Author: Bradybunch4529
RatingPG-13 to R
Disclaimers: Not mine in any way. Just borrowing them for awhile.
Summary:AU Modern Kaoru is considered a piano virtuoso and Battousai is a leading mob boss. What happens when the two worlds collide?
Reviewers:
Half-breed-demon: Thanks!
PEACH:Thanks so much!
Apathetic Empath: I understand completely! I'm considering a Heero/Relena fic. I'll just keep you if you don't mind. I'm glad that descriptions were better, I worked really hard on it. He does have great eyes. Thanks! I know but I'll work it out, you'll see. She may be young but little ones love following adults around and try everything you do! As for his job, hints of it are in this chapter! It will get in there. Stick with me for a little longer. Saitoh as a dad is kinda funky but it really fit the story.
TinyTerry: I was really careful last time. I'll try and fix it this time around. Sorry!
Tkdl:Thanks!
Scarlet Rayne:Thanks for the compliment. The document manager just doesn't like me. And you are so welcome!
Froggi3: Thanks!I'll do my best!
Gabyhyatt:So simple! Thanks!
Tameka-tanuki-jouchan:Love the name. Possessive is always the way. She won't! Thanks!
Piratical( ):Thrilled you enjoyed! Thanks!
Reignashii:Thanks so much. It was cute wasn't it!
Iridescent Twilight:Love the username! Insomnia is terrible isn't it? I suffer from it all the time. I hope that you managed to get some sleep. Thanks for reviewing and the compliment.
Flaming-amber:You are going to turn my head! I'm glad that the depth of the characters came through so well. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the chapter!
Ironchefs lady:Thanks so much. Hopefully I will keep you interested!
Sally( ):Does make you wonder, doesn't it? Thanks for the compliment! I try really hard to keep everyone in character.
Aya 45: You are so welcome! Thanks for reading the story! And thanks for the compliment!
Royal bluekitsune: Thanks! He's so cute! There is something thrilling about it.
Anaraine221: Definitely a K&K fic. I promise! Just stay with me a little longer! Soujiro & Kaoru's relationship will get explained soon! I promise!
Chapter 3: Dancing
Kenshin Himura paused for a moment at the entrance to the ballroom. Inside a sea of humanity was spread out across the grand expanse. Hundreds of tables circled the polished dance floor, their white table clothes a brilliant contrast to the colorful flower arrangements in the center of each table. A band was playing softly at the edge of the stage, conversations easily overwhelming the music. A bar was along one side and tuxedo clad waiters moved easily through the crowd. Their expression polite and their eyes concealing their boredom as they smiled at the patrons.
"I don't see her anywhere," Megumi whispered into his ear. Kenshin tilted his head up to her and nodded. His violet eyes busily scanning the crowd for Kaoru. "Do you think she skipped it?" Megumi asked.
"No." Kenshin shook his head, "she's here. Her manager would make sure that she stayed and mingled."
"If you say so," Megumi told him with a sigh and a shrug of her shoulders.
"Mr. Himura," a male voice interrupted them, warmly welcoming. "It's a pleasure to see you here." The man beamed at them and shook Kenshin's hand. "We weren't expecting to see you."
"I had a change of plans," Kenshin told him easily. "And it's for a very good charity."
"Yes it is. A paticular favorite of one of our performers," the man confided. "It was the only way to get her here. She's currently in the middle of a world tour."
"Really?" Kenshin's expression was politely interested.
"Oh yes," the man told them eagerly. "Miss Kamiya has been an inspiration tonight. She had three encore's."
"Miss Kamiya?" Kenshin repeated softly. His violet eyes smiled up at the man before glancing around the room. "I was hoping to meet her and congratulate her on her performance. But I don't see Miss. Kamiya anywhere."
"Hmm," the man hummed slightly to himself. He scanned the room and then looked back at Kenshin. "She's here. I saw here speaking with Miss. Tomokio not too long ago. It's possible that she went ahead and left. She's been under a lot of stress lately."
"No matter." Kenshin assured the man with a smile. "I'm sure that if she's here I'll run into her.
"Of course Mr. Himura," the man nodded again before disappearing into the crowd.
'Sounds like she may have already left," Megumi observed lightly, her hand tightening around Kenshin's elbow.
"She's here," Kenshin told her shortly. "I can still feel her here."
"What if she's staying in the hotel?"
"Then I'll find her."
Megumi shook her head slightly and went back to scanning the room. A waiter paused at her elbow and offered her a glass of champagne. Megumi accepted it with a smile and took a small sip. The champagne's bubbles burst on her tongue, it's light taste making her smile. She continued her scan of the room, pausing when a familiar face was suddenly revealed.
