Chapter Two: Lights Out

Disclaimer: Nope still not mine. Darn it!




Author's Notes: Been a while ne? I hope you don't give up on this fic. I really as in really had a bad block and life keeps on stopping me from thinking straight lately.



"…" – dialogue


'…' - thoughts




A Hitokiri's Report
Chapter Two: Lights Out



By: maybe_marce



--++[A][H][R]++--



A piercing cry was heard. Next was the sound of a heart stopping clash of metal after which an explosion occurred. A shiver ran to an already trembling body of a girl who seemed to be rooted to her spot. She absentmindedly went to where the accident happened. Her legs felt like it was made of lead, heavy and difficult to move, but somehow she had to see, she just had to be there. Flames were already blinding her eyes, but she did not stop walking.


"Must go there…" Tears were treading down her cheeks.


She finally stopped because of the unbearable the heat; suddenly something heavy dropped on her feet. She bent, and when she did, she almost wanted to vomit at the sight. She clamped her tiny hands on her mouth loathing the smell of it. She looked upon her hands, her eyes widening. "Blood!" She exclaimed, and was immediately frightened as she lowered her gaze. Her head and body felt like floating. She knew that she would pass out any moment. But before she lowered her lids and let the flames engulf her body she saw a pair of golden eyes that looked at her intently, "The flames had eyes…" Then all was dark.


"Kaoru, hey are you okay?"


Kaoru was startled and acted on instinct. She reached for the katana underneath her overcoat; but before she had a chance to release it, Enishi's arms were around her, preventing her from doing anything foolish.


"Stop it or we're history." Enishi whispered, as his eyes surveyed around the bus making sure nobody noticed what she intended to do.


Kaoru came to her senses as she tried to relax, her harsh breathing slowed, she loosened her grip on the katana, and wiped the sweat that trickled in her temples. She closed her eyes again as she recalled her dream, or nightmare to be exact. 'What in the… I haven't dreamed like that since I was 5, what could possibly bring it back all of a sudden?' She looked at the window and tried to figure out what she had dreamed about, she could not recall all of it, and it angered her even more.


On the other hand, Enishi released her and looked again at the few passengers. He heard a comment from his left side saying, "Youth nowadays, Tsk! Tsk! They don't even try finding somewhere decent to do their stuff!" He stared at the old man with his murderous gaze. The man shut up and averted his attention outside his window. Enishi glanced behind him and his eyes caught something red. He noticed that the color was from a man's hair. He also noticed the cross-shaped scar on his cheek. Unfortunately, the man was fast asleep. 'How weird.' But something on the back of his mind told him that this man was dangerous. 'Get a grip Enishi! How could a sleeping man scare you?' He shook his head and checked on Kaoru.


"Pigs don't have nightmares."


"Huh?!" Kaoru tore her attention to the window and looked at Enishi.


"I said that that was some nightmare."


"For a second there I thought you said I was a pig." She perfectly heard him the first time but understood that he was only trying to lift her spirits.


"Why would I do that for?" He made a gesture feigning hurt.


"Because you're one slimy sissy!" She teased back. The tenseness that she felt a while ago vanished in an instant as laughter came to both of them. Finally the bus stopped, "C'mon sissy and let's race home, I'm really hungry, winner takes the biggest lot on the meal!" She exclaimed as she squeezed her way out of the bus and dashed for the long way home.


"What the… Hey wait up, as always you cheat!" He too hurried out, but before boarding off, he took one last glance at the man seated behind them. The red haired man opened his eyes sensing someone looking at him. Their eyes met each other and held for a second. Enishi boarded off the bus and ran to meet Kaoru who was now a hundred yards away. Something in that man really ignited in him the urge for a sword fight. 'Oh hell, I think I'm being paranoid.' He increased his speed to catch up with Kaoru.


He noticed that Kaoru stopped abruptly. He slackened his pace and was about to shout at her and question what was wrong when he too, sensed something.



--++[A][H][R]++--



Kenshin woke up feeling eyes piercing on him. As he opened his eyes, he encountered the eyes of the boy who was sitting in front of him a while ago. This boy had white hair; and while they held each other's gaze, he somehow sensed that the boy was capable of inflicting real harm. For about what seemed to be eternity, they sent challenging looks to one another through their eyes, each daring the other in a duel. Then, the boy disappeared and the bus started to move again.


