Disclaimer : I don't own RK or "How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days". All original characters are mine to claim.

Synopsis: Modern day A/U. K/K story. Kaoru loved him for 5 years. Now, 8 years later after their last meeting, they're together again. Are some people really meant for each other?

Italics – thoughts

A/N: Kenshin is very OCC in this fic. He's not Battousai. He's not Rurouni. He's simply Kenshin. And Hiko is not his adoptive father. Also, this story will go slowly, so all the details will be revealed in their specific times. I've also made some changes in chapter one, 'cause I was reading it and was like..."Eww, not cool at all!" SO, just to make it notice ;)

On with the story!

We Were Meant For Each Other

Chapter 4 Old Acquaintances

"And so, the mysterious darkness assassin, Undo Jinei, was condemned to 20 years of prison. Justice was on the right side, once again." Misao said, completely absorbed with the article. Grinning, she put the paper on top of her desk and looked at the two journalists standing in front of her. "Guys, this was so good!! Really, it's brilliant! No wonder Hiko wanted you two together! This was amazing!" And it really was. Keeping their word, Kaoru and Kenshin dropped the article on Hiko's desk first thing in the morning. And the expression on Hiko's face as he read the article couldn't be better. The grin was slowly conquering the already usual frown and, when he finished, a real smile played at his lips.

He was indeed pleased with his choice. They were the best team he'd ever seen. And it was only the beginning.

Kenshin smiled at Misao. "I'm glad you liked Misao. It was a good story line. That guy was lunatic. I'm surprised he only got 20 years of prison. In my opinion he should stay in there for the rest of his days." Kaoru nodded in agreement, suppressing a shiver. That guy had always given her creeps. His eyes were dull without any kind of emotion. The only expression he had was this horrible grin and a lunatic stare. She was glad he was in jail. At least he wasn't free to kill innocent people anymore. And now they were on another, not any better, case: Kanryuu.

Yet another big headache.

"Now you're covering Kanryuu's story, ne?" Misao asked. Receiving a nod from Kenshin, she frowned slightly. "I've heard so many bad things about him. I just hope he doesn't bring any problems to you guys. Do you have any idea where to start? According with what I know, no one knows where the guy is hiding." Kaoru grabbed the paper dropped in Misao's desk and nodded. "We're going to work with the police. Speaking of which," she paused, glancing at her watch, "I have to make a phone call. See ya later Mi!" They headed to the door and exited the room.

Entering their office, Kenshin was still closing the door when Kaoru reached her phone and dialed a number. Seating on his chair, he waited patiently for the person to answer the call. Seeing the delay, he was about to resume his work when Kaoru started talking. And she was fuming. "It's about time, baka! Here I am in a hurry to call you and you take HOURS to answer this machine! Where were you anyway? Sometimes I doubt you're a real detective!"

Kenshin raised his eyebrow. Who could it be on the other line? They had to be friends, for Kaoru to be scowling him like this. Poor guy…

"Yeah, yeah, anyway, that's not the reason I called. How are you, by the way?" She paused, listening to the answer. Giving a small smile, she continued. "That's really you. But let's get to the point. When do you think you'll be able to receive us there?" Another pause. "Yes, I'm taking my partner." A frown appeared on her beautiful face. "Ha ha, funny funny. You'll be surprised when you see him." Now that caught Kenshin's attention. Why would he be surprised? "But when will you--- What? Next week?? No way! We need to start this week!" Pause. "Are you sure you can't see us today? It would be the best…" Kaoru played with the cords of the phone, while waiting for her friend's decision. They really needed to start Kanryuu's case this week, or Hiko will be very mad. "Yes, I'm here. Can you see us today?" She smiled at the answer. Now that's more like it. Things were going her way. "You're the best buddy. We'll be there at 3 p.m., okay?" Pausing again, she rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'll buy you a drink. But don't forget, you own me AND Tae! Can't believe you're a cop and you own money!"

