Author's note:
My beta reader is really really really, really superhyper busy at the moment. Thought that I might as well take some load of her because beta-ing my writing is no joke – plenty of mistakes all over! Hence, this chapter has not been proof read, yet. So, please bear with me. In any case, if you come across error in my writing, let me know. My grammar is just hopeless. Sigh….
In previous chapter, K&K both fret about their guardian meeting each other. While both Aoshi and Hiko can;t wait to meet each other in person and when they did, they had a short 'interesting' privateconversation that had both K&K sweating.
Disclamer: I do not own any character in Rurounin Kenshin. I just borrowed them to improve my vocabulary and grammar.
Misao's Plan B
Kaoru pulled Misao, none too gently, into her room.
"We have much to catch up with. Ha!Ha!" Kaoru laughed pretentiously, covering her mouth with one hand. She closed her room door, closing her view on Kenshin and Sano who had sat themselves in the living room.
Kenshin and Sano blinked at Kaoru's unnatural action.
"Misao, what the hell were you trying to do! – bringing up the job offer during dinner? Now Kenshin will surely make me accept the offer!" Kaoru hissed dangerously soft the moment the door was closed. Kaoru restrained herself from raising her voice – the walls were too thin for loud voice to be contained within.
"It is for your own good." Misao defended herself as Kaoru dragged her by the arm and pushed her downwards to sit on the edge of the bed.
"For my own good! How so? Can you please explain to me!" Kaoru was standing akimbo in front of Misao, demanding a logical explanation. She was fuming mad.
"I know you want to be a home maker for Kenshin's sake. But clearly, you are getting restless being one unless of course you can get yourself impreganate…" Misao said nonchalantly.
"Misao!" Kaoru slapped the side of Misao's arm before Misao could finish her sentence. Her level of annoyance rose a few level higher when she realized that Misao was totally indifferent to the potential problems that Misao had created for her. Misao knew how important it was for Kaoru to be here with Kenshin full time and yet…
"Ok! Ok! Cut the crap. The thing is; you are bored with your life. You hogged on the phone with me till our ears are hot red, in which, you don't normally do. Aoshi's right. You are not fit to be one – a fulltime home maker, that is. You need something more meaningful to occupy yourself with. You are smart and you excel in your field of expertise. So, why put it to waste?" Misao explained, finally spilling the beans.
"He always thinks that what he thinks is best for me. And you always agree to whatever YOUR Aoshi-sama says. ." Kaoru whined, rolling her eyes. She was still angry though she was aware of the word of truth in Misao's explanation.
"Nope. He is strongly against the idea of you moving in with Kenshin but I strongly stood by your side and encourage you to move in. And I still do." Misao said as she caught Kaoru's hands when Kaoru lowered her arms. "Kaoru, I know you want to devote your time in completing your mission but you are not entirely happy with your own arrangement." Misao observed for any sign of agreement from Kaoru's expression.
"Come on. It is just some research work. Flexi time hence you could still cook for your heartthrob." Misao clarified when Kaoru was being impervious.
Sensing that Kaoru was seriously considering her explanation, Misao praised her own good work, "See, I did my homework to factor in some major consideration for you. I wouldn't have suggested it if the job is a hindrance to your number one purpose in life – to serve and die-eeeee for YOUR Kenshin-sama"
"What makes you think that I am bored other than those long phone calls?" Kaoru questioned, attempting to turn the table around.
Misao dropped her head and shook in dismay. She looked Kaoru before telling to her eyes, "Kaoru, my dear, my soul mate other than Aoshi, a person whom I have laughed and cried with all my life, how long have I known you?"
Koaru looked way from Misao. Misao had made her point from the beginning but Kaoru wouldn't just give it up. Misao's observation on Kaoru was accurate and her analysis on the job scope was conclusive but Kaoru was rather skeptical about working other than home.
Kaoru turned around and dropped her heavy bottom on the bed, next to Misao. She allowed herself to fall freely on her back. Misao followed suit and they both looked up to the ceiling.
Without having to look at Kaoru, Misao asked' "What are you thinking?"
Kaoru sighed. "I know you guys care a lot for me and meant well but I'm really not comfortable about the idea of working at the moment. I-I… just want t-to…."
Misao turned to her left and looked at Kaoru. "Kaoru, I know what you want." Her hand crossed over her own body, reaching out for Kaoru's hands which were resting on Kaoru's abdomen.
Kaoru turned to her side to look at Misao.
"I want for it to happen as much as you do, you really got to think of something to do while he is away at work. Sooner or later, you are going rot out of boredom. This is just not you. Think about it" Misao's voice was soft and tender.
"………" Kaoru turned away from Misao, back to the ceiling.
"Ok. I will not force you into it but please, think about what I've said, alright?" Misao begged, at the same time patting Kaoru's hand with her own before she kept her hand to herself.
"You're the best" Kaoru replied with a small smile.
"Since we are on the subject, how are things going between you and him?" Misao asked merrily.
"Misao, don't you get bored asking me this question on every conversation that we have?" Kaoru turned to look at Misao again - Only this time with a dull look on her face.
"I would have upgraded questions if you've made any progress. How could I proceed to the next question when you have no satisfactory answer to the first one? And you wouldn't get bored of me asking this question if you have something interesting to tell me." Misao told Kaoru off.
"I've made progress. We've made progress…" Kaoru defended.
"Did you kiss?"
"No. Not yet" Kaoru answered quietly, slightly uncomfortable with Misao's question.
Misao sighed deeply. "Hold hands?"
"…. No… But we touch." Kaoru said proudly.
