Author's note:
This time I had my chapter beta read before I posted it, thanks to my other new found beta reader, koishiikochou. She has made my chapter easier to read and my sentences more 'understandable'. Giver her a big hand, please.
Previously, Kaoru went to extreme measures to get with Kenshin. Instead of helping herself, she ended up doing Sano and Megumi a favour. And Enishi turned out to be one weirdo who is obsessed with his sister, Tomoe.
Disclamer: I do not own any character in Rurouni Kenshin. I just borrowed them to improve my vocabulary and grammar.
Possession is nine tenths of the law
Misao busied herself around the suite while Aoshi read his daily papers. The suite was peaceful and quiet, except on occasion the sound of the opening and closing of the wardrobe doors was heard.
Misao's mobile phone rang, shattering the silence that Aoshi had been engulfed with.
"Ahhh! It's Kaoru!" Misao exclaimed excitedly as her petite feet pattered across the suite. She ran to the lounge table in front of Aoshi, where she picked up her phone.
Aoshi set his paper down on the glass table and looked at Misao, anticipating her answering the call.
"Kaoru, have…" 'you change your mind?' Misao had wanted to ask the moment she answered the call.
Aoshi saw how her expression immediately turned solemn before Misao abruptly turned her back to him. He carefully observed her body language.
"Hmmph… Alright, I will be there shortly," was all the chatter box Misao said. She stood in her position for a while.
Aoshi raised his eyebrow. He immediately picked up his paper, pretending to be reading it and unperturbed by her action when Misao turned around and told him that she was going out shopping with Kaoru. He only nodded in acknowledgement. No questions asked.
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Aoshi looked his wrist watch. It had been fifteen minutes since Misao left hurriedly. He knew that something had gone terribly wrong. Unless there was an urgency in the matter, Misao would take hours to get herself ready for her weekend outing - she would never have neglected her vanity. He got up, went into the bedroom, grabbed one of Misao's overcoats that was laid on the bed and exited the suite.
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Kenshin felt somewhat unprepared when Misao, wearing a concerned look on her face, all of a sudden appeared at the door of his apartment and thereafter disappeared into Kaoru's room. He felt as though there was something amiss. He stood, confused, in the kitchen, slowly sipping his herbal tea, thinking of the possibility of what might have happened.
His thoughts immediately flew to Kaoru. She was in good spirits in the morning until she found out that Kenshin did not drink his herbal tea from the blue mug. He was baffled when Kaoru was still unhappy after he had the tea she had prepared in the white mug.
There was a soft knock on the door, halting Kenshin's rumination. He went to the door, wondering why the person did not ring the doorbell instead. He was surprised to find Aoshi standing at the door.
"Aoshi?" was all that Kenshin could think of saying to the intimidating man in front of him.
"Himura." Aoshi resisted saying something sarcastic. "Misao left her coat." He walked into the apartment. He knew Misao was still in the apartment as he saw her car parked at the compound.
"C-come in." Aoshi was half way through the door when Kenshin politely invited, shifting his body to the side. "They are in Kaoru's room," Kenshin added. He was surprised when Aoshi went to sit on the sofa instead of knocking on Kaoru's door.
"I'll get them," Kenshin offered.
"There is no need for that. I'll wait here till they are ready to come out," Aoshi said so softly that Kenshin was straining to hear him.
Kenshin served some tea to Aoshi before sitting down in the living room with him. There was a menacing presence surrounding Aoshi. He was uneasy as Aoshi maintained his silence.
"What happened?" Aoshi asked after taking a sip of the tea, calming or rather preparing himself for the worst news that Kenshin might be delivering.
"Huh?" Kenshin was flummoxed by Aoshi's question.
Aoshi realized how quickly his patience ran out when it came to the man in front of him. He took a deep breath while looking sternly at Kenshin.
"I don't know," Kenshin answered honestly, after reading Aoshi's expression. "Do you?" He asked innocently.
Aoshi glared at Kenshin before he answered, "I don't."
Kenshin was terribly confused. Here was Aoshi, demanding to know what had happened when, as far as Kenshin was concerned, nothing had happened – yet. However, when Kenshin prompted Aoshi for a clue as to what it was that Aoshi expected to hear from him, Aoshi didn't know.
"Himura, should you ever hurt Kaoru, be it physically or emotionally, I will, go to infinite length to destroy you," Aoshi suddenly warned dangerously.
Kenshin looked at his hands briefly, considering his response carefully before he brought his head up level with Aoshi. "Kaoru is under my care and she is, now, my responsibility. I promise you that I will risk my life to keep her safe and well. You have my word of honor. You need not worry," he pledged.