"Kenshin," she hissed. Her lips barely moving as she continued her scan.
"Hmm."
"We've got company."
"Where?" Kenshin looked around casually. His voice and eyes suddenly alert for any danger.
"Jineh."
"What's he doing here?" Kenshin mused as he looked through the crowd.
"I'm sure he's not here for the music," Megumi muttered.
"Miss Kamiya," a voice broke through Kaoru's conversation. She smiled at the two women she was talking to before looking at the man that appeared out of the crowd.
"Yes?" Her tone and expression was polite as she allowed the man to shake her hand.
"I just wanted to thank you for accepting our invitation. The committee knows how difficult is was for you to cut these days from your already hectic schedule."
"It was my pleasure," Kaoru assured him with a smile. "Your charity is one of my favorites."
"Oh and Mr. Himura wanted to meet you," the man continued.
"Mr. Himura?" Kaoru mused as she too looked around the room. "I don't believe I know Mr. Himura."
"A very successful business man. He inherited the business when his family was killed in a plane crash. I do believe that he was a teenager at the time."
"How terrible for him," Kaoru commiserated. She knew how hard losing your family could be.
"It was quite shocking at the time," the man told her. "But his uncle, who had walked away when he was a teenager, came back and raised him."
"It's nice that he had some family to take him in," Kaoru observed with a smile.
"I am so sorry," the man suddenly gushed. "You lost your parents when you were quite young didn't you?"
"When I was four," Kaoru admitted.
"So young?" A frown crossed the man's forehead. "But I thought that your bio said that your father taught you Kendo."
"He did," Kaoru nodded. She laughed slightly before continuing, "do you have children?"
"No."
"Well I was a daddy's girl and from the moment I could walk I followed him around. I loved mimicking him," Kaoru sighed slightly. "Especially when he was doing his Kendo exercises. So he started teaching me out of self-defense. I would try and pick up his bokken and smacked myself upside the head over and over again."
"I see," the man laughed.
"Children are quite precocious," Kaoru told him. "The lessons stuck with me and my adoptive parents let me keep up on them."
"There he is," the man suddenly exclaimed as the crowd in front of them shifted slightly.
Kaoru turned to look and found herself meeting the dark eyes of a gorgeous woman. Kaoru's head tilted and she smiled politely at the woman, confused as to the sudden widening of the woman's eyes. Then the woman was turning and Kaoru caught a glimpse of red hair. Her heart began to pound even as she tried to deny it.
The man turned toward her and Kaoru found herself meeting a pair of violet eyes. The scar on the cheek, the red hair and the smirk that suddenly crossed his face was familiar but not those eyes. Her eyes narrowed and as she watched amber suddenly swirled through those violet depths.
Then the crowed shifted again and she lost sight of him. Her heart was pounding and fear flooded her veins. "That was Mr. Himura?" Kaoru asked carefully.
"Oh yes," the man nodded easily. "He's a large patron of the arts."
"I see," Kaoru replied. She smiled slightly, "could you excuse me please?"
"Of course," the man nodded as Kaoru turned away from him and began to move through the crowd.
Kaoru's blue eyes scanned the crowd quickly, trying to find her parents or Soujiro. She couldn't believe that he had actually came after her. Her heart pounded in her chest and a strange feeling was spreading through her body. Kaoru shoved the feeling to one side, refusing to deal with it right now.
Suddenly strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her off of her feet. Kaoru screamed as she was spun around. "Kaoru! So good to see you!" A male voice exclaimed in her ear. The tension suddenly drained from her body and she went limp in the embrace.
The man set her down and she turned to look into familiar blue eyes.
"Hello Yahiko," Kaoru greeted with a small smile. He had grown in the year since she had seen him. His brown hair was still in a disarray around his face but his face had lost some of the baby fat and matured since he had entered college. "It's good to see you."
"You don't look too bad ugly," Yahiko told her easily.
"Don't call me ugly!" Kaoru flashed at him, her hand twitching to smack him upside the head.
"Tired though," Yahiko continued as if she hadn't spoke. His brown eyes tracing her features worry lining his face. "Dad's right. You're headed for a crash."
"I'm fine," Kaoru assured him, waving off his concern with a smile. "It's just been rough."
"So I've heard," he told her as he slipped his hands into the pockets of his slacks.
"Don't worry," Kaoru told him as she stepped closer to him, her hand cupped his cheek easily. "I'll be fine once the tours over."
