We are so very close…and yet so far away. Thank you again, as always, for the comments.
And of course, I do not own the characters below.
He stood staring out the window. Though he had managed to secure the investments he had been searching for the past few weeks he felt numb. Now he had been summoned to the ivory tower. Their meeting was supposed to be at 2:00pm. He glanced at his phone. It was almost twenty minutes past. Just like Hiko to leave him waiting.
He knew the moment would come. Ultimately, he would have to discuss the matter with his uncle. Though it was still early in the process, eventually he would have to inform Hiko that he needed to take a step back. The Palladium was Kenshin's, though under the umbrella of his uncle's company. The Gold Coast Resort was now his and his alone. However, he wouldn't be able to focus any attention to the Hiten Mitsurugi Hospitality Group any longer. He was well on his away to securing his own legacy.
Yet as he stood, staring down at the world, Kenshin couldn't help the empty longing that filled him. It had been four days since he had returned home to find Kaoru gone. He had let it go; they had agreed to three months. He couldn't blame the woman for leaving. Despite what he had thought that she would move her things in while he was gone, she had adhered to the agreement and moved out. That was their arrangement. And yet he felt more bereft than even when Tomoe had decided to fly across the ocean. He had accomplished everything he had set out to do; and he was utterly miserable.
Kenshin had debated about asking Megumi about it, if she had known. He got the feeling the woman was privy to something, given the nature of their interactions since he had returned. She had offered no information, and he got the distinct impression she wasn't speaking to him, save the talk of tasks he needed of her. Aoshi had offered no help either and he had fought the urge for the man to follow up. Clearly, Kaoru had made her choice and Kenshin had been mistaken on her feelings for him.
Behind him the door opened. Kenshin turned slightly to see his uncle stride through the door. Tall and imposing, Hiko walked with a purpose to his desk. He paused, sifting through some papers before finally looking up at him. "I'm surprised you actually came."
Kenshin fought the urge to roll his eyes. He moved toward the desk and sat down in one of the chairs reserved for guests. "You don't summon my presence often. When you do I assume it's of some import…at least to you."
The dark eyes flashed at him before Hiko returned his attention to the pages in his hand. "It appears your contracts for the Golden Coast Resort are well in order. It was a wise investment on your part. I assume your investors also agree, since you went about this without any help from me. "The man looked up. "You even managed to persuade Takagi Leon to invest. I must admit I am impressed."
"High praise from you? That's unusual."
"Don't worry." He snorted. "I still think you're an idiot." Hiko finally sat down in his leather chair and steepled his fingers together. "But for the first time, I'm actually astounded by the sheer stupidity you exhibit."
Blinking, Kenshin was stunned. Hiko had never minced words when it came to him. "You think I'm being stupid where the Resort is concerned? I've done my research. It's a wise investment, as you just stated. I managed to not only undercut Shishio industries, but Tagahashi has promised a six-month transition. He's also allowed a clause that would let me acquire the mountain resort as well within the next two years."
"I agree it was a wise investment on your part. And if I had been in your place fifteen years ago, I would have done exactly as you have done. You have managed to secure the money on your own; this will be your property and company to grow as you desire." The man sat back and studied him with his dark eyes. "I imagine next we'll be discussing you buying out the Palladium from me; that will become the flagship of the small enterprise that you are building. I suspect you'll also be looking to relinquish your seat on the board. Almost reluctantly, I admit that I am proud of you.
"Except that you're a complete and total idiot."
"Enlighten me. What misstep did I make that calls for your rancor now?" Kenshin demanded, his irritation coming to the surface. He stifled it, as he had done for years. However, he saw the raised eyebrow that indicated Hiko had noticed.
The man tilted his head to the side, the dark eyes studying him. "Tell me about the girl."
"Girl?" He blinked.
Hiko rolled his eyes. "Your fiancé? The one you let get away?"
Kenshin grew still. "Kaoru-dono? We were together. It ended." He stated flatly.
Hiko bit back a sharp bark of laughter. "You expect me to believe that?"
"Then advise me, Uncle. You, who sit up here on your high throne being worshipped by us peons below. Tell me what you know of the world so that I can learn to be as smart as you." Kenshin retorted sarcastically. Too late he realized that Hiko had succeeded in striking a nerve.
The imposing man smirked and slowly rose to his feet. "Several months ago, I essentially offered you an ultimatum. Settle down or I would make you. I thought you would immediately make a call across the ocean. That didn't happen. Smart on your part." The man admitted. Hiko moved to the window. "Once the date was set for my benefit dinner, I called your assistant. I wanted her to clear your calendar to set up several dates so that you would have a suitable woman on your arm. Imagine my surprise when Takani-Sama informed me it was unnecessary."
