"Is something wrong?"

I tried to stab the brown, crunchy hunk of beef that the cafeteria dared to call a 'steak' and, after missing my target for the umpteenth time that period, decided to drop my fork and rest my head on my right palm instead as a disgusted sigh rolled off my lips.

"I'm fine," I exclaimed softly as I fought for my eyes not to flutter close. "Stupid food! Cavemen used to fight for their meal- so where's modernization now?"

Kenshin, who was sitting across the table from me, scrunched up his face and leaned forward to place the back of his hand on my forehead. "Are you really sure you're okay? You're not coming down with a fever, are you?"

I brought my free hand to my lips and yawned against my palm. "I said I'm fine didn't I?" I tried to snap at him, but was too tired to muster the energy needed to be catty. Instead, my head slowly drooped until my cheek rested on the cool, plastic surface of the table.

"Sleep much?" I heard him drawl sarcastically. I yawned again and replied with my eyes closed, "Much."

"Why? A problem kept you up?"

"I guess…" I replied sleepily.

"Bummer Kaoru… I mean, I know I'm a good kisser and all, but I didn't expect you to lose sleep because of it."

Those words made me sit up so I could throw him my most withering glare. "You wish! I hardly thought of you at all," I lied through my teeth (which was frustrating). "Something else was bothering me, you pinhea-"

"Careful darling," Kenshin crooned while grinning at me in the most maddening way as he took a bite of his sandwich. He chewed carefully, relishing the daggers my eyes were throwing at him, and laughed smugly. "You don't want to give the wrong impression to other people about how deeply we love each other with your…endearments."

My cheeks reddened and I quickly looked around to check if someone had or were listening to us. Thankfully, the school cafeteria and its inhabitants were far too busy and too caught up with the dramas of their own lives to take notice of us. Glumly, my eyes dropped to the horrid hunk of whatever lying on my plate and muttered, "Asshole."

"What?" Kenshin cocked an arrogant eyebrow down at me with that smug grin of his not wavering. "Didn't catch what you said back there."

"I said-" I raised my eyes to give him a bored look, but freezed when I saw Tomoe and her posse coming towards us, "-Friday will be great," my frown turning into a smile in seconds.

Kenshin's raised brow went up a few notches higher at this sudden change. And to boggle his mind more, I reached over to brush his stray bangs away from his cheeks and even leaned over to peck him on the nose. "I can hardly wait," I told him in a pleased murmur.

In my mind's eye, I saw the scene last night, of us laughing, us dancing-

-Us…kissing…

"Aw…how sweet."

Kenshin and I turned simultaneously to look at Sanosuke (he was the one who uttered those words) and I almost laughed out loud at how ridiculous he looked with the bruise that formed on the bridge of his nose. Granted that Kenshin didn't look so hot either with a busted lip- but compared to Sagara, Himura was a dreamboat.

Tomoe was quiet and both Sayo and Akira looked unsure. Enishi had this 'the-world-could-spontaneously-combust-right-now-and-I-wouldn't-give-a-damn-about-it' expression while Megumi, with a bruise identical to Sanosuke's, sniffed haughtily but didn't dare glare at me the way she usually did (probably for fear of what Kenshin would do to her once more if he caught her).

Kenshin stared at them and I had to wonder how all these things were affecting him. After all, he was blatantly shunning his friends and ditching his 'cool jock' social status to be with me -and for what? - just to help me with the play…? Himura had everything to lose and absolutely nothing to gain from this charade. And yet, he was doing it…doing it because I asked him to…

But…why?

"Sagara," Kenshin replied flatly. And at that moment all activities and merriments ceased as all eyes riveted on these two people who were, before I entered the picture, had been the best of friends. The air was so thick and ripe with tension that I bet everyone found it really hard to breathe- literally!

I clutched my skirt tightly, cold sweat starting to form on my forehead, as everyone waited anxiously for the inevitable to erupt…

But to my surprise, shock…and maybe even…relief, Sanosuke broke into a really, really –REALLY- wide grin and I saw Kenshin do the same. 'My' boyfriend stood up from his seat and Sagara punched him lightly on his left shoulder before they quickly enveloped each other in a brotherly, frat-type kind of hug.

