Disclaimer: *strikes a dramatic pose* It has been disclaimed! I own nothing! I tell you, nothing!!!
Notes: *Wince* Okay, so someone else noticed that as well. At the time I wrote this, I was under the impression that Aya was strictly a female name. I have been told by several people now (well, two people) that it can be used as either. So… since I like the name, it won't change. But I do apologize for the confusion. And using Makoto versus Shishio… I suppose I should. Shishio doesn't make another appearance for awhile, so I can still change it. I would love to know the opinion of the readers. If I am given no opinions, then it won't change. Period.
To the reviewers: (and boy, do I ramble in these, so I apologize for the length of this.)
Clarus: Thanks. And I agree. Soon does sound good. Do I sound overly eager? Surely not…
nemo: There is honestly nothing I can say to that.
Vesca: Personality that beats up on cops? I admit, I'm confused. Although for the girl to be a butt-kicking beauty… it's a thought. The girl doesn't get much time in this story, but perhaps next time. I'll keep it in mind. And you're always catching on these little details! (Okay, this one's not so little, but no one else commented. So there!) I'm impressed. I'm sure if I was reading this, not knowing what was going to happen, I would barely even notice.
Jason M. Lee: Shishio is somewhat of the class bully. I can't see Kenshin going out of his way to beat up the jerk just because of a few nasty words. (Sano might do that…hmmm) Let me consider it. Fruits Basket… I've heard of it. I'll have to check it out.
marstaunki: *Giggle* Thanks. And you even don't mind the shonen ai? Which is in this chapter, by the way, so tread cautiously if you don't like it.
Koneko-chan: Whoa! Another person has confused me! Shinta? Eh??! Um… right. Okay, I'll give you that imaginary cookie if you just explain that on a second-grade reading level. And what are you talking about? Good ol' days?! I still go on the swings! And sit on top of the monkey bars. Oh, is that fun. I know where all the public playgrounds are around my house. Ummm… and Weiss Kreuz, no. I've actually never seen that, although I want to. Aya came from Ceres, which I also have not seen past the second volume. I don't particularly care about the lead girl there, but I liked the name.
Warning!!! Shonen ai content ahead. Again, you have been warned. Just be aware of this as you read, if you are not one to like such things. Thank you.Life's a Dance
"Have you thought of joining a sport?"
Kenshin blinked at Kaoru, startled by the question. He had been sitting quietly at the lunch table, drinking his water while everyone discussed their day. Kaoru's suggestion was unexpected, but everyone else around the table nodded in agreement.
"A sport?" he echoed dumbly.
"Hey, that's a great idea!" Sano jumped in enthusiastically. "You would kick ass on the wrestling team."
"Wrestling?!" Okita snorted in disgust. "For god's sake, Sano. Kenshin wouldn't make the lowest cut. He's too scrawny."
"What else is there?"
"There's always basketball," Misao suggested with a wink. Kenshin's eyebrows crunched together.
"I don't even know how to play basketball," he protested.
"It's not that hard--"
"What about something with a little less physical contact?" Aoshi offered.
"There's baseball."
"Tennis?"
"What about track?"
They all looked to Kenshin for his input. He smiled weakly.
"Um... track sounds feasible," he murmured.
"All right!" Kaoru threw her arms around the boy's neck, hugging him tightly. Kenshin choked and stared at her in astonishment.
"All right, what?"
"I'll get the papers for you to join the track team, and it's only fifteen dollars to join, and--"
"Wait a minute!" Kenshin broke in anxiously. "It's not that simple! I would have to clear it with Hiko, who would have to clear it through the doctors, and make sure the coaches even want me there--"
"Don't give us that crap!" Misao swatted the back of his head lightly. "Of course they'd want you there. Even if they didn't, they don't have the right to reject you. You could join the girl's swim team if you wanted to, and there's nothing the system can do to stop you."
