Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Author's notes: Hello! I am so happy that people are liking this story, and you guys dropped AMAZING reviews. Thank you! I'll try my best to make sure that there are no grammatical errors or typing errors! My father is coming home tomorrow! I'm So HAPPY!!!!!!! yEay!!!! He only comes back once in a year, so I am so freaking excited!!!! Yeay!! Okies, I hope you guys like this chapter!


Chapter 10

Kaoru touched her lips lightly with her finger. Kenshin had walked away after he kissed her, with a gentle smile on his lips. Her heart was racing, thumping so fast like as if it would jump out of her chest any minute. She could not believe how he was affecting her, she could not help this feeling...she never wanted anything like this to happen, and yet it did. She looked at herself in the mirror making sure that her face wasn't flushed when she goes out of her room.

"Koaru!" someone called from outside her door.

Kaoru jumped at the voice. It was Kenshin.

"Wait, I'm coming out!"

What does he want now? I wish he could just leave me alone so that I won't feel even more confused!

Kaoru opened the door slowly and stepped out. Kenshin was leaning against the railing, he looked up when she came out.

He smiled at her and Kaoru breathed in sharply. He was just standing there looking her all over. His amber eyes burning into her, his flaming hair tied back, with bangs about his face. He managed to look so sexy, making her feel stupid, gawking at him. She couldn't move or speak, she was drowning into his eyes. They had power over her.

Kenshin laughed lightly and walked over to her. He kissed her forehead lightly and smiled smugly, Kaoru gasped. He was so closed to her, smiling in that manner...and she doesn't seem to mind. She looked at him, startled... what is he doing?

Kenshin suddenly stepped away from her and smiled again. "I persuaded Hiko to let me have a small party tonight, you know to introduce you guys to the rest of the people around this area..."

"Okay." Kaoru mumbled, breathing in deeply when she is finally free from his 'spell'. He seemed to know what she was thinking and how to trap her, and how to make her want him....how to make...

Kenshin chuckled at the startled expression that was still on Kaoru's face and walked away. "Make sure you have something to wear for tonight!"


Kenshin was still chuckling to himself when he was grabbed by thehand, and pushed against the wall at a corner.

"Himura!" Misao hissed, her hands tight on his collar, pinning him against the wall with all her strength.

Kenshin laughed. "What do you want Misao? I don't have time to play games with you, you know?"

"You!" Misao hissed again. "You arrogant, idiotic bastard! You stay away from Kaoru! She deserve someone better, you know that!"

"Now, now, let go of me, Misao. If you want to talk, don't go around hitting people."

Misao let go of him and glared at him angrily. "You heard me just now. You stay away from Kaoru. I know your reputation okay?"

"What reputation?" Kenshin asked, an innocent look on his face.

"Eventhough you've disappeared for years, it does not mean that we do not know about what you've been up to, Himura."

Kenshin remained silent. Still refusing to allow Misao the pleasure that he knew what she was talking about. Meanwhile, Misao leaned against the wall, obviously calming down.

"Are you trying to get Kaoru into bed?" she asked accusingly.

"I think you already know the answer. And mind your own business."

"Do me a favour- let her go. You'll only end up dumping her like you always do; then she'll be hurt, and then we won't see her anymore. She's nice...I'd really like to have her as a friend for a long time." Misao pleaded.

Kenshin was thinking furiously. Kaoru was the sort of woman who helped children carry pails of water to their sand castles and stopped to help elderly 'gardeners' in pain. He remembered her innocent eyes and her naïve actions. Despite the immense powers she has, she was still inexperienced in many things...though she can be rather icy sometimes, she was always gentle and sweet-tempered...she could even smile away the hurt when Megumi insults her constantly.

Misao was right- he had no reason, and no right, to do anything that might dull Kaoru's sparkle or diminish the amazing affect she had on people. He looked up at Misao, she was still staring hardly at him.

"I won't hurt her, Misao." Kenshin said, smiling gently.

Misao opened her mouth and closed it again.

"Himura-"

But Kenshin had already walked away, leaving her behind. She stared after him, wondering whether or not to believe his words. She swore that she saw a slight sparkle of violet in his eyes when he told her that he wouldn't hurt Kaoru. She sighed and dismissed the thought.

