Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and its characters.
A/N: Hello! Finally this chapter is up. First off…once again. Thank you so much for the Reviews.It does keep me going with this story. And also to my friend Howard, I know I can be very annoying so thanks a bunch for putting up with me and also being generous enough to edit this chapter. Promise I'll treat you a dinner at your fav. place as soon as I can!
Okay. Afew people seemed to be confused with why Enishi would want to diminish Kenshin's fame since it's the main thing that had helped Tomoe's company. Well as for the point. Tomoe's company was about to be taken over by Hiko. But Hiko made an agreement with her That, if she can get Kenshin to star in one of her drama series, he will leave her company alone. And now that Kenshin had helped her with that. Her company is now saved. So Enishi couldn't possible care less of what become of Kenshin's fame since his sister's company is now pretty much save.
I hope that it will help you. If you still have any question do now hesitate to ask me…I'm more
Than willing to answer any questions. Alright enough for me blabbing. On with the story.
Story format -THOUGHTS- "SPEECH"
Couple Crisis
Chapter 18
A light breeze rustle slowly through the valley filled with many exotic flowers. Lily of the valley swayed gently in the summer sun. Everything looked so calm, unlike the feeling of the redheaded guy, who was sitting on the back porch of a Victorian style cottage.
Kenshin stared blankly at the breath-taking scene before him. His mind clearly somewhere far away from where he actually sat. It had been two days since he had arrived there. And to his ultimate surprise he still couldn't find a way to settle the entire problem. Instead he found himself quite lost in the endless beauty of the location. How he wished to stay in this lovely place forever. He remembered how he used to hate this place, due to the fact that it had been his mother's favorite summer getaway. As a kid he couldn't see how someone would like to spend the entire summer in the middle of nowhere with nothing but flowers, birds and insects.
But now as he sat there taking in the beauty of his surrounding. It was absolutely heavenly. Kenshin rake a hand through his hair and sigh. He wished with all his heart to bring Kaoru here. He smile lightly at how she would smile broadly at the enormous field filled with lovely flowers. But then again. He had to think of a way to get her back from Enishi. He stood up and strode back into the cottage.
From not very far away another man sat yawning at his boring work. He was told to keep an eye on his boss's nephew. But there simply isn't anything to keep an eye on. Most of the time the guy would stay in door or at the most come out and sit on the porch. He yawned once again fighting the urge to sleep. But a ring from his cell phone snap him back to full sense.
"Yes sir?" He answered.
"Nothing much sir. Most of the time young master kept himself in the cottage….Yes sir."
He snaps his phone shut and blew out breath. How he wishes he could go home. But looking at the situation he knew he would have to stay on for many more days. Sneaking another look at the cottage, he sighs and closes his eyes. It wouldn't hurt to take a little nap would it..
-""-
Tomoe walk slowly through her house but a sound from her brother's room caused her to pause in her track. She turned slightly and decided that it would be better to check if everything's alright. Halting at his bedroom's door, she knocked and wait.
"Come in." Came his muffled reply.
Tomoe opened the door and peeked in to see her brother neatly packing a suitcase.
"Where are you going?" She asked stepping closer to her brother.
Enishi smiled lightly at his sister and continue to rummage through his wardrobe. "Urgent business trip." He replied.
Tomoe racked through her memory but she couldn't remember anything about any urgent trips.
"To where?" She asked still looking confuse.
Enishi chuckle back. "You wouldn't want to know."
Tomoe rolled her eyes. –Why does he always say that…? Oh well. If he's away then I might be able to talk properly to Kaoru.-
With that idea, Tomoe just shook her head at her brother. "Fine..When will you be back though?"
Enishi paused to think. "In two weeks." He replied a mischievously glint appearing in his eyes.
"-After that..I think the time is just right to arrange my marriage with Kaoru."
"Enishi! You knew…she never wanted to marry you. Yet you still-." Tomoe started but only to be cut short by her brother.
"But she's still engaged to me and she didn't seem to object." He answered shrugging at his sister.
