Revamped chapter 2. There have been some things deleted, added, replaced and such, but nothing that would change the chapter dramatically.

'Thoughts'

"Talking"


Today was literally the perfect day. The sun shining in the sky, birds singing in the trees, and a gentle breeze. I took in a deep breath to savor the freshness of the day. As I did so, my senses spiked at the smell of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was starting to overcome the smell of the cherry blossoms on the tree I was sitting under. As it got closer my heart started pounding in my chest. My mind and body were on high alert searching for the source of the enchanting aroma. Putting my book down, I got up to try to follow the scent to its owner when a group of people walked by. One of them bumped into me and I stumbled a bit since I was still trying to trace the smell. I looked up at the person who bumped me and I met with cold blue eyes.

"Excuse me," he said. I just stared dumbfounded. Why was he glaring at me when he's the one who bumped into me?

I glared back. "Hey! Watch it!"

The man's eyes narrowed. "I said excuse me. It's not my fault you are standing in the middle of the path."

"Well, there is no need to give me dirty looks. The path is big enough for both of us to get by," I said.

"Aa, so it is." He said plainly. "Now if you will excuse me, I have better things to do than argue over the fact that you are now blocking the path making it harder for me and my friends to get by."

I felt my blood boil at his smugness. I was frustrated at not being able to find the owner of the smell. I needed to take that frustration out on someone and he just gave me an excuse to fight. So I narrowed my eyes. Some Flecks of gold seeped into my amber irises.

"If you're in such a rush then why are you still here arguing with me?"

My fists clenched.

"If you are looking for a fight, I am more than ready," was his cool reply.

His face darkened. His cold blue eyes turned icy and at that moment a cool breeze shifted some of his dark hair from his face. It was something like in the movies when the two people face off and the wind blows creating drama. This guy was about 5 inches taller than me, was going into the martial arts club building, and had an air about him that would have made lesser men piss their pants and run off tail between their legs. Shit. Now I'm no slouch at fighting having trained all my life but I had a purpose. I needed to find the person who smelt of jasmine! Hey that's it! The smell was jasmine and it was very close. My eyes widened at the sight of a beautiful woman standing behind the tall man when she reached up and slapped him on the back of his head.

"Baka! Why aren't you in the gym? Everyone's waiting for you! It doesn't do for the captain to be so late and picking fights with people in front of our building. It is dishonorable," she reprimanded.

Her sapphire eyes blazed. Again a gust of wind blew, her silky black hair sway gently in the breeze. It being pulled back did not lessen the effect. I had to hold my hands behind my back to keep from reaching out, but I did allow myself a deep breath of the perfect jasmine of her.

Mr. Tall, dark and icy stiffened at her words. I watched amused as he rolled his eyes then sighed. "Aa," was all he said before turning around and heading into the building.

The woman in front of me watched him walk off and sighed to herself. She was gorgeous. Her beautiful heart shaped face and welcoming smile would have had me on my knees had I not remembered we were in public and her friends were nearby. When our eyes met my world came down around me. My heart beat heavily, I could feel sweat forming on my brow and my hands get clammy. I drown in her sapphire orbs that touched my soul, my heart, my entire being. I felt a sense of serenity that I had never had before and my raging amber eyes cooled to a soothing amethyst.

"I'm sorry," she said putting her hand on my shoulder. "Are you o.k.?"

'Huh,' shaking myself out of my stupor I replied with the most intelligent of lines.

"Huh?"

She smiled, "I said are you o.k.?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Sorry about Aoshi. He's not usually so easily provoked. I can't imagine how you could've gotten on his bad side so quickly. You must be new, I haven't seen you around here before." She had an inviting smile on her face as she waited for my reply.

"O.k." I said slowly like I didn't have a grasp of the language. Great I find my future wife and she thinks I'm a weak idiot.

"Well, I, um, have to get to practice so maybe I'll see you around?" She started to go.

"Wait!"

