Chapter Five

Disclaimer:  The characters mentioned in this fic do not belong to me.

Author's Note:  I am so SORRY for the very long wait.  I really appreciate all the support that I've been receiving from everyone.  I didn't expect for me to take this long to update.  Once again I apologize.  GOMEN MINA!

The next morning, Kaoru woke felling better but still not too great.  But she'd come to a major decision:  she'd stop skirting around the edges of life.  She was going to show the world that Kamiya Kaoru could handle anything.  She was going to shed her country-bumpkin image and start acting like a real person.  She was going to meet new people, especially men, and get a real job on a real paper.

Kaoru was startled as there was a clunk, followed by a drumming sound right behind her head.  Someone had turned the shower on.  If it was Megumi, she was doomed.  She could be there for ages, and Kaoru would be late for work.  That's what she got for not getting up early.

She jumped out of bed and began rummaging around her closet for something to wear.  Impatiently, she took out her clothes, one by one, and rejected them with a sigh.  Boring!  She wanted to start right away with her new image, and these frumpy things weren't going to help her any.

She couldn't ask her roommates for things ----- Misao's stuff was too small and Megumi's too good ----- Kaoru was petrified she'd ruin her stuff.

The shower stopped and Kaoru heard the bathroom door click open.  Thank God! Definitely not Megumi.  Kaoru rounded out of her bedroom, to see Misao standing by the kitchen door ----- looking mighty desperate.

"How's the headache?" she asked.

"Oh, it's okay.  How are you?"

"I'm okay.  I dunno ----- sometimes in the morning I need a good dose of jet fuel before I can function.  How I managed to get in and out of the shower just now is beyond me!"

Kaoru smiled.  "I know just how you feel.  Well, I'd better hit the shower before Megumi gets in there.  What does she do once she shuts that door?"

Misao poured herself a cup of tea and sighed.  "Kaoru, there are some things best left unknown."

-------------------------

            It turned out to be a busy morning at work.  The phone started ringing off the hook the second Kaoru sat down.  Yumi was late, and Soujiro was in a rare mood.

            Yumi arrived, panting, at nine-thirty.

            "I'm so sorry," she said, tossing her purse on her desk.  "I have had the morning from hell. Soujiro hasn't been asking for me, has he?"

            "Not yet," Kaoru said.  "But look out, he's not happy today."  The phone rang.  "And this hasn't stopped ringing."

            She adjusted her headset and sat alert at the computer.  "Ohayo Gozaimasu, welcome to Personal Personals.  How can I help you?"

            She listened in silence as the message was dictated.  She took the credit card information and then said, "Yes, I've got that.  It'll appear in the next issue."  Then she hung up.

            "You're supposed to read it back to them," Yumi admonished as Kaoru finished her call.

            Kaoru's face was scarlet.  "Yumi, I couldn't read that back.  Look at it!"

            Yumi looked across at Kaoru's screen.  "I see what you mean," she said.  "There are certainly some weirdos in the city!  I wonder if any girl would ever respond to an ad like that?  Come to think of it, I wonder if any girl ever responded to any of our ads!"

            "I've had some really bizarre ones today," Kaoru said hurriedly.  The conversation was getting to close for comfort.  "'Couple waiting to meet couple for party games' … what so you think that could mean?"

            "The mind bobbles," Yumi said.

            "And listen to this," Kaoru went on.  "'Send me an angel.  Teach me new age, show me the stars and the trees, share your warmth and wisdom, your wit and peace.  Can we explore nature and universe within?"

            "I wouldn't have him exploring my nature!"  Yumi said with a chuckle.

            "And how about this one," Kaoru went on, laughing now.  "This was the first one I got today:  'After years of therapy, this guy is low on problems and high on fun.'"

            Yumi chuckled again.  "They've all got a screw loose," she said.  "But if you ever just happen to come across one that says 'Rich, successful, cultured, handsome and very straight executive seeks educated woman,' then let me know.  I'm going to call first before it gets in the paper."

            "Yumi!" Kaoru exclaimed, wagging a finger.

            "I know it would cost me my job if anyone found out."  Yumi said, "but if he was the right guy, then to hell with the job."

            She straightened out her desk and attached her headset.  "So it's been busy this morning, has it?"

            Oh, yeah," Kaoru said.  "Lights going all over the place."

            "I'm sorry I stuck you with it," Yumi said.

            "It's okay," Kaoru said. "I understand."

            "Anyways," Yumi said with a sideways glance, "You didn't go to Razzles last night, did you?"