I'll go look for Kaoru and maybe we can go shopping...


Kenshin closed his door lightly. He could not believe that he had just told Misao that she won't hurt Kaoru. He was not even sure if he meant those words, they just came of his mouth instinctively. What would happened if he did hurt Kaoru? And how did Misao know about the way he treated women? Does that mean she knows about The Aorta as well? She must have some idea...Hiko must have told Okina...after all, they are close friends.

The hell with her...I didn't make any promises...


"Misao!"

"Hey Kaoru! You wanna go shopping for tonight's party?"

"Hmm...I think I got all I need the other day, it's just a small party anyway..."

"No! I heard that there is new stuff today, we have to go buy it before someone else gets it!"

"But, Misao, I don't have money!"

"I told you that you don't have to worry about the money already right? You can pay me back later!"

"But, Misao!"

Misao ignored her protests and dragged her to her Porsche.


Kaoru stood at her balcony railing, mesmerized by the sight below. The entire back lawn was lit with torches and dotted with tables covered in white linen and decorated with flowers and candles in glass bowls. Tuxedo-clad waiters were passing trays of champagne among what appeared to be at least two hundred guests. Banquet tables with huge floral arrangements had been set up on the right side of the lawn, and on the left, near the swimming pool, an orchestra was playing near a portable dance floor. On a separate table in the centre of the lawn was a huge ice sculpture of graceful soaring gulls.

"Are you ready to go down?" Misao asked, walking through Kaoru's bedroom and joining her on the balcony.

"I didn't think this is going to be such a big, elaborate party," Kaoru said. "Himura-san said that it is going to be a small party."

"Yeah, I thought so too." Misao murmured. "Hiko's secretary is a magician, I could never have pulled off anything like this on such short notice. Let's go."

"I'm nervous." Kaoru admitted.

"Don't be!" Misao laughed. "You looked gorgeous in this new gown. Let's see the total effect."

Kaoru turned from the railing and followed her into the bedroom, where she did a slow turn for Misao's inspection. The lemon chiffon dress had a multilayered skirt that floated around Kaoru's knees with each step she took an a tightly fitted halter bodice with a square neckline and a jeweled clasp at the nape. "I'll never look this good again," Kaoru declared half seriously.

"Wow, if I am a man...I'll snatch you up right away!" Misao laughed.

"Misao! You look amazing too, so sweet..."

Side by side, they stood in front of the mirror, Misao in embroidered peach silk with her hair pulled back into an elegant French twist, but her long braid still hanging down, Kaoru in pale yellow with her hair falling in a cloud around her shoulders.

"Come on! Himura is going to need you there when he introduces his 'friends' !" Misao exclaimed.

Kaoru laughed and went down with her.


Kenshin was standing near the patio, listening to a group of men who were trying to persuade him and his father to buy into a stud farm they were planning to purchase as a joint venture.

His back was to the house, but he knew exactly when Kaoru made her appearance on the lawn, because the men in his group stopped talking and started to stare. So did many of the people around them.

"Good lord, look at that!" one of the man breathed.

Kenshin turned slowly, prolonging the anticipation, but when he saw her, he found it hard to stay put and let her mingle with the guests. He wanted to be the one, introducing her to the others, not that loud Misao, but he stood there for nearly a half hour, watching Misao moved about the guests with Kaoru with her. He saw Kaoru smile as she was introduced to each person; then she listened attentively to whatever they said to her, and he watched her win everyone over with her natural poise and unaffected warmth.

Okina, however was running out of patience. "I think I should go rescue her," he announced. "Misao has dragged her through the entire crowd!"

"No, it's okay." Kenshin said easily. "She'll bring her here in a few minutes."

Like what he had said, Misao and Kaoru begun walking over to them.

"Jiya!" Misao exclaimed. They said hello to the men among the group. Kaoru saw that Kenshin was there as well. She had been thinking of little else since the party began, but now that the time was here, she felt self-conscious. Raising his eyes to his, she said softly. "Hello."

