Author's notes: I saw the results of FHB's fan fiction contest, and I'm so proud to be one of the nominees for best drama—even though I didn't win! But still, I really felt honoured to be one of the nominees for the best. I must try extra-harder next time! Also, I'm so sorry for the late updates! I'm so busy in schoolwork—really!

Notice: I'm so sorry! In chapter 26, there is a line that says Kenshin's birthday would be next week—and it should've been next month! I'm so sorry, dear readers for my errors! Forgive me…!

Disclaimer: I don't own RK… Although I own my skin, my money, my body, my soul…and my cookie that everyone wants to eat in a Kingdom Hearts fanfic. (Hehehe)

Date started this chapter: 2/7/05

Date finished: 2/10/05


Chapter 29: Broken for a while…


I swallowed hard, and I felt a cold sweat travelling on my right cheek.

The teacher was reviewing us for the upcoming exams, but I wasn't listening at all. My eyes travelled towards the seat of Kenshin—he was listening intently on the teacher, and then my eyes travelled on Enishi's seat—and he was absent. Was he upset because of what happened yesterday?

Yesterday…

I bit the eraser of my pencil then coughed. I tapped my fingers on my desk noisily that my seatmate told me to keep quiet. I shifted on my seat uncomfortably.

Why am I so uncomfortable? I didn't agree to Kenshin's so-called "secret relationship" anyway…

I sighed inwardly, propping my chin to the back of my hand, and fixed my gaze at him. Why was he so good at pretending anyway? Is there something he's keeping from me?

"Kamiya-san."

I blinked and tilted my head up to my sensei who was staring at me with the rest of the class. I glanced at Kenshin and he wasn't looking at me—and that kind of hurt. While almost all of my classmates were staring at me, he was busily gazing at his pencil.

"Kamiya-san!" the teacher called once again.

I stood up, blushing, and looked straight at the blackboard. "H-hai!"

The teacher looked at me and kind of sighed. She took off her eyeglasses, put down her book, and went towards the door. "Follow me, Kamiya-san. There's something I want to talk about with you." she said with no anger and went out of the classroom.

The class became noisy when our sensei got out of the classroom.

I was confused, of course. Why would she want to talk to me personally? Terrible thoughts suddenly came in my mind. Was it because I didn't attend the party last night? Was it because she discovered about my classmates' teases about her and she wants to ask an innocent me? Was it because my grades were falling down already? "Falling down"…what a word.

"Kaoru-chan! Go!" Misao whispered to me, bringing me back to reality.

I blinked and looked at Misao, catching a glimpse of Megumi who was also quiet. She had her haircut, and her hair was really short. She was staring at her notebook without moving at all. I sighed, wondering why I focused my attention on Megumi instead of going out of the classroom. I began to take little steps towards the door and when I was where I was destined to, I looked back at Kenshin and blushed when I saw him staring at me. I quickly turned away and looked around the hallway.

"Sensei?" I whispered, closing the door of the classroom. I looked at the place near the stairs and saw my teacher there. "Sensei!" I said and went towards the staircase.

My sensei looked at me and shook her head with a stiff smile. "I'm sorry if I had to talk to you outside the classroom, Kamiya-san." she said.

I nodded. "It's fine, sensei…" I whispered, though I was wondering why we had to talk near the staircase. Was she going to push me?

"I've noticed…you have no energy during class discussions when before you were really hyper and so active…and your grades on your quizzes are…quite disappointing." she whispered and stared at me. She shifted slightly, leaned back on the wall behind her, and looked at the window at the corner. "Is there something that's bothering you, Kamiya-san?"

I looked at my sensei and looked at my shoes. "No, none at all…" I said weakly.

"If it's about someone like Himura-san," sensei paused, looking at me. "It's too early." she said and went back inside the classroom.

I watched my teacher get back in the classroom. So she knew? She has a point, though. It's too early—I'm too fast. And I'm wrong.

I walked towards our classroom again and placed my hands on the handle of the door. Why am I worrying so much? I haven't agreed to Kenshin's secret relationship at all! I slid the door open and did not even glance at the boy who was in my thoughts. I sat back down on my desk, suddenly hearing my other classmates' voices saying, "Himura-kun is so lucky! I'm sure he'll go home early!"

I blinked and looked at Kenshin—he was nibbling on his nibbled pencil eraser. What was happening that I didn't know?


I looked at my watch for the tenth time and luckily the 5:00 pm bell struck loudly to my ears. Everyone stood up, said goodbye to the teachers, and went out of the classroom. I sat still on my chair, my eyes resting on a particular Himura Kenshin. Would he go home early as I've heard?

