DEEP SEA

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN KENSHIN!

Fifi: Why the hell are you screaming? –Ears are ringing-

Kaoru Gal: BECAUSE I CAN'T OWN KENSHIN! -Throws heavy objects around-

Luchi: Aw crap, Fifi you just made her madder.

Crystal: Madder than the hatter?

Sano: Kenshin, you have weird friends.

Kenshin: They're not my friends…-Sweat drops-

Cece: Of course we are!

Kaoru Gal: I HATE DISCLAIMERS!

Kenshin: Please don't throw a tantrum now. The chapter's starting…

Crystal: Look KG I have candy!

Kaoru Gal: -Grabs candy and starts typing-

Recap: Kenshin is having a party and Kaoru who is not used to these types of things goes to her room but finds people blocking it off. The men attacked her but Kenshin came to her rescue. Kaoru was relieved until she discovered that he was drunk. Can Kenshin gain back her trust after he finds out that he tried to take advantage of her before collapsing?

Kaoru squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the sunlight trying to force its way into her eyes. It was so warm…she turned over onto her side and found that her body felt bruised and sore. 'What happened last night?' she was wondering as she opened her eyes slowly.

Red.

"Kenshin!" she yelped sitting up so suddenly she banged her head on the headrest.

There he was, sprawled across her and clearly sound asleep. Kaoru reached out a small hand to shake him awake but paused as the memories of last night drifted slowly into her mind.

Anger flushed through her as she remembered what he had done. With hardly restrained fury she pushed him off of her and leaped off of the bed. She stormed out of the room, down through the halls, out of the castle, through the gardens until she reached the sea.

She breathed in the salty air and slipped off her shoes so that she could feel the sand beneath her toes. "I can't stand this." She said quietly wading through the water. The wind blew through her long hair caringly as if it was sympathizing with her. She grabbed a hold of a large rock planted in the water. Kaoru pulled herself out of the water onto the rock.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to the sea. "I betrayed you. I actually thought he was changing."

The waves crashed against the rock as the wind whistled around her. The soft spray of water flew across her, dampening her soft cheeks and clothes. "I want to go home." She was biting back the sobs rising in her throat.

"Kaoru-san?" a polite voice questioned.

Her head turned slowly as she stared at the speaker mournfully. It was the young man who had taken her to Kenshin. He was smiling at her in a curious way but his expression changed when she had turned fully to him.

Her pale robes were damp and sticking to her small frame, almost looking like a second skin. Her long black locks flew in a wild storm across her face; her great blue eyes were wide and shining as she took him in.

'She really is a creature from the water.' Soujiro mused comparing her eyes with the sea around her. The only difference he cold see was that the ocean was wild and untamed, full of hope. Her eyes were sad and dark. Never, he would never want to see those eyes tame and docile. Never.

"Soujiro." She said softly letting her voice be carried by the wind to him.

"Himura-san is looking for you." He informed her watching the emotions stirred by his name flick across her face.

Her eyes narrowed and the waves crashed against the shore with a furious roar.

"I don't ever want to see him again."

Her tone was thick with bitterness.

"Oh! There you are Kaoru!" Kenshin called out sprinting towards the two.

"Himura-san she isn't in the mood to…" Soujiro started but was cut off by a sharp look from Kenshin.

He held out his hand and beckoned to her. "Come."

Kaoru shook her head defiantly. "I'm sick of you."

"You're forgetting are bargain."

She froze and stared at him with so much hatred any man other then Kenshin would have turned away, but he didn't even blink. She stepped delicately off the rock. She walked with such ease through the water it almost made it look like she was walking on the water's wild surface.

Soon she was an arm's length away from Kenshin. "I despise you." She hissed.

He sighed. "I was drunk. You know that, don't you?"

"So? Does that mean your behavior should be excused?" her eyes were flashing.

He shrugged. "Yeah it does. But what does it matter? You have to excuse it anyway. Without me you can't get home."

She glared at him for a moment wishing she could claw that annoyingly smug grin off his face. She bit her tongue and brushed by him making sure that her shoulder had collided with his.

