Disclaimer: *runs around in ballet slippers* I own nothing! *Starts singing, "You know that spooky is for real!"*
Notes: I saw this cool bumper sticker on my way home from school, and now I want one. It read: Save the Trees. Eat a Beaver. *snicker* I just blinked at it, then laughed half the way home.
Warnings: Angst. Lots of it. Sap. Shonen ai. An irate Kenshin.
Kenshin: I hate you all.
Fitz: No, you don't.
Kenshin: I hate you more.
Fitz: *blink*
Kenshin: I am not that screwed up!
Fitz: *smirk*
Kenshin: Jerk.
Okita: Does widdle Kenshin need a hug?
Kenshin: YES, DAMMIT! I DO!
Okita: *blink*
LAST WARNING: This would be one of those chapters that helped to bring the rating of this story to 'R'. While it has the usual light elements to it, it will be very dark in parts. Please don't hate me for what I'm about to do.
Life's a Dance
The last Friday before school ended for the year was one most seniors looked forward to. It was the day when they were told to show up by administration, even while the teachers threatened to give out detentions to the students who came. It was Senior Skip Day.
Aoshi was driving. Kenshin got shotgun while Sano and Okita had to cram themselves into the back seat. Okita had an easier time of it, his shorter legs folding easily behind the driver's seat. To Aoshi's annoyance, Sano finally settled down with one foot resting just behind the stick-shift. Kenshin was amused by the leg that made its way between himself and the door.
"Gee, Sano," he drawled, glancing over his shoulder to the back seat. "You've such a charming presence."
"You want to switch places?" Sano challenged.
"Move your foot, Sanosuke," Aoshi broke in before the two could jump into one of their famous word wars. "I need room to shift."
"Fault a guy for trying to get comfortable, why don't you?" Despite his words, Sano complied with the request. He grinned at the boy beside him. "Hey, Okita. I'm hungry. Got anything good in there?"
Okita hugged the backpack to his chest possessively, shaking his head.
"The food's for Kenshin," he retorted. "If you wanted your own, you should have packed some."
Unable to protest the boy's reasoning, Sano slouched back into his seat with an easy smile and spread his arms out to rest along the back of the bench.
"Let's get a move on, Aoshi!" he ordered jokingly. "I'm looking forward to a day of fun and ridiculously expensive and salty food."
"Don't forget the rides," Okita offered.
"How many of those do you suppose they'll let me on?" Kenshin wondered.
"Uh... the swings?" Sano contemplated the question. "The kiddy roller coaster."
"I'm short enough for most of those rides," Kenshin grinned back good-naturedly, hand bracing on the dashboard as Aoshi threw the car into reverse. "I don't mind sitting out on the rides. Someone has to go on the carousel with me."
Okita and Sano laughed at Kenshin's comment. Aoshi smirked and turned the car onto the freeway entrance ramp.
"I'm used to riding that with Kaoru," Aoshi said unexpectedly. "I'll go on it with you."
Kenshin laughed, face lighting up with utter pleasure. He reached up and clapped his hand against Aoshi's shoulder in a friendly gesture. Then, he turned his attention to the radio controls. A few minutes later, he located a station he liked and turned it up.
^_^
Actually, they discovered that Kenshin could go on quite a few rides. Granted, he was not allowed on many of the less tame rides--roller coasters were off-limits, as well as most of the water rides. But the four took advantage of the day and went on every ride they could. Even Aoshi seemed to get into the swing of things, although he sat out with Kenshin when the boy had to remain grounded.
"Should you be walking around on that leg of yours?" Okita asked uneasily as Kenshin stood beside him in the line to the mini-donuts stand.
"It's not so bad," Kenshin smiled reassuringly. "The doctors told me to try walking a little bit each day so the muscles don't atrophy."
"Does it hurt?"
"Like you wouldn't believe."
Okita laughed incredulously, automatically reaching to help his friend as Kenshin limped toward the counter. Kenshin just shrugged off his helping hands and leaned forward on the counter to watch the machine pop out the dough.
"Three large bags," Okita ordered, watching Kenshin in wonder. "Two small Cokes, and a Sprite. You're not getting anything, right, Himura?"
"Can't," Kenshin replied easily, still watching the dough sizzle in the grease. He absently picked up the bag of donuts the tired-looking worker put on the counter next to him while Okita counted out his change. "Look at all that junk you're putting into your system. I'm taking one of your donuts, Okita."
