Disclaimer: Again, see chapter one.
Notes: Hello again! This chapter takes a turn for the serious.
Kenshin: I'm a little frightened, Fitz-dono.
Fitz: *pats Kenshin on the head like a little child* Don't worry, Kenshin. I won't hurt you. See? *points to stunt double* That's what he's for.
Stunt double: Should I be worried?
Notes again: Anyway, I hope no one is disappointed for the lack of clichéd jokes in here. No real shonen ai in sight in this chappie. Sadness. (And what's wrong with being gay? Plenty of people are gay. I have friends who are gay! GAAAH! Okay… outburst officially over. Sorry.)
Say "Hi!" to the reviewers. They are nice people. *Huggles reviewers* You all make me feel so special.
JML: HAH! I know who you are now! Personally, I like to watch all those outtakes they put in the end of those Jackie Chan movies. It makes him seem a bit more human. And you liked that comment at the end? It wasn't too sappy? Cool.
nemo: The Gummi Bears were… scary. Yeah. I couldn't handle them. They have a fanfiction page here, you know. I'm still trying to imagine an 'angst' story for that kiddie cartoon. It's not coming. Thanks for reviewing. I'm still coming up with questions. I'll email you when they're ready. Oooh, I feel so special that someone emailed me.
Clarus: I must now bow to the master of all shonen ai. And now I'm trying to recall if I ever reviewed Incarnate. I think I did. Maybe not. Waiting for the next chapter… Thanks for reviewing my story. List? What list? Can you make a list? Now I must go study the options of this site.
Koneko-chan (twice): Nope, not Battousai. Battousai is hiding out for awhile yet. And you're not a hentai. Kissing isn't bad, is it? I kiss people all the time… okay, only relatives. But other people kiss all the time. I've seen it! As for GW… I'm only just looking into that. I've only seen the very first volume. And I think Heero is psychotic. Duo is amusing. Okay… away from non-Rurouni Kenshin series. Thanks for reviewing. Perhaps you have been missing out. There are several shonen ai fics out there that are very good.
Eliz: It took me forever to convince my mom that I was mature enough to handle the Simpsons. You'd think a parent could trust a sixteen-year-old to watch a cartoon. Sheesh. Anyhoo, I'm glad you like the story. I'm updating as fast as I can split this story properly and edit it to make sure I'm not contradicting myself too much. Boy, do I have some bloopers to fix.
Vesca: I apologize for frustrating you. This chapter should answer one of your questions, at least. I will leave a lot of things unanswered, however, until the very end. It just would not do to lay Kenshin's past bare right away in the story.
tenshineko: But evil author tricks are so much FUN! I will continue to apply them throughout this story. *snicker*
Kamimura Kaoru (also twice): I liked naming the animals we dissected in class. So I had to insert it here. And if I told you if Kenshin was gay or straight, it would ruin the bet, wouldn't it? And no. This is not a K/K story.
marstanuki: Why did I want to know? I don't know. It was one of those nagging questions, and I have this habit of asking when I don't know the answer to something. Saves me a lot of hassle in the end. I think it amuses people when I stop them in mid-conversation just to ask them what a word they used means. I'm weird that way. And I couldn't make Kaoru a bad person in this. I really do like the girl. I'm trying so hard to keep her in character and… out of character, you know? AU is so weird that way.
The people demand an update. Who am I to deny them? Onward.
Life's a Dance
"Hello?"
Kaoru bit back a sigh and settled for rolling her eyes. After all, one could not hear a person rolling their eyes over the phone.
"Um... hello, Mr. Hiko," she greeted politely. "Is Kenshin there?"
"You just saw him this morning, and you want to talk to him again?"
Gritting her teeth in frustration, Kaoru nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Hiko."
"He's not here," Hiko seemed to hesitate, and Kaoru heard some muffled shouting before he came back on the line. "I'll have him call you when he can."
"Oh," Kaoru said, crestfallen. "Well, uh... do you know when--"
She cut off at the familiar voice in the background.
