A Date With A Senpai
Chapter 10
Author's note: Minna! Hope you're all still here with me. Yatta! Chapter 10! I never thought it would get this far. I mean for my first fic, which started as a 3 Chapter thing, that I shoved under my bed for like ages ago and then to finally get it over and done with. It feels kinda strange. I mean, after this, I would be working on Rabukome and if I get another crazy idea, I might start another fic. But this is like my baby project, you know? Well, this isn't the end yet. I think. Let's just see. Cuz a friend of mine is daring me to do a lemon on this and I haven't accepted her challenge yet. But I'm starting to like the idea, so this might contain a few citrus flavor, but I don't know for sure. And of course, this is going to have loads of mushy, sappy parts, which I absolutely suck at writing that kind of stuff, because I tend to over do it sometimes. And since I also love Sano and Megumi, I decide to give them a part here. Anyway, for those who took their time to read and review this fic, thank you so much! You all have been a great big help. And now on with the fic. Comments, flames, reviews and suggestions are all welcome!
Thanks to mystical wings for giving me an idea about this fic!
A Date With A Senpai
Chapter 10
True love is made of
Night, stars and two lonely hearts
With a dream to share
The canopy of glistening stars above them added to magic of this night. It was as if this evening was made especially for them. Kaoru smiled at the thought. She glanced at Kenshin who was quietly walking by her side. Their shoulders slightly brushed against each other and they both jump away in surprise. She smiled at him shyly, "So, um. What was your plan?" Kaoru asked.
"My plan?" Kenshin asked watching her from the corner of his eyes.
"Uh-huh. I mean, it seemed that everyone had a scheme tonight. What was yours?" She asked her blue eyes beaming with curiosity.
"Well, I guess I better start from the beginning." Kenshin said scratching his head, he gave her a sheepish smile and started talking.
Kaoru had been so engrossed and amused at his story that she didn't realize that they had reached the dojo until Kenshin unlatched the gate and tilted his head to look quizzically at her. She giggled softly, shaking her head. "You mean Sano really slammed a jug of sake on you?" She asked trying to hide the pleased laughter in her voice. Kenshin nodded and Kaoru burst out laughing. "I bet that hurt. And I can't believe Sano would waste a jug of sake." She cleared her throat and entered the gates as Kenshin followed behind her, securing the gate as he entered.
She watched him and waited until he was back at her side. She was thinking of what she should say, because there were still a lot of questions in her mind. Like why had he blown her off that afternoon? Did she not look...well...pretty as Sano had implied? And why had he agreed to go with Sano and Yahiko's plan? She couldn't find the courage to ask him so she kept her head bowed and walked towards the seemingly dark and lonely dojo. She felt strangely out of place. And it seemed totally ridiculous to her.
Silence settled between them and Kenshin was lost for words. Now was the time to tell her. And yet he still couldn't bring himself to just blurt it out. What if she suddenly laughed at him?
'That's stupid. Why would she laugh at you?' A voice in his head snarled at him. He didn't know what was wrong with him, but he was suddenly overcomed with fear. It had been such a long time since such emotion over took hold on him, but here he was standing beside a vulnerable, attractive girl, who he was desperately and madly in love with and he was scared as hell. His old anxieties rose up again and surfaced. Maybe it would be best if they just remind as what they are now. It's already complicated as it is.
'So what are you and Kaoru now exactly?' The knowing voice in his head asked. They certainly were a little too close to just be friends. And he certainly didn't want to say friends with her forever. They get too jealous consciously and unconsciously if any of the opposite sex comes within 3 feet away from their parameter to say that they just have a platonic relationship. And for Kami's sake, he had lusted for her for quite sometime now. And even if he had been denying that to himself for the last couple of months, it was as plain as the sky that he wanted to her.
Not just to be with her in every sense of the word, but to feel her and see the world through her eyes. What was wrong with him anyway? The conflicting emotions over him were a result of years and years of repressed guilt, anger and fear. And of course not to mention having Hiko as his father figure.
He felt her eyes on him and he turned to look at her. She had lighted the whole dojo, and he just realized how long he had been standing there. 'Great. Now she probably thinks that you've gone really psycho. I told you not to hang out with Sano and Yahiko too much!' The voice in his head exclaimed and he could almost see a pair of feral yellow eyes rolling with annoyance. Much as he wanted the Battousai's courage and ability to focus without over thinking, and not the rurounin's shyness right now, he couldn't bring himself to unleash the dragon in him. At least not now. There would be another time for the Battousai to have his time with Kaoru.