"Touch..? As in, fondling?" Misao's voice grew excited at the prospect. Her eyes sparkled.
"NO! Just… touch." Kaoru stammered a little.
"What? You mean like when you accidentally brush his hands while you pass him the dishes for rinsing kind of touch?" Misao questioned. Her eyes turned a few shades dull.
"Th-that counts." Koaru responded, unnerving by Misao's sarcasm.
"So, what you are telling me is that you have made no progress at all. Am I right?" Rather, Misao was stating it flatly, slapping the fact onto Kaoru's face.
"I do too! We almost kissed last night!" Kaoru made a quick came back. Too quick, even for her brain to process what she had just said.
"You did?" Misao's eyes sparkled again. "So, what happen tell me? How come you never call me last night?" Misao turned on her stomach and propped up on her elbow to support her upper body.
"Alright but promise me that you won't scream. Or laughed at me for that matter…" Kaoru warned as she had anticipated Misao's reaction.
Misao nodded like an obedient puppy, who would do anything for a doggy bone.
Kaoru sighed before she told Misao about how she and Kenshin almost sealed their first kiss until she, herself, ruined the golden moment.
"You WHAT!" Misao's eyes popped open, expressing disbelief and shocked.
"Shhh… Keep it down. They'll hear you?" Kaoru hushed, gently slapping Misao's arm again.
"Why the hell did you do that for?" Misao scolded as quietly as she could, holding her voice.
"Are you going to start bombarding me with questions that I have no answers to; or you are going to let me finish with something that I know of?" Kaoru contested.
Misao rolled her eyes.
Kaoru carried on telling Misao how she had caught a cold when she was about to resume the almost-a-kiss episode, how Mrs. Najimo caught Kenshin carrying her bridal style, how Kenshin tugged her to bed, how they almost sealed a kiss the morning after and finally her traumatic accusation of carrying their love child in her belly.
Misao was stunned by Kaoru's tale which occurred just within the short span of twenty four hours ago.
"Mrs. Najimo did not even apologize for assuming and informed the whole wide world that you are pregnant with Kenshin's child!" Misao questioned. Misao stood up, pulling Kaoru with her. She took two steps back and looked at Kaoru thoroughly from head to toe and back to the head again.
"Mmh… You did put on weigh a little. But you definitely don't look pregnant to me…." Misao said while still eyeing on Koaru's abdomen.
Kaoru slapped Misao's arm again. Hard. "Misao!"
Misao laughed and rested herself on the bed again, enjoying the ceiling view. "You should really make that into reality, you know."
"Are you staying at the Aioya?" Kaoru asked, deciding to change the subject.
"Yes. For the time being until we find a permanent place to stay" Misao replied.
"For the time being? How long is your trip to Tokyo?" Kaoru questioned curiously,
"…… I would have thought that Aoshi have already informed you that he will be expanding Tokyo's business. So, we will be based here in Tokyo." Misao said in surprised.
"You are kidding, right?" Kaoru watched for any foul play in Misao's expression but was disappointed when Misao's face was serious. "Whose decision was it that he base in Tokyo?" A question that even Kaoru herself thought was a silly question to ask for she already knew the answer.
"Who else! You did, literally speaking." Misao replied.
Misao continued when Kaoru showed no lips movements. "I don't think Aoshi will leave Tokyo until he is satisfied with whatever he thinks it should be. At the rate that you are going, I think I would be spending the rest my life here in Tokyo. And I don't even like this place! Kaoru, you better get your act together and do something about it. Marry Kenshin and get Aoshi off our back. My happiness is depending on you!" Misao exclaimed.
Kaoru sighed. She knew that Misao is not very fond of building a family in Tokyo. But she can't help feeling helpless with the whole issue between Kenshin and her.
"I am sorry I got you into this. I-I… "Kaoru was wordless. There was no one in the world who was desperate to be with Kenshin other than herself. However, it is not as easy as picking a lettuce from the grocery store.
"Kaoru, you can't just sit here and wait for him to make his move. You have to act. Do what I do – sneak into his bed during the night." Misao suggested.
"What!"
"How do you think I got Mr. Ice Man to melt into my warmth?" Misao revealed.
Kaoru wondered briefly. It had never occurred to her that Misao was the one who had made the first move. "I can't believe that you actually did that? How come I didn't know about it?" She was shocked.
"Did it while you were away on vacation during the semester break. Why do you find it so shocking? You don't expect Aoshi to just walk up to me one fine day and tell me how much he loves me, do you? Anyway this isn't about Aoshi and I." Misao re-routed the conversation.
Kaoru knitted her brow as she could not imagine how Aoshi would suddenly come to his senses and ask Misao out on a date.
Having to study Kaoru's facial expression, Misao continued, "There you go. Sometimes you just have to go all the way out to get what you want. Men can be pretty oblivious and dumb, sometimes, when it comes to certain things. I think Aoshi and Kenshin fits in the same category group of men. So, you need to help them to warm up a little. There is no harm to it." Misao winked.
Misao was probably right. Kaoru thought. She was rather tired of waiting for Kenshin to make his move, conveniently forgotten that it was she who ruined the moment whenever Kenshin did picked up his courage to take another step further. The notion sounded easy enough - help warm him up, but the real question was – how?
"How did you… manage it?" 'It must had really took lots of courage,' Kaoru thought.
"Do you want him? Desire him?" Misao was bold with her questions.
Kaoru blushed furiously but found it difficult to muster, 'Yes. Very much.' However there was no need for words as Misao already knew the answer from the flushes on her face.
