Ripples In Time

A/N- Welcome, I'm glad you've returned to read another of my chapters and I thank you greatly for that.

Well, it's time to bring our favorite troublemaker into the story; I hope you enjoy her arrival.

Disclaimer- Rurouni Kenshin is the work of an awesome Mangaka and this work is merely a fans poor attempt at matching Watsuki-sensei's work.

'Thoughts'

Enjoy the mayhem about to ensue...

Chapter 10:

A Morning Surprise

She felt so warm.

It felt so nice that Kaoru just wanted to keep on lying right where she was, forever. But something, something rather annoying kept nudging her in the shoulder. Something that shouldn't be there, something she was going to put in its place.

Growling low, she lifted her hand and swatted at whatever that thing was. Only to be rewarded by a loud shout of a male voice.

Knitting her brows, Kaoru wondered at that voice when finally, everything clicked back into place. 'Shimatta!'

Moving slowly and calmly, Kaoru shifted into a sitting position her eyes opening and slowly adjusting to the light around her. She was in Kenshin's room, she could tell as much, but that voice.

Steeling herself, she turned her head, only to blink in surprise. There, lying unconscious on the floor not two feet away, was a man she'd never seen before in her life. Narrowing her eyes, she reached beneath her pillow to pull out a knife.

She might not know who this person was, but whoever he was, he was going to get a lesson in entering a girl's room without her permission.

Before she could move to do anything though, she felt something tighten about her waist. Moving fast, she spun, pinning the offender to the bed as her knife rested against their throat.

And once again, Kaoru was downright surprised. Pinned beneath her, was Kenshin, his amethyst/amber eyes swirling with amusement. "Now Kaoru, you only had to ask if you wanted to throw me down."

Growling at that, Kaoru moved to swat him, when Kenshin rolled them over. He pinned her hand to the bed, even as he bent his head, to where their noses touched.

"Get off of me Kenshin, now." Kaoru grit her teeth, fighting off the blush and butterflies that were slowly sneaking up on her. She knew what she was feeling for this Lycan, but now was not the time to explore that. She had questions and she wanted the answers.

As if reading her mind, Kenshin let out a grumbling sigh before he released her. Both of them sat up and that was when Kenshin saw that Kaoru was still holding the knife. "What is that for?"

Narrowing her eyes, Kaoru pointed to the man. She expected many responses from Kenshin but the one she got surprised her.

It started as a low snarl but it soon rose in pitch and volume, his tail bristled next to her leg and Kaoru blinked in shock when he slid his arm about her waist.

Kaoru physically shivered when Kenshin crushed her against his side, all the while glaring at the man on the floor. "Hiko, get up. You're not fooling me with that act of yours."

The man shifted, moving to his feet as he dusted off his legs, "You haven't changed at all boy. Your still too serious, hello Miss. Kamiya." He was smiling at her and Kaoru saw the fangs, 'It seems we've got ourselves another vampire here.'

"Stow it Hiko! Get out of my bedroom, now!" Kenshin's whole body was trembling in barely restrained anger and Kaoru gaped in surprised shock. She knew what he was doing and at first she didn't understand, but then she remembered the previous night.

The vampire Hiko just chuckled, his laughter filling the room. "Fine, fine. But I expect a proper introduction soon boy!" Hiko then waved a bit before turning and leaving the room.

But even after he had left, Kenshin was still snarling. His eyes were tinged reddish gold as he glared at the closed door. Kaoru had tried to move but he wouldn't let go of her, which left her only one other option.

Lifting her hand, Kaoru gently touched Kenshin's cheek, "Kenshin, calm down, please?" His response was swift, immediate and completely caught her by surprise.

She found herself pinned to the bed, Kenshin trained above her, his fangs bared as he gazed down at her hungrily. Kaoru still had her grip about her knife but she didn't want to use it, not after the talk they had the night before.

'Think Kaoru, if words won't get through to him, then what will? He's a wolf right? Ah!' Kaoru would have patted herself on the back if not for her current predicament.

Lowering her voice and tilting her neck to the side, showing submission, Kaoru spoke softly. "Kenshin...kiss me." She then wined low in her throat and if Kenshin had ears on his head, Kaoru would swear they'd be flicking in her direction now.

The red in Kenshin's eyes had already begun to fade, even as his face shifted a bit, it's feature's softening as he bent his head. Kaoru held her breath as Kenshin's nose brushed hers; it seemed her scheme was working.

She was about to wrench her way free when his lips descended upon hers, stilling her movements as well as his. The kiss was soft at first, but it soon deepened as did Kenshin's purrs.

