9.16.10

I have just discovered the pleasure of fanfiction! \(^o^)/

Whenever I'm writing my soon-to-be chapter (which is based from an outline that I already had before the prologue), I realize that I get carried away and that's when ideas pop. To my surprise, it brings my story to a less-boring state (I hope I'm right about this) that I now find it addictive. It's making me excited to write more because I feel like I myself will be surprised with the next turn of events!

Disclaimer:
Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki.


A Ninja Girl's Romantic Story
~ Chapter 2 ~

SLUMBER PARTAAAY! (GIRL MODE SWITCH ON!)

Isa fulfilled her promise and arrived at exact 6. Kaoru was pouting a bit, but she was just glad her closest friend finally arrived that she instantly cheered up and dragged Isa to a nearby grocery store right away. She already had all the girly stuffs bought beforehand, so the only thing that needs to be done is to buy lots and lots of food and beer for the night and the rest of the weekend. She was never a good cook and as much as she hates to admit it, take-out foods are necessary for tonight. The last time she cooked a feast for a slumber party, her friends' stomachs got sick that the party crowd moved to the bathroom. Her friends looked like the epitome of weakness and yet nobody could verbal abuse her because the girls were busy crying internally, writhing in pain as they fall in line for the toilet.

Isa's heart warmed as soon as she saw Kaoru's expectant face. There is just this warm, welcoming feeling when you see someone so happy to see you...She'd been away from her ninja family for so long that seeing Kaoru so loud and happy like that reminds her that she is loved. The two exchanged exaggerated hugs like they didn't see each other every week. Their other friend, Megumi, won't be arriving until 7 because of her training. Takani Megumi is a medical student who's very passionate about her career. She also came from a wealthy family composed mostly of doctors that her parents with high standards, along with her strong passion, just won't let her leave early on a Saturday for a party. Well, at least that makes her happy.

The determination to look "prettier than Megumi when she arrives" was completely forgotten by Kaoru and there was a smug smile on Isa's face as she let the girl drag her to pick up unhealthy foods here and there. Well, it wasn't much of a "drag" later because soon, Isa's face lit up and then she herself was jumping around, willingly contributing to the growing pile on their basket. Their shameless pick of a deadly sin (Gluttony) was finally at its fullest when they bought luscious take-out dinner at the neighbouring restaurant. After all, Kaoru still has a growing boy at home who would love an actual dinner.


The said "boy" waiting for Kaoru is pacing back and forth inside the living room. At 15, the boy wasn't really looking boyish anymore, especially when he points out to Kaoru that he's the responsible one because he's the life-saver who cooks LBM-safe food in the family. Life outside the bathroom wouldn't exist for the both of them if Kaoru is constantly allowed in the kitchen.

Myoujin Yahiko had known how to cook ever since he could remember. Being Kaoru's half-brother and only family, he had to learn it to survive. "A strong stomach shall live and a weak one shall die", that was what he used to believe ages ago until he finally decided that learning how to cook would better ensure his survival.

Tonight, however, is different because his sister promised to bring home drool-worthy food from a fine restaurant. He agreed because he passed by the resto the other day, the price list displayed outside was scrunching up his face, but the expression of the people eating inside was the opposite. It was the look of eternal bliss! He also secretly called the restaurant after Kaoru told her about it and he confirmed himself that his sister wasn't doing any part-time job there. He was completely sure that it's safe. He'd been pacing for some time now, thinking if his sister would get the habit of treating him dinner more often, when his stomached growled, like a dragon living inside is at rage, announcing that it would spit fire and create a hole there any minute. Now he is wondering if the drool-worthy food is worth the wait, too.


No noticeable lights were on except the one illuminating the front door. Did Yahiko fell asleep? He was all starry-eyed when I reminded him tonight's my treat...

Kaoru hopped towards the steps on the front door, the countless bags of food show no signs of being heavy when in the hands of the master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. She excitedly opened the door and faced a complete darkness... with mysterious growling sounds.

And then she found herself face-to-face with what seemed like the floating head of her brother. Time stopped. Her breath hitched. And then...

"KYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Is that it?" The emotionless head of Yahiko pointed to Kaoru's food bags with his eyes.

"IYA, IYAAAA, KIYAAAYAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

On Yahiko's perspective, Isa popped out of Kaoru's back.

"Good evening, kid! Looking more and more manly with those black spikes, eh?"

Kaoru is still frozen in shock, with the look of undeniable horror on her face.

"Oh, here's your share, by the way." Isa handed Yahiko a plastic bag.

And then Yahiko's head disappeared in the darkness, not even a single "thank you" was heard.

A few moments later and Kaoru went back to earth. "Teme...!"


Everyone was laughing hard. Kaoru's attempt to throw curses on the dining table was far from the loud noises giving life to the whole house.

"So you see, Kaoru only stood there the whole time I was handing Yahiko the food. She seriously looked like a statue! Her color's similar to one, too! GRAY! Hahahaha!"

