering wheel, "You're not helping..."

"Speed limit is 10 KM faster than what you're diriving at!"

"I'm driving perfectly fine thank you very much.. DEAR!" He snapped.

The woman frowned and tapped her fingers on the armrest, "Pull over."

"What?"

"PULL OVER! We're gonna be late at the rate you're driving at!" She shoved Aoshi out of his seat as soon as he stopped the car. Aoshi sighed and climbed out, walking to the passenger side.

"But--"

The woman pressed the gass lightly, before Aoshi was even halfway in the car.

"HEY!" Aoshi dove in, slamming the door behind him.

"Tough!" The woman smirked as she pushed the accelerator harder.

"You could have killed me!" Aoshi hollared.

The woman rolled her eyes, "Like I care." She rejoined dryly.

Aoshi gave a sly grin, "I bet you would've cried your lil eyes out if I died there... knowing that you killed lil ol' me."

"Jerk."

***

"Where is HE?" Misao was in tears.

Yumi looked confused, "This is Kaoru's wedding right?" She asked her sister.

Megumi nodded, "Misao is so worked up... and it's not even her wedding..."

Kaoru sighed as she sat next to the sobbing girl, "It'll be okay Misao."

"NO IT WON'T!"

"The show must go on!" Yumi snapped, "Let's go! The minister is paid by the hour!"

"Right. This can't ruin me!" Misao jumped up, "On with the show!"

Kaoru sighed, as Yumi grinned, "Should've said that earlier."

***

"Straighten that tie!"

Aoshi jerked away from the woman, "It's fine!"

The woman nearly ripped Aoshi's tie, tuggin him towards her so hard, "NO it isn't!"

"I'm fine. Really." She continued to fix his tie, "This is SO embarrassing!"

"Yeah.. I know you are..."

"YEAH!... Wait.. NO!"

"Big baby. Now GO!" She shoved him into the chapel.

He ran smack into Kenshin, who seemed relieved to see him, "Where..." Kenshin's eyes drifted to the woman following close behind, "I see.... slick Aoshi."

"Let's get this wedding started." Aoshi replied curtly.

***

Kaoru almost mauled Aoshi when she saw him, "Where were you?" She demanded.

He shrugged, "I needed to pick up someone... it doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here."

Misao was frantically directing everyone to thier spots.

Kaoru felt the blood drain from her face as she heard the first few notes start with the wedding march.

Her father gave a small grin, "I'm proud..."

Kaoru nodded, swallowing a clump that was in her throat. This is it.

***

This is it. Kenshin thought to himself. She's going to be mine... finally.... Kaoru.

His hands held hers. His ears block out the drone of the minister. All he could hear was the thumping of his heart. He didn't even remember when he said I do.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Kenshin leaned in. Perfect.

***

The recepetion was at a hotel, the sunlight flooding through the glass ceiling.

"Too bad there isn't rain." OKita annouced.

Misao was stunned, "RAIN? At a wedding is bad luck!"

Okita chuckled, "That's where you're wrong. Rain on a wedding day means a long, successful, and prolific marriage."

"Oh..."

Kaoru and Kenshin cut the cake, but Kaoru was too sick to eat it. They opted to dance the first dance.

After that, Kaoru prompting sat back down, feeling a little tired.

Soon, the most of occupants the apartment building were sitting at the table.

Aoshi had disappeared right after the ceremony. Kenshin acted unfazed, "He had something to do."

"So who's this certain someone he mentioned?" Sano asked.

Kenshin choked, "Wha- How-Who?"

Sano grinned, "So he is seeing someone!"

"No. Don't be ridiculous Sano." Kenshin waved his hand off, "Aoshi hasn't dated since high school."

Just then, Aoshi entered, laughing with a young woman by his side.

Misao narrowed her eyes pointly as Yumi and Megumi looked on with shock. Kaoru was horrified. Sano's mouth dropped to the ground. Kenshin merely smirked. It was dropped as soon as he saw his father's idential one. So... they had the same track of mind eh?

The woman with Aoshi was quite short, with layered black hair forming a V-shape at the back. A ankle length pale yellow dress was fitting, starting with a round cut, an low back with a few criss crossing X's, and a flowing "poofy" bottom. Her eyes were hidden behind dark fashionable sunglasses.

Aoshi whispered something in the woman's ear. She smiled as she took his offered hand and they stepped onto the dance floor.

Everyone seemed the watch them dance. She was gracefully, not saying a word with Aoshi stepped on her shoes.

They were even more surprised when Saitou cut in, dancing with the mystery woman.

If that wasn't strange enough, Kenshin got up and cut into his father's dance.

The woman leaned closer to Kenshin, "You guys keep this up and I will KILL you for giving me this oh-so-lovely headache from spinning me so much."

Kenshin's rejoinder was short, "I'm just happy to see you."

Soon everyone was wondering who the woman was, charming her way to dance with the Saitou men.

The woman left the dance floor as soon as the song she was dancing with Kenshin was over. She sat down next to Aoshi at a table and the two were in deep conversation.

There was a tapping of the glass as Aoshi stood up, "Sorry I kind of missed my toast. First of all Congrats lil bro on the wedding. I wish you guys the best of luck. You're both very lucky to have each other. Secondly, I would like to apologize for being late today. I had to pick up..."

The woman by his side stood up and daintily removed the sunglasses.

The crowd gasped.

(A/N: Points if you guess the woman! Haha... I think most of you know who she is!)

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Hello everyone. My life is currently and forever more will be a mess.

But I will continue to write! Never fear! (-.-);;;

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I rotate updating chapters for my stories, so I believe Passing of the Forbidden is next. (That chapter isn't written yet! >
Hope you liked it.

Please review!

Thanks for reading!