Hey y'all. Here we are back for another chapter. I was hoping to get this out the first week of March, but it didn't happen as my poor Beta-reader had been banned from the Internet and I just started a new part-time job. Talk about hectic. @-@ Slowly, but surely I'm getting thru the re-write to the new stuff. I think the upcoming Chapter Four is the last of the re-write and it'll be all new from there on out. *Squee!*

A HUGE thanks to everyone whose stuck with me. *Glomps all her fans!!* ^- ^

Chapter Three:
"Are we there yet?" Kaoru couldn't help but ask the most infamous of questions, her curiosity eating her alive.
"Almost," was the reply.
Battousai swung the motorcycle around the last street corner and got his first look at where Aoshi currently laired. It was... a dance club?? He smiled a bit to himself. Must be Misao. She was lightness to Aoshi's darkness and together they were the Oniwabanshu, a highly trained organization of spies, assassins, and vampires. The mammoth building looked as though it had once been some kind of warehouse or factory, but now lights flickered wildly behind the rows of darkened windows and a soft drum beat echoed out into the night. Another change was a bright neon sign, "Nightwalkers", hanging above the old rusted doors, and an awing stretched out about ten feet from the wall to shelter incoming guests.
"We're going to a nightclub?" Kaoru's voice broke through his thoughts.
"This is where I need to meet a contact."
Without concern for the signs or the bright orange cones, Battousai swung the motorcycle up against the curb and stopped in front of the club. Placing a hand under her elbow when she didn't immediately follow him, Battousai led the way past the long line of wanna-be's and up to where two very large bouncers stood. The two took one look at the cross-shaped scar, the flame red hair and let him through the door without question. Inside, smoke hung thick in the air and the floor throbbed with the beat of the music. It had been sometime since she had been to a club and the crush of bodies, the smell of sweat and smoke was almost overwhelming. She was grateful for Battousai's hand on her arm as he wove his way easily through the dancing throng, the aura of power he wore clearing the way for them.
"Kenshin-san!" A young woman pushed her way up to him. Her blue- green eyes sparkling with pleasure, a hint of fang showing in her smile. "And you brought a date!!"
"Misao-chan." He allowed himself to be hugged. "This is Kamiya Kaoru, the one I spoke to Aoshi about."
"Oh and here I thought you might actually have given up your anti- social ways." She yelled over the music, not in the least bit daunted by the glare. "Come on this way!"
Misao led them back through the throng of dancers to a door concealed behind a tower of speakers. Kaoru gasped a little at the sudden quiet, the music barely audible, as the door swung shut.
"Pretty neat trick, huh?" Misao smiled at Kaoru and held out her hand. "Makimachi Misao, nice to meet ya."
Kaoru, who had been brought up with the Golden Rule, didn't hesitate and clasped Misao's cool hand with her own. "Kamiya Kaoru."
The two women stared at each other for a moment and Kaoru found herself responding to the unspoken offer of friendship in Misao's wide turquoise eyes "I bet you drool over Keanu Reeves." Misao said suddenly with a sly smile.
"Oh like you don't either." Kaoru laughed and knew that despite the fangs she had spied when Misao smiled, here was someone who would be a true friend.
"I hate to break up the blossoming of a beautiful friendship, but I need to see Aoshi." Battousai's droll comment broke through their bonding.
Misao giggled. "Ah, sorry. This way."
They followed her through the hallway to it end, where a single door stood as silent sentry. Misao knocked softly and waited. Responding to a silently voiced assent, she opened the door and ushered them inside. Kaoru was almost disappointed that Aoshi's office looked like every other office she had been in. She had been expecting something more gothic and menacing, instead of neutral beige walls, dark mahogany bookcases. The elegantly dressed man sitting behind the large oak desk, however, radiated power. His black business suit and crisp white shirt lent itself to the aura of power he wore, but Kaoru had a feeling that even in jeans and a t- shirt this man was not someone to mess with. There was no mistaking him as a Master vampire.
"Greetings Battousai." Aoshi Shinomori rose with liquid grace from his desk, dark cornflower blue eyes cool, but welcoming.
"It is good to see you again Aoshi."
"Why don't I take Kaoru out to dance while you and Lord Aoshi discuss business?" Misao suggested, responding to an unspoken command from her Okashira.
Battousai stared at Misao for a long moment giving her 'the look.' "Keep a close eye on her."
"You got it." She looked at the young woman who stood next to him and found she couldn't wait to hear the story behind the startlingly blue eyes. "Come on, Kaoru. Let's give the men time to discuss business."
Kaoru glanced at Battousai and he nodded his head. She turned to Misao. "Okay."
Battousai watched as the two disappear back through the door. He turned back to Aoshi.
"So, what do you have for me?"
"Not as much as I would like, unfortunately." Aoshi gestured for Battousai to sit, then slid a manila folder across the desk to him. "As you know the werewolf was an American, who appropriately called himself 'Wolf". He is a very skilled assassin and very, very expensive. Unfortunately, the person he met to give him the contract managed to remain anonymous. We were, however, able to trace the contract itself back to a man named Mirimo. He has been confirmed as a human servant, a very old human servant, but we're still working on who his Master or Mistress is."
"Mirimo," Battousai stared hard at the grainy photographs of a slender, nervous young man. "Damn, he doesn't look familiar at all."
"Nor did he to any of our contacts, which disturbs me greatly." Aoshi frowned. "For a vampire to be living and hunting for two hundred years without detection speaks of great skill and cunning. He or she will not be easy to track."
"I say we catch this rat and see if we can make him squeal." Battousai growled. He was a man of action and usually left the skulking and spying to others.
Aoshi smiled grimly. "Normally I would agree with you, but I have a feeling to do that would only push our quarry deeper into hiding."

