Author's Note: Here it is! The next chapter to the story. I hope you guys don't mind me using The Beatles songs as the chapter titles. I just really love them, and I feel like their songs just fit the mood of what you'll be reading.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
The Bargain
Dear Prudence
Dear Prudence
Open up your eyes
December
It's been three months now since the horrible break-up that shook Kenshin's world off-balance, and he hated to admit that he was still so torn up about it.
Snow was gently falling onto the peaceful grounds of their university, and only a few stragglers were busy making their way to god-knows-where. Back when he was a freshman and busy looking for a place to live in, he found himself lucky enough to have found a relatively spacey one-bedroom apartment in a nice building just a few blocks away from their university. The fact that it had a floor-to-ceiling window on one side of his living room pleased him, and lately he's been making good use of it to watch what was going on outside—especially since he only left his apartment for classes these days. Well, classes and whenever Sano would get tired of his pathetic attitude and drag him out to wherever he chose to hang out for the night.
Most nights, they'd be either drinking or simply having a good time with Megumi and her friends—whom Sano had contacted a month ago, claiming that he wanted to be friends with the no-nonsense woman because she took their break-up so damn well that he was amazed, much to the amusement of the Biology major and her friends. Since then, they've all been spending so much time together that you'd think they were friends for years now instead of the measly month that they've been hanging out.
Of course, because of Kenshin's still rather morose disposition, his friendship among the group of friends wasn't as lively as what the others share. Sano, due to his natural charisma and happy-go-lucky nature, integrated himself rather well with the group, while Kenshin usually watched by the sidelines, forcing himself to at least smile and participate in small conversations whenever he would be approached by any one of them. Because of this, he wouldn't really define what he and the others have as "friendship" per sé; for him, he considered them as acquaintances.
They were kind enough to understand why he was acting that way, and he could see that they've been trying to cheer him up with their antics and various activities—but he was quite sure that it was mostly due to Sano's insistence. Still, he didn't join in their activities unless he was asked to, but he found himself being with them most of the time because his best friend of four years made it his personal mission to "give him a life"; and when Sano had a mission, neither hell nor high water would get between him and his success.
He knew he was being particularly pathetic this time around, after all, it's been three months and he still couldn't pick himself back up from where he has fallen; but again, it was kind of hard to accept his separation with Tomoe because he really thought she was the one for him—as absurd as it may sound since they were both just seniors, although because of his not-so-sure decision to shift into the medical program, he might have to spend a few more years in the university than his batch mates.
With a sigh, the redhead brought the bottle of Corona to his lips to take a generous sip of the alcoholic drink. No matter what the weather, he found that either wine or beer could always calm his nerves. Besides, he considered himself warm enough to deal with the freezing temperature they were being subjected to. He had a white long-sleeved polo that was neatly tucked underneath a knitted deep green sweater and a pair of jeans. Considering that he had a very efficient heater, he was comfortable in his lovely apartment.
A loud knock at the door made him sigh once again and pinch his nose in frustration before he made his way to the entrance to his apartment. He gently placed the bottle of beer he was holding on the side table that was conveniently placed by the door so he could easily drop his keys onto them whenever he'd come home.
Steeling himself for what was going to be another loud conversation with his best friend, he opened the door and let himself be pushed aside by the tall man so he could enter the well-furnished apartment—courtesy of his Uncle who made sure that his nephew lived comfortably and that he would have an environment conducive enough for him to do well in his studies.
"You about ready yet?" Sano asked, flopping himself down onto the black couch. His legs raising to rest themselves on the couch's armrest and his arm hanging off the backrest of the cushioned seat.
"Didn't you get my text?" Kenshin said quietly as he grabbed his bottle and walked towards his friend.
Sano scoffed. "And didn't you get mine? I told you there was no way in hell you're not coming with me. Get your coat and keys. We're going to be late and the fox is going to cut our balls off if we don't make it on time."
"What happened to your car?" the redhead asked curiously.
"Back at the shop, had something to do with changing the oil or whatever the hell it is that's wrong with it."
"Borrow my car, then." He offered, before giving the sprawled out man a pointed look. "Just make sure to get it back in one piece tomorrow. The last time I let you borrow it the right headlight was damaged, and you still haven't paid me for the repairs."
"Whatever." Sano shrugged off, as expected. "Anyway, 'ya won't have to worry about any more damages to that thing if you drive. It's your car anyway."
Kenshin sighed. "I told you, I'm not going."
"And I told you that you are."
"You can't force me into this, Sanosuke. I'm tired and I want to get a decent night's sleep."
Sano sat up and gave his friend a searching look, rubbing his face in frustration when he saw what mood the redhead was in… again. "Kenshin, I'm telling you this once as a friend, you can either come with me willingly or I can drag you there by that mop 'a red hair 'a yours. 'Ya know I'm big enough to lug you around." He threatened.
"I don't want to go." Kenshin replied sternly.
"Damn it." The large man swore as he stood to stand closer to the morose redhead. "Look, we gotta go, a'right? Missy's playing tonight and we have to be there as a show of support. She's our friend, and can't 'ya be a decent human being for once and show them that 'ya at least care for whatever the fuck it is that they all do?"
