Yet another short story that is not Amber Linings or Blood Dawn. It's amazing what one can do so that she can procrastinate on her Finals. Yes that means that I should be doing a paper and am instead, writing possessive fluff.
Go Me.
Hope you all enjoy this drabble.
Ravyn
Remember I do not own anything Rurouni Kenshin. Sad, but true.
It was delightfully warm. Snuggling under the covers, Kaoru sighed into the pillow. But she knew her habits the way she knew her own face, and she forced herself to move. Sliding out from under the covers, she reached down and pulled the large shirt she found over her head. Moving towards the window she peered outside.
Raising calloused finger tips to the cool glass she traced her reflection in the window. The lights outside were proof of the endless nightlife that was raging as she stood. A night life, that until recently she had been a very big part of.
"Kaoru! Would you hurry up!" Misao called as she moved easily through the push and shove of bodies. The club they where supposed to be meeting there friend in was packed and it made it difficult to move in.
Kaoru tilted her head slightly as she caught a flash of bright red, but was forced to keep her eyes on the path her smaller and more agile friend was making through the crowd. Sighing in relief was she managed to make it out of the crush she was caught off guard when she felt herself yanked forward in Misao's enthusiasm.
Kaoru allowed a slight grin of remembrance of that particular evening. That evening had changed a lot of things, including how much privacy she had. What was it with red heads and their tempers?
"Kaoru what took you so long?" Sano's rich voice questioned from somewhere behind her. Spinning she fixed him with her darkest glare.
"Some of us are short and easily trampled. Just because you took after some giant or something doesn't make the rest of us so easy to spot." Kaoru retorted, her face flushing with temper.
A low, very sexy, very male laugh came from somewhere to her right.
Turning her head and shoving her thick mane of inky hair away from her face, Kaoru froze. A man who stood maybe a hand breadth taller she, stood next to Megumi. His hair was liquid flame, but it was his eyes that caught and held her attention. They where violet, and deep in the shading, Kaoru caught what could have been the faintest traces of amber flecks.
Jerking her eyes away from the amused man's, Kaoru forced her attention back to Sano. "So, what do you have to say for yourself Sano?"
Sano just grinned. "Kaoru I don't believe you have met Kenshin."
Megumi laughed her coy, foxy laugh that always set Kaoru's teeth on edge. "Of course she hasn't met Ken, or else she wouldn't have given him the same death glare she gave you, Sano."
"No?" The man named Kenshin questioned his voice low and amused. Kaoru wondered exactly how he made himself heard over the pounding music. The rest of them had been pretty much shouting, and yet this red-haired man seemed able to talk without raising his voice. Her arms broke out in gooseflesh.
Kaoru grinned slightly to herself as she remembered what had happened after that. Misao had burst in, dragging the man she adored behind her, breaking the spell Kenshin seemed to have woven over her senses. Luckily, after that, she had been passed from partner to partner. It wasn't until she was hot, sweaty, and ready for a drink that she ran into the violet eyed man again.
Kaoru tipped back her drink and downed it in one fast shot. She wasn't a heavy drinker, but she did enjoy getting enough alcohol in her system to keep her loose. She figured Misao was completely plastered somewhere by now, and she also knew Aoshi would insist on driving them home.
"Can I buy you another?" It was that warm, utterly male voice again. Turning she noticed that he was a touch taller than she had thought, but he was still shorter than most of the men here. If it wasn't for his flaming red hair he might have simply blended into the crowd.
Kaoru shook her head. "No thanks. I think that's enough for me right now." Kaoru had the gut feeling that mixing alcohol in large amounts with this man around was dangerous.
He smiled then. It lit his features and took her breath away. "Well then, may I have the next dance?" The way he said it, the rich timbre of his voice promising more than she was ready handle, was impossible to resist. Kaoru suddenly wished she had taken him up on his offer for a free drink.
