Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Black Hawke ❯ 'Will You Help Me?' ( Chapter 10 )

A/N: Sorry guys, no lemon this time. But there is more of the plot coming your way. I hope you enjoy. Happy New Year. Remember, don't drink and drive. Have a safe Holiday. God Bless, Tsuki-san

Review Response at end of Chapter

Chapter Ten

Will You Help Me?

             They sat across each other drinking morning coffee and talking about the repairs he wanted to make to her and Misao's domicile. The new front door was already on order and should be delivered in a couple of days, but now he was talking about a plummer and new carpeting as well. He also wanted to put in a new bathtub-shower combo to replace the lime stained, leaking derelict that presently set in their bathroom.

         &nbs p;  "You can't refurbish our entire house, Aoshi." Kaoru took a drink of her coffee and favored her lover with a long stubborn look. "We don't need all of that. We are just fine."

          & nbsp; "Uh-huh. You were the one who said you had rats in the pipes and everything leaked." He smiled and winked at her taking a bite of the blueberry muffin on his plate. "And the carpet on the floors is full of so many holes, it shows more than it covers. It's a wonder the two of you don't have pneumonia all the time."

          & nbsp; "Oh please, we aren't that fragile, and the carpet is not that bad." Her eyes rolled but she refused to meet his gaze. "Next thing you know, you'll be wanting to paint the house or redo the kitchen."

         &nbs p;  "Hmmm, now there's an idea."

          & nbsp; "Aoshi!"

             He chuckled and buried his nose in his coffee cup. Teasing her was becoming one of his favorite pass times. She was so easy to get to. "Calm down, baby." His hand reached out and patted her cheek just before he gave her a quick kiss on the tip of her nose. "I am going to do exactly what I want and there is nothing you or that little weasel can say about it."

          &nb sp; "And just exactly what makes you think we are just going to sit around and let you 'do exactly what you want', Mr. Shinomori?"

         &n bsp;  "Because," he grinned, stood up and moved over to the counter and pour himself more coffee. "I bought your house yesterday afternoon and that means I can do anything with it or to it I damn well please."

           ;  "You-you what?!" Kaoru almost spit out her mouth full of muffin as shock rocketed through her system. "You are... you mean you're... you're the..."

             "I'm your new Landlord, Ragdoll."

        &nb sp;   "Oh my God." She buried her face in her hands and groaned. "I can't believe it. I, honest to God, can't believe it. What on earth possessed you to do something so completely stupid as to buy that piece of shit? What?" Blue eyes full of confusion and disbelief stared at him. "I know you're smarter than this."

          & nbsp; "Hey, you going to keep insulting me, or do you really want to know why I bought your house?" He sat back down with his coffee cup in one hand and the pot in the other. "More coffee?"

           ;  "Just a little." She lifted her cup and let him warm it up for her. "And yes, I want to know why you bought the house. It was a total waste of your money, Aoshi. Surely you know that."

          & nbsp; "It all depends on your point of view, Kay." He set the coffee pot on a cotton napkin and refocused his attention on the woman sitting across from him. "I consider it an investment."

         & nbsp;  "An investment? In what? A never-ending pit of despair that will do nothing but bleed you dry of money you could put to use somewhere else." The derisive tone in her voice caused one of his thin eyebrows to lift in bland acknowledgment. "You should have taken what you invested and put it back into the reconstruction of the warehouse."

         &n bsp;  "That is already in the works, honey. Reconstruction starts the first of next week and should be finished by the end of the month."

             "Does that mean the Pack will be back in business by then as well?" She sounded concerned and Aoshi offered her a lopsided smile.

          & nbsp; "No, they will be back in business next week." At her shocked expression he leaned forward and continued with an explanation. "I have an alternate storage facility where I keep extra product in case of emergencies. I suppose you could call this an emergency."

         &n bsp;  "I suppose so." Kaoru mulled this information around in her head and then put her elbows up on the table so she could rest her chin in her cupped hands. "What are you going to do about your ruined books and records? Didn't you say that everything got destroyed in the fire?"

          & nbsp; "Yes, it did, except I always microfiched everything at the end of the week so I had an alternate copy besides the hard books." His gaze was admiring as he looked into her face. She had thought about that issue all on her own. He didn't have to mention anything about it. Smart girl. "That brings me to the point of why I bought your house."

