Chapter: 4
Dishes
Kaoru walked into the kitchen still wearing Kenshin's pajamas ready to wash dishes. She grabbed the first plate off the top of the pile and found there was no room in the sink to wash the dish. Kaoru began piling the dirty dishes onto the counter top so she could use the sink. Once she was finished doing that the dishwasher dinged and it was ready to be unloaded. Kaoru opened it up and jumped back at the release of wet hot steam coming from the washer. Kenshin walked into the kitchen because he was finished with his chore. He thought he would help Kaoru wash the dishes even though he despised this chore. What's the point? At one time in his life he just used paper plated and plastic silverware. He just hated dishes, however with Kaoru here to do the dishes for him he wouldn't have to use plastic and paper.
'Maybe having her around wont be so bad.' Kenshin thought while laughing on the inside at Kaoru's wet face. She grabbed a paper towel and whipped off her face seeing his smiling face. The enjoyment dancing in his purple eyes was enough to make her melt. She loved making people happy but she lived to make him smile. Though she had known him for a few short days he was beginning to grow on her. Then he would go and do something stupid like tell her to leave and call her woman in the same spot Enishi beat her. Poor Kenshin he would get a sever beating if her ever did that again.
Kaoru decided to ignore him and grabbed a few dished out of the dishwasher and began loading them into a random cabinet she found. Once she was done with the silverware and plates she moved to the cups. She realized he was behind her but she never realized he was planning on helping her. She reached for a very peculiar looking cup sitting in the washer when she felt someone's hand brush against hers. She looked up to find Kenshin looking into her deep eyes. She grabbed the cup but not before she lifted one eyebrow in a questioning look.
"You don't like doing dishes unless I am currently washing them?" She asked slyly setting her hand on one glass. She looked up at him seeing him just smile. She rolled her eyes at him and he moved over to the washer to grab another glass, his eye contact never wavering from hers. They seemed to be in a battle of staring. He reached for a glass and rested on Kaoru's hand, he looked down to see what glass he owned was so soft and silky. It was a hand and that hand was connected to an arm that belonged to Kaoru. Then it hit him; he had lost the battle because of her soft skin. Kaoru smiled in victory but decided not to boast she would use this against him later.
"Damn it." Kaoru thought she heard him whisper. Her small smile only turned into a large grin but she turned to the sink to begin loading dishes into the washer before he saw it. She loaded the plates and Kenshin loaded the glasses. She grabbed a plate once Kenshin thought they were done and threw him a towel. He looked at her questioningly like 'what is this foreign object?' She smiled.
"I'll wash em' if you dry em'." Kaoru said. Kenshin groaned at the thought of manual labor that did not benefit him in any way. Yea he would have clean plates to eat off of but what was a little salmonella to him? Kaoru reached to the bottom of the sink and closed off the hole. She then filled the sink with hot soapy water. She put the dish in the sink and began scrubbing the crud off of it. She rinsed it and handed it to Kenshin. He dried it off with the small hand towel. The cleaning commenced with out conversation until Kenshin broke the silence.
"Kaoru, if you don't mind me asking, why do you live alone?" Kenshin asked. She stopped cleaning and looked at him with suddenly sad eyes. He wanted the sadness in her eyes to go away and he didn't know why. He didn't want her to be sad but he quickly snapped out of that feeling when he realized it was Kaoru, the annoying woman. That's all he had to do was keep telling that to himself. She looked down to the work she was doing and began talking in a soft voice.
"My family . . . died and a woman I know tried to kill me. I left home never to return again." Kaoru started. She didn't know why she was telling him this but she was and she couldn't help it. It seemed like if he wanted to know something she couldn't help but tell him. Then she got mad because she didn't have a strong enough will to not tell him. Kenshin's face fell at kaorus words.
'How can such an innocent naïve woman have such horrible things happen to her? ' Kenshin thought. Kaoru looked at him unable to read his eyes but she saw that his mind was working trying to figure her out. She knew that look any one who she told her secret looked like that. Often, before she was able to put a down payment on her house, she had to beg people for a place to sleep. She used her story to form pity in their heats so she could have a place to sleep. They all looked like they were incredibly sorry for her loss when she hadn't lost anything at all. Would she rather be at home with her stepmother who hated her and wanted her dead? No, she would rather be on the street like her stepmother wanted. However, for some odd reason Kaoru always thought that somewhere in her stepmother there was some love or even respect, but there was nothing. Not a single care for her was in her stepmother, only that Kaoru had money and she wanted it.
Kaoru still has a silly hope she clings to every now-and-then when her hope'o'meter runs dry: that somewhere out there she can trust someone with her heart. But now it was looking pretty slim, either kill off Megumi and take Sano or live life as a single woman. Kaoru loved Sano and Megumi too much to just kill her and take him, who probably wouldn't like her that way anyway.
"Oh," Was Kenshin's inelegant response. Kaoru's head jerked up at that comment. He hadn't said 'Im sorry,' or 'You must be so lonely,' just oh. Kaoru resumed washing her dish that was half submerged in the soapy water. She handed it to Kenshin who dried it off and set it in the cabinet closest to him.
"You are unlike anyone I have ever known Kenshin." Kaoru stated after a pause. Kenshin began laughing.
"What? Why?" Kenshin said after a good laugh. Kaoru looked him strait in the eye.
"Because, one minute you have cold amber eyes and are a jerk. Then the next minute you have kind purple eyes and I feel like I can trust you. It's like you have two personalities." Kaoru said. At the last part of her speech kenshin froze and sweat dropped rubbing the back of his head.
