Standard Disclaimers Apply. I do not own anything. I am poor!!! I only own my dreams and ideas! Shooo lawyers! Don't sue me!
Chapter 6
Kenshin and Kaoru walked from school to Kaoru's house. They did not feel the need to speak since both of them enjoyed the companionable silence. They stopped by a small town house with a well-kept garden. They walked up the porch while Kaoru searched her purse for the key.
"Okay, we're here!" Kaoru said while opening the door.
Kenshin nodded as he looked around the house. It has a sunny and cozy atmosphere. The ceiling has a 3D geometric touch and is painted with pure white stimulating a sort-of dizziness. The walls were painted blue and the cabinets yellow matching the furniture and fixtures of the house. On the wall hang a reproduction of Van Gough's Starry Night, which accented the total dreamy feel of her pad. The whole first floor serves as the living room, dinning room and kitchen in one. The place was designed cleverly that the style didn't compromise space and comfort.
After observing his surroundings, Kenshin said, "Nice place."
"Thanks. C'mon let's sit down." Kaoru said as she motioned them to sit on her sofa.
Kenshin sat on the sofa and stared at Kaoru's picture on the side table. Chibi-Kaoru was wearing a white gi and black hakama, waving around her bokken. "I didn't know you practiced kenjutsu."
"Oh… my dad taught me Kamiya Kasshin Ryu when I was a kid." Kaoru grinned as she waved around her bokken, which magically appeared from nowhere.
" Anoo… what time are your parents coming home?" Kenshin asked nervously.
"Kenshin no baka! They passed away." Kaoru said trying to make her tone as cheerful as possible.
"Oh…" Kenshin's said sadly, "I'm sorry to bring it up. … You know, you don't need to hide your feelings from me, I understand. My mom also died when I was still a child."
Upon hearing that, Kaoru's face fell, "I guess we have a lot of things in common, ne? My parents died in a plane crash when I was still little. I was placed under the protection of my uncle Shirimo Fozu, who lives in Yokohama. He was a rich trader. After he died two years ago, he gave me an ample heritage and I live alone since then. Don't worry, I am way over their deaths"
"But it still gets lonely, doesn't it," Kenshin asked as he placed his hand on top of Kaoru's, looking straight in her eyes.
Kaoru looked at Kenshin's hand and blushed. "I know… it sucks," Kaoru muttered wiping a stray tear from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Kaoru," Kenshin whispered as he wiped another tear from her eyes.
Kaoru regained her composure and said cheerfully, "Well, past is past! Would you like to have dinner first before rehearsing?"
"Hmmm… Okay! Why don't you take a nice hot shower while I cook dinner for you," Kenshin offered with a big smile plastered on his face.
"Sure, that'll be great! But next time, I'll show you my culinary expertise!" Kaoru said with a wink before she headed upstairs.
Oh so there's a next time, Kenshin smiled inwardly.
~~~~~
After thirty minutes, Kaoru went downstairs. She took a deep breath, smelling the aroma of fried tofu and chicken. "Hi Kenshin! What are you cooking?"
"Steamed rice, miso soup, agedashi tofu, fried tori and mixed vegetables." Kenshin said proudly.
"Hmm… smells good. I never thought you were a good cook," Kaoru commented while taking a bite of the tofu.
"Thanks! Like I said, my mom died early so I had to learn how to cook for my father and I."
Looking up, Kaoru asked, trying to hide the curiosity in her voice, "By the way, did you tell your dad you're going home late?"
"No need, he's not here. But, he's coming this weekend." Kenshin said as he transferred the mixed vegetables to the plate.
"From where?"
"Kyoto." Kenshin replied as he began to transfer the platters to the dinning table. So… let's eat?"
"Okay!" Kaoru smiled as she helped Kenshin set the table.
While eating, the two got the chance to get to know one another. Kaoru filled in the details regarding her friends. She told Kenshin about the eccentricities of each and their crazy antics. She told him how they all got together and ended up as friends. On the other hand, Kenshin shared a bit of his childhood. He shared how his father trained him Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu and how he kept insisting that Kenshin calls him shishou instead of father.
"By the way Kenshin, why did you transfer here?" Kaoru asked cheerfully.
