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Review responses:
Sims are awsome: I'm sorry I took so long to update but I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, granted that you still are one of my readers.
Smurfan: Noo, you don't really think I'm that mean, do you? I thought so! Hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you did the others.
Kristy-chan: It's great to hear that you're waiting for me to update! It warms my heart.
animeLCgrl: Hehehe! You'll soon know how Kenshin is going to react. Muahahahaha cough, cough ahem…
The Consequences of Falling in Love
Recap:
Kaoru is busy unloading card board boxes from the elevator and is grouching over the fact that Sano is nowhere to be seen to help her with the heavy stuff. Holding a particularly heavy thing in her arms she feels a presence behind her and assumes it is her lazy cousin and says;
"Don't just stand there like an idiot! Help me with this box!"
Turning around she discovers that it isn't Sano that's standing behind her but but instead a very attractive man with violet eyes.
A/N: Here is the new chapter! Enjoy!
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Chapter Five: Meetings
"Oro!" 'Gee Himura, that sounded really intelligent.'
Kenshin got himself together and gingerly took the heavy box from Kaoru, who dumbfounded let him take it from her. She couldn't believe her eyes. One moment she thought she was reprimanding Sano, the next; she had just snapped at and insulted the redheaded fellow climber from last week. And all she could do was stare into his eyes with her mouth hanging open looking like a complete fool.
"Err, I…I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay, really. Now where is this box supposed to go?" Kenshin turned around and started for their apartment. She followed him swiftly.
"Wait you don't have to carry that box. It's not that heavy, honestly!"
"Then why were you huffing over it for several minutes and muttering about its weight and swearing over Sano's nonexistent presence." He turned to her and meaningfully raised an eyebrow towards her.
She hesitated. 'Did I say that out loud?' Then she blushed over her own stupidity and letting him keep the box she muttered, "Good point."
He asked again where he was supposed to put the box.
"Hmm, we better ask Megumi, since it belongs to her."
Megumi instantly spotted them when she heard her name. "It's so typically you to take advantage of someone you just met. And our new neighbour on top of that. Can't you at least try to act as an adult instead of a helpless girl?"
Kaoru fumed and was just about to talk back when Kenshin interrupted her,
"Oh, this is no bother at all. In fact I offered to help, seeing her struggle with this heavy thing. Besides we've met before. So where can I place this?" Kenshin asked for the third time.
Megumi looked a bit puzzled but tried to collect herself quickly. "Ah, okay. You can put it over here, if you please." Feeling a bit awkward about the matter, Megumi motioned for him to put the box in a wide niche, shaped as an angular horseshoe with bookshelves flanking a large window.
Megumi smiled at him. "Thank you Kenshin."
"It was my pleasure." He replied and looked at Kaoru from the corner of his eye. She didn't notice this though. "So are you all moving in here?"
"Yes, Sano and I thought the place was too large for just the two of us. So we asked if his sister Misao and Kaoru wanted to move in with us." Megumi explained. "At least Sano is used to having many people around him." She laughed a little.
Kenshin nodded in understanding and heard Sano walking down the steps. "Hey Kenshin! Did you come back to give us a hand?"
"No he didn't." Kaoru interjected. "He was kindly helping me with a box since you were too lazy to come to the elevator."
"Meet my cousin; the feisty Kamiya Kaoru who doesn't have the patience to wait a little for me. Kaoru this is Himura Kenshin, our new neighbour." The tall man slung his arm around Kaoru's shoulders and ruffled her hair."
She simply heaved a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes. "Yes I already know his name, we met earlier." Sano rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "And, I think I have waited long enough, so come on."
"Just a moment, let me just have something to drink first, my throat feels like I have swallowed sand." He said and darted towards the kitchen.
"Fine, just hurry."
Kenshin chuckled at their little argument. He liked these people and their teasing yet warm interaction with each other. But suddenly he felt a little like an outsider and deemed it best to take his leave. "Well I'll see you guys later." He turned and left the apartment with Kaoru following him.
"Um, thanks for covering up for me back there. And again I'm terribly sorry for yelling and insulting you."