Isa continued bursting in laughter in a very unlady-like manner. She is just the type who would act as the storyteller when it comes "spreading the love" and recalling embarrassing situations.

Megumi arrived shortly after Yahiko's "floating head" faded to black and instead of her girlfriend giving her a hug, what she saw was Isa laughing her way inside the dark house and Kaoru muttering a string of curses while looking at HER direction.

Of course, Kaoru didn't mean to be rude to her friend who would complete the "party team". She was just so mad and embarrassed that she couldn't help but swear, as if swearing would shout her way out of the humiliation she felt. Megumi happened to arrive at the wrong moment and Kaoru's hell-of-a-stare was shot directly at her while she was getting out of her car, the continuous auto-swearing-mode-of-Kaoru not wearing off at the disturbance.

To Kaoru's dismay, her "rude welcoming" had only triggered the obligatory popping out of Megumi's almost-visible fox ears.

"Ohohohohohohohohoho~" Megumi's laugh was very distinguishable among the dinner table occupants.

"Ohohohohohohohohohohohoho~" Could it get any longer?

"Chill up, sis. They say 'laughter is the best medicine'!" Yahiko said in between stuffing his mouth full.

"And here you are, doing great favors for your soon-to-be doctor friend who has had a long day! Ohoh~" Megumi teased.

"Stupid black turtleneck, stupid dragon-like stomach... Why the hell were the lights off anyway?" Kaoru spat.

"The one in the kitchen was on. I was too hungry to notice and it's not my fault that you can't see it from outside. Really. Big deal. Not everyone acts like they're in a horror movie." Yahiko may love her sister, but his sharp mouth will always be an issue.

"I've had enough laughter for a week, ne, let's not watch anymore comedies later, ok." Isa spoke again.

"Oooooooow all of you, just shut up and eat please. Celebrate the fact that this is not my cooking. And Yahiko, don't wear that damn shirt ever again. You look like some drama-and-romance-actor wannabe."

On why she concluded that on Yahiko's shirt, nobody understood.

"WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA." was everyone's response.

"Yeah, whatever, sis." Yahiko answered much later because of the heavy laughing.

"Now I need my beauty rituals even more. Please get this slumber party on..." was Kaoru's last words before she shut her mouth and just let everyone get their fill of poking fun at her silliness.


The rest of the night went well. After enjoying dinner and a few shots of vodka, Yahiko resigned to his bedroom and played loud music to block noises that would surely come from the girls.

The girls changed to their pajamas and comfortable clothes and started laying out their "beauty tools" on the floor of Kaoru's huge bedroom. Kaoru's collection of nail polishes was there along with a lot of make-up that Isa has never tried or heard of. The girl likes prettying up, but she was never one for taking it to the next level. She just doesn't see the point of putting layered make-ups on her face. She thinks it's more intimidating and uncomfortable rather than appealing to the opposite sex. If not for the advance graduation gift that Aoshi-sama sent her, she wouldn't agree to excessively attempt to make herself look good for a couple of hours that would obviously fade the moment she takes a bath the next day.

So tonight, aside from putting on a cute nail polish, she has agreed to allow Kaoru and Megumi to doll her up in the name of girl-bonding and friendship. She took out her brand new DSLR with macro lens and started taking random pictures to capture the temporary beauty that these make-ups bring. She also took close-up shots and she was really pleased at how the eye shadows looked like colorful sand when taken using her macro lens. Aoshi-sama never fails to spoil her with gifts. Well, she's graduating in a few weeks, anyway, so she believes she deserves it. She took "glamour shots"with every opportunity she got (because the two thought that she was trying to get away by excusing herself as the "photographer") and hoped that her Aoshi-sama would agree that she looked more mature and beautiful in those pictures.

The "vanity phase" went on and the whole time the girls were busy experimenting with different make-up colors and asking Megumi's opinion on what the guys ogling her find attractive, the TV inside the room was turned on, on an embarrassingly sappy love story that would be fun to listen to on a girls' night, but would never be fun to spend your money to watch on inside the theatres. They simply love it that way - they all agree that doing things you wouldn't usually do would be so much fun if you'll give it a try with your girlfriends...

On an all-girl' slumber party...

On a weekend...

On the last chance you can be together for really long hours before one of you returns home to Kyoto.


Ano... this is my attempt at some humor + my desire to make a super girly chappie. ^^

While this might seem like a "filler" chapter, I promise that this will lead us to finding more about Isa's involvement to the Juppongatana.

Aoshi-sama, sadly, won't make his official appearance yet, so I am making use of the unromantic atmosphere to explore potential genres. I can't help it, I want to try writing as many as I can and connect it all in this fic. I also did some thinking and decided that if I were the reader of my fic, I'd be bored if it's crime-lords-fear-them all the way. I need to explore more emotions to make this realistic.

Last but not the least, rest assure that this is an Aoshi-Misao fic. (Rinny! Thank you for reading/reviewing. I appreciate it!) :)