"If you do, you have all it takes to walk into his room, sleep right next to him and hug him. End of the story." Misao concluded.
'That's it!' Kaoru gave Misao a questioning look. It couldn't be possibly that easy, could it be?
"Kaoru, trust me, it is not that difficult… it is just open the door knob, walk towards the bed, drop yourself next to him, hug him and the rest, just leave it to him. He will reciprocate, if that's what you are worrying about. He is really into you. He will not be able to resist you. You have no idea how much it pain and frustrate us to see the both you as you are now. I mean, it is so obvious that you are into each other but somehow, nothing ever happens! I was so glad that you finally decided to take control of things and moving in with him. Honestly, if you decide to wait for him, you probably die as an old maid. In this aspect, I think Kenshin is far worst than Aoshi." Misao surmised before she saw how Kaoru was giving her a disapproving look.
"I supposed I should give him a little more credit as he did act upon. Although I think he is too damn slow and taking his own sweet time! A little spice of seduction is what he needs to expedite things." Misao remedied satisfactorily.
"Are you sure this will work?" Kaoru asked, not convinced by Misao's simple steps plan.
"Of course, it will. Trust me…." Misao said assuringly with a devilish smile crossing her lips.
Kaoru was dubious of Misao's assertion.
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"They have been in there for while now, haven't they?" Sano asked, jerking his head in the direction towards Kaoru's room.
"Kaoru mentioned that they have a lot to catch up with." Kenshin casually explained without removing his eyes from the television set, holding a cup of sake to his hand.
"Aren't you curious what they are talking about? They are awfully quiet in there. This is very unlikely." Sano queried, intending to get Kenshin to talk. He had wanted to know what had happened tonight. He felt that something was amiss - something on how both Kenshin and Kaoru had reacted towards Hiko and Aoshi. Furthermore, it was very unusual for Kenshin to indulge himself in a cup of sake, he thought. He remembered it was 2 years ago, the last night spent at their dormitory that Kenshin last drank his sake and got drunk. It definitely wasn't because they were celebrating the end of their campus life. Kenshin seemed to be disconcerted after Kaoru left their room back then. However he gave up trying to find out what went wrong then because it was like pulling a tooth from the tiger's jaw – Kenshin just wouldn't talk. All he did was drunk his way to slumber land, hiding away from his obvious depression.
Kenshin averted his attention from television program to Sano's queer question. "No." He answered simply. He had thought that Sano was never a person who minded someone else's business.
Tired of Kenshin's couldn't-care-less kind of attitude, Sano went straight to the point, "Is there something that you are not telling me?"
Kenshin gazed at Sano before answering, "No." He took a sip of sake.
"No? How about why Aoshi hate your guts? Or why are you and Kaoru so stressed over Hiko and Aoshi being alone with each other?" Sano interrogated Kenshin. He was determined to find out.
"Why don't you ask Aoshi himself; why doesn't he like me? I like to know that myself." Kenshin said honestly but not entirely truthful. "You know how Hiko can be paranoid over strangers in the apartment even though it is Kaoru's brother. So, it is just natural for me to worry what Hiko might just say to Aoshi. I don't want Aoshi thinking that his sister is living on dangerous ground. Already I am not in his likeable list." Kenshin vindicated confidently. He figured Sano would stop harassing him over the subject matter until he was given a satisfactory answer.
"Is that so?" Sano pondered. Kenshin's explanation sounded valid to his ears however, Sano couldn't help feeling that that wasn't the entire story. Something did not sum up but he couldn't place his finger onto. "And why are you drinking sake?" Sano probed further.
"Why can't I drink sake?" Kenshin returned Sano's question.
Sano thought for a while and before he could come back of a clever answer, the door to Kaoru's bedroom room opened. She walked out hugging a towel to her chest.
The two men turned to her and noticed how red her check was.
"I am just going to the bathroom to take a shower." Kaoru tried saying it as casually as possible. At the sight of Kenshin just made her blushed harder. She padded quickly into the bathroom.
Kenshin's eyes never left Kaoru.
"Yup. Something is definitely up." Sano said very softly, merely to himself.
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Kaoru was not aware of how long had she been under the hot shower for she was lost in her thoughts – musing over her earlier conversation with Misao.
Before she could even start her seduction plan, she was already flushed red and it wasn't due to the hot steam. She wondered whether would she be able to pull it off – seducing Kenshin.
'You want him? Go get him…." She whispered to herself and smiled lustfully to her feet, covering by streams of water flow.
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Kenshin kept on switching his vision from the television set to the bathroom door. He was getting impatience, waiting for Kaoru to come out from the bathroom. He took another sip of sake.
She had been in there for more than half and hour. He doubted that she was washing her hair because she just did the night before. He was worried if something had happened to her in the shower. As he was about to get up from the sofa, she came out. She was wearing men's pajamas which looked too big on her. Her hair was slight damped.
Kenshin stood up and expressed his concerned, "Are you alright? You were in there for quiet some time."
"Yes. I'm fine. I was just… enjoying the hot shower." She explained. She hurried to her room as she felt that her cheeks had just turned pink again.
Upon entering her room, Kaoru saw Misao had already fallen asleep while waiting for her. She smiled and pulled a blanket over Misao. Misao did not even stir. 'She must be really tired,' she thought.
She sat at her dressing table and combed her hair while still thinking about the plan when her stomach growled for refueling. She did not manage to swallow much food during dinner and she wasn't one who could withstand starvation. Thus, she decided for a cup of hot chocolate.
"Want to go for a walk?" Kenshin asked the moment he saw Kaoru coming out from her room. All the while he was eyeing on her bedroom door.