And the Battousai briefly surfaced, watching Kaoru with keen yellow eyes.
"Kenshin?" Her tentative voice shook him out of stupor.
Maybe she just wanted Kenshin. Not the Battousai and not the rurouni. Maybe even both of them.
"Hai. I was just thinking Kaoru-dono." He said walking towards her. If he just reach out and touched her hand it would be so much easier to tell her how he feels. Instead he paused by the steps to look at her. She had taken the glittering clips off her hair and her midnight tresses fall freely almost reaching her waist. She looked even more beautiful and it was driving him nuts. How can it be possible for someone to look prettier than the last time he would look at her, which was for the record just a couple of seconds ago?
"I...is there something wrong Kenshin?" Kaoru asked surprised by the huskiness of her voice.
"Iie." Kenshin answered shaking his head. Blood red strands hiding his eyes and his face.
"I...I'll just change then um...maybe we could share a cup of tea." She said a little breathlessly. 'Please say yes...please say yes..." her mind chanted.
It took all of Kaoru's will power not to jump at him and strangle him then kiss him and maybe strangle him a little bit more when he declined her offer. "Oh. Ok." She said, trying to cover the hurt and anger in her voice. "O...oyasumi nasai Kenshin." She said quietly and walked away.
That was the second time of the day that Kenshin had let her walk away. He had so much to tell her and so little courage. He took a deep breath. "Tomorrow morning. I will tell her." He said to himself, his eyes aflame with the unmistakable yellow glow. For now he will let her rest. It had been such a long night for her. It would be best for them to talk in the morning.
Besides, if he told her now, there's a great chance that he won't be returning to his own room tonight and he didn't want that to happen. It would be too soon for the both of them. He knew he was just putting off the inevitable but he needed time and for once in his life, he had plenty of time. He just wished that she had that same time too. He didn't know what to do if another guy come up to her tomorrow and ask her out again. He didn't want to relive any of today's incidents. Another one of this fiasco's and he wasn't sure that Sano or Yahiko and maybe even himself would land at Megumi's clinic. Sighing, he retreated to his room, seemingly avoiding Kaoru's. He won't be coming in tonight to check her, just as he had grown accustomed too. He would just have to wait until tomorrow.
He briefly wondered how Sano and Yahiko were doing under Megumi's care. He smiled fondly and shook his head, he didn't know who will have his or her hands full. Sano or Megumi?
"Ouch! Do you really have to that?" Sano asked as Megumi yanked the bandage covering his ankle.
"No." Megumi said curtly standing up.
"Then what the hell was that for you witch?" Sano muttered, gently touching the tightly wounded bandage on his swollen ankle.
"Witch? I think not. Anyway, just think of it as karma." Megumi said with a smile, she turned to look at a sleeping Yahiko and checked on his back. "I'm telling you Sagara, the things you do would eventually get you killed." She said as she smoothed the cover on the young boy. He grunted in his sleep and Megumi was sure she heard him say, "One thousand one, one thousand two...I'm going to get Busu for this..."
'Strange kid' She thought with mild curiosity, 'I have to see what Kaoru make him do during his practice' She said pulling up the covers tighter.
"No. Not if I can help it." Sano said proudly, stealing a glance at her direction. "So are you not going to congratulate me for my excellent plan?" He asked her.
"What plan? The one where you ended up bashing Kenshin's head? Or the one where you fell off a tree? I can't decided which is one is the more brilliant." She returned evenly as she stood up and picked the bandages strewn across the floor.
Sano rolled his eyes. "Kenshin deserved that. And I didn't fall off a tree. The branch broke."
"Oh. I see. Now I have to tell Kaoru that not only do you lack a brain but you have lost your perception of reality." Megumi retorted, looking up to smile at him.
"Notice my uncontrollable fits of laughter?" Sano asked sarcastically arching his eyebrow, swinging his leg over the futon and trying to stand up.
