Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter 1

It was their high school graduation ball and she got this feeling that everything will go her way or at least something will definitely go right or she just thought so?

"What the hell were you doing?" Asked Misao, her right brow raised, arms across her chest.

"What?!" Panting from all the dancing.

"I thought your target here is Kenshin? Why were you dancing with those idiots?" Pointing towards the crowd.

"What am I supposed to do? They keep on asking me to dance!" Kaoru answered while drinking a glass of water.

"Oh... so, you just gonna let them messed your chance? My God, Kaoru... don't give me those lame excuses... Again! Did you just forget that this was your last chance? Tomorrow will be our graduation day then we'll be going our separate ways. Come on, Kaoru... it's now or never. You've already let a thousand chance passed you by. Don't let this final one go... it's now or never, Kao..."

She glanced at the redhead across the dance floor... sitting, drinking and watching his friends dance on the dance floor.

She sighed in resignation. Misao's right, it's now or never. They've both agreed on this, that tonight will be the night she gonna confess to Kenshin.

She's been waiting like forever... what's sad was... she really thought they'll be the first one who'll be in this boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, among her friends, Sano and Megumi, Aoshi and Misao...of course she's happy for them but she couldn't help but be disappointed.

She deserves to know what he really thinks or feels about her coz she really thought that he likes her from the beginning... from the way he looks at her and the way he treats her.

It was like a subtle romance... She always told Meg and Misao. The feeling of love was there but there no confirmation or whatsoever.

But what if she got it wrong all along? It's been years but he never confesses or anything like that. Maybe... he just made her believe that he has something special for her... but in reality, there's nothing like that. She's nothing but a special friend or what's worst was she's just a kid sister to him... Oh, please...NO! She shakes her head in denial. Oh, I'm so gonna hate him! I'm so gonna hate myself for being such an idiot!

"Hey, what's with that expression?"

"What if... what if he doesn't really like me? What if everything was just my imagination?"

She thought she's tough enough to do this but just as she entered the party hall and saw him looking at him, all smile... her heart weakened, felt afraid of rejection, and felt afraid what he'll think of her... She's a girl after all! No matter how desperate she is, she knew deep within her... this isn't right at all!

Misao breathes and rolled her eyes..."That's why you're gonna do this! That's what you're gonna find out by asking him directly. He's also your friend, for goodness sake! You know he's not gonna eat you! Meg and I think the way you do that he has something special for you! So, you better get your ass up now and do it!"

She's about to make a move but when she looked ahead a certain red hair in a black suit was on her way. She froze.

Her heart thumped crazily and loudly.

''What now?!' asked Misao whose getting really irritated.

''I see you're finally free?'' Kenshin said smiling at stunned Kaoru. ''Hmmm... Would you mind... dancing... with me?''

"My God! Of course, she won't mind... She's more than willing." Interjected Misao while pushing Kaoru towards Kenshin.

Kaoru doesn't manage to utter an answer. Her eyes kept blinking at the young man in front her. She slowly raises her hand up to him which he holds gently and he leads her to the dance floor. He nodded at Misao who's busy giving Kaoru a ''You Can Do It!'' kind of look.

"You look stunningly beautiful tonight..." Kenshin whispered in her ear which made her shiver down her spine.

"Really? Err, Thanks..." She murmured. Her heart felt like it's gonna explode in nervousness and happiness. Finally, she was dancing with her beloved Kenshin. She'll savor this moment and make sure it'll forever be engraved in her heart and memory.

As the music played which was 'The Gift" by Jim Brickman... she closes her eyes as they hands clasps. Kenshin's other hand made its way to her back while hers on his nape. Then, they dance slowly in complete silence.

After the dance, she realizes that Kenshin was about to return her with her friends. She suddenly woke up from her wonderland and felt panic. Oh, no... This couldn't be. This couldn't end like this. I really have to do this no matter what happened after... I love him so much to let him just slip away... He'll understand, right?

''Err, Kenshin?'' She looked up from underneath her bangs.

"Hmmm?" He stops walking and looked down at her, expectant.

Oh, no! Don't let his look, his presence scare you... ''I've got something to... tell... err... ask you, I mean... if you don't mind?''

''Shoot... what is it?'' They were standing at the edge of the dance floor.

She cleared her throat and tried to speak but she realizes her mind was so messed up. She couldn't think. She couldn't find the right words to say… her heart thumping fast and hard.

''I~ I don't think I can do this! I'm sorry...'' Then she darted out of the hall, leaving her watching friends shaking their heads, disappointedly.

"Kaoru!" She heard him called. What the hell! Why are you following me! Please leave me alone.

"What?!" She snapped at the redhead who has been following her for a while now.

"Kao..." He called again.

"What, what. WHAT?!"

"Will you please stop so we can talk? I have something to ask..."

She stopped walking. "What?!" She asked not looking back.

"Do you... erm... do you like me?" Did she hear him right? She laughed. I love you, idiot!

She turned around and look him in the eye. "What do you think?" She asked to chin up.

"I'm asking you coz I don't know..." He answered, sounding amused.

"No idea at all?" Her right eyebrow raised and slightly annoyed.

"Just a hunch..." He shrugged.

She laughed... This is so funny. She put her arms across her chest.

"Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?" She confronted then something clicked inside her mind. Whoaaah! Could it be?

"Why are you upset with me then?" asked Kenshin

"Why don't you answer my question first?"

"You're not answering my question either."

She rolled her eyes. "I do like you, so what?"

"You do?!" He confirmed, but his smile already formed from ear to ear. Then he scratches the back of his head smiling sheepishly and said: "I'm sorry..."

"For what?!" She exclaimed. Afraid that he might say I don't feel the same way... This is not good. She shouldn't answer first. "Hey, sorry for what?!"

"For being such a cowardly man..." He answered looking down. "I like you, too... since the very first time I saw you... long before Sano or Aoshi got feelings to Meg and Misao, I like you, first... I've always liked you."

She released the air she didn't realize she has been holding in... Hands on her chest. Seriously, he will give me a heart attack! But what did he just say? Did he just say...? "W~ WHAT?!" She couldn't believe what she just heard. "Are you being serious?"

"I am..." He looks at her straight in the eye both hands inside his pocket. "I'm sorry for taking it too long to confess to you. It's just that...I was so afraid of being rejected... again. You see, even my own family doesn't want me." He then hides his eyes under his bangs. Her heart aches for him.

She blinked several times then stepped forward, closer to him. Now, they were only inches away from each other. She placed her hands on both sides of his cheeks. She beamed at him when he laid his eyes on hers. "Actually, I don't like you..." his eyes widened, terrified.

She laughs. "Cause I do love you...I really, really do." Tears welled in her eyes. Finally, she'd been able to tell him what her heart had been dying to scream all this time.

"What made you think I will reject you? You silly boy!" She said smiling. "I will never… ever... reject you."

He smiled. "I love you too, Kaoru...and thank you." He then pulled her closer and hugged her tightly.

My God... thank you so much! He really does love me! Everything is real...not just a figment of my imagination. She then hugged him even tighter.