Chapter Thirteen

Disclaimer: I don't own RK.

Author's Note: Well, here's the final chapter. I'm sorry it's a day late. Gomen nasai! I hope that you guys like it and thinks it's worth the wait. (-o-)

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

Seijuro's seemed just as warm and welcoming as it had been the first time they ate there, but Kaoru would have been equally happy if the taxi ride had gone on forever. Sitting in the snug darkness with Kenshin's arm around her and her head on his shoulder was as near to true contentment as she had ever come in her life.

From time to time she turned her face to look up at him, as if she were afraid he might be yet another fantasy who would vanish in a puff of smoke. And each time she looked at him, he bent to kiss her gently on the forehead.

Now they were seated at an intimate table in the corner again.

"So what happened to Tomoe?" Kaoru asked. "Why do you feel so responsible for her?"

"I've always taken care of her, right from the start," Kenshin said, staring at the goblet of red wine in his hands. "Our mother died when she was three and I was six. Our father was hurting so much, he didn't seem to notice that we were hurting, too. He just shut himself away and left us to get on with life. Tomoe was getting pretty rebellious---always in trouble---and I always bailed her out. I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I'm not so sure.

"Anyway, Dad remarried and things got worse instead of better. Tomoe and out stepmother, Hikaru, just rubbed each other the wrong way. It was no one's fault, not really, but they didn't get along, I felt stuck in the middle, and Dad had no clue what to do. He couldn't win.

"Tomoe developed an eating disorder and things got really messy. We finally got her to a doctor, and she started doing better. Hikaru tried to get her into family counseling, but Tomoe refused, and by then she was old enough to do what she wanted where that was concerned.

"Anyway, she was supposed to live at home until she got out of college, but then she skipped out with only a semester to go. And the other night I could tell she wasn't eating---again. We had a huge fight, but then she started crying, telling me how scared and out of control she was. I promised I'd help her to get back into treatment. But she's got to learn to deal with her own life, too. I know now I haven't let her grow up---I've always rescued her and that's probably done her more harm than good."

Kaoru didn't take her eyes from him once he started talking. Now she reached across the tablecloth and put her hand over his. "Stop hitting yourself on the head. You've been a great brother. She's lucky to have you. Anyway, we can only get over our mistakes---you know, what's done is done."

He looked up and smiled. "Thanks," he said. "I'm glad you understand. I was scared I'd lost you forever. Because I didn't get that chance to explain."

"I have some explaining to do, too, since this is confession time. Tomoe started to tell you last night---I was the person you talked to when you put that first ad in. We're not supposed to get involved with the clients, but I…I fell in love with your voice. I just had to meet you. It was me the second tome you called, too. Can you forgive me for all the lies?"

"Only if you promised me one thing."

"What's that?"

"That you'll never fall in love with any more strange voices."

"I promise," she said.

"One more thing, Kaoru," he said. "Why was it so important to let me think that you were a reporter? I did a whole lot of crazy jobs, and I'm not ashamed of any of them."

"I just wanted you to like me, I suppose," she said. "And it's my dream. That's why I accept such crummy wages working on a newspaper. I want to be in the right place for my big break."

"I'm sure it will come sometime soon," Kenshin said. "You just have to keep on pestering them until they give you a chance. That's what I did. I started off in the mail room and every time I took the mail around, I dropped off another idea to the creative department until they agreed to hire me.

"I can see it all," Kenshin went on. "You'll be a top reporter soon and then you can take me out to dinner."

"Okay, it's a deal," she said, laughing.

Kenshin raised his glass. "To the future," he said.

Kaoru touched her glass against his. "To the future," she whispered. His presence, the soft lights and the wine were beginning to work their magic on her, spreading a glow through her whole body.

This can't be happening to me, she kept telling herself. Little Kamiya Kaoru from Atami with sophisticated Himura Kenshin at a chic restaurant. If only the people from home could see her now!

Every time Kaoru looked up, she saw Kenshin's smoldering gaze. The way he looked at her did strange things to her stomach. Never before has she realized that a glance could be so intimate. They finished the meal with tea and Kaoru slipped into a mellow haze of contentment.

This time Kenshin didn't suggest walking back. "I guess your roommates will still be at your place, won't they?" he said, as he looked for and flagged down a taxi. "In which case it makes sense to go to mine. Besides, my apartment is closer anyway."

Kaoru agreed, but her head was filled with confusion. The taxi sped through the street, and she wondered just what she wanted from Kenshin. She wanted to kiss him, to hold him close, but just how far was she prepared to go?

He was desirable, and she had strong feelings for him, but she had to remind herself that, really, he was still a stranger to her. She didn't want to get too involved too fast. Would he want to have sex? And was she ready to have it?

"I just hope I'm making the right decision," she thought.

The taxi pulled up outside Kenshin's apartment building. It was tall and modern with a revolving glass door in front. Kaoru blinked as they stepped into the brightly lit foyer. The elevator had carpeted walls and slid noiselessly upward. Kenshin put his arms around her and they exchanged a quick kiss between floors.