"Uncle Hiko? Who're ya talkin' to?" Kenshin's voice rang clearly over the phone. And it sounded a little strange--more youthful and clipped than his usual, mellow drone. "Come on, it's your turn."
"Hiko's busy right now, kid," Hiko was obviously holding a hand over the receiver, but Kaoru could make out his muffled words.
"How long?"
"Until that clock says eight-twenty-five," Hiko replied. "Go watch it until then."
"That's boring."
"Tough luck, kid. Go sit down," Hiko's voice became clear and loud again. "Sorry, Kaoru. He'll have to call you later."
"Does Kenshin have a little brother?" Kaoru asked blankly.
"...Something like that," Hiko cut off abruptly. "Hey! Don't touch that! Listen Kaoru, wait until tomorrow. I'll tell him to call you."
The dial tone hummed in her ear, and Kaoru stared at the phone in her hand. Slowly, she returned it to its cradle, then looked up to see Aoshi leaning against the doorjamb.
"You and Kenshin still having your study date tomorrow?" he asked casually.
"I don't know," Kaoru shrugged and glanced away. "He was home... I think."
Aoshi frowned.
"He wouldn't talk to you?" he asked cautiously.
"Well..." Kaoru hesitated. "Mr. Hiko said he wasn't there. But I heard him, I think."
"You think," Aoshi echoed skeptically.
"He sounded funny," Kaoru tried to imagine why Kenshin would act like a child. It hit her like a brick wall. "Oh, my god!"
"What kind of revelation just made that light bulb brighten above your head?" Aoshi asked dryly.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru looked at her brother with wide eyes. "He must have had a... er..." she trailed off, suddenly realizing that, of their group of friends, she was the only one who knew of Kenshin's... condition. So she concluded, and rather lamely she had to admit, "a cold."
"He has a cold?" Aoshi frowned in confusion.
"Yeah!"
"That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard," Aoshi pushed away from the door and pulled out a chair, sitting next to Kaoru at the kitchen table. "You're going to hate me for nosing into your business, but I think you should know..."
"Know what?"
For the first time, Kaoru noticed what was in Aoshi's hand--newspaper clippings. His long fingers fiddled with the edges of the slightly smudged paper in what was almost a nervous gesture. Seeing Kaoru's eyes on his hands, Aoshi stilled the minute movements and sighed.
"You probably don't remember this, but several years ago, a politician's private jet plane was hijacked over foreign soil," Aoshi lifted the hand that was covering the clipping. Kaoru gasped at the large picture that headed the article. It was blurred, but the identity of the person was unmistakable. Aoshi watched his sister closely. "Just under two years ago, United States troops stumbled across the sole survivor of that politician's family."
Kaoru skimmed the contents of the article, holding her breath as she searched for a name. There was none given. Even so, she knew exactly who that boy was, looking so angry, surrounded by military personnel armed to the teeth. It was obvious by the poor quality of the photograph that the Army officers were trying to control the press, but it was not so unclear that she could not make out the filthy, red-haired boy. His wrists were caught together with a strange-looking, plastic ring. Two officers had the boy by either arm between them, carrying along the small youth, the boy's bloodless lips pinched together into a hard line. Eerily, the boy seemed to be staring straight out at her, his eyes obviously focused directly on the camera that had caught this strange photo. They were dark and filled with an anger that was conveyed even on a flat surface.
"Kenshin," Kaoru whispered.
^_^
Hiko was tired. One would not think it would be all that difficult to keep a seventeen-year-old boy quiet for five minutes. Whoever that one was had not met Kenshin. Or should he say Shinta? Strange name for a kid, he thought, but then again, it was not his mind that had come up with the word. No, it was of Kenshin's creation. And now, it was Shinta who was running rampant over their small house.
"Kid, you can't have any ice cream," Hiko said, growing impatient by this point in the day. "I've already told you--six times--that we don't have any in the house."
