CAUGHT IN A WHIRLWIND

Author's Notes: I've tried to get this chapter out as soon as I could. And I must say, this is quicker than I expected. I'm still having some trouble writing the next chapter of my other fic. And some plot bunnies are hopping around giving me new ideas instead on focusing on my current (and old! OMG!) ones.

This hasn't been betaed by me yet so if there are any errors, mistakes, whatnots, do point it out. Thanks!

Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin are copyright Nobuhiro Watsuki. This is just for entertainment purposes only.


Kaoru woke up dazed the next day. She dreamt that she was having dinner with her brothers, the Makimachis and Kenshin. And she was having a good time. A few minutes in the shower told her that it wasn't a dream and that it, in fact, happened. Growling in frustration, she quickly finished bathing and dressed in pink shirt and white shorts before picking up a black drawstring pants and blue racer-back top and stuffing them into her gym bag. She walked over to her closet, opened it, picked an orange shirt and underwear, closed it, and also placed the clothes into the bag. She then went to open a cabinet near the door and got out her favorite bokken. She did a few experimental swings before closing the door of the cabinet, picking her bag, and exiting her room.

She was greeted by the smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon as she walked towards the kitchen wherein she carefully rested her bokken at the wall and sat on one of the chairs at the counter, dropping her bag on the floor. A hot mug of coffee was instantly set in front of her and she grinned at her brother Yutaro. Yahiko's brash acts of affection towards her rivaled Yutaro's thoughtfulness as her main reason for loving her position as older sister. They show their appreciation for her in very opposite ways but she saw them as clear as a crystal as if they were verbally expressing how much they were glad that they still have each other.

Sipping her coffee, Kaoru glanced at the clock hanging on the wall and saw that it was still fifteen minutes before seven o'clock. Which meant that she still had enough time to eat something before she went to the club.

Taking another sip, she glanced at the back of her cooking brother. "Yu-kun, may I have some bacon and bread as well?" she asked.

Yutaro didn't answer as instead, he just got a plate, placed two strips of bacon on it, a slice of wheat bread, and put it next to her mug with a smile.

"Thanks," she said, but before she could even touch a bacon, her other brother Yahiko appeared and grabbed one of the bacon. "Hey!" came her protest, at the same time, hitting her brother on the head before catching the bacon that Yahiko lost hold of when he was hit, quickly putting the piece of meat into her mouth.

"BUSU!"

Kaoru just glared at her brother. "THAT was mine so you have no right to protest," she told him before promptly sticking out her tongue.

Yahiko huffed. "You're so childish," he muttered, as he went to where his twin was and plucked a piece of bacon from a plate then consequently popped it into his mouth.

"Says the person who stole meat," Yutaro commented. He then got the remaining pieces off the pan, dropped them off the plate and placed the plate on the counter.

"Whatever," the other twin said. He got himself a cup of coffee and sat opposite his sister and continued consuming the bacon as fast as he could muster.

Yutaro, seeing this, quickly moved the plate away from his brother before nothing was left for him.

"What do you think you're doing!" Yahiko protested as he stretched his arm to reach for the food.

"Saving some for me. What else?"

"Why you..."

And thus another exciting morning at the Kamiya household.


Kaoru arrived at the Yamada Club's dojo thirty minutes before the appointed time. And she used that time to change into her practice clothes and do some warm-ups and katas. By the time she was done, a thin veil of sweat covered her forehead and perspiration was beading her body. She was so focused on her exercise that she didn't notice the arrival of Kenshin nor his stretching exercises on the side nor the way his eyes absorbed her lithe form doing its dance.

By the time she was next to her bag and pulling out her bottle of water did she then notice that there was a bag next to it and another presence occupying the room.

"Shit," she cursed softly, quickly gulping a few mouthfuls of water, replacing the cap, and turning around...

To meet a bare chest glistening with sweat.

A strangled, "Eep!" came out from her as she took a cautious step back and tilted her head up to see amused lavender eyes tinged with a touch of gold. Oh, no... came the unbidded thought before she was promptly pulled forward as the man turned around and walked towards the center. His sudden stop and release of her hand caused her to crash into his still bare back.