"I don't think I'd be comfortable on the girl's swim team," Kenshin chuckled. "Nor well received. Fine. I'll talk to Hiko. How much longer until the sports begin?"
"Track goes year-round," Kaoru grinned at him. "You can sign up any time."
"At least she's not trying to get him to join the student council," Okita muttered to Aoshi, who nodded in agreement.
"I heard that!"
"I have to go to the nurse," Kenshin pleaded, making his escape.
"I'll walk you there," Sano stood as well.
"I'll meet you before seventh period," Aoshi added.
"You guys don't have to guard me wherever I go," Kenshin said self-consciously.
"Don't be silly, Himura," Okita gave the boy a classic, 'thumb's up' gesture. "It's like I said yesterday. Anyone picks on you, we'll take care of them. It's what friends are for, after all."
Kenshin smiled and walked out of the cafeteria, Sano close on his heels.
^_^
Dressed in sweatpants and a tee shirt that was far too big for him, Kenshin could be found in the school gymnasium one wintry afternoon. Kaoru and Sano sat on an upraised section at the end the immense room, legs dangling off the side. The section was about four feet higher than the rest of the gym, which meant that when Kenshin went to stand by his friends, he was just able to lean comfortably against the partition, his arms folded on the floor next to Sano.
"Are you two going to stay through this whole thing?" he asked curiously, craning his neck to look at them.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Kaoru assured him.
"Where'd you get that shirt, Kenshin?" Sano tugged at the short sleeve that went past Kenshin's elbow. "One of Hiko's old rejects?"
"Actually, that's exactly what it is," Kenshin chuckled. "I don't have anything suitable for sports, really. So he let me use one of his older shirts."
"Himura? Where is Kenshin Himura?"
The man's voice echoed through the gym, and they all looked to the source. The track coach was an unlikely person, with skinny legs and knobby knees poking out beneath his shorts, and thick glasses perched upon his nose. Dressed in shorts and a polo shirt, tucked into the waistline, his appearance was one of impeccable neatness.
"Is Kenshin Himura here?" he called again.
"Muraki's the track coach?" Sano asked incredulously.
"I'm sure he's a good coach," Kaoru said doubtfully. "He is, after all, the captain of the local police force."
Kenshin tossed them an uncertain glance, then walked to the man who had called his name. While Kaoru and Sano watched from their perch across the large room, he listened patiently to what the coach wanted him to do. A few minutes later, he was ready to begin his assessment.
^_^
Muraki was dumbfounded. He had relocated to standing near the partition where Sano and Kaoru sat and was going over his notes for the seventh time that afternoon. Although he had been running around for the past half hour, Kenshin seemed as fresh as when he had first begun. He leaned back against the wall of the partition between Kaoru's and Sano's dangling legs, the fingers of his right hand intertwined with Kaoru's, Sano's hand on his other shoulder. His face was set into a confused frown, even as his friends were staring at the coach in complete shock.
"This is just incredible," Muraki said. Kenshin had lost count of how many times the coach had said those exact words. He chewed on his lip anxiously.
"Mr. Muraki?" he asked finally. "Did I do so terribly? I don't have to compete, right? I mean, if it's so bad, I could just stay on the side during--"
"Oh no!" Muraki said quickly. "These scores are not bad, Himura. In fact, they are very good."
"You moron," Sano ruffled Kenshin's hair lightly. "Did you actually think that you'd do bad when you're as fast as you are?"
"I didn't think I was that fast," Kenshin muttered, his free hand catching Sano's and pulling it away from his hair. He smiled up at the boy behind him. "You always beat me to the cafeteria."
"Dope," Kaoru giggled. "That's a little different."
"Indeed, it is," Muraki agreed. "These marks are up to Olympic standards."
