This is the revised version of Aoshi, Kaoru, Kenshin and Misao. This chapter changed significantly especially with the Aoshi-Kenshin talk (if you know what I'm talking about ^_^;;) So I advise that you read it again even if you've read the original. I'm planning to get rid of the "rushed feeling" the original version had to make the romance more plausible.


Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin nor Hanakimi.

Eternity in One Moment

Chapter 2 Feelings


 



"Oh, hi there! Kenshin, right?" greeted Kaoru.

"Right!" replied Kenshin.

"I didn't know you studied here. I've never seen you around --" Kaoru was interrupted when Misao motioned her to introduce Kenshin. "Oh by the way, Kenshin, this is my friend Misao. Misao this is Kenshin," Kaoru quickly introduced them.

"It's very nice to meet you Misao-dono," Kenshin gave her a kind smile then reached for a hand shake.

"It's very nice to meet you too. As Kaoru was saying, we've never seen you around. You're not new here are you?" assumed Misao after taking a good look around them. "Because it seems that you know a lot of people, and girls are starting to give us sharp glares while we are talking to you," Misao continued and gave equally sharp looks at the girls staring at them.

Kenshin scratched his head meekly and answered, "I'm a new student here. My father finally proceeded with his project with Kaoru-dono's company. So, he decided that it is best if we stayed here for a while." Kenshin continues this time facing Kaoru, "Your brother referred this school to my family, so I figured you'll be studying here also."

"So, you just started this week?" Kaoru asked.

"Yup, so I haven't really met a lot of people yet," Kenshin replied.

"Is that so?" Misao asked suspiciously. "Then what are all these people doing around you?" she asked curiously.

"My info somehow leaked, and they found out that my former school was the same school that Megumi Takani goes to. They are asking if I know her," he explained.

"Oooh... isn't she the teenage supermodel? She's been the cover of teen magazines for months," Misao remembered, amazed.

"That's right! I really like her too. Do you know her?" Kaoru began to ask.

"Well, let's just say she was my former classmate but we've lost communication ever since I moved here. Anyway, I have to go now. I'm so lucky I spotted the two of you here. If not, I wouldn't have come up with an excuse to escape the cloud of people asking about Takani-dono. Well, I'll seize this opportunity to run for it. See you around!" Kenshin waved goodbye and started to head towards the next floor before somebody notice that he's leaving.

"You didn't tell me you met someone at your party, ne Kaoru?" Misao asked slyly.

"Misao, we just talked for like five minutes and I didn't really expect to see him again, this soon," Kaoru answered defensively.

"Well, it looks like he's creating a rivalry with Aoshi on being the most sought after guy on campus," Misao commented while staring at the girls trying to figure out where Kenshin went. "Of course, no one can beat Aoshi-sama in my opinion," she quickly added.

"Since when did you call him with a –sama?" Kaoru teased lightly.

"I heard how Yamada-san said it at the party. I think it suits him perfectly," Misao explained then playfully stuck her tongue out. "Speaking of Aoshi, have you found anything about his interests in girls?" Misao remembered.

"Not yet, but I'm planning to, tonight." she told her.






"How was your day Kaoru?" Aoshi began their usual dinner talk.

"It was just a typical school day, nothing much, and yours?" Kaoru asked her usual question.

"It was just as normal as yours, except that I tried out for the soccer team today, and guess what? I made it." he announced proudly.

"Really?!" exclaimed Kaoru. "Wow! I'm so proud of you. I think being involved with the school spirit and such will lessen your stress. I mean, at least it will remove your mind off work somehow...

Hey----....wait a second! I've been talking you into joining the team for such a long time, and you've always told me that you'll only join if you'll be on it with a friend. And you have not have a single friend since elementary. Since we moved out and left Hannya and your other friends, you've been such an anti-social especially in school," Kaoru finished her little speech.

"That's right. I tried out with a friend," Aoshi answered briefly.

"And who's this person, w  o  r  t  h  y enough to be your friend?" Kaoru asked sarcastically.

"Himura. Kenshin Himura. Yutaka Himura's son," he told her.

"Him?! As in the guy with the red hair?" Kaoru asked, shocked.

"Yes, do you know him?" Aoshi answered, eyeing her suspiciously.

"I met him at the party and saw him today at school. I didn't know he hangs out with you. He must be pretty anti-social," Kaoru said innocently, the last part of her answer barely audible. 'He looked like a people person to me. Guess you can't judge a book by its cover.'

"And what do you mean by that??" Aoshi asked while raising his eyebrows.

"Oh come on, we both know that the only people you really talk to at school is me and sometimes Misao. Teachers and classmates only exist when it involves academic work," Kaoru answered casually, waving her right hand in the air. "Anyway, what made you like Kenshin?" Kaoru said trying to change the subject.

"He's not like other people. He's quite modest and quiet. He uses his mind too, even though he looks goofy at times because of that smile he usually has on his face," Aoshi answered her question. "Now enough with the questions, you must be happy cause your brother's now a school athlete," he said.

"Of course," she confirmed. "But I want to ask you a question. Do you have interest in someone right now? You know… any special girl or crushes?" she asked with a huge, innocent smile.

"What kind of question is that?" Aoshi answered, his calm surface almost breaking. "You know I'm busy, and now a lot more busy thanks to the soccer practice," he continued.

"Oh come on, what do you like in a girl? Please a hint?" she pleaded; hands clasped tightly, her eyes begging for an answer, any kind of hint.

Aoshi gave out a sigh. "Just to make you shut up, I'm looking for someone who you will like. She's someone who would be just like a sister to you. You know that I'll only love a person who is capable of loving you too. I would never love someone who I know will be the cause of your pain," Aoshi ended his revelation.

