Hallo! Hope everyone had a happy New Year's and all. ::busts out with the sparkling grape juice::
Man, that stuff is *good*
Mmkay, here's chapter 5 for you. Read and review if you so wish. Author notes and individual thanks are at the end of the chapter.
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and its characters aren't my brainchildren = /
Little Collisions by Pav - Chapter 5
Kaoru was at a loss when they finally pulled up to the front of the hospital. Never in her 31 years of life had she ever felt so flabbergasted. Even when Megumi had announced she was going on a date with her supposedly despised 'tori-atama,' which was sort of expected when you came down to it, hadn't left Kaoru quite as bewildered as she was now. She debated at light speed whether or not to slap the infuriating man next to her, rage at him for his audacity, or just jump him then and there, whether it be in violence or...something else. Kaoru gave herself a mental shake over that last option, and opted for coolly stepping out of the car with a distant and polite, "thank you for the ride."
Kenshin watched her walk into the hospital and wondered by the impersonal tone of her voice if he had been a little...hasty in his actions. He preferred her spitting fire at him to the easy dismissal she gave him as if he were a cabbie. Kenshin pulled into the parking lot and pondered over the next form of action. His calm and rational side reasoned that it wouldn't do to antagonize Kaoru further, and that he should see her the next day laden with apologies and her favored professionalism.
Damn it, he was professional, just not when he chose to be otherwise.
The roguish and ahem, more playful, side of Kenshin gleefully conjured images of the doctor wearing a lab coat...nothing but a lab coat. The two sides began to beat Kenshin over the head with their respective arguments, and Kenshin stepped out of the car, amused and exasperated with himself. When stuck between a rock and a hard place, compromise was always the best solution.
He strolled down the sidewalk past the hospital and towards a more merchant oriented section of town. Hands in his pockets, Kenshin rehashed the day's interesting turn of events. Never in a million years would Kenshin have woken up this morning and thought, "Hmm, I bet that doctor I have to meet today is gonna be that girl I knocked into ten years ago!" It was a pleasing coincidence, though. He had a picture of her in his mind that popped up from time to time, as everything from that day long ago had been branded in his memory. Kenshin remembered with nostalgia, how furious he had been with who he thought was a young girl that had delayed his trip to work that day.
Dr. Kaoru Kamiya apparently hadn't been a girl back then, as he had been quick to label her. She had been at the budding at womanhood, and she bloomed nicely, Kenshin mused. Her face was still youthful as it was ten years ago, but it had the definition that age and experience wrought on. And those eyes...the expressive pools of changing hues of blue. Definitely good to showcase her temper with. 'And what a temper,' Kenshin chuckled.
Stepping into a little store on the corner, Kenshin dropped a bill into the violin case of little boy who was shimmering out melodies from his instrument in front of the store. Kenshin hoped the boy had a place to go home to tonight, as he knew what it was to want for even the basic necessities in life.
Perusing the fresh flowers the florist proudly displayed, Kenshin thought of a little boy long ago, orphaned and destitute on the streets of Japan. The little boy one day was trying to figure out how to acquire his next meal, when he stumbled upon a burly man throwing ragged pieces of furniture out on the street from a rundown building. A woman was alternately arguing and pleading with him, saying that her lease specified a certain amount and time frame for the rent to be paid, and then asking for more time and some compassion for her and her two small kids. How could he raise the rent so and then defy the contract by shortening the time between payments?
Young Kenshin watched with indignation as the woman ultimately lost the battle with her landlord and ended up on the streets with her two small children. Suddenly, he felt a large and strong hand on his shoulder, and soon faced a raven-haired man with a commanding presence.
"I see a battle for justice in your eyes, my boy." Kenshin could only nod mutely, as this fascinating man took his hand and lead him to his destiny.