"Hello," he replied, his amber eyes glinting with desire and admiration.

Misao smiled at Kenshin, hoping that she could trust his words. Kenshin ignored all the others and moved closer to Kaoru.

"The last time I asked you to dance," he said to Kaoru, "you turned me down. What do you think my chances are tonight?"

Kaoru was already sinking into the spell of his deep voice and sparkling amber eyes. "I'd say they're awfully good," she said softly.

As Kaoru stepped into his arms on the dance floor, she had her first clear, full-length view of him in the torchlight, and her breath stopped. His elegant, midnight blue suit fit his lean, splendid frame to perfection, hugging his manly shoulders and narrow hips, and outlining his long legs. Against the light tan of his throat, his shirt was as dazzlingly white as the smile that drifted across his face when he slid his hand around her back and moved her close against his full length. "Are you please with the party?" he asked as the orchestra began to play.

"Yes..." Kaoru said softly, trying not to notice how his legs felt against hers, or how solid his arm was beneath his hand, or how much his deep voice was affecting her. "You don't have to hold such a big party just to introduce us to your friends here...I don't know how to thank you for it."

His heavy-lidded gaze fixed meaningfully on her lips. "We'll have to think of a way."

Kaoru looked at him in surprise. What does that mean?

Kenshin just chuckled lightly at her expression and continued dancing silently.

Kaoru was so confused by what was happening to her that she scarcely noticed how easily she danced with him or how effortlessly their bodies moved in rhythm to the sweet, familiar melody. She told herself her attraction to him was dangerous and had to stop, but when Kenshin's hand slid down her back and his fingers splayed on her spine, shifting her closer to him, she forgot the danger. She told herself it was only a dance, and that he probably didn't realized what he was doing.

Kenshin knew exactly what he was doing, and he was already thinking of doing much more. He watched the torchlight's moving light glinting off her hair at different directions; she smelled like flowers...jasmine?, and dancing with her was like dancing with a cloud. As the music ended, she moved a little away from him and looked up, and Kenshin gazed at a face that was beginning to mesmerized him with its delicately carved cheeks, dainty nose, and dark-lashed, shining blue eyes. "After the party is over...meet me on the beach."

"Why?" Kaoru asked shakily.

"We'll invent a reason why we're there," he told her with a mocking smile.

Kaoru just stared at him, confused. Kenshin just smiled at her gently and moved away.

"Kamiya-san.."

Kaoru turned around and saw Enishi standing next to her. Had he been here all along?

"Hello, Yukishiro-san." Kaoru said politely.

"Call me Enishi...and would you like to dance?" Enishi asked softly, holding out his hand to her.

Kaoru laughed, and put her hand into his easily. Enishi flashed her a warm smile again and they danced into the music. Kaoru realized that she does not feel nervous when she is with Enishi...he made her feel that she could relax. And he was so nice to her on that day when she just arrived at Hiko's villa. Enishi was smiling at her all along while they danced, and she just smiled back at him. This feeling she had was different from what she felt when Kenshin was around her. Enishi's gazes does not make her feel hot and self-conscious...what does that mean?

Suddenly, she felt like someone was staring at her, she turned around and saw Megumi with an elderly man looking at her. Megumi was staring at her with obvious hate, while the man was just studying her, like he was looking for something on her....she narrowed her eyes to see the man much more clearly but Enishi had steered her away to another part of the dance floor.

The song ended and Kaoru looked frantically around for the old man with Megumi. But he was no where in sight...so was Megumi.

"Kamiya-san? Would you like something to eat?" Enishi asked kindly.

Kaoru turned her attention to him. "Yes, thank you."

Enishi went off to the banquet table, and Kaoru begun to look for her other friends. Misao was dancing with one of the gentleman she met just now. Soujiro was dancing with a tall brunette in a sexy black dress. She stood there, alone...wondering where Kenshin was...


"So what do you think? Does she look like Kamiya Kaoru?" Megumi asked anxiously.

The old man did not answer, his head bent. She look like just he had expected to look like...the blue eyes, the shining black hair...she looked just like her mother.

"So?" Megumi asked impatiently again.

"She sure look like a Kamiya. But I can't be sure..."