"Oh… Well, two reasons actually. One is because of business and the other one is because I had some trouble with one of the teachers."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"One of the teachers, Jin'eh Udo, found out about my kenjutsu skills. Wanting to test my skills in relation to his, he held our manager's niece, Tsubame, hostage to force me to fight him. We fought hard and I defeated him. When I did, he lost it. He is now confined in the asylum. However, the school wanted to keep everything secret to keep its reputation so they asked me properly to leave and they will be handle everything. If I refused to cooperate, they will kick me out and charge me with destruction of school property."
Kaoru listened intently to his story and exclaimed, "Whoah! I can't believe it! They actually blackmailed you!"
Kenshin nodded and replied, "I guess, they would do everything to keep their reputation clean. What bothers me is that Professor Fugita knows about the destruction of school property thing. Since I agreed to transfer here, I came here with a clean record."
Kaoru smirked, "Well, a wolf's a wolf. He has a strange way of knowing things."
After eating, they decided to help each other wash the dishes. Kenshin insisted on washing it but since Kaoru is the hostess, she declined. Their argument ended in a compromise, Kenshin washed it while Kaoru dried it. While doing her part, Kaoru stared into space in deep thought, It has been a long time since I had guests. I was always the one who go to Misao's place but… I really don't feel like I have a guest. I feel so comfortable with Kenshin… "This feels so right," Kaoru whispered softly unaware of her surroundings.
"What feels right?" Kenshin asked while wiping his hands dry.
Kaoru blushed and said nervously, "Huh? Oh, nothing. I'm just glad to have someone over for a change." Trying to change the topic, she asked, "So? Shall we begin?"
Feeling her uneasiness, Kenshin agreed as they walked towards the sofa.
They took their script from their bags and began scanning the acts. After a few minutes, Kenshin looked up and asked, "What scene shall we rehearse?"
"Let's see," Kaoru said as she flipped through the pages. "How about the first time they met?"
"It's on page two. I don't think we should practice the fight scene," Kenshin said matter-of-factly as he glanced at Kaoru for approval.
Kaoru nodded and said, "Lets start by reading out the lines first. After that we'll act, okay?"
Kenshin nodded and began reading the script aloud, "Ms! Ms! Are you hurt?" [Battousai rushes to Sakura to help her get up]
"No… I am alright, thanks to you." [She accepts his hand and stood up.]
"If you're alright then I better get going." [Battousai turned around and started to walk away.]
"Wait good sir, can I at least know your name?" [Sakura said, still shaken.]
"Battousai. Would you like me to walk you home… ano…?" [Noticing Sakura trembling, he offered to walk her home.]
"Sakura Yotonari. That would be wonderful. Thank you very much," Kaoru said as she glanced at Kenshin.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you."
With those words, Kaoru fell into a trance. Don't worry I'll protect you… I'm sorry I made you worry, Kaoru-dono… I promise… Images flooded in Kaoru's mind causing her to drop the script she was holding.
Looking at the expressions playing on Kaoru's face, Kenshin put down the script he was holding and pulled back a stray hair from Kaoru's cheeks causing Kaoru to snap out of her musings.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked staring at his violet eyes, totally forgetting her previous train of thought.
He looked straight into her eyes and whispered, "Did anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?"
Kaoru looked up at Kenshin, shocked. She looked down on the floor to hide her blush and whispered breathlessly, "No."
"You are." Kenshin cupped Kaoru's face and continued, "Not only outside but also in the inside… Kaoru."
Kaoru stared at him wide-eyed as she began to close the distance between them. Their faces were inches apart when she called him, "Kenshin?"
"Yes?" He asked while pulling her closer to him.
"That's not written in the script." Staring deep at his eyes, she slowly crawled on Kenshin's lap and wrapped her arm around him, pressing her forehead against his.
"I know," Kenshin said huskily as he wrapped one arm on Kaoru's waist and pulled her head down to him with the other. Kaoru closed her eyes as Kenshin brushed his lips against hers. Kaoru responded by slightly opening her mouth but he pulled back almost immediately causing Kaoru to pout.
"I'm sorry, Kaoru. I didn't mean this to happen."
Kaoru stared at him wide-eyed, blushing at the end of her roots. She quickly stood up and sat on the other chair as she buried her face in her hands in embarrassment.
Kenshin stood up and hugged Kaoru, "I'm really sorry Kaoru if I violated you in any way. I didn't' mean to damage our friendship."
Anger overcame her shame causing her to hit Kenshin with a bokken, "Are you saying that you're sorry that it happened?"
"Ororororo!!!" Kenshin fell swirly-eyed, making Kaoru giggle.