I let out my breath, and slowly afterwards, the activity in the cafeteria resumed as the fight that the students were all-so-eagerly anticipating didn't happen. No-one lingered to watch for anything else that might unfold. There was just no gossip there, I guess. No excitement in seeing friends patch up. No headline material.

Kenshin and Sanosuke started goofing off like two friends who haven't seen each other for quite some time. There were mixed reactions as we watched them: Megumi rolled her eyes, Akira folded his arms to his chest with a satisfied look, Sayo giggled, Enishi quirked his lips to form a shadow of a smile, while Tomoe looked indignant but relieved at the same time that they didn't jump at each other's throat.

"My bad bro," Sano apologized as he started to sober up. He glanced at me and offered the same apologetic smile. "I know I'm the one who seriously fucked things up. I didn't know that…well…that she's your new girlfriend. Coz if I did, I wouldn't have…well…you know…"

That doesn't justify or excuse you for plotting my seduction just to get a high grade in chem, and badmouthing me when my back was turned- you jackass, I thought. But I didn't bother to say those words out loud. I mean, what was the use of antagonizing their friendship any further? What was currently between Kenshin and I wasn't real anyway. No sense in driving another wedge in their bond just for the sake of a fake relationship.

"Whatever," Tomoe muttered before turning to leave. Sayo followed her, but not before offering a kind smile in our direction, while Megumi simply walked away without a word or anything (which was kinda strange and uncharacteristic of her). Enishi and Akira didn't leave though, choosing to stick with their friends instead.

And so without further preamble, the other 'gods' of Seirin High took the vacant seats on our table and made themselves comfortable- much to my surprise and discomfort. I instantly flushed pink when Enishi sat down beside me. I didn't know why, but he felt so…overbearing. And it wasn't just because he was a big man- bigger than Kenshin and a half inch taller than Sanosuke. Maybe it was because of the way he combed his hair with his fingers, with a few sable strands escaping his hold and accentuating his beautiful turquoise eyes. Or maybe it was his cologne and the way it overwhelmed my senses completely. Or maybe it was the-

I didn't realize I was staring until Kenshin cleared his throat pointedly. Embarrassed and with my cheeks flaming, I directed my gaze back to my 'food'.

"I guess we all know each other here, am I right?" Kenshin started companionably with a laugh. "But just in case, Kaoru-" and with that he waved his hands to introduce his friends. "-These are my buddies, best people for doing monkey business, Sano, Akira, and Tomoe's brother Enishi. And guys, this is my girlfriend Kaoru Kamiya…"

Akira shook hands with me while Sano gave me a two-finger salute. But when I turned to Enishi, he didn't even bother to look at me. I guess he was just showing me where his loyalties lie. But for some reason, his indifference bugged me…

"Yo! Lab buddy," Sanosuke called my attention. I raised my head a bit to find him grinning lopsidedly. "Sorry about my attitude back at the party. You still mad?"

Oh I'm not mad a-hole, I thought with an inward groan, I'm just extremely, irrevocably, explicitly and without a doubt annoyed with you, that's all. No worries there. But instead of answering, I turned to the redhead next to him and smiled sweetly, "What do you want to do after school, hon? Coz I'm thinking maybe we can go to the library later and finish up our-"

Kenshin's cheeks turned pink and Sanosuke started making choking sounds like a hyena with asthma. Akira sniggered and even Enishi was shaking his head. Huh? Did I say something wrong? "What?" All the sleepiness was gone in my system now. "What is it? What did I say?"

"Oh Kamiya don't mind us." Sanosuke was clearly trying his best not to burst into laughter. He stood up on his feet and the others followed suit. He slapped Kenshin on his back and left us with these parting words, "See you later bro. Have 'fun' at the library."

