.
The Unseen
I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or the following quote(and also I dont own any songs that may appear in this fanfic) Both belong to their rightful owners.
MrFoshizzleProTheWanderor
l ~*~*~~*~* ~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~ l
~*~ "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is ~*~
out of focus" -Mark Twain
l ~*~*~~*~* ~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~ l
Before I start the story, I just want to thank all of those who've read my fanfic and I want to specially thank SRAS9 for reviewing the story as well :) Heres my reply to your review, my friend.
SRAS9: Thanks :) I like what your perspective is on Kaoru. Im glad you like whats happening so far, as I do too ^_^ And dont worry, Im almost finished with chapter 3 as we speak so the story will be updated soon :) Thanks again for reading!
Now lets begin! Enjoy! Chapter 3
Mistaken
Kaoru rushed to her dorm. In a blink of an eye, she was inside her room. Only when she whirled around did she realize the shape the room was in. Piles of her roomates dirty laundry sat at the foot of the sofa. Cans of soda and stained glasses littered the floors. She flared with anger.
Her hands balled to fists and she bared her teeth. Sanosuke...UGH!
Faster than the speed of light, she whisked away into the small enclosed kitchen, returning to the main room with a plastic bag and a mask covered her mouth and nose, making only her firery eyes visible.
"Damn it, Sano! The least you can do is clean up the place before you leave the room!"
Kaoru knelt down, picking up the cans one by one, tossing them in the plastic bag with haste. After a couple minutes of going slow, she rapidly picked up the pace and instead scooped up the cans and glasses in arm-fulls, forcing them into the stretching bag. She didnt pay attention to what she was throwing away. The only thing on her mind was to make the dorm look presentable for her 'guest of honor' tonight.
Kaoru got bouncy just thinking about the cute red head and, due to this, it actually aided her in tidying up the entire dorm room.
Top to bottom, the room was clean at last. Not a stain in sight, Kaoru thought, smirking at her success. She pulled down the mask and sniffed the air, smelling a fresh lemony scent reach her nose. Kaoru breathed it in for the longest time until she grew light-headed and dizzy.
She stumbled for the sofa, slumping down on the soft cushions. Kaoru was close to melting in relaxation. She'd done an exceptional job with the dorm room, and now was nodding off from exhaustion.
Her eyes were shutting. Kaoru allowed for it to happen, letting them close on their own, thinking she'd just awaken before noon. And soon enough, the young Kamiya girl was drifting into a wonderment of sleep.
Kenshin studied himself through his stand-up mirror, barely nodding his head when he liked what he saw of the clothes he wore.
It hardly took the effort to just slip on a clean white button-up shirt with a pair of long pants(which he made sure that there were of no holes in the pockets this time). He adjusted the collar of the shirt, but stopped himself abruptly, seeing a small square cloaked in the recesses of his shirt pocket.
He retrieved it from inside and had a closer look.
His eyes darkened and his brows furrowed. It was a small photo of himself with her, both of them holding eachother arm in arm, like high school lovers. In the picture, he saw the soft but bright smile he had as he sat on the park bench, arms wrapped around the young female seated beside him. The female, too, was smiling a gentle, sweet smile that made it so gut-wrenching just to look at and made Kenshin's eyes almost well with tears.
Her black hair mixed with his red hair, her eyes partly closed and his the same.
Kenshin ran his index and middle finger upon the frozen girl who would spend eternity in the never moving world. He touched her cheek with his fingers, remembering the feel of that cheek as he would warmly embrace her in a passionate kiss.
He lied it as carefully as if it were fragile upon the coffee table. It felt as though half his life force went away with it as he abandoned the photo there on the table.
I have no time to remenance about the past, Kenshin told himself firmly, scooping up his keys in hand and went toward the main door of his home. What I should be thinking of now is of what food shall I bring as a token of my gratitude to that beautiful Kamiya girl...
He halted, mouth slightly open at what he'd just ran through his head. Did I...did I just call her beautiful?
Kenshin shrugged it off as nothing and opened the front door, stepping out into the humid air outside, still holding in his mind the picture of his deceased lover.
Meanwhile, Kaoru's eyes flew open the moment a loud knock wrapped at the door. She shot out of the sofa and lunged for it, a strange feeling floating inside her chest as she fumbled to unlock it.
It opened with a squeak.
Her heart dropped as she saw the person standing at her door. Kaoru's shoulders sagged in disappointment as the face of the man of whom she was looking at was her messy roommate: Sagara Sanosuke.
"Oh...its you." She added every last ounce of spite into her last word, glaring at him through slitted eyes. Sanosuke smirked.
