Hey minna!! Well, here it is! I know it's been a while since the last update, but if I get enough reviews I PROMISE that I will have the next chappie up by mid-week next week.

I'd like to take a moment to reply to my lovely reviewers who ROCK my BEiNG!

Crystal Renee : YOU ROCK! Haha, what can I say, buddy? Through thick and thin, ne? thanks so much for the lovely reviews and try to keep that Fuzzy-sama under control!! ::huggles you:: and I've been glomped! GLOMP BACK TO YA!

*crazed fan* : Why thankies! I agree with you on the Takahashi part, I don't like him that much either, and Kenshin is SO much better! Now, if only we could get Kaoru to agree with us, ne?

R0ar : Thanks so much! Hope you'll stick around for this next chappie!

TenkunoMeiou : Yesh, you and I both should gang up on them! They're acting like idiots! Don't they know they're in love?! At any rate, hope you like this installment!!

rurouni madness : Arigatou! Glad you found it funny!! And I hope this chapter has some funny things in it too!!

anya-domi : Why, thanks! And I hope this chapter measures up to the last one! Glad you like my work!
Oyuki: Glad you haven't gotten tired of it yet Oyuki-san! As always, thankies for the nice review!!
Alea Seikou : What a nice review! Arigatou! I'm glad you found the whole Battousai/Rurouni dynamic entertaining, I always thought that aspect of Kenshin's personality was pretty fascinating. And I agree, Kenshin should get up off his butt and ask Kaoru on a date! We should tell him and beat some sense into him! ^__^
Animegurl444: ACK! Cannibalistic furry woodland creatures, you say?! Ok, calm down, put down the squirrel! Here's the next chapter!! Hehe, thanks for the positive review, as always!! ^^
ChiBi FeLiX : I'm glad you liked that part! Hehe, read on ahead for more of the same interactions!!
kik-ting : thankies! You'll just have to read on and find out about the pairings, though! Can't give too much away, you know! Thanks for the review!!
Scarfer : Major problems, huh? Haha, and Kenshin is about to get more of the same! Thanks for the review and hope you'll stick around to read chappie 4!!

Tiger: Arigatou!! Hehe, glad you liked it and here's the next installment for ya!
dinkydaelf : YOU ROCK MY WORLD!! Hehe, thanks, as always, for the nice review, friend!! Glad you liked it so much! And I promise the next chapter of Nineteen is going to be released…. Eventually…. *evil smile*
Quist : Aww, thankies, Quist-san! Glad you are enjoying it, that I am! Here's the next chappie for ya!!
Battousai's Jou-chan : Glad you enjoyed it!! *happy smile* hope you like this chapter just as much!!
Weasel 1029 : Thankies!! Hope this chapter meets with your approval!!
MZ. AMbER EYES : Thanks, as always, for the nice review!! I agree, go Kenshin!! ^___^
Asilin Kheldarson: Hehe, can't tell you about the pairings, but I hope that won't dissuade you from reading! Thanks for the review!!

Mirune Keishiko : hehe, thankies! Glad you thought it funny! Yesh, the rooftop was my fave part, too, although I don't think Kenshin enjoyed it very much!!
PianZoe : AWW! Thanks!! Glad you thought so! that makes me EXTRA EXTRA happy!!! Thanks for the nice review!!
victoria : hehe thankies! I love to make the split personalitles argue! Its so much fun!! Hope you like the next chapter!!
noner 89 : Your wish is my command! Hope you like it!

KK, I own nothing. Now, on with the story!!
Chapter 4, Casa Paradiso

            "Dammit. What time is it?"

            "Sessha guesses about an hour after sunset."

            Battousai knotted his brows. From somewhere outside the dojo walls a loud bird was calling, breaking into his subconscious. "Dammit." He repeated again.

            "What's the matter, de gozaru yo?"

            "She's not home yet."

            Rurouni sighed. Over the past two weeks that Kazuo had been taking Kaoru out, Battousai had become more and more unstable. So far, Rurouni had been pretty careful about remaining inconspicuous and making sure Battousai did the same while trailing the couple… after the rooftop incident and all… But he was almost certain that Kaoru had seen them hiding in the shadows outside the restaurant door earlier that evening. And even if she hadn't seen them, surely she had heard Battousai shout "Hands off!" when Kazuo put his arm around Kaoru to escort her into the building. Finally, Rurouni spoke, "We just left her a couple of minutes ago."

            "I know. I think we should have stayed."

            "And risk Kaoru-dono arriving back home before we did?" Rurouni automatically moved a hand to the back of his head, still tender from Kaoru's last bokken attack. "Iie. If the-"

            "Shh." Battousai cut him off.

            "Pardon me?"  

            "Shh! Hear that?"

            Rurouni cocked an ear towards the outside wall. At first, all he heard was the same annoying bird and the spring crickets, but suddenly a hush came over them and wings flapped as the bird flew away. "Someone's coming, de gozaru yo."

