a/n: be shocked, be amazed... it's early! so enjoy and review!

Disclaimer: If I owned Kenshin, I wouldn't be writing all this... I'd be locked in my room with him in my bed wearing nothing but whip cream and a smile... -smirk-

Exchange
Chapter 6: Strategy

She was already having some problems with this new deal. She didn't know the first thing about love. Or the customs of it. She knew about sex, but that was simply a loveless act where she was involved. She had absolutely no idea how she was going to make him believe that she was actually falling in love with him.

She supposed she could always ask Misao… She was, after all, mated. There was a flaw to this stroke of brilliance though. He hadn't let her out of her cage in close to forty-eight hours except for meals. Apparently he'd taken his master's words to heart because it seemed that he was actually doing his job. It left her with more than enough time to strategize, but she really needed to talk with Misao…

The door opened and slammed shut and he cast her a glare before heading towards the bathroom. She sniffed as if she were hurt and huddled into a corner. She reasoned that maybe if he thought he was hurting her feelings he would let her out. After two days of trying such actions though, she hadn't seen daylight.

She sighed and stared at a point at the wall. She really had to talk to Misao.

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Kenshin let the scalding water hit his skin without so much as a flinch. He was used to it. He lifted his hands to his face where he could still see blood even though they were long since cleaned by the water and soap. He tilted his head back to let the water run through his hair and down his back.

His thoughts drifted to the female in the cage just down the hall. She was confusing, but she fascinated him. The way her eyes flashed with emotion, the way her hair fell down the length of her slender frame when she didn't have it up. Everything. She just fascinated him.

Tomoe had been different, he admitted. She'd been calm, never impulsive, and kind. Kaoru was anything but. She was sarcastic, emotional, impulsive and cold. Tomoe had also been in love with him. He briefly wondered if he could capture Kaoru's heart. He definitely wanted to. He wanted his fascination to grow into something more solid. Something he could rely upon.

She would never reciprocate those feelings if they ever arose, though. He closed his eyes. She was so different than anyone he'd ever known. Not to mention she knew his master. He was not stupid. It had been evident in the way Hiko had taken to sitting up straight when she entered the room. They way his speech almost faltered when he was talking to her.

Hiko may have thought he could fool him, but it was more than obvious that he was somehow connected to her. Whether they knew each other through something strictly business or something more personal, he'd have to find out. His eyes narrowed. He hoped it was business or his shishou might not live.

He breathed deeply in an attempt to calm himself. After counting down backwards from ten, he felt relaxed again to start up his thought process once more.

Instead of lingering on her relationship with his master, he let his mind drift to they way she'd taken to looking at him lately. It was almost if… he'd hurt her feelings or something by not really acknowledging her. As bewildering as the thought was, he could find no other explanation. The expression was something new on her… And he had to admit a pout definitely fit her face. More than he cared to confess, actually.

He had to wonder just what was going on in that pretty little head of hers.

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By the time he actually let her out to do as she wished, her muscles were cramped and she felt dirty. While she'd been permitted to use the bathroom when she was let out for a meal, he didn't let her have the luxury of a shower. Kaoru wondered if perhaps he'd figured out her method of conversation.

Shaking it off, she moved towards the bathroom, flashing him an uncharacteristic smile of thanks. The door shut behind her with a soft click and she sighed her relief. She turned on the tap like she had so many times before and prepared for the short wait. Once the tub was filled with bath water she repeated the familiar process of making the connection before she was met with both Misao and Megumi's concerned expressions.

"Kaoru," they whispered simultaneously.

"We were so worried!" Misao cried. "Hiko told us that you accepted!"

"I did," she confirmed, nodding. "Although, I don't know the first thing about love."

"You aren't seriously think about making yourself fall in love with him, are you?" Megumi asked skeptically.

"No. I'm just going to pretend." She smirked.

"Kaoru, that's cruel," Misao told her, frowning.

"Whatever it takes," she told them. "Misao, I need you to help me."

"How the heck would I do that from here?"

"Teach me how to love," Kaoru said.

"I'm not sure I know how to describe it… It's… crazy and amazing all at once. Every time I see Aoshi, I get mini butterflies in my stomach, like I can't wait to see him again…" She sighed happily. "It's wonderful."

"That's a lovely description, but I don't think it's going to help."

"Hmm…" Misao mumbled, thinking. "Kaoru, haven't you ever been in love?"

"I don't do love. It ruins a good leadership. Or don't you remember Shishio's reign?"

"Oh, right," she muttered.

"Yumi was his downfall," Kaoru concluded, thinking back to the woman she saw at the party. It had definitely been Yumi. "She doesn't seem so remorseful, though."

"Why would she be? It's not like she really lost anything but him," Misao said. "It was basically just a competition between her and Kamatari."

"I've seen them both recently. Thriving in Battousai's business," Kaoru informed them. "By the way, Misao, I have something for Aoshi. Something he will like to have returned to him, I'm sure."

"Think you can send it?"

"Yes," she answered. "But not now. I'll have to wait." She sighed. "That brings me back to my original problem. How do I make him believe I'm in love with him?"

"Kaoru, I can't really describe it… If you've never truly been in love, it's hard to try and explain it to another person…" Misao said, sighing.

"Allow me to try?" Megumi suggested. "It starts with shy smiles, and sneaking glances at him just to see him. Then it's the subtle blushes every time he looks at you or accidentally brushes his hand against yours." She sighed wistfully. "It's a beautiful thing, Kaoru."

"Megumi," Misao started, shocked, "I didn't think you'd ever been in love!"

"I… It was a long time ago. He… he was human," she murmured, blushing.

Kaoru's gaze softened in sympathy. "I'm sorry, Megumi."

She smiled sadly. "It's not your fault Kaoru. At any rate, I hope I have helped you at least a little bit."

"I will use your information to my best abilities," she promised. "Good-bye, ladies."

They said their good-byes and disappeared. With a heavy sigh, Kaoru stripped her clothes, planning to have a long, relaxing shower.

When she emerged from the bathroom, he was nowhere in sight. She stretched her senses and could feel him nowhere in the apartment. She smiled happily and took this time to lay out on the couch. It was rare she got this kind of time to herself while she was out of her cage. As she moved towards the couch she noticed a note on the table.

"I will be back shortly. Don't leave the apartment."

She almost snorted at the hastily scribbled note. She couldn't help but wondering just what he was doing…

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"Shishou, what did you tell her?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business, baka deshi," Hiko answered briskly.

"She is mine," he bit out.

Hiko raised an eyebrow at his exclamation. "Yours?"

"Mine," he reaffirmed viciously.

"It was nothing that would threaten your claim on her," he assured.

Kenshin merely glared. "You know her," he stated calmly.

Hiko's eyes widened. "So you noticed."

"I notice a lot of things."

"If you wish to have her, then you must win her over. She is stubborn," he said.

"She is already mine," he repeated.

"But does she know of this?"

Kenshin scowled.

"Learn to love her then, baka deshi. She will respond."

Kenshin stared at him, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Kenshin," Hiko said seriously, "if you really want her, then you must not be as reckless as you were with Tomoe. While Kaoru isn't as frail as she was, she is still a demon."

Kenshin bowed his head, his bangs covering his eyes. "I know."

"Do you understand, though?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now get the hell out of my sight," he barked, showing him the door.

Hiko truly hoped that they would break the barriers between their worlds.

He could only hope.

a/n: as always, reviews are appreciated...