'What am I thinking?! That boy doesn't even know how to hold a sword, and you try to challenge him, shame on you Himura!' Kenshin shook his head and his eyes roamed around the vehicle trying to find something or rather, someone.


'Too bad I didn't get to see her face' Kenshin said to himself. He was disappointed when he didn't find the raven-haired girl who sat at front a while ago, 'Well maybe she's ugly and all.' He sighed but something in his mind just told him that he was wrong. After some time, the bus stopped. He got up, boarded off the vehicle and lingered for a while on the shed, enjoying the cool breeze of the mid-May night.


'Soon I'll be on one hell of a semester!' He walked all the while remembering the conversation he had with Yamagata. His thoughts drifted on his latest assignment. 'Why on earth did Saitoh put his aces on that university?' He scowled as he thought of Saitoh. 'What's on your mind, bastard…' His anger was increasing as a flood of memories was making way through his mind.


'Stop it! I won't ruin my night because of Saitoh!' He closed his eyes. For a moment, it gleamed gold but when he opened them, they returned to their violet normal color.


'Must talk to Misao about the new mission.' He said as he approached the dojo that he rented for about a decade now. He stepped on the entrance and was immediately relaxed when he heard the chimes sound as the wind comfortably blew. He smiled and said, "I'm home…"



--++[A][H][R]++--



Kaoru closed her eyes and leaned backward as daggers were thrown at her; they missed and struck the tree beside her. She jumped and held on to the branch of the tree as a more daggers were thrown at her direction.


'Those bastards will never learn!' She exclaimed as she looked at Enishi, finding him running to the opposite direction while unsheathing his katana.


'Well, well, an exercise before dinner, how lovely!' She smiled and released her grip on the branch, somersaulted and landed on the ground gracefully.


She held her sword, though sheathed and ran to the direction where the daggers came from. The soft grass of the park made her movements unnoticed. She saw two forms at her front. Each figure grabbed for their gun, they had seen her and fired at will. With decades of training, Kaoru moved through them without any scratch, she turned left and right, never slackening her pace, as she avoided the bullets that were fired at her.


'Those fools, they don't know what's coming!' She made a mischievous grin as she unsheathed her katana and jumped. The blinding light of the full moon reflected in her sword; the two armed men stopped firing and shielded their eyes, which was their mistake for when the first one opened his, he was greeted by Kaoru's warm smile accompanied by a searing pain at his abdomen. Kaoru's sword went straight in his stomach. The other guy fired at her and she turned sideways to evade the incoming bullets. As she did, she struck out her sword from the first man and turned until she was behind the second. She knelt her left leg and sliced his side. It was so quick that the man could only whimper his final cry and lifelessly fall to ground.


She stood up and swished her sword with such force that the blood in it vanished immediately. She then remembered Enishi. She heard swords clashing to her right so she dashed toward that direction. A few paces away, she saw him fighting with five huge people armed with swords. They were already encircling him so she hurried to help, not that he needed it anyway.


Still running, she watched as he attacked the two men nearest to him; he sliced both their heads off. The three that remained simultaneously assaulted him, but he was too quick for them. He held the head of the latest man he killed and smashed it to the ground; Enishi's sword followed suit. He then hit the ground with his sword with such a powerful force that the dirt reacted and flew to the direction of the other man left standing.


That man was taken aback that he just stood there as if welcoming death itself. Enishi appeared in front of him; he used the dirt as camouflage before he attacked. Enishi's sword rammed inside his opponent's chest and he took it off immediately causing his clothes to be drenched in blood as his opponent's body limply fell to the ground. He then ferociously looked at his last two opponents.


They were too stunned and scared to move or do anything, they just held their sword in front of them, their grip shivering. Enishi walked to them, his expression becoming more and more frightening. The other tried to run away but Enishi's reaction time was faster than his so he ended up dead on the ground. The hands of the other guy shook horribly making his sword wiggle a bit. Enishi was in front of him, terror was building in his opponent's eyes. He sliced his opponent's sword piece by piece until only the handle remained. Enishi grinned.


