Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.

FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at kaoru_koishii@yahoo.com

Chapter Three

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Red locks fell into his eyes, as the low ponytail he had his hair became undone. It often did during his usual morning exercise. He stretched his lean body flexing his muscles as he moved through with quick precise movements.

Life in an office was so boring. There was never anything to do. He knew he'd been hired for his image. The way the media had hounded him after the airport incident had been revolting. He'd been close to unloading his gun on more than one occasion. In the end he was forced to retire. How could he work where everywhere he went there they were? Filthy bastards. He growled in annoyance.

"What!" He barked.

The door slowly opened to reveal a timid looking man in a dark suit. "A Himura-san, you're here. Um, Kurizuma-san needs to see you."

Kenshin nodded. "I'll be there in an hour." He turned his back and finished his exercise.

The timid man looked on in amazement as Kenshin cut through the air with his boken. He bowed towards Himura after a moment and closed the door quietly. It was odd how he sensed people before they even knocked. He shook his head and moved away from the door and back to Kurizuma's office.

An hour later on the dot, the redheaded man stepped into a large office. He stood straight, in front of the Kurizuma's desk with his hands behind his back, waiting.

Kurizuma, a man in his mid-forties with salt pepper hair and small brown eyes sat in his chair looking at Himura. Amusement showed on his face as he stared at the head of security. Old habits died hard and it was easily visible that Himura was still very much a soldier. But how could he not be. Himura had resigned only six months ago after sixteen years in service. Kurizuma sighed wearily. "Himura-san I've called you here because we will be throwing a large gala. It's been set for the month of September 2nd that's exactly a month from today." Kurizuma slid a piece of paper across his desk to Himura. "This is where we'll be holding it. It'll be more then just businessmen and important foreigners so please, if you could make the appropriate security arrangements."

Himura nodded before he took the small parchment.

"The guest list has been made out and faxed to your office." Kurizuma looked pensive for a moment to see if he'd forgotten anything else. "You do have the company credit card right?"

Himura nodded.

"All right, just charge anything you need on that. We know you might require large funds for whatever services you may seem fit to employ so the cards' statue has been upgraded, it's unlimited." Himura had looked at him with an expressionless face but he was sure the wheels where turning. What he would need and whom he would hire?

"I'll get started right away." The redhead said blankly before he bowed and left.

Kurizuma nodded, watching the younger man leave. Everyone, well not everyone but most of the males in the building where afraid of Himura and so instead of the president talking to the redhead, it had been assigned to him the vice president of the company to have a few words with the head of security. He wondered about the man. His resume listed only the military and the PSB but really he didn't need much else. The way he took out the cult leader in front of the television crew last year, it was amazing. He hadn't noticed the cameras until it was too late. If they hadn't been transmitting live the government would surely have confiscated the tape.

He wasn't afraid of Himura but still he couldn't make himself ask him for the picture his daughter had been bothering him about. You'd think she'd be happy with that DAMN poster she'd bought herself of the redhead in his PSB uniform but no. No, she had to nag him every time he came home. One of these day. He'd find the nerve and ask him. But not today. He sighed and went back to his paper work. He still had so much work.

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Kenshin drove down the street leisurely. He was in no hurry to get to the hotel. He hated been cooked up in the office, he felt like he'd been there for far too long already. Sometimes he wished he'd just joined S-6 instead of retiring completely but the damn media. He scowled for a moment before the look disappeared. He had a lot to do today.

The guest list was in his pocket; he had to check everyone on it before he added them to the final list, admitting them entrance. Someone from the royal family would be attending and he needed to get in touch with them and see if they would be brining their own security or if they expected for the AKIHITO Corp. to provide that for them while in the hotel. He hoped for the first. He didn't want to have to deal with any assassination attempts. I guess it was time for him to earn that paycheck.

