Disclaimer: I don't own RK.
Chapter Ten: Life Decisions
Kaoru waited patiently as Kamatari finished his dinner. She had finished her meal about half an hour ago and Kamatari was still picking at his steak hoping not to get any fat. He had to be one of the pickiest people in all of Japan.
Kenshin was busy looking at his stock market pager and he occasionally would start a conversation with her but then Kamatari would come in with a strange comment about how sweet it was that he would be trying to get with Kaoru. Which led to death glares, blushing, and another long period of silence.
"Well that was delicious," said Kamatari as he wiped his face with a napkin and took a few sips of water and patted his belly happily.
Kaoru sighed and was ready to stand when Kamatari hauled her back down by the sleeve.
"What now Kamatari?" Asked Kaoru annoyed, she would rather go to work.
"We must have dessert," said Kamatari smiling as he snapped over a waiter.
"I'm full. Kenshin, shouldn't we be going back to the office for the extra paperwork that Hiko wanted done?" Asked Kaoru as she smiled at him.
"Didn't we already finish..." began Kenshin but he stopped when he felt Kaoru's heel in his shoe.
"Then again we have lots to do," said Kenshin as he pulled his foot from hers.
"Oh. Then maybe another time" said Kamatari as he began to order a large sundae.
Kaoru and Kenshin stood up and nodded in thanks for the meal before departing.
Once in the limo Kenshin was holding his foot in pain, all of the pain that he kept in came out.
"I'm so sorry. It's just that I don't think I can handle any more of Kamatari and his weird manners. I'm not even that picky or perfect" said Kaoru as she tried to help him but he swapped her hand away.
"You've done enough today," said Kenshin as he made round movements with his foot.
Kaoru pouted and sat back into her seat.
"Why do you work so much?" Asked Kenshin suddenly as he put back on his shoe.
"It helps clear my mind when I focus on one thing at a time," said Kaoru.
"You really need to get a real social life you know that? Maybe you should get a boyfriend; he'll probably loosen you up a bit," said Kenshin with a grin.
"It'll only interfere in my work," said Kaoru as she sat up straight.
Kenshin only rolled his eyes.
"Tell me, have you ever had a boyfriend before?" Asked Kenshin looking at her knowingly.
"That's none of your business," said Kaoru as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked away out into Tokyo's lights.
"I'll take that as a no. I know a few people that you might like. They're just like you. Too involved with work to do anything," said Kenshin as he sat back and grabbed a soda from a compartment to his left and poured it into a glass.
"I do have a life thank you," said Kaoru angrily.
"That's all they do. Can't even get a descent girl," said Kenshin as he shook his head.
Kaoru was glaring at him and was restraining herself from punching him to no end.
"You need someone to lighten you up a bit. Someone that makes you do things that you thought you'd never do," said Kenshin as he took the full glass and drank its contents.
"Like you," muttered Kaoru as she sat back.
Kenshin nearly choked on the soda as he wiped the loose soda from his sleeves.
"Are you okay?" Asked Kaoru as she suppressed laughter but failed.
"You do know that I have good hearing right?" Asked Kenshin as he cleaned himself off.
At the thought of that she fell silent and blushed a bit. Trying to conceal it, she looked away.
"I bet you that the press are going to say that we're going out, and the only reason that you got such a job is because you're my girlfriend. Though they'll be proven wrong when they dig up your old files," said Kenshin calmly as he threw away the soaking napkin.
Kaoru didn't say anything.
"I think that it would be best if you went out more," said Kenshin suddenly.
"I really don't want to talk about that. My friends are enough. I really don't want to get to know new people that much. People you can't trust are always out there to get the innocent, and I don't want to fall for that again," said Kaoru as she looked out the window with a distant look in her azure eyes.
"Something happened to you in school?" Asked Kenshin as he sat beside her.
