Disclaimer: Check chapter one.
Notes: I'm glad people like this. I honestly did not expect such an enthusiastic response. For all you K/K lovers out there, I do apologize. That's why I wrote the warning, so you hardcore K/K people would not have to subject yourself to this. It will not change. The fic is almost complete, and I really do not want to rewrite it to incorporate the traditional couples now that it is so long. And as for you who have declared that you don't like the K/S pairing… well, whoever said I was pairing Kenshin with Sano? *Evil laughter* Ahem.
Anyway, keep reading, please. I appreciate the suggestions, and if I can do anything to make this better (other than make it K/K), let me know. And this fic is not a hentai, so all you people who are leery of that, don't worry. The rating is R. It will stay at R. Period.
Now that I have all that out of my system, we move to the next chapter of the story. I hope you all like it.
Life's a Dance
"I'm going to invite Kenshin to come to Misao's game tonight," Kaoru announced.
"What?!"
"Who?"
"Yay! Kaoru finally expresses interest in the opposite sex!"
"That comment was not necessary, Misao," Kaoru grimaced.
"At least he's not some loser," Aoshi said, ever calm. His eyes slid over to look at Sano. "He's smart and can handle himself well enough."
"I resent that, asshole!" Sano growled.
"You've met Kenshin, Aoshi?" Kaoru asked curiously.
"He's in my Calculus class," Aoshi nodded. He grimaced, distinctly unhappy. "He got a better score on the quiz than I did yesterday."
"I thought he just started two days ago," Okita smirked. "He must be pretty smart to catch up that quickly. Tough luck, Aoshi. You may find yourself a rival in Himura."
"I'm not dating him!" Kaoru shouted at the top of her lungs. She pounced on Misao, dragging the girl into a headlock. "I just want him to feel like he's welcome!"
"Is he welcome?" Sano asked, his voice smooth and deep.
"Sano, you jerk! Of course he is!" Kaoru snapped. "And maybe if you hadn't made him so nervous, he would not have jumped you like he did. You're the one who isn't welcome if you can't be nice to the new kid."
"Hey!" Sano protested. "He insulted me first!"
"I find that hard to believe," Kaoru retorted, still struggling with Misao. The threat was not worth much, considering the girl was still laughing, even while being dragged around by her neck. "Anyway, you guys have to be nice, okay? He's... a bit anxious."
"Rude as hell," Sano grumbled, glancing up to the cars that stopped at the curb, dropping off students. Farther ahead were the buses.
"SANO, YOU HAD BETTER PROMISE!"
"Isn't that him?"
"Promise me--huh?" Kaoru dropped Misao, who fell into a graceless heap on the ground. Not far ahead, Kenshin was climbing out of a small coupe. Another man climbed out of the car, and Kaoru could not help but stare. The guy was huge! Dark brown hair was kept in a low ponytail, much of it falling in his face. The rest of him was broad, bulky, and muscular. He looked like he worked out.
"Sheesh," Misao gasped. "Wow. Is that Kenshin's dad?"
"We can all see where the kid got his hair-styling tips from," Sano muttered.
Kaoru shoved her elbow deep into the older boy's gut. He doubled over, groaning in agony. But now all their attention was on Kenshin and his 'father' again. The man smirked and said something they could not hear from that distance, or over the din of the students arriving at school. Whatever it was, Kenshin seemed indignant, snapping back an immediate reply. The man just laughed and tossed something over the car to the boy. Kenshin caught it and threw it back, much more swiftly, calling out something that was apparently another heated response.
"A man with that stature would not likely be father to a boy of Himura's stature," Okita mused. "Himura's too much of a shrimp to be that guy's son."
"I hate to agree with you, but you're probably right," Kaoru sighed. "I'm going to go talk with Kenshin. I'll see you guys later!"
"Don't scare him away, Kaoru!" Misao shouted as Kaoru jogged toward Kenshin. Kaoru flipped her the bird and continued on her merry way.
"It seems that you may have to be civil to Kenshin Himura from now on, Sanosuke," Aoshi said dryly.
"I'll be nice to him when he straightens out that punk attitude of his," Sano grumbled, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.
Okita and Misao laughed at their friends, and the group continued into the school. Meanwhile, Kaoru had reached Kenshin.
"Hey, Kenshin!"
Obviously startled, Kenshin failed to see the set of keys that flew toward his head. Kaoru reached out and caught them before they could hit him. She grinned and dangled them in front of him. Kenshin took the keys, staring at her incredulously.