"Sounds good." Kaoru cheerfully answered, forgoing her hot chocolate. Her evening walk with Kenshin was far more important than her hungry stomach. Besides, Misao did mentioned that she had put on weight.
Kenshin smiled. "I'll wait for you to get change."
"I'll just put on a long overcoat." Kaoru replied quickly.
"Grab a shawl. It is kinda chilly tonight." Kenshin cautioned Kaoru as she turned back into her room. He got up and walked toward the entrance, waiting for her.
Kaoru came out with a coat and shawl in her arm and closed her room door behind her.
"What about Misao?" Kenshin enquired, almost forgetting that Misao was spending a night with Kaoru.
"Oh.. Don't worry about her. She is dead to the world. She must be really exhausted. Where's Sano?" Kaoru asked, looking around for his presence while she put on her coat.
"He went out after receiving a phone call. Head to the club, I guess." Kenshin informed, intently watching Kaoru pulled out her hair from the inside of her coat. He took her shawl which was lying on the kitchen top and went around her neck.
Kaoru was taken aback by Kenshin's sudden move but uttered no sound of protest. She quietly observed how he gently tied a loose knot with the shawl, securing the warmth around her neck. Once he was satisfied with his handiwork, she thanked him with a broad smile.
They left the apartment for their routine evening walk.
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Kenshin and Kaoru walked and talked toward their favourite spot. They exchanged details on how fine their day had went by, filtering out the allegation of their illegitimate child and Kenshin's turmoil emotions. Kenshin motioned her to sit before he sat next to her on the bench when they reached their favourite spot. Kaoru smiled.
"Kenshin," Kaoru turned to meet Kenshin,"I wish to apologized for Aoshi's rudeness. I can assure you that he is normally not like this. He-he is.. just rather protective over me. So…." She was lost. She mentally kicked herself for apologizing abruptly without thinking of a logical explanation.
"It is ok. I understand." Kenshin assured her, turning his view to her.
'What do you understand?' Kaoru asked inwardly. "Give him some time. He will learn to like you. He just doesn't know you, yet. Trust me, both of you are going to get along fine in time to come." Her last sentence didn't even sound convincing to her own ears.
"Perhaps after a few more round dinner, things will be better. I promise you that I will work harder to have him accept me." Kenshin said positively, gazing at the Kaoru's beauty which was highlighted by the soft moonlight. He had a temptation of stroking her illuminated porcelain cheek with the back of his palm.
Kaoru was touched and speechless with a very warm cozy sensation filing her heart. What he said meant a lot to her.
Mindlessly, Kenshin tugged a few strains of flyaway hair, marring his view of beauty and perfection, behind her ears. His fingers traveled downward with the flow of her hair, bringing a few locks to her front. How he loved her hair…
As if riding a roller roaster, Kaoru's heart just dropped to her stomach. She was feeling slightly out of balance.
"You were still upset after dinner. Why?" Kenshin cooed. "Are you still bothered with what Misao said about your cooking?" He asked, his fingers were lightly twiddling and twisting the end of her hair.
"No," was all that Kaoru could manage, unable to form a coherent and complete sentence.
"What is it that is bothering you then?" Kenshin's voice was soft and gentle, yet persuasive.
Though she was caught under his spell, at the back of her mind, she was trying very hard to focus on his question. Otherwise it would be just another case of slipped of tongue and said something that she shouldn't have. 'Focus, Koaru. Focus' "I don't want to be a chemist." She revealed half of what was in her mind.
"Why not? You have always loved the subject and you adore Prof. Kannyru."
'Because of you..' "I need to think about it first" Kaoru was telling the truth.
"Fair enough. It is good to be passionate on the things you want to do. I'll support what ever decision that you will be reaching." Kenshin smiled to what appeared to Kaoru as a lustful smile. She was hoping that her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.
Kaoru nodded. She wondered and at the same time looking forward to Kenshin bringing his lips to meet hers. Out of the blue, her memory brought her back to what had happened earlier in the morning. Before her eyes could start roaming to scan whether if any nosy neighbor was spying on them, Kenshin asked, "You didn't eat much during dinner. Are you hungry?"
Kauro's stomach growled, in response to Kenshin's question. "Opps!" She turned pink again even under dim sky.
Kenshin chuckled. "Come on, let go home and fixed something you something to eat." He had noticed how her irises were wavering, like she was worried that somebody might be watching them.
Kenshin stood up and extent his right hand to Kaoru. Unlike the night before, she took and raised herself from the bench, without objection and headed home.
Kaoru was pacing rather fast, Kenshin noticed. 'She must be really hungry,' he guessed.
Subconsciously she felt that she should hurry back to apartment and resume their moment before Kenshin's mood passed on. She did not want their moment to end just like that. At the same time she reckoned that they would be better off romancing each other in the privacy of their apartment rather than out in the open where her friendly neighbors might be snooping on them.
"Kenshin, let's watch DVD tonight. I bought a few new ones." Kaoru suggested as they approached the elevator. Though it was not the best romantic maneuver but coupled with some cider, it would be just the catalyst for romance.
"Alright. But first, we feed your tummy." He insisted.
Kaoru could not stop grinning within herself. How very sweet and caring of him, she thought.
Once they reached home, Kenshin immediately deposited himself in the kitchen and happily enquired, "What would you like for supper - curry rice? Noodle? Omelet rice with Miso soup?"
"That's too heavy for supper. I was thinking of just hot chocolate. Misao said that I put on weight, I shouldn't be eating too eat especially this time of the night."
