Author's note:
Many thanks to Silent Tear of Agony for volunteering to proof read for me.
I apologized for not able to post this chapter sooner. Reviews from the previous chapter were really overwhelming and instantly, I was inspired to write and post as soon as possible. Unfortunately I was distracted by my work and I got lazy and rusty again. So sorry about that, especially to those who eagerly awaits for this story. You guys really inspired me to keep on writing.
Two common concerns from readers in regard to the previous chapter;
1) Doesn't that make Kenshin committing infidelity?
2) When did Kenshin proposed to Kaoru?
Hopefully, I am able to fix those two concerns in this chapter. And I really loved it when you tell me what you think about the story. So, bring it on!!!
Previous chapter: K&K finally took big lead in their relationship and share the same bed. Kaoru woke up with a ring on her finger and she revealed to Misao that she was married to Kenshin months ago. However, it was a arrangement marriage and Kenshin might not be aware of who he was married to.
Disclamer: I do not own any character in Rurouni Kenshin. I just borrowed them to improve my vocabulary and grammar.
Will You Marry Me?
"My passport… checked. Kenshin's passport… checked," Kaoru rambled to herself as she ticked off her checklist.
Kenshin sat on the bed, observing Kaoru perform her final checklist before they leave home for the airport. It was their first vacation together – with just the two of them. Although he did not show it on his face, he was pretty excited and looking forward to it. Two knocks on Kaoru's room door had his head turned toward the door.
"Oi," Sano called out to both Kenshin and Kaoru. "Can I come in?"
"Of course you can, Sano," Kaoru answered. "Since when have you turned into a courteous young man?" she teased.
Sano grinned as he walked into the room and sat besides Kenshin on Kaoru's bed. "So, Kaoru, you've got everything ready?" he asked
"I think so. I'm just doing a last minute check to see if I left anything behind," Kaoru answered while looking through her checklist.
Sano looked through the door into the living area before he whispered softly, "You guys are just going for a vacation right? You are coming back after two weeks, right?"
Both Kenshin and Kaoru turned their attention to Sano, wondering why he was speaking very softly and asking such peculiar question. Sano turned to look at them, expecting an answer and they nodded.
"So, if you guys are just going for a vacation, can either one of you please explain to me why is everyone here today?" Sano asked, tilting his head to the side toward the living area.
Kenshin and Kaoru just looked at each other. They immediately caught on. Unfortunately, they didn't have the answer to Sano's question as to why Hiko, Aoshi and Misao were in the apartment at the same time.
Avoiding having to answer Sano's question, Kaoru looked at the time and said, "Well, I am done. We can leave now."
Kenshin stood up and walked to Kaoru. He lifted the baggage and walked out of the room to the living room.
"All set?" Misao asked when she saw Kenshin walking out.
"Yes, ready to go," Kaoru answered, smiling and turned to look at Kenshin. Kenshin returned a smile.
Aoshi looked as if he wanted to say something but he didn't. He didn't particularly look at all happy.
Hiko merely sipped his tea and glanced at his wrist watch. "You better leave now if you don't want to miss the flight."
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, let's move," Sano said, taking a baggage from Kenshin and started walking towards the door. When he sensed that something was amiss, he turned and asked, "Aren't you guys coming?"
Hiko answered, "No, I am quite comfortable being here."
"Misao? Aoshi?" Sano asked.
"Aoshi and I will stay here with Hiko." Misao smiled.
Sano raised his brow. He tilted his head to the left and whispered to Kenshin, "If they are not going to see you off at the airport, why are they here in the first place?"
Kenshin just shrugged his shoulders in oblivion although he might have an idea why they were gathered at his home.
"Enjoy the honeymoon!" Misao shouted.
Kaoru's complexion turned as red as a tomato. "That woman….!" she muttered with her closed eyes under her breath and gritted her teeth. For some reason she didn't dare look at Kenshin's reaction towards Misao's reckless remark.
Sano shook his head and took a quick look at Kenshin. There wasn't any expression that could be read from Kenshin's features. It was as if he heard nothing coming out from Misao's mouth. Sano shook his head again, not understanding what was going on. He can't help feeling that everyone seemed to know something that he didn't. He opened the door, allowing Kaoru and Kenshin to walk out before he did the same and closed the door behind him.
After making sure that they were not coming back into the apartment again, Hiko turned to Aoshi and said, "Well, now that they are gone, shall we plan for a wedding?"
Aoshi grimfaced but nodded nevertheless while Misao jumped up in excitement.