Kenshin was fixing his bag rather lazily and suddenly—he glanced at me. My eyes widened and I swallowed, but then he looked away quickly, like he was hiding something from me. What was he hiding anyway?

"Kaoru-chan!" a voice exclaimed and shook me.

"WAH! Ma-matte!" I exclaimed and sighed when the person who shook me let go of my shoulders. I looked around and saw Misao behind me, pouting like a child. I covered my mouth with my hands, trying to muffle my laughter. "W-what's up with the face!" I exclaimed, laughing loudly.

"You're so mean, Kaoru-chan!" Misao whimpered. "You didn't even show up for the party last night! I'm totally disappointed in you!"

"I didn't say I'd go!" I shot back playfully. "I was too…tired and I had things in my mind that are needed to be dealt with."

Misao suddenly stared at me seriously, and then she kept quiet.

I blinked. "Misao-chan?"

"Who's that?" Misao asked, standing up and looking outside the window beside me.

I turned around to the window and looked out. "Where is that who?" I asked, inventing the question.

"There. At the gate. Beside…Himura-kun…"

"Himura?" I whispered. I looked down and blinked. I saw two figures standing by the gate—and I was sure the other one was Kenshin. So he was already at the gate after all! But who was that?

"That girl is surely not Megumi and not from our school. I haven't seen her before in the neighbourhood. But…she's really pretty and so…feminine." Misao whispered to me and looked at me, trying to point out that I was tomboyish. "She's like…an actress or model…or something like that."

I suddenly felt…weird. I didn't know if I was at that time…sad or jealous or something else… As I watched the two laughing by the gate, I felt the burning jealousy in my heart. I felt my body weaken when I saw the beautiful girl place a kiss on Kenshin's left cheek and Kenshin smiling at the other in response tore my heart apart. He only gave that smile rarely to anyone close to him…and his smile was filled with sweetness in it. I held one of my pencils, and suddenly I was not aware that I broke the pencil to two and the other part fell on the floor.

Misao's eyes widened and looked at the part of the pencil that was lying on the floor before looking at me. Probably she saw that I was controlling myself not to burst into tears because of the jealousy inside me.

"Kaoru-chan…"

I didn't say anything. I took my eyes off from the window and fixed my things. After he said "I love you"…he would…he would…?

"Damn! This is so f complicated!" Misao suddenly said. "How could Himura do this to you!"

At that time, it struck in my mind—was Misao aware of what was going on between me and Kenshin? But then, I focused my attention back on the figures standing by the school gate. They were still chitchatting, and Kenshin was leaning already on the wall, while the beautiful girl was holding her skirt and probably was telling something amusing because they always laughed.

"You have to follow them if ever they leave together, Kaoru-chan!" Misao exclaimed angrily, and she was taking out her anger on my things that she kept inside my bag. "You have to! Don't worry about your books—just get them from me tomorrow!" she said, letting me stand and pushing me out of the classroom.

I was finally out of the classroom, and looked at Misao. She was very serious and it didn't really suit her—being serious is very rare to her nature. I stopped at my tracks, looking away. "What would I do if I follow them? And why must I follow them?" I whispered.

Misao opened her mouth to say something, but then she was at loss for words. "You don't care what happens…?" she whispered back.

I smiled weakly at Misao and shrugged slowly. "I don't what happened between Himura-san and Megumi—and I don't know who that girl is… Besides, Himura-san and I aren't even married! Why should I hinder him—when he's happy?" I murmured, forcing myself to keep quiet because I was choking up from the tears that threatened to fall.

Silence conquered…

Was this what Kenshin felt when he saw either Enishi or Soujirou with me? Oh God…I'm so sorry if he ever felt this way… I didn't know…it would hurt so much…

Suddenly, my eyes widened when Misao went inside the classroom hurriedly and then went back to me, running. "I don't want to say what happened, but please! Just for me, follow them!" she exclaimed, almost pushing me towards the stairs.

I almost tripped when I got on the floor after the staircase. But why should I follow them still? After what I've done—letting Kenshin forget about me and others—after hurting him so much, I will follow them to make him…what? Make him mine once more?

It's too early.

But then, I remembered something. Megumi was Kenshin's girlfriend, right? If that girl was his girlfriend too—how about Meg! Was Megumi informed about it—so she was really quiet a while ago and cut her hair short?