"I don't think that you have put on weight." Kenshin commented without having to observe her figure. He knew it by heart already.
"Of course you don't think I am. You practically see me everyday. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference. But by the time you are able to, it would be too late for me. I would then, be a size of an elephant!"
"You are not fat if that is what you are worrying about. I like the way you are now. In fact, you would look much better with bit more flesh to go around." Kenshin said, scanning her entire being from head to toe. Kenshin personally preferred Kaoru to have more flesh, more cuddly. Having thought so, it didn't really matter to him what size she was in because he was already in love with her. He doubted that her sideways growth will make him fall out of love with her.
He was sweet but Kaoru was not convinced. Kenshin being Kenshin, he would have just said it to be polite. She refused to believe that any men would find a fat large woman attractive or even appealing.
"We'll settle with rice, omelet and Miso soup" Kaoru's stomach growled, betraying her, in response to Kenshin's mouth watering suggestion.
"Kenshin, you are fattening me up!" Kaoru pouted with her arm crossed against her chest.
Kenshin laughed, "I'll eat with you. If you go fat, I'll go fat with you. How does that sounds? I am a bit hungry myself actually." He looked at her for a moment before he turned to the fridge, not waiting for Kaoru's approval.
Kaoru sighed with a smile. There wasn't any way of arguing with Kenshin and winning it. Besides which Kenshin was hungry as well, though she wasn't sure if he had said it because of her. But it wasn't a concern as she intended to give half of her portion to Kenshin. She was still determined with her diet plan. It didn't matter if Kenshin put on weight. In fact, all the better for her because she reckoned a pot belly would deter other women from ogling endlessly at Kenshin. She ignored that fact that he was with the elite force that required its member to constantly workout to maintain at their fittest. She walked up next to Kenshin and offered to help but was politely turned down by him.
"It has been a while since I cook for you. For the past month, I can see that you have put in effort cooking for us. So, let me have the honour to express my thanks. With my cooking." Kenshin reasoned lovingly before he gently steered her away from the cooking area.
Kaoru leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Kenshin putting his amazing skill to work. 'What more could a girl ask for…….?' Her heart whispered softly as Kenshin's reflection mirrored in her glittering eyes.
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Kaoru's attempt to transfer half of her portion to Kenshin failed miserably. As though he had read her mind, Kenshin kept on filling dishes onto her rice bowl, never leaving it plainly with white rice.
Kaoru had always enjoyed Kenshin's meal. It was delicious. However, that night the food tasted slightly different than before. Everything was sweet to her taste bud and warmed enough to melt her heart away.
"What is it?" Kenshin asked when Kaoru stopped her movement and stared down at the rice bowl in her hands with her lips slowly curling upwards.
Kauro looked up and met his curious eyes. She shook her head and replied, "Nothing." She picked up a piece of omelet with a chopstick, placed it onto his rice bowl and smiled contently.
With a smile, he picked up the food into his mouth. Kenshin could not tell apart whether did he cooked with extra spice of love or her most amazing smile that made the food in his mouth tasted so very good.
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"What would you like to watch?" Kenshin asked, going through the DVD that Kaoru had bought, in the living area.
"Anything will do. You pick." Kaoru replied while getting the cider and two glass wine. Which movie to play was least important to her at that moment.
Kenshin was still going through the DVD. Kaoru had bought quiet a number of different genera. There was romance, thriller, horror, and comedy. She had always enjoyed a good laugh, he thought. He remembered whenever they went for a movie and it was her turn to pick, she had always went for a comedy. Though he actually wanted to watch a thriller, guessing that she had a rough night, a comedy would probably be the best of choice. Hence, he placed 'Chicken Little' in the player and took a seat on the sofa, waiting for Kaoru.
"What have you picked?" Kaoru asked as she placed the refreshment on the coffee table.
"Chicken Little" Kenshin informed. "You don't like it? We can change to another." He asked when he saw a disappointment crossed her face.
"No. That's fine." She assured, pouring the cider in the glass. She would have thought that Kenshin would had more sense to pick something romantic to match the atmosphere and his feeling. She should have made the pick when he asked, she thought. 'Stupid, Kaoru. Stupid…'
Kenshin had waited for her to take her seat before he played the movie.
Once Kaoru passed one of the glasses to Kenshin, she stood dumb for a moment. Kenshin was sitting at the far corner of the three seat sofa. She had wanted to sit really close to Kenshin but squeezing him to the corner while there was plenty of space on the sofa, did not sound intelligent to her. On the other hand, she did want to take a seat at the other end of the sofa. Fortunately for her, Kenshin had made the decision for her.
"Kaoru?" Kenshin asked when she stood still. When she responded to her own name, he patted on the sofa, motioning her to sit next to him.
Kaoru happily accepted the invitation, leaving a small space between them. Kenshin smiled and played the movie when she was comfortable.
'Who in the hell thought that watching a movie together is part of grooming a relationship!' Koaru mentally berated after half an hour into the movie. The movie was hilarious and Kenshin had a great time laughing but that was not what she had in mind. She had wanted to resume their romantic moment where Kenshin would look her into the eyes and tell her how much he adored her. 'This movie thing is not working! Should have just stuck to cider and talking instead. You are such an idiot Kaoru!'
"Why aren't you laughing Kaoru? You don't like it? We can change it if you want" Kenshin asked when he noticed how quiet she was
"It is ok. I am just tired" She lied and followed by a genuine yawn - at the word 'tired' she couldn't help it. Kenshin's feast of supper didn't help either.
"Do you want to rest? We can watch it some other day." Kenshin turned his attention to her entirely.
