Standard Disclaimers Apply. Please don't sue this poor fan!!!
Minna!!! You've made me so happy!!!!!!! :::Dances around::: I was going to post this tomorrow, but for you… Here it is!!! Enjoy!!! Read and Review!!! Happy chibi-angel… faster chapters!!!
Chapter 5Kenshin turned his head to glance innocently at the person who called him. Realizing that it was the girl, who captivated him days ago, he took a couple of steps back. Tripping on a wire, he stumbled, "Ororororo!!!!"
Kaoru approached the fallen red-head and asked, "Anoo… I'm sorry for startling you… Are you the one who's going to play Battousai?"
Kenshin stood up, dusted his pants and smiled cheerfully, "Sessha wa rurouni! ….Oro?"
Kaoru had the same surprised look on her face and asked, "Rurouni?" She put her palm in Kenshin's forehead and asked, "Did you hit your head or something?"
"Anoo… hehehe… I didn't know where that came from," Baka!!! He inwardly yelled at himself as he scratched his head. He extended his hand and smiled warmly, "I am Kenshin Himura. Yes, I'll be the one to play Battousai."
"Oh…" Kaoru couldn't help but smile as she acknowledged Kenshin's hand. "I'm Kaoru Kamiya. I'm going to portray Sakura. So, I guess we'll be working together, ne?"
"Fortunately," Kenshin whispered.
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing…" Kenshin lowered his head to hide his blush.
"Anoo… you can let go of my hand now," Kaoru blushed as she looked directly into Kenshin's eyes.
Kenshin immediately took back his hand and scratched his head. Baka! Stop scratching your head! Kaoru might think you have lice or something! With that, Kenshin dropped his hand and decided to fiddle with his sakabattou instead.
"So? Are you new here?" Kaoru said as she motioned them to sit in the front row.
"Yes, I just got here last Thursday."
"So? How did you manage to gain the role?"
"It's a long story actually…" Kenshin began but was cut off by the banging of the theater door.
Suddenly, kunais went flying by their direction. Kenshin narrowed his eyes as he held out his hand catching the kunais in between his fingers.
Kaoru, Misao, Sano, Yahiko and Megumi's eyes were as wide as saucers, having witnessed what Kenshin did.
"Oh my! You're a fast boy, eh" Megumi said as she sat on Kenshin's lap. She flipped her hair and whispered in his ears, "I love fast everything."
"Oro!" Kenshin's eyes widened in shock, while Kaoru's narrowed into slits piercing Megumi with her icy stare.
"Oi fox! Am I not fast enough for you?" Sano said with a wink, trying to hide the jealousy he was feeling.
"Too slow… baka tori atama…" Megumi said as she stood up from Kenshin's lap and whispered in Sano's ears, "You know sometimes, slow works for me. It gives me time to enjoy."
Seeing Sano on the verge of a nosebleed Megumi gave off her famous laugh, "Ohohohoho!!!!"
Kaoru sweatdropped and began the introductions, "Everyone, this is Kenshin Himura. He'll play Battousai. Kenshin, this is Sanosuke Sagara, Megumi Takani, Yahiko Myoujin…"
Everyone smiled at each other and nodded in acknowledgement.
"… and this is Misao Makimachi…. Misao? What are you doing?" Kaoru asked, looking at Misao incredulously.
Misao was looking around the theater and under the seats as she screamed, "Where are you Aoshi-sama??"
"Keep it down weasel," Fujita sneered as he entered the theater with Dr. Genzai, Aoshi, his twin sons, Souji Okita and Soujiro Seta, and the other cast and crew of the play.
When they had reached the front row of the theater, Dr. Genzai motioned his companions to seat down as he began to speak, "Prof. Fugita and I only posted the results of the audition. Now, I am going to announce the head of each committee. We had deliberated the roles to ourselves and chose people who best suit the job at hand. The Stage Manager is Aoshi Shinomori."
Hearing her beloved's name, Misao immediately raised up her hand, "Is there an opening for Assistant Stage Manager?"
"Actually, there is." Dr. Genzai replied good-naturedly.
"Yosh!!!" The dreamy-eyed Misao squealed as she imagined herself with Aoshi wearing a sash which read, Mr. And Mrs. Theater Manager.
Dr. Genzai cleared his throat and continued, "The Costume Designer is Megumi Takani."
Megumi smiled proudly as fox ears appeared, "Oh Ken-san! The new see-through gi and hakama I designed will fit you perfectly!! Ohohohoho!!!"
Kenshin sweatdropped, looking pleadingly at Kaoru's direction.
"Don't mind her, she's like that all the time," Kaoru consoled.
Professor Fugita rose from his seat and continued from where Dr. Genzai left off, "The Promotions Manager is Soujiro Seta."
"Just perfect… going to try to charm everybody with your smile, Sou-chan?" Kaoru asked as she patted his shoulder.
Soujiro grinned at Kaoru and replied, "I'll try that Kaoru-san."
"…The Productions Manager is Sanosuke Sagara and finally, the Maintenance Manager is Cho Katanagari."
"Ha!!! Never expected I'd also be a manager now, did you, rooster-head?" Cho said boastfully.
"Yeah… congratulations, Cho. It really suits you. Maintenance Manager Cho Katanagari. Whhhooopps! Better start working, broom head! Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!" Sano said loudly as he mimicked a sweeping action.
Veins were popping from Cho's head because of extreme irritation. "Stop it, rooster head!!!" Cho yelled as he threatened to draw his katana. "The maintenance manager is the highest officer. He makes sure everything is alright, am I right Dr. Genzai?"
"Eto…" Dr. Genzai began while rubbing his temple.
