Chapter 7: Love?

Kaoru POV

"This is the lounge…okay maybe more a cafeteria! We like to hang out here, you know us assassins!" Misao giggled and grabbed my hand, hauling me off to some other area of my new headquarters. Even though the face I show Misao was that of surprise, I really wasn't shocked at the place. It was much like NOIR, just a little bit more comfortable and friendly feeling.

"This is the projectile training room! Here you can improve your archery, aim with guns, shuriken throwing, and…"'

"Misao? Can you take me back to the infirmary?"

Misao looked taken back for a second, but she recovered herself in time to smile coyly at me. "Oh! Of-of course! Right this way!"

She pulled me (feeling like a dog on a leash right now…but I'll control my temper) toward an elevator door and clicked the black plastic button with the white down arrow on it. After a few seconds, a little "ting" alerted us and the doors slid open. There in the elevator stood Zanza, with his gigantic sword sheathed on his back, wearing white Adidas pants and open jacket, leaving his toned chest muscles for the world to see.

"Hey sweet thing, wanna go get something to drink…or…?" he said, his voice low and sexy, his eyes squinting in his erotic grin. Misao smiled widely at Zanza.

"Sano, not here! I'm taking Miss Kaoru around the place!"

Zanza looked at her for a second before replying.

"Hey Squirt! Didn't see you there!"

Misao scowled and looked daggers at him.

"Ah…yeah! Aoishi-kun wants to talk to ya, Misao! I was said to ahem escort Miss Kaoru around the rest of the place meanwhile, ya know!" he gave me a roguish wink.

What a flirt.

Misao looked from me to Zanza and back to me again. "Alright. Take care Kaoru!"

With that, she left, leaving me alone with Zanza, the persistent flirt.

"Listen, Zanza," I started.

"Sano sounds better, no?"

"Fine, Sano. Listen, I've seen quite a bit of this place so I want to get back to the infirmary. I kind of want to see how Kenshin is doing."

He scratched his head, dismayed. "Figures you want to check up on that idiot. Alright, I'll take ya."

The letters in big red writing on the door said "Intensive Care: Personnel Only".

"Can I get in?" I asked timidly.

"Of course! You're one the top assassins here. Plus Aoishi told the staff you got privileges as a full-fledged member of HARM. NO worries and if push comes to shove and you can't see him, I'll…"

Just then, the tall beautiful nurse that had taken Kenshin from us the night before to the ER room had opened the door and was fixing us with a glare that would shame any stern librarian.
"Hush! I know you two are Mr. Himura's friends, but he's resting right now, and he needs it! Now either you both come inside and shut up or leave this floor with your loud voices!" she sternly said to us in a hushed voice.

I was shocked. I think Sano was too. This beautiful lady is quite scary when angered.

"I think I'll enter. A-and I'll be quiet," I said in a whisper, careful to control my voice. Somehow I was feeling like a little child being reprimanded.

"Alright, go ahead Ms. Kaoru. By the way, my name is Megumi. Megumi Takani," she said in a soft, kinder voice. She then rounded on Sano and switched back to her stern voice. "You?"

Sano wasn't the least bit perturbed. I bet he's going to ask her out."

"Hey, Megumi. I'm hungry."

"What do you want me to do? Feed you? Go away you imbecile!"

I shut the infirmary door behind me as I entered the dimmed room. Behind me, I heard footsteps retreating away from me; Sano succeeded with Megumi.

I smiled at the thought of those two's evening when I saw the covered area in the infirmary, probably where Kenshin was resting. My smile disappeared, replaced with anxiety.

I slowly walked over to the sheer curtain and drew it back; the whisper of cloth was the only noise in the whole room. Then, my eyes saw purple, a deep purple. Kenshin was awake, sitting on the edge of the bed with tubes of blood and IV's dripping into needles that were perturbing from his left arm. A dim light shone on his long scarlet hair making him look so...handsome.

"Kaoru?"

"Yeah." Why was my voice all choked up?

"How are you?"

"Fine. You?"

"Pretty good."

What a lame conversation.

I walked over to his bed and sat beside him, wondering whether I should touch him. For some insane reason, I was scared to break him.

"So why are you in the dark? It's morning outside!" I said trying to sound bright.

He chuckled. "My eyes are hurting. So Ms. Takani closed all the shades."

"How are you injuries?" I said finally voicing my worry.

"I heal quick. I should be good in no time."

Kenshin POV

Good. Hopefully she won't be too worried about me. She looks different now. From the deadly and intimidating assassin to this woman who's showing concern on her beautiful face…she's changed. I took a moment to look at her while her worried face lessened in anxiety. Her hair was swept back in a high ponytail, her clothing wasn't black, but a blue collared dress that fit her form nicely…maybe a little too nicely. But her eyes were the most notable change. They were a blue and shocking sparkling. Her eyes looked confused, but she didn't look as tense as she did before.