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The reception was a simple glass table with two very comfortable guest chairs. The attendant sitting behind the reception desk smiled gracefully when he saw a couple, hand in hand approaching him. He was slightly surprised when he noticed the man sling a ladies handbag across his shoulder. The couple was nearing him.
Kaoru was glad to be seated comfortably in a well cushioned arm chair and sighed in relief. She felt extremely lethargic after touching down in Amsterdam. She figured it was probably due to lack of sleep from past few nights. She had been really excited going on a vacation with Kenshin that she was having temporary insomnia.
Kenshin heard Kaoru sigh. He rested his hand on hers and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I am fine. Just a little tired," Kaoru replied with her half opened eyelids.
The receptionist carefully observed both the couple sitting in front of him. He could see the softness in the man's eyes as he enquired of the lady's well being. His eyes caught sight of a diamond right on the lady's ring finger. He waited until they both settle a little more comfortably in their seat before he politely asked, "Good afternoon, sir, madam. How may I help you?"
"Yes, please. I made a reservation under the name of Himura," Kenshin answered.
"Mr. Himura, please wait while I check for your reservation," the receptionist typed on the keyboard and observed the computer screen. "Yes, we have a reservation for a Mr. Himura, flying in from Japan," he smiled. "Your room is ready," he said and passed the key card to the bell boy.
With great difficulties, Kaoru lifted her heavy backside off the comfortable armchair when she saw Kenshin stand up. Inwardly, she was hoping that Kenshin could carry her to their room.
"Welcome to Holland and we hope that you would enjoy your stay with us, Mr. and Mrs. Himura," the receptionist added when Kenshin and Kaoru were about to leave his desk.
Kaoru was immediately snapped switch to alert mode when she heard herself being address as 'Mrs. Himura'. Contrast to her earlier tired looking pair of eye, she vibrantly looked at the receptionist with her eyes wide. 'Did he know?' she asked herself inwardly. She turned to look at Kenshin, trying to read his facial expression.
Kenshin smiled merrily and replied, "We will, thank you." He held Kaoru's hand and turned around, walking away from the reception.
Kaoru was still staring at Kenshin as he led her to the elevator. She can't help speculating what he was thinking. He didn't bother to correct the receptionist. Technically, the receptionist was right to address her as Mrs. Himura, however, Kenshin didn't know about it, did he? Or maybe he knew… She shook her head lightly.
Kenshin stopped walking. "What's wrong? Having a headache?" Kenshin asked, his brow came to meet one another.
"No, I'm just tired," she told half the truth.
"You can get some rest when we get to the room," Kenshin soothed, squeezing her hand and continued walking.
Kaoru nodded. Her mind conjured wildly on the prospect of whether Kenshin knew she was his wife. One way or another, she was determined to tell him before the end of this trip. Although she had yet to come out with a plan, she was going to tell him by all means. 'Maybe I can write him a letter?' 'Of course not, you idiot!' she heard herself berated.
Her eyes widened in surprised when the bell boy opened a door to the presidential suite. Although she was not at all amazed with the interior décor of the suite, her mouth was agape. It never crossed her mind that Kenshin would actually choose to reserve a suite. He was never one who would splurge on luxuries or unnecessary item. Then again, she shouldn't be surprised by the arrangement. For all she knows, it may be Hiko that had made the arrangement.
As she walked into the suite, her mind recalled last Sunday's lunch with Hiko. Hiko did not show the slightest emotion when Kenshin held her hand, walking into the dining hall. She was expecting Hiko to, at least, smile or tease them and say something like, "So, you two finally got together."
Instead, Hiko's expression remained calm and acted as if Kenshin finally holding her hand had been nothing new. Hiko immediately noticed the ring on her finger once she and Kenshin took their seat in front of him but he said nothing. It was silly but she was a little disappointed. It wasn't until Kenshin informed Hiko they were planning for a vacation together that had Hiko's narrowed eyes widened, showing a little more emotion. She could almost picture Hiko jumping up and down in his chair and visualized Hiko going "Yes! Yes!" as if winning a bet on the World Cup.
Hiko cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure and asked, "How long are you planning on going?" And Kenshin answered, "About two weeks." After a long list of questions of where and when, she noticed that Hiko couldn't help but smile for the entire afternoon.
Kenshin tipped the bell boy before he closed the door behind him. He knew Kaoru was thinking and having read her thoughts, he said, "I thought we should be feeling a little more at home." He smiled warmly.
Kaoru, temporarily forgotten of her recent musing, walked into the bedroom and flopped flat on her back onto the bed. She sighed heavily and closed her heavy eyes. She opened her eyes again when her body weight moved along with the spring of the bed. She saw Kenshin's smiling face above her.
"Tired?" Kenshin asked.