Kenshin scoffed. "They're your friends. You just drag me around so I can pay for you every time you have something to pay for."
"I only make 'ya do that 'cause I think I should get a little something in return for putting up with your pathetic ass." He glanced down at his watch and swore quietly. "We gotta go. The recital's gonna start soon and it'll be hell getting to our seats if all of the other seats beside us have people sittin' on them. Come on." He said as he pushed his friend roughly towards the direction of the door.
"I don't want to go, Sanosuke. What part of that sentence do you not understand?"
"'Ya know, all I hear from you these days are whining and moping and more whining. In the end, 'ya give in anyway. So let's not waste our time and just get moving, yeah?" He gave his friend another shove and threw the redhead's keys at him.
"I don't even know why you want to go." Kenshin grumbled while he turned off all the lights as they both exited his apartment. "You told me yourself you hate going to things like this, and we've never gone to any of the recitals before."
"It's different this time. The fox says Missy always plays on these things and I think it's about time we went anyway. I wouldn't want to disappoint the lovely little girl. Would you?"
The two men entered the elevator and made their way down to the basement. "I barely know her, Sanosuke. I could count the number of times I've talked to her in one hand, and I've seen her even less than that."
"That's 'cause she's been practicin' for this—which is why we gotta go watch her. Show her that we're her friends and we're here to stay." Sano explained nonchalantly. "They're a great bunch'a people, 'ya know. The kind I'd still like to see after we get out of this hellhole."
"Does that mean I'll have to hang around with them more, too?"
Sano grinned. "'Ya bet."
The pair of friends walked over to where Kenshin's black car was parked and entered the vehicle calmly, the redhead sighing once again as he started the car and the tall man trying his hardest to not pound the smaller man until he gets out of the damned funk he's been in ever since the break-up. The drive to the auditorium where the Winter Recital was to be held was on the other side of the campus, so it took them about twenty minutes before they reached the venue. The ride was thankfully silent, and it wasn't until they reached the crowded parking lot that Sano started grumbling once again about how they could've found a decent parking space if it weren't for his friend's moping.
Once they finally found an empty spot, Kenshin parked the car and grabbed his tan coat on his way out. He pocketed his keys and walked beside his friend, his interest admittedly growing as they walked closer and closer to the crowded auditorium. Honestly, he didn't think that a lot of people would be interested in watching the shows since most of the pieces that were played in the recitals were classics and sometimes, acoustic renditions of current songs.
They reached the entrance and Sano handed the guard their tickets before they were allowed to enter the lobby.
"I didn't know you bought me a ticket." Kenshin said amusedly.
Sano chuckled. "Nah. They were from the Missy."
The redhead hmmed and waited patiently for Sano to find the rest of the group who were probably already in the crowded lobby. When he saw his friend wave frantically to someone, he was immediately dragged by his sweater towards where their other friends were. He wasn't surprised to see Megumi looking annoyed as they came within her line of sight, although he admitted that he was a bit glad that her other two companions were watching them approach with smiling faces—well, the petite Misao was; he found that the other tall man, Aoshi Shinomori, preferred to remain silent most of the time due to his serious demeanor.
"You couldn't have gotten here earlier, you useless oaf?" Megumi growled as she hit Sano's stomach with the back of her hand. "I specifically told you to be here at eight thirty pm sharp."
"Hey hey," Sano placated. "We're only fifteen minutes late. Besides, you can blame this one not getting us here on time." He said, gesturing towards the now gently smiling redhead. "Stupid man was too busy moping to move any faster. I had to practically drag him down here just so he'd come."
The glare that the Biology major was issuing his friend was immediately shifted to him and he gulped. Somehow, he'd always had this unexplainable fear of the stern-faced woman. "What? You were too busy moping again?" She scoffed. "Next time I'd drag you out of that hole of yours. I have scalpels and syringes and I assure you it won't be pleasant."
Kenshin chuckled. "I'm sure it won't. But I'm sorry anyway. I'm just not really a fan of classical music."
"Yeah. Whatever. I'm sure that's the reason." Megumi replied condescendingly.
Before the conversation could escalate to a louder volume, Misao interrupted the three with her usual enthusiasm. "If you guys are done, we have to go inside now." She said as she hooked her arms onto Megumi's and Kenshin's, not waiting for them to start moving before she started walking towards the entrance to the auditorium herself. "I want to get a nice nap before Kaoru starts playing. Things like this bore me all the time."
Kenshin chuckled, amused at her admission and his mood starting to pick up because of the bubbly girl's warm smiles and obvious friendliness towards him despite his recent behavior towards all of them… well, that and Megumi glared at him warningly—a silent threat that if he acted like his mopey self, he would have her to answer to.
"So should I expect to be bored as well?" He asked with a smile.
Misao grimaced. "I don't know if this is your thing, but I guess it'll depend." She brightened then. "But you've got to watch out for Kaoru. I heard she has a solo tonight and the finale's going to be a duet between her and Enishi. They're always so good together."