"Well, let's get some," Kenshin smiled brightly. Seventeen he may have been, but at that instant he looked no older than twelve. And his tone and attitude placed him little past seven. "We walked to Dairy Queen before."
"Not in November," Hiko said curtly. "You've got a hell of a memory, kid. That must have been ten years ago."
"You shouldn't swear, Uncle Hiko," Kenshin's smile turned mischievous as he skipped around the kitchen island carelessly. "Mum and Dad won't be happy when they find out."
That saddened Hiko, although he would never admit it. He braced an elbow on the countertop and rested his face against his open palm. His gaze went serious as he stared at the young man in his kitchen.
"Stop that, Kenshin," he ordered sternly, a deep frown showing his disapproval. As Kenshin's mouth opened to protest, he quickly corrected himself. "Shinta, Kenshin. Whatever. Shinta, you know your parents are dead. Why do you insist upon acting as if they are not?"
Kenshin stared at him, wide eyes flooding with tears while his chin began to tremble. Hiko cursed mentally, knowing he would be in for a bout of hysterics if he did nothing to diffuse the situation. Then, Kenshin surprised him yet again by setting his jaw, determination gleaming in those watery eyes.
"Why are you so mean, Uncle Hiko?" he asked, voice wavering only slightly.
"Am I mean?" Hiko's expression never changed. He reached forward and dropped his free hand down on Kenshin's head. The boy staggered and scowled at him.
"You're always telling me Mum and Dad are dead!" he said hotly.
"It's the truth, kid," Hiko replied evenly. "You have to accept that."
Scowl still in place, Kenshin considered the man for a few seconds. Then, it was as if their conversation had not even taken place. He smiled, eyes glittering with shrewdness.
"Can we have ice cream now?"
With a heavy sigh, Hiko shook his head.
"No."
"But Uncle Hiko!"
"Go play outside," Hiko waved him away impatiently.
"Will you push me on the swings?"
"In a minute."
With a whoop of good cheer, Kenshin dashed out of the room. Hiko sighed again and slouched down on his stool, massaging his temples gently. He was beginning to get frustrated. Shinta was a force that only a truly patient parent could ever stand against, and Hiko was ready for the child to leave. Not only for reasons of his own sanity, but Hiko was starting to worry about the unusual length of time Shinta had chosen to remain. The child had been less than cooperative at Kenshin's psychotherapist's office the previous day, and he had remained in control through to the next day. Usually, Shinta retreated after a few hours, leaving one of the more dominant personalities in control--most often Kenshin himself.
Forcing himself to his feet, Hiko followed Kenshin out into the yard.
^_^
"Let's go see a movie."
Kaoru rolled her eyes and shook her head at her friend.
"Sano, we saw a movie Friday night," she reminded him.
"Not at a theater," he replied easily. "What's out now? Shrek?"
"Not anymore, and you've seen it anyway," Kaoru looked up to the gray, cloudy sky. Small flakes of pre-winter snow were starting to fall. Shivering slightly, she clutched the collar of her jacket closed more tightly over her chest with one gloved hand. "Besides, what if Kenshin doesn't want to see a movie? We were supposed to study this morning, after all."
"That's a drag," Sano grumbled, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his own, leather jacket. "And Aoshi said Kenshin had a cold. Who's to say he even wants to do anything if he's sick?"
Kaoru shrugged but did not respond. They were getting close to Kenshin's house anyway, and Sano held his tongue. He glanced at the street in front of the boy's house and was a little surprised to see a van and two cars parked by the curb out front. The side door of the van was open, and a group of five men and women hovered around it. They were talking carelessly, drinking from steaming cups of coffee.
