Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Rating: T some swearing and lime

A Fight for Love

By The Dead Writer

Summary: How a one month vacation turned into another life. KxK


PART VI – Reminiscence

(POV Kaoru)

DAY 18, when Kaoru took residence in New York.

In the morning, I went back to the park. I was so glad that I was going to see him again. I like him. I think that I must have looked silly, because everyone stared at me when I passed them by. But who could blame me? I found something out at the ball yesterday evening. I like Kenshin a lot… Maybe my idiotic grin gave me away.

I tried to read my book, but I couldn't stop thinking about the other night at the ball.

--- FLASHBACK ---

Because of our incident at the fountain, he knew where I lived. At seven, he knocked on my door. Like always, he looked stunning.

"Good evening Kenshin. I'm ready… Kenshin?" I waved my hand in front of him.

"Huh, ah right. Good evening, Kaoru. You look…"

"Yes?"

"Like you could bring the room into a new light."

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

I saw the fancy hotel where the ball was held. Reporters were everywhere. I had a sinking feeling of non-existence in my stomach. Everyone here is either very rich or famous. Why am I here? Kenshin opened the door for me and squeezed my hand.

"Are you alright? It's just show." Then he whispered: "Stay close to me, my princess. I'll make sure that none of those parasites will harass you."

"Oh, it's Mr Himura! Mr Himura, who is your escort? Is she a rising model?"

Someone else whispered: "Isn't she a little on the fat side to become a model?"

Oh my! I started to panic. Too many people. No way out! I want out! This isn't for me. I looked at him. Please let me go! I tried to take my hand back, but he held it firmly.

"She is a close friend of mine." He looked back at me and smiled reassuringly. "And too beautiful to be ruined and withered in the world of a model."

My face reddened. He guided me out of the clutches from those wretched reporters and then the flashes stopped. His hand touched my face. I looked up again and met his eyes. We were inside the hotel.

"You aren't made for this life. Too many people in a cage made by formality and guided by the rules of beauty, only to be supervised by the media. It's a huge show to create a fake fantasy world, but they failed miserably. I'm sorry I took you here. If you want, I'll take you back." He caressed my face. "I don't want to damage you. In this world people change into greedy demons."

"You did not transform. You wouldn't have appreciated the view if you were changed. Besides, I'm strong with you by my side. Promise me…"

"Yes?"

"Don't take away my strength. Don't leave me here alone with these sharks."

"They can't take you away from me, even if they tried." He whispered in my ear: "You are here with me, my princess. No one will come close to you. I'll protect you." He took my hand. "Now come, you promised me that you'll keep me out of boredom."

"And you promised me you'll make it up on the dance floor."

"Ah, there's my Kaoru."

--- END OF FLASHBACK ---

I looked around. At Sunday the park is always full of life. Strange, but at the same time refreshing. The noise of the children transformed the silent park to a sunny place. Still on page 815. Why can't I just read another 100 pages? A memory from last night flashed before my eyes. Oh yes, that's why. I closed my book. Reading is useless anyway. When I can't concentrate, I can't live in the world of the book. I placed it away and took my mp3-player. With some music I can relive last night, without looking silly by staring at the same page for over an hour.

--- FLASHBACK ---

Everyone there knew Kenshin, or so I assumed. Everyone wanted to shake his hand and that made me curious. What does he actually do for a living? I know he is a businessman, but what kind?

I pulled at his sleeve. "Ken…"

"Ah, Mr. Himura, you seem to be enjoying yourself. Is it true about the benefits you're willing to give to the Mikuno Corporation?"

"Mr. Zevino, it is a pleasure meeting you here. Where did you hear that? Nothing is decided."

"Your uncle made decisions a lot faster…"

I felt Kenshin tense. Oh boy, this can't end well. "Mr Zevino, I'm sorry to butt in like this, but Kenshin promised me a dance."

"And he shouldn't keep a woman like you waiting."

I smiled lovingly at that old man. I really hate this fake feeling. And I led Kenshin away from the scene.

"Damn, he has some nerve comparing me like that. He still thinks I'm too young."

"Too young for what?" He was startled by my question. I guess that sentence wasn't for my ears. "You do not have to answ…"

"For taking over the company after my uncle's death."

"You're an owner?"

"Yes, I didn't want you to know at first. It could change things between us."

"Like? I still would want to be your friend." With that sentence a sparkle died in his eyes. "So, have you more surprises that I should know about? Are you gay?"

That got him out of that dark mood and into a surprised one.

"Wh… What? Where did you got that idea?"

"Nowhere, I just wanted you out of that mood."

"You know, I can proof to you that I am definitely not gay."