He paused in surprise at what she said, causing the bubbly woman beside him to stop walking as well. "Enishi? As in Enishi Yukishiro?"
"Yeah. Why?" Misao asked curiously. "You know him?"
Kenshin remained standing in the middle of the entranceway, which made the other people who were entering the auditorium walk past them so they could get to their seats. Megumi removed her arm from Misao's and made her way towards the front of the auditorium where their seats were located. He saw their other friends follow Megumi's lead from his peripheral vision and sighed at Misao's still curious look.
Slowly, he shook his head, not wanting to dampen the other's energy. "No. I just… I've heard of him. He's Tomoe's brother."
Realization showed on Misao's face and she gave him a look of pity before shrugging it off and dragging him along once again. "Well, you're probably going to meet him tonight. Try not to burst out in tears, okay? He's really good friends with Kaoru and I'd hate for you to make an absolute fool of yourself. Plus, Sano'll bust your ass if you do."
Kenshin chuckled, but remained silent as he made a few excuses so he and his companion could get to their cushioned seats. They were only a few rows in front of the stage, which made him wonder at how special Kaoru must be to be able to get them such a good view of the stage. He was the last person to reach his assigned position so he got to sit between Sano and a stranger. Megumi was sitting with poise beside the tall man, followed by Misao and Aoshi. He chuckled as Misao laid her head on Aoshi's shoulder—obviously preparing to take the nap that she said she would indulge herself in before their friend's performance.
The raised platform was relatively simple, with only a few minimalist Christmas decorations scattered across the stage. As expected, there was a grand piano located in the middle of the wooden platform, and a few mic stands that were somewhere beside it. He feigned interest at the decorations all around the auditorium, but his true intent was to secretly look around to see if Tomoe was around, mentally gearing himself up for what he would say should he come across her.
Sano was obviously aware of what he was thinking, having known the redhead for far too long. He elbowed the redhead on the stomach and Kenshin gave a pained grunt before glaring at his friend.
"What the hell was that for?" He hissed.
"I know what you're thinking." Sano whispered back, just as harsh as the redhead. "Stop looking for the goddamned woman. I'm not letting 'ya get close enough to even see what she's wearing, a'right? There is no way I'm letting you talk to her if you do see her."
Kenshin gave him one last annoyed look before grumbling about him not being in control of his life ever since he met the tall man. Sano chuckled just as the lights went off and the spotlight was lit to feature the dean of the music department giving his opening remarks.
The rest of the show was really a big blur to Kenshin since he didn't really hold that much interest in the genre of music that they were being subjected to. Although he did appreciate a few pieces that were played—only because of the obvious complexity of how they were played and the talent with which the people who were playing the instruments had. Once, he had heard that only the best of the best performers were allowed to get into the music program of their university—which was determined by the talent test that they had to take on top of the entrance exams that everyone was required to take.
Still, he showed a great amount of respect—though at some parts, he had to feign his interest—for the musicians by not falling asleep and watching the show intently. Sano, on the other hand, obviously had absolutely no patience for such music and fell into a deep slumber about thirty minutes into the show. Amused, he watched as his friend's head lolled back and forth, much to the annoyance of the woman sitting beside him. At one point, his black-haired head fell to rest against the backrest of the cushioned seat, his mouth falling open and a few loud snores emitting from his throat. He chuckled when Megumi elbowed him harshly on his ribs, effectively waking Sano from his sleep and rubbing his eyes tiredly as he gave the Biology major a sheepish smile.
He sat back and watched musicians with various instruments walk on and off the stage, each of them playing their pieces perfectly. There were singers who performed as well, and he was glad that he got a chance to hear such beautiful voices that made his heart flutter pleasantly in his chest. Music really did have a great ability to soothe and warm people up. He smiled when one of the male singers finished his beautiful rendition of "Con te Partiro" and fondly remembered the time when his own uncle played the song countless times when he was a child as he worked on various tasks for the financial consultancy firm that they owned.
It wasn't until Kaoru walked onstage with her violin in hand that the group woke up completely to pay close attention to what their friend would be performing that night. Frankly, he was amazed at how radiant she looked as she prepared herself to play the piece that she's been practicing for over a month now. Her hair was up in a beautiful chignon and the simple, halter-top, emerald green gown she wore made her skin glow under the spotlight that was trained on her and only on her. The top of the gown fit her torso well before the silk flowed down her body and reached the floor, where he could catch hints of a pair of silver high-heeled sandals that made her appear taller.
After seeing her mostly in simple shirts, jeans, and skirts, he felt that it was understandable for him to react the way he did. His eyes were wide and his mouth fell slightly open as he watched her move gracefully onto the middle of the stage. Briefly, he glanced at Sano and felt more at ease with himself when he saw that his friend had basically the same reaction as he did. He turned back to face the stage and waited for Kaoru to start, eager to see if she was as talented as they all told her she was.
