Mornings After
By hye-kyo
Disclaimer: Nope, RK isn't mine…
Author's Notes: So it has been a long time. And I know most are really getting impatient. I know, I'd been updating other stuff and not this. This fic is beginning to get really hard to write. But I promise to update faster. I'm inferring until chapter 35. So you see, we're almost there. Please hang on with me…
Anyway, nothing much here, this is some sort of a transitional chapter...
Read and review!
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Chapter thirty-two: Plan
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She woke up to the smell of food cooking. Feeling famished she sat up, made a quick run of her fingers through the warm spot Kenshin had slept on and pulled her hair into a loose ponytail. She took a quick tour to the bathroom, rinsed her mouth and face and followed the smell of food.
What fascinated her was the domesticated scene in her kitchen. He was wearing an apron she got from a thrift shop, flipping a pancake and humming a tune. It was then that she decided she would like to marry the man.
"You hungry?" he asked when he finally noticed her by the bar.
She nodded, skipped towards him and murmured, "Smells good."
"And tastes good too. You don't know how to cook do you? I literally turned this place over and couldn't find anything fresh and raw. All I found are instant noodles."
"Well, I don't have patience. Besides I like instant noodles."
"I guess there's more reason for me to stick around don't you think?" he winked and he tossed the pancakes onto a plate. "Chow down, you didn't have much to eat yesterday."
"Thanks," Kaoru took a seat and grabbed a fork. "Do you have work today?"
"Yeah and I can't stay long," he kissed her cheek, sat down with a mug of coffee and wiped the crumbs off her chin. "But I'd drop by to see you later."
"Okay, I'd be busy today too. I have a deadline to meet," she furrowed her brows and suddenly said, "What is today's date anyway?"
He took a sip from his mug and said, "Today's the fifteenth. June fifteen."
"Oh," there were two things she realized. First that her deadline for the report was bound in three days and second that Kenshin's birthday was in five days time. She didn't know whether she should be more nervous about the second than the first.
"It's almost nine," he announced and he finished his mug, stood up, went to the sink and rinsed it. "I'd give you a call later. How are you feeling now?"
She cleared her throat, now that the fact set in she just doesn't know what to do. "Better. Thanks," her voice sounded strangled and he arched a brow. Unsure he placed a hand on her forehead and felt for her temperature.
"Don't forget to call me in case something happens."
"Like?" she arched a brow.
"Like if you get sick again, like if that Seta guy asks you out again, or Misao pesters you, you know those kinds of things."
"Yes Sir," and she tilted her head to ask for a kiss.
He smiled, held her still and bent low to press his mouth against hers. "Perhaps you should just move in with me. That way you wouldn't have to eat ramen most days."
"Yeah?" she tried not to smile too much and look so enthusiastic, "I'll think about it."
He feigned a frown, "Think about it? I mean look at all the perks of moving in with me."
"I said I'll think about it. But if you tell me you'll also do the laundry and the house cleaning, well that would probably tip the scale big time into your favor."
"Really?" he asked, though a little unsure, "Well...I guess I have to start practicing then, though I'm telling you I'm more adept in some other things." There was a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Like?" she smiled slyly.
"If I tell you now you would probably decide to move in with me on the spot."
"Oh?" there was a hitch in her breath as his hands suddenly rounded her waist, and he pulled her up on her feet.
"So?"
"I'll think about it," she grinned, "But I suggest you give me a demo first."
"Hmm...a demo," a thoughtful look crossed his face momentarily and before she could even speak he had her against the wall, his mouth on hers and one hand on the small of her back, the other was fisting with the buttons on her shirt.
"I thought you have to go to work," she whispered, stopping his hand.
A pained groan escaped his mouth as he slowly pulled back, "Yeah, shit." Kenshin glanced at his watch and said, "I could opt not to go."
Kaoru laughed and then turned him around. Placing her palms flat on his back, she ushered him to the doorway and said, "Go to work. I'd just give you a call later."