            "Well..." Kaoru began.

            "Kaoru!"

            "Yes, I did," Kaoru said slowly.  She was trying to think whether she should tell Yumi the truth.

            "And?"

            Kaoru decided she just had to tell somebody.  "And I met him, Yumi!"

            "Was he and ugly?"

            "No.  He was gorgeous, just like I pictured him. Even better than I pictured him."

            And how did you know it was him?  Did Tomoe show up?"

            "Tomoe didn't show up," Kaoru said. "and I knew it was him because I heard him talking on the phone."

            "So did you actually meet him and talk to him?" Yumi asked.

            Again Kaoru hesitated.  "Sort of." She admitted.

            "And?  Don't keep me in suspense."

            "It all got rather weird.  He thought I knew where Tomoe was and he got upset," Kaoru said quietly.

            "What do you mean?"

            "He started yelling a little."

            "What did you do?"

            "I got scared and ran out," Kaoru said.  "Let's not talk about it anymore.  It's all over and done with."

            "Thank God for that," Yumi said. "any guy who would lose his cool with a complete stranger in a public place is not the sort of guy you want to know, Kaoru."

            "I guess not," Kaoru said.  "Although I can see now why he was so upset.  He thought I knew where Tomoe was and I wasn't going to tell him.  I suppose he was desperate enough to try and scare me into telling him."

            "You should forget about him," Yumi said.  "Either he's got a terrible temper or he's so crazy about this Tomoe that he's never going to look at another woman."  She answered a call, and then turned back to Kaoru.  "You didn't tell him who you really were and why you were there, did you?"

            "Do you think I'm totally stupid?" Kaoru said.  "He'd have been on the phone to Soujiro and had me fired by now."

            "So now you've learned you lesson," Yumi said.

            "I suppose you're right," Kaoru said.  "Although it was the most exciting thing that's happened to me since I came to Tokyo."

            "You deserve better forms of excitement than that, honey," Yumi said.

            "Which reminds me," Kaoru put in, "do you know any cheap clothing stores near here?  I want to create a new image for myself.  Look at me.  I'm totally blah.  I want to dress like an interesting person, and I can't afford to shop at the stores I'd like to go to.  I thought cheap clothing stores would be a start."

            "Good idea," Yumi said, "although I think you look very nice."

            "Yeah nice," Kaoru said, frowning.  "I don't want to look like somebody's kid sister.  I want to look sophisticated and fun."

            "In that case," Yumi said, "there are a few good clothing stores by the art institute."

            "Thanks," Kaoru said.  "I'll try and hit a couple of them at lunch time.  If all goes well, you might see a new me by this afternoon."

            "Don't do anything drastic will you?"  Yumi answered.  "Remember, you can't change who you really are inside.  You're sweet, trusting little Kaoru and that will come across however you dress."

            "Really?"  Kaoru said with a sigh.  "I'd sort of like to shake off that image, too."

            The switchboard lit up again.

            "Oh, brother," Yumi said.  "Can you get it?  I need a cup of tea ----- fast."

            "Sure," Kaoru said.  She pressed the lighted button.  "Oyaho Gozaimasu.  Personal Personals.  How may I help you?" she asked.

            There was a slight pause, then a voice said, "I'd like to place an ad and I want to make sure it goes ASAP."

            Kaoru's heart leapt up to her throat.  She couldn't be one hundred percent sure, but the voice sounded like Himura Kenshin.  At least he hadn't recognized her voice and put two and two together yet.  She coughed and said in her huskiest, deepest tones, "Gomen, but any copy we receive today will be put in the next issue.  We've already gone to press."

            "But this is really important," The voice said.  She was sure it was Kenshin now.  "I have to let someone see it tomorrow.  It's a matter of life and death."

            Kaoru was trying to breathe normally but it wasn't easy.  "Let me take the copy, sir and I'll see what I can so," she managed to say.

            "Thanks, you're great," he said.  Kaoru could feel herself beginning to melt again.

            "This is what I want to say," he went on.  "'Pretty stranger in Razzles on Wednesday, who knows Tomoe.  Please forgive me and come back tonight at eight.  Just five minutes of your time is all I ask.  I promise I'll behave.  Please be there.'  That's it," he added.

            Kaoru managed to make her tongue obey her enough to say what she was trained to.  "Arigatou.  That will be five lines and your box number is 1234.  May I have your name and address please?"