He held his breath when he heard the first note, and released it when she continued. The whole crowd was silent as they watched and let themselves be entranced by the piece that he sadly didn't recognize—not that it mattered since it held his complete and utter attention. The melody, the way that she held the violin and moved the fiddle passionately across the strings that she controlled enchanted him and made his heart ache with every gentle note that surrounded the entire auditorium. Suddenly, he was filled with so much gratitude for Sano for dragging him to the recital.
He was utterly, completely amazed at the woman who was standing before them all. He let himself be dragged away by the beautiful music, closing his eyes so he could savor the melody even more. He was filled with warmth and a lot of other feelings that he couldn't even explain, making him smile gently and feel butterflies fluttering around in his stomach.
As she dragged the last note of her piece signaling the end of her performance, he found himself slightly disappointed and wanting to hear more of the soothing sounds that came from her instrument. He couldn't believe the amount of power that such a simple looking thing could hold over an entire auditorium filled with people. He turned his head to see how his other companions reacted to Kaoru's performance and smiled when he saw them all wearing proud grins and happy faces as they all clapped in praise for the concluded piece. It was Sano's reaction that greatly amused him—he knew that the man was not the type to appreciate such music, but it was clear that he too was entranced by what they just witnessed.
Shaking himself out of his stupor, the tall man turned to Kenshin with a grin. "See?" he said softly. "Told 'ya she was good. Worth comin' out'a your hole for, eh?"
Kenshin chuckled. "Yeah. Thanks."
"I don't need your thanks. I need the beer you're getting me after this thing. We're going out to celebrate Missy's recital." He scoffed.
The crowd shushed again and the group looked forward excitedly to watch the final piece that would signal the end of the recital. The redhead watched as Kaoru stayed on her spot, but turn to smile brightly at a familiar man with shockingly white hair walk towards the grand piano that was located in the middle of the stage. The two shared a warm look before they both prepared to play their piece, which made Kenshin wonder at the history behind their obvious closeness. Were they in a relationship? He couldn't recall Tomoe ever mentioning her brother being romantically involved with someone.
The thought made his chest constrict once again as he thought about his ex-girlfriend. He sighed to try to force himself away from the direction of his thoughts, and decided to focus completely on the performance. Once again, he held his breath as he waited for the musicians to start, and released it when he heard the first notes from Enishi's piano—so gentle that it sent pleasant vibes all throughout his body.
Kaoru's violin joined the melody coming from the piano, and he swore he had never heard something so beautiful as what he was hearing right then and there. His eyes closed and he savored every note and every transition from one chord to another, feeling the emotions that the piece was supposed to elicit. From what he could tell, it was some sort of love song, a beautiful promise that was being made from one lover to another. Instead of filling his heart with painful memories of love that he felt when he was still with Tomoe, all he felt was warmth and the desire for the piece to never end.
Finally, the performance ended and the crowd immediately stood up to applaud the two musicians, some even whooping as Enishi and Kaoru bowed and smiled graciously at their audience before giving each other a huge hug to celebrate their success. The other music majors that took part in the recital went onstage and the crowd continued to clap their hands in congratulations, but Kenshin was focused on the woman that he had the pleasure of being acquainted with.
"Hell. I didn't know Missy could play that well." Sano commented as the group made their way towards the stage to greet and congratulate their friend.
Megumi scoffed. "Of course she could. She's one of the best in her class and she'd always be one of the last performers everytime they hold a recital. Haven't you ever been to one of these before?"
"Whaddya think?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot how unbelievably uncultured you are." She sighed. "I can't believe I ever dated you."
"Because of my charm!" Sano wiggled his eyebrows and put his arm around the stern woman's shoulders. "And… you know, my ability to make you—"
"Sagara!" She scolded, blushing at his insinuation.
The tall business major laughed and Kenshin couldn't help the smile that crawled up his face as he listened to the couple banter.
"What did you think, Kenshin?" Misao asked, looping her arm around his and leaning into him as they walked. "You didn't fall asleep, did you? I heard Sano snoring somewhere in the middle of the show and I couldn't see you from where I was sitting. Did you like it?"
The redhead smiled indulgently at the petite woman. "I wouldn't mind attending another. It was a great show."
Misao smiled and they both followed Aoshi and the still bickering couple. They pushed their way towards the stairs by the side of the stage and they eagerly waited for Kaoru to emerge, all of them talking about where they would celebrate the success of the recital.
"Usually, everyone goes to the bar over at the other side of campus. I think Kaoru might want to join them there." Misao told them.
Groaning, Sano replied. "So you're saying we have to hang out with a bunch of stuck up prudes? Do they even drink or, you know, have fun?"
"They're not bad company." Megumi replied. "In case you haven't noticed, they're people too."
Kenshin remained silent as he listened to the excited talk around him, his eyes roaming around the venue to watch families and friends congratulate the musicians that performed during the excellent Winter Recital. Really, he never thought he'd be able to appreciate such events, but he found himself feeling interested enough to attend another concert such as this.
He turned and froze when he caught sight of a familiar face who was busy mingling with her companions. As always, Tomoe looked prim and elegant in the blue dress that he so loved on her and he had the urge to approach her—a desire he was fully intent on allowing himself to indulge in.
