Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and it's characters.

A/N: Hello everyone. Here's the 16th chapter of this story. And Thank you so much for all the Reviews. You guys are the best. Heheheh. Oh and let's not forget Howard who edited this chapter for me again. Alright. Abit on story format then.

-THOUGHTS- & "SPEECH"

And before we get into the story, I'd like to explain some point in the story 'cause I think I confused afew people. That is Kaoru and Kenshin did not share an apartment (just yet). Kenshin thought it was a good idea for Kaoru to move in with him and Kaoru seemed to agree with him, but she didn't move in yet. If you have any more question please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you once again.

Couple Crisis

Chapter 16

"Kenshin! Where's your jacket! Put it on! And stop messing around with the phone!! You should be getting ready. And where's Soujirou?" Tomoe called barging into the room, a handful of papers in her hand.The red headed idol looked up from the chair he sat, a sheepish grin lining his feature. "Tomoe. Calm down. Everything is going according to the plan."

The lady threw up her hands and sighed. "Fine. Guess I'm just abit nervous. This is my first time arranging a concert., Where's Soujirou anyways. I need to talk to him about the lighting system. It's not bright enough." She ranted on.

Kenshin shook his head lightly before getting up and strode over to her. "Take it easy. I think the lighting is fabulous as it is."

Tomoe nodded solemnly. "I want this concert to turn out well so…"

Kenshin return her with a smile. "It will. I'm sure."

"Okay then. But where's Soujirou?" She asked again.

Kenshin shift his gaze avoiding her eyes. "I ask him to pick Miss Kaoru up for me."

Tomoe just stared back blankly. "I see. Well I'll need to talk to him when he's back then."

She turned to walk out the room but as soon as Kenshin sat back down on his chair he could hear her voice drifting back to him. "One more hour. You better get ready now!"

Kenshin just shook his head chuckling lightly to himself. Tomoe might be quiet for a woman but when it comes to work she can be get very aggressive.

Forty-five minutes later Kenshin sat listlessly in the room. He knew that he should be thinking of his upcoming performance but he couldn't keep his thought away from a certain raven-haired girl.

A knock on the door made his turn in time to see Sano and Megumi standing there.

Sano glided into the room a large grin on his face. "Well! Goodluck on the show!"

"Thanks." Kenshin replied heaving a sigh of relieve.

"Goodluck Ken san." Megumi said as she gave him a hug.

Kenshin chuckle lightly and smiled back. "Thank you Megumi."

Sano rolled his eyes at his girlfriend before turning to Kenshin. "Why did you look so relieve to see us?"

Kenshin scratched his head nervously. "I thought it was Tomoe. She had been breathing down my neck ever since I've gotten here."

At that moment the door burst open and Misao bounced in looking very excited. "Hi.Misa—" Was all Kenshin had the chance to say before he was pounced by the young girl. "Thank you so much for the back stage pass, Himura! I've got only one word..er actually two..YOU ROCK!!" Misao screeched causing Sano and Megumi to stuff their fingers into their ears to prevent them from being deaf.

"Thank you so much Misao." Kenshin said slightly dazed from the screech.

"Soo..where's Aoshi san?" Sano asked innocently.

Misao whisked around to stare suspiciously at her friend. "Why do you want to know?"

Sanosuke scoffed back. "'Cause you're always hanging around him..so I was just wondering how he managed to get away from your gasp, once and for all."

Wisps of smoke were rising rapidly out of the young girl's ear. Kenshin seeing this quickly smile nervously. "Er Sano, don't tease Misao..It's not nice."

Megumi nodded in agreement. "Couldn't you two hold off the fight just for this once?"

The two-friend exchange a deadly stare but nodded. They both didn't want to ruin Kenshin's day with their fight. A knock on the door made the population of the room to turn their attention to it.

Tomoe peeked in, and frown slightly. "Hello. Sanosuke." She said lightly fixing Kenshin a stare.

Kenshin's expression fell at the sight of the frowning woman. "Fifteen more minutes Kenshin, I think you better come with me now."

Sanosuke chuckled. "So.. some people never change."

Tomoe turn to stare blankly at him. "I guess."