"Let's go around back," Sano suggested, breaking away to walk up the neighbor's driveway. Kaoru glanced at the reporters, then followed him. Out of the corner of his eye, Sano saw the reporters watching them, no doubt wondering if they were friends of Kenshin. He angled toward the neighboring house, waving cheerfully when the two little girls and their mother looked up from their game in the back yard. They stared at him, trying to decide what the teenage boy in the black, leather jacket wanted. But he just continued past, Kaoru close on his heels, until he reached the alley behind the house. Then, he turned toward the small, single-car garage that took up much of what could have been a huge back yard. A tall privacy fence met the side of the garage, bordering the yard until it met the house. All in all, it was a cute little place.
"We can't just go in through their back door!" Kaoru gasped, grabbing Sano's arm before he could reach to open the gate.
"You want to spend ten minutes trying to avoid a reporter's questions?" Sano shook her hand off and pulled open the gate. "Come on."
"But--!"
Despite her protests, Kaoru followed Sano into the yard, pulling the gate shut behind her. She studied the latch for a moment, wondering at the complexity of the lock. Most people just used a simple bolt to lock a gate, but this one had to be locked and unlocked with a key. At the moment, it was unlocked, or Sano never would have been able to open the gate.
"What the--?!"
Kaoru turned in time to see Sano stagger and fall as something rather large, and moving very fast, struck him. Sano was stunned as it was, getting tackled by someone so much smaller than he was. But when he stared up into wide, startled violet eyes, he received the shock of his life. No way was this flushed, gasping kid Kenshin. Sano's eyes widened to their physical limits when the boy spoke, that familiar voice higher and more innocent.
"That wasn't supposed to happen," the boy looked at Sano through perplexed eyes. He was on Sano's chest, and making no move to get off.
"Idiot!" Hiko strode across the yard. "You should watch where you're going, especially when running past doorways."
Kenshin pouted at the scolding just before his eyes widened. He was remembering the reason he had been running so fast to begin with, and he lunged forward, on a path that would take him right over Sano's head. It was not something the other boy wanted to risk, and he flinched when Kenshin tensed and moved. Then, Hiko caught the collar of Kenshin's jacket and yanked him back. With a startled yelp, Kenshin staggered. He scowled, looking like a very fierce kitten more than anything else.
"Uncle Hiko!" he whined. "That's cheating!"
"It's your own fault for running into your friend," Hiko replied, remorseless. He glanced at Kaoru, then at Sano, who was climbing to his feet. "You okay, kid?"
Sano nodded dumbly, staring at Kenshin with wide eyes. Kaoru looked a little fearful as well, but less shocked.
"Apparently, one of you knows what's going on," Hiko remarked, interpreting the expression on Kaoru's face. "Frankly, I'm surprised he told you."
Kaoru mirrored Sano's nod and tore her gaze away from Kenshin to look at the man. She had seen the curious tilt to Kenshin's head as he studied them, but still there was no open recognition in his eyes.
"Is he okay?" she asked uneasily.
"They're Kenshin's friends!" Kenshin said so suddenly that even Hiko looked down at him. The boy had a worried expression on his youthful face. "He won't like me talking to them."
"Probably not," Hiko agreed, sighing to show his great weariness. "I'm going inside now, Shinta. Behave yourself."
That said, he turned and walked toward the house, leaving behind two confused high school students, a bewildered teenage-sized child, and a swirl of snowflakes. Kenshin chewed on his lip anxiously, eyeing Kaoru and Sano with the light, careless worry of an innocent youth. Sano scowled.
"Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?" he growled. He glared at Kenshin uncertainly. "Kenshin?"
"Kenshin's resting," the redhead replied slowly, as if explaining something to a simple-minded fool. "My name is Shinta."
Sano gaped at him. He turned pleading eyes to the girl beside him.
"Kaoru?!"
"You heard him," Kaoru said shakily. "Kenshin's resting."
"So is this Kenshin's twin or something?" Sano asked desperately.
"Kenshin's family is dead," Kenshin/Shinta said matter-of-factly. "Do you want to want to stay and play with me while he's resting?"
Hesitantly, the short boy stepped forward, his fingers curling around a frozen Kaoru's hand. He smiled a little and pulled her toward the swing set across the yard. Kaoru glanced back at Sano, who was still standing stiffly.