"You've got another three stops right?" Yahiko asked as he hand rose to capture hers. He pressed a kiss to her palm as he smiled at her.
"Yes," Kaoru affirmed with a smile. A small disturbance in the crowd had her peering around Yahiko. A flash of red reminded her why she was trying to escape. The band started up a traditional waltz and an idea suddenly came to her. "Dance with me!" Kaoru suddenly ordered Yahiko.
"What?" Yahiko stared down at Kaoru like she had lost her mind.
"Dance with me!" Kaoru told him as she dragged him out onto the dance floor. There were only a couple of people on the dance floor and Kaoru turned to Yahiko and took up the traditional waltz pose.
Yahiko still appeared confused but his right hand rose to cup hers and his left settled on the small of her back. He swept her easily into the music, their feet automatically moving to the familiar steps of the waltz. Kaoru smiled up at Yahiko, ignoring the annoyance growing in his brown eyes. He had always hated the dance lessons when they were growing up but Tokio had been determined that her children would know how to dance.
And so between the Kendo, piano, and sports they had taken dance lessons. Traditional, jazz, and everything in between, there had even been a ballet class thrown in. Yahiko had fought bitterly the entire time but he had learned the dances. It had made him quite popular at the private school they had attended.
His hands guided her easily into a turn and complicated step before drawing her close again. Kaoru laughed delightedly up at him, her sapphire eyes shining brilliantly into his warm brown eyes. Yahiko grinned slightly as he guided her into another turn, before following in a complicated counter step that had them meeting again.
"Brings back memories huh?" Kaoru asked with a small grin.
"Don't remind me," Yahiko groaned. "Mom was obsessed with the lessons."
"That she was," Kaoru agreed easily, following his lead without thinking. "At least we finally quit coming home with more bruises than we got at Kendo."
"That's because you were always clumsy," Yahiko teased.
"I was not!" Kaoru protested as she glared at her brother. "You were the one who couldn't figure out what the beat was. It was easy for me with my music."
"The only thing easy for you was the fact that you could count the beat. It didn't mean that you actually knew which foot went with it.
"You are an annoyance," Kaoru hissed at him. Her hand tightened on his shoulder as they completed another turn.
"But I'm your annoyance Ugly," Yahiko told her with a smile. Koaru's lips twitched in response before she managed to control them.
The music was drawing to a close and Yahiko lead her through the complicated half step turn and back step turn before dipping her low. The stood up to the sound of clapping and their eyes widened as they realized that everyone had been watching their dance. Even the other dancers had stopped and stood clapping along. Kaoru could feel her cheeks burning even as she curtseyed to the crowed while Yahiko bowed. They glanced at each other and began to laugh.
A driving beat suddenly filled the hall and Kaoru's eyes widened in pleasure. She turned to Yahiko only to find him shaking his head and backing away. "Uh-uh. No Kaoru," he told her defensively. "I will not do the tango with you."
"Come on Yahiko. It'll be fun," Kaoru pleaded.
"No!" He told her firmly and Kaoru sighed in defeat. Then she spotted Soujiro standing at the edge of the floor and a smile lit her face.
"Sou!" Kaoru called easily. "Come dance with me," she invited with a smile.
Soujiro sighed but stepped forward with a smile. He ignored the smirk on Yahiko's face as he passed by. Kaoru turned to Soujiro and held out her arms. Soujiro took one hand and spun her around easily. Kaoru followed his lead, stopping when her back was resting against his chest and his arm was wrapped around her waist, with one hand catching her right hand and holding it out from them.
A smile touched Kaoru's face as she rested easily in his embrace. He just had to be showy about it, she thought with a grin. His head tipped forward, his blond strands mingling with her black ones. His light linen suit a brilliant contrast to her black gown. Soujiro nodded at the band and they started up again.
The two dancers held still for a long moment. Her head resting on his shoulder and his chin resting on hers. Then with a rush of movement, he was spinning her around and pulling her against his chest. Eyes met and heated as the dance began. Soujiro leading easily through the steps, each movement designed to heighten the tension between them.
Kenshin watched the two of them. The way that they moved easily with each other, two people very comfortable with the other. Jealous roared through him, even as Kenshin tried to remind himself that the two had been friends for a very long time. And it was perfectly normal for them to have danced together multiple times. But watching as Soujiro pulled Koaru close to dip her down, the way that his nose just grazed her neck as he bent with her, Kenshin couldn't make himself believe it.