"I thought you couldn't," Okita muttered, fumbling with the three soft drinks.
"One won't hurt me," Kenshin hesitated at the crowd, then bravely pushed into the throngs of people, making a path for Okita to follow. A few minutes later, he dropped onto the bench by the picnic table gratefully. Sano's mind was on the soda and sweets as he helped Okita. Aoshi barely reacted when Kenshin shoved the bag of donuts in front of him before leaning against the much taller boy's shoulder wearily.
"You shouldn't be doing that, Kenshin," Sano scolded between donuts that made their way into his mouth. "You're going to hurt yourself."
"It's all right," Kenshin smiled broadly. Movements hesitant--almost dainty--he plucked a mini-donut out of Okita's pouch and nibbled at it. "Huh. I don't remember the last time I had one of these."
"Is that healthy?" Aoshi questioned.
"What are you guys? My own personal health police?" Kenshin complained. "It's just one mini-donut! I'll be fine. I'm not made of glass."
The other three managed to look sheepish. Kenshin sulked, glancing off into the distance to watch some children play on a little playground. Okita dismissed his mood gracefully.
"So, Aoshi," he leaned forward with a sly grin. "I hear you've been knocked out of the number one standing."
"Salutatorian," Aoshi shrugged. "I can live with that."
"Who's the valedictorian?" Sano wondered.
"It sure as heck ain't you or me," Okita rolled his eyes. "I'll give you three guesses. The first two don't count."
"Our little redhead across the way?" Sano asked, actually sounding surprised. "I didn't think they'd do that."
Kenshin glanced up curiously, momentarily forgetting his grudge to listen in on this conversation. Okita smirked.
"You doubt Himura's intelligence?" he teased.
"I didn't say that!" Sano protested. "I just meant--"
"That he's gone in and altered the records?" Okita continued relentlessly.
"I didn't say that!!" Sano shouted in frustration. He smacked the back of Okita's head.
"Ow!"
"Serves you right, asshole," Sano snorted. "As I was trying to say, I think it's weird that they make the kid who's been here less than a year the valedictorian."
"It is a bit odd," Aoshi agreed. "But it's not like his records were not transferred and converted to match ours."
"Does that mean Kenshin has to give a speech?" Sano grinned knowingly at said valedictorian. Kenshin was a little pale at the suggestion.
"Well, I have been working on it," Kenshin muttered, focusing on his hands. He took a napkin and studiously wiped the sugar from his fingers. "I'm not much for speeches."
"What are you talking about?" Okita popped the last of his donuts into his mouth. "Everyone loved you in speech class."
"That was speech class," Kenshin retorted. "Not the entire senior class."
"You'll be fine," Aoshi said with quiet confidence.
"I'm sure anything you say will be better than his speech," Sano stood and stretched. Aoshi grimaced. It was true. He was a notoriously bad public speaker. Not only did he have a difficult time being enthusiastic, but any humor inserted into his words was usually so dry that no one caught the joke. "Well! I'm ready to face the afternoon."
"I still want to go on the Flume," Okita glanced at Sano. "You up for it?"
"Always," Sano laughed. "Kenshin?"
"Not a chance," Kenshin shivered at the mere mention of the water ride. Sano brought the wheelchair around the table, and he sighed in resignation. Hopping lightly on his right foot, he moved to sit in the wheelchair, then laughingly accepted all the drinks, holding them on his lap so the other boys would not have to carry them. "I'd like to see if they'll let me on the Tilt-o-Whirl."
"I can see myself getting sick on that," Okita groaned.
"You go out in one of those little boats, and I'll check out the spinning rides," Kenshin retorted. "And Aoshi promised to go on the carousel with me."
"Hey!" Sano broke in. "You can't go on that without me and Okita!"
"This coming from the one who laughed at me when I suggested it!" Kenshin smiled.
"I want one of the bigger horses!" Okita claimed brightly. Everyone laughed, and they continued onto the next ride.
^_^
The end of the day found four exhausted young men sitting on the Ferris Wheel, grateful just to be sitting quietly for the next ten minutes. Okita sat across from Sano and next to Aoshi. By far the most energetic of the group, Kenshin peered over the side, searching the ground, even claiming he could see Aoshi's car. He was on his knee, his bad leg dangling off the bench toward the floor, clutching the side for dear life as he looked about.
"How does he do it?" Okita slumped against Aoshi's side, content to doze against the tall boy's shoulder. Aoshi was not inclined to push him away, close to sleeping himself.