"It wasn't a joke Sagara." Megumi said turning back at him. "What are you doing? You're going to put too much pressure on your foot if you try to sta--"
Too late. Sano had tried and failed to get up. He let out a yelp of pain as Megumi instantly rose and tried to keep him from falling, in the process tripping on the low table that fell on Sano's leg and sending her flying on Sano's open arms.
"Oh, nice work." Sano said through his clenched teeth, biting down a scream. He had clutched at her the instant he felt her body touch his. He was looking down on her wild big eyes. "You ok?" He asked a little worriedly.
"Fine." Megumi managed to say. She could feel the rise and fall of Sano's chest. She tried to get up and loudly gasped in surprise when Sano held her in place. She stared at him with for the longest time.
"Aren't you going to apologize first?" Sano asked. His voice low and muted.
"A-apologize?" She asked, her voice almost matching his. "What in the world should I be apologizing for?" She asked, not making any effort to move away from me, liking and actually admitting to herself that she enjoyed the feel of being this close to Sano.
"For lots of things Foxy. For teasing me, for ignoring me...."
"First I tease you then I ignore you? How could that be Sano?" She asked knowing and somehow, not knowing what would come next.
"My point exactly. For not being consistent....for driving me absolutely nuts...." Sano breathed through her hair.
"Driving you nuts? Then you should be the one apologizing, because those are the exact things that you do to me." She complained, pressing herself closer.
"Sou?" Sano asked raising an eyebrow and smiling as Megumi nodded shyly. "Sumanu" He said simply. "Your turn." He murmured.
"That's it? No nasty name calling Sano? Just sorry?" Megumi asked, expecting a few choice words from Sano.
"What you never thought I could be a perfect gentleman?" He retorted, teasing her hair with his breath.
If she apologized, that would mean, in more than one way, that she had somehow lost. That she would be admitting not only to herself, but everyone else, that Sano had some slight power over her. That she would be willing to be called Sano's woman for the rest of her life. Is she ready for that? And more importantly, would she want that? She smirked up at him and said playfully. "Gentleman? No. I never in wildest dreams thought of you as such. You're an egotistical creep, a gambling lord...."
"That does not sound like any apology I have ever heard and I was expecting. You can do better than that Megumi."
It was the first time he had ever used her name and said it like that. With affection, and she liked it. She paused. He was right. She could do better than that and without any warning, without any thought, she leaned forward, parted her lips and softly brushed it against Sano's.
Sano was completely, utterly lost. He wasn't expecting her to actually kiss him. Smiling through her kiss, he tightened his hold and tried to roll her over. She punched him in the chest and he howled in pain, laughing with her at the same time.
"Geesh, cut it out you guys! Stop flirting will ya! I'm trying to get some sleep. Mess around somewhere else." Yahiko grumbled.
They both looked up to see Yahiko still in his place, his back to them. "Che! Stupid kid. Always ruining my moment." Sano muttered darkly.
"Can you get off me now?" Megumi asked, a little breathless.
Sano obeyed, pulling her up with him, close to his body. It dawned upon him a little too late that he had just revealed his sham.
Megumi's eye widened in surprise, her brain might have been a little too hazy after sharing that kiss with Sano, but now that she had her wits back, she realized that Sano had been acting. He could have easily stood up. She smiled at him through clenched teeth. He seemed oblivious to the fact that he had blown his cover. But Megumi wasn't going to give him the chance to escape her wrath. "And one thing more Sagara." She said huskily, fluttering her lashes up at him.
"What?" Sano asked bring his head down on her another kiss, when he felt Megumi stomp on his injured foot. "Yeewouch!" He screeched.
"You're a very bad liar." She said taking Sano by surprise and elbowing him sharply before she took a step away, throwing her head and giggling softly. "Score one for me." She added with a wink, walking away, heading to her room.
"Wait, Foxy! Hey...Foxy! Wait up...ouch...ouch...." Sano limped, following her, and stopped dead on his track as Megumi slammed the shoji door on his face.
"Damn!" he muttered softly and headed back to his awaiting futon. Lying on his back, he stared at the ceiling and wished Kenshin luck.
It was already in the middle of the night, when Kenshin stood up, cursing himself for his weakness as he headed straight towards Kaoru's room. He had vowed, but he just couldn't let this night pass without seeing to it that she was safe. He silently walked on the floor, like a wild cat closing in on his prey. He became a shadow once more and stopped in front of her room. He touched the thin wall that separated him from her and tried to feel for her familiar peaceful aura.