"Oh sorry Kenshin! Fine! Let's just forget it ever happened!" Kaoru chuckled as she rubbed the lump forming on Kenshin's head.
"No…" Kenshin said as he took Kaoru's hand, "Let's just keep it a memory, okay?"
Kaoru nodded in agreement, as she helped Kenshin get up. Looking hopefully at him, she blushed slightly and she asked, "So… we're still friends?"
"Of course… see you tomorrow?"
"You're leaving?" Kaoru's face fell.
"It's getting late," Kenshin replied while picking up his things.
"Oh…"
"Pick you up at 7:30?"
"Huh?" Kaoru asked looking up at Kenshin making sure she heard him correctly.
"Anoo… I was wondering if I could walk you to school?" Kenshin blushed as he fidgeted in his place.
Kaoru looked thoughtful for a while and replied, "Sure! Here is the spare key to the door, just come in and holler when you arrive." She handed her a key with a raccoon key chain. Courtesy of Megumi, as usual.
"Oro?" Kenshin looked at her quizzically and asked, "So you're just going to give me a spare key?" He shook his head in disapproval and continued, "You're pretty trusting Kaoru. You could get yourself in danger."
"Oh that…" Kaoru rolled her eyes and continued, "I don't just give away keys, Kenshin no baka. We're close friends already, right?"
Kenshin smiled, "Close friends… I like the sound of that."
"Besides I don't want you banging on my door early in the morning!"
"See you then!" Kenshin smiled and he waved before he walked out of the door.
Kaoru waved goodbye as she stared at his retreating figure. Closing the door behind her, she leaned on it and sighed. She closed her eyes as she pressed her finger on her mouth, recalling the kiss that they shared. Kenshin.
Preview of Next Chapter:
A party which ended sadly… Read on minna! Major catalyst!
Author's notes:
Sorry everyone for the spelling and grammar mistakes… English is not my first language so please bear with me… thanks!!!
You're probably wondering why Kaoru keeps forgetting. I kindda based her actions on Sigmund Freud's theory of Psychoanalysis and on Anna Freud's theory of Defense Mechanism. When a person, experiences something traumatic, his mind will choose to forget it. Although he may not be consciously aware of it, his defense mechanism will repress it by pushing the memory to the unconscious.
In the context of this fic, a part of her mind wants to remember the memories, yet the stronger part represses it. However, nothing stays repressed in the subconscious, things will resurface one way or another. It can be in the form of slips of the tongue or mannerisms for example, when Kenshin unconsciously said, "sessha wa rurouni" and almost said "kaoru-do..". In addition, I chose Kaoru to be flooded with incoherent flashbacks.
Kenshin still doesn't experience flashes because of his stronger will to forget. Hurt drives Kaoru to forget while fear, the stronger one, drives Kenshin. He'll have those sooner or later, but not now.
Take note: This is fiction… I don't think Freud's theory applies to past lives or something. That is why I typed the word "kindda" in bold.
Special thanks to Hana-chan for pre-reading and pointing out the Anna Freud part. She's a genius in this field!
Thanks to all who left a review and even those who didn't!! You inspire me to work harder. This chap is for you guys:
E-chan Hidaka, cd9979, Kyo- thanks I will!!!
Susan- more bits to come!
Susan, JML, Macy, Omochi, Gypsy-chan, Midori-chan and Saeira- If Saitoh insisted on dying Kenshin's hair black, I would have whipped him out of my fic. I love that read head!!! It wouldn't be the same… ::pats Kenshin's hair with Midori-chan::
Anh- here are the cavities you've been waiting for! Hehehe more to come! PROMISE!
Delusional Lady- I'm glad to hear that =)
Rachel- Ohohoho indeed!!!
Ruby Hatchet- I'm sorry for the errors.. English isn't my first language =). Thanks for liking the fic despite its shortcomings.
M@ry- I hope you like the description of Kaoru's house.
Raphie- you did and it inspired me to work.
Gypsy-chan- I know… I also dream about him, too. If Kaoru whacks me with a bokken I'll pair her with Iwambo!!! ::grins evilly::
Emerentiana- I am happy because of you guys!!!! ::wipes tears of happiness:::
JK the Nuriko-sama Worshipper- that's alright. It's the thought that counts… By the way, who's Nuriko?
Bunny- thanks for the review!!! I really appreciate it… hey! I'm dying for your next chap!
Don't forget Hana-chan's wise words:
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Read and review… Make chibi-angel happy! =)