"So? What are you going to do?"

"Nothing! What can I do?"

"Well, for starters, you should get rid of her as soon as possible! I thought you said she is dead? I do not want her here disturbing the peace of my life!"

"No."

"No, what?"

"No, I won't get rid of her. There is nothing wrong with her being here. I do not understand why you hate her so much, you don't even know her. I really did believed that she was dead, before. But, if she is who she said she is, I would want to make things right for once."

Megumi screamed in frustration. "No! What's wrong with you?! Can you see that she can take away everything I have?"

"Everything is a little to exaggerated, don't you think? Plus, she never had anything..."

Megumi stared at him angrily and walked away angrily, leaving him behind in the dark corner.


Kaoru looked up at the clock and her heart plummeted when she realized how late it was. She was so occupied by all the people who wanted to talk to her, she had lost track of time. A lot of them had stay late, way past the time after the party has ended. By now, Kenshin would no longer be waiting for her on the beach for her. Fate had interceded and saved her from doing a very foolish thing. She should have felt relieved. She felt terribly disappointed.

Misao didn't share her disappointment over the lateness of the hour. Wrapping Kaoru in a fierce hug, she said, "You were a smash! Everyone was talking about how lovely you are, how charming, how witty- and the party was a huge success, too. That's why people stayed so late."

Kaoru made it all the way to her bedroom before she began to lose the battle against going down to the beach to see if Noah might still be there.

"Good night," Misao said.

"Good night," Kaoru said, but she hesitated, her hand on the doorknob.

Misao noticed. "You've been up since early this morning. Aren't you tired?"

Kaoru shook her head, then she confessed the rest of the truth: "Kenshin asked me to meet him on the beach after the party." Kaoru confessed.

"He did?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you up here?" Misao asked with a sad smile.

That was all the encouragement Kaoru needed.


The back lawn was brightly lit and swarming with activity as men and women worked to pack up and reload everything they had brought for the party.

No one acted as if there was anything peculiar about her apparent desire to go for a moonlight stroll on a deserted beach at one A.M, wearing a fabulous chiffon dress and dainty high-heeled sandals, but Kaoru felt incredibly conspicuous, nonetheless.

She was relieved that when she finally reached the beach and turned out of their view, but her relief immediately gave way to an overwhelming sense of disappointment when Kenshin was nowhere in sight.

She looked around the beach, it was deserted completely except for her presence there, but unless he was blocked by someone's shrubbery, he had obviously gone back. She took off her sandals and wandered slowly down the shore, the sandals dangling from her fingers, half expecting him to materialize from somewhere in the shadows.

The further she wandered off the shore, the more dejected he became. Her traitorous heart reminded her how it had felt to dance with him and the way his gaze had fixed boldly on her lips when she said she didn't know how to thank him for the party. "We'll have to think of a way," he'd said. And when she asked why he had wanted to meet her on the beach after the party, his answer had made it stirringly plain. "We'll invent a reason when we're there."

Himura Kenshin was too sophisticated, too jaded, and much too sure of himself for her. He thought nothing of trying to seduce her on a dance floor, and only two days after meeting her. He would break her heart if she gave him the chance.

She was very, very lucky to have had a second narrow escape from certain disaster tonight.

She was glad that he hadn't waited.

She was thrilled he'd gone to bed.

She swallowed over a lump in her throat and started to turn. On one of the higher benchs near the many villas, one of the shapes moved, grew taller, and she heard her name, low and imperative. "Kaoru!"

She was so elated that he hadn't gone inside she nearly broke into a run when he walked down to her. He'd taken off his jacket and tie, partially unbuttoned his white shirt, and folded his shirtsleeves back onto his forearms. Somehow, he managed to look even more attractive this way that he had earlier.

Kaoru stopped in front of him, happy, nervous, self-conscious, and trying desperately to seem normal. "The last of the guest stay late to chat..."

He accepted her explanation with a brief nod; then he shoved his hands deep into his pants pockets and looked at her in lengthening silence.

