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The Unseen

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or the following quote. Both belong to their rightful owners.

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~*~ "A flower falls, even if we love it; And a weed grows, even if we do not ~*~

love it" -Dogen: Japanese Buddhist

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Chapter 2

A Tempting Offer

Kenshin arrived just in time to turn in his student application, and the fact that he had made it made him feel excited and relieved.

Now he started heading toward the entrance, stretching his arms above his head and yawning. It was still the morning hours and Kenshin was exhausted from todays events. All that lied on his mind was to go home and earn a well deserved nap in his bed.

Even though the fact I live almost an hour away from the university, he added. Kenshin stopped walking, halfway to the entrance, staring out at the hard falling rain. Still, I cannot take risks and stay with another person while I attend college.

Not after what happened to her.

Not when I could have done something to prevent it...

"Are you leaving already?"

The voice made him jump in surprise as he turned around to face the Kamiya girl again. Her eyes spoke for her, showing her disappointment. Kenshin managed to smile nonetheless, though his thoughts still drifted elsewhere.

"Yes," he replied happily, praying she would accept his simple answer and leave him alone, but only for the reason of just wanting to be alone with his thoughts for a while...and the fact he was still sleepy.

However, Kaoru was as smart as a whip, and she could spot anything wrong with a person just by looking at them. She stepped toward him, eyes clouding with sympathy. "And are you feeling alright? Your not sick or anything? Nothings wrong?"

Kenshin nodded, still keeping that cheerful smile.

"Yes, Miss Kamiya, Im quite well, that I am. And I assure you, Im as healthy as an...as an...erm..." Kenshin momentarily scratched his head, thinking. He shook it off and continued. "Well, anyway, just to get to my point, Im in perfect health and nothing is wrong."

But Kaoru knew he was holding back on her. He seemed like he was going to say more, but he only smiled one last time before opening the doors and entering the rain alone.

Kaoru's eyes turned to slits in deep thought as she watched Kenshin closely as he walked.

Kenshin has something he's hiding, Kaoru thought. I mean, I know Ive just met this guy, but still! I can somehow sense that something isnt quite right about him.

And Im going to get to the bottom of it too, if its the last thing I do.

"Its raining, its pouring, the old man is snoring..."

Kenshin sung lowly to himself as he headed to his silver Jimmy. Sometimes it just seemed singing was his only company, and would possibly remain that way for the rest of his life. Nevertheless, half the time singing to himself was just a comforting universe away from worries and memories better left locked in the back of his mind.

Though he had to admit, his singing sucked.

Kenshin reached inside his pocket for his keys, getting drenched the longer he stood about, digging for them.

Suddenly, he felt a half dollar sized hole in his pocket. His eyes stretched in horror. Kenshin didnt feel his keys, nor had he heard them jingle even once during his time in the university.

The whole world seemed to stop. Everything stopped. For a second, Kenshin thought the world were frozen in time, until he slowly regained consciousness of his surroundings and became aware of the rain pounding the top of his head.

Oh no...My keys. They couldnt have...

To his astonishment, the feeling of the rain stopped.

How is this possible? Kenshin wondered, shocked to see the rain still falling but not feeling any of it pelting on himself. His gaze wondered up to the skies overhead, only to see a bright pink fabric blocking his view.

Kaoru came into his view, smiling at him and holding what turned out to be a pink umbrella he was seeing. He brought his eyes to rest on her, finding a small frown forming on his lips.

She was drenched to the bone, her vest and her once beautiful dress now sticking tightly to her skin like wax paper. Her shoes squished with each tiny shift of the feet. Kaoru had come all the way out here in the pouring rain just for his sake.

Kenshin didnt believe he deserved the Kamiya girls kindness. For a matter, as he saw it, he didnt deserve a living souls kind gestures toward himself.

Kenshin ducked away from both the umbrella an Kaoru's touch with a pang of guilt.

Kaoru lowered her reaching hand, staring at Kenshin with such hurt and confusion it made him want to look away, but he forced himself to look anyway.

"Please, Miss Kamiya," he murmured, relieved at last to turn his back on her. "I cant accept your kindness. Please forgive me if Ive cost you any trouble. I didnt mean to worry or concern you. Excuse me, as I will be on my way now. Goodbye."

Kenshin made a move for his car but stopped, remembering he was still keyless. Behind him, Kaoru gazed at him. And seeing him stop made her worry.

She daringly stepped forward.

"What is it?" Kaoru asked.

Kenshin bowed his head and sighed, beaming back at her as if all the problems in the world couldnt get him down. "Nothing...heheheh," he fake laughed, rubbing the back of his head and sweatdropping. "I just misplaced my keys, is all."

