Large, wet arms wrapped themselves around her shaking form, his hand grasping the back of her head, her ebony hair spilling over her shoulders, and onto his face. Kaoru's body began to shake out of fear and her bitter tears. His already wet shirt was soaking to the brim with her salty tears.
"It's ok Kaoru. I'm not leaving you again." came a rough quiet voice squeezed out of his chest. Kenshin's head wound had stopped bleeding but he gained a few more scratches from his trek up there. He had a small bullet would on his lower left arm, and his chest was marked up with large gashes that tore his shirt apart.
Kenshin closed his eyes tightly, taking in her smell, sounds, and feel. She still smelt like Jasmine, even though she had been through so much pampering by Kessler, and she still sounded like Kaoru. Kenshin gripped her tighter, making sure she was really there and it wasn't an illusion.
"Kenshin, I missed you so much." She said her voice muffled form his shirt. She gripped him tighter, both her arms hooked under his. "I know, I shouldn't have left you alone, this is all my fault." Kenshin said, closing his eyes tightly. His chest throbbed with pain, both from his flesh wounds and from his guilt. He never thought he could miss the touch of someone this much.
Kaoru's red dress was gently soaking up some of his wetness, she was shaking violently, but she felt comfortable in his grasp. Though he was wet and shivering she felt warm in his arms. "Kenshin, I love you." She said pulling her head back a bit to stare into his purple eyes. Her tears stopped flowing, and now she was left with a red face and a sniffling nose. Kenshin stared down at her, his face dirty and scratched, but he didn't care. Her words warmed his heart, he felt like he could dance and run yet he was glued to the floor.
"I love you too." He replied happily, a broad smile accented his face. Without thinking he dipped his head towards hers capturing her lips in a small kiss. He managed to tell her his feelings through that kiss, and she smiled. Her blue eyes stared up into his purple.
"I'll never leave you again. It's selfish, but I want you all to myself." He said his eyes kind and his mouth curved into a grin. Kaoru giggled a bit, her arms falling down to wrap around his waist.
"I'd never leave you anyway." Kaoru said leaning up against him once more. The door next to Kaoru opened tentatively, and Kenshin stiffened up. His loose hold on her tightened up and he managed to move her further from the door, behind him. Kenshin was glad the door opened in, towards them so Kenshin saw who it was before they saw him. Short spiky black hair popped in, then followed inquiring brown eyes, and a young Yahiko looking around the room. Once he spotted them he smiled.
"They're here Kenshin." He said happily, until he realized who was behind Kenshin. He blushed, his mouth becoming small and his eyes wide. He quickly stepped from the room, closing the door before he could hear Kenshin thank him.
"Who's here?" She asked quickly, the love struck sparkle in her eyes fading.
"I called some friends to take Kessler." Kenshin said happily, his eyes twinkling with pleasure. Kaoru wanted badly to know what Kenshin did to him, but she wasn't sure how to ask. Kenshin unraveled himself from Kaoru then stood up. He held his hand out to her and helped her up. She stood up and brushed her dress off, as she was about to try to clean up her face he grabbed her hand, rubbed the back of it with his thumb for a moment then took off out of the door, dragging her along.
She followed as quickly as she could in a tight red dress and high heels. "Ditch the shoes." Kenshin said turning his head a bit to project his voice so she could hear him. She tried to stop to pull off her shoes but he continued to drag her along. So she just flipped them off, hopping along, it must have been a strange sight to see one tear stained woman in formal, and one dirty man with ripped clothes running hand in hand down the hall way. Kaoru had momentarily forgotten about her image and just focused on running.
Soon Kenshin had slowed down and stopped at an unmarked white door. "This is were it gets...gross." Kenshin said slowly looking at her with a concerned look.
"I can handle it, I have you." She said smiling. Though it was a nice sentiment, she was actually just curious to see what was past the door. Kenshin flung open the door so she could see before she decided to come in with him. She peered through the dimly lit room.