"Then what do you propose?"
The vampire held up a tiny microchip. "We track him to his lair."

*

"So do dance, Kaoru?" Misao asked before they stepped back into the club. "Or would you rather grab a table?"
"Dance, definitely."
Misao studied the young woman intently. "Y'know if you want to, before we go out, I can definitely dress you up. You're not that much taller than me."
"Yeah. I feel a bit underdressed." She looked down at her black jeans and flats.
The vampire laughed and grabbed Kaoru's hand. "You will so love this."
The two ran through the hallways to where Misao and Aoshi lived. This was a bit more like what Kaoru had expected. The room they entered was a living room and filled with black leather furniture, dark cherry tables and wine-red walls. The art was traditional Japanese with a few modern pieces.
"Wait here and I'll be right back."
Kaoru wandered around the room admiring the artwork while Misao disappeared to get clothing.
"So, how did you become involved with the Battousai?" Misao's voice came from the armload of clothes.
"He saved my life. I was attacked a few nights ago by a werewolf and he saved me." Kaoru sighed. "Apparently there's a contract out on my life and he's decided that he's going to help me find out who's behind the contract and protect me as well."
"Here try this on. Well, Battousai is certainly your man for protection. He is probably the best in the world at what he does."
"How do you know him?" Kaoru asked as she disappeared behind a decorative screen.
"Oh, that's an interesting story." Misao dropped down on the couch, pitching her voice so it would carry. "Lord Aoshi and I were tracking one of ours who had the misfortune to go rouge on us. Lucky me stumbled right into a mob of would-be vampire hunters. Apparently the rouge had been terrorizing their village, so they tagged me as being in cahoots with him. I think Battousai thought I was some innocent being strung up and he literally came to my rescue. He was still a human assassin at that point, so he didn't realize what I was. Oh yeah, got it right on the first try!"
Kaoru laughed and checked her reflection in the huge ornate mirror. The black leather pants hung low on her hips and hugged every curve down to her ankles. The top Misao had chosen was a sleeveless red satin that skimmed just above her belly button. It was one of the sexiest outfits she had ever worn, but Misao's good humor was catchy and she was feeling daring tonight.
"What about shoes?" She wiggled her bare feet at the vampire.
"Gottcha covered." She held up a pair of ankle high suede boots.
"Thanks Misao." Kaoru sat down to put the boots on. "So what happened then?"
"Well, once he realized I was an undead." She waved her hands dramatically. "He tried to stake me, but Lord Aoshi stopped him. They had this huge sword fight, Battousai's katana to Lord Aoshi's kodachis. Neither could win, they were both too good, so Lord Aoshi offered him a contract to help us track down and kill the rouge. Believe it or not, it was Lord Aoshi who convinced Battousai his talents were wasted on just humans. Now, there's more to the story, but it is so time to dance."
Kaoru laughed and followed Misao out into the dance club. Misao had given her a great deal to think about.

