How I Fell In Love With The Lamppost

By: ShadowElite

Disclaimer: Rk is not mine.

An: The second chappie! Thanks for all the reviews that you guys have given! Really appreciated it. Hope you like this chapter as well! And well, if you do, review!


Chapter 2: Regrettable Answer

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Kaoru's POV

I could hear gasps from my co-workers and even… screams?

"I must be going." Kenshin turned to me and smiled. "Remember not to leave your things at my house again. I might throw them away the next time."

I glared at him. Was he insinuating that I'd be at his house again? Why, that arrogant, insufferable prick! "Why you-"

He ignored my unfinished sentence with a careless wave and walked away.

As soon as the door closed behind him, everyone started gossiping and murmuring. Some were even pointing at me, making me feel extremely uncomfortable. Damn the guy! What's the big fuss over him anyway?

"Quiet!" Arashi-san glared at everyone, yelling at everyone to get back to work before storming off.

I rolled my eyes and began sorting out my files.

"Kaoru!"

I turned around to face my colleague, Misao whose face was lit up with excitement. "What is it?" I asked in a bored tone.

My eyes widen in horror at her next sentence. "Misao! I did NOT sleep with him!" Goodness! Although he was a bit good looking, I wasn't going to lose my virginity with someone I had barely even met! Granted, I did sleep in his bed…but I didn't sleep WITH him…right?

She crossed her arms and stared at me. "I don't believe it. He mentioned your papers were at HIS house and you came in late with HIM trailing behind. Come on, I can put two and two together."

"Oh really? I didn't know." I replied sarcastically. She smacked me on the shoulder. "Oww! That hurt!" I rubbed my shoulder.

"So what's the deal?"

"Nothing."

She tapped her foot impatiently at my disappointing answer. "You walked in with the hot bachelor who owns a multimillion company and who incidentally, is the cousin of the famous singer, Tomoe Yukishiro, expecting me to believe NOTHING happened?"

I was taken aback by the news. "Cousin of Tomoe? You mean the singer that sold over 9 million copies and was on our company's magazine cover just last month? That Tomoe?" No wonder there was such a big fuss over him.

"Yes." She rolled her eyes. "Gosh. We had to do background work on her and you don't even remember that she had a cousin? Why are you in the magazine business anyway?"

"I thought his name was Enishi Yukishiro?"

"That's her brother. Get your facts straight, girl! So, tell me what's on!"

Thankfully, a voice interrupted our oh-so-interesting conversation, saving me the need to reply. Misao shot me a look and mouthed 'it's not over yet' I crossed my arms and smirked as the secretary dragged Misao across the floor.

I faced the stack of paperwork on my table with a sigh. Good morning hell. It twinkled happily in the light, as if to say hi. I grabbed the first pile and started reading reluctantly. After the first three lines, I was bored. Who wants to know how to get a tan in 10 different ways? There's only the natural way; Sunbathing and the artificial way; lying down in a box with UV rays. Goodness, the next articles were even worse. I could feel a migraine coming on. One more hour till lunch break. Joy.

--

14 seconds… 12 seconds 10…9… 8…

I glanced around checking for a small genki figure, namely Misao. Coast clear. I smile happily, and resumed looking at my watch.

3… 2… 1… and…0!

Yes! LUNCH BREAK! I picked up my handbag and slowly sneaked towards the exit. I touched the cool steel door handle with relief. I made it! " Not so fast, Kaoru."

I turned back to face the smirking Misao with dismay. "I told you, its not over." She said, with an evil grin. One hour of interrogation. I rather skip lunch and work with my migraine.

"You know what? I'm not really that hungry, I think I'll go later. Have a nice lunch!" I smile brightly, making my way back to my seat. I felt a sharp tug at my ponytail.

"YOU will have lunch with ME. Let's go." She transferred her grip from my hair to my wrist, pulling me to the elevator. The lift doors closed with a resounding thump, trapping my poor miserable self with The Interrogation Lady. Alas, my fate is sealed.

I groan miserably as she pulled me to our favourite local café, reluctantly sitting down on one of the chairs.

"So, what will you be having, Kaoru?" I looked up to find my favourite waiter smiling down at me, still looking as hot as ever.

"Kaze-kun!" I smile brightly. " I'll have a strawberry cheesecake with extra strawberries." Yum. Must as well enjoy life before the torture starts.

