Author's notes: Hello again. ) been busy the past few weeks. I just got back from my hols, so, sorry for the late update.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin….
Chapter 13
"Ask him questions, but remember not to make him suspicious…if he ever finds out, we'll destroy everyone there…"
Kaoru sighed again. How could she possibly act all natural and loving when there was so much that she wanted to tell him? Her heart ached with how she could not trust someone she loved. She had been oblivious to her surroundings the past few days. Ignorant of most things except for the times her heart jumped like crazy whenever Kenshin was near.Nothing about him was suggesting for sure that he was what The Aorta had said …he had been gentle, but sometimes very passionate and demanding. He was out on another business trip, a shorter one this time round. She knew that The Aorta must had arranged it this way because as soon as Kenshin left, she saw Enishi everyday.
Sanosuke was always hanging around with Megumi, Kaoru hardly ever see him around the villa anymore. Yahiko had been spending most of his time at Okina's house…it was rumored that he had a crush on Tsubame, Misao's cousin who came when Misao and Kaoru were held up at The Aorta. The Aorta had ordered her and Misao not to see each other too often, so Kaoru had not seen Misao for weeks. All this while she had struggled not to shrink away from Kenshin affections or to appear sad and worried. She felt like as if she was going crazy, the pressure was high on her and she knew she would break any moment. If not for Soujiro's presence…she might already have.
The smiling, gentle Soujiro. He was the only one who knew of the development of relationship between her and Kenshin. At least the only one who saw Kenshin kissing her or holding her hand. He seemed glad for her and she spent most of the time with him if not for Enishi's interruptions. Kaoru tried her best to put on her usual smiles whenever she saw Soujiro. She wished that she talked to someone and maybe…relieve her stress a little.Soujiro was always understanding and caring whenever she talked to him. Kaoru often wonder if she had fallen in love with whom she was not suppose to love.
She walked out of her room and begun to skip along the corridor, trying to look like nothing had happened. She stopped skipping when she saw Enishi infront of her. He was standing there looking at her in way that made her uneasy. His eyes seemed to devour her. So intense and yet there was a soft tenderness in them, he was dressed casually this time, a simple white shirt and long khaki pants. She back into his eyes bravely and stood very still. The past few days that she ha spent time with him was hard for her, eventhough she had been the most polite and caring towards her.
For a moment, they just stood there and stared at each other. Then, Enishi begun to walked towards her, smiling tenderly. Kaoru almost winced when she saw him smile at her that way. He was not to be trusted. No one could be trusted…she knew no one she was sure about. For what she knew…they could be possible of anything. All of them…
"Kaoru…" Enishi said, looking down at her, inhaling in her sweet jasmine scent.
"Huh?" Kaoru mumbled absent-mindedly, looking up at him blankly.
"When Soujiro ask you to go out with him again…don't go with him. Tell him that you are going for a spa treatment with Misao this afternoon…"
"Why?"
"I need to discuss something with you…"
"Didn't we discuss everything the past few days?"
Enishi touched her cheek playfully and laughed. "Just be ready at two o'clock…"
He walked away, leaving Kaoru staring after him; surprised. Enishi smiled to himself…
Kaoru walked back to her room again, deciding that she need some quiet time to herself. Why was Enishi treating her this way…like he was in love with her or something. The actions of the people around her was puzzling.
Ring! Ring!
Kaoru picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Misao…"
"Hey…"
"So how are ya?"
"I'm okay…"
"You sure? You sound dead, you know…"
"…."
"That brat is coming around my house like forever! He is in love with Tsubame but deny it whenever anyone asked him or teases him…stupid guy…"
"Yeah…he is like that…"
"So how are you holding up? I heard that Kenshin is on another business trip again."
"Yeah…"
"So?"
"Nothing…you know what I mean…"
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes."
"Okay..whatever…things is going to happen when they are suppose to happen…just be on your guard…"
"Yeah…thanks Misao."
"No problem…I probably will be able to see you next week…"
"Next week? I though I am meeting you this afternoon…"
"Huh?"
"He told me that we'll be going to a spa treatment…"
"Issit? He didn't tell me anything about that…"
"What?"
"That's weird…"
"Do you think I should go?"
"Well…I suppose he wants to tell you something…even if he tries anything weird…you can kill him instantly…"
Kaoru burst out laughing at Misao's mischievous and evil tone. It had been so long since she laughed…
"Okies…"
"Yeah, I need to go…Okina is screaming for me…that old pervert…"
Kaoru laughed again. "Yeah, you go ahead…"
"And you! Cheer up a little…things are just going to turn out just fine eventhough it does not seem so now…"
"Thanks Misao…"
"Yeah…bye!"
