Notes : Okay. Well, this is going to be my rock star fic. Hope you all enjoy

Warnings and Disclaimers: The song Paradise City belongs to Guns 'n Roses, not to me. Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me, either.

Language, yaoi, not too many warnings for right now aside from blatant Megumi abuse and bastardization. Yay!

Ragz to Richez

Part One

The bell rang to signal the end of class and the teacher, Mr. Rivard, had to suppress a laugh as his students hurried to the door. He was not laughing at the students headed for the hallway, he was laughing at the student who, like always, hadn't even heard the bell ring and so was still sitting in his seat.

"Sanosuke? You're allowed to leave, you know," offered the history teacher.

The senior jerked his head up, slamming the notebook shut he had been furiously scribbling in for the last thirty minutes. "Thanks, teach," was his response as he flashed a smile and hurried out the door, seemingly unbothered by the fact that he'd been left alone in the class.

Mr. Rivard just shook his head and laughed.

Sanosuke Sagara pushed his way through the halls, too focused on the song in his head to pay much attention to anything around him. So he really didn't notice the dirty looks that were being sent in his direction as he ploughed into people and pushed his way through them. Of course, there were others who didn't even bat an eye, being used to the senior's erratic behavior.

"Pretty grass... green girls... pretty green girls?" he mumbled to himself as he walked, earning quite a few odd looks as well. Although, no one was really that surprised by his actions. Sanosuke was known throughout the school as an odd duck, albeit a loveable odd duck, who was too wrapped up in his music to really pay attention to much else. Oddly enough, though he was considered odd, he was one of the most popular students in the entire school, which explained why no one was ever that bothered by his oddities.

Turning towards the hallway where his locker was, Sanosuke was forced to stop walking in order to avoid running into the body blocking his way. Blinking, he looked up from the floor and into the eyes of his closest friend, Katsuhiro Tsukioka. Grinning, the spiky haired brunette slapped his friend on the shoulder.

"Katsu, hey! What're you just standing here for? I have this great idea for a song you've got to hear!" Sanosuke chattered as he led Katsuhiro towards their shared locker. The raven-haired teen just let himself be dragged for the most part, knowing it was pointless to try and get out of Sanosuke's grasp. Every so often he would send an apologetic half-smile over towards someone Sanosuke had done some particular damage too. He said nothing the entire time, knowing better than to try and interrupt Sanosuke.

"So, I was just about falling asleep in Rivard's class, you know how damn boring it is, and then -BAM!- there's this tune in my head! An awesome, totally complete and original tune, and get this, there was even a line! Something about pretty grass and green girls, I think," he explained, a bit of confusion coloring his face.

Katsuhiro couldn't help but laugh. "Do you mean pretty girls and green grass?"

Sano blinked and his eyes lit up. "Kats, yer a fucking genius! I never would have thought of that!" he exclaimed as he unceremoniously dumped his stack of books into his friend's arms. He kept only the notebook he'd been writing in earlier, hastily crossing things off and replacing them with Katsuhiro's suggestions.

Still smirking, Katsuhiro watched in amusement. "Sano, you know you're a dumb fuck, right?"

The brunette dumped the other book into his friend's arms and smiled brightly. "Damn straight!" That said he turned to the locker, hastily opening it (once he remembered the combination). In the midst of taking his books back from Katsu, Sanosuke realized something. "Hey, what the hell are you doing over here? Don't you have your college class now?"

"College is on spring break, Sano, don't have to go this week, remember? Besides, got another love letter for you." Katsuhiro said with a smirk. He pulled the letter out from his pocket and dangled it in front of his friend's face, smirking when Sanosuke took it from him with a scowl.

"Another one? Who the hell is this from?"

"Some pasty little blonde girl. Think she's a freshman."

Sanosuke scowled as he read the letter, crumpling it up and throwing it into the locker when he was finished with it. "Why don't they get that I'm not interested? I mean. come on! I'm a fucking senior and I've never gone out with anyone! Why would I start the last semester of my last year?"

Katsuhiro shrugged and tucked a strand of his long black hair behind his ear. "How the hell should I know? I get the damned things too, even though half the school thinks we're screwing each other."

"Where do they get that idea anyways? It's not like we go around the halls groping each other or anything like that."

"I think the rumor started from the girls. They figure two guys in high school who've never really gone out with any girl have to be gay. And since we just happen to be best friends--"

"They think we're screwing each other."

"Pretty much," said Katsuhiro with a nod.

Sanosuke couldn't help but roll his eyes. Sometimes the stupidity of people was beyond his comprehension. Especially girls. He really didn't understand them.

Making sure he had all the books he'd need for his next class, Sanosuke slammed the locker shut and started down the hall, Katsuhiro keeping in step.

"Katsu, if you don't have class this week what are you gonna do instead?" Sanosuke asked.

The bassist shrugged and took a moment to smile back at a blushing freshman. He might not have liked the love letters, but he had no problem flirting when the opportunity arose. "Dunno. I was thinking of swinging by Glenn's and seeing if he put those finishing touched on that new demo. If he has then I'll take it by that new club; see if I can't get us an audition."

Sanosuke grinned widely. Sometimes it seemed like Katsuhiro didn't really care about what happened to their band, but other times... "I love it when you get into one of these moods. It makes this whole thing a hell of a lot easier."

"And you wonder why people think we're gay," said Katsuhiro with a laugh.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Sanosuke was confused. One minute they're talking about an audition at the new club and the next they'd somehow gotten back on the subject of them being gay. He just didn't get it.

