Chapter: 3
Guns
Kaoru sat on the bench frozen as still as a statue not daring to move. She thought if she moved she may get shot and dieing wasn't in her agenda for today. Kaoru's brain was ticking, despite the terror-provoking situation, on where she had heard that voice before. "Guns are slow, you'll never catch us with a gun." who was it? The three figures stood still were they were waiting for the unknown voice to take another shot. 'Oh! I forgot about the voice, who was THAT? Shit, I not only don't know who or how big the person is that voice belongs to but I don't know how many there are on the 'bad' side.' as Kaoru had dubbed the men/man to her front, bad, so that meant she made the men behind her good.
Flash Back
"I don't have time for you." kenshin said plain and simple.
"Maybe I don't have time for you Jerk!" Kaoru fumed.
"No need for name cal . . ." Kenshin started before being cut off by Kaoru.
"Jack ass!"
"Stubborn woman!"
"Bastard!"
"Bitch!"
"Dick!"
"Wench!"
"Piss off!" Kaoru said as she stood up ready to leave.
End of flash back
"KENSHIN!?!" Kaoru screamed half amazed at who owned the deep threatening yet sexy voice and half surprised at herself for shouting out his name in the middle of a gunfight. 'Wait, what is Kenshin doing in the middle of a gun fight?' Kaoru thought. She looked around ever so slowly in hopes of seeing a familiar face and possibly getting out of this fight alive. She saw Kenshin's not-so-smiling face looking at her as he took a step out of the suddenly dark fog. His eyes were shadowed under his hair but she could still see the glint of amber in his hateful orbs.
"Kaoru? What are you doing here?" Kenshin asked. His tone was dangerous and threatening.
"I should ask you the same thing. I just sat down here to . . . to . . . rest and clear my mind." Kaoru stated confidently.
"Get out of here Kaoru, you could get hurt." Kenshin said. Another figure stepped out from behind the curtain of dark fog.
"Kenshin. Shishio and his gang of thugs may attempt to kill the girl. Why don't you take her some where safe?" Aoshi stated.
"Aoshi's here? Next thing I know Soujiro will show up as well." Kaoru said. 'Do these guys only like hanging out with each other. Don't they have any other friends?' Kaoru thought as she shook her head. The third figure stepped out of the fog and just as you guessed it the person was Soujiro.
"Actually," Soujiro said as kaoru turned to him and began to laugh.
"Soujiro's here as well. Do you guys have no friends?" Kaoru said as she laughed again. Suddenly she felt the wind of another bullet graze her cheek. She stopped laughing abruptly and her face fell from smiling joy to still fear.
"Battosai, take the girl away, I don't want to kill such a pretty girl like her." the voice said. Kenshin shot his head up toward the voice and gave the general direction a hateful glare.
"You really should leave. We can handle this by ourselves. Take her to your house and don't let her leave until HE says its ok." Soujiro said. Kenshin reluctantly nodded and began walking motioning for kaoru to follow him. She was still afraid to move so she stood up and once she did the voice shot yet another bullet toward her just for good measure. Just before it hit her in the right am she closed her eyes waiting for the pain that would soon engulf her arm. She heard a cling and opened her eyes with out a world of pain shooting through her. She looked to find her savior when she saw kenshin in front of her sword drawn with a bullet lying in the grass next to him. He had saved her, not only that but with a reverse blade sword from the looks of it.
"You owe me. "Kenshin said directed toward Aoshi and Soujiro. He took a deep breath and muttered something like 'forgive me for this'. Within a blink of an eye Kaoru was in his arms bridal style speeding at god-like speed toward his house she guessed. She was afraid to blink thinking if she did she would miss the route to his house. She actually couldn't figure out were she was or if she was even awake anymore but she knew that she liked sitting in his arms her hands snaked around his neck watching the burry scenery pass by. Then it stopped and he had set her down in front of a huge town house. His house was right on the corner so she eagerly looked at the sign to find out were she was. His house was on the corner of suffering and agony.
He began walking to the door as she watched him. He turned around realizing she wasn't following. "Are you coming or what?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes, but what was that?" Kaoru asked him in disbelief. Kenshin shook his head.
"What was what?" He asked her. He turned to walk into his house but stopped when she didn't move. He sighed and leaned his head back in exasperation. "Kaoru." kenshin said. Kaoru began tapping her foot on the paved driveway. "I am gifted with fast running what can I say?" Kenshin said. He lifted his head to see kaoru right in front of him walking toward the door. Kenshin sweat dropped. 'I guess she doesn't care. She is kind of hot though. No she isn't.' kenshin thought shaking his head. He walked up to the door were Kaoru was waiting for him to unlock the door. He pulled his keys out of his back pocket and opened the door. He dropped his keys on the end table in the hallway and stepped to the right into his laundry room to kick off his shoes. He took off his trench coat and hung it up, revealing baggy pants loosely hanging at his waist and a black skin-tight tee shirt and a white tee shirt underneath just hanging out of the sleeves and the bottom of the shirt.
Kaoru smiled when he wasn't looking, she liked that look. He stuck his hand out towards her and she stared at him with a blank expression. "Coat." Kenshin said interrupting her thoughts.
