Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of Shakespeare's work.

Chapter 1: What to say?

What about Kenshin Himura? Oh, I have so much to say. I hate him for one. That good for nothing, selfish, inconsiderate jerk! Incase you didn't know, when someone makes up a nickname in front of the entire school, it has a tendency to stick. It all started with the seventh grade play….

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"Okay, okay! Everybody hush!" shouted my drama teacher, Mrs. Kato. "Out of all of the classes that I have, I have decided that I will choose my seventh grade classes to perform Romeo and Juliet for me!" she shouted excitedly.

Some people in the class looked perfectly horrified, and others were ecstatic.

"Auditions will be this afternoon." Mrs. Kato announced.

Juliet, I thought. I'll try out for the part of Juliet. What a wonderfully romantic story. Two star-crossed lovers meet, and yet they have such a tragic ending. I wished for school to end right then so I could audition. My next class was agonizing.

"If you have any particular role that you would like to audition for, please write it under your name and give it to me." Mrs. Kato instructed everyone who had shown up for the audition. She handed everyone sheets to fill out.

I quickly scribbled in all the answers and the part I wanted, and gave it to Mrs. Kato. Mine ended up being one of the last names she called to audition.

"…I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins that almost freezes up the heat of life. I'll call them back again to comfort me. Nurse! -- what should she do here? My dismal scene I needs must act alone. Come vial. What if this mixture do not work at all? Shall I be married then tomorrow morning? No, no! I shall forbid it. Lie thou here…" I read the lines flawlessly from the script, putting every ounce of life I had into them.

I was glad to have astounded Mrs. Kato. She clapped, "Wonderful, wonderful! Very good Kaoru! Very good!"

I smiled and stepped off of the stage.

"Kenshin Himura!" Mrs. Kato called.

Every girl in the auditorium turned. Kenshin was the most popular, hottest guy in school. He looked about sixteen, not thirteen. Kenshin walked up onstage to read the part of Romeo, then Mrs. Kato asked us both to come up on stage and read together. I thought it sounded great -- the two of us together.

The next day, the cast that Mrs. Kato had decided on was posted on the drama room's door. I was walking with Misao and Sayo when I stopped to look at it. I excitedly read my name next to the part of Juliet.

"I got it! I got it!" I shouted, jumping up and down with my two friends. Other girls who had tried out looked on enviously.

Every rehearsal was wonderful. I was with Kenshin. Kenshin! Every girl in school would have been jealous.

Come the night of the play, everything went smoothly, just as we'd rehearsed, until…

I laid there with my eyes closed, playing 'dead' and I smelled something repulsive. Kenshin kissed me, and it was not at the part where we'd rehearsed it. I opened my eyes to see him pulling away with a disgusted look on his face. He pulled a sardine from his mouth and held it up to the audience.

"What foul taste is on my love's lips? Juliet eats sardines?" He announced, laughing. The audience laughed with him, and Mrs. Kato stood behind the curtain, absolutely furious!

I ran home. I didn't bother waiting for my ride, I just ran. I didn't want to be seen in that school anymore.

………………..

So, for the rest of my middle and high school career, everyone who had seen or heard about the incident called me fish lips and poked fun at it any chance they got. As far as I'm concerned, it's Kenshin's fault everyone thinks me an outcast.

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Author's Notes: Well, I hardly think a seventh grade class would even be reading Romeo and Juliet, but….yeah. I was bored with my own stories so I just started rewriting this one.