Kaoru swore angrily under her breath as she stormed down the hall. Three times, three times she had warned the stupid chauvinist pigs in her department that the plans for the new building were not going to work! And each time they refused to listen, believing she was a stupid woman who had no right to be in their office. Kaoru would be more than happy to sit by and watch the building fall in a heap at her colleague's feet; she would relish the looks on their faces when she would say "I told you so!" But she couldn't allow it to go that far, couldn't allow this building to go under construction. Someone would get hurt. Kaoru had no choice but to see the one man she despised most, her boss Mr. Himura.
"Excuse me Kaoru," Megumi perked up at her desk when Kaoru entered the room, clearly surprised to see her. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to see Himura right away," Kaoru didn't even bother with the Mr. She was too pissed to deal with formalities.
"You need an appointment or it'll be my head," Megumi exclaimed as she leapt to her feet.
"This is an emergency," Kaoru strode past the woman, ignoring her sound of protest. Kaoru burst through the double doors open to her boss's spacious office. It appeared he was having lunch, and Kaoru clearly startled him. Himura had an egg roll popped half way in his mouth and a napkin spread across his lap in an embarrassing manner. For a moment he held still, staring at Kaoru as if he didn't really think she was there. Then he choked. The remainder of the egg roll was sucked into his mouth and apparently clogged up in his throat. Leaping to his feet, Kenshin wrapped his fingers around his throat, his best attempt at dislodging the food from his throat. It was to no avail, Kenshin's pathetic attempt wasn't getting the food anywhere.
"Great," Kaoru groaned and marched across the room.
'Never thought I'd actually use this,' Kaoru thought dimly as she wrapped her arms around Kenshin's torso. After positioning herself, Kaoru proceeded to thrust her fist into her boss's abdomen.
'Gosh,' Kaoru thought shyly as she continued to thrust. 'He's ripped.' Shaking her head, Kaoru gave her boss one final blow before the egg roll came back out. It was disgusting, to say in the least. Covered with salvia, the egg roll laid half-chewed on the desk. Both Kaoru and Kenshin stared at it for a moment.
"Uh," Kenshin scratched the back of his head in a childish manner. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Kaoru replied stiffly.
"Mr. Himura," Megumi spoke from the doorway. She clasped her hands together and wrung them nervously. "I'm so sorry, I tried to stop her but she just came in."
"I see," Kenshin turned and gave Kaoru a stern look, one that she returned.
"For a good reason," Kaoru marched back to where she stood before and stooped over to pick up the papers she had dropped when she had rescued her employer. After picking them up, she strode back to the desk and rolled them out for Kenshin to behold.
"If you would be so kind as to look at this," Kaoru pointed out. "This is the design plan for the new building that's supposed to go up down town."
"Yes," Kenshin agreed, his voice was solid and rippled with anger. "The new Fire Department."
"It has several major flaws," Kaoru jabbed her finger at the picture. "Flaws that are so serious that this building will never stand."
"Why is that?" Kenshin raised a fiery eyebrow.
"If your other architects had done their research," Kaoru fought to keep all emotion from her voice. "They would see that the site at which this building is to be built is not on solid ground. But they have no plans what-so-ever to make the building stable."
"What do you propose?" Kenshin smiled slightly, that smug smile that Kaoru hated so much.
"We need to dig down to the bedrock," Kaoru felt her patience growing thin. Any idiot should know this. "We drill several strong podiums down the bedrock for the building to rest on."
"Is this the only problem?" Kenshin asked, rubbing his temples. "Because we would have eventually figured this out before the actual construction."
"No!" Kaoru felt her last restraints snap. "That is not all! Secondly, your architects planned on having no way of balancing the building even though it is at least twelve stories high. With the wind levels, this building would collapse."
"Really?" Kenshin asked, once again amused.
"Yes really!" Kaoru barked. "Any idiot with a degree would know this unlike the morons in that department! You need to dedicate a floor to a large weight to counteract the winds effect; if you don't this building will fall!" Kenshin closed his eyes, appearing to be in deep thought. Then, without any warning, he started to clap.
