Disclaimer: I have no rights in regards to any characters (other than originals) used in this fiction.

Thank you all so very much for reviewing this fic (I am DEEPLY honored by ! I know a lot of you were confused about the plot of the first ficlet, so I'll try to explain it as best I can and understand it myself.

The last line 'I love this infidelity'; that is supposed to mean that yes, she DOES love Aoshi. He's like her little secret…her lie that she hides from the rest of the world. I guess you could call that personification of the infidelity into Aoshi…

I don't think Aoshi was trying so much to make Misao guilty as he was trying to make sure she would be happy. See, the theme of this ficlet is that Misao is married to Soujiro, a very rich business man, but is having an affair with the struggling artist type of guy: Aoshi. The number one priority of most people in love is to make sure their other half is happy. Aoshi is simply trying to make sure that Misao would be happy with him, giving up all those things (big house, money, expensive clorthing, etc…). But we all know Misao is deeper than THAT.

Um…somebody asked why Misao was contemplating any of this in the first place. That's easy. She was guilty, and she had to make sure she was doing the right thing for herself. She needed to make sure was prepared for the type of life altering thing she was about to do.

OKAY! Now that that's out of the way, let's get on with the next ficlet, shall we? This one will be painful for me to write, but… Oh and if you have anymore questions, you can leave them ina review or email them to me. I'd be more than happy to answer questions!


Kenshin clutched the steering wheel tightly, almost to the point of his knuckles turning white. The red light seemed to stretch on forever, annoying him amidst his anticipation. He smirked slightly at his behaviour. I am behaving like a sex-obsessed teenage boy. But he couldn't help it; everything about her was so intoxicating. Her skin, her smell, her taste. Desire for her drove his body wild with excitement for that woman. Gods what have I done?

"What did you tell your girlfriend?" Her sultry voice purred over the phone in his office.

Kenshin smirked, already pulled into her web. "I told her I was going to be working late and then going for drinks after work."

"Good. That means I can have you all to myself ALL… NIGHT… LONG." Kenshin shuddered in longing and rushed out of his office.

Kenshin turned off the ignition and looked at himself for a few moments in his reareview mirror before stepping out of his car and heading to the elevator of the parking garage.


Kaoru frowned at the vase of nearly fresh lilacs. "I just got these two days ago." She was usually great with plants (much better than with food), but for some reason, this batch of lilacs seemed hell-bent on dying. Over the past few days, it had been wilting and withering away slowly, as if mimicking her heart.

Her eyes fell to the floor as she threw the flowers out and placed the vase carefully in the sink, not even bothering to wash it. Nothing seemed right anymore but she could not place her finger on exactly what had caused the uneasy unrest that had been lingering in her home for the past two months. "Kenshin. It must be Kenshin." She sighed and raked her hands through her hair, let down from its usual ponytail.

Somehow, all the bliss suddenly started to fade away. There was hardly any passion in their love-making. Kaoru wasn't sure if she was imagining it or not, but it seemed as though Kenshin had lost any and all interest in her; his kisses didn't send that electric tingle up her spine as they did a few months before. It was as if he put no feeling into anything he did for her. His touches, though still soft and gentle, did not hold the same love they used to.

Kaoru sighed sadly and gathered stray clothing in their bedroom, placing it into a basket and left their apartment- hers and KENSHINS- to the laundry room.


She opened the door and welcomed him inside with a slow, sexy smile. Kenshin placed his keys on the counter near the door and shut the door behind him, securely locking it. Tomoe approached him, clad in nothing but a white wife-beater and pair of shorts. She draped her arms across his shoulders and leaned close to his ear, tickling the shell with her tongue (AN: EW EW EW! I am in SO MUCH PAIN RIGHT NOW!). "Hello, Kenshin…" The way she left his name hanging in the air… "How was your day?"

She leaned over and brushed her lips with his, causing Kenshin's heart to flutter and skip a beat at once. Kenshin chose to answer with actions rather than words. Leaning in, he kissed her hard and long. Pulling away, he was satisfied at seeing his lover's swollen, red lips.


Kaoru touched her lips softly as she waited silently in the elevator to get to the basement. They felt so cold. Kenshin used to tell her how soft they were, just before he stole them for a deep, breathless kiss.


Tomoe smiled up at him after such a breathless kiss. Kenshin kissed them again, this time softer and gentler before his lips fell to her throat as his hand moved to grasp her wrists. Tomoe's eyes fluttered closed as she threw her head back to allow him better access to her neck. Moaning softly only encouraged him as they began to back up, to the couch.


