EDITED REPOST, 10/09/05. No one cares though. Sigh.

Disclaimers: As usual. I don't own anything.

CHAPTER 14

"Uhhhh…" Kaoru's moan was muffled from beneath the heavy quilt. Kenshin, who had been fast asleep, woke up quickly with his senses fully alert. The voice that he'd heard didn't sound like— but then he remembered the eventful night before. Rolling over onto his back he reached over and called out her name.

"Kaoru?"

"Kenshin?"

Urgency in her voice made him quickly sit up despite the tiredness that nagged in his limbs.

"Hai, what's wrong?"

"I have to go to the bathroom. Where is it?"

He watched as her share of the blankets stirred, finally revealing an unusual pale face and she brought herself to sit up slowly, all the while clutching at her dreadfully pounding head.

"By your side of the bed. If you walk to the left you'll see a door over there straight ahead."

"Ok," she replied, and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

Glancing down at the clock on his night table, Kenshin inwardly groaned when he saw the brightly flashing red light. It was six in the morning. He had been about to pull the cover back up, blocking out any sound so that he could fall back asleep but the continuous coughing from the bathroom reached his ears, and he was instantly up knocking at the door.

"Kaoru!" He called out, "Are you alright?"

"Yeahhh!" She answered back. She seemed to sound ok. "Jus' a little sick, that's—" she stopped and coughed some more before finishing, "that's all. No worries."

Still he went into the kitchen and brought her some pills.

"I feel like a real idiot," she told him when she saw him standing there calmly holding out a glass filled with water.

Lazily he shrugged his shoulders and replied in a lukewarm way. "It happens."

"I remember you telling me to stop drinking though, but I didn't listen." Kaoru immediately felt even more foolish for saying it out loud. She could feel the awkwardness even before Kenshin responded back.

"Well I had no right to tell you what to do anyways, and you didn't have to listen to me if you didn't want to either." He couldn't have been more blunt even if he tried. He sounded almost bitter, as if he was angry.

Why is he suddenly giving me the cold shoulder? Does it have anything to do with last night? Kaoru set down the empty glass and looked towards him.

"Are you… mad at me?"

"Should I be?" he countered indifferently.

Kaoru felt the answer as obvious as knife handle sticking out of her heart. He was mad, and it WAS directed at her.

"Why? Is it because of last night?"

It was like talking to a brick wall. He was so unresponsive that it made her want to rip his hair out. Still keeping eye contact, he leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms impatiently. "Well, I don't know. A lot of things happened last night so be more specific."

What the HELL! What's his problem! Unaware of it, her fingers tangled themselves into her hair, locking around the ends.

"I don't understand you at all. Why are you talking like a moron? Why can't you just say it instead of having me go over everything that happened last night?"

Kenshin shrugged. Acting like everything was normal, like they fought on this level daily, he headed back to his bed and sat down, stretching himself out. Kaoru whirled around, mad, and gripped the bottom of her shirt, her nails almost piercing into the thick material.

"Excuse me? Answer me! Is this about what happened in your bedroom?" Raising a finger at him and stalking towards where he lay, Kenshin just stared at her, completely unaffected. "Because you were fully aware of what you were doing and I wasn't entirely all there mentally. But I'm not saying that it wasn't my fault or trying to push the blame on you but you were the adult last night."

When he didn't reply she decided to try to poke another of his nerves. "Is this about Tomoe? Why are you still with her then if you can go play me around on the side?"

Kenshin's eyes flared with anger as he swiftly sat up.

"I'm not playing around with you—"

"Really?" she interrupted and arched a brow, "then what do you call last night?"

"You came onto ME!" He snarled back furiously.

"Oh ok… so you take that as an opportune moment to cheat on Tomoe but you blame me for it instead of yourself because you," she poked him in the chest for emphasis, "have no self control," she finished with a defiant gleam in her eyes. His response back to all of her accusations was a polite smile. Kaoru didn't appreciate it one bit once she realized that it was full of mockery.

"And what about you, miss innocent?" Kenshin stepped up and stared down at her, making her feel like the tall pedestal she had built was now crumbling away. "Aren't you dating Enishi? What about if he knew what was going on behind his back?" The threatening look in Kenshin's eyes caused her own to widen. She put a hand to her trembling mouth, not wanting him to see that the verbal blow had hit it's mark. I can't believe what he's implying.

Before she could regain her composure he shocked her yet again with profound harsh words.

