Chapter: 10
Now what?
Once Kaoru was in the house she walked down stairs quickly. She closed her door slowly and leaned against it. She slowly slid down sitting on the ground.
'Man, I've been alone and on my own since I was two. I've said 'no' to thousands of different dangers in life, and now, not even by choice, im stuck in the mafia!' Kaoru thought to herself hot tears stinging in her eyes.
'Lets not cry now Kaoru. Lets balance the good and bad. Good: I...im inheriting millions of dollars. Bad: People want to kill me to get it. Good: I met Kenshin. Bad: Kenshin could be ripped from me or killed any second. Good: If I like the mob, I could have a new job. Bad: It's the mafia. This is difficult.' Kaoru thought tapping her foot on the ground.
'If I say no to the mob boss he'll kill me. Even Kenshin can't defend him and me from the entire mafia. If I say yes I'll have to live with cameras all over and in constant fear for my life. The police cant help me, and there is a possibility that the mob boss will want me to stay with him.' Kaoru thought. Her mind was reeling with thoughts.
Tears threatened to fall at the thought of the mafia. Running around killing people and running form people who want to kill you. Kaoru couldn't even wrap her mind around what they could make her do. She shuttered.
She wiped her eyes and looked in the mirror. She didn't look bad, her skin was still beautifully pale and her eyes weren't red just yet. She stood up and opened her door. She flew up the stairs and searched the house for Kenshin.
She couldn't find him to save her life. She searched the kitchen, family room, front room, dining room, and began to search the bedrooms. She looked everywhere. She ended up sitting on his balcony leaning her head on the rail.
She was a little depressed but more baffled than anything. 'Where is that bum when I need him?' Kaoru thought. She thought she heard something down below her but she ignored it. She heard a knock on the glass door behind her. She thought it was probably a bird or squirrel so she disregarded it. But once it sounded again she turned around.
She didn't see anything but the small clicking noise did not stop. She looked all around her and above her but didn't even see any animals. Then once the small click grew louder she started to freak out. She turned around setting her hand behind her to support her.
A small pebble was underneath her delicate slender hand. She picked it up and looked at it as if it were a space rock. She found that pebbles littered the balcony and they got bigger. Then she heard the loud thud and saw another rock roll into her pile.
She stood up and looked over the railing her hair falling into her face and reaching out to the ground. She saw large smiling purple eyes looking up to her. His red hair outlined his face as his head tilted up towards her. He was smiling adorably and he had a fist full of roses.
Kaorus eyes widened with joy. "Kenshin!" Kaoru squealed breathlessly. His smile only widened at her reaction.
"Come on down." Kenshin said holding up the flowers. A broad smile pulled at her lips as her depression dissipated. She jumped up and flew into the house running down the stairs and out the doors. Kenshin barely had time to lower his head before she was dashing towards him.
Kenshin held out the bushel of roses towards Kaoru. She grinned her translucent white teeth shining. She grabbed them from him and took a long deep smell of the wonderful aroma. She closed her eyes preserving the moment as long as she could.
"Kenshin." She said quietly almost laughing. "What's the occasion?" She asked.
"I wanted to get your mind off of...I just wanted to make you feel better." He said hoping saying that wouldn't get her depressed again.
"Well actually I was looking for you. I needed to ask you a few questions." Kaoru said a smile still playing on her lips. She just couldn't shake off her dreamy mood.
"What did you want to ask?" He inquired.
"Well, I was thinking about it. And I realized that now that im cooperating with a mob boss HE has total control over me. I can't call the cops, im trapped. So if HE wanted me to be in the mafia, or...have anything to do with it. I want to know what its like." Kaoru said casually.
"Wait, wait. You're agreeing!" Kenshin asked surprised. Kaoru nodded.
"Yes, why not?" She asked.
"Kaoru, you could really get hurt. You could get killed. The Mafia is not a game." He said sternly as if she was a child.
