Disclaimer - I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

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Toy Store

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Parking Lot

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"Do you need me to pick you up?"

"Nah," Misao said lightly. "I'll get a ride home with Aoshi. We're working late on a proposal tonight anyway, so he won't mind. Ugh, I still can't believe my car broke down."

"Don't worry. It happens. And you know Aoshi wouldn't mind driving you home even if your car wasn't broken."

Misao blushed and shook her head. "I don't want to get my hopes up about this one, Kaoru, so don't tease me. Please?"

Kaoru nodded. "Have a good day at work," she said as Misao got out of the car.

"I will. I love this job!" Misao said, enthusiastic once again. She slammed the car door and gave Kaoru a little wave. "See you tonight. I'll be home by eight."

"Cool," Kaoru agreed, deciding to wait a little before driving to work herself and enjoy the day, even if the enjoying took place in a parking lot. This was the first day all year that it was warm enough to drive with the windows down. God, she loved spring.

"Kaoru?" a voice asked hesitantly.

She looked up to find Kenshin smiling down at her.

"Good morning," he said. "On your way to work?"

"Morning. Yeah, I was just dropping Misao off. Her car broke down over the weekend." She hadn't seen him in weeks. She'd been too embarrassed to risk the humiliation of admitting she was wrong. He and Misao occasionally worked together and met for dinner. Misao had invited her once, but she'd made up some excuse to avoid going. Of course Misao had seen through her plan, but she hadn't pressed Kaoru to go.

"Long time no see," he continued. "Misao tells me you're doing well. I hope your family's well, too."

Oh. Kenshin had met her parents at the same time he'd met her. "They're fine. My dad just got five new members in his dojo this past week, and my mother and sister are each healthy. How's your family?" she asked politely. Politeness is fine. As long as they were both polite her embarrassment wouldn't escalate to the next level. "Well, besides Sano since I see him at work every day," she added.

"All fine. I don't think you've met any of them besides Sano."

"No, but he mentions your parents in passing sometimes." She remembered that they were half-brothers and hoped she hadn't said anything offensive.

"Hey, you want to meet me for lunch at Rosas and catch up?"

He said it so casually that Kaoru almost said yes. She couldn't believe he still wanted anything to do with her. Of course, he probably just wanted to rub it in her face that he'd been right and she'd been wrong. Even so, she half wanted to accept the lunch date out of curiosity. It was lucky she already had an appointment.

"I have a business lunch today, but maybe some other time," Kaoru said, sincerely hoping there wouldn't be another time. How much more embarrassing could this get? It was really too bad she'd made that apology promise to Misao. She couldn't break her word twice. She needed to be careful as to the promises she made in the future.

"Oh," he said. He looked a little disappointed. It'd been five months since he'd told her he loved her. Had he still not gotten over it? Kaoru didn't think she was capable of inspiring that high a level of dedication. He was probably just being nice, or he was sad he'd missed the chance to gloat.

"I'm sorry I said those things about Megumi to you," Kaoru said quietly, resisting the urge to look away in embarrassment, "I was wrong." He was silent, so she kept talking. "I was angry that my sister was upset and I couldn't do anything about it, and I honestly thought you'd hurt her. Maybe you don't remember, but it's been on my mind for a while now."

He accepted her apology smoothly, told her he didn't want to make her late for work, and walked away.