EDITED RE-POST, 09/02/05

Disclaimers: Kenshin, Kaoru, Enishi, and, Tomoe all belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki-sama.

I've currently had nothing better to do for the past couple days, that's why I've been updating so much :P

CHAPTER 7

I remember now why I'm not drunk everyday. One word Kaoru: hangovers.

Her eyes lolled around unimpressively as she gazed somewhat awkwardly at the professor standing at the table at the foot of the auditorium.

"So the explanation, class, is very simple indeed. It's not a huge assignment but it is something that requires a lot of thought. I'm giving you two weeks from today to complete the essay on one of the following three major topics."

Off, busy in her own little spinning world, Kaoru failed to notice a set of eyes gazing upon her from somewhere rows behind. From the start it wasn't an appreciative one that she would have liked to have received, but instead a loathsome one filled with much acidic spite.

Lazily reclined against the auditorium seat, Enishi stalked the other girl with his eyes alone. Hastily, she began to copy down, word for word, what that moronic professor was uttering. Ignoring all the other feminine eyes that were trying to devour all of him in his loose fitting dirty denims, and clinging black dress shirt, he cunningly thought only of her. The one that sat several rows ahead. In his own personal opinion, she was hot with the tightest body yet. Only having a simple glimpse at her, he was impressed, although he wouldn't let his surprise show. But for Yukishiro Enishi to be impressed, it took a lot.

What happened to her after she graduated, he had no fuckin idea, to put it bluntly into his own words, but it was good. Throughout his short but fulfilling life, Enishi had seen a lot of fine objects. Namely women. But what this particular, unsuspecting one didn't realize was that she was soon going to be added to that long list of his.

She's changed a lot since then, Enishi smiled to himself and felt half the girls practically come to an orgasm. He was used to the attention but only the hot ones that were willing to put out were worth his time. Showing them off like fine diamonds, he had girls on both arms, and was well known for it.

Smirking to himself, he pictured that ugly girl that barely resembled anything relating to a female back in high school. All traces of that nasty butch were long gone and in her place there sat a woman with fine curves, and defining lines. Even as he thought all of this, he was observing the tight curves that rounded her thighs, shaping into her ass. Those tight blue jeans clung in the most critical places. That bitch woulda never dared to wear that before, but now she's sitting there, with her pants riding her ass as if she were always the hot shit.

Dark pollutants, vaguely deserving to be called thoughts, penetrated his mind and he flicked back to the matter that had laid itself in his open hands. With his icy colored eyes remained fixed at the back of her head, he silently watched how the light shimmered off her long hair sending the colorful spectrum of the rainbow to shine brightly under certain angles.

What you don't know, Kaoru, won't kill you... but it'll hurt bad enough, he thought shamelessly. Putting pressure onto his pen, he nearly broke it in half within his white, blinding anger. Bitch. You're gonna get yours.

He felt his lips twist sadistically upwards again. A cute miniskirt had caught his eye but the girl that was in it failed to awaken his interest.

Her body though…

She was chewing nervously at the end of her pen and when he slowly, slyly like a cat, turned his eyes towards her, she froze and gave an innocent smile. He winked in return and she quickly averted her face, her cheeks almost instantly turning pink with shyness. That won't last long, he grinned and pretended not to notice her checking out his well defined body.

Looking back down at Kaoru again, he whispered openly.

"I love university…"

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"Hey," Kenshin turned, and greeted his female companion like he always did. "How's it going?"

"Fine," Kaoru answered shortly without bothering to look up at him through narrowed eyes. It couldn't be helped. Either she could continue to organize her books or acknowledge him unkindly in a way that would make him back off for a day or two. Stick with the former, she furrowed her brows and kept her head up while she grabbed the black binder that sat farthest to the left. Apparently Kenshin was not getting the point. I think that's a part of his cheerfulness. He's also very annoying, she observed.

"Kaoru, Tomoe, and I were going to head to the library to study for a bit later on, and I was wondering if you wanted to join us."

She knew he was staring at her with those disturbingly intense lilac eyes, waiting for a hopeful response. Do you think it to be wise, she wished she could have yelled back angrily but instead she kept with her ignorant demeanor and pretended to read something from some notes.

"No thanks."

She noticed from the corner of his eye that he had tilted his head to observe her over the paper.

"Are you sure?" He questioned lightly.

"Yep."

You can't keep this charade up forever, Kenshin thought while standing there apprehensively. Figuring that there was no other to reach her, he extended his hand outwards and held her by the upper arm. His touch was full of warmth, but even so Kaoru's body tingled reactively.

