EDITED REPOST, 09/02/05

Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin, and friends belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki-sama.

CHAPTER 9

Kenshin choked on his bottle of Evian water.

"WHAT did you say Tomoe?"

"Aww, you idiot!" His girlfriend stepped forward and began to wipe at his shirt where he spilt the water.

"I saaaid," she began to repeat herself in a sing-song tune, "that my brother is going out with Kaoru-chan. It looks like they worked their problems through! I'm so happy for them!" She snatched Kenshin's arm and whirled away, waiting for him to twirl her back. Instead he dropped her hand and stared as if she were a mental patient that had just escaped.

"You're… happy? Your brother, Enishi? Tomoe-dono, don't tell me you haven't heard the stories that go around about him. Kaoru-dono's a sweet girl. She wouldn't get involved with a guy like that!"

Big mistake. The young woman stopped smiling and stared at her boyfriend, allowing the wrath to build up inside of her. Anyway, it'd been a while since she and Kenshin had had a real good fight. And sometimes a girl just craves for 'em. He's talking shit about my brother to my face!

"Well maybe my brother has changed! Did you ever think of that!" Tomoe yelled at him, and backed away. "I know you never liked him! But you have no right to… to put him down like that!" She raged on, and began to clean her room. Whenever the sullen eyed girl was feeling angry, she almost always began to clean madly. It was a funny little habit that she had developed, but Kenshin couldn't bring himself to smile at it this time. He was pissed off. Enishi and Kaoru. What the hell is she thinking?

"Something isn't right," Kenshin put in after deciding to break the awkward silence. Bad attempt, he thought after reading his girlfriends expression.

"What is with you, and that Kamiya girl!" Tomoe stopped to ask. In one hand she had a teddy bear, and in the other a lacy night shirt that didn't leave much to Kenshin's imagination when she had it on.

But he managed to remain cool and collected when looking into the face of danger.

"What do you mean by that? What are you trying to imply? She's my friend, just like any of my other friends; I don't want to see her get hurt."

"So you think my brother would hurt her? Is that what you are trying to say?" She screeched again at him. She was a beautiful girl but at times like this she could truly prove anyone wrong.

"Listen…" Kenshin reached out to her but she moved away easily. "Hey… listen, Tomoe-dono! I'm just looking out for her that's all."

"Screw off."

"Tomoe-dono…" Kenshin gently called out to her again. This time Tomoe whirled around, sending her black hair flying, and she threw the teddy bear at him. Without blinking, Kenshin caught it in mid-air.

"Alright then. I'm going to go."

Enough was enough. And Himura Kenshin only had so much patience for the world before he could let out a small explosion. And I'd rather it not be at my girlfriend. Maybe I'll hit the dojo and let off a little steam. I still can't believe this bullshit.

Kenshin casually tossed the teddy bear onto her bed. Tomoe was acting so immature. At this moment he could have mistaken her for a three year old throwing a tantrum.

"Fine. Shut the door on your way out."

Kenshin didn't hesitate to comply.

As he was about to reverse out, Enishi pulled in. He had the top down, music up, in his black Viper but that wasn't what made Kenshin hit the brake. It was his passenger that caught his eye. Sitting innocently beside him was none other than Kaoru herself. And as she gazed up, Kenshin noticed the startled look in her widened eyes.

"Hey buddy, what's up?" Enishi greeted him as all three stepped out of their cars. He moved his shades up onto his head, and flashed Kenshin a big smile. "So what do you think of her?"

"I've seen your car before," Kenshin bluntly replied.

"No, no, my girl! What do you think of my girl?" Enishi said, the smile never leaving his lips. Kaoru, who looked hesitant at first, slowly approached Enishi's side, her black strapped sandals clicking with each step. Nervously or absently, Kenshin wasn't exactly sure which, but she was playing with the collar of her Mandarin style shirt. Wordlessly he took in the classiness and fit of her black dress pants. She looked very stunning with her hair back, revealing all of her facial features. Better this way because she can't hide behind it like she always does, Kenshin added silently.

