Chapter 8- Is Anyone in Here?

By: Ochako107

Standard Disclaimers Apply

Meanwhile, while Sano and Megumi are trying to listen in on Shishio in our previous chapter... Kenshin is offering Kaoru a refreshment.

"Kaoru-dono, would you like more punch?"

"Sure, Kenshin." She pulled his tie rather hard, which was cutting off his air supply, very close to her overly smiley face. "And what did I tell you about the 'Kaoru-dono' thing, Kenshin?" she hissed between her teeth.

"Oro...this one is sorry. Here you go, Kaoru."

"Why thank you!" She laughed merrily while Kenshin struggled to loosen his tie to let air flow into the right tube again.

"Kaoru, do you see Misao-dono and Aoshi? They are over there dancing." Kenshin said. He finally got his tie fixed and pointed at the couple dancing quite stiffly at first. "I wonder what they are thinking that I do."

Kaoru paused and also watched. "I dunno. Misao's past really drives her up the wall so much sometimes she can't focus. I don't even know the whole story. In a weird way I think Aoshi and Misao can help each other."

"So they could, but they look so miserable. Perhaps you can..."

"Oh no, I'm not meddling into Misao's life anymore." Kaoru took a sip of punch. "She almost threw me out of the apartment the other time I told her to go meet Aoshi at that temple he meditates at." She quickly covered her mouth as both of Kenshin's eye brows rose.

"How do you know that, Kaoru?"

"Ah! Um, I don't know! It was just a really good guess?" Kenshin's mouth curled up as if he was holding in his laughter. "What are you smiling about?! I didn't do anything! I just GUESSED that's where he goes and Misao should have followed Aoshi. It isn't like I know everywhere that man is going, or that we see each other after work. AND WHY ARE YOU STILL SMILING? Himura Kenshin I swear--"

"You meditate at the temple."

"... I ah..." Kenshin took a sip from his own punch watching Kaoru try and cover up the obvious. Kaoru clenched her teeth and waved a finger at Kenshin teasingly. "Well fine! It's true I go visit that place once in a while. You had better not tell anyone, especially Shinomori about--"

"Kaoru, you do know we can all hear you." Aoshi suddenly cut in their conversation, through the chips each member possessed, scaring the day lights out of Kaoru. She had forgotten all about the chip and Kenshin choked on the red liquid almost bursting out in a fit of laughter.

Kaoru blushed from the root of her hair. "That's not funny! Now look at you! You've got punch dribbling down your face." She walked away for a moment to retrieve a napkin and to let her blush die down from her visage. Kenshin was still cracking up while some of the other guests inched slowly away from him. "Here, Kenshin. You could use this."

She instinctually went to wipe his mouth like a mother would do. "Well now that everyone knows my secret, I have nothing else to hide unfortunately. AND DON'T YOU MAKE FUN OF ME MISAO."

A certain ninja girl was laughing.

Kaoru heard her younger friend giggle and could see from where she and Kenshin were standing the pair were beginning to loosen up. Their dancing improved and didn't look so awkward considering their large height difference. "Isn't that lovely Kenshin? Those two are getting along better now. I wonder though; where is Megumi and Sano? They haven't said a word and I think they turned their volumes down to hear Shishio. We should keep watch--"

Kaoru stopped to look at Kenshin who was too close for comfort. She instantly froze in her place, her caress of his face stopping abruptly. He had never looked at her in such a gaze. The gaze you'd only see in movies; that shocked yet wanting, heated, confused, and curious... yet, such a soft gaze. She couldn't help but stare back at his wide, clouded violet pools drowning her in thought. Kaoru guided her eyes, drawing her attention to his lips which were parted slightly. She could even feel his warm breath. What they must feel like...

Ahhhh don't think like that Kaoru. She mentally scolded.

