Ripples In Time

A/N- Hello everyone and welcome to the seventh chapt!

I'm really pissed at myself for not updating sooner, but hell...could you if you lost your internet and had to move not once, but twice in two weeks?! It sucked and I really, really hated it!

But anyway, I never thought that this story would be as long as it is but hey, it's a good story right? So no complaining here.

Disclaimer- Rk is not mine, I really wish it was, but all I own are plushies, the manga, anime, etc.

Anywhoo, the story is about just over half done, so please stick with me a little longer.

'Thoughts'

Onto the flick!

Chapter 7: A Surprise of a Lifetime

Merely smiling gently in understanding, Kenshin made his way over to where Kaoru was sitting and placed a strong hand upon her shoulder.

"I just want to talk, if that's alright with you?" Hesitantly Kaoru nodded her head in approval and Kenshin took that moment to sit next to her, their legs touching.

"Megumi has told you hasn't she?" Jerking at Kenshin's words, Kaoru whirled to face him, her eyes narrowed.

"You knew? All this time you knew and you didn't even think to help her? How heartless can you be?" Kaoru's voice was low and filled with anger. Kenshin could only shake his head as he rested his head in his hands.

"You don't seem to understand Kaoru. I am the alpha of this pack, of course I would be the first to know. After all, Megumi told me the moment she found out."

Seeing that Kaoru was about to open her mouth to probably spout yet another one of her comments, Kenshin clamped his hand over her mouth, stopping her before she could even start.

"She is the one who asked me not to do anything Kaoru, she wanted time to think, time to decide on her best course of action. I knew that she would want to speak with you next and as I expected, things have turned out rather well."

Kenshin's pleased tone of voice was enough to have Kaoru wanting to bite his hand, but his next words are what made her think twice about it. "So for your help in this matter, I am going to reward you."

Slipping his hand from Kaoru's mouth once he was sure she wouldn't start spouting off again, Kenshin stood and pulled out a cellular flip phone. Kaoru's brows knit in confusion as she watched him dial a number and place the now ringing phone next to his ear. 'What in the blazes is he going to do with that?'

It took but a few seconds before the ringing stopped and the phone was picked up, "hello? Yes, is this Misao Machimaki?" Kaoru's eyes widened as she shot to her feet, her hands clenching together across her chest.

Kenshin's eyes practically sparkled at Kaoru's response and he had to keep himself from laughing. "Very well then, I have a Kaoru Kamiya here that wishes to converse with you. Shall I put her on for you?" The smile on Kenshin's lips had turned absolutely smug as Kaoru's face brightened, he could hear her heart beginning to race and knew that she was more than excited.

"Here she is then..." trailing off, Kenshin held the still connected phone out to Kaoru and was surprised with how fast she had snatched it from his grip. Plastering the cell to her ear, Kaoru trembled slightly with excitement as she turned from Kenshin. "Misao?"

"Kaoru?! Where the hell have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you and yet I haven't found hide nor hair of you! Tell me what is going on and tell me right now!" Relief was evident in the other's voice and Kaoru couldn't help but share in that, it felt so good to hear her friend's voice again.

Even if she could be a little annoying sometimes.

'She'll never change...' "I'm alright Misao, there's no need to get so worried...I've been...fine."

"Fine?! What do you mean fine? Don't you understand anything Kaoru? I've been worried sick about you and now you tell me your fine? I know you better Kaoru, now start talking!" Misao was clearly in no mood to be lied too and was even starting to sound rather frantic, which frankly, was normal for her.

Pressing her finger's to her temple, Kaoru rubbed lightly. She could feel a headache coming on and knew that it would only get worse if she didn't give Misao at least a little info on the current situation. "Okay, okay. I'll talk. You know that mission I was on when I called you?"

A chuckle echoed through the phone and Kaoru couldn't stop a small smile from crossing her lips at Misao's amusement. "Yeah, the one with that hottie lycan...I still don't get why you told me that you weren't going through with it..."

"Well...I met that lycan and umm..." Pausing, Kaoru spared a quick glance at Kenshin, who was contenting himself with watching her. The smug look on his face didn't help matters much and Kaoru could feel a blush burn her cheeks.

"Out with it!" Misao's voice was panicked but Kaoru could tell that she was angry as well.

Taking a deep breath, Kaoru steeled herself for what was to come, "I am now living with him..."

"WHAT??!!!"

Pulling the phone away from her ear at that loud screech, Kaoru narrowed her eyes at the amused look Kenshin was currently sending her, apparently he thought this was funny. 'Not if I can help it...'

"In fact, he wants to speak with you..." Kenshin's eyes widened in surprise as a smug smile crossed Kaoru's lips. Not giving him or Misao a chance to say no, Kaoru handed the phone to the stunned red-head and sat down next to him upon her bed.