"Oh" Kaoru said as she took off Sano's trench coat that was still partially damp from that morning.
"Is this Sano's?" Kenshin asked surprised as he held up the coat. Kaoru nodded. Kenshin's eyes grew wide as he looked at her in disbelief and smiled at a imaginary Sano.
"Its not what you think, Sano is all Megumi's." Kenshin looked at her skeptically. "He's my neighbor." Kaoru said. That only made his thoughts worse. Kaoru rolled her eyes at Kenshin and lightly punched him in the arm. She stepped past him as he hung up her coat and she was amazed at what she saw. The house looked large on the outside but the inside was enormous! The first floor was decorated in a fancy manner. There were chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and long elaborate rugs on the floor. There was a living room, study, and a den. An extravagant spiral carpeted staircase leading up to the second and third level. This house had one spiral staircase leading to the basement, first, second, and third floors. She put her hand delicately on the railing of the stars as she looked up to the vast abyss and down to the pit were the basement was located. She preferred looking up because a sky light was placed above the staircase so it looked like you were floating up to heaven but there was hardly any light currently on downstairs so it looked like you were descending into hell.
The stairs had no support beams they were cemented into the wall, which held them up. It was terrifying yet thrilling to walk up and down them. Kenshin walked out from the laundry room to see her marvel at the single spiral staircase. She looked like an angel standing in the sunlight (the sun had come out by now) wearing a white short shirt and blue denim jeans. 'Wait, #1 she is wearing really skimpy clothes and #2 get a hold of yourself kenshin she is a hot tempered, annoying woman.' Kenshin thought. Kaoru turned around to meet Kenshin staring at her with now kind violet eyes instead of his harsh amber eyes she saw near the lake.
She smiled sweetly hoping he would just let her go about her normal life, but it wasn't looking good. Kenshin looked at her and walked closer to her until her was a few feet away from her. He turned before he collided into her and walked up 5 stairs and looked at her. "Are you coming?" Kenshin asked her. Her neck reddened a smidge when she realized she was staring at him in the sunlit stairway. She strode over to were he was standing on the stair and followed him up to the second floor. With one glance she was awe stricken. The walls were mahogany and there were more chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a hallway at the end of the family room. The hall way had 3 sets of glass doors and one door that was mahogany as well.
She could see into the three with glass French doors but could not see into the fourth. In one room she could see a bed with curtains drawn around it and a dresser with a mirror hanging on the wall. Also there was a flat T.V. hanging on the wall. This was his room she could tell, it was so clean her room was a sty and she couldn't help it. The next room was an excessive library with thousands of books waiting to be read. The next room was a Kitchen with an island and a chrome refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. The cabinets were cedar and the counter tops were marble.
"What's behind the wood door?" Kaoru asked him as he walked across the carpeted floor. The Family room she noted was a disaster in waiting. The leather couch, chairs, footrest, and love seat were white along with the white carpet. Also the walls were an off white and the ceiling was white bouncing the light everywhere making the room very bright. The coffee table was wood legs with glass for the top. There were lamps every now and then until she reached the hallway. It was difficult taking this all in when she had a small house next to SANO.
"That's a bathroom. I like privacy." Kenshin said smiling even though his back was toward her. He walked into the kitchen to get himself a glass of water. He was just going to sit on the couch and watch her take his house in but he thought that would be rude. She followed him into the kitchen and looked around smiling and laughing every once and a while. "What?" Kenshin asked.
"Nothing, just, were do you get the money to buy all this stuff. You spend all your time in the alley. Unless you're a thief or something." Kaoru said laughing. Kenshin nervously laughed with her. 'Of course not, im not a thief; I am just in the mafia. I don't steal its more like borrowing without returning.' Kenshin thought.
"What gave you that notion?" Kenshin said laughing uncertainly and shifting his eyes back and fourth. He turned around before she could answer to pour himself some water from the faucet. "Would you like something to drink?" kenshin asked out of the blue. She shook her head 'no' despite her thirst and looked around.
"So, um, how long do I have to stay here? I mean I have to get to work and I don't want to leave Misao all alone. Not only that but my cat will miss me." Kaoru said. Kenshin laughed a light laugh.
"Your. . . CAT will miss you? Poor baby, will Mr. fluffers be mad at you if you don't come home before curfew?" Kenshin teased. Kaoru smiled feeling a blush come on she quickly turned the tables on him.
"Don't you wish some one missed you at night. I'm sure there hasn't been a woman near that bed in years. Besides Mr. fluffers is a girl." Kaoru shot back.
"I'll have you know im sure I've been laid ten times more than you." Kenshin said. Kaoru shut up on that matter knowing that she was still a virgin but she came close once. However Kenshin did not have to know she was a virgin.
"Yea right. What woman would want to get into a bed with a repulsive man like you?" Kaoru asked while laughing (Bwahhahahaha). Kenshin fumed, one minute he was beginning to like this woman and the next she pulls a stunt like that and makes him want to kill her.