"Careful, Kenshin," she teased. "You could have gotten hurt."
"Kaoru?" he blurted.
"Who is this, brat?" the man by the driver's side door of the car asked calmly.
Almost growling, Kenshin turned and flung the keys back at the man. The man caught them easily.
"Stop calling me that!" he hollered, obviously frustrated. He sighed irately and lowered his voice. "Her name is Kaoru. We met the other day in the cafeteria. Kaoru, this is Hiko, my guardian."
"So he's not your dad?"
"If I ever have kids, I would hope that they won't be as scrawny as this one," Hiko said. He tossed the keys back to Kenshin. "I expect you to be out here promptly when school ends."
"Why do you keep throwing these things at me?" Kenshin demanded, jingling the keys impatiently. "Don't you need them to drive this ancient machine?"
"Be grateful of this ancient machine, brat," Hiko sniffed. "Without it, you'd have to take a bus. I know how much you like that."
"Actually, Kenshin," Kaoru interjected, hoping to head off another argument. "I was wondering if you were doing anything tonight. There's this basketball game, you see, and my best friend's playing..." she blushed when she noticed Hiko's knowing leer, and smiled inwardly at Kenshin's blank stare. She rushed to finish the question. "I'd really like you to come with us."
"I can't believe it," Hiko muttered. "The idiot's getting asked out on a date."
"IT'S NOT A DATE!!!" Kaoru screamed.
Kenshin laughed and touched her shoulder gently.
"Don't let him get to you, too," he pleaded jokingly. "I'd love to go. Who else is going?"
"Uh... Sano, Aoshi, Okita, Yahiko, and Tsubame," she ticked off quickly. "Oh, and I think Yumi might go. But she'll only go if Shishio goes too."
"I should probably check to be sure it's okay," Kenshin glanced over at Hiko uncertainly.
"Far be it from me to stand in the way of your social life," Hiko grinned. "When's the game?"
Kaoru smiled in obvious relief. "Seven."
"It's at the school?"
"Yeah."
"He'll meet you here at..."
"We're coming at six-thirty," Kaoru said doubtfully.
"Six-thirty it is," Hiko smirked at Kenshin, who looked like he wanted to sink into the ground. "I'll drop you off, brat. Don't say I never did anything for you."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Kenshin drawled. "School's starting in a few minutes, Hiko. Shouldn't you be going?"
With another trademark smirk, Hiko lowered his immense body into the little car. Kenshin rolled his eyes and threw the keys again, right through the open passenger's side window. He grinned at the soft, jingling thud, quickly followed by angry cursing.
"Gets him every time," he murmured.
Kaoru laughed incredulously and led the boy off to the front doors. They heard a final shout from Hiko.
"Don't forget your medication, brat!"
Kenshin groaned and hid his face in his hands. Kaoru just giggled and dragged him into the halls of the school.
^_^
When it came to dignity and backing down from a fight with an irritated girl, Sano would sacrifice dignity almost every time. And now, with Kaoru flaming in his face, he decided it was one of those times to bend and let her have her way.
"All right, Jou-chan!" he said, exasperation clear in his voice. "I promise to keep my peace! I won't start a fight."
"So you'll be nice to him?" Kaoru glared at him suspiciously.
"Yes, yes!" Sano threw his hands up. "I'll be nice to the jerk. Are you satisfied now?"
Kaoru grinned smugly and crossed her arms.
"Yes."
Grumbling under his breath, Sano leaned against the wall next to Okita. The other senior smiled pleasantly and turned his grin to Kaoru.
"You never did tell us the answer to that question, Kaoru," he pointed out. "We've got bets placed, you know."
"You guys are terrible," Kaoru sighed.
"I've got my money in the pool for him being off the path," Okita continued, his eyes twinkling in dark humor. "Don't keep me in the dark, Kamiya."
"It never came up, okay?" Kaoru glared at the boy.
"We'll figure it out," Sano chuckled.
"Perverts!"
"Nah, just curious."
Conversation stopped as the school doors opened, and Kenshin stepped through. He hesitated, momentarily freezing beneath the stares of the other students, then smiled and continued forward. Kaoru was relieved. She had been worried that he would be withdrawn and nervous through the encounter, but it appeared that he would be open to meeting new people.
"Hi, Kenshin!" she greeted, stepping forward to meet him.
"Hello," he murmured, a bit shyly.
"Ready to go?" Kaoru turned toward the gym, pausing only when she saw the uncertain expression on Kenshin's face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" he smiled, painfully wide. "I should just warn you, though..."