He parked across the street from the hotel not trusting the valet to really be valet. Sometimes he wondered if he was too suspicious. Hmm. He withdrew the keys from the ignition and stepped out. The air was dry. He hated hot days, especially when he had a suit on.

He was about to cross the street when a he caught side of black silk. He turned his body around, catching sight of the distracting object. His eyes ran up from the thick sandals to the bare legs and further up to the flimsy summer dress. A nice shade of pink if he said so himself. Her midnight hair was so long and shiny, he could see why he'd mistaken it for silk. Her cell phone went off and she paused in her walking. He couldn't hear what she was saying but she turned and he was able to see her profile. His eyes ran further up the dress over the curve of her bosom, to the nice arch of her neck and onto her face. What a lovely face. She smiled into the phone, tossing a long strand of hair over her shoulder in a flirtatious manner.

Kenshin moved away from his car and headed in her direction. He came closer, enough to hear her laughter.

"All right, talk to you later. Bye." She smiled, shook her head and continued her walk.

Kenshin came close enough to grasp her by the shoulder but fell short of doing it. He felt nervous. Something he hadn't felt in years. Still he was interested and followed her into a small cafe. She put her bags down and took a seat. He straightened and followed her in.

"It's you!"

Kenshin's' attention fleeted from the petite figure he'd been eyeing to who'd ever called out 'Oh, no.' He thought as he glanced around. Most of the cafe was filled with women.

"It is you. I have to get your photograph."

Kenshin began to back out. He stole a glance at beauty that had brought him in. She was looking at him with something akin to shock on her face. He smiled grimly. Now he wouldn't even get a chance to talk to her.

"I'll just get some water to go." He said finding the quickest excuse.

A chubby woman gave him a bottled water. "Smile," she sang before there was a flash. "Water's on me cutey." She said moving from around the counter. He noticed some of the other women were starting to get up as well. Damn the media. Most women recognized him on daily basis. He often got mobbed. Because of that he was really starting to consider dyeing his hair.

"Thank you."

He had tried to keep his voice light; instead it'd come out deep. He grabbed his bottled water and left. Running across the street and into the safety of the hotel.

He sighed in relief once he was inside the lobby. None of them had followed him. He snapped the water open, taking a drink before he headed over to the front desk.

"Himura!"

"Himura Kenshin!"

Kenshin raised his hand up, trying to placate the boy at the desk. "Yes, I need to speak with your manager or administrator."

The teenage boy nodded his head enthusiastically before he picked up the phone, talking excitedly to the other party.

"Sakano-san it's the front desk."

"Yes, it's me."

"Can you come down?"

"It's important."

"Yeah, ok."

The boy put the phone down and beamed at Kenshin. "He'll be down in just a bit. Would you like to have a seat?" The boy said moving around from counter.

Kenshin nodded.

"I'm Saiguchii Tohma but you may call me Tohma." The boy enthused as he led the redhead over to a large a small lounge.

"Thank You." Kenshin's frosty response seemed to have no affect on the boy which made Kenshin wonder. Especially because the boy didn't leave instead he took a seat across from him. "Shouldn't you watch the front desk?"

"Oh." The boy said disappointed. "Yeah, I forgot." He was reluctant to go. Tossing Kenshin a last look as he disappeared around the corner.

Kenshin looked at the bottle in his hand. What was so special about him that everywhere he went he got stared at? It must have been because everyone thought he was a hero. That pissed him off more than anything else. He'd been happy working behind the scenes. Helping people those who could not defend themselves. His mood darkened every time he thought about it.

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Kenshin walks into his apartment, mild annoyance etched into his features. He put the hotel's blueprint on the coffee table before he moved over to the refrigerator. It was ten at night and he hadn't even had lunch. He'd spent all day walking around the premises of the hotel. Tomorrow and for the next week he would be walking and inspecting the buildings in the surrounding area.

He already had a list of people, perfect for the job. Everyone in S-9 was trained in various arms, tactics, and techniques. So anyone on his crew could serve as a sharpshooter if need be.