It was an open room leading to a long hallway of cells, the ones like what Kenshin was trapped in. Laying on the wet cold cement floor in front of Kaoru were two men, in suits. They were strangled to death, which was clearly marked. There were large red marks, almost welts on their necks, their mouths were half open so they appeared to be gasping for a breath. There eyes where open staring into nothing, foggy and the twinkle of life had been smothered from them. She frowned and looked away in distaste. "Let's go Kenshin..." She said quickly. She didn't want to think weather or not it was Kenshin that had done this to these men, he was in the mafia after all. He did things like this everyday.
Kenshin stared at her worried, he didn't want her to think he was a monster, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable or feel unsafe but he also didn't want to leave her. At her soft words he grabbed her hand and pulled her along the hallway, maneuvering around the lump of bodies. Kenshin pulled her along a small corridor that sprouted from the large hallway. There were three figures looming ahead of them. Kenshin gripped her hand tighter, he wasn't sure exactly who they were, and he didn't want to endanger Kaoru.
"Kenshin.." She whispered, glancing at him distressed. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. The figures soon came into the light and they could be seen better. Two tall men, one with spiky hair, the other with glossy black hair, the third short and fidgeting. Kenshin's grasp loosened considerably and Kaoru felt better though the figures looked familiar, but she wasn't sure...
Sano, Aoshi, and Soujiro stood there staring at the approaching couple. Sano's eyes wandered to their clasped hands and he smiled playfully at Kenshin. Kenshin ignored him for the moment and his face got serious, yet it held this gentle concern for the welfare of others and a tiny sparkle of joy. It was a strange look, Kaoru had never seen anything quite like it before. She assumed that was his 'let's get down to business' look. Kenshin pointed out the cell they were standing in front of and Kaoru's eyes followed his delicate finger to the darkened cell she hadn't noticed before. There was a figure in there, she squinted and she could make out Kessler, His eyes were closed, his face a deep red. Kaoru became scared looking at him. He was tied to the ceiling with a long thick rope, his head was near the ground, and blood dripped from several wounds on his body. His hands were bound behind him with black cloth that Kaoru assumed was from his ripped black pants.
He was tied up there pretty well. He looked dead, she couldn't handle the sight, she stepped closer to Kenshin and leaned into his shoulder a bit, trying hard not to look at him. Kenshin had been speaking to the group as she observed Kessler, and he didn't notice her until she leaned into him. He followed her frightened gaze towards Kessler.
"He's not dead, we're trying to figure out how to get in there without having to go through the ducts. There more dangerous than you think." Kenshin said rubbing his wounded stomach tenderly. Kaoru looked up to him a small accepting smile on her face and she nodded.
"Anyway," Kenshin said looking up to the guys, Soujiro smiling wider than usual and Sano winking at him. Kenshin rolled his eyes at them but couldn't keep a goofy grin off his face. "Kenshin, I got this one, like I was trying to say. Aoshi grabbed your katana." Sano said looking at Aoshi who pulled said sword from inside his long black trench coat. He handed it to Kenshin tenderly and he took it, grateful to have it.
"Thanks." He said, releasing Kaoru's hand and unsheathed it. All of them watched him as he walked up to the set of bars were the door should be. His sword was infamous for being as sharp as one could be. He held it in one hand and he swung it side ways high in the air, then again towards the floor. After a few seconds the metal made a popping sound and fell in all different directions clanging as they hit the ground. Kenshin stepped into the cell and jumped high into the air swinging his sword across again causing the large rope to snap and Kessler's limp body to fall to the ground with a loud thud.
"You called the police right?" Kenshin asked stepping around the body cautiously. Kaoru's eyes widened.
"Why do you want the police involved in this? Your in the mafia, wont they arrest you to?" Kaoru asked her voice loud and echoing. She could feel tears pounding at the back of her eyes again, she didn't want him to leave her. Kenshin, Sano, Aoshi, and Soujiro exchanged glances, it was an uncomfortable moment in which Kaoru felt awkwardly dumb. "Kenshin..." Kaoru whispered, feeling like he had to tell her something. He looked hesitant.
