I chased after Kenshin, unsure what to say but knowing I had to say something. I couldn't say something like that without explaining myself.

If only Kenshin wanted to hear my explanation. The man would not slow down, no matter how many times I called his name! And he cannot play deaf with me- I know his hearing is just fine.

I finally reached him when we were in the parking lot. Pissed, hot, and feeling overly heavy, when he finally stopped to listen to me, I punched his arm. "That's…what…you…get…for…running…away…" I panted as I held onto the arm I had just punched. Taking a deep breath in then out, I straightened and released my tight grip on his arm. "Ok. Listen to a girl talk, would you?"

He crossed his arms over his chest. "What else do you think I'm doing out here?" Before I could open my mouth and launch into my tale, he continued. "You know, I had a funny suspicion that it was you. The timing was too perfect! I had been called in to donate my sperm and then, I see you, and you're pregnant. I thought maybe Enishi was the father, but he's too honourable to leave a pregnant girl. Plus, from the story he told us and his attitude lately, I figured you broke up with him. I don't figure you for a bed hopping slut either, so I knew it couldn't have been another guy." He raised his eyebrows. "There wasn't another guy, right?"

I shook my head quickly and felt my cheeks redden. "No, no. Enishi was the first guy I, you know, since high school."

Kenshin's shoulders sagged in relief and he leaned against his car. He ran his hands through his hair. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Well, there was that confidentiality agreement I had with Meg, which I guess I just blew. And then would come the uncomfortable question as to why I chose you."

He looked up at me then meeting my eyes for the first time that night since the truth was out in the open. "I would never ask that."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah, well, I thought you may have."

"Well it does raise questions. What I'll like to know is not why you chose me, but why did you suddenly appear at my house, all those months ago?"

I sighed and leaned down to take off my shoes. No matter how comfortable they were, I wasn't comfortable in them. "Well, that traces back to why I chose you. Meg and I didn't want only an extremely good-looking guy, but we were also looking for personality. There was one other guy besides you, and we had decided to do a sort of 'try out' for both of you. I went and visited the first, and honestly, he disgusted me. His way of thinking was so against my own.

Anyways, that's where you come in. Meg did some research into you and your family, and found out about Misao's party. She somehow got us in, and the rest is history."

"That doesn't answer my original question." He replied. His expression was inscrutable.

"Well, I chose you because you were so unexpectedly kind to me. I guess I was curious as to what kind of guy randomly helps a stranger that his girlfriend's brother slept with." I said with a rueful smile.

"A guy who wonders why such a nice girl would even think of sleeping with that guy." He shot back. His expression became serious again. "So, technically, it's Megumi and my baby?"

I blushed scarlet. "Um, no. Megumi had a hysterectomy so it's our kid. That Megumi is adopting. Somehow."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Well, I don't know about you, but I think I would have rather impregnated you the traditional way."

I laughed nervously, sure he was joking, but when his serious face persisted, the laughter died in my throat. I looked away in embarrassment. There was an awkward silence for what felt like an hour, where all I could think of, yes! That would have been fantastic! Better than Enishi! Say something, stupid! But what do I say to that? So I said nothing and blushed furiously.

He continued to stare at me intensely, amber swirling into his violet orbs, when he suddenly looked away. "Let me take you home. It's late."

"Yes, and I have a curfew," I joked, hoping to dissolve the previous tension.

He didn't respond but he did open the door for me. I figured it was a good sign. If I wasn't sure of his thoughts or feelings about me, well, I was even more confused now. He must think I'll rather sleep with Enishi than him, after that little hint he dropped me.

Kenshin suddenly jerked out of my line of sight. I heard the sickening smack of skin hitting skin, and I quickly undid my seat belt. As I was about to step out of the car, a towering shadow above me appeared. I looked up slowly, my hands frozen.

Enishi's cheeks were flushed, and he was heaving. He grabbed my arm roughly and dragged me out of the car, and I shouted in protest. "Enishi! What the heck are you doing?" I cried, smacking his hand to no avail. I began to look around for Kenshin. He was face down on the asphalt. "Kenshin!" I yelled, willing him to get up. "Kenshin!"

"Stop calling that bastard's name." Enishi growled, pulling me close.

I glared at him and spat in his face. "I'll call his name as much as I want." I retorted.

He shook me violently, his hands bruising my skin. I closed my eyes tightly, a scream stuck in my throat. I had brought this upon myself, I'm sure of it. No way would Enishi acted this rashly if I didn't better explain myself to him, or if I hadn't come in the first place. I knew it was Tomoe's wedding, of course he'll be here! Hasn't everyone been saying that Enishi hasn't been the same since we parted? And yet, all I could think of was spending time with Kenshin. Stupid, inconsiderate me!

My eyes snapped open when Enishi suddenly stopped shaking me. I looked at his face, actually looked, and saw tears silently streaking his face. Then he was tackled from the side, and we both went down.

I propped myself up onto my elbows, slightly stunned. Who was that? Someone was straddling Enishi, and I heard him grunt as the guy on top of him punched him. Even though I recognised the red hair, I didn't recognise the face. Kenshin had totally transformed- his eyes were now burning amber and his lips were curled in disgust.