*

"I'll be here Friday at seven." Battousai confirmed their plans. Though he hated to wait even one moment to pursue this, he knew it would take a few days to get together the necessary equipment for a night reconnaissance. "Can you send Misao to watch Kaoru? I don't want to bring her along on this."
"Of course." Aoshi nodded. "She would only get in the way."
Battousai smiled. He would have liked Kaoru to hear that. "Thanks for checking into this for me."
Aoshi grinned in response. "It's been quite a while since we shared a hunt. I'm looking forward to it. I will walk you out to the club."
In companionable silence the two men made their way down the hallway and out into the club. It was ironic if one stopped to think about it. He, the Slayer, considered two vampires to be close friends, but wasn't that just the way life worked sometimes. He owed the Oniwabanshu a great deal, as Aoshi had been the one to teach him everything he knew about the otherworldly creatures he hunted.
As they stepped out into the club, Battousai scanned the dance floor, looking for Kaoru. When he spied her on the dance floor with Misao he could only stop and stare. She was grace and beauty in motion. Her body swayed with innocent seduction to the throbbing beat of the music. Her vibrant red top flashed tantalizing glimpses of white skin as she danced. In that moment he wanted nothing more than to drag her off the floor and kiss her until she begged to be taken.
"What is it about women that drive us to complete distraction?" Aoshi murmured, staring intently at wildly abandoned Misao.
Battousai could only shake his head and forced his feet to move onto the dance floor toward her.