"And a nice helloright back atcha', missy. What's gotten into you?"
Kaoru leaned in the doorway with a heavy sigh. "Nothing," she mumbled, still drowsy from sleep.
Sanosuke pinned her with his brown eyes, his suspicious gaze making Kaoru squirm in discomfort. She slipped inside, eyes still on him as she almost shouted, "If your going to come in, COME IN ALREADY." Sanosuke dipped his head, brushing past her into the room. She shut the door with her back. It shut with a loud slam.
Kaoru was furious with him. He made me clean up this ENTIRE ROOM! The thought of it made her want to pound the living crap out of him. Although, she merely dismissed it as something to tell him of later. For now, Kaoru had important business to attend to. Most of all, she was determined to make sure Sanosuke wouldnt interfere. Even if it meant kicking him out of the room, if thats what it would take.
The following evening, Kenshin was stepping up the stairs of the building, a covered platter in hand and his tennis shoes thudding with each step he made. He hummed to himself a song he had heard on the radio the other day, smiling wide and eyes shut.
The song lyrics ran through his head.
You make me act like a fool,
Forget how to breathe.
Shine like gold,
Buzz like a bee.
Just the thought of you can drive me wild...
Suddenly, a new, fresh image flashed inside his mind. It was of the Kamiya girl. Kenshin was caught off guard by this, slipping on the hardwood floor and soaring down the halls.
"Ah-a-uh!" he yelped, trying to stop but with each attempt almost tripping himself up.
Coincidently, Kaoru was wandering down the same hallway Kenshin was sliding down, eyes shut and humming the same song she, too, had heard on the radio the other day while the lyrics spun in her mind.
"Ah-a-uh! Miss Ka-mi-ya-AH!"
Kaoru opened her eyes, blinking. Did someone say my name?
She took a quick glimpse behind and saw no one. She took a glance in front of herself-
Kaoru's eyes flashed in alarm. There was Kenshin, slipping and sliding down the hall like it were an ice rink. His feet flailed to and fro and he was holding something rather tightly in his clenched hands. Kenshin's eyes were gianormous with fright and he sweat in a never ending downpour.
"MISS KAMIYA, LOOK OUT!"
Kaoru held her hands out, catching him by his shirt collar. He skidded to a stop. She pulled him up, exhaling when it was done. "Whoo!" she sighed, laughing at how his collar had unfolded and was now covering his neck and the way his pants were now scooted down on his hips, revealing a small portion of his underwear. Kenshin held the platter in hand as he used his free hand to hike up his pants. As he hoisted his pants up to his waist, Kenshin was going to get his shirt collar next.
Kaoru's small, lotion scented hands looped through the openings in his bent arms and handled his collar for him. She folded it down, her eyes full of concentration as she did so. "There," she said, patting his shoulder and smiling. He smiled back. "Thank you," he told her. Kaoru crossed her arms over her chest. Her smile was affectionate as she replied, "No problem."
Moments past, the two distracted with smiling at eachother, letting their thoughts travel.
Miss Kamiya is indeed a kind hearted person, Kenshin observed with a thoughtful look crossing his face.
I wonder what he thinks of me, thought Kaoru, nervously rubbing her arm with her hand and averting her eyes from him. She gaped mentally. Wait...why should I care what he thinks? He's only some average new guy showing up at the university. Its not like I should care...right?
Kenshin furrowed his brows, studying her facial expressions with each passing thought in her mind. Now she was red as a cherry, her eyes diliberately hidden from sight by her overhanging bangs.
I wonder what she's thinking right now. She sure seems embarrassed by something crossing her mind right about now. Could she be thinking of me?
Kenshin shook his head. No, of course not. Why did I think that just now? My, something about being around her really messes with my head.
At last, someone broke the silence, but it turned out not to be Kenshin nor Kaoru.
"Hey, missy, who ya talkin' to there?"
Kaoru tensed. No! She turned on her heels to face Kenshin. She touched his arm to grab his attention. Once his unusual violet eyes met with hers, she swallowed hard but murmured, "Um...could you stay here for me? It'll only be a second. I have to talk to someone."
Kenshin touched her hand. "Its fine by me, Miss Kamiya," he murmured back, eyes softening. "Take your time. I'll wait here for you, I promise."
Why is he looking at me like that? And why is he touching my hand? The mere sight of it was appauling, and making her blush in the process.
Kaoru didnt waste anymore time hanging about. She twirled on the heels of her shoes and made it to the tall man wearing a jet black jacket over a gray shirt with blue jeans and a red headband. He smirked at her but all he got in return was a punch to the arm. "Ow!" he winced, glaring at Kaoru. "Whatdya do that for?"
