Forever

Chapter 1: Movie time

A fanfiction by Kyo

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Okay, this is my first RuroKen fanficton. Hope you like it . . . Hope you review, too. It's AU, meaning its an alternative universe fanfiction, placed in the present. I still don't know if it will be reincarnation, though. I don't know if I'll continue this, either. Depends on your response . . . I don't own RK, wish I did . . . T.T whatever.

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"God! I'm so tired!" Kaoru said as she slumped down on the couch and aside her schoolbag. "Yeah, I know what you mean. This few weeks have been hell." Misao said as she slumped by her side on the couch, instantly grabbing the remote. The only thing she wanted to do was watch some TV and relax completely. Even though that say was Friday, she didn't feel like going anywhere, she was just too tired to do anything.

"Did Megumi said when she was coming?" Kaoru asked, taking off her shoes. Misao shook her head. "Not exactly, she only said she would come after she rented some movies. But I think she was going for some ice cream with her boyfriend first."

"Oh, yeah. I remember now. She was bringing him, too, wasn't she?" Misao nodded. "Yes."

Kaoru then smiled somewhat mischievously. "Let's call the guys then."

"Sounds like an idea to me. But, wouldn't they think this is like sort of a date or something? I mean, we are supposed to be friends only."

"Let's call them anyway. Let them think what they want, and if they think it is a date. All the better for us." Kaoru said with a wink. "I'll call Kenshin. You call my bro, ok?"

"OK." Kaoru's best friend, Misao, had been in love with Kaoru's brother ever since forever. But Misao had never had the guts to tell him, even if already the entire hemisphere knew about it already. Well, not entirely, HE didn't know. Or if he DID know, he was one hell of an actor because he never showed it.

Kenshin was Kaoru's best male friend ever since they met back in high school. She knew she could count with him for everything, problem was, for some time now, Kaoru had discovered that she liked him, a lot, and not only as a friend. But Kenshin could be sooo dense sometimes, and she knew it.

Kaoru grabbed her cell from he bag surfed for Kenshin's number. She didn't have to surf much, his phone was at the top of the list. She remembered clearly when she first had acquired that cell. He had taught her how to use it. After all, his was the same, only his was sapphire in color while hers was amethyst tinged. She did know how to use the phone, but she couldn't resist when he sweetly offered his help when she had first bought the phone. And of course, his number was the first to be programmed in her phone.

In the background, she could hear Misao talking to her brother in the phone. It called for a few times before Kenshin's voice answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, Kenshin, hi!" Kaoru answered.

"Hi, Kaoru. Long time no see." They had only departed ways a couple of hours ago.

"Yes, long time no see. Wanna watch some movies? Misao an I are at her place and we were going to rent some. Wanna come?"

"Yeah, why not. Sano and Megumi are going there, too, aren't they?"

"Hai. They are. If you see them, would you tell them to hurry up? We aren't going to wait till they eat each other's faces to watch those movies."

Kenshin chuckled. "Hai, I'll tell them, no worry. Good thing you called, I didn't want to bore myself to death today."

Kaoru giggled. "You don't have classes with Hiko today?"

Kenshin sighed. "Well I should. Lucky for me I talked him into getting a date, so he can't teach me today." By the sound of is voice Kaoru knew he was smiling.

"Good for him."

"Yeah. Is it okay if I get there, say, now?"

"Aa."

"Okay then, open the door for me, would you?"

A honk was heard and just then Kaoru realized he was serious about the now thing. "Mou! Kenshin!" She heard him chuckle in the phone right before she hung up to get the door.

When she opened the door he was already parking his silver quattro in front of the Japanese looking house. Misao's place was a strange combination between traditional and modern. It had a front like that of a traditional Japanese house, dojo included, but had lots of modern facilities, like couches, beds, TV, washing machine, and other things like that. Misao, her little brother Soujiro and their grandfather Okina shared the enormous house.

"Kenshin!" She called again in indignation. "You can be such a tease!"

He laughed openly at that as he got down from the car. "I brought snacks. Are you still mad at me?" Kaoru pouted at him, trying not to smile. She took the packages from his hands and led him into the living room where Misao had just hung up with Aoshi, Kaoru's older brother. They could almost see the hearts in Misao's eyes. Kaoru and Kenshin sweatdropped and proceeded to the kitchen.

"What did you bring?" Kaoru asked curios as she opened one of the paper bags. Kenshin shrugged. "Some chips, dips, and candies, too. Lots of chocolate. You like chocolate, right?"

"I love it!" Kaoru exclaimed.

"Good."

Just then, Misao stepped into the kitchen. "Aoshi's coming, too. Hi, Himura. Didn't see you come in."

"I guess not."

"No. You were too busy drooling over my brother to see Kenshin coming in."

Misao blushed before changing the subject of the conversation. "How did you arrive so fast here, eh, Himura?"