Sano saw his friend looking at a particular direction and gave an annoyed grunt when he saw what the redhead was looking at. When Kenshin started to move towards Tomoe's current location, the tall man wasted no time in grabbing him by the back of the sweater he was wearing.
"Oh no you don't." he scolded. "What makes 'ya think I'm gonna let you walk up to that bitch? You're staying right here where I can watch your pathetic ass."
The redhead shoved Sano's hand off of him and glared at his friend. "I'm just going to go talk to her, Sanosuke. It's not like I'm going to cause a scene or anything."
"That's the point. I don't want you going near her, and I'm most certainly not gonna watch you mope around again after you do. Control yourself."
Stubbornly, Kenshin moved towards Tomoe again and felt Sano grab his arm roughly to pull him into the circle that they made.
"Sanosuke." He warned.
"I said no Himura."
"You can't control me, Sanosuke."
Misao interrupted the heated conversation. "I really don't think you should go either, Kenshin. It sounds like a bad idea after your history and all that; and you've been doing so much better the last month. I'd hate to see you so sad again."
'If only you knew', Kenshin thought morosely. "I just want to talk to her for a bit. Say hello and all." He sighed.
"Kenshin." Megumi called.
The redhead was getting annoyed at his group of friends and was planning on telling them off when Aoshi interrupted, shocking the group since he usually didn't participate in conversations such as what they were having now.
"Let him go." He said calmly, eyeing Kenshin as he did so. "It's his life."
"But—" Sano tried to reason out.
"Let him go."
Kenshin gave the stoic man a thankful glance when Sano finally let go of his arm. He steeled himself for the upcoming conversation and put his hands in his pockets as he made his way over to where Tomoe was cheerily speaking with her friends. When he reached the small group, he cleared his throat to announce his presence and watched as his ex-girlfriend's eyes widen at seeing him there.
"Kenshin." She gasped, surprised at his sudden appearance.
Her friends politely moved away from the two and the redhead suddenly felt awkward and unsure of what he should say next. He settled with a simple, "Hey Tomoe."
"What are you doing here?" she asked softly, smiling at him and making his chest constrict at the sight. "I didn't think I'd see you here, of all places."
"I came to uh—watch a friend of mine. She plays the violin." He explained, forcing a smile onto his face as he spoke with her.
"Oh? Who?"
"Kaoru Kamiya." At her curious glance, he decided to expound further. "Yeah, Sano and I started hanging out with her and her friends last month."
Tomoe smiled. "Ah. She was really good tonight. Did you enjoy the show then?"
"Yeah, I did." He nodded. "I'm starting to regret not coming with you whenever you'd invite me to these things."
An awkward silence fell upon the two of them at the reference to their previous relationship. Deciding to break the silence, Tomoe spoke once more. "She's a really great person." She said, referring to Kaoru. "I've spent some time with her because of Enishi. He's really good friends with her."
"So I've heard."
"Anyway, you look great!" she gushed. "Are you still planning on shifting to medicine?"
"I'm talking it over with my uncle, but he's a bit worried still."
Tomoe nodded. "Understandable. You do run a firm, after all."
"Yeah."
Once again, they fell silent and awkwardly looked around, letting themselves be surrounded by the chatter that was coming from the people around them.
Finally, Enishi and Kaoru emerged from the stairs on their side of the stage, both of them laughing and cheerily talking about the recital. When they spotted the ex-couple, he saw Enishi's face flash with annoyance which contrasted with Kaoru's bright smile.
"Hey." Kaoru greeted. "Did you guys enjoy the show?"
"Very. You were both brilliant. You both deserved the standing ovation you got." Tomoe said warmly.
"And you, Kenshin?" The blue-eyed woman asked. "You didn't fall asleep, did you?" She giggled.
"Not at all." He chuckled. "Although Sanosuke did. Megumi had to hit him twice to wake him up. I think the people behind us were getting annoyed with his snoring."
"Well, what else could you expect from that giant?" She laughed, making Kenshin smile at the brightness of her attitude.
Suddenly remembering himself, Kenshin gestured towards the other side of the stage where their friends were currently waiting for them and watching the strange interaction among the four of them. Kaoru smiled and let go of Enishi's arm, standing on her tiptoes to place a gentle kiss on Enishi's cheek, which made the blonde-haired man look down fondly at her.
"I have to go now, blondie. But I'll see you at the bar, yeah?"
Enishi nodded. "Yeah. Get there fast 'cause I'm planning to get smashed tonight. I wanna get a few drinks in with you before I pass out on the field."
Kaoru giggled again and gestured for Kenshin to lead her to where their other friends were, throwing a brief goodbye to Tomoe as they left. As soon as they made it there, Sano engulfed the elegantly dressed woman with a huge bear hug.
"You were really really good up there, Missy!" He said happily. "I'm glad I took the tickets 'ya gave me."
"Oh stop it. Kenshin told me you fell asleep in the middle of the show, you pretentious bastard."
