"Chipmunks are not supposed to do that."

"Like, you know, this totally cool Prada like gosh-"

"Oh man, there goes my lunch…"

"So by separating the electrons from the-"

"Heads up!"

I ducked my head just in time as an orange Frisbee whizzed past while I was walking down the school hallways on my way to my first class. I mentally tried to remember what day it was in my head and finally recalled that it was Friday. Well that certainly answered why the students are running around like they were just injected with an extra dosage of Amphetamine today. Weekend party fever. Everyone was obviously psyched for the retro-theme dance party tonight. Wish I could join the festivities- not! I'd much sooner soak my head in a vat of boiling oil than go along with these hormone-driven monkeys in their strange, libidinal rituals that almost all teenagers have the weird compulsion to go through with.

And now after years of avoiding all these madness and chaos, I, Kaoru Kamiya, had no other choice but to willingly participate in these stupid, teenage rituals called a party tonight: and all because I couldn't keep my ef-ing mouth shut!

I slapped my forehead in agitation as I remembered the event that transpired yesterday. I shouldn't have told Kenshin about the 'SwingBeat' bash. I shouldn't have taunted him that I'd be going with a date. I shouldn't have snapped at him for wanting to spend some time with his REAL girlfriend… But most of all, I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT I WAS GOING TO THE STUPID EVENT AT ALL!

I was walking with my head bowed down, just the way I always walk, grumbling about my life and the cruel world I inhabited when I suddenly bumped shoulders with someone and I felt that same person shove me roughly away. "Watch it creep!" was the high and shrill command coming from a strawberry-blond girl with an amazing tan. I muttered my apologies without looking up and quickly resumed my humble trot towards the rows of lockers. I stopped in front of one and was in the process of turning the combination when a memory suddenly stopped me in my tracks. With a groan and another slap on my forehead, I remembered that my 'new' locker was the one further down the hallway- Megumi's locker. Normally, the memory of Megumi's nasty attitude would have been reason enough for me not to go within a ten-mile radius from that locker. Unfortunately, my fear for my first period teacher, Prof. Shougo Amakusa, was greater than my fear of an encounter with the green-eyed vixen. So with a sigh of frustration, I shifted my backpack on my left shoulder, directed my gaze on the floor and started to walk away. But I barely made three steps when a shadow landed on my face and I saw a pair of Chuck's blocking my path.

I looked up and couldn't suppress the groan that slipped out from my lips when I saw who it was. Sanosuke Sagara grinned, showing a set of pearly white teeth, when he noted the look of despair on my face. "Good morning to you too, kitten!" he greeted jovially, which was a stark opposite of the cold reception I offered in return.

"What do you want?" I asked as I sidestepped to get past him.

"Whoa! Where's the fire? Wait!"

Sano grabbed my arm to stop me. That earned him an exasperated look, followed by a sharp, "I'm gonna be late, so will you just-?"

"Are you going with someone at the 'SwingBeat' tonight? Because if you're not, then I'm thinking that maybe we-"

I was shaking my head, not really hearing him, muttering under my breath as I checked my watch every five seconds or so. The school bell was going to ring any moment now and I still haven't gotten my books. I couldn't afford to be late in Prof. Amakusa's class. I just couldn't!

Absent-mindedly, I started to walk away from Sano. I heard him call out to me just before I rounded the next corner, "Hey, I was asking you if-"

"Yes! Yes! Whatever!" I hollered back. "Just leave me alone!"

I was only dimly aware of what I answered him. But at that moment, I would have said anything just to get him off my back.

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The day progressed along quietly and peacefully for me- which was something I should be glad of, right? But something was amiss no matter how hard I tried to ignore it. I tried my best not to think about or brood it, but soon my curiosity got the best of me and I just had to do something to satisfy it.

After lunch, I watched Tomoe until she separated ways with her friends because her next subject was at the other end of the building. Silently, I followed her until she stopped for a drink in front of a drinking fountain. When she stooped down, I hastened my steps and just as I passed by her, I dropped my voice into a whisper and told her, "Ladies room, urgent."