On the other hand, Kenshin was surprised at her motherly gestures. She wiped his face so softly as if he was a precious porcelain doll. He felt cared for that one moment, not for what he did not want to be, but was trained to be; destruction, wrath everything that had given him the name battousai. It was something he had not felt before since he could not remember his mother. Hiko was a father figure... in a twisted way. But he'd only dreamed of a soft touch like this. Other women he'd dated were so much more different from Kaoru. While they were all decent and lovely people, there was a certain spark to this raven haired comrade. In the time he'd gotten to know her, he'd learned of her beliefs of proving she as a woman could do much more. He'd learned of her dislikes, her likes, her planning skills, and much more. He'd learned more about Kaoru than he'd ever thought he would on that fateful day in Hiko's office. She could be the bravest, strongest, maybe even scariest woman ever, but instantly turn into a caring thoughtful lady at her own will. Sometimes she wouldn't even know she was doing it, yet Kenshin didn't care. What started as a team, grew into friends, and now... this feeling. Of course time would tell, but for the most part while Kaoru was still gossiping about his quiet friend and Misao, her voice was nothing but a soothing hum. He just thought how pleasant one simple touch meant everything.

How much he had been missing something.

"Kenshin? Um... Kenshin."

His eyes turned up half closed, trailing from her wrist to her finger tips, her nose, and then stuck on her concerned eyes. Was she talking to him? "Kaoru..."

"Yeah, Kenshin, it's me. Are you okay? You went blank on me for a second and kept staring—KENSHIN! Are you LISTENING?"

He shook his head and widened his eyes. She looked angry. There was silence as his eyes cleared and he smiled wide, surprising Kaoru. He placed his hand over hers which was still on his cheek, covering his cross shaped scar. She gasped slightly feeling how cool his hand was on her own warm one. The warmth actually went all over her body including her deep red face.

"Ah, Kaoru, did I mention how lovely you look tonight?"

"...Where the hell did that come from?"

"Oro?"

"No, wait that came out wrong!" She reflexively took her hand back and put the napkin in Kenshin's hand. She grinned at him, her face trying to keep a natural color. "You were just staring at me so long and then you actually said something! And um, no you didn't say that... I looked..." She glued her eyes to the floor.

Kenshin chuckled and put a hand in his pocket. "Well then I must say, you do look wonderful, Kaoru that you certainly do."

"Thanks, Kenshin."

From the other end they could hear a sarcastic voice giggle, "Isn't that sweet--"

"YOU BE QUIET MAKIMACHI MISAO."

Misao's laughter echoed in the ear pieces. "Talk about touché."

Kaoru sighed and turned to Kenshin. "Can you excuse me? I need to go to the powder room."

"Be careful, Kaoru."

She swatted him laughing. "Now what can possibly happen in a bathroom of all places?"

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"Ms. Takani Megumi," Shishio read off a paper, "once an apprentice of Sagara Katsu whom was a bomb expert. Died of an incorrectly mixed powder in a bomb..." he flipped the page and smirked, "...mixed by his only apprentice. Isn't that right Megumi-san? Sagara Katsu died at age twenty-six leaving his younger brother Sagara Sanosuke heart broken." He flipped more pages while pacing in front of Megumi's stilled body.

"It seems Sagara isn't so clean either. After his brother's death, which he didn't know the cause, he turned raged and became a street fighter. Thankfully, one year later met up with Himura Battousai who made him turn onto the right path. How I despise that stupid red headed man." He threw the folders onto a low table in front of Megumi.

"I know it all so don't try and hide, my dear." He walked over to a wall of monitors watching over the estate. "It seems your friends are in chaos trying to fend off my men and find you at the same time." His eyes traced back to the woman in scarlet whom was still unconscious. "Don't fret, in time the strong will live, and the weak will die. In this case..." He observed the monitor of Sano rushing through the hallways. "You are the weak."

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"Battousai, why don't you answer?" Sano yelled into his microphone. He began making his way out of the corridor and back into the ballroom. All the guests were having the benefit of the entertainment, not knowing of any of the insidious plots happening behind closed doors. They carried on laughing and dancing the night away. Lovers and friends alike with the ones they loved.

It made his sick.

Aoshi and Misao were still swaying slightly to the waltz, but Kenshin and Kaoru were no where to be found. "HEY! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL DANCING!" He screamed at the couple. Misao yawned and put her arms around Aoshi's waist after he dipped her.

"Go away, rooster."

Sano was becoming frantic. "Misao! Megumi was captured and I don't know where the fuck she is! To top it off, our microphones aren't working either. NOW STOP DANCING AND WAKE UP!"

Misao's eyes shot open and Aoshi became alert. "Megumi! Oh no, Tanuki! Tanuki, come in!"