"Of course not. Two personalities, Ha you really are a trip kaoru." Kenshin said uneasily. Kaoru rolled her eyes choosing to ignore that comment and pretend Kenshin was not schizophrenic for a little while longer. Then the dishwasher buzzed and Kaoru walked over to put away the dishes. Kenshin walked over to help her and Kaoru couldn't help but let a giggle escape her lips. "What?" Kenshin started.
"You were complaining how much you hate doing dishes but here you are cleaning dishes with me." Kaoru said. Kenshin shrugged and before they knew it the dishes were finished. (A/N: Don't ask me why I just wasted half a chapter washing dishes, it took up time.) Kaoru looked at the clock and found that it was only 10:00. "Uggg. It's ten and I still have the whole day to waste. Unless you call Soujiro and ask him when I can go home." Kaoru looked at him hopefully. He was about to comment when the phone rang. Kenshin went into the kitchen and picked it up.
"Hello... speak of the devil... nothing... ok hold on." Kenshin said in the other room. Kenshin walked back into the family room were Kaoru was sitting.
"Kaoru, I don't believe you ever told me your last name. Can I have it?" Kenshin asked and before kaoru realized that she told him information that could get her killed she said:
"Kamiya, Kamiya Kaoru," She said nonchalantly. Then she realized what she had said and whished she could take it back. She had strategically tried to keep herself from giving her last name to him. She thought he could use it against her and from the looks of it he was going to.
"Soujiro, I'm back... Kamiya... right...call me back then... she's anxious to go home so make it quick...no...good bye Soujiro." Kenshin said into the phone. He hung the phone up and walked toward were Kaoru was sitting. "Kaoru, Soujiro called and he is giving your name to HIM and will call back momentarily to see if you have to stay here or go home." kenshin said. Kaoru jumped up from the couch she was sitting on and grabbed Kenshin into a hug.
"Really!" Kaoru practically screamed into his ear. All he could do was nod his head. She released him and smiled wide and hugged him again. Kenshin separated this time afraid she may hug him to death.
'Death by hug, what a nice way to die.' Kenshin thought with a shudder. Kaoru jumped up and down so excited to go home and go back to work.
"Damn, Misao will want to know everything that happened." kaoru said her mood turning foul. "Kenshin, please if you do anything for me don't tell anyone I was here. Everyone who needs to know already knows. Don't tell Sano if he doesn't need to know and... well you wont live long if you tell Misao." Kaoru told him sternly. Kenshin thought about the ways kaoru would try to kill him yes she wouldn't be able to catch him let alone kill him but the wrath of Kaoru wasn't exactly what kenshin needed now. Kaoru began pacing the room back and fourth waiting for the call from Soujiro. After five minuets Kenshin was worried the carpet would be worn down. "How can you be so calm, if he calls and I have to..." Kaoru began before the phone rang. Kaoru ran to the phone as Kenshin just walked over to the phone. Kaoru didn't know were it was so Kenshin got there first.
"Hello... yes... Really... what... She What?!?... Damn... nothing... no I don't... why do you think... no... she doesn't have to go to HIM does she... she isn't going to be happy... she doesn't want sano to know don't tell him... yea but, never mind... Good bye soujiro." Kenshin hung up on Soujiro.
"HE figured it out huh?" Kaoru said in a defeated voice. Kenshin looked at her downcast stare and felt bad however that didn't last long.
'If you mean the fact that you will soon be a billionaire yes! Why do you put on this act Kaoru? Is it for attention?" Kenshin asked her. She looked up at him.
"What? What act?" Kaoru asked him.
"Kaoru in a few months you will be 19 and when you are 19 then your father's fortune will be yours. 'Oh Kenshin my family died and a woman I know wants me dead.' yea right!" Kenshin said. Kaoru's eyes filled with tears of anger and sorrow.
"Kenshin! You shouldn't be talking look at this mansion you should know as good as I do that money doesn't buy happiness! And you don't understand..." kaoru trailed off. All sorts of horrid memories filled her mind as tears filled her eyes. Kaoru, not wanting kenshin to se how weak she was, wiped the tears from her eyes and looked determined at him.
"What don't I understand? So your parents died, so did mine I have lived with it." Kenshin began to raise his voice. And so did kaoru.
"My mother died when I was young then my father remarried and he died. My Stepmother wants me dead!" Kaoru began getting angry with him. He continued to just look at her as if waiting for more.
"She hired an assassin to kill me for my fathers money. However, I escaped and since she never found my body she was unable to claim my fortune. I took to the streets alone and loved by no one. I faced harsh reality on my own begging different people for a place to stay every night. I worked for food and shelter. Finally I found sano and stayed with him for a while until all my hard work paid off, I got a down payment on a crap hole of a house. The house was near Sano though and that's all I needed. He is like my older brother and is the only one who ever cared for me!" Kaoru said. Kenshins eyes were teetering on the brink of Amber but remained a swirl of purple and amber.
"My parents died as well." Kenshin said. Kaoru began to laugh and brought her hand up to her forehead. She shook her head while holding it with her hand.
"Kenshin, Kenshin. That's just the beginning. Not only was I an orphan without a family or any one who cared for me, but also I had no real home. I had shelter not a home. So I bought a cat hoping that could cheer me up. My cat died, Sano was my only lifeline to the living world. He was what kept me on this wretched hunk of dirt in the sky. I became suicidal and fell into a fever and came close to death until Sano brought me to the hospital. I, obviously, lived and soon after became a happy ball of energy that I continually try to be and met a guy at my high school. I thought I loved him but I was wrong, one night..." kaoru started while beginning to cry again. She tried to stop the tears but that just made them spill over her eyes onto the white carpet.