She replied, "Not really," and followed by a big wide yawn.
Kenshin sniggered and suggested, "Get some sleep. You didn't really sleep well on the plane."
"But I am really not that tired…" she whined and pouted.
Kenshin got off her and sat next to her. He commanded softly, "Turn on your stomach."
"Why?" Kaoru raised her brow in question but nevertheless did as he requested.
Kenshin straddled on her back, placing his hands on her shoulder firmly and started massaging her.
Kaoru moaned blissfully and closed her eyes. He had such strong hands, she thought and he was really good at it. He knew all the right places to assert more pressure.
"Good?" Kenshin asked, still working on her shoulders.
Kaoru was in too much comfort to be able to speak, therefore she just nodded. She felt all of her muscles starting to relax and before she could be aware of it, she was drifting to sleep.
"Let me know if I am putting too much pressure," Kenshin said but there was no response. "Kaoru?" he called her, the movement of his hand started to slow down. He bent his body lower, looking at her sleeping and smiling face. He smiled to himself before he got off her. He carefully turned her over and scooped her up into his arm. He kicked opened the covers and rested her head on the pillow. He covered her and left the bedroom.
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Kenshin just came out from the bathroom, toweling dry his long wet hair when Kaoru's eyes all of a sudden snapped opened. "Argh! I fell asleep!" she said out loud, sitting up.
"You are awake," Kenshin said, trying not to laugh at her comical reaction.
Kaoru narrowed her eyes and started accusing Kenshin loudly, "You hypnotized me to sleep!"
Kenshin unable to hold it any longer, laughed. "I was just giving you a massage. You fell asleep on your own. You were tired."
"I-I… Y-you…. It is still your fault." She felt really stupid for causing a racket over such trivial matters. At the back of her mind, what would Kenshin make out of her when he knew that he married such a silly woman.
Kenshin sat next to her and apologized, "I'm sorry, it is my fault." He kissed her lightly on the lips and she felt even guiltier than she already did.
"A hot bath," he tugged her out of bed, "it will make you feel better." He walked her to the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
She sighed and turned on the tap, filling the tub. She sat on the edge of the tub while waiting for the tub to be filled up. She dipped her hand into the water when her ring caught her attention. She stared down at her ring for a while before she stood up and stripped herself. She got into the tub and immersed her body into the warm water. She brought her left hand to level with her eyes. She never seemed to get sated from looking at the diamond ring that Kenshin secretly slipped onto her finger.
She grinned. She had the ring on her finger for a week now but she still didn't exactly know Kenshin's reason for giving her the ring. Or why he had to slip it on while she was sleeping. She never did work up the courage to ask him and he never did offer any explanation voluntarily. She resolved that it didn't matter why Kenshin gave her the ring because it will not change the fact that she was his wife. She smiled again and closed her eyes, enjoying her bath.
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Kenshin was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for her when Kaoru came out from the bathroom. She had nothing on but her bath robe and a pair of bedroom slippers.
"Feeling good?" he asked, referring to her bath.
"Hm," Kaoru nodded and walked to stand less than a step, in front of Kenshin. "Where are you planning to take me tonight?" She asked so that she could plan on what to wear for the evening.
Kenshin held her hands, looked into her eyes and replied, "I was thinking of room service and some quiet time together. How does that sound?"
Kaoru nodded. She was not bothered by where they had their dinner as long he was with her. She actually preferred to be alone with him. Perhaps, she thought, she could ask him about the ring after dinner. Or perhaps after a few glasses of wine…
"Why are you smiling?" Kenshin asked. His lips automatically curled up when she smiled.
Kaoru blushed and shook her head. She didn't realize that she was smiling.
"Kaoru," Kenshin stood up without letting go of her hands, "I need to show you something." He gently pulled her and walked out of the bedroom. He led her out into the living area, to an armchair positioned near the balcony. Next to the armchair was a small glass side table and there was a large bouquet of Calla Lily – her favourite.
She couldn't wipe off the smile on her face and at the same time thought of what he was up to. He seemed to be enjoying giving her endless surprises recently.
He gestured her to sit on the armchair. He reached for the flowers before he kneeled down on his left knee in front of her. "These are for you…" His cheeks were gradually colored.
"Thank you," her cheeks turned a little red as she held the flowers in her arm. She pushed her nose closer to the lilies and breathed in. "They smell really good," she smiled. She bent forward and lightly kissed him on the lips. "Thank you…"
Kenshin grinned and his attention went to her left hand. Kaoru was puzzled when he took her left hand and stretched it out in front of them. He was gazing and tracing the ring on her finger again. "You never did ask me," he finally said, looking up.