Kenshin's jaw dropped. Kaoru squealed in delight, and Sano hooked an arm around the smaller boy's neck good-naturedly. Kenshin choked as he was dragged off his feet, yelping in protest when his back was forced into the angle of the wall. A sharp movement had him back on his feet on the floor, yanking Sano with him. The larger boy shouted in alarm as he found himself tumbling face-first off the partition. Kenshin caught his arm before he could fall, and Sano managed to right himself.
"You two," Kaoru sighed, unable to hide her smile. "Can't settle down for two minutes."
"We're just playing," Sano grinned. "Thanks a lot, Kenshin."
"Wouldn't want you to break your nose," Kenshin replied with a roguish grin. He looked back at Muraki, his expression melting into a more solemn stare. "What does that mean, Mr. Muraki? Can I be on the team?"
"Himura, I would leap for joy if some of my officers on the police force were half as agile as you," the coach replied with an awkward little grin. "As for being accepted on the team, you have already been. If you show up for practice every day, I will gladly let you compete."
Kenshin grinned, and Kaoru jumped down to throw her arms around him excitedly. Muraki smiled tolerantly.
"You can start on Monday, Himura," he declared. "I will get you a uniform then."
"Thank you, Mr. Muraki," was all Kenshin had time to say before Sano and Kaoru swept him out the door. He laughed and stumbled after them happily.
^_^
"I can't come tonight."
"Huh?" Kenshin smiled faintly at the identical reactions from Kaoru and Misao. The other three boys at the table had similar frowns on their faces.
"Why not?" Okita wondered.
"Hiko told me my doctor's appointment was shifted from tomorrow to this afternoon," Kenshin explained wearily. "I have to go there at three."
"But that's hours before you would be coming to Kaoru's!" Misao protested. "Can't you come afterwards?"
"I don't know that I would be much fun," Kenshin shook his head. "Sometimes I'm fine after these sessions, sometimes I'm not. I don't want to promise to come tonight, then never show up."
"Well, what if this is one of the times when you're okay?" Misao pointed out.
"How about you come if you're okay, and call if you're not," Sano suggested.
Heads bobbed around the table like so many dashboard Chihuahuas. Kenshin opened his mouth to reply to the negative, but his words died in his throat when he received bold glares from over half the people at the table. He smiled and made a helpless gesture with hands and sighed.
"All right, all right," he chuckled at the broad smiles of his friends. Well, not Aoshi. But Kenshin thought he saw the boy smirk a bit. "I'll try to make it. If not, I'll get Hiko to call you."
The others--minus Aoshi--whooped happily. They quieted down in a hurry as all the students nearby turned their heads to see what the deal was. Kenshin smirked and drank his water.
^_^
Okita and Sano were halfway through a game of 'Go Fish' when they heard the shouting outside. Misao looked up from painting a rather miserable-looking Aoshi's fingernails, and Kaoru paused halfway across the room, her armload of soda cans threatening to fall.
"What the hell is that?" Sano wondered aloud.
"I can't tell what they're saying," Misao tilted her head, capping the fingernail polish, to Aoshi's great relief. He eyed his hands doubtfully, then looked toward the window.
The shouting stopped abruptly, and everyone jumped at the sudden knocking on the door. Aoshi stood and peered through the peephole. A strange expression flashed across his face, and he threw the deadbolt, then opened the door.
Kenshin stood on the step, his backpack slung over one shoulder, while a sleeping roll was tucked under the opposite arm. He blinked in surprise and in reaction to the sudden, bright light in his eyes, lifting his head to stare at Aoshi. The taller boy frowned at the startled deer-caught-in-the-headlights look about Kenshin but did not comment.
"Hello, Kenshin," Aoshi greeted. "You're a little late."
"Uh... sorry," Kenshin stammered, shifting uncomfortably where he stood. "I had some trouble with Hiko."
"Didn't want to let you come?" Kaoru asked sympathetically, stepping up behind her brother. "Aoshi, let Kenshin in."
Aoshi stepped back, and Kenshin entered cautiously. The door closed with a resounding click, and Kenshin jumped in reaction to the noise. He smiled shakily, an apologetic tinge to the expression.