"One night in the park he told me he had to go to Nevada and I had to stay home to work so I could feed myself and still go to school and pay bills. I lied to him saying I needed to work for my family, actually I was working for myself, the only family I have. He didn't like that idea so he beat me. Some one came to my rescue and three days later I woke up in the hospital. Just recently my life has been looking up because I am out of school and into the work force for the flower shop. I wish I had chosen the job at the bank instead because then I wouldn't be here with a inconsiderate jerk like you!" Kaoru screamed at him tears rolling down her cheek.
"So is this all still an act for attention or has my life story gotten through to you?' Kaoru asked. He looked at her; the purple-eyed side had won. She was beginning to think the purple side was so much nicer. Then kenshin did something unexpected, he hugged her. He gave her a big hug and she looked shocked. For once she was at a loss, she wasn't sure what to do. She didn't know if she should hug him back or what. Kaoru was still crying despite the semi-happy mood. The tears just wouldn't stop flowing now; it was too late to stop them. She slowly and hesitantly wrapped her arms around him as well, her hot tears quickly soaking his shoulder. She took a deep breath; she was shaking because of her bitter sobbing from before.
Kenshin slowly stroked her hair and smelled her faint aroma of jasmine. Inside Kenshin was screaming at himself for hugging her. He shouldn't hug her she was an annoying woman. 'Keep telling yourself that Kenshin.' ' I guess she's ok,' 'Ok? The woman who is staying with you for god knows how long is sobbing! And to top it off you instinctively hugged her!' Kenshin was busy fighting with himself. Kaoru laid her head on his shoulder as a few tears rolled out of her eyes. Crying so much was making her tired and it was only, looking at the clock, 12:00.
"Thank you." Kaoru said as she separated from him. 'Thank god she pulled away. If it were up to me I would never have hugged her.' the inner Battosai said. 'Ok! You love her and you know it.' Kenshin thought.
"Kenshin." Kaoru started as kenshin looked up from his thoughts. "Can I leave? I mean may I go home and get some clothes and maybe do something out side?" kaoru asked.
'I can escort you to your house to get clothes but I don't know if HE trusts you out side." Kenshin said. Kaoru nodded and walked down stairs to the first floor. She walked to the door, kenshin following her, and got her shoes. Kenshin retrieved his shoes as well and they walked out side. It was nice and sunny outside no need for coats, on the way out kenshin put on his sunglasses. Kaoru walked, leading the way to her house, silently. Kenshin was also silent walking besides her looking around. He had been this way before and recognized Sano's house, so she was telling the truth. She walked past Sano's window looking to see if he was home so she could point and laugh because of him and Megumi.
She looked through his large window in the front along with kenshin to see Sano and Megumi fighting. Kaoru was unable to read lips and kenshin knew it.
"Sano, your such a lazy dog! Then that makes you my bitch! Why you!" Kenshin said.
"What?" Kaoru asked.
'That's what they are saying. Ouch" Kenshin said as they both flinched seeing Megumi throw a miscellaneous object at his head and hit. Kaoru nodded wanting him to continue.
"Sano some time I really hate you! Well some time I hate you too! Leave it to Sano to say something like that in a battle of wits. I refuse to play with an unarmed person! Then stop playing with yourself Sano! FOX! ROOSTER! Megumi wait... I... I'm sorry... don't leave." Kenshin said as Megumi emerged from the doorway.
"You should go back in there Megumi, he seems sincere" Kenshin said to her as she spun around looking flustered.
"What are you... and you doing her?" Megumi said with fox ears sticking out of her head. Kaoru looked angry because Megumi had found them together.
"I'm going to regret this but, Megumi if you go back in there and path things up with sano when I get the chance I'll (gulp) tell you...everything." Kaoru said. Megumi smiled and walked back inside laughing 'ho ho ho'. Kaoru and kenshin quickly turned to the window to see Megumi walk inside. Sano leapt up.
"What? Why did you come back you never do..." Kenshin started seeing Megumi cover her mouth and whisper something into Sano's ear. Then Sano turned to look at the window seeing both of them clearly before they jumped and hid under the windowsill. Sano smiled even though they couldn't see. Kenshin and Kaoru jumped up to see Sano visibly mouth 'Kenshin and Kaoru are together?' Kaoru blushed as red as a tomato along with kenshin.
"Tell me you caught that?" Kenshin said, but before his finished kaoru was nodding. They both banged the window and Megumi and sano who were currently in each other's arms jumped looking toward the window. All they saw was kaoru and kenshin holding their middle fingers up. Kaoru ran. She knew if she didn't get out of there quick they would come after them. Kenshin was still slowly walking away from the window smiling at them. Kaoru ran back towards him and grabbed him by the hand running toward her house. He stumbled trying to realize she was dragging him away.
"What's wrong?" Kenshin asked. Kaoru was to busy focusing on her home so she merely nodded in the direction of Sano and Megumi running towards them. Kenshin's eyes grew wide as he realized they were gaining on them. Kaoru looked at him, watching him run so easily while, in her eyes, she ran so awkwardly. He looked at her seeing her slender legs reach out infront of her, her shoes creating friction against the pavement forcing her forward. They were inching ever closer to her house until it was right in front of them. She ran up the driveway with him slightly behind her as she had previously gotten out her keys. She was already fiddling with them trying to find the right one before she even got to the door. Kaoru almost ran into the small tree in her front yard when kenshin shouted "Kaoru, to the right."