"I have every right to worry!" Aoshi stressed. "Your credentials aren't very impressive in this area. However, for her sake, I will take your words for now. And if she ever comes running home crying to me, you will mark my words. I am a man who keeps his promise." Aoshi had made sure that Kenshin took in every one of his words. "I may not have influential relatives, but I am a man of power, in my own league." Aoshi paused to take in Kenshin's facial expression before he continued. "I do not intend to make things difficult for her but I will act in the best interest of her."
Kenshin felt the need to clarify and emphasize. "She is home. Here."
"I have not approved of it, yet." Aoshi rebutted.
Kenshin was assessing how much Aoshi actually knew about him but then decided that it didn't matter. "I have done wrong in the past but I will not repeat the same mistake twice."
"We shall see." Aoshi said unsympathetically, sipping his cup of tea.
The tension between the two men was cracked by a sudden hysterical laughter coming from Kaoru's room. Both men were startled and stared at the closed door, wondering what was going on behind the door.
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"What are you laughing at? I am in distress here!" Kaoru hissed, holding her tone to herself.
"Oh my god…" Misao sighed. "You are really funny. I can't believe that you actually went to the extent of making a love potion! What were you thinking!"
"Well, excuse me. Weren't you the one who encouraged me to go all out to get my 'man'?" Kaoru defended.
"I did and I suggested a few things that you can do, but I never said anything about drugging him!" Misao set off into another fit of laugher.
Kaoru pouted. "Misao! Stop laughing already. You are supposed to console me here." Kaoru sighed deeply. "I already feel like the pervert of the century – I devised a plan to drug Kenshin just so I could rape him! And you are not helping this at all!"
Misao's laughter died down. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Kaoru, maybe we should give this a rest for a while. Sometimes, I think, life works in a really contradictive way. The more that we yearn for something, the harder it is for us to get it. Vice versa, just when you think you are all out of hope, everything is lost; it will just come crawling back to you. Just like the other day, I was searching high and low for these earrings that would match perfectly with my dress. I practically overturned the whole suite and even got Aoshi to help me find it but I just couldn't find it. In the end I gave up and picked another dress and matching accessories instead. And guess what? This morning as I was picking out my outfit, I found those darn earrings sitting right under my nose!" Misao exclaimed.
Kaoru glared at Misao annoyingly. "So, what now? I'm supposed to drop everything and let the river follow its own course? Misao, make up your mind. One minute you are saying I should be proactive and the next, I should just be passive!" She was irritated. "And how can you even compare my situation here with a pair of earrings?"
Misao only laughed at Kaoru's reaction. "Yes, I did suggest that you should do something about you and Kenshin but what I am saying is that you are trying too hard and it is having an adverse effect."
Kaoru sighed after giving some thought to Misao's wisdom. "I understand where you are coming from. But…."
"You need to relax a little. You are overdoing it. . Just get your mind off of getting Kenshin in your pants," Misao suggested.
Kaoru frowned. "Thank you very much for reminding me, again, how perverse I am." She regretted having to call Misao to come over to her aid.
Misao laughed again. "Have you thought much about the job at the university?"
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"Aoshi!" Both Kaoru and Misao cried out, the moment they came out from the room.
Both men stood up automatically.
"What are you doing here?" Misao asked loudly.
"You left your coat." Aoshi walked to meet Misao who was coming over to him. He handed her the coat.
"You followed me." Misao whispered softly as she snatched her coat from Aoshi.
Aoshi did not answer.
"Well, since you are here, I might as well do the announcement now." Kaoru said, looking at Kenshin first, then Aoshi. She guessed there wasn't any point waiting or pestering Aoshi for an answer to his presence.
Kenshin wondered what would be the big announcement. He hoped that it would not affect him negatively.
"I have decided that I will be taking up Prof. Kannyruu's offer. I will give him a call once you guys have approved of it." She smiled looking particularly at Kenshin, for his approval.
Kenshin smiled in relief. "That's great." Kenshin walked up Kaoru. "You'll have my full support."
Kaoru nodded and smiled broadly.
Aoshi just observed Kaoru and Kenshin's interaction.
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Enishi sipped his tea, his eyes intently watching every movement Tomoe made.
Tomoe was flipping through a magazine, not bothered by fact that someone was staring at her. She picked her cup of tea from the round table and sipped it. She looked outside, through the glass panel into the backyard.
"The flower has bloomed beautifully this time, hasn't it?" Enishi commented, reading her mind. He only took a glance outside.
"Indeed." Tomoe turned to smile at Enishi, who was sitting next to her. "I haven't seen much of Sayo, and it's been almost a week. Is she busy?"