Why did that sounded familiar? In a distant memory, Kenshin recalled someone he once knew that always owned money to everyone. I think he actually never paid me back…

Kaoru was hanging up. "Okay, see ya in the afternoon. Bye bye!" She ended the call and looked up. "You heard, right? We have the appointment set to 3 p.m. Until then, we should gather as much information we can. I'm so whishing to catch that guy and see him falling down." Kenshin chuckled. "Ano, Kaoru, don't forget we're only there to write the story…arrest him is something the police can do just fine…" A small smile was set at his perfect lips. She has always been this energetic.

She just waved her hand. "Yeah yeah, the point is that we have to cover every single step he makes, or Hiko will sent us to jail…damn that old man and his bad humor". Kenshin only shook his head.

The morning went normally for both of them, trying to find as much as possible about Kanryuu, but not receiving much results. Lunch break came fast and the group split up, being the girls at Hikaris' desk and the guys at Shiros' office, who were involved with typical male talk: women. Lots of laughs could be heard, as they made up jokes about each others romantic lives. Kenshin stood at the end of the male group, not participating on the conversation, but listening and smiling once in a while. He could hear higher laughs coming from the other side of the room. Lifting his eyes from the guys, he stopped at a special female. She was laughing carefree, as if laughing would solve all problems in the world. He smiled faintly. He remembered when they were in high school. Her laugher would always turn everyone's' humor up to the higher level. Now looking at her, no one would say she's the same person of two days ago. Back then, she had been a shadow, dark and sad. Now, she was the sun. What could have possibly happen to her, to make her transform so much?

"Her smile always lightens the day" Kenshin averted his eyes from Kaoru and looked down at Shiro. "What?"

Shiro grinned. "Kaoru. When she smiles, is like all joy in the world is at her lips. It's good to see her smiling again. Though she's always like that at that special day of the year, we still miss her smile when she's down. She's like a source of energy, don't you think?" At this point, all the guys were looking at her. Kenshin didn't bother to answer.

She was simply captivating.

"I'm going to see him today."

The girls blinked. "Who?" Kaoru asked, arching her eyebrow.

"Aoshi." Misao said, grinning madly. "I'm going to the library today after leaving here. Hopefully, today I'll catch his attention and we'll go out together!" She was blushing and smiling all over. Kaoru smiled shaking her head. "Did he ever say anything to you Misao? I mean, you've been going to that library for months now and nothing! You say he's as stoical as ever… where are you planning to go with him if he agrees to go with you anyway?"

"To the Akebeko of course! Tonight is Karaoke night! Can you picture more fun than that? Both of us singing together some romantic ballad…" Misao sighed. It was going to be perfect!

Hikari grinned. "How's he going to sing if he doesn't even talk?" She started laughing imagining the scene. Pretty soon, the girls were all laughing at the peculiar situation it would be. "Yes, I really can't picture him singing Mi, I'm sorry to disappoint you…" She said, taking a big bite of her sandwich.

"Kaoru." Misao choked her own food, as Hiko suddenly appear behind her. Kaoru looked at him, her mouth full with food. "Yes?" Came out the muffled response. She was blushing all over…with all the inconvenient hours to appear, he chooses this one! Damn…

He arched an eyebrow, but continued. "Be sure to get an agreement with the police in order to start working tomorrow morning on this case, understood?" Kaoru nodded, trying to find a free space to answer. "Yes sir." Pleased with the answer, he left without another word.

Misao glared and swallowed. "Jeesh, I hate when he pops out like that…"

"I heard that." Misao widen her eyes embarrassed. Is he a plague? "And Kaoru" She looked up, "Next time, be a woman and take smaller bites." He said smirking, leaving the girls alone. They looked at each other and laugher was between them on a second. "Yeah I can barely eat up here!" Hikari said, laughing. Kaoru just rolled her eyes and took an even bigger bite, moaning all over.

"Ehh that's disgusting…" Misao said, laughing hard. "Trust Hiko to give etiquette lessons!" She said shaking her head. "Anyway, what about we all go to the Karaoke night today? It would be so funny!!"

