My Memories of You
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Author's Ramblings: Did you guys know I'm supposed to be writing about FMP not RK… *Goes crazy* I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! My muse is crazy that way! *Calms down* I promise to finish the first story soon.
He'd been quiet the whole day.
Sano knew why so he just moved about his friend in a quiet routine. He'd gotten the mail, got some work done and fixed lunch. They had both gotten up late so it was a rather large meal of which neither took more than three bites, and avoided the tea because it was not exactly green. So Sano didn't know how to make good tea, so what? After that Sano went on working, making a few important phone calls and then finishing up earlier than usual, after all a friend was in need. When he escaped the confines of his office, a little storage room they had turned into their business' headquarters, Sano noticed how quiet it had turned; usually some music could be heard filtering through the doors of the actual dojo and Sano would be getting ready for practice. But not today.
Today was special. Although so very sad, special.
Feet clad in white socks, Sano moved to the hallway that lead to the rooms, and stood outside his best friend's, of course a little worried. He knocked softly, and when there was no answer he slid the door open. Here there was no such thing as lock on doors, alright, maybe three years ago there were locks on their doors, but not anymore.
The tall man could see red hair dropping from the side of the bed, messed because of it's owner. He could also see the huge mess of books and pictures and a particular large blue ribbon over the near by desk. Nothing weir there, it was the same mess he cleaned every year. The man on bed was small, curled into a ball and shaking. HIs red hair was messy, covering the entire pillow, and his clothing was unusually crumpled.
"Oi, Kenshin." There was no response from the shell of the man on bed, and Sano just sighed. Nothing weir there. "What do you want for dinner?" Again no answer, but Sano entered the room, knowing it was safe ground (at least for him) and started to pick up after his silent friend. "Pizza it is then. I'll call Yahiko and let him know about dinner. Is Megumi coming over tonight?"
Of course she was: it was a really stupid question. But he knew that this little ritual needed to be completed, even if it was grotesque and depressing in nature. Inside his good friend's head something utterly strange was happening, and a script had to be recited, even when he couldn't remember the exact words and to remember them was getting really hard; after all it was an event three years old and although painful...
"Sano?" Said his friend's soft voice, amazing Sano. Never in three years had he interrupted... "I want a hamburger." Sano dropped the book he'd picked up, staring at Kenshin. For a moment neither spoke and Sano wasn't sure of what to do. Of course his first thought was to pick up the nearest phone and call the emergency line; this man had finally lost it! But he nodded.
"Any fast food joint?"
"And ice cream. Chocolate ice cream."
"Right, are you joining us for dinner?"
"After a shower."
"Alright, I'll call Yahiko and Megumi."
"Sano?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't call Tomoe, please?"
"As you wish." And so Sanosuke just walked out of the room in total shock. He searched his jean's pocked and pulled out his phone, calling Yahiko, who hopefully was on his way home from school with Misao, and let them know about the slight change of plans for dinner. They were also very surprised.
'
'
Kaoru met Kenshin seven years prior.
She'd been nothing but a freshman at the same university they were attending, and while Kenshin had been the so called sempai, with the glasses and brain to tutor the young woman, he'd been getting to know her slowly. He was a serious, quiet man that for a whole year had Kaoru going insane. Upon setting eyes on him she'd fallen, Sano knew because every day she would come home to discharge the day's sighting, following, and if possible (heaven's forbid) conversation she had with this mysterious tutor. Kaoru even failed her class because she was following him for looks and not for the tutoring.
Sano, who had been pulling all nighters just to pay the tuition, had to sit her down and ask her to stop following the man around because she was wasting his money. And after a good night's cry she was ready to tackle the class (and the man) for and A, and probably even a date. If she got lucky. Then came summer break and during the recess the two brothers, Sano and Yahiko, were so fed up with the woman missing the tutor they actually went to the university to see if they could find him, and ask him to end their suffering and probably make clear that he was not interested in her. It was as if that talking too had no effect at all. Upon searching the entire campus, and asking at the department (Kaoru's department, they had no idea what department the man was in) one funny thing happened.
"Oi, miss." Asked Sano, in his usual gruff tone. "We are searching for a guy." The secretary sitting there just smiled.