"I fell into the wrong crowd. They were the popular and richer kids. You know that back when I needed money so they would give it to me if I did things for them. I could wash their cars, do their chores, and help them with schoolwork. Then one day one of them said that they'd give me $1000 if I slept with him. I denied of course, but then he tried to force me into it. I was lucky that I met Misao who beat the crap out of him. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be a virgin right now," said Kaoru in a more than a whisper.
Kenshin felt his blood boil from what the creep almost did. He nearly jumped when he felt soft spheres drop on his hand that was close to Kaoru.
Looking up he saw that Kaoru was crying to herself.
Feeling bad for her he wrapped his arms around her and rested her head against his chest in comfort. He hated it when females cried, when descent innocent women cried.
He fully expected her to push him away, but instead she snuggled into his embrace as the tears fell from her sapphire depths.
It was awkward, he never comfort anyone before. So letting instincts take over he rocked her back and forth until she calmed down.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Takasugi and Misao stared at Yahiko who was smiling that his sister would be able to get well soon. They didn't want to make him sad, yet they had to save Megumi.
Before any of them could speak up, the doctor came in.
"Hello I'm Katsu. Dr. Katsu. Which one is Miss Myojin?" Asked the doctor. He had long black hair and looked sweet and dangerous enough.
"That's my sister. We've been waiting years for a donor," said Yahiko with a frown, but it soon turned into a smile as he looked at his sister.
"Yes well we'll need to get her into the operation room then," said Dr. Katsu as he called for a few more nurses.
"Dr. Katsu. My cousin needs the same transplant from AB positive," said Misao, she forced herself to stay calm, but she found that her voice was cracking on its own.
"I know, but this woman has been waiting for years. Miss Takani will be able to last for a few more months without it. Miss Myojin needs it in a few hours," said Dr. Katsu.
"But.." began Misao.
"Let her have it. I know I can make it," said Megumi weakly.
Misao rushed over to her cousin's side and held her hand to her face, she felt so cold.
"I want to be a doctor, and as one I must take other's lives before mine," said Megumi as she began to cough a bit.
Misao kept in her tears as she nodded.
Yahiko looked at them with sympathy, which was exactly how he felt for his sister. He wouldn't let his sister die, he had worked too hard to make it this far.
He gave them a sympathetic smile before leaving with his sister to do the surgery.
"Don't worry. We'll find a donor soon," said Takasugi with a cheerful smile.
"Thank you. I was afraid that someone else had found me when I clasped," said Megumi as she tried to greet him properly.
"It's all right. Just relax, you need your strength," said Takasugi as he made her stay down on the bed to rest.
She only nodded and drifted off to sleep.
Misao tucked her cousin in before looking at Takasugi with a smile. She wiped her tears away before extending her hand to him. He gave her a quizzical look before taking it.
"Thank you. I don't know what could have..." began Misao as they shook hands.
"It's no big deal. I wouldn't want Saitoh to come back without a secretary and go blame it on me for letting her die out there," said Takasugi scratching the back of his head.
Misao bent her head as droplets fell from her green eyes.
"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant," said Takasugi, he didn't mean it. There was something that all men in Kenshin's court hated, and that was when innocent women cried. They couldn't do anything to help them, and that made them feel helpless.
Misao brushed the tears away with the back of her hand.
Before Misao could say anything, her stomach said it all for her.
She blushed as Takasugi let out a chuckle.
"I'll go buy us dinner," said Takasugi with a smile before leaving the cousins alone.
"You're going to do just fine," said Misao as she squeezed her cousin's hand. She smiled as Megumi squeezed it back weakly.
Misao went to get her some water when something floated out of Megumi's purse that was seated at the stand next to her bed.
She bent over and picked up the piece of parchment.
It read:
Read books on Medical Conditions for the college exams.
Misao looked at her cousin in shock. It was no wonder Megumi looked so tired, she had been doing two jobs and trying to get into college to become a doctor.
She only shook her head, she was going to ware herself out by doing so much.
Maybe it was time to ask Kaoru for help.