"Plenty of women! What man would want to get into a bed with an annoying woman like you?" Kenshin asked. Kaoru didn't know how to answer that one, I mean a lot of guys wanted to go that far, and she didn't. Kenshin didn't need to know any of that I mean what's a little lie going to do?
"A lot of guys! I don't even want to fight with you. As I said before how long do I have to stay here?" kaoru asked changing the subject. Kenshin rolled his eye knowing that she couldn't come up with a good come back so she took the easy way out.
"As soon as HE says I can let you go. You may be useful." Kenshin said with a shutter.
"Who is HE?" Kaoru asked.
"HE is my boss, and I take orders from HIM. So you will stay with me, unless I can get rid of you, until HE says so." Kenshin said. Kaoru put her hands up in defense.
"OK, OK calm down." She said. Kenshin took a sip of his water and set it down on the counter. It was getting late and he wanted to show Kaoru were she would be sleeping. He walked out of the kitchen and Kaoru reluctantly followed him despite her better judgment. He walked down to the basement. The basement was so dark Kaoru couldn't see were she was stepping. "There wouldn't happen to be a light down here would there. I think I'm going to sliiiiiip!" Kaoru said as she missed a step and began tumbling down the stairs. She saw the figure of Kenshin infront of her and she prayed to kami (A/N: Or God which ever you prefer) she wouldn't take him down with her.
She closed her eyes expecting another form to join her in falling the rest of the way down but instead the motion stopped. She felt warm firm hands wrap around her small frame and she felt safe yet dazed. She had been tumbling so fast she almost didn't know what happened just that this warm mass was pleasant. She snuggled in a little closer to Kenshin subconsciously, I mean who wouldn't?
Kenshin sensed Kaoru slipping down the stairs and despite his strong urge to step to the side and let her fall the rest of the way down he knew he should get on her good side. With his luck he'll have to stay with her for a while. Also Aoshi generally isn't wrong about the business of HIM. Aoshi always seems to know what people are of interest and what people aren't, so she could be here a while. Kenshin grabbed her falling form and held her semi-close to him; he didn't want her to think he liked her or anything. He felt Kaoru snuggle in closer and dig her face into his shirt, soaking him in. She seemed to sigh as if content to be in his arms for a while until she smelled his shirt. Yes, axe is a good smell but she knew that's what Kenshin smelled like. He put so much on she could smell it a mile away. But it was only a faint smell not strong and she liked that.
However she was snuggling into Kenshin and if she didn't get away quick he may think she was beginning to like him or something. Regardless of her body's urge to hold onto him in the cold dark basement she pulled away and opened her eyes. Kenshin realized he was beginning to like Kaoru in his arms, but she pulled away and he realized what he was thinking and mentally slapped himself.
"Sorry, I tripped." Kaoru stated. Kenshin mumbled something like 'Thank you Capitan Obvious' but Kaoru chose to ignore that statement. Kenshin clapped his hands and the light turned on. Kaoru looked around to see three different rooms divided by thin walls. One room was a small kitchen, not as glamorous as the one on the second floor but better than hers, another was a bedroom, and the last was a bathroom. The bedroom had a king-sized bed with red curtains draped over a pole above the bed. There was a walk in closet and a dresser in the large room that took up half of the basement. Kaoru was awe stricken at the enormous room that was the size of her house. Well that is a little excessive it was the size of half of her house, so the entire basement was there size of her house.
"This is were you sleep." Kenshin stated uninterested.
"This is amazing! This whole room is to myself?" Kaoru asked in disbelief. Kenshin nodded idly. "Wow. I haven't seen such a big house since I was ten." Kaoru said sorrowfully. Kenshin looked at her a little concerned at the tone in her voice.
"What happened when you were ten?" Kenshin asked surprised he even cared. Kaoru looked at him almost making sure he wanted to genuinely know not just ask to be polite.
"I ran away from home." Kaoru stated casually as if she didn't care and would do it again if she had the chance. Kenshin looked surprised.
"You ran away. Surely you went back though." Kenshin said hopefully. He didn't want to get in trouble with the cops for having a seventeen-year-old girl who ran away from home seven years ago and never went back. Technically he could go to jail if he ever did anything with her because she was seventeen and he . . . wasn't.
"No. And I wouldn't change my decision for the world."Kaoru said proudly. Inside kaoru was really shivering and wincing remembering that house and those people who never cared for her. Only her father cared for her, her mother did to but died when she was three and her father re-married to a witch who hated kaoru. Then Daddy died and Kaoru's life became hell. She didn't know why she was telling Kenshin this I mean she hated the guy. She was pretty open she told the whole story to Misao and Megumi but just because they were her friends. She also told Sano and he was a big help to her, she considered him like her older brother even if every one else thought it was more.
Kaoru was always humiliated when it came to people thinking her and Sano were "together". Sano is a baka so she was humiliated having people think she was going out with such a numbskull but Sano on the other hand was worshiped. Kaoru was pretty and smart and Sano had Kaoru and Megumi so he was a god among men but Kaoru was pathetic. It was a win lose situation and kaoru lost. Kenshin looked sympathetic towards her and she sighed.