Kaoru was perplexed by his statement. She didn't know what to say to him. Was this her cue to ask him what the ring had meant, she thought.
He continued before she could come to a conclusion, "But I was glad that you didn't. It wouldn't be right if you have to ask me." He slipped the ring off from her finger.
Kaoru's only response was to have her eyes stretched as wide as possible. Her heart was beginning to thump. She couldn't make out her emotion at that moment; she was worried and excited at the same time to what he was about to do next.
"I should have done it right the first time…" he trailed off, holding the ring in his hand. His other free hand went to his side pocket and took out a red ring box. He opened the box and embedded the ring in the center of the box.
He once again held her hand, turned the box around so that the ring shone at her and asked the obvious, "Will you marry me?"
She smiled broadly, "Yes! Yes! Of course I will marry you.' and hugged him tightly. If she wasn't sitting and he wasn't kneeling, she would have jumped up and down on her spot before she wrapped her legs around him. "I'm already married to you!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Kenshin tightened his hold around her and smiled contently, "But I never did ask you, did I?
Kaoru was too busy being filled and drowned by her new found happiness that it took her a while to process what Kenshin had just said to her. When she finally came around to realize what he had just said, she peeled back slowly and stared at him with her large orbs, "Y-you knew?"
"Hm," Kenshin nodded with a broader smile on his face.
"Since when?" She asked carefully, her expression was unreadable.
Kenshin looked at her with a sly grin on his face and answered, "Long ago, before you threw a pile of books at my feet."
Kaoru couldn't believe her own pair of ears. "You knew all along?" Stupefied, she spoke aloud of her thought. "You knew who I was all this while…." She repeated, still too overwhelmed by his confession. While she cogitated on the possibility that he did know who she was, it still came across to her as a piece of shocking news. Almost immediately, her brain fabricated a summary of all that had happened.
Kenshin nodded twice. However, concern immediately raised in his blood when Kaoru's expression wasn't what he had expected. He had expected her to hug him tightly and be happier than ever, instead, she looked rather pensive.
Kaoru looked at Kenshin blankly. Slowly, tears started forming and gathered under her eyes. Soon tears were trickling down her cheeks uncontrollably. Before Kenshin could say anything more, the dam was broken - she was crying.
"Kaoru," Kenshin asked with utmost concern, his voice quavering, "What's wrong?" He tilted her head up and held her face in his hands. "Kaoru…" He honestly didn't know what to do or have any clue to what might have triggered her reaction.
"Y-you regretted?" She asked softly.
"What?"
"You didn't want to marry me before but you are asking me know because I, a woman who knows no dignity and shame came to live with you, never wanting to leave you alone," she explained in between her sobs.
"No, Kaoru, no…" he shook his head numerous times.
She continued with no intention of listening to Kenshin's explanation, "And so, out of convenience and promise, you now claimed me as your wife" Kaoru wasn't sure if that was a question to Kenshin or her own summary of what had went wrong.
"Kaoru, it is nothing like that. Don't you ever think that way. I want to be with you. I have always wanted to be with you ever since Hiko showed me your photographs. You should know how much I want to be with you."
"Don't lie to me! Why then, why did you run away on our wedding night?!" She couldn't help but raise her voice. She was upset and angry at the same time. She tilted her head downwards, crying.
"Because I thought you didn't want to marry me…" he trailed off, wiping her tears away with his thumb. His eyes faltered when her sobbing was getting heavier.
"Huh?" Her voice mellowed and raised her eyes to meet his. "Why would you think so?" she asked, her sobbing slowly calmed down.
"Oh boy… this is not what I have planned for to happen…" he said to himself and had one of his hands rubbing his nape. He didn't know where to begin and momentarily looked down at the carpet for further guidance before sighing heavily.
"If you knew I was your fiancée, why didn't you come forward?" she started for him with a question.
"Why didn't you?" He asked the same question, looking at her.
"I-I…I"
Kenshin raised his hand to her cheek and wiped her tears. "When we first met, in person, I knew it was you. But I wasn't sure if you knew it was me and I thought that it would be good for the both of us to get to know each other without being tied down by marriage responsibility."
Using the back of his hand, he brushed her cheek and said, "Back in uni, I had always thought my feelings for you had been requited, until the last night at the dorm… you turned away from me."
Kaoru immediately caught on what he was referring to. It was two years ago, she remembered clearly, last night at the dormitory when Kenshin leaned forward to kiss her and she turned her back to him. It wasn't because she didn't feel the same for him but she was too nervous and her only resort to her problem was to have the back of her head facing him. She had regretted her action till that day. However, her regret had not helped her learn her lesson well as she did the exact same thing again just months ago.
