DEEP SEA

Disclaimer: This is so unnecessary. Will someone say it for me?

World: …

Kaoru Gal: Fine, be that way! See if I care!

World: …

Kaoru Gal: I don't own Kenshin…

World: …

Kaoru Gal: On with the chapter.

"What is it?" the young woman asked, her sea blue eyes staring at the pool suspiciously.

"It's a bathtub. Well it's supposed to be anyway, big enough to be a mini pool." The maid answered turning the golden taps off when the soapy water reached the rim.

True enough this 'bathtub' was the size of a small pool built into the ground deep enough that someone the size of Kaoru wouldn't be able to stand in it without the water rushing over her head. Maybe it was ridiculously large but it was undeniably beautiful, shaped as a large white shell with fancy gold taps along the sides. It fit perfectly in with the just as large and eye catching room with white marble floor. It was enough to make Kaoru sick.

"Are all the bathrooms like this?" she asked in disgust gazing into a pearl edged mirror.

Her friend, Misao, flushed slightly in embarrassment. "All of them except the servant's of course." She finished rubbing her stained apron nervously.

"Really?" Kaoru asked turning her steady gaze back to her.

"They're kind of crappy," Misao, muttered, "Oh! I meant to say that they are just not as grand but are perfectly suitable for someone of my station!" she added hurriedly knowing she spoke out of turn.

Kaoru took no notice of her friends discomfort and dipped a slender foot into the steaming water then drew back immediately like she had been burned.

"I'm sorry! Was it too hot?" Misao apologized dipping her hand in to check.

"No, it's just…warm." Kaoru explained staring strangely at this foreign water.

"It's supposed to be warm."

"Really? I don't think I'll ever grow used to the customs on land."

"It's not really a custom. Well in a way it is I guess. You could say it is, anyway your new clothes are on the counter." Misao said nodding to the blue marble counter.

Misao bowed giggling and backed out of the room.

Kaoru stared at the closed door for a moment before stripping the gaudy dress off of her and lowering her self into the tub. The water wasn't pure, it was hot and soapy making her feel confined and numb. But it was water all the same, something she hadn't felt in weeks now, so she took pleasure in it anyway.

Another week had passed and she had failed in finding her belt. Kenshin smiled to himself. Soon months will pass, then years, and she'll forget that she ever was a mermaid to begin with.

He glanced at a grandfather clock and smirked. It was around the time Misao should be preparing Kaoru's bath.

He sped up as he climbed the wide staircase to the 3rd floor, her floor.

A couple minutes later he found himself right outside her bathroom door. Silently he crept in and leaned against the wall watching her. Lucky for him her back was facing him and he was happy to just watch her bare back contrasting against damp black locks.

"I know you're there." Kaoru said without turning her head around to face him.

Kenshin started then grinned even though she wouldn't see it. "Smart girl, how'd you know?"

"With all that noise you were making how couldn't I?" she said smoothly wring her hair.

"You having fun here?"

"Like hell I Am." She replied in a sarcastically cheerful tone.

"I see, I see. Have you missed me yet?" He commented.

"But of course. I mean to say, what would hell be without the devil?" she said dryly.

"Ouch. You hate me that much?"

"I hate all men." Kaoru said with anger clear in her voice.

"Why?" Kenshin asked unusually interested in her past. A moment of silence passed between them broken only by the occasional ripple made when Kaoru shifted.

Kenshin assuming she wouldn't answer his question opened his mouth to say something, only to be broken off by her small yet firm voice.

"Because that bastard took my mom away. Dad shed his sealskin and left to find her, they killed him. As for my mom she could still be alive for all I know." There was so much bitterness and grief in her words it made him see her completely differently. She was no longer the cold beauty mermaid who ruled the seas. No, she was a lost suffering girl forced from her only comfort of home and made to live on a completely alien land with the race that made her life hell, a deep overwhelming feeling spread through him as he watched her shuddering form.

"Not all men are like that." He whispered.

She turned her head towards him and glared at him with her big azure eyes flaming. "Like you're any proof of that." She hissed at him. At once the strange feeling disappeared inside him and was replaced by one he knew quite well. But for some reason he just wasn't in the mood for teasing her today. He got up and walked to the door but her soft voice stopped him.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

He turned and saw a tear rolling down her flushed cheek. It landed with a small chime before the soapy water swallowed it up.