Soujiro's blue eyes were cold as he surveyed Kenshin coolly. "How can you do this to her?"

"Do what?" Kenshin asked.

"You're hurting her. Just let her go home."

The two men looked at each other evenly.

Finally Kenshin turned away and shook his head. "You don't understand."

"Understand? I can understand how much she hates it here! She's dying to return to the ocean!"

"Shut up. I'll make sure she'll like land. She will." And with that Kenshin raced after Kaoru leaving a doubtful Soujiro alone with his thoughts.

"Himura-san, you can't seem to realize that a maiden from the sea can never live happily on land."

"Why are you following me? Leave me alone!" she screamed walking faster.

"I want to show you something."

"I don't care!"

He grabbed her arm and looked her in the eye. "Just let me show you. You'll like it."

She paused then resentfully allowed herself to be led by Kenshin's hand to where ever he had wanted to go.

He led her into a wooden building that smelled strangely. "This is called a barn." He said watching her angry expression change into bewilderment.

"What's a barn?" she asked momentarily forgetting her fury.

He smiled at her awe. She was like a child, peering into the high rafters near the arched ceiling, sniffing wonderingly at the new smells, taking in everything contentedly.

"It's a place that stables horses."

"Horses?" she repeated testing the sound of the name on her tongue.

He walked up to one stall and motioned for her to step beside him. She did so and glanced into the large window on the stall door. A great and beautiful animal was gazing back at them coolly. It was pure white save it's right foot, which was black.

"This is Bella. I think you should ride her."

Kaoru's fury suddenly returned to her and she turned towards him indignently. "If you're trying to flatter me so I'll forget about-!"

Kenshin pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her. "You want to ride her, don't you?"

The girl hesitated then nodded in spite of her anger.

"Then be quiet." He added.

She glared at him but obeyed all the same.

Kenshin smiled pleasantly at her then motioned to somebody to step forward. Immediately a young girl with chin length brown hair and wide innocent light brown eyes stepped forward, seemingly out of nowhere.

She curtsied to Kenshin, then paused at Kaoru wondering weather she should or shouldn't. In the end she decided to curtsy for her too. "Yes, sir?" she asked in a nervous and shy voice.

"Tsubame, (A/N: is that how you spell her name?) Will you get my horse and get this horse here ready for a lady?"

She curtsied once more. "Yes, sir." She nodded at a boy who was a few feet behind her. He was her age, around 13. He had spiky black hair and fierce brown eyes. He turned to Kenshin and bowed stiffly. "I'll get your horse…" he hesitated. "Sir." He added.

Once the boy servant left Kenshin explained that the boy had just been hired, as he had been a pickpocket previously.

Kaoru said nothing but watched the girl, Tsubame, place reins and a sidesaddle on Bella.

Kaoru opened her mouth to ask what these things were for when she heard a loud snort behind her. She started and spun around so quickly she tripped over her feet and landed in Kenshin's arms.

He stared down at her smirking while she stared back red faced and defiant.

She stood up and ignored his laugh but stared curiously at the stallion brought before her. It was a shiny chestnut color with a white star on its forehead.

"This is my favorite, Pogo." Kenshin said hopping onto the horse with ease.

Kaoru flushed and muttered something.

"What's that?"

"I don't know how to ride a horse, I've never seen one before." She said slightly louder.

Kenshin grinned. He had known that, of course. "Then get on Pogo, behind me."

Kaoru flushed but took his outstretched hand and let him pull her onto the horse.

"Wrap your hands around my waist so you won't fall off."

"No!"

Kenshin clicked his tongue and the horse started to move forward. Kaoru cried out and grabbed Kenshin around the waist.

She couldn't see his face but she knew he was smiling smugly.

As Pogo the horse began to gallop out of the barn Kaoru pressed her face into the back of the man she hated. His red hair flew out behind him, mingling with her black hair. She breathed in his smell and sighed.

Once in a while she could allow herself a new experience.

Kaoru Gal: You like? Then review!

I'm too tired to answer all those reviews…I love you all.