Disclaimer : I don't own RK. All original characters are mine to claim.

Synopsis: Are some people really meant to be? Or is life just a big coincidence? Kaoru and Kenshin are going to learn that, sometimes, time is the best answer for everything. Modern day AU. KK story.

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.

On with the story!

We Were Meant To Each Other

Chapter 9 Kanryuu

"An underground laboratory? That man has more things up in his sleeve than we imagined." Sano said, sitting in his large chair while looking intensively at Kenshin as he reported what Kaoru had found the day before. It bothered when Kenshin told him what Kaoru had found out, but it bothered him further when he was told what happened last night. The mere thought of another man touching his best friend was giving him a hard time not to get up and hunt the miserable thing for what he had done. Thank Kami-sama, Kenshin had entered just in time and was able to stop the disaster about to happen.

Sano would never forgive himself if Kaoru was hurt… "What about that girl…what was her name again?"

"Megumi, I think." The red-hair man answered slowly. "Kaoru doesn't know what she's doing in there, but she told me it can't be good. She met Kanryuu's niece and—"

"Kanryuu has a niece?" Sano said, interrupting him.

Nodding, Kenshin continued. "Kaoru was in shock too. She noticed that the girl suddenly changed the topic when Kaoru asked what Megumi was doing in the laboratory."

"She thinks the girl is lying?"

"Hai."

"Damn…we have no idea what's going on under that house, which is making this operation even harder. If we don't have a clue of what's happening, we can't possibly break in without putting other lives in danger. Even if Kaoru counts how many guards are there, she can't guess how many are in the laboratory."

Silence was set between the two men, giving a tense atmosphere to the room. I can't risk someone who is innocent getting hurt because of Kanryuu… Sano thought, trying to find a solution for the mess they were into.

"Sano…" Kenshin spoke, breaking Sano's reverie, "My fake identity is able to be researched, ne? Even in the police files… Kiuchi Hidenobu really exists, ne?" He asked seriously.

His long time friend nodded. "Of course. Why are you asking?"

Kenshin looked at him with thoughtful eyes. "I have a feeling I'm being investigated right at this moment…"

"There's nothing on the police records sir. He's a clean man. According to the social security file, he owns an accountancy company for more than five years. Twenty-eight years old; it's hard to imagine someone achieving so much at such a young age, but the fact is that he was able to. Lives in Tokyo's richest part of the city; owns two vehicles and it's a healthy man." The guard was relating the information on the screen in front of him to his master sitting on a large comfy couch behind him. The intense smell of Cuban cigars being smoked one after another was starting to make his throat ache, but his mouth didn't open once about that matter. Everyone working for Kanryuu knew better than to reprimand their boss. He was a cold person that killed a man with the same ease he killed a fly.

After a moment of contemplating silence, his master spoke slowly. "Interesting…that's very interesting. I may be wrong, but I think there's more into that boy than what is on those files. Call it…motherly instinct." Kanryuu said, grinning madly as a couple of men sitting next to him laughed roughly. "Junichi," He spoke coldly, watching as the man came in front of him, stumbling and looking at the ground. He smirked. Fear is delicious… "I want to meet Kiuchi-san. As soon as he enters, bring him to me."

The manager nodded briefly and was about to turn when his master spoke again. "Oh and Junichi…" He stopped, glancing at the maniac man sitting behind him, "don't screw up this time."

The message was clear and the poor shaking man nodded, leaving the room.

"This is going to be an interesting meeting…"

Kaoru was inside her room, brushing her hair absently. Images of last night's event flashed through her mind, constantly reminding her of the danger she was in. She could still feel the panic inside her chest when she turned to the door and saw another man inside the room. The will to scream for help instantly died on her throat as she remembered her role in this mission. Trying to act calmly, she told the man he was in the wrong room for she already had a client requesting for her services. Instead of leaving, the man, obviously drunk, gave an angry snarl and roughly pushed her onto the bed, growling in her face that she was nothing but an object to use. Even though she was just pretending to be a prostitute, what he said hurt her more than it should and a couple of angry and shamed tears fell down her cheeks.