"Huh?"
"Where's this game being played?" A giant of a man walked through the front doors into the school.
"Whoa!" Sano blurted. Okita nodded his agreement while keeping his silence. Kaoru just blinked at him, then looked at Kenshin. The redhead sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose to ease the tension there.
"Hiko will be here, too," he grumbled.
"Don't mind me," Hiko smirked. "I'll just sit in the back. Consider me a chaperone."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Sano groaned. "Himura, you have to have a nanny? He here to make sure you make it home safe and sound, or something?"
"Don't be stupid," Hiko spotted the gym doors and sauntered toward them, fixing an unforgiving stare on the lanky boy. "Kenshin could cut your sorry butt down in under a minute. I'm just here to enjoy the game."
Kaoru eyed the small, white box in Hiko's hand and glanced at Kenshin, who looked for the world like he was going to attempt to strangle the man. She touched his shoulder lightly, earning a surprised glance.
"Let's go," she suggested. "The game starts in twenty minutes, and I want to be someplace where I can cheer on Misao."
"Misao's your best friend?" Kenshin asked curiously, dropping his anger to take interest in Kaoru's words.
"Yep!" Kaoru grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the gym doors. "Come on! I already got tickets."
^_^
Kaoru glanced at her friends, sitting around her and Kenshin. Sano and Okita were debating about something or other, Aoshi watching them impassively. Yahiko and Tsubame would not be caught dead sitting near them, so they were nowhere in sight. Yumi sat with Shishio, and the two were cuddled together, having some sort of intimate conversation. It was a good time to have a private conversation. She leaned over to whisper into Kenshin's ear.
"I haven't told them anything," she informed him. Kenshin looked at her, surprise plain in his violet eyes.
"Thank you," he said after a moment of indecision.
"That's why Hiko's here, isn't it?" Kaoru glanced up at the man, several rows behind them. Hiko was staring out at the gymnasium, seemingly oblivious to her probing stare. She looked back to Kenshin, who had followed her gaze and was watching Hiko calmly. "Just in case?"
Kenshin looked at her solemnly.
"Yeah."
"But you won't need it tonight," Kaoru smiled. Kenshin returning smile was slow and uncertain. "Because we're going to have fun. No stress, no problems, right?"
"Right," Kenshin echoed faintly. "Kaoru, can we not talk about this?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Kaoru bit her lip anxiously. "I didn't think--Nevermind. Let's just have fun."
"Which one is your friend?" Kenshin pointed down at the girls running around the basketball court.
"Oh!" Kaoru smiled and pointed. "That's Misao. Number fourteen."
Kenshin followed her finger, his eyes sweeping the floor until he found the girl with a large 14 on her back. He smiled at the sight of the short girl with her whipping braid, darting in and out of the lines. Intent upon the pre-game activities, Kenshin did not notice Kaoru moving until her mouth was right next to his ear.
"I'm going to get a soda!" she told him. Kenshin smiled and nodded in agreement, rising to join her, but Kaoru planted a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down. At his confused glance, she just grinned. "I'll get it. You want one too?"
"If they have water out there--"
"Gotcha!" Kaoru winked and started shoving through the crowd. She yelled back over her shoulder, "Don't let anyone take my seat!"
Her last words were unnecessary. In addition to Kenshin, her other friends would never let anyone shove her out. She had to admit, Sano and Aoshi were far more intimidating than Kenshin at first glance. And those who knew Okita--personally or by reputation--would sooner pick a fight with an angry alley cat. The scratches they would procure would be, by far, better than the humiliation Okita would put them through.
So, Kenshin was left alone with the group. However, Sano, Okita, and Aoshi were so absorbed in their argument that not one of them noticed Kaoru's departure. He did not mind. He just studied the crowd and the basketball teams. The junior cheerleading squad was jumping around in front of the bleachers, waving their pom-poms like there was no tomorrow.
"It's almost as good as the boy's basketball games, isn't it?!"
Kenshin blinked and turned toward who had shouted near his ear. He found himself staring into the smiling face of a student. For a heartbeat, he could not figure out something vital about the person--gender. A quick glance, down and back up, and he decided he was addressing another boy.
"I've never been to either," Kenshin replied finally.
"You don't know what you've been missing!" the boy grinned. "The name's Kamatari. And you are?"
"Kenshin."
Kamatari smiled broadly. "Well hello, Kenshin," he greeted with mock formality. "You seem very familiar. Have we met before?"
