The usual warning and disclaimer applies, see chapter one.
Chapter Five
Over the course of the next few weeks, Jean began to arrive home later and later each evening. Kaoru was developing her own suspicions as to why, even though the man was warm, and jovial most of the time. Kenshin was also developing some suspicions. But, he told himself, that's ridiculous! Jean wouldn't eve do that! So, at present, he was sitting in the library, listening to Kaoru play the piano when the clock struck eleven; Jean still hadn't come home.
Kaoru struck one last, haunting chord, and sat back. Her entire body was tense from playing, but it was a good kind of tension; she hadn't been lost in a piece of music since…well, since she was young. Kenshin gave her a distracted compliment as he was watching the street. Where in the world, he wondered, was Jean? The next morning, Kaoru woke fairly early, however, Jean never had come home during the night. She's pretty certain she knows why, as well, and Kenshin's still sitting in the same chair he occupied the night before. His eyes were red from both crying and lack of sleep, and he was plotting murder.
Kaoru knelt beside him, severely worried. "He probably fell asleep at work, Mr. Himura."
Kenshin smiled bitterly. "That's what he'll tell me, anyway."
Kaoru sighed, and gently took one of his hands. "Please…innocent until proven guilty, right?" Kenshin's jaw tightened, and trembled the slightest bit. His response was a sharp nod before he slumped back in the chair again. Kaoru stood, shaking her head.
"Shall I ring for breakfast?"
"Go ahead, I'm not hungry," he answered, with a wave of his hand.
She frowned. "You ought to eat something…or at least have some tea."
"No, thank you." He was curt, trying to hide the quaver in his voice. Kaoru sighed, and rang for one, which was when Kenshin saw Jean coming down the street, looking just a bit rumpled. His mind immediately leapt to the worst possible conclusion, and he decided to wait for Jean to find him, which he did a few minutes later. When he entered the library, Jean went over to Kenshin and rested his head on his knee. Kenshin didn't touch him. "Where were you?"
"At work." His voice is scratchy, as if he'd just woken up. "I had to stay late, and was so tired that I fell asleep. I'm sorry, love."
Kenshin stiffened, his blood running cold for the first time since meeting Jean. "Next time, send someone and let me know. I worry when you're late."
"I will."
Kaoru entered the library with a few scores in her lands, and sat in one corner, mulling over which one to lean. Kenshin stood as she entered.
"Kaoru, would you send a note to the office and tell them that I'm not going to be in today?" She nodded, and left the room, Kenshin following. Exhaustion had caught up with him, and he was going to bed. Kaoru sent the note, and went back to her music studies, and Jean sat and read. That was close, he thought.
Kenshin slept for several hours, then woke up and wondered where Jean was, because that was his reaction upon waking and not finding Jean in bed at his side. He got out of bed, changed, and went to look for him, finding him to still be in the library, listening to Kaoru play. "Jean, can I see you?"
"Of course," he replied, standing and following Kenshin from the library. Kenshin lead them to their room.
"I suppose work must have been very hard on you recently." Jean nodded. It was true that he'd been at the office for that entire time… "I'd hoped that you would tell me when things like this came up. That way, I would know not to sit up for hours, waiting for you, and worrying myself sick."
"I'm sorry, love. I don't think it will happen again for a while."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm hoping."
"In that case," Kenshin smiled. "I thought we might go to the opera tonight."
"That sounds wonderful."
"Good." Kenshin gave him a sound kiss. "And…it's been quite some time since we made love…"
Jean purred at the back of his throat, pulling Kenshin closer. "What time is the opera?"
"At seven."
"Plenty of time to spare." He smirked in that way that drove Kenshin mad and made him blush, and let Kenshin lead him to the bed. Kaoru laughed, as she'd inadvertently caught bits and pieces of their conversation. She hoped the piano wouldn't disturb them, but, with the amount of noise they were making it was fairly likely that they wouldn't even be able to hear it.
The next night, yet again, Jean wasn't home for dinner. Kaoru sighed just as a maid came up with a message, which Kaoru handed to Kenshin.
Love,
I hate to do this to you, but I've been asked to stay
late again. Please, don't worry about me. I may
have to stay overnight again, but I'll try not to.
I love you,
Jean
Kenshin stood abruptly, and headed towards the door. "I'm going out."
Kaoru nodded. "Shall I wait for your return?"
"No, go on to bed," he urged her, smiling. "I'll see you in the morning." He put on his coat and left, heading directly to Jean's workplace, and stood across the street, watching. Shadows moved across the drawn curtains, but that was about all that there was to be seen, and the doors were locked. Meanwhile, Kaoru fell asleep after a rather angry session at the piano. The instrument in no way deserved the abuse, but she was both angry at Jean for what he was most likely doing to his lover, and angry at herself for not being able to comfort Kenshin.
Kenshin, meanwhile, was still watching the curtained windows. He could see papers being flung, and then the shadows moved away, but he did not. A few moments later, Jean emerged, looked rather irritated; he stormed down the street towards Kenshin's flat. He flopped down on the bed, one arm flung over his eyes, and Kenshin entered the flat a few minutes later, having followed Jean, just a bit shakily.
"You're home."
Jean gave him a tired smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you."
"It's alright." Well, it really wasn't, but Kenshin wasn't about to let Jean read that in his expression. He changed into his nightclothes and sat down on the bed, only to be pulled into Jean's arms. "What did you have to do that kept you this late?"
"Bloody paperwork. I hate it!"
I was jumping to conclusions, Kenshin thought, and kissed Jean's hands. Jean smiled, and turned so that Kenshin was beneath him. "Let me make it up to you…"
Kenshin smiled, and reached up to touch his face. "I love you."
Kaoru woke briefly to the sound of the bed hitting the wall, and, pulling the blankets up over her head, closed her eyes again.
The next morning, Jean received word that he was required to leave the country on business matters. He'd be gone for at least a week, and left after kissing Kenshin. As the carriage sped away, he was glad that Kenshin couldn't see his face. If he had, there was a high probability that Kenshin would have committed homicide.
Kaoru sighed, watching several people pass by from her vantage point in the library window a few days later. Standing, she made her way over to the piano, and sat as Kenshin entered the library. Running elegant fingers over the keys, she give him an encouraging smile before beginning to play.
"I don't know what to do, Kaoru. Every instinct I have says that he's cheating on me."
She paused, as she'd gotten the same feeling, only much stronger than Kenshin's probably was, because she was an outside observer of the relationship. "I really don't know what to say…"
"I don't know what to do!" He collapsed into one of the chairs.
"Well, what would you do if, heaven forbid, you found out that he was, indeed, cheating on you?"
I don't know…kill him. Or hurt him. Though, I'd probably just cry and make him leave."
Kaoru went to sit beside him. "If he is cheating on you, you're too good for him."
"We've been together for years. I can't imagine living without him."
"Well, let's hope he isn't." She brought Kenshin the paper, and went back to playing. Kenshin read the first page, the reviews, the list of art showing, and the flipped to the society page where he went completely still. There was an enormous headline that read: "Playboy Plays More: Jean du Lac spotted in London hotel with his Lover." The name mentioned was not Kenshin's. He folded the paper calmly, a bit too calmly, and stood. Jean was due to return any day.
"Mr. Himura?" Kaoru stopped playing, alarmed. "Mr. Himura?!"