He turned slightly. "I must say you caught me unawares when I realized that you were not only seeking investors to expand your own personal empire, but you had found a woman to stand by your side while you did it."
Kenshin watched him, his violet eyes narrowed. "Clearly you know."
"Misao talks too much." Hiko shuddered slightly, his eyes closed. "Your assistant, Megumi, not so much. However, she let it slip that you had only borrowed the ring from Cartier." He turned to face Kenshin fully. "You do forget, that while Shinomori is the head of your security, he ultimately works for me."
Fighting the urge to swear, Kenshin took in a deep breath. "You know about the arrangement Kaoru-dono and I had."
"I do." Hiko took a deep breath. "I want to know what you said to her."
"I needed her for numerous engagements so you would leave me alone and I wouldn't be distracted from my business at hand. You once told me that a man who appears to have a stable future would have more luck when it came to convincing someone to invest. Apparently you were right." He stated bitterly. "She had a similar need to have a fiancé."
"For some old rivalry that hardly matters anymore." The imposing man waved his hand.
"Still, our needs aligned, and we made an agreement."
"But what did you say to her?"
"I told her that I needed someone for public appearances." Kenshin was getting bored with this line of questioning.
"No." Hiko shook his head. "I want to know what you said to her before you left. You had several days still on your contract, and yet she moved out early."
Kenshin blinked in surprise. "Why would you care?" He asked slowly.
His uncle rolled his eyes and moved away from the window. "You really are a moron."
"As you constantly remind me."
"What did you say to her?"
He finally gave into his feelings and sighed heavily. "I wanted her to move in. I told her to get her things together; to take advantage of my time away to move and get settled. When I returned from my trip, she had left."
"What did you say exactly?"
"Stop!" Kenshin rose to his feet, finally allowing his frustration and fury to flare. "You met her for all of a few seconds. Why would you even care?"
"Why? You dare to ask me why?!"
"I do!"
"Because for the first time in your life, I saw you look at a woman who could be your equal. Tomoe would always be competing with you; Kamiya-sama would challenge you, yes, but wouldn't be looking to best you. I saw the way you looked at her. You might have entered in this whole agreement with it being a lie, but you didn't walk away from it as clear and free as you initially thought."
"And what do you know?" Kenshin burst. "You sit up here, telling me I'm stupid. I secured an acquisition that you couldn't move on. Don't be pissed because for once I managed to outmaneuver you."
"Please." Hiko snorted. "You did exactly what I wanted you to. Do I want to pass my legacy on to you? Yes." He leaned against his desk. "But did you do what I would have preferred and attempted to strike out your own?" The man closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He opened them, the dark depths boring into him. "Yes."
Kenshin stared at him, having never seen his uncle in this state. So startled, that it took a moment for him to register what he had said. "You wanted me to secure the deal?"
"Of course I did." He turned to look at him, his dark eyes boring into his. "I promised your mother that I would make you into a man she could be proud of. I would say that I almost succeeded."
"Almost?"
"You had an agreement. Days before it was to officially end, you claim she left you." Hiko offered a mere shrug. "You mucked it up because I know you're an idiot." He leaned forward. "What did you say to her?"
"She left me. I don't know what more you want me to say." Kenshin stated angrily. He walked to the door. "I'm done talking to you." He opened the door and pulled it shut behind him. He leaned against it heavily. Conversations with Hiko always left him exhausted.
As he stood there, he slowly came to himself and took in the outer vestibule to the office. The three women who worked as his uncle's assistants were busy typing, but one kept glancing at him furtively. He pushed away from the door and strode towards the elevator. However, the man's words echoed in his ears.
Aoshi took a deep breath and unlocked the door to his apartment. As he crossed the threshold, he paused, looking up. Cautiously he entered, knowing someone else was inside. He peered into the dark room and lowered his bag to the floor. He reached into his boot and fingered the hilt of the blade he kept there. Slowly he pulled it loose and casually rose to his feet.
Quietly, he made his way into the dark living room. His eyes took a moment to adjust before he saw the figure on the couch. Abruptly the light turned on and he blinked.
"It's about time."
The man let out the breath he had been holding and placed the blade on the end table. "You startled me."
The green eyes grew wide. Warily she eyes the knife he had just put down. "Didn't know that was even possible."
"Why are you sitting here in the dark?" He asked her, relaxing. Perhaps giving her a key had not been the best of ideas.