             "What?" Her expression changed and she was looking at him like he'd grown a third eye. "What the hell does your keeping an alternate copy of your books have to do with you buying my house?"

             "I don't want you to work at the Diner anymore, Kaoru, and I don't want you worrying about crap like rent either or whether or not your pluming is going to work or if someone is going to break in. And you said it yourself, your landlord was never going to fix anything, and I'll be damned if I'm going to leave you and the weasel there to be targets for the kind of trash that troll the streets in that part of town."

          & nbsp; "Aoshi, baby, you aren't making any sense." Kaoru sighed and reached out to take one of his hands in hers. "What are you talking about? Me not working at the Diner? I have to work. I have bills to pay, things to do. Even if you don't charge us rent, we both have other responsibilities, you know."

          & nbsp; "I understand that, honey, and I'm not saying I don't want you to work, I'm just saying I don't want you to work at the Diner." He squeezed her hand and then sandwiched it between both of his. "I want you to come and work for me." Startled blue eyes fluttered up to lock with his icy orbs. "I've thought about it for quite awhile, and I want you to help me manage the warehouse. I want you to take the Office Manager position and do my books and ledgers. Will you do it?"

          &nb sp; "Are you insane?" Kaoru pulled her hand free and stood up staring at him with incredulous eyes. "I'm not a secretary. I wouldn't even know how to start or where to begin. Shit, I didn't even finish high school, Aoshi." Throwing her hands up in the air in disbelieving agitation, she moved away from the table and walked into the livingroom. "I couldn't do that. I'd fuck everything up, and you know it. Why are you even asking me?"

          &nb sp; "Because," he said as he followed her and pulled her back against him. "Because I know you can do it. You are a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for, Kaoru. You could do this in a heart beat if you just believe you can."

          &n bsp; "No I can't." She shook her head and tried to break free of his embrace, but he refused to let her go, and resting his chin on her shoulder, he pressed his chest into her back until he felt her relax. "Aoshi... I only had math up to the tenth grade." She sounded embarrassed and her voice was small.

          & nbsp; "That's enough, honey. That's all keeping books is. Adding and subtracting."

             "Bullshit! It's more than that. There are all kinds of accounts receivable and outgoing and deposits and... shit! There are a million things that have to do with keeping books. It is not just adding and subtracting."

             He laughed softly and nuzzled against her throat tenderly. "Well, you already know the language. That is a plus in your favor, so it shouldn't take much for me to show you what to do and for you to learn it.... now should it?" He hugged her and felt her fold her arms over the top of his and hug him back. "That is really all it is about, Kaoru. Me showing you how I want you to do it and you learning that. The rest of it is you working out your own system of organization to make the office run the best way that works for you. Don't you see that, honey?"

             "I guess, but Aoshi? I don't want to screw this up for you. You've worked on it so hard for so long. I'd hate to mess it all up."

          &nb sp; "You won't. I have perfect faith in you, baby. Besides," he turned her around so she was facing him and he could look into her worried eyes. "You'll have a lot of help from my two Pack leaders. Sano and Chou. I couldn't manage to do everything that needs to be done if it were not for them. So, you aren't going to be alone."

             "Will you buy me my own calculator?" She asked batting her eyelashes playfully as she walked her fingers up his chest. "And one of those really cool swivel chairs?"

           ;  "Yes, you can have both of those things. You can even pick out your own chair... and you get your own computer too."

          &n bsp; "My own... are you kidding?" Her eyes went huge with excitement and shock. "A computer?"

         &nb sp;  "Yes, a computer." She looked like a kid on Christmas morning and he couldn't help but press a soft, moist kiss on her parted lips. "But if I catch you playing video games on it, I'll beat your ass." Kaoru giggled and snuggled into his neck.

          &n bsp; "Would I do that?" She asked in a teasing voice.

          & nbsp; "Yes, I think you probably would." Smiling despite himself, Aoshi knew he didn't give a damn if she played games on the thing if she wanted. He had no doubts she would work herself into oblivion long before she ever did anything else.

          &n bsp; "You know, I don't know anything about computers, don't you?"

          &n bsp; "I figured. That's why we'll buy you some tutoring software. You'll be a pro in no time."