Unconsciously, Kaoru's arms moved to wrap about Kenshin's neck and she pressed back against Kenshin's lips hard. This was what she'd been feeling between them so much lately, this was what she had wanted, what she had secretly dreamt about.

The sudden sound of knocking at the door made Kaoru freeze, Kenshin's growls returned as he broke the kiss, turning to glare at the door once again. Kaoru felt her face heat in shock, 'oh Kami, what have I done?!'

The knocking came again and Kenshin fairly barked out, "who the hell is it?!" Kaoru remained still beneath him, still rather stunned by what she'd just done. 'I submitted to him, I...I agreed to be his, now what am I going to do?'

"Himura, I have brought the female. She is currently trying to kill Yahiko." It was Aoshi and he didn't sound happy. Kenshin froze at those words though, his eyebrow rising in shock. Kaoru on the other hand snapped out of her daze and nearly threw Kenshin off of her. "Misao's here?!"

Watching as Kaoru darted to the door, wrenched it open and took off down the hall, Kenshin couldn't help but burry his head in his pillow. He cursed every Kami he could think of and even a few he just came up with, 'I had her. I had her right where I wanted her! Damn my luck.'

After a bit though, Kenshin drug himself out of the bed. After straightening himself out a little, he hurried after Kaoru. Hearing voices, he followed them until he reached the main sitting room.

Upon entering though, he froze where he stood, his eyes widening in muted surprise at what he saw. Across the room, Kaoru was laughing happily while watching a smaller female pinning a squirming Yahiko to the floor. 'That must be Misao.'

"Now who were you calling ugly? Huh shrimp?!" Yahiko thrashed hard trying to escape, but Misao just smiled evilly, "Remember bud, Kaoru's like my sister, you diss her then you pay. Get me?"

"Alright already! I get it! So get off me, your heavy!" Yahiko squirmed as he tried to get her off, but Misao didn't budge. Instead she smacked him upside the head, "who're you calling heavy you brat?!"

Shaking his head in utter bemusement, Kenshin approached and stopped slightly behind Kaoru. Bending his head, he nuzzled her neck briefly before he moved over to stand before the two on the floor.

Behind him, he could hear Kaoru's increased heart rate, along with the sudden blast of her embarrassment and it almost brought a smile to his lips. Clearing his throat, he waited until they both stopped struggling with each other to look up at him.

"I see you've already met Yahiko Miss. Machimaki. I take it your trip here was an easy one?" Kenshin kept his tone friendly; after all, this woman was important to Kaoru. So he needed to make her like him.

Misao looked up at him at his words and narrowed her eyes at him, "I take it your Kenshin Himura?" Kenshin nodded his head only to still when in the next moment Misao was holding a silver dagger at his throat. His only thought was 'how did she get that past Aoshi?'

Looking deep into Kenshin's eyes, Misao spoke with a clear threat in her voice. "If I find out that you have harmed a single hair on Kaoru's head, Mr. Himura, I swear that you will never see another day. Am I understood?"

Kenshin opened his mouth the respond when the dagger and Misao were forced back by a well placed kick. And to Kenshin's great surprise, it wasn't Aoshi who stepped before him, but Kaoru and it brought deep warmth to his heart.

Crossing her arms, Kaoru glared down at her friend, unable to believe what she had just witnessed. Misao shook herself even as she got to her feet, giving Kaoru a confused look. "Kaoru?"

Kaoru took a deep breath before she began, "Misao, would you mind explaining to me what just happened? I believe that you promised to be civil when you came here, so please tell me, just what you were doing?"

Shifting nervously, Misao tried to hide the dagger behind her back as she gave Kaoru a sheepish look. "I was just worried about you Kaoru...I mean; you were kidnapped by that guy."

Shaking her head, Kaoru pointed to Kenshin, "he didn't kidnap me Misao. Now I want you to apologize to him right now, do you understand me?" Misao snorted and crossed her arms at that, having regained her backbone somewhat.

"Fine, I'm sorry Mr. Himura. You happy now Kao?" Misao gave Kaoru an annoyed look and Kaoru couldn't help but smile a little, "I swear Misao, you are such a jerk." Even as she said this, Kaoru crossed the distance between them and embraced Misao tightly.

Kenshin just blinked in complete and utter confusion because he hadn't understood one thing that had just happened here. From the matching looks on Yahiko's face and Aoshi's, he wasn't alone in his bafflement.

Kenshin just knew things were going to be rather interesting from now on.

A/N- Well, I am ending it here so that I don't drag this chapter out far too long...hope you enjoyed it.

And I hope you will all join me in the next chapter which is underway as we speak.

Thank you all again for supporting my work.

Ja! =^..^=