EDIT (13/1/2005): This chapter was revised, with some corrections, and there is also small additional scene at the end of it. But as for the bits and pieces of this fiction, see if you notice any changes :D

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AN: Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you soverymuchforyourprettyandwonderfulreviews! (I bet you can't read that.)

I gave candy to: Mademoiselle Anime, Erica6060, Strawberry Promises, Anime-luney, Ochako107, Yami-Yugi-Girl, Triste1, Coke48kenshin, Kawaii96, Scented Candles, Nekotsuki, and Aoshilover :).

Your encouraging reviews had helped me in a small way or another, weather you know it or not. You guys kick ass.

So here's chapter five, to my now-eating-candy-readers.


Chapter 5

Humming a sing-song tune to herself, she trotted down the cold hallways, glancing every now and then at the paintings that were plainly hanging on the walls. Eyes skimming at every door she passed, she suddenly caught sight of a certain red-head's back, through a small gap caused by the door that wasn't properly shut.

He was sitting inside the library.

Grinning, she quietly pushed the door open, careful to keep the doors from creaking.

They were, very very old doors, and some parts needed oiling.

Sneaking up behind him, she half expected him to say, "Give it up, I know what you're doing." Since he could read people's ki a mile away. Gently placing her hands on his eyes, she imitated a rough voice.

"Guess who?"

To her astonishment, she felt him wince in surprise. But after being struck by realization, his face broke into a small grin of recognition.

"Well," he started, as he pretended to be deep in thought. "Obviously it's not Sano, seeing you have such smooth and delicate hands."

She stifled her laugh, as she felt his lips twitch into a smile.

There was a moment of silence.

"These are definitely my lover's hands." He said finally as he pulled her hands away, light immediately penetrating through his eyes. Kaoru was revealed in front of him, who was laughing light-heartedly.

Pulling her firmly into his arms, he more than welcomed the distant body warmth that she possessed.

Comfortably burying his head into her hair, he breathed in her scent as she spoke up teasingly. "I can't believe you didn't sense my ki."

He smirked.

"I guess I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to have noticed your presence."

It took a few moments for her to properly digest his statement, and when understanding finally did sink in, she pouted.

"Was that an insult?" she inquired with a raised brow.

His started laughing, as he lifted his head from her dark, raven tresses. Looking into her eyes, he replied bemusedly. "My little darling's temper flair hasn't changed a single bit,"

She pouted some more.

"You jump into conclusions too fast, Kao."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You know I would never insult you."

She snorted.

"Even though your characteristics are far from a lady," he said as a matter-of-factly.

She scowled.

"But even then, I still love you." He said warmly, as he bent down to give her a nice, long, and lingering kiss, much to her delight.

-

"You're finally seventeen!" Kaoru exclaimed, as she handed Sayo a stylishly wrapped package. It was twelve midnight, and Kaoru had called for her servant's attendance in the study room.

"Happy Birthday," she greeted, as she gave Sayo a warm hug.

"I can't believe you remembered," Sayo murmured softly as she returned the hug, smiling broadly.

"Of course, silly! And… someone else did too," the princess teased, as she let out a giddy laugh.

Before Sayo could open her mouth to ask whom Kaoru was pertaining to, someone had clumsily barged into the room.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" came the loud, manly voice, as he knocked over a plant. Instantly on reflex, he started busying himself by fixing and cursing the plant, as she peered her eyes closer to the figure.

A gasp escaped Sayo's throat, as she turned to gape at Kaoru in horror.

Her mistress tried to look nonchalant.

Silently mouthing, "Why in the world did you spread it to him?!"

"Cut him some slack and give the poor boy a chance." Kaoru mouthed back

Sano beamed as he walked closer, yanking Sayo into one of his big and warm bear hugs, visibly startling her senses.

It was the first time their bodies touched so firmly, making her feel a little awkward. She wasn't complaining though since he smelt good, but he didn't need to know that.

But then again, the hug was another story.

She was about to protest wildly for embracing her without her permission, when she saw the look on Kaoru's face behind his shoulders.

Sayo sighed as she reluctantly returned the hug, slowly patting his back, trying to reconsider her mistress's words.

But alas, it only lasted for a second or two, after Sano opened his big, fat, mouth.

"Since you're into hugs and all," he started happily, as he continued in a cheery tone. "Why not throw in a kiss or two with that?"


Sano entered his bedroom, ferociously rubbing his sore head. Plopping himself on his four-poster bed, he murmered gloomily to himself. "Some people just don't appreciate my unique sense of humor."

"But then again, no one does." Came an amused reply.

Whipping his head to the direction of the voice, Sano awkwardly acknowledged his presence, as his tone ended in a bit of a surprise. "Kenshin."

Kenshin nodded in reply, as he continued his task of sitting lazily on the white, velvet chair, looking grim.

"So, what brings you to my territory?"

There was a pause.

"I need to finish the assignment before the wedding, and I'm running out of time." The redhead answered quietly, a hint of exasperation coloring the edge of his voice.

Sano remained silent, as he noted the seriousness in his tone. "There are only fourteen days left till the ceremony," he counted, glancing at Kenshin. "You need to do this quickly."

"I know."

Silence.

"Do you know how to get it done?"

There was another moment of pause, when Kenshin finally answered, rubbing his temples. "No, I don't."

"Oh."

"I'm… I'm stuck at a dead end. Either way, I will loose something," he said solemnly, getting up from his seat. "You don't need to be with me, Sano. You know you can leave if you want to." Kenshin said suddenly as he stood by the door, hand resting on the doorknob.