There was no perfect way to describe the way he moved on the dance floor. His hands where warm against her skin, and his body hard against her thighs and stomach. He moved them deftly through the crowd, and Kaoru was surprised to notice even as he moved against and with her, they never once had anyone crash into them.
Kaoru was surprised when the music ended and he tossed her a smile that threatened to melt her bones. He seemed to notice something behind her shoulder and he laced her hand with his and began to pull her through the crush of bodies much faster than she could have managed on her own.
Stumbling out of the dance floor, Kaoru shoved her bangs out of her face to see Sano grinning down at her. 'Shit.' Kaoru moaned to herself.
"So Kenshin, how do you like our little Tanuki?" Sano questioned his eyes lingering on the clasped hands.
Kaoru blew at her bangs in frustration and attempted to untangle her fingers. A small tilting of lips was all the reaction she got from him, as he refused to release her hand. Leaning forward she gave him a tight smile.
"Let go before I break something." His eyes really laughed at her then, but he did as she -nicely- asked.
Kaoru tossed her hair behind her shoulders and frowned, looking around. "Where exactly has Misao gone?"
Sano ignored her question as she had never spoken. "Now Kenshin, I don't want you to play any games with Kaoru. She is very delicate…" His voice trailed off as Kaoru's fist tapped him in the stomach.
Kenshin laughed then. "Don't worry Sano." He let his eyes trail from Kaoru's delicate feet back to her flushed face. "I play for keeps."
Kaoru growled then.
Kaoru shifted her weight and smiled. Sano, knowing her temper very well, had thrown an arm around her shoulders and kept her from boxing Kenshin's ears. Luckily, Misao had turned up moments after that.
Kaoru took one look at her friend and grinned at Aoshi. It was an unspoken signal that it was time to head out.
"Kaoru you could at least give the guy your number!" Sano called as she helped Aoshi get Misao away from the dance floor. Kaoru shot him a single finger salute as she slipped out of the building.
She had the nastiest feeling that it wasn't the last time that she would see Kenshin.
Kaoru stifled a laugh. Nor had she been far from the truth.
"Let's see…Add water." Kaoru mused as she attempted to follow the direction so carefully laid out before her on the little box of macaroni. Her concentration was shattered with the sound of a fist beating on her door.
"Jou-chan, open the damn door!" It was Sano's voice and he seemed amused. Kaoru sighed at her now cooking Mac and went to see what was going on. She was pretty much shoved out of the way.
There where two reasons why this was bad. The first: the shoes that she had taken off earlier. The Second: the fact that she trip over them and was unable to catch her balance.
Kaoru stifled a shriek and shut her eyes. She did hit something but it felt more like something catching her than landing on her bottom. Opening her eyes she noticed the ground was at a funny angle. Tilting her head she met the pair of laughing violet-amber eyes that had been haunting her thoughts for the past two weeks.
"Are you alright?" His voice seemed to rumble out of his chest and Kaoru felt her face turning dark red.
"Fine." Kaoru muttered before attempting to stand. Kenshin settled her against the floor, his palms resting longer than necessary on her hips. Taking a deep breath, one to ignore the warmth his touch sent shooting through her veins, and one to allow her the air she need to yell, she followed Sano.
"SANOSUKE SAGARA!"
Sano had only brushed off her yelling until she got her hands on a large pan, and then he was attempting to hide behind Kenshin.
"Kaoru I don't think this is a good idea!" Sano said as he attempted to keep a startled Kenshin between him and a pan wielding, furious Sano.
"I think it's a great idea." Kaoru snapped. "So hold still so I can rearrange you brains, I am sure Megumi will thank me.
Sano yelped and moved toward the living room, Kaoru vaulted over the couch and chased. Sano yelled threats and Kaoru waved her pan. Kenshin seemed to take great amusement out of the situation and simply laughed.
No one paid attention to the slowly burning Macoroni.