            Mechanically she typed them, even though she knew them by heart.  Her mind was racing.  He wanted to see her again!  He was sorry about the way he behaved last night.  She would have a chance to make everything all right, to explain that she didn't know Tomoe and then ... and then he'd know that she'd spied on him because of his ad.  She had broken the newspaper's code of privacy, and she could be fired.

            "I just remembered, sir," she babbled, "there's a two-for-one special this month and I see you placed an ad already, so you won't be billed for this one."

            "That's great," Kenshin's warm voice said. "At least one thing is going right for me this month.  And you'll try and get it into this week's paper for me, wont you?  I have to let a certain person know that I must see her again immediately.  I just want to stop worrying."

            I'll see that she gets to read your message, sir," Kaoru said, thinking that there was really no need to put the message into the paper, but that she would have to, in case Kenshin checked on it.

            "Thanks for your help.  You don't know what a lifesaver you are.  I was a total jerk last night and I have to make everything alright."

            I'm sure it will be," Kaoru said.

            "I hope so," Kenshin said.  "Thanks again."

            She heard the phone click on the other end and was still sitting there, staring into space when Yumi returned with the tea.

            "You'll never guess in a million years who that was," Kaoru said, coming out of her trance as Yumi put down a cup of tea in front of her.

"It had to be Kenshin," Yumi said.  "I'm psychic."  Then she burst out laughing.  "There aren't a whole lot of men in Tokyo who can send you into a trance like that. What did he want this time? Still desperately seeking Tomoe?

"No," Kaoru said.  "He wants to put in a message apologizing to me."

"Why didn't he do it over the phone?"

"Because he didn't know it was me," Kaoru said.  "I didn't want him to know in case I got into trouble."  She paused, playing with her pencil.  "He wants to meet me tomorrow night."

Yumi touched Kaoru's arm.  "Listen to me, Kaoru.  Don't go!  I don't feel good about this."

"I'll be okay.  We'll meet at Razzles ----- it's full of people.  I'm just going to see him, tell him the truth and I'll be perfectly safe.  The guy who lives across the hall from me is the bartender there.  If I scream, he'll save me.  So there's nothing to worry over."

Yumi sighed.  "Okay.  But please be careful.  If he wants to take you fro a cab ride, don't go!"

"Yumi, I'm not a total idiot," Kaoru said.  "And if all goes well, I might bring Kenshin in to meet you so that you can see what a nice guy he is."

The phone rang again.  Kaoru went for it, but Yumi got there first.  "I'll get this one," she said.  "I don't want you to find anymore poor, suffering guys whose problems need solving.  Life is complicated enough as it is, ff this one wants any special favors."

Kaoru jumped up.  "Oh, no," she exclaimed.  "I promised Kenshin I'd get his ad into tomorrow's edition, and look at the time.  I'd better get down to typesetting right away or I'll never mange to squeeze it in."

"Good luck," Yumi said dryly.  "You really will have to be a miracle worker if you can make Saitoh Hajime move his schedule.  He's one of those old guys who believe in sticking to his routine."

Kaoru ran down the stairs, almost colliding with Soujiro as she jumped the last three.

"Whoa," he yelled.  Steadying her as she landed.  "Where's the fire?"

"Big rush, Soujiro," she gasped.  "I've got to try and squeeze in another message before Saitoh has set the whole page for tomorrow's edition."

Tomorrow's edition?" Soujiro said.  "That page will probably be done by now."

"But I promised a client I'd do my best to get it in," Kaoru said.

Soujiro wagged a finger.  "Kaoru, remember how we feel here about getting personally involved with clients.  I hope you aren't breaking the rules."

Oh, no," Kaoru said hastily.  "It's just that he told me such a sad story about how he'd almost lost the girl of his dreams and his only hope was to meet her tomorrow night before ... uh ... before she leaves town for good."

Soujiro laughed.  "Kaoru, you're a hopeless romantic.  These guys always say the same things.  It probably has nothing to do with romance.  The girl is about to leave town with his CD player and he wants it back."

"And you're a hopeless cynic," Kaoru said.

Soujiro actually threw back his head and laughed even harder.

"Go do your best with Saitoh," Soujiro said.  "Tell him I said we should try and find a place for it because it's a special customer."

"Thanks a million, Soujiro," Kaoru said, shocked at his attitude.  Maybe soon I can approach him about writing an article or two, she thought.  Then she realized that she had lied to him about the ad and having no personal involvement.  If Soujiro even found out the truth ... but he's not likely to, she decided.  I'll make sure he never does!

TBC

Author's Note:  Well that's it for now.  What do you think?  I look forward to hearing all your reviews.  Ja ne mina!  (-o-)