"Come on, Sano," she grinned suddenly. "Let's play with Shinta."
Jerking out of his trance, Sano stepped forward. The sight of Kenshin's... Shinta's... Kenshin's relieved smile was enough to warm the coldest of hearts. Sano smirked and followed them.
^_^
The disorientation that came with regaining his senses after a particularly long lapse always bothered Kenshin. He would remember being one place, close his eyes for an instant, and when he opened them again, he would be somewhere else entirely. Over the past few months, the lapses had been growing shorter and less frequent. Once in awhile, though, he would miss an entire day without realizing it. He would come to himself and be in such a position that he could not explain his way out of it. Such was the case one snowy, Sunday afternoon.
Kenshin's first thought was of how cold the wind was, buffeting at his exposed face. He felt hands against his back, shoving him forward. He would have expected that he would fall flat on his face after a push like that, but his hands were tight around the chains to either side of him, and he flew forward and up.
The swings, a small voice whispered in his mind.
He ground to a halt, feet dragging across the beaten grass beneath the swing.
"Tired of playing on the swings, Shinta?"
The familiar female voice made Kenshin's stomach do interesting little flip-flops in his gut. He turned his head to stare at her. She was rocking idly, back and forth on the other swing. Which meant someone else had been pushing him. Hiko's hand was familiar. Kenshin knew those hands on his back had not been his guardian's.
"Hey, Shint'," a smooth tenor voice spoke up behind him. "You okay?"
I am going to kill Hiko, he thought dully. Why did he let them in?
"It's too cold," Kenshin tore his gaze away from Kaoru's gentle smile. "Let's go inside."
"Shinta?" Kaoru asked blankly, staring after him as he stood and started toward the back door.
"It's Kenshin," he corrected flatly. He turned to look at her, eyes guarded. "How long have you two been here?"
"About an hour," Sano offered warily. "You okay, Kenshin? You had me worried here for awhile."
Kenshin averted his gaze and bit his lip.
"It's Sunday?" he murmured, a bit desperate to know how much time had passed since he could last recall.
"It's a little past noon," Kaoru clarified. "Sunday."
"An entire day..."
"Is that how long the relapse lasted?" Kaoru asked curiously.
"Please, Kaoru," Kenshin turned his pained expression to her. "I get enough clinical detachment from the psychiatrists."
"Sorry, Kenshin," Kaoru sighed and moved to his side. She wrapped her arms around him in a light hug. Shivering slightly with cold and rigid with apprehension, Kenshin gave little response. "Are you okay?"
"No," he muttered a bit moodily. "I'm embarrassed."
"Why?" Sano asked, grinning boldly and walking over to stand beside the other two. "Because we know you've got multiple personalities?"
"No," Kenshin sighed, covering his eyes with one hand for a moment. "You were calling me Shinta. And that means I just spent the better part of an hour acting like a six-year-old in front of you."
"It wasn't so bad," Kaoru murmured anxiously.
Kenshin shook his head and hugged his arms over his chest in attempt to warm himself. He looked at the falling snow, melting upon contact with the ground. They fell into a long, uncomfortable silence. Kaoru and Sano exchanged uneasy glances over Kenshin's head. Finally, Sano nodded and stepped forward, draping an arm over Kenshin's shoulders. The shorter boy stiffened but did not try to pull away.
"I've got to admit it, Kenshin," Sano said solemnly. "I'm weirded out here. I mean, I've never met anyone with an honest-to-goodness mental disease." All three students flinched at Sano's insensitive wording. Sano pressed onward. "Depression doesn't count. Every teenager is depressed."
Kaoru bit her lip, resisting the urge to reach out to comfort her friend. It was obvious that Kenshin needed it, if that distressed gleam in his downcast eyes was any indication. However, she also knew that Sano deserved to finish what he had started. As Kenshin did not break away, the boy respected that right as well.