"Kenshin." she repeated again. The idol look sheepishly at his friends before grabbing his jacket and walk over to Tomoe.

The woman turns to the group of friends once again to look at the youngest girl. "You must be, Misao. I think Aoshi is looking for you." She said offering Misao a small smile.

Misao clasped her hand to her mouth her eyes widening. "OH NO! I totally forgot! I told Aoshi that I would be back in five minutes. Oh nonono!!!!" She wailed rushing out of the room.

Kenshin and Tomoe blinked at the flurry and giggle in unison.

"You two better get back to your seats now if you don't want to be caught in a stampede." Kenshin said looking over to Sanosuke and Megumi.

Sano winked at his friend as the red head and Tomoe walked off.

"Let's get going then." The guy said as he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend's waist.

-''-

Kaoru shiver slightly at the cool breeze that hit her skin. She couldn't believe that she's walking into the packed up concert hall beside the guy she practically loathed. Enishi had personally picked her up very early that morning and had threatened her with all sort of thing into going along with him. After he had made sure that Tomoe was out of the house. He took Kaoru in and had thrown her somekind of a dress. Reluctantly she had put in on. Not long after that she found herself being dragged into the car and in no time there is was standing infront of the concert hall.

"Come along Kaoru. Look abit more happy." Enishi chide mockingly.

Kaoru turn swiftly and gave the guy a death glare. "I have the right to look anyway I wanted." She hissed back unable to keep her temper down.

Enishi on the other hand stare lazily back at the young girl. Slowly he raised a hand to point at something. Kaoru's gaze instinctively followed. For a second she didn't know what he was pointing at. But then on the closest light tower. She could make out a figure. She paled at as the information dawned on her. –So it really isn't just some empty threats.- She thought to herself as she could feel sweat beats forming on her forehead.

Enishi smirked at her expression and said in his ever-drawling tone. "I don't need to tell you do I, what would happen to Himura if I give those guys my signal?"

Kaoru stared at him, her eyes widening in total shock. Enishi wagged his finger lightly infront of her face an insane looking smile adorning his face. "So you better do what I said if you don't'…" He trailed off leaving her imagination to finish the sentence.

Kaoru had no choice but to force a smile onto her face as they made for their seat in the VIP room that was located on the second floor of the hall. Enishi glided into the room gracefully and was quickly greeted by other distinguished individuals. Kaoru all the while had never felt that fake in her entire life. She had to put on a smile all the while; knowing deep down it was anything like what she wanted to do. Then her eyes strayed over to a guy that was seated on the seat right in the front row. He had his eyes fixed on her as if trying to look right through her. Kaoru felt a strange feeling coming from within her as if she had seen this guy before or he must have resemble someone she had known. His black hair tied back neatly and those determined eyes. Surely she must have seen it before. Beside him sat another creepy looking guy who seemed to have himself latched up by a woman with way too much makeup.

Enishi dragged Kaoru closer to the group of these strange people. The creepy guy looked lazily up at Enishi a scoff like smile lighting his face. "Ah. Yukishiro, Come. Sit."

"Thank you Shishio san. I hope you are well. And you too, Hiko san." Enishi smile pleasantly as he addresses the two older men with an obvious ultimately fake respect.

Shishio waved iritatedly. "Never better. I just hope that Himura wouldn't ruin his own show. I've put a lot of cash into this." He mocked, eyeing the guy who sat next to him.

Kaoru eyed Enishi in total disgust as he kept a broad smile on his face and chuckle mirthly at the little comment. "Shishio san. I don't think you've met my fiancee, Kaoru." Enishi said pulling Kaoru close to him.

Hiko's serious expression vanished and was instantly replaced with interest. Kaoru could feel his stare on her and immediately felt very pressured.

"Oh! Anyways..just sit." Was all she heard from Shishio before she was, yet again being dragged to a seat by none other than Enishi. Kaoru shift uncomfortably in her seat as she still felt the stare from Hiko on her. –Why is he staring at me like that?- She thought as she tried to concentrate on the magnificent stage right infront of her.