I was already a few feet away by the time I felt her straighten up to look for the bearer of the message. I didn't turn around to see if she got my message clearly. But that was soon answered when I entered the girl's lavatory and after just a few seconds, she followed suit.

I pretended to fix my hair, as if there was something wrong with it (which was a laugh because I always tied my hair back in a -very- tight bun or high ponytail) as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Tomoe, on the other hand, pretended to check for an available cubicle and when she found that all four were empty, she then proceeded to lock the comfort room door before standing beside me.

Tomoe smiled at me through the mirror, that dazzling smile of hers that got her toothpaste commercial offers in the past (she turned them all down), before asking, "So what's with all this 'cloak-and-dagger' stuff? What's so urgent?"

"Cloak and dagger?" I raised an eyebrow.

She looked slightly amazed, "You don't know? It means sneaking around and stuff."

That wasn't totally correct. But I let it go at that. "I just want to ask you why Kenshin is absent today…that's all. That is, if you know. If not then…"

There, I got it off my chest. Embarrassing as it was, I did it and now if only Tomoe would stop looking at me with such bafflement and confusion like I just sprung up two bull horns at the middle of my forehead then I could stop fidgeting around like a deer caught in front of the glare of the headlights.

"Well he told me yesterday that he's going to do some investigating today," Tomoe finally shrugged it away after a while and retrieved her compact from her purse. She dabbed some powder on her face as she eyed me critically through the mirror. "He was really angry yesterday when he called me up. Do you know why?"

Kenshin was angry? "How the heck should I know?"

"Did you two fight again yesterday?"

"We're always fighting Tomoe."

She was now in the process of re-applying her lipstick. "True," she conceded after she smacked her lips together. "But you have to admit that for a week now you two are getting along quite nicely."

"That's because we have to pretend that we're nice to each other, or have you already forgotten about the Mr. Okina's condition?"

"Oh?"

Tomoe took out a tube and squeezed a little dot of red liquid on both of her cheeks. She then started to spread the colour evenly on her skin with her fingers. "So…I heard you're going out with someone at the 'SwingBeat' tonight? Care to tell who."

My eyes snapped up in surprise to meet hers. But it didn't really take me very long to realize how she could have known that piece of news. "He told you yesterday, huh?" I queried.

Tomoe shot her reflection one last appreciative once-over before she faced me fully. For a while, the sight of her beautiful face knocked my breath away. But admiration quickly simmered to grudging envy, and it ate away inside me. She was grinning and I looked away, disgusted that even after all the years that I've known Tomoe, her stunning looks still had the ability to put me in a bad mood. Being with her always made me conscious of how plain I looked.

Don't get me wrong though…I mean, I know I'm not THAT hideous to the eyes. But next to her soft, bouncy hair, full, red lips, alluring eyes and knock-out body, I know I'm downright ugly.

I adjusted my glasses over my nose, having the urge to do something with my hands lest I grab the nearest item next to me and bash my face with it.

"So who's your date?"

"I'm not going."

"What? But Kaoru-"

I shook my head and stepped away from her. "I just said that to your asshole of a boyfriend because he was irritating me again."

"No, no, no Kaoru!" Tomoe followed me and grabbed my hands. She squeezed it encouragingly and looked deeply into my eyes with such extreme childish eagerness that it was almost infectious. "You have to go to the party! You just have to!"

I pulled my hands back, quite weirded out by that strange twinkle in her eyes. "And I'll do that because…?"

"Kaoru, don't you see? It's a wonderful idea!"

"What?" I gave her a confused look. "Was that supposed to make sense? Because if so, then I think you lost me."

"Kaoru you have to go with this mystery date of yours! It's the perfect situation, don't you see?"

"No I don't. Tomoe I can't possibly go with someone else because people know that Kenshin is my boyfriend or have you forgotten the plan already!"