He carried on when Kaoru showed no sign of speaking up, "I was heart broken then but I had not given up. You were in fact my fiancée and I was prepared to abuse our marriage to have you to me. It didn't matter if you didn't feel the same for me because I will love you. I believed that love can be nurtured over time. I believed that I could give you happiness."
"If you had decided to marry me, why run away?" Kaoru questioned, feeling a little skeptical of his explanation.
"Because you hesitated..." He stated.
'I hesitated? When did I hesitate?' Very quickly, she tried to jog her memory.
"You hesitated just before the tea ceremony. I understand that in the Chinese culture bowing part and the tea ceremony marks the beginning of us as husband and wife and you hesitated. I-I was… taken aback by your action. I realized then that it wasn't your choice to marry a man of your grandfather's choice and I shouldn't be so selfish to tie you down by the one sided arrangement. Honestly I was rather confused at that point of time. I wanted so much to be with you but I couldn't bring myself to look the shock, the disappointment, the sadness in your eyes when I lifted the veil off your face. I just couldn't. I wasn't prepared for the rejection. So I left after the tea ceremony."
'All of this happened just because I just zoned out for one minute thinking of our happy future together?!' She was utterly speechless.
Kenshin continued while Kaoru battled within herself how she should be feeling at that moment. "It was silly but I somehow felt… secure to leave you to yourself, giving you some time to accept your marriage to me. You were already my wife, by title and it would be safe for me to leave."
"Why did you call me that night? –after you left the mansion…" She couldn't help asking. One of the many facts that had her convinced that he was oblivious of his wife's identity was when the runaway groom called his bride - which he was running from – and asked of her well being. And he called his bride at least once a day after he painstakingly ran away from her.
"I guessed that you would have known that I had left that mansion and I wanted to know how you were feeling, knowing that your husband had left," he paused and looked away at her feet, smiling solemnly. "I-I wanted reassurance that my decision to leave you alone was justified." He looked up again before he continued, "I was hoping that I was wrong about your feelings towards this marriage. But you sounded relieved even though you had been crying. And my decision to leave had been justified. I was more certain that you did not know who you were married to… And I didn't know how to reveal myself to you." He looked at her yearningly, begging her to believe him.
"So, don't think that I didn't want you," he reassured, hugging her tightly. "I want you. I need to be with you."
She tightened her hold around him and asked, "Why did you take so long to tell me? I came to you, didn't I?"
Kenshin released her and said, "I really wasn't expecting you to move in with me. I had, initially, wanted to court you all over again but with you suddenly appeared at my door step put me off my balance. I wasn't sure why you decided to move in with me but I was happy to be so close to you and that maybe perhaps you do feel a little something for me. I was really happy. I began to question myself again whether or not you knew I am but it didn't matter. I wanted to make things right between us and I wanted to start all over again with you. I wanted to be sure of your heart," he gently rested his index finger on her chest, where her heart lies, "before I come forward as your husband."
"I came to you, I moved in with you. How could you doubt my feeling for you?" She had always thought that it was pretty obvious that she was madly in love with him. How could he not notice it? Everyone else seemed to know how she felt about him.
"At first I was rather confident that you do feel for me but when I tried to kiss you, you turned away from me again. Just like at the dorm. I was confused, once again," he explained disconcertingly.
"I turned away because I nervous," she tried her best to clarify. "I…"
"Hush. It is alright, I wasn't going to give up. You are mine… You are my wife. I was going to make you fall in love with me,' he smiled, "even if it was going to takes years…" He kissed her lips and rested his forehead against hers with his eyes closed. "You have no idea how happy I was when you told me that you love me."
"I have always been in love with you," she said softly in almost a whisper as she raised both her hands to cup his cheek. "Always have…"
"You knew all long?" He opened his eyes and pulled back to look at her. He brought his hand and held hers.
"Yes, that was why I admitted myself to Tokyo-U," she blushed slightly, "I wanted to get to know you. I didn't tell you that I was your fiancée because I wanted you to fall in love with me and not Kai's granddaughter." She offered a faint smile.
"I am so sorry that I ran away like I did. Hiko's right, I am an idiot, a coward…" He cast down, feeling a little disdain. While he had never stopped feeling guilty for leaving her on their wedding night, he felt even more awful for causing her to cry. Especially on their first vacation together. "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" He looked at her with a culpable face.
Kaoru's heart dropped. Her bottom slipped from the armchair and sank to the floor with Kenshin. Her hands were still firmly cupping his face. She looked at him earnestly before she stood on her knees and wrapped her arms around his head, pressing it against her chest. "Don't you ever leave me again…" She pleaded, hugging his head protectively with her cheek half buried into his hair.
