Standard Disclaimers Apply. I don't own it! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Don't sue me. I only used it to satiate my urge to write.

Chapter 3

Kenshin stared at the façade of the high school and said to himself, "Well, this is where my new life begins… I better start training again, otousan will be back after a few weeks, I have to be ready."

Kenshin walked around the area, looking for an open area where he can train. Seeing none, he strayed at the back of the building, where he found the school soccer field. This place is just perfect. After putting his things under the tree, he placed his sakabattou at his side. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

~~~~~

Back to the theater, Professor Fujita announced, "The audition for Battousai is now open. We had made a couple of changes. Aside from testing your acting talent, you are also going to show your skills in handling a katana.

"Can I use my fists?" Sano stood up from his seat and asked.

"What about my bokken?"

"Ahou. I just said katana!!"

"Katana will do just fine." Everybody turned around to see where the voice came from.

"Chikuso!" Sano muttered under his breath.

"Nervous chicken-head?" Cho muttered.

"Applying for janitorial services… BROOM-HEAD?" Sano quipped.

"Shut up!" Fujita glared at the two of them. "The audition is about to begin! First up… Sanosuke Sagara."

"Wait… you never said we needed swords. I'll be back." Sano exited the theater. Minutes later, he was holding a rather humongous piece of metal covered in a white linen. Sano strolled down the aisle casually looking around to see the shocked expression of the audience.

"Baka tori-atama! That 's not katana. Ohohoho!!!" Megumi teased.

"Che fox! I gotta improvise," Sano snapped as he turned to Megumi's direction.

Sano got up the stage in a confident manner and winked at Megumi. Before beginning his audition, he boasted, "I would like you to meet my partner…" Sano tore the white linen and continued, "… the Zanbattou. I am Zanbattou-weilding Sanosuke or Zanza for short." Sano turned his head to the side and winked, "Now its time to show you what I've got!" Sano yelled his battle cry and raised up his zanbattou preparing to strike vertically his imaginary opponent.

Upon seeing this, Fujita immediately jumped to the stage to block his strike. The audience stared at the scene wide-eyed. Whispers were heard everywhere.

"Professor Fujita has a katana?"

"I didn't know he knows kenjutsu!"

"He was so fast!"

"Professor Fujita is sexy with a sword!!!"

Upon hearing the remark, Kaoru and the others sweatdropped as they pinched their nose in disgust. One word. Eeeewwww!

Back to the stage, Professor Fujita puffed out his smoke towards Sano's face. Sano yelled SD faced, "Why did you block my attack? I thought this was a free stage?"

"Ahou!!! If I didn't block your attack the stage would have been in ruins by now."

"Chikuso! What? You want to settle into fist fight?"

Fujita turned his back at Sano and muttered, "You're out of your league tori-atama!"

"Maa, maa," Dr. Genzai said as he waved his hands. "Sano, you may now begin to act."

Sano smirked at Prof. Fujita before bowing. He took out a fishbone from his pocket and began chewing it. He walked casually around the stage, pretending he was traveling. Suddenly he stopped and turned his head with a glint in his eyes, "Someone's in trouble." He ran towards the opposite direction of the stage and punched his imaginary opponent.

After the fight, he smiled at the audience and said, "Whew! What a boring fight! I didn't even break a sweat." Turning to the damsel in distress, his eyes softened as he spoke gently, "Hey fox! I was worried about you…."

Sano's eyes widened like saucers after he realized what he just said. "Eto… I mean…," Sano paused for a second and choked out the word, "…Sakura."

Kaoru, Misao and Yahiko glanced at Megumi, who turned beet red after hearing Sano's words. Megumi inwardly smiled, I guess that baka unconsciously cares for me after all. "Ohohohoho!!! I knew it!"

"Next!!!"

"Teme! I'm not yet finished!"

"Ahou! You can't even remember the leading lady's name!" Fujita snapped. "Katana Gari no Cho."

Sano glared at Fujita's direction before going back to his seat. Meanwhile, Cho walked towards the stage carrying two katanas. Cho prepared to show his skill and talent however, he was interrupted.

"Cho-san, why don't you act first before showing us your kenjutsu abilities," Dr. Genzai said as he held out his hand to motion Cho to proceed.

Cho fidgeted from his place as he bowed. He nervously eyed the audience as he began to stutter, "Umm… Sakura.. well… you see…" Unable to restrain the apparent shaking of his knees, he sighed in resignation.

Cho looked straight into Fujita's eyes and crunched his fist. "Chikuso!!! Why don't I just prove my worth using my katana?? That's it! I can't play a softie Battousai, who falls in love… I'm going to audition the role of Hajime Saitoh instead." Cho smiled as he played with his katana.

"Another Ahou!" Fujita smirked.

Kaoru whispered to Misao, "Who's the ahou? It seems like it's the only word he knows." Misao giggled at the comment.

"Aacchooo!" Fujita rubbed his nose. Hmph! "There will be no audition for the role of Hajime Saitoh.

"What!? I'm out of here! I won't work with all this shit!" Cho yelled as he waved his hands in the air.

Dr. Genzai held his breath at Cho's comment and said politely, "You may go now… Next!"

After a few hours, most of the audience already left after Professor Fujita and Dr. Genzai announced that the audition for minor roles was postponed for tomorrow. It was getting late and the audition for the role of Battousai is almost through.

"Aoshi Shinomori, please approach the stage," Dr. Genzai announced with heavy eyelids.

"Shinomori, Aoshi," Kaoru whispered as she leaned towards the stage to get a better view.

"Go! Aoshi-sama!" Misao jumped out of her seat and ran towards the stage. "Good luck!" she said as she took out her handkerchief to wipe Aoshi's perspiration. Aoshi stood stoically as he stared at the girl in front of him, smelling and rubbing the handkerchief to her cheeks. He turned his back at her as he walked up the stage and took a bow.

Misao ran back to their seat and continued smelling her 'beloved' handkerchief'. "Oh Kaoru! Smell this!" Misao said handing over the piece of cloth to Kaoru, "He smells so sexy!" Misao stared into space as she caressed the edges of the handkerchief.

"Misao! Stop that! You're freaking me out! C'mon let's just see Aoshi's audition. We'll never know if he might be the one to play Battousai." Kaoru said as she shook Misao's shoulders.

"Che! As if that icebox could portray a romancer," Yahiko said matter-of-factly.

I wonder how it would feel like to have Aoshi-sama as my lover. Misao blushed as she hugged herself.

Aoshi took out his two kodachi's and showed his Kaiten Kenbu Ruroken move. After slashing his invisible opponent, he went to the other side of the stage and pretended to help his damsel. "Are you alright, Miss?" Aoshi asked with his piercing eyes.

"Don't scare your woman, Aoshi," Fujita reprimanded.

"Why don't you smile at your lady, Shinomori-san," Dr. Genzai suggested.

Aoshi looked at the audience and began twitching his mouth.

Misao looked at him intently and thought, Here it is… The moment I had been waiting for… He is finally going to smile!!!

Aoshi continued twitching his mouth causing the muscles in his cheeks to tremble. The cold expression of his eyes remained as he forced himself to smile.

"That's enough Aoshi! You are trying to scare me," Fujita smirked and announced as he looked to the right, "Next Yahiko Myoujin."

Damn that wolf! Misao clenched her teeth. Aoshi-sama almost smiled.

Yahiko proudly got up the stage and he bowed honorably. He was about to begin his audition when Fujita snapped, "Get off the stage kid! You're too short!"

"What the….??" Steam rose from Yahiko's head as he threw his bokken at him. Yahiko stormed out of the theater, muttering curses to himself.

Trying to ease the tension, Dr. Genzai smiled, "I'm sorry Yahiko, it seems that you are too young for the role. You can still apply for the crew or audition some other role."

"Lastly, Iwanbo." Fujita looked around to see the last one. Seeing that no one was walking towards the aisle, he punched his fist to the table as he said, "Iwanbo! Better Hurry up!"

"Huh?" Iwanbo stood at the stage and placed his finger at his mouth. "Huh?" He looked around the theater and grinned, "Hehehe…"

The audience's jaw dropped.

"Bunch of idiots wanting to portray Battousai? This play is hopeless!!!" Fujita grabbed his katana and raged out of the theater.

All that Dr. Genzai could do was shrug as he said to himself, "Oh well, at least we have the perfect Sakura… now all we need is to find the perfect Battousai."

After Prof. Fugita left, Dr. Genzai announced that the results would be posted on Monday. He thanked everyone who came as the audience began to pack up and leave.

Monday… I can't wait! Kaoru thought to herself as she and Misao walked out of the theater.