"But," he turned around but she stopped him.
She unlocked the door and placed her hands on her hips, "Go now. I don't want to be the reason for your company's demise. Though of course I doubt that it'll happen. But just to be sure." And she gave him a laugh.
He frowned, "You trickster". Kenshin pulled her one last time for a kiss before heading to the elevator. "I'll see you later."
"Sure."
"And give me call."
"Of course," and she waved as he jogged towards the elevator.
---
She wasn't sure of many things. For one there was still Tomoe somewhere out there lurking in the background. Then there was Misao and her suspicions. And then there was the fact that whatever it was that's happening between them, it was unnamed, unlabeled, and uncertain.
What she was certain though was that Kenshin was the man she wanted to marry. She wasn't that much sure if he also felt the same. Sure he asked her to move in with him but it was different from getting married.
It might just be a physical need or something more profound but not as profound as love. She was certain that what she feels for him is love. She just couldn't say that is also the case for him.
What she has to do is ascertain some things. His feelings. His ideas about them. What he wants, what he needs. If he wants it to go beyond what they have now, say marriage, then that would be a big relief. But if not, well she would just have to settle with it, though of course she could always show him that she is the marriageable type and that she is totally his marriageable type.
The task at hand is great but she refused to falter. Oh well that's a bit too much. But when it comes to love, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.
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"What do you plan to do then?" Tae asked, her hands on her hair.
"I have a plan," Kaoru replied, frowning at the gloss she put on her mouth. "I don't think this suits me."
Tae patted her hair, finally secured it with a barrette and turned to Kaoru. "It does. You aren't just used to it."
"I'd just remove it," she wiped it off with a tissue.
"Just wear it. He'd later remove it anyway," Tae grinned cheekily.
"Tae!" she blushed.
"What's the plan?" Tae arched a brow.
"I don't want it jinxed."
"Oh really," and she pinched her. "Why don't you just tell Kenshin?"
"You know I'm no browbeater." Kaoru frowned, "I can't force him."
"But it will be easier that way. You have too many insecurities Kaoru."
"I know," she said and realized that indeed she has. Well, she can't help but be insecure with Tomoe. She was Tomoe after all, she was the first.
"Okay Kaoru. I think Kenshin feels the same way so you don't have to be uncertain about many things."
"Thanks," she smeared another coat of gloss on her mouth. Tae said Kenshin will remove it later anyway.
---
She brought some documents over to Soujiro two days after. She felt her stomach do some somersaults as she was allowed in. She still has to clear it between them. She has avoided him at all costs, rejecting his calls, not replying to most of his messages and mails and even asking some other colleagues to deliver the documents for her. But she couldn't avoid him forever.
"Kaoru," and he got the documents from her, stacked them neatly on a corner of his table and turned back to her. "I heard you got sick."
"Yeah but I'm better now." She looked away, Soujiro was holding her hand. Kenshin would be sure to throw a fit if he sees this.
"You should have given me a call," he lifted one hand to cup her cheek.
"Ah," she took a step back, too quick and abrupt. He gave her a puzzled look.
"Is anything wrong?"
"Ah...actually..." she swallowed hard.
"Is this about him?" his tone was low and it hurt her to do this to him.
But nevertheless, "Y-yes...You see...Kenshin and I...we are..." she swallowed hard again.
"But he has someone else," Soujiro touched her hand tentatively.
"That was a long time ago," she sounded like a possessive child. She cleared her throat, "I mean...we finally came to realize that...that this...what we have...that what we have is...is special and something that—"
"Do you love him?"
"Yes," she replied without hesitation.
"I see..." he swallowed mouthfuls of air.
"I'm sorry," she placed a hand on his arm, "You had been such a good friend."
He kept silent for a long while. "I don't know what to say...I mean...I had a feeling that, that you were going to...never mind." He took in a deep breath, "I am pathetic, am I not?"
"No you aren't," she smiled tentatively, "Cute yes but not pathetic."