That sentence was enough to jerk Sano away from his thoughts, as a tense silence filled the air.

Something in Sanosuke had clearly snapped.

"The hell- Kenshin. In spite of my background, I will remain loyal till the end, you should know that, of all people." Sano retorted angrily, breaking off as he frowned at him.

"And anyway, friends don't ditch each other at times like these. I can't believe you would even think that I'll even consider abandoning you now," he grumbled.

Turning the handle as he exited the room, Kenshin all but shook his head in amusement. Turning his head a little, he didn't let Sano miss the look of gratitude on his face.


"She loooooooves me, she loves me not."

Plucking out the petals one by one from the now very bald white rose, he sniffed slightly as starred at the innocent flower in dislike, after the outcome was revealed.

"She loooves me, she loves me not, she loooooooooooooooooves me, she… WHAT?! …Not counted, not counted." He muttered, as he threw away the 10th white rose to the ground, picking up another one from the bouquet, starting his recital all over again.

"She loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she l-"

"Um, Sano? What…. What in the world are you doing?"

The brunette turned his head to the door, only to see Kaoru staring amusedly at him. Grinning, he motioned for her to enter his room. She walked towards him, stepping on the disengaged petals sprawled across the floor.

"This, Little Missy," he pointed out, "-is like a fortune teller."

"A.. Flower as a fortune teller?" She asked quizzically.

"Yeap. From where I come from, you pluck the petals, one for "he loves you," and one for "he loves you not", repeating it over and over again until you reach the last petal."

"Oh. I see." She answered, as she fiddled with a white rose, letting him continue his newfound hobby.

"As I was saying, She loves me not, she looooooooooooooves me, she loves me not, she loves me…"

Twenty seconds later, an irritated groan broke out as he flung the petal-less rose to the floor, eyes shooting daggers at the dead flower.

"Sayo problem, perhaps?" she asked absent-mindedly, grinning at Sano.

He smiled sheepishly at her.

"Why are you so attracted to her anyway?" she asked curiously. "She hardly responds to any your charms."

"Well.. I'm not sure, really. There's something about her," he replied, pausing for a moment of thought.

"It's something intriguing, something in her that pulls me nearer, something that's attractively… different. You know?" he finished, glancing at Kaoru.

"I.. I guess. I wouldn't really know, because… Kenshin isn't… isn't really like that, but… the again, he …is." She answered lamely. "I'm not even sure what I'm talking about."

Slightly smiling, he looked at her. "But… Missy, promise me one thing?"

"Hm?"

"Whatever… Whatever that happens in the future, remember that Kenshin loves you a lot. Hell, he practically adores every single bone in your body."

Kaoru flushed as she giggled a little. "What exactly are you trying to say, Sanosuke?"

"Sano." He corrected.

"Alright, alright. Sano."

"Just… just promise me that whatever, whatever," he stressed, making sure he got his point through, as she nodded for him to carry on. "-happens, he lovesand I mean loves you, and that he had never meant to hurt you in the very first place."

She gazed at him, heaps of confusion and yet a tinge of amusement painted on her features.

"Things are not always what they seem," he said, half proud that words of wisdom had a chance to come out from his mouth.

Actually, come to think of it, those were the only words of wisdom to ever come out from his foul mouth.

"Things are not always what they seem." She repeated carefully.

"Yes, so promise me."

"I promise," she replied laughingly, brushing off the matter after they started chatting about a new topic.

Kaoru remained blissfully unaware that Sano's statement and her promise would mean something more, something more than what it seemed.

-

"I do not care how you do it, but you better finish it quick. I'm growing impatient." He hissed.

"I'm working on it, dammit!" came the sharp reply. He was annoyed and aggravated, for being rushed and forced into doing something he wholeheartedly did not want to do. Washed over by frustration, it took all of his will not to take hold of his sword and slice the piece of revolting flesh in front of him.

"If you don't finish it in due time," he growled, as he continued. "I won't be responsible if something drastic happens to your darling little princ-"

He was cut off as he felt a blade immediatly pointed at his neck. Slightly shivering as he saw a piercing color of amber flash by him, he tried to look composed and undisturbed, even though he felt the complete opposite inside.

"You touch her," he whispered in a deadly tone, body filled with rage. "And I'll see to it myself that you rot in hell."

He did not reply, as his mind grew blank with fright. Then, letting out a nervous laugh, he pathetically declared –"You cannot kill me. You wouldn't dare."

Realization sunk in together with those four words. You cannot kill me.

It was true.

And it was like a harsh slap across the face.

Slowly, and reluctantly, he re-sheathed his blade.

Tensed silence hung in the air, as the angry one spoke up. "I will finish this one last assignment, as promised. And when it is fulfilled," he broke off as he walked away, "-You will live up your end of the bargain."

And with that, he disappeared in the night, leaving the other still frozen in fear.


EDIT (13/1/2005): Okay, I know it's stupid of me to forget writing the last add-on scene in the end. I only remembered about it when I… remembered. Anyway, I did re-type bits and pieces of this fiction. So.. Does is it better? Let me know :D.

Chapter six would have "action", as Triste1 would say, and I apologize if this fiction became drag-gy for some of you.

Though chapter six wouldn't come anytime soon, since school is being a pain (as said before).

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PS: Scented Candles rock my world. No, not the nice-smelling and colourful candles that sits on racks and resides in candle shops, but the fellow RK author whom every reader is attached to, the author who is beta-ing my fiction. Love ya!

Now, please review. I love reading them, more than you'll ever know. :D