Kaoru woke abruptly.

Where was she?

Last thing she remembered was flying with Kenshin…

"I must have fallen asleep," she murmured.

She was in her room again.

But where was Kenshin?

Kaoru turned over and found his side of the bed barely warm, covers thrown back. She paused suddenly and sniffed the air curiously.

Cooking?

Who was cooking in her apartment?

Had it been any of her friends they would have dragged her out of bed and forced her to make coffee. Or maybe Kenshin was cooking?

Kaoru blinked at that thought. "Kenshin…cooking…Oh no!"

She scrambled out of bed and flew down the hallway to the kitchenette visions of the apartment catching fire racing through her mind.

Instead she found Kenshin standing calmly in front of the stove… turning bacon over.

Kaoru blinked, where had the food come from?

"You're up," Kenshin smiled as she appeared and Kaoru wondered what she might look like – hair all over the place and eyes still squinty from being asleep.

"You're cooking…" Kaoru murmured dumbly.

"Yes," Kenshin nodded his head and turned back to the bacon.

"Where did you get the food?" She seriously doubted he had gone shopping and as Kaoru existed for the most part on takeout, ramen and caffeinated beverages…

"It was in your fridge," Kenshin grabbed a plate from cabinet and placed several bacon strips onto it.

"The food was in my fridge?" Kaoru repeated for clarification.

Kenshin nodded again and grabbed a bowl that had been pushed against the wall and a spoon and from the bowl began piling the plate with… scrambled eggs. "It was."

Finally the pieces clicked together for Kaoru.

Misao.

"Misao must have stocked the fridge and put the eggs and bacon and anything that requires effort to cook at the back so I wouldn't see it. Darn her and her subliminal – you can too cook! – messaging."

"Sit down and eat," Kenshin placed the plate containing scrambled eggs and bacon onto the table. Behind her there was a soft ding and two pieces of toast popped up. Kenshin grabbed those as well and put them next to the scrambled eggs and bacon.

Kaoru sat down and stared at the food half-expecting it to attack her. "Kenshin… tell me… how do you know how to make scrambled eggs?" She didn't think that scrambled eggs were common fare during the time he had lived in previously.

"I read the recipe from your cookbook," he informed her.

"From my WHAT?" As far as Kaoru knew she didn't even have a cookbook.

Kenshin picked up a book lying next to the carton of eggs on the counter that had gone unnoticed by Kaoru as she entered the room.

It read: Simple and Easy Meals Even YOU Can't Screw Up.

Misao again.

Kaoru was going to have a talk with her soon.

Very soon.

"Eat," Kenshin encouraged noticing she hadn't even picked up her fork.

Kaoru stabbed the nearest piece of scrambled egg and lifted it to her mouth. 'Here goes nothing.' She thought and took a bite. For a second all she did was blink before her mind began registering – 'scrambled egg… with cheese… very good… when WAS the last time he cooked!'

"How is it?" Kenshin asked, watching her expression carefully.

"It's good. Really good. Are you sure you didn't do any cooking while locked up in the pendant?"

Kenshin shook his head, "none at all."

"So you haven't cooked in about fifteen hundred years?" Kaoru gasped.

"Actually," Kenshin said a bit sheepishly. "I haven't cooked ever."

Kaoru stared at him and contemplated stabbing him with her fork.

Kenshin must have seen the intention in her eyes because he backed away cautiously. "Would you like some coffee?" He asked voice neutral.

"You made coffee?" Kaoru asked. If was anything like his food… "Gimme."

Kenshin obligingly poured her a cup and added cream and sugar and handed it to her. Kaoru sipped it (it was very good) as she watched him bustle cheerfully around the kitchen in a scene that was so domestic it was almost disturbing. Off to the side Demon was demolishing a plate of bacon and settled back with a pleased burp to wash the grease from his face and whiskers.

Kenshin hummed (yes you heard right – hummed) under his breath as he fixed himself some bacon and eggs and poured a cup of coffee before sitting down across from her.

"Do you like it?" He asked, taking a bite of his own food.

Kaoru nodded, "it's very good; thank you."

"You're welcome."

For several minutes they were silent as each ate their own meal.

Suddenly the phone rang and Kaoru jumped to go get it.

"Hiii!" Misao's voice trilled at the other end.