"Tell your boss next time to visit us while we're asleep. Maybe then, you'll have a chance to scratch us… However, since you guys ruined my clothes tonight... Do you know that it's my favorite?! So now, I have another excuse to… kill… you…" Enishi inserted his sword to his opponent's stomach and lifted it upwards; the body fell and just like what Kaoru did earlier, he swished his sword that blood disappeared in it. While he was sheathing it, Kaoru walked by his side panting.


"Man that was so lame! You scared that man to death before killing him? How brutal of you! Or must I say, how sadistic of you!" She sneered and pats his back.


"Then again, I want to congratulate you for a job well done, you survived without my help." She added as Enishi looked at her.


"I guess I won, 11 to 10 in favor of me. So, do I get a reward then, maybe a kiss would do…" He said as he leaned towards her. Now only a few inches apart, he smiled when he saw that she was blushing terribly, her eyes closed.


Kaoru on the other hand was taken aback by what he said. Then, without any further thinking, she ran. A confused Enishi followed suit.


"Why on earth are we running?"


"You might come out as the winner, but you forgot that we still have a race to compete, oohhh… I can't wait to feast on all the mouth-watering food that are just waiting to be devoured at home!" She said dreamily, "And I'll make sure I don't lose this time, sissy!" She stuck out her tongue, her face still red as ever as she accelerated.


He laughed; he knew that she was trying to escape that kind of conversation, she always has. 'Oh hell, she's the only one who can make my adrenaline rise.' He said still smiling as he too increased speed. He grinned even wider as he saw the determination in her face. 'God she's really lovely!' as he slowly looked at her.


"Why are you grinning?"


"Nothing…" he longed to touch those cheeks that were currently scarlet.


To eliminate entirely the uncomfortable mood, she said rather awkwardly, "I hope Saitoh would clear out the mess there."


"Careful now, spies might still be lurking under our nose, we must not talk about anything that can harm us while we're out," he surveyed the area, making sure that no one was with them. He turned quickly to her when he heard her laughing. "What now?"


"Look at us, anyone in their right mind would surely suspect that we did something horrible!" Kaoru giggled even more as Enishi inspected their selves. She was right; from head to foot they were all covered with fresh, stinking blood; only their katanas were free from the sticky liquid. Although they had abandoned their earlier bloodied coats, the ones they presently wore rivaled the latter.



--++[A][H][R]++--



A quiet dojo was suddenly disturbed by the loud ringing of a mobile phone. Kenshin's hand was groping for it; he sat up from the bed groggily and answered it.


"Ha…. Uhm… Hello.." He said between a couple of yawns. He was in the process of stretching his muscular arms when he was startled by the greeting of the other person on the line.


"Himura-san! Good morning! Sorry if I disturbed your sleep! Any interesting activity you plan on doing today?!" Misao jovially greeted as Kenshin stood and went towards the closet, finding his grooming stuff.


"None in particular. I think I should do some chores here at home like doing the laundry or something." He found some clean shirts and laid it to a nearby table. He went back to his bed and arranged it.


"Duh! There's a laundry shop for God's sake! You can always go to Wash Box and have them clean, they're the best you know!" Misao said as Kenshin rolled his eyes, "Geez! What's wrong with doing chores? I like doing it anyway."


"Are you human?! No human being existing on earth love doing household chores! Common, don't waste your vacation doing chores, we haven't got time left, and before we know it, it'll be the first day of classes!" she added.


"Which leads me to one more thing. Have you heard about our latest assignment?" Kenshin was fully-awake now, waiting for Misao's reply. Yamagata had insisted that he take Misao with him just in case he needed any help.


"Yah, I've heard about the crap, don't have any idea why Saitoh would put his best there. Anyway, I've heard that it was a decent university; although liberated, but quite cool actually with all those hunks! Those pieces of meat, I say and quite brainy too! No wonder it's a highly looked up university." She blabbered. Kenshin didn't want to listen to anymore of Misao's girl rants so he asked her what she wanted in the first place.


"Okay, straight to the point, me and ma' hommies are chillin' this night out. I wanna invite ya so that I can ride wit ya sporty car and borrow some of your bling-blings to impress 'em." She was trying to mimic those hip hops that she watched in TV but was laughing at herself in the process. Kenshin was laughing with her.


"You sound terrible. Don't do that again, it doesn't suit you." Kenshin said, wiping a tear that escaped while he laughed.