Enishi moved to put his arm around her, and looked down at her with a very subtle look. She replied knowingly by tiptoeing up, and kissing him lightly on the lips.

Kenshin felt his hand curl into a fist. That disgusting jerk. She just kissed those same lips that even Kami-sama, had lost count of how many others before her had kissed them.

"Kaoru," he called out to her now. He knew how angry he sounded but he was beyond helping it. It was taking all of the strength in his body to hold it tightly inside. He wanted to set it free like a match to spilt gasoline. I will so kick his ass, Kenshin thought and set his jaw tight.

"I need to talk to you for a sec. Alone," he inclined his head away from Enishi. The bastard should take the fucking hint. And Enishi did. Much too easily, Kenshin noted. That defiant asshole is up to something.

The platinum blonde told his girlfriend that he'd be waiting for her.

"In my room," he said clearly, obviously not caring that Kenshin was still standing around.

In your bedroom. Yeah right, you fucking idiot, Kenshin taunted. Stick to your hand, because this girl is one that you're going to have to let go of. I won't let you touch her again. I don't like this one bit. Not at all. That last smile Enishi gave bared no innocence in it. He was playing dirty.

Watching carefully as Kaoru returned the happy expression, and blew him a kiss, Kenshin waited till she finished her crap and then he grabbed her arm, ignoring the softness of her skin, and the yelp that sounded out of her as he hauled her towards the edge of the sidewalk.

"What the hell do you think you're doing with him? Do you really want to get hurt in his little game?"

"What?" Kaoru tried to look as confused as possible. I have to play it smart here. Look him in the eyes at all times.

"What are you doing with HIM?" Kenshin questioned her again. He believes my innocence, Kaoru thought and felt relieved.

"I thought you hated him with a passion! There was something that you wouldn't tell me about Enishi, you remember that? You remember that time when you broke down, and you were crying in your car? I'm not blind, nor stupid. I know something must have happened between you and Enishi in the past. But now, I'm seeing you kiss that same bastard, and it's got me wondering what the hell is going on."

Kenshin added pressure to his already binding grip. The hurt in her eyes tore at him but he was reminded that this was for her own good.

"Do you really know what you're getting yourself into?"

Kaoru found her eyes drawn to the red-y burgundy stain on Kenshin's collar. It appeared to be smeared lipstick. Obviously Tomoe's. Fuelling her anger, it gave her the strength and leverage to blow up at him.

"What's it to you!" She barked back suddenly. Kenshin looked hesitant for a second. He hadn't expected that.

"What's it to me?"

Very slowly he closed the remaining space between them and Kaoru had no choice but to back away. As she hit the front of Kenshin's car, she knew there was no where else to run. He was still clamping tightly down on her arm.

"You're my friend, damn it! I don't have to fucking explain this to everyone now do I?" Kenshin swore. Kaoru winced and tried to pull away from him but he jerked her back and she stumbled. She had never heard him utter such shocking words so boldly. And what exactly did he mean by explaining it to everyone?

He took a deep breath before starting again.

"You are my friend…"

We seem to have established that much a long time ago, she wanted to say, but shut up. Tension tightened his firm jaw into a straight line and his eyes were narrowed at her in such a way that it made her feel immensely scared. Never before had he shown this much emotion, and she could feel just how outraged he was.

"Naturally I'm going to go ahead, and look out for you, and your best interest. You are making a big mistake by being with Yukishiro Enishi."

"I know…" Kaoru replied softly without realizing her slip up.

Oh my god, I am such an idiot. Just make up something, quick! She bit her bottom lip and thought of what to say. SAY something, not bite your lip and stand there like an idiot!

Kenshin scrutinized her as if she had just informed him that the Sun was about to blow up. Leaning closer into her, his eyes dashing from side to side in a bewildered manner, he carefully asked, "What did you say?"