"Kenshin. I ran away because they hated me there I had to leave. Besides I met Sano and he took care of me until I was able to buy a house and find a job which got me here so up until today my life has been good with out her." Kaoru said happily. Kenshin gave her a threatening look for saying she hated being with him.
"You know you love being around me. That's why you followed me to the park." Kenshin said walking into the room. Kaoru fumed walking behind him. He sat on the bed and she sat on the dresser. 'Very lady like.' Kenshin thought.
"I didn't follow you, I was at the park first. I think you followed me." Kaoru said. Kenshin rolled his eyes.
"Yea right you think im irresistible and you know it!" Kenshin said.
"Irresistible! Ha don't make me laugh. You look like you fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down!" Kaoru said adding a giggle for emphasis. Kenshin glared at her.
"Why were you in the park then?" Kenshin asked.
"I was at the park looking into the lake trying to unwind. Misao left me alone to talk to Aoshi so I decided to leave. There wasn't much business so I thought she could handle it on her own." Kaoru said. Kenshin laughed.
"Yea right! So you just sat down watching the lake thinking! You must have a lot of time on your hands." Kenshin said laughing.
"Oh really? So when you were waiting on a bench in the park for "some one" you weren't thinking. Wait I forgot there aren't enough brains in your head to think or you would have realized I needed to be left alone. But no you had to be a jerk!" Kaoru spat back at him.
"I may have been a jerk but you were being a bitch! You just had to start calling me names." kenshin started.
"Like you weren't trying to poke fun at a pathetic looking girl!" Kaoru said. Kenshin shut up he didn't want to fight with her and it was getting late anyway.
"There are some pajamas in the bottom drawer of the dresser. Don't bother with breakfast in the morning I'll have it ready upstairs." Kenshin said getting up and starting to walk up the stairs. His eyes were flickering from purple to amber.
"Good night. Sweet dreams Kenshin." Kaoru said. Kenshin smiled with his back to her so she couldn't see. He hadn't had some one say good night, sweet dreams in a long time.
"Night." Kenshin said as he walked up the steps. Kaoru walked into the bathroom with his pajamas and changed. They were plaid boxers and a tight white muscle shirt. That solved the age-old question, Boxers or Briefs? Boxers. Kaoru was wearing men's clothes and she liked wearing them. She walked into the small kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She brought it into her room and set it on a coaster on the end table. She tucked herself in like any other night but this bed was very comfy unlike hers at home. She clapped and the light turned off.
She let sleep capture her as her head hit the pillow. In the morning she woke to the smell of eggs and bacon, traditional breakfast. She tore herself from the comfort of his large bed and drank some water. She walked to the kitchen and set the glass in the sink. She sleepily walked up the stairs and blinked when her eyes met the smiling sun. She wasn't a morning person but she knew she should get up incase she could go home.
"Morning sunshine." Kenshin said from the kitchen.
"Shut it. Did you talk to HIM and see if I can go home?" Kaoru asked. Kenshin pretended to look hurt.
"Some one woke up on the wrong side of the bed. No, I need to wait till Soujiro calls him, I am not the one who talks to HIM." Kenshin said. Kaoru rolled her squinted eyes.
"Have Soujiro call HIM pronto I would like to go home." Kaoru said sitting down on a chair next to the table. He set down a plate with two eggs sunny side up and a piece of bacon in the shape of a smile. Her breakfast was smiling at her isn't that cute? Kaoru wasn't a morning person like I said so she picked up the bacon and flipped it upside down. Her breakfast was frowning. She wouldn't eat until Kenshin did so she knew he wasn't poisoning her. He ate his food after looking at her face and frowned. He shook his head at her and ate. She dug in and picked up her plate once she was finished.
She opened up the dishwasher finding it full of dirty dishes. She looked at the sink finding dirty dishes. "Kenshin! Do you ever clean your dishes?" kaoru asked. Kenshin walked into the kitchen and shook his head 'no' while putting his dish strategically on top of a pile in the sink. Kaoru shook her head and fit as many dished as she could into the dishwasher. She took out some detergent and poured it into the washer door. She closed it and hit the start and heavy-duty buttons. The washer made loud noises and she walked out of the kitchen. She walked to the stairs and began walking down stairs.
"Tell me when the washer is done. I don't need to do laundry to do I?" Kaoru asked. Kenshin shook his head.
"No I like laundry." Kenshin said. Kaoru smiled.
"Good, I'll just do my laundry then." Kaoru said.
"I can do it for you if you want." Kenshin said. Kaoru smiled.
"It's a deal. I'll do your dishes if you do my laundry." Kaoru said. She walked down stairs and a few minutes later she brought up her folded pants and shirt. She handed them to him.
"This isn't my shirt so you can give it to Sano next time you see him." Kaoru said glaring at an imaginary Sano. "That is if you don't mind me wearing a shirt of yours." Kaoru said. Kenshin nodded. Kaoru walked down stairs to make the bed and come up stairs to start manually washing dishes. This may take a while.
A/N: My brother's rats (hamsters) just multiplied today! I hate them but their babies might be cute. How do you like it so far? I thought the story was getting crappy so I tried to bring up the points on the crap'o'meter.