-""-

Kenshin paced back and forth clearly irritated. It was five minutes until the show starts and Soujirou is still nowhere to be seen. From the twitching on Tomoe's face, he knew that she was also annoyed by Soujirou's absence.

Kenshin gave another sigh and then he heard it, his manager's voice talking in the distance to someone. Turning around he saw Tomoe's face lit up as well. A second later Soujirou walk briskly in to join the idol and his colleagues.

"Seta san I need to talk to you." Was the first thing Tomoe said as soon as she got the chance.

Kenshin on the other hand look around as if expecting to see another person. He stared at his manager who had a very nervous look on his ever-smiling face.

Soujirou tried to focus on the two people that stood infront of him. Clearly he knew he was in for some trouble. He shuffles his foot nervously.

"So?" Kenshin and Tomoe said in unison causing the young manager to put a hand up. Surely with only two ears he couldn't possible hear two people at the same time.

"Where's Miss Kaoru?" Kenshin repeated his eyes never leave his manager's face.

Soujirou stayed silent for a second contemplating what is the best way to answer that question.

"Er..it seems like she's not home when I reached her place. Sorry…but I waited. If I stayed longer I won't get here on time."

Kenshin's expression clouded immediately but he kept quiet and walk away without another word.

Soujirou felt sweat beats forming on his forehead. For all he knew, Kenshin is scarier when he's quiet. Soujirou would have followed the idol and check if he's okay but he still had another person to talk to. Tomoe stood with both her hands on her hip and was practically throwing him an accusing look. "You shouldn't have said that. He'll be all troubled and won't be able to sing well." She said glowering at the young manager.

"But that's the truth." Soujirou replied indignantly.

Tomoe just shook her head in total dismay. "Yeess. I'm aware of that. But if you don't want to lie then you should have stayed away until he's up on stage. That way he won't have Kaoru's mysterious absence on his conscience."

"You're right. So is there anything else?" Soujirou said changing the subject.

Tomoe nodded and started to dictate her concerns at lightning speed. All Soujirou was able to do is keep on nodding fervently.

"I'll see to that. Don't worry." He answered and dash off.

Tomoe shook her head once again. Arranging a show obviously took more effort than she had thought. Sighing she walked off the check on the few other things that she was concerned, deeply hoping that both Kenshin and Soujirou would be alright.

-""-

Kenshin walked further away from his manager. He tried to calm himself. – Calm down Kenshin. Maybe she left before Soujirou got there. But if she did..then why didn't see come to see me?- He argued with himself until a staff approached him. "It's time, Himura san."

He nodded his reply.-Concentrate now. Everything will be okay.- He thought as he followed the staff towards the stage. Silently he climbed the tiny flight of stair that got him onto the stage. He gave one gaze at his manger and ex girlfriend. Both of them gave him a thumb up sign but he was not in the mood to smile back. Taking another big breath he waited for the intro of his song to start and then he dash out into the blinding spotlight amidst the deafening cheers coming from the audience.

-""-

Kaoru sat on the edge of her seat staring down at the crowd gathering below her. It gave her the chills just to know that so many people had come to this show. To know that so much people enjoyed Kenshin's songs, with only that information she was already so happy. Beside her, Enishi sat chatting animatedly with the Shishio guy who to Kaoru's total disgust had kept staring at her leg ever since she had sat down. She would have gotten up and give him a piece of her mind if it wasn't for Enishi's murderous stare every time she made a slight move in her seat. She noticed that the guy called Hiko had also look at her from time to time. –Gosh. Would these people mind? It's not like I have five ears and ears all over my head.- Before she had to chance to roll her eyes. The lighting dimmed and from the crowd below loud cheers were emitting throughout the hall.

The spotlights started to flash different shades as the music started. The raven-haired girl found her own heart beating in time with the music. Then amidst the deafening screams from the female population below, Kenshin appeared right in the middle of the stage. His hair glistened brilliantly in the spotlight and his voice rang throughout the hall so wonderfully that Kaoru knew that moment that he had born with the gift of such a beautiful voice. The lyrics of his songs touched her very soul urging for her to dance along with the beat. And before Kaoru knew it she let herself go with the flow of the music and stand up to dance.