"I knew something was off with you, especially that day I walked in and saw you in the nurse's office," Sano continued, unaware of Kaoru's silent appraisal of the situation. "MPD is a hell of a lot more serious than what I was thinking, but I can work with that. You're my friend now, and you should know that we--" Sano gestured toward Kaoru. Kenshin's eyes flicked up toward her, then Sano, showing his anxious confusion. "We don't take it lightly. Aoshi and Okita, too. Even Misao, bimbo that she--ow!"
Sano rubbed the back of his head where Kaoru had struck him. Kenshin chuckled, his relief showing as his shoulders slumped, and he leaned into Sano's friendly embrace.
"That's what I like to hear!" Sano ruffled Kenshin's long hair. "Don't push us away, Kenshin. I'd have to come and beat you up if you did."
"He'd probably kick your sorry butt into the ground," Kaoru muttered.
Kenshin smirked and nodded his agreement.
"All right, Sano," he said quietly. "But on one condition."
"What's that?"
"We go inside," Kenshin sighed wearily. "It's freezing out here."
Giggling and poking fun at each other, the three went into Kenshin's house.
^_^
Kaoru and Sano convinced Kenshin to tell their friends, lest they accidentally meet up with another of his personalities unprepared. They took the news rather well, actually. Aoshi had already held some suspicions, so he remained ever impassive. Okita was curious and polite. And Misao... was Misao.
"Wow!" the girl blurted, eyes glittering as she leaned over the lunch table to get closer to the red-haired youth. "No kidding! Multiple personalities?!"
"Please, Misao," Kenshin made slight quieting gestures. "I would rather that the rest of the school did not know about this."
"Sorry," Misao grinned, lowering her voice. "So, how many different personalities do you have?"
Bewildered, Kenshin managed a halfhearted shrug.
"Um... the doctors estimated four to six," he stammered, not used to addressing the issue in such a light, open manner.
"Shinta, we met," Sano mumbled around his peanut butter sandwich.
"Shinta?" Okita wondered aloud.
"Oh, Shinta was so cute!" Kaoru grinned when Kenshin started blushing. "How old did you say he was, Kenshin?"
"...About six."
"We played on the swings for about an hour yesterday," Kaoru giggled. "Ken--I mean, Shinta..." she paused to think about that, then nodded. "Shinta really liked it when Sano pushed him."
Kenshin buried his face in his hands, his face bright red.
"Awwww!" Misao squealed, no doubt imagining Sano pushing Kenshin on the swings. "Kenshin, that's so cute!"
"Cute was not the word I was thinking to describe it," Kenshin moaned.
"You gave a rather rough estimate there, Himura," Okita commented. "Don't you know who they all are?"
"The purpose of the additional personalities is to protect the host," Aoshi said abruptly. "It makes sense that Kenshin would not know who the others are."
"Other than what the doctors told me," Kenshin agreed, obviously uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was going. "I know about Shinta, Aya, and Rurouni."
"What the hell is Rurouni?" Sano asked. "That's a weird name."
"It sounds familiar," Kaoru murmured. "Like something we heard in Japanese class."
"The closest I could ever figure was ronin," Kenshin shook his head. "Quite honestly, you'd have to ask Rurouni himself if you ever wanted to know the reasoning behind the name. And don't start getting ideas. He comes out at strange times, and I'd really rather not put myself into a position where he would be needed."
"Sure, Kenshin," Kaoru smiled and squeezed his hand gently. "We wouldn't do that to you."
"Thanks."
"Aya is a girl's name," Misao announced.
Everyone turned to stare at Kenshin, who shifted uneasily.
"Uh... yeah."
"I find that rather interesting," Okita remarked with a wily smirk.
"I'm sure you would," Kenshin grumbled.
"One of the personalities is a girl?" Sano blurted.
"It's been known to happen!" Kenshin protested.
"That's what I call being in touch with your feminine side," Misao giggled. "Is she nice?"
"Don't even think about it." Kenshin scowled.
"That might be why you did so well in a dress the other night!"
"Misao!"
