a/n: heh, it's a week late again... so sorry... you know my excuses by now... but don't forget to review! They inspire me!

Disclaimer: Soujiro doesn't live in my bed. I swear it. Neither do any of the other RK characters. Pinky swear.

Exchange
Chapter 13: Possession

Soujiro smiled serenely, inhaling the scent of jasmine.

"She'll be here soon, won't she Anji-san?"

The stoic man nodded, but never stopped wiping the counter he was stationed at. Soujiro sighed as if his lack of speech aggravated him. Anji knew it didn't; nothing really bothered the demon boy. He was by far the most confusing individual he'd ever worked with. Even more so than Shishio.

Soujiro grinned when the bell on the shop's door tinkered. He looked up and his grin grew.

"Kaoru-san. I've been expecting you," he told her easily.

"I'm sure," she answered, strolling in casually. "Anji-san," she acknowledged.

"Kaoru-san." He nodded.

"Kaoru-san, what brings you here today?"

"You know why I'm here," she answered easily as she slid into a booth. "But before we get into that, I have a question for you."

"Yes?"

"Why a diner?"

Soujiro laughed. "We were being tracked. It makes sense to change location every few months when you work in our line of business."

"Point taken. Now," she started, seriously this time, "Where is he?"

"I'll assume you're talking about Enishi," Soujiro said cheerfully.

Anji glanced towards Soujiro and then at Kaoru. "He was here."

She closed her eyes for a bit longer than a standard blink. "When?"

"After you talked with him," Anji answered evenly. "I think perhaps you angered him."

"I might've," she replied.

"Kaoru-san, he's retreated. I can't pick up his ki anywhere within the city or the underworld," Soujiro told her, his light eyes gazing into hers. "He could strike at any time."

"Shit," she breathed. "I thought maybe he'd have cooled off a bit…"

"I'm afraid Enishi just isn't like that," Soujiro said.

"I know." She sighed. "I really didn't want to end this violently."

"Enishi had other plans," Anji said.

"I trust you'll visit soon, Kaoru-san?" Soujiro asked as he walked her to the door.

She smirked. "Only if something big happens. Otherwise, I like to keep your location a secret."

"I understand."

"Bye, guys!"

-------------------------------

Kaoru sighed deeply, preparing for the storm she knew she was going to face before she opened the door. She turned the knob and pushed it slowly as if she were afraid of what awaited her. Kenshin was sitting on the couch staring into the fire, but his eyes flickered up when he heard the door open.

"Kaoru," he said coldly.

"Kenshin," she responded with just as much ice in her voice.

"Where've you been?" he demanded, standing up.

She shut the door behind her as she came in. "I don't believe I have to report my daily activities to you."

He growled. "I think I deserve to know where you've been for the last twelve hours."

Kaoru sighed. "It was nothing important."

"Since you were gone so long, I'd think it was pretty important to you," he retorted. "Why won't you just tell me?"

"It has nothing to do with you."

"So that means I don't deserve to know?"

"It was just a friend," she finally said, rubbing her temples.

"Just a friend?"

"Yes," she growled unhappily.

Without giving him a chance to come up with an answer she walked past him and towards the hall, intending to take a long shower to help ease her pounding head.

"Kaoru," he started, walking down the hall after her. "I'm sorry."

She froze before slowly turning around to face him, something akin to surprise flickering though her blue eyes. "What?"

He sighed and bowed his head; a sure sign that he didn't like what he was doing, but knew he had to. "I said I was sorry. It wasn't my place to push you into answering."

"Damn straight," she muttered.

His hand reached out to wrap around her elbow. Her eyes dropped down to where his hand was touching her.

"Don't run away from me," he asked, raising his head to reveal shadowed amber eyes.

She didn't know what to say to that. Her mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. His other hand wrapped around her other elbow and pulled her closer until he was hugging her. She stared at the wall behind his back, wondering what she was doing. She wasn't supposed to be running her hands up and down his back, but they seemed to have a mind of their own…

He buried his face in her neck and sighed again. She shuddered against him when his hot breath coasted along her bare skin.

"Kenshin… I…"

"Shhh…" he whispered.

Her heart skipped a beat and she knew what he intended to do a split second before he did it. His lips touched her skin and she bit her lip to keep the small whimper from escaping her. When his tongue flicked out, she bit through her lip and was still unable to prevent a tiny whimper from getting out. She felt his lips curve into a smile against her and she put her hands on his shoulders, unsure whether she should push him away or welcome his touch.

Undecided, she just let them rest where they were. Her breathing became labored when his teeth started to nip at her neck. She cried out when he bit into her skin harder, making sure that there was a mark of passion to prove his actions. Her hands tightened to ball in the fabric of his shirt before he moved his hands up to grasp her wrists in his hands.

He lifted his head from her neck to observe the effects of his work. Her eyes were dilated and her breathing was irregular. A feral grin curved his lips and he removed her hands from his shirt before leaning his head close to her ear.

"You belong to me," he whispered fiercely, "and that means that I want to know everything about you, Kaoru. Everything."

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