"So what do you say, chores or Flat Rocks about around eight." Misao said, or rather commanded. Kenshin knew that that tone of voice, Misao was ordering him to go. 'She sounds like as Yamagata-san.' But he said, "Oh I don't know, doing chores is more enjoyable than sitting in that bar doing nothi..."


Kenshin was abruptly cut off by an angry voice on the other line. It was very loud that he had to put the phone a few inches away from him. "Don't you dare say no to me Kenshin! Remember, I saved your butt last time, when we handled a life threatening mission! Or did you forget about that?! I nearly got toasted in the process!" Misao said as if she was in a fight while giving all her might in shouting.


"Er… I think I'm the one you should thank for the second life that you are enjoying right no…." Again he was not able to finish since Misao shot back, "Don't you twist anything Kenshin! You're just making excuses not to come! I want to see you there tonight! Don't you forget it-Flat Rocks at eight sharp!" Kenshin cringed at the noise.


"All right then, nice talking to you Ken-san! Oh I Almost forgot, it's a masquerade party so you better bring your best mask, okay? That's settled then? Have a nice day, goodbye!" Misao ended rather cheerfully and gently. Kenshin sat on the bed thinking about the event that would happen tonight. "Why do I get the feeling that she blackmailed me again?" He sighed as he got hold of his grooming kit and went into the bathroom.


"Masquerade eh, now she gives me another problem. Where the hell can I get a mask?" He said aloud and sighed again as he closed the bathroom door.



--++[A][H][R]++--



Kaoru closed the door of her room. She was going to the dining area. She started walking towards the staircase. The event that happened last night was still troubling her. 'Why on earth did Enishi try to kiss me?' She felt the hotness in her cheeks again.


"Good morning! Why so early?" Enishi greeted as he closed the door of his own room which was adjacent to hers. He was wearing a white plain shirt and khakis. He was looking fresh and clean with his signature round glasses on and that caused her to feel conscious since her hair was a mess and she was still wearing her pajamas.


"I… uhm… just doing my usual thing… you know, going to the dining area to have breakfast. Most normal do that on mornings." Kaoru stuttered but the last sentence just got out naturally, as if on instinct. 'What's wrong with me?' She was suddenly nervous and at loss which was not very normal compared to their usual morning bickering.


"Aha! I knew it, you were very disappointed when I won yesterday in our race, isn't it? That's why you're heading off to breakfast early to have my lot on the meal! Fat chance mi lady, I'm as hungry as you are! And Kaoru, you're anything BUT normal." Enishi exclaimed as he winked at Kaoru who just pouted at his reply.


"Hey, you tricked me into stopping last night so you won! Ooohhh the nerve! I won't let you trick me this time."


Kaoru recalled when Enishi told her that her zipper was open. She immediately stopped and blushed. She was about to close it when she realized he was bluffing and was meters away from her. Since he won, he got the biggest lot during dinner.


She ran down from elegant staircase to the lavishly decorated dining area. 'That's better; I'm just being paranoid a while ago.' She said as she hurried her way to her seat feeling relaxed and herself again. Her mouth watered at the sight of assorted food on the table. She was already on her second serving when he Enishi arrived.


"Geez! Control yourself; you ate that much food since you were still a brat, you've grown now so start acting ladylike for a change. You must at least try not to devour all of it!" He mocked as he sat opposite her.


"Werll.. unlirke you, I varlue foord! She said while chewing a large chunk to annoy him completely. But unfortunately, he found that quite amusing and cute. He just sighed and started eating too.


Saitoh on the other hand, went in to the room and joined them. Enishi and Kaoru both looked at him and bowed regardless of their current position. Kaoru smiled at him when her head was in the normal position again. Saitoh seated himself at the end not very far from them since they had a large rectangular dining table than could occupy 24 people. Their servants attended him with the dishes at the table; he waved his hand, gesturing no and asked for a cup of coffee instead. After providing a steaming cup of coffee, the three were engaged in a serious conversation.


"I heard that you were followed last night?" Saitoh asked as he sipped his coffee.


"Yes, the most efficient they had sent so far; though still lacking. We have left neither survivors nor clues to add in their puzzle." Enishi said as he looked into the golden eyes of his mentor.


"Hm… they are very intent on finding out who you are and have come closer each time; it might cripple the association if you two are captured or exposed for that matter." His face became grimmer than usual.