"Look at me," he commanded softly, stepping into her personal space. Kaoru found it very hard to avoid his caring gaze but her voice did her a favor and snapped at him once fully realizing that they were standing so closely together in the hallway in the middle of the day.

"Would you let go? What if Tomoe…" She started to hiss, but the look in his eyes caused her to lose her words. They were so light, the sorrow in them visible like the brightly glowing moon that sat in the sky at night. He felt her pain truthfully in its unconcealed form.

"Kaoru-dono, can we please talk?"

"Okay," she replied, her voice sounding like an obedient child's. He led her down the hall into an empty lecture room.

"I know you must be thinking that I led you on when we kissed that day," he started out bluntly. Right Himura, get on with the facts first, he told himself.

"I've been with Tomoe for two, and a half years. We were friends in high school, and it turned into something else after we graduated. I love her a lot."

Kaoru felt intimidated when he turned away from the window to face her. Bright sunshine bathed him in a golden like that made him look even more angelic, softening his bold features that were concentrated on her.

"I love her a lot, Kaoru-dono. But," he put in, a sharp edge to his tone as if to kill any second thoughts they were both having. "What happened between this one and you…I was drawn to you for that moment, as you were to me." Stopping to shake his head and form his words better, Kenshin gave a deep breath before starting over with his point.

"I don't want you to think of me as some jerk that would do something behind his girlfriend's back intentionally, but I can't explain it in any other way. I can't even begin to try. You're an exceptionally beautiful girl," she rolled her eyes at this, "You're smart, and I care for you…"

"But you love Tomoe," Kaoru finished for him.

But he insisted with his point yet again.

I think deep down inside he's feeling guilty too and he's trying to cover it up with denial, she found herself musing.

"There never really was a time when I could say, 'Hey I'm dating someone by the way!'."

You… the words burned inside her mouth.

"Of course there was!" she burst out, "you were given so many chances Kenshin, too many actually, but you still neglected to tell me the truth!"

"I… NEVER! I never did that! How can you stand here and accuse me of that? You know very well that I care for you!"

She shook her head. With firm, levelheaded steps, she deliberately stalked towards him.

"You came to my apartment. You kissed me and then you left. Since when has your 'caring' issue gotten to the point where you go around and kiss other girls? So what if you care for me! You didn't have to lead me on by doing what you did!"

Both got into one another's faces, continually matching each others heat, punch for punch.

"Of course I was attracted to you but I ignored it at first. I brushed it off but then…then at your place, I guess I was missing Tomoe a lot…" Kenshin trailed off. He ran his fingers carelessly through his spiky red bangs. She knew that the conversation between them had suddenly gotten much more awkward. The way he cut himself off, it was unmistakably embarrassment that had backed him into silence.

"Oh I see," Kaoru said in a matter of fact tone. Crossing both her arms, she stepped back away from him in fear of lashing out. All her feelings were being crumpled beneath his words. It hurt.

"So I was just a temporary replacement in a way."

This wasn't addressed as a question or to him really at all, but it was more like a thought stated aloud. Somehow she felt the need to hear it out loud in order to believe it. And there, I just said it. I was just happened to be there when he needed comforting. How convenient.

It took her by complete surprise when she found his compact body suddenly there in front of her. How he managed that, she had no idea. Both his hands found her face and he cupped it within a warm embrace. For what felt like the hundredth time, Kaoru was startled. He was so close to her. Too close. She could even make out the distinct cologne that he always wore.

His violet filled eyes crinkled with emotion and his grip upon her face did not change.

"Of course not, Kaoru. Don't say that. You never were."

His thumb was rubbing gingerly against her cheek. That slight action soothed her and she soon found her eyelids becoming heavy, wanting to close as her body would lean forwards and he would take her into his arms and promise everything was going to be ok.

Did you forget already? We're having this argument because Kenshin already has a girlfriend. There's no room for you.

Kaoru's bright blue eyes widened and she tried to jerk away from his suddenly unwanted touch. Sensing the change in her, he quickly jumped to another topic.

"And you may think that you had us fooled when we came over to your apartment that day, but I'm not as dumb as you seem to have taken me to be."

The tone of his voice abruptly changed.

"I've had my share of bad times. I've seen the bottom of every type of bottle you can think of. It's not the way to go, Kaoru. I only wish that you would tell me more about your pains."

Kaoru knew her voice was going to falter before even trying.

"I… I don't… do that on a regular basis," she fumbled, trying very hard to avoid his ever so watchful gaze but it was nearly impossible with him standing right up against her body. "I don't drink when I'm feeling down, if that is what you're asking." Blinking unevenly, she shoved him hard and turned away.