"No..nothing!" the slender girl replied in a hurry but didn't quite manage to cover it up so efficiently. "I said, you don't know! Anything!" she tacked on, and tried again to wretch her arm from his grip. Shaking his head, Kenshin refused to let her go.

"Something is going on here Kaoru, and I WILL find out," he promised.

"Let go of me! Enishi's waiting for me."

Upon hearing the name of the devil himself, Kenshin quickly dropped her arm. The first reaction that came to her mind was repulse.

He's disgusted by me. Because I'm with Enishi. Down to the very nerve ending of each emotion, she felt deeply hurt.

I think we've both said enough, Kaoru realized. I don't want to get myself into anymore trouble, and I especially don't want to drag him in further either. Besides, I'm disgusting now, I turn him off.

Walking away from him was a tough thing to do. But why? Why does this feel so damn hard? He might as well just have physically hit me. Either way, the blow would hurt the same way because it was done by him. At the moment she hadn't fully realized it but she was walking away from her one and only hope.

She didn't look back as she walked to the door. She didn't dare look back at Kenshin.

If, by chance, Kaoru had turned around one last time, she wouldn't have seen the wild lavender that always blossomed in his eyes. In its place she would seen burning, twin amber flames.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Not how she was hoping it to be, Enishi kept his word and was upstairs in his bedroom. This dark realization was made only after she walked around the lower floor with her hopes up high that he was perhaps watching television or something. If I take any longer he's probably going to come down and find me. And that wouldn't be good.

On the upper floor there were three bedrooms with all the doors closed. Behind one she could hear loud music blasting through a stereo system of some sort, but which was Enishi's?

"Behind you."

The sound of his voice so close to her startled her where she stood. Kaoru whirled around and found him standing in the doorway with a much amused smile.

"Come in, and lock the door behind you," he instructed and threw himself down on the big bed inside. Hesitantly, she wrapped her slim hand around the cool metal, not really wanting to lock it but she didn't have much of a choice.

If I don't, he will.

It clicked, indicating that it was locked and Kaoru felt as if she had just thrown her freedom key out the window.

"Here," Enishi was patting the bed, motioning for her to lie beside him. He was draped across the navy blue sheets so languidly, like a lithe tiger stretching in the afternoon sun.

"I hate you, you know," Kaoru told him as she sat down strategically as far as possible, practically balancing from falling off the edge.

A curious look around to familiarize herself with the new environment showed her a lot. A couple of Kanji scroll posters were hanging on either side of an arsenal of weapons that were on display. I hope they are display only, she wished and blinked at each. A few were recognizable like the golden hilt Katana, and the sleek, sheathed black one that glittered in the light. Kunai's of different shapes and sizes fanned over themselves in a small arrangement. Glinting deviously, the points looked awfully realistic and sharp. I don't think these are just for show, she frantically thought as her eyes traveled over a tiger print, decorated tessen, and a shinobigatana. These weapons were familiar or at least distinguishable because her father had showed her the use of the majority of them. But never once did he, or any of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu students ever utilized these weapons. Ever. It was against the whole purpose of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Bokkens,and Shinai's for the beginners were strictly used, but it looked like Enishi didn't believe in those wooden swords. And if he knows how to use these, that means he's one hundred times more dangerous than I imagined.

Wisely choosing to ignore her comment, Enishi watched her eyes travel over his prized collection. Calmly, as if subtly bringing up the football game's score, he asked, "So… what did Kenshin wanna talk about?"

Kaoru snapped back to reality. Turning around only a little bit, enough to view him from the corner of her eye, she replied back with, "Nothing."

"Come here."

"Uhh.. what?" She stared at him, confused. Oh. He wants me to lie down with him.

"I'd rather not. I'm perfectly fine sitting here."

"I'm sure you are Kaoru, but I didn't ask. I told you."

Already she was skating on very thin ice. Put a little more weight down and it'll break, Kaoru. Just do what he says.

Reluctantly, she laid her body down next to his. She placed her back towards him, and tried to keep some distance between their bodies so they wouldn't have to touch.