*

Kaoru jumped when she felt the touch of a hand on her elbow. Spinning around, she found herself staring into a pair of heated amber eyes. What was it about this man that made her knees weaken and her insides melt? She meant to take a step back, to get her emotions back under control. Anticipating her, he grasped her hand and brought it to his lips, preventing her from moving away. Instead of placing a kiss on the back of her hand, he turned her hand over to place one on the inside of her wrist. She felt as though she had been branded, his lips were so hot. With a cocky smile at her stunned expression, he took her elbow in a firm grip and began guiding her off the dance floor.
"See ya later Kaoru!" Misao called out, giving her new friend the thumbs up sign.
Kaoru felt her face turn bright red, but gamely waved back. She was so embarrassed. Battousai was not helping with the very masculine grin on his face as he led her through the crowd. She was so tempted to smack him, but had no desire to find out how he would react. She let him lead her through the crowd and out into the night, enjoying the feel of his hand on her skin. Outside, it was refreshingly cool; in fact it was down right cold. The goose bumps on her arms had little to do with his hand still on her arm.
"It's freezing out here." She complained.
Battousai glanced back at her, realizing that she was shivering in the cool autumn air. Somehow a shivering Kaoru was not quite as desperately desirable as a dancing Kaoru. He sighed and let go of her long enough to shrug off his leather jacket.
"Here." He held it out to her.
She looked at him, surprised. Somehow she hadn't expected him, the Slayer, to be so chivalrous.
"Thank you." She smiled shyly.
The jacket was a bit big on her, but warm and smelled of him. She found herself once again swept into desire and was more than happy to wrap her arms around his waist as she mounted the motorcycle behind him. She let herself fall into the moment, enjoying the wind in her hair, the feel of Battousai against her, the full moon shining in the sky. She almost wished it would never end.
Battousai felt her sigh as he brought the motorcycle to a halt next to his Lamborghini. He looked back at her with a quizzical expression.
"I was enjoying the ride." She explained, feeling a little embarrassed under his scrutiny.
"Ah, well, perhaps we can go riding again sometime." He found himself offering to his surprise. What was it about this young woman? Desire and lust he understood perfectly, but there was something else he was beginning to feel about her. To say it made him a bit uncomfortable was an understatement. "Come on, it's late and you need to get some sleep."
Kaoru stared at him in surprise. Had he actually offered to take her riding without any other motive? She hurried to catch up, her thoughts in turmoil. They rode the elevator in silence, until her curiosity got the better of her.
"What did you find out from Aoshi?"
He frowned at her unexpected question, startled out of his thoughts. "We know who hired the werewolf, but he is someone's human servant. Aoshi and I are going out in a few nights to see if we can track him to his Master's lair."
"Whoa. So it a vampire." She shuddered, wondering how on earth her family had gotten on the bad side of a two hundred year old vampire. Like most people she knew that humans lived side by side with such otherworldly beings as vampires and the Sidhe, but she, also like most people, had had little contact with them. +At least until now.+ she mused wryly.
"Yes, we can be certain of that now."
"Can I come?" Kaoru asked as they stepped into his penthouse.
He looked askance at her. "Of course not!"
She frowned. "Why not? I'm entitled to find out who's been stalking my family."
He took an angry step toward her. "First of all you are not trained in a weapon other than your wooden sword. Second these people are out to kill you, why on earth would you want to make it easy for them by marching into their lair?"
That stopped her. "Oh, I hadn't thought of it that way."
Battousai snorted as he walked to his desk. "Go to sleep Kaoru. I promise that you will not be in the dark about anything that happens."
Once again he surprised her. If she couldn't participate directly, then at least he would not leave her in the dark. Feeling daring, she walked over to where he had sat down and placed a kiss on his cheek in thanks. He stared up at her in unguarded surprise and she watched in awe as violet flickered into his eyes. It lasted only a heartbeat before golden sorrow swirled through his irises.
"Go to bed Kaoru." He repeated hoarsely, and she fled to her room.