"As you know this is a university and there are lots of guys around. Do you know the name?"
"No." Said Sano quickly, thinking in all those nights Kaoru talked about the man and did not share his name. "Would you settle with a description?" The woman took a deep breath and leaned back on her chair, about to call the cops: Sano knew the look; the cops had been called over a lot while he was around. But she seemed also very amused at the fact they were trying real hard to find this guy.
"Very well, you don't seem like gang members so…"
"Gang members?" Asked Yahiko, surprised. "I'll have you know we are the teachers of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryo! We are decent people." A moment of silence. "Except rooster head here who's a moron."
"Oi, oi." Said Sano, about to his the younger sibling, then scoffed and turned to the woman. "About this guy: he's short, red hair, purple eyes; has the cutest ass this side of Mt. Fuji."
"And also is a tutor with gold rimmed glasses." Said Yahiko, sharing his two cents in. The woman before them slammed her hands down while quickly getting up.
"What do you want with Ken-chan?" She cried, quickly blushing, surprising the two brothers.
"Ken..."
"Chan?" Asked the brothers while leaning back. The back door of the office opened and a man, who the two brothers had just described, stepped out, and upon finding the scene halted. He must have heard his name been cried out because he seemed curious to find out what was happening there; he wore a white shirt, dark slacks and had big eyes that shone with the light from the sun; not the pale light of the office's lamps… He was full of light, yet calm, he was fierce yet peaceful. It was an odd combination that fit perfectly within him. And the aura he let out… Sano narrowed his eyes, and fell quiet while the newcomer blinked at them.
"Why, hello." He said softly, looking the two men over. "You two seem familiar."
"Are you Kenshin?"
"Yes, can I help you?"
"Can we talk outside?"
"Of course." And with a small smile, he took off his glasses, his wild red hair flaming against the pale painting of the wall and his white shirt, he smiled at the secretary who tried to stop him.
"Kenshin-san, they are gang members!"
"It's alright," He assured her softly, and had her melting on the chair.
"We are not gang members!" Cried Yahiko, been pulled by his brother out the door. Kenshin followed, more curious than worried and they stopped outside, right under the shade of a well planted tall tree. Sano turned, and spit out the toothpick he'd been chewing, before talking.
"Listen, buddy, my sister's Kaoru..."
"So there's the resemblance. You three have gorgeous hair."
"What the…? Listen, manly man, Kaoru's been raving about you since she met you and she'd been miserable for the last week. So can you do us both a favor and tell her you are not interested in her so we can go on with our lives?"
"What?" Asked Kenshin, with a gentle smile.
"You heard us, dump her so we can be at peace." Urged Yahiko, looking angry.
"I understand your suffering, really I do." Said Kenshin, still smiling but now closing his eyes and continuing. "And I am sorry for all the trouble Kaoru-dono has brought to you."
"So you'll do it."
"I'm afraid not."
"What? Why not!"
"I'm afraid I have been raving about her too, but she is so modest and shy I am more worried about mortifying her with my proposal for a date than anything else." Yahiko's jaw dropped, while Sano just chuckled.
"So you are in love with my little sister, huh?"
"Indeed, I even failed my last term as well in order to share the next term with her."
"I'm afraid I can't let you date her. With all the problems it's been since the very beginning of the semester I can't allow you to ruin her chances for graduation and a good educated life; I don't have it and I've known hardships. I won't have Kaoru go through all of that. And I'm paying for that education, by the way."
"Tell that to my tutor, he thinks the same way." Sano dropped his sweater, and cracked is knuckles, while Yahiko just stared at them both, surprised in how quickly this fight was developing.
"I'm going to have to give you a good whooping for this then."
"Only if we make a small bet." Said Kenshi, finally opening his eyes.
"What?"
"If you win I will dump, as your little brother kindly said, Kaoru. If you lose…"
"You'll take her out on a date on my expense."
"You seem confident."
"I am, I am about to whoop your ass!" By the end of all things Sano was so broken the only things that mend his wounds were the smiles Kaoru gave them when she returned from her $500 dinner with the strong (wimp!) Himura Kenshin was.