Then he turned and raced out.

"Why am I doing this?" he asked himself as soon as he reached his own quarters. The answer came to him immediately, but as he waited for him self to shiver at the thought of touching her nothing happened. He felt disgusted with himself.

What had happened between him and her was something he had definitely not planned on happening. When he planned this he never cared about her past, how she felt, and why she felt that way. Then she told him.

Kenshin sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He felt ashamed for black mailing her, but he didn't want to let her go either.

He turned around quickly upon hearing a timid knock. "Yeah?" he called out annoyed.

The door opened and Kaoru stepped in and closed the door behind her.

Kenshin couldn't help but feel more resentful on letting her go when he laid his eyes upon her again. She was truly radiant. Her black hair clung to her face, small droplets of water dripped down her locks making them shinier then they were before.

Her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the bath and her eyes held the same shimmering gold flicks as she gazed at him wearily. She was wearing a simple off white dress, which reached, to her knees. A pale blue bow was tied around her waist, the ends of it brushing against her bare ankles.

"What?" he asked returning his gaze to her face.

"I've looked and searched your 'castle' and I have not found even a clue to where my belt is. You haven't destroyed it have you?" Kaoru asked suspiciously.

"No, are you saying you give up." Kenshin asked her in surprise.

She made a face. "Hell no! What do you take me for? I'm just saying, I'm going to continue searching but when you know it's right please return it to me." She whispered bowing her head.

He stood stone still and stared hard at her bent form.

She straightened. "Maybe you were right about not all men being jerks. But you'll have to prove that to me before I believe it." She turned around and opened the door but he slammed it shut.

"Prove it?" he asked her with one hand still resting on the door as he towered over her.

Kaoru shrunk away from him but nodded. "If you can prove that then maybe this little mermaid won't hate you so much." She said imitating his smirk as she opened the door again and sashayed her way out of the room.

"Any luck?" Misao asked her scrubbing the dishes with Tae while Kaoru sat on the table swinging her legs back and forth.

"None." She sighed.

"Well how's Himura-san?"

"Not bothering me." Kaoru said her eyes furrowing in a confused way.

"I think you've given him something to think about." Misao laughed as she blew some soap bubbles at Kaoru.

Kaoru smiled weakly. "You think? I mean he hasn't tried anything for a while now. I think he's up to something."

Misao glanced up. "Maybe he's changing."

Kaoru looked at the floor for some time before answering. "Maybe he is, maybe he is."

'He has been acting differently.' Kaoru thought as she stared up at the starry sky. She was laying down on the large stone balcony thinking.

"Maybe he did take what I said seriously." She considered out loud.

"You talking about me?" a voice chuckled from above her.

Kaoru tensed and looked up. Kenshin was kneeling down on the roof above her grinning down.

"Why would I talk about you?" she said unconvincingly.

"Maybe because you're lusting for me." He smiled jumping down onto the railing.

Kaoru raised her eyebrows. "I think you're a little confused."

He just smiled again and started walking back and forth on the railing like it was a balance beam. Kaoru sat up and watched him go back and forth. "So where have you been these days?"

He looked up surprised that she was actually asking him a question. "Missed me already?"

"No I was just curious."

"Yeah sure. Glad you missed me because I missed you." He said shooting her a glance telling her that he meant more then he said.

"And here I thought you changed."

"I have." He said turning around forward to face her but then his feet stumbled and before he knew it he was waving his arms around trying to regain balance.

"Oh my god!" Kaoru gasped, after all they were on the third floor. She rushed towards him and threw her arms around his waist trying to steady him. He grabbed her head trying to steady him self but instead he went falling forward right onto her.

"Aw shit." Kaoru cursed blinking her eyes open. Kenshin was on top of her, crushing her body against his. He slowly propped himself up on his elbows and gazed into her eyes.

She started breathing faster and felt her cheeks heat up. He was moving closer, she couldn't move.

"Don't…" she murmured closing her eyes as he pressed his lips against hers. Without realizing it her hands were snaking around his neck pulling him closer. Her heart beat faster and faster as he stroked her cheek with his thumb while gripping her chin. His other hand was running through her hair making her sigh against his mouth.

This was all wrong, she thought vaguely moaning as he ran his hands up and down her back.