"Have you noticed that ever since you came here there's only been problem after problem?"

"Excuse me?" Kaoru asked in disbelief. Truly she couldn't understand what she was hearing now. Was this the same guy that had been so careful and delicate with her last night? How could that be possible? What happened to him? And who was this cold hearted, merciless man that stood before her? Lips parted, she opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She reached out and tried again but fumbled terribly.

"I don't… I just don't get—"

"Then don't bother," Kenshin interrupted, turning his back to her. "Just go back to sleep."

Pressing her lips together, Kaoru walked out of the room before Kenshin could catch the sparkle in her eyes. At her moment of weakness the last thing she needed was for him catch her crying. What she really wanted to do was punch him in the balls. And he'd totally deserve it too.

The couch looked inviting enough, so she sat down on it and hugged a pillow to her chest. It caught her tears and absorbed them, one after the other. Faintly she could hear the light padded footsteps that belonged to him approach. Tightly closing her eyes, Kaoru hid her face against the velvety softness of the fabric.

Do you feel proud of yourself now? You made a grown woman cry. Kenshin observed her silently while his thoughts kicked in.

Look at her, you jackass!

Whatever he had said earlier were on his first impulses. The weighty truth of their twisted situation finally dropped on his head and he had reacted badly, taking it all out on her. She's not to blame. Both of you are equally responsible, so why did you open your mouth and make her feel like complete shit? You know she already feels alone in this world and to have her only friend disregard her the way you did, you can bet she feels like complete shit now. Good going Himura. Kenshin ran his fingers through his hair. What have I done…?

"Kaoru, stop crying." He reached out with both hands. Shocked by her reaction, he didn't even have the chance of blocking it. She smacked his hands away and recoiled back against the couch.

"Get lost," she murmured into the pillow.

"Can you please stop crying?"

If there was one thing he could not absolutely stand for, it was a woman's tears. Especially when you're the cause of them. That didn't make him feel any better.

"Tell me then," Kaoru spoke normally, and he jerked his head up to meet her face, "that you don't mean what you just said. How am I responsible for anything? If it's anyone's fault it's yours for having such an insecure relationship with her. Oh and since we're on the topic, I'm not jealous believe me. Actually when I look at everything now, I can totally see why the two of you are together!" Anger rekindled itself inside and she threw the pillow at him when she stood up.

"I want you to stop playing around with me. You are with Tomoe—"

"And you're with Enishi," he cut her off, clenching the pillow in his hands.

"I realize that!" she shouted between her clenched teeth. Suddenly feeling like she wanted to hide away from all the problems that consistently nagged at her, Kaoru got up and headed straight for his room. Dropping herself back onto the bed, she made sure her back was facing his side. Fuck him, she decided. Only thing I want to do right now is just sleep a little more and then I'm going to go. After this I don't want to have anything to do with him again.

He'd followed her back and was now standing in the doorway apprehensively.

"Would you stop running away like that?"

Pretending like she never heard him, Kaoru lay absolutely still.

"Your boyfriend got what he deserved," Kenshin spat out sounding almost hateful. That word alone burned his mouth like sulphuric acid. That's right, he confirmed, HER boyfriend; the man whom she is currently involved with. Yukishiro Enishi. Kaoru turned at his ill-sounding words but all she saw was his bare back. Etched onto the skin were angry looking marks that even defied time by managing to stay so alive. Many slashes cut into the skin; several were jagged while some were straight. I don't re-call seeing those last night, Kaoru thought, mystified. Before she knew it her hand was reaching out.

Sensing her approach, Kenshin stiffened and Kaoru snatched her hand back when he said, "Don't."

As it fell numbly to her side she asked, "What happened?"

"Nothing that you need to know."

The feeling was eerie. She could feel the power behind his deeply voiced words. He was shielding something from her, something that he didn't want her to know. But why? And what? What does he have to hide from me…?

Anticipating an outburst, he was genuinely surprised when she softly said, "Fine," and turned back over.

"Alright, well you and Enishi," Kenshin started, "What are you doing with him to begin with? Why are you with a guy like that? You know he's trouble. You're basically asking for it if you are going to get involved with a dumb ass like that."

From underneath the covers she burned with anger but wasn't about to let him see all her emotions show up so plainly across her face. "What's it to you? Why don't you worry about your own relationship first? And you think I was asking for it last night? Is that why he was doing what he was doing? Because I had asked for him to do it?" Kaoru said the last four words slowly, the anger building up behind them. She could almost feel the steam pouring out from her ears. Ok, I'm going to count to ten… just count to ten Kaoru… do it now, calmly.