Kaoru sat on the bench frozen as still as a statue not daring to move. She thought if she moved she may get shot and dieing wasn't in her agenda for today. Kaoru's brain was ticking, despite the terror-provoking situation, on where she had heard that voice before. "Guns are slow, you'll never catch us with a gun." who was it? The three figures stood still were they were waiting for the unknown voice to take another shot. 'Oh! I forgot about the voice, who was THAT? Shit, I not only don't know who or how big the person is that voice belongs to but I don't know how many there are on the 'bad' side.' as Kaoru had dubbed the men/man to her front, bad, so that meant she made the men behind her good.
Flash Back
"I don't have time for you." kenshin said plain and simple.
"Maybe I don't have time for you Jerk!" Kaoru fumed.
"No need for name cal . . ." Kenshin started before being cut off by Kaoru.
"Jack ass!"
"Stubborn woman!"
"Bastard!"
"Bitch!"
"Dick!"
"Wench!"
"Piss off!" Kaoru said as she stood up ready to leave.
End of flash back
"KENSHIN!?!" Kaoru screamed half amazed at who owned the deep threatening yet sexy voice and half surprised at herself for shouting out his name in the middle of a gunfight. 'Wait, what is Kenshin doing in the middle of a gun fight?' Kaoru thought. She looked around ever so slowly in hopes of seeing a familiar face and possibly getting out of this fight alive. She saw Kenshin's not-so-smiling face looking at her as he took a step out of the suddenly dark fog. His eyes were shadowed under his hair but she could still see the glint of amber in his hateful orbs.
"Kaoru? What are you doing here?" Kenshin asked. His tone was dangerous and threatening.
"I should ask you the same thing. I just sat down here to . . . to . . . rest and clear my mind." Kaoru stated confidently.
"Get out of here Kaoru, you could get hurt." Kenshin said. Another figure stepped out from behind the curtain of dark fog.
"Kenshin. Shishio and his gang of thugs may attempt to kill the girl. Why don't you take her some where safe?" Aoshi stated.
"Aoshi's here? Next thing I know Soujiro will show up as well." Kaoru said. 'Do these guys only like hanging out with each other. Don't they have any other friends?' Kaoru thought as she shook her head. The third figure stepped out of the fog and just as you guessed it the person was Soujiro.
"Actually," Soujiro said as kaoru turned to him and began to laugh.
"Soujiro's here as well. Do you guys have no friends?" Kaoru said as she laughed again. Suddenly she felt the wind of another bullet graze her cheek. She stopped laughing abruptly and her face fell from smiling joy to still fear.
"Battosai, take the girl away, I don't want to kill such a pretty girl like her." the voice said. Kenshin shot his head up toward the voice and gave the general direction a hateful glare.
"You really should leave. We can handle this by ourselves. Take her to your house and don't let her leave until HE says its ok." Soujiro said. Kenshin reluctantly nodded and began walking motioning for kaoru to follow him. She was still afraid to move so she stood up and once she did the voice shot yet another bullet toward her just for good measure. Just before it hit her in the right am she closed her eyes waiting for the pain that would soon engulf her arm. She heard a cling and opened her eyes with out a world of pain shooting through her. She looked to find her savior when she saw kenshin in front of her sword drawn with a bullet lying in the grass next to him. He had saved her, not only that but with a reverse blade sword from the looks of it.
"You owe me. "Kenshin said directed toward Aoshi and Soujiro. He took a deep breath and muttered something like 'forgive me for this'. Within a blink of an eye Kaoru was in his arms bridal style speeding at god-like speed toward his house she guessed. She was afraid to blink thinking if she did she would miss the route to his house. She actually couldn't figure out were she was or if she was even awake anymore but she knew that she liked sitting in his arms her hands snaked around his neck watching the burry scenery pass by. Then it stopped and he had set her down in front of a huge town house. His house was right on the corner so she eagerly looked at the sign to find out were she was. His house was on the corner of suffering and agony.
He began walking to the door as she watched him. He turned around realizing she wasn't following. "Are you coming or what?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes, but what was that?" Kaoru asked him in disbelief. Kenshin shook his head.
"What was what?" He asked her. He turned to walk into his house but stopped when she didn't move. He sighed and leaned his head back in exasperation. "Kaoru." kenshin said. Kaoru began tapping her foot on the paved driveway. "I am gifted with fast running what can I say?" Kenshin said. He lifted his head to see kaoru right in front of him walking toward the door. Kenshin sweat dropped. 'I guess she doesn't care. She is kind of hot though. No she isn't.' kenshin thought shaking his head. He walked up to the door were Kaoru was waiting for him to unlock the door. He pulled his keys out of his back pocket and opened the door. He dropped his keys on the end table in the hallway and stepped to the right into his laundry room to kick off his shoes. He took off his trench coat and hung it up, revealing baggy pants loosely hanging at his waist and a black skin-tight tee shirt and a white tee shirt underneath just hanging out of the sleeves and the bottom of the shirt.
Kaoru smiled when he wasn't looking, she liked that look. He stuck his hand out towards her and she stared at him with a blank expression. "Coat." Kenshin said interrupting her thoughts.