"I've just been sitting around while all of you ran us all over the place," Kenshin glanced over his shoulder and smiled. "Of course I'm not as tired."
"You're making me tired just looking at you," Sano claimed, hooking an arm around Kenshin's waist and pulling the boy back, toppling the redhead into his lap. Kenshin yelped and automatically clung to his friend's shirt as the hanging kiosk rocked from the movement. Aoshi and Okita tensed, gripping the sides as well, until the rocking subsided. Kenshin sighed and released Sano's shirt--now stretched and dimpled from his grip.
"That was not necessary," he grumbled, shifting so that his left leg was stretched out on the bench rather than tucked awkwardly beneath him. He managed a strained smile. "Now you have to tolerate having me on your lap for the rest of the ride."
"You're light enough anyway," Sano leaned back, draping his arms over the back of the bench. "What do you weigh? Ninety-something?"
"One-oh-one!" Kenshin said indignantly. He flushed and scowled. "It's usually more, but I've been really inactive--hey! Stop laughing!"
The ride stopped abruptly, and the boys tensed as they rocked, so many feet above the ground.
"They're letting people off," Aoshi predicted.
"Or on," Okita added, still snickering a bit at Kenshin's earlier exasperation. "You know, we're going to fall asleep long before we do much for our Friday night."
"For once, Misao won't be the first to drop off," Sano laughed.
"We'll miss the games," Okita seemed a bit sorrowful at this.
"I intend to sleep through the movie," Aoshi added his two cent's worth to the conversation.
"Nothing good tonight?" Sano sighed.
"All chick flicks."
"Goody."
"Sano!" Okita leaned forward with a wicked gleam to his eyes. "Truth or dare?"
"What?!"
"Humor me," Okita glanced over the side. "We're not moving anytime soon. And you know we'll miss this game tonight."
"For god's sake--" Sano cut off when Okita gave him a knowing smirk. "Oh hell. Dare. I'd like you try to find a decent thing I can accomplish while in this box a thousand feet up."
"Nonsense," Okita waved his words off carelessly. "Let's see..." he tapped his chin thoughtfully. He grinned, and it was a scary thing. "You know, I still haven't repaid you for that dare you gave me last winter, Aoshi."
"Okita," Aoshi warned.
"Sano, I dare you to..." Okita let the sentence trail off teasingly. Sano had a very bad feeling, and Kenshin was easing himself off the boy's lap cautiously. The redhead was grinning, but there was a wary cast to it. He knew Okita could be very bold when it came to these things.
"Just spit it out, Okita," Aoshi growled.
"--To kiss Aoshi."
"That is about as immature and pointless and--Okita, I'm not going to kiss Aoshi," Sano complained. "He'll throw me over the side."
"He wouldn't do that," Okita smirked.
"Okita is right," Aoshi nodded, even as he was scowling. "I might, however, throw Okita over."
"You accepted the dare, Sano," Okita reminded the taller boy.
"Go to hell," Sano reached across the little kiosk abruptly, his long arm easily reaching Aoshi. He caught the other boy's shirt, dragging a startled Aoshi forward until he could dart forward and press a brief, chaste kiss to Aoshi's cheek. He sat back, as did Aoshi, both of them smirking triumphantly.
"That was weak," Okita groaned. Kenshin snickered.
"You never
said on the mouth," Sano pointed out. "But it's my turn now. Kenshin!"
Kenshin's soft giggling died
in his throat.
"Dang it," Kenshin griped. "Truth."
Okita made soft chicken clucking sounds, and Kenshin glared at him halfheartedly. Aoshi calmly shoved his elbow into Okita's side, making the dark-eyed boy yelp and scoot away.
"Truth, hmm?" Sano grinned. "Well, then let's see. Now Okita's got my mind on a track with all this kissing..."
"Oh god," Kenshin murmured, gently shifting to lean back against the side of the bench, drawing his aching leg up to his chest. "Get on with it."
"Don't rush me," Sano said, feigning the mood of a persnickety artist. "Now that we all know you're bi... Nothing to be ashamed of," he amended quickly when Kenshin's face tinged a bold red. "But you've mentioned before that you're not a virgin..."
"Whoa!" Kenshin crunched back into his corner, eyes suddenly wide with apprehension. "Don't ask me about that, Sano."
"Embarrassed?" Sano smirked.