His arms automatically lifted up, encircling her waist. "I'm sorry. I'll never leave you again," he nuzzled against the opening of her robe.
She released him and lowered herself to level with him. Her eyes carefully traveled along his strong handsome features before she firmly pressed her lips on his and kissed him senselessly. He responded to her passionate kiss with one of his own. With one hand supporting her nape and another on her body, he carefully lowered her down flat on the carpet. Keeping her attention busy with his lips, he freed his hand and reached for belt of the bath robe. Easily, he undid the knot and ravished her.
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Soujiro absentmindedly tapped his finger on his desk while he thought of Sayo. She had been persistently calling him, asking the whereabouts of his employer, Enishi. He knew that Enishi was no longer interested in Sayo. No, it wasn't like that, he shook his head as he thought further. Enishi was never interested in Sayo. The reason why his employer, his friend, was seeing Sayo was because of the business opportunity that Enishi saw coming when he knew she was smitten by him. When the deal had been struck, naturally the relationship would end. The other reason that he could think of was Tomoe, the most important woman in Enishi's life and also a lover that Enishi could never have.
While Enishi never spoke of his feelings for his sister, Tomoe, Soujiro knew Enishi from inside out to see what Tomoe meant to Enishi. It was beyond a brother's love that Enishi had for her and Enishi was well aware that his love would not be requited the way he wished for. Soujiro sympathised with Enishi for getting himself entangled in a forbidden love. Soujiro knew Enishi was struggling with his emotion for his sister and it pained Enishi to no end when Tomoe wanted to marry Akira. Enishi could have anything he wanted in the world – he was smart and good looking – and yet the one thing that he wanted most was something he could not have.
Tomoe kept on urging, pushing and encouraging Enishi to go on a date. Enishi had not wanted to disappoint his sister and so he went on countless dates just to please her. Enishi never once enjoyed going out with ladies who weren't Tomoe, but because he had been dating many women had earned him a reputation of being a playboy. Soujiro noticed Enishi was only interested in bedding women – women who shamelessly threw themselves at him - who, in some ways resembled Tomoe. Soujiro couldn't help pondering, who Enishi really saw in his eyes while he was having sex with these women. Soujiro had always suspected that Tomoe knew how much her brother loved her but played oblivious.
Enishi had a habit of leaving the dirt of his relationship to Soujiro to clean up. Maybe, Soujiro thought, Enishi had never meant for Soujiro to pick up after his messy relationships. Enishi was never one to care for other people, other than Tomoe. Enishi would just leave it as it is, never bother to tell his ex-girlfriend that it was over. Never.
Soujiro felt sorry for Enishi ex-girlfriends and tended to end the relationship properly, on behalf of Enishi, with a nice clean cut. He had never had problems telling Enishi's girlfriends that the relationship was over; no matter how much hurt and despair was reflected in their eyes. He had thought that to be spiteful was indeed to be kind - better to kill all hope than leaving hope for the impossible. However, he could not bring himself to tell Sayo the same. He could see that Sayo was really in love with Enishi and he pitied her. Despite Sayo not being the first or the last to willingly die for Enishi, somehow, he felt that she was different. She was so sweet, so lovable and so nice. He couldn't understand why Enishi can't open up his heart and give Sayo a chance. Enishi could have been so happy with Sayo.
Soujiro shook his head at his last thought. Perhaps, Sayo could be so much happier if she liked him instead. He sighed. Life, indeed, can be unfair and even cruel.
Soujiro picked up the phone receiver and dialed. The line was connected and he waited for the person to answer his call.
"Soujiro," Enishi greeted, "what's up?"
"Nothing much, I just called to see if everything is alright with Tomoe," Soujiro started the conversation tactfully.
"Spit it out Soujiro," Enishi said, "You didn't just called to ask about Tomoe. What is it?"
Soujiro smiled. As much he understood Enishi, Enishi knew Soujiro from the back of his hand. "It is Sayo. She wants to see you, wants to know where you are," he went straight to the point.
"I don't care," Enishi responded. "You called just to tell me this?" he sounded a little annoyed. He was enjoying his private moment talking to Tomoe without Akira's interference and he was distracted because of this unimportant matter?
"Enishi, that poor girl really wants to see you. She is serious about this relationship…" Before Soujiro could say anything further, he was interrupted.
"You should know me better than this." Enishi was getting impatient.
"This one is different. She comes to the office, frequently, looking for you. She calls me everyday asking of your whereabouts. And she came to my home last night, crying, asking about you. So, could you just give her a call?" Soujiro said in a breath's time, giving Enishi no chance to interrupt.