*

"Hey Jou-chan. You ready for lunch?" Sanouske's voice on the other end of the phone was a welcome relief from the chaos of her office.
"Most definitely."
"I'll be right there."
Kaoru hung up the phone with an audible sigh. In the past month since she had taken control of Kamiya Corporation, she was being tested like never before. She knew it was most likely the Board members trying to get her to admit defeat and resign, but the hell she would! She heard the phone ring yet again, and winced in sympathy. Her poor assistant had fielded at least 100 calls, and it wasn't even twelve o'clock yet. She hit the intercom.
"Tsubame, Sano and I are going to lunch. Think you'll be okay?"
"Sure, Miss Kamiya."
To pass the short time it would take Sanouske to get to her office, Kaoru glanced again through the latest merger proposal. She grimaced in frustration. Why on earth would anyone think she wanted to sell the company her grandfather had worked so hard to build?
"Hey, you ready?" Sano had poked his head around the doorway.
"Heck yes."
She grabbed her purse and strode eagerly across the room. Before following Sanouske to the elevators, she stopped for a moment to speak with her assistant.
"Can you type up the standard 'Thank you but we're not interested in being bought out right now' reply for me after your lunch?" She laid the proposal she had been reading on Tsubame's desk.
The young girl smiled and nodded. "C'mon Kaoru, I'm dyin' over here."
"All right, all right!" Kaoru turned one more time to Tsubame. "We should be back by one if anyone really needs to know, and you have my cell phone if its urgent." "Kaoru!" It was a desperate wail. Blue eyes sparkling with laughter, she followed her best friend into the elevator.
"So, where do you want to go?" Sanouske asked as he pushed the ground floor.
"Hmmm. How about the new sushi bar?" she suggested.
"Bleh. I hate sushi. There's a new American restaurant that's supposed to be pretty good," he countered.
Kaoru rolled her eyes. "Sano if you already knew where you wanted to go, why did you ask me?"
He grinned sheepishly at her. "Courtesy?"
Kaoru could only laugh. "You driving?"
"Of course."
They stepped out of the elevator together and walked to where Sano's Nissan 350Z Roadster was parked. Neither noticed the shadowy figure watching from the far side of the garage. It made no move to follow them as they pulled away, instead merely marked their passage to report it at a later time.
"So, since we didn't get a chance to talk this morning," Sano began.
"Yeah, because someone forgot he was picking me up." Kaoru couldn't resist teasing him.
"Hey. I said I was sorry," he pouted.
"I know Sano. I'm teasing you. What were you going to say?"
"Since we didn't get a chance to talk earlier, how did your night with Kenshin go?"
Kaoru knew he would eventually ask that question. "It was very interesting. I went with him to meet one of his contacts."
"Who was the contact?" Sano butted in.
"Hey, you wanna here the story, then you need to be quiet." She smacked his arm lightly.
"Oww. Yes ma'am."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Anyway, the contact turned out to be a vampire named Aoshi."
"What do you mean a vampire?" Sano demanded.
"Well, apparently there's a pretty deep story behind their relationship, but I didn't want to pry too deeply. From what Misao told me, they go way back, and I mean WAY back. Either way, it seems to me that Battousai trusts them. Aoshi is into some kind of spy group or something and has tracked my attacker back to another vampire's human servant. They are going out tonight to see if they can trace the servant back to his Master or Mistress."
Sano was silent for a long moment. "I am not happy about this. I don't trust vampires. I never have and I never will, but if Kenshin is okay with this Aoshi, then I guess I can handle it."
"Oh Sano, I'm sorry." Kaoru sighed. How could she have forgotten about Tomoe?
"It's okay. Like I said if Kenshin's okay with this Aoshi, then I guess I can be." Sano tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, here's the restaurant."
Kaoru looked to where he pointed. "The Tex-Mex?"
"It's supposed to be authentic cuisine from the American west," Sano claimed as he deftly pulled into a parking space.
Kaoru was more than a little skeptical as they walked up to the loudly decorated restaurant. She had been to the States, and this restaurant was like every bad tourist trap she had ever seen. Sighing to herself, she followed Sano inside while he gave his name to the Hostess.
"Shouldn't be too long."

*

"Famous last words, Sano." Kaoru growled as they walked out of the restaurant almost two hours after they had walked in. She yanked her cell phone out of her purse. "Tsubame. Yeah it's me. Is my two o'clock there yet? Damn. I'll be there shortly okay? Call me on my cell if there's anything else."
"I'm sorry Jou-chan." Sano was truly repentant. "If I had know how slow the service was going to be I would have never suggested it."
"Well, live and learn."
The drive back was a silent one, extending until they reached Kaoru's office.
"Look, let me take you out to dinner tonight to make up for this," Sano offered.
Kaoru couldn't help but smile at the earnest expression on his face. "We'll see."
"Hey, you'd pass up an opportunity for me to pay for dinner?"
"I said we'll see, okay Sano?" She didn't really want to admit that she would more than likely have to ask Battousai for permission to go out at night without him.
"All right." He nodded. "Give me a call when you're ready to head out and I'll give you a lift home."
"Most definitely."