"I'll talk some sense into her. You watch me." Tomoe shot back staring at her brother.
Enishi shut his suitcase and grinned up at his sister. "You do that. But I doubt if she'll change her mind. I still hold the ultimate winning card. You believe me. Well see ya. I've got a plane to catch." He said as he pecked his sister on the cheek and strode off with his suitcase.
She just shook her head in dismay. She might love her brother but she didn't want to see such a nice girl like Kaoru ending up with him. She knew that Kaoru had no feeling what so ever for Enishi. But if things had been different, that is if Kaoru had really loved Enishi. She would have been very happy for them.
Tomoe sigh. But since she knew where Kaoru's heart is. She would never let things go on like this. Both Enishi and Kaoru deserve to be with the one they really love.
Somehow she had also noticed that Enishi didn't adore Kaoru as well. And that's just plainly stupid.
To see something so important like marriage only as a tool for revenge. She could never allow that.
Tomoe thought back about how she had blindly married Akira. She was so young then and didn't know where her heart really is. Only after she had married him that she found..she didn't love Akira after all. But it was too late. Nothing can be helped. It was still pretty lucky that she finally found the nerve to tell him how she actually felt. And even luckier that he had understood. He was so nice that he agreed to sign the divorce paper without fuss and still remain her friend.
Tomoe sighed heavily. At that moment she decided that she would really have to talk seriously with Kaoru. Not only for Kaoru but also for Kenshin, Enishi and most of all for her own peace of mind.
With that she marched off to see the younger girl.
-""-
Soujirou sat next to Shishio on the press conference. His mind clearly troubled. Personally he thought what Shishio did was pretty cruel but in the sense of the business world, he knew that it couldn't be helped.
"We are very sorry to announce that Himura san is no longer an artist of our company. Any action he takes is not the responsibility of our company." Shishio spoke clearly into the microphone.
"Shishio san..Where is Himura san?" asked one of the reporters.
"That…we do not-" Shihio started.
"Himura san is not well so he had retreated to the country side but we are expecting his return very soon." Soujirou stated earning a glare from his boss.
A round of murmur went through the conference room.
"When he's back will he be singing again?" Came another reporter's voice.
Shishio scoffed. "As already stated Himura san is no longer—"
"He might be but with another company. But please rest assure that Himura san will still be staring in the upcoming drama series." Soujirou replied not caring about the hissing Shishio beside him.
Another round of murmur broke through.
"Is it true that Himura san is having a love affair with a girl that is already engaged?" Another reporter shouted.
Soujirou shifted uncomfortable on his seat.
"That is the main reason why—" Shishio replied
"We cannot reveal any informations involving Himura san's personal life." Soujirou replied bluntly and stood up. "Thank you all for coming." With that he walked away.
"What on Earth are you trying to do up there!" Shishio practically shouted as soon as he had caught up with the young manager. "Tell me, is it you or me that's the owner of this company!"
Soujirou take in a deep breath and stare at his boss's angry face. "You are the owner of the company. But what you did just now is very low. You're saying all the bad stuff about
Kenshin without him even there to defend himself. I couldn't allow that. He's my friend."
"Oho! Don't you play hero with me Seta. You're still lucky I let you stay on and work for me." Shishio said scoffing at Soujirou.
The young manager shook his head sadly. "Too bad I've always seen you as a talented business man..but now I know you're nothing but a low and stuck up jerk."
"Shut UP! That's it! You're fired!" Shishio screamed.
Soujirou gave him a pathetic look. "You would never know the meaning of friendship."
And he walked off leaving Shishio to rage on.
-""-
A week had passed since Kenshin had been gone. And his mysterious absence is starting to annoy Tomoe. Soujirou had dropped by quite a lot to visit Kaoru. And from talking to him he didn't seem to have a clue to Kenshin's where about as well.
Tomoe walked out into the sprawling back garden to find Kaoru sitting under a tree staring blankly into space. Slowly she walked in to join the younger girl.