"Yeah, but I was awake when it was your turn! Though I have to say, couldn't you have played something a bit more modern? Like, I dunno, Edge of Glory or something like that."
Amused, Kaoru replied. "Noted. I'll ask the whole orchestra to perform just for you next time."
Megumi shoved Sano away from the blue-eyed woman and gave her a brief hug. "You were great, Kaoru. I loved every minute of it."
"Yeah!" Misao said happily. "God, aren't your fingers sore or something? And your neck! You've gotta have a stiff neck from the way you were holding that violin of yours."
"My fingers and my neck are fine, Misao, but thanks for your concern." She blushed. "And thanks, you guys. I know this isn't really something you enjoy attending, but I'm glad you went anyway."
"The last piece was good." Aoshi commented. "Was it Yiruma?"
Kaoru nodded. "Yeah. Kiss the Rain. We were supposed to do River Flows in You, but Enishi wanted something a bit more… feely."
"I didn't know you were friends with Enishi." Kenshin mused.
"Oh, we're really good friends. He's always my partner during the recitals, so it was bound to happen, I guess." She replied happily. "He's very talented."
"He is." The redhead agreed.
"Anywaaaay," Sano interrupted loudly. "We can all talk on the way to the bar. I'm dying for a nice bottle of beer right about now. Are 'ya guys ready to go?"
Megumi scoffed yet again. "Sure. Give the man a recital and he falls asleep, but tell them you're going to a party and he's suddenly so wide awake."
The tall man grinned and dragged Megumi and Misao by their arms to push their way outside of the crowded auditorium. They grabbed their coats and scarves and made sure they were all warm before they stepped out into the cold night, all of them crowding around each other to joke and share the overall good vibes that the night elicited in each of them. Aoshi and Kaoru were merrily chatting about the pieces that were played during the recital while Kenshin listened beside them, asking questions every now and then whenever something would pique his interest.
"Oi, Kenshin. I'm ridin' with the fox. 'Ya gonna be alright getting to the bar?" Sano asked as they talked about how they were all going to get to the destination of the after-party.
The redhead nodded. "Yeah, I'll manage. I know where it is." He glanced around the rest of the group. "Does anyone else need a lift?"
"I'm going with Aoshi." Misao announced happily. "We don't know where it is so we'll just follow Megumi's car."
Kaoru smiled as she listened to everyone, adjusting her grip on her violin case as she did so. "I'll see you guys there then. I reserved a table for us near the DJ's booth so just tell the bouncers you're all with me, okay?"
"How are you going to get there?" Sano asked curiously. "Where's your car parked? I can ride with you instead, if you want."
"No, no." She shook her head. "I'm taking a cab to my apartment. I still have to change, you know, and 'Nishi drove me here so, yeah. I can't very well go there dressed like this." She giggled and gestured towards her floor-length gown.
"Where do you live? I can drive you there, if you'd like." Kenshin interrupted.
"No, it's really alright. I'm over by the building on the other side of campus. It's out of the way, so you guys just go on ahead."
The business major turned wide eyes at her, surprised to know that she lived in the same building as he did seeing as there was only one apartment building on the west side of their large university campus. "Oh? So you live in Easton?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Why?"
"I live there too." He replied. "I'll take you there. I have to get something from my place anyway, so I don't mind."
"Oh? What do you have to get?" she asked curiously, wondering if he was just making an excuse so he can drive her to where she had to go since he was too polite to allow her to take a cab knowing that he had a vehicle he could use to do so.
"My wallet." Kenshin chuckled. "I forgot to pick it up on our way here since someone," he glanced pointedly at Sano. "dragged me here without giving me enough time to prepare."
Kaoru giggled at his explanation and tried to listen to Sano explain why he had to take such extraordinary measures to ensure that the redhead would be at the event. However, Megumi was already dragging her towards the place where her car was parked, so she wasn't able to hear much of it. A minute later, Aoshi and Misao walked off to get to their own vehicle, leaving the two friends alone.
"Well, I guess we should go then." Kenshin said awkwardly.
The violinist simply smiled and followed the redhead as he led her to his black car, allowing him to carry her violin case after he insisted on bringing it for her as a proper gentleman would. It wasn't long before they reached the occupied parking space and Kenshin gallantly opened the door for her and placed her instrument on the back seat before getting in himself. He easily pulled out of the parking space, but they had to face a bit of traffic due to the amount of vehicles that were exiting the venue.
Kaoru looked out of the window as they moved along, while Kenshin sat there silently, trying to think of something to say to the woman he was barely acquainted with. It was the violinist who broke the five minute silence with a giggle.
Curiously, the redhead glanced at her with amusement. "What's so funny?"
"This is." The blue-eyed woman pointed out. "This is unbelievably awkward, don't you think?"
He smiled. "It's not that awkward."
"Seriously?" Kaoru laughed.
"Okay, maybe it's a bit awkward."
The two of them chuckled as Kenshin drove through the familiar path of the campus that would lead to where their apartment building was located.
"I haven't seen you much these days. I'm guessing you've been busy practicing?" The redhead asked.
