Gag Me Please!

Massao na Mizu

M/N: For those who want to be notified when I will update, please leave your email address so I can email you when I do. For those who are already receiving theirs, I don't mind you replying to my alerts and putting your comments there. The number of reviews does not affect me since I have grown out of that anyway. I just really need your opinions and suggestions. Without suggestions, the fic will collapse and it might be put on hold or worse, deleted.

IMP: I'll update when I get 80 reviews [not only for this chap, but for the whole story] so that it'll buy me time to get inspiration. It's like a deadline. ^__^ Not because I want to have a lot of revs that only say one-liners I want suggestions, your opinions on what should happen on the fic coz I don't want to write something you wouldn't like to read.

Last Chap's Recap: Kenshin has officially put their relationship on-hold. Meaning they are not officially canceling the wedding or breaking up. It's what Lawyers call a 'recess'. [There are more notes on these in my fic, 'The Breakup Diaries'] Kaoru is distraught and fell into the arms of Aoshi... can Aoshi let her go again? [There was no sexual activity shared after they kissed]

CHAPTER 3-Cold Summer Nights

Maybe it is my entire fault that this has happened. Maybe I shouldn't have accepted his proposal... but that would've broken his heart. Maybe I shouldn't have said 'yes, I'll be your girlfriend' when he courted me. Maybe I should've...

"Maybe I shouldn't have loved him so much," I murmured to myself, as I curled into a little ball in the sofa of my suite. Only two more weeks and we'll return to Tokyo. I would have gotten a plane right now, but maybe—and I really hope so—before we go home, we will have reconciled and will start preparing for our upcoming wedding.

I felt really comfortable just curled up in my sofa, drinking a cup of hot cocoa. Aoshi turned on the air-conditioner so that there would a 'cold summer nights' ambiance.

If you don't know, Cold Summer Nights is a song about a girl that has lost her precious loved one. Now she's blaming herself because if she hadn't been too cold, too out of it and prideful, she could've salvaged the relationship and everything would have been all right. It fit me right.

I was trying to persuade Aoshi to let me play my album, but he gave me an exasperated glare as he returned to the kitchen to fix some croissants.

Finally, he returned, carrying a tray of chocolate-striped croissants that surely had chocolate inside. Ferrerro chocolate if I knew his favorite right. He cut one in half and put it on a small plate, picked up a fork and started cutting it into slices and ate it. He didn't say anything. He gave me time to think, to arrange my thoughts.

"Kenshin broke up with me," I blurted out after a while. He didn't look up. Instead, he put the other half of his croissant on his small plate and sliced it again.

"Oh?" He said skeptically. He was cutting the slice smaller and as he did so, I sat up and got myself a croissant too, following his example.

"Well, not really broke up with me... More like asked for a 'break'. As in recess in Lawyer lingo," I said off-handedly, waving my hand dismissively. He nodded his head and ate the last slice of his croissant and placed the small plate back in the tray, putting his used fork in the middle and covering it with a neatly folded napkin. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. The guy was very organized and neat. Figures a lot of girls are intimidated. Plus, he has unbelievably HIGH standards for women—well, that's actually more of a guess on my behalf because he never talks about his 'dream' girl.

He then picked up his cup of hot cocoa and put three teaspoons of sugar. I sipped my own, inhaling the fragrant, soothing smell of cocoa. "What exactly provoked him to do so?" He asked after a while. I shrugged my shoulders, biting my bottom lip to stop myself from crying all over again.

A single tear couldn't escape my eyes. I closed them tight shut. I don't want to show him that I'm very vulnerable or fragile—because I'm not. I'm Kamiya Kaoru! I'm strong! I was born in a Martial Art-loving family for Pete's sake! But then I was showing Aoshi my tears of grief. I felt so hopeless and worthless. Then the one million dollar question flashed in my mind: What have I done to deserve this?!

"I-I just... nothing," I shook my head as I said the words softly. "He corrected me when I said good morning instead of afternoon—don't raise your brow! It was an innocent mistake! I was not really myself—and I kind of snapped at him..." I trailed off, taking a big swing from my cocoa to prevent me of saying anything else. I rolled my eyes when he looked amused. "What?"

"What exactly did you say?" He inquired. I rolled my eyes, unable to contain myself. I couldn't exactly remember so I had to think hard.

"I said, 'are you accusing me of being ignorant of what's happening around me?!' or something like that. I'm not entirely sure," I said, eager to change the topic. But what will say? Shall I say something like, 'so Aoshi, besides me, who were the women you screwed?' Definitely bad. I was too confused and hurt that time that I couldn't think straight… I can't even remember properly what occurred a while ago. It was a blur.