Kaoru winced and held the phone away from her ear, "hello Misao."

"Good morning!" Misao sounded obscenely chipper for this time of day.

"Morning," Kaoru replied.

"So what are you doing?" Misao wanted to know.

"Eating breakfast," Kaoru informed her.

"Take-out again?" Misao asked.

"No, food from the fridge this time." Kaoru said.

"You COOKED?" Misao shrieked in disbelief

"Oww!" Kaoru yelped. "No I didn't cook breakfast. Kenshin did."

"Kenshin cooked?" Misao mulled this over for a minute. "He doesn't seem to be the cooking type."

"Yeah well tell that to the bacon and eggs we just ate." Kaoru muttered.

"Hmm… he might end up being alright after all," Misao mused.

"Is there any reason you are calling me at," Kaoru glanced at the clock. "…Ten thirty in the morning?"

"Well, we've decided to go clubbing tonight and wanted to know if you – and Kenshin – would like to come."

"And you had to call me right now to ask?" Kaoru said in disbelief.

Misao snorted, "Kaoru you take so long to get ready, advance warning is necessary. Plus I don't think Kenshin has any clubbing clothes."

Kaoru froze at the words 'Kenshin' and 'clothes' her experiences with Ayumi yesterday still fresh in her mind. "Um… Kenshin's not really the clubbing type," she said.

"Too bad for him," Misao said dismissively. "If I can get Aoshi on the dance floor, Kenshin will be no problem."

"Uh-huh," Kaoru said noncommittally.

"Give me his measurements and I'll swing by some stores on the way to your house and get him something." Misao said.

Kaoru racked her brain for another excuse, "Misao we're still pretty jet-lagged, and tonight's not a good night."

"Kaoru you are coming clubbing with us if I have to drag you out by your ankles." Misao's voice booked no argument.

Kaoru sighed in defeat.

Misao heard it and gave a cheer. "I'll see you around four. We're hitting a new club at six – it's having a special early opening promotion."

Six sounded early to Kaoru but it meant she could go home early… Misao had probably planned it that way so Kaoru couldn't use the argument that it was too late to go. Kaoru sighed again.

"Love you too Kaoru," Misao said cheerfully. "Remember four o'clock and I'll be at your apartment. Don't try to run away!" She hung up the phone and Kaoru was left staring at a dead phone in frustration.

"Something wrong?" Kaoru jumped as Kenshin came up behind her.

"That was Misao," Kaoru explained. "She's dragging us out tonight to go clubbing." At Kenshin's confused expression she quickly explained. "It's dancing. Don't worry you can just sit in the corner and glower at everyone and I'll keep you company."

Kenshin's mouth twitched at that and he kissed her cheek. "Do you like to go 'clubbing'?" he asked.

Kaoru made a face, "not really to be honest."

"Then why do you go?" Kenshin asked.

"Because my friends like to go," Kaoru smiled. No need to mention that for the months prior to her leaving to travel and after Shoutarou they had attempted to hook her up with a guy every time they went clubbing. Hopefully now that she had Kenshin, her friend would be less inclined to do that.

"Mmm," Kenshin murmured. "So do you want to go?"

Kaoru shrugged, "do you want to go… because I can always tell them you have the flu… or chicken pox… or on second thought, no disease because Megumi will come over to see what's wrong and give you a diagnosis."

Kenshin twitched a little at the prospect of Megumi coming anywhere near him. "We could always stay at home Kaoru."

Kaoru's mind blanked out thoughts winging off wildly in all directions.

"Uh…yeah…could… what were we talking about again?" She shook her head trying to gather her thoughts again. "Can't you just say my name normally?" She demanded.

Kenshin smirked and she huffed at him in annoyance.

"I'll take as a no. Now stay here and clean up – since you made the mess anyway cooking – while I go shower." She turned and stomped away.

She heard Kenshin laugh and scowled.

After a nice hot shower Kaoru dressed and found Kenshin in the living room adjacent to the kitchen reading the history book she had bought him yesterday at the library.

"How is it?" She asked.

Kenshin shook his head, looking up briefly as she appeared, "So much as happened since I was locked up."

"Why exactly were you locked up?" Kaoru asked.

"Whenever I am not bonded to someone I am confined in the pendant." He murmured.