Kaoru shifted in her seat and put down her spoon. "Not to worry uncle Saitoh. Just as what Enishi said, we handled them without much effort. We can put up with every assassins they send." Kaoru said joyfully toward Saitoh. He then looked at her with a tinge of concern in his eyes, or did she just imagine it?


"I'm not the least worried for the both of you, I know you can look out for yourselves, your performances are unparalleled. Not only are you the best, I am confident of your capability to think intelligently in any kind of situation; however, you two must be careful from now on, those dogs are sniffing rather smartly." Saitoh then added, "The association also agreed with me that you two must stop home schooling. We have arranged everything so that you two will enroll in the prestigious Watanabe University this semester." He said while placing his cup on his saucer; he folded his arms and looked at them. Both had startled expressions on their faces.


"Do you realize that it is very risky, sir? To send us out in the open?" Enishi replied not withdrawing his gaze on Saitoh.


Kaoru stopped eating and whispered to Enishi, "Enishi… shut up, it's a great idea, really, being with Professor Miyazaki for the last 12 years has been a real pain in the ass, I added him to my death list you know." Kaoru grinned at the thought, but Enishi still was uncertain about Saitoh's decision.


"By putting you in that university, those scumbags in our tail would be less suspicious of you; they will think twice before sending more people to kill you. The university will provide you safety and cover. They will think that you are ordinary citizens going to college. Locking you two in here would be very suspicious to anyone, especially to those eyeing on us. It's like lessening the fuel for the flame, we will lead them to wrong conclusions, and after that we make a move." Saitoh calmly told them as he crossed his legs and leaned on the Victorian dining chair.


He continued. "And they were not the only ones doing their homework; we have men investigating on them as we speak. Sooner or later they will only be a myth." He smirked as he looked at the two of them. Both stayed abnormally quiet.


Without eating anything he stood up, "I will provide you two apartments near the university and starting on your first day you two do not know me or anything or anyone connected with the Mibu clan, we will contact you if you are needed. Files are already waiting on your room for your new identities. Read them well." He exited the room without turning back or saying goodbye, Enishi and Kaoru were accustomed to it so they just looked at him leave.



--++[A][H][R]++--



Saitoh went to his study. A boy hidden in the shadows emerged and handed him a folder containing some documents. "That's what we have gathered for now." The boy said in a ghastly voice.


"Hmm… that'll do, but I want concrete figures, Okita. You must not stop until we find who these are." Saitoh said frigidly as he scanned the boy documents handed to him.


"Understood." The boy silently left the room.


He reached out for the chair behind the table and sat. Saitoh read from the report that the organization responsible for the recent attacks had employed ninjas to aid them. Some members were also efficient sword fighters, one of whom was known to be the shadow assassin. His identity was carefully kept and not even one information was available except for the one stating that he did exist.


'This has to be the government, and the Oniwabanshu's backing them up.' It was big trouble brewing if he was right. But he need not worry about that for now; they needed more information before taking any course of action.


Saitoh positioned more comfortably on his arm chair, placed a cigarette on his mouth, and lit it. He inhaled a hefty amount of smoke and puffed it out in the air thinking deeply.


"Interesting…" His mouth twitched giving it the effect of smiling as his eyes roamed again in the files that he read a while ago. Little did he know that they were a step behind.



--++[A][H][R]++--



"Did you hear that? Uncle Saitoh is giving us freedom for a while!" Kaoru stood and executed a jump that made her look like a ballerina. She turned and looked at Enishi who was still confused.


"Why all of a sudden?" He seemed to be talking to himself because he did not look at Kaoru. Kaoru went to him and placed her hands on each side of her hips, tapping her foot on the ground, "Stop it right there, you're not going to ruin my day Enishi. All is settled. Uncle Saitoh has given us an opportunity to live life dammit!"


"Hey, have taken this matter seriously?! Have you forgotten that we are no ordinary people Kaoru? This is like suicide!" His full attention now was focused on Kaoru.


"We're not showing them our swords or anything, we can get a chance to feel normal Enishi, and I know this is much too risky but I'm willing to gamble. We will be extra precautious, there's nothing to be afraid about, Uncle Saitou would never put us in danger." Kaoru said her conviction strong as she put her hand in Enishi's shoulder and smiled brightly.


