Chapter Twelve

Disclaimer: I don't own RK.

Author's Note: Thank you all for reviewing and for all the support you have shown me and my fanfic.

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It had been a long, uneventful day at work. Kaoru had half hoped that Kenshin would call to explain why he hadn't come back. Surely any nice guy would want to apologize for leaving a girl all alone. Maybe Kenshin wasn't a nice guy after all.

"I've decided," she told Yumi, "from now on I'm going to play it safe. I'm through with taking risks! No more impulsive rushing off to meet unknown men with sexy voices."

"Am I glad to hear that," Yumi said. "You don't know how worried I've been about you. Thank God that this Kenshin person has found who he was looking for and is now going to leave you be."

"I guess," Kaoru said sadly.

"He's had you on an emotional roller coaster, Kaoru," Yumi said. "You've been a nervous wreck since this whole thing started."

Kaoru nodded. That was true, but she'd also experienced moments of elation like she'd never known before. The whole thing had been worth it just for that one walk with Kenshin and for those few precious minutes of his lips against hers. She knew she'd treasure that memory forever.

"And I take it you're not going to Razzles tonight?"

"Never again! That place is off-limits to me forever."

The phone line buzzed and lit up. "I'll get it," Kaoru said since Yumi was already half out of her seat.

"It's okay. I'll take this call," Yumi said. She sat down again and adjusted her headphones. Kaoru heard her say, "Oh. Uh-huh...uh-huh. I see. No I can't give out her address. I'm sorry. All I can do is put the ad in and you can see what happens. Look…I'm sorry. I can only do my job. Right. Goodbye."

"Who was that?" Kaoru said curiously.

"That no-good weasel Kenshin," Yumi said.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru squealed. "Kenshin was on the phone and you didn't let me talk to him?"

"I thought you said you were through with getting involved with sexy voices," Yumi said. "That guy is no good for you, Kaoru. He leads you on, and then stands you up until you don't know what's happening to you. Just forget about him, please."

"But what did he say, Yumi?" Kaoru demanded.

"He wanted you home address, but I wouldn't give it to him. So he said he wanted to place an ad."

"And what does the ad say?" Kaoru was almost shouting now.

Yumi handed her the page from her notepad. "Don't believe a word of it," she said.

Kaoru read: "To the most beautiful ad taker in Tokyo. I'm crazy about you. Meet me at Razzles and I'll explain everything."

"Sure he'll explain everything," Yumi said coldly. "It's pretty clear that Tomoe has dumped him again and now he's going to try to sweet-talk his way into getting back with you." She looked at Kaoru. "Are you listening to a word I've been saying?" she demanded.

Kaoru was sitting there with a faraway smile in her face. The words I am crazy about you danced in front of her eyes.

"You're not thinking of meeting him, are you?"

"Oh, no," Kaoru said. "I'm going to call him at home tonight. I couldn't possibly wait till the paper comes out tomorrow."

Yumi picked up her purse. "I have to get out of here," she said. "I can't stand another minute. You have to do what you think is right, but I'm telling you, child, I think you're making the mistake of your life."

"I have to give him a chance to explain. If I don't like what he has to say, then I promise I'll forget about him."

Yumi was still shaking her head as she walked out. Kaoru hurried to get her desk in order and to switch off the computers. Then she grabbed her coat and scarf and followed Yumi out into the evening twilight. She wondered what she should say to him on the phone all the way home. As little as possible before he explained to her, she decided. She'd just say that she saw his ad and she wanted to meet him right away. Yes, that would do fine.

When she got home, the first thing she saw was Megumi on the phone in the front hall. Kaoru went through to her room, trying not to show her impatience. She took off her coat and hung it up.

Finally the phone was slammed down and Kaoru appeared in time to see Megumi stalking toward the kitchen. "Ugh, men," she said, opening the fridge and getting out a diet cola. "I've just spent half an hour trying to get rid of the most boring guy in Tokyo. He started talking to me at the gift shop and I made a mistake of answering him when he spoke. He weaseled my number out of someone else at work and now he wants me to go to an exhibition of Asian Art with him. I have a boyfriend and I'd rather have a root canal than hurt him!"

At that moment Misao came in, throwing down her heavy bag in the front hall. "I don't believe it," she said. "Someone is going to have to pass a law eliminating men from this city."

"Not you, too?" Megumi asked. "What happened?"

"Some guy tried to pick me up on the bus," Misao said. "He started by pinching my rear end! I've had enough. I think we should turn this place into a convent."

"Good idea," Megumi said. "Nuns always look so elegant in those habits. Gray and white I think, with one of those veils that turn up at the sides."

"Are you ready to take your vows, Kaoru?" Misao asked.

"Not just yet," Kaoru said. "Ask me by the end of the evening. Right now I have to make a phone call."

She went to the phone and dialed Kenshin's number. It rang until Kenshin's answering machine picked up. Kaoru put the phone down in disappointment. She didn't want to talk to a machine. She wanted to talk to him in person. It looked as if she were going to have to wait for tomorrow night after all. And where was he tonight, she wondered? Did a lovesick guy go out on the town? All of her doubts about him resurfaced. Was she being stupid not to take Yumi's advice and pretend she never say the new ad? Her life would definitely be less stressful if there was no Kenshin in it...