          & nbsp; "Serious?" She raised up and looked at him curiously wondering if he was really being truthful or if this was all a joke. "You aren't just playing with me are you, Hawke?" Her eyes narrowed.

         &nbs p;  "Hey, 'he' isn't here, little girl. It's just you and me." Aoshi pressed his nose up against hers and pulled her tighter against him. "And, no, I am not playing with you. I am dead, cold, serious. I want you to come and work for me. Or would you rather I phrased it-come and work 'with' me?"

          &nb sp; Kaoru smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled his cheek. "No," she said as she brushed her lips across his. "It doesn't matter how you say, baby. I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were saying and hadn't had a temporary lapse in sanity you'd be regretting later."

             "Minx!" He growled and seized her mouth in a deep, heated kiss that left her breathless. "We really need to work on your self-image and self-concept here, don't we?"

          &nb sp; "Do we?"

          &nb sp; "I think so. You seem to have it burned into your brain that one way or another I'm going to eventually start looking down on you and seeing you as less than I am, or some other social class bullshit like that. How am I going to break you of that? Will you tell me what I have to do to convince you that none of that garbage matters to me? I don't care if you graduated from high school or Harvard. It doesn't take a genius to see that you are highly intelligent and you can do anything you put your mind to. Why can't you see it?"

          &nb sp; "I..." Suddenly she was very shy and her face turned very red. "I've just never... I don't know... know one has ever..."

           ;  "You don't know what it means to be valued, do you?"

          &n bsp; "No." Her voice was barely above a whisper and she hid her blushing face in the warmth of his shoulder. "I've never been important to anyone before. It's hard to believe someone cares about me... like that."

          & nbsp; "You best find a way to get used to it, Ragdoll, because both halves of me are so hung up on you, you are the only thing we can think about most of the time. And making you happy, seeing you smile, and hearing you laugh, is more important to us than just about anything else. Do you hear me?" The last was spoken in a soft, low voice next to her ear, and he felt her tremble against him just before nodding her head. "Good, now tell me that you'll help me with The Project because I need you. The Pack needs you, too."

          &n bsp; "How do you mean, the Pack needs me?" She leaned back and looked into his clear, pale eyes. "What difference does it make whom you choose to manage your office?"

           ;  "They need someone they can identify with. You come from a similar background and lifestyle as a lot of them. You speak the same language. They will be more apt to trust and open up to you. They need someone like that, so do I."

          &nbs p; "You... you want me to be their mother?"

           ;  "If you want to look at it that way, yes." He watched as she absorbed the idea and then she moved out of his arms once more and walked back to the table and their breakfast. "Kaoru?" He followed her, confusion filling his own thoughts.

         &nbs p;  "Okay," she said simply after taking a drink of her semi-warm coffee. "I'll do it, but I'm not going to be their mother." She locked eyes with him as he sat down opposite her. "I'll be their friend and maybe a big sister, but I won't be their mother, Aoshi. Most of them already have mother's, and, for good or for bad, I'm not going to try and replace them. Deal?"

          & nbsp; "Deal. You're the boss." He gave her a crooked grin and she smiled. "When are you supposed to work at the Diner next?"

          & nbsp; "Tonight?"

       &nbs p;    "Great. Perfect time to turn in your notice."

OooooooooooooooooooooOoooooooooooooooooooOooooooooooooooooO ooooooooooooooooooO

             The delivery was late and he was feeling like a caged tiger. Pacing back and forth on the dock, he was sure he would wear a permanent grove in the old wood before long. It was dangerous to be out in the open like this, and the longer he waited the more anxious he became. Looking at his watch one more time, he swore and cast his furious glare out across the water.

          & nbsp; "Where the fuck are you, Karl? I don't have all friggin' day."

          &n bsp; "What's wrong, Boss?" Osui, Shishio's right hand, came to stand next to the agitated man, the wind off the bay blowing his sparse black hair over his high forehead. "Karl late again?"

             "How could you tell?" Shishio spat throwing an angry look at his companion. "It's the third time in the last two weeks. What's up with him anyway? He's your contact, what do you know about it?"

          &nb sp; "Nothing, I swear. He hasn't said a thing to me. As far as I know, everything is copasetic."