Kaoru had half expected him to reach for her the minute she was at arm's length, and as he continued to look at her, she wished he would. When she finally realized he wasn't going to, she attributed his hesitation to the same problem she'd been worrying about since they'd danced at the party. Since the problem had been bothering her, she naturally assumed it would be bothering him, too. Suppressing her private regret, she said quietly, "We can't do this. If your father thinks there is anything at all happening between us, he'll blame Takani-san for not encouraging you more than she has."

In a noncommittal voice, he said, "In that case, I suppose I could honestly tell him I'm not interested in marriage."

"Than he'll blame you."

"Do you always worry about other people?"

Kenshin noted that she took the question very seriously, sighed and somberly nodded. "It's one of my many faults."

Faults? He thought with grim humor. He wondered if she knew what a real fault was. In the glow of moonlight, with the wind teasing her skirts and blowing her black hair against her cheek, she reminded him irresistibly of a barefoot angel with sandals dangling from her fingers instead of a celestial harp. Only that her hair is black instead of golden...

He remembered how Misao had pleaded him to leave Kaoru alone. He looked at her again, she was looking down with an innocent look on her face. He reminded himself that Misao was right that she deserve someone better....

On the other hand, she should be old enough to know what coming here tonight was leading forward , old enough to understand the rules and play the game. Old enough to know how to handle it when the was over.

Except, as he already knew, she didn't know how the game was suppose to be played. By her own admission she didn't even know how to flirt. A sardonic smile twisted his lips as he contemplate the havoc she would wreak on the male population if she ever bothered to learn how. At the party tonight, he'd watched sensible, sophisticated men turned into putty when she smiled and spoke to them.

What baffled him was that either she didn't realized the effect she had on men, or she didn't care. In fact, there were only two things about Kaoru he was completely certain of: She didn't know anything about men like him; and she deserved much more than what he was willing to offer.

"What are you thinking?" Kaoru asked finally as the last vestiges of her courage drained away, leaving her feeling foolish and conspicuous.

"I was thinking you look like a barefoot angel," he replied unemotionally.

Kaoru was stunned. She thought of what she was capable of and how she could lose control of herself. "Believe me when I tell you I'm no angel. I'm very far from that."

He took his hands out of his pockets and pulled her to him. "Good," he said bluntly, and lowered his head to kiss her.

It was the suddenness of his reaction, as much as the reaction itself, that made Kaoru realized he probably thought she was referring to sexual conduct. "When I said that I was far from an angel just now," she explained quickly, "I was not referring to anything having to do with- with sexual relationships."

His head lifted, his narrowed eyes searching hers. "You weren't?"

Kaoru shook her head and tried valiantly to project an intelligent, mature, and open attitude about something she felt excruciatingly uncomfortable discussing with him. "With respect...those sorts of relationships...I haven't had what you...what some people might consider much experience."

Kenshin gazed down at her entrancing face and glorious eyes. The same wayward emotion that suddenly made him feel like smiling also roughened his voice. "You haven't?"

"Actually, I've never had any of those relationships."

"None?" he teased. "I'm terribly disappointed."

Kaoru noticed his teasing tone, and with sparkling two eyes. "I wish I could tell you I've had dozens, but I've have none at all."

Kenshin laughed loudly and looked down at her gently. Unable to tear his gaze from hers, he turned his hand into her hand and kissed her palm. The tremor that ran through her when he did it seemed to shake through him as well.


"It's very late," Kaoru whispered when Kenshin finally lifted his mouth from hers. "We have to go back."

"I know." Kenshin eased his arm out from under her, glanced at his watch, and was amazed to see it was after three A.M. He got up and offered her his hand to help her off the chaise lounge.

As she stood, Kaoru looked down at her bare feet and her hopelessly wrinkled dress and quickly raised her hands to her hair, trying to restore it to some semblance of order.

She was suddenly mortified about her appearance and self-conscious about what they'd been doing for the last two hours. If anyone saw them sneaking into the house like this, she was going to feel like the Whore of Babylon. Worse, she probably looked like that to Kenshin right now.