"Kenshin! Do I have to get plastered into your sweaty body all morning? I already have enough on my own," Kaoru said through gritted teeth. Not that she was really mad about it because he actually still smelled nice. Quite the opposite, in fact, as thoughts of the sexual kind flitted through her mind before she realized them for what they were and quickly stomped them into oblivion, or at least shoved into the deepest recesses of her mind.

Unbeknownst to her, Kenshin was having the same thoughts. They had been running endlessly in his mind since he first walked in on her. And most importantly, he wanted her to get plastered to him although in a very different manner.

Grinning like a hunter about to stalk his prey, Kenshin left her standing in the middle of the room and got their bokkens, tossing one to Kaoru who caught it. He then stood in front of her, stance in an offense position and waited for her to get ready. The moment he felt her focus and shift her stand, he attacked.

They parried, blocked, sidestepped, swung, and focused on the dance they have ingrained within themselves for so long. Before long, Kaoru knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with the pace Kenshin had set for them. He was more skilled and faster than her. But she wouldn't give up. However, she was quickly losing strength. Her energy reserve having been used up in the middle of their spar. As a last resort to finish the game, she pivoted to her right and tried to jab her weapon into the opening she saw.

She did try hard but she suddenly found herself sprawled on the floor, Kenshin's bokken lightly touching her neck, and his face hovering very close to her own as he knelt by her side. She gulped, unsure on how to read the expression on her face. Her heart was beating fast as he continued to stare at her. Gulping once again, she heaved in a breath and opened her mouth to speak when she was cut off by the feel of petal soft lips pressing against her own. She gasped as she realized he was kissing her and it turned into a moan when his tongue slipped into her mouth to brush delicately with hers.

The bokken fell to the ground with a thud as his hands snaked under her head and shoulders, pulling her to him and sitting her sit up. Her hands found their way to his neck and her fingers tangled themselves with his hair. They were at it for what seemed like hours when Kaoru pulled back to catch her breath.

Dazed, she looked at Kenshin with confusion in her eyes. "Uh..."

He simply smirked as he stood up and held his hand out to her. She accepted it and was hauled up unceremoniously to find herself wrapped against him.

"Damnit, Kenshin! That's the second time I get to have your sweat all over me!" Kaoru grumbled as she pushed herself away from him.

Kenshin, however, had other ideas. He tightened his grip on her and stared her down, as much as their height difference allowed him to. "You'll freshen up then we'll have lunch," was what he said, eyes glinting with something akin to amusement and desire. Then he loosened his grip and gently pushed her towards the direction of their bags.

She stopped midway her walk to give him a glare before stomping to get her bag and walked swiftly out of the dojo before he gets another idea on how to torture her.


Her time in the shower proved disastrous for Kaoru as she thought and pondered about what happened.

Kenshin kissed her. Passionately, she might add.

And that confused her big time. What in the world was happening? She questioned herself as she scrubbed herself clean. They hadn't seen each other for years and now that they did, she was working for him. Just a day had past and he had turned her world upside-down. And he kissed her for crying out loud!

Maybe Misao was right, she thought and hope unwillingly started to blossom within her. But she squashed it just as it as it started. He... they were just caught in the moment, she decided resolutely. She still didn't like him, did she? Not that way, right? And if so, then why did her heart fluttered at the way he looked at her earlier?

She shook her head to clear her thoughts as she toweled herself dry and dressed herself with her orange shirt and same white shorts. She put on her sneakers, placed her dirty clothes into her bag, grabbed her bokken from the locker and headed out. She saw Kenshin waiting for her at the waiting area.

"I brought my car," she informed him in a flat voice, keys already in hand. She didn't know how to act around him now because of what happened but she was determined to not let it show.

He nodded. "That's why I didn't bring mine. Keys?" he said as he held out his hand, palm facing up.

Kaoru frowned. "I can drive myself, thank you very much," huffing indignantly as she swept past him and out into the parking area. She didn't reach her car in time however, as her hand was grabbed in a firm grip and she was turned around. She glared at the offender.