         &n bsp;  "Hmmm, well I think he's fixing to double cross us, set us up or something. Maybe it's time we ended our relationship with Karl." The vermillion colored eyes narrowed into bloody slits and the burns on his right cheek turned bright red as his darker emotions flared. Shishio was a dangerous man and if anyone knew it, it was the man standing next to him. Osui shivered and took an involuntary step backward. "His man, Terry, knows as much about the business as Karl does, doesn't he, Osui?"

          & nbsp; "I-I suppose he does, yes. Why do you ask?" He was afraid he already knew the answer to that question.

         &nbs p;  "Like I said, my friend. I think it's time we ended our dealings with Karl... today."

             "Wh-what did you have in mind, boss?"

          & nbsp; "Let me handle it, okay? You don't need to worry about it. You just be prepared to talk to Terry and settle the new deal with him by the time I'm finished, got it?"

          &nb sp; "Got it." Osui gulped hard against the lump in his throat. It had been several years since the gang had been involved with killing anyone, and he hoped they were through with that, but apparently Shishio had found a reason to bring the practice out of retirement. It was not a good decision. At least not is Osui's book. That was why they left their last drug ring on the West Coast. Things got too hot when the bodies started to pile up, and now that things were just starting to show promise out here in the east, Shishio was starting with the killing again. No good would come of this. No good at all.

          &nb sp; "There's the bloody boat."

          & nbsp; The burned man's growling voice brought Osui back to the present and he shaded his eyes looking out across the glare over the water. Sure enough, the unmistakable sign of a power boat's wake was breaking across the choppy surface of the bay and angling toward their dock. It would only be a matter of moments before they arrived. Moments before Karl died. Osui bit his lip in apprehension and cast a wary look around to make sure they were still alone. It wouldn't do to have any witnesses. That would just increase the body count unnecessarily.

          ;   "You just stay out of my way, Osui. Understand?"

         & nbsp;  "Yes, sir. I will get on board with Terry to check the shipment as always and leave you to deal with Karl."

          & nbsp; "Good. That is exactly what I want you to do." Shishio smiled and cracked his knuckles. It was a long time since he'd known the feeling of another mans bones breaking beneath his hands, and he missed it. This was going to feel good. He watched as the boat pulled up to the dock and then caught the rope that was thrown to him, wrapping it around a mooring post.

          &n bsp; "Hallo," The swarthy features of Karl Hudson appeared in the doorway of the bridge. He was smiling and waving amicably. "Sorry we are late, my friend. The bloody customs are getting more and more sticky to get through all the time. They want to look at everything, eh?" He made to climb onto the dock and Shishio offered him a hand over. "Gratias." He said, and accepted the assistance. Unfortunately, it was the last thing he would ever receive from Shishio he would be grateful for. As he crossed over onto the dock, Osui stepped onto the boat and disappeared inside to find Terry and start his usual duties of inspecting the shipment, Karl was oblivious to the sympathetic look the man gave him as they passed.

             "Welcome, once more, Mr. Hudson." Shishio looked into the tan features of the half-mexican and gave him a wide smile. "It has been my pleasure doing business with you." He watched with pleasure as a look of confusion washed across the man's face.

          &n bsp; "What?" Karl looked at him somewhat bewildered. "You do not wish to do business with me anymore? Why? I'm sure we can work something out..."

             "No, we really can't, Karl. You see," Shishio grabbed the short, stocky man around the neck and locked his right arm in a tight, chocking hold that cut Karl's breath off. "I think I've figured out why you're late all the time. I think you're getting ready to set me up with the Coast Guard or the DEA, are you... my friend?" Bloody slits leered into the other man's stunned brown eyes and Shishio laughed mirthlessly. "God, I hate it when I'm right. They must have promised you a shit load of cash or immunity or something fucking good to rat me out, eh? Well, whatever it was, it wasn't enough... was it?"

          &nb sp; The other man started to struggle feverishly, his voice no more than a croak as he tried to speak, but Shishio was not in the mood to hear any of his last minute pleas for mercy. Instead he deliberately put his left hand on the other side of Karl's head and, with a heaving, twisting motion, cranked that head between his hands and snapped the fragile neck in one vicious move. A rush pure as any cocaine or heroine flooded through his system and sent him on a euphoric high that buzzed his senses and filled him with a raging river of endorphins. The body slid limply from his grasp and dropped unnoticed into a heap at his feet.