"Kenshin!" She scolded. "I know its not a game and im not a child. I have no choice." Kaoru said her eyes lowering to the ground. Then she got a face full of the roses she forgot were in her hand and smiled curiously.
"The boss gave you a choice." Kenshin said.
"I know. But think about it Kenshin. I call the cops and not only do I have the whole mob after me but they'll catch you, Sano, Soujiro, and Aoshi. If I don't cooperate HE'll either have you kill me or HE'll kill me HIMSELF! I have to take the chance." She said logically.
"Kaoru..." Kenshin whispered.
"Technically Kenshin it's safer for both of us if I collaborate. You said you wouldn't kill me if HE told you to, but could you hold your own against the whole mafia?" Kaoru asked shaking her head. "I don't think so." She said.
"Well yea. I guess." Kenshin said quietly rubbing the back of his head.
"So just a heads up. Kessler will be looking for me." Kaoru said.
"I can't believe it..." Kenshin whispered to quiet for her to hear.
"Well Kaoru, we still have an hour left till we NEED to tell HIM your decision, what do you want to do?" Kenshin asked in an almost suggestive voice. Kaoru looked at him and shook her head.
"I wouldn't want to be late to the Mafia Kenshin. Let's go tell HIM and get it out of the way. Then we'll have all day to do what ever you want." Kaoru said walking into the house swaying her hips back and fourth.
Kenshins hands flew up into the air twitching and itching to follow pursuit after her buns. She turned around and Kenshins hands whipped to his back as she smiled a faint red hue present on his cheeks.
She winked and continued to walk into the kitchen. She pulled out a vase and filled it with water putting the roses in it. She set them on the table bending over to smell them one last time before she left.
Kenshin silently followed her in and his hands found their way to her butt. She jumped up in surprise at the contact and made a small noise. Kenshin laughed a little and he made a trail up to her waist.
She turned her head to face him her mind twisting trying to figure out a way to release her. She quickly stuck out her tongue and slid it across his cheek. He jumped back wiping his cheek eyes open in wonderment. He looked at her strangely.
She smiled her eyes laughing along with her. She almost skipped to the car just barely out of his reach. She jumped in the car over the door and bucked up. Kenshin soon followed opening the door like a regular person and turning the key.
He let his hand drop from the ignition but kept his hands in his lap not moving. He looked at her, the same goofy smile dancing on his lips. Her eyebrows shot up as she looked at him questioningly.
"What?" She asked. He shook his head muttering 'nothing'. She looked forward at the garage wall waiting for him to step on the gas. Finally he shifted into reverse and began to back up, clicking the button to raise the garage door.
They began to drive to HIS office Kaoru looking at the quickly passing scenery. Kenshin glanced at her every couple of minutes soaking in her beauty. Her raven locks were blowing and twisting in the wind. She seemed not to be bothered anymore about her problem for her face was worry free.
Suddenly Kaoru turned to him. Kenshins head snapped toward the road and she giggled. Kenshin pretended not to be able to hear her over the wind. He looked at her again wondering what she had wanted.
"Kenshin." Kaoru said.
"Yes?" He asked looking at the road and swerving past a car.
"You never answered me before. About what its like working for the Mafia." Kaoru said innocently.
"Well, Its dangerous as hell. But for such a dangerous job, I never feel unsafe. I know that if I die, it's a worthy opponent who killed me and that the Mafia will avenge my death. And I always have family. The mafia is my family, murderous we maybe but family nonetheless. Over all, I don't think it's a bad job." Kenshin said loudly over the wind.
Kaoru nodded and smiled. "So I would feel safe and I would be with Sano, Soujiro, Aoshi, and you." Kaoru said quietly that even Kenshin didn't pick up on it. They pulled into the parking lot stepped out of the car and watched the drivers take it away.
They stepped into the building an hour still left before deadline. They stood in the cold metal elevator. When the door screeched open they walked quickly out of it and down to HIS office. The same guards stood outside but did not welcome them in yet.
"HE has a costumer in at the moment. It'll be over in a minute." One guard said as they heard screaming then a thud.