"Kaoru..How are you feeling?" She asked sitting down next the raven-haired girl.
Kaoru returned her a small smile. "Fine thank you."
Tomoe look into the blue orbs that seemed to loose its beautiful sparkle and sigh. "Please Kaoru. Talk to me. Let me know what is all this about. Enishi's not here. You can tell me…We're friends aren't we?"
Kaoru looked up. She didn't want to keep it from Tomoe. She's like an older sister she never have. But a doubt still nagged at her. Will Tomoe understand her? Enishi is her brother and they're very close. She might take his side. But then she had been so nice to her.
"I…don't know.." Kaoru answered uncertainly and look away.
"Kaoru…I never taken Enishi's side. Never did." She muttered slowly, regret flashing in her eyes.
"If I did…maybe…Just forget it." She said solemnly and stood up slowly. "It's okay Kaoru. If you don't want to talk about it then..I won't urge you."
But before she could walk away a hand caught on her wrist. "Wait. Tomoe. I'm sorry…I shouldn't have doubted you. Will you listen?" Kaoru ask her voice shaking slightly. She had to admit she couldn't keep all this to herself any longer. She needed someone to talk to.
Tomoe smiled warmly and sat back down. "Ofcourse I will."
-""-
Megumi sat in her kitchen with Sanosuke and Misao finishing off her homemade Butter cake.
"Sano..I think we better find out where Ken san is. I mean it's a week now and still no words from him." Megumi stated worriedly.
"Hmm..I agree. But how could we possibly know where he is. Kenshin is not the type that is predictable." Sano replied as he ate another spoon full of cake.
"I was just thinking maybe…" Megumi said shooting a hopeful glance towards the young girl that was happily eating.
Misao found a gaze landing on her and looked up. Recognition flashed onto her face. "Oh nonononono! Don't even think of it." She said shaking her head fervently.
"Aoshi would have some clue, wouldn't he?" Megumi asked expectantly.
Misao looked thoughtful. "I don't know. But even if he knew he would never tell me."
"That's like Aoshi. He never let anyone know what he's thinking." Sano said as a matter of factly.
"Hmm…then there's really nothing we can do.. Hey! What if we go and visit Kaoru?" Megumi said excitedly.
"Don't. For now we should leave her alone." Sano said firmly. "She need to think a lot of things right now."
"That's what gramp said too. He said that 'The girl have to decide what to do with her life.' No one can decide for her.' " Misao said nodding her head in agreement.
"Oh Well. Then I guess what we can do right now is hope that things will turn out well." Megumi said lightly.
Sanosuke and Misao nodded.
"By the way. Why don't you bake another cake right now. So that we can have another one by dinner time." Sano suggested causing his girlfriend to glare at him.
"All you're worry about is food isn't it!" She quipped but got up and started the baking.
-""-
Kaoru felt all the heaviness of the situation lighter as soon as she had talked to Tomoe. She told the older girl everything. And found out that Tomoe was more understanding than she had first imagined.
"So that's about it." Kaoru said quietly and looked down at her hand that was placed idly on her lap.
Tomoe sighed and shook her head. "I would have done the same if I were you. It's very brave of you to do that. And Enishi...I'll talk to him when he's back. Don't worry, I think he'll listen to me up to some extent." The older girl assured lightly and smiles.
"Actually I don't think he'd ever broke any promise with me."
Kaoru nodded. She knew how much Enishi loved his sister. After all she's the only family member he got left.
"So..have you decided?" Tomoe asked firmly at the girl who beside her.
Kaoru closed her eyes and take in a deep breath. "I...I really love Kenshin. That much I know. But if I refuses to marry Enishi..I don't know what will happen."
"That's enough." Tomoe shot back bluntly causing Kaoru to stare back in awe. She never heard Tomoe speaking in that tone before. "You knew you love him. Then what are you waiting for? Why don't you trust him. You think he's incapable of protecting himself!"