          &n bsp; Nothing felt this good. Nothing.

OooooooooooooooooOooooooooooooooOoooooooooooooooOoooooooooo ooOoooooooooooooooO

       & nbsp;    "What in the fuck did you just say?" Larry looked like he'd just swallowed the greasy toupe' he insisted on wearing, and it looked like it must have gotten stuck somewhere between his epiglottis and his stomach. "Did I hear you say you were quitting... today?"

             "Yes, Larry, you did. Gee, you aren't as stupid as I thought you were." Kaoru smiled nastily into her old employers face. She had dreamed about this days for ages and she was going to enjoy it.

          &nbs p; "You can't, you fucking little bitch. You're under contract."

         &nb sp;  "You know what you can do with your contract, Larry? You can shove it because I wouldn't stick it out here and honor it even if you gave me a raise."

             "A rasie?!" He shouted and stood up leaning over his desk in a threatening posture. "Are you out of your fucking mind, little girl? I wouldn't give you a raise. For one thing, you aren't worth it, and for another, there are a million girls out there just like you who need a job so you're easy to replace."

         &nbs p;  Kaoru flinched despite herself as his harsh, cruel words found the vulnerable territory of her insecurities. "Then find one, you bastard, because this girl doesn't work for you anymore."

         &nbs p;  "What are you waiting for, Kay? Me to beg you to stay?" Larry sneered. "It ain't going to happen, girl. You have a contract. It's simple. You either honor your contract, or you lose your food handlers license... permanently."

             "I don't give a shit about my food handlers license, you asshole." She railed. "Don't you understand, you are the worst boss I have ever worked for in my whole life. You don't care about anything or anyone... just your stupid, fat self and your money. I'm sick of you and I'm sick of this place. I'm tired of being treated like I'm a piece of meat that can be pinched, prodded, groped, and fondled and anyone's discretion because they know you won't do anything about it."

          &nb sp; "Of course, I won't. That is half my business, you stupid bitch. Or did you forget what goes on here during the day?"

          &n bsp; "No, I didn't forget, but did you forget that is NOT what goes on at night?! Did you forget to mention that in your fucking adds and brochures? No, you're just too damn cheap to let anyone know that us girls who work late night aren't part of the party package, you disgusting pimp! Do you know what we have to put up with at night? Do you?!"

          & nbsp; "I told you to buy a can of pepper spray." He sat back down and glared at her.

          &nb sp; "A can of.... God, are you even a real person?" Kaoru stood shaking with fury as she stared at the fat, sweaty man who had been her employer for over three years. "You make me sick, Larry, you really do. Now, give me my last check so I can get out of here."

          & nbsp; "No way, girly. You break your contract, you forfeit your last check. That's the rules."

             "Bullshit! Whose rules? Yours?"

             "The Unions."

           ;  "And just which Union would that be, Mr. Castleton?" Asohi strolled through the door of Larry's office and came to stand next to Kaoru. His black leather trench hung open revealing a black button down and a pair of snug jeans. Silky black hair hung loose to his shoulders with a swathe drooping across his forehead. Icy blue eyes gazed out of an expressionless face and Larry felt a primitive shiver of apprehension slither up his spine.

          & nbsp; "Bl-black Hawke, wh-what are you doing here?" The fat man stuttered as he nervously met the look in those piercing eyes. "I didn't know you were in the area."

          & nbsp; "I don't usually broad-cast." Hawke reached out and picked up several papers off the desk and glanced over them. "You didn't answer my question, Mr. Castleton. Which Union are you referring to when you site the rule that Miss Kamiya is not entitled to her check if she breaks her work contract with you? You wouldn't by chance be talking about 'The United Food Service Workers Association' now would you?"

          &n bsp; "I-ah..." Larry swallowed and averted his gaze while he tried to come up with something to say. It was years since this enigmatic and frightening man had stood in his office, and he had all but forgotten how unnerving his presence truly was. "I... I think so. I would really have to look, you know."