"No. I am alright. I want to watch." She said, determined to get what she was after that night itself. "Really. I am fine. Carry on with the movie." She gestured with her hands when Kenshin was still assessing her.
"Alright but don't force yourself to watch if you are really tired." Kenshin said before retuning his attention to the movie.
Koaru nodded. No matter how sleepy she was at the moment, she will not allow sleep to claim over her. She was going to finish the movie, then get Kenshin to talk to her and resume where they paused in the park earlier. She smiled lusciously and took a sip at the thought of her master plan. 'This cider really taste good….' She took another big sip, staring at Kenshin's quarter filled glass.
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It was almost towards the end of the movie, when Kenshin felt something heavy leaning against his shoulder. He turned slightly to find Kaoru fast asleep, still holding her empty glass. He guessed that she must be really tired and the cider must have knocked her off. She had had a few rounds of them.
He carefully watched her sleep, completely ignoring the movie. Using his free arm, he moved, reaching for her face. She did not stir. His thumb carefully stroked her cheek. He sighed contently and tilled his head to the right to gently rest on hers. He briefly closed his eyes savoring the soft huff of her breath against his bare arms.
Not satisfied with their degree of closeness, his arm automatically raised itself gently and went round her shoulder, pulling her even closer to him. His hand left her face, reaching down for her glass, putting it aside. His body slanted slightly on the sofa so that his chest acted as a pillow for her.
His head leaned backward slightly, sensually fixing his eyes on the woman in his arm, thinking of the time when he first met her. He never believed in love at sight, at least not until she came along. Her photograph was enticing but in person, she was magnificently captivating. Something about her had drawn him to her. Could it be for her naturally beautiful smile? Perhaps. Or could it be the way her eyes spoke a million to him? Maybe. He couldn't tell, for all he knew was that their first hand shake sealed his heart when he looked into those pairs of eyes with her stunning smile. In an instance, he knew that she belonged to him - was his to love and to protect.
However, he wasn't an irrational and selfish man to begin with. He had wanted her to voluntarily come to him - not by force nor by pact but by her own willing choice. To his dismay, she didn't feel the same of him as he did for her. He had thought that she had had room for him in her chamber of heart but he was mistaken. Two years back, the last night at the dormitory, where it still pained him in the chest to even think of, proved him wrong, so very wrong. He had thought that his lovelorn heart would wither with time but surprisingly, she never left him. Her presence always lingered and entwined in his everyday life. Moreover, presently, she moved into his home, even closer to him that he could ever imagine.
He tilted his head lower and kissed her head. He couldn't resist. She stirred slightly, snuggling closer to him. She then murmured something that wasn't within his hearing range. He didn't dare move.
He felt that her stay this time would be for real and everlasting. Meeting with Aoshi had also given him the same intuition, somehow. Despite all, he could not see pass what had happened at the dormitory, two years ago and just the night before, to believe that she was really here to stay.
He questioned himself, why couldn't he just come clean with his feeling for her? Tell her straight in the eyes that he needed her, loved her. He feared of rejection, feared of her answer might be something that he was not prepare to accept – that she did not love him. At least if it didn't come out from her mouth, he still had hope. He could still be her friend, by her side to watch over her.
"Why are you here?" he asked softy, not expecting her to answer. However to his surprised, she murmured again which was more audible this time and it sounded like his name. Unconsciously, she proceeded to hug him by his waist, like he was her bolster. She shifted slightly to be more comfortable against him. He stiffened at her sudden movement.
Kenshin thought for a while before a silly smile craved his mouth. He whispered tenderly to her sleeping form, "Do you love me?" She hummed and tightened her arm around him.
Kenshin grinned endlessly like a fool. He did reliased that Kaoru might not know what she was answering to but he chose to believe that subconsciously, she did. He picked up her legs and rested them on his thighs. He then slouched further on the sofa, his feet resting on top of the coffee table. He moved her gently so that he could hug her tightly to his chest. 'Mine…' He felt a sudden surge of possessiveness empowered in his blood, flowing aggressively in his vein. 'Mine…' He would not give her up, not for any reason nor allow her to walk out of his life. Never again. 'Mine…' He had been selfish once, but held back his feelings. This time he will not back away, not anymore. She was his.
Something in him was burning in intensity and part of his anatomy was hardening when he registered the pressing of her breast against his rib cage. He closed his eyes, trying to kill his impassion desire.
He did not really understand the heart to a woman but he understood one thing - women loved to be romanced. Therefore he would take his time to romance her into falling head over heel for him. Till then, his libido would just have to wait. Kaoru deserved better than to be hastily dropped onto a love-nest. If it was time that she wanted, then time he will invest. For the moment, his testosterone would have to make do by just holding her close. He kissed her forehead.
XoooooooXooooooXooooooooXoooooooooXooooooooXooooooooXoooooooooX
After what seemed like an eternal bliss, cradling her in his arms, Kenshin made an interesting discovery. Kaoru was a sound sleeper, she slept like a log. He wondered briefly whether an earth quake could have woken her up. Nevertheless, he had no complaint on this particular attribute of hers as it worked up to his advantage.
He kissed her forehead for the umpteenth time
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Misao was awoken by the ringing sound of her mobile phone. With her eye lids still shut, her hand reached for the night stand, searching for her mobile phone. After a few slams, her hand found what it was looking for.
"Good morning. Your ride has arrived and is waiting for you." The person on the other line said when she answered the call.
"Aoshi….. What time is it now?" Misao enquired, her eyes still refusing to meet the sun ray.
"Seven. I'll be waiting for you to join me for breakfast." Aoshi was merely instructing.