Kaoru grinned. "I don't want to be between you and your precious Aoshi…plus, tomorrow I have a big day, so an overnight would be terrible for tomorrows' investigation." Misao rolled her eyes. "You know? Sometimes you're just too much professional Kao…maybe that's why you can't have a boyfriend or have fun! You're always working and when you're not, you're thinking about it! You're a workaholic. Relax for a second…"

"Misao, I'm not workaholic! I just like to be good on what I do. And for that, I need sleep. And going out at night will not let me sleep. And so, I'll not be good on what I'm doing since I'm tired and instead of thinking about my job, I'm thinking about my bed!"

"Everyone goes out at night and everybody has to work on the next day! If all the people around the world were like you, there would be no bars, no discos, no tea houses, anything! Life would be boring…like yours." Kaoru sighed. "Okay, you know what? I'm not going to keep this conversation anymore. You go out, have fun, that I'll have my needed rest." She said, rising from the chair. Lunch break was almost ending and she and Kenshin were to be at the police station in an hour.

"You look like an old lady!"

"I'm not listening." She threw out her garbage and resumed her walk.

"Even a gramps has more life than you and you know it!" Kaoru only lifted her hand and entered the office, closing the door. Misao glared. "She is going out today, or my name is no longer Makimachi Misao!" Hikari glanced at her curiously. "But why is it so important for Kaoru to go out tonight?"

"It's as important tonight as any other night. She needs to go out. She needs to…start living again and stop being the shadow she has become. You know? I'm just so worried about her…" Hikari only nodded. She didn't want to see her friend and partner as sad as she was two days ago. Over the past couple of years, Kaoru seems to be worse on that date instead of better. It would be a very positive thing for Kaoru to go out with them tonight. Maybe…

"Well anyway, let's get back to the desk! And later, library is my destiny!"

"Turn to your left."

The black Volkswagen made the turn subtly and silence filled the car. Kaoru was too busy thinking about Kanryuu while Kenshin was dying to ask her what happened two days ago, but didn't want to bring anything bad back again. So neither of them spoke, the only noise being the cars' mechanic. Five minutes later, the police building could be seen ahead. Kenshin pulled the car over the police parking lot.

Kaoru looked around. Lot's of cars were parked, all of them with the police symbol. She was fascinated. Every since she was a kid, she had this dream of one day work with the police. Even though she could have been a police officer, she opted to be a journalist. Now, it seemed that destiny crossed her dream. She's a journalist and she'll be working with the police.

Smiling confidently, she glanced at Kenshin. "Shall we?" He nodded, and followed her into the building.

The receptionist wasn't at all a good humored person. "Yes, what is your business here?"

"We are journalists from the Mitsurugi Daily Express. I'm Kamiya Kaoru and this is my partner Himura Kenshin. We're here to have a meeting with the responsible for the investigation department."

The woman moved her eyes from them and turned to the computer, scanning for their names. "Yes, here you are. You may enter. His office is on the third floor." With that said, she paid no longer attention to them and they followed their way. When the doors of the elevator opened at the third floor, Kenshin felt his stomach tighten.

"Miss Kamiya?" A small woman with thick round glasses asked them, as soon as the doors opened. Kaoru nodded. "Please follow me." They passed about five doors before stopping in front of the last one. She knocked twice. "Come in." She let them pass before her and closed the door, nodding slightly. Kaoru turn to the big chair centering the large brown table. "Cut the poses, you big self-conceited." Kenshin lifted his eyebrow. The chair turned slowly, revealing a man, about same age as them, with spiky brown hair, deep brown eyes that seem to always be laughing at you and a big cocky grin. Sagara Sanosuke lift from his royal chair, ready to answer back, but when he glanced for a second time, he stopped abruptly.

"Kenshin?!"

"Sano?!"

"Kenshin!"

"Sano?!?!"

"Ken—"

"STOP IT!" Kaoru snapped. She rolled her eyes and sighed. "I told you would be surprised when you see him. Yes, it's Kenshin. And Kenshin, yes, it's Sano. Clear?" She glanced at the two, her eyebrow raised. Really, man could be so…idiot sometimes.