Kaoru twitched a little at the thought of Kenshin bonded to someone else other than her – imagining Ayumi for example with him. 'I'm NOT jealous.' She reminded herself. 'Just concerned. Though Kenshin probably can take care of himself.'

"And you don't know how it happened that… my family ended up in Japan from the Middle East?" Kaoru asked.

"I… I don't know." Kenshin said softly, his eyes dark. "So many things could have happened…"

'Okay Kaoru… switch topics.' "Want to watch a movie?" She suggested. "It's like a moving-picture story." She said in response to his blank look.

She turned and went over to the DVD rack. "Let's see… Princess Bride… Labyrinth… King Arthur… Troy…" Troy might work. It had fighting and Kenshin was probably reasonably familiar with the Trojan War story. On other hand it might give him ideas….

She nixed it.

Aha! Jurassic Park! Perfect.

"We're going to watch Jurassic Park," she announced snatching it up. "It's about dinosaurs… um… really big lizards that lived millions of years ago that end up being brought back to live during modern times – kinda like you." She put the DVD into the player and pressed play.

"Wait while I go get some popcorn made!"

The movie had already started when Kaoru returned with two cans of coke and a bowl of extra-buttery popcorn.

In retrospect it appeared to be a good choice for first time movie and an introduction to the modern world. Kaoru answered Kenshin's questions about genetics and cloning as best as she knew (information coming from her Freshman year Biology in high school).

At least it appeared to be a good idea until the T-Rex decided to attack and proceeded to demolish the cars. She saw Kenshin pale as one went flying through to air to hit a tree and wondered if she'd ever be able to get him near one again.

After Jurassic Park she made some more popcorn and put on another DVD – Stars Wars this time.

"So what did you think?" Kaoru asked when it finished.

"It was good – is that the first one?"

"No it's actually the fourth one but the first three are evil and need to be destroyed so we'll pretend they don't exist. I'd watch The Empire Strikes Back but according to Mr. Clock over there Misao is due any moment."

A split second later there was the sound of knocking.

Kaoru shook her head, "I hate when she does that." Giving Kenshin the popcorn bowl she got up and opened the door to let Misao in.

"Hello Kaoru!" Misao gave her a kiss on the cheek as she bounded into the room, carrying several bags. " Kenshin," she nodded at him as she set the bags down on the floor.

"How much shopping did you do?" Kaoru asked warily meaning, 'how much clothes did you buy and do you have any more room in your closet now?'

"Oh these?" Misao waved her hand carelessly at the bags. "None of that's mine. It's all yours – and Kenshin's."

"Come again?" Kaoru eyed the bags and counted them slowly adding up to seven bags. "When you said you were going to buy some clothes I didn't expect you to mean a whole entire wardrobe."

Misao shrugged, "I wasn't sure what Kenshin would like to wear and I know how you are when you go clubbing. You've worn the same outfit for the past six times we've gone out. So your in due need of a new one."

"And you bought me clubbing clothes." Kaoru said wincing.

"Exactly," Misao picked up one of the bags and held it out to her. "Pick an outfit they've already been pre-approved by Megumi and I so all you have to do is find something you'd like."

"Like that's going to happen," Kaoru muttered but took the bag anyway and disappeared into the bedroom. Leaving Kenshin and Misao alone in the room sitting on the couch to await her return.

She returned several minutes later, frowning but as far as Misao was concerned she may as well be beaming. Kaoru was known for throwing spectacular fits when it came to her clothes as far as she could hear there was no sound or tearing fabric or any cursing going on.

"Ooh you look lovely!" Misao clapped her hands together. "Very nice. Doesn't she look nice Kenshin?" She shot him a glare that dared him to disagree with her.

Disagreement was the farthest thing from Kenshin's mind at the moment, "you do look nice." He said amber eyes sincere.

"Least it's not another one of your S&M monstrosities," Kaoru muttered. She was wearing a violet kimono top patterned in silver swallows with a gold sash that was meant to mimic an obi. Her stomach was left bare over a knee length leather skirt and ankle-high black leather shoes with silver buckles. The kimono top had wrist-length flowing sleeves that would accentuate any movement her arms and hands made, but not drive her crazy.

"Good," Misao sounded pleased. "Kenshin your turn!"

Kenshin's eyes widened in surprise, "Pardon?"

