Contrary to popular belief, Sanosuke Sagara is not stupid or dumb, in fact he is very smart if he needed to be. That is why he knew that there has been an awkward tension between his bestfriend and cousin since Kenshin's birthday. They tried to act normal but they don't look normal at all. He would always catch Kenshin looking at Kaoru when he thinks no one is looking. And Kaoru is the same. The look in their eyes is the same when he's looking at Megumi when he first saw her. So he concluded that they like each other but is afraid or reluctant to tell the other.
Another observation that caught his attention is that, Misao and Megumi always make it appoint that Kaoru and Kenshin is never alone. It is like they are trying to make Kaoru get away with Kenshin. And he made a note to ask Megumi about that.
"Rooster? What's wrong?" asked Megumi looking at her boyfriend with a worried face. She rarely sees Sano with a serious look. With that question their friends sitting with them in their table looked at Sano.
"Oh. Nothing! I just thought how I want to spend some alone time with you before graduation" he grinned looking at Megumi, who blushed. Their friends then teased them. And because of that Megumi hit his shoulder continuously.
"Baka" said Megumi so embarrassed, which made his grin wider.
000
"Hey. You heard the rumors?" asked Sano to Kaoru while they were alone. She raised an inquiring brow at this question that Sano asked seriously. "You know what I mean Kao. About you being a two-timer?" he expounded. Kaoru just nodded absentmindedly. "Why aren't you doing something about it? The Jou-chan that I know would surely pummel to death those who'd spread rumors like that" said Sano
Kaoru sighed. "I really don't care about those rumors. As long as my friends don't believe such stupid rumors, I can live with that." she shrugged.
000
"Our friend is not like that you stupid stupid boy!" shouted Misao to a classmate who has been talking ill about their friend, saying how bitch she is.
"But it was you two who said that she is going out with Himura! while he is still going out with Yukishiro-sempai!" defended the beat up boy.
"Shut up you bastard! Did we ever say that she's still with Yukishiro, huh!?" shouted Megumi so frustrated that she wanted to kill the boy. And so he blinked, and recalled the conversation. Megumi sighed. "And besides, it's not like she and Kenshin is really going out. That guy's a fool" she muttered under her breath, the boy didn't hear it. "Go" she said as she and Misao started to walk away.
"I can't believe I rooted for him when he's like that!" Misao said pulling her hair down.
"What do you mean weasel?" asked Sano as he popped out of nowhere.
The 2 jumped in surprised. "Tori-atama!" exclaimed Megumi.
"Yeah. What are you talking about?" asked Sano seriously. Misao and Megumi looked everywhere except him. "Misao? Megumi? Tell me!" he demanded.
"What? It has nothing to do with you!" said Megumi in equal voice.
"It has everything to do with me! Kaoru is my cousin and she's like a sister to me. And everything about her has everything to do with me" said Sano seriously.
"Arg! Fine. Come here" said Megumi and pulled Sano in a certain corner leaving Misao.
000
Sano was beyond furious of what Megumi said to him. So he was looking for Kenshin. Ready to teach him a lesson. He saw her in the rooftop looking at someone on the ground. He looks really sad and furious. When he felt that someone was approaching him, it was already too late to dodge as Sano's fist connected with his face.
"What the hell!" Kenshin exclaimed wiping the blood in his mouth.
"Tell me Kenshin. Is it true?" asked Sano seriously. He was clenching his fist so hard.
"What do you mean?" asked Kenshin so confused.
"Don't fuck with me Kenshin. You know what I mean. Kaoru"
Kenshin froze. He knew how stupid he is. He just bowed his head low. "Yes" he answered in a low voice.
"Why!? Why would you involve my cousin in this revenge on me!? It has nothing to do with her!" said Sano and landed another punch on Kenshin's face.
"Sano, Kenshin only got close to Kaoru because he wants to get back at you. He wanted to hurt everyone you love. He planned on making her fall in love with him and then dump her. Because he can't take it that it is you I chose" Megumi said crying a little.
"Fuck you Kenshin! And here I thought there was no hard feelings when Meg chose me!" he shouted and then punched him again. Kenshin didn't fight back at all; he just received all of his punches.
"I know I'm stupid. But I never expected to fall for her Sano. Believe me. I love Kaoru." said Kenshin as he was on the ground with plenty of bruises.
"Yeah. I know" he answered because he knew his bestfriend. Kenshin is just really stupid. He sat next to him.
"How did you know?" asked Kenshin still on the ground.
