Mornings After
By hye kyo
Disclaimer: Nope, RK isn't mine…
Author's Notes: So this is the promised lemony lime. I don't know if all of you would be satisfied with it but then again, this is what I could come up with. It isn't really a full-blown lemon, but at least something happened. Anyway, read on and tell me what you think…
Thanks!
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Chapter twenty-eight: sneaking
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Kenshin had agreed to what Misao had planned and was anxious the whole week. He thought he should probably let the incident be forgotten for a while so that by Saturday he would be able to talk to her normally. And then that's when he would seize the day…and her of course.
And when Saturday came he finished the papers he had to sign immediately, thinking that the sushi he ordered yesterday would probably took time to be wrapped. Upon coming to the sushi bar at eight forty five he was greeted by the already done sushi wrapped neatly.
So he was a bit early. But well, Kaoru would probably be a bit early herself. It will save them both from a cursing Misao. Because Misao doesn't like waiting. And it's better to be early than late. Of course. Or was it, it's better to be late than early? Or to be late than never? Heck. He doesn't care.
He loosened the tie he was wearing. Misao made him wear this particular one for today saying that since it was her birthday gift to him he might as well wear it for the reunion. But he wanted to tell her he'd be taking it off anyway because they were going to the baths and he'd look like a fool if he'd go to the bath wearing nothing but a tie. But well he wanted to save himself from the trouble of having to deal with a pissed Misao and agreed to wear the necktie.
The fifteen minute drive to Kaoru's apartment would pass by quickly without him even sensing it.
--
He killed the engine, sensing the traffic up ahead if he insists on parking in front. The road leading to the other side was being repaired and since they'd be using a cab to get to the train station anyway he might as well leave the car at the back.
He smoothened his shirt. Well, here goes nothing. And he punched the elevator keys.
--
Kaoru had just emerged from the bath when the doorbell buzzed. She wondered who it was. She put on a terry cloth robe, thought that it was probably Soujiro bringing something over for her to take to the reunion. She called him last night to tell him where she would be going just in case he ask her out that Saturday. He said he was glad he told her and she had been cursing herself ever since for letting and leading him on.
Oh well, might as well open the door now. She went to the intercom. It wouldn't hurt to be a little more cautious. She pressed it and said, "Who is it?"
"It's me," and then as an afterthought, "Kenshin."
She frowned, glanced at the clock and wondered if her clock was not working properly. Nevertheless she opened the door and asked, "What time is it?"
He seemed to have reddened as he removed his shoes and stepped in, "Nine."
"Nine?" she frowned again, "You're a bit too early."
He grinned sheepishly, "Yeah."
She shrugged, "We still have an hour." And she went over to the fridge. "You had breakfast already?"
"Y-yeah…" he was looking at the floor.
"There's still coffee in the pot. I'd just go put some clothes on," and she walked over to her room. That was normal, she told herself, aside from his blushing and from his stuttering. They seemed to have gotten back to being normal.
--
Kenshin felt something incredibly weird as he saw her open the door. She was flushing, her skin was pinkish, probably because she had just emerged from her bath. Her hair was wet and her mouth looked really red. He knew it was probably because she had just finished brushing her teeth and the toothpaste really gives a cold/hot feeling which makes the lips really red. And he knew then that he wanted to kiss her.
He sat on the couch and felt so stupid stuttering answers to her simple questions. He was early and he was now regretting he came early because he was looking and acting so stupid. He cursed himself.
"I'd just go put some clothes on," she said as she entered her room.
And he caught the innuendo, even though he was fairly certain Kaoru didn't give him any hints whatsoever or that if she had suggested anything she was unconscious of it. But he caught the innuendo and made him stand up from having sat uncomfortably on the couch. Slowly, deliberately he went over to her door and knocked.
"Kenshin? Why?" she asked from within.
He swallowed hard and felt something he couldn't explain. It was just a door. A stupid door standing in between them. He knocked again.
--
She frowned. How many interruptions could a person take? She actually hadn't even a wink last night, and the night before that, thinking of what Kenshin really meant. And all those nights she had been hoping that it was all a dream and that in the morning she would either wake up to a free-Kenshin or free-Tomoe morning. But the free-Tomoe morning would be much more welcome. She opened the door slightly, only to reveal a bothered-looking Kenshin standing at her doorway, "What is it?"
His answer was to hold the edge of the door and slowly push it open.
"Hey," she said. "Are you sick? You look—"
"Kaoru," he started, looking at her mouth. He swallowed hard. He took a step closer and whispered, "I think I…I think I am going to kiss you…"
Her eyes widened just as he slipped in through the door to have her within half an arm's breadth. He quickly caught her, and just before he closed the distance between them he murmured, "I…I can't…anymore…" and he kissed her.