Enishi broke his mesmerizing stare at his sister and looked outside. It was a lovely morning, why did Tomoe want to ruin it by asking about Sayo. "I don't know." He answered simply.
Tomoe noticed how he was not very happy with her question. "Why don't you ask her to come over for dinner tonight? I'll make her favorite dish." Tomoe suggested.
"That is not necessary," Enishi said coldly.
Tomoe pretended to be oblivious. "Why not? Is she busy tonight?"
Enishi sighed before he turned to meet Tomoe's gaze and said, "You know very well why." He did not break eye contact with her.
Guilty feelings crept into Tomoe. 'He is so determined and stubborn.'
"I think you should at least give it a harder try. What is wrong with her?" Tomoe said sternly, unwilling to be overcome by his stare.
Enishi was about to say something when Tomoe's mobile played a tune. He knew who was calling his sister by the ring tone.
Tomoe picked up the phone, slid the glass panel open and walked into the backyard. For once, she did not look at Enishi. She did not want to be reminded of that look on Enishi's face whenever Akira called.
"Hello?" Tomoe continued to walk further back, away from Enishi's prying ears.
"Hello, my lovely. How are you this morning?" Akira, Tomoe's husband enquired.
"I'm fine. I was just enjoying tea with Enishi. The flowers have bloomed beautifully this time. You should come and have a look at them." Tomoe smiled as she gently touched the petals of the flowers. "Kitsano, the new gardener, did a great job." She added.
"I wish that I could be with you at this moment – enjoying the sight with you. I wish I could be with you every single moment. I miss you." Akira's voice was tender.
"I miss you too," Tomoe said sincerely.
"When you are coming back to me? The flowers over in Shanghai are beautiful too," Akira whined.
Tomoe laughed. "But I just got back to Japan. You are aware of our agreement. So don't be a baby about it, alright?" She chided.
Akira decided to be difficult. "But you are supposed to be with me. Every minute of every day," he whimpered like a lost child.
"Akira…" Tomoe's voice started to grow tired. She knew where this conversation was leading them.
"Did you lock your room door last night before you went to sleep?" he asked, changing his tone abruptly, concern rising in his voice.
Tomoe sighed. "Akira…"
"He is still sleeping with you!" A question to which Akira already had the answer.
"……." Tomoe turned, making sure that all Enishi could see was her back.
"Tomoe, I want you to come back to me at once. I will arrange for your flight ticket..." Akira was serious, exercising his right as her husband.
"Akira, stop it. I am not going through this fight with you every morning." Tomoe tried to control her body language. She wrapped her free arm around herself.
"Darling, you are my wife. How do you expect me to get comfortable with the idea that you sleep with another man?" Akira's tone softened, trying to convince her of his contention.
"That man that we are talking about happens to be my brother who loves me very much. Before we got married, you already knew that I had very close ties with my brother. So why bother complaining now?" Tomoe bit back.
"Tomoe, siblings don't sleep together. It is not right. He..." Akira went silent, knowing that he had crossed the line and angered his wife.
"You don't trust me… Or do you think I am capable of getting myself involved in an incestuous relationship with my brother?"
"It is him that I do not trust. He sees you as more than a sister. What if he…" Akira could not continue with his sentence, knowing that it will further aggravate the argument.
"What if what, Akira? What are you trying to say? Are you suggesting that my own blood brother would rape me?" Tomoe was trying very hard not to scream at her husband.
"…" Tomoe read Akira's exact thought.
"Have you gone out of your mind? How could you even think such a thing? Enishi loves me more than anything and he will not do anything to harm me." Tomoe hissed instead of screeching on top of her lungs.
"I am perfectly normal but he is not. And you are right; he does love you more than he values his own life." Akira heavily stressed his last sentence.
Tomoe realized what she had just said. She didn't think that the idea of siblings sleeping together was a right or a normal thing, but she can't deny Enishi's need to be physically close to her. She can't deny Enishi's need for her tender attention. It was her fault to begin with.
Akira resorted to a gentler approach. "Tomoe, I am your husband. I care for you. You should be with me. Your brother is old enough to take care of himself. It is time to let go. He has to learn to let you go. You can't be traveling forth and back between us. I need you here with me, at all times."
"I will not leave my brother. He needs me. Nothing in the world can break us apart. He has only me." Tomoe vowed.
"Tomoe..."