"No, there's more reason I should not call or see her. She is clingy and I don't need that. I'm through with her." Enishi stated firmly.
"Enishi, just make a god damn call to her. How much does it really takes to give her a call?! She is different from the rest. She is really into you. Why can't you just open your heart for once and try it out with her for real?!" Involuntarily, Soujiro lost his temper.
"… You like her," Enishi stated nonchalantly. "If you want her, take her. I don't mind. Do whatever you want with her. I don't care. Bye," and he hung up.
"Enishi!" Soujiro called out, but it was too late. There was a monotonous tone from the other line. He put down the phone and sighed gravely.
"You broke up with Sayo?!" Tomoe asked Enishi angrily the moment he hung up on Soujiro.
"Hm," Enishi answered indifferently.
"How could you do this to her? What is wrong with her? Why –"
"I met someone." One single sentence from Enishi was enough to silence Tomoe.
Of all the excuses that Tomoe thought Enishi was going to throw at her, 'I met someone' was definitely not one of them. She remained quiet and observed Enishi's expression, wondering was this just another one of his lame excuses to keep her quiet. He was smiling and it was a genuine smile. 'He really met someone!'
"Who is she?" Tomoe finally asked with her eyes sparkling. She had long waited for this day to come when Enishi told her that he met someone special. "Where did you meet her? What does she do for a living? Where does she lives? How many siblings does she have?..." Tomoe couldn't help asking all the questions at one go.
Enishi laughed and the span of Tomoe's smile grew wider. He had finally met someone who managed to open his heart. She was so happy for him that she wanted to meet this lucky girl immediately.
"When can I meet her?" She asked excitedly.
"When we get back to Tokyo," Enishi happily replied. "She is the assistant chemist in the lab that I am currently funding."
"What is she like?" Tomoe was curious to know what of kind a girl who managed to break through her brother's heart which was made out of steel.
"Pleasant. Stubborn. Mysterious," he answered thoughtfully.
"Just three words?" Tomoe couldn't believe all it took was someone who was pleasant but stubborn and yet mysterious to claim his heart. "Is she pretty?" Tomoe knew it was an irrelevant question but she couldn't help asking. It was a question most women would ask.
"She is. To me," Enishi smiled. He idly played with his mug while thinking of her plain beauty. "She isn't exactly attractive," he admitted, "but she emits a certain aura which makes you want to take a longer look at her, especially when she smiles." He remembered the first time he saw her smiling broadly to Hiko. He deliberately left out the single most important detail; that she was Seijuro's mistress. He didn't want Tomoe to worry. "She has small but luscious lips and she has a very determined pair of eyes, full of energy…" He was certain she would be his in time to come.
It was the first time Tomoe ever heard her brother describing a girl with such great delicate details. She felt a heavy burden being lifted off her chest and she no longer have to sacrifice Akira over her brother. "What's her name?" Another important question from Tomoe.
"Kaoru. Her name is Kaoru and she smells good."
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Kaoru was resting her cheek on Kenshin's naked muscular chest, listening to his heartbeat when she asked, "Kenshin, the reason behind why you ran away on our wedding night wasn't a lie, right?" She had to make sure that he ran away because he was doubtful of her feelings towards him.
"No, Love. Do you doubt me?" Kenshin looked down at her but she did not move her head. He continued to swirl a lock of her hair around his fingers.
"No, I believe you but I.. I'm just worried… that..that…" The more she spoke, the more it was revealed that she did not have faith in him and he couldn't blame her.
Kenshin gently raise himself from lying flat on the bed and questioned, "Do you honestly think that I would marry someone that I do not have a face just because my father asked me to?" His movement caused Kaoru to raise her head and meet him in the eyes.
"Your father?" Kaoru secured the cover over her chest. Nobody had ever mentioned to her of Kenshin's parents and so she assumed that Kenshin's parents were long gone. And she had always thought that it was Hiko and her grandfather who had agreed to the arranged marriage.
"Yes, Hiko is in fact my father," Kenshin explained, leaning against the headboard of the bed.
"Hiko is your father?" Kaoru asked in surprised and pushed herself to sit up.
"Yes, he is my father, your father-in-law." Kenshin assured, pulling her to rest against him.
"But…but…" Kaoru was puzzled as she settled comfortably against him.
"You might not realize it but we have a lot in common. Like your grandfather, Hiko did not want the world to know he had a son." Kenshin revealed.
"Your mother…" Kaoru suddenly thought of.
"She died of cancer when I was five and I lived with Hiko ever since. Sort of."