*
As the clock crept closer to five, Kaoru found herself realizing she would never get through Research's quarterly report. She sighed and leaned back in her chair, stretching out tight neck and back muscles. The intercom buzzed and she winced, not really wanting to deal with yet another crisis.
"What is it Tsubame?" Her voice was a little more clipped than normal.
"Sorry Miss Kamiya, but there's a Battousai Himura on line one for you."
Kaoru dived for the phone, eager to hear his voice.
"Miss Kamiya." It came out slightly breathless.
"I will be there in five minutes to pick you up." His voice slid over the phone and down her spine.
"Okay I'll be ready." She barely got the reply out before the phone went dead in her hand. She glared at the receiver. "Nice phone manners."
"Miss Kamiya? These just came for you?"
Looking up Kaoru saw a puzzled Tsubame standing in the doorway. She held a long white box. The type roses usually came in. Kaoru beckoned her to bring the box over.
"Who are they from?" She reached out to accept the box from her assistant.
"There wasn't any card that I could see."
Curious as the proverbial cat, Kaoru undid the brilliant blue ribbon and lifted up the box lid. She pushed back the white tissue paper and felt the color drain from her face. Across from her Tsubame gasped and fell back into a chair. Lying in the box with sinister innocence were a dozen dead roses tied with a black ribbon. Hands shaking, she reached for the small envelope nestled within the desiccated blooms. Her name was written on the front in elegant script. Inside was a simple note reading:
Please enjoy these roses Miss Kamiya. They will be the ones I place on your grave.
Kaoru dropped the note as though it had burned her hand, breath escaping in a small shriek. It had been so quiet these past few days. She had begun to pretend that maybe they were wrong and there really wasn't anyone after her. Life couldn't be so simple. A breeze rustled her hair and Battousai stood beside her. He glared down at the roses, his expression almost frightening in its anger.
"When did they come?" His voice was devoid of emotion.
"J-just now. "
"Call the security desk, have them stop any delivery men or women," he demanded and was gone, racing from the room with lightening speed.
Kaoru grabbed the phone and punched in the number.
"Front desk." Kaoru recognized the man's voice.
"Jubi, this is Miss Kamiya. Stop all the delivery men and women coming out of the building," she ordered.
"Miss Kamiya?"
"Just do it." She hung up the phone and turned to the ghostly pale Tsubame.
She felt her fear sliding to the side as she walked around her desk to help her trembling assistant up from the chair. It was so much easier to ignore your own emotions when someone else needed you to be strong.
"C'mon Tsubame. Lets go to the break room and get you a glass of water."
"Okay."
That was where the Battousai found them sometime later. A concerned Sano followed behind. Kaoru was about to ask if he had had any luck, but the thundercloud that was his expression forestalled any questions. She could feel Tsubame cringe beside her and laid a hand on the young woman's shoulder.
"Where is the box?"
"It's still in my office."
The red head nodded and stalked off. Kaoru felt Tsubame sigh.
"He has that effect on everyone I think," Kaoru reassured her. "Are you okay now?"
Tsubame nodded and asked in a tiny voice, "Why did someone send you dead roses?"
"It was a very, very tasteless joke on someone's part," Sano answered for Karou.
The young girl shuddered. "Very tasteless."
"I certainly plan on giving whoever sent them a piece of my mind." Karou mimed strangling someone, eliciting a weak laugh from her assistant. She was immensely thankful Tsubame had not seen the note. She probably would have fainted dead away. "Well, you are certainly done for the day, Tsubame. Why don't you head home and I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
Tsubame smiled gratefully. Kaoru glanced meaningfully at Sano. "Hey, Tsubame, why don't I walk you to your car." "Thank you." The young girl blushed furiously. She was always embarrassed around Sanouske's good looks. Kaoru watched the two walk away. She had good friends. Feeling someone behind her, Kaoru turned to find Battousai standing there, his expression carefully neutral. Yet underneath that neutral expression, Kaoru could sense a great deal of frustration and anger. She wondered what had happened today to make him so angry. It couldn't have been just that he had been unable to catch the mysterious courier.
