Disclaimer: Me no own RK.
On with the much awaited chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Six: A Victim or a Fraud?
Kaoru's mouth fell open, but then she quickly closed it and placed back on her professional expression. She must be lying; she just had to be. Kenshin wasn't like that, was he?
"I did not sleep with her," protested Kenshin, he was growing angrier by the second.
"If you did, then you must take responsibility and marry her before the press find out," said Hiko forcefully, he by God hoped that he didn't sleep with her. That last problem with the triangle affair was enough. He didn't want that same scenario replaying.
"No. He just needs to take care of the child and send her money. They'll be staying with me, for Tomoe and I are engaged," said Akira calmly, a little too calm for Kenshin and Hiko.
"You planned this didn't you, you little bastard," yelled Kenshin, ready to attack him, but Hiko put a firm grip on his shoulder.
"Tomoe, I ask you, when did... this happen?" Asked Kaoru, she really didn't think that Kenshin was a person like that.
Kenshin looked at her; she was his only way out of this whole set up.
"May 15th," said Tomoe crying into Akira's shoulder.
Kenshin began to laugh, and Kaoru just shook her head.
"Are you sure that it was that Saturday?" Asked Kaoru again, he couldn't have done it on that Saturday. She had to be lying.
"Yes. I'm a month pregnant after all," said Tomoe sitting straight.
"Well I'm sorry but I couldn't, and wouldn't sleep with you," said Kenshin disgusted.
"She said that you went into her hotel and raped her," said Akira angrily.
Kaoru only rolled her eyes; she must have been blind.
"What if it was you that rapped, and blamed on me so you wouldn't have to take care of her monster of a baby," snapped Kenshin angrily. (Remember that Kenshin is being accused Tomoe fans, and is spitting this way and that because he didn't do it.)
"Well I'm sorry, but it must have been someone else," said Kaoru politely as she could.
"How would you know?" Snapped Tomoe angrily.
"She was with me May 15," said Kenshin calmly.
"That's right, Kaoru was always with you that last month," said Hiko.
"It was late at night, around midnight," said Tomoe, beginning to cry again.
"The building closes at 10:00," said Akira.
Hiko looked at the Kaoru and Kenshin at that. They better have an alibi.
"She was still with me," said Kenshin smiling. The tables had turned in his favor.
The other three stared at the two in shock.
"Takasugi and Sano were also there. We were celebrating for our corporation and how we made a huge profit out of those magazines," said Kenshin grinning.
Kaoru nodded.
"Send for Takasugi and Sano," said Hiko, it was as if they were in court.
"Of course they'll backup their friend and boss," accused Tomoe.
"I was with Mr. Himura the whole time. You must have mistaken him for someone else, it was in the dead of the night after all," said Kaoru calmly. Tomoe would never make a good lawyer; she forgot about details.
Then Sano and Takasugi confused came in. They were told the problem and they glared at Tomoe and Akira. Kenshin would never sleep with her after what she did.
"We were at my apartment. You can ask the manager," said Sanosuke calmly.
Takasugi nodded.
"You'll probably pay the manager to lie for you," accused Akira.
"Well there is another option to settle this," said Kaoru.
All eyes were on her.
"There is a test that you can do; it's a DNA test. We can take Kenshin's blood and then the child's and find out if they match. If they don't then another man raped you," said Kaoru; she had learned about that from the states.
"The child is yet to be born. Do you expect us to wait eight more months?" Asked Akira.
"No. They have a way to take a sample from the baby while it's still inside the mother, in the states. We can easily fly over there and get it done. The results will come back with two to four weeks. No need to wait for the child's birth" said Kaoru professionally.
"What will they do, just surgically go in a take a sample?" Asked Akira, that was absurd.
"Of course not. They are professionals. It'll hurt, but you'll be up to your head in painkillers, so it really won't matter. It's kind of like when a woman over there gets an abortion," said Kaoru calmly, as if it were about the weather.
The others shuddered at that; it was cruel to get rid of a child that was yet to breath in this world and was clearly innocent.