He laughed at her action. "You look stupid!" He stood up and imitated Saitoh by pretending to smoke and looked back at Kaoru when he was at the doorway. He adjusted his circular shades, grinned, pulled something out of his pocket and threw it at Kaoru. It was aimed at her nose and he threw it like he did a dart. Kaoru, still looking at Enishi, caught them between her index and middle finger. She looked at him quizzically and then looked upon the object she caught and her eyes widened.


"Two VIP tickets at Flat Rocks!" She exclaimed as she jumped for joy, clutching the tickets in her hands. She looked at Enishi and was about to question him where he get it but he answered her ahead.


"I have connections you know…" He grinned as he placed his hands on the pockets of his jeans. "It's a masquerade party tonight by the way, we don't have to wear costumes I assure you, a mask will do." He added as he left the room. He was shaking his head and grinning because he was sure that later on Kaoru would be asking him again about the required attire for the party because she was still busy jumping and singing "We're going to a party…we are going to party…" over and over again.


Kaoru was still shrieking with delight and singing but she suddenly stopped, "Wait a minute… what did Enishi say about what to wear tonight?" She turned sideways to look at him but he was gone, she immediately ran to him as if stalking some crooked politician that she was about to murder.



--++[A][H][R]++--



"Scotch please." Kenshin sighed as he sat on the stool parallel to the bar and gulped his ordered drink. He watched Misao and her friends as they went wild on the dance floor. He wasn't enjoying himself; it was not because he didn't want to relax and have fun, but it was because he'd rather go to a quiet and peaceful place like a resort near an ocean or somewhere more serene rather than a noisy, crowded place like this one. He then surveyed the area. Flat Rocks was the most famous club in the area. People were attracted to it because of the unique concepts and gigs that change every month. For this month, the owners thought about having a masquerade dash. He heard two girls rambling the highlight of the evening happening soon.


Kenshin was about to get the mask off but stopped as he heard a young man say. "I wouldn't dare to get it off if I were you." He was greeted by a warm smile from Soujirou wearing a mask that quite complemented his personality. His mask was a happy-faced child smiling from ear to ear. It covered his whole face so naturally it had holes for his eyes, nose and mouth.


"Soujirou! Nice to see you!" He greeted his friend as he adjusted the mask Misao bought him earlier. It offered covering for the upper part of his face but exposed the lower part including the scar on his left cheek.


"Nice mask Kenshin! It's been a long while since we met. What's up?" Soujirou said as he sat himself beside Kenshin smiling wider though Kenshin was not able to see it due to the mask. He saw Kenshin shift uncomfortably in his seat.


"I've been dying to take it off as soon as I wore it but I'm well aware of the rules in here – those who do not follow the concept will be thrown out." Kenshin said with a frown. "Who's with you anyway?" He added as he propped his elbows on the bar.


"I'm with myself." Soujirou said still smiling. "I believe you didn't answer my earlier question Himura-san?"


"Oh, sorry. Not much really, just the same old. And oh, I forgot about Misao, she's with me too; but, she's in the dance floor with some friends of hers." He said as he gestured towards Misao who had a similar mask similar to his but different in color. His was of black with magenta feathers surrounding it, while Misao's was white band had dark blue feathers in it.


"Quite enjoying herself, isn't she?" Soujirou glanced too at her direction, Misao saw them and waved, they waved back.


"I have heard that the big boss gave you a big one again." Soujirou's tone became serious but his smile never faded. Kenshin's attention was now focused on what Soujirou was saying. He immediately understood what Soujirou intended to tell him.


"Yep, quite big actually." Kenshin answered back in the same ordinary conversational tone but had hidden meanings to them.


"Mind to tell me what this is about?" Soujirou leaned closer as if someone could hear them.


Although Soujirou was his friend and a recent agent to their department, he was doubtful in telling the truth about their mission. A part in his brain told him not to but a part of it told him that Soujirou would be hurt if he withheld information.


"Kenshin! Soujirou! You lazy fat assed men! Why aren't you both dancing? Come on, let's dance!" Misao cut in between the silence. Kenshin heaved a sigh of relief.


"Thanks but no thanks Misao, you know I'd rather sit my 'fat ass' here than jiggle there. Maybe Soujirou here wants to crack a bone with you." Kenshin said grateful for the interruption. He watched as Misao begged Soujirou to accompany her while doing so, he caught a glimpse of a masked girl who was watching at their direction. She seemed embarrassed that he caught her looking and quickly turned to the other direction.