"No problem. Besides, your yelling was directed towards someone else so I didn't take it personally. I'm sure you would never mean to yell at me now, would you?" He winked at her.
She giggled a little. "Not unless you deserve it."
Kenshin stopped in his tracks and widened his eyes in mock disbelief and retorted,
"How can you ever think that I would do anything that deserves yelling?" He moved his hand towards his heart in a theatrical gesture to empathise his innocence. "Oh, now my feelings are really hurt."
Kaoru just shook her head and giggled once more. She turned to the elevator again to proceed with carrying boxes. He asked if she wanted any more help. But after she had assured him that she would be perfectly fine, he took the other elevator down and went for a walk.
-ooOoo-
As Misao was placing the last of the boxes in front of the elevators in the lobby she heard the familiar 'ping' of the elevator doors. She immediately looked up expecting to see Kaoru but was instead met with Kenshin's smiling eyes.
"Hello Misao-san!"
A surprised Misao stuttered a greeting, "Hi, Kenshin-san."
"I just met with your family upstairs."
Silence met his proclamation and instead Misao's questioning eyes stared at him. "I live in the apartment opposite yours."
A light dawned upon Misao's features. "Oh, so you'reHimura-san?"
"Yes. Well I'll see you later, unless you too want help with those cartons?"
"What? Oh, no I couldn't let you do that." She quickly replied.
"Really it's not a problem; I already helped Kaoru a bit."
"Ah, well…"
Instead of waiting for her answer he started lifting the boxes and other items that laid in a pile into the elevator. All that was left fit in perfectly including Misao. With a wave he left the complex while Misao ascended the building.
Kenshin didn't realise he was smiling like a fool as he walked through the neighbourhood. His thoughts were of course lingering on his new neighbours, especially a certain blue eyed occupant. After their first meeting at the gym Sōjirō had teased him about the girl until he made Kenshin confess he hadn't been this attracted to anyone for ages. He admitted to himself that he was interested in this Kaoru. He had even hoped he would see her at the climbing hall again, but as he figured before; if it was meant to be they would meet again in one way or another. And now fate had bestowed him with this opportunity, and what an opportunity. She was his new neighbour, which would make approaching her all the more easier. He didn't have any serious intentions about her, at least not yet but he was looking forward to get to now her and have some fun. Kenshin sighed and his smile broadened in the blissful light of the sun. He revelled in the warmth the sun bestowed and took in the beauty of the blooming surroundings. It would soon be summer and yes, he would enjoy it by getting to know Kaoru. Small flecks of gold started to seep into his eyes as he mused about that.
-ooOoo-
After Kenshin had left Kaoru by the elevator she finished unloading the elevator with the help of Sano and Megumi, just in time for Misao to arrive with the last load. When they finally had taken care of the last batch the apartment looked like a war zone with cardboard boxes strewn everywhere. Kaoru and Misao helped each other get installed in their respective rooms, starting with Misao's. They had just finished unpacking all boxes containing various items and her beloved electric piano, all of which had been sent to Japan by her father, when the doorbell rang and Misao bounded away to receive their first visitor. Kaoru dusted her hands on her formfitting jeans and gazed satisfied around the room. Her room was now furnished with a nice soft bed where two people easily could sleep comfortably. Opposite the bed she had a desk with her computer and she had placed her piano facing the window right beside the door that lead out to the terrace. The bookshelf was placed facing the left side of the bed and was now, besides books, filled with her music notes as well as her CD's and her stereo. All she had left to do was to put her speakers up on the wall so she'd get surround, but she'd try to get Sano to do that. Although knowing her cousin it would go much faster if she did it herself. She looked down on the mess of empty cartons that littered the blue handmaid carpet and frowned. She was just bending over to collect them when a voice drifted towards her room.
"…and over here is Kaoru's room." came Misao's chirpy voice and a second later two heads popped in through the open door. "Hey are you ready yet? Mom just brought us homemade food!"