He sat on his couch, drinking sake straight out of the bottle. He never really spoke to any of his coworkers. It wasn't that he didn't like them. He'd saved many of their lives. It was just he didn't consider them anything more than just coworkers. He sighed. They considered him more though.

The redheaded man stood and walked to the kitchen, tossing the empty bottle into the trash before he left. He made his way into the bedroom, tossing his shirt and pants to the side before sliding between the silky sheets. Mmm, if there was something he enjoyed it was the feel of satin sheets against his skin. It had a familiar feel but it was unlike anything or anyone he'd ever touched. The way it felt against him, it was odd. It always made him feel sensual, carnal. His senses sharpened as the feeling rose, taking control. He didn't like the voracious feeling that overcame him like an animal. He felt empowered and seductive. Erotic at times that he could I almost feel his eyes melting into gold. Something that only happened when he killed, purposely or not. It was why he didn't like bringing women to his apartment. To his bed. He didn't like the loss of control.

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The room was silent, immersed in obscurity, hiding a secret. Darkness fell over Kaoru's naive form as she snuggled into the comfort and warmth of her blankets. The room was dark and cold willing her . . . . coaxing her into a deep slumber. The place where her predator dwelled.

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She moved through the emptiness running in a direction she knew but could not see. He was there, waiting. Despite her blindness to direction she still went, willingly if not eagerly.

The sound of his footsteps could be and echo of her heart. She felt overwhelmed by a surge of feelings. She wanted nothing more than to be enveloped, swallowed by the shadow. Consumed.

Kaoru gasped, her heart jumping to her throat as she was embraced from behind. She never knew where he came from, just that he was there. He planted a small kiss on her neck before his mouth moved upward leaving a trail of tiny moist kisses along the way. Kaoru leaned back into the firmness of his body. Her head tilting back and exposing more of her throat to the hot seeking mouth. His lips pressed long lingering kisses over her neck. He laid and open mouth kiss on her chin making her shiver. His tongue robbed her of senses as it strayed from her chin to her mouth, licking, biting and sucking her lower lip.

He caused a deep stirring deep inside her and she wanted burn in his heat as much as she wanted to run away. To feel him as much as to burn him. To hurt him as much as to inflame him.

She fell a tug in the back of her mind and immediately she knew what it meant. She turned in his arms wanting desperately to stay. But the pulling grew insistent, wrenching her away when she resisted the tug.

"Don't hide from me." The wind carried his words to her even as she faded from the dark domain.

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Kaoru's eyes opened slowly. Everything was quite dark, still sometime before the break of day or so she surmised. "You can try and hide in the dark but the shadows still now you're there." She knew that. She wasn't trying to hide though. She'd been trying to stay.

'Kami,' how she hated the man sometimes. If she hadn't seen him in the cafe earlier she wouldn't have had such a dream. The way he'd looked at her before he'd dashed off though had almost made her melt. She sighed; she really lacked self-control. Though he was partially to blame because he really did haunt her dreams.

Hmm, not enough Battoussai. I myself can't wait for more of him. We'll see how the story flows.

All right, as far as Kaoru's hate.

Yes, I will tell you why the past Kaoru ended up hating Kenshin.

I think I might also have to write out the airport scene. I still don't know if I will be adding AM to this fic. I have another AU fic [present time] and that one has both KK and AM so if this one doesn't give it to you, well I'll be sure to include a lot of it in the next one. ^_^

Small Notes: Himura Kenshin was a former member of the Public Security Bureau. The PSB is a national police force used by the Ministries. It is almost military in nature and often engages in espionage and special operations. Kenshin has killed in his line of work. ( I will go into that later on. )

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Please remember that anything between these lines means Dream Sequence. In this chapter it was Kaoru who fell into one of her dreams.

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All right everything else I think was self explanatory but if you still have questions e-mail me. Thanks for reading.