"Of course I haven't!" she snapped her fingers in front of me. "And that's exactly why you must go because your appearance with another guy will surely bring up some controversy! Oooh Kaoru," and at this, she grabbed hold of my hands again and started swaying it. "I've already thought of everything when Kenshin told me about your date yesterday. You just have to go along my plan, see?"

"Actually I still don't see what-"

"Kaoru," Tomoe stilled her movements and her voice dropped to a serious tone. "Trust me on this: if people still have doubts about you and Kenshin, then after tonight it will all change."

At this, my eyebrows drew together and I suddenly became suspicious. Cautiously, I extracted my hands from Tomoe's hold and whispered, "EXACTLY what are you planning anyway?"

Her smile, often charming, now turned sly as she winked conspiratorially at me and started for the door. "Just be there Kaoru…and don't forget to bring your date, okay?"

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It was the end of another day and students poured out of the classroom with a loud cheer of joy and happiness as they looked forward to the party tonight or to whatever weekend activity they have lined up. But as others pushed around and hurried others just to get out of the classroom, I for one chose to lag behind. I organized my books, notebooks, pens and papers in neat piles and groups before placing them carefully inside my backpack. I was just about to zip up my bag when a voice suddenly spoke up to me, "They call that an obsessive-compulsive disorder in medical terms, you know."

My eyes shot up to see a tall, narrow figure leaning on the classroom doorframe. I squinted and adjusted my specs to see who it was, but with no luck. I simply didn't know the guy.

Long, black hair and a hard, mean mouth were his most distinguishing features as he walked up to me. He seemed familiar…but I couldn't place where or when exactly did I meet him. Was he in one of my classes or something?

He towered above my seat and smirked when he saw the uncertainty (and maybe even fear?) on my face. "Neat, prim and tidy," he said as he took note of my features. "A proper lady, eh?"

There was something sinister about him that sent chills down my spine. A certain kind of fear gripped me unlike anything I've ever felt before. I was familiar with fear you know, having been scared of Kenshin and his bullying all my life. But this time it was different. Kenshin may be mean, but not once did he ever made me feel like I was truly in any physical danger of some sort- I realize that now. But with this stranger standing in front of me it was different.

I only felt this kind of terror once before: and that was at the party I went to almost a week ago when a drunken moron tried to drag me away so he could do things to-

I was stopped when everything clicked and the memory of that night came flooding back inside my mind. With a nervous gulp, I finally remembered where I've seen this stranger before…

Tsunan sneered when he saw the recognition finally dawn upon me. "Nice to see you again," he drawled out. He was too close now. "I believe we have some unfinished business since last time we met."

I stood up abruptly and tried to escape. "Excuse me but I'm in a hurry."

I gasped when I felt his hand clamp tightly around my left arm as he pulled me back towards him. With a muffled scream, I slammed onto his body where I stayed as his other hand snaked around my waist to hold me even closer in a tight grip. "Oh but we haven't even talked yet," he leered menacingly. "There's so many things that I want to tell you, you know? And for starters, I want to thank you for this!"

At this, he tilted his head in an angle where his hair parted away from his forehead to reveal a small sutured wound near his right temple. I looked away, realizing that the cut was at the exact spot where I hit him with the beer bottle nights ago.

"You left your mark on me," Tsunan hissed as he forced my chin to face him once more. "So I'm sure you'll agree that it's only fair that I return the favour…"

And after saying this, he dipped his head and I felt his lips on my left ear. I started to breathe raggedly with dread as I tried to struggle free from his arms. "Please let me go," I whimpered. "I-I-I'm sorry about y-your wound."

I froze with horror when his teeth grazed the sensitive skin of my ear. With a sudden surge of panic, I realized what he intended to do in 'leaving a mark' on me so I struggled even more even though I knew it was futile. "Please, please," a tear started to fall from my eyes. Oh dear god what have I done to deserve this? "Please let me go."