Katsu laughed again. "Think about what you just said, Sano. 'You want it as bad as I do?" parroted the long-haired teen. Sanosuke got his friend's meaning and hit him upside the head with a book.

"You need to get your mind out of the gutter! I was talking about making it big with the band and you know it!"

"Maybe you were and maybe you weren't," said Katsuhiro with a shrug of his shoulders. "But to the innocent bystander..."

Before Sanosuke could get in a smart-ass reply the tardy bell rang shrilly throughout the halls and once more Katsuhiro had to stop himself from laughing at the expression on Sanosuke's face. The spiky haired teenager had a look of almost pure panic on his face and, to Katsuhiro at least, it was really quite comical.

"Shit," swore Sanosuke, looking at the clock and then back at Katsuhiro. "Sorry man, but I gotta run. It's King and I already got four tardies in there..."

Katsuhiro rolled his eyes. "Then what the hell are you still standing here for? I'll see you at lunch."

Sanosuke flashed a smile and then took off down the hall at full speed. Still faintly smiling to himself, Katsuhiro slowly made his way towards the parking lot, humming quietly under his breath the entire way.

Two hours later Sanosuke was on his way to the parking lot when he was grabbed from behind and forced to stop. He turned, then immediately wished he hadn't. For there stood Megumi Takani, a fellow senior, one of the pushiest, most arrogant and bitchiest girls in the entire school. And unfortunately for Sanosuke, she also seemed to have a fascination with making him miserable.

Not even bothering to try and look enthused, Sanosuke got straight to the point. "What the hell do you want?"

Megumi faked a pout and the girls behind her giggled, finding their ringleader very amusing. Sanosuke really just wanted them all to shut their pretty little mouths.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" asked Megumi, still pretending to be hurt by the rejection.

Sanosuke scowled. "Actually, I'm not, you cold-hearted little bitch." He shoved his hands deep within his pockets and smiled his own little fake smile. "In fact, I'm kind of in a hurry. So, if we're done exchanging pleasantries I'll just be on my way." That said he turned to go but was once again stopped by the girl's hand on his arm.

"Not so fast, Sagara. I'm not wasting my time out here just so you can stare at my pretty face." She smiled coyly then, suddenly changing her attitude. "I want an answer to my question. I told you I'd give you one week."

Sanosuke actually had to think back to try and remember what the hell she was talking about. Then it hit him and he cursed inwardly. Now he remember. The had a poem due Monday and Megumi wanted to trade one of his poems, which had started out as song lyrics, for sex. Personally Sanosuke would have rather died than have sex with her.

Megumi was waiting impatiently for a response and Sanosuke decided that in situations like this honesty truly was the best policy.

"You know, Megumi, I was thinking about it..." he said, trying to look serious, "and I decided that I think I would rather chop off my own dick with a plastic spoon." He smiled brightly then, more than pleased with the girl's shocked look. "Sorry, hon."

Megumi's eyes flashed with anger and then hardened and Sanosuke found himself unconsciously taking a step back. That girl was quite scary when looked that angry.

"Sagara, you fucker," she spat. "I'm sure that can be arranged." That said she turned on her heel and stomped away with her group following quickly. Sanosuke watched until they were out of sight and then smiled. Sometimes he just loved pissing people off.

With the encounter over, Sanosuke continued towards the parking lot, looking around for Katsuhiro. He needed to find his band mate if he wanted some lunch because unfortunately his car had died a very painful death and he had no way of replacing it. So, unless he wanted to eat in a cafeteria with a bunch of dumb ass freshman, childish sophomores, cocky juniors and loser seniors, he had to find Katsuhiro.

Finally he spotted the raven-haired teen sitting in the bed of his truck, apparently waiting for Sanosuke. He grinned and jogged over to his friend, yelling his name and waving. Katsuhiro waved back and scooted over slightly to make room for Sanosuke on the tailgate.

"Hey, man," greeted Sanosuke as he plopped down on the tailgate. "How'd it go with Glenn?"

"Pretty good," said Katsu as he handed Sanosuke a McDonald's bag, which Sanosuke quickly tore into. "He had the demo finished so I swung over by the club."

"And?" Sanosuke prodded, stuffing french fries into his mouth, getting the ketchup he'd put on them all over his hands.

Kastuhiro rolled his eyes and gave Sanosuke a couple of napkins. "And I got us an audition for quarter after five tonight."

Sanosuke smiled slapped Katsuhiro on the back. "That's fucking awesome!"

"Actually, that's not the best part."

Sanosuke whipped his head around to stare at his friend. For once, Katsu was smiling a smile that actually reached his eyes. Now Sanosuke was intrigued.

"What do you mean?"

"The owner is a man by the name of Aoshi Shinomori and the gig we're auditioning for is a talent showcase of the area."

Sanosuke looked at his friend in confusion. "So? We've done plenty of those. What's so special about this one?"

Katsuhiro smiled again. "What's so special is that this guy has actual connections. You know who Kenshin Himura is, right?"

"Well no shit. Everyone knows who he is. He's one of the best fucking guitarists ever."

"He co-owns the club with Shinomori. And he's going to be at the show along with some of their old friends, like the singer from Himura's band." Katsuhiro laughed at the stunned expression on the singer's face. "Now do you see why this is so important?"

Sanosuke blinked a few times and then grinned widely. "And you got us an audition for this show?"

"Yep."

"At five thirty tonight?"

"Five fifteen."

Sanosuke tackled his friend to the truck bed, giving him the largest hug he possibly could. "Katsu, yer fucking awesome! I love ya, man!"

Katsuhiro couldn't help but laugh. "I know, Sano. Now could you get your damn hands off me? They're covered in ketchup."