Hiko had taken Kenshin in, gave him the basic essentials of life, and more with an education in law. Fighting with the law as a weapon, was a most effective tool when combating social injustices, Hiko would often remind Kenshin. Moving to America with the man he loved as a father and feared as a mentor, Kenshin became dedicated to serving the poor and helpless who had been meted out injustice. He started out working for Bigsly & Wiggins, the all too respectable New York firm, and yearned to start a firm of his own, where he could then truly represent the people he wanted to help. The years at Bigsly & Wiggins honed his skills as a lawyer, and with luck, persistence, and an innate skill to use arguments as a sword, Kenshin came a long way from not knowing where his next meal was coming from. He enjoyed the finer things in life now, and despite living the high life, Kenshin never forgot his original ambition. And it was that fateful day he had collided with Kaoru, that the board at Bigsly & Wiggins promoted him to be a member of the board.
With prestige and a substantial pay raise, Kenshin was able to soon open his very own firm. He had a good caseload, as loyal clients from the old firm flocked to him and recommended others to him as well. He helped not only those who could only pay his fees with a small sum, sometimes baked goods, and always gratitude, but his clientele included prominent names of the New York society, as Kenshin's name became well known in legal circles.
Patting his leather briefcase and love of his life, Kenshin found what he was looking for in the store, and smiled.
Yes, he had come a long way indeed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru rubbed her eyes wearily, and started to walk to the doors leading out of the hospital. Just when she was almost home free, she heard one of the hospital's senior doctors shout her name from behind. Forcing a pleasant smile on her face, she turned around, hoping to god she wouldn't have to tend to another critical patient. This night had been far from easy.
Dr. Bloom took in Kaoru's haggard countenance with sympathy. Nights like this were rough, and at least he wasn't going to make it rougher. "Hey, don't worry Kamiya. We don't need any more doctors on the shift, so you get to escape for the night. Just wanted to give you this before you left." With that, he pressed a small envelope in her hand and smiled at with comfort in his hazel eyes, "Sleep well, you need it."
Kaoru watched his retreating back with a smile of her own. The hospital staff was like a family. But she was happy she wasn't part of it for the rest of the night, and she pocketed the envelope in her white lab coat before finally exiting the hospital.
Head down and hands in pockets, Kaoru sighed as she began her trek home. That self-promised bubble bath was going to have to take a raincheck. It had been a taxing evening and a horrible night. All she wanted was to go home, take her shoes off, and-
*BAM*
The impact of the collision caused Kaoru to reel backwards and she would have fallen if it weren't for a hand snaking out to steady her with a firm grip around her waist.
All playful comments about recurring habits died on Kenshin's tongue as Kaoru looked at him with a tired void in her eyes. The lack of the usual animation in her eyes scared him, and Kenshin asked her with great worry in his voice, "What's wrong?"
Kaoru wanted to crumple to the ground right then and there. If the fates were kind enough to not have Dr. Bloom call her on emergency duty, why were they planting this oaf in the way of her and the sandman? Completely bushed, Kaoru could only mutter a "leave me alone" and started to head home. However, Kenshin still had his arm around her waist, and wasn't letting go.
"I'll walk you home," Kenshin said, gently nudging her along when she would have otherwise resisted.
Kaoru decided that in this case, compliance would get her in bed and off to sleep sooner. She allowed him to walk with her, arm now loosely linked around her waist. Once they got to the steps of Kaoru's apartment building, Kaoru turned to Kenshin, ready to dismiss him with a 'thank you' and get this awful day over with.
Before she could speak, Kenshin silenced her by gently pulling her close and stroking the base of her neck calmly. "What's wrong?" he asked her yet again.
Refusing to be lulled by the soothing feel of his fingers at her neck, Kaoru raised her head to meet the Kenshin's gaze and responded with no heat, "Nothing. Please just let me go inside."
Again alarmed by the lack of fire in her, and concerned for the tired look on her face, Kenshin offered her what his other hand had been holding. A single daffodil, with its sunny yellow color like a bright promise of hope and happiness. "Daijoubu desu ka?" he asked her, softly.