            "Iie. Two people are coming." Battousai's senses had always been a bit sharper.

            Then, Rurouni caught the scent of Jasmine.

            "She's home." Battousai opened up one of the shoji a smidge and caught a glimpse of Kazuo and Kaoru at the front gate. Suddenly, his face turned white and twisted.

            "What? What's the matter, de gozaru yo?" Rurouni peered into the night.

            So this is why both of Kenshin's alter egos were going crazy.

            It was a scene out of a cheap romance novel.

            Dancing fireflies. Check.

            Silver moonlight. Check.

            Caressing breeze. Check.

            He held her head against his chest. She tilted her face towards his, brought a creamy, smooth hand up to brush the stray hair out of his eyes. He chuckled softly, whispered something. She smiled, her eyes lit up, her face growing closer and closer to his, and then…

            And then…

            Kenshin felt slightly sick.          

            A few moments passed. He closed his eyes to try and stop the walls from swaying. Soon enough, light little footsteps entered the dojo. They stopped, right in front of Kaoru's room, but then thought better of it and moved on.

            "Oh Kami…" Kenshin breathed.

            The footsteps moved closer. "She's not…" And closer. " Not now…"

            "Kenshin!" It came aw a whisper. "Are you up?"

            "………….H…Hai…"

            She stuck her head through a small gap in the shoji and peered into the dark room.

            "Come in, Kaoru-dono."

            Kaoru hurriedly leaped in and shut the paper door behind her. Kenshin watched her from where he was sitting in the middle of the room, watched her turn excitedly around, her hair a bit disheveled, a darling blush hanging onto her cheek from moments before.

            And she was wearing that kimono.

            The one Kazuo had bought her, the one that could have funded a small army… tight in all the… right… places, yet beautiful against her skin. The embroidery alone was enough to make one gasp, and the finest blue silk....

            A constant reminder of the kinds of things Kazuo could give her and Kenshin could not.

            The things she deserved.

            Kaoru bounced towards him and sat down in front of him, grabbing his hand in hers and smiling. Kenshin's eyes grew wide. What was she doing?

            "Kenshin, if I wasn't in such a good mood, I'd be furious with you."

            "Oro? Has sessha done something to offend you, Kaoru-dono?"

            She rolled her eyes, still smiling. "Really, how stupid do you think I am?"

            "S-ses-"

            "I mean, for two weeks now you've been following me and Kazuo around!" Kenshin shrunk back a bit. "Come on! Did you think I didn't see you? Now let's see, there was the time you fell off the roof, and the time you tripped over the bird bath in the park, and the time you were accused of stealing by the shop owner while you were following us in the marketplace. Need I go on?"

            "No, that's sufficien-"

            "And then tonight outside the restaurant."

            "But Kao-"

            "Honestly Kenshin, I told you that I could take care of myself!"

            "Sessha doesn't doubt that-"

            "But that doesn't matter. Kenshin, you'll never have to worry about me ever again." At this, her smile got bigger, she was caressing Kenshin's hand with her thumb. For a minute, silence pervaded.

            "Wha- what do you mean, de gozaru yo?"

            "Kenshin, Kazuo has asked… I mean…. I'm going to be Mrs. Takahashi Kaoru!"

            No.

            This was impossible.

            Kenshin knew he heard wrong.

            Kaoru sprang forward and clasped her hands around Kenshin in a friendly embrace. "Isn't it wonderful? Kazuo asked me to marry him, and I said yes!"

            "Yes! That's wonderful, Kaoru-dono! I'm so happy for you!" Kenshin heard himself exclaiming.

            She pulled back her face from his chest and genuine joy shone from her eyes. She was… happy.

            Was that the sound of his insides condensing to liquid? Why, yes. How delightful…

            "I've never felt like this before! It's so… wonderful!"

            Kenshin grimaced and tried to turn it into a smile.

            "Is something wrong?" Kaoru asked, her brow furrowing.

            'Something wrong' He thought. 'Besides Kazuo ripping the world out from under me, you mean?'

            But… that wasn't entirely fair. Did he expect her to just stay single all of her life? Isn't this what he had wanted? Someone better than himself to look after and protect her? To make her happy?

            "No, no, Sessha just feels a little sick."

            "Oh, I'm sorry for keeping you from sleep then," She rose off the floor as she spoke. "I just couldn't wait to tell you! I knew you'd be thrilled! Just think! Me, a blushing bride!" She giggled. "Well, Kenshin, get some rest and I'll see you in the morning. Night!"

            She was gone before he had time to reply.

            What pain… No mortal wounds could do this to a man. Yes, this was the searing pain that only a woman could deliver. He let his heavy body fall backwards with the weight of the agony and the world grew black as he lost consciousness.

o.o I can feel the flames! Well, at any rate, reviews are much appreciated and will win you chappie 5, otherwise, the proverbial buck stops here!
Arigatou for reading! Till next time,

-o-

[larachan]