"Your. Turn. Now." Misao told him again. "Take. A. Bag. And. Move. It. And don't you dare return until you're wearing something decent for clubbing.

Kenshin nodded meekly and obediently picked up one of the bags she pointed at. He vanished into the bedroom to change and didn't return until a few moments later. Kaoru simply stared.

Misao had picked out a sheer black mesh shirt that revealed instead of hid what it covered. He was wearing black leather pants that had silver buckles at the knees and a chain hanging from one of the pockets – not that anything could actually fit in the pockets considering how tight it was.

Kaoru closed her eyes and said a brief prayer that they would be able to make it through the evening without having to dodge lust-crazed girls.

"How do I look?" He cocked his head in their direction.

"Smashing darling," Misao drawled. "You look wonderful."

"You do look nice," Kaoru agreed her voice a bit strangled.

"Yay!" Misao did a little dance of happiness. "We've got clothes. Score!"

Kaoru rolled her eyes.

"Now come on," Misao grabbed her hand and started dragging Kaoru away. "We have to do your hair and makeup. Be back in a bit Kenshin!"

Half an hour later they emerged. Misao knowing Kaoru's dislike of heavy makeup had chosen a dark but elegant look that didn't overpower her face or make her resemble a raccoon. Dark eyeliner to bring out the blue in her eyes. Slight touches of glitter here and there and pink lips with extra glossy lip gloss. For her hair she did a simple French braid but sprayed glitter and put two silver swallow pins that matched her top here and there to keep stray hairs from escaping.

This time it was Kenshin who stared when Kaoru appeared.

"You look… nice," his voice was husky.

"She does doesn't she?" Misao beamed. "Your turn buster."

Kaoru stifled a laugh as Misao grabbed Kenshin and bodily dragged him into the room to be made up.

A few minutes a slightly twitching Kenshin stomped out ignoring a wailing Misao to "get back here now so I can finish!" His hair had been put into a simple high pony tail, bangs made messy to fall into his eyes and give in Kaoru's opinion a slightly rakish look (not like she was going to tell him how she thought he actually looked).

"Is she trying to get you to wear makeup?" Kaoru asked sympathetically.

Kenshin scowled and Kaoru snorted.

"Please Kenshin?" Misao begged eyeliner pen in hand. "You have the most awesome eyes. Please just a little bit?"

"Misao if you put eyeliner on him I'm not going to be responsible for what happens. Besides does Aoshi give into you on this matter?"

Misao pouted slightly. "No," she admitted.

"Exactly," Kaoru sighed.

"Fine, fine," Misao sighed. She picked up one of the remaining bags. "I'll be changing now – be good while I'm gone." She bounced away into the bathroom to get herself ready.

"She hasn't even gotten to the club yet." Kaoru muttered softly.

"Is she… always like this?" Kenshin asked.

"Hmm…. Oh no this is Misao being good." Kaoru assured him.

Kenshin winced, "gods above."

"Yep," Kaoru said and settled down on the couch to await Misao.

Kenshin sat down next to her and she caught him looking at her once or twice but he didn't do anything. Misao's threat of castrating him was probably running around in his mind at the moment.

Finally Misao appeared and they were good to go.

There was a line in front of the club but Misao apparently had contacts and dragged them to the front of the line where they were admitted instantly. Once inside Kaoru was deafened by the sound of techno blaring from stereos hidden high up in the corners of the walls. The walls themselves were made of opaque glass that gave back a dimmed and misty reflection.

Silver strobe lights flickered through the air.

"This way!" Misao yelled. Somehow she knew where they were going and Kaoru and Kenshin did the smart thing and followed her, attempting to avoid the press of bodies whenever possible.

They found the Kaoru-gumi hidden against the wall and seated with drinks that glowed neon in the dark. Kaoru didn't want to know what was in them especially Sano's which looked radioactive.

"Kaoru!" Sano crowed getting to his feet and swinging her around, ignoring Kenshin's warning growl.

"Nice to see you too Sano," Kaoru said. "Now stop it – you're just baiting Kenshin and you know it."

"True," Sano grinned. He gave Kenshin a no-harm-done wink and the glare on Kenshin's face faded a little.

"So can I get you anything to drink?" Sano asked as they sat down, Kenshin subtly touching against Kaoru.