          & nbsp; "Let me save you the time... seeing as how I happen to be on the Board of Directors." Larry and Kaoru both turned stunned faces to stare at him. Was there nothing this man was not involved in. "There is an actual rule that states what you just mentioned; however, there are extenuating circumstances involved here that need to be taken into consideration."

        &nbs p;   "Exten-exten..."

     & nbsp;      "Extenuating circumstances, Mr. Castleton." Hawke looked at the man and gave him a dry, intolerant smile that spoke volumes of his lack of respect. "The working conditions of this establishment are, to say the least, abhor able and in the most, unsafe."

           ;  "I don't know what you're talking about. I have always passed my health code inspections..."

        &nbs p;   "I am not talking about the cleanliness issues, you fool!" Hawke lost his patience and leaned over the desk to snarl in the other man's now pale face. "You exploit and use your employees in the most disgusting and despicable ways and were the Union, The Better Business Bureau, and City Hall to find out what really goes on here, I am quite certain you would not be in business much longer." He watched with acidic satisfaction as beads of terrified sweat popped up on the Diner owner's forehead. "Have I made myself quite clear, Mr. Castleton?"

         &n bsp;  "I-yes."

       & nbsp;    "That is good. Now, give this young woman the money that is due her."

          &n bsp; As Larry pulled Kaoru's time card and started calculating what he owed her, he allowed a small look up into the Black Hawke's cold face. "Why are you involved in this anyway?" He asked evenly so as not to provoke the man any further. "What's she to you besides just another waitress?"

         &nb sp;  Hawke smiled icily at the man as he watched him write the check and hand it to Kaoru. "Just another waitress, you say?" He reached out and brushed the hair off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear and then turned to look down into the stunned face of the man behind the desk. "She is much, much more than just another waitress. She's The Black Hawke's girl, and if I were you, old man, I'd remember that. I'd remember it very well."

          & nbsp; As they turned and left, Larry buried his face in his hands and let loose a long, harried sigh of relief and disbelief. 'Kay is the Black Hawke's girlfriend? Holy hell-a-mighty. What's next? The moon really is made of green cheese?'

     &n bsp;      "Whom did you say was coming to dinner?" Kaoru cast a questioning look over at Aoshi as she laid the place settings out on the table. "I mean, besides Misao and us?" She was still laughing inside over the fact that Aoshi had insisted they have her hot tempered, smart-mouthed roommate over at all, much less over for dinner with one of his friends.

           ;  "He's an old friend from college. I guess you could say he's my best friend." He handed her four crystal wine glasses. "We've known each other longer than anyone else, so..."

          & nbsp; "He knows more about you than anyone else, is that it?" She set the glasses down carefully admiring the clear, fluted crystal and listening to the tiny 'pings' each of them made when she brushed her finger over the rim. It was fine and expensive, no doubt, but so beautiful.

             "Yes, and I trust him. We've been through thick and thin with each other-kind of like brothers, I suppose you could say since neither of us have any siblings." He passed her the plates, silverware, and salad bowls. "He's sort of a loner like myself."

           ;  "Great, two of you. I don't know if I'm up to that." Kaoru let out a squeal of laughter as Aoshi swept her off her feet and buried his face in her neck nibbling along the sensitive cords, sending shivers through her body. "Stop it!" She cried as she struggled futilely to get away. "That tickles... Aoshi!"

             "That's what you get for that last remark, you minx." He growled against her throat as he gave her one last nip and raised laughing eyes to gaze down at her flushed face. "Us being loners is about the ONLY thing we have in common."

           ;  "What is that supposed to mean?" She asked as she wiped the wild tangle of her hair out of her eyes. "Isn't he dashing, suave, and.... sexy as hell, like you?" Her smile was totally evil and filled with mischief.

         &nbs p;  "No, he's a lecherous hound, and I told him if he even looked at you cross eyed, I'd kill him." Aoshi pressed his forehead against hers and grinned. "He's deadly where women are concerned... that's one of the reasons I wanted to invite the weasel. I want to see what happens when the two of them get together. Should be an interesting show, no?"

          &nb sp; "Aoshi Shinomori!" Kaoru smacked him on the shoulder. "That's the... meanest... rottenest... funniest thing I ever heard. I can't wait." They both burst into laughter. "Is he really that good looking?"