Kaoru picked up the basket and walked into the laundry room, sighing heavily. "Ah, Kaoru-san! I'm moving out and selling my couch! Would you and Himura-san like to buy it?" A young lady named Tae who lived on the floor above Kaoru smiled at Kaoru as she exited the laundryroom.

Kaoru smiled back and shook her head. "I don't think so, Tae-san. It's really Kenshin's couch. I'm not sure if he would like to get rid of it or not. I'll ask him about it, though." Tae nodded in understanding.

There are too many memories on that couch…


Tomoe and Kenshin clumsily toppled over the side of the sofa and Tomoe laughed loudly. Kenshin climbed right back on top of her and began making quick work of her t-shirt. Her hands, meanwhile, worked at the buttons on his shirt. Straddling her, he pulled upp and pulled the shirt off, throwing it off across the room.

Gazing up at Kenshin bare-chested, Tomoe grinned. "I love you…"


He knows I love him, right? Gods, I love him so much. Kaoru thought in fear as she loaded the washing machine. Coming to a pair of Kenshin's jeans, Kaoru rolled her eyes and began digging around in its pockets. The last time she hadn't checked his pockets, she'd ended up washing (and effectively breaking) an expensive watch and he had to scour the entire country of Japan to find a new one. Kaoru wasn't surprised when her fingers closed around something and pulled it out.

Not sparing it a first glance, Kaoru was about to toss it away when the name 'Kenshin' printed neatly on the front caught her eye. It was really the pink and red hearts drawn all around his name that caught her attention. Hastily dumping the rest of the clothes into the washing machine, she slammed the lid down and sat down in a nearby chair, clutching the note tightly in her fist, she took a deep breath and opened the folded paper, smoothing out its creases.


Kenshin sighed; he was in bliss, an absolute heaven and wondered if it was a sin to feel so good. His skin on her skin…their contact. And the infernos hadn't receded…if anything, their touches had simply increased the need to be together. Her scent… her taste. Everything about her was simply intoxicating and Kenshin felt as though he was addicted to her. If so, it was an addiction he never wanted to cure…


My Dearest Kenshin,

I have never felt this way about anyone before. It's as though I NEED you by my side; like I can't go on without the knowledge that you'll soon come to see me. You're like a drug, Kenshin. You are so sweet and loving and I would do anything to experience those feelings again. Everything about you entices me…you elicit my passions and my love from the depths of my soul. Your scent and touch drive me to sheer madness and nothing can cure it but you. Simply you. All I want for the rest of my life is to be with you…to feel loved and happy as no one else has ever been able to make me. I love you, Kenshin and I will be forever yours.

-Tomoe

Kaoru hadn't realized when the tears began to fall, burning a trail into her face, one of which would never heal nor be forgotten. Tearing the letter into the tiniest bits, she bit back a sob and clenched her eyes tight, hoping with all her being that none of what she had just read was real, that this Tomoe person didn't even exist and that Kenshin was there to console her and tell her it was alright and that none of it was true.

But he isn't here. He's at work. Or with friends. Or with her. Kaoru thought dismally, realizing that their relationship over the past two months had all been a lie. She stared at her hands which were folding and unfolding themselves tightly in her lap and let a single tear slip from under her closed lids before wiping them away and composing herself.

Get a grip, Kaoru. You should have known that he would break your heart. But he was so sweet and kind and loving caring and…sincere. Yes, well, as father said, nobody is ever good enough for his little girl, no matter how wonderful they may seem. Or maybe…I'm not good enough for anybody else. At least not for Kenshin… Kaoru's heart stabbed painfully as she thought that. She sighed tiredly and stood to her feet, moving towards the doorway.

"But he was the only one I've ever loved." She whispered to herself before going back upstairs to pack her belongings.


Kenshin and Tomoe lay naked and sated under a blanket. Placing a stray kiss on her collarbone, Kenshin's mind began to wander to the other woman in his life for the first time all day, the one who was sitting at home, waiting for him to return. Kaoru… No guilt came attached with her name, though.

A new thought entered his mind as he fell into a restless sleep. "She might've been the only one I've loved."


GODS! This ficlet put me through pain writing it. Though it's good stuff (all juxtaposition and stuff) it's very OOC for all of them I'd say (at least even just a little bit), but it fits in with the context of the time and my whole idea. I like it, even though I am not so fond of the pairing and the activities taking part against poor Kaoru, but it's good stuff and I would love a review from you great people!