"Waiting for you." She sat on the couch; her posture belied tension and he recognized the woman was anxious.
Aoshi paused. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
The woman crossed her arms. "Were you ever going to tell me?"
Suddenly feeling very tired, Aoshi sighed and closed his eyes. Part of the reason he had finally given into his desire for the petite woman was that she generally didn't ask questions. She provided a haven where he didn't have to be on guard, a space he trusted. To feel that for a moment he had given her reason to not trust him did not sit well.
"Tell you what?" He asked her, leaning against the doorjamb.
"Kenshin and Kaoru didn't meet until three months ago."
"Your point being?"
"Kenshin was ready to fly back to Tomoe. And then he crossed paths with Kaoru."
"You blame me for that?"
Misao shook her head. "No. But you let me perpetrate this fraud, this sham?"
"What would you have had me do?"
"You could have told me?"
"Are you asking me a question?" The green eyes continue to glare at him. The man sat next to her on the couch and looked up at her. "Would that have changed anything?"
The woman tilted her head to the side studying him. "It took me a moment to figure it out. I think I get it now. Hiko had issued his ultimatum. Kenshin needed him off his back, but also needed to portray an air of stability. I understood that, though I now think it's a bit strange. But I couldn't understand Kaoru's motivation."
Aoshi watched her as she mused over the details. "When I realized it, that was what was odd. Why would Kaoru agree to such a charade in the first place? And then it struck me the other night."
"The night you went through my personal files?" He asked her drily.
Undeterred, Misao wrapped her arms about her knees. "You had that file. And you were right. It would make sense that Kenshin would have asked you to look into her… except for one thing."
"And that is?"
"He would have asked for that file when they first started dating; except they never dated. Hiko laid down the law with Kenshin and then all of a sudden, he has a fiancé? Despite what I've seen, I briefly thought she was an escort of some kind."
He bit back his laughter at the thought of Kaoru as an escort. He wasn't sure what he found more laughable; Kaoru as a hired courtier of sorts or that Kenshin would even think to hire one. Of course, he also wouldn't have thought Kenshin would have entertained the whole charade to being with.
"Knowing Kaoru the way I do, that didn't make sense either. But something didn't add up. They never consummated their relationship, something you don't really hear about these days."
"And you find that completely unheard of?" He asked her, attempting to derail her current train of thinking.
The green eyes looked up at him, her annoyance clear. "You and I have consummated our relationship numerous times despite the fact I don't think we've been on an actual date."
Aoshi opened his mouth to object and then realized she spoke the truth. He narrowed his cobalt eyes at her. "You want to go on a date?"
She flashed a grin. "No." Misao shook her head. "Though I wouldn't be opposed to it."
He made a mental note to make dinner reservations for the next evening. "I 'll be sure to rectify that fact." He leaned forward and pushed her dark hair behind her ear.
Blowing her hair out her face, she gave another shake to her head, pulling away from his touch. "You are trying to distract me."
He couldn't help but offer her a small grin. "Is it working?"
Waving a hand, she continued. "Why would Kaoru agree? She didn't need the money. Her financials were sound. Kenshin clearly didn't hire her. Nothing was making sense. And then I recalled that weird dinner party."
He couldn't help but admire Misao as her mind worked. She had moved past her days when she had loved nothing more than to dig into a mystery. She was good, her instincts generally on point. But she had moved on and had no need to dig any longer. But the woman had clearly been given a mystery she was determined to solve. "It was entertaining."
"Who were those two women? Sorority sisters? Didn't seem particularly congenial, especially towards Kaoru. But then I saw in the file that Kaoru had dropped out of the sorority. Then I had to ask the question about why they would be involved in Kaoru's life now? You had looked into the incident with Kaoru from the university, but her record was sealed, why you didn't have any information. You had to have shared that with Kenshin, but he wasn't overly concerned by it. And then you stopped digging. But I couldn't stop." The green eyes focused on him. "I took a different approach."
Understanding dawned and Aoshi sat back. "You looked into Aya."
"Did you?"
Aoshi shook his head. "Kenshin wasn't concerned about the incident from college and told me he would ask the woman directly. I never discovered what transpired all those years ago." He offered the woman a shrug. "At the time, I personally didn't care if Kenshin didn't."
"Aya's involvement in the incident wasn't sealed. In fact, ironically, the university had no qualms about releasing the information about her. That she had been accused of a serious hazing incident that had her stripped of her titles and duties within the sorority. Initially an unknown party had accepted responsibility. Eventually, other people stepped forward, and that person was cleared and Aya was guilty. Once I had that information, it wasn't hard to look for the dots and connect them. For some reason Kaoru had lied to this woman and the reason for the dinner party was so Kaoru could show she had a fiancé. Probably because you can't produce a husband out of thin air."