The relief she felt when Kenshin stepped inside the room was something she'd never felt in her entire life. Her heart was beating madly inside her chest as she watched both of them glaring at each other. Soon, she was left alone in the room. Wonder rushed through her system as she tried to imagine what Kenshin was planning to do with the drunken man.

The waiting didn't last long as she jumped slightly to a knock on the door. Giving a faint answer, she watched as the door opened, revealing a fatigued Kenshin. She let go of a breath she was holding deep inside her chest as Kenshin walked to the bed.

She could still recap everything…

His amethyst eyes were searching any trace of aggression in her face. Worry was written all over his features and she was quite surprised with the show of affection he was displaying. Their eyes found each other and their gazes were held as he slowly sat on the soft mattress. Kaoru watched as his right hand raised itself slowly, touching her cheek a faint moment later.

"Did he hurt you?" Kenshin whispered at her.

Shaking her head with his hand holding her cheek, she gave him a small smile. "He didn't have the chance. You were here right on time…"

Kenshin closed his eyes. "No I wasn't. He was still able to get inside the room…" He said angrily.

"It doesn't matter anymore. He's gone." Kaoru assured him softly.

"I met Kanryuu." He said, opening his eyes. "He appeared when I started arguing with that good-for-nothing manager."

Kaoru felt her eyes widen. "You met him? Did he look suspicious?"

Dropping his hand, he shook his head. "No…but I'm positive tomorrow I'll be researched from head to toes. Be careful, okay? They may come here to ask something from you…like some information about me."

She smiled. "Don't worry, I know what I have to say if they start questioning me."

But no one came. She had woken up to the sound of Hisa's voice once again and was soon being bombarded with questions coming from the enthusiastic teenager. It appeared that everybody knew of Kenshin's attitude yesterday and, instead of raising any suspicions, the girls were questioning how she had managed to hypnotise a man that quickly to have him kick out another man from her room.

They were actually envying her luck…

Some luck… She thought, finishing combing her hair and placing the well adorned object on top of the polish table. In front of her, a large mirror, adorned as well, showed her reflection. Kaoru found herself staring at someone so much different than she was. Her make up was already shinning on her lips and eyelids, a faint pink blush adorned her cheeks. Her outfit was even more ridiculous and she asked herself how someone could change so drastically in just a few days.

Not only her looks were much different, but she could feel her inner being changing by the moment. If it was getting stronger or weaker, she couldn't point it. But she knew she was changing. And what scared her more was how this adventure, this insane adventure, would change her life in the future. Maybe it wouldn't change at all, or maybe she'd become a whole different person.

She was hoping for the first one.

A knock on the door snapped her out of her reverie. "Come in."

Hisa's head popped up from behind the door, smiling carefree. "Hey, finished dressing up?"

Kaoru nodded, rising from her chair.

"Great, come have dinner downstairs. Handsome-bartender-unfortunately-gay Anji made great noodles." Hisa said as Kaoru stepped out of the room, walking next to her.

Kaoru grinned. "I like that definition."

Grinning widely, Hisa winked. "I know. I'm good with that…"

Chuckling, they resumed their walking along the corridor until the already familiar set of stairs displayed in front of them. Descending the stairs, they were regarded with a sight that Kaoru was beginning to enjoy. Everyone was sitting at the multiple tables spread along the living room, chatting happily with each other as they waited for Anji to start bringing their dinner. To Kaoru, it looked like a high school, were colleagues and friends would chat about everything and nothing.

Honestly, this was the last thing Kaoru was prepared to see. Watching as prostitutes and guards made jokes of each other, large and happy smiles playing on their lips was beyond her expectations. When she decided to come here, she was expecting them to be held against their wishes, treated like prisoners. Instead, it looked like kindergarten. And she liked that.