His last statement was ended in such a funny tone that instantly prompted Akira to burst into crazy hysterics. And their laughter (excluding Enishi of course, the man never smiled-much less laugh) followed them and boomed with such resonance in the cafeteria that everyone they passed by had to look at them in wonder.

"Weird," I commented. I returned my gaze to my 'boyfriend' and started to speak, "What did they mean by-?" But before I could get any further, I was stopped by the expression on Kenshin's face.

Sparks were practically shooting from his eyes and his lips have formed into a thin line. I could almost literally see a vein throbbing out of his forehead as I watched his face turn from red to purple.

Wait. Was he…angry at me?

What did I do?!?

"Kenshin-?"

He abruptly got up from his seat and ran away. He didn't stop until he reached the exit doors.

That couldn't be a good sign…

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"Kenshin's your first boyfriend, isn't he?"

I ignored the comment and continued to pour the green liquid from the test tube into a beaker. I checked the stove, checked the frequency of the flame, and asked my partner, "Is the temperature correct?"

"Hmm…not hot enough," Sano replied with a grin. I raised an eyebrow at him through the protective goggles I was wearing. "Really now? According to Prof. Anji we should heat the beaker for until 39 to 50 degr-"

To my surprise, Sanosuke reached out lazily and turned off the stove. "You know what I'm talking about here Kamiya, so stop playing around."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, and-" After casting him an extremely put-off glare, I brought the flame back to life, before I continued, "-and I have no interest in finding out. So stop asking me questions about my love life and focus all your inquisitiveness on our project instead. Okay? Or do you want me to define what inquisitiveness is first?"

Sanosuke straightened up a bit from his lounging position on the chair and leaned closer towards me. His sudden nearness set off alarm bells in my head and I quickly dragged my stool a few inches away from him. His grin turned Cheshire-like after seeing my response. "I'm right, aren't I? Kenshin is your first?"

I nervously tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and faced away from him. I tried to return my attention on the task at hand but every time I picked up a beaker, a tripod, or any lab equipment for that matter, Sano would either steal them away from me or exasperate me so much that it soon became impossible for me to get any work done!

"Alright!" I fumed when, due to his amateur juggling skills, he almost cost us two flannels and a test tube. "He's my first boyfriend, happy? Now either grow up or grow a brain, asshole!"

I tried to retrieve the items but he steered them away from me. "What?!" I stood up, slammed my palms on top of the table and gritted my teeth. "Do you want my cup size now?!"

A hush fell over the room and I felt like dying! All eyes were on me, including our teacher, as I sank back to my seat and mumbled an apology amidst the fiery colouring of my cheeks. Sagara, on the other hand, was tickled pink with the whole situation and didn't bother to hide that fact. He stretched out his hand to touch my face, but I angrily slapped it away.

"Oh don't be so mad, kitty-cat," he snickered. "For the record, women tend to tell me those kinds of things you know."

I gave him an icy look. "Are you getting paid for being an asshole?"

"I'm well gratified little kitten," he corrected cheekily. "I guess, you can call gratification as a form of…payment, hmm…"

"Well can't you just gratify yourself with someone else and leave me alone?"

He inched closer, staring me in the eye, laughter threatening to erupt from his lips. "And where's the fun in that? I do love a customer that pays you know."

I refused to back down from the challenge he posed. So even though I was beginning to get really, really uncomfortable with the way he was staring –so intensely- at me, I tried my best to hold his gaze just as resolutely, even tilting my chin defiantly for his benefit. "Be nice to me Sagara. I'm Kenshin's girlfriend, remember?"

"You have beautiful eyes, do you know that?" He abruptly changed the topic with a kind smile forming to replace his earlier sneer. "You should really wear contacts instead of glasses. Colourless, coz your eye colour is captivating enough." He lowered his head until only a few centimetres separated our noses. Now I really wanted to look away! But my cursed pride promised me hell and back if I gave up now! And besides, how could I look away when he was looking at me with those mesmerizing and sexy eyes of his?

Wait! Did I just call Sano's eyes…mesmerizing and sexy?

Ugh and double ugh!

