Title: Carried Away

Author: Belle-chan

Genre: Romance

Pairing: Kenshin / Kaoru

Rating: T

Summary: Kaoru and her boss aren't really getting along. What happens when Kaoru's lie puts her into a not-so-professional situation with her boss – Kenshin? Will unlikely feelings remain locked up or would she let herself be carried away by what she knows is a lie?

CHAPTER ONE – Eavesdropping

Due to the heat of the sun, beads of sweat began to form all over Kaoru's slender body – but she really needs to finish the job she had been working on since morning. That's mainly the reason why they're still working through this wonderful Sunday here in the province instead of staying home or enjoying themselves. SHINE magazine, a publication owned by the company she works for, is one of the leading magazines in the nation. They are working on a special feature about this private resort which is being converted into a tourist destination.

She was requested to write a special feature on all the new hot spots to visit this coming summer. Good thing, her boss is a special friend of the owner of this resort – and this resort is owned by the famous Yukishiro Realty. She and photographer Aoshi Shinomori were in charge of this project. They were welcomed hospitably and were given free accommodations by the Yukishiro family itself.

The thirst she felt drove her to return to their cottage. Still far from the cottage, she could see through the window a man with his back to her. She knows that man very well even if she couldn't see his face. Maybe he had just arrived from Tokyo to check on them. Even though her heart is beating frantically, she forced herself to stay clam while walking towards the cottage.

"I'm glad that Kaoru was assigned to be my partner for this project," she heard Aoshi say. Hearing herself being discussed stopped her from entering the cottage.

"Yes I know," came the short reply of Kenshin – her boss.

"And she's very efficient," came the praise from her partner who had been warming her heart with his compliments.

"Yes, she's a very talented editor, but as a woman, I have this feeling she'll end up being a spinster," she heard Kenshin's answer which startled her because of his unlikely comment.

"What made you say that?"

"She's not feminine enough," was the heartless reply of Kenshin.

At this point, Kaoru wasn't able to contain her irritation anymore and she walked out of her hiding place. She has nothing to be ashamed of – it is them who should be more ashamed because of their conversation.

"Good Afternoon, sir Himura," came her stiff greeting to the man who was still standing beside the window. She had been restraining herself from showing any emotion. Kenshin seemed surprised for a moment but he was able to cover his shock immediately.

"Have you been there for a long time?" asked Aoshi.

"Not really," she answered, still trying to refrain herself from punching Kenshin right in the face. When she stole a glance from his face, she saw an amused smirk lingering upon his lips. "I'll just get something to drink," Kaoru continued.

But instead of getting herself something to drink, she went straight to her bedroom and took a good look at herself in the mirror. She didn't have any wrinkles on her forehead. Her skin remained soft and smooth in spite of the golden tan she got after being under the sun for quite a while. Her best asset would be her almond-shaped eyes with naturally beautiful long lashes – but it seemed unnoticed because of the glasses she's wearing. She has contact lenses but she only keeps them in case of emergency and she's not comfortable wearing them. If you would look at her figure, she has a well-proportioned height that reaches 5'4" and her body just seemed the right shape. Her hair, which reaches her mid-back, has always been tied up in a ponytail during work so it couldn't disturb her. Her sense of fashion is fine and simple – a simple blouse with slacks which she usually wears while working.

She knows there is nothing wrong with her appearance. It's just that Mr. Kenshin Himura has a different taste in women. She could say that from all the rumors she's been hearing that the women he's involved with are all very sophisticated.

The only thing she hates is the way he judged her when she doesn't even recognize him from a non-personal view. It hurt her that she had a certain crush on the bachelor for a long time. A feeling she's been used to hiding.

She has been working under SHINE for three years. It's one of the businesses of Mr. Himura's family. When she entered the company, it was still under the administration of Mr. Hiko Seijiro Himura – Kenshin's father – but after a year, he decided to retire and leave the business to his son.

Aoshi and Kenshin had been classmates and buddies since college so she was certain that the conversation she heard earlier had just been useless chat between the two.

She decided to go back outside because the two may be wondering what's taking her so long.

Both of them were not in the living room when she got back and she was thankful for that. She got back to what she was working on peacefully. It was late in the afternoon when the three of them met again. The two passed by her a while ago and good thing, instead of talking to her, they just waved at her – God! She's still mad at Kenshin.

"So, I'll be staying here and I'll just meet you in Tokyo tomorrow," Aoshi said.

"What?" she shrieked.

"He still has a lot more pictures to take in some remote parts of the resort," Kenshin butt in.

"Yes, I know, but don't you need me here?" she asked Aoshi.

"It's fine. I'll take care of it. Your parents may be worried about you," Aoshi sheepishly replied.

"I can call them through my cell phone," she reasoned. The truth is that she really wanted to go home but she doesn't wanna go back alone with Kenshin. She was used to being with Aoshi when they got here.

"You have a lot more tings to take care of in Tokyo than here so I'll just take you with me," Kenshin inserted. "We are chasing a deadline and you need to check and edit the layout," he said in a more serious tone.

"Okay," came her brief answer despite the frantic beating of her heart. Even though she was still angry at Kenshin, he still had that affect on her. "I'll just get ready."

It was already dark when they left the resort. Not one of them said a word during trip. Kaoru focused her eyes on the sceneries they were passing by. This was the first time she and Kenshin were left alone on a trip so she really felt uneasy. She had a feeling they would have a really long trip.

They were in the middle of their trip back home when he suddenly stopped by a restaurant. "Let's eat first," he said, and then he suddenly got out of the car without waiting for her answer. He went to her side and opened her door for her.

There were also travelers like themselves in the restaurant. They sat in a table for two and ordered food.

"Are you mad at me, Miss Kamiya?" came Kenshin's question which startled her. He has not been noticing her since they left the resort and she thought he didn't think of talking to her for the rest of the evening.

"Why should I be angry?"

"You seemed really quiet and you wouldn't even look at me," he seriously said.

She stiffened. This was her natural self whenever she's with Kenshin – and he's even wondering why she's acting this way! She's only able to talk to him sensibly if it's regarding work and if they're not alone. "Maybe I'm just tired," she lied.

He didn't move. When they finished eating, they immediately continued their journey.

"You can sleep if you want," he told her while he handed her a pillow from the car's backseat and turned the indoor light off.

She thanked him. She was really tired from working the whole day.

"Wake up, Kaoru," she heard him whisper into her ear. She shifted. She didn't notice that she had put her head on his shoulder while she was sleeping.

"Sorry," she shamefully apologized.

He didn't mind that. "I just wanna ask the directions to your home," he said. She looked outside – she knew the place.

"You can drop me here," she said still shy. "I can take a taxi from here".

"I'll drive you home. I know that your place isn't really out of the way of my route home. So just tell me the directions". She knew that she couldn't change his mind about that so she told him.

"Ok, goodnight. Thanks," she told him when the car stopped in front of her home. He got out and helped her carry her belongings to the door.

"You're welcome," he said and started walking towards the car. "Oh, It's ok If you arrive late at work tomorrow," he told her before he got inside his car. Then she just looked at the car go farther away from her.

PLEASE REVIEW! I don't wanna continue a story without reviewers. So, please…

Anyway, Kaoru's 'lie' would be in probably the 3rd or 4th chapter because right now, I wanna establish where the characters stand before the 'lie' came up.

Thanks for reading and God bless!

Belle-chan