Everything she had done so far was for Kenshin's sake. All for him. To keep Tomoe, and Kenshin together happily.

That jerk.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Kenshin was saying. From what she could hear, his anger seemed to be mounting as well.

"That's fine! I never asked you to butt-in in the first PLACE!" She yelled with her last word. Kaoru gripped at his bed sheets. Fine, that's fine! Stupid MEN! Stupid, stupid MEN! She scrutinized angrily, squeezing her eye lids shut. Forcing them to keep closed, she concentrated on trying to fall back into the voided state called sleep. Her attempts must have succeeded. Not even aware that she had passed back out or that Kenshin had decided to do the same after not receiving any verbal responses back, she heard a voice. Jolting up, her hazy eyes blinked the sleepy blurriness away.

"So my suspicions were right."

Oh my— She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Oh no…" Kaoru whispered as she sat up.

Nor what she was seeing.

"What?" Kenshin groaned angrily into his pillow, and when he saw his girlfriend standing in the doorway he froze, wondering whether he was seeing an apparition. The unbelievable realistic looking woman swung her arm outwards, punching the wall directly beside her and yelled out, "You bastard!"

Getting up much like Kaoru had done, Kenshin's eyes hovered to his girlfriend's and the truth of the moment settled in. Quickly he tried to explain.

"This isn't what it looks like Tomoe."

"Right!" she sneered, baring her anger like a frenzy fireworks. With one finger pointed directly at Kenshin she yelled, "Don't even start that shit with me, Himura Kenshin. I'm sure that's what all they say after they've been caught fucking around! And you, you whore!" She had jerked around and was now pointing at Kaoru with contempt. "You just couldn't keep your hands off of my man could you? You didn't think I'd noticed anything did you? You little two faced slut!" She gestured wildly to Kaoru's clothes which were strewn around the room. Tears were raging down her cheeks but she was more furious than anything.

"And you!"

Kenshin snapped up at the harshness he was regarded with.

"You stupid bastard! I trusted you!"

"You never did!" Kaoru shouted back. Enough was enough. If all she thinks she can do is bitch and bitch, well then she's got another thing coming! Stupid idiot doesn't even know half of it! "I know this doesn't look good but if you'd at least just listen to us—" In mid-sentence Tomoe's hand came flying towards her face. Kaoru caught it before it actually made contact and she threw aside the other girl's arm, almost causing her to fall over.

"Stop it! Both of you!" Kenshin interfered, yelling at both of the girls as he leapt up, and then to Kaoru he asked, "Can you please leave us alone for a moment? I need to talk to her."

Usually she responded quite well and carried out everything in a polite manner but when she shook her head and smiled in an unfriendly, unsettling way, he could only stare back at a loss for words.

"Yeah, like explaining this is going to make her understand, right?"

Tomoe was looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to get rid of Kaoru. It's more like a test, Kenshin thought. She wants to see if I'll actually kick her out or not. Sorry Kaoru, but my girlfriend is my number one concern at the moment.

"Damnit, what don't you get? Enough shit has been started here! You could at least have the decency to give me some time to talk things through with my girlfriend. You owe me that much." Desperately he turned to Tomoe. "Tomoe, just give me a minute."

"I don't have to listen to anything! Fuck both of you!" She screamed, and ran out. Wildly running his fingers through his hair, Kenshin looked from the bedroom door where Tomoe had just been standing and then to Kaoru who was heaving oddly, leaning against the wall. The door slammed as Tomoe left. Kenshin started to walk out of the room, but Kaoru's next sentence stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Don't bother."

Looking over his shoulder he yelled, "What do you mean don't bother! That's my girlfriend!"

"Fuck you! It's not like she's going to fucking listen to you anyways!"

"Oh… so was this some sort of scheme to break Tomoe, and I apart?"

Kenshin raised an eyebrow at her. He looked absolutely serious. He was believing his own ridiculous words. Kaoru's jaw dropped, and her eyes widened. She couldn't believe it.