         &nbs p;  "Unfortunately." He dropped her feet and let her stand up but kept his arm around her waist. "Women fall all over him. It's disgusting, and he loves it... the dog."

          &n bsp; "You almost sound jealous. Are you?"

          &n bsp; "No, it's more funny to watch than anything else. I'm just waiting for the day he meets his match."

             "Misao?" Kaoru looked pointedly into his eyes and he grinned sheepishly. "That is what you think, isn't it? Aoshi?"

             "Could be. God knows she's beautiful, and she certainly has enough spirit to give him a run for his money. That is unless she's a push-over like all the others."

           ;  "Misao? A push-over? That'll be the day."

          &n bsp; "Guess we'll have to wait and see, yes?"

          &n bsp; "Definitely." Kaoru grinned and kissed Aoshi on the cheek as the doorbell rang. "Hmmm, I wonder which one that is? Any bets?"

          & nbsp; "Well, I told Himura to be here around six-thirty and it's six-thirty-one... it's probably him. He's punctual to a fault. One of his most irritating qualities."

         &n bsp;  "Ahh, and Misao is always at least ten minutes late, so you're probably right." She disengaged herself from his arms and walked over to the door, but just as she was about to open it, a commotion on the other side caught her attention freezing her hand over the knob.

          &n bsp; "Is that your fucking car parked in the loading zone? Don't you know you can't park there, you idiot?"

             "Hey, it's a weekend and there aren't any deliveries on weekends. I always park there, so mind your own business, lady."

          & nbsp; "Aoshi," Kaoru frantically waved him over to the door and he quickly joined her. "You got to hear this... I think Misao and Kenshin just met."

          &n bsp; "What?"

        &n bsp;   "Just listen."

           ;  "Well, it's against the law for you to park in loading zones no matter what day of the week it is, Mister, so unless you want to get that fancy machine of yours towed, you best move it."

          &nb sp; "Oh really, and how is it going to get towed if no one knows it's there? Answer me that?"

          & nbsp; "Well, gee, I don't know. Maybe someone will tell them. What do you think? Are you stupid or what?"

          & nbsp; "No, I am not stupid! And who is going to tell... you?"

          &n bsp; "Maybe. Hey, what are you doing here anyway? I'm supposed to meet my friend here? Who the hell are you?"

          &n bsp; "Oh my God, Misao." Kaoru leaned on the door and started to giggle uncontrollably. Aoshi just shut his eyes and held his breath waiting for Kenshin to answer.

             "Who the hell am I? Who the hell are you? I'm having dinner with my best friend tonight and I don't recall him telling me he invited a nosey, antagonistic, hyena to join us."

          &nb sp; "Nosey? Antagonistic?!"

        &nbs p;   "Hyena, Misao... He called you a Hyena, too." The laughter welling up inside Kaoru was almost more than she could smother. "You'd think she didn't even hear him say that. Oh shit, this is killing me. How come you aren't laughing? What is the matter with you?" She looked at Aoshi and saw the devilish mirth reflected in his eyes as well as the tight line of his lips that was holding the sound back. "You jerk, you're holding it in."

          &nb sp; "That's right, antagonistic and ... Oh my God! You aren't Kay, are you?" Aoshi lost control of his laughter and it spilled over his lips and into his hands.

          & nbsp; "Kay? What has Kay got to do with this? No, I'm not Kay. I'm her roommate, Misao. Kay is supposed to be here already."

         &nbs p;  "Oh shit! That was close. I thought for a minute that you... that I had just.... Oh hell, shut-up and come on."

          &nb sp; "Don't tell me to shut-up, you infantile chihuahua!"

         &n bsp;  "Oh shit! Kaoru, open the door," Aoshi's eyes were glistening with tears of laughter. "I can't stand it anymore. Open the door and let's put them out of our misery." She burst into fresh laughter with him and pulled the door open revealing the two protagonists still glaring daggers of pure hatred at each other. "Himura!" Aoshi reached out and pulled his friend inside. "I'm so glad you could make it."

          &nb sp; "Misao, did you have trouble finding the place?" Kaoru grabbed her roommate by the arm and hauled her through the doorway and across the room as far away from the seething red-head as she could get. "I told you the bus goes right by here."