"He obviously thought you were onto him," he pressed on. I was taking sips of my cocoa and had finally found it empty. I set it on the tray, clinking the teaspoon and putting it on the small plate that supported the cup. Ha! Take that for neatness and poise, Aoshi!

"Oh," I said, not really interested that time. I desperately wanted to forget... I was so hurt over the matter... I couldn't... I couldn't... I couldn't restrain myself from running away. "But didn't I? I mean, really catch him," I asked him nonchalantly, suddenly more interested in the ruffles of the throw pillows.

"Perhaps he was afraid. Or he loved you too much that the betrayal is eating him and guilt made him want to stay away from you," he suggested, pouring himself another cup of cocoa then proceeded to fill my cup too. He looked at me for a while, his cobalt eyes boring intensely to my azure ones. It made me uneasy that I had to look away, face burning. He had that effect on girls… Perhaps he knew I have a crush on him? I mentally gasped, then slapped my head for thinking so. No way! It was impossible for him to know!

No one knows! Besides, he'd plainly ignore it anyway.

I looked down on the floor, still feeling his gaze on me. "So I have to thank him for that?" I mumbled sarcastically. How ironic life is, isn't it?

Can I die now?

Because really, I'd appreciate it! I'm so tired of doing this, of being confused and uncertain. I would like to know exactly where I stand so that I won't be out of place.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I said no such thing. Easy Kaoru, remember. You're heart broken," I said, pulling her closer to me in an intimate embrace, making circles on her back with my hand, effectively soothing her. She buried her head in my chest in an intimate, heart-warming gesture. She was nuzzling her nose on my chest. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, cherishing it in my memory. Never have I been this… close and open with a woman. It's confusing, I know, being close yet open at the same time.

"Mm, did you know you're as comforting and as cute as a teddy bear, Aoshi?" she teased. I let my lips form to a lazy smirk, looking at her jet-black hair. She sniffed and I felt her smile against my chest. "You smell good too," she said softly. My eyes fluttered at bit as she raised her head to flash me a soft, genuine smile. She embraced me tighter. My eyelids drooped, almost half-closed. I sighed sleepily and she pulled her arm back to suppress a yawn.

"Rest, Kaoru," I said softly, ruffling her hair and smiling. No one can see me… it's safe…. 

I suddenly remembered all the chic flicks she and Misao watch. With all the boys falling for the best friend, and vice-versa. It was foolish, I had decided on that long ago. But now… I'm taking it back. It felt very nice to be snuggling with the likes of Kaoru. Although Kaoru was… Kaoru was already—or to be precise, going to be committed; with my best friend nonetheless.

I then frowned.

I felt guilty, doing this with Kaoru while my closest friend suffered. I wasn't even trying to cheer him up. Here I am, comforting the woman he loved. And more than that, something that shouldn't have, happened between us, causing me unease.

This is bad, real bad.

But I couldn't hold on to consciousness longer. Kaoru was… so inviting that I couldn't help myself. I fell into blissful sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yes, what he did was very bad indeed.

Himura Kenshin just lost his precious jewel. His most prized one of all. And it was all his fault… entirely his fault. It appeared that she didn't have inkling to what he had done, and yet he let her go.

Now he was sulking and desperately clinging to sanity.

"Problem?" Misao asked from nowhere. Kenshin turned, forcing a smile. She patted his shoulder. "Is that good?" She pointed to his drink, but then waved her hand dismissively. "I know you'll say yes, so never mind. Besides, what do I expect from the owner?" she grinned at him. She loved teasing him about the fact that he's filthy rich.

He smiled. Trust Misao to put a smile on his face, put on light, good humor without pressing hard very quickly. "It is good. Even though your question was rhetorical, it is good," he told her. She shrugged her shoulders and pointed to his drink when the waiter looked at her.

"We all know that you're going to tell me something. That is why I am here now. Says so in the plot," she said with a Cheshire grin. He chuckled, momentarily forgetting his problem...

He so wanted to forget…

But his conscience will never let him. Never. He had betrayed the person he so loved. It would be a sin that will send him burning in hell forever if he forgot.

"Misao-chan, have you toured the place?" He asked her suddenly, steering the conversation. But Misao narrowed her eyes, knowing full well what he was up to, but decided to go with it. There was no point pushing it out when he was clearly not ready to share.

"So you're not ready to talk... Okay, give me a second to act as if I didn't see the obvious," she paused for a moment in mock thought. "Glad that's over. Yes, Kenshin-kun. But I have yet to cover all the ground. Aniki is nowhere to be found. In fact, haven't seen him for a while," she said as an after thought. "I was thinking you know where he is you being his best friend and all. But it seems you're too problematic to know even he just danced in front of you—which yes, don't laugh yet he'll never ever do."