"I've… had… it," she drew out slowly. Kicking the comforter away from her feet, wordlessly she took his sweat shirt off, mindful that he was still standing there and pulled off the pants. Anger fuelled her. She couldn't have cared less about her exposed body. Gathering her clothes from off the floor she changed into them, and when she was finished she threw his at him. Kenshin caught them, and just continued to stare at her incredulously. Kaoru's eyes searched the room for her keys. There they were on his night table. She snatched them up, and briskly walked out of the room. Slipping her heels on, she bent down, and retrieved her purse.

"Wait," Kenshin called after her, his supple, muscular form keeping up with her ferociously fast pace.

"You're right. You're exactly right Kenshin." She startled him by stopping and coming up face to face. "I'm a manipulative little slut. That's exactly it. I asked for it when I started dating Enishi. I asked for it when I fell in love with you!" she spat out and continued, "I asked for it when the bastard tried to rape me! I'm sick of your shit! You're really just like any other guy out there. No wait, I'm sorry! You almost make Enishi look good. To hell with you, and your slut of a girlfriend, and both your fucked up mood swings. I wish I'd never MET YOU!" And without even waiting for him to answer, she opened the door and slammed it shut behind, almost rocking the whole apartment floor.

"Arghhhh!" Kenshin roared. Like he always did when he was overcome with emotions, his fingers found their way back to his now loose hair. Turning on his heel, he gazed around absently. Why the fuck am I so stupid? Why am I so dumb? Just look at the shit I've caused. Now both of them are angry at me. Fuck! I don't what's come over me; while I was distraught over one mess I got myself into another. Pacing around like a madman, Kenshin's brows furrowed together as did his thoughts. And Tomoe…

SMASH!

His fist pounded through the glass mirror. The tan colored carpet drank up the droplets of blood greedily as if it were sand thirsting for water. Kenshin didn't realize it then in the state of mind that he was in but breaking a mirror always brought bad luck.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Their lives were all entwined whether by small detail or large scale proportions. Everyone caught in the deceitful web were feeling it's affects. But there was still some truth that had gone on being unheard.

"Please don't! I never did anything wrong! Please don't do this!"

The man was silent at first. Soon his laughter filled her ears.

"You helped her."

Tears slid down the young woman's face as she stared up at him, perplexed. Within that split-second a sword swiped at her throat. The look on her face never left. Her expression was frozen forever.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Much later on that day, Kaoru found herself seated at a small local café. Already the sun had set, bringing complete darkness to the Japanese skies. The city however was lit up in its own radiance. Outside people were partying, dining, and shopping. It was a big city, but Kaoru felt now as if it was small, and she was some sort of fly caught in a web. Enishi's web. There was no escape from the inevitable. Enishi would come and find her, and deal with her accordingly.

"How could HE!" Kaoru refrained herself from hitting the table. God, this goes from bad to worse! What's Enishi going to think? He's going to freak, I know it. I could go to the cops about this but I'm too scared. I'm in way too deep now. Oh mom… dad, she sighed, what have I done? What can I do? I have to go home eventually, she glumly reminded herself.

"Can I get you anything else?" As the waitress spoke Kaoru nearly jumped out of her seat.

"Uh no… nothing at all. I'm good, domo," she replied. As much as she wanted to try to understand Kenshin's point of view, her brain just simply wouldn't allow it. She was overly frustrated with him. He was fine the night before, but suddenly in the morning he had turned into Mr. Hyde. Maybe he had thought things over or something in the morning. Could that be why he was angry? Was it regret…? But why blow up at ME! He's responsible for his own god damn actions, and he didn't try to stop me last night. They were both going to end up in a lot of shit now. Of course she knew he wasn't going to tell Tomoe about their late night. Well if he was smart he wouldn't. And it wasn't as if she was going to go and tell Enishi anything either. If Kenshin utters one word about what went on in his bedroom, I will personally see to the end of his life. Tomoe, that bitch, Kaoru thought bitterly. I have to put up with her brother's shit but I won't put up with hers. She was feeling very reluctant to start driving back home. Leaving the coziness of the café and the security of a public place was like kissing the key to her life goodbye. If Enishi tried pulling any shit on her she would be ready. She had vowed never to use the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu after her parents had passed away and it wasn't supposed to be used in a violent way either but if Enishi tried to pull anything she wasn't going to hold back.

The adrenaline rush didn't last very long as Kaoru got inside her apartment, and cursed heavily for not leaving any lights on.

It was pitch black.

She slipped off her heeled boots, and threw her purse somewhere down on the carpet. Her deep blue eyes scanned the area though they hadn't quite adjusted to the darkness just yet. Fumbling her hand against the wall where the light switch should have been, instead of the cold metal plate her hand brushed against something warm and hard. Something very real.

