a/n: here's the deal, I'm late in updating, and I apologize for that, but this'll be the last update until about the second week in August... I've got a softball tournament in Ohio and I won't be able to write anything... So you better review!

Exchange
Chapter 5: Decisions

It didn't take long for him to ask about her conversation with Hiko and she almost lost it. That is, she had a hard time containing her laughter at his facial expressions depending on her different answers.

"Why won't you just tell me what he wanted?"

"I'm sworn to secrecy… but I did learn one thing about you while I was in there," Kaoru said thoughtfully.

"Oh really now," he started. "And what was that?"

"I told you, I'm sworn to secrecy. It wouldn't be fair to Hiko-san if I just told you everything," she told him.

"Since when did Hiko start making pinky swears?"

"I never said he pinky swore. I said that I was sworn to secrecy," she repeated again.

"Hiko wouldn't know a secret, if it asked to play hopscotch with him!"

"Hopscotch?"

"Oh, you know what I mean!" he replied heatedly.

"Well apparently the secret tried a different, more blunt approach, because he trusted me with this secret," she answered, letting the laughter seep out of her voice.

Kenshin merely groaned. "Get in your cage."

"Pardon."

"I won't repeat myself," he growled, frustration obvious in his voice.

Her collar burned and she knew he was displeased with her decision to keep quiet. He could've carved shapes into her skin with that old katana sitting beside the couch and she still wouldn't have talked. She kept the promises she made.

The door to her cage slammed closed and she stared at him through the bars as he sorted through his mail angrily. She tried to suppress a smirk at the look of pure rage on his face. It definitely made him look silly.

"You know, you shouldn't scowl so much. Your face could get stuck like that," she told him absently as she played with a piece of her hair that had come loose.

"And what would you know of this?"

"It's common knowledge." She shrugged.

He merely rolled his eyes and sat down on the couch with his arms crossed over his chest.

"If you want to know that badly, why don't you try to pry it out of Hiko?" she suggested innocently.

"Because that man refuses to listen to me. Or perhaps you hadn't noticed," he shot back.

She shrugged again and flopped backward on the mattress, sick of the boring conversation. It's not like she was going to 'save' him, as Hiko had put it, by arguing with him. Her mind ran through a list of possible options. When he said save him, she wondered if he meant set him free of his duties, or something else… She'd have to ask him about it.

Her face flushed as she considered another implication of his statements. What if he had meant… But no, how could he even begin to think… Her mind warred with itself. There had been plenty of rumors when Tomoe disappeared. The first to emerge was that she chose to go with the Battousai, having fallen in love with him at first sight. Love. It was a complicated emotion that Kaoru had not wished to gain experience with.

She shook her head. It wasn't supposed to happen. Love or any kind of relationships past deals weren't supposed to occur. Not because it went against any kind of law, but because it always ended in tragedy. And that tragedy usually fell upon the demon in the relationship. Like Tomoe.

Tomoe had most definitely gotten involved with the Battousai and she ended up dead. How or why it came to that Kaoru was still unsure of, but it would become clear. Hiko would spill or he would count his pupil damned for all eternity. She wouldn't save him if she couldn't know what had happened to one of her dearest friends.

She would find out.

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"Hiko has requested another meeting with you," Kenshin said, glaring at her. "Tonight."

She merely nodded, choosing not to vocalize her opinion on his expression. He threw open the door to her cage, gesturing towards the bathroom.

"There's towels in the cabinet," he told her flatly as she crawled out and headed to her destination.

This suited her fine. She still had to talk to Aoshi and Megumi about Hiko and his request. Maybe he just wanted to be alone. She wrinkled her nose at the thought. He was so… There were no words to describe his actions. He had more mood swings than a woman on her period. The thought made a giggle rise up in her throat, but it died quickly. She had more important matters to deal with.

She kneeled next to the filling tub, silently waiting for it to fill all the way. Once it was filled to her liking, she muttered the same familiar chant under her breath, waiting for one of her companions to appear.

"Kaoru! It's been forever! Megumi told me what happened! I can't believe Hiko hasn't called him off yet! What's the matter with him!"

"Slow down, Misao! Take a breath," Kaoru advised, almost laughing at her friend's behavior. She missed them all so much…

"Misao," Aoshi said, easing her aside. "I have to talk with Kaoru."

"Of course, Aoshi-Sama!" He rolled his eyes at the ever present, yet unneeded honorific before turning to Kaoru.

"I take it you know that I've spoken to Hiko myself," she said.

"Yes. He told us that he offered you a proposition, but wouldn't give us the details."

"Well, long story short, the Battousai lied to my face. That deal was just a bluff to get me here. Hiko has offered me another deal with almost the same terms, but I know he'll keep his word if I uphold my end."

"Which is?"

"He wants me to save his pupil… But I haven't agreed yet," she added quickly, seeing the expression on Aoshi's face. It was the closest thing to shock that Aoshi was capable of.

"…Save him?"

"That's what he said."

"Kaoru, you realize this probably means becoming a… companion, so to speak," he informed her.

"I figured as much," she said with a sigh. "I have to go meet with him now. I'm guessing he wants an answer…"

"Ask questions first, Kaoru. Be careful," he warned before waving good-bye.

She nodded her head in understanding before breaking away. She had a meeting to get to.

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She was seated across from Hiko and the silence was thick in the air.

"Have you made a decision."

"How about I ask you a question before I answer," she suggested roughly, crossing her feet on his desk. "Just how am I supposed to 'save him,' as you put it?"

Hiko sighed deeply. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that she knew wha the wanted her to do, but she wanted to hear it from him.

"What do you think I mean?"

"No riddles, Hiko. Answer my question, please."

"Leader, it's terribly obvious that I want you to teach him that there's more to life than the bloodshed. Teach him to be happy again," he answered almost vaguely.

"Hiko, I cannot love the monster you've created," she told him quietly. "Show him life, I can."

"Kaoru, you know that won't be enough…"

"So you want me to lie to him? You want me to act like I'm falling for him?"

"Do what you must.Just don't break his heart. He's already resting all his hopes on your shoulders. He chose you for a reason, you know," he replied.

"He just wants to have a pet demon he can show off to all his coworkers," she retorted hotly.

"Kaoru, please."

Hiko was not the kind of man who got down on his knees and begged. If he was begging then this meant a lot to him. She sighed in defeat. There was no way she could turn him down. He'd always been there for her.

"I…"

"Do you accept?"

"I accept your offer, Hiko. Do not expect it to be pretty. I will cast an illusion, but that's all it will be. If you understand this, then I will leave now."

He nodded. "I understand. Oh, and Kaoru," he said to her as she was walking away. "Thank you…"

"You're welcome," she told him without turning around.

a/n: of course she accepted. If she didn't, there would be no storyline. In the beginning, when she's showing off a little bit of her playful side, you can almost tell she's going to accept... and as always, reviews are most definitely appreciated...