"What? About the revenge thing?" asked Sano and Kenshin nodded. "Meg told me."
"Does Kaoru know?" asked Kenshin, hoping that Sano would say no.
"Yes. She knows. It was her who heard your talk to Tomoe after Meg's party. She's not the one who told Meg. She was just confronted by Tomoe after your birthday."
"So, she knows all along" Kenshin sighed and closed his eyes with the back of his hands. "What should I do Sano? I love her. Very much. I don't know what to do anymore with these feelings."
"You're really screwed you know. But I know Jou-chan never held grudges. Just be honest with her" said Sano sighing as he looked at Kenshin then stood and went away.
000
"I can't believe that we're done with high school!" exclaimed the hyper active Misao as they were in her house a week before their graduation.
"Well we have to be done with it somehow. I sure as hell don't want to stay" said Kaoru lightheartedly. And they laughed at that.
Aoshi also laughed a little on that. Five set of eyes (Kenshin, Sano, Megumi, Misao and Kaoru) stared at him in disbelief because for the first time the stoic man joined with their laughter.
Kaoru broke the silence by saying "Well I am honored that I can make you laugh Shinomori-san" and winked at Aoshi, who flushed a little. And so the others laughed at his predicament. "Anyway, where are you planning on going to college?" asked Kaoru saving the growing humiliation felt by Aoshi.
Megumi decided to pursue her career on medicine as she had been dreaming of becoming a doctor since she was a kid. Sano want to go to law school, imagine that! So the 2 of them was set on going to Aizu and live together. Misao and Aoshi both wanted to explore into the business world, they ought to go to Kyoto. They have different goals so they ought to go to different universities.
"How about you Himura-san?" asked Kaoru as he was only listening to them.
Kenshin winced at the formality. "Well, I'm still thinking about it. My uncle wants me to go to Jinchuu as they offered scholarship" he started looking at Kaoru's eyes.
"Jinchuu?" Kaoru quirked a brow. Well he can't blame the guy. Kendo is his life and Jinhuu happens to be the best university when it comes to kendo.
"Kaoru aren't you going to Jinchuu also?" asked Misao. Both her and Megumi knew Kaoru's first choice has always been Jinchuu, her parents studied there and despite being the beauty she is, she is also very interested in kendo, although she doesn't join clubs. But she opt to change that in entering college. She wanted to join kendo and she would join. The only problem was, Enishi was there, and now Kenshin will also go there. But what can she do? She already submitted her application and she already gave her consent. She got full scholarship as well, but not for kendo like Kenshin.
"Really Kaoru-dono?" asked Kenshin with eyes twinkling. He was very pleased to hear that.
"In what department?" asked Kaoru ignoring Kenshin's question.
"Well, I always wanted to be a policeman" he answered. He knew Kaoru was blatantly ignoring his question. He never got the chance to talk to her alone because Misao and Megumi is always with her.
"How about you Kao?" asked Misao ignoring Kenshin altogether. Misao and Megumi were ignoring him since they knew of his plans. They don't even know why Sano is still friends with him.
Kaoru was about to answer when her phone rang. She got her phone and saw who's calling. She got shocked. "I guess I have to get this" she said scratching her head and excused herself.
When Kaoru was out of hearshot, Misao and Megumi looked at Sano. "Why is he here?" asked Misao pointing at Kenshin. Katsu, Tsubame and Yahiko looked confused.
"Why shouldn't he be here?" asked Yahiko confused
"They don't know?" asked Misao in disbelief
"What don't we know? Tell us" asked Yahiko so confused and frustrated now.
"Yeah. Why don't you tell them huh? Himura" said Misao glaring at Kenshin. Megumi also glared at him. "Tell them the real reason why you got close to Kaoru" said Misao in a challenging tone.
All the time Kenshin's head was low. Afraid of what he would see. "Kenshin?" asked Yahiko in a confused voice. Kenshin knew that Kaoru is very important to Yahiko, she's his tutor and treats her like a big sister. He also knew that Yahiko idolizes him because he's also into kendo.
"Too coward to reveal your true nature huh?" said Misao seething with anger. "Well let me tell you that Himura here got close to Kaoru with a plan-" she then narrated the story. Everyone gaped looking at Kenshin with unbelieving eyes.
"No way. Himura-san?" asked Tsubame with a voice that begs for an explanation.
"It's not true. Right Kenshin?" asked Yahiko clenching his fist so tight until it turned white.