"Hello! What a nice room this is" Their grandfather exclaimed from the door. "And what a nice looking bed, now I know where I will nap after dinner. Ho.ho.ho!"
"Haha! Very funny! Kaoru said smirking slightly. "All the beds look just as nice as mine so feel free to use Misao's bed instead. But if I now you, you will be up with us all night like a never ending chatterbox."
She picked up a couple of boxes and neared the couple smiling. Just as she opened her mouth to say something they heard a shrill voice coming from the kitchen,
"Sagara Sanosuke! Keep your hands off those dishes! You have to wait 'till we're all seated."
"But. Mom, can't I have just a little bite? I'm so hungry!"
Kaoru deposited the boxes in the foyer and laughed merrily at Sano's predicament before following her cousin and grandfather to the kitchen table. Yahiko came slouching in through one of the terrace doors.
"Hey ugly" He greeted his cousin before he seated himself next to his brother.
"Well hello, you little brat!" Came her curt reply.
"We're here now." Megumi announced to her fiancé as she sat down by his other side and pecked him on the cheek.
"Was about time, I'm dying here." He answered and started filling up his plate with the steaming food his mother had brought them. The others dug in right after him; it wasn't only Sano that was hungry as a wolf. They had after all been unloading and packing up boxes all day, except for Okina, Kanako and Yahiko of course. They had arrived with the food just in time to see that mostly everything was in order now.
They ate quietly for a while until they had calmed their hunger. Then Kanako and Megumi started talking about the apartment's interior and how they were going to finish everything to morrow and other matters relating the subject of furnishing. Misao asked Kaoru about Sweden and how it had been there while Okina just sat in silence with his own thoughts and Sano and Yahiko just competed who could eat his food the fastest. Kaoru's and Misao's conversation died down after some time in favour for their food and their grandfather started talking in their steed. Kaoru took that opportunity to sneak away from the table to her room.
"Misao-chan I have a new job for you Monday morning."
"Really, what is it?"
Okina cleared his throat and then started to explain. "Well we are hiring a consultant firm who's developed a new quality management system for our company. It will be good for us if we implement it and he's visiting us on Monday at 10. I want you to take care of him and answer any questions he might have about our organisation and its internal network."
Misao nodded mutely.
"The name of this firm is Shinomori Inc. And it is Shinomori-san himself that will visit us."
Misao's heart froze. 'Shinomori, could it be?' "Might this man's first name be Aoshi?" She asked in a small voice.
"Why yes, it is. How did you know that?"
Fortunately no one was listening to Okina. Otherwise they would surely have heard a sly woman next to Sano laugh and make an embarrassing comment about Misao's crush on this particular businessman.
"Oh, I just know of someone named Shinomori Aoshi, so I thought it might be the same person."
"Hoho, the world really is small. How do you know him?"
"Err…actually I…well you see it's like this…"
Fortunately she was saved by Kaoru who came back to the dinner table.
"Hey guys! I have presents!"
Everybody's attention was immediately turned towards Kaoru, big smiles adorning the two younger males in the company.
"Gimme, gimme, gimme!" Yahiko and Sanosuke said in unison.
"Hey, take it easy!" Kaoru said indignantly. "If you are going to be greedy you'll get yours last."
Yahiko said something under his breath about ugly tanukis but Kaoru had excellent hearing so she slapped him in the back of his head.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"For having to big a mouth of course" She turned to Okina. "Anyway I would like you to have this gramps"
Okina carefully removed the black wrapping and revealed a bottle of alcohol. The label read Gammal Norrlands aquavit. The box also contained two small glasses.
"That's Swedish snaps and it is dad's favourite so I thought that you would like to try it as well" Kaoru explained happily.
"Ooh goodie. This looks like strong stuff! Thank you sweetie" He made a motion to pour some of the brawny clear beverage but was stopped by Kanako.
"Perhaps you could try it once Kaoru has given the others their gifts?" He sighed but patted Kaoru's hand fondly and asked her to continue.
"Okay, Kanako I have this for you" She gave her aunt a small package which she smilingly accepted. She cheerfully handed the others their presents and sat down again while they all started opening them enthusiastically.
