* Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Faithfully
Chapter 1: Restless Hearts

One year later…

"Whew, finally home!" Kaoru heaved a sigh of relief as she entered the elevator at the apartment building where she lived. The day had been tiring for her. She had classes to teach until 6 p.m., and just when she was about to go home, her dark metallic gray Nokia 8890 rang. It was the producer of her upcoming recording. Apparently there had been some mistakes on the mixing of the last song she had recorded. It needed to be fixed right away, so from the Boston Conservatory she drove straight away to the studio, which was at the other side of the city.

It was half past ten already when she finally reached the door to her apartment. At least Kenshin is back. He said he'd arrive at 7… Despite her tiredness, a smile appeared on her lips as his name crossed her thoughts. He's been on tour for two months, and I miss him so much… I wonder if he's prepared some dinner. I'm really hungry! I only had the chance to grab a burger… The prospect of meeting Kenshin lifted up her spirits, and her face brightened as she threw the door open. Much to her dismay, the entire apartment was enveloped with the darkness.

Her eyebrows furrowed immediately. If the light's off, then it means that Kenshin… "Kenshin?" She called out his name for a few times, but no answer came. So he's not home yet. Sighing dejectedly, she walked in to the living room and turned the light on. Her eyes fastened immediately to the answering machine next to the telephone. Someone left a message.

Her husband's voice filled the room as she pushed the button to replay the message. "Kaoru, where have you been? I've been trying to call you since six thirty, but you weren't there. Even your cell phone was off… Listen, I just wanna tell you that I won't be coming home tonight. I'm sorry, Sweetie, but Shishio suddenly called the band for a meeting--- Sano, give me a moment, will ya? Sorry, it was the rooster head…  Ouch! Sano, may I please have a few words with my wife?" For a moment there was silence. Kaoru could almost imagine her husband glaring menacingly at the rambunctious lead guitarist. She would have laughed, had it not been for the bad news Kenshin brought.

"Sorry for the interruption… Anyway, tomorrow morning we will discuss the details of our upcoming song with Tsubame Sanjou. I'll be staying at Shishio's mansion, so there's nothing to worry about." There was another pause. "I'm sorry, Kaoru. I promise I'll be home tomorrow night. Well, I've gotta go. I'll call you later, okay? Bye." A long beep indicated the end of the message.

Kaoru slumped into the couch. Suddenly she wasn't very hungry anymore. "Great…" Disappointment filled her heart. "I guess I have to sleep alone tonight… again."

***

A few hours later…

Kaoru was sitting on her bed with a book in her hands when the telephone rang. It was past midnight already. She put down the book and picked up the phone. "Yeah, Kenshin?"

"Hi…" It was Kenshin alright. "Are you still up?"

"Yeah, I was reading the material for class tomorrow… I'm finishing this chapter, and then I'll go to sleep."

Kenshin noticed the lack of cheerfulness in his wife's voice. "Hey, how's it going with you?"

"Fine." was Kaoru's short reply.

"Are you sure?" Kenshin wasn't convinced at all. "You didn't sound like it… Come on, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong with me, Kenshin." Her voice dripped in sarcasm. "It's just that I haven't seen my husband for two months and that he didn't come home tonight. I'm just perfectly fine!"

At the other end of the line Kenshin sighed heavily. "I wish I could be right there with you, but you know I can't. It's just one more night, ok? You got my message, didn't you? Shishio needed us right away and---"

"I know, I know." Kaoru cut him in. "Shishio wanted to have an important meeting with you guys. Yeah, I did get your message. Don't worry about that."

Kenshin was getting annoyed with Kaoru's sarcasm. "Hey, at least I called you. Come on, Kaoru, don't be so selfish! You know it was---"

"Me, selfish?!" She finally exploded. "Look who's talking…"

"What difference does one more night make? You think I'm enjoying this?" He was tired from the long session he had had with Shishio and the band. All he wanted was to hear Kaoru's loving voice, but all he got from her was scolding. "Well, for your information, no, I don't like it either! Besides, I said I was sorry, didn't I? Listen, I'm---"

"No, you listen to me!" Now she was really angry. "You have no idea how it feels to come home to an empty house when you're expecting someone to be there! I was tired, Kenshin! And not to mention hungry too! And you promised that you'd come home tonight! You…" Kaoru stopped as she realized that she had been shouting at her husband, and immediately regretted doing so.

"Kaoru…?" Kenshin asked tentatively when he heard nothing for a while.