"No!" Kenshin shook his head fiercely, looking a bit panicked. "I mean yes! I mean... Embarrassment is not what I'd call it."
"Spill it, Kenshin," Sano prodded. "I'll describe my first time--"
"Probably your only time," Okita inserted, looking off to the side innocently.
"Hey!"
Kenshin sighed in relief, thinking Sano would forget about him in his irritation.
"Don't think you're off the hook yet, Kenshin."
So much for that. Kenshin sighed again, this time being one of weariness. He shook his head and stared at his raised knees as if they were suddenly the most interesting things.
"If you want to know more than the fact that it happened, you'll have to go see my therapist," he said finally. "Honestly, I blocked out most of the experience."
"One of your other personalities jumped in just as it was getting good?" Sano seemed sympathetic.
"Just as it started getting bad," Kenshin corrected. His cheeks warmed as he felt the weight of the much sobered gazes of his friends on him. "It was, um... I really don't want to talk about it, okay? Look. We're moving again. We'll be let off soon. The carousel is just across the way--"
"Getting bad?" Sano frowned, tossing a brief glance toward the other two boys nearby. Aoshi's face as impassive as ever, his gaze perhaps a bit dark. Okita had an odd look on his face, sympathetic and uneasy at once. Sano looked back to Kenshin, but the boy had his legs drawn to his chest in a slightly fetal position and had his face hidden behind his long, ragged bangs. "What does that mean? Kenshin? What does that mean?!"
"Don't yell, Sano," Kenshin requested quietly.
"I'll yell if I goddamned feel like yelling!" Sano shouted. "What did you mean?!"
"Stop it!" Kenshin's own voice rose into a defensive holler. He met Sano's angry gaze, his own face appearing more wounded than mad. When next he spoke, it was much quieter. "It's not what you're thinking."
"And just how the hell would you know what I'm thinking?!"
"I wish you would stop shouting."
"Sano..." Okita added his soft warning.
"Excuse me for being upset!" Sano did not lower his voice. If anything, his shouting grew louder. "We're out here having fun, and he says that, so it's only natural that I start thinking one of my best friends was r--mmmph!!!"
Sano's shouting was cut off abruptly by the short, red-haired boy who lunged across the bench and clamped a hand over his mouth. Leaning against the young man who he had just silenced, Kenshin glared into startled brown eyes.
"I'd rather you not broadcast that to the world!" he hissed. "That's not what happened, okay? So don't jump to conclusions!"
As Kenshin only had full use of one arm and one leg, Sano had no difficulty easing the boy away from him. Kenshin did not bother trying to resist it. He continued to glare at his friend, the slight tinge of pink in his cheeks proving he was more embarrassed than he would like to let on. As soon as Sano released him, he scooted away again, turning his head to stare out at the countryside.
"Kenshin," Sano tried to get the boy to look at him. "Come on, Kenshin. Don't be like that."
"Leave him alone, Sanosuke," Aoshi suggested. "We'll finish this later."
It was just as well. The ride came to a stop, and a fair employee held the door open for them to get out. Kenshin jumped off first, Aoshi just behind him. The door shut on Aoshi before he could get out when the fair worker released it to grab Kenshin before the boy could fall.
"You okay?" the young fair employee asked worriedly.
Kenshin scowled and nodded, putting his weight on his good leg and looking up as Aoshi appeared by his side, the tall boy having unlatched the little door himself. Okita followed with Sano, the latter unusually subdued and moody. Okita chuckled nervously when Aoshi bent down and scooped Kenshin off his feet entirely.
"Hey!" It was more of an angry cry than an indignant protest, but Aoshi ignored it. "Put me down!"
"In a minute."
"I can walk!"
"No, you can't."
"I can limp!"
Aoshi shook his head and dropped Kenshin into the wheelchair. Muttering curses, Kenshin sat back, ignoring the amused stares he was getting from the strangers in line.
"Is it time for little Kenshin to take a nap?" Okita asked mildly, trying to lighten up the situation.
"Go stuff yourself."
"You think I would make a cute stuffed child's toy?" Okita wondered. He looked down, as if contemplating this. "Granted, my charming, smiling face might just scare the hell out of a little kid."
Kenshin snorted, bringing a hand to his face as he tried not to laugh.
"Stop it," he protested.
"If we made a bunch of stuffed Kenshin's, little boys and girls all over would fall in love with their handsome toys," Okita said thoughtfully.