"I told you, the microphones aren't working." He knocked on her skull a few times. Misao lifted her dress slightly showing a full view of her slim leg. "MISAO! What are you doing? There's no time for THAT, what would Aoshi think?"

"Get away you pervert." She pushed Sano away and revealed a pouch that was strapped onto her leg. Inside was a full set of kunai. "I didn't listen to Himura, but I'm glad I didn't. How much you wanna' bet Megumi didn't listen either?" She nodded to Aoshi who undid his coat to show he too took the privilege of bring the needed weapons.

"We need to find Battousai and Tanuki, and then pass them their weapons." Aoshi affirmed. "Itachi, lead these people outside and call a fire alarm or some kind of distraction. Zanza, come with me."

"Right." Misao and Sano both said breaking away from each other. Misao tapped an older man on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, sir do you mind stepping outside and..."

He hiccupped and wrapped a lazy arm around Misao. "Oh... so now they've gotz...pretty young womenz to ...pleasure meh." Misao stirred slightly as the man was coming in to kiss her. He was so drunk he fell over onto the floor completely missing her.

"There has to be a better way." She muttered while stepping over the drunkard and running around the room looking for an idea. She looked up and beamed. "There we go!" She flung one of her kunai up into the air and hitting the sprinkler cap off. The water started setting off the rest of the sprinklers. As all the screaming people went towards the doors, she jogged the opposite way and caught her kunai from falling and unrelentingly made her way towards the other end of the ballroom.

"There she is!" She skidded to a halt seeing the orchestra members coming towards her. "Shishio-sama wants to see you, little girl."

"Little...LITTLE GIRL?" She became raged and pulled her sopping hair out of her face. "Bring it on, you ugly freaks!" They attacked her all at once boxing her in. She gave a cry and threw kunai after kunai at them. As they were distracted with dodging the sharp knives she jumped up and double kicked two of them in the face. One of them went down, but two more approached her.

"Play times over, you annoying pest! We have no time for you." But Misao was too quick and agile. She did a back handspring then a split in the air kicking them in the gut. She spun her kunai around her fingers smirking. She placed a hand on her petite hip and continued to spin the sharp object.

"Funny, I never play, so how can it be over when it never even started? Aha! Now who's the dumb ass?" Misao began walking away when she sensed them getting up. The sprinklers were still going off so it was a bit hard to see, but she could sense their flaring ki. She narrowed her eyes and flung ten consecutive kunais at the two remaining members of the Juppongatana as it pinned them to a wall. Misao ran full force and kicked with her sharp heel knocking them out.

She relaxed slightly and slumped her shoulders removing the kunai from the wall. "Like I said: it can never be over, if it didn't start." She grinned and made her way towards her allies.

Meanwhile, Aoshi and Sano were still trying to find the two leaders. Aoshi spotted their guy. "Zanza, over there I can see red!"

"Leave it to Battousai to be so obvious." Sano shook his head. The two tall men made their way towards the stairs but Aoshi, being the ninja he was, jumped the ledge while Sano had to sprint up the stairs two at a time. "Oh sure! Be a big show off, Okashira!"

Aoshi smirked and ran ahead of his partner. "Catch up." He continued running around the corner spotting Kenshin punch away one of the Juppongatana members. "Battousai, over here."

Kenshin turned his attention to see the mass of black throwing his Sakabatou at him. One member of the Juppongatana took this chance to throw a punch, but Kenshin slid down between his legs, rolled and caught his sword in a fluid motion equal of a running river. Before the man could even get a glimpse, Kenshin's eyes blinked amber and quickly slashed the man out of his way.

"I thought I told you no weapons." He quietly scolded Aoshi with his sudden low tone of voice.

"And that's why I brought them." Aoshi pulled out Kaoru's sword and handed it to Kenshin. "The girls are the brains, Battousai, you know it. Misao knew I always wear this coat, perfect for hiding things." He turned away and looked down to the ballroom floor.

Misao caught the flash of icy blue and frowned up at him. No! Stop getting attached! You... you know you can't ... She shook the thoughts from her head. But you know you like him. She kept running and using her kunai to cut a slit in the dress for easier movement, she swiftly flipped into the air almost missing the ledge. Aoshi thankfully pulled up her arm, swinging the small woman onto the second floor.