Kaoru didn't have enough time to move out of the way but she knew it was there so she jumped over it. Kaoru's ankles were slightly scratched from small thorns on her rose bush, which she just jumped over. Blood was clinging to the bush and Kenshin could smell it. It was driving him crazy he wanted to rip his nose off from the putrid smell of blood. Even though it was only a small amount of blood it was blood none-the-less. Kaoru hopped up the step to her door and shoved the key into the hole turning it and opening the door. She held the door open for Kenshin as she rushed him inside. He was inside in the blink of an eyes and Kaoru took the time to look behind her to confirm he was inside. Sano was currently sprinting up the driveway as she whipped her head in his direction she gasped and tried to shut the door.
Sano shoved his arm in between the door and the thresh hold. Kaoru looked extremely surprised as the arm flexed when she slammed the door on it. Not much hurt Sano and if something did he grinned and bared it. "Kenshin, help me." Kaoru said hurriedly. She tried to close the door even though his arm was in it. She hoped she could make him say uncle but she wasn't strong enough, actually he was beginning to open the door. Kenshin rushed over to help her close the door on his arm.
"Kenshin, you weenie! Get out here and fight like a man. "Sano said. Kenshin smiled from behind the door even though Sano couldn't see. Kenshin and Kaoru's side of this war was winning so that made Kenshin's smile grow.
"No, I don't think I will." Kenshin said as he pushed harder on the door for emphasis. Sano gave out a small yelp as they heard Megumi whispering comforting words to him. They weren't sure if she was pulling on the door or not but it was a difficult struggle for both sides. They were acting like such children. Megumi said that Kenshin and Kaoru were together so they decided to flip them off. Sano having a hot temper ran after them and not was attempting to get into the house. Despite the strength behind the girlish looks of kenshin it seemed it wasn't enough for Sano. Kenshin had great strength but he hadn't slept well so his endurance was on the low side. Sano was able to sustain the pressure on his arm for over 5 minuets.
Kenshin could feel Sano's side winning so he looked to Kaoru who was leaning on the door. "Kaoru I cant hold him off much longer go into the kitchen and see if you cant..." Kenshin started and whispered the rest into her ear hoping Sano wouldn't catch him. She got off of the door and snuck into the kitchen. She grabbed the faucet, which was able to come in and out of the sink, and waited until Kenshin would give her the signal by running into the kitchen. As soon as he did She grinned and waited until she saw the ragging mass of Sano run into the doorway. She saw his red and white form and once she saw his brown hair she pulled the trigger shooting a rather large stream of water directly into his face. Megumi ran up behind him and kaoru doused her with water as well.
Both looked flabbergasted as Kaoru was getting them drenched. Kaoru stopped the flow of water for a minuet waiting for their reaction. About 5 seconds past so they both could get over the initial shock of the water being poured on them. Kaoru couldn't hold it in any longer she burst out laughing at the couple. They looked like a pair or wet rats, wet angry revenge seeking rats. Kenshin joined in on the laughing at the couple until they got over the shock. Kaoru realized they were coming after them so she held up the faucet.
"Step any closer and I'll pull the trigger." Kaoru said in a mocking manner.
"She'll do it!" Kenshin piped in joining in on the mockery. Kaoru and kenshin laughed for a minuet then abruptly stopped looking to Megumi and Sano who held their wet hands up in the air. Both Sano and Megumi glared in a group glare at Kenshin and Kaoru. They held their chins up high as they turned on their heels to walk out of the house. Kaoru took one last squirt at Megumi and hit her in the ass. She whipped around and looked at Kaoru for a second then she started running towards her about to claw her eyes out. Sano reached his arm out to stop her. She began clawing at his arm until he couldn't stand it anymore. She really had it out for kaoru. He couldn't keep it up soon she would have scratched down to the bone and he would have to trust in her hands to heal him, he didn't want that, so he let her go.
Kaoru didn't even have time to blink before Kenshin was standing defensively in front of her. His arms were stretched out to the side and he was looking at her with slits for eyes. Megumi stopped 5 feet infront of him and her clawing arms fell to her side. She stared at him Stunned then her shocked expression turned to vengeance and settling of scores. She grinned an evil grin and turned getting the 'don't touch her' hint and looked at Sano who had the identical look plastered on his face. They walked out of the house plotting evilly.
"We'll get you yet Kenshin and Kaoru." They both whispered as they walked out of her house and moving into his to go make out or something. Really they were going to plot but making out sounded fun, they can multi-task cant they?
Kaoru walked down the hallway to her room and grabbed a small backpack to fit clothes in. She grabbed seven outfits, not that she had many but seven was one for every day, and packed some other things. She walked to the bathroom got her toiletries and packed a pair of tennis shoes and her good pair of shoes. She thought she might need the good shoes that crossed in the front and showed off her delicate white feet. Kaoru threw the backpack on her back and walked out to meet Kenshin. He was looking at some pictures on her mantle over her fireplace, one of the only sources of heat in her house.
"I'm ready to go. Can we leave now? Kenshin?" Kaoru asked impatiently. He was looking at the pictures of Sano and Megumi, along with a bouncing Misao. Only one other picture was on the mantle, it was a picture of a small child with milky white skin, raven colored hair, and deep blue eyes, she was standing in front of a older woman with Raven hair and brown eyes. Also the man behind her had brown silky hair with light blue eyes.
"Is this your mother and father?" Kenshin asked. Kaoru nodded and began walking out of the house leaving Kenshin behind.
A/N: A little boring I know. Thanks reviewers, you all rock! Well sorry for the long wait for chapter . . . what chapter is this? Oh yes chapter 4. Well, review please, oh and those of you that read this, why is it that more people don't read this story? Is the summary bad or something? I don't know, I just know that I try on this story and hardly try on my teen titans and I have over 100 reviews for teen titans.