"I er" Kenshin stuttered. "I was just in the neighborhood." He smiled nervously.

"Ssheah, right. Tell the truth, Himura. You were trying to come in here without an invitation, right?"

"Er, no?" Kenshin blushed. He was planning on doing that. But he didn't want Kaoru to know that. She would probably think he was stalking her.

"Misao-chan! Leave him alone. You are making him uncomfortable."

"Whatever, Kaoru-chan."

"Aoshi is coming?" Kenshin asked to get rid of the tension.

Misao nodded. "He said so. I don't know where he is leaving Yahiko, though."

"No worry. Yahiko had to work in is part time job at the Akabeko. He is saving for a boom box. Well, that, and Megumi's sister works there, too." Kaoru added with a mischievous smile.

Kenshin nodded. "He really likes Tsubame, doesn't he?"

"Aa. And how's Tomoe-san doing?"

"Tomoe? She is doing fine. She says work at Kyoto is wonderful, and school is, too. She wrote just yesterday. She said she found some guy. She really likes him. His name is Akira, I think."

"That's good to know. I hope he can make her smile. Tomoe-san smiles so little." Kaoru said, somewhat sadly. Misao nodded at that.

"Yeah, I know. I hope my sis finds happiness there. Anyway, weren't we going to watch a movie?"

"Well, yes. But half of the gang is not here yet. We have to wait for them, and the movies, too. Hope they get here soon . . ."

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"Tori-atama, I knew you had bad taste, but Alien?"

"Hey! What's wrong with Alien, kitsune! It's the best movie in the whole world! And the guys think so too!"

"Look rooster head. Let me tell you what the guys would think about this movie. Aoshi would not like it or detest it. Knowing him, he will just watch the movie and shrug. And Kenshin, Kenshin is just too sweet a soul for this kind of movie! Let's look for some other."

"But kitsune!"

"I said, some other."

"Whatever. Is "The Mommy Returns" okay with you?" Sano replied a little annoyed.

After thinking it over for some time, Megumi agreed. The movie could please both women and men. "Okay, tori-atama. For a moment there I thought I had lost you to your bad taste." Sano groaned but said nothing else. "Good tori-atama." Megumi said before giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Whatever." Sano repeated, but he couldn't keep out the stupid smirk that appeared on his face.

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When Sano and Megumi appeared at Misao's doorstep, there were two cars parked at the front. One was Kenshin's and the other was Aoshi's. "I think we are a bit late." Sano commented. It was already more than eight and the Sun was already hiding behind the mountains.

"If you hadn't gotten lost . . ."

"I did not got lost!" Sano near shouted, a hot blush spreading over his cheeks. Megumi just ignored him and ringed the bell.

Misao answered the door. "About damn time!"

"Baka tori-atama's fault." Megumi murmured before walking past Misao and handing her the movie.

"He got lost again! You gotta be kidding me!"

"I did not get lost!" Sano repeated, but no one was paying attention to him.

"Which one did you get, Megumi?" Kaoru asked from her place next to Kenshin on the coach. His arm surrounded her shoulders. Megumi noticed and smiled slyly. "We got the Mummy Returns, tanuki."

"Don't call me tanuki!" Kaoru exclaimed while a vein popped from her forehead. "Maa, maa." Kenshin interjected. "She calls you that with the best intentions, I'm sure."

"Of course, Ken-san." Megumi flirted. Another vein popped from Kaoru's forehead but she said nothing this time.

A mess of chips and dips was already on the living room and Sano protested because they had started to eat without him. Misao turned on the VCR and started the movie.

In the scenes that required screaming, Kaoru and Misao did. Kaoru buried her face on Kenshin's chest while she chuckled and shook his head affectionately. Misao did the same, only that Aoshi was not as responsive as Kenshin. The man did not really know how to show his emotions. Megumi was to sophisticated to scream, but she did hold Sano's hand a little tighter.

In the scenes that required crying Kaoru did. Misao wanted to do that, but she didn't know how would Aoshi react so she chose not to and Megumi thought that crying was a sign of weakness, so she never cried. Only one person in the room had seen her crying and that was her boyfriend.

Kaoru sobbed and sniffed on Kenshin's chest while he tried to comfort her. He hated to see her crying, even if it was over something as silly as a movie. Every time she cried, he felt as if his heart had been ripped out of his body. He hated that feeling.

When the movie was over, it was already late. But none of them wanted to go home yet. "Hiko must still be on his date, and I think I forgot my keys." Was Kenshin's excuse. Aoshi's excuse was not spoken but it surely was that he didn't want to leave his sister alone and Sano did not need an excuse, everybody knew that he was a bum.

The girls decided to make an sleepover. Kenshin offered them his help if they needed to go home to get clothes but they both had some clothes on Misao's house since they often made sleepovers there.

They prepared themselves some sandwiches to eat.