Kaoru was instantly taken aback, her eyes glinting with remembrance and digging into her vest pocket quickly. "Oh! If its your keys, then these must belong to you." She pulled out the missing relic, handing it over to him with a blush splaying across her cheeks, though Kenshin hardly knew why.

"Thank you very much, Miss Kamiya," he thanked, as happy as a child to get his keys back. Kaoru shrugged and her umbrella moved with her. "Oh, no problem. Well, drive safely."

He dipped his head. "That I will," he replied and hopped into his Jimmy and switched a silver key into the ignition. The car rumbled with life. Kenshin prepared to back out of the parking lot and drive off...

Kaoru stumbled to the passenger window he sat at, knocking on it frantically. Kenshin blinked and looked out the window, seeing Kaoru and nearly leaping out of his skin in fright. Fast as a jack rabbit, he shakily rolled down the window with a press of a button and was greeted by droplets of moisture; rain.

"Is there something you need to tell me, Miss Kamiya?" he asked, willing to listen to what she had to say.

Kaoru had her free arm wrapped about her chest, shivering, while her other arm was occupied holding the umbrella. She dipped her head slowly and said, "I dont know how far away you live from here..."

"I live about an hour away. Something the matter with that?"

"Oh...no. Theres nothing wrong with it, it's just I was wondering-well, if you arent busy tonight-if you'd like, you can stay in my dorm for the night and we can, you know, hang out?"

Kenshin paused. Usually, anyone who'd invite him to their homes/dorms he would decline the offer. Not this time. He was actually considering her offer, but he was thinking it over slowly. Should I? he questioned himself.

He was tempted to bang his head repeatidly against the steering wheel if it made his decision come faster.

No...I can't. I promised myself not to get involved with people anymore. Besides, if I do, I risk becoming friends with her. And possibly...even MORE than friends. Yet if I refuse, what will she think?

Better yet, what will she DO?

"...and I promise to give you all the space you need if its necessary and I'll leave the room if I have to..."

The whole time Kenshin was scrolling over his options, he didnt even notice Kaoru was speaking to him still. He'd thought she was done speaking and expecting an answer.

But I guess she's persuading me to stay with her tonight.

"...and if you need anything, I'll be more than happy to get it. You name it, and I will get it for you. Even if I have to go as far as the United States to get what you want, I'll do it! And if you dont like my cooking, we can order take-out. And..."

She's STILL talking? My, can she talk for a long time! I havent even seen her take a single breath. She must do this twenty four/seven.

Kenshin gaped at her as she still went on and on and ON, counting on her fingers, lips still moving, keeping her eyes on him.

Hitting his head against the steering wheel now seemed to be a good choice right now, with no offense to Kaoru, of course. In the middle of her rambling, Kenshin caught her hand and she trailed off, staring oval eyed at him and starting to redden.

"U...u...u..." Kaoru stuttered but didnt go on.

Kenshin inwardly relaxed. He smiled. "If you still want my answer, I'll happily oblidge."

She nodded slowly, eyes getting wider and wider with anxiety as her grip on his hand grew harder, making him wince on the outside, but cry on the inside in pain.

He ignored the pulsating pain and shut his eyes, his bright expression replacing the thoughtful appearance he had. "I guess it wouldnt hurt to stay just tonight, if your still taking me up on your offer."

Kaoru gaped, eyes glittering like stars. Her grip on his hand relaxed.

"Y-you mean it?" she gasped, blinking with disbelief.

Kenshin nodded with a smile. "Indeed I do," he replied, eyes glazed.

Kaoru released his hand, to happy for her own good and unable to contain that happiness for much longer. "Uh-uh-okay!" Kaoru stammered, excitement coursing through her veins. Kenshin laughed inwardly at the sight of the Kamiya girl appearing so overjoyed.

I may not be able to be her friend, he thought as he waved her goodbye. She skipped meerily to the entrance of the university, almost as if she could pratically fly right about now with that umbrella. Kenshin stared in her direction for a long time with the sense of sadness watching her disappear inside the building.

But...maybe a friend is just what I need right now.

Maybe all I ever wanted since the day she died was a shoulder to cry on and a friend to rely on.

Or possibly, we may be better off like friendly neighbors, not friends nor enemies.

A/N And that is all for now :) I made this chapter a little bit lenghthier, so I hope you do not mind. And if you do mind, I am sorry.

Well, I'll be updating soon! R&R id you want. Thanks for reading!

And a special thanks to SRAS9 for your review to this fanfic!

-MrFoshizzleProTheWanderor