A New Battle

Chapter 7 - "Sparks Ignite"

A few days later Yahiko completely recovered from his 'illness' and was well enough to go and visit his girlfriend. Later that day he called Kaoru and told her that he was staying the night and she agreed to the idea, figuring it would do him good to get out for awhile. After she hung up the phone she went into the kitchen to fix herself a snack before dinner. She tried standing on her tiptoes to reach a plate on the top shelf but she was just too short to get it. She finally had to get the stool from the corner and stand up on it to reach the plate, and just as she was able to reach it Kenshin came in and arched an eyebrow at her, "What're you doing, Miss Kaoru?"

"Getting a plate, I was too short to get it so I had to get a stool."

Kenshin chuckled, "I would've gotten it for you if you'd asked me to, Miss Kaoru."

"I've got it, and besides I didn't want to bother you."

"You're no bother, that you're not, I just don't want you to fall, that I don't."

"Oh relax, Kenshin, I'm not going to... ah!"

As she was stepping off of the stool it flew out from under her and she fell towards the ground but Kenshin was next to her in a second and caught her in his strong arms, preventing her from falling, "Are you alright, Miss Kaoru?"

"Yeah, I'm o..." she raised her head to look at him, their closeness allowing their lips to meet briefly before they just looked at one another with slight shock, "I'm... I'm sorry... Kenshin."

"It's ok, that is it."

Kenshin set her back on the ground and she straightened herself up, a flush staining her cheeks as she smiled to hide her embarrassment, "Well, I guess you were right about me falling, next time I'll get you to do it and let you fall off of the stool."

He laughed, "All you need to do is ask me, I don't mind helping you, that I don't but..."

"But what?"

Kenshin smiled softly and ran his thumb over her bottom lip, his voice changing to a deeper tone as he leaned in to let his nose touch hers, "I really didn't mind you falling on me, that I didn't, let me know if you decide to fall again, I'd love to catch you again, that I would."

Before she could say anything he left the room, not noticing the smile that came to her lips as she watched him leave, "He's so cute at times, and that kiss wasn't really that bad... wait! That wasn't a real kiss, it was an accident! Get a clue, Kaoru, even if you do like him there's no way that you can get his attention!"

Kaoru looked into the mirror on the wall and let out a sigh, there was no way that Kenshin would go for her. She was short, tomboyish, and a lot younger than him, but... he did say that he didn't mind having to catch her and his eyes were so gentle when he said it. Kaoru smiled to herself as a plan started to form in her mind, she would get Kenshin's attention and she would have fun doing it. She quickly grabbed her purse and ran to where Kenshin was doing the laundry, "Hey Kenshin, I'm going to town, I'll be right back."

She started to head for the gate but she felt a large, rough hand grasp her wrist and pull her back, "Hold on, Miss Kaoru, I'll go with you, that I will."

"You don't have to, I just have to get something then I'll be right back."

"But it's not safe to go off by yourself, that it isn't."

"You can't come, Kenshin, and that's final!"

Kenshin looked at her for a long moment before he smiled playfully, "Are you going to meet a young man, Miss Kaoru?"

Kaoru flushed at the idea but decided to go along with it, "Yes, he's an old friend of mine and I happen to like him and I just wouldn't feel comfortable making moves on him while you're there."

Kenshin chuckled, "Alright, but be back before dark or I'll come and get you, that I will."

"Whether I'm done flirting or not, right?"

"Right."

"I'll be back long before dark, so don't worry."

Kaoru pulled her hand free and quickly left the dojo, letting out a sigh of relief before heading off into town. It took almost an hour for her to find everything she needed but she finally managed and started back towards the dojo. About a block from her house she checked her watch and groaned when she saw that it was almost four. She started to run and screeched around the corner, running into someone and dropping her things as she did so, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to run into you, I wasn't paying attention!" Kaoru apologized

The man simply smiled, "It's alright, I was dozing off myself, here let me help you."

He knelt down and helped her gather her things before he helped her up, "Why are you in such a rush?"

"I don't like to be out after dark."

"I see, would you like me to walk you home?"

Kaoru looked up at the man and gasped slightly when she saw his eyes, they were a striking silver and stood out sharply in the fading light. He had neck length black hair and the scar on his neck contrasted harshly against his pale skin but what caught her breath was his smile, it seemed to just draw her in and grasp her but his deep, accent filled voice snapped her out of it, "Miss?"

"Huh... oh, sorry, I spaced out, no thank you, I can get home from here."

"If that's what you wish, by the way, I'm Norihiko Shigenshi, and you are?"

"Kamiya Kaoru."

"It's an honor to meet you, Kaoru, tell me, are you busy later this evening?"

"Um... why?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go out to dinner with me if you didn't already have plans."

"I'm sorry... I... I'm having a special night with my friend tonight, I hope you won't take offense if I decline."

"Not at all, I'll just catch you later when you're free of your... friend."

Norihiko kissed her hand and she flushed and pulled away from him, "Well... I'll think about it, I have to go now, sorry about running into you."

"Anytime you wish to run into me is fine by me, Kaoru."

"Thanks, well... bye Norihiko, it was nice to meet you, I'll see you later... maybe..."

Kaoru turned and took off down the road, not noticing the evil smile that came across Norihiko's face as he watched her leave, "Oh yes, you will definitely see me later, my pretty one, and this time you won't get away from me."