No you can't. Kaoru has done enough already. You have to do this yourself. A part of her said. It was her large ego that wouldn't let anyone help them.
Misao shook the thought out of her head. Kaoru would be furious if she knew that they asked help from a man that they only knew from work, than from a long time friend. They had been through so much, she knew that Kaoru wouldn't mind. She did say to ask her when they needed help.
She got her cell phone and dialed in Kaoru's new one.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru wiped her tears away as she moved back and smiled at Kenshin who looked at her with sympathy as he pulled back some loose hair that went into her mouth.
He smiled at her as her eyes sparkled to life again. Her spirit seemed to show in her very eyes, that was what pulled him to her from the very beginning.
Kenshin smile at her when he saw how beautiful she looked. He tilted his head as their heads got closer. Their lips only a hair's breathe away when Kaoru's cell rang.
Kaoru blushed and pulled back as she answered the cell.
"Yes?" asked Kaoru as she gave Kenshin an apologetic look.
"Kaoru? Megumi's in the hospital. We found out that she has leukemia. She needs a donor for a transplant. Then the hospital bills..." began Misao.
"You need help?" asked Kaoru for her.
Misao nodded, but realized that her friend couldn't see her so answered a weak yes.
"The local hospital?" asked Kaoru.
"Yes," said Misao.
"All right, I'll be there soon," said Kaoru.
"Thanks," said Misao as she hung up.
Kaoru smiled as she hung up, she knew how hard it was for Misao to admit that. Then she frowned at the thought of Megumi with leukemia.
Kenshin sat up straight and tapped on his driver's window.
"Yes sir?" asked the driver as he looked in the rearview mirror.
"Take us to the local hospital," said Kenshin.
"Yes sir," said the driver as he turned to get there.
The black tinted window that separated them came up again.
Kaoru smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck in thanks.
Realization hit her as she blushed crimson and pulled away and tried to reclaim some modesty.
Kenshin only smiled as they rode in a comfortable silence to the hospital.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Takasugi came back with a few cookies, bottled water, and chips. He found out that the cafeteria was closed at this time so he had to settle for the vending machine.
"Thanks," said Misao as she took the chips.
"You know, I can go down and get some fast food if you wanted," said Takasugi as he gave her the bottled water.
"It's okay," said Misao as she opened the bag of chips.
He looked at Megumi who seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
"If you want I can tell the others to get her a day off tomorrow, since in her state I don't think she'll be able to call in," said Takasugi.
"How can we ever repay you?" asked Misao.
"Well... the Sakura Ball is next week, which is a week before the shoots... and I was wondering if one of you could be my escort. I couldn't seem to find one," said Takasugi nervously.
Misao smiled up at him.
"Of course one of us will go with you. But we need to pay for..." began Misao.
"If she'll go with me, I'll pay for everything. The bills, the transplant, the dress and accessories, I'll take care of it. Money isn't really a big deal for me," said Takasugi as he began to blush a bit from her smile.
"We'll have to ask her when she wakes up," said Misao looking at her cousin.
Takasugi smiled, he wanted to go with Megumi since she reminded him so much of his ex. It would also be nice to be seen with a future model. He grinned at that.
Right then Megumi began to stir as her eyelids slowly opened and adjusted to the room.
"How you feeling?" asked Misao in a whisper.
Megumi only nodded.
"Megumi, Takasugi wants to ask you to the Sakura Ball. Do you want to go?" asked Misao.
He smiled at her weakly waiting for her reply.
Megumi only smiled as big as she could and nodded. She had to thank him somehow, and plus he seemed really sweet to have helped her out like that. Even if they barely knew each other.
Takasugi smiled large enough for both of them, wait until he told the others.
Just as he went to call the doors opened and in walked Kenshin and Kaoru with smiles on their faces as they looked at the occupants.
Kenshin cocked an eyebrow when he saw Takasugi in there.
Takasugi pulled him outside as the girls began to talk silently.