Sano gave a wide smile and crushed, really crushed, Kenshin into a bear hug. "I can't believe it! You've you been man? It's been years!!" They parted, grinning. "How did you end up being partner of Jou-chan? Even reproving one year, you still couldn't get away from her, eh? Really Jou-chan, you're a plague."

"Quiet."

Kenshin smiled. "It's so good to see you again. I was kind of wandering who could be her friend at the police but never in my wildest dreams had I thought it was you. We have a lot to catch up. I'm sorry for not saying anything since I failed the year, but live has its own course, you know?" Sanosule nodded. "No problem man! We can catch up tonight at the Karaoke at the Akebeko. You're comin' right? And you Jou-chan?"

"What is it with you people and Karaoke? Did you talk with Misao? Or are you guys taking lessons of telepathy? Really…" She sighed. And she didn't sing for a long time, so there wasn't a point on going just to make a figure of herself in front of who knows who. No way. "And no, I'm not. I have to work tomorrow and for that, I need to think straight."

"Ah, you really love to ruin the moments don't ya? Come on Jou-chan! It'll be fun! Imagine: everybody together again! And it could be a welcome party for Kenshin!"

"He's been here for almost two weeks now." She pointed.

He simply shrugged. "Well, since I doubt you did anything like that, we'll do it tonight! What ya say Kenshin? Singing for the old times?"

Kenshin grinned. "I don't sing that well…actually, I don't sing at all." He was blushing slightly. He really didn't want to make a figure of himself in front of everybody. Sano elbowed him. "Come on!! I don't care if you sing or not! We'll have fun, catching up on everything and making fun of everybody!" Kenshin laughed, nodding. Kaoru snorted. "Yeah, that's a good plan. Making fun of others. Just brilliant."

"You're coming too." Sano stated. He wasn't questioning. It was already settle. Kaoru glared. "I told you I'm not—"

Sano turned his back, returning to his chair. "Didn't you come here for another matter?" He was opening a file, filled with words and papers. Kaoru nodded and both of them seated on the chairs in front of his large desk. He cleared his throat. "Well, this is more complicated than it sounds or is known until now. I know you have some information about Kanryuu, but just basis. The thing we have at hand is…how can I put it…at a large scale." He paused. "As you know, Kanryuu leads one of the biggest mafia webs existent. He controls almost all drug traffics, including opium, cocaine, and others; alcohol, that he distributes illegally, obviously, to our young students; almost ten tea houses, which we know their purposes; five restaurants; and the top 'company' of prostitution around Japan. This meaning that he also kidnaps almost all of the girls he has working for him. They're held captive with absolutely no way to escape. Others are sold by girls traffic."

The journalists stayed quiet, silently absorbing what they're just told. This was far worse than they were expecting. Kaoru was the first to break the silence. "Do you have any idea how you're going to catch him? I mean, since he holds captive innocent women, you can't risk on losing any life."

Sanosuke nodded. "This is a delicate mission and we've been studying it very carefully. Until now, we've reached only to one possibility. He's the most well guarded man on earth right now, and shooting him from distance would cause a revolution and, as you said, we would be putting innocent lives at risk. We could gather the information I told you with an infiltrate police officer, but he just passed as a mere customer of one of the tea houses. And it wasn't the tea house we want. Kanryuu is living at one of them: Sakura Tea House."

"He lives in a simple tea house? Such man would be expected to live up in a fort." Kenshin said.

"Yes, we thought that too, and I guess that's exactly what he wants people to think. That such an important 'business' man would live in a mansion and not on a simple tea house. But don't be deluded. He's still the most well guarded man on earth. Why? Because every bad guy you can picture is working for him. Every tea house and restaurant has a spy system that detects the littlest communication technology. You can swallow it that the system at the building will be activated and he'll know right on the moment that you're an enemy. And we don't want to loose any officer either."

Sanosuke paused again. This matter had already taken years of his life. He couldn't wait for it to end. "So, our only choice is to put there an infiltrate officer, that will go undercover without any technology, any contact with us. She'll be in there until we find the opportunity to catch him and only him. When the leader is caught and the innocent are safe, the others will give up and the matter will be closed forever. And I can't wait for that damn day."