"Ugh! Not funny!" Kenshin groaned.
"We'll make little stuffed Principal Saitou's, complete with little cigarettes, and put them out in the yard to scare away door-to-door salesmen."
By that point, even Aoshi was cracking up. Sano was trying to hide it, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking away from the rest of them. But his shoulders were shaking, and they could hear his soft snickering. Okita shrugged and smiled blandly when Kenshin looked at him with half-hearted irritation.
"Looks like we're next," Okita murmured.
Blinking in confusion at the sudden topic leap, Kenshin looked up to see that they were letting people on the next round. The fair employees looked at Kenshin uneasily as they pushed his wheelchair to the side and watched Okita help the boy to the carousel, no doubt imagining the impending lawsuit. They did not protest, though, when he ignored the benches and went straight for the horses.
Kenshin caught Sano's arm as the boy brushed past him, smiling briefly at Okita's questioning glance. Sano was avoiding his gaze, but Kenshin expected that. He kept his grip on Sano's arm, his stumbling finally convincing the tall boy to assist him.
"Help me onto one of the horses?" Kenshin asked, pausing by one and reaching up with his good arm to grab for the pole jutting out of the plastic horse's back.
Reluctant though Sano was, he steadied Kenshin while the boy got a foot into the stirrup, then easily lifted Kenshin's weight into the air and helped him get settled on the horse. Kenshin blinked, that having been the first time he had actually experienced the true extent of his friend's strength.
"Wow," he muttered. "Remind me not to get into a fist fight with you."
"You and I both know you'd lay me flat in ten seconds," Sano replied sullenly, still hovering nearby, unconsciously steadying Kenshin with a hand at the short boy's back. He noticed what he was doing and pulled away.
"Stay?" Kenshin twisted, reaching his left arm across his body to catch anything that would keep Sano from walking away. He ended up with one of the tails of the boy's bandanna, and he smiled when Sano made a soft sound of annoyance. "We can ride again if you want to ride one of the horses."
"You sure?" Sano returned with a guarded glare. "You didn't seem to want me around before."
Kenshin flinched at the cold comment and forced a weak smile.
"Sure, I'm sure," Kenshin released Sano's bandanna and grabbed the pole in front of him before he lost his balance. "Besides. I might fall, and you're the only one strong enough to catch me without breaking your back."
"So I'm convenient?" Sano asked with a hint of his confident smile. He walked around the back of the horse to stand to Kenshin's left.
"No, I just needed an excuse to get you to stand next to me," Kenshin smiled boldly. It faded, and he set his hand on Sano's shoulder. "I'm sorry I got mad at you."
Shrugging carelessly, Sano tried to wave off the apology.
"I shouldn't have pushed you," he replied. "I was asking for it."
"No, you were upset," Kenshin glanced around as children scampered about, finding the places they wanted sit. "I was not overly clear, and you jumped to the logical conclusion."
"So, you gonna tell me what happened?" Sano asked quietly.
"Not yet," Kenshin flushed and looked down at his hand, resting lightly on the saddle that was part of the carousel horse. "Certainly not here."
Sano glanced around. A girl of no more than seven on the pony behind him stuck out her tongue at him. He responded in kind and looked back up at Kenshin with a wry grin.
"Right," he muttered. "No sex talk when there's little kids around."
"That, and it's hard to hold a serious conversation when you're bobbing up and down on a merry-go-round," Kenshin grinned.
As if on cue, bold, tinny music blared around them. Sano jumped, and Kenshin laughed at his expense. On impulse, while the ride was still at a stop and he was low enough to accomplish it, Kenshin wrapped his arm around Sano's neck and hugged him. Startled at the move, Sano hesitated only a moment before winding his own arms around Kenshin's waist and burying his face in the smaller boy's shoulder.
The ride started to move, and Kenshin dropped an inch before rising, dragging him away from the embrace. He laughed again at the disgruntled expression on Sano's face, and Sano eventually joined him in his fun. Kenshin's hand moved back to the pole in front of him, lest he lose his balance. He smiled thankfully down at his friend when Sano moved one steadying hand to rest at the small of his back, the other hand resting innocently on the back of the pony, just in front of Kenshin's legs.
"So you're not mad anymore?" Sano asked abruptly, his deep voice carrying easily through the music.
Kenshin startled and looked down at him. When he saw that his friend was serious, he smiled.