"Kaoru, I couldn't tell you this before, but I'm a detective." Kenshin said, staring at her hard, hoping she wouldn't get angry. She heard his words but they didn't register, they sounded so weird coming from him.
"No, you can't trick me, your in the Mafia." Kaoru said quickly, a smile on her lips as she waved it off. Kenshin exchanged worried glances with his buddies again.
"Kaoru, I'm serious. I'm a cop." He said his face stone cold, Kaoru's smile dropped.
"Kenshin, stop lying to me."
"I'm not!" He said his voice raising out of frustration.
"But, your boss, how do you explain him?" She asked curiously.
"Kaoru, this whole time we have been staking out to find Kessler and you happened to fall into my lap, giving me just what I needed to find him. My boss, is an actor, we couldn't let you in on it, you were just to valuable." Kenshin said his face still holding worry.
"You lied to me...all of you. This whole thing, everything I've been through for the past few months! Everything." She said whispering the last word. She closed her eyes. Kenshin took a step towards her, his hand out but he felt awkward in front of his friends.
"Guys, go wait for the back up." He said quietly, they all filed out slowly, looking sympathetically at him. She stood there her head bowed, and her eyes shut, small tears falling from her eyes.
Kenshin put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up slowly. "Look, you've had a very long day, I know this doesn't help. But, when I first met you, I thought you were just an angry girl, but in the time I've gotten to know you, I've fallen in love with you, and this moment became harder and harder for me to face. I wish I didn't have to lie to you in the first place, hell if I could I wouldn't tell you I was a detective, but you needed to know. I love you, weather I'm a good guy or a bad guy." He said his hand wiping her tears away and brushing her hair from her face. He leaned in and gave her forehead a light kiss. Kaoru smiled, and took his hand in hers, swinging her arm a bit.
"It's ok, I prefer you being a cop, it actually makes my life easier." She said quietly, her eyes still held pain, but he could tell she was going to be ok.
"Does it now?" He asked as she led him from the cell. They slowly walked through the corridors, when they heard many loud footsteps coming their way. A large squad of police ran towards Kessler's cell, pushing through Kenshin and Kaoru. Kenshin looked back at them angrily, then turned to Kaoru smiling. "That's my back up. They'll take care of him." Kenshin said happily, as if they didn't just run into both of them.
"So, looks like I'll have to get to know a totally different Kenshin." Kaoru said slowly as they began to walk hand in hand once more.
"I hope I'm not totally different, otherwise you might not fall in love with me all over again. But who wouldn't love me?" He asked staring up towards the ceiling as if he were on stage showing the world his beauty.
"You got me there." She said smiling. They pushed through the unmarked white door and the guys were standing outside it. They smiled at the two of them. Kenshin blushed and just walked past them, as he walked past Sano, he gave him a nudge, Kenshin looked over his shoulder at him and smiled cunningly.
They walked down the hallways of the building, and soon they saw Yahiko who smiled at them, blushing at their clasped hands. Yahiko turned, about to walk away from the couple when he heard Kenshin's voice.
"Hey, could you direct us to the exit?" Kenshin asked him, he nodded and began to walk to his right. They followed him, the walk silent, all three afraid to say something that would make the others uncomfortable.
"Did you get him Sir?" Yahiko asked curiously. Smiling at the thought of his ex-boss tied up in a cell.
"Yeah, you did good kid. You'll be a great cop when you get older, just like your dad." Kenshin said ruffling his hair playfully. Yahiko swatted his hand away laughing and smiling.
"Really? Thanks!" He said enthusiastically. Kenshin could see Yahiko really loved his dad and wanted to be a cop very badly, he was so eager for compliments and encouragement.
"He's in on it to?" Kaoru asked loudly. Kenshin's happy smile shrunk to a confused frown, then her words registered and the smile returned.
"Yeah, we needed someone on the inside. I told you this was a big operation." Kenshin said nodding.