"Akira, I have had enough of this conversation for today. I would be very happy if my beloved husband would call to inquire about my well being and not talk of this preposterous issue. I am tired. Goodbye." Tomoe ended the call and turned off her phone.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 'Have I done wrong?' She asked herself. 'Perhaps it was a mistake to marry Akira in the first place.' Guilt, once again, filled her being. She realized that she can only pick one of the two and she knew she would never abandon her brother. That pretty much left her with only one choice. It was silly of her to think that she could always be there for Enishi and at the same time indulge her feelings for Akira. She loved Akira, but she soon realized it would take more than just love to be with Akira. She clenched her fist, releasing her tension.
Tomoe's parents had died in a car accident when she was ten. They had left both her and her brother of five years younger a fortune and empire. Yet, all of that wasn't enough to leave her feeling emotionally secure. She was pampered to no end by her parents' love and affection, and the death of her parents made her feel lost – she had nothing to hold on to. However, Enishi gave her a reason to be strong, gave her something to fill her empty heart with. Ever since then, her brother had been the center of her attention. Everything that she did, it would be for him. Every thought that she had, it would be of him.
Tomoe had been worried, then, that he would leave her too if she did not hold on tightly to him. From then on, she kept her brother close to her at all times, to the extent that she slept together with him on the same bed. It was fine for siblings to be sleeping in the same bed while they were still young, but Tomoe never removed her brother from her bed even when he reached puberty. All had fallen into routine, and that routine was acceptable – for full grown siblings with matured bodies that are sensitive to touch, to be sleeping in the same bed and cuddling each other – in the Yukishiro household.
As Tomoe grew older, her physical needs for her brother lessened as she realized that he will always be there for her regardless. It was all a matter of heart. Their bond ran deep within their blood.
On the contrary, as Tomoe slowly gained her sense of security, slowly releasing her hold on him, Enishi grew hungrier, by the day, for his sister's affection, be it physically or emotionally. There was only her in his eyes and mind. She saw it coming but did nothing, as she thought that one fine day, a woman of his dreams would change his view. Like how Akira had changed her view. However, Enishi had been dating countless women and none seemed to be able to leave even a fleeting impression upon his heart.
'What have I done? My selfishness… My insecurity…' Tomoe held her tears. She could not allow Enishi to see her expression now. He cares too much to leave things as they are. She forced a smile on her face and took a slow deep breath, tilting her head upward.
Enishi was watching her the entire time. She was not happy, he knew. They fought again. He shouldn't have given his consent to the marriage. He saw Tomoe turn around with a smile on her face, but he knew it was just a smile that she had intentionally put up for him. His whole body tensed up when he resisted the urge to ball his hands into fists. He will not forgive Akira. One fine day, he will get rid of him, but now was not the time. Not yet, he thought.
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Kenshin stood in the kitchen, washing his plate. He was alone in the apartment. He left the dish to dry on the dish rack and walked himself to the balcony. He rested both of his palms on the railing and looked into the night. He looked at his wrist watch. 'It is almost eight now and she is still not home...'
It has been almost a week since Kaoru started working as a research chemist with Prof. Kannyruu. He was, at first, genuinely delighted to hear the news. It wasn't until she started working and gradually started coming home late that he regretted his decision to support her taking up the job.
He missed walking along the corridor to a cooking aroma that wafted from his apartment. He missed opening the door into the apartment and the first thing that would happen is a cheerful greeting to him – Kaoru's lovely smile. He missed having her pottering around him, as if he was her world. He missed having her beautiful voice filling the air in the apartment. All he had now was silence.
He was looking at the road for any sign of Kaoru's return when he saw a familiar car coming in close enough to view. To his dismay, it was Sano and not Kaoru. Kaoru had been thoughtful enough to insist on returning Kenshin's car and rode with another colleague of hers. She reasoned that with her presently working, she would not have time or flexibility to chauffeur Kenshin as and when required.
"Oi, Kenshin! What are you doing there?" Sano came through the door.
Without having to turn around, Kenshin answered, "Nothing."
Sano walked over to the balcony and stood next to Kenshin. "She is not back yet?" He asked softly.
Kenshin sighed. He turned and went back into the living area. He flopped onto the sofa and turned on the television.
Sensing that Kenshin was not really interested in talking, Sano shook his head and went back in. He grabbed two bottles of beer from the refrigerator before he threw himself on the sofa next to Kenshin.
"Here." Sano handed one bottle to Kenshin.
Kenshin stared at the bottle for a while before he looked up at Sano's face.
Sano gestured Kenshin to take it. Sano knew that alcohol was not Kenshin's drink of choice, but he felt that Kenshin might just need it. Kenshin seemed restless.
Kenshin sighed and took the bottle into his hand. 'What the hell… I need this.'
There was only silence between the two men, except for the background sound coming from the television. Both sat in silence, drinking their bottled beer and watching the television program.