"Mmmh" Misao nodded although Aoshi could not see it and hung up. She removed the phone from ear to bed and soon fast asleep again.
In less than forty seconds, her phone rang.
She answered it with silent
"I am patiently waiting." Was all Aoshi said.
Misao nodded and ended the call. Sleep still conquering her.
Her phone rang again, thirty seconds later.
"Misao, I am hungry and I would like to have breakfast with my fiancée" Aoshi stated rather than pleading to her.
Misao nodded and distance the phone from her ears, this time without ending the call.
Twenty seconds later, Aoshi said, almost pleading in Aoshi's term, "Misao, can you return me my fiancee?"
Misao almost smiled and ended the call without removing the phone from her ears.
'Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One' Misao pushed the call picked up button before it even ring.
"Misao…"
"Alright already. I am awake now. I'll see you shortly" Misao interrupted.
Aoshi just had his peculiar ways of reminding her how much she loved him, she thought to herself.
Misao sat up on the bed and gave herself a long stretch. A goodnight sleep, a lovely Saturday morning, she reckoned. She turned to her side where Kaoru supposed to be sleeping and realised a missing Kaoru.
'Does she have to get up this early on the weekends as well?' Misao mused to herself and shook her head in disbelief. She got up from the bed and collected her belonging before she exited the bedroom.
"Kenshin! What are you doing here?" Misao asked in surprised as she expected to find Kaoru in the kitchen.
"Erm…. This is my apartment?" Kenshin replied, thinking to himself whether or not was that the answer that Misao was seeking.
Misao couldn't help rolled her eyes upwards. "Duh! I know this is your apartment. What I meant was why are you in the kitchen? And where's Kaoru?" Misao clarified and questioned as the same time when she saw the bathroom not occupy.
Kenshin thought for a second and decided to ignore Misao's first question and proceeded to answering her second question. "Kaoru is still sleeping." He took a sip of his coffee.
"Sleeping? No, she isn't. She is not in… Oh…" It suddenly dawned to Misao that Kaoru might not have slept in her own room the night before. 'Wow! A fast learner, isn't she?' She smiled slyly to no one particular.
"No, it is nothing like that." Having observed that particular look that crossed Misao's face, Kenshin had to correct her assumption. "She fell asleep while we were watching a movie. I carried her back to her room but you were sprawling across her bed. I do not think it was appropriate for me to move you, So, I carried her back to my room instead." He explained truthfully, never mind how much he had wanted Misao's assumption to be factual. "I slept in the living room!" He quickly added when he saw how Misao squinted her eye.
"Why didn't you sleep with her in your room?" Misao asked nonchalantly, as if it was the right thing to do.
"Huh?" Kenshin blinked in surprised. He wasn't expecting that kind of question, therefore he didn't know how to answer it. Misao was waiting for him to answer. Hence, he did what he thought was the most intelligent way of handling situation like as such – change the subject. "Why are you up this early?"
"Aoshi gave me a wake up call and told me that the driver is here to pick me up." Misao explained. "Now, I have answered your question. Your turn. Why didn't you sleep with her? Why did you choose to sleep in the living room instead?"
"…" Kenshin was just lost for words.
"Anyway, I got to go now. Do you mind saying goodbye to Kaoru for me when she gets up? Tell her that I'll call her later." Misao said, decided to let Kenshin off the hook since he looked so confused.
"Alright. Will do." Kenshin said as he walked up to open the door for her. He was glad that Misao did not pursue on her question.
Just before Misao stepped out of the apartment, she turned around and told Kenshin, "You know, she wouldn't mind if you share a bed with her." Misao smiled after looking at Kenshin's dumbfounded expression. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye" Kenshin replied and closed the door
'You know, she wouldn't mind if you share a bed with her..' Misao's words kept on repeating itself in his head. 'What does she means?' He asked himself. Kaoru always had others at heart. She would not allow any disadvantage befall on someone just so that she could enjoy more comfort. In that aspect, he supposed Kaoru couldn't mind sharing just the bed with him. Afterall, she trusted him. However it was he, himself that he did not trust.
His imagination took him for a wild ride when he thought of what will it be like, to be sleeping with to her, sharing her warmth. He shook his head violently when his body flamed in response to his lustful shameless mind.
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Kaoru's eyes shot wide opened and she almost screamed out loud. She sat up from her sleeping position and brought her knees and blanket closer to her chest.
"Thank god. It was just a dream…" She whispered softly to herself.
What started out as a heavenly dream turned out to be a nightmare for Kaoru. Probably, she thought, the night before she tried too desperately to move into intimate range with Kenshin that she had a perverted dream. She dreamed that Kenshin was on top of her naked self on a bed. All was well, anticipating and wonderful until a ferocious teeth barring Aoshi came charging into the room and bellowed on top of his lungs, "HIMURA! WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" Aoshi viciously threw Kenshin to the floor, leaving her nakedly open for view. In her dreams, she wasn't sure whether should she get dressed first or stop Aoshi from slashing Kenshin into pieces with her father's katana. And then she woke up.
When she managed to catch her breathed, she noticed that she wasn't in her own room but Kenshin's. She frantically looked around, searching for something, anything, to help remember how did she ended up on his bed! If she didn't even know how she got to his bed, she pondered on the possibility of them doing things that she was not aware of. She was still fully clothes, so, there was no sex involved, she thought. Did they kissed, she wondered. Deep in her heart, she hoped that they had. Then again, what's the point when she can't remember it even if they did.
She was still musing to herself when there was a soft knocked on the door. She looked up and heard a faint voice calling her name.