"Actually, I was planning on staying home tonight," he muttered. "Hiko would have none of it."
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Okita, apparently oblivious to it all, called out cheerfully.
"Come help me with this, Himura!" he pleaded. "Sano's kicking my ass in 'Go Fish' for heaven's sake!"
Smile growing a bit more confident, Kenshin moved into the house. He settled down on the floor by Sano and Okita, and they started a new game. Exchanging uneasy glances, Aoshi and Kaoru returned to their activities as well.
^_^
"How did I get suckered into Truth or Dare again?" Sano lamented.
"We could play Spin the Bottle," Kaoru suggested. "But there's more guys than girls, and Aoshi didn't go for kissing one of you dorks."
"I'd say he wasn't much for making out with his own sister," Okita murmured to Kenshin, who flushed and nodded in agreement. Kaoru turned a little green.
"You have a point," she crinkled her nose at Aoshi. "Not that I don't love you, Aoshi, but I don't care to swap spit with you."
"Likewise," Aoshi grimaced. "Ground rules?"
"Nothing overly loud," Kaoru said immediately. "Mom and Dad are sleeping."
"Same rules as usual," Sano interrupted. "Aoshi, Truth or Dare?"
"Truth," was the immediate reply.
"Damn," Sano grumbled. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. A devious smirk spread across his face. "Will you ever ask Misao on a date?"
Misao giggled nervously, and Aoshi glared daggers at Sano, a very light blush rising to his cheeks.
"Undecided as of yet," he said as coldly as he could manage. "Okita."
"Dare!" Okita chirped, knowing full well that Aoshi was rotten at coming up with a decent dare. The others snickered at the tall boy's obvious irritation.
"Fine," Aoshi said stiffly. A knowing light gleamed in his eyes, and he crossed his arms. "I doubt you'll really find this much of a challenge, but why don't you show us just what you've been fantasizing about since Kenshin kissed you that night?"
Okita turned an interesting shade of purple, and Sano looked like he was going to choke up a lung with the way he was trying to suppress his laughter. Kaoru and Misao were doubled over in hysterical giggles, clinging to each other to remain upright. And Kenshin's eyes were wide with bewildered wariness.
"You are truly evil, Aoshi," Okita grumbled, climbing to his feet. "You realize I will get you back for this."
"Just doing you a favor," Aoshi replied with a dark smirk.
"Why do I feel like I'm not going to like this?" Kenshin asked in a small voice.
"You might like it!" Sano gasped, trying to breathe without breaking into more laughter.
"The audience awaits my performance," Okita announced dramatically, standing in the midst of the little group. For a moment, Kenshin thought he was safe, but then the boy turned toward him.
"Oh, shit," were the only words that made it past his lips before Okita had his face held firmly between his hands. Kenshin's mouth went dry as he found himself staring into Okita's piercing, brown eyes. He made a soft sound of alarm as Okita kissed him, the noise muffled against the other boy's mouth.
Choking with giggles, everyone watched as Kenshin's eyes grew wider than seemed physically possible. They quieted down very quickly when his eyelids drooped, and his arms moved up around Okita's neck. It was Sano, Kaoru, and Misao's turn to have wide eyes--Aoshi kept his amused smirk. And when Okita shoved Kenshin back, they were almost surprised when Kenshin yipped in protest.
"Okita!" Kenshin gasped, hands moving to block Okita's which were tugging his shirt free of the waistline of his pants. Okita looked at him, smiling boldly, obviously amused by Kenshin's mortified blush. He did not continue the motions, nor did he move to back off. More or less laying on his back, Kenshin hesitated, at a momentary loss for what to do. He settled for annoyance. "The kiss was okay. As you seem to be moving further... that's not good. Please back off."
Okita smiled, a languid, predatory smile.
"Would you?" he leaned forward and nuzzled Kenshin's cheek with his nose. "If we didn't have an audience?"