The girl giggled again and ducked behind Aoshi. The older boy glanced at her, amusement clear in his eyes.
"That's only three personalities, Kenshin," he observed. "You said four to six."
"Well, if you include the host personality," Kenshin sighed. "That makes four. And the doctors think there may be one or two more, but they're not sure."
"Well, Himura," Okita grinned suddenly. "As fascinating as this is, don't you have to go to the nurse?"
"Oh!" Kenshin glanced at the clock. "Geez! I'm late! I'm going to be wiped in seventh period."
"And Himura," Okita called, halting the boy as he stood. Kenshin looked back. Okita smirked. "You let us know if anyone picks on you, right? We'll put 'em in their place."
Smiling gratefully, Kenshin nodded and rushed out of the cafeteria.
^_^
Kenshin had not been mistaken. Heading to seventh period class, he felt as if he was going to fall asleep where he stood. He moved with the crowd, hoping he did not walk right past his class. Calculus was next, so he was not overly concerned. And if all else failed, Aoshi would let him look at his notes for the day.
"Hello, Kenshin."
The voice, silky and average, was one he was only vaguely familiar with. Kenshin sighed and looked up when an arm slid over his shoulders. He found himself staring into the dark eyes of Shishio. The sensation of a hand against his shoulder made him glance in the opposite direction, at the bandaged hand there. Rumor had it that the bandages on Shishio's hands were a result of an accident with a flame thrower. Just beyond that bandaged hand was a gorgeous, albeit scantily clad, young woman. Yumi never wore anything beyond the school policy of what was proper. And this day was no different. She smiled blandly at his confused frown.
"How are you today, Kenshin?"
"Fine..." Kenshin stiffened as Shishio's grip around his back tightened, forcibly guiding him through the press of students. "Shishio... my class is that way."
"You've still got time," Shishio grinned, displaying a mouthful of teeth. "I was just wondering, Kenshin. What's it like having all those reporters follow you around? I mean... they're thinning out and all, but you still have to be escorted to the doors."
"Ah..." Kenshin stammered, uncertain of Shishio's reasoning behind his questions.
"Why don't you just answer their questions?" Shishio continued. "Then, they'll be happy and leave you alone."
"Reporters rarely work that way," Kenshin muttered.
"But still, you've got to admit, you've got everyone curious," Shishio's smile grew as he spoke. "Those questions they ask... and the way you took out those two men who must have been twice your weight."
"Shishio, I have to get to class," Kenshin said wearily, turning to break free.
Even as Shishio's hand tightened even further around his shoulder, Yumi latched onto his arm and leaned into him. Kenshin sucked in an alarmed gasp as he found himself sandwiched between the two taller students.
"Rumor has it you've killed a man," Shishio murmured into his ear. "Is it true?"
"Shishio, please," Kenshin shrank away from that mouth near his face. He forced his voice to be firm. "Let go."
"How'd you do it?" Shishio persisted. "Quick and easy? A gun? A knife? Or did you draw it out and use your bare hands?"
"I heard that 'Kenshin' isn't your real name," Yumi purred. "What is it?"
"Where's your family, Kenshin?" Shishio countered.
"Your mother and father?"
"Your sister?"
Kenshin bit back a whimper, wishing he could cover his ears to block their questions out. He closed his eyes tightly, about to snap off a desperate response when he stopped with an abruptness that was jarring. Eyes flying open, he looked around wildly, but Yumi and Shishio had already faded back into the flow of students, leaving him alone in the doorway of his Calculus class.
The teacher looked up, his frown of disapproval melting to a gentle smile upon seeing Kenshin.
"You're a little late, Mr. Himura," he announced. "Have a seat, and you can take the quiz at the end of class."
If the teacher's sudden expression of concern was any indication, Kenshin knew he looked as distressed as he felt. The man stepped toward him.
"Kenshin, are you all right?" he asked anxiously.
