*waves madly* Okay...so I've had this chapter typed out for a looong time, but then came the ever so stressful barrage of finals, plus the weeks of recovery that follow =P That and the compy I had this fic on had no 'net access and a malfunctioning floppy drive, so I couldn't get it out for a while. Er...enough with the excuses, and on with the show! Author notes and thank you's are at the and. Enjoy, and review if it tickles your fancy =)

OH...and, apparently I had the "allow anonymous posting" option OFF...er, so if anyone wanted to comment anonymously...gomen nasai! It's on now.

Disclaimer: Mine? Ha. *watches the sarcasm drip*

Little Collisions by Pav - Chapter 4

"Onnanoko-chan." Kenshin was amused enough by the turn of events to remember that day with fondness now rather than with the heated annoyance he had felt that day. After all, that was the day the firm had promoted him, bringing him one step closer to fulfilling the dream of his own private law firm.

Kaoru, however, was not quite as amused by the ironic situation, as Kenshin seemed to be. "Actually, I think that little moniker you have there is moot," she said pointedly, tapping the little stack of business cards that gave her a little thrill every time she looked the little cards that boasted her name and practice in embossed script.

Kenshin idly traced a finger over her name printed on the card he held, causing Kaoru to notice all to well the masculine strength and appeal his long fingers promised. "Well yes, _Dr. Kamiya_ " again with the emphasis on her name, "I guess you might have grown a bit since you crashed into me all those years ago. Have you learned to keep your balance since then?"

'Temper, Kaoru, temper…' she warned herself, while indignation was struggling to leap out and choke the infuriating and currently smirking man in front of her.  She kept her voice cool but irritated, "Oh yeah, definitely been working on the balance issue as you've probably been slaving away at trying to stifle the jerk attitude that comes so naturally to you. Oh well, I guess that if the world didn't have assholes, we might be cursed with world peace." Kaoru cursed inwardly. Calling someone an asshole, no matter how true the description, was *not* professional. She pushed pride aside, or maybe it was pride that led her to apologize. "I'm sorry, we're both professionals, and I think we should begin to act like professionals. If you can manage it, that is." Damn her temper. That last barb just slipped out without warning.

Something about this woman pulled at Kenshin's good side, and her insults were taken with amusement when others had incurred his wrath for less. "I assure you, I am fully-" he picked up her hand and placed it in his while speaking, "capable of acting-" he started to draw small patterns on her hand with nimble fingers, "professional." He watched her face with fascination, as different emotions passed her eyes. She was so contrary, going from hot to cold and vice-versa.

Kaoru was finding it hard to focus on his words, and her own words about professionalism gleefully danced out of her head. Her hand, she needed her hand back. She gently tugged it back, somewhat surprised when Kenshin relinquished it from his possession. He didn't seem like the type to give in so easily. "Pardon, but I have rounds to do at the hospital. What business are you here for, Mr. Himura?"

At the sound of her brisk tone, Kenshin commanded himself to be every bit as businesslike as she was. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a business card of his own, and handed it to her.

"My my, we went from junior associate at a firm to heading our very own private firm in 10 years, eh? Impressive." She placed the card next to the aging card from all those years ago.

Kenshin watched her with interest, "Ah, before I continue, I must ask why you kept my old business card. A memento of those whom you barrel into?" Kenshin berated himself before he could stop the gentle poke from popping out of his mouth. As much as he enjoyed setting her off, he didn't want to seriously anger her before he could even state his purpose for being there.

Surprisingly, a small smile bloomed on her face as she pleasantly reminisced. "*You* bumped into *me* as I was on my way to take a final exam for med school. I was so mad after our encounter and had excess energy bouncing around since you got me so worked up, that it all got poured into my test. I did great on it, my boyfriend proposed to me, and my sister Megumi came into an insanely successful practice after her mentor retired. This all happened in the same day, so I just wanted to keep all these silly reminders of that day so I can always remember as much about that day as I can.

'Proposed? Is she married, then? Wait…Megumi? Megumi Sagara who took over Genzai's gold mine of a practice? Hmm, they do have different last names, so she might be married. Damn. Oh wait, Sagara is Megumi's married name, her husband is Sanosuke Sagara. So is Kamiya her maiden name? Is-' Kenshin's racing thoughts were cut short by Kaoru none too gently clearing her throat.

"Ahem. What does the Battousai Law Firm, independently owned and headed by Kenshin Himura, want with my clinic?" Kaoru was getting impatient. She had a bubble bath waiting for her, damn it.