"Sort of?"
"Well, it is a long story…" Kenshin began to tell Kaoru of his past from his parents' unwilling separation, how Hiko concealed his identity, Sano's adoption by Hiko and finally, Hiko's marriage proposal.
Kenshin further explained, "My parents were in love and my father believed in love. He brought forth the marriage proposal and gave me a choice of whether or not I would like to marry you. It was entirely my call. My father did not believe in power union thorough paper marriage. He is snobbish enough to think that he can own the world on his own," Kenshin sniggered. "I choose to marry you. I did not marry Kai's heritage but I married Kamiya Kaoru. I did not have any interest in business or what-so-ever but I was greatly smitten by Kai's granddaughter," Kenshin said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Kaoru blushed against his shoulder as she intently listened to him. She felt her heart melting away with his words.
Kenshin continued, "Even when I thought you didn't love me, I was determined with the marriage. I wanted so much to be with you that it scares me. I couldn't understand my obsession with you."
"I'm glad that you are obsessed with me. At least we are even," She looked up and smiled to him. "I am equally obsessed with you. Otherwise, I would have not come after you even though you were the one who left me on our wedding night."
Kenshin planted another kiss at the top of her head, "I'm sorry."
"I wouldn't worry about it. You have a lifetime to make it up to me." She nuzzled her nose against the base of his neck. "Hm...," she moaned in pleasure, "you smell so good."
Kenshin grinned. "Do you know the smell that you are smelling?"
"You…" she answered dreamily.
"No, it is not just me that you smell. You are smelling my love for you…" he corrected. He titled her chin with his finger and kissed her lasciviously. "Let's feed your stomach," he pulled back and suggested before he was over taken by his passion and desire, depriving her of her meals.
She nodded with contentment printed all over her face.
For the rest of the evening, it had been romantically pleasant for Kenshin and Kaoru. After dinner at the suite, Kenshin pulled a chaise longue into the balcony and they lie down on the longue under the star. Kaoru's weight leaned against him with his arm firmly wrapped around her. As they sipped their wine, they talked freely about themselves; from their childhood to how equally silly they both were with their marriage to each other.
"Kenshin, is this supposed to be our honeymoon?" It suddenly struck Kaoru to ask him.
"Hm… I guess." Kenshin had never thought about it.
"No way this is going to be our honeymoon," Kaoru protested.
"Why not?"
"Because I want to go Bora-Bora Island or any other island for our honeymoon. It feels more romantic being on an island for our honeymoon," she explained.
"Am I not romancing you enough?" His arm snaked around her waist tighter and he planted a series of light kisses on her neck.
She closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side, exposing more area of the neck to him. Although she was thoroughly enjoying his ministration, she answered, "Not enough."
His lips curled against her neck and continued to nibble at her neck. "We can always go for a second, third honeymoon if you please."
"Why did you choose to come to Holland?" she asked out of curiosity.
Kenshin stopped what he was doing and looked her in the eyes and answered, "Because this is the best season to visit Netherlands for their flowers. I heard that they have got one of the best gardens in the world. You love flowers, don't you?"
She was touched. She gazed at him before she lifted her head and pecked his lips. "I love you more..."
Kenshin grinned sheepishly and brought his head down to nuzzle at the base of her neck. "Kaoru," he called out after a while, "you brought lingerie from Victoria's Secret, didn't you?"
She was shocked when he asked her. She wanted to ask how knew about it but later thought it was pointless. He found her silky robe, hence, obviously he saw her lingerie. Therefore, she nodded.
"Who are they for?" he asked in a very low, alluring voice.
"Need you still ask?" she answered softly.
"Would you put in on for me tonight?" he asked seductively.
"Hm," she nodded. She felt her cheeks warming and she wondered if he saw her packing the lingerie into her luggage.
Kenshin's smile grew broader. He gently maneuvered them so that Kaoru's back was flat on the longue and he was looking down at her. He brought his head down and stopped just before his lips touches hers. He whispered, "I love you…" and kissed her on the lips.
For the first time, he verbally told her that he loved her. She was beyond happiness.
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Author's note:
While I was writing certain 'sappy' paragraphs, I made my hair stand but still, I wrote and post it.
If anyone wondering why I was writing lime for the three consecutive chapters, it would be because:
1) I am on 'hentai' mode
2) I have very sick fantasy
3) I just thought that since K&K have been restricting themselves earlier and finally did 'it', it would take a while for them to get bored of 'it'. I just think that is just how it should be.
4) I am on 'hentai' mode.
A bit talkative today, am I not?
Anyway, thanks for reading and leave a review to tell me your honest opinion of what you think of it all.