I felt him place his hand on top of mine and my brain froze. When he started to tease my fingers by entwining it with his, I stopped breathing.

Damn, damn, and double damn! Why did he have to be so hot when all I wanted was to hate his guts? The bruise he earned from his fight with Kenshin didn't hide the fact that he was still utterly and so delectably gorgeous. This staring game was SO not working out for me! I had to get away!

"I have to admit that at first I couldn't believe that Kenshin would dump Tomoe to be with you…" he drawled softly; voice so smooth and so soothing that it sent shivers running up and down my spine. "But looking in your eyes right now, I catch a glimpse of someone I'd like to get to know better…"

He brought his index finger and good-naturedly tapped my nose with it. I hated myself for getting tongue-tied at such a crucial moment! I wanted to throw a hundred and one insults at his face, kick his shins, or add another injury to that pretty face! Instead, my free hand twitched at my sides, with my fingers burning for the desire to run itself through his soft, messy hair.

It was so easy to hate Sanosuke Sagara before when he was being such an infuriating prick! And how confident and proud I was for easily resisting him. But I should have known better than to assume…especially when the most notorious playboy of Seirin High was the one in question here. I shouldn't have counted out the fact that Sagara's annoying self might be only one of the many facets of his playboy image that I've seen.

-and that he was capable of changing his image to suit his needs…

-and that he could be seemingly sweet and charming if he wanted to…

My eyes trailed down until I found myself staring at his lips. Enraptured, I noted how soft, how red and how luscious it looked. Briefly, I wondered how it would feel like to have those lips pressed on mine…

The bell rang, snapping me out of my daze and into reality. Disoriented, I quickly got up and thanked the divine powers that be for giving me this avenue of escape. Prof. Anji gave some instructions as students quickly exited the room while I busied myself putting away lab equipment. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Sanosuke help me with the task and this gentlemanly act only made me tense up again.

When the cleanup was finished, I grabbed my backpack and prepared to bolt away when a hand suddenly held me back. I turned around and my heart raced when I realized that Sanosuke was standing –way too close- in front of me. Leaning over, he let his forehead rest on top of mine until our eyelashes almost met and he smiled at me once more- that heart-pounding smile of his that got so many girls in Seirin High in his bed. That same smile that I thought I was impervious of.

I was wrong.

"So how often should we meet for our project, Kaoru?"

He didn't call me kitten, or lab partner, or any other irritating nicknames like he used to. He called me by my first name. And what was worse, he said it in such a respectful, normal manner that whatever snappy retort I had at the tip of my tongue quickly disappeared.

"Um," I hesitated, unsure of how I would address this courteous, considerate persona that suddenly took over Sanosuke Sagara- the guy I hated almost more than I hated Kenshin Himura. "I guess twice a week will do. Two to three hours probably…"

He started to grin mischievously. "Your house or mine?"

Now my heart started beating erratically at the possible implication of his words. I'm not going to let Sanosuke Sagara seduce me, especially now that I've painfully realized that he could actually do it if he really wanted to. I won't let myself be another proverbial notch on his bedpost! I won't, I won't, I won't!

I'd be safe in my own house right? "I guess my place will do."

He nodded, then stepped back and started for the door. But before he left me completely, he turned around and told me huskily, "See you later then. I'll bring some videos and snacks."

He was gone by the time I fully grasped the inescapability of the situation that I've let myself into.

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I was walking down the hallway and was relieved to find Kenshin by his locker. We had last period together and there was something I had to tell him before we went to class. "Kenshin!" I called him. He closed his locker door shut and faced me as I approached. Even from far away, I saw the coldly indifferent expression on his face and that made me pause in between steps. Uh-oh, was he still mad at me for whatever I did earlier at lunch?

"Hey," I walked up to him cautiously with a small smile, unsure of how to approach him with my problem. "So…" I hesitated. "Um, is everything okay? I mean, you suddenly left me in the cafeteria earlier and I was wondering…"

Kenshin slung his backpack over his shoulder before answering. "Everything's fine," he muttered. "We should get to class."