Kenshin just quirked his eyebrow in response to her glare before steering her to her car while he deftly plucked the car keys from her hand. "You're going to let me drive and take you to where we're going to have lunch because you don't know where it is. And if you don't want to be... ravaged in your own car before we get there, you better obey."

She sputtered in protest as she got dragged to her car then consequently seated and belted as Kenshin turned the key and started the car. She was shooting angry and irritated glances every now and then to the driver, her arms crossed over her chest as she thought of ways to strangle the redhead with his own hair. She wasn't paying any attention to the road thus she was startled when he looked at her expectantly. She looked around and was surprised to see that the car had stopped in front of a park. Sakura tress lined the perimeter and several bushes and flowering plants dotted the ground.

"Where are we?" she asked as she unbuckled her seat belt and twisted a bit to look at him.

He simply grinned at her and got out of the car. She was still seething at the way he just ignored her question when her door opened. She glared at the infuriating man and swatted at the hand he offered as she stepped down from the car. She heard him chuckle softly before her arm was grasped against his warm hand, pulling her to him to release her arm and drape his over her shoulder.

She tried to shrug him off but after the third time, she turned and looked at him. "What do you think you're doing?" she hissed, her hand finding his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it as hard as she could, then flinging it away from her.

He smirked. "What do you think?" he answered her before grabbing her hand and pulling her with him. Again.

"Kenshin!"

He didn't stop pulling her as he asked, "Yes?"

"Argh! You know I can walk fine on my own, Himura."

"Ah. But you don't know where we're going."

"Damnit!"

"Tsk, tsk. Cursing does not become you, pet."

"PET!"

"Yes. Is there a problem, my pet?"

By this time, they had already stopped walking (stomping for Kaoru) and were standing in front of a small cabin-like structure, a store. Kenshin looked around the window before pressing the buzzer on the side.

"Your... pet!" Kaoru all but growled as she stared incredulously at the man who dragged her to this place and tried to tug her hand from his. "Since when did I become your pet? Huh, Ken-shin?" she demanded, emphasizing each syllable of his name, her voice dangerously low and calm.

His head turned to look at her, an eyebrow raised. "Since I kissed you," he answered evenly before turning back to the window where a woman appeared.

"How may I- Oh, Kenshin! Wait a moment and I'll get what you requested," the woman said before disappearing from view.

Kaoru took this time to tug her hand back hard, releasing it from Kenshin's hold and narrowed her eyes at him. "Just who do you think you are, mister? You kiss me then now you're calling me YOUR PET!" It was uttered low, hard, and edged with steel as she poked his arm.

Kenshin merely smirked in answer to her demands and returned his attention to the window as the woman reappeared and handed him a picnic basket. "Thank you, Tae." After which, he grabbed her (again!) with his free hand and led her to an almost secluded spot in the park.

Not wanting to create a scandal involving herself and the bothersome redhead, Kaoru remained standing and leaned onto the tree as Kenshin prepared their lunch. A few minutes passed and she couldn't take it anymore.

"Just what in the world do you think you're doing, Kenshin? And don't answer me with your 'What do you think' crap," she snapped and crossed her hands when he glanced at her smirking.

Kenshin finished setting down the food on the blanket he head spread on the ground, brushed his pants then stood closely in front of her. He braced his hands on either side of her face, his own face hovering very close to her he could feel her quick intakes and exhales of air on his face.

"What am I doing?" repeating the question softly, his voice low and deep, almost a purr. He leaned to her right, inhaling deeply so he could smell the aroma of her shampoo. Jasmine, he thought absently. He could feel the slight tremble of her body as his chest came in contact with her crossed hands. "Seducing you," he murmured close to her ear before giving in to temptation and giving a quick lick on the outer shell of the appendage. She gasped and he smirked, then turned his head and kissed his way to her still open mouth.

His tongue slipped in and explored the moist cave, brushing softly against the roof of her mouth then stroking her own tongue. She had been shocked at his answer and consequent ministrations that she numbly followed what instincts told her to do, and that was to abandon all thought and kiss him back. So she did.