God, how Aoshi loved watching her put the pieces together. It was one of the many things he found attractive. "You figured it out."
Misao looked up at him. "Kenshin and Kaoru made some kind of agreement." The woman sighed. "Except the rules changed."
"What makes you say that?"
Now she stood and moved to the desk. She opened her laptop and clicked a few links, pulling up a picture. Aoshi leaned forward and then reluctantly rose from his spot. He crossed the room to the desk and peered at the picture she had pulled up.
He recognized it as the wine room at Helios. He blinked as he studied the photo. Kaoru was in a deep blue dress, hanging off the ladder. The left hand, the one with the engagement ring, was entwined in Kenshin's. He was reaching out, his fingers caressing the woman's cheek. The pair looked into each other's eyes, a slight smile on both of their lips. They stared at each other without a thought for anyone around them.
Aoshi was already aware that the rules had changed. He was paid to observe and draw conclusions about people's actions, and even, inactions. The photo had been taken weeks ago. However, it showed two people who clearly had feelings for the other. He offered her a questioning look, silently asking her what she was trying to prove.
Misao clicked on another link and Aoshi leaned in to look at the new picture that filled the screen. This one was newer, taken last week. It was with an article about the charity auction the pair had attended. The photo showed the couple in a seemingly innocuous position, yet even Aoshi could read the intimacy between the pair. Kenshin's forehead rested on the woman's and the pair were looking at each other. A small smile graced both their lips. He let out his breath. If he didn't know any better, he would think the pair were deeply in love.
"What do you want to know?" He asked reluctantly with a sigh.
Misao glanced at him. "What do you know about all of this?"
The dark blue eyes glanced at her direction. "What would you like me to tell you?"
"You knew from the beginning. "Slowly he nodded. "Who else knows?"
"Megumi for starters."
"Are you kidding?" She cried. "That woman knew?" Aoshi offered her a shrug. "Who else?
"I believe her roommate Sanosuke is also aware."
"Really?" Misao sat back. "And that's it?"
"As far as I'm directly concerned."
"Hiko doesn't know?"
Now Aoshi hesitated. "Does anyone actually know what that man knows?"
Misao sighed, "He knows."
"You think?" When she continued to stare at him, he sighed reluctantly. "Hiko asked for her file as well."
"Ugh!" She finally rose from her spot and began to pace. "There is nothing that man doesn't know."
"I do work for him." He thought about the final task Kenshin had asked him to do before he left town a week ago. Aoshi debated about telling her what her cousin had done and decided against it. Knowing the bewitching spitfire, she'd discover it on her own. "What are you suggesting?"
Misao nibbled on her nail. "I don't know. Other than Kenshin really is an idiot? But so is Kaoru. They clearly have feelings for each other. So why did it end?"
Musing over the conversation he'd had with Megumi the day it all fell apart, he recalled how both he and his dearest friend had been totally flummoxed at what had transpired. "A misunderstanding?"
The verdant eyes looked at him. "So why won't he fix it?"
Aoshi sighed. Reversing his earlier decision, he changed his mind. "I will tell you this; Kenshin wanted the relationship."
"What do you mean?"
"He had Megumi make a call."
Her verdant eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "A call to who?"
He sat back and ran hand over his face with a sigh, changing his mind again. She'd seize the tidbit if she wanted. "Does it matter? Their agreement came to an end."
"You're not telling me something. If Kenshin wanted to continue in the relationship, then why did he leave?"
"He didn't leave; he left for a trip. He was going to address the matter upon his return."
Misao gnawed on her bottom lip. He both loved and hated that she did that. Loved the nervous tick and hated that she would shred that full bottom lip he loved to suckle on. "So then why did she leave?"
Aoshi reached out and pushed a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "Kenshin must have said something. Or didn't say something. I don't think the man knows what to think where Kaoru is concerned."
The dark green eyes lifted to meet his. "Just what the hell did he say to her?"
"There's only two people who know." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. He pulled back and offered her a grim smile. "And I have a feeling you'd get two very different answers if you were to ask."
There is so much about this chapter that I love as I re-read it time after time, as those around our favorite pair start fitting the pieces together. The interaction between Hiko and Kenshin I find particularly intriguing. Not to be that person, But I feel as though I managed to accurately capture the dynamic between them.
I will tell you that we are very close to the end. As always, the continued support keeps me going and I assure you I will continue until this story is finished. And on that note, kisses!