          & nbsp; "Yeah, yeah..." Misao barely acknowledged her friend her angry blue-green eyes still fixated on the man across the room. "You did that."

          & nbsp; "Just what the hell did you think you were doing inviting that deranged hyena to a civilized dinner party, Aosh? I'll bet she isn't even house broken yet."

          &n bsp; "Himura," Aoshi chided while trying to hide his smile. "That is not a nice thing to say about my girlfriends best friend."

           ;  "Have you met her?" Angry gold-tinged violet eyes glared at him and Aoshi knew he was cornered.

         &nbs p;  "Well, actually... yes, I have, and she can be a trial."

             "Well then..."

           ;  "But she is still Kay's best friend. Remember Kay? The woman I invited you over here to meet?"

          & nbsp; "I remember." Kenshin took a long, deep breath and tried to calm his frazzled emotions. "Is that her over there?" He inclined his head toward the two dark-haired women. "The taller, pretty one. Not the short hyena."

             "Yes," Aoshi chuckled. "That is her. What do you think?"

             "I think you're an asshole to stick me with the hyena while you waltz around with a swan like that. She's beautiful." He offered Aoshi a half smile and a wink. "I'm almost sorry I promised you I'd keep my hands to myself. She's taller than the wild animal, but she's still shorter than me, and you know how hard it is to find a woman whose shorter than me."

          &nb sp; "Uh-huh, but you did promise, my friend. Remember?" Aoshi grinned and smacked Kenshin on the back. "You even said you wouldn't give me shit over her too."

          &n bsp; "I know. Man, am I stupid. I could have had fun with this." He shook his head in self depreciation. "She is a real catch, Aosh. I can see why your head over with her. I don't blame you one bit."

          &n bsp; "Thanks, I was hoping you'd like her."

          &n bsp; "Well, it's easy to like what I see, it remains to be seen if I like what I know. You going to introduce me to this girl or are we going to stand here all night and stare?"

             "God, you are irritating. Tell me again why you are my best friend?"

           ;  "Because no one else will put up with your bullshit." Kenshin smiled and winked. "And no one else knows you half as good as I do."

          &nb sp; "True." Aoshi shook his head and laughed. "Come on, then. I guess we've wasted enough time. Are you calmed down enough to be personable?

         &n bsp;  "Yes, I think I can manage to be civil... even to that infuriating animal. But don't you expect me to entertain 'her' all evening."

         &nbs p;  "I don't. I think she can entertain herself just fine. God knows she talks enough to carry on a conversation with herself."

         &nbs p;  "True that." Both men chuckled and then walked across the room where the girls stood. It was going to be an interesting evening. Aoshi mentally took stock of how much wine he had in the fridge and hoped it was enough to keep the tempers at bay for the next few hours. Otherwise, fireworks were going to explode way out of season.

TBC

Review Responses:

Catti-dono: Ashiteru, saiai. You are the light in my life. Tsuki-sama

Animeloca: Thank you for the compliment on my characterizations of Aoshi. I know he is quite OOC in this fiction, but there is still a lot of the original character in him as well. I'm happy you like it. Thank you for the support and encouragement. Tsuki-san

.....: LOL... I never will get over that. I absolutely love seeing you every time you show up. I'm glad you approve of my 'gang' friendship between Aoshi and Kenshin. I've had it planned for awhile, I just needed the right moment to bring it in. And making Kenshin a pervert... that was just a wild inspiration that struck me at the moment and I ran with it. Hope it works. LOL Tsuki-san

Some Person: Hello dear one, so nice to see you. It's always nice to see you. I understand about being busy. I think I wrote the book on it. Read when you can and review too. I love to read what you have to say. It means a lot to me. It truly does.

MEGASUPER: WoW! You write the greatest reviews. They always knock me off my chair! I'm so glad you are still here. So many seem to have abandoned me. I'm glad I haven't lost you as well. Tsuki-san

Jeni4k: My dear Jeni-girl. It always lifts me up to see you here. Always. I will forever want to hear what you have to say. Thank you for sticking with me for so long. It is so appreciated. More than you know. And, no, Aoshi isn't schitzo... but he does have some major issues. Tsuki-san

eien ni kawaii: Thank you. I am glad you enjoy the story. I have every intention of continuing. It's one of my favorite stories too. :) Tsuki-san