"Have you been there long?" She asked, unsure of what else to say.
He shook his head, vibrant auburn hair shadowing his face. "No. I have the box. If there's nothing else, we should go." "I just need to get my things." She pointed in the direction of her office.
"I will walk with you."
The silence was awkward as he followed her into her office. Extremely conscious of his gaze wandering over the photos on her desk, she quickly threw a few things into her satchel and grabbed her purse.
"Okay, I'm ready."
"Was this your father?" he asked, holding up an old photograph.
She smiled sadly. Somehow he had chosen her most favorite. She had been only five and it had been their first trip to the beach. Her father stood next to her as she held up a giant seashell. They had been so happy, and she missed them so badly. "Yes. My mother took this right before she became ill." She tried to keep the pain and sorrow from her voice, but at that moment she was too close to those emotions.
"I am sorry." His voice was very quiet.
"It's all right. It was a long time ago." She wondered at the sorrow in his own voice.
He place the frame back on her desk with gentle care and walked silently out of the office. She followed after him, making sure the lights were off and the door locked. As they rode the elevator in silence, Kaoru wonder what it was like, to never die, to watch everyone around you age and move on. She shuddered a bit. Still lost in thought, she failed to realize he had stopped, and slammed into his back.
"Ow. Oh, sorry," she grinned sheepishly.
He only frowned and held open the door of his Lamborghini.
"Whoa. You drive a Lamborghini?"
"I like fast cars," was his response.
She slid into the passenger seat and made sure to fasten her seatbelt. With a squeal of tires, Battousai pulled out of the parking space and into traffic. By the time they had gotten to the penthouse, Kaoru was extremely glad she had had her seatbelt on. It was obvious his mind was on something else other than driving.
"Did you find out anything today?" she asked as they rode the elevator up, wanting to help with whatever was bothering him.
"No."
"Oh, then what did you do today?"
"Gathered supplies for tonight." He replied around clenched teeth, trying to calm his growing impatience at her insistent questioning.
"What kind of supplies?"
Battousai took a deep breath. "I am not in the mood for idle chit- chat. I will make us dinner and you will eat it quietly. Do you understand?"
With that last statement he had backed Kaoru up against the living room wall. Standing directly in front of her, their bodies almost touching, Battousai found his anger sliding into another emotion all together. Images of her swaying body from the nightclub filled his mind's eye and he clenched his hands to keep from grabbing her. Why did she have such an effect on him? Stunned at his anger, Kaoru was too surprised to do anything but nod her head. When he didn't move away, she glanced up into those molten golden eyes and froze. Without thinking, she nervously licked her lips and sealed her fate. He groaned, unable to resist the attraction of her now wet lips and reached out to her. She cried out softly as she found herself being pinned against the hard planes of his body. His lips ground against hers, tongue teasing her lips for an access she couldn't deny him. Their tongues tangled with sweet abandon, and liquid fire raced through her veins. She arched against him in innocent desire, and he pulled her tighter. His lips left hers to trail open-mouthed kisses along her neck. She was drowning, fast. His hands slid down her hips and began tugging at her blouse. The feel of his hands on her bare skin was like a bucket of ice water. +No! This is too fast!+ She thought and began to push at his shoulders.
"Battousai. Please... stop. It's too fast." She was drowning again as he dragged his tongue along the juncture of her neck and shoulder. "Kenshin!" Battousai froze at the sound of his true name. Had she just asked him to stop? He dragged himself away with a harsh groan. Breathing hard and fighting to get himself under control, he stared hard at her. He saw the uncertainty and fear in her eyes. +No, this isn't right,+ and he shook his head to clear it. Damn her for making him lose control like that.
"I will go make us dinner." His voice was thick with desire, but he heeded her request and stalked away.