She took a seat next to Hisa, who was clutching her stomach as if she was in physical pain. Hisa's appetite reminded her of Misao, yet again. It was amazing how alike those two were. Turning to Hisa, Kaoru gave a sly smile. "So…don't tell me I have a nickname too…"

Hisa looked at her and smiled. "You? No…you're just my new best friend!" She said happily, turning to thank Anji that was setting their plates in front of them.

Watching as Hisa played with Anji, Kaoru took a moment to digest what the girl had just said. 'Don't worry Hisa…I'll do everything to protect you. I'll be your best friend forever', Kaoru vowed to herself.

Dinner ended all too quickly and everybody returned to their places in order to open the house. On the ground floor, the lights were on, the stage was cleaned and shinning, and the girls were already walking around, waiting for their costumers to start arriving. On the up floor, Kaoru was already inside her room, waiting and praying that Kenshin would arrive soon, so that no more incidents like last night would happen.

At ten o'clock, noise was everywhere. From the room, she could hear the sounds of laughter mixed with the loud music playing for the girl's show coming from downstairs. From under her door, lustful noises were assaulting her ears and she couldn't help another blush to rush to her cheeks. And on top of it all…

…Kenshin hadn't arrived yet.

And she was freaking out.

What she didn't know was that at that moment, Kenshin was crossing the large living room to head upstairs when Junichi intercepted him. Glaring at the smiling nervously man in front of him, Kenshin frowned. "What do you want?"

The man swallowed, shifting uncomfortably under Kenshin's cold gaze. "I'm sorry to disturb your night once again Kiuchi-san, but Kanryuu-sama requested a few moments with you."

Kenshin arched his eyebrow. "When?"

Junichii grinned. "Right now. Follow me please." He said, turning and heading to the bar. Kenshin cursed inwardly, before following after the manager. They passed the bar and entered a smaller division, not before acknowledging the two tall guards set at the door. The room was typically suited for a man as Kanryuu. Only candles lighted the room, which was painted in deep red and pink, obviously pointing to the type of…'services' this tea house was opened for. Deep smell of cigars immediately assaulted his non-smoking nostrils, and Kenshin was sure his throat would be aching in the end of this meeting.

Just as in the mafia movies, Kanryuu was seated in a large red couch, smoking a Cuban cigar, with two large men seated each at his side. 'Well guarded…' Kenshin thought, taking a mental note on how many guards he had seen until that moment. In front of Kanryuu was a small table where, at the moment, a file was set on top of it. 'Mine, no doubt…'

"Ah, Kiuchi-san. How nice of you to accept my humble invitation." Kanryuu said, his voice holding a cold yet very dangerous tone in it. Kenshin was much sure this man was capable of everything to get and know whatever he wanted. Putting all his thoughts together, he briefly prayed for everything to go along well.

Quickly scanning the room once again, already playing as if he was much more than what was written on the file, Kenshin looked at the man at last. With a small smirk, Kenshin nodded. "How could I refuse such an invitation when your house serves me so well?" He said coldly, taking a seat in front of the dangerous man.

Kanryuu tiled his head, raising an approval eyebrow. "So, Kiuchi-san…I trust you were not offended by my boldness in doing a small research about you." He stated, motioning to the papers on top of the table.

Asshole. "Of course not. A man as magnanimous as you should do everything in his power to assure his business. Nothing I hadn't done before."

"Really? Is it necessary to investigate someone new when owning an accountancy company?"

Kenshin chuckled deeply in his throat. "You have no idea what can happen inside a place like that."

Kanryuu eyed him with hawk eyes. He was observing Kenshin's every breath; every movement. "Definitely not worse than what happens in my world."

"Is your world really that different than mine?" Kenshin asked calmly, hoping for Kanryuu to take the bite.

As if reading his mind, the drug dealer smirked. "You tell me Kiuchi-san. When I read your…profile…I was curious to know what else you do besides your company."

Pretending not to understand what he was trying to imply, Kenshin decided to play a little longer before giving away the information Kanryuu was dying to know. "What else I do? What else could I do?"