Suddenly, there was an abrupt sound coming from behind him followed by the unmistakable smell of cigar smoke wafting in the air. At this, Tsunan jerked his head up and looked around to search for the source of the smell. He didn't have to look far though because his eyes instantly landed on the doorway and I held my breath when I saw the familiar features of silver hair and turquoise eyes of the man looking directly at us. I'm saved!

Enishi took a long drag from the stick fixed between his index and middle finger before he uttered, "Tsunan…."

"Yukishiro," Tsunan addressed back warily, his hand still clamped tightly around my arm. "What are you doing here? The school has strict rules about smoking you know."

Enishi carelessly dropped the cigarette to the ground and grounded it out with his boot. Afterwards, he started to walk toward us, his gaze never wavering as he looked at my captor. He only spoke again when he was right in front of us, "I have a message for her."

There was a cold edge in his voice as he said this that made me shiver even though I knew his icy demeanour wasn't directed at me. Tsunan narrowed his eyes apprehensively and his grip relaxed a bit without him knowing. I took this chance and quickly wriggled free from his hold. Grabbing my backpack, I hastily scurried to Enishi's side and took shelter in his grim, but nonetheless comforting, presence.

Tsunan was obviously trying to think of a way to get rid of Enishi without the situation ending up in an actual fight, knowing that defeat on his part was imminent if that happened. "We were just talking," he grumbled at the stony man in front of him. "And it's really quite important so if you don't mind-?"

Tsunan stepped forward to reach me but Enishi quickly blocked his way. He then turned to me and asked, "Do you want to talk to him?"

My answer to that, of course, was an emphatic shake of my head.

Enishi turned to Tsunan with an indifferent expression. "That's decided then."

And with that said, Enishi Yukishiro took hold of my elbow in a surprising gentle manner as he steered me toward the door. We kept on walking until we've reached the school parking lot. And when we finally did stop, it was only then that I realized that I was shivering very badly with aftershock.

Wordlessly, I watched as Enishi removed his varsity jacket and draped it over my shoulders. It felt like being smothered by a tent because the jacket was so big. But soon enough, I grew comfortable inside it and I slowly started to relax. I inhaled deeply to calm myself and my nose was greeted by the lingering scent of Enishi's aftershave.

The whole time that I was calming myself down, Enishi never spoke a word to me and I appreciated his silence, feeling myself too weak and vulnerable to voice out anything. The only time he actually stated something was to ask me -rather brusquely- if there was anything else that I needed to help settle myself down.

I smiled sweetly regardless of the clipped tone he used. Enishi Yukishiro was not used to showing compassion- I knew that; so I didn't begrudge him even if his expression of concern was kind of curt. "Thanks but I'll be fine."

He stared at my smiling face for a bit longer than what was comfortable. I started to fidget uneasily under his stony, passive gave, but he did not say anything more after that.

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I got out of Enishi's blue Porsche after he parked his car in front of my house. I turned to look at him and smiled again. "Thanks for everything," I said. "I owe you big time…"

He didn't trouble himself by looking back at me, his eyes only staring straight ahead. And for some reason, his indifference bothered me more than I'd expected or ever cared to admit. When seconds stretched on and I received no response, I closed the passenger side and wordlessly started to go. But before I could take even one step away, I heard the car door open followed by the sound of hasty footsteps behind me. I whirled around and saw Enishi only a couple of inches away with a folded piece of paper in his hand that was stretched out towards me.

I hesitantly took the paper and read the few short lines printed in it. It was from Soujirou and it was written there that he couldn't go to the party tonight with me. I was puzzled because he didn't provide any explanations whatsoever about his sudden withdrawal. And it puzzled me even more why he even bothered to write to me about it when we had no spoken agreement that I'd -actually- go with him. Regardless of what Tomoe was planning, I was still dead set on not going to that party!

I looked up and was quite surprised to see Enishi still standing there. And though his eyes never gave away any of his feelings, I could sense that he wanted to know what was in the letter.

"Soujirou gave this to you?"

"No. Kenshin did."

