Against the Rules

By, pinoykengumi7

Chapter 4

Sore ga, Ai Deshou

Everyone, I hope you read that. If you don't like slightly OOC Aoshi, don't read it then. I don't want reviews saying –AOSHI IS OOC- because I've warned you.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. If I did, Aoshi and Kaoru would be the main pairing.

Note: Sore ga, Ai Deshou means 'I guess that's love'.

M.P.M. (My. Personal. Message.) – this sign (-) is inserted after a Japanese word. If needed, check the end of this chapter for definitions. Honorifics and their use are also explained at the end of this chapter. When you're done reading, reviewing would make me happy…:D

Thanks to strut it, jumpo, midnight's-fantasies, Ellavv31, Jade Lotus, Midori Konbu and ELLIE 31773 for reviewing the last chapter.

strut it – Heh, another person who thinks that Aoshi with an egotistical personality suits him. As weird as it may seem, I don't, so you might see his arrogance slowly slip away… Thanks for reviewing anyway!

jumpo – Oh. Well maybe she left just before she turned 16? –sheepish grin- Well, I changed it, so now Aoshi says that he 'knew' she was a runaway… hopefully that makes it a bit better! Thanks for the review

Chapter 4 – Sore ga, Ai Deshou

Kaoru woke up feeling a bit dazed, her vision a mere blur. She felt herself swaying a little to the side but used the bedpost to steady her. Stifling a groan, she felt around for her water bottle that she knew was somewhere on her bedside… only to feel… flesh? She shook her head and moved her hand again. She frowned when she felt the mound beneath her hand move. She screamed. Well who wouldn't if they saw their boss sitting in a seat just opposite you. Correction, former boss. Maybe it was better if her she hadn't regained her vision. On second thoughts, maybe not. Just because it was so aesthetically pleasing to look at his tan skin, chiselled jaw, the way his ebon bangs fell over his eyes—

"Nnnn." Said figure moved shifted positions, and then promptly hit his head on the edge of the seat. "Stupid, ing, …" Aoshi muttered out a string of swear words before looking up to see an amused Kaoru. He turned his head away from her and cleared his throat, as if embarrassed at being caught childishly reprimanding a still life object. "I take it you are feeling better?" She nodded affirmatively. "Let's get some food." He stood up, raised his arms up in a stretch that caused his shirt to rise above his pants, showing off a few inches of what looked like a washboard stomach. In turn, Kaoru felt her face heat up and instantly tried to fight it, but the arrogant man had caught her staring wide-eyed. Nevertheless, he made no motion to stop, and when he did, he smugly asked Kaoru, "Never seen a guy before?"

Kaoru felt her vein popping, a common occurrence when she conversed with the man." Why you arrogant, pompous—"

Aoshi placed his index finger on her lips. "Save your breath for something else, little girl." He drew her close to him and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Amusement was clearly written over his face as an embarrassed flush covered Kaoru's face from the slight contact. "I want to eat at a restaurant. But you better get yourself cleaned up, ne? (-)" He feigned a thinking expression. "Though, I have no problem with that attire…" Shinomori motioned to her silk nightgown. She scowled.

"Pervert." Aoshi just grinned like a Cheshire cat. "I'm going to take a shower. Do not, I repeat, do not enter my room.

"Yare yare (-), of course not."

'Then get out of the room."

"My, touchy!" Kaoru chuckled. "Try not to stay in the shower for too long," he called out after her. "I might be tempted to join in the fun! After all, sharing is caring!" His only response was the slam of the bathroom door. Even so, he respected her wishes and stayed out of her room that connected to her bathroom. While he was waiting, he took the time as an opportunity to think. Think over why he was acting so strangely. It's love. Hannya's words snaked its way into Aoshi's muse. And then Aoshi understood why. Why a lot of things. Why he enjoyed fighting her, teasing her. Why he came to her place to supposedly apologise to her. Why he put aside his pride to help her and tell her about his past. Why he respected her. Why he wanted her back as his secretary. Sore ga, Ai Deshou. I guess that's love.

"Um, Shinomori-san?" He frowned quizzically at her.

"Aoshi."

"Aoshi, what should I wear?" Her head stuck out the crack of the door, and he found himself concentrating on the water glistening off her face.

"Um…"

"Formal or casual?"

"Somewhere in between. Semi-formal."

"Great. Does a silk nightgown count?" Aoshi's tongue ran across the roof of his moth, trying desperately to moisten it. Kaoru took note of this and grinned. "Pervert. Are pants okay?" Aoshi dumbly nodded. Few minutes later, she exit the room dressed in a pair of black slacks and a light blue tight-fitting top, accentuating her eye colour. A small pendant hung from a simple necklace around her neck. Nothing reasonably eye-catching, but the manager felt his breath catch anyway. "Where are we going?"