Kenshin opened his briefcase, took out a folder, and handed it to her without a word. Kaoru opened the folder, finding a few photos inside paper clipped to a small stack of forms. Upon looking at the first photo, she gasped, "Is this-"

Kenshin cut her off, "Yes. That is Makoto Shishio. Tell me everything you know about him."

She kept her eyes on the photos, as if they were perversely mesmerizing. The familiar sinster eyes seemed to burn into her mind from the picture. "Makoto Shishio was a long term patient at my sister Megumi's clinic a couple of years ago. I would sporadically intern at her clinic in order to gain more experience from the various types of patients coming in for treatment. Shishio was…quite the character…medically speaking, and otherwise."

Kenshin nodded at her. "By the tone of your voice, I think it's safe to assume you have some inkling that there can be no good coming out of that which involves Shishio." Kaoru could only stare at him mutely as he continued, "Well, I'm sure you know the severity of the burns and injuries inflicted upon Shishio when he was first referred to your sister for treatment. As I understand it, your sister handed him over to you, her medical expertise finding your skills more than adequate to handle Shishio's medical case. Thus, you have intimate knowledge of Shishio's case history, correct?"

Kaoru nodded in affirmation, and was about to ask him a question of her own when her beeper went off. She looked at the number on the screen, instantly recognizing it as that of the hospital's emergency number. Kenshin rose with her as she hurried up to gather her things. "Pardon me, Mr. Himura, but I am needed at the hospital immediately. I'm afraid you'll have to stop by some other time to tell me whatever point you were getting at."

Kenshin followed her quick pace out of the clinic and into the brisk winter night. As she was about to walk off in the direction of the hospital, he reached out and snagged her hand in a firm grip of his own. As she turned around to face him, he cut off the angry and impatient words ready on her tongue. "I'll drive you to the hospital."

Kaoru didn't like the commanding tone of his voice one bit. "I'm sure your services are more appreciated elsewhere. I'm sure there's some lonely woman out there with maybe even a big wallet to spare." She tugged her hand, only to have it clasped firmly in his grasp. He wasn't letting go this time.

"I'm sure the man whore business is lucrative, but I'm happy with being a lawyer, so thanks. Unless you're that lonely woman, in which case I'll even spare you your wallet." Kenshin arched an eyebrow at her, and started leading her to his car.

"I can walk, damn it. It's only a 10 minute walk." Why was this man so infuriating?

Opening the passenger side of a very luxurious Lexus, Kenshin replied blandly, "Well, now you'll have 8 minutes saved to help patients, ponder the meaning of life, power nap, and maybe indulge in a sample of what our smoldering affair is going to be like."

Kaoru's spine snapped ramrod straight in indignation. "Excuse me? she sputtered.

He gently nudged her into the passenger seat with serious repentance on his face, "Okay, so I was kidding..."

Kaoru sighed in relief. "Mr. Himu-"

"…about the meaning of life part. That just takes too much effort."

"Nani?" she sputtered.

He closed the door on her side and got into the car himself, facing herwith a startlingly boyish and lopsided grin on his face. Teasing her was just too much fun.

 Kaoru, on the other hand, was seeing red, and it wasn't just the rakishly long and sexy red hair of his, falling into his amused violet eyes. Nope, she was working herself into a fine bout of temper.

Kenshin, on a roll from his teasing mood, opened his mouth and decided to stick a foot in it. "Forgive me, Onnanoko-chan-" Mistake. He pushed her over the edge.

She opened her mouth, the insults tumbling out in a torrent of irritation and anger, as she reached over and grabbed the lapels of his coat with strength that surprised him. Just as Kaoru was about to ream into him, Kenshin took the Kaoru's hands which were gripping his coat, and hauled her to him. "Sumimasen, Kaoru-dono." he mischievously taunted, and gave her a quick and hard kiss without thinking before none too gently shoving her back into her seat.

Looking at her flushed face and mouth shaped in a surprised "O," Kenshin fought back temptation by turning on the car and putting it into drive.

The short trip to the hospital was silent.

~*~*~*~

A/N: Whew, am I making headway in the longer chapter bit? Okay, I know a good chunk of people were asking about ages of characters, how long ago was their first meeting, and all that time related shtuff...well, I promise it'll get meshed into the story! I know it's kind of a ridiculous delay for such info as that, but the story shall tell all!

Thanks: GAAAH...I really was planning to do individual thanks to all of those AWESOME people out there who took the time to read and review...thanks guys, you make me smile. Please forgive me when I give you all a collective thank you...the individual responses shall return next chapter! Once again...thanks!

- Pav