"Bye…"
Kaoru hung up…feeling a lot better. Misao's voice and encouragement gave her the strength to overcome anything that was in front of her.
Someone knocked on her door and Kaoru's breathed in sharply. Could it be Enishi again?
"Who is it?" she called cautiously.
"It's Soujiro!"
Kaoru relaxed again and went to open the door. Soujiro was standing there, smiling happily at her…as usual. Kaoru smiled back at him…happy to see her friend.
"Hello..Sou-chan!"
"Hello!"
"Hmmm?"
"I was thinking…do you want to go out this afternoon…? We can go for a movie and have dinner afterwards…"
"Oh…sorry Sou-chan. I am going to a spa treatment with Misao this afternoon…"
"Oh…than it's okay…"
"Sou-chan?"
"It's okay…you go pamper yourself. Haven't been yourself lately…anything troubling you?"
Kaoru stared at Soujiro…how did he know that something is troubling me? She kept quiet, not knowing what to say.
"Kaoru?"
"Nothing is wrong with me actually...I am just missing Kenshin that's all…"
Soujiro looked at her intently, not believing her. "You sure?"
"Yes…I just miss him…"
"Okay…whatever you say."
Kaoru felt that her room was suddenly very hot…she was very nervous. She need to get out of this conversation…fast!
"Sou-chan… I am feeling a little tired, I'm going to take a nap before I go for my Spa treatment, all right?"
Soujiro smiled again. "Okay. Than, don't let me be here to bother you any further…rest well, Kaoru."
Kaoru smiled gently. "I will…"
Soujiro rumpled her hair playfully and walked away. Kaoru closed her door again, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. She begun to smooth her hands against her chest, urging herself not to prompt an asthma attack. But it came anyway; the pain and urgency came so fast that she fell to the floor violently. She coughed and coughed, twisting on the floor…trying very hard to breathe. She pressed a palm hard to her neck, purple light glowing from within, willing it to help her to breathe. But it did not work. Kaoru's eyes widened in panic… HELP!
She pressed her palm against her neck harder, focusing on directing the energy of her power towards her windpipe, she gasped again and suddenly she was free. That was close, her asthma attacks have not been happening ever since she came to Hiko's villa…she did not understand why it was this way. She smooth a hand down her own chest, breathing in sharp breaths.
Her door was flung opened all of a sudden and Soujiro rushed in. He noticed Kaoru on the floor and knelt down towards her, supporting her with his arms around her shoulders. Kaoru whimpered and gasped again, looking up at Soujiro dazedly.
"Kaoru? What happened?'
"Attack…asthma…"
"Can you breathe now?"
"Yeah…what are you doing here?"
"I heard a 'thump' sound coming from your room and when I called for you, you didn't not answer…so I broke in…sorry."
"It's all right…thank you…"
"Do you always get attacks like this? Come let me help you to your bed…."
Soujiro picked Kaoru up and put her down gently on the bed.
"Is this what happened last time when we were still at your house…the time you ran away quickly?"
"Yeah…that time, I had to get my inhaler…but it is not working anymore…."
"What happened just now…?"
"I managed to use my magic to open up my windpipes…"
Soujiro breathed in deeply and looked down at Kaoru worriedly. "You need some help, Kaoru…asthma can kill…"
"I know…"
"Does your asthma attacks have something to do with your powers?"
"I don't know…"
"Do you still need to go for the spa treatment? You ought to stay here and rest, and maybe I can bring you to a doctor…"
Kaoru thought about it and decided to Enishi no matter how ill she feel. He must have something important that he wanted to tell her, plus if he agree to stay with Soujiro, she will get Sou-chan involved into this…
"Oh…but I promised Misao that I will go with her…and she paid for it already…I am not feeling that ill anyway."
"Are you sure…?I really think that you should rest…"
"Yeah, it is only 10.30 am…I still can rest before I need to go for the appointment…"
"Okay if you want…"
"Thank you Sou-chan…you are the best…"
"Yeah, I know I am…haha"
"Really…thank you Sou-chan…you are a great person."
Soujiro blushed red in the face and looked very embarrassed. "You're welcome , Kaoru…well than…you rest…"
Kaoru smiled gently and felt her eyes closing. She wanted to say something back to Soujiro but before she can, she felt deep into sleep. Soujiro walked towards her bed, and laughed lightly, looking down at her with a concern smile on his face. He leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead lightly. He opened the door carefully and took one more look at her before he closed the door behind him.