"Turn around and face me," Enishi ordered in a deep, serious tone. Kaoru obeyed without being a smart ass. Every little thing that she was doing to annoy him was going to push him more, little by little.

"Was that so hard?" Enishi breathed into her face. His cologne was overpowering her own perfume. Sickened by the sharp, sweet smell of it, Kaoru thought to herself, not like Kenshin's at all… almost the exact opposite. I shouldn't be surprised.

Enishi reached over behind her, and pulled her hair free. It fell down, layer by layer against her back, and he began to run his fingers through it. Its texture was so silky fine that it held no tangles, he observed.

Transfixed over the powerful muscles in his arms, Kaoru kept her focus there. The attention he got over his tough body was understandable. Where Kenshin failed, Enishi proudly took the lead like a tiger. In contrast to the former, his physique was much more appealing and sexier. His whole body was long and muscular from legs to arms. Each was defined carefully after several years of intense, strenuous work. For Kaoru to freely say that she did not feel any flicker of sensuality, it would have been a downright lie. As much as she hated him, she also hated herself for feeling nervous when he kept his gorgeous eyes on her, his warm body radiating heat so close to hers. Enishi was dead sexy and Kaoru knew that he knew it. Any girl would have gladly switched places with her. Any would have loved to be lying down next to his hard, solid form. And they would have loved to be doing much more. Except her. Admitting that he was good looking was one thing, but actually agreeing to get physical made her feel sick. He was beautiful yet poisonous.

Right now his blue grey eyes changed to a different angle and he was searching her own for any dishonesty.

"Now tell me," he continued whilst playing with her hair, "What did you, and Kenshin talk about?"

"Nothing really. He just wanted to congratulate me on our relationship."

She tried to ignore the warm feeling that was growing inside her as he caressed her black hair. It felt so nice to have someone play with it. Her father had almost always done that after she'd taken a bath after her sweaty lessons. Just seconds after she had taken the towel off her head.

"Did he now…" Enishi trailed off and raised a brow.

"Yes," she replied, and tried to make her facial expression as neutral as possible.

"You're lying to me, my little slave," and with that he wrapped his arms around her body, capsizing her. At first Kaoru had no idea what was going on and instinctively she reached out to grab onto anything, and that anything happened to be Enishi's shoulders. Kaoru was so surprised, she was sure that he was going to hit her just then. But instead, he had her sitting on top of him, and by the looks of his smile, he wanted her to enjoy it. Bringing both hands around her shapely thighs, Enishi pressed her body downwards.

"Now tell me the truth this time. What did Kenshin say to you?"

This alternate side to him was scaring her. Either he was preparing to lash out or he was just playing around with her. If I push too hard I think he just might snap. Only other thing to do is to tell the truth…

"He was suspicious," Kaoru told him and gasped as he pushed her up, and then back down against his pelvis.

"Good girl," he whispered and moved his hand up to her cheek."You know," he began again, continuing normally like he wasn't affected with their bodies grinding into another's, "I take good care of my girls. I give them everything they want, their wildest dreams come true. Why don't you just give up on Kenshin and stay with me. I'd do anything for you."

If the comment was supposed to flatter her it didn't. She felt awfully unnerved. Why… where… where is this coming from?

"You don't even know me."

"That's true," he agreed, "but then again, you're the one that's sitting on my dick."

She suppressed a foul comeback and returned that she would never like him. Not in this world or the next. Enishi's eyes flared but it quickly disappeared. He sighed.

"You know, you won't ever get Kenshin."

"I'm not TRYING to get Kenshin. He has a girlfriend already, I understand that."

"Do you? If so then why did you persist after him? Why didn't you break all contact off with him? I know. I know exactly why you didn't. All you girls are the same in that way. Pitifully keeping your hopes up and you claim to not be a slut."

He suddenly slapped her ass with force and Kaoru winced.