"Anything that you wouldn't drink," Kaoru informed him.

Sano pouted, "That's no fun."

"Sano I'm probably going to end up with a hang-over tomorrow morning. I'd like to minimize it as much as possible thank you very much."

"Fine, fine," Sano sighed. "Anything I can get for Kenshin?"

Kaoru glanced at Kenshin images of him drunk flashing through her mind.

"No thank you," Kenshin said stiffly.

"Coke ok?" Sano asked.

Kenshin nodded.

"Sano if you spike it with anything I'm coming after you with Megumi's surgical tools." Kaoru warned.

Sano paled a bit and glanced over at Megumi who was watching him with an amused expression on her face.

"No spiking with anything," he affirmed. "No rum or vodka. Nothing."

Kaoru gave a smile eerily reminiscent of Misao's "good boy."

Sano nodded again and disappeared.

In the meantime Misao decided the song that was currently playing was perfect for dancing and proceeded to haul Aoshi in the direction. They were last seen with Aoshi standing stoically and Misao dancing manically around him.

Kaoru snorted and leaned against Kenshin.

"So… Kaoru," Megumi said in a conversational manner that had Kaoru instantly on edge. "Where did you and Kenshin meet exactly?"

"Um…" Kaoru wracked her brains quickly, "London."

"Really? Kenshin doesn't have an English accent." Megumi observed.

"He isn't really from anywhere. He was an army brat and traveled around a lot y'know – Osaka and California and Germany… he was traveling like I was so we just kinda decided to travel together." She discreetly stepped on his foot and he nodded an affirmative.

Megumi raised her eyebrows but seemed to accept the story.

"So Kenshin where are your parents?"

"Dead," came the reply. Which was true… enough.

"Oh I'm sorry," Megumi murmured.

Kenshin shrugged, "it was a long time ago."

"So Kenshin what do you do exactly?" Megumi directed the question at him and the look in her eyes warned Kaoru not to answer. Kaoru bit her lip.

"I'm a historian. I specialize in Ancient Middle-Eastern Cultures."

Kaoru let out a sigh of relief. Good answer and if Megumi quizzed him on it he would know enough to sound genuine.

"That's an interesting field," Megumi said.

"Yes it is," Kenshin agreed. Kaoru could feel his fingers stroking through her hair, a sign that he was getting a bit agitated.

Luckily then Sano choose that moment to appear balancing the drinks.

Kaoru accepted her Strawberry Daiquiri and handed Kenshin his coke. Megumi was sipping a Virgin Bloody Mary since she had work the following day and doing surgeries with a hang-over was hell and a big no-no.

They all sipped quietly for several moments the music too loud for any real talking. The song changed, a fast one with lots of beat, and Sano got up.

"Come on Fox," Sano said. "This is a good song, let's dance."

Megumi rolled her eyes but got to her and let him lead her to the dance floor.

As they left Kaoru gave a small sighed, feeling herself finally begin to relax. She had been on edge since they had gotten to the club, wondering what questions they would ask about her and Kenshin and worrying over how to answer them and make them sound believable at the same time.

"You ok?" Kenshin asked quietly, if he wasn't so close to her she wouldn't have been able to hear over the music.

Rather than speaking Kaoru nodded and let herself lean against him, eyes closing.

Kenshin stroked her hair and Kaoru felt her eyelids grow heavy. She hadn't been lying to Misao when she said she was still tired from jet-lag.

"Hey!" Misao's voice jolted her out of her half-asleep state.

"Wha?" Kaoru asked looking up to see Misao and Aoshi had returned from the dance floor. Misao looking as if she hadn't lost one iota of energy for all the dancing she had been doing.

Kenshin tensed next to her and she heard him growl faintly. She shot him a look and he quit growling.

"You're at a club Kaoru!" Misao scolded. "A dance club. Get out there and dance. You do know how to dance don't you?" She directed the question at Kenshin who blinked at her.

"No thanks," Kaoru said. "I'm quite comfortable where I am."

Misao's eyes narrowed, "Kaoru dear. You better get out there and dance now or I will make you."

Kaoru snorted, "and how exactly will you make me?"

"Does High School Prom ring a bell?" Misao asked sweetly.

Kaoru yelped, "You wouldn't!"

"I think Kenshin would be very interested in seeing those pictures," Misao's voice was still sugary-sweet.