Kaoru screamed but it was useless. Even as she touched his body she knew exactly who it was.

Enishi.

Quietly he slipped his arms around her waist, and rubbed his face against the back of her neck.

"I've been waiting for you," he breathed down the back of her shirt. Kaoru involuntarily shivered against his body. This isn't going the way I planned it to go, Kaoru thought. He's going to hurt me… but he's holding me so kindly.

"What do you want," she whispered back to him.

"We need to talk." And surprisingly he let her go.

"How did you get in?"

"I have my ways…" he trailed off, and smiled. "I just happened to charm the security lady at the front. Your boyfriend wanted to secretly surprise you but he had forgotten his key at home. He wanted to make everything was ready for you when you got in," he told her, and laughed. "That and my sex appeal." Kaoru ignored the acidic feeling that was starting to burn in her stomach. During this feeling of being a live wire cut in half, she found the light switch, and flicked it on.

Enishi's white-blonde hair glinted like miniature knives. He was wearing a tight black muscle shirt that exhibited his finely worked muscles. His lower body was attired in bright orange track pants that hugged just at the hips, riding low and emphasizing his hips and flat stomach. To make matters worse for herself, Kaoru couldn't stop staring at his well-muscled arms. Though he was the most despicable man on earth that she had ever encountered, she could not deny the tiny feelings of admiration for his carefully developed physique. Anything he wore he'd make it look designer. He had the body of a well proportioned model, the face of a sensual angel. Right now he was staring back at her, amused, and casually propped against the wall. Both his arms were crossed, and when she finally looked up at him he smiled. The bruises that Kenshin had left didn't flaw his beautifully sculpted face at all. He still looked as gorgeous, and devilishly good as always. Ready for anything.

"We have to talk, sweetie"

"Fine," she spat out, irritated at being addressed so casually, "Talk," she instructed him in a bold tone. I'm going to hold my ground and bullshit through my teeth if it kills me. As if to further mock her Enishi laughed.

"Trying to be serious now, huh?" he continued to snicker deeply. In spite of her boiling anger, Kaoru blindly lashed out at him but he caught her easily and whirled her around. As he continued to talk to her, moving his face towards her cheek, the stubble on his chin grazed the skin there.

"I know I was being rough last night, even though I can't remember too much of it. I wanted to say I was sorry. I came here to make it up to you." Then he cautiously lowered his lips to kiss her at the corner of her cheekbone.

Like HELL you do. She managed to remain unresponsive in his hard arms.

"What's wrong, babe?" Enishi whispered, his lips brushing by her ear. Both his hands were sliding up her shirt, moving around her stomach to her lower back. He rubbed the smooth skin there, and was delighted when she unwillingly arched her back against him. "You like that…?" He whispered, continuing his trek to arouse her body while nibbling lightly on her ear. She felt her body automatically move against her own will, struggling enjoyably against his. Enishi let out a semi-satisfied groan as her rear pressed against his groin.

"Stop it…" she pleaded with him. To her surprise again her let her go cordially. What the hell's wrong with me, Kaoru wondered as she found herself breathing heavily. She kept her back towards him until she caught her breath again.

"Your words were much too light there. You said you were being rough last night? You hit ME! You tried to rape me!" She yelled.

"Accidents happen," Enishi shrugged before continuing on, "Like a drunken slut sleeping with her boyfriend's sister's boyfriend…"

"What are you talking about?" She whirled around again, and eyed him suspiciously.

Enishi eyes lingered on her body. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Let's sit down," he offered, and made himself comfortable on the futon that was on the other side of the living room.

"So this morning I heard about how my sister caught you, and Kenshin in the aftermath of what must have been a very long night," Enishi explained. "Clothes on the floor everywhere, bodies tangled in the bed sheets," Kaoru cringed at this, "She's pretty pissed off. I mean her brother's girlfriend and her boyfriend. Pretty soon everyone's going to know. How do you think Tomoe will react then?" Kaoru suspected that the calmness he was dealing her was without a doubt fake. That or he had his own idea for revenge.

"Get your story straight first before going on about crap you don't know about. For your information Enishi, I did not have sex, or do anything remotely even close to that with Kenshin. Did you bother to mention to your sister that you tried to rape me last night? And that Kenshin came to my aid and that's why we left together?"