Kaoru darkly mused later on that she shouldn't have given in. That she should have reined her hormones and want of him so she wouldn't be in this situation. Not that it was a bad situation but it was happening too fast. One minute she was demanding answers and the next, they were almost skin to skin over their picnic blanket. When they realized what was happening, they tidied themselves and proceeded to eat. To Kaoru's consternation, however, Kenshin could not be persuaded to let her eat by herself. He hauled her to his lap and proceeded to feed her using his hands and mouth. But that wasn't how she got herself into this.

While they were finishing off the dessert Tae chose for them, she untangled herself from him through bribery and promises, and sat in front of him.

"Why?" she had voiced out, her head slightly bowed down so he wouldn't see her peering at him through her bangs.

"Because I want you," he had answered simply, reaching out to gather her hands into his.

She had evaded his touch and she saw him frown. "Want?" she echoed.

"Want. Like. Love. Whatever you want to call it," he had expounded a little. "You've always fascinated me, Kaoru. But before I could make my intentions known, I went off to college then you were welcoming Enishi's attentions before the summer even started."

And that was what landed her to where she was right now.

It really couldn't be all bad, right? Waking up naked next to the man she had been dreaming about for years? One would argue that it was all wrong. That even if they did know each other from way back in their past, the present was different. They didn't have any type of communication. True, they were updated by their friends but they didn't update one another themselves. And it had been years. More than five years, in fact, since the last time they saw each other and that was his going away party before he flew to France. And she was with Kamatari, then.

But she knew him. And she knew more than she felt that he was sincere. Sure, she would argue with herself once in a while the morality, logic, maybe even the reality of it all. But until she didn't feel secure in his intentions, she would let herself fall and be caught.

"Morning, pet," Kenshin said in huskily and she started as she looked up to him. He wore a lazy smile and his eyes were bright with contentment and something she didn't even have to look too hard to know what it was as his hand drew circles on her back.

"Morning," she greeted him, sliding down on the covers and snuggling next to him. She heard him grumble contentedly as he pulled her closer, his hand never ceasing drawing circles, and she smiled against his chest. "Tomorrow, I'll be deaf," she announced.

His hand stopped its movement then continued. "And why is that?" he asked, his words rumbling in her ear.

"Misao will squeal to death," was her offered explanation.

His hand stopped again before he laughed, sending pleasant vibrations to her. She grinned and placed a tender kiss on his skin.

"By the way... How was it that you were sure you'd get me this quick?" she suddenly asked, tilting her head upwards to look at his face.

He looked down at her and smirked. "I have my ways..." he answered vaguely.

She frowned in contemplation then it hit her. She knew who knew that she had feelings for Kenshin and that weasel can sometimes have a big mouth. She groaned and hid her face in his chest. "I'm going to kill her before she could even kill my ears," she grumbled.

Kenshin laughed once again and pulled her closer to him. He kissed her forehead, reassuring her and agreeing to her statement silently. "I can threaten to put her out of her job..."

"And have Aoshi threaten to freeze you to death?" Kaoru retorted then giggled as she realized what she had said.

He laughed along with her and it was after a few minutes before they were completely silent again, listening to each other breathe.

"Why didn't you say anything before, Kaoru?" he asked, his tone serious and curious at the same time.

She sighed. "Tomoe." She shifted so that her hands laid flat on his chest, her chin resting on them. "And you? Why after all these years?"

He shrugged. "I was away and didn't know when I'd be back or if I did, how long will I be staying. I wanted to be sure that when I made my intentions known, I'll be here long enough to enjoy you for a long, long time."

And that was the end of the discussion as Kenshin twisted so that Kaoru was pinned below him and wouldn't be able to contest his statements for quite a while.


Last Notes:
Yes. This is the end of the fic. I have an idea for an epilogue but until I have a solid idea on where it'll go, this is the last chapter.

Thank you for reading and please leave a review so I'd know if you enjoyed the story or what are the points for improvement. I'll be forever grateful. Ja!