She looked up at me, her eyes wide with confusion.

"Why did you come after me when I was kidnapped?"

I was waiting for that question. My answer…what do I say? Do I tell her the truth?

"Because…I was worried about you."

Smooth.

"Oh," was her reply.

Dammit…maybe not that smooth.

I wanted to grab her, to hug her, to protect from all her fears. I could tell she was confused about something. I have to make a move. Let me just inch a little close to her…

Kaoru POV

I had to do it. I placed my hand on his right arm, avoiding the slightly bloodied gauze on his arm. He looked at me with shock, but he didn't look horrified.

I leaned close to him, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, urging me to close the small gap between him and me.

I didn't close the gap.

He grabbed me in his arms and crushed me against his chest. I felt him wince as my body pressed against his wounds on his chest and arms, but he held me close my arms hanging limply at my side not knowing what to do but just to savor the moment. I feel so safe in his arms. Don't let go.

I felt his hands in my hair, stroking it. I finally got up the courage to lift my arms and hug him close, resting my head on his muscled shoulder.

Meanwhile...Sano and Megumi

Sano took Megumi to the Starbucks Cafe, treating her to a strawerry and cream milkshake and a kiss on her hand. She rolled her eyes at the guesture and picked a table in the every back of the crowded cafe, so no one coul dsee him with her.

"Megumi? Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?" Sano said in his suavest voice, trying to break the ice with Megumi.

"Yes, many times. Has anyone ever told you how much of a doofus you are?"

"Yes, many times."

Back to the Infirmary

Kenshin POV

God, she's so perfect! Her hair is so silky to touch! And her scent….intoxicating. But I can't force myself on her. She barely even knows me. I don't want to be rejected, again.

Kaoru POV

"Kaoru?"

"Mmm?"

"Is there something bothering you?"

I felt a rush of emotion prick between behind my eyes, threatening to loose the river of tears that have been dammed up for so long.

"I'm...confused. People claim to help me, but I don't know who to trust. I just want the truth."

"Is this why you chose to stay here?"

"Yeah…and for other reasons."

He pulled me away from him and looked me in my eyes. His tranquil purple eyes warped into bright yellow before hardening into molten gold. His face inching close to mine, our lips close. Suddenly, I felt his mouth upon mine, his tongue prying at my lips to let him through. I was tempted, but I couldn't. I knew, if I let him, my heart will change, and I may not want to find my past any more.

I pulled back, feeling his soft, velvety lips leaving a tint of moisture on mine.

"I-I can't," I said panting at the effort from restraining the urge to close that gap between us with another mouth-watering kiss.

Kenshin perched my chin up with a gentle hand and looked at me in a way that made feel exposed.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to do that for a long time. But you pulled back. You…don't like me do you?"

"No! I mean I do! You're really nice. It's just I have my priorities straight, and I don't think I can handle this right now," I said stumbling on my words. I do like him…

"Kenshin, I…"

"KAORU!"

The infirmary door slammed open, and the sheer white sheets were pulled back exposing Sano with his ear being tweaked by Megumi.

"Ouch, OUCH! See! Nothing happened between them! Kaoru just wanted to see if he was okay! God! Leggo my ear!"

Megumi looked sternly between me and Kenshin (I managed not to blush), and she let go fo Sano's ear.

"Alright. Next time Kaoru, don't let this oaf come up with crazy schemes just so you can chat with Kenshin. You know, I'm not a monster. Ask me next time, 'kay?"

Sano, rubbing his tender-red ear, laughed out loud.

"You know you enjoyed the attention."

Bad move, Sano.

Kenshin started laughing out loud as Megumi gave Sano a slap on the head that had Sano flying forward into the bedside desk. I looked at Kenshin, his laugh so warming and his eyes twinkling in the little light.

Sano regained his footing and stood up, now rubbing his head.

"Yo, Kaoru. Me, you, and Kenshin have an assignment. We'll leave as soon as that red-haired idiot beside you heals. It'll be fun! We get to hang out! Oh and Megumi," he said as Megumi turned to him suspiciously waiting for a smart-aleck remark. "Fix up Kenshin real good for this mission."

Okay, as you can tell, ALOT of stuff is happening in this story. Kenshin and Kaoru share a little moment of comfort with each other and Sano got close with Megumi meanwhile. I know this chapter wasn't as action-based as the other ones but I had to write this one the way it is. If you notice at the end of it, there is a nice cliffhanger with a promise of a fight. by the way thanks for the compliments for the previous fight scenes!

Until next chapter, ja!

-KishofWings