Kanako got a pair of earrings made of pink freshwater pearls. Misao and Megumi got necklaces made of thin pink and black silk strings respectively, with freshwater pearls and flat little silver hearts adorning the length of the strings. Misao also got a CD with ABBA- the Definitive Collection. Sano and Yahiko each got handmade hunting-knives with handles made of reindeer antlers.
"You can wind the necklaces around your wrists and make them bracelets instead" Turning to her two male cousins she said, "And those knives are meant as decoration! Nothing else" Seeing that Yahiko studied his knife with admiring eyes.
Misao got up from the table and gave Kaoru a bone crushing hug.
"Thank you so much for the gifts"
"Yeah this was really great" Sano voiced and the rest of them agreed.
"You're welcome, but they are not only from me they're from dad as well although I picked most of them out."
"Oh by the way Kaoru, I've been wondering all day where you met our new neighbour before. I mean you haven't been around much since your arrival." Megumi casually inquired.
Kaoru froze. She knew there was nothing casual in Megumi's question, because the Fox was a very curious woman and Kaoru didn't want to tell her where she had met Kenshin. But Misao immediately jumped on that opportunity to tell the tale of, in her opinion, their adorable meeting in the gym.
"…it was so cute! They were looking at each other totally oblivious to the world around them."
"Misao! I did no such thing!"
"Did too"
"Na uh"
"Did too"
Megumi gave her characteristic laugh. "I do believe that the weasel is starting to rub off on the racoon if Kaoru starts gawking at unknown men. I never thought you would do that Kaoru. At least not while committed in a relationship."
Embarrassed but with dignity Kaoru raised from the table this was exactly why she didn't want Megumi to know anything. "You're right Megumi, I think I will go call him right now. Thanks for dinner oba-san."
"Hey it's still safe to watch, right Sano?" Misao exclaimed as defence for Kaoru. She didn't really think Kaoru had done anything wrong. After all people get attracted to others all the time but they don't always act on it.
Sano looked like a child caught with the hand in the cookie-jar. But the look of fear was soon replaced by an angry one directed at Misao. As Kaoru moved to her room, with the cordless phone in her hand, she heard a peeved Megumi starting to argue with her fiancé.
-ooOoo-
Kaoru dialled the long number to Germany. She heard three rings before the phone was picked up.
"Hallo" It was a female voice. Kaoru became nervous, had she called the wrong number?
"Um, Entschuldigung. I'm not sure I have the right number but i-is David there?"
"Yes, but who's asking." The woman said a bit rudely with a German accent.
"This is Kaoru, his girlfriend." Kaoru replied, now a bit annoyed. Who was this woman?
"Ah, Kaoru, I have heard so much about you! I'm sorry I was rude, my name is Ellen, I'm one of his co-workers."
"Okay, so is he there?"
"Yes but he's just getting dressed for the kick off barbeque we're headed to."
"Getting dressed?" She asked in a suspicious tone. Now Kaoru was really peeved. Her boyfriend had a lady in his apartment and he had no clothes on?
"Ah, here he is now, bye."
"Yes?"
"Hi! It's me."
"Oh, hi Kaoru." Was that nervousness she heard in his voice or was she just imagining it? "Now is not a good time to talk because I'm running a little late. I'm going to a barbeque."
"Yeah that Ellen-girl told me. What is she doing there anyway?"
"She's just here to pick me up for the party. They're having this little kick off to welcome new employees. Meaning me and some other guys."
"But why were you getting dressed with her there?"
"She thought my clothes were a little too strict so she made me change."
"I see." Kaoru said in a cold voice.
"Come on Kaoru, don't be a jealous girlfriend. It's nothing like that."
"How else am I supposed to interpret the situation?"
"I'm not talking with you if you're going to be like that. There's nothing going on between Ellen and me!"
"Right" Kaoru retorted sarcastically. "I don't want to talk to you either."
"I'll call you tomorrow, bye." And that was all he said before he hung up on her again.
She glared angrily at the silent phone in her hand and stalked out to the kitchen.