Kaoru gaped at the older girl in utter amazement but a voice inside her protest. –She doesn't know what it's like to have the life of the most important person at risk.-
"You don't understand! Kenshin might die! How can I let that happen!" Kaoru shot back her eyes burning.
Tomoe wasn't going to give up all the same. "You don't deserve his love, Kaoru. You don't even know him! You don't trust him in the least bit!"
"What about you! You left him!" Kaoru snapped back unable to stop herself and immediately regretted it as she saw the sudden change in the older girl's face. "Tomoe.. I..I'm sorry I didn't mean..."
Tomoe shook her head. "It's okay. I went to far. But let me tell you Kaoru. Kenshin is much stronger than you know. You should trust him...if you really love him, that is.." She got up padded off towards the house.
Kaoru sat unmoving. She contemplated what to do. She had to admit what Tomoe had said really made sense.
She should trust Kenshin. Why did she have to make thing complicated for both herself and Kenshin? And obviously she didn't want to spend the rest of her life being married to someone like Enishi. –What I did was really stupid.-
Tomoe looked up from the book she was reading to find Kaoru standing in the doorway.
"Tomoe...I've decided. I love Kenshin. I trust him. I think he can protect himself and I think he can protect me too." She said shyly
Tomoe quickly got up and strode over to hug the younger girl. "You don't have to think. He can and will protect you. I knew you'd find that out"
"But..What about Enishi?" Kaoru asked worriedly.
Tomoe let go of the girl and take a moment to think. "He won't be back until next week. We'd find a way to talk to him by then. Plus I'm not at all happy about what he did to you. I'll take care of him."
Kaoru nodded and then realised that they're facing another problem. "So where is Kenshin..How can we find him."
Tomoe paced back and forth before it clicked on her. "I know someone who would definitely know where he is." She said as her eyes sparkled in confident.
"Who!" Kaoru asked hopefully.
But before Tomoe could answer she heard footsteps coming from the hallway. "Is anyone home?"
Came a familiar voice. Shaking her head in relieve she poked her head into the hallway to see Soujirou standing there awkwardly. Both girls rushed over to the guy who been one of the most frequent visitor lately.
"Oh Soujirou. You really chose the right time to arrive. Kaoru and I are about to go to Hiko's place. Do come with us." Tomoe said tugging childishly at the manager's sleeve.
Both Soujirou and Kaoru blinked confusedly at the older girl's action.
"Where did you say you're going? Tomoe..Miss Kaoru?" Soujirou asked again looking at both Kaoru and Tomoe.
"I don't really know." Kaoru said uncertainly.
"Soujirou. Kaoru had deicided to find Kenshin. So we're going to ask Hiko where he is. Obviously Hiko will know." Tomoe said as a matter of factly.
Soujirou clapped his hands together. "Damn! Why didn't I think of him earlier. Mann how think can I get. Okay let's go then."
Kaoru look from Tomoe to Soujirou confusedly. "Er why would this Hiko know where Kenshin is?"
"Because he is Kenshin's uncle...I thought Kenshin must've taken you to see Hiko already." Tomoe replied.
"But judging from her look, Tomoe..I don't really think so." Soujirou added lightly.
The older girl shook her head and shrugged "Oh well. Never mind. But we still have to go and ask him."
The young manager nodded in agreement. "You alright with that..Miss Kaoru?"
Kaoru's mind flashed back at the memory of the time that she had picked up Kenshin's phone to find his uncle shouting at her. And to actually go and meet him in person. She had to admit it was pretty nerve-wrecking. But it's not the time to be scared. She needed to see Kenshin, to talk to him. And if this Hiko knew where her Kenshin is. –Come on Kaoru. Don't back away now. You've already decided.- Reaching her final decision she turn to Soujirou and Tomoe and nodded.
"Let's go then." She said confidently.
Both Soujirou and Tomoe exchanged a light smile. Finally the Kaoru they had known is back.
A/N: Ala! That's it for this chapter. Hope you liked it. And please do Review! Alright see you in
the next chapter! Goodluck to you all!