"How you doing Megumi? Feeling better? I told you to go easy on the work," said Kaoru.
Megumi only smiled weakly and nodded.
"So I'll pay for the bills. Where's the nurse?" asked Kaoru as she stood to leave.
"You don't have to," said Misao holding her arm.
Kaoru cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Takasugi is paying for it all. In return Megumi goes to the Sakura Ball with him," said Misao.
Kaoru chuckled and then sat down.
"I should have guessed. Well then you better get well soon," said Kaoru looking at Megumi.
Megumi nodded.
"Well you'd better get some rest. Do you want some real food Misao?" asked Kaoru as she looked at the junk food that she was eating.
Before Misao could answer Kenshin and Takasugi stepped in again.
"Kaoru?" asked Kenshin.
"Yes?" asked Kaoru walking over to him.
"Can we talk outside?" asked Kenshin a bit hesitant.
Kaoru nodded and left with him as Takasugi sat down on the chair in the corner.
"I almost forgot! I left Shura at my post. I'll come back later tonight. Can you look after her while I go back to the office?" asked Misao grabbing her coat and keys. She had also forgotten that she ordered dinner from Tsubame.
Takasugi nodded as Misao bowed in thanks and quickly left.
He looked back at Megumi and smiled, she looked so much like Madeline.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So what's up?" asked Kaoru when they were at the waiting room; Kenshin didn't even look at her as they walked there.
Taking a deep breath Kenshin began, "The Sakura ball is next week... and I need... What I mean is that..." Kenshin closed his eyes and ran a hand through his flaming red locks. This was embarrassing and his brain couldn't find a way to phrase it.
Kaoru smiled and decided to save him the trouble, he was her boss after all.
"You want me to go as your escort," said Kaoru.
Kenshin grinned up at her and nodded.
"Well... I might have plans," teased Kaoru with a smile.
Kenshin twitched, she was going to do this to him? And why in the world was he nervous; he would always be the straightforward one with the other girls. Then again Kaoru wasn't one of those other girls.
"Of course I would go," said Kaoru with a smile.
He was knocked out of his thoughts and smiled back at her.
"Well in that case we're going to have to pick out a dress for you. You do know that when I say we... I mean Kamatari right?" asked Kenshin.
Kaoru glared at him; Kamatari would go crazy again in delight. He did the day that she did her first photo shoot. She was changing so many times that she swore her legs would clasp below her if it wasn't for Tae helping her.
"He's the best designer you can get Kaoru. Plus the Sakura Ball isn't traditional, so you'll be changing in and out of regular expensive dresses instead of those kimonos. If I have to suffer with him to get a tuxedo, then so do you," said Kenshin.
"How long does it take him to choose you a suit?" asked Kaoru instead.
"I don't know... three maybe five hours," said Kenshin with a shrug.
Kaoru grinned as Kenshin gave her a confused look.
"I guess I could handle that, but you have to be there to help me. But I get to choose which tux you go in," said Kaoru with a sweet smile.
Kenshin paled as the meaning of her sentence drowned in. She was going to take her time in choosing him a tuxedo to wear on purpose. The sly little vixen.
"Then I get to choose what dress you wear," said Kenshin with a grin. Two could play at that game, and he planned to take his time as well. It would take longer since there were a lot more dresses to go through than tuxedos.
Kaoru glared at him, but then she saw Misao rush out of the room.
"Where are you going? It's 8:30," called out Kaoru.
"I'll be back at like 10:00," said Misao as she rushed to the elevator.
Kaoru nodded and turned back to Kenshin.
"Do you want to stay here and take the rest of the night off, or do you want to get back to the office like you told Kamatari?" asked Kenshin as they walked back to room 626.
"Depends. Do you want to stay, or do you want to go back?" asked Kaoru.
"I asked you first," claimed Kenshin.
"I know, it's just that you're the boss and your opinion and wishes come before your employee's," stated Kaoru as they entered the white room.