"I'm not telling," Kenshin shoved at the other boy's chest. "Get off me."
"Spoilsport," Okita grumbled good-naturedly. He rolled back and grinned when Kenshin sat up to look at him. "Sorry about the assault, Himura."
Kenshin screwed his face into an irritated scowl, once again pushing Okita back.
"That was humiliating," he grunted. "Take your turn."
"Fair enough," Okita returned to his seat upon the ottoman. "Himura."
A soft groan was his response, and Okita grinned. "Truth or Dare?"
"...Truth."
"And I was hoping to dare you into another kiss," Okita sighed in mock exasperation.
"Which is why I chose truth," Kenshin replied hotly.
"Don't get so confident, Himura," Okita chuckled. "I'm just dying to know..."
"Nothing about my sexuality," Kenshin reminded him quickly.
"Of course!" Okita smiled brightly. "I was just wondering, though, if you were as virginal as some of us here," the boy gestured around, toward Kaoru, Misao, and Aoshi. Kenshin looked at Sano oddly, then sputtered as he realized exactly what the question was.
"That is none of your business!" he protested.
"You have to answer it, Kenshin!" Kaoru pointed out, giggling crazily.
Huffing in outraged annoyance, Kenshin slouched back in an open display of discontent. Cheeks very red with embarrassment, eyes averted, he muttered his response.
"What was that?" Okita leaned forward. "We didn't quite catch that, Himura."
"No!" Kenshin blurted, then hid his face in his hands. "Okay? No, I'm not a virgin."
"Oooh," Sano tugged on Kenshin's ponytail, grinning darkly. "I hope your partner was under eighteen. You're still a minor, Kenshin."
"I know that, Sano," Kenshin moved one hand away from his face to swat ineffectually at his friend.
"Girl or guy?" Okita asked curiously.
"I don't have to answer that!"
"When?"
"Eh?!"
"Are you getting hard of hearing on me?"
"I am seriously considering hurting you," Kenshin glared at the boy. "I answered the question. We're done. Misao. Truth or Dare?"
"Huh?" the girl blinked. "Oh! Uh... Dare."
"Take Okita outside, gag him, and tie him to the flagpole in the front yard."
^_^
The movie of the night was Saturday Night Fever, for a little lightness. By the time the movie was over, Misao was out for the count, snoring away in the oversized armchair. Aoshi had given up the chair to the girl and had moved to the sofa next to Kenshin and Kaoru. Okita and Sano had rule of the floor.
"That was... interesting," Aoshi decided, turning off the television for the night. "I take it you're not going to be moved from the couch, Kenshin?"
"I don't trust Okita enough to spend the night on the floor near him," Kenshin replied mildly.
"Hey, Kenshin!" Okita whined. "You know I wouldn't do anything!"
Kenshin smiled and nodded.
"Still not moving," he said, despite that smile.
"That's okay, Kenshin," Kaoru stretched out on the couch, yawning widely. "I don't mind sharing with you."
He offered a lopsided smile and sank back against the opposite arm of the large sofa. Sano just chuckled and stretched out on the floor next to Okita.
"Your loss, Kenshin," he jested. "Okita and me will be going at it like minks down here, and you'll know what you're missing."
"That provides a disturbing visual," Kaoru groaned. Kenshin and Aoshi both nodded in agreement, looking a bit ill themselves.
The small talk dwindled, and the group settled down for the night. Soon, everyone was asleep--Misao on the chair, Kaoru and Kenshin on the couch, and Sano, Okita, and Aoshi on the floor.
^_^
Kaoru stared at the damp, matted red hair that surrounded Kenshin's face. He was sleeping peacefully now, tucked between herself and the sofa cushions. His head was a warm pressure on her shoulder, and although Kaoru knew her arm would be numb by morning, she would not move him when he was so calm. Kenshin's body against her side, his arm around her waist, was a welcome warmth after having been brought so suddenly into wakefulness earlier that night.