Stumbling back, out of the classroom, Kenshin turned and retreated down the hallway. He ducked into the bathroom and into a stall. Taking precious seconds to lock the stall door behind him, he turned and threw up into the toilet.
"Mr. Himura? Is that you?"
If there was one thing Kenshin found both irritating and relieving about Mr. Okina, it was that the old man was too kindly for his own good. At the moment, he did not want to talk to the man. He just wanted to empty the contents of his stomach and cry until the tears would no longer come.
"Kenshin?" Okina tried again, going so far as to knock on the stall door.
Already on his knees, Kenshin sank down to sit on the floor in front of the toilet, mildly disgusted but not really caring about how sanitary it was at the moment. He grabbed some toilet paper and held it to his mouth, wishing Okina would just go away.
"Kenshin?" The teacher's persistence was aggravating, and Kenshin latched onto the anger, more than willing to drive away the pain Shishio's words had caused.
"Would you just leave me alone?!" he snapped, voice slightly muffled by the tissue held over his mouth.
"Should I call the nurse, Kenshin?"
"No!"
"If you're sick--"
"Why can't anyone mind their own business?!" Kenshin retorted furiously. The tears returned with a vengeance, proving that his anger was not enough to hold back the hurt. His voice wavered with his next words. "Please! Just go away!"
There was some muttering outside the stall, and someone else lifted his voice.
"Kenshin, unlock this door."
Aoshi's voice came as somewhat of a relief, and he recalled that they were in the same seventh period class. While the two were not overly close, Kenshin trusted the boy to some extent. He glared at the door, watery and moving from the tears that refused to stop flooding his eyes.
"I could just get Sano to rip this door off the stall," Aoshi suggested calmly when Kenshin made no move to respond.
That comment brought a brief, bitter smile to Kenshin's lips. Then, Shishio's words flashed through his mind again, and the smirk faded. He climbed to his feet, using the wall to help support his weight where his wobbly legs would not. Throwing the latch, he yanked the door open and looked up at Aoshi with narrowed, pained eyes.
"I hate being treated like some freak side show," he blurted, not certain why he would tell this to Aoshi, but needing to talk to somebody.
"Kenshin, what happened?" the other boy asked in his ever-serene manner. "I thought no one else knew what you told us today."
Swiping at the dampness that had gathered on his cheeks, Kenshin shook his head fiercely.
"It has nothing to do with that," he said unhappily. "It's because of those reporters' questions. Shishio said--"
"Shishio?" Aoshi interrupted, his eyes narrowing in apparent irritation. Kenshin coughed to hide the sob that escaped him. He bowed his head and nodded, scrubbing at his eyes again as the tears returned. Aoshi sighed and did something then that was decidedly uncharacteristic of him. He grabbed Kenshin roughly by the arms and pulled the boy close. Wrapping his arms around Kenshin's back, he awkwardly hugged the smaller boy. "That guy's just a jerk, Kenshin. You shouldn't listen to what he says."
"You didn't hear what he said," Kenshin replied, his words muffled by Aoshi's broad shoulder. Kenshin opened his eyes and stared blankly at the dark blue shirt covering the taller boy's chest. "He didn't just insult me."
Aoshi was silent for a time, just listening to Kenshin sniff in a wasted attempt to hold back his tears. He stiffened slightly when Kenshin's arms moved to wrap around his waist, then relaxed and continued to hold the smaller boy. For several minutes, they remained this way, each comfortable with the other's presence. Finally, Aoshi sighed and pulled away.
"Let's go," he suggested mildly. "I'll drop a note for Kaoru and drive you home."
Nodding in agreement, Kenshin followed Aoshi out of the bathroom.
^_^
Notes: Awww. A touching scene in the boy's bathroom. A friend of a friend of mine got her wedding proposal in a bathroom. She couldn't get over the fact that she got engaged over a toilet.
And you will notice that I added an extra personality. I had my reasons for this, so I hope no one is too upset that I expanded upon the usual Kenshin's split personality thing. Please review. I really do like suggestions.