"Well done Miss Kamiya," He continued to applaud, his claps sounded lonely and hollow in the large room. Megumi too, at the door began to clap.
"What?" This was the last straw for Kaoru. "Why are you clapping, this is no major feat to figure out. And why are you clapping?" Kaoru snapped at Megumi who was still standing in the doorway. "Are you some sort of puppet, doing what ever your 'master' tells you to? You're so disgraceful, this whole place is! I've never met such sexist meanie men in my life!"
"Meanie men?" Kenshin snorted. "Kaoru, I'm afraid the joke is on you."
"Would you please explain," Kaoru whipped her attention back towards Mr. Himura. "And call me Miss Kamiya if you would."
"Let me explain," Kenshin shook his hands in defense. "You see, my company is allowed to run several 'tests' to test out its employees. And you've past; with interesting and flying colors I might add."
"A test?" Kaoru asked, her ego inflating faster than a popped balloon. "This whole thing was set up to see if I really was qualified to get this job?"
"Yes," Kenshin smirked, causing Kaoru to grind her teeth. "You had already passed, I was already informed that you had disproved of the plans, but I was truly shocked to see that you would come to me."
"Of course," Kaoru responded dryly. "People could have gotten hurt."
"Typical," Kenshin muttered.
"What?" Kaoru's head shot up. "What's so typical?" Her anger was boiling once again at a dangerous level.
"You women," Kenshin responded as he started to sit down in his cushy chair once again. "You don't think about the time or money wasted, you just think about the 'lives' that are at stake."
"Excuse me!" Kaoru lost it, her control flushed down a drain. She angrily pounded her fist on his desk, scattering several papers and causing Kenshin to jump.
"There is nothing wrong with valuing human life, especially over time and money!" Kaoru screeched, slamming her other fist on the table. "It's not weak as you macho men may think; it actually makes you stronger!" Kaoru lowered her eyes to meet his, cool amber facing flaming sapphires.
"Have you no ounce of human compassion?" Kaoru pounded her fist again; making sure her point was made. "How could you even compare such articles? It's inhuman!"
"Kaoru!" Megumi dashed across the room and snatched Kaoru's hand up in her own. "Control yourself!" Kaoru stopped for a moment, only to survey Megumi. She was shaking, she was actually shaking!
'What for?' Kaoru wanted to ask, but she directed her attention back towards Himura. He was hunched over in his chair, his eyes swallowed up in the shadows of his bangs. Kaoru felt her anger dry up again.
'So much for my job,' Kaoru thought dimly, but to both her and Megumi's surprise, Kenshin threw his head back and laughed. Not only did he laugh, he roared. Kaoru was more frightened then ever before, her body braced itself for the worse. She had grown up in an abusive home; she knew what it was like to get hit.
"I've never," Kenshin wiped tears from his eyes, quelling his laughter. "Ever, had anyone speak to me like that. It's actually kind of refreshing." Kaoru remained silent.
"I must say Kaoru," Kenshin stood up and started to walk towards her. Megumi still held her hand within her own, but when Kenshin nodded his head at her, she immediately and left the room. With the doors closed and Megumi gone, Kaoru thought the room had suddenly shrunk.
"Kaoru," Kenshin called her attention back to him, he was very close to her. "I am very intrigued." It seemed to Kaoru that he now stood only a few inches away from her. Kaoru was used to people trying to intimidate her, but somehow this was different. She felt hot, her palms were sweating and her stomach seemed queasy. It took everything in her not to sway on her teetering legs.
"This will be interesting," Himura's eyes loomed in front of her, big enough to swallow her up in their fiery depths. "I am now glad that I hired you."
"Thank you," Kaoru swallowed hard and took a step backwards, away from him. Just to get away, that was all she wanted.
"Please call me Kenshin," he stopped advancing, staring at her with his alluring amber eyes.
"May I leave now?" Kaoru yelped out when she felt her back hit the wall.
"You may Kaoru," Kenshin smirked; the gleam in his eye was growing. Kaoru immediately headed to the door. Once she was at a safe distance, she stopped.