Kenshin murmured unintelligibly in his sleep, and Kaoru gently stroked his sweat-dampened hair to calm him.
"Shh," she whispered quietly.
He relaxed again, and Kaoru sighed, recalling why she was sleeping in such a compromising position with the boy.
Kenshin's screams had brought everyone into immediate alertness. At first, Kaoru had thought that something was terribly wrong--the house was on fire, they were being robbed, or the likes. But it was only the boy, reacting to a nightmare. Kaoru and Aoshi's parents had come stumbling down to the living room, wanting to know who was dying. By that point, Kaoru and Sano both had their arms around the terrified boy and were working on reassuring him. Shaking and whimpering, Kenshin had resisted at first, then relented when he realized who was talking to him.
Between Okita, Aoshi, Misao, and Mr. Kamiya, they had located Kenshin's overnight bag, the boy's medicine, and Hiko's phone number. Despite the late hour, they had called Hiko, who had been crabby about the whole ordeal. By the time they had finished with him, Kaoru, Sano, and Mrs. Kamiya had managed to bring Kenshin's hysteria down to a more tolerable level. It was just as well because Hiko had told them that, unless the boy grew violent, it would be better not to try to treat him through chemicals. After that, he had grumpily suggested that they just keep the kid there for the night rather than dragging him out of the house and back home.
Soon enough, Kenshin calmed enough to accept some water, and he let Kaoru coax him into laying down. Sano had settled down on the sofa by their feet while Kaoru had cradled their friend against her, holding him while he fell back to sleep.
Now, Sano was snoring softly, sleeping sitting up with Kaoru's feet in his lap. He would have a sore neck and back in the morning. Okita, Aoshi and Misao were huddled protectively around the couch, Misao being the only one of the three who was asleep. She was curled up against Okita's chest comfortably, the short boy leaning in turn against Aoshi, who just leaned against the sofa.
"Do you suppose he goes through that a lot?" Okita asked, his voice barely carrying to Kaoru's ears. Kaoru did not respond for risk of her voice waking the boy beside her.
"He's usually so calm," Okita insisted.
"It could have been a nightmare about you trying to kiss him again," Aoshi muttered.
"I think I like you better when you're silent," Okita sighed.
Unable to help herself, Kaoru giggled softly. She immediately regretted it when Kenshin shifted and opened hazy eyes.
"Kaoru?" his voice came out hoarse and sleepy.
"Go back to sleep, Kenshin," Kaoru smiled at him. "We're just making fun of Okita."
He smiled faintly, his hand--the one draped over Kaoru's stomach--reaching out to shove lightly at the back of Okita's head.
"Hey!" Okita craned his neck in attempt to look back at the two without disturbing Misao. "Not you too, Himura?!"
Kenshin just smiled again and closed his eyes. He relaxed and fell back to sleep. Confident that he would sleep peacefully through the rest of the night, Kaoru followed his example. Grumbling under his breath, Okita settled back against Aoshi's shoulder.
"If you move, you'll be bugging Misao, too," he said mockingly.
"I gave no implication that I would move," Aoshi replied. "Now shut up. I'm trying to sleep."
^_^
Notes: The track thing is extraordinarily vague, simply because I have little interest in the sport myself. I play tennis--and not very well at that. I won't be going out of my way to describe track meets or anything. It is simply a concept that will reappear throughout the story. And as far as Kenshin not being a virgin… um, yes. He's seventeen. Personally, I don't approve of sexual activities at such a young age, but I'm rather old-fashioned that way. I am not trying to promote anything illegal here. In the US, at least, it is considered to be statutory rape if a minor engages in sexual intercourse with an adult. That's all I have to say on the subject for now.
Oh… and that 'minus Aoshi' thing seems to be somewhat of a common occurrence in this story. It's been bugging me. But I don't want to change it either. GAH! I don't know what to do!!