Author's Note: Yay, another Chapter! And it's longer too! Oh yeah, feel free to tell me what you think about the story. I'd really like to know. Also, I have other stories with very few reviews so check them out and tell me what you think. Thanks.


Chapter 5

4:15am, Monday

Kaoru rings the bell and waits for Kenshin to answer the door.

Kenshin opens the door to Kaoru's smiling face, "Ohayo, Kaoru-dono."

Kaoru responds shyly, "Ohayo, Kenshin."

She catches his smile at her use of Japanese.

Kaoru follows him to the kitchen as she explains, "I was fluent as a child but I'm afraid I've forgotten most of it. What's this?"

Kenshin motions for her to sit at the table, "I've made you breakfast."

Kaoru sits in front of the bowl of miso soup and cup of tea and looks up at him gratefully, "Thank you. You know, as your assistant, I'm supposed to bring you breakfast, not the other way around."

Kenshin shrugs and answers, "I had some leftover from my breakfast. Besides, I've noticed you rarely eat breakfast and it IS the most important meal of the day."

Kaoru asks, "Mom?"

Kenshin answers, surprised, "Oro?"

Kaoru laughs and says, "Nothing. You sounded like my mother for a second, only nicer." She takes a bite of soup and exclaims, "This is good."

Kenshin responds with a satisfied look on his face, "Arigato, Kaoru-dono. I'm glad you like it."

Kaoru squints at him and asks, "Huh?"

Kenshin explains, "I said thank you."

Kaoru feels she should clarify something to him, "Oh. You're welcome. You know, it's not that I don't want breakfast, it's just I never seem to have the time."

Kenshin announces, "Then one will be waiting when you pick me up."

Kaoru is horrified. He can't make her breakfast every day. "I can't let you do that."

Kenshin looks at her with a determined look on his face. "You can't stop me."

Kaoru acquiesces, "Well, if you insist."

Kenshin finalizes the decision, "It's settled."

Kaoru puts her dishes in the dishwasher and checks her watch. She says, "We should get going but I wanna see how the place looks since the painters were here."

Kenshin invites her to have a look around, "I must make a brief phone call. Look around then we'll go."

Kaoru walks into the living room. The large room has been painted a muted gold that, along with the polished wood floor gives off a warm glow accentuated by tortoise-shell wall sconces. A black leather and mahogany sofa and chair are situated to take in the large fireplace and the state of the art entertainment center. The only decoration is a rack with three Japanese swords over the fireplace. The bathroom is very Spartan, not needing decoration due to the black marble walls and floor. Fluffy white towels and a black rug by the sink are the only human touches. The front room is Kenshin's bedroom. Painted the same gold as the rest of the apartment, the wood floor is covered by tatami mats. A small dresser, some books and a rolled up futon are the only items in the room. The larger back room is empty.

Kenshin finds her there and explains, "It's my practice room. Ready?"

Kaoru nods. She observes, "For a guy who didn't know what a DVD was last week, you've turned into such a techno-geek."

Kenshin responds defensively, "I knew what a DVD was. I said I didn't have any. Besides, I like shiny things with buttons."

Kaoru notes, "You still don't have any DVDs or CDs for that matter."

Kenshin replies as they walk out the door, "I prefer books."

They arrive at the studio and someone shows up almost immediately to drag Kenshin off to hair and make-up. Kaoru finds his dressing room and hangs out until they're done with him. About an hour later he enters, his hair a little messier than usual and dressed in a gi and hakama.

Kaoru says from her spot on his couch, "I should tell you, I've never been an assistant on set. I'm not sure what I need to do."

Kenshin answers her, "Keep people from stealing my chair."

Kaoru pulls a face and replies, "Very funny. I'm serious."

Kenshin sighs as he takes a breather, "So am I. Someone always steals my chair. You know, I've never had an assistant before so we'll figure things out as they happen."

Kaoru agrees, "Ok."

Things are rather boring for a while as they seem to want to film the dramatic scenes first and the action scenes last. Finally the day comes to start on the action sequences. Kaoru sits slack-jawed as she watches a practice. Kenshin and the other actor fly around each other in a deadly dance akin to ballet. She now understands where his grace comes from. The two finish the sequence and Kenshin comes over to wait until they are ready to film the scene.

Kaoru hands him a towel and some water. She says, "Wow, I've never seen anything like that. No wonder so many agencies wanted you. You're amazing."

Kenshin brushes her comment aside, "They have a good choreographer."

Kaoru's eyes widen and she responds, disbelieving: "Choreographer, right."

She doesn't get to find out more because the director calls Kenshin over. She notices his deflection away from the topic of his skills. It's almost as if he's embarrassed by them.

Kaoru rolls her eyes, shakes her head and mutters to herself, "He really IS odd."

Later that evening, Kaoru is driving Kenshin home.

Kaoru asks with a sigh, "This has been bugging me all day, but where did you learn to fight like that?"

Kenshin answers, distractedly, "I only seem good because swordsmanship isn't widely practiced anymore."

Kaoru replies, sarcasm dripping from every word, "Sure. By the way, you ARE good and not just because people don't use swords anymore."

Kenshin remains silent.

Kaoru is afraid she's offended him and says quietly, "I'm sorry. If you don't want to talk about it, I won't mention it."

A silence fills the car until they reach Kenshin's apartment building.

Kenshin abruptly asks, "What are you doing Saturday?"

Kaoru lets out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in, relieved that he's speaking to her. She answers, "Sleeping and, well, my house hasn't been cleaned in like a month. Why?"

Kenshin inquires, "Would I be too forward to ask to come over?"

Kaoru responds, "No, but why?"

Kenshin says, "I'll tell you Saturday."

The rest of the week passes quickly with Kenshin becoming quieter each day.

Kaoru and Misao meet at Misao's condo Friday night.

Misao inquires, "So, plans for tomorrow?"

Kaoru answers, "Yeah, sleep and Kenshin invited himself over. Maybe I'll put him to work moving furniture or something."

Misao is intrigued and sits up. She asks, "Wait a sec, he invited himself over?"

Kaoru shrugs, "Yeah, so?"

Misao decides to dig a little deeper, "What for?"

Kaoru says, "Don't know. He wouldn't say."

Misao speculates, "Oooo, maybe he wants to ask you out and is going to tell you about all his old girlfriends first."

Kaoru is a little exasperated with her friend, "You make it sound like a soap opera."

Misao explains, "You work together every day, you like him but refuse to admit it to yourself, and I'm sure he has a troubled past. What's not soap opera about that?"

Kaoru sighs and says, "I think you should go home. These little talks can be so exhausting and I need my sleep."

Misao laughs, "Yeah, gotta look good for Kenshin tomorrow."

Kaoru responds, with a warning glare, "Misao…!"

Misao holds her hands up in resignation, "Fine, I'm leaving. I need my sleep too. Aoshi's coming over to talk with Okina and I gotta look irresistible."

To Be Continued…