The radio clock ranged loudly and Kaoru reached for it blindly and slammed it against the floor. She sat up slowly on her bed and yawned. She certainly felt much better now, she touched her neck again and thank the God that she had stayed alive after that close call. She picked up the radio-clock from the floor and decided that she shall have a shower before her meeting with Enishi. Then, the phone rang again...
"Hello?"
"Hey…" Kenshin drawled into the phone, Kaoru could almost imagine his face in a lazy, devastating smile.
"Hello…"
"I called twice earlier but you didn't answer…"
Twice? Why didn't I hear it? Was I too deep in sleep?
"Oh, I was asleep…"
"Ah…how are you?"
"I'm good, going to a spa treatment this afternoon with Misao…"
"Oh…that is nice…I miss you…"
Kaoru felt her heart gave a sharp jump. " I miss you too…"
"I'll be back soon, once I am back, I won't go on any other business trips anymore…I want to spend as much time as possible with you…"
Kaoru felt even more guilty than ever, she did not know what to say back.
"Kaoru?"
"Hmm?"
Kenshin laughed into the phone. "What is wrong?"
"No, I am just glad that you'll be paying more attention to me soon. I am actually jealous of the people who are around you now…" Kaoru said mischievously , smiling.
Kenshin gave a shout of laughter. "Yeah, I miss you so much, my darling…"
"Me too. I need to go get ready now…"
"Okay, I'll call you again. Take care…."
"You too…bye Kenshin.."
Kaoru put down the phone piece slowly and felt her heart sink lower. She missed Kenshin badly. When he was there, she was always on guard…not able to be herself. When he was gone, she was restless with loneliness. Worrying about everything. She took a deep breath and begun to dress herself. She had to be brave…she had to have hope.
It was 2.10, Kaoru waited patiently at the porch for someone to pick her up to where ever Enishi was meeting her. Then, a black BMW drove up. The driver wind down the window.
"Kamiya Kaoru?"
"Yes, that me."
"Hop in than, Yukishiro-san is expecting you."
Kaoru got into the car.
On the way to meet Enishi, Kaoru debated to herself what Enishi would have to say this time round.
When the car stopped, she noticed that it was an luxurious café , unlike the places they've met before. Enishi was at the entrance of the café, welcoming her. He was smiling lazily, delight in his eyes when he saw her got down from the car. Kaoru felt intimidated and uneasy again. She walked towards him awkwardly. "What are we to discuss today?"
"You'll see…"
Enishi put his arms around her shoulders softly and ushered her into the café. They were sitted at a table near the balcony, with a fantastic view.
"So? What are we meeting for?"
Enishi laughed. "Don't be so impatient my dear Kaoru…it is a date….with me. Think of it as a repayment for all the trouble that came into your life together with me in it…"
"Repayment?"
"Yeah…"
"You don't need to do this you know…I don't need any repayment."
"I know, but I still feel that I ought to give you some time to relax and do something cheerful once in a while without worrying so much…your asthma attacks will be more severe if you don't calm yourself down…"
"How did you-" Kaoru begun, than she remember that The Aorta was watching and hearing everything. It was natural that he knew about her asthma attacks.
Enishi smiled gently. "So, you just sit back and relax…enjoy the view…"
Kaoru smiled back…Relax? Enjoy the view? What the hell…
Enishi ordered many mouth-watering cakes and pastries, along with tea. He coaxed her into talking by asking her questions and finally, they were talking and laughing like friends.
Kaoru looked across at Enishi . Maybe he is not such a bad guy afterall…maybe he is not the one who wants to kill Kenshin…maybe he is just made to believe it is this way…
It was quite a pleasant afternoon. Better than she expected. But than, she reminded herself not to let her guard down.
When they were leaving the café, just before Kaoru got into the BMW again, Enishi leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Take care, my dear Kaoru…"
Kaoru was very surprised by the peck on the cheek.
In the car back to the villa, she became more and more confused when she thought everything over. What was everything evolving into?
Author's Notes: I hope you all like this chapter! Just click on the review and drop a review!!! Reviews make me very happy!
Ruronichik13: hello! Haha, I am glad that you like the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one as well, thank you for your review. Let me now what you think!
flamingamber: Haha, thank you so much for your compliments, and I hope that you'll continue to like this fanfic. Thanks for the cool review!
Bradybunch4529: Hello again thanks again for staying with this fic, it's been a while since I updated…thanks for you nice comments. Made me smile ) I want to thank you again for letting me noe what you think, it's great! I hope you like this chapter.
Jrz: Hoi! Wow, you really nice to leave such good compliments man, Haha!! Been long since I updated…I hope you like this chapter dude!