"Thanks for letting us stay here, Misao." Kenshin thanked between bites. Misao just smiled. "Oh, come'on Kenshin. You don't have to be so polite. We have known each other for years!" Kaoru said, slapping him gently on his arm. "I'm sorry, Kaoru." She just rolled her eyes.

"Where are we guys sleeping?" Sano suddenly asked, yawning.

"In the living room's couches. I'll get you some blankets and pillows. I don't think I have any clothes for you, though."

"I think I'll go for a walk while you guys get the stuff ready."

"Sure Kenshin, run away from work." Sano added.

He chuckled and turned to look at Kaoru. "Would you like to join me?" Kaoru looked surprised for a moment before nodding. "Sure Kenshin."

The girls looked at each other and giggled childishly. Sano was about to catcall but Aoshi's elbow on his ribs prevented him from doing so, and Kenshin was eternally grateful for that.

The night was clear and thousand of stars glittered in dark sky. There wasn't a cloud and the full moon lightened the path they were walking on. It made everything look silver. It also was getting chilly as they strolled down the street. Misao's neighborhood was the best of all Tokyo and it was noticeable in the way all the plants and paths were neatly taken care of. Everything was beautiful.

Kenshin was nervous. He tried to dry his sweaty palms on his pants, and he succeeded, only the next moment they were as sweaty as they had been before. He felt his heartbeat racing and making crazy somersaults now and then. His breathing, too, was that of a man about to be sentenced to death, only this was a far more pleasant situation.

After a long talk with his best friend, Sano, he had decided to talk to her. This was taking every once of will power he had inside him.

Kaoru felt his unease, and tried more than once to make small talk, but all she got from him were half-hearted hai's and distracted iie's. It was driving her nuts.

She finally decided to confront him. "Kenshin, is there something you want to tell me?" There, that ought to do it.

Kenshin's eyes widened in disbelief and, yes, fear. "Who? Me?" He stammered stupidly while looking at her with those sweet violet eyes.

"Do you see anyone else in the street, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked.

"No." He said after a moment of looking around. Kaoru felt like pounding him to the ground.

"Then I must be speaking to you."

Kenshin swallowed hard and nodded. Kaour's eyes and voice softened. "What is it? You know you can talk to me, right? We are best friends!"

Kenshin nodded again, restraining the sudden urge to throw up. Nobody told him that this would be so hard. Especially since she had just said that they were best friends. He wanted to die right then and there.

He kept walking, as if in doing so, the feeling would go away. Kaoru looked at his walking form in a moment full of confusion before following. Had it been something she had said?

Suddenly he stopped walking, but he didn't turn around. He spoke in a gentle whisper, making it difficult for Kaoru to hear him. "Kaoru . . . I . . ."

"What is it, Kenshin? You are making me worry. Are you all right?"

Kenshin nodded hesitantly. He wanted to tell her so badly, but he wasn't sure if that was the right thing. If he did, he could ruin their friendship, and he didn't want that. She had always been a real friend. A really good friend, and he was not willing to lose her.

"I'm alright. I was just thinking . . . " He trailed off. The silence extended for a while and then Kaoru spoke.

"What were you thinking Kenshin?"

"I was just thinking . . ." Suddenly there was a rustle behind the tall bushes that surrounded the path, and Kenshin's protector instincts kicked in. He stopped in front of Kaoru and searched for the source of the sound with amber eyes. Kaoru heard it, too, and prepared to defend herself if the situation called for it.

"Who's there?" He said in a rough voice that only appeared when someone he cared for was in danger or when he was extremely angry.

Three shy chuckles and a grumble were heard. Kenshin and Kaoru immediately knew who was it.

Kaoru's anger flared. A blue aura was seen around her and everybody gulped (even Aoshi). "What the HELL are you doing here?" She said in a surprisingly calm voice.

Everybody started talking at the same time.

"Kitsune said . . .

"It was tori atama's . . .

"Aoshi-sama told me . . .

"I . . .

Kaoru took a very deep breath but it didn't work to calm her anger. She tried counting to ten too, but that didn't work either. Kenshin didn't know what to do. He felt like he had to save his friends from Kaoru's anger, but other side of him felt like they very well deserved it, besides, he thought Kaoru looked cute when she was angry.

She looks cuter when she smiles . . . One side of him said. Especially if that smile is directed to me . . .

Kenshin shook his head to get rid of the thoughts and finally decided to save his friends' butts.

"Maa maa, Kaoru. I'm sure they have an explanation for this." Kaoru relaxed a little at the sound of his voice but when she said her next words, an evil glint was shining in her eyes. "And what explanation would that be?"

To be continued . . .

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Okay, this is it. Hope you liked it, plz review. It'll make me happy. Also, the continuation of this fic depends on the reader's response. I don't think I'll continue this if I don't get at leat 10 reviews . . . Not much, right? O.o