He wondered as he watched them how many other men were this familiar with his little birdie. After all Kaoru had been on the dance floor with another man before Soujiro. Their waltz showed familiarity with individual idiosyncrasies and a long practice with each other. Before that, he had held her against him and Kaoru had accepted the touch. She had even dared to stroke his cheek and smile tenderly at the young man.
"Kenshin," Megumi muttered under her breath. "You need to calm down. You're eyes are changing!"
"Shut up," Kenshin ordered her before taking a deep breath. "Call Aoshi. I want to know who the first man was and what Soujiro and Kaoru's relationship is. This is deeper than a bodyguard/protectee relationship. And I want to know immediately."
"Of course," Megumi agreed and slipped away from Kenshin.
His burning violet eyes followed the couple on the dance floor. Rage burned through him with each brush of Soujiro's hand down Kaoru's spine. His fists tightened when Kaoru laughed at Soujiro and his eyes smiled in response. Not the fake humor that he normally portrayed but a real smile and warmth. The music came to an end with a flourish and Kenshin found himself striding forward. He couldn't wait any more and knew that neither one would make a scene with so many people watching.
His hands slid around Kaoru's waist and he drew her back to him. His breath warmed the back of her neck, enjoying the way that the black strands cascaded down her back. Her chest was heaving from the earlier dance and his fingers traced each of her ribs. He spun her around as the band began to play again. Her eyes widened and she tried to pull away but he held her easily. With her heels, Kenshin came only to her shoulders, his mouth dropping a kiss on there as he swung her away from Soujiro. Her free hand pushed at his shoulder and she looked back at Soujiro.
"Let me go," Kaoru ordered through gritted teeth.
"I don't think so my little birdie," Kenshin told her lazily. His violet eyes smoldered as they looked up into her furious blue eyes. "I have just got you and I'm not about to let go."
"You don't have a choice," Kaoru whispered fiercely. "I do not want to dance with you."
"But you danced with
others," Kenshin told her silkily. "Let them touch you."
"What
do you mean?" Kaoru's eyes narrowed as she stared down at him.
"Are you implying….?" Her voice trailed off as she watched
jealousy flare in his eyes. "That's just sick!" Kaoru told
him. "And what the hell business is it of yours?"
"I told you that you are mine," Kenshin reminded her easily. "I don't like other people touching what is mine." His hand stroked up her spine and his lips brushed across her shoulder.
"I belong to no man!" Kaoru hissed at him. "Least of all a thug like you!"
"But you do belong to me," Kenshin assured her with a smile. "And I will not have other men touching you."
"It's my body!"
"The next man that touches you will die," Kenshin told her evenly. His hand tightening when Kaoru eyes flew to his in stunned disbelief. "If you want to keep pushing, go right ahead. Their blood will be on your hands."
"My turn I believe," a cool male voice suddenly interrupted. His hands spinning Kaoru out of Kenshin's grasp and behind him.
"Who the hell…?" Kenshin's voice trailed off as he stared into cold gold eyes. "Wolf," he growled.
"Battousai," Saitoh nodded in response.
"Dad?" Kaoru questioned anxiously. Her hand wrapped around his elbow as she peered up at him.
"Don't worry dear," Saitoh told her without looking away from Kenshin. His hand patted hers, "your mother is tired and ready to go."
"Okay," Kaoru nodded. Her eyes going between them one last time before Soujiro was wrapping a hand around hers and leading her away.
"Dad?" Kenshin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Indeed."
"Now I see why Soujiro left Shishio," Kenshin murmured. "He was following you."
"Was he?" Saitoh's eyebrow arched in question. "You will stay away from Kaoru. She's far too delicate and innocent to be one of your whores." Saitoh's eyes flickered away from Kenshin to land on Megumi as she made her way towards them. "Your companion seems to fit the bill easily. She probably wouldn't think twice about spreading her legs. She's that type."
"Kaoru's mine," Kenshin reminded him. He ignored Megumi's hand on his arm. "I won't let anyone get in my way."
"Looks like your whore wants her payment for tonight," Saitoh told him and turned away from them.
"Who are you calling a whore?" Megumi demanded, fingers curled into fists as she waited for an answer. Saitoh didn't even stop, moving through the crowd easily. "Who does he think he is?"
"The Wolf," Kenshin answered shortly. "We're leaving now." He walked away, not bothering to check and see if she was following.
"Interesting," Jineh breathed as he watched the confrontation. "Shishio is going to be thrilled to hear that everyone is back in town."
A/N: Well there is another chapter. I hope that it clears up a little of the confusion that was left over from last time. Not much K&K in this chapter, but it's coming I promise! Remember to let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by!