"I don't think so..." Kenshin's eyes shifted from Kamatari to the movement just beyond him. Another student sat beside the boy, carrying two bottled sodas and a couple bags of candy. A bag of M&Ms(tm) dangled from his teeth as he dropped the extra bottle and bag into Kamatari's lap. Kenshin could not help but smile at the sight of the boy. "But I've met him before."
"Chou?" Kamatari said blankly.
"Huh?" gray eyes turned toward them. One eye drooped slightly, but both opened fully at the sight of the two boys talking. "Kamatari! Don't tell me you're talking to this idiot."
"That's why you seemed so familiar!" Kamatari giggled and clapped his hands cheerfully. "Chou described the person who told him off two days ago! That was you?"
"The moron stepped on my foot!" Chou grumbled. "Then he treated me like it was my fault!"
"You were the one trying to steal my bag," Kenshin pointed out, smiling in amusement. "Chou, is it?"
Grumbling under his breath, Chou grudgingly nodded. Kamatari grinned and took it upon himself to introduce them.
"Chou, this is Kenshin," he declared.
"We've met," Chou growled, but extended a hand. "Nice to meet you when I'm not trying to steal your shit."
"Likewise," Kenshin shook his hand. "Try it again, and you'll be limping for a week."
Chou burst out laughing. He threw his head back and held his side. When he had recovered, he draped his arm around Kamatari's shoulders casually and winked at the questionably male student.
"I like him," he declared. "Okay, Kenshin. It's a deal. I don't step on your feet, you don't step on mine."
"Hey!" They looked up at the new voice, over Kenshin's shoulder. Sano crouched down behind Kenshin and Kamatari, slinging an arm around either boy's shoulders. "You two got a little tryst going on here behind Jou-chan's back?"
Kamatari laughed, but Kenshin just stared at Sano in confusion. Sano grinned and winked at Chou, who was trying not to spit out his soda, his face turning very red.
"We've got a bet going on back here, Kenshin," Sano grinned at the bewildered boy. "If you start pulling this crap, you'll make it completely forfeit. Bi wasn't included in the pool."
"Bi--" Kenshin glanced at Kamatari, then over his shoulder at Kaoru, who was climbing around the people to get back to her seat. Sano's first words clicked, and a slight redness crept up to his cheeks. "You're betting on if I'm straight or not?!"
"With your looks, you've gotta admit," Sano tugged on a lock of Kenshin's hair. The boy's eyes flashed with indignation. "It's hard to tell."
"Well, I guess you'll just have to wait and figure it out," Kenshin ground out through clenched teeth.
"Hey, lighten up, Kenshin," Sano caught the boy's ponytail and jerked it a couple times. Kenshin made a soft sound of protest and swatted Sano's hand away. Sano just laughed and grinned darkly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. Here," he turned, dragging Kenshin with him. Pointing, he stated clinically, "Okita's bi, Aoshi's probably straight--we haven't quite got him figured out yet--I'm bi, Kamatari's a flaming gay, Chou is a straight arrow all the way, and that guy you came with... we're thinking straight."
"Hiko would love to hear that," Kenshin said dryly.
"You're the one we can't figure out," Sano released Kenshin abruptly, and the boy grabbed the bleacher bench to remain seated. "But all of us placed bets on straight or gay. If you prove to be bi... well, it would ruin the bet."
"How much is in the pool?" Kenshin asked, suddenly grinning.
Sano laughed.
"I'm starting to think you're not as bad as your first impression," he decided.
Kenshin flushed again.
"That was..." he muttered uneasily.
"Relax, Kenshin," Sano chuckled and pointed at the court. "The game's starting."
"Here's your water, Kenshin!" Kaoru shouted over the sudden cheering. She flopped down onto her claimed space on the bench and held a bottle of the clear liquid out to him. "Talk about boring! They had Pepsi products! Next time, I'm getting you a Mountain Dew!"
Kenshin just shook his head and opened his water.
"I won't drink it!" he called back.
"How about eating some of this candy I got?" Kaoru held out a bag of Skittles(tm) teasingly.
"No thanks!" Kenshin laughed at her pouting expression.
"Now I feel like a pig!"
"Well you don't look like one!" Kenshin grinned and looked to the basketball court, oblivious to Kaoru's startled stare. Kaoru blushed and quickly turned her attention to the game.
^_^
Author's notes: You know, this did start out as a K/K thing. I was indecisive through writing it all. I'm sorry, but I really have a thing for all these alternate pairings. If you hold your breath for a deep Kenshin and Kaoru relationship, you may pass out.