I tried to keep the desperation out of my voice but even to me I sounded pathetic. She stopped and turned to face me again slightly confused. A slow easy smile appeared on her face, probably noticing my blush, encouraging me to go on.

"Um…may I, uh, may I know your name? My name is Kenshin, Kenshin Himura."

Her eyes widened a bit.

"Oh! How rude of me. I apologize for not introducing myself."

Her hypnotic eyes softened.

"I'm Kaoru Kamiya."

Her smile broadened, her face lit up as her eyes sparkled. My breath hitched. She took my hand in a firm handshake and walked back to the martial arts club building. I think it's time I looked into some extra curricular activities. After all they do look good on your resume. Kaoru is her name. Now I have a name to her enchanting face and intoxicating smell. My Kaoru! I took another deep breath inhaling the remnants of her lingering aroma. My eyes hardened, returning to their original amber. Who was this Aoshi? What is he to my Kaoru?

I was still standing in the middle of the walkway trying to pull myself together. I clenched and unclenched my fist numerous times. The need to follow Kaoru into the building was increasing. I needed to see her face. I needed to feel her skin. I needed to smell her scent. I needed her to smile at me. I needed to get lost in her eyes. I needed her to need me. I needed to do research. My mind rationalized that I didn't know her…yet. So I did what anyone else would do. I went to the University library and started my research.

I find it amazing how much information one can find about anyone and anything online. Just type and click. So imagine my surprise when all I could find out about my Kaoru was that she attended Tokyo U and was co-vice captain of the kendo club and a member of the judo club. There was a picture of her in a gi and hakama. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail just like today. There was fierceness in her eyes that made me shudder with anticipation. She would be mine soon. I enlarged the picture and printed it out. Carefully tucking it into my pocket I went back to my research. Poking around in different areas of the school's archives I searched desperately trying to find anything. There was very little until, bingo! The student directory had her name misspelled. Clicking on her name there still wasn't much, but I did get a phone number and address.

Before closing out of the directory I decided to see if anything came up about that Aoshi. Since I didn't know his last name I searched by first name. It didn't take long as there weren't many Aoshi's in the school. All of them had an extensive background, extra curricular activities, phone numbers, address, achievements, biography and such. All of them but one. I figured this was the Aoshi I was looking for. All I had was a last name Shinomori. He is Aoshi Shinomori. I know from my Kaoru that he is the captain of the kendo club and that's all. It was odd that there was no real info on the guy. If he was to be my competition I needed to start digging deeper.

I left the library and returned to the bench to see if my book was still there. Luckily it was; I had a paper to write. When I got there the kendo club was getting out of practice. I must have been in the library for hours. I quickly grabbed my book and stood behind the sakura tree out of sight of the approaching group. Peering through the split in the tree I watched as the object of my growing affection walked by, the smell of jasmine trailing behind her. She laughed and joked with her friends.

"Hey busu!" Someone yelled from behind the group.

I could feel the gold creeping into my eyes. Nobody calls my Kaoru busu. Kaoru is nowhere near being ugly. I'll have to teach this kid a lesson. Kaoru turned around fire burning in her eyes.

"Don't call me busu, Yahiko-chan! Have respect for your sensei!"

"Don't call me chan!"

After a staring match and several tongues sticking out at each other, a short girl with a long braid came bouncing up and bopped the boy on the head. I twitched. My Kaoru can stick her tongue out at me anytime. I'd be glad to show her what to do with it.

"Ow! What was that for weasel girl?"

The "weasel girl" screeched, "Who you calling weasel? I'll…"

She never got to finish that thought. A beautiful woman came along. She was taller than my Kaoru, had long dark hair, deep brown eyes, and full red lips. I licked my lips. Perhaps she could be useful later. Foxy woman like her are easy to play. She was good looking after all; not as alluring as my Kaoru but still beautiful.

"Stop it you two or should we rent you a room? Oh hohohohoho"

I rolled my eyes. Foxy indeed! It did the trick though. The two, ahem, young adults bickering like children stopped immediately and turned a bright red.