It was my turn to look confused.

He read the unspoken question on my face so he added, "But he told me that if you asked, I was not to tell you that it came from him and that it was from Seta-san instead."

What!

I almost choked out loud after hearing that, eyes wide like saucers with surprise. Now why the hell would Kenshin do that? It just didn't make sense! But then again, after pondering the question over and over in my mind, I began to sigh in frustration and understanding when the obvious answer came to me- Did I really have to ask? For as long as I've known that red-headed jerk, nothing he ever did gave me the impression that he was the type of guy who gave his actions a thorough thought before executing them. Nor did he give a damn about how others would think or react to his activities, regardless who the person was. He did things purely because he wanted to do them- 'nuff said.

"If that's what he instructed you to tell me, then why tell me the truth instead?"

"I never said to him that I'd do exactly as he told."

"Ah."

I looked at the letter in my hand once more and sighed. All that I could surmise from this was that he obviously didn't want me to go to the party so he wrote a fake letter telling me that the guy who invited me couldn't make it. How he found out that it was Soujirou who asked me out and why he even cared to do this when he should be busy getting ready to go to Okinawa- that I couldn't figure.

But those things didn't matter anymore…

I tossed the paper behind me and started to run towards the door, ignoring Enishi completely. In my mind, I was already taking a mental inventory of my mom's old clothes that would be suitable for the retro party…

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"Coming!"

I almost stumbled and fell on my feet as I hurried down the stairs to answer the door. But before I opened it, I paused for a minute to pat my hair in place and to straighten out my dress. I felt silly for suddenly being conscious of my appearance after so many years of simply ignoring these girlish practices. And it wasn't like I wanted to impress Soujirou or anything. I didn't want him to get it inside his head that I wanted him in the same way that he wanted me. Oh sure I was flattered when I found out that someone with my plain looks could be liked by a charming boy like Soujirou. But that didn't mean that I'm so desperate for love and attention that I'd instantly jump in a relationship with the first boy that would show an interest in me.

I called Seta-san a while ago to tell him that I'm accepting his invitation (thank God for directory assistance) but only got his answering machine. Still, I was (unnaturally) optimistic enough to just (naturally) assume that he got the message and that it was him buzzing my doorbell at this very moment at the other side of the front door.

Well the fates humbled me once more with the surprise I was about to get.

As I opened the front door, never for a second did I doubt that it was Seta Soujirou standing outside, dressed in a theme-appropriate clothes, ready to bring me to what I hoped would be a less-disappointing party experience compared to the one I went to a week ago.

The key words here being: 'never for a second did I doubt…'

So imagine my surprise when I opened the door and my jaw fell as I blurted out-

"What are you doing here?"

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A/N: Not much of a cliff-hanger there since if you read the story thoroughly then you probably already know who it is. Oooh…a chapter without Kenshin. But that's alright because there'll be nothing but KnK interaction on the next instalment. And more about Aoshi will be revealed too, so stay tuned! c",)

P.S. I noticed that my stories lack a disclaimer SO I don't see why I should break tradition by ACTUALLY putting one. It's not like people will ACTUALLY start believing that I'm the owner of the anime Rurouni Kenshin just because I'm so good (-author puts up metal barricade in anticipation of rotten eggs, cabbages and tomatoes-) and that I make money out of typing my silly fantasies and having other people read them. I may be a pyromaniac nut-job at times, but I'm certainly no Nobuhiro Watsuki (:P)

P.S.S. Please make me happy and go read "The Miscreant and the Wicked" by lawless. She's really great but she doesn't seem to be getting the number of reviews she rightfully deserves. It's a Megumi-Sanosuke fic so hardcore fans of canon pairings sure won't be disappointed. She's also a Filipina btw so I implore fellow pinoys to support her (;D)

P.S.S.S. Sorry for the awfully long delay because reality's obligations (as usual) became a hindrance. But since summer vacation is coming up then expect faster updates. Thanks for the patience, luv you all!