I went downstairs again and took off my rubber shoes and replaced them with my leather ones in a flash and opened the door leading outside the school quadrangle. I looked around the school gate and the two weren't there anymore. I ran towards the gate and looked around outside. I decided to go to the right direction where Kenshin and I usually go home and immediately I ran towards the pathway, running past the cherry trees that bothered me with its petals blocking my vision. I arrived at a park, and they weren't even there!

How could Kenshin do this to my best friend!

I stopped running and sat by a cherry tree. I leaned on its trunk, and buried my face with my arms that were on my legs. I was lucky because no one was there and the wind was blowing hard. I suddenly sobbed—and then one tear was followed by another in a second. As soon as I realized, I was crying. Crying helplessly, hugging my legs—I looked pathetic.

I suddenly remembered how Kenshin smiled at the girl and how she kissed him and he let her. It really hurt me. Maybe I was really selfish…I didn't want to see Kenshin with anyone else. Maybe…forgetting him is one of the hardest things in my life to do alone.

I admit it.

I loved him.

He was the one who caught my heart—and gave me back the love I needed from him.

I didn't know what I was doing. Was I doing it for Megumi or…just for me?

I cried harder, sobbing and gritting my teeth, trying to stop from being so idle, so helpless… Suddenly, I felt a warm hand stroking my head and hair and lips pressed to my forehead. I opened my eyes slowly and tilted my head up…only finding Kenshin staring down at me, smiling so gently. But then, when he saw I was about to cry again, his face saddened.

"What ha—"

"Kenshin!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms around Kenshin's neck and hugging him tightly. I buried my head to his broad shoulders and supported myself with my knees.

Kenshin was confused. "Why are you crying?" he whispered, putting his arms around my waist. "Did someone hurt you?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed.

"Who!" Kenshin asked, beginning to be serious.

"You!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you!"

"Why me!"

"It's because of you!" I exclaimed and added, "…and that girl!"

"That girl? Who's 'that girl'?"

"Your other girlfriend!"

"Girlfriend? I don't have another girlfriend!"

"Then who was she?"

"Who?"

"The girl that was with you a while ago!" I exclaimed, pushing him back gently and wiping my tears with my sleeve.

Kenshin looked at me confusedly but then his face seemed to brighten up. "Oh… She's my cousin that's a newbie actress! She came here to visit my mother." he whispered and smiled at me. He smiled wider when I kept quiet. "Why? Did you think it was another—"

"Stop it." I murmured, looking away and pouting.

Suddenly, Kenshin laughed out loud that he leaned against the trunk of the tree. He laughed so loudly that I was kind of pissed but then deep down, I was relieved. "W-why are you laughing? Stop it!" I demanded, blushing because of embarrassment.

After Kenshin caught his breath, he touched his forehead. "So you mean…you were crying because you thought I had another? WAHAHAHA!"

"So what!"

After some seconds, Kenshin's laughter finally died down. "Even if you are really funny—I'm flattered, actually." he whispered, smiling at me sweetly that I blushed yet again.

"Why…is it?" I blinked, looking up at the sky. I didn't notice it was becoming dark already. The street lamps were already lit.

It took a minute before Kenshin opened his mouth to say something. He lifted his hand and touched my cheek. "I didn't know…you were actually jealous…" he whispered.

"I guess…you could put it that way…" I whispered back.

"And that means…you actually feel something for me…" he murmured.

"I… I couldn't help it…"

Kenshin just smiled and caressed my cheek, enjoying every bit of pinching it.

"So…where is she?"

"My cousin?"

"Yep."

"At home already. When I saw Misao and you looking down at us, I know something bad would happen. So, when you suddenly disappeared, I forced my cousin to run and get a taxi to drive her to my home. Pretty quick, huh?"

"Why did she kiss you…and why did you smile so sweetly?"

Kenshin shifted a little. "Well…it's kind of embarrassing to say this, but…she considers me as her little brother because we she doesn't have a sibling and I am not so close with my siblings…so she was the one I was really close to in all of my cousins. She's really special to me…so I let her do stuffs like kisses or hugs to me. It only means family affection."

"Oh…" I whispered.

"Well," Kenshin said, standing up. "Shall we go home? Don't worry. I'll walk with you until your house." he said, offering his hand to me.

I placed my right hand on his and helped me stand up. I smiled at him, and we both walked away towards our houses, our hands clasped.

But for how long would the clasped hands last?


To be continued


Thanks for reading! Also, the end is near! Hehehe...!

Ja ne

Koharu-chan