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Kaoru rested her elbow on the car door, supporting her chin in her palm. She was looking out at the clear sky. 'I should be home by now; taking our evening walk together, counting stars… then maybe he would look me in the eye again and…' She blushed and grinned at that thought.
"Kaoru?"
'This is all that Prof. Kannyruu's fault – holding me up for so long…' She sighed and grimaced, oblivious that someone was calling her name.
"Kaoru?" The person nudged her.
"Huh? I am sorry. I am so tired and I just zoned out. What were you saying again?" In fact, Kaoru had purposely tuned Ryuzabaro out. It was amazing how much her junior can talk. Besides, she was too homesick and Kenshin-sick to pay attention to whatever he had to say.
"I was just telling you about my neighbor, Mrs. Itkuso. How nosy she is. What were you thinking a minute ago? You smiled and then soured." Ryuzabaro had been observing her.
"Oh, that. Well, I was just imagining me sitting in a hot tub right at this very moment," 'with Kenshin scrubbing my back.' She smiled again. "And reality bites, when I am still sitting in a car," 'instead of home, with him.'
"I see. Then I better speed up a little and get you to your hot bath." Ryuzabaro put a little more pressure on the accelerator with his foot.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it." Kaoru had somehow thought that Ryuzabaro was driving too slowly for her liking. She can't wait to get home.
Kaoru had been counting the minutes to the end of her official working time ever since lunch had finished. She wanted so badly to be home early to make up for the days that she had been late and subsequently was not able to prepare dinner for Kenshin. Just when the clock struck half past five, Prof. Kannyruu had required her and her colleagues to do more testing. 'Flex time, my foot! Maybe I should talk to Prof. Kannyruu about my working time. If he disapproves of me going home on time, then I'll just quit. It is not like I am really hard up for the job, anyway…'
Kaoru actually loved her current job, but nothing was above serving her Kenshin. 'I wonder what he is doing now?' His face appeared in her mind. She smiled lusciously, but immediately killed it after considering that Ryuzabaro might be looking at her from the corner of his eyes.
'Kenshin…'
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Kenshin looked at his wrist watch again. It was ten to nine and Kaoru was still not home. Kaoru and he would have been taking their routine evening walk by that hour of the night. He sighed. He missed their evening walk.
"Where have you been having your dinner lately?" Kenshin decided to ask. He was curious as to why Sano had been always late this few days. The weirdest part was Sano was not home for dinner. Sano did not particularly like eating out when given a choice.
"Ah… Oh well. I… have been hanging out." Sano said lamely. He somehow felt that it was not the time to tell anybody that he had been seeing Megumi. It wasn't because he was not serious about his relationship with Megumi, but he just thought that it was not necessary.
Kenshin didn't think that Sano had answered him. However, he asked no further. He faintly heard the sound of a car pulling over. He jumped up from the sofa very quickly, earning him a stare from Sano as he ran out on the balcony.
Kenshin was delighted at the prospect that Kaoru had finally come home. However, he didn't like what he was seeing. His grip on the railing tightened.
Ryuzabaro opened the door for Kaoru to get out. Kaoru got out and thanked him. He said something to her and she laughed happily. He intently watched her laugh.
Sano heard Kaoru's laughter and went to stand next to Kenshin, trying to find out what was going on.
'Bastard' Kenshin saw that guy smiled lustfully as the guy observed Kaoru from close range.
Sano felt Kenshin's angry aura. 'She looks kinda happy being in his company, don't you think?" Sano thought that this would be the perfect time to rub it in and knock some sense into Kenshin.
Kenshin did not respond.
"If you are not firm in what exactly you want, she will think that you are not interested and might just end up settling with that dude down there. He seems to be paying enough attention to her." Sano could see the vein on Kenshin's hands surfacing. "And if she were to really go out with that blockhead, you have no right to be angry over it. She is not your girlfriend to begin with." He put on a heavy emphasized on his last sentences.
Kenshin remained silent. His blood reached the boiling point when it seemed as though this guy seemed to be holding Kaoru back from him.
"Ryuzabaro, you are really funny. You better not let the professor hear of your opinion on him. I don't think you will still have a job if he does. Anyway thanks for the ride. I shall see you tomorrow." Kaoru took a step forward, hinting Ryuzabaro to make room for her to move. He was currently trapping her, with his body standing in her walk way and his hand resting on the still opened car door, boxing her in.
"Kaoru, thank you for riding home with me. I enjoy your company. I do hope that you have enjoyed my company as much I enjoy yours." He did not budge from his spot, wishing to be with her a little while longer.
