AN: Sorry this is late. I've been distracted by my original stories, though I knew I should be working on this instead. On another note... I'm not happy with how this chapter turned out... Feel free to point out anything that should be improved and such, be as harsh as you would like -

Always and Forever

Chapter 15- Dilemma

Kaoru dragged herself out of bed late the next morning. After a quick shower she got dressed and headed for the kitchen in search of something to eat.

The kitchen was empty when she finally made it there. Only four wrong turns this time, she was definitely finally figuring the place out. Not feeling in the mood to attempt cooking, and not really wanting to risk setting something on fire, she searched the cabinets for cereal. Finding a box, she continued searching until she found bowls and the silverware. A few minutes later she seated herself at the breakfast bar and started eating her cereal.

She had just finished eating and was washing her bowl when Tomoe swept into the room.

"You're finally up," she smiled.

"Sorry, I normally don't sleep this late," Kaoru apologized, drying the bowl. She looked around helplessly for a moment, having forgotten where she'd gotten it.

"It's all right, nothing to be sorry for. Enishi kept you out rather late, didn't her?" Tomoe chuckled, taking the bowl and putting it away. "Besides," she continued, "I think we've got just about everything figured out. You need to approve a few things, but that's about it." Kaoru nodded.

Having the wedding on such short notice greatly reduced the amount of work needed to plan it, as weird as that seemed.

"That is, unless you told him?" She questioned somewhat hopefully.

"You haven't seen him yet?" Kaoru asked, trying to avoid the question, yet knowing she'd pretty much given the answer away.

"He left early with father, before I was up even, something about business," she replied of-handedly. "You know, the sooner you tell him, the sooner you can stop planning."

"I know, Tomoe, I know. But I don't want to hurt him... I'll... I'll tell him when the moment is right."

"You'd better hope this 'right moment' happens soon, or you just might end up married to him," with that she shrugged and left the room.

Kaoru groaned, slumping into a chair and dropping her head into her hands.

Enishi relaxed, stretching his long legs out in front of him as he finally allowed himself to lean back in the plush chair.

"I'm sorry for having to ask you to work during your time off, son," Takeshi sighed, straightening the papers on his desk.

"It's all right, I was starting to go crazy just sitting around the house," Enishi joked, swallowing a yawn.

"With Kaoru-san and Tomoe planning the wedding there really isn't much for you to do," the older man agreed.

"The wedding," Enishi sighed, leaning his head back against the back of the chair. "I'm not so sure about the wedding anymore."

"You're 25 son, it's about time you settled down with a nice woman. Kaoru-san suits you nicely."

"I'm ready to settle down, but I'm not so sure that Kaoru's the one."

"If you're not sure, then why did you ask her to marry you?"

"I was sure then..."

"However?" Takeshi prompted.

"However, that was before I found out about Kaoru and her ex, the promises they made each other."

"What promises?" Takeshi leaned forward in his seat, curious about what could make his son doubt a decision.

"She promised to return to him, and he to wait for her, and always love her. At least, that's what Kaoru told me last night when she explained the whole thing."

"You think she might still love him?"

"No. I know she does," the comment caught Takeshi off-guard. "I should be upset by this... yet I find myself hoping that she does, and that she'll call off the wedding and go to him."

"There's someone else for you to," Takeshi mused.

"Yes."

"Then why don't you call off the wedding? You have as much of a right to do so as she does."

"I don't want to hurt her."

"You may have to, or you'll end up married to her and regret it."

"I know, Dad. I'll tell her when the moment is right."

"Hopefully the right moment presents itself soon," Takeshi smiled encouragingly at his only son.

AN: Yes, I know, a really short chapter... not even a thousand words... I don't like posting chapters like this, but I figured any readers that I have left would probably prefer a short chapter over waiting another month for me to finally get my head back into the story enough to write more.
I don't know when I'll post the next chapter, classes start again for me this Sunday, and I don't know how I'll be able to handle them plus writing. I'll try, and if I do update it'll be on a Saturday, maybe a Friday, but no other days.

Thank you to those few who reviewed: Mikki G, Eternal89, sapphireracoongal, and Kristy-chan.