"I'm sorry…" Her voice was shaky as she answered, "I shouldn't have shouted at you… I'm really sorry…" She tried to hold back her tears, to no avail.

"Ssh… don't cry…" How he wished that he could pull her into his embrace at that moment! "It's all right. I understand… It's not your fault…"

Her sob lessened as the minutes went by. Finally she said slowly. "I guess it was just that I miss you… Hearing your voice on the line is not enough, Kenshin. I need to see you…"

"I know, I know… I miss you too." He said gently. "Hold on just a little while, okay? I'll drop by the Conservatory in the midday, I promise you. We can have lunch together or something like that."

A long silence followed. "Kenshin…?"

"What is it?"

"Thank you…"

His lips curved into a smile. "No need to thank me. See you tomorrow then?"

"I only have classes until 1 p.m. So I guess I'll see you at home instead."

"Sure you don't want me to come to the Conservatory?"

"Thanks, but you don't have to. And tell the band that I said hi."

"I'll do it. Sleep tight, Kaoru."

"You too, Kenshin… Take care and bye…"

As she put down the phone, she couldn't help but feel miserable. At least the conversation ended peacefully, but she had shouted at Kenshin, and for that she felt guilty. He said that he understood, but she wondered how long he could keep it up. It's not about another night alone without him. A realization began to dawn on her. He was right; one more night means nothing compared with two months. But it wasn't the reason I got angry… I guess it was because he failed to keep his promise. Because I thought he didn't miss me as much I miss him. Because that meeting was more important to him than me…

Rolling restlessly on her bed, she could only stare at the empty space beside her. Two months is too long… But what if he is to go on tour longer than that? Enishi told me once that they spent a full year on the road for the tour around the world… The young wife was horrified by the prospect of having to sleep alone at night for a year. Kenshin wouldn't do that, would he? He would never leave me for such a long time, would he?

Many questions, unpleasant ones as they were, kept plaguing her mind as she drifted to the world of dreams…

Unbeknownst to her, somewhere at Los Angeles there was another person rolling on his bed restlessly. A certain woman with sapphire eyes filled his thoughts. He too felt guilty, but it was for another reason. It was my fault that she got angry… Oh Kaoru, you have no idea how I wish you were here… But the meeting was crucial to our next album. She understands, doesn't she?

Kenshin sat up in his bed and turned on the light. Then he pulled out a photo from his wallet. That photo was taken during their honeymoon in Italy. With his finger he traced Kaoru's happy smile. Her smile is so beautiful… I miss her so much... The redhead hummed the tune of an old song softly as he recited the text in his mind. Oceans apart day after day, and I slowly go insane. I hear your voice on the line, but it doesn't stop the pain…

***

The day after…

Kaoru had the urge to take the stair as she waited for the elevator to come down. What took you so long? She complained silently as she tapped her foot impatiently.

A few minutes passed, and she finally stood before the door to her apartment. A silly grin appeared on her lips. Kenshin's home! I'm positive that I saw his car parked at the garage… Eagerly she threw the door open…

…only to find the apartment still in the darkness. "Kenshin?" She walked in cautiously. Nobody answered. She tried once again. "Kenshin?" Only silence greeted her. But I thought I saw his---

She didn't have time to get disappointed again. At that moment someone grabbed her slim waist from behind and spun her around and around. A yelp of surprise escaped her mouth. She didn't have to see her attacker's face; she knew her husband by touch. It couldn't have been anyone else. The way he held her was his alone; there was always a quiet strength beneath his gentle touch.

Her 'attacker' kept spinning her around until he dropped himself on the couch with Kaoru deposited safely at his lap. It was hard to keep an angry face, though faked, when she saw her beloved redhead grinning like an idiot at her. An idiot who was in love with her... Her face soon broke into a joyous smile.

"Kenshin, welcome home!" Her voice was like music to his ears. Her laugh was a balm that soothed his tired muscles. She crushed him into her embrace as she put her arms around his neck.

Kenshin inhaled the scent of jasmine deeply. She smelled like home. "I'm home, Kaoru…" So he told her as they loosened their hold on each other. He didn't move his hands from her waist, though.

"You almost scared me." Kaoru pinched his nose and smiled sweetly at him. "But I knew it was you…"

"How have you been?" He asked while his right hand went up to caress her soft cheek tenderly.