"I should be thanking you for taking the trouble to pick me before work and dropping me off after work. I owe you one." Kaoru said.
"Dinner on you then?"
Kaoru laughed. "Alright, dinner's on me." Kaoru did not want to deprive Kenshin his car and hence she had gotten rides from Ryuzabaro since he lived nearby to her place.
"Good. I shall let you know when." Ryuzabaro smiled and moved to the side, finally allowing Kaoru to go home.
"Ok. Thanks again for the ride. When I get my car, we should car pool." Kaoru walked away from him.
"Kaoru…"
"Yes?" She turned around.
Ryuzabaro said nothing but looked at her.
"Yes?" Kaoru made a face.
"Goodnight, Kaoru. If you having trouble sleeping, you can call me."
"Thanks for the offer, but I think I will sleep like a log. I am dead tired." Kaoru replied, failing to catch his implied intentions.
Having felt that he had seen enough, Kenshin marched into the living area, leaving Sano all by himself.
Sano watched Kaoru wave goodbye to Ryuzabaro before he walked into the apartment, towards the kitchen. "What are you doing?" He asked.
"Are you blind? What does it look like I am doing?" Kenshin continued to remove the food wrapping from the plates of food he had prepared for Kaoru.
'Getting snappy, are we?' "You know, you probably should wait till she gets in before you heat up the food for her. The dude might have already fed her." Sano was thoroughly enjoying hitting Kenshin's sore point, despite the fact that the look on Kenshin's face was rather alarming. Judging by the look, Sano was about to eaten alive by Kenshin.
Just before Kenshin was about to say something extremely rude to Sano, the door to the apartment opened.
"Hi guys!" Kaoru greeted them both, but her eyes were only on Kenshin.
"Hi! Hungry? I am just about to heat up your dinner." Kenshin told her with a smile.
Kaoru nodded. The span of her smile just grew broader.
Sano looked at the two and smirked. He turned back to the living area, leaving Kenshin and Kaoru to their own business.
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"So, how was work today?" Kenshin inquired while watching Kaoru eat.
"Hmm… Busy. We did lots of testing on the specimen, trying to find the use for the specimen."
"So, that guy who gave you a ride… what's his name again? Ryuzabaro?" Kenshin tried to be tactful.
"Yup. Ryuzabaro, it is. He's a real funny guy." Kaoru immediately thought of a joke that he had just told her shortly.
"Really?" His soothing smile was no longer located on his face. His eyes narrowed.
Kaoru immediately noticed the change in his expression. "I guess it is because he is still young and all. He is like the jester in the lab. He keeps everybody entertained with his funny ways. It makes working there more lively. Everybody likes him."
"I see."
Kaoru got up from her seat, wanting to take her tray to the kitchen sink. However, she was intercepted by Kenshin, who took the tray in his hand.
"It is getting late. You should take a bath." Kenshin smiled at her.
"Thank you." Kaoru disappeared into her room.
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Kaoru was ready to enter the bathroom when her mobile rang. She turned back into her room.
Kenshin stopped soaping the tumbler. With his soapy hand and glass, he turned and arched his back backwards to peep into Kaoru's room. He wondered who would call her this late at night. He reckoned that it would not anybody that he knew, because he did not recognize the ring tone.
"Hello, Ryuzabaro. What can I do for you?" Kaoru's cheerful voice was heard.
Kenshin tensed up at that name. His gripped on the tumbler tightened…
Crack! Crash!
The sound of the shattering glass shocked Kaoru. Knowing the breaking sound came from the direction of the kitchen and knowing that Kenshin was in the kitchen, Kaoru immediately said, "I'll call you back." She hung up without waiting for a response from Ryuzabaro.
"Kenshin! What happened?" Kaoru rushed to Kenshin's side. She was all worried when she saw his red soapy hand. She grasped. "Oh my god! What happened?" She very quickly took his injured hand in hers.
Kenshin could only manage to stare down at her.
"Oh god! You're bleeding!" She cried out loud, panic rising in her voice. She saw the shattered glass in the sink. His hand was too soapy to assess how deep the cut was. "Oh god!"
"It is ok. I'm fine." Kenshin said nonchalantly. "I accidentally broke the glass and cut myself."
'Yeah, right- It was an accident…' Sano sarcastically thought as he watched the scene from where he was on the sofa.
"No… It is not alright." She was about to cry when she saw the blood was dripping from his hand. "Does it hurt? We need to clean this." She carefully moved his hand and rinsed it under the running tap. "Does it hurt?" She asked again, her whole attention on his wounded hand. Pink water drained into the piping.
