Disclaimer: Ever wonder why we put up these disclaimers? I mean, this is a fan fiction website . . . To anyone who is gullible enough to believe that I actually own Kenshin, I have a magic carpet I can sell you at a really good price.

"Smile at strangers and you just might change a life."
― Steve Maraboli

"In this world of memories, there's no need for strangers.
-Kenshin to Kaoru"
― Watsuki Nobuhiro

LAST TIME

"Ever thought of investing in a rolling suitcase?"

Kaoru dropped the case. She gasped as it just barely missed her left toes.

The Interrupting voice continued. "Ah, I'm sorry, Ms. Kaoru. Are you alright?"

Kaoru spun around to confront the voice. It was probably a good thing she had already dropped her case, because she would have dropped it again if she could.

THIS TIME

The interrupting voice belonged to one of the most beautiful men that Kaoru had ever seen. He was a bit short for a guy, but really, really well built. Kaoru would guess he was somewhere in his early to mid twenties. And if his violate eyes weren't enough to make him look exotic, then his red hair definitely was. It was long and trailing down his back, pulled into a low tail. The sunlight glinted off it and brought out burnt orange highlights and deep maroon shadows in sharp relief.

His face was set into an expression of worry: his eyes wide and searching, his brows lifted up into his bangs, his lips parted slightly as though he was just about to speak.

He had a cross shaped scar on his left cheek.

Oh, um." Kaoru spluttered. "I – I'm fine." She laughed it off. "You just startled me."

The red head relaxed his expression and nodded. "My apologies, Ms. Kaoru. Would you like some help with your luggage?"

Kaoru's eyes darted from her case to the strange man – Thinking.

She could either play the damsel in distress and let this gorgeous stranger help her carry her comically large suitcase – tempting since she would get to watch – or she could keep her pride and assert herself as a strong independent young woman - who could carry her own flippin case, thank you very much!

Her pride won the debate as it reminded her that she had no clue who this guy was. Serial killers could be hot, right? Right!

Not to mention, something bothered her about him - something she couldn't quite pin down.

Kaoru shook her head and put on her most polite smile. "No thanks. I've got it. It's not like I have to carry it very far."

He looked at the case, quizzically. "Are you certain? It looks quite heavy."

Kaoru flapped her hand in an attempt to look nonchalant. "It's not as heavy as it looks, just bulky."

Seriously, what was it? Has she met him somewhere before? It was like the last puzzle piece that didn't fit no matter which way you turned it, or a photograph that looked strange when you mirrored it.

He smiled, and Kaoru though perhaps her heart skipped a beat. "Then, at least let me get the gate for you." This time is wasn't a question. Actually, it veered dangerously close to being an order.

Kaoru felt her temper flare, but stamped it down and kept her polite smile in place. No need to fly off the handle. "Really, I've got it sorted. You don't need to trouble yourself." And, just to prove it, she turned right around, lifted the case and hobbled toward the gate with as much dignity as she could muster.

She never saw him move. She could have sworn he was behind her a second ago.

But suddenly he was just a step ahead of her, unlatching the gate and swinging it open. "It's no trouble at all, Ms. Kaoru."

Kaoru kept him in the corner of her eye as slipped through the opening and set her case on the wooden deck of the back porch. "Well, thank you then."

"You are very welcome, Ms Kaoru." He smiled again and his eyes twinkled in a way that had Kaoru suspecting he was inwardly laughing at her. And what was with this 'Ms. Kaoru' crap?

Her brain stopped short. She figured it out! She figured out what was wrong. "Ms. Kaoru." She mumbled quietly.

The red headed stranger shut the gate with him on the inside of the fence.

Kaoru took a step back warily, her brows furrowed over her eyes. "How do you know my name?"

The stranger looked at her with just a hint of disappointment on his features. "You don't remember me then." He spoke this so quietly, Kaoru almost didn't hear him at all.

"I'm sorry?" She urged his to repeat his statement.

"Sano and Mrs. Megumi let me know you would be coming." His smile was back in place, all traces of disappointment swept away. "I'm Kenshin."

Kaoru blinked rapidly a few times. Kenshin. That was the name of the widower neighbor that was supposed to help her. Why couldn't; she remember that earlier? "Wait. You're Kenshin?!." She gave him another once over to make sure her gorgeous stranger hadn't been suddenly replaced with some aging recluse when she wasn't looking.

"Indeed. I assume Sano forgot to mention I would be checking in."

Kaoru's brain was still playing catch-up. It was like a Wikipedia page was being re written – her own personal 'Kenshin' Wikipedia page. "Um, Yeah. I mean, no. I mean, are you sure you're Kenshin?"