"No, Sano," he had to lift his voice to be heard over the cheesy music pumping through the ride. "I'm not mad."
Sano grinned again.
"Good."
^_^
The ride home from the fair was uneventful. Aoshi turned the radio to an alternative station and hummed tonelessly along with the music to keep himself awake. In the back seat, Okita and Sano leaned against each other, out for the count. Beside him, Kenshin sat, quietly staring out the window at the rapidly passing scenery. Glancing at the boy's pensive face, Aoshi wondered what he was thinking. He said as much, earning a startled glance from the redhead.
"What are you doing after graduation?" Kenshin asked abruptly, not answering Aoshi's question. It was Aoshi's turn to blink in surprise.
"I'm going to Stanford University," he said reluctantly. "Pre-law and law enforcement."
"You want to join the police force?" Kenshin wondered, smiling a bit as he imagined Aoshi chasing down the 'bad guys.'
"I was thinking more along the lines of FBI or CIA, but one never knows," Aoshi shrugged. "And you? What is your plan?"
"I haven't decided yet," Kenshin glanced back out the window. "Maybe Brown. I don't really know if the college track is for me, though."
"Mr. Valedictorian?" Aoshi asked dryly.
"You guys said it yourself," Kenshin sighed. "I just studied for a year and a half, took a bunch of tests, and here I am."
"So Sanosuke is going into the military, I'm going to Stanford, Okita's..." Aoshi hesitated. "Actually, I don't know what he's doing."
"He got himself into a work-study program at the State University," Kenshin smiled. "That and almost enough money through FAFSA and... other sources to pay for almost all of his education."
"Ah," Aoshi nodded. "And you're yet undecided."
Kenshin nodded, murmuring a quiet affirmative before falling silent again. Aoshi concentrated on driving. Another forty minutes, and they would be home. It was a bit of a jaunt to the fair.
"Aoshi?" Kenshin spoke up after ten minutes of comfortable quiet.
"Hmm?"
Chewing on his lip, Kenshin looked like he had something of great importance on his mind. Aoshi waited patiently for words that never came.
"Never mind," Kenshin slouched down in his seat, curling up on the chair and closing his eyes. "It's nothing."
Glancing at the boy again, Aoshi decided not to press it. He looked back to the road, grateful he had done so in time to see the exit he was supposed to take. In the back seat, Sano and Okita snored away. In the front, Kenshin had his eyes closed. Aoshi was certain the boy never slept.
^_^
The movie was Center Stage. If there ever was a chick flick, that was it. Aoshi promptly dropped off into slumber on the large armchair in the living room, even though Misao was curled up beside him, completely rapt. Kaoru sat on the couch, Kenshin on the floor in front of her. He was content, almost purring with pleasure as she played with his hair and massaged his scalp. Okita was sprawled out on the floor next to Kenshin, sleeping through the film. Sano, only half asleep, declared his jealousy over Kaoru's treatment of Kenshin.
"And here I am, forced to lay on the floor with the rest of the peasants!" he whined. "I could go for a good back rub."
"There's a phone book in the next room," Kaoru told him, then poked her tongue out the side of her mouth thoughtfully as she carefully parted Kenshin's hair. "Look under masseuse."
"Heartless bitch."
"Lazy bastard."
"I'll give you a back rub, Sano," Kenshin offered before it could grow into an all out war. The playful banter had this nasty tendency to develop into something greater, until someone said something truly hurtful. He shivered as Kaoru tickled his neck, making a soft sound of objection.
"With just one hand?" Kaoru teased.
"I can use both hands," Kenshin retorted. "As long as I'm not roughhousing and straining my shoulder."
So that was how Sano ended up stretched out on his stomach, Kenshin sitting on his back. Absorbed in her movie, Kaoru stopped giggling at the sight a few minutes later. Kenshin's fingers dug into Sano's shoulders, much to the taller boy's enjoyment, and Kenshin smirked in mild amusement.
"You're an overgrown dog," he observed. "Begging to be scratched."
To add to his words, he reached forward and scritched along Sano's neck. Sano's back rumbled with his happy groan, and Kenshin chuckled.
"And you, little cat," Sano retorted, words a bit slurred with his relaxed state. "All you have to do is present yourself before people, and they dote on you."
"I know for a fact that isn't true," Kenshin concentrated on the muscles of Sano's back, hands sliding up, out, and down before starting again. His lips jumped into a distracted smile when he noted the way Sano jumped and twitched with the lighter movements. "I never knew you were ticklish."