"You said 'she' Sano…" Kaoru said, thinking.

He nodded. "Yes, she. She'll go undercover as a prostitute. No connections with the outside. All the information she'll get will be written down on her 'diary', which pages will be ripped out and thrown out of the window, ready to be catch by one of us."

Kenshin was in deep thought. Throwing paper out of the window? That was the most…thoughtless thing he's ever heard. One could easily be caught buy doing that. Imagine if one of the security guards is making a patrol and he watches the scene. Everything will be ruined and the officers will probably end dead. He looked at his long time friend. He could see he was not pleased with the idea either. The idea was…

"Ridiculous." Kaoru voiced is thought. "That's ridiculous Sano. Throwing out papers? You'll get caught faster you can imagine. What if it's raining? How do you explain a man leaning against the wall every day, waiting for a paper to fall from the sky? It's insane and it'll ruin the mission."

"Kaoru is right Sano. I don't think that's the best idea…" He trailed off, thinking of another option. "No doubt putting there a girl undercover is the best option, but leaving her there alone? She'll have to actually BE a prostitute and sleep with whoever appears?"

Sano sighed. "I know, I know…The plan it's still not right. We don't want her to be there all by herself and we most definitely don't want and will not let her sleep around with those disgusting men. But what can we do?"

Silence filled the room. Not being able to enter one of the tea houses or restaurants with some technological machine was a big problem for Kaoru. How're they to right the story then? Hiko wanted details. And if they would just write the new when Kanryuu was caught, then all the other press would be there too and there would be no outstanding for them. And Hiko will be pissed.

"Why don't you put another officer undercover, this time a man, without anything connecting him either, as a simple customer interested on that particular prostitute? That way, the information could be transmitted personally and she'd not have to sleep with any man. Also, no one would be suspicious of a client interested on a prostitute. And once inside the room, there would be no problem telling the latest information." Kenshin voiced his plan. He wasn't a police officer, but he understands of tactics and plans. Let's just say they were useful when trying to steal exams from the teachers' computer. Anyway…

Sano wonder for a couple of minutes. "I think…that's not a bad idea at all. Actually, is the best we've had until now! You're absolutely right man. That way, the mission wouldn't be in danger and neither would she. It's perfect." He said, writing everything down on a paper, lying in front of him.

"Do you already know who will be the 'lucky' girl?" Kaoru asked.

He shook his head. "That's where we find ourselves with another problem." Kaoru lifted her eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because our team doesn't include many women. And as if that wasn't bad enough, don't forget we're talking about Kanryuu and a prostitute. She has to be qualified, if you know what I mean."

She nodded. "Well, don't you have any qualified woman in here?"

"Well, we have five women working here. Azumi is small and forty; I doubt he'd be interested. Akemi isn't at all qualified since she's…well…fat. Suzuki doesn't have the looks at all. Mayo is on pregnant license. And Noriko is that nice woman that walked you here. So…well…"

"I can't believe you don't have a woman to send there!" Kaoru said, stunned. What kind of police unity was this?

"We're trying to ask for an officer from another city, but legacies are not that simple. Each one has its own policies and we've yet to find an agreement. They have their own problems to solve and I must tell you one thing: there aren't that much police woman as you may think."

"So what are you going to do?" Kenshin asked. He agreed that the situation needed to be solved fast and that the police force was with their hands tied up, but something must be done. And fast. He wouldn't mind to help, but he doubt that—

"I'll do it."

Sano blinked and Kenshin turned sharply to his partner. "WHAT?!" They asked in union.

Kaoru simply repeated her statement. Her mind was set. She'd go as undercover. Journalists made that kind of job too, trying to find something that is more in the depths of the story. So, she was going there as prostitute and she would gather new information for her close up. And what close up would it be, with deployments and personal experiences. If Hiko allowed it of course.

"Are you drunk?" Sano asked. Kaoru gave him a look. Jerk.

