DEEP SEA

Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin and I'm saving up for an ipod so don't sue! Or I'll find you…

Soujiro: She's really desperate, huh?

Kenshin: It's kind of sad.

Angel: But it's funny.

Luchi: Mostly funny.

Kaoru Gal: shut up!

Kenshin: Just start the chapter!

Morning sunlight streamed into the halls and bedrooms as the birds sang their chorus.

"Milady?" a timid voice penetrated the quiet air as she knocked politely on the grand oak door.

A young woman tensed as she sat in her chair in front of the large window, thrown open, coaxing the gentle breeze to come in. The sun flitted across the lady's sea-black hair, her eyes so blue it rivaled that of the ocean, her skin as white as sand. "Where is Misao?" her voice caressed the air.

The maid shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she rubbed her arms nervously. "She is on kitchen duty, milady."

Kaoru finally turned to give the maid an exasperated look. "Why? She was assigned to me, wasn't she?"

"Aye…I mean yes," the girl stammered, "Milady." She added hastily.

"Why are you here then?"

"Himura-sama has assigned me to assist you in her place…milady."

"Oh, has he now…" Kaoru said her eyes narrowing, and for a moment the young maid was sure she saw a look of warmth flick across her stony features.

"Yes, milady." The girl curtsied, her light brown hair flopping.

"You're excused."

"Milady?" the girl asked fighting to hide a shocked look.

"What now?" Kaoru snapped turning back to gaze at her home.

"Surely you are not saying that you're dressing yourself?" the maid so politely.

"That's what I'm saying."

The maid at a loss of words curtsied clumsily and quickly stepped out of the room.

'Weird one she is! Never met one of the likes of her, I haven't,' the maid thought closing the door behind her softly, 'Maybe never will again, creatures such as her don't belong here, they don't.'

Kenshin frowned as he heard the news. Kaoru hadn't left her room since…that night. The maid he had assigned to her informed him of how she had dismissed her.

He ran his fingers through his long hair and sighed. He was going o have to talk to her. Lately he hadn't talked to her, looked at her even. It was just too…awkward and made him feel strangely.

Made him feel something strange and different every time he saw her every time he heard her. And whatever he felt it wasn't lust, maybe pity…sympathy, but not lust. He was sure.

"Whatcha doin'?" Sano asked spotting Kenshin leaning wearily against the white paneled hallway wall.

"Noticing how good looking I am."

"No really!"

"Really."

"Really ugly."

Kenshin scowled, Sano grinned.

"Hey! Isn't that Mermaid girl's room?" Sano exclaimed pointing to the white oak door next to Kenshin.

"Yeah I guess." Kenshin shrugged.

"Haven't seen her for awhile." Sano said slowly turning the gold handle of her room. Kenshin didn't stop him.

"God she looks like shit." Sano swore.

Kenshin glanced and, though he wouldn't have used Sano's term for it, he had to agree.

She was sitting perfectly still, like a statue, in her wooden chair, her hair loose and contrasting against her white robes. Her blue eyes were fixed on the sea before her, the gentle waves reflected in her big-circled eyes.

She was looking just as lovely, but more strained and had a starving look to her.

"I can't believe you."

Kenshin tore his eyes away from her and glanced at Sano. "What?"

"Have you ever even spared one thought to her of how she might feel?"

"Did you spare one thought of how I might feel when you said that?" Kenshin shot back wiggling his eyebrows.

"Making an impossible bargain with her!" Sano continued loudly.

"It's not impossible." Kenshin interrupted.

"Nearly. Your house…no I mean CASTLE is huge! It could take days just to find all the rooms, but to search every nook and cranny would take years!" Sano said nearly yelling.

"What are you saying?" Kenshin asked coldly.

They caught each other's eye. "Nothing." He muttered turning away, but they both knew what he meant.

"Kaoru?"

She didn't turn. "Kenshin." She whispered back.

"I think…you could use some more air…so I thought you and I could take you outside," she didn't turn, "To the sea." He finished.

Her head snapped around. But instead of a happy smiling face like he expected, she was scowling.

"I assume this is not a release?" she spoke in icy tones.