On the seventh floor, Kenshin ushered her out into a carpeted hallway. The whole place was a direct contrast to Kaoru's building. Obviously Kenshin was doing pretty well financially.

He turned the key in his lock and stepped inside to flick on the light. There was a bookcase taking up one whole wall, a TV and a leather sofa. Otherwise the room was empty.

Kenshin gave an apologetic shrug. "Sorry about the lack of furniture," he said. "I decided only to buy good stuff, so I'm acquiring little by little. The bedroom's almost finished. I worked on that first."

Kaoru returned his smile with a nervous grin. "You have a lovely view," she said and walked across to the window.

"The view's better from the higher floors," Kenshin sad, "but those rents are sky-high. Maybe when I pull in the advertising deal of my life and sign up a big account, I'll be able to move up a little."

"It's very nice here," Kaoru said. "I think it's very elegant.

"I'll show you the rest of it," Kenshin said. He led her through to the kitchen, flicking on the light as he went in. Even the kitchen was neat, and there was a breakfast nook by the window. Then he opened another door. "And this is the famous bedroom," he said.

It was a very masculine room---and it housed a colonial-style pine queen-size bed. There was a matching chest along one wall and a business suit was draped over a leather chair.

"It's very nice," Kaoru said again, because she felt she was expected to say something. She walked out again into the bright light of the living room. Kenshin followed her. "What sort of music do you like?" he asked.

"You choose," Kaoru said.

"I listen to the light rock station all the time," he said, switching it on.

Kenshin turned the volume down low and then he turned off the light so that the city lights twinkled in through the picture windows. Kaoru jumped at Kenshin's touch on her shoulders as he came to stand behind her. "Here, let me take you coat," he said, slipping it off effortlessly. "There, that's better. Come on, sit down and relax." He sat on the sofa and patted the space beside him. "For the first time we are going to have a normal date---nothing strange happening, no one running away, freaking out or anything like that… Just you and me and the lights of Tokyo shining in through the window."

He took her chin in his fingers and very gently he drew her face toward him, following this with the most delicate of kisses. It was a mere brushing of the lips but it made Kaoru tingle all over. Immediately he pulled away to look at her, a smile dancing in his eyes. "And are you glad you were curious about that ad, Kamiya Kaoru? You said you wanted to see a happy ending. Do you think this qualifies?"

"I think it does," Kaoru said. "It's a better ending than I ever imagined could happen to me."

"Now that I've had time to study you all evening," Kenshin whispered, "you don't look anything at all like my little sister, Tomoe."

This time his kiss was no gentle brushing of lips. He crushed her to him, his tongue forcing deep into her mouth until she gave a little moan of desire. His hands moved down from her shoulders and lingered over her breasts. As he kissed her, he skillfully began to unbutton her blouse. She shuddered under the touch of his cold fingers against the warmth of her flesh inside her bra.

He felt her reaction. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I guess my hands are cold, but I promise you I'm going to warm up in a hurry." He was unfastening her bra now. It came undone and his hands cupped her breasts.

"Oh, Kaoru," he murmured. "This is so right." His lips left hers and began to move down her neck, down her chest and across her right breast. Kaoru lay back in a red haze of desire. She hadn't realized that such intensity of feeling could exist. It was as if Kenshin were playing her body like a well-tuned instrument.

She wanted him desperately, but at the same time a little voice of warning kept nagging in her head. This was too much too soon. She knew that any second now she'd be out of control, unable to stop herself, and that she'd regret it if she went on.

"Kenshin, no, please," she said, pushing his head back away from her.

He looked up. "What's wrong?" he murmured.

"I'm……..just not ready for this yet," she stammered. "I'm sorry, but I hardly know you. You may think I'm stupid and backward, but I know how you're making me feel right now and I'm not ready for this sort of thing." She started fumbling with her blouse buttons, trying to do them again.

"I shouldn't have let you get started, I know that," she said, "but I really wanted you to kiss me again. I wanted all the other stuff too…don't get me wrong. But I don't want to do something I might regret later. Do you understand?"

"You wouldn't regret it Kaoru," he said. "I'm not the sort of guy who goes for one-night stands. I have to feel something for a girl before I want to get close to her, and what I'm feeling for you right now is pretty intense. But I'll try to understand. If you want to wait awhile, until we know each other better, then that's okay with me, too. I'll try and be patient and take plenty of cold showers, okay?"

Kaoru laughed with relief. He was a nice guy after all. She had trusted her instincts and they weren't wrong. He did care for her, and everything was going to be just great.

She got up, unsteadily. "Maybe I should go before you get any more ideas," she said.

He got up, too, and took her hand. "Kaoru, you can trust me," he said. "I'd never try to force you to do anything you weren't ready for. I want you to like me, and maybe even love me, one day."

He took her face in his hands. "We can spend all the time in the world getting to know each other better." He kissed her gently on the forehead. "Come on, Kamiya Kaoru. I'd better take you home."

THE END!

Author's Note: So what did you guys think? I hope that you guys liked it. Thank you for continuing to read it to the last chapter. You guys are the best! (-o-)