"Ladies first," said Kenshin in a whisper as he closed the door.
Kaoru sat next to Megumi and smiled at her sleeping form.
"Would it be all right if I stayed here with her and you can go home if you wished?" suggested Kaoru, that way they could both be happy.
Before Kenshin could reply, Magdaria was rolled back in with Yahiko holding onto her hand.
The girl looked a bit better but she was still pale, her brother's concerned face didn't look well either. It seemed like the boy had been worried sick.
"Yahiko," said Kenshin once Magdaria was hooked up to an oxygen tank to help her breath.
He looked up from his faint sister and nearly gasped when he saw his boss. Carefully covering his sister's hand that he was holding, he walked over to him with a confused look on his face.
"What are you doing here Mr. Himura?" asked Yahiko confused.
"He's here with Kaoru, and she's here for Megumi," answered Takasugi for him.
"Yahiko. How's your sister?" asked Kaoru as she walked over to look at the unconscious girl.
She had grown to like Yahiko and Magdaria really soon. He was like a brother to her as well, and Magdaria was a good friend. They had met when Yahiko was screaming at Kaoru not to call him a kid and she was arguing with him not to call her ugly. It was thanks to Magdaria that the two put that aside and began to become real pals.
Kaoru was really sad when she found out about Magdaria's condition and wanted to help, but Yahiko and Magdaria insisted that they only needed to wait for a donor. She hoped that Magdaria would get well soon.
"She's getting better. The doctors said that the transplant was successful. All we need to do is wait for her to become conscious again," said Yahiko turning his head to his sister.
Kaoru smiled at that.
They all laughed when Yahiko's stomach interrupted the silence. The young boy was blushing from embarrassment; he was so worried about his sister that he forgot that he didn't eat dinner.
"Come on kid. I'll call a limo and we can get some fast food," said Takasugi as he ruffed the younger boy's hair playfully.
Yahiko didn't move, he stared back at his sister.
"I'll watch her and Megumi. Go ahead. Kids need to get their protein and rest," said Kaoru.
Yahiko stuck his tongue out at her for the kid part, but then followed Takasugi.
Once they were gone Kenshin sat in Takasugi's old seat as Kaoru sat across from him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Misao was panting when she entered the building and rushed into the elevator and went to the top floor to her desk.
"What took you?" asked Shura as she finished Misao's salad. Tsubame had come up with it and looked confused when Misao was gone, and just sat it down on the table.
"What... Did you do anything?" asked Misao as she pushed her off her seat and sat down to look at the computer screens.
"A few calls; I noted them all," said Shura as she showed her the notes.
"Wow! You sure write nice," said Misao as she looked at the notes. She usually just scribbled down chicken scratches in her rush to get the info.
"Well I write a lot of notes," said Shura; as a journalist. She added that as an after thought.
Misao got to her e-mail box and began to write down the numbers, the person who called, and the message before sending it to Aoshi.
Once she was done, Shura sat on the edge of her desk and picked up the same frame that she had earlier that night.
"So... you know Kaoru Kamiya?" asked Shura, as she showed Misao the picture of the three friends when they were in college. They were in school uniforms and hugging each other in a tight shoulder lock and smiling at the camera.
Misao nodded and placed on her head set so it'd be easier to get the calls.
"You know how you owe me something?"
She looked up and nodded as she arranged a few papers.
"Well I was wondering if you could let me get to know Kaoru? I'm a big fan of hers and her work, and she was a great hit on the magazine."
"So you want to use me to get to her?"
Shura only nodded as if she were embarrassed.
Misao sighed.
"So will you?"
"Kaoru's sort of busy. Though I'll try."
Shura smiled and jumped off to hug Misao tightly and repeated her thanks as if she were excited, though a part of her was. Not just for her article and sister, but just for meeting Kaoru in person on a regular bases. At heart she knew that she envied the woman, she was intelligent, spoke English fine --from what she dug up--, and was beautiful.
