I barely understand myself, you guys. I have nothing to do, I sit around and watch T.V... I have a 30 page paper to write, I upload a chapter to -_- Anyway, here's the next installment! Sorry it took forever, I've been fudging around with some future chapters and trying to figure out what things I want to happen in what order. . Well, we'll see what I decide when we get there, I guess! Til then, this chapter is short, sweet, and a fun ride! ;)
I own not a thing.
Ignorance is bliss, and what better to be happily ignorant than to drown it all in alcohol...
I was eyeing Kaoru wearily and I couldn't help it. Truthfully, as a drunk, she wasn't that bad, but Megumi's words of caution bemused me and worried me. Should I whisk Kaoru away like I'd promised? Or should I just let her get everything out? She always seemed wound so tight. Maybe this was a good thing?
I sat on the lawn, back leaning against the thick trunk of a tall tree. Kaoru stood a few feet in front of me, eyes closed, swaying to the music with the moonlight playing over her. I was starting to understand her better, but the more I understood, the more confused I got, if that makes any sense. I tried grilling Sano more than once, but that didn't help. I even thought about asking Megumi but she scares me a little, so that's out.
I sighed and shifted my position. One of Kaoru's blue eyes popped open and studied me before it closed again. There was a small smile on her lips. I would never say it to her, but I liked her better without her glasses. Her eyes were too nice to be hidden behind lenses. My mind flicked back to earlier that day when she stood in front of me in a fitted tank top and some sweats. The unbidden thought that she shouldn't hide behind ugly, baggy clothes came to me and I pushed it back fiercely. I'd promised Sano the night after we went to the mall that I wouldn't touch Kaoru. He said that she didn't need someone like me messing with her. I could still see his face, protective and deadly serious. If it came down to Kaoru or me, there was no question. I couldn't argue though, Sano knew all about my past. It was clear that I had no business doing anything with Kaoru.
As if she had heard her name in my thoughts, she spun herself in a circle and ungraciously plopped herself on the ground in front of me. A few people giggled at her and walked passed. Some of the women's swim team had been looking at me and I could feel them smiling, but it was a vicious smile. I could practically see them thinking thoughts of ill will toward Kaoru who was now staring at me with dazed eyes.
"Kenshin?" She asked tentatively, pushing up the non-existent glasses on her face. It was a habit of hers I found almost endearing. It was one of the few things I would miss if she did lose the glasses.
I tilted my head and studied her shy expression before replying, "Yeah?"
"Why do people like you? I mean, you're such an ass!" She started to laugh uncontrollably. Despite the fact that I had been expecting her to say something serious, I smiled.
"Well, Brat it helps that I'm nicer than you," I shot back.
"Probably," She said almost soberly, laying down onto her back. My eyebrows raised and I opened my mouth to continue on Kaoru's thought, but suddenly she launched herself up, staggered a bit, and began lurching toward the house. I hopped up to follow after her.
"Where are you going?"
" Where are you going? I don't need you to baby sit me." Kaoru turned toward me and set her hands on her hips. She went to push the glasses up her nose again, no doubt indigently, but the lack of anything on her face caused her to simply poke the skin between her eyes. I bit back a laugh.
"Whaaat!" She huffed, slurring. I shrugged, arms open to the side in a stance that clearly said "I don't know!"
"I can't stand people like you," she jabbed her finger into my chest. She turned back towards the house and stumbled further, "you're smart, and cocky, and think just because you're good looking you can do what you want." She stopped and swayed for a moment. I held my arms out to catch her, just in case, but she started walking again. "I don't think your good looking," she amended, "but your fanclub, they don't have good taste."
"I think I'm great," I smiled, deciding that I much preferred the drunk Kaoru to the sober one.
"You don't have a valid opinion," She called back at me over her shoulder as she walked through the front door of the house.
I laughed and out of curiosity asked, "why's that?"
"Because…" She turned, lost her balance, and fell against me. She's soft, was all I had time to think before she said a quiet "Oh" And withdrew herself from my arms. I reminded myself of the promise I made to Sano and continued to follow her slow progress around the house.
"Because what?" I asked, urging her to finish her thought.
"What?" She looked back at me, her eyes confused. She clearly didn't remember what she had been babbling about. "I need to sit for a second," she said and instantly dropped to the ground on her butt. I fought off a laugh as she muttered, "ow."
"You know, you're really entertaining when drunk." I told her as I sat next to her on the floor. People milled around us, drinks in hand. A few of them eyed us, clearly curious. I frowned. I hated high school politics.
"Stop that," Kaoru said suddenly, leaning close to peer into my face.