He gave a laugh and then quieted down. "We could still be friends."
"Of course." She gave him a loose hug, "You're the best boss in the whole world."
"Suck up," he teased and returned the hug.
"You deserve someone else. You'll find her soon."
"Thanks," and he tightened the embrace.
---
What she wanted to do was something special, something out of the ordinary, something she had never done before. What she wanted to do was something that would surely make him realize what a special girl she is and what kind of a blessed opportunity she is to him. Of course asking him to marry her was already part of the plan but what she needed now is an inspiration, an idea of how to send him that message, that proposal, one that would definitely earn her a yes.
She stopped by the Chinese deli to get some food, for Kenshin called and told her he'd come around later this evening. She walked the remaining block to her building and was surprised to find him already there.
"When did I give you a duplicate?" she asked, slipping off her shoes.
He smiled and kissed her cheek, "Smells good, what did you get me?"
"Chinese," she said, frowning when she realized he wasn't pertaining to her about the good smell.
"How was work?" he asked, taking the paper bag and rummaging through the contents. "Some language center called earlier. Were you planning on learning French?"
She stood by the kitchen table, watching him. She realized how domesticated the scene was, only it seemed like she was playing the husband role and him the wife's. She almost chuckled. "Not really. I was bored once and that's the first thing I saw on the net. I just did some inquiring."
"I could teach you French," he said, a wink in his eye.
"You know French?" she asked, a brow shooting up, clearly unimpressed.
"Yeah and I'm very good at it," he said, moving closer.
"Really?" she furrowed her brows, "You didn't even tell me. I knew you studied German but French?"
"I thought I have shown you already," he asked, his hands on her waist.
"You never talked to me in French before."
"No I mean this," and his mouth was on hers, a coaxing, intense, moving her over to the sink to regain her balance.
"Kenshin," she pouted, a blush on her face, "What was that all about?"
"French. I was talking about the other French," and he grinned.
She tried to feign annoyance but the joke was so stupid she let out a laugh. "That was extremely funny."
"I could do some other things beside French you know."
"Yeah?" she flicked his forehead, "I'm not interested." She moved away, resumed unpacking the food and sat down on a stool. "The food's getting cold."
"You aren't interested?" he pouted like a schoolboy, "I'm a good teacher."
She laughed again, almost spilling her sauce. "I bet you are," and she laughed again.
"Kaoru," he caught her wrist and turned her around, their knees touching. "I'm serious."
"Oh," her brows both shot up. The moment she stared into his eyes she knew that something was up, something serious and extremely life-altering this time. She moved closer, almost too eagerly and wished that it was that something she had been praying for. Her mouth quivered slightly, blood rushing to her ears.
And the phone rang.
He stood up, "I'll get that." And just like that the moment was gone. Maybe he'd confess some other time. If he doesn't she'll just have to do the confessing.
---
"Aren't you going to sleep yet?" he asked, a frown on his face.
"Nope," she stared into her computer screen, the cursor blinking, "And why are you still here anyway?"
"Because I said I'm sleeping over," he stood up, pulled a seat next to her and stared at the screen, "Work?"
"Yeah. I have a deadline to meet."
"Too bad and I'm giving away special lessons on a discounted price tonight."
"Pervert," she turned around and reprimanded him.
"Who's the pervert?" he arched a brow.
"Go to bed," she laughed, typing.
"I can't sleep. Come on Kaoru," he played with the ends of her hair. He kissed the back of her neck and started nibbling on her shoulder.
"Don't do that. I can't concentrate if you do that."
He just let out a laugh and slipped his hands in her shirt.
She shrieked, swatted his hands away and with a murderous look in her eyes she glared at him. "Stop that." She knew it was a joke, but well, there are things that she had decided they won't do until they're married, not that they haven't done it yet, but at least, refrain from it. She wanted it to still be special. Not until she becomes certain that he feels the same way. That whatever they have now wasn't just some sort of a distraction for him, especially with Tomoe around, and not just some I-want-to-do-something-new kind of activity. She knew he was bored with the redundancy of his life and that he was looking for some diversion. She doesn't want this to be just a diversion.