It took her a few seconds to finally realize that he was kissing her and that him kissing her felt so good. Why, how is it that today suddenly felt so…so…She automatically responded by slipping her hands around his nape to pull him closer, forgetting that underneath the robe she was wearing nothing. Heck, forget Tomoe, forget that she wasn't as evil as what Kaoru originally thought she was. Forget that she was pledging on making this world better by being a good matchmaker, forget that she had ever thought of leaving him with her, forget that she had ever sympathized with Tomoe. In fact, she justified, it was Tomoe's fault for not ending up with Kenshin, she should've stick with him, even with the me-and-you-against-the-world drama. Tomoe had her time with him, it was now Kaoru's chance. To heck with all of it.
And he managed to kick the door close as he kissed his way to the bed, landing her on it with a soft thud and claiming her mouth again lest she regain her senses and throw him out. But even as he pulled back to catch his breath and gaze at her face she didn't slap him nor made any effort to stop him. That made him continue.
She knew perhaps that what they were doing was wrong. She thought of stopping it but eventually couldn't find any energy to do so. She wasn't thinking anymore. But hey, as she gazed at his face to catch her breath she realized that she had been thinking about this for a long time now and that she doesn't want him to stop no matter what.
He trailed kisses on her chin and neck and the robe got loose while she fumbled with his necktie. "It goes like this," and he loosened the tie himself.
Kaoru grinned and tossed it. "Now I know." And she closed her eyes as she felt his hands everywhere. She couldn't really remember the first time it happened. But she would gladly remember this one even if something inside her tells her this is wrong.
Her robe got tossed somewhere and his neatly pressed shirt got discarded too, leaving him with the pants and his socks. Just as he was fumbling with the fly of his pants the phone rang.
"The phone's ringing," she whispered over his shoulders.
"Ignore it," and he pushed her back down and kissed her on the mouth drowning any words from her. He smiled at her smugly when she giggled.
She knew she wanted this to happen and that all along it was Kenshin whom she wanted to be with. She would forget about logic and rationality and allow herself to feel. She closed her mind to everything except him even though the phone kept ringing in the background. She knew she would probably not have any chance to be with him anyway so why not give in to her own desires even just for now.
"I don't really remember much," he murmured with his mouth pressed against hers.
"What?" she took in a deep breath and thought that Kenshin's mouth tastes so good and feels so warm and smells so sweet.
"What happened before," he continued, his hands rubbing circles on her arms.
"Really? Me too," and she laughed softly, like a gentle tinkling of bells. "I would like this one to be remembered."
And he grinned and pressed himself closer. He had gotten himself off of his pants.
"What about the socks?" she joked.
And he laughed and made love to her.
--
Kaoru let out a yawn. She doesn't really want to open her eyes yet but something was nagging her to wake up. She thought she heard something. She looked down on the pool of red hair on her breasts and suppressed a giggle. "Kenshin," she gently woke him up.
He opened an eye, smiled when he saw her and seized her mouth in his.
She was smiling just as she was trying to push him back, "I thought I heard something…"
"Hmm…what could it be?" and he feigned a curious look on his face but laughed and eventually pushed her down on the bed to kiss her.
"Silly," she allowed herself to giggle, "I just thought I heard—"
And then her doorbell buzzed.
Kaoru's eyes widened as realization hit her. She glanced at the digital clock beside her bed and saw that it was almost eleven. She almost let out a shriek when Kenshin quickly caught her mouth in his.
She pushed him back, "We forgot."
"Hn?" he asked lazily, nuzzling her neck.
"Kenshin!" she tried to lower her voice, "We forgot about Misao."
And Kenshin stumbled and felt like he was hit on the head. And the doorbell buzzed again. And her phone started ringing.
"What do we do?" Kenshin asked, sitting up.
"Get dressed," she instructed him while she quickly put on her robe. She had to go to the reunion without make up. She picked up the phone in the living room and warily said, "Who is it?" It was Misao.
--
Misao had been buzzing for almost half an hour now. She arrived at exactly ten in the morning at the train station, thought perhaps that Kaoru and his brother was just caught in some minor traffic along the way. She nevertheless tried to call Kaoru just to remind her. But the answering machine picked up and she thought that perhaps the two of them were already on the road.
Fifteen minutes later they weren't still there. By ten thirty the train arrived but they weren't still there. And Misao had grudgingly talked to the operator if maybe he could stall the train for at least ten minutes because she was fairly sure they'd be there soon. But they didn't arrive. And the train left them.
Misao tried calling Kenshin's cell phone but he didn't pick up too, her calls being rerouted to his voice mailbox. It was the same with Kaoru and she had begun to worry that probably they got caught in some accident. She had called Kenshin's office and was told there that he left early. And she worried. And that's when she decided to take a cab to Kaoru's apartment.
And she was frustrated because the super told her Kaoru hadn't yet left and was probably still upstairs. She kept calling her phone and she kept pressing the buzzer until her fingers ache. She had been doing it for the past half hour.