Smoking for a moment, Kanryuu expelled the smoke slowly. "I was expecting you to enlighten me on that."

Kenshin chuckled. "Aa, you really are perceptive. Far beyond what I've heard so far…"

An arrogant eyebrow was raised. "You heard about me? Oh my, I'm famous!" Kanryuu said, earning small laughs from the men in the room. Turning serious once again, he looked at Kenshin deeply into his eyes; a frown appearing on his lips, looking much older and dangerous than before. "Okay, Kiuchi-san, we've had our time for casual conversations. I want to know now what business you are really into."

There was no room for more ironies and sarcasm. Kanryuu wanted right at that moment the real truth, like black and white. And he was going to have it. Kenshin leaned back against his chair's back, scratching his chin for a second, before looking seriously at Kanryuu. "Very well. I'm one of the main arm dealers of the market in Japan. I can get you any type of weapons, at any price, for any purpose."

Kanryuu didn't look convinced. Leaning forward in his seat, he looked at Kenshin in the eye. "How come I've never heard of you?"

"Why would I want to be heard of?" Kenshin asked back at him, raising an eyebrow confidently. His single question seemed to please Kanryuu fairly enough, since the man grinned and leaned back on the couch.

"You have fantastic comebacks. I congratulate you." He said, raising his glass of champagne. Taking a small sip, he looked up at Kenshin once again. "I presume you've done a fantastic work on covering that façade of yours since your records don't show anything criminal. Not even a fine."

Kenshin nodded. "We can say I have…a few friends on the 'inside'."

"Police?"

"Among others. You would never imagine a politic requesting an illegal gun, would you?"

Kanryuu chuckled. "Kiuchi-san, I'd expect everything coming from a human being. And yes, I've heard of corrupt politics. They're becoming as usual as flies."

Kenshin nodded, truthfully agreeing with the man in front of him. Strangely enough, Kanryuu seemed really…irritated by the entire corrupting situation. Something Kenshin couldn't understand and didn't even bother asking.

"So, Kiuchi-san, may I inquire about a fact that has been bothering my brain for a while?" Kanryuu asked after a moment of silence. Threatening silence.

"Of course."

"What made you so interested in my latest acquisition?" Kanryuu asked causally, taking another sip of his drink.

Kenshin fought the urge to punch the man in front of him. Again, he was referring to Kaoru as if she was another piece of furniture he had just bought. Nevertheless, he answered. "I found her eyes most intriguing."

An eyebrow rose again.

"And I must say the way her hips were swinging from side to side was really…" Kenshin trailed off, not being able to find the words he wanted. 'Kaoru would kill me if she knew I was talking about her hips…I'd be intituled 'pervert' for the rest of my life…'

"Exciting?" Kanryuu asked, grinning sickly.

'Well…' "Very much." Kenshin said at last.

Kanryuu nodded. "Interesting. But…why paying that amount of money and demanding that she'd be touched by no one expect you? You understand that runs off our house rules." He was pushing the matter. Kenshin was sure he found the demand strange and was trying everything to notice a small flaw.

But Kenshin was determined not to give that pleasure to Kanryuu. At least not there and then. "Kanryuu-san, who'd like to have their woman touched by other men?"

"Not many. But Sakura is not your woman…"

Kenshin smirked. "I'm single. At the moment, she will be my woman until I'm tired of her. And when I get tired, I'll make sure to pay your house for serving me so well."

Kanryuu nodded, pleased with both the explanation and the offer. Yes, money always solved everything. "Well then, Kiuchi-san. If you are so pleased with my house services, I'd like to propose something. Care to listen?"

Fighting the urge to swallow, Kenshin nodded slowly, not quite enjoying the strange glint dancing in the eyes of the strange man in front of him. Quietly, he watched as Kanryuu turned to a man at the door and muttered a small 'Send her in'. Dreading about who the 'her' could be, his heart almost stopped right there and then when he saw Kaoru entering the room, trailed by the man of muscle. He watched intensively as she spotted him in the room and felt her light hesitation, before continuing walking until she was next to Kanryuu.