His eyes widened in shock and surprise when he felt nothing. "Masaka!" He muttered to himself. How can she not be inside her room. He never felt any intruder come in and he was awake the whole night thinking of her.
Using his speed that have saved and killed countless lives, he soundlessly threw open the door, finding what he knew and feared he would already discover.
Her futon lay in the middle of the room. The light from the full moon was shinning down at the exact spot. She was not there. Her blankets were all crumpled and it seemed that she had slept on it. But where can she be? The fear and anger slowly but surely grew in him. A cold finger clenched at his spine, tightening as he wandered around the house. The fear growing more so as rounded up the corner, almost covering half of the house and still he hasn't found her yet.
'She can be at the kitchen. Probably gotten thirsty.' He headed towards the kitchen and found nothing but darkness. And then a cold terrible certainty came to him, the ice cold finger that gripped him turned into a sharp blade piecing through his skin as various images of Kaoru hurt or kidnapped swam through his mind. He thought of past enemies and any motivation that they might have to want something from him. Or in this case, someone from him…
Silent as Death himself, Kenshin tightly held his sakabatou, preparing himself to find the worst. He launched himself in the air and controlled his attack. He landed on the tatami mat, barely making any noise. His breath caught as the sight in front of him impaled all his senses.
Kaoru was sitting by the front porch. The glowing moon highlighting her profiles making her appear dream like. Her loose braid sent several wisps of her hair flying in every direction. She was wearing a light under kimono that left almost nothing for the imagination and yet, she still managed to look like an innocent girl. She was hugging her knees close to her chest and her face was tilted up to the sky.
Begging the moon to kiss her cheeks and her soft lips.
He couldn't bring himself to make any noise. To disturb her would be a sin, something he himself would not allow. He felt a little guilty for being here, for watching her and sharing this moment with her, without her knowledge. But she looked so peaceful just sitting there. That he wanted to soak in the tranquility she exudes. And it didn't surprise him that she could bring this calmness in him. It felt so natural. And he was glad that she could, because he needed it as much as he needed her.
But she also looked so sad. A brief pain shot trough him and he wondered if he was the cause of that pain. He wanted to comfort her, to assure her, but he was afraid that if he spoke, the image would be ruined and he will find himself sitting by the porch alone. Maybe he was dreaming. He felt he was like in a trance.
Dragging his arm, letting go of the hilt of his sakabatou, he pinched himself and winced as his fingernails dug deep in his flesh. He stood there, transfixed, lost for words and falling helplessly in love more so.
He was startled when she spoke, loud and clear, as if she knew that he was there.
"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." She said, her face raised, her lips slowly moving and then she paused for a fraction of a second and turned towards him, her blue eyes looking directly and holding his gaze. He couldn't look away, even though he felt as if she was peering in his should and he was sure that he would see how tarnished he was then she would realize it and look away without acknowledging him.
He let out a loud exhale when she smiled at him. Not quite believing that she was able to see through his dark spirit, his blood stained hands, his tired heart. Her smile felt incredibly warm and he didn't know until now that one could feel that way. Everything about her was startling new to him.
"Don't you Kenshin?" She asked shyly, softly.
"Hai, Kaoru-dono." He answered, suddenly calm. Knowing that she was safe and unhurt. And seeing that smile. The one smile that he longed to see, that he longed to own.
It was his anyway, no words were needed to say it, but Kaoru had given him almost everything: The power over her, the power to hurt her and yet she was sure that he would never do such thing. And the reason why he was holding back all the emotions she could evidently see in his eyes became clear to her.
She had spent a good part of the night tossing and turning in her futon, trying to understand Kenshin. And remembering once hearing her father say that no man should ever attempt to understand any woman, finding her situation ironic and thinking of how her father would love to hear that a seemingly innocent rurouni had managed to get himself under his only daughter's skin and drive her to the brink of insanity.
After dwelling on tonight's fiasco, she decided that she needed to take a breath and go outside and relax. There, with the quietness of the night she managed to organize her thoughts and came to the conclusion that maybe she just needed to tell him that no amount of worrying will ever solve their problem, that they tend to over think sometimes, and that all he needed was confirm what in her heart she knew was already the truth and they would become invincible. Because together, she truly believed that they could over come everything.