Enishi bucked and threw Kenshin off, and I felt dread permeate my chest. Enishi had height and length on Kenshin, and he was more muscular. Kenshin wouldn't be able to stand a chance against him! I silently begged Kenshin to just back down, placate Enishi somehow, but it didn't seem as if either guy were willing to step away. Enishi lunged, my hands came up to cover my eyes before I saw Kenshin get pummelled…

…And then I saw Kenshin move.

Kenshin's movements were so fast, I couldn't track them. In Enishi's drunken state, I was surprised when Enishi blocked Kenshin's first attack. Kenshin was like a wasp, darting in and hitting, and then ducking back out. Enishi was hard-pressed to lay a hand on him.

I was mesmerised by their dance, for it truly seemed like a dance. I was filled with the desire to see these two men fight in a tournament, when there was no alcohol in their blood system. They were expert fighters, and I knew that if Enishi was not drunk, it would truly be a magnificent fight. As it was, Enishi was stumbling and barely hitting Kenshin. But when he did manage to land a hit, Kenshin would stagger backwards. Kenshin may have speed and agility, but he didn't have the raw power Enishi had.

I was too wrapped up in the fight to stop it. I was sub-consciously memorising their moves, filing them away for Sano…or myself. I really did miss fighting.

Although I was watching the fight with wide eyes, others weren't. Not even a few minutes into the fight, a security guard came barrelling towards the two men and tried to break them apart. Enishi smacked the man's hand away and glared at him. I literally saw the man shrink away from Enishi's intense gaze, and felt sorry for the man. However, the few seconds break seemed to clear Kenshin's head. His bloodthirsty look faded off his face, and violet swirled into his eyes once again.

He gave Enishi a contemptuous look, one that Enishi returned with a sulky scowl. Then Kenshin walked over to me, his face once more the gentle guy I knew. He extended a hand to me, an apologetic look on his face. "This one is truly sorry for throwing you down, that he is."

He pulled me up from the ground and I gave him a rueful smile. "That was fantastic."

He frowned. "No. I lost myself and my emotions got the best of me. The way he was holding you…" His voice trailed off, and Kenshin looked in Enishi's direction. The younger man was stiffly walking away, favouring his right leg.

I then studied Kenshin more closely and gasped. "Kenshin, you're bleeding!"

He immediately touched the right side of his face. "It's just a scratch, Kaoru. I think I got it when he threw me down."

As soon as he mentioned it, I noticed the pink area around the graze. He was going to have a wonderful bruise there the next morning. I touched it softly and he cringed at the brush of my fingers. "Sorry," I whispered, pulling back.

He caught my hand and kissed the tips of my fingers. "No, I'm sorry for allowing Enishi to creep up on me like that and take you."

I shook my head. "No, this was all my fault. If I hadn't…"

Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "What? If you hadn't slept with him, then realised what a hopeless cause he was and dumped him, what? Things happen for a reason, Kaoru."

"Ah, but still…"

"'What ifs' only succeed in driving you mad. Come, let me take you home. It's been one hell of a night."

I wanted to argue further, but Kenshin's tone suggested that he was done with the subject. He may have been finished talking about it, but that did not mean that I was finished musing about it.

In fact, the problem kept me up all night long.

I continued to think that I had somehow led Enishi on. But hadn't he walked out on me after I told him that I was going to be a surrogate? I couldn't remember; my memories were all muddled and my emotions were roiling. I didn't know what to think.

The next morning, feeling like crap and just wanting coffee, I stumbled out of my bedroom.

"You missed work today," called Sano from the kitchen. I grunted in response and continued my zombie walk to the coffee maker. "Wow. You look like shit."

I glowered at Sano. "Thanks for the compliment, genius."

For some reason, Sano looked extremely interested. "So, what happened last night between you and loverboy?"

I ignored him and poured my coffee. However, Sano was not going to let it lie just like that. He began to poke my arm, going, "Huh? Huh? Huh?" with every poke.

I smacked his hand away. "Nothing, ok? He and Enishi got in a fight, then we came home. End of story."

Sano looked impressed. "Well, what do you know? My nerdy sister has two guys fighting over her. Who would have thought."

I was seriously considering how good Sano would look with coffee all over him right now.

I rolled my eyes and walked back into my room. "What should I tell Saitou when he calls again?"
"Tell him it's pregnancy stuff." I shot back.

When I had finally fully awakened – which included finishing two cups of coffee, a shower and watching an hour of White Collar – I had a plan in mind. I couldn't let this thing bother me for the rest of my life. Somehow, I was going to make this right.

I threw on a sundress – the easiest thing to wear when preggers – and grabbed the keys to our car. As I was opening the door to go outside, I heard a tsk tsk tsk sound behind me.

I turned slowly and saw Sano smirking at me. "Now, now. You can't drive, can you? Or at least, I don't think you should be."

I shook my head in exasperation. "Well, I gotta be somewhere."

Sano held his hand out. "I'm driving. No ifs, buts or flat out nos."

I weighed the possibility of me out running him to the car, but immediately knew that it wasn't possible. I sighed in defeat as I handed the keys over.

Sano gave me a winning smile. "So, who's first? Enishi or Kenshin?"

I forgot how smart Sano could be sometimes.

*gasp* Is it true? Am I really updating on time?

Why, yes, yes I am. A little short, but what the heck? This is what summer does to me xD

Any thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? Like it? Hate it? Love it?

r.e.v.i.e.w.

please?

;]