"Misao?"

"I'll have the chocolate sponge cake with extra almonds." She frowned at my happy expression.

"You are not supposed to eat cheesecake. You are fat as it is."

"Oh stop. You are just jealous 'cause you like cheesecake but are allergic to it. Okay, shoot. I'm ready."

She glanced at Kaze's retreating back with an evil grin. "I think I'll wait."

Why do I have this unpleasant feeling that she's going to do something evil? I looked warily at Misao's innocent smile.

Kaze placed our desserts on the white print table, with a strange expression on his face, which looked a lot like…pity? Good luck, he mouthed. Great, my interrogation lady just turned into my very own smiling devil. Misao took a look at my expression and laughed. "Kaoru! You look like I'm going to eat you!"

"Well, aren't you?" I narrowed my eyes.

"No I am not!" She said with an evil glint. "But I am going to eat your cheesecake!"

She snatched my cheesecake and held it out of my grasp. "MISAO!" I yelled. That's the evilest of the evilest! No one messes with Kaoru's cheesecake! "Give it back to me!"

I turned to her accomplice. "Kaze! I want another one."

He looked at me with a sorrowful face. "Sorry, Kaoru. Can't help you. No more."

My eyes widen. "Kaze! You-you betrayed me!"

"Now, now Kaoru. Don't be so angry at Kaze-kun. Just answer a few questions truthfully and you'll get it back." Her eyes lit up at the prospect.

"How did you two meet? Don't leave out any juicy bits or you can say bye to your beloved cheesecake here."

I glared at her. It wasn't that I didn't want to tell her… it's just a bit…humiliating. Telling someone you hugged a lamppost? I bet even a statue will burst out laughing. Looking longingly at my cheesecake, I reluctantly told Misao what happened.

" Hmm…" Misao murmured noncommittally as I cautiously took my cheesecake away.

"What?" I asked her suspiciously. Misao's 'Hmm's never meant a good thing.

"Do you have his number? He sounds so right for you."

"Wha- ?!" I almost choked on the strawberry I was eating.

"Misao! He kidnapped me!" I exclaimed.

She frowned at my expression and said sternly. "He did not. He practically saved your life! Imagine if you were left on the streets? Who knows what might have happened? You could have been raped! Or worse, killed!"

I pouted unhappily. She was supposed to take my side. Now she's taking his?

"So? He could have called someone to take me or something." I retorted.

Misao smirked. "You like him, don't you?"

My eyes widen with surprise. "No, I don't!" Who would like their kidnapper? Granted, many novels do make their heroines fall in love with their captors… But that's only fiction.

"You like him."

"No."

"You like him."

"Well…" He did seem kind of cute…

But he KIDNAPPED me! What kind of decent guy kidnaps a beautiful lady like myself?

"No, I don't!" I snapped back with righteous indignation.

I glared at Misao's annoying smile, wishing that I never came to work today.

Misao rolled her eyes at my expression. "Kaoru… you need a man in your life."

"Haven't you heard of the song by Pussycat Dolls, 'I Don't Need A Man'?"

She waved her hand impatiently. "They don't need one. You do. At least tell him thanks for letting you sleep at his place and bringing the papers you needed. Call him!" She urged me.

"You'll never leave me alone if I didn't, will you?" I said grumpily.

"You know me so well!" She grinned.

"But I don't have his number!" I smile triumphantly. Hah! What can she do about that?

"I have his personal office number." She replied with a devilish smile.

I groaned in dismay.

'I was supposed to ask him some questions on Tomoe, but it wasn't unnecessary."

She took out a highlighter from her bag and highlighted the number in her phone book.

"There! You can't miss it!" She recapped her highlighter with a sharp click.

I took out my phone reluctantly and keyed the number. "Must I?" I asked Misao pleadingly.

She nodded firmly. I sighed and closed my eyes. Now or never.

However, before I could press the call button, my phone started to vibrate, giving me the shock of my life. Someone was calling me. Apparently, it was a 732… My eyes widen as I saw the rest of the digits. Isn't that the one I'd just typed? Panicking, I hurriedly attempted to click the 'cancel' button and groaned when I pressed the wrong one.

The 'answer' key.


AN: A cliffhanger! Don't hate me! Avoids rotten tomatoes.