Megumi was already clowning around with a white dinner napkin as a nun's veil, making Misao laugh. Kaoru looked at them fondly. At least she had the two of them and a place here where she belonged. That was a good start.

The doorbell rang. Megumi whipped the veil off her head and went to answer the door. Then Kaoru heard her surprised voice. "Kaoru? You want to see Kaoru? Okay, I suppose you better come on in."

She came back down the hall into the kitchen. "Oh, Kaoru, honey," she called in a sweet voice. "Someone here to see you."

"Kenshin!" Kaoru gasped. "How did you find me here?"

"I went over to your office and I followed you home. I've been downstairs for the past ten minutes trying to get the nerve to come up here. So how about it? Are you willing to give me the chance to explain myself? I feel so terrible about last night---please don't say no."

Kaoru tried not to look too delighted. "Well...okay, I guess," she said. "I'll get my coat."

As she came out of her room again, she saw two pairs of eyes, open very wide, watching her and Kenshin.

"Oh, Kenshin, these are my roommates, Megumi and Misao," she said brightly.

"Glad to meet you, Kenshin," Megumi said.

"Oh, so you're Kenshin. We've heard a lot about you," Misao added.

Kaoru grinned as Kenshin escorted her out. "They worry about me," she said.

"Then their worries are over," Kenshin said.

"What about Tomoe?" Kaoru blurted out.

"I tried to take care of her," he said. "I always tried my best but it wasn't easy." They reached the end of the hallway. Kenshin pressed the elevator button before Kaoru could say that it never worked, and, miraculously, there was the sound of movement behind the steel doors. "I had a tough time with her last night," Kenshin said. "I felt terrible about leaving you there, but I didn't leave Tomoe until after midnight."

"Oh, I see," Kaoru said frostily.

"No, you don't see," Kenshin insisted, "because you don't know what she's like. She has…problems, Kaoru. Problems that you couldn't dream about. She's been through a very difficult time the last few years and I've been the only one who was there for her."

The elevator arrived. The doors opened and they stepped in. Kaoru was conscious of Kenshin's closeness in the confined space. She could feel the fresh scent of his cologne and the rough fabric of his sleeve against her hand.

"Ever since she was a little kid, she was difficult," he said. "I had the hardest time trying to keep her away from the wrong kids."

"You've known her that long?" Kaoru said.

Kenshin looked surprised. "What do you mean, 'that long´?" he asked. I've known her since the day she was born."

"The day she was b-born!" Kaoru stammered. This whole thing was definitely getting weird.

Realization began to dawn on Kenshin. "Wait," he said, "you didn't know she's my sister?"

"Your sister?" The words echoed back from the steel walls of the elevator. "Tomoe is your sister?"

Kenshin started to laugh. "I thought you knew. I thought I made it clear from the beginning…I was calling my parents when you first overheard me."

"No," Kaoru said slowly. "I didn't know. I thought she was your girlfriend."

"My girlfriend?" Kenshin said. "God no. I'd never date anyone like her. She'd drive me crazy. It's bad enough she's related."

They stepped out into the fresh air. It was a cold night but stars were peeping between the buildings. The air smelled fresh. Kaoru wanted to dance down the street, to run, to shout, and to jump for joy.

"I can't believe it," Kaoru said, gazing up at him adoringly. "I thought you were searching for the love of your life. I thought I'd never have a chance with you. I thought that was why you pushed me into that taxi and ran off---because you were still thinking of her."

"I was, in a way," Kenshin said. "I want to apologize about behaving so stupidly that time, too, but you don't know the effect you were having on me. One side of me wanted to go on kissing you and the other kept reminding me I should be thinking about finding Tomoe. And then you turned your head and looked up at me---she does exactly the same thing! Suddenly it seemed wrong, like I was kissing my sister."

Kaoru was still gazing steadily at him. "Do you still feel that way about me?" she asked gently. "Will you always see me as a little sister?"

Kenshin reached out and put his hands on her shoulders. Then he drew her toward him. "Kamiya Kaoru," he said in a husky voice. "I can assure you that any thoughts I'm having about you right now are very unbrotherly!" Then he kissed her right there on the busy downtown street. People hurrying home from work had to walk around them, but Kaoru didn't even notice.

Kenshin was the first to break apart, but his arms remained around her. "Every time we've met so far, I've behaved badly and had to end up apologizing to you," he said. "Do you think you could give me one more chance to prove to you that I'm usually a normal, fun-loving guy who's not weird?"

"I think I could take that chance," Kaoru said softly.

"In which case," Kenshin said, his voice still husky, "I think we'd better get a taxi to Seijuro's right away, or we'll be so involved with other things that we'll completely forget about dinner tonight."

He stepped out into the street and flagged down a passing taxi with an expert wave of his hand.

TBC

Author's Note: So what did you guys think? Were you surprise or what? This is one of my favorite chapters. Don't hesitate to tell me what you think. Till next week. Ja ne!