Kaoru walked into the kitchen still wearing Kenshin's pajamas ready to wash dishes. She grabbed the first plate off the top of the pile and found there was no room in the sink to wash the dish. Kaoru began piling the dirty dishes onto the counter top so she could use the sink. Once she was finished doing that the dishwasher dinged and it was ready to be unloaded. Kaoru opened it up and jumped back at the release of wet hot steam coming from the washer. Kenshin walked into the kitchen because he was finished with his chore. He thought he would help Kaoru wash the dishes even though he despised this chore. What's the point? At one time in his life he just used paper plated and plastic silverware. He just hated dishes, however with Kaoru here to do the dishes for him he wouldn't have to use plastic and paper.
'Maybe having her around wont be so bad.' Kenshin thought while laughing on the inside at Kaoru's wet face. She grabbed a paper towel and whipped off her face seeing his smiling face. The enjoyment dancing in his purple eyes was enough to make her melt. She loved making people happy but she lived to make him smile. Though she had known him for a few short days he was beginning to grow on her. Then he would go and do something stupid like tell her to leave and call her woman in the same spot Enishi beat her. Poor Kenshin he would get a sever beating if her ever did that again.
Kaoru decided to ignore him and grabbed a few dished out of the dishwasher and began loading them into a random cabinet she found. Once she was done with the silverware and plates she moved to the cups. She realized he was behind her but she never realized he was planning on helping her. She reached for a very peculiar looking cup sitting in the washer when she felt someone's hand brush against hers. She looked up to find Kenshin looking into her deep eyes. She grabbed the cup but not before she lifted one eyebrow in a questioning look.
"You don't like doing dishes unless I am currently washing them?" She asked slyly setting her hand on one glass. She looked up at him seeing him just smile. She rolled her eyes at him and he moved over to the washer to grab another glass, his eye contact never wavering from hers. They seemed to be in a battle of staring. He reached for a glass and rested on Kaoru's hand, he looked down to see what glass he owned was so soft and silky. It was a hand and that hand was connected to an arm that belonged to Kaoru. Then it hit him; he had lost the battle because of her soft skin. Kaoru smiled in victory but decided not to boast she would use this against him later.
"Damn it." Kaoru thought she heard him whisper. Her small smile only turned into a large grin but she turned to the sink to begin loading dishes into the washer before he saw it. She loaded the plates and Kenshin loaded the glasses. She grabbed a plate once Kenshin thought they were done and threw him a towel. He looked at her questioningly like 'what is this foreign object?' She smiled.
"I'll wash em' if you dry em'." Kaoru said. Kenshin groaned at the thought of manual labor that did not benefit him in any way. Yea he would have clean plates to eat off of but what was a little salmonella to him? Kaoru reached to the bottom of the sink and closed off the hole. She then filled the sink with hot soapy water. She put the dish in the sink and began scrubbing the crud off of it. She rinsed it and handed it to Kenshin. He dried it off with the small hand towel. The cleaning commenced with out conversation until Kenshin broke the silence.
"Kaoru, if you don't mind me asking, why do you live alone?" Kenshin asked. She stopped cleaning and looked at him with suddenly sad eyes. He wanted the sadness in her eyes to go away and he didn't know why. He didn't want her to be sad but he quickly snapped out of that feeling when he realized it was Kaoru, the annoying woman. That's all he had to do was keep telling that to himself. She looked down to the work she was doing and began talking in a soft voice.
"My family . . . died and a woman I know tried to kill me. I left home never to return again." Kaoru started. She didn't know why she was telling him this but she was and she couldn't help it. It seemed like if he wanted to know something she couldn't help but tell him. Then she got mad because she didn't have a strong enough will to not tell him. Kenshin's face fell at kaorus words.
'How can such an innocent naïve woman have such horrible things happen to her? ' Kenshin thought. Kaoru looked at him unable to read his eyes but she saw that his mind was working trying to figure her out. She knew that look any one who she told her secret looked like that. Often, before she was able to put a down payment on her house, she had to beg people for a place to sleep. She used her story to form pity in their heats so she could have a place to sleep. They all looked like they were incredibly sorry for her loss when she hadn't lost anything at all. Would she rather be at home with her stepmother who hated her and wanted her dead? No, she would rather be on the street like her stepmother wanted. However, for some odd reason Kaoru always thought that somewhere in her stepmother there was some love or even respect, but there was nothing. Not a single care for her was in her stepmother, only that Kaoru had money and she wanted it.
Kaoru still has a silly hope she clings to every now-and-then when her hope'o'meter runs dry: that somewhere out there she can trust someone with her heart. But now it was looking pretty slim, either kill off Megumi and take Sano or live life as a single woman. Kaoru loved Sano and Megumi too much to just kill her and take him, who probably wouldn't like her that way anyway.
"Oh," Was Kenshin's inelegant response. Kaoru's head jerked up at that comment. He hadn't said 'Im sorry,' or 'You must be so lonely,' just oh. Kaoru resumed washing her dish that was half submerged in the soapy water. She handed it to Kenshin who dried it off and set it in the cabinet closest to him.
"You are unlike anyone I have ever known Kenshin." Kaoru stated after a pause. Kenshin began laughing.
"What? Why?" Kenshin said after a good laugh. Kaoru looked him strait in the eye.
"Because, one minute you have cold amber eyes and are a jerk. Then the next minute you have kind purple eyes and I feel like I can trust you. It's like you have two personalities." Kaoru said. At the last part of her speech kenshin froze and sweat dropped rubbing the back of his head.