"Stop it you two before I throw you out of my theater!!! Rooster, fix the stage and brat, go help him," Fujita said as he shoved Sano and Yahiko to the stage.
"Yeah roosterhead, fix the stage!" Cho mocked.
Fujita gave out a loud sneer and said flatly, "Don't just stand there, broom head. Gather your staff and start cleaning the theater."
Dr. Genzai waited until Professor Fujita finished his instructions before he called the other committee heads to carry out their duties, "Aoshi and Misao, you are dismissed as of now, be here early tomorrow."
"Hai!!!" Misao said as she held out a peace sign to Dr. Genzai.
"If that's all, then I'll go now," Aoshi bowed down to Dr. Genzai as he turned to leave.
"Aoshi-sama! Wait! I want to go with you!" Misao yelled as she ran after Aoshi.
"Soujiro, I want the draft for the poster ready tomorrow and Megumi, the sketches are due on Wednesday. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir," Soujiro smiled as he hummed his way out.
"Yes sir," Megumi said, staring into space.
"Megumi?"
"Huh?
"No transparent clothing, tube tops or whatever it is you wear."
After giving them his final instructions, he pulled out papers from his leather bag and distributed them among the cast, "Okay everyone, here's the script. I want you to review them and try to memorize them. The rehearsals will start tomorrow."
"Be prepared," Fujita growled as he inhaled his cigarette. He coolly flicked the ashes to the ashtray.
The rest of the cast started to leave when Fujita said, "By the way Battousai…"
Kenshin frowned, "It's Kenshin."
"… I want your hair dyed black."
"Oro!!!!" Kenshin dropped on the floor [RK style!] with swirly eyes.
"Ahou! We have no record of the physical appearance of Battousai so we concluded the he obviously looked like a typical Japanese. Black hair." Saitoh smirked.
"But… but…." Kenshin whimpered, "….My hair!!!"
"That's enough Professor Fujita," Dr. Genzai interrupted. "There's no need for Kenshin to dye his hair. Legends say Battousai had red hair."
"Legends and history are different, Dr. Genzai," Fujita muttered under his breath.
"I know that, but anyway, there's no need for Kenshin to change his appearance because of a high school play."
Fujita growled in resignation and said, "You are dismissed. Don't be late tomorrow. Same time."
Kenshin gave an audible sigh of relief as everybody motioned to leave.
"Anoo… Kaoru," Kenshin began as he stared at his feet.
"What is it Kenshin?" Kaoru asked as she lowered her head, trying to catch Kenshin's eyes. Finally catching his gaze, she smiled.
"Well, you see, I'm not really good in acting. I was wondering if you want to rehearse tonight." Kenshin asked hopefully.
"Eto…" Kaoru mumbled as she rubbed her finger against her chin. She fidgeted for a while and replied, "That's alright with me but I can't stay out late. Do you mind doing it in my place?"
"Oro!" Oi Kenshin! Don't ruin it! It's your chance to be with her alone! Kenshin hesitated a bit but finally nodded his head in agreement, "That would be fine… Kaoru-do.. Kaoru. Thanks!" What's wrong with me!? Am I stuttering?
"Okay then, let's go!" Kaoru said as she picked up her stuff from the chair. Was he just about to say Kaoru-dono? Weird…
Preview of Next Chapter:
Kaoru's Home [cavities alert!]
Author's Notes:
The next few chapters will be focused on the relationship of the Kenshin-gumi. After I establishing that, I will continue on with the play. But please keep in mind that Kenshin and Kaoru's relationship is the center of the fic not the play itself. Nevertheless, the play will serve a major role in the development of their relationship. Other pairings on the side =)
Fujita suggested dying Kenshin's hair black because, for all they know… Battousai is a typical Japanese. Word is going around in the RKFF mailing list that there is a big possibility that Kenshin a.k.a. Battousai is a foreigner. There are signs, red hair, purple eyes, the crosses on the bandits and the slave trader's graves. I sort-of agree on that idea but in line with the anime, Battousai is viewed as a Japanese so that would justify Fujita's suggestion.
Moreover, Fujita would not honor Dr. Genzai's suggestion that Battousai had red hair because the proud Japanese that he is won't accept that the powerful and legendary assassin could have had foreign descents. Besides, it would be insulting for him as a history teacher to give in to legends.
Thanks a lot to all who left a review and even those who didn't =)
Susan- thanks for leaving a review on chap 3 & 4
Delusional Lady- sorry… (sweatdrops) I don't seem to know how to write yaoi.
Hatokirei- oi! I'm not thinking kinky! Maybe you are! (hehehehe…) Thank you for your heart-warming comment. I did dance!!! See?
JML- I, too, love that part. Only of my favorites. Maybe I should try doing that to meet the man of my dreams, ne?
Omochi, Goldmung, Manina, Kitsune- thanks a lot that you liked the chapter!
Demented Chris- don't worry, I actually have a psychological basis on this fic, which I will post with the next chapter.
Midori- thank you so much for the emails and for everything!!!!
( )- I hope you leave your name next time so I can thank you personally.
Macy- I actually based her clothes in Charlie's Angels. Do you remember what Cameron wear when she woke up from a good dream. Actually, that was also my inspiration when I wrote Kaoru dancing after waking up.
Ayumi- :::cowers from behind::: sorry for being mean…
Sync*in- Hope this cap answers your questions
Chibi-angel- (sweatdrops) hehehe…is this your nick? If not, please leave your name next time, too? Thanks for the lovely comments.
Special thanks to Hana-chan who pre-read this chap!!!More reviews… Happy chibi-angel… Faster Chapters!!!!