Finally he stopped and came up for air letting them both inhales deep breaths. Her eyes were fluttering open as she registered what he was doing. He was scooping her up in his arms and was carrying her to her room. Dumping her on her bed he climbed on top of her and started kissing her feverishly.

"No…stop…" she mumbled half-heartedly.

"I can't." he whispered into her ear.

He kissed her lips again then pulled back to look at her.

Her eyes fluttered open and revealed her deep-sea blue eyes filled with nervousness and something he couldn't name. He couldn't help but stare into those soulful eyes.

"I'm sorry." He muttered pulling himself out of a trance. He rolled off of her and got up. Kaoru blinked twice in surprise.

"What?"

"You told me to stop. I'm sorry."

Kaoru stared at him in a disbelieving kind of way as her pulse steadied itself. She rubbed her head as she realized what she had almost done and felt her self blush. "I…I…" she started but Kenshin cut her off.

"Shhh. Go to bed now." He said opening her door.

"Good night." She whispered to him.

He smirked. "Good night." And he turned off the light.

Kaoru Gal: What do you guys think about it? Huh? I need some extra encouragement on this one!

REVIEWS

Samantha Waters: I can't help it; I have to answer the reviews!

RavenC: Really? That's so awesome! That you love all my stories I mean.

Kagomefan: I love this story too. Sighs

MuSiCaDdIcT RYE: Rox my sox!

Kenjiniki: Hey thanks! I'm not sad! It's good getting reviews like that so I know what to work on.

fantasy angel victoria: Oh that's not weird. I like that too, we can be weird together!

BLONDE GOTH: Haha! You're reviews are fun to read because they're so long! Yeah that vase was shit ugly, I mean it was pink for cryin' out loud!

Xujin: Yeah I know. Heehee!

KatsunoCZ: You really think so:Tears: I feel the love!

AmoriGoddessOfTheEarth: Hey! Nicer name, just as long though.

ChibiSakura: Thank you! I did a good job right?

HazelEyed Freak: Of course I want you to die of anticipation...its part of my plan on world domination.

Deus X Machina: Finally someone says this story is original! You've earned a kiss:Readers: ewwww:

Miko Kagome Archer: Thank you! I made this one extra long and updated it faster to make up for the shortness of last time.

ARIEL: you thought it was funny? Thanks!

Samantha Waters: I can't help it; I have to answer the reviews!

RavenC: Really? That's so awesome! That you love all my stories I mean.

Kagomefan: I love this story too. Sighs

MuSiCaDdIcT RYE: Rox my sox!

Kenjiniki: Hey thanks! I'm not sad! It's good getting reviews like that so I know what to work on.

fantasy angel victoria: Oh that's not weird. I like that too, we can be weird together!

BLONDE GOTH: Haha! You're reviews are fun to read because they're so long! > Yeah that vase was shit ugly, I mean it was pink for cryin' out loud!

Xujin: Yeah I know. Heehee!

KatsunoCZ: You really think so:Tears: I feel the love!

AmoriGoddessOfTheEarth: Hey! Nicer name, just as long though.

ChibiSakura: Thank you! I did a good job right?

HazelEyed Freak: Of course I want you to die of anticipation...its part of my plan on world domination.

Deus X Machina: Finally someone says this story is original! You've earned a kiss:Readers: ewwww:

Miko Kagome Archer: Thank you! I made this one extra long and updated it faster to make up for the shortness of last time.

ARIEL: you thought it was funny? Thanks!

pink spider: Thank you! I like your name even though I'm scared of spiders. (Sad)

nikki: Thanks! I'm glad you thought it was funny! I was trying to make it funny.

Drac-frst: Why would I go for K/S? Do you think I had Kenshin like her too quickly?

Kaori-Angel: Kenshin's less scary in this one, but he's gonna go on and off with the scariness

Anonymus T: Thanks for reviewing! I know they're short I'm trying to change that.

Aura Black Chan: Sorry I like Oreos better. :Snatches bag:

Kitsune's Grrl: Thank you! I like Kaoru's wicked side too, that's why I was side because I couldn't use it in this chapter.

half-breed-demon-fox: Thanks! Hope you like this chapter, I did!

Kairi7: Haha! You said I have an ingenious mind! I feel so flattered! Thank you for the really awesome review! Rock on!

Brittanie Love: Yeah, sorry I haven't reviewed your story in like forever!

Review please