"I guess so." Kaoru said quietly, soon they were at the front door. They stepped out into a scene of chaos. News paper reporters, paparazzi, police, squad cars, caution tape, crime scene investigators, everyone.
As they pushed through the doors all the attention was put upon them, lights went off like crazy and Kaoru was having trouble seeing. Kenshin looked down to her, then at the cameras angrily. Reporters were shoving microphones in his face and asking many questions. Kenshin held his hand out repeating 'no comment.'
A tall thin man walked up to Kenshin with short gray hair and a fuzzy beard. He had square glasses and blue eyes. "You did good. Congratulations! And this is the pretty little woman I've heard so much about, huh?" He asked patting Kenshin on the back then looking at Kaoru and smiling. She smiled uneasily.
"General Gordon, I'm your boyfriends boss." He said smiling, holding his hand out to her. She blushed and took his hand laughing uneasily.
"Kamiya Kaoru, but you knew that." Kaoru said smiling. Gordon laughed and nodded.
"Your boyfriend is good at catching guys like him. I hope he apologized for lying to you." He said giving Kenshin a scrutinizing look. Kenshin nodded quickly. He linked arms with Kaoru quickly and patted her elbow. "Yup, I apologized, and explained myself, thanks General." Kenshin said rapidly, not wanting Kaoru to get uncomfortable since he wasn't speaking.
"Wait..." Kaoru said staring hard at the General, ignoring the fact that Kenshin was uncomfortable and wanted to step away from the General.
"Mr. Gordon?" Kaoru asked, staring hard at him still. The general smiled, and Kenshin frowned, wondering what she was talking about.
"Mr Gordon? Flower shop Gordon? Oh my gosh! I haven't seen you in so long! How have you been?" She asked excitedly. The old man laughed joy dancing in his light blue eyes.
"I'm fine Kaoru" He said smiling. She smiled widely, an urge to hug him washed over her.
"What?" Kenshin asked loudly, trying to understand what was happening.
"Mr. Gordon came into the flower shop once a week and talked to me, Misao and Megumi. But, he's been in on this the whole time...Jesus am I the only one who wasn't in on this whole thing?" Kaoru asked loudly. The General released a loud belly laugh and Kenshin couldn't help but chuckle.
"It was nice to se you again Kaoru. Take care of her Kenshin, and watch out, she's a pistol." General Gordon said walking away and patting Kenshin on the back once more. Kaoru smiled gently at the General still surprised to see every one but her knew about this whole operation. Kenshin smiled widely at the General then looked back at Kaoru.
"Looks like the General is going to leave the press up to me." Kenshin said his voice sounding tired. Kaoru's body stiffened and she stared shocked at Kenshin.
"What?" Kaoru asked in a small but urgent voice.
"Just smile, they're easier to deal with right away, if you let them sit for to long they get pushy." Kenshin said steering Kaoru towards the mob of reporters.
"Mr. Himura! Mr. Himura! How did you do it? How long has this been going on? Who's that with you?" The reporters wouldn't stop firing questions at them, but Kenshin stood poised as if he was just in an interview with one person. He seemed at ease in front of the cameras. Unlike Kaoru, who found the only thing she could do, was smile.
A/N: I'm sorry this is so short and it took me like, forever to update. But I couldn't figure out what to do, then the detective thing just...came to me. And I started writing and ended up finishing it in two days.
But I do have a good reason for it being so short, since it's the end of the story I have the last chapter all planned out, so I had to end it here so I can start the last chapter how I want it. Ok, so since this is the second last chapter, I'm going to answer reviewers.
Reignashii Well, they got together, is that good? They'll be getting together more the next chapter as well.
Kasumi977 It's good to hear people like my story. Thanks!
Muffinman (well...lady) Wow, nothing was bad? Really? That's surprising, I hope you liked this chapter too.
Miharu Kawashi I hope the self pity has stopped, I know I kinda made Kaoru the defenseless damsel in distress and I defiantly didn't mean to, but I hope this clears some things up.
Thanks! Sadly, that's all! Defiantly click that blue button, I'd love to have more feed back.