"Shut up Megumi!" Weasel and the boy said at the same time.

"What's the matter? The way you two go at it, it seems like you're in love. Oh hohohohoho!"

"Hey that's not fair." Weasel said.

"What's not fair?"

"Kaoru and Yahiko argue all the time but you never say shit like that to them."

'Kaoru.' I sighed. The mere mention of her name sends me to another world.

"What are you sick Misao?"

Megumi, I picked up as my new pawn's name proceeded to put her hand on the weasel, Misao's head as if feeling for a fever.

"Kaoru practically raised Yahiko! That is just wrong."

I suppose I should learn the names of my wife's friends. So my Kaoru raised that brat? Interesting.

Forgotten by everyone, including me was Aoshi. I had a sudden feeling someone was watching me. Sure enough when I looked over to him, his ice blue eyes were staring straight into mine. I stared back unwavering. The man next to him caught the glare from Aoshi and followed his gaze to me. He was younger, probably Yahiko's age. He was almost a spitting image of Aoshi only shorter with lighter blue eyes. He looked surprised for a second then quickly replaced it with a bright smile.

Aoshi walked over to my Kaoru and gently put a hand on the small of her back urging her to start walking. My blood boiled at the sight of his hands on what belonged to me.

"Aoshi?" My Kaoru asked.

"It is getting late and we need to get home. Don't you have a term paper due soon?"

"Oh! You're right. Thanks for reminding me. What would I ever do without you?"

She giggled then hugged him like they were lost lovers. If I had my senses I would have known it was a friendly hug of gratitude, but I didn't. My mind and body raged with that hug burnt into my mind. WE need to get home? Are they really lovers who share a home?

My eyes are a bright gold right now. I don't think they'll change back to amber anytime soon. At least not till I get to the bottom of this. What would she do without him? Humph! You'd be with me! You'd need no other.

Aoshi caught my eyes again and triumphantly led Kaoru and the others away. Kaoru was completely oblivious to our mental duel which I unfortunately lost. This will be the last and only time I would lose.

"Hey nee-san?" Yahiko asked.

"Yes, Yahiko?" My Kaoru asked sweetly sensing the boy needed her for something serious. I need her for something serious.

"Ano, are we still going to see that movie together tomorrow? You know just you and me?"

"Of course Yahiko-chan." She said as she ruffled his hair when he had caught up to her and Aoshi, who still had his hand on her back!

I watched the group walk away. When they were out of sight I turned around and met up with a bright smiling face, although the man's smile did not reach his eyes. I couldn't sense his presence or any emotion from him. He was my height, slightly shorter than average; my build, thin but strong, he was me just with short dark hair, blue eyes, and a constant smile. I have long red hair, amber eyes, but considering recent events they have become gold, and the only thing that can bring a smile to my face is my Kaoru. He held out his hand.

"Hi Mr. Himura! I'm Sojiro Seta. It would be wise to watch ones behavior concerning Kaoru-dono."

My eyes narrowed. How did he know my name? His hand fell back to his side.

"I don't think it's any of your business. Who said anything about my 'oops slipped, maybe he missed it' Kaoru-dono."

His smile got wider.

"When it comes to my friends and family their well being is my business. Even though you haven't really done anything yet, your presence wreaks of ill intentions."

"Is that so? Well, you said yourself we just met. You don't even know me. Are you so quick to judge?"

"I'm not trying to offend you Himura-san. I am usually a very good judge of character. I'm just trying to warn you."

"Perhaps Seta-san you are getting rusty. I assure you I have no ill intent toward anyone."

It's just a slight lie.

"Perhaps. We will see. He is very protective of her you know," he said contemplatively.

"Well, good day Himura-san." He gave a slight bow and walked in the direction the rest of the group went, leaving me to ponder my next course of action.


This chapter 2 is the revised chapter 2 that I previously posted. I kept it as it ended up except for some spacing, instead of splitting it up to the two chapters it originally was; I think it works like this. Reviews and re-reviews are appreciated.