Instead of taking my hand, like he usually did for the past few days whenever we were together, he turned around and started walking away. Apprehensive, I followed him, trying my best to keep up with his brisk pace.

"A-are you sure you're okay?" I asked him in between pauses to catch my breath. "Why are you walking so fast? Are you mad at me or something?"

"I'm not," he replied without even a quick glance at my direction. "And we're going to be late."

"No we're not!" I was beginning to get angry myself. I grabbed his arm and forced him to stop. "What's your problem Himura? You're clearly mad at me and don't you deny it!"

"I said I'm not, didn't I?" he returned viciously before pulling his arm free. "Quit being a pest, Kamiya!"

Kamiya? First, Sanosuke started calling me politely by my proper name, and now Kenshin was addressing me moodily by my last name- just like when we were still enemies. Did I wake up in an alternate universe or something?

"What are you PMS'ing about now?" I threw at him one of his classic lines. "If you have a problem, tell me. I'm not a mind reader you know." When he didn't stop walking, I yelled, "Stop being a clam, you idiot!"

He turned around with fire in his eyes and I took a step back. "I'm an idiot? I'm THE idiot? Ha!" He started to laugh derisively. "Coming from a girl who invites her boyfriend to a date in the library, I don't think so."

"What?" Now I was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"If you don't know what I'm talking about, you brat, then never mind!" he shouted back at me. "You're a hopeless virgin, Kaoru Kamiya."

With my mouth gaping open in shock, he ran away and left me completely. It was only a good thing that the hallway was empty and no one heard our exchange. Otherwise, I would have killed him!

In my anger and confusion, I wasn't able to ask him for help regarding his womanizing best friend, Sanosuke Sagara. Now what am I going to do?

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"He won't talk to me in class, he kept avoiding my eyes, and he didn't offer me a ride home." It was 5 in the afternoon and I was finally home, ranting at the phone with Tomoe on the other line. I dropped my body on top of my bed, held my forehead and let out a sigh. "I don't know what his problem is. He's such a jackass!"

"Maybe," my ex-best friend replied giggling. "But he's so handsome when he's angry, don't you think so? Back then, I used to purposely enrage him just to see his cute, pouting face. He's always so adorable whenever he gets worked up over something. And of course, the make-up sex that goes with it afterwards is just heaven." She coughed on the other line. "Not that I'm suggesting that you have sex with him after you guys clear things up. I mean he's still my boyfriend you know."

"Eeww Tomoe!" I groaned with disgust. "Have you any idea what you just said back there?" I was rolling my eyes as I talked. "He's not cute or adorable! And the way his face contorted when he shouted at me is hardly a pout in my book. And-" At this, I made gurgling sounds to get my point clear. "-I can't believe you're talking to me about Himura and about sex all at the same breath!!! Never, ever, for never put those two revolting words in one sentence when I'm around, got it?"

"Oh Kaoru, don't be such a fuddy-duddy old maid." Tomoe laughed. "Don't diss it until you experience it, sister. And believe me Kaoru, once you share it with someone you really care for, it will be all-"

"Stop!" I gasped, sitting up. "Stop there or I'll scream. I don't care if I sound and act like a fuddy-duddy old maid, as you put it, just don't make my ears bleed with stories about your adventures between the sheets…please!!!"

She was laughing so hard on the other line now that I had to fight the urge to slam the phone on her. I mean, honestly! I'm not a prude, okay? I just didn't want to talk about sex with my best friend when the tales she was likely to unravel were the ones with my arch-nemesis in it. Think of the trauma I'd go through once my imagination started to unfurl with the mental images…ugh!!!

But that got me curious though… And damn my curiosity for being stronger than my disgust! "Tomoe," I could feel my cheeks flame even before I got the words out. "I…I…I was just, um, wondering…w-was Himura your, you know, your-"

I stopped, unable to proceed. I instantly regretted having started this. "My…what Kaoru?" Tomoe prompted.

"N-never mind," I stammered. "Forget that I asked."