"It's a well-kept secret," Sano tensed.
"Mm," Kenshin protested. "I just worked to get you to loosen up, and you're getting all tense again!"
"No tickling," Sano warned.
"No tickling," Kenshin agreed, still rubbing Sano's shoulders as they relaxed again. "That's better."
"Demanding, aren't you?" Sano snickered.
"Watch it."
"You still haven't explained things to me yet," Sano said, the switch from light to dark so sudden that it was jarring. Kenshin's hands stilled on Sano's back, and the boy regretted asking. "Hey, Kenshin. It's okay. You don't have to."
The actors and actresses danced across the television screen, Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" played in the background. Kaoru was snoring softly where she was crunched up on the couch. Misao was drooling on Aoshi's shirt, the dark boy also sleeping soundly. A slight shift a few feet in front of Sano brought Kenshin's gaze forward. His eyes locked with Okita's briefly before he looked down at Sano's back again. The boy had on a strange tee shirt. It was white with a symbol on it. It was some sort of kanji, though if it was Chinese, Japanese, or something else entirely, he did not know. Under the symbol was the romanji equivalent as well as the English translation.
Aku. Evil. How odd. Kenshin stared at the symbol again, wondering if it held any significance or if Sano just thought the shirt was cool. He guessed the latter.
"I don't remember much," he said, his voice soft, just as Sano was prepared to talk again. Sano settled back down, resting his forehead against his arms and listening to Kenshin speak. "They were strange people... I couldn't point them out in a lineup if I tried. I might have been better off if I had just walked away when I heard what they wanted. They wouldn't have forced me. But..." he looked up and met Okita's gaze again. Sighing softly, he bowed his head, staring unseeing at the symbol on Sano's shirt. He closed his eyes. Gently lilting lyrics floated around them.
"And we're dancing. And it feels all right!"
"I wasn't ready," he murmured. "I followed them into that horrible little room, and I wasn't ready. I jumped away from it all, and at the time I had thought I passed out. It made me angry when I woke later, thinking they had taken advantage of me while I was unconscious..." he trailed off, sighing quietly when he felt a hand on his back, fingers combing lightly through the loose hair over his shoulders. "I wasn't sure what to make of their comments. I thought they were making fun of me when they told me I, um..." his cheeks warmed, and he closed his eyes tightly. "Well, when they told me about it later. It wasn't until much later that I realized they were telling the truth."
"How old were you?" Okita asked quietly. Kenshin shivered.
"Too young."
"You're too young now," Okita pointed out. "How old were you?"
"About fifteen," Kenshin whispered.
Sano rolled over, nearly dumping Kenshin onto the floor. His arms swept up, catching the short boy before he could become too disoriented. Kenshin shuddered and hid his face in Sano's shoulder.
"It's so humiliating," Kenshin's voice was hoarse with tears he refused to shed. "I never even told Hiko about that."
"Surely he knows..." Okita murmured, still rubbing Kenshin's back in small circles.
"He knows that at one point I had... had sex," Kenshin stumbled over the word, finally turning his head to rest his cheek against Sano's chest. His words became clearer. "But I never told him the situation. Or any of the details. It feels like I let him down... let my family down... and myself." Okita's hand disappeared, and Kenshin spared a moment to be disappointed.
"Don't say anymore," Sano's voice was shaking, and Kenshin stiffened in surprise. Lifting his head, he reached up and gently wiped at his friend's wet cheeks. Sano just stared at him, eyes still watering. "It's not your fault."
"It was my decision," Kenshin was amazed by those tears. He had never considered Sano to be the weeping type. The strong, tough-acting boy would never show weakness. "It was my choice. It was a poor one, but it is one I will live with."
"No one should ask that of a child," Sano insisted. "A child!"
Not having anything to say to that, Kenshin just nodded his agreement and once again rested his head on Sano's shoulder. He closed his eyes wearily.
"Let's just forget about that," he said, his voice soft but steady and strong. "Let's just go to sleep and pretend this conversation never happened."
"Kenshin..." a silent sob made Sano's chest heave.
"I have a better idea," Okita had returned during that brief time when Kenshin was trying to comfort Sano. He held several blankets and pillows. "Let's go to sleep knowing everything that was said. And when we get up, we'll continue on like we have. If anything has changed, then it's for the better."
