Chapter 10: Gift

Disclaimer: I don't own RK!

Author's notes: Yay! I'm editing in fanfiction.net, so this chapter looks...more captivatibng than ever, ne?

Next day came...

"Kaoru-chan!!!!!" Megumi suddenly called, catching up at me while I was walking towards the classroom from the kiosk.

I paused and looked at Megumi. There was an obvious happiness written on her face. "What?" I asked.

"I'm so happy, Kaoru-chan!! I can't explain my happiness in words!!" Megumi exclaimed as she giggled and blushed red.

"Why are you so happy?" I asked, a smile forming at the corners of my lips.

"Kenshin gave me a gift last night!!" Megumi exclaimed, giggling and blushing deeper than ever.

"Last night?" I asked.

"Yup! He came over our home last night at 7:30 pm!" Megumi said and started walking ahead of me.

I walked towards her. "7:30 pm? What did he give?" I asked curious. Then that means...Kenshin made his way to Megumi's house first before mine?

Megumi smiled and searched for something in her secret pocket at the right side of our skirt. She showed me a glass key chain, maybe measured up to 3 inches with designs of Hello Kitty and a background of light violet. "This is so cute!! Maybe he bought this from the 100 yen shop!"

I smiled. "Ah...yeah." I sighed and walked beside Megumi. "Megumi-chan?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you think a teddy bear in medium size with a pink color with a ribbon around its neck costs?" I asked, looking down at the ground.

"Why? Did you receive something like that?" Megumi asked, noticing how long my description was.

I nodded.

"From whom?"

I shivered. "From my first brother."

"Ah... I think it costs about...um...maybe 1,000 yen or something? I saw one like that in a Blue Magic store and it's very expensive because it's imported." Megumi explained.

My grip on my bag tightened. "It can't be found in any 100 yen shops?"

"Nope, unless it's small and fake." Megumi said. "Hey! Class is starting! Let's hurry up!" Megumi exclaimed and walked faster.

My eyes widened and looked at the shiny floor below.

Flashback...

I released some tapes from the paper bag and there was an opening. I grew curious of what was inside because it was wrapped in a clean brown paper. I lifted the thing up and pressed it lightly. It was soft, and my curiosity grew more.

"I wonder what it is..." I whispered as I calmly released the pink ribbon wrapped around it. I finally released it and reached inside. I touched something fluffy and soft.

Maybe a puppy? No way. It would not breathe and if it was a puppy, it was warm!

I pulled my arms and saw a pink bear in medium size with a ribbon around its neck. "Kawaii..." I whispered and hugged it as I lie down on the sofa. It smelled good, and I hugged it more tightly. I bolted up and looked at the bear. "Hmm... I wonder if this bear can be bought in a 100 yen shop..." I mumbled my voice deep and thick with confusion.

(A/N: For those who read Love in Spring: Remember Kenshin's gift to Kaoru back when it was Christmas? I based it on this lovely gift and only changed its color to lavender...)

I locked the main door of the house and also the back door. I went over the kitchen to the ref to grab something to drink. I bent low, searching. I found the iced coffee drink that I bought yesterday and pulled it out of the ref. I poured it on a glass and started making my upstairs, the pink bear hugged tightly with my right arm.

I drank the cold coffee and sat up on my bed. It was so late and I still have classes tomorrow. I turned on the computer and again went in fanfiction.net to read some Naruto, Get Backers, Chobits, Yami no Matsuei and Clamp Gakuen Tanteidan. My eyes grew tired and I shut down the computer.

I almost crawled towards my bed to sleep. I was tired already and it was time to sleep.

Oyasumi nasai...

I hugged the bear again and closed my eyes slowly before I drifted to the curtain of dreams...

End of flashback...

"Hey slowpoke! We'll be late for class!" Megumi called, giggling.

I tilted my head up and blinked. I ran towards Megumi. "Ah, chotto! Matte yo!" I exclaimed.

Class was more boring than ever.

GAAHH!!! I screamed inside.

My right elbow rested on the desk and my cheek rested on my palm. It was boring and the sensei was discussing about home economics or something that I already knew.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The whole class glanced up at the visitor.