-ooOoo-
Sanosuke was feeling awkward. Megumi was not happy. And an unhappy Megumi was nothing to play with. Misao's comment had sent her into a full blown rage. She definitely didn't think it was alright to look at other people. They were now alone in the kitchen since his mother, siblings and grandfather had taken refuge in the living room.
"I don't see the point in looking when you're already involved with someone."
"Will you drop this now Meg? I admit that I look at other women, but that doesn't mean a thing. It's you that I love but I can't walk around with a blindfold over my eyes you know."
She cast him a scowl. "Okay! Then it's perfectly fine if I also look at others."
"You're such a hypocrite! 'Cause I saw how you were eying Kenshin when we first met him in the elevator. But I didn't put anything into that you know. Because I know that you love me too, right." He made puppy dog eyes and sent her an impish grin which earned him a whack on the head.
"Whatever!" She said loudly and walked out of the kitchen. "I don't want to talk to you right now." She said over her shoulder as she continued upstairs.
Sanosuke just sighed exasperatedly. "Women!" He rose from the table and ambled in towards the front door. "I'm going out" he said to the stunned family and passed a surprised Kaoru.
She gave Misao a look that asked 'What was that all about?' but her raven haired cousin just shook her head.
"Don't ask."
Feeling as the night had come to an abrupt end Kanako decided that they all should go home, which had Kaoru and Misao left with the dishes. The task of clearing the kitchen was easily done though since they had a dishwasher.
-ooOoo-
Sano sauntered into the local pub and ordered a beer. He turned around when he heard his name being called.
"Sano?"
He saw the red haired man sitting at a table with two men. One of them a stone face and the other with a never ending smile on his face.
"Oh, hey Kenshin"
He motioned for Sano to sit at their table.
"This is Aoshi and Sōjirō, guys this is Sanosuke my new neighbour."
Sano shook their hands.
"Nice to make your acquaintance"
Aoschi gave a polite nod and took a sip of his beer.
"So what brings you here all by your self?" Kenshin asked.
He heaved a huge sigh.
"I had a fight with my fiancé."
"Oh I'm sorry"
Sano gave a small chuckle.
"I had a fight with her in front of my whole family, not the smartest thing to do."
Kenshin didn't know what to say but Sano just continued.
"It was just a stupid thing really. You don't think it's wrong to look do you?"
"Err I'm not sure I understand what you mean"
"Look at women! And I know she checks others out too. But it doesn't mean anything at least not for me."
Kenshin or anyone else at the table for that matter could quite follow Sano, so they made him explain everything from Megumi's comment about Kaoru checking out others despite her being involved with someone to Misao's proclamation that it was okay to watch and then the quarrel with Megumi.
After hearing his story Kenshin finally gave a reply "Well, I think it feels worse than it really is. Just go home and make up with her and everything will be okay."
Sōjirō agreed. "And maybe you could try not to look at other women in the future." He smiled cheerfully. Aoshi nodded once again.
"Yeah I guess you're right"
"Of course we are" Kenshin smirked.
"Heh, well thanks guys and sorry for burdening you with my problems"
With that he rose and left the pub.
Kenshin contemplated the new information he had got on Kaoru. 'So she has a boyfriend. Not good, but I can get around that problem. After all I just want to have a fun summer.' And his eyes yet again glowed with amber as he finished his beer.
A/N:
Entschuldigung- excuse me
The type of jewlery described above actually exist andare made by Swedish designers that I think make gorgeous jewlery. The earrings are from Baglady and the necklaces by Silke. If anyone's interested the address is www(dot)baglady(dot)se
Unfortunately the site is in Swedish but they have a few nicepictures. I dont have the address to Silke but I can type it down here later or in the next chapter.
I'm so sorry for the long wait for this chapter but there's much going on in my family right now and on top of that I need to finish my exam paper wich willtake up quite much of my time from now on. So I've decided to put this storyon hiatus until that is finished. I'm sorry but that's just the way it is. But I promise to end this story.
Now, please give me your opinions of this chapter.