"Oh" Kaoru said as she took off Sano's trench coat that was still partially damp from that morning.
"Is this Sano's?" Kenshin asked surprised as he held up the coat. Kaoru nodded. Kenshin's eyes grew wide as he looked at her in disbelief and smiled at a imaginary Sano.
"Its not what you think, Sano is all Megumi's." Kenshin looked at her skeptically. "He's my neighbor." Kaoru said. That only made his thoughts worse. Kaoru rolled her eyes at Kenshin and lightly punched him in the arm. She stepped past him as he hung up her coat and she was amazed at what she saw. The house looked large on the outside but the inside was enormous! The first floor was decorated in a fancy manner. There were chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and long elaborate rugs on the floor. There was a living room, study, and a den. An extravagant spiral carpeted staircase leading up to the second and third level. This house had one spiral staircase leading to the basement, first, second, and third floors. She put her hand delicately on the railing of the stars as she looked up to the vast abyss and down to the pit were the basement was located. She preferred looking up because a sky light was placed above the staircase so it looked like you were floating up to heaven but there was hardly any light currently on downstairs so it looked like you were descending into hell.
The stairs had no support beams they were cemented into the wall, which held them up. It was terrifying yet thrilling to walk up and down them. Kenshin walked out from the laundry room to see her marvel at the single spiral staircase. She looked like an angel standing in the sunlight (the sun had come out by now) wearing a white short shirt and blue denim jeans. 'Wait, #1 she is wearing really skimpy clothes and #2 get a hold of yourself kenshin she is a hot tempered, annoying woman.' Kenshin thought. Kaoru turned around to meet Kenshin staring at her with now kind violet eyes instead of his harsh amber eyes she saw near the lake.
She smiled sweetly hoping he would just let her go about her normal life, but it wasn't looking good. Kenshin looked at her and walked closer to her until her was a few feet away from her. He turned before he collided into her and walked up 5 stairs and looked at her. "Are you coming?" Kenshin asked her. Her neck reddened a smidge when she realized she was staring at him in the sunlit stairway. She strode over to were he was standing on the stair and followed him up to the second floor. With one glance she was awe stricken. The walls were mahogany and there were more chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a hallway at the end of the family room. The hall way had 3 sets of glass doors and one door that was mahogany as well.
She could see into the three with glass French doors but could not see into the fourth. In one room she could see a bed with curtains drawn around it and a dresser with a mirror hanging on the wall. Also there was a flat T.V. hanging on the wall. This was his room she could tell, it was so clean her room was a sty and she couldn't help it. The next room was an excessive library with thousands of books waiting to be read. The next room was a Kitchen with an island and a chrome refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. The cabinets were cedar and the counter tops were marble.
"What's behind the wood door?" Kaoru asked him as he walked across the carpeted floor. The Family room she noted was a disaster in waiting. The leather couch, chairs, footrest, and love seat were white along with the white carpet. Also the walls were an off white and the ceiling was white bouncing the light everywhere making the room very bright. The coffee table was wood legs with glass for the top. There were lamps every now and then until she reached the hallway. It was difficult taking this all in when she had a small house next to SANO.
"That's a bathroom. I like privacy." Kenshin said smiling even though his back was toward her. He walked into the kitchen to get himself a glass of water. He was just going to sit on the couch and watch her take his house in but he thought that would be rude. She followed him into the kitchen and looked around smiling and laughing every once and a while. "What?" Kenshin asked.
"Nothing, just, were do you get the money to buy all this stuff. You spend all your time in the alley. Unless you're a thief or something." Kaoru said laughing. Kenshin nervously laughed with her. 'Of course not, im not a thief; I am just in the mafia. I don't steal its more like borrowing without returning.' Kenshin thought.
"What gave you that notion?" Kenshin said laughing uncertainly and shifting his eyes back and fourth. He turned around before she could answer to pour himself some water from the faucet. "Would you like something to drink?" kenshin asked out of the blue. She shook her head 'no' despite her thirst and looked around.
"So, um, how long do I have to stay here? I mean I have to get to work and I don't want to leave Misao all alone. Not only that but my cat will miss me." Kaoru said. Kenshin laughed a light laugh.
"Your. . . CAT will miss you? Poor baby, will Mr. fluffers be mad at you if you don't come home before curfew?" Kenshin teased. Kaoru smiled feeling a blush come on she quickly turned the tables on him.
"Don't you wish some one missed you at night. I'm sure there hasn't been a woman near that bed in years. Besides Mr. fluffers is a girl." Kaoru shot back.
"I'll have you know im sure I've been laid ten times more than you." Kenshin said. Kaoru shut up on that matter knowing that she was still a virgin but she came close once. However Kenshin did not have to know she was a virgin.
"Yea right. What woman would want to get into a bed with a repulsive man like you?" Kaoru asked while laughing (Bwahhahahaha). Kenshin fumed, one minute he was beginning to like this woman and the next she pulls a stunt like that and makes him want to kill her.
