Disclaimers: I wish he was mine. I really do, but Kenshin belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki-sama as does Kaoru, Enishi, and Tomoe.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas :)

08/24/05- Edited re-post

CHAPTER 5

The only haven Kaoru could find was the backseat of her car, and to be curled up into a tight ball. Her body felt numb but it was good. She wanted to be numb again. Shaking mildly from the sobs and tears that would not ease, she only held on more tightly. For once in her life she had actually believed that things were starting to go her way. But it all came crashing down so suddenly. Like it always had. The boy she had shared her first kiss with had a girlfriend who was the sister to a boy she despised with all her heart. How could Kenshin even allow himself to kiss her? No matter how hard she tried to let it sink in that the pretty little thing back there was indeed his, it wouldn't. She kept thinking about how innocent their embrace was, and how gently the kiss began. It replayed in her mind over, and over.

"Kenshin…you jerk," she whispered aloud over, and over until the sobs took over again. She saw how he kissed Tomoe's lips, her shoulders. What was to say that he hadn't kissed the rest of her smooth, toned body? Kaoru was disgusted by that thought. The smooth tan skin, and lot's of it from the look of her halter neck, and dark blue, jean mini-skirt.

And the way that little catty slut brought up her parents so casually.

"Bitch!" She yelled out infuriated.

A knock at one of her car windows almost made her jump. She sat up quickly and wiped at her eyes.

It was Kenshin.

She proceeded to ignore his knocks, and placed her face in her hands so she wouldn't have to look up at him. She suddenly felt very childish to be sitting in the back seat crying.

Against her will, she screamed at him after the fiftieth sound that was becoming increasingly annoying.

"WHAT!"

"Open the door, Kaoru."

"Piss off!" she yelled back at him.

"Fine. I'm not going anywhere until you open the door."

That's fine, Kaoru thought. That's perfectly fine. I can still hop into the front seat, and drive off.

"Be stubborn if you want, but I can be the same," Kenshin warned her. It was as if he had just read her mind. She stole a quick glance at him and was deeply disturbed to find that the flecks of amber were very visible in his lavender eyes. She blinked, but she still saw it. Kaoru slowly moved away from the door he was standing before.

"I'm angry because you aren't listening to me. I don't ask for many things, Kaoru. All I'm asking is that you comply with me. Now." His voice was drawn out carefully with each word being emphasized slowly.

"Fine," she wanted to yell but it came out as a whisper instead. She gave it a second try.

"FINE!"

Kaoru hit a button on her key ring, and the doors unlocked with a click.

She continually ignored him when he opened the door and sat inside like a friend hitching a ride.

"Thank you," he said very politely after he had shifted around to seat himself properly. "And why are you so angry with me?" The remainder of the amber in his eyes was slowly retreating.

"I don't have to say anything to you. I want to be left alone."

"I won't leave you alone like this."

A musical ring tone began to play.

"Damn it," Kenshin swore and fumbled inside his pant pocket.

"Hello?" he said into the phone when he'd produced it. "What, Tomoe-dono? I said later. Yes, I'm with her. Ok. Bye."

"Your girlfriend needs you," Kaoru informed him when he smoothly closed the phone and placed it away. "She seems to need you more than I do," Kaoru sarcastically put in.

"It's not like that. I'll be with her later, and she knows it."

Miniature stabs of jealousy poked at her chest. He'd be there to take care of his little princess now that she was back in town. That seriously does it now.

"Kenshin. I want you to leave me the hell alone. I'm not ready to talk to you, and I don't have to talk to you if I don't want to. You can't make me so just get out!" she snapped and jerked her hand towards the door. When he tilted his head to look firmly in her eyes, she felt taken aback by what she saw.

"I'm worried about you!" he raged, and even his hair seemed to stand on end. "I'm concerned for you! I knew I recognized your last name when you first introduced yourself but the severity of everything didn't hit me until Tomoe said it. And I'm truly sorry about the way she brought it up Kaoru. She had no right to, and she knows it. She regrets it deeply."

Funny, it sure didn't seem like it back there, Kaoru furiously thought. Oh but once again he runs to Tomoe's defense. She knew very well that the other girl wasn't feeling a damn bit of remorse at all.

"Can I ask you something?"

Flicking her head away, she stubbornly replied, "No."

But he ignored her anyhow.

"How do you know Enishi?"

Uh oh. Feeling quite foolishly, Kaoru sat there silently for several seconds before denying it. Go ahead, make it more obvious, stupid!

"Yes you do."

"I'm not obliged to tell you anything. I will talk to you when I want to, which is not right now."

Defeated, Kenshin gave a sigh. "I can't force you," he admitted but did not accept it. Give her more time, perhaps she'll come around soon enough.

"But I'm sorry about the way Tomoe was talking. I'm sorry for whatever Enishi did to offend you just now. I'm… I'm sorry for everything Kaoru-dono. It was never my intent to fool around with your feelings," he told her softly before reaching out to wipe the fresh tears from her face. She didn't stop him either. She closed her eyes, and let him do it. His fingers were soft like silk against her face. Like a butterfly, he touched her lightly.

The warmth receded, and Kaoru put her head down, her eyes still closed.

Kenshin opened the door wordlessly, and closed it slowly behind him.

"Yes you did."

But Kenshin was gone before Kaoru said it. Therefore he didn't hear a thing.

(As Son-Christine put it, "Tomoe was good for Battosai back at that time of his life, but Kaoru is the right choice for him now." We were talking about Tomoe one day on AIM. I don't really hate Tomoe but I do dislike her.)

Thanks to: Reignashii, Pixel-the-evil-fairy, Blueness, erica6060, Momo Adachis Peach, and kenshinlover2002 for reviewing. I truly appreciate Reignashii, erica6060, and kenshinlover2002's support throughout the story. I was kind of thinking of leaving this story but Reignashii, you review as soon as I get a chapter up. If I even have a couple fans that means the world to me, and I will continue. Thank you!