The gesture and words undid her, and Kaoru gave in. "The stream of patients at the hospital were endless today. And...and-" she struggled for composure, and regained her footing admirably, "-and a whole family was rushed to the ER. Accident, their car was hit by a drunk driver. Kids barely survived, but the parents didn't. Oh god, the kids-" she broke off, in her mind the tragedy compounded with her own parents accident. She choked on her words for a second, before humiliation began to cloak her misery. Here was a man she disliked, and here she was about to collapse in front of the man. She felt anger at him for seeing her at a weak moment rise, and it flushed her pale cheeks and shot life back into her eyes. But she felt the daffodil he gave her clutched in her hand, and spoke softly, "Kenshin-"
Kenshin had been relieved to see the spark back in her eyes as he watched the emotions flit across her face after she had broken off her sad story. All thoughts of comforting her and trying to ease the pain away were washed away by the pleasure of hearing her speak his name. "I was wondering when the onna no ko would call me by name."
Aggravation speared through Kaoru. 'Stupid me, thinking for a moment that this idiot was someone I could talk to in a civilized manner.' She balled her fists and willed them to remain at her sides, "Here I'm wondering when the buffoon will return the favor."
Kenshin gave her a look of mirth. "Maa Maa, I always pay my debts, _Kaoru-dono_."
Before she could stop herself, a balled fist sailed towards Kenshin's stomach, but only to be stopped by his own quick reflexes. Kenshin however was too slow in realizing what her other fist was doing before it landed a blow on his midsection.
Kaoru had the satisfaction of watching him stumble back with a little "oof" before responding tartly, "I pay my debts as well, _Kenshin_." With that, she whirled into the building, daffodil in hand.
Kenshin watched her retreat and rubbed his stomach balefully. Oh, the people you run into...
~*~*~*~
A/N: Umm...so the KxK interaction was a bit amiss in this chapter, but I needed to set up Kenshin's background and all. There will be more collisions and what not next chapter =) Okay, for all of those people who asked about time lines...
They first collided ten years ago. Kaoru's now 31, Kenshin's a couple of years older than her. Yeah, law and medicine are both time eaters in the way of careers, so I apologize if it seems a little odd that they both have their own practices so soon, etc...but then again, I just didn't want them to be 40 in my story either =P
Thank you's: UBER thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this story, you guys are great. I'm gonna pick up the individual thanks again, now with those who reviewed chapter 4...so THANKS again to everyone else who reviewed the previous chapters ::smile:: - Pav
Mango - thankies for the review =)
Jason M Lee - thanks for the "onna no ko" advice, but I was just smushing it together for when he uses it as Kaoru's "name." But when I use it for otherwise, like I did in this chapter, I separate it out...thanks for the advice.
Kriska - glad you were entertained. Happy New Year to you as well
Val - yeah, they k and k really are made for each other, ne? ;)
Icegal - hehe, thanks for liking it so much. I'll try and pound out the chapters as fast as I can
Koneko-chan - yeah, Kenshin's kinda dabbling in the OOCness there...he'll tone down a bit as the story progresses, kinda like the end of this chapter. Oh, as for your question about them being Japanese, addressing one another, etc...if you'll remember from the first and second chapter, they are Japanese, but are living in America right now. Kaoru slips into Japanese when she's flustered or being emotional, so Kenshin teases her with Japanese...hope this answers your questions. Thanks for the review
Chiki - thank *you* for the review, and glad you liked the chapter =P
tanuki chan (chingwa07@cs.com) - Kaoru's comment about the proposal will be clarified soon ;)
Bunny - I agree...go Kenshin! Thanks for reviewing
Fuuko-san - Wow, holidays really are hectic. Thanks for the review, and happy you liked it so much
Neko-chan - thaaaaaank you! Reviews are great motivation
Rurouni_me - glad you liked it, I'll try and update asap
Omochi - hehe, yeah he does like to annoy her, but that's as good as any interaction, ne? ;)
Megumi-chan - Umm...as of right now I'm not sure if Yahiko will make it into the storyline, but we'll have to see. The age difference between Kenshin and Kaoru is just a couple of years in this fic.
AngelsExist - Thanks for the review!
Faerie-chan - Yeah, he's being quite the playful type, but he can be sweet too =P Thanks for the encouragement, I'll try and get this story cranking out as fast as I can
Kawaii sakura-chan - glad you were amused =)
Nim - thank you muchly!
Manina - glad that the OOCness didn't drive you insane, and Happy New Year to you as well!
Dreamaker13 - thanks for the review! I'm working on it~
Well, til next time...
- Pav