The man grinned widely at her sight, motioning her to approach him closer. When she was an arm reach, he grabbed her waist and pulled her to him, having her almost sitting on his lap. Turning to Kenshin, who was having a hard time to control his impulses to rise from his seat and rescue her from his arms, Kanryuu arched an eyebrow. "She's precious, isn't she? One of my best acquisitions at the moment. You were quite right when you decided to pay for her services exclusively." He stopped, touching Kaoru's cheek softly. "So, Kiuchi-san, I have a different arrangement to you. Instead of paying me with your money for her services, you'll pay me with your material."

Kenshin furrowed his brows. "You want guns?"

"Oh, not any guns. As you can see, I'll already well provided in guns. I want the best equipment in the market. The top of the best weapons at the moment."

"Police weapons?" Kenshin asked calmly, as if this entire situation was regular to him.

Kanryuu chuckled. "I do like your professionalism. You seem to know exactly what I need and want. Yes, Kiuchi-san, police equipments. The best they have at the moment. You told me you have friends on the inside, right?"

Kenshin nodded.

"Well then, you'll supply me with what they have."

"Very well."

Kanryuu raised a hand. "But, I need a guarantee that nothing goes wrong. And that's where you come in, my beauty." He said, caressing Kaoru's right arm. "Since you said she was going to be your woman until you got tired of her, let's make an agreement, shall we?"

Kenshin was silent for a moment, looking at Kaoru deeply into her eyes, reading all her doubts, fear and confusion over the situation at hand. Any wrong decision and he could jeopardize the entire mission. And on top of it, he could endanger them both. After a couple of more reflections, he nodded.

"If everything goes along well between us, you'll have her until you're fully satisfied and I shall ask not even a yen for the time you were with her." He paused. "But, if I am to suspect or find anything I don't like, she'll be the one paying for it." Kanryuu said dangerously, sighing dramatically. "I would hate to lose such precious flower. It's your decision Kiuchi-san."

Kenshin chuckled. "Why would she pay for it if she means nothing to me?"

"Aa, I was expecting something like that coming from you. I'm glad you didn't accept it at first, or else I'd start thinking you actually liked her!"

Some men laughed and Kenshin sighed inwardly. He was glad that his intuition didn't betray him. He didn't want to raise any sorts of suspects.

Kanryuu stopped the men with a hand and looked at Kenshin extremely serious. "Well, not only she'll die, but you'll have to pay me the exact amount of money to make good the damages."

Swallowing hard, he pretended to think deeply about the matter, as if Kaoru wasn't important but the money was. After a few moments of deep wondering, he finally nodded. "Fine. You have my word that nothing will go wrong, but I accept your deal."

"Great! We're all friends then! So, Kiuchi-san, I wish you a good evening, which I'm sure you'll have." He said, grinning widely as he licked his lips. Motioning Kaoru to raise from his lap, he slapped her bottom playfully, before extending his hand to Kenshin. "It was a pleasure making business with you."

Kenshin shook his hand, nodding firmly. "It was my pleasure all along."

Placing his hand on Kaoru's lower back, the couple exited the cigar infested room; their hearts beating madly inside their chests.

Their mission was getting more complicate by the second, and they could do nothing else but to play along.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back! YAY! I know, it's been awhile, but I've been busy trying to figure out what to write in my other story…so, even though this chapter has been written a while ago, I was only fully pleased with it yesterday. I hope you all like this chapter! Please read and review!

I'd love to leave a personal message to all of you who reviewed, but they said it was forbidden. And since I'm confused and not very sure if it's allowed or not, I want to tell all of you that your support leaves me honoured to have you all as my readers. Thank you so much for always being there and thank you to the newest reviewers! I hope you all enjoy this chapter and REVIEW!

Bye bye everyone!

Agnes.