"I... guess that another could have done it. It was at the darkest time of night, and the lights weren't working. If you say that he was with you, then he couldn't have done it," said Tomoe; she really didn't want to go through all that. Though she still glared at Kaoru.
The others but Akira were smiling.
Then Tomoe was escorted out with Akira.
"Nice going with all that junk," said Sanosuke patting Kaoru's back.
"No, it's all real. I don't lie. They actually do that in the states, it's just that it has not been perfected yet. I don't think. It wasn't when I was back there," said Kaoru.
The guys shuddered at that.
"We could of just gone through with it, and find out that she was lying in front of officials, and sue her for it," said Kenshin. Man did he hate her even more now. Trying to use him to raise a child that wasn't even his. Fat chance.
"Be quiet baka deshi. It's just a good thing that she's out of here. We don't want the press to dig up more about the problem. All that matters is that you didn't do anything dishonorable," said Hiko holding onto his shoulder and applying pressure to it before leaving.
"I can't believe she would do that," said Takasugi shaking his head.
"The girl needs the money. Kenshin already sued her for almost all that she had. If she could get money from him, then it's good enough for revenge," said Sanosuke in disgust.
The others shook their heads as well. What people would do these days for money.
*~*~*~*~*
Misao banged her hand on the table at their apartment after work, and a phone call.
"What?" asked Megumi, she was shocked by the noise, she had been making a snack.
"My father spent all of the money I sent them to pay off the debt. I told him to give some to my sister Ayame for school uniforms, but he said that he had to do it," said Misao pissed off.
"We just got paid, send more then," said Megumi patting her shoulder sympathetically.
"Father will only spend it. Poor Ayame," said Misao. If only she could just bring her over here with her, but then that would just cause more trouble, and she didn't want her sister to go through all of this at such a young age.
"I know; send it to grandpa and have him buy Ayame's things. I had him do that for Suzume," said Megumi with a smile.
"Yeah, that's what I'll do. See you then," said Misao as she got the keys and left.
Megumi shook her head. Misao's always had the tough life since the beginning, with her father and being in financial problems all the time. At least she had more reliable parents, and didn't have that much money problems in college. It was surprising that Misao actually made it through college. She was sure one tough cookie.
*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru was worried about her friends. She kept wondering what they were doing, and how they were doing. They hadn't talked for a while.
Finally making up her mind, she rolled out of her nice comfortable bed and called their new apartment number. Though she still lied in her bed, as the phone began to ring. She really wanted to talk to them, it had been so long since they got together again.
"Hello?" answered the person from the other line.
"Megumi. How are you? It's been a long time since we've talked," said Kaoru happily.
"I know. I'm fine. What're you doing?" asked Megumi.
"Just laying around bored," said Kaoru.
"With all that work you have to do?" asked Megumi surprised.
"Finished it at work. I'm ahead anyways. So how's your life now a days?" asked Kaoru.
"... I'm fine, but Misao... Never mind," said Megumi, she had promised not to tell her.
"No tell me," said Kaoru, as she sat up straight.
"No. She doesn't want you to worry," said Megumi.
"She's so stubborn. How much do you guys need?" asked Kaoru.
"We couldn't," protested Megumi.
"Yes you could. I got tons of money. I don't use a lot. My savings account at that, is already enough for me to retire you know. I got a new bank account at almost every bank there is from all of that money. How much? Let me help," said Kaoru concerned for her friends.
"She wouldn't like it," said Megumi.
"Let me at least help you out of your debts. You can pay me back later," said Kaoru.
Right then Misao came back looking grim.
"It's all right. I got to go, see you," said Megumi, and hung up.
*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru glared at her phone. They were so thick headed. She was their friend right, and friends are suppose to help each other.
If they were going to be stubborn, then so was she.
She changed and then placed on a coat. Grabbing her Porsche keys and check book, she headed out of her apartment and into the garage.
*~*~*~*~*
"Who were you talking to?" asked Misao taking off her coat.
"Kaoru called to say hi," said Megumi, at least she wasn't lying, she just wasn't detailing it.
"Oh. If she asks about our problems, just say that we're doing fine. I really don't want to bother her. She's already done enough for us," said Misao.