(A/N: The reason that Kaoru went to Harvard, instead of one of the universities in Japan, was because she wanted to learn English better. Since English is becoming a major language through out the world, and she had a good chance of getting a job with the ability to speak English properly. In my fic anyways, so I don't offend anyone. I know that the schools in Japan are harder than in the states, but she really wanted to get a good job. You have to remember that Kaoru had a lot of financial problems before she worked for Takeda.)
Now the problem was how was she going to get more information for her sis and her article on this appointment. Truth be told, she really didn't want to make Kaoru a laughing stalk, since from what she heard of the other employees that day, Kaoru was a very great person.
She knew that her sister was wrong to do such a thing, and Kaoru was only doing her job as Mr. Himura's lawyer, but Tomoe was her sister.
Shura sighed as she sat down at her own desk, maybe if she got enough from this job she could stop being a journalist. She really didn't like putting others down, but that was the only way that she could get money. Her sister was having her own money troubles, so she didn't ask her.
She sighed as she turned back on her computer; life was cruel she concluded.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You don't have to stay. You know that right?" asked Kaoru from across the room as she looked up from the magazine she was reading to Kenshin.
"I have nothing better to do anyhow," said Kenshin as he sat with his elbows on his knees.
The two patients in the room hadn't stirred since Takasugi and Yahiko left and the two were getting bored by the minute.
Kaoru placed her magazine down and stood up to stretch when Kenshin's cell rang. He picked it up before it could wake up the two occupants of the room that were still asleep.
"Hi," said Kenshin in a whisper.
Sanosuke's loud voice boomed out and Kaoru gave him a questioning look.
"Shut up Sano," hissed Kenshin in a low tone.
"Why? Are you at the library or some where?" asked Sano, just as loud as ever.
"I'm at the local hospital," said Kenshin in a whisper.
"What!? Are you okay man?" asked Sano loudly in concern.
"No! Just be quiet. What do you want?" asked Kenshin annoyed.
Kaoru realized who it was and only rolled her eyes. The guy was a pain and was real sweet when he wanted to be. He had become like an older brother to her since she had come to M.R.S., but he was really annoying when he wasn't thinking straight.
"Do you think that Kaoru can go to the Sakura Ball with me? I couldn't get an escort to go with me," said Sanosuke.
"Why didn't you ask her yourself? No she won't," answered Kenshin.
"Why?" demanded Sano. He knew that he was at least fine enough to go with her.
"Cause she's going with me," said Kenshin smugly.
"You..." began Sano, as he thought of a word to call him without losing his job.
"Why don't you go with your secretary?" asked Kenshin as he winked at Kaoru who only rolled her eyes, she could easily hear the conversation since she had decided to sit next to him.
"No! She makes a good secretary, but not a good escort. There will be cameras there, I need a nice looking escort that I would like to have seen in public with me," said Sano.
Men. Thought Kaoru as she snorted in disgust, was that all men thought about?
Kenshin kept in a chuckle from his two friends' responses, though for some reason, a part of him didn't see Kaoru as a friend or sister at all. It was hard to explain, and it confused him.
"I need an escort man. Hook me up with someone," said Sano, he was practically begging.
"I don't know how to help you. Though there is a pretty lady in a bed right now just a few feet from me. Maybe you can ask her when she's better," said Kenshin.
"Why would I want to go with some sick chick?" asked Sano.
Kaoru glared at the phone. That was impolite and uncalled for. She grabbed the cell phone from the shocked Kenshin and began to yell at Sano about how rude he was, and that no one would go with such an insensitive jerk like him to a ball.
"I'm sorry Missy," said Sano, he hadn't expected that.
Kaoru took in a deep breath before handing the cell phone back to a taken aback Kenshin; he knew that she had one heck of a spirit, but not that big. She had just told off Sano, something that not even he would do. That was only because the two were friends, but Kaoru seemed to have just told everything to Sano that he dared not; but not without suffering their friendship.
