AN: I've made a few changes to chapter 3. I noticed a few mess-ups while re-reading it. You might want to go back and read it again……

Always and Forever

By: Mika Saito

Chapter 4- A Warning and a dream

Enishi soon found that it would have been easier on his sanity to have stayed with Koshijiro for the evening. Kaoru's friends were, to say the least, energetic and loud. The evening was spent mostly listening to what appeared to be the normal arguments, if Kaoru's reactions to them were anything to follow, which often erupted between Sano and Misao. Megumi and Kaoru were deep in conversation about something, Enishi could not tell what, while Aoshi, who had not spoken a word since he had arrived, watched him closely; and his gaze was starting to grate on Enishi's nerves.

Kaoru laughed at something Megumi had said, drawing everyone's attention to her. Megumi was giving her a worried look.

"What's so funny Jou-chan?" Sano smiled at the dark-haired women, though the concerned look in his eyes showed that he had an idea of what the conversation had been.

"It doesn't concern you Sano." Kaoru answered carefully while suppressing another laugh. With a tired sigh, she glanced at the clock, then at Enishi. "It's getting late, we should be going." Speaking quietly Kaoru signaled the waiter for the check.

Enishi went to pay the bill at the counter while everyone stood up and headed outside. Aoshi grabbed Kaoru's arm and pulled her away from the group, of whom only Misao noticed; Megumi and Sano being to engrossed in each other to pay much attention.

"Kaoru, something doesn't seem right about Yukishiro-san." He said simply, not being one to sugar coat anything for anybody.

"You barely know him Aoshi." Kaoru raised a hand to stop Aoshi from protesting. "You're good at judging someone's character, I know that Aoshi, but Enishi is different, trust me. I think I would know if the one I'm going to marry is hiding something." With that said she pulled Aoshi back to the group just as Enishi stepped out of the restaurant.

"It was good to see you all again." Kaoru told her friends as she hugged them good-bye. "I'll try to call keep in contact this time." She sent a wry smile at Aoshi, opting to nod at him instead of trying to give him a hug.

"It was nice meeting you." Enishi nodded at them before helping Kaoru into his car and crossing around to climb into the driver seat.

"So what do you think of them?" Kaoru asked, laughter in her voice and in her eyes as she watched his emotions play over his face.

"They were… energetic." He glanced at Kaoru. "But nice."

Kaoru smiled and leaned back in her seat, her mind going over the evening, replaying every moment. Closing her eyes as her mind drifted towards her friends and the years they had spent together growing up, she dozed off.

Kaoru sat in class bent over her notebook, oblivious to her friends questioning looks. When the teacher called her name, she looked up, confused. The teacher repeated the question and Kaoru hesitantly answered. The teacher smiled at her then went back to lecturing the class while Kaoru bent over her notebook again.

When the bell rang Kaoru put her books in her bag, minus her open notebook, and waited for her friends. When they approached her desk, she held up her notebook for them to see what she had been working on; A picture of sakura trees, petals floating on a gentle breeze. Misao pulled the notebook out of Kaoru's hands.

"This is gorgeous Kaoru-chan!" Misao moved back as Kaoru grabbed for the notebook, and flipped through the pages. It was filled with drawings, some of people, some of landscapes or objects.

Kaoru snatched the notebook back just as Misao saw a picture of Kenshin, whom happened to have been standing behind her looking over her shoulder.

"Those are really good," Kenshin smiled gently at Kaoru, who blushed as she put the notebook away. Mumbling a thank you Kaoru led the way out of the classroom.

"So what are your plans for the weekend?" Sano draped his arms across Kenshin and Kaoru's shoulders.

"Why?" Kaoru asked, shoving his arm off her. Sano pretended to look hurt for a moment before grinning again.

"I was thinking that we could get together, go see a movie or something." He shrugged.

"We should," Misao jumped at the idea. Kaoru laughed at her friends' eagerness.

"I'm free. My dad's going to be away all weekend, so as long was we don't destroy the place too much," she glared at Sano, "then we could meet at my house." Everyone agreed and went their separate ways. Misao to find Aoshi, Sano to find Megumi, and Kenshin and Kaoru were left to walk home by themselves.

Kaoru woke when Enishi gently shook her shoulder. She smiled groggily at him when he unbuckled and eased her out of her seat, carrying her into the house and laying her on her bed, pulling the covers up to her chin.

"Goodnight Kaoru." He whispered as he kissed her temple and backed out of the room.

"Night" Kaoru mumbled, snuggling deeper into the soft bed.

AN: ok, I know it's been a long time, and I'm surprised that anyone is still reading this…. But now that I've graduated from high school, my college classes don't start for another 2 months, and the anime convention is out of the way for another year (making costumes for a group of friends takes a lot of time, lol), I have plenty of free time to work on this. I will not abandon it, I promise that much, but I don't know how often I'll update.