Lè Rose

By: BrokenSonnet32

Disclaimer: They are not mine.

Chapter 3: Kaoru's Bad Day

"Where were you yesterday?! I've searched all over for you!"

Was Misao's very 'lively' greeting when Kaoru stopped by her locker to pick some school things out (Note: I'm not really sure if college students have regular lockers but let's just assume they have, okay?).

"I'm sorry, Misao-chan… it's just that I run into—" but Kaoru's explanation was left hanging in the air as Misao made an annoyed growl. Kaoru took that as her cue to keep her mouth shut.

"And I spent day and night planning everything too—" Kaoru's eyes widened as she watched her petite friend's disappointed face, "—I even reserved a table in this really classy restaurant too!"

"You can't be that serious! I mean a 'classy restaurant'?!" Kaoru frowned, "I thought we're just going to the mall or something—"

"Mou! The poor man waited for you in vain…" Misao gloomily sighed, obviously without thinking. Kaoru's brows rose as she watched how her friend's eyes suddenly turned wide as saucers as she finally realized her slip.

"So…" Kaoru hissed suspiciously, "There's a man involved… again." she finished emphasizing some words. She sighed when Misao only gave her one sheepish smile.

"Remind me to thank Ryuuzaburo-san…" Kaoru sighed, "He saved me from another one of your schemes…"

"Mou! You make it sound like I'm so mean…" Misao pouted as she walked beside her best friend, "You knew that I'm only doing this for your good."

Kaoru sighed again, "And how many times do I have to tell you that…"

"Yeah, yeah… 'you're not interested and have decided long ago to die an old maid'…" Misao said, screwing her face to imitate Kaoru. "Geez! You're no fun!"

Kaoru only laughed and shook her head as Misao continued on and on about this 'poor man'.

-XXX-

Classes had been a very exhausting one for Kaoru. The fact that her professors almost always seemed to have decided to throw upon them different sets of homework known to a student at the very same day never failed to make her wonder.

"Kao-chan!"

Kaoru smiled in relief as she found Misao's hopping figure in front of her locker. Carefully treading through the crowded hallways, she made her way to her ever energetic friend.

"How's your classes?" Misao asked as Kaoru took a few things from her locker.

"Exhausting as ever." Kaoru replied with a sigh.

"Mine is just the same…" Misao shrugged as they made their way out of the school building. "It was a good thing that my professor was very good-looking… half the reason most of my classmates were still awake was because they were staring at him!"

Kaoru's smile widened as she watched Misao screwed up her face as she said this. With a shrug, Kaoru asked, "Well, aren't you the same?"

"How could you ever think of that?!" Misao said, looking very scandalized.

"Nothing…" Kaoru shrugged, trying so hard to stop herself from giggling, "I just thought I know a certain someone who would spend most of her lunch break sitting in the library to… er… study."

"Mou! I'm not studying Aoshi-sama! I swear I'm not!" Misao said very quickly with her face turning beet red.

"Mou! I didn't say that!" Kaoru giggled, this time.

Misao only pouted and pretended to adjust the straps of her bag on her shoulder. Kaoru only shook her head and trained her eyes up ahead.

"Konnichiwa, tanuki-chan!" came a familiar greeting from behind. Misao and Kaoru turned to find Takani Megumi walking not too far from them.

"Mou! I told you to stop calling me that…" Kaoru whispered as Misao bowed to the newcomer.

"Ah… Misao-chan…" Megumi smiled at the smaller girl, "Going home?"

"Hai." Kaoru nodded, "I still have loads of homework to finish."

"Mou! You're no fun." Megumi shook her head and sighed, "How can you find yourself a boyfriend if you're being like that?"

"My sentiments exactly!" Misao eagerly chirped. Kaoru could only sigh.

"I don't see the rooster hanging around." Kaoru said, noting the absence of the tall spiky-haired man.

"Basketball practice." Megumi stated with a shrug, but Kaoru could see a faint blush on her friend's face.

"Oh yes…" Misao nodded, "Sagara-san is a member of the varsity too! But I thought their practice is cancelled…" she added.

Kaoru sighed – aside from staying at the library to see her 'Aoshi-sama', Misao's other hobby is to stay at the school gym to watch/cheer for her 'Aoshi-sama' practice with the other varsity members.

"I never knew you had that kind of relationship now, huh?" Misao continued with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Ah… too much influence from the tanuki…" Megumi said with a straight face, though Kaoru smirked at how Megumi's ears turned bright red.

"Anyway…" Megumi shook her head, "Enough about that… Don't you two have any plans or something?"

"Well, I've got homew—" but before Kaoru could even finish, Misao was already shaking her head 'no' and had grabbed a firm hold of Kaoru's left arm.

"C'mon… I heard there's a big sale going on!" Misao said happily.

And for such a small girl, Misao had the grip of a man ten times her own size – Kaoru had learned to realize that the very hard way.

-XXX-

Afternoon had found Kaoru and her two friends lounging in one fastfood chain with several shopping bags. Misao, hugging one dear shopping bag (that contained a cute set of doll shoes), was talking nonstop about her successful fight over the treasured item against a bunch of sullen-looking teenagers.

"I even got hit in the face! Mou!" Misao pouted, absently rubbing her left cheek.