"Restaurant."

"I know that," she indignantly replied. "But which one?"

"Ehh… you know that one 10 minutes away from work?"

"Hm?"

"That one."

"Masaka…? (-)" She felt her jaw drop in surprise.

"Yes it's that one, but first I need to stop by the office. I have an extra change of clothes there." He frowned disapprovingly at his rumpled suit. "Well then, let's go?" Kaoru couldn't help but think that he looked so cute with his dishevelled hair; gracefully falling over his face She reached out to run a hand through his hair.

"Let's go." She gave him a soft-spoken smile, warming him from the insides out.

Kaoru sighed. Memories of her short-lived job working under Aoshi were bitter. She watched the manager walk out of the restrooms still in the black dress pants, but with a different dress shirt on. She didn't quite see what he was getting all riled up about; to her, he looked good in everything.

The 10-minute drive to the restaurant was silent, minus the voice of Hyde coming from the speakers. She wasn't sure that she expected Shinomori to listen to bands such as L'arc en Ciel. Sometimes he seemed like a more Beethoven or Taku Iwasaki sort of guy, with his elegant movements. But then again, his attitude…

"What are you grinning about?"

"Ah, nothing!" She sheepishly brought her hand to the back of her neck. "Ehehe…" Aoshi just gave her a strange look and told her to get out of the car.

"We're here."

"Wah! Sugoi! (-)" They both entered the building, Aoshi behind Kaoru just to make sure she didn't dart off somewhere without his knowing.

"Here. This table will do." He pulled out a chair for Kaoru to sit in and then sat in the one opposite her.

"This place is so pretty." She gazed around to see the exquisite environment of the restaurant.

"Do you go here often?" Shinomori nodded. "You must be so rich!"

"Of course, I am the manager of the Shinomori Corporation." He struck a pose while Kaoru deadpanned. "Speaking of the Shinomori Corporation," he paused to order pancakes for the two of them, opting for a more western-style breakfast. Kaoru raised an eyebrow.

"Pancakes?"

"My favourite." He hung his head bashfully.

"I would have thought that someone like you would like the gourmet omelette and other various foods like that," she teased.

"Mm. Anyway, Shinomori Corporation." Aoshi faced her, his tone demanding her undivided attention.

"Y-yes?"

"I've decided, I want you back as my secretary."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "And just why should I?"

His eyes were wide, almost pleading. "Please, Ka-Kaoru?"

She let her eyes fall to the table. She couldn't accept his offer. Not after she walked out on him like that. In fact, she was still partly surprised that he was acting this casually around her.

"If you're worried about before…"

"Um."

"Please?"

"Well, I do need the money…" She lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Do I take that as a yes?" She nodded slowly. Aoshi sighed a sigh of relief.

"Now that that's taken care of, I have something else to ask you." Kaoru's ears perked up. There was something different in his tone of voice, something livelier. He reached over the table and grasped her hands in his. "I know this sounds a bit old fashioned, but, will you give me the permission to court you?" A smile tugged on her lips, her sapphire eyes shining.

"Will you take no for an answer?" Aoshi grinned.

"Definitely not."

"Then, yes." Her facial features softened, then hardened. "But what about the fraternization rule?" She watched in confusion as Aoshi pulled out the scroll containing the rules. When had he taken that out? The ebon-haired man produced a permanent marker from his pocket and blacked out the sentence.

"What rule?" A glimmer of mischievousness shone in his eyes, and his lips were curved in a smug smirk.

Damn that bastard. Arrogant as ever. But that was part of him. If he weren't arrogant, he wouldn't be Aoshi, the Aoshi she was learning to love. A full-fledged smile spread across her face as she leant over the table to receive his kiss. Sore ga, Ai Deshou. I guess that's love.

Owari – The End

Author's Notes

YAY I FINALLY FINISHED! (first chapter fic completed XD) I hope you enjoyed it. As others have said, it is a bit rushed, but maybe later I'll fix it up. For now, I'm content with it. Anyway, thanks for reading, and a review wouldn't be bad either! Love you all!

-duckii mustang-

JAPANESE

ne – hey

yare yare – expression. E.g. My oh my… (not really sure about this one… please correct me if I'm wrong)

masaka – could it be

sugoi – amazing

HONORIFICS

san – equivalent to English 'mr/miss/mrs

Note: L'arc en Ciel is a Japanese band. Hyde is the main singer. Their songs are sometimes used in anime.

Taku Iwasaki is the guy who does the Rurouni Kenshin OST (Original Sound Track)! Whee!