She looked delightfully mussed, Kenshin thought- a fully dressed woman who'd lain beside a man who couldn't keep his hands off of her, who'd shove his hands into her hair and kissed her until her lips were swollen. He couldn't believe he'd just spent two comparative chaste hours with her on an uncomfortable chaise lounge, and yet, what he had done with her had been as exciting as having sex with another woman and, in some ways, more satisfying.

She walked beside him up the terrace steps, her hands clasped behind her back, sandals dangling from her fingers. Her head was bent as if she was lost in thought, and Kenshin began to reconsider the last hours through her eyes...In actuality, he'd behaved like an oversexed, overeager, inexperienced sixteen-year-old necking and petting in the backyard without the sense enough or courtesy enough to take her somewhere where they'd have privacy and comfort. He was embarrassed about his behavior; he was embarrassed becaused he had something to be embarrassed about...

As they neared a stand of palm trees at the rear of the lawn, Kenshin said flatly, "I'm sorry about all that. I shouldn't have it let it go on so long or get so far. I practically molested you on a damned lawn chair."

Kaoru's heart soared at the discovery she wasn't the only one feeling uncertain and embarrassed. "A lawn chair?" she repeated thoughtfully; then she raised laughing eyes to his. "Molested? Is that what you were doing?"

Stifling a shout of laughter, Kenshin pulled her into his arms.

She looked at him teasingly, and rested her hands on his chest. "My memory must be hazy, but-"

"I wouldn't want your memory to be hazy," Kenshin whispered, already bending his head. "I did this..." he brushed a kissed against her temple. "And this..." He trailed his lips to her ear and kissed it, smiling to himself when she shivered and pressed closer to him. "And I did this..." Her eyes closed and he put a light kiss on each lid before he dragged his mouth across her cheek to her lips. "And this..." He parted her lips with his and kissed her with a melting hunger, slowly exploring her mouth with his tongue, drawing her tighter to his hardening body, but when she leaned into him and began to kissing him back, Kenshin lost his head for the second time that night. He backed her against a tree, caught her hands in both of his, and pinned them near her head while he deepened the kiss and press himself against her.

His tongue ravaged her mouth, his body moved slowly against hers, and her breasts swelled invitingly against his chest. He loosened his grip on one of her hands and slid his palm down her soft skin at her throat to her breast, brushing it with his knuckles and then covering it possessively. Her free hand curved around his nape, her body arched to his, and he fumbled with the jeweled clip at her nape that held the bodice of her dress up. A split second before he released it, he realized what he was doing and managed to check the impulse.

Struggling for control, he tore his mouth from hers and stared down at her moonlit face. "This is insanity," he whispered hoarsely; then he slowly lowered his head and buried his lips in hers again.


Author's note: Ahhhhh, this chapter is finally finished!!!!! I'm afraid that the contents her should be rated R. Haha...Okay, just press the button down there and drop a review!! Reviews make me happy!!

ariel: Thank you foe reviewing and staying with this fanfic!! I hope u like this chapter!

Angel of loneyliness : Thank you! I'm glad that you like my story... haha...Kenshin's other woman. He never loved anyone before, he sure uses them only, than he dumps them. (jerk!) Enishi sure is interested in Kaoru and as you can see in this chapter, Soujiro's attention is focus on a certain beautiful brunette! Haha

Bradybunch4529: Thank you for reviewing and Staying with this fanfic! And thank you for telling me what you think! Your review make me HAPPY! I hope u like this chapter and tell me what u think!

Wolf Sapphire: Thank You!! You really flattered me!!! Thank you for dropping such a nice review! Ah, I'm very sorry about the grammatical errors, I'll try my best to eliminate them! Hehe

flamingamber: thank you! And thank you for reviewing!

cock-roach-elle : Haha!! Thank you for staying with this fic! And for reviewing!!!

Ruronichik13: Hello newcomer! Wow, I am sure glad that you like my fanficI'm flattered...haha! And yes, I agree that romance is the BEST part. Hohohoho

kittycat: Thank you! Haha!I love the pairings k/k/b or k/b so much as well!!! I hope u like this chapter!!

: Thank you for reviewing and telling me what you think...there isn't much about Kaoru's past here in this chapter but it's coming up soon! Thank you for dropping a review and I hope you like this chapter!