"Well, you got your shoes." Megumi smiled, actually amazed at the power this small girl possessed. And with that in mind, she decided never to get on the bad side of this ever-cheerful girl.

"Mou! How will you carry all of those?" Kaoru frowned, eyeing the mountain of shopping bags Misao (and Megumi) had thrown in three chairs.

"I'll trouble myself about that later." Misao could only shrug. Kaoru shook her head in disbelief.

"I'll just go powder my nose." Megumi announced as she stood up. "Coming?" she raised an eyebrow at the other two girls. Kaoru could've sworn she saw something glint in the woman's eyes as it met that of Misao's.

"Are you coming, Kaoru?" Misao grinned and stood up.

"Nah… I'll watch your things." Kaoru shook her head and watched her two friends walk to the ladies' room.

Fifteen minutes had passed since her two friends had left – Kaoru frowned and decided to just order another meal as she waited for her friends.

Twenty minutes – Kaoru started eating absently while throwing looks at the direction of the ladies' room.

Half an hour later – Kaoru had already finished her meal and was starting to feel suspicious ('Honestly… how long does it take to powder your nose?!'). And with that in mind, she marched her way to the ladies' room.

She pushed the door a little open and frowned as she heard Megumi's and Misao's voices from the inside, with a frown Kaoru peeked through the small gap on the door.

"Are you sure about this, Megumi-san?" Misao was saying.

"Of course." Megumi replied, "I already have Sano take him here. That was him who has just called. He said they're on their way here."

"So… the plan is that we'll accidentally meet up with Sano and your friend and then we'll introduce him to Kao-chan!" Misao giggled, "Mou! That was really cunning of you!"

"Well… we better get going… before Kaoru starts being suspicious."

But Kaoru was already a few steps ahead of them – and was already out of the place (after leaving a small note on their abandoned table) before Megumi and Misao even knew it.

-XXX-

"Goodness! I should've known!" Kaoru sighed, plopping down a nearby bench, "I should've have known they were up to something!"

She sighed, blowing some dark strands out of her face. With another sigh, she took a quick glance on her watch.

"Mou!" she sighed again, "This sucks… Maybe I should just go home." and with that, she stood up and adjusting the straps of her bag on her shoulder. She has just taken not more than ten steps when she felt herself collide with something… or rather someone…

'Great!' Kaoru hissed painfully, 'Just great!'

"Kaoru-dono?" said the someone she had collided with, followed by an extended hand on her face. Kaoru looked up to see none other than Kenshin, looking just as surprised as her.

"We should stop meeting like this!" Kaoru smiled in relief, accepting his hand. "Thank you."

Kenshin only chuckled, "You alone?" he asked, automatically taking her things before Kaoru could even utter a word.

"You should really consider being a 'thief' as a job." Kaoru said breathlessly, "You're quick."

"Thank you." he smiled.

"Actually I was with my friends." Kaoru sighed as she started to walk, Kenshin beside her in an instant. "But…"

"…but?"

"But…" Kaoru bit her lip and fixed her gaze on the ground, "…something came up and I have to leave."

"I see." Kenshin nodded.

"How about you?" she looked up at his smiling self, "Are you alone?"

"I was supposed to meet someone." was his quick answer.

" 'Supposed to meet?' " Kaoru raised an eyebrow.

"The woman seemed to have disappeared somewhere before I got the chance to meet her." Kenshin shrugged and turned to give her a smile, "But it's alright. I'm not really interested in meeting someone. I just thought it would be rude to turn down a favor."

"You're just too nice!" she said without thinking. Kaoru's face reddened as she realized what she just said and bent her head down in embarrassment.

"Is that a good thing?"

"I suppose it is."

Kaoru bit her lip, feeling the warmth spreading on her face. She took a quick glance at the suddenly silent man walking beside her, only to realize that he was regarding her with an unreadable set of amethyst eyes. She quickly tore her eyes from him and frowned at her shoes.

"That's a relief." he said after a few more moment of silence.

"Huh?" Kaoru blinked and was forced to look up.

Kenshin only gave her a smile and started to walk ahead of her. Kaoru has never been as confused before.

The pair ended up talking about how their day had been; and when Kaoru's stomach made a rather noisy protest (making the girl turn beet red), Kenshin took her to a small restaurant for dinner ('My treat, don't worry…').

And just like the night before, Kenshin walked Kaoru to her house – bag, books and all.

"Thanks again." Kaoru smiled as she took her books from Kenshin.

"It is not a problem." Kenshin smiled back, "I enjoyed your company."

Kaoru bit her lip and began fidgeting with her books, "Uhm… Kenshin…" she called when the man turned to leave, "Don't you want to stop for a cup of tea or something?"

But before Kenshin could answer, his cell phone disrupted the silence of the night. He gave her one apologetic smile.

"It's alright." she smiled, though a little disappointed. "I'll just see you when I see you, ne?"

"Hai."

"You really should answer that phone, you know?" and as Kaoru watched the redheaded man bow and turned to leave, she couldn't stop the smile creeping up her suddenly warm face.

The day wasn't that bad after all…

(To be continued…)

A/N: Sorry for the very late update, I was rather busy with school and everything. I hope that this chapter can make up for the late update :) And please, don't forget your reviews… Til next chapter!