He didn't meet her eyes. He didn't answer. But somehow she got the answer.

"At least your exercising me." She said sarcastically getting up.

Kenshin glanced up and saw her offering him small smile. She brushed by him and ran to the door. He took a deep breath trying to force the feeling of her brushing against him away.

"Let's go!" she called eagerly.

He strained another smile.

"The sea…" Kaoru said dreamily stepping up to the borderline of the shore.

She dipped her toe in and shivered pleasantly at the coldness. "It's just how I remember it." She said to herself. She breathed in deeply then flung off her robes.

Not caring if Kenshin's eyes were roaming she waded in until the water reached her waist. Taking another deep breath she dived in.

Kaoru opened her eyes but the salt stung them so she had to close her eyes to her home, but she could still feel it. Though her time was running out, she could feel her breath shortening. She'd have to surface soon, return to the strange world.

Then it hit her. Why must she return? When she could easily stay here in her home and rest easy. Never again would she have this torn and ashamed feeling…from what nearly happened that night.

Kaoru wouldn't lie to herself, she hadn't stopped him, and part of her enjoyed it too. But she didn't stop herself from hating that.

He had been avoiding her she hated that too. She needed, wanted, a reason to despise him even more. But it almost seemed like…he was being nicer…a little.

Kaoru could have screamed in frustration. What about her mom? Didn't that teach her what human men were like? Selfish pigs. He was tricking her…he must be.

Steadying herself on the sandy ground she felt her mind heave and spin. No longer could she tell where she was or what was happening. Faintly…dream-like strong arms were folded around her bare waist. Warmth was pressed up against her back and the tickling feel of hair against her cheek.

Brightness shined through her eyelids as she was brought to the surface, back to the human world.

Harsh winds were whipping her stinging cheek as she dimly felt someone pulling her along back to land. The water was tugging at her, trying vainly to pry his strong hands away from her limp body. It called to her, wanted her. The sea knew where she belonged.

Then it was gone. She was on land; she could feel the ground beneath her, the wind atop her whistling in her ears.

Kaoru blinked her eyes open and saw Kenshin leaning down over her with emotions in his eyes. Worry, excitement, guilt, and…was it want?

'Did he rescue me?' Kaoru thought vaguely. 'No, he just recaptured me. He's coming closer…I don't…know…what's happening…?'

Her body went numb as his breath blew across her cheek. Sand encrusted her body as did his. He was closer now; so close all she could see were his deep violet amber eyes half closed…"I think…I think…I…I…I'm…"

Kaoru snapped her eyes open and pushed him off her before he could utter those filthy lying words.

He looked at her startled for a moment…then sad the next. 'Disgusting creature,' She thought bitterly, 'probably sad that I stopped him. He thinks he can fool me? Ah…you cannot fool a creature of the sea.'

He sat up and ran his hands through his hair again. Closing his eyes he thought hard. What had he almost said? Had he meant it? Or had the salty air and views made him lose control like that. He reluctantly opened his eyes, afraid to look into her storming face. Instead he saw tears.

"Why did you stop me?" she said glaring at him hard.

"You aren't supposed to die that way."

"You think I'm better off living with you until god has mercy and lets me rot away?" she snarled.

"No…" he started but stopped.

"Smart move. It's no good to lie to me or yourself." She said glancing away fromhim rubbing some of the sand off.

"I…" he started again.

" – Am no better then any other man." She said cutting him off.

"That's not true. Most people…would have never taken you outside. Never talked to you like this. Never treated you like a human."

"But I'm not."

"I meant like an equal."

Kaoru snorted.

"That was lady-like." He said fighting the urge to roll his eyes.

"Sorry. It's just funny that you think so highly of yourself." She said with spiteful laughter.

"I don't -" he argued narrowing his eyes.

"Yes you do. You think you're so good and saintly just because you let me out? Who do you think you're fooling? Before you weren't even considering that I felt things too. Sure, this is one little baby step away from the beast that you were. But you aren't a good man yet. You've got miles to run, and it's not going to happen any day soon I can tell you that much. If you were a good person…you'd let me go." Kaoru said looking him straight in the eye.