Kaoru nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, plus it took us a while before we were able to decide on what piece we should play. Our professor was really picky. The solo he wanted me to play was shit hard, and the one I did with Enishi took a while before we got it perfected."
"Well, it was completely worth it. You were incredible up there."
"Thanks." She said, blushing at the compliment.
A brief silence fell over them again before Kenshin gave her a quick glance to ask the question that he's been dying to ask since he met her by the stage. "So", he started. "Have you been friends with Yukishiro for a long time?"
"Yeah." She replied. "I met him during freshman year and we've been playing and hanging out together ever since. He's a cool guy."
"Do you know his sister too, then?"
She gave him a curious glance but answered his question nonetheless. "Yeah. Although she's always been really quiet. I have to say I haven't seen anyone as poised as her, though." She mused. "We'd have dinner or have a couple of drinks sometimes, but she was always with her boyfriend. I've never met him, but from what 'Nishi said he's a great guy."
Kenshin's chest constricted as he listened to her explain the extent of her relationship with his ex. Instead of asking another question, he just 'hmm'ed in response.
"You know, I didn't think I'd ever hang out with Sano again after he ditched Megumi." Kaoru said amusedly. "He seems like he's not the type to actually want to be just friends with a girl." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye before going back to staring out the window. "And I most certainly didn't expect to actually be friends with you. I mean, I haven't even seen you around here before and we live in the same building."
He chuckled. "You make it sound like it's a bad thing."
"No!" she defended, scared that she offended him in some way. "I'm just surprised, is all."
"It's alright. To be honest, I feel the same way; and you're right when you said that Sanosuke's not the type to do what he's doing now, though. It's the first time he's done this."
"So what makes Megumi any different?"
"Well, he told me she was the only one to take their break-up really well, so I guess he was amused or something." He told her. "Although I'm not so sure myself. I may have been friends with him for a long time, but I've never understood what goes on in that big head of his."
"I can see why." She laughed.
The lighthearted conversation drew to a close when Kenshin pulled over on the driveway by the entrance to their apartment building. He turned off the ignition and turned towards his companion who was busy pulling out her violin case from the backseat.
"So, I'll meet you back here in thirty minutes?" the redhead asked with a smile.
Kaoru, who was obviously surprised by what he said, looked at him with wide eyes. "Oh no, you don't have to!" she said. "I was planning on bringing my car anyway, so I can just meet you guys there. Besides, you just have to get your wallet, I might take a while before I finish changing."
"My car's out anyway." He shrugged. "And I really don't mind waiting. That way we can be sure that the others will be settled before when we get there."
She thought about what he said and understood the point that he made. "Well, okay. If you really don't mind, that is."
He smiled. "Here, why don't we trade numbers so you can text me when you're done and we can meet back down here?"
"Yeah, sure." She replied.
They exchanged contact details and both got out of the black vehicle, both of them continuing the lighthearted conversation they were sharing while they were in the car. They took the same elevator and pushed the respective numbers for their floors, noting that Kenshin's apartment was located on a higher floor than Kaoru's.
It took Kaoru a measly twenty minutes to change from the elegant gown that she wore and into a pair of jeans and a simple, long sleeved button-up. Her wavy hair flowed down her shoulders when she pulled it out of the chignon it was in, and she chose to wear a pair of simple black pumps and grabbed her purse as she texted Kenshin to let him know that she was on her way down.
It only took thirty minutes to get to the bar where the after-party was being held and they found a parking space easily enough. It was on the way inside that Kenshin's mood plummeted from the cheer that Kaoru's presence made him feel.
He was currently helping Kaoru with her coat and scarf when he locked eyes with Tomoe, who was standing not too far from them and giving him a curious look before glancing at Kaoru. Instead of going to talk to her though, he opted to put his arm around Kaoru to guide her through the rambunctious crowd to the place where Sano was currently waving frantically at them. He felt a bit of satisfaction when he saw Tomoe's brows furrow in confusion at how he was acting towards the violinist, but pushed the feeling away when the woman beside him pulled him towards the set of couches that they'd be occupying for the rest of the night.
The rest of the night was filled with passing around drinks and shots and mingling with the other guests in the bar. The performers were congratulated rather roughly, but they didn't seem to mind since they were all having fun.
Kenshin and Kaoru danced together a couple of times and he had to admit that the woman and her friends managed to make him feel the most cheerful he's ever felt since his break-up. He made sure to prevent the rowdy male patrons from making her feel uncomfortable by covering her with his body, ensuring that she didn't notice what he was doing in case she was the type of woman to get offended when men act like women couldn't protect themselves. When he got a bit too tired to continue moving around on the dance floor, he directed himself towards their table and sat down as he grabbed a glass of coke with a bit of rum.
He was amused to find Sano not nearly drunk enough as he should be at this time of the night. The tall man sat beside him and got himself a drink, both of them keeping an eye on their friends who were still dancing near their table. Aoshi and Misao were together, while Megumi and Kaoru looked like they were having the time of their lives as they savored and moved with the beats and mixes that the DJ was playing.