That determination burned in her eyes that she had wanted to creep into Kenshin's room and wake him up, tell him what she had realized and let him decide. It was a blessing really, that he had walked in on her. She smiled remembering that she had thrown him completely off-balance, that he failed to notice that she had sensed him too. And it seemed to her that she had the same power over him
She turned and watched his expression change from uncertainty and fear into a serene and sure smile. "Sit with me?" She asked, ignoring the cartwheels her stomach was doing.
He nodded and without so much as blinking he was already by her side. They were silent for a few moment, enjoying the mild chill in the air, the silver lit sky above them and of course their nearness. For now, it was enough, but there would come a time for them that sitting still would be something that they would grow accustomed to and would lead to far greater things and moments, but for now this will do.
He spoke first and he continued his abandoned story. He told her almost everything. The shock of finding out that she was engaged with Ichiro, stunned to the point that it colored his ability to think straight and caused him to blindly agree with Sano and Yahiko's plan. The way he felt when Ichiro leaned down and was about to capture her lips.
And finally, the barrier he had built, that had slowly began to crumble, broke down in a flash. Like a dam bursting and overflowing. There was no need for that wall. No need for that distance.
She marveled at how freely he could talk to her now and how relaxed he seemed. She was grateful for this newfound closeness. No more secrets between the two of them. Perhaps it was the best way to start whatever relationship they might and will have in the future. And she listened, smiling at him softly every once in a while. Sometimes unbelieving at the words she was hearing from him.
Jealous, but too unsure. Wanting but too afraid.
She quieted his fears by holding his hands, and then it was her turn. She told him how angry and frustrated she was by his seemingly lack of interest in her or his painfully shy and distant treatment. He assured her by giving her the most intense look that she had ever received from him, that she suddenly felt as if he was baring her to him and she was glad and was over come with excitement as well.
They shared the whole night just talking about everything and anything. And she saw glimpses of the rurounin in his mild manner, in his respectful suffix, which she vowed would make him stop calling her that one way or another; and the Battousai as well, with his strength in holding her hands, the intensity in his glance, in his lingering stares.
And she understood at once that the two personas were one and the same. That they were Kenshin. Whom she loved and whom she would never give up on. No matter how incredibly baka or dense he may be.
With the sound of a crooning rooster somewhere near their vicinity, they realized that it was nearing dawn and that the midnight blue sky had changed into a wild dance of gray, blue and black with streaks of red and orange and yellow, gloriously signaling the beginning of a new day.
He turned at her and burst out laughing. They had shared the whole night together and it was something he had never experienced before. He laughed, because he had never shared something quite like this and it seemed appropriate that it was with her, she who could not sit still and discuss and over talk about issues and emotions, and him who had lived almost half of his life acting out his decisions rather than spending such a long time for talks. The rurouin was too shy and the Battousai was too impatient. It was the most unnatural thing and yet it felt so right. And he could feel the change between them, the shift of balance or whatever power that had somehow brought them closer. He felt as if a large weight had been lifted off his chest.
She laughed with him, delighted by the sound of something she rarely heard. And found another resolution: that she would make him laugh...every time she had the chance to and not because of her stupid antics or her cooking, but with something that he would treasure....memories, that was what she would give him. Happy memories to make up for those dark times, the sad things that he was holding close in his heart at this moment. She would ease them all with her laughter and his.
She said her good night and laughed when she realized that the sun is just about to rise. So she greeted him again her blue eyes reflecting the sky above them. Clear, spotless, without fear....without doubt.
Absolutely perfect.
"Ohayou Kaoru-dono." He replied, his violet eyes laughing at her blush. "Let's get in and I'll prepare your bath, ne?" He asked leading her inside, her hands still entwined with his.
"Hai." Kaoru nodded, smiling at him.
Kenshin smiled back. He just experienced an 'aha!' moment and at this particular instance he was planning his own scheme to get Kaoru in his arms.
He would just have to deal with Yahiko and Sano, Megumi and Tae. He didn't want anyone interfering and spying on them today.
Because today, he was going to ask Kaoru on a date.
Short note: Ok, that's chapter 10. What do you guys think? A little too sappy? Anyway, I hope you all like this. On to chapter 11. Reviews please!