Lie to Me
Chapter Three: Stakes
[Kenshin]
I tossed and turned on my bed all night, struggling to sleep. I never had any problems with sleep before. The shooting sometimes took until dawn, leaving all of us tired and the minute we got in contact with anything soft, we dozed off. Not tonight.
I woke up the next morning feeling numb. My body was screaming for more slumber but my mind wouldn�t stop bothering me about finding myself a woman. Like that�s easy.
Actually, considering that I am a Soap Opera King, that would be quite, how do it put it� effortless? But I didn�t want any fan or anyone from the showbiz. I wanted someone who didn�t knew about me and would love me for who I really am.
Now, where could I find a woman like that?
I sighed heavily, slumping my shoulders as I took a shower. After my not-so invigorating bath, I donned my favorite worn-out [to ragged proportions] pink shirt and pants. I also wore a black jacket just in case. There�s no need to fix myself up. I did not want to attract anyone�s attention. I hid my flaming red hair under a cap and I am off.
To where?
I was not quite sure. I just wanted to think and collect my thoughts� I know, I�ll just go to my favorite spot beside the lake.
I knew Aoshi told me to go somewhere nice in case the reporters were following me. I also knew his definition of nice. It meant some place public, preferably somewhere where I could show my charitable traits and sign numerous autographs. Not today. I didn�t feel like it. I just wanted to be alone.
I know, I know. I was just complaining yesterday how I hated the feeling of loneliness and now I want to be alone. But there�s a thin line that separates being alone and loneliness, right? I sighed audibly, muttering to myself, �Hiko�s right. I am stupid.�
Stupid and lonely.
But no longer alone.
I turned my head as I heard shuffling sounds. There, I saw her. The most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. And� she was staring back at me. We locked eyes from that moment on.
The woman of my dreams.
Could she be the one I am looking for?
Is she alright? She looks dizzy. Oh no! She is going to faint! I ran to her side as fast as I can, trying to catch her delicate body. However my efforts were futile when she fell on the grass with a loud thump.
~~~~~
[Kaoru]
Ouch! I can�t believe I am doing this! I don�t think my little scheme is worth the migraine. Chances are he doesn�t even care and� Ugh! Am I that desperate? This is stupid, I better get up and� I slowly opened my eyes but I shut them almost immediately when I caught a glimpse of him. He was running towards me.
I cannot believe it!
I worked!
Like a charm!
My heart beat rapidly as I felt his hand caress my cheek softly. Am I dreaming? This is too good to be true but, I felt every tingling sensation his touch brings. This couldn�t possibly be a dream.
�Miss��
No!!! Don�t wake me up! I want to savor this moment! Please even this once!
�Miss� wake up!�
I know� I�m faking this for too long. Alright, I�ll wake up at exactly five seconds.
Five� Four� Three� Two� One�
When I opened my eyes, I gasped. His face were only inches away from me.
Was he going to kiss me?
I snapped my eyes open, finding myself staring at his deep violet pools. His eyes widened as his cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, aware that he was caught. I knew I should be mad at him, slap him, punch him or even hit him with my bokken but I found myself lost in his eyes as I asked myself, �Is he the one?�
Time seemed to stop that moment. Everything seemed surreal. Never in my whole life would I stoop so low as to fake fainting just to pick up a man. A gorgeous man, for that matter. And never in my wildest dreams would I even hope to be caught. And he did.
And he almost kissed me!
I was jolted back to reality when I felt him squirm. �Umm� sorry. I thought� umm� you needed mouth to mouth resuscitation.�
Yeah, right. As if! Nice try! Get real, girl.
I know.
This is not some fairy tale and I am not Sleeping Beauty nor Snow White to allow some stranger to kiss me.
Well, at least he is a handsome stranger.
My musings were cut short when he cupped my cheek, stroking it gently with his fingers. He asked in concerned tone, �Are you alright?�
Unaware that I was blushing as furiously as he is, I squeaked, �Yes.�
�Forgive me for my earlier boldness, its just that��
Say it! Say it! Is it love at first sight?
Just then, he placed his hand on my forehead and asked, �Would you like me to take you to a hospital or something?�
Damn! Nice work Romeo! You did a great job ruining the mood.
�No, that�s not necessary.� I gave him a wide smile, although deep inside I want to slap him silly.
Too much wishful thinking. Oh well, I�ll just go. I don�t want to get attached to my prospect prince charming. Which by the way is so unlikely in the modern times if you haven�t noticed. I was about to leave when he asked, �What about dinner?�
I was really taken aback at his boldness. �Dinner? Did you just ask me dinner or was that my hopeful ear talking.�
He chuckled at that. I am glad. At least, he won�t think I am some loser who can�t get a date. A decent romantic date, that is.
�Yes, I am asking you out for dinner if that is alright with you.�
I fiddled with my fingers, biting my lip as I thought about my decision. I shouldn�t just go out with this man just because my heart is screaming, �Oh lookie! Here�s the man of your dreams!� I may be a dreamer but I am not stupid.
Alright, alright maybe a little loose on the side, you can�t really blame me for faking that fainting scene. How would I know that he is the right one?
I am a hopeless case! Oh well, at least I have a date with potential Prince Charming here. Who knows, this may be the start of the love affair I had been dreaming of.
As if.
But� who knows?
I nodded quite shyly as I shifted closer beside him. I am really nuts. I shouldn�t have done this. The implications would be disastrous! I had just accepted a date from a guy I haven�t even formally met. A guy who made use of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as a lame excuse for almost kissing me. A guy who is handsome in many ways. A gentleman who at least tried to catch me when I fell and made sure I am alright.
I am losing this mental battle. But, who said I didn�t want to?
�Miss� by the way, can I know your name?�
�My name is Kaoru�� Oh shit! I can�t tell him my name. If he knew who I am then everything is going to be ruined. �Takatsuke. Kaoru Takatsuke.�
He pulled my hand from the grass and kissed it gently. �Nice to meet you, Kaoru Takatsuke.�
�And you are��
�Kenshin� just Kenshin.�
With that, I laughed my head off. Just Kenshin? What is he like one of those one-named 80�s waitresses like� call me Moonstar or Madonna. He noticed my amusement on that matter so he laughed with me. �It�s Kenshin Okuma. What I meant by it was there is no need for formalities, just call me by my given name.�
�Alright, Kenshin.� I chuckled.
�So, where shall I pick you up?�
I can�t tell him where I live, he might find out! We can�t go to the restaurant because the press might bombard us. �Why don�t we meet back here at around seven.�
He flashed me a disarming smile as he stood up, offered me his hand and helped me stand up. He said, �Seven it is. I can�t wait, Kaoru. I am so sorry but I must leave now, I have matters I need to attend to.�
I nodded as I watched him walk away. I just hope I won�t regret this. I am willing to gamble everything.
I have nothing to lose.
Except maybe, my heart.