"Of course not. Two personalities, Ha you really are a trip kaoru." Kenshin said uneasily. Kaoru rolled her eyes choosing to ignore that comment and pretend Kenshin was not schizophrenic for a little while longer. Then the dishwasher buzzed and Kaoru walked over to put away the dishes. Kenshin walked over to help her and Kaoru couldn't help but let a giggle escape her lips. "What?" Kenshin started.
"You were complaining how much you hate doing dishes but here you are cleaning dishes with me." Kaoru said. Kenshin shrugged and before they knew it the dishes were finished. (A/N: Don't ask me why I just wasted half a chapter washing dishes, it took up time.) Kaoru looked at the clock and found that it was only 10:00. "Uggg. It's ten and I still have the whole day to waste. Unless you call Soujiro and ask him when I can go home." Kaoru looked at him hopefully. He was about to comment when the phone rang. Kenshin went into the kitchen and picked it up.
"Hello... speak of the devil... nothing... ok hold on." Kenshin said in the other room. Kenshin walked back into the family room were Kaoru was sitting.
"Kaoru, I don't believe you ever told me your last name. Can I have it?" Kenshin asked and before kaoru realized that she told him information that could get her killed she said:
"Kamiya, Kamiya Kaoru," She said nonchalantly. Then she realized what she had said and whished she could take it back. She had strategically tried to keep herself from giving her last name to him. She thought he could use it against her and from the looks of it he was going to.
"Soujiro, I'm back... Kamiya... right...call me back then... she's anxious to go home so make it quick...no...good bye Soujiro." Kenshin said into the phone. He hung the phone up and walked toward were Kaoru was sitting. "Kaoru, Soujiro called and he is giving your name to HIM and will call back momentarily to see if you have to stay here or go home." kenshin said. Kaoru jumped up from the couch she was sitting on and grabbed Kenshin into a hug.
"Really!" Kaoru practically screamed into his ear. All he could do was nod his head. She released him and smiled wide and hugged him again. Kenshin separated this time afraid she may hug him to death.
'Death by hug, what a nice way to die.' Kenshin thought with a shudder. Kaoru jumped up and down so excited to go home and go back to work.
"Damn, Misao will want to know everything that happened." kaoru said her mood turning foul. "Kenshin, please if you do anything for me don't tell anyone I was here. Everyone who needs to know already knows. Don't tell Sano if he doesn't need to know and... well you wont live long if you tell Misao." Kaoru told him sternly. Kenshin thought about the ways kaoru would try to kill him yes she wouldn't be able to catch him let alone kill him but the wrath of Kaoru wasn't exactly what kenshin needed now. Kaoru began pacing the room back and fourth waiting for the call from Soujiro. After five minuets Kenshin was worried the carpet would be worn down. "How can you be so calm, if he calls and I have to..." Kaoru began before the phone rang. Kaoru ran to the phone as Kenshin just walked over to the phone. Kaoru didn't know were it was so Kenshin got there first.
"Hello... yes... Really... what... She What?!?... Damn... nothing... no I don't... why do you think... no... she doesn't have to go to HIM does she... she isn't going to be happy... she doesn't want sano to know don't tell him... yea but, never mind... Good bye soujiro." Kenshin hung up on Soujiro.
"HE figured it out huh?" Kaoru said in a defeated voice. Kenshin looked at her downcast stare and felt bad however that didn't last long.
'If you mean the fact that you will soon be a billionaire yes! Why do you put on this act Kaoru? Is it for attention?" Kenshin asked her. She looked up at him.
"What? What act?" Kaoru asked him.
"Kaoru in a few months you will be 19 and when you are 19 then your father's fortune will be yours. 'Oh Kenshin my family died and a woman I know wants me dead.' yea right!" Kenshin said. Kaoru's eyes filled with tears of anger and sorrow.
"Kenshin! You shouldn't be talking look at this mansion you should know as good as I do that money doesn't buy happiness! And you don't understand..." kaoru trailed off. All sorts of horrid memories filled her mind as tears filled her eyes. Kaoru, not wanting kenshin to se how weak she was, wiped the tears from her eyes and looked determined at him.
"What don't I understand? So your parents died, so did mine I have lived with it." Kenshin began to raise his voice. And so did kaoru.
"My mother died when I was young then my father remarried and he died. My Stepmother wants me dead!" Kaoru began getting angry with him. He continued to just look at her as if waiting for more.
"She hired an assassin to kill me for my fathers money. However, I escaped and since she never found my body she was unable to claim my fortune. I took to the streets alone and loved by no one. I faced harsh reality on my own begging different people for a place to stay every night. I worked for food and shelter. Finally I found sano and stayed with him for a while until all my hard work paid off, I got a down payment on a crap hole of a house. The house was near Sano though and that's all I needed. He is like my older brother and is the only one who ever cared for me!" Kaoru said. Kenshins eyes were teetering on the brink of Amber but remained a swirl of purple and amber.
"My parents died as well." Kenshin said. Kaoru began to laugh and brought her hand up to her forehead. She shook her head while holding it with her hand.
"Kenshin, Kenshin. That's just the beginning. Not only was I an orphan without a family or any one who cared for me, but also I had no real home. I had shelter not a home. So I bought a cat hoping that could cheer me up. My cat died, Sano was my only lifeline to the living world. He was what kept me on this wretched hunk of dirt in the sky. I became suicidal and fell into a fever and came close to death until Sano brought me to the hospital. I, obviously, lived and soon after became a happy ball of energy that I continually try to be and met a guy at my high school. I thought I loved him but I was wrong, one night..." kaoru started while beginning to cry again. She tried to stop the tears but that just made them spill over her eyes onto the white carpet.