"Call me Miss Kamiya if you would please," Kaoru spoke quickly, then left as quickly as possible and closed the doors shut tight behind her.
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"I can't believe you actually thought we were that stupid," Sano, one of Kaoru's co-workers roared with laughter at her discomfort.
"Would you just shut up?" Kaoru mumbled as she took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"We were just testing you," Sano continued to laugh.
"I said shut up Sano," Kaoru cast a glare that could kill, causing Sano to immediately stop laughing.
"Hey," Sano's voice softened. "I was only teasing Missy." Kaoru grit her teeth, she hated the nickname Sano had given her.
"If it's any consolation," Sano continued. "Kenshin admires you now for your guts."
"Because that's exactly what I want," Kaoru groaned. "More attention from my sexist boss."
"Hey," Sano nudged Kaoru in the shoulder. "You get tons of bonuses, in fact, I'm kind of jealous."
"Jealous?" Kaoru turned to Sano, a look of disbelief on her face.
"Yeah," Sano replied easily. "Normally I'm his favorite, and so when he has to go represent the company I got to go to. But now that you've impressed him, I'm sure you'll go instead of me."
"Represent the company," Kaoru asked. "Like where?"
"Anywhere," Sano shrugged his shoulders. "Like last year he brought me to a construction convention down in Hawaii."
"And you think he'd bring me?" Kaoru raised her eyebrow slightly.
"Yeah," Sano smiled. "Sounds fun, doesn't it?"
"Not really," Kaoru lowered her head to rest it on her desk. This was going to be a long day.
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"I'm telling you I don't want to go," Kaoru found herself, once again, in Mr. Himura's office.
"Are you insane?" Kenshin asked with a smirk. "You don't want to go to Las Vegas with me?"
"No," Kaoru firmly answered.
"Why not?"
"I have perfectly plausible reasons," Kaoru answered, clenching her fists together tightly.
"Well," Kenshin put a serious face on. "This is not a pleasure trip, this is a business trip. I was informed to bring along one of my best architects who I believe would best represent my company."
"And you want to bring me?" Kaoru asked in skepticism.
"Yes," Kenshin answered plainly. "I believe you are one of my best architects."
"I've worked here for little over a month," Kaoru reasoned. "You can't possibly know if I am your best."
"I have a strong intuition about this," Kenshin responded. "Now I am not asking you to come, I am forcing you as your employer. Pack your bags and get ready because next week you are going to Las Vegas."
"There is no way I'm getting on a plane to go to Las Vegas," Kaoru retorted firmly. "No way."
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'Deep breaths Kaoru,' Kaoru told herself. 'Calm your nerves; this isn't really all that bad.' It was, despite her protests Kaoru found herself on a plane going to Las Vegas, sitting next to her least favorite person in the world.
"Are you going to be alright?" Kenshin asked from beside. "You look a little sick.
"What do you care?" Kaoru moaned, gripping the arm rests of her seat.
"I care more than you think," Kenshin replied, prying her arm from the arm rest and holding her hand tightly in his. "Is this why you didn't want to come, because you don't like planes?"
"Yes," Kaoru kept her eyes clamped shut; she could feel tears forming with in them. "I hate planes. If God had wanted us to fly he would have given us wings like the birds."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kenshin gently squeezed her hand. Kaoru's anger flared. Her eyes snapped open to glare at her boss, but something stopped her. He didn't look like the cocky, arrogant man she had met, but a look of genuine concern was on his face. His once cold amber eyes sparkled strangely, with an emotion she couldn't place. They looked warmer, gentler, and welcoming. Without speaking, Kenshin reached over and pulled the slide over the window shut.
"Here," Kenshin reached over with his free hand. "Give me your other hand." Cautiously, Kaoru brought her hand over to his, were he immediately clamped it with in his own.
"Welcome ladies and Gentlemen," the pilot began to speak over the announcer. Kaoru felt a wave of panic wash over her and it suddenly became hard to breath.