Kaoru glared, "I will get you for this… one day. Come on Kenshin let's go before she thinks of more things to blackmail me with." She grabbed his arm and dragged him to the dance floor.

"Dare I ask what that was about?" Kenshin asked once they were out of Misao's earshot.

Kaoru shook her head, "no. Don't mention it to me ever." She twitched slightly.

Kenshin shrugged, letting it go and didn't press anymore. "So how do we dance?"

"Anyway you want to," Kaoru replied finding a less crowded spot on the floor and turning around to look at him.

"Like that?" Kenshin cocked his head in the direction of two violently gyrating partners.

Kaoru's face colored, "no. Just dance as you normally would."

Kenshin smiled, "if you say so."

Kaoru yipped as she was suddenly pulled into his arms, hands resting lightly at her waist.

"Just relax," he murmured and Kaoru closed her eye and let herself go with the music.

0000

Off in the shadows there was suddenly a choked sputtering noise.

"What is it?" A voice asked.

The one who had choked started coughing violently. "Is that who I think that is?" He jerked his head in the direction of the dance floor.

Beside him, his companion went very still. "How did the Bastard get loose?" He asked very softly.

"I have no idea but He is not going to be happy when he finds out."

"I don't expect he will," his companion said dryly. "He'll probably shit kittens."

"Speaking of kittens," the other one murmured. "Take a glance at his aura."

His companion cursed violently under his breath, "he's there with him?"

"Apparently."

"This is not good."

"No shit."

"I think I need to get really, really drunk," his companion said.

"Have fun with that," the first one murmured.

"So what are going to do?" the third who had been silent until now piped up.

"I'm all for ignoring him and going along my merry way," said the second making a bottle of whiskey appear and chugging it down.

"It might not even be him," the third said a tad bit hopeful.

"Hmm let's see, red hair, scars, angelic aura…." How many Bastards do you know are running around that look like that?"

"Not… many… none… okay… one," The third ducked his head sheepishly.

The second didn't reply he was too busy starting his third bottle of whiskey. His companions eyed him and started passing around money betting on how much it would take until he was passed-out drunk, which was the intention he was going for, if the rate he was drinking was any indication.

With a sigh he slammed down the fifth bottle of whiskey onto the table. "I'm going to go now." His words were only slightly garbled. Yay for angelic-tolerance to alcohol.

"Do you need any help?" The first asked.

"Naw," he hiccupped. "I'm god… um… good," he got to his feet, swaying only slightly and disappeared.

The first shook his head, "how the mighty have Fallen."

"Amen," the third breathed.

000

"Okay Misao," Kaoru said. "It's ten thirty. We're heading home before the crowd gets really going."

"Fine," Misao said reluctantly. Four and a half hours… that was new record of keeping Kaoru in a club.

They made their way through the crush of bodies. Kaoru yelped as her butt was suddenly pinched followed by Kenshin's snarl and the sound of something breaking. The man who had pinched her was now sporting three broken fingers courtesy of Kenshin.

"Get. Us. Out. Now." Kaoru growled, grabbing Kenshin's had to keep him from doing any more damage.

They got out of the club without any more incidences and paused just outside the club taking a moment to breathe in clear non-smoke clogged air.

"Aoshi and I will go get the car," Misao announced, snagging him and dragging him away in the direction of where they had parked it.

"We might as well find a spot to sit down and wait," Megumi murmured. "Knowing that Misao will be doing more than finding the car."

Sano snorted and wrapped his arm around Megumi who gave him a narrowed-eyed look but rest against him anyways.

Suddenly Kenshin stiffened beside Kaoru, eyes flashing.

"What is it?" Kaoru asked noticing the tension now radiating off him.

"Something…" he murmured. "Someone… Get back now!"

Kaoru was suddenly thrown backwards as Kenshin gave her a shove, hitting the ground with a thump, even as he whirled around just in time to meet…

An angel?

'Yep definitely angel', her mind confirmed slowly. 'Wings and bright glowing sword. Angel.'

A similar sword appeared out of nowhere in Kenshin's hand and there was the sound of a thunderclap as the two weapons struck one another.

"Found you. You bastard!" The other angel snarled.

Dimly at the back of Kaoru's mind she noted his wings were black as Kenshin's were.