"It's just not the same without you…" She answered truthfully as her happy expression turned wistful. "I'm okay, but there were moments when I wished that you had never left… What about you? How was the meeting yesterday?" Then she added sheepishly. "I forgot to ask you that last night…"

The redhead gave her no answer. Instead he brought his lips to meet hers, giving her a light kiss on the mouth. "This…" he said as he pulled back a little from her face. "… is to make up for my absence last night."

"Only that?" She pouted innocently at him, trying to sound fake disappointment.

"I'm not quite done, Sweetie…" The redhead tucked a strand of raven black hair behind her ear as he said, "And this, is to show you how much I've missed you…" Without further ado he captured her lips again with his in an intense kiss.

Kaoru closed her eyes as she savoured the taste of his lips she hadn't tasted for two months. The kiss was about to turn into a heated one when the telephone suddenly rang. Once. Twice. Neither of them picked it up.

"Kenshin, the telephone?" She managed to mumble in the middle of Kenshin's assault to her lips.

He broke the kiss for a second. "It can wait, can't it?"

"But…" Her voice was lost, as the redhead broke the kiss only for a second literally. The next thing she knew was that his lips were all over hers again. And who was Kaoru to refuse such a treatment?

Unfortunately for them, the telephone kept ringing. It was at the sixth ring when Kenshin finally grumbled, "All right, all right!" Reluctantly she pulled away from him as he reached for the telephone. Then she nestled her head on the crook of his neck then, while her fingers traced the contour of his chest idly.

Kenshin recognized Aoshi's number on the display and groaned inwardly as he felt his wife pressing her lips on the skin of his neck. Aoshi, you'd better make it quick! She's torturing me… "Yeah, Aoshi?"

If his manager called, then it must be something important. So Kaoru decided not to prolong the torment any further. She was about to move from his lap, but Kenshin's free hand held her firmly on her place.

"…… No, no, you didn't interrupt something!" He shot her a playful look. "What's the matter? ……. So you and Misao want to come over here tomorrow?" Raising his eyebrow at her, he asked for her agreement silently. She nodded, so he said, "We're okay with that. ……  All right, see you tomorrow then! …… Bye!"

"Oh, it's gonna be fun! I haven't seen Misao for a while!" Kaoru squealed in delight as soon as Kenshin put down the phone. Misao was a close friend of her after all. "I have something---" She stopped abruptly as she felt Kenshin's hand on her cheek, his eyes gazing at her lovingly.

"You don't have any idea how much I missed you…" was all he said as he traced her lips with his thumb. "It's been terrible without you…"

"Miss you too very much…" Her smile grew as she held his hand with hers. "So glad that you're home…"

He returned her smile with a mischievous one. Kaoru recognized that look all to well. "Now where were we?" Then he pulled her close for another long session of passionate and heated kisses…

- End of Chapter 1: Restless Hearts -

Author's Note:

* 'Right Here Waiting', the song of which I quoted the lyric, belongs to Richard Marx.

* This chapter is even shorter than the prologue. *sighs* If this seems to get nowhere, please be patient. From a certain point, I already know how it will go till the end. The problem is how to get to that point… I'm still working on it, guys!

* Anyway, did I work out the little 'fight' between k&k well? Does it sound believable? I'm most pleased to hear from you! ^_^x

* Another question is about the rating. I rated this as PG, do you think I should up it to PG-13?

* Cherry Chibi, Peach ^_^, lauren, mip, Michiru Kashyuuno, deathbycookie15, Azura Dea, kouri: Thanks for the reviews! Glad that you guys love this fic!

* nemo: you'll know what I mean when I get to that certain point I was talking about earlier…

* whisper*2*imaginary: leuk om je te ontmoeten! You're the only Dutch person I know from RK fanfic community. Too bad that RK's not popular in NL, don't you think so?

* Chiki: oh yeah, there will definitely be some angst in this fic! Don't worry about it!

* flyinangel777: we share the same opinion, don't we? ;-)

* pensguard: I hate to see kenshin as a snobby rockstar. That's why. And Kaoru as a dojo master in the US wouldn't sound really plausible, would it? As of Tomoe, as much as I prefer K&K over K&T, I don't have the heart to make her an evil character. I do not hate her. She's an important person from Kenshin's past, and a nice character, I might add. But I've been k&k-lover since the day I fell in love with RK… You'll get your answer about 'not happily ever after' eventually, as this fic goes on. Please be patient…

* chiko_sakara: I don't think they will be having any kids in this story. Maybe they would, but I will certainly not include it in this fic. Sorry to disappoint you, but I hope you'll still hang on!