"You are such a sweet brother. That's why I love you even more," Kaoru replied and started to stand up.

"Wait, are you finished with your meal?" Aoshi asked with concern.

"Yep, good night Ao-nii-san and thanks for the hint," she flashed him one of her biggest smiles then headed towards her room.






A couple of months passed. Both Aoshi and Kenshin became the star players of the school's soccer team. They began to be even more popular and have more admirers, if that's even possible. Kenshin and Kaoru began to be good friends. They spent a lot of time together. Of course, that can't be avoided either since Misao and Kenshin are the only people allowed by Aoshi to spend time with her after school. Of course, onii-san was always around whenever Kaoru's with Kenshin.

"Kaoru-dono, quit pulling at my hair," Kenshin insisted while softly pulling back his hair.

"Only if you promise to make me a cow plush!" she demanded.

"Don't say it out loud Kaoru-dono," he answered a pink hue coloring his cheeks. 'It's not exactly a skill a soccer player usually has or is proud to have.' "How did you find out about my sewing skills anyway?" he inquired.

"Misao told me. You know, she's one of the best informants around," she replied merrily.

"Come on Kenshin. I've been looking for the perfect cow plush but I haven't found anything that I really, really liked. So, can you make me one?" she requested again.

Kenshin released a resigned sigh and replied, "Alright, Kaoru-dono, but just this once! No more future custom made stuffed toys."

"Yey! Thank you very much Kenshin!" she exclaimed, then happily ran towards Misao eager to tell the good news.

In the meantime, Aoshi was watching the whole interaction with serious eyes. He definitely needed to talk to Kenshin, privately.





About half an hour ago, the locker rooms were filled with tired players, straight out from their practices. Kenshin and Aoshi decided to wait for a while before going inside to avoid the crowd. By the time they got out of the showers, only the two of them were left inside.

"Do you like my sister?" Aoshi asked Kenshin casually while reaching for his sneakers.

"Me?" he replied off guard. 'That was kind of out of the blue.' "What makes you say that?" Kenshin asked as innocently as he can.

"It's just that you look happy whenever you're together. And don't deny that you always steal glances from her whenever she's not looking," Aoshi said as a matter-of-fact. 'Believe me, I know these things. I wasn't joking when I said I watch over my sister.'

Kenshin did not realize how serious Aoshi looks after his sister. He quickly decided the smartest reply to give Aoshi. "Well yes, I do like her, a lot actually," he admitted, and paused to see Aoshi's reaction. Seeing that it is impossible to read, or even guess what the other man is thinking while bearing such a poker face, he continued, "Are you mad at me?"

"No. I wouldn't say mad or angry. A bit alarmed. I can't blame you. She's such a wonderful girl. Besides, it's not a new thing; almost every guy at school has an interest on her at the very least. The difference would be whether I would tell you to back off or not," Aoshi answered seriously, leaving Kenshin unsure what Aoshi meant by that.

Kenshin gulped. 'Will he tell me to back off? What do I do if he does? Argh, so complicated.'

"Are you planning to ask her out?" Aoshi questioned.

"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it till you mentioned it. She's so full of energy and innocence. She hasn't been in any relationship yet, hasn't she?" Kenshin guessed.

"You're right. She hasn't even dated once. I would like to say that whoever wants to go out with her has to have my approval, to pass my standards first," Aoshi announced, his eyes throwing daggers at Kenshin.

"Of course Kaoru would strangle me if she hears that," Aoshi continued while he sat down on the bench and stretched his arms behind him, causing his weight to rest on his arms. "So, she probably has not dated yet 'coz she herself hasn't found anyone she really wanted to go out with. She not exactly the type of person you can dictate rules at. She'll get out of the cage when she feels its suffocating her. I'm just there to make sure the bars somehow exist."

"Ah," Kenshin said, unsure of what to say.

"You're probably racking your mind to figure out what I'm exactly trying to say," Aoshi inferred a smirk crawling upon his lips.

"Oro? Actually, you guessed that right," Kenshin answered honestly.

"Go ahead and try your luck Himura, but if Kaoru tells you to back off, then back off," Aoshi said, the last phrase being more like a threat.

"Thanks Aoshi. I guess that's the closest blessing I could receive from you," Kenshin replied with a light laugh.

"I know you're a good man. Just don't hurt my sister in any way. Cause if you ever do that, forget that we were once best friends," Aoshi threatened him once more.

"There's no need to threaten me. I'll never hurt her, thanks for trusting me," thanked Kenshin gratefully.


Just then, their coach walked inside the locker room and said, "Someone's looking for you Himura. You better go there right now before the school goes ballistic."

"Hai, hai," he replied and immediately followed the older man.

Kenshin remembered something before completely leaving the locker room. He paused in his steps, and thought aloud, "I discovered something about Aoshi and Kaoru-dono today."

Aoshi simply raised his eyebrows as a sign of curiosity.

"Having your imouto as a topic can bring out the conversational side of you," Kenshin lightly teased as he caught up with their coach.

Aoshi simply shook his head and replied, "Baka."


"Who is it coach?" Kenshin asked curiously, a few steps behind the man.

"I believe it is Megumi Takani."

A/n: Yey! Chapter 2's done! About Kenshin making a cow plush, I just could not think of anything Kaoru could blackmail him for! Ahehehe…I saw my cow plush (which is cutely placed under my monitor) and that's where the idea came from. Hihi..well, if Kenshin can do laundry, I'm sure he has a little sewing skill too!

Chapter 3 will be up soon, hopefully by tomorrow.

Translations:

Onii-san  : Older brother

Imouto: Younger sister

--sama/--san/--dono: Mr./Ms.

Hai: Yes

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