Murmuring a grateful assent, Kenshin shifted to lay on the floor next to Sano, smiling a bit when the tall boy rolled to his side, striving to keep the closeness of before. Throwing the blankets over them, Okita produced the pillows and scooted in next to Kenshin, sandwiching the boy between himself and Sano. Sano adjusted his long arm to include Okita in the warm circle, and Okita squirmed into Kenshin's arms.
"Remember when we were in West Virginia?" Okita asked.
"Yes," Kenshin hugged his friend, right arm relaxing over Okita's side.
"I still owe you for that."
"You don't owe me anything."
"You'll see," Okita tilted his head, the slight shift bringing his lips to Kenshin's. It was a brief, modest kiss, but it left Kenshin frozen, not certain how to react. Okita just smiled and rested his head back on his pillow. Kenshin closed his eyes when Okita moved a hand to curl around the back of his neck. "I'll return the favor. I promise."
"I believe you," Kenshin whispered, wearied by the day. He smiled, a dazed little expression that made Okita giggle. "Good night, Okita."
"Go to sleep, Himura."
Echoing Okita's giggle, Kenshin nodded and did just that.
^_^
Notes: Whoooooaaaaaaaa. Fitz came up with a doozy there. As a matter of personal opinion (and probably the opinion of the majority), I would consider that rape (statutory rape, to be sure, but rape nonetheless). I racked my brain for something to insert there that was not so harsh, but I just could not come up with anything nicer. Admittedly, fifteen is very young. I was not happy putting that in there, but that was how it happened when I allowed for natural flow of time. My apologies. The next chapters will be a little lighter for a change.
Kaoru: Please look forward to it.
Fitz: …
Kaoru: What?
Omake (didn't think I could do it with this chapter, did you?)
Kenshin: *in Aoshi's arms* "Hey! Put me down!
Aoshi: Okay. *drops Kenshin*
Kenshin: GAAAAAAH! *hits a big mattress*
Aoshi: *snicker*
Kenshin: That wasn't funny.
Everyone but Kenshin: *snicker*
Another Omake
Okita: You'll see. *Butterfly kiss*
Kenshin: *grabs Okita, and they start to make out*
Sano: Oh, yuck! Get a room!
Kenshin and Okita: *snicker*
Reviewers: Hi there!
TigerBlak: *snicker* Sorry about the cliffhanger for that chapter. Actually… I don't think there are anymore. Granted, the story is winding down now. Hope you're still liking it, despite the drama (and trauma) occurring.
Yami no Tenshi: Kenshin's not 'going' with anyone just yet. I'm working on it. And I'm hiding my brain in my head. It's really not going that fast. The fic has been finished for quite some time. I'm just picking at it and posting it as I go. Usually every two or three days as I get the time. And as for the flattery… I would love it if you kept doing that. As they say: Flattery will get you everywhere. (What do you mean that's not what they say?)
Jason M. Lee: Beware the trashcan wielding women. They can be scary.
Crystal: Thanks.
Typedul: Again, you're welcome. (Yeah, feels weird putting that down.) And thank you. I am never against constructive criticism.
Li: As long as you started breathing again, everything is okay.mae: Glad you liked those chapters. I hope this one wasn't over the top.
Tariq: I agree with you on that reference. Unfortunately, I cannot comply on the k/k. Not that I do not like the pair, but as I have said, it does not appear in this fic. As for Saitou… he's kind of a minor character at the moment.
tenshineko: Ahhhhh, Kenshin's past is still a mystery. According to Enishi, he killed a lot of people. Take that as you will. *snicker* And which Shakespearean play was it that a man demanded his pound of flesh?
marstanuki: What is it that ChibiAssassin likes to say? Take a pulse. She may not be alive. We won't go into how cold that statement can be. Yay for indifferent humor!
nanashi barton: Thank you. Okay.
Vesca: If it makes you feel better, I'm attempting to write a sequel. I was hoping to give Aya a little more recognition, but I made her rather passive, therefore, easily pushed to the side and forgotten.
Black Soul: I'm pleased everyone felt that way. I was worried I had disposed of him too quickly… made him too cowardly. Apparently not. *shrug* A little more school next chapter.
Koneko-chan: I thought I kind of explained that. It is left hanging, and I think if I could go back and edit it, I would not have put that kiss in there. Consider it mostly Kenshin's unrequited feelings. I hope that answered your question.
Test: Thanks. I'll check that out when my computer's not acting up. *mutters about ff.net rejecting all attempts at logging in*