"Probably walking around, getting harassed by women who suddenly fell in love with him. Same as always," he said knowingly, Misao nodded solemnly, as if she agreed. She was very well used to it. It always happened. Whether it is on the street, or they were in a summer vacation of some kind, it never fails to surprise her how many women fall in love with her brother.

If only she had inherited those good looks then maybe she can hook up with a great-looking guy herself. But sighs, no luck. Maybe she should change her best friend because the guys seem to flock over Kaoru when they were having some 'best friend time' that she gets ignored by men.

"Someday, I'll get sick of it and use it as a blackmail," Misao said darkly. "I'll charge 800 yen for the information of his name and then I'll blackmail them that if they don't make their good-looking brothers date me, I'll never let them near my Aniki," she joked, Kenshin laughed. She laughed too then quickly looked serious. "I'm serious," Misao said grimly, making Kenshin laugh even more.

"You can't be serious, Misao. You're not that vain," Kenshin said. Misao twitched. She didn't know how to take it—as a compliment or as an insult. So she laughed again. Laugh and laugh until she was thirsty from all the laughing and drank her drink in one gulp and asked for another. And another. And another. So on that the author got bored and took pity on the readers from the weirdness of it all.

So onto Kaoru's POV because there is no hope with Misao

By the way, Kenshin was looking at her in astonishment and surprise, already worried that he might regret his offer for free everything. He might get bankrupt with the looks of how Misao drank *a lot*.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Where am I exactly?" I asked, groping for something to support me as I got up. I blinked away my sleepiness, suppressing a yawn with my hand. I finally got hold of something: a hand; a large, warm, callused hand. I bolted up, surprised to see Aoshi, reading a magazine. He held the magazine with his left hand while the other comfortably rested on my thigh. It tingled where he touched it so I stood up, blushing madly.

"You've been sleeping for an hour," he informed me blankly, still reading. I gave back his hand and he flipped the page with it. I went to the kitchen, scanning the fridge for some nice cold water.

"Oh," I said after a while. "What about you? Did you just get up or have been up for a while?" I drank from the bottle and when it was empty, I threw it in the trashcan.

"Five minutes ago," he replied. I made an 'oh' with my mouth, but didn't speak. I got a Cadbury bar and ripped the paper covering, biting on it.

"Cadbury?" I offered as I went back to the couch. I had another bar in my hand, but he took my other hand with the Cadbury I was already eating and took a bite.

"No thanks," he muttered, flipping yet another page. I blushed, getting the remote and watching television. I bit my lower lip—an uneasy gesture. Aoshi seemed… distant. I sat down beside him, looking down at my manicured feet apprehensively.

"What's wrong?" I asked, heart pounding. 'Maybe he wants to forget what happened… maybe he's going to—' he had cut in my thoughts.

"Nothing," he murmured. He looked at his lap. His legs crossed. I looked down again, the chocolate was starting to melt with the warmth emanating from my palm, I observed idly.

"Really…" I said quietly. "What we're doing…" I sighed, closing my eyes. When I opened them, I looked straightly at him, finding courage in myself, hoping that it would suffice. "Is," I started hesitantly. "It's wrong… is that what you're thinking?"

"It is," he agreed. He finally closed the magazine I thought ill of. 'Stupid magazine,' I sounded childish, but at this time I have yet to notice my foolishness. "But I'm not thinking about that."

"Then what are you thinking about?" I asked quickly, I clenched my jaw. I didn't know why I was shaking. He looked at the ceiling.

"Aren't you tired?" I didn't answer. He continued, "you're very paranoid. I'm just reading. You're talking to me." He cocked his head, slightly raising a brow. I sighed. I held my breath and counted to ten. One, two, three… "Perhaps I'm too absorbed on something," seven… eight… nine…

"Perhaps," I echoed, scratching my forehead and headed to my bedroom. "I'm going to take a nice, warm bath."

"Are you what? Asking for my permission or an invitation?" he called out, teasing me. I blushed to the roots of my hair. I went inside the living room, holding a towel and threw it to him in irritation. He smirked, catching it with a hand. "So you are?"

"N-no!" I was so embarrassed; I could hear the fast beating of my heart. "Stop teasing me!"

"I'm not. First, you told me you were going to take a bath. I only asked you if you're inviting me and you threw me a towel. I asked you again and now you're accusing me?" I rolled my eyes and shut the door of the bathroom, missing his playful smirk. I rolled my eyes again when I got inside, a wide grin in my lips.

[End of Chapter]