"Don't ever give the phone to her again. So who's the girl? She must be important if Missy there got mad at me," said Sano trying to recover from Kaoru's outburst.
"She's Yahiko's sister Sayo, but she prefers Magdaria," said Kenshin, he had met her a few times when he brought Yahiko home so that his brother and sister wouldn't yell at him or think that he was out with a bunch of alcoholic lunatics at night.
"That brat's sister. No wonder. Is she pretty?" asked Sano a bit interested.
"Well... I don't know what you mean by pretty to you Sano, you have weird taste. Magdaria isn't going to be sick any longer, she just got a transplant. She's going to live and be better than ever. So if you want to go with her, then you can ask her yourself," said Kenshin.
"So where are you again?" Asked Sano, his reception was breaking.
"At the local hospital," said Kenshin.
"What floor?" asked Sano as honking was heard in the back.
"The fourth," said Kenshin confused as he heard shouts from Sano's end of the line.
Suddenly Sano's connection was destroyed. Kenshin looked at his phone, and realized that Sanosuke's old cell phone was some where under the bridge. That was the only place where cell phones didn't work. Luckily for Kenshin his cell phone worked there too.
"What happened?" asked Kaoru as Kenshin pocketed his cell phone.
"We lost connection," said Kenshin as he stood to stretch.
Then the doors opened and in walked Yahiko and Takasugi with take-out for them. The two walked over to the table that was provided and looked through all of the food.
"What took you two so long?" asked Kenshin as he took an order and sat back in his seat.
"We ate there so you guys could actually get food. You know that this guy can eat a whole horse without taking a break," said Takasugi with a grin.
Kaoru giggled and then took her combination-fried rice and sat down beside Kenshin who was busy chewing down.
"I'm still hungry," said Yahiko as he took out another order and began to stuff his face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hiko was busy doing paperwork when Katsura walked in and sat in the seat across from him.
"What is it?" asked Hiko not looking up.
"The Sakura Ball is coming up," said Katsura with a grin on his face.
"I know," said Hiko as he stapled a few papers back together.
"So who are you going to go with Seijiro? I remember last year's Sakura Ball. You went with that beautiful young lady from Beauty Magazines. So what happened?" asked Katsura.
"That's my concern," said Hiko coldly, he really didn't want to talk about it.
"We're old friends Hiko. You can tell me," said Katsura.
"What about you and that blonde model? You do know that all of those women are only trying to get at our money," said Hiko darkly as he opened up a binder full of previous work.
"Isn't that Kenshin's job?" asked Katsura.
"Well he's finished it all. I'm just looking them over. I can't afford to have any mistakes in my Corporation. No matter what, I still see this as my own," said Hiko taking down another binder from the huge shelf full of them. He wasn't sitting any more.
"I do believe that Miss Kamiya has proofread them all for you," said Katsura.
Hiko was busy going through another binder to bother.
"Well you're going to need an escort. What would the media say if you don't show up?" asked Katsura as he twirled the chair so he could see Hiko's shoulders tense.
"They'd say that I'm no longer part of the Corporation," said Hiko coldly.
"Then all of Kenshin's bickering of you needing to retire will have proven not to be in vain after all. That's when you won't have any excuse but to let him be boss," said Katsura with a grin.
"So whom do you suggest?" asked Hiko turning to him.
Katsura grinned, he knew that would work.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Just go ask Soujiro," said Tsubame as the two watched as Misao clicked away on her computer from the lobby.
"I can't... I..." Soujiro was blushing and looked away from his younger sister.
"Come on. All you have to do is ask. I'm sure she'll accept it," said Tsubame as she pushed her brother out of the lobby so that he could be seen.
He sighed and thanked the heavens that no one else but them were there. Shura had left early, and Misao was making up time. Tsubame and him always stayed to help close up.
Taking in a deep breath, he walked over to Misao who looked up at him and smiled.
