Kendo Club

Ch 1

Hello everyone and welcome to my newest AU RK fanfic!!

For those of you who have been here before, please don't panic if you notice things are different. I merely edited the chapter more to my liking.

For those of you who are new, welcome! And thank you for taking the time to read my story! At the end if you feel so inclined, please review!

And now, without further ado... the first chapter of Kendo Club!

Kaoru adjusted the ties on her sweatpants and tugged once more on her shirt to get it in place. She pulled on her socks, again, making sure they weren't wrinkled, then tied her hair back into a high ponytail and walked out of the changing room, head held high.

That is, until she was walking along the hallway leading to the training room, and heard an argument going on.

"-can't do that, baka deshi."

"I told you not to call me that Hiko."

Kaoru recognized the first voice as belonging to her kendo teacher, Hiko Seijuro. But she didn't recognize the second voice at all, although Hiko had called them 'baka deshi,' whatever that meant.

"And when have I ever listened to you?" Hiko asked the other snarkily.

There was a soft laugh. "Never, that I know of."

"Exactly."

Silence followed their conversation and Kaoru held her breath, worried that Hiko had somehow realized she was standing nearby, hidden by the shadows.

"So, are you done complaining now?"

There was a quiet "yes" and then nothing but silence.

Suddenly she heard a sudden rustle of clothes and soon after the thud of wood on wood repeated several times. Kaoru held her breath until there was a surprised shout and the thud of someone falling to the floor. Worried, Kaoru came out of her hiding spot and stood in the doorway to see her kendo teacher standing above someone holding a shinai to their throat. She leaned forward, peering closer at the person lying on the floor, but didn't recognize them until she caught a glimpse of long, red hair.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru rushed forward until she was standing next to the red haired person. He turned to look at her, Kaoru's sapphire meeting his lavender.

"Miss Kaoru!" Kenshin exclaimed in surprise.

Hiko looked over at her and lowered his shinai slightly. "You know Kaoru, Kenshin?"

Kenshin glared at Hiko, then took Kaoru's proffered hand and let her help him to his feet. "Yes."

"Well at least you have better manners then this brat." Hiko scowled, lowering his shinai completely.

Kaoru glanced over at Kenshin, worried. "Are you alright Himura-san?"

Kenshin gently brushed his clothes off and smiled at her. "I'm fine Miss Kaoru, thank you."

Hiko rolled his eyes, "Don't be so polite Kenshin, you'll scare the poor girl."

"But that's the only way I know to counter your bitterness Hiko." Kenshin responded, and turned to Kaoru.

Hiko waved his hand at the boy in a shooing motion. "Get out of my sight before I pommel you with something."

"I didn't know you knew kendo Himura, otherwise I would've asked you to join us." Kaoru said, hoping he would stay.

The red-head waved a hand at her, "No need for such formality Miss Kaoru, please call me Kenshin." His smile faltered, "As for joining your club, Hiko has already asked me many times. I'm sorry, but I must once again decline."

"Are you sure? I'm positive that everyone would love for you to join." Kaoru pressed, but Kenshin shook his head.

"I'm sorry Miss Kaoru, but I can't. Thank you for your offer," Kenshin apologized. "I'm afraid I have to leave, but I look forward to seeing you at school tomorrow. Goodbye," then he walked across the room towards the open door.

"Idiot. Just because of his past, it doesn't mean he can't-" Hiko grumbled under his breath. Then he looked up and he yelled across the room, "Baka deshi! Shinai!"

At his shout Kenshin paused and turned to look at the shinai he was holding. Then in one quick, fluid motion he raised his arm and threw the shinai backwards over his shoulder. Then, as if nothing had happened, he continued walking and was soon lost within the shadows outside the practice room.

Kaoru stared after the boy for several seconds before turning to see Hiko weighing the shinai Kenshin had thrown thoughtfully in his hand.

"Baka needs to work on his aim." Hiko commented, then gently set the used shinai on the ground next to him. He turned to look at Kaoru, surprise apparent on his usually stoic features. "Why are you here Kaoru, didn't you hear the announcement?"

Kaoru stared blankly at him. "What announcement?"

Hiko shook his head. "I guess you didn't then. There was an announcement on the loudspeaker after school that practice was canceled for today," he explained slowly.

"So that's why no one is here! I was wondering about that." Kaoru said brightly, smiling.

"Yes, that's why. Now I think it's time for you to be going home, since I'm leaving now as well." Hiko instructed, pointing towards the door.

Kaoru sighed. "Alright, I suppose I do have-"

A sudden burst of fast music stopped her in mid-sentence. Hiko swore under his breath, rushed over to a bag off to one side of the room and began rummaging through it.

After the third repetition of the tune Hiko finally found a cell phone and snapped it open. "Hello?" He answered irritably. A soft voice answered him. "Hello Shishou."

"Baka, you changed my ring tone didn't you?"

There was soft, amused laugh. "Yes."

"For that we'll spar at sunrise tomorrow as punishment." Hiko declared, which was accompanied by a groan from the other end. "Don't complain! I told you not to touch my phone, but you went behind my back and did anyway."

A brief pause of silence occurred before a polite, "Yes Shishou," broke it. "But I won't be held responsible if I fall asleep in class tomorrow."

"Nonsense." Hiko scoffed. "You need more endurance, this will be good for you."

"Yes Shishou." The person sighed softly.

"Is that all you can say?"

"No Shishou."

Hiko removed the phone from his ear and glared at it. Then he put it back to his ear and asked, "Why did you call, this is costing me money."

"Because I'm making dinner and wondered how you'll be home," he told Hiko amusedly.

"Well, why didn't you tell me sooner!" Hiko exclaimed and snapped the phone shut again. Then he picked up the clothes beside the bag and quickly stuffed them into it.

"Who was that?" Kaoru asked curiously.

"Kenshin." Hiko responded shortly. "He's home and is making dinner. You have to leave now, alright?"

"Okay, you don't have to worry about me!" Kaoru said, waving her hand.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then." Hiko told her, as he shepherded her to the door and walked outside, then closed and locked it behind them.

As he rushed away to the parking lot Kaoru shook her head amusedly and began walking down the sidewalk in the other direction, towards her home.

Well there's not much to comment on just yet, so I suppose I'll just say "thank you for reading!" and "please review!"

See you next chapter!

- mijichan ;)