--
Kaoru panicked. "Here," she handed him his shirt. "Go around the verandah and down the fire exit." And she uncovered the receiver and said, "Misao, wait, I'm in the bathroom." And she returned the phone back in the cradle. She felt a little deaf from having a screaming and cursing Misao at the other end of the line.
"Okay…" Kenshin bit his lower lip.
"Where did you park?" she asked, cringing at the buzzing doorbell. Misao was at it again. She hurried to the verandah, opened the glass doors.
"At the back," he said.
"Good," and then, "Did you bring anything with you?"
He thought for a moment and then, "I brought sushi but I left it at the car."
"Good," and she beckoned to him, "Use the fire exit, then go get your car and park it in front. And then come back and use the front door. Don't forget to press the buzzer." And she cringed again as Misao buzzed again.
"I understand," and as he swung one leg down the fire exit he looked at her and said, "I need to kiss you."
"Kenshin," she frowned but nevertheless allowed herself to be pulled closer. She almost sank to the ground when she felt his mouth on hers but Misao pressed the buzzer again. "Okay, leave now."
--
Kaoru opened the door to find a red Misao. She was angry. Kaoru tried to smile apologetically.
"Where is my stupid brother?" she had stepped in even before Kaoru had fully opened the door and began opening the doors leading to her bedroom, to the guestroom and to the bathroom. Finding nothing she turned to Kaoru, "Where is that stupid slip of a brother?"
Kaoru frowned, "I don't know. I fell asleep while in the tub." She had managed to threw on a pair of clingy jeans and a plain fit shirt. With no makeup. She hadn't even combed her hair.
Misao glared at her and waited for her to say something more but when she didn't, Misao slumped on the couch and said with a sigh, "You don't think he got caught in some accident, do you?"
Kaoru felt guilty. Misao was worried. And she cursed herself for being a hormone-driven, selfish woman. "Don't worry…" she swallowed hard, getting Misao a glass of water, "Maybe he just had to do a stopover."
"I was trying to reach him. He didn't answer any of my calls." Misao was really getting worried.
Kaoru thought of something to say. She wished Kenshin would hurry and come. "Maybe he forgot it somewhere or maybe—"
"Right," Misao said finally smiling, "He forgets about things easily. He's stupid."
"Right," and Kaoru tried to laugh.
"Anyway," Misao stood up, "I think I should change my shirt. I got sweaty worrying and running. You don't mind if I borrow from you right?" And she started walking over to Kaoru's room.
Kaoru panicked and held her arm, "N-no, of course not."
Misao frowned but nevertheless said, "Good then let me—"
"Ah," Kaoru stepped in between the door and Misao, "I haven't had time to clean my room you know…with my hectic schedule so I—"
"I've seen it at its worst Kaoru."
Kaoru forced a laugh, "Right…But stay here. You know," she said, looking pathetic, "Inside is dangerous…you'd never tell what hit you…" and she had a hand between them as she slowly pushed the door open with a leg and slipped in. She grabbed a shirt from her cabinet, the shirt Misao usually borrows and slipped out quickly.
"That was fast," Misao gave her a questioning look.
"Yeah…ha…haha…" and she felt stupid. Where are you Kenshin?
--
Kenshin had buttoned his shirt properly in the elevator. He ran his fingers through his hair and was still feeling a bit shaky from the morning's activities when the elevator 'ping-ed' and he was already at Kaoru's floor. He took in a deep breath and buzzed.
He heard voices as the door suddenly opened revealing a scary Misao. She wouldn't let him hear the end of it.
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"I had to go to the publishing house to oversee the printing of some of our advertisement materials," he swallowed, he had thought about his alibi. He glanced as Kaoru slipped into the back with Misao. He wanted to kiss her now. He had parked the car in front just as Kaoru instructed. But since the road was being repaired he had to endure the traffic.
Misao glared at him, "You couldn't have forgotten the time!"
"I lost track of it," and glanced at the rearview mirror from the shotgun to see Kaoru snickering at him. He had driven the car to the parking block inside Kaoru's building when they all got down, just to let Misao think that he had just arrive. And he hailed them a cab. He almost laughed, "And I was caught in traffic."
"I was trying to call you," Misao argued.
"Right, sorry. I left it at the trunk while I was moving my things," and that was the only true thing he told her.
Misao smirked and looked away.
"I really am. This was all my fault," Kenshin admitted and glanced at Kaoru who was also looking away and blushing.
"Good," and Misao reached over to hit him.
Kenshin cringed. At least the problem with Misao was already solved. And so was with Kaoru. If only he could just kiss her now.
"Anyway," Misao furrowed her brows, "Where is your necktie?"
Something in Kenshin snapped. He noticed the sudden tenseness in Kaoru's shoulders as she heard the word necktie. He remembered tossing it aside. He'd just have to get it. "It was hot at the publishing and I probably removed it."
"Get it back," Misao ordered, "That was my birthday present to you."
"Right," he grinned and the driver revved the engine. He sighed.
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A/n: So there, short? frustrating? Tell me...