Damn him! Why can't he just stop doing this to me!

"My past is my problem. I prefer to just leave it as it is. My pains have nothing to do with you." Turning her head over her shoulder she glared at him to give him a taste of just how angry she was. "You should realize that now."

Kenshin pressed his lips together, and as he shifted his head, a lock of red hair fell into his eyes. Kaoru had to restrain herself, no matter how angry she was, from brushing the silkiness back.

"No one deserves to hurt alone. You are my friend after all, and I'm hear to listen whenever you want."

His friend. That's what I started off as, and that's what we'll remain as.

It hurt but she knew it was coming. It was the only way. He wouldn't throw away his relationship with his girlfriend for her. I'm so stupid, Kaoru thought, how could I even think to hope for that?

But her past, her pains, it was only for her to know and deal with. Including her uneventful history with Enishi. Nonetheless it was all a burden of her own. No one else's so there's absolutely no reason why he should know. Even if I told him, with everything that has happened now, I think I'd only get more attached to him. And that is a bad thing.

Kaoru thought carefully before speaking to him, letting her eyes linger over his face, his lips, the ones that she had kissed. So soft, she thought as she unconsciously pressed her own together, recalling the warmth and texture. Even though it was only for a couple of seconds, she would remember her first kiss forever. But now it's time to move on, Kaoru. Be a strong girl.

"Thank you, Kenshin. I appreciate what you are doing for me, however, the past is the past and I don't really want to dwell on it anymore than I have to. As my friend, you only deserve to know so much. Don't trouble yourself over it."

Kenshin cat-quietly walked up to her and lifted her hand to his mouth. Kissing it softly, she allowed him to take his time, basking in the brief moment of happiness that she was allowed. Her surprise turned to comprehension. He was being the gentleman that he always was, and the kiss meant nothing more than respect, and agreement.

Nothing more… the afterthought lingered.

This time she fought herself and won. Moving away from Kenshin, she gave a much-too-brief smile before putting her head back down and gathering her things, thankful that her long hair could act like a veil. He won't pursue it anymore, but I know he's not satisfied. That's the kind of guy he is though, deep inside. Won't trouble anyone, he'll just let them be if they wish. Right now Kaoru was almost wishing that he would make her tell him. The feeling of need was becoming strong again but Kaoru knew she had to fend for herself. I can't depend on him, the thought pained her, but he has a girlfriend. One that he loves with all his heart

Though the conversation hadn't come to a comfortable close, it at least had an agreeable silence from either end.

Of course, if Enishi had any say it in, which he didn't that exact moment, he would've killed Himura with his bare hands. But then another idea planted itself in his head. A very small seedling but could well enough expand and grow with his kind of actions.

Satisfied with what he'd heard, he moved away from the door before that idiot Himura could detect his presence. He was so busy with that slut that he didn't even notice me. My, how your skills have dulled ex-hitokiri, Enishi thought warmly. Just makes it so much easier.

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Later on that evening, Kaoru found herself working on her English assignment. Essays were not her favorite thing. She doubted if anyone really liked them. Except that nerd that sits at the front. My god, his face nearly brightened up when we got this load of crap assigned to us, she complained while heaving her books to the table. Like a good little academic student, Kaoru always thought it was better to be ahead than behind. I should be done in no time, if I keep up like this, Kaoru stretched out before taking up her pen again. I feel almost back to normal after that conversation with Kenshin. I mean, it wasn't the most supportive one, or something that I was expecting, but at least we got our feelings out in the open. Or well, I did. She snorted aloud then. Kenshin can keep denying whatever he wants but he knows that we both felt something. I really believe that.

If there was one major uneasiness she was still feeling, it was about the kiss he had given. The one on her hand, only because she could still feel his warm lips lingering against her fingers. What they would be like passionately against her lips, she wished she could've known. Or moving down her body…

RING!

Rudely interrupted by the doorbell, Kaoru nearly fell off her chair. It cut through her lovely fantasy, and had nearly given her a heart attack. Pushing her chair, and grumbling foul words, she walked past the kitchen. The person at the door must have obviously been feeling impatient because they were ringing the doorbell like a maniac.

"Enishi?" Kaoru whispered to herself. What the HELL was Enishi Yukishiro doing at HER apartment? Kaoru glanced down at her watch. And at this time of the night? Doesn't sound like he'll be leaving anytime soon, she figured as he rang the door for seventh time.

No where to run…

Muah, and thanks to TimeWarper, erica6060, Pixel-the-evil-fairy, Reignashii, Immortal-Blood, gaby(hyatt, and karou-ken for the reviews ;)