There were a lot of sparks in his eyes. He'll definitely do that. Why do I feel captured? Quick, change the subject.

"Can you eat here? I'm famished."

--- END OF FLASHBACK ---

What would have happened if I let him proof it? How far would he have gone? Would it have felled the same?

A ball knocked me out of my mindless babble. A small boy of six picked up the ball and ran away with a quick and shy apology. The hairstyle of the child reminded me of the rooster I met yesterday night. Sanosuke Sagara was his name. He worked in the company with Kenshin. The attitude was…

--- FLASHBACK ---

"And do you like the 'petit pain au chocolat'?"

"Oui, je l'aime. Where did you learn to speak French?"

"I could ask you the same question. I just learned it in business school, nothing important."

"But it is important!"

"Not when I'm with you and when my stomach is digesting the 'petits pains'. Where did you learn to speak French?"

"I learned it at home. My mother, she's French-speaking."

The room resounded with the first tones of the waltz.

"Come, I owe you a dance for keeping me out of boredom."

"I did nothing yet to keep you out of boredom. I did not crack any jokes."

"And I don't want to hear any of them."

"Why not?"

"I already know you for six days and I didn't hear you make one. I assume you're not good at it."

"What! You can't assume that!"

"Yes, I can. If you want to proof me wrong, now is the time."

Oh, I'll show him! Which one will I use? Perhaps the one about two rabbits that are trapped and want to gnaw off their paws. Or the one with the trucker and his pigs. How did that go?

"You know I'm waiting, right?"

Oh, I have it! This is a good one!

"-A man and a woman are married for fifty years and the woman wants to do something special. She found her sexy nightdress. The one she wore on her honeymoon. She walks up to her husband, wearing that dress, and says to him: "Do you remember when I wore this dress for the first time?" "Yes, dear. I remember. It was on our first night together.", replies the husband. "Do you remember what you told me that night?" "Yes, I told you I would fuck your brains out and suck your tits dry." "And what do you tell me know?" Her husband looked her up and down and with a grin on his face he replied: "Mission accomplished!"-" I looked at him expectantly.

"I was right. You can't crack a joke."

"Hey!"

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

The lights were dimmed on the dance floor. He manoeuvred us through the sea of other couples. Some were even flirting with each other! I was really disgusted by the picture of an old man flirting with a young woman. He was perhaps some big shot and she wanted to become 'some one' at any cost! Revolting! Why would you sell yourself to become 'known' in this place!

"Shh, look at me, not them. You're here with me, Kaoru. It's just us two."

"Thank you."

"Are you enjoying yourself here with me?"

"Yes, you're a fine dance partner and the food and music are great!"

"Would you come here again?"

"That depends on who will take me. I don't want to come here with that old perverted man."

"And if I took you here again?"

"I would love to come here again with you. Why? Is there a ball next week?" I looked at my feet. "I still have twelve days, then I have to go back home. I sometimes wish I didn't have my fi…"

We stopped our dance.

"Kaoru, don't. I like having you here…" He touched my face. "Close to me…" I looked at him. "Kaoru, you mean the w…"

"Kenshin, my man!" A strange tall man slapped Kenshin on his back. "I've been looking everywhere for you… Oh, you're here with the missy that pushed you in the fountain. Nice meeting you, missy. I'm Sanosuke Sagara, Sano for short." He puts his arm around Kenshin. "Kenshin is my buddy at work."

"Not for long…"

"Chill Ken, I just wanted to meet the special lady. What's your name, missy?"

"Kaoru, Kamiya Kaoru."

He wraps his other arm around me. "Have you tasted the sushi here, missy?"

"Sanosuke Sagara! You damned rooster!"

"Oh, kuso, it's my fox lady."

A woman stormed over the dance floor and hit Sano in the face. I quickly held on to Kenshin.

He whispered in my ear: "That's Megumi Takani, the fiancée of Sano."

"Megumi? Megumi and Sanosuke. Is that why you suggested that name for my story?"

"I thought it was fitting. The way you described your personages… Let's just say I thought about them."

"You're right they are fitting."

And we watched them verbally fighting together.

"Why did you ask me to this ball? If you wanted to stay out of boredom, you could have just stood next to them. They are amusing enough."

"That's true, but wait for five more minutes."

And I understood. Quietly we searched for a table for four while we left the kissing couple alone.

--- END OF FLASHBACK ---

After their public make-out session they joined us. We started to talk about random subjects. I enjoyed myself in their company. They weren't like the other people in the room. Sometimes I peeked at Kenshin. He was enjoying himself too. Deep down, inside of me, I wished we had more time alone…

An older woman passed me by. Normally I wouldn't have noticed, but thanks to the perfume I did. I really hate that smell. She wore the same smell.