Annoyingly, Tomoe figured it all out because of my hesitation and she let out a high-pitched squeal. "Kaoru I thought you didn't-?"

"I said forget it, didn't I?" My cheeks burned so hotly that I thought I'd burst. "Stop laughing already!"

"Oh god yes -YES- he's my first." Tomoe answered my question anyway, amidst her laughter and my vehement protests. "But I'm not his. I guess I should be upset that we didn't share that magic moment for the first time together, but you know it was due to his previous experience that made the whole thing bearable for me. It hurt a lot, you know."

"Oh…" I sat up and started tugging anxiously at my ponytail. I got up on my feet and paced my room back and forth. "Did it really…hurt?"

"Yeah." Tomoe sounded pensive. "But I heard that if you lose 'it' with a pro, it wouldn't be half as bad because, obviously, he'd know the tricks to make the whole thing good. My Kenshin wasn't a pro when we did 'it', but he wasn't bad either…"

At the mention of the word 'pro', an image of an annoyingly-sexy guy with messy, spiky brown hair popped into my mind. I let out a groan.

"Tomoe, I need your advice about something…"

"Oh my god!" she screeched excitedly over the other line. "Kaoru Kamiya you're thinking about doing it, aren't you? Aren't you?!?"

I swallowed nervously. "It's not that I'm planning to do it- er, that is, what I meant back there is…" I shut my eyes tight and bit my lower lip. "Tomoe…is it possible to do 'it' without, you know, really wanting to do it but you're powerless to stop it?"

"I believe they call that 'rape' in many countries."

"Um, no, no, that's not what I…I mean I didn't- ugh!" Why was it so hard to tell her? Why was it so hard to tell her that I'm afraid I might lose my virginity on someone that I'd rather die that to ever be with?! "I was…thinking…something along the lines of s-seduction… Of being, um, 'persuaded' or 'convinced' of doing something which you otherwise wouldn't dream of doing if not for-"

"Kaoru Kamiya there's something you're holding back from me, out with it!"

In a rush, I let it all out. "I-think-Sanosuke-Sagara-is-out-to-seduce-me-and-I-might-not-be-able-to-resist-or-say-no-to-him-if-he-starts-making-advances-which-is-a-problem-because-I-don't-REALLY-want-to-do-it-with-him-because-he's-the-completely-wrong-guy-to-do-it-with-so-what-am-I-going-to-do-Tomoe?"

"Oh," Tomoe murmured, sounding perplexed. "Well…that is a problem I can completely sympathize with. Sagara-san does have a way with women you know. I mean, it's quite uncanny how he always knows just what buttons to push or what strings to pluck to worm his way to a woman's heart…"

"You're telling me," I muttered as I moved towards my bedroom window. I looked out at my peaceful neighbourhood and sighed. "I mean, I thought I was impervious to his advances and all that, but it turns that that's only because I've only seen one side of him. At chem today, I totally freaked out because he suddenly became all sweet and courteous and romantic on me, and I almost-" I stopped, unable to continue. The dread of what nearly happened earlier filled my stomach with an iciness that seeped all the way to my toes.

Tomoe sounded worried too when she prompted, "You almost what, Kaoru?"

I tugged at my ponytail harder, jerking it repeatedly as anxiety built up inside me. "I almost gave in to the urge to kiss him…"

"You didn't!" she gasped. I coughed and thought it wise to point out, "Almost, Tomoe, I didn't –actually- do it. I just…you know…fancied for a while what it would feel like if I did…"

As I looked out of the window, I saw my mom's car arrive and pull into the driveway. But she wasn't alone. Behind her, a couple of minivans stopped in front of our house and people I recognized as my mom's employees started streaming out. Afterwards, I saw my mom lead them inside the house.

"Can I call you back later Tomoe. My mom arrived and she has some guests with her."

Tomoe said her goodbyes and I quickly tossed the phone to my bed. I hurried out of my room and went straight for the den. But before I could get there, I met my mother at the foot of the stairs with a flushed and happy look on her beautiful face. "Oh honey you're home," she breathed out cheerfully. "Where's Aoshi?"