"Rape you?" he rebuked, one of his brows quirked in emphasis. "But you wanted it sweetheart. Remember?" His eyes narrowed and his lids drooped down. Flatly he put in, "It's my word against yours. Who do you think she'll listen to?"

God help me. One day I am going to kill this asshole.

"But I can help you," Enishi caught her attention again. It was as if he was holding out a piece of candy to a wide eyed child.

"Oh really?"

"Of course," he smiled, "If you do something for me."

God, this was how it all started to begin with.

"First you listen to what I have to say," Kaoru told him.

"Fine. I'm all ears, princess."

She didn't go into all the details of course. She told him everything except the bits where her, and Kenshin had gotten heated up. When she was finished, Enishi laid back with his hands behind his head. Now would be the perfect time to impale him to the floor, she thought. He was so much stronger than her though, and if he knew how to use all the weapons that were in his room, well then he was a very skilled young man.

"I believe you, you know. You aren't stupid enough to cheat on me." His eyes searched hers, and she kept up with his steady gaze. Oh how wrong he was, but Kaoru acted completely normal, and met his eyes willingly.

"I don't give a shit if you do or don't. You have to explain this to Tomoe."

"Ahh see, you're starting to understand this all. That's right, that's where I come in. I can convince my sister to believe exactly what you want, so we'll all end up being happy in the end. As for Kenshin though…" Enishi's eyes narrowed and Kaoru caught the quick glint of hatred as he mentioned his name, "I will deal with him later." That sounded like a promise.

"He had nothing to do with this," she said flatly.

"Of course he did. Look at my face. Don't pretend that you already forgot who did this. I owe him for that. Explaining that to oneesan took a long time."

"You told her Kenshin hit you?"

"No."

"Then?"

"I didn't say anything about Kenshin."

Feeling rather irritated with his aggravating responses that led to no where, Kaoru grit her teeth when she asked, "What did you tell her?"

The blonde man tilted his head and smiled fondly.

"I made up some shit. I don't even really remember what happened last night but my sister knows that I can have quite a temper when I'm drunk. That doesn't matter though; we'll all be happy. I can cover your ass 'cause I've already covered mine. Look at it this way; who else can help you out right now?

Kaoru felt somewhat relieved inside by that bit of information. Most likely he didn't remember the earlier events when Kenshin had tried to stick up for her before he dragged her off upstairs. Enishi probably doesn't remember the fight that much either. Good, this is good.

"But… like I was saying princess," Enishi continued. She lifted her head and dreamily murmured, "Hmmm?"

"This is where I come in." Enishi sat up slowly, and brought a hand to her cheek. Immediately she winced but he hadn't been about to hit her. Simply he was just stroking her cheek in a most lovingly way but still, because of the fact that he was doing it, it unnerved her nonetheless. Without any prior warning, he darted his head forward and kissed her lips. Her cheeks burned and she tried to look away. Not allowing it, Enishi captured her face within his hand and brought it towards him again.

"You want to help Kenshin, and Tomoe don't you?"

"Of course I do," Kaoru told him, her hands trying push him away. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I was just asking. The more and more I think about it, I actually feel like telling oneesan. She has the right to know everything. But I'm having so much fun Kaoru. You're so… innocent, and stupid. You set yourself up so nicely for this. I can't help but wonder what's going on in that pretty little head of yours, if you do really want to get on Tomoe's bad side or not… But," he straightened up, "Princess, if I help you…" he trailed off.

That bastard! He betrayed his sister just so that he could toy around with all of us some more. Obviously none of this is bothering him at all. He couldn't care less. I'm a fool to begin with for thinking that he had any emotions inside of him. Even if it was supposed to be towards his own sister. Ughh, that disgusting, evil jerk.

Concentrating on maintaining a blank face, she averted her eyes and told him to, "Go on."

Both exchanged a heavy silence for a minute.

"What are you going to do for me?"

That's what it had come down to. What was she going to do for him. I should have known. I should have bloody known by now.

"And how do I know that you'll keep your promise?"

"I always do. That's one thing about me, Kaoru. I don't bullshit like that. No matter what it is I actually back my shit up. Can't stand people who don't," he muttered the last bit to himself.

"I don't believe you."

Enishi sighed. "What would you like me to do in order to make you believe me?"

No need to take a moment out to think.