"Come in." She permitted Kenshin to walk into his own room.
"Good morning. I heard some noises from in here. I thought that you might be up." Kenshin greeted chirpily as he stuck his head into the room from the small opening of the door, making sure that he was not invading her privacy before he popped his entire being into his room.
"Good morning. I.. Erm… " Kaoru did not know where to begin and dropped her eyes.
Her eyes shot up when she heard the door being closed softly. Her eyes trailed Kenshin as he moved closer to her, towards to the bed. For some reason, every step that he took, her heart beat a rhythm faster. By then time he sat himself closely and unexpectedly next to her, on the bed, her heart was about to pound out of her chest. She dare not moved. She didn't know what to do next.
Kenshin carefully drank in every inch of her 'just-woke-up' expression, not to mention that she looked confused and mystified as well. He smiled. Sensing that she was nervous under his watch, Kenshin casually explained to her how she ended up in his room. He also passed to her Misao's message. He excused himself after informing her that breakfast ready, leaving her to her own again.
Kaoru sighed. "Nothing happen, after all" She said in disappointment. She placed her feet on the floor and sighed again before she pushed herself to stand up. 'Better luck today.' She smiled half heartedly as she walked towards the door.
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Aoshi was reading the business section of the paper when Misao popped into their hotel suite. Breakfast had been served but was not touched.
"Good morning, dear." Misao greeted from behind Aoshi with a warm hug and a peck on the cheek. She plastered her cheek next to his.
"Morning. Slept well?" Aoshi asked with his eyes still on the papers.
"Wonderful. Until someone cruel enough to wake me up." Misao replied, releasing Aoshi from her hold and took a seat next to him. She uncovered the breakfast tray.
Aoshi smirked slightly, put his paper down and picked up his chopstick.
"What did you two talked about last night?" Aoshi asked.
"Nothing much. We didn't really talk for long. I fell asleep while she showered but she will consider about the job thingy. My turn. What did you and Hiko discussed about?"
"Business. And this morning?" He asked, wanting to know everything that Misao and Kaoru had talked about.
"I didn't get a chance to see her. She was still sleeping in Kenshin's room." Misao had no intention to hide the fact from Aoshi.
Aoshi stilled for a while. Misao felt that his aura has change from peaceful blue to infuriated red.
"Kenshin slept in the living room." Misao said casually. She noticed that Aoshi had relaxed a little.
"How sure are you? You were asleep. Why can't she sleep with you?" Aoshi questioned. He didn't understand why he react the way he did whereas the moment Kaoru announced her stay with Kenshin, he had already expected incident as such was inevitable.
"Aoshi dear, Kaoru is old enough to decide whom she decides to share a bed with. Besides it is not like that they were doing anything. Plus, Kenshin is a gentleman. He wouldn't do anything that Kaoru would not allow him to." Misao defended. "Even if they were to really sleep with each other, what's wrong with that? It would be consensual. They like each other."
Aoshi stiffened again at the prospect of her last sentences. "It is not morally right." There and then, he felt like driving to Kenshin's apartment and dragged Kaoru back with him before she did something that she was going to regret. Her lifetime happiness was his responsibility as well, regardless of her age. Once a brother, he would forever be her brother.
"Are you suggesting that me sleeping with you is not morally right?" Misao chided, both her hands on her hip. She can't believe how shallow Aoshi can be at times.
"That's different. I take responsibility over my action. You are engaged to me, are you not?" Aoshi justified himself.
"What makes you think that Kenshin is irresponsible? And you can always break off the engagement. What is there to stop you?" Misao argued.
"Because I will not." Aoshi merely answered, tenderly squeezing her hand with his.
"That is very convincing.." Though she remarked sarcastically, Misao truly believed that he will marry her. "Why do you dislike Kenshin so much? You were so rude to him last night. Weren't you the one who taught us that under no circumstance, we shall not be rude to others?"
"It is complicated" Aoshi simply explained. It wasn't yet the time to bring light of the entire picture for Misao.
"Enlighten me." Misao demanded to know.
Aoshi looked at his wrist watch. "I have made an arrangement with the real estate agent at ten. We better hurry. We don't want to be late." Swiftly, Aoshi evaded Misao's request.
Misao stared at Aoshi who appeared to be oblivious that she was. She sighed. She knew Aoshi too well than to argue with him. She dug into her breakfast with her chopstick. She wondered why did men like using abruptly-change-the-subject tactic to evade questions. On the other hand, she thought, women do the same as well.
"The way I look at it, there is only two ending to this – you either lose a sister or gain a brother-in-law. So, it is your call." Misao said out of a sudden. "They are in love with each other. Isn't that obvious to you? No family love can overcome that one." Misao stated softly, without looking at Aoshi. "How do you like it if Kaoru come between the two of us?"
Aoshi remained silent. Aoshi recalled Hiko's words, 'Let them be. It is not our place to step in.. .' He picked up a cocktail sausage with his chopstick and placed onto Misao's rice bowl.
Misao thanked him. To her, it was a gesture from Aoshi to say that she was right.
Author's note:
A pretty long chapter, isn't it? Did anybody fall asleep while reading it? Do you think that I am repeating certain context over and over again? Anyway, kindly review.
In the previous chapter, I received reviews from an anonymous 'Cloud' who was very kind and took the time to point out my mistake that I have made in my earlier chapters. Thank you very much, 'Cloud'. Really appreciate that. I was hoping that 'Cloud' would be reading this because I wanted to ask, can I just copy your proposal into my chapter? That is not plagiarism, right?