"No, it doesn't hurt." Although the wound sting a little but he did not feel the pinch. His attention, his eyes were on her at all times, watching her facial movements intently.
"Kenshin, the cut looks deep." Her voice sounded troubled. "Come. We need to dress this wound." She turned to the cabinet and looked for the first aid kit before she gently pulled him to the dining table.
Kenshin submissively followed her.
"Oh Kenshin, how did this happen?" She moaned in worry while attending to his palm.
"Does it hurt?" She asked when she carefully dabbed the disinfectant onto his wound.
"No." Kenshin was still staring at her, captivated by her attention.
"I'm sorry." He said all of a sudden.
Kaoru looked up, puzzled. "What are you apologizing for?"
"Do you like your work?" His sudden question came across as quite bizarre to Kaoru.
"Yes, I do," Kaoru carefully answered, thinking of what did it had to do with his apology or his wound.
"I see." Kenshin dropped his eyes from her. However, he did not pause for too long. "I think this job is too much for you."
Kaoru blankly looked at him before she dropped her head and continued to bandage his hand. "Are you unhappy that I have been coming home late and that I have not been able to prepare dinner as I promised?" She asked in a very low voice without looking at him.
Sano strained to listen to what Kaoru was saying. He wanted to reduce the volume of the television badly, but that would just give him away – that he was eavesdropping.
'Yes, I don't like you coming home to me late and I don't like that bastard hitting on you while at work,' was what Kenshin truly wanted to say. Unfortunately, a foreign word came out from his mouth instead, "No." Kenshin mentally shot himself in the temple.
Kaoru kept very silent, contemplating how truthful his answer was. All she needed was just the word 'Yes' and she would quit her job immediately and stay home for him.
"Kaoru, I want you to be happy with what you do." 'But I don't want you working there.' Kenshin mentally kicked himself for causing the strain between them. "If you are happy working there, you should continue to work there." In his mind, Kenshin was punching himself in the face. "I just thought that this job might be rather taxing for you."
"Really?" Kaoru was not convinced.
Kenshin nodded with a smile. 'I will deal with that bastard later.'
"There. It is all done." Kaoru returned Kenshin his hand cautiously.
"Thank you." Kenshin admired his bandaged hand. "Kaoru, I'll drop you to work tomorrow." It was more of a command.
Nevertheless, Kaoru nodded with a broad smile, complying obediently.
Kaoru's mobile rang again. It was the same tune as before. She looked at Kenshin for a while before she stood and walked into her room.
Kenshin followed her.
"Hello?" Kaoru answered her call while Kenshin leaned against the door frame, watching her.
"No. It was nothing… Yup." Kaoru nodded.
"By the way Ryuzabaro, you don't have to pick me up on your way to work tomorrow… Yes… I know it is no trouble for you but I have plans…" She winked at Kenshin.
Kenshin smiled.
"It is ok, really. Anyway it is getting pretty late now. I'll talk to you tomorrow… Goodnight." Kaoru ended the call.
Kenshin smiled triumphantly, satisfied.
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Kaoru was feeling a great deal of pleasure, enjoying breakfast in the cafeteria. The food was marginally bearable, but it was the company that mattered. Earlier, Kenshin suggested that they should have breakfast in the university's cafeteria, reminiscence about the days when it was twenty-four seven cafeteria food.
Kaoru would have enjoyed her meal far better if those girls weren't there to distract from her quiet moment with Kenshin. Females that walked past them seemed to have paid particular interest in Kenshin. Kaoru noticed how most would stare at Kenshin and then would whisper to the person next to them as they walked past their table. It annoyed Kaoru to no end when some started to giggle like the stupid fools that they were. Kaoru violently stabbed her sausage with her fork, unintentionally.
"What's wrong?" Kenshin noticed how Kaoru was abusing her food. Cafeteria food might not taste good, but Kaoru wasn't one who played with her food. "You don't like it?"
"Huh? No, it's not that. I was... just thinking." Kaoru looked up and smiled at him. From the corner of her eye, she picked up a pair of ogling eyes staring at Kenshin. 'What is she looking at!'
"What about?" Kenshin inquired, as he noticed her focus seemed to be distracted. He looked at the direction that caught her sight. He didn't see anything unusual.
"Oh… just some random things." Kaoru casually explained, bringing his attention back to her.
"I see." Kenshin gathered she was not willing to share her thoughts. "You know," he tried to recapture her interest solely on him, "for the past week, Sano has been eating dinner elsewhere. He gets out of work on time, but does not come home until much later in the evening."
"Really?" Kaoru felt slightly guilty for missing out on what was going on at home. Mentally she was determined to lay out her terms with Prof. Kannyruu – she was not to work after official hours. "Did you ask him where he went?"