Sighing, she sagged back against the wall. She could still feel the touch of his lips, the burn of skin on skin. With trembling hands, she adjusted her clothing and walked to her room. She shut the door and leaned against it, still unsteady. It wasn't as though she had never been kissed before, but why had none of them ever felt like this? She felt herself blush furiously at the remembered feel of his hands on her skin. Taking a deep breath, Kaoru pushed herself away from the door and forced herself to concentrate on something boring and mundane, like what to wear. She felt a more in control once she had changed into a pair of faded blue jeans and dark violet sweater.
+Kind of like the color I saw in his eyes.+ She thought to herself as she checked her reflection in the mirror. That was a whole different puzzle.
With a sigh, she opened the door and stepped out into the living room. On the far side of the room, where the large open doorway to the dining room was, she spied Battousai setting dishes on the table. Taking an experimental sniff, she grinned at the delicious odors floating on the air. He stopped what he was doing and looked up at her. Even from this distance, Kaoru felt her knees weaken at the intensity of his gaze. The spell was broken as he smiled at her.
"Come on. Dinner is on the table." He spoke loud enough for her to hear.
Grateful for his tact, she walked across the room and sat down at the elegantly set table.
"Wow, I'm impressed." She grinned. "Chicken Cordon Bleu, Green Beans Almondine, and wine?"
Battousai merely smiled. "I've had a lot of time to practice."
Kaoru's grin faltered. "I-I..."
"It's all right. I'm teasing you." He walked back into the kitchen before returning with a gravy boat full of a cream sauce.
She smiled shyly at him and he smiled back at her. As she ate she studied him. He seemed different when he was like this, more Kenshin-like maybe? She wondered about the person he had been before the curse.
"You look deep in thought," he commented as they finished.
"I-I-it's nothing, just business." She didn't have the courage to tell him what her real thoughts were.
"Ahhh, okay." He let it drop. "Did you enjoy dinner?"
"Yes! It was delicious!" She made a wry face. "Unlike you, I can't cook to save my life. No matter how much I try. I even took a class and the teacher finally had to ask me to leave."
He laughed, and she realized it was without rancor or bitterness. She liked the sound. About to chance asking him about his past, she was foiled by the doorbell chiming through the penthouse. He frowned and checked his watch.
"That should be Aoshi and Misao." He rose lithely to his feet. "Do you mind doing clean up?"
"After that spectacular meal? Heck, no." She stood and began gathering the dishes.
She could hear the murmur of voices, and suddenly Misao was standing beside her.
"Hey girl!" Misao easily caught the dish as Kaoru dropped it in surprise.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" Kaoru gasped.
Misao only laughed. "Sorry I can't help it, part of the job description you know." The two chattered happily as Kaoru finished up the dishes. They walked into the living room together where Aoshi and Battousai stood going over final details. She stopped for a moment to stare at the assassin, because that was who sat next to the tall urban vampire. He was dressed all in black and bristled with weapons. Two Baller 45s were strapped, one to each thigh. Two more guns hung on either hip. He wore a bandolier full of throwing knives across his chest, and his katana was slung along his back. His silk red hair was again pulled up in a high samurai knot, and a black bandana made sure not one strand would fall in his face. Aoshi looked underdressed next to him, but then as a vampire, he was a living weapon. A glint of steel caught her eye and Kaoru could see the hilts of his twin kodachis peeking out from under Aoshi's black trench coat. Battousai looked up to catch Kaoru staring at him.
"You will stay with Misao tonight. I don't want either of you going anywhere," he ordered. There was no mistaking him as the Slayer.
Kaoru drew a breath to retort, but let it out in a sigh. It wasn't worth it. "I know. I won't leave."
He nodded, and turned to Aoshi. "You ready?"
"Of course."
"Don't wait up."
She watched as they walked out the door and into the threat of the night. A feeling struck her, and she suddenly realized that she was worried. Whether he was infuriating her with his arrogance, seducing her with his heat or simply being himself, she wanted him to return to her.
"Be safe," she whispered.

Hey you're at the end of the chapter. ^-^ You know what that means... click the button and let me know if you want more!

*sits anxiously by computer waiting for reviews.....*