Kaoru quickly ran home and prepared dinner before heading off into her bedroom to change. She wanted something that was sexy but not too obvious, comfortable but not too casual, after about ten minutes she settled on a short blue tank top and a thigh-high skirt, leaving her hair up in its normal ponytail. She looked in the mirror and smiled, she looked nice but not too flashy... perfect. She heard Kenshin call out for her and she took a deep breath to steady herself "This is it, Kaoru, there's no turning back now."

She headed off into the kitchen and saw Kenshin there with a surprised look on his face as he looked at the nice dinner on the table, "What's all this, Miss Kaoru?"

"I thought that since you've been taking such good care of me that you deserved a good dinner, I hope you don't mind."

"No I..." Kenshin paused when he looked up and saw her, immediately taking note of the pleasant amount of perfectly shaped legs that were showing beneath her skirt and the small bit of naval revealed by her short top. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he met her eyes, finally finding his voice again, "I don't mind at all..."

Kaoru smiled, that wasn't quite the reaction she was hoping for but it would do for now, "Good, let's eat then before it gets cold and inedible."

Kenshin simply nodded and sat down opposite of her as they started eating and chatting. They had a pleasant conversation during dinner and Kaoru's confidence rose when she noticed that Kenshin was still looking towards her bare stomach, she already had his attention, now she just had to find a way to keep it. After dinner she led him into the den and she put on a movie before sitting next to him on the couch. As the movie progressed she looked up and saw that Kenshin was trying to pay attention to the movie and not her, she frowned at this, "Oh no you don't, you're not winning this time, Kenshin." Kaoru pretended to yawn and stretched before 'unconsciously' moving closer to him, smiling when she felt him tense up at the brief contact of her arm against his.

Kenshin tried hard to concentrate on the movie and not the beautiful, scantily dressed girl next to him, but the more he looked at her the more his mind started to drift off to indecent thoughts about what they could be doing instead of watching the movie. When he heard her yawn he felt a slight bit of relief until she leaned against his arm sleepily, he tensed up slightly and looked down at her to see that she looked tired, her eyes half closed and seeming to have difficulty focusing on the screen. As if they had a mind of their own, his eyes ventured downward to her legs again before moving up and resting on her shirt, from this angle he could just barely see down her top, giving him a pleasant view of what she was hiding underneath the blue material, "I wonder if I could... no! Get that thought out of your mind, Himura! Just watch the movie, not Kaoru's shirt!" He shook his head and immediately turned back to the movie, not wanting to let his mind go that far beyond the boundaries.

Kaoru sighed when Kenshin turned his attention back to the TV, she was sure that she'd gotten his attention but maybe she was wrong, maybe he wasn't interested in her after all, but she had been so sure a few moments ago when she felt his eyes on her. She glanced up at him and saw a blank look on his handsome face, his mind elsewhere as he watched the screen, that look told her all she needed to know. She suddenly felt self-conscious and pulled away from him whispering, "Sorry..."

She sighed and turned to the TV, now completely lost at where the movie was but her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Kenshin groan slightly as he stretched. She smiled half-heartedly, at least he was about to go to sleep, maybe by tomorrow he would forget about this whole thing. Then, without warning, he put his outstretched arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him, his warm breath wafting across her cheek as he whispered to her, "Don't be sorry, I don't mind being a pillow... that I don't."

Kaoru smiled and laid her head against his shoulder, not noticing the forced 'that I don't' or the deep gold that had come into his eyes as he gazed down at her longingly. Kenshin just couldn't get his eyes off of her, she was so beautiful and she felt so nice as she lay sleepily in his arms, unaware of how her innocent snuggles into his shoulder affected him. After a few moments he couldn't stand it anymore and he leaned down to her, breathing deeply through his nose to take in the jasmine scent of her hair. Kaoru felt him put his face to her hair and couldn't help but flush when she realized what he was doing, then she felt his hand start to slide gently up and down her arm, the callouses on his fingers and palm tickling her skin slightly as they went. Between his soft touches and warm body against hers it didn't take long for sleep to overcome her, moving her head to rest on his chest as she drifted off into slumber.

After the movie ended Kenshin chuckled softly, "That was an interesting movie, huh, Miss Kaoru... Miss Kaoru?"

He looked down and saw that her eyes were closed, obviously asleep against him. He smiled and turned around enough to were he could scoop her legs up into his free arm before lifting her up and carrying her into the hallway. A slight breeze came up and Kaoru nuzzled her nose into the nape of his neck, getting a smile from him as he opened her bedroom door. Kenshin gently laid her down and covered her up before gazing down at her sleeping face, she looked so calm and peaceful, the pale moonlight seeming to make her skin glow with an unearthly light, the illusion only adding to her beauty. He reached out and gently moved some stray hair from her forehead before letting his fingers glide across her cheek, smiling when she leaned into the touch slightly. He couldn't remember the last time he'd touched a woman's face but he quickly found out that he enjoyed her sleepy reaction to his touch as she unconsciously responded to him.

Without thinking he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers for a moment before pulling away and looking down at her, relieved to find that she was still asleep, "Goodnight... my dear Kaoru."

He quietly left the room and went to his own, sighing when he leaned against the wall, "I can't believe I just kissed her... damn! It's been so long since I've felt like this, I haven't felt this way since... no, I don't want to go there! I have to find Gaiyo tomorrow and then find Norihiko, I want to get on with my life and I can't do that as long as he's still alive. Soon this will all be over and then Kaoru and I can be together, if she'll have me that is..."

Hey there, sorry about the long wait (again) my Mom's been sick lately and I've had to take care of her because she doesn't trust my Dad with cooking chicken soup (I don't either but that's not the point :). Any ways, I'll get the next chapter up ASAP, just be patient ok? Thanks gang!