Kaoru pulled his head down to her level, eyes flaming with irritation. "Sano!" she hissed, checking over her shoulder to be sure Kenshin couldnt hear them. She faced Sanosuke soon after her quick glance back and went on. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Sanosuke unwrapped her hand from his headband, smiling in amusement and straightening up. "I temporarily live here," he replied sarcastically. Kaoru smacked Sanosuke upside the head and he grunted. "Stop with the sarcasm crap, Im being serious Sano! Just what the hell do you think your doing here? Cant you see I'm talking with someone?"
Sanosuke leaned to the side, glancing at the short red head standing yards away from them, admiring the Picasso painting on the opposite wall. He suppressed a laugh.
"Wait a sec, thats the guy you've been talking about? He's the one whose staying the night with us?"
Kaoru nodded. Then she placed her hands on her hips and scowled. "Is there something wrong with that?"
Sanosuke shut his eyes and shrugged nonchalantly, pressing against the wall beside a room door. A devious smile found its place on his face, replacing the joking smirk he usually wore. And his question sent her flying through the roof.
"No of course not. But I just wanna ask ya...is this guy, like, your boyfriend or something?"
"NO! OF COURSE HE'S NOT! KENSHIN'S JUST A NEW STUDENT AND THERES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING SPECIAL GOING ON BETWEEN US!"
Kaoru drew in a sharp breath, eyes like fire, staring darkly at Sanosuke. Behind her, Kenshin's head swiveled to face the stranger and the Kamiya girl, hearing his name. He stared a moment longer before suggesting he'd only imagined it and he got straight back to studying the paintings on the walls.
Sanosuke saw this, bending down to Kaoru's ear and whispering, "Well, hate to break it to ya, missy, but I think he just heard you." Kaoru's breath caught in her throat. Oh no...this cannot be happening!
She gave a sideways glance over her shoulder and saw Kenshin still looking at the paintings. The red head glanced back at Kaoru and waved cheerfully. Kaoru took her eyes off him instantly and distracted herself in tying her already tied shoes. Sanosuke knelt down in front of her and was smirking with a twinkle shining in his eyes.
"Oh, I see whats up. You two aren't dating, but you have a crush on him! That makes perfect sense!"
Kaoru's fist flew into his face. Sanosuke groaned in pain and fell backwards on the floor. Kaoru steamed. "Shut your face and take a nap!" she snapped, rising up and huffing at his immature outburst. Honestly, just who does Sano think he is, saying things like that! I dont have any sort of attraction to the guy, let alone know him well enough to even think of liking him!
Though, I wonder if Kenshin's seeing anyone.
"And heres the bathroom in case you need to find it." Kaoru had given Kenshin a tour of her dorm, not hesitating to show him around. Kenshin would nod with intrest and take in each of the area's structures, intrigued yet satisfied of the conditions of the room. She led him back to the beginning, the main room. There, Kaoru invited him to take a seat on the sofa while she would prepare something to eat.
While Kenshin seated himself onto the sofa, Sanosuke plopped down next to him with a smirk on his face. "Whats up?" asked Sanosuke, sounding friendly.
Kenshin folded his hands together on his lap and smiled with shut eyes. "Oh, nothing in particular," he replied, then returned the question with a, "How about yourself?" Sanosuke bit on the pencil in his mouth and shrugged. "Eh, nothin' special."
After a prolonged silence, Sanosuke spoke up again.
"So...just how old are you?"
That type of question, Kenshin didnt have any trouble with answering. "I'm eighteen, that I am. I recently graduated high school not too long ago and decided to head straight to college." He didnt bother asking Sanosuke his age for the sake of Sanosuke's privacy and instead asked, "So, what is your name? Earlier today, I saw you talking with Miss Kamiya, and pure curiosity made me want to ask you."
And at that moment, Sanosuke's eyes glinted with intrest. Hmm...I wonder what this guy means by 'pure curiosity made me want to ask you'?
"Sagara Sanosuke," he replied after a pause to revolve about the question for a second or two. "But you can just call me Sano like everyone else."
Kenshin dipped his head and offered a soft smile. "Thats fine with me," said Kenshin.
Sanosuke didnt pay any mind to this. He only focused on Kenshin's expressions to read what the red head was thinking. Nevertheless, Kenshin didnt let any of his thoughts be shown by his expression the entire time until Kaoru showing up in the room caught him off guard and made his eyebrows raise.
"Dinners about ready," she announced, squeezing in between Sanosuke and Kenshin. Sanosuke scrunched his nose in disgust. "Your making dinner?" Kaoru nodded proudly. "Yep, and its almost done!"