Megumi only nodded as she got up to get some snacks.
"Did it go through?" asked Megumi.
"Grandpa Genzai should get it in a few days. Aoshi has left for a while, and he's got loads of calls. I hope that he comes back soon," said Misao.
"Were any of them important?" asked Megumi.
"I sent them all to him by e-mail as instructed," said Misao as she sat down.
Just then there was a knock at the door. Misao looked through the peek hole and saw Kaoru, and opened the door.
"What are you doing here Kaoru?" asked Misao, shocked that she'd come so late at night.
"I came to see my friends," said Kaoru with a smile.
Megumi kept her head down as she placed the refreshments out.
The three sat down as Kaoru took out her check book.
"Tell me, how much you two need?" asked Kaoru beginning to filling out the check.
"We don't need your help Kaoru. I made it through college, and I intend to make it through the rest of my life on my own," said Misao stubbornly, as she stopped Kaoru.
"How much will you borrow then?" asked Kaoru.
"No. We won't take your money," said Misao angrily.
"And I won't take no as an answer. We're friends, and friends help each other out when one is in need. Let me help you. Or do you not see me as a friend?" asked Kaoru.
"Friends respect their friends' wishes. So please, just leave. We don't want to bother you, and we need to learn to fend for ourselves," said Misao.
"It's not a bother. Look, I'm alone with my grandpa, you two have a family to take care of, and you need help. Woman shouldn't be working as hard as you two," said Kaoru.
"Well I'm not working hard enough. I only have to work half day at M.R.S. from now on, so I'm taking on another job," said Misao.
Kaoru was about to protest when Megumi spoke up.
"So will I. Please, let us take care of ourselves," said Megumi.
"Fine. Just remember when you need my help, I'll be here for you. If you work at something that will disrespect yourselves or is a dishonor, then I'm going to Kyoto and bringing your family over here and taking care of all of you," said Kaoru standing.
"I'm not bringing my father over here, so don't worry," said Misao, that was the last thing she wanted. He would only cause more trouble in Tokyo.
Kaoru smiled weakly at them and then left.
"So I guess it's time to find another job," said Megumi whipping out the newspaper.
"You knew this would happen, didn't you?" asked Misao looking at her suspiciously.
Megumi only grinned and flattened out the newspaper.
*~*~*~*~*
"Where are all the cute models?" asked Sano, as he looked through the new released issue of June's M.R.S. magazine.
"Well this month's issue is every where. We might have sold the same as last month, but not that many people are buying them as before," said Takasugi at the meeting table.
"Kenshin, are you sure that you chose all of the best of the best pictures? These don't look too flashy as before," said Sano with a frown.
"The public just keeps changing on us," said Hiko with a sigh.
"Well Master Shishio says that when they come back, they're going to work on a new computer type. They say that we'll make millions off of them," said Soujiro smiling.
"Yes but the magazine advertises the product, and our advertisements aren't going so well," said Takasugi with a sigh.
"What do the public want then?" asked Hiko angrily. He could never figure them out.
"What about my secretary?" asked Sano, finally remembering as he saw Megumi working.
"... Well... With all of the commotion, we haven't found one for you yet," said Hiko.
Kenshin just rolled his eyes, he knew that his uncle was hoping for Sano to forget.
"Well then hurry up," said Sanosuke.
"After we solve our problem," said Hiko sternly, leaving no room for protests.
"Why don't we have Takasugi go investigate all of the magazines that are sold out. That way we can do something similar to them," suggested Kenshin.
Then Yahiko came in with a magazine in hand, and gave it to Hiko. Whose eyes grew wide as he looked at the magazine cover.
"What is it?" asked Katsura.
"Well I guess our problem is solved. Look at this," said Hiko, slamming the magazine from a beauty magazine down on the table.
"It was released a few minutes ago," said Yahiko.
They all gaped as they read the main title of the magazine.
" 'WHERE IS, OR WHAT HAPPENED TO M.R.S.'S NEW MODEL?' "
Then they all looked at Kaoru who was flushing.
*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Well I thought I'd end it there. Thanks for all of the e-mails again, I really appreciated them. I hope you liked this chapter.