"Hey, Himura." She gave him a victory sign. "Where'sKaoru-chan?" Kenshin looked down at Kaoru's sword and frowned.

"Awhile ago she left to the restroom, that's before the microphones went dead. This one heard her scream, and then everything went quiet. The Juppongatana ambushed me in the flurry of all the sprinklers turning on. I don't know where she is."

Misao frowned at this. "No, I won't let you give up on her that easily! She's my leader, my friend, practically my sister!" She pushed more of her thick hair out of her face and rudely grasped Kaoru's sword into her trembling hands. "I'm going to find her, you two continue your way to find Megumi; she's in trouble."

Kenshin's eye's widened slightly. "Kitsune-dono!"

She punched Kenshin on the head. "Will you quit it with the code names?! Would you rather die with some fake name or with dignity? The proud name Kami-sama gave you?"

Both Aoshi and Kenshin were stunned by the young woman's words. Would they? Would they want to die with dignity or as a fake?

She waved him off worrying more about the time they had left. "Act first, questions later, Kenshin, move now!" She began running, but stopped abruptly her eyes with unshed tears. What if-- I should tell him now or I may not get a chance even if he's a cold hearted moron, she thought to herself. "A...Aoshi...I..."

He dismissed her change in attitude. Aoshi spoke in his usual icy tone. "Don't talk like you won't come back. Now go find her." She sniffed but smiled before running down the hall towards the bathrooms.

"You will always be an icy bastard, but a likable one at that, Shinomori." She laughed to herself

Moments later, Sano came running, almost panting. "Holy crap, why the hell does he need so many damn stairs?" The trio of men prepared themselves before deciding on what to do. "Megumi had the device connecting the microphones, perhaps in the time she was knocked out, the device shut down. Kenshin, how many members did you take out?"

"Two."

Sano counted on his fingers. "Okay, I saw three others down while running up here and I knocked down one. That means there are three more to go then."

Kenshin and Aoshi jumped down the ledge back onto the first level.

Sano's eyes bulged. "OH HELL NO! I'M NOT RUNNING DOWN THESE STAIRS AGAIN!"

Aoshi sighed as his leader began running towards the hallway Megumi had disappeared down. "Jump."

"What?"

"Jump and I'll catch you."

Sano gave him the finger. "I WILL NOT JUMP INTO YOUR DAMN ARMS, YOU SICKO!"

"Fine. Fall down the stairs, see if I care." Aoshi began to turn away.

Sano's voice almost squeaked, "No, wait!" Aoshi turned around and crossed his arms as Sano tried to come down the ledge.

Unfortunately, he lost his grip and fell. "AH! AW DAMN YOU ALL!" With that, Aoshi was unprepared for the 'graceful' Sano-landing, as he too fell onto the floor, Sano sprawled on top of him.

Aoshi roughly pushed the brunette off him and began running after Kenshin. "Idiot."

Sano got up quickly and followed Aoshi. "I am never; no way in hell, doing that EVER again."

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Thanks to everyone who reviewed or read!!

Anounymus T- I'm very glad you like chapter seven, I revised that particular one plenty of times... And thank you for your generous offer to a site with j-pop sites. I get my lyrics from , but your suggestion of where to get them would be nice if you want to send it of course. But unfortunately there are no more songs in this fic. (Sorry!) But if I think of a song whose lyrics fit the particular chapter I'll add a bit to set the mood in the beginning. Um, if that makes sense.

Keruri1222- Aya, Keruri! I'm glad you liked their conversations, and I agree, Misao's little comment was entertaining to think up. There surly will be more of those favorite SxM moments for you to look forward to. Sano's will to save Megumi will play a big part so don't worry. And I've already read your Jouryoku Kafe, just didn't review. (It was really late at night...) And I hope you have fun in New York! Oh, people who like Gravitation, you should go check out my friend, Keruri1222 fan fiction. It's really first-class!! (Yeah, I never use that phrase... ever.)

Kimi.the.water.spirit- I hope this chapter suffices your need for KxK in this chapter. I actually thought it came out very well... but thank you for reviewing! Are you an Aoshi/ Misao fan or more of a KxK fan? Just curious. I'm an AxM fan but started out as a KxK fan. Lol KENSHIN AND KAORU FOREVER!