"Calm down," Kenshin's voice spoke quietly in her ear. Kaoru couldn't see, she had once again clamped her eyes shut.
"Breath slowly," Kenshin's continued to speak smoothly. "Everything's going to be alright." He let go of her hand to wipe the sweat off her face that had broken across her forehead. The plane lurched beneath them, causing a small gasp to escape Kaoru's mouth.
"Shh," Kenshin took Kaoru's hand back in his. "Tell me, where did you grow up?" He began to run his thumb over the back of her knuckles, it was strangely calming.
"I was born in Chicago," Kaoru answered, keeping her voice steady. "I lived there until I was 15."
"Where did you move to?" Kenshin's voice was reassuring. Her hand had stopped shaking now, and they almost arched into Kenshin's thumb as he gently rubbed her hand.
"Um," Kaoru swallowed, trying to moisten her dry throat. "To an adoption center in Madison Wisconsin." The plane was picking up speed, Kaoru could feel it. Her throat constricted and she felt another cry of fear pass through her.
"It will be alright Kaoru," Kenshin's voice was closer now; Kaoru could feel his lips brush against the shell of her ear as he spoke. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you." Despite his soothing voice being so close to her, Kaoru still felt bile rise in her throat.
'Please don't throw up,' Kaoru begged herself.
"Calm down Kaoru," Kenshin let go of her hand to bring it up to her cheek, gently rubbing it with his forefinger and thumb. "We're going to get through this, I promise." He gently brushed his nose against her temple.
"Listen to my voice," Kenshin continued to speak. "I was born in Chicago as well; my parents were entrepreneurs and had struck it lucky with a car dealership." Kenshin continued to speak, but Kaoru didn't listen to the words. She concentrated solely on the feel of her hand clamped tightly within his, the smell of his skin and the feel of his lips so close to her ear.
"Kenshin," Kaoru interrupted him through clenched teeth. "I think I'm going to throw up." With that sentence Kaoru felt the bile rise and push past her throat. Fearing that she would throw up all over, she was surprised to discover that Kenshin had anticipated that she would do this. He had a bag for her, catching her vomit within it. His other hand drew her hair back out of her face, collecting it together on her back. Once he had done that, he soothingly rubbed her back and encouraged her to get it all out.
"Thank you," Kaoru hiccupped slightly as she drew back.
"You're welcome," Kenshin handed the full bag to a flight attendant.
"I'm so sorry," Kenshin spoke softly to the flight attendant. "She's not comfortable on planes."
"Poor thing," the woman had a strong southern accent. "Let me get her some aspirin."
"Thank you," Kenshin spoke kindly, turning back to Kaoru. He handed her a cool, wet rag and allowed her to wipe her mouth with it. Kaoru sighed loudly and finally opened her eyes.
"Take this," Kenshin gently pressed a cup of cold water into her hand with some pills. "It will help you sleep."
"Thank you," Kaoru mumbled, accepting the pills and water. After swallowing she allowed Kenshin to steer her back to rest in her chair. Her head swung forward, resting on her chest. But Kenshin gently pried it back up and directed it to his shoulder.
"Here," Kenshin pulled a blanket over Kaoru as she settled her head on his shoulder. "It's not good for you to sleep like that." Kaoru nodded slightly and forgot everything, forgot that she was on a plane, and that she was sleeping on her boss, everything. Kenshin couldn't help but watch fondly as Kaoru drifted into sleep. Her hair was down, contrasting greatly with her pale skin. Kenshin had never really noticed her hair before, she always had it pulled back when she was at work. But when it was down like this, she was simply beautiful. Her skin looked as soft and white as newly laced silk. Gently, Kenshin brushed through her hair with a few of his fingers. Twisting a long piece of her raven hair around his finger, Kenshin carefully rested his head on top of hers, letting his eyes droop slightly. A feeling began to grow in the pit of his stomach, but he couldn't place what it was.
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Sorry it takes me so long to update, but I decided to take Chemistry this year (big mistake) and now spend most of my time preparing for that stupid class. I advise you all never to take Chmistry!