Clearing his throat as he sent Kaoru a dark glare, Kenshin prepared himself for the yelling that was likely to come, "hello?"

"You! How dare you do this? What have you done to Kaoru and why the hell is she living with you, you, you sick pervert!" Wincing, Kenshin pushed down his desire to chuck the phone across the room as he calmly voiced his reply, well...as calmly as he could...considering.

"I have done nothing to her, she is staying with me and my pack so do not worry yourself over her safety. I assure you, she is perfectly safe here." Kenshin had expected another blasting through the phone but to his great surprise, Misao's voice was soft when she spoke next. It was what she said that had Kenshin's attention.

"Well then, Mr. Himura. I want you to tell me right where you are because if you're taking Kaoru into your home, then I'm coming too. And before you even dare to say no to me, you had best think hard, because if you don't I'll make sure you regret it until the end of your days. You hear me?"

His eyes wide, Kenshin turned to look at Kaoru and found that she was looking right back at him, "what?" Shaking his head, Kenshin turned from her and shifted slightly, "alright. I will let you but only for her sake. Make sure you are at the local park tomorrow at seven am, I will send someone to come and get you, so be ready."

And with that, Kenshin hung up before Misao even had a chance to protest. Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he got to his feet, brushing his pant legs off before turning to face Kaoru once again.

The look on her face was priceless. Kenshin was finding himself hard-pressed to prevent himself from cracking up. Her mouth was agape in muted surprise, with her shocked filled eyes locked to his.

Clearing his throat, Kenshin walked back over and retook his seat at Kaoru's side. "Miss. Machimaki is going to be arriving tomorrow, I am going to send Aoshi to get her...she seems to be a very weird young girl..."

Snorting, Kaoru shook her head as she fell back onto her bed, "you have no idea. Just make sure to let Aoshi know what he's getting into, we don't want someone getting hurt do we?" Raising an eyebrow, Kenshin flashed Kaoru an amused look, "Aoshi would never harm a human unless they tried to harm him first."

Chuckling, Kaoru latched a hold of Kenshin's arm and tugged, hard. Kenshin let out an 'eep' in surprise as he was suddenly yanked down onto the bed, landing face first into the blankets. It took but a moment before what had happened struck him and Kenshin couldn't stop a smirk from crossing his lips as he pushed himself onto his elbows, glaring playfully at Kaoru's own smirking face.

"I didn't mean Aoshi..." Kaoru shifted to where she was lying upon her side, her face and body inches from Kenshin's own. "Misao is one tough nut and the ice-cube won't stand a chance against her if she tries anything. So I just thought you deserved an early warning..."

She trailed off as she noticed just how close she now was to Kenshin, their bodies were almost touching and she could even feel the heat coming from his body. Shivering, she dropped her eyes, unable to keep them locked to Kenshin's.

Seeing this, Kenshin smiled softly as he cupped her chin, tilting her head to where their eyes met again. "Thanks for the warning, I'll be sure to pass it onto Aoshi." Kaoru closed her eyes and nodded her head, all the while silently cursing herself.

'What is wrong with me? Why do I feel so embarrassed? I mean...it's only Kenshin...right? I can't really care that much about him...can I?'

Flustered at where her own thoughts were taking her, Kaoru shook her head and jerked away from Kenshin's touch, her eyes hard and unfeeling. "Just what do you want from me Kenshin?"

Sighing, Kenshin rolled over onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, 'stay calm...just tell her the truth and hope for the best.' "I...I uh...like you Kaoru. Really I do, but I umm..." taking a deep breath, Kenshin turned towards Kaoru once again and let his expression harden.

"Would you go out with me?" Seeing the shock fill Kaoru's face, Kenshin pressed foreword quickly, "I promise I won't do anything that you don't want me to and I will, Mrph!" Placing her hand over Kenshin's lips, Kaoru shook her head as a smile broke out across her lips.

"Just shut up Kenshin, you've already said enough." Confused Kenshin waited and was shocked out of his wits when Kaoru slipped her free arm about his back, burying her face in his shoulder. "I'll do it...but there are going to be a few conditions..."

But Kenshin wasn't listening at that point, for he had already heard what he had been waiting for. Wrapping both his arms about Kaoru's form, he held her close and couldn't help but purr in contentment as he took in her scent.

Rolling her eyes, Kaoru decided to discuss the details later. After all, what could a few hours hurt?

A/N- Heh, yes! Finally their relationship evolves! Anyway, I am working on getting a schedual for posting all these stories, so sometime in the next two month's I should have an update...no guarentee's though.

Till then...

Ja Ne!