"Call Tomoe right now," she responded and pointed towards the cordless phone, "and tell her that I wasn't lying. Tell her you will give her all the details later but for now to just call Kenshin, and talk to him. Tell her the truth that nothing happened between Kenshin, and I. I had a little too much to drink, and Kenshin, the saintly peacekeeper, couldn't leave me by myself especially since you were already drunk… or something. Add whatever you want in for your part," she added with noticeable disgust.

"Kenshin the saint!" he repeated and smirked. "I like that one actually because it's so unfitting. The way he fakes it by his polite speech and being all mannered up the ass, it pisses the fuck out of me. You guys don't know shit all."

That flicked at her curiosity. "What's that 'sposed to mean?"

Unwilling to reveal any little detail, Enishi replied, "Nothing that you need to know. And consider it done."

Inside of his pant pocket he produced his cell phone. When he had reached his sister he told her exactly what Kaoru had wanted. Since the volume on his phone was all the way up she could even hear Tomoe's responses. She sounded quite surprised.

"What? But… Oh I know how he is, but to bring another girl back to his apartment? There's no excuse for that!"

"That's cause I told him to. I was pretty hammered and after he left that's when I punched out that guy I told you about. I told Himura to take care of Kaoru because I knew she wasn't feeling well, and neither was I. I wasn't able to watch over her and Kenshin is the only guy I trusted oneesan. I trust him with everything. Besides he would never even think of doing something like that behind your back. He would have told you the moment he woke up."

"I don't know." But her voice softened considerably giving off the distinct impression that Enishi's words were getting to her.

Look at him! Kaoru stared in surprise. He's lying to his own sister so… so… normally! He can actually bullshit to her without even feeling the tiniest bit bad about it! God, what's even worse is that she believes every word of it. Then, changing her mental tone she added, thank Kami-sama.

"I feel like such an idiot Enishi. I yelled at both of them but I don't care about that girl, I just made myself look even worse in front of Kenshin by trying to hit her!"

"He'll understand."

"You think so?"

"Of course. He loves you." Even as he was saying the words he turned to Kaoru and gave her a delighted smile. "He'd never do anything to hurt you, ever." At this he winked.

Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. All that wasn't enough to make her feel bad for Tomoe though. That girl completely deserved it. Hell for that matter everyone deserves what they get.

"Yeah, call him. Just talk to him. Alright? Ok, later," he said, and hung up. Swinging his attention back to Kaoru so smoothly as if nothing had interrupted them from their previous flow of conversation, he asked, "So, as we were discussing earlier, what are you going to do for me?"

She sighed and shook her head miserably. "What do you want?" If it was money, fine. No problem with that. Although his expensive flashy car and big home proved that they were already considerably well off.

"I want what I didn't have last night…" he trailed off and looked her up and down slowly, drinking in her body and all the tight curves that were exposed in her low riding jeans and chest hugging t-shirt.

"One night with me for Kenshin and Tomoe's happiness. I'm not gonna lie; you're hot and you got me wanting your body so bad in so many different ways. Give me possession of it for one night and then we can call it even. What do you say?"

Her mind reeled. She wasn't prepared for something like… like THAT. Kaoru felt her cheeks turn red, and she put her hands to her face.

"I think you're a perverted asshole, that's what I say."

"I'm guessing that you said that without really thinking. You have a very sharp tongue princess. I'm in a good mood right now so I won't take that offensively," Enishi replied. He ran his fingers through Kaoru's long black hair.

"Do I really have to remind you for the hundredth time that you are just barely balancing on this situation? One tiny push, a small breath of air is all it'll take for you to be dropped down. A small wrong move and then you can really kiss your freedom goodbye."

Kaoru knew what he meant. She understood it completely. He was speaking about her, and Kenshin, and the whole chaos that was devouring them all. If she denied him of anything that he asked for now he would spill everything. Everything meaning stories that never existed. She knew what he was capable of. From that phone call, she saw how he played his sister for a puppet on strings. It was game over. No draw here.

He holds all the cards.

He has the winning numbers.

Kaoru inhaled deeply.

"So, what do you say?"

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Hugs to all

BTW I don't mention much about future pairings… because well, don't you guys like it when things are more mysterious? I just feel like it gives everything away when you give out those minor details. Umm, like I said before too, I think in the previous chapter, this story will be a long one. If you are enjoying it so far I promise that it only gets more darker but fun from here on. Don't worrrrry because I'm sure everything will turn out alright SOMETIME. That's all I'll say about that.

See ya gals next week and guys (if applicable).