There was the sound of ripping cloth and Kenshin's shirt hung in tatters around him as his own black wings erupted from his back.

The two of them clashed movements coming too fast for her eyes to see. The other angel screamed as he went flying back, hitting a wall and lay in a crumpled heap on the ground. Kenshin stalked toward him eyes glowing and sword sending off sparks.

"Who sent you?" He demanded.

The other angel snickered drunkenly. "No one. Go on and kill me you little Bastard." He began to sing in an off-key voice that made Kaoru's skin crawl, she couldn't understand the words they were spoken in a language she had never heard before but Kenshin snarled in fury. The other angels words were cut off as Kenshin's sword flashed and then the angel was still. His body began to glow and then disintegrated into a pile of black dust.

Kenshin's sword disappeared back to wherever it had come from. The next second Kaoru knew he had grabbed her and was holding her so tightly she could barely breathe.

"Kenshin…" she tried to say but her words were cut off as he kissed her.

"Are you ok?" He asked, checking for injuries. "You're bleeding!"

"Kenshin…" she jerked her arm out of his grasp. "It's only a scratch." She growled as he grabbed it back and touched it with gentle fingers.

"Knew I should have made that fucker suffer," he snarled.

"Kenshin…:" Kaoru tried again acutely aware of the fact that Megumi and Sano – now joined by Aoshi and Misao who had obviously heard the commotion and come running were staring at them. She was just glad they were on they were the only one who had heard noise and decided to check it out.

Kenshin continued to ignore her and was swearing under his breath as he probed her for any more injuries. Apparently satisfied he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in the junction between her neck and shoulder breathing deeply to calm himself.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru attempted once more. "Wings!"

"Oh," Kenshin blinked and his wings promptly disappeared to be replaced by his tattoos.

Misao gasped softly and Kenshin heard it, head turning in their direction and body freezing.

Kaoru felt like finding a wall and banging her head repeatedly against it. So much for 'Kaoru has a normal but slightly eccentric boyfriend ('he's not my boyfriend!' she argued with herself). No, Kaoru has a boyfriend who sprouts wings and fights angels and pulls glowing swords out of thin air, ('he's not my boyfriend!' she continued to insist).

"No," She said firmly, seeing the intent in his eyes. "You cannot A. kill them or B. freeze time and flee with me."

Kenshin sighed, "You take all the fun from everything."

Kaoru stuck her tongue out at him in response. "Now let me go please."

"Do I have to?" Kaoru felt his hand slid under her shirt and stomped down on his foot firmly.

"Yes." She ground out. "Let me go or you are sleeping on the couch for a month and I will be sleeping with Demon in the bed."

Kenshin made a face that would have been a pout on anyone else but let her go – more or less. He kept his arm wrapped around her waist firmly as they turned to meet the firing squad… err…Kaoru's friends.

They were still staring – well in Misao's case they were. Megumi was giving Kenshin a calculating look, Sano just looked puzzled and Aoshi kept his face carefully blank, though Kaoru noticed one of his eyebrows were twitching.

"So…" Megumi drawled. "I take it you are not a Historian?"

"No," Kenshin said softly. "I'm a Fallen-Angel."

"Yeah," Misao murmured. "I think the black wings gave that away."

"Can we please not talk about it here?" Kaoru asked.

"Ok then," Misao said brightly. "You're place then."

Kaoru sighed; it was going to be a long, long night.

000

The second they walked in the door they Demon raced to meet them. He paused a few feet in front of Kenshin, eyes narrowing in an entirely un-catlike manner and gave a soft hiss.

'You smell like blood and death.'

"Kaoru…" Misao asked softly. "Why is your cat talking?"

Demon turned to look them at them. 'Demon! I am a Demon!'

"Oh so that explains it," Misao said faintly.

"What does?" Kaoru moved over the couch and collapsed upon it. Demon jumped up beside her and curled up in her lap. Kenshin sat down gingerly next to her and played with her hair.

"I was wondering why Megumi wasn't breaking out in hives when she was petting him last time we were here." Misao said grabbing a chair as the others took seats.

"Huh?" Kaoru asked blankly.

"I'm allergic to cats. I get hives," Megumi muttered.

"Sano bought her one as some kind of 'relationship pet'." Misao explained.

