Protection

Disclaimer: No own.

A/N: Fine, I continued it. But because I needed a conclusion myself.

.x.x.x.x.

Sometimes he wondered just why he had walked away.

Was it because he was afraid of Battosai?

No, never that.

Maybe it was that he was afraid of…her?

No. Not really.

Really, it must have been rejection he was frightened of. It was inevitable that Kamiya would choose Battosai in the end. No matter what he did, she would always feel more for the stupid oro-ing redhead. So really, why bother?

Perhaps the love frightened him more than anything else.

He felt a fool to have admitted it to her in such a brash, harsh way, without giving her time to reply. But he didn't need her reply. He had already known it in his heart.

"I love Kenshin."

.x.x.x.x.

Saito did his best to avoid the Kamiya dojo over the next weeks. Having lost control and succumbed to blind sentiment at the last moment, the shame was too much for him to bear. And he did NOT, under ANY circumstances, want to see her.

The truth was, though, that did want to.

His cold heart ached with the need to look on her face, even if it was filled with love for his nemesis.

He knew he was being a fool. He knew this was completely unlike him. He knew he hadn't felt this strongly for a woman since the Bakumatsu. Only…Tokio had loved him as well. This was an entirely different matter.

"Boss? Someone's here ta see ya…" Chou said hesitantly, poking his broom-topped head into Saito's office.

"Let him in."

"Well…it's a her, sir."

Saito's breath caught, but he hid it the best he could. "Let HER in then. What's an assistant FOR?"

Chou nodded and left. Barely a moment passed before the woman he had been both hoping and dreading to see slipped in.

"Kamiya."

"Saito…?"

"What is it, woman? I haven't got all day." Yes he had. But she couldn't know that.

She looked down and twisted a fold in her kimono. "About…about what you said last time we met…"

He tried and failed not to care. "Yes? I hope you didn't take that to heart, Kamiya. I didn't mean a word of it."

Her face visibly fell. "…I see. I'll just be…going then…"

"Tell me what it was you came to say, first. It's rude to take up my time without any business." He didn't really care.

A bitter smirk twisted her lips. "Well…I WAS going to say…I do believe I love you, too. But…I guess that doesn't really matter. Good afternoon…I'm sorry to waste your time…"

He reached across the desk and grabbed her wrist. "Kaoru…"

When she turned back to look at him, eyes wide in confusion, he roughly yanked her closer and finished what he had started, paperwork scattering off the desktop. The kiss wasn't long, passionate, romantic, or deep, but it quite clearly said, "oh, and about that whole thing about me not meaning a word of it, I didn't really mean a word of that…now how does one go about undoing that damn obi…? Ha ha, kidding about that one too, but meet me later somewhere more private…" Needless to say, Kaoru was more than a bit shocked.

"Saito?"

"Don't worry, Kamiya. I meant it."

"S-so…"

"I love you, idiot."

She glared, still very pink. "That's not very nice!"

But when he kissed her again, she really didn't have any complaints.

.x.x.x.x.

A/N: There. Don't forget to review. That was a bit lighter than last…now review. And if you'll excuse me, I have to go walk to the mall. Please review. Ja, all! Review!