"What's up Sou?" asked Misao. The two had become good friends in the last month, like she had with most of her other co-workers.
"Hey," said Soujiro as he tried to keep a smile on his face without blushing.
"Need anything?" asked Misao as she put down her headset to look him in the face.
He wanted to just leave and forget about it, but his sister gave him a death glare. So swallowing the lump in his throat he asked her, "Misao. I was wondering... The... Sakura Ball is next week and I was... Would you go with me?" He scolded himself for just blurting it out like that.
Misao looked at him in disbelief and blushed before nodding in acceptance.
Soujiro sighed inwardly in relief and smiled genuinely at her.
"So I'll pick you up at 6:00?" asked Soujiro.
"No! I mean why don't we meet up?" asked Misao, she really didn't want to show her status to him.
Soujiro looked at her confused.
"Since I'll probably be getting ready at Kaoru's hotel like when we were in high school and went to prom," said Misao with a smile.
"Oh. Then I'll pick you up there," said Soujiro with a smile.
Misao smiled back, all she had to do was get Kaoru into this.
Kaoru, you better be up to helping me out on this one this time. Thought Misao as she smiled at Soujiro as he left to go back into the lobby.
"How'd it go?" asked Tsubame when she closed the doors.
Soujiro didn't turn around.
"Oh Sou. I'm so..." began Tsubame.
He turned around and kissed her on the cheek and spun her around.
"She accepted," said Soujiro excitedly.
It took her a minute to get over her shock.
"I told you. So what do I get for helping you?" asked Tsubame.
"How about dinner tomorrow?" asked Soujiro.
Tsubame thought about it, but smiled when her brother frowned.
"Good. Now what should I wear?" asked Soujiro.
"Something presentable," said Tsubame as she looked at him hard.
Then the two laughed.
"Don't worry, we got one week to shop," said Tsubame with a smile.
"Yeah," said Soujiro as he looked back out to Misao who was still blushing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was 9:00 when Kenshin and Kaoru finished, and Yahiko went for seconds.
"Can you get me a drink?" asked Kaoru as she went to get her purse.
"It's on me. So how many do we need?" asked Takasugi looking around.
"Four," said Kenshin.
"I'll get five just in case," said Takasugi as he looked at Yahiko and left.
Suddenly the room became quiet except for the machines and Yahiko's eating sounds.
Kaoru jumped and Kenshin flinched a bit when Sanosuke burst open the door and came in with a big smile on his face, and a toothpick in his mouth.
Everyone stopped and looked at him confused, how had he gotten in?
"What are you doing here rooster head?" asked Yahiko between mouth full.
"Came to see my girlfriend," said Sano with a grin to Kenshin and Kaoru.
"You're going out with ugly?" asked Yahiko as he looked up from his food.
"No. Magdaria," said Sanosuke as he looked at the one on the hospital bed.
Yahiko was in such shock that he spit rice back out that landed on Sanosuke's back. He glared at the man, his sister never said anything about a boyfriend.
"Hey! Lay off the suit," said Sanosuke as he took off the outer attire that he had worn that day to work.
"My sister is not your girlfriend," yelled Yahiko angrily as he put down his food.
He walked over to the imposter angrily, how dare he even think of going with his perfect sister?
"I had to use it, or they wouldn't have told me where she was staying at," shouted Sanosuke back just as loud and irritating as a child.
"Then use her," said Yahiko as he pointed at Megumi.
"She already had one, and how was I to know she would be here?" shot back Sano.
The two glared at each other as Kaoru and Kenshin watched in amusement.
Yahiko grew angry and threw his box of open and half eaten food at Sanosuke, who ducked just in time as the door opened and the food landed over the unfortunate character that just walked in on them.
They all gasped as the saw the person; Yahiko paled, Sano shifted uncomfortably, Kaoru was in shock, and Kenshin was laughing his head off.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I'll let you guys decide who got foodatized. Hint: It wasn't Takasugi. That should keep you all guessing for a while.