"Plenty of women! What man would want to get into a bed with an annoying woman like you?" Kenshin asked. Kaoru didn't know how to answer that one, I mean a lot of guys wanted to go that far, and she didn't. Kenshin didn't need to know any of that I mean what's a little lie going to do?
"A lot of guys! I don't even want to fight with you. As I said before how long do I have to stay here?" kaoru asked changing the subject. Kenshin rolled his eye knowing that she couldn't come up with a good come back so she took the easy way out.
"As soon as HE says I can let you go. You may be useful." Kenshin said with a shutter.
"Who is HE?" Kaoru asked.
"HE is my boss, and I take orders from HIM. So you will stay with me, unless I can get rid of you, until HE says so." Kenshin said. Kaoru put her hands up in defense.
"OK, OK calm down." She said. Kenshin took a sip of his water and set it down on the counter. It was getting late and he wanted to show Kaoru were she would be sleeping. He walked out of the kitchen and Kaoru reluctantly followed him despite her better judgment. He walked down to the basement. The basement was so dark Kaoru couldn't see were she was stepping. "There wouldn't happen to be a light down here would there. I think I'm going to sliiiiiip!" Kaoru said as she missed a step and began tumbling down the stairs. She saw the figure of Kenshin infront of her and she prayed to kami (A/N: Or God which ever you prefer) she wouldn't take him down with her.
She closed her eyes expecting another form to join her in falling the rest of the way down but instead the motion stopped. She felt warm firm hands wrap around her small frame and she felt safe yet dazed. She had been tumbling so fast she almost didn't know what happened just that this warm mass was pleasant. She snuggled in a little closer to Kenshin subconsciously, I mean who wouldn't?
Kenshin sensed Kaoru slipping down the stairs and despite his strong urge to step to the side and let her fall the rest of the way down he knew he should get on her good side. With his luck he'll have to stay with her for a while. Also Aoshi generally isn't wrong about the business of HIM. Aoshi always seems to know what people are of interest and what people aren't, so she could be here a while. Kenshin grabbed her falling form and held her semi-close to him; he didn't want her to think he liked her or anything. He felt Kaoru snuggle in closer and dig her face into his shirt, soaking him in. She seemed to sigh as if content to be in his arms for a while until she smelled his shirt. Yes, axe is a good smell but she knew that's what Kenshin smelled like. He put so much on she could smell it a mile away. But it was only a faint smell not strong and she liked that.
However she was snuggling into Kenshin and if she didn't get away quick he may think she was beginning to like him or something. Regardless of her body's urge to hold onto him in the cold dark basement she pulled away and opened her eyes. Kenshin realized he was beginning to like Kaoru in his arms, but she pulled away and he realized what he was thinking and mentally slapped himself.
"Sorry, I tripped." Kaoru stated. Kenshin mumbled something like 'Thank you Capitan Obvious' but Kaoru chose to ignore that statement. Kenshin clapped his hands and the light turned on. Kaoru looked around to see three different rooms divided by thin walls. One room was a small kitchen, not as glamorous as the one on the second floor but better than hers, another was a bedroom, and the last was a bathroom. The bedroom had a king-sized bed with red curtains draped over a pole above the bed. There was a walk in closet and a dresser in the large room that took up half of the basement. Kaoru was awe stricken at the enormous room that was the size of her house. Well that is a little excessive it was the size of half of her house, so the entire basement was there size of her house.
"This is were you sleep." Kenshin stated uninterested.
"This is amazing! This whole room is to myself?" Kaoru asked in disbelief. Kenshin nodded idly. "Wow. I haven't seen such a big house since I was ten." Kaoru said sorrowfully. Kenshin looked at her a little concerned at the tone in her voice.
"What happened when you were ten?" Kenshin asked surprised he even cared. Kaoru looked at him almost making sure he wanted to genuinely know not just ask to be polite.
"I ran away from home." Kaoru stated casually as if she didn't care and would do it again if she had the chance. Kenshin looked surprised.
"You ran away. Surely you went back though." Kenshin said hopefully. He didn't want to get in trouble with the cops for having a seventeen-year-old girl who ran away from home seven years ago and never went back. Technically he could go to jail if he ever did anything with her because she was seventeen and he . . . wasn't.
"No. And I wouldn't change my decision for the world."Kaoru said proudly. Inside kaoru was really shivering and wincing remembering that house and those people who never cared for her. Only her father cared for her, her mother did to but died when she was three and her father re-married to a witch who hated kaoru. Then Daddy died and Kaoru's life became hell. She didn't know why she was telling Kenshin this I mean she hated the guy. She was pretty open she told the whole story to Misao and Megumi but just because they were her friends. She also told Sano and he was a big help to her, she considered him like her older brother even if every one else thought it was more.
Kaoru was always humiliated when it came to people thinking her and Sano were "together". Sano is a baka so she was humiliated having people think she was going out with such a numbskull but Sano on the other hand was worshiped. Kaoru was pretty and smart and Sano had Kaoru and Megumi so he was a god among men but Kaoru was pathetic. It was a win lose situation and kaoru lost. Kenshin looked sympathetic towards her and she sighed.
