Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Authors Notice: This takes place in a modern day high school, so don't get confused or anything when they have cars and stuff. ^^;

One in the Same

Chapter One:

Kaoru looked upon her school. Nothing was different; the same crowds of kids that gathered around outside, same teachers, and the same school that she attended for the past two years. Kaoru figured from experience that today wouldn't be any better as the one before.

Slowly she approached the steps, as she knew what awaited her. Walking toward her locker, she saw that others took their positions beside hers. Kaoru dropped her book bag that she was carrying along side her. Flipping the lock, she opened the door revealing many books of her classes.

Someone did the same next to her.

"Hello Misao." Kaoru said pleasantly. Misao returned the greeting and followed Kaorus example that she did earlier. They both slammed their lockers and headed towards their first class of the day. "Have you seen Megumi this morning?" Kaoru asked, watching out for the students that almost ran into her. "I'm surprised you don't know. She's where she is when she gets the chance." Misao gestured to a guy leaning against the lockers, and beside him was Megumi.

Megumi was flirting with Sanosuke. He was popular like them, and loved girls of all kinds, except those who were lower class to him. His tall body stood over Megumi's by inches, and they could see her fonding over his rooster like hair.

Kaoru rolled her eyes and drifted to Megumi, with Misao tumbling after her.

"Megumi come on! You have all day to flirt with him, but now we're going to be late if you don't come-"

"I don't flirt with him." Megumi stated, but quickly dove her head lower to hid the blush that appeared. "I just think he's nice."

"Whatever." Misao said impatiently. "We've heard this from you forever! Just admit you like him." She teased.

Megumi excused herself, but was still looking at Sanosuke who was talking with one of his buddies. They all managed to get to class with out being called late. Taking their seats next to each other, they took their notebooks out and started scribbling what was on the board ahead. The teacher began repeating what they should have written down. Kaoru mumbled after his words and found it difficult trying to compete with his words that were flying out of his mouth.

The clock ran by, without noticing. A fellow teacher walked inside the room, and started whispering a few words to her teacher, while looking at the students. Everyone seemed to try and catch what was being said but no luck whatsoever. The teacher nodded, and replied back.

The students anxiously waited.

"Ahem. Everybody!" He cleared his mistreated throat and started again, "We have a new student. Mrs. Murakami please explain." The teacher that was speaking to him arose and continued, "You all will have a new student. His name is Himura Kenshin." She pulled a student in and a muffled "oro" could be heard.

The one named Kenshin placed himself upright and smiled toward the class. Some grumbled and others gave a weak smile. Kaoru was one of those.

"Be nice everyone." Mrs. Murakami said as a last, and swiftly moved out of the classroom. Kaoru studied his features. His long bright red hair was pulled into a loose ponytail in the back and he had a cross like scar on his left cheek. Megumi said it was odd for someone to have that bad of a mark.

"Now Kenshin, take a place anywhere you would like." Openly he moved his hand pointing to the vacant seats. Others were hoping he didn't get a spot near them, for they would have to tell him what was going on in the world. Megumi and Misao were pleading softly, and Kaoru didn't know what to do. She was a kind person, but didn't like doing jobs very often.

Then it was time. Kenshin had made his decision.

He carried his empty notebooks and pencil to the desk infront of Kaoru and beside one of the older boys known as Aoshi. Aoshi scooted his desk a little further from Kenshins, ignoring his good mornings. It was Kaoru, Megumi, and Misao's turns.

"Hello there." The deep but gentle voice said. "How are you?

Kaoru couldn't let her words escape. She wasn't doing it on purpose but was extremely shy infront of people she didn't know.

"Hello." She mumbled. Megumi waved to him and continued her notes, and Misao greeted him the same, but asked him questions about why he came to this school. Kaoru couldn't read lips and every time she asked 'what' the teacher would mention for her to stop talking. Misao mouthed that she would tell her later.

***

The classes passed quickly and everyone rummaged through out the halls and were starting to cram into the lunch room. Kaoru stuffed her books into her locker and headed in the same direction. "Wait up!" Misao yelled. Kaoru turned around to let the girl catch up with her. She searched for Megumi and found her at her locker taking time to put away her stuff neatly. Waving to her friend, Kaoru agreed to go on with Misao.

An interesting conversation was being held at the lunch table where the popular kids sat. It was a dream to be accepted into the crowd, and very hard to get there. It took Kaoru two years, Misao the same, and Megumi one and a half. They didn't have to worry anymore. Everyone was talking about Kenshin and were making fun of his lower class appearance and entrance that he made.

Kaoru was a little bored with it after a while and asked Misao to tell her what she asked him. "Well, supposedly he's a wanderer, otherwise he didn't tell me much."

"Hmm. What would someone like him be doing here bothering us?" She asked. "I have no idea but he seems nice. I wouldn't like to be caught speaking to him. We just made it to this table!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah. But he does seem nice."

Kaoru glanced at the table he was sitting, and it looked as if he was having a great time. His head was back laughing, and was conversing with the others.

'Mysterious.' Kaoru thought.

***

Time for reviews! Bring those puppies home! This is my first Rurouni Kenshin fanfiction and I hope I did well. Please tell me how I did. I'm only getting started. ^^

Ja, Ne