Kaoru shivered slightly as she remembered that day. Kenshin and Sano had left and she honestly hadn't though to see him again. Even the warm kiss on the check before he left and his soft 'I shall be seeing you' had not really registered.
"Kaoru, are you not excited?" Misao crowed. Her face was slightly flushed with excitement and her eyes glittered. The worst part was the girl had yet to have a single drink.
"A party at Sano's is nothing new. We have one of these things at least once a month!" Kaoru pointed out, her eyes laughing at Misao's enthusiasm.
Misao stopped, her large eyes going wider. "You don't know!"
Kaoru frowned, a nagging sense of alarm jumping in her veins. "Do not know what?"
Misao squealed and practically raced her way up the stairs causes Kaoru to wince. Her friend was going to break her neck in those heels.
Entering the apartment she grinned when she saw Megumi scolding Sano for something…she didn't quite catch the words but whatever it was, Sano looked thoroughly rebuked.
Shrugging she turned to head toward the fridge and froze in place. Standing next to the fridge, Aoshi -who had a Misao glaring forcefully at him- was talking to a man who Kaoru recognized easily.
Eric Limbern was a man who was in Japan for school. His mother was a full blooded native, but his father had met her when he had come over as an exchange student. Eric was determined to marry a Japanese lady and had seemly picked Kaoru for that dubious honor.
She was going to kill Sano.
"Kaoru!" The man's voice seemingly grated on her ears and Kaoru forced herself to smile. Tilting her head -slightly- she shot Sano a look that actually seemed to sink through his thick head.
"Eric." Kaoru greeted, trying to remember how many meetings it took before you could punch someone lights out and not be rude.
Eric made a move as if to hug her but Misao jumped to her friends side in a brilliant strategically move that saved Kaoru was being forced to inhale his disgusting cologne. The man's taste seemed to border on the gaudy and Kaoru always winced when she thought of his interest in her. Or, more exactly, in her blood.
'Don't kill Sano.' Kaoru thought forcefully as he grasped her hand and brought it to her lips. Not only was it unhygienic, but it sent a shudder of disgust arching through her body.
Misao's face clearly suggested that she had eaten something rotten.
"Well…Eric….its been nice seeing you again…" Kaoru gushed, her eyes widening in innocence as she attempt to keep from strangling him painfully. "I shall...look forward to catching up with you later. I must, however, go and great my hosts." Twisting she made a bee line for Sano, her eyes glittering darkly.
In her fury, she missed the raised brows over a pair of darkening amber eyes.
Sano turned when Megumi slammed her elbow in his gut, and turning with a smile, he froze when he caught the look on the Tanuki's face.
"I am going to kill you." Kaoru told him calmly. "Let me be the first to assure you Megumi that I will leave something for you to bury. The rest, however, is going to be so small that the fishes are going to have trouble eating you."
"Kaoru, remember you non killing principles?" Sano quickly retorted as he moved backwards quickly.
"What 'non killing principles' Sano?" Kaoru asked sweetly as she cracked her knuckles and attempted to move around Megumi.
"Is there a problem?" It was -that- voice again. Stopping her attempts to shove Megumi out of her way -the women was doing remarkable well- she stiffened.
Shooting Kenshin a dark look that promised pain, she gritted her teeth. "Stay out of it." Turning around she noticed Sano was grinning. Barring her teeth at him in something of a snarl, she admitted defeat. Closing her eyes to take deep calming breathes, she wondered exactly how much alcohol was in his fridge.
Moving away from the window Kaoru silently slipped out of the room. Heading for the fridge, all the remembering had made her hungry, she dug around until she found the cheesecake Megumi had brought over that afternoon.
Thinking about him always made her hungry.
Sometime later she found a couch to sit on as she sipped the drink Misao had brought her. Closing her eyes she savored the rush of heat and -when she felt the couch dip in- refused to open them.
"So, Kaoru-Chan," Eric murmured, "may I ask what your plans are for the rest of the night?" It was a well known tradition that after everyone managed to get well and loosened up that they would go out and have some fun.
