Masque

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. And if I did I wouldn't be sitting here right now.

AN: This is a short story I wanted to write. It may be OOC but I'm trying my best to keep everyone in character. I hope you enjoy this. I may set the ending up so that I can write a sequel for it. This is actually my first serious story. I have written another one but that was with a friend for fun. So I would appreciate constructive criticism on how to improve this one.

"Misao why doesn't Kenshin ever ask me but always you?"
"I don't know here I'll go ask him."
"Wait Misao…" Misao made her way over to the table where Kenshin was working. They talked for a few seconds before she came back.
"He doesn't know."

"I think you should go for it Kenshin. You'll be great!"
"Thanks Kaoru"

"Why why Kami are you doing this to me! Why not my class!"

"Hi Kaoru it's been a while."
"Yeah… it has been…"

"I have some bad news… I'm moving…
"Oh…"

Kaoru's body lurched forward beads of sweat were streaming down her forehead. She took deep steadily breaths trying to calm herself down. It was that same nightmare again. The one where she remembered every little moment they had spent together. And then Kenshin's last words had hit her… "I have some bad news… I'm moving…" It's not fair. It's not fair. It's been two and half months already since he told me. I still haven't accepted that fact yet. I'm still not over him and I don't want to lose him. Tears began to stream down her face and she let out soft sobs wishing this was just another nightmare. Wishing that her time with him wasn't nearly over.
Looking back on all of this, its been one of the most amazing years of my life. And I guess one of the most painful as well.

Kaoru looked up from her desk, light streaming through the open window beside her filling the room with light. She rubbed her eyes carefully, letting them adjust to the light and trying to remove any of the tiredness that remained within them. She looked towards the red hair youth sitting next to her talking to a very beautiful girl.

"Hi Kaoru!" she called as she saw Kaoru stir.

"Yeah hi, Tomoe." Kaoru replied putting a fake smile over her face.

"Oh you're awake."

"Thank you for being so concerned, Kenshin." Kaoru shot back that the man.

"See you around Tomoe." She said standing up. She made her way out of the room as fast as she could missing both of their replies. She didn't care though. Those two made her sick to her stomach.

I liked both of them better when they didn't know each other. She continued to huff down the hall. Why do they insist on hanging out with me. Kami is this a sick joke of yours? Whatever I'm way too pissed to think about any of this. Kaoru was so deeply preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn't even notice the handsome boy in front of her.

"Oh I'm sorry about that!" Kaoru said quickly bowing quickly in apology since she had bumped into him.

He studied her face before replying. His reply was slow and hesitating, "Kaoru, Right? Kaoru Kamiya?"

"Uh yes, that's me…"

"Soujiro Seta," he said holding out his hand, "I believe I'm in your biology class along with Misao."

She took his hand grinning. "Sorry about that I didn't recognize you. So you're the guy Misao is always talking to during class."

"I guess I am." He laughed.

"Well I'm sorry about the trouble." Kaoru said, "But I have to go now."

"Perhaps I could join you?"

Kaoru laughed lightly at his words, "Where I'm going there's only enough room for one. But I think I can make an exception."

"Thank you very much."

"Ah no problem." She took up her fast brisk pace again walking down the halls.

Her thoughts were again broken by the smiling boy next to her. He had a beautiful smile and deep sparkling blue eyes. He seemed to be good friends with Misao and nice enough. Kaoru thought of this as an opportunity to get her mind off things and get to know the boy. Who knows maybe they would become best friends? "I'm sorry Soujiro, could you say that again I didn't quite catch that?"

"I was thanking you for letting me come along with you."

"Oh its no problem anytime. It will be good to have some company for once."

"I would think a pretty girl like yourself would have lots of friends to join you."

"Aww. Thanks Soujiro, but recently most of my friends and I haven't gotten to see each other much that's all." said Kaoru. She quickly changed the subject to something more pleasant. "So Soujiro what are you doing out of class anyways?"

He laughed lightly grinning widely, "Are you accusing me of skipping class?"

Kaoru laughed too grinning back, "I'm not that mean. Nah I was wondering if you had a free period or your teacher was just out or something like that."

"Well I have a free every other day. And this is one of my days off."

"Really this is so great!" Kaoru cried happily clapping her hands together in surprise.

"What is exactly is so great?"

"Oh sorry about that. Well you see," Kaoru started to explain, "I have this period free everyday. So I was thinking since we don't talk to each other in class maybe we could do it during our free periods together."

"That would be great. Where would I meet you though?" he asked.

Kaoru started to laugh again. " I guess we could meet here and it can be our spot! This was where I was going." She pushed open a glass door that led to a little outlet of the garden. It was secluded and from the door you wouldn't even know it was there. It was brightly lit with different types of flowers all around it. Against the wall of the school stood a small wrought iron bench.

"Its so beautiful here." said Soujiro in amazement starring around the small garden. "How did you find this place?"

"Found it when I was exploring the school bored. I was sleepy and wanted a breath of fresh air so I stepped outside and found myself here. Luckily the door's kind of secluded so I don't think many people no of this place. I come here when I want to think."

"Which now explains your dazed sort of state."

"Yeah I guess it does. Doesn't it?"

"Is there anything can do to help you?"

"Nah… Thanks for the offer. I think I'm just going to rest here for a little while."

"Won't you miss class its starting in a few minutes." he inquired.

"Nope," she said shaking her head making her ponytail fly back and forth, "My teacher's sick so I have another free period."

"Wow lucky. Well I got to go. My class is about to start." he held out of his hand to her. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Kaoru."

"Yeah same here. Maybe we can get to know each other next time?"

"That sounds nice."

He walked towards the door waving happily to her. She grinned back, after he was gone she closed her eyes slightly feeling a lot better than she had the moments before. He was a really nice guy. It will be fun getting to know him. With those final thoughts and her heart feeling at ease she drifted to sleep.

AN: Well please R&R! I would really like to hear some opinion positve or negative about this story. I'm not sure whether the story will end up Sou/Kao or Ken/Kao I guess it depends on your feedback to me! -

-later