"I…I can't."

"What's stopping you?"

"I don't know. I need more time to figure that out!"

Her eyes narrowed. "Unfortunately I am not something you can put away until you figure out who you are."

"I didn't…"

"Didn't what?" she snapped.

"All I know is that if you left I'd be miserable!" he shouted. Then as if realizing the weight of his words he clamped his mouth shut.

A long silence followed as Kaoru stared at him in mixture of shock and disbelief. "Have you always lived alone?" she finally asked much to the surprise of both of them.

He turned away from her. "Yes."

"…How long?"

"Why do you ask?" He asked giving her a sidelong glance.

"You asked about me in a way so I'm asking you."

"I've lived alone for years now. Since I was little. My parents left me, no relatives I knew of came to get me. A stranger who taught me raised me. I left to go fight. Ended that and got rich off the money I earned. No one wanted to be around me, scared I guess. Only ones I knew were Sano and Soujiro, but they didn't come in until I was 23."

There was another pause. "Oh." Kaoru said feeling stupid.

"Are you scared of me?"

Kaoru looked at him. Really looked. His amber eyes dull, his damp red hair swaying in the wind, strong arms and legs folded up. But inside so much power, confusion, greed, loneliness, fear.

"Yes," She finally answered not looking away, "I told you before it does no good to lie to yourself or others. So, yes I'm scared of you. Scared of how you could hurt me, scared of how you could keep me here forever."

"You don't look scared."

"Just because I'm scared doesn't mean I'll flinch away. I'm not like that."

He stared into her eyes sadly. "I know. But why do you listen to me? You dislike me yet you listen?"

Kaoru frowned. "I never close my mind to anything."

He smiled. "Amazing." He whispered edging near her.

Kaoru closed her eyes reluctantly. "I…don't know," she said softly before he cut her off.

'Wait this is all wrong!' she thought wildly as she half-heartedly pushed away. But this time he let her, though disappointment was evident in his face.

"I'm…I…um…I can't." she stumbled standing up and pulling her robes on.

"Cold?" he said gently.

She shot him a thankful look.

"Yes…cold."

Kaoru Gal: Well I hope you're happy with this! 8 pages!

Soujiro: This might seem like it's taking long but KG is making this as real as possible and people who didn't exactly like each other don't fall in love over night. So bear with her.

REVIEWS!

Kat: Oh whoa! I like that idea! I'll have him try to teach her a sport or something. Thanks!

Miko Kagome Archer: Aw how sweet you are! I know I'm straight too,

Kenjiniki: Thank you so much! You're reviews are so helpful and supportive! I hope you update again because they really do help. Thanks for the comment on my poem!

Kitsune's Grrl: You thought it was romantic? Yay!

AmoriGoddessOfTheEarth: It's okay, long names are sugary. (My word for awesome) rock on.

Sekushi-san: I'm so glad! I like Kaoru in this too (but of course)

RavenC: I like your name! Ravens are my favorite type of bird, besides owls they rock.

Aura Black Chan: Kenshin should feel guilty I mean wouldn't you? Lol

Anonymus T: Awkward? Perhaps…glad you still liked it though.

Ariel: Hey! Thanks! I hope this one is good.

MuSiCaDdIcT RYE: I like cute chapters, but I need serious ones too. –Sigh- when can I make them cute again?

ChibiKenshin6490: it's so fun to make Kenshin arrogant!

MZ.AMbER EYES: I know, Kenshin's so cute!

InuYashaGurl2007: Kaoru is starting to have some feelings for him but it will take some time for her to realize it herself and accept it too.

Demonwolf98: you really like all my stories? I feel the love people!

Xujin: Hey, guess what? I just realized that you're the one who wrote that story I really like! You know, the one where Kaoru's a tomboy? Haha! You're so cool! Update it and I'll update this one again.

Brittanie Love: Really? Thanks!

Kaori-Angel: I thought about what Kaoru would do when she finds her belt too...Oh well…until the time comes.

half-breed-demon-fox: You think? I know it's a good story, after all I wrote it! (Kidding)

x-iridescence: Cool! Such loyal readers... -Tears-

Review please...

KG