I blushed slightly when I came to realize that I've been ignoring our special house guest lately. I didn't even see him this morning when I left the house to head for school. "Um, I don't think he's back from school yet," I answered evasively. "Mom, what's going on? What's with all these people?"

"Oh them." My mom laughed. She was obviously in a very good mood today. "We sealed a few multi-million contract today with some high-profile actors and actresses from Hollywood. They want my designs honey, isn't that great? That's why I invited all the people working under me, as well as a few friends and colleagues, to come and celebrate!"

"I'm happy for you mom." I smiled and hugged her. Afterwards, she invited me to join the festivities but I had to decline. "I have schoolwork to do."

So I returned to my room minutes later, picked up the cordless phone from my bed and dialled Tomoe's number. When she answered, I quickly told her the good news and she said she was happy for us.

It was weird having this conversation with Tomoe Yukishiro. It was like we want back to being best friends again. But I knew in my heart that I would never be able to easily forgive her for choosing Himura over me… It would take years and years before I'd learn to trust her fully again… But just the same though, it was rather nice having these friendly moments with her. It made me miss and yearn for the good 'ol days…

"So back to your problem with Sano," Tomoe injected after we shared a laugh over a fashion faux pas that some celebrity was seen in a year ago, back when we were still BFF. "I just had a thought Kaoru…would it really be so bad if you lose 'it' with him? I mean, he's a great friend and a funny guy you know. And you're almost seventeen years old. Don't you think it's time for you to…" she cleared her throat. "-Leave the innocence of childhood and go to the next stage in life?"

I sighed jadedly and took a moment to consider the question. After thinking about it for a few seconds, I started to answer her carefully. "Tomoe, I'm not going to lose my virginity just for the sake of losing it, okay? I'll do it when I'm ready and when I feel that the moment is perfect for me to finally give myself to someone I feel special with. And yeah…Sano can't be considered a bad option, him being a hottie and a pro and all that," I exhaled wearily. "But Tomoe…what ticks me off is the fact that Sano probably won't feel anything remarkable about the whole thing. He won't feel the same way that I'll feel after I lose my virginity. For him, I'll just be another conquest that he can finally write-off in his record book of debaucheries and such…and I can't live with that!"

"When I finally do it, I want the guy I shared it with to treat the moment as something profoundly exquisite, something sacred and sweet and beautiful, you know… The way everything felt when I had my first kiss with-"

I paused, aghast that I almost let that one secret slip. But what really shocked me was the realization that I DID feel those things when Kenshin kissed me; of how everything felt so beautiful and so perfect when we shared that intimate moment last night. When he wrapped his hands around my waist, and I rested my hands on his shoulders, everything seemed so right in the world. And even though that wasn't Kenshin's first time, the way he made me feel expressed just how special he treated the moment. In his arms he made me feel complete, he made me feel light-headed, he made me feel-

"Who?" Tomoe was squealing excitedly over the phone. "Who's the guy? Kaoru c'mon, you can't do this to me! You have to tell me who the guy is!"

There was someone knocking on my door and I uttered a mental prayer of thanks for the second timely intervention that day. "Hey Tomoe I gotta go, my mom probably needs my help with the party." And before she could protest any further, I pushed the call-end button and returned the receiver to the phone stand. "Coming," I hollered as I came to the door. "Mom do you-"

The question died as I stared into the pair of intense, coffee-coloured eyes that met my gaze. "Hey," Sano greeted as he suavely combed his hair back with his fingers. "Your mom allowed me to come up to your room since your house is packed downstairs. So can I come in?"

Please kill me now!

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Author's Notes: It's sembreak over here so I have some time to write…and…yes I know I've been in writing hibernation for –TOO- long… All I can say at this point and time is that, well, I'm really sorry… I also apologize if I haven't been responding to the messages some readers have sent me coz I've been really busy. Hopefully though, I can answer all your messages (and update one or two stories of mine) before classes start on Monday, November 6.

A little understanding goes a long way…