"You're so fun to tease Kaoru," another lazy tracing of his finger on her arms.
She almost shuddered. She so wanted to just turn her computer off and hop on to bed with him. She was quite certain there are a lot more things he could teach her, judging by the harried yet so wonderful first, ehem, second time.
"My birthday's coming you know," he suddenly said.
"Ah..." she blushed, the plan was slowly taking shape in her mind.
"Any plans?" he whispered in her ear, his arms thrown around her, one hand drumming lazily against her hip, another caressing her face.
"Ah...you'll see..." she turned slightly, feeling his mouth on her cheek. She turned a bit more, feeling him on the corner of her lips. She closed her eyes.
"I'll see?" he whispered against her skin, "Hmm...something grand?"
"Not really," she turned slightly again, his mouth had moved to touch her cheekbone. She almost groaned in dismay. She was waiting for him to put his mouth on hers but he seemed to be teasing her.
"So what is it?"
"Something simple," she felt a little impatient, she clutched at his sleeve and tugged. His eyes met hers and she frowned a little, her eyes moving from his to watch his mouth, beckoning him wordlessly to kiss her.
"Ah," he said and slowly gave her lips a fleeting kiss. He smiled as she frowned even more.
"Kenshin," she sounded impatient, pained almost and she tugged more firmly at his sleeve.
"Hn?" he smiled again, one hand tracing the neckline of her shirt.
She swallowed hard. Why can't she refuse him? How can he make her so inconsistent with herself? She told herself that she wouldn't allow herself to be carried away by his touches as long as things between them aren't clear. But right now she was faltering.
"Kaoru..." and a tentative kiss on the center of her throat.
"Kenshin?" she inquired with a hoarse voice. She felt herself being lifted slowly off her chair. She snaked her arms around his neck and let her mouth skim over the underside of his chin. She breathed in deeply, this was the scent that she loved. Sandalwood, pine, and a hint of his aftershave. She almost moaned.
He eased her down on the bed, his hand undoing the buttons on her shirt, his mouth trailing down her closed lids to her neck, down to her collarbones and the top of her lacy brassiere. He smiled. It was pink. She looked cute.
"Kenshin," she murmured, pulling him up to taste his mouth with her own. He smiled against the kiss, his hands touching her everywhere at once.
He concentrated on her bottom lip, a hushed whimper escaping her mouth as he let one hand ran down her dress to rest on her thigh. He hitched it up a little, making contact against her supple skin. He ran lazy circles, moving up, until he touched the garter of her undergarment. He ran a finger along the garter and slowly, gently started pulling it down.
Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes fluttered open, one hand darting to stop his own. She caught his eyes and slowly eased away from him. She sat up, did the buttons on her dress and straightened her dishevelled dress. She can't do this. Not yet. Not until she's certain.
"Kaoru..."
She looked tentatively at him, and bit her lower lip. Suddenly thinking of an excuse she jerked her head up and nervously smiled, "I…I have my period."
"Ah…" he said though his eyes were still uncertain. He sighed after some time and cleared his throat, "Aren't you going to sleep yet?" his look on her was tentative, wary. He extended a hand to touch her arm and when she didn't flinch, his hold relaxed.
"I have a deadline to meet," she grinned, not meeting his eyes. She stood up, turned around slowly to face him and murmured an "I'm sorry."
He smiled, pulled her close and looked up to meet her eyes, "It happens. That was funny, don't you think?"
She eventually smiled. "Yeah…I'm going back to work."
"Okay," he pulled her back for a quick kiss. "Don't overwork yourself."
"Yes sir," she smiled, relieved. She'll not falter. Planning first and then execution and if it leads to positive results, then she'll willingly give whatever it is that he wants. But if it won't, she hasn't thought about it yet.
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A/n: So how was it?