"Kenshin. I ran away because they hated me there I had to leave. Besides I met Sano and he took care of me until I was able to buy a house and find a job which got me here so up until today my life has been good with out her." Kaoru said happily. Kenshin gave her a threatening look for saying she hated being with him.
"You know you love being around me. That's why you followed me to the park." Kenshin said walking into the room. Kaoru fumed walking behind him. He sat on the bed and she sat on the dresser. 'Very lady like.' Kenshin thought.
"I didn't follow you, I was at the park first. I think you followed me." Kaoru said. Kenshin rolled his eyes.
"Yea right you think im irresistible and you know it!" Kenshin said.
"Irresistible! Ha don't make me laugh. You look like you fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down!" Kaoru said adding a giggle for emphasis. Kenshin glared at her.
"Why were you in the park then?" Kenshin asked.
"I was at the park looking into the lake trying to unwind. Misao left me alone to talk to Aoshi so I decided to leave. There wasn't much business so I thought she could handle it on her own." Kaoru said. Kenshin laughed.
"Yea right! So you just sat down watching the lake thinking! You must have a lot of time on your hands." Kenshin said laughing.
"Oh really? So when you were waiting on a bench in the park for "some one" you weren't thinking. Wait I forgot there aren't enough brains in your head to think or you would have realized I needed to be left alone. But no you had to be a jerk!" Kaoru spat back at him.
"I may have been a jerk but you were being a bitch! You just had to start calling me names." kenshin started.
"Like you weren't trying to poke fun at a pathetic looking girl!" Kaoru said. Kenshin shut up he didn't want to fight with her and it was getting late anyway.
"There are some pajamas in the bottom drawer of the dresser. Don't bother with breakfast in the morning I'll have it ready upstairs." Kenshin said getting up and starting to walk up the stairs. His eyes were flickering from purple to amber.
"Good night. Sweet dreams Kenshin." Kaoru said. Kenshin smiled with his back to her so she couldn't see. He hadn't had some one say good night, sweet dreams in a long time.
"Night." Kenshin said as he walked up the steps. Kaoru walked into the bathroom with his pajamas and changed. They were plaid boxers and a tight white muscle shirt. That solved the age-old question, Boxers or Briefs? Boxers. Kaoru was wearing men's clothes and she liked wearing them. She walked into the small kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She brought it into her room and set it on a coaster on the end table. She tucked herself in like any other night but this bed was very comfy unlike hers at home. She clapped and the light turned off.
She let sleep capture her as her head hit the pillow. In the morning she woke to the smell of eggs and bacon, traditional breakfast. She tore herself from the comfort of his large bed and drank some water. She walked to the kitchen and set the glass in the sink. She sleepily walked up the stairs and blinked when her eyes met the smiling sun. She wasn't a morning person but she knew she should get up incase she could go home.
"Morning sunshine." Kenshin said from the kitchen.
"Shut it. Did you talk to HIM and see if I can go home?" Kaoru asked. Kenshin pretended to look hurt.
"Some one woke up on the wrong side of the bed. No, I need to wait till Soujiro calls him, I am not the one who talks to HIM." Kenshin said. Kaoru rolled her squinted eyes.
"Have Soujiro call HIM pronto I would like to go home." Kaoru said sitting down on a chair next to the table. He set down a plate with two eggs sunny side up and a piece of bacon in the shape of a smile. Her breakfast was smiling at her isn't that cute? Kaoru wasn't a morning person like I said so she picked up the bacon and flipped it upside down. Her breakfast was frowning. She wouldn't eat until Kenshin did so she knew he wasn't poisoning her. He ate his food after looking at her face and frowned. He shook his head at her and ate. She dug in and picked up her plate once she was finished.
She opened up the dishwasher finding it full of dirty dishes. She looked at the sink finding dirty dishes. "Kenshin! Do you ever clean your dishes?" kaoru asked. Kenshin walked into the kitchen and shook his head 'no' while putting his dish strategically on top of a pile in the sink. Kaoru shook her head and fit as many dished as she could into the dishwasher. She took out some detergent and poured it into the washer door. She closed it and hit the start and heavy-duty buttons. The washer made loud noises and she walked out of the kitchen. She walked to the stairs and began walking down stairs.
"Tell me when the washer is done. I don't need to do laundry to do I?" Kaoru asked. Kenshin shook his head.
"No I like laundry." Kenshin said. Kaoru smiled.
"Good, I'll just do my laundry then." Kaoru said.
"I can do it for you if you want." Kenshin said. Kaoru smiled.
"It's a deal. I'll do your dishes if you do my laundry." Kaoru said. She walked down stairs and a few minutes later she brought up her folded pants and shirt. She handed them to him.
"This isn't my shirt so you can give it to Sano next time you see him." Kaoru said glaring at an imaginary Sano. "That is if you don't mind me wearing a shirt of yours." Kaoru said. Kenshin nodded. Kaoru walked down stairs to make the bed and come up stairs to start manually washing dishes. This may take a while.
A/N: My brother's rats (hamsters) just multiplied today! I hate them but their babies might be cute. How do you like it so far? I thought the story was getting crappy so I tried to bring up the points on the crap'o'meter.