It amazed Kenshin how Kaoru could transform from someone with absolute grace and poise and passion as she played her instrument, yet still manage to enjoy herself like the rest of the people her age. He didn't notice that he was staring at her intently until Sano chuckled beside him, highly amused at the serious look that Kenshin was wearing as he watched Kaoru.
"She's quite the girl, eh?" Sano commented.
"Yeah." Kenshin agreed. "I can't say I've ever met anyone like her."
"It's about goddamned time you noticed someone else aside from that bitch of an ex of yours!" The tall man said, giving Kenshin a hard shove as he did so. "Though I have to tell 'ya, I'm gonna have to kill 'ya if you ever hurt little Missy there."
Kenshin scoffed. "Sanosuke. I barely even know her, and I have no plans of dating her."
"Yeah. Yet." Sano replied. "Anyway, the rest of her people are pretty protective of her so you're going to have to answer to them instead'a just me."
"Sanosuke. I don't think you're hearing what I'm saying. I barely know her."
"So get to know her!" He exclaimed. "It's not gonna be that hard, especially since 'ya live in the same damn building and all'a that."
"Stop it, Sanosuke." The redhead said as he took a sip of his drink.
Sano scoffed. "Whatever." He paused, looking at his friend searchingly. "I see that look you're giving her."
"What look?"
"That look." Sano pointed out. "The grand look of interest."
"There is no look."
"Yeah. There is." The tall man replied, watching his friend look back at the dancefloor in lieu of continuing their conversation. "See! There's that look! It's that look!"
"You know what? Just drop it, Sano. I'm not even ready to date yet."
The black-haired man scoffed again. "You're in college, you stupid fuck. Nobody cares if you're not ready to date yet. Go get yourself a rebound—a palette cleanser or something."
"Are you suggesting that I should date Kaoru as a palette cleanser?"
"What?" Sano exclaimed. "No! You get yourself another chick before you even make a move on Missy—otherwise you'll have me to answer to."
"Well, that won't be a problem for you because I'm not planning on dating anyone."
"You're pathetic. You're a pathetic little idiot. If you won't do it, I'm gonna do it for 'ya. Wait here while I find some girl, a'right?"
Before Sano could stand up though, Kenshin grabbed his arm and pulled him back onto the leather seat he was previously occupying. "Don't. I'm driving with Kaoru tonight."
He got a mischievous grin from his friend in response and remained silent for the rest of the night as they waited for their friends to tire so they could all go home. It took them about an hour before Aoshi finally asked them all if they could go to their respective dorms and apartments, all of them not bothering to change who they were riding with so it could be easier for them.
The redhead was secretly glad that the woman he was accompanying wasn't drunk, although she did have to lean into him and loop her arm around his because of her sore feet. When they got to his car, he was surprised to find Tomoe about to enter her own vehicle that was parked beside his.
He opened the door to the passenger's side for Kaoru and helped her get in before walking over to where his ex was standing, looking curiously over at him and Kaoru.
"Hey." Kenshin greeted quietly, his hands shoved in his pockets.
Tomoe smiled. "Hey."
"I uh—didn't expect to see you here."
"Oh, well Enishi invited me so… yeah." She said shakily. "I didn't know you were dating Kaoru." She mused.
Kenshin's eyes widened in surprise at the statement and he struggled to tell her why the violinist was sitting in his car, watching the ex-couple interact. "We're not!" he defended. "It's just that she lives in Easton too so I figured we could both come here together, you know? Save ourselves the hassle and all that."
"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Kenshin." Tomoe chuckled. "I guess I was just surprised to see you with someone so close to Enishi." She explained. "Anyway, I have to go now. I have a huge test tomorrow morning that I have yet to study for."
"Oh." The redhead said pathetically. "Yeah, alright. I guess I'll—I'll see you around, then?"
"Yeah. See you."
Without further ado, they both entered their respective vehicles, and Kenshin watched as Tomoe pulled out of the driveway and made her way out of the club's parking space and into the highway. Sighing, he started his car and waited for it to warm up, letting his head fall onto the driver's wheel.
"So… I'm guessing Tomoe was the girlfriend you were talking about?" Kaoru asked quietly.
The business major was a bit surprised at hearing her voice since he forgot he wasn't alone in the vehicle. He sat up straight and turned to face the blue-eyed woman with morose eyes. "Yeah, sorry. I should've told you earlier."
"Don't be silly." Kaoru scolded lightly. "It's none of my business anyway."
Kenshin stayed silent as he started driving away from the club. He was about to turn the radio on to make them both more comfortable, but the violinist broke the silence by stating something that made his chest constrict painfully.
"She must be a hard woman to get over." She mused quietly.
He sighed. "You have no idea."
Author's Note: Well, here it is. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I'm looking forward to writing the rest of this story! Thank you so much to everyone to reviewed and followed this story, and I'm so happy to get a chance to give you all good vibes by updating the stories that I've written.
Happy holidays and Happy New Year everyone! May we all have a wonderful 2015. Sukhi hotu!
Cheers!