~~~~

"Aaaaaaarrrrggghhhh!!! Hiten Mitsirugi Ryu! Dou Ryu Sen!!!" Kenshin let out a battle cry before executing the move perfectly causing the rocks and the soil the scatter. Kenshin resheathed his sakabattou and turned to the tree beside the soccer goal, "Who are you? Come out… Why are you watching me?"

Professor Fujita looked coldly at Kenshin's direction as he inhaled his cigarette before crushing it with his foot. He quickly unsheathed his katana and rushed towards Kenshin in a Gatotsu stance.

Kenshin's eyes widened at the sudden attack and unsheathed his sword just in time to block his attack. After the clash of swords, both jumped away from each other, preparing for another stance.

Fujita positioned himself in another Gatotsu stance as he aimed towards Kenshin. With his god-like speed, he dodged the attack and managed to hit his aggressor at the nape of his neck.

Kenshin resheathed his sword and said, "What do you want?"

"Ahou!" Fujita called out as he lit another cigarette.

Kenshin's eyes widened in realization and said, "You were testing me. Why?"

Fujita smirked and puffed out his smoke in Kenshin's face, "I had to make sure you are Battousai."

Kenshin's eyes widened as his heart beat rapidly, "What the…"

Preview of the next Chap:

Kenshin and Kaoru finally meets!!!

Author's Notes:

Hehehe… Pom! Pom! Pom! Pom! Cliffhanger…. Don't worry, I'll update soon…

I'm really glad you guys loved the Sakura audition… hope you enjoy this as well. Hmmm…. Guess who will play Saitoh Hajime? [not you hana-chan… you already know]

In case you didn't notice… I really love the Juppon Gatana! hehehe

Thank you! Thank you very much to all of you who left a review…. ::hugs!::: you guys don't know how much they encourage me. ::sob! Sob!:::

Special thanks to Hana-chan and Midori for entertaining my questions regarding this fic.

Minna… also read my other fics which I co-authored with Gypsy-chan.., "Lonely Hearts" and the other with Crystal Okamino… "An object of Obsession