--- FLASHBACK ---

Megumi and Sano searched for something to eat and I had to go to the little girls room. I should have waited for Megumi, then I wouldn't be in this mess. In front of me, and between my exit out of the room, was Kenshin's girlfriend. Or so she says.

"I want you out of his life. He belongs to me."

"He's not an object and he doesn't belong to anyone, but himself. Who are you to make such a statement?"

"My name is Candice Mikuno, the future Mrs. Himura, and my father is doing business with him."

"That's great for the both of you, but Kenshin is just a friend."

"Don't call him that. It's Mr. Himura to you."

"Please miss Candice, You're blocking the way out."

"You're not going anywhere, bitch, until you tell me you will never see my Kenshin again."

"If he wants to see me, then you have to complain to him. Now I will ask you again to move out of my way."

I do not remember if time froze or if it flew by. She came towards me with a knife. I stepped out of range and then she fell. The outside door knocked her on the ground. Megumi glanced at me.

"There you are, Kaoru! Kenshin is worried because you stayed so long in the ladies room. He was begging me to look for you." Then she saw Candice. "You again! Kenshin told you to stay away from him and I don't think he will appreciate you hurting that woman! If you want to keep your luxurious life, stay out of Kenshin's way or he will break the contract with your father's company."

She took my hand and let us away.

"Thank you for interfering."

"Don't mention it."

"Please don't tell, Kenshin. It's over. She will not bother me again."

"Do you really wish that? Kenshin will make her pay for what she did to you."

"She's only in love with him. Unanswered love is punishment enough."

"Love? She doesn't love him, but his money."

"Money?"

"You don't know him, do you?"

"Yes, I do."

"But not his real life."

--- END OF FLASHBACK ---

She's right. I don't know him like the others. I only know his sensitive soul, the one that's touching me the whole time I'm with him. How is he without me? There is something special about him. Is he a shadow-walker?

--- FLASHBACK ---

I made Megumi promise me that she wouldn't tell him. When we neared our table a man was speaking to Kenshin. When he left, Kenshin flew out of his chair and ran away. I followed him and I found him in an alley outside the hotel.

"Fucking bastard, how can he ask something like that. Fuck it. It's my last one. Damn, there goes tomorrow."

"Kenshin", I whispered.

With his fist he hit the wall.

"Kenshin!" I ran towards him, out of the safety provided by the shadows.

Chocked, he turned around. "Kaoru, what are you doing here?"

"Why did you do that?" I took his hand and with my handkerchief I tried to stop the bleeding.

"Do what?"

"This." And I showed him his hand.

"It doesn't hurt that much", and he hit it in the surrounding shadows.

"Himura Kenshin, don't be like th…"

And all the words stopped coming from my lips. He had pushed me against the wall and was standing very threatening over me.

"Why do you want to stay in my company. It will do you no good."

"I have my own reasons, Kenshin. Why do you want me close to you?"

"I'm asking the questions now, Kaoru."

"Kenshin, stop it. Why are you acting like this?"

"Is it also the money that binds you to me? Is that it? Do you want a rich husband?"

Minutes passed and when he calmed down, I whispered to him. "I can see the world with little money. So why do I need a rich one? Just one with a sense of adventure is enough for me."

"Is your fiancé one?", he asked sarcastically.

"No he isn't. Life with him is a secure one, but also a boring one."

"Why do you stay with him?"

"Because I forgot to believe."

"Believe in what?"

"A man that keeps me out of boredom."

"Like a shadow-walker?"

"Yes, a man with many secrets keeps the boredom away when you try to find one out."

"Aren't you scared of the secrets? There can be unpleasant ones."

"If we stay together, we can overcome anything that gets thrown our way."

"And I thought you didn't believe."

"I don't." Her eyes got sad. "It's just a fantasy."

"A fantasy can come true. You should keep fighting for it. Isn't that what you said to me the first day we met? You should fight for what you truly want. Those are your exact words."

"Kenshin, those words only exist when there is hope. For me there isn't any."

"Hope is with you, Kaoru. Every one you touch receives hope. Hope for a better life, one that exceeds the dreams that you yearn for every morning when you wake up. You gave me hope and I will not let you take it away from me."

I felt his hope the second his lips touched mine. His arms wrapped themselves around me to bring me closer to him. Gentle and secure he brought me away from this world and into one where we alone exist.

--- END OF FLASHBACK ---

He took me home afterwards and left me alone to think about a question he had asked me.

I thought about that question a lot. Why would he ask me such a question? Is he a shadow-walker? Does he need to be saved? Does he want to be saved? Saved from what?

Time flew by, it's lunchtime.

He didn't show up.