Enishi eyed his fiancee with mere distaste. She was not the attractive kind and the least interesting woman he had ever met. And to stand up and dance, that almost make him feel like killing her right there. True they were in a concert but damn her for not knowing that she's in the VIP box. But for once Enishi decided to let her have her own way. –She was needed in order to make his plan work.- He smirked at the redheaded singer on the stage below. –Keep singing Himura, you may not be able to sing like this again.-

-""-

Up on the stage Kenshin let all his emotions set free. That's what he always does when he's singing. He let go of his worries, his annoyance and did his best. His eyes twinkled mimicking the rhythm of the song. His feet launching all the complex steps one after the other. There was no doubt music was also another part of him. Kenshin's ears picked up the cheers and screams and he couldn't help smiling to that. He would sing his best for all these people, his friends and ofcourse, for Kaoru. He knew she had to be somewhere watching him. He couldn't disappoint her, nor his audiences either.

-""-

Kenshin walked down from the stage still hearing the cheers and whistles that seems to be ringing from behind him. Tomoe and Soujirou both beamed at him.

"Take was great, Kenshin." Soujirou said handing the idol a bottle of water.

Kenshin gratefully took it from his manager's hand and took a big gulp. Tomoe look down at her clipboard still smiling. "The next half will start in five minutes." She said lightly half reminding him to get ready.

Kenshin chose to ignore her comment. He knew exactly what the time schedule is. Turning to Soujirou he was about to open his mouth to ask about a certain someone when out of the corner of his eyes he saw her. Standing there. A large smile of relieve lit his face. He ran to meet her.

"I thought you wouldn't come." He said pouting adoringly.

Kaoru only return him with a sad smile causing Kenshin's smile to vanish instantly. "What's wrong?" He asked taking her hand into his own. "That was a very good show." Was all he got from her.

Then his finger brush across something that was on her finger. Instantly he looked down to see a magnificent ring. A look of confusion streaked across his feature. His eyes shift back to her deep orbs asking for an answer to his silent question.

"Would you kindly take your hand off of my fiancee's?" Enishi's voice pierce into his mind. But what stunned him more was the word..'fiancee'. Kenshin dropped Kaoru's hand and took a step back. His large amethyst eyes widening in total shock.

Enishi put an arm around the young girl's waist and smile.

Soujirou and Tomoe both ran to join Kenshin. The two also had a confused look on their face. Tomoe seem to be staring flabberghast at her brother.

Kenshin couldn't take his eyes off of Kaoru face, to be exact her eyes. It was betraying her silence. So much emotion seems to swirl around in those beautiful eyes of her's. Instantly Kenshin's eyes burned fierce amber.

He glared at Enishi who was smirking back. That moment he wanted more than anything to kill the guy infront of him. He took a step closer feeling a slight alter in Enishi's ki. –Good, He's startle.-

But in an instant Enishi's smirk was back and he pulled Kaoru closer to him. Kenshin's blazing eyes landed on Kaoru's face and his eyes soften slightly.

With one strong pull he had Kaoru out of Enishi's grasp. Kenshin closed his eyes as he took Kaoru into his own embrace. He muttered into her ear almost in a monotone. "I promise--"

Whatever Kenshin said it made Kaoru's eyes leaked out tears. He broke away and shot another murderous glare at Enishi who was standing close by. With that Kenshin strode off without another look at the girl who had slumped down onto the floor crying.

Soujirou took one look at the young girl before running off after Kenshin.

Tomoe didn't know what to do. For all she knows, Kenshin just left right in the middle of his own show. And her brother was engaged to Kaoru who was now crying on the floor. Blinking hard she stared at her brother who made no attempt what so ever to calm Kaoru down. Having no choice, she knelt down and stroke Kaoru's hair soothing the girl down. When the young girl seemed to calm down somewhat, Tomoe's mind then jumped to a bigger problem at hand. How would the second half of the show go without Kenshin. –Ohh..What am I going to do now??- She thought desperately to herself.

A/N: Tell you what. I've never taken this much time on any of the other chapters before. For some reason this chapter took so much time to be finish. So Please tell me what you think of it. It would really help me on the next chapter. So do Review!! Goodluck to you all. See you again soon.