"Sensei, Yumi-san is here!" my male classmate exclaimed, raising his hand.

The sensei looked over at Yumi. "Ah? What is it?"

"A-no...sensei, Rijichou is calling for the U.N. participants to practice..." Yumi explained.

The sensei fixed her eyeglasses and looked at the whole class. "Whoever are the representatives, go." She said and continued writing something on the board.

I stood up the second Kenshin stood up. I looked at him and he nodded. I went out of the classroom first and Yumi stepped beside me, and I was aware that Kenshin was following us behind our backs.

"Ne, Kaoru-chan?" Yumi whispered.

"Nn?"

"Do you already know the one who gave you the love letter?" Yumi said, straight.

My eyes widened and looked at Yumi in disbelief. "Wha?"

"Ah, I'll go first to the quadrangle. Ja na." Kenshin said and walked away swiftly.

I looked at Kenshin retreating and looked back at my friend. "How did you know?" I whispered, still walking.

Yumi giggled. "Gods, are you already an old timer? You're so forgetful!" Yumi exclaimed and laughed.

"Yeah, I intend to forget things so easily... Ah! No, really. How did you know?" I asked, curious.

Yumi sighed and smiled at me. "Suzume is my younger sister for God's sake!! You even visited us one time when I begged you to be my one-day tutor last year!"

I blinked. "Ah, right."

"Besides, I'm noticing that there's someone always calling Suzume at home and I hear always saying, "I know. I'm watching her."" Yumi explained.

"Uh?"

Yumi giggled again. "Really, Kaoru-chan! You seem to forget yourself!" she exclaimed. "I can get things out of Suzume easily, because I'm her big sister."

"Then that means...you know who gave me that letter?" I asked, my heart fluttering.

"Mochiron!" Yumi exclaimed.

"Who?"

"Himitsu!" (Secret!)

"Eh...really." I said and whispered. I looked around and it seems we already arrive at the quadrangle.

(A/N: For those who understand Tagalog: The expression I used above was really, "Ang labo mo naman o." I use that expression always when they don't tell me their secrets!)

I searched for Kenshin and saw him leaning on the wall, waiting for me. I ran up to him. "Himura! Did you wait long?" I asked.

"Not really." Kenshin said and smiled. He looked away.

I looked at him and blushed. "A-no...arigatoo for the gift." I whispered, and I blushed more.

Kenshin seemed to have gone slightly pick and gave a meaningful cough. "Uh...yeah. Dou itashimashita." Kenshin and was still looking away. Seconds ticked and he looked at me and smiled. "How did you feel when you saw it?"

"I'm awed." I said and giggled, hearing Kenshin chuckle.

"I'm awed too because of your answer." Kenshin said and chuckled again.

I tilted my head up and studied him. I looked pretty small compared to him, because I was at his neck level.

"U.N. participants, please line up according to country." Rijichou announced suddenly.

I looked back and turned to Kenshin. "Let's go," I said, preparing to walk away.

"Sure." Kenshin said and walked ahead of me.

I blinked and walked beside me. "You are not a gentleman, are you? Honestly!"

"Huh? What did I do now?" Kenshin asked.

"How can you let a lady walk behind you when men always say, "girls first"?" I asked, beginning to laugh.

"Well, yes, right...sorry." Kenshin said.

I smiled a saddened smile. Kenshin was acting pretty serious. "Why are you acting so nervous and serious?" I asked.

"No, I'm not." Kenshin said, back to his 'cool' personality.

I raised my eyebrows. "Well...ok, if you say so." I said and walked towards the line.

Minutes passed and it was our turn to walk around the quadrangle from the stage.

"Canada!" Rijichou exclaimed.

We've been practicing this for a long time so I wasn't nervous anymore. I blushed slightly and entwined my fingers with Kenshin's.

Kenshin looked at me and smiled, holding my hand tightly.

"Let's practice hard, ok?" I said and looked at the stairs in front of me.

"Ah..." Kenshin said and began walking down the long staircase with me.

At last, October came in Japan. U.N. was nearing, and I wasn't feeling nervous at all!

Author's notes: Konnichiwa! Sayonara! (What was that?)

TBC...