Author's Note: Ok, a little longer than the last one. It's hard to break them in logical places and still leave a little teaser for the next chapter. I know, I'm mean. Enjoy the chappie.


Chapter 4

6:15am

Kaoru pulls up outside the hotel to pick up Kenshin. Once inside, she finds him in the hotel restaurant finishing breakfast.

Kaoru greets him as she approaches the table, "Good morning, Kenshin."

Kenshin replies, "Ohayo, Kaoru-dono."

Kaoru doesn't understand him and asks, "Huh?"

Kenshin apologizes and explains, "I'm sorry, I forgot. I said good morning."

Kaoru responds, "Oh."

Kenshin asks, "Would you like some breakfast?"

Kaoru shakes her head, "Better not. You have a meeting with Okina at 7:00."

Kenshin catches her eye and inquires, "You are not hungry?"

Kaoru answers, "Starved but…"

Kenshin interrupts politely, "Have breakfast. We'll blame the delay on me."

Kaoru stammers, "B-b-but…"

Kenshin says firmly, "I insist."

Kaoru relents and turns to the waiter: "Fine, pancakes and coffee." To Kenshin who is staring at her, "What?"

Kenshin surprised, "Oro?"

Kaoru growls, "You got somethin' to say?"

Kenshin replies tentatively, "I've said nothing about your choice in breakfast."

Kaoru points at him and barks out, "Look buster, you may be able to get through the morning on fruit, tea and …is that rice? Nevermind. But I need something more substantial."

Kenshin looks for an escape, "Oh, look, your food's here."

Kaoru attacks the plate, downing her food in minutes.

Kaoru pats her stomach and moans, "Ah, better. Sorry about before. I get a little grouchy when I'm hungry."

Kenshin replies with a small hint of sarcasm, "Really? I hadn't noticed."

Kaoru's head whips in his direction and she snarls, "Hey? Is that a crack?"

Kenshin looks around innocently as if searching for a crack in one of the walls, "A crack? Where?"

Kaoru rolls her eyes and gives up, "Let's go."

Kenshin follows her to the car looking relieved.

8:30 am, The Aoiya Agency

Kaoru asks Kenshin as he comes out of Okina's office, "So…?"

Kenshin grins at her, "He gave me the keys to my apartment."

Kaoru stunned says, "He gave you an apartment?" Meanwhile, she's thinking, "Lucky Stiff."

Kenshin grins innocently and explains, "It's in my contract."

Okina sticks his head out of his office and asks, "Kaoru, may I see you a moment?"

Kaoru with a parting look at Kenshin, answers, "Sure."

Okina begins giving instructions, "Take Himura furniture shopping for his apartment and handle the details."

Kaoru asks, "Ok. Uhh…Okina?"

Okina acknowledges her, "Yes?"

Kaoru asks quietly, "Can you give me an apartment too?"

Okina smiles and puts his arm around her shoulders, "I'll tell you what. When you become a famous actress with dozens of agencies clamoring for your business, I'll give you an apartment."

Kaoru shuts the door on his maniacal laughter and mutters, "Jerk!" She calls to Kenshin, "Let's go shopping."

7:00 pm, Kaoru's house

Misao and Kaoru are in the living room chatting over cartons of Chinese.

Misao asks, "So, what's he like?"

Kaoru squints a bit as she forms her impressions into words, "Odd. He's super polite, hardly bought any furniture, got real excited when I took him into Hiko's and doesn't know what a DVD is."

Misao looks up and asks, "Isn't Hiko's that pottery place?"

Kaoru explains, "Yeah. He said the owner reminded him of someone. Then he spent an hour picking out just the right tatami mats.

Misao continues, "So….you like him right?"

Kaoru tries to describe her feelings, "Ehhh, he's ok. He's too polite, with his Kaoru-dono this and Kaoru-dono that."

Misao is impressed, "Oooo, he respects you."

Kaoru shrugs, "So?"

Misao elaborates, "So…guys like that come along once in a lifetime."

Kaoru says in frustration, "Why does everyone think he is or will be my boyfriend? It's not like that, you know."

Misao says, "But it could be."

Kaoru tries to change the subject, "Let's talk about something else."

Misao relents and asks, "Have you seen the new Vice President Okina hired from Japan? Aoshi Shinomori, what a hunk."

Kaoru mentally rolls her eyes and thinks, "Oh God."

Kaoru spends the next week scheduling painters and overseeing furniture deliveries. Between that and her work at the agency, she goes home exhausted every night. Kenshin resumes his training regimen, spending his days at the gym or practicing katas, to be in top form for filming.

To Be Continued…