"One night in the park he told me he had to go to Nevada and I had to stay home to work so I could feed myself and still go to school and pay bills. I lied to him saying I needed to work for my family, actually I was working for myself, the only family I have. He didn't like that idea so he beat me. Some one came to my rescue and three days later I woke up in the hospital. Just recently my life has been looking up because I am out of school and into the work force for the flower shop. I wish I had chosen the job at the bank instead because then I wouldn't be here with a inconsiderate jerk like you!" Kaoru screamed at him tears rolling down her cheek.
"So is this all still an act for attention or has my life story gotten through to you?' Kaoru asked. He looked at her; the purple-eyed side had won. She was beginning to think the purple side was so much nicer. Then kenshin did something unexpected, he hugged her. He gave her a big hug and she looked shocked. For once she was at a loss, she wasn't sure what to do. She didn't know if she should hug him back or what. Kaoru was still crying despite the semi-happy mood. The tears just wouldn't stop flowing now; it was too late to stop them. She slowly and hesitantly wrapped her arms around him as well, her hot tears quickly soaking his shoulder. She took a deep breath; she was shaking because of her bitter sobbing from before.
Kenshin slowly stroked her hair and smelled her faint aroma of jasmine. Inside Kenshin was screaming at himself for hugging her. He shouldn't hug her she was an annoying woman. 'Keep telling yourself that Kenshin.' ' I guess she's ok,' 'Ok? The woman who is staying with you for god knows how long is sobbing! And to top it off you instinctively hugged her!' Kenshin was busy fighting with himself. Kaoru laid her head on his shoulder as a few tears rolled out of her eyes. Crying so much was making her tired and it was only, looking at the clock, 12:00.
"Thank you." Kaoru said as she separated from him. 'Thank god she pulled away. If it were up to me I would never have hugged her.' the inner Battosai said. 'Ok! You love her and you know it.' Kenshin thought.
"Kenshin." Kaoru started as kenshin looked up from his thoughts. "Can I leave? I mean may I go home and get some clothes and maybe do something out side?" kaoru asked.
'I can escort you to your house to get clothes but I don't know if HE trusts you out side." Kenshin said. Kaoru nodded and walked down stairs to the first floor. She walked to the door, kenshin following her, and got her shoes. Kenshin retrieved his shoes as well and they walked out side. It was nice and sunny outside no need for coats, on the way out kenshin put on his sunglasses. Kaoru walked, leading the way to her house, silently. Kenshin was also silent walking besides her looking around. He had been this way before and recognized Sano's house, so she was telling the truth. She walked past Sano's window looking to see if he was home so she could point and laugh because of him and Megumi.
She looked through his large window in the front along with kenshin to see Sano and Megumi fighting. Kaoru was unable to read lips and kenshin knew it.
"Sano, your such a lazy dog! Then that makes you my bitch! Why you!" Kenshin said.
"What?" Kaoru asked.
'That's what they are saying. Ouch" Kenshin said as they both flinched seeing Megumi throw a miscellaneous object at his head and hit. Kaoru nodded wanting him to continue.
"Sano some time I really hate you! Well some time I hate you too! Leave it to Sano to say something like that in a battle of wits. I refuse to play with an unarmed person! Then stop playing with yourself Sano! FOX! ROOSTER! Megumi wait... I... I'm sorry... don't leave." Kenshin said as Megumi emerged from the doorway.
"You should go back in there Megumi, he seems sincere" Kenshin said to her as she spun around looking flustered.
"What are you... and you doing her?" Megumi said with fox ears sticking out of her head. Kaoru looked angry because Megumi had found them together.
"I'm going to regret this but, Megumi if you go back in there and path things up with sano when I get the chance I'll (gulp) tell you...everything." Kaoru said. Megumi smiled and walked back inside laughing 'ho ho ho'. Kaoru and kenshin quickly turned to the window to see Megumi walk inside. Sano leapt up.
"What? Why did you come back you never do..." Kenshin started seeing Megumi cover her mouth and whisper something into Sano's ear. Then Sano turned to look at the window seeing both of them clearly before they jumped and hid under the windowsill. Sano smiled even though they couldn't see. Kenshin and Kaoru jumped up to see Sano visibly mouth 'Kenshin and Kaoru are together?' Kaoru blushed as red as a tomato along with kenshin.
"Tell me you caught that?" Kenshin said, but before his finished kaoru was nodding. They both banged the window and Megumi and sano who were currently in each other's arms jumped looking toward the window. All they saw was kaoru and kenshin holding their middle fingers up. Kaoru ran. She knew if she didn't get out of there quick they would come after them. Kenshin was still slowly walking away from the window smiling at them. Kaoru ran back towards him and grabbed him by the hand running toward her house. He stumbled trying to realize she was dragging him away.
"What's wrong?" Kenshin asked. Kaoru was to busy focusing on her home so she merely nodded in the direction of Sano and Megumi running towards them. Kenshin's eyes grew wide as he realized they were gaining on them. Kaoru looked at him, watching him run so easily while, in her eyes, she ran so awkwardly. He looked at her seeing her slender legs reach out infront of her, her shoes creating friction against the pavement forcing her forward. They were inching ever closer to her house until it was right in front of them. She ran up the driveway with him slightly behind her as she had previously gotten out her keys. She was already fiddling with them trying to find the right one before she even got to the door. Kaoru almost ran into the small tree in her front yard when kenshin shouted "Kaoru, to the right."