"Kenshin's involved in a serious relationship. Did you really think you could come between that? Kaoru, I know this'll be hard for you to understand in that delicate little mind of yours, but Kenshin never liked you. If we had met beforehand in a different situation, I would have warned you before you moved in on him. That guy is a typical guy, always after the other girls he knows he can't have. Himura has always been like that since high school."

"No he's not," she argued back triumphantly, "he's not like that at all. He's a caring man, unlike you, and he'd never purposely hurt anybody. He cared for me as a friend, and he still does!"

She withdrew from his touch and rolled off. Before she could actually sit up, Enishi grabbed her again and forcefully pulled her back in a tight embrace, holding her closely against his chest.

"I've known him for a long time and I'm being generous by giving you a heads up. That guy is bad news. If you stick with me, I promise to take care of you," he whispered against her hair as his arms crushed her body.

"Kenshin isn't like that…"

"He is! Don't you see how easy it is for him to fuck around? He acts all innocent and whatever but it's all fake. It's all an act. Get over it, he never cared about you and he never will. If he did, why isn't he here now to save your ass? He loves my sister, not you."

"I hate you!" Kaoru burst out and bolted around, her fists pelting at his chest. The blows, much to his surprise, hurt, but not enough to actually make him stop her.

"Shhhh…" he tried to silence her, and grabbed her wrists, pinning them down.

"You're confused, and I understand. You don't hate me. You'd like to, but the truth is you hate yourself because of what you've gotten yourself into. You can still back out, you know. I can tell Tomoe about everything, but then I think you'd still be alone. Kenshin would be devastated wouldn't he? He wouldn't be holding his arms out open to you. He'll hate you even more for everything."

Mentally, Kaoru curled up. It's true, she thought. Kenshin wouldn't want to have anything to do with me. She went completely limp, and Enishi released his hold on her. She turned onto her back, and closed her eyes.

"Kenshin is suspicious though, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"I think it's time to get the point across to him that you belong to me now. You're going to have to try harder to convince him too, Kaoru. Seeing as we're in my room, on the bed, with the door locked, now would be the perfect time to practice," he smoothly told her.

Thinking wasn't an option for her, for he had already swiftly removed his t-shirt, and tossed it casually across the room. Enishi then slowly began to unbutton the collar on Kaoru's shirt. As if she was a child, he urged her to sit up so that he could lift it over her head. His lips moved all over her face. Kaoru unwillingly pressed herself to his bare chest. She was beyond ashamed. She did not want him to see her in her bra. No boy had done so before. What made him so privileged?

Enishi demanded that she tilt her head back. She did with very sullen movements so that he could lean in, and start kissing her neck. The kisses turned from light, to passionate. Short to long, and deep. His lips were holding onto the skin tightly, purposely.

The point finally hit her.

'Practice…' his voice repeated silkily in her mind.

He meant to leave marks.

In visible areas.

Enishi was marking his territory.

His own. I belong to him.

Kaoru fell back onto the bed, imagining herself jumping off the edge and landing in water. Everything drifted away and she let him do what he wanted. She didn't hate herself when her body twisted rhythmically against his. Instead her hands let go of the blanket that she had been clenching, slowly rounding his shoulders to hang from his neck.

Enishi groaned in approval as her nails poked into his back. Happy with his results, Enishi encouraged her to do the same to him. She was on top of him with one fluid movement as he rolled them over. Hands placed firmly on her lower back, he pushed her against the stiff hardness of his midsection. He twisted his hips, grinding it against her.

I…hate…you…

Enishi felt hot wetness slide down his chest. Only moments later he realized they were her tears.

"You better start getting used to this," he warned her. And then he took her lips with his own.

Random Comment: I hate Enishi. But he's so sexy...

Thank you to: Immortal-Blood, scythe195, karou-ken, gaby (hyatt, kirie-kun(I've eaten so many damn candies throughout the holiday season so if you'd like to give me more I wouldn't be angry! Bring 'em onnn! ;) ) erica6060, Reignashii, crest fallen212, and last but not least, kenshinlover2002 (thanks for the batch of reviews ;) )