Sanosuke got up and went for the door. "Thanks," he grumbled. "But I think I'll take a rain check on that offer, Kaoru..."
Kaoru shot up and stalked to him, dragging him back to the sofa with a firm hold. "Its not an offer, Sano. Its more like a demand." She pushed him onto the sofa and growled, "And your not skipping out on it, either." Sanosuke sweatdropped, throwing his hands in front of himself in defense, waving them frantically up and down.
"Whoa, whoa, little missy! T-theres no need to get like that."
Kaoru's lips formed into a grin. Just then, the sound of smoke alarms rang at an ear-busting rate throughout the room. Her eyes widened in dismay. "Oh no! I forgot I still have that turkey in the oven!" she shrieked, whisking away into the small kitchen and opening the oven. Kaoru was greeted by a cloud of black smoke, and she spluttered a cough as it faded.
Kenshin stood up on a wooden stool tall enough for him to reach the smoke alarm attached to the roof. He had to stand on the tips of his toes, the stool being only an inch too short. His tongue stuck out the side of his mouth in his concentration mode. Finally, he managed to turn it off with a push of the flashing red button. Kenshin sighed with relief.
He was readying himself to scoot the stool to the opposite side of the kitchen to get the second smoke alarm, but Sanosuke beat him to it without even needing the assitance of a stool. Kenshin pouted at this.
Kaoru brought out the shriveled, dry black coal-like turkey. She frowned at its form and teared up. "Its ruined," she sniffed, holding back her tears as much as she was able.
Kenshin moved to her in the efforts to comfort her.
"It's okay, missy."
Once again, Sanosuke beat him straight to it and had a hand placed upon Kaoru's shoulder to assure her that it was, indeed, okay. Kenshin's eye twitched.
Kaoru peered back at Sanosuke, sniffling and eyes glazed with held back wet tears. "Y-you really...t-t-think so?"
He nodded, eyes half shut and his smile gentle looking and sympathetic as can be. Kenshin restrained himself from getting involved and causing a scene.
Kaoru wiped away a single tear that escaped out of the corner of her eye and sniffed again, smile quivering. "Thank you, Sano. You always have a way with words." Sanosuke turned her to face him, eyes beginning to burn with affection. "Anything for you, missy. After all, what are boyfriends for?"
"Oh Sano! I love you!" Kaoru yelped with joy, embracing him in a warm, loving hug.
Sanosuke hugged her back with the same warmth and love that she had and they looked eachother in the eye, leaning forward, close enough to where their lips could touch...
"Stop this nonesense, now!"
"Huh?"
Kaoru and Sanosuke stared in unison at the red head, Kaoru having a handfull of Sanosuke's shirt clenched in her fist as she was originally beating him with her wooden spoon. Sanosuke rubbed the lumps forming on his head, wincing as it stung to touch it. Kenshin sweatdropped.
"Uh..." He trailed off. I was just imagining that the whole time?
None of it was actually happening?
"...shin...? Kenshin?"
Kaoru poked Kenshin lightly in the shoulder with her wooden spoon. She got no response from the gaping, dazed red head. Sanosuke rose behind her and gazed at Kenshin with an arched brow. "Is he even alive?" said Sanosuke, watching as a fly zooped onto Kenshin's cheek and crawled along his frozen face.
She shot him a sarcastic sneer. "No, Sano, he died standing up. Stop asking baka questions like that and help me get him to the sofa!"
He sighed and reluctantly did as he was told, getting up behind the petrified boy and lacing his arms beneath Kenshin's. Kaoru crouched down and grabbed Kenshin's feet, looking back up at Sanosuke with serious eyes. "On the count of three," she told him. Sanosuke braced himself.
"Ready? One...two...three!"
Kaoru heaved a heavy grunt and hoisted Kenshin's feet up fast. Sanosuke's legs buckled under the red head's weight and he groaned as he tried bringing Kenshin upright. "Damn!" he grumbled, sweating. "Why is he so darn heavy?"
Kaoru flared. "Stop complaining and move!"
He carefully placed each foot one step back at a time, nervous and swallowing hard with each step. Kaoru held up Kenshin's feet, her eyes focused on his face. What happened to make you like this? she wondered, worried enough about him already without having to deal with this sort of problem. Could it be that he's sick?
While in Kenshin's mind, his thoughts revolved around a different matter.
I could've sworn it was real! What is WRONG with me?
And that brings us to the end of
chapter 3 :)
Thanks for reading! I hope you
enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it!
R&R and have a great day
See you later!
-MrFoshizzleProTheWanderor