Kaoru didn't have enough time to move out of the way but she knew it was there so she jumped over it. Kaoru's ankles were slightly scratched from small thorns on her rose bush, which she just jumped over. Blood was clinging to the bush and Kenshin could smell it. It was driving him crazy he wanted to rip his nose off from the putrid smell of blood. Even though it was only a small amount of blood it was blood none-the-less. Kaoru hopped up the step to her door and shoved the key into the hole turning it and opening the door. She held the door open for Kenshin as she rushed him inside. He was inside in the blink of an eyes and Kaoru took the time to look behind her to confirm he was inside. Sano was currently sprinting up the driveway as she whipped her head in his direction she gasped and tried to shut the door.
Sano shoved his arm in between the door and the thresh hold. Kaoru looked extremely surprised as the arm flexed when she slammed the door on it. Not much hurt Sano and if something did he grinned and bared it. "Kenshin, help me." Kaoru said hurriedly. She tried to close the door even though his arm was in it. She hoped she could make him say uncle but she wasn't strong enough, actually he was beginning to open the door. Kenshin rushed over to help her close the door on his arm.
"Kenshin, you weenie! Get out here and fight like a man. "Sano said. Kenshin smiled from behind the door even though Sano couldn't see. Kenshin and Kaoru's side of this war was winning so that made Kenshin's smile grow.
"No, I don't think I will." Kenshin said as he pushed harder on the door for emphasis. Sano gave out a small yelp as they heard Megumi whispering comforting words to him. They weren't sure if she was pulling on the door or not but it was a difficult struggle for both sides. They were acting like such children. Megumi said that Kenshin and Kaoru were together so they decided to flip them off. Sano having a hot temper ran after them and not was attempting to get into the house. Despite the strength behind the girlish looks of kenshin it seemed it wasn't enough for Sano. Kenshin had great strength but he hadn't slept well so his endurance was on the low side. Sano was able to sustain the pressure on his arm for over 5 minuets.
Kenshin could feel Sano's side winning so he looked to Kaoru who was leaning on the door. "Kaoru I cant hold him off much longer go into the kitchen and see if you cant..." Kenshin started and whispered the rest into her ear hoping Sano wouldn't catch him. She got off of the door and snuck into the kitchen. She grabbed the faucet, which was able to come in and out of the sink, and waited until Kenshin would give her the signal by running into the kitchen. As soon as he did She grinned and waited until she saw the ragging mass of Sano run into the doorway. She saw his red and white form and once she saw his brown hair she pulled the trigger shooting a rather large stream of water directly into his face. Megumi ran up behind him and kaoru doused her with water as well.
Both looked flabbergasted as Kaoru was getting them drenched. Kaoru stopped the flow of water for a minuet waiting for their reaction. About 5 seconds past so they both could get over the initial shock of the water being poured on them. Kaoru couldn't hold it in any longer she burst out laughing at the couple. They looked like a pair or wet rats, wet angry revenge seeking rats. Kenshin joined in on the laughing at the couple until they got over the shock. Kaoru realized they were coming after them so she held up the faucet.
"Step any closer and I'll pull the trigger." Kaoru said in a mocking manner.
"She'll do it!" Kenshin piped in joining in on the mockery. Kaoru and kenshin laughed for a minuet then abruptly stopped looking to Megumi and Sano who held their wet hands up in the air. Both Sano and Megumi glared in a group glare at Kenshin and Kaoru. They held their chins up high as they turned on their heels to walk out of the house. Kaoru took one last squirt at Megumi and hit her in the ass. She whipped around and looked at Kaoru for a second then she started running towards her about to claw her eyes out. Sano reached his arm out to stop her. She began clawing at his arm until he couldn't stand it anymore. She really had it out for kaoru. He couldn't keep it up soon she would have scratched down to the bone and he would have to trust in her hands to heal him, he didn't want that, so he let her go.
Kaoru didn't even have time to blink before Kenshin was standing defensively in front of her. His arms were stretched out to the side and he was looking at her with slits for eyes. Megumi stopped 5 feet infront of him and her clawing arms fell to her side. She stared at him Stunned then her shocked expression turned to vengeance and settling of scores. She grinned an evil grin and turned getting the 'don't touch her' hint and looked at Sano who had the identical look plastered on his face. They walked out of the house plotting evilly.
"We'll get you yet Kenshin and Kaoru." They both whispered as they walked out of her house and moving into his to go make out or something. Really they were going to plot but making out sounded fun, they can multi-task cant they?
Kaoru walked down the hallway to her room and grabbed a small backpack to fit clothes in. She grabbed seven outfits, not that she had many but seven was one for every day, and packed some other things. She walked to the bathroom got her toiletries and packed a pair of tennis shoes and her good pair of shoes. She thought she might need the good shoes that crossed in the front and showed off her delicate white feet. Kaoru threw the backpack on her back and walked out to meet Kenshin. He was looking at some pictures on her mantle over her fireplace, one of the only sources of heat in her house.
"I'm ready to go. Can we leave now? Kenshin?" Kaoru asked impatiently. He was looking at the pictures of Sano and Megumi, along with a bouncing Misao. Only one other picture was on the mantle, it was a picture of a small child with milky white skin, raven colored hair, and deep blue eyes, she was standing in front of a older woman with Raven hair and brown eyes. Also the man behind her had brown silky hair with light blue eyes.
"Is this your mother and father?" Kenshin asked. Kaoru nodded and began walking out of the house leaving Kenshin behind.
A/N: A little boring I know. Thanks reviewers, you all rock! Well sorry for the long wait for chapter . . . what chapter is this? Oh yes chapter 4. Well, review please, oh and those of you that read this, why is it that more people don't read this story? Is the summary bad or something? I don't know, I just know that I try on this story and hardly try on my teen titans and I have over 100 reviews for teen titans.