Kenshin looked thoroughly puzzled. "Why wouldn't I be sure, Ms. Kaoru?"

Kaoru shook her head sharply. "No reason. Forget it."

Kenshin nodded, accepting her lack of explanation with a passive grace. "Let me take your case inside then."

"Uh, Yeah. Okay." Kaoru rubbed her temples and turned around. She reached for the doorknob and froze. Uh oh.

"Something wrong, Ms. Kaoru?"

Kaoru patted her jean's pockets, a sinking feeling taking form in her gut. Kenshin came up behind her and reached around her waist for the doorknob. He was so close. Kaoru could swear on her mother's grave she could smell his aftershave.

Kaoru froze again as Kenshin turned the knob – or rather, tried.

Kenshin chuckled. Kaoru could almost feel his chest moving. And why did that sound make her desperate for some dark chocolate?

"You've locked yourself out." He rumbled.

"Uh, oops." To Kaoru's eternal shame, the two syllables came out as a couple of squeaks. No, seriously, squeaks!

Kenshin chuckled again and stepped back. Kaoru let herself breathe as he retreated to the garden below the porch. He reached for one of the bricks near the tomato plants.

"A hide-a-key?" Kaoru asked. "I never thought Megumi would have one. She always says they make the locks on the house useless."

Kenshin shook a shiny metal key from the hollowed out brick. "And she's right. Sano put this here. I've had to drag him home a few times when he was too drunk to do it himself. And he's always forgetting his keys, even when he's sober. I doubt Mrs. Megumi even knows this is here."

Kaoru laughed. "That does sound like Sano. Megumi will probably kick his butt when she finds out."

Kenshin nodded sagely, and smirked. "Ah, but we'll just have to make sure she never finds out. Catch!" Kenshin tossed the key over the railing.

Kaoru caught the little piece of metal and rolled her eyes. "Megumi always finds out. It's only a matter of time." She unlocked the door. "Think fast!" She glanced backward and threw the key over her shoulder.

Kenshin snatched it out of the air, slid it back into the brick, and replaced the brick into its space in the row lining the garden. "If you say so." He shrugged and smoothly swung himself over the railing.

Kaoru stood as tall as she could and planted her fists on her hips. "I say so. Besides, Sano isn't clever enough to keep secrets from her for long."

Kenshin laughed, two quick surprising punches of sound. "I suppose your right about that. I still remember the day she found out about his gambling. I'm pretty sure the whole neighborhood remembers that actually."

"Yeah?" Kaoru joined his laughter. "I heard her livid rant over the phone. I can't imagine living next to it. Must have been some kind of adventure."

"That's one way to put it." Kenshin's smile nearly split his face. "Let's get your luggage inside."

Kaoru swung the door open and stepped in after Kenshin and the suitcase. "Thanks. You can leave it there. I'll take it upstairs later."

Kenshin shook his head. "I'll take it up now. Guest room, right?"

"Um, that's the one, but you really don't need to."

Kenshin just flashed her a grin and headed for the stairs. Kaoru was a little mad that he didn't have to wobble around with the monster case like she did. It wasn't fair. He could have been carrying a brief case for all the strain he was showing. His biceps were pushing the limits of his t-shirt rather nicely though.

Kaoru headed for the kitchen on autopilot. If there was one thing living in a traditional Japanese house had taught her it was that guests = tea. True, this wasn't her house, and she was probably more of a guest than Kenshin was, but for the next seven days Kaoru lived here. And that meant tea.

She began opening and shutting cabinets. Everything in Megumi's house was western. After four cabinets Kaoru had yet to find proper tea cups so she settled for coffee mugs. She turned to the cupboard. It took a while to locate the tea even among the meticulous organization characteristic of the former Ms. Megumi Takani, now Megumi Sagara. Kaoru located a lone little cardboard box still in its plastic wrapping: raspberry. Kaoru recognized it as part of a house warming basket she had put together when Megumi had first moved in nearly two and a half years ago. There was a thin film of dust on the plastic. Well, now Kaoru knew what not to get Megumi for a gift . . . ever

Kaoru wiped the dust off and removed the plastic seal. One, two tea bags, two mugs. Kaoru looked around for more cabinets to search. Nothing. Confused she began rechecking from the beginning. Not there. Not there. Not here. Kaoru bent to move some oversized mixing bowls that just might be hiding the prize. "Oh, come on. You have got to be here somewhere."

CHAPTER END

Cookie to the person who can figure out what she is looking for. ;)

Thanks to both of my reviewers from the last chapter! You guys are why this one got put up so fast.

Reviews are love. ^_^