"Kaoru you're not a cop. You can't honestly be thinking on risking your life over something like this!" Kenshin was shocked. Did she honestly think that she could just enter a mission of this magnitude, without being a cop, without any experience with danger situations and undercover missions? It was suicide!

She looked at him with firm eyes. "I am. I don't really think I'll be in danger if everything is done correctly. And think about it Kenshin. We'll be the only ones with exclusives about this story! With my stay in there we'll be able to gather as much information both for us and for the police. We'll kill two rabbits with the same stone! I'm going Kenshin." He opened his mouth to say something, but Sano was faster.

"And who told you I'm going to allow it? Jou-chan, that's insane! You have no idea how to deal with situations like this. You don't know how to manage a gun, what to say or not for not getting suspicious! I would never send you there without any practice!"

"Well then I'll practice! Teach me what I need to know and I'll be ready in less than three days, I promise. Let me do it Sano. As you said, if we do everything right than we'll not be found and everything will be okay. Please. I trust you Sano. I know you would never let me down. I'll be protected by the officer that goes there pretending to be my customer. Everything is set to work. Come on Sano. Trust me with this. Please."

Sano was in deep thought. It was very risky to send Kaoru there, even though they had everything planned. There could still be an accident. "No. things happen and I don't want you to be in danger. I would never forgive myself if I sent you there and something would happen to you. I'm not saying that I don't trust the mission or my officers, but still…I won't be calm with you in there. If only I could be the undercover officer, but my face has appeared on many screens and I will be noticed even before I set the foot inside the house. Damn it… And what about you? Aren't your face known too?"

She shook her head. "I always write down and never appear once. I keep my image a secret to prevent anything bad to happen, like revenge or something alike. Let me do this Sano, please. If you give me some tip as to what to do, I'll learn it fast I promise. I'll not let this mission fail."

"What ya think man?" Sano turned to Kenshin. He was in deep thought and seemed far away from that office. He looked at Sano. "I'll be the customer then." It was Kaoru's turn to look at him sharply. "What?" Sano looked from one to another. He smiled secretly.

He looked at her seriously. "I know we won't be able to talk you out of that crazy idea so I'll be the customer. I am your partner after all. It makes more than sense. You'll pass the information for me and I'll transform it into an article, keeping the new updated. I've just moved here so there's no way anyone can recognize me. Plus, even my name isn't known so I'll not be suspected. I know martial arts so I need no tips or practice. Your role on this mission is far more complicated than mine. Since you're being so stubborn with this, I'll accompany you. I'll not leave you alone in the mess."

Kaoru could only stare at him. His face showed as much determination as she had showed. His mind was set, just like hers. Nodding slightly, they both turned to Sano, waiting for his approval. "You're both insane." He said, shaking his head. He kind of guessed Kenshin would come out with something like that. He's always been smart and dared to do complicated and danger things. He could still see him sneaking into their teachers office, in order to change the exams' results. He chuckle. "You never changed, did you?" Kenshin shook his head, grinning. He sighed. "Very well then. I trust Kenshin enough to know that you'll be safe Kaoru. But you still need to learn some tips before we can move on with the mission. You'll attend lessons for two days. Since today is Wednesday, you'll practice until Friday. We take off at Saturday, perfect day for a new prostitute to start working." He paused. "Are you two absolutely sure about this?"

They nodded.

"Very well then, tomorrow we start working." He closed the file, placing him inside of one of the drawers. Looking up at the two, he grinned widely. "But as for tonight, we're gonna have fun at the Karaoke! And you're coming too, or there'll be no mission. And don't forget: you own me a drink."

Kaoru closed her mouth and sighed. Tricky.

It was going to be a long night.

To be continued…

A/N: Hello my fellow reviewers! I know it's been TOO long, but I was having a major writers block…you have no idea. Anyway, I hope you'll be please with this chapter. Even though action will take place at the next chapter, I found this good too. What do YOU think? REVIEW PLEASE!!!! Thanks to those who reviewed!!! I love recieving reviews!! grins

Next chapter: Karaoke

Until next chapter guys!! And don't forget:

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!

Agnes