His attention was suddenly interrupted by a loud tapping by the microphone. He looked at the person saying, "mic test! Mic test! Ehem! Ehem!" He looked at Misao and Soujirou; both were staring at the stage by now. Everyone was looking at the same direction by now.


"Good evening ladies and gentlemen! I see that everyone followed our concept today and we are grateful for that as always. Tonight we decided to lighten up the atmosphere. The highlight of tonight's party is the 'kissing game'." A masked host was saying as the people around them talked and murmured to one another; each were asking about the kissing game, it turned that nobody had any idea what that was all about.


"Please listen… Silence please" The host pleaded as the people slowly averted their attention again in to her. "Now, that's better! The 'kissing game' is just a minute consuming activity that everyone would surely enjoy…"


A mischievous grin formed on the hostess's face. "As we can see, we all have masks, some know each other, and some don't so you're identity will be surely hidden. The objective of this game is to kiss anybody you like present here." The club roared with a combination of reactions. Majority of the men were impressed by the idea, some ladies were whispering and giggling with each other as they eyed their preys. Only a few seemed annoyed.


The host was trying to silence the crowd again. "Hold up! Hold up! I must tell you about what the catch is!" everyone was silent again.


"We will allow you only a minute. But to keep your identity safe, we will turn off the lights and bring it back on after the said time is over. Common, it is not bad as all of you think… It would serve as a reminder to end this wild night! What do you say?" The host said with a lot of encouragement from the crowd. Many roared in agreement.


Kenshin shrugged and grinned at Misao and Soujirou. He noticed that Misao was eyeing someone and he instantly knew whom she wanted to spend the minute with. His eyes caught the sight of the girl watching them from earlier. He was not sure who she really watched, 'Maybe Soujirou for all I care.' He said as he tore his gaze away. 'I'd just sit here so nobody can kiss me.' He said while toying his empty glass.


"Okay at the count of three… one" The host said, simultaneously the lights went off. Everybody was scrambling to some place as the noise became louder than usual.


"Two…" Kenshin sighed as he prepared himself to count one whole minute and wished that it would end over soon.


"Three!" Kenshin bent over the table, 'Here we go in one, two…' He started counting on his own to pass the time but turned over when someone clutched the back of his shirt.


"What the…" He said as his lips met another. He was too stunned to react. He just savored the taste of the girl's lips on his. She tasted like champagne and spice, he noted. Her hands rested on his shoulders while his, involuntarily encircled her small back. He noticed that the girl was a bit shy so he nudged her to go on.


Kenshin removed her mask to gain more access to her lips and the girl did the same. Both masks were discarded as the two continued on their heated kiss. He brought her to sit on his lap and turned. He lifted her up, not breaking the kiss and sat her on the bar so she was positioned higher than him. Her legs enclosed his seated body as she pulled his head closer. Kenshin hungrily moved his lips against hers not knowing what caused him to react like such, it was not like him to give in to a total stranger yet there he was doing the exact thing. Her sent aroused him, she smelt of jasmine. They broke up for air but resumed immediately. His hands were hovering over her back then her stomach.


'She fits so perfectly, so right.' He thought as he held her.


He was imagining himself with her in some kind of beautiful place where leaves from trees rustled in the breeze and all things were beautiful and wonderful when a voice from somewhere brought him back to reality.


"Time's up people!" He let go of her lips as the lights were turned on. His gaze was locked into the most beautiful eyes he has ever seen and his breathing was harsh. He smiled his gaze fell on the lips that he had just tasted. Her lips were plump and luscious. She looked flushed and reddened at his mischievous smile. He noticed that she had long raven hair and recognized her as the girl staring at them from across the room.



--++[A][H][R]++--




Author's Notes:


There goes another round of my amateur writing skills! Sorry everyone if it took long to update! (I had to please my family with my grades in school so I crammed in my studies! ^_^) Hope you all enjoyed it, or if not just let me know okay, you're very welcome to submit a review so I can improve the next chapter (I take joy in writing when readers react to what I write)! I really wish that you would all anticipate the succeeding chapters. Ciao!


maybe_marce


^_~.