"Stop what?"
"You look all intense. You should relax. I'll get you a drink..." She said but made no move to get up. Instead she started to laugh, "I would get you one, but I can't move straight!"
"Yeah, I noticed that," I said, draping an arm across her shoulders.
"Ooo, are you hitting on me?" She batted her eyes and tossed her hair back. It fell around my arm softly.
"And if I was?" I said, baiting her.
"Pssssh, you don't want me! You want Megumi. You like the high maintenance, girly, drool-all-over-you type. Not that Megumi would drool, but you get my point." Her face was a cute shade of pink and I fought not to tuck a few strands of her hair behind her ear.
"I saw you being girly. It was," I paused, "…odd."
"That's all I am to you, huh? Odd!" Kaoru threw her hands up as if in exasperation and struggled to get up. I tried to help her, but she shrugged me off. "You know what, Jackass? I used to be the shit back in the day. I was the girl everyone wanted to be, I was the girl every guy wanted, I was at the top of the high school food chain." I stayed still, afraid if I moved she'd stop talking, "But look at me now. I'm… I don't even know. I'm done blending in with the wall. I need to be free." She hesitated and looked down at herself, "I need to be free of these awful clothes!"
That was it; I couldn't help it, I started to laugh. Kaoru glared at me before turning around and walking through the house once more. I got up and trailed after her. This time we moved in silence, but I could see the tension in her shoulders as we moved from the living room to a guest room, to the bathroom, and the entertainment room.
"What are you looking for?" I finally asked.
"I lost the pool." She responded. I had a brief moment where I tried to remember why Kaoru wanting to swim was a bad thing. Then, right as we entered the kitchen I remembered what Megumi had said. It all seemed so far fetched that I couldn't help but hesitate. I heard Kaoru laugh and I looked up to see her eyes light up at the sight of the crystal blue water outside the glass doors. The pool was teeming with excitement. Girls in bikini's were sitting atop guys shoulders playing Chicken. Others were lounging in the shallow end drinking beers. A few of Jason's friends were doing flips into the pool, showing off to a group of girls. I was about to tell Kaoru swimming was a bad idea when she began to lift her shirt. All of a sudden my brain short-circuited and everything I was going to say dissolved. I stared at the smooth expanse of her back, interrupted only by the fabric of her midnight blue bra. For a second time, I forgot why swimming was a bad idea.
"It's so hot in here!" Kaoru complained, turning around to face me. I tried not to, but my eyes immediately roamed over her milky white skin. She was thinner than I thought and her chest was a little less ample, but still nice. I was sure the weight would feel good in my hands. Jeez, what was I thinking. I was shaking my head to snap out of it when I realized that Kaoru had gone for the fly of her jeans.
"Ok, we've got to go," I said with absolutely no resolve. I kept my eyes focused on her hair.
"I want to swim." She demanded, still fumbling with the button at the top of her jeans.
"Right, well, even better than swimming is a shower. Let's take you home to shower." My hands stayed stuck to my side, unsure if I should touch her or not.
"I don't want to go home." She said pouting petulantly. She was so cute I had to smile. "Ugh! Stop smiling at me! Go smile at someone who cares!" She waved her hands wildly. People were now staring at us, whispering about the half-naked girl. I instinctively moved closer to her, trying to calm her down.
"If I stop smiling will you come home with me?"
"I'm not that kind of girl, Himura!" Her blue eyes blazed. She crossed her arms under her chest, which of course drew my eyes downward, and also earned me a slap across my face. I could hear the audible gasp of everyone in the kitchen and the low rumble of whispering.
I quickly counted to five and took notice that people outside were starting to get the hint that there was something exciting happening inside the house, "Alright, that was great, but now I'm getting mad, Brat. We're going to get out of here before you make a fool of yourself. Megumi was right." I ducked her palm coming at my face again.
"I don't want to go anywhere with you! You pig! I know just want you are! You're a womanizer." She said determinedly. A girl behind her snickered, that's a Britney Spears song! Kaoru turned red. "You know what I mean…" She said, still angry.
"We can do this the hard way or the easy way Karou," I said, eyeing the crowd of spectators that were now forming a loose circle around us. Any minute the people from the pool would join the gawking too.
"We'll do it my way," She said, shooting her nose into the air. So without a second thought, I bent down to get some good leverage and hefted Kaoru over my shoulder. For a second she stayed still, then she started to scream bloody murder. I swiftly carried her out of the room; I could hear laughter and applause following us out. I didn't stop until we reached the car and I realized Kaoru had quieted down. I stood her up next to the car and she immediately ran to the bushes and threw up.