"You may enter." Said the other guard. Kaoru nodded unsurely and stepped in. Kenshin followed behind her ready to leave like before. The room was the same except for the pile of bloody human lying on the floor.
Kaoru gulped and when Kenshin saw the crimson stain he rushed to her side. Once he was there he smoothly slipped his hand in the pocket of her denim jeans just out of sight of HIM. At the touch Kaoru felt more at ease knowing Kenshin was close enough to put his hand in her pocket.
HE was on the phone and HIS looming black seat was turned so they could not see HIM. Though they heard HIS rough voice scratching at the person on the other line. While they were waiting Kenshin gave her rump a light squeeze and she jumped.
Her head turned to his grinning face. She glared sharply at him but couldn't hold back a small smile. Kenshin blushed slightly realizing that in his bosses office wasn't the best place for that.
Kaoru was about to whisper something in his ear when she heard the brain-numbing squeak of HIS chair turning around. Both of them faced him and HE looked expectantly at her.
"I accept." Kaoru said quietly trying not to sound the least bit happy. HE smiled wickedly his teeth glinting.
"Excellent." HE said turning his head towards Kenshin. "I assigned Kaoru to live in your house correct?" HE asked and Kenshin nodded. "Has she been trouble?" HE asked. Kenshin shook his head glancing at her.
Kaoru was watching his every move interested in his reply. "Since you are my best assassin, she will be safest with you. Soujiro will fill you in with the information later." HE said as his secretary ringed in saying he had a phone call on line two.
HE picked up the phone saying hello. When they didn't move HE waved them away and took HIS call. Kenshin quickly pulled his hand out of her pocket and stuck it in his own. They turned and walked out down the elaborate hallways and into the creaky silent elevator.
They walked into the parking lot were his car was waiting for them. Kenshin opened the door for Kaoru and she stepped in smiling in gratitude. He walked around and slid in himself. He stepped on the gas and they zipped out of the parking lot.
Kaoru fiddled with her seat belt staring blankly at the road ahead. Her velvet hair wiped in the wind flowing one-way then another. Though it was secured in a ponytail the few wisps of hair that fell out brushed against her rosy cheeks. Her ocean blue eyes searched the road for any hint of excitement.
Kenshin searched her face and grew almost eager to get home. He thought back to the day they first met. He had been in the back alley when she came out to say hi and offer tea.
He truly thought her only a distraction at the time, a challenging, attractive distraction. Regardless of his work oriented attitude they talked. He had told her they talked about the growth of the Mafia in the city. But really he was the Mafia. He laughed. Him and Kaoru seemed so opposite and so unattached to each other at the time.
Now he was sticking his hand in her pocket. If she hadn't gone out for a walk by the pond that day Kenshin probably wouldn't have realized how special she really was. He pulled into his garage and they jumped out walking into the house.
Kaoru sighed not even remembering what she had said before they left and plopped down on the big comfy couch. She smiled and leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She looked so peaceful when she did that. She didn't look tired but almost like she felt complete.
Kaoru had felt better now that she told the boss everything but remembered what HE had said. She jumped up in anticipation. "Kenshin! Call Soujiro." Kaoru said quickly.
"Why?" Kenshin asked annoyed stepping close to her.
"I want to know if there is something we need to do. What does the boss have to say?" Kaoru asked as if Kenshin knew.
"Fine." He said reluctantly as he shuffled into the kitchen.
"I don't think He'll have called Soujiro yet though." Kenshin called back. He dialed Soujiro's number and began to talk.
"Did HE call you...Really...Call me when he does." Kenshin said. "Later." He hung up the phone and looked at Kaoru.
"HE didn't call Soujiro, he said to wait for him to call." Kenshin said. Kaoru looked disappointed but bounced back and the same unrelenting smile was plastered on her face.
"Well, that's ok." Kaoru said.
"What do you want to do now?" She asked as a wave of relief washed over Kenshins face.
'I thought she would never ask.' He thought.