"I briefly asked him last night. He seemed reluctant to answer me."
"Maybe he is seeing someone." Kaoru grinned devilishly.
"Maybe." Kenshin agreed with a smile. He looked at his wrist watch. "You better hurry up and eat up or you'll be late."
"AH… I almost forgot that I am supposed to be working today!" She started to panic and wolfed her breakfast down.
Kenshin sipped his coffee with a smile.
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"Kenshin, you are going to be late to work!" A role reversal when Kenshin insisted on seeing her to the laboratory.
"It is ok. Japan is at peace. I can afford to be late." Kenshin assured her with a broad smile.
"Kenshin…" Kaoru halted her movement.
"Come on, let's go, you'll be late if we keep on arguing. One late is better than two." He had his palm on the small of her back, gently pushing her forward.
Kaoru rolled her eyes. She gave up trying to talk him out of it. She never seemed to win.
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"Kaoru!" Ryuzabaro called out the moment Kaoru stepped into the laboratory. He had his eyes fixed on the door waiting for her arrival.
"Good morning, Ryuzabaro. Good morning, everyone!" She greeted upon entering.
Kenshin stared hard at Ryuzabaro. He automatically took a step forward, keeping close proximity behind her. He did a quick scan of the laboratory. It was a small lab with only six people.
"Morning." Kaoru's colleagues greeted her in return shortly and immediately noticed a face that they did not recognize.
Kaoru noticed that some of her colleagues were staring, probably at Kenshin's good looks. She turned to her side slightly and began to introduce Kenshin. "This is…"
Kenshin abruptly cut her off. "Hi! My name is Himura Kenshin. Kaoru and I LIVE TOGETHER." He smiled and turned to look at Ryuzabaro's direction. He was satisfied with what he saw – Ryuzabaro's jaw dropped to his knees.
Kaoru immediately turned to stare at Kenshin in stupor. She suspected that she might have misheard him. Unfortunately or fortunately, she could not decide just yet, the facial response from her fellow colleagues proved that her hearing was perfectly fine. It was uncharacteristic of Kenshin to say such things in public. 'Whatever happened to 'I do not wish for your reputation to become tarnished,'' she thought as she remembered what Kenshin said to her when she decided to move in with him.
Distantly, Kaoru noticed how her female colleagues were whispering to one another. She felt hot around her face. She stood in dumb shock for a while until Kenshin's voice snapped her out of it.
"I thank everyone here for taking care of her." Kenshin bowed a little which made Kaoru blush harder.
"Kenshin…" Kaoru whispered softly.
"Morning!" Prof, Kannyruu stepped into the room. "Oh… and who are you?" He asked the stranger in his laboratory.
"I'm Himura Kenshin, Professor."
"Hello" Prof. Kannyruu shook Kenshin's hand. "What can I do for you?"
"Ah... I have no business here. I am just here to bring Kaoru to work." Kenshin answered truthfully. He turned back to Kaoru and told her, "I'll come pick you later in the day. Half past five, am I right?" He briefly looked at the Professor before he looked back at Kaoru for an answer.
Kaoru only managed to nod slowly – still too shocked. Kenshin had that look on his face again that made her felt like running and hide, but at the same time exhilarating. She shook herself out of her daze when Kenshin said goodbye. Kaoru watched him leave and turned back to face her colleagues.
"Kaoru!" One of her female rushed to her side. "Is that your boyfriend? He is so good looking."
"Obviously he is. They are living together, are they not?" Said another.
"Wow! Your boyfriend is so cute! Where did you fish him from?"
"What does he do for a living?"
"Is it true that you guys are living together?" Ryuzabaro finally said something.
Kaoru did not know what to say. Should she even explain to her colleagues what was going on? Then again, she felt as though a big rock just fell from the sky and hit her head.
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Author's note:
Last week, I asked for the opinion of whether long but late chapter or short and frequent chapter was better. Thank god that most response was long but delay chapter because I honestly can't write fast no matter how hard I try. I was tried to push out this chapter and it turned out somewhat dry to my liking. At the end I still come back to long delay chapters.
Though I would not call this a 'fast' update but compared to my past record, this is rather soon. Anyway, my dear boss had left me all alone to struggle with the politics in the my workplace, so, I was on the down side. Sigh! Just thought I want to share it out. I'll live.
Ok, now that I have pen out my opinion, I need yours for the above chapter. I don't mind even if it is a not so nice comment as long it is honest. So, please review and tell me what you think of it.
Next chapter will be something that reader will be expecting…
I think.
Thanks for reading.