Kaoru suddenly realized that her bed at home was sounding damn fine.
But before she could inform Eric of her desire to retire early, alone, that night someone interrupted her.
"She is spending it with me." Kenshin's soft voice interrupted. Kaoru's head shot up with surprise, but he wasn't looking at her. His eyes seemed to hold more amber than the other night, and Kaoru wondered about it. First, however, she was going to let him scare Eric off, and then she was going to -hurt- him.
Eric flushed, muttering something under his breathe, and then practically fell of the couch in his haste. Kaoru blinked rapidly for several seconds before getting her bearings.
"Oh I am, am I?" Kaoru questioned sweetly, her dark gaze flashing. He turned to her then, his gaze practically smoldering as he took her in. "Yes."
Standing she smoothly handed Kenshin her drink. Spinning on her heel, she marched toward Sano. She wasn't going to think of the way his gaze was watching her or the fact that ever single part of her wanted to go back there and agree. Grasping Megumi by the arm she pulled her friend into the semi privacy of her and Sano's bedroom.
"I am leaving." Kaoru told her flatly.
Megumi blinked. "But Kaoru we haven't even gone out yet."
Kaoru shook her head. "No I am leaving -now- and Aoshi can bring Misao home. I think its best, unless you want mass murder!" Kaoru snapped. Part of her brain was mentioning all the things it would like to do to Kenshin, and not a single one of them involved a grave. They did, however, incorporate her bedroom into several of those scenes.
'Hentai!" Kaoru scolded herself. It's not Hentai, another voice argued, if his eyes are telling you're the same thing!
Megumi watched the emotions play on Kaoru's face and allowed a secret smile to cross her features. Kaoru never did enjoy being turned into the one who was being stalked.
"Of course," Megumi agreed causing Kaoru to eye her with suspicion.
Shrugging, she wasn't going to look the gift horse in the mouth; she slipped out the window and down the fire escape. Stupid, she Kamiya Kaoru was not. The look in Kenshin's eyes promised that if he got his hands on her, he was not letting go that night.
Kaoru thoughtfully swallowed her cheesecake and sighed when she realized that it had been the last bite. Cocking her head, she thought she had heard movement from the bedroom, she shrugged it off.
Kaoru frowned as she crossed the street, more than halfway home. Megumi had been just a little too happy to let her go. Blinking when she saw a pair of headlights coming her way she shrugged.
Until the car slowed down until it was crawling next to her.
Watching the window roll down with a hint of apprehension, she rolled her eyes when she saw a pair of violet eyes looking back at her. "Need a ride?" He asked amused.
Kaoru made a face at him. "No."
He grinned then. "Don't be stubborn Kaoru. It's not safe to be walking on the streets at this time of night. Please, get into the car."
Kaoru sighed in agitation. He had to go and say please with those eyes. Gritting her teeth she jerked the door open and slide into the warm car. Refusing to meet his eyes she buckled herself in wondering exactly what she had gotten herself into.
They ride was silent as he put the car back into gear and started back down the street. Softly he asked for her address and even quieter she gave it to him. Kaoru watched the building go by, attempting to ignore the very solid, very male person sitting next to her. Megumi and Sano where in so much trouble it wasn't even amusing.
Kenshin pulled up to the parking lot in front of her building and parked the car. Unbuckling herself she started when her door was opened and he offered her a hand out. Frowning slightly, she took it.
He pulled out easily, seemingly doing all the work himself. Kaoru forced her thoughts -delightful as they were- away from the muscles he had to have in his shoulders. Side stepping him, she began to walk back to her apartment. It took a second, but she turned when she realized he was following.
He watched in fascination as one of her brows shot up and her mouth twisted in a small frown. "It's not polite not to walk a lady to her door." His tone was silky and amused. Kaoru muttered something and turned to keep walking.
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