Sano began whistling nonchalantly under his breath.

The image of Megumi covered in hives made Kaoru laugh.

"I just thought Demon was some type of hypoallergenic cat," Megumi eyed Demon warily.

"Nope not a cat he's a Demon." Kaoru confirmed. 'Only Megumi'…

"So?" Misao propped her chin on her hand. "How did the two of you meet anyway? I'm pretty sure it wasn't chatting over coffee in London."

Kaoru sighed, "bougthanenchantedamuletandoutpoppedKenshin." She muttered.

Megumi raised an eyebrow, "excuse me?"

Kaoru sighed, "Bought an enchanted amulet and as it ends up Kenshin was imprisoned in it." She didn't want to mention anything about her dream of him.

"Oh," Misao blinked. "Really?"

"Yes, really." Kaoru touched the pendant she wore around her neck. "This one."

"So you were trapped in it?" Sano looked at Kenshin who nodded.

"For how long?" Misao asked.

"Fifteen hundred years," Kenshin said softly.

For a second all they did was staring at the two of them while Kaoru squirmed.

"...And how old are you exactly?" Misao asked faintly.

Kenshin frowned, "almost two thousand years."

"Wow, Kaoru. I knew you liked older men but I didn't know you liked them that old!" Sano joked.

Kaoru and Kenshin both glared at him while Megumi smacked him.

"Shut up rooster head."

"It was a joke!" Sano rubbed at the side of his head.

"Not a funny one." Megumi whapped him again.

"And where did you get Demon?" Misao asked.

'I was imprisoned with him,' Demon replied.

"Ah, ok then." Misao closed her eyes and leaned against Aoshi looking tired as she attempted to process all of this. "Only you would go off traveling the world and come back with an angel in tow Kaoru."

Kaoru snorted, "Tell me about it."

"So why was guy attacking you anyway Kenshin?" Sano asked, moving carefully out of Megumi's reach.

"I don't know..." Kenshin said softly. "He wasn't after Kaoru. He was after me."

"Why would they be after me?" Kaoru asked.

Kenshin's jaw clenched. "You're family isn't very well liked among the celestial beings."

"What did my ancestors do?" Kaoru asked. "Run over a cartload of nuns?"

"One of the nicknames of the Kasshin are the Angel-Killers." Kenshin murmured. "I had assumed because I had been so long trapped in the pendant that your family had been wiped out completely."

Kaoru shuddered and Kenshin stroked her hair.

"So what's going to happen now?" Kaoru asked after a moment. "Will we start getting attacked?"

"I'm not sure," Kenshin said. "Angels usually work in groups of threes and he was working alone or so he appeared to be. He was drunk also."

Sano stared at Kenshin, "angels can get drunk?"

"It's difficult; the amount of alcohol an angel would consume to get a bit... tipsy… would kill a normal human."

Sano was giving Kenshin an interested look.

"No Sano you have not just found your new drinking buddy." Kaoru muttered.

Sano gave her a grumpy look, "you're no fun."

Kaoru sighed, "Anything else you want to grill us on? I'm still jet-lagged and it's past midnight..."

"We'll be going now," Aoshi said speaking for the first time.

Misao yawned and nodded. "I'll call you tomorrow so we can go get coffee and have girl talk."

Kaoru twitched, "no shopping."

Misao saluted, "no shopping promise. Only girl talk."

That was nearly as bad.

"Fine," Kaoru said. "Just call after noon ok?"

"Deal," Misao smiled.

"We'll be going as well," Megumi said. "Come on Sano. I still have to work tomorrow and five hours of sleep looks like all I'm going to be getting – if that."

Sano nodded, "call us if anything happens."

Kaoru nodded, "I will."

"Good," he gave Kenshin a look. "You better take care of her."

"I will," Kenshin assured him.

Reasonably satisfied Megumi and Sano left right behind Aoshi and Misao.

Kaoru covered a yawn. "I'm going to bed. Let me get all glitter and makeup off my face." She touched Kenshin's arm and got to her feet heading toward the bathroom.

Demon turned and looked at Kenshin. 'You didn't tell her everything.'

'I told her only what she needed to know.'

'Don't keep secrets from her Kenshin. She'll find out sooner or later. Most likely sooner.'

'I know,' Kenshin replied. 'That's what I'm afraid of.'